HEROES

Me and Cort were trying to find a good movie to watch the other night and we found nothing. This is when she suggested that we rent the 1st season of Heroes. I had heard of the show and my buddy Joel said that it was really good, but I tend to have high expectations for Hero shows or movies so I was a bit skeptical. But since there were no other options, we rented it. Now.....I'm hooked. It's not the best show ever, but it's pretty good. I think there is just something about hero shows that get me. I mean who wouldn't want to fly, regenerate, teleport, or be invisible.

Growing up, I know that everyone wished they had a super power or ability. My question is what would yours be? And don't give me the obvious, "I wish I had limitless super-powers times infinity twice," because I already called it. Seriously, what would yours be and why?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days of the year. Ever since I was a kid, the anticipation of Christmas was at its highest on Christmas Eve. Like most everyone else, it's the Christmas season that I enjoy the most, although Christmas day is always fun too. I usually want it to be really cold around Christmas time with a lot of snow and winter weather and then want it to warm up immediately after Christmas. But as it is most years, it's usually fairly warm on Christmas and then it gets really cold in February and March just in time for golf season. Man, it really sounds like I'm bitter about the weather patterns. I think it's just because I experienced very cold and windy golfing conditions on the high school golf team in March and April and I haven't gotten over it yet.

Anyway.............I really do love Christmas Eve and am looking forward to spending it with my wife. It's always special every year and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. This will be the first Christmas morning that I won't have to wake up super early to open presents. Me and Cort get to sleep a little later and enjoy Christmas morning together. I plan to make it the best Christmas ever by simply enjoying every second of it and thanking God for his Blessing on my life!

Merry Christmas to all you bloggees and may the God of your hope so fill you with joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing with hope! Romans 15:13

H-O-G-S

I love the Razorbacks. Following Arkansas football and basketball is one of my favorite things to do. Granted, I feel all the emotion from wins and losses as if I were actually part of the team, but I think that's why I enjoy it so much. It says in the God's Word that where your treasure is, your heart will be also. I think it goes the same for whatever we invest ourself in emotionally. As a Hogs fan, there have been plenty of times when I wish I didn't care so much. But no matter how hard I tried not to care, I just couldn't help it. I love the Hogs and I'm not ashamed to admit it (except when we're utterly humiliated).

I've been so blessed this year with already getting to go to three basketball games. Two of the times, people just gave us tickets!! I love how God loves us so much that He wants to give us the desires of our heart. Not because of anything we did or didn't do, but just because He loves us. Recognizing this makes me love Him more everyday.

I plan on going to more games this year and I am specifically interested in watching the progress of Rotnei Clarke. When Chip Brim spoke at our church and told us what kind of kid Rotnei is and how he (Rotnei) declares he's "anointed to play basketball on a level the world isn't familiar with all for the glory of God," it sparked my interest. I always find it so easy to root for players who truly give the glory to God. I'm thankful that the Hogs have someone like that on their team, because it was going to take an intervention from God to get us back on an elite level!

I Love Winning

So me and my family played Apples to Apples last night, and I was reminded by everyone how they don't like playing games with me. It turns out I'm super-competitive when playing games. I just can't figure out what's wrong with that. I mean, games are meant to be won and someone has to win right. I grew up playing competitive sports, but it seems to have carried over to board games, ping-pong, boggle, paper-rock-scissors, last one to the car is a rotten egg, you know things of that sort. I find that games are the most fun when everyone is trying to win and I come out on top as the winner, champion, the greatest, unstoppable, a position that allows me to say "don't hate me cuz you ain't me."

At church, we're always reminded "if you don't quit, you win." But we should also remember that if you don't ever play, you can't ever win. Especially when you're playing with me! Just kidding, but seriously.

Home Alone Never Disappoints

Last night me and Cortney wrapped Christmas presents and watched Home Alone 2. It has become a nice little tradition for us over the last few years, and something that I really look forward to. I actually do a lot of the wrapping myself believe it or not. It may take me about 10 minutes to do one present but all the sides are creased and folded perfectly. I'm still waiting, however, for someone to say "Landon, I can't accept this gift, it's too wonderfully wrapped to be torn open." But there is hope, and I like my chances this year of hearing those words that will make my 6 wrapped gifts and hour feel all worth it.

Seriously though, how awesome is Home Alone? I mean what's better then watching a guy named Marv getting hit in the head repeatedly with bricks. It makes me laugh every year!! So what do you think about Home Alone??

And yes, those are Superman pajama pants, but I'm just wearing those because my Chuck Norris ones were dirty.

