The biggest reason, I cannot predict them. I'm the kind of guy who has an iPod that is always on random. I like surprise twists. I watch shows like 24 because they actually would kill a repeat character (I hate knowing that people will survive because they have a two season contract). I love to play them, but when watching, it's the spectacular finishes I focus on.
It was pretty bad today. Lorie was sitting with me on the couch, kind of "eh" at first, then changing channels to see what was going on before I could!
Starters, Penguins Capitals hockey game. There is one major reason I love soccer and hockey over football, baseball, basketball, etc. Those other sports, the last 5 minutes are fouls, timeouts, ball spikes, pitching changes, anything to go slower. Hockey and soccer, the last five minutes people work harder and play gets more exciting. Today, Pittsburgh up 3-1, Caps pull the goalie with 2 minutes left, score a squeaker with a minute to go. They came just short of tieing the game (they got a shot of with a second left!).
With that over, we flipped to Nascar. Now, I can't watch cars go in a circle for four hours, but when I saw a yellow flag with 2 laps to go, I knew there was going to be a huge heap of cars together for the last lap, something close, and of course, a crazy major accident! I wasn't disappointed. Wrecks, guys driving in the grass, one car upside down and on fire (nice!) and of course, the photo finish where Havrick literally beats Martin (who was leading the whole time) by inches. By this point, Lorie's yelling at the TV not believing the poor guy in first this whole time lost... again...
But, that was cut short by golf. Yes, golf. How exciting can it get? Not very, but when you have Mickelson miss up close to allow Howell to force a playoff, it gets a little more interesting. Then, have them tie three times, in the middle, Howell hit a shot so bad it actually came to rest on the sidewalk (I've hit the sidewalk, never had it stop there), looking like he's going to lose, just so Mickelson can miss again and eventually lose to a guy who hasn't won a PGA tour in 5 years.
I mean really, you can't write that stuff and make it seem believable. Only in sports...
T
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Who's To Blame?
So I'm reading an old paperback novel about airplanes, good story, and in the middle something happens that gets me thinking. There's an airplane with engine failure, smoke comes out, people scared, etc. Of course, everyone blames the manufacturer of the airplane. And the people who make the plane are furious. Why?
It's not their fault.
Of course, that sounds like a cop out. Plane one fire, must be the people who made the plane. Blame Boeing. But they made an interesting point. Most people don't know this, but industrial engines are very rarely made by the company that makes the machine. To give you an idea, for the plane, Boeing would make the plane, but not the engines. They would buy some other company's engine (like Rolls Royce) and have them installed on the plane. So really, the plane manufacturers are right. It's not their fault, but they'll take the heat for it.
To make it a little easier to understand, imagine you're driving your car. In my case a nice little Geo. I've been driving it for a year. Suddenly a tire bursts. Does Geo make the tires? No, of course not. You'd have Firestone or Goodyear on it. The tire could burst for any number of reasons. Bad road, old tires (they don't last forever), even on the off chance faulty tires. So should I yell at Geo for making a bad car? No. It wasn't their fault.
And this is what happens in the airplane business. They get blamed for parts that break that are not their fault. They take the brunt of all the accusations, stocks fall, people don't fly as much (for a bit) all based on the a part failing that was not the airline maker's fault. Heck, the airline maker doesn't even get to choose what engines are put in. They buyer of the aircraft does that. So really, they have no blame whatsoever.
Yet they pay for it.
But this is what got me thinking. Do we do that to God? Traffic's really bad and we slept in already, late for work. "God, why are You punishing me?" Someone steals your wallet. "How could You do this to me God?" We eat cheese puffs all day and get sick. "God, I don't deserve this. Why are You letting this happen to me?" Is it really His fault?
But then again, when we actually do something right, when we get the new job, when a new life is born, when miracles happen, who do we generally give the credit to...?
T
It's not their fault.
Of course, that sounds like a cop out. Plane one fire, must be the people who made the plane. Blame Boeing. But they made an interesting point. Most people don't know this, but industrial engines are very rarely made by the company that makes the machine. To give you an idea, for the plane, Boeing would make the plane, but not the engines. They would buy some other company's engine (like Rolls Royce) and have them installed on the plane. So really, the plane manufacturers are right. It's not their fault, but they'll take the heat for it.
To make it a little easier to understand, imagine you're driving your car. In my case a nice little Geo. I've been driving it for a year. Suddenly a tire bursts. Does Geo make the tires? No, of course not. You'd have Firestone or Goodyear on it. The tire could burst for any number of reasons. Bad road, old tires (they don't last forever), even on the off chance faulty tires. So should I yell at Geo for making a bad car? No. It wasn't their fault.
And this is what happens in the airplane business. They get blamed for parts that break that are not their fault. They take the brunt of all the accusations, stocks fall, people don't fly as much (for a bit) all based on the a part failing that was not the airline maker's fault. Heck, the airline maker doesn't even get to choose what engines are put in. They buyer of the aircraft does that. So really, they have no blame whatsoever.
Yet they pay for it.
But this is what got me thinking. Do we do that to God? Traffic's really bad and we slept in already, late for work. "God, why are You punishing me?" Someone steals your wallet. "How could You do this to me God?" We eat cheese puffs all day and get sick. "God, I don't deserve this. Why are You letting this happen to me?" Is it really His fault?
But then again, when we actually do something right, when we get the new job, when a new life is born, when miracles happen, who do we generally give the credit to...?
T
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
National Youth Workers Convention
So I was busy this last weekend helping with Group Magazine and Doug Field's NYWC Conference. Of course, I was there to learn stuff, so here's some I got, either by design of the conference or by accident by being me.
~People can generally be really, really nice.
~You never know the whole story (I may give more on this later...).
~Churches of 16 000 have the same problems as ours.
~Cold affects different people different ways.
~Best line of the conference, "No Ringy, No Thingy" (you can figure out what that's for).
