Farewell to my dear friend Newton

I write tonight with an extremely heavy heart! My wife and I had to suddenly say our goodbyes to our faithful Yorkie, Newton, yesterday afternoon. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure last week, and was put on medication. For the majority of the week his health was doing great, but we had a horrific turn of events over the weekend. Little did we know that it would be our last with our best friend.

I know many people would say that "he's just a dog", and you're probably right to some extent. But the truth is, he was more than just a pet to our family. Sara was given Newton when her sister couldn't keep him any longer, due to the birth of their first son. He's been by my wife's side for 8 long years, and had never let her go through an ordeal alone. When she had a horrible day, he was there. When she had a great day, he was there. When she was sick, he was there! Anyone that met Newton knew that he was a special dog. He had that special "it" quality that just made your day brighter, no matter what you were going through.

Newton was the sweetest, most dedicated friend that anyone could have hoped for in a dog. Sara and I joked that he was the reason I dated her because we became attached so quickly. I loved that little guy more than any other pet I've ever had, or probably will. I don't think our family will ever get over him, and will miss him every day for the rest of our lives! I know it's supposed to get easier as time goes on, but right now there's nothing that we want more than to have our Newton back for just one more day! I'm going to miss the smile that he brought to Sara's face, and the joy he put in our hearts.

We appreciate every body's comments, and couldn't have a better group of friends and family members. We will forever miss Newton! There will always be a missing piece in my heart for my "little man". I'll miss you buddy!

Faith

Pick a bridge, say the Golden Gate Bridge. Did all of the parts just miraculously over time fit and come together? And why did it evolve to the color red? Why not Green or Blue. Of course it didn’t, there was a designer, an engineer. You can touch the bridge and see all of it’s pieces working as one. Common sense will tell you that there’s no way all of the particles and molecules to form steel, over time, came together and created the beams for the bridge. Nor could that happen for the cables used or even the bolts and welds on the bridge. Ok, let’s say it did happen. What then are the odds that all of the evolved pieces for the bridge came together to erect itself in between two land masses? And when did they get painted? You would have to say that’s ludacrous. So why are so many people in denial about God? When you cross over the bridge, you may not think about it, but you have faith in the builder and designer of the bridge that it will work as it’s supposed to and get you to the other side.
Take the human race. We are like a bridge in many ways. We have many parts that were designed and crafted together to make us one body. We can see the body and we we can see many of the parts needed to make us work as one. If we can conceive that something as simple as the Golden Gate Bridge didn’t “evolve”, then how can we look at something millions more complex as the human body and think we were not created? We were created, like our bridges, to help us get from one side to another.
Any time you struggle with your faith, "is there a higher purpose?", “is it worth it?”, “what if I’m just crazy?”, “why does everyone think I’m nuts?”, go back and think of any object in front of you, and think about how it was possible for that item to be created. There has to be a creator, no doubt. So with that quick reminder, we should be able to remain on track for Christ. I deal with Conviction vs. Empowerment so much throughout the day, that I needed to look back at where I am compaired to where I came from for some clarity. What I mean by Conviction vs. Empowerment is that since I was truley saved on August 26th, 2007 I no longer enjoy doing the things that I used to do, and I constantly feel convicted when I do something that I used to enjoy, but no longer enjoy it. In other words, if I did something and Christ was physically over my shoulder watching me, I wouldn't have done it. What I think we tend to forget, at least myself, is that Christ is over our shoulder and is living inside of us. So this leads to Empowerment. Since I am a new creation in Christ, I should feel more empowered than crippled, Romans 8:31. Yep, this is just some of the stuff in my head on a daily basis.

