The Prosperity Gospel

The first two videos I took from my friend Tony's blog. The first is a piece from a documentary about the destructive Prosperity Gospel in West Africa. The second video is one of my favorite teachers John Piper. He speaks about why the Prosperity Gospel is abominable.
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The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

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And I'm adding a third for extra. This is Piper preaching on the Prosperity Gospel.

We are Still Here!

This is just a quick update so everyone out there in blog world knows that Brian and Jecholia have not forgotten you. Things have been extremely busy in September and October! Brian spent all of September in Pittsburgh working at the G-20 Summit, while Jecholia transitioned into a new position with the National Institute of Health. She is still working under the National Cancer Institute; however, has taken on many additional responsibilities. Make sure to check back in the next week or so. Jecholia and I were able to get this years Christmas pictures taken a few weeks ago and we should be posting them within the next week.

One piece of information that may be new to some of you is that Brian has been writing a book on “Church Security”. Brian has been able to work on this while traveling and in his free time at home. He currently has completed about 30,000 words and is hoping to submit his book proposal to a publisher within the next month. Brian has received positive feedback on this project so far and is looking forward to seeing where the Lord leads this. We will keep you updated as this process moves forward.

Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment!

This was the view from Brian's Hotel in Kiev, Ukraine

Jecholia visiting Brian in Pittsburgh. We were going out on a date!!

This was the fun Brian delt with while he was gone!!

Trip to Phoenix AR

Last month, my hubby traveled a ton. It has been quite a busy season for us as he has been gone most of August and will be gone all of September. I had had enough. :-) On a Wednesday at 3pm I decided it was time for me to just take time off work and go see him in Phoenix. It helped that he was staying at a 5 star resort too. :-) I was driving to the Airport 12 short hours later. Life is just too short isn't it? I got to stay for the remaining 5 days of his trip. What a blessing this was, time to relax. I didn't get to see him much, which I expected but it was better to be in the same location than 3000 miles away. One of the perks was getting to see President Obama's arrival into Phoenix. It was quite an experience. While I was there the governor's photographer was taking pictures. He was kind enough to send me a few.

Just landed, it was about 115 degrees on the landing strip!

I like this photo a lot because you normally do not see this angle.
If you click on it and zoom in you can see the AFO Pilot.

First Family.

This picture, I just thought was hilarious. Interesting angle for me.

Funny story, before I left Brian wasn't sure if President Obama would come over and greet (he didn't). However, Brian told me to get someone standing next to me to take a picture of me meeting him if he did, and vise versa. So I had it all planned out. This fancy lady comes next to me and asks, "Will you take my picture when I meet the president?" (I thought she was a little sure of herself to assume he was definitely coming over to greet) I said, "Yes, will you do the same for me?" She just smiled. I thought it was odd that she didn't reach for my camera and she handed me hers. I just figured she would if he came over. So AFO lands and all of a sudden she starts walking towards AFO with this lady in white (the rest of us were in a pen, like cattle). She really did get to meet the President, and later told me she was a legislator and worked for, well the Governor. I didn't know it at the time but the lady in white is the Governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer. No wonder she didn't have to stand with the rest of us cows. :)

sermon on humility by J. Piper

Watch it here!

stole this from someone elses blog...

""Be patient, be patient, be patient, is the lesson to be repeated to our hearts many times. It is the Holy Spirit ever patient under our provocations who calls us to be patient. We may well be patient under trials for it is the Lord who sends them. He is ruling in all our circumstances and He is blessing us by them. He is waiting to end them and he is pledged to bring us through. Shall we not gladly submit to the father of our spirits? Is not this our deepest wish, "Your will be done!" Shall we quarrel with that which blesses us? Shall we worry then the end of the trouble is so near? No! We see that the Lord is full of tender mercy and so we will be patient!" -Charles Spurgeon.

I found one :)

Found it at crateandbarrel. Has some good reviews. Great price for the size i got! :) I have officially decided it is time to start decorating my home after two years. So what do you (that still check this dead blog) think?

Dog show :)

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM!!

Rachel Barkey

Go here and watch this video

"Rachel Barkey (nee Sawer) went home to her Lord on July 2, 2009 at 37 years of age. Rachel is survived by her husband Neil and her children Quinn and Kate, parents Ben and Cathy Sawer, brother David (Johanna) Sawer and sister Andrea Sawer.

Rachel was born in London, Ontario and her life travels included years spent in Africa, growing up in Chilliwack (BC), university in London (ON) and working in Dallas (TX) before settling in Vancouver (BC). Rachel had a long career in politics and has many friends from her time working for the Conservative Party of Canada and the BC Liberal Party. A long list of career highlights do not compare to Rachel's accomplishments as a loving wife, mother and servant of Jesus.
Rachel had a full and blessed life. She was a loving wife and mother who delighted in serving others, throwing parties, helping friends and spending days at the cabin with her family. She loved everyone selflessly and her passions were evident in everything she did. Rachel adored her children - Quinn and Kate were her greatest gifts. She will be greatly missed by her family, her friends and everyone whose life she has touched." - From her website

people who know how to use color in their homes...

