Saturday, December 22, 2007

Sick Baby


Stockton did tremendous on his first cross-country flight to California (with special thanks to the awesome Ajas!) Unfortunately, he has come down with a California cold. Needless to say, his father is freaking out. Pray that my sweet baby boy can breath a little easier soon.

Here he wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Friday, December 14, 2007

What's wrong with this picture?

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Fun Game


My office sits right off of the main hallway in the church. Attached to the church is an early learning center which has its main door at the end of the hallway, about twenty feet from my office, so kids are frequently walking past in the old-fashioned semi-straight-but-ever-bending preschool line. The teachers have implemented "bubbles (puffing out your cheeks with air) and ducktails (woo - ooo) (hands behind your back pointed out) " in order to make sure the kids stay quiet and keep their hands to themselves.

Here's a game that makes my day awesome. When the kids walk by, I wave at them. It is amazing and hilarious how many of them break their ducktails (!) and wave back - because even if I wave at only one kid, all the other kids see that kid waving at someone and they start waving too. It's like domino's (not the pizza) with each kid trying to out-wave the other. Not sure how the teachers feel about it - but it is hilarious.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Jaybees

The curtain hasn’t dropped on 2007 yet – but it has risen on my 26th year of life. Year 25 was one of gut-wrenching goodbyes, heart hugging hellos, and full of more harsh transitions than a middle-school mix-tape recorded off the radio. (“Can you play “I’ll Make Love to You again without talking over the beginning part of the song?”) Here’s a better transition…into the awards for Year 25 of my life. Ladies and Gentlemen…the Jaybees.

The Jaybees Soundrack – “The best and most meaningful songs of year 25.


Killing in the Name – Rage Against the Machine

the most oft-played face melter during vicious ale-8 drenched Guitar Hero gatherings.

Sweet Child O’ Mind – Guns and Roses

the second most oft-played song at said gatherings and the first song dedicated to Stockton

Monkeywrench – Foo Fighters

My battle cry for a little while


Bubbly – Colbie Caillat

Do not think I am less of a man – wins the Jaybee because Dana sang it to Stockton while he was still wombing it


Song in My Head – Sherwood

Great concert / care ride with quality friends / nothing turns a crappy day around faster. "Oh I don't believe it" either

The Best in Me – Sherwood

See above

Sunshine of Your Love – Cream

The iheARTjesus band did a rendition of this…and it has been in my head ever since.

Jump – Simple Plan

The soundtrack for a mind-blowing fall retreat.

Streetcorner Symphony – Rob Thomas

Don’t be a music snob – you know you liked it to.

The Office Theme – Scrantonicity

Thursdays at 9 (8 central!)

And now…the awards…

Proudest Moment – 9:55 am, Thursday, November 15th – 8 pounds 1 ounce of life-changing fury

Most “Oh Jesus, you’re going to have to help me moment” – 9:55 am, Thursday, November 15th – 8 pounds 1 ounce of life-changing fury

Most Difficult Moment – 7:00 pm Tuesday, November 13th – 9:54 am Thurdsay November 15th; The process of labor began on nervous/ excited (nervited), and went through ridiculousness. Eventually we were sleeping during the three minute intervals between contractions.

Best Book (Seminary) (tie) The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

(points out where Christianity has neglected its duty to be a prophetic people and seeks to correct it)

The Drama of Scripture by Bartholomew and Goheen (traces the big picture ideas of the story of God in a captivating way)

Best Book (non-Seminary) – The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

Most Embarrassing Moment

The nominees are…

1) sweating through 2 shirts during
mine and Dana’s big dance recital

2) Dana interrupting classto let me know how hungry she was or

3) the time I standing-spooned Kelly Lawson because her and Dana were both wearing a black shirt and blue jeans…

standing-spooning someone other than your wife squeaks it out…

Most Surprising Moment –

Dana: (expletive)

Jason: what’s wrong, baby?

Dana: I’m pregnant.

Jason: what’s that?

Dana: I’m pregnant.

Jason: Hmmmm.

Best New Discovery – Diaper Genie

Best Re-Discovery – Billy Ocean

Best New Skill – and the nominees are…

1) playing Guitar Hero on the expert level

2) doing a ferocious and sexy tango

3) changing diapers…

and the award goes to…changing diapers! (clothes, velcro, lift, wipe, cream)

Coming Through in the Clutch Award – Ben and Beth Kickert for making the house magic happen

Friend(s) of the Year Award – Team Kickert; Team Lawson; Team Aja – I have a combined total of 45 nights in their homes, eaten 34 lbs of their food, been on their internet for 300 hours. Six finer friends do not exist.

It Is My Personal Belief Award – Miss South Carolina

God-Moment of the Year – Saturday night fall retreat

Best Community Building Moment – I did not want to use a port-a-potty in humid/hot Mississippi in the middle of summer – so I loaded up some youth kids and used the facilities at a gas station five minutes down the road. We took turns. I called first.


Quote of the Year – “Mah Fahngers!!”

Saturday, December 1, 2007

And baby makes three...part duex


And we’re back….following never-the-same-November…


I am no more than five feet away from a massive crib that is holding my less than massive baby boy. Less than massive, however, does not mean less than stellar.

Just over two weeks ago, following 38 hours (?!?) of labor (I didn’t know it went that long!) Stockton Isaiah came into the world. After a splashdown, screaming, and squirming on his mom’s chest, Stockton scoped Dana and was immediately soothed.

I have soooo much to tell you….but I’m sooo tired…. Here’s some quick hitters before Stockton needs a diaper change.

- I’ve had this conversation no less than 74 times.

o “What a cute baby! What’s his name?”

o Stockton

o Stockton…hmmm…is that a family name?”

o “No actually, it’s the name of my favorite NBA player.”

§ (I tend to leave out everything that John Stockton stood for)

o “Oh…that’s nice.”

- Stockton is named after John Stockton, but “Stockton Isaiah” means something even more awesome than that. “Stockton” = “firm foundation in”; “Isaiah” means “salvation of the Lord”. Put them together and you’ve got “firm foundation in the salvation of the Lord” For comparisons sake, Dana’s name (Dana Marie) means “bitter man from Denmark

- Stockton does not like having his diaper changed, but doesn’t mind peeing in his own face.

- Stockton likes to sleep ALL day….and ROCK AND ROLL ALLLLL NIIIIIGHT!

- Stockton is a diaper diva – he refuses to reuse an already dirty diaper and instead waits on you to change it to he can use the clean diaper.

- There is nothing like walking into your room and seeing your beautiful sleeping wife holding your beautiful sleeping son. Over like grover….

- Diaper rash cream must be cold...really cold. Stockton puckers his butt every time you put it on him.

I’m out like a soiled wipe…

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

And baby makes three...



Monday, November 12, 2007

Jesus and Creflo

Let me admit my bias first. When I was a kid, the World Wrestling Federation villain I most loved to hate was "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. I would hate his stupid cackle and his mantra "Everybody's got a price" because he would buy off my favorite guys and then laugh.

mwaaaa haa haa haa

Fast Forward to the present, where Creflo "The 69 Million Dollar Man" Dollar (church pastor if the name did not give it away) is answering for his extravagant "pastoral" lifestyle. Answering a question about his Rolls Royce, Creflo Dollar responded, "Without a doubt, my life is not average," he said. "But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong." (http://www.cbs46.com/news/14565577/detail.html)

And Jesus wept.

