Tuesday, March 27, 2007
For Sale (almost)
Well, it's not quite on the market yet, but I just love making the flyers. If I could just make flyers all day, I'd have my dream job.
 |  |
Spectacular Gem! Thousands in upgrades. This is a must-see property. 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath, 798 sq. ft. Double Pane Low-E Windows Front Loading Washer/Dryer Raised Panel Door w/ upgraded hardware Air Conditioner Upgraded Heater Tiled Bathroom Wood Laminate Kitchen, Dining & Entry 1 Car Garage w/Ample Storage Community Pool New Exterior Paint Scheduled |  |
Close to Major Shopping Mall (Oakridge), Restaurants, Schools, Parks | Offered at $388,888 |
Friday, March 23, 2007
Instant Library
I just ordered a four volume Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English translation of what I think is the Masoretic (lit. transmission of tradition) version of the OT (as opposed to the Septuagint [72] version), and the Textus Receptus (lit. Received Text) of the NT (if that's even the right one - I'm still researching which is the original). I also had to order 2 x 10 volume sets of translations with Strong's concordance. Zoinks! It's all pastor's fault! :-)
It's all part of my ongoing "Spirit of the law vs. the word of the law" Bible study. Although the original question at hand is largely settled for me in all translations (i.e. divorce & remarriage), there are numerous other questions that came up as a result. I'm about ready to throw away my NIV & Living Bible and never use anything looser than the KJV (but I recently bought a really nice leather bound NKJV). I have one more book to read on that subject first.
Good thing I'll have empty bookshelf space now. One thing's for sure, I'll never be bored. As a side note, I think I'll have ice cream and grilled cheese for dinner again. ;-)
It's all part of my ongoing "Spirit of the law vs. the word of the law" Bible study. Although the original question at hand is largely settled for me in all translations (i.e. divorce & remarriage), there are numerous other questions that came up as a result. I'm about ready to throw away my NIV & Living Bible and never use anything looser than the KJV (but I recently bought a really nice leather bound NKJV). I have one more book to read on that subject first.
Good thing I'll have empty bookshelf space now. One thing's for sure, I'll never be bored. As a side note, I think I'll have ice cream and grilled cheese for dinner again. ;-)
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Beautiful Wet Kitchen
Finally! Actually, it didn't take that long. Last night, I learned the final lesson in RTM (read the manual). I started a load of dishes, but we never poked out the new disposal drain hole for the dish washer water. Consequently, the little overflow thingy on the top of the sink kicked in and spewed water all over (since it was also facing the wrong way). Well, only a few cups of water went all over. Otherwise, I couldn't be happier with the new countertops.
Before:
After:
Now, it's time to vote on new carpet. I'm about 70% in favor of doing it.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Open House
Monday morning, 10:26 am. 'Does Anybody Hear Her' [Casting Crowns] is playing on K-LOVE online. I'm wondering to myself how long this song will remain popular.
Pastor invited everyone to visit the building that we're trying to buy in order to have enough room to hold everything that's going on in our little 8,000 square foot church that we're packing ourselves into now. We are literally bursting at the seams. We had people standing in the back of a Sunday afternoon class last week, so we had to move to a larger room this week. It's awsome! The new building is about 40,000 square feet and used to be a rack server manufacturing plant in its last life. The main assembly room will be our auditorium. The building used to be used for building servers. We want to use it to build servants! I coined that - I think pastor liked it.
I'm a sucker for an open house. I can barely pass one in my neighborhood whenever I see one. I love looking at comparables; seeing what they did with what. I saw one near my house on Saturday that is being offered for about $360k. That's good and bad for me. Good because my place is nicer, but bad because I'm really looking for $388,888. That's two houses in Texas! but I digress. I'm wondering if my improvements will be worth $28k to someone. Things I my place has that theirs doesn't: double paned windows, front loading laundry, remodeled kitchen with granite counters and upgraded appliances, remodeled bathroom which wasn't a HomeDepot flip job. If you know what you're looking for, you can really tell a bad remodel from a good one. Then, there are the almost intangibles, like my double paned windows are actually two different thicknesses, which reduces noise from the outside by another 20 decibles. That's nice and all, but I'm not sure how I would word it in a listing. I also opted for more expensive granite because it just looked nicer. I spent about $300 more than I could have, but I think it will make a difference to a trained eye. Now, to find that eye - and the wallet attached to it.
