Dimensions of my life

January

2012-01-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Dearly beloved readers,
Thanks for keeping up with my little posting. And, thanks for the birthday greetings and the lovely cupcakes that the student fellowship group brought for me last night. It was very sweet.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Col 3:2 Where is your mind today? Is it on the things around us that we see or those things that are invisible to us, yet very real.
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col 3:17 God says whatever we do...that is everything, right? How are we glorifying God in our lives? How is He known because of us?
Word and deed both hand in hand, both working to bring light to others!!
Love you all.

shadow of things to come

2012-01-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

Colossians 2:17 says: "shadow of the things that were to come" when referring to things here on earth. What is that about? We live in the shadows. We only see a reflection of who Christ is and what God is all about. We see it in the beauty of nature, the faces of others, and we feel it as we experience His love. Our lives are mere reflections of His glory.
Many times I gaze upon the beauty of nature and imagine the greater glory and awesome demonstration of God. If we only see a shadow, think of what the actual object it. As I was walking today noticing the shadows, it made me wonder what the actual object was that it was reflecting.
The point of the verse that I shared is that we often get caught up in things that are only temporary and miss out on the reality of Jesus Christ. Let's make a point to notice the reality and not just the shadows.

fall 2011

2011-09-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Now, we are done with 4 weeks of the fall semester and I am loving it so far. I really enjoy my classes: nonverbal communication, small group communication and technology and comm. My students really seem into it and are doing well.
I also am nearing the end of my geospatial intelligence master's certificate. I started last Sept and only have a 1 credit summary course to wrap up. It has been fun learning about geographic information and how useful it is in so many areas of life. I am hoping to do some consulting or work with this when I wrap up.
Just a little update for the day...

a year later

2010-12-25T10:46:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is a year since I last wrote and I don't even know if anyone reads these, but I will write a little in case.
Another year has passed and it was a very busy time for me. Last year I took on the office of President of American Communication Assoc. It is an international professional group of communicators. It was a challenge to try to organize and fix many things. It was also a time to plan a conference and make sure people were connecting. It was a successful year on many levels and a good challenge to lead in a wise and meaningful way. I am glad to be done and to focus again on tasks at hand.
It seems when I do things beyond my capabilities that I find great power to do these and to do it well. I was also teaching a bigger than normal load in my classes and that was a huge challenge working with close to 300 students in one semester.
On top of all this, I started a graduate certificate program in geospatial intelligence. It is very interesting and also a lot of work with much reading and new material for me to learn. I got an A in my first course. I will take another one next semester. I like to learn and explore new territories like this.
God bless you this year!

interesting facts

2010-01-18T17:37:00.000-08:00

John Cadbury, a Quaker, opened shop in Birmingham in 1824, selling tea, coffee and hot chocolate - as an alternative to alcohol

160 cars can drive side by side on the Monumental Axis in Brazil, the world's widest road.

Ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of stone.

Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.

end of the year

2009-12-31T06:10:00.000-08:00

My blog page has to be the most annoying to read. So, I thought I would at least post one more before the year ends.
It was a good year in many ways and full of lots of fun with people and places, but my past semester was so intense that it is almost hard to remember all the good things.
I am reminded that God does make all things new and that He does use circumstances to bring about change in our lives. I love that God does keep His hand upon us for guidance and help when we need it. It is good to know He watches over us and directs our steps.
Right now the snow is falling and a fresh coat has fallen to cover the ground. That is similar to the way His love comes and covers us...His blood covers us and cleans us and restores us!!
My house is quiet and I love the quiet right now, but last night some friends came over and we played our instruments and sang and just enjoyed the sweet presence of God. I did play my new electric guitar and that was fun.
I still have much to do to prepare for the semester ahead but I do have another week.
If you are reading this, receive His blessings of love in your life this day!

something new

2009-08-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

I know all my fans out there are waiting for an update...well, life has just been so busy that I don't have time to write about it.
The new fall semester has started and I am off running. I teach on Tue and Thur, but also do an online class and other projects.
Wedding attendance is increasing this fall as I seem to have so many friends who keep getting engaged and married. So, I am going to pick up some more work so I can afford to go...especially to the one in Mexico. It was fun last weekend to go to Sel and Tisha's wedding. Sel is from Ghana and his parents and brother came over. It is always fun to meet new people from other countries.
I just finished preparing for my lectures tomorrow and now I am tired out after a full day.
Well, if you are reading this, I hope you are very blessed by God in some special way!

travels in May

2009-06-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

This past May I went to my European adventure trip. I went to Germany to Italy to Spain and then to the Ukraine. I loved the beauty and relaxing times in Italy. The history and architecture in Spain. The people and culture of Ukraine.
When I went to Ukraine, I met some people there with a mission to visit orphanages and train leaders from there and other countries. It was great to get to know some people and be in a place that was so totally different. All the signs were in Russian and the people drive very oddly. It was a great challenge. I did a lot of hand motions and non-verbal communication.
Overall, it was nice and a good to just get away. I do have a ton of good stories.

time for an update

2009-04-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

Hey all my blog fans...it is April 15th and the end of another tax season. It doesn't affect me so much, but my brother is a CPA and has been very busy. I always feel badly for him, but he is good at it and does my taxes for me...thank God!
The semester is down to the last 2.5 weeks now. I am trying to figure out everything I need to wrap up. I will be missing my students. Some of them have been in my classes for a while now.
After school I am heading to Europe. It will be a nice break from things. This year my new country to visit is the Ukraine. I can't wait.
God bless you all.

new semester

2009-01-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

The spring semester has started and we are one week into it.
I have enjoyed meeting all my new students, but as usual it is hard to get their
names down.
It is freezing cold here, but so amazingly beautiful with all the snow. I love the
snow piles and the snow on the mountains around us.
Right now I am caught up, but that never lasts long.
I am thinking about where to go in May and when. There are many I know who are
graduating so I am thinking of delaying my trip. I might go to another eastern
European country just to see new places. There are so many beautiful possibilities.
We shall see.
Other than that, I play with my nephew, JR, at least 1-2 times a week and he is growing up
so fast now. He turned 2 in Dec and talks a lot now. He is also learning Bible verses and
doing fun things. He loves the snow as much as I do.

Christmas time

2008-12-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1: 18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[c] because he will save his people from their sins."

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Yes, He is with us even this day, our Immanuel,

His Grace

2008-11-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

In His grace we reflect His goodness and walk in the light of His love (see 1 John 1:7)
When our hearts are pure we will walk in His peace. There will not be striving, but our hearts will be fully released into this peace that passes all understanding. When our lives are found in Him there is no limit to the grace that He gives us.

He has provided His grace. We are saved by His grace and we live by His grace through faith as well. The grace of God is the ability of God placed within us by His Spirit. Every day we have the choice to access His grace.

questioning God

2008-09-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days, I have had conversations with about 4 different people who have been very confused about what they believe. They have had some very serious situations in their lives that really caused them to reconsider what they are all about and who God is. It is so difficult to listen and hear the hurts and pain that they have gone through and also the ways that the trust they had in God has been shaken.
It would be so great to just be able to see these situations through God's eyes, but then again it is hard to even imagine that He was actually watching. Why didn't He do something to change the situations or speak to them? Or did He and they just didn't hear? Wow, what a good question to search out. It is important for us to know our God despite what goes on around us. Our God doesn't change...He is always faithful and trust worthy. But, these life shaking issues will certainly get you thinking that maybe He wasn't even nearby.
The main thing I can do is pray for these souls. My words don't convince or bring understanding just more thoughts. But, prayer, does take our needs before the throne for God to do the work and that will bring resolution. On the other hand, I know how nice it is to know that someone cares and listens so I do lend my ear and my heart.
God please help them and help me to know more about you!

summer is over

2008-08-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

I just finished a night in my office doing grading. I had to wrap up grading of my two course and 3 internships that I supervised. I also had to write a letter of recommendation for a former student. Now, I just have a few little things to wrap up and then get ready for the fall. It is nice to think I might have a few days that I can actually relax or not be so busy.
The town is getting quiet, but it is going to be very short-lived with the students returning soon. It is like the feeling just before you leave the ocean and try to capture the smell and the sounds before returning home. I am trying to capture the quiet and the peaceful feeling before the storm of students and work. It is something that is exciting for the most part.
I am watching the olympics and all the events on tonight. It is so cool to watch such dedication and strength in the athletes. They train so hard and give it all...what a great way to live.

