The latest and greatest!

I can hardly believe how much time has gone by since the last time Bryan or I wrote. Especially me!! So much has gone on this summer and we haven't shared any of it with you. Let's see, my boys (Joshua and Jonathan) spent the month of July in Georgia with my parents. Kirsten (Bryan's daughter) got to spend 3 weeks in Georgia with Bryan's sister Suzy. I got to take a week off and spend it with my guys in Georgia before I drove home. While I was there, I got to meet Kirsten and Suzy and Hannah (Suzy's daughter) for the first time!! It was incredible! It was like we had know each other forever! The next weekend I flew back to GA. for our multiclass reunion which was awesome!! Bryan and I decided NOT to have a big wedding but rather to get married on the beach in Georgia with only our immediate family there. And of course, Chill Pastor will be officiating!! There was never any doubt about that!! And we set a date: March 29, 2008. Yaay!! I can hardly wait! I think that gets it for June and July. Now for upcoming events!

School starts for both Kirsten and Joshua and Jonathan on the 27th. Kirsten will be a junior, Josh will be in 8th grade and Jon will be in 4th. I'm not real sure what classes Kirstie is taking or if she's ready for school to start back, but I do know this...she is one smart cookie and I know she's going to have an awesome year!! I am seriously hoping that Joshua will decide to show what he is truly capable of and not have another year like last year. It was a constant battle!! Josh is taking a couple of cool electives (spanish and theatre arts) so hopefully he'll enjoy his classes a bit better. Jonathan will be at a new school this year but he's very excited. We found out who his teacher is the other day and he's excited about going to open house later this week. It's a brand new school so he's anxious to get inside and snoop it all out. Bryan's son, Corey, leaves for Ohio University on the 30th. He is psyched and ready to head out on his own. Bryan is getting a little sentimental about his son heading off to college but is very excited for him. Corey wants to be a record producer which I think is very cool!! Music runs deep in the veins of the Poindexter men!!!

Bryan is moving to Pearland the first weekend of November. 77 days and counting!! I move into our new 3 bedroom apartment at the end of September so I have a month to get it ready before he moves in. I can not wait to begin my life with Bryan. He is such a God send. He has so completely changed my world that I can not even begin to express the love that I feel for him. God knew exactly what and who I needed in my life and I am thankful every single day for the blessing of Bryan. He loves the Lord with all his heart and he shares his faith and the Lord's leading everyday. He is amazing and a constant example of who I want to be!! Hopefully, he'll be along soon and share a few of his insites. I love reading what God places in his heart to share!!

I hope this finds you all doing well. I plan on not being gone so long. I'm going to just start writing whatever is on my heart and try to keep y'all posted on the latest happenings in the Poindexter/Toruno family. I send my love to each of you.

Until next time.....sweet dreams and God bless you!!

Anybody Warming Up Down There?

Ok so last night Bobby Cox calls for Bob Wickman in the ninth to "nail it down" for Tim Hudson. Huddy pitched a GREAT game against the Twins. 7+ innings. 3 K's. 1 walk. 2 hits. AWESOME. I've been concerned lately about Timmy. His last few outings were a little less to be desired. But he seems to have gotten back the form he had from earlier this season. Whew!

So, anyway. Blue and I are watching the game together. I still sit in amazement that she is a Braves fan. On top of that, she really knows her stuff! Every game we watch together, she'll say something that girls are not supposed to say while watching a Braves game.

OTHER GIRL - "YAY! He threw the baseball, and that other guy with the bat hit it!"

MY BLUE - "Man, if Francoeur would just go with the pitch, he'd have a sure double off the right field wall!"

OTHER GIRL - "Do they sell peanuts at the game?"

MY BLUE - "Bobby needs to intentionally walk this guy to put a force on at second. Watch, he'll do it.

OTHER GIRL - "That guy's cute!" (NOTE - Blue SOMETIMES qualifies for this entry as well, but for the sake of this blog, I exclude her from this statement)

MY BLUE - "I'm so glad Chipper's back from the DL. The lineup really takes a hit without him in it."


