Whiteboards and Pulpits

Just the other day, as I was wiping up pee on the floor I had a realization about life. (Odd time I know, but it seems most fitting for my life). Have you ever noticed that in the midst of cyclonic activities or intense situations that people respond in basically two ways? Either you get anxious and loss your bearings (i.e. making irrational decisions, bouncing between ideas, nothing congruent, poor communication) OR you see a sense of calm and steadfastness. Now, I am not going to say that fear is not present in either case, because I believe that fear still has its role. I am just observing that people respond clearly in those two ways. I think I know what's the difference. I believe that a person who has gone through a situation knows at least from the previous experience the liberation from the event and a possible end result solution. For instance, I have been to the hospital numerous times to visit sick people, counsel a soldier who just lost a spouse, and even watched se...

After a splendid weekend, a new Beagle named Heidi, a Worship Service at Trinity Reformed Church, an inquisitive small group, ...hamburgers...several eye catching gazes with my wife,...I am left just asking myself, what could bring my joy down? At about 0755 this morning my browser opens to reveal the front page paper to Drudgereport, and my heart sank. I admit that I may not know every detail of the outcome of this bill that was passed, but I do know that ultimately that our countries leaders do not seem to value human life. With a vacuous state in my own family, Jessica and I desperately longing to fill with an adopted child, I just can't imagine anything more horrifying than abortion. Something, so senseless when I know of thousands of families who would be eager to bring any of these 'unwanted' home. I grieve today. I may be heading to DC this coming week for an Army class. How ironic...to be sent to Arlington...at such a time as this.

Take a good look at these two photos...do you see anything different? Well, to the untrained eye...you may notice that the left has a dull cross...while the one on the right has a glimmering cross (possible stay-bright). Look closer. Ok, you give up. The one on the bottom right, actually has a new ribbon. Its not an elaborate change, but none-the-less, its a little change. On March 26, 2010, I will have been in the Army for 12 years...and yes...that little Ribbon (Army Achievement Medal) is actually the first one I have ever received. I remember being a Private First Class in 1998, watching a fellow soldier get one,...and I got so green with jealously. I guess, God's got a sense of humor to teach patience. Also,...just to for those who read my wife's blog and think she is TOO COOL, and I am just a 'tag-along' in her glory...well look real hard on her web site you WON'T see anything like these APPLES on her site. You might get a little 'flour' and 'su...

"So, what did you think?" is the reverberating mantra as we all stand out our cushy popcorn laiden seats and grab our mysterious trash. I didn't want to answer because I had such mixed feelings. So, after 48 hours of work, a 3.3 mile run, and a several cups of coffee, ...I think I can write something that is not completely nonsensical. Here's my try. It took awhile for me to get passed the Ferngully, Dances with Wolves, Never-Ending Story, Star Wars, Zelda and Smurf overtures. Ferngully/Zelda because it seemed I was watching a documentary on the rain forest and how the 'great tree' held everything together in green peace. Dances with Wolves, as the new 'Kevin' be-friends a tribe and eventually goes 'en-gine' (Indian) on the United States Calvary taming the ta-tonka (Buffalo). Never-Ending Story, because who in the world can hang on to any animal and fly. Star Wars because, if you remember in Star Wars I, the Naboo people with Jar-Jar...I trul...

I have had a great number of entries to the blogger thus far and feel that I am getting a little more adventurous in my writing. I have just about set a precedence of daily, leisurely, and thoughtful blogs. A good bit of daily hits... Yet, as most of you know, Jessica has just entered the same arena. I showed her around and then just like Wesley stealing the show from Whitfield, Jessica has decided to strategically steal the lime light. Here's what I have seen in her demise to destroy my empire: I noticed her pulling out blogger maps of recent bloggers. She is constantly trying to foil my writing by bringing me desserts just as I started writing. I also notice her constantly trying to 'be nice' to me when I settled down with a pen and paper to plot my course. The other day I knew something was odd, when she said 'Do you want to play your video games tonight?'...that's just not normal.  After helping her out with the backdrop and HMTL, I figured we had an allia...

About 365 days ago, I was sitting at FOB Falcon in Baghdad, Iraq working of filling out one of the first forms in our adoption. I remember walking to the Chow hall talking to some guys trying to explain that Jessica and I had finally made the first real decision and now it was going to be a long haul before we see some major results. Not to get your hopes up, we did not get a child just yet, but we are definitely at a point in the adoption that needs some celebration. At 0800 this morning, our profile is officially posted at our Adoption Agency Web site, which is where mothers can view our family profile. This sets into motion a major thing for us. For right now, this very hour, we could be receiving a phone call that would revolutionize our family. Within a short period of time today to about 4 months (estimate) we should be matched and possibly flying back to the states to hold the new Craven. How cool is that? Celebrate with us. Also join us in beginning to pray for Jessic...

Sunday night a good friend of mine who is a West Point Graduate, and Battery Commander (Pretty Sharp dude) said, "Hey, I have got a question for you...What do you think about predestination?" Now, in many circles this would be resolved with two likely responses. 1. "Well, I think we should just leave those doctrines that divide the churches alone and focus on what really matters." 2. "Well, I have never really nailed down what I believe and thus will continue talking to eventually change the subject." I chose neither. I could tell that he had really been thinking about this. This was not one of those 'stump the chump' questions. I smiled and decided I would let him fill out the question and talk his way through it. As he did so, I would smile and put a guard rail or would give him what various views were. His eyes widened as he just began to have a huge dialogue with himself. I could tell his conversation was shaking and solidifying some idea...