Zen Cart 2.0

I released a new web site today at http://zencart2.com. This web site is basically a fan-site of the new Zen Cart 2.0 and it comes complete with forums, articles and a way for the Zen community to discuss the latest iteration of Zen Cart amongst themselves.

I'm stoked that I was able to merge WordPress and phpBB, that was a pretty difficult process but I got it working! :D

Alex Branning

Alex Branning has a new web site - waddup!

bblUrl - shortened URLs with a message

bblUrl is a URL shortening service that displays a Bible verse at the bottom of the screen when you navigate to one of our shortened URLs! bblUrl makes it easy for you to subtly share the Gospel with your friends and family.

http://bblurl.com

Why bother going to church?

Are you bored of hearing the same lessons, over and over again? I am.

Are you tired of wondering if the person you're speaking with is who they say they are, or an entirely different person on this one day of the week where we gather together under the Christian banner? I am.

Have you wondered if going to church is a necessary exercise or just a boring habit you do because you're supposed to? I have.

Have you wonderered what your life would be like without church; and came to the conclusion that it would be better?

I believe every Christian comes to a place in their life when they start to wonder if the weekly gathering is really a necessary part of their life. Maybe the questions begin because they're bored with the experience. Maybe the weeks pass by without attending a service and you don't notice a change in your life. Maybe you've done something you're ashamed of and decided to not go back. Maybe something terrible has happened to you and you withdrew from God's house and the people that claim to follow Him.

I've been through every situation I listed above, and each time I stopped going to church. I didn't notice a big difference right away, but over time (and in hindsight) I saw what church did to me. It made me a better person. Some people attend church weekly out of habit, and it is nothing more to them than an exercise in puffing themselves up or fooling themselves into thinking that they're ok.

I go to church because I know that the sermon I will hear will contain truth, conviction and good news (if they don't find another church). I go to church because there are a few people there that encourage me in my daily life to be the best person I can be...not the most successful, but the best. I go to church because I need it.

Why do you attend (or not attend) church?

How having a little girl has changed me

I didn't expect having a little girl would change my view of the "big girls" but I was wrong. Holding Ali's little body in my arms after a bath and seeing women with no respect for themselves it really puts reality into perspective: these women were once the treasured little girl of a dad like Ali is to me now. I know it sounds really cheesy, but having a little girl has made me look at other women in a different light.

Ali has also really softened me as a person; I can tell that I'm much more patient now. She has a way of breaking my selfish spirit, hearing her seemingly endless cries of pain would take my nerves to the breaking point and I could feel my anger start to creep up, even though it wasn't her fault that she was ruining my night's sleep. I slowly began to have a change of heart; and while I'm nowhere near being a completely understanding man I have much, much more sympathy for her which has given me more patience outside of fatherhood. I was (and still am, if I'm honest with myself) a pretty selfish guy so to have this little butterball interfere with my sleep schedule and my "mommy-daddy" time would infuriate me, but now I can tell that I'm becoming a teensy bit more selfless. It's a process...

Having a little baby (especially an uber cute one) really draws the crowds; and with them the endless barrage of opinions on parenting! I have had to learn to firmly say "No" when people push (and push and push) for me to do parenting their way. It's made me a stronger man and forced me to learn how to deal with potential conflicts in a much more diplomatic manner. An added benefit: Kathy finds me standing up for my family and our beliefs is hot. ;)

Updates and Thoughts (holy crap I've posted 100 blogs on this thing!)

UPDATE: We bought a new car! We got a beautiful blue 2003 Dodge Durango from CarMax; and we had a -great- car-buying experience. I highly recommend CarMax to anyone.

THOUGHT: I hate that I like the new Miley Cyrus song, "See you again"

UPDATE: I "upgraded" my phone to an old Blackberry (Blackberry 7250), it's fun. :)

THOUGHT: The movie Baby Mama is HILARIOUS!! "(pump fists on both sides of head) WOO WOOO!" ... LOL

UPDATE: Ali is 8 weeks old today and is the cutest baby ever...I love her more than anything in the world (besides Kathy)

THOUGHT: Great point from Pastor Chris' sermon - "A great way to find out what areas in your own life that you're struggling in is to take account of the faults you consistently point out in others."

UPDATE: My sis is in town and got to meet Ali, very cool to see my sis again

THOUGHT: I highly recommend that all of my friends have babies - they will break your spirit and crush all of your selfish tendencies and you'll be a better person because of it. :)

UPDATE: I'm sort of moving towards managing my own project at work - very very cool

THOUGHT: Whoever said that your dreams stop when you have a kid is an f-ing idiot. My dreams have only gotten bigger

UPDATE: I am embracing/dealing with my inner nerd

THOUGHT: I love spoiling my wife

Kathy

I gotta write a blog praising my wife; she has just rocked my world lately. I am so proud of the job she's doing as a mother, she's a natural! I love her firm tenderness with Bean and her never-ending patience with her. Kathy has gone above and beyond to meet my needs and make me feel like a king, even as she's going through a rough time in her life (new baby + gall stones = suckage).

She has kept her quick wit and sense of humor through all the hard times. She has been so brave as she faces all the changes in her body and the drastic steps needed to keep her healthy. She's bounced back from the traumatic birthing process faster than I thought - AND she's lost all her baby weight plus some (how cool!).

I love you Kathy. I'm so proud of you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.