You get the point.


So - we both see Wickman warming up in the eighth when I say to Blue...

"PERFECT! WICKMAN'S UP! I CAN'T BELIEVE BOBBY IS GOING TO THROW THIS GAME AWAY!"

Blue, the eternal optimist (you have to be if you wanted to survive through the 80's as a Braves fan) says to me..."NOW YOU JUST QUIT IT! He's pitching much better. He really is! He’s gonna come in, and nail it down for Huddy."


...right. (Insert smart-alick sound effect now)


The banter goes back and forth throughout the entire 9th inning. Blue and me. Back and forth. She's starting to get a little upset at my demeanor. Seriously. I can tell. But I had to keep it going. After all, he WAS blowing the save.

One out and six batters later - the save was blown. Just like I had predicted. yay. go bravos.



Sigh.



Now that a few hours have passed...I got to thinking about the game last night. And how we can look at what happened and apply it to how we live our life everyday. (I'm like that. Sometimes it drives people "batty", but whatever...)


Life throws us "curves" everyday. Sometimes we need to "take a pitch" to see what the offering is. (I can't STAND it when Francoeur swings at the first pitch...AUGH!) It's too easy to judge folks and situations these days. We look at how people dress, act, speak, etc. and automatically decide whether or not this is acceptable to our lifestyle. It's too easy to fall into that trap. But we all do. Sad but true.

I posted earlier about the clothes I wear. Sometimes, people look at me and decide really quickly that I must not be a man of God. This is SO untrue. Just because I act/look the way I do, doesn't mean I don't follow the Book.

And to tie this up into a neat little bow for you...

Cox will bring Wickman in again tonight probably. They face the Indians (Wickman's old team) in Cleveland. Wickman will get another chance to save a game. Just like all of us. We get a chance everyday to be saved...and sometimes we blow it. Sometimes we don't. The coolest thing about God is he continues to give us a chance everyday. And just like Bobby Cox won't lose faith in Bob Wickman, God never loses faith in us. He'll keep calling for us in the 9th. This is ULTIMATE! Some people consider this job security. I call it Job ( http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible,_King_James,_Job ) security.

So it's our responsibility to "get ahead in the count".

"My love is strong enough to last when things are rough"

Love. Peace. Harmony.

Bryan

It's been TWO MONTHS?!?!

...seriously. Wow, talk about dropping the ball. I've pulled a Bill Buckner.

Just remember this...

Bill Buckner was a career .289 hitter (not bad) that led the National League in batting in 1980. He was an All-Star in 1981. And led his league in AB/SO Ratio four times! I could go on, but you get the point, I'm sure.

So much to catch up on...so little time. Work beckons (ewww). As the months creep slowly towards summer, the national Pepsi intake index grows. Which always means my work week grows.

Growing with Pepsi is good and bad. My arms grow. This is good. My paycheck grows. This is good. My ego grows (because I'm the BEST 2nd shift merchandiser in the city...YAY ME!). This is good?

My back pain grows. This is bad. I see Blue a little less. This is bad. I spend less time with my younguns. This is bad?

So, with this being said...it's been a really busy time for me the last couple of months. I know, I know. This is no excuse. Considering the life my pal Chill Pastor leads everyday, he still gets his Blog done. I have no excuse. I'll do better.

So last night me and Blue are chattin'. You know, talking Love. Money. Music. Braves. We HAVE priorities, you know? We've been into this discussion over the last few days about my face. Now when you read that, you freaked, right?

I've had this patch of fur under my lip for sometime now. I can't even remember when I started growing it. I don't grow facial hair very well. I'M STILL A MAN, though. Just have a few defects. Don't we all? 'Cept Chill. And Blue. Ok, now I'm getting too soft....

