the dallas cowboys will eventually be the death of me

i again suck at fantasy football

notre dame will not be national champs, but neither will usc so it's a wash

i love cheese

gin and tonic sounds really good right now

the difference between lutherans and baptists...a lutheran will say hi to you at the beer store

college is a lot harder than i thought it would be

college is a lot easier than i thought it would be

both of those statements can be true

my oldest daughter is super cool

i haven't seen a good movie in a while

i will probably vote for a democrat for the first time in my life

my folks think i turned lib.

Jesus was apolitical

i don't like being called an evangelical

i am an evangelical

i am not an ignorant evangelical

i feel alone sometimes

i know i am not

at this moment in my life i have no earthly enemy

sola gratia

yeah, like anyone knows what that means.  if you did then my hat is off to you and you have mastered a dead language.  the title of my blog is in latin, and it is a quote from Rene Descartes.  i think therefore i am.  simple enough. 

we talked about him last night in my intro to philosphy class.  he doubted everything that could be doubted and finally the only thing he had for "sure footing" was that very phrase.  i am sure i am thinking so i am sure that i exists and that is all i am sure of, except of course God.  yeah, that part kinda knocked me for a loop too.  you see old Rene submitted this paper to a French Divinity school.  so basically, the only thing our french friend trusted to be totally true was his existence and God. 

i haven't read the whole treatise yet, but it sure sparked my curiosity.  he was just a side note anyway.  the real topic was David Hume.  radical empericisim.  that thought is anothr blog, or maybe not.

next blog has to be a "things i think" it's been a long time and i enjoy writing those.  so until next time don't stop thinking otherwise you may not exist.  if Rene was right at least. 

well it's fairly simple, not around here much.  life and starting college have left me with little time to blog much.  i thought i would take a few minutes before school tonight and update anyone who might be interested.  so here are some updates:

my oldest was confirmed a few weeks ago

i am carrying a 4.0 (3 classes american history, philosophy, and physical geology)

i still work for the evil empire (Wal-Mart)

i still think about and pray for my blogging buddies

greaceshaker joined my fatasy football league and he blows (i am only one game ahead of him)

my family is doing well

i have to go to school right now

bye for now  

since i have written anything here so i guess i should. 

life goes on.  i have kinda dropped out of the cyber-space world and probably will remain out for a little while longer.  life is a roller coaster right now, and i am hoping that it will sone return to the long and straight path sans the loops and huge drop offs.

i really have nothing to say excpet that my faith is not based on circumstance it is based on Jesus Christ and Him crucified and raised.  it is a hard journey at times, but i continue to enjoy it. 

last night was an evening of special memories for my middle daughter and me.  it was the annual daddy-daughter dance in my city.  it is the first one of these events we have attended and it was also the first such event i have ever attended.  about 350 dads along with thier daughters gathered at the local convention center for pictures, refreshments, and dancing.

to be truthful i was not looking foreard to this event.  i knew that i would be tired from a very long day and week at work, and that more than likely it was going to be a typical texas sappy, tacky, event filled with texans.  well, i was right on both counts.  

but, there was something that happend to me when i saw my daughters eyes light up as we enter into the hall.  it was as if she had entered Cinderella ball.  i saw that this was the most terrific thing she had ever experienced.  the disco ball, teh spotlights, and the dj.  i've seen way to many of these and this was here first time.  it was a truly magical moment, for in an instant i went from blah to bedazzled.

we got some punch, from the coolest fountain my daughter told me.  we sat down for a minute and then i asked her if she wanted to dance.  she said she wanted to, but really didn't know how to dance.  i told her that it was easy and that all she had to do was have a good time and move.  we went out and danced to a few songs.  then there was a slow song and as i held my little girl in my arms i couldn't help but think that this was a very special night.  we danced and danced the evening away.  oh, all the favorites were there.  the chicken dance, the YMCA, and the electric slide.  a twist competition, and as the night progressed the music got better or maybe it was just that i was having a wonderfull time with my daughter.

i have three daughters and i try to spend quality time with each one.  it's hard.  last night was great and i look forward to many many more of these nights.  the best part was after she got ready for bed, tucked her in, and said our nightly prayers, my daughter said "dad, you know i think i'll remeber this night for the rest of my life."  

i know i will. 

too tired to try anymore.

too tired to care.

too many fundies,

today i give up.

no discussion.

no education.

no independent thought.

today i give up.

force fed opinion.

indoctrination is king.

let the sheeple follow.

today i give up.

ahh, tomorrow is another day though. 

my wife and i had the most wonderful week-end with coaches outreach. coaches outreach is a parachurch ministry that is specifically geared to jr. high, high school, and college sports coaches. they have a weekly bible study and several marriage retreats each year.

coaches have very stressful jobs, especially here in the south where football is king and winning is very important to the local communities. these guys touch so many young lives during thier carreers, and get very little support. coaches outreach provides spiritual support for the coaches and thier wives. like i wrote before weekly bible studies where coaches get into the Bible and learn about thier faith and what the bible has to say about life. also coaches outreach sponsors several marriage confrences every year. at these week-end retreats coaches and thier spouses go to beautiful resorts and meet other coaches and spouses. there are time of corprate worship, teaching and plenty of free time for the coaches and thier spouses to reconnect. all at a bare minimum of exspense for the coaches. retail value for just the resort and food is $600, coaches only pay about $100. and the bible studies are completly free no fees for materials or teachers.  i have heard from several coaches that these retreats have saved thier marriages.

anyway, last week-end was the annual lay-leader training and appreciation time as well as thier annual fund-raising banquet. my wife and i stayed at a great hotel and enjoyed meeting other lay-leaders and coaches from all over the area. we actually got to be away from the kids for a few days and it was awesome. if you would like more info about coaches outreach, maybe you are a coach who would like to join a bible study or attend a marriage confrence, or maybe you would like to support coaches outreach go to www.coachesoutreach.org

for anyone who reads my blog you know that i am not a big fan of church ministries. this one is different. check them out and for those of you who are believers pray for them. i could share so many stories about the lives this ministry is touching. my own for one. i love this ministry and count it an honor to be associated with them.

sometimes, as we all can be, i get lazy and don't post anything for a long while. nothing seems to spark creativity. so when i can't stand it any longer i sit and just write. here's what's on my mind as of late.

there is a book inside of me. i don;t know if it is a great book, but it is a book of some sort. most likely ficition, and as with a lot of fiction some of it is based on people i know, places i've been and situations i know of or have been involved with.

the thing is how do i get it out? i suppose i could just sit and start writing, but that seems to be a little unorganized and could get to be tedious to the point that i would quit. then there is the option to make extensive notes and outlines storyboards and whatever else. that option seems to be a bit too organized for me. so i guess i will be looking for my creative muse to be somewhere in the middle, whatever that is.

i know that i am a christian, but i don't want to write a "christian" novel. most of that genre imho suck. they are written to a specific audience and, to me, it's kinda like preaching to the choir. i do want to write a great story. one that all types of people can relate to and perhaps be inspired by, and want to read again and again.

there is always self-doubt when i try something new. i think that is true for most of us. will i be good enough, will people like my art, and other such self nagging ideas that prove to be more hinderance than help. too bad creativity does not come in the quantity that fear and inhibition do. so, even if i never am able to publish it or sell it, i am going to write a book. even if not a single person outside the "circle of trust" reads it. i have, what i think, are some pretty good ideas and charachters and i've already started so i guess there really is nothing left to do, but to do.