So three posts in a day. Do you think this makes up for my NaBloPoMo slackerness?
These are just a few things that I couldn't help but share with you.
1. This post at NCAA Fanhouse had me crying from laughing so hard. I really do hope Mike Slive reads this.
2. Scare fail.
And last but not least...
These are real notes written by parents in the Memphis school district. Spellings have been left intact.
1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today Please execute him.
2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She had diahre dyrea direathe the shits.
12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.
15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.
19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.
20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.
23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.
Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids.
Monday, November 9, 2009
This Is Why I Blog...
And read blogs.
I love that there is a blog community out there that cares about living out James 1:27.
I love that there are people out there period that has committed themselves to living out this "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless."
Jon Acuff, over at Stuff Christians Like, has committed himself and his family to doing just this. And he's asked the blog world to join him.
There's a need for a six-room kindergarten building in Hoang Then village in the Phong Tho district of Vietnam. It costs $30,000. And he wants to raise it by December 31, 2009. (And I just clicked over to the giving page and the total raised so far is $21.272.00. How about that? Click here if you want to give.)
Now, I don't have a lot of money but I do have enough to afford the internet connection that I'm using to write this blog post. (I would say my computer but I didn't exactly pay for it.)
I know it's the Christmas season now and stuff, or at least the retail world thinks so (because America never remembers that Thanksgiving and the Macy's Parade preceed Christmas), but my pastor has challenged us again this year to spend at least the same amount of money on living out James 1:27 as we would on Christmas gifts. I haven't done so well on this for the past couple of years, so I'm trying really hard this year.
Will you commit to that too?
I love that there is a blog community out there that cares about living out James 1:27.
I love that there are people out there period that has committed themselves to living out this "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless."
Jon Acuff, over at Stuff Christians Like, has committed himself and his family to doing just this. And he's asked the blog world to join him.
There's a need for a six-room kindergarten building in Hoang Then village in the Phong Tho district of Vietnam. It costs $30,000. And he wants to raise it by December 31, 2009. (And I just clicked over to the giving page and the total raised so far is $21.272.00. How about that? Click here if you want to give.)
Now, I don't have a lot of money but I do have enough to afford the internet connection that I'm using to write this blog post. (I would say my computer but I didn't exactly pay for it.)
I know it's the Christmas season now and stuff, or at least the retail world thinks so (because America never remembers that Thanksgiving and the Macy's Parade preceed Christmas), but my pastor has challenged us again this year to spend at least the same amount of money on living out James 1:27 as we would on Christmas gifts. I haven't done so well on this for the past couple of years, so I'm trying really hard this year.
Will you commit to that too?
My Purpose
Being around college students, I hear one question/statement over and over and over again.
It's one that I've asked/said so many times before, especially in the past five years.
"What is my purpose in life?/I just want to figure out what I'm here on earth for."
Wanna know the answer?
Look up Ephesians 2. Specifically verses 8-10.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Did you get that?
We are created to do good works. That is our purpose.
I've struggled the past several years with the whole faith/works issue. How does it all play together? Paul and James seem to contradict each other. But this little part of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus clarifies it for me. It hit me like a ton of bricks on Thursday night and somehow just seemed to click like never before.
We know that we are saved by faith. If we believe with all of our hearts that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised on the third day and if we confess with our mouth that he is Lord over everything, including our lives, we receive salvation. By no merit of our own. We don't deserve it. We are filthy, nasty human beings drowning in our own sin. But God showed us mercy (def: not getting the punishment we deserve) and poured his grace (def: an undeserved gift) out on us so that we could be saved from that sin. So that we could be free to live in Him. We don't have to do anything to get that salvation. It's a free gift.
That's the faith part.
Verses 9 and 10 clarify the works part. "Not by works, so that no man can baost." Therefore, we have no right to "boast" in our salvation. It's all because of God. Verse 10 says that we are "created in Christ Jesus to do good works". That is our purpose clause. Because we are alive in Christ now, we are to do good works. Good works are a result of our salvation. Let me say that again -- good works are a RESULT of our salvation, not the MEANS to our salvation. Therefore, I cannot earn my salvation through doing good things. But I can complete my salvation.
You know the story about the tree and the fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. That means that if we are completely immersed in the purpose that God has made us for, we can do nothing but good deeds. It's just an overflow of his love in us outward.
