Its official, I have a new car

My wife and I purchased a new, well, different car. No, its not a flashy vehicle. No, its not one that will win awards for its sleek looks or name. Its a bare boned, base model 2006 Chevy Malibu, with only 5600 miles on it. I didn't take the hit, but its just like brand new.

Its black, four doors, and saves a ton of money on gas. I loved my 1998 2 door Ford Explorer Sport, all black, tinted windows, running boards, roof rack, with power everything, but with 132,000 miles on it, and our other car reaching 95,000 miles, it was about time to replace one.

I'll drive the Malibu for about 2 or 3 years, and then we'll replace Kristen's car. She'll take over the Malibu at that point, and then we'll sell her Honda and buy me a truck.

And throughout all of this, I'm very proud to say, we paid cash for the Malibu. I'll never have a car payment again!

Check us out!

We have a webpage for our Skinny N Rich team. Go see us all HERE!!

We're going to win, so everyone look out!

Skinny 'N' Rich

So today was the official weigh in day for "Scale Back Alabama". The team I am on, Skinny 'N' Rich weighed in at around 1200 pounds. There are five of us on the team: myself, Jason Bybee, Jon Stacy, his wife Stacy, and Douglas Hargett.

I'll post a team photo later, blogger is giving me some issues right now, and I can't get it to post.

My official beginning weight: 265 pounds. Of course, that's with 3 shirts on, dress shoes, blue jeans, and a jacket.

Stay tuned to my other blog, Fat Man, for updates on the progress of our team!

What's in a Song?

Its amazing how a song truly can take you back. Music has always been a passion of mine. I used to love and sit in my room and play my guitar. Its something I haven't done in a while, and I think I may have to back to it.

When I hear certain songs, I'm taken back to a very specific moment. When I hear the song "Fields of Gold" by Sting, I'm taken back to my very first real date. I was 15, she was 17, and she had to pick me up. That song was playing in her car, and I always go back to that nervous state of mind when I hear it.

Every time I hear the song "Life is a Highway", my mind is taken back to a particular day at the Hickory Hollow Mall with my good friend Jason. We really wanted to buy the Cassette Single (man, that dates me, doesn't it?), and we had no money between the two of us to purchase the $3.00 single. Events ensued, and we "found" the money lying around on the floor of a very water covered floor in the middle of the mall.

When I hear Guitar Town by Steve Earle, I'm taken back to the tiny town of Rochester, Minnesota, and my first real Mission Trip. Jason and I listened to it over and over again on the way up there (the worst and best 20 hour bus ride ever).

Songs like Hard Day's Night, Steal My Kisses, and Wonderwall remind me of wonderful times with Kevin Westmoreland in Brigance 206 at Freed Hardeman University. We would sit and sing in the room till the wee hours of the night.

The song "Long December" by the Counting Crows has a special place in my heart as well. I actually bought a Keyboard to learn how to play this song for Kristen, back when we were still in college. She told me at one point that she really loved that song (we heard it the other night, and she couldn't remember why she loved it so much!).

The song "Only Hope" by Mandy Moore, will forever remind me of when I saw Kristen for the first time in her Wedding dress, as that was the song she walked down the aisle to.

So what about you? Are there any songs that bring back those moments? What are they?

I May Just Have to get one of THESE!!

So on Monday, I finally had to get a new cell phone. I decided to go with the stunningly small and slim Motorola KRZR, not the RZR phone. I had heard nightmares about the Rzr phone, especially from my carrier, Verizon. The KRZR phone supposedly has beefed up the functions, and it is an MP3 player phone as well. So far I love it. I think its great. It fits in my pocket well, and its also very sleek looking.

And then, this came out. It may convince me to switch to Cingular. Watch the whole video. My jaw literally dropped several times watching it.



So what do you think: Is it just hype, or will this replace cell phone technology as we know it?

The New 7 Wonders of the World

If you'll go to New 7 Wonders you'll be able to vote on the new 7 Wonders of the World. Voting ends in like 170 days, but its pretty neat to do. They have about 20-25 things to vote on. You pick your 7. Here's who I picked:


1. Christ Redeemer: The statue of Christ in Brazil






2. The Colosseum: The Ancient Roman Colosseum







3. Easter Island Statues







4. The Great Wall of China








5. Pyramids of Giza: The only original of the Ancient Wonders still standing







6. Stonehenge: Don't knock it till you have actually seen them. They truly are a wonder.







7. The Taj Mahal: Its probably one of the most beautiful man-made structures on earth.

Hooray Florida??

