February is birthday month in my family.  Both of my parents and both of my children have birthdays in February.  Last Saturday my son had his birthday party.  Here are some pictures of celebrations from my kids birthday’s.

First there is the princess cake….

Then there is the princess eating the cake

My little princess had a nice quiet family birthday.  We took her to Build a Bear and got her favorite dinner and had some cake.  It was a nice, simple celebration.

Next is my son’s cake.  It was a Star Wars themed party.  We went to Kidzclub to celebrate.  They did a great job!  Here is a picture of his cake…..

Here is the king blowing out his candles….

We had some great celebrations — memories were made, cake was eaten and presents were opened.  Happy Birthday!

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I Was Told There'd Be Cake

11 Birthdays

I love the blog This is why you’re fat. This blog is dedicated at showing pictures of food that makes you fat. We are not talking about cheese burgers or snicker bars. This is hard core fatting food.

Sometimes they have gems that make me think…..I could never eat this but I don’t blame someone for trying.  An example is the picture above that is called The Plowboy which includes “Ham, scrambled eggs and onions over a bed of homefries topped with sausage gravy, bacon, cheddar and Jack cheese!”  Now THAT’S a breakfast of champions.

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How do you know when something is good?

We say in the church all the time that “God is Good”.  What does that mean?

It doesn’t matter whether if we are talking about God, a work of art, a movie, a restaurant or the newest fashion design – how do we decide that something is “good”?  How do we decide if God is good?

When we talk about God, we read about the things that God has done for us, and continues to do for us in the Bible.  We learn more about our faith by attending church and talking with others.  This enables us to think about our faith and discern what is good and what is bad about what we believe.

Some people however just listen to the authority in their lives and not really think about what they personally believe.   They follow certain rules because some authority figure told them to do it, but they never took the time to think and pray about it for themselves.

Living a life based on second hand values isn’t living at all.  Saying the right things and doing the right things is nice but that can lead to simply “existing.”  To really live out our faith, we  must trust our own instincts and take the risk of stepping out of line now and then.

Questioning our values might seem like heresy to some.  However, we all do it at one point or another in our lives.  For example, when I was in college I questioned my faith.  I started to look at my life and I realized that I was baptized a Lutheran when I was a baby, I was raised in a Lutheran Church, I went to a Lutheran summer camp and I was attending a Lutheran College.  So was I a Lutheran because of my history or did I really want to be a Lutheran?  While I was questioning my denomination, I  also started to question my faith, did I really believe in God?

My answer to all my questions was “Yes!”

“Yes”, I was Lutheran because I was baptized and raised in the Lutheran Church, “yes” I did believe in the teachings of the Lutheran Church and I did embrace them as my own, and “yes” I did believe in God, I knew that my life would be unbearable if I did not believe in a loving God who was always there for me and who carried the burdens that seemed so hard for me to carry on my own.

Even though I have come to that conclution, it doesn’t mean that sometimes life is hard, that sometimes faith is hard.  Even recently when I look at the death and destruction in our world, I ask myself “where is God in all of this?” Then I see it…..I see God in the people,  dropping everything, traveling thousands of miles to help those in need, I see God in families giving up time in their busy weekends to help a stranger….I see God in my children as they run and play and make me smile…..I see God in the beauty that surrounds my world.  I see God in these places and many more — this is why I think, why I know that God is good.

My prayer is that when we say that we think something is good, when  we  like something, when we think something is “good”  we should think about the reasons.  This applies even when it comes to our faith.  We should not listen to the authorities blindly, but we should stop and think why we believe what we do, we should ask questions, talk with others and look…..where do we see God in the world, and think about how our faith impacts our lives.

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The God Delusion

The Good Soldiers

What do you think when you hear the phrase:  “You are a failure!”

More often than not we are afraid of failure, we don’t want to fail.  We may think that if we are going to do something and we are not going to succeed, why waste our time?

But we do fail….we are not perfect — But do some people fail more than others?  If so, why?

Perhaps the problem is that we are not afraid of failure, but somewhere deep inside of us we are afraid of success?

We see this in the Bible:

The Prophet Jonah chose to turn away from the great things God had planned for him.   Jonah eventually found himself eaten by a whale.

Most people who fear success find themselves consumed by regrets for things that might have been.

There are many reasons why we might turn away from the challenges that could bring us success, but it is usually because we just don’t believe we have what it takes to pull it off.  We don’t have the self confidence to really believe that we have the knowledge, skill set, or ability to get the job done.

