[walkwjc]

Update post! With Titles and Subtitles!

Diabetes
I can gladly say that my blood sugars are in pretty good shape right now. I have found that my normal range is somewhere between 110 and 160. Anything below 110 and I get shaky, anything over 160 and I start to feel sluggish and grumpy. I have also discovered that I really really like baby spinach salads. Slice a fresh tomato and a splash of Italian or Tomato Pesto dressing and I feel like a cow in heaven.

I think Gatorade was my undoing this summer. I would drink seven or eight in a day when it was hot. There is so much sugar in one I would have been better off drinking a soda...not much better, but better. .

Moving
I think I can mark New York off the list for now. The politicians and environmentalists have stopped all drilling in New York State and even after the dust clears they may not let anymore than 100 rigs in, which isn't enough for us to get a decent share and make any money and build new infrastructure. So, a relief and disappointment in the same breath. From what I can see, I'll be staying in South Texas and possibly moving to Houston if anywhere.

Music
I've got quite a notebook of stuff written and finally have made some plans to record some of it with some friends. We are planning to book some churches and small venue stuff in the near future, so things are looking up in that department.

Church
Nah

Me
Sometimes I wonder, is it just me. Am I the one with the problem. I have a bunch of stuff to say about where I'm at with churches, but I just don't want to go there. I fear that it is me. I see all these people that are so happy going to church, sitting in church, listening to preaching, eating a donut during Sunday School, playing in the praise band or singing in the choir. Why can't I be like that? I see people that are so loyal to their pastor and church...they have 'drunk the koolaid' so to speak...that they are willing to overlook the doctrinal stuff that bugs me to no end. I WANT TO BE A KOOLAID DRINKER, PEOPLE! I want to find that church that I am so loyal to and that fulfills my need for fellowship. Alas, I haven't. I get over-involved and end up wanting to strangle the people I am over-involved with.

My friend Robert tells me it is because I never established my foundation in Christ. I have spent the last 8 years in Churchianity trying to build a house from the top down. That is something I can understand. Why don't I get the gift of tongues? Because my foundation was of shifting sand. The gift of tongues was condemning me. I didn't have it because I 'hadn't come far enough in my walk' or 'don't pray enough' or 'aren't in the spirit' or you name it. I spent years trying to speak in tongues. Then it hit me...when someone gives you a gift...how much trying is involved? Yeah. *facepalm*

So, the first building block in my foundation...there is no condemnation in Christ. Time messes me up. I forget that it is the finished work on the cross. All of God's promises are in the past or present tense. I am not working towards righteousness. I have accepted Christ's offer. There is nothing that I can do...pray enough, fast enough, help enough little old ladies across the street. See why I struggled so with the Calvinist Doctrine? So, I understand works now. My works have nothing to do with righteousness, except that they are the fruit thereof. It's simpler than that, but I'm not able to explain it that way.

[walkwjc]

Just to clarify...I now understand gifts and the gift of tongues and that not everyone will get every gift. I was in a church that taught that tongues was the sign of being saved. You get saved, you speak in babble, fall down on floor. It's all good. Only I was already saved upon reaching said church and I didn't do any of the extra stuff they taught.

Comments and discourse encouraged.

[gg7]

^ Ah, thanks for clearing that up....and I think this best sums it up "yo that's whack!". There is a church where I live like that too. I know some people who got out of it.....it's pretty sad.

I would say there is no such thing as the perfect church, considering we're all imperfect people. That said, Kool-aid is overrated. I haven't had any in a long time. I guess there is only so much boat rocking you can do at any given place though.

I think you did a good job explaining that...Simple enough. I agree with what you're saying about works being the fruit and not something else. Otherwise you get into legalism and grace just goes out the window.

[walkwjc]

I went to a friend of a friends house for a little jam session a few weeks ago. He has an awesome little studio there with a killer sound system. He is a drummer and my friend is also a guitarist. We jammed for 3 hours straight and it was some of the most fun I have had!

Everything was cranked and my friend the guitarist played bass and I played lead guitar and surprised even myself. I have been working on a few different scales and practicing with my GNX 3 Workstation, but I didn't know how far I'd come. Then later in the evening I switched to bass. I know the fundamentals of playing bass, but don't know any scales or riffs, so this was pretty new to me. I didn't realize bass was so much fun!

[walkwjc]

Stolen from Mtlmom who stole it from Lee who stole it from Bill, who stole it from Art

1. What time did you get up this morning?
4:00 am

2. How do you like your steak?
Medium-rare

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Transformers 2: Rise of the stupid monster alien robots and ridiculous plotline. I mean really, what did the whole University where the mom gets loaded on pot scene have to do with the rest of the movie, and how about the Decepticon that looked just like a girl? [/I watched the cartoon when I was a kid and am disgruntled]

4. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Australia

5. What did you have for breakfast?
Bacon, Eggs and toast. Yes people, my cholesterol is still good, it's mah blood sugar that keeps me down.

