Frustrating Weather...

Have you read the news today? Las Vegas is covered in snow, and even Malibu, CA got enough to shut down roadways. Barbie, you better break out your heavy winter coat. This is incredible. While three-fourths of the entire nation is blanketed by either snow, ice, wintry mixes, or just bitter cold, we here in Alabama are considering reopening the local pools and wearing flip-flops to work. I am starting to hate the weather here. All my life it has been crazy "'round these here parts," but this is getting past the point of ridiculousness. I am seriously reconsidering a move to Montana...

Disappointing Weather...

I was so excited about the possibility of even seeing one or two snowflakes so early in the season here in Alabama yesterday, but to my disappointment, nothing happened. I know they predicted it would be mostly north and east of Birmingham, but I guess I was still hoping for even a little hint of something. Oh well, maybe it will at least stay cold enough to feel like winter this year, instead of waking up to 70 degree days on Christmas and New Year's Day.

Quick Weekend

Well, that weekend just flew by without warning. After getting off work Friday afternoon, it seems as if we are already back into the beginnings of this week with nothing in between. I did get a chance to watch the SEC Championship Game on Saturday. It was an absolute brawl and a fantastic game. Even though Alabama didn't pull out a victory, it was still an excellent game to watch. Congratulations Florida, and I will be pulling for your victory in the BCS Championship Game in a few weeks (after getting screwed on a #2 ranking behind Oklahoma). I really think this nation is prejudice against the SEC...we're constantly getting such a lack of respect.

The youth group meeting on Sunday didn't go so well. I was feeling really out of my element that morning before even going to church, and I know that kids can easily pick up on those things. They did, and it was total chaos. I usually have 7-8 there every week, but yesterday it was only 3...the 3 older ones. I thought it would be good, but they were so juiced up on sugar from Sunday morning candy that they wouldn't shut up long enough for me to get a word in...I would ask a simple question to start the lesson, and 20 minutes later we were off on the most random subject. The problem is, I didn't want to put up a fight. I need some inspiration from others who have done this before, and I am looking forward to getting that tomorrow at a First Priority lunch for North Shelby county. I love working with kids, but I do sometimes have little patience with immaturity. I'm being taught some very valuable things here...

Difficult Decision

For the past year and half, I have slowly been putting together an idea for a company which I would like to start. The business plan is nearly complete, and I have recently begun meeting with people who are COOs and CFOs of companies to get some feedback on what steps to take next. There are still many details to hash out, but I feel as if I am finally making some great headway as I am watching this become a reality. This company will be my passion, and I feel as if I have created a solid business plan that will take an amazing product to an international demand in less than a decade.

Yet, I continue to get conflicting evidence that this may not be the best thing for me to do, and I struggle with the decision of whether or not to go through with it. On one hand, I feel as if the current market situation makes for the perfect climate to introduce this company.

However, I also continue to hear that because of the rate at which we are printing money in this country, we are headed for an economic disaster far greater than what we experienced in the early 1930s. While a lot of people will disagree with that statement, all the signs are pointing to identical cases in history, both in the US and Europe, where the currency became utterly worthless. During the Depression here, our economy suffered greatly. In Europe, their Depression led to the rise of Hitler.

So what to do? I finally have resolved the personal struggle which haunted me for this past year of whether or not this company was a great spiritual investment, only to find myself now struggling with whether or not it will be fruitful to pursue these means as our country runs itself into the ground...decisions decisions. On top of that, as I try and gather my research for the conclusion of my business plan, I am finding a lot of resistance. I actually had someone say to me, "Good luck trying to get people to give you such valuable information..." I'm not asking for any big secrets, just market trends in areas throughout the country. Why is that asking too much? If someone from California asked me to give a quick response on our market here in Birmingham, why would I seek to gain something for that? No wonder our country is headed towards disasters, when all everyone wants is something for nothing...God save us all.

For The Lost

My heart goes out to those that do not yet truly know the Lord. There are several people for whom I have been praying here lately that really need to experience not only His Love, but His unending mercy and grace. I feel as if they are sincere when they say they want a change, that they want to accept and follow Christ. However, the pains of their pasts and the burdens they carry will not fully allow them to step into the light with full confidence and the ability to forgive themselves. For those of you who read this that are active prayer warriors, please lift these people up to the Lord. You may not know them personally, but God will know of whom you speak, and He will answer the pleas of the righteous. Help me to break the strongholds the devil has placed around these people, the very things that hold them to their pasts. Our weapons of prayer and faith are far greater than anything Satan can ever build.

I read yet another article this morning about an atheist group trying to ban a Homeland security law in Kentucky that contains a clause which relates to using God's help to protect the state. Their argument is that it is unconstitutional for the state to recognize God in the government like that, and even go so far as to call the God a "mythological creature." How can referencing God in a law or any other part of government be unconstitutional, when our very Constitution refers to a people "grateful to the almighty God?" Did anyone miss that little statement, or have we just chosen to ignore it to further the selfish interests of a select few. It angers me to hear stories such as these, yet I know that the anger is Satan's way of keeping me from any attempt to reach out to these people who openly profess to disbelieve in God. May we all have the resolve to set our anger aside and pray for those that are lost, and for the opportunities to plant the seeds of truth they so desperately need.

December is Upon Us

Where has this year gone? On one hand, it seems as if it should only be sometime around late summer or early autumn. Yet here we are, on the brink of Christmas vacations and New Year's celebrations. Oh my...On the other hand, it seems as though events which happened earlier this year occurred years ago. A great example is when Jessica's parents lost their home to a fire. It happened in January, yet is seems as if it happened 2 years ago. Is this really what it's like to get older? Although the years slip by faster than we realize, mentally it feels as if certain events are very slow to sink into the history of our lives. That will have its benefits when children and other life-changing events begin to occur, so I'm not complaining. It's just frustrating sometimes trying to keep everything straight. I have a hard time remembering from year-to-year what happened and when. Does Alzheimer's begin to develop early? Anyone.....anyone? Bueller....Bueller? What was I talking about?

I hope and pray that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family. I also hope that you were able to avoid the chaos and selfishness that came from the Black Friday shopping frenzy. What has our world become when we care more about the latest and greatest deal rather than the life of a human being? Will we as a nation ever regress back to the days of family and social values? This nation needs a revolution on so many levels. It's time for the Church and its members to take a stand and fight back for the things in which we hold true. For those that have a problem with our beliefs....take a look at the world that is forming around you and tell me which you would rather have. History repeats itself, so if you would like to see where your views and beliefs are leading this generation and the next, open a history book and look at the years between 1925 and 1945, especially in Europe. If you want to see what kind of a world we as Christians would like to have, open the New Testament...