Not a lot has been happening this week mainly because of the weather. Monday morning we began to receive freezing rain and this system was supposed to stay here till Wednesday. Well they sure didn't lie about that. :) They actually got one right for once. Anyways, the school decided to cancel school at noon and so the kids have been home ever since. Monday eventually got really nasty and Tuesday was even worse. All Monday night and into Tuesday morning we received sleet and freezing rain. We have had so much it looks like we have received several inches of snow, but when you go outside and step on it, it is hard. There were reports of sleet drifts several feet high from the wind blowing. I have heard of snow drifts, but never a sleet drift. LOL
Needless to say our daughter has been home all week from school and while it is nice it has been challenging because I work from home. Trying to keep her entertained while taking care of my customers is definately a busy task. To top it all off, my laptop started acting funny on Monday morning and continue to decline just like the weather. It turns out that it has a virus, but not sure what kind. Previously I was able to do a system restore and the conditions went away, but this time the system restore doesn't work and I am pretty well out of luck. Not sure why my virus protection missed it, but I guess that is how it goes sometimes. So now I must send my laptop to our corporate office and wait for either a new one or my fixed one. The only good thing is that I will be going out there in a week and a half, so it isn't that bad. It just gets challenging working from a Blackberry and I can't access half the stuff I need to access.
Last night was probably the pinnacle of my week. We were running low on some staples and I told my wife that I would go get some. She did not want me going anywhere with the conditions the way they were. Well I wasn't going to drive, I was going to walk and she still called me crazy. Walgreens is a half-mile walk from my house. So I decided to walk there last night and get some milk, eggs and water. It was actually a pretty nice walk and I enjoyed it. Nothing like breathing in some cold, fresh air while getting pelted with sleet. Temperatures were steady at 20 degrees Farenheit with a wind chill close to 0. I find it absolutely absurd that people will go to all measures to get their "smokes". I saw numerous cars stalled in the street, spinning their tires to try and get traction in hopes of making it up into the drive of the smoke shop, but that didn't guarantee anything. I even saw a car spinning its tires in the drive thru of the smoke shop.
It was quiet comical as I was able to continue my walk without interruption. Got to enjoy the small things in life and I definately got a chuckle out of these idiots trying to feed their habit. It wasn't suggested for people to drive, but yet people still did it for things that aren't necessary. Oh well, it is in our "sinful" nature to be disobedient. Look at all the people that hang around during hurricanes and have watch parties. If authorities say not to do something then don't do it. They are saying these things to protect you and others from harm. As I have always been taught, Heed the warning. Listen and obey. And as the word of God declares, "People will perish due to lack of knowledge" Isn't that the truth. In my translation it would say People die because of stupidity. Anyone who doesn't heed warnings or direction deserve all of the consequences that preceed. That was for you mom and dad. I didn't always listen to them and many times ended up worse than had I listened to their Godly council. If I have learned one thing from my parents it is to heed Godly council.
May all of you have a blessed week in the Lord.
Coach
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
When technology doesn't work
Ever have one of those days that no matter what you do nothing works right? Well I am having one of those days today. The fact that I work from home away from the corporate environment, while it is a blessing, can and usually is very challenging. When I connected into our VPN everything seemed normal, but when I attempted to open Microsoft Office it just freezes and says it is unavailable. While it is frustrating I consider it a blessing from God telling me to slow down and enjoy life. I have begun to do that more often as I age like a fine wine. I may not be that old, but I am getting older and as I get older the Lord is blessing me with more wisdom. I guess that is why I am getting more and more gray hairs. :) Better to have gray hair than no hair at all. LOL
Last night during our prayer meeting at church we were streaming live video in from a service in Kansas City. As great as technology is when it works it definately is a pain in the butt when it doesn't work right. It is really challenging to get into the flow of a worship service streaming over the Internet when it freezes up due to bandwidth issues. Even though I couldn't get into it like I wanted to, I do want to give God praise. It is just awesome that we are blessed with the technology and ability to watch a church service across the country and see it live in front of us. Even if it doesn't always work right, it is still a miracle and I give God praise for that. I can guarantee you that people like Smith Wigglesworth or John G. Lake would have marveled at the ability to do such a thing. They had to do it the old fashioned way by perservering and traveling to minister. It makes you think that we have actually become a very lazy generation.
