Exposing Myself on a Regular Basis

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvB3FWk8Xss

yup thisn's gud!!

Saturday, March 17, 2007

So apparently my great grandpa (dad's mom's dad) was Jocko Conlan. Jocko was a famous baseball umpire that is in the hall of fame. Who knew.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

I see that global whining has invaded the Oscars. Surprise, surprise.

Monday, November 13, 2006

After much thought....
Republicans deserved it. There, I said it. They were in control and didn't do what the people wanted (social security reform, immigration... the list could go on) - they never were conservative. I realy hate politics. It brings out the worst in people and it keeps us discussing impotent issues.

And... I was going to write more but just lost it. Shit again!!

Sunday, October 29, 2006

It has been a month since dad died. I still find myself reaching for my phone to call him and talk about life. I miss him. I often stare off in the distance thinking about him from time to time. My family could still use some prayers in that department.

In another area of life, I have been listing to the “Transition” series by Wayne (download it here in Quicktime format and change it to wav with Quicktime Pro). The series is very impacting and thought provocative and in a way a summation of what my wife an I have experienced in the past 5 years of our journey. The freedom and love that I have experienced in Father has mostly left me speechless. The issues I had once needed answers for are answered, everything makes sense to me now. It is beautiful.

Wayne Jacobsen's teaching was a small part of it but there is so much more. Father sent us on this journey and He put people in our paths that led us to Him. From our original church that we left to go to Vegas, to Apex and house churches, to over a year of “isolation” from anything church – the one thing consistent is Father's love and desire that I may know Him.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Carlsbad man died doing what he loved, his family says By: YVETTE URREA - Staff Writer
CARLSBAD ---- The family of Raymond Harshman, 69, said he was a happy man who died just the way he would have wanted: on a fishing boat in the ocean after just hauling in two big fish."He couldn't have gone more perfectly, and God just took him at that second," said his wife of 29 years.

His daughter said her father left Monday for a six-day fishing trip to Mexico. It took about 24 hours to get to Guadalupe, off the Mexican coast. When they got to the spot, he went out and caught a big fish, and then took a nap, she said. Then he woke up and went back out again."He was catching a 67-pound tuna, and he fought it for 20 minutes," she said. "He was so happy, and they were just standing around talking, and then he collapsed, and he was gone."

Two emergency medical technicians and a doctor tried to revive him with a defibrillator without success, she said.

"We have such peace with it because he was a wonderful Christian man, and he was doing what he loved, and he touched so many lives ... and he loved his family so much," his wife said.

Raymond had not been ill and always took his medications and monitored his cholesterol, so his death was very unexpected.

Last week, Harshman told a shop clerk at Ken's Custom Reel at the harbor that, 'I hope if I go, I go when I'm fishing,' and he repeated the same sentiment to his wife and his mother.

Harshman was born Nov. 9, 1936, in Phoenix, Ariz. He served in the 82nd Airborne and was a very proud American, his daughter said. He then went on to work for 40 years in the construction industry and started his own company and served as president of Reliance Plumbing Corporation.

He retired in 1996 and bought an Oceanside beach cottage that he rebuilt for his family, as well as another home for his mother.

In between, of course, he met his future wife in Flagstaff, Ariz. in 1976. Their eyes met across the dance floor, and when he went over to ask her to dance it was truly love at first sight, she said. They were married the next year.

"He was the love of my life, and I was the love of his life, and we both knew it," his wife said.

He had a daughter and four sons. Harshman also had nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and other family.

She said her husband had many friends who were drawn in to him either by his strong handshake or his big bear hug.

"His personality just flowed into you," his wife said. "He was one of those special people, who other people were drawn to."

Since he retired, his wife said, they had been living out their dreams, traveling on their boat to meet friends in other states and fish and visit with them. Last month, they went to Texas and fished, in July they went to Alaska to fish for king salmon and they also visited Washington, D.C., this year to see the monuments.

