WOM V

We need to bring back the guns next year.

J-D-L.......period.

Happy Birthday, Big Cat. Of all my friends' body types, I wish I had yours. No, that does not make me gay. It makes me a dreamer.

Come Together, Get Together

So I know you're all looking for a reason to get together. Look no further.

We are having Evie baptized (I see you smiling, Landon) in Nashville at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Saturday, August 22 @ 10:30 a.m. You, your wives, and your children are all invited to attend the ceremony. No pressure, but it would mean a lot to us to have all of you there.

Afterwards, at my parent's house in Hendersonville, we will be having a covenant feast to celebrate my daughter's baptism. And, of course, you, your wives, and your children are all invited. We'll probably be having BBQ and it will be a great time of fellowship for all. I mean, it's been over 3 years since we've got everyone (wives, etc.) together.

So look at your calendars, clear August 22nd, and let me know if you can be there. (And how many for food purposes)

Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin

I won't begin to try and discuss the life and work of John Calvin. Instead here is a pastor that did. Praise the Lord, happy birthday John Calvin:

http://tawhicks.blogspot.com/2009/07/john-calvins-500th-birthday.html

Independence Day

Men, Next Saturday is the 4th of July.  Jennifer and I have yet to have anyone over to our new place in Nashville, and we thought this might be a good chance to have some of you over.  Before we plan too much I wanted to see who is interested in celebrating the 4th with us.  Let me know if you are up for it, and if some of you are we will plan something here.  

Layout Change?

Anyone else think we should change the layout here so we can add some more useful widgets. I'm working on adding a twitter widget right now.

The EDNAFUND

Recognize the tie in this picture? It was compliments of Aaron's wedding. I really like it. I often get comments on it at work, probably because its green which is the color of money, and money is what I talk about all day, money and sweet new ways the leverage the power of Microsoft Excel.

Anyway, the primary reason for this post is to address the lack of activity on the EDNAFUND. Okay, so I was supposed to send around the paperwork for everyone to sign and then we would get things moving. We'll I gathered most of that stuff, along with a partnership agreement, but I honestly have been swamped with life. My lack of time and reality that half of our men's club has either quit their jobs or is looking for work, makes me think that now may not be the best time to get this thing rolling. Additionally, I've come to find out that since I'm a financial advisor, I really shouldn't have anything to do with the formation of an investment club. With Obama's overhaul of the financial services regulatory environment, I'd probably be fined for typing the words "investment club." So cuse me, argue your point, whatever, but I've shelved the investment club for a while. Hope everyone is well and thanks again for getting married, Aaron, and passing along this tie.

When keeping it real goes wrong

"Macho Man" Randy Savage was in Garner, N.C. today, snapping into Slim Jims with reckless abandon, when he snapped into one a little too hard.

When Mr. Savage was reached for comment, he had this to say: "Bonesaw is READY!" and made a manuver in which his left forearm was seemingly sawing through his right forearm.

In a related story, Leroy Smith wants you to get your basketball on. Leroy is father to TTU basketball legend Larry Smith.

Rick and Bubba clip from yesterday

I love this:
Guns at church

Steve Wiebe Live Donkey Kong Today

Steve Wiebe's is attempting to topple Billy Mitchell's record LIVE right now!

Watch live video from G4TV - Steve Wiebe Donkey Kong Cam on Justin.tv

Here We Come

Ok, so until yesterday Jennifer and I did not know where we were going to live in Nashville, and I have a job that starts on June 1st. However, now we have locked in our living arangements, and we are hoping to move next Saturday. Thats right, next Saturday. Will the previous tennants be out of the unit? Not sure. Do we have a Uhaul reserved? Nope. Do we have anyone to watch out kids? No way. However, here we come. I am posting this to find out if there is anyone that might be available to help us unload next Saturday (May 30th) sometime. The place is in the middle of Belle Meade, so you guys in H-ville should know that it is a little drive from there when you are looking at your schedule. Just let me know and I can get you more specific info on where our place is, and what time we should be there. See you guys in Nashville soon!

England: The Return

Heading back to the motherland on Sunday. Anybody want anything?

Road Trip???

I just saw that the Worl Beard and Moustache championships are tomorrow. It is to late to get there this year, but we should find where the next one is being held and make it the location for Man's Weekend. Here is the link, these guys make us look like babies:

http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

Verify

This is a long post, but does anyone see anything obviously wrong with my theology here? I posted this as a response on the blog of that LA Times reporter who says he "was" a Christian but decided not to be anymore. Kind of a C.S. Lewis in reverse. Here is his post: here. I'm sure I got away from the actual question, but I don't care.

Most of this is from the Old Testament and was meant for the Israelites BEFORE Christ came. The punishments were so strict because God claimed the Israelites as his chosen people. Since God is perfect, he can’t allow imperfection in something that he has claimed as his own. The commandments were to show the Israelites (and us) just how high the standard is. It was painfully obvious that no man could reach it. What does that say about God? Who sets their standard for a relationship with them that high? Only someone who is perfect. The cost was high…death, no matter what. But notice the commandments themselves don’t say anything about death as a punishment. Though death was the cost for breaking any one of them, it didn’t have to be the death of the perpetrator in every case. Some offenses called for the death of an animal, such as a perfect lamb, as a substitute for the perpetrator’s death. Why the distinction? I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. The point of the commandments shows us two things — there is a RIGHT and a WRONG — and we aren’t capable of being on the RIGHT side and so, someone/something has to die.

