No review yet

But instead, this interesting post regarding cussin' and the Church.

Guess who's back, back again.

This is a very interesting idea. I wonder who they're using as their service provider.

So I interviewed at Target last night. Good times. I got to see the Target break room. Exciting, no? The most noteworthy aspect of the breakroom was that offered free flavor syrups (cherry and vanilla) for your favorite sodas. I interviewed with one of the team leaders for approx 25 minutes. It went very well. It was a little different for me because I found myself being very confident, and expressing that confidence in my words. I usually feel confident, but don't necessarily express it. Here's an example. My interviewer asked me "Why should we hire you?" My answer:

Just like the name Target is associated with quality, the name S****** M********* is associated with quality.

Yikes! That's very not like me to say, but I said it nonetheless. Perhaps there was less pressure because this was a part-time job and I had no expectations that I had to try to live up to. I don't know. But the interview went well. They wanted to have someone else interview me (they call it stacked interviewing), but no one was available. Which was just as well, because I had an appointment with my financial guy in 20 minutes. So I'm going back next week for the second interview.

Here's a link to the trailer for M. Night Shaymelamemalas new movie. Pride and Prejudice review coming later on today.

Happy Birthday!!

Clive Staples ("Jack") Lewis (1898-1963) is probably the best known and most effective 20th century writer of Christian apologetics. He was a respected scholar and teacher at Oxford university for 29 years and then served as a professor at Cambridge University until the end of his career.

C.S. Lewis received his First Class degree in Classical Moderations from University College, Oxford University in 1920. In 1922, he received another First Class degree in Literae Humaniores, and yet another in English Language and Literature in 1923.

During his professional career he was Fellow and Tutor in English at Magdalen College, Oxford University from 1925 until 1954, and Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University from 1954 until 1963.

An atheist throughout his early life, he adopted theism in 1929 and converted to Christianity in 1931. Lewis' spiritual pilgrimage followed two tracks, both intellectual and emotional-intuitive. Since childhood he had experienced prolonged moments of longing, the bittersweet stab of desire. He perceived that these longings, which he came to identify as joy, actually pointed away from themselves, to another world of permanence and fulfillment, to God.

There are many people who are Christians today partly or largely through reading Lewis. In turn, Lewis was influenced by other Christian writers. In telling about his conversion from atheism to Christianity, Lewis relates how he discovered, with surprise, that all of the authors he most admired were Christian. At first, he thought he liked them in spite of their Christianity and then realized that it was because of their Christianity. Lewis once said that a young atheist can't be too careful what books he reads.

A talented debater and writer, Lewis wrote prolifically in many genres: novels, poetry, children's literature, fantasy, science fiction, literary criticism, and apologetics. In addition, he wrote essays, sermons, and hundreds of letters, which are rich in their insight and human concern. Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain are three of his best known apologetic works. In addition to his writing on Christianity, he wrote several highly respected scholarly works (e.g. English Literature in the Sixteenth Century Excluding Drama, The Allegory of Love, and Studies in Words.)

C.S. Lewis captured the hearts and minds of children and adults alike with his creative and imaginative Space Trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia. Of Lewis' novels one of the less well known, but one of his finest is Till We Have Faces. His works also include several volumes of poetry, collections of his essays and addresses on a variety of subjects.

The above info is courtesy of The Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis and Friends

Don't forget to go see the movie. At 10.30p on 12/09/05 at Regal Cinemas. (hint hint)

Fun with Geography!

How well do you know your 50 states? Take the test. Then try your hand in Europe.

Sports Shorts

Last night, some friends and I were discussing options (from a football standpoint). And I just now thought of another example that perhaps didn't get mentioned. Peyton Manning has options on who he can throw the ball to. And I'm not just talking about specific plays that he audibles at the line. If Harrison is covered, Manning can look him off and go to Wayne. If Wayne is covered, Manning can look for Clark. So the Colts offense isn't just limited to Marvin Harrison. They have lots of options.

If anyone has a clue what Senator Arlen Specter is thinking, let me know.

I wander

If you are going on an interview at Target, is it proper to wear a blazer that you bought at the very same Target?

You better watch out!

How was your Thanksgiving? I had a great day. Who knew that the Cracker Barrel was open Thanksgiving Day? So not only did I have a great dinner, but I had a great breakfast as well. Good times with the fam. If you haven't read it, be sure to check out Ellie's post from Wednesday. Good words to remember.

