This is a test entry from the newly downloaded Windows Live Writer through Windows Live.

It is 11:08pm and I am unable to sleep at the moment.  I have been experiencing some health related problems for the past 5 weeks or so and cannot always lie down flat and breathe properly.  The last time I experienced something of this magnitude was sometime around 1996 when I was first diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, a lung disease.  I was driving home and could not breathe for the most part.  My head was spinning and I can remember asking God to allow me to make it hoe so I could see my dear wife and our two boys one last time.  As I was driving home and thinking about this, the sunset that evening was amazing, and as I was gasping for breath I thought of my Savior.  Would I see Him soon and be able to talk with Him and walk with Him?  Would He welcome me with those words I so long to hear one day “Well done good and faithful servant”? 

As I looked at the sunset my mind was drawn towards the Scriptural accounts of Jesus when He had been betrayed and now had been nailed to the cross of Calvary.  How Jesus must have looked out at the crowds and also at the horizon and possibly a sunset, gasping for breath from HIs arms being impailed on the cross and having to heave His body up with His legs in order to take a breath.  Although I had been fearful I was comforted being reminded that my Savior knew what it was like to have difficulty breathing. I knew that even if I was taken home that very evening, the He would look after my family and that I would be in the presence of the King of the universe.

That was 13 years ago, which is hard for me to believe as I type this.  Now here I am…finding myself having difficulty breathing…and having difficulty drawing close to my Lord.  Why…when all I really desire is to be near Him and to serve Him and yet…here I sit…confused…distant…somewhat sorrowful.  Did God move away?  Has He left me?  Am I of no more use to Him?  The answers to all of those come screaming out as a resounding “NO” in my brain and my heart. So what then is making me feel this way?

Could it be the sin that is so prevalent in my life?  Could it be my laziness of seeking Him and serving Him?  Could it be my dissatisfaction with the Christian experience?  Is it my heart…has it grown cold over the years? Where is the love for my brethren and others that was so prevalent in my life as a new believer?  Have I become…lukewarm? 

You know, life is so much more than we see and than most of us do on a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute basis.  We get caught up in our routines…our priorities…our schedules, and start seeking our desires rather than His.  As we fail to refuel ourselves and our relationship with God, we find ourselves distant, prone to temptation, dissatisfied and ungrateful.  The selfish tendencies of our flesh come boiling to the surface and we look for something else to fill the only place that our Heavenly Father can fill.  While this is not something God is pleased with or enjoys, He graciously allows us to make our own decisions…to serve Him or…to serve ourselves. 

While I am active in our local church through teaching, mentoring, a servant, etc., I do find and have to honestly come to terms that I have been serving myself more than I have been serving Him.  Sadly I confess that I have been.  I love to see and watch God work in peoples lives and the amazing things He does through them, and yet the flame inside of me feels a if it has been smoldering and longing for oxygen to keep lit.  I need and want more of Jesus!  I want a life that is not made up of the routine of busyness and self serving, but a life of adventure..awe an complete submission to the will of God! 

Francis Chan, in His book Crazy Love writes “This book is written for those who want more Jesus.  It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who do not want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do.” I would strongly recommend reading Crazy Love and visiting the website to watch some short videos that remind us of the majesty of the God we serve, and the relationship He desires with us.  www.crazylovebook.com You will finish that book confronted with some of your weakensses and misperceptions about God thrown right in your face and you will have a decision to make.  Change or stay the same. 

So…as I end this post I have to admit…confess and cry out to the Lord Jesus.  I want that crazy love! I want to be so sold out to Him and submitted to His will that while I may not know what tomorrow holds I always know Who I serve and that He has all things in His control.  He is sovereign.  Lord…fill me again with the extreme radical love I once had for You and Your children.  Fill me up with Your Holy Spirit and strengthen me as I sue every minute of this life honoring and glorifying You!  You are so awesome…so lovely…and so amazing!  Our God is truly an awesome God!

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual event held on the grounds of the prestigious National Mall in downtown Washington, D.C. and sponsored by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. The Folklife Festival is a two week event coinciding with the 4^th of July holiday weekend. This event is free to the public and hosts over one million visitors annually.

The Festival first began in 1967 and throughout the years it has brought more than 23,000 different types of performers from musicians, story tellers, actors and the like. The festival is divided into sections by nations, regions, state or themes. The Festival has drawn tradition bearers from over 90 nations, scores of ethnic communities, more than 100 Indian groups and a number of varying occupations.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is the largest cultural event in the United States and reaches over 40 million interested readers and viewers alike. It has been the subject of books, documentary films, articles and debate. Come and enjoy the richness of the cultures presented and be prepared to learn as much as you can about each one!

When/Where is the Folklife Festival?

June 25-29, 2008 and July 2-6, 2008

11a.m.-5 p.m. Daily. Evening events begin at 6:00 p.m.

National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Festival Map (pdf) – Great resource to help plan your day’s activities and events.