6. What is your favorite cuisine?
Mexican
7. What foods do you dislike?
Green stuff.

8. Favorite place to eat?
La Playa

9. Favorite dressing?
Tomato Basil Pestosomethingorother.

10.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
2008 Ford F-150 4x4. I traded in the big truck.*tear*

11. What are your favorite clothes?
501s and a t-shirt.

12. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Australia

13. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Half full.

14. Where would you want to retire?
I don't know. Depends on where my kids end up.

15. Favorite time of day?
On a normal day, the evening. On a cold crisp day spent outside, early morning just as the sun comes up.

16. Where were you born?
Jamestown, NY

17. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Football, HS, College and Pro.

18. Who do you think will not tag you back?
Nobody because I'm really fast.
19. Person you expect to tag you back first?
Is this freeze tag?

20. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
I wonder if anyone will read it…--Ditto.

21. Bird watcher?
Yes. Morning doves and white wings...tasty.

22. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night person.

23. Do you have any pets?
Yes, one dog and two cats.

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
No. But I would like to know what Mrs. M is waiting to share.

25. What did you want to be when you were little?
A garbage man. My life long dream was to be the guy who rides on the back of the truck. Most awesome job in the world.

26. What is your best childhood memory?
The time the garbage truck guys let me ride on the back of the garbage truck for my block. One of them even gave me a hat!

27. Are you a cat or dog person?
Both. All animals, really – and some insects.

28. Are you married?
Yes

29. Always wear your seat belt?
Always have. I feel like I'm about to fall out of the car if I don't have it on...it borders on paranoia.

30. Been in a car accident?
Yes, two. One, I rear ended someone on the freeway. We came over an overpass and traffic was stopped. The second, I was riding while Amy's grandfather was driving and he pulled my brand new '94 Chevy 4x4 out in front of a greyhound bus with the Oregon St football team on it. They had just been beaten by the Texas A&I Javalinas. We barely made it out of that one.

31. Any pet peeves?
People who don't understand that I'm right all the time. Just kidding, that was for Mrs. M.
Yeah, I've got a few...I'll let you know.

32. Favorite pizza toppings?
Cheeze.

33. Favorite Flower?
Tulips

34. Favorite ice cream?
Plain Chocolate. Can't go wrong.

35. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Whataburger.

36. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
I wrote the drivers test.

37. From whom did you get your last email?
Beth

38. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
I am a Dave Ramsey follower. I don't have any credit cards.

39. Do anything spontaneous lately?
Yep! This survey!

40. Like your job?
Hmm. It isn't very challenging. Most days I'm busy and bored at the same time. Same answer. I was moving up to an office position when the oilfield took this downward spiral.

[jthomas1600]

Welcome back. So, you got to meet the Beavers huh? Cool. At least you pulled out in front of them after a game. Can you imagine if it had happened before a game and they lost because they were late to the stadium and mentally distracted? Of course maybe you're a Ducks fan and that would've been a good thing. Anyway, I assume you're on time off now....enjoy.

[MtlMom]

There's a magical connection between little boys and garbage trucks. I hope all garbage truck men know that, and I hope that they dreamed of driving one when they were kids.

29. Always wear your seat belt?
Always have. I feel like I'm about to fall out of the car if I don't have it on...it borders on paranoia.

Yes! I can't even put the car in gear before I buckle up. Once in a while when I sit down in a regular chair, I look down to my left - then realize that I don't need to buckle up to eat spaghetti.
I don't think I've ever confessed that to anyone.

[Jo Mo]

Originally Posted by MtlMom

There's a magical connection between little boys and garbage trucks. I hope all garbage truck men know that, and I hope that they dreamed of driving one when they were kids.



Yes! I can't even put the car in gear before I buckle up. Once in a while when I sit down in a regular chair, I look down to my left - then realize that I don't need to buckle up to eat spaghetti.
I don't think I've ever confessed that to anyone.

Can't be a bus driver, as I am, without belts. What with all the screaming kids on board, lol.

[walkwjc]

Originally Posted by Jo Mo

Can't be a bus driver, as I am, without belts.

Or without a taser tazer tacser bull whip.

[*]

Sometimes I wonder, is it just me. Am I the one with the problem. I have a bunch of stuff to say about where I'm at with churches, but I just don't want to go there. I fear that it is me. I see all these people that are so happy going to church, sitting in church, listening to preaching, eating a donut during Sunday School, playing in the praise band or singing in the choir. Why can't I be like that? I see people that are so loyal to their pastor and church...they have 'drunk the koolaid' so to speak...that they are willing to overlook the doctrinal stuff that bugs me to no end. I WANT TO BE A KOOLAID DRINKER, PEOPLE! I want to find that church that I am so loyal to and that fulfills my need for fellowship. Alas, I haven't. I get over-involved and end up wanting to strangle the people I am over-involved with.

gg7 was correct when saying there won't be a perfect church, and you know that as well as anyone.

