Books I have read 2008 -- Suggest books if you want... updated 1-3-2008
Current mood: blessed
Category: Writing and Poetry

Here is a recap of the books I read last year -- Books I read 2007

Well here is the beginning of 2008...

1) Time for Truth  By:  Os Guinness    Finished 1-1-2008   It is all about Modern/post-modern look at truth and how it effects how we see life... and where the weakness of both are and how a Biblical view on truth takes the best of both of them and none of the pitfalls.  Another great book by Os Guinness.

2) Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart  By: John Ensor    Finished 1-1-2008    A great book I almost didn't read... I thought it was a book for women... well it is but it is also for men.  An evenhanded look at what biblical manhood and womanhood is and how they complement eachother.  Another great book.

3 Win the Battle for Your Mind  By: Richard L. Strauss    Finished 1-3-2008    A great book suggested by Alan Schafer.  It is all about how to have a biblical mindset.  How we can have "peaceful and productive minds" and how to deal with "unacceptable thoughts."  I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Currently reading : Discipleship (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Vol. 4) By Dietrich Bonhoeffer Release date: June, 2003

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Foxnews.com’s - "21 Questions Answered About Mormon Faith"
Current mood: tired
Category: Religion and Philosophy

I just read about this on Justin Taylor's Blog -- Fox news posted 21 Questions Answered About Mormon Faith

While a few of the answers are straight forward many are not fully explained and/or the question was very vague....

Well Thanks to ROB BOWMAN's Blog -- he goes thru and helps us shed some light on where the questions were vague and at times gives us a more fully explained answer to what Mormon's believe.

I highly suggest reading both.  It was very enlighting.

Mike

I am now off to sleep.  Night

Currently reading : Kingdom of the Cults, The By Walter Martin Release date: 01 October, 2003

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Journeyman... What a show
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

I have been watching Journeyman from the beginning... It is the best new show on TV... but it might ...most likely won't be picked up... and that is a true shame... You can see a few episodes on http://www.nbc.com/Journeyman/

It is like Quantum Leap meets The Pretender.  Two other Classic Shows.

I so hope they pick it up for a second season.

Watch a few episodes... and email nbc about what you think.

Mike

Currently reading : Special Edition Using Microsoft Office Access 2003 (Special Edition Using) By Roger Jennings Release date: 21 September, 2003

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I really should... shouldn’t I?
Current mood: devious
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Back in the day I tried out for "who wants to be a millionare" made it to the second round on the phone... but never got the call back...

Well I was watching Duel tonight the first night it was on... and I would have done alright... most likey would have won each duel.

I really should and would love to go on a gameshow... one without spelling... lol... I think I would do alright... with all the useless info hanging out in my head.

And, BTW... Dual is a great gameshow... the best new game show that was not on Gameshow Network... On Game show Network it was "GrandSlam"... which most likely the toughest game show I have ever seen.  Ken Jennings wone that.

You should watch Duel.

Til Later,

Mike

What do you think... should I try out for a trivia game show some time?

Currently listening : Your Man By Josh Turner Release date: 24 January, 2006

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What a Great Day
Current mood: happy
Category: Life

I guess this should be put under "School" but it will also include a bit about the Christmas Party I went to tonight.  So that, my friends, is why I put it under life.

I should start with the party... it was really fun... laid back... like all of Dave and Jessica's parties... but some of the usual people did not show up.  It was cool meeting Dave's Grandfather.  And just to hang with everyone there.  Even Randy came beck from TN for it. 

Have you ever noticed how people feed off of each other when they laugh?  It was especially true when we were watching Jeff Dunham on DVD and to see Flannery watch it for the 1st time... and laugh so hard she had tears in her eyes.  It made me laugh harder... I remember seeing it the 1st time and I really didn't laugh much at all.  I really don't know why I didn't -- He is really funny.  Must have been that day.

I also found out I got an "A" in my math class... I know it is the same stuff I took in 10th grade... but still... the issue with me was never an issue of having the ablity to do the work... but more of the -- um -- ablity to apply myself.  I would get bored and move on... stupid I know... but it is the truth.  I can't allow myself to fail again... by just not doing... how I wish I would have applied myslef way earlier.  Yet the past is the past and now is now.

So overall today -- rocked.

Til later,

Mike

Currently listening : Everything Is Fine By Josh Turner Release date: 30 October, 2007

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Right on Time Part 2: righter on timer (Die Hard 2 joke;-) )
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Religion and Philosophy

You will first want to see this entry in my blog... HERE

How badly did I write that... I confused alot of people with that...

How can I answer some of the questions... this is my humble attempt... jump in anytime and join the conversation...

1) Are we responsible for what we do? The short answer is Yes.  We are born when we were supposed to be.  Placed where we were supposed to be.  But we are still responsible for the choices and the actions we make.  There are consequences -- good, neutral, and/or bad -- to every action and choice we make.

Here is an example: Let's say you were drafted into the military and you are sent to Iraq.  Even though you had no choice on where you were sent or where you are... you do still have a choice on what you do and how you will do it. You might get promoted or court-martialed or even something else.  Still we are responsible and must accept the results of them.

2) But on to more practical matters... Why does it seem some are required to suffer more than others... This I don't know... Why do a couple who want a kid can't have one... yet... someone who doesn't want a kid gets pregnant? 

I know sometimes we go through things so that we can help others to help them through.