So anyway, Blue tells me that she kinda wants to see the old Bryan. The one from DHS. Of course, there is NO possible way I could ever give her that wish. I weighed 130 lbs. dipping wet. Drove a beat up VW Beetle (UNC blue, btw). And was ALWAYS a member of the FP. You know, the Fashion Police. Right. (Insert laugh track now, please)

The ONLY thing I could do to "try" to grant this wish, is to shave my "soul patch". Something that has grown very near and dear to me. It's a part of me now. For a while. And I like it. 'Cept the streaks of grey/white in it. That part is TERRIBLE. Other than going to the local Krogers and buying some Just For Men (from the leader in men's hair coloring), there's really nothing I can do about that.

So Blue's gotten to the point of being so tired of hearing me complain about the grey, she suggests shaving. Making my face nakey.

Um. no.

THAT LASTED. five minutes.

So I got myself up from my chair. Went to the bathroom. And ShAvEd.

Now my face is nakey. I have to admit it’s a weird feeling. But I kinda like it.

My kids think I look younger. This is good. There's less time grooming in the morning. This is good. Blue's kids don't care one way or the other. This is good. OH -

Blue likes it. This is GREAT!



Insert Job 6:29 Now. =) (YOU have to look it up. Gives you an excuse to grab that Book for a change)



Ok...so I'm off to work. Yay. The new/old look ready to tackle the world. Wish me luck. My face needs it.

By the way - did I mention that I asked Blue to marry me?

I love you Pup!


Bryan

Matthew 18:35

What do you do when you get hurt by someone? Do you want to hurt him? Do you want to hold it against them? If you said yes to these questions, you are like most folks. Forgiving is something that is unknown to most people.

Why don't people forgive willingly? Here's why, because it is easier to dislike than to forgive. Some people think forgiving is a sign of weakness. It isn’t. To forgive takes courage and extra effort!

So, what is forgiveness? It is a present from a charitable heart. It is not a reward. It is not something that you give to someone based on his good behavior. It’s what you give a person regardless of whether he has deserved it or not. Whether the person has asked for it or not.

Forgiveness is not an occasion, which starts and ends when you say, "I forgive you".

Forgiveness is an act which often takes time. The deeper you’re hurt, the longer it sometimes takes to completely forgive. It is not just the words you say but it is your actions which will show if you've really forgiven.

Why is it necessary? Because it frees you from the weight of resentment and hatred. It takes massive energy to hate and to keep that hate in place. Forgiveness brings freedom whereas revenge is neither sweet nor rewarding; it’s just a hollow feeling.

Hate puts needless stress on your body. It is a well-known fact that anger and hatred can actually make you sick. So many people in the world today really don’t belong in a hospital, because the root of their problem is not physical but is mental. The moment they forgive and let go of their hate they will start to get well.

Another reason why you need to forgive? By not forgiving you actually prevent blessings from flowing to you. The Bible says that before you pray for anything first you must forgive those who have wronged you, and then your Father will forgive you your wrongs. Blessings are closely connected to your forgiving others.

I used to be very cynical about life. I never forgave effortlessly. And at the time I also struggled in every area of my life. Things didn't seem to work out for me. It was as if everything that could go wrong, usually did.

That was until God told me to take a look at my mind-set. I started to forgive those who had wronged me, and everything started to change for the better. It didn't happen immediately. It took a while, but I could tell a difference.

So how do you know when you've really forgiven someone? If after you've forgiven that person you continue to feel a negative sting whenever you think of him or her, well, that means you still have effort to put forth.

If you don't have negative feelings towards that person it means you are free!

Are things not working out in your life, even with you doing all the "right" things? Is it possible that you have reluctance to forgive in your heart? It’s something to ponder!


Get Together



Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Some may come and some may go
We will surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grass
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing,
You will understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!

Look At Us...

When I laid my tired aching bones down for slumber last night, a reoccurring thought continued to fill my mind. One that I'm sure everyone has shared at least 100 times in their life.


Who am I, anyway? (BESIDES Blue's boy!)