I have an interview with Target on Tuesday. It all happened so suddenly. I went in earlier today to fill out an application at their employment kiosk. The application was a beast that took me about 30 minutes to fill out. Check out some of the questions they had on the application:

Q: I believe my parents are quite proud of my accomplishments.
a) Yes
b) Not Sure
c) No

Q: Compared to other people I know, I daydream:
a) More than them
b) About the same as them
c) Less than them

Q: My close friends tell me I am:
a) Careful and serious-minded
b) Not Sure/In-between
c) Carefree and happy-go-lucky

My favorite questions involved the percentages:

Q: I believe that ___% of the US population cheats on their tax returns.
a) 10% or less
b) 11 - 25%
c) 26 - 40%
d) 50% or greater

Q: What is the percentage of politicians you think are honest?
**I don't remember all the options, but I chose 75-89%

After I had filled out the application, the screen told me to pick up the phone. I picked up the phone (not suprisingly, it was red) and they asked me to come back to the office to sign my application and schedule an appointment. Just like that, I had an interview. So I'll let you know how that goes.

And a big fat "Congratulations" to the Messiah College women's soccer team, who captured their first national championship this afternoon.

Oh, and the men won too.

I saw some flakes

So with the super-long weekend ahead, I decided to go to Blockbuster and actually use my Blockbuster rewards to get two movies (but only pay for one). Apparently, it had been a while since I had been to Blockbuster. I got ten coupons printed out with my receipt. Apparently they had to settle some sort of lawsuit and the settlement involved giving people coupons for free rentals, dollar-off rentals and BOGO's (buy one get one free). I dont know how long ago this occurred, but it was news to me (I was familiar with the lawsuit, but not the settlement). So anywho, I'm now trying to get rid of the majority of the coupons as they expire 11/28/05.

Oh, and I also rented some movies. I rented Schultze Gets The Blues, which is an indie film from last year that I never got to see. And I also rented the BBC version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

And I think I would be keen to getting together with some of my peeps to watch this. Because it's all about them. Crazy ringers.

Oprah likes stuff

Every year Oprah gives away her favorite stuff from the past year to her studio audience. Now just to clarify, every single audience member gets one of every item. Now, check out the list.

I'm a-musing.

This past weekend, I had the very great and wonderful opportunity to be a part of a musical production at my church. It was, in a word, great. I may or may not have documented the fact that I was apprehensive about this production because it was the first time I A) had played in an orchestra, and B) had to read music (since I took lessons back in high school). But it turned out to be a very enjoyable experience. The choir folks were all nice and I enjoyed the direction of one D. Curry. Last night, I actually found myself a little sad because we weren't going to be doing the production anymore. But I believe that's a good thing. Because it makes me more likely to participate in this sort of event in the future. Because my experience was good.

And it was also interesting for me in another way. I got a lot of compliments. And for those of you who meet in Grantham on Thursday nights, you'll know the relevance of this. People were coming up and offering all sorts of compliments. It was all very flattering. And then late on Saturday night, it occurred to me that I don't deserve any glory at all. I'm just a man. God deserves it all. I'm hoping to train myself so that when I get compliments in the future, I can be quick to give Him the glory.

Finally, I want to let my snow-loving friends that I am actually rooting for snow on Thursday. Now don't think I've changed my ways and become a new man. Because I haven't. But I do recognize that the snow will make you a happy lot. And it will give you a little extra something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. I'm not planning on going anywhere, except for maybe a run if the precipitation stops, so I'm okay with it.

Did you know?

That Frito-Lay changed the Tostitos recipe earlier this year? It's true. Here's how I know.

Friday evening I bought some Tostitos chips and some Tostitos Salsa con Queso. You see, I had a coupon where, if I bought one package of chips and one jar of dip, I would save one dollar. So I went and I saved. Upon tearing open the bag later that evening, I was slightly dismayed to notice that many of the chips had these nasty air bubbles in them, causing the chip to have a reduced crunch value. Seriously, when you bite into one, it's a lot closer to communion wafer consistency than ideal tortilla chip consistency. This bothered me enough that I decided to make a phone call to Texas. Why Texas? Well, that's where Frito-Lay is based. As I was explaining to the customer service lady about my disappointment in the fact that many of the chips were defective, she told me that in fact, that was the way they were supposed to be. Apparently there was some verbage on the Tostitos packaging earlier this year heralding this new recipe/consistency. Did anyone else miss that? I know that I did.

