Monday, October 31, 2005

Rainy Day

Here at school it's a rainy day, which usually heightens all my lethargic feelings. So I got to poking around the world wide web and discovered an actual medical condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder; now this has more to do with symptoms of depression that worsen over the winter months with less daylight. But what about a microcosm (sp?) of S.A.D. (kind of a cruel name eh?) a kind of "rainy day feeling"? I'm pretty sure that "Rainy Day Feeling" is the title of many-a-cheesy soft rock song....But anyways, it's rainy weather and i'm not feeling very festive on Halloween. For more S.A.D. info check out: http://www.seasonalaffectivedisorder.com

Ha, I just searched Billboard.com and there was over 62 hits for "Rainy Day Feeling"
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/music/search_results.jsp?cr=track&or=ASCENDING&sf=length&kw=Rainy%20Day%20Feeling

Halloween a few years back was one of the first days I knew I was growing up. It was October 31st, 1998 and instead of Trick or Treating as I had done for a decade, I sat on my couch watching scary movies on TBS at the insistance of my Father. He didn't make me watch those movies or anything, I just couldn't go trick or treating anymore. I was devastated, no more trick or treating. I had a joyous activity ripped from my life because "I was getting to old". Dad was right, I was too old. It got to where I would estimate the socioeconomic status of families in our neighborhood by what sort of candy they gave my sister and I. Once you can use socioeconomic sucessfully in a sentance you should definately not go trick or treating.

But the good news is that I am now in a position to experience the joy I had as a child. No, I don't have a son I take trick or treating, but I do have a youth group. Both the middle school and high school youth had Halloween bashes last night and it was great. There were so many of us who dressed up, including myself.....a ninja. Ok, a chubby ninja. (Nationwide people spent a record on costumes: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9817310/site/newsweek/)

But the youth also went "trick or treating for canned goods." So, instead of filling our pillowcases with kit kats and such, we actually tried to do something positive with Halloween, and we did! A good time was had by all and we also were able to collect a decent amount of food to give to Kingdom House. Hopefully I can get some pics up on here.

So, the youth festivites are over. I guess i'll endulge in some gummy bears to celebrate. Some may say Halloween is evil. But if you can use it as a benefit then maybe its not all bad.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Say no to drugs

Ok, so two days ago my buddy and I made a trip to Columbia for some guitar supplies, Chipotle burritos, and gummy bears. We visited our friend who was working at Walgreens and on our way out we saw a peculiar sight...An odd looking fellow pushing his truck in the middle of the Broadway-Providence intersection (a very, very, busy part of town). So it was decision time... Being that the middle school youth and I just had gone over the story of the good Samaritan, it was time to showcase my strength of ten men. So I sprint out there at a blazing speed, get over to his truck in the middle of the intersection, and scream "hop in!" He's very excited that someone came to assistance. So, I begin pushing his truck while he steers. So we stop at the next light, and he gets out and says: "Hey man, you smoke any herb, cause I can hook you up?" Now, some of the younger readers might not recognize this phrase. The young man who I helped had just offered me some marijuana as a repayment for my efforts. Luckily, I had been through the D.A.R.E. program, and responded "No thanks, i'm cool". So we finished pushing his car to the gas station, being that he had run out of gas, he thanked me again and I explained that I just hope someone would do the same for me and told him God bless.

So the moral of the story is: Love your neighbor as yourself, and turn thy neighbor down when he offers you weed.

On a sidenote: As much as I love Jesus, and as much as I love iPods i'm not sure about when they collide: http://www.devoted1.com/

Thursday, October 13, 2005

NLDCS

Oh ya, almost forgot about this. Tonight was Game 1 of Cards/'Stros. Now, for those of you who do not know I spent a summer in Houston two years ago. Thus, in order to blend in with the Texans I became a casual fan of the Astros despite their historical division rivalry with the hometown crew, the Cardinals. Now, another factor in me liking the Astros is my love of Orange Juice, particularly Minute Maid orange juice. Any baseball fan is seeing the corollation immediately, but for those of you out there who are not Sportscenter freaks the Astros play at Minute Maid Park.

