utechblog

We revived the pumpkin again by soaking it all night in water. Still looks great. I took it to the local Kroger Store in Hamilton so they can have it on display. They loved it!

Yikes! Granted I grew up in the middle of no-where and when Halloween came around I got to go to like 6 houses, 4 of which were realitives… So tonight I went out with the 3 kids (and some friends and their daughter). I have never seen so many kids out before in my life. Granted it has never been 70 degrees out on the 31st of October before.

Proposed the whole — lets put all the candy together and split it four ways. They didn’t go for that, they like the — each man for himself deal. So my kids did the community candy bag. Then when we got home I gave each of the kids a rock in their bucket and they came in and did the “I got a Rock” joke that they have been doing for a while. Then I made Jae close her eyes and I put the community candy bag in her lap. Her mouth hit the floor.

The community bag weighed in at TWELVE POUNDS!!!

I hope this Halloween is a lasting memory for my kids, it will be for me!

Awesome, awesome, awesome article written by Kevin Maloney! Thanks for the link Josh.

I have never liked Halloween and for a while I used the whole “evil-day” thing as an excuse for not liking it. When in reality it is my own insecurity that causes me to dislike this day. As much of a goof that I am sometimes I hate drawing attention to myself. I hate dressing up and people making a ‘deal’ about it, doesn’t matter if it is a costume or a suit. Kevin makes some really good points in his article. Most of the days that we celebrate “Christian” holidays were in fact Pagan “holy”days. The Catholic church needed to contradict the evil with the good of religion. Watch the movie Chocolat as it is a good example of this. It really just boils down to…. You and Jesus. Let your relationship with Him be your guide.

Work is relaxing the dress code today for the Costume Contest. I see it as an opportunity to wear jeans and t-shirt. So if someone asks I am an L33T G33K.

I did it! Last night when I left work I turned off my PC and didn’t touch a computer until this morning when I got to work. Didn’t check email, didn’t surf the web, didn’t play any games. Nothing. I can’t remember a day when I didn’t check my email for 16 hours! And to be honest I am kinda indifferent about it, not really sure if it is good or bad. But I am sure someone has a comment or two.

Hey friends and blogworld. I have an urgent prayer request that I can not share details about yet. Please hold up this request in prayer please. Thanks.

This would only get me in trouble but I really want one. Thanks to BC for the heads up!

ThinkGeek :: Indoor Paintball Sim Pistol

I really don’t like Halloween, never really have. But I think I have found my nitch and I may like Halloween at least a little bit now. Work is having a Pumpkin Carving contest on Wednesday. So I carved my pumpkin for the contest tonight. After only 3 hours I am finished and I better win!!! Special thanks go out to my father-in-law who brought out his drill when the battery in mine died!

What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? (See comments for answer)

Update I didn’t win the contest. The judges wanted to stick to a Halloween theme, even though that was not specified for the contest, and they picked two crappy pumpkins as winners. Oh well, Actually there was a pumpkin that I thought was better than mine and it didn’t win either. But I did get a coupon for a free half gallon of Kroger Brand Ice Cream. So much for BFL. Not to mention that the pictures above went all the way to the CEO and may show up on the internal web site for the company on Friday.

If at first you don’t succeed… suck up.

Andrew has a great post at backyard missionaries regarding communion. Granted it is short but I think it is very powerful.

When was the last time I had communion? I don’t remember. Maybe we should consider sharing communion during house church next weekend…

Abraham Defines Faith

1) Abram receives a call from God and responds in faith.

> God calls!

God has called you and me to a life of faith.

> Leave and I will show you where you are to go.

God called. He told Abram to go and He would tell Abram when he gets there.

More often when it comes to faith we are more concerned about the plan. Abram was more concerned about the Caller, not the call.

> I will make you into a great nation!

> I will make your name great!

Note that God is doing for Abram exactly what the people at Babel tried to do for themselves. The difference here is that it is being done God’s way.

We receive this same call from The Lord. He wants to make us great, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

> Abram goes!

_The_ definition of faith.

Abram looks to himself as he comes to Egypt. God has just promised him these things and Abram takes it out of God’s hands and tried to preserve himself on his own.

Abram is just a man like us. He still makes mistakes and doesn’t have it all figured out.

2) Abram and Lot separate.

Abram gives Lot the choice of where to go.

3) Abram saves Lot.

A war broke out and Abram took 318 of his men and recovers Lot and all their stuff.

Abram runs into Melchizedek. Abram gives him a tenth of his possessions (the plunder). Abram gives this as an offering.

4) God established a covenant with Abram.

God promises Abram a son of his own flesh. God ‘cuts’ covenant with Abram.

5) Hagar gives birth to Ishmael.

Sarai thinks it may be her and offers Hagar to Abram to provide him a son.

When we do God’s will, our way, we _will_ mess it up.

6) The Covenant of circumcision.

As we walk in faith, God will confirm and affirm his promises to us. Abram is renamed Abraham.

God has Abram cut off the excess of his flesh. Circumcision still occurs today, but spiritually, we need to remove the excess of our flesh (the carnal/human nature). Our walk will cost us something. The excess is cut off and removed. The baggage, the excess that hinders us.

See Hebrews 12:1-2 The Message or NIV

Abram fell face down before The Lord and The Lord changed him. When we fall down before The Lord, He will change us as well.

7) Sarai laughs.

Three messengers (angels) show up. Two leave to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the multitude of sins. One stays behind, The Lord, and speaks with Abraham.

God says Sarai will have a son by the next year. Sarai laughs and then denies it. God asks, “Is anything to hard for God?”

The Sacrifice.

God calls Abraham to worship Him. Abraham & Issac go up the mountain, Abraham tells the servants, “We’ll be back.” That shows the faith of Abraham as The Lord had asked him to sacrifice his son of promise. Issac asks on the way up “Where is the sacrifice?” Abraham answers, “The Lord will provide.”

The Lord stops him from sacrificing his son. The Lord provides a different sacrifice and blesses Abraham.

Faith will require you to give up what is most important to you. See Luke 9:24-25 The Message or NIV

MAIN POINT

Faith:

Makes you move.

Doesn’t have its whole act together.

Takes you to relationship, sacrifice and radical change.

Had a great moment of parenthood this evening on the way home from the Planck House. Zoe made mention of the fact that she sang during worship this morning at NewLife even though she was still sitting down. Long story there… Anyway, I asked her how ever thing sounded and she said, “The drums sounded good, but Daddy, I hope this doesn’t hurt your feelings, but it was too loud.” My girl was concerned about hurting my feelings but also knew that I was looking for her honest opinion! That is priceless in my opinion.