To think that the kids at our schools have cell phones, laptops, wireless internet wherever they go and unlimited text message plans blows my mind. We didn't even have the Internet available until after I graduated High School, the only cell phones available were considered "brick" or "bag" phones and were not easy to lug around. The only thing close to the Internet we had was the card catalog in the Library on a computer database. :) I can only imagine the changes that have occurred since my parents went to High School let alone the changes my Grandfathers have experienced since they were in school. With all this technology we often times are too busy to slow down and too busy to enjoy life. When we get too busy to spend time with our Heavenly Father then our lives are out of balance and we are walking in dangerous territory. We should never be too busy to spend time with God Almighty.
I just learned yesterday that they are going to let President Obama carry his Blackberry. He will be the first president ever to have a cell phone with him during office. He is also the first president ever that will have a laptop on his desk in the oval office. I am sorry to say, but they originally said it was a security issue for him to carry a blackberry and now he will be allowed to carry one. I personally don't think it is a good idea based on people being able to track him, but also every email, etc that he sends out will be public record and therefore he has no privacy and that is dangerous territory to be in as well. It won't surprise me if they some how change privacy rules for him that will make all of his records private. I won't get on my soap box, but if it happens I can say "I told you so. "
So when life isn't going as you anticipate it should, slow down a bit and spend some time thanking God for your family, the life that you have and the blessing it is to have technology when it does work. I plan on spending some quality time with my son and enjoying the ability to not check emails for a while, but I still have a job to do and must get some emails sent out today.
Have a blessed weekend and live life to the fullest!
Coach Stretch
Last night during our prayer meeting at church we were streaming live video in from a service in Kansas City. As great as technology is when it works it definately is a pain in the butt when it doesn't work right. It is really challenging to get into the flow of a worship service streaming over the Internet when it freezes up due to bandwidth issues. Even though I couldn't get into it like I wanted to, I do want to give God praise. It is just awesome that we are blessed with the technology and ability to watch a church service across the country and see it live in front of us. Even if it doesn't always work right, it is still a miracle and I give God praise for that. I can guarantee you that people like Smith Wigglesworth or John G. Lake would have marveled at the ability to do such a thing. They had to do it the old fashioned way by perservering and traveling to minister. It makes you think that we have actually become a very lazy generation.
To think that the kids at our schools have cell phones, laptops, wireless internet wherever they go and unlimited text message plans blows my mind. We didn't even have the Internet available until after I graduated High School, the only cell phones available were considered "brick" or "bag" phones and were not easy to lug around. The only thing close to the Internet we had was the card catalog in the Library on a computer database. :) I can only imagine the changes that have occurred since my parents went to High School let alone the changes my Grandfathers have experienced since they were in school. With all this technology we often times are too busy to slow down and too busy to enjoy life. When we get too busy to spend time with our Heavenly Father then our lives are out of balance and we are walking in dangerous territory. We should never be too busy to spend time with God Almighty.
I just learned yesterday that they are going to let President Obama carry his Blackberry. He will be the first president ever to have a cell phone with him during office. He is also the first president ever that will have a laptop on his desk in the oval office. I am sorry to say, but they originally said it was a security issue for him to carry a blackberry and now he will be allowed to carry one. I personally don't think it is a good idea based on people being able to track him, but also every email, etc that he sends out will be public record and therefore he has no privacy and that is dangerous territory to be in as well. It won't surprise me if they some how change privacy rules for him that will make all of his records private. I won't get on my soap box, but if it happens I can say "I told you so. "
So when life isn't going as you anticipate it should, slow down a bit and spend some time thanking God for your family, the life that you have and the blessing it is to have technology when it does work. I plan on spending some quality time with my son and enjoying the ability to not check emails for a while, but I still have a job to do and must get some emails sent out today.
Have a blessed weekend and live life to the fullest!
Coach Stretch
Thursday, January 22, 2009
With God all things are possible
I don't have a lot to post today, but I felt like I needed to post something interesting. It seems I have to compete with my family now on blogging. I can't believe my mom, dad, sister, cousin and aunt/uncle have a blog now. Wow, who would have thunk it. :)
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. It hit 78 degrees. I can't believe we almost eclipsed 80 degrees on January 22nd. Amazing. It was so nice outside and yet, I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I should have. It was nice to drive with my windows down and not have to have my heater on in the car and it was nice to have the windows open in the house as well. The weather today definately makes me want Spring to come even sooner. Hurry up already won't you??? We have been extremely blessed this winter to not have any snow or ice. We have had a few extremely cold nights, but other than that it has been a very dry winter and if things maintain the way they are it will most likely be a recipe for very strong Spring wild fires in Oklahoma.