Never ever thought I would say this, but, Hooray Florida! I'm glad you beat the stew out of Ohio State last night.

Here's something to think about, all you guys who say that the SEC is not the best conference in the free world:

1. Ohio State, the beloved Buckeyes, who went number 1 from wire to wire this year, have never beaten an SEC team in the post season.

2. There are 6, count em, 6 SEC teams in the final top 25 of the year.

3. Florida beat the stew out of a team who was supposed to beat them by the same score.

4. Year after year, there are people who say the other conferences around the nation are better, yet year after year we consistently have 6-8 teams in the top 25 year round.

5. I don't believe Notre Dame has beaten a ranked opponent in 2 years, but they got a BCS bowl? What gives?

6. Florida played about 27 freshman throughout the year, and most of those broke records.

7. Out of conference the SEC was 41-7 for 85%. The Big 10 was 33-11 for 75%. As for who they both played out of conference, without 15 wins against the MAC the Big 10 would have to play someone. They did play 8 division II high school teams and lost 25% of those.

8. 9 bowl games were played in by SEC teams.

9. Lee Corso, the not so bright guy he is, said this morning on ESPN that Ohio State was still tired after playing...hah...Michigan??

10. With about 75% of the SEC teams making a case to have some sort of ranking at the end of the year, and 75% of them being in a bowl game, who else puts up those numbers, not just this year, but EVERY year?

Hiatus

For the next week or so, my wife and I will be gone to Colorado for the National Conference for Youth Ministers. I hope the terrible snowstorm going on out there takes a rest so we can make it out there and enjoy the week. On top of us being able to learn and unite with friends and hang out with people of my profession, we'll get to rest and relax a bit too.

So for the next week or so, I may be on hiatus from blogging, or I may not be. It just depends on if I'll have internet in my hotel room.

I'll be preaching this Sunday at Guntersville as well. Hope that goes well.

And by the way, my XM radio is up and running, and I love it. I also love that activation and the first free month was FREE!!! Its great to have my talk radio back in my car.

Happy New Year everyone.

My 2006 Christmas

If I could sum up my 2006 Christmas Season, I would have to say it was probably the merriest Christmas I've ever had.

It started off in Lebanon, TN with my family. We celebrated with my entire family. It is so enjoyable to see all the children open up their presents. I must say that I'm really at the point now that I would rather see the joy on someone else's face while opening a gift I got them than getting any gift myself.

However, I had a very merry Christmas. One of my favorite gifts was my Delphi RoadyXT XM Radio. Now all I have to do is hook it up and be well on my way to listening to XM radio.

We then came back south towards Kristen's parents' home, and celebrated Christmas with her mother's family. We did the great and fabulous Dirty Santa, and I ended up with a wonderful Best Buy Gift Card (my parents had given me one also).

The next morning, which was Christmas Day, I opened up Season 5 of 24, followed by some tremendous looking Golf Club Covers my wife had given me. We then headed off to her parents house again, where I opened up another Best Buy Gift Card!

There were some other things interspersed throughout the day, like an Alabama Sweatshirt, a Deal or No Deal game, and many other things.

But I guess what i was really excited about was that my family got along well, and Kristen's family got along well. Everything was great. It was indeed a Merry Christmas.

HAPPY 10,000!!!

Just a little under a year ago, I fell into peer pressure and joined the online world of blogging. Little did I know how much joy it would give me.

Today, after writing about the really cool new Transformers movie due out this summer, I have officially had my 10,000th visitor. I don't know who you were, or if you are a regular visitor, but thanks for being #10,000.

Now I know that several others who visit this site from other links have had upwards of 30,000-100,000 visitors. But for me, who never imagined anyone would even care about reading my random ramblings, I'm ecstatic. Here's to the next 10,000!

More Than Meets the Eye

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Hollywood releases
Is anyone else excited about THIS?

I remember as a kid, this was probably one of my favorite shows. I never owned any of the toys, but I had a friend who had Optimus Prime, with the truck bed that opened up and everything.

When I found out they were doing this movie, I felt like a little kid. Nothing beats being an adult, watching a movie about your favorite childhood cartoon. Link to the site above, and watch the exclusive trailer on Yahoo!

Who will win? The Autobots or the Decepticons?

