There Is None Like Me

Here is a funny look at a serious issues with some of today's modern worship. This makes me laugh out loud as well as cringe. As one person put it, "This may be over the top, but not by much." Ouch.



(bu to The Ooze Blog)

Eye of the Hurricane

So this past Father's Day Kelly game me options for my gifts. One was a massage at a local spa here in Indy, another was music, still another was movies, and lastly a combo of music/movies. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but in the end settled on music. I find it to be one of the things God uses to bring me joy. And I was really excited about it, but I didn't know what I was going to choose. I did some hunting around on the net and through some old emails about hip, meaningful, fun new music. There is a ton of cool new stuff out there. And in the end...I went old school (and a bit new school): The Alarm (and Jamie Cullum).

Before I go further, let me just say that the last couple of days have been total suck wad for me. Tons of reasons. Depression is sneaky. Marriage is tough. Work is draining. I'm tired. Maybe even some things I can't even explain. It's weird. And it all came to a head today.

With that being said, I got 2 of the 6 cds I ordered today (both by The Alarm): Eye of the Hurricane and Change. Wow! A few observations:

• Hearing them takes me instantly back to the late 80s and early 90s.
  
• This is a great band - one of my all-time favorites.
• I feel better - my head and most importantly my heart).
  

Now that is a bit superficial (but not really) because music - good music - does that to me (maybe for you, too). It's a pretty amazing thing and I am thankful to God for it.

Just thought I'd share a bit of the sunshine that is shining in my life today. Thanks.

Take that Zoolander!

This is one of the hottest videos on the net and I'm not sure why. It's kinda funny, but in an odd America's Funniest Pets kinda way.

Potentially Dangerous Questions 9 & 10

Here is the last installment of my series of post from the book, God in the Flesh, by Don Everts. What a great book and fresh look at the person of Jesus from some of the "black letter" portions of the Gospels. It was was wonderful kick in the "ars" as to how chalk full the Gospels are of deep, powerful, mysterious, and amazing realities that can and will transform our lives if we will only look at them long enough.

I have posted on the other potentially dangerous questions that will rock our worlds here, here, here, and here. An important note...though I include some context to each question with a few lines that follow the question (to spur on thought), all of these question are best read within their full context - i.e. BUY and READ the book! Here are questions 9 and 10. May they spur you on to seek Him more:

Potentially Dangerous Question 9: Does Jesus still have the power to heal?

"...This is a jagged little question. It has the potential to help us rip off the sensible blindfold of our scientific age and throw our lives back into the land of faith. A realm where we believe (dare I suggest it?) in the invisible. In the miraculous. A place where we rest our faith in the powerful Jesus himself rather than in our placid religion and the limited scope of power we've seen evidenced in our churches up until today."

Potentially Dangerous Question 10: When I see Jesus clearly, what do I most want to do?

"In those moments when I consider Jesus and who he is and what he was like and what he did for me, are there any crazy, reckless thoughts that waft through my consciousness? I think that there probably are and that they are important, for the come from the deepest, bravest parts of my being.
But we usually ignore these whispers of abandonment, dismissing them as reckless and foolish. And we move on with the staccato march of our controlled lives."

Both huge questions for me right now. Healing as it regards my back. Seeing Jesus clearly and responding accordingly with this next season of learning, growing, and working with students.

This book has been a great find and read. If you are looking for a book that will challenge your thinking and call you to deeper water with Jesus, then pick up this book. Read it. Chew it. Think about it. And then live accordingly with the One who became one of us and shared His life with the world.

The Office - Best of Intros

Here is just a sampling of some of my favorite intros from the show, The Office. Too funny!

Honorable Mentions:
Dwight Tapes Jim's Meeting



Dwight's Exercise Ball



Runner Up:
Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.



And my personal favorite:
Future Dwight

300 Meets The Office

This video brings together two cool things: the movie, 300 and the tv show, The Office. The verdict is still out on how funny this is, but it's a creative concept. Fairly well made. Some good lines. The guy that plays Dwight's character (one with the glasses) is pretty good. But I'm still not sure. I'm hoping that it will grow on me.

