Daniel Needed (a revisit)

Just in case you don't follow this blog: I recently asked my readers for some help interpreting a recent dream I had.
My friend Jon McClarnon (J-Mac), who has planted True North Church in Apex, NC (near Raleigh), offered these thoughts:

T-Rev, this is truly fascinating. I rarely remember dreams myself, so when I do, I pay special attention to them.
I think this one is clear. There are 2 obvious gleanings:
1. The 1/2 assed version of yourself today is much better than the full on version of yourself 8 years ago.
2. The trip is irrelevant. It only means that if "she" had won rather than you, the prize would have been the girl. But since you won - she could only see it as having lost. She would never have ended up with you because of the male tendency to always have to be right. Thus, you got Thailand.

My roommate Chris, offered these thoughts:

I don't think this as confusing as you want to make it.
There's a contest, and there's a girl. There was at least one girl you wrote letters to. The girl in the dream may or may not be this girl, but in general, it represents "the one that got away." The contest being back at Ozark shows a deep internal desire to relive those days, in hopes that those relationships might come out differently.

I replied to Jon with this email:

That's very insightful. I would never had seen that.
The question now is what is this dream telling me. Is it a call for behavior or thought change? Or is this just my dreams mocking me about the one that got away? Why would my subconscious want to inform me that I'm a better man today than 8 years ago? And should I still go to Thailand?

I decided later that it should have read, "Why would my subconscious and/or God want to inform me...", because I do believe that God can speak to use via our dreams. Even though I haven't had those clear experiences in my life yet.

Jon then replied:

that's about all I got...try consulting a "what do my dreams mean" website - might be interesting.
It's a good sign for you to say that you've come a long ways in the last 8 years - you're twice the man you used to be. Was there a hot girl at Ozark who ended up in Thailand?

To which I responded with:

I'll google some dream sites today and see what I find.
Not sure of anyone that ended up in Thailand. I know I passed on a trip to Thailand my first summer at East Tulsa. I wasn't sure how to ask for a month off, and didn't know how I was going to manage the next years tuition if I didn't have a job.
Oh wait. Kara Kunkel (now married, so Kara Somethingelse) went on that trip. I was head over heals for her.
But then again why would God or my subconscious bring that up?
On to the googling.

Now there were plenty of other hot girls at Ozark who could be in the dream girl (ha ha), but Kara was the only one with ties to Thialand.

Well my googling turned up a website called Dream Moods (it was the first one, and I didn't really look at any others...yet). Here is some of what it had to share with me:

Competition
To dream that you are in a competition, represents your need to grow and expand. Learn the value of endurance and perseverance. Also be more assertive.

To dream that you win a competition, suggests that you possess the necessary skills to accomplish a goal or solve a problem in your waking life.

Crush
To dream about a former crush, refers to that particular period in your life and what you were feeling. The former crush represents a point in time when you first had the crush on that person.

College
To dream that you are in college, indicates that you are going through some social or cultural changes. You may be wanting to expand your knowledge and awareness. It also suggest that now is a good time for you to experiment and try new things. If you had gone to college in your past, then also consider your personal experiences and memories of your college days. However, if you are currently in college, then it may be a reflection of your current surroundings. It may also represent stress.

Paris
To dream that you are in Paris, symbolizes your need for romance and passion. It also suggests that you are a person of distinction. You own personal experiences and knowledge of Paris will supercede the suggested interpretation here.

Asia

To dream that you are in Asia, suggests that you need to adjust to some situation. If you are traveling to Asia or thinking about visiting Asia, then your dream may indicate your anticipation of such a trip.

Writing
To dream that you are writing, signifies some sort of communication with someone or with your conscious mind. It also denotes a mistake that you have made.

Eight
Eight stands for power of authority, success, karma, material gains, regeneration, and wealth. When the number eight appears in your dream, trust your instincts and intuition.

Emotionless
To dream that you are emotionless, suggests that you are closing yourself off from those around you. You may be neglecting your own feelings and should start paying more attention to them.

Emotions
Emotions expressed in dreams is a way for people to act out their feelings which they would not normally express if they were awake. This provides a "safe" outlet for these emotions instead of letting them be pent up.

Guilt
To dream that you feel guilty about something, relates to how you are handling your successes and failures or competence and incompetence. You may feel undeserving of your achievements or on the other hand, you may feel that you have let other down. Alternatively, it is also symbolic of repressed and negative feelings that you may have about yourself.

Lazy

To dream that you are feeling lazy, signifies that you will make a terrible error in a business deal resulting in bitter disappointments.

Friend

To see your friends in your dream, signifies aspects of your personality that you have rejected, but are ready to integrate these rejected part of yourself. The relationships you have with those around you are important in learning about yourself. Additionally, this symbol foretells of happy tidings from them and the arrival of good news.

Woman
To see a woman in your dream, represents nurturance, passivity, caring nature, and love. It refers to your own female aspects or may also represent your mother. Alternatively, it may indicate temptation and guilt. If you know the woman, then it may symbolize the concerns and feelings you have about her.