The lady was very nice and explained what happened and offered me some other product options (including a line (organic yellow corn Tostitos) whose nearest availability was in Williamsport). As a last gasp, I asked her if they had changed the recipe on the "Tostitos with a hint of lime." She said no. So it appears that I will be moving away from the traditional Tostitos line and looking for other alternatives. After, I use the coupons that she's sending me. Of course.

A quick word

I have to give God all the glory for the skills and abilities that He has given me.

I am blessed.

Friday Fun II

Last week I regaled you with tips on "How to look good to a girl." Today:

How to Get a Girlfriend

*Steps:
1. Know what type of girl you're looking for. Make a list of traits that appeal to you, such as intelligence, looks, ambition, sense of humor, or respect for other people's feelings.

2. Resolve old hurts and disappointments. Make sure you're ready for a new relationship by setting aside any grievances about old girlfriends.

3. Attract the type of girl you're looking for by emphasizing your best features and downplaying undesirable traits. Make the most of what you have, both physically and mentally.

4. Learn how to make a girl feel good about herself by taking an interest in her life and her aspirations.

5. Consider any unattached girls at your school or work. Do any of them match the qualities that you want in a girlfriend?

6. Get involved in activities that you enjoy to give yourself the chance to meet new girls. Expand your horizons and your circle of friends.

7. If you have your eye on a certain girl, let mutual friends know about your interest in her. Ask someone you trust to discreetly tell her about your interest.

8. If you don't have the nerve to directly approach a girl who has caught your eye, consider being her secret admirer for a while. Send her sweet, anonymous messages or notes (with a few subtle clues about your identity) to let her know about your interest in her.

Tips:
Love can surface in unexpected places and at unexpected times. Keep your eyes open for the right girl for you.

I just read a good quote.

And now I'm sharing it with you.

It is not what man does that makes his work sacred or secular; it why he does it - the motive is everything." - A.W. Tozer

Fives

I just decided to delete all the individual posts and create one big one.

Five Places I'd Like to Visit (to which I haven't already visited)

*Australia
*Ireland
*Paris
*Rome
*New Zealand

Five Favorite Restaurants

*Cracker Barrel
*Damon's
*Ruby Tuesday
*Applebee's
*The Pizza Grille

Five Sporting Events I Would Like to Attend

*World Cup
*Super Bowl
*Texas/OU Football Game
*NCAA Final Four
*Summer Olympics

Five People from History Are Having Dinner at My Place.
They are:

*Paul
*Dietrich Bonhoeffer
*CS Lewis
*Abraham Lincoln
*My grandfather (he would really enjoy meeting the other four)

Five Things I Don't Know

*The difference between a latte and a mocha
*What chai tea is or what makes it chai. Is chai a plant?
*How to ice skate. I can stand and move, but not fluidly.
*When to use "then" and "than."
*How to change my oil.

And I would like to tag Ocean Waves. Your turn.

Ahhh! Semi-Success!

Job Applied For: Hershey's Bake Shop Apprentice

Thank you for submitting your online application for employment with us. Although we continuously accept applications, position availability may vary by season and department. The Department Manager will review your application. Employee Relations will only respond to those individuals who will be interviewed. If positions are not available at this time, your application will be considered active for one year.

Ha!

I applied for three different positions this afternoon with The Hershey Company. Well, Hershey has this quaint little software program that, once you have an account created, asks you questions specific to the job in question. So if you are applying for an accounting position, they'll want to know if you have your CPA experience and they may want to know if you've done any public accounting and if so, for how long. Questions like that.

I applied for one full-time position and two part-time positions and this is the response I got on all three:

Thank you for applying for this job.
We are sorry, but you have not met the minimum requirements for this job. You are locked out 0 days for above job code. If you would like to search for another job, please click HERE.

So I think I may apply again, but change some of my answers. Stay tuned. More updates as they become available.

Yellow Breeches

Photographic evidence of Sunday's expedition

Remember the good ol' days?

When we used to watch tv shows on our, ummmm......computers?

New aquarium opening up in Atlanta. They're calling it huge. It will also be known as the Georgia Aquarium.

This is cool. And you don't even need an office!

Most of y'all probably heard about the guy (David Hayden) who is being accused of shooting his girlfriend's parents and then kidnapping her. Well, they both had xanga blogs. Kara Borden (the girlfriend) has had her site taken down (it was up yesterday, though). David Hayden's site is still up. For how long, who knows, but people have already been leaving some scathing comments. Click here.

