Great Afternoon...

"Live Like You Were Dying" Tim McGraw

He said I was in my early forties
with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime
and I spent most of the next days
looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options
and talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in
that this might really be the real end
how's it hit you when you get that kinda news


man what'd you do



and he said
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

He said I was finally the husband
that most the time I wasn't
and I became a friend a friend would like to have
and all the sudden going fishin
wasn't such an imposition
and I went three times that year I lost my dad
well I finally read the good book
and I took a good long hard look at what I'd do if I could do it all again


and then I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.



Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about
what'd you do with it
what did you do with it
what did I do with it
what would I do with it?



Sky diving I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
and then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I watched an eagle as it was flying
and he said someday



I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying

John Mayer - Gravity

Ya know--I didnt like his very first song he released--but this man is one of the best guitar players/songwriters I have heard in a long time....

“If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Henry David Thoreau

Focus

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.”

Anthony Robbins

2 Trips Planned----

New York City and British Virgin Islands---Might as well travel while I am healthy and I can----

“Attitude is the way you mentally look at the world around you. It is how you view your environment and your future. It is the focus you develop toward life itself.”

Feelings are much like waves.
We can't stop them from coming, but we can choose which one to surf."

Jonatan Mårtensson

“You know what happens to scar tissue. It's the strongest part of your skin.”
Michael R. Mantell

3rd Annual Childrens Service @ FaithPointe

Check out Robs Blog for some clips--It was a great service for the Kids---

Pastor Rob

Dirty Jobs . . .

This is probably one of mine and O'Neals favorite shows---I dont watch a lot of TV--But every night I start getting ready for bed--This is on...

Dirty Jobs find the worst, filthiest , dirtiest jobs in America and the host Mike Rowe, Spends a day doing that job with them...There are some people out there that really have it rough on a day to day basis...Makes me very thankful to be doing what I am doing....

Any way if you havent seen it--Turn on Discovery Channel and try to catch an episode...You will be amazed...

Dirty Jobs

Dirty Jobs Videos

Movin On Up..

After this week, My son is no longer in the "Kids" section at church--He is officially in YOUTH GROUP...I hear parents say all the time--"Just Wait---Get Ready or The teenage years are horrible"

Well- I am not gonna buy into that mentality... Im going to believe that Oneal is getting ready to have some of the best, most life changing years of his life--all for the positive.

See, I have done everything I can do for the last 12 years--I have taught him, talked to him, prayed with him (and for him), surrounded him with good people and great family, and tried to raise him into a good young man...so now is the time that all that will be put to the test---I hope I have done it right and pray that I will do whats right in the future...

And now --whats even better...I get some help during these years from two of the finest people I know--Steven and Jennifer Moore --The Youth Leaders at Faithpointe church...If I could hand pick any 2 people in the world to teach my teenage son--It would be these two--They have a HUGE heart for teenagers..They play, listen, pray and goof around with all the teenagers and always have something going on for them...And the kids love and respect them...

Look at their myspace pages (and make sure watch a couple of Baby Ellas videos-She's Great)

Steven Moore

Jennifer Moore


So here we go down another road...and as Mikey would say--"It's All Good"

"Love My Neck"

Last night something came to mind I havent thought about in years---When me and my sister were kids and we would get ready for bed---We would ask Mom and Dad to come "Love Our necks". That was the time they would tuck us in and say our prayers and hug us goodnite... That was a very good feeling as a kid---Security and safeness and peace was at its highest during those few minutes.

Oneal doesnt say those exact words, but even at 12--he will still come find me and ask me if I am ready to say prayers---I will go in and listen to his prayers, then I will pray for him...and I know the exact feeling he has right then as he goes to sleep... Peace.

Those few minutes every night, I hope he remembers forever...and wherever he is at in life---He can curl up in the bed at night, say a prayer and get that exact same feeling again....Of somebody watching over him and loving him...

Acknowledgement to the Big Guy...

Another Perfect Saturday---Family, Friends, My Son, Steaks on the grill, Batting Cages...

If I ever post about what a great day I had--It is not because of me--It is because of God...I have been sincerely blessed with "More than I deserve"...I dont know why--
Im not perfect--But I dont think He cares about perfection as much as he cares about the "Attitude of the heart"...

And I definitely believe that a grateful person will always find a way to thank Him even when things are tough sometimes... I think that gets his attention...

I would never pretend to speak for Him...so I'll just go with these...

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:6
Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3

On their Way . . .

This is my middle nephew--Demetrius Kostas Forakis...He is part Pitcher, part 3rd Baseman and all time hitter...He is killing the ball...He and the Savannah all star team are headed to state playoffs next week..We had the opportunity to go to the World Series 2 years ago---I am hoping they keep playing well and winning big---Good Job Demetri--

Forgiveness...

