Final Days...

In just a little over 24 hours I will embark on what I'm sure will be a long ass drive to Ohio in a U-Haul packed full of our stuff for yet another cross country move. This last month and a half has been pretty trying for our family, but God has certain blessed us and taken care of us along the way. I know that has the potential of sounding cliche' but seriously one thing after another has just fallen into place for us.

This has definitely given me a peace about moving, but over the last few days I've been feeling really sad about leaving Pensacola for the last time. I'm sure we will be back to visit, but it'll be different then the past without dad here. I hate having to say goodbye to my friends. We've made so many good friends at church and I've been able to spend some good time with a couple of my close friends from when I was growing up. I'm certainly going to dread jumping through the social hoops again.

Thoughts are getting jumbled in my head so I'm going to get ready for one last night out with my friends.

Next post...from Ohio!!

Waiting...

Bob: Well, what are *you* waiting for?
Little Boy on Tricycle: I don't know. Something amazing, I guess.
Bob: Me too, kid.
(from The Incredibles)

Today is Thursday, Oct. 12th, and in just 19 days we are supposed to be completely packed up and ready to move to Ohio. So many things have fallen into place for us since I lost my job and we decided to move to Ohio. Some of those things are small and seemingly insignificant, but others are those "in your face" type blessings that have just come out of nowhere. However, there is one integral part of our move that has yet to completely come together...money. Lately I feel like a selfish kid who has just gotten a ton of presents but is still waiting for one more. It's not that I want to have a selfish heart and I've tried my hardest to keep that in check over the recent weeks.

I just don't understand why 95% of this plan to move would come together only to be held up by the financial aspect. When we made the decision to move, there was one big thing that I was sure would happen that would provide us the money to move, but shame on me for thinking that the closing on my dad's house wouldn't be delayed yet again. Since then my unemployment benefits have been denied, which I do have a chance to appeal but who knows how long that will take.

This, I am certain, is the worst part of life...finances.

I just don't know why we would've been guided this far, only to be held up by one thing. God, it is just so frustrating!!

My prayer:

Come again, Come and strike me down,
I want to lose those doubts that feed upon.
Show yourself, Spread the heavens wide,
Let sanctuary fall, and I'll find comfort in it now

Chorus:
With this love, this joy,
I'm begging you
For something glorious.

Luminous. Luminous your eyes.
The universe in one accord, a witness of your beauty.
Come again, and burst my laggard soul
When I feel helpless. I cannot lose or do without,

Bridge:
There will come a day of atonement.
There will come a day of atonement.
There has come a day of atonement.
There will come, oh there will come,
There will, there will.

by Circadian Rhythm

My baby boy!!

At 4:35pm on Saturday afternoon, the 6th of October 2006, this handsome little guy entered into the world. Eliot Tobias is our third child and we are just so unbelievably filled with joy over this new addition to our family.

We went to the hospital Friday night at 8pm because Lauren had to be given antibiotics before they started the induction. Needless to say it was a long night and we were both pretty frustrated in the morning because we thought we were in for another long delivery process like are previous two birth experiences. Thankfully though things picked up and by 12:30pm L was well on her way into labor. She ended up pushing longer than what we had anticipated she would have to.

Funny thing...almost immediately after delivering our son into the world, L says to me, "You better keep your appointment in a couple weeks!" The appointment she referred to is my vasectomy.

Marijuana may stave off Alzheimer's

Interesting article on CNN.com this morning. Couple things I wanted to highlight:

Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California found that marijuana's active ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, can prevent the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from breaking down more effectively than commercially marketed drugs. (bold added by me)

So something that grows naturally from the earth, which God must've created, does a better job than man-made drugs. Then why is...

Possessing marijuana for recreational use is illegal in many parts of the world, including the United States, though some states allow possession for medical purposes.

I'm not some hippie stoner who is just trying to justify the use of marijuana, but it is clear that it does have it's benefits. Here are some questions if anyone out there feels like answering for me:

1. If marijuana was created by God and He gave us dominion over everything in nature, why then is marijuana perceived as something bad? (remember He only gave Adam and Eve one restriction in the Garden and it wasn't too stay away from this plant.)

2. Why do we spend so much money, at both the State and Federal level, on a bogus Drug War and arresting and imprisoning people for growing a plant?

3. Could this all happen to be about the almighty dollar?

The third question is ultimately the heart of the matter. There would be so many people who would lose money if marijuana was legalized...and we do happen to live in the grand U.S. of A. where the dollar is king.

Christian consumerism hits it's all time low...

My wife and I saw this today while browsing through Books-A-Million. My initial reaction...What the FUCK!!!

This just makes me sick!

Guess the whole Prosperity Gospel really works well for you if you whore out your faith like this.

The Genuis and Beauty of 'Hey Ya'

A little over a week ago I watched this video, which is a cover of the popular Outkast song 'Hey Ya'. I freakin' love this song for so many different reasons. It's such a fun song to play loud whether you're in the car or just chillin' at the house, but the genius of Outkast is that they have taken some rather depressing lyrics and just flipped it into this fun upbeat song.

This acoustic cover of the song was done by Matt Weddle of Obadiah Parker, who I would highly recommend that you check out. I get chills when I hear this...and I'm secure enough in my manhood to admit that it brought a tear to my eye the first time I watched.