Surrender

How do you define surrender? Dictionary.com defines surrender as:

1. To relinquish possession or control of to another because of demand or compulsion.
2. To give up in favor of another.
3. To give up or give back (something that has been granted).
4. To give up or abandon.
5. To give over or resign (oneself) to something, as to an emotion.

As is often to happen with me, I've been thinking about the words to a particular hymn which prominently features that word. Surrender. What does it mean to me?

To me, to surrender is to give up. Every paycheck, I surrender tax money to the US government. If I volunteer to help someone/something, I'm surrendering my time to them. Which brings me to surrendering to God.

The act of surrender requires giving up. It's me, giving up MY life for HIS. Pushing aside my plans, dreams and ideas for His plans, dreams and ideas. Giving up the sinful pleasures of this earth, and focusing on the fruits of His Spirit. And ya know what? It's hard as all get out. It's difficult dropping stuff that isn't of Him. But in my pursuit of holiness, I have to shake off that crap. Regrettably, it will not be a once-and-done deal. My human-ness will continue to be a magnet to sin. But we are called to excellence. And I must continue to fight in my pursuit. Thankfully, I have a friend who's with me on this little adventure.

These are the words:

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood..

Won't you be mine, won't you be mine?

The weather is b-e-a-utiful out today and I'm loving it! I am on my way down to the Yella Breeches to maybe do some reading and some photo shooting. These are the days that you want to last forever. Unfortunately, it is November and these days probably won't last till tomorrow. But be that as it may, I'm living for the moment! (exclamation point added for emphasis)

My efforts to enter the world of WiFi have failed. The pcmcia card that I purchased from Tiger Direct, does not have a driver for Win98. For Win98SE, yes there is a driver. But not for the straight Win98. Sadness. So now I have to jump through the return hoops and send the card back from whence it came (Illinois).

For the one of you who may have been in service this morning, I thought that sermon was one of the most culturally-relevant sermons that I've heard in a while. Would you concur? I think it affirmed some thoughts and notions that I already had (three cheers for positive affirmation that doesn't feed my ego!). And I don't think Phil watered it down at all. So I definitely enjoyed the sermon this morning....on adultery.

And remember my friends, "the best is yet to come."

Friday Fun!

So I'm starting a new feature here at Mind the Gap. It's a special feature for all my single friends. I'm calling this feature "So THAT'S how you do it!" It will be mostly geared to the men, but I will be throwing in some fun female-oriented material as well. You see, I discovered a website that answers everything you ever wanted to know about love and dating. So let's get started!

How to Look Good to a Girl

Be yourself...no girl likes a fake. Soon enough, you'll be turning girls' heads.

Steps
1. Drink lots of water throughout the day.
2. Lift weights for at least 20 minutes a day. (This only works for girls who like buff, athletic guys. If you're more the brainy type, just keeping relatively fit is enough. Also, regardless of your body type, "six-pack" abs seem to be universally considered good looking. Work on that as a priority.)
3. Eat 5 or more portions of fruits and vegetables a day. Garlic is good for memory, oranges help boost your immune system, and raw carrots help eyesight.
4. Shave regularly.
5. Take mints with you. Avoid bad breath foods like garlic and onions. (Note: some girls don't like minty breath so also look into non-minty alternatives like orange or cinnamon Tic-Tacs.)
6. Take care of your teeth. Brush, floss, and use mouthwash daily. Don't let your teeth get stained (with coffee and cigarettes, especially) and use whitening treatment if you still need help.
7. Run every day (if possible) or at least walk around your office building during lunch (the goal is to be active and stay fit, not to compete in the next marathon).
8. Ask others for feedback. (Be aware that you may get conflicting feedback, especially with things such as clothing styles, hairstyles, and colognes.)
9. Be very aware of your posture: good posture will give you a confident aura. It can also make you look taller.
10. Dressing right can be very important to girls, but you don't have to go spending hundreds of dollars on the latest and greatest styles. A nice shirt and a clean pair of jeans is more than enough. Just be sure it's comfortable for you or else she'll pick up on your discomfort and think it's her.
11. Shower every day (or at least often enough to stay fresh and clean).
12. If you have oily skin, be sure to rinse your face at least once a day to prevent a greasy shine and acne.
13. Unless you're allergic to the ingredients, use an unscented anti-perspirant.
14. Get a good amount of sleep! Looking tired and bleary eyed all the time is very unattractive, and tends to detract from the rest of your appearance as well.



