tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20825441793066271592024-03-19T05:54:01.449-07:00that's all folksTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-63519871617260431922009-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:002009-07-11T19:35:53.354-07:00NEW WEB SITEMy wife is a genius -- here's the website she built for our church:<br /><br /><span>www.bethelwesleyan.net </span>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-22793695906375353812009-05-27T05:20:00.000-07:002009-05-27T05:25:25.828-07:00Keys!This past Sunday, I drove to my new Pastorate -- Rose Hill Wesleyan Church -- and minutes after I walked in, the Vice-chairman of the board walked up and pulled out of his pocket -- KEYS! Keys to the church and keys to my office. My heart swelled as this was kind of the knighting ceremony!<br /><br />As I thought about that, the scripture came to mind: Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."<br /><br />I now have a renewed appreciation for what this means. This is kind of the passing of the authority baton. It's Christ saying, I'm leaving, you're in charge.<br /><br />I hope as I am in charge of His kingdom, I take care of it as He, the King, would.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-14626779360946331972009-05-20T16:20:00.000-07:002009-05-20T16:24:27.617-07:00Back in the Saddle Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGInUrkxvKU6cQwT3kYfa4iZZrWHHgWK79EtahKXhcsXb1QPK5l9vpRad9OUaQtZ9CLkiY3BPGbTnAiXsOjhJk_zmAMalkthyphenhyphenF0DtNnrTqcgPCnAvWxmSImCOUCzAPIFcUkD9fMXE8DzQ/s1600-h/Rose+hill+off+google.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 73px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGInUrkxvKU6cQwT3kYfa4iZZrWHHgWK79EtahKXhcsXb1QPK5l9vpRad9OUaQtZ9CLkiY3BPGbTnAiXsOjhJk_zmAMalkthyphenhyphenF0DtNnrTqcgPCnAvWxmSImCOUCzAPIFcUkD9fMXE8DzQ/s200/Rose+hill+off+google.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338050684863222482" /></a><br />After 10 years of dodging from God's perfect will in my life, I have surrendered again and am back in the Pastorate. I just accepted the Senior Pastor position of Bethel Wesleyan Church in Rose Hill, NC. It's a small rural church, but that's the setting that I excel in.<br /><br />The people are great and the setting is perfect. There is so much potential for this church to grow that it's unbelievably exciting. <br /><br />Now, you know where I am headed and where I've been. Now look out, here I go!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-47323261574772495232009-04-15T15:09:00.000-07:002009-04-15T15:13:49.824-07:00It's All in the Relationship!I'm currently a car salesman. I'm in the process of getting back into the ministry this summer and have a couple of possibilities -- I have to decide which way to go. But, as I wrote in my last blog, evangelism is something I have really studied the last couple of months.<br /><br />In my car training, you meet someone, greet them and develop some type of relationship. The better the relationship, the more likely you can sell them a vehicle. Relationships are key to evangelism as well. The better your relationship with someone, the more likely you can win that person to Jesus Christ. Work place relationships, family relationships, and community relationships -- they all play into this. <br /><br />As convinced as we are that lost people will suffer for eternity away from God, we should be willing to work hard on these relationships and see our friends/family come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-32209336216294613222009-04-14T14:41:00.000-07:002009-04-14T14:49:00.954-07:00Ineffective EvangelismI've been studying a lot about evangelism. What's effective & not effective.<br /><br />NOT EFFECTIVE: Build it and they will come. I am puzzled that we still think that if we build it nice enough and pretty enough, people will still come to our event. New church plants are often meeting in store fronts or shopping malls. Not trying to be churchy, but Christly.<br /><br />EFFECTIVE: Friendship. Make friends with them and they will listen to you more quickly. Invite a stranger, they'll look at you like you're crazy.<br /><br />NOT EFFECTIVE: Mass evangelism. Even Billy Graham was effective because people invited friends. THEN they heard and listened and believed.