For the first time, my niece and nephew from California are coming to visit the great state of Minnesota over Thanksgiving.
I think they were a bit shocked coming off the plane and walking down the boarding gate yesterday when they left weather of 75 and sunny to 24 and dark.
People talk about Thanksgiving and always talk about the conventional turkey, apple pie, etc.
I will challenge my limited but awesome blogosphere fans to not only remember the first part of Thanksgiving (giving thanks to God the Father for His many blessings) but also the 'giving'.
My prayer is that God will provide an opportunity for each of us to give of our time, treasure, or talents to encourage others this holiday season.
Grace & Peace.
PLW
Nov 26, 2008
Nov 22, 2008
Birthday Reflections
So for my birthday my wife asks if I wanted anything? After a few smart aleck responses, I replied in the only way a true husband knows how to with, 'Just your love for the rest of your life'.
As I thought about this, I am still blown away that besides Christ, there are others around me who love me unconditionally for who I am and no matter what I do to try and screw that up, it never changes the base equation.
I have some friends and even family members that are divorced and trying to juggle custody battles, parenting problems, a tough economic environment, and the whole single-mom/dad situation. I know people in jail and in prison serving out sentences for bad choices in their lives, the just consequence for their actions.
While I am thankful and blessed to have an awesome wife and family, we need to go out of our way to make sure our friends, family, etc. who are divorced or single moms or dads have our support, encouragement, and love especially during the holiday season.
Jesus said in Matthew 25, 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'.
As I thought about this, I am still blown away that besides Christ, there are others around me who love me unconditionally for who I am and no matter what I do to try and screw that up, it never changes the base equation.
I have some friends and even family members that are divorced and trying to juggle custody battles, parenting problems, a tough economic environment, and the whole single-mom/dad situation. I know people in jail and in prison serving out sentences for bad choices in their lives, the just consequence for their actions.
While I am thankful and blessed to have an awesome wife and family, we need to go out of our way to make sure our friends, family, etc. who are divorced or single moms or dads have our support, encouragement, and love especially during the holiday season.
Jesus said in Matthew 25, 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'.
I guess if I had a birthday wish, it would be that my friends, family and people around me would see Christ's love exemplified through my life and that they would see my unconditional love for them at all times.
Anything short of that is simply coal in my stocking...
Grace & Peace
PLW
Nov 20, 2008
Defense
OU plays Texas Tech (yes, Bobby Knight's old school) who boasts a very potent offense and stout defense. It will be a great game -7:00pm on Saturday...OU's defense will be the key to winning.
Have you ever been told something by someone that you didn't want to hear but you needed to hear it? That happened to me yesterday.
At first, I was a little ticked, but then I realized that he was right and now I am at a place where I appreciate the honesty spoken into my life. We all need people in our lives that can speak truth into us. I am blessed to have a few of those.
Tonight, my wife is home from her travels and I am no longer a single dad...whew!!!
Grace & Peace
PLW
Have you ever been told something by someone that you didn't want to hear but you needed to hear it? That happened to me yesterday.
At first, I was a little ticked, but then I realized that he was right and now I am at a place where I appreciate the honesty spoken into my life. We all need people in our lives that can speak truth into us. I am blessed to have a few of those.
Tonight, my wife is home from her travels and I am no longer a single dad...whew!!!
Grace & Peace
PLW
Nov 18, 2008
Early Thanksgiving
Sorry for not updating lately as it has been a whirlwind...
My wife's side of the family celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend at the farm in New Prague, MN. We ate a ton o turkey and fabulous pies and cakes baked by some of the finest cooks in Minnesota - Heidi, her mom and her sisters! Needless to say, the gym will be my friend for the next couple of years...
I'm excited for my brother from California to be visiting next week and I am in full-gear getting the house ready for 22 people at Thanksgiving. And with Heidi out of town, this makes life super fun for dad.
I was able to catch the Sunday night UFC fight at a friend's house on Saturday where Brock Lesnar became the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
A friend of mine used to wrestle at the UofM and has wrestled against Brock and he can't imagine anyone beating him because of his sheer size, strength and quickness. Needless to say, my kids will be playing basketball and looking up to the likes of Jamaal Wilkes, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Kurt Rambis...
Grace & Peace.
PLW
My wife's side of the family celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend at the farm in New Prague, MN. We ate a ton o turkey and fabulous pies and cakes baked by some of the finest cooks in Minnesota - Heidi, her mom and her sisters! Needless to say, the gym will be my friend for the next couple of years...
