Tuesday, September 28, 2010

More presents

Happy Birthday Emily!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Oklahoma 31 - Cincinnati 29

The second half wasn't pretty, but it still goes in the WIN column!

Boomer Sooner!


Saturday, September 18, 2010

Oklahoma 27 - Air Force 24

It was nail biter, especially late in the 4th quarter, but the Sooners prevailed!

Boomer Sooner!

(Yes, that's Barry Switzer)

Thursday, September 16, 2010

JAKPOT! Update

I'm so excited!  My heart is just a thumpin!

I received a request from a literary agent to send my full manuscript to them!

Of course, it doens't mean that everything will work out, but this is the first time I've gotten a full request!

It could still take months before they decide to represent me. I could have other requests in the same time, too, which is not entirely unheard of.

Since I haven't signed a contract yet, I won't say who they are, but they represent a big New York Literary Agency!

I hope I can sleep tonight!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Oklahoma 47 - Florida State 17

We were expecting the Noles.  Looks like the semi-noles showed up! 

Hated that last TD by FSU.  That stunk.



Boomer Sooner!

Chinese pastor, wife slain at church served by Lottie Moon

I had the privilege of meeting pastor Qin back in 2004.  He was a gracious and Godly man.


 Rick and Pastor Qin in the Old Lottie Moon Church as described in the Baptist Press article below

I'm sorry, but I've cut and pasted the Baptist Press story into my blog.  I have attached the original link to the headlines below:

Chinese pastor, wife slain at church served by Lottie Moon

Posted on Sep 3, 2010 | by Staff

PENGLAI, China (BP)--A Chinese pastor and his wife were slain Aug. 31 at Penglai Christian Church, where Lottie Moon, an icon of Southern Baptist mission work, served in the early 1900s in Penglai, China.

Pastor Qin Jia Ye and his wife Hong En He, both in their 80s, were killed in the church's office on Wednesday.

The suspect -- a 40-year-old former church member -- was arrested within an hour of the early morning incident.

The couple's violent death is a shock to many, both in China and the United States. The church was closed for 49 years after communists came to power at the end of World War II, reopening in 1988 with only 20 people.

Qin reported 300 baptisms several years in a row. Today, there are 3,600 members.

Chinese newspaper accounts state that the suspect entered the church office carrying an axe and struck the pastor and his wife, killing them both.

The church eventually outgrew Moon's original structure and built a modern 1,500-seat sanctuary next to it with the help of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga.

"From the moment I met Pastor Qin, I could sense a Christ-like spirit," said Bryant Wright, Johnson Ferry senior pastor and current Southern Baptist Convention president. "We are incredibly saddened by this tragic event, but we know one of the Lord's faithful servants is with Him forever in Heaven."

Qin graciously acted as tour guide for a large number of Southern Baptist leaders passing through Penglai who wanted to connect with the community where Moon served.

Wanda S. Lee, executive director-treasurer of Woman's Missionary Union, visited the church during a 1997 China tour. In spite of numerous church responsibilities, Qin and his wife welcomed the group warmly, Lee said, and it was obvious they were well-loved and respected.

"We are deeply grieved at the news of [the] death" of Qin and his wife, Lee said. "It is a great loss to the Christian community."

Candace McIntosh, executive director of Alabama WMU, took seven college students to China in 2008 to experience firsthand the history and work of Southern Baptists. Penglai Christian Church was a stop on the tour.

McIntosh remembers admiring Qin's humble and quiet strength as he prepared for worship, as well as his ability to state the message clearly for all to understand. After the service, Qin spent a great deal of time talking with the team of young women about Moon's legacy.

"He was so encouraged that younger women were there, learning about the history of Lottie Moon and the Chinese church," McIntosh recalled. "I know the legacy of Lottie Moon will live on, but one of its greatest communicators is no longer with us. I know Qin's legacy will live on, too."
--30--

9 years ago

9 years ago a bunch of cowards hatched a plan to kill innocent people. 

When they arrived in the afterlife, I'm sure they were a bit confused as to why they were in Hell instead of Paradise.  I'm sure they were wondering where all the virgins were and why they weren't being treated as heroes.

Honestly, I don't want any person to have to spend eternity without God.  But the 22 men that hijacked those plans are not basking in the Glory of God.  Unfortunately, they also took a lot of people with them. 

