Interesting Day To Say The Least

What I thought would be a semi-normal day turned out to be a rather exciting one. Every Friday our school has Chapel for about 45 minutes and I teach it. I usually will get to the church between 5:30 and 6 am. to get ready for that day, the lesson so forth so on. First of all I got here this morning with a cup of coffee in my hands and I didnt know whether I was just tired or what happened, but the thing seemed to bend out of my hands and all over my classroom carpet. Greeeaatt. Perfect way to start the day. In the midst of cleaning my pants and shoes off, I realized the bottom had ripped off. Cheap styrofoam companies! I taught on getting out of your comfort zone today. We did a cool countdown and then showed "Thats My King". Right as I am beginning to speak, Mrs Wrinkle (the administrator) comes up to me and whispers in my ear "Keep it going for awhile, we are on lockdown....nobody can leave the building". I kind of paused for a moment, losing my thoughts and then got back on track. Of course it was kind of scary. They went around locked all the doors to the building and you could hear the sirens out in front of the church screaming down the street. Apperently, I found out later, that a man had taken a gun and shot someone in the head and was loose. 4 DOORS DOWN FROM OUR SCHOOL. This world really is really crazy. I think I pulled it off enough so that nobody noticed what was going on. There are no see through windows in our church and everybody was already in the chapel (thats where we all were at the time so we just stayed) so we just proceeded to have devotion. About an hour and a half later, they called and said we were out of lockdown so everybody kind of breathed easy and then they left the sanctuary. An interesting day so far to say the least!

Prayer Changes Things

I hear this guy is preaching campmeeting this year....too funny

San Francisco

This is a flier I made on the run for our San Francisco trip coming up in a couple of weeks.

Sit Back, Shutup, and Listen

Has anything ever happened in your life where you just had to zip your mouth and shut-up? Were all people, and just admit it, as people we don’t like to be wrong. Human ego is a huge thing and nobody wants to be proven wrong. Especially in front of people. Have you ever met the kind of person where you can talk to them and reason with them in all logical sense in the world pointing out solid facts, and trying to tell them YOU ARE WRONG! But instead they fire back at you with some rhetorical excuse as to why they are right and how YOU are wrong when you have just given them no grounds in the world to argue on. And even in my short years of existence, I found out that’s when you cant do anymore. You just shut up, mind your own business and move on. I find those kind of people aren’t worth arguing with, because although they may not see they it, they will never be wrong in their own eyes. You can try and try and try to interject your feelings and your point to them, but in no way shape or form are they going to let you have your way without something blowing up in the process! Their way of doing things will never change. I find it personally funny that they do this not knowing people see right through all that. The moment you say something it’s never “hmm maybe your right, or wow I never thought of it that way” but it’s as if that person automatically will be on the edge thinking of how they can have a comeback for this never once thinking that I may just need to listen to this. This I think is where having an open mind comes in. You can automatically tell people that have an open mind and a person that has a closed one. That’s why when they say something, you just shut your mouth, “say uh-huh” and just slowly end the conversation. I respect a person that I can actually suggest that they may not be doing something not so wrong but not so right and they will not get offended. You can speak your heart to them and tell them how you really feel without getting some sort of ‘automatic’ response back from them trying to justify themselves. Sometimes I just have to sit back, take the heat and say “your right”. My human spirit automatically wants to start putting on boxing gloves and get into the ring trying to justify myself, but I learned a valuable lesson awhile ago. ‘I’m not always right.”. Even when I thought I had the most brilliant idea in the world and wanted to do it, thank God someone had the guts to tell me…..”your wrong”. Looking at this, I find this to be a type of leadership. When people wanted to argue with God about certain things, they wanted to get him mad and cause a “battle” if you will. Something that would drag away from his main purpose here on earth. But God in all of his infinite wisdom, simply gave them an answer and moved on. He didn’t stay to argue, he didn’t stay to try to get his point across. He simply said his mind and left. He knew he couldn’t change their mind, so what was the point in wasting his personal energy, time and calling into something that wouldn’t be changed no matter what he said. I wonder sometimes if God brings certain people into your life on purpose just to annoy you. I heard someone say once, don’t be so eager to deal out judgment on someone, because they may still have a part to play before it is all over. Thank God he gave me that chance. When I messed up, when I wasn’t perfect, his grace and mercy let me get up again. I have needed that grace, you have needed that grace and thank God he gave it to us. I had to sit down, shut up, and accept the fact that I was wrong! Just something to chew on.

freeWAY Bad News For The Blues

Here is the quartet singing Bad News For The Blues at the Chief Musician Conference in Stockton, CA. Enjoy

Reasons Why It's Good to Be a Man!

