Unplugged

After writing my blog last night - I found myself "trying" to meet with the Lord or find a way back to intimacy, yet next thing I know I was just reading a book (a good book at that, but not THE GOOD BOOK). What was I doing? Do I really want to meet with the Lord? Why am I finding ways around it or trying to do anything but just talk to Him? It was then that I closed the book and just prayed, though I didn't even know what to say. I was, however, comforted by knowing that the Holy Spirit was interceding for me. I didn't know what to say or how to say it, but I know the Holy Spirit has converted these feelings that I cannot express into powerful words that the Lord understands. As I sat in silence and thought about when I started spiraling down into these depths, there are two instances that I believe perpetuated this cycle.

First, was the end of BSF last year and entering a summer of undisciplined study (which I didn't do). And second, on top of not studying the Word in my own time, I left the Singles Department Sunday School class because I wasn't (or couldn't or wouldn't let myself) be spiritually fed there. Yes, I have been going to other classes - but there was a series of several weekends this fall that I missed church from being out of town or went to my hometown church. The point is that since I have left the Singles, I am not plugged into our church anywhere and I can see how this has dramatically contributed to my lack of responsibility in my relationship with Christ.

Of course, it is no coincidence that I received an email today from wonderful Ms Susie Corbett. She has invited me to help with the College class and their website. Can I say this is an answered prayer? To find a connection back into the Church with such a wonderful teacher of the Word?

Choose your Master

I wasn't at BSF last week, but I read a little about the lecture from Melanie's blog. However, this week was really just a continuance of last week since it is the same chapter of Romans - that would be chapter 6 about death to sin and life in Christ.

I read in Melanie's blog that one of the thing they talked about - especially with the thanksgiving week, to really be thankful for your salvation. Not just that you are saved from eternal separation from Christ, but that you are saved from what your life would have been if you didn't turn to the Lord. I can't even imagine how many different roads my life might have taken if I had kept my back to God. For this I am thankful; my life now, even though it isn't perfect (and won't be here on Earth). And I am most thankful that the Lord continues to pursue me and my heart even when I don't pursue Him. I didn't pursue Him down many years of my life, and I find myself today just walking the walk, but not really pursuing Him. I want to, but I just feel so separated.

That is where I tie in the second part of Romans 6 from BSF. Paul is telling the Romans not to let sin reign in your body. Don't offer any part of your body to sin. This means ALL parts - eyes, ears, tounge, hands, feet - everything! Instead, we are to use our body as instruments for Christ. But watch out! NOT offering your body at all is just as bad as offering your body to sin. That is where I am trapped. Not that I don't offer my body to sin - we all do (watching/listening/saying/doing things we shouldn't). But I am in such a pattern of stagnence that it just allows me to more easily participate in the sin that keeps me from having a working relationship with Christ. So how do I get to this wholehearted obedience to Christ? I have been set free from sin yet I continue to choose to let it master me. As a Christian, it is really all or nothing - I cannot be a slave to sin and to righteousness. So why do I choose to be a slave to sin?

On the Horizon... Change?

Last Friday we had our (what is supposed to be weekly - or at least monthly) Supervisors meeting at work. First we go through the agenda and talk about all the business stuff that needs to be talked about then our manager goes around the table and talks to the supervisors individually. She asks how things are going, are there any problems, and good news, anything we need, etc... and it does get chit-chatty sometimes. Everyone is still in there at this point, so you get to hear how everyone else on our team is doing and how thier teams are doing.

A while back, I blogged about my job and it's workload. And for the most part, I am really busy the first two weeks of the month, the third week slows down and the fourth week is a dead drag. Yes, there are times when I start to surf (ok, a lot) but I always ask for things to do first... and I usually dont get any results. So, at the meeting last friday, first I asked how one of my projects turned out since I hadnt heard any reports good or bad - I usually hear the bad, so I figured no news was good news. But even so, I like to follow up and make sure everything is working out well. (It's good news by the way) Then I talked about my workload and how it tapers off to nothing as the month goes by. During the meeting some projects were talked about that I could do - so that was good news. She did say that when I ask for stuff to do, it is hard to think of anything, but when you get away from the daily drama (I mean activities) then it is easier to see what projects I could take on. So when the end of the current reporting I am doing comes, I will have some new projects to work on.

Well, today, partly because of some team complaining (about another team, not ours) and deductive reasoning, oh and a little guts, I asked my boss why I do some of the daily reports I do. I didnt think that they were in align with my original job description (from 2 years ago) and there is actually a team in place (the one there is complaining about) to do the reporting, so why am I doing it? Not that I am complaining (though I did do that a lot today due to a few kinks in a new project) - but really I am just curious. And if I am supposed to do what I do, then that is fine, again - just wondering. In reality, it is as if I am working for one team and manager half the time and another team and manager the other.

She thought it was a good point and fired off a meeting request with her boss, her, and me! So tomorrow, the hatchet comes down on my job description and the other team (who I am doing the work for). So be praying for my nerves tomorrow at 11 as I am in this meeting!! I'll give you an update (but I wont have time to do it at work, so check back tomorrow evening).

Train for 5K

Chancy, a coworker, has tried to encourage me to train for a 5K run. I like the idea, but the discipline to actually do the work is proving difficult for me. When I do run the schedule, it isn't bad. I am going to Bally's to run today since it will be dark by the time I get home (I am going to a informational meeting about Lasik today!). CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHEDULE I started on about week 4... and still there.

