tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48209920361510133082011-08-31T08:48:55.364-04:00...simple musings along the way.Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.comBlogger641100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-19512342830857125882011-02-17T20:24:00.001-05:002011-02-17T20:26:23.876-05:00

Don't look at me like that. You've received them too.Send money now. Insert the sad and implausible tale of a unique situation gone awry. Don't forget the foreign angle to play off the 'we-are-Americans-and-nothing-so-odd-and-unfortunate-like-that-could-ever-happen-in-OUR-society' mindset. The massive breakdown of common sense, financial wherewithal and natural human decency all converge to

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-13797893841473936412010-12-03T20:29:00.002-05:002010-12-03T21:27:28.660-05:00

Don't Miss ChristmasI couldn't help but notice a couple of things today in the normal course of events. Here they are:* did some quick shopping during my lunch break, along with half of Iredell County. As I was strolling out the door, I caught a bit of the song that was playing in the background. "Christ, the Savior is born...Christ, the Savior is born". I stopped for a moment and just

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-29162169852733844822010-12-02T22:17:00.003-05:002010-12-02T22:50:22.378-05:00

Decorating the Tree!Random thoughts about how the Christmas tree gets decorated in these here parts...1 - since our tree is usually a little Charlie Brown-ish, the picture at left is all that I will post. Needless to say, this year that particular ornament got put near the bottom of the tree.2 - you know how sometimes when you are a kid, you say to yourself "I am never going to do that when I

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-3775782938460001812010-07-09T21:44:00.002-04:002010-07-09T22:22:03.006-04:00

It is usually a bit of advice that I give to others. This evening, I had the privilege of it's benefit.Often we fail to take the time to stop and...oh, what's the best word. Evaluate? Consider? Remember? Take stock? Acknowledge? Count your blessings? So, in the midst of 'everything is so (fill in the blank...wrong/crazy/hard/difficult/unfair/depressing/etc)' type of moments, I try to

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-22657803418309850722010-04-18T15:44:00.000-04:002010-04-18T15:45:13.559-04:00

It was the woman you gave me, Lord! So goes the joke that surrounds the events now seven weeks old. And that’s exactly what it is…just a joke. It wasn’t Sarah’s fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. Sometimes things happen. And sometimes when those things happen, a bone gets broken.We were just having fun with our son on the basketball court. In the flash of a moment, legs got tangled and the

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-79707255017181441012009-12-15T20:52:00.002-05:002009-12-15T21:27:02.922-05:00

The name of the game today was waiting.It hit me on the way home from work. A stop sign. A simple right turn from there onto a two-lane highway. It can be a bit of a wait there at times. I was pleased when I came up to the intersection and noted that I was #2 in line. The guy ahead of me was taking a left, which can be a bit trickier for obvious reasons, but this wasn't going to be too bad.

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-26775826775632581492009-12-13T18:45:00.002-05:002009-12-13T19:08:15.086-05:00

I came close to setting the record for the most infrequent blog posts in the history of mankind (or at least the part of mankind pertaining to the posting of web log entries). But here I am and here we go.I've been struck lately with the myriad of ways that we as a family can spend time together. There are productive activities, fun times together, required events that we must tend to, and the

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-70510515657092262542009-09-24T19:27:00.002-04:002009-09-24T21:02:52.504-04:00

Random thoughts that came to my mind as we drove to/from Greenville, SC today:1 - I saw a vehicle with its business name and contact information plastered all over it. Odd thing is that it was called 'Highway 801 Towing'. Isn't that a bit limiting of a business name to have? I'm not sure to which Highway 801 it was referring, but the one near us is not too tremendously well-traveled. If that

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-32688392748968449882009-08-16T15:26:00.002-04:002009-08-16T16:15:41.248-04:00

We don't watch television. When I say "we", I am referring to the collection of Bowers that reside at our little abode in Mooresville, NC. And when I say "don't watch television", it is not a set up and an attention-getting way of really saying that 'we experience it!' or 'we let it watch us' or something cutesie like that. No, it means just that. We don't watch it.There are many reason for

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-43040198437160899402009-07-14T21:54:00.002-04:002009-07-14T22:21:43.276-04:00

Working, I was.Just sitting there at my desk today going over the training agenda that I was planning and formulating. And then I would practice on that which I was going to train. And then again. And again. Before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed. It felt good to get some breathing room in the training formulating portion of my to-do list and agenda for the day. And I appreciated it

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-91547391475333718762009-06-06T20:08:00.002-04:002009-06-06T20:51:00.404-04:00

An insightful and yet somewhat troubling discussion was had around the lunch table this fine day. Sarah was enjoying herself at a bridal shower (congrats to Michelle and Justin!) and the four kids and I were munching away at various goodies. (Yes, my children understand my propensity to answer 'yeah, sure' when asked about including different food items outside the norm...popcorn, canned fruit,

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-15030194903662034662009-05-26T21:48:00.002-04:002009-05-26T22:01:51.814-04:00

I was doing a bit of research today at work. Reading up on the ins-and-outs of the advertising and marketing world. Interesting stuff. One thing that caught my eye was a paragraph or two on 'consumer behavior'. Having just secured an agreement to purchase our next home, I thought it might be insightful to take a closer look. A psychographic method is applied that puts you, the consumer, into

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-42037623305394714762009-05-18T22:47:00.001-04:002009-05-18T22:56:00.080-04:00

I'm not much of an economist, but I found this video clip quite intriguing. It is nearly an hour long, but maybe you will be caught up in it a bit like I was.Food for thought anyway...

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-36976257898984603642009-05-07T21:05:00.003-04:002009-05-07T21:39:40.895-04:00

Good evening, cherished followers! I hope both of you have had a good day.So I see where my Vikings are/were considering adding the oft-retired Brett Favre to their quarterbacking mix. And I further saw that the sports sites that I check on had an article or two (or...) with their thoughts, observations and inside scoops regarding this possibility. So the thought occurred to me...why not ME? I

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-49996740737348096012009-04-26T21:14:00.002-04:002009-04-26T22:06:44.691-04:00

I thought I would just make a list of things that I am thankful for. In no particular order...1. Sarah - she simply amazes me. And she is God's perfect gift for me.2. maturity - as displayed by my eleven-year old son as he interacts with others and make decisions. You are learning well, Jace, even when it's not always pleasant to do so.3. ingenuity - as displayed by my girls (ages nine and six

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-66866282636632759792009-04-14T21:42:00.003-04:002009-04-14T22:10:45.655-04:00

In order to pursue a new job opportunity that has come my way (now doing some recruiting...if you know anybody looking for a change in work scenery - or just SOME work scenery, go here for job info!, I have jumped into the social networking fray a bit. Facebook (Bower Family) we've done for a while. LinkedIn (Larry Bower) is gaining some momentum. And now Twitter (LarryBower). I have

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-90265903208006365672009-04-08T21:11:00.002-04:002009-04-08T21:53:43.385-04:00

OK, so I'm reading through the book of 1 Samuel now during my mornings. Now, I like history as much as the next guy, but I must admit that it can sometimes be a challenge to to be reading scripture lately and expect something, um, spiritually significant and relevant. I can be in awe of Hannah, Samuel and the God they serve. I can learn lessons of what NOT to do from those pesky Philistines

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-54223715962500542472009-03-05T19:30:00.002-05:002009-03-05T19:51:15.717-05:00

Yes, I am / we are Facebookers. Join us if you'd like (we're under 'Bower Family' in the Charlotte, NC network). One of the funny things about FB that I've seen is the groups that are available for one to join. Every time we get a new friend, I like to check out their profile for a few keys things. I marvel sometimes at the number of groups I have seen and how specific they are to a certain '

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-48404733123460417002009-02-22T15:53:00.002-05:002009-02-22T19:23:38.650-05:00

I read one of those somewhat familiar passages in the Bible the other day. I've heard it, read it, pondered it all before. Or so I thought. There's always more, isn't there? Mark 12:13-17 is what I read and I'm still left with a question or two surrounding it. Join me in seeking the best answers to them, won't you?The setting has the Pharisees and other religious leaders trying to trick

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-77592055446697186512009-01-24T20:20:00.002-05:002009-01-24T21:09:19.740-05:00

I finally posted again. Random thoughts that I've had lately:1. Forty-some years ago, our nation was struggling with civil rights issues. Deep-rooted sin was in the process of being exposed and small steps of progress were experienced. We have now elected our first African American president as a nation. What a moving thought and reality! I can't help but think what the next half century or

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-69619979851687891102008-12-02T21:29:00.002-05:002008-12-02T21:34:57.474-05:00

...if you enjoy soccer to any degree and currently have any liquid in your mouth. I'm just sayin'...And, no, I will not mention how many of these things I have done in my 'career'.Enjoy!