So I thought this was pretty funny when I read it. This is for all those folks with a good sense of humor. Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be president. (ewwww dont know about this one) Car mechanics tell you the truth. You never drive to another gas station 'cause this one's just too 'yucky'. Same work... more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding Dress $5,000; Tux rental $100. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister or mangle your feet. Your pals are trusted to never trap you with: "So, notice anything different?" One mood, ALL the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. Dry cleaners and hair stylists don't rob you blind. You can leave the motel bed unmade. You can kill your own food. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you to something, he or she remains your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. You can quietly enjoy a car ride from the passenger's seat. You don't have to clean your apartment if the maid is coming. You can quietly watch a game with a buddy for hours without thinking: "He must be mad at me." You don't mooch off others' desserts. You can drop by to see a friend without having to bring a little gift. You are not expected to know the names of more than five colors. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. Your belly usually hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons. You can 'do' your nails with a pocketknife. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th, in 45 minutes.

freeWAY I Still Believe in America

freeWAY singing "I Still Believe in America". This video was recorded live at Christian Life Center in Stoctkon at "To The Chief Musician" Conference. Enjoy

Your Invited

Here is a flier I posted awhile back that I made. Time has flown and it is already here. This conference is going to awesome! Friday night starting out with Merced Choir and Saturday with Holy Hands of Tuare and freeWAY Quartet. Bro Ken Gurly is the main speaker this year. Friday night starting at 7:30 and Saturday starting at 3:00. Both services are at Calvary Evangelism Center in Sacramento.

My Favorite Place

I think that everyone has a favorite place somewhere. A place where you can go and just relax and let all the stress and worries just run off your mind and conscience. Leaving the cell phone, and distractions behind, every night I (try) go jogging in the park behind our house. Right in the middle of the track where I run, there are three huge baseball fields and a dog park engulfed all the way around by huge oak trees. Its great because there is hardly anybody ever out there. I think that frequently every person needs a time when they can just get with themselves and God and just forget about what surrounds you and what is worrying your mind. You can only take so much of life before you get "Burnt Out". But if you let times of refreshing come and let God renew your confidence and spirit, we can go so much further. It is physically impossible to please people 100% of the time so guess what....I stopped trying. Its just added stress that adds onto the load. I am finding out that when I can learn to value my time and Gods time enough, and take him with me to my favorite place, life becomes alot easier.

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Here are some Pictures of "My Favorite Place". Just thought I would share.

