I like online sermons

It's pretty dang cool how just listening to some people preach encourages you. I love to listen to Mark Driscoll and the video I posted here is quite amazing. Mark is by far one of the best all around teachers I have found. He has a gift of speaking very passionately combined with using scripture and application.

I struggle and get off track so often in my focus on ministry. Listening to some of these guys, just gets your heart back and excited again. I'm going to speak at a college fca in a few days and listening to these guys makes me think about a bazillion different things to speak about, downside of listening to them!

On another note, I haven't bought anything in a long time. Well, other than a recent car. I love gadgets. I have never had a key to my own house. I now do :) I installed a keyless entry system on the front door. It is so awesome, I just type in a key and bam, unlocks :) If you come visit, I can give you a temporary "key" for the weekend :)

Mary Addison Edwards says...

Mary Addison is Ed and Julie's new baby girl. Mary Addison sent me an email the other day and asked that I send out a message to my blog readers and I will quote her..."uncle justin, I ask that you please post a picture of me and I promise people will see how cute I am and go vote for me so my mommy and frugal daddy can get free pictures of me, I am attaching a picture of me to post." I told her I would do it, so go vote now! It takes 20 seconds and you don't have to register for anything.



Click here to vote.

Okay, so every once in a while I think of names for kids. You can take my man card if you want, but at some point you might have a kid and it's good to have some names. I've been listening to a new artist and I absolutely love her music and I love her name, so if I have a girl, I'm naming her this. Check out the music also, Colbie Caillat.

A little fast paced

You prob. hear me talk all the time about being so fast paced. My body and life has just become accustomed to being so fast paced and I have to force myself to slow down, which generally is easy to do :) I just finished a huge huge project in Houston and for the most part will be finished there for at least a few weeks, a lot to be still determined. All and all, it feels good to walk away from something knowing that you worked hard and did your very best. It's not easy to walk away from things where you 2nd guess yourself and wonder if you did give it your best.

I have been without a car for a while and finally found one! Long story short, I've been looking at HUNDREDS of everything you can imagine. I found a car Wednesday night and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was the right one. I checked my email Thursday morning and saw that the car was still available and I purchased it on Ebay :) Yes, this is my 2nd car from ebay, the first was a Wrangler that I picked up near Omaha, NE. Everything worked out so perfectly and the woman I bought it from had taken such great car of it. This thing is in awesome shape and is almost like a new car. It has more buttons than I can press and I got an amazing deal. All and all, I was a happy camper yesterday. Flew into Charleston, met a friend at the airport, met a guy that sold me the car, and within 30 minutes, I was driving away in it. What a good way to end a week.

Tonight was Sandy and Andrea's rehearsal and dinner. Man what a cool time to be around good people. I drove back from Charleston this morning, came home, picked up dry cleaning, and headed up to meet them. The rehearsal went smoothly, the dinner was awesome, and afterwards all the guys went out to the Falls Park to hang out with Sandy. We all just sat around on the ground and wall and just encouraged him. It was so good to see all of the guys talk about how Sandy had encouraged them or taught them something in their life, it really was so encouraging to hear. The other cool part was to hear married guys talk about their lives and their marriages. It's so freakin neat how marriage is a picture of what we are to Christ. I like to hear about all of the imagery and how earthly marriage teaches these guys more about Jesus, grace, love, and all sorts of other things.

Tomorrow is their wedding and we are gettin crunk. Well not "crunk" by definition, but fun shall be had. :)

A lil Plan

The sign said "dog" so I assumed it was okay for me. Okay, that was not funny. Maybe a lil :)


So I did a little something sporadic today. I've been without a car for going on over a month. I pretty much fly everywhere so it really has not mattered. I don't say that snobbishly, I'm being serious. I've spent more time in airplanes and hotels than my own car and own room in the past 6 months. My time is coming to a close here in Houston and I'll be coming home for at least a week! You have no idea how good it will feel to hang out at my house and just chill out for a week!

So not really much has gone to my own plan lately, I've been seeing first hand that maybe God's timing and plan is much better than any of my own. I've always considered myself a super patient person but it seems that lately so many things in my life have been a little up in the air. My personality allows for most of this, ha, but sometimes I do want some clarity.

I have looked through about every car on the internet, seriously. I research everything until I am blue in the face. I rarely jump into anything w/o really knowing everything. I am very slow to commit, but once I do, I'm in and running strong. I found a car! The sad thing is, I am in Houston and it is in Charleston. Well I emailed the owner and told them I wanted to buy it. I still have not heard back, but I went ahead on a lil faith and booked my flight to Charleston, SC tomorrow afternoon, ha. So I'll be there about 5 o'clock and hopefully the car will be there. The airline worked out well, they actually gave me a credit back for changing my flight, and while I was typing this, Fergie cussed on Itunes, I guess I downloaded the wrong "glamorous."

Hopefully I will be pimpin a new ride tomorrow and it can settle at least one unsettled thing in my life tomorrow! I'm excited. Worst case, I've got some friends I can hang out with down there for a lil while :)

The pictures are from things I saw today in Houston, including the "Jesus Car." This guy had a bad experience somewhere in his religious movements in this world.

Tick Tock

So a really relaxed day for the first time in a while. Work has been so absolutely crazy, it's good to have a somewhat relaxed day. By relaxed, I mean I only sweat about 1 gallon instead of 3 :)After two wrecked cars, I am surprised that Avis is being so generous with the upgrades they give me. The latest is a Chrysler 300M which goes well in the ghetto. I drive through and now I am definitely the drug dealer of the neighborhood. Everyone stares at me, some even stopping to take a glance. I want to just to put a sign on the side that says, "sorry, not a drug dealer, see the next white guy in a gangster car."

Please note the sign above, these are the type of conditions I work in and people wonder why I carry a gun everywhere I go. Say whatever you want, but I know who you will run to when something goes down, you are going to hide behind the man with the gun! I was driving down an alley today and got out to work, this sign was the first thing I saw, nice.

I haven't really had the best timing lately or maybe God is just trying to teach me something, who knows. On that same alley, I was driving out and this Asian girl zooms right by on a bike. Had there been two seconds difference, she would have hit my car in the side and probably really hurt herself. She zoomed right on by and didn't even realize I was there. I just took a deep breathe and said "wow."

I actually left work at 5 which is not normal, it's usually 7 or after. I went to the gym here in Houston. There is something I think we guys should note about gyms. First of all, this gym is unreal HUGE. There are so many people up in that piece. God sovereignly had my elliptical right in front of the window where they teach all the classes. Guys, I think I need to bring something to your attention. First of all, did u know that everyday in the US and world, there are THOUSANDS of women "exercising" but I think this is just a cover. I watched them today. They are not exercising, they are training for something. It really does look like they are planning a mass take over of something. You have about 50 women in funny clothes punching and kicking in all sorts of directions. Listen, they are doing this all in perfect harmony. The scary part is when they turned around, I had 50 women looking at me and punching and kicking and hopping, I'm telling you, they are planning something. That is not exercising, they are soldiers. Their outfits are a disguise.