What's your take?

A Season of Family and Celebration

Over the last few weeks, I have had the joy of celebrating some big milestones in the life of my family. During that time we've had a big birthday and graduation. We've also had some great drop-ins that have shared their time and lives with us.

It's been a while since I've posted on family stuff so I thought I would take this time to give you some pics (and later videos) of our kids and crew.

My prayer for you is that you and I would love and cherish our families as much as I feel loved and cherished by mine. May we show them with love and grace every moment we can and speak blessing and encouragement any chance we get.

So to get the party started, just this past weekend we had Pat and Lea, Kelly's uncle and aunt from California, in town. There were only able to be here a couple of ours but Kelly and the kids loved the time spent with them. I was bummed I couldn't be there. I was on work detail and Costco. But Pat and Lea, you are welcome anytime! Boiler Up!

Great Aunt Lea and Parker

Great Uncle Pat and Sarah

Pop Quiz: Name the people in the above photo

It was also Father's Day. A day of remembrance for me as I remind myself of God's charge to me as a dad: Love them as I love you. Huge calling. Enormous responsibility. Thank God, He is on my side! I couldn't think of a better wife cherish parenting with and better kids to mold and shape. This journey is incredible.

Presentation of cards. So cute!

Cool cement stepping stone with their foot imprints. Very sweet. It's sitting right by the bench in the front of the house.

Where Has The Time Gone?

It is wild to me to think that I am a parent of 5 year old. I know there are many of you out there with older kids but I'm still taken by surprise when think about where I am at...a freaking five year old! Well, Sarah's big birthday was on the 12th...and I can remember the day she came into the world like it was yesterday (Kelly and Lady Di remember, too! Filling up the gas tank on the way home...what were you ladies thinkin'!?) Here are a few pics to give you a glimpse of her big, fun day.

The big 5 year old.

The Hula Girl (from Uncle Matt and Aunt Toni)

Me and my girl.

Birthday dessert at Maggie Moo's - Evan the boy, Sarah, and Parker.

The Closer - Bedtime stories from Evan the girl...one great cousin!

Presents on the big day:
1. Big girl Barbie bike
2. Polly Pockets galore - multiple sets
3. Crayola Explosion Coloring Kit
4. Hula girl outfit and shell necklace
5. Magnet dress-up dolls
6. Doodle Dog
7. Soccer bouncy ball
8. Ballerina Barbie
9. Girly Dress up stuff
10. A great visit from Uncle Boo and cousin Evan
11. Cash, baby

The Graduate - Clippinger Style

It was a monumental weekend a couple of weeks back. Mark Clippinger, my oldest nephew on Kelly's side, graduated from Maderia High School in Cincinnati. It's a big deal in the fact that he's one of the first of Mom and Dad Voet's grandchildren to celebrate this great accomplishment and right of passage. I am so proud of you, Mark! You are going to love this next season of life as you grow in heart, mind, body and soul in college. Here are a few pics of the big shin dig to honor Mac10fast!

Mamau and Mark

Pa Voet, Kelly, Jackie, Lou Ann, Ma Voet, and way back there, Sherry

Uncle Carl, Maria, and Parker's body language say, "I'm tired."

Sarah plays "Gotchyer Mouth" with Uncle Tom and Aunt Sherry

To Recycle or Not To Recycle

I'll keep posting them until they take it off of YouTube in the next few day (maybe). This is a very interesting take on the whole recycling issue that our country, states, communities, companies, and homes are working through. Enjoy...and remember this is PG-13 given the language used by Penn & Teller (really just Penn b/c Teller doesn't talk).

100 Scenes, Quotes and Numbers

This is pretty cool. It's a tad long, but totally worth it as you try to figure out the movie and actor(s) for each scene and number. This had to have taken some serious time to put together!