But like the old saying says “you can do anything you put your mind too.”  That’s the key!

What does our mind say?  If we believe that we can’t get it done, then we won’t. However, if we believe that we not only can get the job done, but we were put in place for a reason, then we will get the job done with excellence.

They only way we can make this happen is to take “baby steps.”

For example, I am not really that handy around the house……well that’s the impression I have of myself right now.  I have been watching many hours of the DIY Network channel.  I have been learning alot about home projects.  I have a little more confidence in myself when it comes to projects around the house.

But before I start to build my outdoor room, or before I rip down my back porch and build a bigger and better one…..I am first going to start small and switch-out the shower head, and maybe build a bookcase in the kids room.  I am going to start small and start to have many small victories, build my confidence and learn more and more everyday.  I am going to take on risks and then gradually – step by step – up the ante.

So instead of going into a project, or going into life, with a negative view, with a mindset for failure, I believe we can all turn our thinking around. Believe in ourselves, know that we are called to be where we are, to do what we are doing and that believe that God will always be with us.

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Baby's First Steps in Italian

Assyrian Costumes and Jewelry

I have talked a lot about Lutheranism, Leadership and other things on this blog.  I have not talked too much about grilled cheese.

I love grilled cheese, I always have and most likely always will.  It is such a simple sandwich — yet if you are creative, you can create a gourmet meal.

I have been inspired with the recent announcement of the The 1st 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational.  Granted, this group is a little too much for me.  I love the concept but the execution is a little too “racy” for me.  I am more of a PG type person and this event is more of a R type event.

Anyway, I would love to take what they have done and instead of the local chili cook-off, to have a family friendly event.

The winner of the last 6 Grilled Cheese Invitationals is actually opening a grilled cheese restaurant!!  That is the coolest thing ever!

I am thinking about incorporating my love for grilled cheese more into this blog.  I want to include recipe’s and grilled cheese tips, and just general grilled cheese news.  If you have anything to pass along please do!

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Grilled Cheese & More

Grilled Cheese at Four O'Clock in the Morning

Does your feelings about yourself have any influence on the way your body feels?

Don’t get me wrong,  I am not saying that modern medicine doesn’t have a place in our life.  However,  I do believe that our attitude has an impact on the way we feel mentally and physically.

Here in CNY we are getting close to the 100 inch mark for snowfall.  I accepted the fact that living in this area we are going to get a lot of snow, and I decided in the fall that I was not going to complain about snow from Thanksgiving to Easter.  I have a positive attitude about snow- I love snow between Thanksgiving and Easter!!  but after Easter, all bets are off!

So far, I have not become depressed because I have to clean off my car…….again!  The fact that it snowed almost everyday during the month of January did not bother me, because I accepted that snow is going to come.

When we are sick, and we have the mental model that our illness is only going to get worse then it is only natural that our body gets a strong death message. Next thing you know, we start going downhill fast.

However, when we educate ourselves about how to fight any illness, and we surround ourselves with support and love we have a better chance of getting better, faster.  That in addition to following what the doctors say (about medicine, diet or whatever else they suggest)  and affirm our healing constantly with words, pictures and emotions, I believe leads us not only on an easier road to recovery, but a quicker road as well.

I also believe that our faith plays a big part in our healing as well.  When we pray we are asking the one who created us, the one who knows our bodies better than we do; for healing and wholeness.  God, our creator is there for us in the good times and in the bad.

I have seen more and more, the people who reach out to the church in their time of need, are often the ones with a positive attitude.  They are the ones who look for the positive indications in their sickness or illness that things are going to get better.  I think one reason they are able to do this is because they are able to pray to God and let all their cares, all their worries in God’s hands and they trust that God will watch over them, protect and heal them.  Then they are able to live their lives in more of a positive and reassuring way.

I don’t think that it is coincidence that there is a connection between our ability to get better quickly and stay healthy longer the more that we have a hopeful and positive attitude about our health, and our reliance on God.

In the end we are the final authority on our bodies, and it is up to us to conclude what is best for us.

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Physical Examination & Health Assessment (Jarvis, Physical Examination & Health Assessment)

Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home

Everything tastes better on a stick.

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Stick Up for Yourself: Every Kid's Guide to Personal Power & Positive Self-Esteem (Revised & Updated Edition)

Not a Stick

I will be participating in a Lenten devotional blog.  Here is my first post.

Welcome to Many but One! Now that you have had a chance to get to know everyone I am excited to start us off this devotional blog.

