I am thankful for:

• A God who overlooked my junk and fixed the gap between us through Jesus
• A wife who said yes {the second time I asked} and who continues to learn and love me more every year
• Children who are healthy and {way too} smart…and the God and wife who gave them life
• Parents who hit their sixties and decided the best thing to do was to sell everything, get an RV and drive around the state of California supporting churches and pastors  {talk about setting the bar high}
• A church that isn’t afraid to shout a bit to tell God they love him
• A pastor {and staff} who saw that God might be able to do something through me, for his leadership skills being passed on and for living the life before and while teaching the life to live
• Having enough to share with those who don’t have enough this thanksgiving day

I could go on…so many people have impacted my life – and that isn’t just cliche’.

A sincere thank you to everyone who spoke life and still supports me and who have prayed and are still praying for our family.  I am humbled this thanksgiving, and at pretty much all other times.

Travis

2 Timothy 2

1.  You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

So Paul could get away with telling people to “reflect on what I am saying”…I cannot.  But that is alright with me.

I read this yesterday morning and couldn’t read past “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”  I was reading through this as a way to let the scriptures {God’s words} train me to be a better leader.  And I know I’m not Timothy but I felt that I was to stop and consider, “reflect” on what Paul wrote.

What is it for me personally to live like this verse – “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.”  I know the commanding officer and I want to please Him, but what civilian affairs am I mixed up in right now that I should let go of?

What are you doing in life that would be considered civilian?

Reflect, then comment.

Travis

Video from youtube

Travis

I finally got to be that guy. You know, the one who has a story to tell about their voting experience.

We arrived late afternoon and had to stand in line – we would have been in and out in about 1 1/2 hours, which is great from what I’ve heard from others, but then came the issue.

Turns out that the official voter person’s laptop showed that I had already voted!  Well, I hadn’t.  They were using a Dell and probably knew I was a mac guy…so they were fighting back or something.  Apple segregation is not often talked about openly but believe me, it’s real.

I asked who I voted for {thinking that if I liked my pick than I would choose to keep it – which would have been really convenient, like getting that front row parking space on the first try} but they wouldn’t tell me.  They said they couldn’t but I think that is just what they tell people.

So after asking me 15 different ways if I was absolutely sure I hadn’t already voted, they decided to try and get it straightened out.  Mind you, they were very helpful and polite – quite personable for having been there all day and having hours to go.  The poor lady tried and tried to call the area office but they were either busy as well or didn’t like her because they wouldn’t answer.  Poor lady called every 2 – 5 minutes for an hour and a half!

During this time Amy is hiding out in the truck with 2 to 3 of the kids {Ava floats between places} while they watched Surf’s Up on the laptop.  It’s dark, rainy and should be miserable, but I was actually ok with it.  They kept apologizing and I kept telling them that it is ok, I knew it wasn’t their fault – and besides, I’m just glad they were doing that job, I wouldn’t want to and it needs to be done.  It was kind of nice to be the victim of something so impersonal at a critical time – dumb I know.

Finally – another 1 1/2 hours later, or so – they offer me the opportunity to vote a contested ballot.  Basically I would fill out a paper ballot, they would turn it in and then I would have to go in today {Thursday} to make my case and tell them I had only voted one time and all that.  I jumped at it.  I figured I’d vote and then if the result were close or contested then I would go in and talk to them…turns out that wasn’t necessary.  Good old faithful South Carolina…

Amy thought I should consider whether or not identity theft had taken place…nah, who wants to be me?  Except me.  I love my life.  “My life is good.”

My voting experience didn’t go smoothly, but at least I finally got to be that guy.

Travis

Vote.  That’s it.

Travis

I’m a bit tired, it’s rainy and it’s Monday.

However, the weekend went well.  The living room was great – looking at the basics of other world religions and how it really makes no sense to claim that all religions could lead to the same god.  Oh, and of course, how we can have an actual conversation with people about this.  Pastor Larry did a great job in the morning services describing things we need to put off and things we need to put on to live the way God envisions us to live.  And Pastor Silver {Filipino pastor} taught at the mens breakfast on Saturday morning about living strong in times that are hard…perilous times.  I learned/was reminded of a lot of great stuff this weekend.

The message video from yesterday morning is coming along nicely, the outline for Wednesday is set and the notes for next Sunday’s Transit Leadership Summit is almost ready.  And I just found out I’m heading downtown to the Apple store.  Poor me.  Well, it does stink because I’m going down to get the G5 looked at b/k it keeps locking up.

UPDATE FROM APPLE: Before I was able to publish this I got the word from the Genius Bar…turns out the video card is bad and will need to be replaced.  That’s better than it could be by far.  And yeah, the store looks that great in real life.

Travis

Travis