Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
christmas music makes me happy.
On the way home from work today I listened to Sufjan Steven's Christmas album(s). It is a box set and it is very very good.
It is by far my favorite Christmas album. You should by it.
It is by far my favorite Christmas album. You should by it.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
throwing stewardship out of the stained glass window
Every now and then I talk with my friend Zak from Connection Church just south of Austin. It is a growing church in several ways...this means not just numbers. It is a church I have only visited a few times but I love it. It seems to be full of people who want to serve.
In my conversations with Zak I usually ask him how things are going with the church. It is clear that exciting things are happening there and I hope they continue too...it is also clear in my conversations that Zak wants to make sure that any money spent is spent well. He does not want to waste it on trivial things. This makes me proud to call him a friend.
I am still reading "The Irresistible Revolution" and in that book the author, Shane Claiborne, writes about his church spending $100,000 on a stained glass window. This is insane to me.
The church that I previously served in is spending $400,000 to renovate the fellowship hall into a contemporary worship center. Yet again this falls into the insane category.
Why does this sort of stuff get under my skin so much. Maybe it is because I see people pouring money into pretty windows and state of the art worship centers in an effort to create a fuller experience of worship. This my friend is bass ackwards.
I do think that experiencing God is heavily based on our surroundings, but believing that it has to do with the state of the art facility is a little off base. It would be like trying to experience the fullness of a football game by purchasing a big screen HDTV. It is not like being in the game.
Jesus said "Whatever you do to the least of these, you have done to me." I believe we could experience God to a much fuller extent by embracing the poor and spending time with those that were created in the image of God.
I hope that whatever church I end up at seriously considers how it is spending God's money. In the same way, I hope that I will put more stock into how I am spending God's money.
I am truly thankful for friends in ministry like Zak who weigh were money is going.
By the way Zak...sorry I used you as an example...I know you have other issues...like the way your feet smell.
In my conversations with Zak I usually ask him how things are going with the church. It is clear that exciting things are happening there and I hope they continue too...it is also clear in my conversations that Zak wants to make sure that any money spent is spent well. He does not want to waste it on trivial things. This makes me proud to call him a friend.
I am still reading "The Irresistible Revolution" and in that book the author, Shane Claiborne, writes about his church spending $100,000 on a stained glass window. This is insane to me.
The church that I previously served in is spending $400,000 to renovate the fellowship hall into a contemporary worship center. Yet again this falls into the insane category.
Why does this sort of stuff get under my skin so much. Maybe it is because I see people pouring money into pretty windows and state of the art worship centers in an effort to create a fuller experience of worship. This my friend is bass ackwards.
I do think that experiencing God is heavily based on our surroundings, but believing that it has to do with the state of the art facility is a little off base. It would be like trying to experience the fullness of a football game by purchasing a big screen HDTV. It is not like being in the game.
Jesus said "Whatever you do to the least of these, you have done to me." I believe we could experience God to a much fuller extent by embracing the poor and spending time with those that were created in the image of God.
I hope that whatever church I end up at seriously considers how it is spending God's money. In the same way, I hope that I will put more stock into how I am spending God's money.
I am truly thankful for friends in ministry like Zak who weigh were money is going.
By the way Zak...sorry I used you as an example...I know you have other issues...like the way your feet smell.
Monday, December 10, 2007
I need to blog more
I need to blog more...I really do. I am not very good at making it a priority.
I just wanted to let you know that I am reading a book called 'The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne.
It is really good so far.
I just wanted to let you know that I am reading a book called 'The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne.
It is really good so far.
Friday, November 23, 2007
This lane for serial killers only...
After brainstorming with a few friends we cam up with some bumber stickers that serial killers should have on their car.
-Have a knife day.
-My other car is a knife.
-I knived your honor rool student.
-If you can read this bumper sticker...I am standing right behind you.
-Guns don't kill people...quick enough.
Thats really all we have for now. Just thought I would share the funny.
-Have a knife day.
-My other car is a knife.
-I knived your honor rool student.
-If you can read this bumper sticker...I am standing right behind you.
-Guns don't kill people...quick enough.
Thats really all we have for now. Just thought I would share the funny.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
The World's Smallest Jesus
There are time that I am very concerned about the way that society views Christianity. There are a lot of very popular pastors (actually I think "speakers" is a more accurate term) out there who tell people what they want to hear.
I was think about this the other day when I went to get my oil changed at Wal-Mart and was walking around, killing time when I saw the new book by Joel Olsteen.