And then said this: "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

In honesty, where do we draw the line? It is easy for me to laugh at Creflo Dollar, not only because he has a funny name, but also because I will never make $69 mil in a year...or a life. But are there places in my life where Jesus looks at me like I am looking at Creflo (I just like typing the man's name!) Does Jesus weep at my NBA shorts? (much much less than sticker price on Ebay, in an act of parenthetical self-justification) Does Jesus cringe on this laptop that I'm typing this out on? I point and laugh at Creflo but I am one of the richest people in the world - not in the relational sense but in the real, I'm-an-American-who-eats-everyday sense.

Where is the line?

Thursday, October 25, 2007

I am the Guitar Hero


I beat Guitar Hero today. I completed all the songs on expert. As soon as I completed the last, I ran around the house and screamed"wooooo!" Dana told me to be quiet because she was on the phone. Doesn't she understand that I am a rock star now?!

How much life did I spend playing Guitar Hero II? I don't know, but it was worth it :).

The picture is from the youth "rockstar" party.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Where Would Jesus Live?

My friends and I once got into an incredible discussion about sexual offenders. What should happen to them? Should they be labeled as "predators" forever? Should they have their business removed?

Here's an interesting article that brings up all kinds of issues: Sex Offender Paradise.

Are the laws fair governing sex offenders? Haven't they served their time and deserve full reinstatement into society like everyone else? Let me know what you think.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

New Birth

"A new birth is required if we are to see the signs of His presence. We need new eyes that perceive what is hidden, new hearts of courage to risk all in order to gain what the world deems lost. This new birth is the good work that Paul says God has begun within us. What does it mean for everyday life? The list of specifics is long and filled with risk. It means caring about human problems that most people would rather ignore. It means calling for forgiveness when others call for blood. It means insisting upon justice when others are prepared to settle for order. It means giving money and time without asking, 'what's in it for me?' It means turning our backs upon the idols of pleasure, convenience, and class. It means being satisfied with nothing less than the coming kingdom of God."

- Richard John Neuhas.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Imitation...

Recently, some good friends of mine rolled through BG. After we had got done eating, we were sitting around talking (and Guitar Hero-ing) and Stockton started doing calisthenics in Dana's belly. (You know how, on the outside of the "moonbounce" you can see it when the exceptionally large kid runs against the wall or jumps especially hard and you can see the moonbounce bulge? - that's what it looked like) Dana gets excited and the hand-on-belly parade begins. Hannah, the cute-as-nothing-else-almost-two-year-old, is third in line and Debbie (the mom) puts Hannah's hand on Dana's belly. Hannah gets google eyed and then Debbie says "Can you feel the baby in Dana's belly?"

We all continued to watch the moonbounce while Hannah moved to the couch. The next time we looked at Hannah, she had her shirt up and was feeling her belly.

There was no baby bounce in her belly, but it was equal parts hilarious and cute.

Here's to hoping Hannah waits for Stockton - two years older is ok :).

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Stars and Bars

impetus for this post can be found here.

There are some things in this world that I will never understand. (Does this sound like a soapbox?) My brain will never wrap itself around why this isn't a foul (notice especially the hand caressing the backside at :58), why Christians are the world's worst at maintaining the status quo, or why sound and smell are the most powerful senses (I can say Graduation Song 2000 or "middle school boy smell" and you not only know exactly what I am talking about, but your whole perspective changes in about 1.4 seconds).

I have lived in Kentucky for my entire life, yet the Confederate flag is something that I have neither come to understand nor embrace. Rather than being a symbol of "southern pride" it is, to me, a symbol of ignorance, hatred, and a yearning for a thankfully bygone era. There are those in my life who do not share this view. Instead of viewing the flag as a sad piece of history with two too many stars (Missouri and Kentucky never joined the Confederate States although they are represented on the flag), it is a celebration of the "free spirit" and "rebellious nature" of the south and, by extension, the wearer. Unfortunately, not everyone who lived under that flag was free.

I fail to understand how Americans, especially Christians, cannot see that their symbol of pride is one of persecution and put-down for another, and why that isn't enough to take a stand against it. There is nothing inherently evil about a swastika, indeed it is a stylized cross, yet we have mutually agreed that the its symbolism is unacceptable in public discourse. While the Confederate States did not murder three million people, there is still inherent oppression and racism in it, whether it is "confederate states" or "southern heritage". Why is there such difficulty with this symbol?

Monday, October 8, 2007

Holy Halo?

The fine line between "relevant" and "Christian" as told by the New York Times.

Thou Shall Not Kill...Except in Video Games

Perhaps more than any "ministry area", youth ministry strives to be on the cutting edge. By getting the kids in the doors with Halo, are we sacrificing content for "community"? Has fellowship become our golden calf?

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Great Day

Put away your torches and pitchforks (all four of you). Sorry for the HUUUUUGE delay in updating. I feel like I spend most of the week "catching up." One week I'll be a good husband, but a terrible student; the next week I will be an exceptional student, but a horrible husband; finally, when I get it all figured out, I realized I have neither updated my blog nor showered for the past five (or 20!) days. (I have showered during this time period.) I'll spare you the high quality hilarity of the past few weeks and leave the laughter for a later date. Suffice it to say I had the most embarrassing moment of my life followed almost immediately by a more oh-no-please-no moment. Plus we have THE MOST amazing friends and family ever. Each of them need their own trading card to explore the statistical awesomeness. Not today though - that's just a taste for later.

Flip the switch to the present day.

Today was an amazing day. I had my first performance review at my new job. This one went alot better than the last one.

Later, our extended family came to visit on their way through Kentucky. Tony, Debbie, Sam, Madison, and Hannah Grace Akers rolled through and ate delicious food (my wife is the bionic woman - not in that "cold as steel" way, but in that awesome "can do everything" way) and shared life. Tony and Debbie gave me my awesome training, Sam can do a spot-on impersonation of Captain Jack Sparrow (and I can pick him up), Maddi is taller than me, and Hannah is potentially the second cutest baby ever. (The first TBA sometime in November).

Changing table is ready. Crib is up. All they need is a baby - and he is doing DDR in Dana's belly. But he is in need of a middle name. Stockton _________ Go for it peeps.

(I promise it won't take as long for the next update.)

Friday, September 7, 2007

Ruh - Ruh - Random; I'm just blogging about the things that come to my head

I am so super stoked about an upcoming program in the youth ministry that I can hardly contain myself. "i heART Jesus" is an organic conversation between scriptures and the arts. It will allow artistically inclined students to explore their giftedness through painting, music, drama, and writing. Students will be connected to adults who will guide them through the artistic process. The program will be capped off with a show at the beginning of November where students can display their work. You should pray about this.

I started school this past Tuesday. I have been blessed to have a class with some of my most spectacular friends in all the land. For the first time of my schoolin' career, I felt totally uneasy and not excited at all. As soon as West-Texas-bred Steve Martyn said "I jus' want to blesssss youu" in his down-home Texas drawl, the excitement juice started pumping again. It peaked when, during convocation (opening chapel) Bill Goold, (whose voice is what I always pretended God's sounded like) busted out the two Asbury fight songs (not really fight songs as much as trademark hymns) and ol' Ellsworth gave a halftime-worthy message.

