I read a physician's description of the crucifixion and resurrection today...it left me in tears. That Christ would willingly go through that amount of pain, suffering, death...for me? for you? It's astounding.

"False teaching requires to be exposed; it is not enough to set the truth alongside it in the expectation that everyone will recognize which is which." - Premise of Jude

Is it really arrogant or idealistic of me to expect people to do things right and to obey simple rules? I specifically asked for something with my meal to be delivered and she said it would come for sure (they screwed it up last time, too) and of course they forgot again. Along with two other items I ordered. Julie can't get why I don't just "let it go" and I don't see why it's so wrong to call and let them know what they did wrong. Also, these people park in the "senior citizens" spot all the time and it just makes me so mad because they're young and selfish. How hard is it not to park there? Why is it so hard for me to just let it go? It just bothers me so much...

Doppler Radar. Gotta love it.

Warren Sapp sucks.

Sometimes you need to cry out for help if people aren't asking if you need it.

Uh oh, this does not look good for Homestar Runner.

While standing at the entrance of my church today I got to see 5 white tailed deer run across our front yard area, including a big ol' TEN point buck. What an awesome sight.

NPR can make you feel really smart...or really bored. An hour about ducting? eeks.

A couple things that really irritate me: People who drive Hummers. Why?? Also, when artists/labels put big stupid stickers on the front of new cds that will never come off. Don't do that! Put it on the shrink wrap.

http://www.townonline.com/braintree/arts_lifestyle/arts_lifestyle/bra_logan09252002.htm

I don't mean to offend any Catholics, but c'mon people! Seriously.

"A special Vatican committee found that Mother Teresa was involved in a miracle -- a key step in her beatification -- when a 30-year-old Calcutta woman was cured of a stomach tumour.

The reports said Monica Besra was healed after praying to Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 at the age of 87, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Vatican officials refused to comment on Tuesday."

So, M.T. gets credit for the miracle even though she's dead? She decided, "Hey, who needs Jesus? I'll pray to Mother Theresa!"

If Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charities order that ministered to the poor and sick of Calcutta, is beatified, involvement in a second miracle will be needed before she is elevated to saint.

If the pope approves the panel's findings, it will speed up Mother Teresa's beatification, making it likely she will be declared a saint sometime next year.

"She deserved the preferential, fast track to beatification."

Devotees of Mother Teresa began pressing the Vatican soon after her death to speed up the nun's sainthood cause, saying her holiness was clear to many around the world.

Whatever...Don't get me wrong. Mother Theresa was great. But I'm sure she would say herself, "What are you praying to ME for??"

I just listened to the unreleased song by Nirvana called "You Know You're Right." I wouldn't go as far as to say Kurt Cobain was a genius (like most) but this song was recorded in 1994 and sounds like the stuff that's popular now. Nirvana was always ahead of their time. It's not their greatest song by any means, but is definately decent. What could have been...

Where is the line between personal holiness and relational ministry? My pastor and I were talking about this today and really couldn't come to much of a conclusion. We are told to live holy lives and not to sin and yet we're also told to be "in the world but not of it." How exactly is that done? I think part of it hinges on the definition of "holy/holiness." Many take it to mean perfection or sinless. The Bible seems to indicate that it's actually closeness to God. Jesus was and is the only one God expects to be sinless, that's why He had to send Him to die in our stead. So when God instructs us to be holy, He's really saying to stay close to Him. He understands we'll fail Him, but we must remain "in Him and He will remain in us."

But then there's the whole "flee any APPEARANCE of evil" and what the heck does that mean? How do we do that and yet remain in the world and be "all things to all men"? Can I go to a bar and have a drink without "ruining my witness" or being sinful? Can I be holy in a place that's full of sin?

I suppose I'll justdo my best with what I know and God can fill me in later.

