On Faith...

I recently finished 'beatitude' by Matthew Paul Turner. In lieu of a review (because I stink at writing reviews) I am again going to share passages that stuck out as I was reading.

'Sometimes, in order to live the way Jesus intends for me to live, I have to break a few rules. They're not always my rules. Sometimes they're the rules of a particular church. Sometimes they're the rules of friends or family. Sometimes they're simple rules I have assumed to be true all my life. But when I am engaged in the journey, Jesus often surprises me by breaking a few rules.'

'Despite not being considerably moved or impassioned by his nine-to-five, that did not stop him from investing his complete self into his work and the relationships he created.'

'People make poor choices and must learn to live with the consequences. But I do believe that one or two acts of mercy could have changed these people's outcomes. Because mercy tends to that; it changes things.'

'For me, the hard-to-show mercy is intentional kind of mercy I am called to hand out daily and and willingly in the lives of those in need, in want or in pain. That kind of mercy actually takes time, effort, energy and finances on my part.'

'Sure, I've fed the homeless on Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. I support a child with Compassion International and another with World Vision. I give money when disasters hit. I put coins in the red Salvation Army cans at Christmas. I give my left over clothes and house items to people in need. But does any of this really cost me all that much? And isn't mercy something that is free but costs a lot?'

Philippians 2:1-4 (The Message)

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Great Movie Lines...

I Opened Happiness...

I had given up frosty Coca-Cola beverages for Lent. That is 46 days without a Coke. Typically I don't go 46 minutes without one. I made it 27 and 1/2 days. I couldn't make it through March Madness without my bottle. March Madness and Coke go together like lamb and tuna. What? Maybe spaghetti and meatballs works better for you?

It wasn't a slip up. This was a full fledged binge. A 'Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew' type binge. I am slightly bummed I did not reach my goal, but none of the things people told me would happen happened. I didn't sleep better, I didn't feel better etc. Interestingly enough there was a story on Nightline talking about exactly what I've been saying for years. A lot of those 'fruit' and 'health' drinks are no better for you than Coke. They are just as high in sugar and fructose. The lessons I have learned from this adventure is 1. I stink at achieving goals & 2. unless you drink only filtered water leave me alone about my Coke drinking.

Get off my lawn'd/

So this is Parenting Part 2...

About a month ago I spent a weekend at the Khalari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells with around 900 students and leaders. I was in a suite with 15 junior high guys and two other leaders. Everyone arrives for the weekend on Friday night. The weekend opens with a main session, which consists of some rocking jams and a message. The students are pretty jacked up for the weekend and when you throw mass quanities of Mountain Dew and giant Pixie Stix that last thing they want to do is go to sleep.

They finally started coming down and got to sleep around 2:00 or so. 7:00 Saturday morning they were up and ready to go. They were so full of energy and being nuts and it was so early. I snuck into the shower and it was so peaceful. It was the warmest most delightful shower I think I have ever taken. I did not want to get out. I thought to myself that this is what being a parent must feel like. The only moments you get to yourself are in the shower. When I got out I said something to one of the other leaders who has four kids. He laughed and said that most of the time you are lucky to get that peace in the shower. There is always someone pouding on the door need something.

I've brought the funny to epic levels...

Several weeks ago at StuCo I made a funny that made an audience of about 40 people all laugh. It was people of all demographics as well. I especially hit the very coveted 18-35 group. I allowed myself to be pretty proud of myself. The funny was 5 words of well timed perfection.

Of course there was a hater in the house. It wasn't enough to make 4o people laugh. The hater in this case frowned and said 'they didn't laugh hard enough.' That's right I have brought comedy to such epic levels that it's not enough to make large groups laugh. I am being judged on the level of laughter.

Last weekend I was at a movie theater with about 50 or so people watching a cinematic adventure. The film went out about three-quarters of the way through the movie. I once again busted out another perfectly timed 5 word funny. The entire theater laughed. The hater in this case said she wasn't impressed because the laughter was only a 'low rumble' through the theater.

Making 90 people laugh with 10 words brought out the haters. This is now the burden I bare. It's a tough but I will continue to bring the funny.