Somebody’s 2 — Birthday Parties & Cakes

Isaac’s first birthday (August 30, 2006).  Just as a reference point.

A party with the cousins a month ago.

Isaac woke up at 4:30 AM on his birthday morning.  It wasn’t planned that way, he woke up very wet and needed new pajamas.  But since he was up, might as well have some birthday cake and fishy crackers.  Puppy (lower corner) made the party too.

Playing at the park on Daddy Day.

The Treasure Principle Resources

This post is for the Bible Study Teachers at Main Street Church.

You all should know that during the month of October & November we are doing a special church-wide study called The Treasure Principle.  Most of you received your material at Saturday’s Bible study teacher training meeting.

In addition to the book, Bible study curriculum, articles, and brochures, I have found 4 sermons from the author of the book, Randy Alcorn.  These sermons are long (over 60 mintues), but they really help put the book and its principles into focus.  I tried burning them to a CD, but they are too big to fit on one.

So here they are for you to download and listen to you at your own convenience.  If you download these and then want to burn them on a CD, only burn one sermon at a time.  If you want to save them to your computer, right click on the link and select “save target as”.

randy-alcorn-sermon-1.mp3 (this is actually John Piper discussing the Treasure Principle, not Randy Alcorn.  My mistake.)

treasure-principle-1.mp3 by Randy Alcorn

treasure-principle-2.mp3 by Randy  Alcorn

treasure-principle-3.mp3 by Randy Alcorn

Anchorman

Not since the movie Anchorman, the Legend of Ron Burgundy, have I really paid attention to big network news.  If the movie even had a glitch of truth to it (which I think it did), I was putting off TV news for something else.  Namely, internet-based news.  Apparently, I am not the only American doing so.

ABC, CBS, and NBC are slowing becoming dinosaurs of the news media.  But recent ratings have shown network news is still reaching 21 million people.  That is huge.  See the link below for details. 

http://www.austin360.com/tv/content/tv/stories/2007/05/0501tvcolumn.html

So if we are still tuning into the 6:30/5:30 evening news…who do you watch?  Which anchorman/woman is your fave?  Charles Gibson (ABC), Brian Williams (NBC) or Katie Couric (CBS).

When we do watch…the winner is Charles Gibson in our house.  I like ABC’s look and feel.  Big, flat screens and high res imagery.  Secondly, ABC is the clearest channel we get on our bunny ears antenna.  That is right, we don’t have cable.  We use what real men use…a high power, aluminun foil-covered, bunny ears antenna.  That is how TV should be watched.

But back to the anchorman bit.  We loved Charlie Gibson on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts, so we choose him in the evenings now.  I tried Katie but didn’t care for her attitude and highly liberal political views.  Brian Williams was not even on the map for us.  Who do you like?  Do you even care about network news?

So from Northern KY, this is Shane Garrison reporting.  Good night and God bless.

And we’re out.

Microfiche & Microfilm

I felt like I was stepping back in time in time tonight.  While doing some research for a paper, I came across something very nostalgic.  Something that I can’t remember using since the internet boomed. 

Do you remember Microfiche & Microfilms?  You know those little black films with whole books on them.  To read them, you have to use that dinosaur-looking viewing machine with the little magnified light and hazy opaque screen.  No digital zoom.  No flat screen quality.  No 64 bit color.  Black and white baby!

I felt like I was Julia Roberts in the Pelican Brief or Erin Brochavich (minus the big hair and enormous teeth) scanning through newspaper articles looking for clues to solve a mystery.  In reality, I was looking at material for college governance structures.  I know, I know, you are dazzled with intrigue and excitement.  A Hollywood block-buster in the making. 

But as I worked with those little microfiche, my mind kept thinking that I was back at Hancock County High School in the Media Center (a.k.a. the school library), being told to be quiet and not to loose those little films.  “They cost a lot of money, you know.” 

Now with the internet, digitial scanners, and online databases, the era of the microfiche may be coming to a close.  But I appreciated using those little films tonight.  Kind of like going back to the card catalog, the Dewey decimal system, and school pencil boxes.  Nostalgic and sweet.

