First Snowboard of the Season

Didn't break anything, I think that means success right?

Only a couple of sore areas, largely because I only tried a couple stupid things instead of lots of stupid things.

Was nice to get out.  Was nice to get better.  Was nice to be out of the office.

Cars and Cameras

Spent the day at work, playing our new Wii, and fiddling with cars and cameras.

Headlight is fixed, new webcam is hooked up, though I haven't looked into all the uploading sides of things to do the first video blog yet, and helped a student jump her car.

Eventfully fun day.

Hope tomorrow is as fun.

Starts with a coffee meeting to answer the role of women in the church question to one of the volunteer leaders of our church who just found those scriptures for the first time.  Weeeee!

Video Blog Anticipation

At somepoint soon, I'm going to venture into trying to do a blog through video instead of just through writing.

I don't know how long it will take me to work all the kinks out for doing that, so no gaurantees as to when that will be, but I want to cross one part of it off of the list.

What should I talk about? 

While worrying about all the technical mumbo jumbo and uploading to the internet and such, i'd prefer not to have to think of the first topic on my own.

Any suggestions?

Yay for Gambling

On ESPN, they have a contest about extending streaks of random predictions.

One of the options to chose from this morning was if UK would beat Winthrop by 20 or more.  You had to pick either side.

A co-worker of mine and myself each picked.  I picked UK to cover the 20, he picked that Winthrop would keep it closer.

Now I get a free lunch.

Woohoo!

Tron 3D

The 3D part of Tron 3D was pretty cool.

The Tron part, is well, based on an ancient video game.  Not much is expected about a story of two lines that can't touch.

Not much of a plot can be made from that.

But the 3D part was cool.

And it makes you want a motorcycle more.

Cable Shows

In the last 5 years, Jenny and I haven't had cable. 

What I am looking for, now that I have Netflix, are the good series/shows that have been on cable that I've never seen.

I've been working my way through Dexter, and someday will at least give Mad Men a shot, but don't even know what else I should be looking for.  Any recommendations?

And...for any Survivor watchers, I'm glad Fabio won, and upset that Jane got voted the favorite player.

Holiday Workweek

I don't ever really know what to expect from a holiday workweek.  So many of the normal activities and plans are cancelled, yet we don't get time off.

I'm not complaining, it is just a different kind of productive.  The normal to-do list/tasks aren't a requirement this week, or the next, but there is still so much that needs to get done.

Hopefully it won't take too long to find a routine and start crossing off the things I haven't been able to get to the last couple weeks as I've been full-time.

8th Time's a Charm

I got pulled over today.  This is the 8th time in my life I got pulled over.  This one went just like the others, I found the sweet spot of my theory on how to get out of any kind of discipline and ended up with just a verbal warning.

Let me explain.

About 6 months ago, a headlight went out on the Corolla.  We replaced it within the week and moved on.  Yesterday, the other headlight went out.  We hadn't replaced it yet.

On my way home from Applebee's tonight, I got pulled over for having a headlight out as well as not signalling a turn.  I played my checklist of physical things to do through my head, turn on the flashers, roll down the window, change the radio station and turn it down, turn on an inside light and turn off the car, leaving both hands clearly visible on the wheel.

He approached, told me I had a headlight out and hadn't signaled my turn and asked for my driver's license and proof of insurance.

At this moment, I started the verbal checklist.  Don't lie, know you did something wrong but don't admit to doing it intentionally, while showing you were still fully in control of the car.

"Yeah, my wife yells at me for that all the time.  Can you settle something for me?  I always tell her that if I don't cross a traffic line that it isn't necessary to use your blinker.  When the road curves we curve with it.  If i'm using the solid right line as my guide of where the road is going, instead of the dashed center line, I actually didn't switch lanes and no signal is necessary.  Is that legal or illegal?"

This was all said sarcastically and comically enough to know he is helping me with a case against Jenny's "courtesy nagging" and he took it as such and smiled.   He asked me where I lived and where I was coming from.  I told him Applebee's and he asked me if I had anything to drink while I was there.

"Two cherry cokes" I responded.

"Anything else?"

"Not there, but earlier in the day I had a water, a Mountain Dew and a Reindeer."

"What's a Reindeer?"

"It is a steamed milk drink from Caribou."

At this point he was laughing at me, a great sign before he has even headed back to his car to run my license.

He returned with my license and said:

"You have a pretty busy weekend right?"

I paused.

"'Cause I could make you come and show us that the headlight is fixed within 72 hours, but if you have a busy weekend, I will just trust you to get it taken care of soon."

(Jenny and I had literally talked about getting that taken care of in the Applebee's parking lot on the way in, don't yell at me dad.)

He then told me to have a nice night and that he didn't feel the need to give me even the written warning to get it taken care of.

8 for 8.

Class 1 - Over

My journey through the Old Testament with those willing to suffer through me for 9 weeks has come to a close.

We ended our class tonight finally getting through all of the books and will get a couple of Wednesday evenings off before we start the New Testament in January.

Class 1 is done.  Learned some that should be useful in helping me teach it more effectively the next go around.

Nap Time

It isn't often that it feels right to take a nap in the evening on a weeknight.

Today it felt right.

It generally means I'll have trouble falling asleep and will only make me want to stay in bed in the morning even longer, but naps feel too good to pass up sometimes.

Fortunately, my morning meeting tomorrow doesn't require my brain, just helping cart someone around who is getting car repairs done and needs a ride. 

Confused

Today was Monday.  I now work on Mondays.  It had been a while.

The staff member who is in an office next to me got confused as to what day it was when he heard my voice in the hallway.

Nobody is used to me working on Mondays.

We'll all have to get used to it.

Snow Shoveling

We hadn't shoveled snow in some time.  With our house being part of an association, we don't find ourselves often with the need to mow our lawn or shovel snow from our driveway.

Then 16 inches or whatever came.  We had said we could babysit Saturday night. 

We didn't look at the driveway before we were ready to leave.  Opening the garage door, we found a drift up against it at heights around 3 feet.  Yay!

We shoveled just enough to get the 4x4 Escape out and headed out.  It was all clear by Sunday morning so getting to church was fine.

I'm not used to shoveling snow.  I'll just write my HOA check instead.

This One Is For Me

Some nights it is for me.  I've prepared a message and gotten ready for a service and a funk hits.  I get in a weird mood, or something gets me down shortly before the service.

Tonight was one of those nights.  One of those nights where my attitude is shifted to a place it need not be, and i'm fortunate to be reminded during worship, that I don't really matter anyway.

Tonight was one of those nights where worship allowed me to get my heart back into the right place before I delivered a message from God's word, a message that on this evening, was for me.

I needed to hear it.  I don't even really care anymore if anybody else had it apply to them, it applied to me, helped me see God more clearly and understand part of his love fore me more completely.

This one was for me.

The Groove

I'm 8 weeks through teaching a 9 week class on the Old Testament and just feel like I'm hitting the groove now.

Fortunately, I'll get to "re-teach" this class to new students starting in January, while also teaching a different class on the New Testament.

Hopefully I'll find the groove more quickly next go round.

Chapter 3

My employment has made its third chapter at Grace Fellowship Church.

I was initially hired part-time to do Young Adults stuff.

5 months ago, I was made 3/4 time to do All Young Adults stuff, and some other teaching stuff.

Today, I was made full-time to do all Young Adults stuff, and orchestrate and teach all the Adult Discipleship Classes.

Chapter 3 should be fun.  My to-do list is long, so I should stay busy.  Now I just hope I can stay as excited about it all as each of the tasks deserves.

Creative Juices

I'm supposed to be creative all day tomorrow.

Our staff creative team is heading out of the office for a full day creative meeting.

Here is to hoping that the tangents don't get too far off track and the brainstorming doesn't lead to too much boyish and/or inappropriate humor.

Also hoping we think of lots of good ideas that we remain excited about enough to implement well.

Question now, is what kind of creative brain food should I bring for a snack?

NetFlix

NetFlix subscription as a birthday gift.

Now should I start wasting time with a new t.v. series, or with a movie I haven't seen.

Sooooo many options to start narrowing out.

Survivor

Two quitters on day 28.

Ridiculous.

People who quit the show drive me nuts.  Too many people want to play for you to not try your best.

Good Riddance, I'm glad you didn't win, I wished you had been voted out early, or better, eliminated sometime in casting before the show started.

Facebook Changes Things

Facebook changes birthdays.

Lots of people like to leave happy b-day notes through facebook as it shows who's birthday it is.

Was interesting to check my e-mail this afternoon and have it flooded with facebook posts on my wall.  Some of those people I forgot had even become my friend on facebook. 

Don't really know what I think about that, just acknowledging that facebook has changed how people remember and react to birthdays.

Honored

I'm amazed that people will come hang out simply because it is my birthday. 

I'm amazed that my wife would organize something like that.

I'm amazed that many who have other set plans to celebrate with me still drove farther than they should have at inconvenient times while feeling sick, to make sure I knew they cared.

I'm amazed at the luck I have in finding so many people who choose to spend part of their lives with me.

