B Certain Texas

December Emmaus Gathering

2008-12-11T17:39:00.002-06:00

Friday Night, December 12th will be the Greater North Texas Emmaus Gathering at St John the Apostle UMC in South Arlington Texas. I will once again be the Lay Director for the Gathering. I have been praying for this gathering for several months now. My prayer has been that in gathering as a body of Christ that we will glorify Him. And that we will honor him with our presence. Here is the flyer for the event. I hope to see a might body gather to worship together and glorify or God and King during this season of celebration of His birth.

Stethoscope

2008-12-11T17:18:00.005-06:00

I saw this last week the same day that I saw the "I am Second" video. I thought that both were worth sharing but the "I am Second" was the more powerful of the two. So I am now presenting this one. Let me know which one means more to you. Did I make the right choice?

I am Second

2008-12-05T10:26:00.001-06:00

Have you heard of the "I am Second" campaign? I read about it on one of the blogs that I follow and was blown away by it.

I am Second is a movement where significance in life is a shared value among people of all kinds. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Your next door neighbor. People just like you… I am Second is designed to help people discover their purpose in life.

I sat and watched as people shared their faith and their story. People like Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers and Jason Castro from American Idol. People like you and even people like me. some of them are people that you have heard of and some are people you know even though you have never met.

The only thing that I would warn you of is that you might not want to visit the web site if you are busy and have just a little time.

My name is Brian Certain...And I am Second!

Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-03T15:36:00.003-06:00

I saw this and thought that it makes an important statement about Christmas

Flat Stanley Project

2008-11-21T17:34:00.004-06:00

Dear Friend

In my second grade class we read a book called Flat Stanley. It is about a first grade boy whose bulletin board flattens him one night in his bedroom. At first he is sad, but then he finds all sorts of things that he is able to do when he is flat. One thing he can do is fold himself up in an envelope and mail himself to visit friends and family in faraway places.

In school I made my own Stanley. I am mailing him to friends and family. He is attached to this email. I hope to learn about different places, landmarks and people.

I decided to email you my Stanley and hope you will show him a good time. Maybe you could even take a picture of him next to a local landmark or send back a souvenir or postcard of your area. Each Stanley will be put up on a big map in my classroom and we will track their adventures around the country and world.

After you visit with Stanley, please email or mail him back to me and tell me about your visit. I will then go into class and share his story with my classmates

Thank you for helping to make this a fun learning experience for all the second graders in my class

Sincerely

Cooper Certain

2008-11-10T11:34:00.000-06:00

It’s time to give poverty a swift kick with 50,000 pairs of shoes!

This is the 50,000 Pairs of Shoes in 50 Days challenge. Today is the day. We want to raise enough money to purchase 50,000 pairs of shoes in 50 days. Go to 50000shoes.com

$5 buys 2 pairs of shoes. I just bought 10 pairs of shoes online, so get involved now by going here and buy some shoes today.

And anyone who donates will be entered to win a trip to Mexico to personally deliver their shoes to someone who has never had shoes before.

The organization behind this effort is Soles4Souls, and was featured on Friday in USA Today.

Let’s help those in need. And feel free to link here or to put a similar post up on your site TODAY. We want as many blogging about it as possible.

Grow a Set

2008-10-28T11:15:00.002-05:00

Beautiful_02- Single Guys Outtake from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

This was posted on one of the blogs that I follow from Perry Noble (http://www.perrynoble.com/) who is the Sr. Pastor at NewSpring Church in Anderson SC. I think that it applies to those who are married and not.

We men need to step up and claim our role in our families.

From "The Message" bible by Eugene Peterson

Ephesians 5
22-24 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
Ephesians 5
25-28 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.

We men need to stop castrating ourselves and grow a set. Learn your role! Be your role! Learn how to bless your wife and children. It will be an investment in the future of your family!

A mans role is undoubtedly the leader of the house. But we are not taught this, because it is politically incorrect. We were instead taught a distorted sense of equality. Have you heard of the 50/50 rule where the husband will do the chores for a day and the wife on another? Has any man ever cared enough to clean? Even when he does clean, how clean is it? Has any man ever "wanted" to take out the rubbish? No! Because men are not made like that.

I think that we need to find time to be men, honorable men, that lead their families. If you cant do it on your own, then ask for help. It is NOT a sign of weakness to ask for help in such Godly pursuit. It is a sign of our own failure, but desire to be better. Learn from your past mistakes, but endeavor to not repeat them again in the future. Talk to a spiritual friend about their struggles and share your own. Ask them to help keep you accountable, and keep them accountable as well. Surround yourself with Spiritual warriors. Go on a "Walk to Emmaus". DO SOMETHING!!! Don't let another day go by without pursuing your wife and this goal. Today is the day. Draw the line in the sand and don't ever cross back over it.

Discuss?

Walk to Emmaus Gathering

2008-10-24T13:33:00.002-05:00

Tonight is the October Gathering for the Arlington / Mid-Cities Emmaus Community at First UMC Arlington. I will be the Lay Leader for this Gathering. The gathering are an excellent way for you to reaffirm your connection with your 'Walk" experience and enjoy fellowship with your Emmaus Brothers and Sister's.

Won't you come and worship with me?

The Love Dare

2008-10-05T16:35:00.004-05:00

I was asked to give a message to the men's basketball ministry tonight at FUMC Mansfield. Here is a copy of what I shared

This is a scene from one of my favorite movies “Facing the Giants. However today, I want you to think about this scene in a much different perspective.

Today I want you to think about that scene not just as a football scene but in relationship to your marriages. How many of you are married?
How many of you are marriage warriors?

How many of you believe that you are the most influential member of your marriage?

1 John 4:7
Let us love one another, for love is from God;
and everyone who loves is from God and knows God

I now see this scene is not about just football … it’s about me and God. See the coach is God, and that me with the weight on my back. The weight is my marriage
God is saying …
It’s all heart!
It’s not too hard !
You don’t quit on me!
You are the most influential member of this team!
If you walk around defeated … so will she.
Don’t tell me you can’t give more that I what I have been seeing!
Brian .. I need you.
Can I count on you?

I believe that you cannot give unconditional love to another out of your own heart. It’s impossible! It’s beyond your capacity. It’s beyond all of our capacities.

Unconditional love is only something that comes from God. Because he loves you... God chooses to express that love through you.

Now being guys we like to think that we can do it all on our own. We believe that with enough hard work and commitment, we can muster up unconditional, long term, sacrificial love from our own hearts. But I will ask you... How many times has your love failed to keep you from lying, lusting, from overreacting, from thinking evil of the person that you stood before God and promised to love for the rest of your life?

John 15:5 apart from me, you can do nothing

The people who made “Facing the Giants” came out with a new movie last Friday called “Fireproof” it was made for $500k and finished 4th at the box office last week grossing 6.5 Million dollars. Now I believe in a Big God and I believe that HE is making a Big Statement with this movie

The movie is about a couple who are facing the end of their marriage. They have both given up. But the male lead, played by Growing Pains Kirk Cameron, gets challenged by his Dad to give it 40 more days. His dad then gives him a journal of a sort called “The Love Dare”. The way I describe it, its 40 days of dares to change your heart. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know that there is only one person who I can change, and that me.

How many of you have ever trained for an event? Did you hire a trainer? Did you ask advice from someone who had done it before? Did you read a book? I don't know what means you used but you would agree that you could not be very good at what ever it was on your own with no training. I see marriage the same way. There are no training manuals, our wives did not come with an instruction book. We have had to learn by trial and error. And boy have I made errors.

I have gotten a little smarter over the years and have looked for ways to make my marriage better. “The Love Dare” is one of the ways that I have found to start conditioning my heart for my wife.

