Okay not the lottery...actually this has nothing to do with money.  I just wanted to say I've changed up my music for another week so if anyone is interested they can give it a listen on my main page.  I have a variety in there as always and like to share it so feel free.  What's life without some music ?  Have a blessed weekend, it's almost here!

Yes, today I was so honored to be nominated not just once but twice.  First by  Babbelot and then by Rambling On.  I have to echo the sentiments that Miss Rambling had on her blog about how everyone on the friends list deserves an award.  I can honestly say each person on mine also has made a difference to me personally so it can be difficult to choose only seven for this award .  My first nomination will go to:

1. Greg.  I can't express how much he has been a help to me in the times of trouble and he's always made the good times better...my hat's off to you man, you're the best!
2. Rambling On. I know I'm nominating you after you nominated me but I can't help it.  I've had a lot of people that have blessed me but you've stuck with in a way that's been incredible and I can't thank you enough for who you are!
3. Lisa.  What can I say?  Lisa inspires me on many levels and has proven to be a faithful and excellent friend...I salute you and your attitude and your pictures are some of the best I've ever seen...no lie, thank you!
4. Catfish Stew.  What a blessing you've been!  Your stories are not only fun to read but always have a morale that I've appreciated.  Down to earth and the salt of the earth...thanks for being you my friend!
5. Nancy.  I have to say thanks for the great conversations we've had and for the great stuff you post...you might say you've been the bread and butter of the net for me these days...awesome job!  Keep up the good work!
6. Marina, I've told her before that it's not every day I have someone from Iran visit my page.  You're sweet spirit and great pictures have been a real blessing...I still want some recipes from your country though!
7. Last but not least:  Bob.  What a sense of humor you've got!  Talking to you has never left me without a smile on my face and a feeling that my life is somehow richer...you're the bomb dude!

Like I said these are not the only friends I have that make a difference by any means, I appreciate you all and love you guys!  You can take as much or as little out of blogging you want I'm thankful that you've inspired me to take something more.  All of you deserve an award in my opinion...call it the Morbid Angel award of excellence if you will.  Thank you everybody!

How do you like that for a title?  I thought it was fitting considering the subject matter.  We went to the zoo the other day in spite of the possibility for severe storms .  It was about as hot as I'd want it to get for walking around the zoo but it was well worth the trip.  The children had good time and it was fun to see the animals though let me make it clear the Montana zoo doesn't have that many animals.  Some of them like to pose more than others in fact I'd go as far to say that some are rather fixated on themselves .  I think that peacock was the only male around so he felt obligated to show us he was prettier than anyone.  The rabbits didn't seem to care even a little bit and actually I think they would rather we moved on and let them sleep through the 100 degree heat .  Sometimes the zoo can seem like more of a petting zoo with the kinds of animals that are there but that's okay.  The goats always have their own personality .  This white one seemed to be able to scratch himself just about anywhere with his horns and when he was finished with that he even managed to smile for the camera !  They manage to have lots of cotton wood and classic Montana foliage along the path...I liked how everything looked through the large trees  .  I don't mind going there even if there aren't that many animals just for the walk along the trail .  There's plenty of thistles along the trail that are blooming beautifully now.  The newest addition to the zoo is a very large bear who was very entertaining ...he knew just what to do in the heat !  Next we passed the tiger who didn't position himself in such a way where I could get a decent picture so we moved onto the red panda...aside from the heat....solid comfort .  The way the heat has been I felt like joining him up there .  Animals are remarkable for many reason...I just wish I could scratch my chin with my foot!  I feel the pressure of the day just fall away when I'm out with my family...it's just us, God and nature...nothing fancy at the zoo to the naked eye but when I look around me I feel the presence of God there and the pressures just melt away .  Crossing the bridge after we saw the bear the eagles were next...they are all recovering from injuries and are rescues ...looking into their eyes you can see that they want no pity!  I envy them their fighting spirit .  Our ministry here is called Eagle Ministries and I find that name so appropriate because like these eagles we've taken our wounds and kept going and the Lord has always been the wind beneath our wings...such it has been and always will be.  I see the theme continue in that there's beauty even in very prickly situations.  We can fixate on the thorns or look at the bloom that's right out there...just look a little higher.  The big surprise was when they brought out the porcupine out that they'd raised from a tiny little critter to this 6yr. old adult .  We got within a foot of this porcupine...I've seen them before but somehow didn't notice how cute they are...again...looking past the spines .  We came home figuring that we'd dodged the bad storms they were talking about but then the wind came up like a flash...a bunch of dirt started to fly up and I thought we were honestly going to get hit by a tornado...way too close for comfort!  Good news it wasn't a tornado...just very strong wind and some incredible lightning ...it could change the night into day with blasts that covered the whole sky east to west .  I tried to get the best lightning picture ever but it was very difficult to get one at just the right moment...should have stuck with video but it was wild enough out there that even I didn't want to chance it.  This was the best shot I got.  Through it all God kept us safe and sound and I found myself once again thankful for God's protection through it and for giving us such a blessed day.  Many times we can feel that it would be nice if God would move here or there but more often than not I find the question being more:  "where am I willing to recognize the blessings that are right there?"  I don't mean to be trite but I'd rather make a molehill out of a mountain than a mountain out of a molehill as we say here...ironically I don't even know if we've got any moles...but we do say that.  Every time someone blows up a little situation and makes it much larger someone always says that.  I could see that better today.  If you really want peace many times you've got to be a peacemaker...not the sloppy "love" that man talks about that requires no obligation or commitment but that which stands on the principles of the bible and really strives for peace via commitment to that which is right and the sloppy business of loving people as God does....minus controlling them to death or letting them tear you apart.  It's a fine balancing technique that reminds me of something my martial arts instructor once said:  "Joe, quite simply there can be no power without balance."  I don't speak of compromising what matters in life but I am talking about doing what it takes to be the salt of this world without losing what matters most before God and still loving people.  I'm striving for this...I refuse to become a person that's no good to himself or anyone else.  I hope you've all had a blessed weekend...can you believe it's already Monday tomorrow?

