Comments Posted By Carl V.
Displaying 61 To 90 Of 204 Comments
I love watching squirrels. When we lived in Tulsa I had a squirrel that hung around outside my office window. I named him Barkley after Sir Charles as I was a fan of the Phoenix Suns at that time.
» Posted By Carl V. On January 12, 2006 @ 6:23 am
I think you should try to get a little spending money for those haircuts Jules! Good job Mr. Fix-it.
» Posted By Carl V. On January 12, 2006 @ 6:24 am
Rob lives!!!! 😛
» Posted By Carl V. On January 7, 2006 @ 1:45 am
Merry Christmas Rob, looks like you did alright this year!
» Posted By Carl V. On December 25, 2005 @ 2:38 am
I just made an assumption from your statement that they were each slightly different and wondered why you only chose to photograph one!
» Posted By Carl V. On December 22, 2005 @ 11:03 am
Very nice…any reason we aren’t seeing pics of the whole bunch?
» Posted By Carl V. On December 20, 2005 @ 3:53 pm
Cute!
» Posted By Carl V. On December 20, 2005 @ 4:04 pm
That birdbath looks a little too much like a urinal…good thing you’re not a heavy drinker Rob! 😉
» Posted By Carl V. On December 15, 2005 @ 9:02 am
With great power comes great responsibility
I think I would rather fly. Invisibility would be fraught with too many temptations to abuse the power. Flight would at least be fun and would save on airfare! 🙂
» Posted By Carl V. On December 12, 2005 @ 1:52 pm
Perhaps Rob, perhaps… 😛
» Posted By Carl V. On December 8, 2005 @ 11:29 am
Handmade stockings? Not so subtle hints at summer movie plans over at my site? Hmmmmm…..
» Posted By Carl V. On December 8, 2005 @ 9:07 am
Glad you’re alright!
» Posted By Carl V. On December 9, 2005 @ 6:23 am
I’m not the biggest fan of fire and brimstone teachings but I do believe there are different types of sermons that make more of an impact on one person vs another and although a person may hear the same call over and over again I believe that God gets everyone to a place, multiple times, in which we finally “hear” the message and can make a choice. I think the emotional part is an important part of our initial connection with God as emotions do play a big part in our lives and what impacts us and it is only through maturity that we begin to rely on faith and not feelings. I do think it is highly important that churchs, and we as individuals, recognize the need to disciple new believers so they can have a much deeper relationship with God and understand that they don’t have to keep making that walk down the aisle.
I don’t entirely fault preachers for making people feel, based on emotional pleas for Christ, that they need to walk down the aisle again. Its easy to start feeling overwhelmed with guilt, fear, etc. once you make a decision to accept Christ and try to become more holy. That is a very normal thing for a baby Christian to do and is something that should be explained to them immediately after they accept Christ.
I also place a great deal of responsibility on the person, especially if they are an adult. We are one of the few cultures in the world who are brought up from birth to expect that everything be given to them…handed to them with little or no work. If an adult makes a commitment to Christ some of the responsibility for picking up the Bible and going to church to learn, etc. has to fall on them. I think one area where churches can improve is in emphasizing more of the commitment aspect of accepting Christ rather than just presenting it as a way to escape hell.
I also think it is important for people to recognize that there are different churches with different callings/missions and it is important as a believer to be in the right church for where you are in your life. This is something else I think is important to teach new believers…you have to be hearing stuff that challenges you to grow, etc.
» Posted By Carl V. On December 6, 2005 @ 10:31 am
I used to have an issue behind emotional pleas for Christ from the pulpit but I don’t so much any more. There are of course those exceptions of people taking things too over the top but I believe that in this world of bombarding messages and instant gratification if your emotions can be touched in such a way to make you reject your human self conscious response to just sit in your seat and actually get up and make a physical commitment to literally come to Christ it is a good start. I believe Christ sees the sincerity of the heart at that vulnerable point and meets the person where they are at as they accept his gift of salvation. Where they go from there is indeed a responsibility of the church and some churches admittedly need some more work in this area but I also believe that we as individuals take some responsibility there to seek out more about Christ…we need to take an active part in our own growth. The baby analogy only goes so far, we are adults and do bear some responsibility for relating Christ without having to be entireley dependent on others. Its a two way street and both sides could use some work.
