Junk Mail

I've been in my new house about 6 weeks now, and for the last 4 weeks or so, I've been receiving calls and junk mail thanking me for "signing" up for some sort of magazine subscription or some other type of informative service (with a bill no less!) that I absolutely did not order.

Seriously, I've been getting about 3 of these a day. Yesterday I had to call and cancel an order for "Garden Herb Monthly".

Each time I call the customer service number for these places (which I have to dig up on Google because they conveniently leave the contact number off the bill) the reps say to me "well...we received a business info request with your name on it." I politely tell them that I did not send in or sign anything of the sort. They apoligize and cancel the order.

Just 5 minutes ago, I received a call on my office number from some storage building company stating they received my request for information (which of course I did not request). I'm beginning to think that when I signed up for my Dish Network or internet service, these people sold my info to all of these marketing services.

It's beginning to really hack me off. I've cancelled about 10 of these things alone this week. GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

I also put my cell phone on the DO NOT CALL registry. Apparently, telemarkets begin to have access to cell phone directories at the end of this month.

Faith suckers

I'm probably going to ruffle some feathers with this one...

A couple of days ago, I visited one of our local "Christian" bookstores to purchase something. It had been quite a while since I had visited there so I decided to walk around and see what was new in the world of "Christian" books, music, etc... Well there were a couple of things that caught my eye during my visit. Only one of them is really worth mentioning and that is the array of "Christian" candies that I saw offered for sale.

Something about this really frightens me. Scripture Mints, Faith Suckers, Scripture Sour Gum and Scripture Smarties. Go ahead - say those out loud.

Tell me this isn't just a little corny... Maybe the thing that irritates me about this is what it seems to represent. I guess it's this whole "Christian culture" thing. To me it represents the problem that many Christians have of living in their Christian bubble. They've got their Christian music (which isn't bad in and of itself - in fact there is a lot of good Christian music out there finally), Christian clothing, Christian language (Christianese), etc... And now we've got our own candy?

Now we are relying on mints and gum to do the witnessing for us? First of all, where's the relationship aspect that is so vital (earning the right to be heard)? Secondly, regardless of the relationship thing, don't you think that 95% of all people who receive a Faith Pop are going to laugh or make fun of it? (On top of all of that, who really reads candy wrappers anyway?) Sometimes I feel like the Christian community has almost cheapened the gospel through all of its marketing and packaging.

Maybe I'm totally wrong and this is a new innovative way to reach people, but in my opinion, it's about as lame as the majority of TV preachers on television. My point is that all of this Christian "stuff" is great and all, but if we ever use any of it as a shield to hide behind or as a replacement for investing into the lives of people via relationships then we have a problem.

Ok, now I'll get off of my soapbox (Christian soapbox at that...) .

The other day

...I drove by an old Pizza Hut that closed down and is now a CURVES workout facility for women.

Kind of ironic.

Last Supper Painting

I was talking to a friend of mine who attends a different church than I do. They are extremely good at helping people identify and take the next step.

Here is one example.

They did a series on the Da Vinci Code and printed out a thirty foot version of Da Vinci's painting The Last Supper. It was staging during the series. At the end of the series, they asked people who wanted to "be at the table" with Jesus to sign the painting.

How cool is that?

What a creative way to cross the line of faith.

Whatever it takes

A few nights ago I went to see the newly released movie “The Last Kiss” starring Zach Braff. While I would probably give the entire movie an ok rating, it’s worth seeing for one scene. The scene is between Zach Braff’s character who has found himself in extreme relational hardships with his pregnant girlfriend and Tom Wilkinson’s character who is the father of the girlfriend.
Braff is looking to Wilkinson’s character for some kind of guidance and support.

Wilkinson’s character, who has had his own marrital challenges in his 30-year marriage, tell’s Braff exactly what he need’s to do. “There is one thing you need to do,” says the Dad, “whatever it takes.”

In a movie filled with relational confusion and uncertainty, this scene and more specifically, this one line, provides a clarity that by this point in the film is greatly needed. To “do whatever it takes” is not an easy challenge but it serves as an open invitiation to make our relationships with those closest to us of paramount importance. It forces us to consider a scenario where it’s “not about us”. It places the relationship above the priority of what’s “in it for us”.

Although it’s a very simply suggestion, It’s a line I will never forget and because of it, my perspective on relationships has been changed for the better.

Could you date...

......a girl that doesn’t like the movie “Caddyshack”? A friend of mine asked this question today and I think it’s a pretty good one.

Empty Out the Theater

I have been reading a lot about “relationship” lately. Leanoard Sweet’s “Out of the Question….”, Donald Miller’s “Searching For God Knows What” both hit on this problem of relationships that really hit home for me. Both of these writers call into question how well ourAmerican society has been dealing with the issue of relationships. Basically, we suck….me included. When I start to inspect within myself, the way I approach relationships in general, it really puts me up against something I don’t like…..my shortcomings, my failures, my tendency to be a bad listener, my tendency to be too lazy to reach out and connect with others, and on and on.

I think I am learning that in order to experience relationships in a real and honest way, we need to accept that it will be, at times, painful. Not just because of the harm someone else may cause you, but mostly from the pain of recognizing that you aren’t able to keep up the charade.

In a REAL relationship, the show is over, the curtains are drawn, the crowd has stopped applauding and everyone has gone home. We are left standing in an empty theater, naked, fat, and balding. This is something we not only need to expect, but something we should SEEK. We should seek this with our family, friends we have flaked on for months, neighbors who give us the evil eye because of our barking dogs, and most of all, our Creator, our God.