Today was a day I was supposed to travel to Lawton, Oklahoma with the Varsity Boys and Girls basketball teams for their games in the Sooner Conference Tournament, but I have a job that I must attend to and ensure that gets done. None of the players really understand, but the administrator of the school completely understands and is supportive of my reasons. As much as I wanted to go, I knew I could not. They are supposed to travel back down again tomorrow and stay the night Friday night. Call me crazy, but I would just assume stay at home with my wife and kids than travel 2 hours one way to assist in a basketball game and then stay the night away from my loved ones. I travel enough for work as it is to want to stay in a hotel room full of high school boys. While there are memories to be made in those instances, I choose my family still.
We are planning on going to Tulsa on Saturday as a family and go to the Jenks Aquarium. While I know it isn't the biggest one I have been to, I anticipate it will be fun with the kids and that is why we are going so that our kids can enjoy themselves and we can make some memories. Michele and I are really wanting to spend at least 1 weekend a month doing a family outing that will allow us to spend more time together and make memories in the process.
We are currently in the midst of a 40 day prayer and fasting season at our church. Our church does this every January to start the year off and many other churches do the same thing. It is a corporate fast and is something we feel is necessary for our church, for our walk with God and our nation. For 40 days we will fast at least 1 meal a day, Television and as much media related activities as possible. I never thought it would be possible to completely fast from television, but with God all things are possible. Technically I know it is possible, because I did it at Bible College and I can do it again. It is just a time I need to get my priorities straight and focus on the things of God rather than the things of this world. The media pumps so much garbage and trash into our homes and we become desensitized to what is sinful and wrong. We find ourselves engaging in programs that are morally corrupt and perverse and we call it a family sitcom.
A few weeks ago I was watching a program on ABC Family and the next thing I know a man and woman began to grope each other very strongly. I am sorry, but that is not "family" oriented television. I don't care if it says ABC Family, but not in my family. We have to watch what we allow into our homes. It is my job as a father and head of house to protect my family and ensure they are covered and protected. I do not want my children to be influenced by the ways of this world and I will do everything in my power with God as my source of strength of encouragement to prevent this from happening.
Well it is getting late and I need to get some rest. Good night and may God bless you all. Till next time this is Coach Stretch signing out.
Anthony
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. It hit 78 degrees. I can't believe we almost eclipsed 80 degrees on January 22nd. Amazing. It was so nice outside and yet, I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I should have. It was nice to drive with my windows down and not have to have my heater on in the car and it was nice to have the windows open in the house as well. The weather today definately makes me want Spring to come even sooner. Hurry up already won't you??? We have been extremely blessed this winter to not have any snow or ice. We have had a few extremely cold nights, but other than that it has been a very dry winter and if things maintain the way they are it will most likely be a recipe for very strong Spring wild fires in Oklahoma.
Today was a day I was supposed to travel to Lawton, Oklahoma with the Varsity Boys and Girls basketball teams for their games in the Sooner Conference Tournament, but I have a job that I must attend to and ensure that gets done. None of the players really understand, but the administrator of the school completely understands and is supportive of my reasons. As much as I wanted to go, I knew I could not. They are supposed to travel back down again tomorrow and stay the night Friday night. Call me crazy, but I would just assume stay at home with my wife and kids than travel 2 hours one way to assist in a basketball game and then stay the night away from my loved ones. I travel enough for work as it is to want to stay in a hotel room full of high school boys. While there are memories to be made in those instances, I choose my family still.
We are planning on going to Tulsa on Saturday as a family and go to the Jenks Aquarium. While I know it isn't the biggest one I have been to, I anticipate it will be fun with the kids and that is why we are going so that our kids can enjoy themselves and we can make some memories. Michele and I are really wanting to spend at least 1 weekend a month doing a family outing that will allow us to spend more time together and make memories in the process.
We are currently in the midst of a 40 day prayer and fasting season at our church. Our church does this every January to start the year off and many other churches do the same thing. It is a corporate fast and is something we feel is necessary for our church, for our walk with God and our nation. For 40 days we will fast at least 1 meal a day, Television and as much media related activities as possible. I never thought it would be possible to completely fast from television, but with God all things are possible. Technically I know it is possible, because I did it at Bible College and I can do it again. It is just a time I need to get my priorities straight and focus on the things of God rather than the things of this world. The media pumps so much garbage and trash into our homes and we become desensitized to what is sinful and wrong. We find ourselves engaging in programs that are morally corrupt and perverse and we call it a family sitcom.
