tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88136615760597182452024-02-06T18:30:20.078-08:00Friar BullSouthern Hills Baptist Revolution Student Ministry
by youth pastor and faithful Padre fan Steve BullardSteve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-78372651384731843522012-11-20T21:46:00.000-08:002012-11-20T21:46:00.970-08:00Keeping Up With The BullardsWe are having a baby. That is all.<br />
<br />
Oh wait, this is a blog, not a tweet. #Ohcrud<br />
<br />
Well, I'm the father. Does that get me over 140 characters? Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Come over and see our lights. And don't expect to see ultrasound pictures on Facebook. We just aren't those kind of people. #weirdosSteve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-6270105485659819042012-11-20T21:40:00.011-08:002012-11-20T21:40:32.619-08:00Photo Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZuGbVkzbt2TCCA&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZuGbVkzbt2Rg/0AZuGbVkzbt2RvPA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1353476423000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Sparkling Snowflakes Christmas</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>This season, send <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">Christmas cards personalized with family photos</a>.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-76957230036321197532012-11-20T21:40:00.009-08:002012-11-20T21:40:20.875-08:00Photo Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZuGbVkzbt2T9Q&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZuGbVkzbt2Rg/0AZuGbVkzbt2Ru4A/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1353476074000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Sparkling Snowflakes Christmas</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Heartfelt: Christmas photo cards and holiday cards at <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas -cards" style="color: #6666cc;">Shutterfly</a>.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-66063309266495073222012-11-20T21:40:00.007-08:002012-11-20T21:40:19.774-08:00Photo Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZuGbVkzbt2T9Q&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZuGbVkzbt2Rg/0AZuGbVkzbt2Ru4A/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1353476074000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Sparkling Snowflakes Christmas</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">Christmas cards by Shutterfly.</a></span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-1929910851499365032012-11-20T21:40:00.005-08:002012-11-20T21:40:18.574-08:00Photo Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZuGbVkzbt2T9Q&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZuGbVkzbt2Rg/0AZuGbVkzbt2Ru4A/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1353476074000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Sparkling Snowflakes Christmas</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">Custom Christmas cards</a> are always available at Shutterfly.com.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-63869452004016392382012-11-20T21:40:00.003-08:002012-11-20T21:40:17.389-08:00Photo Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZuGbVkzbt2T9Q&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZuGbVkzbt2Rg/0AZuGbVkzbt2Ru4A/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1353476074000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Sparkling Snowflakes Christmas</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Shop Shutterfly for beautiful <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">photo Christmas cards</a>.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-42271061280126164452012-11-20T21:40:00.001-08:002012-11-20T21:40:15.771-08:00Photo Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZuGbVkzbt2T9Q&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZuGbVkzbt2Rg/0AZuGbVkzbt2Ru4A/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1353476074000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Sparkling Snowflakes Christmas</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Customize your <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">Christmas cards</a> this season at Shutterfly.com.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-17767311418014829872012-10-10T09:20:00.000-07:002012-10-10T09:20:02.431-07:00Keeping Up With The Bullards<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb4eOBjEnWpVqcIx8u99IFhJkD1cJf3Bir5C2wSrl2KIBQYirTf4qBAZe9dPA5PsR23UkPkqokNQjmkZf9Unt8Qilre-Y3eJa6kP3x2yCDSqZ4f7PFczn2dWjjPg28GesUucdmjaqlw7Y/s1600/house.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb4eOBjEnWpVqcIx8u99IFhJkD1cJf3Bir5C2wSrl2KIBQYirTf4qBAZe9dPA5PsR23UkPkqokNQjmkZf9Unt8Qilre-Y3eJa6kP3x2yCDSqZ4f7PFczn2dWjjPg28GesUucdmjaqlw7Y/s1600/house.png" /></a>Wow. So I am not a good blogger. I am also not a good journaler. Nor am I a good note-taker. My <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wayne.bullard1?fref=ts">dad</a> writes and article for the local newspaper, <a href="http://allennewspaper.com/">The Allen Advocate</a>. I'm sure you've read it. Millions of subscribers. I am not that guy. I don't really like to write. Therefore, this blog was doomed to fail. Sort of like brownies at a Jenny Craig convention or a braille stop sign. Or those similes.<br />
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But here goes. I feel like I have a few things worthy of blogdom. (I've read that blogs are a great canvass on which to create hybrid words)<br />
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First of all, no this isn't about a new baby. Or a <a href="http://www.abundancetapestry.com/photos/dreamhouse.jpg">new house</a>. Or car. Courtney bought a pair of shoes, and they're nice. Francesca is tall. She's great.<br />
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We have told most of our friends but wanted to make sure the word and story is out there on <a href="http://www.thepearlhouse.org/" target="_blank">The Pearl House</a>. The Pearl House is a home for teenage at-risk girls we are building in Winneba, Ghana. And by building, I mean raising money for and gaining support for (it's ok to end sentences in prepositions on blogs, just in case my high school <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/mean-teacher.jpg">English teacher</a> is reading).<br />
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There is a gigantic need in Ghana (and worldwide) to get girls off the streets, out of sex-trafficking situations, and slavery. In fact, there is a huge need to remove young boys from the same situations. In fact, the need is so overwhelming it is easy to just do nothing but lament over the whole injustice of the thing. Paralysis by analysis. Or get mad at God. <i>Why don't you do something about it, God?</i> But what changed my heart forever was when God asked me the same question. God never said fix the world. He never said rescue everyone. <a href="http://www.motherteresa.org/">Mother Teresa</a> said if you can't feed 100 people, feed 1. So, thanks to God and Mother Teresa, Courtney and I are moving forward.<br />
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We have begun raising funds and developing all the boring, mundane legal and financial work such business plans, setting up endowments, etc. In fact, we need all the help we can get! <a href="http://www.thepearlhouse.org/how-can-i-help/">Would love to have your help</a>.<br />
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Essentially, the plan for the Pearl House is this:<br />
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Build a home to house a little over 20 girls in a home in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winneba">Winneba</a>. This will be on land we have already nestled by a church that a family in our church built. We already have 2 women who have felt called to go and live there and be house moms. We will also employ Ghanaians to be house moms, cooks, and teachers. The girls would stay 3 years on average and receive education, vocational training and career placement. They would also have a family for life! The Pearl House will be a family of young ladies who will learn to rely on and support one another. We also hope that they will reconnect with their own families as well.<br />
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These girls will not be available for adoption. The goal isn't for someone to take them from Ghana. The goal is to empower them to change Ghana--to spread the Gospel but also to empower women and poor to know there is hope.<br />