Why does the NFL have Kelly Clarkson and Faith Hill kicking off the season? Are they trying to appeal to the middle-aged women demographic? I understand I am on my way out of the cool 18-25 male demographic, but Faith Hill especially looked out of place. "This Kiss" indeed.

I like Whoopi Goldberg alot. I hope she doesn't pull a "Rosie" on The View.

On Facebook, there are several "One Million Strong Against Hillary" and "I will leave the country if Hillary is elected" groups. Why such vitriol? Because she didn't divorce Bill? Because she actually attempted to be a first lady that did more than host tea-parties and easter egg hunts? I'm not necessarily a huge Hillary guy, I'm just wondering why everyone hates her so much.

My little boy is getting big inside of my wife's belly. Every time the little man kicks her belly, he moves my heart.


(ok, that was a little Hallmark-card-sappy)


(but I don't take it back)

Thursday, September 6, 2007

"Do you go here?"

At my church, I am in the process of recruiting prayer partners - adults to pray specifically and intentionally for individual youth. (No props for me for this awesome idea - direct all respect this way This morning, I went to a particular class, populated with elderly women, and had perhaps the most hilarious conversation in my life. This will surely work its way into a message one day - but for now it will be confined to the blogosphere. Read the old lady words in an old-lady voice - that makes it even better.


JB: Good morning. My name is Jason Brown, I am the youth minister here at Broadway. First I want to thank you for the chance to come and talk to you about something that I am very excited about in the life of the student ministry -

Elderly Lady 1: Do you go here?

JB: Yes. I am actually the youth minister. I work with 6th through 12th graders.

EL1: Oh, that's a good group.

JB: It is a great group! And that's why I am here to talk to you today - so often in the church we neglect two major gifts from God, prayer and Christian community. With Prayer Partners, we are not only trying to counteract that, but also to connect you in powerful ways with our young people. If you can pray, you can be a prayer partner. All you have to do is say "Dear God, be with Johnny today." and we will get you information about Johnny so you can pray for specific needs in his life.

EL2: Well, what we do here is we (information removed to protect the innocent) and we give all the money to the ELC (Early Learning Center) because they are next - they will replace us.

JB: Yes, but you have so much still to give - that's why I am here today, to ask you about becoming a Prayer Partner.

EL3: Well, we already work with the ELC.

JB: Really? I didn't know that. Well, really, all you do as a prayer partner is pray specifically for one kid.

EL2: I will think about it. I am a bit slow these days and if I don't get something done in the morning, I don't get it done at all.

JB: Oh well, you wouldn't have to do anything beyond pray for the kid. If you wanted to give them a phone call or send them a postcard, we would bless you in that endeavor but all we are really asking you to do is pray for the kid.

EL1: Do you work with the ELC kids?

JB: No ma'am, I work with the 6th - 12th graders.

EL1: Oh that's a group that needs alot of work.

JB: Well, we all need all the prayer we can get. I think I might be making this sound a little bit more complex than it is. Basically, we do all the work and give you a picture of the kid as well as some information about them. Then, you hang it on the fridge or wherever and whenever you see it you just say "Hey God, be with Johnny today."

EL3: I will think about it. I am just so busy. I have alot of grandkids.

EL4: Will there be a communication sheet in the bulletin?

JB: Actually, we can sign you up right now if you want to. I have a sign up sheet and we can get the ball rolling.

ELs1 - 6: Well, I'll think about it.

JB: Are you on crack? How hard is it to pray? (I did not actually say that)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a little bit frustrated, but I understood going in that this group of folks would potentially hear "youth" and shut down. Why do the majority of folks love the kids (birth - 5th grade) and then become psycho about 6th - 12th? Is it because they challenge you? Because they don't blindly accept what you teach? Are they intimidating because they (youth) pretend to have it together and adults feel like they too have to have it together? This is not a slight on my church. Indeed, I imagine this would be a major exception to the norm of recruiting adults to pray for our young people.

What kind of Christian community can we legitimately claim if we are afraid to even pray for each other?

Friday, August 31, 2007

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Carson McCuller's The Heart is a Lonely Hunter has always intrigued me - if nothing else, just for the title alone. I am now disappointed that I checked it out of the library - because I want to keep it. I have this thing with books that I want to have my own copy and borrowing from the library or from a friend feels less like the love affair a good book should be and more like an illicit get together with someone else's partner.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter centers not only the lack of partnership, but the cutting isolation of the five main characters in the Depression - era south. Biff, Jake, Mick, Dr. Copeland all look to Mr. Singer for something that goes deeper than companionship and acceptance to affirmation and love, even while Mr. Singer, a deaf-mute, literally withholds himself from all but the object of his affection - who is a louse.

Perhaps most importantly, each of the main characters ascribe nothing short of godhood on Mr. Singer - which each of the four very different characters projecting themselves and their desires onto the deaf-mute. To Mick, Mr. Singer is one who understands the music like her, while Jake, a labor agitator, knows that Mr. Singer has communist and socialist sympathies just like him. Comically, Mr. Singer informs his friend that he simply cannot understand why these different people continue to seek him out as he does not understand what they say to him. Tellingly, each of the characters have dreams in which they are presenting nothing short of themselves to Mr. Singer (as God) for approval.

Ultimately, (needless) isolation results in tragedy.

I wonder how I have isolated myself. I wonder what I have projected onto God that is not really of Him - just what would make me more comfortable with him.

I am thankful for the gift of Christian community and for the witness of scripture to correct me when I am wrong.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

veXXXing situation

Dana and I live in a duplex. This basically means someone built a big house and split it down the middle. The address is somewhat confusing - both our neighbors and us are 1605 but we are the "B" side while our neighbors are "A". So if you wanted to send me something, (like a high quality fake mustache - thanks Martins!!) you would need to make sure you put "B" on the address.

Someone attempted to send something to our neighbors who have very recently moved in. This something is small, the size of a magazine, and is covered in an opaque, black plastic.

Unfortunately, our new neighbors neglected to tell his correct new address to whichever adult magazine he prefers.

So here's the dilemma, what do I do now? Do I walk over there and say "hey, I'm Jason, I live next door - here is your pornography. (by the way, I am a minister)" Or do I do the old "doorbell-porndrop-run"?

Monday, August 27, 2007

When Dragons Roamed the Earth

The past few Sunday nights, I have been walking my youth through the biblical narrative and hitting all of the high points - the goal being that when kids hear a scripture or a story they will be able to not only appreciate it but place it in its proper context within God's redemptive activity throughout history. Tonight was "Redemption Initiated through Israel" - dealing specifically with the Old Testament. Here's an actual quote (from a kid who is a great kid who has grown up in church all his life) from our small group discussion.

Me: "If a person came up to you and asked you to summarize the Old Testament, what would you say to them?"
Youth: "I would say that the Old Testament was when dragons roamed the earth and wizards were slain."

He said he was joking, but I am not so sure... :)

Monday, August 20, 2007

Accio Finale!