A few weeks ago I was watching a program on ABC Family and the next thing I know a man and woman began to grope each other very strongly. I am sorry, but that is not "family" oriented television. I don't care if it says ABC Family, but not in my family. We have to watch what we allow into our homes. It is my job as a father and head of house to protect my family and ensure they are covered and protected. I do not want my children to be influenced by the ways of this world and I will do everything in my power with God as my source of strength of encouragement to prevent this from happening.
Well it is getting late and I need to get some rest. Good night and may God bless you all. Till next time this is Coach Stretch signing out.
Anthony
Friday, January 16, 2009
Time for a release
Well it has been more than 2 weeks since I blogged and while I could go on and on about not writing I will say this, Satan is a liar. According to the first part of John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." is a perfect description of who Satan is. He is a thief and he wants to destroy everything Christ is about. We were created in God's image and so we are made in the image of our heavenly father. Our heavenly Father is the creator of the universe. He creates and Satan tears down and destroys. The best part of John 10:10 is the end of the verse," I have com that they may have life, and have it to the full." God's word does not return void.
One of the challenges I have faced through the course of my life is what most writers would call a wall or "writers block". I consider it a lie from Satan. God has blessed me with a gift of writing and Satan wants nothing more than to destroy that gift my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I go through times when I can write freely and the Holy Spirit begins to flow through me and I feel free. And then the devil comes around the corner and begins whispering lies to me and I begin to have self-doubt and begin to second guess myself and reconsider the gift that I have been freely given. I begin to feel like if I don't "hear" something from God then there is no point for me to write. I begin to think that I have to have a "word" from God in order to write my thoughts down in hopes that if someone reads it will be touched. THIS is wrong! There is such a thing as being humanistic. I have been guilty of being humanistic and having a warped perception of who my Heavenly Father is. I act and begin to believe that I have it all figured out and that there are certain ways I have to worship and specific ways I must use my gift. God didn't give me the gift to put my own rules and regulations and own spin on it. I have been trying too hard. Of course I have allowed myself to get too busy to do the things of God and I get side-tracked doing the things of the world; i.e. work, etc.
God has been dealing with me in the last week in regards to this and I feel that God has released me from the negative thinking that I have been dealing with. I feel that I have received freedom from a spirit of discouragement and disparity. No more "woe is me" attitude. I have been given a spirit of authority, a spirit of boldness and a spirit of life. I am not going to live in doubt, disparity and have a spirit of death upon my life. Our tongues have the ability to speak life or death and I choose LIFE! As our forefathers proclaimed...Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. I will have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! I will no longer allow the whispering lies of Satan to distract me and taunt me into not using the gift God has blessed me with.
I was at a prayer meeting this evening with several friends and several that I don't know. God began to speak in a mighty way to the group. The word that was released to us was that God wants to release His gifts in us. He wants his children to use the gifts He has given us. He wants the arts to be brought out with the Christians. No longer must we accept what the world considers entertainment and art. The world's perception is perverted and blasphemous. God is the ultimate artist and wants His children to begin to use their gifts. These gifts are through drawing, painting, singing, writing poetry and songs and many others. God is calling us to use these gifts and release what He has placed inside of us. As I was listening to what God was saying, He began to speak to me that I have allowed discouragement to set in regarding my gifts and that He wants me to release them for His glory. I feel that something broke loose inside of me and I felt a release of peace in my life and I instantly wanted to write something. We began to pray that the gifts of God would spring up out of us and nothing would hold us back.
While this isn't completely on the topic that I was just writing on I do want to write what God also spoke to me. He was speaking that we are his sons and daughters and we must remember that we are His children. Too many of us have been bogged down with life and we have become hardened and are no longer like children. We must begin to see God as our Father and we are his children. God wants us to be as a child and have a child-like faith. He wants our relationship with Him to be as our relationships are with our children. When our children bring home a picture they drew at school we normally will put it on our refrigerator to display proudly and we shower our children with praise of how good of a job they did. That is the attitude we must have. God wants us to release our gifts in the field of arts. He wants us to express ourselves and when we color something or draw something instead of worrying about what it looks like, our Heavenly Father is going to tell us that it is a beautiful picture and He will let us know that He is proud of us. God is encouraging us to be His children and live like His children and not the world. When I got home from this meeting I opened my Bible and where I had previously had a bookmark allowed it to open to this specific verse. Galatians 3:26, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." We are heirs of Christ and we must remember this. That totally confirmed what God was speaking to me at the meeting. We are sons and daughters of God and we must begin to think that way. We are the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. We are heirs to His throne and we must begin to speak life and not death.
No longer am I going to allow Satan to steal the creativity that God has instilled into me and from now on I am going to allow the gift of God to be displayed through me regardless of what it is.
