Great Article

One of my favorite people who I feel have a great pulse on adolescent culture and youth trends just wrote an intriguing article. Enjoy.

Raise your hand!

By Walt Mueller

Okay, this one might get me in some trouble. And it’s all because I’m increasingly convinced we’re doing something wrong in youth ministry. We’ve been chugging along thinking we’ve been doing it right. As a result, we continue to do it wrong because we think it’s right, and in doing so, we’re undermining the very work of the very God who we pride ourselves in serving. Are you confused yet? Let me explain. (Continue Reading)

1 Year Left for Eternity

Today, an epiphany! I am currently taking a Seminary class on Practical Theology. As part of the required reading, I have been engaging in Alister McGrath's book, Theology: The Basics. While reading a theological discussion on the topic of Heaven, McGrath turns his attention to an age old question of what our appearance will be as we walk the streets of the New Jerusalem. He writes:

A final question that has greatly vexed Christian theologians concerns the age of those who are resurrected. If someone dies at the age of 60, will they appear in the streets of the New Jerusalem as an old person? And if someone dies at the age of 10, will they appear as a child? This issue caused the spilling of much theological ink, especially during the Middle Ages. By the end of the thirteenth century, an emerging consensus can be discerned. As each person reaches their peak of perfection around the age of thirty, they will be resurrected as they would have appeared at that time- even if they never lived to reach that age..... The New Jerusalem will thus be populated by men and women as they would appear at the age of thirty (the presumed age, of course, at which Christ was crucified)- but with every blemish removed.

What!? First of all, he says that at the end of the 13th century, "an emerging consensus can be discerned." A consensus? As in a general agreement or collective thought among a group of people. As in more than one person thinks this is true? Regardless if it is true or not, it definitely stands as an interesting theory.

But after reading this, a light bulb went off in my head as this hit home for me. A few weeks back in late January, I celebrated my 29th birthday. Oh Man....the clock is on. I have less than a year to assume the physical attributes I desire that will stay with me for all of eternity (without blemish of course). Have you seen me? I still weigh what I did in junior high school...a buck twenty five wet with my shoes on. I gotta hit the gym! I don't want to literally be chaff in the wind of the heavenly realms for all of eternity. How is that I get the rest of my life to work on my character, but only 1 year left to beef up and buy tickets to my own gun show. I'm eternally screwed....I haven't gained weight in 16 years, what makes this next one any different? I could always try the Michael Phelps diet seen here, but who has that kind of grocery budget each month?

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Blessings to any of you who have already surpassed this monumental year....you could be maimed by a bear between now and then and still show up in heaven A-OK. Looks like it's more Vitamin D whole milk for me.....

Saddleback Presidential Forum- Aug 16, 2008

Complete 10 part video of Civil Forum held Aug 16th at Saddleback church with Rick Warren moderating. Felt that it was an interesting angle that the American people don't always get to see through the bombardment of speaking points and slur campaigns. Would love to hear your comments on it.

The Value of a Penny

CraigsList Funny

So I am new to CraigsList personally. I usually buy everything on eBay and Amazon with the occasional glance towards Pricegrabber and Woot. While on CraigsList today, I found the "best-ofs" page that lists the top postings voted on by readers. I could make a blog solely on these....some of these are hilarious. Here is one of my personal favorites because I can relate with our current living arrangements. Enjoy.

To the Minotaur that lives above me.

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Date: 2008-06-26, 10:36AM CDT


First off, I must say that I admire your courage. It must be hard living in the world today as a lady-beast. Society judges, oh lord do they ever.

With that said, let’s get down to business. Over the past year, we've had a funny sort of relationship, you and I. When I first moved into the place, it was rather peaceful. It was an exciting time in my life, as it was the first time I would be living by myself. Then came the day that I first heard it. What did I hear you ask? It was sound of your hooves galloping across the hardwood floors of your living room. At the time I thought, “No big deal, surely it can’t always be like this.” Oh was I wrong. It turned out that every time I was at home, you would be up there, stomping around, like the wild lady-beast that you are.

After a few weeks, I determined through a process of elimination, that you are in fact, a Minotaur. It only makes sense.

FACT. Minotaurs have hooves, and that’s sure as hell what it sounds like is hitting the floor when you gallop around.

FACT. A Minotaur posses great strength, the kind of strength that can be felt by a guy laying on his couch, trying to get into a good book. The kind of strength that shakes the dishes in his cupboards. The kind of strength that can wake a guy out of a dead sleep, EVERY FRICKIN MORNING. I didn’t even need to set an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. Instead I wake up to THUMP THUMP THUMP. THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP. THUMP THUMP THUMP. I’m not a light sleeper by any means; I sleep right through the viscously loud police, fire truck, and ambulance sirens every night. I was lying there one morning, frustrated, counting the trips you took between your bedroom and your bathroom. 17. 17 god forsaken trips between the bedroom and the bathroom. Really? Are you kidding me? What could you possibly be doing?

FACT. Minotaurs are half bull. Bulls are aggressive when taunted. Apparently, the time I went upstairs, politely introduced myself, and asked you rather nicely to please quit stomping around, was a taunt. That’s when you got aggressive. You called the landlord and told him that I was complaining about your noise. When he told me about this, he said his response to your complaint was, “Quit making so much noise then.” Brilliant. Go Mr. Landlord! I tried keeping him out of this, but you felt it important to drag him into it.

After a few more weeks of you recklessly stomping around, I made another attempt at a civil confrontation. It failed. It failed because you stomped your way to the door, and you didn’t open it when you saw who was standing there. I know this because I heard your hooves clippity-clop their way to the door. Way to avoid confrontation.

To my surprise, the stomping ceased the next day, and I awoke to peace. “Amazing,” I thought, “It must be a midsummer miracle!!” A few days passed, and I ran into my landlord in the entry way. He mentioned that he received another angry phone call from you. Said that you felt threatened by my confrontations, said I scared you. Strange, since not once did I ever raise my voice or try to be anything but civil. He then mentioned that he told you to buy some slippers to wear around your apartment. Genius! It freakin worked!! Hell yea, Mr Landlord! High five!

Fast forward 11 months. The stomping has returned. No doubt in my mind the hooves have worn through the delicate fabrics of the slippers and are now, once again, banging against your hardwood floors.

Please, for the love of sweet baby jesus, run down to the local Target and purchase yourself another pair of hoof mufflers. I know you can run with those strong legs of yours, probably real fast like! Target downtown is all of 10 blocks away. Go Minotaur, go! Overcome the odds, society is watching! (and judging)