I decided I would go over and flip through the book to see if I could see what the book was really about. The book is titled "Being A Better You" and it is full of encouraging little anecdotes that are carefully worded to not offed anybody.
I do not think that is was a coincidence that when I opened up to a random page and read "When you are honest about who you are, you will find the power inside yourself to bring out your good qualities as well as those qualities in others"
This is the basis of his book.
This is a pastor who refuses to use the word "sin" because he does not believe in it.
If you do not believe in sin then there was nothing that we were saved from.
It is a way of saying that Christ's death on the cross was not necessary and therefore we can call Jesus our savior because he did not save us from anything.
Olsteen has turned his Christ into a model of the real thing.
So do yourself a favor. If you see this book....
Do not buy it. In fact for the sake of others I think you should move this book in front of it.
Remember that our sin is real, and this is not something to be discouraged about because that means that are savior is real, however if we make our sin small then we also make Christ small.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
MxPx - Secret Weapon
I know that this album has been out for a few months, but I just started this blog so give me some slack.
I have been a MxPx fan ever since I bought Teenage Politics. Since then I have bought every album they have released. Their newest album "Secret Weapon" is not their best work, but it is certainly not their worst.
This album is full of fun, light-hearted pop-punk songs that make you want to roll down your window and drive to a nursing home where you want to bake cookies for old people all day. It is just a fund album.
The album kicks off with "Secret Weapon" which is a fun start to this new album. It is a simple song which makes you bob your head. This song is followed by "Shut It Down" which is a song about spending a little too much time with technology and not enough time with real people. This song also contains a little shout out to The Clash when you hear Mike Herrera yell over the opening guitar, "This is a public service announcement....with guitar!!!" If you do not understand this slight homage paid to a great band then I highly recommend you go out and buy Combat Rock by the Clash.
"Here's To The Life" is another high quality song that also lays on a slight spiritual feel to the album. This song seems to be about desiring to get back to the life you want to live, not the one that you end up living.
The next two tracks, "Top Of The Charts" and "Punk Rock Celebrity" are probably the two weakest songs on this album. They are a little too "poppy" for my taste. However, the next track, "Contention" is straight forward punk rock which makes you want to break something, which is ironic because the song is about how violence does not solve any problem.
"Angels" is a great song that discusses the desire to move on to a better place in eternity. "Drowning" is also a fun song that is laced with introspection.
The remaining tracks on this album seem to all have their strong points, whether it is the Rancid influenced song "Chop Shop" which is based on an actual murder that took place in the band's hometown, or Beach Boys influenced "Tightly Wound" which is probably my favorite track on the album.
I highly recommend purchasing this CD.
Songs to listen to:
-Tightly Wound
-Bass So Low
-You're On Fire
Songs to skip over:
-Punk Rock Celebrity
-Hoo-Ha Jangle
-Top Of The Charts
On a scale of one to ten:
8.5
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
talk radio theology
Today on my hour long commute home from work I decided to flip on the radio to see what was happening in the world of sports. In case you did not know, I tend to only listen to Cd's or ESPN radio in the car. However, ESPN was only talking about the Patriots and how they are evil because they taped the Jets defensive signals.
After a while I got tired of this and decided to flip through random channels to see what what kind of information I could use to rot my brain.
The first time I flipped the channel I came across a very angry conservative who was complaining that George Bush was too liberal (yes, you read that right). It seemed to him that everything that was happening around him was wrong and that he wanted everyone to know about it. I listened to this short obese man with perfectly parted grey hair and a three piece suit talk for about fifteen minutes before I changed the station. In case you are wondering I am describing him according the image that popped in my head as he spoke. During the course of this time I never heard him say what he actually believed.
When I flipped the station I landed on another talk radio program that was on the other side of the spectrum. The lady, who I pictured to have a scarf in her hair and wearing a tie-dye shirt with pink tinted sunglasses, was complaining that republicans were a bunch of liars and that they should all be forced to endure the torture that they have put different people through. I ended up listening to this lady for about twenty minutes before I gave up and went back to here people on ESPN comparing Michael Vick to Pete Rose. Through the time listening the liberal station I also never heard them say what they actually believe.
I began thinking about how the Church tends to respond to people who adhere to a different belief system than it's own. I think that far to often we resort to the same tactics as hot winded talk radio hosts. We tend to be more focused on making sure that we are bashing what others believe rather than stating what we believe.