This is (at least) my 16th attempt to digest Harry Potter. When Dana and I closed the tome after the (super lame!) last line, my first response was this:

"Yeah. I liked it. It was Harry Potter...of course I liked it!!! I think..."

Early in the book, before we spend too much time in the magical tent - I very much shared Ron's frustration about not doing anything but then I wondered if Rowling wasn't giving a sly nod to the reader AND acknowledging her slow pace with Ron's venting - Rowling drops this line while Harry is packing:

''It gave him an odd, empty feeling to remember those times. It was like remembering a younger brother whom he had lost.''

Such a sweet line that sums up the entire seventh book in relation to the rest of the series. While I was never a fan of the extended Quidditch matches or the misadventures of Ron and Fred, the childlike innocence that served as a worthy backdrop in the previous books, has ebbed out completely, leaving something a little darker and (this is so difficult to write) not quite as fun, and not quite as honest. If Voldemort and his Death Eaters were as bad as Rowling would have us believe that they were, then this final go-round was too easy. I kept waiting for the ultimate punch-in-the-gut, re-read-about-fifty-times moment (a la the deaths of Sirius and Dumbledore) and it never came.

Further, there were a few instances in which Hermione had whatever they needed in that big-honkin' bag of hers - like old school Batman (Holy Magical Bag Batman!) Some of the quests were a bit forced.

Finally, Snape deserved better. I wholly expected Snape to die in one way or another, but his death could have been that "punch-in-the-gut-holy-buckets" moment that Deathly Hallows lacked. Beforehand I read the book, I thought Snape would die saving Harry-Ron-Hermione, and I still think that would have served a much more powerful redemption than the Pensieve.

I expected "all was well" but I didn't expect it to be quite so easy. What did you think?

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Thoughts on three

Three years ago yesterday, underneath a painted-pink sky, I held my best friend’s hand, looked her in the eye, and climbed over the lump in my throat to tell her “I do.” It seems like we just got married yesterday…but so much has happened since yesterday. I get more chill bumps looking into those baby blues than I got when I first spotted the brunette-bandit that stole my heart. To celebrate our anniversary, we went through the drive through at Burger King – here’s a brief sampling of some of the more exciting adventures we’ve shared.

- hearing Stockton’s heartbeat / seeing the ultrasound

- road trip to Mississippi

- our first (last) yardsale

- second anniversary splurge at Le Dauville (so good…)

- Salt Lake City trip to see the Jazz (fifth row! Picture with Jerry Sloan! Stood on the court! Three at the buzzer!! Overtime!! Win!)

- The mouse….(“um….there’s a mouse.” “ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshkillitnowkillitnowkillitNOW!”)

- Political / theological / cultural / everything-al debates on road trips

- Wheel of Fortune (“We are NEVER playing this game AGAIN.”)

- Dana’s screaming at my intramural basketball team to “REEEEEEBOUND! BOX OUT!”

I hesitate to call them adventures – because they have been blessings. I cannot wait to see the incredible ways God will continue to bless us – especially as “we” becomes three.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Confessions of a Bibliophile

There are things that are better than books. These things include, but are not limited to, having an incredible wife, being overwhelmed by the presence of an amazing God, belly laughs with best buds, a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send your team to the NBA Finals, and those heart-to-heart conversations that change everything after them.

Books are still good too.

There are three days that I go bonkers for each year. Christmas - you can't beat Jesus' birthday - my birthday - whatever I say goes! - and the day we get new books for class. I nearly wet my paints when I picked up Lasor, Hubbard, and Bush's Old Testament Survey and tripped over myself getting back to the apartment to read Ben Witherington's New Testament Theology.

All the wetness aside, my first love was literature. I wanted to teach literature to high school students. There is nothing like a book, and the genius of great writing - words that peel away the layers of life and get to what everyone else's brain is trying to get around. My favorites are on the right, here are some more (nonfiction) that I like.

the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (not sure that I'm sold on the 7th one though)
the Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Don't hold out on me now - give me some good ones that you enjoy.

Friday, August 10, 2007

"Our Son"

While preparing dinner, I did something stupid. I don't remember what it was. But Dana responds, "You're not allowed to do that in front of our son."

I understand that part of my calling is to influence kids. But it takes on a whole new meaning when it's yours...

I don't like wearing alot of clothing when I'm at home - does that mean Stockton will strip when he's at school?

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Stockton, meet Bradley

Dana and I just returned from our first "Bradley" class. It is a natural birthing process that emphasizes relaxation techniques to control pain over against drugs. It was intentionally educating and unintentionally hilarious.

- I was the only guy in a room of three woman, two of them pregnant and the other pregnant with knowledge. Have you ever talked about hemorrhoids with three women?

- The leader passed around questions for each of us to "talk" through. My question: How do I feel about an episiotomy? (An episiotomy is a procedure by which the perineum, the skin between the vagina and anus, is cut for a variety of reasons.)

- Actual conversation:
Leader: "I didn't think they made bra sizes beyond DD, but when I got to looking, they go all the way to J"
Other pregnant lady: "Oh they go beyond J"

- Actual conversation:
Leader: "There is a sack that surrounds the baby in utero. Sometimes the baby is born in the sack."
Me: "Really?"
Leader: "Oh yeah."
Other pregnant lady: "My cousin (or some relative) was born like that. I could bring some pictures next time if you want to see what it looks like."
Me: "Umm....no thanks."

I'm off to go do my Kegel exercises...

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Sabbath

Holy Buckets! For the two of you that haven't entirely given up on this blog - let me attempt to reward your constant checking for updates. It has been a shot-out-of-a-cannon month. You remember those cartoons where the character takes off and leaves part of himself behind...and then it takes off and catches up? I feel like my mind is just now catching up. Let me catch you up.

July 1 - 7 in Wilmore for John Wesley Theology class (work due by July 31st)


July 8 - 14 in Pearlington, MS for Senior High Mission trip (as one of my youth put it - fun, but hot and lots of bugs)

July 15 - Ultrasound with Dana - results have been posted here for like a year now

July 16 - 21 Catch up on all of the work at Broadway that wasn't done the previous week

July 22 - 25 Mission Week in Bowling Green, KY (doing mission work in the community and spending the night in the (little nasty) youth house)

July 26-30 Read all the John Wesley theology that had bene put off until the end of the month.

July 31 - Take John Wesley test and turn it in (Thanks to Kelly for being awesome and turning it in for me!!)

August 1 - Today.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that I have attempted to give you every excuse as to why you have been staring at my baby boy for the past month, let me tell you what has been happening. I am the luckiest dude in the world. You disagree? I will fight you. Here's the deal, I get to see God work in and through amazing young people. In Mississippi, it was not only nappy hot, but there was swimmy humidity. You sweat when you stepped outside. You sweat when you laid down to go to sleep at night. You sweat as soon as you got out of the shower. We were outnumbered by mosquitos 7853 to 1, the food was a little craptastic, but the kids totally macked it. Despite me just complaining just now, the youth did not complain once.

What did I learn? God doesn't need me to have every answer or an exact schedule to work. With willing hearts and an open mind, we found work, met some amazing people and felt the amazing presence of the Holy Spirit. Enjoy these pics.