Harry Potter 7…I’m Finally Finished

Last night, I finally finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  I must say I was thrilled to be done.  Reading a Harry Potter book is an investment in time and stamina.  Nobody drinks them down like most fantasy novels.  You must think, rethink, and analyze these books to get their full meaning.

In a way, I am sad that they are over.  I have enjoyed these books immensely.  But mostly, I am just glad to be done.  I was late in coming to read and love Harry.  I started the series when the 5th book (The Order of the Phoenix) was released.  So I had some catching up to do.

The movies are great, but they fall way short of the books (as all novels-turned-movies do).  Harry Potter movies, particularly, will never be able to fully cover the book, much like Tolikien’s books could never be turned fully into the Lord of the Rings triology.

Final thoughts…Harry Potter is not evil.  Harry Potter readers are not advocating witchcraft and sorcery.  Harry Potter is not from the devil or meant to draw children into Wicca.  Harry Potter is fantastical fiction that captures the minds for young and old readers alike.  Devoted fans of the Left Behind series have more in common with Harry Potter readers than those that play Dungeons and Dragons or mess with Quigi boards. 

I remain a die-hard Harry fan.  I look forward to the last two movies and will probably read the books again and again.  Just like I do the Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia.

Go Gryffindor.

Could Mike Huckabee Win the Republican Nomination?

Since Mike Huckabee (former Governor of Arkansas) came in second in the Iowa Straw poll, questions have surfaced if he can survive a presidential run.  I believe he can.  He may not be able to raise enough money, but I do believe he has the fortitude to leg it out in the polls.

Huckabee is the only true social conservative, with a biblical worldview, and a record of strong governmental leadership.  He is a former Baptist pastor.  He was a student at Southwestern Seminary (my alma mater) and is a devoted husband of one woman. 

I just can’t get behind any of the other candidates.  They simply do not represent my view of what leadership should be.  Rudy has been married 3 times and has only served as a mayor.  New York is a big city, yes, but presidential experience, NO.  Newt Ginrich is a womanizer and at times, highly unethical.  Mitt Romney’s convictions on abortion and same-sex marriage are not in line with a biblical worldview.  I could never support John McCain period.  And Sen. Brownback (KS) doesn’t connect with anyone human.  He is more robot than person.  He is a social conservative, just not an inspiring one.

So I hope Huckabee can make it through.  It is doubtful at this time that he will survive the primaries.  The financial support is just not there.  If he doesn’t, I may be going to the polls and choosing not to vote for a president. 

NONE OF THE ABOVE or Mike Huckabee.  Those are really my other options in 2008.

A Win on the Links

I am happy to brag about my victory today at the A. J. Jolly Golf Course over two fierce competitors: Zach “Chieftain” Rice and Brandon “B-nyce” Carrier.  My stellar work with the irons and sweet touch on the greens assured my victory. 

I won’t post the final scores…because really we were all about 40 over par.  But the actual scores did show that I was the WINNER.  To the fellas, good game.  To the people watching us….FOUR!!!

Dragon Tales to the Rescue

Funny story that had to be told.  People who know Jennifer will get a real kick out of this.

Yesterday, Jennifer was cooking dinner.  Isaac came up, tugged his Mommy’s pant leg, and said “Mommy, I help.”  Usually when he does that, he gets out a pot or pan and pretends to cook in the kitchen floor, stirring with a wooden spoon and banging things together.

This time, he went to his bookshelf, got a Dragon Tales book and walked to the hallway.  As Jennifer followed, Isaac got under the fire alarm and starting waving the book in the air. 

You might ask, “What was he doing?”  Well…confession time…my wife has a problem burning things.  She tells everyone else, so I don’t mind telling you.  When the smoke fills the house, the fire alarm goes off.  When the alarm goes off, I go get a book from Isaac’s shelf and start waving cool air toward the alarm.

Isaac hates the fire alarm, so he thought he would help his Mommy by waving the book to keep the alarm from beeping.  You never know what they are going to pick up on.

