Family Vacation 2007

So if I counted the votes correctly it is 7 - 3 in favor of the DR.

For DR:

Becky
Cheryl
Leah
Eric
Richard
Kari
Stephanie

For NC:

Tom
Sally
Jason

Has anyone changed their mind? Are we pursuing the DR actively now? Because we aren't all in agreement should we discuss more? Let me hear those McMilton voices.

BBQ 2006!

On behalf of Leah's visit, Cheryl and I will be hosting a very formal BBQ on August 5th or 6th. My birthday is that Friday (I'm sure you all are well aware) so I'm a little hesitant to have everyone over the next day ... I know, I know, I'm goign to be 28 and you'd think I would stop making a big deal out of my birthday some time soon, but not this year.

Richard and Keri, are you going to be here the next weekend for Sarah and Brian's wedding? If so, I don't expect you to make the drive 2 weekends in a row! But if are able to attend, we will definetly do a Sat. BBQ.

Leah has requested shish-kabobs. yum!

I'll call Jason & Steph.

Bally's For The Mind

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."

-C.S. Lewis

Bally's For The Mind

"For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

1Co 1:18 {NET}

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In the fall of 2005, I [Mark Driscoll] preached a lengthy series on the accomplishments of Jesus’ crucifixion and came to realize that the cross was as foolish and offensive as ever. We had to call 911 for a woman who passed out during the sermon on blood. We had more than one angry person try and get on the stage to fight me during the propitiation sermon, which resulted in beefing up our security on Sundays and having a police officer on site.

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For the complete story go HERE

Is it time to vote?

Dominican Republic or North Carolina?

We need everyone's vote so we can move forward with the planning!
Is anyone going to see Jason and Steph? I want them to see the websites and check it all out.

In my opinoin, it comes down to wanting to travel out of the country and being ok with the higher airfare. It looks unbeleivable.

So...... enter your votes! If you need more info, research and let us know what you've found or ask questions!

New Sox Fan

I went to my first Sox game at US Cellular Friday night. Our family went when we were little kids to Kaminsky (remember the seat cushions?) but I haven't been since. My friend Jackie invited me to go with her and her parents (they are huge rediculous fans) who had awsome seats from her dad's company. I turned into a White Sox fan over night! It was so much fun. They really go crazy at those games: the scoreboard has all the stats of the players up to bat, a home run sets off fireworks, they have a kiss cam on the giant scoreboard, crazy games between innings, and each player picks a song before he bats. Which is hilaroius in itself b/c they are very typical picks, racially speaking. I've only been to Cubs games recently and I'm SO over the cubbies! Honestly, I've never been a fan of any team, so this is all new for me, but I love it! I won't miss a game now. Too bad this didn't happen a year ago so I could enjoy the World Series. Has anyone been to a Sox game lately?

Dominican Republic Vacation Spot

Check this out: http://www.cofresidr.com/

Bally's For The Mind

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The Epsitle to Diognetus, c. AD 130

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“For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life.

“They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others and yet suffer all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all others; they beget children; but they do not destroy their babies. They share their table with all, but not their bed with all. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their exemplary lives. They love all men and yet are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and restored to life. They are poor yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things and yet abound in all; they are dishonored and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are evil spoken of and yet are justified; they are reviled and bless; they are insulted and repay the insult with honor; they do good yet are punished as evildoers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred. To sum it all up in one word—what the soul is to the body, that are Christians in the world.” -Found at the Fide-O blog

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And how do we Christians look in 2006 C.E. ? Is it still true that: "...what the soul is to the body, that are Christians in the world"?

Bally's For The Mind

An interesting contrast:

Herschel Hobbs 1907-1995

(longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City)

said:

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"God voted for you. The devil voted against you.

And you cast the deciding vote."

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The Scriptures say:

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"I have planted, Apollos watered;

but God gave the increase."

(1 Cor 3.6)

"You must believe in free will; there is no choice"

-Isaac Bashevis Singer

Bigger and Better for reals

Hi everyone.

