What happens when you try to ride a great dane?

We stopped by Jenny and Michael's house this evening. They have a great dane, Rudder. In case you didn't know, the "great" means HUUUUGE. it looks like a human being. anyways, i thought it would be a good idea to try and ride him. Hilarity ensued.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_V0cXTI5os

Sir Charles is on the way...

Sorry, no video from Culver's today. Surprisingly, it takes a while for the video to process, get to youtube, and then make it to your computer. 

I want to hear your thoughts. Charlie is due on April 23. Post your guess on when he graces us with his presence.

A Joke at the Office

I can't study at the house. For whatever reason, there's too many distractions here. So I did a little research and found a place with free wi-fi. Culver's in downtown Buda. The past few weeks, I've been using it as my office. I think the people there are starting to get to know me. 

Anyway, I was taking a break and was a little bored. So I made a video. The audio is a little quiet, I didn't want the people who work there to think I'm nuts. Enjoy!

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

Almost Famous...

If you can't be famous, marry someone who is. Helen hasn't been in high school for 7 years, but is still getting press.

Here, Helen was asked about how this team compared to her team back in 2001. (Hays Free Press) How come no one asked my opinion?

Here, Helen is mentioned as the connection between the last state tournament team and this state tournament team. All of her siblings are mentioned, since they are all freak athletes. And of course, yours truly gets some press. What can I say? Not everyone can do what I have done. I was born as son of a great coach-- accomplishment #1. Then, I married into a family who are all better athletes than me and my brother combined-- accomplishment #2. I'll be signing autographs later.

Riding the coattails of other people's success to fame = priceless.

Congrats 2008-2009 Lady Rebels

So my dad made it to the state tournament again. I was thinking last night about how greedy I've become. Ten years ago, I was hoping he could just a get chance to play at the Erwin Center. In 2001, my senior year, he made it and I was satisfied. It's such a privilege to make it to the final four, I thought surely that was his one shot. Well this year, out of nowhere, they made the state tournament again. Before state, they had a record of 34-4. that's the most wins he's ever had. Two of those losses were to rival Del Valle, who they beat in the Regional Final with seconds to go. One of those losses was to another team who is in the 5A state tournament. So this year, I was greedy. It wasn't enough for them to be there. I wouldn't be satisfied unless they won it all.

The problem is that they may as well have been playing the spurs last night. Waco Midway had 4 players with D-1 scholarships and the Baylor Women's Basketball coach's daughter. We were overmatched. I watched with pride as the Rebels played toe-to-toe with basically a D-1 college team in the first half. Entering halftime, they were only down 6. 

The second half was a different story, and the final score wasn't close. I left the Erwin Center with a sick feeling. It wasn't because of all the cow-poop colored burnt orange, although that didn't help. I was sick because I wanted my dad to win the whole thing. No matter the circumstances, no matter how good the other team is, I always have a feeling tucked deep down inside that my dad can win any game. And for the first half last night, the feeling was almost realized.

So congratulations, Dad and team. You guys were unbelievable this year. You consistently surprised everyone in the area and I was proud to watch. 11 juniors returning next year should make things interesting...

Happy Valentimes Day!

How many of you noticed what is wrong with the title of this blog? The sad part is that I'd be willing to bet that some of you really thought it was Valentimes Day. I've heard at least two people say that this week and they were dead serious. So consider this your free word of the day: It's Valentines Day, not Valentimes Day. 

Helen and I woke up this morning and gave each other our gifts for Valentimes Day. 

If you forgot to get your significant other something for Valentimes Day, there is still time. If you want, I bet Helen could make you a couple of shirts. Just let her know and I'm sure she'd oblige.

Happy Valentimes Day everyone!

A Man of Many Faces

I tried really hard. But I was tired of looking homeless.  So I decided to have a little fun:

This is as far as I could get. It was time to look respectable. But first...

This is my X-treme sports look. If I were going to ride motorcycles off 20 foot high mounds of dirt, this is the facial hair I would go for. Alas, I'm uncoordinated on bikes, I'm afraid of heights, and I look like a tool with this facial hair. Time to move on...