The dares start off relatively easy with the first day being

The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in many ways, our words are often a reflection of the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and say nothing negative to your wife at all. If the temptation arises choose to say nothing at all. It’s better to hold your tongue than say something you will regret

I don’t know about you but I hear that and I say …I can do anything for a day.
But then you get to day 2 when it says

In addition to saying nothing negative to your wife again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

WHAT!!! Another day.
And then it goes on from there, some days are easier than others but what I have learned is, if you’re not right with God, you can’t truly love your spouse because He is the source of Love. You can’t give what you don’t have.

The truth is you can’t live without Him and you can’t love without him. But there is no telling what He could do in your marriage if you put your trust in Him

John 15:7
if you abide in Me and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

No matter what the state of your marriage, I would challenge each of you to pick it up this book and dare to change your relationship … to start getting in shape for the rest of your marriage. If you are in a good marriage, it will help make it better. If you are in a bad marriage, I won’t promise that it will make it better, but it won’t make it worse.

In either case maybe, just maybe, God will start conditioning your heart and through that conditioning, it will shed a light unto your wife's heart and then maybe, just maybe, you too will find that we worship a BIG God.

Amen

Proverbs 31 Woman

2008-10-01T12:35:00.003-05:00

Last night at "Letters from Dad" one of the guys at my table talked about his wife being a Proverbs 31 wife. I had never heard that phrase before. So last night and further today it sent me on a little bible and internet quest. here is what I have found...

The Seven Principles of the Proverbs 31 Woman

The Proverbs 31 Woman...

Pursues an ongoing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Loves, honors, and greatly enriches the life of her husband, encouraging and supporting his leadership within his family and his church.

Nurtures the next generation, shaping and molding the children who will one day define who we are as a community and as a nation.

Creates a warm and loving environment for family and friends.

Is a faithful steward of the time and money God has entrusted to her.

Speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction as she encourages others and develops godly friendships.

Shares the love of Christ by extending her hands to help the poor and opening her arms to the needy.

I found that I too am married to a Proverbs 31 woman. Every day I thank God for bringing her into my life and making it complete.

2008-10-01T11:49:00.005-05:00

Last night at the kickoff for the "Letter's from Dad" program last night at FUMC Mansfield, Donnie Sherwood talked about this video. He talked about the video showing the unconditional love of a father and the determination to complete the race. This video is from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The video shows World Champion Derek Redmond competing in the semi-final of the 400m race. I love the addition of the 'Creed" song "Arms wide open". To me, it really puts God's love into perspective that no matter what...He will be there to see me to the finish line. And it challenges me to be the same kind of father to my son and wife. I hope you are moved and inspired like I was.

Letters From Dad

2008-09-29T15:23:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow night @ 6:45 FUMC Mansfield will be kicking off its inaugural "Letters From Dad" program. Its mission is to learn to leave a legacy of faith, hope and love that will impact your family for generations to come, to learn how to communicate your unconditional love and blessing.

This is a program that I have been praying for, for over a year. I cannot fathom not being there for my son on those special days in his future, when he turns 18, graduates from High School and then College, gets married, has his first child, has his first argument with his wife, but I can learn how to write letters that he can read and know what advice I would have given him if God calls me home first instead. And not only for him but what impact would those letters have on my great-great grandson? To show them an example of Christian masculinity.

I am excited to embark on this journey and excited about the impact that this will have on my entire family. I am absolutely convicted about impacting the world in which I touch. I know that I cannot change the entire world. But I can change my heart and hopefully through my example the hearts of others around me.

It is not too late to share the journey �wont you join me tomorrow night as we change our world.

Freebirds

2008-09-28T21:07:00.003-05:00

Today Tammy, Cooper and I had lunch at the new Freebirds at Arlington Highlands. They have the Worlds Best Burrito's! Here is Cooper enjoying the outing.

