No, I have a better plan

You're probably expecting some kind of post on government or politics. Not tonight.

Tonight, when I got home from work, the girls had not rested well and were very at the end of themselves. It took a lot of energy to keep tonight from turning into one big "time out", but we did it. Not one time out. We had a fun, yet exhausting, evening.

However, at the end of the evening, it was bed time. Mommy and I have been taking turns and tonight was Mommy's turn.

This, I was looking forward to.

A lot.

The girls picked out different stories to read and I was giving them final hugs and kisses in the bedroom. That's the setting. Here's the dialogue:

Mommy: Tonight is Mommy's turn for bed time. Daddy's turn is tomorrow night.

Mara (going directly to the best possible delay source, Daddy, since it wasn't Daddy's night): I have a better plan Daddy. How about you sit on my bed and read this book to me.

At that point I looked at Cherith and commented that I was amazed by something. I said, "How many times does God hear that a day? People saying, 'no, God, I don't want your plan. I have a better one.' It was at that point that I got the briefest glimpse into the grace that God offers and another reminder of how fortunate everyone is that I was not designated God.

Knowing that Mara was asking out of a desire for connection and not out of anything negative, I gave he a hug and kiss, told her I loved her and went out as Mommy was getting ready to start reading.

God, the perfect being, is constantly hearing fallen man cry out "Not your plan, God. I know better." Man cries out due to his sinful nature. And yet, somehow (my somehow, not His), God continues to exhibit his unlimited patience.

If it were me...well, let's just say I would not be so patient.

However, I am also reminded that someday the activity described in the book of Revelation will come to pass. Someday, God patience will end perfectly. Typically, when our patience ends, it ends in anger (not mine tonight, btw). God's patience will end with Justice as only He can deliver.

I take this as a reminder of "Not my will, but Yours."

Aloha.

Iran

Back in September of 07 (last September) I posted this:

http://gung-ho-man.blogspot.com/2007/09/pot-vs-kettle.html

Let's follow that post with these current quotes from Iran's President:

"Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted Saturday as saying crude oil prices at $115 a barrel are too low, and that oil must "discover its real value."

"The oil price of $115 a barrel in today's global markets is a deceiving figure. Oil is a strategic commodity that needs to discover its real value," the Web site of Iran's state-run television quoted Ahmadinejad as saying."

Full story here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351789,00.html

Again, economic warfare.

Aloha.

Good trombone videos

Make sure you watch this all the way through. Note the blindfolds and the change up at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH4I_1F5Ehk&feature=related

Another version, a little faster with more bones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1KHl-s5nfE&feature=related

Mediocre trombone player, great dancer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVUlLe6Elog

Aloha.

Cowbell Hero

At lunch today we were discussing guitar hero and accordion hero. We then started brainstorming other "hero" game possibilities. We came up with Cowbell Hero. I was inspired to do a Google search. Here is the result:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHCDa337kzI

Here are some other alternatives worth the view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkygdt3l-LM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWPKblMM04k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K_c9kwXNxE

I didn't find trombone hero, but here is a clip of an incredible trombone player:

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

Finally, this is the Canadian Brass playing a piece a quintet I was in did my senior year of high school. The story goes that they only had time for one song for the Queen, so they decided to merge When the Saints Go Marching In and The Hallelujah Chorus and this was the result.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5wH7yEDR7I&feature=related

Aloha.

Funny Pictures

Links:

The site has questionable content, so I would not recommend looking around, especially if web content is filtered. However, some were VERY funny and worth posting.

http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/war_never_solved_anything.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/nerd_wall.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/video_game_flowchart.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/accordian_hero.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/relationships.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/pirates_are_cool.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/american-way.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/army_of_geek_troopers.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/no_pirates.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/dad_words_of_advice.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/survival_tracking_guide.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/surprise_virgins.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/iraqi_photo_booth.htm
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/robo_soldier.htm


Aloha.

The nature of Heaven and Hell

Heaven is where the police are British, the chefs are Italian, the mechanics German, the lovers French and it is all organized by the Swiss.

Hell is where the police are German, the chefs British, the mechanics French, the lovers Swiss, and it is all organized by the Italians.

Saw this again and thought worth posting.

Aloha.

Celebrity Apprentice Finale

If you don't want to know how the show ended almost a week ago, please stop reading now.

OK, now assuming that you are reading and don't mind being told who won, Piers Morgan won. Each celebrity represented a charity. Piers (who is British) represented the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Quoting from the Celebrity Apprentice site:

"From 2000 to 2005 the Intrepid Fund provided close to $20 million to families of United States military personnel lost in performance of their duty. The Fund provided unrestricted grants to each spouse, child and parents of service members. The payments are coordinated with the casualty offices of the Armed Forces, to ensure all families received these benefits. In January 2007, the Fund also completed construction of a $40 million world-class state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. This charity particularly resonates with him because his brother has fought in 2 tours of duty in Iraq and his brother-in-law has fought in 2 tours of duty in Afghanistan. They both have lost several friends and comrades and Piers feels that this is a great charity to play for"

First, I am very pleased that such a worthy charity was represented by the winner and that that same charity won a lot of money because Piers won.

Second, it was apparent that Piers was highly motivated to win. He raised more money than all of the other contestants put together. He was aggressive and usually hostile, but pulled off (in one episode) what Donald Trump called the biggest thrashing in Apprentice history. He constantly reminded everyone that the reason they were all there was to raise money for their charities and that is why he was determined to win.

Third, I am somewhat ashamed that it took a Brit to represent a charity that gives back to the U.S. Military and their families. Why wasn't this charity represented by an American? Is this yet another example of how Hollywood (and celebrities) lack an appreciation for our military?

Let me know your thoughts on this.

Aloha.

Super Hero Movies

There are a bunch of superhero movies coming out this summer. Here's my take on the 3 most important.


Iron Man:

May 2, 2008

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhgzIM-9lfA

The changes made to original story appear minor, to update to new era. Instead of being prisoner in Vietnam, he is prisoner in Iraq-like country. Robert Downey to play an alcoholic. What acting? Looks like there will be plenty of gratuitous violence. Gotta love that.



Batman: The Dark Knight

July 18, 2008

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaIR9dAZRR0

Heath Ledger freaks me out as the Joker. Wow. Looks like an impressive performance. Should be a very good movie.



The Incredible Hulk

June 13, 2008

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia3uPDuojmU

Edward Norton as Bruce Banner...not sure that is a good choice. I didn't recognize the villain until I traced the name down on the website. Even after comparing the image from the trailer and the image from the comics, I still didn't see a good comparison. I think this one will tank.

Let me know your thoughts. Am I on target, or missing something?

Aloha.