(I get to Heaven and God sits me down to show me some confusing situations in my life.)
God: "Ok, right here...wrong. You actually thought THAT was the right thing to do?"
Me: "Dude, I was SO sure it was ok."
God: "And right here, you were SO worried about this but you totally did the right thing."
Me: "Sweet. I figured it was but I wasn't totally sure."
God: "And THIS..."
Me: "I know, I know...I'm an idiot."

I hope with everything I have within me that God has a great sense of humor.

Quote of the day:

"When life throws you lemons, you .... make lemonade???? No, you take those lemons to God and let Him make lemonade or apple pie or a rainbow or whatever He wants, because He is God and He can do that."

Do you know how hard it is to explain the type/style of worship I like? I tried to explain it to my pastor the other day and just felt hopeless. He had that, "What are you trying to say?" look on his face. As did I. Earthy? Less produced? More rock-like? Cool voices? Meaningful/deep lyrics? I suppose those are all good things but they don't SPECIFICALLY describe what I like. You could apply those descriptions to tons of different bands/styles/etc. I guess I just have to play the songs I like and say, "THIS is what I like."

For some AWESOME praise and worship midi files go to: http://www.hopesb.com/resources/music_a.htm (I just about peed my pants)

I noticed something today that made me feel really good. There was this big porn shop in Delevan for a LONG time and it always bothered me. I vaguely remember praying that it would go away a long time ago. Well, sometime last year they got busted for illegal videos and advertising (they are right accross from the lake and they would put graphic leaflets on families cars who were boating!) but I thought it would be temporary. Well, as of today, all their signs are down and a new "Nate's Bait & Tackle Shop Coming Soon!" sign is up. :-) Praise God! I wonder how many people prayed that God would destroy that place? hmm...

I just saw this girl on some PBS show that made me sick. She was in the Holy Land and bought two "crowns of thorns." They were totally lame reproductions and she's prancing around with it on her head going, "Do you feel sorry for me?" "10 shekels for two crowns of thorns? Quite a deal!" Then she's watching the reinaction of Christ's march to the hill and she's just smirking and acting like it's stupid. Then she says, "This is the place where Christ was purported to be crucified, buried, and risen from the grave." All in that one spot? After getting really mad, I could only apologize to the Lord. What pain and sadness He must feel.

Once a month I'm updating this? Unacceptable.

Quite a trying day. First my patience when I wanted to run in and out of the Inspiration House to get some books. I'm the only person in the store and it took 5 minutes to ring me out. The lady didn't know what she was doing and was trying to TEACH another girl. Then I go to lunch and an old lady backs into my car. Now I have to deal with that. Then my pizza takes almost an hour and half to arrive, they made it with the wrong crust, and the delivery guy is mad at me when I ask if tip is included in the total. It was, but I still gave him a couple bucks because he made me feel bad. Oh, and my wife left for cheerleader camp this morning. What a day.

Qoute of the day: "Carrot Top must have a deal with the Devil. I don't know a single person who likes the dude and yet I see him on TV every day."

I was able to see the P.O.V. on PBS last night called "Promises." Even thinking about it now my eyes are tearing up...forget it, I'm crying. It was a documentary of 7 Isreali and Palestinian children who live 20 minutes apart and how extremely different their lives were. To hear them speak was incredibly powerful. I won't do it justice, so check your local listings. :-) One of the Palestinian boys didn't want to meet the Jewish boys because "they" had killed his friends brother, meaning the Isrealis. He was so smart and elequent even though he didn't speak much english. By the end, he had met the twin Jewish boys and they became very good friends that day. They had a sort of round table discussion at the end of the day and he just started crying because he said he knew they would go away and forget about the friendship because it was too difficult to maintain. I was balling by this time. To see the pain on his face, to hear him say how "torn" he is and know he really is torn...incredible. I loved that they spoke in their languages, too. It was almost all subtitled. So, I learned more about the conflict between Arabs and Jews/Isrealis and Palestinians...through the eyes of children.

Here's the website for it: http://www.pbs.org/pov/promises/index.html (I just found out it was nominated for an Academy Award!)

It's simply amazing how dumb people can be. Not to mention, rude. We had 2 people who made APPOINTMENTS to see our apartment today. The first one just decided not to come and not to call and let us know. The second one actually drove into our parking lot, looked right at me, and drove off. I know it was him because I called back and his mom/sister confirmed what his car looked like. WHY? Why in the world would you do that? I suppose I'm getting a little taste of what being a landlord entails. Yuck.

I totally rot at keeping this thing updated. I really apologize to anyone who even loads this page. It's not that I don't have things on my mind or that nothing happens to me. I just don't write it down. Well, again I'll attempt to update this more. Today was a pretty good day. I got tons of stuff done and organized. I love that. Also, there's this Australian band called the Paul Coleman Trio that I really dig. I just found them today. Apparently they're on tour with Third Day.

Well, I'll write more about our move soon.

OH, and I love Easy Mac. Julie differs with me, but it's just amazing. As I was grocery shopping this afternoon I also found out you can get an Easy Mac SPECIFIC bowl with the lines for how much water to add and stuff! Incredible.

It makes me literally sick to look at vintage toys on Ebay. Transformers, Star Wars toys, G.I. Joe toys, He-Man...I had them all. Do you understand how much money I'd have if I still had those toys? Where did they ALL go? THAT is the mystery. The sickening mystery...

What the heck? My wife's blogspot is getting to be much better than mine. Oh, well. Also, what's with Neleh on Survivor? She always says, "Oh my heck!" What a weirdo.

Hello. My name is Mr. Frustration. I like to bother Ryan.

Anyway, we're going to be moving in July to a little town called Salem, WI. I'm trying to figure out the cheapest phone service. I'm thinking Julie and I could both have a cell and then not have a line in our apartment. The only thing is that I don't know if there's sufficient coverage in our area. I don't even know how to find that out! I don't know if getting "shared minutes" would be better or if it would be better to just get 2 phones. So...I'm just sitting here, my brain swimming, getting more and more frustrated. YIPPEEEEE! hehe I'm sure it'll all work out just fine.

Here's to technology!! THPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.

One of my favorite Simpsons episodes is on:

Homer and Flanders are driving through the snow together and then the car hits something.
Flanders: I think we hit something!
Homer: I hope it was Flanders! What, I was just kidding! hehe, You're alright.

Still in car...
Homer: Mr. Plow, Mr. Plow, that name again is Mr. Plow!

Skinner: Gonna, wouna, shouna.

Skinner stuck in the snow: Get me out of here!
Bart: What? You want the pee bucket on you head?
Skinner: You're twisting my words!

Ralph: It's cold and hurty.

Well, junk. I changed my template but forgot to save the old one so I lost the whole sidebar thing. Oh, well. I'll fix it later. Maybe.

Took me a few minutes, but I finally found it out:

"One of the most frequently asked question about the Montreal Canadiens is where does the nickname "Habs" originate.

Legend wants it that the "H" on the Canadiens logo stands for "Habs" instead of Club de Hockey Canadien. The fable began in 1924 when US reporter Tex Rickard was falsely informed by someone that the "H" stood for "habitant", a french word that in those days was used to refer the farmers of Quebec.

Rickard was told that the french players on the team came from farms and were therefore, "habitants". At the time, the Canadiens were viewed upon as the french team of Montreal, whereas the Montreal Maroons were the english team.

While the nickname "Habs" resulted from this disinformation to Rickard, the "H" in the logo has always stood for Hockey, it is taken from the club's official name "Club de Hockey Canadien". The Canadiens are also referred to as "Les Tricolores" (the team with three colours), "Les Glorieux" (The Glorious Ones), and "La Sainte Flanelle" (The Holy Flannel)."

I know people who are very cynical about "praise and worship music." Well, phooey. There's nothing better than spending time with the Lord and then worshipping Him with the aid of some incredible music. "Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere." Can a statement BE any more true?? In the tradition of Pastor Jim Hayford, I would submit to you that there is not. For some reason, God is really comforting me today. You may ask, "What do you need to be comforted for, Ryan?" I would reply, "I honestly don't know. You just have that un-peaceful feeling sometimes, ya know?" Then you'd say, "Yeah." Then I'd say, "When are we gonna get a dang frisbee golf course around here??" Then you'd say, "I know! Seriously!" I digress...

Maybe there's one in Kenosha.

Well, you may remember I "critiqued" a book by Jim Mulholland called "Praying Like Jesus." I said the book was "terrible" and "dumb" among other things. I gave specific examples of why. Well, today I received an email from...Jim Mulholland stating that he had "stumbled upon" my critique. Great. He actually agreed with some of my statements and said he enjoyed "conversing with someone who thinks my book is dumb." hehe He did a better job explaining himself in our emails than he did in the book, I thought. I must say, it was quite unexpected! (for the original review see 2/4/02)

This is not a joke: There is a business in our area called "Death Electric." I see the van all the time. Skull and cross bones and everything. Why would you name your electric company DEATH? Search me...

What a dreary, yucky day. Gray and rainy. Plus, I got to sleep really late because "The Season" on ESPN got it's hooks into me. So this whole day I've been kind of groggy and my concentration was horrible. Ever have those daze? That was intentional. A daze day. Maybe I'm still in it because this is barely comprehensible...

I suppose I oughta update this puppy. What a weekend!! Friday night we "performed" our 7 monologues for our Good Friday Service at church. I was Zacchaeus and it went off without a hitch. Except I left out a few of my lines. Whatever. I actually DID go very well and it was quite impacting. Then Julie and I got up at 5am to go "guard the tomb" from 6-10am. Our church erects a huge tomb representing the one Jesus was placed in. Then from 6pm Friday until 7am Sunday, people from the congregation guard the tomb in 4 hour shifts. Pretty corny, but it's tradition and everyone around here knows we do it. So Julie and I put on our guard uniforms (hilarious) and stood at attention for our four hours. We played 20 questions, cooked some dogs on the fire, counted how many passers-by actually looked at us...we really had a fun time together! It was fun to really be a part of the church and get involved. Then at noon we got together with some of the youth to prepare Easter breakfast...

Saturday night I watched the games and we rested a bit because Sunday morning required an early rise again! We got up at 5am and got to church about 6am to get the Easter Breakfast ready. The youth have traditionally served breakfast after the sunrise service and this year was no different! About 6 of us got there early to cut up fruit, cook our egg casseroles, make and cook pigs in a blanket, etc. Then we ate after the service and it went really well! Everyone who was there seemed to appreciate it and some even donated financially. booyah. That was really nice. Then we cleaned and for Sunday School we played a hilarious game for an hour. It really was a GREAT bonding time for us!

Julie's parents then came for the 10:30am service which went great. The sermon was really good and the music was...Eastery. hehe After service, Mr. and Mrs. Grahmann treated us to Houlihan's and I proceeded to leave my leftovers there. I was SO sad...Dublin Pot Roast...I MISS YOU!!! Then we had a nice visit with them until the early afternoon...and zonked out.

On MONDAY we got to go to our B&B that we spent our honeymoon at. It was just as we remembered it, but ths time is was...dare I say...better? NO pressure whatsoever was great. We got to just relax, watch the National Championship game...among other things. It was so excellent. So on our way home we decided to stop to see if my dad was around. Unfortunately, we missed him. So, I asked Julie if she wanted to go see "Ice Age." It was spontaneous and she loved that. We got there RIGHT on time and the movie was great! Funny and yet, not JUST funny. The story was cute and had Julie crying once even. hehe We left the movie and went to Noodles for a late lunch before we went home, too. One of our favorite places.

So, it's Wednesday now and I'm still busy. Getting ready for youth group. But, the last 5 busy days have been wonderful. Enjoying my wife and ministry...the way it ought to be.

AIM screen names that are taken already:
chester mcdougal
chester mcdoogal
henry mcdougal
henry mcdoogal
i have one arm

Some else has "i have one arm"??? Who is this person?? Whoever has these names are funny. Unless they're their actual names. lol Then, they're inherently funny folks.

Anywho...

I've been living in the past the last two days. I found these old tapes and it's been AWESOME. First, I found my audition tape from 1997 when I went to Brown College (as it is now called) for radio and tv broadcasting. Funny thing is...it's really good! It made me miss being on the radio. Although, the school part was more fun than the job part. hehe WRDH, pretty creative, eh? Then I found a tape I made of Yanni: Live at the Acropolis! I love that cd. I know, it's Yanni...so what? Get over yourself and be swept away by Yanni's heavenly melodies! Now, on the B side of this tape is a collection of all the best big band jazz stuff I made to give to my house stay people when I went to Europe...in 1995!! It's all good jazz, too. All of this music just floods your memories, ya know? You remember where you were, the people you were with, etc. It's been fun.

I must admit, I've become addicted to the song "I See Right Through You" by DJ Encore. Yes, DJ Encore. I know. I just can't get it out of my head and I can't stop moving to the dadgummed beat! Forgive me, Father, for I know not what I do. I, also, love, commas,,,

Some of you are no doubt saying to yourselves, "Wow, that's a list of great movies. I wonder what it means?" It's a list of great movies. My favorites, in fact. In no particular order, of course.

God is always good. No ands ifs or buts about it. Sometimes, it's very hard to remember that.

Life Is Beautiful
American Beauty
Memento
Almost Famous
The Insider
The Last of the Mohicans
Willow
12 Monkeys
Traffic
Radioflyer
Goonies
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Wit
The Truman Show
Wide Awake
Saving Grace
Star Wars (all)
Indiana Jones (all)
The Shawshank Redemption

Gross, gross, gross. Bad theology is one thing, but teaching LITTLE KIDS absurd theology makes me sick. I was just watching a show on a "christian station" and the father actually told the kids, "That's why we should pray to our angels. We should pray to angels so they'll be our friends." Are you kidding? Then a kid asked if his dog will go to Heaven and the father explained the Trinity for 5 minutes. No answer whatsoever. If a Catholic FATHER has theology like that and is teaching little kids to "pray to their angels"...I'm at a loss for words.

Hair is SO weird. I'm not even on drugs. Just look at your hair sometime and think about it. It's just...weird.

I saw Delirious the other night in Wheaton, Il. I forgot how bad that venue is, though. They're super uptight and make you basically sit in your chair the whole time. How rowdy is it gonna get?? Martin (lead singer) yells, "Do they let you dahnce here?" and everyone screams back, "NOOOO!" How embarrassing. In spite of the venue, Delirious rocked it. Then I got rocked with a blizzard on the way home. "Am I on the road or in a field?" Actual quote on my drive home. Worst conditions I've driven in but I got home fine. I'll do anything for my Delirious. hehe

Again, I'll give my advice. If you don't speak english, you shouldn't run the drive-thru or answer the phones. I simply would like to order lunch and pick it up, but if the person on the other end doesn't speak a lick of English, that will inevitably hurt your business. I'm really just trying to look out for them.

I almost feel bad for Belarus. I have the hockey game on and it's currently USA 9 - Bel 1. USA has scored 6 goals in the last 10 minutes. Sometimes, you're team can do so well that you start to feel bad for the other one, ya know? "Aww, good try!" you say. Try shmy...Belarus stinks!

Oh, and another Wisconsin speedskater (Chris Witty) won gold. Must be the cheese. Wonder if I went to school with her...? hehe

I just finished "On Writing..." by Stephen King. I've always loved to write and when I actually do I'm usually complimented on it. King really encouraged me to write and yet, I also understand (from him) that not everybody is a good writer. Consequently, I've created a secret blog to do my writing "behind closed doors." I love the idea. It will help me explore my talents and sharpen what I have while organizing my "toolbox" of writing tools. Vocabulary, grammar, etc. Maybe I'll be able to write stories that can impact people. Certainly hope so.

Hey, Al.

A big problem I have is with people who claim to "discuss" things and really have no intention of doing so. Sure, they seem to ask questions but really they're only interested in making you believe what they believe, end of story. They're right, you're wrong...why bother? I'd almost rather talk to a wall. It has just as much understanding. Any "conversation" where every comment you make is brushed off is frustrating. Oh, well...I choose to open my mouth, or type my thoughts, as it were.

Apparently I'm name dropping too much. Apparently I know everybody in the Olympics and went to school with all of them. So sorry.

How exciting!! Casey FitzRandolph just won the GOLD in the 500m speedskating event. I went to high school with him! Second Olympic gold medalist I went to school with (Neil Walker - Gold in swimming) which is pretty neat for a little school in Verona, WI. Rock on.

"Why do I bother?" There are a few situations in my life right now that garner this question. The answer in most of them is quite simply, "I shouldn't."

This is getting to be freaky. First, I cut myself on a sponge. Just moments ago, I cut myself...opening a bag of lettuce. Big ol' gash in my finger. I have a problem.

Another person in our church is dying today. Last week it was George and today it's Richard. Both very old. I didn't personally know either of them. It's strange. They're both "members of our church" and yet I've never seen them. Perhaps I'm just a naive youngster.

The low of losing something is only equaled by the high of finding that lost thing. If I feel this passionately about a USB adapter, how must God feel about me as His son? Whoa.

Every once in a while I'm reminded that I only have one arm. Nobody ever tells me with their mouth, but the gawkers make me immediately aware that I'm different. Usually it doesn't bother me. But, sometimes...sometimes it does. I don't get mad at them, just self-concious. I don't try to hide it, I just notice it again. It's the strangest thing to see myself on video. I have one arm. That's weird. Seeing myself clap and other things I do that I just do...it's eye opening. Just thoughts from a one armer.

Some people are annoyingly perfect for each other.

Prime example from this dumb book:

Page 10 claims: (Jabez) prayed, "Bless me, and enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so I will be free from pain." What should we assume about a man who uses the words "me" and "my" four times in two sentences? - He uses this as an example of a "selfish prayer" based on his use of those 2 words.

The very next page he uses Psalm 139:23-24 as an "unselfish prayer" example. "Search ME, O God, and know MY heart; test ME and know MY anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in ME, and lead ME in the way everlasting." - How about 6 times in 2 sentences? According to your last example, this is even MORE selfish.

Anybody who bases the selfishness/self-centerdness of a sentence on the use of the words me/my/I loses all credibility with me.

I'm very dissapointed. I got a book called "Praying Like Jesus" by James Mulholland and it's terrible. First of all, it's a direct attack on "Jabez..." which I think is a terrible premice to decide to write a book on. Secondly, it was endorsed by Brennan Manning and Eugene Peterson. Did they even read it?? The guy contradicts himself every other page. Seriously, every other page. I thought it would get better and more than half way through, it simply has not. His examples of "right and wrong prayers" are terrible and contradict THEMSELVES. I really had high hopes for this book. Poop. Oh, well...

So here's this new blog template. Decent. I am SO html illiterate. I wish I wasn't. I want to be able to do even basic things on a site. I suppose just taking the time to do it would be good. We'll see... CHECK OUT MY WIFE'S SITE. :-)

I've noticed that the term "hero" has started to be thrown around again. Heroes of comedy on Comedy Central. Someone doing stand-up can be considered a hero? I've heard it all over sports again the last few weeks. I guess I don't really care, just noticed it.

I managed to cut myself with a sponge today. I was taking my morning shower and using that little puff ball thingy when all of a sudden, "OUCH!" I look down and lo and behold I'm bleeding from where I was scrubbing myself. A sponge made me bleed. What does that say about me? What does that say about the sponge? What does that say about society? Does God care that I was cut by a sponge? What about...

Before I forget: The Packers sucked it up on Sunday. The defense played very well, but the offense forgot to wake up. Favre had 6 ints. There were 2 fumbles. 8 total turnovers. I honestly don't remember EVER seeing a game with that many turnovers. Oh, well...they had a good season and will be back next year. They MUST aqcuire a veteran receiver. As much as I can't stand him, Cris Carter is looking good about now. Trade Dorsey to the Vikes for Carter. hehe Anyway, they'll be back to beat the Bears a few more times next year... :-)

Isn't it cool how shocking Jesus is? He was prophisied continually but the Jews kept conjuring up their own ideas of what he'd be like. I was just imagining when Jesus read the passage from Isaiah in the temple, rolled up the scroll and gave it back, then sat down and said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." "Uh...yeah. And? Help us out here, JC. You certainly don't mean YOU are the fulfillment, right?" The Suffering Servant, how utterly opposite of what they had imagined. Strangely, we're shocked even today to think about Him that way. We know it's true (many do, at least) but it...doesn't fit the way we want it to. I can only say, Thank You, Jesus, for suffering for me.

I'm looking forward to the new David Crowder Band cd, too. Found a bunch of live stuff online and it's super sweet.

Tim Hughes' new worshipcd is awesome. Very Matt Redman-ish. My hands raised themselves while I listened and was drawn to worship. That was nice. :-)

Wow. I just had some slimy advertising people call the church and call me an a**hole for not wanting their services. The guy was talking so fast I couldn't even understand him and when I asked, "What is this even for?" he just said, "advertising." I asked if we ordered this or signed up for it and he said no, so I said we didn't want it. His next sarcastic line was, "Have a blessed day, a**hole." He KNOWS he's talking to a youth pastor at a church and still felt good saying that. Interesting. If I knew who the heck it was, I'd call the BBB on them. Oh, well...

"Am I really that pre-diddly-ictable?" - Ned "Steady Neddy" Flanders

Wow, a month to the day since I last wrote. A busy month, too. Alex (Julie's brother) got married on Dec. 29th and it went really well. I was an usher and (no offense) I got the feeling that ushers are completely useless. It's rare that people even understand what an usher does. Anywho...the wedding was beautiful and I got to emcee the reception. Alex and Erin will be an awesome couple.

Then we went to Florida (Disney World specifically) the first week of Jan. What a blast! The whole clan was there (9 of us!) and we hit all four parks at DWorld. Epcot was my favorite, followed by Animal Kingdom, Magic Kindom, and MGM. It was my first time there so I was like a little kid. :-) When we were at the Animal Kingdom, it POURED all day. Nothing more funny than THOUSANDS of people wearing the same poncho. hehehe We managed to have a spectacular day despite the weather. In fact, the weather was terrible nearly the whole time. Incredibly cold for Florida (30 over night, 45-50 during the day) and it showed on the news. I'll never forget, "Experts say blankets keep you warm. Use them and keep your heat down...you'll thank yourself at the end of the month when your bill comes!" Hilarious. The airports were fine and our flights were great. Security didn't seem a whole lot tighter to me, but that's just me, I guess.

So we've been back for a week and it's been...interesting. At first it was really hard because we had just been with our awesome fam for a week and now we were back in our "regular lives." But then I had a though: You can't enjoy a vacation if you don't have that "regular life." Why would you appreciate a break if your whole life is one big break? So, we're back in the swing of things and it's going fine. Especially since the Packers whooped the 49ers. Sweet relief. Rams next week. I hope they can win. If not, play a respectable game. We'll see, I guess.

I'm reading a new book called, "The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry" by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. Holy junk...long enough title!? I just realized that. The point is, it's a great book. If you're in youth ministry, get it. I'm through chapter 2 and am already changed. Nothing revolutionary, really, just right. Moving from program oriented ministry to relational/incarnational ministry. Very old concept (Paul and Timothy) and yet it's been lost in our fireworks and crying ideals. Really "tending the souls" of young people. So, I'm being revitalized in my ministry and my personal life. That's exciting.

Well...there's an update. Enjoy and I'll continue to write more frequently. :-)