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How exactly we will do this is for another blog, or actually a business plan. Business plans do not a good blog make. But please pray for these girls, pray for us as we plan, pray about how God may use you in this plan as well. We have lots and lots of room for donors, volunteers, and prayer partners in this project. Please help!<br />
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Thanks for reading. And thanks for keeping up with the Bullards.<br />
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Follow me on twitter @stevebullard and @thepearlhouse and be sure to like The Pearl House- Ghana on Facebook!Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-32509612428829394952011-09-05T15:09:00.000-07:002011-09-05T15:09:08.105-07:00Widening the Circle -- For Parents of Youth (XP3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shbctulsa.org/youth/parents/index.html"><img border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrVXtiGlfg0-WNvK-wvfXvtPxvyFXulVGHrqqJ8uFY6TwGsXggH5YgV00CuuPiy23SiMoKS5nr3AFwQH_gmWjKedMUb9Ko8ipcHQtcdIIIdcrP2xP6rQzjKJ9WnMPrC6nq1PzQzv5eYkm/s320/ThroughTheWindow+Small+Web+Banner_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Invite others to invest in your teen, so your sons and daughters have other voices that will help shape and determine the direction of their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all filter the experiences in our lives through our emotions. They are the God–given lens we use to process the everyday occurrences that challenge us, hurt us and give us hope. For your student, the world is a cycle of experiences, emotions and responses. Sometimes they can feel alone in what they are experiencing. As we have been walking through this three-week series on worship, we have been talking about worship as a communal act—something we do with the community of God, both past and present. Your students have been invited to participate in a blog where they have been responding to different Psalms in order to try to understand what the writer was feeling and use those Psalms to create their own expression of worship through writing a response to those Psalms. Their worship expression can be one of joy, lament, grief or praise, recognizing that God accepts our worship no matter what emotional state we are in. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, it is your turn to get online and participate in the dialogue. As you read through what different students have written, you are invited to comment in an encouraging manner. This is a place for you to recognize what the student community is feeling and encourage them that God is for them and so are you. The students will be logging on under “student” so that they can write with freedom. As well, when you log on to comment, be sure to comment under the label “parent.” This is an opportunity for you as the parent community to invest in and encourage your student community. Celebrate the life changes you have seen in your students! Tell them where you see God at work in them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note for middle school parents: Developmentally, your student is in a place of “multiple personalities,” meaning they have many different sides of their personalities that are still synthesizing into who they will become. With this in mind, if you read something that seems oddly intense or unlike the students you see on Sunday, recognize that they may be “trying on” a particular side of their personality. See your comments as an opportunity to affirm who they are and give voice to what they are going through rather than to try to stamp out what you might perceive as an inauthentic representation of who they are.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note for high school parents: Developmentally, your student is in a phase of awakening. They are starting to see outside of themselves and are beginning to understand that they indeed have an impact on the world around them. Because of this developmental shift, they not only feel things quite deeply but also have a greater sense of and desire for open and honest discussion. This is a great opportunity to encourage their developing sense of self and the thought processes and emotional processes they are going through. Rather than “challenge” them in your comments, try to remember what it was like to be a teenager and empathize with what they are writing. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Get connected to a wider community of parents at <a href="http://www.orangeparents.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.orangeparents.org</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-2062071840152886042011-05-17T15:09:00.000-07:002011-05-18T07:59:08.148-07:00Next Generation of LeadersAs I write this blog, I am just thinking about the next generation of leaders that is coming up today. And I have opinions. From my perspective. With zero research. Okay, some research. I have read some, heard some, and talked to many. Lots of observation. But really this is just a no-footnote-stream of consciousness from me.<br />
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And it isn't a rant. Why would anyone rant on a blog? /sarcasm<br />
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I am just a little concerned.<br />
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Sometimes I think we bail our kids out too easily. I was telling the parent life group on Sunday that my dad bailed me out of a difficult situation when I was in high school. And I'm not sure he did me a favor. Now he did make me work through it later, and I was actually glad he defended me at the time. But, too often as kids our parents come to the rescue, perhaps a little too quickly. Maybe it's dressing down the coach that doesn't see the talent that in their child that is so obvious to dad and mom. Perhaps it's the teacher that treats their child unfairly but favors all the other kids. Or it could be the friend problems that we step into and turn into a moms issue. Or whatever. And it starts early. Believe me, if I have learned anything so far in parenthood, it's that! I so often want to not let my daughter learn the hard way. Even when she can't finish a puzzle I just want to rip it out of her hands and finish it for her.<br />
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But the lesson is often in the struggle.<br />
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We have to let our kids struggle a little. I see it in our youth group. Kids get crossways with one another. So one kid eventually stops coming. And parents allow it. "It's just too hard for Amy to be there with Susie shooting arrows of hate at my daughter across the youth room while you're trying to teach about loving one another."<br />
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And I get it. I don't want my daughter getting hurt either. I didn't say it was easy. I just said it was right. Help your kids. Impart wisdom upon them. But don't be too quick to bail them out. Let them work through some of their battles. Maybe they stay in the Science class with Mr. Hatesmyson until the end of the semester. Perhaps it will prepare them for college when Dr. Picksonme and his colleage Dr. Flunkseveryonewholooksathimfunny are the only two options for a class in his major. Or they keep coming to D Groups even though it isn't always comfortable due to her perception of how she is viewed by the other girls. Walk with them but don't always show them the exit. Sometimes it comes to that, yes. But maybe we pull the ripcord too quickly sometimes. And the lesson learned is not a positive one.<br />
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I am reading a book (I would tell you what it is, but that would break my "no footnote" or citation rule). In that the author, who is in his mid-30s, talks about how he quit 6 jobs in 8 years. (That is a clue for the title of the book) Why? Too hard. Interpersonal conflict. He said this is a characteristic of this next generation. We quit too easily. <br />
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So, to end with, let me encourage you.Trust in yourself. You are good parents! In our youth ministry, I see parents balancing this whole conflict/struggle thing very well. And I hope you are the ones I can emulate when my daughter reaches drama age. Or at least THAT drama age (she is at the one right now where if she can't get her toy to obey her, she lays on the floor and screams). God will give you the wisdom you need. And better yet, He will take care of your children which were His children first.<br />
