Archive | March, 2008

The Daddy-Hubby-Student-Volunteer Juggle

By on March 3, 2008 in General Interest

Whoa! What a semester already. This is no joke figuring pick up time for the kids most days of the week, Cub Scouts on Monday, Toastmasters on Tuesdays and projects and homework on a daily basis.

I’ve had to reduce my Toastmasters attendance to one or two meetings per month because Java programming tutorials are on Tuesday and Thursday nights. My project partner and I have found those to be great programming times for two hour stretches on each of those nights. I’ll be able to pass the baton of chapter president in June so one night per week will be freed up for studies after then. I might even be able to start giving speeches regularly after I pass on the duties of office.

Can’t drop Cub Scouts though. I still have boys progressing through ranks. Plus we have summer camp coming up this year and it’s the first time that our pack will be attending. They are looking forward to it as much as I am so I figure I can hang in there with them. I think I can manage one night a week of volunteerism as a part of my ongoing academic schedule.

My brain will definitely enjoy the relief of not being the head honcho of my Toastmasters club in a few months though. I’ll have more time with the family which can stand to see an improvement.

So is anyone else feeling as harried as me? What do you guys do to reign your lives back under control?

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Church Covenant

By on March 2, 2008 in Faith

Our Sunday school lesson today coincided well with communion Sunday. Both were opportunities to reinforce the concept of a covenant. If you’re a Protestant Christian this is probably the one day a month when you repeat your church covenant as part of the communion ordinance.

For those of you who are curious to know why Christians believe what we believe, do what we do and live the way we strive to live, take a read and see if this clears some things up for you.

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Church Covenant

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour; and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge and holiness; to give it a place in our affections, prayers and services above every organization of human origin; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine; to contribute cheerfully and regularly as God has prospered us, toward its expenses, for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. In case of difference of opinion in the church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we will cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to study diligently the word of God; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation our our kindred and acquaintance; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be kind and just to those in our employ, and faithful in the service we promise others; endeavoring in the purity of heart and good will towards all men to exemplify and commend our holy faith.

We further engage to watch over, to pray for, to exhort and stir up each other unto every good word and work; to guard each other’s reputation, not needlessly exposing the infirmities of others; to participate in each other’s joys, and with tender sympathy bear one another’s burdens and sorrows; to cultivate Christian courtesy; to be slow to give or take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, being mindful of the rules of the Saviour in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, to secure it without delay; and through life, amid evil report, and good report, to seek to live to the glory of God, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

When we remove from this place, we engage as soon as possible to unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s word.

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This is how we put the word into action in every day life. For my fellow believers I hope this is a helpful reminder that gives you a lift this week. For the rest, the next time your Christian friends invite you to church or Bible study, why don’t you take them up on the offer? I bet you just might enjoy yourself.

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J Anthony Brown Murders the Hits on YouTube

By on March 1, 2008 in General Interest

All of us who listen to the Tom Joyner Morning Show love it when comedian J Anthony Brown murders the hits on Friday mornings. He takes a classic soul or R & B song and pretty much runs it thru the shredder in his own unique comedic fashion. Yesterday he went political. Do you remember the song “I’ll Always Love My Mama” by the Intruders? Well in honor of the Barak Obama campaign, J gives us “Always Love Obama”.

J Anthony has lots of videos on YouTube, some are hit’s that he’s murdered and he has other material as well. Go on to YouTube, create an account and make a favorites list of your own.

I’m not going to leave you hanging with a parody though. Here’s the extended version of the original inspiration for J’s latest classic killer. They were part of the Philadelphia sound of the 70′s. They are the Intruders and this is “I’ll Always Love My Mama”.

What are some of your favorite Philly groups from the classic soul era? Share a tune or pass a clip along. That’s the kind of link love I want to see.

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