<br /><br />EFFECTIVE: Event evangelism. "Hey, we're having a movie at our church and they're giving a prize to the person who brings the most. I need one more -- can you join me?" <br /><br />NOT EFFECTIVE: Door to door evangelism. Face it, the cults have ruined this for us. <br /><br />EFFECTIVE: Heart to heart evangelism. I read this week: Love them until they ask "why."<br /><br />Just a few ideas. What do you think?Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-26727323706937851842008-12-11T10:06:00.001-08:002008-12-11T11:03:59.712-08:00God's Position on SinI know I often blog about funny things that my family does. This is an exception.<br /><br />I have been impressed over the last couple of weeks about Jesus' response to sinners. I have though long and hard about this and the only people that Jesus got harsh with were the Pharasees of that day. All sinners who came to Jesus weren't criticized, they were loved! From the prostitute to the Tax Collector -- all received compassion.<br /><br />A verse of scripture that I believe outlines the message and method of the church is when Jesus rebukes the Pharasees and tells them he came, not to the righteous, but to the sinner. It's the same place he said "we don't call the doctor for the healthy, but the sick."<br /><br />The church has to be on task of being the hospital for the sick. We need to do what the people of Jesus' day did -- bring the sick to Jesus feet. That's our job. Our job isn't to heal them, it's to bring them to the healer.<br /><br />Many churches miss our calling. We think we need to heal the sick. We DON'T need to heal the sick, forgive people's sins or straighten people out. We need to just bring them to Jesus, one at a time, and let him heal them! And whatever HIS version of healing is, we need to accept that they are healed and love them just the same!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-14645994620757307782008-12-03T05:27:00.000-08:002008-12-03T05:31:34.021-08:00What's That Song?My phone has a cool feature on it -- you can play a song on the radio or cd, it will listen to it, compare it to a computer bank of songs and tell you the name of the song, the name of the artist and the album. It also gives you the option to buy the song from iTunes.<br /><br />I was explaining this to my daughter last night in our car. We were watching "Cars" and a song was playing in the background. I turned on the feature on my phone and it gave me all the information of that song that was playing in the background of the movie. My daughter then took my phone and started singing to it. Thinking it would pick up on her song and tell her who the artist was etc.<br /><br />I guess you had to be there.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-60209609405774299282008-11-12T12:01:00.001-08:002008-11-12T12:07:51.902-08:00Thinking Outside The BoxI read something the other day that made me think. I know, rather unusual for me to do. <br /><br />A Music Minister friend of mine wrote "trying to figure out how to go to the next level." Someone wrote back "nothing is normal" and "think outside the box." Since then, I've done some googling on "thinking outside the box."<br /><br />Thinking inside the box is being satisfied with the status quo which is where I wonder if most churches are today. Thinking outside the box means throwing away the template of what's been done before and doing it differently than it's EVER been done.<br /><br />My goal is, from today forward, to think outside the box. Be revolutionary. Make sure that an idea isn't shot down because we "haven't done it that way before (where have we heard THAT one before?)" I will try to ask all the deep probing questions and try to come up with answers that aren't status quo!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-44293838697291555262008-07-01T05:34:00.000-07:002008-07-01T05:52:32.152-07:00Animal FiascoMy wife and daughter have begged to bring a new animal into the death chamber called the Mateer home. Understand, our reputation for animals hasn't been stellar and they usually die an untimely and unusual death. Example would be the dog that died in the pool, hermit crabs (and yes, that's plural) that die from lack of water, and on and on the list could go.<br /><br />I finally consented to a Hamster, thinking a rat was just too gross. They proudly brought home Gizmo and showed him to me. I was like, ok, I can handle this.