I cannot explain the immense joy I shared in watching Drogba (click the link...you'll probably get a chuckle) walk off the field. (I'll admit that it was not as joyous as my celebration when that final save was made, but I digress.) All for a slap. I mean, come on! My kids can hit harder than that. If you're going to swing at someone, you might as well make it worth it. Wouldn't you agree?
Anyways, the glorious Double has been won. Manchester United are the Kings of England and of Europe. I will sleep well tonight.
I only have a few minutes. I will therefore give them to you. Please don't abuse this privilege. Instead, please find a TV to watch the Champion's League Final tomorrow. Yes, I'll be camped out in front of my TV for a couple hours. No, I won't be in the office. Yes, I am only working 2 days this week. This is day #1 and it's not even half over. After day #2 I get 5 days off. In those 5 days I hope to see Indiana Jones twice. (Remember, that I'm a nerd like that.) Will you watch the soccer game or Indy this week?
Both kids are at school for the entire day. This is a first for us as parents. It means we get to spend the entire day together. I'm not sure what we're supposed to do. Maybe I can get Erin to buy me a scooter. It's sunny out and it would be fun to drive a scooter. And I'd be cool because I'd be saving life on planet earth. That means I'd be saving YOUR life. Would you appreciate that?
Ok, this is just plain funny. If you don't know who Miley Cyrus is you may have to head over to iTunes and listen to a piece of her song "See You Again" to fully appreciate this next video by Mr. David Crowder.
Every once in a while I hit these moments where my body starts shouting at me. And most of the time I tell it to shut up and leave me alone. It rarely listens to me.
I'm slowly learning that sometimes my body actually wants to communicate something important to me. It's latest message? Slow down.
So, slow shall I go. Or at least I will try to.
I have a weekend (that may actually consist of sunshine every day!) that has one student ministry event. I get Monday off. I have no teaching prep to do this weekend. So I shall try to slow down for a few days.
I only hope that the movie store has some decent movies left by the time I get there tomorrow. Do you have any recommendations of things I should see?
Last week I watched The Darjeeling Limited and Cloverfield. I didn't make it through the first movie, it was just too slow for me. Cloverfield was a rip off. It was only just over an hour long. That alone makes me angry so I won't even get started on the rest of the movie. Seriously, did anyone actually enjoy the movie?
This is one of those moments that may cause you to lose respect for me.
I enjoy The X-Files. But mostly before they went all weird and always talked about the alien conspiracies. I liked the stand alone episodes that had their own story line. Apparently this second movie is supposed to be more like that.
Also, when I was at Internship Seminars a couple of weeks ago I noticed some artwork on the wall that leads me to believe that someone thinks Jesus was an alien.
I'm sorry the photo is a little fuzzy, but it's my crappy phone. I'm just happy I could get the picture off my phone to begin with.
Incidentally, I'm accepting donations so I can buy a new phone. Contact me, if you're interested in helping out! The second photo should show the "alien" a little more. Can you see the bug eyes?
This thing took up the entire wall and we had to stare at it all week long.
I made it through the teaching time on Sunday. I've basically recovered from the "preaching hangover".
If you haven't experienced one before, it is much akin to attending a middle school lock-in where you spend 9 straight hours playing dodgeball while trying to stay conscious enough to ensure that the building does not get lit on fire by teenage pyromaniacs.
Not that I really know what THAT feels like.
I wrestled with the message right up until almost the last minute (which is odd because I've been working on this message for almost 4 weeks). I found myself doing a MAJOR re-edit on Saturday night because something just wasn't clicking right. And it did seem to finally come together
I tossed out the idea of "doing" something at the last minute. I had grand plans of sending everyone out early to bring back an item for the Food Bank. But alas, it was Mother's Day and I caved into "not doing".
As a visual I placed boxes on the stage, and had volunteers come up and tear off a portion of a box before they sat back down. Only 7 or 8 people came forward, so that still left us with a lot of cardboard. Then I asked people what would happen in every single person in the room would come forward and tear off a portion.
I was trying to draw a parallel to what would happen if we all started working together to right some of the wrongs we see in the world.
And to change things up a bit I intentionally taught from a chair.
(Side note: I'm not a friend of the "pulpit". I don't feel comfortable with it. I feel it puts a barrier between me and the people I am speaking with. So I brought a raised chair and preached from that. Also, our pulpit isn't as massive as the one pictured. I thought you should know this so you don't think we're weird.)
Lastly, some of my students and leaders spoke about Compassion Canada and why they have personally chosen to sponsor children. They hit it out of the park! And I am SO proud of every one of them.
As a result, a pile of kids were sponsored after the service.
I'm rambling...but this let's me evaluate and process.
I'm bored. I've been updating my current blog list and now I'm rethinking my own. I'm not going to ditch it. That would be too extreme. But it definitely needs to be hit with a tazer or something.
I'm still a little cranky that I missed the entire first half due to the Score and their ridiculous inability to properly list the start times of games. Seriously, they shouldn't be allowed to show games anymore.
But United are champions again! Next stop: Moscow!
I'm teaching in church this Sunday about "social justice". Here's a quick overview of what I'm trying to incorporate into the teaching portion of the morning. I'd like to know if any of you have any other suggestions.
Teaching the congregation Charlie Hall's "Micah 6:8"
Viewing a short video on what sponsoring a child is all about.
Interviewing students & adult leaders who are sponsoring children through Compassion Canada (this is a student led initiative that we're trying to get the rest of the church to buy into)
The big idea of the teaching time: "Righting the wrongs..." (using Micah 6:1-8 as the primary teaching text). The goal is to get people to see how many opportunities there are for them to get involved in areas of showing kindness and justice and inspiring them to get involved somewhere so that they can start righting the wrongs.
Visual: Most of the students (as well as myself if I muster up enough courage) will be wearing matching t-shirts designed by Rosa Loves, a company that designs & sells shirts to raise money for people who are in need.
Practical Step: (a work in progress)
I'd like to ask people to do something at the end of the service. Something that would require them to think, ponder and engage. Something that would make a difference, but something that wouldn't come across as gimmicky. Make sense?
I called the local Food Bank and asked for their top 3 needs. I could present that to them and ask them to bring one of the items in next week. But I'm still working through how this would happen from a logistics standpoint.
Death Cab for Cutie is playing in the background. I'm avoiding the books on the coffee table because whenever I read them I start thinking about work, which then defeats the purpose of having a day off.
So I have opted for some time on the computer.
I was introduced to the Sundance Film Festival's Global Shorts Project (ht Ian). If you have a few minutes to kill go watch a few of the videos. I have particularly enjoyed "Learning to Skateboard" by Jody Hill.
"I have three words for you. Tic. Tac. Toe"
I would now like to buy a few of these for our Youth Centre. We've found that kids would rather sit on the floor instead of in the "church chairs". You know what "church chairs" are right? Scrap pieces of metal and cardboard covered in outdated materials.
And lastly, how do you feel about Jackie Chan? Check this video out. (ht Marko)
Last night Starfield played a concert at a local church. And at some point early on in their set the floor gave way (online article here). I spent most of last night with Erin and Ryan trying to track down any of our students who were there. As it turns out those that were a little shaken up but ok.
Apparently there were a few serious injuries while most of the other injuries were cuts, scrapes and fractures.
Unreal...when I got the phone call to inform me what had happened I was speechless. My students had been bugging me to take them to the concert. Wow...
Anyway, there's probably a lot of people you could join us in praying for as they sort through all of this.
Incidentally, Ryan had just stopped by to say goodbye as he is heading back home to Oshawa today. Quite a way to spend your last night as an intern, eh?
1. to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course
2. to wander aimlessly; ramble
I have almost 45 minutes to kill before I can settle in for a quiet afternoon with my TV and my latest $0.88 rental (Bryce, ...you'd be proud!). While I may sound like a hermit, I think I deserve the right to shut my mind off for a few hours. But until then, I shall allow you a brief look into the chaos that is my mind.
Hockey Picks as I see them Habs in 6 Red Wings in 6 Rangers in 7 Stars in 7
Reading Contest Update I've finished The Big Idea (I should really post about this one), 2 James Patterson books (whose titles I am currently too lazy remember), and Ryan Gigg's autobiography (great footballer... terrible writer). I believe that puts me in the lead against my wife.
Frustrations I have a couple.
My BBQ Brad and Ben did it, so I should too as I am a follower today. So here's a few people I would love to have over for a BBQ.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Dave Matthews (attendance of the "band" is optional, but they are welcome)
Don Cherry (Ron MacLean's attendance is also optional)
(I'll ponder this one a bit more, but I think it should be someone cool)
(I'll also ponder this one, but I think it should be someone cool that is female)
Guitars I'm considering purchasing one of these (it's used). I'm also considering selling my Ibanez acoustic (any takers?), and I'm selling my Squier Bullet to one of my middle schoolers. And I finally fixed my Fender acoustic (the guitar I learned to play on).
Work Trip I'm heading to Calgary on Sunday for a few days of Internship Seminars. I'm missing out on Youth Pastors Retreat, which is a little disappointing. But I'm looking forward to connecting up with our new intern who is one of students from a previous church. The other plus side is that I get to sleep on Brad's couch.
I was (or more appropriately "am") trying to render a video for youth tomorrow night. One of my high schoolers made a farewell video for our intern. Well, as it turns out my computer is currently lacking the hard drive space required to complete the rendering. It is therefore rendering me...umm...I'm not sure. But I'm barely conscious.
I probably shouldn't post at 1:00am.
But I should also point out the great joy that I experienced yesterday as my Habs shut out the Bruins 5-0 in Game #7. Next up: Philly.
But tomorrow is a bigger day. Manchester united vs Barcelona.
I think I'm going to turn in now and hope this video finally works.
I immensely enjoyed my coffee this morning. Perhaps the fact that the Tim Horton's staff actually filled the entire cup this morning contributed to my enjoyment.
I'm having lunch with my wife. I thing she's great.
I get to shoot teenagers with paintballs tomorrow night.
I'm watching a High School rugby game this afternoon.
Our student ministry intern is leaving us next week. That sucks.
I hope the movie store still has some movies in when I get there.
Anyways, the glorious Double has been won.