Pretty deep, eh?


I mean, we ALL have a special purpose, right? (Insert your favorite Steve Martin "Jerk" line now)


Some people teach. Some people become nurses or lawyers (not ALL are dishonest, I promise!). Thank the garbage man next time you see him. What a stinky front yard you would have without his help! In any case, the stark reality hits us all that we should grasp what our “role” in this world is, and try really hard to make the most of it! Trust me; I live this certainty almost daily while I'm slinging Mountain Dew two-liters up on the shelf for you to take right off behind me! EEEGAHD! HMPH!


“Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of ‘the brightest and the best’ among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these ‘nobodies’ to expose the hollow pretensions of the ‘somebodies’? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything we have--right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start--comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That is why we have the saying, ‘If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.’” -Paul



We all have diverse starts in life as Gods kids. And one thing is perfectly clear in all of this – no matter what environment you come from, or what part of the planet you were born into, or what religious affiliation you belong to - we all make the fabric of a worldwide quilt. And what’s more, ponder this...


We ALL can end up with the same eventual conclusion. It's our choice. Free will is awesome!


Now, for even more coolness! With all of our differences of belief, with all of our unlike ways to celebrate God - we ALL live by a common "thread".

Do Unto Others...


So why do we grow apart as a community?


I’ve always been perplexed by the term “Holy Wars”. Maybe I’m showing my simplistic nature, but to me, this statement is such an oxymoron. I mean, by being “holy” do you not want to live as God lives? Saintly, perhaps. Or having a spiritually pure quality about yourself? Then “live and let live”, I always say!


And take this a step further. Why do so many churches feel the need to “recruit” new parishioners? Is this the Army? A Division One basketball program? A job placement service?


Try this one on for size. Do you know folks that regularly “shop” for the right church to belong to? Are they looking for a three bedroom, one and a half bath community?


Sorry, I’m rambling. But I’ll try to come full circle to an opinion of mine that no one has yet to convince me otherwise. Too many churches today have become clubs. Social get togethers for an hour or so, once a week. “I better be on time, because so and so might see that I’m here this week”. Peace be with you.


Over my lifetime, I’ve experienced a number of different religious organizations. From Baptist to Catholic (talk about different ways to celebrate!). And you know, through all of my experiences – through all of the different communities I’ve been a part of, I’ve become more and more aware of essentially the same message. I have faith in the Lord. My Lord, your Lord. One in the same. And I’ve never wavered from my conviction. I believe in OUR God. And I thank Him everyday. I bet if you brought together seven or eight different people from seven or eight different churches, and told them NOT to tell you their religious affiliation…a great many of us would be hard pressed to figure out exactly what church they “belong” to. Where they worship. Whether they meet on Saturday OR Sunday. Or both. Try this sometime. I have. And the results are mind-blowing, I promise!


OK- I’ll digress for today. Blue will be calling soon. Besides, it's time for a cookie and some one-on-one with God anyway. The bottom line in all this hot air that I'm blowing is this...we ALL should be showing, sharing, and experiencing God's love. REAL LOVE. The last time I checked, love is still love. Look it up sometime. The Book hasn't changed. And the message is still as clear as it ever was.


“This time, we know we all can stand together”

"We gotta make ends meet before we get much older"

West Bound and Down

OK. So this morning I wake up and call in to the merchandiser hot line to find out where I'm headed today. My assumptions come true (of course) and I am eagerly awaited by the largest grocers on the west side of Cincinnati (not to mention the "thrilling" escape I get to make to Aurora, Indiana - whoopee!).

So me being the bright, strapping Georgia boy that I am...I'm thinking that I need to switch it up a little. You know, maybe change my route a little...take the road less traveled. See the sights and sounds of the great unknown. Back roads are cool when the skies are their deepest blue and a gentle breeze overcomes you. ADVENTURE, HERE I COME! (Take THAT Mr. Predictability!)