Top 10 Most Memorable Christmas Presents/Memories

In thinking back amongst the presents I've gotten over the past 27 Christmas Days, I thought I would bring to you the top 10 presents I've ever received. These don't necessarily mean my favorite gifts I've ever gotten, but the most memorable ones.

10. Bow and Arrow with Rubber Sticky Things: When I was around 12 years old, I asked for one of these. Of course I meant a bow and arrow with suction cup tips, but I didn't know what they were called, so I asked for a bow and arrow with rubber sticky things.

9. A box full of colored briefs: When I was about 10, in front of everyone at the Widick Family Christmas at my grandparents house, i got real excited when I had the biggest package there. When I opened the box, it was full of packages of colored underwear. Wow, in front of my sister and brother and cousins and aunts and uncles.

8. Back to the Future Soundtrack: Around 1985/1986, after the movie had come out, Santa brought me that soundtrack and put it in my stocking. I bet I listend to that tape about 500 times before it finally just broke. Full of great music from Huey Lewis and the News, and on the flip side several oldies like Johnny B. Goode.

7. David Palmer Jersey: My good friend Jason and I always swapped gifts on Christmas. One year he got me a jersey for the Deuce, David Palmer, all purpose guy for the Crimson Tide. Why was this one so memorable? Jason brought it to me, wrapped up in none other than a pillowcase off his bed.

6. A terribly great trip to Florida: Back in 1992ish, my brother got married on December 22nd in Central Florida. We drove down instead of flying, our minivan broke down twice on the way down, and we ended up renting a car from a place called "Rent-A-Wreck". The tuxedo fitting guy was not so straight if you catch my drift, and it was the first time I heard my dad say the word gay.

5. Nothing at all: Last year, my wife and I were in Memphis for Christmas Day. We had spent the day before at my parent's house, and weren't going to her parents house till much later because we had spent Thanksgiving at Disneyworld with them. We got stuck in traffic on the way back to Memphis on the 24th, got home 7 hours after we left (it should have taken us 4). We woke up, went to church, no one invited us over for lunch, and we spent Christmas day taking down the decorations because we were so depressed. Fortunately, later that night, our friends Michael and Catherine came back in to town and we went to eat mexican food.

4. My Granddaddy Smith from around 1990 till he passed: My mom's parents would always spend Christmas Eve night with us, and wake up with us to enjoy our presents Christmas morning. As my Grandfather got older, he wasn't able to walk very well at all. He shuffled his feet around, and took forever to get anywhere. My parents wouldn't allow us down the stairs until all the adults were in there (so they could see our faces when we turned around the stairs). Eventually, it got to the point where he was taking so long to get ready, we would fall asleep on the stairs waiting for him. One Christmas Eve night, my grandmother yelled at him to stop shuffling his feet, cause he was waking up the whole house. He yelled back at her, for the first I could ever remember, saying "Your're waking up the whole house by not shutting up!"

3. The year we finally won Trival Pursuit: Every Christmas, my entire family would play Trivial Pursuit at my grandmother's house on Christmas day. The kids always got grouped into a team. We never stood a chance, until one year, when I was a junior or senior, we finally beat the adults in Trivia.

2. No family: When I was assistant coach in Houston at Westbury Christian School, I was able to fly in on December 24th, and I had to fly back out Christmas morning because we were playing in a tournament in Midland, TX. I was alone, all by myself the night of Christmas, and had to go to a basketball tournament the next morning. That was the main reason I did not pursue coaching the next year.

1. A wife! I proposed to my wife on Christmas Day, 2002. She had come up to Lebanon to have Christmas with my family. We were slated to be in Hartselle, AL with her family that night. Around 4:30 or 5:00, my family still is opening gifts and lollygagging around. I'm rushing Kristen so we can get to her house, so we can have Christmas with her family, and then have Christmas with each other. At around 11:50 on Christmas Day, I finally got to get on one knee and propose to her. She said yes, and the rest is history. No doubt, the best present I ever received.

Welcome to online shopping

I must admit, I used to be afraid of online shopping. Now, I'm a huge fan, for several reasons:

1. Most of it is a lot cheaper. Last year, we bought a video camera listed for $500 at Best Buy for $250. On top of that, there was no tax, and free shipping. Christmas shopping has been better too, because I can get more in the budget we have set.