Fireproof - #3 last night

2008-09-27T13:07:00.003-05:00

Last night Tammy and went to see "Fireproof" at the Cinemark theater in Mansfield. We have had this night as a date night on our calendars for the last 2 months. we both loved "Facing the Giants" when it came out almost exactly 2 years ago and were expecting great things from this movie as well. We even got a sitter for our son! we took him to see "Facing The Giants" but with this movie being more about marriage we thought it best to invest in just the two of us.

We arrived about 30 minutes early because I was concerned that the theater would be crowded. I guess the truth is that I was hoping that it would be crowded. We ran into some friends from church and all 8 of us went into the theater. We had no problem finding seats, but that soon would change. As we got closer and closer to the start time we saw the seats start to disappear. About 10 minutes before the start time the manager of the theatre came in and announced that the movie was a sell out and would we all shift in toward the middle so that everyone could find a seat. Thank you God! As the start time approached more and more people came into the now packed theatre. I could not believe what I was seeing and hearing. there seem to be a wonderful buzz in the air in anticipation of what God was doing in all of our lives. As the lights dimmed everyone hushed in anticipation.

I will not ruin anyone else's movie experience by reveling any more of the story than you have already heard, but I will say that there were times when the audience was laughing so had it was hard to hear the next line and I am confident enough in my own masculinity to share that I was not the only man in the audience with a tear or two running down my cheek.

Here is the amazing email that i received form the "Fireproof" team just a few minutes ago.

Thank You ... Thank You ... Thank GOD!
Throughout 2008, you have followed the behind-the-scenes story of FIREPROOF, an action-packed love story about a fireman, his wife ... and a marriage worth rescuing.

Friday, on opening day, you experienced the movie firsthand. With friends and family, with small groups and entire churches, you went. And laughter, tears, and cheers filled 839 theaters across the country.

Today, as movie-industry insiders look at all of the statistical data from yesterday, they are trying to figure out how in the world a movie they didn't even know about was one of the most popular movies in the country on Friday.

That's right: FIREPROOF was the No. 3 movie in America yesterday! You have thoroughly confounded Hollywood.

Will FIREPROOF stay No. 3 the rest of Opening Weekend? By industry standards, it seems extremely unlikely. The next five movies that finished behind FIREPROOF are playing on approximately 2,500 screens each.

So the key is that people like us keep showing up at movie theaters, both today and tomorrow. Let's show Hollywood that FIREPROOF is the kind of movie you will support. Let them know that this is more than a movie ... it's a movement.

As we found out with Facing the Giants two years ago and FIREPROOF last night, with God, all things are possible ... even in the movie industry. Make that especially in the movie industry.

Thank you! And thanks for continuing to support FIREPROOF on this all-important weekend.

Wow, Number 3!!! Against some major pictures on 3 times as many screens. That is truly God at work.

I cannot urge all of you enough to go and see this movie. I will be there on the day that it is available on DVD. i can see it being a Christmas gift for some of my family

Please let me know your thoughts and impressions on this powerful movie.

PS. Tammy and started talking last night about renewing our marriage covenant as a result of seeing this film. If we do that here in Texas, I will let you know so that you can be there with us to share our committment to each other, our marriage, our son and to God.

Spaghetti Frittata

2008-09-25T17:32:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine recently posted about trying to fix a frittata for the first time. It brought back many memories for me as this was one of my first recipes that I really experimented with. I saw Jeff Smith on the PBS show “The Frugal Gourmet” fix a Spaghetti Frittata and said to myself, I can fix that. Now this was around 1989 - 1990 before I knew that was this thing called the internet was and certainly it was in its beginning stages. There was nowhere to go and “look up” a recipe. You had to have someone show you how to cook it (Thanks Mom) or you had to go out and buy a cookbook and hope that you could figure it out on your own. Jeff was the first cooking show that I watched and picked up a lot of great tips and techniques from. I own 5 or 6 of his cookbooks that I still pull out to this day. I would actually record his shows on my VCR (yes I know that I am showing my age) and watch them when I got home that night. He would actually go through almost all of the recipes in the cookbooks with great detail on techniques and ingredients'. I still remember one of the things that he used to say that I am now teaching Cooper when we cook together�”Hot pan, Cold oil - Never stick”. Try it� you will be amazed at how well it works.
The Spaghetti Frittata was a recipe that I fell in love with from the first time I fixed it. It met all of my hot buttons as far as my taste buds go. Pasta, olive oil, garlic, caramelized onions and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Here is the “original recipe” or as close as I remember it without a cookbook
Ingredients
Angel Hair Pasta about a silver dollars worth
Garlic 5 or 6 cloves - Fresh, Chopped
Olive Oil 5 or 6 tablespoons
Onions 2 large yellow (I really like the Texas 1015 or the Georgia Vidalia's)
Red Pepper Flakes 1 teaspoon
Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese ½ cup
Eggs 4 large