Who wouldn't want to turn 30.  It seems amazing.

More Reading Necessary

Found myself running short on creative spark tonight when I was trying to plan a teaching.

For me, that generally means I need to start reading more diligently again.  My brain is activated in a way that listening to sermons and watching t.v./movies just doesn't stimulate it when I sit and read.

Anyone have any good books to recommend?  Looking for things specificly about Christian practice, Ancient Near Eastern (read Biblical times in Middle East and Greek history), leadership, communication, or success.

All recommendations welcome though, even if they don't fit in any of those categories.

Downhill Turn

The Colts aren't supposed to lose.

They definitely aren't supposed to lose because Peyton made mistakes.

This needs to change.

Cats Win

Was nice to get to watch a Basketball Game tonight after taping and putting up plastic in the living room.  I had only seen scores and read recaps thus far, so it was nice to put some faces with names and watch the team run around and put the ball in the hoop more than the other guys.

Go Cats.

Empty Living Rooms

We've emptied out our living room. 

The goal is that by next week, it will be a different color, with all the cracks on the ceiling fixed.  For now, that means our two downstairs bedrooms have become our living room and our office.

Good thing the upstairs is all finished.

Short Work Weeks

I always like having short work weeks, especially short weeks where all the work I do is getting me ahead, as my Wednesday night class and Thursday service are both cancelled this week.

No pressure with the work week, and lots of food coming during the week.

Shouldn't find much to complain about, though I'm sure some things will still creep up at meetings to keep me on my toes.

"Funky Sauce"

Most weeks I end up at Applebees on Thursday nights after our Young Adult service.

There is one waitress we get more often than the rest, thankfully, because she enjoys our 15ish person party that comes in at 9:45.

Almost every week I order the same half priced appetizer without their "funky sauce."  That isn't how it is listed on the menu, but has become our groups term for the mystery sauce they add to their cheeseburger sliders.

She laughs at us every week as many of us use that term to customize our orders.

There is no value to this post besides just letting you know that you should make up a name for something at a restaurant you go to and see if you can get the server to giggle when you use it.

Challenge extended....

What is Winter Coat Weather

This morning as I was picking out which coat to wear over my short sleeve shirt, I had to debate what is cold enough for a winter coat.  Was the 30s in the range that made a winter coat acceptable or seem out of place?

Ultimately, I ended up in a windbreaker, a choice I make frequently throughout the winter, and wonder still when the first time will be that I decide a winter coat is worth wearing to work. 

Outside of snowboarding, where I know I will be out for a long time, and playing in the snow, I don't often find myself wearing a winter coat.

Sorry Mom

Wrong Opinion?

Can an opinion be wrong?  I'm not talking about it being a guess, or a verifiable fact, but how someone perceived something.

Can I have an opinion that puts confidence in one thing and lacks it in another, with the same amount of information about both and just a different feeling?

I know this seems vague, but it was weird today to be told that my opinion was wrong.  To say that I didn't see confidence in someone and saw it in someone else and that I formed my opinions accordingly.

Apparently I am supposed to see things that nobody could see.  Apparently I'm supposed to be able to see the confidence inside a person instead of that which they communicate to others.

Apparently my opinion can be wrong.  I just found that out today.

On Opportunities Shoulders

I spent a lot of time in Florida thinking about where about where my friends, efforts, talents, work, luck and blessed situation have me now.

Importantly, thinking about what obligation that creates in me to move those things forward in a successful manner.

I am not who I am because of hard work.  I am not who I am simply because I deserve what I have, or I've made myself into something.  Who I am is unique, but comes from opportunities uniquely given.  As far as I'll be concerned the rest of this post, I'll be debating how i've begun and hope to continue to establish myself as a reliable and trustworthy teacher of God's Word.

Most of the reasons I feel comfortable teaching and have done so effectively come from outside of myself.  Things I wouldn't ever change.  I can't think of many people who went to college with the freedom to pour all of themself into that experience (read: play soccer without a job, and for the rest of the year, live without a job while classes were in session) and still graduate debt free.  Even countless few who got to do the same thing with a Master's program.

The generosity and sacrifice of my parents and wife allowed me an opportunity to study God's Word and my calling that few ever get to do with so little pressure.  I wouldn't be able to teach as effectively had I not had those educational experiences.

Had I not been given chances, encouraged, supported and believed in through internships and first jobs that were granted with no experience, I never would have grown confidence and may have given up with being on stage a long time ago.

Had I not been given a mind for remembering things, ordering things, and delivering things in a logical manner, I wouldn't have been able to produce teachings that felt to me like they were authentically mine.

Had I grown up with someone else's faith forced down my throat, been drug to church, been ridiculed and shamed before finding God on my own, my understanding of Him would have been shaded.

Instead, I get to speak of the God I love because I choose to love Him, because He chooses to love me.  I get to teach a faith that is my own, not one passed down to me from a tradition.  Those traditions are important, but I couldn't ever teach a tradition, I just want to teach God's Word and have been able to do that as it has formed me more than tradition has.

My hope is that I can put in the hard work that matches.  That I can take the giftings, fortunate circumstances, luck, support, generosity and opportunities placed before me and work with due diligence to be what God has called me to be.  To find myself reliable and trustworthy with how I teach His words and speak on His behalf.

Longing

Spending the week in Florida was awesome.  Our hope was to finish better than we were seeded.  We entered the tournament seeded in 7th, meaning we played the 2 seed first.

We lost to them, and deservedly so.

The next afternoon we played the 6 seed, whom we beat, and then played in the 5th place game, finding ourselves again victorious.  2 Wins at the National tournament and the best finish for our women's program ever made it a successful trip as a coach.

The trip as a person was harder than I thought.  Those fields hold dear memories to me.  3 years spent there as a player playing for the national title.  Time spent with friends.  Time spent getting recognized for my efforts, talent, work, luck, and blessed situation.  Time spent laughing.

Those times were brought to mind quicker and deeper than I thought they would be. 

Also spent lots of time then thinking about where my friends, efforts, talents, work, luck and blessed situation have me now.

But more on that to come.  For now, just wanted to update that I'm back, and that the trip went very successfully from the coaching perspective.

Florida Calls

Out for the week.  It's warmer there than here.

Not taking an ability to do work with me, even leaving the laptop at home so working isn't an option.

I don't take vacation often, so i'll make sure i'm not productive while i'm there.

See you in a week.

Unfamiliar Territory

I wandered into some unfamiliar territory late this evening.

Upon time to leave the church, Jenny requested I follow her to McDonald's.  Jenny doesn't often recommend McDonald's, or at least hasn't in roughly 7 years. 

It was unusual.  We high fived the occasion, then bought some food and came home to have a date watching last night's Survivor while eating the yummy goodness.

Hopefully this territory will become more familiar again.

Lunch

Lunch the last two days have been out of a different necessity.

I don't recommend people finding value in food, but the last two days, when lunchtime hit, I needed an emotional pick me up.

Fortunately, I could think of a couple of places.

I've never had my day get worse because I went to Chipotle or Chick-Fil-A.  The last two days, those places have provided just the pick-me-up i need for the rest of the afternoon.

Hoping to have a better morning tomorrow.

Elections

All the stations we get are covering the elections. 

Time for a trip to Home Depot, as I'm guessing the results will still be public tomorrow.

Bring back the good shows.

Florida Bound

The weekend away went about as expected.  The guy's soccer team would have had a hard time getting through their tournament successfully, and lost a competitive game in the semi-finals.

The women's team knew they could win, but that their final game would be competitive.  They scored 50 seconds into the game, giving us the feeling we may walk away with a blowout, but gave up a goal 20 minutes or so later and went into half-time tied 1-1.  At the start of the second half, they scored in 45 seconds and then played an intense and long half keeping the other team from scoring without adding to their total.

Their tournament ended with them on top, and now they get to play in the national tournament in Florida.

And, awesomely, I get to go with them.

Looking forward to a week down there for free.

Also realizing, completely unrelated, that i'll be 30 in 30 days.

110 Weeks

I (Jenny) am hi-jacking my husband's blog (I don't think he'll mind).

110 Weeks. That is how long it has taken us to finish renovating our attic into our new master suite. (That's a little over 2 years for those of you who don't want to do the math.) We really only worked on Saturdays and a few additional days here and there, so it's not too bad if you think of it that way.

Here is a quick reminder of the nothingness that was before:

Of course I cannot go on without adding a huge THANK YOU! to the man in the red sweatshirt (Nate's dad). Without his help we could not have completed this project. Thank you for all the tools, the time, all the blood, sweat and occasional tears. (It's not an official workday unless blood is drawn, of course.)

Ok, on to the good stuff...

The STAIRWELL and SLEEPING AREA:

There used to be a chimney and a large beam going

through the middle of this area. Thank goodness we 

were able to get rid of both.

 

The BATHROOM:

8 hours, people!

That's how long it took to put up the tiles

just around the outside of the shower.

It's a good thing it turned out well. Gorgeous!

 

The CLOSET: 

This dresser was a $5 garage sale purchase that we

were able to refinish by painting and adding

the outside shell of wood. Again, gorgeous.

