Awesomest Quote of the Day

There were quite a few good quotes I heard from people today that were worthy of further consideration.

Whether in construction mishaps, or stories of moving large dead bodies, humorous and unusual quotes were in great variety today.

My favorite, however, was just a part of our small group discussion.

As a response to "using moderation in all things," which was never said or referrenced that I remember clearly, Jim Olsen stated:

"I use moderation in moderation."

I found this too humorous to pass by, immediately wrote it down, and now am sharing it with you.

May you also be someone who can use moderation in moderation.

Less Sleeping In

I have found that I am given less freedom to sleep in now that I am done with classes, even though I haven't found a job yet.

If I had classes, I would be up early two days a week.

This week, I'll go 3 for 3 on being up before natural.

Picking friends up from airport and working on the attic are forcing me out of bed before I would naturally arise.  To be fair, I naturally would arise around 2:00 p.m. and don't have to get up as early as I would for class, but early nonetheless.

I only feel comfortable writing this because Jenny's schedule is the same this week (she's on vacation) so it might wear off by next week.

The View of Above (a guest blogger edition)

In the last few months there has been quite a bit of noise coming from our attic lately. With lots of hammers, saws and drills, it has all been very exciting.

We have been renovating the bare half story of our house into a master suite. So far we have: taken out an unused chimney including patching the roof, torn up the subfloor and laid a proper one, put in some duct work, framed the walls, had insulation sprayed, had plumbing roughed in, and run most of the electrical with minimal blood drawn.

The following are some shots of the work done so far:

Planning the layout:

Taking down the chimney:

Sometimes things happened without the parents present (yes, he is standing on the bricks he is trying to take out):

Part of the bathroom:
The shower:

The closet and bathroom walls from the bedroom area:

Ah, insulation...it made working in December so much better:

Yay for Christmas

It is only Christmas Eve technically, but one of our families is celebrating Christmas together tonight so it counts.

I truly hope each of you have as good of a Christmas as possible.  Enjoy everything you can about the holidays and try to ignore the rest.

Merry Christmas.

Seasons and Spirits

I've acknowledged for a while now that we are in the Christmas season.

I'm comfortable with that.

Today was the first time of the year I would say that part of me felt like I was in the Christmas Spirit.  I didn't really do anything different today to put me in that mood, but realized at somepoint that I'm excited for Christmas with family and friends and looking forward to the religious, emotional, material, and relational aspects of the Christmas Season.

I have Christmas Spirit...at least for a couple days.

And A Year Goes By

From the title you may think this post will somehow reflect on the year of 2008.  You would be mistaken.  If you don't want to read about the inner turmoil of one struggling for a fantasy football championship, you can stop now.  This post is about that.

1-4

Last Place.

This was the start of the fantasy football team "Two Headed Monsters" co-owned by me and my brother.  

The rest of the league was happy.  2 years ago, Jason had won the championship.  Last year, I won it.

This league despises when there is a repeat champion.  With some weird things that happened last year, I was without a spot this year, so Jason and I co-owned his team.  This proved to be valuable for both of us.

1-4 and last place.  The rest of the league was happy with where we were.  We were at piece.  We would talk on the phone between weeks about who to drop and pick-up and if we wanted to offer any trades.  We both were convinced we had a good team and were just getting unlucky.  We didn't want to make a major move out of deperation.

After two more weeks we were 3-4.  We would call in to drop a bench player and add in a replacement for someone on a bye week and we could hear the other league members talking...  

"Have you seen who is on the rise?"

Entire conversations as work focused around the "Two Headed Monster" rearing itself back into contention.  They didn't want us to start a streak.  We were peaceful, studying each week to find the right match-ups of sitting and starting.

A tight-end pulls his groin, we find the best replacement.  A kicker is on bye, we find the best replacement.  A wide receiver breaks his face, we find the best replacement.  Quarterbacks benched and sidelined from injury, we find the best replacement.

Two more weeks and we found ourselves at 5-4.  In the playoff hunt.  The others were not as happy.  We couldn't rest comfortable now.

We began to plan ahead.  Instead of looking only at our coming week, we began preparing for a deep run in the future.  No new injuries, lets plan our defensive pick-up two weeks in advance. 

Receivers fixed their broken faces, quarterbacks started to find the field again.  We continued to win.

6-4 - virtually guarunteed the playoffs.

7-4 - playoffs clinched.

8-4 - First round bye clinched.

Time to look ahead.  Looking at the schedule for the last three weeks of the season we primed ourselves to find the biggest improvement we could make.  We had the luxury of planning ahead.  Who has the hot hand?  Who has the easy schedule?  Who has the best combination of the two?  

Lets finalize our roster a week early.

9-4.

First Place.  Last to first with a streak of 8 straight wins.  No one else happy.  We are set for a bye week in the first round of the playoffs and guarunteed our money back.

Receivers shoot themselves in the leg, no worries we like our roster.  Quarterbacks benched, who cares we picked up a replacement primed for the playoffs.  We were confident.

The bye was necessary.

Week 14-first round of the playoffs.  "Two Headed Monster" has a bye, fortunate, because they would have lost to any other playoff team.  

Week 15 - semifinal match.  Congratulatory messages sent after the night game.  We had the lead with players still left.  Nothing to worry about.  Not very stressful.

Week 16 - championship match.  12:00 we only have two players active, opponent has 5.  Out to lunch after church.  1:30...driving home from lunch I get the updates, our quarterback tied with his, but he has points elsewhere.  2:00 - home and with the internet, we are down by 18.  I cheer for 5 minutes and we are only down by 7.  10 minutes later down by 2.

3:00 - The first set of games are done.  We are down by 14.  We have 6 players left and he has 3 remaining.  All 6 of ours are playing, 2 of his are.

6:00 - We are finished.  51-47 we have the lead.  He has 1 wide receiver left playing in the night game.

7:25 - The night game has played 10 minutes of real time, 4 minutes of football time.  He has made up a point already.

8:15 - His receiver catches a touchdown.  I send the obligatory "NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO" message to a friend over instant messenger and begin to open my phone to call Jason.  

8:16 - A red challenge flag is thrown by a coach.  The play is reviewed.  He was down a half yard short of the goal line.  We have new life.  A Christmas Miracle.  Dead and Alive Again.  The Resurection is real.