See what I mean, it sucks...but only at first, I hope.

I say “I hope”, because I still don’t know if I have really reached that point where I am alone, on stage, in the theater after the crowd has left, where I make myself available for anyone to come in and see me as exactly as I am. Maybe I never will, but I at least feel CLOSER to this point with my mere realization that my make-up and costumes only allow me to experience a fragile shell of what a real relationship might be.

Ditching the image, the reputation, the notoriety, the status. Maybe the only way to really fly first class is to go back to coach. That realization hurts, especially when flying from DFW to Sydney Australia.

Anyway, I guess I am disappointed in myself. I feel that I have failed those around me, and most of all, failed God.

It’s staggering to think how little I actually call out to God. Those prayers are too few and far between. It’s like I can’t walk with God, I just realize now and then that He’s way ahead of me on the trail and I yell out and run towards him for about 20 yards, then I slow down again, back to my own pace. A safe distance. There is so much for me to talk to God about, but I fail to say it.

My friend Steve once said that "just because God CAN bless us, it doesn’t mean He’ll do so. He wants to hear from us about our desires, our pain, our dreams. He wants to know that we are faithful, and then He will honor our faithfulness."

When he said that, something hit deep inside me. I have so many friends that I feel will never understand what it’s like to open up to God, our Creator, and journey with Him in the ugly/beautiful world. It’s like I don’t believe God can move towards them to bridge that gap.

I can throw up some wordy prayer towards God, but until I actually believe that He can do what seems impossible to me, He won’t accept my prayer. I call to God for change and blessing, but without the faith that He can provide them.....I might as well spit in His face. It’s nothing but an insult.

I have a long way to go. DFW to Sydney Australia looks like a stroll around the block from this starting point. But I AM faithful that God can help me get there.

TP'd

Well, now I know what home ownership really feels like. My house got toilet papered on Saturday night.

I feel honored.

Some of the youth from the church thought that it would be a fun way of welcoming me into the neighborhood. I think they we're disappointed though...I had it cleaned in less than 15 minutes.

This thing sucks

Halloween must be on its way...

Walking through Target this afternoon minding my own business when this thing SCREAMS at me as I walk by it!! Before I knew what was happening all 30 of them were doing it.

Almost fell right into the diaper display behind me.

Not funny...

The Croc Hunter

Like the rest of the world, I was pretty shocked to hear about the death of the Croc Hunter. Being a guy with a degree in marine biology, I've been an avid Steve Irwin fan for years. I love the show. And you can't help but love the guy. Your heart breaks for his wife and kids!

It's sort of weird, but when a celebrity dies it makes you reflect on life. Maybe its because celebrities seem larger than life.

In one sense, the way Steve Irwin died was so tragic. Evidently, the barb from a sting ray punctured his heart. But I think the way he died is a reminder and a testament to something really powerful. I hope this comes across the right way. Every death is tragic no matter how someone dies. But Steve Irwin died doing what he loved to do. That doesn't lessen the grief. But he died the way he lived.

I know this sounds morbid, but I want to die doing what I love to do.

Some people live their lives as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. I don't have a death wish. I want to live a long life. But if I had to choose between a long life and a full life I'd choose a full life.

Four Religous Truths

In the serious times we live in, it is important for all of us of all faiths to recognize these Four Deep Religious Truths:

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God’s chosen people.
2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian World.
4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters.

Bumper Sticker

This one was a hard picture to take cruising down the tollway today, but I had to share the moment with you. In case you can't read it, it says, "Grandparents do it - BELIEVE IT OR NOT!"

It wasn't so bad until I passed the guy and saw what he looked like. (Sometimes I hate mental pictures...)

Car parking...this is addictive

So ya think you're a good driver ... uh? Let's see how well you can park a car! Click on the link below. Use the 4 arrows on your keyboard, and the space bar for brake.

Link

New house fun

Things have been coming together slowly at the new house. I moved in back on Aug.12 and I have finally un-packed all of my boxes. Spent last night cleaning all the bathrooms. I have discovered an awesome cleaning tool...Clorox Clean-Up. Just keep it away from your clothes!

I also have a new dining room chandelier that I need to install. Anyone good with electric wiring?

My Word Cloud

This is kind of cool. It's a "word cloud" that takes the most common words found on your blog and turns them into this.

Wanna try? Click the link below and type in your blog address and see what it comes up with. Then come back and link it back in the comments for others to see.

Link

Busy weekend ahead

My weekend is absolutley crammed with things beginning this evening.

A block pot luck for church tonight, Mom & Dad are coming by the house first thing tomorrow morning and we're going to seal doors, windows, and bathroom tile.

Tomorrow afternoon at 2 I have Mica's 3rd birthday party, and then tomorrow night at 7 I'm going to the Cowboys/49'ers game with my friend Brian and his family.

Singing a U2 song at church Sunday morning (Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For), possibly playing Ultimate Frisbee Sunday afternoon, and then I have small group Sunday night!

WHEW!!

Terrible Two's

This is my niece/Goddaughter Mica. She is definitely in the midst of what is known as the "Terrible Two's", even though she will turn 3 a week from tomorrow. From what I hear, this phenomena can last well into the 4th year and beyond.

This pic was taken last Sunday, and she was absoloutely in need of a nap. She's beautiful though, even when she's mad...Bless her heart!