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If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God. - James (1:5)Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-55198550367915837402011-04-25T12:49:00.000-07:002011-04-25T12:49:17.430-07:00Actions speak louder...Sometimes I disagree with people I love. And I don't mean about music or movies or food flavors. I mean about important things. Like parenting styles. And that's ok. Everyone needs to have one, and they can't always be the same. And it's probably better to be bad at it than not even try at all. But, I digress...<br />
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In student ministry, sometimes it feels like we compete with families. That is the opposite of what we should try to do. I apologize for any strife I have caused any family in that department! I know sometimes it is impossible when you want to do something as a family and the youth group has a fellowship planned. Again, though, I digress. Sometimes it has been mentioned I have A.D.D.<br />
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The small parenting paradigm with which I have been wrestling lately is involvement. Kids are busy these days. It is important to be involved in lots of things. One, it keeps them busy and out of trouble. Two, it keeps them from playing video games 13 hours a day (that is the average gamer's time per day--"gamer" as defined by someone who plays a LOT of video games and would consider that his identity.) I am not awake 13 hours a day, if you subtract time for eating and going potty (give grace to this parent of a toddler).<br />
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So here's my dilemma. For years I have struggled with this. Parents stress commitment to school work, the arts, and sports. If a student is taking cello, she shouldn't miss a lesson. If a student plays soccer, he shouldn't miss his tournament. If a student has homework, she shouldn't come to church. And that sounds ok on the surface, but when I did a little deeper I realize the dangerous message it sends. Church is less important than all these things. Sure, we want our kids in church--as long as nothing else (and I mean NOTHING) conflicts with it.<br />
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I know there has to be balance. But I really worry about how these lessons will be internalilzed by our teens. I wonder if they will end up being citizens of America who do what is good and are good people who happen to go to church occasionally. Or will they be citizens of the Kingdom of God who also are active in being salt and light in the world? I pray that the latter will be true.<br />
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I don't think it is vital that church "win out" on every face-off. However, I do think we need to make sure that we send the message that God comes first. (And family comes second, but that's another rant for another day. But I do hope you don't allow your children's busy-ness to conflict with family opportunities!) And, finally, let me say this. I believe in what our ministry is about. I've said for years and I'll say it again, if you will allow your students to fully vest in our ministry, they will be prepared. Now, that is also assuming you are doing your part as a parent. But, I'm sure you are! And if you are a parent reading this and you don't go to SHBC, then I still trust that your teen's youth ministry has a mission, goal, and strategy to help your child fully connect with his/her place in the Kingdom of God. Trust that. And don't worry, they can still take piano.Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-63832426886451272072011-02-11T21:49:00.000-08:002011-02-11T21:49:47.108-08:00My Valentines Day TipsYou know, I haven't blogged in quite some time. In fact, for my most loyal followers, or follower, you could probably tell me the exact day in May I last clicked on "publish post." Well, I have a confession to make. No, not writer's block. Not even a "crazy, hectic" schedule. I just plain forgot I had a blog. Well, not completely. But, most days when I could have written some witty gem it just didn't enter my mind. Other times I remembered I had this blog that many people anticipated with bated breath, I was in my car, the shower, on the john, or somewhere else that didn't afford me the opportunity to type into an electronic device. (I added the car in that list in case my wife were to read this--but I'm pretty sure she doesn't know I have a blog. She has a blog, however. It is "<a href="http://courtneybullard.blogspot.com/">court is in session</a>.")<br />
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So, since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I will do two things. One, make it a VD resolution (oh, so THAT'S why no one abbreviates Valentine's Day...) to blog more often. Two, offer up my St. Valentine's Day wisdom.<br />
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How to find true love.<br />
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Well, sort of.<br />
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I would like to offer up 3 nuggets of truth today for you. Only for you. And just for you single ladies. Yes, the ladies. This isn't for guys. Guys love being single in February. Saves them a mint! But, girls, they just get all sad and band together and have a big guy-bashing movie night and eat loads of chocolate and talk about how lucky they all are to not be shackled to some loser guy while feeling sorry for themselves privately.<br />
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But don't be sad, lonely ladies, for it is not a bad thing to be single. In fact, as I learned on the Bachelor this week, 'tis better to be home alone than to be home wishing you were alone. So, I believe the key isn't to find a date for Valentine's Day. But to find THE date for Valentine's Day and for every VD still to come. (Yeah, still doesn't read right)<br />
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So, here goes. How to find the one. Emphasis on one.<br />
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1. Accentuate your idiosyncrasies. Quit trying to mute your weirdness. Not sure what yours are? Just think back to advice you have received after getting out of previous relationships. "Maybe you came on a little too strong." That's a clue you are controlling. So, there you go. Buy a "control freak" t-shirt, slap on some 4-inch pumps, and flaunt it. Might as well scare off all the boys who want to be in charge. Save yourself from ever being trampled on. <br />
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2. Get a tattoo or facial piercing. Now you might not be the tat type--fear of commitment to long-term ink. So get a piercing in your eyebrow or nose. True, most guys find something sticking out of your lip to be, frankly, disgusting. But just think forward to later on in life when you may feel disgusting. Your third trimester. Your sixties. 5:30 in the morning. You want a man that can take that sort of thing.<br />
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3. Start running 10K's and half-marathons and such. Nothing turns on or scares away a man than a woman who runs long distances. Or runs anywhere, for that matter. For extra credit, become a vegetarian. This will result in guys who will be too intimidated to ask you to dinner. "Steak and Ale? Oh crap!" And they run away. Most guys are afraid they will marry a woman who will wake them early for "marriage-enriching" 5 mile jaunts when it is 11 degrees outside and also still dark. And throw in no meat inside the house and you have terrified at least 80% of all males. Correction, straight males. <br />
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So there you go. Sage advice. How is this going to help you get a man, you ask? Well, how many times do you plan on getting married? Once? How many men do you plan to walking out of the church with? One? So of all those fish in the sea you are trying to catch you just want to marry one? So heed my words. You do, and there will be no more than one man in the world who will have you. But when he does, he has a Valentine date for life. If he can keep up with you.<br />
