Corbaley Blog

playstation 4 - Legit as Hammer Pants

2010-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

PLAYSTATION 4 & Hammer Pants: The Culture of The Next Best Thing

I've been thinking about technology and Hammer Pants lately. The field of technology is unparallelled in growth and succession, while fashion is changing so much that I am starting to feel really old, and I'm only 29.

What was awesome yesterday is now obsolete, and what we wore yesterday is no longer cool, so we are continually redefining ourselves in order to stay in tune with our cultural "norm".

Think about the iPhone for example. I have friends who have successively purchased each type of iPhone as it comes out. It seems as though only a couple years have passed since the original iPhone, and yet here we are with millions of shoppers rushing and lining up to purchase the "newer version" of their current phone.

Hammer Pants were once the craze of the nation. I remember my mother used to wear them and I thought she was so cool. I rocked my British Knights almost as well as I wore my parachute threads.

So I have to admit that the PS4 will probably happen, while Hammer Pants will most likely stay in seclusion, but it's more of an allusion to another big topic, one that is even more exciting and relevant:

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What better news do we have than to know that no matter what direction our culture points, no matter how many times we reinvent our way of life, that Jesus will still be the same, and is eternally unchanging. Christ's transcendence of our cultural fluctuation is a source of encouragement and joy for me.

What kind of feelings do you have in relation to the unchanging Christ?

calling it like IT IS

2010-07-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

"Calling it like it is" - a game of chance with mixed results.

There are so many points in my life I can say that I "called it like it was", but I can't think of one situation that came out better because of it. Can anyone?

So it comes down to the question, what about truth? How do we as Christians stand for the truth in love?

Ephesians 4:15 - "but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ".

The truth in love is all about motive, sensitivity and compassion. Motive because there should be a reason to speak the truth, sensitivity because there is a time and place for it, and compassion because our goal should be to help, not to stir up dissension.

With these things in mind I have chosen to remain silent about many things that have hit home with me, you know, the stuff you anguish over in prayer. We must have the proper perspective and be led by the Holy Spirit before we venture into creative problem solving, especially in relationships.

Venture into sensitive compassion and stop "calling it like it is". It's not our job.

Related:

@loswhit - "If the Holy Spirit is in your life there is no way around conviction. If there is no conviction in your life, well, then you've got a problem."

@prodigaljon - Why Christians Are Jerks Online: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/29/my-take-why-christians-are-jerks-online/

time to Blossom

2010-06-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Life is not easy by any means. We start life as just a seed, each of us planted in different soil. We are fed nutrients that allow us to become strong, each of our diets different. Yet, we still arrive at the same place eventually: adulthood.

As a young adult I can admit that I believed I had it all figured out. I knew what I wanted to do (make money), I knew that I wanted a family, I knew that I was a Christian, but I didn't really blossom into those things entirely.

More than a completely blossomed flower, I am a bud, ripe with potential, primed for decision making. Now the question is, "Where am I getting my nutrients from?" Nutrients come from the roots, and our roots are planted in one soil only.

Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

I'm not one to preach that wealth is bad, nor am I one to focus on God vs. Money, but I will say that the love of money is not the only other soil available. Many people I know plant their roots in their culture, many plant them in spirituality, hoping for acceptance. You see, we all long for acceptance from the soil we are planted in. Let me illustrate this:

There was one a boy I knew who did everything he could to belong to the cliques of culture and spirituality. He listened to the music that culture praised, wore the clothes that culture promoted, and spoke the way that culture articulates language. Also, he went to church, listened to Christian music, participated in church camp and other church related activities. The problem was that he had no planted roots. He was a free floating seed, unable to find soil to provide nutrients, unable to be accepted.

As the boy grew he saw in his heart that he was weak, easily washed away by the rain, damaged by the sun, unable to stand on his own. He was lost.

Perhaps you can cope with this boy. Perhaps you are trying to be planted in two types of soil, and yet in your heart you know that you can only receive nutrients from one source, and you also know that you need nutrients to be healthy and strong. It also could be that you know the boy I was speaking about is me.

If you have known me through my life then you know that I am, self-admittedly, a former smoker of pot, cigarettes, a previous drunk, a habitual liar, a thief, and a fake. I am ashamed of who I have been. However, I have finally planted my roots. My roots are in Jesus Christ, who has conquered my sin for my sake, has forgiven me for what I have done, who I now rely on as my savior.

The truth is, I desperately need a savior, and so do you. Maybe if you read this it will inspire you to ask questions, and seek answers. Maybe you will turn a blind eye to what you have read, or maybe it will stick with you until another shares Jesus with you. Whatever the case is, if you are not planted in good soil, you will surely die. Think about this for a second...

Psalm 145:6-9:
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works-- and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Check your roots!

Extreme change

2010-06-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

I started the P90X program about 5 weeks ago. Amid life's happenings I had to take 1.5 weeks off, but I'm back on track, getting ready to work out in about 30 minutes. I am doing this because I desire change. It's the same reason that many people make new-years resolutions, start diets, go back to school, seek out religion; change is something we all want to see happening.

Change is not, however, something that will spontaneously start itself, but more than that, it is something that requires an inner motivation, something that springs from the core of our being, crying out "I Want To Be Different"!

Physical change is great, and we should all try to be as fit and healthy as our lifestyle, jobs, and families allow us, but even more vital than physical fitness is spiritual health. The Bible speaks about a few ways to train ourselves up in spiritual health. We are told to pray: Matthew 26:41 - "Keep watcing and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." - Jesus Christ

We are also instructed to harness mental focus: Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Often a neglected part of the Christian's faith, we are to read the Bible daily, as it helps connect us to Jesus Christ and His will. The Bible describes Jesus of Nazareth as God's Word (John 1:1), and later Jesus described the life of a Christian apart from Him: John 15:5-6 - "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned." - Jesus Christ

We are saved through faith, but the Bible also points to good deeds (works) as a sign of a solid faith: James 2: 17-18 - Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

The instructor in the P90X workouts is always saying two things that stick: "Do your best and forget the rest" and "You have got to bring it". Equally useful in our spiritual lives, these two statements sum up where our focus should be. We are called to spiritual fitness, and that comes from a life of prayer and meditation on God's Word, from mental focus, and from an addictive faith that inspires good deeds.

So what kind of change are you up for?

the FAM!

2010-04-29T09:22:00.001-07:00

space & Happiness:

Life has been a rush lately. We just finished moving from a one-bedroom apartment to a four-bedroom house, complete with a backyard, two-car garage, and all kinds of space. Sometimes, when we look at our stuff here in this new place, we wonder how we ever fit it into the old apartment.

Overall, we are much happier in this new space, although we appreciate where we just came from. It was a stepping stone in life, something that God thought we should experience before accessing His total blessing, so I am very content with what's been happening.

Nathan is growing up so fast! He's even learned to take joy in beating up his old-man. He just laughs and laughs. My beautiful son is starting to say Momma and Dad consistently, and we're excited that we will find out the sex of our coming little one on May 12th, which is only a couple weeks away. I'll keep you posted. Just for your info, we will both be happy with either, but Steph is hoping for another boy, and I would love to have "daddy's little girl".

Stephanie is definitely showing now, and I'm really looking forward to having another bundle of Joy here. I miss when Nathan was tiny and just slept all day, cause he actually let me hold him back then. Now I have to keep him entertained to get some time with him.