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-87980504427838193132008-10-27T19:50:00.003-04:002008-10-27T20:05:40.674-04:00

Yesterday was a beautiful Carolina Sunday. Among the various activities that the day involved was a sunny afternoon with a lawn chair and some reading material. The fact that it was all in full view of the kids enjoying their bike-riding was an added bonus. I chose to peruse a recent edition of the "Answers" magazine from the folks at the Answers in Genesis ministry. I happened upon an

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-37789692861411461902008-10-12T21:58:00.005-04:002009-01-24T21:49:22.410-05:00

I try to live a simple life. I really do. In fact, I can be pretty much a simpleton at times. Not much fuss to me and nothing too fancy. And it also doesn't take much to confuse me either. But this is getting to be a little too much.I guess if you lead a simple life, many decisions are already made for you. What some call lack of initiative, others trumpet as efficiency. And we try to be

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-9893786416253856552008-10-04T10:21:00.003-04:002008-10-04T10:44:38.154-04:00

Not that there are many of you out there to notice or anything...

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-36724461748077084212008-09-27T07:16:00.002-04:002008-09-27T07:24:28.675-04:00

Today is my lovely wife's birthday. Along with the festivities of the day, I wanted to send her this simple yet heart-felt gift from me. Sarah, the following are among the many reasons why I joyfully rise and bless you (Proverbs 31:28):• I love you with an increasing love – I love you more than I ever have before. And before the new day dawns, somehow that love will grow even more.• You are my

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-79059205683896097792008-09-11T22:03:00.000-04:002008-09-11T22:04:00.651-04:00

It works for spouses too.

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-5967374781204556452008-09-11T22:00:00.001-04:002008-09-11T22:03:25.719-04:00

I like foolproof things. No chance of failing. No doubt about their success. If you are like me regarding that, and are a parent, then read on.Let’s face it. People, even our own flesh and blood…even the cute and cuddly little kind, don’t always do what we want them to do. Sometimes that is a reflection of our own sin and misplaced desires. And sometimes it points to theirs. But all human

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-81231839409759608582008-08-26T20:37:00.002-04:002008-08-26T21:44:10.221-04:00

Well, I've been caught. I go posting about a topic that I'm still drawing conclusions on and somebody out there asks some great questions to keep me thinking. Thank you for that, C. Let's see what comes from tonight's version of my thinking/typing exercise.Thought #1 (regarding the biblical basis for family identity) - First and foremost, our identity as believers is in Jesus Christ. It's not

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-83988734081516738082008-08-11T21:26:00.002-04:002008-08-11T21:30:25.043-04:00

If you were to receive an email from my home email, you would be introduced to it. When you visit my Facebook page, you would also experience it. I trust that if you were to meet me in the normal activities of a normal day, you would normally come across it before too long. These are not accidents or oversights. I have, in fact, chosen to surround myself with examples that point to family

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-80006045953368547202008-08-05T21:23:00.002-04:002008-08-05T21:28:25.832-04:00

Have you noticed the earth not quite spinning on its axis correctly lately? Well, fear not, a solution is soon coming. I hereby commit to start my poor blogging habits again by the end of the week. We'll see how much defining of "end of week" we'll have to do. But I'm getting the itch and hope to get some of the thoughts floating around in my head out and onto the blog soon. Don't worry, you

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-39273682860461997282008-05-17T22:11:00.003-04:002008-05-17T23:21:33.710-04:00

I was reminded twice this evening of the wonder and joy that living out the Christian faith in a local community of believers brings. A song waltzed through my mind that noted the impact that churches from our past have had in our lives as we long to re-live the fond memories. And then as we prayed this evening, my son captured those thoughts as he reminded us that what we would be experiencing

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-19282342012108708772008-05-07T22:00:00.003-04:002008-05-07T22:34:04.606-04:00

Ahhh, the joyful experiences with a newborn in the house! Each day seems as if it just stands still at times when you are face to face with your seven pound child knowing both the great responsibility and the incredible happiness that they represent. Some moments are truly inspiring while others tend to the difficult side. Tonight provided both (though you may question my definition of

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-22698237208803234212008-05-05T22:27:00.002-04:002008-05-05T22:34:12.442-04:00

For those who may not have seen our little 'William' site yet, you can go here

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-84146250314311080082008-04-28T13:56:00.002-04:002008-12-10T05:55:49.734-05:00

I realize that I have broken the first law of blogging. I have not used this blog to communicate all that has transpired in a timely fashion. Yeah, well, I apologize. Anyway, here you go...William Harold Bower was born on Friday, April 25 at 1:39 PM. He weighed 7 lbs., 4 oz. and 21 inches long. All involved are doing great, though I am a little tired.

