Signs of Hilarity!

Derek has on ongoing series on Signs of Hope which is fantastic, especially since Sabrina and the Orange Olive were on of those signs. Well I have decided to do Signs of Hilarity, which could bring hope to some people. It will be funny things that I come across on the internets that I find to be, well, Hilarious. It may be pictures, maybe video, maybe text. I realize that not everything is equally funny to everyone so if you don't agree with me that's fine. Here is our first Sign of Hilarity!


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WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!

I have been waiting to post this as not everyone at the salon knew and I didn't want them to find out it from here in the incredibly minute chance that anyone of those people might read this. Well, they know now so I can talk about it without restraint. Well here is the back story, Sabrina always wanted to have kids, there were numerous disagreements between us as men and women look at different when deciding if it is right to start trying (we weren't trying). Well as life would have it when we found out, I was much more at peace with it than she was, as she had just started the Salon and a wasn't sure how this would impact it. I was confident everything would be just fine, as I have be working very hard to stop worrying about things I cannot control and giving them to faith. We we are about 3 months into this process and I am becoming more excited, it still doesn't seem real at times but it is and and this ride ain't stoppin'. Just wanted to finally let this out and I am sure I will be commenting on it more in the months and years ahead.

ORANGE OLIVE HAIR GALLERY IS NOW OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As of 10AM Tuesday, October 21 2008, the Orange Olive Hair Gallery is open for business, and it is fantastic! I am so proud of Sabrina, she did an amazing job turning a worn out Blue and Pink mill house into an eclectic salon that reflects the culture of the neighborhood. I hope you will come by and check it out and make your appointment.

Sabrina Got A New Car!

If you didn't know, several weeks ago I was in a car accident. I was not hurt but the Sabrina's PT Cruiser was totalled. We had been thinking about getting a new car in a few months so the timing was not the best but we got way more than the car was worth from the insurance, so we could but a good down payment on the new car. Well Sabrina decided on the Scion xD in the limited edition Hot Lava a seen on the right. It is NICE, it looks just like the picture only we upgraded to black wheels on my insistence. We pick it up tomorrow so if you see a hot chick in a bright Hot Lava Scion speeding around Charlotte that's her! Tell her to slow down.

Orange Olive Hair Gallery Site is LIVE!

As of Monday September 8th, 2008 http://www.orangeolivenoda.com/ is live. There will be changes made periodically to the site but the overall layout will stay the same. Check it out, I will post the opening date so you can make your appointment.

Christian=Republican?

I hesitate writing this because it opens me up for some, if not a lot of, criticism. Something I have been struggling with for a long time is how many in the Church, especially among evangelicals who automatically identify themselves as Republican no matter what. I also understand that mainline protestant churches generally identify as Democrat. Catholics are a mixed bag. I believe this is something that is very dangerous for both the church and the state. I understand for many people that their identification often centers around the issue of abortion and/or gay marriage. While these issue are important to many, when voting solely on these issue you can purchase a whole litany of other positions that you may not agree with that may or may not be Christian and/or Biblical. A trend I have noticed is that when a person is born again the next stop is changing or renewing their voter registration. I have touched on the hot button issues of abortion and Gay Marriage but what about monetary and fiscal policy, the role of the government in social services, use of the military. Unfortunately in this day in age the Republican party has been see as the party carrying the mantle of the Church and they have exploited it to the Nth degree. I used to be the person that I just described, I believed in the Republican party based on some of my beliefs and those around me within the church. Upon closer examination I realized that the party did not represent a large part of what I believe in. But the thing that drove me away was not any particular issue, which there were, but how much they tried to exploit my belief in God and Jesus to gain my vote. Many of the people who ran on "moral" and "family" values lived lives that did not reflect that, it was just an easy platform to stand on that they never had to deliver on. They may have said they would outlaw abortion and prevent gay marriage to represent thiers beliefs, but I saw no fruit of the spirit coming from within in them, no love, compassion, or fire for justice (not revenge). They were used the support they gained from the hot button issues to do a litany of other things that many of the people who voted for them accepted because, "they reflect my values." I reject that.

Now I am a registered Independent, my voter registration says so, that way I pick the candidate or party that best reflects, as a whole, what I believe in and want to see accomplished, sometimes it is a Republican, sometimes it is a Democrat, sometimes it is neither(by the way I a big advocate of a legitimate third party to fix this problem) . I now judge candidates like I judge pastors. Not by the words that come out of their mouth, although they matter, but by the genuine love that comes from their heart and the actions that it produces in their life and others. Are they about reaching out to more people and helping them or are they about a narrow agenda that serves only a few and alienates the rest.

I NEED MY FIX!!!!!!!!

My name is Mark Guenther and I am addicted to Fantasy Football. I started playing in a league with friends 3 years ago and did so poorly that it became my obsession to redeem myself. I even went so far as to name my team Redemption for the next season, where I went from dead last to second place, losing in the final. Last year while having the second best team as far as overall performance, I was unlucky enough to have the second most points on a given weekend, only to play the guy with the most points that week, multiple times. I was robbed! This year I will hopefully be vindicated and win my first championship. To those considering whether or not to try Fantasy Football. I can only offer this advice, if you want to spend your Sundays and Monday nights glued to your TV, computer or cell phone and have your feeling of self worth determined by whether or not Peyton Manning called a rushing play for a TD rather than a pass, go ahead, try it. If not stay away and preserve your sanity, your marraige and your interest in church on Sundays.

P.S: No matter how much you pray for victory in Fantasy Football it will not be granted. Believe me I've tried. That is why I have now decided that Jesus will draft for me, I am sure that was covered by grace too. Right?