<br /><br />On Thursday of last week, I asked casually, is the varmint still ok or have you all even looked at him today. Oh, no, I was assured, he's fine and we play with him every day. On Friday, I got "the call." Gizmo's dead. Dead? He was fine yesterday. Well, fine isn't really the truth. He was losing hair, but my wife didn't think I should know that. Then the truth came out. Gizmo was free (this fact I didn't understand when they brought him home). He was free because his mother and father were brother & sister (West Virginia jokes are NOT appropriate at this time, William!) My wife, who I consider as smart as most vets as far as small animals go (I've heard her personally have to tell the vet what the next treatment step should be), said that she knew there were going to be problems as there were definite genetic problems. Great! My daughter is crying hysterically over a dead animal that had known genetic disorders.<br /><br />Now the pleading comes back for a rat. No, no, no! I will not have a rat in my house. Only, I say, if I can get a snake that will eat the rat.<br /><br />Then the research starts to get a new exotic pet. Yes, lets get a short tailed possum. Yep, you heard me right. Possum! After pleading, cajoling, promising, etc, I said, go ahead.<br /><br />However, a 9 year old shouldn't be responsible for her own animal, so she left the door open to her room and the cats decided it would be fun to play with the possum. We came into the room Sunday morning to find cedar bedding strung from hither to yon, cage totally in disarray, and no possum. Now, I'm NOT happy! The family skipped Sunday school to look for this blessing, to no avail. They locked the cats in the bathroom and just hoped Gizmo II would come home(no, we COULDN'T come up with an original name). <br /><br />The good news is that the cat led us to the dryer where underneath was crouched a thirsty, hungry, but otherwise fine Gizmo II.<br /><br />Anyone want a cat?Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-35369900597327536172008-06-20T16:54:00.000-07:002008-12-09T16:32:30.233-08:00Pass the Butter please<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lU18agHeHoq-MYUOxoFvurEH5OmdnAAqftq9CgzXG50BbhvT3W5Nn1eq_Cf3ToXhzwFeYmczYcoPEaG_Ej1sdX62Qw9kYt5PqSn9QahsL0AItBLt8_jKf7GWUb7qd4nKZPwjbjxI4uM/s1600-h/IMGP0268.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lU18agHeHoq-MYUOxoFvurEH5OmdnAAqftq9CgzXG50BbhvT3W5Nn1eq_Cf3ToXhzwFeYmczYcoPEaG_Ej1sdX62Qw9kYt5PqSn9QahsL0AItBLt8_jKf7GWUb7qd4nKZPwjbjxI4uM/s200/IMGP0268.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214116741174958370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWOpXx9Ez2j4R5Kl5ylcA6mFIpmjp9cQftOkIIjValVyCMFze-nk7EZJFmbgVsyTKc7OOezsIxpRDHxKqlNSTE32Lk5CUkiLfrI978IYGVpjiP-yaEJ_2sDYwCUIuELBM2Nz2kxykTyc/s1600-h/IMGP0269.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWOpXx9Ez2j4R5Kl5ylcA6mFIpmjp9cQftOkIIjValVyCMFze-nk7EZJFmbgVsyTKc7OOezsIxpRDHxKqlNSTE32Lk5CUkiLfrI978IYGVpjiP-yaEJ_2sDYwCUIuELBM2Nz2kxykTyc/s200/IMGP0269.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214116744532681618" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXNpnUr8JnfePX3uXgY8kWV1pBqBCF-bELEsYRED7NPTx_KdwLUqIQzweQbrUyB0YgQ-51azH9wxTrYL-uVDjs6XUbNEQupcclUlzRBMC-2vRuSvVf7J_XCKpo6jdg1FqoaJn4iKfPQ/s1600-h/IMGP0270.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXNpnUr8JnfePX3uXgY8kWV1pBqBCF-bELEsYRED7NPTx_KdwLUqIQzweQbrUyB0YgQ-51azH9wxTrYL-uVDjs6XUbNEQupcclUlzRBMC-2vRuSvVf7J_XCKpo6jdg1FqoaJn4iKfPQ/s200/IMGP0270.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214116746890110482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBxjpVzN4-Z1ev82wc9Ev1MTbLVsJlbS0jZXBelVW31oVh79T-ssj6PA5QiczVCRqXJ6iX28TNg25JQtgbAFeJqhRk4OJmUELPVyujalZRd1GZDZhjNDLrNDnMYDe0LdSyMLwDnza8sk/s1600-h/IMGP0267.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBxjpVzN4-Z1ev82wc9Ev1MTbLVsJlbS0jZXBelVW31oVh79T-ssj6PA5QiczVCRqXJ6iX28TNg25JQtgbAFeJqhRk4OJmUELPVyujalZRd1GZDZhjNDLrNDnMYDe0LdSyMLwDnza8sk/s200/IMGP0267.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214116427684276578" /></a>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-43936997720015193152008-06-02T15:35:00.000-07:002008-06-02T15:41:40.200-07:00Where's Home?Most of my posts are about the kids, and very seldom do I try to wax eloquent. Even this attempt will probably be feeble, but I had to share this thought.<br /><br />My Sunday School class goes once a month to a nursing home and sings and I give a short Bible study. I've been teaching through Psalm 23 and yesterday we were on the last verse.<br /><br />You all know the last verse, "and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."<br /><br />I have always been taught the verse as referring to church. I wanted to be accurate so looked it up in the Hebrew. The Hebrew actually leans more to a home than a church.