The group with Miss Josephine. Josephine stayed through Katrina while working in a nursing home. Josephine and her partner were living in this trailer that was a doctor's office that had been left after the storm. The place was heavily damaged. We redid the siding, spackled, sanded, painted, cleaned, and generally helped her and her husband put the house back together.





and we danced a little bit too :)














I'm going for some sabbath rest now. You should pray that it is awesome.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Awe and Awwwww


I REALLY want to write about the Mississippi Mission Trip. It was an absolutely incredible experience, and I promise I'll get to it. But I had to put these up here first.

Meet Stockton Brown.


Middle name is still up for grabs :).

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Too Tired to think of a Creative Title

Hey friends,

Sorry for the lack of updates - I meant to post that I would be on a mission trip for a week. Unfortunately, I haven't recovered enough to make this blog worth your time. Suffice it to say God is awesome. To borrow a quote from my boy J. Aja - "God is much bigger than me."

I'm going to rest and talk to my wife. Post and pics to come.

Suffice this: Can words get around the blessings of ministry with adolescents? If they can - I don't have them.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Wesley witness with the wife

One of the reasons I was so attracted to Dana was her moxie; her general unwillingness to accept anything without searching it for herself to make sure that it is true and trustworthy. Sometimes this bites me in the butt - like when Dana searches to see if I actually cleaned or not - but is a tremendous blessing to banter theology with my wife.

My intensive class on the theology of John Wesley sparked a recent conversation with the Awesome Lawsons (who always live up to their name) regarding Christian perfection (full-on orientation of love towards God and neighbor) and John Wesley the husband. More specifically, Dana, while acknowedging the contributions of John Wesley to theological thought, dismissed a great deal of John Wesley because he was a horrible husband. While I am not an expert on Wesley, the biography I am reading confirms Wesley abandoned and neglected his wife under the banner of ministry. For Dana, Wesley's treatment of his wife was a dealbreaker.

Realizing this is a Cliffs notes version of Wesleyan perfection and the dynamic between Wesley and his wife, I am curious as to what you faithful readers (both of you!) think. Does Wesley ruin his witness by neglecting his wife? While Wesley never claimed to reach Christian perfection, does his horrible relationship with his wife undercut him? (It is worth noting that John Wesley, at least to my knowledge, never repented of his treatment of his wife)

Very curious to hear your thoughts.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Just like old times...


There are very few things in this world that make me wet my pants. If the Jazz win the NBA championship in my lifetime - bring on the Depends. If I am not out on the floor when my baby pops out, that splash (and whimper) you just heard was me. Not that the experience I had today would equal those things - but the combination of old school toys and cutting edge graphics nearly made me go wee.

Transformers the movie (and that cool sound effect that you made over and over again when you were playing with Transformers) is a visual feast. While the plot will not come close to changing your life or making you think, the robots are simply stunning. There are a fair amount of laugh out loud moments but the real point of the movie is finding an excuse to get the robots to go at it. This movie will not change your life - but as far as big explosions and ridiculous eye-candy (of the 80s toy variety) it can't be beat.

A few more thoughts (no major spoilers, but maybe a little)

First the good,

- Optimus Prime is sweet.
- Maybe the best air battle scene I have ever seen at the end.
- Bumblebee's interaction with Shia Lebouf (what kind of name is that?) is hilarious


and the bad

- my favorite guy wasn't in it (Soundwave if you're keeping score)
- the Autobots (good guys) are cars while the Decepticons (bad guys) are planes, radios, helicopters, and other cool stuff - Autobots got the short end of the stick dude
- the Autobots are good guys - but they are guilty of some ridiculous product placement, right down to the "GMC" on the grill of the Hummer
- sometimes you were so close to the battles, you couldn't see what was really happening


all in all - you should see it. you should DEFINITELY see it if you played with the toys.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Why I like the Jazz...part 2

During one of my one hundred and twenty three checks for Utah Jazz information during the day yesterday, I discovered that the team had called an impromptu press conference. Teams don't just call press conferences to thank 25-year old dudes for pulling for them. Teams only call press conferences for big deals - major trades, coaches getting hired, fired, or resigning, and all the big moves in-between. This was not a good press conference...

Derek Fisher (Who could forget him?) is being released from his contract in order to move to a city that not only has an NBA team but also has a retinoblastoma specialist to take care of his baby girl. While Fisher's on-the-court production (10 points per game 3 assists per) can be replaced, his off-the-court class cannot.

Fisher is a class dude to put his family before $21 million and the Jazz are a class organization to let a guy potentially go to a rival for nothing. In a world of professional sports where it is so easy to wonder where the good guys are, it is nice to pull for an organization full of them and one in particular.

I'll be a Fish fan no matter where he goes. (unless he goes back to the Lakers...kidding!)

Monday, July 2, 2007

Don't Call it a Comeback....

Dana and I rolled up to the administration building of Asbury Theological Seminary at 12:58pm eastern standard time - just in time for me to jet up three flights of stairs in time for my 1:00 class. We are in Wilmore for this week (until Saturday) in order for me to become an expert on the theology of John Wesley.

It is weird to be in Wilmore and not call it home. The Subway that I kept in business is still there (Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki baby!) The Fitch's IGA is still here (you can only use your card if you're purchase is over 5 bucks - so I've picked up alot of stuff I didn't necessarily need just so I could use the card) but it is still different.

I don't handle change well. I started walking toward Apartment 10 as soon as I got done with class today, getting excited about playing a round of Playstation (not that I did that all the time, wink wink) but then I realized, my Playstation wasn't there. Apartment 10 is still there, the Marsh's still live across the hall, you can probably still here Lamech yelling at his Wii, but everyone is settling into a new normal - with Dana and I in BG. (well - not everyone, but some)

Other thoughts on the new normal -

- not everyone is here (paging Jeremiah and Lindsay...*sadface*)
- stinks when you can't run back to your crib for a bite during the breaks (how many times can you read the cartoons outside of professors' doors??)
- excited about 4th of July festivities....I talked to an ATF agent (!) to make sure my activities were legal (I will try to post some pics)
- question that has nothing to do with this post: am I a nerd because I requested friends with someone who plays for the Jazz? technically we met when I asked him for his autograph

Have a good 4th!

Friday, June 29, 2007

Benessere

You know that feeling that you get when your hanging with the crew while delicious eats and belly laughs are coming and going side by side? You know - that feeling where everything is right with the world and you want to bottle up this moment because it feels sooo good and you may never have another one like it?

There's a Italian word for it. Benessere.

Wishing you benessere :)

Monday, June 25, 2007

Ministering to Harry Potter(s)


My beautiful wife has gotten her beautiful nose stuck in the world of Harry Potter. This is what she said to me the other day (no lie!): "Life would be so much easier if we could just apparate."

I haven't apparated yet - but something jumped in my mind like a delicious chocolate frog today during my regular staff meeting. What kind of worldview does reading Harry Potter create in our young people?

There are those that argue that reading Harry Potter will turn young people on to witches, warlocks and other "darksided" things. I am inclined to not just disagree but to also argue that anything that turns young people on to reading is ultimately beneficent. (Especially when the entire Harry Potter series can be cast in terms of the gospel of Jesus Christ - sacrificial love as the ultimate power - but more on that another time.)