I know I have rambled a lot and it is late, but I had to release this and be obedient. While some of it may not make total sense, please don't judge and analyze everything that I have written. I have written this to express what God is doing through me and what I am experiencing. To God be the glory. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! I have freedom in Jesus' name.
It is my desire to continue to write and blog what the Lord is putting on my heart and even if I don't have a "word" from the Lord doesn't mean I won't write.
Blessings!
Anthony
One of the challenges I have faced through the course of my life is what most writers would call a wall or "writers block". I consider it a lie from Satan. God has blessed me with a gift of writing and Satan wants nothing more than to destroy that gift my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I go through times when I can write freely and the Holy Spirit begins to flow through me and I feel free. And then the devil comes around the corner and begins whispering lies to me and I begin to have self-doubt and begin to second guess myself and reconsider the gift that I have been freely given. I begin to feel like if I don't "hear" something from God then there is no point for me to write. I begin to think that I have to have a "word" from God in order to write my thoughts down in hopes that if someone reads it will be touched. THIS is wrong! There is such a thing as being humanistic. I have been guilty of being humanistic and having a warped perception of who my Heavenly Father is. I act and begin to believe that I have it all figured out and that there are certain ways I have to worship and specific ways I must use my gift. God didn't give me the gift to put my own rules and regulations and own spin on it. I have been trying too hard. Of course I have allowed myself to get too busy to do the things of God and I get side-tracked doing the things of the world; i.e. work, etc.
God has been dealing with me in the last week in regards to this and I feel that God has released me from the negative thinking that I have been dealing with. I feel that I have received freedom from a spirit of discouragement and disparity. No more "woe is me" attitude. I have been given a spirit of authority, a spirit of boldness and a spirit of life. I am not going to live in doubt, disparity and have a spirit of death upon my life. Our tongues have the ability to speak life or death and I choose LIFE! As our forefathers proclaimed...Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. I will have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! I will no longer allow the whispering lies of Satan to distract me and taunt me into not using the gift God has blessed me with.
I was at a prayer meeting this evening with several friends and several that I don't know. God began to speak in a mighty way to the group. The word that was released to us was that God wants to release His gifts in us. He wants his children to use the gifts He has given us. He wants the arts to be brought out with the Christians. No longer must we accept what the world considers entertainment and art. The world's perception is perverted and blasphemous. God is the ultimate artist and wants His children to begin to use their gifts. These gifts are through drawing, painting, singing, writing poetry and songs and many others. God is calling us to use these gifts and release what He has placed inside of us. As I was listening to what God was saying, He began to speak to me that I have allowed discouragement to set in regarding my gifts and that He wants me to release them for His glory. I feel that something broke loose inside of me and I felt a release of peace in my life and I instantly wanted to write something. We began to pray that the gifts of God would spring up out of us and nothing would hold us back.
While this isn't completely on the topic that I was just writing on I do want to write what God also spoke to me. He was speaking that we are his sons and daughters and we must remember that we are His children. Too many of us have been bogged down with life and we have become hardened and are no longer like children. We must begin to see God as our Father and we are his children. God wants us to be as a child and have a child-like faith. He wants our relationship with Him to be as our relationships are with our children. When our children bring home a picture they drew at school we normally will put it on our refrigerator to display proudly and we shower our children with praise of how good of a job they did. That is the attitude we must have. God wants us to release our gifts in the field of arts. He wants us to express ourselves and when we color something or draw something instead of worrying about what it looks like, our Heavenly Father is going to tell us that it is a beautiful picture and He will let us know that He is proud of us. God is encouraging us to be His children and live like His children and not the world. When I got home from this meeting I opened my Bible and where I had previously had a bookmark allowed it to open to this specific verse. Galatians 3:26, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." We are heirs of Christ and we must remember this. That totally confirmed what God was speaking to me at the meeting. We are sons and daughters of God and we must begin to think that way. We are the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. We are heirs to His throne and we must begin to speak life and not death.
No longer am I going to allow Satan to steal the creativity that God has instilled into me and from now on I am going to allow the gift of God to be displayed through me regardless of what it is.
I know I have rambled a lot and it is late, but I had to release this and be obedient. While some of it may not make total sense, please don't judge and analyze everything that I have written. I have written this to express what God is doing through me and what I am experiencing. To God be the glory. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! I have freedom in Jesus' name.
It is my desire to continue to write and blog what the Lord is putting on my heart and even if I don't have a "word" from the Lord doesn't mean I won't write.
Blessings!
Anthony
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