Spaghetti-Tacos and Other News

Thanks to the Nickelodeon television show iCarly, my family tried a dish called Spaghetti-Tacos last night for dinner. They were actually pretty good. You just make spaghetti, like normal, then put in some taco shells. Yummy and crunchy.

It seems my Texas Rangers are working hard to make the playoffs. Thanks to some great pitching and (cough, couch...gag....) the New York Yankees, the Rangers are tied for the wild-card spot. They are even making a race out of the Western Division by being just 3.5 games out of first place. If we could just keep beating those dang Angels.

My son Caleb, just got back from High School band camp last week. I can't believe he is a Freshman in High School this year. Just to drive the point home, he picked up his schedule for his Freshman year, along with his textbooks and school ID.

My search for a full-time job has yet to bear much fruit. All of the local schools filled their staff positions for the upcoming school year; and I have yet to get an interview with any other place I have applied for. I sent in an resume today to work with the Texas Department for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse today. Keep praying that something comes up soon.

Also I have two books to recommend for reading. The first is called Crazy Love by Frances Chan, the second is called Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. Both books will challenge your thoughts about how you view Christianity in today's world.

More Commercials That Are Getting on My Nerves

In my last blog I listed 6 commercials that are getting on my nerves a lot lately. I ended at 6 because the Rangers were coming on. So here are 4 more to round my list off at a nice even 10.

7. All of the male enhancement commercials. Not only are they an embarrassment to most men, they are not appropriate to show when any kids are in the room.

8. The Kids Bop Commercials. What number are they on now, number 524? Actually I think it is 12, LOLOLOL (you know what I mean if you have seen the commercial.)

9. The Fruit by the Foot commercial with the two karate dudes yelling and very, very, very slowly moving towards the face of the kid eating the fruit snack.

1o. The Dannon Yogurt commercial where the pretty young lady, suddenly becomes very not pretty by sucking the yogurt container dry (without using hands, which is sort of impressive) and yet not getting a single drop of the yogurt on her face anywhere. How does she do that?

Some Commercials That Really Get on My Nerves

Currently there are a few commercials that really are getting on my nerves recently. If I could link them I would but I bet you can figure out which ones I am talking about.

1. The commercials for Scientology...I don't like these for two reasons. a) Scientology is a load of lies and leads some people away from Jesus. b) It runs every break between innings of the Ranger game of Fox Sports Southwest. Ahhh, I'm so sick of it.

2. Any commercial for Burger King with the creepy "Burger King." I didn't like him when he first appeared in their commercials and I still don't like him, especially since he has been doing some mean things to people lately. I did like the commercials where the women in the van were trying to run over the King though.

3. The Sketchers shoe commercial where the kid runs like a pack of rhinos when he playing football. Like some pair of shoes is going to make other kids, with obviously more talent than you, run away in fear of you.

4. The McDonald's commercial where Ronald McDonald "creates" stars and galaxies in the sky for the kids to see. Like he is God! Some day that clown will go to a place that is not so funny!

5. Commercials for the Best D... Sports Show Period. They shouldn't be allowed to say that word, and many other words, on television, much less name a television show that. Sadly it also shows every break between innings of the Ranger games.

6. The Chucky Cheese commercials that mislead kids into thinking if they have just one quarter, they can have a heap of fun of the house of the rat. All the games may be quarter each, but if you want to eat some pizza, you better bring much more than a quarter.

I would name a few others, but the Rangers are about to play the Royals. Time to brace myself for some Scientology and some Best D... Sports Show commercials.

Apologies to God

Most Awesome GOD, Creator of all things and LORD of my life;

I come to you begging for your forgiveness. I have been a selfish and evil man. I have been praying for my will to be done and not Yours. I have lied to myself and to you about what I want for myself. I have stolen from You, by taking the time and income You have provided for me, and using them for personal gain or selfish desires. I have put other things before You and that is idolatry. For these things I offer no excuse except my apologies.

I want to be in love with YOU, O' MY LORD. I want to obsessed with YOU. I want to do YOUR will not mine. I want YOU to be first always. I want to give YOU my best, not what is left over at the end of the day. I want to trust in YOU more than I do my income or my own personal security. Help me to be the person YOU want me to be, not what I want myself to be.

Thank you Father for the blessings you have provided for me and my family. Thank you for my bride Jamie and my two wonderful kids, Caleb and Rachel. Thank you for the job you provided for me at Mardel. Thank you for Jamie's jobs at Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services, Children's Connections and now for the teaching opportunity at Stephen F. Austin. Thank you for the opportunity to help marriages grow stronger by allowing Jamie and I to lead a Dynamic Marriage class. Thank you for my home. You have blessed my family abundantly and I Love You.

Your adopted son,

Mark

Feeling Puny and It's not Fun

I'm not feeling to well today. I am feeling nauseous and dizzy when I'm either sitting up or walking around, and I get a really bad headache when I lay down to rest. I hope I feel better tomorrow.

On a more hopeful note...I had a job interview with Marshall ISD yesterday and I have a pending interview with Gilmer ISD later this week. (I hope I feel better).

Being out of full-time work is not fun either. I keep getting these e-mails regarding working from home by doing work on-line. I have gotten e-mails regarding selling weight-loss products, processing rebates and advertising on Google or Facebook. It is really tempting to invest the $50-$150 initial investments and try to do those jobs. I have tried a couple in the past and it did not work out so well. The ads can be very deceiving and you must all of the ad, including the extremely small print. I would ask if any of you have tried these types of at-home jobs to let me know if they really work, but since I do not know you personally, it would be hard to believe what you said anyway.

Last random note...I hate the commercial where Ronald McDonald "creates" stars and galaxies for the kids, visiting his home in the Golden Arches, to see. Who does McDonald's think that clown is, God? I don't think so.

Prayer Request for Jamie and the Family

I am requesting prayer request for my wife, Jamie. She just got word from her doctor that she is going to need surgery to remove some fibrositic type cells from one of her breast. It is not cancer, it is just a mass of cells that if left untreated could turn into pre-cancer cells. We are pretty sure insurance will cover most or all of the cost, but we would like prayers for all of this just in case.

Also, I filled out two more applications for local schools who have positions I am qualified for. I am waiting to hear back from them. I need another full-time job soon especially since I may be getting a small cut in hours from my part-time job at Mardel.

We also want prayers for our upcoming Dynamic Marriage class starting in Sept.

I know God is Sovereign; however, I am starting to get frustrated (especially since I am causing the rest of my family stress, because of my lack of a full-time job. Come on God, isn't enough, enough.