I ended my day with a table full of sushi in my hotel room. I layed it out perfectly and the nice lady at the Sushi place apparently thought I was ordering for two, because she gave me two sets of chopsticks, sorry I'm just a hog. This sushi is the only sushi that you are allowed to eat in two bites. It's HUGE. You have to eat the top off and then eat the roll.

I get to be home next week, I am excited.

A lil note

So after coming back from a cruise and a very relaxing one, I started back at normal life again today. Had a conference call at 1:00, stayed at home all day sick, well which was because a friend suggested taking Epsom salt. Never do this if you have any agenda for the day :) I am writing this at 1AM and I have to be up about 3:30 to fly out for hopefully one more week in Houston and then be back at home for a while. It's good what a vacation can do for you. It gives you a chance to clear your head and catch up.

Tonight in small group we talked about the things that happen in this life to humble you and bring you closer to the Lord. We discussed evil and how the Lord can use it to bring people to Him, it was a good conversation. I was a little out of it most of the time and was really thinking about things in my own life that I needed to give to the Lord. Have you ever felt like you could manage something better than He can? Of course, nobody really believes that but our actions sometimes reveal that we want to control our lives instead of letting the Lord do what He will. Tonight was a good night and I let a lot of thoughts and feelings go to Him and felt so good. It's so freakin tough to let go. These are the times you really learn to trust the Lord does care about you and does want good things for your life. The woman who gave a penny in the Bible. She gave out of faith and was poor, where rich people were giving out of their wealth. The woman gave because she had faith and knew the Lord would take care of her. I think sometimes we act in faith, but we have doubt in the back of our mind, "Is He really going to take care of me?" ...."Does He really, really love me that much?" I think those are pretty common thoughts. I've learned that I don't trust the Lord enough and give Him everything in my life. I stood outside tonight and acknowledged to Him that he was a much better manager of my life than I am, I am His, and I was bought with a price.

I drag my feet sometimes to what I know I should do, and once it is done, the Lord always confirms in my life that I did the right thing. I also know that the Lord uses people around you to teach you and be a guide for your life. I've been reading through Proverbs and it's full of wise counsel. Anything I do in this life, I want to have people around me that encourage it and the Lord uses to grow me. This is comforting and I am glad I am a Christian because I don't really know how people do this life without the Holy Spirit and an eternal Father that will always love, even when it is a disciplining love. I like that everyday as a Christian can be a new one and you don't have to be the person that you were yesterday.

I've never really watched Grey's Anatomy but one of my favorite singer/songwriters has just written a song for it, Mat Kearney, check him out. I've listened to his cd for a month straight, pretty awesome.

So in 2.5 hours I will wake up and hopefully not curse the day :)

An awesome Cruise and Long Drive

So we are driving back from a cruise right now and we are on about hour 8 of 10. A super relaxing week was had an well well needed. It was so relaxed and I was so looking forward to it that apparently somewhere I missed the fact that we would be returning Saturday instead of Friday, which was pretty funny to find out in the middle of the ocean. None of us had any plans, so another day of hanging out is good for a brotha. Pictures to follow soon :)

Please not T-Brock in the background lookin like Usher.

He has been so nice and driven about 18 hours so far and I get to sit in the back and listen to music and play on the computer. We occasionally talk about our feelings on this long drive :)

Sunday Sunday Sunday

It's about, well way too late and I am still packing up. It's amazing how fast a day can go and then it's gone. I think I say it all the time now and lately everything seems like a blur. I actually have to write things down and keep somewhat of a schedule to keep up. I'm tired. I believe the Lord is the giver of strength, Jesus promises rest from the worries of this world. I really haven't taken any time in the last few months to just digest. I've worked now for a few years and never really taken a straight week of vacation to sit and do nothing. This week is going to be it. Me and a few buddies are going on a cruise and I plan on doing absolutely nothing, well maybe driving a dune buggy, 4 wheeler, or possibly a segway to find some mayan ruins, but other than that, I'm resting. It's really neat the ways the Lord will bring us to a place to rest. He will use anything and everything to get us back closer to Him. Sometimes I struggle with being a performer and striving to do certain things to make Him love me. I am probably not the only one guilty of this, at least that makes me feel better to say that. He loves us despite what we do and wants good for our lives. Our lives are not our own and the Bible says we were bought at a price, a great price. Jesus sat in the Garden of Gethsemane and thought about what would come of His life. He knew as God in the flesh that He would hang on a cross, but as a man, He knew He would have to suffer more than any man ever. Jesus was in perfect union with His father and for a time would have to endure the crappy sin that all of us have done and will do. He still went there and paid that price for us so that we can be with the God of the Universe. I really don't know why I am typing out the gospel but it's good and I like to remind myself. He did all of that so we won't have to be performers and we can work because of His love for us and not work FOR His love and acceptance.

I have also learned lately that words are powerful and just as proverb 18 says, "death and life are in the power of the tongue, those who love it eat its fruit." We have the power to encourage or discourage this world. I've heard stories in my travels lately of how people have been discouraged by people in this world. When I hear these stories, it gives me a nice kick in the rump to be even nicer to people even when they don't deserve it. I enjoy smiling at the ticket counters when people are just rude, there is something to that, I think Jesus would. People can't understand that type of love and it's neat to see their faces.

I've never been this real big, take your sabbath on Sunday type of guy. I do believe that the Bible teaches we should take a day and rest, find your day and rest. I am going to try and do better about digesting my life and waking up different than the man who went to sleep the night before. I get so tired of being me and getting comfortable in this life. I'm not trying to be homeless but sometimes it's good to be encouraged and pushed along in your walk with the Lord.

In the past few weeks I have also learned to appreciate people that encourage you. I am guilty of doing everything on my own, being prideful, rarely asking for prayer. I just don't want to feel like I am a burden to anyone and I know that I can pray for myself. BUT, it feels good to get things out and have people encourage you and say nice things. Everyone needs someone to cheer in their corner sometimes in this life. There is no doubt that this life is hard and everyday has troubles of its own. We should take each day at a time and enjoy it.

I weigh less right now than I have weighed in about 6 or 7 years.

This cruise is probably about to change that.

Bam

So another lil accident here in Houston, I love the old saying, "When it rains, it pours." ha.  Avis is going to hate me. 

Word of advice for anyone driving in Houston, nobody really drives well here. 

JT

Fun Family Weekend!

So I have been living in Houston since May. I have a house in Pendleton, but haven't been there in a few weeks. I did get a chance to spend to spend this past weekend having an awesome time with my family. I would say it was the most fun we have had as a family, well since I can remember!

My sister flew in from Amsterdam with her boyfriend to spend a few weeks. The reason our whole family came together was for..da da da dah dum, my brother Greg's wedding. Let me tell you, he could not have had a better day and wedding. Everything went super well and everyone was so happy. The wedding itself was short and sweet and the reception was SO fun. Everyone danced and had a great time, even my dad danced for the first time in his life!

Is your world spinning too?