~Wal-Mart is never near downtown.
~It costs less to give it away than to ship it home, we got so much free stuff (thank you everyone!!!).
~A little spark of excitement can lead to a huge fire.
~People appreciate the little things.
~Busy-ness is not something to be proud of.
~Teenagers are incredibly fun, and are the people who work with them.
~People who seem to have every right to be exclusive can and are very humble and quite friendly.
I'm sure there's more, I may edit and add some, but there's some food for thought. Thanks to everyone who made it a great weekend!
T
~People can generally be really, really nice.
~You never know the whole story (I may give more on this later...).
~Churches of 16 000 have the same problems as ours.
~Cold affects different people different ways.
~Best line of the conference, "No Ringy, No Thingy" (you can figure out what that's for).
~Wal-Mart is never near downtown.
~It costs less to give it away than to ship it home, we got so much free stuff (thank you everyone!!!).
~A little spark of excitement can lead to a huge fire.
~People appreciate the little things.
~Busy-ness is not something to be proud of.
~Teenagers are incredibly fun, and are the people who work with them.
~People who seem to have every right to be exclusive can and are very humble and quite friendly.
I'm sure there's more, I may edit and add some, but there's some food for thought. Thanks to everyone who made it a great weekend!
T
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Quick Thought Before Bed
I was about to go to sleep and was reading something that I thought I should say really quick (it'll be short).
I was reading about Harry Houdini, the infamous escape artist. You know, he would tie himself up, put himself in a safe, then toss it into water and somehow he'd get out. Amazing. Well, I was actually reading a list of famous people and their fears (phobias really). Houdini was on the list.
He was scared of tight spaces.
Harry Houdini, the guy who got locked in a trunk on a regular basis voluntarily so he could perform was scared of tight spaces. And yet, every night, he did because he found out he had a gift and he couldn't keep it quiet.
What would have happened if he had given up the first time he tried because of his fear?
Are there things you don't do because you're afraid? Spreading God's Word, speaking in front of people, maybe even helping with teenagers (gasp!). Maybe you don't know it yet, but you're good at it. Really good. As in Houdini good.
Are you going to let a little phobia stop you from being as good at whatever it is God wants you to do as Harry Houdini was at escaping?
Stephen read it Friday at McPrayer (at least I think this was it, I'm kinda tired). "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." - Isaiah 41:13.
T
I was reading about Harry Houdini, the infamous escape artist. You know, he would tie himself up, put himself in a safe, then toss it into water and somehow he'd get out. Amazing. Well, I was actually reading a list of famous people and their fears (phobias really). Houdini was on the list.
He was scared of tight spaces.
Harry Houdini, the guy who got locked in a trunk on a regular basis voluntarily so he could perform was scared of tight spaces. And yet, every night, he did because he found out he had a gift and he couldn't keep it quiet.
What would have happened if he had given up the first time he tried because of his fear?
Are there things you don't do because you're afraid? Spreading God's Word, speaking in front of people, maybe even helping with teenagers (gasp!). Maybe you don't know it yet, but you're good at it. Really good. As in Houdini good.
Are you going to let a little phobia stop you from being as good at whatever it is God wants you to do as Harry Houdini was at escaping?
Stephen read it Friday at McPrayer (at least I think this was it, I'm kinda tired). "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." - Isaiah 41:13.
T
Monday, February 05, 2007
The Colts Did It
It's finally happened. The Colts are the Super Bowl Champions. They are it. The winners.
And Coach Dungy finally has his Super Bowl winning team. You gotta hand it to the guy, he's been waiting a long time for this. And yet, in the midst of his win, in the height of his glory, what did he say? All the news stories are running how an African-American coach won the game, but he added more...
"I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," Dungy said during the trophy ceremony. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."
Wait a minute, what was that? But that's not all he said...
"The Lord doesn't always take you in a straight line," Dungy said. "He tests you sometimes."
In a sport that seems to focus so much on "me", all the big hype, the end zone dances, the"look at how great I am" attitude, the announcers are looking to the sidelines and mentioning how Dungy never raises his voice and has never cursed or swore on the football field because of his faith.
That's a man I'm proud to see hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
T
(both quutes from AOL Sports)
And Coach Dungy finally has his Super Bowl winning team. You gotta hand it to the guy, he's been waiting a long time for this. And yet, in the midst of his win, in the height of his glory, what did he say? All the news stories are running how an African-American coach won the game, but he added more...
"I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," Dungy said during the trophy ceremony. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."
Wait a minute, what was that? But that's not all he said...
"The Lord doesn't always take you in a straight line," Dungy said. "He tests you sometimes."
In a sport that seems to focus so much on "me", all the big hype, the end zone dances, the"look at how great I am" attitude, the announcers are looking to the sidelines and mentioning how Dungy never raises his voice and has never cursed or swore on the football field because of his faith.
That's a man I'm proud to see hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
T
(both quutes from AOL Sports)
Monday, January 29, 2007
Keeping Your Word
Most people know what a treaty is. An agreement between two countries to stop fighting. At least, most times that's what it means. And usually it will be forgotten and people still fight when angry.
But who has heard of the Treaty of Windsor? It was signed way back in 1386 by two countries who were not at war. England and Portugal created it saying they would never go to war with each other.
And 621 years later they have still never been at war.
Imagine if we all lived like that. If we all kept our word. If we simply stopped fighting (or never started) because we simply said we wouldn't and did our best to find another way to solve our problems. There are many treaties that are worth nothing because they simply aren't followed. This one has six centuries of worth.
What's your word worth?
Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no... ~ James 5:12
T
But who has heard of the Treaty of Windsor? It was signed way back in 1386 by two countries who were not at war. England and Portugal created it saying they would never go to war with each other.
And 621 years later they have still never been at war.