God loves everyone. He wants everyone to love him back and to be with him, but no one is good enough. Add something imperfect (us) to something perfect (God) and you ruin what was perfect. We aren’t capable of keeping his law, so we are imperfect and can’t belong to him without dying, but that defeats the point. That is where Christ comes in. He died in our place. He takes the place of the perfect lamb. He is God in human form. And since he is worth much more than a lamb, he is able to take our place as well.

We can’t imagine how God can be 3 things at once, but he can somehow. I don’t understand how, but then again I don’t understand quantum mechanics. Maybe one day I will. I only know that because of that very special “ability”, he was able to send Jesus (himself) to live and die in our place. Even though it was unimaginably painful. He loves us and wants us to be able to chose to love him back so much, that he felt it was worth the price.

Jesus said he didn’t come to replace the law. That is true. He said he came to fulfill the law. He gives us the new command to love. If we follow this, then the other 10 commands are covered. He said if we confess that we are sinners, accept his death as a substitute for ours, and commit to follow him (and so, this command to love), then we can consider our debt for sin to be paid by him and we will be with him in heaven. He said he will take care of the rest, and he will change our attitudes and hearts by leaving the Holy Spirit (the third part of God) with us until he returns to gather us back up to be with him.

That’s the gospel in a nutshell. There is no doubt that Jesus was a real person and that he said these things. That is just history. Either you believe he was who he said he was, or you don’t. If he is what he said, then he is certainly good and loving. So why not follow him if you believe him?

I know that not everyone who says that they are followers are really followers. Some just say it even though they have never truly given their life to Christ. And if someone truly is following Christ, it doesn’t mean they will never sin. It does mean however that when the recognize sin in their lives, it will break their hearts and they will repent and fall back in line. If someone claims they are a Christian and does not feel remorse and repent for their sin, then they are not a Christian and you shouldn’t be basing your view of Christians by them in the first place. These are the majority and they lead many people down the path a path of bitterness and resentment for Christians as a whole.

About the whole cutting off your hands/eyes thing…that’s a metaphor. For example, if you keep lusting after women because you can’t keep away from porn sites on your computer…get rid of your computer. Basically, keep out of situations that are likely to cause you (or others) to sin.

Rob Bell

Hey guys. I was wondering if any of you have read Velvet Elvis or Sex God by Rob Bell. I have watched many of his NOOMA videos, and I liked them, but I have been challenged by a member of my church that Rob is a false teacher that undermines the Trinity. I was thinking tonight "man, I wish I could sit around a campfire and discuss this with the guys at Man's Weekend", so I thought some of you might have some insight that I do not have. What do you think of Rob Bell? I also hope that either his wife, mother, daughter (if he has one), or father finds this post and comments on it. This would be the greatest day on the blog since the Ray Boltz discussion.

Swine Flu

A Night with The Boss

It's rare that Kandice and I are not with at least one of our three children, if not all three.  Last night was a special exception.  Kandice and I spent the evening with Bruce Springsteen in Atlanta, GA.  I had not been to a concert in years and really never dreamed that I'd get to see Springsteen.  There are three events leading up to this culminating moment that I'd like to revisit:

1. The year was 1993.  I was immersed in classic rock and thought Born in the USA was the greatest song ever assembled.  So I went to Wal-Mart and bought Springsteen's greatest hits and listened to Born in the USA on repeat for days.  I think I pretty much ignored the rest of the album for several years and didn't pull it back out till later in high school and college, major oversight.

2. The year was 2002.  The location was RiverStages in Nashville.  Counting Crows played that Friday night.  In an explicit act of God's sovereignty, the heavens began to rain as they started Rain King.  Mid-way through the song the band stopped and transitioned to covering Thunder Road and then would finish Rain King.  It was a sweet moment, and it occured to me how cool it would be to hear Bruce play Thunder Road one day.

3.  The year was 2002.  Ross Denney had accompanied me on a trip to Chattanooga for undisclosed reasons.  On the way back to Cookeville on a dark 111 in Hoss, we listened to Bruce and the E Street Band while we smoked Turkish Golds.  Do you remember that Ross?  It was a good ride home.

All of this led up to last night.  It was the best show I've ever seen.  If anyone has the chance to see Springsteen I'd recommend it.  

On a rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert

I pick up my money and head back into town

Driving cross the Waynesboro county line

I got the radio on and I'm just killing time

Working all day in my daddy's garage

Driving all night, chasing some mirage

Pretty soon little girl I'm gonna take charge.

The dogs on main street howl,

'cause they understand,

If I could take one moment into my hands

Mister, I ain't a boy, no, I'm a man,

And I believe in a promised land.

That's What She Said

I was very proud of Michael last night. I just knew he was going to blow the buy-out meeting, but instead he pulled through for Ryan and Pam. Has anyone watched the British version of the Office? I have seen a few episodes, and I would dare say its funnier. But then again, I love British humor.

Do you like Chicken Tetrazzini?

Do you like Fishsticks?

The entire episode is pretty funny and more clips are at http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/

If I remember right Nunley enjoys a good fishstick every once in a while, anyone else?