Shana's Update: Chic-fil-a again

Ok, so I am getting ready to leave for ATL tomorrow. I am so excited. Today is my Friday at work, I did the dance to go along with it this morning. Josh loves my beebop dances. Some of you may have read my earlier post on Chic-fil-a. Well, this time we are going to be prepared. I figured out where all the chic-fil-a's are off I-75 on the way down to ATL. It is a little sad, they are really spread out and only cluster themselves around the big cities. Pretty much there are some in Knoxville, and then we don't see another one until Carnesville in GA. We'll have to plan meal times accordingly. I am super excited though. So, do you know what is for dinner on the way home tomorrow? If you haven't guessed it, Chic-fil-a baby!!!!! Already cleared it with the hubby, he is the bomb. In the words of Dick Vitale,"THAT'S AWESOME BABY!!"

P.S. Did I ever mention that Josh and I met him on our honeymoon. Dick lives in Sarasota (wooohoo, you are always supposed to yell when locations are named that you are from). We ate at the same restaurant for Breakfast, The Broken Egg. He eats there every morning at 10am and signs autographs, just in case you are ever in the area. There are lots of cool people who live in Sarasota (wooohooo).

P.S.S. I almost blew it, I had gotten the chic-fil-a locations for the wrong highway, yikes! That could have been fatal.

Book Suggestion...

We're almost at the half way point of the semester. I'm thinking of all of the books I have to read and they're all theological in nature or instructive - or both. After this semester I'd like to read a really good story. It can be fiction, a biography, or any good book you've read that you think I'd enjoy. I have a book that Shana got me for Christmas called Operation Solo. Its a true story about "the F.B.I.'s man inside the Kremlin." Its about the spy game during the Cold War. Pretty fascinating. It seems like its told in story form. However, if you have a better suggestion fire away. Even if you think I've read it suggest it anyway. I haven't read much fiction in my time. Leave your suggestion as a comment...Thanks!

Random stuff and concerts

I haven't really updated about life in general lately. I've kind of been in a cave. No posting except for theology and politics. No videos (there won't be any soon either - no time - but I have a good idea for one at the end of the semester). Here's a little update though...

This is turning out to be a very rewarding semester. It's really hard, but stuff that is really challenging and life changing... more on that someday.

We're leading a small group at church for teenagers. Its awesome. All of the students are there because they want to be. They want to know more about God. Its cool. Some of them simply want to know the meaning of sin and how to be saved. Others want to know what double predestination is all about (I don't believe in that, but it got brought up one week - not by me). We meet again tomorrow night, so if you think about it pray for our students. Some don't know Jesus - but I think they're close.

My wife is awesome. If you haven't been reading her posts you should. She's funny and totally growing in the Lord. If you missed her post on Chic-Fil-A scroll down and go to "older posts" and find it. Very funny.

I'm listening to The Fray right now. Thanks to George for the hook-up. Its a live version. As I'm listening I'm hearing a lot of people singing EVERY word loudly. I've never understood this. When I go to a concert I go to hear the band - not to out-sing them. I sing during the parts when they point the microphone to the crowd because I'm easily swayed by microphones. But I like to hear the band - so I don't really sing at concerts. I love and appreciate good live music.

We're joining Crossing this Sunday. Dustin (our pastor) calls it "getting memberized." Funny.

Me and John the Canadian went biking today. It got up to 60 degrees I think. Its the warmest day we've had since last November. The trail we went on was in good shape but its changed a lot since the ice storm. There's a massive jurassic-park style tree that's down way back in the woods. Its amazing. I'll try to get a picture. It was great to be outside and not freezing. It was also good to be outside and be active. I'm not in as bad of shape as I thought, but I'm not where I was just before Louisville turned into the Tundra.

I fell on the trail. Shana got me clipless pedals and shoes for Christmas and today was the first day I got to try them out. I had practiced some in the parking lot, but the trail was the big test. It was pretty muddy and I did well until the end. It was a pretty technical downhill part and I tried to avoid a root and lost it. I imagine it was pretty funny. I like the shoes.

