Josh decided he has had just about enough living with male roommates. Life has been too easy for the past number of years and he is ready to engage in a new challenge — engagement and marriage.

Jeff, Pottenger, and Josh put a video together to commemorate the experience. It is a really a somber video and a sweet romantic sentimental setup he used… OK maybe not.

Clicky Here

Now I have to find a new roommate next summer… Anyone???

Diane Marie Dudley (42) was killed around the corner from my house Saturday afternoon. She is number 4 within in the half mile radius of my house since I moved in this summer. This was the first north of Wealthy and not in the “shooting range” south of Wealthy.

Growing up in a small town murders weren’t common and were BIG news. I traveled a lot growing up so I’m not THAT sheltered but murders were something that happened in the city and not in my community. I’m now living in the city and they are happening in my community. What is really strange is how easily I write them off now. It was a gang member, they were drunk, he deserved it,….

Why is it so easy to forget real people are involved? I haven’t thought much of this latest murder until I drove by the house on my way home (yes, I’m a bit of an ambulance chaser.) About a dozen people were gathered in the front lawn of the house holding umbrellas and candles. It really struck me that it wasn’t just a news article or a statistic, but a real human being… with a family and friends… Very sad…

GR Press
Wood TV

My motorcycle has neglected. The cold and higher priorities have kept it sitting abandoned in the garage. Today’s 60 degree weather, gorgeous sunshine, and fall colors proved too much – the bike had to come out.

Bryan and I met up with the guys from the Ride Motorcycle club at Knapp’s Corner. Every time I ride with them I discover new roads and this was no exception. It was just a small group. Six bikes including three dual-sport bikes aiming to find the best dirt roads and fall colors.

Bryan and I ride Sport Touring bikes designed to run mile after mile of twisty road or sit on the interstate but aren’t designed for dirt. We debated splitting off from the group and sticking to the pavement but decided we would see how much trouble we could cause in the dirt. Thankfully, we didn’t run that much dirt on the way up to Greenville. The dirt we rode was worth the extra effort because of the beautiful scenery provided.

Bryan split near Belding to head back to an appointment while I disobeyed the voices telling me I should go home and be productive. We made great use of the “Natural Beauty Roads” and two covered bridges on our way down to Lowell and back to GR. I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the guys on the dirt bikes.

It is great to be back on the bike, its too bad old man winter is upon us. There is a satisfaction found when man and bike come together with the desire to wear the tires down. You don’t do for a ride THROUGH the country; you go for a ride IN the country on a bike. Your senses are indulged by smell of burning leaves, forest, and a few pieces of road kill. You skin feels the warmth of the sun and the cool of the shadows below the trees. Your eyes are opened to God’s beautiful creation around.

Now I just need to figure out a way to pay the bills and ride more… Maybe I will just sell everything and point the bike at the horizon. If I’m not at work Monday, don’t come looking for me…

More Pics

Wonderful Bandwidth,
originally uploaded by endofnow.

A new personal download speed record –1070KB/sec.

Everyone must be in chapel and they forgot to start their P2P apps. Dan

G . you are my hero!

***A book I should write. The result of sleep deprivation and being in a goofy mood***

Back Cover:

Decision Making the Disciples’ Way: Two Easy Steps

“Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us… Then they cast lots…” (Acts 1:24-26 NIV).

How can you know how to make decisions? Sometimes the optimization or satisficing models just aren’t enough. Often Christians make decision making too difficult and stressful. A simple two step model exists in the first chapter of Acts. The model gives comfort and assurance through removing the risk associated with making decisions.

If you struggle with making decisions, Decision Making the Disciples’ Way will provide a simple model which you can apply immediately. Learn why this model works and the best methods to recapturing the lost art of casting lots. The author even includes modern day games of chance.

Office Pranks,
originally uploaded by endofnow.

I returned from the Katrina trip to find my office filled with boxes and

excess furniture. I will post pics when they become available. A

roommate and friends covered my bed in saran wrap and princess wrapping

paper. Yesterday my office was filled with balloons, streamers, and

milk Duds in celebration of my birthday. It was a good job and took some

time to complete. I appreciate it… Now I just need to figure out my

retaliation…. In Christian Love of course…. Muuuhahahahaaa

1023052312a.jpg,
originally uploaded by endofnow.

I was home for the weekend. I get back and am ready for bed. I walk in my room and notice my bed is made… it’s never made. Crud, I think. It was wrapped in saran wrap and had a layer of Disney princess wrapping paper. I wonder who did it… hmm…. I have my suspicions… Jeff, Ami, Krista???

EDIT::: PAUL, GINA, ANGEL — beware!

So, on the drive home my car tells me to “Service Theft System.” I turned off the warning and didn’t think much of it because my wonderful Saab likes to give me erroneous messages to try to convince me that it truely is smarter than I.

I’m working on homework, chatting, facebooking, blog reading and such when I hear this strange noise coming from outside. I don’t think much of it until… crud. As I went down the stairs my suspicions were confirmed.

I tried to turn it off by locking and unlocking the doors — no go. I figured I would show it who is boss by pulling the fuse—no luck. By now it has been going off for a while, the neighbor in the crack house is hollering at me between shrills — it keeps going off. In a final effort to show it I’m in charge I pull the battery cable – so no the siren has its own battery.

I managed to turn it off by some strange combination of turning off the glass sensors by pressing the night light button while the key was off… thanks owners manual. It has been a couple hours and still no noise so all is good? But the guys downstairs tried to cook and set the smoke alarm off. The smoke alarm for the entire house… I really hope I don’t have any more alarms going off while I am trying to get my quality 5 hours of sleep tonight…

I posted the pics I took on the trip over here

I’m back…

The trip down south was a success. We ended up working in Pascagoula, Mississippi instead of Bayou La Batre. That was a bit of a monkey wrench in our goal of adopting a community. We were obedient though and gave our all to the new assignment. Some of the logistics of the trip and student perspectives can be found over at http://cukatrina05.blogspot.com.

The trip was enjoyable and probably the most fun I’ve had in a while. It was a great break from my routine and helped me refocus. My job tends to have me locked in an office and it is easy to forget that there are good students out there.

The thought of the awesome potential of the people on the bus is humbling. Each of those students did a fantastic job and proved to be outstanding individuals. I’m curious to see what will become of each one in 20 years? What impact can they have on the world and the kingdom? There will be pastors, teachers, youth leaders, business owners, missionaries, and who knows what else. How will this trip affect their plans and futures? I think back to how my trips to Redbird Mission with my youth group served to enable me to lead this trip. How will they take this experience and use it?

I learned a lot about leadership on the trip. It is hard for me to have enough trust to delegate. I was forced to do that a lot on this trip and it was good. The group was much more productive when I appointed leaders to lead projects and I worked to serve those leaders. This also gave the students opportunity to grow their leadership abilities. The staff on the trip were amazing. None of us really knew each other well before the trip and we were forced to pull together and figure out how to work and lead together. It was work but the end result was great. It was amazing to see how each of us had different strengths and ideas which complemented each other.

I have other thoughts rattling around in my brain but I am tired and ready for a good nights sleep. This is the first night in an actual real bed in 5 days.

God is truly good. It was great to be used by Him on this trip.