tEchNoLOgY

So I'm trying to branch out a little. Beginning to read random articles about stuff I have no knowledge of, but can be interesting/informative to read. Here's 2 good quotes from THIS article on the use of technology in film making. (Told you this was random.)

It's not a question of new film making techniques or technologies. Indeed, over-reliance on special effects can detract from a film's impact: witness the way-too-long battle scenes in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, McDowell said. "It's time for us filmmakers to restrain ourselves and use the tools to do sophisticated storytelling as opposed to just look what we can do if we just press this button."

"The thing I love about the Media Lab is that it's never about the technology. It's about what you do with it, at a human scale."

Christmas Observation

As we exit the Christmas season and gear up for 07, allow me to make a brief, simple observation. You know those inflatable santas and snowman, right? Yeah, well, they are everywhere. (Hang on, that's not the observation.) Perhaps I see more of them b/c I'm living back in the true South again...sorry, Louisville, KY, you don't count...remember, you have restaurants that serve unsweet tea. A crime! Anywho, here it is: Most inflatable snowman and reindeer and santas I saw were in yards of trailers, mobile homes, or smaller homes. Now for some of you, you might say, "Well, duh." Others, you may be offended b/c you're the person in the neighborhood who decks out their yard with lights and these inflatable creatures. Fine, more power to ya. But seriously, I drive by these run down houses and think to myself, "Where in the world do they get the money to buy these 15 inflatables up in their yard?!?!" Think about it. I bet if they sold all of them, they could put a dent in their car payment or 2nd mortgage. And yeah, I know it's not just redneck yards that participate in it...but I bet 80% of these things are in such described yards. Ok, now that you've wasted 45 seconds of your life reading this, get back to work or family. Chow. Happy New Year.

Is It THAT Good?!?

I like my White Chocolate Mocha like everyone else...but c'mon...is is THAT good? Would you stand in line for over 30 minutes for 1 cup of (overpriced) coffee? These people did. I snapped this pic with my camera phone 2 weeks ago while working at a Verizon kiosk at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, GA.

Insane.

Props to Aldi

Last week I went grocery shopping at this German based discount food store. Dana had told me about it and so I went and stocked up on a few weeks worth of groceries. Having four kids, we look to cut cost just about everywhere. Dude, props to Aldi! I cut my bill in half. No joke. Off brands? Oh yeah, stuff you never heard of. But until I get sick from whatever it is their selling me, I'm hooked.

Quite a unique experience. You bag your own groceries (bring boxes, they don't give you bags...though you can purchase big plastic bags for 10 cents, paper bags for a nickel...and re-use them) and usually there's only 2 or 3 people working in the store. They never have to bring in buggies from the parking lot because to get a buggy, you pop a quarter in the locking mechanism, to get your quarter back, you return the buggy to the front.

I didn't quite leap for joy like these folks, but I did enjoy the 50% off my grocery bill. Props to Aldi.

If you want to see if they have a location near you, here's their website: LINK

Merry Christmas, Free Adjustments, and Surprise - It's a Baby Shower!

I like things out of the norm. Shakin' up. Different. And so it was with our small group Christmas party last night. We threw a surprise baby shower (not all the fluff fluff stuff though - suitable for guys to be present) for a relative of one of the couples in our group. This family just moved here from Mexico and she is pregnant with their second. She was very very surprised that we made our Christmas party a time of gift giving to her. Isn't that what this is all about though? I love it. Also, last night, we had Dan, the chiropractor in the group, spontaneously giving out free adjustments. I had never been adjusted before so I cautiously allowed him to pop my neck and shoulders and arms. Dude, that was crazy. My joints, bones, whatever it was sounded like someone was playing with bubble wrap. Fun stuff.

Merry Christmas to all. I hope your get-togethers are as eventful as ours.

Healer Horse

Man regains sight after horse headbutt
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

A man who was blinded in his right eye by a piece of shrapnel in the Second World War has had his vision restored after being headbutted by a racehorse.
Paddock security guard Don Karkos, 82, was putting a collar around the neck of My Buddy Chimo at Monticello Raceway in New York State when the accident happened.
He said: “I've been seeing doctors all my life, and they've always told me that nothing can be done.” Experts believe the blow could have knocked a dislocated lens into place.