We must realize that not all the people who died on 9/11 went to Heaven.  Just because they were victims doesn't mean they had a free ticket to Heaven.  Just because they were Americans doesn't mean they went to Heaven.  Only if they had placed their faith in Jesus Christ did they go to Heaven. 

9 years on, we are still in a war.  9 years on, they still haven't caught the mastermind behind the attack (Bin Laden).  In fact, 9 years later, I fell less safe than I did just 5 years ago, now under a president who seems to have a personal agenda that goes against (at least in my opinion)  the way I think it should be going.

I find it troubling that our president has so many ties to Islam.  I find it interesting that many American Muslims consider him to be Muslim.  I find it disconcerting to see the attitudes in the mainstream media favoring Islam over American traditions.

I'm tired of our American forces being limited in what they can do.  War is war.  Let's "git 'er done."

Finally, to those (foreign and domestic) who seek to destroy America:  you can try, but the American Spirit is too strong to be trampled by a bunch of cowards.  You say you hate us and think we are the "great Satan", but why do so many of your people want to leave your lands and live in America?  Not because they want to destroy us, but because they are sick and tired of living under your oppression.

God Bless the United States of America!

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Happy Birthday Nana!


With Audrey and Emily

Happy Birthday Mom!


Happy Birthday Mom!

Extremist Activities

.
Burning KoransBurning Flags. Suicide Bombers. Terrorism.

Just a few personal thoughts on the subject.



Our liberal mainstream news agencies are denouncing the burning of Korans in Florida, but won't even cover a group of foreigners who desecrate our flag right here in America.



Both burning flags and burning Korans are supposedly covered by the First Amendment.  I think both are gross abuses of the First Amendment.  Add in pornography for good measure.

I don't believe for one minute that the people who want to build the mosque near Ground Zero had any good intentions.  They don't understnd how angry Mainstream America still is about the terrorist attacks of 9/11.



I understand the anger felt by the "church" in Florida towards radical Islam, but don't think they are thinking about the negative ramifications it is having towards Americans and Christians.

You don't see Bibles being burned in Arabic countries because their Islamic governments have basically banned the mass distribution of Bibles.  This "church" is free to burn Korans without fear of governmental retribution because America is free.  At least for now.

Personally, I'm very concerned about how Islam and liberal values are gaining sympathy in the media while traditional American values and Christianity are being maligned.



For me, the antics of the Dove World Outreach Center is just as bad as the demonic activities of the Westboro Baptist Church lunatics.


Burning Korans

I'm hick enough to understand the point.  But smart enough to know that it is going to do more damage than good.

The group of self-righteous nationalists in Florida that are planning to burn Korans on the anniversary of 9/11 think they are sending an extreme message to a group of Islamic extremists.  They are right; they are sending "a" message.  But they are stupid enough to not recognize the following:

  1. You don't "reach" any member of any other religion by burning their holy book.
  2. Tit for Tat is NOT what Jesus taught.
  3. 15 minutes of fame isn't worth the danger they are putting Americans in all over the world.
  4. "Outreach" in the name of a church usually has positive connotations.
  5. They are limiting their own ministry to radical, fundamentalist nationalists.
  6. They are hurting legitimate ministers of the Gospel who are laboring among Muslims to bring the the message of Hope.
  7. Messages of reciprocation only inflames hard feelings.
I call upon Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center to cancel their "Burn a Koran Day" activities and repent of their anger and retribution.  I promise you, Mr. Jones, it won't be worth it for the Kingdom!

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Oklahoma Falls to Number 10

After a very weak win over Utah State, Oklahoma fell to number 10 in both the AP and USA Today polls.

We're going have to do some serious damage to the Seminoles on Saturday if we hope to remain in the Top 10!

Boomer Sooner!

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Oklahoma 31 - Utah State 24 WIN NUMBER 800!

Congratulations to the Oklahoma Sooners for win number 800!  They were victorious over Utah State 31-24.

Boomer Sooner!

Keep the Home Fires Burning


Boomer Sooner!

Sooners Looking for 800th Win Today

The Oklahoma Sooners are looking forward to winning their 800th game today over Utah State in our season opener in Norman.  Only six Division I teams have won 800 or more games; Oklahoma will make the 7th.

The other six teams are Michigan, Texas, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State.

Notably, Alabama is not among them.  :)


Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

Thursday, September 02, 2010