A year went by.  From 8:15 until roughly 10:35 I lost a year of my life.  My parents watched as I agonized, cheered, hoped, dreamed, anguished and toiled over almost every play of the game.  It was even cruel enough to go into overtime.  When all was said and done, we finished ahead 51-48.

51-48.

11-4 with a bye week on week 14.

10 straigh wins.  Last place....Champions.

Co-Owener:  Necessary.  There were games we always had the same instinct on who to start.  There were games we didn't.  There were games we won because of some of my insights, there were games we won because of some of Jason's.  There was a game I still believe either of us would have lost as an individual, but we won by combination.

There were pickups proved invaluable that Jason made the final call on (Kevin Walter over Lance Moore).  

There were pickups initiated by myself that fueled us to wins as well (Matt Cassel was our best foresight ever).

We didn't win because we got lucky.  We didn't win because we avoided the injury bug from our picks.  We didn't win because we managed to get perfect production out of the players we picked in rounds 1-4.  

We won from getting value from picks 5 and 6 (Thomas Jones and Anquan Boldin) who will go in the first two rounds next year.  We won because we picked up well off the bench.  We won because we rarely had people sitting on our bench that outperformed the people we played that week.  We won because we co-owned a team and covered all the angles.  We won by starting 5 of our 8 players in the championship game as people we picked up during the season. Undrafted.  

We won, because it was the best way to make everyone else mad, and the easiest ways to show our wives that our time was worth it.  (That doesn't mean they agree)

We made a profit.  

We smiled.

We went from last to first.

We made everyone else mad.

And even though I lost a year of my life watching a football game tonight, We Won.

Congratulations Jason... We Deserve It.  3 straight years with us 2 on top.

White Elephant Gift Exchange

Tonight was the Christmas Party for the staff and spouses of Jenny's work.  

Every year they do a white elephant gift exchange.  I have never been a big fan of these, but we play along every year. 

I wasn't excited about it this year either, though we did bring the best gift we have ever brought to one of these.

1,000 carpenter's pencils.  You read that right.  We brought 2 boxes of 500 carpenter's pencils wrapped together in a bigger box as one of our gifts tonight.

They guy who opened it gave away all that anybody wanted to those in attendence tonight.  He promises to creatively give the rest away as well.

We left with a game of pick-up sticks that has been at this same gift exchange for a couple of years (as had one of the fruit cake gifts someone opened) and a "pizza chopper" which is half scizzors half pizza slice remover.  

What are other's opinions of white elephant gift exchanges?

I'd probably actually enjoy them if everyone didn't just bring crappy stuff they want to get rid of.

Personal Shopper

I get to be Jenny's Personal Shopper this week.

We have a couple more things we still need to pick up before Christmas arrives and Jenny has given me a list of things to go find and purchase.

I wonder how she feels about having a personal shopper?

I wonder what we'll take as a second white elephant Christmas gift tomorrow.

I wonder if it will be to cold for me to find shopping motivation on Thursday and to postpone it until Friday.

Understanding Perspective

I had another experience today which forces me to evaluate the perspective many people have of my future vocation.

A complete stranger upon hearing that I have been a pastor in the past, am Seminary trained and plan on being a pastor again became more comfortable with the situation they were in, just because I was doing it too.

This wasn't new to me.  People justify their actions based on pastor's actions too often.  

These kind of experiences force me to evaluate the proper line of vulnerability of one's past with the adequate privacy and non-disclosure to remain healthy.

Mitch felt like he wasn't being "impure" today because I said I didn't have an ounce of guilt over what I was doing (playing cards).  We had a long an interesting discussion that went far beyond playing cards an into lots of interesting life areas, but this perspective is what I've reflected on the most.

Another Pet Peeve

Thanks to those of you who have gone out of your way to send me cheesy forwards about "The Reason for the Season."

Adding to the list of pet peeves that show up around this time of year, though not holiday related, comes the "best of" lists. 

I don't need to hear anyone's opinion on the best news stories, people, blogs, restaurants, or anything else that happened in 2008.  Chances are I don't share your opinion anyway.  I'm a particular on my favorites and understand that mine rarely match those of others.  

Profitable

The Fantasy Football Team that I co-own with my brother has made the championship game.

This is the only league I am in where money is involved.  We are guarunteed to profit regardless of how next week goes.

2 years running I'm making a profit from fantasy football.  Likely the best hourly wage ever :)

Important to Me

While many will find this meaningless... this weekend is an important manly weekend to me.

I have gaurunteed myself a top 4 finish in all 3 of my fantasy football leagues.  If I win all three this week, I could gauruntee a top 2 finish.  That would be awesome.

Specifically, the one team that I co-own with Jason is in a league where we can win some money by making it in the top 2.  That would be especially nice.

Tomorrow I'll build stuff.  Sunday (and Monday Night) I hope to finalize three football wins.

Gooooooooo Manly Weekend

Humor Me

We are headed to the Brian Regan show tonight.

If you don't know who he is, you should stop reading this and search for him on YouTube.

Easily my favorite comedian because he is one of the few who keeps his jokes clean.

Very excited to go to the show.

Networking and Such

I only have 1 Seminary class remaining.  It will be taken in the spring quarter.  Otherwise, I'm left with only the need to finish my statement of faith (Due in mid January) and fulfill all of my internship requirements (which can be met with hours served in a job).

That leaves me looking for a job now.  

Unfortunately, few of the jobs I'd be interested in make it into the public market.  Most associate pastor jobs are hired from within their own churches or denominations and few make it into job search engines and college placement forums.  With that said, my time right now is being spent networking.

I've been sending e-mails to my network of mentors/teachers/friends who may know of opportunities and to denomination offices to set up times to meet with them to find out about possible openings in the area.

So far, the responses I have gotten have all encouraged meetings, but not until the holidays have passed.  

I'm not worried yet, even though I haven't found anything even worth applying to.  If i haven't found any solid leads by the end of January, I'd start to get more nervous.  Until then, I'm hoping to hear of a pastoral position that will allow for consistent opportunities in teaching (not necessarily Sunday morning preaching, but definitely consistent teaching) aimed at young adults or older.  

If you know of anything, feel free to e-mail, call, or respond here.

Yay Inside Day

I figured I would start my first official weekday off from school with an inside day.

