Hatmaker Shoot

Today I met the Hatmakers in Springdale at HAR-BER Meadows. I totally stole the location from the Kennedy's but I don't they will mind. Apparently it is a popular spot as we ran into The J. Floyds there. Anyway, it was freezing but the kids did awesome and we got some cute pictures. Here are a few of my favorites. Sarah is the little girl and she is sooooooooo photogenic. She was done by the end but I was able to get a few more shots of her that were adorable. Ethan is the little man and he's just stinkin' precious! He didn't fuss one single time! I hope you like the pics Kristy and Adam! See you tomorrow.

thoughts on election results

I have been thinking all day of something to post, words of encouragement and just couldn't seem to put them down. I wanted to get my point out there for others to read and maybe even change a few hearts and my fingers stood still. I was getting down, thinking I shouldn't write anything then I received an email from a guy at our church. Not just "a guy"; "a guy" Paul and I respect greatly and view as a great spiritual leader to us and others around us. After I read the email I said "Thank you Jesus" - out loud almost! I didn't need to write down my thoughts, he put them so perfectly. So, the following is not my writing, but are my beliefs. Thank you Clint, you are loved!

The day has finally arrived. We have been consumed by this election that seems to have lasted forever. We have watched the debates. We have likely had many conversations with friends about the campaign. We may have even volunteered for a campaign. And we have finally cast our vote. So how do we respond the day after, once the results are in?

Unfortunately many people woke up this morning in a very bad mood. They believe that because their candidate didn't win that we as a nation are doomed, perhaps that God's judgment is upon us, or that they must now threaten to leave the country. Once reality has sunk in, many people will start thinking about how to fight against the president-elect and may even begin engaging in character assassination.

As a Christian, I have tried to give some thought as to how I should properly react to the election results.

Negative attacks and character assassinations are unChristian.
It is entirely acceptable for one to oppose political positions that a candidate takes. However, it is entirely unacceptable for Christians to impugn the character of those they disagree with. Somehow over the years we have believed the lie that politics are different and that if we want to win then we have to fight dirty. I just don't see warrant for that attitude in the Bible. In fact I see just the opposite. I see Jesus commanding us to love those who oppose us.

I have often seen Christians gathered together to pray for our country and our leaders. Even if the candidate that we did not vote for wins, we should pray for that man. We should pray for his well-being. We should pray that he prospers.

Christians are commanded to speak the truth with love.

For years I believed the lie that if I spoke "truth", that inherently I was speaking with love.

How will we speak to others, both Christian and non-Christian, who voted the opposite of us? If we are on the winning side, will we gloat? Will we revel in the angst that our opponents feel in loss? Or instead will we extend grace to those we disagree with? If we are on the losing side, will we assume the worst of the other side? Will we immediately assume a victim status? Or will we be humble in our defeat? Will we genuinely congratulate those on the winning side?

We should be willing to serve our country and our communities.
I think that there is also a tendency for those on the "losing side" to line up in opposition for a fight rather than thinking about what is best for the country and their community. Is constant partisan bickering good for our country? I would argue that it is corrosive and only exacerbates our real differences. Christians in particular are called to serve our communities. No new government programs or policies can or should take the place of people giving of themselves and their resources.

Do you believe that the government shouldn't be providing "hand-outs" to lower income people? Then you should be giving so sacrificially that there is nothing left for the government to do. Do you believe that the government should be leading the way in caring for our environment but that the "wrong" candidate got elected? Then you can lead the charge to encourage others to voluntarily change their lifestyles to have less of an adverse impact upon our world and our climate. Christians should not abdicate our responsibility to care for the poor or oppressed in the world.

God is in control.
Regardless of today's outcome, my faith will not be shaken. My faith is not dictated by such temporary things as elections. I do believe that God is in control and is working to redeem this world. Not just individuals but systems, government, societies. I also believe that we as Christians need to approach today's election with great humility and avoid the temptation to assume that we know what God's will is.

I pray that Christians will not be known for their "righteous indignation" or for their apocalyptic pronouncements. I pray that Christians will be known for their love. Love for our neighbors. Love for our enemies. And love for our elected national leaders.

Lombard Shoot

I finally got to see my pictures! Two weeks ago I drug Amanda and her 2 kids out the day before she was going in to have her baby to get some photos. I forgot my camera at home since I was so busy with my 1 child that morning. I am fortunate enough to have friends who let me borrow their camera (thanks Erin and Zach) and they put the pictures on a disk for me. I didn't take as many as I usually would as the camera died and I will put a little disclaimer of *I wasn't familiar with the camera. Other than that, I think the photos turned out well. Her youngest (at the time) is very anti-camera so I am so excited to have gotten the photos I did. Thanks Amanda, for letting me practice on your family! Looking forward to Connor's photo-shoot tomorrow!