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You're welcome.Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-39496506574189658952010-05-12T09:14:00.001-07:002010-05-12T09:21:09.705-07:00READING THE BIBLE<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original (Galatians 5:22-26 MSG). <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Before you answer the questions, remember that doing this isn’t just a checklist. It isn’t just something you have to do. Start by asking God to reveal something to you. Put your focus and motivation to read and answer the questions on God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Now read back through the passage again and ask yourself:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">• What does this passage show me about God? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">• What does this passage show me about who I am, how I think, how I’m made? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">• What does this passage show me about loving other people? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">• How can I do what these verses are challenging me to do in a way that shows people that I love them and also lets people see how much God loves them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-83015547621779491962010-02-25T14:42:00.000-08:002010-02-25T14:44:24.574-08:00Irrelevant Homilies 101<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Jz3HSsomfYim3z8BXiTh-OdIifLupkRKQ4K451lBnwcAdI_Q0YPeG3ZB7Y3xuFX_l6334EUtm8mfLIIm6f0MSEexTmvOMWFnGfFNWGIGcOVR36SO4AHAp2NlDR6WmXauRaPkZFoICR8/s1600-h/gcofc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Jz3HSsomfYim3z8BXiTh-OdIifLupkRKQ4K451lBnwcAdI_Q0YPeG3ZB7Y3xuFX_l6334EUtm8mfLIIm6f0MSEexTmvOMWFnGfFNWGIGcOVR36SO4AHAp2NlDR6WmXauRaPkZFoICR8/s320/gcofc.jpg" /></a>If you subscribe to my tweets or are a friend of mine on facebook, then you probably saw a church sign featuring the pictured horribly irrelevant upcoming Sunday message. I love church signs. Sort of like I love stupid criminals. Really, society would be better off without them but they do make me laugh, and cringe, at the same time. Southern Hills Methodist Church, down the street from us, puts their upcoming message up as well. Jeff Jaynes, the pastor, usually makes a play of pop culture, some kind of pun, or other catchy phrase to draw in his parishioners and others who may just be curious. Never have I seen him drop such a blatant eschatological reference as a title. In fact his last sermon title was "God is not Your Sugar Daddy." See, I would go hear that. And probably go eat pie afterward. I also enjoyed an earlier title "I Resolve to Take More Baths." We could all use that one! Perhaps he could lend our friends at GCofC some of his creativity. He would probably just tell them to title it: "Stay Home and Read <i>Left Behind</i>." It's sure to be more entertaining.</div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</div>I certainly hope their upcoming series on Calvinism is more appealing. But, hey, what better way to kick off the lenten season than some good ole eschatology...<br />
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But I guess I should not spend my entire blog criticizing others, even though it is tons of fun. It is difficult enough to stay relevant. I get my students for 3 hours per week, if they choose to even come. Moreover, I only get them for 6 years. Do the math and that is roughly 3.5% of their wakiing hours from ages 13-18--again, only if they come every time our doors are open, not including camps. So, it's probably more like 1 or 2%. I compete with school, friends, and family. If any of those are working against what we teach, I fight a losing campaign. <br />
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What does that imply? It means that I can't waste precious time teaching on eschatology that NOBODY knows anything about. Okay, we know about it, but no one has cornered the Truth. Basically, we all have no idea. (Hence the idea of Panmillennialism). Nor do I teach on debating Calvinism, Demons, Guardian Angels, or other sensationalist teachings. Not that there isn't a place for some of the aforementioned, but is this what I really want them to walk away with? I'd much rather them have a foundation upon which they can build a theology that will carry them through life.<br />
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How will they handle tragedy, a divorce, a rebellious child, an aging parent, disappointment, job loss, etc? That 12 week series on Creationism sure isn't going to get them through it. Our next Sunday morning series will be called "Faith that Lasts." How to build your house on the rock. How to survive real storms. How to know how to live life with God as your Lord and to have a faith in Him that isn't determined by circumstances or tertiary beliefs.<br />
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Well, I've ranted enough. But I guess that's what blogs are for. I certainly don't claim to have it all figured out. But I do love my students. And I hate to ever see them turn their backs on a faith that once meant so much to them. So, as for me and my team, we will do what we can along with their parents to help them build a theology that will ride out the storms and the frenetic pace of life. Most of all, we will teach and relate as God leads.<br />
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</div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-55336559387223730962009-12-14T14:37:00.003-08:002009-12-14T14:37:19.796-08:00How To Treat Your Wifeby Wayne Bullard<br />
Reprinted without permission<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span>The empty juice glasses just sit there on the breakfast table.<span> </span>It was hard for a dedicated-loving-husband such as me not to jump up, grab the juice out of the fridge and fill the two glasses—but that’s not what the smart-dedicated-loving-husband does if he knows what’s good for his marriage.<span> </span>I just waited, looking at my empty glass with a humble look.<span> </span>Pretty soon she noticed her error, apologized profusely while jumping up and filling up the little glasses—me first of course.<span> </span>We both had a good laugh over it.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span>I have written before about how important it is for a man to create ways for his wife to feel useful and needed by serving him better—but how do you handle it when she gets sick?<span> </span>That depends on just how sick she is.<span> </span>My wife hasn’t been feeling well lately but rather than inducing feelings of inadequacy on her by trying to horn in on her housework-duties by doing them myself—as a majority of ill-advised modern-day husbands would do—I just try to be more patient. <span> </span>She needs to be given time to perform her labors and not feel rushed.<span> </span>Now is a good time to give her an “ata-girl” for keeping up with her work.<span> </span><span> </span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span>It is alright for a man to do housework when his mate is actually hospitalized, so feel free to do so.<span> </span>Exercise caution that you don’t get the house too organized or clean while she’s gone.<span> </span>That could induce feelings of inadequacy on your mate and we know you don’t want that.<span> </span>Right before she comes home from some minor thing such as childbirth she needs to know she was missed.<span> </span>Place out a few dirty dishes and string a few pieces of dirty laundry around the house. <span> </span>She’ll love you for it.<span> </span>Exercise gained from doing housework is the best treatment for post-partum depression.<span> </span>We all know that a busy woman is a happy woman. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span><span> </span>A woman who breaks a limb can be a challenge to a loving husband. <span> </span>If it’s a leg and she can get around on one crutch there is no problem.<span> </span>She may need an extra Lortab now and then but with dishwashers and other gee-whiz gadgets in today’s home, there should be no problems although it is wise to let her know that you are as close as your easy chair in the rare cases she would need any help.<span> </span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span>Wheelchair-bound-wives present other problems.<span> </span>How much she can do in a wheelchair may be directly proportional to the amount of wheelchair access your home affords.<span> </span>I keep my hallways and doors open and wheelchair ready, just in case.<span> </span>Do not put a wheelchair ramp out front as she should not be wasting her energy outside her work areas.<span> </span>This will help her to stay up with her work thus keeping her spirits high.<span> </span>A broken arm may be a problem from a pain standpoint (remember the Lortabs) but it too will heal faster if she stays busy.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span>There are times when you can actually help her with her work.<span> </span>For instance, when she’s vacuuming, you can follow her around and point out the spots she missed.<span> </span>This saves her the heartache of discovering (albeit later) that she has missed some spots.<span> </span>Pointing out dust on a table or handing her a spray bottle of Windex and watching cheerfully as she brings the glass to a shine builds memories and <span> </span><span> </span>tightens the bonds of affection between the two of you.<span> </span>Keep track of when she last changed the furnace filters or polished the dining room light fixtures. <span> </span>She’ll love you for it.<span> </span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span>I would give you some more advice but I have to have the dishes washed and trash carried out before my wife gets back from her Christmas shopping.<span> </span>She was pretty firm about that.<span> </span>Meanwhile my hopes are for a blessed Christmas Season for each of you and don’t forget to go to church this Sunday.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wayne Bullard, Pharm. D.</span><br />