summer 2008

2008-07-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

This summer has been so very full of weddings, showers, and travel. Also it is full of teaching and preparing for presentations.
I just got back from a few days in Atlantic City, NJ. I was there for a conference on the Web. It was good to learn some things and to give my presentation. They actually asked me to do it again since there wasn't enough room the first time I gave it. It was fun to meet many folks there from all over.
Being there made me appreciate where I live so much more. I don't like gambling and all the glitz of the city. I don't understand the lure of sitting in front of a machine and pushing a button for hours and spending money on such things especially all the older people there. It irritated me to think that people are wasting their money and time like that. I know it is a slice of life for some people but not in my heart at all.
Now, I have a few weeks left of my summer class then I need to start preparing for the fall. It will be fun to have the students back.

back from sardinia

2008-05-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Fun times each day were found in my journey to Sardinia. It was a very refreshing place and lots of amazing sights and people. I had a cute little lancia car and we became close friends as I didn't have any person to talk to. But, I did have God to talk to and we did talk a lot.
It was fun to explore the mountains and the sea coast. I did spend more time in the mountains this time. They are so vast and so huge and gave me many moments to pause and stand in awe of God's creation.
The coasts were filled with lovely white sand and blue/green water as well as large empty spaces. Most of all it was really fun to get to know some of the people there this time. Even though I don't speak a lot of Italian we were able to talk and communicate. I love trying to figure out words and meaning that we both attempt to make with our non-verbal signs.
It was a nice break after a long semester and a wonderful time to just immerse myself in the Word and in prayer. Ahhh....

Almost done

2008-05-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

It is nearing the end of the semester now. It has been time to catch up on grades and work and finally saying my goodbyes to students. I hate seeing students leave, but that is best for them because that is why we train them...to go out and get jobs.
It has also been time to work in my yard. I have cut my grass twice now and it is very green and enjoying the season. My tulips are in bloom now and my trees are mostly full of leaves.
Soon, I will take off to Sardinia for a nice break in my life. I love going there because of the incredible scenery and the great climate. So, if I don't keep up on this for a couple of weeks, that is why.

spring 2008

2008-04-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

It is spring time here and my daffodils are all showing their lovely yellow colors. I think I have about 100 of them in my yard...really.
It is also the last few weeks of classes here so my life is rather busy lately. I am trying to prepare as much as possible for the last week and keep caught up. It sure makes it hard to work when the weather is so sunny and perfect. That is why I always say I like the weather here because it helps me to stay on task.
In May I am venturing back to my island for a bit to explore some new parts. I just love it there because it is truly like paradise. It will just be fun to go away and have some new experiences.
So...that is the latest from happy valley!!

angels, gates and secret places

2008-03-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it or some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! (Hebrews 13:2-NIV and the Message)

Is it possible that we just walked past an angel. Yes. We often overlook direct interaction with angels without knowing it. We never really know how they're going to look. We have to be ready, because angelic encounters may bring a test to us. Angels are good at surprising us. Jacob did not expect what was coming when the heavens opened and angels began ascending and descending in Bethel (Gen. 28:10-15). Returning to the place of divine intimacy is the first step toward positioning yourself for encountering the supernatural. God is after our heart, and hungry hearts will constantly search for Him. When we fail to find God because our lives are too busy, we will miss the things that are often right before us. We need to go to the place where we can see Him.

God is calling us back to the place of visitation, back to the place of promise and back to the Secret Place where we last encountered Him. It is a very special place that He has carved out for us. We can’t wait for some sort of a lightning bolt. Each of us can learn to position ourselves for an angelic encounter or a visit from the Lord Himself, by returning to the special place where He moved in your life before. As we learn to go back to the place of visitation, we can learn to have an extended habitation with the Lord. We will encounter dreams, visions and very powerful new places.

"The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him; and he will show them his covenant." Psalm 25:14 What do we understand by the expression "secret!" It something not revealed, nor made known to everybody; something locked up and concealed from the majority, and discovered only to a favored few. Do you want to be one of those favorites? You are if you are staying close to His heart. He has open heavens full of Divine encounters for us.

Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven. (Gen 28:16-17)

persistence

2008-02-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

C.S. Lewis speaks to the difficulty of persistence: “The Enemy has guarded him from you through the first great wave of temptations. But, if only he can be kept alive, you have time itself for you ally. The long, dull monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather. You see, it is so hard for these creatures to persevere. The routine of adversity, the gradual decay of youthful loves and youthful hopes, the quiet despair (hardly felt as pain) of ever overcoming the chronic temptations with which we have again and again defeated them, the drabness which we create in their lives and inarticulate resentment with which we teach them to respond to it -- all this provides admirable opportunities of wearing out a soul by attrition. If, on the other hand, the middle years from prosperous, our position is even stronger. Prosperity knits a man to the World. He fells that he is ‘finding his place in it’ while really it is finding its place in him. . . . That is why we must often wish long life to our patients; seventy years is not a day too much for the difficult task of unraveling their souls from Heaven and building up a firm attachment to the earth.” (The Screwtape Letters)

2008-02-11T19:30:00.001-08:00

Yes, it is the 7th birthday today of Judah. He is one of my buddies.It is always fun to spend time with him and to watch him grow in his understanding of life.
So, it is very cold and windy and snowy here, but I love it. Nothing else to report other than I just read through 30 paper proposals.

Near to us

2008-01-23T06:24:00.000-08:00

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You ? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. –Psalms 85:6-12

2008 rolling along

2008-01-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

When I think about this year, I think about the possibilities. It is fun to start new things because they are new(that is deep!). But, the year does seem to start with great ideas and hopes and dreams. It is like a race that you start running and before you know it you are at the finish line and you are asking yourself if there is anything left to finish with. You give it all you have knowing you can stop soon. Then, you recover and do it again. Each year brings certain challenges and opportunities.

Time seems to provide us with many open doors. It is always a question of what door we will open and select to walk through on this journey. I want my life to count and be a blessing to others. I want my time to be released in moments of needs and used with diligence to make it count.

I know my personality is that of a giver so it isn't always easy for me to be selfish with my time, but there are moments when we need to accomplish things that will open doors for others. I think that is part of what God has shown me so far this year that I am to clear paths and make open spaces for others so that they can walk into their destiny.

Well, I can't close my time here without a picture of one that I have been investing in. My nephew. He is 13 months now and walking and imitating much. How fun he is!! So, here is a new picture of him. I was thinking today that he literally changes before my eyes...wow, how fun to watch him grow. And, it made me think...how am I changing? What is God doing in me that is significant and noticeable?

new year

2008-01-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

Wow, it is a new year and it is already Jan 13. I spent the last 3 days coaching with a leadership training conference at a local baptist church. It was a lot of fun and also a ton of work. The time was spent in discovering strengths and gifts that each person has and how to use them to advance the Kingdom and to improve communication skills. I worked with a team of college students. They were a blast and full of life.
The semester starts officially on Monday and I start teaching on Tuesday. I am mostly ready at least for the week ahead, but it sure has been nice to have some time off to catch up with things.
So, that is what is new with me in case you are one of the fortunate ones to be reading this.
Go Green Bay...no more Steelers this year.

tuning in

2007-12-30T19:46:00.000-08:00

It is time to turn on our tuners and get rid of the static. There are many times that we live in a realm where we only hear in part, but God wants to reveal the fullness of His sounds to us. We need to walk out of the desolate places to the places that we can bring our thank offerings.
God is in the process of restoring new sounds:
"the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying,
"Give thanks to the LORD Almighty,
for the LORD is good;
his love endures forever."
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,' says the LORD."
Jeremiah 33:11
Tune us into these sounds Lord.

His Mercy

2007-12-09T11:32:00.000-08:00

A song that I was just listening to says, "wrapped in His mercy, I want to live and never leave." I was stuck on this thinking about the mercy of God that surrounds us and keeps us. Mercy is described as not getting what we deserve. We are wrapped in a place that He has made to keep us safe and secure.
Hebrews 4: 14-16(The Message):
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
I do know that I do need the help for sure!

reflections of the day

2007-11-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

Well, the day is just getting started although it started a few hours ago. It seems I need time to really wake up and be able to function. I guess if I drank coffee that might happen faster. It is fall here and the snow has taken some time to fall on the ground, but the leaves are still mostly on the trees. So, I am reflecting on the changes that are taking place. It is fun when you are in between seasons and noticing one merging into the next. There are still traces of the one season and evidence of the next coming.
It is like that in our lives. Sometimes we are smack in the middle of a new season and we can remember the past and look forward to the next, but the season really captures our attention. I wasn't intending to get philosophical here, but it is important to enjoy the season of life that you are in and not be too anxious for it to change. In time, things do change and so do we. We are molded and shaped by the things going on around us and in time, those things will only be memories. Hmm...what is it that we are to learn this day? And, what is the next season going to be like? I do know that with God on my side, things only seem to get better.