But the main reason is this... we live in a fallen world... full of sin and sinful people...

And we can't pay the bill for it ourselves... even the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament couldn't pay it.  It required a Sinless sacrifice who willing laid down their life for us.  That was the main issue -- the animals didn't sin -- but they could not and did not willfully choose to lay down thier life as a sacrifice.

That perfect sacrifce was Jesus.  He laid down his life because of his love for us -- so that we could be reconciled to God.

I don't know if this even comes close to answering the question or not... but I do hope it has helped a little.

Mike

Currently watching : Die Hard Release date: 19 June, 2007

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What a way to save the planet... totally insane
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Life

I read this article on Foxnews.com

  Woman Aborts Child To Help 'Save' the Planet

and here... @ the Daily Mail from the UK...

Meet the women who won't have babies - because they're not eco friendly

Now if a couple was to get neutered -- so be it -- it might be better for all of us.  I will not look down on a couple because they don't want to have kids -- for what ever their reason is.

But to Abort to Kill a baby or fetus just because you don't want to increase your "carbon footprint" -- that is just ingnorant and selfish.

"While most parents view their children as the ultimate miracle of nature, Toni seems to see them as a sinister threat to the future. " - daily mail

Have we misused the resources that are on this earth that God has made -- at times we have.  We have not been good stewards.  Yet that does not mean that children are an epic evil or threat to our future.

""Every year, we also take a nice holiday - we've just come back from South Africa.

"We feel we can have one long-haul flight a year, as we are vegan and childless, thereby greatly reducing our carbon footprint and combating over-population."

What a great way to justify wanting to save the planet -- no explination needed. (Yeah Right! sarcasm here very thick coming from my keyboard.)

I have no problem with her not wanting to have kids or wanting to save the planet -- but to infer that it is irresponsible to want to have a child and raise him or her -- is as ingnorant -- as some one saying the only reason for marriage is to have kids.  I would agree some people should NOT be parents.

But to think and push abortion as a way of living green and saving the planet -- is total stupidity.  We might as well start putting down all the special needs children and adults.  And let us not forget -- all the old people in nursing homes or on life support.  If we do that... we will reduce our "Carbon Footprint" a TON.

I am all for being faithful stewards of this planet we live on and call home -- but to kill another human to lower our "carbon footprint" is totally wrong, idiotic, stupid, selfish, and who ever thinks we should do this -- needs a great big slap across the back of the head.

Sincerly,

Mike 

What do you think?

Currently reading : Time for Truth: Living Free in a World of Lies, Hype, and Spin By Os Guinness Release date: 01 February, 2002

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Right on Time...
Current mood: hyper
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Right now I am reading a book called "I Was Right On Time" By Buck O'neil. 

And this book reminded me how often we forget that we were made "for such a time as this." (From the O.T. book of Ester.)  Even if it looks like all hell is breaking loose and God no longer exists or if he does he doesn't care... we are "Right on Time." 

You might not see or understand why you are who you are or why you are where you are or why you are going through what you are.  It might seem like a cruel joke but it is not.  It is a possiblity no one will be explain why it is happening.  Yet I can tell you it might be the wilderness but remember God was there eith them in the wilderness.  Leading them through.

My friend, God made you and placed you where you are -- he is with you... and he is always... Right on time.

Right on time.... Right... on.... time.

Right on time... my brothers and sisters.... we are right on time,

Mike

Currently watching : Live Free or Die Hard - Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition) Release date: 20 November, 2007

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The Call... The purpose of life... what is it...
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

I have been reading "The Call" by Os Guinness; a 26 day devotional has taken me from Saturday, August 19, 2006 to Tuesday, November 20, 2008 to finish.  I know it should have never taken me so long to read and yet it is a very thought provoking and challenging book. 

The main point and question of this book is this… "Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life."   In which in a nut shell living for Christ and serving him in whichever way he has called you to do.  There is no division of the secular and spiritual work load here.  As we see on this book, the spiritual work can be secular and the secular work can be spiritual – it all depends on why and for whom or to whom we are doing the work.

So many times throughout this book you must stop and grapple with what is written.  This is not your normal daily devotional by which I mean it will cause you to question a lot of preconceived ideas and beliefs.  You might just find your calling is not what you thought it was or what you wanted it to be.

I know a lot of people love the book "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren and it has helped a lot of people throughout the years.  But if I was to choose between these two books I would have to choose Os Guinness' "The Call" hands down.  In my humble opinion "The Call" is a more challenging call to discipleship and look at what the Christian life and what is meant by the "Call of Jesus" than the "Purpose Driven Life" even comes close to.

In closing the question stands… how are you to run the race well – if you don't know to which race you have been called to race?  How are you to finish well – without the proper practice and training?  This book will help you find you call and to help you follow His call – the call of Jesus.

Currently reading : The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life By Os Guinness Release date: 09 October, 2003

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Do you find Sermons... BORING?!?!... well check this out...
Current mood: thankful
Category: Music

I know most people do not like listening to sermons alot... most of the time they are really boring and make you sleepy...

well lookie what we have here....

I found these two sites....

1031sermonjams.com

and...

www.relevantrevolution.com

Here are quality sermons in 3-5 min snipits -- set to upbeat music...

Check them out... you might even like it.

Mike

Currently listening : Never Say Dinosaur By Various Artists Release date: 11 June, 1996

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