The Handys, Not the "Long Beach Handy Man"

Don't Tan..

2010-07-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

Last year I was diagnosed with skin cancer. It was one of the scariest moments of my life! I always thought my sun exposure wasn't too bad. I also thought Tanning indoors wasn't bad for me (a safe tan)... Can I say my bad!!

The cancer was found very VERY early on my back (only 1 single cell of melanoma in a test area) but my forehead not so much. On my forehead I had something called Basel Cell Carcinoma it is not deadly 99.99999% of the time but it does need to get removed. It was removed through a process known as the "Mohs procedure". The Procedure itself wasn't terrible but it did mean I had a 3" x 3" chunk of skin gone from my forehead (and currently a nice scare). Since we are in the middle of summer I thought I would share a little infographic about tanning indoors what many consider to be "Safe Tanning"

Words:: Tool or Weapon?

2010-04-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am taking an ethics course this semester. In general I like the course even though I have occasionally vented in frustration via Social Media. In this class I am the thinking Christian my goal is not to convert but to make sure my worldview has a fighting chance. I am careful to be respectful, thoughtful, honest and gentle. One member of this class has had zero respect for me as a person from day 1. Every point that is made she feels compelled to try to make me look the fool, sadly most of the class considers her the fool. I have asked my classmates (Particularly the ones that dont agree with me) if I have been rude, they always affirm that I have been too kind.

Today it was as if a light burst through her anger so I could see clearly. This Girl doesn't have a problem with me she has a problem with Christians. She has been hurt... it is in her voice. Based on the way she talks it seems clear that she has been hurt by harsh condemning words.

This brings me to the point of this blog:: Words are like Machetes they can be a tool or a weapon!

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" :: Proverbs 12:18

If you have used words as a weapon there is a chance you have done damage that needs to be undone. I am finding that truth, is often not about being right intellectually.. It's about offering it with the right heart.

In short Facts are easy...being wise with them is hard! I hope that I have the opportunity to communicate grace this semester.

Ishmael ... aka forced frustration

2010-04-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

I am taking an Ethics class this semester. At times this class has been great! Other times I am the one voice standing up saying there is a right and a wrong. The latest twist has taken what was once a balanced view of the issues to an all out attack on Global Warming, and consequently Christianity (They seem unrelated but they aren't). It started with Al Gore's an Inconvenient Truth... which was inconvenient but I am still not sold on the "Truth" part. The only novel that we are reading this semester is Ishmael by Daniel Quinn a novel with an extreme naturalist view. It is very hard to explain my actual thoughts on this but I will give it a go...

1. Quinn introduces "Or" concepts that come fast. Quickly presented on a surface level with only one rational solution. Most readers probably wouldn't pick up on them because they are set against a moving plot. One "Or" conclusion drawn is the function of humans as full rulers of the world in order to create paradise. Quinn refuses to consider that maybe we (as humans) are seeing a time when there was paradise, and something inside wants to restore it.

2. Quinn suggests that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with Humanity. According to Quin the fundamentally wrong philosophy is a result of cultural messages. This to me paired with the previous point seems to shout EDEN from the mountain top. Why would things be universal amongst humanity... maybe it is that our nature knows something we refuse to see.

3. Quinn suggests that humanity "makes up" how we ought to live according to our own thoughts. Quinn suggests that there is an objective truth but everyone has it wrong! According to Quinn humanity needs to look at nature to figure the "truth" out fully. Shocker on this one I think an honest pursuit down this path will direct you toward a very moral life. I believe that morality is written on the walls of the universe.

4. Quinn often offers "facts" that are not based on facts!!! I know this is a work of fiction so stick with me on this... One fact presented is that people that live in undeveloped societies don't have Prophets. This isn't true almost every native culture has a prophet! Witchdoctors, Chiefs, leaders.. they all serve as prophets!