The excitement never ends in this life I've been living lately. It seems that on a daily basis, something crazy happens. It keeps the days always interesting, that's for sure. Well today was no different. I was running around all morning trying to finish up work that had to be done because I had to fly out for my brother's wedding this weekend. I had my day planned out perfectly and had one more task to do before I hit the airport routine. On my way there, out of nowhere I get slammed in the side by a nice young lady pulling out of a parking spot. This complicated my plans a little but gave me the perfect opportunity to exchange insurance information, ha! It was her fault so that made me feel better, probably not her. The cops don't even come to investigate these accidents, you just feel out a paper and drop it off, big city life! So I did make it in to Charlotte and was heading home and the nice Moody family allowed me to stay at their home for the night :) They are such a great couple and God is able to demonstrate is mercy and grace as people see Chris and Lod live their life :)

Off to sleep after a really long long day!

BUMS BUMS BUMS

So about a month ago, I was rapping about helping people in the parking lot of the hotel I stay in and have stayed in for the last 3 months. There are constantly people asking for help as businessmen like myself, leave their hotel. I love to help people, but am very cautious in giving money etc. I will buy food in a heart beat but rarely give money. This man about a month ago told me that he was broken down and in need of some food to hold his family over until they could get their car fixed, which should be soon. He knew all sorts of technology and was dressed just like me. I questioned and questioned him and finally agreed to buy him some food.

I told him to hop in my car (keep in my mind I always carry a 9mm on me) and as soon as he did. I smelled a stale alcohol smell. I asked him, "Have you been drinking?" and he goes on to tell me that he is a Christian and does not drink alcohol. I kept telling him that I was pretty sure that I smelled it and I told him "I hope you are not lying to me, because I enjoy helping people but when someone lies to me, it pisses me off." (It was to that effect) :) He insisted he was telling the truth and at this point, I knew he was not. I still decided to help him and I wanted to drive him to the place he told me his car was because I knew I would not find his car there and I wanted to see his face when he knew, that I knew, he was busted. To make a long story short, he said that I couldn't drive in the parking garage where his car was ( a lie) so I dropped him off. He then went and thanked me and told me that Jesus would take care of me, BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Well how about this...I was walking out of my hotel yesterday and guess who approached me in the parking lot. Sure enough, I see this man walking towards me. Keep in mind that I do not drive the same SUV every week, you could find me in a Jeep Liberty, Chevy Trailblazer, Chevy Surburban, etc etc. THIS GUY DID NOT RECOGNIZE ME. As soon as I rolled down my window, he started telling me the same story and I just stopped him VERY QUICKLY. "I recognize you and I have just busted you trying to scam me!" I pretty much said in a voice that he might fear for his life :) I told him that I had helped him before and I did not appreciate him taking advantage of my generosity. I told him that I am a Christian and enjoy helping people but when they take advantage of that, they ruin others chances of getting help. I wouldn't let him get a word in and just railed on him for about 5 minutes. He kept trying to justify himself but I would not let him. He then went on to tell me that he was divorced and having to pay child support and I went on to tell him that it was too bad, because I am not going to help you! I was pretty frustrated with this man and really wanted to take my wallet and beat him in the head with it :) Yes, I realize that is not like Jesus. I didn't do it.

This guy preys on businessmen that only see him once, too bad I am here for a while, I can't wait until I see him again!

MAN I DO NOT LIKE DISHONESTY!

i'll have the usual

So I made it to Charlotte this morning after staying with my buddies Ed and Julie Edwards.  I used to have to wear ear-plugs at their house for different reasons, now they tell me to wear them because of the new baby.  She slept all night and I didn't hear a peep out of her. 

I also didn't make my flight, so I'm on a lil later one, I always wonder how these small hiccups in your time path of life affect you.  :)

From a Simmons Beauty Rest

As I am just now laying down in my bed after a long week of work, I feel like that night before your first day of school. You know the feeling right? It's this little tingling in your stomach and almost a sense of being a little bit alone. I cannot really describe with words, but maybe if you could see me, I might run around the room and spin a few times, you could then say I was crazy and a fruit loop which I don't really eat anymore, but they are good.

It seems that most of my life, things have just happened. I wanted to go to school in the Navy and do Nuclear Engineering and discovered I was color-blind. Plan out. I took a semester off in 1998 and sent college applications, Clemson responded, the other got lost in the mail. That was an easy decision. I wanted to go to seminary out of college, all of those doors closed and a door that should not have opened, opened, so I took it. These were all easy. It seems now I am facing decisions that I could not have planned for and I am a little overwhelmed. If you know me, you know that I rarely get overwhelmed and have always felt like I have a Christian world-view that has helped me put in perspective this quick life we have here. During this time of decision, I believe that is driving me back to God and seeking Him more than I have been, makes you wonder if God controls these things in our life :) I know He does. I want to be a good steward of this life He has given me and am learning that I just have to seek Him, seek wisdom, and make wise decisions.

I have learned also that this life is going faster than I ever thought and I am now grabbing it by the horns and planning a lot more for my life. It's crazy that I might be a husband and a father one day. Well, honestly it's a little bit scary too. That might mean I can't eat out everyday and hopefully will have a wife who can cook and encourage me to not go to Zaxby's.

With eternity in the backdrop, our lives are so quick. I am just so scared I am going to wake up one day, be 50, and wonder what I did with my life. Does anyone else have this kinda feeling? So I write all of this to say I am going to plan a little better for my effect (with God's grace) on eternity.

If I have ever come across to you as someone who has it together, I don't.

Ever Been Lied to?

I don't know what it is, but when someone lies to me or is dishonest in any way, it gets UNDER my skin big time.  It makes me feel so cheated and I often want to punch them in a Jesus kinda way.  Okay that didn't make sense, but you know what I'm rappin. 

The hotel I stay at is often visited by guys who prey on the businessmen coming out into the parking lot.  A common scheme is for a guy to walk up to you and say that he is out of money and his credit card has been declined because the hotel overcharged him.  A guy did this to me a few months ago and usually they dress very nicely to look much like another businessman.  He told me that he was having trouble getting back home after taking his sister to the cancer hospital.  I looked in the car and the woman in the car did look very sick so I filled his tank up with gas.  As he drove away, I knew I had been scammed and it really got me.  I can just hope that he repents of his sin and hope that he doesn't one day fall into the hands of a just and good God. 

The guy this morning said the hotel overcharged his card and I could have easily walked in and asked the hotel.  I have been at the same hotel for 3 months and might as well be running the front desk.  He also said he was in the oil field and my coworker with me had been in the oil field for a number of years and could have easily called him on his story.  I didn't do anything, just told him I didn't have any money.  My coworker gave him $5.  As he drove away, he had brand new tags on his car.  GRRRRRRRRRR.

I just wrote this blog at 8:25PM EST sitting in the middle of traffic while downloading data from a meter on a pole.  This is a funny life right now.  And as I was writing that, a woman named Michelle, a refugee from New Orleans has just told me about her life and why God allowed her to go through the things He has.  I told her that one day, if God does bring her out of the situation she is in, she might look back on that valley and realize she learned to pray, read, and get rid of sin.  Okay, I'm loading up my equipment and hitting the road.  Thank you Verizon Wireless card for allowing me to write this blog.  Thank you God for blessing people with brains to create wireless cards.