<br /><br />Here's my translation: "and I will always be welcome at the supper table of the Lord." I remember leaving home for college and later leaving for the pastorate and both times coming back home. Throughout the years I have returned home for visits and lately, just a short "hi" and how are you (mom & dad live 7 miles from us). I am always welcome and many times open the fridge to see if mom made any tasty treats or to grab a Pepsi. <br /><br />I have the same relationship with God and am always welcome in his house. His home is my home. No matter what, I can always pull up to the table of God and get my spiritual stomach filled.<br /><br />Just had to share.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-39690387076150209092008-03-12T20:18:00.000-07:002008-12-09T16:32:30.355-08:00And He Still Bought It?Most of you know that I went from Preacher to Car Salesman. And the stories I can tell (on both professions). <br /><br />Today, a customer came in and wanted to drive this lovely Chevy Tahoe. It's a very nice vehicle and he wanted to make sure it was all it looked to be. We looked at the fuel gauge and it had a little below 1/8 of a tank. However, on retrospect, the vehicle had been on the ramps, suspended about 8' above the ground at a very sharp assent, so the guage may have been off at that point.<br /><br />We left the dealership and the customer said he would like to take it by his house and show his wife. I said, "no problem." We drove out into the country (not TOO far, maybe 5 miles) and up his long driveway to show his wife the new vehicle. They had just had a baby 2 weeks ago and were needing more space. Well, she liked it, and so we decided to go back to the dealership to wrap it all up. We drove back to the road, and about 1/2 mile toward town, my customer said, "I just ran out of gas." I said, "are you sure?" He said, "yep, no power steering or brakes or anything."<br /><br />We coasted to the side of the road and he called his sister-in-law to come get his keys to his building so she could get his gas can out of the building so she could go get gas so we could presumably start this vehicle. Yes, a very long sentence and yes, a very long proceedure!<br /><br />Meanwhile, a customer of mine, Mark (also a fellow member of my church) rode by, stopped to check on us, had a HUGE laugh at our expense and went on his merry way before telling EVERYONE at church tonight at "Victor" practice about my plight. Sister-in-law came back about 15 minutes later with the $4 worth of gas. She left and we poured probably about $2.50 worth in the tank as it is impossible to get it all out. Some was on the ground, some in the tank. My dear customer then proceeded to tell me that we needed to bleed the lines. Whatever that means. I'm a salesman, not a mechanic. He did whatever you have to do to bleed the lines and declared it ready to start. Only one problem. Battery is now dead from sitting with flashers on. So, sister-in-law is called and goes and gets customers truck and we jump off the dead battery. <br /><br />LESSON LEARNED: $2.50 worth of gas is not enough to start a 6,000 pound vehicle. By now, we have attracted the neighbor who rides up in his golf cart. "Outta gas?" he inquired.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyT6HuoqpGhOzEojP9fEbfhvG7Wur3GLbLksihVBQ7GIIujYj3Zbw3wk4FLP7KXF6oE89SoRzure5Y_UrFeo0CVP0b7So5GYVC6o06pZw8zG-9u1ToSoOJkJzrj4cXXf-7nXZWeERQD0g/s1600-h/8e526bdc4046381e00450fe673a13b89.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177060802294920594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyT6HuoqpGhOzEojP9fEbfhvG7Wur3GLbLksihVBQ7GIIujYj3Zbw3wk4FLP7KXF6oE89SoRzure5Y_UrFeo0CVP0b7So5GYVC6o06pZw8zG-9u1ToSoOJkJzrj4cXXf-7nXZWeERQD0g/s200/8e526bdc4046381e00450fe673a13b89.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yep, customer said. Well, he had 2 1/2 gallons back at the house and FINALLY, after several attempts, we were on our way back to the dealership.<br /><br />AND, yes, the customer still bought the vehicle! To which my friend, Mark, from church told me I must be some salesman! I was and am -- after all, Mark is driving a car that I sold him!