I am publically confessing before all my fellow Missourians that I own 2 items of Astro-Apparel, nay, Astroparel: 1 Hat, and 1 Shirt. I also would like it to be known that should the 'Stros defeat St. Louis, those items will be burned and I will recant any connection I had made with the quasi-support of the Astros. But I won't have to worry about that because it's not going to happen.

I predict the Cardinals win the series over the White Sox. Simultaneously giving the perfect send off for the beer and tobacco scented (and aptly named) Busch Stadium AND giving the Cards retribution for the embarrasing sweep last year to the Sox of another color. This is the Cardinals year, I feel it. Cap off a great era with a memory filled stadium, and do it over a team from Chicago. Kinda feel bad for the White Sox.....they're not first in line in their own city or their own team name (sox). Anyways, it's getting late, so I just wanted to quickly say Go Cards!

On a quick sidenote the local grocery store is carrying Shasta Soda, ranging from 15-20 cents a piece. Not only does Shasta make several exotic flavors, but they are tastey and affordable as well! I consumed two Shasta Ginger Ales during tonights victory, so I believe that constitutes the beginning of a 2005 playoff tradition: Cardinals win and Ginger Ale. Try it!

Will It Never Stop!?!?!??!?!

Several things here:

Had a busy week at school, and am in the midst of a busy semester at school. If I can get through October i'm pretty sure the rest of the year will be downhill. I talked with a recruiter from St. Paul School of Theology (a seminary in KC) for sometime over a politically imposed lunch. It actually turned out to be good conversation once the forced formalities were disposed. Thinking about seminary/grad school is pretty much silly right now though. After graduation next May, for a while, i'm going to enjoy NOT being a student, since i've pretty much got a 15 year streak going here, call me Cal Ripken baby!

I've reached the startleing (sp?) conclusion that I cannot throw a baseball. I'm talking could not do it to save my life. Literally, if someone were to say: Adam, unless you throw me that ball you are doomed! I still don't think I could do it, and ya know, the pressure of dying would probably make it worse. Come to think of it "I couldn't do it to save my life" is kind of a silly phrase....Anyways, my buddies are on the team here at school so I went with them out to the field to play some catch. It was then that I realized why I stopped playing baseball in 8th grade, because everyone else entered into full-scale adolescence (ah-hem....i'm talking about puberty) and got a lot better at sports, and I just kind of stayed the same and fell behind in the pack. So we go down to the field, and i'm joking with some of the guys about how i'm thinking about trying out because I still have 5 years of eligability left. Then it's my turn to start tossing the ball around, and it just slips out at a 45 degree angle out of my hand, which is not good if you're having trouble visualizing this. I hadn't thrown a baseball in about 7 years, so it was just flipping out of my wrist like a football. Next time you see me, if you happen to have a baseball, i'll show you. You will be guaranteed to laugh. My inability to throw a baseball has really bothered me. I feel somehow.....un-American. Also, i'm looking forward to someday tossing around the ball with my son, so i'm going to find my throw before the year is over.

Finally, and this is where the title comes from, is Apple has introduced a new iPod. Anyone who really knows me also knows my love of the tiny device. iPods are ergonomically, aesthetically, and audibly amazing. They are also impossible to keep up with. I recieved my iPod for Christmas 2005, and it's been replaced by something cooler like, 6 times already!!!!! But I guess the great thing is trying to be happy with what i've got, because it doesn't work any less than what it is designed to do right? It's just tough to resist the temptation to get the latest, most current, and frankly most expensive thing out there. So if you wanna check out the next replacement of my now obsolete iPod, here's the link:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html

When will the new iPods stop? Can they ever reach a point where the Apple guys with the labcoats come in to the board of directors meeting and be like: "Ya know guys, this is about as cool as we can get"?

Monday, October 10, 2005

On A Roll.....

So I hadn't posted in a couple days, partly due to the homecoming festivites of my University this weekend. The Central Methodist Eagles defeated the Culver-Stockton Wildcats 40-18 (football). Let me tell you, it was quite the beat down. Easily the most points i'd ever seen my school score. The crowd almost didn't know what to do.