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YouTube - Incredible video of the July 23, 2008 Manitoba tornado
    I often check this website for their tornado footage and thought I'd put this up today for kicks.  I have always dreamed of going on a tour where you can get pictures and video of storms like this.  I don't believe anyone was hurt in these because of the countryside where they struck and that's just how it should be.  Anyway, enjoy it!

It's been a lot longer than I like since my last post.  I don't like too much time to go on from one post to another.  I wish I could say that I was in deep study getting some huge revelation for this post but I can't say that's true.  Sometimes it's just a dry spell for words and pictures .  Well, one surefire way to get some good pictures is to go for a walk with Lovely in the evening.  Truth but told this is one of my all time favorite things to do in the summer when it's nice and warm...just perfect around the time the sun is setting.  I knew the day was going to be a good one when I looked in the back yard to witness another storm rolling by and I took a panoramic shot of it...I think I'm going to be doing more of this...here's the view right out the back door:  ... I will never get tired of the view back there!  This took about six shots stitched together to give an idea of what our view is.  Usually if there's a storm back here it won't hit us but will pass by after giving several photo opportunities.  I can usually tell in advance when it's getting interesting outside because of how the clouds start to look:  but other times there's no warning at all and I just walk outside and am blown away by the beauty of the portrait God is painting out there .  Sometimes I can take a shot or two before we walk and think it's done....nearly every time I do that I miss it as it gets better and better .  I love to take pictures as Lovely and I come around the bend near the where the road ends where it's still undeveloped because there's little obstruction of the sunset .  These may not be the best shots I've ever taken but it's also the memories behind these pictures that I treasure.  This tree was so majestic standing out there on it's own ...it just struck me in it's beauty...storms come and go, seasons come and go but this tree just stands in silent vigilance giving voiceless praise to the Creator.  It's pure magic when the street lights come on and the first stars start to twinkle...even if you never heard a preacher...can't you hear nature itself say that God has made all of this ?  We walked a large loop before coming once again to this lone tree...it doesn't rant or rail, it just gives it's strong and quiet testimony that God is real .  This is a slice of heaven to me!