<br /><br /><a href="http://cjd.gerrywoodauto.com/used-inventory/vehicle-details.htm?vehicleId=64dac80d4046381e011de91425a2ec1e&useHistory=true#"></a><br /><br /><div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-66024437373472741002008-02-26T03:45:00.000-08:002008-02-26T03:58:14.221-08:00Honesty Is The Best PolicyI have been watching the commercials for the new reality show "<a href="http://fox.com/momentoftruth/">The Moment Of Truth</a>" on Fox. I wondered if people were really dumb enough to risk their marriages on national TV for money. Apparently they are. It always seems to boil down to those questions of fidelity.<br /><br />I came home last night and my wife said, "come here -- you won't believe this." I looked at the TV and there was the show on in my living room. A woman was sitting there and was telling all for $100,000, $200,000 and hopefully 1/2 a million! Her husband sat there in shock as her ex-boyfriend walked out and asked her if she would rather be married to him. After a few seconds pause for effect, she said, "yes." Of course her husband wilted.<br /><br />I DO believe honesty is the best policy. I DO believe that you should be transparent with your spouse. I'm trying to help a family member with this right now. BUT, I do NOT believe that a show should be wagering large amounts of money based on the fact that they are ruining marriages left and right.<br /><br />Fox is supposed to be the level headed network of the bunch, but they have crossed the line on this one.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-27505691104788602512008-01-03T14:43:00.000-08:002008-12-09T16:32:30.678-08:00Cross dresser 17 month old<div>My daughter has problems getting pants to fit her so we buy them and cut the off, usually removing about 8-10 inches. My son made a game of this the other night and thought he would wear them. One on his head and one around his waist. It actually looks like he's wearing a jean skirt. It was so funny. Hope the picture does it justice. </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151386184345160962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUixoG9b_3vLwQjzHQpMmaXTpy5xcc-jL2b1NTkpn0ISAfQi0BG9I_s7ZFDD_7nfjABGh_O0ZfD_NgF5Tb7fuYJgj4kJXEGljF393Nz4a7pieIHhXREnKpOmPraDIOE7kLTlnirOyOC4/s320/January+1,+2008+056.jpg" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151386188640128274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEJ-E1PMIz0Xw2TW42jdugc6n2sb0C14DJAnANhHv3hM-KL9hX6BdXb-C-cqrJpY6F112Z5MapQ7AHiZ79ABw0Ec8vU9Cve5OeGKs20zD93be0aNTEaz66mPGHeCs6xOz61HoRVS90Qw/s320/January+1,+2008+058.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-4912036277125316542007-12-12T05:56:00.000-08:002008-12-09T16:32:31.343-08:00Christmas LightsMy 16 month old son, Bubba, is into Christmas lights. If he's in his car seat 3/4 asleep and goes by a lit house, he's immediately awake and jabbering! One of my customers recommended we go to McAdenville, a small town south of Charlotte. It was a trip well worth the time! We all totally enjoyed it and since it was about 70 degrees, we were able to get out and walk around the town. Here's a few pictures of the town. Does anyone know how to keep the lights from bluring? Just wondered. Oh, and the last picture is our house.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143087492879138034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZqa1SX8YCLvbXDwE6QXdcZXlJVI-J80yOraRMQShPI9VKG4Nk_lP9frcUupqJ4ZHFQmwfg0skfWD-zkXYi91VsS16jwF3jLBSMDml6aHxyjdc3_OSjTUfBtK3RDJXKpdf2uOrKADQ_w/s320/IMGP0165.JPG" border="0" /><br />At one of the churches in town:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143087492879138050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFKdTqYVZXuUrX5vwXLI24nZqha_sVqTS0vymHFsBPrymwBy41I9qXvhtw8IV0VsYpgzNCfidEYzjeA3wxxtRAxeopjIMX4RaJquKtIHlMgRedC8IHUzlugsyppbi7ewZxTn-sN06z2w/s320/IMGP0177.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143087501469072658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfdD0Z4Sow3SY3409AcHR7H6t-bW8xqwEThZbiTTwiuc8Y0019vf8kM2FP_VxouCeOay5vV8D4ILnlvyXRJWQCyM_z8NcqLum-hYrbVJkLBP2qSAI6uVSgdBGcGFkRjskdFGYg3_uvE4/s320/IMGP0156.