</div>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-91689098140755765652009-11-03T07:29:00.000-08:002009-11-03T07:29:48.755-08:00Hands and FeetAs I prepare to speak to many students on Wednesday night, I have been thinking a lot about the works of Jesus while on earth. He served, he saved, he healed, he transformed, he loved. But what did he do that left an impression?<br />
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Miracles? Not really. In fact all through scripture we are amazed at the miracles that took place--parting of the Red Sea, Balaam's ass*, Jonah, Jesus turning water into wine, Jesus healing, Jesus resurrecting Lazarus, demons being cast out. But the interesting thing about almost every miracle is that they usually didn't lead to life change. Even Jonah was griping soon afterward! The Israelites turned their back on God just days after God saved their rears from the Egyptian army. The Jews went from shouting Hosanna! to Crucify! in like 4 days!<br />
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Speaking of Jesus, people loved what Jesus did, but few loved Jesus. So who did he really effect? The disciples. The followers. Those in whom he invested. Jesus was a mentor, a teacher, a rabbi. And I think to be Jesus' hands and feet today, we have to make that our tallest order. Invest in people, mentor the young, pour into their lives, and walk with them. Sure, volunteering at a shelter or handing a sandwich to a man on the street is a great thing to do. But most of your time should be spent investing in other people. Jesus did everything. And the people that started the New Testament church and kept it going were those with whom Jesus spent the most time. Peter. James. Brother James. John. Paul. Timothy. Barnabus. Not all of those men knew Jesus while he was on earth, but the domino effect of discipleship kept the movement going. <br />
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So what are you doing to invest in people? How are you making a difference? In our church this week, we are looking at Matthew 25:31-46--the parable of the sheep and the goats. When did we see Jesus hungry? Thirsty? We served? We did because it was in our very nature. We valued people. We saw needs, we met them. Without even thinking. When people become your priority, service will become natural. Jesus' hands and feet responded to Jesus' mind and heart. They just followed directions. So should you and I.Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-74779208471462944682009-10-14T22:30:00.000-07:002009-10-14T22:32:16.743-07:00My First OU-Texas GameAs I prepare to embark on my 25th OU-Texas game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, I am taken back to my very first experience at the Texas State Fair. The year was 1982. I was eight. My brother had the two tickets this year. My parents ran the drug store and somehow we got the 2 tickets my family of 6 was allotted.<br />
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I was so excited. I probably didn't sleep much after Wednesday night. We left early on Saturday morning. Being so young, I had a short memory of the series. However, unlike most 8 year olds, I was aware of the series record, past history, etc. But from live action memory, I only knew of Oklahoma losses. I remembered 1979, a 16-7 loss. I was at Papa and Mamadoes. I remember Papa turning off the TV as Texas ran out the clock. He was peeved. The eighties brought on more of the same. Seems like a 20-13 and a 34-14 loss. Any journalist--or blogger--worth his salt would look that up. I'm just cocky enough to fire off those scores without looking. The only way to prove I didn't research it would be to get a score wrong. Oh sweet irony...<br />
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So we get to the fair. We ride a roller coaster. That was also a first for me. And then we went into the game. We sat just left of the ramp. I remember watching the players come up the ramp. I was so overwhelmed. I knew that I must never miss this game again!<br />
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<a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1983/0620_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1983/0620_large.jpg" width="153" /></a>Texas, I seem to recall, led early, but OU was able to take a lead. Then, it happened. Well, he happened. Marcus Dupree. A seldom used true freshman that had all the acclaim that Adrian Peterson had. Switzer had not played him much leading up to the game. He was probably saving him as a secret weapon. I think Barry mentioned, publicly, that Marcus just wasn't ready yet. What, to pick up blitzes? OU never threw. OU's offense was simple. Get ball. Hold on to ball. Run fast with ball like you stole it.<br />
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Number 22 went for like 163 that day. Texas never knew what hit 'em. OU won 28-22.<br />
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I was so happy. We left the fair, hit a fun house or two on the way out, cheered with fellow Sooner fans and headed out to my brother's 1980 Monte Carlo. A young neighborhood kid asked us who won. When we told him OU he celebrated. I thought that was cool. <i>Kids are smart in Texas</i>, I contemplated.<br />
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So Saturday I will walk into the fair for the 25th time. I have witnessed 12 OU wins, 10 losses, and 2 ties. There are lots of stories. I have seen bad calls, bad performances, upsets (usually by Texas, unfortunately), and fantastic finishes (all won by Texas). <br />
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The only things I have really learned about the game are the following:<br />
1. The "Mo". Never seen momentum swing like in this game. If it's on your side, you better take advantage. Soon Texas will get it and when they do, they will capitalize. 2000 was the only year I can ever remember when Texas never had it. Not for a second.<br />
2. If Texas is the better team, they win. If OU is slightly the better team, Texas usually wins. If OU is overwhelmingly better, OU usually wins. I have only seen this rule broken once. 1996.<br />
3. Texas fans are always late for the game. Weird. They all wear shirts that say "Come early, Stay late, Be loud." Apparently that is a suggestion.<br />
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Finally, my reminiscings.<br />
1. 1984. Total ripoff. We won 15-12 and I'll always believe that. I was at Oregon in 2006 and that was also a huge travesty. This one was worse and bigger. Stansbury intercepted that pass and it wasn't close. In today's game, even Pac 10 officials would have overturned that call.<br />
2. 1985. We were awesome. They were terrible. We ran the bone which was overwhelming to weak opponents but didn't stop the clock. Therefore we were up 31-0 at half and eased to a 47-12 win. In today's spread passing game, we would have beaten them as bad as we wanted given the talent discrepancy. And I mean something like 77-0 unless we chose to take a knee the entire 4th quarter.<br />
3. 1989-1991. Texas won those 3 games (and 1992 to take 4 in a row after OU won 4 straight). Three of the most painful losses in the series for me. Why? OU was decidedly better all 3 years. In fact, even in all 3 games OU was better. Especially 1990. Watch that replay and you will never figure out how Texas won. Same with 1991. OU was actually better in 1992 as well, but not as much, and definitely not that day. Texas drilled us. But in 89-91 triumvirate, OU controlled the games--statistically, in the trenches, everywhere. We just never managed to put the games away. Texas won all 3 in the end. In 1991 we led 7-3 the whole game, then fumbled at the end and they ran it in. Those were tough losses to swallow. Kind of a microcosm of why Texas leads the series while having the lesser program. They just always seemed to win the games that came down to the wire.<br />