The most frustrating thing about this class is how poorly Christianity is getting treated in the course. My professor often takes pot shots at Christianity and the subject isn't up for discourse (understandably). I make sure I take a clear stand when relevant and respectful but 9 times out of 10 it's not. Also many of the students in my class wrongly assume that the sole goal of Christianity is control. My thought is that Christianity is all about life.. and life to the fullest, which includes radical freedom.

I should clarify one point my professor for all his knowledge has a weak understanding of true orthodoxy. He is not in my opinion honestly anti Christian just misinformed, sadly a debate wouldn't cut the fog. There is a place for love and it needs to be played out with honesty.

Vent over

Palmira the Lemon Beagle

2010-04-21T21:40:00.000-07:00

Palmira, our Lemon Beagle, has a mind of her own.

For example, every night when she eats she has a routine. She takes one piece of food and throws it up into the air. Then tries to keep it around or flip it back up. Once this is done she eats the rest of her food. Why does she do this? No idea but it's really funny to watch.....every night.

It's become so entertaining that we started a youtube channel for her. As we capture these odd moments we'll be posting them so be sure to check back. :)

2 videos loaded so far to....

http://www.youtube.com/user/Palmirathebeagle

My Twitter Rules Are Right!

2010-04-17T12:09:00.001-07:00

I love twitter, its one of my favorite places to hang out online. It's quick, simple, grammar rules don't always apply, and I have almost 900 friends... not just followers but people I actually like and respect. Honestly my friends on twitter in some ways are better than many of my real life friends. I honestly think a lot of it has to do with rules I follow in the way I communicate. I think it is high time I extend these rules into my every day life!

Here they are...
1. People matter and have interesting stories to tell:: This rule means I don't have to spit my thoughts out all the time. It forces me to ask more questions and to get to know people. It's less about being right and more about enjoying there content. (Jesus is all about this I have never seen a gospel story where he has written someone off as not counting)

2. Arguing is off limits:: I read a lot... I really do ..but I on twitter I try not to engage in discussion if I have a strongly differing opinion. This means I give up my right to be right. Political arguing just isn't something I let my self do. I often see stuff go by want to comment but leave it. I don't have control over major policy issues, so it isn't worth my energy to debate this stuff. There are rare occasions I break this rule (outside of hockey which is just fun banter IMO) but it is always done with respect and a genuine desire to understand someone else's point of view. (Jesus gives up this right so much he goes to the cross in part because of it)

3. Attackers get space:: In life we have people that will send us into a tale spin. They are hard people to deal with and know how to press our buttons. On twitter I give these people space. It isn't in my best interest to give them air time on my feed. Sometimes I mute people for a few days sometimes I just let people go away from my feed altogether. (Jesus uses this mentality a lot he doesn't keep people that want to rip him apart very close)

4. Look for their interests:: This goes back to my first point, however I do try to share relevant information around people's interests. The other thing I try to do is get information from them. I follow people because they are the expert in what they know... I get 10 inputs for every 1 input I offer. I listen more often than I talk. This is a hard rule for me in real life but its something I need to do. (James says "be quick to listen, slow to anger and slow to speak" I think God is on to something)

5. Help people:: I often search the word help on twitter just to see how I can help people... its pretty obvious but my generosity earns respect and helps establish a very positive tone. I don't think I need to break out the biblical rule for this one... Generosity is good!

To my twitter peeps you guys rock! And you have helped me be a better communicator in everyday life!

Been a while

2010-02-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

... but we haven't been sleeping! Promise

Quick update::

Since the last blog post we have moved twice! -not fun but we are now settled

The Blackhawks are rocking it this season.

The Kings are rocking it this season.

My buddy Halak has the starting job in Montreal and is an Olympian. :)

We both will have our degrees at the end of this semester... which is cool but my journey keeps going Heather is undecided.

I am doing some consulting work with a friends company on the side (fun).

Im still cancer free, and generally there is nothing exciting going on... which is good :)

WOW... This is great

2009-11-13T16:24:00.001-08:00

Check it out

I was never a fan of MJ...

2009-11-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

This actually may make me change my mind...