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div> </div><div>For those lucky enough to live in the Salisbury/Charlotte area, here's their website: <a href="http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/">http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/</a></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143087505764039970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6T-GSsW9RBHlNu6ZFGN-SK7RMD-wDj0X-hY6_zBDMyWABu0d5cNuL75I7tkSCjLwxyaz1F7Gduy51DkuAc5QwKmOsg826IBrkjyONV1YljOxZjjzojVdw-9LXSxlgfBQ6L87HwvgBzJY/s320/IMGP0179.JPG" border="0" /></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-58538222327977226582007-12-02T04:33:00.000-08:002007-12-02T04:38:38.508-08:00What Cookies?Well, as all good parents do, I want to share with my children the joys I had (or sometimes didn't have) while growing up. One thing that was brought back to my memory was "No Bake Cookies". These were something my grandma made and we loved them. I haven't had them in years, so I did a google search and found the recipe. I told Crisco last night that I would be fixing them and she asked what was in them. She couldn't imagine eating oats, so quickly informed me she wouldn't be eating them.<br /><br />After I had them all mixed and was putting them on the wax paper, she changed her mind. It was bed time, so I told her in the morning (this morning) she would get to enjoy them.<br /><br />I woke this morning early to study for Sunday School (we're marching through Revelation -- thanks Dr. A. Brown), only to find my dog wanted to enjoy my memories as well and had taken the cookies off the table and eaten them all. Wow! Hope she enjoyed them. Now, how do I explain to my daughter when she gets up -- "no cookies." Well, at least I know what we will be doing today. Throwing the dog into the back yard and making more cookies!!!! I can't wait!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-35229107484696526192007-11-05T07:36:00.000-08:002008-12-09T16:32:32.016-08:00Rite of PassageWell, the first haircut is always the hardest. First, they don't want to sit still and second, it changes them from a baby to a toddler. Their appearance changes and even sometimes we shed a tear at this "rite" that happens.<br /><br /><br />Well, it was time. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bubba</span> has sported a "mullet" for some time now and we decided to have it cut. It has been funny because my conservative mother has declared for months that she would hurt anyone cutting her "little man's" hair. We finally all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">agreed</span> however that it was time.<br /><br /><br />Here's the results:<br /><br /><br /><p>This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bubba</span> and his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">beautician</span> from our church, Darlene Murphy:</p><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129384335926293906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip07KjKvi41YowrNfKIusswMRP4UkfkDLwTU6b5LQatT4U5-LdEL3CbZqniONp3vbMGayFAWV-EYH_nHmyN2Kx-xnI6W7J5up3HJB2WVacPqW4AnxOZc8qDXzBfQV9sTXRvOOHB2avV4/s320/Kyler's+First+Haircut+004.jpg" border="0" /><br />Now you see the mullet:</p><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129384782602892706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMAVKQVuOhCGY47Lq3wx2C4WnplNaN6dgBxJN_oXiNelL1k5b-MtUs7o8oOcymd8wO4nUP9faVPcx9IaLbJe-ZrSi_sDWdA_bhNaGrJI9xpddCS1GSccTIHJySyVID39ccITw-QC1i3I/s320/Kyler's+First+Haircut+003.jpg" border="0" />Now you don't!<br /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129384786897860018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCG6hwoAhI5jC5tRw6TbRSNx4rJe58TW1xWvbLsa_2E-2lNW2l1GtPt3yWxMUK4o72CijxecUbdNZCLsMIy6J26pd5QEhiJqLb-r3pC9AUtvmGTkc_EsC1Qm3ssAVCbHewI0BiwddOgo/s320/Kyler's+First+Haircut+021.jpg" border="0" /><br />He's much older looking now, but we have to accept that our little guy is growing up!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-59176214998638970972007-11-01T04:12:00.000-07:002008-12-09T16:32:32.516-08:00Halloween, 2007<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkAclOVkhOnyuJBjq796VekP11RzOGslRISztUAwm1mhYdTDC4WnGUB1-YWOTAHJ_3Po-2b1YJwavBUEUaopX76CPIj7ma3FmQUuhIb1Dbv9VdoG_CCBBECdUygSJxjkg2ukkPzfvg2Q/s1600-h/Halloween,+2007+Family+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127830352334091618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkAclOVkhOnyuJBjq796VekP11RzOGslRISztUAwm1mhYdTDC4WnGUB1-YWOTAHJ_3Po-2b1YJwavBUEUaopX76CPIj7ma3FmQUuhIb1Dbv9VdoG_CCBBECdUygSJxjkg2ukkPzfvg2Q/s320/Halloween,+2007+Family+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo2TcZ1kbB1y7FWLmcpKhhKVqhvh0b6QFsAczHe0Wp-pZ1jM-9KZopKwQIg2cnfZ0_FPStOY8TaPnzdVsewlWgkhU85p__bc2SIc1hcUS9cqU1cituaJGDRaIyvXor0ApS6zJ0FPCLO4/s1600-h/Halloween,+2007+Family+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127830399578731890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo2TcZ1kbB1y7FWLmcpKhhKVqhvh0b6QFsAczHe0Wp-pZ1jM-9KZopKwQIg2cnfZ0_FPStOY8TaPnzdVsewlWgkhU85p__bc2SIc1hcUS9cqU1cituaJGDRaIyvXor0ApS6zJ0FPCLO4/s320/Halloween,+2007+Family+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlygIdCWhVeYJ80le-RX4swy22BVQWjw0gfxOhgIJ8O6I60Qu4mZhLEEy58b3dn2SupNwmkBVZ831tCUWKnmvD_Hs4jOSw4exjsmWUZ8sxKST15GRqywcTWiE9khb9ULtjCdAzILoYTw/s1600-h/Halloween,+2007+Family+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127830412463633794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlygIdCWhVeYJ80le-RX4swy22BVQWjw0gfxOhgIJ8O6I60Qu4mZhLEEy58b3dn2SupNwmkBVZ831tCUWKnmvD_Hs4jOSw4exjsmWUZ8sxKST15GRqywcTWiE9khb9ULtjCdAzILoYTw/s320/Halloween,+2007+Family+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Yes, my