One of my clients came in today with a sheet full of jokes for me. I thought I'd post them here for everyone to enjoy!
Q) Why did the skeleton go to the movies by himself?
A) He had no body to go with him.
Q) What does a bee sit on?
A) His bee-hind.
Q) Where do cows go to have fun?
A) To the moo-vies.
Q) Why don't lobsters share?
A) Because they are shellfish.
Q) Why was the policeman in bed?
A) Because he was an undercover cop.
Q) Which runs faster, hot or cold?
A) Hot. Everyone can catch a cold.
Q) What does Christmas have to do with a cat in a desert?
A) They both have sandy claws.
Q) What do you call a pony with a cough?
A) A little hoarse.
Current weather: 98 degrees and a little breezy. What a great day. Last night was a parent forum at Hope's Middle School. A good number of parents all wanting to make the school better. Looks like it's going to be a great year!
Only 3 more days until JoshFest 06. Tomorrow August 30 is Hope's 12th birthday!! I'm a proud daddy of the two best girls in the world.
-Norm
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
New Computer and DSL
Well our computer at home has gone to Desk Top Heaven. It kept crashing and we didn't know why. We took it in to Best Buy to have it looked at and they told us the sad new. The circuits in the motherboard had got hot, expanded and had fluid leaking from them. This is not a good thing. The computer was toast. The next step was to purchase a new one. Tina and I decided a lap top was the way we wanted to go this time. We ended up purchasing a Toshiba Satellite M105-S3041. It has all the bells and whistles we were looking for and then some. The CD/DVD player and burner is my personal favorite. I was able to take the old documents and pictures from the old computer (in between frequent shutdowns). It was time consuming and very frustrating, but it is done. We also went from dial-up to DSL. What an amazing thing and so fast!!! I am sure glad to have been able to save our old information and take this computer thing to the next level.
Today Hope and Grace`were in a children's musical at church. They both did and excellent job. Following church we went to lunch with the Greers and Fergusons. What a great time. We are blessed to have such great friends. They encourage me and are genuine. Lunch was at Round Table Pizza. Good friends, good conversation and good food.
Only 4 more days until Joshua Fest!!
Weather today 92 degrees and a slight breeze. A good day overall.
-Norm
Today Hope and Grace`were in a children's musical at church. They both did and excellent job. Following church we went to lunch with the Greers and Fergusons. What a great time. We are blessed to have such great friends. They encourage me and are genuine. Lunch was at Round Table Pizza. Good friends, good conversation and good food.
Only 4 more days until Joshua Fest!!
Weather today 92 degrees and a slight breeze. A good day overall.
-Norm
Saturday, August 19, 2006
The Power of Story
I picked up a book the other day-Stories of Emergence, Moving from Absolute to Authentic. It is a collection of articles written by various authors regarding the Emerging Church. The first article is written by Mike Yaconelli. Mike was the founder of Youth Specialities and also a pastor in Yreka, California. He was killed in an automobile accident a couple years ago. I think we could have been friends.
I have been thinking alot about what he has written regarding the Power of Story. He states that "stories descibe our interaction with God, the tale of God's presence or lack of it in our lives. Stories are the playground of out faith, the place where the logic of our beliefs gets tested by the illogical experiences of our lives, the workplace where our ideas about God run head on into the real God. Our stories are the testing ground where our peceived ideas about how God works come face to face with how God really works. Our stories are the daily journal of faith's complicatedness, the progress report of our journey with God, the roadmap of our attempts to follow Jesus in the twisted and complex jungle of reality. Our stories are our testimonies to how the historical God works in the present. Stories are the witness of our sightings of God, our periodic glimpses of him, and our daily frustration of trying to keep him in our sights, losing him in the busyness of our lives and thenfinding him again-or trying to find him."
In John we read about the Word becoming Flesh and dwelling among us manifested in Jesus Christ. Today, I think we put fleshness to the Gospel-otherwise it is just stories. As we share our stories of struggle, defeat, and victories, we are sharing reasons to believe. Putting flesh to Faith. I grew up in a church where during each service there was a time to share a testimony. Some people would always share the same thing. Some people sat silently. Others would tell how God was moving in their lives giving reason to go on-they were the Word becoming flesh. A glimpse at God moving among us. Stories are powerful tools. I love to listen to a good story. I also love to tell a good story. When they strengthen my faith or the faith of others, that makes it even better.
Stories always remind us that the work of God is always ongoing and always changing and always revealing something new." -Mike Yaconelli
Current weather: Sunny and beautiful. Today's high was about 92 degrees. We saw the movie "Barnyard" today. It was a great story.
