fallen

I was doing so well. Then I goofed. Yeah. I've fallen from 11,369th place in College Pick 'Em (ESPN) to 20,371st place this week. *sigh* (The worst part is that the girls in our group are beating all the guys!)

all consuming

Just tooling around with my sitemeter and discovered that someone had linked to my blog via All Consuming. Apparently, this website surfs weblogs and looks for posts that contain links to books available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. Then, the commentaries are posted on All Consuming as a means of offering grassroots commentary on the books. Here's what the site says:

All Consuming is a website that watches weblogs for books that they're talking about, and displays the most popular ones on an hourly basis. You can also use this site to add a list of books to your own weblog (and you don't need to know HTML).

I got listed for my review of Seizing Your Divine Moment (see the post HERE).

Thanks. Thanks a lot. Part 6

Here it is... on the way in to work today:

"The Bible[:] A Document Even CBS Can Trust"
(Colon added by myself. At least they could get the grammar right!)

I'm not even going into how mean-spirited this particular sign is. I mean, it's not even funny! They're advertising their community of faith by putting down CBS. Yeah, CBS goofed, but this is just mean, in my opinion.

The Archives
Part 5
Part 4
Part 3
Part 2
Thanks. Thanks a lot.

changes

I've increased the font size on my blog for those of you with "older" eyes. Can you tell a difference??

I'll also be adding a few more blogs to my blogroll pretty soon... and removing some that I don't read any more or that are too infrequently updated...

written off

I have 12 FM presets in my truck radio; only 3 of them are preset to "Christian" stations. I must admit, about 10% of my driving time is ever spent on such stations. (There are many reasons for this. Just stick around my blog and you'll see why...) Over the past few years I've written off "Christian" bands as hoakie or idealistic. Turning, instead, to the raw material that is the "stuff" of what Christian-sub-culture-bubblists refer to as "secular music."

One such band/artist that I had written off is Rachel Lampa. I don't know why. Guess I never really gave her a chance--thinking she was a "little girl band" musician. Ironically, at one point someone donated a Lampa cut-out to the student ministry I worked with a couple-o years ago. So, here's the story of why I am considering not writting of Lampa any longer...

I was in my truck (of all places) driving to Cumming, GA the other day (about 30 minutes from here). So, I decided I'd get my 10% worth of Christian music and immediately found myself captivated by what was on one of the stations. I had a miriad of thoughts going through my head: "Um, this song isn't idealistic." "Geez, this song is something I can actually relate to." "Wow, that was poeticly visual." "I need to pee. I hope I get there soon." "Look at those trees. Golly, I love fall." "I really have to go to the bathroom..." "Man, that drumline is sweet."

My initial response to the song was: "That's gotta be a 722 song!" (722 is a pretty progressive worship service geared for younger folks in the Metro Atlanta area.) My jaw almost fell off when I found out it was sung by Rachel Lampa.

I think it was the lyrics that captivated me most. Despite my gut reaction to turn the radio station, I actually acknowledged that this song was "real." Now I'm telling you about it. Perhaps you can relate to some of the lyrics to When I Fall, too. Personally, I resonated with the poetry describing the all-too-real feeling that God is far, far from me:

...Somewhere in the silence I can hear your broken voice
Like a radio station fading out of range
Somewhere in the crowd from the corner of my eye
I thought that I could feel you--walking by...

...Somewhere I'm alone--won't you take my empty hands
And fill them with your love
Won't you take me as I am

happy fall!

Okay, so I'm 2 day's late in wishing you a happy fall. But, it's my favorite season of the year, nontheless!

Bring on the football and chilli! The leaf-raking and pumpkins! Time to pull out the flannel and blue jeans!

*sigh* I wish fall could be a year-long season sometimes. Then again, I'm glad it's only a season because I can look forward to it.

This post is pretty much void of any sort of intelligent dialogue. Sorry.

rankin' 2

I'm now in 11,369th place in College Pick 'Em (ESPN). (I advanced from 38,462nd place in the first week to 17,793rd in the 2nd week... a total of 27,093 closer to #1!) I started out playing this game without really getting into it. Unfortunately, it's sucking me in... week-by-week...

launch cast

I've gotten into this whole Launch Cast radio-type-thing. Essentially, you listen to a live-streamed radio station that randomly selects music (according to genres, moods, etc.). They play some pretty neat stuff: b-side tracks, vintage classics and songs not played on "the radio." I've tried Live 365 before, but my experience with them is that someone programs the station with specific songs. On Launch, there are literally thousands of possible set lists. And it's free! (Which means you must endure a few ads pushing the paid version of Launch Cast.)