Our heart

2007-09-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

In I Samuel 16:7, it says that God looks into the heart. That is so cool that He doesn't look at who we are on the outside with things such as what we do, what we look like, how we work, but our insides.
Our heart...what is that all about? The very depth of our being. But, do we even know what is in there or how to ponder that without getting too inward?
He is looking for those "to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." (2 Chronicles 16:9) How can our hearts become perfect?
God has the ability to change our heart and even give us a new heart that is perfect toward Him. We can keep our hearts perfect toward God by asking God to reveal and remove any thing in our heart that would keep us from loving Him with our whole heart.

Shining brilliantly

2007-09-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Daniel 12:3 (The Message) Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.

The sun rises with simple colors blended together, touching the earth and the sky bringing light and textures. May our lives be such a brilliant display of His love that others would see and know Him.

New guitar player

2007-09-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

This is my nephew with one of my guitars. I was giving him some lessons and trying to teach him the way to carefully strum the strings, but he likes to just pound on it. He is 9 months today. I guess it is just good that he is happy. He is also crawling everywhere now and clapping.
Oh, the joys of watching a young child learn and grow up!!

I am also watching my students as they seem really into listening to me lecture this year. I feel like telling them to read the paper or daydream, but they seem to be into listening. I guess that is good, but it is strange to notice their intensity. Maybe I have more valuable things to say as I get older??

We are...Penn State!!

beautiful day

2007-09-03T10:37:00.001-07:00

Wow, what a beautiful day!! I was out there in the sun for a little bit, but now I am inside watching the US Open Tennis match. It is hard to look at the lovely day and stay inside, but I really like watching tennis. Soon, I will go back out to enjoy the most amazing day.
School has been going well so far. We are done with one week now.
We won our first big football game of the year, but it wasn't a big team Next weekend, it will be just so crazy here with Notre Dame coming to town. So far I have 2 tailgate invites, but no tickets...it is just too expensive for me.

Time for school again

2007-08-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

School is starting once again next week. The students have started to move into campus which means that the streets are packed with parents and things. I was just thinking today that I miss the quiet of the summer campus. It is nice to enjoy the campus without the thousands of students running around. But, I am excited about the season ahead and the possibilities of seeing more come to know our Jesus.
We will have many new contacts with new students and new opportunities to share the life that is in us. I pray for many open hearts. It seems students are open to so many things and desire to know that which is genuine. I pray for many people to be gathered into His truth. There are so many things trying to capture their attention and minimize the reality of knowing God.

words to the song

2007-08-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

My Beloved: Kari Jobe

You’re My Beloved
You’re My Bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with Me
My love

Under My mercy
Come and wait
‘Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you
My child

You’re Beautiful to Me
So Beautiful to Me

I sing over you My song of peace
Cast all your cares down at My feet
Come and find your rest in Me

I’ll breathe My life inside of you
I’ll bear you up on eagle’s wings
And hide you in the shadow of My strength
I’ll take you to My quiet waters
I’ll restore your soul
Come rest in Me and be made whole

We are His beloved

2007-08-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

There is a new CD that I just got by Kari Jobe . I think she is incredible, her voice is beautiful and her song "My Beloved" is awesome. It really ministered to me. As a person who loves to worship Jesus, and who understands the importance of telling the Lord how I feel about him and pouring my love out to him, this songs has great importance b/c it is written as if the Lord is singing to me. It is amazing to hear how the Lord feels about us, to know he loves us. Let the Lord sing His love over you while listening to this song and others on her myspace.
It is just such an amazing thought to think about His great love towards us.

all my young fun family

2007-07-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

Just to be fair I really need to post a photo of my niece(Kate) and 2 nephews(JR and Joey). The two that look very Italian live in Texas and were just here a couple of weeks ago. So, we did a cute little photo, but they just weren't into it like we wanted. They have a lot of energy and basically run non-stop. We had a lot of family time and playing in the park time.

my nephew

2007-07-12T04:31:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I got to spend about 5 hours with my nephew, JR. He is only 7 months now. We had such fun and life is so simple when around him. I think I was just enjoying the quietness and joyfulness of being with him. He has such a fun laugh and smile. He sits up now and imitates my sounds. He loves standing, but can't do it on his own yet. And, he loves me and gives me lots of kisses.

winds are blowing

2007-06-09T07:13:00.001-07:00

There were some very strong winds blowing here in my yard last night. It was not just in my yard, but all over and the lights even went out.
(Psalm 104:4 )He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
What are the messages that He sent to us last night?

sardinia

2007-06-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a wonderful time on the island of Sardinia. It was great to just enjoy the beauty of God's creation and be fully engulfed in the smells and the sights. I loved my times of exploration of places that were off the main roads. There is so much history there and so much diversity of views. You have the ruins, the sea, and the mountains. Along with these are the winding roads that seem to go to the most amazing places.