The neighbors have been great, and Nathan has new friends. They already gave him a Spider-man bike helmet, and let him drive their motorcycle. He liked it for about 2 minutes, but when he can get himself going he'll be much happier.

Seminary has been a blast, and I'm learning more than I thought I would already. It is amazing what kind of depth and insight you can have in God's Word if you study and work hard at it. I am about to start my next classes in about 2.5 weeks, and they should be a bit easier than the previous 2. At least I have an office in the new house now, so I don't have to drive to Barns and Noble to get some decent study time.

We are very happy here in the new house, and I'm hoping that you will have time to come visit us. We have an extra bathroom (I designed it, BTW), and an extra room with your name on it. Looking forward to seeing you asap.

God's obligation & YOUR choice

2010-04-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

Did you catch it? Look at the picture again, read each word carefully. What you will find is a common issue of discussion: what is truth?

I have had the privilege of speaking to a few atheists and a few theists about important topics lately. Most importantly, we have all attempted to define truth; is it solely based on the Bible, is it completely based on science, or does everyone's truth change subject to their personal standpoint? This picture for me says 1000 words, in that many people claim they have the truth, many others claim they have the whole truth, and some attempt to auditorally blast you with everything but the truth. So where is the common ground?

I will propose that my views have been somewhat arrogant of late. My attempt to permeate the twitter empire with positive messages about who God is has been what I expected, but the result is what is surprisingly different. I believed initially that I would help change people's attitude towards seeking God, but instead my attitude has changed. I went in confident, and somewhat arrogant about my beliefs, and I'm now coming out, albeit only a few days later, with a new sense of humility.

Prior contention: atheists and agnostics are only choosing not to see God, but if they tried they would find Him.

While this might seem true to many Christians I know, the fact that echoes through our history is that God show us who He is through REVELATION, not through our research. A great example of this comes from the Old Testament prophecies about the messiah. Through revelation, we can look back with the knowledge of the New Testament and see things we would be previously unable to see. Unless of course we think ourselves smarter than the pharisees, who spent their whole lives studying the law and trying to gain as much knowledge as they could.

The word of God speaks the truth to those whom Gas has revealed himself. This is in contrast to the truth that most atheists and agnostics claim through science. Stepping in either side's shoes with an open mind can help one understand points of views, so long as the term "if" remains. For example, "if" God is real, and the Bible says that He reveals himself when and to whom He pleases, it is then logical for theists to have a belief in him. Also, "if" science is ultimately accurate and without flaw, and there is a pattern of precise answers that can be seen by anyone who test them, it is them logical for people to belief that science is truth.

Please do not read anything into the questions I'm about to ask: Is science without flaw? What about the "missing links" that were considered fact and taught in public schools as such? What about the carbon dating system that has since been replaced by "Radioactive Isotope Dating", which is now considered "fact" and accepted as such, even taught in public schools? What about the "fact" that the world was flat, or that the Sun revolved around the earth?

As some atheists ask similar questions about God, I have to keep in mind that what I can know is not what they know. My life has been touched by divine revelation, mostly based on faith. Why shouldn't it be? I am astounded that some hold that we used to be monkeys millions of years ago, especially when I look at the created world. Think about what I feel (not what you know, I'm trying to be clear on that point): I see my wife and my son, two anatomically correct people, with personalities, emotions, and who demonstrate love in a real way, even when I am a jerk. To me, there is no science to test that, there are no instruments to measure their capacity to forgive. In my mind, it was and still is logical to believe in a creator behind that beauty.

So I opened my heart to it, and searched. Here is what I was blessed to find. God is real, and has revealed himself to me in many numerous ways. Yet, what God has done in my life is only in my life, and cannot be fathomed by anyone else.

My NEW contention: God chooses to whom He will reveal himself, and He is not obligated to do anything else.

But doesn't that mean that He isn't loving? Is that fair? Well, my friend, life isn't fair. Just ask the people who are murdered, those who are bombed mercilessly in the middle east, those who die in earthquakes and tsunamis.

The fallacy lies in believing that God doesn't exist simply because those things happen. Bad things happen to me too.

Not everyone will go to heaven. Not everyone will see God until Jesus returns. Not everyone will have access to the truth, but that's not for me to decide. However, the Bible says that YOU have a chance to see God. He can and will reveal himself to you, but it will only be on His terms, and "if" God does exist, and "if" he embodies truth, then He is not obligated to do it your way. Or mine...

Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

1 Samuel 2:27 - Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the Lord says: Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father's house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh?"

1 Samuel 3:21 - The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

Matthew 11:25-27 - At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Romans 1:17 - For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!!!!

1 Chronicles 28:9 - And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understand every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Matthew 7:7-8 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

The decision is yours to make, who am I to stand in your way?

our REAL attitude

2010-03-27T07:11:00.001-07:00

We are all friends of "this guy". He's the friend or family member that is always stirring up controversy. You know what, many times "this guy" is you and me.

Imagine your inner attitude - what is your daily goal? How do you explain your views? Are you doing it out of a spirit of anger and frustration, or out of a spirit of love?

The Bible has a lot to say about our motives, our words, and our hearts:

Proverbs 12: 15-16 - The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

Examine your heart and your life - I will examine mine as well...

James 3:5-6 - Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

What things have I said recently that could have been avoided? Said differently...

Proverbs 16: 21-25 - The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools. A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Our attitude is what is important because the attitude is reflected in what we say. I know that I have been guilty of a poor attitude when communicating with someone, so I'm sure we all have work to do in this area.

Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Keep your intentions and attitude in check. This is good advice, and it's advice that I am trying to take to heart more and more each day. Be careful not to apply unnecessary labels to others when you and someone else don't agree on something.

Lastly, don't take my example as something to live by. I am still on a journey to make myself a better person, and much of that will never be accomplished before I am dead. I cannot be perfect, but that doesn't mean that my God isn't. If you need help with your attitude and your tongue, consider asking God for his help.

Psalm 57:10 - For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

God is faithful to answer when we ask for help. Just try Him...

a Healthy spiritual cuisine

2010-03-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Think of life in terms of food – in order for you to be healthy you must have a well balanced diet. No one would disagree with this statement. Your meal is a balance of protein, fat, sugar, carbohydrates, and vitamins, and health and fitness experts are adamant that you have to consistently balance your meals for long-term results.

Think about your life in the same way. Each of us is intelligently designed with similar needs including social, physical, spiritual and mental needs: social in that we all have a need for both private time as well as time spent with loved ones, physical in that we all need a balance of food and exercise to get the most out of our bodies, mental in that we need to exercise our mind in order to keep it at the top of it’s pinnacle, and lastly spiritual in that we are on a quest to find out how to relate to God.

Most of us have a firm grasp on a healthy social life, we take time to get physical exercise, we learn and grow mentally…but what about a healthy spiritual life? What does God say about how to best relate to Him? I present to you the following special, on sale for a limited time only:

The Spiritually Balanced Cuisine: a 4 course meal...

Relationship - Appetizers
Support - 2nd Course
Service - 3rd Course
Rest - Dessert

RELATIONSHIP

You can grow your relationship with God by seeking His advice through the Bible, Worship, and Prayer. These are all key to a healthy spiritual life.

John 8: 31-32 (NIV) – To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

How do we know what the teachings of God are without reading the Bible?

Matthew 22:27-28 (NIV) – Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Worship is the act of letting God know how much you love him. It is a focused demonstration and outward expression of your awe of who He is, and what you think of Him.

1 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Prayer is your gateway to direct communication with God. Through prayer we can ask tell God how grateful we are, and we can ask God to intercede in our lives and the lives of others.

