Pictures from Iraq

My brother sent us some new pics the other day from Iraq... here is my favorite one of him.

Insane light show

I have heard that this is one of the most popular web links right now. Who ever spent the time and energy to put together this holiday light display has either no life or the creative energy of ten people put together. Maybe it is not that complex, but when I watch this I feel like either I have wasted my life, or this guy has... (click here) I have also heard that he had to shut it down because either his electric bill was out of sight, or because the traffic in his neigborhood was so clogged that there were traffic problems... who knows... another urban legend...

Indians (re-)sign Graves and Karsay

I think on the whole this is a good move. Graves (despite the incindent that left him without a Red's jersey) has been very consistent on a mediocre team... having him back will plug the hole Howry left well. Karsay... this guy has always thought too much of his abilities... it got him a deal with the Yanks for a while, but not long. When he pitches in the place he belongs... the bullpen, and if he can learn to be content with that, he can do well. Now the Tribe needs one more starter to replace Millwood (can he be replaced?), and a right handed bat. It is hard to say who either of these will be. The table of free agent players is getting cleaned off fast...

Contentment

Puritan Prayers

Heavenly Father, if I should suffer need, and go unclothed, and be in poverty, make my heart prize Thy love, know it, be constrained by it, though I be denied all blessings. It is Thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants, for by these trials I see my sins, and desire severance from them. Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations, if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil, and be delivered from it with gratitude to Thee, acknowledging this as the highest testimony of Thy love.

When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul instead of sin He became more dear to me than sin had formerly been; His kindly rule replaced sin's tyranny. Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued I must not only labour to overcome it, but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it, and He must become to me more than vile lust had been; that His sweetness, power, life may be there. Thus I must seek a grace from Him contrary to sin, but must not claim it apart from Himself.

When I am afraid of evils to come, comfort me by showing me that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch, but in Christ I am reconciled and live; that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest, but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace; that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good, but in Christ I have ability to do all things. Though now I have His graces in part, I shall shortly have them perfectly in that state where Thou wilt show Thyself fully reconciled, and alone sufficient, efficient, loving me completely, with sin abolished. O Lord, hasten that day.

A good friend

Here is a new picture of my friend Pheakdey. She sent this to me recently with the pictures of Sreynith in the Buckeyes shirt. I really appreciate her. She is straight forward and honest, yet knows when to share and when to wait until the right time. She told me recently that she is headed for Hong Kong for a couple of days at Christmas. She said that it is her first time on a plane. May God bless you friend! You are in His hands. Have a great time.

Enlightenting the Cambodians...

I love this picture. I sent Sreynith a Ohio State shirt as a gift this past fall. I am sure that she doesn't really know anything about what the Buckeyes are, but it certainly is fun to share something about my life with her. Maybe I can explain it a little more next summer. And it at least means that she will not be wearing anything with maize and blue on it.

A Well Traveled Cat

Stowaway Cat Reunited With Family