Your Uncle Keith loves you Baby Girl!!!

House Update

Well, I have been in my new house for a week now, and realized that I haven't posted any new pics of it yet. I've only taken a few shots so far. These are of my master bedroom and master bath.

There are so many things to do with a house! It's taking me a while to adjust from living in an apartment for 5 years. I've been spending each evening attacking one room, and I still have a ton left to do! I finished un-packing the kitchen last night.

One of the first major things I'm going to tackle is to completely re-tile my master bathroom. It has this vinyl/plastic tile right now that is completely out of date. So that has to go. Eventually I want to put down wood flooring in the house, but that's a couple months out. I need to focus on one project at a time.

Mom & Dad are coming over early tomorrow morning to help me re-caulk the tubs, windows, and cabinets.

The Dish Network installation finally happened yesterday morning, so now I have my sports stations back. The DSL/Internet won't be turned on until the 22nd....Grrrrr!

The new era begins

I apologize for not blogging in a week. I spent this past weekend moving into my new house, so since then my life has been a little hectic.

I missed the satellite guys on Sunday by 10 minutes (church got out late) and had to re-schedule the installation for tomorrow morning. My DSL line was supposed to be turned on yesterday, but lo and behold when I tried to get online last night, there was no connection. I called this morning and SBC/AT&T said they mis-ordered it. This is extremely frustrating since this happened the last time I moved. Why can't SBC ever get this right? On the bright side, my DSL, home phone, and sattelite combined will be less than $100/month. WOO HOO!

Lots to do at the new house. I'm trying to attack one room at a time. I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow. I'm already planning to re-tile my master bath!

42 inch flat-screen TV

So I'm walking from my car yesterday and I see three guys carrying a forty-two inch flatscreen TV into their apartment next to mine. The look on their faces was priceless. Almost angelic. They handled the TV so delicately like it was a newborn baby. I could tell it was their pride and joy.

Saturday I will have that same look on my face and feeling in my heart as I finally move from my small 1 bedroom apartment and into my new 4 bedroom house :)

Just thinking out loud :)

Soda, Pop, or Coke?

When you go out to eat do your order pop, soda, or coke?

My brother just sent me a funny research study that was done to determine what generic name people use for their beverages. The study maps out what parts of the country use pop, soda, and coke to refer to their soft drinks.

Growing up in Texas it was definitely coke. In fact, I remember walking to the convenience store down the street (it was and still is Keno's) as a kid, and getting a coke...which in fact was a DrPepper.

What I don't get is how many people in the Northern US use pop to refer to soda. So how do you order a Pepsi :) Answer? You don't! You order a DrPepper, at least in then South you do :) Must be Friday.

Check out the map here.

Summer Heat

I live in Texas. And in the summer that means one thing. It's hot!

Now there are 2 different kinds of hot here. Dry heat and humid heat. Humid heat is unbearable. The thermometer may say it's 100, but factor in the humidity, and it'll feel like 107!

All I hear on the national news lately is how the north is literally suffering because of the intense 95 degree heat. Folks, let me say this...95 degrees would feel like a cool front here!!!!! If it's 95 degrees on my move day in 9 days, I will consider it a blessing!

Now, can someone go get me an iced-tea?

Boxes!

I am up to my ears in boxes! I've been packing for about the last week or so, and any un-used box that I find, I grab as quick as I can. My move day is only 11 days away, so I am getting pretty excited. What's also kinda crazy is that my best friend Scott is moving this Friday to Utah (from sin City...AKA Las Vegas) so his life is as hectic as mine is right now. I'm moving from a 1 bedroom apartment into a 4 bedroom house that's only 20 minutes from where I am currently, and he's moving from a 4 bedroom house into another 4 bedroom house that's around 6 hours away from where he is now. I think I live my move a little more!

Another reason why I'm glad to be moving

I saw this on the news last night. My current apartment sits adjacent to the parking lot of Grapevine Mills. This mall, and the neighborhood, are going downhill fast. I remember back in 1997 when Grapevine Mills first opened. It was a pretty happening place to be. It had Dick Clark's Grill, Eerie World Cafe, and Rainforest Cafe, and a huge AMC 30 screen theater. The AMC and Rainforest Cafe are still there, but Dick Clark's and Eerie World have both been replaced by an indoor skatepark and Hollister. That did nothing but drive the adults away, and now the place is run over by pre-teens dropped off by their irresponsible parents. I don't even like stepping foot in the theater any longer. On a Friday night it's absolutely insane. I guess it's good I only have 2 weeks until my move day. Here's an excerpt from the news article:

Professional’ shoplifters nabbed at Grapevine Mills:

“When our officers finally arrested the two men, they found that the van was just stuffed full of clothing,” Murphy said. “All of the items still had price tags and some were still on hangers. The clothing amounted to $8,651.18; $3,662.68 worth of the merchandise was from stores at Grapevine Mills.”

Who thinks of this stuff?

Saw this downtown Dallas while going to lunch the other day. The sad part about it is that it actually made me laugh. God help me...

House update

Here is a picture of the current front door of my apartment.

I put in my official 30 day notice at my apartment community in Grapevine. I'm having to break my lease, but the office manager was willing to work with me so I can do it with as little fees as possible. I have lived here at this complex for a little over 4 years, so it has grown on me some.

That being said, I am definitely glad I am finally moving into my own house. Case in point, last night at around 11:30pm, I heard my new upstairs neighbors "extra-curicular" activities while trying to fall asleep. I've never had that problem in over 4 years of living here. I guess that's God's way of telling me I'm buying a house at the right time!