2. I don't have to go get it. Sometimes, I like walking around the mall, especially at Brookstone or similar stores. But, when it comes to Christmas time, avoiding crowds is the top priority.

3. No annoying Sales People. I know, they are doing their job. But if you're like me, I do all my research on the particular item I'm shopping for at home, either online, or talking to others about the product. Very rarely do I go shopping for an item not knowing anything about it. Shopping online prevents talking to those terribly annoying and pushy sales people (especially at places that sell electronics, where they think everyone is a sap and they can get them to buy anything).

4. Its fun to get packages! Ever since I was a little boy, I've loved to get mail. I remember at college, if you got a little pink slip in your p.o. box, that meant you had a package! Everyone would go with you to package pick up to see what you got. Now, i'm 28, and getting packages is so much fun. I really like tracking the packages online to see where they came from and where they are stopping on their way to me.

5. You can shop for anything and everything without leaving your desk. What mall can you go to and literally see anything you want in a matter of 2 minutes? I can shop for electronics, clothes, a car, china, furniture, and so many other things, just by the click of a button.

Of course, some people still love the "Old Fashioned" way of shopping, but I'm hooked on online shopping. Merry Christmas everyone!

What in a word?

Last Thursday night, my wife were honored to attend the 4A State Championship Game between Guntersville and Thomasville. We were thrilled that we won.

We were not thrilled with the company behind us, however.

We sat with our usual crowd of the Blacks, the Merediths, and good ole Susan. With the Merediths were 3 or 4 little children, under the age of 12, and with the Black family was their youngest son as well. Also near to us were several other smaller children which I did not know.

Not more than 30 seconds after we sat down, we heard the good ole "S" word come out behind us from an older lady, then a few "D" words followed. I thought maybe she had spilled a drink and got upset, or something along those lines, little did I know we were in for a wild ride.

Next to this older was a young man, around 20 or so. I don't know him, and I'm not going to judge him, but he started cursing like it was going out of style. Not to say that any cursing has a point, but this was absolutely pointless cursing. Word after word, he spit out the "S" and "D" words like he was popping candy in his mouth.

Of course, in this great world we live in, no one really wanted to say anything to avoid some sort of scene. We all wanted to enjoy the game, but everytime a word popped out, I just wanted to cover the ears of those young children. I know, they hear it on television and radio, we can't protect them forever, but there is something different when you hear the word said right in front of you.

My wife, at about halfway through the second quarter, did something she is not known for. She confronted this young man about this. She turned around, and very politely said "I'm not trying to be rude, but could you please stop cussing? There are lots of little children around, and its very inconsiderate of you". To this, the young man replied "Oh, I'm sorry, was I cussing?". As jerkish as that may sound, I honestly believe he really didn't know he was using expletive after expletive. (However, for the rest of the night, he did not curse...the older people behind me were a different story).

When I taught speech in Houston, TX, I remember spending a day on cursing. Basically, I told the kids that only the most ignorant of people curse, because they have nothing better to say.

I went through a phase a really long time ago, when I was in 3rd grade or so, when I thought it was cool to cuss with my friends. Of course, we never spoke like that in front of a teacher or a parent, but it caught up with me.

My father, ever the good person, heard me one time say the phrase "What the?". Nothing else, just "What the?". He told me if he ever heard me say that again, he would wear me out. I think it was a day or two later, we were cleaning out the garage, and I stumbled across something in the woodpile that I had no clue what it was. Of course, that amazing discovery led to a wonderful "What the?". My father promptly put down what he was doing, and told me to get upstairs. You can figure out what happened later.

I was never allowed to say words like fart, crap, sucks, or various other words. I know those may sound silly and absurd, but I think it says a lot when you can control your tongue. Ephesians 4:29 says: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

I charge us all to control our tongues.

A La...

After returning home late last night, at around 12:30 in the morning from a wonderful state championship game, I am officially exhausted.

Last night, in about 18 degree weather, the Guntersville Wildcats won a thriller game against Thomasville, 28-27. It was an absolutely amazing game, worthy of saying it was one of the best games I've ever seen. Unfortunately, my alma mater, Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, TN lost in the state championship last week to Jackson Christian (but neat that two sister schools were in the championship.