At his service held Saturday, friends and family came from all over the states to remember him.

During the program, the family composed what they thought Harshman's last wishes for his friends and family would be.

"Ray's loving wish to each of you would be to hold your family and friends close and tell them often what they mean to you. Finally, his hope for you would be to be as ready as he was to meet God face to face."

I was loved!

I'm going to miss him deeply.

Monday, July 31, 2006

There is something about the Cubs that brings out the best in the Diamondbacks.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Reading my friend Greg's post got me thinking a bit and so I'll ramble a bit about the things that I have been pondering for a while.

I was listening to Bill O'riley one afternoon and he was stating the Christian philosophy (Jesus is God) is not a religion. Going to church – be it protestant or catholic – and following their rules (i.e. conforming your beliefs to match that of one particular denomination or group) is the essence of religion. Without conformity of the group, man's church will not exist. Therefore the “Christian” way is not a religion at all it is a philosophy. This tickled my head for a while. I'm not sure why.

There are some folks around here who are scared shitless of the adventure of Harry Potter. They will not admit this but I see them run from any discussion of it. I think there is something much deeper going on here than such superficial topics. I'm not positive on exactly what this is but it is floating in my head every so often. Having a conversation with a Mormon, a homeless man, Harry Potter, Rock and Roll, gay and lesbian issues and all of the rest of the little quirks that Christian type folks go to great lengths to avoid make me wonder if something is misunderstood.

I have read all about Jesus and I distinctly remember who He hung out with. Sadly, it wasn't us. The clean cut smell good folks, the somewhat financially struggling middle class family who are in debt to show people that they really are not poor, those who hope that people don't see them enjoying an adult beverage – I think you get the point. I am wondering if we as God's people do not comprehend what is alive in us. The unknown power that is within.

I have seen books written about Mormons and others that leaves me sad. The Christian “leaders” treat them as prizes to be had or sub-human. They can not comprehend that these people are just as human as we are. They too have learned things we have not. They too have a story to tell. Same as the homeless. By subconsciously seeing them as a prize to be won over, you will never fully open up to them and let them see the real you.

I wrote this the other week and forgot to post it.

Warriors and Skirts

There is a subtle difference.

My wife said the other day that when she cleaned out my boys toy box she stopped counting at 35 weapons. God bless them!! Now I'm not the guy that mounts anything that you killed on the wall for all to see. I grew up with those men and I have a great deal of appreciation for them but it ain't my style. However, I am going to raise my kids gender appropriate – meaning my boys will not have their warrior instincts suppressed and my girl will remain a princess.

Too often today I see a great deal of kids who are more confused than ever. Unisex parenting has rendered feminine boys that wear more padding than a hockey goalie when it comes to riding a bike.....in the park....on the grass. See, my parents taught me that when a bike and a car meet, the car is going to win every flippin' time – so stay away from the 4,000 lb beast that will make you about a 1/2” thin. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't wear a helmet but my gosh at least try to make it as not gay looking as possible.

Where was I.... oh, I guess what I'm saying is that those boys have instincts deep inside them. They, as well as the husband you married, dream of slaying dragons of a large variety – bugs to robbers. You take away the plastic swords, they will make new ones. Take away projectile weapons, they have rubber bands. You try to keep them safe from a bloody knee, they will be timid and bland. Women are drawn to masculinity and men are drawn to femininity. That is the way Father made us. To suppress it will create less of a man that He desires.

Think about it, where in the Bible (the greatest story ever told) have you read an inspiring story about a man without a spine? OK except Jonah.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

“The wages of sin are death, but after taxes are taken out, it's just a tired feeling.” - Paula Poundstone

We went to a park to watch fireworks last night. We and about 10,000 other people of Prescott Valley. I walked past a guy handing out oversized $100 bills that had a nice little message on the back. After reading it I would have cried if I hadn't know better. Apparently I am a murder, rapist, a fornicator and whatever else you might fit in here unless... I confess my sins to God and put your faith in Jesus Christ. If I do not I will burn forever.
Funny, I don't recall ever hearing those words come out of Jesus' mouth. They have no idea who my Father really is.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

All we need is a little bit more doubt.