-Norm
I have been thinking alot about what he has written regarding the Power of Story. He states that "stories descibe our interaction with God, the tale of God's presence or lack of it in our lives. Stories are the playground of out faith, the place where the logic of our beliefs gets tested by the illogical experiences of our lives, the workplace where our ideas about God run head on into the real God. Our stories are the testing ground where our peceived ideas about how God works come face to face with how God really works. Our stories are the daily journal of faith's complicatedness, the progress report of our journey with God, the roadmap of our attempts to follow Jesus in the twisted and complex jungle of reality. Our stories are our testimonies to how the historical God works in the present. Stories are the witness of our sightings of God, our periodic glimpses of him, and our daily frustration of trying to keep him in our sights, losing him in the busyness of our lives and thenfinding him again-or trying to find him."
In John we read about the Word becoming Flesh and dwelling among us manifested in Jesus Christ. Today, I think we put fleshness to the Gospel-otherwise it is just stories. As we share our stories of struggle, defeat, and victories, we are sharing reasons to believe. Putting flesh to Faith. I grew up in a church where during each service there was a time to share a testimony. Some people would always share the same thing. Some people sat silently. Others would tell how God was moving in their lives giving reason to go on-they were the Word becoming flesh. A glimpse at God moving among us. Stories are powerful tools. I love to listen to a good story. I also love to tell a good story. When they strengthen my faith or the faith of others, that makes it even better.
Stories always remind us that the work of God is always ongoing and always changing and always revealing something new." -Mike Yaconelli
Current weather: Sunny and beautiful. Today's high was about 92 degrees. We saw the movie "Barnyard" today. It was a great story.
-Norm
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Preparing For JoshuaFest 2006
Well it's only a couple weeks until JoshuaFest in Quincy, California. This will be our third trip up the hill to attend this event. It is a great event in a beautiful setting. Quincy is located in the Sierra Mountains on Hwy. 70 between Oroville and Reno. It has a population of about 4,000 and is the seat of Plumas County. They have a wonderful fairground there. JoshuaFest is held there. Over 100 bands will be playing at JF, September 1,2, and 3! Also, Camp Jerico Kid's Program. Two years ago we stayed in a borrowed a tent trailer. Last year we stayed in a motorhome. This year we will be going the budget way and staying in a couple tents. Some of the bands playing there includeSkillet, Dizmas, Hawk Nelson, Pillar, Falling Up, TFK, Ever Stays Red
I totally love the whole festival atmosphere. It is very relaxing to sit among the pine trees and listen to some great music. I am also looking forward to the Praise & Worship and Church Service on Sunday morning. JF always seems to come around when it has been a stressful time at work and I am in need of some relaxation. Having just returned from a nice adventure in Tennessee that doesn't appear to be the case yet. We do still have a couple weeks to go........
Current weather: 100 degrees and beautiful.
-Norm
I totally love the whole festival atmosphere. It is very relaxing to sit among the pine trees and listen to some great music. I am also looking forward to the Praise & Worship and Church Service on Sunday morning. JF always seems to come around when it has been a stressful time at work and I am in need of some relaxation. Having just returned from a nice adventure in Tennessee that doesn't appear to be the case yet. We do still have a couple weeks to go........
Current weather: 100 degrees and beautiful.
-Norm
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
A Week In Tennessee
Yesterday we returned from our fact finding trip to the Volunteer state! We flew out of San Fransisco on Tuesday, August 8 headed for Memphis. Once settled into the Holiday Inn we went searching for dinner. Right down the street was a Chic-Fil-A. The staff there was very nice and friendly. Very good chicken wraps. We had set aside Wednesday for touring with a Real Estate agent. Her name is Debby. She took us to various parts and suburbs of Memphis to show us homes within our price range. It was nearing lunchtime and she suggested Back Yard Burger. I must say this place served incredible burgers. We settled on the Blue Cheese Bacon Burger meal. It was soooooo tasty. I now have a burger favorite in the south! We saw a number of very nice homes in Memphis on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.
On Thursday afternoon we headed for Nashville but decided to wait to see it until our return trip to Memphis. We ended up driving through a massive rain storm while heading to Knoxville. We took a driving tour looking at what houses were available there. We really liked this area. We decided to drive up to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. While on our way we stopped by a "Tourist Information" building. It turned out to be a front for a timeshare outfit. They promised us a reduced hotel rate, two free Dollywood tickets and breakfast in exchange for sitting through a 90 minute presentation. We stayed Thursday night and Friday night in Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge is a tourist trap!!! Getting the free amusement park tickets was the best part.