I read an entire book.  I got to choose it.  I read it for fun.  I don't have to right a paper about it.

I watched a movie, goofed around on the internet, talked with the plumber who was working in my house and did some limited research to tomorrow's night post.

Tomorrow I'll actually talk about what life is supposed to look like now that I'm pretty much done with Master's Classes.

But today was inside day.  A day off.  A day removed from obligation about answering such serious questions.

I'll leave the house tomorrow.

Start the Ticker

It's the time of year where I start to notice some of my pet peeves.  

Start the ticker now for people saying "Jesus is the reason for the season."

I'll cringe everytime I hear it.

Opposite Day

It was cold outside today. It snowed outside today.

Our attic is warmer today than yesterday. Our attic looks like it has snowed inside today (if gravity forced things up instead of down).

While I was at school and Jenny was at work the spray insulating people came to make our attic warm.

It will be much more comfortable to work up there now.

1 more paper for the quarter due at 5:00 p.m. central time tomorrow. 12 pages and i'm done with the quarter.

I Don't Get It

I have watched a lot of movies.

However, I had never seen "White Christmas" before tonight.

I don't understand how it became a classic movie.  It wasn't a bad movie, but I didn't think it was a great movie.

I will not be one of those people who watch it every year.  I don't have anything against the movie, but I also wouldn't complain if I never watched it again.

That being said, I hope we have a white Christmas this year.

Blogger's Block

Like writing block, but for blogging.

I can't think of anything to write about.

The only question I have been asked recently by someone who reads this is "what will life look like after classes end?"

I plan on answering that question after classes end.  Not because there is some neat surprise, or a great scheme, but because they end in 3 days and I can wait until then.

Are there any other thoughts of things I can write about or questions I can answer?

Football is Good To Me

I can't complain about fantasy football this year.  I may need to be reminded of that in two weeks.

I have 3 teams.  In 3 seperate leagues.  In all of those leagues, 6 teams make the playoffs.

All of my teams made the playoffs.

In each league, the playoffs start next week and the top two teams get byes.

All of my teams have a bye next week.

In two leagues, I have been in the top 2 all year.  I'm 2nd in both of those leagues.

In 1 league, my team was in last place after 5 weeks with a 1-4 record.  The next 8 weeks were one long win streak and we finished in first place at 9-4.  

Happy Birthday to me.

Sleepless Birthday

The holiday weekend was all I hoped for.  Great Thanksgiving food and company.  Great b-day dinner at Fogo de Chao.  An entire season of 24.  Some work done on the attic.

Likely fantasy football victories.

I didn't sleep much last night, with 4 papers due today, and don't get to sleep in tomorrow with the spray insulation people coming in the morning to work on our attic.

That makes me feel older today.  Lack of sleep always makes me feel older.  Maybe i'll get a nap later to rejuvinate my youthness.

Turkey Day

I'm excited to eat food this weekend.  Starting tonight, I got Chipotle.  Tomorrow, two Thanksgiving meals.  Friday, a day of rest.  Saturday is birthday dinner at Fogo de Chao.  

My stomach isn't big enough, but my appetite will make up for that.  I'm looking forward to eating more than I'm supposed to, putting myself in food comas and watching football.

Hopefully, Thanksgiving weekend will be as fun for you as I expect it to be for me.

Class Control

After tomorrow, my pastoral care class will have no more control of my free time.  I will complete all of my required visits and hours at the nursing home tomorrow.

I only have 3 people I need to see tomorrow.  I've met with two of them every week for 9 weeks, and the third I've only talked to twice.  

I'm looking forward to being done with this.  It was extremely beneficial for me, but way out of my comfort zone.

Sighs of Relief

Classes are over for the week, though I have one last nursing home visit on Wednesday.

Another Fantasy Football team secured a first round bye in the playoffs (which guaruntees we get some money back).

I took a nap today.

Things are good.

All Over Soon

My preaching class starts in six and half hours.

Sometime during the four hours it runs I will give my sermon on the Abraham and Isaac story, with the caveat that I have to do it emotionally (not my nature).  

I've always been able to deal with this text cognitively, or even in my own faith journey.  Largely, because I ignore many of the emotions that arise from it and questions that it causes for many.  

It took me a long time to figure out how to teach it in a way that didn't skip those things.  I can give the right answers to most of those questions, but can I do so in a way that validates both the questions and the emotions others feel?

After weeks of thinking, I am hoping that I finally figured out how to do that.  I'll be interested to hear my classmatess and teachers' responses and thoughts on the avenue I decided, specifically, on if I hit the goal the way I assume I can.  If not, i'll look forward to hearing how to tweak this sermon to make it better.

Either way, it will all be over soon.

Yay For More Options

I like Google as a company.

I thought that again today as they offered easy to change themes to the colors for their e-mail program.

Mine now looks similar in style and color to this blog.

Google is one of my favorite companies with the things they continue to produce and provide to the public at no charge.

Need More Amusement

I posted a couple of days ago about how failblog is one the websites I routinely visit.  It helps we waste time.

I also acknowledge that tomorrow I will have a class that I won't be fully attentive during.  I need something to do that keeps my eyes busy, but leaves my mind free to listen.

At home, Tetris or a Rubik's Cube can solve this problem.  I have a feeling that I'll need something similar at school tomorrow.

I default often to Free Cell, but am curious if anyone has any other options that I could find on the internet for that purpose.

Saying Goodbye

Today I begin the process of saying bye to many of the people I've been visiting every week at the nursing home.  Over the next two weeks I'll say bye to all of them.

Many of the students are nervous about this time and the emotions that may be involved with it.

This is one of the times that I am not nervous. 

Saying goodbye is one of the things that has never been too hard for me.  Moving a lot as a child probably helped that.  I'm not so concerned about emotions that may be attatched with it bothering me, I've said bye to enough people enough times to not be concerned.

Infuriating

There are lots of things that bother me.  Lots of ways I wish the church used its voice (or silence) better.

Here you can find one of the news stories that infuriated me recently.

It explains that a priest has deemed anyone who voted for Obama unworthy to take communion until they have done penance for that "sin."  

I was infuriated when I read this.  There is no wonder that so many want so little to do with organized religion in this country.

I'm saddened that this is the voice we are represented as having.