White Trash Stache Bash

To see all of the pictures from the "White Trash Stache Bash" click here.
There were a few scandalous people and outfits at the party, but all and all, it was way fun.
Jason's stache was quite nasty and mine was Tim Mcgrawish. :) Lee looks like a redneck panama Jack.

Bad Attitude

I woke up at 3:45AM this morning to drive to Charlotte to fly out, well for none other, Houston, TX.  The day started off with a nice ticket that requires my court appearance.  I got on the interstate and as soon as I did, bam, small town trooper gets me.  Anyone know anyone around Laurinburg,NC? 

I get to Charlotte and of course the airline confiscates my rounds of ammo.  Telling me that they are not packed correctly.  I explained to the nice man at the counter that I travel every week for the last 3 months and travel with the same container every week and through about every airport with no problems.  I tried to be as nice as I could, but I really didn't like that.  So now, when I get to Houston, I have to go buy more.  It is so stupid the hoops we have to go through in this country to travel anywhere.  I wish we didn't have to deal with terrorism.  It would be a lot easier if they just made everyone walk naked through all the lines, this would eliminate all the searching.  Okay, maybe not, we would have lots of other problems!

I will take a nap on the plane and wake up a lil happier about flying. 

...

if ever simple song I wrote to you would take your breath away, I'd write it all.....  "Hey There Delilah"....Sandy doesn't like when I listen to it, but I sneak behind his back and listen.  He will be married soon, sniff, sniff. 

Sunday Night Packing Up

Yes this is a picture of Jason Grier from high school. Yes the is also a good picture of God's grace and seeing how far He has brought Jason in the "looks" dept. Praise Him.

Jason is having a party on Friday at 10:00PM in Columbia at 3505 Park Street if anyone is interested. This is no ordinary party. This party is a "White Trash Stache Bash" party and consists of everyone wearing their best redneck gear. Many of you from Dillon will come as your normal self, this is okay, and welcomed. Tavaras will come as our token brother from another mother, but he has been known to rock a camo hat and chew on straws.

Facebookers can find Jason's party here.

Back to Houston for the week :)

Life in a Rental Coche

So another week closes and it has just been long and busy as usual. The days all seem to be always crazy and it's never dull that's for sure. I've learned something about myself over the last few months that I never really knew even though the Bible is very clear about it. We need rest. We need to Sabbath. It's just been go go go for the last couple of months and I just really haven't thought about it. I haven't taken a real vacation since I started working and usually only take a day here and a day there. Americans needs vacations as a break. Christians need a break from their day to day to rest and reflect on life, repent, breathe, relax, eat, and just spend time with the Lord. I just haven't really done that in a long time. I have no real excuse. I heard my pastor at church say, "it's not that we don't want to read the Bible, it's that we don't plan to read the Bible." I just plan my day away on a daily basis because it so hectic. I went from a guy to never plans anything to a guy who has about every minute of the day with a note beside it. I live by email, cell phone, Avis, Continental, and Jason's Deli. Today it all just seem to add up and God just reminded me that I need to rest.

He has blessed me with this ability to just be easy go. I rarely worry about anything and never really have bad days. I just enjoy life and have a good time. This is a gift from the Lord and nothing that I can take credit for. So many things just didn't go right today, they just kept adding up. I had so many places and things to do, then my cell phone of 4 years finally breaks. This was a bit frustrating and God reminded me to start writing stuff down instead of a cell phone being my idol. Well, I pulled over on the interstate after getting into ATL airport and took it apart, put it back together, Praise God it worked for the rest of today. (this is apart of my daily life in my job.)

I've been looking forward to watching "The Bourne Ultimatum" all week. I live for the weekends and seeing my friends and hanging out. I rushed all the way to the movies only to find out it was sold out. I got pissed off. I NEVER, well RARELY get just pissed off. Maybe 1 time every 2 years. I got in the car and just went home. I just laughed when I was driving down the road in my Avis Ford Taurus, (I just sold my Wrangler) on the ride back from the airport. I pulled over on an exit, met a guy, he gave me money, I gave him keys. Well anyway, I just stopped in my brain and being pissed for a moment and acknowledged to the Lord that I knew I was pissed off and I laughed. I said out loud. "I'm pissed off." I have no idea why at this moment. It just seemed like all of the last few months just kinda summed up into one moment. So through all of that paragraph of raps with God on my ride back home, God reminded me that I need to rest and breathe for a little while.

Moday 3AM - drive to ATL
Arrive in Houston.
Work a week.
Friday - Fly Back
Weekend - rest.
Sunday - book ticket for
Monday - fly back to Houston.

I am just learning how to balance everything and get my priorities in line. I need some time in the Avis car this weekend as I go look for a "newer" ride somewhere! I also have some big decisions to make regarding my future and I would appreciate your prayers. I want to make the right moves in this life but ultimately I know God is Sovereign and knows. He has given me opportunities and I want to be a good steward of those.

I really enjoy writing and writing this blog made me feel better. I'm laying here in bed with my nice lil lap pad (that protects my future generations) and believing that heaven is going to be sweet, full of rest, and a table with good food, good friends, and the King of the Universe, forever. Forever.

Traffic

I don't really get mad in traffic and usually just find it funny what some people do.

This guy pulled in front of me really REALLY close this morning and right as he did, I notice a huge dent in the back of his fairly new car, I thought, "he has done this before."

Was my body made for this?

So I woke up at 3AM Monday morning to drive to Atlanta.  Your body, well at least mine is NOT made to wake up that early.  So now I find myself at 4:07 writing a blog because my clock is all mixed up now!

It was a busy and productive day and no bullet holes were found in my body. 

Sad news is that a guy is buying my Jeep on Friday and I have not been in town long enough to find another ride to replace it!  So I will be searching online this week to find a new ride!  Who knows, might have to take another flight up to Nebraska and buy another one, or, maybe not. 

I'm going to sleep again. 

Plain White T's

Generally I like to confess stupid stuff here on my lil blurb on the internet. I mentioned wearing another man's underwear by accident a few weeks ago after some accident at the wash n fold service. Well apparently I didn't throw them away and ended up wearing them again! He is almost my size apparently and likes the white boxer briefs, but I don't know that guy so that is not cool. I mean if it were Sandy, it might be okay.

On another note, I have to confess that I really like this new cheeseball song "hey there Delilah" by Plain White T's. I know I might be hated by some but it is the sweetest coolest song.

Well I am going to bed, I have to get up at 3AM to fly out of Atlanta tomorrow. Looks like it's back to a Snicker's Ice Cream bar to keep me awake :)

Balance is the spice of life

I am all about a good balance in this life. In this video, you can see that Ed is a very caring father and a baby hog as Julie calls him.

The other side of Ed is this one:
I say..."Ed, I know what I will do with all my frequent flyer miles and hotel points, I will save them for my honeymoon someday."

Ed replies, "Justin, those things expire."

I say..."they are good for at least two years."

Ed smiles.

See Ed is a good balanced friend for my life. He is often awful, but I still like him.

Well back on the road this week and I applied to be on a gameshow, it's ABC's new gameshow. I sent a picture in and a lil blurb but the casting was this past Saturday and I had to fly out.

We shall see.

