Coming Alive

I kinda forgot to post for a while.  Maybe memory loss came with my most recent birthday.  Oh well.  Back now and ready to punch out some fun blogs.  A few things coming in the next week or so…

1.  Next Friday is the POKER TOURNAMENT.  Whether it is 50 people or 15  I plan on blogging little updates throughout the night.  I figure anyone who cares enough to READ those blogs would probably be playing at the tournament, but it will give me something fun to do when I get put out early!

2.  My Bucket List.  Since 30 is one short year away I am putting together my bucket list to accomplish in the next 363.  Currently its in progress, so if you have any suggestions let me know.

3.  Craption Blog – Now, I will need your help with this one.  The idea is stolen, but it should work anyway…I will post a picture up on my blog and you, the readers, submit a caption to fit with the picture.  The funniest one wins. 

Goodnight.

I only have 11 more days of being 28.  For my 29th birthday I thought it would be appropriate to put together a bucket list.  I know that it’s supposed to a “before you die” list of goals, but when death is only a year away I will either be too sick/old to scale Mt Everest or I won’t see it coming at all, sadly leaving, “Sing ‘Happy Together’ by The Turtle’s in some random Karaoke bar” undone.

So, as cliche as it may be, I will come up with a list of things to do before I die…er, turn 30 and call it a bucket list to be cute

(The cutest bucket list in the world)

If you have any suggestions feel free to post them in the comments section or email me.  

On a side note, Kevin Minix is preaching next Sunday at The Patio.  He has a wonderful heart for God, and I love being able to take a break from preparing a message.  Also, I noticed that every time he speaks our attendance goes up so I made him a regular (once every 2 months).

It was an especially difficult hour for Nolan.  Ever since we got back from Chilo’s he had been screaming.  First we denied him access to Lindsays room (he really likes to play with her computer…don’t tell Lindsay!), then we stopped pulling him around the house on the sled when our arms got tired.  Finally, when it was just the three of us in the house Kristan and I laid down on the couch to relax. 

After chatting for a bit Kristan rightfully observed it that Nolan had suddenly become quiet…

A little too quiet.

I looked up off the couch and saw the front door wide open.  We took off out the door and saw Sawyer standing on the porch – proudly boasting of his decision to not run away. 

(“I can’t find sheets like this on the street!”)

Nolan, on the other hand, was no where to be found.  Kristan grabbed Sawyer and tossed him back inside.  I went running down around the house.  Finally (27 seconds later) I found Nolan hiding behind the trash can.  He was making a break for his slide in the backyard.  Actually, he probably had no idea where he was going…which is the mark of a TRUE adventurer!

Atlanta Braves
Losing
Tomatos
The Beach
People who determine whats right by if it feels right, or if they have a “peace about it”
Pools open only Memorial Day through Labor Day
Unflavored Water
Being told I can’t do something
The grudges that I can’t seem to get over
Talking about making money
Football video games
Watching soccer or tennis
Hot days
People with commitment issues
Seeing Nolan cry
Seeing Rick cry
Church/leadership conferences (I might catch some flack for that one)

When people say “not hate, but strongly dislike” – Yea, I STRONGLY hate that.

Our community dinners are going nuts!  Recently we have been having a whole lot of new neighbors.  Tonight we had over 20 people…I didn’t get any food (except for several cookies and a brownie).  We ran out of forks too.

I’m loving it!  God is doing some really great stuff in Reedy Fork and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

A random list of things in this world I love.  One for every day of this month (It is the month of love after all).  In no particular order…

1.  Books – especially those about Jewish history and philosophy
2.  Halo 3

3.  Strawberry Creme Frappucino (Thanks Jason for turning me on to this)
4.  Nolan laughing

5.  Houston sports teams

6.  Bare feet…mine specifically
7.  The Ben Folds song, “You don’t know me”
8.  My neighborhood
9.  Cold weather walks
10.  Snow – I would seriously punch a nice person in the face each year if it earned us a foot of snow each time
11.  Jeremiah 20:9
12.  Jesus touching the leper
13.  Tacos al Pastor

14.  Anything Kristan says when she is asleep

15.  Fantasy Football (I have finished 2nd place 3 out of the 4 years I have played…I am the Buffalo of my league)
16.  12 Angry Men – I saw it yesterday…awesome movie that I bet was really edgy for the time

17.  Braveheart – I have watched this movie once a year since high school.  It’s about time actually.  Anyone interested?

18.  Derek Webb
19.  While I’m on music – Damien Rice, Lionel Ritchie, some Kanye West, and the song, “Color Show” by The Avett Bro’s (told you this was random)
20.  Kristan’s face when I suprise her by cleaning the house
21.  Lindsay’s face when I scare the mess out of her – last week she thought she was alone in the house when in fact I had snuck in.  She walked into the kitchen where I was hiding on all fours.  When I jumped out and yelled “booga booga booga” she freaked out!
22.  Breakfast with Tadd, Josh, or Chris – take this as a invitation guys!
23.  Being a part of the best church community I have ever experienced.
24.  Texas.
25.  The Pyramids in Mexico

26.  Playing soccer in Mexico
27.  Baths…it’s kinda girly I know, but they are really relaxing
28.  Spiritual conversations

29. (only applicable in leap year)  Things I like every four years:  Camping, Skiing, Bowling (although I promise I would beat you at it), getting on myspace, writing a “Things I love” blog (the last one is on my myspace blog), eating Italian food, and Seminary.

That was fun.

I have to recognize The Patio’s new worship leader, Chris Garren.  He has been taking the reigns of our music for 2 months now and more than anything I am amazed by the potential that he has.  If God lets me be a part of seeing Chris grow into the worship leader he can be then I will consider myself truly blessed.  This guy is the real deal – talented, humble and committed; everything you want in a guy working with you.

And doesn’t that picture make you smile?

On facebook right now there is a note that everyone keeps tagging me on, “25 random things about me”. One random thing about a good friend is that “I recently discovered that I recieve love through physical touch…so keep that in mind ” (Smiley face added for emphasis)

Her random thing alluded to the popular book, “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman. Great book by a great author (Although “Sacred Parenting” is far and away is best book – chapter 10 is literally the best insight I have ever gotten from any book not the bible…no exaggeration). In “Love Languages” Chapman asserts that we communicate and recieve love in one of 5 ways:
1. Physical Touch – hugs, etc
2. Gifts – like flowers
3. Words – “You rock blog reader…yea, I am talking to you” If you feel loved right now this one applies to you.
4. Quality Time – Not necessarily doing anything, just being together
5. Acts of Service – Cassi cleaning our kitchen last night

Anyway the idea is that you give and recieve love through one (or a combination) of these “languages”. Kristan, for example, gives and recieves love by serving. Doing the dishes = 13 1/2 “I love you’s” (That formula has been tested over almost 6 years of marriage and is reliable)

Anyway, I thought for fun I would rank the love languages how I think they apply to God -
5. Physical Touch - In the OT God is really resistant to anyone even looking at Him, much less touching Him. All for the best since our hands would probably melt off if we did. Also, Thomas isn’t exactly exalted for having to touch the resurrected Jesus.
4. Words of Affirmation – The case could be made to make this higher, but I think that God’s desire for us to sing his praises is more about us than Him. He seems pretty secure in His Godness.
3. Gifts – Not the OT sacrifices, but Mary pouring out the expensive perfume on Jesus feet. Jesus seemed really moved by that
2. Service – “If you love me, you will keep my commands”. That’s where Kristan got that from
1. Quality Time – Heschel describes Judaism as “a religion of time rather than space”. No question about it, the biggest problem in the church today is the absence of time spent with God. Over and over in Scripture holy men were described as those who “walked with God”. God rejects offerings and even acts of service (from the sinful), but He never rejects the one who actively seeks to draw nearer to Him.

What a shame that 84.6%* of the American church gives no thought to the Sabbath (a day set apart for being with God) beyond going to church for an hour.

*OK, I made this statistic up (unlike the formula with Kristan), but only because the true statistic would probably be even more saddening.