I think that taking this approach to what some call "apologetics" as being a completely faithless act that shows the world that we are scared that other religions might point to a truth that the Bible does not point to.
If we as the Church were sure of the truth of the gospel we would not get caught up in attempting to tear down other belief systems. They would not threaten us. We would only be concerned with how accurately we are presenting the truth, not how effectively we are dismissing lies.
It is time for Christians to stop being concerned how we can point out the faults in the darkness and start being concerned with how we can enhance the light. The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ does not need us to take down it's competition. It is an insult to the Bible to think so. God's word is truth, it always has been, it always will be, so please don't be threatened by what other people believe, just hold fast to truth.
"Why ask the darkness why it is so dark, it is far more beneficial to ask the light why it is not as bright as it should be." - Rob Bell
After a while I got tired of this and decided to flip through random channels to see what what kind of information I could use to rot my brain.
The first time I flipped the channel I came across a very angry conservative who was complaining that George Bush was too liberal (yes, you read that right). It seemed to him that everything that was happening around him was wrong and that he wanted everyone to know about it. I listened to this short obese man with perfectly parted grey hair and a three piece suit talk for about fifteen minutes before I changed the station. In case you are wondering I am describing him according the image that popped in my head as he spoke. During the course of this time I never heard him say what he actually believed.
When I flipped the station I landed on another talk radio program that was on the other side of the spectrum. The lady, who I pictured to have a scarf in her hair and wearing a tie-dye shirt with pink tinted sunglasses, was complaining that republicans were a bunch of liars and that they should all be forced to endure the torture that they have put different people through. I ended up listening to this lady for about twenty minutes before I gave up and went back to here people on ESPN comparing Michael Vick to Pete Rose. Through the time listening the liberal station I also never heard them say what they actually believe.
I began thinking about how the Church tends to respond to people who adhere to a different belief system than it's own. I think that far to often we resort to the same tactics as hot winded talk radio hosts. We tend to be more focused on making sure that we are bashing what others believe rather than stating what we believe.
I think that taking this approach to what some call "apologetics" as being a completely faithless act that shows the world that we are scared that other religions might point to a truth that the Bible does not point to.
If we as the Church were sure of the truth of the gospel we would not get caught up in attempting to tear down other belief systems. They would not threaten us. We would only be concerned with how accurately we are presenting the truth, not how effectively we are dismissing lies.
It is time for Christians to stop being concerned how we can point out the faults in the darkness and start being concerned with how we can enhance the light. The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ does not need us to take down it's competition. It is an insult to the Bible to think so. God's word is truth, it always has been, it always will be, so please don't be threatened by what other people believe, just hold fast to truth.
"Why ask the darkness why it is so dark, it is far more beneficial to ask the light why it is not as bright as it should be." - Rob Bell
Monday, September 10, 2007
new job
I am currently looking for a new job. Hopefully something that will involve at least 3 of the following...
-More money than I need (that means more to give away).
-Benifits that do not cost more than doctor's visits.
-A chair that does not hurt by back at the end of the day.
-A place to flex my creative muscle (I think that it located in the ear lobe).
-A place with a concern for people.
-A place with a concern for eternity.
-A place with out a line to use the microwave at lunch.
-A place where people clean the seat (you know what I am talking about).
-A place with free weekly massages for all employees.
-A place that appreciates me quoting movies and TV shows such as The Office, Scrubs, Blades of Glory, Office Space, Tommy Boy, and Swingers.
-Cigarette breaks for people who don't smoke.
and last but not least...
-NAP TIME!!!!
But seriously, there is something to be said about loving your job and feeling like you are contributing to a place that contributes to something bigger than itself. Whow knows what the future holds...maybe the Ghost of Christmas Past will visit me soon.
-More money than I need (that means more to give away).
-Benifits that do not cost more than doctor's visits.
-A chair that does not hurt by back at the end of the day.
-A place to flex my creative muscle (I think that it located in the ear lobe).
-A place with a concern for people.
-A place with a concern for eternity.
-A place with out a line to use the microwave at lunch.
-A place where people clean the seat (you know what I am talking about).
-A place with free weekly massages for all employees.
-A place that appreciates me quoting movies and TV shows such as The Office, Scrubs, Blades of Glory, Office Space, Tommy Boy, and Swingers.
-Cigarette breaks for people who don't smoke.
and last but not least...
-NAP TIME!!!!