(bu to Marko)

God in the Alley

God in the Alley is a great little book that I read over the last few weeks. He writes about seeing Jesus in people so as to love Him and them. He also writes about being Jesus to people as we grapple with who we are in brokenness. I found this book to be refreshing and real as he shares bits of personal and pastoral journey with the outcasts of Toronto. The stories of people he knows and cares for on the streets are great metaphors about being and seeing Jesus in a broken world.

You may want to check this book out if you are looking for a book that is not filled with guilt, but with hope that will help you see Jesus and inspire you to be Jesus. The stories are raw and real as to what living this kind of simplicity is all about in today's urban and suburban landscape. It's been a great tweak in my "people vision" as I seek to love and serve them. I have conscientiously been asking the question, "How do I see Jesus in and how do I be Jesus to this person that I am living life with right at this very moment." It's been hard but good as I mix it up everyday with people whom I may struggle caring for. But that's what I love about Paul's practical theology.

If you live in the Indianapolis area, Grace Community Church is offering a justice seminar that will feature Greg Paul. You may want to check it out.

Video Killed The Radio Star Remix

Here's another feel good music story for those that love music. This high school trio, The Wrong Trousers, does a great remix of a classic 80's one hit wonder, Video Killed The Radio Star. This is a great acustic/folk version for we, the Buster/GenX generation. Video Killed The Radio Star was the first video played by MTV (back when they played music videos). Look out Nickelcreek, The Wrong Trousers are hot on your heals (hey, I just heard that Nickelcreek broke up. What's up with that?!)

Taken By the Unexpected

This is pretty cool. It's one of the main reasons why I watch this kinda stuff on tv: to be taken by the unexpected. To be surprised by the underdog. Enjoy.

Slow Going

Just an update for those of you following the moves of the Rings Clan from Indy to Dayton. The house looks great! We've had three official showings with mediocre attraction at best. The cool thing is that our house is listed free on the MLS because of cool website call Iggy's House. With this we are able to communicate to a greater mass of house buyers including real estate agents. But even with that and some adds in the paper (paper adds suck - poor return on the investment), we aren't able to generate the traffic like we did in Pittsburgh.

We were really excited about today because an agent called and said that a client wanted to see the house. We worked our tails off last night (mostly, Kelly!) to get the house looking sweet. Today when the agent stopped by she said that her clients had already been through the house the past weekend (which they had). So it was a bummer that they didn't want to see the house again with their realtor. My brother, Matt and sis-in-law, Toni, have some other good ideas about getting the "word out" about the house that I am going to follow up with on Monday. So who knows. We'll keep working.

In the midst of this I am working through a couple of issues in my life: expectation and faith. I have to constantly adjust my expectation based on our last house (sold it by owner to the first person to walk through it). I also have to remind myself that we are only three weeks into what could be a three month process. This could take a bit 'o' time.

Then there is the God factor. At the heart of this, is a faith issue. Do I trust him? He is about my heart and soul formation more than he is my house selling (and if I'm honest - on a lot of days I'm not really stoked about that reality). I am still called, however, to bug him with my prayers like any persistent child. And finally I have to continually worship him for his care for us...he's taken care of us in the past so faithfully and will continually do so. Plus, he's my heavenly Father who's got my back and my best interest at his heart. That so rocks my world when I reflect on that and worship him because of it!

So there you have it. Just a little update. I hope that in your neck of the woods and your season of life, that you remember, too, that God may be up to similar things (or very different). But He is always faithful. He is always good. He is always shaping our lives to be more like Jesus. He'll do whatever it takes to accomplish that in the core of who we are.

Peace and Late.

p.s. - I hate the NBA Finals. I've played in and watched better JV high school basketball. I knew I should have watched more of the Stanley Cup! Stupid me.

God Bless Our Legal System

Have you been following this story? It's absolutely nuts! But FINALLY, this judge that is suing has come down to earth and is being reasonable. You'll see. Just read the story and you know why everything will be alright in our world and legal system:

WASHINGTON - A judge who was seeking $67 million from a dry cleaners that lost his pants has loosened the belt on his lawsuit. Now, he's asking for only $54 million, according to a May 30 court filing in D.C. Superior Court.

