Archive for the ‘Living’ Category

« Older Entries

Birthdays, Brasil, and Beating the Odds

Friday, June 25th, 2010

So, you may think that I’m going to talk about the World Cup and how awesome it is and all that. But, besides a quick ‘GO BRASIL!!!!!’, that’s about all you’ll here from me on that issue.

A while back Jess and I began sponsoring a child from Brasil with Compassion International. It’s moved our hearts in ways that we hadn’t imagined it would.

Today, though, while the world is watching Brasil try and win their World Cup match, Guilherme is celebrating his 5th Birthday. Today, while the world is watching Brasil kick a ball around a field, Guilherme is trying to beat the odds. In a small way, we’re trying to help Guilherme beat those odds. We want to see him grow up to serve God and make his way out of poverty.

Compassion is helping children all over the world beat those odds today and you can help too! Use the link below to head over to Compassion’s site and sponsor a child and help to change their life forever.

61 Years

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

This past year in November, just after his 88th birthday, my grandfather passed away. He was a great man and I still miss him quite a bit.

I’m sure, though, that as much as I miss him, my grandmother misses him more. Today’s a very special day, though. 61 Years ago today my grandparents were married. We were lucky enough to be here for their 60th last year. This is an example I plan to emulate, God willing.

Thanks Grandma and Grandfather…

Jesus???

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

I may have posted these videos before, but, can’t remember. Regardless, they’re hilarious. Just for clarification, they’re not portraying Jesus as he was, they’re kind of making fun of perceptions of Jesus. Enjoy…

We’ll miss you Tyler

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Read my previous entry on Tyler…

I’m currently feeling sick as I write this. I just found out that Tyler passed away this past weekend. Simply put, he was an amazing guy. He encouraged everyone he met and his optimism was nothing short of contagious. He battled cancer not once, not twice, but three times and he fought like no one I’ve ever met. I’m grieved and saddened by the worlds great loss. Here’s what he had posted on his facebook page…

“Living with cancer has made me more religious and in touch with God. Hopefully everyone can do the same, minus the cancer part!”

Tyler, you were amazing and we miss you terribly!

Really Good Pizza

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

I’m kind of a pizza connoisseur of sorts, as in, I really love pizza (living in NYC hasn’t tempered this craving either, seriously good pizza here). So, last night I made pizza. I’d much prefer making it at home than buying it from somewhere. A bit more expensive, but much more rewarding and often times, better. Anyway, I thought I’d post the recipe and everything ’cause it was stinkin’ good!

My wife picked up some whole wheat dough (no, I didn’t make the dough myself…) at Trader Joes. It was pretty good, but, I’m sure you can find some good pre-made dough around. I don’t recommend getting the already rolled out stuff, get the stuff you have to roll out yourself.

I got the sauce recipe here, but, it’s also listed as follows…

Equipment
small sauce pan
sharp knife

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2/3 cup water
2 tablespoons red wine
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
salt
pepper

Preparation

1. Prep all the ingredients first and have them sitting ready to go. The recipe cooks fast, so this step is important.
2. In a medium saucepan, sauté garlic in oil until golden. Watch it closely as the garlic can go from golden to burned in a nanosecond.
3. Add tomato paste, water, wine, sugar, oregano, basil, and cheese.
4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
5. Simmer for 10 minutes over medium low heat. Remove from heat and spread over pizza prepared pizza dough.

Notes

Covers two medium pizzas or one large pizza.

This sauce recipe is HIGHLY recommended. HIGHLY. It’s really good! I followed the recipe pretty exactly. I made a larger pizza, so, it covered my one large pizza with just a bit left over.

Before I made the sauce, though, I shaped the dough (I didn’t roll it because Alton Brown says not to and he’s already right) and then I very lightly ‘dusted’ the sauce with finely grated parmesan. Then I made the sauce and spread it over the pizza. Next I put a thin layer of mozzarella and then the toppings.

You can use whatever toppings you desire, but, in case you’re wondering, here’s the toppings I used:

green pepper, white onion, spinach, mushroom, pepperoni, and (only on half of it because my wife wanted it and I don’t like them) black olives.

Then I layered again with mozzarella and finished it off with another dusting of parmesan. Here it is with all the toppings right before the last layer of mozzarella…

It only took a few minutes to cook which was good because I was starving at this point. And here it is in all it’s pizza glory…

There you have it. Enjoy….

Being Found

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

As Christians we often talk about our days when we were ‘lost’ or talk about the people we know that are ‘lost’. Then, we or they get ‘saved’ and we talk about the days gone by when we were ‘lost’. We talk about how we found God and how we found Jesus and how God came into our lives, but, I wonder if many of us (Christians) have ever been found.

Personally, I love the scriptures about God pursuing us and searching for us. It says something about God that is vital to our existence. As much as we should be pursuing Him, he’s actually pursuing us. That blows my mind.

After Adam and Even ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil God came looking for them. They were suddenly lost in who they were, but God came searching and then God found them. He found them, though, after he called out to them. They were hiding and God was finding.

I feel like being found is so much harder than finding. When we find God it’s often on our terms. We repent of what we want to and thank God for saving us from our sins and then we tell God what we’re going to do tomorrow and ask Him to bless it. Being found has much different implications. When we’re found we expose ourselves to God in all of our faults and failures. That’s scary. Even Adam said that it was scary, “And he said, I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid…’ It takes us out of the terms and puts our fate squarely in God’s hands. Now, He’s in control of tomorrow, not us. We can find God all we want, but, it’s not until we’re found that we can truly begin walking as God wanted us to.