The question I am asking is, are young people enthralled with Harry Potter because it is someone their age doing battle? Is is because someone their age is making a difference? taking on adult responsibilities? In the meantime, while we at the church are telling them they CAN and SHOULD make a difference (no problem there) but then failing to set them up to do so. We are telling them they can change the world and then taking them to pick up trash.

Is Harry Potter tapping into something that the church has neglected?

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Yeah - Nobody Likes You!

I've been blessed by the opportunity to help out at an Upward basketball camp this past week. Basketball + Jesus = the highest quality available, right?

Check out this scene: At the end of camp, non-Upward camp kids begin to filter in and mix with Upward Camp Kids. The Upward-Camp Kid (hereafter abbrievated as UCK) is one of the youngest, sweetest kids at the camp. He was super-stoked to have a 50 cent medal draped around his neck. Not from the rapper, but a gumball machine. He's always smiling, always does what you ask of him, and is generally an all-around good kid that is fun to be around.

While UCK is tossing is ball about 5 feet short of the 10 foot rim, a non-UCK yells at another non-UCK who is entering the gym. "Hey, Andrew, GO HOME!! NOBODY LIKES YOU!!"

A kid dressed in too-short shorts and too-big glasses looks up. This is presumably Andrew. He looks at the kid, frowns, and looks back at the floor - just catching his coke-bottle-glasses before they slide off his nose.

Sweet little UCK catches his ball and yells "YEAH ANDREW, NOBODY LIKES YOU!! GO HOME!!"

My eyes got as big as Andrew's glasses.

While another staff member took care of the kid who initially yelled at Andrew, and after I picked my jaw off the dilapidated gym floor, I called UCK over to me. He bounced over to me smiling and dribbling his basketball.

"Do you know Andrew?" I asked him.
"Nooooooo," he said, still smiling.
"Then why did you yell at him that no one likes him?" I asked.
The still-smiling UCK pointed at the kid who originally yelled and said - "Because he did."

I got on my knees to be eye level with UCK (thank you Nanny 911). Did you do that just to be like that other kid, I asked him. He nodded his head yes. I told him how stupid what he had done was and how hurtful it probably was to Andrew. I told him that just because somebody else did something didn't mean he should do it.

"If that guy ate poop, would you do it?"
"eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww"
"See what I mean? Just because other people do stuff doesn't mean you should do it."

Amazed me as to what kids would do and how far they would go in order to be cool, or in the "in-crowd" (choose your cliche).

Saturday, June 16, 2007

The 5th Floor


My senior year of high school, some friends of mine and I got stuck on an elevator. I wrote a poetry book later that year and included this. Enjoy.
-----------------------------------
"The 5th Floor"

Getting on the elevator
fiddling with our keys
heading to our vehicles
was Wes, JR and me

We stepped across the threshhold
Into the tiny ride
"Jump into the air," one said
it feels like you can fly

Feeling light and weightless
until we reached the top
the elevator descended
and then we heard a pop

From flirting with gravity
and jumping like a bunny
to a heap on the floor
guys this isn't funny

Jumping up and laughing
nor smiling were we no more,
for our elevator had just broke;
stuck on the 5th floor

Jumping to attention
staring at the door
Praying for intervention
stuck on the 5th floor

Fiddling with the buttons,
pushing emergency
"I'm stuck on this elevator,
someone please help me!"

"30 minutes - help will arrive,"
the operator said
We all looked at each other
huddled up and prayed

Talking to each other
this day would be our last,
Death was all we smelled
until Wes passed his gas

Then somthing shook the box,
like a doll of paper
clutching each other we screamed,
we're about to meet our maker!!

The top of it opened,
and through it came a hand.
Like James Bond in the movies
through the top to stable land.

We left the elevator
wanting to ride no more,
'cause jumping up and down got us
stuck...on the 5th floor.
---------------------------------------------
Hope you enjoyed it - I at least enjoyed finding my old senior year poetry book.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Let Your Life Speak?

Why can't the FCC fine the Fox network for foul language dropped by Nicole Ritchie? A court ruled that because President Bush and Vice-President Bush can cuss, the precedent (example?) set by them becomes determinative in what is labeled as "indecent."

"The fact that Bush sometimes curses may seem irrelevant, but the "community standard" is one of the most important factors in legally determining indecency. What's good for Dubya, the court ruled, is good for the debutante. And while the ruling immediately applied to "fleeting" profanities, it could have broad implications for the FCC's ability to limit naughty talk on broadcast TV and radio in general."
(source: Time Magazine http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1630538,00.html)

It should be noted that the article seems to be heavily biased against the President.

The degradation of public discourse aside, the notion of the "community standard" stuck me. I have, over and over again, learned that the most effective curriculum is life - shared life within the community of faith. The community is the curriculum. Further, it is by far the most effective curriculum - for good or for ill - that I have ever seen.

You want your children to be a followers of Jesus Christ? Act like one.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Absolutely Unacceptable

While recently having our washer and dryer delivered and installed, the delivery man asks Dana if she is married. She replies yes.

"Happily married?" he asked.

She told him yes and that we were pregnant.

I don't know the tone in which his second question was delivered, but in my mind I picture this gross delivery dude cocking his head to one side, sneering, and giving my wife that wink-wink look.

I was furious. I still am.

The dude I talked to at the company was also furious and said that he would see to it that the delivery team in question would be re-trained.

Jerk.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Words from the wise?

Sometimes I can't turn my brain off. Here's a thought that's been on spin-cycle since my 25th birthday - about six months ago.

"What would 25-year-old Jason say to 18-year-old Jason?"

My response has consistently been "Nothing that 18 year old Jason would receive."

Not a statement on how wise 25 year old Jason is, just how cocky, arrogant, thinking he had it all figured out 18 year-old Jason was. In the words of a former colleague of mine, "You've got the game messed up."

So here's my question, what would (insert your age here) year-old (insert your name here) say to 18 year old (insert your name here)?

ex. What would 45 year old Joe say to 18 year old Joe? (momma! ha!)

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Moving Day....er....Moving Weekend

Let me first appologize for the lack of recent updates. I have spent the last couple of days letting the love of my posse percolate as much as possible. (Lame comment alert) What an incredible blessing it has been to live in the Asbury community with so many quality people.

I'm not sure I can string a coherent paragraph together (at least one you want to read), so here's some quick thoughts on moving.

1) Loading the U-Haul truck is life size Tetris. We kept loading and loading and waiting for that long straight line to drop. Luckily, we got it. Who said video games didn't influence you and/or make a positive impact on your life? Everybody say it with me - do, do-do-do, do, do, do, do, do dee, do, do. Lamech, AnneMarie, and Jeremiah sang it with me :)

2) There is a reason the makers of EZ Off (oven cleaner) tell you to wear long gloves. It makes your skin BURN and BUBBLE. And it hurts. Bad.

3) Furnishing the new crib in Target today overheard this conversation:
Big Brother (as mom was walking into the door): Who's that walking the door?
Little Sister: Mommy.
Big Brother: No. That's my mommy. You were abandoned...........You were abandoned.
(if you want to hear it - it's even better!! - call Dana!!)

4) The new crib is very spacious and nice. Very homey. I have a "man bathroom"! Best part? Basketball goal in the back. 8/10 on the first go-round baby.