Imagine if we all lived like that. If we all kept our word. If we simply stopped fighting (or never started) because we simply said we wouldn't and did our best to find another way to solve our problems. There are many treaties that are worth nothing because they simply aren't followed. This one has six centuries of worth.
What's your word worth?
Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no... ~ James 5:12
T
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Almost Made Me Sick
So last night I was up late with the TV on (I was at a hotel and couldn't sleep, more on that later) when an infomercial came on for the Season 1 DVD of "Gifted".
Now, for those of you who don't know what "Gifted" is, it's basically a Christian American Idol. You can see the website at www.giftedshow.com. I have no problem with people showing the gift God gave them, but there was something a bit too much for me.
Backtrack. Back when I was in high school (oh so long ago) the modern worship movement was just starting. It seemed good. Lots of new songs, lots of books and CD's so people could play the songs in church. Good.
Then it got bigger. Christian/worship CD sales were the second highest growing genre in the last few years. Worship was on the radio. Worship leaders were now giving concerts. I had mixed feelings. I'm glad people have the opportunity to hear these songs. People may even be worshipping in their cars while the radio's on, but is it focused worship? Are people really thinking about how God is holy or merely humming along to "Holy Is The Lord" while it's on in the background? Are we praising God or the laser light show? So many questions...
But this one made me sick. I mean sick. Like I said, if God gave you a talent and you want to use it, maybe even let people know God gave it to you, fine. But then, during this infomercial for the DVD set, I heard "How Great Is Our God", a wonderful worship song that is pretty much summed up in the title. And it was being sung by someone promoting themselves to win a recording contract. Singing "How Great Is Our God" to promote to judges "How Great Am I".
And I couldn't take it anymore.
I don't know where the line is. I don't know everything there is to know about worship. I honestly think our view of worship is quite small and think God would like it to be bigger. But is this really it? Singing songs written for God possibly even inspired by God to worship Him, use all this so I can show how good I am? I believe in doing a good job for God, giving Him our best, but is this really right? Am I off base here or is taking a song of worship and completely shifting the focus off of God onto ourselves okay? Can these singers actually say they were worshipping God while trying to show how good they were and earn a recording contract? It's possible, but probable? Even right?
One more thing that got me. The grand finale was all the contestants together singing the "hit radio single Amazing Love". Not "song of worship to God", not "wonderful song of praise", but "hit radio single". Honestly...
"What I do is done for My own sake—
I will not let My Name be dishonoured
or let anyone else share the glory
that should be Mine and Mine alone." ~ Is. 48:11
T
(we have no right to His glory, He has no need to share it, the only glory we get we don't deserve but is shared with us for being His children, see Ro. 8:17, Heb. 2:10, Col. 3:4. God is not being vain or proud in this verse, HE IS GOD. He is the only Being in all of time who can honestly say He deserves all glory because He does... because He is God).
I'll stop. I could go on forever on this...
Now, for those of you who don't know what "Gifted" is, it's basically a Christian American Idol. You can see the website at www.giftedshow.com. I have no problem with people showing the gift God gave them, but there was something a bit too much for me.
Backtrack. Back when I was in high school (oh so long ago) the modern worship movement was just starting. It seemed good. Lots of new songs, lots of books and CD's so people could play the songs in church. Good.
Then it got bigger. Christian/worship CD sales were the second highest growing genre in the last few years. Worship was on the radio. Worship leaders were now giving concerts. I had mixed feelings. I'm glad people have the opportunity to hear these songs. People may even be worshipping in their cars while the radio's on, but is it focused worship? Are people really thinking about how God is holy or merely humming along to "Holy Is The Lord" while it's on in the background? Are we praising God or the laser light show? So many questions...
But this one made me sick. I mean sick. Like I said, if God gave you a talent and you want to use it, maybe even let people know God gave it to you, fine. But then, during this infomercial for the DVD set, I heard "How Great Is Our God", a wonderful worship song that is pretty much summed up in the title. And it was being sung by someone promoting themselves to win a recording contract. Singing "How Great Is Our God" to promote to judges "How Great Am I".
And I couldn't take it anymore.
I don't know where the line is. I don't know everything there is to know about worship. I honestly think our view of worship is quite small and think God would like it to be bigger. But is this really it? Singing songs written for God possibly even inspired by God to worship Him, use all this so I can show how good I am? I believe in doing a good job for God, giving Him our best, but is this really right? Am I off base here or is taking a song of worship and completely shifting the focus off of God onto ourselves okay? Can these singers actually say they were worshipping God while trying to show how good they were and earn a recording contract? It's possible, but probable? Even right?
One more thing that got me. The grand finale was all the contestants together singing the "hit radio single Amazing Love". Not "song of worship to God", not "wonderful song of praise", but "hit radio single". Honestly...
"What I do is done for My own sake—
I will not let My Name be dishonoured
or let anyone else share the glory
that should be Mine and Mine alone." ~ Is. 48:11
T
(we have no right to His glory, He has no need to share it, the only glory we get we don't deserve but is shared with us for being His children, see Ro. 8:17, Heb. 2:10, Col. 3:4. God is not being vain or proud in this verse, HE IS GOD. He is the only Being in all of time who can honestly say He deserves all glory because He does... because He is God).
I'll stop. I could go on forever on this...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Undue Stress
I've heard someone say that a majority of our stress is based on things in our head that have never happened, or based on something in the past that you cannot change anyway.
So today, Lorie and I had a wonderful meeting at Immigration. We've known about it for over a month. We've prepared. We brought 8 binders of information (yes, 8). We sat in the waiting room while people were separated from their families, lawyers told people what to say or not to say, and even while one guy found out his father was taken into custody and detained.
You can guess where our stress level was at (more Lorie's, I just made bad jokes that made her stress worse). So we finally get called in almost 90 minutes after our appointment was supposed to start.
We were there 10 minutes.