My House...In The Middle of the Street

Here's a first look at the house I am getting. I drove by last night and took a few photos. I love the huge red oak tree in the front along with the massive crepe myrtles. That'll help keep the house cool in these hot Texas summers.

Venturing into home ownership

I am a single guy. After living in the same apartment complex for over 4 1/2 years, I have decided to take the next leap . I have the opportunity to get into a house that's just 5 minutes from church, in a wonderful neighborhood, extremely near to some of my closest friends (within walking distance!).

I'm a little nervous, seeing as this will be the first house that I have ever owned, but the timing seems right. It's a little surreal at the moment. Almost as if it's a fuzzy dream, that you can't quite believe is happening. But...believe me...it is.

It's a little over 2,000 square feet, has 4 bedrooms/2 bathrooms/2 car garage/2 car carport/and has a 1 boat driveway. Yes you read that right, a boat driveway. AND...It's only 3 minutes from the lake.

Thus begins the journey. I should be moving by the end of the summer if things run smoothly. I'll post pics as soon as I get them.

Fireworks

So I am laying in bed the other night trying to go to sleep while World War III is going on in my neighborhood! Seriously, I thought at any minute my house was going to get blown up.

Finally there was a lull in the explosions…and I began to drift off to sleep…and them BAM…it all cranked back up.

This happened until about 2:00 AM…I could not sleep, every time I tried fireworks were going off…I have to be honest, I was not a happy camper.

But this morning I started thinking about it…that is what God has called me (and you) to be…FIREWORKS…to go throughout the day making a series of small and large explosions that pull people out of their sleep and make them pay attention–to Jesus.

In my opinion…the church has been asleep for too long. We’ve sat around waiting on God to make a move–never considering His move He made 2,000 years ago when He sent His Son to earth.

We can’t afford to sit around and talk about issues such as choir robes and hymnals when people are going to hell around us. We’ve got to wake up and smell the Starbucks! The church was called to make noise (please read Acts two–a noise was heard and people came running from every direction! They were not concerned with having a “holy huddle” and keeping things small–they wanted to REACH people!)

Now God is waiting on us…we are called to go out into the world and reach people for Him…and we can’t do that if we remain in a state of slumber. We need to stop asking God to “empower us!” HE ALREADY HAS!!! We simply need to go out and use what we’ve been given.

So today look for an opportunity to make an explosion for God–how…invite someone to church–ask someone how you can pray for them–send someone an encouraging note–there a lots of ways…and make sure that whatever you do brings the attention back to Jesus.

Make some noise!

The fear of KISS

When I was a kid I was scared to death of these guys. Oh man. Their makeup gig scared the bajeebers out of me! As far as I was concerned, KISS really did stand for "Knights in Satan's Service." (Too many "Peter Brother's" backwards masking seminars back then....)

Well here we are now - in the year 2006 and KISS has done it again. Except it's not the makeup scaring me this time around - it's this:



KISSCOFFEEHOUSE


Yeah, it's for real.

Trust me, I am all for new ideas and the whole entrepreneurial spirit thing, but does this really seem like an idea that's going to take off?

I'm skeptical for a lot of reasons, but most of all I guess I just don't typically associate rock 'n roll with coffee. Beer? Yes. But not coffee. Maybe this will go over well in Las Vegas and LA or a handful of other "touristy" areas, but I'm just not picturing people flocking all over the US to line up for the new Demon Dark Roast or the Iced Rockiato.

Then again, maybe it's just me... I need a nap.

Money, money, money

My day started rather well this morning.

I arrived at work to find that I've won a lottery in Thailand. My winnings are 740,000 Thailand dollars, which is over 550,000 US dollars if I did my math right. Not a bad return considering I've never been to Thailand or entered any lotteries.

I then found out that David K. Modu, from the diamond-rich district of Sierra Leone, wants me to have 3.75 million US dollars from his late father's fortune.

I'm doing pretty well. That's almost 5 million dollars for just opening my email today.

I reckon the only thing that could make my day better is if these email scams were the real thing.

Can you hear it?

After all the nasty things I've done to my ears in my lifetime, I didn't expect that it'd work for me.

I was just reading about this CBS News story. It tells us that kids are now using a ring tone that adults can't hear. Apparently the tone is too high pitched for us oldies.

The strange thing is, I am in my younger 30's, and I can hear it. I don't hear it when I watch the TV report that includes the sound but I certainly do when I just listen to the sample audio clip they provide.

What about you? Click here to find out if you can hear it and let me know in the comments below.

Jesus Band-aids

I wonder if my local Target store here in Grapevine has these?
I seriously doubt it.

Do angels yawn?

Every once in a while I have these offbeat thoughts.

I had a thought a few months ago, but yesterday was the first time I verbalized it to a good friend: I wonder if some of us live such safe lives that our guardian angels are yawning?

I wonder if our guardian angels get bored. I wonder if they are just waiting for us to step out in faith and do something that lets them spread their wings and fly!

All I know is this: I don't want to be guilty of causing angels to yawn!

30 Seconds To Mars

I love it when I discover new music that I had never heard of before. I took a trip over to the Virgin Records Megastore last night before my volleyball game, and stumbled across the 30 Seconds To Mars album "A Beautiful Lie".