Sermon MP3

I preached for my pastor on August 5.  If you would like to hear the message, go to

http://sievechurch.wordpress.com

It is the second one on the page.

Promise Keepers Cincinnati OH

www.promisekeepers.com

I got the opportunity to attend my first PK event this weekend.  I have always felt I was more in the Passion 268 Generation (www.268generation.org) than the Promise Keepers.  But now as a 30 year old man, I guess I need to come to grips with the fact that I am not a college student any more.  I am a husband of 5 years, a dad of 2 boys, a pastor and a doctoral student.  I probably need to join the other big boys at PK.  Which I did without much of a fight.

The event was really good.  There were probably 10,000 men there, many gave their hearts to Christ, great time of worship and insightful teaching.  I would still prefer to hear John Piper, Louie Gigilio, and Beth Moore (again with the Passion conferences), but the speakers were very interesting and compeling.

There were about 20 men from my church who went.  Great group of men to get to know a little bit better.  I think I am officially a keeper of God’s promise as a man. 

The next conference I will be attending is the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY.  www.t4g.org 

The Turblent 60′s

I was not alive in the 1960′s.  I didn’t hit the scene until the late 70′s.  But I am fascinated by those decades.  PBS has a series of programs that highlights each decade showing the major political, domestic, and cultural shifts of the period.  Last night I watched the SIXTIES episode again, probably for the 3rd or 4th time.  I am just captivated by the images.

I am so amazed at how many public demonstrations, rallies, and protests there were.  How many assignation of great leaders (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert Kennedy, Malcolm X).  How many colleges students were beaten by the police with billy-clubs and tear gas. 

There was the summer of love, the revolutionaries, the War in Vietnam.  It was the last decade were an independent presidential candidate, Gene McCarthy, actually made a decent run at the White House.  Cities were burned to the ground in riots: Watts, Oakland, Detroit, Newark, Chicago.  The Civil Rights movement attempted to bring peaceful protest to the South in Memphis, Selma, and Birmingham all led by a evangelical Baptist preacher.   National guard and military forces were released on American citizens.

The music, oh the music, resonated with freedom, love, and peace.  Illegal drugs, rock-n-roll, women’s liberation, bra burners, the Black Panthers, draft cards, draft dodging, and all the rest were very real issues for the people.  There was a culture clash:  the conservative Whites with all the power and money vs. everyone else, the young, the disenfrancised, the minorities, the wounded vets, and the Hippies.

So what were the results of the 60′s.  What were the spiritual ramifications of such times?  That is a question still in debate today, over 40 years later.  The Baby Boomers who lived in those days, who protested for Civil Rights, who stood against the established authorities, are now the authorities.  They are now the ones with the money, power, and prestige.  They own companies, pastor large churches, and are in public office. 

So what has become of the all the revolutionaries?  Will there ever be another time in the history of America were such unrest and political upheaval will hit our streets?  I am not sure I want to be around when it does. 

A Day at the Park

A Day at the Park

A Day at the Park

Cheese Hotdogs… A Wonderful Sunday Lunch

Warning:  A “I’ll Never Forget” Story is about to be posted.

I’ll never forget my first cheese hotdog.  It was not at Sonic or some hillbilly Dairymart.  It was not on my first date or first Red’s baseball game.  (I did have my first beer at a Bengals football game…but that is another “I’ll Never Forget” story altogether.  For all you young readers, I was of age and it was only one.  I was not driving.  And I hated the taste of it entirely.  It was my first and last beer.  It tasted like horse urine.)

Anywho, my first cheese hotdog was at the home of John Mark & Nathan Gaddis, two of best friends from college.  On many Sunday afternoons after church, I would head over to the Gaddis home for a visit.  We all enjoyed the fact that John Mark and Nathan’s parents lived was only minutes from campus.  We could have some real sweet tea, leftovers from the weekend, and some home-style hospitality.  But usually we wanted only one food…cheese hotdogs.

So in honor of Nathan Gaddis, the maker of the very best cheese hotdog, here is the recipe and instructions so you and your family can enjoy a tasty treat.  Nate-Love your cooking and music have always inspired me.