SUPPORT

You can increase your support by surrounding yourself with people who love God by joining a church, getting involved in a small group, and attending Bible Studies.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Galatians 6:2 (NIV) – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

A quality support group will not only support your character and morals, but also will help you through troubled times so that you can weather life’s storms.

SERVICE

Service is a vital part of the Christian life because it is in service that we are energized and that we can demonstrate the love of God.

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) – You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Church is not merely a place to seek and find God, but it’s also a place to serve others so that they might also find God for themselves. If you are wondering how your church experience can get better, try volunteering for something and ask God to help your attitude towards service. You will be thrilled with the results.

REST

Lastly, we need to balance a little rest so that we don’t grow tired of our spiritual life and start to avoid it.

Genesis 2:2 (NIV) – By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

A healthy balance of these 4 areas is only healthy when you take time to rest. Rest is something God saw as Holy, and spiritual burnout occurs when you don’t take time to rest. Even the employers of America have realized the importance of rest, so do not neglect it!

The main goal of balance is to avoid spiritual “highs and lows”. God has a plan for our lives, and it’s spelled out in the Bible. But don’t take my word for it, check it out yourselves! Ask God for support while you cultivate your relationship, build a support group, take time to serve others, and rest. This is a spiritually balanced cuisine.

the HOLY hero

2010-03-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Change can sometimes be painful. Think about a time in your life when you experienced change and suffered because of it...

Now, think about how it feels when someone you love is going through a painful change: does it feel any better? Some would say yes, but there are certain cases when your empathy can inspire more intense pain.

My first instinct is to jump in with some sort of rescue attempt, but I am not Superman, and neither are you. So what is our role when loved-ones suffer? Forget our role, what CAN we do?

We are prone to anxiety. It's a fact that when we experience stress we get anxious, nervous, and even scared. Much of that feeling comes from a realization of exactly how powerless we are to stop it from happening.

The Bible speaks about anxiety and it's relationship with prayer. As a support structure for your friends, prayer is your key weapon - just look:

Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB) - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

the HOLY hero: I believe that we are empowered with the Holy Spirit to beseech the one true God and ask Him to intercede in the lives of our loved ones. I also believe that He is faithful to answer prayer, although it might not be the answer we want to hear. However, the HOLY hero is one that asks God to intercede in a spiritual, physical, or supernatural way for his/her loved ones.

the FIX - the message in Philippians doesn't cease at verse 7. This is something that's paramount in the context - we aren't just to pray and hope, but we are to focus, to focus!

The Wiktionary Definition:
Focus - To concentrate one's attention.
Dwell - To live; to reside.

Philippians 4:8-9 - Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

experience God

2010-03-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

I was speaking with a friend yesterday and he said something profound to me: "I don't understand how you and I can grow, live, and age and still come to completely different views on God."

It's a question that many people struggle with - Christians, atheists, all people from different religions and cultures - a question that is impossible to understand unless you try to experience, unless you look for a fresh start.

We spoke a bit more about the topic, and my answers seemed to make sense to him, but the one that mattered the most was the simplest answer I could have given: "Why don't you try experiencing God for yourself?"

Life has all kinds of mysteries and is riddled with differing opinions based on life experiences and research. (I'm sure we can all agree about that) So how did it happen? Why is God to real and present in my life? How can I have such a clear picture of Him while someone else can't see it? The Bible speaks of the difference as faith.

I found this website in my search for a definition of faith: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faith - The most interesting definition I find here is: "firm belief in something for which there is no proof". That, my friends, is exactly where the difference lies. I believe that there is proof all around, from the historical evidence of Jesus apart from the Bible, as well as creation itself. LOOK around; can you believe that what this world holds is from anything other than intelligent design?

So, back to life's riddles. Mankind as we know it has always searched for answers. So, if your questions is "why don't I see God the same way you do?" then get out and start experiencing Him for yourself. The easiest way to do that is to get to a place where God can be seen.

One of the last things my friend said to me yesterday was, "I don't like church because God isn't there. I see God in you more than I see Him in a church." GREAT NEWS buddy, I go to church, and there are many like me to go to church and experience God first hand. This is not an empty part of my life, but one of the most fulfilling and life-changing aspects of my life! And it doesn't have to be different for anyone, all of us have the ability to experience the one true God in a safe environment! Just try it, what have you to lose?

Verses for thought:
1 Corinthians 1: 18-21 - 18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. (ASV)

1 Corinthians 2: 6-10 - 6 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: 8 which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: 9 but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him. 10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (ASV)

questions, comments, concerns? Post them in a comment.

the love of $MONEY$

2010-02-24T20:05:00.000-08:00

Do you find yourself clinging to what is not yours? When we were kids we used to be selfish with our toys, and only when we became parents did we understand how selfish we were as children. Do you think that we have already learned life's valuable lessons? You wanna learn something new?

Jesus said to Thomas: "Because you have seen Me you have believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." Think about this statement and how it relates to science and faith. How much scientific evidence do you have to have before you believe?

Evidence will never supplant the work of the Holy Spirit, so let me share with you what the Holy Spirit has done to keep God's promise to me - recently! The family vacation came near to an end and I was going to go home without a job...again. Many people would feel uneasy about that, but Stephanie and I were peaceful and aware that God is faithful to provide! On the way to the Honolulu airport I received a call offering a job.

That was a week ago. Today I got another call from Costco offering another job. I have to attribute this to God! I am not rich, but I have a way to provide! I tested God and He came through for us!

"Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test", says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Malachi 3:10 (ESV)

Through God's grace I have come to know the power of His promises. What about you?
What would God have to do to get through to you? What if He saved your life...

grounded Feet

2010-02-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

Does it ever feel like life is rushing past you faster than your feet can walk?

If it does than we are in the same rip-tide. Steph, Nathan and I have been here on the island of Oahu enjoying the family and the fun, and it's coming to an end in two days. But that's just the beginning of a new adventure.

We also recently found out that we are expecting another baby. That's right, Stephanie is pregnant, and we're really excited about it. Please PRAY that God keeps the baby and Stephanie safe during the first 3 months.

We found an online calendar that says that our due date should be around October 2nd, but we're going to find a doctor later this month and get an actual date. TBD. Also, if it is a boy, please PRAY that God will soften Stephanie's heart and let me name him Isaiah.

More news to come, thank God for our new blessing!

Any Ideas on baby names? Post them in a comment.

A Chance to win? I think so my friends...

2010-01-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

My NFL playoff predictions 2010.

I wanted to get this posted before the Wild Card games yesterday, but you will just have to settle for an analyzation of the remaining teams. Let's start with the NFC.

In no particular order, the following teams are still in the hunt for the NFC championship:

The Dallas Cowboys, The Minnesota Vikings, The New Orleans Saints, The Green Bay Packers, The Arizona Cardinals.

The Dallas Cowboys: Perhaps the hottest team in the NFC, America's Team has overcome two major obstacles this seaoson: Winning a playoff game; Conquering the December curse. The last time the boys won a playoff game was 1996, so it was a huge hump to get over. Secondly, Tony Romo made a huge turnaround to overcome his December record. Not only did they beat the Saints in New Orleans in the month of December, but they put on a defensive clinic against most of the teams they face, with DeMarcus Ware leading the attack, and their young secondary keeping oponents air attack low. They demolished the Eagles two weeks in a row, and look like the team to beat in the NFC.

