Paul Asay

In my 59 years on earth I have heard, and seen many forms of hate.  That considered, I don’t know of any that top the massacre at the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church.  The cold blooded massacre of women and children was clearly planned as the gunman fired 15 magazines of bullets regardless of whom he was shooting at.  It’s hard to even carry that much ammunition. While you might be tempted to think this type of hate is something new, it’s clearly not.  Recently I studied the Reformation considering it’s the 500 th anniversary of the event.  If you look at what happened just afterward, hundreds of thousands of people were killed over relatively small differences in beliefs in how to worship correctly within the church.  Did they not read Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice”?  Did they not consider the most peaceful words ever spoken were directly from Jesus from t...

Dougy and Lori bought a little goat All black and cute they set Lori's heart afloat From the first they were consumed with its charm What could this little goat possibly harm He will be no trouble just living in the barn What fun he would be on a Christmas Tree Farm Little did they know how much Rudy would grow They thought he would be small but soon he would show The thought of eating lit Rudy’s eyes aglow That little Rudy starting off so lean Soon he got to work eating his plate clean While Rudy was never mean, he did like eating greens Just before Christmas they woke with a fright Dougy saw Rudy eating Christmas trees at night What if Rudy did eat all to his delight No Christmas trees on the farm what a sight All his customers would leave and take flight Like A Christmas Tree farm hit with the blight Dougy got up and ran out of bed So upset he almost lost his head Little Rudy ate my trees what a dread Yet all the Christmas trees...

Yesterday I rode mountain bikes with Nick, Scott and Clayton at Griffen Bike Park.  From past history I know the safest place on a twisty tight trail is right in the middle.  If you get too far on one side or the other trouble follows.  Having spent plenty of time picking myself up off the dirt I know the hard way.   For about a month now I've spent about 15 minutes each morning reading, thinking about, and praying the Proverb of the day, and today was no exception.  Proverbs 5:21 says "For your ways are in full view  of the  Lord  and he examines  all your paths."  Like mountain biking, it's safest to stay right in the middle of Gods path.  However, even there you will find problems.  Never the less, it is the only place to be. So even while trying to stay in the middle of the trail last night I hit a big root just wrong and tasted dirt yet again.  Of course Scott had his GoPro on and recorded me picking myself off th...

Several weeks ago I took the driving portion of the test for a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License).  I needed one to drive the church 25 passenger bus up to Canada for a camp we were attending.  Passed the written test no problem, and had to take the last part which is a pre-inspection test and the driving test itself. The night before the test I had a rather vivid nightmare.  In the dream I had just come from taking the test and had failed.  I was particularly frustrated and needed to pass this test.  Just then a black bus pulled up and opened the back/side door to the bus.  A guy inside said if you need a CDL come with us, we will get you one.  I got on the bus despite the dark nature of the beast and those on board.  It was late at night, and sort of dark glow came from the interior.  Several men and women were aboard the bus.  One particular woman talked to me, and I asked her where she was from.  She said Memphis.  I ...

Here is my pick of the top 12  14 most beautiful cars.  One of them I own (my brother in-law Gary owned it first).  As you can imagine, it is the least expensive of the list, but I'm no less thankful. While it may seem a bit  a lot materialistic, much can be said for creating something both beautiful, and an engineering marvel.  Even if money were no object I would not be a collector of these.  I think one is plenty.  People are always more important than things, but people can also develop some pretty cool stuff. In alphabetical order with images below: Acura NSX Chevrolet Corvette Dodge Viper GTS Ferrari Dino 246 GT Ford GT 40 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Jaguar XKE Koenigsegg Regera Lamborghini Miura Lamborghini Huracan LP McLaren 720S Mercedes AMG GT Porsche 918  Saturn Sky Redline What say you?

Had the opportunity to spend the best part of last week with a group from ISU Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in Sequoia National Park in California.  The 10 of us had a great week just taking in the mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and sunshine. To earn our keep we had to do some slave labor in the nursery, repairing fish nets, and cleaning houses, but that was all for a good cause.  In-between time we hiked all over the park.   Every trip I've been on with ASB has been really rewarding. This one was no different, and probably the closest group to date.  Working with a group of service minded students and chaperones makes for good times.   On our one evening going out to eat we visited The Habit in Visalia about 50 miles away.  We got some interesting looks from the regular customers when we all showed up in matching t-shirts from Indiana State U.  Questions were like, are you really from Indiana, and what are you doing here? Kind of fun, a...

Quick Things I Learned Teaching on Heaven and Hell 1.        Teaching on Heaven is infinitely more popular than teaching on Hell 2.        Like it or not, the bible clearly teaches you are going to one or the other: Matthew 25:31-46 3.        Most people believe they are going to Heaven, but Jesus says otherwise           Matthew 7:13-14 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." This is in keeping with St. Faustina’s vision:  "...I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end without realizing it. And at the end of the road t...

Spent 4 days in Panama City Beach in early January, and was pleasantly surprised.  My first trip to the panhandle of Florida as we normally go further south.  We visited a couple of days with Sherrie's parents, and then spent 2 days at the Holiday Inn Resort Hotel.  The view from hotel balcony gives one the impression of Hawaii.  Very picturesque place, and one I would visit again for sure.   While January is certainly their off season it was a very quite time to visit.  The prices of the hotel was also very reasonable.   Lots of shops, restaurants, movie theater and a variety of things to do.   I'm sure during Spring Beak I wouldn't dare visit, but most times of the year this would be a fun place to vacation. In the evening the hotel had a pool-side movie playing on a big screen they pull up as soon as it gets dark.  Even had a decent view of it from the balcony.  Waking up and sipping coffee on the balcony overlooking the oc...