Heard this on Paul Harvey today. Great story. Can you imagine being blind in one eye that long...and then, BAM, headbutted by a horse restores your sight!?!?! Crazy. (Yes, I fully expect some wackos to create a following for this horse...declaring it to be a miracle worker...TV show to come.)

Here's the full story: LINK

Religion: Unknown

I had a doctor's appointment today and noticed something interesting. When I first arrived, the lady behind the counter asked me to look over a sheet of information she had printed out. It had my basic info: name, address, social, d.o.b., etc. As I scanning the page, I noticed one category that read, "Religion: Unknown." So, with that information in mind, here's a multiple choice question for you:

What was my reaction to noticing this?

a. "Uh, ma'am, have y'all not updated your software since the 80's? This offends me. You know good and well you cannot list someone's religious preference on their bio sheet. I expect this fixed immediately or I'll be glad to report you to the Medical Board of GA."

b. "Excuse me, ma'am, I'm a little surprised. I've been here before and you should know who I am by now...but apparently you don't. Everyone knows I am the grandson of a famous Baptist minister in Eastern Alabama. His father and his father and his father were all Baptist. I grew up in a Baptist church. You should know this. My religion is obviously Baptist."

c. "Hey, yo, you, what's this all about? Check it. I'm part of new church plant up in Bartow County, yo. Religion? C'mon now. You serious? We all just a bunch of Jesus Freaks, yo. It ain't about no religion. You know that. C'mon now, get that off there." (I then proceeded to invite her to our Sunday morning service starting at 10am with freshly brewed coffee and stadium seating.)

d. I said nothing and thought quietly to myself, "This would make a great title for my next post."

Check comments for the correct answer. Thanks for your participation.

Not Jesus

So I'm taking my 5yr old and 2 of our neighbor's kids to school this morning...like I do every morning. Most of the time it's rather quiet in the car. I'm not a morning person, so I'm often quiet, just driving and thinking about all the things I need to do for the day. Other times I try and chit chat with the kiddos about whatever. This morning, I tried to initiate a little conversation and threw out the question, "So, what are ya'll going to learn about in school today?" I didn't really expect an answer. The neighbor's kids are 8 and 6. Braden is 5. If they did answer, I expected something along the lines of "numbers or letters", etc. Well, what I got has thrown me for a loop this morning. Braden immediately said, "Not Jesus." I responded with, "Not Jesus?...well, where do you learn about Jesus?" We then discussed how church and the home are where you mostly learn about Jesus.

Now the whole Public vs. Private vs. Homeschool debate is churning in my head (and stomach) again. The answer didn't surprise me. After all, he goes to the local public school. I don't expect him to hear about Jesus...or anything remotely related to Jesus there. But his answer is interesting, isn't it? On one hand I hate it b/c I want as many people as I can get surrounding my children with truth. On the other hand, it's ok, maybe even "good" because it a. set up an opportunity for me to share with him how he is to take his light into places like his school and b. he is recognizing at an early age differing beliefs and how he is to be different.

While this certainly raises questions about schooling options...it solidly confirms one thing. When my children are asked, "Where DO YOU learn about Jesus?"...I want them to naturally and immediately think of "Home" first. That's the lesson here.

Respond

I was recently convicted about how I respond to things, people, circumstances, etc. Reaction matters, doesn't it? How we respond to things speaks volume about our faith. It communicates grace and patience and love...or it communicates impatience, anger, and ungodly behavior. In fact, how we respond to people...especially those who mistreat us...could possibly be the strongest testimony we carry.
Lately, I've allowed stress and frustration to throw me off track. I've been harsh in my reactions. If not harsh, I've just been indifferent. In all relationships we have moments of conflict. In our job and in our homes we all have those moments when our response to someone's behavior will steer the conversation towards peace or towards more conflict.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