The bad news is that my place is smaller, but that's one of the main reasons for the move in the first place. Caveot from a prior blog entry: I had stated that my hidden reason was to sell this place and move back into a house I had in Texas. I was keeping my options open and being available, but now I'm thinking about Morgan Hill.
Pastor invited everyone to visit the building that we're trying to buy in order to have enough room to hold everything that's going on in our little 8,000 square foot church that we're packing ourselves into now. We are literally bursting at the seams. We had people standing in the back of a Sunday afternoon class last week, so we had to move to a larger room this week. It's awsome! The new building is about 40,000 square feet and used to be a rack server manufacturing plant in its last life. The main assembly room will be our auditorium. The building used to be used for building servers. We want to use it to build servants! I coined that - I think pastor liked it.
I'm a sucker for an open house. I can barely pass one in my neighborhood whenever I see one. I love looking at comparables; seeing what they did with what. I saw one near my house on Saturday that is being offered for about $360k. That's good and bad for me. Good because my place is nicer, but bad because I'm really looking for $388,888. That's two houses in Texas! but I digress. I'm wondering if my improvements will be worth $28k to someone. Things I my place has that theirs doesn't: double paned windows, front loading laundry, remodeled kitchen with granite counters and upgraded appliances, remodeled bathroom which wasn't a HomeDepot flip job. If you know what you're looking for, you can really tell a bad remodel from a good one. Then, there are the almost intangibles, like my double paned windows are actually two different thicknesses, which reduces noise from the outside by another 20 decibles. That's nice and all, but I'm not sure how I would word it in a listing. I also opted for more expensive granite because it just looked nicer. I spent about $300 more than I could have, but I think it will make a difference to a trained eye. Now, to find that eye - and the wallet attached to it.
The bad news is that my place is smaller, but that's one of the main reasons for the move in the first place. Caveot from a prior blog entry: I had stated that my hidden reason was to sell this place and move back into a house I had in Texas. I was keeping my options open and being available, but now I'm thinking about Morgan Hill.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Measure twice / Cut once
Bless their hearts. They're really trying, but they're suffering from lack of measure twice, cut once. Some of the new countertops are over an inch off, and I feel bad about bringing it up, but unless it gets fixed, it's going to look pretty ugly. There's also a few broken/chipped corners, but the installers seem to be taking it all in stride. Just a few fix-it items as far as they're concerned. I keep bringing items to their attention, and they keep pulling slabs off the particle board and glue combination and recutting/sanding/etc.
They've decided to cut the hole for the sink inside. It's going to be VERY dusty by the time they're finished. I've put up a sheet in the hallway entrance at a futile attempt to hold the dust in the kitchen/living room.
It's unfortunate that they're over measurement will not allow enough material for a backsplash over the sink. I know they're going to try to charge me $50 for a new piece of 4" backsplash. We'll see.
Otherwise, the granite color is really nice against the cabinets and appliances. Pictures to follow.
They've decided to cut the hole for the sink inside. It's going to be VERY dusty by the time they're finished. I've put up a sheet in the hallway entrance at a futile attempt to hold the dust in the kitchen/living room.
It's unfortunate that they're over measurement will not allow enough material for a backsplash over the sink. I know they're going to try to charge me $50 for a new piece of 4" backsplash. We'll see.
Otherwise, the granite color is really nice against the cabinets and appliances. Pictures to follow.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Plan "B" (A Man, A Plan and a Kitchen)
Well, Plan "A" didn't work out. I'm still going to sell my place, but I'll be staying in California. Yes, there was a bit of wishful thinking for a while, but mine is not to reason why. Mine is but to be shocked and die - I guess. I torn the countertops out of the kitchen and the particle board is exposed. It's lovely. I bought a big sheet of board and a new stainless steel sink from HomeDepot last night to replace the old one. I'm going to spend my evening tonight under the sink disconnecting all the supply hoses, garbage disposal, drain and dishwasher stuff. There's a lot going on, and the friendly kids at HomeDepot wanted $150-250 for the priviledge of doing it for me. Honestly though, I'd rather be at Salsa or spinning at the gym instead of under a sink, but it will be nice to have the kitchen done.
The new granite is going to look great. There are a bunch of shades of brown, with little pieces of black which will match the black appliances.
