Crown Point at Sunset

Crown Point at Sunset, originally uploaded by Aftershock76.

Annie and I rode up to Crown Point on the bike to watch the sunset. Unfortunately we missed the actual sunset that evening. The view was still nothing less than amazing, the wind was ferocious, and the company was grand. Overall - I'd consider the evening a blazing success!

Dad turns 57

To celebrate Dad's 57th birthday (Oct 21), we all headed out to eat. Up in the Portland area is a restaurant that our family has discovered as one of our new favorties: The Macaroni Grill. I, of course, invited Annie along for dinner. However, mom, much to everyones delight, extended the invite Aunt Linda and Uncle Randy, and Mr. Reay and family. We had a great time at dinner with lots of conversation. In fact, I believe we closed down the store! We arrived shortly 6:30 and stayed until after 10PM. 

Family & Friends Feeding Faces

Annie

With

Exciting

Steve

On a

Majestic

Evening

This is what I have to look forward to...

Lovely Ladies Laughing

Of course - Annie and I, being the late night owls we are, decided to head down to what we thought was a 24 hours Starbucks in downtown Portland. Unfortunately we were wrong and they closed up at 11PM. So, we took the scenic route back to TCBY where her car was and enjoyed some very good conversation.

Apple Spice & Hot Chocolate on a chilly fall evening

Climbing Marys Peak - Great Times, Great People, Great View

Friends with a View, originally uploaded by Aftershock76.

Melinda, Annie & I went up to Marys Peak this weekend and walked up to the top. It was gorgeous up there. If you've never had the chance to go to Marys Peak, you really should. It's the highest peak in the Oregon coastal range, and from the top, on a clear day, you can see 50 miles to the ocean!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marys_Peak

We had a great time! You can see some more pictures on my flickr site.

Clowning Around...

As many of you may or may not know.. there have been some new developments in my life.. some good, some not so much.. however one thing remains true... Laughter is the best medicine! Thanks to Ellen & Annie for making Clown Night such a hit! Enjoy the pictures...

Annie gets her makeup

Steve gets his makeup...

Turn that frown upside down!

Painted and Real smiles

Jolly ol' time!

Having a good ol' time

Jey goes Unibrow!

Cousin "It" joins the party!

What are you doing this Halloween?

A few days back I was chatting with my sister-in-law about Halloween and it's pagan origins. I was wondering if it should be something that, as Christians, we take a stance of non-participation on. She then forwarded me an article which had some intersting information about the pagan origins, along with the attempt to Christianze the celebration by moving All Hallows Eve to the same date. I still wasn't sure what I thought about all that and then I found another article. There is an article about Halloween over at Grace To You which I really enjoyed: Christians and Halloween.

Ultimately there are several ways in which we as Christians can approach the upcoming American secular holidy of Halloween. Which will you choose?

Fireproof - Review

Have you had a chance to see the movie Fireproof? A group of us went and saw it and we all really enjoyed it. I don't think there were very  many dry eyes in the theater at the end. I highly reccomend the movie, it was heartwarming and had a great message. A friend of mine, Miss K, also went and saw the movie and had some great things to say about it:

Thoughts on the new movie, “Fireproof”

-Acting was good – pretty convincing

-Plot and storyline, well-written

-Clear presentation of the Gospel

-Tackled real issues from a Biblical perspective: sexual sin via the internet, marital infidelity, how to relate with/to imperfect spouses, friends, parents, etc. 

- *Go see it.*

Why can’t sweet, inoffensive, movies like this come out more often? Clean, family-friendly films and tv shows make the biggest bucks, after all! But Hollywood is controlled by unrepentant sinners, who prefer to spend big money on dirty, violent, offensive (and really, really stupid) films and shows. 

Is there any hope? Yes: Jesus Christ. Let's pray for a revival in Hollywood. The Spirit can do an amazing work there – anywhere!

Hollywood has a dangerously strong influence on Christians in the US. You and me: our generation is the one that Hollywood targets. Let’s make a moral stand against these Hollywood hallmarks: gratuitous violence, mocking marriage, bold-faced profanity, infidelity and fornication, etc. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

If you haven't had a chance to see the movie yet then there is still an opportunity to go with a group. O-San is trying to organize a group to go sometime in the next couple weeks. If you're not sure how to get in touch with O-San then you can email me at:

stevesblog@emailmorris.com

Hello Japan!

I was going thru some of the pictures on dad's computer today and came across some photos from the Huggins visit here. I wish I had been around for their visit! I believe they're currently on the bike trip right now? I hope and pray all is going well for them! You are dearly missed here and I look forward to your next visit!