 

It feels a little unfair that the final product of all that work can be summed up into just seven photos.

It feels good to be sleeping upstairs.
It feels good to have a second bathroom in the house.
It feels good to have our Saturdays back again.

It feels good to be done.

Soccer Travels

Off for the weekend to see what the regional tournaments will have in store for these two teams.

Guys play their first game Friday afternoon, if they win, they advance to the finals.

Girls got a bye straight to the finals and play Saturday.

I'm either done with soccer on Saturday, or have 2 more weeks of it.

I'll know soon.

Trash Can Surprise

I noticed this morning when closing the garage door that one of the recently emptied trash cans that had been used for construction debris wasn't where I was used to seeing it.

I looked in the garage to see if maybe Jenny had moved it, but didn't see it there either.  I briefly looked around the yard to see if maybe the wind had blown it over night, but didn't find it in sight anywhere and decided to just drive to work.

A few seconds later, after turning the corner and driving on a different road, I spotted said trash can in someone's yard a couple of houses, yards, and trees away.

Welcome here fall.

I Want 4 Hours Back

I spent 4 hours today standing in the cold, wind, and rain watching two soccer games.

There were 18 goals scored in those two games.  The teams I was there for did not score any of them.

I want my 4 hours back.

My toes want their feeling back.

Really?

I took the opportunity today to teach slide tackling properly as the field was wet so it is easier to avoid injuries.

There were a couple of players on the team who had never slide tackled someone before.  I couldn't believe someone could be on a college soccer team and have never slide tackled before. 

I understand if its been a while, or if you've never been taught, or even if you play a position that doesn't require slide tackling so you've done it quite infrequently, but to never have done it before just seemed wrong.

I made sure to fix that by offering up my body as the guinea pig for them all to slide tackle into.  Made the day quite fun actually.

Snickers Salad

I had Snickers Salad three times this weekend.  I still have some in my fridge.  This makes me extremely happy.

I can't believe so many people haven't ever heard of or had Snickers salad and may soon take it as one of my duties to make sure the masses get to know how the most healthy food in the world for you (salad), can also be so delicious (by making the Snickers version).

Adding Snicker Doodles to the list (which don't contain Snickers candy bars), my favorite cookie and favorite salad both start with the same name.  That is awesome.

Monopoly Madness

Monopoly at McDonalds has hit a whole new level for me this year.  Outside of the fact that I eat there fairly consistenly while the game is being played, something new has begun.

There are at least 5 people that I can think of right now who also go to McDonalds, but do so with the plan of giving me the pieces.

One person even told me today that they wanted Wendy's more than McDonalds but couldn't pass up the opportunity to get me more pieces.

I never once asked anyone for pieces, but they keep piling up in my wallet and on the table in our living room, thanks both to my eating habits and my friends (and some family).

I'm Long Winded

Over the last couple of weeks I've spent two and a half hours or so lecturing on the first five books of the Bible.

Unfortunately (in my opinion), next week I have to start teaching books 6-8 (Joshua through Ruth).  I don't feel I've done anything more than scratch the surface with the first 5, and would love to spend many more hours talking about those.

I suppose I'm more long winded than even I had guessed, and I've known for a while that I'm long winded.

Good Substitutions

Got to make our favorite kind of substitution at the soccer games this evening.

We pulled a player because he had already scored a hat trick (3 goals) and wanted to give others an opportunity to score as well.

A 7-0 victory always feels nice, especially cause had we left the starters in, it could easily have gotten to 12 or so.

Go NCU.  Regional tourneys are just over a week away, soon my afternoons will be mine again.

Re-Organizing

As things have been getting moved upstairs (largely because Jenny has spent her Sunday and Monday making this happen) we notice how some things get put in the black holes of our house.

Jenny found a pair of earring she didn't even know she had.  These are the kinds of things that happen when you feel the need to sort and organize the second junk drawer.  Not the kitchen junk drawer we have, or our countertops which are mainly covered with junk, but the top drawer of a dresser that apparently got all sorts of useless things that weren't even memorable enough junk to go in our normal junk drawers.

Money On The Mind

With the buying a new car thing, and the fact that I'm meeting with our financial adivsor (and brother in-law) tomorrow (a friend wanted to be introduced), I've had money on the mind quite a bit the last couple of days.

Any nifty tricks any of you have used to start making financial matters more awesome? 


C.D. Ladders, envelope systems, super awesome budgetness.... what has worked well for you?

A Touch Behind

Started teaching my adult discipleship class at the church tonight.  The hope is to survey the entire Old Testament in 9 class sessions.  Started off fairly well tonight.  After getting the administrative stuff out of the way, and getting into the first few books of the Bible, I finally started to hit my stride and everyone was getting noticeably more excited and involved, and then we ran out of time.

Fortunately, next week there won't be so many administrative things that need to happen and we'll have roughly an extra half hour of teaching time.

We are slightly behind where I hoped to be, but still on a good pace to cover things well.

The Little Joys

Found simple things getting me really excited today.  It was fun to pick up the mini-fridge to bring into the office.  But then, I got to pick up the Escape Hybrid to take home.  Was intrigued by the things that weren't important enough for me to notice before buying, but made me smile when I found them while driving it around today.

1st:  I didn't know this particular model was equipped with the navigation system and the upgraded cd changer.

2nd:  I didn't know that they even put normal power outlets in cars.  This one has the traditional circle outlets (like cigarette lighter style), but also has one in the front that is permanently converted to a power outlet.  Means our converters can just stay with the Corolla.

The last little thing that made me happy was in playing a game of pictionary.  We were playing a version that has lots of options of ways you may be inhibited while drawing (draw with off hand, draw without picking up pencil, draw 2 items in the allotted time, draw with eyes closed, etc.) and it was my turn to draw for my team.  The thing I had to draw was:  Davy Crockett, and had to do so with my eyes closed.

My team actually getting this correct was one of the significant accomplishments of my day.  Sometimes it is just the little joys that make life better.

Weeeeee!!!

So last night I had gone and looked at the car on the lot, no pressure since they don't sell them on Sunday's in MN and it was 1:30 or so in the morning when I went.

I woke up this morning and was at the dealer by 10:00.  They had opened around 8:30.  When I drove in, I noticed that the car wasn't in its spot anymore.  I thought it was just my luck that they had sold it in the hour and half they had been opened. 

I parked anyway since I had made the trip and was going to see what else was on the lot, or ask a salesman if it had just been moved.  While walking around, I spotted it sitting in the sold section, just as a salesman approached me. 

I asked him if it had been sold and he said that a different salesperson's daughter was looking at it and thinking about buying it.  He knew she wanted it, had already sold her other car, but hadn't figured out all of her loan information yet, so he went into talk to the salesperson father about it.

That father said something along the lines of:  she didn't put any hold money down on it.  If you can sell it before she does, feel free to sell it.

So we went off for a test drive and ended up selling it.  Almost missed this opportunity, but glad to own a hybrid Escape now.

Not Too Much Trouble

Jenny is out of town for the week with work.  I'm guessing I'll rack up the McDonald's monopoly pieces because of this.

I've also set an alarm to get up early and go test drive a vehicle tomorrow.  After about 11 months since my Escape bit the dust, I think it is time to test drive something.  I'll let you know if it goes successfully.

More New Friends

3 weeks into the launch of the new Young Adults Ministry and we've had new visiting guests every week.  We also haven't gone any weeks without some of our first time visitors coming back the next week.

Things are going about as smoothly as planned and seem to be gaining more excitement as they continue.

I'm blessed to work with so many amazing volunteers who have taken large chunks of ownership to make awesome things happen.

Purchasing a Closet System

This makes me feel super old.  Spending that kind of money on a customizable closet system for a closet that you built yourself means you are old.

Young people don't do these kinds of things.

Warm-Up Injuries

I've played in a lot of soccer games.  Even gotten injured in some of them.  But I've never gotten injured during warm-ups. 

I saw a player on my team in college get injured goofing around in warm-ups, and today watched as a player injured himself when no one else was around him during warm-ups.  Kind of sad to have to call the trainer over during warm-ups for anything other than taping an ankle or putting on an ace bandage, but the necessity of a trained opinion and some ice wasn't what we wanted for our player.

Then got to watch as 3 more got hurt during the game, 1 of whom blacked out for a couple of seconds.

It wasn't the successful game we were hoping for, but the Chinese buffet made everyone feel a little better.

Personal Challenge

I decided today (almost as a joke) that I wanted to design a soccer drill for the team that would use all 80 of the cones that we had. 

Not a series of drills that had them all set up at the same time, but one drill that needed all of them.

They thought my joke would remain a joke, but while they were warming up and stretching I designed a special drill just for them.

Sometimes it is nice to accomplish my own personal challenges.

Funny Yellow People

Went and watched "Despicable Me" at the cheap theater tonight.  Well worth the price of admission.  Very fun and cute movie.  The little yellow people that work as Gru's minions are something I would like to have around my house someday.

Can any of you make that happen for me?

2 Down

2nd night of Terrace (our new Young Adults Ministry) is over now.  I was encouraged that we had more new people again tonight, as well as noticing that some of the new people from last week came back.