5) Wierd sleeping in a new place. When does it become "home"?

6) I have killed 304 spiders. Wait. 305.

7) We don't get Fox. Because Fox was the only channel we got consistently in the Bettie, all my shows are on Fox. We do get NBC crystal clear - yeah Office! - but what about American Idol, the People's Court, and most importantly Nanny 911?!

8) After watching my wife clean / work for the past four days, I have come to an important realization. Dana is a robot.

9) Driving the U-Haul is more scary than manly. You can't go fast and every single tractor / truck / tractor-trailer is about to hit you.

10) Sitting in the U-Haul truck at a red light, and one of the Broadway youth sees me and yells "Jason!! Hey!!" Made me smile.

11) Jazz season ended this week. I was sad, but it was offset by the quality of the week and the fact that they got as far as they did.

12) Stuff gets lost easily moving. I have no idea where some of my stuff is. So, I'm going to find stuff.

Be blessed!

Sunday, May 27, 2007

What would you do?



If you are hurting for time - read the post below first. This one will make alot more sense.

Here's the situation:

You are sitting at a wedding reception dinner with approximately five people whom you do not know. You have made small talk with these people enough for them to know that you are a pastor and that they are Southern Baptists. Most of them have attended or are attending seminary. Your conversation is easy and pleasant but nothing altogether deep.

The reception is elegant to the extreme. Ice sculptures. Fancy food that you have never heard of and don't like the taste of. Open bar. Chair covers. Extremely nice and expensive hotel. And - the highest level of elegance offered to the common folk....salad forks.

During the dinner, your johnny-on-the-spot waiter is the paramount of polite. Two sips of your water results in a refill and a plate left alone for more than two minutes is gone. In short, he is the king of courtesy.

Immediately following the dinner, the waiter, without offering, fills a single champagne flute in front of one of the aforementioned members of your table. She frowns, looks at her friends sitting next to her, and harumphs, "I guess I just look like a drunkard or something." Cue giggles.

The waiter, who retreated after pouring the first glass returns and, this time, offers to fill the champagne glass of another one of your tablemates. She refuses.

He moves to the next female. She shakes her head no and puts her hand up.

Next. Boy. No. (waiter frowns)

Next. Girl. Nope.

Next. You.

You have signed a statement saying that you will not partake in alcoholic beverages.

What do you do?

Why don't Christians dance?

Psychadelic tie. Check .

Quality paints. Check.

Book to read when wedding service get ho-hum. Check. (But then we had to sit in the front row because Dana was showing off the pipes....so no book.)

Seriously, Dana and I had the pleasure of attending the holy matrimonious service of Maryem Raissian (race-ee-on) and Nathan Smith. Dana and Maryem were super tight in college so my baby put the pipes on display during the ceremony. It was not only not pitchy at all (we got a hot one tonight, Randy-dog!), but Dana was by far the most beautiful lady in the room. It was cool to reconnect with some old friends and to celebrate Maryem and Nathan.

I discovered that folks of Iranian descent, namely Maryem's family, know how to have a ridiculously good time. I'm not sure if it was the open bar or their free-spiritedness, but whenever the DJ (who totally deserves his own entry because we was the DEFINITION of wedding DJ) would put away the American tunes and spin the synth-pop Iranian beats, the dance floor would FLOOD with people. Simple equation: Iranian synth-pop = dance floor full. American tunes = dance floor empty.

This is not to say that the American Christians that attended didn't get off their American butts and make the magic happen on the dance floor - but it does beg the question, do Christians know how to celebrate? I don't want to paint with too broad a stroke, because the frivolity of the Iranian folks may have been due, at least in part, to having all of the family there. But there was a marked difference between the celebration of the Iranians and the Americans. The difference? The Iranians seemed to be loving every minute of the celebration, soaking in the joy and frivolity of the event with a passion. Everyone else, namely the Christians, seemed to be going through the motions. Again, not to paint with too broad a stroke or indict anyone for their behavior, but it seemed that the Christians (VERY GENERALLY SPEAKING) were more concerned with maintaining their witness rather than celebrating and blessing the covenant made between these two people.

When does "maintaining your witness" serve to tear down community rather than build it up?

Monday, May 21, 2007

Yarn About a Yardsale


This past weekend, I added another "first" to my ever-increasing resume. Dana and I sifted, sorted, packaged, and priced - and stocked our front lawn with high quality items priced to sell.

Here are the highlights:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People buy some of the dumbest stuff. Dana collected a bucket of pens and hawked it for a buck. We basically sold our junk drawer for a buck.

Having a yard sale makes you feel kind of naked. When people come buy and looked, I almost wanted to explain why I had certain stuff.

People will buy anything if a) it is in the "Everything is a quarter" section b) they can talk you down from whatever price is on it. Go ahead - stick a 25 cent sign on a pile of poo - I guarantee someone will buy it. It's only a quarter!

Yard sales bring out some interesting characters. I was seriously intimidated by some of the professional yard-customers that our sale brought out. They had it almost down to a science - pull up in car, hop out, quickly rifle through stuff, if something found - signal to driver / if nothing found - run and hop back into car and drive to next sale.

I was expecting some haggling, but only a couple people did and they did it with Dana, who is an expert haggler. Everyone should marry someone who is an expert haggler.

The haggler-come on: "What is the least you would take for this?" Made me feel kind of cheap.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Overall, it was a good day. We made some scratch, met some interesting folk, and lightened our load for the B(i)G move.


Peace and grease. I'm out like a pro yard-saler at a crappy yard sale.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Back to the land of the living

One marathon all-nighter later (with a couple of YouTube binges with a quality brodie in-between) and the J-Train has wrapped up his 3rd year at THE Asbury Theological Seminary. You may ask yourself, did he just refer to himself in the third person, with a nickname? Yes, he did. This lame-o reference brought to you by not enough sleep this week. I'm going to be generous and call it fifteen hours in the past three days. So, before I head off to the fortress of solitude in preparation for a quality-filled evening (re: Heroscape, The Office, Delicious food with my baby), let me hit the reflective gear.

What a crrrrrrrazy semester.
In this order: resigned one job, took 13 hours, discovered pregnancy, accepted new job, started new job (which requires mo' better travel), got new place, cavi messed up (story later), fixed cavi, wrote 462 papers (10 pages each) and here I am.

Here's some craziness left on the horizon: move out, move in.

I want to tell you something else too. I am TREMENDOUSLY blessed. I could count all day - and I will one day - but not today.

Here's a brief sample

1) I have the most beautiful, amazing, moxie-filled wife in the history of western civilaztion. You don't believe me? Check the stats,yo. Yep, that's the mother of my child. Yep, I get to kiss her every day.

2) I have ridiculous friends. I think of my friends and then I'm like...really? Special props for the Awesome Lawsons - who let me watch the Jazz close-out the Warriors. Special props for the Quality Kickerts for letting me sleep, eat, bathe, and live at their place. Above and way beyond.

3) Last - I get to hang out with some absolute GIANTS. These folks deserve their own entry.

4) I am going to be a father. I am ri-donk-ulous excited. My family is excited. Dana's family is excited. Um...can I think of another word than excited...not on no sleep.