This is my youth minister's face. It's pretty much standard. If you're a youth minister, you have to have a gotee at some point in the life of your ministry. It doesn't matter how terrible it looks. You have to do it. Does it count if you had one for about 45 seconds (just long enough for Helen to take the picture)? Again, looking completely ridiculous is not my favorite thing to do, so...

uhhhhhh......

    

separated at birth?

Just add glasses, and hello Ned Flanders. Okily dokily...

Who is this guy?I was going for respectable, but I failed miserably.

Needless to say, it will be awhile before the facial hair comes back. For the next blog, look for Helen to do something similar... 

or not. 

Love you Helen. Please don't hurt me.

January Update

I haven't been so good with this thing over the last few weeks. I tend to blog more when I am really busy with school. It's my way of stalling. There's no real big update or anything, but Cami Bethancourt complained on my facebook wall and now i feel guilty.

Helen is still teaching away. She is working really hard, and I'm sure it feels like she is killing herself, carrying a child and all. I can't begin to imagine how she must feel. There have been multiple requests for pregnant pictures of my beautiful wife. I'm not sure that she's so keen on the idea... i'll have to convince her. maybe i'll take one of her while she's sleeping? or is that creepy? Maybe I'll just take a picture of my Dr. Pepper gut.

Charlie has begun to kick, punch, karate chop, use nun-chucks and whatever else he's doing in there. I really wish I could figure out what he's doing. We read somewhere that he dreams. What do yet-to-be-born babies dream about anyway? 

Charlie is just over a foot tall and weighs a pound or two. I can't believe that we are in our 3rd trimester. Time has just flown by. Before we know it, we'll be holding Charles Henry tight! Someone asked Helen what she is looking forward to most... and I really thought about that one for awhile. I can't wait to see his personality. I can't wait to hear his laugh. I can't wait to discuss the hypostatic union of the person of Christ with him (that one will have to wait).

As for me, I'm starting seminary here in the next few days. I have six classes to go. I'm taking four this spring, and I guess I'll finish next fall. (I'm no Philip, i can't finish 6 classes in one semester.) I am still working at Hays Hills. The Lord has been gracious there, and I believe the Holy Spirit is stirring in students' hearts. Also, the Lord has provided another job for me. Last November, I started tutoring at a local middle school. the hours are flexible and the pay is great. God has always provided for us, and he's doing it again! We are so thankful.

If you're praying for us, here's a few things to remember:

1. Charlie. 

2. Helen and her work. It's gotta be rough being pregnant and teaching 20 1st graders.

3. My job situation. I have a strong desire to serve the church full time. right now, the church that i'm at doesn't have a position for me full time. So I'm looking.

4. Living situation. We are house sitting right now. The people who own this place are possibly coming back in july and we are going to have to find new arrangements. This is also related to my job situation.

IT'S A BOY!!

So we are 20 weeks pregnant. We went to the doctor yesterday to see our baby for the first time since the 6 week mark. Needless to say, we were very excited and very nervous. Helen and I had discussed several times that we really didn't have a preference, whether it was a boy or girl. The awesomeness of either was enough to make us excited. So we went in with no expectations. 

We got to the doctor's office in downtown Austin right on time. As these things tend to go, there was only one doctor in the office, and so our appointment was running about an hour late. They told us we could go home and schedule another appointment, but we were too excited, I had already taken off work, and both our moms were there. We just waited it out.

The ultrasound was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. It's one of those things where you see others who are pregnant and you understand what is going on. But when you see for yourself, and it's your child, you are floored by the magnitude of it. I have never seen anything more beautiful. It's a boy. I have a son. I am a father. This was no more true yesterday than it was the day before. We had heard the heartbeat before. But we got to see him. 

At one point, we had a good profile view of him, and he was opening and closing his mouth as if to say "mama" over and over. The doctor pointed out that his first words will probably be "dada" since that's easier to say, but this was proof that his first words were "mama." 

Charles Henry is due April 23. We can't wait to meet him, and we can't wait to introduce you.

If you're upset about the outcome of the election...

If you're upset about the outcome of the election, then this post is for you. If you're worried about America's future, then this post is for you. If you're worried about your bank accounts, freedoms, and safety, this post is for you.

Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will."

1 Timothy 2:1-2 "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."

Romans 13:1-7 "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;  for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.  Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.  For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.  Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."

1 Peter 2:17 "Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king." 

The Niche Church

I have become a regular contributor to Evangelical Village. Here is my first post.

The Niche Church

"I done wet my britches"

This has got to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen. You have to watch the whole thing, all the way to the end.

Find more videos like this on PrepTicket

Quotes that hit me like a ton of bricks...

You know when you hear something and it just sticks in your mind? Every spare moment you have, the words flash through your brain as if they are being said aloud to you? Two quotes I've heard in the last two days that have hit me like a ton of bricks:

1. "I heard of a story of two farmers praying to God for rain to come. Both prayed but only one prepared the land. Who do you think trusted God more to send the rain?" from the movie Facing the Giants. At the end of the movie, the coach sends his kicker out on the field to win the game and someone asks him "what are you doing?" His response: "Preparing for rain."

2. If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.

I'm not sure why, but both of these have stuck with me this week.

How to Handle a Baby

Seeing as how Helen is pregnant with our first child, I did a little research and found this chart to help us out.

I stole this from someone's facebook photos. But it would be a disservice to you not to share. 

"Come for Me" - by Charlie Hall

Jesus come take me away

I long to see your face

This world is broken

Yet beautifully made

Jesus come take me away

Jesus I'll patiently wait

Until like a vapor I fade

Help me fulfill

All your dreams for these days

Jesus I'll patiently wait

And you'll come again with a shout

Like a thief in the night you'll come riding on clouds

And finally the voice I have followed for life

Has a glorious face that is lit up with light

And you'll come for me

No more pain, peace

No more fear, release

Just lost and consumed with my glorious king

Jesus today I am tired

And I need your music to come and inspire

And I give myself to be refined

In this fire

Jesus today I'm so tired

...come for me...

Brett is a movie star

It's a little known fact that I starred in a recent motion picture about the life of the Reformer Martin Luther. The picture is entitled Luther. Here are some pictures from the movie:

The Tale of the Leaky Corolla Revisited

Toyota calls me and lets me know that it is the glass. It's a slow leak, so spraying the glass with a squirt bottle does no good. There needs to be a lot of water and it needs to sit for a minute. I immediately call the glass company to have him get in touch with Toyota. An hour or two later I receive a message from glass doctor explaining that they were going to replace the glass for me. 

Friday afternoon, Helen and I go pick up the Unleaky Corolla. To be sure, I washed the car yesterday-- because it needed to be washed, first of all, but also to test the new seal. No leak, of course,  so it seems our problems are solved. The glass company covered the expense at Toyota and so it seems that it all worked out.

I am satisfied with my windshield, but I am not satisfied with the trouble I had to go through to prove that the glass was leaking. One particular lady at the glass company even had the nerve to imply I might be lying about the leak! 

Lady: "It only leaks when you take it through a car wash?"

Me: "I haven't taken it through a carwash. It leaks when it rains."

Lady: Rolls eyes. "It leaks when it rains? Well let's take it through a carwash and if it doesn't leak then..."

So I'm not pleased with the service I got from Glass Doctor in Austin. They are supposed to be glass specialists, but the dealership had to point out where the leak was. You would think specialists would be better than or at least as good as a dealership.

The moral of the story: if it's under warranty or if someone else is paying for it, take it to the dealership because they'll do it right the first time.

The second moral of the story: if you know you're right, keep pushing until someone finally follows through on their promises.

Case closed, for now.

Watching the Aggie Football Disaster

I'm learning a lesson in humility. This football team is terrible. I have been asked multiple times, "what's wrong with them?" I have no answer except, "They are terrible." It's not injuries. It's not bad luck. I don't even think it's coaching. I just think we are terrible. They say that things are going to get worse before they get better. I can't see things getting much worse than this... That is all.

The Tale of the Leaky Corolla

Helen and I bought a car in April. We bought a brand new, 2009 Toyota Corolla. We talked to several people who owned Toyotas, and they gave great reviews. "I've never had any problems!" "It will last you twice as long as a Ford or Chevy!" So we bought it. We got a good deal (Thanks, Sean Sivils!) and we were extremely happy. 