But seriously, there is something to be said about loving your job and feeling like you are contributing to a place that contributes to something bigger than itself. Whow knows what the future holds...maybe the Ghost of Christmas Past will visit me soon.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
matrimony
So I am now a month into this strange world called marriage. We are back in the swing of things and I am loving it. There is still a lot to learn in terms of how to be a good husband, but I will get there. So far I have found out a few things.
-Women have A LOT of stuff in the bathroom. In our bathroom there are four cabinets and two drawers. Meredith uses all but 1/2 of one drawer.
-Apparently dirty underwear on the floor is not "acceptable".
-My idea of clean and her idea of clean are different. (I take the stance that as long as there is nothing growing on the mess then it is clean).
-I have also learned that it does take A LOT of work.
This is not a surprise to me, I knew going in to marriage that it would be work. I love the work though. There is nothing like spending time with my best friend, getting to know her more, watching college football together, and all kinds of other things.
I am starting to see why the bible relates the Christian experience to that of a marriage. It is not all easy. It takes work. There are highs, lows, and a degree of "figuring it all out".
In the midst of figuring it all out it is good to know that we are loved by the bridegroom.
Not a long post, or a deep one. Just some thoughts. I also wanted a chance to put a wedding picture or two on here...
This is us outside of the reception hall.
Me and all of my groomsman.
CAKE!!!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
An Interview I Had
Sorry that it has been so long. I have been in a coma ever since that monkey escaped from the zoo and threw a rock at my head. In his defense the rock looked a lot like poop.
There have been many funny occurences that have happened of late. They are all worthy to be taken and expanded for your entertainment. For today I am going to tell you about a job interview that I had. When I was in Denver I went to an interview at a marketing agency. They let me know that they needed me to come back and quit my job without a two weeks notice if I was offered the position. To be honest I was hesitant because my current job, although REALLY weird (there will be another blog soon), has been good to me and I did not want to deprive them of my presence so quickly. You see people have to prepare themselves for my departure. Usually when I give a two weeks notice I slowly start replacing myself with a mannequin that looks like me (it is kind of like slowly mixing puppy food in milk to get the puppies used to it).
Anyway the "marketing firm" called back and asked me to join them on a shadow day. They told me that I would be doing things like "taking clients to lunch". As I got in the car with the two guys that worked there I felt like something weird was going on. Immediately they both lit up and filled the car with smoke. The idea of rolling the window down apparently did not occur to them. I even threw out a couple of coughs to say "I do not want to be rude and slap you in the back of the head, but please stop smoking or I might throw you out of the car." Needless to say this did not occur to them either.
Eventually we pulled into a random neighborhood and the guy (Nick) stopped the car. He then started changing into tennis shoes. He then grabbed a stack of coupon books and started banging on people's doors. Apparently at this "marketing firm" there are code words. "Client" means anybody who lives in a house, and "Out to lunch" means try to sell them a book of with coupons for free appetizers. I also learned that the salary they had quoted me was an estimate, based on the number of books that they thought I would sell.
Nick told me at the beginning of the ride out there that when people go on job shadows and then decide that they do not want to be door to door salesmen that he tells them to wait in his car until he was finished...at 8pm...it was now noon. So my options were laid out before me....sit in a car that smelled of stale cigarette smoke until 8pm. Call Meredith (who did not have her car) and ask her to borrow one and come pick me up....although I had no idea where I was. So of course I responded in the way any seminary graduate would...I lied to the guy. I do not want to make it sound like something it is not...it was a bold faced lie.
Here is what happened....I faked a phone call. and the dialogue was something like this....
Me: Hello.
Phone:.......
Me: Are you ok? What happened?
Phone:...
Me: At the school?
Phone:.........
Me: I am not near the car.
Phone:......
Me: Ya I can see if I can get a ride. I love you.
Phone:.......
Me: Bye babe.
At this point I looked over at Nick, who I thought of pressing some sort of charge against and said with the straightest face I could muster....
Me: I need a ride, my fiance just broke her arm.
Nick: Really?
Me: Ya I need a ride back to her car so I can go see her....at the hospital.
Nick: Do you need it now?
Me: Ya kinda...sorry (saying I was sorry was another lie).
Nick: Ok (in a frustrated voice).
Me: Thanks man I appreciate it.
Then we get in the car and start driving. I am sure he knew I was lying but I did not care. When he dropped me off the following took place.
Nick: I hope she is ok.
Me: I am sure she is fine (this was not a lie).
Nick: Well I do not mind. I mean I have a soul.
