God's Man

Finally we have Malachi Chapter 4. 1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.  4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.    5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with ...

Continuing into Malachi 3 ...    1 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.    2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.    5 “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fathe...

Continuing our walk through Malachi... Malachi 2    1 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.  3 “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. 4 And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD Almighty. 5 “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned...

So since this is the last day of 2010 I will be sharing the last few chapters of the Old and New Testaments.  The last book of the Old testament is Malachi and we will look at chapters 1-4 along with what I took from them. Malachi 1    1 A prophecy: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.   Israel Doubts God’s Love    2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’      “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”    4 Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.”      But this is what the LORD Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish....

So I just did the last check of the night and the Princesses are conked out and my Queen is also softly sleeping. This made me think about how God has truly blessed me over this last 10 year cycle and how excited I am for this one. God is truly capable of amazing things. I have seen Him heal people both mentally and physically. I have seen marriages on the brink find reconciliation. I have seen children born to those previously thought to be infertile. I have even seen him bring peace through death. I haven't always understood it but I have recognized it for what it is, a loving God who desires to have a relationship with us. As we approach this New Year, I hope that you would take the time to examine what is truly important. He is waiting to recieve you. All you have to do is call on Him. Happy New Year if I do not post anymore before 2011. Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

As most of my friends know I am not a sports guy.  Love to play but rarely watch.  Unless it is my beloved Raiders.  I found this video through one of my Twitter peeps.  The question that this brings up to me is Who Defines You? Go GO GO! God's Man

Here is the second of the 5 Minute Drills that Princess Mighty and I did last night.  The actual drill was Why I Love School but since I am not here is,   Why I love to learn I think that learning is very important and value it above many other pursuits.  The reason for this is because God has called us to always be growing in our knowledge of His word and of the world around us.  While we should not live to emulate the world we should know how to operate within it.  I didn't always get this.  When I was in school I didn't work as hard as I should because I didn't see how important that an education was.  I let my peers define my production.  This made it very hard for me to get into college.  Through God's grace I was able to get into college and my mind was really opened to what learning really is.  Outside of my classes I was able to study poetry, art, religion, politics, philosophy.  I was also able to learn about business...

So my oldest daughter (Princess Mighty) and I did some five minute drills last night while I was cooking dinner.  I thought I would share one of them.  Sorry it is shorter than my normal drills but I was multitasking.   Why I love God I love God because He saved me.  How did he save me?  He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins.  I would never have been able to bridge the gap between God and myself because of my sin.  God's forgiveness allows me to truly have joy and peace in my life.   God has blessed me with A loving family Wife and daughters Amazing parents An extended church family The ability to provide financially The respect of my peers The love of my wife Health and Strength   Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

This young lady has some ice skating skills.   Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

I spoke to the my family at Living Hope Church this past Sunday.  I shared with them that this week is the Most Important Week of the Year.  Let me share the passage, taken from Hebrews, that we talked about. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.  You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.   Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity... - Hebrews 5:11-6:1a Here Paul is admonishing the Church that they have begun to fall away and have cannot grow because they are still struggling w...

Merry Christmas From My Family To Yours.     God's Man

  I was expecting something humorous.  I was pleasantly surprised.  This was created by http://ignitermedia.com .   God's Man Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

  This is a great idea.  I wonder if this could work here in the US? Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

  I love this video and hope that you will join in on sharing what truly is Good News.  Like is says on their site Christmas can [still] change the world.   Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can. I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.” Dean Alfange

Once again I am taking part in the most exciting and nerve racking competition ever devised NaNoWriMo.  This stands for the  National Novel Writing Month  Challenge that is organized by the Offices of Letters and Light.  Over the next 30 days I will, once again, attempt to write a 50,000 word novel.  I will also be consuming lots of coffee, Go Kureig, and miss lots of sleep.  This will be the 6th year that I participate and I am looking forward to it.  Last year was the first year that I have ever made it over the finish line, novel in hand.  The title of my novel was The FaithWalker and it was one of the most unpublisheable (sic) pieces I have ever read but I loved ever bit of it.  This year, like the others, I am asking for donations towards the Offices of Letter's and Light and their Young Writers Program.  This program does creative writing projects encouraging kids and adults in classrooms, communities, and libraries around the world.  I would be grateful if you would joi...

So there you have it.  Me as a wrinkled mess at the end of the workday September 13, 2010.

This is going to be an interesting week for me.  I am coping with 2 different types of loss and the return of 1 very exciting thing that I do.   Loss Last week my wonderful bride changed jobs.  This was a significant win for us because it saved her from a frustrating work environment.  A less stressed out wife makes for a happier house overall.  On top of that she is moving into a new industry and she is looking forward to something different.  All of the above stuff is good.  The downside is that we are now working in different cities.  I had gotten spoiled by our morning commute and the occasional, as work permitted, lunch together.  It was strange driving into work without my bride next to me.  I am happy for her new opportunity but I am sad at this loss of connection everyday.   My second loss is the departure of my "Big Brother" from work.  He also took a new job which means a new opportunity for him....