All of the ingredients are approximate are I am doing this from memory. If you have ever been with me when I cook you KNOW I never measure ANYTHING.

Boil the pasta in water with 3-4 tablespoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the water. The water needs to be slightly salty to the taste. You have to remember that you are trying to approximate sea water. The oil will allow the pasta to cook without sticking together so much. Cook the pasta until “al dente” or cooked just long enough to be still firm, and not too soft. Drain thoroughly and put aside.

Peel and slice your onions. What I do is I ALWAYS cut off the root end first - then the tops (I don't know if it really helps with the sulphur but I NEVER tear up when I cut up onions this way). I then cut the onion in half from top to bottom and then thinly slice each half. Heat your skillet pan up until it is hot, but not scorching. Put in enough olive oil to give a light coating on the bottom of your pan. Add onions and stir (or toss) until the onions are lightly coated in the olive oil. Cut your heat to medium and stir occasionally. You are trying for a light or dark brown color on your onions(depending on your taste). After about 15 minutes add the garlic and stir into the onions. (Now Tammy and I LOVE garlic. So add to your own taste. I have given you less garlic in the ingredient list than I would add.) After 5 more minutes add the Red Pepper Flakes and stir together. (If you and yours don't like a lot of heat in your cooking or you are cooking for small ones, then you can leave this out). Remove from the heat when the onions are done to your taste.

In a large mixing bowl, break and scramble the eggs. The eggs are there as a binding agent. Add ½ of the Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese to the eggs and scramble thoroughly. Add the cooked pasta to the bowl and thoroughly coat the pasta in the egg and cheese mixture. Then fold in the onion mixture with the pasta and mix well.

Heat the skillet back up and put in a little more olive oil. Pour the pasta and onion mixture into the pan. Stir or shake the pasta occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan but you want to pasta to develop a little crunchiness to it.

After about 10 - 15 minutes comes the fun part. You can either take the easy way out or join in with the pros. The easy way is to add the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese to the top of the dish and put under a 500 degree broiler in your oven to get the top crunchy as well, (Just make sure that your pan is oven proof - metal handle) about 10-15 minutes. Or you can join the pros by flipping the entire dish over ala omelet style. I will tell you that this takes practice, a sure hand, boldness and confidence. If you are lacking in any of these areas as you do the flip, you will be cleaning up your stovetop. Sometimes a little and sometimes a lot . You start by shaking the pan to make sure that the pasta is not stuck to the bottom of the pan. Then in one clean motion you will flip the pasta over catching it in the pan on the other side. After you flip the dish over add the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese and let it melt on top as you get the now bottom side golden brown. About 10 - 15 minutes.

The top and bottom should now be golden brown and have a nice crust on both sides with the middle firm but not crunchy. Cut the Frittata into pie shaped pieces and serve. You should have enough left over for leftovers the next day.

This makes a great vegetarian meal as it is, but does not feel like it. If you want, you can add any number of things to the recipe to “kick it up”.