Anyway, you can also design your own radio station on Launch. You rate bands, songs and albums. Then it aggregates your music preferences and randomly selects a play-list. However, I'm not sure how accurate this thing works... I've ranked my favorite band, U2, pretty darn high and I have yet to hear a single song by them. Then again, I do get a healthy diet of William Hung pretty much every day. (There is a paid version of Launch for $3/mo.. Maybe I'll hear U2 if I pay for it... who knows.)

morning lattes and modern art

The particular Bou that I occasionally start my mornings at has a special today: lattes for the price of drip coffee. Mmm. So, Kim and I had "morning lattes" at the Bou around 6:30 this morning. I was so excited about the promotion that whenever the building was void of anyone but "us" and the baristas I would vocalize a chesty, low rumbling "latte day!" followed by a very loud "WOOO!!!" This drew excited looks from the baristas, and statements like: "That's the spirit!" As I left shortly after 8:00 (Kim left for work earlier), I could hear the baristas saying: "Good morning! Today is 'latte day.'" And, Dave, my favorite coffee-bartender, gave a hearty "WOOOO!" to start my day as I left the building.

Now, on to the art thing...

While enjoying my "morning latte," I read an interesting article in Issue 23 of the Mars Hill Review entitled "Tearing Down the Wall: Reconnecting Artist and Community" (Bruce Ellis Benson). The thrust of the article was a commentary on the segmentation/individualization of art within Modern society. Some "one liners" from the article...

We've more or less bought the line of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century theorists: that art is equal to or simply supplants religion, and thus artists are like gods. (p. 45)

That so many of us see art as something disconnected from our lives and relatively unimportant is not the result of the modern theory of art losing the day but having won. (p. 46)

According to Benson, we (Western socitety) have segemented the artist and her work from community by viewing art as serving no tangible purpose in society. (Benson at one point remarks that this may not be a categorical reality, but it is a tremendous perception of art.) As a result, art is relegated to artistic spaces--such as concert halls and museums--where it can exist void of any accountability to any specific community. He points to the common perception of the Bohemian artist pulling herself from society to pursue her artwork as an example of such disconnection.

Premodern (and it can be aruged "post"-modern) expressions of art are tied to community. There is a need for art. It serves a purpose, thereby making the artist accountable to the community and vice versa. Huge implications, but freeing, no doubt. I think of our own experience here at Crosspointe. One of our musicians recently penned a song for our current message series. It was art composed for a specific community (it even includes references to our missionaries in specific locations). His artistic creation was crafted with a specific community in mind, and, so, he was accountable/responsible to this community--our needs, desires, our "voice," etc..

I have long noticed in my own life that the "quality" of my poetry and short stories is tremendously better when I am (1) writing in the context of a community of other writers who view and comment on my work, and (2) when I am writing for a specific occasion.

I also consider my sermon crafting as art. Crafting a sermon is necessarily tied to community; otherwise, it would be irrelevant. In seminary, I was taught methodology and processes for crafting sermons. I have kept some of those tools for interpretation purposes, but when it came to the hermenutics, the "application," of Scripture, I lean more toward my artistic side. Each sermon is a creation--that part of me made in the image of our Creator--and I believe it edifies the community as much as myself. So, if you've ever heard me preach, you may notice it to be more narrative than simply stating truths about God.

I am glad to see the Western Church beginning to view art for what it is--something that draws community together into a common narrative/experience.

more Ivan surprises

A good friend of mine who lives in Baton Rouge made a surprise visit last night. I hadn't seen Jud since the wedding this summer, and before that it had been easily 2 years since I last saw him. Anyway, he's an "adjuster" in the insurance business and currently traveling around Atlanta handling hurricane claims. He's heading off to Pensacola on Wednesday to do the same. The damage is so extensive in Florida that he'll literally spend three months in Pensacola handling claims there every day. It's unbelievable how much that state has been through... and then, there's the upcoming election! Poor, poor Florida.

the wrath of ivan

Well, maybe I will begin posting more pics on my blog... just don't expect it to be a regularity!

Hurricane Ivan slammed the southeastern United States yesterday. I feel bad talking about it because the brunt of it hit Alabama. Although, the eastern side of hurricanes generally spawn the most tornados, which, consequently cause the most damage. Georgia was on the eastern end of Ivan's wrath and a couple-o tornados were apparently spotted about 1 hr south of here near Peachtree City, GA. However, we didn't see any twister action here in metro Atlanta.

Our story...

I came home to a dark apartment complex. We lost power shortly before 5PM and didn't get it back until well after 9PM. Kim and I were hungry, so I made a sojourn to hunt some food (mmm... Taco Bell!).

Stupid idea.

I took the back roads because I was afraid of getting stuck in traffic on the main roads.

Stupid idea.

So, I drive on the back roads... I should preface this by saying the back roads near our aparment criss-cross over a mileu of creeks that feed into the Chattahoochee River... which is only 1 mile from us. Anyway, I hit these back roads and in literally 1/2 a mile it's like I'm in the midst of one of those news reports--flooded roads! Several of the creeks jumped their banks and the drains were just overwhelmed! I also saw several trees lying in the road--most of them were pine trees, which have pathetic root-systems anyway.