Now, I have to think about carpet. I'm still on the fence with the carpet. It's pretty good quality and in pretty good shape, but I'd have to take out a few stains. Also, it's green - yuck. Well, it's green in the living room. Kim's room is rose colored, and mine is light brown.
Lastly, if Kim doesn't end up moving in with her boyfriend, I'll have to figure out the furniture thing. I seriously thought she'd come back from vacation engaged, but oh well.
The new granite is going to look great. There are a bunch of shades of brown, with little pieces of black which will match the black appliances.
Now, I have to think about carpet. I'm still on the fence with the carpet. It's pretty good quality and in pretty good shape, but I'd have to take out a few stains. Also, it's green - yuck. Well, it's green in the living room. Kim's room is rose colored, and mine is light brown.
Lastly, if Kim doesn't end up moving in with her boyfriend, I'll have to figure out the furniture thing. I seriously thought she'd come back from vacation engaged, but oh well.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Once Upon A Time
If I had the will/desire to write all the details of what has transpired in the past 2+ weeks, you'd probably agree that it's been a real page turner. There are still many unanswered questions and open items that may never be addressed, but it's out of my hands, as it had been all along. I think I'm past the worst of it now, but it still hurts - and it probably will cause moments of quiet reflection for the rest of my life. It was encouraging to know that when these trials came, I ran straight to God. I recall saying out loud, "This is the easiest decision ever" when the trials first started. I know He'll bless me for my willingness to give up on my own understanding and sit at His feet. Amazingly, not once did I shake my fist at the ceiling. People change, and I thank God for being so patient with me. I didn't do everything perfectly, and probably said (or at least thought) some things that I didn't mean after I had time to reflect. Also, I'm sorry that these events have given some people (plural) a reason to believe that Christians are no different from the unsaved because we do the same things. I've truely lost my witness with some people that I've been praying for, and that's unfortunate. I hope to someday have the wisdom to explain what *this* Christian did when faced with some challenging revelations, uncomfortable decisions and impossible circumstances. Darn, I'm being self-rightous again - sorry.
I can't believe the number of people who came out of the woodwork to pray for me. Thank you everyone! Meanwhile, the pen of my life is on the last page of this chapter. I don't know how or when God will begin the next chapter, but I'm certain that this story will end with, "happily ever after."
Next: "Plan B" (A Man, A Plan and a Kitchen)
I can't believe the number of people who came out of the woodwork to pray for me. Thank you everyone! Meanwhile, the pen of my life is on the last page of this chapter. I don't know how or when God will begin the next chapter, but I'm certain that this story will end with, "happily ever after."
Next: "Plan B" (A Man, A Plan and a Kitchen)
Thursday, March 08, 2007
An inconvenient convenience
More Bible thumping. There's a poker term called "tilt".
That's a fair description of me lately. It started when I started asking people for guidance. I was pretty aggressive in my beliefs and could point to the source and not loose interpretations. I got some interesting answers. "You were never married", was the most upsetting. It's concerning to think that people did not accept my marriage in the first place. Or worse, they would accept me as a married man while I was married, but now that I'm not, they seem willing to give me "outs". That seems wishy washy and a convenient betryal of their beliefs. Maybe they don't know what they know.
The subject of salvation and eternity has also come up. "I think that if you're just good...yadda, yadda, yadda". Being good seems to have a lot to do with how a lot of people think we get to Heaven, but they come up pretty 1/2 handed when I ask for examples in the Bible. Yes, we need to be good, but not just to be good. We need the fruit of our works to come from our faith. It's the classic Ephesians 2:8,9 versus James 2:14 argument (Faith vs Works).
Another thing I heard was, "You're being too hard on yourself", "You're taking the Bible too literally", "A little religion is a good thing but don't go overboard" and "Don't get too far into this religion thing". Zoinks!
I don't want to sound "holier than thou", but I've been trying to at least get people to understand where I'm coming from. That's been an uphill battle in itself. And once I find people who are able to look only to the Bible and not lean on their own understandings/feelings, I get into the real question I'm battling with...
Spirit of the Law vs. Letter of the law.
(1:29 pm - K-LOVE online - Casting Crown's "Does anybody hear her" is playing)
Tilt - Playing more aggressively than usual because a player has become emotionally upset.
