Author: Wick

Well, it’s about time for me ta’ blog about some crazy cool stuff that’s happening……..

WE GOT A HOUSE!!!!

That’s right, we’re still in the process of getting it all finalized, and paid for….but they’ve accepted our offer, and we’ve begun the inspection process, etc. We’re really excited!! The closing date is set for November 18th, and we’ll be moving in the next day!!! 🙂

http://www.homesbyowner.com/decatur_il/home_view.asp?homeid=98212

As you can see….it’s a pretty sweet pad. Thanks to all who have been praying with us in our search, and mad props to Sarah’s aunt and uncle for telling us about this house!!! We’re really really really excited!!!
May God be with us as we take this next step into adulthood….:)

Meanwhile, I’ve purchased my own hockey skates and am still learning. I really can’t get the “stopping” thing down, but I’m commited to learning. Last week I ran over a small boy (who luckily had a helmet on), and the look of terror in his eyes before we collided told me I better learn to stop soon. 🙂 And so I must.

Thought for the week: If there was someone who looked exactly like you. Spoke like you. Appeared in every way to be exactly like you. Do you think they’d be the same personality? Would you want to meet them? Would it make you think about what in your life made you the way you are? How much of who you are is due to your physical body? What if you saw this person, and they were quite a bit more successful than you…..would that inspire you to go farther?

I’ve been told I need to Xanga more….so here goes…

I’m learning to ice skate. Make fun of me all you want, and watch me fall on my crack, but know there’s something larger at stake here than the pride of a Michigander who doesn’t know how to skate. I love hockey. I’ve always loved it. I’ve always watched it. I’ve played versions of it, but never actual ice hockey. I would love for my son to be able to play hockey. I realize I don’t have a son yet, but I plan to, and I hope he loves hockey too.

I can’t teach my son to play hockey, if I can’t skate worth beans.

And so there it is. I must learn. Whatever it takes. If I gotta skate every possible moment my schedule meets the ice rinks’ schedule….I’ll do it. I figure I’ve got a few years at least. We’re not “expecting” anything yet, and even if we were, it’d be 9 months, and then a few years until he’s walking. So within this time, I want to get my own hockey skates, and learn how to look cool on the ice. There you go.

Been slacking on my reading lately. Not sure why that is. Heck, I even bought a new book to compliment the other 2 I’m currently reading. I had a very ADD week, I believe. The only way I’m even able to Xanga right now is because I’ve shut everything else in the apartment off, and handcuffed myself to the desk. You laugh because you think I’m lying.

Still in love with God over here…holla back? He definitely has things in His very capable hands. I love the life He’s blessed me with. I definitely would not have thought, 10 years ago, that I would be here today. Not really rich, but not needing to be. I’ve got an incredible wife ( an ex-cheerleader by the way…eat that ex-girlfriends), God has blessed us both with full time jobs. That’s a great area of blessing also. Lord knows I could move anywhere right now, and find a great youth ministry job that would provide for us. But we’ve chosen to live closer to family at this point, with that being the main focus, and jobs second. Still waiting on a full time ministry position somewhere in the area, but until that happens…..I really have a great job….and I’m doing Youth Ministry for a church that knows the only reason I’m there doing it, is because I love it. I’m learning a lot, and growing a lot these days.

(Something to chew on)
Still not a big fan of satan. But always the question….should we love satan? Should we pray for satan? We are, afterall…instructed to love our enemies, and lift them up according to their needs….right?

Sorry to all of those who like big entertaining words or pictures in someone’s xanga. I tell you what…reading some of your xanga’s makes me wonder how much time you have on your hands…hehe. Don’t worry, I ain’t hatin’….just statin’. With me, you will always get words. Perhaps a book or a cd I’m going through, cause I understand how to do that. But pictures and words of different sizes/colors….sorry. Not for me.

So….anyone wanna go skating? I usually try to hit the 4-6pm sessions. God bless…Peace.

In reading “Bowling Alone”, by Robert Putnam….I really want to go out and join Kiwanis, or Rotary….or perhaps just attend the Optimists a bit more regularly.

What is it about society that causes such a breakdown? Such a decline in meeting together? Why are we losing such great amounts of “social capital”?

Don’t worry if I’ve lost you….I’m new to this world too. Social capital is talked about as being those things which contribute socially to the “lubrication” of our society. The things that we do, or that we involve ourselves in…that connect us. That help us know each other. That help us share life together.

Putnam has some great information, and some very scary realizations that show that even as there are a growing number of organizations, there is a declining number of members. There is also a growing amount of “organizations” that don’t really add much “social capital” even though they have such good motivations.

Organizations that add to social capital would be those that meet regularly, where people interact with people on a regular basis. They rub shoulders. They share life.

Organizations that don’t quite add much, even with good intentions, can be those with a specific base, that send out letters, raise funds, and one can be a member simply by filling out a membership form, and paying annual dues.

Our goal is to increase the amount of the former type of organizations, or at least involve ourselves more in them. It is an important way to involve yourself in making your community a better place to live with/among. Do your part…..and I’ll try to do mine. We’ll lubricate this society, and things will run just a little more smoothly.

PS. Attending a church is a great way to contribute to your communities level of social capital. 🙂 Go God.