The Life of an Engineer

Here is some of my best of 2008 list.  I hope you enjoy!

I am "reading" to The Shack. I am actually listening to it for I noticed on iTunes over a month ago that it was only $6 for it so I bought it.  I am 2/3 of the way through it and I am really enjoying the book.  I find it funny (more like sad) how many Christians are so quick in wanting to burn a book because it isn't completely Biblically correct.  I love how he is explaining the Trinity so far.  In the story Mack needs to see God the Father as an African-American women so his idea of who God is is challenged and He realizes that God is bigger and cares so much deeper for him than Mack can imagine or grasp.  I can't wait to finish the book and I hope to do it by the end of the year (in other words, tomorrow).  If you have read the book, let me know what you thought about The Shack.

What is the point of Christmas? Why do we put up a tree, decorate it, put up lights? Why do we have a couple dozen “holiday” parties and give gifts? We do we cause ourselves to go crazy busy and listen to months of Christmas music?

I love Christmas time. I like snow and the lights and the tree. Hot Chocolate, friends, and gifts. But too often we lose the meaning, the gift of Christmas.  God has given us the ultimate gift: His son.  Yeah, I know you are heard that a million times being an American, especially during this time of year.  Even secular radio stations play nothing but Christmas music that many talk about Jesus and him coming to save the world.  But do we actually take time and think and ponder why we celebrate Christmas?  Why is the biggest part of Christmas giving gifts and spending time with family?  

God sent His son, Jesus, fully God, fully human to show himself to us and to save us.  It is hard to comprehend or even fathom. "For unto us a child is born." (Isaiah 9:6)  "For God loves us so much that he sent his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)  For God give to us the ultimate gift, we are to give back to Him and to others. The problem for me is that we just give gifts to give and give and get and get.  We are driven by commericalism and consumerism and figuring out what to give to that person who has everything.  We are to notice the need around us. The hungry. The sick. The brokenhearted.  When we help them, we show our love for God and to God. (Matt. 25:34-40 and James 1:27)

I too often don't notice.  I just go about my day and don't see what is going on around me.  A lot of the time, I am too selfish to what to take the time or resources to help.  I want and need to be the Good Samaritan that helped out the Jew even though everyone else walked on by. Sometimes God clearly points out a way to help others and I blow it.  That happened on Sunday.  Jennifer and I were leaving the Natalie Grant concert early for we were tired.  A young lady in her 20s came out and asked us about one of her songs "Held"  She told us that her brother died this past year in a car accident.  We told her we were sorry and talked with her a little, but we wanted to go.  I realize now, later, after the fact, that God was wanting me to talk with her more and buy the CD with that song for her, but I was unaware.  I wasn't listening.  I didn't have my eyes open for how God wanted me to help others around me.

I need to have God's eyes to see the hurt around me.  I need to surrender to him & follow him where he will lead.  I pray that next opportunity I get, I won't be selfish and just want to do what I want to do, but what God wants for my life.

My name is Michael and I am a selfaholic.

Some Links in reference to this:

Brandon Heath's song "Give me Your Eyes"

Dave Ramsey Show on Giving (Stream of the 3 hour show on 12/19)

Grace Point Church 12/21 message by Mike McDaniel on "The Gift of Christmas"

I just wanted to have a quick note to say Merry Christmas! We are heading up to KC to drop off our cat, Abby, at Jennifer's mom's and our dog, Oscar, at Jennifer's dad and then head up to Macon, MO tonight. We will be spending Christmas with my mom and her family. On Friday, we are heading to St Louis to see my dad's side of the family. On Sunday, we head back to KC to pick up our pets and off to home. I hope we don't have any problems tonight for there is rain/freezing rain in Missouri.

I hope you all have a blessed and wonderful Christmas!

Are your christmas lights this crazy??

I have 150 days until the Professional Engineering exam in Little Rock. This is the BIG deal for an engineer, especially a civil engineer. Without being licensed, you can't sign plans or be the lead engineer on a project. I took a PE Exam Review class at the U of A this fall to help for the morning session. Since the class, I haven't picked up the book to study for the exam. I did study for the LEED AP exam and passed, which is good for in February they are changing the LEED program. I should probably take my backpack this weekend and start looking over some of the stuff. I probably won't look at it, but I need to start soon . . .

Don't know what to give a guy for Christmas?  Give Mandles!  

Today is Veteran's Day. My grandparents fought in WWII. My grandma was a nurse in the Navy in England and my grandpa was in the Army in the Philipinnes. I loved my grandma telling "sea stories" about her time in service. About D-day, meeting Eisenhower (but didn't get to shake his hand because she was holding a bed pan), etc, etc. She passed away last year. My grandpa didn't talk about being in the army just that he was on long boat trip 14 times and in the army and grandma was in the navy and on a boat twice (to go to England and back). He was injured while over there and received a purple heart. One uncle was in the air force. Another uncle was in the marines in Veitnam. His life changed due to the effects of being over there. Currently I have two cousins in service: one in the Navy and another in the National Guard. My other grandpa was in service, but I am not sure what for it was never really talked about. He was born in the US but then raised in Germany and came back before the wall. He had family on the other side of the wall.

I am proud of my family that has served our great country to protect it and defend it. I am proud of all that serve and pray for their safety. God bless them! Watch this video:

I really like and respect Mike Huckabee. This is a clip from his show and I thought it was great of his comments about President Elect Obama.

Well after about 30 hours of studying over the past 13 days, I took the LEED AP test and passed. What is the LEED AP? It stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. It is done by the U.S. Green Building Council. When you hear about a building being "green", it usually means that it got accreditation from USGBC. Usually on the design and/or construction team there is a LEED AP on it to be able to help know how to make the building "green." Based off how many credits you get of the 69 possible is what classification you get. 26 points: Certification, 33: Silver, 39: Gold, 53: Platinum. Whether you like it or not, the buzz word is sustainability. So with that, the company I work for is wanting a lot of us to be LEED AP certified. They are having a drawing on Friday for a Smart Car. If you pass, you are in the drawing. Hopefully I win, we will see . . .

Sunday night I had a great time at BodyLife group at the Toto's.  It was great discussion talking about the sermon where we are starting to talk about real true Christian and not being fake or like a stinky cooked rat served up to a guest to eat.  To be a real Christian you first have to have a faith in Christ.  We have faith in many things, but the only thing that stands through it all is Christ. Then we got to have love. Love for God and love for others.  We are known as Christiansas haters (gay hater, abortion hater, Disney boycotter, etc.) but not known for our love.  "God's love leads us to repentance" Romans 2:4 Christ was known for his love.  He reached out to the lepar, talked to the Samaritan, protected the adulturer. He didn't approve of sin, but he loved the sinner.  We (I) am so easy to judge others, while not looking at ourselves.  We too often say "Turn or Burn" or Bible thump, but not get to care for the person and feel their pain. I guess one reason is that it is tough, messy, painful, unpleasant . . . to get real with someone. This is something I need to work on becoming... more caring, more compassionate.  Like Jennifer, I am introverted.  I hope I can let down the mask, be real and let others be real around me. I want to be know for loving God and loving people.  I hope they know what I am for, not just what I am against. That's my thoughts...