Warnings

1. Don't flirt too much. It may freak her out.
2. Some girls are not interested in you or anyone else. These girls are not worth your time and you should feel confident moving on. (But how do you know that she's not interested in anyone? Observe. Does she treat everyone else the same way?)
Don't go overboard on the cologne. No matter how good it smells, too much of anything is bad. Remember, girls like guys to be natural, so less is more here.
3. If the woman you want has beautiful eyes, don't use that as your compliment. She has heard that since she hit puberty. Instead, find something else about her that stands out, like her elbows. I assure you, she has never been complimented on her elbows, and that'll make YOU stand out, hopefully in a good way. (Note: be sure she has nice elbows before saying this, otherwise you will look like a fool! Don't just rely on scripted patterns and lines ... observe the girl and notice what's different—and good—about her.)

I've given you much to think about...

More than words

Purify my heart,
Let me be as gold
Or precious silver
Purify my heart,
Let me be as gold,
Pure gold.

Refiner's fire,
My heart's one desire
Is to be, Holy
Set apart for You Lord

I choose to be, Holy
Set apart for You my Master,
Ready to do Your will.

Thursday's Wednesday

Only one more month till Narnia!! Here's a cool little Narnia thing I found. It's called a webinar.

Happy Birthday to the Marines who celebrate 230 years today.

There's more sex on the television then EVER.

Here's a trailer for the next Spielberg pic.

For those of you wanting to get a jump on your holiday shopping, here's a peek at what's been leaked for Black Friday.

I also added a new link under the blogs section to your right. Check it out.

The Word

I read this last night (again) and just thought I would pass it on.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6.25-34

Thoughts

I've started reading a new book yesterday. It's called The Hiding Place. Perhaps you've heard of it. It's written by Corrie Ten Boom and is a memoir of Nazi Germany and her experiences. I haven't even gotten through the first chapter yet, but in the intro, I learned something exciting.

The author took three of Corrie's birthdays and wove one five-word phrase through them all. At birth, she was underweight and very frail. Family members doubted that she would make it. But her father had faith. And he stated to everyone that "the best is yet to come." The next birthday was one Corrie experienced while she was in prison. A simple shake of the hand from the prison doctor gave her hope, that "the best is yet to come." And finally on her 91st birthday, as she lay in her bed paralyzed by multiple strokes, she could revel in the fact that "the best is yet to come."

And so it is with me. I was reflecting with a friend on what I had to show for my first thirty years of life. Besides a few worldly achievements, there wasn't much to show. But that's okay. You see, "the best is yet to come" for me. God has a plan for my life. And I still have a lot of life to live. And I will spend my life pursuing that plan and living my life for Him.

30 Lessons Learned

I have learned that:

1. God loves me no matter what.
2. Fire burns
3. Cats are evil
4. Mowing the lawn can cause your tennis shoes to turn green.
5. Milk does a body good
6. Darkness hides stuff
7. It's okay to trust people
8. Humidity makes a hot day that much hotter
9. Paper cuts hurt
10. People are full of suprises
11. Bluegrass is not evil
12. Friends are the icing on the cupcake of life
13. Every day is a gift from God
14. Appearances can be deceiving
15. Don't mess with hornets (green, brown or otherwise)
16. God works in mysterious ways
17. Cold peas do not taste good
18. Good things come in small packages
19. Nice guys don't finish last
20. Effective communication is the best kind
21. Parents are under-appreciated
22. Love rules
23. If you're in a hurry to get somewhere, there will be slower people in your way.
24. Prayer works
25. It's smart to make sure you have your house key before you leave the house.
26. There is something new to be learned every day.
27. If someone asks you to "Pull my finger!" Don't.
28. Nature is God's way of showing us He's the boss (and not Tony Danza).
29. Trying new things can be rewarding, once you get over your fears.
30. Being jealous of what other people have is coveting. Which is a sin.

Moooo...Acckkkk

That's the sound of a cow being milked for all she's worth. Check out this release I just found:

Jennifer Knapp Live CD to Release on January 24th

For the first time ever, live recordings by gold-selling artist Jennifer Knapp will be released to retail this coming January 24th.