kids dressed up. Bubba was a country farmer, even up to the John Deere hat, and Crisco was Jake Delhomme injured (wow, have we heard that one before). As you can see in the bottom picture, he has one proud grandpa!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-61723731916062174802007-10-30T17:23:00.000-07:002007-10-30T17:25:38.636-07:00Tooth Fairy -- TOO FUNNY!My daughter, though 8 years old, still believes in the tooth fairy. She has Santa Figured out, but not for the big TF! Saturday night she put TWO teeth under her pillow -- one from Saturday and one she had forgotten to leave under her pillow from some months back. I told her she would confuse the tooth fairy, but she didn't think so.Well, her mom & I forgot all about it. Sunday morning she woke up and the teeth were still there -- and somewhere she found a quarter that she attributed to the Tooth Fairy. She was UNHAPPY! So, she put the teeth under her pillow again with a note "why did you only leave me 25 cents."So, being the dad who keeps dreams alive, I wrote back to her "sorry, I thought I was as the boy down the streets house who isn't as nice as you." And left what we normally leave her for her tooth under her pillow. She brought it out quite proudly this morning, and even had to call Auntie, declaring that the tooth fairy thought she was at Sawyers house ( little boy with quite an attitude).Long live the dream of the tooth fairy.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-37955688999115529812007-10-30T17:10:00.000-07:002007-10-30T17:17:47.173-07:0015 month old tricksterI know I write a lot about my kids, but hey, they are my life. My wife is very important to me but if I write about her, I'll get in trouble.<br /><br />My son, bubba, was fighting sleep last night. Now let me make one thing clear, he didn't get that from the Mateer side of my family because WE DON'T FIGHT SLEEP! We welcome it with open arms. He was struggling to get up and fussing and SUDDENLY went limp on the bed. I asked myself if he was asleep or if something was wrong. I checked and he was breathing ok but had his eyes closed and seemed to be asleep. I got up quietly and went to the living room. As soon as I sat down, I heard his steps and there he was just-a-grinning! Only one explaination that I have (which was later confirmed by a re-creation!), he was faking sleep so I would leave and he could get back up! Too smart. And the doctor is putting him on fish oil to improve his inteligence -- why????<br /><br />I guess someday he'll outsmart us. Oh, wait! He already did!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082544179306627159.post-30172397892692611362007-08-08T09:04:00.000-07:002007-08-08T09:16:25.794-07:00First Post -- Barry BondsWell, I thought I'd try this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blogging</span> thing! And what better way to stir up some controversy but talk about Barry Bonds!<br /><br />I love sports! I love sportsmanship! I love watching games and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">especially</span> like records that are broken. Like Cal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ripken</span> and his consecutive game record. He absolutely blew the top off that one.<br /><br />However, I do have a question. How can I celebrate this milestone when it's clouded by the steroid investigation. I wonder if this issue will ever be resolved. It is time. It's time for those critics who are booing the loudest to come <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">forward</span> with their evidence and put this to rest.<br /><br />Until then, even if everything was done according to the rules, there will be a cloud of doubt and our celebration will be just little less exuberant.<br /><br />That's all folks!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15239702900940134688noreply@blogger.com0