Hope we can keep this momentum going for a long time.

Now time to transition back to coach mode for a couple of days while awaiting pastor mode again on Sunday morning.

I actually should just get different hats to wear, that would be fun.

Slipper Time

I have found myself on a couple of evening putting on slippers after taking an evening shower.  It has hit the time of year where I don't feel comfortable without something on my feet, and if I don't feel like getting a pair (or another pair) of socks dirty, it becomes slipper time.

I don't mind this about fall, though I'm not looking forward to that meaning I'm about to enter 5 months of slipper wearing.

Double Win

A couple of Saturdays ago I spent 15 hours with the soccer teams to watch 40 minutes of soccer that didn't count.

Today we had those make-up games.  15 hours later, we had 2 wins (the first ones for each team) and 2 shutouts, the first ones for these goalies.

The drives become more worth it when the outcomes are that favorable.

Watch Advice

I walked into Fossil this afternoon to buy myself a watch.  After perusing the selection I found the two I wanted to see out of the case.

When the saleslady gave them to me she asked "What do you need the watch for?"

My response seemed simple enough, "If you don't know what a watch is for, I don't know that I want your advice in buying one."

She laughed, got the hint that there wasn't a specific outfit or occasion that this watch was for and then nicely sized the watch for me that I ended up deciding on.

Welcome Fall

Fall came in with a bang.

The busy-ness of soccer coaching, a fall kick-off, and a fall camping trip all culminated this week.  Fall didn't try to sneak up on me, it came knocking at the door with a party.

All of those things seemed to go well and there is a minuscule decrease in the expected work this week, though preaching next Sunday's sermons will make sure I don't feel too relaxed during the week.

At least fall is one of the best seasons of year, even though it seems like one of MN's shortest.

Small Window Coming

I was driving home from church at midnight after building a set through the evening, and realized two things:

1.  I forgot what day it was.  I was trying to think through what had to be done the next day, and couldn't remember what day was ending.

2.  I hadn't eaten dinner. 

These are the kinds of things I tend not to forget when my life isn't so hectic.  There is a small window in the business coming once I can get to the campsites this weekend.  Rest will be here, but not soon enough.

The Tank Is on Empty

Unfortunately, it will be roughly 2 weeks before I think I have the time to fully fill it again.

It hit empty late this afternoon, but tomorrow is another non-stop, no-break kind of day.

Thursday won't offer relief either.

Hope I sleep well.

Great Friends

We were invited over for dinner tonight by some friends to celebrate Jenny's birthday.  They made us some awesome steaks, awesome side dishes, and awesome desserts.

We had some competitive game playing (split 1-1 on the night as guys vs. girls) and then conversed about work.  Maybe we should have avoided that part, but it is nice to be around people who think like you do sometimes.

We are lucky to have such good friends to spend fall monday evenings with.

Names and Faces

I was thinking about some upcoming sermons/teachings I will be in charge of giving.  Primarily, thinking of them in three different groups.  Upcoming sermons for the Young Adults Ministry, an upcoming service for the Sunday Morning Services, and an upcoming class on Wednesdays open to anyone in the congregation who wants to come.

There seems to be a lot of implication on how these things should be delivered and written based on the names and faces in the room.  What I'm trying to figure out, is how much of myself is supposed to come through in each setting, while evaluating how to alter things based on what assumptions each situation might impose, as well as balance the preferences and perceived needs of those who will be in attendance.

I've also been curious how much time it will take to plan the Wednesday night class time (teaching for roughly 1 and 1/2 hours each week) as it would compare to a typical sermon prep time (they are typically 35-40 minutes) since the two styles of teaching will be so drastically different.

Suppose there is lots on the mind, but I've got to figure it all out in the next few weeks.

That's Why There's a Preview Service

Tonight was our preview service for the fall kick off of Young Adults Ministry.

Essentially, a dress rehearsal from setup to takedown to see what all is still missing and how long and smooth we go through the phases of a service.

It was a good nigth, and served its purpose well at finding some of the holes we need to fill before next week, as well as figuring out what supplies still need to be bought to get the right feel in the rooms that we are going for.

A Sweet Spot

Today's sweet spot came in the middle of the afternoon/beginning of the evening.  After work, meetings, work and planning a practice, I hit a short sweet spot where my mind lost concern for all the current busy-ness.

Actually coaching the practice and then relaxing with Jenny watching the season beginning of Survivor and Finale of Big Brother left me relaxed for like 4 1/2 straight hours.  It was a calm spot in the midst of the busy storm.

Busy starts again tomorrow, but i'm hoping to find a sweet spot at somepoint then too.

Work On The Mind

It has been harder than normal to get my mind to slow down recently.

So many areas of life seem to be bleeding into each other, seemingly because so much is on the to-do list right now.

Tonight, Jenny and I got time away to go and see Wicked at the Orpheum Theatre downtown.  It was quite an enjoyable show, but something I couldn't lose myself in.  I had a great time, thought the performance was awesome, but found myself thinking about color and set schemes (that I would see in the show) and how I could see them implemented in other ways at work. 

I really didn't want to think about those things.  I didn't want to notice that the green color of the witch is strikingly similar to the green of our logo for the new Young Adults ministry.  I even waited 1 and a half hours after noticing it to say anything (as I refused to interrupt Jenny during the show to say it), though wished I had the restraint not to talk about it at all.

I wanted to know how the soccer teams were doing at their games tonight, but didn't really need to read that during the show either.  Yet, I seemingly couldn't just leave my phone in my pocket during intermission.

I'm not that upset that I looked at my phone, the medium isn't the problem, I've just been so busy for the last 3 weeks or so, and will be through the end of October/beginning of November that it is hard to just let go and unwind.

A Tale of Two Apples

I ate two apples today.

One was a generic red apple given to me with a box lunch.  The standard red apple.  I don't know it's special name.  It's skin isn't the greatest, but it is refreshing eating the inside and tasting the juices.

Then I got home and ate an orchard picked Honey Crisp apple.  They are so good you want to eat the stem and the entire core.  That would be silly, but you want to anyway.

I'm amazed at how such simple things can have such creative differences. 

That Feels Strange

I shaved today.  Not just trimmed with an electric trimmer, actually trimmed and then used a razor to shave.

There was a point today where my hand went to wipe my face and it felt strange to me.

Maybe that means it had been too long since I had clean shaved.  Or maybe that means I shouldn't ever clean shave again.

All I know is it felt weird.

On another note, Jenny turned 29 today, though that took the back burner as Matt got married today.  Jenny and I celebrated with some family on Saturday and will celebrate together on Tuesday evening.

Looking forward to seeing Wicked with her that night.

And the Season Begins

Football is underway.  I didn't care at all about the result of tonight's game, though was playing against two Saints players in one of the Fantasy Football leagues.

Overall, they didn't hurt me too bad.

Hoping the Colts pull out a blowout victory on Sunday and return to dominance from the start.

Buying Green

Today I got to spend time shopping for new supplies for our Young Adults Ministry.

Our rebranding has left us knowing our colors to be primarily White and Green, with grey and orange as acceptable additions but not primary focuses. 

That meant I spent a lot of time buying Green things at Target today.  Tables, Clocks, Lamps and the like in a nice new Green color, most of them with White accents.

And the Work Pours In

It's amazing how time-crunched work can seem sometimes.

My fall kick off for Young Adults Programming is Sep. 23rd.  That is just over two weeks away.  That date has been set for 6 months or so now and has always had a lot of work that needed to be done to be ready, work that I have been diligently doing.

This is one of few times that the rush isn't because of simple procrastination.  I've still been fascinated by how much stuff there is to get done over the next two weeks.

Maybe if I wasn't helping coach soccer, or in a wedding this weekend the list would seem more manageable.  Maybe if there wasn't a camping trip the weekend immediately after the kick off (the 24th - 26th) the list would seem more manageable. 

Regardless, it feels like the work just keeps pouring in while the time window keeps shrinking.

Hopefully, tomorrow I can cross some of the stuff off the list between meetings and before practice.

Back To Work

After a weekend coaching soccer practices and games, playing in a soccer game, spending a day at the State Fair, spending time working on the house and relaxing with family, I'd much rather have more time off than have to go back to work.

I suppose it could be worse though, tomorrow could by the first day of school like it is for so many.  I'll chose the day of meetings followed by a soccer practice and soccer game instead.

At least those don't leave me with homework.

Latin to English

Today's work was about translating Latin into English.

Not really, but we've been working on getting a new website up and running for the Young Adults Ministry.  The guy making it for me and getting all the formatting right does so by copying in Latin into the places that type will go (so you remember to replace it).  Today, was the start of actually writing all the English content that will replace the Latin that is currently there.

I'm excited to see how it all ends up.

Way more excited than I am that it is already September.  Can't we go back to June or something?

They Are Back

I was disappointed roughly a year ago when Wendy's introduced their Spicy Chicken Nuggets, only to find them as a seasonal/promo item.  I liked them a lot and was not happy when I tried to order them and they no longer sold them.

I am glad they are currently back.  Hopefully this time they stay around quite a bit longer. 

They mix really well with the Wendy's Sweet and Sour sauce and would likely be delicious if dipped in a Frosty.

The Pain Guy

I got to help with the women's team at practice today.  One of the assistants deemed me "the pain coach."

There was a portion of today's practice set aside for "creative conditioning" and I was put in charge of that because of some of the creative ways I've made them work through some previous men's practices that have apparently made their way to the girls team in gossip form.

As much as I hate running, I do enjoy making other people run...

A Tale of Almosts

Had two near hole-in-one's this weekend, one on a difficult 200 yard par 3 (playing 190 uphill that day).

Then, missed my fantasy football draft for one league and had to be auto-drafted.

Oh what could have been if the almosts would have been completed.

Golfing Time

Tomorrow will be another early morning, though I'll appreciate rising early for golf far more than for work.

Soccer practices have been fun this week, but 5:xx alarm times are just not enticing at all.  I'm glad that is done and returns to normal next week.

Here is to hoping I can hit it long and straight tomorrow, if not, i'm sure dad will make up the difference as it is a scramble tournament.

Girls...Out of My Ordinary

For the first 5 practices this week, I helped the men's team.

Today's afternoon practice was my first practice helping with the women's team.

Things didn't go the same way that I'm used to as a coach.

Girls are polite.  Guys aren't ever polite, at least, not out of their way polite.  When a girl would finish the drill I was running and go on to the next one, they would actually thank me for running a drill for them.  I didn't know what to do with this, it was so far out of my ordinary.

Will be something I'll enjoy getting used to I guess.

Short Strolls and Swordfighting Spoons

Sometimes the best part of an evening includes just a short stroll and swordfighting spoons over parts of a Dairy Queen Blizzard.

The "Oreo Cookie Jar" that has both Oreo cookies and Cookie Dough was a delicious treat. 

Jenny was better company.

I Haven't Lost It All

While I didn't play soccer this summer in any organized fashion, I was happy to find out today that I haven't lost all of the old school.

I find that I can still kick a ball hard enough and place it well enough to make a goalie look foolish if he puts himself in a poor position.  That was a fun realization for me today.

Also fun, was making the team run stairs while just having to watch instead of run them myself.

Not as fun, that it meant my alarm was set for a time in the 5 o'clock hour and will be so again tomorrow.

Alive + Exhausted

Made it out of the weekend alive. 

Had fun experiencing new things at the Mall of America, Target Field for the first time for a Twins game, and hanging out with the guys.  Life is always a treat with them, but we all made it out safe, but tired.

My exhaustion will likely only continue as the two-a-day practices for the soccer teams start this week.  That means that tomorrow morning I need to be downtown to help run a conditioning workout at 6:30 in the morning.  I don't like the time that means I need to set my alarm for.

Boys are Back in Town

The two guys who instigated and participated in the most tomfoolery in college are in town for Matt's bachelor party.

They are both fathers now, but have a weekend together and without their kids again. 

Watch out in the MN area, these guys may be causing some trouble...

...and I just may be there to watch it all unfold.

Pencil It In

Today, the senior pastor and I tentatively scheduled me to preach the Sunday Services on October 3rd.  If you are going to be in the Minneapolis area, you can pencil that date in if you are interested.

It's probably a 90% at this point and should be confirmed within the week or so.

Stop Feeding His Addiction

It doesn't help to give in to people's bad habits.  You don't laugh at inappropriate jokes people tell.  You shouldn't respond to another person's anger towards you by getting noticeably upset...the kinds of things people are hoping for when angry at you.

You simply need to stop giving attention to people's "bad" behaviors when it seems that the attention is something they are feeding off of.

That being said, media: please stop covering the Brett Favre story.  Talk about him on the field.  I don't need to hear more.  I don't care who had a conversation with him yesterday, or what time his plane landed.  I don't care what the special teams co-ordinator said when asked about it, or how the place kicker's practice was affected by it.

Please stop covering it.

Not Much Live Anymore

We don't have cable.

We don't own a DVR.

Regardless of those two facts, we still watch most of our t.v. as a new episode (not more than a week behind) but don't catch much of it when it is actually broadcast.

The wonder of the internet.  There isn't much you can't find on there nowadays.  I have become a wizard at finding whatever it is I need/want to watch, and to do so legally.

Let's Not Call It Cheating

I get it.  We don't want people to cheat in golf.  We want the scores to be honest and accurate and for everyone to play by the same rules.

(The rest of this post is about Dustin Johnson's misfortune on the 18th hole of the final round of the PGA Championship this afternoon.)

What I don't get, is when thousands of spectators, hundreds of cameras, 10s of commentators, and all fellow players within the area thinks that something was done within the rules, why people still need to make fuss over it.

There was clearly no intent, and clearly no advantage gained, and not a whole lot of reason to know what had happened.

Nobody thought he shouldn't have scored the bogey.  Nobody wanted the two stroke penalty to stand.  I wish it didn't have to.

Dinner with Friends

Nice to spend an evening eating dinner with some friends from church.

Great to hear stories about the time one of them got to spend in Africa and the eye opening experience a trip like that was for him.  I'm excited to see the ways that an experience like that changes parts of his/their life.

Equally excited about the chips and salsa/dips that were flowing to the tables.

Powerless Storms

We lost power at the church offices today for roughly 2 hours.  This happened just as we started throwing a baby shower for one of the staff members and his wife.

It comes in handy to have recently used a battery operated lantern for a sermon illustration when the power goes out for that long.

No need to stop the party when we've got those kinds of supplies.

There Are Days...

There are days that the time at work seems to go slow.  There are days that the task lists seem overwhelming and it just doesn't feel productive.

There are other days that are filled with meetings. 

Tomorrow is one of those days.  Time will be flying tomorrow.  Meeting, Meeting, Baby Shower, Meeting, Meeting and respond to e-mails and it will be time to go home.

Shouldn't feel like too long of a day.

Nearly Impossible

It would take far more than most days have ever thrown on me (though there have been a few) to make a day turn bad that at any point had you baptizing people in the open water.

It is an awesome thing to watch people decide to be baptized on the spot and get the honor of doing that with/for them.

Not much beats it either.

It's a Whirlwind

We bought a new computer on Wednesday night, and playing with it, in my boyish excitement, I forgot to write a blog.

It was one of few times Jenny was talking me into upgrading what we had gone to look at rather than the other way around.

At a leadership conference today and tomorrow, enjoyed hearing from the likes of Tony Dungy and Jim Collins today.  Really looking forward to Jack Welch and the owner of Tom's Shoes tomorrow.

Football Fun

The nice thing about being a Colts fan and a fantasy football player living in MN is that I just get to watch from the front row as so many people deal with the Favre drama around here.

Give me my popcorn and soda, i'm in for some entertainment.

Long Time Friends

Got to eat meals today with two great friends I haven't seen enough of recently.

One just married, and one getting married in just over a month, life has changed all of our availability, but it is always great to hang out with those guys.

Looking forward to all of us finding "normal" in our schedules and seeing more of each other again as able.

Sunburn, Surprise, Speed, Starcraft, Schmucks

It’s fun when everything you did in a weekend ends up as an alliteration.

Enjoyed a gorgeous day out on the lake and by the pool throughout Saturday afternoon before heading out to a surprise birthday party for my mother in law.

That left me feeling pretty exhausted.

After church on Sunday, found out about the speed purchase my father made, which I’m excited to experience shortly, and then played Starcraft 2 at a friend’s house before heading to “Dinner with Schmucks” in the evening.

If you had been thinking about seeing that in the theater, feel free to wait until video.  Not that great of a movie.

Something About Not Being In Charge

I don't know what it is about someone else being in charge, but it tends to change my experience.

On a typical Thursday night at our Young Adults Ministry, I am in charge.  The worship people ask me for topics and feels of the music, I plan the teaching, I give instructions for the small group time.

While I acknowledge that on those practical levels I'm in charge, clearly the work is only effective if God does it.  (i had to put this blanket statement in somewhere and here was as good a spot as any)

But tonight, much like 3 weeks ago, someone else was in charge.  We had an extended time of worship tonight, so there wasn't a teaching.  That put our worship people in charge of the whole night.  I always get to experience the night differently when that happens and i'm less concerned about seeing if the outcomes are as I expected.

I enjoyed not being in charge again tonight.

Yay for Burritos

I've now eaten Chipotle for lunch 2 days in a row.

It isn't often that I get to do that, but after having it yesterday, I remembered my love for it, and awoke to an e-mail requesting that be where my lunch meeting was.

Maybe tomorrow I'll make it three days in a row.  Highly doubtful, but I won't narrow it out quite yet.

A Stormy Response

The weather people on the news always give a recomendation when stormy weather comes into town.  Generally, it is to get inside, away from windows and such.

Truth is, storms in MN aren't that frightening.  The occassional tornado/wind is a problem, but just the rain/thunderstorms don't equate to much.

For that reason, and because storms are fun to watch, Jenny and I grabbed a couple of camping chairs and sat on the porch as the storm got near our house tonight.  It was actually quite relaxing.