What was really neat was that the whole city of Guntersville was practically at the game. Thousands of fans from Guntersville, Albertville, Arab and Boaz were there. It was the first time a team from Marshall County was in the championship.
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I'm really fired up about Christmas this year. Last year, Kristen and I spent Christmas alone in Memphis. After church that morning, we went to the house and took down the Christmas decorations, on Christmas Day. This year will fare much better. We're closer to family, and will be with family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Then, we get to see our good friends Michael and Catherine Davis from Olive Branch the following day. Christmas is really about the family.
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This year for Christmas, all I want is THIS!!!
Seriously, all I've asked for is are Best Buy Gift Cards so I can pick out the radio, get it installed, and then I want Cash or a Gift Card for the subscription service.
_________________________

I've never been stuck as to what to get my wife for Christmas, or birthdays, or anything. This year is harder though. Any ideas would be appreciated!!
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Looks like my boys at Alabama are going to hire Rich Rodriguez as their next coach. I'm not sure if I agree with it or not, but he is a good coach and has done some tremendous things at West Virginia. Maybe Alabama will let him stay longer than a year if he loses to Auburn. We need to get over Bear Bryant, he's dead and not coming back, nor will there ever be another coach like him. You have a few now, like Paterno and Fulmer who have stayed at their school for at least a decade, but let's face it, its a business and people go where the fame and money is.

UPDATE: At 2:21 today, Rodriguez said he was staying at WVU. They must be paying him a ton. Alabmama was going to make him the highest paid coach in the SEC. This does not sound too good for my Tide.

Go Wildcats!!!

Not too long ago, I was coaching the Lady Wildcats of Westbury Christian School to a State Championship in Basketballin the state of Texas. Now, four years later, I am rooting on a different Wildcat team to win the State Championship of the beloved state of Alabama 4A football.

The Guntersville High School Wildcats football team will be playing for the 4A state championship tomorrow night (Thursday, Dec. 7) vs. a team from near Mobile called Thomasville.

We have several players on the team that attend church here at Guntersville Church of Christ. To those guys I wish a special good luck, and to the whole team...I Believe.

Go Wildcats!!!

Top 10 Ugliest Uniforms of all time

I read this on Fox Sports, and thought it was a great slideshow of shots of what they deemed the top 10 ugliest uniforms in professional sports. I agree with most of them, but I still think the color of the Vancouver Grizzlies/Memphis Grizzlies is the least professional. What do you guys think? Check out the slide show:

Top 10 Ugliest Professional Uniforms of all Time

Shout Hallelujah!

It was a good house, and gave us lots of memories. However, as of 2:00 p.m. today, it will serve to make memories for someone else.

We finally, after 6 months of frustration, closed on our house in Olive Branch, MS. I know many of you have been praying for us, and we truly appreciate it. God be praised in this matter. I know He helped me out. We were scared we were going to have to pay a ton in closing, but we ended paying less than half of what we were told.

God truly is great.

Goodbye house, hello less stress filled life!!!

Quick prayer request

As selfish as it may seem, I am asking you all to say a quick prayer for our house in Memphis. Word on the street is that we have a good, bonified contract on it and will be closing on it soon.

We've been plauged with this house, and are ready to get rid of it. This looks rather promising, however, and we hope it works out well.

Also, please pray for my father and mother, Joe and Elaine Widick, as they travel to Honduras on Wednesday. They'll be gone for a few days to visit with some missionaries, and attend the Baxter Graduation.

I am Thankful

So on this Thanksgiving of the year 2006, what are we all thankful for?

I am thankful for God on high, the loving Master and Creator of this universe, who continues to amaze me daily in so many ways. His blessings are greater than I could ever imagine, and even on days when it seems like nothing is going right, He always is there for me.

I am thankful for my wife Kristen, who has amazing love and patience with such a wretch like me. There are so many days when I don't understand why she loves me, and so many days when I couldn't blame her for storming out, but she never does, her love, like the Father's, is constant.

I am thankful for the Lord's church, especially here in Guntersville, Alabama. The people here are wonderful, loving, forgiving, generous, and genuine.

I am thankful for my family: My father for always listening to me and being able to offer support, my mother for being the greatest cook in the entire world, my brother, I'm thankful for him being alive this year after such a scare he gave us, and my sister for being so kind and wonderful. For their spouses, for being so great to me, loving me as part of their family. For my nieces and nephews for being so full of life with such a great outlook, and for always rushing to give me a hug when they see me.

I am thankful for my in-laws. Granted, there are times when I feel as if I just don't fit in, but they accept me anyways. I have a beautiful father-in-law and mother-in-law, who are God fearing people and would do anything for us.