Me: Doubtful, you bully old people into buying coupn books why they think they are helping a wheelchair basketball team.
Nick: No it is a good deal.
Me: I am not buying a book.
Nick: You only have to use it once.
Me: I live in Texas
Nick: What about when you move up here?
Me:..........
Nick: Let me show you.
Me:.......
At this point in the conversation I had already walked away and replaced myself with the before metnioned mannequin. Also 20 minutes after driving away I got a job offer from another job....a real one. So I am moving to Denver after all....if only I had some sort of coupon book to get some free food.
There have been many funny occurences that have happened of late. They are all worthy to be taken and expanded for your entertainment. For today I am going to tell you about a job interview that I had. When I was in Denver I went to an interview at a marketing agency. They let me know that they needed me to come back and quit my job without a two weeks notice if I was offered the position. To be honest I was hesitant because my current job, although REALLY weird (there will be another blog soon), has been good to me and I did not want to deprive them of my presence so quickly. You see people have to prepare themselves for my departure. Usually when I give a two weeks notice I slowly start replacing myself with a mannequin that looks like me (it is kind of like slowly mixing puppy food in milk to get the puppies used to it).
Anyway the "marketing firm" called back and asked me to join them on a shadow day. They told me that I would be doing things like "taking clients to lunch". As I got in the car with the two guys that worked there I felt like something weird was going on. Immediately they both lit up and filled the car with smoke. The idea of rolling the window down apparently did not occur to them. I even threw out a couple of coughs to say "I do not want to be rude and slap you in the back of the head, but please stop smoking or I might throw you out of the car." Needless to say this did not occur to them either.
Eventually we pulled into a random neighborhood and the guy (Nick) stopped the car. He then started changing into tennis shoes. He then grabbed a stack of coupon books and started banging on people's doors. Apparently at this "marketing firm" there are code words. "Client" means anybody who lives in a house, and "Out to lunch" means try to sell them a book of with coupons for free appetizers. I also learned that the salary they had quoted me was an estimate, based on the number of books that they thought I would sell.
Nick told me at the beginning of the ride out there that when people go on job shadows and then decide that they do not want to be door to door salesmen that he tells them to wait in his car until he was finished...at 8pm...it was now noon. So my options were laid out before me....sit in a car that smelled of stale cigarette smoke until 8pm. Call Meredith (who did not have her car) and ask her to borrow one and come pick me up....although I had no idea where I was. So of course I responded in the way any seminary graduate would...I lied to the guy. I do not want to make it sound like something it is not...it was a bold faced lie.
Here is what happened....I faked a phone call. and the dialogue was something like this....
Me: Hello.
Phone:.......
Me: Are you ok? What happened?
Phone:...
Me: At the school?
Phone:.........
Me: I am not near the car.
Phone:......
Me: Ya I can see if I can get a ride. I love you.
Phone:.......
Me: Bye babe.
At this point I looked over at Nick, who I thought of pressing some sort of charge against and said with the straightest face I could muster....
Me: I need a ride, my fiance just broke her arm.
Nick: Really?
Me: Ya I need a ride back to her car so I can go see her....at the hospital.
Nick: Do you need it now?
Me: Ya kinda...sorry (saying I was sorry was another lie).
Nick: Ok (in a frustrated voice).
Me: Thanks man I appreciate it.
Then we get in the car and start driving. I am sure he knew I was lying but I did not care. When he dropped me off the following took place.
Nick: I hope she is ok.
Me: I am sure she is fine (this was not a lie).
Nick: Well I do not mind. I mean I have a soul.
Me: Doubtful, you bully old people into buying coupn books why they think they are helping a wheelchair basketball team.
Nick: No it is a good deal.
Me: I am not buying a book.
Nick: You only have to use it once.
Me: I live in Texas
Nick: What about when you move up here?
Me:..........
Nick: Let me show you.
Me:.......
At this point in the conversation I had already walked away and replaced myself with the before metnioned mannequin. Also 20 minutes after driving away I got a job offer from another job....a real one. So I am moving to Denver after all....if only I had some sort of coupon book to get some free food.
Out On The Porch
Have you ever noticed that when you sit out on the porch with someone and start a discussion a variety of subjects end up being covered.
I plan on using this blog to write about whatever subjects happen to pop into my head.
Right now I am watching "Coming To America" so I need to go.
Talk to you soon.
I plan on using this blog to write about whatever subjects happen to pop into my head.
Right now I am watching "Coming To America" so I need to go.
Talk to you soon.
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