Wasting Time

Three or Four weeks ago I was reading news on MSN and clicked on a story link of the top 25 time-wasting sites on the internet.

One of them was FailBlog.  This site is a collection of pictures and videos of people doing dumb or embarassing things.  Some of them made me laugh hysterically while some make you a little woozy.  

I have shared this site with some of my family and friends and most of us check it daily now as they upload 3-4 things every day, so to many of you, this post is just a reminder of the hilarity that we have found on this page.

For the rest of you, here is a small taste, an example of a picture loaded yesterday:

Moving Fail:

No Sleeping In

Jenny won't let me sleep in tomorrow, even though I don't have class.

Instead, she scheduled another estimate for the attic job upstairs.

The spray insulation guys are coming to see the place.

My list of questions is ready, which is good, cause in the morning, my brain won't be.

Evening Naps

It is hard for me to screw up  my sleep schedule.  

Seeing as my sleep schedule is very inconsistent, I don't tend to have much problem falling asleep when I need to.

However, an evening nap can ruin that.  I fell asleep watching t.v. this evening and can't get tired enough to sleep yet.  

It's 1:40.  I have to be up at 7:00.  No part of me is tired yet.

Chances are, I'm going to sleep very well from Thursday into Friday.

Three Weeks Remaining

I'm required to visit the nursing home three more times.  

In the last 6 weeks, i've only been able to see 1 person every week.  Others have had severe health issues, been moved to different facilities, or passed away.

Each Wednesday has been exhausting for me.  

I expect the same by the end of the afternoon tomorrow.

On The Up and Up

In my two solo fantasy football leagues, I have pretty much secured myself a playoff birth with wins this week.

The co-owned team for me and Jason is on a 5 game winning streak and looking strong as well.

Jenny and I went to Sam's Club tonight because I was craving taquitos and corn dogs.  

Things are on the up and up today. 

I'm happy.  I only got in a little bit of trouble at home.  I don't have class tomorrow.  Any homework I do counts as working ahead since nothing is due on Thursday.

Today, life is good. 

Tomorrow, alreadys starting worse though, as our small group had traveling and other family issues so we had to cancel.  Don't know what we'll do with the time, but it is doubtful it will be as fulfilling as small group would have been.  

The Eye of the Storm

This week is the eye of the storm of my Seminary quarter.  From the busy week of assignments I had last week, and the coming ramp up to the end of the quarter I find myself in the midst of the eye of the storm.

A week where none of my 5 classes decided to have anything due.  

0 assignments.

A smart man would work ahead.  A diligent man would work ahead.  A responsible man would work ahead.

However, trumping those things, we find that a Kemper man will enjoy his freedom instead.

Fishing For More

The Challenge Continues.

My preaching instructor e-mailed me to day.  My assumed audience for the Abraham and Isaac story is a multi-ethnic church.  Specifically focusing on covering all of how a grandmother, young father, teenager, and single adult would deal differently with the emotions of the story.

If you are or have been one of these categories, please enlighten me on the questions you have, concerns you have, or emotions you have from the Abraham and Isaac story.

If you don't fit one of these specific categories, feel free to offer your assumptions about what any of those categories may feel.

The Merciless Needs Help

The class where I was quoted at saying "I suck at mercy" was a preaching class.

I asked one of the professors (it is co-taught) to give me some requirements above and beyond for the class to challenge myself more.

One of those was that he got to choose the text I would preach from for one of my sermons in the class, aiming to pick something that might force me out of my norm.

He picked the Abraham and Isaac story and told me that he expected me to deal with the emotion that is inherent to the story.  

I read through the story today.  I asked Jenny if she thought it was necessary that I answer the question of why God would test Abraham in this way.

I understand that question is one many have about the story, and I am not arguing that I don't want to, or won't address that question in the sermon, just curious if most people would find it necessary.

As you recall the story, or read it here, what questions do you wish someone would address if they were speaking on that story?

We Will Always Need Change

I voted today.  I voted earlier in the morning than I should ever have been awake.  Some of the people I voted for have won.  Some have lost.  I'm extremely content with that.  I imagine, I would have been content if everything I voted for one, or if everything I voted for lost.

America will never be perfect.  America will always need change.  America needs change now.  It needed change 8 years ago, it needed change 80 years ago.  It will need change in 4 years.

America needed change before we were at war.  America needed when the economy was strong.  America needed change before millions of babies were killed before birth.  America needed change before we were consciously aware of the energy crisis.

I don't remember one candidate running under the motto, "Let's not change anything."  I voted for the one's who I thought might bring the best change in accordance with my thoughts of what the government can do to enable any of those changes.  

None of them would have been perfect.  America still isn't perfect.  It never will be.  No form of government could ever orchestrate it to be.

I love America.  I wouldn't trade it for any other country.  Its faults and imperfections should be dealt with, but they are on the back burner of importance for me as an American Citizen.

I'm much more concerned with what Christ wants to do with this country and the rest of the world than what America wants to do with this country and the rest of the world.  I believe wholeheardetly that his leadership is perfect.  There is no fault in Him.  There will never be a fault with Him.  He will never change, yet He will never need to.  I find my solace and comfort in that.  That enables my contentment with the government elect in this country, because I find its importance in the grand scheme of things minimal.

Ads Be Gone

It's Time to Vote.

It's Time for the Ads To End.

Gooooo candidate I'm voting for.  Boooo other candidates.  (I actually am not overly invested, though I do think one of the tickets will do the job better)

Vote, or have a strong conviction as to why you don't, but laziness isn't an excuse.

Giddy as a SchoolBoy

Easily the thing I miss most about being youth pastor instead of student is the opportunity to teach and preach regularly.

Tomorrow I get to preach in one of my classes.  

Even that excites me.

I've been thinking about the message for a couple of weeks, so i'll be excited to hear how it explodes out of me tomorrow.

Yay!

UnBalanced Assignments

I have something like 6 weeks remaining this quarter.

I have exactly 22 assignments still to do for this quarter.

9 of them are due next week.  UGH!

Keeping The Dream Alive

T0morrow (Thursday) a plumber is coming to give us an estimate on our attic project.  

We're hoping to hear that what we want to do is even physically possible.  

If not, Jenny has promised to let me build a room out of Lego's to live in forever.  (That may or may not be true)

1 Week To Go

A week from now we will have cast the votes that determine the next President of the United States.

If you haven't done the research to figure out who you will vote for, please do within the next week.

I've done all the research I intend to, though I stay up to date with what is published most days, and it would take a large scandal for my vote to be swayed at this point.  If you haven't reached that point yet, please do the research.

I don't even care what issues you place as most important, what party you typically lean towards, or what you think about the two major candidates.  You may end up using your vote in a different way.  Please just use it in an informed way.

Evernote

Does anybody that reads this have any experience using the program "Evernote"?

It is a note taking and making program like OneNote that runs on your computer and/or mobile device, but also is web-based so that all of those files are with you wherever you have access to the internet.

I've been experimenting with it, happily, but would like to ask some questions to someone who has experience using it. 

Let me know if that is you.

Giddy for Gadgets

After a productive day of securing a win in 2 of 3 fantasy football leagues, with a good chance at making the sweep tomorrow....

Jenny had a productive day of buying goodies from the apple orchard....

And now I get to play with a new gadget.  I'm almost giddy at how good the afternoon and evening turned out, at least once the snow stopped.

Yes, it snowed today.

Enough Already

I'm extremely tired of political ads.  

I'm happy that Obama spent so little money on television advertising in MN just so there is one less candidate that I consistently have to see on T.V.

Coleman, Franken, Paulsen, Madia, McCain, Bachmann, ect... I'm tired of watching your stupid ads.

The only one I care to see again is one of Franken's.  The one where he sinks ships, crashes trains and hates puppies.  It has been the only worthwhile political ad i've seen all year, and then, only because it makes me laugh every time.

More to Accomplish

I actually showed drive today.  Academically.  Efforts to go above and beyond.

I met with one of my teachers today and asked him to make some of my assignments more difficult than they are assigned so that I will benefit more from the work that I am doing for that class.

I'm not all lazy afterall.

No Planes or Trains...

... but their is a different automobile in my driveway.

No, it isn't mine or Jenny's.  As Matt has been living with us, you could routinely find his silver sporty saturn (I didn't even mean to alliterate) in our driveway.  

Yesterday he called me to meet him at a dealership, as I needed to bring his checkbook to him.  His car started leaking some transmission fluid and he was through.  He decided to get rid of it and get something different.

There is now a beautiful black betta (Jetta doesn't start with a b, but i wanted to alliterate again) in our driveway.

We could easily fit three bodies in the trunk.

Furniture Speaks...

There is an episode of friends where a person is established as one who doesn't watch television.

Joey asks this person, "then what does all your furniture face?"

The furniture in our homes, offices, and churches speaks volumes of what we value.  I had lunch with a friend from church today and we talked briefly about the furniture of "the church" (meaning at large, not just ours).  Specifically, the church in America.

Originally, the most important piece of furniture in a church was the altar.  This can be traced biblically as being the most important, and its unfortunate that we ever left that place.  We moved to a place where the most important furniture (if you can call it that) was the steeple on the top of the roof.  Churches longed to be seen as the tallest building in town.

Later, the pulpit became the most important piece of furniture in the church.  Some have more than one pulpit, spoken from depending on level of biblical use (not for announcements) while others simply had one.  

It was our conclusion, that even this isn't the most important piece of furniture in a church today.  We actually argued between two different ones.  We decided it must be either the "stage" or the "coffee and doughnut bar."  Both of these focus on the fact that church has become another consumer service maid to entertain us.  If we don't like how one performs to meet our needs, or if we don't feel comfy and happy, we leave and find a different one.

How unfortunate that the altar still isn't the most important part of a church, furniture or otherwise.

Better Not To Think

As we spent a while Saturday working on the attic, we realized that progress was more noticable than previous weeks.

I have established because we spent far less time thinking and discussing this weekend.  We always had a task to be working on, without much questioning or discussion.  

It seems that not allowing thinking onto the worksite (and singing children's songs) is the best way for us to get a  bunch done.

Welcome Weekend

My weekend started today.  I don't have any more assignments due today, and none due on Monday.  I actually have no deadline I must begin meeting as I work on homework Friday.

Just the things I might choose to work ahead on.  

Or, the things I might read for fun instead of school.

I like weekends.

Learn Anything?

I didn't watch the debates tonight.  I put in a movie instead.

I have not seen any of the debates actually, though I did watch both candidates acceptance speeches at their respective conventions.

Did anyone learn anything interesting about a candidate from the debates, or should I assume that all of the same things they have said through their campaigns were just restated again.

Mind Becoming Mushy

I thoroughly enjoy reading.  In college one summer, I read something like 23 books in 23 days because I could read 6 of the 8 hours I was at work.

This semester, three of my classes have heavily front-loaded their classes with reading.  There has not been a week that I have not been required to read 3 full books and parts of others.  It is starting to drain my mind, as I don't get to choose the book, and quickly must process the book so I can move onto the other.

I would enjoy this process more if I could further ponder each book I read, or if I got to choose the books.  I've noticed my mind becoming mushy the last couple of days.  I'll be looking forward to next week when my "reading weeks" begin and I open up 16 more hours a week without classes to read and process this material.

Now Everyone Knows

"I suck at mercy."  - Nate Kemper

You can find these words written on the board in one of the classrooms at the Seminary.

I said them in my preaching class today, and they became the start of the quoteboard for our classroom as the teacher found them too amusing to let pass without more focus.

Stick With The Meal

I went to McDonald's again for dinner tonight.  It is a Monopoly time tradition.  I knew I would get the Big Mac Meal so that I could maximize the value of Monopoly pieces.

We even remembered to take the game pieces for the free McFlurry's we had already won to get them with our meals.

I should have stuck with this.  Its the traditional, easy, but best use of my time and appetite during Monopoly.  I got greedy.  I asked them to add the two apple pies from the dollar menu.

They looked over, saw only one apple pie and informed me they only had one apple and one pumpkin left.

My companion said he would eat the pumpkin, so I took them up on clearing out their pies.

The pumpkin was opened, and immediately found to be cherry, though in a brown box.

10 minutes later, my "apple" (according to the box) was bit into and found to be pumpkin.

I should have stuck with tradition.

I'm One of "Tags" End-Users

Here are the rules:
1.Post the rules on your blog
2.Write 6 random things about yourself
3.Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4.If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!

I was tagged today.  I will obey rules 1-2, but probably won't tag anyone. 

1.  I don't brush my teeth regularly.  My wife is working on making it a habit in my life, but it just never developed into part of my routine, either for getting ready in the morning or going to bed at night.

2.  When I was a kid, I wanted to legally change my name to Mike.

3.  I have a photographic memory for things that I write down.  It makes test taking and memorization much easier than it is for most people.

4.  I can always solve a rubik's cube in under 5 minutes.  With a few hours, I can teach you how to as well.

5.  I'm pretty much immune to the pain one would normally feel from hair being pulled out.  Having hairy legs and arms forces you to get used to it, but once you do, its kind of nice.

6.  I don't have feeling in my shins.  I think its from taking too many pucks in the shins playing street hockey in california and from never wearing shinguards when I practiced soccer.

Making Ladies Cry

As a part of one of my classes this quarter, I'm required to spend 36 hours at a nursing home.  Nine four hour sessions.  The chaplain has given me a list of names and room numbers for people to visit.

This list has been designed to give me numerous pastoral care experiences.  I've got two of my people that are supposed to die within the next two months.  Some who have just been moved to the facility.  One who is 107 years old.  Some who have obvious and outspoken faith, others whom the chaplain didn't know if they were believers or not.  

I was even given one person who is on the dementia ward.  She confuses her past with the present so her stories sound more like halucinations than anything else.

This time continues to be a struggle for me.  I struggle to offer the same presence in a room with a person who is incoherent and seemingly halucinating, to a room that I enter and they immediately become upbeat and request much from me.

I was asked to be one lady's son today.  She had fallen 10 minutes before I showed up and had just finished getting lifted back into her bed when I walked in.  She demanded prayer the moment I introduced myself.  She then grabbed my hand, told me of her "informal relationship" with God and cried as she told me parts of her story and family.  It was very easy to be present in that room.

I understand that this experience will help me provide pastoral care in the future, but find myself with anxiety everytime I remember that I have to go back for 4 hours again next Wednesday.  These times drain me.

Best Fast Food Marketing - All Time

I've decided that I have a favorite 3 marketing programs of all time used by the fast food industry.

I'll be curious if any of you have any that you think need be added to the list.

#3.  Burger King - "Have it your way."

The Burger King "have it your way" campaign focused on America's great individualism and highlighted what was true of some but forced all fast-food locations to come to terms with...the customer is always right.

#2.  Wendy's - "Where's The Beef?"

I wasn't even old enough to buy myself food when this campaing was popular but it has lived on through the legacy of others to find its way into my media driven life.  It must have been a revolutionary marketing tactic.

#1. McDonalds - The Monopoly Game

No other marketing campaign gets me to go out of my way to eat at a restaurant for an entire month.  Granted, my favorite was when they had a partnership with Best Buy to give "Best Buy Bucks" with the prize pieces, but nonetheless, combining childhood food with childhood games and the chance of money is a great marketing campaign.  McDonalds wins my personal vote.  

Do you have any others that need be added to the list?

Playing Ken Doll

On the way out of town on Friday, Jenny and I stopped to do some shopping at an outlet mall.

Somehow, on a vacation weekend for her, I ended up with a new wardrobe.

When all was said and done, I had gotten two new pairs of dress pants, two dress shirts, a new coat (blazer), and two pairs of shoes.

She enjoyed playing Ken Doll games with me.  I've never tried on so many pairs of pants.

Going, Going, Gone

Jenny and I are leaving for a resort for the weekend. She'll enjoy taking pictures of the fall leaves changing colors, not working today, probably getting a professional massage, and leaving this hysteria of life behind.

I'll enjoy her enjoyment.

That does mean my Fantasy Football teams are without their captain this Sunday. Fortunately, the teams I own by myself are both undefeated and can deal with losing without me.

Back next week.

Not So Musical

I randomly turned on a music radio station this afternoon.  It had been a while, as i'm in the season where I listen almost exclusively to sports talk radio.

During this time, I realized it had been well over a year since I had purchased a cd.  Even longer since I felt the need to listen to music while doing something around the house.

I'm just not one of those people who gets much from listening to music.  I've looked around plenty to see its emotional influence on people's lives.  It rarely moves me in that way, or any way.  

I'm not a musical person.  I don't think that I ever will be.

Are you?  Is music important to you?  

More Journaling

Last week I posted that I was being asked to reflect on how my personality and gifting will play a role in my preaching.  The feedback from a couple of you on here, and a couple of you in person because of that post was valuable to me.

So I am soliciting again.

This time, I have to reflect on how my CULTURE and STORY have and still affect my communication.  Things like the environment I was brought up in, locations brought up in, and general life experiences.  How do they shape me as a communicator?

For example:  How will moving throughout childhood affect me?  How will the experience of financial security affect me?  How will "traditional" stable family affect me?  Sports, education, etc...

Stickler on Technicalities

I tend to be a stickler on technicalities and logical inconsistencies.

As such, I find myself upset with the flaws in some specific rules in the NFL.

I feel that every spike to stop the clock should be called for "intentional grounding" as the quarterback does not leave the pocket, does not throw past the line of scrimmage, and does not have a receiver in the area.

I have numerous problems with the way they call and mark the recovery of punts.

Today I found a new one.  If someone voluntarily taking a knee is considered down, I feel that the placeholder in a field goal try should not be allowed to have his knee on the ground while in posession of the ball.

I'm a stickler on the consistencies.

Post Into Reality

The day of the North Central Alumni game I posted that it was not a good sign that the Mens Soccer Team had lost to the alumni.  It generally does not bode well for the team when that happens.

This year, that has been far too true.

That college soccer team has yet to win a game this year.  Most of their games weren't even competitive.  I went to see them play on Tuesday.  They lost 4-0 to the team that was our arch rivals when I was at the school.  I never played in a game that lost to that team.  It wasn't fun to watch.

This morning I was awoken by a phone call.  That call happened to be from the athletic department at North Central University.  Their entire mens soccer staff resigned and they were wondering if I would fill in coaching for the next 4-5 weeks to finish out their season.  

After many conversations and meetings, it ended up not working for some logistical reasons, though they have asked that I keep them in mind and consider at minimal applying, but more likely coaching the team beginning next fall.

I had a bad feeling for the program when they lost the alumni game.  I never imagined it this bad.

Back In Swing

Classes started again this week.

I have 4 full books and enough from two others that I have the equivelant of 5 full books I have to read by next Thursday.

Weeeeee!

My Newfound Timewaster

During the afternoon today I was reading for one of my classes.  The book wasn't holding my attention as tightly as I would have hoped, so I found myself looking for something to do to break up the monotony.

I found my new timewaster on the internet.  I did not know that there would be so many sites that recommended "Grandparents Name/Nicknames" but seeing as I had known of my brother and his wife's pregnancy for 18 hours or so, it was time to start the process.

Before I explain further, I must again, in writing, congratulate the two of them for the expectancy of the first Kemper grandchild in our generation.  As excited as I am for the moment the little one arrives, my thrill of instant satisfaction is driven currently by exploring what the little one's grandparents on Jason's side will be called.

Our grandparents never went by grandma and grandpa, instead we had individual grandparent names for each of them.

Now comes the time for us to return the favor and name our parents with their grandparent nicknames.  We have been given a formal request from mom, which will be taken heavily into consideration, but have not been given any request on the dad side.

So for now, unless otherwise stated, all grandparent names are fairgame.  

If you have leading suggestions, post them here.

Also, feel free to congratulate Jason and Sarah.

An Old Favorite

I ate 3 peanut butter an jelly sandwhiches today.

I hadn't had one in a long time.

I made them perfectly.

They must have way more peanut butter than jelly, which mine did, and not be cut in any shape.

You have to eat around the edges first, but not go over board and eat around the edges of two and then the middles.  One sandwhich at a time people.  One deliciously made, perfectly proportioned PB&J sandwhich at a time.

Un-Biased Journaling

One of my Seminary classes is requiring that we reflect upon a question, preferably by journaling about it each week.

It is from my preaching class titled "Finding Your Voice in Preaching."

This week's question is "How do your giftings and your personality show up in your voice as a communicator of God's word?  What is good and what is not so good about that?"

So I'm looking for some un-biased help.  I can answer the question quickly for myself (and will do so when I'm done posting this) but that will cover about 1 day worth of journaling and I probably wouldn't think much further.  So if you  know me, regardless of if you have heard me communicate God's word from a pulpit, what do you know about my personality and my giftings and how they affect my communication in general.

Any observations would be appreciated, both good or bad, or indifferent.

First Day Of School

Tomorrow is my first day of school for the fall quarter.

I asked Jenny (and Matt) what I should wear on the first day of school, and they seemed to think the question was unimportant.

Obviously, they have been out of school for too long. How will I impress my fellow classmates and teachers if I have not meticulously planned out my wardrobe?

No Safety Measures for That

The I-35w bridge re-opened today.

I had somewhere to go, so I drove over it.  

The new construction is nice, and from what I hear, the safety features on this thing are extravagent.

Unfortunately, they can't put up safety  measures for the gauking.  I nearly got run off the bridge today as people were too busy looking at everything on and around the bridge, and not busy driving.

There was actually a 35mph drop in speed just for section of bridge.  With that and lots of people changing lanes to get closer to or further from downtown, accidents will happen.

Head Coaching Fun

I'm almost to the end of my head coaching stint, as the actual coach for the team arrives back in town this weekend.  The teams have no more games before his return.

Under my reign they managed to go 2-0-1.  That's two wins and one tie for those of you that don't know the sports win loss columns.  

I was happy with this as they had not won a game when they were handed off to me.  They had a couple of new kids join just before I took them over which helped a lot.

It has been interesting to watch these kids play.  They are almost all freshman and many of them haven't played organized soccer before.  Lots of the experiences are first to them.

Yesterday, a kid experienced his first muscle cramp.  He thought it was far more serious than muscle cramps are becaus of the initial pain and immobility.  Another, routinely has to ask me the rules everytime he is not on the field.  

I can't remember what it is like to not know what a muscle cramp feels like.  It has been interesting experiencing sports from a group that has such fresh eyes and all of their future ahead of them, as i'm one who can only look back on my most competitive days.

Cheap Stuff

Sometimes, it doesn't have to be the most expensive to be the best.

So lets get some help.  What cheap things are totally worth it to treat yourself with?

I'll start with this desert you can find for under $3.

What can you add to the list?

Fantasy Football Fiasco

This weekend of football was one of my favorite.  

I don't think there were any weekends last year where all 3 of my teams won.  

That happened this week in some unusual circumstances.

One league, I was the highest scoring team.

One league, the second to lowest, but happened to be playing the person with the low score.

The final league is co-owned.  My co-owner actully sent me a text message on Sunday that we had pretty much wrapped up losing with 3 minutes to go in the first set of games and only 1 player remaining after those games ended.

With 2 touchdowns scored by our defense in those 3 minutes, and 3 touchdowns from our last remaining player, we ended up with a pretty substantial victory.

Yay for 3-0 this week and 5-1 after two weeks overall.

Skewed Seasoning

Jenny and I spent an evening at The Melting Pot this weekend in celebration of her birthday.

Such a place is divine.  It transends the physical and helps you to find ways to eat more food when both your appetite and your body say they're full.

However, my favorite part of the evening came when Jenny decided to try their seasoning on her food.  It was my favorite part, because of the specific piece of food she decided to season.

It is one of those scenes I can re-live in slow motion in my head.  I pulled out a skewer that had some filet mignon on it and prepared to eat it.  Meanwhile, Jenny fished out a potato that had been sitting in the boiling sauce for 15 minutes or so, because she wanted it soft.

Just as I put my meat in my mouth, Jenny dropped the potato on her plate, immediately cut it with her knife and put half of it in her mouth.  I couldn't get the words out in time that I was thinking.  I knew it would be hotter than her mouth might be prepared for.

Her face immediately showed that was the case, both as she glanced at her drink, and then quickly around the room, spitting the potato back onto her plate.

While I laughed about this, and pointed out my noticing of her looking around, and my inability to warn her as I saw it all happening in slow motion, she decided to try the seasoning.  She sprinkled seasoning on the potatoe she had just spit out, put it on her fork, blew on it, and then ate the same potato again.

Easily my favorite memory of the meal.

Growing Up Fast

It's Her Birthday!!!

She Grows Up So Fast

She's XX today.  (We aren't supposed to reveal a girl's age now are we?)

Happy Birthday Love

PrimeTime Cravings

Do you find yourself hungry while watching primetime television?

How about spending more money on groceries because of how Television shows have affected you?

An article found HERE claims that people who watch crime shows like Law & Order, CSI, Criminal Minds, Numbers, etc... are more apt to get hungry while watching television or change their grocery shopping habbits because of what they watched?

Do we believe in these studies?

Four Things You Might Not Know

I've gotten this chain e-mail from a couple of people that read this blog. I figured, since I hate forwarding e-mails, I would just respond to it on here instead.

The premise, answer four things for the categories given. Answers are in no particular order, which in my mind, also meant they need not be my top four. So I aimed more at the things you might not know about me, than at the things that were instinctual, which may be clear in no better way than looking at the movies question.

Four jobs I have had in my life

Phone Book Deliverer

Coffee Sample Distributor

Video Store Clerk

Assistant Soccer Coach

Four movies I've watched more than once

Fried Green Tomatoes

Phantom of the Opera

Quigley Down Under

Nightmare on Elm Street

Four Places I have lived:

Pensacola, Florida

Port Hueneme, California

Lexington Park, Maryland

Denver, Colorado

Four places I have been:

Thai Land

Vietnam

Bahamas

Mexico

Four People who e-mail me (regularly):

Golf Digest

Full Tilt Poker

Myself (to remind me of things)

Facebook

Four of my favorite foods

Cashews

Pineapple

Swedish Meatballs

Buffalo Wings

I would rather be right now:

Taking a Bath

On a Golf Course

In a Movie Theater

In a Pulpit

Four Things I am looking forward to this year:

Finishing up Seminary

Weekend Away with Jenny

Thanksgiving 

St. Patricks Day

The Competetion is Over.

I did end with the fantasy football record I had thought.

However, the soccer coaching (from Saturday) went far different than I thought it would.  

The team found a way to win 2-1 which surprised me, and uplifted them immensely.  It will make the approach to the games this week much simpler.  

Overall, I'm happy about the weekend of competition.  Even though I only had a 75% win rate, the 25% that lost played well and would have beaten most of the league.

Now I have to find something more productive to do tomorrow.

Fantasy Football Frenzy

With 13 games of football today, I wasn't ever not wathin t.v. or near a computer.

I'm looking good for wins in two of my leagues, though one may be closer than I would have preferred, but am shoed in for a loss in the league I co-own a team in.

Worse than all of that, the Colts lost and did not play well.

Test of Patience

My best friend is coaching a soccer team from a local private high school.  He has the lowest rated team.  He is also out of town for the next two weeks, and I am filling in for him.

They have played a couple of games so far.  They haven't been within 5 goals in either of them.

Tomorrow, we have a game.  It will likely test my patience.  

At least when I get home I don't have to suffer through any more convention speeches.  Two weeks without one realistic speech is more than I can handle.

For Those Keeping Track

The independent study is complete.  I sent in my assignments with 12 hours to spare and was given the grade 14 hours later.

6 classes and a bunch of internship stuff left.

Then i'm Master of Divinity.

Are You Ready for Football?

I am.

Jenny isn't.

Google Chrome

Anybody else downloaded it yet?

I have high hopes for it in the future, though limited expectations of it after it only being released for one day.

Seems easy enough to navigate with so far, love the most viewed part of the homepage to find all my favorite sites and see previews of them.

Can't wait to see what people come up with as gadgets for it since it is open source.

I'll be playing with it for a while before deciding if I prefer IE or Firefox.

Grassroots Holidays

I asked Jenny Sunday night what the history of the Labor Day holiday was.

She guessed and was pretty close to how it started.

It really was a pretty grassroots holiday (organized outside government, religion, or major tragedy) that the government then adopted.

I think we should start more of these.

I need ideas.

Drug Users Are Stupid

This story is copied and pasted directly from the USAToday website.

It highlights the stupidity of those who use drugs.

MODESTO, Calif. (AP) — Police say a man tried to cut off his own arm at a restaurant in Modesto, Calif., because he thought he had injected air into a vein while shooting cocaine and feared he would die unless he took drastic action.

Authorities say 33-year-old Michael Lasiter rushed into the Denny's restaurant late Friday and started stabbing himself in one arm with a butter knife he grabbed from a table.

They say that when that knife didn't work Lasiter took a butcher knife from the kitchen and dug it into his arm.

Police Sgt. Brian Findlen says Lasiter told officers he thought he needed to amputate his arm to keep himself from dying from the cocaine injection.

Lasiter was taken to a hospital for treatment of severe cuts.

Off To An Unfortunate Start

It tends to not bode well for the North Central Soccer Team any season in which they start by losing to the alumni.

Unfortunately for them, it started that way again this year. They were clearly in better shape than we were, but we were clearly more skilled and disciplined (read: game smart) than they were.

End result, a 5-3 victory for the alumni, that could have been expanded further if some of the peple had touched a ball in the last year.

I wish them the best of luck this season, starting with their first official game tomorrow, but they are off to an unfortunate start.

Too Old For This

With another school year comes another alumni soccer game.

Here is to hoping us old farts can keep up with the in shape college kids.

I have a bad feeling about this one.

Answer this for Me

What makes listening to and watching a thunderstorm so relaxing?

No Hole in the Wall

Kool-Aid is what hit the spot today, though unfortunately, Mr. Kool-Aid did not break through the wall to give it to me.

Instead, Jenny made it.

Too Comfortable

The last bunch of days have not been typical August. Outside of 3 or so warm days, the last bunch of days have been surprisingly pleasant.

Some have already begun to assume that this means winter will be long.

I'm starting to be skeptical as well.

Whatever happened to global warming anyway, shouldn't it be warmer?

World's Dirtiest Job

Many people have seen the cable show Dirty Jobs. If you haven't you should watch it sometime, Mike Rowe works what are considered the dirtiest jobs and films it for all to see.

Mike Rowe is also known as the narrator on the famous Deadliest Catch series, which then spawned the Dirty Jobs show.

But none of those may qualify as Mike Rowe's dirtiest job ever.

Instead, head over to YouTube and you can find numerous clips, some wildly hilarious (search for the catsack one, or the Noah's ark one) clips of Mike Rowe in his former job as an on-air QVC salesman.