4. 1996. We had no business winning. But we did. It was the salve game. For all the times Texas won and shouldn't, this was the mother revenge game. While the gap wasn't as bad as 1985, Texas was about a 20 point favorite. But OU seized some magic late in the game, tied it and pulled it out in overtime. OU was 0-4 coming in and Texas won the Big 12 that year. That was the first year for the Big 12. Literally, that game along with the Syracuse game the following year, was the only bright spot in John Blake's career.<br />
5. 2000-2004. Five in a row. 63-14. 14-3. 35-24. 65-13. 12-0. I wondered if Texas might ever beat us again. We owned them. I miss that OU. I miss that Bob Stoops. We had swagga (sorry Miami). The 63-14 game was just domination. Texas just couldn't get going. The 65-13 game was strange because Texas hung in there and had some things going for them, then in the middle of the second quarter the wheels just came off and they quit. The 12-0 game was amazing because we had AD and they had VY. Great defense. The 14-3 game had the Roy Williams Superman play.<br />
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Those are just a few memories. I have many. And I don't regret going to any of them. Even the game I had a sideline pass and Ricky Williams scored about 9 touchdowns. Well, until the next blog, Texas sucks and Boomer Sooner!Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-81978114796797283642009-10-08T12:11:00.000-07:002009-10-08T12:11:38.662-07:00Sand, Rock, your choice.As I have been reassessing our youth ministry and thinking about how we teach, what we teach, and even how we raise our kids altogether, many, many thoughts have gone through my mind. Am I overprotecting? Am I helping parents or competing with them? Am I doing everything I can to be a good resource to our parents? Am I teaching things that are on point and relevant and, most of all, useful? Then, I showered.<br />
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Showers are great. Not only do they help one hygienically, but they also create a dampened closet of solitude to process one's thoughts and allow for what is often the only moment of meditation of the day. This can often lead to using all of the hot water which, ironically, will put me in more!<br />
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But back to the point, I was thinking in the shower as I squirted Dial (manly) shower gel onto my loofah (not so much). And I thought about the story Jesus told about the man who builds his house on the sand versus the man who builds on solid rock. Of course, it is a simple story. The houses in this parable represent our faith. The sand and rock represent the foundation. What is my faith built upon? What is it made of? What am I living for? Christ or a mirage of following Christ?<br />
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Simple enough.<br />
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But in our culture, we have created another option. An option that Jesus failed to mention--perhaps he didn't think of it--in his parable. That is the option of building elsewhere. In our Christian subculture, we have decided that this parable is not all-inclusive. Jesus says storms will come, build on rock. We say, better yet, why don't we build where storms don't come! Take your rock, I'm going to San Diego! We think we can dodge storms, but we cannot. We try to keep our kids from hearing about sex, being around druggies, and seeing bad things on the 10:00 news, but somehow the storms do find us.<br />
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Therefore, I am choosing to help our students find the rock. No more teaching them to run from storms. No more avoidance of difficult subjects to avoid difficult phone calls and emails from over-protective parents. We must create a place where students can discuss taboo subjects. We have always said we want our kids to learn about sex from us (parents, the church) before they learn it in the locker room. But what about evolution? Church or science class? Difficult faith issues, church or philosophy class?<br />
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I am not sure I need to tell kids what to think. I don't know if teaching apologetic is enough. I think we need to ignite in students a passion to know the truth, to seek the truth, and to connect the truth with God. Because God = Truth. If it's true, then God made it that way. Instead of solely teaching our kids what to believe, why don't we spend more time showing them what rock looks like? Where its found. How to build on it.<br />
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Those are my thoughts. Please weigh in with yours.Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-8773025219759887982009-09-28T21:29:00.000-07:002009-09-28T21:34:07.724-07:00Rules are important. Follow them!As a rule, everyone hates rules. In fact most people's rule #1 is: there are no rules. That works until about 5 minutes after one peels themselves out of bed. Then rules apply. Like no one should be occupying the bathroom within 10 minutes of my awakening. My morning relief must take precedent over all others' needs! My second morning rule is I absolutely have dibs on the sports page.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.igorthetroll.com/images/the-ten-commandments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.igorthetroll.com/images/the-ten-commandments.jpg" width="139" /></a><br />
</div>So do me the honor of allowing me to opine on the subject or rules. Enjoy mine below. Most have to do with driving, of course.<br />
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1. If you're in the right lane at a red light, please turn right. I hate having to wait for green as the second car in line when I could clearly be on my way to make it before Sonic Happy Hour is over.<br />
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2. Mmmmm Sonic. I actually have my own Sonic rules. They apply to the drive through. Only ice cream and drinks in the drive thru! Maybe, maybe cheddar bites or tots. Family of 4? No way! Pull into a slot. Burger? Slot. Two orders of cheddar bites? Close, but slot it. 4 drinks max. Basically, I should never really have to ever stop my car's forward motion while in the drive through. Why can't people get this? This isn't rocket science. It's not all about you, Captain Youplanet.<br />
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3. Car's should come packaged with multiple horn sounds. And each sound should be a universally understood tone, as follows.<br />
<blockquote><b>Beep Beep</b>-- <i>Hey, excuse me, sir, but the light has been green for a couple of seconds now. I'm sure you'd like to go as much as I would.</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><b>Beep Beep Beeeeep</b>-- <i>OK, seriously, are you waiting for a specific shade of green?</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><b>Honnnnnnnnnk!!!!!</b>-- <i>You actually just sat through an entire green light. </i>This horn automatically emits a signal to the DMV who dispatches an officer to revoke the driver's rights to operate a motor vehicle anywhere on earth except Shanghai. If several people in the same district transmit this signal simultaneously, the DMV will catch on fire and burn to the ground killing all who have fallen asleep in line. So use this horn only in dire situations. Like at 3:58 at the intersection within throwing distance of Sonic.<br />
</blockquote>4. Cars should also come with easy to access message centers that display on windshield, back glass and side windows to easily share one's thoughts with passers by. Who hasn't been driving or riding along and you'd like to say something to the car you are passing like, <i>nice hair, bodacious poodle, your right back tire is flat, your teenage daughter is making out in the backseat</i>, or some snide retort to their bumper sticker? <br />
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5. Bumper stickers. While I would like to outlaw them, I realize that--quite hypocritically--I occasionally find one rather amusing. Therefore, let's just offer reform. No more than one bumper sticker per cause/candidate/club. If you hate republicans, dislike Christians, support Darwinism, like recycling, or think homespun saying are funny, then it just takes one Calvin urinating sticker, one fish with legs, or one zinger to amuse (or shake your fists at) victims stuck behind you. If you do choose to deface your back bumper, glass and/or tailgate, at least have the common decency to pull to the shoulder and let us pass.<br />
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6. Speaking of passing, let's discuss the use of the left lane. If you are driving anywhere near the posted speed limit, you have no business in the left lane. If you have to pass, do it quickly. Else, get over with grandma and enjoy the Oklahoma scenery.<br />