This brings new meaning to holy molie what a goalie

BIo Quiz in Word cloud

2009-09-09T18:04:00.001-07:00

Today is 2 years

2009-09-08T16:15:00.001-07:00

Two years ago today I married my wife. I love her I guess this deserves like a top 12 list for reasons I love her. (THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY MANY MORE!)

So ...
12. She is really funny
11. She has a really cute smile (cheesy I know)
10. She loves Jeeps (I dont know why I love her for this I just do)
9. She is fashionable (Which is good cause Im not)
8. She is organized (Which is good cause ... Im not)
7. She is sweet
6. She makes me a better type of person
5. LOVE her blue eyes
4. She smells great (I know weird place for this one but hey ... def breaks top 5)
3. She cares about other people
2. She is smarter than I am
1. She always wants what is best for me

Two years latter when people ask if I think I got married to young ... the answer is no. I love that we dont have it together and we get to figure it out together.

So babe happy anniversary

PS this one Ranks far above the rest... SHE IS ALWAYS RIGHT!

up and coming canadian brown eyed pea

2009-08-02T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is too cute and funny to keep to ourselves so we want to share it with you all.

I actually think this is much more entertaining than the official music video

Boom Boom Pow - Brown Eyed Pea - watch more funny videos

The Little Things

2009-08-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

Killing some time the other day, Mike and I went to a nearby bookstore. I was looking through the bargain books and found a "Jello Favorite Desserts" recipe book. I checked it out and it was full of all sorts of fun recipes that are so quick and easy! Today we bought the book at a bargain price (I know it was a bargain b/c I looked it up on amazon and couldn't find it any more cost effective)! I was just saying to Mike in the car, “Now I just need somewhere to bring a dish and try it out” and long and behold there is a potluck next week and this Tuesday a game/food night so I get to try out my new quick and easy recipes! So exciting!

Update!

2009-07-23T17:45:00.001-07:00

This summer has been a whirlwind. From the outset my goal has been and still is to try to finish at least 7 books. So far I have finished the following.
1. 2.
3 . 4.

I'm off and running on book 5

For reviews see marketinghandy.blogspot.com

Other honorable mentions include large sections of booth "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

Ad's are culture and messages head on

2009-07-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

This is the start of parallel blog postings. The philosophical set will be located here and the technical set will be located @ marketing handy.

::WHY::
Advertising is our primary social communication and we get bombarded with it. If you don't believe me play a word association game, you'll find that the best way to get through as many words as possible in the shortest time is to use advertising slogans aka "copy". Cultural philosophy and identity is often buried within the message of these advertisements. They show us who we want to become as a culture. My goal here isn't to attack "secular" culture. Its to engage, look for what it means to be a Christian in light of it, and look for stuff the church could learn.

I love Marketing, advertisements, communicating effectively, and buzz. Some of the best minds in business come up with these ideas, and they are thoughtful and often deep. So...

Together lets look over the horizon and engage.

::Up first::

"We all want to be hero's"

2009-06-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since I have posted anything. Mostly because I dont have a whole lot to say. I have been pretty bookish lately so I haven't really been doing a great job at keeping the blogs up to date. I figure I owe it to our fan to share some thoughts/ ideas. Here it is...

1. I have been on a crazy of reading experiance lately. Im not big on the Christian sub-culture but I think I might need some balance from a theology standpoint... Its easy to lose the ulitmate in the face of good.

2. I keep learning over and over again the power of leaning into conflict.

3. My brithday was awesome and my wife is amazing!

4. last a question: Is it bad that we are becoming a pure digital world?

5. This is the worst time in all of sports... No Hockey, no basketball, just some 15 million baseball games for the next 2 months. Im ready for something of subsance already.

Ok I know that was pretty random.

Thankful

2009-06-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

I’m thankful for so many things and I just wanted to spit a few of them out today on here because they are fresh on my mind.

