Coming Alive

I like the idea of getting my masters.  You look better sitting down at a desk if there are one or two pieces of paper hanging on the wall behind you.  People are more likely to believe your advice.  Bad advice from a “Master” is preferred over good advice from, um…an “almost Master”.  That degree is an assurance…a guarantee that this person knows his stuff.

“I can take a crap in a box and mark it guaranteed, I have free time.  But for your sake, for your daughters sake; you might want to think of buying a quality product from me”
- Tommy Boy

Education is good, sure.  I’m pro-education.  I’m just not anti-IhavenodegreebutstillbelieveIcanfaithfullyserveGodandHischurch.

There are a lot of men and women like that.  In the landscape of current ministry trends these people, thankfully, actually can have an ADVANTAGE in ministry!

I digress.  This post is supposed to be about me.

I have 40 pages of papers to write in the next month on topics ranging from criticism of other guys sermons to learning theories.  Also, I just recently got inspired to get back to work writing essays in hopes to get something published.  So, tomorrow I have a decision to make:

Get the grade or get creative?

I have a pretty good idea which way I am going to go.

The last couple of days I have been looking over my old blogs on myspace.  They seem foriegn, unlike me.

The voice in my head as I read those blogs doesn’t match 
                     The voice in my head as I wrote them.

In the last couple of years my blog has taken a dynamic turn from the soulful, contemplative musings on spirituality to something formulaic, enterprising…

and unlike me.

I want my old voice back.  As I read those old blogs from some of the most devestating times in my life I find inspiration that is depressingly absent from the current trend of writing.  I’m becoming convinced the old me wouldn’t even like the new me so much.  At least not the me portrayed here. 

Maybe that’s the frustrating part.  I sit down with a buddy over coffee and its a different experience altogether. 

Coming soon:  The return of my voice

@ Seminary.  8 hour class on a Saturday.

Getting some really good thinking done though as I daydream through the lecture.

OK – lets get back into a rythm here.  2 1/2 faithful years of blogging and NOW I am hitting a wall.  I guess that’s what two kids will do to you.  There is a lot going on in my world right now, but honestly it’s the kind of stuff that needs to land on here. 

Anyway…

I met with a writer friend of mine today who has a book coming out in January.  Among other things he inspired me to get back to work on writing myself.  I don’t quite have enough content for a book, but I might be dropping some essays soon. 

My wife just saved my ipod.  After mowing the grass I noticed some far off dark clouds.  I quickly threw on my jogging shorts, grabbed my ipod and began to head out the door for my daily run.  Kristan, much wiser than I, suggested I take along a ziploc bag in case the rain started while I was gone.  She, not wanting to give me yet another excuse for an ipod touch, wanted a protection plan in place for my nano. 

Well, sure enough I get about a half-mile from the house and a few drops start coming.  I kept going despite Nature’s warning and 30 seconds later the bottom dropped out.  I couldn’t get that wet taking a bath.  Thankfully, although my ipod was submerged in a puddle in my pocket, it was safely sealed away in a little plastic baggie.

So, no ipod touch for me yet.

I came across a blog today by a guy I used to know.  He has a lot to say about Church.  As I read I was struck with an overwhelming feeling of…something close to pride…b/c I invested heavily in this dude years ago.  I was also amazed how different we are with what we value.

Someday I will link the blog so you can find it, but not today b/c it may seem like I am being critical.

This guy has an entire blog site dedicated to something that is so far down the list of priorities for me (and for The Patio) that it ranks somewhere in the vicinity of a blog dedicated to “Pew Cushins”; “Choir lofts”, or “Deacon Meetings”.  I guess it works for some…but it isn’t anywhere on my radar.  This guys blog landed somewhere in there.

And more power to him.  There are a lot of churches out there that can get a lot out of that kind of stuff.

I think the only issue I took with it was how much he believed his topic was of vital importance to every church body.  That irked me, but a lot of stuff irks me…even that word: “irk” – something’s not right about that word.

- I just titled this blog post “nice topic…that is completely irrelevant to me”
- Maybe I just experienced in this guys blog exactly what many people think every time they stumble into a church service

We will be heading home tomorrow morning.  Thank you everyone who has been following along the last day or so!  It has been fun keeping you updated (and has served as a great time-killer) for me!

Goodnight all.  My next post will be from the house.

Asher just turned one day old.  It has been an eventful 24 hours – full of visitors, pictures, and poops.  We are so thankful for all who stopped by and called…thank you!

The most fun this evening was Nolan’s last visit.  Most of the time our firstborn was content to cut the light switch on and off, but as he was preparing to leave mommy finished nursing and uncovered Asher.

- “Baby!” Nolan exclaimed and reached around his belly.

We took that opportunity to take some pics of Nolan interacting with his younger brother.  We got a couple of great shots of him kissing Asher on the forehead and stroking his head while he helped hold him.  It was really sweet….

and I was terrified the whole time.