NicWilliams.net

I LOVE GIRAFFES!!!

2010-01-08T10:57:00.003-05:00

Great post on the irreducible complexity of creation.
exerpt... "The giraffe, like all of God’s creatures, are irreducibly complex; a closer examination reveal that these animals could not have been formed by accident or evolved even over a short period of time, their existence shows that there must have been a single creative act that brought them into existence." Creation Tidbits - The Giraffe

Diving the Sheridan

2009-11-28T20:54:00.002-05:00

Video of Lory and I diving the Sheridan with Tanks-A-Lot Dive Charters out of Clearwater, FL. http://www.tanksalotdivecharter.com

6.5 Mile Ride

2009-09-03T17:25:00.000-05:00

6.5 Mile Ride

2009-09-03T09:22:00.001-05:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

Shared via AddThis

Scripture Tagger

2009-08-08T19:56:00.001-05:00

Just added a neat feature to the html of this site. When ever I type a scripture reference, the site will now automatically link to the actual scripture and make the scripture reference a roll over link so you can see the actual passage in a pop-up style window. It is the simple things in life that I like. :)

Jer. 29:11

Brenden wipes out

2009-08-01T19:50:00.002-05:00

West Palm Beach Dive June 2009

2009-06-22T22:29:00.002-05:00

Check out the video from our scuba trip this past weekend.

Honesty

2009-06-06T14:09:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you just have to be honest...

see more Fail Blog

Sometimes you do feel like this...

2009-06-06T14:03:00.001-05:00

see more Fail Blog
Found on Gerald's blog...Thought I could relate...

Todays Bike Ride

2009-06-01T10:16:00.005-05:00

Well over the past year and a half I have been on a roller coaster fitness program. I have found that what works best for me is variety. I may enjoy running for a few months and then get bored. P90x was phenomenal but right now I am taking a slight break from it. Would LOVE to swim but do not have access to a pool. So a few weeks ago I tried to think of something I haven't done in a while. That's when I dusted off the old Mt. bike. Pumped up the tires and then thought about it for a while. Actually I probably thought about it for two or three weeks. :)

Saturday I jumped on it and had a great ride. Yesterday I just never got around to it even though I wanted to ride. This morning I woke up and had NO desire to ride but decided I needed to do something productive this morning. So I jumped on the bike and had a fairly good ride. We are fortunate to live in an area with a great circle that makes a 5 mile ride fairly simple. So that's what I did this morning. Below you will see some of the images of my ride that are captured through mixing my GPS watch with google earth. If you have not read some of my other post, I LOVE my Garmin Forerunner 305. It has been one of the greatest tools in keeping me interested in fitness and challenging myself.

Google Earth Maps

Garmin Training Center screen shot

Cameras for Sale

2009-05-27T18:41:00.001-05:00

Blogging break...

2009-05-17T20:05:00.002-05:00

Been a while since I have written anything. I actually have a lot to say but just can't seem to get myself to sit down and write any of it. A lot is going on right now and I am trying to make the most out of some down time. I will try and sit down soon and write some more...til then...here is a great word from the pastor of the church I attended when I was in college.

"Sometimes You Have to Work for it...
My wife loves bird watching. Many years ago she began hanging bird feeders from the limbs of a few really large trees in our backyard. Now we attract yellow finches, red birds, blue jays, humming birds, wood-peckers, and many other varieties daily. The feeders hang at the same level as our living room window, so it's perfect!

Every morning Debbie watches her feathered friends through the window, while sipping a cup of coffee and spending time alone with God. It has become as big a part of her daily quiet time as reading the Bible, praying, and writing in her journal. For Debbie, this is a pleasant and peaceful way to connect with God.

Unfortunately, things are not always peaceful at the bird feeders. You see, bird seed doesn't only attract hungry birds, it lures in many starving squirrels as well. When I say "many", I'm really not kidding. We're not talking one or two squirrels. In fact, I think a memo goes out to every squirrel in the forest each week, reminding them of the morning buffet that takes place at our house. It's not that the squirrels themselves are a problem, it's just that when they're monopolizing the feeders, the birds get completely left out.

We've done almost everything to get rid of them but nothing works. We've bought every kind of "squirrel proof" feeder there is, only to find that the real solution is that there is no solution. One feeder had a weight limit on its ledge so that the door would close if anything heavier than a bird was perched on it. It actually worked for a while until the squirrels discovered their hidden acrobatic skills and beat the system by dangling upside down on the limb next to the feeder, while scooping out seeds.