I think ultimately Christianity/salvation is about the personal relationship with our Creator. That truth is what trumps all the other “ways to live”. No matter what level we are at in our growth, how good our church is, etc. the act of salvation allows us to communicate personally with a God who loves us beyond our ability to truly comprehend. Cool stuff.
» Posted By Carl V. On December 5, 2005 @ 5:11 pm
Good article. I think the same idea is true in regards to the concept of salvation. Is it a one time event? Well yes in regards to the renewal of the spirit and your final destination but the idea of salvation is an ongoing one that is supposed to effect and ultimately transform every area of your life. Its that idea of ‘working out your salvation’. God isn’t purely interested in saving our eternal soul, He is interested in saving our LIVES. Christians seem to sometimes lose the idea that God desires us to have a successful walk down here as well, His salvation is a gift that we are to then take and embrace in every area of our lives. Christianity is indeed a way to live. A conscious choice to allow the Lord into every area of our lives and is something we will struggle with and work on throughout our time here on earth. I’m thankful that I have a God who is willing to give me “fire insurance” but I’m even more grateful that the Creator of the Universe cares enough about me that He wants to see His saving grace permeate my entire existence.
» Posted By Carl V. On December 2, 2005 @ 9:15 am
Aren’t non-commenting blog readers called ‘stalkers’?
Glad you had a good Thanksgiving. Pieces of April is a wonderful movie. I wanted to rewatch it over this past weekend but couldn’t get to it but will be watching it again soon.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 28, 2005 @ 11:25 am
I’m afraid if I got into the habit of walking around with a cup of tea, etc. I’d have to use a full size plate rather than a saucer to account for the spills.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 21, 2005 @ 10:31 pm
The cool thing though, Sarah, is that stores like Linen and Things, Bed Bath & Beyond and some of the more trendy stores sell plates, cups, saucers, etc. individually so you could probably find some complimentary ones to go with your favorite mugs!
» Posted By Carl V. On November 21, 2005 @ 11:35 am
I’m right there in agreement with you. It is really all about atmosphere. We have some nice big mugs that we also use for soups and chili and it just seems to taste that much better when you are using something interesting/comforting rather than a plain old cup or bowl.
This kind of falls in line with the Panera post earlier. The food is really good but a big reason I don’t complain (too much) about the price is that I love the cozy atmosphere of Panera restaurants. I find that atmosphere is a big thing for me when I eat out. I’d much rather eat somewhere that has a unique and/or comforting atmosphere as opposed to your run of the mill restaurants.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 21, 2005 @ 9:35 am
I could go on and on about this subject. No one could accuse me of being a tree hugger as I love the convenience and variety of city life but I also love nature and I get so annoyed on my drive to work as I watch them tear up once beautiful woodland to put yet another Walmart or gas station or chain restaurant. God forbid people have to drive an extra block to get to a place to shop or eat!!!
» Posted By Carl V. On November 21, 2005 @ 9:38 am
The Frontega Chicken is amazing!!! One of my favorite sandwiches from any restaurant anywhere. The food is kind of expensive but if you go for lunch and just get the sandwich or any of the ‘you pick 2’ combos you will get filled up. They briefly had a Portabello Mushroom Bisque that was terrific!!!
» Posted By Carl V. On November 15, 2005 @ 1:44 pm
I think we can catch glimpses of what people were meant to be. The more we hang around others the more warts we’ll see but opening up and loving people allows us to have those moments when we truly see people the way God sees them. And those moments when our guard is down and we are just giving to and loving on others are the moments when they get to see us that way as well. They may sometimes be few and far between but that’s okay, it’ll all be good someday and there really is alot of joy to be had in each day now if you just open up to it and look for it in the simple things.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 17, 2005 @ 3:25 pm
I just knew I was going to get the blame for that! 😈
» Posted By Carl V. On November 17, 2005 @ 1:47 pm
I think even the worst of people were helped along the way by someone from some time before. That’s not to say that there isn’t evil but I have to believe that evil can’t just come around and jump on you and make you a monster…if so then where does the idea of free will and choice come in?
