changing it up

i am leaving the blog world

not really check it out!

http://web.mac.com/carterclark49417

please change my address!

it is really not June already???

where is time going? i cannot believe that it is summer time already. I am really looking forward to summer and spending time with the Boo.

So, i have a question. When faced with life changing decisions, what do you do? What steps do you take to make the decision?

People will tell me to seek God first. I have no idea what that means. That is the heart of the quesiton. How to seek God out. Is it as "easy" as just sitting in a room and listening for God to speak?

I had the opportunity to help out a friend with a speech he was giving. He spoke to the 2006 graduating class at Grand Haven HS. One of the things he wanted to communicate (and did well) is find yourself in God and then follow Him where he leads. i am excited to what the next few years show. Our kids are being raised with a far deeper understanding of what and who God is.

Anyway, deep rant there. Becca's last day of sixth grade is tomorrow. Her dance recital is tomorrow. cool stuff.

Gotta run.

Reporting from GH,
Carter Lee Clark

been a couple

Hidi ho!

End of the school year stuff going on. Band Concerts; Honors Choir Concerts; Dance recital! yes, the year is coming to a close with a bang. for the 2 or 3 of you that read this i apologize for not being available or returning calls. it has been busy and will not stop yet.

Things are ok at work. Weird vibe right now. I cannot put my finger on it, but it is definitely there. I just feel like i am continually fighting for position. I am not sure what that means. It is a situation where there is a partnership that has been in existence for a while, which is ok. I am cool with that. They are comfortable with the way the work with each other. Therefore it is difficult to break thru that. And one of the partnership is "overly" protective of his position and passive/aggressively protects it. I feel like i can help more in the organization but I am having difficulty figuring out how. There are so few of us at the office. it is hard not to stumble over each other. but still not anything to complain about. With all that said, I still love what i do and who i do it for.

Other than the schedule, Becca is good. we spent most of the holiday weekend catching up on homework. We did make a trip to the Fruitport Old Fashion Days carnival. I really do not like carnivals. they are a hole for which money just gets sucked in and never to return. But Becca had fun.

Only wednesday and i am looking forward to the weekend.

More later
Carter

DaVinci Podcast

go to iTunes podcast directory and look for it. it is hosted by Josh McDowell.

I am downloading it now.

More later.
C

Thoughts....

The Rules of Chocolate

-If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

-Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices & strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

-The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

-Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite, and you'll eat less.

-If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

-If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other?

More World's Thinnest Books

Everything Men Know about Women

Everything Women Know about Men

George Foreman's Big Book of Baby Names

To All the Men I've Loved Before - by Ellen Degeneres

Mike Tyson's Guide to Dating Etiquette

Spotted Owl Recipes - by the EPA

The Amish Phone Directory

I hate not feeling well

Yes, for the last two days i was home with a bug of some sort. Hate that! i normally can work thru most illiness but not this one. Wednesday morning i met our installers at a job site, met with a customer and reviewed the project with installers. I was starting to get a headache on the way back to the office. I made it have way to Zeeland before having to pull off the side of the road. To make the long story short, i stayed home Wed and Thursday.

In between naps, i saw some "must see" daytime television. Ok, talk about brain rot. it is truly amazing how much garbage is on TV. I finally shut it down and started reading the book "Hoot". Becca has been strongly encouraging me to read it so i picked it up. It looks good (between naps).

Mother's day coming up. what are you doing for mom's day?

And what about the hurricane weather we are having? Yikes!

that's all for now.

C

Happy Birthday to me!

yes today - Cinco de Mayo - is my 40th birthday. Wow. i have lived to see 40. Lordy, lordy look who is 40? me.

I spoke to my best girl Becca last night. It was great to hear her voice. She is doing just great and i am really pleased. Grades are up. She is singing in an honor's choir at school. I am just so thankful she is doing the things she is doing!

ASU is really busy. That is the company i work for. Great company. I love what i am doing there. It is great to help create something so vital for ministry to continue. I think i have one of the most awesome bosses around. I really enjoy it!

Watermark is doing great too. I am playing bass on Sunday. That will be great. I am excited about that. I am not excited about the departure of our worship leader and his wife - mike and joni morgan. Now before we go further i just have a problem with important people in my life leaving. And i know this is important for mike to continue in school and follow what God is leading him to do. I still do not like it. I have known Mike and Joni for years. I have had interaction with them on different levels. And it has been good. I will miss joni's laugh and over all awesomeness (if that is a word). And i will miss mike - his leadership, his passion and overall coolness. To mike and joni -- i love you guys and will be thinking of (and missing) you often!

Another couple i think the world of is leaving too. Jason and Judy DeRoche are taking a ministry position at a church in Kansas. (there's no place like home...there's no place like home.) Again, i am excited for them as this will be great for them. And the Heartland Christian Fellowship is blessed to have them on staff. Big shoes here to fill! I have said it before and say it again -- Jason, Judy always in your camp! and there is always a place at the campfire for you two!