The Minnesota Vikings: If John Madden were still announcing, we could imagine him saying something like, "If you have Brett Favre and your team scores the most points, you probably have the best chance of winning." However classic Favre is, no one is doubting their ability to explode offensively. Let's start first with their rookie, Percy Harvin. Twice this seaoson Harvin has returned a kick for a touchdown, and he has over 1000 yards this season in return yards, along with over 700 receiving yards and 6 TD's as a receiver. Then throw in the power rushing gave of Adrian Peterson, mixed in with offensive talents like Sydney Rice, Bernard Berrian, and a stifflling defense, The Vikes have an excellent chance of pulling off a trip to the Superbowl.

The New Orleans Saints: What else can I say about this team. They started the seaoson 13-0, and only lost a few of their last games. No one has benefitted more from this first round bye week as the Saints, giving time for Reggie Bush to tend to his wounds, and allowing them to review tapes and create new plays. Most notably is the defense in New Orleans, breaking into the top 5 NFL defenses for the first time in years, and allowing the offense to create distance between the opponents. However, I do not believe the Saints have what it takes to make it to the Superbowl.

The Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Ryan Grant, and MOST IMPORTANTLY = Charles Woodson. I saw a diving tackle through the offensive line a few weeks ago that made Charles Woodson my defensive MVP. If we were in a playground, and I could chose between AP, LT, or Woodson to start my squad, I would take Woodson no questions asked. This guy alone could be the key for stopping Peterson and the Vikes, or shutting down Miles Austin of the Cowboys.

The Arizona Cardinals: Offense, offense, offense. They are hurting however without Boldin, but after the run the Cards made to the Superbowl last year there aren't a lot of people doubting their ability to pull off an upset. Their first task will be to get past Woodson and the Pack later today, which I don't think will happen. If they do, all bets are off in my opinion.

NFC Playoffs:

Vikings first round bye

Saints first round bye

Cowboys beat Eagles 34-14

Packers over Cardinals by 10

Cowboys over Vikings by 6

Saints over Packers by 14

Conference Championship: Cowboys over Saints by 13

Now let's take a look at the AFC shall we?

Here are the teams playing for the AFC slot in the Superbowl

The Indianapolis Colts, The New England Patriots, The Baltimore Ravens, The New York Jets, The San Diego Chargers.

The Indianapolis Colts: Fresh off a couple weeks of mainly rest for their starters, and Manning's 4th MVP award, the colts are looking strong going into the playoffs. Reggie Wayne, their increased running game, and a healthy defense add to Manning's leadership to push this team to the AFC Conference Championship.

The New England Patriots: They made it this far, but are without a health Wes Welker, who led the NFL in receptions again despite missing the first 3 games of the season, and Tom Brady is apparently playing with a few cracked ribs. I do not think they have what it takes to make it by their first round opponent.

The Baltimore Ravens: Last year Joe Flacco became the first rookie in NFL history to win multiple playoff games, and this year he should win at least one more. Ray Rice has made a huge impact adding to the presence of McGahee in the backfield, and Ray Lewis continues to lead a blistering D even in his later years. Balitimore has had it's struggles all season long, but no one wants to face them in the playoffs.

The New York Jets: So, Mark Sanchez pulls off a pretty good game (12-15 with 1 TD and 100+ yards in the air), and the defense shuts down Chad Ochocinco and all of the sudden Rex Ryan says that they should be favored to win the Superbowl? The sad thing is that many analysts are now jumping on their bandwagon and saying that the Jets should be feared. Let's just remember that it took their QB almost a perfect game in the playoffs to overcome Cedric Benson and the Bengals, so if he makes one mistake in the next round it could mean the end of the season.

The San Diego Chargers: I am biased, I know, but let's take a look at the team from my point of view anyway. Philip Rivers came in 3rd in MVP votes behind Manning and Brees, LT is healthy, Sproles is making an impact catching and running the ball at the opponent, and the defense is holding teams to the lowest PPG in the last 3 seasons. But this is a passing team, and why shouldn't it be?

These are the guys that Rivers throws to.

Malcom Floyd - 6'5", 225 pounds

Vincent Jackson - 6'5" 230 pounds

Antonio Gates - 6'4" 260 pounds

Kassim Osgood - 6'5" 220 pounds

Legedu Naanee - 6'2" 220 pounds

Brandon Manumaleuna - 6'2" 295 pounds

All the starters are above 6'4" and hard to shut down. Norv Turner is calling some good plays lately, and with the passing game creating room on field for LT and Sproles to make an impact, the SD offense is looking as good as it has been in years. Let's talk about this season: The Bolts started the season 2-3, then after an 11 game win streak to finish the season out finished 13-3. Who else in football is hotter? The Chargers beat the Cowboys in Dallas just a few weeks ago.

AFC Playoffs:

Colts first round bye

Chargers first round bye

Jets beat Bengals 24-14

Ravens over Pats by 7

Colts over Ravens by 17

Chargers over Jets by 24

Conference Championship: Chargers over Colts by 9

Superbowl Prediction

Boltz over Boys 35-31

The part of forgiveness in recent events

2010-01-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

What is the true measure of any man? Many believe it's the measure of his beliefs and their impact on his need to forgive. I believe that forgiveness is necessary in order to have communion with God.

Through the years my family has experienced their share of physical and spiritual attacks. I have always had a hero complex, meaning I have always wanted to be able to use the power within me to help fix things for others. This might be why I like the show Heroes so much, or why I was obsessed with Superman when I was younger.

Whatever the case, a disagreement between brothers can cause pain and frustration on many different levels. Written and verbal attacks might commence from those a disagreement, even affecting the family of those involved beyond what they think about.

At that point, what is the responsiblity of the family. Is it to seek revenge, prepare a defense, aid a counter attack, or just simply...forgive? The Bible talks about forgiveness as something you do repeatedely no matter how many times someone affends you. Then we as Christians are instructed to turn the other cheek, which can often leave us feeling vulnerable and alone.

So if someone says something about my mother, what do I want to do? What will make me feel better? What is the right thing to do? Each of these might have a different answer to you, but because I know all the things I have done that God has forgiven me of through the blood of His son Jesus Christ I know, however deep inside it's buried sometimes, that I am no better, and everyone needs forgiveness. Do we deserve it? Do you deserve it? Do I? No, but God gave it to me anyway. Who am I to deny it to someone else?

Update on life, love, and good happiness stuff

2010-01-04T21:51:00.001-08:00

I have been silent on the blog for a while. Much has gone on since I last digitized my life for you, so let me catch you up on what you missed.

Nathan's 1st Birthday - 12/04/2009

Nathan turned 1 on December 4th, and we couldn't be more proud and thankful for him. God has truly blessed us with a beautful son, and he had a great time opening presents, playing in the fake snow we bought for his birthday, and sharing time with everyone that loves him so much here in Arizona. There were lot's of guests also, and we are thankful for their presence.

Nathan misses his Papa J, Tutu, and Auntie Sarah and Uncle Wes. He told me personally that it wasn't the same without them there. :)

Prior to his little party, we were blessed to have Jim Durham (who orignally took our family pictures in Feb last year) take his one-year photos for us, and Jim, if you're reading this, we still owe you money! Below are some digital memories from the party and a couple of his 1st B-day pics.

Nathan Opening Presents

This picture is really cool. Jim plays around with Photoshop a lot, and has a great passion for photography. There were a lot of great pics, but I thought you might enjoy this one a lot.