I was tagged to day by Silvery Lizard.  I am really swamped today and don't know when it will let up so I'm going to have to end this with me...I'm sure my friends are all crying about this right now but I just have to let the buck stop with me .  I will post eight, count 'em eight things about me that I'm sure you're all dying to know and then my friends are free, free at last !  Here's the list you've all been dying to see...hope you're all ready for it: 

1. I'm a guitarist who plays mostly praise and worship but I absolutely love harder edged music...Megadeth, Demon Hunter and bands such as Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin are among my favorites.
2. I'm generally speaking a night owl and wish that there was no need for sleep sometimes...try not to talk loud (or at all) before I've had some caffeine.
3. Before I ever became a missionary I seriously considered the military...wanted Airborne actually.  Mom accepted a mission to Africa and I followed and the mission field still holds my heart today.
4. I only dated once before I found the girl I married...both of us are an only child.
5. I nearly died of a convulsion when I was a baby.
6. Originally my name that I use here was a gamer tag I used while playing video games.  A satanic band uses the same name but believe me that's not why I use the name!
7. I have a passion for music and have well over six thousand songs on my i-Pod.  When I choose the music of the week there's seldom some deep thought...it's the random mix and the seven songs that come up...deep huh?

I'm generally a home body...ironic for a missionary I know.  Spending time with my wife and family to me is better than anything in the whole world...I love them so much!  I home school my kids and this occupies much of my time once the summer is over...they are worth every second of it.  It's not for everyone maybe but it's the only way to go in my opinion.

There's a few things, maybe you all pretty much knew it anyway but I hope it entertains a bit.  I've got to get going.  Real life beckons.  I'm glad this came up though...I've wanted to post again but just haven't had the material as of yet.  Love ya all!

We've had a weird shift in our weather and usually when that's going to happen we can get some spectacular sunsets .  Mom called me outside to witness this spectacular sunset .  Everyone who visits my blog at this point knows that I like sunsets a lot .  Fact is I don't think I've ever seen two of them that are the same so I guess it doesn't matter if I have pictures like this in a blog or two (or three or four) .  Our friend Jay and Heather were married yesterday .  My mom did a great job...even if I do say so myself.  It was a festive arrangement in his parents backyard and the weather really cooperated beautifully .  I wasn't the official photographer because I had to baby sit Gabby but I did like taking a picture or two along the way <--communion glass and bread.  Our friend Tricia and my mom worked on the flower arrangements which I thought were very, very nice !  Our biggest surprise came with the arrival of our friend Steve from Iraq who showed up unannounced to the sheer joy of everyone...even his family didn't know he was coming home yet.  Our daughter Gabby remembered him and just hugged him so hard...it brought tears to our eyes.  Now a few lighter moments...the younger brother of the groom has some huge piercings....much bigger than mine I might add so Lovely got the idea for this shot and this ...it still makes me laugh!  I've known Noah since the day he was born...not a little boy any more though..here he is with Lovely .  Lovely and Steve's eldest sister Bridgette hammed it up for me .  Finally RD brings the groom to the front !  Steve holds his nephew for the first time...he was born while he was in transit from Iraq so he didn't even know he'd been born yet ...that's his sister Abby who just had the baby on the left.  My wife made the cake for the wedding ...she always does such a great job...check out the top here LOL!  If you knew Jay as well as we do you'd know how accurate this thing really is!  Here's another couple views ...nice job Lovely !  No matter what the angle it's a great cake ! Part of this cake was white cake with raspberry while the other section...my personal favorite was chocolate with Bavarian cream!  This was Jay and Heather's first dance...poor lighting...sorry  , I know these guys are going to be happy together, I think they're the perfect compliment to one another  .  Noah and Steve's sister Kathy and my wife Lovely wanted another picture .  Honestly sometimes I wonder about Noah..... ....