As I veer off I-275 to Kilby Road (the back way into Indiana) I long for the smell of fresh plowed fields and road kill (OK, I'm kidding). First I take a left...then another left...then a right. I'm trying to find ANY road sign saying "Yo, Mr. Cool Breeze...Indiana is THIS way!" None appear. For a long time.

By this point my palms are starting to sweat a little. Just a little. Mind you, I AM a MAN in the purest since, so there will be NO stopping for directions. My gender is just too good for that. At least in OUR own minds. If Blue were with me...well...maybe. Even though it's not too mannish.


I've driven now 45 minutes out of my way. And still I see no hope of finding the Wally World I'm supposed to service. I'm looking for signs of LIFE by this point.

Then...out of the BLUE (You KNEW I'd get at least two or three of these in, right?) it occurs to me that this pick-up truck with Indiana plates has been driving in front of me for several miles. I quickly decide that it's worth the gamble to follow him...what do I have to lose? If he's going home, at least I'll be in the right STATE! If he's not...well, maybe break one of the “man laws” and ask him which way to go.

Sure enough, about a mile down the road I cross the Indiana state line. And about two minutes later, I'm in Aurora. And there's Wally World! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


When I got home tonight and sat down to collect my thoughts on the day, something occurred to me. The answer I was longing for was always right in front of me. It was there for miles and miles and miles. If I would have just opened up to it. A lot like the way Christ has always been right in front of me. Leading me through the unknown. Through all of my trials and tribs. Like my personal travel agent. Only with cheaper rates!


Thank You Jesus for being my tour guide. Looking back, I didn't mind it so much taking the scenic route.


"There are voices that want to be heard"

Like My Tee Shirt?

Ok. Let's get something straight. I like the way I dress. Blue likes it, so that's good enough for me. I'm TOTALLY into the tee shirt untucked/blue jeans or cargos/flip flops look. I'm comfortable that way. No maintenance, really. I mean...you can ALWAYS REWEAR your jeans, right? (Don't tell me I'm the ONLY one that does this...God's watching, you know!)


So, to further explain my taste in clothing...all of my tee's have dorky sayings on them. You know the ones I'm talking about, I'm sure. Well, I have this ONE shirt that I LOVE. As much as someone could love clothing. I LIVE the saying on it (sometimes WAY too much). It says...

Procrastinators Unite Tomorrow


Amazing!


So I put this shirt on today, and it made me think.


Do we procrastinate too often when it comes to God? Before you answer that...be truthful. I know I do. I'm man enough to admit it. Right here. For the whole world to see.


How often do you read your "sword"? How often do your knees hit the floor? Are you REALLY thankful for what you have? Me? Not nearly enough. And I'm about as broke as broke can be, I promise! LOL


Do you stop yourself from flipping off the guy on I-75 that cut you off? Or how about that man that sits on the side of the road with the hungry sign? What about the time your sibling REALLY needed you to be there, and you thought the football game was more important? The time when you "pretended" to care about what your friend had to say. There are WAY too many instances. Be TRUTHFUL. I'm hitting you right now with the cold hard facts. Right square in the mug. There are WAY too many of us out here that "claim" to walk the walk - but do we?


The Book tells us that it's OK to slip up once in a while. It's BOUND to happen, and usually does. And one of the coolest things about God, He's gonna forgive us. He's always forgiving. You gotta LOVE that, right?


Thank you Jesus! You Da Man! High Five!


Well, I'm saying right now - God, forgive me. Forgive me for slipping up. Forgive me for not holding Your standards higher. I love You. And I PROMISE that I will do better. And I will deliver (I'm a pretty good PIZZA delivery guy!), just like You delivered us! Thank you for waiting for me. Again.


Later this afternoon, after cleaning my apartment, I put on a clean tee-shirt. Boy did I need to do THAT! It says...


"as a matter of fact, the world DOES revolve around me."


And in His eyes, that shirt rings so true.


"If I see you next to never - How can we say forever?"