I have added
leftover grilled chicken - chopped up
pesto - email me and I will send you my recipe for that as well
cut up rotisserie chicken
any leftover beef or pork

Your pan becomes your pallet upon which to paint yours and your family taste buds. Let me know if this works for you and what alterations you make to the recipe.
Bon appétit

Dave Barry's colonoscopy journal

2008-09-24T15:50:00.004-05:00

A friend sent me this article a few days ago and i am still chuckling at it. Please enjoy

ABOUT THE WRITER
Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist for the Miami Herald.

Dave Barry's colonoscopy journal:

I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis. Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner. I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, quote, 'HE'S GOING TO
STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!'

I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription
for a product called 'MoviPrep', which comes in a box large enough to hold
a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice
it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America's
enemies.

I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous.
Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation. In
accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all
I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor.
Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder
together in a one-liter plastic jug, and then you fill it with lukewarm
water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32
gallons.) Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour,
because MoviPrep tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat
spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.

The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great
sense of humor, state that after you drink it, 'a loose watery bowel
movement may result.' This is kind of like saying that after you jump off
your roof, you may experience contact with the ground.

MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic, here,
but: Have you ever seen a space-shuttle launch? This is pretty much the
MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle. There are times when you
wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much
confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything.
And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink
another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your
bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not
even eaten yet.

After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep. The next morning
my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried
about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of
MoviPrep spurtage. I was thinking, 'What if I spurt on Andy?' How do you
apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough.

At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and
totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a
room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little
curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital
garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on,
makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked.

Then a nurse named Eddie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand.
Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Eddie was very good, and I was already
lying down. Eddie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep.
At first I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this, but then I
pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the
bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. You would
have no choice but to burn your house.

When everything was ready, Eddie wheeled me into the procedure room, where
Andy was waiting with a nurse and an anesthesiologist. I did not see the
17,000-foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere. I
was seriously nervous at this point. Andy had me roll over on my left side,
and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my
hand. There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was
'Dancing Queen' by Abba. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that
could be playing during this particular procedure, 'Dancing Queen' has to
be the least appropriate.

'You want me to turn it up?' said Andy, from somewhere behind me. 'Ha
ha,' I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for
more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am
going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.

I have no idea. Really. I slept through it. One moment, Abba was shrieking
'Dancing Queen! Feel the beat from the tambourine' and the next moment, I
was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. Andy was
looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even
more excellent when Andy told me that it was all over, and that my colon
had passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal
organ.

On the subject of Colonoscopies...
Colonoscopies are no joke, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous..... A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:

1. "Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!

2. "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"

3. "Can you hear me NOW?"

4. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

5. "You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married."

6. "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?"

7. "You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out..."

8. "Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"

9. "If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!

10. "Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."

11. "You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?"

12. "God, now I know why I am not gay."

And the best one of all....

13. "Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?"

Why opening weekend?

2008-09-24T15:32:00.007-05:00

(this is from the "Fireproof" website

FIREPROOF opens this Friday. Kris Fuhr, the Vice President of Provident Films, explains why it's so important for people to see this movie on Opening Weekend, September 26-28.

"There are all kinds of ways to measure a movie's success. With a movie made by a church, the first place to start is with the ministry impact." Kris says. "We are trusting that God will use FIREPROOF to impact countless marriages on Opening Weekend ... and for years to come.

"From a business perspective, the most obvious starting point for determining a film's success is the Opening Weekend box office. If you look at USA Today or your local paper on Mondays, they list the top 10 movies from the previous weekend based on box office revenue. I heard one well-known Hollywood producer say that within 24 hours, he knew if the previous two years worth of work had been worthwhile.

"Combining the business and the ministry aspects, you realize that every person that sees the movie on Opening Weekend is someone whose relationships may be impacted by the story. And that's exciting!"

A strong first weekend ensures a long-playing movie, which helps in other ways as well.