Sometimes I wonder if it’s not so much that we were/are lost as much as just hiding. Then God’s presence enters the garden and we say that we found Him. Then we have to take a step of faith, though, and actually be found.

In case you missed it…

Friday, February 19th, 2010

… you can go and watch Shaun White’s gold medal runs (both of them) in the half-pipe here.

If you did miss it, do yourself a favor and go watch it… NOW! It’s some serious ridiculousness…

Student Debt

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

I’ve been seeing this around a lot of posts lately, but, I’m one of those people that would’ve loved some financial education upon entering college, so, I’m posting it as well. Jess and I have been paying off debt as much as we can since we got married and have been blessed to pay off more than we should’ve been able to. But, the fact remains, that a lot of our debt could’ve been avoided with a little bit of knowledge (especially mine). Personally, I can’t wait to have kids and raise them into a proper understanding of debt and how they can live in victory over their finances. I could rant for a while on this, but, just watch the video…

iPad vs. iOpinion

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

So, I’ve been an apple fanboy for a while. I was one of those that put apple’s infallibility right up there with God and Jesus. My personal stock in apple has been dwindling for a while now and the iPad sent it crashing into a personal apple great depression. Now that I’ve had a little time to reflect on my disappointment I offer my oh so important opinions below. It may not be for the reasons you think…

Yes, I was disappointed with the product, the hype didn’t match the product, which, is honestly different for apple. Usually, they either go beyond the hype or in such a different direction that the hype didn’t matter. I agree, though, that if the hype hadn’t been there apple may not be taking the flack they’re taking now. But, alas, the hype was there and the iPad (which hasn’t even gone on sale yet) has been dismissed by a lot of popular tech blogs and news agencies as a disappointment at best. That’s the talk of the town right now. I have other beef with apple…

This whole thing, in my opinion, exposes a different problem with apple that’s been bothering me for a bit. When the iPod came out, apple was excited, but, there focus was still on computing. There computers (laptops, desktops, etc…) continued to get most of their attention. Then came the iPhone. Ever since the iPhone came out it seemed that apple’s focus became the iPhone. Computing was still important, but, what they talk about and hype the most is their phone. There computing technology suffered as they’ve produced laptops that are overheating and iMacs that showed up DOA. That just doesn’t seem like the apple I used to appreciate.

Then comes the iPad which signifies a whole new direction with apple and Jobs vision. A friend of mine on facebook said it best so I’ll quote him here. “…the true problem is that it’s the first device that signals computer usage has become consumption-oriented instead of production-oriented. You can’t CREATE anything with the iPad. Apple has always been about enhancing creativity, and they really missed the ball on the iPad. There’s no creativity involved in consuming the internet.” (by Dave Harris)

That’s the deal breaker for me, that’s what bothers me so much about this product. Stevie J said that this was “Our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device…” While that statement may be argued about in itself, it doesn’t change the fact that they put their most advanced stuff into a device that doesn’t really do much. I would’ve MUCH rather them put the energy and innovation into an even better laptop.

This is only my opinion and I know lots of people are really excited about this product. Sound off below and let me hear your thoughts…

Serious Prayer Request

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Update #2 (Good News!): I heard from Tyler again earlier this evening. It turns out that things aren’t as bleak as they seemed earlier. It turns out that the doctors do not want to do surgery because Tyler has had too many surgery’s in recent years. Another surgery right now could do immediate and irreparable damage. So, they’ve decided to wait and try chemo/radiation first and see if they can get the tumors to shrink or go away or at the very least stop growing. If it doesn’t stop growing then they’ll have to reassess and probably do a very risky surgery. As for now though, that is very good news. Please continue to keep Tyler and his family in your prayers!!! Let’s see God do something amazing here!

Update:Just heard from Tyler with bad news. There will be no surgery. The doctors just informed him that they can’t operate on the tumors and gave him 5 months to live. Please please please continue to pray. I believe that God can do something amazing here!!! Please keep him and his family in your prayers!!!

In the fall of 2008 I met Tyler at Georgia Tech. He was finishing up chemo from a very rare form of cancer and was about a year behind everyone else from his high school class because of his cancer and treatment. In January of 2009 he was supposed to come over for the National Championship game but no one could get ahold of him. We received a call from his dad that he had almost died the night before when a tumor in his brain caused an aneurism. He barely made it the hospital in time and they performed emergency surgery to save his life. He had to withdraw from GT for the semester so that he could rehab. Tyler’s a fighter if I’ve ever known one.

This past week Tyler sent a message that he was having pain in his head again and that he had a bad feeling about it. He was going in for an MRI and would let us know. After the MRI we learned that he has another tumor in his brain that they’ll operating on today at 11am. From what I’ve understood, this is a much more serious issue than before and the doctors have let them know that.

In addition, the past few January’s (between the 1st and 10th specifically) have been downright terrible for him. In 08 he began chemo for his first bought with cancer and then on the 7th of last year received his second blow. Obviously this last one came this past week as well.

Please pray with us today for Tyler. Pray for his complete healing and that when they do the pre-op MRI that they’ll find that God has completely healed him! There was a girl in our church here in NYC last year who was given just a few months to live and was prayed for and was healed. I believe that God can heal Tyler! Let’s pray for that!!! I’ll post an update when I hear something later.

Please pass this along as well and lets get a lot of people praying for Tyler this morning. And feel free to leave a comment here with a message for Tyler if you want and I will pass it along. Thanks everyone…

« Older Entries