Tips and Tricks for Visiting During This Time of Year – This time of year in DC stands to be some very hot and sticky weather. Wear loose fitting clothing such as loose shorts, loose fitting top, wide brimmed hat, and shades are a must!

Dress appropriately

Sunscreen/Protection – You will want to make sure that you bring plenty of sun screen as you are out and about in the elements, moving from tent to tent and possible even seeing the sights around Washington, DC. I would encourage nothing less that 30 SPF sunscreen for your day. 50 SPF if you have young children with you.

Water – Bring plenty of water with you. There will be vendors throughout the area, but I would advise that you bring several bottles per person in your party.
Read Full Article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/790281/2008_guide_to_the_smithsonian_folklife.html 

Wanda Wilson was an administrative assistant at Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical Engineering until September 2007. Wilson had her employment terminated in September 2007 after an official audit of her state issued credit card. Later, the school said she used the laptop computer and accessories to record sexual encounters, engage in sexually related chat room conversations and online gambling. Georgia Tech has General Work Rules that outline both major and minor rules of employment at Georgia Tech. Some of these violations are outlined in the excerpt of that policy below:

“Major Rule Violations

Major offenses include any willful, deliberate violation of Institute or safety rules of such a degree that continued employment of the individual may not be desirable. The following are examples of some offenses that may subject an employee to immediate discharge without warning:

* Deliberately abusing, destroying, damaging, or defacing Institute property or the property of others on Georgia Tech premises.

* Gambling, possession or use of liquor or narcotics, or the possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons on Institute premises.

* Taking Institute or other employee’s property for one’s own use.

* Sexual misconduct.

Minor Rule

Rule violations of a minor nature include violations that may affect the continuity, efficiency of safety or work and will not be tolerated if repeated. Minor rule violations may result in either verbal or written warnings to the employee; however, repeated violations could lead to suspension and possibly termination. The following are examples of minor rule violations that may result in either verbal or written warnings to the employee:

* Performing unauthorized personal work on Georgia Tech time.

* Using Institute resources for personal work.

The above lists are not intended to be all inclusive. Georgia is an employment at will state. Cause is not necessary to terminate employment.”

Source: Georgia Tech Human Resources Discipline Policy

Read Full Article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/781827/georgia_tech_fires_wanda_wilson.html 

Well…we are down to the David duo as I had predicted in my previous article, American Idol: The Scotsman’s Predictions. While my predictions were not 100% accurate as I had hoped, I was right about the David duo being the remaining two contestants on season 7 of American Idol.

I am hoping in this article to evaluate each remaining contestant, David Archuleta and David Cook on their singing talent, stage presence, physical appeal, record selling potential, career longevity and any intangibles that may be out there.

So…with that said, here are The Scotsman’s evaluations of both of these amazing performers and artists.

Singing Talent (Tie)

Anyone who has even seen either of these young men sing one time knows how highly talented both of them are.

David Archuleta – This young man has such a soulful and natural voice and ability to hit all the notes necessary for his performing. His vocal range, smooth and even voice, lend him a talent that many do not have. He can adapt his voice to many different songs and styles and shines with each performance he does. I could see his future opportunities for stage work as well be a viable option as he diversifies his interests later on down the road.

David Cook – This guy came from tending bars, to supporting his brother in his quest for the American Idol crown, and ended up in the competition himself. He has demonstrated an amazing talent, but his niche is rock music. He has the perfect raspy and strong voice to belt out rock music with the best of them. Through his performances that he chose he demonstrated that he has the ability, skill and gifts to really let loose and connect with the audience. He has a level of maturity and confidence at his young age, that some, including myself, have possible mistaken for arrogance. There is no question in my mind that he would perform professionally at any time during his future career.

Stage Presence/Physical Appeal (Tie)

Read Full Article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/771347/american_idol_season_finale_david_vs.html?cat=2

Over the years I have tried to quit smoking, all to no avail at the time. I tried many different ways to quit including “cold turkey”, nicotine extensions for my cigarettes, nicotine gun, exchanging gum/toothpicks for smoking, etc. There are a number of things I experienced while going through these attempts to quit smoking, which were not very pleasant, but well worth it if you can make that transition. I will outline some of my experiences and the side effects I faced later in this article.

Benefits-

First, let’s take a look at some of the more popular ways to try and quit smoking that are out there today. There are numerous resources on the Internet of how to quit smoking, which you can peruse at your leisure. I have selected some of the information and included some of the Web sites below on how to quit smoking for your ease when finding it. I hope that you benefit from the Scotsman’s work of surfing the Net for your benefit and to help you quit smoking!

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a Federal Government agency, provides information on their Web site as to what are the benefits of quitting smoking. They include:

“People who stop smoking greatly reduce their risk of dying prematurely.Benefits are greater for people who stop at earlier ages, but cessation is beneficial at all ages.

Smoking cessation lowers the risk for lung and other types of cancer. The risk for developing cancer declines with the number of years of smoking cessation.

Risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease is reduced after smoking cessation. Coronary heart disease risk is substantially reduced within 1 to 2 years of cessation.

Cessation reduces respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The rate of decline in lung function is slower among persons who quit smoking.

Women who stop smoking before or during pregnancy reduce their risk for adverse reproductive outcomes such as infertility or having a low-birth-weight baby.[1]“

The CDC also provides posters available for that outline what happens after the first 20 minutes of smoking…

Read Full Article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/750359/how_to_quit_smoking_the_scotsmans_findings.html  

Well…sadly enough my previous ranking and prediction was correct and that my “home-girl”, Brook White was sent home.  That was a very sad ending to the show and obviously was a very difficult time for her. Even though she was sent home, I am confident that some very intelligent music/record producer (If not many!) were waiting in the wings to get her home and contact her about a contract.  I am sure that with some additional practice, much needed rest, and regaining her confidence after being intimidated before a nationwide audience, she will shine greatly!  I look forward to hearing more about and from her in the future.

In all actuality, my predictions have not changed much from my previous article.  I am still confident of the final rankings and status that we will all witness in the future to be the ones mentioned before.  So, with that said, what are the Scotsman’s predictions for the final four?

David Archuleta – As we noticed even in the last elimination, David Archuleta has definitely captured the love and admiration of fans all across the country and more than likely around the world.  Not only is he a gentleman…a demonstration of a truly humble attitude…but he is an awesome performer!  Each week I can’t wait to hear his song choice, watch his performance and to sit there and enjoy listening to his…

This Memorial Day I am sure there will be many ceremonies around our country. Fredericksburg, VA will be no exception as we commemorate and remember those who laid down their lives for our country…our freedom and our way of life. Fredericksburg was incorporated as a town, with its own court, council, and mayor, in 1781, and received its charter as an independent city in 1879. We are located approximately 50 miles south of Washington D.C and about the same distance north of Richmond VA.

Memorial Day has been set aside for remembering those men and women who had paid the full measure of devotion as an earlier president had said. It is a time of year for us to say thank you to all those who have served… veteran’s… veteran’s families…and current military members, and hang our flag high. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day.

Below you will find a listing of some of the events that are taking place in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia this Memorial Day. Please feel free to click on the links for additional information on the events.

Read Full Story at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/740861/memorial_day_events_and_festivals_in.html 

The Scotsman’s Ranking of the American Idol Finalists

This season has been a very exciting season for American Idol in my opinion. We have seen some great performances and well…some not so great performances! The remaining contestants competing for the highly esteemed title of the “American Idol” are all, in my opinion, worthy of being there. They have sacrificed their time, families, friends and lives to pursue a dream of performing for audiences worldwide. They have proves their abilities and capabilities time and time again!

So, that gets us down to top 5 remaining contestants of the group.

The Scotsman ranking of the top 5 are (drum roll):

David Archuleta – This young man continues to come out time and time again pouring his heart and soul into anything and everything he sings! He is such a great performer, singer, and such a likeable young man! He has a reputation for being humble… likeable …a great performer…an amazing vocalist…

Read Full Article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/739961/david_archuleta_heads_american_idols.html

Navigating the Web for the Best Sources

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and as we frantically search for something for our mothers and for our wives, from us…from our kids….from our pets…how do we keep up?  Mother’s Day is a very important and special day of the year.  A single day set aside to recognize those who have had a tremendous impact in our lives and still do.  Those selfless, loving individuals who changed our diapers…washed our clothes…made our beds…tucked us in with kisses and bedtime stories…prepared food…drove us around…stood up for us when dad got home…and on and on! 

While I think most mothers would agree, Mother’s Day should be celebrated every day of the year and they would be deserving of it.  However, it is recognized nationwide once every year, but guys, that does not mean that you can’t do special things for them throughout the rest of the year!

Sending Mother’s Day e-cards are a great way of staying in touch, especially when the geographical distances of most families have increased through the years.  Many families are living in different stated or reside in different countries altogether.  The rising costs of postage and time drain from our commitments make e-cards seem like the best way to recognize our loved ones in an efficient and relatively cost effective manner.  There are some fantastic sites outlined below, but I would caution you…don’t let the e-cards take place of a handwritten letter, a phone call, or both.  The personal touch and time taken to put our thoughts together on paper and talking/laughing with them on the phone is must follow up to the Mother’s Day e-card.  If you are unsure what to talk to your mom about on Mother’s Day think of this…if you send an e-card it will serve as a conversation starter!

Start surfing the web (key word e-cards) and check out the Top 10 sites we have found below.

Blue Mountain – Probably one of the most well knows e-cards site on the Web and actually came up as #1 on the hit list.  They have 22 variations of Mother’s Day e-cards for your selection that include religious, serious, funny and downright outrageous!  A must see!

Read Full Article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/729667/mothers_day_ecards_top_10_web_sites.html