An interesting day

Today was another wide open day in Houston.  My morning started out in the ghetto, again.  I was working in an area that the police enjoy hanging out around.  One stepped up to my car and asked if I knew any martial arts.  I explained to him that I knew how to pull a trigger instead, he laughed.  A word of advice.

Dear Avis Rent a Car,

I have appreciated your service and your appreciation of my business.  Yes I have been renting from you for going on 3 months straight.  Yes, I know you love me.  Oh yeah, I do appreciate you upgrading me to the Saturn Vue this time.  Yes I noticed the big sticker in the car "YOU'VE BEEN UPGRADED."  I do have to say though, Avis, it is not good for you to give me a Saturn Vue to be driving around in the Ghetto.  I usually either drive a Jeep Liberty, Chevy Suburban, etc, but the Vue is just not going to cut it around the drug dealers.  OH and another note, could you please buy car in some other color than WHITE>  I am sticking out like a sore thumb.   Oh, and could I get bullet proof glass next time? Thanks.

Love,
JT

Okay so back to the policeman.  Apparently they had a big bust yesterday because there were undercover guys all around me wearing bullet proof vests and laughing at me for being out there.  I just kept pointing to my side like I was some cowboy in the Wild West.  They laugh. 

Later in the day I met a black woman who was very nice.  We talked for a few minutes about the problems of racism in our country and we talked about what it is going to take to get rid of it, or at least a lot of it.  She was really nice and I was glad to speak with her.  I felt like Jesse Jackson for a moment.  Well except, Okay, not Jesse Jackson. 

Later I met a few cops who shared with me all of the bad things that go on in the neighborhood.  (Keep in mind I have been there for almost 3 months).  1 hour before this, I saw a man hanging from a 2nd story apartment.  I am almost positive he was breaking in.  I had to keep walking, I don't get paid to be policeman Justin. 

The day ended with a whole lot of sushi.  AND THEN, I get back to my Hampton family and they tell me I have won $50 in their drawing.  I was happy :)

Now I am finishing up some work and searching Google News to see if I was on the news today.  There were choppers flying all over my head. 

Back at it tomorrow.

Houston #456

So I was flying out a week ago and this nice young lady started talking to me in line.  She was really nice and was interested in hearing about what I do for a living.  Sometimes it's a little tough to explain but I got it out.  So of course, I asked her "what do you do for a living?"  She replied with, "I work in entertainment."  I smiled and said "oh, okay."  We talked for about 10 more minutes and went on our way, she ran to one terminal, I ran to another.

Was she a stripper?

What exactly does "entertainment" mean?

Creative

I was watching "Dirty Jobs" today and was reminded again how creative God is!  Hippos have to be the funniest animal, well, not really but they are hilarious.  Mike Rowe is my favorite person on television.

Stay out of the bushes

So, since I was a child, if I get within feet of poison ivy, I GET IT. I am very aware of my surroundings usually but somehow managed to get it again! This looks absolutely disgusting which encouraged me to share it even more. It has been making a steady climb up my leg so I had to wash everything to make sure it wasn't on any of my shoes or clothes. GROSS. I want to just take my skin off during the day it itches so bad!

I love having a blog and being able to share these gross images with you all.

To Dine with Papa or Alone

So I don't have my people here in Houston this week and for a few days, I'm solo.  I had to make a crucial decision that is usually easy to make.  Where to eat?  The person deep inside me said to just get Papa J's takeout and eat it in my hotel room.  But, the other side of me said, "nah, JT, you want some good sushi."  So I chose to eat alone and go grab some sushi at http://www.konagrill.com.  I have eaten there a few times and love it.  They have some of the best ribs!

Most people probably wouldn't think this but man I can be self-conscious.  I never really thought I would be that guy, but when you are in a city, away from all your people, and all of your comfort, it gets magnified.  I found there are actually websites devoted to teaching people how to eat alone.  Man, what a crock.  It's easy, just sit there and look like a loser.  JK.  I don't just sit there.  I try to look like I'm normal and try to at least interject somewhere that I do have friends but I am on business. 

I ended up convincing my waitress to go on a cruise.  No, not with me, with her husband.  I made it a short dinner and early night after downing my crab crunch roll and something else????

So it's an early night and work starts VERY early tomorrow.  The good news is I spent a few hours in the ghetto today and did not get shot, the blessings keep coming :)

Booked

Back in Houston.  Nothing like ending a nice day of work with a cruise BOOKED.  Yes we are booked and Mexico bound September 10th-15th if anyone is interested in going with us :)

I found an awesome deal!  You can't be $367 for a 5 day cruise! 

:)

A fun weekend with my friends

So this was a fun week and a fun weekend of hanging out. It's amazing how much you miss your friends when you are gone for a while. I enjoyed catching up with everyone and just being stupid as usual. We went to a Greenville baseball game. Pretty fun and the stadium is super nice.

Tonight we spent making our own pizzas. I actually just wanted to grill out but I am glad we did the pizza thing, they were so good.

I head out for Charlotte tomorrow and then fly out to Houston again on Monday for another week of work. Crazy life begins again!

We are booking a cruise for September 10th-15th if anyone is interested. I found an awesome cruise for $350!!! I am super excited and have not taken a full week's vacation since I started working. This will be crunk. "Crunk" has been redefined by me as to entail, dancing, eating, eating, and hanging out all day long doing nothing :).

Hangout and Pizza Night

A good week with family :)

My family goes to Cherokee, NC every year for a really relaxing week of camping. This year was the same, very relaxing and a good time to chill out with my family and enjoy God's creation.

My parents had typical Tanner luck on the way back when their car broke down :(

Cherokee 2007

It strikes again

I officially have poison ivy again!  It is all over my legs and I do believe it could have possibly crept into other regions.

More news later, once I find out.

:) 

In heaven one day, I need to ask God about poison ivy and gnats.  And gnomes. 

This shout-out goes to my friend Rachel

You know it's really neat when you have friends that just encourage you by being who they are.  I had dinner tonight with my friend Rachel who happens to have a new boyfriend, go Rachel West.  She is a really neat girl and just being around her encourages me to be a stronger person.  I love how we can be encouraged. 

 

Well this week is about done and I might be taking a few days off finally after a long time of NOT.  It will be neat to just chill out for a few days and relax.  It's tough to slow down, and chill after you have been going full speed for so long.  I think I will be okay :)

 

JT

Back Home, woo hoo

So after a few delayed flights and then one LONG straight RUN across the airport in Houston, I found myself missing my flight by approximately 30 seconds. It's amazing that a door can close so fast in such a short amount of time and translate into a LOT of extra time for me and trouble. All and all, I flew into Columbia airport instead and drove a rental to Greenville and arrived home at 5:30 AM. I fought sleep for 5 minutes just so I could enjoy how nice my bed feels!

These pictures are with Ashley and Josh Jones and their "New one."