Getting ready

2007-05-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

Now, I am getting ready for a fun trip to the land across the ocean.
I am flying out to London on Monday and then to Sardinia. I went there last year for a few days and was so in love with it that I had to return. This time for 7 days and a different part of the island. It is like paradise and I can't wait to see more.
Check back for some more updates.

Many words

2007-04-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

Today, I read about 30 ten page papers and several other papers and certainly find the abundance of words is overwhelming.

Ecclesiastes 5:7
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

So...I will stand in awe of our God instead!!!

time to reflect

2007-04-25T13:30:00.001-07:00

Today I was reading in a book by Henri Nouwen. He made a good statement that I wanted to share.
" A life that is not reflected upon eventually loses its meaning and becomes boring."

What a great reason to ponder what is going on in our life. When we do we take time to find meaning and significance in what we are all about.

April 14

2007-04-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here reading my paper and thinking about my dream last night. It was one of those fun dreams that had lots of things in it, but no real connections. I was driving with some friends and we went from sunshine to snow and then down a road that took us to some international place. As we stood thinking about where we were, we neglected to look at a most amazing view. The view was very intricate and a mixture of styles. An old lady noticed I was going to take a picture and asked if I wanted a print of it. She said it was Irish and Spanish. I waited for her to bring it to me, but as I thought of what she said I was confused. There was a huge drop off the road to see the amazing city. My friends were standing on the edge and I was worried. For some reason my camera did want to take the picture. The one guy that was with me started being recognized by people walking by. So...what does it all mean??? And, should I even ponder it or just enjoy the nice trip I took while I slept.

St. Patrick

2007-03-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today

I arise today through the strength of Heaven

Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
the rays of the sun,
the radiance of the moon,
the splendor of fire,
the speed of lightening,
the swiftness of the wind,
the depth of the sea,
the stability of the earth
the firmness of rock.

worship and physics

2007-02-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

Quantum physicist & inventor David van Koevering says:

The fingerprints and signature of God are seen in the science of sound, and in the purpose, results and physics of worship. The physical characteristics of our universe - from the cells of the human body to the stars reveal God's glory, and they tell us how we can advance His kingdom through worship!

snow abounds

2007-02-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here in State College, PA we have an abundance of snow on the ground. It has been so fun watching it just fall and fill the empty spaces. I went out on my cross country skiis and enjoyed the blowing wind and freezing temps blowing on my face, but making my skiis slide all the better.
We also did get a day off of Penn State classes last week.
Now, I am working hard to put together a test for my students in the non-verbal communication class. The question is how hard I want to make it. Mostly, I just want to know that they understand things and are ready to move on.

2007-02-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

Now it is February! Wow, what a fast January. But, it is finally cold
outside and snow has fallen.
I just spent some time with my nephew, JR, tonight. He is so cute and
simple. God is holding us closely and comforting us just as I hold him
to keep him in a safe place.

Back in the classroom

2007-01-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

It is that time again for fun in the classroom. We are now into our second week of classes and all is well. I am teaching one new course called non-verbal communication. It is a lot of fun and a great way to learn more about how we communicate and being better at it.

For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—I Cor 1:5

purpose in life

2007-01-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

God want us to live a life that is called out and with a purpose.
What is your purpose in this life and how is it different today
than when you first came to know Jesus?
Solomon: After talking about the futility of life when lived as though this world and all it has to offer is all there is, Solomon gives these concluding remarks in the book of Ecclesiastes: "Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Solomon says that life is all about honoring God with our thoughts and lives.