The basement wouldn't have been relaxing.

The weather people sometimes get it wrong.

New Beginnings

Get to start working with a new coaching crew tomorrow as we lead some drills for high schoolers thinking about playing college soccer somewhere.  Mainly to-be seniors in high school that are part of a college prep program are attending a 4 day camp in the cities here.

The coaches from NCU are leading a couple of the sessions which means I get to train some of the girls and write up some scouting reports bright and early tomorrow morning. 

Getting to the field at 7:30 isn't as fun when you don't get to play.

Buggy

Went frisbee golfing this evening.

Right before we started, someone walking back to the parking lot after finishing their round said, "hope you brought the bug spray."

I should have paid a little more attention to their warning and used some of my friends' that was in their car.

Maybe the most attacked by mosquitos that i have ever been.

Hopefully i didn't lose too much blood.

New Software

Anybody who regularly reads this use Adobe After Effects for digital video stuff?

I'm looking to learn how to do some digital animation to logos and powerpoints to use as buffer videos in services and hoping to accelerate my learning by talking to someone who knows the program.

Let me know if you do, otherwise, I'll keep using YouTube tutorials and playing around.

No Time for Home

Decided I didn't want to spend the day at home I guess.

Had two meetings at different Caribou Coffee shops today and then came home for about half an hour, at which point, I decided it was time to leave.

Didn't feel like sitting on the couch all evening, so I left to pick up some flowers and meet Jenny at work for a surprise date. 

We went off for some shopping, some dinner, a movie, and then some dessert. 

Got home at 11:30.  Apparently, Monday just didn't have time at home in the cards for us.

Fewer Hours, More Exhaustion

On a typical Thursday, I will work roughly 14 hours.

Today, I worked roughly 6.

Amazing sometimes how the tasks can change how exhausting something is.  Between preaching at both services and hosting and speaking at a lunch about where the Young Adults Ministry is headed, I felt spent.

It was far fewer hours than my long days, but I was more exhausted because of the tasks at hand.  That and I was speaking to crowds for a little longer than 2 hours today.

It Doesn't End

Nothing makes a more dreadful dent into a busy week than adding a 7:00 a.m. meeting to the schedule.

Looking forward to talking with the rest of the soccer coaching staff about the upcoming season for NCU and discussing what role I will be bringing to the table for them.

Far Away

My brain wants to go somewhere far away.

For the most part, it's use has been for things that are fun and exciting, but the constant high productivity asked of my brain today makes it want to leave my week and go far away.

I could have done without a couple of the issues that arrived today, even if they needed to arrive at somepoint, had they waited until next week, that would have been nice.

For now, i'm hoping to sleep well.  Hoping that when I lay down, my brain will shut off.  Hoping for a break before I put it to work for 14 straight hours again tomorrow.

That will make things busy-er

It was already set to be a busy week getting ready for a vision casting lunch for this Sunday afternoon to prepare for the fall kick-off.  Getting prepared to speak in a way that will gain interest so that hopefully people will commit over the next couple of weeks to volunteering in a role for our Young Adults Ministry.

Adding that onto the top of the teaching for Thursday night meant the office hours would be busy this week.

Then, I was asked this morning, on short notice, if I could fill in and preach the Sunday Morning services as well.

That has made the week much more busy than it was before.  I couldn't say no to that opportunity, and will be excited when it arrives, but now have lots to take care of over the next few days to get ready.

It Feels New

They announced my role change (effective this coming Thursday) to the church on Sunday morning.

I was offered lots of congratulations by people who have appreciated me, most of which not knowing that my role on the hierarchy chart hadn't already been pastor, as they had clearly seen me in that role.

For a lot of people, the changes to my role won't seem new.  I'll simply be called what I've been assumed to be for quite some time.

On my end though, it feels new.  There is a new sense of pressure I have put on myself.  A new sense of responsibility I feel the need to hold up to.  Maybe this is because I have large dreams for what can happen through this church, and has less to do with my role, but something about this week feels new in my Spirit.

Everything's New

Lots of new things this weekend. 

Got to spend time with extended family on Friday night.  In the process, Jenny got two new shirts and a new necklace.  I got lots of new understandings about a certain few cousins. 

Dad turned a new age Saturday.  We also celebrated a new marraige of some friends from the young adults group. 

Sunday saw a new World Cup champion.

Overshadowing them all...a new birth announcement for Jason and Sarah.  Congratulations again, looking forward to meeting the rugrat.

Golf Caddy

First ever experience caddying comes tomorrow morning.

He/We tee off at 8:00.  I hope he/we set the course record.

After that, I'll need to run to the church quick to finish something for Sunday that I didn't have time to do today.

That is the midling task, because following that, I'll be spending time with family from out of town.  Should be a grand ole day.

Hoping for good weather.

No Teaching

Tomorrow will be the first Thursday in a long time that I won't be teaching.  I invited one of the regular attenders to speak tomorrow night and am looking forward to what she will share with the group.

It kind of feels awkward to have a week that I don't have any teaching I need to prepare, but I've been finding plenty of other ways to fill the time.  Namely, getting around to lots of the administrative work that gets put on the back burners while I work on teachings.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will cross a big chunk of adminsitrative things off of my list.

1 Year

I'm amazed the amount of trust that people have placed in my over the last year at Grace Fellowship.

I'm amazed at the belief in me from many of my co-workers and from my boss to do great things in service to God.

I'm amazed at people's willingness to listen to what I may have to say, and to excitedly work alongside me to accomplish visions that have stemmed from me.

It has been a great year, I hope the coming ones are even better.

Long Weekends

It was nice to share a long weekend with many people, most of whom also had unusually long weekends.

Fireworks on two occassions where we were close enough that debris landed on us.  Grilled out a couple of times.  Buffalo wings a couple of times.

A fun way to spend a holiday weekend.

On a new front, I will be caddying for the first time in my life this week.  I have a friend who is also a golf professional.  He is playing in a tournament this week that happens to be at the course right by my house, and was looking for someone to carry the bag for him.  I made the short list by both knowing the course, having a working shoulder, and having an open Friday morning.  Should be a fun new experience, and will be great to catch up with him again.

July Is Here

It doesn't feel like it should be July already.

Next Monday will be 1 year that I have been at Grace Fellowship.  It seems like the time has flown by.  Some of the relationships feel like they have more history than that, but overall, it seems like just yesterday I started on the staff there.

Wonder what the next year will hold.

It shouldn't be July already.  Things need to slow down.

New Role

Two weeks from Tomorrow (The 1st), on July 15th, I take on a new job description at work.  It increases my hours, my pay, and my responsibilities.

I'm looking forward to this, and most of the staff seems to be as well.  I'll continue to be over the Young Adults Ministry, while adding some other teaching duties to my schedule as well.

I'm looking forward to these opportunities.  Jenny and I are both looking forward to the paycheck change.

Busy-ness isn't productive

I was thinking about a lot of modern technology today.  Wondering how much of it has actually helped us be more productive. 

I will acknowledge that I communicate with more people, and do so more rapidly than any other time in history, but I don't think that means that I am actually doing more.

Maybe we used to have conversations with fewer people, but at least then they were conversations.  At least then life was exchanged and not just information.  While I appreciate what modern technology has done to enhance areas of my life, I find that more often than not, we have just made routine a small transfer of data with no real value or meaning. 

Unfortunately, for many, I believe this has transfered to their spirituality, specifically their prayer life.  God has become one whom we can IM, or text message, or e-mail or call, or whatever other form of media we may use to connect.  But we choose these methods instead of sitting with Him in conversation.  Instead of intimacy.

And then we wonder, why our relationship with God feels no different than with that random friend we didn't know if we should accept on Facebook or not.

God wants more than our status updates, and our busy-ness does not mean we are being productive.

Small Fingers

I'm generally unashamed about picking my nose.  It isn't that I try to make a spectacle of it, or that I do it at times where I know lots of people may be looking, but i'm comfortable admitting that I pick my nose.  I'm willing to dig as deep as the best of them.

Today, however, a finger reached a very uncomfortable position.  My 8 month old nephew has fingers smaller than mine, and he stuck it up my nose quickly, further than any of my fingers could fit because of their width.

Sometimes, small fingers aren't the best to pick a nose with i guess.

And I'm Spent

I really enjoy teaching, but it drains me.

Tonight, it was like I taught twice, and two different things.

Normal sermon for the evening, followed by 35 minutes of vision casting for the fall and fielding questions for 20 minutes.

A long time to be processing with mind and mouth.

Now I get to sleep and off to talk about the possibility of helping coach soccer at my alma mader.

Celebration

It was an exciting game to watch.  Gut wrenching at times, watching goals called back again, and chances going by that they should score on with a lot of frequency.  It felt like they would draw at 0-0 having played well, and be out of the tournament without ever losing.

Then, in injury time, the 91st minute of a 90 minute game, they go their goal.

U.S.A. Soccer made me wait a long time this morning to celebrate, but at least they let me celebrate.

They even won their group, and have found themselves on the fortunate side of the bracket if they can make it a couple games.

Hoping for a positive outcome on Saturday now.

Just More World Cup Thoughts

I hoped today that South Africa would beat France, embarrassing their team further (they did), and that Uruguay would beat Mexico (they did) by enough to let South Africa qualify on goal differential (neither win was by enough for this).

While I had some investment in the results of this group, the other group which played today, Argentina and South Korea advancing was essentially a foregone conclusion in my mind.

Tomorrow I'm hoping for America to win and advance, and Slovenia to embarrass England and advance.

I'm highy invested in this group and will be watching very intently in the morning.

Revolving Around The Cup

Parts of my life are distinctly ordered around the World Cup.

I realized this today when someone called and asked me when I would be available to get together.  I told them that Wednesday's and Friday's tend to work well, but had to add that this Wednesday, I was unavailable in the morning until the U.S. game was over.

Later, I got an e-mail asking if I could meet Friday morning at 9:00 for a different thing, and didn't respond until I went to ESPN and looked at the schedule to see which groups would be playing that morning.

There are some of us in the U.S. who recognize the most important sporting event in the world and are keenly aware of all that is going on in that tournament.

Programs

Today I finished the second 90 day program in a row.

Last december I started and went through the P90x workout program, and the first day it was done started B90x, reading through the Bible in 90 days.

I finished that program today, without an immediate new task on the horizon.

Don't know how intentionally I'll be looking for another random task to take on, but if anyone has any bright ideas, let me know.

U.S.A.

We simply aren't allowed to lose tomorrow morning's world cup game if we hope to advance.  Even a tie would make it sketchy.

I'll be awake and rooting.

Frisbee Teacher?

Can anyone out there actually throw a frisbee straight?

I need to be taught.  No matter how hard or soft I throw a frisbee, I cannot get it to go straight.  No matter which hand I throw with, my frisbee has a massive hook to it.

I need someone to come teach me.  I played frisbee golf again today, and it was a little embarassing, especially when I got my frisbee stuck in a tree.

I need your straight frisbee help.

Translation Feedback

Any of you out there who read this and own/read a Bible, I'm curious what translation you use/read/own and why.

If you own mulitples but only use one, just tell me that one.  If you actually use multiples, tell me the reasons.

Will help me evaluate some things that our church is currently thinking about, so i'm hoping you will respond to this brief mock survey.

Things That Weirdly Annoy Me

There are a list of things that are odd annoyances to me.

This morning I experienced one again.

Soft fluffy towels.  I like my towels to feel like they are drying me, not like they are hugging or comforting me.  When they are new and fluffy, It feels too soft to tell how effective it is being at drying me.  Give me a 10 year old towel and I'm happy.  New ones oddly annoy me.

Boys and Boats

Had a packed weekend.  Got to watch the World Cup games Friday, then a groom's dinner for a friend from college, followed buy some softball, and the new Karate Kid flick. 

USA world cup game on Saturday, where we were lucky to pull away with a tie, but was an entertaining game to watch, followed by said friend's wedding on a boat in the rain.

Today was church, at which one of my nephew's was dedicated, followed by his brother's 3rd birthday party.

I'm spent.

World Cup

The World Cup starts tomorrow.

Actually, the first game starts just under 10 hours from now.

I will be watching both games tomorrow.  It's an awesome time in sports.

Expectations

I don't know what to expect with the rest of the summer.  It feels like it is coming at me so fast.  As I think about all the things to plan and organize for work, and all the things in preperation for the fall, I get a little overwhelmed with how much work there is to be done.

My expectations for the fall are pretty high, but they have put a stigma over my expectations for the summer.

I've got to figure out how to reconcile these better.

Superman Rocks

Jenny and I spent the weekend away in the Chicago area.

It was nice to stay with friends, see other old friends, and think about little but enjoying ourselves.

It was also nice to go to Six Flags.  We had gone with a mission to ride the Superman ride, and it did not dissapoint.  A ride that is suspended from the track below, and by which you are hung as if laying down, the position in which Superman flies.

All in all, a great time. 

Now it's our turn to get back into the swing of things around here, something that is eery for me as the workload will increase and begin to ramp up as we prepare for a big relaunch in the fall for our Young Adults program.

Chicago

Off to the windy city. 

Playing 9 holes of golf in the morning (weather permitting), then eating lunch and picking up Jenny for the drive to Chicago.

Will be staying with some college friends for the weekend, then going to Six Flags on Monday.  Should be a good time away.

See you next week.

Where Eagles Dare

My hope was to get a hole-in-one today to have an example to celebrate when I teach on holidays and celebrations tomorrow night.

I didn't quite get it.

But I got as close as I possibly could.  I got an Eagle on a par 4, hitting my drive down the middle of the fairway, and then holing out my second shot from just under 100 yards away.

Last year was my first eagle, traditional on a par 5.  This year, my second, on a par 4, slightly harder and requiring more luck.

I think that means next year will be eagle number 3 and it will come on a par 3, in the form of a hole-in-one, at least, that is what I'm going to tell myself.

Golfing Time

Getting out for golf tomorrow should be a good time.

Hoping to golf friday morning as well, though I might only be able to get 9 in on Friday depending on the time I need to leave to head out for Chicago.

Not a bad couple of days before we hit the weekend.

Get to teach on holidays and celebrations in the middle. 

Maybe I'll get a hole in one tomorrow to make for an awesome sermon illustration on celebrations.

Landscaping

Digging up plants so you can make them into multiple pieces and re-plant them is a process i've been involved in before, but still don't understand.

Unless the plant is actually bothering me in some way (none of these were), I see no reason to dig them up. 

Too Many Options

There are too many options for what to write about that covers things since the last post.  Unfortunately, they vary in moods so dramatically that I wouldn't be able to do any of them justice.

My best attempt at this point is just to list them, and maybe return to expanding my thoughts on them in future posts.

Friday:  Plumbing went will with Ryan, except the wound on my head that looked like somebody drew with a red Sharpie.

Saturday:  Barbecues are fun.  The Albertville Outlet had some awesome deals, so shopping went well.  Found heartbreaking news that a student from First Baptist committed suicide.

Sunday:  Beginning to honor those who are/have served in our armed forces this memorial day weekend.  Helped make 6 homemade pizzas.  Played uncle for a few hours pretty successfully today.

Each of these has so much more behind them, but can't pick any of them to talk about coherently right now.

Money Talks

I enjoyed teaching about money and tithing from the book of Deuteronomy tonight.

I feel most people have the wrong idea behind why tithing was instituted and what the purpose of it is/was.  This legalistic, God demands my money so I check it off the list each period drives me nuts, so i was glad to teach its history and modern day application.

Now for some sleep before I continue with some electrical work at Ryan's.

Not a Morning Person

Tomorrow I'm headed to a conference at the Target Center.  The people I am going with are meeting at the church at 6:00 a.m. 

That seems crazy to me.  Who gets up during the 5 O'Clock hour?  Tomorrow, i'm going to, and that means I won't be functional or happy for most of the day.

Best Score

It's been so long since i've typed any thoughts for the web.

Had a great men's retreat this last weekend.  Enjoyed the results of a burger cooking competition, grilled my own steak, and had unlimited potato wedges, so the food was always good. 

Ran into an acquaintance from college that turned into a relationship that will be greatly beneficial in how it pushes us forward in our spiritual journeys.

My teaching time went well, and got some great encouragement from many of the men of my church at some of the things I'm doing, and their appreciation for them.

And, as the title of the post says, shot my best score ever in a round of golf.  Now, it wasn't just my score, it was the result of a golf scramble tournament.  My team won, and was a team that was really 2 and a half of us, as the score would have probably only changed by 2 or 3 strokes had it actually only been 2 of us.

We ended up shooting 11 under, and with some better partners, could reasonably have shot 14 under or so.   We were actually 8 under through 9 holes.  It was a blast of a weekend.

Preparing for a Long Day

Tomorrow starts like any typical Thursday, with a 7:45 coffee meeting.  The day is then non-stop until my last meeting ends sometime between 9:00 and 9:15, 13 and a half hours after the first meeting started.

However, tomorrow, when that is done, my options change.  Generally, Jenny and I either head home, or out to eat with the young adults.  Tomorrow, though, I'll be starting my 3 hour drive to Trout Lake Camp for a Men's Retreat.

Will be a fun day.  Will be ready for sleep when I get to camp.  Will be ready for fun when I wake up.  Will be ready to teach some biblical things at the retreat.

Will wish I was able to go to steak/rib dinner on Saturday night with family, but will at least be enjoying my own steak at the same time.

More Handyman Services

The weekend had the door installation.  Tomorrow has electrical rough-in on the agenda. 

I'll have a work meeting in the middle, but the rest of the day is to help one of the young adults get his basement roughed in for electricity during the mornign and afternoon.

Should be a good time of bonding, and get some work done.

I Didn't Expect That

Sometimes you just don't know how the day will unfold.

After dinner on Saturday night, Jenny and I got in our comfy clothes and put in a movie.  We figured we were in for the night.  Until around 10:00 when a friend called and asked if we wanted to partake in a prank he was pulling on his brother.

Fill an entire first floor with dixie cups full of water.   We decieded we would join in the fun and spent the next while placing dixie cups on the floor, filling the plastic ones with water and the paper ones with cat food.  We hadn't expected this turn of events.

Then the next turn of events happened.  Our friend noticed he had left the living room light on, and couldn't walk there anymore, though he was convinced he could jump to the opening of cups by the door from the couch across the room.  The other 5 of us gathered in the doorway to see if this leap would be successful.  As far as clearing the cups goes, the leap was successful.  However, his momentum continued carrying him towards the corner of the room and the door.  His body hit the corner, and part of the door, but his hand, put up to brace himself, found the one glass pane in the door and broke through it, cutting his hand enough to need stitches.

That mean, a late trip to the E.R. for stitches.  It also meant that our friend needed to replace the door on his brother's house the next day.

My Sunday was then spent with my friend, his dad, and me installing said door.  The friend of little help as he couldn't use his hand at all, leaving him fairly useless in a construction project. 

Saturday night I though I was sitting down for a movie, turns out, I really was planning the next 24 hours of my day.

The door got installed, everyone is fine, everyone is happy.

Spent

There aren't many days where I get to feeling as spent as I do right now.

At a conference with my volunteer team, other paid team members, and Jenny for the day was an experience that will help us continue to dream about what we can accomplish.

Leaving after thinking that way all day left my mind in a mush for the drive home and prep time for tonight's service. 

The service took a lot out of me tonight as well.

Fortunately, Jenny and I both have the day off tomorrow, and the new Robin Hood movie is out.  Should be a good way to relax for a little bit.

Being Noticed

Sometimes people wonder what it would be like to walk into a store and have people recognized you.  To have done something that people notice enough to say something about it in public.  Speaking in front of crowds consistently is one avenue to ensure that this will happen.

Today, I walked up to a cash register in Target and as I approached heard the cashier say:

"Hey You!  You're the announcement guy!"

Clearly someone who attends the 9:00 service at Grace where each week I am in charge of doing the announcements.  She simply thanked me for my effort in bringing creativity and humor to the announcements so as not to just be reading her own bulletin to her.

Though it may not be the thing I would hope to be known for throughout life, it was kind of nice to be noticed in a random place.

Just Over 10 Months

I've worked at Grace for just over 10 months now. 

I figured today would be a good day then to start to make my office feel like my own.  I re-arranged some of the furniture so that I have more working space, and will start decorating and personalizing my space tomorrow.

Pretty soon, I'll even put up all the functional things I want.  After a year or so, it should actually feel like my office.

Catwalks and Lifts

Hanging 20 feet of rope from the rafters of the church sanctuary, tied to a mesh bag holding a 40 pound boulder.

Will be a fun pendulum illustration in the service this coming Sunday.

OG OD

Jenny's mom chose Olive Garden for mother's day lunch.  My mom chose Olive Garden for mother's day dinner. 

I didn't finish my second OG meal of the day which means there are leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

3 straight Olive Garden meals may put me into overdose heaven.

Intuition Run a Muck

I went to a midnight showing of Iron Man 2 with 2 other guys tonight.

After 1 preview I felt strongly that one of my biggest movie pet peeves was among me.  Some of the murmuring led me to believe that this may be one of those audiences that thinks it will be appropriate to clap during the movie...an observation I told the two gentleman with me.

It then came true 3 times during the course of the movie.

Not the time I want my intuition to be right.

Disturbed or Thankful?

I've been in my fair share of public male bathrooms.  I expect that in doing so, it is likely that if i need use a stall, i'll have to wipe the seat first.

Such an occassion arose today.  Upon wiping the seat however, the automatic flusher went off.  This wouldn't have been a concern except that it flushed powerfully enough that some of its water splashed back upon the seat.

I couldn't decide if I was disturbed or thankful for such a thing.  Am i supposed to be happy that perhaps all that was on the seat was water from the last flush, or disturbed that I have to wipe again?  Happy that it is likely hard to clog this kind of toilet, or disturbed that it may flush and act as a (insert appropriately spelled french word that phoenetically comes out 'buh-day')?

I still haven't decided if I was more disturbed or thankful, though spent all the time on that toilet wondering what the consensus would be.

Job Reviews

Had my first job review today at Grace Fellowship.

Was warned in advance to not expect a bunch out of it as my review was going to be very positive.

If every job reveiw I have goes like the one did today, I'll count myself lucky.

It essentially functioned as a big pat on the back, and my supervisor soliciting ideas for ways I think he could help release me to be more effective by eliminating any areas of my job that I don't like.

I think that is as close to an ideal job review as one can get.

Coffee Shops and Comptuers

I spent 5 1/2 hours in coffee shop meetings today, and 3 hours in a computer meeting/photoshop lesson.

I don't even know why I have an office sometimes when a properly equipped laptop would suffice for all my needs.

Now that I think about it, I don't even know my own office number...

Suppose we'll see tomorrow what I do with my time at the office.

Jenny's Back

I survived the 10 days as a bachelor.

I'm being well taken care of again...or at least am more accountable for the choices I make.

Creative Media Frenzy

I've been on a creative us of multi-media frenzy since yesterday.  It didn't die today.

Jenny may not be the only one in our family that would want a new computer with the new version of photoshop now.  I'm opening myself up to a whole new world, one that is deep enough that it had scared me to enter it for a while...

...but now that I have found the right guide, i'm ready to learn all I can to be more visually supportive of the things the church does.

A Whole New World

Within the last 9 months or so, I've begun to play around with using Adobe Photoshop for some things at work.

Tonight, I was at one of my young adult's houses who just happens to be a graphic designer, so I asked him to show me how difficult some things would be to make.  He opened me up to a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to using photoshop.

Now I just need to start investing some more of the time into it to get quick at doing some of the new tricks he taught me.

Warn Out

54 holes of golf wore me out today. 

Hoping to re-energize tomorrow with a big meal of meat at lunch thanks to Fogo De Chao.

Putted better today than I ever have before.  Made some pretty long ones and didn't miss the short ones.

Time to get to bed early.

Not Enough Seperation

Tragic news stories are hard when I can't find any connection between myself and anyone in the stories.  When the degrees of seperation get smaller, the stories cause more wrenching in my gut, and heart.

Today was one of those days.  I was supposed to meet a worship leader who works with me for lunch today.  He called to cancel because on of his best friends, and former roomates had their house broken into this morning.

The burglar shot the wife of the house in the chest, killing her, and the husband in the leg.

I can't get it out of my head.  The situation is far too close to ignore, and I don't even know the people involved, just one of their close friends.

10 days of bachelordome

but there are 60 hot dogs in the fridge, so I should be okay.

Alarm Free

It was a rare Wednesday with no alarm clock to wake me up. 

I actually fell asleep trying to get out of bed.  I made it to the other side of the bed, but fell back asleep before rolling to the end to get up.  The extra hour of sleep felt good before I got up to work on my teaching for tomorrow night.

As the days become more and more rare that I have no alarm set, I have started to cherish them more than before.

The Dual Reality

I have always been a pretty harsh critic of sermons that I hear.  I am at least consistent in that it transfers to me being a really harsh critic of even my own sermons.  Therefore, when asked to join the church creative team, a chunk of which deals with the critiquing and debriefing of last weeks services, I knew I would have helpful things to say at that point.

I, however, have never been good at critquing worship.  I still don't know exactly what I'll be looking for to critique, as I have no musical knowledge, but know that I am supposed to start critiquing that aspect of the service as well.

Here is to hoping I can maintain a dualistic balance in participation, and getting out of the services what God would intend for me, while at the same time, having my analytical lenses on to help the service parts continue to improve and strive for excellence.

Perfect Golf Weather

I had a tee time at 7:30 this morning.  On hole 14 or so, we decided it was perfect golf weather.  All sun, no wind, not too hot, but warm.

I decided, I wanted to take full advantage of the weather so I called to see if someone wanted to play an afternoon round, but they were unable.  At that time, the person I was playing with decided he could afford to take the afternoon off of work after 1 quick lunch meeting, so we scheduled a tee time at a different course for 1:30.

36 holes of fun, and i've got the beginning of a tan to show for it.

It was a good day enjoying the perfect golf weather.

Good Things Don't Last

The closet system Jenny and I were planning on putting upstairs is no longer for sale.

The Chaise lounger I had eyed for a while is no longer on sale.

The Good Things seem to not be lasting anymore.

Ah well, I always like finding more/new good things.

Should Have Rained

The rain is better on days I am in the office.

It simply looked too gorgeous outside today for me to be trapped inside.  I wish it would have just rained.

1600 or so

Today was my annual day (4 years running) of folding shirts in Jenny's office. 

I will feel it most on my thighs, from where they hit the table as I would lean to stack the shirts after folding them. 

Roughly 1600 shirts got folded today.  It becomes very repetitive, but at least the progress is visual in both the filling of shelves and the emptying of boxes so the repetitive actions always show the dent they are making.

I wonder if I'll end up with a shirt to call my own this year or not...