It was a remarkable weekend though looking back on it there was nothing I could say was spectacular...then again beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say .  I know this seems to be a re-occurring theme on my blog but none the less I find it true .  Some would say it's just a sunset, I've seen those before but I wonder what makes a sunset beautiful really ?  Is it the colors that the sun splashes the sky with ?  The clouds and the particular way they are shaped by the Creator's hand that day ?  Is it a combination of these things ?  Or could it be there's an element within each of us that is also made by this same creator that reaches back to the one who made us all and wants to give praise to Him whom it's do ?  They say all paths lead the same place that no particular religion has the monopoly on truth but I fundamentally disagree with that.  Christ really is the way the truth and life as He said (John 14: 6).  Truth isn't a relative thing that changes with how others define it rather the Truth is a person and that person just happens to be the son of God.  This is not a free license to persecute others nor is it an opportunity to hate.  This can be seen in the life of Christ in that even when He was crucified He said:  "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23: 34).  Some suggest that fundamentalist Christians are as dangerous as any other extremist in the world today...my only challenge to that would be that is only true if the person you're talking about is fundamentally wrong by what they think the bible says.  John 3: 16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  This isn't a message of hate nor is it a message that says every philosophy is on equal terms.  I can't even walk out the door without seeing God's awesome love for us .  I've heard of Jesus referred to as the Lily of the Valley...seems appropriate .  I've also heard of Him called the Rose of Sharon .  This also seems appropriate in a world that still does have things all around us that shows His love for the human race .  I have friends of many religions, friends that are Christian but don't follow Christ as I do...does this make me love them any less?  Does this make God love them any less?  I don't believe it does...not even one little bit.  This being said I don't believe that every belief leads a person on the right path nor do they all lead to heaven.  I don't believe I should ever force someone to believe as  I believe, I don't believe in bringing down a person for disagreeing with me nor do I believe I should be brought down if a person doesn't agree with me.  If we really want multiculturalism and tolerance it will have to start with us personally.  It can never come from being intolerant to someone else...that can only bring further intolerance.  We cannot be multicultural without mutual respect...multiculturalism and tolerance are two way streets or it's nothing more than common hypocrisy.  I stare at the beauty of the flowers and then our "gardeners" come along

Here we are the day before another Independence Day.  I want to take this moment to revisit our trip to Washington D.C. recently to reflect on what it means to me to be an American.  I love the things that this country stands for, it's more than just documents or monuments or even the flag itself.  It's the principle which these things represent which touches the very heart of what it means to be an American.  I love how proudly Old Glory flies before the Washington Monument .  I'm a firm believer of what this flag represents.  I read that George Washington said:  "We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it with white stripes thus showing we have separated from her and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty."  I think that's quite simply beautiful!  Seeing the Washington monument was an amazing thing indeed .  It amazes me that you can walk right up to it and touch it...nobody stops you...it's something anyone can do.  This is what struck me about all the wonderful monuments here.  I cannot describe the feeling of what it was like to actually view the constitution with my own eyes .  People would come and go and many wouldn't even honor the only request of the guard which was please refrain from using your flash.  How could people not feel what I was feeling?  It was electric to witness this document and realize what it means but to feel that you must be willing to feel it.  We enjoy many freedoms but we take so much for granted.  It wasn't just a piece of paper to me.  So many emotions flooded over us all as we stood in the center of our capital building .  I watched the effect of it on my wife who became an American citizen in 2004...July 8th as a matter of fact.  I watched how it effected my children who could see what I've been teaching them about in American History...it was an awesome thing!  Do you know what it's like to go to the WWII memorial and see the effect on a person who has known freedom because of our sacrifice?  I saw this in my wife ...this picture still brings tears to my eyes.  We walked and walked and finally entered the place that we've dreamed of seeing with our own eyes .  Near the Lincoln Memorial are two very solemn memorials...one being the Vietnam War memorial ...again I can't describe what I felt seeing Gabby touch the wall.  The other memorial we visited on the way back took our breath away...the Korean War Memorial .  You see my wife is Asian...Filipino...we lived in the Philippines so  we saw some of what the sacrifice for Asia alone has done...it cut us to the core.  We openly wept here....we came to the end to see this plaque....I couldn't say it any better .  These are the things that make America great to me.  We don't talk about peace and stand by and do nothing...we have fought and sacrificed for our freedom and the freedom of others....at a cost that is immense yet we continue to give.  I'm aware of the mistakes that have been made but today I honor my country and those that have served and are serving in our armed forces.  I acknowledge that freedom isn't free.  That freedom is nothing but chaos if I squander the rights that I have only because others have died for me.  It means something to my wife and I and it means something to my children .  God bless the United States of America!  It's an awesome privilege to stand as an American today!  Here's a little special extra or two from my wife's scrapbook pages  and if you follow this link you can see another little slide show that she made:  Love's Page...if it doesn't work by clicking on it try right clicking on your mouse and then selecting open link.  I wish all who are American a blessed Independence Day and for those that aren't from here I say God bless you too....this world has more than one country in it for sure....and I believe that they are all worth the sacrifice.