Next on the agenda - Merry CHRISTmas, 2009

Because our budget was $0.00 for Christmas cards this year, I took the picture and we found a deal online for free photo Christmas cards. We were limited to 100, so for those of you that didn't get a card...I'm sorry we're broke :)

Our Christmas was filled with family and friends. Scott Richard (My Bro-In-Law) came out from Ohio and visited, and we had a great time eating and talking. My San Diego Chargers won, and overall it was a great day, but most of all, it was a time to reflect on the birth of God's son Jesus, and how his birth was the start of a miracle of mediation and eternal fellowship with God.

I remembered many things about Christmas growing up, but along with our tree came the Nativity Scene, carved in wood and memories. It always reminded my materialistic heart that there was more than just tinsle and fatty-clause. lol

I miss my family. I am lost without their connection, and while the year has gone by and Skype has made communication possible, I have still felt distant and lonely. I cling to the hope of a coming visit, and pray that they know how much I love and need them in my life. I am a lucky man.

Merry Christmas from Chris, Stephanie, and Nathan Corbaley. May the wonder of His son's birth bring new hope and a brighter tomorrow to you and yours.

Most recently - HAPPY NEW YEAR! WE WELCOME 2010 WITH HEARTS AND MINDS OPEN

So what could have been better after an amazing holiday season? What could have made the new year's eve night worth just a little bit more? Here's my story:

I got home from working at Costco and started to get sleepy. Around 10:30pm I decided that I was too old to care anymore about staying up till 12, and really I needed to take my stretched-paper-thin self to bed. BUT, my quest for rest came to an abrupt end when Stephanie wouldn't let me fall asleep.

A playfull argument ensued with her winning by beating me senseless with a pillow until I got up. Amidst a tired night I took out the trash and tried to keep busy with tasks until 12 rolled around.

You need more background than this though to fully understand the story. We were house-sitting Joe and Jenn's (Stephanie's brother and his wife's house) on that night, and Jenn has a younger brother named Chris. His truck was parked outside in the driveway, so I assumed he might be by sometime that night. ALSO, I was still half asleep...

Back to the story, I took out the trash. When I stepped out the front door I saw a car drive by and heard someone say "there's Chris". So I immediately thought it was some of Chris' friends coming by to pick him up, or say hello. So I looked up casually, and saw a bearded man running wildly up at me. As shocked as I was to see this, I was more interested in telling him that I wasn't who he thought I was, but then I noticed a familiar smile behind the dark beard, and a build of a man whom I had become dear friends with.

James and Cindy Roy, friends of ours since we were married, drove out that night, over 9 hours, to surprise me and Steph (Stephanie was in on it BTW). My first reaction? "What are you doing here!" I felt so grateful for their drive and desire to spend the evening with us, and we were blessed to have them out for 2 nights here at our humble apartment. We spent the following day going through old traditions of breakfast, adventures, and gellato...so delicious! To date they are the only friends who have visited us here in Tucson, but maybe this year will hold more surprises for us, and we are coming out to Cali in June, so hopefully we will see you all then.

Little Nathan (who got his first haircut NYE), Chris, and James Roy 1/1/2010

So what else do you want to know? Here's a short list of upcoming events to look out for more blogs:

I have started seminary as of today. I still don't have my books in the mail, so let's see what happens.
We are taking a family vacation to Hawaii in from February 3rd to the 15th to visit and meet my neice Ruby Jude Childers for the first time. Oh yes, I'm very excited, thanks for asking!
The San Diego Chargers finished the regular season with 11 straight wins and are poised to make a run at the Superbowl. Let's just wait and see what happens.

If you are reading this, you are loved and missed by us!

Welcome to 2010, my self-deemed "Year of Hope"

2010-01-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2010, with open arms we pray that God uses this year to guide us all in the right direction, hopefully closer to Him. Lately I have been so busy worrying about the problems that come in life, I forgot about the Hope that is apparent in our present lives, distant memories, and promising future!

Today's sermon at church was about Hope. In the Bible it says that the greatest and most important thing is love, but Hope is just behind it. So where can we find hope? What can we hold onto that keeps us from thinking about all the issues we all have (spiritual, financial, political, etc.)?

Well, I have learned and decided that all the points in my life have some level of hope for me to cling to. Let's look back, shall we?

1980 - I was given an opportunity at life, love, and an existence in a free country
1999 - Graduated from highschool and moved to start my own life
1999-2004 - met my wife, my closest friends, and got my college degree
2006 - Married my wife Stephanie and met more good friends
2008 - Became a father and experienced new feelings of love for my wife, son and family because of it
2009 - Moved to AZ and met more good people, spent a lot of time with Nathan and Stephanie, became an uncle through my sister, and learned how to function without television (let's not talk about the rest of the year, shall we?)
2010 - Starting seminary at Southern California Seminary online for my Masters of Divinity and...
Feb 2010 - going to Hawaii to visit my parents for almost 2 weeks.

Amazing to think of all that's happened since I left my parents house over 10 years ago. My 10 year reunion from high-school came and went without me, my son is growing like a weed, and I have a neice that I haven't even met yet. But I can sum up these experiences in a few different time-frames:

Past
Present
Immediate Future
Distant Future

However we choose to get hope in life, it should be something that we strive for. In the times that you are feeling drained and let down by life and those around you, try to focus your thoughts on positive things from your life, but always live for the future. I believe God has a plan for all of us, and I'm excited to see that plan unfold in Your life!

Jeremiah 29:11-14b "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you", declares the Lord.

Nathan's First Steps! Yeah, he's only 9 months old!

2009-09-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

So it turns out my mother was right:

When Nathan was first born my mother told me that I was walking at 8 months old. She told me that if it ran in the family Nathan would be walking earlier than normal, so we always had the camera ready when he turned 8 months old.

Now, Nathan celebrated his 9 month bday on the 4th of this month, only a little less than 2 weeks ago, and he took his first steps today. He did take one step a while ago when I was gone, but watch the video below, and you'll see why this was the first true walk of his life.

Also, I got my first day off in about 3.5 months last Monday, so we took Nathan to the mall to go shopping for new clothes, and we had some good times buying his first Halloween costume at Old Nave, and walking around the Disney Store.

Nathan's First Steps

Nathan's 2nd steps

Nathan and Daddy (Me) Walking around shopping for new shoes

Mommy and Nathan Walking The Mall

Daddy and Nathan Playing with Buzz Lightyear

Nathan Free Standing In The Disney Store

Nathan As A Stuffed Animal Disney Character

Mommy, Nathan and Nemo

Nathan's First Halloween Costume - A Monkey

Curious George?

Nathan's First Plane Ride

Nathan and The Pilot On His First Plane Ride

Nathan isn't even 21 months old and He's Gambled Before!?

What's happening...

2009-06-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

UPDATE ON THINGS OF LIFE

So I have been really busy lately. I took my first insurance license test last week and barely passed, so I've been trying to do a lot more studying this time around. My 2nd and last exam is this Friday, the 12th, so I'm hoping to do much better on it.

As of the 15th, I will officially be able to sell most of their products to anyone, so hopefully I can get going quickly. Im also trying to get another job up here in Tucson so I don't have to commute down to Sierra Vista anymore. It's been hard on me, the driving, the working doubles, and especially being away from Stephanie and Nathan for a few days really takes its toll.

NATHAN JOHN CORBALEY IS NOW 6 MONTHS!