Does this rug work? My dining room table is an ebony finish, the chairs are also ebony finish as well with cream colored seats.
The reason I think I like this rug is because it's on the darkish side, and it has that slate/"blueish"/grey color in it (which i want to put on the walls). My cabs are maple and there is definitely a little "goldish"/brown in my counter tops. What do you all think?
Basically my question is... can I put an Ebony finished dining room table on a brown rug?

help me find a rug :)

So at the mercy of my blog in order to solicit much needed help in the area of rugs (pun intended) I need your help! I found this rug at overstock like 6 months ago and sat on it. Wrong choice. Now it is not only sold out, but discontinued...everywhere.
So I'm asking a favor, in the back of your mind, when all you all are out and about shopping around and come across rugs, can you think of me?
I am looking for a (very) traditional rug, that is mainly dark colors, with only hints of cream colors and very specifically accented with gray/slate colors.
Let me know if you find one. :)

Molly's Birthday Pictures

For Molly's second birthday i decided to make her some doggie friendly cupcakes. I used the ingredients below

Molly was pretty interested in what i was doing

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Happy Birthday Molly!! We love you!

My birthday this year and an update

Brian planned a trip to Williamsburg for us over the Fourth of July weekend, (which also happens to be my birthday). I am very excited about getting away with my love one on one. This trip couldn't come quickly enough. Brian has been traveling a lot recently and I know he is looking forward to having a relaxing long weekend as well. I have not been to Williamsburg since I was in the 5th grade. So I am excited to see everything with new eyes and stay in this ridiculously wonderful place called the Williamsburg Lodge. I am so glad that it is right near the town and we can walk around everywhere and just spend time together relaxing. We have been advised by the Bradshaws to check out the local candy store more than once. I think we can do that!

So I suppose an update on the first half of 2009 is in order, especially since I have blogged very little this year.

January/February: came and went very quickly. The inauguration of President Barack Obama kept Brian busy as can be expected. History was made and so was Over Time. Brian ceases to amaze me at how diligent a worker he is. I am grateful for how hard he is working, although I miss him so much when he is away.

March: This was a quiet month until the end. Brian and I got in a car accident. This was the product of road rage caused by another driver. We were not his target, only in his path to cause more destruction towards another driver. It was out of the blue and happened fast. It is sobering to see that without the Lord and His gift of self control we are all in the same boat as this person. Grateful to God for His kindness towards us. I am actually still on the mend which seems ridiculous but back injuries and whiplash can work out this way. I hear it is normal. I just finished Physical Therapy and my doc suggested I try acupuncture so that the pain goes away more quickly. I will heal by God's grace, it just takes time. In light of everything that happened in the accident Brian and I were truly protected. Ending up on the wrong side of the highway doesn't normally end in the way it did for us. I am grateful people on the other side were paying attention.

April: I had been looking forward to April all year, because I was so excited about spending time with Brian's family in West Palm Beach. Although before that I had to endure two weeks of Brian away in Mexico City. No he did not come home with Swine flu. Thank God! West Palm was a blast. Brian had some extra Marriott points so we decided to rent a convertible for the trip. When we arrived they had lent out all the convertibles. However, they made it up to us nicely by allowing us to use a brand new Infinity M35..or something like that. We got extended time with each other our nephews and our niece. We were able to do a spa day that I will not soon forget. We also drove down the 1A1 to Miami for a day trip. That was quite an experience. The coast was so beautiful, the homes were insanely large. At one point when I saw what I thought was a hotel, I said, "wow what a beautiful hotel"..then I was corrected by a little sign that read private residence. Insane! West Palm was quite a treat and I hope to go back in the future.

May: The most recent month, was spent traveling quite a bit as well. Brian was working in NYC while I was celebrating my brother's graduation from his master's program In Alabama. YAY! Then Brian and I both headed to the NEXT conference. This was a rich time spent serving, fellowshipping and listening to the Word of God being preached. I loved the topic this year. It was all about Jesus. The person and work of Jesus. His preeminence, life, death, resurrection and return. I highly recommend a listen to each of the sessions. Afterward Brian had a quick trip for work north of Baltimore. And then he came home :)

June: I was just informed last week that my superior is transitioning to another position. This means that they want me to take her job as a promotion. This is a blessing (i think), although I will admit some anxiety. You see, my superior is amazing. The amount of knowledge she has is beyond me. However, I am the only one that knows portions of her work. This means that I will be transitioning into a GS position. No longer a contractor (grateful for that). I have to reapply for the job which is normal as all gov. jobs must be made public. I really have to do some dusting on my resume as I need to qualify for at least a GS 11. hmm...we'll see how that works out. This will stretch me leaps and bounds as I learn new and challenging things. So we'll see what else is in store for June. I am hoping it is quiet and relaxing, but we will see as Brian leaves again tomorrow for good ol' Wisconsin. Irony. Trips currently being taken by the Pres. include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and an impromptu date night in NYC. And my hard working love gets...Wisconsin. :) All I can do is smile at that one. On the 13th Molly will be 2 years old! I cannot imagine not having her in our little family. She really brings us a lot of smiles and fun. I can't wait to see her open presents, she actually opens them herself! So cute!

Looking forward to the Summertime!

amazing...