So here is a hearty shout out to the Dawgs for a great 2007 season! Thanks for providing an enjoyable distraction from the heartbreaks of life.

Now on to more important matters. I haven’t spoken publicly about this before as it seems to be a highly charged, emotional subject for all people. But now, I will make my position and actions known.

I wear Crocs and I enjoy wearing them. My old brown slip on shoes wore out and I was unable to find another pair at an affordable price. We get coupons for a local shop that sells Crocs so we got some for the girls. About midway through the summer, the thought occurred to me that Crocs fit all the requirements for the kind of shoes I was looking for. So I got a nice neutral khaki color and now wear them 99% of the time.

I don’t have to waste any more time putting shoes on and it feels like I’m walking around in my white socks all day long — I do love a nice, fresh pair of white socks. Yes, I am aware of not standing too close to the edges of escalators and that they are not for running in, but while their highly debated style may and will change over time, I don’t think they are a passing fad. Due to the level of comfort and simplicity — especially for parents tired of untangling knots and/or people with a “special needs” basset hound — I think they are here to stay.

Bulldawgy has inspired me to set goals for this year. I must admit his eschatological goal was quite ingenious and is probably something I should put a little effort into myself. Not so much to find anything to mark my calendar by, but to be able to cut past all the misinformation, tradition and fiction for myself.

So here is my list so far. Keep in mind they are subject to change:

• Organize all the digital photographs (iPhoto is great except when importing pics from older versions)
• Organize the digital video tapes and import all the Santa and St. Simons footage
• Import the rest of my CDs into iTunes
• Finish the Chronicles of Narnia (currently on Dawn Treader) and read three other books
• Redesign Grace Fellowship’s website
• Organize/attend four local ministry events

I have to remember to dream big but set obtainable goals.

Being the end of the year and all, I guess I need to write at least one post for the month of December 07.

I don’t know if “funk” is the right word for it but I think that’s what I’m feeling — and I’m not talking about the musical genre. I’ve either been too busy to write, or when I stop to write something,  the subjects are either not worth posting or they are too complicated to write about effeciently and effectively.

Maybe it’s because of my appearance on FaceBook - are you my friend?

I watched Batman Begins on BlueRay and was very impressed with both the movie’s story line and the clarity of the technology. I also spent some time in the bookstore this weekend. I picked up The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis. While at the bookstore I saw a great typographical commentary on Christmas that I know Hugh will appreciate.

Merry ©h®is^TMas

So on that note, I wish everyone a blessed 2008. For some, it may fly by. For others, there may be a long road ahead. But either way, know that the Lord is leading and may you find your peace in Him.

Oh, and GO DAWGS!

The new version of GarageBand moves it out from a musical sketch pad application to actually being able to arrange songs. So, I’ve been working on recording some friends’ worship tunes and writing some of my own. In the process I am reminded of something that I took issue with back in my younger days — back when hymns weren’t cool and modern praise was becoming acceptable in “big church.” Any one remember Shine Jesus Shine? Back in the day, that was really pushing the envelope.

I always wondered why religious songs always used the same old words to describe God — holy, glorious, majestic, worthy, etc. I thought to myself, “Those words don’t mean anything to me or anyone else born in the past 100 years. Why can’t anyone write songs that don’t sound so old and religious?” Well today I realize the problem wasn’t really with those particular words, it was with me.

In the movie Contact, Dr. Arroway is transported to outer space and as she gazes on the wonders of the universe she says something like, “I have no words … They should have sent a poet.” Similarly, I didn’t begin to comprehend the greatness of God. I didn’t understand the gravity that the words take on when we attempt to apply them to glimpses of an indescribable God.

They are all we have and yet they will always fall so incredibly short.

Last night I actually got more than 8 hours of sleep.

The strangest part was being woken up by the dog to go out. At first it was frustrating because it felt like it was 3 AM. But after looking at the clock, it was only 11:45 PM — right on schedule. Crazy.

P.S. This weekend is a blackout so wear black instead of red.

After reading a few of the “obligatory post-summer anticipatory Fall” blog posts, I have to wonder … is it Fall yet?!

Here it is Halloween and it seems like we’ve had a whole two days of sub-75 degree temperatures. I look out my windows and the leaves are still on the trees … and they are still green. (Does anyone else remember trick-or-treating and running through yards so filled with leaves that they came up to your knees?)

It feels like I’m in some kind of seasonal limbo. Next season, same as the first — just replace the hours at the pool with school. Part of Fall for me is anticipating Halloween by breaking out some long-sleeved shirts, campfires, pumpkin farms, taking pictures of the changing leaves, and eating some delicious BBQ as the smokey scent fills the crisp air.

On top of all this, WAL*MART already has its Christmas displays out. So it seems we are just skipping Fall altogether now and going straight to “the most wonderful season of all” … shopping/materialism season.

Can someone let nature know that it’s Fall? Thanksgiving is less than a month away.

Happy Halloween!

It sneaks up one you. One day you are playing poker and the pot consists of Skittles and Starbursts. You can bet it all and not care because you’ve got a pocket full of candy you were going to eat yourself anyway. You are just enjoying the game, hoping to get some more candy and then — KA-BLAM! — someone lays down any of the following cards:

• Divorce
• Suicide
• Infidelity
• Abandoning the faith
• Addiction

All of a sudden you’re playing with very real cards that have very real consequences.

It seems like just yesterday I was in school worried about grades, relationships, and career path. Then I moved into being married and playing house and trying to raise kids. But when something like this gets laid on the table, I am forced to acknowledge that I — like everyone else — am dealing real cards and the stakes are high. Possibly even the very lives of my wife and children.

I guess it just an example of how easy it is to try and live in a fairytale. Maybe it’s just another step in growing older. Everyone has to play the game of life and we only have the cards we are dealt, but we still need to play them well.

Pray and be there for those who have been dealt the big cards.

Here’s a little something to chew on that I am looking for feedback on…

What are the implications, effects, results, logistical/theological problems with the idea that Jesus was NOT God, but a man (Adam 2.0) partially conceived by God (thus the title ‘The Son of God’) that lived a perfect life, died on a cross and rose from the dead?

For the sake of the exercise, “Because the Bible doesn’t teach that, look at this chapter and verse…” is NOT what I’m going for. I am wanting to explore more of how it effects things systemically on a practical theological level. Is it that big a difference if Jesus was God or a perfect man? Either way, the perfect sacrifice was made for our redemption, right?

Let the games begin!

(No, my church doesn’t teach this and I’m not personally considering it as truth.)

After a long day of removing wallpaper, now I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

Now THAT was exciting! Bring on the victory boxers!

In a recent discussion about denominations, I began to think about the lack of depth in church Bible study and how the two topics are related. It seems that unity is very important in churches these days but what are we sacrificing under its banner?

“Just don’t talk about religion or politics,” is a general rule of discussion in pubic group settings, but has that mindset crept into the church as well? Not that I’m promoting disunity, but I find it very hard to have an in-depth spiritual discussion without very specific issues like anthropology, soteriology, and Christology coming up. So what do we do?

In the name of unity we focus on the general ideas of the Nicene Creed and topics of Christian Living, because when we discuss who we are, who God is, how He saves us, etc. in detail, that’s when the wheels generally come off. People disagree, people feel intimidated, people take things personally, people would rather stay in the shallow than actually think about what they are saying when they repeat vague Christian cliche. Studying, thinking, learning, about God is too difficult.

And so we have the non-denominational and community church — not to mention a lack of Biblical literacy, the rise of moralism, and the inability to bring the Gospel to a world that has moved past the typical shallow answers a long time ago.