I kid you not, we had a great time, the officer who talked with us was really nice and totally understood what we were going through, in fact, the part that took us the longest was having our officer photocopy some forms. We left smiling. No problems whatsoever. So where did the stress come from?
We made it.
And it's a sign of our society in my mind. I noticed yesterday the A.E.D. at the high school (the portable paddles to start your heart, "Clear!") and started wondering when we got those things. Then I started wondering when did we need those things? Have we put so much stress on ourselves that our hearts might give out at any time? And is it proper stress or completely undue? We have to have machines at any public place in case our hearts give out. I don't think we were built that weak, so what can the reason be? Are our lives too stressful? If so, what's the answer?
"I leave you peace; my peace I give you." ~ Jesus (John 14:27)
T
So today, Lorie and I had a wonderful meeting at Immigration. We've known about it for over a month. We've prepared. We brought 8 binders of information (yes, 8). We sat in the waiting room while people were separated from their families, lawyers told people what to say or not to say, and even while one guy found out his father was taken into custody and detained.
You can guess where our stress level was at (more Lorie's, I just made bad jokes that made her stress worse). So we finally get called in almost 90 minutes after our appointment was supposed to start.
We were there 10 minutes.
I kid you not, we had a great time, the officer who talked with us was really nice and totally understood what we were going through, in fact, the part that took us the longest was having our officer photocopy some forms. We left smiling. No problems whatsoever. So where did the stress come from?
We made it.
And it's a sign of our society in my mind. I noticed yesterday the A.E.D. at the high school (the portable paddles to start your heart, "Clear!") and started wondering when we got those things. Then I started wondering when did we need those things? Have we put so much stress on ourselves that our hearts might give out at any time? And is it proper stress or completely undue? We have to have machines at any public place in case our hearts give out. I don't think we were built that weak, so what can the reason be? Are our lives too stressful? If so, what's the answer?
"I leave you peace; my peace I give you." ~ Jesus (John 14:27)
T
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Verse For The Day
Sorry, I gotta go so I'll be quick, but there's a verse that was in some way told to me three times Monday, so I figured that was a sign from God to learn it. Now it's posted everywhere so I'll see it and I thought I would share it too.
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father ~ Colossians 3:17
So whatever you're doing, no matter what, do it for God. Do your best since you're putting His name on your work :)
T
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father ~ Colossians 3:17
So whatever you're doing, no matter what, do it for God. Do your best since you're putting His name on your work :)
T
Monday, January 22, 2007
Things I Learned Last Night
Sorry, but another list since last night was just too much for me. So many things happened that people don't realize but we all need to understand...
~Football is more important than God
I know right away most people are going to be offended by this and I really wish it wasn't true, but actions speak louder than words (see Titus 1:16). Our attendance was down about 70% last night, and the only reason some of those people came is because I promised to bring my computer from home and hook it up to the big screen so it could record until we were done and we could still see the whole game after youth. Even then, people still had to check the scores on their cell phones. We even had people ask why we weren't canceling our student ministry to watch football. Yes, football's fun and I enjoy it and I like to watch and play it, but it's still just a game. The only power it has to control your life is what you give it.
~You don't need a lot of people to worship God
We had fun last night, people really missed out. Why? Hardcore's were there. People who really wanted to be at church. People who really wanted to worship God. And since it was all hardcore's no one was embarrassed to sing loud or have fun in worship. I think the people there last night were louder than any other night when we've had 4x as many there. It's all about God, not everyone else and what they're doing.
~Football is a really short game stretched out over 4 hours
One of the beauties of last night with the game on computer is we could fast forward through all the useless commentary between plays, commercials, ten minute reviews, etc. Here's the sad part. We watch two hours of football in a little over 40 minutes. And that was taking our time at points. I understand it's a rough game, but after you get hit in hockey, everyone doesn't' stop for five minutes and let you catch your breath. And do we ever have a lot of commercials. No wonder I don't watch them...
~Never give up
Down 21-3. People watching the game were so upset. And the Colts came back to win 38-34. You could hear the commentators praising Tom Brady before it was over. Anything can happen if you don't give up and keep going hard at whatever it is you are doing.
Just some things to think about...
btw, just one more for all those who didn't like the "football is more important than God" quip. Last night, by the number on a guys back, people were able to tell me who he was, what he'd done, his records, what school he'd gone to, etc. If I give you a verse number out of the Bible, could you give me that much information about what it says? People can quote an entire team's stats (let's say 20 people), can you quote 20 verses from the Bible? hmmm....
~Football is more important than God
I know right away most people are going to be offended by this and I really wish it wasn't true, but actions speak louder than words (see Titus 1:16). Our attendance was down about 70% last night, and the only reason some of those people came is because I promised to bring my computer from home and hook it up to the big screen so it could record until we were done and we could still see the whole game after youth. Even then, people still had to check the scores on their cell phones. We even had people ask why we weren't canceling our student ministry to watch football. Yes, football's fun and I enjoy it and I like to watch and play it, but it's still just a game. The only power it has to control your life is what you give it.
~You don't need a lot of people to worship God
We had fun last night, people really missed out. Why? Hardcore's were there. People who really wanted to be at church. People who really wanted to worship God. And since it was all hardcore's no one was embarrassed to sing loud or have fun in worship. I think the people there last night were louder than any other night when we've had 4x as many there. It's all about God, not everyone else and what they're doing.
~Football is a really short game stretched out over 4 hours
One of the beauties of last night with the game on computer is we could fast forward through all the useless commentary between plays, commercials, ten minute reviews, etc. Here's the sad part. We watch two hours of football in a little over 40 minutes. And that was taking our time at points. I understand it's a rough game, but after you get hit in hockey, everyone doesn't' stop for five minutes and let you catch your breath. And do we ever have a lot of commercials. No wonder I don't watch them...
~Never give up
Down 21-3. People watching the game were so upset. And the Colts came back to win 38-34. You could hear the commentators praising Tom Brady before it was over. Anything can happen if you don't give up and keep going hard at whatever it is you are doing.