Finishing Strong

In the Christian life, it's not how you start that matters. It's how you finish.
I was recently given the book Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar. I'm only 22 pages in, but I like this statement. It's true. He talks about 2 ministers who started around the time of Billy Graham and had great success, but neither finished in ministry. On this topic, I've heard the casualty rate for ministers is 90%. In other words, only 10% who start in ministry will finish in ministry. This statement speaks to that, but it also speaks to anyone who claims to follow Christ. I know many, including myself, that need to be reminded of this. Forget the past. You can't change it. Don't be stuck in regret or failings or missed opportunities. Stay the course. Trust in Him. Change today and tomorrow. (Ok, not trying to be some cheesy motivational dork here.) But, it's true. It is how you finish. Be encouraged. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13b-14

Disc Golf

Another weird thing I like (besides Duke basketball) is disc golf. Tons of fun, great exercise, challenging, and super cheap (often free!). HERE is a cheesy video about disc golf. These guys make it look easy.

Let's Go Duke!

Don't ask me how, cause I don't know. I don't know how a country boy from North Alabama who attended Auburn University ended up being a Duke Bluedevil's Basketball fan...but it happened. I started watching them in high school and continued on into college. Most people around here despise even hearing the word Duke mentioned. And having lived in Louisville, KY for 4.5 years....oh boy, let me tell you. They certainly have their own opinions about Duke. Most comments I hear are along the lines of, "Those stuck-up bunch of spoiled brats..." (not necessarily the team, but the school). And there is probably a certain amount of truth to that statement. But here's why I enjoy watching the Bluedevils: the Cameron Crazies - best student section in college basketball. Oh, and by the way, when Duke loses more games this season (and they will lose quite a few more this year) - don't come talkin smack on my blog. I'm not a crazy, just a wannabee. I don't care that much --- it's not AU football.

@ the Leaf

A little video about Sundays at Oak Leaf.
LINK

$$$ to give

Just curious, if you were given tons of moola - with the condition that you had to give every bit of it away - awarding it to someone...who would it be? Why that person(s)? Here's some quick answers off the top of my head: 1. Someone who would promise to give it right back. ha. 2. Parents 3. Family 4. Ministries/Charities
What say you?

Taxpayer's Money Hard At Work

LINK
What a way to say Merry Christmas! Funny stuff.

Support YOUR Team!

THIS girl is not helping the stereotype of cheerleaders.

Unchanging

At the Leaf yesterday, Jason and the gang from Westridge church did a phenomenal job leading worship. One of the songs performed was Unchanging by Chris Tomlin. As I was driving home from work today, listening to a cd of the service, the lyrics of this song really grabbed me:

Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness
You never change
You never fail, O God

True are Your promises
True are Your promises
You never change
You never fail, O God

So we raise up holy hands
To praise the Holy One
Who was and is and is to come

Wide is Your love and grace
Wide is Your love and grace
You never change
You never fail, O God

You were, You are
You will always be

What a great reminder - He never changes, He never fails. I change. I fail. Things change. People change. Time changes. People fail. In a world of unpredictability, there's something solid that is predictable. There's something dependable. Now that is something to trust! That is something to invest in! That is something worth devoting my life to!

5, 3, 2, and ONE

Finally, the day has arrived. It is now much easier for me to say all my kid's ages. You see, prior to yesterday, it was always me responding to people's questions with, "I have 4 children...what's that, their age? Well, they are 5, 3, 2, and....(and then I would have to remember how many months old Camden is)____ months." Well, our butterball turned 1 yesterday. Now things are much simpler.

*Please note: For topic "5,3,2,and ONE", administrator reserves the right to terminate any comment bringing attention to the insanity of host blogger. Also, any comment making reference to host blogger starting a cult by having so many kids or host blogger trying to create a basketball team or any mention of anything closely related to these issues will result in a deletion of such comment and will automatically generate 3 months of spam in commenter's inbox. Thanks for your understanding.

Honk If You've Coached At Bama

In case anyone is wondering, YES, I'm taking great delight in the embarrassing fallout of our neighbors across the state. A bazillion coaches within the past 10 years...and now most bammers are drinking the koolaid in thinking they will actually attract a "big name" coach. (And if they do, I'll eat my words.) But who in the world would want to walk in to that mess? Money does talk though. Hmmm...wander if I should submit my resume?