In no particular order…

Doctors and medicine. I am so thankful for the minds and the money donated to finding cures, medicines, and funding the research needed to get these life changing medicines. I’m so thankful for the people that invest their time trying to help other people’s health and take time and care when dealing with their patients.
Family. They are there in the thick and thin. I think the word family says it all.
Friends that last a lifetime. These are the friends I can randomly email or text a prayer request or whatever even if we haven’t been able to catch up in 2 years or whatever and right away without any questions asked they offer their help or time or just an ear to listen. If you were in need, they would drop whatever in a moments notice to help. These are the friends that send a text message early morning when they know it’s going to be long day just to help me feel comforted. Some of these friends are old from back in the day and some are fresh from just a few months. These are the friends that last a lifetime and I am so thankful for them.
My husband. He is my best friend in the whole world and I would do anything for him. I love him so much. He stretches me and encourages me in so many aspects of my life. Even in the worst of times he finds the best of situations.
God. He is the greatest comforter and reassurance. He humbles me. He brings peace like nothing else and gets me through everything. My faith and my hope are found in Him. I am so thankful to Him.

I think it’s important to step back sometimes and realize all the many blessing we have in life that we so often take for granted. I have so much to be thankful for and this just barely touches the surface but you get the idea.

Things arent always what they seem

2009-06-09T16:43:00.001-07:00

In Mark 6 Jesus talks about a prophet coming home to the town where he played in the streets as a child. He talks about how that prophet has no honor even amongst his family. He says He, God in flesh, doesn't even get respect around His family and those that He grew up with. They can only see Him for what He was... that weird kid. Think about the kid that chilled out with teachers wasn't normal.

From this passage I find it comforting to know that what people see at first glance might not be true. I find it comforting to know that there is a bigger picture. I find it challenging to know that I can encounter people in situations where I think I have them pegged but I have them dead wrong.

Its frustrating to be in a place where a person or yourself is treated for who they appear to be (or who they were), rather than who they can become or even who they have become. To subvert this I need to be better. I need to be better at surprising people in my perception of them and their perception of me. So many of us see others as sumo wrestlers when they are really hot air balloons. They aren't dead weight... they're actually able to take dead weight to new heights, we just arent looking close enough. What if that weird co-worker just feels trapped and doesn't know how to respond. What if they expect me to do one thing because I have always done it(even though its inconsistent with who I am) and I do something else because its right? What if I refused to let the people around me define who I am and instead just let Jesus own his place?

When it comes to people, things arent what they seem unless we are ok with that.

Mike's other blog

2009-06-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

I have a new blog its a place to process marketing and advertising ideas... marketinghandy.blogspot.com there is nothing there yet but... that will change.

Do Good while you search

2009-06-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody or nobody... Im not excatly sure who reads our blog.

If you do or dont know the internet is big money. Every search, every click is a transaction and someone is getting paid. There are a ton of marketing dollars battling to find the right person to buy thier "thing". In case you have ever wondered marketing is why google is "free" to use but still churns significant profit.

Good search

Good search started with the simple question "what if we used these dollars to give back to non-profits?" Its a very cool tag to create traffic and it would actually does good. I am a very heavy volume user (searcher) at work, in all honesty I research like a mad man. In any given month I'm likely to do over 1000 searches. When I factor in that I buy over two million dollars worth of material a year it balances and makes sense.

Solidarity

One organization I support is called solidarity based in Fullerton. Good search is a really cool way I can donate to them that doesn't cost anything. Doing my job everyday and looking at the Internet I'm able to actually to do good. If you click the link on the top of my post it will take you to the good search page. I know The google habit is a hard one to break and I still do use it from time to time out of pure need but this works 90% of the time. One great way to do this is to make good search your home page. Also if you shop online at amazon, target etc. you can contribute just by using the "good store" there are even coupons. I know these maybe small donations but why not at least give a little back while doing what you were planing on doing anyway.

