My Sunday....Downtown Disney

We celebrated my niece Rebekah's Birthday this past Sunday at Downtown Disney. She celebrated with all of her cousins at Libby Lu and then walked Downtown Disney until it was time for lunch at The Rainforest Cafe. I was lucky enough to be able to share the time with them and my Canon Rebel XTi. Here is the little video I put together from the pictures I took that day. Enjoy--we did!!




Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Tapas and Tithing

Last night I went to a bible study that some friends have in a store front . The leader said something that really made sense to me. We always hear preachers talking about giving to God and tithing. People really have it confused when they think that they are giving to God when they are tithing. God said that the first tenth of what we have is His. When we give that to God we are giving what is already His to begin with. When we have not given anything out of the remaining 90% of what we have left then we essentially have not yet given anything to God. How incredible is it that we have a hard time as the Body of Christ giving what He has said is already His, let alone giving anything that is ours to Him. I just thought that was a great point that she brought up.

We also happened upon a great restaurant last night across the shopping center where the bible study was held. The restaurant was called Honda Ya. It billed itself as a Japanese Pub. everything on the menu was like appetizer portion. I pretty much considered it a Japanese tapas bar. The food was excellent. We grubbed on California rolls, kalbe ribs, tempura, sausage tempura, and some tonkatsu. There is some stuff there for everyone. I was with my mom and she is not a big raw stuff eater so I didn't try any of that. their menu is extensive and it looks like I found a hangout.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

One of These Days

One of these days… This statement is usually followed by something that we wished would happen in the future. Or it is usually followed by something that we have always wanted or needed to do but do not have the time or the resources to get it accomplished. I heard this song today for the first time. I have listened to it on the radio several times before but today is the first day that I actually heard it. One of these days is an awesome statement that can bring about excitement and the thrill of anticipation if it is applied to something positive or dare I say amazing. Just think about it Christ is going to return for us one of these days! I put some thought into this for a few minutes and thought of things that one of these days could be used in a positive connotation to bring out the excitement in me.

One of these days…
My Savior is going to come back for me, If I don’t get to heaven before then.
All the trials I am going through right now are going to turn into victories.
All the promises that God has spoken over my family and I are going to be fulfilled.
This body I am living in is going to be healed just like the bible says it is.
I am going to see my reflection in the mirror and see myself as being made in God’s image.
I am not going to worry about stigma or stereotypes; the only banner I will wear is Love.
One of these days… powerful words after all.

Be Blessed and Be Blessing!
Mike

Newest South Park Character!

One of the cool blogs I subscribe to pointed me here where you can design your own South Park character. I used to love South Park! My frat bros and I used to plan our meetings to end at just the right time so we could make it back to the pad to enjoy some collegial, adult themed beverages and watch it on TV. So here is South Park Mike:


I am so glad the character I resembled the most doesn't have to be Cartman anymore!

Bx4!
Mike

The Big Finale

Well it is almost midnight and I just got home from celebrating my 31st birthday with one of my best friends. We almost didn't make it due to some family circumstances, but we pulled it off in the end. We went and spent a couple of hours at PF Changs at Victoria Gardens. We had some great appetizers and a couple of Good Martinis. It was great being with her to see how we have changed. Before we would have been through our first two drinks in the first twenty minutes. It was awesome to see that we could share a good time without having to be stupid intoxicated. It amazes me how God can deliver a person from their deepest vice. We had some great conversation and an awesome walk down memory lane. If this is how it is starting out, then the 31st year of my life won't be so bad. Thanks to my family for the great meal and awesome gifts (all green with dead presidents on them), and to Kim for the great time tonight and for being a friend, and to God for the blessing of another year of life, I pray that I am able to glorify your name with my life even more this year.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

PS-->Here is a picture of my gift to me this year!

Eve of the Unknown

It is my birthday eve. It is the big 3 -1. It seems that this birthday is a lot more difficult to accept than my 30th was. So I decided to treat myself today. Actually I started last night when I ordered my birthday present to myself. But today--I have been a good boy and my glucose levels have been real good--I decided to celebrate with a little treat from Alicia's Cookery and Catering in Brea, CA. It is a chocolate kaluha cake with a rasberry and what I think is lavender on top, drizzled with some white chocolate.

I couldn't eat the whole thing, that would just be being greedy ;)

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing! Mike