Another feeder had a circular ledge that would spin and throw the squirrels off. That was effective and entertaining for a while, but they soon figured out how to grip the hook holding the feeder with their back feet, and stretch out just long enough to reach into it.

Others grew tired of the high wire act and decided to wait patiently on the ground for the seeds that were dropped by birds and the more talented squirrels.

In reality, I can't blame the poor hungry squirrels for wanting to eat. Although it was irritating, their desire was pure and they were simply doing all they could to satisfy it! I think all of us could stand to learn a lesson or two from these persistent little rodents!

Has God placed a desire in your heart that hasn't been fulfilled? Are you longing for a mate, a child, better relationships, financial freedom, or a better job? If so, Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart."

That's your promise today! When your desires are pure, God-planted desires, He will fulfill them- you just might have to work for it! Too often we think, "I'll just sit here and do nothing. I don't have to worry about it or put any effort in. If it happens it happens, and if it doesn't, then it doesn't." That's a terrible way to think! Sure, God doesn't need your help to carry out His plan, but He does like to see that you care. He likes to see that you are willing to go the distance!

There are lessons we can learn from squirrels. If those little guys gave up and didn't work hard for their food, they would go hungry. Instead of moping around that Debbie and I kept making it hard for them, they got creative. They used the raw materials God gave them like good balance, long tails, and tight gripping claws to get what they wanted.

Achieving your dreams and desires may not always be easy. You might have to work for it! How can you get creative and start using the gifts God gave you to make it happen?

Don't get discouraged. Pure, God-given desires are in your heart for a reason. God put them there! Trust in that promise and strive to hold up your end of the deal. Keep your heart pure and your eyes set on God, He will always come through!" -Dr. Bill Purvis

Honestly by Carl Cartee

2009-04-06T10:45:00.001-05:00

Could I let go of all that You've given
If it meant that it all would be Yours
Could I sit at Your feet and forget about me
And remember what I'm here for

Honestly I need to be broken
Honestly I need to fall down
Go ahead and shake my foundations
'Cause honestly I'm figuring out
That of all I have
All that I need is You
Honestly

If I leave behind all that's familiar
Can I do what has never been done
If I believe in You like You believe in me
Would You finish the work You've begun

Honestly I need to be broken
Honestly I need to fall down
Go ahead and shake my foundations
'Cause honestly I'm figuring out
That of all I have
All that I need is You
Honestly

Growing in a Desert

2009-03-27T21:43:00.003-05:00

I love reading ideas on leadership. I think this has always been an area of life that I have struggled. I want to be a leader but I am not what you would call "a natural born leader." Is their even such a thing?

Over the last few years I have had the privilege of working, studying, and meeting some great leaders. The Tampa area has been good to me in this regard. I have met great pastors, visionaries, CEO's, and others that are just strong individuals.

Through LRU I have also met some great people. Dr. Ricketson has taught me a lot about leadership in the past few years and more importantly simply challenged my pre-concieved thoughts on leadership. Through Dr. Ricketson, I was also able to meet Jeremie. Jeremie's blog has offered me some great snippites of ideas on leadership. Can't say that I read a lot of the stuff he writes due to lack of time and too much too read already, but every now and then something he writes catches my eye.

Today he had a great post titled "Growing in a Desert." His insights are not exactly what hit me but rather the idea behind that phrase. You can read his post at the link above but here are a few of the ideas from his post.

"Blooms happen in the desert. The perception is that growth doesn’t happen. The reality is that it does."

Prepare for the rains to come. When they come, be ready. Have all your seeds planted with your customers, prospects and employees.
Pray for rain. Ask the giver of rain to pour it out at the right levels.
Celebrate when the rain comes and create a grateful culture within your team.

"Now, raise your empty glasses to the sky and ask our Maker to fill em’ up to the rim and overflow. Rain will come again. Let’s just make sure the desert challenged us to be better leaders in the process."

I have just entered a season of my life that I know is going to be challenging. Is is a desert? Not yet! And hoping it doesnt come to that...but I am praying that through this season of life that God will grow me, that the rains will come, and that I will be faithful because I already know that He will be.

March 25, 2009

2009-03-26T13:07:00.001-05:00

Change

2009-03-26T13:03:00.001-05:00

March 25, 2009 Saying Goodbye...

We Stand MS

2009-03-26T12:26:00.001-05:00

March 25, 2009

We Stand HS

2009-03-26T12:22:00.001-05:00

March 25, 2009

God Hears by Russ Lee

2009-03-14T21:35:00.001-05:00

Have officially lost 60 lbs so far!!!

2009-03-03T11:20:00.000-05:00