RE:think

Vacation Report

I meant to post this earlier, but oh well...

Thanks so much for praying. I had a great week off and it really turned into a "rest fest". And believe me when I say, I needed it.

Riley and I had a really good time each day getting up and just doing stuff. We didn't make to a picnic, but we had lots of fun anyway.

I got to go have lunch at school with Ricky and Briannah as well. I always enjoy that and find it a huge boost to my ego that they think enough of me to show me off to their friends. We aren't too many years from just the opposite I fear. (see teen years)

I probably could have done more to help Evette around the house, but I do some shopping and even bought her a book as a surprise gift. Time off allowed me to refocus enough to here her and fall into her rhythm. As I did, I heard her mention a book off handedly and I knew I had to go get it.

I dreaded going back to work to play catch up, but it ended up not being too bad at all.

So I think I am ready to finish out the year strong and take on the next stronger.

Again, thanks for the prayers. I really felt them.

New Rolling Stone Interview w/ Bono

I really respect and admire this man. In a world of superstars who act like they are all smarter than us and pretend to care about things, this guy is actually pretty smart and genuinely cares.

The thing that struck me about this interview is BALANCE. The interviewer tried to lead him into criticizing our current government in relation to 9/11 and the war that has followed. Bono doesn't bite. He expresses concerns about the directions being taken, but at the same time understands the stakes. He understands the danger that is lurking out there for us and acknowledges we have to do something.

This interview is light on music talk, but it is another one that Bono knocks out of the park. He is so conversational and it give you a good idea why he is able to get the ear of so many politicians on both sides of the isle. A lot can be learned about diplomacy from this guy.

Link: Bono: The Rolling Stone Interview : Rolling Stone.

One of the Best Things a Falwell Ever Said

From the latest Falwell Confidential...

As Paul did not shy away from cultural issues, so too must we continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our own culture.

Therefore, if we hear a kid listening to Kid Rock’s album (Rock and Roll Jesus), we don’t need to harass him.

We need to use the occasion as an entryway to talk about the Real Jesus, the One who can literally save his soul.

I guess the Jonathan is not exactly like Jerry. These are very helpful words and we need more of this from the evangelical right.

Link: Jerry Falwell Ministries.

 

Dealing with Disappointment

I've been doing some thinking this week as I have vacationed. It's the perfect time for thinking about "Stuff".

I think most of us are raised to think that everything we do should eventually plateau in a place that has no disappointment. We expect to have a job that never disappoints. We think that in marriage that because we love our spouse and they love us that we should never run into disappointment. When we choose a church to attend we think that because God loves us and we love God and we are hanging out with others who follow him that we can reach the goal of non-disappointment.

But in reality, that just isn't true. Try as we might, all of our ventures will at some point in time disappoint us. People will disappoint us. Other with similar goals will eventually let us down.

So how do you deal with disappointment?

Loving Your Neighbor

My lovely wife talks candidly and practically about loving others. And not just others, but others that are hard to love. Please go check it out...

The Narrow Way: Love Thy Neighbor

changes...

fyi, moving away from the summer-ish theme. i'm very seasonal. i hope to have a banner up soon with another of my children as the star...

10-20-30 Virus

YAY! Lainie tagged me!!! I never get tagged! So here is the deal. Where was I 10, 20, and 30 years ago?

30 years ago I was 5 years old and my parents had recently divorced. As a young kid seeing his Dad move out it was tough. If I only knew then how it would shape the rest of my life...

20 years ago I was a sophomore in High School enjoying quite possibly my two all time favorite albums, Joshua Tree by U2 and Appetite for Destruction by Guns 'n' Roses. Unlike most people I know, I loved high school. Good times...

10 years ago Evette and I were coming up on our 2nd anniversary, were thinking about buying our first house, and was still working at a call center that to this day gives me nightmares...

My how things change.

I tag Frank, Ernie, Clint, Evette, Chris, and Rebekah.... 

Steve Carell on Stopping Peyton Manning

Funny stuff...

Another Huge Waste of Time by the Religious Right

Link: Falwell - God Banned from Ten Commandments Movie

Any Christian who is truly worried about this and plans to spend time and effort with petitions and so forth should really think about it a little harder and look for ways to user their time more wisely.

God is bigger than Disney and doesn't even need them to carry out his mission. I know that's hard to believe. I know too many of us worship a small god who can't keep it together and is easily defeated by marketers and advertisers who want to remove words like "chosen by God" from commercials (not the movie). God isn't going to love any of us any less if we decide not to be offended by this and concentrate on things that really matter... 

Wisely Vid

Whilst I work on my review, here is a video for your viewing pleasure. This is how I found out about Willie Wisely. Jenna Fischer from the office in the video. Cool song and cool vid...