I gave it a listen, and quickly became enthralled by just about every song. It's got a definite modern rock groove to it, with a little U2, a little The Cure, and a little Depeche Mode vibe thrown in for good measure. Imagine my shock when after purchasing it and reading the liner notes, I discovered that the lead singer is the actor Jared Leto. Despite that (usually bands fronted by actors stink) it's a very good album which I heartily recommend. I think maybe Mr. Leto is not an actor, but a darn good musician who dabbles in acting every once in a while.

Most sung worship songs

Ever wonder if other churches are singing the same stuff we are singing? Here is a list of the 25 Most Sung Worship Songs In America. Before you click, remember these are all "worship songs". Now, try to guess the top 3. One hint: none of them are by David Crowder!?!

The quest for the Holy Grail

By jove… it explains everything… right here!

Going the extra mile

There’s few things more demoralizing than when you go the extra mile for someone, really put in a lot of effort to help them, and then discover second hand that they are still unappreciative and unhappy with you. There’s times I’d like nothing more than to spend my days locked up in my office with my laptop computer and my Ipod and not have to deal with people.

Working with people is a risk - some will not appreciate you though you put in a huge effort on their behalf, while others will overflow with gratitude for something small that I wouldn’t even usually consider important or special. The trick is to not give up on the former group, and to draw strength and encouragement from the latter, while all the time remembering there’s a higher calling involved too.

Spamglish

Why is it the blog spammers never seem to be able to speak English? Here’s a few recent examples :

*I’m love this great website. Many thanks guy
*i try to find something at google.com and take it on your site…thanks
*Best site I see. Thanks. Hello there! Just want to say that I find your site enough interesting for me. Usefull information and all is good arranged. Thank you for your work. I will visit your site more ofter from now and I bookmarked it.
*Nice site. Thank to work…
*Great job guys… Thank for you work…
*Hallo I absolutely adore your site. You have beautiful graphics I have ever seen.

Well if nothing else at least they’re encouraging and courteous. Wouldn’t do them any harm to learn a little grammar though. Having said that I must confess in college, when reading some chapters on English grammar - they put me to sleep - so maybe that’s what happened to the spammers - they fell asleep during English!

Superman as Jesus??

I for one can’t wait for the upcoming release of Superman Returns. Superman has always been the ultimate superhero, even though some of the later movies from the 80s didn’t do justice to the legend (Superman IV anyone?). From the previews, the new movie looks like it’s going to be awesome - a much more worthy successor to the original Superman : The Movie, even to the extent that it features the voice of Marlon Brando as Superman’s Father, as well as the wonderful score from John Williams.

But this CNN article explores yet another aspect of the Superman legend, which apparently is given free reign in the new movie - Superman as a Christological figure. These themes have always been latent in Superman stories of the past, (even though the original creators drew more from the character of Moses) but in Superman Returns are made even more explicit. With a growing awareness of the vast American Christian market, studios are ever looking for new ways to appeal to them. Fortunately though, they aren’t marketing Superman in this way.
Interesting article to read which makes me even more keen to see this movie when it comes out.

Here's the link to the article: Superman

New Franklin

This is the new Franklin/Covey planner I purchased yesterday, along with the new Leadership calendar fills to help keep myself better organized. I've missed a couple birthday parties and committments I had made recently (sorry Jeff and Melissa!) and I can't have that happening.

I kept a Franklin planner years ago, and it really helped me stay on track with a lot of things by forcing me to write them down. I think that gets me to commit it to my memory a little better than just simply using a PDA (plus if you drop a Franklin on the concrete, it doesn't break like a PDA does!!).

So now my bag/backpack is weighing a little more (with my journal, Bible, IPod, digital camera, and now this), but in the end, it'll keep me a little more organized, which will keep me a lot less stressed, and that's a good thing.

Do you have a box on your head?

Matthew 9:10-13Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them.

When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."

The Pharisees thought they knew how Jesus should behave; who Jesus should be seen with or who He should eat with. And it just dawned on me, they thought they had a copyright on God and knew how Jesus and His followers should behave and who they should be seen with.Nope, Jesus didn't like hanging out with the Pharisees. Pharisees are boring. Can you imagine having to eat with them? With their glassy, self-righteous stares. Sitting there, looking down their noses... with those little boxes* on their heads ( I did a Google search for 'Pharisees little boxes they wore on their heads' and I found the following:

"This word from the Greek signifies a preservative. These phylacteries were little boxes, or rolls of parchments, wherein were written certain words of the law. These boxes or rolls, containing their four leaves of parchment on which their texts were written, they wore upon their foreheads, and upon their wrist of their left arm...").

Who would want to spend time with these people? Much less, eternity. Jesus knew who to come for... the lost, the broken, the interesting.

Jesus would much rather hang around an authentic sinner than a fake saint, any day.

So Far...

25 years ago today, I asked Jesus to come into my heart. It doesn't seem that long ago. I can still remember it. I knelt under a tree and prayed. Our denomination called it 'getting saved'.

After that, I wanted to tell everybody about Jesus.

I remember getting on an airplane and being afraid that if I didn't tell the person sitting next to me about Jesus, they would go to Hell and their blood would be on my hands. So, I kept trying to figure out a way to ask, "If you were to die today, would you go to Heaven? I finally asked. It felt awkward. She was a nun.

Fast forward 25 years.

This past Memorial Day, I went to a cookout at a friends house. I ended up talking to a few people on the back porch (which is my favorite spot). Somehow, the conversation got around to God. I don't know how that always happens. Guess it's because there's nothing more interesting. It's the never-ending discussion.

