Can this be blamed on the pig flu?

We are so cautious as Americans, that we will shut down the whole southwest proper just because somebody gets "flu like symptoms". But we are also the kind of people that will come up with a promotion where two kids race to home plate, in opposite directions, and without helmets.

There's a collision. Wait for it.

New Details on how the swine flus is spread

Finally we know what is causing this pandemic...

Tracking the swine flu

Here is an interesting Google Map that tracks cases of the swine flu.

• A purple marker is a confirmed or probable case
• A pink marker is a suspected case
• A yellow marker is a negative case
• Fatal cases have no dot

View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

Arguing about why bad things happen to good people.

Folks that know me know that I like to laugh. I enjoy a hearing people laugh at my "humor", and I love laughing at other people's. I enjoy reading funny blogs and laughing at YouTube videos of guys doubled over after taking a shot 'below the belt' from a baseball hit by their toddler son.. Because of this there are a number of blogs I check and read on a regular basis. One of these is Stuff Christians Like. It is "a tongue in cheek exploration of all the silly things Christians like. From Carmen to books about the rapture to crowns of thorns you can buy for $49.99 at the local Christian bookstore. It will be sarcastic, mildly funny and if some of these things hit too close to home, perhaps a little offensive."

Today the blog takes a humorous look at the serious question "why do bad things happen to good people". The author answers by asking a question God revealed to him. I encourage you to take a few minutes and click the link below to read the blog post.

Arguing about why bad things happen to good people.

A story about a big squirrel and a baby squirrel

• This video will make you smile (unless you are heartless)
• The video says it is 5:23 in length, but the credits make up the last 1:23, so hang in there
  

Thanks to Keith at the blog Bag of Nothing (I recommend you stop by regularly for laughs and updates on current events)

International Space Station Comes Together

Here is a short animated graphic that shows the process for assembling the International Space Station. It is very interesting process (and important since it may become our final refuge from the Swine Flu).

See Animation Here

More on Art In The Square

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has an article about Nguyen Minh Son and Lam Duc Manh showing at Southlake's Art In The Square. You can read it by following the link below.

Vietnamese artists show paintings at Southlake's Art in the Square

Art In The Square - Southlake, TX

This weekend is Southlake's Art In The Square. This will be the second time that our church has sponsored exhibits by Vietnamese Artists as part of the Arts Engagement Program of Glocal Ventures (GVI). This year Nguyen Minh Son is being joined by Lam Duc Manh for the three day exhibit.

If you are in the area you should drop by and visit these (and the other) artists. The GVI booth will be in front of Starbucks at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Main Street. Mary and I will be working the booth Sunday from 2-6.

Four steps to help you make wise financial decisions

In the video below, Chuck Bentley, the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries shares four steps to help you make wise financial decisions.

1. Protect your current income
2. Create financial margin
3. Get in community
4. Avoid fear-based decisions

Watch the full video here

Dave Ramsey Talks Economy

"personal finance is about 80% behavior. It's only about 20% head knowledge"

Watch Dave Ramsey on Good Morning America

Stand By Me

Mary's Dad sent this video to us and I thought I would share it. There are two aspects that stand out to me.

First, as our Worship Pastor stated on his blog, "Look how we are linked globally; think of the power that has for the Gospel and transformation."

Second, as my father-in-law stated, the sound engineering is incredible. It is a composite audio/video of song whereby additional tracks were laid in by different singers and musicians from different places around the world. The result is incredible.


Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

March showers brought April flowers

Here are some spring snapshots from our garden.

Don't Participate In The Recession

It's time for our nation to band together to rise above the fear! Town Hall For Hope isn't just a one-time event; it's a nationwide movement to bring hope back to all Americans.

Dave Ramsey's Town Hall For Hope

Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that’s filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what’s happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus, Dave will answer your questions live throughout the event!

Join us for this free event April 23 at 7:00 p.m. CDT in one of the thousands of venues across the country as we stand together to reignite the fire of hope!

Find A Location Near You

Finances For Children & Teens

I have been involved with Crown Financial Ministries for over 10 years. Crown has some incredible tools to help people learn Biblical Financial Principals. Since many of our friends have children & teens I wanted to share a tool available on Crown's website. Click Finances For Children & Teens to get a free copy of this brochure.

You can learn more about Crown here, or you can take 6 minutes to watch this video:


Who We Are from Crown Financial Ministries on Vimeo.

The beauty that matters is always on the inside

The moment the reality show's audience and judging panel saw the small, shy, middle-aged woman, they started to smirk. When she said she wanted a professional singing career to equal that of Elaine Paige, the camera showed audience members rolling their eyes in disbelief. They scoffed when she told Simon Cowell, one of the judges, how she'd reached her forties without managing to develop a singing career because she hadn't had the opportunity. Another judge, Piers Morgan, later wrote on his blog that, just before she launched into I Dreamed a Dream, the 3000-strong audience in Glasgow was laughing and the three judges were suppressing chuckles.

It was rude and cruel and arrogant. Susan Boyle from Blackburn, West Lothian, was presumed to be a buffoon. But why?

You REALLY should read the full article here

Unfortunately they have taken away the ability to embed the video on blogs, but you can find it on YouTube here.

Tea Party Picture

I don't care who you are, this is funny...

Grassfires

There have been some very large grassfires about 35 miles west of us today. One thing that always amazes me is how much these fires affect us this far away. In the picture below you can (hopefully) see the smoke that is drifting over us. I am including a link to a newspaper article below if you are interested.


Grassfires

Happy Easter

Something to think about in these "hard economic times"

(Thanks to my nephew Grant for the blog title...)

Fort Worth Botanical Gardens

Mary and I spent Saturday afternoon at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. Thought others might be interested in the pictures. Feel free to ignore them...my feelings will not be hurt (but Mary will be devastated).

This is a slide show. Click on the display to go to the actual pictures.

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives...coming to our favorite 5 star gas station

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives recently filmed at the Chef Point Cafe in Watauga, TX. If you live in Fort Worth you should already know this place. If you have visited us we have probably taken you there. It is my second favorite place to take tourists (Babes Chicken Dinner House is #1).

This episode will air on Monday, April 6th on the Food Network. Don't miss it (and have sympathy on us folks that do not have cable).

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

A (humorous) guide to praying before meals...

Here is another humorous blogpost from "Stuff Christians Like"

Not Knowing Which Meals To Pray Before

The Casserole of Hope

There are a number of blogs I follow on a regular basis. Some are about sports, some about news, and many are humorous (I doubt that surprises anyone that knows me).

Anyway, I recently started following the blog "Stuff Christians Like". It is a guys attempt to "be honest and upfront and hopefully a little funny about the issues the church and Christians struggle with sometimes". He goes on to write that he wants "to say, "Whoa, whoa, please don't judge me or God by Christian radio." I want to admit the times we've dropped the ball on issues or ideas that people called to love their neighbor should have knocked out of the park. I want to blow up misconceptions and preconceptions about what it means to be a Christian."

Anyway, I just read his blog post on "The Casserole of Hope" and thought I had to pass it along". If you grew up in the southern church you will find it humorous. If you didn't, you might find it educational. Either way, you should find it funny. The link is below...

The Casserole of Hope