Bye Bye Yankees

"Alex Rodriguez opted out of his $252 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees on Sunday in what appears to be the end of his career with New York."

This is probably the most memorable part of Game Four of the 2007 World Series for myself. As the Rockies attempted a rally in the seventh, the news about Rodriguez was announced. So, they question is, who has the money? Will it be the Angels, Cubs or the Red Sox? It should be an exciting off-season to see where this future Hall of Famers will be playing in 2008. Unless the Rockies can pull it out, the most memorable part of Game Four will be Rodriguez saying bye bye to the Yankees. I hope each of you had a great weekend. God Bless.

The War with God is Over

A friend recently make the statement he was "waring with God." I definitely think God would win, but I think it accurately described my struggle with what God had planned for me. I am not sure when the Lord laid it on my heart to surrender to the minister, but I have been disobedient to the call for some time now. I have avoided, argued, and sometimes highly doubted what I was supposed to do. As many of you know, I have worked with youth for sometimes and continue to serve as a Sunday School teacher with my wife, yet something was missing. On the brink of graduation, our future loomed with the grayness of uncertainty, but Wednesday night Kari and I petitioned the Lord for direction and guidance. How quickly God moved took us by surprise. After school on Thursday I had an encounter with God. These phrase my seem foreign to some, but it is the best way I can describe it. As I was walking to my car from campus, a lady stops to allow me to go around her, but I say its all right and we begin to chat on our way to the parking lot. Before we went our separate ways she asked if I was going to teach with my history degree, and I confessed I was unsure what God had planned and I was struggling with what He has in store (often times I usually talk with people vaguely, but I was uncommonly candid with her). The lady asked me to stop and she reached into her pocket and put a red stone in the palm of my hand and said this is a drop of Jesus' blood and I am here to tell you that God loves you and through prayer and scripture He will reveal his will. I had told her I was married and she proceeded to hand me another stone and said give this to your wife. This wake-up call hit me in the face. I sat in my car, prayed and cried with thanksgiving.

I shared the encounter with a few people and Kari. We both prayed throughout the weekend and were sure what I needed to do was surrender. During the invitation, as I Surrender All played, Pastor Steve asked one last time, "Are there any other decisions?" Kari and I looked at one another, talked a second and I asked her, "...And you would live in a hut in Africa if that's where God calls us?" She replied, "Yes, this is what you need to do." She accompanied me down the isle and I spoke to Brother Daniel about what God what been nudging me to do for sometime. A peace and stress was lifted Sunday morning when I finally decided to faithfully jump into what God had called me to do. My "war with God" is over, but I would ask for continued prayers as Kari and I continue to seek God's next step in our journey. God Bless

DC* Band Show Review

After looking over my blog, I have been talking about the David Crowder Band(DC*B) a lot. I guess with the new album out and the second stop on the club tour being in Austin, warrants the DC*B saturation on my blog.

This is the second show I have seen at La Zona Rosa in the last month. I will also note, this is the second time I have seen the DC*B. The last time JMob and I saw the DC*B, we drove to San Antonio and they preformed at a church. That was a memorable show because that is where we became aware of one of the openers MuteMath. This time, Kari joined JMob and I to see DC*B. The atmosphere and worship setting at La Zona Rosa was alive and the Spirit filled the room for almost two hours of praises to God. It was a packed house and we were shoulder to shoulder in the club singing aloud and dancing to the tunes. Some highlights of the show: For one of the new tracks off the Remedy album, he played a Guitar Hero controller that had been modified by a band member to play the corresponding effect or chord, when the right color was played on the controller; He re-painted his keytar green; and told the crowd the entire show was only track, just like Ashley Simpson! (he was kidding!) It was an amazing show.

See what my buddy JMob has to say on his blog about the show. God Bless.

David Crowder Band Video Clip

The first 5 second has no audio, so don't check your speakers! This is where JMob, Kari and I went on Oct. 4. Enjoy.

Random Thoughts

I am looking forward to this evenings concert, David Crowder Band, live in Austin, TX!

The computer lab is a little cold today.

I really don't want to write a one page reflection on the current history book I am reading.

Thankfully, I did not have to run today!

It's almost the weekend, in which, I will be working the Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo (always good times).

Freedom of Speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, I just hope Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will remember this, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech..."

And Jesus said*, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

I hope each of you has a great weekend. God Bless.

*Replying to the disciples question, "What is the greatest commandment in the Law?"