Importance of relaying a message

I have started early on my quest to read the bible in 90 days. www.biblegateway.com is posting a reading plan on June 1st for people interested in doing this. Well, I didn't make it far before I had a major thought run through my noggin. As we can all remember the "gossip" game we played as kids in our class room's, where the teacher whispered a phrase in one kids ear. Now as the rules go, you were to whisper what you heard to the person beside of you. You could only say it once! We all know how the game ends. The poor kid at the end of the line ends up with a phrase that in no way shape or form sounds like what was originally told by the teacher.
My thought was this: I obviously live in the South, where everyone is a "Christian" if you ask them. Everyone, if asked, loves Jesus, guns and Nascar. Amen, now pass the biscuits! We all know people that are turned off by the Church because of how someone relayed the message of the Gospel to them. I was one of them. I thought, if that's how "religious" people are supposed to act, and treat people, well, I think I can do better on my own! Who needs religion, faith, etc... to be a good person?! It all goes back to how the message was "whispered" to me (or you), by someone. Unfortunately, I was the kid at the end of the line, and the message I received was nothing like what was originally told by the teacher.
Reading through Genesis we see this before we even have to take our first bathroom break. We all know how the story goes. Satan persuades Eve to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil. What is it that he asked her? Genesis 3:1-3 "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.' " Ok, here we go. God (the teacher) told this information directly to Adam. But now he told him that he could not eat from either the Tree of Knowledge, or the Tree of Good and Evil before Eve was ever created. So the thought hit me; "who told Eve?" I think it must have been Adam, relaying the message to Eve. Only he didn't quite recite it correctly. It was lost in translation. It was a short line, granted, but the message was not given correctly. Eve was at the "end of the line" if you will.
I believe that regardless what was told to Eve, thanks to a passive man standing by her side, we were destined to live a life of sin. But don't you see the importance of getting the message right when relaying it to others? If only we would share our faith with kindness and gentleness? How many more people would be charging hell with a water pistol?! I've met some incredible people volunteering for our church, and love hearing about how their life's changed because someone didn't relay the message they heard from the "end of the line", but rather heard it clearly from the teacher and relayed it them correctly.
So next time some one asks you why you believe what you believe, remember the importance of "relaying the message". When it comes to "hearing from the teacher", what end of the line are you on?

Greatest job in the world!

I have just recently realized that I have the best job in the world. It doesn't pay very well by currency standards, but when I sit back and think about it, I've been chasing a dollar for years and have never been as satisfied doing what I do now, than any other job I've ever had. You see, Sara and I had said while she was pregnant that it would be great for one of us to stay home and watch 'Bells. Well, be careful what you ask for, because God may just make it a reality. Our little girl had been in NICU for nearly a month, and the Friday before she was discharged, I was told that my services as a Dratsman were no longer needed. Ok, let's think about that for a sec. We just had our first baby 8 weeks early. She's in NICU for 1 month. I just lost my job! WOW. Yeah, let the reality of that sink in for a minute. How easy could it have been to lose it on the spot?! I quietly told my supervisor "not to worry about me and my family", and that "God will provide for us". I must say that I love being a newborn son of God, because without him, who knows where my family would be right now. Instead of everone flipping out, we all knew that this was God's plan and that he would provide for us. I was let go on Feb. 26th and haven't found work since. But we haven't missed a bill, a meal, or anything in between. It's unexplainable! On a side note, to those who haven't quite come to terms with the "tithe", let me say this, if you're waiting on the right time to start, you've already missed it! Our house has tithed on every gift and income that we've received, and we are better off financially now than we were when I was employed. Not bragging about money, but I am bragging on what God can do for you! So when someone argues the tithe to my family, well, that dog doesn't hunt!

Any-who, I have completely come to terms that I have a wonderful job at the moment, and I shouldn't take it for granted. For the day will come when I will once again be working for a dollar, and longing to get home to my family. As for now, the sleepless nights, days without showers or breakfast, a workout schedule that is all but unexisting, cluttered house, etc., is my life and I love it! I have honestly accepted my role as "Mr. Mom" for the moment, because I know it won't last. And besides, who wouldn't want to be able to wake up at 2 a.m. every morning and not have to worry about going into the office later that day? I get to spend the entire day watching our little miracle grow up before my eyes. She's come such a long way since she was born and is growing up too fast already. I can't help but wonder every day what she will do, and where her tiny feet will go. But once again, be careful what you ask for, for that day too will be upon us before we know it.

Introducing 'Bells!

I blinked and it's been a couple of months since my last post. Well, January 30th, Sara and I were at Babies R Us looking and commenting on how adorable Preemie clothes were, and that our little girl would never wear them. Well, God must have been laughing because 6 hours later, Sara's water broke (8 weeks early) and our little girl was ready to introduce herself. She spent the next 3 weeks in Neonatal Intensive Care developing her survival skills. We were extremely blessed that she was healthy, just very early.

We were able to bring her home on February 23rd. It's been an amazing week getting aclimated to having a baby in the home. Thankfully our animals have accepted her. Sara and I couldn't be happier to have our little girl home.