Forgiving people is something I have no trouble doing. And they dont even have to ask---I do it for my own good.If I harbor resentment, it afffects me. So I just get rid of it--for my own health. Also I think I have had to ask for so much forgiveness in my own life--it makes it easier for me to hand it out freely.

So--youre saying --what got him started on this...Simple a good friend of mine for the past 6 years hasnt been talking to me over the past few weeks. He felt like I had done something negative toward him. The truth is, I didnt , but when somebody believes something--You can talk til you are blue in the face and it wont do any good. He stopped by my office before lunch, and apologized. I told him there was no need --because I never thought anything bad. I just hated the situation---not the person. We shook hands and both had a good laugh before he left--just like we have done for the last 6 years.

You see I had already forgiven all of it---So it was easy for me to listen and talk to him...

If there is one trait that I dont want to ever lose---It is the ability to forgive and move ahead with life...

Playing It "Cool"

I just finished watching one of my favorite movies "Cool Hand Luke". I dont know why I like it so much, and I dont even know if it was big success when it came out.

It is a very simple story about a man "Paul Newman" trying to fit in---and having a hard time.

Newman is fantastic and so is George Kennedy.

It is just good solid storytelling, with some great lines...Such as "What we have here is a failure to communicate."

But throughout the whole movie--he definitely plays it cool...

I like doing that myself...

From Dad...

Frolicking Follicles
I like sad plum-pitiful Country songs. I think they’re funny. Titles like, “How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away” or “If You Don’t Leave Me Alone, I’ll Find Someone Who Will.”
My latest favorite, “I Lost My Honey Bunny On A Bad Hair Day”.
It’s a woman song of course. Men don’t have bad hair days.
Men don’t worry much about hairdos, unless you’re one of for those “urban pretty boys” who get facials(ugh). Mirrors are for shaving. Primping is for women.
Men are mature enough to take the truth. Although we don’t have “bad hair days” we do have “bad haircuts”. I’ve seen some that made me laugh out loud. I’ve laughed at my own. Sensitivity can deprive you of a lot of fun.
A man at work had a pitiful looking head. Someone asked, “Who cut your hair, your wife? Sure enough, his wife had clipped him. The man didn’t start squalling, pout for two days, or get counseling.
A little man’s hair looked quite unruly, He was told, “I’ve seen better hairdos on a possum.” A lady would never get over a “compliment” like that. A woman can return from the salon with a head that looks like a muskrat and another female will say, “Oh, I just love your new hairdo! It just suits you!”
“Follically challenged” men can also take ridicule. Know what they call two fleas on a bald-headed man? Homeless! They hold their own with comebacks like; “When God made heads, He covered the ones he didn’t like”. He must have “really loved” some of them. They will feel at home in Heaven, because there’ll be “no parting” there!”
I’m like the rabbits that left suddenly. They were “splitting hares”.
I’m splitting.

"The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them. "-- Confucius

Jerry Springer part ?

I never knew where Jerry got all of his guests---But I am pretty sure I have got it narrowed down...They are people with no foundation. They live strictly off emotions and selfishness and utter lack of self respect(for themselves and everyone else) These are the same people who mix everything together. Actually it is hilarious.

They will talk about drinking beer, whooping somebody, and then put a "I love Jesus" sign up.

We owe more to ourselves and to our kids than showing them this kind of lifestyle and teaching them directly or indirectly that it is okay...we must build a solid foundation. Right and Wrong...Good and Bad and all the other great simple qualities we learned in Sunday School.

But, so I don't come across like them--let me say this---They are people and God loves them---I cant fix them, They cant fix themselves, their spouse or parents cant fix them...But God can. I have seen it ---I have seen people go from the pigpen to the top with God's help.

So if you know some people like this--pray for them, inspire them, believe in them...then let God do the work....Cause he can fix in 60 seconds what the world cant fix in a lifetime.

Ya'll may get tired of pics from Florida . . .

But people keep bringing me new ones...

New Pics from Florida . . .

Caution: Nerd/Geek ahead...

Well the comic book geek that I try to hide occasionally showed back up tonight --Me and O'Neal went and saw "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" tonight and we both loved it.

I am beginning to really appreciate that side of me as I get older...It seems to have worked really well for me... Anyway, the movie was great--Just like seeing the comics I used to read come to life...

I am sure it is the same feeling that the older generation felt when they would listen to the Lone Ranger on the radio---and then years later would be able to go see a movie or watch in on TV...

Very cool to see your imagination come to life...in all areas...

So use the creative side of your brain occasionally...That's how God started this whole thing we call life anyway...He dreamt up something and then used his creative powers to bring it to life...