Truth in Love

For our small group meeting last night, we talked about speaking the truth in love. Here are just a few tidbits that stood out:

* The stronger the bridge of relationship, the more truth someone can handle. I like this statement. It's common sense. Think about it: If you are approaching someone about being...oh, let's just pick something...an alcoholic. Who do you have a better shot at? The complete stranger or the friend of 2 years? Who is more likely to listen to what you have to say? The person that barely knows you or the person that you have invested in and can trust you...even if what you are saying is hard to absorb.

* Which side to you fall on? Are you too blunt with people...no tact? Or are you a people pleaser? You will compromise the truth to avoid stepping on someone's toes. Both of these are extremes and both can be dangerous...which leads us to the final point...

* In the person of Jesus Christ we find the perfect blend of grace and truth. Want to learn how to speak the truth in love to your spouse, co-worker, or children? Study how Christ dealt with people. As always, as with most things in our journey, the answer is simple: Imitate Christ.

"Ya'll Are Everywhere" part deux

My feeble attempt at a cool picture.
Jump!
Wait your turn.
Jump around.
Smile.
Tim, our small group pastor, testing the theory that 5 helium filled balloons can indeed lift a Honda CRV off the ground.
Jeremy, our student pastor, showing some serious skills by chatting on the cell phone and throwing a 20 yard TD strike at the same time.
Tim showing off his cool magic trick called, "Replacing my head with a balloon."
Cute little guy.
This little dude was small but got in with the big kids and showed some serious moves.

"Ya'll Are Everywhere"

Yesterday, Saturday, we set up the bounce house at a local elementary school. They were doing a breakfast with Santa thing and so we added to their event by allowing kids to jump off all the sugary syrup in their system and also gave out a couple hundred balloons. (I will post some pics this week). It's always encouraging to get an occasional comment from someone that lets you know you're accomplishing your mission. Yesterday, it came from a lady who simply said, "Ya'll Are Everywhere." That is big time encouraging to us considering we are a brand new church...small...and with no money. Just doing the little things can make all the difference. What a great thing to be known for --- being everywhere in the community. Rock on.

Thumbtastic!

Great video of 2006 Iron Bowl.
Linky

Not Your Way

So we've lived in Cartersville, GA for almost 2 years now...and I finally ate at the famous 4 Way Lunch. Grease pit? Yes. Good eatin? Sorta. I had a hamburger "all the way"...which means it had mustard, chili, and onions on it. As you can see, this place seats around 10 people (it's about the length of 7 newspaper stands). Check out the sign posted above the grill. Now that's funny.

(click on the picture to see an enlarged version)

Church Videos

Bob put together a great collection of church videos. Click HERE to watch.

Next 2 Series

So we just wrapped up our Mythbuster's series at Oak Leaf. I'm excited about our next 2. In December we will do a series called "Light", and in January one called, "God on the Radio". Both will be fantastic.

Poor Question - Great Response

LSU head football coach, Les Miles, being interviewed at halftime during their game with Tennessee last weekend.

Click HERE to watch.

warning: you do hear him curse

by the way: they won the game

I Like You

I'm all for research...but was THIS really necessary?!? The outcomes were WAY predictable. I could have saved someone a lot of time and money and just told them what to expect from their surveys.

(sorry Southern Baptists...looks like those pesky Catholics will beat you guys again this year -- keep pushing for a playoff system -- polls are no way to crown a champion)

Hey There

Ok, it's late, I'm tired, and a big week is just ahead. So, here's my Sunday night post. Yep, a picture of me and the honey. The background is some river in Chattanooga...I should probably know which one it is...oh well. This was taken on our first ever staff retreat a few weeks ago.

Quick update: Service went swell today. I'm so excited every week to meet families who tell me they are hopping on board b/c they have finally found a place that fits for them...and many are doing so b/c their kids are begging them to come back. Great job Dana!

For the 2 or 3 of you that actually read and comment on my infamous blog...drive over/up/down/whatever to C'ville one Sunday morning. Would love to have you visit!

