Y league basketball

Started my role as an assistant coach for Tyson's Y-league basketball team last night as we had our only practice before the opening game this Saturday. This is the second year he has played and he really digs it. It always strikes me funny as he is a little fellow but likes basketball and all of the running around. It was kind of crazy that we only get one practice before the season starts so we spent last night seeing who could bring the ball up and teaching some defense and the like. Tyson is all excited because he gets to play against a couple of buddies (Lane Lewis and Justin McAllister) at some point during the season. I just hope he doesn't decide to start talking to them when he is supposed to be guarding someone else but you never know about him.

Did anyone else have a great weekend?

I know I sure did. I know alot of people like the warm sunshiney days but I really dug Saturday, with the cool temps a little rain, just like fall should be. Got to go shopping with the family and went to Muncie and got a mouse, not another pet but a wireless mouse for the new computer. The mouse we got with the new computer had a mind of its own and sometimes we were just mearly giving it suggestions on where to go. The new one is cool. No chord to get stuck anywhere and it even has a button on the side that is used for a back button talk about lazy don't have to go to the little arrow at the top of the page to go back, what a country.

Spent Saturday night with some of the youth and some youth from another church, didn't catch the name of the church, at the 1 fun farm and the haunted maze. It was fun and not really scary but I did get a scare at the start of the maze when a dude or dudette jumped out, not scary, but then they proceeded to bring together two cymbals about an inch from my right ear, was not expecting that. The rest of the maze we caught up to the group in front of us so when someone jumped out they didn't have time to get back in position before we got there. It was fun though and I think I'm really gonna like hanging out with the Teshuva people.

Yesterday another good day at church, the praise and worship was on, music at points though was a little off from where I was. I do know that the singing was right on and LOUD again. I liked the whole different perspective with PK in the balcony at first and James singing from the seats. Gotta mix things up a bit. I finally did what I've been talking about for a few months when I gave the new guitar a little spin around the neck, I didn't know how people would take it but I totally didn't expect the response that was given with all the hootin' and hollerin' kinda got me a little embarassed. If you missed it sorry but I'm sure at somepoint we'll do it again. I really liked the way service ended where it really didn't end for a while. God moves in those times and I know that he was moving in the building. Ended the weekend by all of us in the Chalfant household getting haircuts for those school pics for the kids.

One bummer though in a fun way, Tammy went to a concert this weekend and I didn't. If you know much about us I love going to concerts and she doesn't like them as much. She and Angel went to see Todd Agnew and enjoyed it. So I think it's time for me to go to another one now right Tammy?

GUITAR FLIP GONE WRONG!!!!!!

I am glad that this didn't happen Sunday, would have been bad. I totally wasn't expecting the yelling and cheering but it was cool.

Pastor appreciation

October for those of you who don't know is pastor appreciation month so I would like to take a few moments and appreciate our pastors.

Pastor Kris- Awesome messages each and every week. He brings his "A game" each week and his messages are full of truth and practical ways to live them out. He is not afraid, or doesn't seem to be, to speak on issues that some of us don't want to hear about but stuff that God has laid on his heart to speak on. On those messages he seems to take them to another level. I know that God looked down at FFC one day and said something big is going to happen there and I know just the man to put there to lead them, PK. Thanks PK for all you do here at FFC.

Pastor Marggy- I have never seen someone more organized than her. I know I get some inside info with the M&O meetings with some of the behind the scene stuff here at church and I know that everyday her plate is full of things to do and take care of and she makes things run smooth without alot of recognition so thanks PM for all you do here at FFC both seen and unseen.

Pastor Jeff- He was made for outreach. I have never seen anyone with a bigger heart for servanthood then Jeff. To see his eyes light up and his spirit pick up when he was talking about the new building and the Angel Food area and all the things that will be done in that area is just too cool. Thanks PJ for all you do and your serving nature.