The Tour

So I am almost home. After finishing a lot, and I mean A LOT of work in Houston, I will be heading home soon. I finished work on Friday and decided to head up to see some friends of mine near Dallas in Plano,TX. This was a few hour drive and was well worth it. It's fun to be around old friends and catch up, even if they are married :) I hung out with Ashley and Josh Jones, formerly Ashley Anderson. I went to The Village Church tonight with another one of our college friends. This was a pretty cool church and the worship was really really good. The worship leader shared his testimony and it was also quite amazing. It reminded me that no matter what we have done, we are all on the same playing field with Jesus. It doesn't matter if you have murdered someone or lusted after someone, you need Jesus the same. There is no "bad" or "badder." You are either with Jesus or without Him. Great church.

I went out to eat with a large amount of women. This was quite funny. I was wearing a pink shirt and I am sure that many at this place probably just assumed I was the gay friend who did all of their hair and nails. I did learn from all of the older ladies that cellulite forms around the age of 45 and if you don't go to bed early, the bags under your eyes form quicker. I would be in trouble if I were a woman, whew.

The good news is that I managed to wear my own underwear today and for the past few days. Although, I did somehow manage to buy size 42 boxers. In case you aren't in the "know", I wear around 32-34 and these are just a tad big. I will be visiting you back Old Navy. I fly back tomorrow afternoon and I am excited to be in my own bed for at least one week before flying back out again.

I am finally settling down in my life and this feels good. I say settling down and I'm gone more than I am at home. I just mean that I am committing myself and being available here and there. This is a good step for me and I have been successful so far. It's actually getting easier.

I am again reminded that I am not a trailblazer. I have so many ideas but struggle to push them into being. I need someone who can do the implementing and let me run alongside. There are so many projects I have in my mind.

Off to bed in Ashely and Josh's place, after enjoying some chocolate covered strawberries :)

JT OUT.

Steps of the Day

<< My hotel room most nights.

#1 Wake up early this morning and visit, guess, guess, Lakewood Church with Joel Osteen. 

#2 Yes you read #1 right, I had to ask myself twice before I decided to go.

#3 Go visit Lakewood church.  I have this huge car at out here.  It's a 2007 Suburban and much like driving a bus.  I first tried to park in Handi-cap, which I didn't mean to do, but turned around and hit the garage.  They have a huge covered place to park cars so you don't have to chill in the rain.

#4  Visited by a large number of people and made to feel very welcome.  We took a shuttle over to the church that holds 16k people.  We must have stuck out like a sore thumb because everyone knew we were visitors.  Maybe it was my flip-flops.  Maybe they read my blog, hehe. 

#5  My friend and I are guided by a woman named Willie Mae to the visitor section.  We joked on the way down to the visitor section, "We are going to sit front row!"  Well we were close, we actually were taken down to the front row but then realized there was only 1 seat and we needed two.  We were then taken to the 3rd row.  Had we sat on the 2nd row, which was also an option, we would have been sitting directly behind Joel. 

#6  There music was pretty exciting I must say.  Everyone was rocking out and having a good time. 

#7  Joel speaks about 5 minutes.

#8  More music, Joel leaves.

#9  Victoria, his wife, speaks for about 10 minutes.

#10 Music,

#11 Joel comes back in to speak for a little while.  His message wasn't that bad.  He shared a few stories from the Bible and mainly talked about how God will finish what He starts in your life.  I agree with this, but a lot of his focus was on the success of each of us in many worldy things.  God wants us to be successful, but it would be nice if the church didn't focus on that so much.  Jesus wasn't mentioned in the majority of the service.  I was surprised that He was mentioned in the gospel presentation and Joel did use the word "sin."  He said if you stand up and receive Christ today, your sins will be left behind.  His gospel presentation was more than I thought he would do.  After the King interview and he mentioned that they didn't talk about "sin" much, I wondered. 

#12  My friend really wanted to meet Joel.  We are working 7 days a week out here and I told him that we had to get back to the hotel to gear up for work.  So I agreed to walk around the building to walk by the "meet n greet."  The funniest thing happened.  Just as we were talking about how funny it would be to meet him, bam, we walk right into him.  We both say hi :)  Pretty funny day.

All and all.  The verdict is still out on Joel.   Much of his preaching is focused on what God will bring to your life. Most of it is focused on this "good life" that Jesus didn't really mean.  If we define "good" as roaming with no house, never knowing where you will sleep, and finding food here and there.  This can be a good definition of "good."  The abundant life that Jesus speaks comes in many things.  It might mean that we can have joy in death, because we know Jesus conquered death.  It might we can have joy when life gets us down, because we know this life is temporary.  Our life should not depend on how big our car or bank account is.  It should hinge on Jesus and how many people we introduce him to and the life we live for Him while we can.  The abundant life seems to exist by letting Jesus live in us so we can live out for Him. 

I will say that many people are excited about Lakewood and they seem to have a very well rounded ministry that reaches many parts of Houston and the world.  I just wish his teaching had more meat to it. 

It is 3:00 and I just finished doing my expense reports for the past month.  I will wake up in about 3 more hours and do it all over again.  Please pray for me, I have become a work-a-holic.  This is a season, this is a season :)

Oh and a few more things

#13 I got upgraded to have a jacuzzi in my room so I took a bath for the first time in 7 years I do believe.  This was a waste of time.  I sat in there for 5 minutes and realized that you sit in dirty water and if you aren't married, it's just not any fun.  Ahhh c'mon, everyone knows married people play checkers in there.  Right Chris Moody?  Poor Lod. 

#14  I had sushi tonight

#15 Picked up co-worker / friend from airport.

#16  Finished expense reports at 2:30AM

This is why I love my Friends

From miscellaneous

I am sorry Chris and Lod for what Greezy and I did to Cocky. We just did not feel comfortable around him until we did something mean to him. Loved the wedding though :)

Highlight of the last few days

Well, you know you have working a lot when one of your highlights is the fact that you found a "La Washateria" that will wash, dry, and fold your clothes very cheaply.  This was quite lovely to dump off a pile of clothes and have someone else do them for you.  Maybe that's why guys get married.  Okay, I'm kidding, do not send me hate mail.  I don't mind doing laundry, or dishes, but DO NOT LIKE FOLDING clothes.  Enough about that story.  I tell you all that to basically say that after I got my nicely folded laundry back and in my room, it's only about 12AM that I am realizing the boxers I currently have on, well they aren't mine.  I noticed when I put them on that they felt a little snug.  This is not uncommon lately as I've gained a few pounds I feel like.  Well as I'm sitting here now finishing up some emails, I am quite sure that I am wearing another man's drawls.  Now I feel strange.

Living on the Edge

Things familiar. Why is it that we like familiar things so much? I've been in a new place now for going on two months and I already have my familiar route. Walking through the airport, the friendly ladies at Avis now know me and we chat about how great Itunes is. The front desk at Hampton Suites are my new family and make me feel good by saying "welcome back Mr. Tanner." (They also provided us with new beds :) )

The girl at Schlotsky's always smiles and I tell her she works too much.

The friendly hostess at PF Chang's, well we are on nick-name basis now and I call her "lefty" after eating there two nights this week. You can't beat the food/price comparison, so good!

The Jewish man at the local ghetto convenience store now knows my buying habits and one day I didn't buy water, he says.."no water today." And I remember and then go buy some. The next day he looked like he was about to die and told me "I'm very, very sick." I hope he is okay.

