Rings Wedding Weekend

I'll be away from Dayton and Indy this weekend and in Peoria, IL, to marry my brother. Wait. That sounds bad. Let me put it this way, my brother-in-law, Donny, and I will be performing the wedding ceremony of my brother, Blane, and our future sister-in-law, Crystal Carr. It's going to be a really cool time to celebrate what God is grafting together: two lives, two souls, two families into one flesh with the power and grace of One God.

Can't wait to party with the fam. Matt and Toni, you will be missed! Can't wait to meet the new fam and party like it's 1999 with them! Good times will be had by all, especially Sarah. She is so excited about going to Uncle Boo's wedding. And she's really excited about staying in a hotel!

I was thinking about doing a live blog update (for friends and family that can't make it) during the wedding ceremony, but somehow I don't think Crystal would think that is very cool. Bummer.

It maybe a couple of days before I post again. Who knows. Have a great weekend!

Sign of the Apocalypse

This may be the start of a new series. Found this video and thought to myself, "Oh, my." You be the judge: MC Hammer - a creative educational tool or a sign of the apocalypse. Maybe my friend, Graham, will post a comment on about his thoughts on this.

But as for me, right now, this is funny, cute, and crazy all at the same time. And maybe, just maybe, a sign of the apocalypse.



(bu via Boing Boing)

A Humbling Reminder

I was humbled today (looking at the time, it was really yesterday). I was humbled by the fact that as much as I love God and long to share with Him my hopes and fears, desires and struggles, I am so reluctant to do so. In fact, I find it easier and sometimes a bit more natural to look to me, to make the way, to determine the answer all on my own with no regards to it's consequences for my soul, my family, or other relationships.

There are some stressors in my life right now that I am struggling with. I long for the day when they are a thing of the past. But right now, they are standing me straight up, looking me in the eye, and daring me to crumble. In my defiance and pride, I have decided (for the most part) to stand up for myself. By myself. Me and my will against the aggressor! I will overcome! But as I choose to live this way, I find myself getting weary. I am tired and frustrated as the stress closes in harder and faster.

And then the cold water hit me square in the face today. While I (and I do mean I - even though others were present) was thinking of how I was going to win this battle and I was going to deliver the goods, a friend of the family said, "Why don't we pray?"

Whoa - that water's cold!

And there it was...the humbling reminder that God was there, calling me over to share my struggle and give me wisdom. Us and Him. We and together. And so as the day moved on, I found myself coming to Jesus, finding rest, and gaining wisdom and peace that humbles me.

Prayer Of The Weak

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Phil Collins, a Gorilla, and a Chocolate Ad

This is outstanding. I have no idea what it has to do with marketing chocolate, but I don't care. I love everything about this ad! Enjoy.



(via Hemmy)

Back To College Life

It's still a bit surreal that I am back in college. Weird. But it's also really cool. And really stressful. And very engaging. And a bit boring. It's life!

I am three weeks into class at UDayton and four weeks into the graduate position at DECA. Time has flown by. So much so that I am already behind! Yikes. Hence I am studying (and, yes, blogging!) at Noble Coffee and Tea Company here in Noblesville. But at the same time while the school stuff has flow by, time feels to be dragging as it pertains to my time away from Kelly and the kids. It's awful.

But that will change sooner than later with the selling of our house and subsequent full move to Dayton.

Here is a list of the classes that I am taking:

Intro to the Profession of Counseling
Intro the the School Counseling Program at UDayton
Program Development for School Counseling
Lifespan Development
Cultural Diversity and Counseling

That's 12 hours total of class hours. 12 down and 36 to go.

Good profs and good people in the classes. Early on stuff has gone a bit slow and is a bit redundant as to class overlap and previous education. But I am sure that will change as the semester heats up.

I'll keep you posted on how things go and how the semester progresses. Learning is fun. It's just the work that I don't like! Talk with you later.

YouTubes Got Talent - Ronald Jenkees

Where do these guys come from? YouTube seems to be loaded with average joe's who love to play music, skateboard, or anything else that makes them unique and thus a star on places video sites like this.