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-35989200171235850382008-04-21T21:06:00.002-04:002008-04-21T21:14:36.182-04:00

The newest member of the Bower clan has begun his/her descent. Contractions have been happening throughout the day and are starting to come on a fairly consistent, and frequent, basis. Nothing too 'strong' yet (EASY for me to type!!) so we're going to try and get a decent night's sleep and see what the new day brings.Praying for God's grace through the process...

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-25230542181855566342008-04-15T21:03:00.003-04:002008-04-15T21:23:59.218-04:00

A slight detour this week from the MEP postings. I can already tell that it may need to transition to entries that depict a more detailed listing of what God is teaching us versus simply reviewing texts and initial thoughts. Suffice it to say, God is working tremendously in our family as well as others in our fledgling church. It is both humbling and exciting to see.But these days are

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-17154028613145642742008-04-07T22:34:00.003-04:002008-04-07T23:13:39.070-04:00

April 6 @ Grace Community Church (Brent Detwiler)Text: Ephesians 2:1-10Well, it was certainly a memorable start. Grace Community Church of Mooresville/Kannapolis/Davidson/Iredell/Mecklenburg/Rowan met for the first time yesterday. Amidst the Sunday School check-in at the stable, the well-used but sufficient sound system, and the call to 'bring your own chairs' since the order shipment didn't

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-27714921758747428282008-03-31T23:11:00.002-04:002008-03-31T23:28:17.624-04:00

March 30 @ CWCC ('Send Off' Sunday)Texts: Matthew 16:18, Galatians 6:14, Ephesians 3:1-13Just a short note tonight as it's getting a bit late (for me anyway). Yesterday was a unique celebration at our church. It was 'Send Off' Sunday for the new church plant team of about 160 people. Next week will be week #1 of Grace Community Church in Mooresville, NC (or somewhere in the near vicinity for

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-359654847393309492008-03-25T21:38:00.002-04:002008-03-25T21:55:02.677-04:00

(Tuesday edition...sorry about that. I was feeling a bit under the weather last night and just 'hit the hay' early.)March 23 @ CWCC (Joe Lechner)Text: John 20:24-29Easter Sunday morning. What more can be said? In many ways, it is the height of the calendar year for the Christian. The resurrection account never fails to astound me and move me deeply. So many facets, so many interesting

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-60831373831455714132008-03-18T22:28:00.003-04:002008-03-25T10:11:36.483-04:00

Time is ticking down on our pregnancy. We just passed the 36-week mark and all the signs are pointing to something happening in the coming weeks. We are excited and thrilled!But we are having quite the time coming up with just the right name for this child (won't know if we're talking boy or girl until the arrival...just like we like it). So join in the fun!Here's our (mostly MY) theory on

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-80526153660599681752008-03-17T22:49:00.004-04:002008-03-25T10:12:14.215-04:00

March 16 @ Crossway Community Church (Mickey Connolly)Text: Ephesians 4:11-16One of the many things that God has faithfully growing in me is a love and appreciation for the local church. As I think of the times over the years that I have experienced tremendous growth, they have always been tied in with significant circumstances and opportunities to hear and apply God's word in the context of our

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-39303396206385879412008-03-10T22:01:00.003-04:002008-03-10T22:37:10.328-04:00

I'm trying a new spin on the 'Monday Morning Quarterback' routine, with some necessary adjustments. Instead of second-guessing and critiquing my favorite football team after their game on a Sunday, I will be posting thoughts and insights that I received from the previous day's message at church. And it will not be critical in nature. I trust that these men have much more helpful and

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-8921452202568418392008-02-25T21:05:00.003-05:002008-02-25T21:25:11.852-05:00

Tonight, our family had a 'creativity night'. After dinner, we read a book that the kids had brought back from the library, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I decided that we would all engage our minds by creating SOMETHING that would portray the theme of the book, that giving is a form of love. Here are the results (in no particular order):Priscilla - The Star Story (eight years old, ten