Ciera, I would have a much more difficult time with the issue if it was a family member and I’m sure I’d be much more invested in their lives…but if I had a family member who molested kids (actually I have at least one by marriage) then I’m still erring along the lines that they shouldn’t be allowed to do that again and I’d never trust them around my kids or any kids for that matter. Sorry you are having to go through this…its bad enough for me having to deal with someone I looked up to, can’t imagine having to deal with these issues with family members.
I’m glad that no one, even the guy I’d like to strangle, is beyond God’s redemption and am glad that there are those who have a heart to minister to people like this. Someone, after all, was instrumental in making them this way. No one wakes up one morning and decides to be a monster. I feel honored to be loved by a God that doesn’t have the same petty feelings I do and has given everything to give even the most heinous person an opportunity to live an eternal life in glory with Him. Cool stuff indeed. And ultimately I look forward to a day when I can look this guy in the eye and see the man that God created and not the man whose behavior I loathe.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 17, 2005 @ 1:33 pm
Good thoughts Jules, thanks! Ultimately I know that I commit a good number of sins that I know better about and should be able to follow God’s laws as easy if not easier than someone struggling with the urges that make them want to hurt children, so I know that I have to forgive because God forgives me for the sins I commit that can be and probably are as hurtful to him as the things that I and society judge as ‘worse’. I just don’t intend to beat myself up for being so hurt and angry about these situations nor do I think it is wrong to demand swift and far reaching justice for serious criminal wrongs against individuals and society.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 17, 2005 @ 10:46 am
I have someone who was very close to me in college and was a mentor and appeared to be the example of everything that a Christian should be and he ended up molesting foster children (boys) and children he was in contact with throught the Big Brother/Big Sister program and yes, it is extremely hard to forgive. Hence my comment about anger. I realize that forgiveness isn’t a feeling, its an active choice and I choose actively to forgive him everytime I think about it and yet still hate him to the core of my being. I have no love for him. I’m thankful he has a relationship with Christ and that God has forgiven him and am glad that his only punishment will be down here on earth but I tend to feel that those who actually molest children…and I’m not talking about those cases where one accuses another with no evidence and its left up to others to arbitrarily decide…I’m talking about those caught in the act or those cases with irrefutable physical evidence…those people should never see the light of day again. They should be ministered to in prison so that their eternity can be better but they should never be allowed out again. An inordinate percentage of those people get out and re-offend and any and all treatment is largely ineffective. And although God does miraculous things in people’s lives by and large He expects us to control our own sexual appetities, etc with His help. Think of how hard it is to control our own “normal” lusts and then multiply this by that which drives molesters to prey upon children. I just don’t think anyone’s children should have to have their lives potentially ruined by society allowing convicted child molesters to have a “chance” to see if they’ve changed. Sorry about going on and on but this is something I’m passionate about and struggle with…I really hate crime against those too young to protect themselves and I struggle with forgiving this individual, though again I choose to whenever I consciously think about this. I just have a hard time believing that forgiveness also means that I have to not be angry at this person and that I have to “actively” love him. That’s just me.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 17, 2005 @ 8:38 am
An interesting follow up question is do we have to ‘forgive’ those who haven’t directly wronged us? Am I obligated to actively forgive a child molester, for example who did not directly sin against me? And where does anger come in in regards to forgiveness. Staying on the child molester thing…I’m perfectly okay with them asking God for forgiveness and them receiving it however I’m not inclined to believe that I have to actively love monstrous people. Interesting stuff!
» Posted By Carl V. On November 15, 2005 @ 1:50 pm
Glad you survived the onslaught of the D family! Get a new haircut and the next thing you know you have women sleeping all over your house! 😆
» Posted By Carl V. On November 10, 2005 @ 5:05 pm
Much better…I’m sure the D’s will be suitably impressed upon arrival!
» Posted By Carl V. On November 4, 2005 @ 12:13 pm
«« Back To Stats PageI say shave it all off and do the bald look!
And as far as spam goes, why can’t you just do a simpler version of what you had before. Following My Fish has an example of the one blogspot uses and it is very easy to see what you have to type in and seems to work well at blocking spam.
» Posted By Carl V. On November 3, 2005 @ 11:50 am