But here is this guy, Ronald Jenkees. When I first looked at him, I thought maybe he had downs or something (plus he talked kinda funny), but then he posts on his video blog that he is a "perfectly normal and healthy guy." And sure enough, he is and seriously talented! People love him, his beats (hip hop is his genre of choice), his piano tracks and improvs, and I think is infectious personality and humility.

Thus I lay down for you a couple of his videos that I liked. I bet we see this guy on a Ellen Degeneres or Jimmy Kimmel show before we know it. You can also check him out on his own website here. Enjoy.

"Canon in D"



"Theme from Rocky Remix"





"Ain't No Thang - Music Video"



And my favorite beat he lays down:



(bu to Boing Boing)

It's Never Too Early...

...to start shopping for Christmas. So in light of that, if you have that special someone in your world that is hard to buy for or someone who simply "has everything", then this may be the gift for you/them. It's the Video Game Sweater featuring Space Invaders! How geeksational is that? I just want to know when Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Joust are coming out!

(via Boing Boing)

To Own A Dragon

I read the book, To Own A Dragon, this past spring and am just now getting around to posting about it. It is written by one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller, and a mentor of his, John MacMurray. They collaborate on this work that deals with manhood, the fatherless, mentoring, and identity. Miller moves through this work with ease, honesty, grit, and tenderness as he explores the ramification of his life without a father, but with significant father/mentor figures in his life.

I think that this is a must read for all those that are working with young people, especially young men and boys. Whether you are a youth worker, volunteer, teacher, counselor, friend, or parent, this book has insight for you. These ideas and observations that Miller writes about are core realities that we struggle with as men from the time we are very young. He brings fresh perspective to timeless issues such as manhood, girls, sex, spirituality, integrity, work ethic, and education.

There are powerful ideas in this book about how we as men can be very influential in the lives of the next generation. The ideas in this book are not formulaic, but instead come from a pursuit of the relational. An intention that we bring something to the table every time we connect with those in this world that we lead as they look to us for guidance.

Like I said before, I think every male youth worker, teacher, coach, counselor, and parent/guardian should read this book. Read this book that there are young men out there dying to have someone step into their world to walk with them, talk with them, and show them the way to own a dragon.

Prayer Of The Weak

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Riddle

So my brother Blane tells me about this song, The Riddle, by Five For Fighting and how he's been totally diggin' it. I tell him to send me the video and so he sends me the link from CMT to watch. But, along with the link to the video, he sends the lyrics.

Wow. Very thoughtful. Very meaningful. I love it.

It's the kind of story/relationship that we long for with our fathers/parents. It's also what we fathers/parents long for with our sons/children. Here are the lyrics:

There was a man back in '95
Whose heart ran out of summers
But before he died, I asked him

Wait, what's the sense in life
Come over me, Come over me

He said,
Son why you got to sing that tune
Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon
Let an angel swing and make you swoon
Then you will see... You will see

Then he said,
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...

Picked up my kid from school today

Did you learn anything cause in the world today
You can't live in a castle far away
Now talk to me, come talk to me

He said,
Dad I'm big but we're smaller than small
In the scheme of things, well we're nothing at all
Still every mother's child sings a lonely song
So play with me, come play with me

And Hey Dad
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...

I said,
Son for all I've told you
When you get right down to the
Reason for the world...
Who am I?

There are secrets that we still have left to find
There have been mysteries from the beginning of time
There are answers we're not wise enough to see

He said... You looking for a clue I Love You free...

The batter swings and the summer flies
As I look into my angel's eyes
A song plays on while the moon is hiding over me
Something comes over me

I guess we're big and I guess we're small
If you think about it man you know we got it all
Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball
And I love you free
I love you freely

Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...

I love that line, "I love you free, I love you freely."

I'm loving my kids in such a way that they pursue, struggle with, share, and hopefully understand the riddle...Who am I? You and I.

So where are you at with that riddle? Are you pursuing to find the answer with reckless abandonment? Are you struggling with the answer you've come up with given your particular season of life? Are you sharing your insights with others that you are living life with? And are you gaining some understanding as you listen to that still small voice that whispers: I love you free, I love you freely. You and I.

Here's the link for all you You Tube peeps.

Thanks, Blane.

