Thanks kiddos!

Meg, Lane, Christian...Thanks for dinner Wednesday night. You are a sweet crew to treat the family like that! I love you guys!

 

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Still getting hit with it

The question that I have to field almost daily.."So, are you glad to be back?" Honestly, I don't know if it's just the only thing they can think of or if they are curious.

I have pondered it since I don't really have a canned answer. In short..yes and no. Yes in the regard that my wife is happy, my kids are happy, heck...even the dogs seem happy. One of our dogs was having an eye problem in Colorado that's vanished upon returning to Ar. I have made a new friend or 2. We are trying to start up an Airsoft club. Be more involved with church. There are soooo many things that are good.

The bad side is that simply I am not the same as I was. Colorado and the friends I made there has forever impacted and changed me. Probably for the good and the bad. Friends that I had here that were very close before I left seem much more distant. Probably due to the changes in me...although time didn't stand still for them. They, too, are slightly different.

The one thing that I learned that means the most to me in all the moving is...we weren't being punished as I thought and it was very immature for me to think that. I don't think it would have been such an easy decision to come back had I known that before hand. But, it is a lesson well worth the trip.

There's a lot of information that is omitted for the reader I bet...sorry for this non-sensical rambling.

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Missed it..

Well, I have occasionally missed my floor when riding in an elevator and not paying attention. But, today, I actually walked past my floor on the STAIRS..I was deep in thought or something I guess.

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Game time

If I could take a minute and explain what it seems to me that we are supposed to be in this life...cause I would love your feedback on it. But, simply put, I feel like we are to be Gods chess pieces. We are all of various influence and have assigned areas of "power" if you will. Much like a chess piece. Where some pieces can only attack to the right or left diagonally, but move straight ahead and others have other "powers"...Yet, without being where the chess player would put us we are ineffective and our power is useless. In addition, we have no idea of what the rest of the pieces on the board are going to be used for or what purpose they have. Some may be called to be sacrificed to gain an edge in the game, some may be used to breakdown strongholds, others may be used to take down the opposing force. But, no matter the "power" of the individual piece, any piece can be assigned to any of those duties. A pawn (with reinforcements) can be the piece that ultimately pins a king...where the queen may be used as a sacrifice.

 

To me, that seems similarly close to the lives we should lead. No, it's not a game. No, we are not pieces being moved around on a board. However, we have differing levels of influence and ability that makes us unique in this life. Unlike chess however, we are to see where God is working and move to it..bringing with us the special powers. Then, we may be used by God to effectively do his good and perfect will. Then we may feel the satisfaction of being right where God would want us.

 

My power is limited like a pawns...but, with God as my reinforcement, there's no limit (even if I am sacrificed). I just have to trust and move to where he is working.

 

I don't know....but that's kinda what it seems like to me.

 

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Which is more expensive?

So, I did a little general analysis on whether it's less expensive to live in Arkansas or Colorado. The winner??? Colorado is less expensive than Arkansas for us. Here's why...

1. The ONLY thing that was more expensive was our home. But, there's a catch. We had a 2750 sqft home in Colorado...we bought a 2700 sqft home here. However, while the price was virtually identical, the home here is somewhat "nicer".

2. Utilities here are RIDICULOUSLY high. The 100 dollars less a month in our mortgage costs is absorbed instantly leaving even a small deficit.

Colorado were as follows: Water - 75/month, Electricity - 140/month (at the highest), Gas - 45/month, Garbage 200/year.

Arkansas is: Water/Garbage 150/month, Electricity - about 170/month (averaged), Gas - 50/month.

3. Gas was cheaper by about .05 per gallon.

4. Food was considerably less expensive.

 

Things about Colorado that made it even more appealing from a public relation:

1. PARKS, PARKS, PARKS - they were like churches here. On every corner.

2. Road repair - they did it almost exclusively overnight...traffic was better for it.

3. Grooming - trash was regularly cleaned on the sides of roads. Grass was cut regularly in public areas..Most of Colorado public lands were pristine.

4. Sidewalks.

5. If you didn't pick up your dog poop when taking your dog on a walk in the park - TICKET!

etc. etc. etc.