Things To Do On A Blind Date

-At dinner, guard your plate with fork and steak knife, so as to give the impression that you'll stab anyone, including the waiter, who reaches for it. -Collect the salt shakers from all of the tables in the restaurant, and balance them in a tower on your table. -Wipe your nose on your date's sleeve. Twice. -Make funny faces at other patrons, then sneer at their reactions. -Repeat every third third word you say say. -Give your claim to fame as being voted 'Most Festerous' for your high school yearbook. -Read a newspaper or book during the meal. Ignore your date. -Stare at your date's neck, and grind your teeth audibly. -Twitch spastically. If asked about it, pretend you don't know what they are talking about. Stand up every five minutes, circle your table with your arms outstretched, and make airplane sounds. -Order a bucket of lard. -Ask for crayons to color the placemat. This works very well in fancier venues that use linen tablecloths. -Pull out a harmonica and play blues songs when your date begins talking about himself/herself. -Sacrifice french fries to the great deity, Pomme. -When ordering, inquire whether the restaurant has any live food. -Without asking, eat off of your date's plate. Eat more from their plate than they do. -Drool. -Chew with your mouth open, talk with your mouth full and spray crumbs. If a crumb lands anywhere near your date, pick up the crumb, put it in your mouth and say, "I'm all about conservation." -Eat everything on your plate within 30 seconds of it being placed in front of you. -Excuse yourself to use the restroom. Go back to the head waiter/hostess and ask for another table in a different part of the restaurant. Order another meal. When your date finally finds you, ask him/her "What took you so long in the bathroom?!" -Recite graphic limericks to the people at the table next to you. -Ask the people at the neighboring table for food from their plates. -Beg your date to tattoo your name on their forearm. Keep bringing the subject up periodically throughout the meal. -Ask your date how much money they have with them. -Order for your date. Order something nasty. -Refuse to communicate in anything but mime for the entire evening. -Upon entering the restaurant, ask for a seat away from the windows, where you have a good view of all exits and where you can keep your back to the wall. Act nervous. -Lick your plate. Offer to lick your date's. -Hum. Loudly. In monotone. -Fill your pockets with sugar packets as well as salt and pepper shakers, silverware, floral arrangements... i.e., anything that isn't bolted down. -Hold a debate. Take both sides. -Auction your date off for silverware. -Slide under the table. Take your plate with you. -Order a baked potato. When the waiter brings your food, hide the potato, wait a few minutes and ask the waiter for the potato you 'never got'. When the waiter returns with another potato, have the first one back on your plate. Watch the waiter's face. -Order beef tongue. Make crude comparisons or comments. -Discuss boils and lesions, as if from personal experience. -Speak in Pig Latin throughout the meal. -Take a break and go into the restroom. When you return to the table, throw a spare pair of underwear on the back of one of the chairs. Tell your date, with a straight face, "They need to air out." -If they are paying, order the most expensive thing on the menu. Take one bite, pretend like the food is disgusting, belch and say "Boy, did you get ripped off!" -Bring 20 or so candles into the restaurant. During the meal, get up and arrange them around the table in a circle. Chant. -Save the bones from your meal and explain that you're taking them home to your invalid, senile old mother because it's a lot cheaper than actually feeding her. -Order your food by colors and textures. Sculpt. -Insist that the waiter cut your food into little pieces. In a similar manner, insist that he take a bite of everything to make sure no one has poisoned your food. -Accuse your date of espionage. Pretend like you have a secret microphone hidden on your body and you are talking to the CIA. -Don't use any verbs during the entire meal. -Bring a bucket along. Explain that you frequently get ill.

Who God Uses

The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember... Noah was a drunk Abraham was too old Isaac was a daydreamer Jacob was a liar Leah was ugly Joseph was abused and arrogent Moses had a stuttering problem Gideon was afraid Samson had long hair and was a womanizer Rahab was a prostitute Jeremiah and Timothy were too young David had an affair and was a murderer Elijah was suicidal Isaiah preached naked Jonah ran from God Naomi was a widow Job went bankrupt John the Baptist ate bugs Peter denied Christ The Disciples fell asleep while praying Martha worried about everything The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once Zaccheus was too small Paul was too religious Timothy had an ulcer... ANDLazarus was dead! - Author unknown

Teaching Math

Being a teacher has its perks. Today is an example. The seventh grade class I teach is hilarious. Out of the 3 grades that I teach, 7th is probably the funniest one. I am finding the humor of kids(not that I am that old myself) is so innocent. They will laugh at anything. We were reading today and all of a sudden one of their stomachs just made this loud noise. The class burst into laughter as the one child, whose stomach sounded like a volcano, laughed along. I am thankful because these kids I teach are so real. They arent trying to be like the cool kids, or trying to fit in by doing popular things, but each one of the classmates dont pressure each other to try to act like someone other than themselves. They just teach you to lighten up and have fun. One thing I am finding out, is you need to ednjoy the time you have when you are a kid, because it gets busier as you get older. Granted there are times when you have to lay down the law so to speak, but most of the time, all the kids are very well behaved. Believe it or not, I have learned alot from them. Treat everbody the same no matter if they dont fit in, or if they are a little bit different. Listen to someone when they have something to say and you actually learn. These kids may be learning from me, but I am certainly learning from them! I laughed at this video when I saw it. Hopefully I dont ever get into this kind of math!

FAC Youth Calender

Here is a calender/logo thing I designed for our youth. Still working on it though. Our youth is doing awesome!!

New Radio Release

The Gaither Vocal Band has released their new song to radio entitled "When I Cry". This is probably one of the best recorded songs I have ever heard. Their new album is entitled "Lovin Life" and is probably the smoothest album I have heard from them in a long time. Listen to "When I Cry" and tell me what you think. It has been released by the Rick Hendrix Company. Click here to listen!