Pastor James- He has big plans for the Youth group and I really believe that they are going to happen. It still amazes me how his hiring just fell into place, must have been a God thing. It has been fun starting to work with him and the youth, our future leaders, and seeing the connection to God that they are making. Thanks PPink for having a heart for the youth and leading them to God.

Pastor Tonya- She has taken the foundation that Connie had set up in KidZone and ran with it. It reminds me of our new building project how she has taken what was here and is "building on" and getting our children to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. Once again it has definately been a God thing that has placed her here and I see big things happening with our kids in the coming years. Thanks PT for your obedience to God and your passion for teaching kids.

Pastor Debi- She has a heart of gold and a real strong passion for the Lord and seeing that those who are unable to make it to church still have a little church brought to them. She is a genuine individual with a real gift for reaching out to those in need. Thanks PD for taking the time for those who are unable to get out as much and being there for them.

Thanks again to all of the pastors and their desire to see lives changed and helping us all to grow each and every week.

Question for you

Can a person be both bummed out and happy at the same time. I know it seems like an oxymoron thing or a double negative but I am both. I am bummed for Tammy because she was supposed to go to Tenn. this weekend to see her mothers headstone which is now in place and to visit with family but due to unforseen problems, they have fallen through. So I am bummed that she does not get to go but I am happy because this is a four day weekend for the kids and her and that means we get to hang out and who knows what will happen. I do hopefully get to go golfing this weekend which will be the first time this year that I get to play. Nothing like waiting till the last moment to do something.

Where's the camera

We needed to bring our camera with us last night so I could show a picture of what we saw. First around 7ish there was a rainbow to the south but it hadn't rained in a while so that was kinda wierd then around 7:30 Tammy calls and told me to check to the west and of course all I saw were the backs of houses so we went to Parker to get gas and the sunset was unbelievable. Now I'm not a big sunset kinda fellow but God painted one cool picture in the sky last night, I only wish I would have brought the camera to only give you a brief look at what we saw.

Could this be fall?

It is finally starting to look and act like fall. The constant rain, cooler temps, leaves falling, and as we found out Saturday it still "snows" around here in October. We got our annual TPing and gave our annual TPing Sunday night. A lady that Tammy worked with her family always comes and does our house than we return the favor, the kids get a big kick out of it. Everyonce in a while they or we do a little something different like sticking plastic forks all over the yard or this year tied ballons to a string and hung them on the trees. All in good fun.

I have to thank James for making me hungry and ready for Thanksgiving as on his facebook he asked a question about your favorite thing to eat around the holidays and reading the answers I started getting hungry and am really looking forward to all that good delicious food. Turkey anyone?

Give me my rookie stripe

Got to participate in my first Youth Group meeting last night and it was fun. I got to crack up a few times, meet some new people and learned to stay clear when the suckers start flying because its everyone for themselves. I have a feeling this is going to be a fun ride.

The second set or worship set yesterday was great, everything flowed nicely and it was cool to look out and see people worshiping in different ways. Got to hear the message twice as I played Saturday night as well and the part that really sticks out to me and I enjoyed it Sat. and it really hit me Sunday was the part where PK talked about us being slaves and lust bidding this and greed that and power that then, this is the part that I really enjoyed and created a really vivid visual in my mind was when he said then a nail pierced hand goes up in the back and says I give my blood for that one. Powerful images just go through my mind when I hear that.

Friday was my swan song for the football broadcasts and I must say that the past few weeks have been a really neat experience and very enjoyable. I am going to miss running the board for them but basketball season is right around the corner so I'm sure I'll be back over there for them. Now I am waiting to hear on what is next for me there, I did get to hang out for the last 15 minutes of the sharathon Friday and it was crazy as they were closing in on the amount needed. Finally got to hang out this weekend with my nephew who sold his guitar to Mom and Dad for me as him and I and Taylor went to that wonderful toy store called Sam Ash, I could really go crazy in there. We played with the lighting system they had there and I thought this is what we need at church with the intellegent lights. Maybe someday......