That's a fair description of me lately. It started when I started asking people for guidance. I was pretty aggressive in my beliefs and could point to the source and not loose interpretations. I got some interesting answers. "You were never married", was the most upsetting. It's concerning to think that people did not accept my marriage in the first place. Or worse, they would accept me as a married man while I was married, but now that I'm not, they seem willing to give me "outs". That seems wishy washy and a convenient betryal of their beliefs. Maybe they don't know what they know.
The subject of salvation and eternity has also come up. "I think that if you're just good...yadda, yadda, yadda". Being good seems to have a lot to do with how a lot of people think we get to Heaven, but they come up pretty 1/2 handed when I ask for examples in the Bible. Yes, we need to be good, but not just to be good. We need the fruit of our works to come from our faith. It's the classic Ephesians 2:8,9 versus James 2:14 argument (Faith vs Works).
Another thing I heard was, "You're being too hard on yourself", "You're taking the Bible too literally", "A little religion is a good thing but don't go overboard" and "Don't get too far into this religion thing". Zoinks!
I don't want to sound "holier than thou", but I've been trying to at least get people to understand where I'm coming from. That's been an uphill battle in itself. And once I find people who are able to look only to the Bible and not lean on their own understandings/feelings, I get into the real question I'm battling with...
Spirit of the Law vs. Letter of the law.
(1:29 pm - K-LOVE online - Casting Crown's "Does anybody hear her" is playing)
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
On the bright side (222.22.22.22)
On the bright side, I have a lot to look forward to that I was already looking forward to.
My cruise leaves in 222 days 22 hours 22 minutes and 22 seconds.
Venice, Italy
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Corfu, Greece
Katakolon (Olympia), Greece
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Rhodes, Greece
Santorini, Greece
Naples, Italy
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
My cruise leaves in 222 days 22 hours 22 minutes and 22 seconds.
Venice, Italy
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Corfu, Greece
Katakolon (Olympia), Greece
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Rhodes, Greece
Santorini, Greece
Naples, Italy
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
180 degrees
I was talking to a friend on the phone for the past hour. This dawned on me...
I still desire to do the right thing, but I think the right thing is 180 degrees from what I thought it was a week ago. God must be doing something in perfect timing. I can't trace His hand, but I trust His heart. It will take time for me to do my 180 turn that I need to. I took many months to get here and many more months to become the man she thought she married. On second thought, I'm going to keep that part. I'm the man God wants me to be! It's unfortunate that she won't be able to know that man. I know with time, God will heal my heart over what she's done. I don't know if God will ever change my heart about how I feel about what she is continuing to live in. I pray for her sake that He does. Right now though, He would have to come down personally and rip some pages out of my Bible.Prior to Monday (past 4 years) - It was all my fault, and I needed to do something about it.
Monday Night - It was all my fault, and there was nothing I could do about it.
After Wednesday Night - I realize that it was not all my fault, but there's still nothing I can do about it.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Exposed
I sent her this blog address. She can read it or not. She can email me back or not. To be honest, I don't know if I'll ever hear from her again although it's only been 4 days. She may have blocked my email address, or she might be driving here right now. I honestly don't know, but I don't think it's either of those.
Every time I get an answer to a question from her, I have more questions, but I do at least have a sense of closure. At least now I know why I'm divorced. That has caused me a lot of pain over the past four years. Those were long years.
I hope I will have the opportunity to express my side to her.
I just spent some time re-reading most of my blog entries. I rant about how busy I am at work a lot. I thought I had quit being such a workaholic. Maybe the more recent entries will minimize the older entries on that subject.
Next, I talk a lot about my divorce and dating and remarriage - yes, even in this blog. I'm still not ready to show my other blog to anyone. Someday, but I'm waiting for Google to not return some entries that they have in their cache. I need to because I confessed some things that happened to me, and I don't want to hurt anyone unnecessarily.
Next, I remember saying that I'd never consider leaving the country for vacation, but I sure do like to travel outside the U.S. now. I really like taking pictures of my feet when I go on vacation alone.
I'm thinking about a vacation to release some of the stress I've been having. Open suggestions to all: Where should I go?
hG
Every time I get an answer to a question from her, I have more questions, but I do at least have a sense of closure. At least now I know why I'm divorced. That has caused me a lot of pain over the past four years. Those were long years.
I hope I will have the opportunity to express my side to her.
I just spent some time re-reading most of my blog entries. I rant about how busy I am at work a lot. I thought I had quit being such a workaholic. Maybe the more recent entries will minimize the older entries on that subject.
Next, I talk a lot about my divorce and dating and remarriage - yes, even in this blog. I'm still not ready to show my other blog to anyone. Someday, but I'm waiting for Google to not return some entries that they have in their cache. I need to because I confessed some things that happened to me, and I don't want to hurt anyone unnecessarily.
Next, I remember saying that I'd never consider leaving the country for vacation, but I sure do like to travel outside the U.S. now. I really like taking pictures of my feet when I go on vacation alone.
I'm thinking about a vacation to release some of the stress I've been having. Open suggestions to all: Where should I go?
hG
Friday, March 02, 2007
High time for some changes
First, thank you to everyone who's praying for me. I feel it, and I need it. God has shown me many things that I believe are a direct result of the wave of prayers that He has received on my behalf. Dare I say visions and things that I had never thought possible.
I've been taking inventory of things while going through these trials. This one hit me last night. When I was a young Christian around 1991-92, a particular passage struck me deeply. It was my "life passage" for years.
It taught me a lot. First, it corrected me because I was wrong. Dead wrong about what the Bible really says about things that I thought I knew. Like some non-believers or very new Christians, I thought the Bible said, "An eye for an eye". Indeed, OT law states that, but Jesus set forward a better way. But that's just an example. Matt 5:28 was also a springboard for understanding so much more about how a Christian ought to live. As in this case, it's in complete opposition to how the world would have us live. It was the first passage I ever memorized (even before John 3:16 because I had no guidance when I was a young Christian and learned the basics with only myself, the Bible and a lamp).
Matt 5:38 has served me well, but I've grown so much since then. This week, I've grown taller than a redwood. I have faith the size of a snowcapped mountain that reaches the ocean! (a thought I woke up to a few days ago). I've woken each morning in thankful prayer and ended each evening the same way. For years, I'd said prayers like, "Lord, please help me through this", or "Lord, please give me [strength wisdom courage grace, etc.]." God has given me all these things, and so much more. He's added all these things to me, and He has moved into my life completely - I've reserved no portion of my life for myself.
Another passage came into my mind while studying recently.
That teaches a lot also. I have full grace and full forgiveness, but this certainly raises the bar. It doesn't say, "Look at me God -I'm perfect." It says that I'm desiring to live in His will, and if He find any fault, to let me know, and let me change. My goal is to pillow my head each night and hear, "Well done my good and faithful servant." That's a far cry from my usual, "Please forgive me for how I've acted today. I need your grace. Again."
I've been taking inventory of things while going through these trials. This one hit me last night. When I was a young Christian around 1991-92, a particular passage struck me deeply. It was my "life passage" for years.
Matt 5:38-39
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
It taught me a lot. First, it corrected me because I was wrong. Dead wrong about what the Bible really says about things that I thought I knew. Like some non-believers or very new Christians, I thought the Bible said, "An eye for an eye". Indeed, OT law states that, but Jesus set forward a better way. But that's just an example. Matt 5:28 was also a springboard for understanding so much more about how a Christian ought to live. As in this case, it's in complete opposition to how the world would have us live. It was the first passage I ever memorized (even before John 3:16 because I had no guidance when I was a young Christian and learned the basics with only myself, the Bible and a lamp).
Matt 5:38 has served me well, but I've grown so much since then. This week, I've grown taller than a redwood. I have faith the size of a snowcapped mountain that reaches the ocean! (a thought I woke up to a few days ago). I've woken each morning in thankful prayer and ended each evening the same way. For years, I'd said prayers like, "Lord, please help me through this", or "Lord, please give me [strength wisdom courage grace, etc.]." God has given me all these things, and so much more. He's added all these things to me, and He has moved into my life completely - I've reserved no portion of my life for myself.
Another passage came into my mind while studying recently.
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
That teaches a lot also. I have full grace and full forgiveness, but this certainly raises the bar. It doesn't say, "Look at me God -I'm perfect." It says that I'm desiring to live in His will, and if He find any fault, to let me know, and let me change. My goal is to pillow my head each night and hear, "Well done my good and faithful servant." That's a far cry from my usual, "Please forgive me for how I've acted today. I need your grace. Again."