We spent a day at Dollywood! Hope and I went on the Tennessee Tornado. It loops and spins in all directions. I didn't think I liked roller coasters. We also went on their wooden coaster. It was fast and the g-forces were incredible! I would recommend this park if you are in Eastern Tennessee, but watch out for the rest of Pigeon Forge. It's a Smokey Mountain timeshare tourist trap. Tourists beware!!!
To be continued........
On Thursday afternoon we headed for Nashville but decided to wait to see it until our return trip to Memphis. We ended up driving through a massive rain storm while heading to Knoxville. We took a driving tour looking at what houses were available there. We really liked this area. We decided to drive up to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. While on our way we stopped by a "Tourist Information" building. It turned out to be a front for a timeshare outfit. They promised us a reduced hotel rate, two free Dollywood tickets and breakfast in exchange for sitting through a 90 minute presentation. We stayed Thursday night and Friday night in Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge is a tourist trap!!! Getting the free amusement park tickets was the best part.
We spent a day at Dollywood! Hope and I went on the Tennessee Tornado. It loops and spins in all directions. I didn't think I liked roller coasters. We also went on their wooden coaster. It was fast and the g-forces were incredible! I would recommend this park if you are in Eastern Tennessee, but watch out for the rest of Pigeon Forge. It's a Smokey Mountain timeshare tourist trap. Tourists beware!!!
To be continued........
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Life Outside The Fence
Jhn 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
As I was on my way to work yesterday this verse popped into my brain. At a time when we are fighting for freedom and trying to maintain stability in other parts of the world freedom has a price.
Personal freedom also has a price. Here in John, Jesus is speaking of spritual freedom. It will cost us our guilt, shame, self condemnation and past hurts. It will also take bowing at the foot of the Cross admitting we have sinned and need a Savior. Humanity is fenced in on all sides. Fences of shame, guilt, hurt, and condemnation. On the gate is the lock of sin which has us trapped with no way to escape. Jesus stands at the gate with the keys having overcome death, hell and the grave. He is waiting for us the make the choice to follow Him and leave the pen of sin. Jesus offers freedom and if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. The freedom far outweighs what we have to give up or give away for it.
On another note. Buck and Rachael left yesterday for New York. It was a sad setting in our home last night. They will really be missed. Thankfully the cousins got to spend the last evening together. I look forward to hearing about their adventures to and living in New York.
Here's a just for fun Make TJ Drink
Current weather: 94 degrees is the expected high today. The haze is nearly gone. I could get use to these pleasant summer days.
-Norm
As I was on my way to work yesterday this verse popped into my brain. At a time when we are fighting for freedom and trying to maintain stability in other parts of the world freedom has a price.
Personal freedom also has a price. Here in John, Jesus is speaking of spritual freedom. It will cost us our guilt, shame, self condemnation and past hurts. It will also take bowing at the foot of the Cross admitting we have sinned and need a Savior. Humanity is fenced in on all sides. Fences of shame, guilt, hurt, and condemnation. On the gate is the lock of sin which has us trapped with no way to escape. Jesus stands at the gate with the keys having overcome death, hell and the grave. He is waiting for us the make the choice to follow Him and leave the pen of sin. Jesus offers freedom and if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. The freedom far outweighs what we have to give up or give away for it.
On another note. Buck and Rachael left yesterday for New York. It was a sad setting in our home last night. They will really be missed. Thankfully the cousins got to spend the last evening together. I look forward to hearing about their adventures to and living in New York.
Here's a just for fun Make TJ Drink
Current weather: 94 degrees is the expected high today. The haze is nearly gone. I could get use to these pleasant summer days.
-Norm
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Tennessee and Virginia
We are going on a fact finding mission. Next week we will all be going to check out Tennessee and Virginia. The plan is to fly into Memphis and meet up with a real estate agent and view the Memphis area. Later in the week we will drive up to Nashville and then on to Virginia. We have been researching these areas and think they are places we might like to live. Tina and I have been discussing places we might like to move to. I have lived in our town because my parents raised us there. I would like to live somewhere because we want to live there. These areas interest us. One thing is for sure the real estate prices are lower.
More to follow.....
Current weather: 93 degrees and a little hazy. The fire on the mountain is still burning, but it is not as hot in the valley. I actually needed to wear a sweatshirt on my ride to work this morning.
-Norm
More to follow.....
Current weather: 93 degrees and a little hazy. The fire on the mountain is still burning, but it is not as hot in the valley. I actually needed to wear a sweatshirt on my ride to work this morning.
-Norm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