I'm just poking around on-line trying to find a good place for us to vacation (b/c of the biting flies) and have been looking at North Carolina. There's an island or penninsula called the Outer Banks with tons of beaches and beach homes and its 30 min. from Myrtle Beach and another town but there are lots of small towns all around and lots to do (deep sea fishing, historical crap, restaurants, shops). I even found a house with a home theatre in it. Cool! Check out this site and see what you think. I have emailed a few people to find out what I can about going in September (less expensive) and if there are any insects etc. that we should know about. I think it would very similar to our previous Florida destination.

Mom, Tom and I had discussed Maine but to be honest it wasn't easy to search for beaches or homes and I feel like we can go anywhere as long as we have a great house, great weather and we're on the ocean with a pool (oh and we'll have each other). I mean, how wrong can we go with a house on the ocean??

Please feel free to check into another area if you'd like. I think everyone is pretty flexible. I'm also trying to find out when a deposit would be due, but I think we have some time for that.

So, opinoins, again, please.

On to Bigger and Better Places

Please disregard previous post. I spoke too soon.

Jack-n-Jesus

No wonder I like 24 so much. As Mark Driscol points out in this post at The Resurgence, Jack Bauer can be seen as a type of Christ.

• Jack and Jesus are both dudes who worked in construction.
• Jack and Jesus have disciples and Jack’s disciples have names like Chloe, Michelle, Bill, and Tony.
• Jack and Jesus do not lie and can be trusted to accomplish whatever they promise.
• Jack and Jesus both oppose evil and seek to bring forth a glorious shalom world, free of tyranny and evildoers.
• Jack and Jesus were both betrayed by a close friend who ended up dying as a result of his sin.
• Jack and Jesus are both saviors willing to lay down their life for those they love.
• Jack and Jesus were both resurrected from death; Jack was essentially put to death to fool the Chinese government and then resuscitated.

Biting Flies

Here is an email from one of the owners of a vacation rental home along with the attachment. This is a bit of a problem I think.... Paradise, in my mind, does not include biting flies.
Maybe we should consider other options, such as going early and paying the summer price.
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Hi Becky,We would need a $250 deposit 120 days prior to when you want to rent. I can also check with you first if we have anyone else request a week that month - although at this point I don't imagine we will for a while. Have you been to the area before? One thing I think I should mention - we often get biting flies that start around Labor Day and hang around for a few weeks. I don't want to discourage you from renting, but I also don't want you to get there and be unhappy. I am going to send you a really good guide to the beaches of So. Walton, which I think has lots of good information, whether you stay at our house or not. It mentions the flies in the "advice for visitors" section. I'll have to send it in a separate email. If I can answer any other questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Cathy
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I am forwarding the attachement on to everyone.

Vacacion Familia

Hello mi familia,

I sent out emails for a couple of properties located right on the gulf 3.5 miles from Seaside. Mainly to get an idea of how early we can book and how much of the deposit is required. Richard, my mom nominated us to be in charge. We totally get to do whatever we want. She wants to be on a committee but not this one. Oh! Mom, you can be on the Martini Committee.

What is everyone's max you want to spend for the house? My guess is it'll be around $500-$600 per couple (Scott is not included in this of course - unless he has a job then he's totally paying.) But please tell me your absolute limit.

Also, Jason said we need to be IN Seaside b/c there is nothing around the town and Seaside is an amazing little town with restaurants and bars and shops etc. This is just the beginning of the search and the goal is to be in walking distance so the properties I inquired on may be a little far but it'll get us going.

How are we going to wait 1.5 years?!

Airport Info:
When traveling by air:The closest airports in the area are the Eglin Af Aux Nr 3 Duke airport (EGI) located about 32 miles northwest of Seaside in Valparaiso, Florida, Hurlburt Field (HRT) located approximately 33 miles west of Seaside in Mary Esther, Florida, the Bob Sikes airport (CEW) located roughly 38 miles northwest of Seaside in Valparaiso, Florida, and finally the Choctaw Nolf airport (NFJ) located around 50 miles northwest of Seaside in Milton, Florida.

Bally's For The Mind

Get em while they're hot right HERE!

For the Texas hold'em player who really wants to win BIG!

(At least 10% of your winnings must go to the church or curses will be sure to follow)