Ready for Sunday

Looking forward to this Sunday at OLC. We are in the middle of a series called "MythBusters". This week's myth: Sin is no big deal.

Not Near Perfect

I'm not near organized enough. I drink too much coke. I don't get enough sleep. I complain too much. I'm weird. I'm a creative freak. I'm 29 going on 23. I'm an impatient driver. I'm selfish. I'm usually dishonest when people ask me how I'm doing. I struggle with consistency. I repeat myself. I struggle with consistency. Playing church is a stressor. True Christian fellowship is a delight. I'm a slow learner.

Happy Thursday.

Momentum

Great word to describe this morning's service. Great word to describe the beginning of OLC (Oak Leaf Church). God is good. God uses little people to do big things. I sensed momentum. You could feel it. Of course, our largest crowd since we started 11 weeks ago may have something to do with it - close to 300.

Side note: Churches don't have to apologize for talking about numbers. Well, at least churches with the right motivation do not. I used to think...and even recently...that I always had to give a disclaimer before I mentioned how many people came to our new church. Something along the lines of, "Well, I know it's not about numbers...but...we had..." I'm going to stop doing that. If our hearts are right and our motivation is for the unchurched to come and experience the grace and goodness of God, I'm going to be ecstatic when 300+ people show up to a movie theatre for church on Sunday morning! Growth is not evil. For us, it's a sign that our people are doing what we ask them to do -- reach out, invite a friend, invest in other's lives. That's powerful. That'll preach.

So yeah, back to this momentum thing. You could just sense it. A moving forward. A pressing on. Did everything run flawless? Of course not. But people are investing in this thing called church at the movies. They are sacrificing time. They are putting others above themselves and growing spiritually in the process. Momentum is motivating. Makes me want to devote even more thought, more energy, more patience, more love, more creativity into everything we do. As we learned today, God is a big God. Incomprehensible. He's a great God. And when He decides to move...and there's a momentum, a surge...great things are accomplished by His people - for His Kingdom.

Wigs, Chicken Fingers, and 87,451

Just now getting around to posting a few pics I took on my roadtrip 2 weeks ago at the AU vs. FL game on the Plains. I didn't take a lot of pics of the campus and traditional places b/c I spent 4.5 yrs there...so here's some random pics of some random things: A few "cool" Gator fans.
Devotion is an understatement.
Best chicken fingers in southeast AL...and they leave no doubt about their mission.
Gameday was there but I didn't bother. I still like ESPN, but they are just not what they used to be. Too political now...all about promoting certain teams/leagues.
My view at kickoff.

Wave On

Who knew the Wave was 25 years old? LINK
And I certainly didn't know THIS guy invented it!
Funny stuff.

Trick-O-Rama

Ahhh...that time of year again. Time for Christians to hash out whether their kids should participate in Halloween traditions, etc. No need to list out their arguments here - they're all too familiar to everyone. But I do love the church signs that pop up this time of year. I find it funny that most festivals held by churches are called "Trunk or Treat". I pass by this church everyday when I take my oldest son Braden to school: Nothing against this church, but c'mon...we need to be able to laugh at that. How cheesy. How funny. I suppose they accomplished their mission though. When I saw "Beware" on one side, I had to know what the other side said. A church just down the road from this one recently had on their sign: "Our Daily Menu, God's Word, KJV". Ahhh...the KJV debate, now that's a treat.

**Great Deal!** Quick Sale!

So let me tell you just how cool Craigs List is. I've slowly gotten into Ebay and Craigs List and online selling/buying over the past few years and think it to be superb. Craigs is great b/c it's free and most of the time you meet sellers who are honest about what they are selling. Dana and I are strapped for cash (what's new?!) and so I decided to put my cherished mountain bike on Craigs yesterday. I had a call within 2 hours and the guy came and picked it up around 9:45pm last night. I got $80 for it. Could I have gotten $100? Maybe. Probably. But I wanted a quick sale. Need cash now type thing. Plus, I never rode the dumb thing...was just sitting in my garage. Dude that bought it is getting his Masters at GA Tech and it was a perfect deal for him - great way to get around campus. That's exactly what I used it for at AU. Anywho, I'm now trying to get rid of snow skis (with poles, great deal! quick sale!).

Old School / New School

So we are on day 2 of our church staff retreat and it's been great. We are in the booming metropolis of Chatt, TN. (just kidding with the sarcasm...i actually like Chatt...not a bad city.)

Church staff and their families and the way they interact and the way they look has changed...at least some churches have. Many new church plants and "emerging" churches have caught on to this. Much more important to work as a team and actually take interest in one another than pounding a program into everyone and burning yourself out for the sake of the church. Here's what I'm trying to say: Today, more staff families are finding the freedom to just be themselves. Yeah, there's always an added pressure, an expectation, etc. But, I've been impressed with the staff of newer churches - they just seem like normal people - imagine that. No wonder people respond to a leader like that. No wonder people followed Jesus around and listened to him and wanted to be around him.

There's many great things to learn from people who have been in ministry a long time. Our elders hold much wisdom. But one good change that has occurred is the fixing of a weird system that said church staff people do their own thing and really don't like each other. Yeah, there will be disagreements and moments, but how great to be on a team of friends. Imagine that.

President Bush...drunk?

THIS is funny. They simply played the video in slo-mo...but it's still funny.

That Was Fun

I rarely get to a game anymore...with life happening and all...but of all the games to go to, I dun went and picked a good un! Great game, great atmosphere, one of loudest games I've attended in JHS.

Politics Schmolitics

I know nothing about this book. I'm not endorsing it. Just needed a pic to make my point. (Though the title is intriguing.) Amazing how you can be completely engrossed in something and then a few years later not give a rip. So it is with me and politics. I used to daily visit drudgereport.com and foxnews.com and so forth. I used to have far more conversations about the difference between a conservative and a liberal. I think I've just gotten fed up...and maybe also realized there a far more important things to be devoting my time and energy towards (now if I could just cure my obsession with Auburn football!).

Seriously, though, the same ole rhetoric from both sides is taxing (no pun intended) on one's spirit. The most frustrating part about politics: The amount of things NOT ACCOMPLISHED due to selfish, self-serving, greedy, playing the game politicians.

It's such a balance, isn't it? There are extremes on both sides, right? One side says it's my "duty" as a Christian to fight for all things holy (a.k.a. "conservative"). I should be in your face vocal about the moral issues of the day. The other extreme tells me to remove myself from the political process altogether. Have nothing to do with it.

I know one thing: we should pray hard for the Christ followers God calls into politics. What a tough job. That, my friend, is a special calling. Would be too frustrating for me. I'd want to slap somebody.

So the point of my rant? Not sure. Many. One thing is for certain though (as I was reminded of at the Catalyst Conference):
"...the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." Daniel 4:25

Paint-O-Rama

Ok, so Dana and I have lived in our home in C'ville for over a year and 1/2...and we are finally getting around to painting. The kids' rooms have been done for awhile - hired a buddy of mine to come in with his crew and they knocked it out within hours. But Dana and I are now determined to finish the rest of the house. No big deal, right? It's only the following: kitchen, living room, bathrooms, guest room, playroom, and office. At the pace we are going, we'll be finished by 2008. If you're bored and have some free time, come over and paint!

Sir Chunks-A-Lot

My 10 month old is great. Growing up too fast though. Since he's our last, I guess Dana and I are wanting him to stay a baby a bit longer. But he's getting teeth now and should be crawling any day. I affectionately call him "Sir Chunks-A-Lot" b/c he's a huge spitter upper.

World's Largest Pillow Fight

The Catalyst Conference was great, as expected. I'm now back home digesting it all. Lots of good speakers. Lots of great challenges. Worship was moving and inspiring. Laughed a lot. Thought a lot. Took tons of notes.

Oh yeah, and I also participated in the world's largest pillow fight. They did a lot of creative stuff...to keep ya going during the 2 day blitz of info overload. I would say giving over 10,000 people a small pillow and telling them to begin hitting each other for 60 straight seconds is creative!...and crazy. The picture doesn't do the event justice, but it was hard to take a pic with my camera phone while being pelted with pillows. Coolest part was at the end when everyone started throwing their pillows. Cool stuff.

They also set a different world record last year at Catalyst: most people to sit on a whoopee cushion at one time.

Conference Bound

Going to a conference over the next 2 days that I'm really looking forward to. I've heard really great things about it. It's called Catalyst. The last conference I went to was Drive. It was phenomenal. I'm sure this will be similar. I guess the thing about conferences is they can be very helpful, very insightful...but if your not careful, they can wear you down - information overload. I plan on attending this one not trying to remember everything I hear...but treat it 1. as a vacation of sorts (though it's only 1 hour away) and 2. try to implement just one or two things I hear...instead of hearing tons of ideas that never get put into practice.

pic of the day

oh my

a W is a W

None of AU's wins this year have been pretty, but a W is a W. 5-0...not a bad start I suppose.

go state, go state

mississippi state....my favorite 1-3 team.

Need A Topic

Ok, so I haven't posted in awhile. My brain is fried. Life is super busy right now. (Of course, when is it not.) So, until I get back into a routine of posting everyday, I need a topic. What's my next post?

Auto Auction

I attended my first ever auto auction last night. If you have never been before, it is pure entertainment. I didn't walk away with a prized possession, but the amount of cigarette smoke and car exhaust I inhaled had me feeling rather chipper. Be sure to attend one in the South...in a very remote place. Those are the best.

Clean & Organized

So the other day I'm at Publix picking up a few groceries - just some snacks to keep at the office. While shopping, I observed how extremely clean and organized their store was - at least the one in Marietta, GA. It got me thinking (yeah, real deep here) about the difference between a Publix and an Ingles...or the difference between Target and Walmart. I realized why I enjoy going into Publix and Target so much more than their competitor. They are clean and they are organized. The fruit is fresh. I can expect things to be fully stocked. Are they as big? Nah. Can I still find everything I need? Of course. Will it take far less time getting in and out? Absolutely. (I must interject here that I don't take great pleasure in having to make these store runs --- there, I protected my masculinity.) But seriously, I don't mind paying 8 cents more for a product if my overall experience is that much better.

And by the way, Publix has good hummus.

Satire

If you've never seen the famous "Jesus Videos", then you must.

They were created by a ministry called Vintage21. Here is a quick blurb about the videos:

In the Spring of 2003, Vintage21 had a four weeks series on Jesus Christ, taking a deep look at what He said and did. It was difficult at times to get past our preconceived notions that had been developed by staunch, starched Sunday School classes of old. This is a satirical look at what some people think Jesus is like. Thank goodness He's not.

Click HERE to view the videos.

My Crew

Braden, my 5 yr old, had his first soccer game tonight. Took a few pics with my camera phone...plus, here's a few more.

What Is The Gospel Message?

To contrast the post below...thought I would link one of the best Gospel presentations I've ever seen. For those already following Christ, watch it as a reminder and be encouraged and use it as an aid in explaining an all important passage of Scripture. If you have stumbled onto my blog and you are confused about what a Christian is or exactly how you become one or wrestling through tough questions in your mind - please set aside 30 or so minutes and watch this clear presentation of what God has done for ALL.

Click HERE , and scroll to the 8/13/06 message called Everybody is Invited. You can watch the message on video or just listen to the audio.

Joel Osteen

Start HERE and read what Alex says about Osteen...good use of the word cotton-candy. Then, follow his Michael Spencer link for a great summary on the "ministry" of Joel Osteen. I agree with much of what this guy says on Osteen. (I pretty much had my mind made up on him after seeing his Larry King Live interview.)

And by the way, for my faithful readers (all 3 of you)...sorry I haven't posted as much lately. Life is crazy. I'll give you an update on the Leaf and the car situation later on. Chow.

Just Wow

Dude Says He's Jesus Video

Watch the entire video and catch the cult quote at the end.

Oh my.