May you be blessed abundantly. I'm off to sleep.

Peace out, Seacrest.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

I have a new hero...


When I started this blog, I promised I would limit the amount of Utah Jazz action on it - lest I look like a complete whacko. But what happened last night absolutely cannot be poo-pooed. Derek Fisher, a backup point guard and sometimes starting shooting guard who missed game one of the semifinal series because of an undisclosed personal problem, returns to the lineup and saves the Jazz. Fisher's daughter, who is less than a year old, underwent a combination of surgery and chemotherapy in New York yesterday morning for retinal blastoma, a rare form of cancer with a high mortality rate. After the early morning surgery and five hours of recovery, Fisher flies back to Utah, arrives at the arena late in the 3rd quarter, immediately changes into his uniform and literally goes from the locker room into the game. The reaction of the players and the fans is overwhelming BEFORE Fisher causes an important turnover and then drains a big three point shot in overtime to push the Jazz past the Warriors.

After the game, choking back tears, Fisher reveals his daughter's illness and gives the rest of us words to live by: "This is unbelievable. God is so good....Loyalty is always with my family and my faith first."

The reality is Fisher's greatness was already established long before he became the difference maker in this game -when Fisher decided to sit game one out and miss most of game two to be with his family. It takes a special man to, in the midst of pressure to perform and produce, quietly and firmly choose to embrace ones primary role of husband and father over starter for the in-the-thick-of-the-playoffs Utah Jazz.

Mr. Fisher, you are the man. Not because of your forced turnover or your three, or even the way your presence rallied the team, but because of the choice you made to put your family and your faith first. Here's to hoping I learn from you.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

I am not a Mormon. I am not from Utah.

When the actual question comes varies. Sometimes it's when people see me sporting the shorts (home whites and away blues! - thanks Ebay!) or when they spot the action figures. Since I don't take my action figures to class (most of the time), the question comes when people see my laptop wallpaper.

Regardless of when it comes, it always comes the same way. People sort of scrunch up their face and cock their head and say something to the effect of "the Utah Jazz?! Why the Jazz?"

Let me put some things to rest before we delve into the greatness of the Utah Jazz. I am neither a Mormon, nor am I from Utah. (though I have been there with my super awesome wife who got me INCREDIBLE tickets for Christmas! - yay Jesus!)

I'm not sure exactly when it was - sometime in middle school - but I remember flipping on the TV and watching the beauty of the Jazz. I was instantly hooked, with alot of credit going to the man-made moxie that motored the team.

The Jazz offense is artwork in motion. It is five guys committed to a common cause - each moving with precision and vigor to either get themselves or a teammate open. The Jazz offense is constant cutting and ball movement, with screens and backscreens designed to open up the floor for a layup or an open jumper. DO take your eye off the ball - you'll miss out on how that shooter got so beautifully wide open before draining that pretty j. There are no egos here - everyone is active whether they're pulling the trigger or not.

I could, in this space, deliver to you the playbooks of about 25 of the NBA's 30 teams. Here's a sample:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cleveland: Give the ball to LeBron.

Houston: Give the ball to Tracy McGrady. If Tracy covered, pass to Yao Ming. If double team comes, kick ball to open shooter. Rinse. Repeat as necessary.

Orlando (for Jeremiah): Throw up akward shot. Trust Dwight Howard will rebound and slam home.

Washington (for Dana): Give the ball to Gilbert Arenas. Get out of way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have way too many papers to write to delve into the theological and life lessons held in the intricacies the Jazz offense. But if you get a chance to put down whatever you're doing tonight, you should definitely set aside some time to appreciate art tonight at 9:00 against the Golden State Warriors on TNT. If you can't do that, check out some quality video capturing and commentary here.



Other stuff: Saw this coming; how ridiculous is this?; this is pretty cool I guess. This band makes me want to be from California.

Worth your ten minutes...

I had the pleasure of taking a class with Dr. Ben Witherington III at Asbury Theological Seminary. Here's an excellent discussion of poverty and liberation theology. Definitely worth your time.

www.benwitherington.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Spider Man 3 is not the best movie ever...but it's still pretty darn good


The opening of the first Spider Man movie was like a trip to middle-school heaven. I religiously read, collected, and re-read Spider Man comics books until about my freshman year in high school. You remember those specialty pictures you could get? The ones where you could bring your own props and they would snap your photo.?My friends and I brought our favorite comic books and forever provided evidence for how nerdy we truly were. (In my case, my middle-school mustache had already secured that status....yeah....I was that guy.) So when the original Spider Man came out, I immediately reverted back to about 5th grade standing in Kroger's (a grocery store) reading as many comics as I could before my mom came and told me it was time to go home. Needless to say, every following Spider Man movie has been pee-in-the-pants-go-on-the-first-day-status.

With that said, Spider Man 3 was not pee-in-the-pants good. That's not to say I didn't almost pee my pants a couple times. The fight sequences are ridiculous and Sandman looks incredibly real (even if his "origin" was a bit rushed). Venom looks amazing and the last four-way fight scene is UNBELIEVABLE.

But in the words of a the wise man I went to see it with (Billy Lawson if you're keeping score), the movie was kind of like Golden Corral: way too much stuff piled together so you really can't enjoy anyindividual thing and, when you leave, you're wishing you had more of a little of everything, but you only have so much room in your stomach.

This movie is about three movies rolled into one. Sandman, who pops up and then is left hanging until the end of the film, deserves his own movie. Topher Grace's Eddie Brock / Venom, who steals every scene he is in, deserves his own movie. I would have particularly been interested in the way Eddie is developed as a "dark mirror" of Peter. An amazing film could have been done on the whole dynamic between Peter / Eddie and Spidey / Venom. Finally, Harry and Peter, and there on-again-off-again relationship, would have been extremely high quality. How often is a heroes' identity known by their archrival? While I appreciate the well-roundedness of each of the characters, all of the backstory leaves just enough room to squeeze in only a few fights - though they are RIDICULOUSLY amazing.

The movie also get preachy more than a few times. While I have enjoyed the messages of the previous Spider Man films, this one tends to get heavy handed at times and generally assumes a lack of intelligence on the average audience. (In the midst of one fight scene, the movie cuts to a news reporter breathlessly telling us "this may be the end of Spider Man"...uh...really?)

This is one of those films that you should definitely see in the theaters - pay the extra bucks to get the full effect of the audio and visual feast. It is not a bad movie - just one that seems to suffer from "threequel" syndrome and too many quality plotlines that ultimately leave no room for any of them to be properly fleshed out.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

All the cool kids are doing it...

Starts are awkward.

I've never been a big fan of the first day of school because you have to stand up, say your name, where your from, and something "revealing" about yourself like your most embarrassing moment (the time I got my pants pulled down in the fifth grade - who says that's too late to be wearing ninja turtle underwear?), your most exciting moment (Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies in Utah - though hearing my baby's heartbeat is a close 1A), or something unique or weird about yourself (I'm color blind).

So here's my awkward start, my tepid try at the blogosphere.

I hope this becomes a sort of shared sabbath; an interruption of the daily that is equal parts sacred and hilarious. God is the creator of belly laughs, after all.

I'm looking forward to sharing life with you...