I think my indiscipline stems from lack of motivation. What is supposed to motivate me (to train and to lose some weight)?

Feel free to post any motivators in the comments.

A Camping We Will Go....

So John and I (and Paisley) took off this weekend to Tyler State Park to do some camping and mountain biking. I know, there aren't any mountains there, but there are some nice trails... 11 miles of trails. We left after I got off work Friday, so it was kind of a late start.

We arrived to the campsite around 9pm. It was a little hard finding an open site in the dark... and pitching a tent we just bought on Thursday. John tried to start a fire and I tried to set up the tent. We learned quickly that we weren't as prepared as we had wished, but it was our first time out together. Our first indication was that we forgot a lantern or a flashlight. I tried to point the headlights in the direction of the tent pad-site, and it was better than nothing, but I could have used a better light. A nice neighbor saw I was struggling and brought over his lantern for me to use - it was then I could see the tent poles were color coordinated! The tent was finally up and I thanked the nice man for his lantern. John never got the fire going, but by that time we were so tired we were off to bed. And a cold night it was! Friday night had a low (actual low!) of 33 degrees! Saturday's low was only 43... yes, only. 10 degrees makes a world of difference.

We slept in Saturday morning, boy did that feel good. Then we set up Paisley's crate, put it in the tent, lured her in. and took off to bike. I haven't been on the trail since we went to Wichita Falls (WeeChiTah Trail) two weeks ago. It was good to be back on the trail, but it was killing me! We are used to short uphills that are set up by fast downhills, so you don't have to work too hard. At Tyler State Park, there are long slow downhills and long drawn-out uphills. It was the uphills that were a killer. On loop B, there was a really fun downhill spree, but then it leveled out and ended with a long hard uphill. We should have done loops C and D, but we didn't. And actually, we didn't know there was a Loop D. Oh well, that will give us a good reason to go back.

After the ride, we went back to the campsite and ate a sandwich. Then we took Paisley for a hike. She sure does love the outdoors and all the critters. We stayed on the trail for the most part, but veered off a little when it started to get boring.

It was time for dinner, so John started the fire while I took a shower with a spider (you know how much I loved that!) in the tiny disgusting community shower. But it did feel so good to be clean. And it was cold and I had wet hair, so I dried it as best I could in the hand dryer... fun.

When I returned, John said that he couldn't find a good stick to roast the brats and marshmallows on, so he would run to the store to get a grilling stick. I waited by the fire for what seemed to be an eternity, but John ensures it wasn't - though he did go to two stores before he finally drove over to Lindale's WallyWorld. Apparently in that time, I added too many logs to the fire - but I didn't add more than one at a time! - and when he returned, we only had 2 logs left to cook our dinner (and dessert - s'mores are the most important you know!). So then I went back out to the convenient store just outside the park to get some more logs.

We finally cooked the brats and ate s'mores. I love s'mores! You cant go camping without them. We let the fire burn out and headed off to bed. In the morning, we slept late again - and again, it was enjoyable. We packed up the car, which was done more methodically than when we left - amazing how it fits better when you take your time. And we headed back home.

It was a great weekend; to get out of the city and enjoy God's creation. It was beautiful to see all the leaves changing colors! I cant wait to go camping again. We have resolved to go every other month. Hopefully we'll stick to that. I have uploaded a slide show of some of the pictures we took on the trail Saturday... enjoy!

Have a Quarter?

Well, it was that time again, time for fall festivals, costumes, candy - and for it to finally get cold (okay, maybe just chilly). Last night was Halloween 2006 and once again, Melanie and I dressed up for the PPBC Fall Festival. For the last 2 years, we have dressed up in coordinating costumes and everyone has loved them. This year should be no different. Originally, we were going to be the chicken and the egg, but I backed out because I was the chicken (haha, no pun intended!). I didnt want to mess with the feathers. So Monday, the day before Halloween, I had so many people ask us about our costume this year, I decided we couldn't quit now! At the last minute, we pulled together our costume - and yes, with some challenges - something about how clear the garbage bag was, but I wont blame anyone for that (John). So here it is - our 2006 Halloween Costume - The Gumball Machine and Quarter! (also, for reference, I have posted previous year's costumes... I am not so sure this year is the best.)

We didnt get to wear our costumes very long because we had to worked concessions - the cotton candy machine. It didnt take long, but I we had new costumes on - you could call us cotton candy balls. I dont have any pictures, but it was everywhere... my hair was pretty much hairsprayed stiff with cotton candy. It was all over our hands, arms, face, hair, everywhere! But it was a lot of fun... and yummy too!

2006 - The Gumball Machine and Quarter

2005 - Scubadivers and the Man-eating Shark (Paisley)

2004 - The Picnic Table - with Mustard and Ketchup(Heinz Ketchup didnt go over very well with the Bush/Kerry Presidential election around the corner in November)

Also for Halloween this year, I made the Kitty Litter Cake for the Halloween Spread at work. It went over well, but it didnt really look like the picture. I made it at 6am yesterday and the instructions weren't well written, and I admit that sometimes I dont read the whole receipe first - which really isnt a good thing. So here are pictures of the Kitty Litter Cake.