 

Do NOT be fooled to thinking that Arkansas has some "lower cost of living"...it ain't cheaper.

 

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No pork for me! Thanks!

1st of all...Thanks Les! I love your response and I think my lack of eloquence and manipulation of words is what makes it so difficult to understand what I am trying to convey. The last 3rd of your response is where I tried to head but without success. Thanks for making it much more clear. :-)

But, as most people that eat all things wonder why we that don't, don't...I thought I'd try to take a whack helping you understand my point of view. Please note, as I know you are already aware, following the "don't eat what God says isn't food" diet doesn't get me to heaven. ...So, here it goes:

1. Conviction - the primary reason is I feel that I shouldn't partake in shellfish, horse, dog, squirrel, pigs, catfish, etc. is because I believe God told ME and MINE not to. I guess it's kind of like multiple wives, owning slaves, etc. I wouldn't do those things either...though the new testament doesn't say it's "wrong". However, I feel strongly that God directed MY FAMILY to steer clear.

2. Gross - after being convicted and thinking about it (not very hard might I add) the thought of it is DISGUSTING. Let's see, eat a big mac made from a cow that eats GRASS. Or, a pork chop on fine china made from a pig that eats...well kindly put, "things that other pigs already ate". Hum, easy decision for me. And, really, the question goes right back toward the free eater. Why don't you eat more cat anyway?

3. The arrogance of man - Initially, (and I think still) God said don't eat it. As in the example of a woman's period, there are good reasons for all that He said. Rarely was there ever a law that was just "let's see if they'll actually do this". So, what changed? Why can we now eat pork when he so strongly advised against it? I know that God created science too, but, I don't think we know as much as God to know why we can now freely partake. So, I'll simply do without.

4. Most people think that the verse that speaks to eating of "ANYTHING in the marketplace" (speaking to meats sacrificed to idols) gives them "freedom" as well as the image that Peter saw with "pigs on a blanket". The first incident, to my understanding, is flawed thinking. The province they were in was predominately Jews...so, to think that they were selling anything but meat that Jews would BUY is poor marketing. According to my research, the meat they sold in said markets did not fall outside of the "law" per se, but, the issue is that the meat may have been from some sacrifice outside that of the Jewish beliefs. The documents stated furthermore that the business men of the time would have been insane to try to sell anything that wasn't supposed to be on the menu. It would just rot. It's not like they had freezers or anything. So, opening up a "Cat on a stick" stand wouldn't have received any business. But, this really plays a minor role in my decision making. I just find it very interesting that folks that many believe there were all kinds of non-clean foods available. When, according to the historians, was probably not the case at all. The other "pigs on a blanket" incident has nothing to do with food...and Peter knew that...moving on. No impact in my life at all...besides that of what was intended. Of which I benefit greatly! :-)

5. Health - In my opinion too many of us live in the "All things permissible" realm but forget the "not all things are beneficial" side. I want to try to stick to things that are good for me and my family. Things that benefits our health, minds and hearts. Not merely strut in my freedom, but realizing that with freedom comes MASSIVE responsibility. Coping with diet is the easiest part of life compared to things of the heart and doing God's will.

I don't do it to make me more "Holy". I don't do it to go to heaven. I do it because I believe God told me to and the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. And, honestly, it's displayed massive benefit to me. I used to have a rather irritable bowel. (I know! WAAAAYYY TOO much information!) But, since my change, I have not had it...that's not just months ago. It's been YEARS. One last example that hopefully helps people understand why I think what I do. Scripture says that 2 are better than one. That woman was made for man. That a man would leave his family and cleave to his wife - essentially creating a single unit. It's a beautiful description. Later, Paul says it's BETTER to remain single IF you can exercise self-control. Why are so many preachers married? Because, neither is WRONG. There are many benefits to each...just like eating pig. If you feel you can...DO, if not, DON'T but don't do either blindly just exercising freedom or whatever. Know the benefit you are getting from doing what you are or are not doing.

So, that's just ME. I don't intend to force this on anybody...But, giving an insight to my thinking.

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