Nathan just turned 6 months old on the 4th and he's getting bigger and better everyday. He's got 2 teeth that have come through the gums and are visible now, but I think he's going through more growing pains because he barely slept last night. I have taken the liberty of uploading this video of him, because he loves his Jungle Jumperoo. He finally figured out how to jump on his own, and it's a good relief for the two of us when we need a break from holding him and playing with him.

RUBY JUDE CHILDERS = I'M AN UNCLE! AGAIN!

One more awesome thing, I'm an Uncle again.

It's a little different this time because it's my actual sister's baby, which doesn't mean that it didn't count before, but I wasn't around for the first few years of my other niece's lives, and I will be for my sisters new daughter. Her name is Ruby Jude Childers, and she is so beautiful. She was born 5/26/2009 at 1:26pm eastern time. She came out 19" long and was 6lbs 6 oz. Congratulations to Wes and Sarah, on their beautiful baby girl. I am so proud of you Sarah, I love and miss you more than you know, and I couldn't be more happy that Wes is my brother in law and the father of your daughter. Enjoy this wonderful experience, and just don't have another one till Steph and I try again next year...yeah, you heard me right.

To see more pictures of little Ruby Jude, visit their website at: www.wesandsarah.com

Last thing. I reached the best streak of my life reading the Bible last month at 52 days straight. It ended last month though, and today was the first time since then I picked it up. Today is day 1, and it's a new beginning. I have a great feeling today is going to be one of the best days I have had in a while.

It's been a while, how about an update?

2009-06-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a long time and it's because I've been so busy! I recently took a job with Farmers Insurance Group and I passed the Property and Casualty test. The hardest part of this was that Stephanie and Nathan have been gone for a week.

I'm also working Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Texas Roadhouse, and I'm putting in applications tomorrow at Starbucks for early morning shifts. I'm doing all this because I don't want Nathan in day care, and I don't want Stephanie working, but it's hard with them out of town. I have a lot less energy, and I'm having a really hard time

sleeping.

I guess one good thing is that I have taken this time to learn how important my family is to me. My life has been terrible without them around. My streak of days in a row reading the Bible ended at 53, and I haven't picked it up again for some reason. Things are just getting harder, but I'm hoping that God has me going in the right direction, because I know I can't do all this by myself.

Picture 1: Nathan's first time in the Jungle Jumperoo

Picture 2: Nathan's first time shopping

Picture 3: Nathan's first time sleeping with his butt in the air on his knees.

Videos Of The Pie = Natie Pie = Nathan

2009-04-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

NATHAN VIDEOS!!!!

It's been a long time coming, but I finally found internet fast enough to allow me to upload these videos, so for those of you who haven't had a chance to hang out with Nathan, here are a couple videos I took so that you can see what you're missing.

The first video is of Nathan laughing. I always seem to get him to laugh right after I change his diaper, so he's on the changing table.

2nd video is Nathan playing with toys. He's sitting in his Bumbo chair, which is the best chair ever. If you are a parent with a young child, and you don't have a Bumbo chair, you have to get one, because he's ahead of schedule according to the Doctor as far as sitting up. He can almost sit up on his own.

Nathan is 4 months old now. Where does time go?

2009-04-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Nathan is growing up fast!

Every day is another adventure with Nathan. He has gro

wn so much since his birth, and now he just tur

ned 4 months on the 4th. He's standing, with assi

stance, and holding up his

own

body weight now, but still far off from walking.

He's a rolling machine. Every time I look away, he's on his stomach looking around the room.

Sometime

s it's hard to believe how much he's changed from the first time I saw him. His hair is lighter, he's much mo

re active, he smiles like crazy, and he's eating us out of milk and home. He's also very smart, and I might have

to check on it to be sure, but I think he's starting to teeth. He puts everything he can find in his mouth, and

it seems that he's biting down, so I'll check the expert books. Either way, he's a cute little handful.

I'm looking

forward to the day when I can watch Disney Pixar movies, play catch, and chase him around the house in an attempt

to give him a raspberry on his belly. But until then, I remain anxi

ously his Father, doing my best to give him the best upbringing I can, and

remembering that no Father, or parent for that matter can ever be perfect.

I have made mistakes. I try really hard, but sometimes what I have to offer isn't enough to fix everything for little Nate, and that's when I have to get some perspective, remember that God doesn't require m

e to be perfect in order for Him to use me, and be blessed to know that I have another day in my life to spend with this little gift. Thank God!

Fifa Soccer 2009

2009-04-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

A Return to the Past: Chris vs. Faabs

France vs. Brazil has always been a classic battle. Ronaldinho and Henry trading goals from game to game, and at one point, Henry got the best of Ronaldinho and company nearly every match. But that was then, and now I went at it again about 4 years later, and against the owner of the game.

Yes my friends, Fabiano and I rekindled the flame of competitive PlayStation futbol over last weekend, and even though I suffered some devastating losses, I was able to come across with 2 victories.

Victory #1: England over Uruguay in penalty kicks

Victory #2: France over Uruguay 3 X 2 in overtime period #2
Fabiano is a great player, and did hand me my worst loss ever, 9-0 in my first game on his home turf, but remember two things: I don't own the game, and I don't practice...ever. 4 years have passed since I played more than one or two games every 6 months. And while I don't normally go out of my way to point the way to my success, those who know Fabiano know that this is not only deserved, but requested as proof of his ability to talk a big talk, and make excuses for losses. Yes, I believe that there are certain times where people can perform better than others, but to consider every win

"Joga Bonita" and every loss "a lucky win" for the opposition seems a little bit over-the-top, don't you think?

Our vacation back to California

2009-04-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

A Recap of fun, friends, and places
through the eyes of an ex-native...

Our trip to California was amazing. We left on Thursday morning around 4am, then arrived in San Diego around 2pm. We went to Oceanside to check into our timeshare, then went back to San Diego for dinner at P.F. Chang's with Andre and Dianna Enriquez, Christine Lippincott and her boyfriend Nedav, and Aaron Brown. The next day Steph went down to Chula Vista to have lunch with old co-workers from Enterprise, and then Friday night James and Cindy Roy joined us at our timeshare for 2 nights. It was great getting to spend so much time with good friends through the trip. Saturday we went back to Point Loma to Mike and Erin Pavon's wedding, which was beautiful, and great fun. Sunday we checked out of Oceanside, and went up to the O.C. where the whole group was there: Geezy, Jeremy and Kathleen, Joey, Eric Zimmerman, Mondo and his family and the 3 of us. Great fun! Sunday night we traveled with Fabiano up to Torrance, where we played Fifa Soccer 2009 (another blog to follow), and then left Monday afternoon for Riverside, had dinner with Melinda Neimi, then drove from there up to Yucca Valley near Joshua Tree in the high desert. Finally, Tuesday morning came, and we left around 10am to head back to AZ.

More pictures on my Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35004467@N05/

The pier you are seeing is Oceanside pier, and then you have Eric Strobaugh, Steph's cousin, who met us in Oceanside to hang out for a night. That was great times. We had Newcastle, which everyone knows is my favorite beer, ate at the end of the pier, and got to talk about old times.

Next set of pictures is breakfast with Aaron and Kellie Browne at IHOP, the group picture of James, Cindy, Steph and Me as we're checking out of the timeshare, Mike and Erin's wedding.

Next you have Mike and Erin Pavon at their wedding, Steph and I relaxing at the reception, and Aaron and Kellie holding Nathan at the reception. He's so big now, it's crazy.

Last 2 pictures are Kellie, Steph and Nathan at the wedding reception, and the Orange County group.