So what are the big plans for the 40th? go to work, struggle thru a problem with a customer and then i am headed over to Johnson's for a grill out and a fire. Pretty low key! which is ok with me.

Well, i need to head to bed.

Good night!
C

He is Risen.....

How do you answer that statement? what is your first response?

I had a great weekend. I had a rehearsal on saturday and then hooked up with the Becca. We had a great saturday afternoon. Before that though, i was in the prayer room at the Hub (watermark offices). Watermark had a 24/7 prayer time the week before Easter. I signed up for Sat at 1:00. what an amazing time! taking an hour out for just praying and listening and reading what people have written on the walls. Amazing. I makes me want to do it everyday!

Yesterday was great too. Three Gatherings on Sunday. we had a choir which sounded great. the band and choir were on fire if you as me. After that Becca and i headed home for a small meal. We had a larger meal over to some friends house. PRIME RIB! what more can I say?

well it feels like spring now. I am looking forward to nice weather, thunderstorms, smells and sounds of spring.

Wishing i was golfing,
carter

Thought for the day

After starting a new diet I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favorite bakery.

I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed ...

"Lord, it's up to you, if you want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery.

And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was! God is so Good!"

Happy Birthday, Becca - one day later

well it was a great birthday for the Boo (and Dakota Smith).

We had dinner with the Fishers and the Hilsons. The Furrs and Carys could not make it. but they were missed. it was a good meal and good conversation. And becca enjoyed her gifts.

It is amazing to me that she will be a teenager next year. all the things i have seen and done in the last 12 years. it is truly amazing.

Anyway. big weekend coming up!

Carter

Monday, Monday, Monday

well another week starts. what a long week last friday? yes you heard me. it felt like a whole week in one day. I, and two of my co-workers (my boss included), went to the Kalamazoo area for a site visit and then to northern indiana to correct a problem with a system. The 1st part of the trip was great (except that it rained and it was muddy). Accomplished what we wanted to with the trip.

The 2nd part of the trip was rough. even though we were able to correct the problem -- it seemingly took forever to do. In fact, my boss was really late for a dinner party at his house -- kudos to his wonderful wife (and daughter) for holding the fort down until he arrived.

Great weekend. It was awesome playing on Sunday. I really enjoy that. I have always struggled with the motive for doing things. Let me explain. I used to be more interested in being someone's friend so i could say i was that person's friend. I wanted to be Steve Deur's friend so i could drop his name in conversation. You should see people in awe over that!!! heh heh. I wanted to be Nate Smith and Wally Harrison's friend because that somehow made me cooler (which in reality it did.) But i can honestly say that i have been prayerfully delivered from that. Thank you Jesus. It was that same way with music. I just enjoyed more that i could say i am part of the band. But again, i am glad i am over that. i can honestly say i am enjoying the worship experience more for the "right" reasons. Which is great!

Well, Becca's birthday is tomorrow. That will be fun! big 12! man am i getting old.

Carter

what an "interesting" couple weeks.

Well here is the what is happening....

We had teacher conferences last week. That is always an interesting time. Becca has her mom for some classes. So i sat across the desk from my ex-wife. I am so thankful i have a good relationship with her. Life would be so difficult without that. Becca is doing well in school. Having a little struggle in science but i and her mom are very pleased.

So Becca has been on spring break since last wednesday. and will be on spring break until next monday! i am not sure how that happened -- but 12 days off for spring break -- nice.

Last Friday, i played hookie and becca and i hung out together. I made breakfast -- couple eggs, bacon, and toast -- and we launched into our play day off. We visited the Mongolian Barbeque. Love that place. Food is great. I get to assembly. i am happy. I do not even get up to go prepare anymore. Becca is learning the fine art of spice. That is great. She does not like it but she is not afraid to try it. So, i had a prime rib meal with minced garlic, salt, pepper, soy sauce, a smige of curry, and an egg. it was very good. loved it.

After lunch, we went to visit the butterfly exhibit. that is always cool to see. We took lots of pictures. Becca even had (2) butterflies land on her. Cool. While we were there, we went thru the children's outdoor exhibit. That was fun too. especially since the weather was ok. it was great to be outside. i have serious cabin fever.

more later
C

Bob & Tom

I am not a big bob & tom fan. i was flipping thru the radio stations this morning and heard a news story. last thursday, a man went to a strip club. Now that is not where the story ends. The man took his 4 year old son with him! now that is not bad enough, he left the child in the car and told him that monsters would eat him if he got out of the car.

I am not sure how to react. Outraged is the first thought! I mean really what was the dad thinking?? Wow, what is that? Maybe a child should be left in a car, thinking monsters are going to eat him while his dad gets his jollys in a strip club.

Wow, where are people's heads these days?

Well, what a get weekend we had. I did some spring cleaning. I played at the gathering -- that was fun.

Becca has a big science test today. we spent time studying.

Carter

SAHM

So, the stay at home mom is the newest threat to society???