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-26813428016630287762008-01-24T21:15:00.001-05:002008-01-24T21:51:33.751-05:00

As I have been driving around the neighborhood lately, I have noticed that there are a number of U.S. flag owners who need to address proper flag etiquette. While we can certainly appreciate the heroic sacrifice of many of our nation's servants over the years who have bravely carried flags that looked in rough shape through many military confrontations, a worn flag should be a replaced flag. We

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-25460612528694478022007-12-25T22:09:00.000-05:002007-12-25T22:16:03.309-05:00

We are becoming greener by the minute. "How", you ask? By sending you here instead of sending cards all across the country (and world). Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-78397532214842228672007-12-21T19:13:00.000-05:002007-12-21T19:16:00.293-05:00

We have been a little lacking of rain here in the Carolinas for some time now. It's not much, but we have at least been a little wet lately. Enough to remind us what rain is, anyway. Well, today when I got to work, I actually had to navigate a puddle or two in the parking lot. My shoes were wet! Praise God!

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-91700125297925020092007-12-17T19:34:00.000-05:002007-12-17T19:55:24.190-05:00

Sorry it's been a while. No reasons, just excuses.Every year at this time, a song strikes me as capturing all that Christmas is to me. This year, it is the following:Certain elements of Christmas allow us to focus on things that we normally wouldn't otherwise. Sleigh rides, your favorite Christmas carol, candy canes, and seasonal traditions might be among them. And tucked away in the greatest

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-34721681600732397812007-10-08T20:51:00.000-04:002007-10-08T21:18:51.146-04:00

With slightly more manageable temperatures during the recent Carolina mornings, I have taken up the habit of taking a good walk when I first wake up. I make my way through the neighborhood with an iPod full of great worship music and inspiring messages, a hopefully healthier set of veins and arteries, and a sense of befuddlement as to why I see school buses driving around at 5:30 AM. And then

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-77542324760601364792007-09-24T21:06:00.000-04:002007-09-24T21:32:38.390-04:00

So when exactly does one seek forgiveness? When you 'get caught'? When somebody is noticeably hurt or affected? When you are told to? While all of these are correct, true forgiveness certainly goes far beyond.When we tell our children about being obedient, we stress the three-fold definition of that characteristic that we have held for years. True obedience is when something is done (or in

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-26657669993887061992007-09-23T21:42:00.000-04:002007-09-23T21:57:05.505-04:00

A second thought regarding forgiveness comes from my seven year old daughter. She captures the simplicity of the matter that we so often overlook. She mentioned at our family discussion of the matter, "Well, when it comes to forgiveness, YOU have to be the one to ask for it." That's exactly right, YOU have to do it. It can't come from another. You can not ask for it on my behalf. Nor can I

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-25271366054122438992007-09-20T21:35:00.000-04:002007-12-25T22:09:07.411-05:00

In an effort to drive me to this blog more frequently to allow for more posting and to help create the habit I seek of putting thoughts down in writing, I am embarking tonight on a Pilgrim Thoughts first. It's word study time!Recently I experienced again the wonderful God-given and commanded practice of confessing sin. I rationalized to myself that I had confessed it to God and that was

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-31023127147931654122007-09-11T19:49:00.000-04:002007-09-11T19:53:53.390-04:00

For those of you who prefer to find out the latest and greatest from the Bower household via this blog (of which I am pretty sure there are none of you), behold the following:WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!! Yes, God is blessing us with another child...number four is currently growing and is about seven weeks old. Let the fun begin!We are delighted by God's abundant goodness to us. Praise His

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-48844081677868208382007-09-03T09:33:00.000-04:002007-09-03T10:05:46.794-04:00

Startled awake at 2:30 AM with my seven-year old daughter dancing over me with that emergency look telling me that we needed to get to a bathroom VERY quickly, my response was one not quite fit for the Father's Hall of Fame. After verifying the degree of need in the circumstance, which didn't take long at all, I frumped and grumped my way to my glasses, keys, and unzipped the door to our tent

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-28117077788620083182007-08-29T21:01:00.000-04:002007-08-29T21:48:07.601-04:00

Today, I marveled. Many times. Some quickly. Some included lingering. I was led to wonder, admire, and be astonished by the following:1. It started with my morning reading of Scripture. Hebrews 6:18 focused in on the truth that it is impossible for God to lie. It beautifully portrays us as fleeing for refuge and ,further, our result is 'strong encouragement' and having 'hope set before us'