I am thankful for my dog, Chloe, who offers such brightness in this world of darkness. You can't help but look at her and smile. She loves me no matter what, and is never in a bad mood.

I am thankful for my friends, dear friends in Huntsville, in Memphis, in Ashland City, and in Houston. I am thankful for my friends all over this world, from Tennessee, to Honduras, to Scotland.

I am thankful that God has blessed me with the knowledge of salvation, His love, and the ability to teach others about it. I am thankful for the written word of God, and the ability I have to read it and understand it.

I am thankful that this season, I will be able to sit down at a table full of bountiful food, enough to feed several families. I am thankful that this season I have the financial means to purchase gifts for my family and friends. I am thankful that I have a warm house, a driveable car, and clothes that even if they don't make me look thinner, fit me and keep me warm.

I am thankful for the teenagers in my youth group. There's not a one that I can't learn from daily. They have a zeal for God, and want to know Him.

I am thankful for the parents and volunteers who help with our youth group. I am thankful for the staff I work with, Lisa and Phillip and Donna.

I am thankful for James Byrd, a man who does work for us around the church building in exchange for groceries and gas money, and who always finishes what he starts, and never once complains.

I am thankful that one day, this earth will end, and we will be able to go live with our father in Heaven, without pain and suffering, and singing praises to him for an eternity.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Stranger than Fiction

Last night my wife and I did something we haven't done in quite a while. We went on a date on a Monday night. I told her that I felt like we were in college again. It had been an unusually rough day. I didn't feel well, she had another trial filled day working with her two year olds, so I proposed a date night.

We drove to Huntsville, and went to eat at McAlister's Deli (a favorite of Kristen's), and then walked around Target for a few minutes. Then we proceeded over to the Rave Theater, and went to go see the movie "Stranger than Fictioin" starring Will Ferrell.

Let me start off by saying this is not a stereotypical Ferrell flick. He was not his usual goofy and silly self. He had a more mature demeanor, however he was still hilarious.

The movie is based upon this guy named Harold Crick, who has a very routine life and does the same thing day in and day out. He works for the IRS as an auditor. His life is all about numbers.

One day, a voice pops into his head. The voice seems to be narrating his life. As quoted from the movie, "Its telling me what i've just done and using a better vocabulary".

The voice is actually an author, who is famous for writing books about people who die. Coincidence occurs when her main character's name is Harold's name as well. Harold spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out who the voice is, and in the meantime learns how to live a real life.

I thought the movie was pretty brilliant, especially for a Will Ferrell movie. If you go in just expecting a brainless comedy which is full of potty humor, you will be sadly disappointed. If you go in expecting an intelligent comedy, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Stranger than Fiction: I Give you 4 out of 5 stars ****, because there are some slow parts of the movie that could have been filled with a bit more humor.

Will it work out for us?

Let me start off by saying that the fall retreat we had this past weekend was great. The highlight was around 11:30 on Saturday night. It was very cold, about 30 degrees outside. Forecasters were actually calling for flurries. I was just about to start the movie "Cars" for our evening activity, when one of our great college age volunteers, Hailey Black, called me over to talk.

Come to find out, her cousin Vince wanted to be baptized. So off we went to the only place at Coker Creek Village deep enough to baptize him...the creek. We all went down to the creek, Vince and I walked into the what seemed like sub-zero temperature water, and I immersed him into the water in baptism.

Then, to top off the weekend, we came home to a great phone call. Our realor called us and mentioned that she is pretty sure we have a good offer/contract on our house. So hopefully later this week I'll be able to report some good news.

We've been holding on to this house too long, but if this offer actually comes through, it will be the best one offered to us thus far.

I'm also soliciting prayers for my wife, Kristen. She is seeking to find a better job, as she is not very happy with hers right now. Please pray that God will bless her with a more rewarding job, both with a better paycheck, but more importantly without leaving her feeling as if she is overqualified.

In reference to my 100th post

I decided I would give you guys the answer key to my quiz I put on my 100th post, since the test doesn't really do that for you.

1. My middle name?
a. Lane
b. Herschel
c. Michael
d. Derrick

ANSWER: B, Herschel

Tidbits- Lane is my first name, and Derrick is my grandfather's, my father's, my brother's, and both nephew's middle names. Michael is a friend's name.

