Hey friends, followers, countrymen, and other people that visit this site.
I was headed off to a meeting tonight. It was like any night, especially in the fact that I had a meeting.
This season is fascinating for me from an NFL perspective. The Saints are awesome, the Colts are consistent, the Patriots have fallen, and the Packers are building a solid foundation for the future.
While I am super happy with Aaron Rodgers and what he has done in Green Bay so far, I can't help but wonder a little bit what it would be like if the master of the fountain of youth, Brent Favre was still in Green Bay as Brett Favre, how good we'd be. The hated Viqueens are in the NFC Title Game (against the just as red-hot Saints) with Brent under center. Would the Pack have been there?
Now, take into account that A-Rod had to run a lot this year and his O-Line was pretty weak. That would have gotten Favre beaten up. But the receivers in GB are top notch and it'd be fun to throw the ball their way. As well, Brett is a guy that can seemingly galvanize a team if his passion is there.
If the Vikes do win the Super Bowl, I of course will feel awful cuz the Vikings won and happy for Brent at the same time cuz he still kicked everybody's butts. This one won't shake out for a few more years though when we finally see how many Super Bowls A-Rod can lead the Pack to.
Until then, let's go Saints. You're my boys for at least this week.
they've ripped the stucco off of the Haus and are in process to put insulation on. they still have to replace windows, put new siding up, and replace the front porch. but it is looking good so far.
?I started very slowly and didn?t make a lot of good plays early on to get us into position to win,? Rodgers finally said. ?We were able to get on a roll there in the second half. Unfortunately, we couldn?t make enough plays to win.?
He might as well have been talking about the Packers? entire 2009 season. They spent the second half of it digging out from the hole they created in the first half. Indeed, said coach Mike McCarthy, ?our greatest strength ? is really to overcome adversity.?
"I think we'll be back and better next year," said Alan.
Read more @ http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/8729/packers-run-out-of-gas
A hobby, interest, or passion should probably have a refreshing component. This means that it should recharge you. This could be something that makes you feel good afterwards or brings you back to a state of calmness or sharp thought. Photography is a great hobby that I feel like I really enjoy. It is an energizing experience shooting and editing photos and I love going back and looking at my work. It's really fun.
A hobby, interest, or passion should probably incorporate God. I love creating for just God. I love creating in a way that is capturing. In this, I mean that I love to capture what God has put out there and frame it in a new way. It's also a great way to pray or listen to worship music and sermons while I work.
A hobby, interest, or passion should probably be fruiphotographytful. This means that my hobby is better if I contribute to society in some way (through service, creating, or sharing). This is convicting, as it tends to mean that video games aren't the best long term version for my life. However, is art and it helps to solidify memories for people. I am able to serve while I'm refreshed and worshipful.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel (God with us) shall come to thee o Israel (Humanity).
I knew passer ratings were complicated to calculate. This is ridiculous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passer_rating
It's more science than sport now. The reason this came up is cuz there are some beefy passer ratings this season. Lots of guys in the high 90s and even hundreds. I mean, Aaron Rodgers (of Packers lore) is in his second year as a starter and hovering on a 102.4 rating. Sweet
It seems so tragic that one fate comes for all. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway.
"When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him."
I love it. My initial interpretation is that rather than retaliate, love cleverly.
Listening to Tony Campolo's messages on Megachurches has really challenged me.
http://www.tonycampolo.org/podcast/tonycampolo_podcast.xml
He has overall really defended this way to do church. One of the things he has hit on is that mainline denominations say megachurches are entertaining and that's how they get people to come. His response is fascinating and I really enjoy it.
I paraphrase:
Since when is being boring a virtue? As long as Jesus is preached, and preached consistently, people will get to hear about him. If a church is entertaining and doesn't mention Jesus, then that's a different story. But if you can be entertaining and get people to hear the Gospel, then why not?
On top of that, he has wondered a fantastic thought (again, paraphrased).
How did we take the most compelling message in history, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and make it boring. Something that we just sorta talk about. It is exciting!
Challenging thoughts from a man who isn't scared to speak his mind.
One of the reasons I would say that my photos have improved over two-three years is because I'm willing to take more risks (you could also argue gear helps, which I totally will not deny). Both in when I shoot (all the time) and in what I shoot (everything).
Then I have been able take what I've learned about perspective, composition, and capturing light from classes and others, and look at my photos and say, "I did this right," or "That was totally off, and here is why."
Finally, I've taken that set of observations, combined with techniques practiced and gleaned from others, and refine my process.
I see is as iterative; slowly honing in on the specific style that is mine. Now that style will evolve, but it is helpful to know it is being refined. I'm able to shoot things now that I wouldn't have known the best way to capture in the past.