Since its late at night/early in the morning, whichever you prefer, i'm ripe for some discussion. My thoughts as of late have been centering around the church and good or bad of a job we do with fulfiling the call to spread the gospel to God's people.

Basically, I've been thinking about how much of "church" is for people who are already in the church. Its been said that the church is (or should be) a club that exists solely for the benefit of people who are outside the club. I believe i've heard that said somehwere else, much more elequently of course. But next time you listen to a Christian song, think about it from the perspective of someone who's never been to church, not that going to church MAKES you a Christian. I think that the church should minister and serve to those within it. But think how scary a church could be if you had never been in one before: All that red carpet, everyone but you is wearing a nametag, you don't know any of the songs or prayers, and everything in the sanctuary is symbolic from the candles to the stained glass to the inscription on the pulpit. All of this would be foriegn to you.

I'm not calling to get rid of any of these things. I just think it's a good idea to keep in mind not everyone in a sanctuary "knows the drill" with lots of the things we do in corporate worship. I've never met anyone that says "I LOVE BEING EXCLUDED!" Have you ever been the new kid at school? Imagine the same feeling only not as a quivering second grader, but as an emerging adult with lots of doubt and questions. We need to be educating those that are new to the mix and reminding those who have become complacent in the church about why we are doing what we are doing.

Mr. Caldwell, I salute you

"And i'm trying to make you sing
From the place that you believe
Like it's something that you need
Like it means everything

And i'm trying to make you feel
That this is for real
And life is happening
And it means everything
And i'm trying to make you sing"

-David Crowder, from the last track of his new album.

These words seem simple, maybe even odd if you look at them on your computer screen. Being a big Crowder fan I pre-ordered the album and listened to it as soon as I could. I got to this track and didn't really stop and think about the lyrics. Then my buddy Adam told me to take a closer look, er, listen. After hearing him hypothosize (sp? maybe I shouldn't use big words if I can't spell them) about the meaning, I have been listening to this song over and over. Crowder is stating why he exists, why he does what he does. He's trying to get people to sing and encounter God. I guess I find this incredibly inspirational because the more I thought about it thats what I want my life to be, helping people encounter God as I try and do a better job myself. To live and praise God like it means everything, not just empty words, or a paycheck, or a lifestyle for the sake of a lifestyle, but to really truely believe that what I am doing with my life matters and is pleasing to God. To trust him more, believe more, do more, and love more. Like it means everything.

http://www.davidcrowderband.com

Their new album "A Collision" is hands down the best Christian album i've ever heard. This is not a run-of-the-mill praise album. There's not 4 covers of songs you've already heard covered by 4 other artists. This is truely an album that demands repeated listening. Even if you're not jamming to every track with your windows down, they are all thought provoking. I cannot speak highly enough of this CD. I promise i'm not being paid by the band or anything, I just really like it that much!

Monday, October 03, 2005

Bibles

Today on campus we had the obligatory visit from the Gideons. These are dudes who give you lil' mini bibles. Think of them as fun size! These guys are usually older, they see you, approach you, and say "Would you like a Bible"? Then as the awkwardness ensues you can either kind of giggle at the minute-ness of this little green word of the Lord and say "Sure!" or you can look like a pagan and say: "uhhh...no thanks." I said "Sure" and then felt sneaky or like I just stole something because I have 4 regular size bibles at home. One of them even has the apocrapha included for what I like to call the extended version. Anyways, in the back of my fun-size-bible are steps to become a Christian. Which got me thinking.....does anyone really take the free bible, open it up to the back and suddenly come to know God? I don't know. I think it's a good idea, however the Gideons methods are a little too old school for cynical college students. I mean, even I was a little creeped out and I knew a little bit about why the guys were there with mini bibles. My point is that handing someone a bible is not going to make them a Christian the same way handing me a cookbook will not make me a chef. The bible is the word of God and is not meant to be experienced like a sample in the deli isle. What people need is someone to show them what loving and being loved by Christ looks like. If that means giving them a bible, then let's do that. But until community and fellowship happen little green bibles will keep gathering dust.