Life is Awesome

I don't use the word awesome very much. I once heard the Hope College worship leader, Dwight Beal, say that the word in its original meaning and usage is to be reserved for the things that truly show the awe-inspiring nature of God (or something like that). Ever since that time, I use it sparingly.

But, as you can see from this photo, I am using the word to describe this incredible thing called life--new life. Christie and I are expecting December 14. She is 11 weeks along and is actually feeling pretty good. We appreciate your prayers at this time!

Allegiant Air

Christie and I were looking at flights today to head up to a friend's wedding in Cleveland in August. After checking the standard airlines, Travelocity, etc., I opted to check out Allegiant Air.

For those of you that have never heard of it, it's a sketchy airline that flies out of Sanford, a city about 30 minutes north of where we live in Orlando. I've heard bad stories of people that have flown it before...but they are definitely cheap. I went in to look at the price, and it's about $200 less total (for both of us) than the seats I have on hold with American Airlines (my airline of choice).

But, then the incidentals started to add up...
--The ability to reserve our seats in advance: $50
--The ability to check one bag: $20
--The ability to go to the bathroom: $5 per trip

Okay, so maybe I made that last one up...but it won't be long, will it?

(At least with American, because of my elite status from flying so much with them, I have first dibs at premium seats and don't have to pay the fee for the first checked bag.)

Maybe we'll just drive. :-)

Sermon Anecodotes?

I'm preaching the sermon this coming Sunday on the Eighth Commandment: "You must not steal." (Christie shared a dynamite message last week on the Seventh Commandment ("You must not commit adultery."). It will soon be available online for all to hear. Click here to check out this and previous messages.)

Does anyone have any good anecdotes on stealing and/or restitution after a theft? I've got a good Scripture base and now am seeking to fill it out with a few more real-life examples. It could be anything from shoplifting to horse thieves to the old "finders keepers, losers weepers" phrase.

Feel free to drop me an e-mail or post in the comments section on the blog.

Pastors' Wives

I thought this video was pretty funny...especially if any of you reading this happen to be a pastor or a pastor's spouse.

'Possum...

I know that most people don't post about random animals on their blog as often as I do, but it must be the nature of where we live--rats and owls tend to live on the outside of the home, 'possums and 'coons tend to stay on the outside (or the roof, where we frequently hear them).

This little guy was saying hi to me from our garbage can as I went to take some trash out this afternoon. I think he might have been stuck, since he didn't really know how to get out until I dumped the can over on its side and he scurried out. I'm glad he was so photogenic (and unafraid of the camera); some people might think we make these stories up about rodents and whatnot.

Lack of Hurricanes

Check out this article from the Orlando Sentinel. I've lived here over two years and I have yet to experience a hurricane.

This is not a bad thing, mind you, but I do have a bit of curiosity of this destructive thing of nature. Everyone has stories ("Oh, do you remember Charlie...or Andrew...or Rita...that's the one where..."). Thankfully, I have not gone through the ordeal of boarding up homes, evacuating, picking up the pieces, etc. But this article was a good reminder that even so, I need to be making preparations.

Back on My Feet

I ran today, for the first time in a couple months. I sprained my ankle pretty badly back in March, and needed to stay off it for a while. (Thankfully, x-rays came back showing no fractures.)

Our exercising took the form of a spontaneous soccer game in our yard. With eight kids next door, another two on the other side, and three across the street (who spend more time in our yard than they do in theirs), there's always the potential for a game to break out.

We call our property the "compound." Three houses, 16 people, lots of community. Zoom in on the map below to the green arrow, and you'll find the compound. (And no, the lake next door is NOT okay to swim in!)


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