Taken from http://www.everypicture.com/ My amazing god-daughter posted the bolded portion of the prayer of benediction. I was intrigued by it and after some research found out it was a prayer given by the Franciscan Monks. I thought I would share it with all of you. May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. (St. Francis of Assissi) Have a great weekend and g...

My  Laptop Bag holds 1 Dell pp18-l  laptop (Work Laptop) 1  Apple Powerbook g4 (Play Laptop) 2 notepads Work and Play 2 Pull - ups for Princess Mini Assorted CDs and DVDs First Family by David  Balducci FPU Coordinators Guide 1 Water Bottle 1 2GB Thumb Drive The Ever Loving Truth by Voddie Bachman   So there you have it.  What is in my bag.

This is my "Big" Brother, Anthony. Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

My Belief's The sole basis for my belief is the Bible, which is uniquely God-inspired, without error, and the final authority on all matters on which it speaks.  As the Bible teaches, there is one God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each possessing all the attributes of deity. God created humans to have fellowship with Him, but they defied God by sinfully going their own way.  As a result, we need God’s saving grace to end our alienation from Him.  Salvation comes only through God’s grace - not human effort - and must be received personally by repentance and faith. Jesus Christ, second Person of the Trinity, lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross as our substitute.  This accomplished salvation for all who receive grace by trusting in Him alone.  He rose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us.  He baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit. He will return t...

A Moment This took place in 2001 in Tallahassee, FL.  It was very early in the morning and my Queen, Still a Princess, and were having a seemingly normal conversation.  Honestly I could not tell you what we were talking about.  All I can remember is the battle that was happening inside of me.  The queen and I had been dating for about 2 years at that point.  Our relationship was long distance one at that point.  I was living in Oakland, CA and she was in FL finishing her degree. This was going to be our last night for a while as cross country travel was not cheap.  I was a bundle of nerves and emotions.  As we had this conversation I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.  I was trying to keep my hands from sweating since we were holding hands at the time.  The conversation was starting to wane as it was late and we were both tired at that point.  I kept trying to tell her but I just couldn't  Something was holding me ba...

My Best Friends There are many people that I have called best friend.  There is my 1st cousin Aaron M, my friends Joyce F., Steve H., Jeff C., Daryl T., or Steven Mal.  For all of them the common thread is that they have been in my life for a long time and I know that I could call on them at the drop of a hat.  Another component that makes a good best friend is that while they always listen to what you have to say, they will shoot straight and tell you the truth. Aaron M - Big Chicken Being that we are only about a month apart in age we have literally been together forever.  Our fathers were good, if not best friends growing up.  Now as retired men they talk every day.  We have shared in each other's victories as well as failures and we have been there for each other in so many different ways. Joyce F. - Sally's Daughter Our relationship started in Middle school and has lasted through today.  The two of us have always been there for each other....

My Day My days are weird.  The project that I am working on is going Sideways right now.  That means that we are not longer progressing towards completion.  We are just moving in a straight line sideways.  This is what my day looked like on Wednesday Sept 1, 2010. 5:30 - Alarm goes off 6:15 - Wife and I get out of bed 6:45 - My Bride begins getting children out of bed 7:15 - Family leaves the house 7:25 - Drop off Princess Mini (2yr old) at her school 7:45 - Drop off Princess Mighty (7 yr old) at My Parents house for school bus 7:55 - Got Coffee! 8:25 - Drop off the Queen at the train so she can finish her commute 8:35 - Park my car and begin walk to office 9:00 - Status call with my teams in Baltimore, New Delhi, and Hydrabad 9:30 - Send status of teams to Management via email. 10:00 - Give status update to same management during a 30 minute conference call 11:00 - Finish 30 minute conference call 11:15 - Eat Breakfast 12:00 - Lunch Break (Not eati...

We are starting a new series this week.  You can see the live feed here or here .  You can join me in the chat room here .

Princess Mini and I waiting on an oil change. See and download the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

My definition of love There are 4 types of love and when I think about love they seem so appropriate. Stergo - Parental  -  As a parent there is a type of love that I only feel towards my children and god-children.  This is the love that protects and guides. Eros - Sexual (Passionate) -  As a husband this is the type of love that I only have for my wife.  'nuff said. Philio - Familial (Brotherly) - As a member of a family this is the type of love expressed one to the other. Agape - Sacrificial (Love like God) -  This love is the love that God showed me through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.  He died to free me from a sin nature that I could never overcome on my own.  He stepped out of eternity and came here for me and for you. We are all called to practice each of these types of love in our life.  We are called to love God above all and then to love our neighbors as ourselves.  I see this function in my l...