Halloween 2008

Last night the kids really had a blast! It was our night to take the Lombard's dinner so we intruded and had dinner with them, got the kids ready there and all went trick or treating together. Our kids are the same age and they all get a long really well so we had a lot of fun. Ethan had the best Jack Sparrow costume ever, the double eyes were creepy! Courtney was the sweetest little lady bug who barfed all over her pants in the truck so she only wore half of her outfit while trick or treating. She didn't mind though and everyone just loved her. Her first house ever was just precious, the family was so excited to be her first house. It was really sweet. She didn't quite get it at first, she wanted to give the candy back. But by the last house she had it down and was pounding on the door!

Deep thoughts...... ( SNL for us old people)

O.K. here we go, yet again you get to read babbling from me "The Paul" as the guys call me on the job. It has been a weird few months for me. I have had some of lowest times of my life in the last few months, I really think God has had a target on my head, and has been using a baseball bat to drive some things in. It is no secret that i am a stubborn pain and don't like to be beat by ANYTHING. In fact i have prided myself on being able to say "i just flat don't get beat". I have found two huge problems with that....... first being "pride", it IS the devils work. My pride has pushed me down so many roads that i had no business on, you wouldn't believe it. The second problem was me never getting beat, now if its a car, a problem with a house, a workout in the gym, something like that, i rarely, if ever get beat. But when it comes to life and my walk with God, i have never been beaten so bad in my life(and that's saying a lot, refer to the pride thing, it has delivered me some good beatings). Lately i have done everything in my power to get my life straight, but every door was backed by a brick wall. I started to come unglued. It seemed i was getting knocked to my knees every day. After some good bible studies with the guys, a great connection group, and the council of some incredible Godly men (one wishes he worked in "The Office", one works on "muscles that are connected to ligaments that are connected to bones", and one works on marriages, and the last of course is my Dad) i started to realize that my knees were EXACTLY where i belonged, surrendering everything to God. I am living proof, start at the top, and the rest seems to fall in line. I came home today to an amazing thing. My wife did something just for me. Normally, to get excitement out of me you would need to place race car parts or something of that nature in front of me. But today way very different. Annie Got me one of those awesome small bibles. I just recently started to read the new testament from the beginning, and really wanted one. It was on the counter when i walked in and i was really and truly excited. At that moment i realized. life is on a new road, it is smoother, wider, and the fellow travelers are happy, considerate, and ready to help at any time. Never would anyone believe that i would be as excited about getting a bible as some race car parts (that doesn't mean that they aren't still on the list, so feel free if you have any to give), but it has happened. This weekend in church the message was "God always wins" and i tell you from the heart, if you are struggling, let it go. Give it to him, let him be your shield and your filter. His power and love are real. Fathers who have children know the love, i was blessed with two fathers who stepped up for me. My Dad who married my mom with my sister and I as a package deal (I personally had a huge hand to driving my dad to god looking for answers i am pretty sure, i was a pain), for that i cant even say thank you, but what i can say thank you for is standing beside me when i needed you most, love you Dad, i don't say it enough. The second of course is God OUR father, and this father knows everything, even the stuff we didn't get caught for(that's a scary thought). He has stood by me and waited patiently for me till recently... again refer to the baseball bat note from earlier. But i have surrendered my life to him, and i can tell you his shoulders are much bigger than mine and he can carry more than i can alone. I couldn't be where i am now without all of you, my wife who is my driving force and my purpose, my mom who is my bible encyclopedia and patiently puts up with my "what ifs" and "where is this" calls, my sister who puts up with my constant relationship advise and always tries to tell me thank you without telling me where i can go hehehe, my brothers who have made sure to listen to the "do as i say not as i did" , Blaine who has been my little side kick and is always ready to make me laugh, our friends who deal with me having something to say probably way toooo much, and to my spiritual mentors for giving me straight true Godly advise and guidance. I love you all very much and am probably boring all of you by now, but i want to say thank you to all of you. My relationship with God and my peace is a result of every one of you.

Jump Rope Vol 1

***please wait for the music to begin

Blaine's B-day

Happy Birthday, Bud!

Yesterday was my brother's 20th birthday, TWENTY! I can't believe my little brother is 20. He's such an awesome person, even if he doesn't keep his room clean. We are so blessed to have him with us every day. Here is the cake Paul went and had made for him. He calls him "Bizzle", when he told the lady what to write on the cake she replied "can you write that down". :-)


I love you, Bud!!!!

Publish Post