Jennifer Knapp Live, recorded on the “Back Forty Tour” in Spring 2001 and produced by Mark Lee Townsend (Relient K), will include 13 favorites from the singer-songwriter including “Into You,” “Lay It Down,” “The Way I Am,” “Romans,” “Refine Me,” “Usher Me Down,” “When Nothing Satisfies,” “Martyrs & Thieves,” “Whole Again,” “A Little More,” “Fall Down,” “Hold Me Now,” and “Undo Me.” Knapp, who has sold over 1 million albums to date, burst onto the music scene in 1997 with her debut album Kansas, and then followed up in 2000 with Lay It Down, and The Way I Am in 2001. Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “a rising star”, and described by People Magazine as “an uncommonly literate songwriter”, Knapp proved herself as a folk-inspired rock artist with catchy poetic lyrics that touch the soul. Her talent merited two Dove Awards, with a total of eight nominations, as well as a 2001 GRAMMY nomination for “Best Rock Gospel Album.” Known for her extensive touring in support of her albums, Knapp was named among one of the Top 50 touring acts of the Winter/Spring 2001 season by Pollstar Magazine, the only Christian act to make the list. She also co-headlined a 40-city tour with Jars Of Clay and shared the stage with Sarah McLachlan and Sheryl Crow at Lilith Fair in 1999. On the radio front there were four #1 singles including “Whole Again,” “Undo Me,” “Lay it Down” and “A Little More.” Knapp’s music has been featured on MTV’s “The Real World” and the WB Network’s “Felicity

Come to find out, that after all these years, she's still under contract with Goatee Records. Interesting....

Because you're mine, I walk the line

Last night, I found myself staring up at the heavens. One of the things I currently enjoy about living out in the country, is that when the sky is clear, you can see about a ka-jillion stars. And these verses from Psalm 8 came to mind:

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8.3-4

And I thought to myself, the God of the Universe, who hung all those stars and planets in the sky, knows me. Not only does He know me, but He loves me something fierce! And I am so totally unworthy of His love and salvation. Last night I was singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and this verse hit me:

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Man, how true is that? All those that are prone to wandering, please raise your hand. I am so unworthy. But thankfully it's not three strikes and your out. I don't have to ever get out. And I am so thankful for that.

We are blessed. Don't ever forget that.

For the bloggers

Here's an article in the Post about blog spamming. Thought some of you kids might find it psuedo-interesting.

**This was my attempt to record some of the rock show last night. It didn't turn out too well..

More Randomness

The Camp Hill Diner is back open again. Pre-fire it had a blue motif. Post-fire, it now has a red motif. Maybe after the next fire, they'll go with green.

Today I was excited to learn that TLTWTW will be 171 minutes long. That's good because it means they're not trying to squash the telling of this story into a handy-dandy ninety minute shoebox. Hooray!

And if you like the food at Damon's, I would recommend you registering for their eClub. I just registered and got $10 off an entree with the purchase of another entree for signing up. And for your birthday, they'll give you a buy one entree get one free coupon. That could save you up to $18.00!!

And I think that's everything I forgot from this morning..

Random Wednesday

My wireless modem card arrived yesterday as scheduled. However, it did not function as scheduled. In fact, it didn't function at all. I think it might be a driver function, but I'm not completely sure. I'm going to take another crack at it tonight and see if I can make any progress.

I went to Panera last night to install and test the aforementioned card. And while the card didn't work and their hot chocolate is mediocre, I did pick up an application for employment. I heard that they pay well. And they have stock options.

The Avian Flu. It appears that this may be the end of the world that many people have been waiting for. But take heart! Our government is looking out for us. They created a website.

I didn't even realize that last night was opening night for the NBA. But that's more just a reminder that college ball will start this weekend. Woo Hoo!

I need a calendar in my office.

Also, some of you may have noticed the absense of the IDT. Those of you who noticed, were probably the ones who enjoyed it. Anywho, it's on hiatus. These fall months are mega-busy and I just decided to push it back to January. For those who keep track of such things, the next tentative date is 01/14/06.

FYI

David Downing, who wrote "Into the Wardrobe: C.S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles," will be speaking at the Camp Hill Borders tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 7:00pm.

I am also excited because my new (to me) wireless internet card should be waiting for me when I get home tonight. And then I will be off to search for free wi-fi!

Hersheypark introduced it's new ride for 2006. It's pretty weak from a thrill-ride aspect. My disappointment is tempered however, with the rumors that they're doing something BIG in 2007.