I'm excited for my brother from California to be visiting next week and I am in full-gear getting the house ready for 22 people at Thanksgiving. And with Heidi out of town, this makes life super fun for dad.
I was able to catch the Sunday night UFC fight at a friend's house on Saturday where Brock Lesnar became the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
A friend of mine used to wrestle at the UofM and has wrestled against Brock and he can't imagine anyone beating him because of his sheer size, strength and quickness. Needless to say, my kids will be playing basketball and looking up to the likes of Jamaal Wilkes, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Kurt Rambis...
Grace & Peace.
PLW
Nov 11, 2008
WSOTW
We have sung this one at church a couple of times, but I like the instrumentation of this version - good vibe...
Have a blessed week...
PLW
Have a blessed week...
PLW
Texas A&M
Recently, my wife and I had the pleasure of staying with friends in College Station, TX to observe the Oklahoma Sooners crush the aTm Aggies 2000-9 (ok I may be exaggerating a bit).
We also had the opportunity to experience some REAL southern hospitality and to that end, I am dedicating this blog to my friends in TX.
Thanks for an incredible weekend and opening your house up to a couple of hicks from Minnesota. We truly had a blast and will not soon forget bass fishing in November, fire ants and the infamous skunk episode.
PLW
Nov 5, 2008
Election, Deception...Oh My
One of the funnyiest yet saddest things I have ever seen in my life was observed on YouTube following an Obama rally. I know that this has been going around for a bit but its very telling of our generation:
Sadly, I think many Americans are thinking about what others can do for them verses what we can ultimately do for other people. A friend of mine wrote in a blog last week that says it better than I ever could:
'....Again - my point isn't that the right guy won. My point is, as Christians, we have a responsibility this morning. It's the same responsibility we had yesterday, and the same one we'll have tomorrow.And it has nothing to do with declaring the end of the world due to an election that didn't go our way. We are to shadow God as he redeems the world here and now.President Obama is our president. - but God is still pretty important. If you don't like the election results, keep doing your part to change the world from where you are. After all...that's change you can believe in...' - Ben Redmond, Various Parables
Sadly, I think many Americans are thinking about what others can do for them verses what we can ultimately do for other people. A friend of mine wrote in a blog last week that says it better than I ever could:
'....Again - my point isn't that the right guy won. My point is, as Christians, we have a responsibility this morning. It's the same responsibility we had yesterday, and the same one we'll have tomorrow.And it has nothing to do with declaring the end of the world due to an election that didn't go our way. We are to shadow God as he redeems the world here and now.President Obama is our president. - but God is still pretty important. If you don't like the election results, keep doing your part to change the world from where you are. After all...that's change you can believe in...' - Ben Redmond, Various Parables
Nov 3, 2008
Meaningless Under the Sun?
I have been reading in Ecclesiastes lately and it has reminded me of our constitutional right to vote tomorrow.
As many of you know, I enjoy reading and listening to political thought and discourse especially as it ties to economic and philispophical choices and alternatives.
However, sometimes as a voter I get easily confused and discouraged as to the 'who', 'what', 'where' and 'why' of voting and admit that I feel a bit like Solomon in some of his violent mood swings.
But, it is our constitutional right and duty and it's the only true check and balance we have on the leaders of our country.
So, here are some links that I have found useful in the past while making up my mind on who to vote for...:
Presidential Election
Minnesota Local Elections
Voting Guide - Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
Remember to vote tomorrow. See you at the polls!
As many of you know, I enjoy reading and listening to political thought and discourse especially as it ties to economic and philispophical choices and alternatives.
However, sometimes as a voter I get easily confused and discouraged as to the 'who', 'what', 'where' and 'why' of voting and admit that I feel a bit like Solomon in some of his violent mood swings.
But, it is our constitutional right and duty and it's the only true check and balance we have on the leaders of our country.
So, here are some links that I have found useful in the past while making up my mind on who to vote for...:
Presidential Election
Minnesota Local Elections
Voting Guide - Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
Remember to vote tomorrow. See you at the polls!
WSOTW
This week's worship song is an oldie but goodie - but a little more contemporary.
Also, please note the time difference for WSOTW since beginning of the week makes way more sense than the end. Grace & Peace!
Also, please note the time difference for WSOTW since beginning of the week makes way more sense than the end. Grace & Peace!
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