Makin the Change!

Yup, I've made the change too! You can now find the Semper Fi Fellowship over in pastorhawkins.wordpress.com

The Guy's Rules

The Guy's Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story.

(I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear "the rules" From the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Men ARE NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly Acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only If you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one .

1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings Peach, for example, is a fruit, not! A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will Be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear Is fine...Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.

Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Hearing God

What a joy when you hear God speaking to you! He has been speaking loud and clear to me via the 40th Psalm.

I'm currently memorizing this Psalm and encouraging you to do the same. Memorize it 4 verses at a time. Make sure you have plenty of selah moments. Let it sink in. Let God speak to you through this inspiring psalm.

Wait patiently for the Lord.....He will speak to you!

Psalm 40

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.

8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.

16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Disillusioned

The following letter was received by a dear friend of many years. All the time I've known this person there has been relationship struggles. People, especially Christian people, have acted in ways they should not have acted. I asked this person for permission to put this person's questions before the readers of Semper Fi, to see if they can help this person find the answers to the questions this person is seeking.

Where does it all begin and end? What is the real meaning to life? Is there really The God I have believed in all my life?

Was it really Him I have thought to have felt all these years?

What is the REAL TRUTH? I find myself doubting so many things I have always thought to be true. Am I really the person I think I am? What kind of person am I, REALLY?

Do I really love the people I profess to love? Do the people who say they love me really love me? Is there really such a thing as love? Or is it just a figment of our imaginations? Something made up in our minds to keep us going….something to drive us crazy at times and feel wonderful at others.

Are couples really true to each other for the rest of their lives when they say their vows during the wedding ceremony? Why do people get married? Why do we have children?

Why do we strive so hard for so long and never really get anywhere? We achieve what we think will make us happy then find out it is the thing that makes us the most miserable!

What is true peace? Is there such a thing? Why am I the person that I am? What has really shaped me? I am so different from my parents, yet, at times, I see a lot of them in me.

I don’t understand….it is all so confusing.

Where do I begin looking for the answers I am seeking? And once I find them are they really the ones I want? What path do I follow?

I feel like there is no beginning or no end…it just keeps going round and round again. What is trust?

Is there really anyone who you can trust totally? Can anyone really trust me? Am I trustworthy?

What is right and wrong? Is there really such a thing? Or is it just someone’s made up ideas?

Stock Tip of the Week

Logitech Taps Dell Finance Executive Mark Hawkins
Former Dell and HP Executive to Become Logitech CFO, SVP of Finance and Information Systems

FREMONT, Calif., March 21, 2006 and ROMANEL-SUR-MORGES, Switzerland, March 22, 2006 — Logitech International (SWX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) today announced that Mark J. Hawkins will join the company as senior vice president of finance and information systems, and chief financial officer. Mr. Hawkins, age 46, was most recently with the Dell Corporation for six years, following eighteen years with the Hewlett-Packard Company. He will succeed Kristen Onken, senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Mr. Hawkins will join Logitech on April 3, 2006, and Ms. Onken will begin her previously announced retirement at the end of April, 2006.

“When Kris Onken announced her intention to retire, we made a commitment to our shareholders, customers and employees that her replacement would be a leader who met the highest standards of financial and business leadership,” said Guerrino De Luca, Logitech president and chief executive officer.

“We are delighted to have Mark Hawkins join Logitech. His outstanding financial and business experience, acquired in two companies that are leaders in innovation and operational excellence, makes him a great fit for Logitech.”

“I am thrilled to join Logitech,” said Mark Hawkins. “The combination of its solid track record, its strong management team and its growth prospects, makes it an exciting company in our industry, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with the team.”

Mark Hawkins´ most recent position at Dell was vice president of finance for worldwide procurement and logistics and the Dell Operating Council. Previously, he held the business unit chief financial officer role with Dell´s U.S. consumer group. Prior to joining Dell, Mr. Hawkins was with Hewlett-Packard from 1981 to 1999 in finance and business-management roles. Among other assignments, he was involved in supporting the spin-off of Agilent Technologies. He received a B.A. degree in operations management from Michigan State University, an M.B.A. degree in finance from the University of Colorado, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Mr. Hawkins is married, with two sons. His family will relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area from Austin, Texas.

About LogitechFounded in 1981, Logitech designs, manufactures and markets personal peripherals that enable people to effectively work, play, and communicate in the digital world. Logitech International is a Swiss public company traded on the SWX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq National Market System (LOGI). The company has manufacturing facilities in Asia and offices in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Simple Wisdom

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, Sunday, 12/18/05.

Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart:

I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either.

Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?

I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife. Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. If this is what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this Happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school . the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

The Power of Commitment

Until one is committed
there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all the acts of initiative and creation
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which
kills countless ideas and splendid plans.

That the moment one definitely commits oneself
then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise have occurred

A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents
and meetings and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamed would come his (her) way.

Whatever you can do or dream to do,
Begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Begin it now.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe