2008-06-19
800 Illegally
800!
This doesn't include the music that they might have actually paid for.
Almost half of all music the average teenager carries with them is illegal.
If they were to have purchased those from itunes they would have spent $792.
Conservatively speaking $792 would purchase 44 cds from a store (at a generous fee of $18 per). I'm curious what would happen if I were to walk out of a store with 44 unpurchased cds.
And my brothers and sisters (my actually brothers and sisters, not church talk here...although church talk may also apply) wonder why I think it's wrong.
It's never about one or two songs, because it doesn't ever end with just one or two...it ends around 800.
2008-06-18
Have I or I Haven't (151-175)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
(no, but I haven't had a Dr. Pepper since New Years)
157. Found an arrowhead
158. Written a poem
(my twitter post are in haiku...does that count?)
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
(ET, Dukes of Hazard....Thank mom!)
160. Gotten food poisoning
(oh my... that was a bad trip home from Mexico! the border all the way to South Dakota)
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Been to the southern hemisphere.
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
(no but I have been in an opera house...)
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
(Ronald Reagan, Nolan Ryan)
166. Worn knickers
(are those socks?)
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books (
(No I read Alfred Hitchcock's The Three Investigators...those were brilliant!)
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone's life
friends are vloging
So as they travel they are going to be posting at this blog about the trip and events of the day so that those back home can be specific in their prayer request and praise. Brilliant idea.
Here is a video they posted today of Josh Taylor giving helpful tips on packing for the long trip.
Ham on you ham eaters!
mental note...
The difference between sarcasm and mockery is very subtle.
Be extremely careful when using sarcasm.
By definition sarcasm intends harm…it’s hard to be a man of peace when your words cut. Better to pick up a gun than kill a man with words.
Be mindful of the audience, as sarcasm depends more on the interpretation than the presentation (both require precision though).
The laugh gained through sarcasm, at the expense of the damaged done, is typically not worth it.
And it’s probably best to just avoid mockery all together.
“Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded.”
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Sarcasm:
1: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2a: a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against and individual
2b: the use of language of sarcasm (this is no time to indulge in sarcasm)
2008-06-17
Have I or I Haven't (126-150)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
126. Ridden a elephant
(at the zoo)
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
(Germany, San Antonio)
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
(Diary of Anne Frank...back in h.s.)
131. Asked for a raise
(I prefer to just earn them, over asking for them...so no)
132. Made a hole-in-one
(only in putt putt)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
(I guess that's what I did...is it deep sea if you still see the coast)
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo's David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
(yes...a few...including Richard Dean Anderson, aka MacGyver)
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
2008-06-16
Have I or I Haven't (101-125)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
(maybe)
108. Brought out the worst in people
(probably)
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where people asked for the recipe
(is salsa a dish?)
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
(nope...missed...that's how I got the scar on my lip though)
120. Gone to an arboretum
(what's an arboretum? Just wiki'ed...yes, yes I have)
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
(gross!)
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn't need
Giving the Mets Something to Cheer About
Recently they gave Mets fans at Shea. Several players used the tarp during a rain storm as a slip-n-slide. Mets fans began cheering "Let's go Rangers!"...awesome!
2008-06-15
Have I or I Haven't (76-100)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
(two fingers and left arm)
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
(I love taking off and landing...why would you want to sleep through those?)
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
(I've done some firing...)
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
(I starting trying to get people to call me TS my sophmore year in college...hoping it sounded more dignified)
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
(both the insect and in baseball)
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
(fish?)
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
Have I or I Haven't (51-75)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
(on Route 66 non the less)
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
(well...at least fired when on set...this movie...with Elizabeth Shue!)
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
(home economics in middle school)
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
(I honestly know little of that history)
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
2008-06-14
2008-06-13
Have I or I Haven't (26-50)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
(maybe not my current job, but previous ones)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
(oh no... no chance here)
42. Visited Ireland
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
(back in high school...sure did...probably pass out right afterward though)
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
The Bridge
2008-06-12
Cloth Car




Book Review (Guest Blogger)
The book touches on everything a devoted fiction reader wants and looks for in a good read; a love interest, a common bond, suspense, humor and a promise that things will improve.
I found the story line capturing from the first page, with Libby’s struggles to be a good mom, a devout believer in following the will of God and still trying to honor her family, as dysfunctional as it is.
I love reading Christian novels, they leave me with warm fuzzies, but sometimes I am left feeling so totally inadequate at times. I am not able to spout off scripture or recall verses at a moments notice, in ways it is depicted in some books. That is the most appreciative thing I noticed in the book “Fatal Deduction.” Libby simply repeated over and over “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” and she knew her fears were not warranted and God would protect her, and yet she still had niggles of doubt, like the rest of us do on occasion. She wasn’t pretentious about her faith, she just knew in her heart that God’s way was the right way, and that she needed to rely on Him to propel her forward. She didn’t nor could she throw scripture into the faces of her family and enemies, she simply tried to accept them, even though she judged them and recognized that in herself, trying to be better about that flaw in her character. How many of us, including me do the same thing? Almost all of us I’m sure.
I loved the role of Madge in Libby’s life, good neighbor, mentor and Godly Christian woman, wife and mother. She was placed in Libby’s young life at a crucial point, when she needed encouraging without meddling, acceptance with guilt, and good Christian loving without judgment. How we all wish we had a Madge in our lives, yet it is encouraging to know we could be a Madge to others simply by “walking the walk” knowing someone could be watching and wanting to know more of how they too could walk the same path. It is simply a way of offering hope to someone in need.
It was refreshing to read of Libby’s role as a mother to her daughter Chloe. She loved Chloe from the beginning, not looking at her as a mistake, nor comparing her to the man who fathered her. And she worked hard to bring her daughter up in a loving environment and succeeded without giving in, nor giving up. She led by example, without trying to be Chloe’s best friend, but by being her mother only to be her daughter’s friend, anyway, by Chloe’s choice. They were sweet, normal, and argumentative at times, yet devoted to one another.
And finally Drew, just as it was quoted in the first pages of the book…”For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,” Jeremiah 29:11. Drew, was placed in Libby’s path, not looking for a friend, or future mate, but by simply being one when Libby needed him the most. Such a sweet ending to a tumultuous time.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, clean suspense, love story, both non-believers and those who know the way. Perhaps non believers will learn to call upon the Lord and believe He has the best plan, and knows the right path to follow. And those who do know the truth will not feel inadequate, because they use flare prayers, like Libby, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” that will guide their steps even though they cannot always quote a scripture for every situation.
Way to go Gayle Roper, keep ‘em coming.
Have I or I Haven't (1-25)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
(does NHL on the Playstation count?)
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
(almost every time I’ve given to charity)
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
(a small mountain)
9. Held a tarantula
(ugh…hate spiders)
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
(Twice – two great stories!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
(does Guam count?...it’s almost smaller than a boat)
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sporting event
17. Climbed the stairs to the crown of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
(the old man and I grew are ingredients for salsa)
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
(I’m going to say “no” because “giggling makes it sound girly)
21. Had a pillow fight
(okay…apparently I do lots of girly stuff)
22. Bet on a winning horse
(I don’t gamble…the moment I put up stakes…I lose)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
(but I was sick of the place)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
2008-06-10
Dishing Out Thank Yous
And in honor of such a glorious event I'd like to dish out some thank yous (before I pass out in my bed - it's late I tired)
T'anks to Rachel, Kristi and Taylor.
I was trying to think how I could repay for their help tonight and is there a better way than giving them my 600th post!
What? No? That's not good enough? Okay how about just a public thank you?
They know what for.
Now I'm going to sleep.
Turning the Upside Down Right Side Up
And I think he took too much time trying to blow our minds with a radical approach to reading the text than just serving up the actual meat of the Jesus' words (although I can't really say it was that radical and some of the Greek word insights may have been just too much of a stretch - and maybe the cause for my lack of focus...again who knows).
His big idea of the message, I think, was that Jesus establised a kingdom that compared to the world was upside down. But rather than an upside down kingdom Jesus established a kingdom that turned upside down things of this world right side up.
And I believe that and I can deal with my other issues, that stuff doesn't bother me. Where I do think this message failed, and where I think my church struggles to embrass Christ's Kingdom mindset, is in application.
If Jesus called us to His kingdom of turning the upside down right side up how do we live that out?
I dare say it's not by doing nothing.
We won't build into lives of students, turning their upside down lives and relationships right side up by doing nothing for them.
We won't turn the upside down world of the elderly woman, who cannot go to the grocery store on her own, right side up by doing nothing.
We won't care for the young family, turning their upside world of childhood diseases and absences of local family, right side up by doing nothing.
We won't turn the upside down world of the single father, who doesn't have the life skills to adequately care for his children, right side up by doing nothing.
I might be on a personal soap box here but this is something I've had real difficulty with lately.
My church axes a lot of ministry ideas and opportunities under the banner that we are simplifying ministry. But I have heard and experienced on several occasions now stories of people being overlooked (some after direct pleas for help).
There is a fine line between simplicity and laziness, and I'm wondering if we taken a flying leap over it.
That's enough...I'll get off my soap box now and try to get up off my duff and do something.
Maranatha,
Come Lord Jesus.
Talk About a Series Promo
Enjoy.