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7. Scenery. Not a lot in Oklahoma. But we do enjoy a good wreck. That is why we choose to slow to 10mph to gawk at the remnants of a crash that is often in the other lane of traffic, off in the ditch, or somewhere that does not require the over use of one's brakes. Rubberneckers should be charged $15 for the view. Proceeds go to fix the car that was smashed.<br />
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I have so many more, but I am tired. I promise an update on Francesca soon. She is talking like crazy nowadays. Not English. Probably not even Klingon. Just her own vernacular. I think she just says poop and feed me over and over again. Rule #8. Babies should come with subtitles.Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-80029155193943397922009-09-12T11:42:00.000-07:002009-09-14T07:52:55.041-07:00Guest Blog Part 1 - My dad, Wayne BullardSo, my mom and dad are on vacation to DC. Actually, greater DC. My dad was a sailor on a ship called the USS Johnny Hudgens back in the day. And the surviving midshipmen are having a reunion. And, as he did 2 years ago with the USS Lexington, my dad made a showing. I may add his first email later, as it is as hilarious as this, depending on demand. <br />
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The following is his second email to me detailing his trip. (Actually addressed to all 4 of us children)<br />
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<blockquote><div>Well, we made our cruise on the river OK. It was a dinner cruise and the food was OK. Some kind of unidentified bits and pieces of meat in some sort of sauce....I mean if you care for stuff like that-- we floated about and passed some of the old parts of town and watched the scenery from a window-- through the misty rain. Lots of old sailors here. Tonight we had a meal of "potato crusted Halibut" just for the heck of it and it was OK. Hope they didn't catch it in any of the muddy polluted waters we spent 3 hours on.</div><div> Tomorrow they will "haul" us down to the Mall and I don't know where else yet. <br />
We are going to decide that tonight-in a few minutes I think.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQAk5TEUgoBstWA_VfS9cMUrR0X_EZacPz14TcTkU1TBlXj8I6MPk_iXsOGVEa_I0S1XS3tFMOxjiRlc2S4jHlU08i2H9OpIdl6fWHO26awgr6G3RPWopFWZN6hIbEGXd1yy4kH7SWJM0/s1600-h/teaparty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQAk5TEUgoBstWA_VfS9cMUrR0X_EZacPz14TcTkU1TBlXj8I6MPk_iXsOGVEa_I0S1XS3tFMOxjiRlc2S4jHlU08i2H9OpIdl6fWHO26awgr6G3RPWopFWZN6hIbEGXd1yy4kH7SWJM0/s200/teaparty.jpg" /></a></div>Sunday is a free day. There is a big march tomorrow on the capitol called the 9/12 thing and I will see it I guess, whether I want to or not. I believe it is another tea party. Glen Beck is to speak. I don't know what is left to see after tomorrow, but that's what Sunday is for. We will probably just drive around, out to Mount Vernon and places like that. I want to spend a little time in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. I may go back to the Holocaust museum too, it's very interesting.</div><div></div><div> Anyway, we are doing OK. Except for the fire.</div><div></div><div>Last night the fire alarm went off. At 1:35AM it did. Very loud horn (brand new) and a white flashing light woke up our tired old bodies. I peeked out and told Pat..."don't worry about a thing...I'm pretty sure it's a false alarm as I put on my pants." I walked down to the desk and there about 55 people were on their way out. Outside. A fire truck could be heard zonking his way toward the hotel. Another one was coming too. The Pakistani clerk was answering two phones a time saying..."Fire on floor 3, get out now!!!" </div><div> I went back to 131 and told your yawning mom, "just a false alarm but let's get dressed." She is a gentle soul and I sure didn't want to alarm her. "You might want your purse, your car keys, your cell phone, and anything else you would want to save in case the fire is real and we can't come back in," I said, calmly. </div><div> With that, and a backward glance at my laptop I went back to the hall. By this time the loud fire alarm had about ruined my hearing but I could see a new and alarmed group in the main lobby which is where we went. I went on outside to look for smoke. Harry said, "it's up on 3rd floor" as I noticed he was in undershirt, PJ bottoms and one sock on his right foot and a bare foot on the other. I stared at the foot and he said, couldn't find my other sock and didn't look for the shoe. My room is on the 3rd. "Did you see any fire?" I asked Harry, but he said, "no, just smells like the place is burning down and it's smokey."</div><div> That was enough for me. I didn't know which to do first, move my DeVille further off from the hotel and then go back inside and encourage my frightened wife to come on and say to her "Let's go to Oklahoma." I decided my car was far enough away as the firetrucks continued to arrive along with police cars. I scanned the parking area for TV vans to see if any of them wanted to see how I was taking all this, but saw none.</div><div> I went back in the lobby from the chill night and my wife was doing an excellent job concealing her fears and concerns. In fact she was trying to cheer up some of my old shipmates and showed no signs of the fear I knew was bound to be enveloping her very being. I let her be....ready to make a break for it by way of my soon to be afire room if I had to. Two more firemen, carrying axes, followed closely by two wearing OBAs** made-their way to the stairs as a cop warned people not to go back upstairs nor use the elevators. I hadn't seen such pessimism since Bill Cathey had delivered his prognosis on main street Allen one night about a car wreck out on 48 which had "killed" Glenn Hunnicutt...or so he mistakenly thought. **Oxygen Breathing Apparatus</div><div> My friend, Happy John and his live in Church of God of Prophesy girl friend had yet to show up and I was concerned but I didn't know what room he was in. I should not have worried. I couldn't have awaken him or her if I had wanted to. The next day John said he and Margaret had gone to their room and gone to bed after taking out their hearing aids, their teeth and unscrewing their fake appendages and ingesting a few sleeping pills. They heard nothing and were quite bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning--in stark contrast to the Jap across the hall who fled wearing only his T Shirt. I didn't look back at him to be sure if he had any shorts on or not but I know your mom did. Had my name been Lot, she would be a pillar of NaCl.</div><div> I was more than a little bit let down when the firemen starting coming down on elevators, as spic and spiffy looking as they had looked going up...the fireman, the one who stopped and explained it to us, said it was a bag of microwave popcorn mis-programmed on a microwave and while there had been no actual blaze, had there been one, he would have put it out along with the other dozens of dedicated ax swingers in attendance. </div><div> Tired and disappointed we all went back to our chambers where we tossed and turned for more than a few minutes before drifting off to sleep. </div><div></div><div> I will now take your mom down the hall, where a rousing party is underway in one of the meeting rooms and continued this blessed meeting. Have a good night, Love,</div><div><i><span style="font-family: arial black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: comic sans ms;">Wayne Bullard</span></b></span></span></i></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: system;">601 E Lee Street</span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: System;">Allen, Ok.74825-0517</span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: System;">-<a href="https://webmail.east.cox.net/do/mail/message/mailto?to=-waynebullard%40sbcglobal.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">waynebullard@sbcglobal.net</a></span></i></b></div></blockquote>Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-47210986753288733232009-09-09T10:02:00.000-07:002009-09-09T10:02:01.157-07:00Ode to the Padres and other Sub-par TeamsSo my Padres climbed out of last place last night. That's really the only silver lining in my dark cloud of sports recently. My Sooners just had an awful terrible weekend which culminated in their entire All-America team being out for the season. (exaggeration but probably will happen before season's end) Guess I'll have to buy a program on Saturday. <i>Who are these people?</i><br />