I don't know why I felt the need to post this today. I went to bed at 8 p.m. last night which is very out of the ordinary for me. I woke up at 2:30 a.m. just thinking about these verses and this concept that I have finally grasped. My dad always tells me that if you wake up like that, that God has as reason for it.
Well, he definitely did this time.
It's one that I've asked/said so many times before, especially in the past five years.
"What is my purpose in life?/I just want to figure out what I'm here on earth for."
Wanna know the answer?
Look up Ephesians 2. Specifically verses 8-10.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Did you get that?
We are created to do good works. That is our purpose.
I've struggled the past several years with the whole faith/works issue. How does it all play together? Paul and James seem to contradict each other. But this little part of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus clarifies it for me. It hit me like a ton of bricks on Thursday night and somehow just seemed to click like never before.
We know that we are saved by faith. If we believe with all of our hearts that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised on the third day and if we confess with our mouth that he is Lord over everything, including our lives, we receive salvation. By no merit of our own. We don't deserve it. We are filthy, nasty human beings drowning in our own sin. But God showed us mercy (def: not getting the punishment we deserve) and poured his grace (def: an undeserved gift) out on us so that we could be saved from that sin. So that we could be free to live in Him. We don't have to do anything to get that salvation. It's a free gift.
That's the faith part.
Verses 9 and 10 clarify the works part. "Not by works, so that no man can baost." Therefore, we have no right to "boast" in our salvation. It's all because of God. Verse 10 says that we are "created in Christ Jesus to do good works". That is our purpose clause. Because we are alive in Christ now, we are to do good works. Good works are a result of our salvation. Let me say that again -- good works are a RESULT of our salvation, not the MEANS to our salvation. Therefore, I cannot earn my salvation through doing good things. But I can complete my salvation.
You know the story about the tree and the fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. That means that if we are completely immersed in the purpose that God has made us for, we can do nothing but good deeds. It's just an overflow of his love in us outward.
I don't know why I felt the need to post this today. I went to bed at 8 p.m. last night which is very out of the ordinary for me. I woke up at 2:30 a.m. just thinking about these verses and this concept that I have finally grasped. My dad always tells me that if you wake up like that, that God has as reason for it.
Well, he definitely did this time.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
I'm really bad at this.
Wow. I am really failing at the NaBloPoMo thing. Would you mind it if I blamed it on work?
I was at work from noon until 10:30 last night and then again from noon until 5:30 today. It's really zapped my creative juices and given me a migraine to boot.
It was a successful weekend though.
My Samford Bulldogs won their Homecoming game over Georgia Southern, 31-10.
My volleyball Bulldogs won both of their matches this weekend and clinched a share of the division title. Let's all pray we can win next weekend and take that baby for our own.
My Mississippi State Bulldogs didn't lose this weekend. They didn't play this weekend but they didn't lose.
And the Mississippi State basketball team looks like it's going to give me something to smile about this year.
I'm off to eat some Moe's and watch The Amazing Race. Go Flight Time and Big Easy!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Improv Everywhere Does It Again
Here's your second post of the day.
Improv Everywhere just never disappoints.
My favorite lines from the video:
"Jeff, don't sing a song man."
"He does this every day."
Improv Everywhere just never disappoints.
My favorite lines from the video:
"Jeff, don't sing a song man."
"He does this every day."
NaBloPoMo Fail #1
So, it's only six days into NaBloPoMo and I've already failed. I know. I'm sorry.
However, I'll make up for it today with two posts and a free gift. Mkay?
Actually the free gift isn't from me. Because, well, I'm poor. And cheap. So there.
But I got Matt Wertz's new live album for free yesterday just for tweeting it and I'm listening to it today at work and I. am. in. love.
This is such a great album because it's not just Matt and Justin Rosolino singing a bunch of songs live. It includes all the funny banter in between the songs. Which, by the way, is pure gold. There are no three guys in the business that are better at inter-song banter than Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz and Justin Rosolino.
It's just good stuff.
So, go here, look at the top of the page and check out the ways that you can help Matt spread the word about his music and get the album for free at the same time.
It's totally worth it.
However, I'll make up for it today with two posts and a free gift. Mkay?
Actually the free gift isn't from me. Because, well, I'm poor. And cheap. So there.
But I got Matt Wertz's new live album for free yesterday just for tweeting it and I'm listening to it today at work and I. am. in. love.
This is such a great album because it's not just Matt and Justin Rosolino singing a bunch of songs live. It includes all the funny banter in between the songs. Which, by the way, is pure gold. There are no three guys in the business that are better at inter-song banter than Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz and Justin Rosolino.