Man, this is a long post. I'm going home (to GA) next weekend. We're on a "wedding shower circuit" for Andy and Caitlin. I'm pretty pumped. I'm really proud my brother is marrying Caitlin. It will be cool having her in the family.

Ok - I think that's all for now. Oh wait - I think I'll post some prayer requests. Is that ok? Will you pray for me? I hope you will. Ok, here's some: Pray that I won't be lazy. Pray that the Lord will save my boss at work. He needs Jesus. I'm really looking for a chance to share the gospel with him. His name is Jeff. Pray for our lost students at church. Pray for my wife and my child. Shana's experiencing "growing pains."

The End.

Shana's Update: Poll on the side!

There is a new poll on the side bar. Vote for what sex you think the baby will be. What fun. 19 days till we find out!!!!!

Shana's Update: Pass It Forward Winner

Tessa Masters is the winner. I will be telling her all my money saving secrets in regards to groceries. Since she is at home in Atlanta, we will be communicating all through email. I am thinking about saving these emails for later posts on my cheep skate label. Stay tuned....

Congrats to Tessa, don't forget to pay it forward.

Shana's Update: Pay it Forward

I have been challenged by one of my friends from church to do this. Most of you have probably seen the movie, it was pretty good. Well, my friend is making me baked goods for no reason. Therefore, I need to pay that forward with something that I am good at.

Josh is always telling me that I should help other people out with this, so I guess now is the time. I am gifted in organization/order. So, the first person to comment on my blog will get my time to help them with organizing their home. Anything from clutter, to managing a budget, to cutting costs at the grocery store. You specify your need and we'll set up a date and time.

You might need to give me your email, if I don't have it, so that we can set something up.

OO and the last part, if you comment for my pay it forward, then you have to pay it forward yourself. Obviously, you don't have to organize someone, but whatever you are gifted at.

Calvin on Jesus' Sacrifice

The Awareness of God's Wrath Makes Us Thankful for His Loving Act in Christ
"For if it had not been clearly stated that the wrath and vengeance of God and eternal death rested upon us, we would scarcely have recognized how miserable we would have been without God's mercy, and we would have underestimated the benefit of liberation."

God's Wrath Against Unrighteousness; His Love Precedes Our Reconciliation In Christ
"For God, who is the highest righteousness, cannot love the unrighteousness that he see in us all. All of us, therefore, have in ourselves something deserving of God's hatred. With regard to our corrupt nature and the wicked life that follows it, all of us surely displease God, are guilty in his sight, and are born to the damnation of hell. But because the Lord wills not to lose what is his in us, out of his own kindness he still finds something to love. However much we may be sinners by our own fault, we nevertheless remain his creatures. However much we have brought death upon ourselves, yet he has created us unto life. Thus he is moved by pure and freely given love of us to receive us into grace. Since there is a perpetual and irreconcilable disagreement between righteousness and unrighteousness, so long as we remain sinners he cannot receive us completely. Therefore, to take away all cause for enmity and to reconcile us utterly to himself, he wipes out all evil in us by the expiation set forth in the death of Christ; that we, who were previously unclean and impure, may show ourselves righteous and holy in his sight."

Christ Has Redeemed Us Through His Obedience, Which He Practiced Throughout His Life
"And here was no common evidence of his incomparable love toward us: to wrestle with terrible fear, and amid those cruel torments to cast off all concern for himself that he might provide for us. And we must hold fast to this: that no proper sacrifice to God could have been offered unless Christ disregarding his own feelings, subjected and yielded himself wholly to his Father's will."

The Condemnation of Jesus Through Pilate
"But when he was arraigned before the judgment seat [of Pilate] as a criminal, accused and pressed by testimony, and condemned by the mouth of the judge to die - we know by these proofs that he took the role of a guilty man and evildoer."

That guilty man was me.