Just some things to think about...
btw, just one more for all those who didn't like the "football is more important than God" quip. Last night, by the number on a guys back, people were able to tell me who he was, what he'd done, his records, what school he'd gone to, etc. If I give you a verse number out of the Bible, could you give me that much information about what it says? People can quote an entire team's stats (let's say 20 people), can you quote 20 verses from the Bible? hmmm....
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
"White As Snow" Winter Retreat
Okay, I'm back and I'm not going to do like Mexico where I relive each day a week after or something like that. It hurt my brain. But I will list some highlights from the retreat...
-watching the floor bend under Thomas as everyone jumped to "Undignified" (and Teagan holding the projector so it wouldn't break during the same).
-the taste of well water with that hint of sulphur.
-great food (chicken and beef fajitas?! At a camp?!?!)
-having time alone with the Sr. Highs where we could learn about what God wants from us in our lives, how we can be "White As Snow" and why.
-a student actually coming up to me and saying "Good Job" after a discussion one night.
-seeing everyone with the chance to be alone use it for prayer.
-a football game with trees as the end zone (my arm still hurts, 3 hours as quarterback with a 1.83 passer rating).
-Jon deciding to hide on a boat for sneak.
-talking about suffering and not being made to suffer by those listening.
-the Colts winning for the first time for me on a winter retreat (they lost on that same weekend every single year since I moved here).
-Ali not having a clue how to play Euchre, and her being on the other team.
-Tina Myrick asking what an "M" on her piece of paper meant during Mafia.
-Ann going to the hospital after Noah "collided with her" during football.
-that amazing adult leaders who helped make this a great weekend (some even took Ann to the hospital after the above collision").
-having a room full of boys run a lap around the camp since they had too much energy to go to sleep at 1:00am.
-getting obliterated in air hockey by Shawn (sorry my home and native land).
-seeing students spend time with each other, get to know each other, talk with each other and pray and genuinely care for each other.
-watching how quickly everyone worked and how eager students were to serve when we were packing up.
-actually being able to hear people singing incredibly loud during worship.
-watching Sarah run to the garbage can gagging after trying a taste of "Buckley's Cough Syrup".
-realizing that God still heals, even though we say He does, actually experiencing it.
-seeing lots of deer.
-being away from it all, able to focus on God without the many distractions of everyday life and getting certain things in perspective.
There's my list, there are more but I'm too tired right now to keep going. Check the forum at www.fumcfireandwater.com by clicking on the "Discussion" button at the top of the page and going to the discussion titled "Winter Retreat." Also, pictures will be posted in the "Pictures" section. Thanks for a great weekend!
T
-watching the floor bend under Thomas as everyone jumped to "Undignified" (and Teagan holding the projector so it wouldn't break during the same).
-the taste of well water with that hint of sulphur.
-great food (chicken and beef fajitas?! At a camp?!?!)
-having time alone with the Sr. Highs where we could learn about what God wants from us in our lives, how we can be "White As Snow" and why.
-a student actually coming up to me and saying "Good Job" after a discussion one night.
-seeing everyone with the chance to be alone use it for prayer.
-a football game with trees as the end zone (my arm still hurts, 3 hours as quarterback with a 1.83 passer rating).
-Jon deciding to hide on a boat for sneak.
-talking about suffering and not being made to suffer by those listening.
-the Colts winning for the first time for me on a winter retreat (they lost on that same weekend every single year since I moved here).
-Ali not having a clue how to play Euchre, and her being on the other team.
-Tina Myrick asking what an "M" on her piece of paper meant during Mafia.
-Ann going to the hospital after Noah "collided with her" during football.
-that amazing adult leaders who helped make this a great weekend (some even took Ann to the hospital after the above collision").
-having a room full of boys run a lap around the camp since they had too much energy to go to sleep at 1:00am.
-getting obliterated in air hockey by Shawn (sorry my home and native land).
-seeing students spend time with each other, get to know each other, talk with each other and pray and genuinely care for each other.
-watching how quickly everyone worked and how eager students were to serve when we were packing up.
-actually being able to hear people singing incredibly loud during worship.
-watching Sarah run to the garbage can gagging after trying a taste of "Buckley's Cough Syrup".
-realizing that God still heals, even though we say He does, actually experiencing it.
-seeing lots of deer.
-being away from it all, able to focus on God without the many distractions of everyday life and getting certain things in perspective.
There's my list, there are more but I'm too tired right now to keep going. Check the forum at www.fumcfireandwater.com by clicking on the "Discussion" button at the top of the page and going to the discussion titled "Winter Retreat." Also, pictures will be posted in the "Pictures" section. Thanks for a great weekend!
T
Friday, January 12, 2007
Retreating
Notice it doesn't say "Skiing"...
But we're gone for the weekend on a winter retreat. It'll be fun for all with many fond memories for us to look back on someday. Hopefully pics will be up next week, if we remember the camera this time.
Adios!
T
But we're gone for the weekend on a winter retreat. It'll be fun for all with many fond memories for us to look back on someday. Hopefully pics will be up next week, if we remember the camera this time.
Adios!
T
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
CES
For those that don't know, the CES is the Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas, where all the new little gadgets and gizmos are put on display, things that make James Bond look like someone holding a ghettoblaster (and it's true, some of his stuff from the last movie was there, it's real).
Everyone was singing its praise today, telling about all the leaps forward and everything we can do, from the new Apple iPhone that will be coming out to new OLED displays. But here's something I noticed.
Nothing looks like it will actually make our lives better.