It's just good stuff.
So, go here, look at the top of the page and check out the ways that you can help Matt spread the word about his music and get the album for free at the same time.
It's totally worth it.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Blog-Linkity Goodness 11.4.09 and Random Dozen
Here are a few things I came across yesterday and today and I wanted to share the love. Also, as an added bonus, Lid's Random Dozen. As if you, didn't already know enough about me.
1. This video completely made my morning. My day was top-notch after viewing this. 252 yards of maroon and white goodness.
2. Boomama's post yesterday was one of my most favorite in a while. And she "wasn't even planning to write this post". Go read it now. It mentions Steven Curtis Chapman, if that helps at all.
3. Jon Acuff's post yesterday on Stuff Christians Like was all about "rooting for Tim Tebow". And if you know me, this is a cause I can get behind. Quarterback keep. Hut one. Hut two.
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1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I used to do this all the time in Starkville. Well, not all the time. There was this one light though, between fraternity row and Bost Extension that never, EVER turned green late at night. Even when no one was coming the other way. I literally waited one night for 10 minutes for it to change in it never did, so I went. Sue me.
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would have gotten more work done yesterday.
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
I usually go to the other person's blog to comment.
4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Toss-up. Mary Poppins, The Lion King or The Santa Clause movies.
5. Do you recycle?
I used to at the place I lived at before I moved but they don't come and pick up recycling where I live now. However, I will recycle if there is a receptical nearby.
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Totally strategy. More opportunities to win. You can control stategy. You can't control chance. That's why I don't gamble. Plus I like to figure things out. I'm a puzzle nerd.
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
I used to have a lot of them when I was little. There is one, though, now that tends to come back often. I'm at a water park. That's about all I can recall.
8. What did you learn from your first real job?
I learned how to make a mean sno-cone.
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
I like to buy because I like to write in my books.
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
I pretty much Christmas shop all year round. If I see something that I know someone would like, I'll get it then. If I have the money. But usually I'm buying presents like two weeks before.
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
Yes. Most of them have had to do with the Mississippi State Bulldogs winning. You know, it's a big deal when we win these days in football. I do have to say that the most crazy I've ever gone after winning a game was after we beat Alabama at their place in 2004 to win the SEC outright.
1. This video completely made my morning. My day was top-notch after viewing this. 252 yards of maroon and white goodness.
2. Boomama's post yesterday was one of my most favorite in a while. And she "wasn't even planning to write this post". Go read it now. It mentions Steven Curtis Chapman, if that helps at all.
3. Jon Acuff's post yesterday on Stuff Christians Like was all about "rooting for Tim Tebow". And if you know me, this is a cause I can get behind. Quarterback keep. Hut one. Hut two.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I used to do this all the time in Starkville. Well, not all the time. There was this one light though, between fraternity row and Bost Extension that never, EVER turned green late at night. Even when no one was coming the other way. I literally waited one night for 10 minutes for it to change in it never did, so I went. Sue me.
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would have gotten more work done yesterday.
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
I usually go to the other person's blog to comment.
4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Toss-up. Mary Poppins, The Lion King or The Santa Clause movies.
5. Do you recycle?
I used to at the place I lived at before I moved but they don't come and pick up recycling where I live now. However, I will recycle if there is a receptical nearby.
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Totally strategy. More opportunities to win. You can control stategy. You can't control chance. That's why I don't gamble. Plus I like to figure things out. I'm a puzzle nerd.
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
I used to have a lot of them when I was little. There is one, though, now that tends to come back often. I'm at a water park. That's about all I can recall.
8. What did you learn from your first real job?
I learned how to make a mean sno-cone.
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
I like to buy because I like to write in my books.
10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
I don't think I've wore anything again that I have before. I will never where sturrip pants again, though. Or roll my jeans. I did cave on the leggings thing though.
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
I pretty much Christmas shop all year round. If I see something that I know someone would like, I'll get it then. If I have the money. But usually I'm buying presents like two weeks before.
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
Yes. Most of them have had to do with the Mississippi State Bulldogs winning. You know, it's a big deal when we win these days in football. I do have to say that the most crazy I've ever gone after winning a game was after we beat Alabama at their place in 2004 to win the SEC outright.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A Boy And His Birthday
This little guy...
Turned two on Saturday...
Had big party...
With a really cool cake.
He got lots of cool presents including this...
This...
And this was the winner.