If you do decide to use this I encourage you to give to an organization that has been hit by this current economic situation. Solidarity is awesome and if you have no ideas I'd encourage you to just go with that. Also if you don't have a job or you are searching for a new one think of using good search as a way to be generous while you hunt.

Thanks,

Up in the Sky & New to the neighborhood

2009-05-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

These are the sights of our day today.

1. The "Up" blimp on my way home today.

2. Our new neighbor, Ramona the Momma Raccoon.

Projects

2009-05-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

I finished my spring projects but I moved the pictures over to my design blog if you would like to check them out :)

handyinteriors.blogspot.com or click from the list of blogs to the right>>>>

Earthquake Lesson

2009-05-17T21:12:00.001-07:00

Nordy, our pig, is very resilient

....and maybe we should bolt our TV to the wall b/c it moved quite a bit too.

We just experienced a long, fairly violent, and jolty earthquake followed by a rolling after shock. Frames and stuff fell of shelves and Nordy fell off the desk.

Don't worry, we ran to the doorways. We are safe, Nordy is safe, but Palmira our dog is a little shaken. It was her first "big one" experience and now she can't take her eyes of the news on TV.

Night to Morning

2009-05-10T21:48:00.001-07:00

I am on the verge of what could be a very stressful and intense week. I honestly cant remember a week with this much happening that I have so little control over or that could change so much. So I decided as a man standing on a cliff that will crumble around him even if he decides he doesn't want to jump that I would spend some time with Jesus.

Its 9 pm in May and Im not in Alaska so it was dark. . . as I was walking I realized there are a ton of things that happen everyday over which I have no control, including the sunrise. If God should so choose that the sun not rise tomorrow I could only respond. I could choose to go crazy, I could choose to act like nothing happened, or I could seek out how God would want me to respond in light of not having a morning.

If things go badly this week I am effectively left with my response. In the same way I could go crazy, I could pretend like nothing is going on, or I could seek God and search for his will on my response to the situation. In the case of this week everyday will bring a new challenge and each day I have a desire of how I would like to see them play out. I think it is for these moments that Jesus offered this advice.

In Matthew 6 Jesus says pray like this

"Our Father in heaven,

   Reveal who you are.
   Set the world right;
   Do what's best— as above, so below.
   Keep us alive with three square meals.
   Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
   Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
   You're in charge!
   You can do anything you want!
   You're ablaze in beauty!
      Yes. Yes. Yes." -The Message

My challenge this week accept the passage that reads "Do what's best- As above, so below" and respond rightly to that.

Lotto

2009-05-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I stopped by the local gas station on my way to work and decided to purchase a lotto ticket for the very first time. I purchased one for the Super and one for the Mega.

I check my numbers on Monday and I had three numbers that matched on the Mega and one of them was the "Mega" number! I took my little ticket into my gas station and my friend the attendant gave me $11.00.

Heck ya! I am now a fan of this whole lotto thing. :)

Busy?

2009-05-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

Aren't we all?

Questions:

Why is it that we hide under the excuse of busyness?
Why is it that everyone thinks they are busyier than the rest?
Isn't that list of to-do's endless?
Ever realize that we are often too busy for God? yikes.

It’s time to grow up, take responsibility and prioritize people, stop hiding behind our excuses.

I think it's incredibly possible that we are just being lazy through our busyness. Crazy concept, I love to-do lists. I feel like I've accomplished something once I can check it all off, but then the next day, I already have a new list or maybe even later on that night I start making my list for the next day! So where is the lazy part of this if I accomplished everything on my list? There's a good chance I'm not including community or church. Not that it should be part of a to-do list, but I think it's too easy to push these things secondary to our busyness of "to-do's'".

I think busyness is something we all struggle with especially today. I feel like we pride ourselves on our busyness, like it makes us important. I also think it's important to not let our busyness take control. Prioritize & Pray about it.

My key points to this rambling....

Excuses - People aren’t stupid, excuses are cellophane, transparent, you can see right through them.
Busyness - These are often times when God gets pushed aside. Would you tell God you were too busy for Him due to your school, work, tv schedule, or parties?
You make time for the things that are important to you.

Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)

³⁸ As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

⁴¹ But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! ⁴² There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

John 17:4 (NLT)

^{⁴ I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.}

My mug is really Yellow

2009-04-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Isn’t it funny how we can make something look like it’s something else by the way we present it? I took this picture today at my desk of my yellow Livestrong mug. I found out that by messing with my phones picture settings (I was in the phone vortex ... aka on hold) I could make the mug look blue.

This, as most things do, struck me as an allegory to something else…. I think we often try to present ourselves as blue mugs when in reality we are another color altogether.

There are times when I try to position myself in such away that I am presenting someone who is really something/ someone else. I’m not saying this is an over arching character flaw and I almost always (and as far as I intently know always) come clean admitting my true color but sometimes it is tempting to hide.

This can flesh itself out in several ways

• It’s saying I’m committed to something but I don’t make sacrifices in order to really support it. (This mostly shows up in time spent)
• It happens when I prop myself up to look cool and in turn actually put someone else down
• When I’m at work and I don’t maximize the time I’m in the phone vortex … when I can

I think Jesus is calling me to be a more consistent person and that includes seeking out times I present myself as a blue mug but I’m really a different color. I also need more relationships where people know that I’m really a yellow mug… and won’t let me present myself as a blue mug. My wife is great for me in this area but I know its an area that needs more people… namely some guys.

Stress, Worry, & Doubt

2009-04-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

While I do think it's important to always seek God, I think it's especially important to seek God in times of stress, worry, and doubt however I think these are times that we often forget to.

These are just two verses that have been glaring out at me lately that I wanted to share and I feel like now is the perfect time to share them. :)

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Matthew 6:25-.....

²⁵"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? ²⁶Look 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? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If 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? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

...Late edition....

Read the book of James

Blackhawks WIN

2009-04-27T21:07:00.001-07:00

THE BULIN WALL STANDING TALL IN CHICAGO... CLOSES OUT THE SERIES WITH A 43 SAVE PERFORMANCE

The Trapper

2009-04-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

Back in the day when the Long Beach Ice Dogs were still around we became friends with a bunch of the guys on the team. We love goalies and Mike became friends with them right away. One in particular was Jaroslav Halak. The Long Beach ECHL team folded and Jaro eventually got called up to the Montreal Canadians in the NHL.

Through the recent years Mike and Jaro have keep in touch through emails back and forth. In one of those emails back around September or October, Jaro told Mike that he would send him his trapper (one of the goalie gloves) at the end of the season. Unfortunately the end of the season came too soon but Jaro remembered his email to Mike months ago. On Friday Mike got a package in the mail and there was his trapper just like Jaro said.

What a nice guy to remember the little people back in Long Beach. He totally made Mike’s day!

Defining moments…

2009-04-26T23:25:00.001-07:00

As my wife has amazingly pointed out about a billion times... I had the opportunity today to look back at some of the most painful experiences I have ever had and it was GOOD. Not just the looking back but the things I have always thought awful were indeed good. I found that the most difficult and painful things to go through proved to be the best opportunity to grow. I would not be who I am today if I didn’t have the opportunity to seek Jesus in the face of awful realities. My wounds, scars, screw ups, and the things that have just run me over are grace to me. These experiences have shaped me and how I view others… they keep me looking for the bigger picture and they keep me from loving too little to fight for life.

Much of my journey has been moving me away from “Gospels of Sin Management” and toward the “Gospel of life”. I learned very clearly from my family that there are some sin’s that can’t be managed through desire to not do them and the rest are not best subverted with that tactic. “The Gospel of life” as I would define it says the wages of sin is death and Jesus wants us to live. Sin isn’t dealt with by a fight to not sin; it’s dealt with by fighting to live fully. (I believe Jesus defines what that is, not me) This doesn’t mean I put myself in stupid situations where sin is ignored and I am free to be evil . . . It means that I am seeking the best kind of life… For example the sin of adultery isn’t best subverted efforts to not have an affair… It is best subverted and the most good comes when I pour my energies into my marriage . . . seeking life. It means I am fiercely aware that everything around me wants to kill that life and I need to take steps to protect it. In the art of war Sun Tzu basically says if you are trying to hold a city (you stop attacking) that is when you can be overtaken. An attacking army is aware of the danger and protects its flanks but it’s also aware of the goal. Jesus is the source of life… I am simply fighting to stay in line with who I was created to be.