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Of course, my quixotic nature still fixates on a national championship. But, I'll surely wake up and smell the overpriced coffee. Or at least drink a cup. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/image_pictures/0320/5163/104402_feature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/image_pictures/0320/5163/104402_feature.jpg" width="200" /></a>But back to my Padres. Yes, I have been a hopeful fan for 27 seasons now, 14 of which--including this season--have been below .500. So yes I am faithful. That makes me a good husband and perhaps a better Sooner fan in the long run. Yes we are spoiled, us Sooners, but we shall persevere. In the 90s, even when things were bad beyond belief, the stadium was still 85-90% full. With only 2 exceptions, at least 65K people came every year from 1994-1998 (the dark ages). <br />
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But I was brought up that way. Don't abandon your teams. Don't abandon your family. Don't abandon your church. Lord knows we could've left our church a few times. Geez, it was just terrible at times. But we never left. We stayed through thin and thinner. Guess that's why I have very little understanding of "church hoppers" but I guess it's necessary on occasion. <br />
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So here's to you, 4th place Padres! And to you, last place Thunder! And even to you, 0-1 Sooners. I'll be there on Saturday. I'll cheer you on against the Idaho Kiwanis Club. And I'll be there at the end, when Bedlam strikes, even if things don't look promising for the Crimson and Cream.Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-45188033888980777382009-09-02T07:58:00.000-07:002009-09-02T07:58:22.304-07:00Steve's Long-Awaited Football PreviewIt's football season, and I've always wanted this kind of forum. No one ever gave it to me before, so I had to create my own. Thanks, Blogspot, for having me.<br />
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Pro.<br />
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Who knows? Steelers? Patriots? Cardinals? Vikings? Giants? Cowboys? Colts? Probably one of those.<br />
<br />
Three NFL Predictions for 2010:<br />
1. Tom Brady will break a fingernail and it will lead off Sportscenter.<br />
2. Tony Romo will enter a new relationship in the vicinity of mid-December (silly if only for the reason of having to buy her a Christmas present, then turn around and come up with something for Valentine's Day) and the Cowboys will lose their last 4, including the first round of the playoffs.<br />
3. The Detroit Lions will win 2 games. <br />
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College.<br />
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As much as I would love to see my Sooners win it all, it just seems unlikely. First, we play a very difficult schedule. And while all our games are winnable, it seems like there will be a trip-up somewhere, even if we slip by Texas. Plus, Sam Bradford could rescue an entire orphanage from a fire and still fall painfully shy of surpassing Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy in Jesus Points. It really is difficult to watch. Now, I'm all for players being strong Christians, I just hate it when they have to play for such evil empires. What's next, Rick Warren's son playing at USC?<br />
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So, who is the favorite? The only good thing about Florida returning 42 starters (seemingly) is that with all their top recruiting classes they have stacked up, it means keeping those guys off the field another year. Florida and USC are the only 2 schools who benefit from graduating players.<br />
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Oklahoma State. Since many of my readers are Oklahoma State fans, allow me to make a few prognostications for you. First of all, your season consists of three games. The rest are not only winnable, but double-digit favorite winnable. You are assured of 9 wins. But, welcome to the big time where nine wins is a letdown! This is how it feels to be unsatisfied with mediocrity. Isn't it great? <br />
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<a href="http://www.image-nation.org/2007/movies/covers/cowboy_forever_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.image-nation.org/2007/movies/covers/cowboy_forever_6.jpg" /></a>Game 1: Georgia. How to beat the mighty Bulldogs from the SEC. One, jump on them early and often. Bulldogs can smell fear. And mailmen. So don't show up with any letters in your satchels...or stuffed in your pads. Breaking in a new quarterback should mean that Georgia will not score early. The Pokes need to jump up 14-0 after one quarter of play, cruising to a 21-7 halftime advantage. The second half may be a little more difficult. Georgia has perhaps the top offensive line in the country. This group of fatsoes will take over in the second half if OSU cannot sustain drives. My prediction: OSU does jump ahead and holds on for a 31-23 win. Cowboy fans drive home happy with the game and completely distraught over that intro song that country music poser wrote. Even Toby Keith would be embarrassed.<br />
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Game 2: Texas. Vince Young was in 5th grade the last time OSU beat Texas. But shorten the game to 30 minutes and OSU owns the Horns. So that's the key to this one. Figure out a way to cancel the second half. I am sure with a little creativity and a lot of Boone Pickens' money, this could happen. Whether he buys a thunderstorm, Gallagher-Iba tips over, Al Brown streaks across the field, or some cows get loose on the field, I don't know. But I know this: at the half, OSU 27, Texas 10.<br />
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Game 3: Oklahoma. Well how can I possibly be objective on this one? Oklahoma is unbeatable at home, only losing twice in Bob Stoops' career. Once to TCU and once to ... uh oh. Could it be? Could OSU pull off the unthinkable again? Um, no. This is Sam Bradford, not Nate Hybl. But it also won't be the blowout the past 3 games in Norman have been. Bedlam will also be shockingly low-scoring this year. Final will be in the neighborhood of 24-14, much like the 1984 showdown in Norman, which I attended as a 10 year old. And yes, Zac Robinson is no Rusty Hilger.<br />
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As for the Sooners, I predict a nice opening win over the Mormons. We'll call it 37-14.<br />
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Next blog: I promise a Francesca update. And, Breck, I'm working on your request.Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813661576059718245.post-34327952133592846132009-08-31T12:36:00.000-07:002009-08-31T12:36:29.587-07:00This Whole Blog ThingSo I decided to write a blog. This is difficult, because I am not a very interesting person. Now I have all kinds of views, pet peeves, leanings, theological inaccuracies, the lot! But I am not real sure that's what we want to read about. Especially since this is linked from our official student ministry web site!<br />
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So, perhaps you can suggest topics for me. Football, superheroes, italian food, favorite grandmotherly sayings, theories of animal husbandry, balloon animals, or just simply memory verses for the week. All, well most, okay some, of these topics I actually know something about. But we'll see if it can be interesting.<br />
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But since this is a youth ministry blog, I will say something about youth ministry. It is good! haha<br />
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Revolution Student Ministry exists to compel students to know and serve God. I just believe that if we can help students CARE about Jesus and other people's needs, then they will have a huge impact on this world. And I think we are accomplishing this. Sure we still have selfish kids who care absolutely nothing more than how their own needs can be served. But we are working on them! We also have kids who maybe care about others only because it makes them look better. But we ALL struggle with that a little. But little by little, meeting by meeting, conversation by conversation, we see improvement.<br />
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Thank you, parents, for taking your job seriously. Thank you for not expecting our youth ministry to do your work for you. Thank you for letting us just be the "grad school" of your entire teaching system. Let me know how we can help you even more. (please leave a comment so I will know I have a reader!!)Steve Bullardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697709597157806431noreply@blogger.com3