Either way, it's neat how quickly we can get in a pattern in our life. We almost fight our way to make it that way.

I've been able to drive a lot. Please notice how I like to live on the edge in this picture :)

This week I'm pushing a Chevy Suburban which is convenient because I'm working in the suburbs. (Please, why did I say that.) Anway, I like it, it makes a nice noise when you back up and if you are about to hit something, it lights up on the back and makes a lot of noise. (I had to test the system). It also plays the rap music very well.

The astros are my new favorite team, if you have a t-shirt, you are a fan.

Interesting Work

Yes that is a crack spoon with lighter accessory. Click Linky for more pictures.

It begins again

Well, it's that time again for me to hit the road for another 3 weeks. Well, since it's been so long since I was out there. The good news is, I won't be working in the yucky area for the most part and will be working in the million dollar home section. Nice :)

I guess it's a good thing I'm not married right now. This would be pretty tough to leave all the time if I had a wife and kids at home. I don't know how people do it. It's tough enough leaving my roomies and friends :)

Goal for the week:

Workout. Eat. Work. Work. Workout. Eat again.

Travels Travels Travels

There are perks to being on the road a lot. Free personal hotel stays, free airline miles so I can take trips that I never have time to take, and lots of free food.

The bad thing about it is...you are on the road making money and you never have time to spend any of it. For going on 4 years, I have carried the same cell phone. It is time for a new one and I will be rewarding myself this way.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

So another HOT HOT HOT day, I also learned today that the neighborhood I worked in today generally has a stray bullet hit it about every other day, so the odds are not in our favor as we are there the rest of the week.

Always remember to just nod your head and say hi to the people high on crack and smoking weed. This helps you achieve maximum life.

I come home on Friday for 2 days then back out for almost an entire MONTH. Will someone come visit me?

Still Alive

It is not 1:22AM and I am calling it a day.  I have officially worked 16 hours today, is that normal?  Man I am straight up DEAD!  I took my shirt off right before I hopped in the shower and it looked like I still had it on.  I have the biggest farmer's tan you will ever see.  I am Tanner than you :)

So the good news is that I did not get shot today.  I did see many police cars and a few news helicopters flying over, most likely looking for murderers, yes killers.  I was only cursed at like 2 times this week.

People here smoke weed like cigarettes and are not ashamed of it.

Some kids also tried to steal my laptop and one was contemplating on throwing it in the pool. 

To sleep I go.

Cops

So if you happen to watch "Cops" and see Houston on the screen, look and see if you see me carrying about a few laptops running from people. The good news is, I made it through a long week and weekend without getting shot. Things I learned from the week:

1. Every 4th Hampton towel is a soft one. Not quite as the soft ones my mommy gave me.
2. I learned at least one new gang sign this week. I can teach you, but do it secretly.
3. Driving a new white Chevy Uplander though the ghetto is not the best way to lay low.
4. Used condoms are found in some interesting places in Houston.
5. I learned that the local drug dealer is much like an icecream man, he puts a speaker on the outside of his car to let everyone know he is coming through. (I am not kidding.)
6. Drug dealers are easy to spot. Look for a brand new car in the ghetto, that's your guy.
7. I have become a work-o-holic.
8. I have eaten at every restaurant in Houston.
9. You can watch a baseball game LIVE in the air-conditioning. Yes, the Minute Maid Stadium is awesome. I got a few hour break today and caught and Astros game!
10. I love my friends and miss them. I even might break my Dillon strike and go visit my family :)

11. The next person who asks what I am doing out here, I'm going to tell them that I am coordinating their flux capacitor to 14

Jiggawatts!

. :)

nice.....

After a long day and losing about 5lbs, it's nice to get out the shower and find that there is nothing like a nice q-tip right in the ear :)  Nice and clean, ready for sushi :)

The week begins...

So back in Houston and just got into my hotel.  It's fun to travel to same place over and over, you start to form a routine and people smile at you and know you when you walk in.  The lady that works the counter at the Hampton knows that I like to watch Lost so when I came back from dinner last week, she had the tv in the lobby already piping in Lost.  I came in to Avis today and the girl that always works there, well, she was still working there.  The Schlotsky's I like to eat at in the Houston airport, well she is always working when I get my Ham and cheese w/ salt and vinegar chips.  I've realized that it is not so fun sometimes to be in places where you don't know anybody and everyone is a stranger.  I look at my friends differently when I get back home after each trip, I actually miss them :)

So this is the week that I will be in the worst area of Houston.  I was told that there are more than 20 gangs in the hood I will be working in.  This is the reason that along with the 8laptops we packed up for the trip, I also pack something else to go along my side.  Yes, this is necessary.  I like my job but I will not die without putting up a fight! 

Hopefully I will be alive to write more blogs :) 

Oh yeah, another thing.  I really think there is something about my face that just attracts people that need money.  What in the world.  I love helping people but lately, in the same stinkin hotel parking lot, I get approached by people who either need food, gas, or money.  I've become very blunt with these people and actually kinda enjoy being like that.  Now of course I have a gentle spirit, but I am very clear..."dude you smell like alcohol, are you telling me that you have not had a drink"......"yes, I quit many years ago..." It's tough sometimes to discern who is telling the truth and who is lying through their teeth.  I'm getting better at it though!

Another Week on the Road with God

So we just finished up a nice Memorial Day party that entailed a cookout and then a miniature dance party.  I've been gone the past few weeks and away from all of my friends, it's so nice to come home and be around people again.  I just love people.  There are personality types that like to be at home and not go out much and don't really like being around people, this blows my mind and I cannot even comprehend it.  I do like my alone time and appreciate a nice long ride in the car with no noise, but I always looks forward to times spent with friends.

Now on to character flaws and things I want to work on.  The past few weeks, we have literally worked some 85 hour weeks.  I lost 5lbs last week and I ate like a hog, that should tell you something.  I'm below 190 and I haven't been there in a while.  Well except the time I got sick when I moved into Canterbury and only ate crackers and water, but later returned to the downstairs to film "Herbert Running like Lance Armstrong." Tangent, sorry.  So back to a character flaw.  We have been working like crazy and I realized that I don't trust people.  I tend to try and take on a lot of work instead of trusting that others will take care of it.  I do this in my personal life as well.  I'd rather just do things, that way I know they get done and don't need to depend on anyone.  I know this is a problem.  It would make life a lot easier to trust people with tasks and allow them to help me.  I am going to try. 

While I am at it, I can share another.  I need prayer.  I really struggle on the road to read my Bible.  Being tired is not an excuse but it is what I use and I think my brain is so many other places that I just lose focus.  If the Lord brings this to mind, please pray for me that I will find strength when my body tells me to just go to sleep.  I can see how it is easy to get side-tracked when life gets busy.  This saying one time was BUSY - buried under satans yoke.  Kinda cheesy, but can be very true if you let it control how you focus your relationship with the Lord.  I've struggled the past few months. 

