Three

It's been three years since this happened.

(Please disregard the insanely lopsided cake.)

Next up, the Bings return to Tennessee (for some BBQ, indoor nature, and a quick jaunt to the great NC for a look at the Biltmore!)

Forum

I watched, did you?

I typically watch all the debates, all the conventions, all the hoopla surrounding elections....this by far has been my favorite set-up. I loved the variety of questions. I love the spontaneity. I loved the whole thing. I laughed, I cried, I learned, I was pleased, I was surprised, I was disappointed, I was angry...I was so much.

I hope this civil forum set-up continues. Considering Husband even watched voluntarily, obviously it reaches a whole new audience for the candidates. Well done, Rick, well done.

If you missed out, it's been replaying on CNN or you can watch by following the link above.

North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

By Your Side -- Tenth Avenue North

Cry

Most days you make me angry.
Most days you make me want to vomit.

Today you made me cry.

One of the Hundreds of Reasons why Barack Obama will not get my vote

...originally posted by a fellow blogger at ClothConfessions.

Watch it.

...as if I need another reason...

Fellowship

Life Together: A Shared Life

by Rick Warren

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony!

Psalms 133:1 (TEV)

*** *** *** ***

God intends for us to experience life together. The Bible calls this shared experience fellowship.

Today, however, the word has lost most of its biblical meaning. Fellowship now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun.

The question, “Where do you fellowship?” means “Where do you attend church?” “Stay after for fellowship” usually means “Wait for refreshments.”

Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is experiencing life together. It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other “one another” commands found in the New Testament.

When it comes to fellowship, size matters: smaller is better. You can worship with a crowd, but you can’t fellowship with one.

Once a group becomes larger than about ten people, someone stops participating—usually the quietest person—and a few people will dominate the group.

Jesus ministered in the context of a small group of disciples. He could have chosen more, but he knew twelve is about the maximum size you can have in a small group if everyone is to participate.

The body of Christ, like your own body, is really a collection of many small cells. The life of the body of Christ, like your body, is contained in the cells.

For this reason, every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church, whether is it a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class, or a Bible study. This is where real community takes place, not in the big gatherings.

If you think of your church as a ship, the small groups are the lifeboats attached to it. God has made an incredible promise about small groups of believers: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20 NASB).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

Thanks

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,402483,00.html

Thanks for speaking out and for speaking truth in love.

Always good to hear from a Brother =)

Football

So, my one sports-related love is quickly approaching. College football begins August 28th and I can't wait. The Pre-Season Rankings have come out on ESPN and my Mountaineers have come in at number eight. Pretty respectable...hopefully I'll even make it to a game this season...at the very least, plans are in the works for a game later in the season =)

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/powerranking

Wii

Yesterday was a bad TV day. There was absolutely nothing on TV. About 4ish Husband and BFF-D decided that "this was when a Wii would come in handy". And off we went...after a stop at Maggie Moos for dinner (yes, ice cream for dinner, don't judge us!) we were off to Best Buy and Toy R Us. No Wiis in stock. Sad. While leaving the Toys R Us, we noticed a small sign, "Wii's arrive Sunday, August 3rd". Thinking our quest was over, not much was thought of this sign by The Team.

Sunday morning. 9am.

Husband: Hurry up and get ready, you have a half-hour.
BFF-D: What?
Husband: We're gonna go get a Wii.
Me: Seriously?
Husband: Yes, hurry up, we gotta go!

11:30am - Back home with Wii.

BFF-D and I still can't believe what just happened...