See...
He even gave his KK a ride.
Fun was had by all.
Happy Birthday Little Boo!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Home Sweet Home
No matter where I live for the remainder of my life, Jackson, Miss., will always be home to me. And not just Jackson, my parents house will always be home to me.
I won't be going to visit my parents. I'll be going home.
Because home is where you are who you are. All of the time.
Home is where you know you're loved, without even having to hear someone say it.
Home is where you're greeted at the door with a smile, a hug so tight it makes you dizzy and a wet, slobbery kiss from the dog that you swear is annoying one minute and is the cutest little puppy in the world the next.
Home is where every single member of your family is. It's where you mind is flooded with memories the minute you step in the door, no matter how far back they take you.
Anecdotes and stories are a staple in family conversation. And there's a song for each one of them too.
I remember when I first went off to college. Although I was only an hour and a half down the road, I cried every time I pulled out of the driveway to go back to school. Everytime. For the first year. A whole year.
Now, the crying seems to have subsided. I pull out of the driveway, of a completely different house no less, but I blow a kiss, smile real big and whisper to myself, "Man, I can't wait to come back home."
I think the main reason the tears have dried up over time is not because I'm older and more mature and wise in my years. I think it's because, everywhere I go, my family goes with me.
I take them with me.
They are in my heart.
Everyone I meet knows that my dad is the strongest (and wisest) man in the world. They know my mom's smile can light up a room and that she could coach the Mississippi State football team to a championship victory is they'd let her. They know that my sister is my best friend and that her voice puts even the most top-selling artists to shame in my book. They know that my brother-in-law is a coon-ass from 'Nawlins who uses the gift God has given him to lead everyone around him in glorifying the Father through song.
And they know, boy do they know, that my nephew rules my world.
I think I've just now figured out why I love The Wizard of Oz so much. It's such a representation of how home is where we are, not where we are.
To my favorite character,
"There's no place like home."
I won't be going to visit my parents. I'll be going home.
Because home is where you are who you are. All of the time.
Home is where you know you're loved, without even having to hear someone say it.
Home is where you're greeted at the door with a smile, a hug so tight it makes you dizzy and a wet, slobbery kiss from the dog that you swear is annoying one minute and is the cutest little puppy in the world the next.
Home is where every single member of your family is. It's where you mind is flooded with memories the minute you step in the door, no matter how far back they take you.
Anecdotes and stories are a staple in family conversation. And there's a song for each one of them too.
I remember when I first went off to college. Although I was only an hour and a half down the road, I cried every time I pulled out of the driveway to go back to school. Everytime. For the first year. A whole year.
Now, the crying seems to have subsided. I pull out of the driveway, of a completely different house no less, but I blow a kiss, smile real big and whisper to myself, "Man, I can't wait to come back home."
I think the main reason the tears have dried up over time is not because I'm older and more mature and wise in my years. I think it's because, everywhere I go, my family goes with me.
I take them with me.
They are in my heart.
Everyone I meet knows that my dad is the strongest (and wisest) man in the world. They know my mom's smile can light up a room and that she could coach the Mississippi State football team to a championship victory is they'd let her. They know that my sister is my best friend and that her voice puts even the most top-selling artists to shame in my book. They know that my brother-in-law is a coon-ass from 'Nawlins who uses the gift God has given him to lead everyone around him in glorifying the Father through song.
And they know, boy do they know, that my nephew rules my world.
I think I've just now figured out why I love The Wizard of Oz so much. It's such a representation of how home is where we are, not where we are.
To my favorite character,
"There's no place like home."
What month is it again?
Seriously? It's November already?
If you remember, last year I participated in something called NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Post Month. That's November.
I think I fared pretty well last year and I've been hesitant to do it again this year (and actually sign up) but I figure I like challenges (no I don't) and this might get my creative juices flowing (or kill me), so why not?
I know I'm already behind a day but will the excuse that I was in my car for half of the day yesterday suffice? No. Okay.
Then how about two posts today. Maybe? Okay.
Let the fun begin.
If you remember, last year I participated in something called NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Post Month. That's November.
I think I fared pretty well last year and I've been hesitant to do it again this year (and actually sign up) but I figure I like challenges (no I don't) and this might get my creative juices flowing (or kill me), so why not?
I know I'm already behind a day but will the excuse that I was in my car for half of the day yesterday suffice? No. Okay.
Then how about two posts today. Maybe? Okay.
Let the fun begin.
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