Roy L. Pearson, a District of Columbia administrative law judge, first sued Custom Cleaners over a pair of pants that went missing two years ago. He was seeking about $65 million under the D.C. consumer protection act and almost $2 million in common law claims.

He is now focusing his claims on signs in the shop that have since been removed. The suit alleges that Jin Nam Chung, Soo Chung and Ki Chung committed fraud and misled consumers with signs that claimed "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Same Day Service."

But Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, says that can be considered fraud only if the signs misled a "reasonable" person. No reasonable person, he says, would interpret them to be an unconditional promise of satisfaction.

Pearson, who is representing himself, said in an e-mail that the focus of the case, from the start, was based on the "false, misleading and fraudulent advertisements displayed by the Chungs."

By LUBNA TAKRURI, Associated Press Writer

Servants Need Champions

I've been thinking a lot lately about the consequences of being a servant and what a servant needs from it's servant-leaders. I've spent 12 out of the last 14 years being involved in the servant-leader category as a youth pastor. Since God's redirecting in my life that I have been trying to follow, I have found myself in a total servant capacity working at Costco in both the Marketing and Membership departments.

So I was thinking the other day about a teammates insight's into my work life about what I'll call a "passion to serve". She described about how early on how fired up I was to take care of member's needs and issues and go the extra mile at the drop of a hat. "But now," she states, " "after a few months you became just like the rest of us: tired, beat up, and a bit more skeptical."

Really? Me? Does it show that easily and quickly? Ouch.

How quickly did the metamorphosis happen? Why did I turn out just like everybody else when I really wanted to be a cut above...a leader by example...the poster boy for servanthood?

Here is a few bullet point thoughts about servanthood and it's consequence in my life:

• Being a servant is hard work (especially if it is basically your job description)
• It's quickly overlooked by those you report to for those
  
• passion quickly fades unless stoked and encouraged
• a servant's spirit can quickly turn into a begrudging duty if not modeled by your team/community of workers/superiors and/or overall peer attitude/collective mindset
• It's draining emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and physically
• It takes great sacrifice to live/work this way (you have to sacrifice time, energy, and personal resources

So how does a leader of servants or the big kahuna servant-leader need to respond to those "under" and around him/her? This is a a huge job. A major priority on the to-do list of leading. It's unfortunate that in or corporate driven culture that neither corporations or even churches know how to support, care for and work with servants in meaningful and effective ways. Here are a few thoughts:

• recognize the difficult task/job/ministry of serving continually
• ask questions out of care, concern and empathy
• communicate encouragement and support (both holistically and practically - How can I help you?)
• Champion the everyday task of serving (just b/c it's your "job" doesn't mean I don't need a pat on the back for doing that job faithfully and with excellence). Make this a personal point of contact so they know you notice the job they do - day in and day out
• Champion the over and above, go the extra mile acts of service that a person does (share this communally)

What it comes down to is this: servants need a champion who lead and support them privately and corporately. This is best done by leaders who "remember the days" they served continually (though they probably do that now, just not on the front lines). And at the end of the day, servants need to remember that it is an honorable thing to have love and served their neighbor, parishioner, customer as they would themselves.

Now I must change and practice what I blog.

Do The Right Thing meets Sesame Street

For those of us that saw Spike Lee's movie back in the day, this will be pretty funny. For those of you just familiar with Sesame Street it will still but funny but not quite. For the rest of you just listen to the soundtrack by Chuck D, Flava Flav, and Public Ememy. PG-13 for strong language.



(bu to Boing Boing)

Gotta Love the Drum Solo

This drum solo by Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters harkins back to the drum solo/duel days of Phil Collins and Chester (the backup drummer) of Genesis. It is short but amazing! A stray "f" bomb is launch right in the beginning...sorry.



This is dedicated to all my drumming buddies and wannabe drumming buddies: Brian, Johnny Boy, Matt my bro, Sau Hoey, Luke Edge, Andy Liuwhohookumcrewdu and the list goes on and on.

Educating the White Man

I thought this was pretty funny. Edgy and educational.

glumbert.com - N-word for the White Guy