This was not supposed to be negative blog, but it sounds like it.  I guess I'm just learning that I can't do everything on my own and I need people to help me.  On another note, a friend of mine went on a mission trip to South Africa.  She sent me a support letter and like I always do, it got stuck in a pile of mail and I forgot about it.  When I finally remembered it, she already had the support she needed.  I happened to be in Houston so I just sent the money I had with me, which happened to be $60.  It was a small amount and after hearing her story, I wish I would have had more. 

She told me about a man she met at the beginning of the week.  He was working at a mill but had decided to help them translate for the week.  He wasn't being paid, he just happen to be a believer and wanted to help.  Long story short, by the end of the week, she had gotten to know him pretty well and he seemed like a really awesome guy.  He mentioned that he wanted to go to Bible school but did not have enough money to go.  At the end of the week, she told the pastor of the church that she wanted to help this man with his bible school.  It turns out that the money he needed was pretty much the money that she had.  Honestly this made me cry to think that such a small amount of money could mean so much to someone.  #1 I wish I would have sent a lot more.  #2 It is very humbling to see what the Lord can do with our small gifts.  #3  She told him my name and he said he was going to pray for me because she told him that I wanted to go to Bible school someday also. 

It's easy to think sometimes that the small things we do in this life don't mean much, but they do and the Lord can use any gift.  I really like stories.  I want to be an old grandpa someday that can sit around a campfire and tell all the kids crazy stories.

Welp, back to the office tomorrow for the first time in WHILE!  Then off to Houston for 1.5 weeks.

I might buy these

So I am totally against tighty whities as they are called. In my job, I am constantly surrounded by radio signals and equipment that is transmitting all the time. To top it off, I spend a majority of my day talking on the cell phone. Often I place the cell phone between my legs just to place it somewhere so it won't fall. Often I look down and realize that this is probably not good for future generations of Tanners and will move the cell phone and put it in the console.

I do have to admit that the above undies are quite interesting to a guy who is trying to think about his future generation :)

Another long long day of work, but I did have a great dinner tonight at Fogo de Chao. It's a Brasilian Steakhouse, MAN SO GOOD.

Chris Moody is married

Chris and the "Lod" are married.  It was a great wedding and very personal.  I love weddings that are personal and the things said are from the heart and maybe a tear or two is shed. 

Top 3 or 4 reasons Lottie is for Chris:

1.  She got him out of his small "bachelor pad"
2.  He came off a K$$$$$ to buy a phat ring.
3.  He bought a house
4.  She's awesome and he is out of his league :)

They are playing checkers right now, by the way.  (Checkers is Christian for "doing it.")  I always wonder why the church is so quiet on talking about sex, it was God's idea people.  For married people to do it.  We should get comfortable saying it. 

On another note, for some reason I thought it would be okay to leave Columbia at 1:00AM and drive back to Pendleton, whew, the decision we make.  Thank you jack-in-the-box for staying open late and serving me a diet coke and a croissant at about 4AM :)

Thank you continental.com for your website allowing me to try and book a flight on Sunday to leave Sunday. 

Thank you friends who will pray for me, that despite being busier than I have ever been in my life, I will find time to read the Word and pray.

Thank you Simmons for making the Beauty Rest mattress that I am about to crash in.

Thank you fan people for making the fan that will make that special noise that puts me to sleep. 

Thank you Layla for trying to lick my feet while I type this blog.

Thank you Layla for the fart you obviously just lit because now my room smells funny.

Thank you friends for being my friends.

Need Sleep!!!!

So far today, here are a few stories from the Houston area.  I was working in the ghetto today and this is just some of the things I've heard / seen.

1.  A woman explaining (screaming) at another woman that it was okay for her to sell herself because "all my bills are paid."
2.  A kid that could barely walk screamed at and cursed at so bad that it would make a sailor cringe.
3.  A woman propositioned "something" in exchange that her power wouldn't be turned off. 
4.  A car was repossessed in a matter of 10 minutes.
5.  Many people cursed at / around.

It was quite an experience working in one of the worst areas I've ever been.  It has been 4-5 straight nights of 12AM to 3AM and I am SLEEPY!  These are the days you wish you were paid by the hour :)

Chris Moody gets hitched in a day! 

I'll tell you what I like...

I like for my hotel room to be about 67 degrees...this is about the temp that forces u to jump into the king size bed like it's a swimming pool in the middle of the summer.  I just love it.

I will tell you now what I do not like.  I do not like when people get picked on.  Not just in a friendly way, but in a really mean way in which someone is trying to belittle another person.  At a Japanese sushi place tonight, a guy was complaining about his food at the table beside us.  I seriously am a patient person but I about lost it and told this man that he should leave.  He was making fun of the ladies in the store and trying to talk like them, just being an idiot.  Lord forgive me, I really wanted to punch this guy and had already sized him up to see if he could beat me up.  I think I could have taken him.  I just don't understand why people treat people so badly.  There is no way they lay down at night and feel good about themselves.  We made sure to tell the waitress that we thought she was great and I also added that I wanted to take my chopsticks and stab in his , oh wait, I shouldn't be thinking all this.  Forgive me Jesus.  Anyway :)  Either way, man I love sushi.

Oh yeah, don't think you can get away with out anyone knowing......see link.

Around and Around

Leave on Monday, Fly to Houston, do a days worth of work, fly back on Wednesday.

Leave again for Houston on Sunday, worked my butt off, well not really it's all still there, but you get the point.  It is HOT here!  I don't think I've sweat this much in a long time!

Fly back on Friday to hit the Chris and Lod super shin dig that is going down.

This is prophecy, Chris moody is going to get married.  Sinners, get your life straight and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, He's coming! 

Back to worky, and eaty, and sleepy.  I like all of these, eating the most :).....

My Friend Ed

I secretly think Ed wants me to stay single. About daily, I get messages much like this one :)

Prayer

A co-worker / friend of mine at work just lost his son in a car accident.  His son was killed and a friend of his, and two others were badly injured.  It is so tough sometimes to comprehend death but I do comprehend a God who says He can comfort during times of hurt.  I know you don't know these people but please pray for Dan, Lorraine, and their daughter Jenny as they deal with losing their son/brother. 

Every time I go to a funeral, it humbles me and makes my brain spin and think about how fragile we really are in this life.  It puts Jesus' words in perspective for me and to know that Jesus has conquered death.  We don't have to fear death when we know Jesus and what He has done.  Regardless of whether you are a believer or not a believer, the pain is still the same. 

How many people do YOU need to have conversations with?  Mom? Dad? Brother? Friend? Neighbor?  I can think of a few I need to have.  It seems like talking about the Bible, reading the Bible, nothing comes to life until we actually do something that it says.  I like the Bible described like a two edged sword, sharp and piercing on one side and healing on the other side. 

I am going to bed, for some reason I thought it was okay to stay up until 12 AM when I know I have to wake up at 3:30 AM to catch a 6AM.  :)

Call from Ed

Ed called me today and translated Mary Addison thoughts and mumblings....

Mary Addison: "Uncle Justin will you allow me to be your flower girl?"

Me: "If you don't mind doing it when you are 15."

Ed thought this was really funny and the picture below is the reason I am worried about Ed being a father. I'm wondering when she will be driving tractors, wakeboardings, or cutting the grass.

Picture further illustrates my point: