Stuff Makes Me Feel Better

According to a recent study materialism (specifically in teenagers) is linked to their self-esteem. This isn't revolutionary information, but it is confirmation in what probably anyone who works with teenagers already felt.
Will this result in marketing companies attacking student's self image in order to hock more stuff?
And do we in youth ministry use this understanding to promote events, series, growth, etc?

GymKata!

Andrew Osenga posted about this movie. I have got to find this and buy it! How have I never heard of this?
Here is the trailer

And here is fight scene from the film, just to tempt us even more.

How convenient to have one of those gymnastic horse-y things right in the middle of town.

Sign of the Times

Has anyone else heard this:

Dutch police recently apprehended a ring of teenage virtual thieves who were caught stealing furniture, worth 4,000 Euros, within virtual world Habbo Hotel.

I read it a while back on a TrendCentral newsletter, but haven't found an actual source.

Ninja Stars

wikiHow recently had an entry on my google homepage on how to make origami stars. I used to make these all the time growing up. These at little paper footballs, which I can kick

Why did I ever stop?

I've been making them all weekend.

NFL Picks...Week 14

I just walked in from church and need to through up my picks before I turn on the TV.
I promise (in case I finally have a good week of predictions) that I am being completely fair in my process to which I am accountable only to myself and which nobody else cares about. So I don't know why I'm defending myself to myself.

Carolina at Jacksonville = Jacksonville (cause Carolina sucks)
Tampa Bay at Houston = Tampa Bay (less affected by the loss of the starting QB)
Oakland at Green Bay = Green Bay (The land of the cheese)
Dallas at Detroit = Detroit (because I hate Dallas)
St. Louis at Cincinnati = St. Louis (a third string QB, but I'll pick them anyways)
Miami at Buffalo = Miami (winners of thier first game)
San Deigo at Tennessee = San Deigo (V. Young can't create a win every week)
New York Giants at Philadelphia = New York (McNabb sucks and will be pulled too late because of Andy Reid's pride)
Minnesota at San Fransico = Minnesota (it breaks my heart that my Niners suck so much)
Arizona at Seattle = Arizona (finally becoming the team they should be)
Kansas City at Denver = Denver (by a field goal?)
Pittsburgh at New England = New England (their streak forces me to pick them, but if there was ever a week for them to fall...)
Cleveland at New York Jets = Cleveland (just because)
Indianapolis at Baltimore = Baltimore (playing for pride after last week's meltdown)
New Orleans at Atlanta = New Orleans (a horrible Monday Night game)

Celtic Women

I fell asleep a couple nights ago with a Charlie Rose interview on TV. I was awaken in the middle of the night by Celtic Women singing a Christmas special. I thought I died and gone to heaven.
When I first heard of these Celtic women I imagined them to be a little more butchy and of the earth, something from a Braveheart movie. My dad has a hunting buddy that collects the videos and talks stats about the singers. Just kinda awkward when your sitting in a tree stand high on deer urine.
But I suppose in light of the Christmas season I'd share this video.

Now I have watched a whole show before and I really like it when the violin gal really gets going on that thing. Fun to watch.

Kensrue

Thanks to my friend William who loaned/lent(?) me his copy of Please Come Home, a solo album by Dustin Kensrue (the lead singer of Thrice). It's incredible.
I felt the need to share one of my favorite songs from the album. Possibly a song used if I ever find someone worthy of a proposal/desperate enough to say yes. Enjoy Pistol.

Check out the whole album, trust me it's worthy it.
Also click HERE to watch Dustin preform I Knew You Before on Letterman.

25 Skills

MSN had an article today suggesting 25 Skills Every Man Should Know (thanks J-Mac for the link). These skills are:
1. Patch a radiator
2. Protect your computer
3. Rescue a boater who has capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos
6. Back up a trailor
7. Build a campfire
8. Fix a dead outline
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife
12. Preform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data
17. Paint a room
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
20. Change oil and filter
21. Hook up a HDTV
22. Bleed Brakes
23. Paddle a canoe
24. Fix a bike flat
25. Extend your wireless network
I included the whole list, because the value of the article is not necessarily the list, but the how-to tips that come with each. I apparently need these since I can only confess to knowing about 13 of the 25. But in my defense some of these I've never needed to know. I suppose I can figure it out if the time comes. Okay probably not, but that's why we have friends and pay people.

Editors Note: #8 is Fix a dead outlet.

"...the best yet."

Andrew Osenga describes the recent Behold the Lamb concert in Austin on a recent post and said “Last night’s show in Austin might have been the best yet.”

I’m seriously thinking of throwing a pity party over the fact that I couldn’t round up a ticket. Why did I wait so long?

Today I announce my intention to bring Andrew’s concert here to San Antonio next year. I have a small yet influential network here that can help me pull this off. It will happen. Oh it will happen.

Revival of the Terminator

First there is The Sarah Connor Chronicles starting on Fox in January (a two day premiere, the 13th and 14th).
Now there is news out that there will be a Terminator 4, the start of a new Terminator trilogy. The first film is going to be called Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. And it will star Christian Bale as John Connor, and supposedly another big name will be attached later on.

It'll need something revolutionary, like the liquid Terminator from the second movie, in order to be a massive success, but with a budget exceeding $150 million something good should be coming our way.

Fair Trade

No matter what happens during the rest of this offseason, no team will make as big of a move as the Detroit Tigers did today. In an unexpected trade the Tigers aquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for 6 young prospects (including Cameron Maybin whom ccnsi.com called a “stud outfielder” and Andrew Miller, left handed pitcher)

The AL grows stronger and the NL continues to grow weak.

As for my Texas Rangers, yep they have done nothing to improve themselves. Way to go team!

The line-up for the Tigers is going to be incredibly intimidating this coming year. And if they aquire a decent set up man to replace Zumaya, I pick them to win it all.

Time's website has a article entitled Facebook: More Popular Than Porn. The article states that the frequency of porn visits is in decline as a result of social network sites like Facebook. (Yeah I don't understand why the author felt the need to write more than the title either)

Without question it's gooder that people are viewing porn less.

However as Christ followers we probably should build a holier version so that we not become corrupted by the powers of darkness and the forces of this digital world.

Maybe I'll call it FaceofGodbook.

What's OK(ay)?

I've noticed lately that I'm spelling okay with o-k-a-y instead of just an o and k. Previously I spelt it o and k only.
Does this mean I'm maturing?
Are there edicate rules for when one should be used over the other. I'm assuming the shorter ok is perfectly acceptable in the text messaging realm. But what about e-mails, and hand written letters, or how about a term paper?
And why are we not using the ok hand signal anymore as a society? Do I want to singal handedly (he he) bring it back?

What the Voice?

Los posted this and I have to agree with his question; "Was that real?"

Hero me that...

I love Heroes! I just watched the last couple episodes with the increasing gang (if we keep growing, we'll might want to work up a script that helps catch up all the Heroes virgins).

Anyways. The preview at the end of the last episodes told us that two Heroes will die in tomorrow's chapter.

My prediction: Claire's flying boyfriend, and Veronica Mars.

NFL Picks...Week 13

Detroit at Minnesota = Minnesota
Seattle at Philadelphia = Seattle
San Diego at Kansas City = San Diego
New York Jets at Miami = Miami
Jacksonville at Indianapolis = Indianapolis
San Fransico at Carolina = San Fransico
Houston at Tennessee = Houston
Atlanta at St. Louis = St. Louis
Buffalo at Washington = Washington
Cleveland at Arizona = Cleveland
Denver at Oakland = Denver
New York Giants at Chicago = New York Giants
Tampa Bay at New Orleans = Tampa Bay
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh = Pittsburgh
New England at Baltimore = New England

Conviction

Our response to action should begin instantly from the moment of conviction. And with videos and images like this who needs to think about it?

Fears

Via Shlog, Shawn Groves' blog, I found this article at Copyblogger.

The Nasty Four-Letter Word ThatKeeps You From Writing by Brian Clark.

He he suggests five fears that keep people writing:
- fear of failure
- fear of success
- fear of rejection
- fear of mediocrity
- fear of risk

I find myself struggling with the fears of rejection and mediocrity. I'm never confident enough that I've written something worth reading. Nor do I feel that I excel in clarity and creativity.

Hopefully by recognizing these fears I might be able to work through them.

From "Of First Importance"

From "Of First Importance"

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

“The paradox is amazing. The Creator assumed the human frailty of his creatures. The Eternal One entered time. The all-powerful made himself vulnerable. The all-holy exposed himself to temptation. And in the end the immortal died.”

- John Stott, The Incomparable Christ

Christmas Theory

A quick post to appease my conscience.

I thought I'd share my Christmas decoration theory. I have a few followers, but most people think I'm nuts.

I love the idea of fake trees, but believe in real trees. For this reason most of all: You can throw it away when you're done.

And I think you should through the tree out with all your lights, and dare I say ornaments. Take your fully decorated tree to the curb and watch the trash men take it away.

Growing up my mom has tons and tons of Christmas decorations, and I admit that her home is beautiful when she's done, but every year she ask me to come and haul the tubs and tubs of Christmas stuff down from the attic. She spends more to store he decorations that she did on the decorations.

Seriously, lights and bulbs are cheap enough to replace. If you're going to throw them away you don't have to invest in the expensive ones. And you will never again have to detangle strands and strands of lights.

That's what I call a Merry Christmas.