False Advertisement

So now that we sold our van and are in the hunt for something cheaper...I'm noticing a disappointing trend. I'm exclusively using autotrader.com and other private party seller resources in my hunt. The few vehicles I have actually gone to look at were junk. It amazes me that people don't think to maybe...oh....I don't know....maybe CLEAN your vehicle if you're trying to sell it!!!! I spent good money to have our van cleaned...I mean really cleaned...and it paid off. 1st person to look at it bought it. Just crazy. If you're going to hype up your "Runs great/No mechanical work/New tires" car - please, at least shampoo the urine out of the carpet!

(Not that this issue bothers me or anything)

Family Time

Had a great time with the FAM this weekend. Short time, but good time. There is no substitute for quality time with the spouse and quality time with the kiddos. One of the reasons I will be quitting my 3rd job soon.

Proud To Be An Auburn Tiger

A good friend of mine told me the more I blog about Auburn, the less traffic I'll get. No, he wasn't doggin' my team, just saying not everyone follows college football and someone in Idaho might not care about AU tradition. I understand his point...but, just can't help myself. It's football season! Win or lose, I go crazy for some football on the Plains. Plus, it's my blog, i'll do what i want :-)

In that spirit, I present to you another video:

FEAR THE THUMB VIDEO

For those completely oblivious to "Fear The Thumb," it started when coach Tuberville raised up four fingers after last year's Iron Bowl victory and the media and bammer's made a big deal of it. Wisely, Auburn people turned it into a marketing money maker, saying Bama should fear the thumb (5th straight loss to AU).

Bank Fees

Sold our van yesterday. The guy who bought it had the money wired into my account before picking it up. Very smooth transaction. Then today I'm checking out my account on-line when I notice a "miscellaneous fee" of $15. Now, before I tell the rest of the story, realize I've had no quams with my bank. I bank at Wachovia and so far, they've been excellent. Great customer service and an ATM every 2 feet.

So I call up cust serv and get a rep on the phone. The guy explains to me that with all "domestic wires" occurring between Wachovia and another banking institution, a $15 wire fee will be charged. Baffled, I asked for further explanation, saying, "You mean to tell me that when someone wants to put money in MY account...I sold the vehicle, I am the one RECEIVING money, not transferring it out...I have to pay a fee?!?! Are you kidding me?!?!"

Long story short, Wachovia refunded me the fifteen bucks...not because it wasn't a legitimate fee...but b/c the day of the sale I had spoken with someone at a local branch and they "failed to inform" me of the fee.

I'm not going to jump on the hate Wachovia train, but dude, that's absurd. A guy I work with passionately calls Wachovia - "Walk All Over You".

Energizer

definition: a person or thing that energizes

Attention all high school / college kids. I have some relieving news for you. You can now stop over-thinking what you will do with the rest of your life. The systems we have in place often do not help you with career decisions. In fact, they almost always complicate the matter. Hey, take all the "field placement" or "career path" tests you want, knock yourself out. Attend every seminar and listen to every boring speaker that comes to your gymnasium or campus. I guess they couldn't hurt.

Or, wrap your mind around one simple question. One question that can help guide you in making those tough decisions. What energizes you?

That's right, it's that simple. What event/activity/cause energizes you? What thing is it that when you do this one thing you are: a. good at it, b. love it, and c. it turns you into a 2 yr old who's had 5 bowls of sugary cereal!! Now, don't fret if you are still clueless about your passions in life. That'll come soon enough. If nothing else, college is great for that. To me, college was SOOOO much more than receiving a piece of paper (a.k.a. degree). Social skills and...well, just LIFE skills are often sharpened there. And personally for me, it's the environment that God used to radically change my life - showing me what a relationship with Jesus is all about.

Ok, back to point. I was discussing this with a friend the other day. I had finished doing some ministry stuff -- like talking to some people and preparing some stuff for a Sunday morning service -- and it was the most hyper I had been all week. Why? Cause that is what energizes me! I couldn't get enough of it.

I could go on forever, breaking this down...but just know this: Don't overcomplicate it! What gives you energy? What is your energizer?

(i paid money for one of those career placement tests one time...it told me I was destined to be a bus driver.)

1 week away