Sometimes as I get in or out of the shower I glance at the mirror above the sink. Sometimes (usually) what I see in the mirror frustrates me. I see a body that is not in the shape it should be. I’ve been in decent shape before. I’m not a fat slob or anything, but I can tell I’ve let myself go a little. And the frustration comes from seeing the potential that lies within my body. I knowthat I can shape up, look better, feel better, etc. I just have to put forth the effort and disciple to do it. I have to make time for a little running/weight lifting each day. I have to put down the empty calories, and pick up the more nutritious food. It can be done, and fairly easily if I’ll just put forth the effort and discipline.

But I’m also struck by how similar my spiritual health/physique is to my physical health/physique. I’ve had times when I’ve been pretty good there, but I feel I’ve let my self “go” in this area just as I have physically. I’m a little soft in that area. But again, if I’ll just put forth a little effort and use discipline, I know I can be much healthier spiritually. And what about the nutrition? I need to sink my teeth into the meat of the Word more and more. Books by Christian authors about God are good and all. But they’re no substitute for The Word.

So I’m about to embark upon a journey to get healthier, both spiritually and physically. Please pray that I can have the discipline.

I was looking through some of my stats for the my new blog. You know, being new and all I was wondering if anyone besides little ole me was actually looking at it more than once. I saw that my page had turned up in a few search results for some really random items. One of those being I was freaking number 7 on the Google search results for “saddam wood chipper” for a post I made here just a few days ago. Funny stuff.

A friend emailed me this link to a crazy story. Basically the Securities and Exchange Commission have 44 year old Andrew Carlssin in jail for insider trading. He was able to turn $800 in to a whopping $350 million! The SEC just knew he had some well placed sources in different companies. But of course, like every inside trader, he had a very good story…. Oh boy did he.

He claims he’s a time traveler from 200 years in the future and that in “his time” it is common knowledger that our current era experienced one of the worst stock market crashes in history. So he came back, armed with market data, and played it up big.

Anyway, read the whold story by way of the link, but the last words are kinda striking:
Officials are quite confident the “time-traveler’s” claims are bogus. Yet the SEC source admits, “No one can find any record of any Andrew Carlssin existing anywhere before December 2002.”

This story also reminded me of one of Rachel’s entries in her journal. Time travel and it’s overlay and paradoxes can get my mind almost as twisted up as can trying to figure out how God got here the first place and how He exists outside of time.

I was able to go over to Camp Lake Stephens for a little bit yesterday (check out the link…the website was just redesigned) and see how things are going in preparation for the summer. It seems that they’ve hired most of the summer staff and are putting a facelift on a few items as well.

Camp Lake Stephens is where I spent 3 summers of my college years and ended up meeting a girl who became my wife. I didn’t meet Christ there, but grew much closer to Him as a result of my CLS experience. And I made some great friends through my time there too.

If you’re looking for a quality place to for a kid to spend a week of their summer in a Christian environment, learning about Him and having a blast all at the same time, check out the website, email the camp if you have any questions, or even ask me.

C’mon, now. Get real. I heard about the Freedom Fries a week or so ago. But I just read this story where President Bush had Freedom Toast for breakfast on Air Force One. Is anyone around here really thinking the French give a heck about what we call our fries or toast whatever else? Is all of America supposed to be Playa Haters now when it comes to the France and all things French?

When I was in college, I would play the Long Distance Game where I’d switch to MCI from AT&T, then AT&T would call me back and offer me free hours of talk time or even money (AT&T once sent me a $100 check to switch back.) Then a few weeks later Sprint or MCI would call me back asking me to switch to them. It was at least half of a hassle, but I worked some good deals now and then.

When I look back, I realize I was still paying about 18 per minute, and I was thinking I was getting a good deal because I wasn’t paying a full quarter per minute. Anyway, times change, and people say you can save a lot of money by not going with the Big Three. Everyone’s calling habits and needs are different. But I offer you two sites to look at to find a cheaper calling rate/plan.

Check out Toll Chaser and Save On Phone.

Be sure to check out the details and whatnot out pretty closely. But I was able to find a LD provider where I got 3.something cents a minute both in and out of state, a free toll free number to my house at the same rates, and no montly fee, a calling card for 11 cents a minute as well. I’ve been with a provider I got from here for a while….but do your research.

Okay…we’re invading a country, bombing the smack out of the place, hitting governmental buildings, wreaking havoc. Of course there are going to be casualties. Even POW’s. But wait. After we’re doing all of the above and more to Iraq…we say, “If you take any of our soldiers as Prisoners of War, we expect them to be treated nicely. Thank you.”

What the heck? Can we have that resonable expectation?

Now that things are getting “messier” over in the war, seems that public opinion is starting to sour a little. American soldiers being shot execution style, choppers going down, faked surrenders turning into flying bullets, our own soldier rolling a grenade into a tent…sheesh! (And is it true that Saddam uses a old fashion WOOD CHIPPER to run people through now and then? Yes, people in a wood chipper!?)

I understand some of the reasons we’re over there. I do. But sometimes I wonder if there couldn’t have been a better way to go about it. The killing of innocents is trying to be kept to a minimum, of course…but it doesn’t stop that from happening.

I know it’s probably not a popular position but what about the words of Jesus when he said, “But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you…Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked” [Luke 6:27-28,35] and “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” [Matt 5:44]

Easier to say than to do. Believe me I know. It’s just that I wrestle with those words from Jesus and those words wrestle with me too. But at least I’m wrestling with the Word, huh?

Well, maybe I don’t feel so bad about Butler beating us since they just beat Louisville by a larger margin than they beat us*. Means they were for real.

I read an article today in the Clarion Ledger saying that with the team we have coming back next year, plus the incoming recruits that Miss State should be able to challenge for the West title yet again. Another article mentioned that the player of the year (Junior Charlie White from Provine) and Al Jefferson, easily the top two juniors in the state and two fo the top in the nation are feeling really good about coming to MSU next year. All that is good stuff. All that makes me look forward to the future And it might east the sting of losing Friday night…but not much.

It still pains me that I know that we were the better team. But just not on that night. But there have been a few more upsets as well. I find myself pulling for the underdog in most cases now. I’ll still want UKy and Fla to win out, just for the sake of the SEC. And Auburn just beat Wake Forest. So it’s still an entertaining tourney.

What has been the most exciting game you’ve seen so far? Mine would have to be the Arizona/Gonzaga game last night….I still gotta get me one of those Gonzaga shirts!