The Perfect Cheese Hotdog:
Start by punching a bunch of fork holes in the hotdog.  I am mean a bunch of them.  Then lay the dog in the bun and place one slice of cheese over top.  I prefer to split the slice in half so that the entire dog is covered.  Then slap them in the microwave and set to cook.  The actual cook time varies so I usually just eye-ball it and watch for the top cheese to start to sizzle.  Once finished, add some mustard if you like.  I always love to have a cheese hotdog with some Grippo BBQ chips and a nice RC cola. 

Cheese hotdogs, Grippos and RC…now that is a Sunday lunch!

Big Name Voices in American Christianity?

In one of my classes this semester, an interesting question was posed. 

“Who are going to be the next Big Name Voices in American Christianity when Dr. Dobson, Billy Graham, and Bill Bright are gone?”  Dr. Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade, has already gone to be with Jesus.  Dr. Dobson and Dr. Graham have a few more years on this earth but will be in glory soon.

So who will take their place?  Will there ever be another time in American Christianity where such high-profile leaders will emerge from their respective ministries and become a voice for all Evangelical Christians?  I am not so sure.   But I want your opinions before I make my own.

Please comment back on what you think to this question.  And if you think there are other Big Name Voices in America Christianity presently, please comment on those as well.

This should be an interesting discussion.

A Boy’s Superman Hat

My son has a hat.  Its a Superman hat.  We bought it for him a while back because we were going to go to a pool party and didn’t want him to get a sunburn.  He actually wanted a pink, floo-foo hat, but we talked him out of that…barely.

But now, his Superman hat has become more than just a sun visor.  It represents him as a little man.  Isaac likes to wear it outside when we play “golfball” or when we are washing the car or when I am doing yard work and he is my helper.  Usually, I wear a Reds hat when I am outside and so he thinks that is what he is supposed to do.

He will be 2 years old later this month (Aug. 30 for those in the family) and already he understands a lot about being a man.  A man needs a good hat.  A man should do chores and have fun outside.  A man gets sweaty and needs a hat to catch his sweat. 

He is probably less than 30 lbs, less than 3 feet tall, still likes sleeping with his “mini” (aka his blanket), but he is already learning what it means to be a man.  And here is the catchy (and scary) part…Isaac is learning how to be a man by closely watching and mimicing me.  What a standard?  What a challenge?  What a responsibility? 

I hope I am showing Isaac how to be a God-fearing man.

Message MP3′s Online

Our church has finally got our sermons online.  I have one on the list if you are interested in hearing one of my recent messages.  Be aware there is a video introduction before I start preaching, so fast forward to about minute 3 or so.

This message is about the difference in our two natures: spirit & flesh.  It is part of a summer series we are doing on doctrinal issues called “The Deep End of the Pool.”  All the sermons have “pool” titles.  This one is called “Pennies on the Pool Floor.”

Here is the link:  http://sievechurch.wordpress.com

I am preaching on August 5 as well, so there will be another message in a couple days.  “Artificial Resuscitation” on the doctrine of miracles.

Less than 3 Months to Baby Brother’s Launch

As the heat of the summer has increased, so has the width & girth of my wife’s belly.  (She has not allowed for pictures on the blog.)  Baby Brother is coming and he is coming soon.  Sometime between October 29 & Nov. 2 we will expand our little family.  We will actually get the birthdate in our next doctor’s visit.  It is going to be pre-scheduled birth.  This is so American?  We put our baby’s birth in our PDA’s like we put a lunch appointment.

Isaac keeps asking for Baby Brother to come out.  He points to Jennifer’s belly and say “Baby Brother in there.”  He prays for his brother every night.  Baby Brother is getting Big Brother’s crib, so we are getting a big boy bed in the next couple days to begin the transition.

Jennifer and I are struggling yet again with a first name for the baby.  It just takes us so long to come to any agreement.  We didn’t get Isaac’s name until about a month before he came…Isaac Justice Garrison, for those who didn’t know.

We do have a middle name, but I won’t be releasing that until we have the whole thing.  More updates to come.