I'd be lying if I didn't say it was exciting! I took my Ford Ranger through those flooded roads like a pro. Yeah, it was a bit frightening when I lost control and began shifting (floating?) off the road. The best part was when I hit one patch of water and it literally came up to my grill. I felt bad for some of those little-itty-bitty cars sitting off to the side. They obviously couldn't make it, so they opted to sit at the edge and just hopelessly watch the road flood in front of them.

Got back safely with a couple-o tacos, some chalupas and a Mexican pizza. Kim and I then headed to the Bou for coffee and to charge up our laptops. Once we returned home, we watched a DVD on our Bou-powered laptops! Fun times...

Damage...

Anyway, I got into the office this morning and found that a tree had fallen across the parking lot (pictured above). But, my pal Tim got hit pretty bad. Check THIS out... a tree fell on one of his cars!

photos

Ran across this site today via Andy's blog (wind, wood, wire) called Ten Years of My Life. Matthew Haughey (a web designer) essentially posts one new photo on this site each day of his life. It's pretty interesting... worth checking out.

Even though I've been around blog-dom for over 2 years now (most of which I've had my own blog), the whole photo-blog thing is still a mystery to me. I don't regularly view photo blogs, nor would I know any quality ones to suggest to you outside of the one suggested above. I guess I could add photos that I take to my blog. But, that just seems like more work.

For now, here's a glimpse of Hurricane Ivan as it crashes through Atlanta. (I took this picture a few minutes ago--the view is looking outside of my office window. And, NO, that's NOT my car.)

the flying pig

My pal, Tim, just started his very own blog: The Flying Pig. *sniff* I'm so proud of him!

rankin'

Not that it matters in the whole cosmic scheme of things, but I advanced from 38,462nd place to 17,793rd place in College Pick 'Em (ESPN) this week (that's a whole 20,669 people I beat!)

blogging issues

Found this LINK via Maggi Dawn's blog. It's by a guy named Tony Price... I really like what I see on his blog, thus far. I think I'll stick around for a while and check it out. Anyway, Tony explains his personal philosophy on what he will/will not write on his blog. This is something I, myself, have wrestled with over the past year-and-a-half of my public blog.

What will I divulge to the world, and what stays with me? I have several concerns: I know folks in my congregation read my blog, my wife reads my blog, my grandparents read it, my cousins read it, my parents (I'm sure) read it, my friends read my blog, my friends-friends read it, one of our Church's elders reads it, Big Brother more than likely reads it, some really cool Brits read it... and you are reading it.

Big mind job to say the least.

In the past, I've limited what I've said out of fear--not wanting something to get out to someone who may somewhat misunderstand something I write. In that sense, I have at times toned down what I've really wanted to say. I guess that's why I lean on the need for commenting more than I really care to admit. I kind of look to you to draw out of me what I sometimes don't have the guts to say. This isn't the case all the time, but I admit, it is a factor.

In that sense, this "public journal" of "mine" is more an expression of "ours." (BTW, if you visit my blog and have never posted a comment... now would be a good time. I'm vulnerable and looking for affirmation!)

So... is this really a "live" journal??

acrobat reader

A few weeks ago I removed my pal Rob's blog, The Acrobat, from my blog roll (I think I hurt his feelings). Not anything personal against Rob--even though he moved out to sunny Los Angeles and I'm jealous. His posts were just too far and few between. Well, it seems he may be "back"...

Check out this post about his visit to Saddleback Church last week. Talk about Christian subculture marketing!!

Who knows, maybe the Acrobat will reappear on my blogroll sometime soon...

conspiracy theory 9.11/pentagon

Interesing little project HERE. Not saying I believe it or am endorsing it for anything more than just a URL link... but the project does make you think. Did a Boeing 757 really crash into the Pentagon? Lot's-o stuff out there on the web--conspiracy theories and such. You never know if what you're viewing is "truth" or not, but at least it's a conversational piece...

So, check it out, and let me know what you think. It's a flash project, so be sure to have your speakers turned on. It's also pretty fast-paced, so you may need to watch it more than once. (Oh, and, James~ I'm definately expecting to hear from you on this one!)

BTW, I don't want this posting to in anyway make it seem like I am making light of the 9.11 events. I'm not. They were deep wounds to our great country, and especially for the specific families involved. We mourned, again, this past weekend.

ruckspin

Ladies and gentlemen... Ruckspin! (I know the kid in the glasses... he plays drums for our worship band at CCC.)



You can check out their music on purevolume.com HERE.

Genesis Mission... failure!

Apparently, NASA sent this space capsule into space to collect solar flare atoms (um, from the sun) and then bring them back to earth for study. Good news (sarcasm) is that the parachute didn't open on the thing and it crashed into the Utah desert... solar flare atoms and all. (Broadcasted live on the internet!!) Pretty amazing footage.

From CNN's coverage: Teams are attempting to recover the craft. NASA has warned them that a "live mortar" or explosive charge designed to deploy the chutes may still be armed. (Um... I don't want that job.)

Anyway, the Genesis Mission (official site HERE) was designed to learn about the origins of the universe. The official site states this as their mission:

While the spacecraft is in orbit around Lagrange Point 1, a point between Earth and the sun where the gravity of both bodies is balanced, it is collecting particles of the solar wind in specially designed high purity wafers. After two years, the sample collectors will be re-stowed and returned to Earth for an exciting mid-air recovery of the sample return capsule. The samples will be stored and cataloged under ultra-pure cleanroom conditions and made available to the world scientific community for study.

It's pretty sad to see this happen. I've always been a sucker for space travel and such. I guess the Trek era is eons away...

Coverage...
CNN (this is perhaps the most comprehensive and detailed account thus far...)
Fox News

the new couch-potatos

It seems that everywhere I turn today more and more people are sucked into fantasy living. Reality TV shows make this "reality" more accessible. We sit at home and live someone else's experience--on a deserted island with "pretty people" all around, racing around the globe, swapping spouses, marrying a rich bachelor, etc.. Reality TV is not real life, and, in my opinion, is simply clandestine voyeurism in a nice advertisement-friendly package.

(BTW, I've ranted on this in the past. Check out my "The end of all pretty people" post 1 and post 2 for my hypothesis on the disproportionate amount of "pretty people" on reality TV.)

Well... I recently got sucked into a new way of living someone else's life. It's called College Pick 'Em (ESPN). I'm not really sure how I got sucked in--I got invited to join a group and then, lo and behold, here I am! Anyway, this game doesn't completely fit the mold of "living someone else's life" as the other "fantasy" games do (you know, build a "fantasy team" as a "fantasy coach" and see who wins at the end of the season). The premise of this game is to pick the winners of 10 different games, then rank them with a confidence rating. So it's more like gambling without the $$$ involved.

Come to think of it, I'm not really sure why I am lumping this game in with the whole fantasy/reality thing.

I guess somehow it's all related on the subconcious level... somehow getting me to watch more TV... more "pretty people" and athletes doing things that I'll never do... more shame-based advertisements telling me I'm deficient for not owning this or that or whatever... more of the "gotta have it" having gotten me.

I came in 38,462nd place last week. Let's see if I do better this week...

easter time!

I'm a little slow on the draw, so if you already know about this site, forgive me. Anyway, I discovered eeggs.com this past week. What a wonderful site! It lists thousands of easter eggs hidden in DVDs, CDs, software, OS's, etc.. (In case you don't know, "easter eggs" are little treats hidden by the programers/creators of a project. They can be found in virtually anything--from books, to DVDs, to flash sites, etc..) That's partially why I'm such a Homestar Runner fan--SB e-mails are full of easter eggs!

too busy

No. This post isn't going to be about what you think.

About 2 weeks ago, a good friend of mine bent his knee and began an eternity-long relaitonship with Jesus Christ. Since then I've been "reeling." I've kind of lost my equilibrium. See, I've been praying for my bud, loving on him and dropping seeds of the Gospel for almost 3 years now. (HERE is a post I made about him a while back.)

Now that he's taking his first few steps as a new believer, I'm trying to figure out what in the world to do! No, I'm not talking about discipling and mentoring him... I'm talking about "who" is next? Who in my circle of aquaintences and friends is God moving closer to Himself... who is He seeking out?

So, here's the "too busy" part. Yesterday I resolved not to sit around and wait for something to happen. I decided to seize whatever divine moment Christ may bring my way. And, I failed.

I was at the gym, praying that God would use me to be an extension of his love and grace to someone that day. Lo and behold, I ran into a guy I hadn't seen in a few months (he's been away working, and I've been, well, married). We chatted a few minutes and parted ways. Missed opportunity #1--I was "too busy" to stick around and have a worthwhile conversation more than "small talk."

Then, I went to the grocery store. Loaded down with groceries and heading to my truck in the sticky Georgia humidity, I was approached by a guy in his 20s. He asked me: "Are you in a rush? I need a jump." I saw his car just a few yards from mine, the hood up. I muttered: "I'm, uh, busy." It didn't hit me that this was an opportunity to serve someone until I was loading my groceries into my truck. I turned back around and yelled: "Do you have cables??" He didn't hear me--someone else was helping him jump his car. God gave the opportunity to someone a little less "busy."

Then it hit me as I was driving home... I got the opportunities I asked for. I just didn't seize them. How hardheaded and selfish I can be sometimes... just a reminder that this life I live is truly not about me.