Monday, December 17, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Quotes!
So I got to thinking about other quotes I like after ending my previous entry with one of my favorites but I realized that I had forgotten how to say them verbatim for the most part. So I looked them up and found some other goodies as well.
William Shakespeare - “As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words.”
Unknown - “Don't refuse to go on an occasional wild goose chase. That's what wild geese are for.” ( I know this one ends in a preposition, my apologies.)
Unknown - “Memory is a crazy woman who hoards colored rags and throws away food.”
Unknown - “It is possible for your mind to be so open that your brain falls out.”
Henry David Thoreau - “The language of friendship is not words but meanings.”
Henry David Thoreau - “It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.”
Sir Winston Churchill - “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
Sir Winston Churchill - “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour'.”
Charles Wesley - “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain-- for me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 'Tis mystery all! Th' Immortal dies: Who can ex”
Mahatma Gandhi - “If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.”
William Shakespeare - “As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words.”
Unknown - “Don't refuse to go on an occasional wild goose chase. That's what wild geese are for.” ( I know this one ends in a preposition, my apologies.)
Unknown - “Memory is a crazy woman who hoards colored rags and throws away food.”
Unknown - “It is possible for your mind to be so open that your brain falls out.”
Henry David Thoreau - “The language of friendship is not words but meanings.”
Henry David Thoreau - “It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.”
Sir Winston Churchill - “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
Sir Winston Churchill - “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour'.”
Charles Wesley - “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain-- for me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 'Tis mystery all! Th' Immortal dies: Who can ex”
Mahatma Gandhi - “If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.”
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thoughts
My mind is full right now. Full of thoughts about everything from what I'm going to eat tonight to... well, we won't go there. But to contrast my full mind, I have a fairly empty evening planned with only going out to dinner with my father and brother on the schedule later.
Therefore, I thought I should blog. But what should it be about? I could try to think of something I learned today, or just tell about my week, or try to ensnare a profound idea and bind it behind my faulty words in a short snippet just to discover later that it wasn't so profound after all. Then I thought that the solution to my quagmire would lie in seeking the purpose of what I wanted to do with the entry. Should my blog entries be simply self therapeutic? Or should I entertain the idea that I should try to entertain some audience?
I guess I don't know what I want to do through this blog. I should come up with a mission statement for my blog.
But when it comes down to it, I can't avoid putting a significant portion of my efforts into making any given entry something that I myself wouldn't mind reading. Be it educational, entertaining, or helpful, I try to have a clear purpose when I make an entry. (except for this one, obviously)
To tie off this mangled limb of an entry I'd like to close with a completely unrelated quote from a very troubled man. I've known this quote for quite a long time now and it scratches my nuclear engineering itch.
"If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One... I am become Death, the Shatterer of Worlds." - J. Robert Oppenheimer quoting The Bhagavad Gita on the topic of developing the first ever nuclear cascade reaction ordinance. These were the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.
Therefore, I thought I should blog. But what should it be about? I could try to think of something I learned today, or just tell about my week, or try to ensnare a profound idea and bind it behind my faulty words in a short snippet just to discover later that it wasn't so profound after all. Then I thought that the solution to my quagmire would lie in seeking the purpose of what I wanted to do with the entry. Should my blog entries be simply self therapeutic? Or should I entertain the idea that I should try to entertain some audience?
I guess I don't know what I want to do through this blog. I should come up with a mission statement for my blog.
But when it comes down to it, I can't avoid putting a significant portion of my efforts into making any given entry something that I myself wouldn't mind reading. Be it educational, entertaining, or helpful, I try to have a clear purpose when I make an entry. (except for this one, obviously)
To tie off this mangled limb of an entry I'd like to close with a completely unrelated quote from a very troubled man. I've known this quote for quite a long time now and it scratches my nuclear engineering itch.
"If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One... I am become Death, the Shatterer of Worlds." - J. Robert Oppenheimer quoting The Bhagavad Gita on the topic of developing the first ever nuclear cascade reaction ordinance. These were the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
What If...
Our salvation doesn't depend on the salvation of others. If you have accepted Jesus Christ then you are going to heaven because of the awesome grace of God. Sure, there are other things that we are supposed to do; get baptized, spread the Gospel, be kind to others, etc. But those aren't necessarily requirements to getting to spend eternity with God. But I think we as Christians take this for granted.
What if our salvation did depend on the salvation of others? (I'm not suggesting it does; I just want to use the thought as an illustration.) What if we had to share the Gospel with a minimum of 10 people per day? What if half of those were required to accept Jesus per day in order for your salvation to be finalized? (these requirements are just made up off the top of my head of course) If this was the case, our behavior would be much different as Christians. We would be desperate for others salvation; it would be imperative.
But we should already be viewing the things Christians should be doing as requirements to get into heaven!
Now while I understand that truly investigating every facet of the concept of converting the "should's" of Christianity into "must's" would turn up a plethora of inconsistencies, I think when it is considered in the sole facet of how it would change our priorities, it reveals that many of us take the "should's" less seriously that we ought. Now you seem like a canny lad/lassie, so I don't suppose that any of this should cause you to fret over my cryptic explanation of a concept that seemed so clear and profound in my head just minutes before. (I hope!)
Moral of the story: Getting saved wasn't the finish line, it was signing up for the race.
What if our salvation did depend on the salvation of others? (I'm not suggesting it does; I just want to use the thought as an illustration.) What if we had to share the Gospel with a minimum of 10 people per day? What if half of those were required to accept Jesus per day in order for your salvation to be finalized? (these requirements are just made up off the top of my head of course) If this was the case, our behavior would be much different as Christians. We would be desperate for others salvation; it would be imperative.
But we should already be viewing the things Christians should be doing as requirements to get into heaven!
Now while I understand that truly investigating every facet of the concept of converting the "should's" of Christianity into "must's" would turn up a plethora of inconsistencies, I think when it is considered in the sole facet of how it would change our priorities, it reveals that many of us take the "should's" less seriously that we ought. Now you seem like a canny lad/lassie, so I don't suppose that any of this should cause you to fret over my cryptic explanation of a concept that seemed so clear and profound in my head just minutes before. (I hope!)
Moral of the story: Getting saved wasn't the finish line, it was signing up for the race.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Connections!
Many of us Elevators have become supremely familiar with Isiah 54:2-4:
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtain wide, Do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will stretch out to the right and to the left; your descendants will disposes nations and settle in their desolate cities. Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
But while doing some reading today I noticed that another one of my favorite verses is in the same chapter! This happens all too often to me. I know the gestalt of a lot of verses, but I need to make a big push to remember where to find them other than using bible gateway all the time. What we think we remember God saying doesn't hold a candle to what God says. And until I can afford a PDA to search phrases I kinda remember, I need to make more of an effort to store in my brain where I'm reading when I find something that piques my interest.
The other verse that I love in Isiah 54 is verse 17.
"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
Now I'm not gonna go and interpret what this means to me right now. Among the reasons why include that I just finished Revelation yesterday and went into Isiah today and I may very well go end times on you because I think it would just be so freaking awesome to see Jesus riding a white stallion.
Also some other Isiah goodies. (there are a ton and this is a weird one to pick I know) Isiah 13:6-13
Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man's heart will melt. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.
This makes me a little excited; a little VERY excited! Because my God can do this, it's easy to trust that He can do all less than this. That is pretty powerful stuff.
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtain wide, Do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will stretch out to the right and to the left; your descendants will disposes nations and settle in their desolate cities. Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
But while doing some reading today I noticed that another one of my favorite verses is in the same chapter! This happens all too often to me. I know the gestalt of a lot of verses, but I need to make a big push to remember where to find them other than using bible gateway all the time. What we think we remember God saying doesn't hold a candle to what God says. And until I can afford a PDA to search phrases I kinda remember, I need to make more of an effort to store in my brain where I'm reading when I find something that piques my interest.
The other verse that I love in Isiah 54 is verse 17.
"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
Now I'm not gonna go and interpret what this means to me right now. Among the reasons why include that I just finished Revelation yesterday and went into Isiah today and I may very well go end times on you because I think it would just be so freaking awesome to see Jesus riding a white stallion.
Also some other Isiah goodies. (there are a ton and this is a weird one to pick I know) Isiah 13:6-13
Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man's heart will melt. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.
This makes me a little excited; a little VERY excited! Because my God can do this, it's easy to trust that He can do all less than this. That is pretty powerful stuff.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Hallelujah!
I'm sitting here giggling to myself because I just found out how much the Elevation leadership has pledged to Dominate. If you want to know the total, show up Sunday!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Marathon Weekend
I stayed up all Saturday night after going to a haunted corn maze and getting back late and being scheduled for the 3-4am block for the 24 hours of prayer at the Elevation office. (run on sentences are fun!) So after the prayer was over some guys went to waffle house and I ordered way too much food. I then went on over to church with my maiden voyage in the yellow truck. (I normally drive the white one, and I've found it's way cooler.) Setup went super fast because we had most of the guys from the prayer experience come on over to help. While barely being able to hold my eyes open, I had to sit through all 3 services and go up on stage with some other people for a sermon illustration where pastor basically sealed the fate of a ton of "my" money. After 3rd service, we had a Dominate lunch where pastor basically explains some concerns people may have about Dominate. After this, I pretty much died as I drove the truck back to the storage unit to get my car because I realized I had the leadership commitment thing to go to at 6. YAY! I get to stay up for a few more hours! So I did what any self respecting person in my situation would do.... I went to Barns & Noble and read Shel Silversteen books in the children's section with some friends in a state of twilight consciousness. Around 5:45 I left to go to the leadership thing and they fed us Qdoba. (This was supposed to be the end of a 24 hour fast, but I shifted my fast 24 hours ahead to Monday.) The commitment event was amazing. I felt I could stay up another 3 days after being there. We went to get some ice cream and then I went home to sleep for 6 hours before work.
I'm still tired on Tuesday evening!
P.S. - I have kinda slacked off on blogging my opinions about what I consider "profound" things after reading this recently.
James 3:1 - Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
I still plan to do it from time to time, but I'm gonna view it a little differently.
I'm still tired on Tuesday evening!
P.S. - I have kinda slacked off on blogging my opinions about what I consider "profound" things after reading this recently.
James 3:1 - Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
I still plan to do it from time to time, but I'm gonna view it a little differently.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Mute Math
Ok, So the Mute Math concert last night was amazing. It was my debut seeing them live. Eisley opened and were great as always. There was some sound equipment issue during Eisley's first couple songs, and every few seconds it sounded as if the siren horn from Hades was heralding the demons for an attack. Luckily all the tall people stood in front of our group, and you couldn't see much. Well, I could see fine, but most of the other people in my group were not over 6 feet, and they couldn't see. Afterward we took a chill break at Jillian's. I got to bed at what I would consider a fantastically late hour, but I did get to wake up after the sun rose for the first time in a long while this morning.
Tonight: Haunted Corn Maze! Get home ~11pm go to bed, get up 2am, go to office for prayer experience with small group. 4am waffle house! 5am church setup. 1:30pm church tear down + go to butler campus to setup for the third Dominate lunch. 6pm Leadership Commitment Night begins. 9pm tear down butler. get home ~11, bed by 12 hopefully. up for work at 6 the next morn.
I'm excited about how much sleep I'm going to get.
Tonight: Haunted Corn Maze! Get home ~11pm go to bed, get up 2am, go to office for prayer experience with small group. 4am waffle house! 5am church setup. 1:30pm church tear down + go to butler campus to setup for the third Dominate lunch. 6pm Leadership Commitment Night begins. 9pm tear down butler. get home ~11, bed by 12 hopefully. up for work at 6 the next morn.
I'm excited about how much sleep I'm going to get.
Monday, October 15, 2007
It's OK to be Bossy Sometimes
There are some who are bossy all the time, and then there are some who are worried to impose the slightest thing at times. I've witnessed a striking dichotomy in the behavior of volunteers at Elevation between Church related things and everything else. It's not uncommon for someone on Sunday to ask a huge favor from a stranger, and then during the week to feel uncomfortable asking a small favor from a friend. This is very interesting to me.
After thinking about it for a while, a thought popped into my mind about something Pastor said a few sermons back. He said that when we're volunteering for Elevation, we are to act with the authority and commission of Jesus Christ. This makes so much sense!! Of course we're a bit more bossy when the Name of Jesus is at stake! Jesus was insistent! Jesus was bossy!
When you ask someone to help you out with something late on a Monday night, sure you might feel like you're being a little imposing. But when you're doing work that is unquestionably commissioned by God such as advancing His Kingdom, you have a duty get it done the best way possible. You wouldn't be avoiding imposing on someone by not asking them to help you, you'd be denying them an opportunity to get in on an obviously super move of God. (There are a TON of times that it's REALLY hard to see what I do as an opportunity to serve God, but it boils down to just that. Every once in a while I can feel Him giving me an "Atta boy!" and a pat on the back and that realigns me for a while longer.)
I'm not asking someone to do something because I'm lazy, or because I like to be in control. I do it because Jesus Christ has commissioned me and given me His authority to do a job and getting help is the best way to get it done.
After thinking about it for a while, a thought popped into my mind about something Pastor said a few sermons back. He said that when we're volunteering for Elevation, we are to act with the authority and commission of Jesus Christ. This makes so much sense!! Of course we're a bit more bossy when the Name of Jesus is at stake! Jesus was insistent! Jesus was bossy!
When you ask someone to help you out with something late on a Monday night, sure you might feel like you're being a little imposing. But when you're doing work that is unquestionably commissioned by God such as advancing His Kingdom, you have a duty get it done the best way possible. You wouldn't be avoiding imposing on someone by not asking them to help you, you'd be denying them an opportunity to get in on an obviously super move of God. (There are a TON of times that it's REALLY hard to see what I do as an opportunity to serve God, but it boils down to just that. Every once in a while I can feel Him giving me an "Atta boy!" and a pat on the back and that realigns me for a while longer.)
I'm not asking someone to do something because I'm lazy, or because I like to be in control. I do it because Jesus Christ has commissioned me and given me His authority to do a job and getting help is the best way to get it done.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Reminder:
A new episode of House M.D. airs tonight on Fox! It's like ambrosia for the witty insult part of your brain.
Also I got my old car running for the first time in about 5 years today. It's a 1982 Datsun 280ZX. What this means for you: Next time you see a Mexican in a beat up car that is 14 different colors (10 shades of rust) trying to show off how awesome his car is when it's actually pretty crappy, realize that it may not be a Mexican, but me. I've all but decided that although it is in perfect working order mechanically, its disastrous cosmetic status is not worth mending. I honestly need a new dash, interior panels, floor upholstery, complete body work and new paint to feel respectable driving it. In conclusion, I'm eating chocolate ice cream for dinner.
Fin
Also I got my old car running for the first time in about 5 years today. It's a 1982 Datsun 280ZX. What this means for you: Next time you see a Mexican in a beat up car that is 14 different colors (10 shades of rust) trying to show off how awesome his car is when it's actually pretty crappy, realize that it may not be a Mexican, but me. I've all but decided that although it is in perfect working order mechanically, its disastrous cosmetic status is not worth mending. I honestly need a new dash, interior panels, floor upholstery, complete body work and new paint to feel respectable driving it. In conclusion, I'm eating chocolate ice cream for dinner.
Fin
Monday, October 1, 2007
Perspective
Everyone has heard that Christians aren't supposed to judge others. But in pop culture, the stereotypical Christian is the person at the parties that looks down on all the people doing naughty things or the office coworker that gossips about all the bad things going on at the office. The world seems to link being a Christian and judging people. It must have something to do with the fact that often we Christians do look down on others' faults from our high horse and while doing so commit one such fault!
But why is it that we shouldn't judge others? Oh yea God said so. That should be good enough for us, but there are tons of other reasons. One reason I believe we judge others sometimes is because we think we know their whole story. We don't. We have an extremely limited perspective into their situation. We may judge someone and say they're being really stuck up and bratty because you said hi to them and they just walked off. And then we talk to another guy that's really friendly at a party and assume he's a great guy. This is an extremely limited perspective! If we had a God-sized perspective, we would have known that the bratty stuck up kid had been struggling with social issues all his life and even showing up in public was a huge step in the right direction. He trusted God to take away his fear of social situations and left his basement. We also would have known that the "great guy" that we talked to at the party had left his wedding ring in the car and was here to meet girls.
Always give people the benefit of the doubt! C. S. Lewis puts it:
"When a man who has been perverted from his youth and taught that cruelty is the right thing, does some tiny little kindness, or refrains from some cruelty he might have committed, and thereby, perhaps, risks being sneered at by his companions, he may, in God's eyes, be doing more than you and I would do if we gave up life itself for a friend."
It's not about the good stuff you do, it's about what you do with what God gave you. We lack the perspective to see what God gave the people we are judging. They may be farther along than we are when you consider their handicapped start.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Terrible Theological Pick Up Lines
Yea yea yea.... two entries in one night, get over it, I'm falling behind. I stole this from a Perry Noble blog link. Some of these you will get and some you won't.
Seeing as how I used to be a singles pastor, I thought that I would give you some of the tips that I gave my singles on how NOT to lure the right one to your side. (Thanks to Carrie for her help!)
20. ”I am not overweight. The word ‘glory’ in Hebrew is kabod which according to HALOT literally means ‘heaviness.’ The Bible also says that we are to reflect God’s glory. Therefore, I am just doing what the Bible says.”
19. “Looking at you makes me reconsider preterism, because you are heaven on earth.”
18. “Paul said that it was better to marry than to burn. Therefore, I am under God’s mandate to marry you.”
17. “Here, let me take care of those tithes.”
16. “You may not have chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
15. “I could not help but notice you were exegeting me instead of the text during the sermon.”
14. ”Your name must be grace, because you are irresistible.”
13. ”There are six things that motivate me to talk to you, yea seven that turned my head.”
12. “Until this moment, I thought I had the gift of singleness.”
11. During communion say, “Can I get you another drink.”
10. “The Bible says that God is not concerned with outer appearance . . . neither should you.”
9. “The Good Book said that I might be visited by angels unaware, but something must be wrong with my interpretation, because I am perfectly aware of you.”
8. “I noticed you crying during alter call, can I help?”
7. While giving her a TULIP say, ”This Totally depraved person has been Unconditionally drawn to you, Limiting himself to your Irresistible beauty that is Persevering beyond all others.”
6. “God may be the bread of life, but you are the butter.”
5. “The site of you leaves me apophatic.”
4. “Well, gouge out my eyes and cut off my hands. If I hang around you much longer, I won’t have any limbs left.”
3. “You must have missed The Fall line, because you are lookin’ righteous.”
2. Sing this to the tune of George Strait’s “Chair”: “Excuse me, but I think you’ve got my rib.”
1. “Are you homo or homoi?”
Hang in There!
I find myself saying this to people from time to time who are dealing with an issue that is not easily resolved. The thing is, I feel kinda silly saying it on a few different levels. First, it probably feels a bit condescending to have this said to you when you're going through something and the other person seems to be doing fine. I'd probably be rather quick to think "Yeah, it's really easy to hang in there when you're not dealing with it." Secondly, it just seems like "fluff." There's no meat and potatoes to practically helping them with their issue in the phrase. It is just something you're supposed to say. Thirdly, when I say this, I'm usually not really worried that they are about to stop "hanging in there." They're gonna stick it out whether I say so or not, so saying it really does nothing.
But I've come to the realization that everyone else probably came to eons ago. Do it anyway. Just because you're worried you may come off condescending doesn't mean you will. Sometimes someone who isn't dealing with the same problem can help the most. Also, it's not always just "fluff." No matter how casual the encounter, be it a pat on the back or a thumbs up, the person can walk away with a real sense of encouragement. Just because you don't think you're giving practical help, you're giving encouragement, and that's usually a big help. And even though they aren't about to stop "hanging in there" encouragement can make whatever they're going through easier. So hang in there!
Also, puppies help:
But I've come to the realization that everyone else probably came to eons ago. Do it anyway. Just because you're worried you may come off condescending doesn't mean you will. Sometimes someone who isn't dealing with the same problem can help the most. Also, it's not always just "fluff." No matter how casual the encounter, be it a pat on the back or a thumbs up, the person can walk away with a real sense of encouragement. Just because you don't think you're giving practical help, you're giving encouragement, and that's usually a big help. And even though they aren't about to stop "hanging in there" encouragement can make whatever they're going through easier. So hang in there!
Also, puppies help:
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Jeremy,
I'm sorry I called you rambunctious. I still love you.
-The Management
P.S. See you Wednesday!
-The Management
P.S. See you Wednesday!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
My Day Off
Well, I'm gonna call it a day off. I got off work at 3:30 as usual, but today I didn't have to work anymore after that. (No church office, no working for my dad etc.) I have got so much done since then. Tons of clothes folded, room cleaned, car cleared of trash, bills paid, and currently in the closet.
Now I'll have you know this is no mere closet. It is a cavernous expanse that consists of a cache of treasures and perils that defy reasonable sense. I haven't used this closet in any significant capacity in about 4 years. After leaving for college, my brother laid claim to my room an began to use it as his own. Basically my stuff became buried under half a decade of sibling silt deposition. Therefore, tonight I, not unlike an archaeologist, excavate my closet in search of treasures and new storage space.
I have thus far discovered:
1. Eight pairs of shoes (Six no longer fit, throwing all away.)
2. Two trombones and a trombone stand
3. A full band portrait from my sophomore year.
4. Two Nintendo Entertainment Systems. ( I don't know if they still work, I'll try blowing on them)
5. My boy scout uniform.
6. One Super Nintendo Entertainment System
7. A pair of bright white bell bottom dress pants that were my dad's.
8. The 1998 Union County Basketball Association 12-13 year old age group "Runner Up" plaque. (The highlight of my entire life)
9. The game of "Risk"
10. One bone from a cow's vertebra. (I'm not kidding)
I'm about half done so far. Back to work.
Now I'll have you know this is no mere closet. It is a cavernous expanse that consists of a cache of treasures and perils that defy reasonable sense. I haven't used this closet in any significant capacity in about 4 years. After leaving for college, my brother laid claim to my room an began to use it as his own. Basically my stuff became buried under half a decade of sibling silt deposition. Therefore, tonight I, not unlike an archaeologist, excavate my closet in search of treasures and new storage space.
I have thus far discovered:
1. Eight pairs of shoes (Six no longer fit, throwing all away.)
2. Two trombones and a trombone stand
3. A full band portrait from my sophomore year.
4. Two Nintendo Entertainment Systems. ( I don't know if they still work, I'll try blowing on them)
5. My boy scout uniform.
6. One Super Nintendo Entertainment System
7. A pair of bright white bell bottom dress pants that were my dad's.
8. The 1998 Union County Basketball Association 12-13 year old age group "Runner Up" plaque. (The highlight of my entire life)
9. The game of "Risk"
10. One bone from a cow's vertebra. (I'm not kidding)
I'm about half done so far. Back to work.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
It's That Time Again
About this time every year, it happens. And I think it happens to everyone at some point, but I'm not really sure if I'm a little early. It's been going on all week. It's a deep longing for it, but an understanding that it can't happen yet, otherwise it'd suck. It started this Monday at work when I caught myself whistling "The First Noel!" I'm ready for Christmas! It was a little cooler today. That's gotta count for something, right? This will also be my first Christmas since I've gotten my spiritual act together!
Christmas has never been a big thing at my house. It's been probably 10 years since we've put up a tree. I think I went out for Chinese last Christmas with my dad like that Christmas Story movie that plays for 24 hours on TBS. (not kidding) I can't remember if we did gifts or not. But Christmas at my mom's house is incredible! She usually starts shopping in march. And on more than a couple occasions she's told me she had already bought my gift mid summer. She eats Christmas up! She decorates everything. She has a "Christmas version" of everything in the whole house. Suddenly, there appear Christmas coasters, glasses, plates, serving dishes, even a little Christmas-esque mouthwash cup dispenser in the bathrooms. Plus everything is covered in fake holly. (except the ceiling fans since the fateful season 1999) She has probably 4-5 nativity scene figurine sets that go in different rooms. She has a whole wardrobe of Christmas clothes, and seasonal music is played constantly. Also it seems every homemaking woman has their "thing" that they simply must have every version of. My aunt's is lighthouses. At her house there is about 10 things related to a lighthouse in every room. My mom's is angels. She has crystal angels, porcelain angels, wooden angels, angel ornaments, even a little tin angel that hangs in her kitchen. Plus! Oh my freaking Lord she can cook! Oh my gosh I can't take this anymore. I'll have to get back to you after I get some supper. (and yes, it's "supper" not "dinner")
Christmas has never been a big thing at my house. It's been probably 10 years since we've put up a tree. I think I went out for Chinese last Christmas with my dad like that Christmas Story movie that plays for 24 hours on TBS. (not kidding) I can't remember if we did gifts or not. But Christmas at my mom's house is incredible! She usually starts shopping in march. And on more than a couple occasions she's told me she had already bought my gift mid summer. She eats Christmas up! She decorates everything. She has a "Christmas version" of everything in the whole house. Suddenly, there appear Christmas coasters, glasses, plates, serving dishes, even a little Christmas-esque mouthwash cup dispenser in the bathrooms. Plus everything is covered in fake holly. (except the ceiling fans since the fateful season 1999) She has probably 4-5 nativity scene figurine sets that go in different rooms. She has a whole wardrobe of Christmas clothes, and seasonal music is played constantly. Also it seems every homemaking woman has their "thing" that they simply must have every version of. My aunt's is lighthouses. At her house there is about 10 things related to a lighthouse in every room. My mom's is angels. She has crystal angels, porcelain angels, wooden angels, angel ornaments, even a little tin angel that hangs in her kitchen. Plus! Oh my freaking Lord she can cook! Oh my gosh I can't take this anymore. I'll have to get back to you after I get some supper. (and yes, it's "supper" not "dinner")
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Excellence
My days have become full. You can probably tell this because of the infrequency with which I have updated this blog as of late. I started a full time job last week 7-3:30 assembling insanely complex textile machines. I get very dirty. But I am committed to helping out at the Elevation office just after work on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday until pretty late. (Hopefully it's only late for the next few weeks.) I love it. On Tuesday and Friday evenings I'm normally housekeeping or working part time for my father who seems not to realize that I have my own job now. Saturday is my day to read and possibly do something with friends and go to bed early. Sunday is the big day. Wake up at 3:30 am and get home at 4 pm if all goes well and nothing is happening after 3rd service. But this hasn't been the case for a while and I usually end up getting home around 11 pm somehow. For instance, I had to go to two meetings today, and was late for both of them. Suffice it to say that I started to get a bit burned out! What's that you say?! Adam, the archetype of "nothing is too much, send me anywhere and it'll get done" is dwindling??? Alas, I was. Until tonight.
The second meeting was about production volunteers at Elevation. And how we are to strive for excellence. There's a lot depending on how you act and what you do. And if you're doing it in Jesus' Name and with His Authority, it had better be excellent. I'm living my life in Jesus' Name, and I've been tempted to be less than excellent. That's over tonight. I'm not saying that Christians never get burned out. I'm not saying you should do more stuff. I'm saying do what you do excellently. No more, no less. If you aren't excellent, figure out why. It may be that you're trying to do too much and are overwhelmed, or you are doing too little and haven't the field to showcase your calling. It may be that you're doing the right amount, but the wrong thing! Be excellent in Jesus' Name!! The lease I can give is My Utmost for His Highest. (a great book)
The second meeting was about production volunteers at Elevation. And how we are to strive for excellence. There's a lot depending on how you act and what you do. And if you're doing it in Jesus' Name and with His Authority, it had better be excellent. I'm living my life in Jesus' Name, and I've been tempted to be less than excellent. That's over tonight. I'm not saying that Christians never get burned out. I'm not saying you should do more stuff. I'm saying do what you do excellently. No more, no less. If you aren't excellent, figure out why. It may be that you're trying to do too much and are overwhelmed, or you are doing too little and haven't the field to showcase your calling. It may be that you're doing the right amount, but the wrong thing! Be excellent in Jesus' Name!! The lease I can give is My Utmost for His Highest. (a great book)
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Let Me Just Say...
The clean clothes in my laundry basket are not getting folded tonight. I've been conscious far too many consecutive hours to mind the fate of my wardrobe falling prey to wrinkles. Behold! I offer for your consideration the art of "Throwing Your Stuff Back in the Dryer for like Ten to Fifteen Minutes to get the Wrinkles Out While You're Taking a Shower"! This cryptic ceremony is privy only to the most learned martial artists in the south pacific, and, since I'm offering it for your consideration, you.
Step 1: Find Wrinkly Clothing.
Step 2: Throw Your Stuff Back in the Dryer for like Ten to Fifteen Minutes to get the Wrinkles Out While You're Taking a Shower.
Step 3: ....
Step 4: Profit
By Jove!!! Brilliant!
(I've been awake for around 20 hours, sorry.)
Step 1: Find Wrinkly Clothing.
Step 2: Throw Your Stuff Back in the Dryer for like Ten to Fifteen Minutes to get the Wrinkles Out While You're Taking a Shower.
Step 3: ....
Step 4: Profit
By Jove!!! Brilliant!
(I've been awake for around 20 hours, sorry.)
Saturday, September 8, 2007
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
It's weird to me when I sometimes have a really great evening when God just puts amazing peace in my heart and I end up listening to old hymns and praying for what seems like forever. It's weird because I feel like telling everyone how awesome it was the next day, but the next day that idea just seems silly and I realize it was one of those "you had to be there" moments. Tonight is one of those nights for me. I must have listened to this hymn 10 times. It's always good, but tonight it was great. Sometimes I guess I get a little overly sentimental and nostalgic. This will all look very alien to me the next time I read it. It's past my Saturday bedtime, night-y night.
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
It's weird to me when I sometimes have a really great evening when God just puts amazing peace in my heart and I end up listening to old hymns and praying for what seems like forever. It's weird because I feel like telling everyone how awesome it was the next day, but the next day that idea just seems silly and I realize it was one of those "you had to be there" moments. Tonight is one of those nights for me. I must have listened to this hymn 10 times. It's always good, but tonight it was great. Sometimes I guess I get a little overly sentimental and nostalgic. This will all look very alien to me the next time I read it. It's past my Saturday bedtime, night-y night.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
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