There were some things that will make our lives a little easier. Wait. A little lazier. A coffee maker that hooks up to satellite weather to tell you the forecast. Apple's new iTV which will allow you to play your iTunes downloaded movies on your TV. Speaking of TV, what about the 108 inch flatpanel (yes, 108 inches!). All nice, fun things to have. But how do they actually improve our lives? Very little. In fact, the only thing I saw mentioned that could even be close to helping us better ourselves was an outrageously priced exercise bike with a screen in front of you. It shows a course and as you ride, the pedals get tougher or softer depending on if you go up or down hills. Um, why not just actually go ride a bike?
So really, with all our technology and everything, I see only two uses. They give us access to more information and the entertain us more. The problem with the access to information is people will not be likely to download books or things to enhance their minds, they will just get more useless entertainment for all the other products that are there. Does a bluetooth really need an MP3 player?
So here's my suggestion. Buy whatever you want. Have at it. But don't let it control you or be your focus. All this stuff will do is make you lazier (except the bike). Instead be trying to better yourselves. We played a game on Sunday with the Jr. & Sr. High students. After the game I realized that people simply do not read enough (it was more mind exercise type games). Try reading. Try being a better person, not just one who owns a better TV...
T
Everyone was singing its praise today, telling about all the leaps forward and everything we can do, from the new Apple iPhone that will be coming out to new OLED displays. But here's something I noticed.
Nothing looks like it will actually make our lives better.
There were some things that will make our lives a little easier. Wait. A little lazier. A coffee maker that hooks up to satellite weather to tell you the forecast. Apple's new iTV which will allow you to play your iTunes downloaded movies on your TV. Speaking of TV, what about the 108 inch flatpanel (yes, 108 inches!). All nice, fun things to have. But how do they actually improve our lives? Very little. In fact, the only thing I saw mentioned that could even be close to helping us better ourselves was an outrageously priced exercise bike with a screen in front of you. It shows a course and as you ride, the pedals get tougher or softer depending on if you go up or down hills. Um, why not just actually go ride a bike?
So really, with all our technology and everything, I see only two uses. They give us access to more information and the entertain us more. The problem with the access to information is people will not be likely to download books or things to enhance their minds, they will just get more useless entertainment for all the other products that are there. Does a bluetooth really need an MP3 player?
So here's my suggestion. Buy whatever you want. Have at it. But don't let it control you or be your focus. All this stuff will do is make you lazier (except the bike). Instead be trying to better yourselves. We played a game on Sunday with the Jr. & Sr. High students. After the game I realized that people simply do not read enough (it was more mind exercise type games). Try reading. Try being a better person, not just one who owns a better TV...
T
Monday, January 08, 2007
They Like Jesus, But Not The Church
I haven't read it, but it's the title of a new book that caught my attention (http://www.amazon.com/They-Like-Jesus-but-Church/dp/0310245907). That's right, there's so much information on this someone was able to write a book.
So how does it happen? How is it that people like Jesus but don't like the body that is supposed to be representing Him?
Which makes me think how far off are we from being like Christ? When you go to church on Sunday morning, do you see Jesus in other people? Do they act, think talk, behave, love like you think Jesus would?
What about you? Someone told me long ago if you want to fix your church, draw a circle on the ground, get in it and start praying for the member of the church in the circle first.
No real answers, just questions. If I knew the answer, I'd be doing more to fix the problem, but how do you lovingly help people see where their spirit really is?
T
So how does it happen? How is it that people like Jesus but don't like the body that is supposed to be representing Him?
Which makes me think how far off are we from being like Christ? When you go to church on Sunday morning, do you see Jesus in other people? Do they act, think talk, behave, love like you think Jesus would?
What about you? Someone told me long ago if you want to fix your church, draw a circle on the ground, get in it and start praying for the member of the church in the circle first.
No real answers, just questions. If I knew the answer, I'd be doing more to fix the problem, but how do you lovingly help people see where their spirit really is?
T
Saturday, January 06, 2007
People Get Mad Over Anything
I have a theory that you can get anybody mad over any little thing. It's not hard, people just like to be upset. So here's something I read today.
George Smathers ran against Claude Pepper in the 50's for Senator of Florida. Now, Smathers knew he had to run down Pepper to win, so he got people all fired up against Pepper by telling all sorts of true statements about him to belittle his character. Here's a few of them:
He let people know Pepper was a "known extrovert."
He said Pepper's sister was a "thespian."
He called Pepper's brother a "practicing homo sapiens."
Said while Pepper was in college he "openly matriculated."
And one more. Smathers said that before Pepper was married he "engaged in celibacy."
The people were upset, and they spoke. Smathers won.
And by the way, if you're actually upset by anything said here, get a dictionary.
T
George Smathers ran against Claude Pepper in the 50's for Senator of Florida. Now, Smathers knew he had to run down Pepper to win, so he got people all fired up against Pepper by telling all sorts of true statements about him to belittle his character. Here's a few of them:
He let people know Pepper was a "known extrovert."
He said Pepper's sister was a "thespian."
He called Pepper's brother a "practicing homo sapiens."
Said while Pepper was in college he "openly matriculated."
And one more. Smathers said that before Pepper was married he "engaged in celibacy."
The people were upset, and they spoke. Smathers won.
And by the way, if you're actually upset by anything said here, get a dictionary.
T
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Hating Serving
Okay, the title may be misleading making you think I hate serving. Well, we all do to a degree. This is from something I read today, Richard Foster's "Celebration of Discipline":
More than any other single way the grace of humility is worked into our lives is through the Discipline of service... Nothing disciplines the inordate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition.
After reading that I had to stop and come here. How True! It's one thing to get someone to help volunteer and serve, but man, ask them to do it and tell them no one will ever know about what they did or why? Never happen. For most people the only reason do something good is so others will know they did something good.
It reminds me of Friends where Joey tells Pheobe there's no such thing as an unselfish good deed because even if you do a good deed, you still feel good about it, or better yet, know that you made someone else feel good. Take it a step further. What about feeling good about it because the other person knows you did it for them?
Agree or not, the original statement is true that it's hard to serve and harder to do it in secret. Disagree with that? I have some stuff for you to do then...
"Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant. Whoever wants to become the first among you must serve all of you like a slave. In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” - Jesus from Mark 10:43b - 45
More than any other single way the grace of humility is worked into our lives is through the Discipline of service... Nothing disciplines the inordate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition.
After reading that I had to stop and come here. How True! It's one thing to get someone to help volunteer and serve, but man, ask them to do it and tell them no one will ever know about what they did or why? Never happen. For most people the only reason do something good is so others will know they did something good.
It reminds me of Friends where Joey tells Pheobe there's no such thing as an unselfish good deed because even if you do a good deed, you still feel good about it, or better yet, know that you made someone else feel good. Take it a step further. What about feeling good about it because the other person knows you did it for them?
Agree or not, the original statement is true that it's hard to serve and harder to do it in secret. Disagree with that? I have some stuff for you to do then...
"Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant. Whoever wants to become the first among you must serve all of you like a slave. In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” - Jesus from Mark 10:43b - 45
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Non-Cancellation
So the other day Lorie was sick and since we drove to work together, I got to come home early. Trying to help Lorie get to sleep we decided to watch afternoon TV, usually really easy to do the job since your only choices are Dr. Phil, Maury, and "Mama's Stories". So we flipped around and for the first time in months Maury Povich was not asking some guy "Are you her baby's daddy?" Instead they were talking about 120 lb. 4-year-olds. Much better.
But we stopped for a second because they were interviewing a dietician who said something that hit me right away. Someone asked if eating a carrot cancels out eating a cookie. Isn't that the stupidest thing you've ever heard? You just ate 5000 calories, but you cancel it out by eating an apple. Ludicrous. The dietician had to explain that no, good does not cancel out bad. Good = good and bad = bad, no matter what.
This is the part that hit me though. How often do we do that in our spiritual lives? I said something I shouldn't have, I'll pray five minutes more to make up for it. I thought something bad about someone, better go say three Hail Mary's. Our spiritual diet is just like our physical diet. Fifteen minutes of Bible reading does not counteract a half hour of kicking puppies (I don't know why I always use kicking puppies as an example for sin, just work with me here). Sin = sin, just like bad food = bad for you. If you want a good physical diet, you simply have to cut out all the bad food and exercise. Likewise, for your spiritual diet, eat good food, cut out the bad, and exercise your spiritual muscles through serving and sharing the Gospel, etc.
Mind you I'm writing this while living in one of the most obese nations on earth... Physically and spiritually...
T
But we stopped for a second because they were interviewing a dietician who said something that hit me right away. Someone asked if eating a carrot cancels out eating a cookie. Isn't that the stupidest thing you've ever heard? You just ate 5000 calories, but you cancel it out by eating an apple. Ludicrous. The dietician had to explain that no, good does not cancel out bad. Good = good and bad = bad, no matter what.
This is the part that hit me though. How often do we do that in our spiritual lives? I said something I shouldn't have, I'll pray five minutes more to make up for it. I thought something bad about someone, better go say three Hail Mary's. Our spiritual diet is just like our physical diet. Fifteen minutes of Bible reading does not counteract a half hour of kicking puppies (I don't know why I always use kicking puppies as an example for sin, just work with me here). Sin = sin, just like bad food = bad for you. If you want a good physical diet, you simply have to cut out all the bad food and exercise. Likewise, for your spiritual diet, eat good food, cut out the bad, and exercise your spiritual muscles through serving and sharing the Gospel, etc.
Mind you I'm writing this while living in one of the most obese nations on earth... Physically and spiritually...
T
Sunday, December 10, 2006
We Think We Know It All
Sorry it's been a while, but I think you'll like this.
So I'm reading the news today, all fine and dandy. I had something else I was going to blog about tonight, but then this hit my eye. It was just too much to pass up.
As we all know, scientists know everything, they tell us that all the time. Even if they don't know their guesses are right. Well, one of the facts they have told us about is there are creatures they have found that are literally millions of years old. They date them and tell us they went extinct oh so long ago. Like this one I read in AOL news today:
"An underwater peak in the Coral Sea was home to a type of shrimp thought to have gone extinct 50 million years ago."
So, it's not really extinct. It's been here all along, we just couldn't find it. And since we couldn't find it, that means it must have died off long, long ago, otherwise, that would make us look a little dumb. Kinda like now.
When will we realize we don't know everything...?
T
So I'm reading the news today, all fine and dandy. I had something else I was going to blog about tonight, but then this hit my eye. It was just too much to pass up.
As we all know, scientists know everything, they tell us that all the time. Even if they don't know their guesses are right. Well, one of the facts they have told us about is there are creatures they have found that are literally millions of years old. They date them and tell us they went extinct oh so long ago. Like this one I read in AOL news today:
"An underwater peak in the Coral Sea was home to a type of shrimp thought to have gone extinct 50 million years ago."
So, it's not really extinct. It's been here all along, we just couldn't find it. And since we couldn't find it, that means it must have died off long, long ago, otherwise, that would make us look a little dumb. Kinda like now.
When will we realize we don't know everything...?
T
Monday, December 04, 2006
So Who's The Good Guy?
It's something I've been thinking about the last few days. Matt (Liz's husband) and I talked a little about it (we have a liking to the same show which got me thinking about it, but again, I'm off topic).
How do good guys know their good guys? It's a valid question. Start small. You play on a soccer team. Your team thinks they deserve to win the game. But the guys on the other team also think they deserve to win the game. To you, you are the good guys, but to the other team they are the good guys.
Get bigger. What political party are you? Republicans think they are the good guys, that they are making all the right decisions and the other political parties are, well not bad, but not as good. But Democrats think they're the good guys, that they are what's best for the country.
Still bigger. Winston Churchill led Britain through World War II. He's a good guy, right? Martin Luther King taught us peace and caring for each other despite the color of our skin, also a good guy. Hey, let's go with Moses, knew God better than any other human being. Good guy. But, Hitler thought he was a good guy. In his mind he was doing what's right. Stalin believed he was doing what was best, in his mind a good guy. Atilla the Hun, Mussolini, Nero, all believed they were the "good guy".
So then how do you know if you're a "good guy"?
It obviously can't be how you feel, because almost everyone who does anything believes they are doing it for some sort of good, no matter how out of whack that "good" is. So you feel like you're a good guy? Good for you. You're equal with Hitler. How do you really know if you're good or not? How do you base your actions to know if they are "good"? Wouldn't you need some sort of role model to aim for, some sort of rule or measuring stick to know what good is, something or someone truly "good" to be able to measure yourself up against?
So who would that be...?
T
How do good guys know their good guys? It's a valid question. Start small. You play on a soccer team. Your team thinks they deserve to win the game. But the guys on the other team also think they deserve to win the game. To you, you are the good guys, but to the other team they are the good guys.
Get bigger. What political party are you? Republicans think they are the good guys, that they are making all the right decisions and the other political parties are, well not bad, but not as good. But Democrats think they're the good guys, that they are what's best for the country.
Still bigger. Winston Churchill led Britain through World War II. He's a good guy, right? Martin Luther King taught us peace and caring for each other despite the color of our skin, also a good guy. Hey, let's go with Moses, knew God better than any other human being. Good guy. But, Hitler thought he was a good guy. In his mind he was doing what's right. Stalin believed he was doing what was best, in his mind a good guy. Atilla the Hun, Mussolini, Nero, all believed they were the "good guy".
So then how do you know if you're a "good guy"?
It obviously can't be how you feel, because almost everyone who does anything believes they are doing it for some sort of good, no matter how out of whack that "good" is. So you feel like you're a good guy? Good for you. You're equal with Hitler. How do you really know if you're good or not? How do you base your actions to know if they are "good"? Wouldn't you need some sort of role model to aim for, some sort of rule or measuring stick to know what good is, something or someone truly "good" to be able to measure yourself up against?
So who would that be...?
T
Friday, December 01, 2006
Smashing A Wii...
Okay, I just watched this and still don't know how I feel about it. There's just too many variables.
Basic run down. These two guys see that Nintendo's new Wii is coming out. They wait in line, buy one, then take it outside and smash it in front of everyone else waiting. That's basically their lives. Some people applaud them, some hate them. They've done it for most major new pieces of technology (PS3, X360, iPods, etc.). Are they idiots? Here's where it gets interesting.
The first reaction is to say they are idiots. They wasted money on something they weren't going to keep. They wasted time in line (apparently they have no lives) and they take away something from somebody who would appreciate it (they ran out, so of course, people went home without them, while these guys smashed one). It just seems mean. They're tormenting people for no reason.
But then you wonder, is there a reason? Some people say they are trying to show the world how materialistic we've become. A new video game. Oooo. And we wait in line and pay hundreds of dollars for it. Is that our society in a nutshell? I'm guessing other countries feel that way. Plus, you've got the added bonus that they received tons of hatemail before they even did it, showing how people hate for something they really shouldn't even care about. It's not your time or your money, if they waste it, so be it.
But I have a third opinion. They're geniuses. Far and away geniuses. Why? They make a website dedicated to this stuff. They're famous. The story was featured on AOL (how I found out about it). Millions of people know who they are now. And as for the money they spent, they raised it at their website. They had people send in donations for them to buy something to smash. They're website reported that they made slightly more than the Wii cost, but they could be lying about it. They could have made more money waiting in line than you make in a month. Who knows? Then, to see all the emotions they raised over something so trivial. Unbelievable.
So here are my thoughts. Let things go. People who have never met them, never talked to them, never knew why they were doing it, all they knew was someone wanted to smash a video game system so they sent hatemail. Are we really so insecure or love our first amendment so much that if someone does something out of whack with our views we have to curse them for it? Reminds me of "Trading Spouses" tonight. I may talk more about that later...
T
Basic run down. These two guys see that Nintendo's new Wii is coming out. They wait in line, buy one, then take it outside and smash it in front of everyone else waiting. That's basically their lives. Some people applaud them, some hate them. They've done it for most major new pieces of technology (PS3, X360, iPods, etc.). Are they idiots? Here's where it gets interesting.
The first reaction is to say they are idiots. They wasted money on something they weren't going to keep. They wasted time in line (apparently they have no lives) and they take away something from somebody who would appreciate it (they ran out, so of course, people went home without them, while these guys smashed one). It just seems mean. They're tormenting people for no reason.
But then you wonder, is there a reason? Some people say they are trying to show the world how materialistic we've become. A new video game. Oooo. And we wait in line and pay hundreds of dollars for it. Is that our society in a nutshell? I'm guessing other countries feel that way. Plus, you've got the added bonus that they received tons of hatemail before they even did it, showing how people hate for something they really shouldn't even care about. It's not your time or your money, if they waste it, so be it.
But I have a third opinion. They're geniuses. Far and away geniuses. Why? They make a website dedicated to this stuff. They're famous. The story was featured on AOL (how I found out about it). Millions of people know who they are now. And as for the money they spent, they raised it at their website. They had people send in donations for them to buy something to smash. They're website reported that they made slightly more than the Wii cost, but they could be lying about it. They could have made more money waiting in line than you make in a month. Who knows? Then, to see all the emotions they raised over something so trivial. Unbelievable.
So here are my thoughts. Let things go. People who have never met them, never talked to them, never knew why they were doing it, all they knew was someone wanted to smash a video game system so they sent hatemail. Are we really so insecure or love our first amendment so much that if someone does something out of whack with our views we have to curse them for it? Reminds me of "Trading Spouses" tonight. I may talk more about that later...
T
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