Win

To dream that you win at something, signifies triumph and success. You have much confidence and belief in yourself. All your self-doubts have subsided.

Victory
To dream of victory over something, suggests that you are in need of some motivation or confidence in your abilities. Sometimes you need to imagine or visualize success before actually achieving it.

Um...I don't think I have gained anymore insights beyond what J-Mac shared. Some of Dream Moods insights seem to conflict.
Oh well.
But I suppose I should look into plane tickets to Thailand.
Does anyone have any contacts in Thailand?

Spliting Potter

They are turning the final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, into two movies. 

I guess I’m fine with that; I’m just disappointed that they didn’t do it earlier with some of the other films.  They sacrificed a lot of elements that, after reading the final book, seemed more significant to me.

Also I’m worried that we are going to get two movies about 80 minutes each with an awkward break in between. 

 

Oh well.  It would be really hard to mess this stories up, so I think it will still be awesome!

quote

“Love is evil spelled backwards to a dude that doesn’t know how to spell.”
- Creed, from The Office

This made me laugh today. - TSH

Fact?

Pickles curb your appetite.  

 

Can anyone confirm this? 

 

Awesome Photo

Sorry J-Mac. It had to be shown. UNC owns Duke.

New Goal

I start practicing now. If this doesn't send me into the upper echelon of cool people I don't know what will.

http://view.break.com/467437 - Watch more free videos

Caption Needed

Quote

THANKS

Daniel Needed

Saturday night/Sunday morning I was somehow able to remember my dream.  Usually I have dreams, but rarely do I wake up actually having remembered the dream.

But when the alarm when of Sunday morning I had a clear recollection.  Maybe God wants to speak to me.  The problem is I have no clue what the dream means or if meant anything.

So if you think you have some Daniel-like or Joseph-like skills please offer up your interpretation.

If you don’t have such skills, give it a try anyways.  Who knows maybe our Bible heroes were just spit-firing and God was somehow in between the spit and the fire.

 

My Dream:

It didn’t feel like today, rather it felt about 8 years ago during my time at OCC, but I was the me of today.  There was a writing competition that everyone was abuzz about on the campus.  Reluctantly I entered an article that I wrote half heartedly.  I don’t know if the competition had certain parameters and I don’t know what I wrote.  I do know that it felt like the writing had a lackadaisical tone to it that matched my ambivalence to the project.  As it turns out the competition whittled down to my paper and a dear friend of mine.  I can’t recognize the friend, but it is definitely a she.  I feel like not only is she someone I have a real friendship with, but I was also very much attracted to her (which could a number of girls, but I have a couple of ideas who she is - - I’ll save those thoughts until after some of your interpretations).  In the end I narrowly win the competition. 

The prize is a trip to Paris, France or Thailand.   I’ve been to Paris on a couple of occasions so it only tempts my interests a little.  I decide on Thailand.  I have no clue why either trip is offered or what I would be doing at each.

 

There you go.  What does it mean?

Trendy Vocab

Okay, so I’m catching up on some e-mails.

And last Friday’s Trendcentral Newsletter supplied my life with some new vocab.

 

“Perma-lance.”

 

Read their article below to read about this new trend.

 

THE NEW OFFICE SPACE

Whereas in the past freelancing has been more of a last resort financial necessity in between permanent employment gigs, an increasing number of Gen Ys are choosing to permanently freelance (perma-lance). This is a group that values and prioritizes freedom, flexibility, and the ability to experience new things. For many Gen Ys, traditional ideas of employment just don't register and they'd rather make ends meet on their own terms. The perma-lance mindset extends from urban dwelling members of the Creative Class (who rely on their creativity and resourcefulness to create custom jobs, turning their hobbies into "jobbies") to those living in suburban areas who give up stability in lieu of multiple temp positions—not for the love of the job, but to avoid getting tied down.

As such, we are seeing a growing number of co-working spaces emerge across the country, including The Hive in Denver, CubeSpace in Portland, The Hat Factory and Citizen Space in San Francisco, and the just-opened BLANKSPACES* in Los Angeles. These co-working environments allow free agents to seek out a sense of community, networking opportunities and a more professional environment than their local coffee shops. So, if you currently work from home, consider trading in working in your pajamas for live human interaction.

 

I think this is a cool new concept.

Any opinions?

Rewrite

When I find my hope waning I usually read my favorite book of scripture, The Revelation of John.  Working through some passages I’ve memorized stokes the flame that was flickering out and gives me enough light to confront the dark. 

 

(NIV – Rev 2:10-11)

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”  - Jesus to the church in Philadelphia

 

My Rewrite:

Trust me; I’m going to make this worth your while.  Plus, since you’ve been so loyal to me, I serve as your wingman.  Hang tight, just when you think things get too hot to handle, and they will (they do for everyone), know this, “Rescue is coming!” 

Trends

I receive daily e-mails called the Trendcentral Newsletter.  You can (and should) sign up for them at trendcentral.com.  Basically the title tells what it does, keeps you current on current trends.  Some days it suggests new and trendy restaurants, cafes, spas, hotels, etc.  And other days it highlights current youth marketing trends (great youth ministry resources).  The e-mails are quick to read or easy to dismiss (not everyday is interesting).

 

So today they sent this article.

 

TECHNOLOGY TAKES THE WHEEL

When you take the consumer obsession with technology and put it inside an automobile, you have a potential recipe for danger. Fortunately, new, high tech in-car features—including reading text messages, controlling MP3 players and accessing the Internet—are safely offering drivers entertainment and useful information for an enhanced driving experience.

Recently, we've been hearing major buzz about Ford's SYNC technology package (developed with Microsoft). SYNC recognizes voice commands, enabling drivers (and passengers!) hands-free control over Bluetooth-enabled phones and MP3 players: shout "Play artist M.I.A." for some serious tunes, yell "Call Mom" for a heart to heart, and hit the phone button on your steering wheel to have incoming texts read aloud. New additions to the SYNC technology package will include fee-free 911 Assist, which connects drivers through their mobile phones directly to 911 if an airbag is deployed, and SIRIUS Travel Link, which provides access (through the car's GPS system) to info such as the closest gas station (or the station with the lowest price), game schedules and current scores, weather forecasts and up-to-the-minute traffic reports. These additions will be available in a number of 2009 Ford and Mercury Models.

With an increasing traffic problem, and a growing number of long-distance job commuters, the demand for full tech connectivity in cars will only grow and we expect these new perks will become expectations among drivers.

 

What do you think?  Are we trying to hard to hard to integrate technology into an activity that already has enough distractions and difficulties (San Antonio has the worst drivers)?  Or is this new technology just too super cool to pass up?

 

I think Sulu had an easier time maneuvering the Star Ship Enterprise than today’s current vehicles.

 

Best Hockey Fight EVER!

Thanks

Wee Fighting

I've seen this on a few sites and decided I should get a count too.

24

I say bring it on #25.

Virtual Barber Shop

Listen with earphones.

Brilliant

Simple systemic solution.


Play Pump International

If I'm doing my math right, and if I found the right numbers. A single pump system cost in the neighborhood of $15,000.
$15,000 for revolutionary answers to numerous societal issues.

Simply brilliant.

Update

FYI
Just a quick update on my New Year's Resolutions.

#1 Dr. Pepper Fast
Doing great. While I've substituted my cola beverages for tea and vitamin water, I'm still making progress towards just pure H2O. I haven't slipped up once, despite the Deuce's attempts tempt with with such beverages.

#2 Memorize Colossians
Still working. Can't check this off yet.

#3 Read 40 books
Doing well. I'll give a separate update on this in a week or two once I've finished a couple more books.

#4 Map out TV show idea and make a TV contact
I did meet someone in the TV business, and while it may not be my way in, it should help provide future networking opportunities. Still to finish mapping out characters.

#5 See doctor and get asthma under control
Not yet. However I did see an ophthalmologist and got a new prescription for my glasses, purchased new glasses as well as got contacts for the first time in my 29 years.

#6 Organize and Minimize Closet
Check
This one also included me purchasing my first suit ever. I'm not really a suit guy and have avoided purchasing one. However as the big 3-Oh looms over me this year, I've decided that growing up and moving on must me part of my M-O.
So tonight I premiere my pimp suit - - ladies.

So there you go. I'm making progress and haven't bailed on any yet. Not bad for my first real resolutions ever.

Wedding

So I thought I'd let everyone know that in T-minus 4 hours I will be at my sister's, Chelsy, wedding.
Last night at the rehearsal she and Mickey (Micheal her real soon to be husband) showed a slide show to the Bebo Norman song "A Page Is Turned". I'll post it along with some possible photos in the near future.

-tsh-

Immature?

Yes, but so what? It's funny.
Click HERE for Great Movies About Farting.
Here's one to tie you over until you visit the site.

difficult post (part 2)

[I've been intentionally avoiding comments from my past difficult post, but I will get to them soon. I've been thinking that I need to post some more honest, unscripted thoughts in order to bring another level of authenticity to this thing. Hence the difficult part of the posts. Maybe through them we can find ourselves reaching greater depths of connectivity. - - Here's a post I wrote soon after the last. Sorry I didn't have Internet access for a few days, so this is a little late.]

Why is my hope so fragile? Why does the small conflict send me into a tailspin? Careening towards earth, unable to eject. The least amount of pressure reveals my flaws and exposes my weakness until my facade beings to crack.

How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?"
- Psalm 13

Has my faith grown at all? Or have I just been struggling against greater trails and temptations? Why has time and experience turned my child-like faith into a mature mess? I find myself looking back and agreeing with Nicodemus when he asked Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old?" When will the transformational change begin to occur in my life? When will life give me greater perspective and less detours?

As I'm typing this David Crowder is singing on my computer,

And there's nothing wrong with you
And nothing left to do
But believe something bigger
And there's nothing wrong with love
I know it's just enough to believe

Don't give up now
A break in the clouds
We will be found
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming now

I can't wait. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus.

quote

"I don't deny that there should be priests to remind men that they will one day die. I only say it is necessary to have another kind of priests, called poets, actually to remind men that they are not dead yet."