One thing that made the trip that much better was the Timeshare we stayed in. Here is a video tour of the room, with an ocean view.

14-2 In round 1 of the NCAA Tourney

2009-03-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

1st night: 14 - 2

Best Picks:
1. Texas A&M over BYU
2. Maryland over California
3. Western Kentucky over Illinois :)

My 2 losses:
1. I picked Minnesota over Texas
2. I picked Clemson over Michigan...who knew?

This is the best year I've had to date!

Here's how I see it going:

Sweet 16: All my teams are intact so far...
Midwest - Louisville, Wake Forest, Kansas, and Michigan St.
West - Texas A&M, Purdue, Marquette, and Memphis
East - Pittsburgh, Florida State, UCLA, and Duke
South - North Carolina, Gonzaga, Syracuse, and Oklahoma

Elite Eight: Yeah, that's right...UNC isn't on my bracket...upset baby!
Wake Forest, Michigan St., Texas A&M, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Duke, Gonzaga and Syracuse

Final Four:
Michigan St., Memphis, Duke, and Syracuse

Championship Dance:
Memphis 78
Syracuse 62

MEMPHIS is the National Champion. Derick Rose is going to be kicking himself for leaving, at least that's how I see it. So first 16 games I was right on 88% on the games I picked. I doubt that will keep up through the tournament but I can say that I did better than Obama, Dywane Wade, and Samuel L. Jackson based on their ESPN brackets.

Obama: 11 - 5
Wade: 12 - 4
Jackson: 12 - 4
Corbaley: 14 - 2

Wow, finally...

2009-03-19T20:26:00.000-07:00

eMPLOYment...it can happen to you!

Amazing. I have 2 new jobs, and I got them in 2 days. So on Tuesday I decided to apply for restaurant positions, seeing as how I'm waiting to hear from the Air Force (oh yeah, that's another issue), and no later than 90 minutes after I applied online at Applebees (yeah, I don't really like their menu all that much) I got a call and an interview the same day.

As soon as I left Applebees, I drove a whole .05 miles to Texas Roadhouse and put in an application. Crazy thing is that the person who opened the door for me to come in was the owner of the restaurant, and told me today that he knew within 15 seconds that he was going to hire me. You wanna know the best part? I can get benefits from both jobs after 60 days. This means that Steph, Nathan and I will all have Benefits in less than 3 months. Even better, they both agreed to set me up on schedules that would allow me to avoid conflict between the jobs so I can work both of them.

Now I must say that I didn't want to go back and serve tables again. Why? Because I'm 28 frickin' years old, that's why. I have a college degree, 3 years of professional experience, and I can't get a job for anything but commission only sales. Who was supposed to tell me that I needed a specialized degree? Ha! That's a funny question, since it's my responsibility, but I can say that I'm learning plenty of valuable lessons to teach Nathan along the way.

Feelings - I have been depressed lately about the following:

No job = no contribution to family
No future = haven't enrolled in school yet, since I couldn't afford it
Every door seemed to be closed in my face = Police / Air Force...sort of...

The Air Force is a fun topic. I applied to join, but am going through a process now because according to their rules, you have to be in boot camp by your 28th Birthday, which I just had in December. So even though I'm overqualified to join, I'm 3 months too old to join. In the words of my good friend Fabiano, "do you believe on that man?"

I remain hopeful in the face of bad fortune that God will see me through this situation, as I would much rather be in the Air Force getting a free extra education, and learning valuable skills that will help me when I get out. To be honest, I have been doubting lately what my life is supposed to be, but it seems that I'm starting to get balance again. I just want to be able to move on and fix the mistakes that I've made, so I can start fresh.

So tomorrow is day 1 of my new phase: serving tables again. But this time, I feel like I'm contributing more to my family, because we don't have health insurance without these jobs in 2 months. If the Air Force comes through soon, then all will be solved, but if not, at least I have something to keep us afloat, and in good standing with our credit!

Venting about politics...

2009-03-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

9000+ Earmarks?

Is this the "change" we were led to believe was inevitable?

Ok, I don't normally do this, and it won't happen again for a while, unless there is another issue I feel is deserving of the time, but this is serious business here. First, let me say that at the beginning of the Obama campaign, I actually told my mother that I was thinking of voting for Obama. The question is why? I have spent many days kicking myself in the rear for it, but the reason was that Obama was the popular pick, and that he was "different" than Bush.

During the last few months prior to voting I actually became educated about the topics, and became highly resolved that I didn't like either candidate. Neither of them stood out as being the perfect choice, but after a while I stopped being able to trust Obama. Did he lie to me at the time that I was aware? Did he do something to betray my trust at all? Not that I can remember, but then I started getting into the major details of his views, and got a little scared for the future.

My mother has issues with her breathing, and there have been many experimental drugs that have helped her cope with her troubles over the years, many of which saved her life. Obama says that he believes in Capitalist America, but wants to socialize health care. Let me be clear, this will mean exactly what he has been quoted to say. This will mean that the government will stop providing money to look into new and alternative treatments for the diseases that they chose. Furthermore, they will have the final say so as to what candidates get what treatments, and doctors won't have a say. This is what is staring us down in the near future. Can I imagine a situation where my mother's life is compromised because the government doesn't think it's a good investment of money to give her experimental treatments for her asthma? I can and it scares me.

2nd main issue, I didn't really like Bush, and I feel he portrayed conservatives as a whole as idiots who like to shoot potato guns, and put food on their families. But seriously he did make sure that our military was up and running in order to protect us from any domestic threats. How many terrorist attacks have happened since 2001 that I can name? I will refrain from answering that question to maintain my itegrity, because I'm just not sure, but I don't recall any. Not one.

Obama wants to shut down military operations and spending on new technologies that we will need in the future. Instead he passed a bill with over 9000 earmarks in it, including one grant to scientists to see if they can alter pig crap to see if they can take the smell out. I'll tell you one thing, I would rather be covered in smelly pig crap than fear for my families safety and the continuance of our way of life.

By the way, anyone hear that Obama wanted to re-open trade with Cuba, a communist country? I thought we didn't support communism in any way? Funny...

Final game: Have you seen "Jay Walking" on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno? If you have, then I will encourage you to find some Obama supporters between the ages of 18 and 35, and ask them "what is Obama actually going to do to inspire "change"? I came from San Diego, a place where I couldn't get into Target without tons of guys asking me to support their choice to "love who they want", nor could I work at my job without hearing that "republicans suck", or "what about date rape victims, don't they have the right to not have the baby?" This is labeled politics, not religion, so I will try to stay out of it, but seriously, does the baby deserve to die because someone else did something wrong? I don't think that's right...

Family Pictures!

2009-03-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

Family Pictures!

Someone paid for us to have our family pictures taken, which is such a blessing. I sent out an e-mail for everyone to see the pictures in advance, but it doesn't seem like anyone actually read the part in the e-mail that said there was a password needed. Oh well, here they are!

Nathan is now 8 weeks old. Here are some new pictures.

2009-02-01T21:05:00.000-08:00

Nathan is almost 2 months old, and looking more and more like the cutest little boy ever. Enjoy these pictures, and more to come.

Sun Rises in Arizona are beautiful!

2009-01-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

I have been waking up really early lately to feed the dogs, and to feed Nathan. The best part about that is I am able to catch a lot of sunrises while I'm drinking my coffee. These are right outside the front door of our current residence, and I hope you enjoy them, because this is what I really love about Arizona.