God keeps His promises

2006-12-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

"I [Spurgeon] can bear willing testimony to His faithfulness. Not one good thing has failed of all that the Lord has promised! Every example of God's love should make us believe Him more. As we see the fulfillment of each promise, it compels us to say, 'God has kept His promises and will keep them to the end.'

the landlord

2006-12-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

There is another dimension of my life I don't talk about much because
it isn't always fun, but I am a landlord. This past week consisted of a
few landlord moments. I had to replace a dishwasher in one unit and
a bad shower in another...not the shower, but the plumbing needed to be
fixed. While I was over there, I did get to catch up with my tenants. I do
enjoy my tenants there. They are a lot of fun and a good mix of people.
Most are either recent post grads or grads finishing up. Overall, there
are a bunch of smart people and some very handy people too.
I did hear a good story from a neighbor of something that happened in
their house. The drains weren't going down well and one day they opened
the basement door only to find a very fowl smell. The sewage had been
backing up due to a tree root in the front yard. I can't even imagine and don't
want to imagine the smells!!

thanksgiving week

2006-11-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

My week included a lot of travel. First, I went to Delaware for some turkey and food and family time. then I moved on to NJ and Phila. I visited some friends and drove back to State College. On Sat., I drove over to Lewisburg to see my good friends and hang out on the family farm. It is always fun to go there and enjoy the fresh air and wide open skies. One last trip was to good old Indiana, PA. I went to school there and stayed around afterwards. It is the place that I still call home in many ways. I love the people there and feel very welcome when I return.
Now, I am home again and back into the work of teaching and keeping up with students.

Amazing sites

2006-11-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

This is me with my most beautiful Japanese maple in my front yard. I loved the way it looked this fall, so brilliant. And, yet not as brilliant as the Holiest of All. He really shines with great beauty and love. He is so amazing.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. We need to hunger for holiness. The Lord is holy. When we are in His Presence, the first thing we find coming out of our mouths is that "He is HOLY." That is the most distinguishing characteristic of the Lord. That is what He longs for us to be, "Holy to the Lord."

He is wholly different than us. He wants us to experience that kind of divine life. The life of holiness is a Heavenly life. It is a peculiar life. The Holy Spirit comes to impart that life to us, to help us walk in that way. The life of holiness is the way of the Lord.

The love of God

2006-10-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

From God's other known attributes we may learn much about His love. We can know, for instance, that because God is self-existent, His love had no beginning; because He is eternal, His love can have no end; because He is infinite, it has no limit; because He is holy, it is the quintessence of all spotless purity; because He is immense, His love is an incomprehensibly vast, bottomless, shoreless sea before which we kneel in joyful silence and from which the loftiest eloquence retreats confused and abashed.

Yet if we would know God and for other's sake tell what we know, we must try to speak of His love. All Christians have tried, but none has ever done it very well. I can no more do justice to that awesome and wonder-filled theme than a child can grasp a star. Still, by reaching toward the star the child may call attention to it and even indicate the direction one must look to see it. So, as I stretch my heart toward the high, shining love of God, someone who has not before known about it may be encouraged to look up and have hope.

From: The Love of God by A.W. Tozer

raking leaves

2006-10-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

Today I spent some time raking my leaves as they continue to
fall from my large maple trees. Yes, indeed it seems rather
silly since there is still 80% on the tree still, but they insist on
holding on as long as possible while others sort of fall to the
ground. This season is so spectacular and certainly one that
displays some of His great splendor! I love the reds and yellows
and oranges all mixed together. God must have had some fun
when He decided to make this season.

Be ready and get ready

2006-10-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

Thunder in the desert!
"Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
a highway fit for our God.
Fill in the valleys,
level off the hills,
Smooth out the ruts,
clear out the rocks.
Then God's bright glory will shine
and everyone will see it.
Yes. Just as God has said."
Isaiah 40: 3-5 (The Message)

O Lord, how I long for the day that your bright Glory will shine for all to see!!

the challenge of life

2006-10-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

From: Brother David Steindl-Rast. The book is Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer.

"We have to chose between risk and risk. We run the risk of sleeping through life, of never waking up at all. Or else we wakefully rise to the risk of life, facing the challenge of life, of love."

His simple, profound writing stirs me to my core.

Do I believe that God is in control of everything at every moment?
Do I believe that each day is a gift?
Am I willing to live each day with a Yes! in my spirit?
Am I willing to allow myself to feel pain knowing that the depth to which I am willing to face pain will also be the depth to which I will experience joy?

today is Oct 11

2006-10-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

I am in Dallas Texas right now and it is sunny and warm
and my world in PA seems so far away. It is always good
to get away and see the world from different pespectives.
I see many tall buildings from my hotel room and it reminds
me of our attempt to reach the skies with our monuments.
Yet, they all pale in comparison to our GREAT BIG GOD!!