It is very tempting for me to post my sermon here, since we are using the daily readings as our guide during this Lenten Season.  But I won’t do that I want to take our times on Sunday preparing ourselves for the upcoming week, looking at themes in the texts, or questions that might not get preached on.

Luke 9:28-43

This week I want to ask the question – why transfiguration before Lent?

The Book of Common Prayer collect for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany suggests why the Transfiguration of Our Lord is celebrated when it is:

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer according to the use of the Episcopal Church, 1979, page 217. Book of Common Prayer is public domain material.)

Transfiguration is the bridge from Jesus’ public ministry and the passion of Jesus.

Transfiguration for me is change.  The disciples changed the way they saw Jesus, they changed the way they saw God.  What kind of change is in my during this Transfiguration Sunday?

Lent for me is also about change.  It is about the journey that I take with Jesus, to the cross.  During Lent I do try to invoke change in my life.  I don’t go crazy about it, sometimes I am successful, other times I am not.  But for me it is about the journey.

I hope you continue to journey with us during this Lenten season.  I pray that you feel the spirit in your life as you embark on change.
Let us pray:

Good and gracious God, we join the disciples at on the mountain top as you show yourself to the world.  Shine in our hearts and on our lives as we journey together this Lenten seasons.  We thank you for giving us the opportunity to gather both near and far – to come together as your beloved children, as a community of faith.  Sustain us, lead us, and let us know of your love in our lives.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

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I have felt out of the loop the past week.  It was last Friday that I started feeling under the weather.  Saturday brought a migraine which prevented me from doing anything!!  I pushed myself through Sunday services and took a nap in the afternoon.  However, once I woke up from my nap, just in time for the Super Bowl -- I had a sore throat.  I knew I was in trouble.

I did catch most of the Super Bowl, since I was not vested in either team I was not disappointed to miss part of the thrid quarter and all of the fourth.   I am glad it did not come down to the wire.

My favorite super bowl commercial was the one with Betty White and Abe Vigoda

Well Monday came and I was feeling worse, so I decided to go to the doctor who told me that I had strep.  Not something that I wanted to hear, but at least I was able to take something and get over it in a few days, rather than waiting a week or two for everything to pass.  So I got on some meds and started feeling better right away.

Wednesday I had the pleasure of going to the Syracuse University vs University of Connecticut boys basketball game!!

It was a great game!  Living in Syracuse, I have become attached to all SU college sports.  So I was routing for SU to win and they did not disappoint.  It was a night of laughter, fellowship and fun.  I am glad I was able to go.

I worked Thursday and today is my day off.  My wife is now sick, so I am spending the day taking care of the kids and her.  This weekend is my daughter’s third birthday so I hope everyone is healthy by then!

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For more insight check out:

The Super Bowl: An Official Retrospective

STREP THROAT: An entry from Gale's World of Microbiology and Immunology

Looking at the future use to be very hard for me.  For the last 10 years I have had no idea where I was going to be from one year to the next.  All of the jobs I have held the past 10 years I knew was temporary and that has been hard.  But now I am in a situation I hope to be for a long time.  But I still look into the future.   There are things that I want to accomplish personally and professionally.

So I begin to wonder how do I close the gap between the reality that I am living now and the life I want in the future?   I do not think I am going to stay where I am forever,  but the life I am living right now is good, it is right for myself and my family.  Am I still going to be able to say that 10 years from now?  5 years from now?

My kids are getting older and there are some things in my life that are always changing, and some other things never seem to change much.

How about you?  Are you in a place in your life that you want to be or are you trapped in a life you don’t want, feeling stuck and unable to move? How much do you think about the future?

Try imagining the future…….What do you see?  Imagine it so vividly and specifically that you can actually see it. Then, take it even further. Hear it, taste it, feel it, walk around in it!

Where are you living?  Who are you with?  What are you doing? Is there a gap between where you are now and where you want to be?  Don’t think of that as a bad thing!  You see, it is this gap that releases your energy and creativity.

Once I took my first call as a pastor I thought that I needed to stop dreaming about the future, and start living in the present.  That is true, but I also need to think about the future not only personally, but for the church as well.  This future, this vision is what moves us. The gap, between the way things are and the way we want them to be, is that space where our drive, energy and creativity have room to ignite.  This energy and creativity moves us towards the place where we ant to be. Without a vision, a vivid picture of the future in the mind, there is no gap, and we will never discover our power, our purpose, and our mission.

What does your future look like?  Does it excite you? Does it scare you? Where are you headed?

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The Once and Future King

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0: 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job