But I don't think it's inherently bad that you are bothered by flaws others overlook so easily. Quite the contrary, it allows for improvement, I would think.

Then again, I'm fully under the impression that I'm the sort of person who would rather be dissatisfied at understanding the workings of the world, flawed and imperfect as they are, than content with a lack of knowledge on the subject. But I digress.

Simply put, it isn't you. The problem was not caused by you because you see it; you see the problem because it was in existence. Or such is my take on it.

I could be greatly mistaken, but I was under the impression that people in general and anything produced or touched by them will cause disappointment. Always. It seems an inescapable fact of life.

God will not, according to everything you believe.

With that in mind, would it not make more sense to focus on that which is good and perfect and take comfort in such knowledge, rather than fretting always over imperfections that will always exist? That isn't to say you won't find a church you adore in every way... You might. But it seems too ideal to me. And if you did, churches seem to be ever-changing anyway, so it surely wouldn't last.

Then again, I may not be optimistic enough either.

Hello, Donnie.

[Jo Mo]

Quote:
Sometimes I wonder, is it just me. Am I the one with the problem. I have a bunch of stuff to say about where I'm at with churches, but I just don't want to go there. I fear that it is me. I see all these people that are so happy going to church, sitting in church, listening to preaching, eating a donut during Sunday School, playing in the praise band or singing in the choir. Why can't I be like that? I see people that are so loyal to their pastor and church...they have 'drunk the koolaid' so to speak...that they are willing to overlook the doctrinal stuff that bugs me to no end. I WANT TO BE A KOOLAID DRINKER, PEOPLE! I want to find that church that I am so loyal to and that fulfills my need for fellowship. Alas, I haven't. I get over-involved and end up wanting to strangle the people I am over-involved with.

Originally Posted by *

gg7 was correct when saying there won't be a perfect church, and you know that as well as anyone.

But I don't think it's inherently bad that you are bothered by flaws others overlook so easily. Quite the contrary, it allows for improvement, I would think.

Then again, I'm fully under the impression that I'm the sort of person who would rather be dissatisfied at understanding the workings of the world, flawed and imperfect as they are, than content with a lack of knowledge on the subject. But I digress.

Simply put, it isn't you. The problem was not caused by you because you see it; you see the problem because it was in existence. Or such is my take on it.

I could be greatly mistaken, but I was under the impression that people in general and anything produced or touched by them will cause disappointment. Always. It seems an inescapable fact of life.

God will not, according to everything you believe.

With that in mind, would it not make more sense to focus on that which is good and perfect and take comfort in such knowledge, rather than fretting always over imperfections that will always exist? That isn't to say you won't find a church you adore in every way... You might. But it seems too ideal to me. And if you did, churches seem to be ever-changing anyway, so it surely wouldn't last.

Then again, I may not be optimistic enough either.

Hello, Donnie.

I have said that saying, "There aren't any perfect church". But yet, I haven't found a church yet that I could call home. Maybe I am looking for that perfect place too. Do we just pretend everything is 'OK' or just be wary? I spent over 20 some odd years in a church that was going somewhere when all of a sudden it folded. Did I miss something? Yes I did. There was a lot of things going on that I didn't even know about. Naive? Yeah , I was in a big way. When I look back I realize what a sucker I was. Lately I have been a little angry about it all. My being stupid and people being unchristian. I don't know what to think sometimes.

Hello to , Donnie.

[danalyn]

Donnie's bck to his normal (original) name!! yay!


ok and now i'd better make this post uncheap somehow.


hrmmm... struggling to figure out how to do it without hijacking the blog.
Glad you've got your blood sugar figured out and under control.
That's so exciting that you're going to be performing some of your music. I'm sad that I live too far away to conceivably come hear it.

*insert break while I go get a bagel*


still trying not to hijack here so I'll finish with saying that I think your "church nah" and then your update on you covers the church thing.

[Leboman]

I'm thinking that it's time for the Geezers to reclaim CGR from the noobs that have tainted its once glorious reputation.

What say ye?

[danalyn]

Originally Posted by Leboman

I'm thinking that it's time for the Geezers to reclaim CGR from the noobs that have tainted its once glorious reputation.

What say ye?

I'm with ya!

Although i think if I'm going to be active around here again I need to fix my broked signature

[Jo Mo]

Originally Posted by Leboman

I'm thinking that it's time for the Geezers to reclaim CGR from the noobs that have tainted its once glorious reputation.

What say ye?

Originally Posted by danalyn

I'm with ya!

Although i think if I'm going to be active around here again I need to fix my broked signature

Here here or hear hear, lol. Or Oy matey. Let us have our fill and take the noobs and make them walk the Plank, Ahrrr. *Interpretation* Hey yeah me too.