What I ate today - 02 Sept 2010 Breakfast 2 Bob Evans turkey sausage patties 1/2 piece of toast with strawberry preserves, that Princess Mighty (my oldest) didn't finish. 1 glass of milk Lunch 1 Turkey Sandwich on Wheat Bread 1 bag of Utz Baked Cheez Curls 1 Capri Sun Dinner 10 Tyson Dino Nuggets Too Many Oreida French Fries Red Juice (As Princess Mini calls it)

My Parents... On August 31, 2010 my parents will have been married for 36 years. The have been 2 of the most influential people in my life and for that I am grateful. A lot of who I am, good and bad, is due to that influence. So where do I begin. Well I have always like girls more than boys so I guess it is ladies first. An Introduction My mother is the middle child of "Buster" and Doris. She grew up in a row house in Baltimore, MD and has 3 older sisters, one deceased, one younger sister, and one younger brother. She is a strong women, who has lived by a motto "You do what you have to" My dad is the oldest of two. His parents, "Collie" and Golden, lived in Hanover, MD in a neighborhood called Matthewstown. If I was to sum my dad up in a motto it would be "Laugh and the whole world laughs with you... or at you." What I learned from them Work Hard Both of my parents worked while I was growing up so working was something that I ...

Well my 30 Day Trial was hit by Life.  Sorry for that.  I will be getting caught up with posts this weekend and.  So for those of you who are still going keep it up.  I'm looking at you MoMo . God's Man PS.  Hopefully this scheduled post thing will work.  See you back here at 8:00am.

Day 2 - My First Love... I remember it like it was a flashback from an old sit-com complete with distortion sound and wavy camera lens. I went to what is now known as Hebron Harmens Elementary School.  When I was there it was simply Harmens Elementary.  I went there along with most of the cousins on my Dad's side of the family.  We all lived in the same neighborhood so school was never boring.  Before I get lost what were we talking about?  Oh yeah my first love.  Her name was Evelyn and I met her in kindergarten.  I don't think that I was in love with her then, I mean who remembers back that far with enough clarity and who was in boy-girl style love at that point?  We were in Mrs. Demos', pronounced Dee-Mos', class.  I remember her because every year at the end of the school year I went back and talked to her.  Anyway back to Evelyn... She and I hovered around each other, in the same class one year and in a different class the nex...

I planned to write a long narrative introduction today, with lots of editing, however my time was consumed by the whirlwind.  In order to make sure that I do not start my 30 Day Challenge with a loss I am going to do this 5 minute drill style. I have been using this as my online elevator speech for as long as I have been blogging.  Here is who God's Man is: I am Husband to the World's Greatest Wife. I am Father to the World's Greatest Daughters. I am a Servant to the Most High God. I am one guy committed to God's Plan for his life. So let me break this down in reverse order I am one guy committed to God's Plan for his life For the last 8 years I have been training and operating as a leader of men.  My heart has been to help men understand the potential that God has placed inside of them.  That is part of the reason that this blog has continued beyond its original intent. I am a Servant of the Most High God I am a believer and fol...

I ran across this while visiting A. Smith's blog Diamond Dust .  You know how fond I am of 30 Day Challenges so I will be doing this one starting TOMORROW!  Join in with me at your blog and drop a link to your posts in the comments section.  I promise to stop by and take a look.  If you are not a Blogger or you want to do something different than pick your challenge and update us in the comments section.   If you want to read some background on our prior 30 Day Challenges look here.   Over the next 30 days I will be writing about the topic list below and encouraging those who join in.   Day 01 – Introduce yourself Day 02 – Your first love Day 03 – Your parents Day 04 – What you ate today Day 05 – Your definition of love Day 06 – Your day Day 07 – Your best friend Day 08 – A moment Day 09 – Your beliefs Day 10 – What you wore today Day 11 – Your siblings Day 12 –...

Out with guys.  Been a long time since I have done something like this.  Enjoy your Saturday. See and download the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from Pulling It All Together

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http://read.ly/Deut28.1.NIV   or   http://read.ly/Deut28.15.NIV    

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Learning to enjoy where you are... http://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/2010/07/29/whats-the-difference-between-a-good-and-great-marriage/   So Sad... http://ephphatha3.blogspot.com/2010/07/marriage-counselor-killed-by-husband.html   Don't take each other for granted... http://www.blacknbougie.com/2010/07/rwntd-get-real-already-dont-date-what.html   What do we need to unlearn? http://utmost.org/   What a time that was?  http://www.andyandrews.com/blog/letter-to-the-editor/