If I recall correctly, these new friends consisted of a former Mormon missionary, a United Pentecostal, a Catholic or two, various and sundry other creeds... and George.

George was raised in a home that was 'agnostic'. At his house, religion didn't figure in. "But," he said, "I believe there is something after this life."

That caught my ear.

"Why do you believe that?" I asked.

He sputtered to a stop. He had continued onto another part of his story and didn't know what I was talking about.

"Believe what?" he asked.

"You said you believe there is something after this life. Why do you believe that?"
He said he didn't know.

Everybody started talking and telling what they believed and why.
Why do we believe there's something beyond this life?
What causes us to even consider it?
How could we long for something we've never known?

I crave Blue Bell ice cream. Sometimes, I even 'long' for it. You see, I've tasted Blue Bell ice cream. I know what Blue Bell ice cream tastes like. I'm going to have some after lunch.

Why do I believe there's something beyond this life?
God.

My DNA remembers God.
He made a very good first impression.

I believe our DNA echoes with the memory of His goodness. His breath is still in us (Genesis 2:7). We are His broken image (Genesis 1:27).

I used to have a dog when I was a kid. To my knowledge, he never remembered God. And he longed for nothing but to be scratched and thrown a treat. There wasn't anything in him that thought there was something after this life.

At least, he'd never spoken to me about it.

When it was my turn to tell why I believe there's something after this life, I told my friends that I came from God, got lost and Jesus has come to take me home.

But, a funny thing happened. As I was beginning to tell my story, I felt a lump rising in my throat and tears starting to burn in my eyes.

My voice was shaky. "It's because of Jesus," I said. "He started it. He loved me first. And He proved it by dying for my sins and rising from the dead. I believe that more than I believe I'm sitting here."

We all come from the same God. We may not agree about where the 'longing' comes from but there's no denying it. Well, I am beginning to find that my 'longing' is satisfied by the love of Jesus. Getting to know Him is like finding breadcrumbs along the path giving you a little taste of what's waiting at the house.

Addictive Art

Finding this at 1:30 in the morning is not a good thing. One word: ADDICTING.

Try your hand at being the next Jackson Pollock, the famous abstract expressionist painter from the early-mid 1900's.

Go ahead....try it! It's cool.

Here's the Link

Re-vamping

It used be every couple years. Then it was once a year. Now, it comes about every 6 months. What? The need to re-think and re-vamp my life. And I'm feeling it again!

I'm sitting at DFW airport in Dallas waiting for a meeting, but my thoughts are regarding something a successful business friend of mine told me last week. He had gone to a conference that he was really pumped about and they told him that significance came as a result of success and success came as a result of stability. In other words, there are certain things in your life that must be stable; and that stability brings success; and that success can be leveraged for significance.

Now, there is a lot about that with which I disagree. But I do believe that I need to stabilize certain core values and disciplines before I can expect God to continue to allow my influence to grow. And that is what is bringing on this need to re-vamp my life. It's not an overhaul - cause I do hear hear from God; I do run and exercise regularly; I do keep my committments to church; I do intentionally spend time with each of my family members...but it's not stable. It's not as consistent as I want it to be.

So, I'm thinking about revamping my life so that I journal everyday; so that I workout and play volleyball every week (see previous post); so that I spend a little more time with my best friends and family; I'm close, but not there yet!

I'm sore

I joined a summer volleball league at Fellowship Church last week. We had our first scrimmage game last week, and I'm still a little sore.

Next game is Thursday at 7:30pm

Last new cell phone...I swear

Ok, last week my Nokia 6103 phone started "peeling" after only having it 5 days, and the earpiece audio was so low, I had to make sure my ears were clean to be able to hear anything at all.

I went with my gut instinct and got the Samsung T-319. The sales clerk at T-Mobile tried to get me to go with another more expensive model, but something inside told me not to. I'm glad I went with my gut feeling. The phone earpiece volume is the best I've ever heard, and the phone reminds me of a Samsung I used to have 5 or so years ago. Very easy to use, and works like it's supposed to.

Barry Bonds & Babe Ruth

There will come a day when Barry Bonds leaves baseball, and everything about the game will be the better for it.

In the meantime, the more the man reveals himself, the more we know him to be the absolute fraud for which his name has become synonymous.

Only the latest example of the deceit that is Bonds occurred after he hit home run No. 714 to tie Babe Ruth for No. 2 on the all-time list. The same man who in an interview with reporters before the 2003 All-Star Game gleefully looked forward to wiping Ruth from the record books suddenly -- because it fit the purpose of trying to gain a shred of public respect -- paid homage to Ruth and his legacy.

When a reporter reminded Bonds of his 2003 comments, he claimed not to remember and, as The New York Times reported, called the words "somebody's fabrication."

The only fabrication is Bonds himself. I have a recording of that interview that day in Chicago, where there were as many as 40 reporters around him at a table in a hotel ballroom, no more than six feet away from him. Bonds spent a great deal of time talking about the importance of the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City -- the same museum he stiffed in 2002 when, according to the Associated Press, "museum officials said they were unable, despite months of trying, to even get an acknowledgment from home run king Barry Bonds, who was voted the Oscar Charleston Award.''

Subsequent talk of Hank Aaron then turned into a question about Aaron's home run record.
Said Bonds, "The one I care about is Babe Ruth and 715.''