Over the years, religion in general has taken an awful lot of shots. The philosophy of a moral absolute truth has been beaten pretty bad. The concept of marriage has been skewed & stretched to an almost out-of-control state. Most of these conversations come out of the political left or the feminist movement.

i heard part of the Good morning America interview with the women who made the comment that the stay at home mom is the newest threat to society.

How far will Satan go to destroy the family??

thought for the day

The ox is slow -- but the earth is patient

i am not sure what that means. but it just sounded cool.

i have been preoccupied with some personal things going on for the last few weeks. So i apologize for the delay. Most notibly some friends of mine are dealing with some things - medical things - that just suck out loud. It is just another situation in my life to see God move.

I was talking to one of them this morning. Several cool things came out of the conversation. Day by day. that was the first thought. Not looking ahead -- just day by day. Another was this thought. we do not know how we are going to get thru this situation but we do understand the process. you see this is a couple who has been thru alot: family and friends members dying, financial pressures, etc. But they understand the power of prayer and the God we serve. They understand how God works and His faithfulness. Yeah.

i am confident of this -- the voice sounded down, but the heart and spirit is not beaten!

C to the C

Hollywood

I did not watch the Oscars. I am not in touch with my feminine side to do that. But i did catch up on some articles and listened to talk radio shows the day after. With all the hype, one would think that there was some huge discovery being made. the hype leading up to the Oscars would make you think a new cure for cancer was happening. It is amazing to me how much the hype does not match the actual event.

Why do i bring this up? i am curious about the amount of influence Hollywood has on the general public. Hollywood has a long standing tradition of bring social issues to light. From the racial issues to youth-in-asian to just this year two gay cowboys, Hollywood brings that stuff up for all to see. i did happen to hear George Clooney speak. He said -- something like -- we should be proud of the fact that we are the extreme left on issues.

There were other parts of that speech i cannot remember. But i wonder what was he really saying. i wonder how many people watch what happens in Hollywood and basis their decisions on what they hear.

It is so important for us to engage with people. the influence we have in our own little circle is extremely important. I am not saying we need to march and hang posters that say "God Hates Fags". (that is a whole other thought i will not address right now.) I think a consistent, humble, Christ-like mentality is the key.

later,
C2

DO NOT MURDER

Three words that most of us do not struggle with, right? Go to the Watermark's website or iTunes store and download the teaching from yesterday. And then lets talk. WOW. I will never look at those three words the same way again.

We are in the middle of a series called Life is Waiting. It is a study of the ten commandments. It has been great, challenging and eye opening.

I once worked with a guy who was nicknames "brother loop-hole". He was looking for a loop-hole in everything. I have learned a great deal of good things from him.

So here is the the thought of the day. At the risk of looking for the loop-hole, i ask the question "when is it murder or just sharing ones burdens?" You need to listen to the teaching because what i am about to write is a huge paraphrase and i will not do it justice. The word murder has a much deeper meaning. The fact of the matter is words have a powerful effect of people. The thing that we heard on Sunday is that back biting, calling people names etc. is considered murder.


Matthew 5:21 (from the Message)
21"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, "Do not murder.' 22I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother "idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell "stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.


Wow. how many times in my life have i called someone a name? sarcasticm, anger, just off color -- just trying to be funny??? I am sure i could not tell you how much i have done it in the last month let alone a lifetime. Yesterday's teaching was a difficult one to hear. An area i really need to work on.

I used to work for an "interesting" person/company. Most everyone that worked there would agree. In fact, there was a website created while the company was going out of business. the purpose was for former employees to comment on their experience there. Some of these comments were not good. And it was attended. For the record, i had nothing to do with the site. I was told about it in a blind email. I did read it and thought about making comments.

I have two guys i am close to. I value their option HIGHLY. Some conversations go great and others i leave totally tick off. But it is all good. While i was working for the company that went out of business, i vented ALOT to these guys about things that were going on there and the owner.

I guess to make the blog alot longer than it needs to be -- where is it sharing a burden or "murder"?

I am certain i will be replaying this and praying my way thru.

Thoughts?
Carter

new blogger added.

Hey, my boss and his wife recently had a baby. there names - Tim and Stacey Heneveld. And the new bundle of joy -- Abby Rose.

Stacey started a blog tracking the life of Abby and being a new mom.

Check in out!

Sunday morning..

and all is well.

Sunday mornings are usually very quiet around my place. it is a good time to read and reflect.

i am not sure where i was headed there.

Anyway, have a great Sunday...
Peace

this is a new statement

I was talking to my daughter this weekend. and a subject came up i was a little surprised at. She said, "dad, i have a quesition for you."

I said, "fire away, becca."

She said, "are you becoming a pirate?"

Wow, what kind of question is that? Well, let's review.

1. i have a beard that looks like a pirate.
2. i love talk like a pirate day.
3. i enjoy a Cap'n Morgan and coke drink once in a while.
4. i have a parrot at home. Well, he is a conyour but close enough.
5. i have new houseshoe style ear rings.
6. i have a favorite computer game -- Ages of Empires II. one of my favorite parts of the game is the "sea" battles. they are cool.

Conclusion: yes i am becoming a pirate.