Great time

Last night I went with about 20 others to Ft. Wayne for the Portable Sounds tour with TobyMac, Barlowgirl, and Thousand Foot Krutch and I must say it was a great time. The show was good and hanging with others from the church is always a good thing even if I was the oldest one in the group but thats ok. Went to one of the nicest Arby's I've ever seen then on to the show with the line to get in that looked like it would never end. There were alot of people at the show and Toby dropped as he said a "Joy bomb." We (Taylor and I) just saw Toby a few months back on the first leg of the tour and it was cool to see the changes that were made this time around. One thing I like about him is that even though his name is on the marquee he gives everyone in his band a time in the spotlight at various points in the show.

Another cool thing is the fact that he as well as Barlowgirl just opened up the bible and started reading from it which I think is lacking in some shows. I like what Barlowgirl stands for, purity, modesty, and commitment to God. It is great to see role models like these for my soon to be teenage daughter. They also said something about not dating, which I also like that for Taylor (hehe) so I wouldn't have to worry about all of that. TFK brought the RAWK and the only complaint I have on them is that they didn't play long enough.

I'm a little groggy this morning as it was around 1:30 to 2:00 for I finally went to sleep and woke up at a little after 5 to be to work by 6. Made without being late but don't know how I'll be around 10 or 11. Go to the radio station again tonight so listen in around 10 and we will have some fun.

Keep an eye on the sky?

Looks like there might be some wacky wild weather today so be sure to keep an eye on the sky today, allthough I think its gonna be more bark than bite. Looking forward to going to Ft. Wayne with the Youth tonight to see a little TobyMac/Barlowgirl/TFK at the Grand Wayne Center. Good thing they have a big building where you stand in line inside incase its raining. Should be alot of fun and I'm sure I'll have a story or two for tomorrow. I had an idea for the blog this morning on the way here but now somewhere in the halls of my mind it is hiding or slipped out the back door. If it comes back I'll let you know what it was or if you find it let me know so I can get it back.

4 day weekends rock

The picture above is from Speed51.com a racing site from North Carolina who came up to Winchester to have live updates on Saturday and Sunday from the speedway. This shot is on pit road looking up between turns 1 and 2. For those who don't know the turns are banked at 33 degrees and it is fun to try and walk up them and even more fun to drive your car around them as you feel as if the car is going to tip over. There were 40 cars on hand to make the race which all 40 started and if you have ever seen 40 cars on a 1/2 mile track it is a sight to see. The stands were packed the campground was packed and it was a great weekend of racing. I even got to step back into my role which I left after last year as being the scorer for the festivities on Saturday, it was like I never left. I do miss hanging out at the track with the whole CRA crew and drivers and maybe next year if the schedule pans out I might have to hang out a little more with them as long as I'm home on Sundays for church and YG.

Speaking of Youth Group I am ready for tomorrow night with TobyMac, TFK, Teens, and Barlowgirl in Ft. Wayne. Taylor and I saw Toby and TFK a few months ago on the first leg of the tour in Anderson and it was good so I know tomorrow will be the same. Looking most forward to seeing TFK again. Then Friday it will be off to the radio station for the final time during football season, don't know yet what is going to happen after football is done how much or when I'll be over there but when I find out I'll put it here on the ole blog. I'll leave you with some words from TFK "THROW UP YOUR RAWKFIST IF YOUR FEELIN' IT WHEN I DROP THIS."

It pays to blog.

It definately pays to blog as I found out Sunday. When I got home from the track Mom and Dad came over with a little something hidden behind her back. A few weeks ago I blogged about using my nephews guitar and how he was looking to sell it but I wasn't able to buy it and it was a Jackson which is my dream guitar. Mom and Dad read that then worked it out with Tammy and my nephew and the rest is history. Thanks Mom and Dad and Tammy and Tyler. See it pays to blog. They all kept it a secret from me for a few days so yesterday I started getting calls asking if I liked it and YES I do.

