only... in... Georgia...

Supposedly, this guy killed a 1,000 pound wild hog. (I'm seriously reconsidering backpacking in the GA mountains from now on...) Is it myth or hogzilla?? Read the article for yourself...

the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of The Passion

I've had this post sitting around in draft stage for just over a week. Then, this morning, I heard a "revisited" radio show dealing with The Passion. To see exactly what it was about, go HERE at 99X.com. The long and short of the talk show is that one of the DJs dressed up in a t-shirt with "John 3:16" hand written on it (see photo), attended the movie and led folks in a "prayer"--praising God for Lethal Weapon and the concession stand. But, I'm not talking about the talk show right now...

Back to the post...
Anyway, I had been wondering over the past few weeks about what, if any, lasting impact the movie has had on folks who saw it (I'm not making divisions like "Christian" or "non-Christian"). Thankfully, George Barna has already done some research. Read the article HERE. Pretty eye-opening. For one thing, only half (53%) of the people who saw the movie were Christians. So, it wasn't what the media touted as a tremendously overwhelming "Christian" audience. Likewise, Barna says that at most 1-in-10 folks made any sort of significant decision to become a Christian or consider Christianity. That leads me to my next thought...

Christmas eyes
Remember when you were a kid and your eyes darted to this and that as you were looking for "that gift" that you wanted to receive on Christmas day? You were spastic... following the direction of every commercial and what your friends were talking about. Then, you got the gift. Played with it for a few days and chucked it in the closet or left it outside in the rain. That's how I liken the Christian community response to the film before, during and after The Passion. What the heck happened?? I mean... Lee Strobel burning DVDs about the movie; Mel Gibson interviewed at Willow Creek during a pastor's conference; every single Bubble, er, um, "Christian" magazine running some sort of article on the "power" within the movie. I admit... I bought into it, too.

Now, don't get me wrong. We were right to anticipate "something" to come out of this movie. It was like no other movie in the sense of the amount of conversation and excitement it generated.

However, what in the world were we thinking?? What were our expectations?? For heaven's sake... we bought out entire movie theaters. We practically moved Gibson up to saint status. We even interviewed the pope. But, in the end, (especially if Barna's statistics have anything to show), this movie did little more than inspire those who already believe in Christ and generate opportunities for others to dialogue about the Christian faith. In short, it wasn't the evangelistic tool we were hoping it would be. (Why couldn't we be content with it being a part of the process of on-going dialogue with believing and pre-believing friends?? Perhaps the conversion experience we so longed to see would happen 3 months... 2 years... down the road?)

But, could it really fit that bill?

I saw the movie 3x's. I'm sick, I know. Anyway, I saw it 2x's with pre-believers. After seeing it with one of them, he said to me: "Well, Gibson got what he wanted." "What do you mean?" I asked. "Look how many people are coming here. He's getting rich off your Jesus."

endland.pics.2

Finally! The last of the Europe '04 pics...

Bodney War Memorial

On our way back from Scotland we swung through York and stayed in Norwich. The following day we went in search of the airfield where our Grandpa was stationed during WWII (on D-Day). Bodney was not listed on any of the plethora of maps we had, but we had a hunch it was down an obscure "B" road (due to the description our Grandpa gave us: "It was all a pasture in the middle of nowhere near Norwich!"). Lo-and-behold if we didn't find it! Today Bodney is a training facility for the UK Army. And, believe it or not, there is a war memorial at Bodney dedicated to the US soldiers who served alongside their British allies right there at those airfields. Our Grandpa's unit is listed on the memorial. (I think the guard who took the picture is still a little wary why us "Yanks" were hanging out there...) Interestingly enough... we made it there the day before the 60th anniversary of D-Day.

London!

I was pretty disappointed that the Tower of London isn't a tower, but a fortress. But, it was still cool.

Random as it is, we ran into a friend we go to Church with in the London Underground! "Mind the gap!" (Scott and Shaun are pictured.)

Shakespeare's Globe Theater! Ahh... and English major's dream-come-true.

What could be more beautiful than the view we had of the Thames on our last night overseas...

And, that's it!

long overdue

I've updated my blog roll. Added:

one mo blog (My pal MO)
and
nakedandalive (Old time bloggin' bud, Hadge)

Enjoy...

Thanks. Thanks a lot. Part 5

Yes, folks! It's yet another installment of "Thanks. Thanks a lot." (said in monotone voice)!! Here's the latest "profound" statement found on the sign in front of "That Church on Hwy. 92"...

"People who fight fire with fire end up with ashes."

Oh. Now, that'll change the world. Although it is relatively benign in nature, it still sends a message I greatly regret. It's that subtle message sent to all persons driving by:

Hello. We're a "Christian Church." By that, we mean that our sign is used to give you weekly installments of silly quips, goofy remarks and plain 'ole Chicken-soup-for-the-soul-feel-good-phrases. (Nevermind the fact that most of the messages on our sign are Christian-bubble inside jokes that you won't understand [c.f. previous "Thanks. Thanks a lot." archives...].) In this way we hope that you'll come in to our Church on a Sunday morning after you've spent the entire night indulging in hedonistic activities, and find the message that there is a Savior of the world--although relevant and life-changing--can be reduced to simple, mindless phrases that make you smirk (or be confused) as you drive by.

I think I'm done ranting...

The Archives
Thanks. Thanks a lot. Part 4
Thanks. Thanks a lot. Part 3
Thanks. Thanks a lot. Part 2
Thanks. Thanks a lot.

change

I've learned over the past few years not to take myself so stinkin' seriously. You know, that whole "I've arrived" feeling that we all get from time to time. Found myself humbled, once again, during our worship service @ church yesterday. I usually lead the music, but since I was preaching yesterday another guy (Jim) was leading it (Jim's a phenominal leader in worship, by the way). Anyway, they made an artistic decision on a song... a sing/repeat kind-of thing. In the past, the men usually sing the first part and women echo. Simple enough. Well, this week, they had the men sing/women echo the first phrase and the women sing/men echo the second phrase. I found myself distracted. I kept singing the second phrase, almost as if I were saying: "Can't you hear me!? This is how it's supposed to go!"

Then, almost immediately, I stopped singing.

I realized how ridculous that thought was! Then came the humbling thought: "Geez, Adam. Are you that resistant to change??" I think there's an element in each of us that is somewhat resistant to change--it's human nature to feel comfortable with routine. I was just surprised that I thought I had "arrived" in the whole change department. Apparently, I need to take myself less seriously...

Peace and coffee...

Oh, and for what it's worth... I really liked the change they made! I think we'll do it that way from now on. (Note the sarcasm somewhere in that line...)

dmv

Ugh. Four hours of my life that I'll never get back were spent in the oh-so-effecient-governmental-DMV yesterday. Kim and I had to swing out there to get new drivers liscenses (name/address change). Utterly mind-numbing. There was no system to the system. First we stood in line outside in the 90+ degree Georgia heat, then we stood in a line inside for one (1) cashier who gave us a number. Then we entered a room where about 100+ people were both sitting and standing (because there weren't enough chairs). We figured we'd be there for about an hour. Literally 2 hours later our numbers were called to go to one of only three (3) booths open (there were 8 booths--5 of which were not manned). Then we waited in line for another 2 hours for the one (1) camera that had an opperator (Oh... there was another camera, but no one was using it). It was unbelievably annoying to say the least. The government is supposed to be our servant, and here we were slaves to it for four hours just to get a measley piece of plastic. I guess the whole DMV experience is supposed to prepare you for the even more efficient Georgia traffic controllers (or, at least, the parking lot called "Georgia 400"). I saw a poor 70+ year old woman. I turned to Kim and asked: "I wonder how old she was when she first got here?" Then I realized... "She's going to have to sit here and wait like the rest of us for four stinkin' hours!" Poor lady. Poorer government system! I'm going to write a letter, dad-gum-it!

this land

You've probably heard about This Land on Jib Jab. But in case you haven't, you need to see it. Hysterical! Doesn't matter if you're pro-Bush or pro-Kerry (or somewhere in between)... you'll laugh no matter what.

scotland.pics

As promised... the continuation of pics from the trip to UK with my brother...

Lake District

This is Keswick (pronounced "Kes-ick"), a town in the Lake District in Cumbria. We stayed here one night before heading up to Inverness. (No pics from there... sorry!)

Edinburgh
In my postings about Edinburgh I mentioned the darkness I experienced there (read the post HERE). Apparently, other folks had similar experiences. Jay told me about a 50-60 person "street brawl" he and his wife experienced when they were there. Another person told me that they remembered seeing an enormous amount of billboards meant to deter people from spousal abuse. Nonetheless, the architecture in the city was hauntingly cool.

I do wonder about these things sometimes. I believe there is a spiritual reality behind all this... the reality that a city or place can be so overwhelmed with evil that it is undeniably tangible. Perhaps the same is true with truth, beauty and goodness...

Loch Ness and drive through the Highlands

Me and the Ness... check out the large, ominous spot in the right hand side of the picture... Nessy??

A view of the Highlands

That's all for now. Maybe someday I'll get the remainder of our UK/England pics up...

Other links from the journey: pics
England.1 pics
France pics

Other links from the journey: journals
Europe.1
Europe.2
Europe.3
Europe.4
Europe.5

pipes and pontification

There's a neat thing going on at our local Bou. My brother and one of the employees there started something called Pipes and Pontification. Essentially, a laid back place to smoke pipes and to talk about life and philosophical issues. Apparently, it's growing quite a community--around 1/2 a dozen in its first month of existence. They gather around 7:30PM on Tuesday nights and finally leave around 10PM. (Unfortunately, I haven't been able to attend--wedding, honeymoon and such have precluded my attendance.) I dig it because it's an expression of community. The sharing of stories, ideas and tobacco around a shared/owned experience. The gatherings were not started as an "evangelistic outreach," and for that I'm sure they are all grateful. From what I hear, faith and spirituality are shared openly and without any sort of agenda. This is the perfect kind of atmosphere for the Gospel to take root. The Gospel somehow finds its way into the depths of the soul through authentic love and respect for each other. I'll get out to a meeting soon enough... my pipe is calling my name!

cleaning house

I've cleaned up my archive list. It was a bit overwhelming. Now there's a link to go to all my "year one" archives (April '03 - March '04). I think the whole blog needs an overhaul. I like the template now--been working on it for the past year+. If I do create something new, I will not use one of the new Blogger templates. I think they're just horrid.

Anyway... suggestions?

year one archives...

march 04
february 04
january 04
december 03
november 03
october 03
september 03
august 03
july 03
june 03
may 03
april 03

a few friendly blogs...

I'm discovering each day that more and more of my friends are starting or have been maintaining blogs...

Sinosplice is my pal John Pasden's blog. John and I were neighbors in Florida years upon years upon years ago... he lives in China now. Way cool site... I'm still exploring it.

Carrie Saville has a blog, too! I've known "Jingleplumer" since she was a middle schooler. (I was her student minister.) Now, she's all grown up and in college! Props, C-Bug.

Trevor, her brother, has a blog, too: PSUman1.
 

i've been mirrored

My cousin James hit me up with this. Apparently, someone has mirrored my blog. Simply type "blogpsot" in the URL and you'll get
THIS: Mega site of Bible studies and information. I just wish it was a cool site. Unfortunately, it's pretty darn cheesy. But, I'm flattered to think that someone out there somehow believes I get enough hits on my blog to merit a mirror!

Oh, and expect Scotland pics soon...

syllabus, et al

Last night I finished up the rough draft of my syllabus for the class I'm teaching this fall (undergraduate course: "Interpreting the New Testament: The Corinthian Correspondence"). I'm pretty pumped over this opportunity to teach at NOBTS... and pretty intimidated! At the adjunct professor's meeting (the week prior to our wedding) I realized I was the youngest person in the room by at least a decade-and-a-half! On top of that, four of my colleagues were my professors while I worked on my Master of Divinity degree. This fall will definately be a challenge, but I also believe it'll be a time of growth and maturity as an "educator." My wife holds a master degree in education from a little school around here. I told her that I'm really going to be looking to her to educate me on being an educator! Heck... anyone who can teach in some obscure Alaskan Eskimo village on the Bering Sea can teach this hard-headed guy...

[edit update: 12/14/04 - I removed the pic from this post.]

FYI

FYI: It's Decemberween @ Homestar Runner... (it's dot com!). (Check out the new Teen Girl Squad! Gazelle carcass... heh.)

honeymooners!

Kim and I are officially Mr. and Mrs. now!

What a blessed wedding! We had been praying that the ceremony would reflect our desire to see God glorified. In fact, Kim and I saw each other before the ceremony (ah... who cares about silly superstitions??), and we prayed that God would "steal the show" and increase as we decrease. Several folks told us that the ceremony was different and not at all a routine traditional sort of wedding. We weren't aiming at uniqueness or creativity... we wanted Jesus to be lifted higher than us! Praise God it was a blessing to all!

Then... we started our lifelong journey in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Here are some pics:

Estes Cone (elevation: 11,006 feet above sea level)

We took a day hike (only 6.5 miles) up to Estes Cone--a peak above the tree line. An amazing 360 degree view of Rocky Mountain National Park awaited us. (The final half mile to the summit was literally hand-over-hand bouldering!!)

Timber Ridge Road (highest paved road in USA)

We saw some caribou and had to pull over and get a picture! (When we were backpacking, one walked through our campsite while we were bear-bagging our food.)

*yawn*

Backpacking at 12,000 feet has some challenges... like altitude sickness! These ain't our Georgia mountains! This is the "morning after" our 5.5 mile approach. mmm... instant coffee... fuel for the 5.5 miles down the mountain!

Thanks to all who have been praying for us, and to all who were involved in our wedding! Blessings...

D-DAY!!!

So, this is it. Today, I'll be a married man. Marrying the most beautiful, Godly young woman I know. T-minus 4-and-a-half hours...

Um... expect little to no blogging this week. I'll be honeymooning with Kim!

T-minus 27.5 hours and counting...

countdown... 2 days till the wedding...