Good Gravy!!

From Duane's blog:

Disorder	Rating
Paranoid:	Low
Schizoid:	Low
Schizotypal:	Moderate
Antisocial:	Low
Borderline:	Low
Histrionic:	Moderate
Narcissistic:	Moderate
Avoidant:	Low
Dependent:	Moderate
Obsessive-Compulsive:	Low
-- Click Here To Take The Test --

Hmmm...narcissistic, definitely...dependant, check...schizotypal...don't like the sound of that.

It's about bloody well time!!

When will I ever learn to go to bed before 12 A.M.?

Couple of things to update:

Rick & Dave P. I made a new blog to conduct and give updates for our new book discussion group on "Days of Vengeance". You can find it here!

Also Karlene is going to a scrapbooking convention and the boys are going to my Mom & Dad's house tonight. So I'll be batchin' (as in bachelor) it pretty hard. Who want's to come over for beer, baseball and either Super Nintendo or poker? Dave B I know you're in.

Josh Update:

Joshie is adjusting nicely to life as a NCA student. He seems to be eating up all his lessons and he loves Latin. With Karly’s birthday being celebrated this last week, he’s had the opportunity to break out the birthday song in Latin more than once. It’s soooo cute to hear his little lispy, gap-toothed voice sing it. He’s not so hot on pensmanship as of yet as well as counting to fifty by memory, but that will improve with practice. He has had some problems though with a few bed-wetting incidents lately but that’s to be expected given his sudden changes in his daily routine (along with the stresses that come with dropping baby teeth at a mad rate). All in all he still is the same ol’ loud, life-loving, whale-obsessed self.

Cabe Update:

Caleb’s in the pushing/testing stage. Y’know, the “let’s see how far I can push the limits of Mommy’s/Daddy’s patience” stage. Call it the terrible twos or whatever, he’s beginning to assert his independence more and more. This is a stage where I have to be careful. I want him to be able to question and test but at the same time there can be no quarter for disobedience or disrespect. It seemed easier with Josh, he was testy from the womb, whereas Caleb, being similar to me, was more mellow, more likely to take things in and assess the situation rather than react right away. As a result, I fear this has lulled me into a false sense of security and unfortunately I have found myself letting Caleb slide on things where Josh never did. That’s wrong and I have to stop that immediately.

One of the joyous things though has been to see Josh and Caleb’s relationship develop. They are starting to cultivate the friendship inherent in their brotherhood and that is something that I cherish seeing. I know it won’t be consistent, especially as Josh grows and starts to have regular friends, but they are learning things now that, God willing, they will carry into their elder years.

Oh, and both boys are obsessed with the word “poop”. Well, they are their Daddy’s boys.

How busy is it at work today…let me count the ways.

1. Two of my co-workers are busy looking up the complete lyrics for the old Saturday Night Live/Dr.Demento song “Fish Heads”
2. My cube neighbor is balancing his checkbook, credit card statements both on his Palm Pilot and in his day-timer.
3. Two more co-workers are plating catch with a stress ball.
4. I’m writing this to keep me from falling asleep…It’s not working.

"The USA will betray the cause of freedom if it attacks every tinhorn despot and group of malcontents who disparage American ideals. Rather than seek to whip the world into an anti-Saddam frenzy prior to launching a new war, the Bush administration should admit that dropping 15,000-pound "Daisy Cutter" bombs on foreign lands does not automatically create political utopias. The United States' military superiority does not confer a magic wand on its presidents to solve all of the problems in every corner of the globe."

Great stuff by James Bovard! Also read Rep. Ron Paul's (R-TX) address to Congress about pro-war claims and the facts that decry them.

So, who's with me?

As the White Stripes' song goes, I'm finding it harder to be a gentleman every day.

OK, when I open the door for ladies, do I:

A. Go out first then hold the door open for them a la doorman? (Acceptable, but I feel that I'm rushing to get out first in order to hold it open thereby freaking the girls out)

-OR-

B. Hold the door open from the inside using only my stretched-out arm? (Not effective because of my...ahem...girth. It's also painful)

As you may tell this can be a source of awkwardness for me. I think I'll go with option A and disregard the weird stares. Is there another option I'm missing?

I've got a craving for my Grandma's tamales. Too bad she only makes 'em for Christmas.

Honest question

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. -- Romans 8:18-25

How would Amillenialists interpret the "groaning/renewal of creation" here? It seems that this passage argues strongly for a fallen creation longing for it's future, actual renewal. I don't think we can interpret "creation" to be "sons of God" (us), because Paul makes a distinction between the two in vv.19 & 23.

This passage (fitting into the previous theme of what Paul has explained in Romans) seems to indicate that just as we (creation and humanity) fell in the first Adam so we (creation and humanity) are reconciled in the Second Adam. Just as we are longing for our future renewal (in sanctification and glorification) so to all creation (e.g. seas, rocks, trees, animals) longs for that as well. The passage indicates that both will see their redemption.

This seems to fly in the face of an "it's all gonna burn anyway when we get the new earth" attitude that pessimills seem to advocate. It also gives creedence to the postmill vision that sees a future glorious Edenic renewal for the fallen creation.

Tommorow's not a good day for rebels...One for the Anabaptists and one for the Commies

In 1635: Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for disturbing the peace, refusing to submit to the governance of the state and promoting heretical views

In 1967: Latin American guerilla leader, Che Guevara was executed while attempting to incite revolution in Bolivia.

I could write a pseudo-pithy statement about how godless rebellion always results in the eventual destruction of culture but I'm not that smart, it's already been done and I'm sleepy.

G'night

Seriously people...

While checking my tracker, I discovered the search results that people have used to stumble upon my blog.

The winner...DEEP FRIED TWINKEE with 5 searches.

Good gravy people I hope you're not looking for the recipie...I'd hate to think of your collective cholesterol levels.

And one honorable mention just because it's so flippin' creepy...MIKE SCIOSCIA, SHOWER

Please tell me that you're not looking for pictures...*shudder*

Various Nicknames I Went by in High School

Helichapter
The Mamas and the Chapas
Chapa Chip Cookie
Achapalypse Now
"Chapper...Sic B*lls"
Chapinator

and my favorite...

Chapa the Hutt

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." --Matt. 5:38-42 (ESV)

Question:

Idealistic pacifism as a means of evangelism? -OR- Gritty realism of how to get by in a world of Christ-haters?

Discuss amongst yo'selves.

How sad.

According to this article it seems that Big Idea (the company that produces the Veggie Tales series) is in dire financial trouble and may not survive for long if their new feature-film, Jonah doesn't see box-office success.

Even though the trite moralisms and playing fast and loose with Bible stories gets on my nerves at times, they are overall quite entertaining and a far better alternative to some of the trash that gets marketed as children's entertainment.

FWIW, my wife took my two sons to see the movie on Friday and had nothing but good things to say about it. I really hope Big Idea can pull through this crisis. They took the risk, I hope they can reap the rewards.

Felix Natalis Cara Karlene

I love you sweetie. I pray I will make your next 27 years even happier than the first 27.