One day, Helen was driving home from work, and as she rounded a corner near Buda Elementary, some kids from the after school program launched rocks from the playground at our car. Yes, it broke the windshield. Two weeks after we bought our first car, the windshield was broken. I'm just glad Helen was driving and not me, otherwise I'd probably be in jail right now. Anywho, the after school program agreed to pay for our windshield replacement.

Being very busy, we decided we would call a glass company to come and replace the windshield (Mistake #1). They came and replaced the glass with no problems, so we thought. It cost almost double to replace this windshield because the car was so new that they had to order the glass from Japan (at least that's what they told me).

A few weeks later, it began to rain. In Central Texas, we've been in a perpetual drought for the last several months. It is so bad that when Hurricane Ike came through, we didn't get a single drop of rain.  But it rained for a week. And our car began to leak from underneath the dashboard on both the driver side and passenger side. Our floorboards were soaked (and still are).

We took it to the dealership in San Marcos, where we bought it. I was told "Toyotas don't leak." Uhhh, this one does. Anyway, he told me that if they looked at it and it was the glass, they would charge me. He suggested that I talk to the glass company first. 

So I called the glass company. They sent out a technician who squirted water from a bottle to "prove" water wasn't coming through the seal. First of all, a little mist in Texas evaporates before it has the chance to leak. I needed a hose on it. But nonetheless, he was confident it wasn't the glass. He left. Thirty minutes later, after he had left, the water he sprayed had leaked onto the floor. I decided to call Toyota anyway (Mistake #2).

I did some digging and friend has family that works at the dealership in Round Rock. So I take the Leaky Toyota to Round Rock, only to be told the seal is definitely leaking. I was told they could see where the water was coming from and the glass company needed to fix it.

I left the Toyota dealership with all kinds of paperwork explaining what the problem was. I made an appointment with the glass company and showed up ready to have my glass fixed. The technician at the glass company must have been having a bad day, because he was a real jerk. Sean was with me, and the tech guy asked if we wanted to wait. The conversation went something like this:

Sean: "How long will it be before you can tell us something?" 

Techy: "I don't know."

Sean: "Well, can you give us an estimate?"

Techy: "I don't know, sir."

Sean: "Is it going to be like an hour, or five days, or five years? I'm just asking if there are any cars in front of us."

Techy: "I just told you sir, I'm not sure how long."

Sheeesh. Anyway, the techy was gone for awhile and came back quite certain the glass wasn't leaking. We got the manager involved, who was also quite sure that the glass wasn't leaking. Luckily, the manager was more of a people person than the techy. Mr. Manager sent me to another Toyota Dealership in Austin (where I'm sitting now). If this dealership finds that it's the glass, Mr. Manager is going to come see for himself. If it's found that the glass is leaking, the glass company is going to take care of all my costs, including Toyotas fee to look at it. (They should also pay to replace my wet carpets, and my ruined owners manual.) But if it's Toyota's fault, then they'll handle it all because we're under warranty.

That brings us to today. It is now 12:30PM. I've been sitting here since 9:30 AM. I was just informed that they are going to have pull the dash off to figure this out. It probably won't be until tomorrow that there is a verdict. 

Stay tuned to see who the culprit is: Is it Toyota? Or is it the glass company? Hopefully, this will be solved soon.

PS To top it all off, the truck broke down on Monday and had to go to the shop. It is still there. Helen and I would be car-less, except for the generosity of my parents who are letting us borrow their 2009 Corolla that doesn't leak. 

Remember, Toyotas don't leak, except for mine.

The Barack Obama Loyalty Quiz-- What's your score?

The Barack Obama Loyalty Quiz

"Your score is 0 on a scale of 1 to 10. You are a fierce opponent of Barack Obama. He is the embodiment of everything you despise in a politician: an elitist, morally superior, gun-grabbing, religion-bashing, terrorist-coddling appeaser who threatens all that is good and decent in America. Plus, he bowls like a girl."

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/bl_barack_obama_quiz.htm