Check-up

Well the year is half over and I've had some time to reflect and get the dumb smacked out of me. It's been since February since my last post so...surprise! My wife recently spoke to me on my lack of contribution in our house and relationship. I grew into a very lazy person with all the time off from work and did just enough to get by. Oh there was a major house cleaning/ rearrangement that happened but after that I was a couch potato. I just did what I wanted to do. It was nice but waaaay overdone! God was hinting I needed to do something about it all along. My intentions stayed intentions and no action was taken.
In the midst of the dumb smacking I had the notion to read my blog and specifically the 'Word' God gave me for this year. I forgot. I had an idea what it was but I was way off. My word was 'excel'. Ouch! Excel? I was so far away from that word it wasn't funny. So far my word is decel instead of excel! I guess that is why we reflect. So God can show us what's broke. The only area I've excelled at this year has been paying our debts off. We are within a couple thousand of doing it and it's been with a limited income due to all the time off from work. It has been a goal for the past 3-4 years to get our debt under control. Our wants and needs seemed to take over and we never gained any ground. This year God opened my eyes that having this debt and being so close to not having a job is unwise.
However, this is about my whole life and not just money. I have let myself go. I let the world do whatever it wanted and joined in when only dragged to do something. My wife has patience and grace but they do run out and her tank is almost dry. So she opened my eyes to how bad it was and I actually listened. I know her love language is acts of service. I have that much going for me. I know how to fix this with God. I just need to be unselfish in everything instead of selfish. Also, spending time with Him needs to become a habit.
Well that's all for now. Don't want to over do my comeback :-) Keep me honest and keep me in prayer. Too many people depend on my gift of encouragement, whether they know it or not. If I just have my words and not His the encouragement doesn't last or isn't as effective. I need the confidence that only He can give.

Senator donates hair

One of Michigan's state Senators is going to great lengths to help kids battling serious illness.

State Senator Hansen Clarke has been growing his hair for almost two years so he can donate it to the group Children with Hair Loss.

The Michigan-based charity provides free hairpieces to kids who've lost their hair because of cancer, burns or other diseases.

Senator Clarke will donate his hair, along with an original painting, to the organization at their charity ball fund-raiser Saturday night in Livonia.

February 7th the hair piece was complete for 7-year-old Addison Copeland of East Liverpool, in eastern Ohio, just across from West Virginia's northwestern panhandle. At 9 months old, Addison was accidentally burned with grease that scarred parts of her head and prevented her hair from growing out. It took a little over 4 months to complete the wig.

Portions of these facts were found at freep.com

Billy Graham Quote

Billy Graham once said “If God doesn’t judge America He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” I read this quote today and thought it worthy to share. If nothing else it makes you think!

Rick Warren Prayer

Here is the inaugural prayer in case you didn't see it. There was a controversy brewing if he would say the name of Jesus or not. As you will hear, he not only says His name, he says it in several languages. BAM!