"With seven movies opening in wide release the week after we open, there is even more riding on our Opening Weekend," Kris says. "Hollywood looks at the success of Facing the Giants as an anomaly. FIREPROOF is flying under the Hollywood radar screen. This is a wonderful opportunity to show that there is an audience for authentic, inspiring, and entertaining stories that are created by people of faith."

So, DVR the debate ... and the weekend football games while you're at it. Let the grass grow a little longer. Relax at the movie theater instead of at home.

And thanks for making a difference by seeing FIREPROOF this weekend!

What People Are Saying
Check out a couple of the more-recent FIREPROOF endorsement quotes:

"FIREPROOF went beyond my expectations! It captures the real-life issues of marriage in a moving, emotional, and riveting way. It inspires you to put your faith in action and fight for your marriage. I encourage anyone who is married or even thinking about getting married to see this movie."
Dr. Tony Evans

"FIREPROOF is a gripping and powerful story. Its surprising twists and turns make for a great plot with a simple, but powerful message. I loved it and you will too!"
Mike Huckabee

"I've spent my entire life trying to win in two different pro sports. What I appreciate about FIREPROOF is that it's an entertaining and challenging reminder of what it takes to win in marriage! FIREPROOF is a great illustration that apart from Christ, relationships are doomed to fail. I'm so appreciative that the folks at Provident Films have stepped out and made a movie that will inspire husbands and wives to submit their marriages to the Lord and to stand up and fight for a battle worth winning."
Joe Gibbs - Owner, Joe Gibbs Racing, NFL Hall of Fame Coach

One Place to Be This Weekend
Okay, Friday is quickly approaching. There's a presidential debate you want to see. And then Saturday, all kinds of yard work needs to get done. And Sunday after church, a nice relaxing afternoon at home sure sounds nice.

But why make this a typical weekend? For the first time in two years, a truly must-see movie is opening ... and it needs your support. Opening weekend for FIREPROOF is the time for you to see this film.

Don't wait for the second weekend ... it might not have a second weekend.
Don't complain about the 7 p.m. showing being filled ... celebrate the lives being changed then and go to a show time that's a little less convenient.
Don't go alone ... there are couples in your world that need to see this film.
Don't wait to get tickets ... go online or go to your local theater and get your tickets today!
Don't wait for it to come to DVD ... if you want movies like this to be made, you need to support them first in theaters.

Fireproof

2008-09-22T17:19:00.004-05:00

This coming Friday- September 26, 2008 - a new movie will hopefully be coming to a theater near you. It is entitled "Fireproof". It was made by Alex and Stephen Kendrick and Sherwood Christian Church in Albany Georgia. They are the same people who made "Facing the Giants" back in 2006 and Flywheel previously.

This story centers on a firefighter who is facing what he sees as the end of his marriage. the Movie stars Kirk Cameron - here he is talking about the movie on the Today Show and here as well. During the interviews he talks about a plot device that is used in the movie called "The Love Dare".

I cannot urge you enough to stand up for this movie and what it stands for. Here is a link talking about the power of the book even before the movie comes out. This move (as well as "Facing the Giants") is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for having thematic material as well as some peril. I believe that this is code for some people have objections to a movie that puts God First. Isn't that crazy?

I will be there this weekend with my wife to support what I believe will be another great movie. No, I don't believe that it will win any awards for acting or cinematography, but a great movie with a great message.

Don't tell Tammy but I am on dare 14 of 40. I know that I cannot change my wife and in fact I don't even want to try. But I can change my heart, and I can be a better husband and friend. Won't you take the dare with me?

Where I am

2008-09-22T17:03:00.003-05:00

Where I Am... Well that a deep subject starter.
I am ...
45 years old
Married to Tammy for 11 years
Father to Cooper who is 8
Master to Laddie, Casey and Jessie - all Border Collies ages 12, 11 and 3 months
Own an Allstate Insurance Agency for 24 years
Live in Texas for 24 years
Avid Mississippi State University supporter and fan
Love Baseball
Christian - attending FUMC Mansfield
Bourbon aficionado - although I don't drink that much