Do I believe all this because I have been taught it? Do I believe in the correct form of “religion”? If I am not successful, am I believing in the wrong thing?

There was a guy not long ago that told me that, “I don't believe in Jesus because the Bible tells me so”. I wanted to get out of my chair and whack him for saying such things. To make things worse, he started going off on America and politics. My blood boiled. This scrawny little know-it-all! How dare he question the Christianity of the Republican party! Didn't he get the emails I forwarded him? Sad.

Sad, not because of what he said but sad that it was what I thought five years ago. Liberal thinking still bothers me, but only because it doesn't make good business sense. Everything has changed. All my thinking about religion, politics, and money – the three things you should never bring up in a conversation.

Religion – all forms of it are designed for man to control man. That is what I believe now after searching for the truth. I have doubted many times but one thing remains – Father. No matter how many times I start to doubt that all this stuff may not exist, the one thing that remains consistent is His hand. I can see it everywhere and I can't pass this beating heart of mine off as a mathematical probability. Love, creation, joy – they all come from something and they all have similar stings running throughout – a fingerprint. The most impressive thing that Jesus did for me was not the miracles, but the trust he had in his Father. Everything that he did was what he saw the Father doing and everything that he said was what the Father said. I can't get past this.

Politics – I love listening to debates about one thing or another but it needs to stop there. I am a part of His kingdom and shall remain that way. Therefore, it only stands to reason that I shouldn't get caught up in the way man rules man rather I should be observant to my Father's voice and go where he is. Keeping my foot in politics will only allow me to have a conversation with fifty percent of the people that I meet and will blur my perception of the others.

Money – Be it luck or skill, the money or success I have or had wasn't even mine to begin with. I have struggled financially for over 4 years and I have been happier than ever. I have learned valuable lessons when it comes to jobs and such through my struggling. I have learned to be happy in good times and bad. Prosperous times and poor, Father is still with me regardless of how much I make. I no longer doubt Him when trials come my way – the word faith doesn't fit here – trust fits better. To God be the glory in everything not just the stuff that benefits me.

I'll never forget that conversation that I had with Greg Hubbard at our cabin. The conversation didn't particularly change my life, but it was a foreshadow of things to come. I praise Father for the relationship I have with Greg and I am very proud to know him.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Dammmit!!!

I can't remember what I was going to blog about.

On a side note, drewcohomes.com is under construction. Cool.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

I'll blog when I'm busy.

I have had a bunch of time off to spend with my family and am enjoying it ever so. Oddly enough, I haven't had much in the way of blogs. I have been reading Romans (Message) on my Love Sac (Father's day gift – it's a super sac with shagadelic black fur – does it make you horny baby?) and have been having a blast doing so. It is so beautiful to be able to reread the books you once practically memorized in vain and now is an eloquent statement of love. Every chapter turned is one of new discovery. I bought “The Saving Life of Christ” by Major Ean Thomas and have had a desperate time to turn a page. He is very fond of the King James version and I am not. I cannot follow it as the language seems to vague to see his point and I also think he wants to write like Paul.

I saw X men three. I'll tell you this, if I wanted to see a drama, I'd rewatch “Into the Shadow lands”. For the love of all action heroes, I needed to take some Prozack after leaving the theater.

I'm also waiting for my contractor's license to come so I can proceed with my houses. I moved here to build two houses a year and now I am looking at a total of four. Perhaps it wont be as bad as I think. So far I am enjoying the simple life and a very beautiful wife.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

"In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination." - Mark Twain

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Shancho, when you are a man, sometimes you wear streachy pants....in your room...for fun.

Click on it and watch the video.