I'm Blessed!!

I can't help but share the good news of what Jesus has done for me. He has been so good to me and family and my church. I'm so thankful that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law so that we don't have to follow the law to be blessed, we just have to be "In Christ" to be blessed. The blessing of Abraham has come on us through Christ Jesus, and we can walk in the blessing without measure. I'm not blessed because I'm healed, I'm healed because I'm blessed. I'm not blessed because I'm rich, I'm rich because I'm blessed!!

I'm so grateful that God loved me so much that he sent Jesus. I'm so amazed when I read His word and see everything that He has done for me. His plan of redemption was so perfect and complete. At Christmastime it always gets said that Jesus is the reason for the season and how we need to stop and think about what Christmas is all about. With manger scenes and the Christmas story (which I both love) and so many other things to think about, let's remember that it was our salvation and redemption being born that night.

Here's a video I found to a song by Casting Crowns called "While You Were Sleeping." It is kind of Christmasy, but it asks the question of "America, will you be sleeping?" It's pretty inspiring and it makes me want to live the way Jesus intended me to live when He died on the cross for me, and to do it all for His glory.

A-town Basketball

It seems that every winter I come to realize how much I miss basketball. I went to The Alma vs. Van Buren game last night and couldn't help but want to go back in time just to play ball. The big crowds, rivalries, making big plays, being part of a team.......there's just something about playing basketball that gets me fired up.

I now understand what it means when people refer to living vicariously through their children. I will try very hard not to do that, but I can't help but believe that seeing them in Alma jersey's balling against Greenwood and Van Buren will bring great joy to my life. Luckily for me, my wife was a baller, so I'm looking forward to my children having the genetic makeup of 3 point shooting, lock-down defending (from Cortney), sometimes dribble the ball off your foot out of bounds skills that she and I once exhibited.

The Hope of Glory

Two posts in one day, is that legal? I'm not up to speed on blogging etiquette, but I'm going to post again anyway.

I love how God reveals things from his Word to you that never would have crossed your mind if He didn't show you.

In Colossians 1:27 it talks about Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christ means the Anointed One, but in John 1 He is also called the Word of God. This means that if you ever want the glory to manifest in your life then you have to be filled with the Word. You see, the only reason for the Word to be inside you is in hope that it will become manifested Word outside you. God wants His glory to be seen by all men, but it is for us who have the Hope of Glory who are to produce fruit so that men will see the glory of God . This is when God receives glory - when His glory manifests in our life!

I feel all Christmasy inside

I love surveys like this, they are so much fun. Here is the Christmas one that has been going around.

1. Do you have a real or artificial tree? Real
2. Do you like eggnog? Absolutely, positively not
3. Favorite Holiday memory? As a teenager..ahem...young child......Waking up one year to my sister looking out the window on Christmas Eve and convincing me that she just saw Rudolph fly away.
4. Favorite Christmas movie of all time? Home Alone 1 and 2
5. What do you have for dinner at Christmas? I think we usually have ham or turkey. Who cares I'm too busy playing with toys by then.
6. Favorite Christmas song? O holy Night and the theme music to home alone
7. Favorite Christmas treat? The smell of a real Christmas tree and and getting to exchange presents with Cortney on Christmas morning. Also, Christmas morning at my mom and dad's house is always (was :( always) special.
8. Do you put up lights on the outside of your house? Uh.....YEAH. Outside lights rock!!! My family goes Christmas light looking on Christmas Eve and I try to pick up new ideas each year. My goal is to eventually have a whole production like Mr. Hodo in Van Buren.

Silver Dollar City

We go to Silver Dollar City every year around Christmas time and the whole park is lit up with millions and millions of lights (not exaggerating) . The tree behind us is gigantic and it changes colors to Christmas music. My goal one day is to have a tree like this in my yard during Christmas time.

It will happen, I will not be denied.

I don't know what it is but there is something about real Christmas trees and Christmas lights that make Christmas feel like Christmas. I wonder how many more times I can say the word Christmas on this post.......

What is this Blogging you speak of?

I have gone and done the unthinkable.........started my own blog without even having Internet access at home. I'm not really sure why I started this blog since I won't always have access to it, but I do know that it could be the sweetest thing ever.

I got hooked on reading blogs when Jake (the blog master) Schlegel started his. I never thought that they could be so interesting and thought provoking. My only hope is that I can come up with enough interesting things to post and random thoughts to keep people reading.

I, Landon Parker, do solemnly swear to post at least a few times a week, attempt to post decently funny randomness, and to also post whatever my wife tells me to. Let the blog fest begin!