An Entry for the Sake of Entering

Goodness. I’m too busy to have a blog. I haven’t written anything for so long. I think it’s supposed to be a frequent journal. The less I write, the less hits I’ll get on my blog. Anyway, I am headed to the Shepard’s Conference at Grace Community Church this week and I hope to use it as a time to grow spiritually and, hopefully, relax a bit too. God is good and He is sovereign. I pray that I will come back from the conference renewed and ready to continue the battles we are facing with the company. (I’ve changed to “we” because Lisa is in the middle of the company too.) We have been placed in this situation with work because, with God’s strength, we can handle it (Phil 4:13). I believe God has provided me with the opportunity to attend the Shepard’s Conference so that I am better prepared to be used by Him to further His Kingdom and bring Him glory. I hope to have the opportunity, when I return, to live as an example of how Christ lived. I will also share with readers about the conference and what I learned. I hope I return refreshed and renewed, strengthen and sure, humbled and ready to be used by God.

Business as Un-usual

Since I married into a family that owns a large construction company who's President is unable to fully function in his capacity as such, I've become an important part of the daily running of the company. My duties vary from preparing estimates for potential and future work, to driving the sites to evaluate progress. Part of the latter includes taking my father-in-law to the sites and allowing him to see how the project is coming along, what needs to be done, and where we need help (as family members) in continuing to run the company. Now, from what I've written so far, I'm sure you are thinking I'm going to be writing all about work, and you might even be getting tired of reading already. But I need you to hang in there. I need advice. This is serious. As I travel from job site to job sites, and as I communicate with the different superintendents and foremen, I've been noticing a strange look in their eyes, almost a lack of respect. Not just because of my lack of industry "know how" or experience (although that's a huge problem), but beyond that. They would say of me, "He's not a man's man. He's not tough." And then I realized what it is that drives them to think this way...I drive a Volkswagen Golf. A Purple one, no less. I don't have a chance of earning these employees respect with that car. In fact, I broke the front bumper on a site a few weeks back, not because I was careless but because my car is about 3 inches from the ground. I'm driving onto projects that aren't even paved. Here is where your advice comes in....do I buy a Ford F250 or an Expedition? Both have real world practicality for me. The F250 would have lots of truck work to do. And the Expedition would be a great family/friends hauler. I need your help. Please review the information at Ford's website to help me with this decision. Should I go with the F250 or the Expedition? Send me your vote!

Friends Don't Let Friends Blog Blind

Since I'm so new to this world called Blog, I didn't realize it's been going on all around me. I've been blind to the fact that one of my long time friends, Dan Ray, has his own blog and has for two plus years. Ooops. Please check it out. Please? http://portland.draynet.com/ Also, if there are others of you who are in the Blog World...send me your links, I will post them. It will be fun. I will be like Google for all my blogging friends. You'll be able to do a search on my blog for "Friends of James who Blog." Too far? Or cool and just right?

Can the Pop Doc Give You a Stroke?

My father-in-law recently had a stroke and, although it has been trying, we are running his company with continued success. The crazy thing about his stroke is the symptoms. He had none. UC Davis actually did a study on him and they concluded there isn't a known cause. There was a nurse who thought it was connected to a scuba diving trip a week before the stroke. The doctors thought it was possibly trauma to the neck. But, no one really knows at this point. The reason I ask my question of the day, "Can the Pop Doc give you a stroke?" is, according to the UCD doctor running the study, there are 50+ cases a year in the Sacramento area where a stroke is tied to a Chiropractor. That is particularly scary to me since, everyone who knows me, knows I "pop" my neck...a lot. I have not yet done any research (I'm hoping to get some hit about it from blog readers) but it's a genuine concern. Of course, during the process of writing this I did do the mighty "twist of the neck" resulting it "cracking" and "popping" noises, providing temporary relief to my straining neck and upper back. I do want to know a different solution to the problem, if in fact, there is a danger of stroking after an adjustment. (Adjustment is the chiro's way of saying "POP") Here are a couple articles to get us started: The Varsity Online WebMD

Intoduction to the Blog World

Well, I figure if Theo can have a blog, I could try it. Mine will probably be filled with links to cars and trucks that I want to buy since that seems to be one of my main interests but, I will try to be more creative. Welcome to the mind of Jimmy the Gun. BTW, visit Theo's Blog: tt3104.blogspot.com