Asked why, Bonds replied, "As a left-handed hitter, I wiped him out. That's it. And in the baseball world, Babe Ruth is everything, right? I got his slugging percentage, his on-base percentage, his walks and I'll take his home runs. That's it. Don't talk about him no more.... I'm the next generation of the Negro leagues. Hank Aaron can have those 755 home runs.''

It is yet another window into the shallow soul of Bonds that he thinks he could disrespect Ruth in front of the national media at a showcase baseball event, have it be widely and repeatedly reported, and then only three years later claim it was a "fabrication." Just like he never knew those were steroids he put into his body. He and his records are truly unbelievable.

X Men 3

WOO HOO!!!!

My office just handed out free passes to an advanced screening of X Men 3 for this Thursday night at the brand new AMC Northpark!! Can you say "SCORE!!!!!!"

I guess I'll be seeing it twice now since I was already planning on seeing it with my buddy Jeff on Friday anyway.

Another (yes another) new cell phone

A couple weeks ago I had picked up a new phone and blogged about it. After having the Samsung T-509 for a week, there were too many quirks that I just could not get over (like not being able to hear it ring...that's pretty important).

Soooo... I took it back and exchanged it for a Nokia 6103. A week after having this phone, the screen started acting up and would blank out on me, plus the camera would not launch properly.

So... my Nokia was acting up while I was at the mall in Grapevine, and the T-Mobile store was inside. I decided to see what they could do. I ended up walking out with this baby, the Samsung T-809, which is their top of the line phone currently. I am amazed at this thing. The "wow" factor of it's design and screen is staggering. I feel like I'm looking at a flat screen TV instead of a cell phone.

So far, everything about it has been top notch. I'll be using this one for a long while. It'll take a some getting used to the slider form. I'm loving the MP3 player and 65 MB of internal memory, not to mention the 1GB memory card that comes with it.

Ben & Jerry's

So I went to Wal-Mart on Monday night...something I do not usually do! (I love the variety at Wal-Mart...but it seems there is only one or two lines that are open every time I go...maybe that's God working on my patience!). BUT--this trip turned out to be an amazing blessing because...For the first time in my life I bought some Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

I am a self confessed ice cream snob...and have said on this blog that I am usually a Bluebell man...BUT as I walked down the ice cream aisle in Wally World, the Ben & Jerry's got my attention. So I looked at it & decided to buy it...it's called "Half Baked."

So I've got this pint of ice cream and on Tuesday afternoon I decided to eat it--BUT before I did I snuck a glance at the nutritional information. BAD IDEA! Obviously Ben and Jerry have no regards for health--but after tasting the ice cream I feel that I am ok with that!!!

This was a new experience for me--and I LOVED IT! I got out of my ice cream rut & pushed the edge!!! That's the way we need to live life--push the edge, try something new!!! And let it go beyond ice cream--take it into your walk with God, your marriage, your workplace--ANYTHING! One of the things that is a shame when it comes to us human beings is that we allow ourselves to fall into boring and predictable lifestyles--we are creatures of habit and we resist change...but God wants us to be creative!!!

If I only had a brain

Looks as if this guy could use a brain too...

The Best Advice I Ever Got

A friend of mine asked me this afternoon, "what's the best advice you've ever received?"

I have to admit it was really hard to narrow it down to one. I thought about one of my professors in college who said something I'll never forget: catch people doing things right. I thought about Clark Griswold's advice in Christmas Vacation: do it right and do it big. I thought about my favorite philosopher, Jack Handy (from Saturday Night Live), who said: if you drop your keys in a river of molten lava let 'em go man 'cause they're gone. And I thought about quoting Qui Gon Jinn (from Star Wars) who said, "Your focus determines your reality."

I've gotten lots of great advice over the years, but the most unique was a life-changing bottle cap. I was drinking a Nantucket Nectar one day and the saying on the bottle cap became a personal mantra: if everyday was a good day there would be no good days.

Not bad for a bottle cap! All of us want every day to be a good day, but if every day was a good day there would be no good days because there wouldn't be any bad days with which to compare the good days to. It's the bad days that help us appreciate the good days! Sickness helps us appreciate health. Failure helps us appreciate success. Debt helps us appreciate wealth. And the tough times help us appreciate the good times.

God can even turn our worst day into our best day.

Here is what I know for sure: God is in the recycling business. He takes our pain and uses it for someone else's gain. That is precisely what Christ did on the cross.

So whether you're having a good day or a bad day, remind yourself that God is God and God is good.

New phone

I just picked this up yesterday. The new Samsung T509. It has got to be the sleekest looking phone I have ever seen. It is currently the thinnest phone on the market (according to all of the reviews I've read).

The display screen is what really impresses me. I've never seen anything this crisp and clear on a phone before.

Mapping Religion in America

I can't remember where I ran across this site, but it's pretty interesting. Maps of the United States that indicate where the largest segments of various denominational and religious constituents reside.

Game of Shadows

I’ve been reading (like everyone else) “Game of Shadows,” the book about Barry Bonds and steroids and the BALCO scandal. It’s quite a remarkable feat of reporting. What's striking about it is something that you might not notice—which is the absence of obvious lawyering. If you ever write something even remotely critical of someone, the lawyers invariably go through it, and before you know it your words is strewn with “apparently” and “allegedly,” and “according to” and so-so “denies. . .” There’s almost none of that in “Game of Shadows,” which is amazing considering the book accuses, in devastating detail, several of the biggest names in sports—Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Tim Montgomery and Marion Jones, among others—of being serious steroid users.