So why would I go this direction with a post about how good the terrible things were… I’m not sure…

Question

What ways am I trying to be a good person where I should really be asking about a bigger picture?

-these verses popped into my mind as I was I thinking this through…

Romans 6:22-23 & Mathew 10:37-39

I don’t have space to do a full kingdom theology break down and I don’t really want to not what this blog is for.

** Heather and I are doing great, the above was for illustration purposes.

I disagree with...

2009-04-24T22:40:00.000-07:00

I have heard way too many Christians start talking about particular ministries or churches lately using the phrase “I disagree with this . . . because . . .” The phrase itself seems to represent a sort of strange spirit of arrogance particularly when it is over something trivial like music, a personality, the type of people who show up, how they do their hair, dedications, etc.

The spirit of “I disagree with…” as I have been hearing it discounts our role to play. When people are living in this Spirit they seem to be focused more on what other Christians are doing wrong rather than what their responsibility is. I have yet to hear someone speaking in this spirit looking to step up and serve. More often than not it seems a tactic that comes up as a way to distract from what they are not doing.

Constructive criticism is ok, in fact it’s good if it is productive. It isn’t helpful to tear down another ministry or church that is theologically sound and destroy what “they” do so that we can look cool. This spirit as I have encountered it makes following Jesus more about being in the cool group than encountering the creator of the universe. .

Questions to consider: when disagreeing with… since we all do it...

Am I doing this for the benefit of my own ego?

Am I doing this as an attempt tot hide?

Am I willing to give the benefit of the doubt and hold my tongue?

Last point when we live out of the " I disagree with. . ." spirit we are maximizing problems and minimizing what God is doing.

Disclaimer ***I want to make it clear that I am not talking about instances where major important THEOLOGY is wrong, that maybe necessary to speak against. Music, dedications, , hair style, and particular personalities definately does not fall into that category.

--Mike Handy

The reason it's called "Not the Long Beach Handy Man"

2009-04-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

Err... At our old apartment complex in Long Beach we had a mail lady. She wasn't so good at her job. She often didn't put the correct mail in the correct slots. We often got other people's mail and they often got ours.

One day we got a bill from a well known paper in Long Beach. We put it back in the box since it had a different address on it. Later on we another letter from them again to the Long Beach Handy Man but at our apartment address. We wrote on it, "not at this address, cease and assist" and put it back for our mail lady. We got another one. We wrote on it again and put it back for our mail lady. Apparently she thought we were the Long Beach Handy Man since our last name is Handy.

We moved from that apartment back in September 2008. The mail from well known paper in Long Beach followed us! This was getting ridiculous. I opened it to find that it was a bill to the Long Beach Handy Man for posting an ad in the paper. Mike called the number on the bill and left a message for them explaining it was not us and that it had followed us by error. No return call.

We got another one. I called and spoke with the account Rep. Nice lady, felt bad that the confusion had happened and said she would take care of it.

We got another one a month later. I called and left Linda a message. Not return call.

We got another one and one more.

Today the Long Beach Handy Man got a collections letter at our address! Err....he doesn't live here! I called the collections agency and explained how this mail started stalking us and how we thought it was taken care of a couple months ago and that our phone messages stopped getting returned. The lady was nice, said she would remove us from the list and advised I call the well known paper in Long Beach again but this time she gave me the extension for the supervisor that had turned it over to the collection agency.

I called her and of course, she was away from her desk. I left her a nice long message. I really hope she returns my call. :)