Went and hung out at the radio station yesterday watching and learning what all goes on during the afternoon show so if someone is sick or on vacation I might get a call and get to have some fun there. I'll be having some fun there Friday night so check it out around 10. Busy weekend and I'm sure I'll talk about it later.

Fall Sharathon

Joy FM's fall sharathon has kicked in and will be with us for the next two days. If you listen to Joy FM and or like what they are doing for our area won't you please help them out. It is a listener supported station so in order for it to keep going they need to raise 80,000 to keep going for the next 6 months. Any amount is good and at some points during the day they have a dollar for dollar match so if you pledge $50 it becomes $100 and so on. Just listen for those challenges. It has been really cool to be able to go over there and have a little fun on Friday nights and I thank God for the chance to try something I never thought was possible.

I am getting really excited about this weekends Winchester 400, we have teams from Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, the surrounding states and who knows where else coming in to run 400 laps around the "Worlds Fastest Half Mile" so it should be interesting. We even have two NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers flying in Sunday morning to start at the back of the field to race with us and they said they might bring some friends from the south with them. Of course I'm talking about Kyle Busch and David Stremme. I am ready for it.

Check it out

I read this last night and as Perry Noble says "It rocked my world."

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world and not from Christ. For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.
Colossians 2:6-10 NLT

One week

It's been one week since I drank a pop
Cocked my head back and took a big drink of
Five days since I thought about doing this saying
"I think I can make it for 2 more"
Three days since I had a big craving
It was hard till I made some tea
Yesterday I'd made my goal
but it'll still be two days till I decide when to drink one

Sung to the tune of One Week by the Barenaked Ladies

It has officially been a week since my last soda and to be quite honest I've only had one real big craving and that was Saturday night. Taylor has even had a few cans in the fridge for school, we never got to have pop at school Mrs. Ingalls wouldn't allow it, but I have done good and I don't know how long this will go but I have proven to myself that this is possible.

The weekend that was.

First off I want to ask did anyone else get chills when at the end of He Reigns when we stopped playing and someone kept singing then everyone else followed for a few minutes, that was powerful. I always like those unplanned things like that when they just happen, ONLY GOD. Speaking of ONLY GOD, I am blown away at the numbers for the building to bless campaign, whoever would have thought that something like that could happen in Farmland, once again two words sum it up ONLY GOD. There are big things that are going to happen here and we all get to be a part.

This is a short work week because of the nice long weekend with going out to the Winchester Speedway for the Winchester 400, it has been my favorite race for quite sometime. The first one I went to was in 1981 I believe and I haven't missed one since, helps that I've worked all of them since 1986. I only wish that the late Roger Holdeman was around for this weekend. He was the former owner of the speedway until his death and this was his baby. I miss Roger and just hanging out during practice and laughing and carrying on. Still keep in contact with his wife Linda who ran the track for a few years after her passing. Should be fun.

Panic at the Radio Station

No its not the new band Panic at the Disco, but it was panic at the radio station tonight. During the show I had a cd set up, introduced it then started it and it sounded funny then I noticed it was skipping, so I put another one in and tried to play a song but it could not catch up to reading it so I had to start a third song that finally worked. I can laugh now but was freaking out there. It was fun again as always kind of did a little mellowier show, see list at end, but it was good for a quick 35-40 minute show. Go back in two weeks on a Friday but I get to go over there a week from this coming Monday and watch and who knows maybe even help out with the afternoon show. Here is the songs from tonight.

Something Like Silas - When I Search
Pivitplex - You Know
Jonah 33 - This Is It (You Instead Of Me)
Apologetix - Jericho
Falling Up - This is the one that skipped so I tried some Family Force 5 and it wouldn't work either.
Decyfer Down - Break Free
The Almost - Southern Weather
Kutless - Run
Bride - Mountain

Thanks to those who listened and we will do it again in two weeks.