The Thing I Like the Most about

2009-01-21T20:29:00.000-08:00

I love The Daily Show with John Stewart and The Colbert Report because they are sarcastic humor that make news funny. The best part is that they seem to show equal scorn for all sides of politics, as well as religion, so I don't take it personally. There have been many shows, not just these two, dedicated to making fun of Bush, showing how poorly he articulates himself during major speeches, and I'm happy to say that they are now pointing out funny things about Obama also.

I thought it would be hard, in fact I was sure that there was no chance for Obama's speeches to be made fun of, but more praised because he's so much 'different' than Bush, you know, it's all about "Change" and stuff. Well, he didn't sound too different in his Inaugural Address:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=216538&title=Changefest-%2709---Obama%27s-Inaugural-Speech

So let's all have a toast to change and just relax a little, because I didn't really love Bush either, but I don't see much "Change" yet...

Will Work For Food

2009-01-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

I wish I could explain exactly what's been going on in my head these last few weeks. Getting to know Nathan has been tough recently because I've been so preoccupied with finding a job, and the move to Arizona. He still isn't smiling on purpose yet, but he is more aware every day, and his neck is so strong now that he loves sitting up straight and looking around.

Arizona is relaxing, almost like a vacation, but I'm sure that as soon as work starts it will be a different story. Steph recently parted ways with Enterprise Rent-A-Car because they wanted us to move to L.A. I can't say that I didn't consider staying in CA, but the right move for us at the time was to get close to family, so now that we are here, and we know the fate of our employment, there's nothing better to do than to try to start over here near family.

So more pictures to come, and for all those who don't like my SD Super Chargers, check the new colors, and keep looking for customizations. Here's a pretty picture for you to help you look forward to next year like me.

First time post of 2009 - COULD BE YOUR FIRST TIME HOLDING NATHAN

2009-01-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

Here are the pictures of people holding Nathan for the first time: these aren't in any particular order or anything. I just posted the pics I found first. My apologies to Erin, because Steph informed me that we missed a picture of your first time holding Nathan. We will have to superimpose your head on another person's body or something, cause that ain't cool.

My Niece, Nathan's Cousin Savannah

Aunt Jenn Richard

Uncle Joe Richard

My Dad's first Grandchild

Uncle Wes

Aunt Sarah

Cousin Eric Strobaugh

Aunt ("Sort Of") Cindy Roy

Papasan - John Grady

A Fellow Charger Fan - Mike Pavon

Another Charger Fan - Aaron Browne

Heather Wampole

Kellie Browne

Me - The First Hold!!!

Steph - Love at First Sight

The First Time a Raider has loved a Charger - Fabiano

Kitty

James Roy - Fellow Charger Fan

My Mom's First Grandchild

Mamasan

Andre Enriquez

Chaz

Christmas In San Diego

2008-12-31T23:11:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS 2008

chillin with the fam in SD has never been more relaxed!

Ever seen Lion King? Well, we're offering up little Nathan like Simba the Lion King. I have some serious family pictures, but I thought this one would be the best. Christmas was great this year, as it is every year, but a little more special as Nathan's first Christmas!

We had our annual pinto bean poker tournament. By annual, I mean the first one ever. It was nice though, because we're all very competitive and there were no arguments. We had such a great time, and it was the perfect way to end 2008 with a bang.

Nathan is now about 4 weeks old, and has been such a blessing to us. He's just getting a little fussy lately, so it's finally harder for us to get any sleep. The quiet was nice while it lasted, but at least we can be thankful that he is constantly letting us know that he's breathing and alive during the night :)

So, as 2008 closes out, do your best to remember the times and people that brought you the most joy, and hopefully you have as many digital reminders as I do that life is short, and to really enjoy it you have to spend it with the one's you love. I'm doing it now, and I love it!

New Nathan Pictures 12/31/2008

2008-12-31T12:04:00.000-08:00

Some of the last baby pictures of 2008
Just some random pics of the Corbaley boys being silly:

Me and "Squit Nugget"

photos by Chris Corbaley
photos for Chris Corbaley
all photos of Nathan Corbaley are the sole property of Chris Corbaley
(feel free to copy them anyway, I won't sue)

Scrunchie faces
Nathan looks like he has one huge arm and one small arm.

I've rated the manliness of my son:
2 thumbs up!

Nathan's Birth

2008-12-30T17:46:00.000-08:00

My Son Is Born
notice the San Diego Charger Colors

So leading up to Nathan's birth were a couple weeks of heavy anticipation, hoping that he would come out before Scott had to go back to Iraq. We made a few trips to the hospital, all false alarms, and eventually went in to get induced on the 4th of December.

After many hours of labor, we found out that Nathan was "sunny-side up" so we decided that we would have a C-section. Less than an hour later, Nathan was born. 7 pounds, 14 ounces, 20 inches long, @6:42pm. The other cool thing was that this was happening...

LT, Rivers lead Chargers to 34-7 win over Raiders (Yahoo! Sports)

Team	Total Yds	Pass Yds	Rush Yds	First Downs	3rdD%	Pen./Yds	Turnovers	Time of Poss.
Oakland	163	109	54	9	16.7%	6/70	4	25:47
San Diego	372	214	158	18	50.0%	9/51	1	34:13

In a bitter beat down of division rivals, ou r San Diego Chargers laid a vicious whooping on the Raiders, right at the time that Nathan was born. I was so enamored with my new son, that I didn't even know that it was happening only a few miles away. What a great story. Check out Nathan as I'm writing this blog.

Here's another one of the Charger boys!

Little Nathan is definitely going to CHOSE to be a Charger fan since he was born in San Diego, during a game, against the Raiders.

Stephanie is going to get a Darren Sproles Jersey soon. She likes Sproles because he's scrappy and quick, but also because the Jersey is hard to find.

Anyway, back to Nathan. He is the love of our lives right now, yet we are still trying to keep each other first. It's just a little harder to focus on each other when we're still learning the ropes of first-time parenthood. One last comment on our little boy; if you've never been a parent before, I hope that you have the same experience that we have so far. Here are some books I can recommend:

Babywise, The Expectant Father, What to Expect When You're Expecting

Don't let people tell you how to raise your kids, but don't let good advise get away because of your pride. I just hope that you actually get good advice as we have! GO CHARGERS GO!

Happy Thanksgiving San Diego 2008

2008-12-29T23:10:00.000-08:00

THANKSGIVING 2008!

Thanksgiving was great:

Stephanie and I were so blessed to have family visiting us this year, but it was crazy seeing as how it was our first holiday hosting festival. I stressed as always, and we made the best of what we could near the end of Stephanie's pregnancy, and the increasingly annoying lack of square footage to share between 18 people and 4 dogs. It was a great time to get together with long lost family, and enjoy what I have thought Thanksgiving has been about for as long as I can remember: being grateful for the little things.

We were all excited to see Scott (our brother), who was able to come back half way through his term in Iraq to visit with us for a few days. He really enjoyed the time here, and we are glad that he will be coming home in April. Please keep him in your prayers!

With family from all over the U.S., mostly from Arizona, we were able to sit back and enjoy the company of family for the first time in a while. Stephanie's mom Connie was able to come out from the middle of November all the way through the first week of December and help us prepare the way for little Nathan. Personally, I am so grateful that she was here and able to look after my favorite while I was going to work. The last few weeks of Steph's pregnancy were difficult to say the least, so we loved being able to lean on her for a bit.

And then there was Nathan John Corbaley...