2. What was my favorite childhood football team?
a. New York Giants
b. Denver Broncos
c. Buffalo Bills
d. Houston Oilers

ANSWER: C, Buffalo Bills

Tidbits- I liked the Buffalo Bills because when I was in second grade, we had to do a report on an African American of our choosing during Black History Month. I chose none other than O.J. Simpson, who at the time was not a fugitive. He played running back for the Buffalo Bills.

3. What superlative did I get my senior year?
a. Cutest
b. Funniest
c. Most Likely to succeed
d. Most Spirited

ANSWER: D, Most Spirited

Tidbits- Cutest went to a druggie, Funniest went to Greg Landers (whose father and sister both won funniest, and he lobbied for it because he wanted to keep it running in his family), and most likely to succeed went to a guy who eventually made a porn movie in a family park.

4. What type of dog was Molly?
a. Schnauzer
b. Pug
c. Lab
d. Mutt

ANSWER: A, Schnauzer

Tidbits- We currently own a pug, and I had a childhood lab named Tipsy (not because she was drunk, but because of a white tip on her tail). I don't think we ever owned a mutt.

5. What character did I play in the musical The Sound of Music my senior year?
a. Max
b. Rolf
c. Captain Von Trapp
d. Nazi Extra

ANSWER: C, Captain Von Trapp

Tidbits- Max was played by none other than Eric Law, Rolf was played by my good friend Jason Bybee, and the lone Nazi Extra I remember was Brad "Biscuit" Siegrest.

6. What city have I not lived in?
a. Houston, TX
b. Olive Branch, MS
c. Ashland City, TN
d. Nashville, TN

ANSWER: D, Nashville, TN

Tidbits- I lived in Houston for two years after I got out of college. I lived in Olive Branch for a year, and in Ashland City for two years. I was born in Nashville, and technically I guess lived there for the first day or two of my life.

7. Which of the following was not a job I had in high school?
a. Manager of the basketball team
b. Yearbook Photographer
c. Academic Decathlon Coach
d. President of the National Honor Society

ANSWER: A, Manager of the basketball team

Tidbits- I took pictures for the paper and the yearbook. I was elected the National Honor Society President because the class before me didn't want a woman president (I had nothing to do with that!!). Believe it or not, we had an Academic Decathlon Team that I helped coach. I never once was the manager of the basketball team.

8. I ran and lost after running for what position?
a. Student body vice-president
b. student body secretary
c. student body President
d. student body treasurer

ANSWER: C, Student Body Presidnent

Tidbits- I ran and lost to Wynne Baker. I couldn't even tell you who won the other three positions.

Hope you enjoyed those! Everyone say a prayer for us this weekend, we have our fall retreat and we're taking about 30 people up to Coker Creek Village. Our Guntersville Wildcats are in the playoffs Friday and hopefully will win!

My 100th Post

I would like to thank all of you who read my blog. I don't know who all reads, but I'm glad you do.

This is my official 100th post. To celebrate, I'm going to give you a quiz about myself that I stole from Jason Bybee's blog.

Take time to see how much you know me from reading my blog!


Create your own friendquiz here

This is the body, This is the blood

I read I Corinthians 10 and 11 and wonder often if the way I partake of the Lord's Supper is how God intended for this memorial feast to be.

Is it really possible in the 2 or 3 minutes we spend in taking the bread and juice to examine ourselves?

At our church here in Guntersville, we pick the thimble sized portion of grape juice out of the tray and pass the tray on, and put the little cup in the provided holder on the back of the pew in front of us. At least we're able to take our time to drink the juice.

But what about the churches who pass the tray and the people have to put their used cup back in the tray? Sure it saves time in clean up, but does that give you time to examine yourself?

I know that in our modern time constraints of church service, we have about an hour to cram in all the worship aspects, or people start to get upset. We'll spend 30 minutes on a sermon, and 20 minutes singing a song, but only a few short moments on this memorial feast. I don't know about you, but I spend more time than that eating a snack pack of pudding.

I suppose its all in how you approach this "feast", but let's face it, the deck is stacked against you when you confine the parameters of it in a set amount of time. When I remember something, I like to talk about it with others, but when was the last time you talked with someone during the communion time?

I don't see the Last Supper as a time when everyone buried their hands in their faces and closed their eyes in reverent memory and thought. I see them discussing the life of Jesus, possibly weeping together, or celebrating together.

Does anyone else think that there are aspects of the worship service we do that aren't exactly how God intended it?