Keepin the streak alive

Today marks day number 4 that I have gone without drinking. Pop that is. Monday at lunch I had a Diet Pepsi and once that was gone I haven't had any since. Some people can do this without problem, take my wife for instance, she can go days and weeks without drinking pop but me I never could until now. Do I miss it? Yes, but so far it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be, now Sunday when I'm watching the NASCAR race or the Colts it might be another story. I used to drink a 2-liter at work in a couple of days or a 20 oz or two a day and could go through a 24 pack of cans in 5 or 6 days. Especially Diet Mt. Dew which I know is the worst diet drink you can drink but it tastes so good. I don't know how long this will go on and to some it might seem silly but thats ok its a big step in the whole trying to slim down from the being a BIG boy to just going down to a BIg boy than a Big boy than finally a big boy.

I'll be back over at the radio station tonight and hopefully will be doing the last hour again rockin out, havin fun, and reachin and teachin. I might even have someone in China listening in, there are a few people from the shop that had to go over to set up some stuff at our plant in Wuxi and Patti is taking her laptop and I told her if she thinks of it at 10 tonight which will be like 2 in the afternoon tomorrow there to give a little listen. Technology is cool. So tune in around 10 and rock out with me.

Blessed

After a few days of nothingness and basically laziness I'm back. I've been thinking lately about how blessed I am. I look at what God has done, what he has taken and how he is using me for his kingdom. He took, and blessed, someone who gets nervous getting up in front people and had minimal ability to play guitar and learn the bass and used them on a worship team. I've told people in the past when they come up and say "good job up there today" that it's not me. I've also been blessed with a wonderful family and friends who are there when you need them and I am glad to be there when they need me as well. Been blessed to venture into radio which has been a total blast, I don't know if there are 10 people, 100 people, or 1,000 people listening but it doesn't matter as long as 1 person is listening and gets something out of it then its all good.

Now I have been blessed to add something else to the fold, youth group small group leader. I'll be starting that in a few weeks and I pray that God uses this dork to help reach or lead some of our youth towards him or closer to him. It is a step out of the old comfort zone but as long as God is in control it will be amazing. Seems like that comfort zone is getting smaller and smaller. It still blows me away that God would use me to reach people that I might not even realize I'm helping to reach for Him. Is God awesome or what?

Monday morning quaterbacking

Another good weekend has come and gone, packed full of activites, good times, hard work, and a little bit of fun thrown in for good measure. Friday was fun hanging with the youth group and all those who drove said youth to New Castle for a little Taco Bell and bowling. Saturday was a wear yourself out work day as we helped out Tammys brother and his wife at her Dad's old house cleaning up brush and tearing down the two old sheds in the backyard and cleaning that all up. Got done with that and went home around 5:30-6:00 and was pretty much toast for the rest of the evening.

Sunday was great as usual, words can't describe what it was like watching all the people going up front and dropping the pledge cards down, then the little kidzone kids bringing theirs in. I think we will blow this thing out of the water. I'm anxious to see what God has done here next weekend. Got to fulfill a dream this weekend when I got to play my nephews Jackson guitar, that is my dream guitar for oh I don't know about 20 years or so. He is trying to sell it to me and I would take it in a heartbeat, we'll see what happens. Funny thing about yesterday on something that started as kind of a little joke but when it was done was cool. During practice Thursday as we were doing How Great Thou Art I said kind of jokingly that we should do the chours to How Great Is Our God at the end kind of a reverse of what we normally do, we tried it and it was good and I think it went over well yesterday.

Went with the Prices' to Pizza Hut after church and hung out had a good time and ate some good pizza as well. It you ever get the chance to get a buffalo chicken pizza there do it, it's killer as is the apple cinnamon dessert pizza and the cinnamon breadstixs and the...........
Got a cool opportunity on the horizion that I am excited about, more on that at a later date, that could be life changing not only for myself but others as well.