Maybe this is not a super profound post, but I'm shooting my first wedding this weekend, and I'm slightly nervous. I will say though, that I have a tiny amount of confidence, as I've seen my process of iteration and practice develop my abilities.
To go along with the article I posted this weekend, here is an article from USA Today about tech and how much we text, use our smartphones, or sit on the computer and aren't present to one another. The safety and social implications are huge. And I admit I am guilty at times. After all, I read the article on my iphone's USA Today app. And then shared it with you on my iPhone.
Seems somewhat paradoxical.
Anyway, here is the article...
http://usat.me/?35825520
-- Post From My iPhone
Both of these links are to fairly long articles (at least longer than a 140 character tweet). They are definitely worth reading though.
The God of technology, or the god of Technology?
An article discussing how we are to use tech as a tool and not an object of our affection. I can see this as super helpful to me, so that I don't turn to my phone when I'm around people, but use it to connect with people when I'm not around them, etc.
The Case for Early Marriage
An interesting perspective that doesn't solely involve the 'young and horny and protecting chastity' argument for early marriage. Also great thoughts on marriage as a whole and the way we teach abstinence, but not the value of marriage.
This summer, Illini Life has been doing church in a summer'y way. We've cut down on the complexity of our liturgy, we've moved from a lecture hall to a small room above a cookie shop, and we've focused ourselves on about 10 weeks of learning about characteristics of God. We've heard about God's sovereignty, self-existence, wrath, providing nature, and more.
In a week, I will be at the 'pulpit' in church, teaching from God's word and my own experiences. Kinda scary, exciting, interesting, etc. I won't divulge what it is I'm teaching on (as I'm not 100% confirmed), but I'm really excited about the topic. I hope many people are able to show up and make me a little nervous.
Now, the most interesting thing to me is that I'm 23. This means I'm still pretty young, dumb, and ugly (thanks to Weird Al). I'll be speaking to a group of Illini Lifers that are primarily, well, lifers. These are people that have committed themselves to this church and have had more years than I to have God's wisdom imparted upon them. So what can I give them? Not much. And that is pretty exciting.
It is an environment where I can relay on what Scripture, Church History, and General and Special Revelation have given me. Then I can comment with my own thoughts after I convey the clear truths. There is so little pressure, as God has revealed so much truth to us. I am just mining it and putting it into a short, 20-25 minute package.
Now this isn't to say that I have NOTHING to offer. I have a unique perspective, way of speaking, way of thinking, and on top of that, there are younger people around for the summer, and I hope I can reveal more of God's character to them.
Pray for me as I compile my thoughts and seek out God's heart in this message. And come check it out! It'll be next week on Wednesday, July 22 at 6:00 PM at the Illini Life Ministry Center (above Insomnia Cookies on John St. in Champaign). Even if you haven't been to church with me, to church at all, or barely know me, come hear what I have to say and what God has to say through me.
I really can't have nice things, as I tend to break them. This is something I've slowly learned over time.
That is why, when I bought my iPhone, I bought it at Best Buy and sucked it up paying the "no matter what you do, you elephant in a china shop, we'll fix/replace it for you" insurance. I broke my iPhone today.
While talking to Lauren, Bemi came rushing in being loud and cheerful, and I got into a playful, "let's wrestle" mood. So I started to grab Bemi, and he played back. In the process, I dropped my phone, but I still whipped his butt. Once I got up from beating him down, I went to get my phone, which has an obviously placed black line of dead pixels down the middle and some floating black lines on a flickering white background. That's not good, is it?
(I wish it were this dramatic. Think less broken glass, more busted LCD.)[Jesus] called the people to him and said to them "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Matthew 15:11 (ESV)
This verse came to me today while sitting and praying about my own character. I honestly tend to consider myself a person of high character most of the time. But my speech at many junctures would indicate otherwise. Whether it be sarcasm, cursing, complaining, mean spirited thoughts, or even thoughts that I was unaware would be hurtful, my words tend not to be fragrant in a good way.
What this really spoke to me was that God wants my speech to match my innards. My desire to pursue God should be greater than the desire to get a cheap laugh at somebody's expense, or to just speak ill of a situation to make myself feel better about me.
I am loving being here in Colorado. It truly is a time and place where I find God totally refining me in a very real way. This is only my second day here with only s few more to go, but I love the directions God is taking me.
-- Post From YMCA of the Rockies
I'll be at this fantastic location in about 36 hours. Yes!
One time, we said Golden Retrievers were really well behaved. Bemi said "that's why they're called golden retrievers."
We said, "that doesn't make sense"
I said, "You know what the name for a well behaved dog is?"
A doesn't give me any shih tzu.
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