-G.K. Chesterton

Which are you? Priest or poet?

quote

"I've tried every approach to life. I bought a bunch of stuff. and was like, nah. That's not it. Thought I'd shut myself off. Maybe that’s cool. Maybe that’s what you have to do to be a genius, you have to be mad. If you get the word 'mad' from the word 'genius' then maybe you'd make the genius appear. But that doesn’t work either. What I'm trying to say is I've messed with all the approaches except for one. and that’s just love. I've done everything in my life that I want to do except just give and receive real love. I don't mean like a Roman Candle fireworks, Hollywood, hot pink love. I mean like no matter what, I got your back love. I don't need to hear I love you. Some of the people who say they love you, are the last to have your back. So I’m going to experiment with this love thing..."

-John Mayer Live CD during the middle of "Bold As Love"

thanks to

Bound, Bound, Bound and Rebound

"...just get a leg up and slap it on down..."

Thanks to all my jackalopes.
-tsh-

connection

We finally got internet connection here at our apartment today.
Yahoo!

Questions

I saw this photo with this question today:

Do We Care?And early today I discussed this question with some other youth leaders.

Why does our service see such minimal results?

Questions on my mind as I try to fall asleep tonight.

A New Law

I saw this today and felt the need to share.

Do not be afraid.

A Difficult Post

A QUESTION

Last night in my community group the icebreaker question was this:

            Name one thing that you are good at.  (Yeah I know…not really a question, but I kept my mouth shut.)

Then of course we had to go around in a circle and everyone has to share.  First off I hate that.  I hate the expectation of having to answer. 

 

A CONFLICT

The problem was I really couldn’t think of anything.  I ended up giving some BS response that I didn’t really believe.

 

A COMMENT

Now I’m not looking for pity or responses on what you think I’m good at.  Even if you were to offer a valued opinion I probably can’t accept it at this point as it would seem to me only a response to this post.  Not necessarily genuine in my eyes.  However, I’m sure you, my readers, are incredibly honest people, although a little foolhardy to be following/reading what I spout out.   

 

A CLARIFICATION

And what I’m not saying is that I’m not good at anything.  I have a good sense of humor and a good amount of patience and I’m incredibly good looking.  Also I have a good sense of humor and a good self image.  If golden stars were passed out for Seinfeld quoting skills, well…I’d have a lot of golden stars.  And I can list several other things, but moving on, what I am also not saying is that I don’t have things that I enjoy doing either.  (That’s a poorly constructed sentence, but I don’t feel like fixing it).  I love to organize things.  I love bring order where there was chaos.  I love youth and youth ministry.  I love sharing the Bible.  I love doing a lot of things.

 

Some of my negativism is because I’m my own worst critic, but some of it is because really I don’t know what I good for.  You can be good at things, but unless you are acknowledged and appreciated and using your talents, what is…what you’re good at…good for?  Being good at something and not using it is worthless.  If you have NBA talents but never pick up a basketball, are you really good at the sport?  Loving something that seemingly refuses to embrace you, well that just seems sad.  If you are the second coming of Jimmy Stewart, but never win an acting audition are you really a good actor? 

 

A CONFESSION

Just a peak into what steals my joy and robs my passion:

I feel like the past couple of years my hope has diminished and I’m fading into oblivion.

And I don’t know what to do with that.

 

[I don’t know if I’ve shared this with anybody, opening myself up this much (and this isn’t much).  And I can’t say why I feel the need to do so tonight.  This is me trying to be more honest, and this seems to be my most effective forum for speaking this kind of truth. - TSH]

 

 

 

Audible

I had somewhat an off week when it came to listening to sermons.  But here are a few you may want to check out.  I think it was Rick Warren who called today’s sermons, yesteryears commentaries (something like that).  I totally agree.

 

Sermons I Listened To This Week

• First off at church Steve Dye preach on How’s My Neighbor: Orphans and Widows
• On Monday I listened to Mark Scott, Dean of Academics at Ozark Christian College.  His sermon was entitled Love the Church More Honestly (Rev. 2-3) from a series called Living in the Real World.
• Then I listened to an archived sermon by Damien Spikereit, preaching professor at Ozark Christian College.  His sermon was entitled Kiss One Another, from a series entitled Life Together where they were going through all the One Another passages in Scripture. 
• Wednesday (I think) I listened to Chip Ingram preach at Southeast Christian College as a guest speaker.  Jim wrote a book titled Good to Great in God’s Eyes, and that also the title of his message.  This was an interesting message.  A little self-help-ish, but was worth the listen.
• Today I listened to Jon Weece, senior minister at Southland Christian Church in Lexington, KY.  He preached an amazing sermon from their series called BREATHE.  BREATHE is an acronym, each letter representing an action that are immensely beneficial in daily life change.  The E stood for Examine Myself with a Fearless Honesty.  Jon is an amazing preacher.  I’ve met him at Ozark briefly and he is legit.  He reads a letter from an eleven year old girl in this sermon that is heart breaking - - yet beautiful.  Listen and be challenged.
• I listened to a second Jon Weece message as well today from the BREATHE series entitled Amend My Relationships. 

 

 

Nothing else I'd rather NOT do

See world's first eyeball tattoo - - careful this is gross and painful.

Confessions (Part 2)

I hear Usher’s song in my head.  “These are my confessions…” 

Unfortunately when I loving sing to myself in the mirror and rip off my shirt it just ain’t what MTV wants on the air.  Then again Jack Blacks had a few shirtless hits.

“I’m good enough.  I’m smart enough.  And doggone it people read my blog.”

 

But that’s not what I want to confess.  Here’s my second confession of the day.

 

When at Chick-fil-A I like to say “thank you” a lot.

Apparently when someone tells a Chick-fil-A employee “thank you”, the employee must reply with “It’s my pleasure.” 

I think this is a little odd, but I still like it.  It’s not “not a problem” or “you’re very welcome”.  It’s much more intimate of a statement. 

“It’s my pleasure.”

 

Plus when I happen to get the cute lady who works there to takes my order and she says “it’s my pleasure”. 

However, when a guy takes my order I try to never thank them, that’s oddly uncomfortable.

Confessions (Part 1)

Two confessions today.  I’ll post the second soon enough. 

 

This morning it did not take long until I was suffering from a headache.  After 29 years I have finally decided to get contacts (mainly because the examination, the trial lenses and the tutorial only cast $20 more with my regular exam), which has not helped my headache.  My eyes are still adjusting and my mind is still in disbelief that what I’m seeing is real.  Add this together with the obsessive nagging I have to deal with from the time I punch in until the time I lock the doors and the pressure behind my eyes was almost unbearable. 

There was only one cure.  I gathered enough change from my change drawer and set off to Chick-fil-A.  While a Dr. Pepper and an order of waffle fries have the combined power of ten Tylenol, I had to settle for the less effective sweet tea and waffle fry combo.  (58 days strong into the Dr. Pepper fast…yahoo?!)  Surely this would ease the throbbing.  Plus I can sit alone and read my book and the crew that works there leaves me alone.  Solitude, peace and manna from heaven.  

However when I pulled into the parking lot a small framed aged woman approached me asking for 85 cents.  I’m not sure what 85 cents does for a person, maybe bus fare, but I lied to her and told her I might have some change when I left.  I actually left with $1.43 in change.

I’m trying to be Christ-like, in fact I’ve been trying for 21 out of my 29 years, and today I lied about 85 cents.  My selfishness refused a woman 85 cents.  Will I ever begin to resemble Jesus?  I could have easily skipped the sweet tea and enjoyed a cup of water instead.  Some days I feel that I have inched no closer to Christ than when I first begun this journey. 

As I sat in the booth thinking about this, no longer able to enjoy my afternoon retreat, the sound system in the restaurant began to play Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Chris Tomlin.  I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the incredible love of our God.  My enormous selfishness cannot compare to the immense love of God. 

 

Rich Mullins called it “the wreckless raging fury”.  Actually I feel the need to print the entire songs lyrics.  Kind of a meditative release for me.  Otherwise I’ll end up crying again, which caused a few uncomfortable glances from the Chick-fil-A crowd.  No one needs that.

 

The Love of God

By Rich Mullins

 

There's a wideness in God's mercy
I cannot find in my own
And He keeps His fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

Now I've seen no band of angels
But I've heard the soldiers' songs
Love hangs over them like a banner
Love within them leads them on
To the battle on the journey
And it's never gonna stop
Ever widening their mercies
And the fury of His love

Oh the love of God
And oh, the love of God
The love of God

Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I'm tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

 

Quote

I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
  - EB White

Inside the Mind...

Read this article today, courtesy of YS’ weekly Update e-mail. 

 

INSIDE THE MIND OF THE BOY DATING YOUR DAUGHTER

 

This article reports that boys on average dated girls to fulfilled a motivation for love and desire to form real relationships.  Very interesting article that suggest that sex is not at the forefront of every teenage boy.  Several conclusions could be reached because of this information.  Enjoy the read.

 

While I am recommending the article, what I recommend more though is the comments that follow.  Check out some of these gems (have you noticed I’ve been using the word “gems” a lot lately…don’t know why…don’t plan on stopping):

 

- “So I wasn’t weird of gay 50 years ago as a teenager when I wanted more from a relationship than just sex.  Now they tell me I was normal.”     – Posted by Rich

- “Though I have not read the study referred to above, I do not sense from the summary that the authors have interpreted their results with the greatest reliability.  Teenage boys would not be the first humans to ascribe nobler reasons for their desires.”     – Posted by Lewis

- “…By the way, from what I’ve seen of the way teenage girls dress, if all the boys DID think about was sex, it would be hard to blame them!”     - Posted by A Boy’s Mom

- “…I don’t care why a teenage boy is after my daughter, I still don’t trust him.  I remember being a teenager boy myself.  Buy hey, I still don’t trust my brother-in-law either.  I don’t care if they’re grandparents now, stay away from my sister!”     - Posted by Rick

-  “None of this is gonna to stop me from cleaning my shotgun when my daughter’s prom date comes to pick her up.  These punks have got one thing on their minds, and it ain’t relationships.”     – Posted by brian

- “This is only a surprise to women.  Any male knows that he was desperately in love at fifteen in a way he never would be again.     – Posted by Brad

- “Boys lie.  Nuff said.”     - Posted by Jessie

 

There are several more that are rather insightful. 

 

 

Fighting for Peace?

Tony Jones wrote yesterday on his experience at the National Pastors Convention in San Diego.  Specifically at the end of his post he wrote: 

“Then I led the conversation about politics.  It was pretty spicy as I recounted my journey out of Hauerwasianism, Andy took an Augustinian tack, and Scot vehemently defended the utopian dream that he calls Anabaptism. :-)  My bottom line: it just was not possible to sustain the Christian enclave that the Hauerwasian mafia prescribes when I was a pastor.  I ministered to cops and military personnel, and I just didn’t have the luxury to hold fast to my ideals in the midst of real ministry.” (highlighted section by me)

 

Stanley Hauerwas, just in case, is a theologian, ethicist and professor of law and Duke Divinity School.  Wikipedia describes Hauerwas in this way:

“In his career, he has attempted to emphasize the importance of virtue and character within the Church. He has been an outspoken Christian pacifist and has promoted nonviolence, having been mentored by Mennonite theologian John Howard Yoder. Hauerwas has also been an opponent of nationalism, particularly American patriotism, arguing that it has no place in the Church. His writings occasionally veer into the area of paleo-orthodoxy, though Hauerwas himself might dispute this claim. He has also been associated with the narrative theology movement.”

 

I really appreciate the statement by Tony Jones.  Attempting to live and preach and demonstrate peace yet struggling because of the culture we live in.  I might be reading into his comment a little too much, but these are the thoughts that were generated through it.

I know a lot of guys who idealize Hauerwas stance and I’m just not there.  Maybe some of it is my childhood, having grown up a military dependent.  Or maybe some of it is from having worked for the Air Force (in the chapel program and other areas).  Maybe it’s just a part of my worldview (which I can’t always explain), which believes that there is something in the nature of a boy/man that needs to accept and endure conflict, struggle and pain (probably needs more flushing out or better wording, but hopefully you know what I mean).

Nevertheless I think that while one man (and I use “man” in its generic gender understanding) endures injustice I have the responsibility to respond.  First via politics, second but peaceful aggression (which is how I see the actions of MLK and Gandhi, not just peaceful demonstrations), and third by force. 

I believe that peace is the luxury only of the ignorant and that peacemakers set aside their peace in order to bring about peace. 

This isn’t just an issue of war or physical conflict.  If I have deep resources that others are lacking in excess I believe that making peace would challenge me to humble myself and my resources in order that others could benefit.  For instance a mom going through a divorce e-mailed me today asking if I had a listing of babysitters telling me that she was in need of some “breaks” away from her two boys.  Me, being in excess of time and lounging around resources, in order to make peace offered to have her boys over for some serious Wii time.  Maybe visit the batting cages.  Or plug in a movie.  All stuff I would do anyways, so the sacrifice isn’t actually that great.

I definitely don’t think I have this all figured out, but if I were to give you a snapshot of where I am currently in my thinking of all this - the above would be pretty close. 

I am sure of this though, “He must increase, I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

 

Maybe you have some thoughts.  I would love to hear them. 

Link Recommendation

In response to Be Kind Rewind, Filmmaking Frenzy is posting homemade video tributes to some people’s favorite movies.  Check it out.

 

TSH

ABCNEWS.com: Girlfight Explodes On School Bus

You have received this ABCNEWS.com mail from:

tsharrisonis@gmail.com

(more e-mail testing, this time from ABCNews)

This is a rather complicated situation.

Who do you side with?

Do you think we are heading to a time where we will not have school buses or where every school bus will have a ride along police or security officer?

I know people talk about times being worse than yesteryear, but I'm having memories flashes of incidents on my bus rides in middle school.

Girlfight Explodes On School Bus
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4329813

Somewhere beyond the sky

I first learned of Larry Norman and his music when my mom brought home a copy A Thief in the Night.  Scared the hell out of me!  Even today when I walk into a home or room where I expect people and find no one, I begin to sweat. 

Later on I learned more of Larry’s music and his influence in the Christian music world thru a compilation CD.

Now I know that some will curse Larry Norman for his influence of Christian music, but I don’t think we can credit LN for Christian’s failing to achieve a greater success and creativity.  But I don’t want to get on a soap box.

Rather I read this final letter of Larry today and thought it was pretty amazing.  Someday, if Christ continues to tarry on, when I die I hope to have this kind of assurance and conviction. 

READ:

 

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I won’t be here much longer. I can’t do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

 

Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.

 

Larry

 

Stick It In The Fridge

I’ve bought into the Vitamin Water craze.  Not necessarily because I think there is something special in the concoction that will enhance my intellect or health.  Mainly because I’m still keeping up with my Dr. Pepper fast and some days I just don’t want any tea. 

So now I’m occasionally spending too much money on what I can get for free in my faucet.  I know a lot of people fall for the “tap water is bad” theory, but I don’t.  I figure I’ve been drinking it all my life and I’m doing fine. 

But back to the Vitamin Water.  I was reading the label a few days back and found it quite humorous.  Check it out.

“for best results, stick it in the fridge.”

 

Not refrigerate….nope just “stick in the fridge.”

 

Just so you know…I stuck it in the fridge.

 

Review and Excerpts

So I’ve been reading this delightful and insightful book. Have you read it?
So far I give it a rousing review.

Here’s some gems I read today:

• “I’m pouring over religious study books, desperately trying to get a handle on this topic [the Bible’s language laws] and every other. My reading list grows exponentially. Every time I read a book, it’ll mention three other books I feel I have to read. It’s like a particularly relentless series of pop-up ads. [I’ve been there, how about you?] pg. 29
• [While traveling to an Amish community] “The trip takes four hours. Incidentally, I’m proud to say that I had absolutely no urge to make a double entendre when we passed Intercourse, Pennsylvania, which I see as a moral victory.” pg. 31
• “The problem is, a lot of religion is about surrendering control and being open to radical change. I wish I could stow my secular worldview in a locker at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and retrieve it at the end of the year.” [Jacobs is confronted with the fact that living out the Bible for a year is going to bring about life changes in him that he may not have been prepared for. Certainly following Jesus has done that to me.]

I’ll keep you informed of any more brain busters.

TSH

Recommended Listen

I listened to another great sermon today.  Matt Proctor, President of Ozark Christian College, preached a sermon I’ve heard before still good and worth a listen by you too (I think he was a last minute fill-in for someone else and this was the “go-to” sermon…not bad).

 

Click HERE for the sermon originally entitled The Power of Behold.  (Click HERE for the recording I first heard back in 1999…I kinda prefer it more...but the sound quality is not as good.)

 

Some gems from the sermon, which is on Rev. chapter 1, John’s vision of Jesus.:

-          “…they (the seven churches of Revelation) have taken the Lion of Judah and they have declawed Him.  They have made him a little household pet, makes a great mascot doesn’t have to be Master.”

-          “When I got married, I wanted to take my wife Katie somewhere exotic.  So I took her to Kansas City.”  (a joke)

-          “This Jesus here, he blazes with supernova brilliance.  He speaks in Niagara thunder. This Jesus can take our planet and he can play kickball with it.  He can flick his finger and send our solar system spinning off into space.  This is the Jesus who in Genesis chapter 1, John chapter 1, takes a handful of words and he just speaks ten thousand galaxies into existence.  This is huge and holy.  This Christ is clothed in splendor and majesty and glory and authority and you don’t walk into his presence casually. And that’s why a lady named Annie Dillard said, “…if you realized how powerful is this Christ into who’s presence you come, you’d take off your silly hats… and you would come to church with crash helmets on.”

-          “Jesus is not just a smiling buddy who will just wink at our sin and let us do whatever we want.  He is a towering furious figure who will not be managed.  He is Lord.  And He is among our churches.  And He knows our sin.  And He is big enough to do something about it.

 

Make sure you listen to it all.  I can’t imagine that the number of friends that I have who read this, that one of you doesn’t desperately need to hear this today. 

 

And because Matt’s my friend and I think he’s an amazing preacher I encourage you to check out some of his other sermons HERE.

 

“Behold”

TSH

Test 1, 2 Test

I'm testing out blogging remotely from e-mail. 

Today I started reading this...

Outstanding!

 

Makes me want to read this even more.

 

Poop Lovin'

Mental Floss posted today 5 Things I Didn't Know About Poop.  I was eating some dinner while reading it, which was slightly unfortunate, but was too amazed over these facts to set down my chicken cordon bleu. 

 

For some reason I don't want to post them on my blog, so I'll let you link there yourself.

Answers (Part 3)

Continuing to answer Julie's questions.

49. books I wish I had read
so many, so very many, but here's one specifically...
I really want to read this book. You can read the first chapter on his website.

Accumulation (Part 2)

Wow!
I got a lot of responses of people begging me not relinquish my precious treasures.
Just so you know, some of that post was a little tongue in cheek...

However I do want to be the person who could easily walk away from what I hold as value. I love the story of Elisha as he chooses to follow Elijah, and how he slaughters his flock and leaves nothing behind.

I want to be that.

But be assured that the comics, and cards, and CDs (good and bad), and books are all safe and sound.

Oh one last thing...

In the ninth grade I refused to date a girl because she had longer arm hair than me. [Later I came to realize everyone has longer arm hair than me, I like the bald man of arm hair.] Seriously I wouldn't let a girl force me to get rid of "my precious-s-s-s".

Well...maybe...

Atonement

Here's a recent clip from ER.


What hope do you have to offer someone dying and seeking atonement. Do we know a real God who provides real answers?

How would you have answered this man?

Two Great Sermons

I listened to two amazing sermons today.
First Mark Moore's
The centrifugal Nature of Jesus' commands.
Mark is a professor at Ozark Christian College, and is a brilliant communicator and theologian. You should check out his website for further sermons or class lectures.
This sermon is about the call of missions and the centrality of Christ in your life.

Second Jon Weece's
Ready to Surrender
Jon is the senior minister at Southland Christian Church in Lexington, KY. Currently he is in a series entitle coming up to BREATHE. The previous week Mike Breaux (formerly of Southland and Willow Creek) taught on being broken. Jon continues with the idea of once we are broken we must surrender.

If you got a moment take a listen.

"Holy Space"

This one really made me laugh.

A Call To Singularity

A former professor of mine, Mark Moore (a dynamic speaker and thinker), posted this blog post back on Valentine's Day. If you're interested he occasionally post on his John 3:30 blog about the challenge of self-abnegation.
If you are single (living the "good life") this is worth the read.

And while I appreciate his calling for others to send a card or chocolates to a single for encouragement, I don't agree with that. Just annoying really.

BUT the rest is excellent. About the value of the single life. The chance for single-minded devotion is an opportunity for the high calling of life.

Question

I asked this question on Sunday.

What is the breakfast equivalent to chips and salsa?

You know when you go to a restaurant and they either have chips and salsa for you or you order some before the meal. But what do you do when it's still breakfast time.

Here are answers we came up with:
- french toast sticks and syrup
- some crepe-ish item with a jam (Deuce you'll have to fully describe it for everyone else again)
- biscuits

None of those fully replace the chip and salsa, but maybe you have a better idea. Please share...

A Man's Man (?)

Wasn't this a chapter in one of Max Lucado's early books?

Maybe not.
I'd hate to laugh at this guy online as it might get back to him and offend him. So I'll just chuckle.
FYI, I lived in Germany for 3 years and don't remember any of those signs.

Accumulation

In the midst of moving I've noticed that I have quite a load of junk, yet strangely I own nothing of significance or value. The Deuce and Chris also realized this as they helped me today.

Now given I had lived in the last apartment for the past three years and things tend to pile up over time, but... I don't even care for the things that I continue to maintain...um...almost.

Here's a short list of what consumes my closet, under my bed, currently on my floor and some still back at my old apartment:

• Boxes and boxes of baseball cards and collectibles.
• Boxes and boxes and boxes of Spider-Man comics, as well as a few less important superheroes.
• CD and CD cases. I haven't made the complete change to everything digital. I like having a physical copy on hand.
• DVD's. I even recently reduced what I have by a third and I still had multiple boxes to haul around.
• Books. My favorite possessions quite possible. The Deuce and Chris, I think, resent me now. I must confess that while the actual physical moving of these is tough I love the re-organizing of the books on the shelf. I get to decide how I'm going to arrange them again. By author. By subject. Will paperbacks mingle with hardcover? The possibilities are endless.
  

I'm not sure why I keep some of this stuff. None of it will accumulate value and pay for a future child's college tuition. Collectors and dealers have ruined the pure joy of most of it. I don't have the space for all of it. So why store it?
But I can't get rid of it.

My friend Rachel believes that when I someday marry, my wife will subtly get rid of things for me.
[To that future wife] "Why would you do this? Why do you already hate me?"

Actually I really want to be free from all these things. I'd love to be able to move on a whim again. To pick up one day, travel several states away or across an ocean without feeling like I've left something behind.

So if you would come by and pick up one of the above collections and promise to provide a good home for them, where they will be loved and treasured...then come on over...it's yours.

If you hurry I won't even have to unpack it.

Cool Stuff I Think I Need

This is just too cool for school. What's better than blogging. Blogging and play-doh together.









These are awesome. I'm not sure how they work, but if they do, so cool.











I really need this.







How fun to fall asleep too. I'd have to buy a CD of storm noises to go with it.













Only $15! What a steal.

I see a new extreme sport! A new way to kill myself...er...test my manhood.

Because everyone should see my poor handwriting.

Sometime my tv's just too small. This will do.

How cool are these? Finally I can take a decent photo at the sporting event. They get so mad, when you climb out onto the field. Geez.

Something needs to be done to liven up men's bathrooms. This is just too fun!

Quote

“Whoever is not satisfied with Christ alone, strives after something beyond absolute perfection.”
- John Calvin, Commentary on John

Unfortunately I've been this fool too many times in my life.
-TSH

Giddy

Seriously is it May 22 yet?

Journaling

Last night I taught our high school students.
It was kind of a two parter. First I taught Colossians 2 on bring "rooted and built up" in Christ and the freedom we have in Jesus. How because of Jesus' triumph on the cross we can live with power and authority for Christ. Not just a life of avoidance and restrictions, but a life in pursuit of being like Jesus.
Then for the past month we've been teaching through some spiritual disciplines, so I continued and taught on journalings. I love what journaling has done for my life.

How about you? Do you journal and what benefits have you seen because of it?

In my head...

I've had this line in my head for the past couple of days:

“I am full of earth and dirt and You”
- David Crowder Band, Wholly Yours

Happy Valentine's Day...

...ladies (also this is for you Deuce, in total bromance fashion)