When the book first came out, and several baseball writers predicted that Bonds’ reputation was destroyed and his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame seriously damaged, I thought they were overstating things. Now I’m not so sure. “Game of Shadows” is a death sentence for Bonds. More to the point, it’s impossible to read the book and accept that Bonds has a right either to the single season home-run record or, assuming he keeps playing, the career home run mark.

From the moment he started his late career surge, everyone who knew anything about baseball suspected mischief. “Game of Shadows” points out that Bonds had the second, ninth and tenth greatest offensive season in baseball history at the ages of 36, 37, and 39 respectively—and the average age of everyone else on that list (Gehrig, Foxx, Ruth and Hornsby) is 27. No one—no one—turns himself into one of the greatest hitters of all time in his late 30’s. His home run record should have been denied as statistically implausible.

Free Cone Day!!

It's a national holiday today. If you've got a Ben & Jerry's near you it's free cone day. I'd hate for anyone to miss this once-a-year opportunity!

The Titan

My brother and I will be riding this today. It's the Titan at Six Flags Over Texas. It will be a fun day of roller-coster riding with my baby bro.

Then tonight, Audia Adrenaline, Kutless, Hawk Nelson, and Disciple will be in concert there. What a nice way to spend Good Friday. Must remember to bring my earplugs!!

Growling stomachs

Just thought I'd share a Gracie-ism. Gracie is my 4-year-old niece. Out of the blue the other day, Gracie said, "It's a good thing God made food." Amen to that. But I love Gracie's rationale. I asked her why. She said, "So our stomachs don't growl."

Of course! Silly me!

Out of the mouths of babes...

Round and Juicy

Is it just me, or is "round and juicy" sort of an odd way to describe a cup of coffee?

American Idol Musings

5 Thoughts about last weeks American Idol and this week's Queen theme. Here we go:

#1 - Mandisa was one of the best singers in the competition. That she got voted off before Bucky is an insult.

#2 - Bucky was in his "Country Zone" and still didn't sing well. Why you might ask? Because he's not that good of a singer. I hope he does "Who wants to live forever?" (From the Highlander movie soundtrack).

#3 - Who wants to hear someone do the theme song from Flash Gordon? "Flash.....AAAAAAHHHHHH!" That would rule! I would vote for that person just out of principle.

#4 - Another One Bites the Dust - No one will do this song, because of its potential implications. I love the song, but no one wants to sing that song and then be the one who bites said dust. By the way, is there any question what EVERY headline will be next week when Bucky leaves?

#5 - Chris - I told a friend of mine the week before that Chris would do "Higher Ground" because the Red Hot Chili Peppers did a cover of it (On their Mother's Milk album for those keeping score at home). My prediction for Chris this week: "Stone Cold Crazy". Why? Because Metallica did a cover of it (It originally appeared as the B-side to the "Enter Sandman" single and can also be found on Garage Inc.

Starbucks and Akeelah

It's here. Starbucks marketing for the the new movie, Akeelah and the Bee. It looks like they have paired the marketing with their new Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccino.

I have to admit, when I first heard that Starbucks was going to be marketing movies I was not real excited about it. Still am not. If I want movie ads, I'll go to Arby's or Burger King. But - I will say that it doesn't feel like movie marketing, which I appreciate...

Anywho...the Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccino was great! No caffeine (bummer...), but a nice alternative to the coffee based frappuccinos or other coffee drinks.

Reactive Christianity

I keep having this recurring thought: I'm tired of reactive christianity. Reactive Christianity is an oxymoron. Jesus was counter-cultural. Jesus was proactive. Yet that is how so many of us live our lives. Faith, by definition, is proactive. Faith takes the initiative. We have a core value: playing it safe is risky.

I think there are safe Christians who try not to do anything wrong. And there are dangerous Christians who aren't afraid to take God-ordained risks and seize God-ordained opportunities.

I had an hour-long conversation with someone today who is exploring issues of faith. I challenged him to cross the line and begin a new chapter. And he wasn't quite ready yet. But I don't think I've ever been more straight up. I'm absolutely convinced that every problem we have is a symptom of a deeper issue. I believe that a relationship with God is the solution to all of our problems! I just decided not to tip toe. I decided to call a spade a spade.

I think there comes a time where we have to give expression to Romans 1:16: "I am not ashamed of the Good News." I'm proud of who God is and what God has done! Let me share two personal definitions.

Evangelism is bragging about God to others.
Worship is bragging about God to God.

That's worship evangelism!

The Power of Late Night Infomercials

How anyone can get excited about this really beats me.

Worse yet, how they were able to get me to pay attention long enough to actually look the name up online and blog about it REALLY worries me!

The Bible in Lego form

This is a really cool site that I found last night. I'm going to do something with this. I haven't figured out what, but I'm going to do something with it! Check it out!

Crazy week

I apologize for not posting anything for the last week or so, but I have a good excuse. On my way to church last week (3/26) I was in a head-on collision with a hotel passenger van. Yes, you read that right. It totaled my 4Runner, but thankfully there were no injuries.

The one thing that really concerns me is that my airbags did NOT deploy. Needless to say, I am quite disappointed with Toyota. One would think that if a van hits you head on at 50 mph, that your airbags would go off. It didn't happen.

So, in light of that, my insurance did come through for me, and I purchased a new Honda Accord EX fully loaded over the weekend. The car is even equipped with Bluetooth. Sweet! I figured with gas prices on the rise these days, a gas guzzling SUV is the last thing I need.

I've attached a pic from the accident.