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-17273352714858121712007-08-08T20:48:00.000-04:002007-08-08T21:43:13.979-04:00

I'm venturing into new territory on this one. While I have dutifully and joyfully expressed the gift of freedom granted to me by so many over the years by voting at election time, I have never gone too public with my political views. I am not registered with either major party and have voted over the years for what some might consider a wide spectrum of candidates. Of course, others would say

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-53637264302089481082007-07-21T21:09:00.000-04:002007-07-21T21:36:10.409-04:00

Well, we're at it again. The desire to move forward in areas that we desire to grow in (and let's be honest, we've got plenty of room to grow!) has led us to a couple of new ventures. One is Squidoo and the other is a 30-day challenge.Squidoo has one of its newest landing pages with this one . It is one small step for internet use, one giant leap for Bower-kind. Take a visit, buy stuff you

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-13310069937329741852007-06-03T21:59:00.000-04:002008-12-10T05:55:50.235-05:00

Recently I had another 'truth of scripture' lesson brought to me front and center. A few peeks around my humble surroundings and some familiar texts coming to mind led me to the somewhat harsh understanding of what God in His mercy reminds us of before our begrudging acceptance of His word on that final day. The fifteenth chapter of John and the thirty-seventh Psalm served me to recognize how

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-36646515704569994712007-05-06T22:26:00.000-04:002007-05-06T22:24:23.048-04:00

There's nothing like a good power tool to teach a man a lesson. And this weekend, I learned one. I had borrowed my father's power washer to clean our deck in preparation for a re-staining project. It started right up, I got to the back-aching task of running it for hours on end, and God was faithful to point to His truth. His grace-filled truth.The idea of God cleaning us is a common one in

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-70815339456490694552007-05-03T21:52:00.000-04:002007-05-03T21:54:18.995-04:00

In this day and age, what I am about to share is really no big deal whatsoever. Especially for many of you here in the blogosphere. But for my family and I, technology newbies that we are, tonight is a momentous event. Allow me to briefly paint a picture.I have worked on a computer with my line of work for all of my nearly fifteen years with my current employer. It started with some '

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-69195341282943628722007-04-30T22:29:00.000-04:002007-05-01T21:05:33.965-04:00

Often truth grips us through song. It lingers for days on end until we must confront the reality of it and watch God do His work in our hearts to allow us to marvel at His glory all the more. Recently this happened to me while singing a song both at our worship service on a Sunday morning and during my commute later that week via the CD to which I was listening.One word in particular grabbed my

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-2746288293112498092007-04-28T20:40:00.000-04:002007-04-28T21:31:55.372-04:00

Well, if one is going to budget and save and the like, it seems that at some point in time, one should learn to make some money. I'd like to offer the suggestion of 'flipping' (that's what we industry types call it, anyway). Simply put, flipping is buying low and selling high. Easy concept with varying degrees of difficulty. Maybe I'm especially inspired today after having experienced a 67%

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-38730862639872863002007-04-25T22:05:00.000-04:002007-04-25T22:14:48.802-04:00

Thanks to Tim Challies, I came across this humorous look at a little something that plagues our society. Sadly, it even has gained a stronghold in our churches and among those who really are trying their best to obey Romans 12:2. So, what can we do about it? I think it’s beneficial for us to spend some time over the coming days trying to help each other along on the path to God-honoring

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-31704408766783790232007-04-23T20:51:00.000-04:002007-04-23T17:49:33.827-04:00

I was sure that I was going to have the chills at some point. When I saw the length of those fingernails, and then realized that they would soon be touching me, I cringed. As our encounter went on, however, other characteristics came to the forefront. This is what happened when I went to the local haircut shop for a quick ‘#2-on-the-sides-and-back-and-get-me-my-money’s-worth-on-the-top’. She

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820992036151013308.post-40958064002786336622007-04-19T21:38:00.000-04:002007-04-19T21:48:34.601-04:00

My kids. My life. My memories. Share yours.1. “Papas don’t fall off.” - my younger daughter as she was swinging me as I lay on the hammock. Funny thing is, she never calls me ‘papa’, always ‘daddy’.2. My younger daughter has words that we get a kick out of her saying. One of them is ‘things’ which comes out like ‘sins’. Examples: “Mommy and Daddy have their ‘sins’ in their bedroom”…”Daddy

Bower Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12442842756679764740noreply@blogger.com2