(I think I might have found a way to get the video on my blog...let's try this):

The Riddle Video

The Riddle lyrics - Five For Fighting lyrics

Five For Fighting Music Videos

Music Video Codes by VideoCure

(I don't think it's working. argh.)

The Simpson's Star Wars

To all the Simpson's and Star Wars fans out there...I thought this was pretty creative.

Ah...It's Good To Be Home

I'll just tell you this...it's good to be home. I was technically home last weekend, but only for about 24 hours or so. So I'm not really counting that for quality or quantity time spent with the family. But this weekend is different. After my Counseling and Diversity class, I bolted for my car and headed for the highway.

It's funny, but the time that I am away from home seems longer and longer, but the time on the road seems to go quicker and quicker. Time simply drags as I think how long it has been or will be until I see Kelly and the kids again. What's cool, however, is that as soon as I'm in that car, it seems that I am home in the blink of an eye. That is such a good thing and I am thankful to that.

So to all you moms and dads out there that do this travel thing for a living and to pay the bills...I don't know how you do it. I don't know how your families do it. It really isn't the life for me. I couldn't hack it. I can't wait until it's over!

So for now I will soak up the time I have to wrestle, hug, play dollies, fly planes, and give kisses. It is sweet like honey! So good. Plus, this is Labor Day weekend. I get an extra day at home! Woohoo! So very, very good.

80's (90's and 00's) Cartoon Intros

This has got to be one of the greatest wastes of time ever! The perfect study/work break. It's six 10ish minute videos of classic (and not so classic) 80's cartoon intros. Very cool. One thing I learned about myself: I watched a ton of TV in the 80s. It's also a great little sampling of what 80s music was all about. It's like a little musical history lesson. Way cool.

Here is the first one with classic clips from Transformers, M.A.S.K., and Dungeons & Dragons:





The rest are...

Here: Highlights - He-Man, Thundercats, and TMNT
Here: Highlights - G.I. Joe and Silverhawks
Here: Highlights - Voltron, JEM, Gobots, and Spider-Man
Here: Highlights - C.O.P.S. and the Simpsons
Here: Highlights - Mr. T, Transformers, Voltron, and Spiral Zone
Here: Highlights - Kid Video, Smurfs, Thundarr

If you were a 90s cartoon kid, don't lose hope that you have been forgotten. You can check out vids here, here, here, here, here, and here. And, yes, you millenials, too, can have your cartoon intros here and here.

Enjoy the study break!

Political Positions of Presidential Candidates

I thought this chart was a great tool to get yourself oriented to the political positions of both Democrat and Republican candidates. It was big time helpful and insightful to me.

(bu to Marko)

Prayer Of The Weak

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

It's Here!

This is my new toy...eeerrr...education tool. I'm like a kid at Christmas right now. I broke down, justified, reasoned out the need to buy a laptop computer and it finally arrived. Thank you, DHL!

While on vacation with the fam in Pensacola with my bro and sis-in-law, Matt and I started doing the hard core research on deals and rigs that were the best bang for my buck. And so I finally settled on Dell's Inspiron 1420. It totally rocks!

Read some reviews here, here, and here. People love it. I am loving it. I even love Vista by Microsoft (as long as it stays stable!).

So if you or someone you know is in the market for an affordable laptop, I totally recommend the 1420.

Finnish YMCA Cover

Why can't we get more quality cover bands in America like this one from Finland. America is getting smoked in everything! Bummer.

Prayer Of The Weak

Almighty God, who has given your only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of his godly life: Give me grace that I may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also daily endeavor myself to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Which Are You?

I thought this was interesting and offered me a chance to think critically about work. I am clearly of the philosophy that is presented in the second diagram. But I do wonder about when I really work out of my passions are those two diagrams blurred a bit?

In the first diagram, do we feel like we are working 70 hrs a week or do we feel like we are living so passionately about what we were made to do (and just putting some extra time b/c we love it so) that time "flies when you are having fun". Do we think in diagram two that we are simply doing what we have to do to get by? Not going the extra mile as a servant, leader or person committed to excellence in the workplace. Or do we simply want a diagram two work experience b/c there are other areas in which we feel called to lead, serve, and experience b/c THAT is what we are passionate about?

I don't know. Just some thoughts as I reflect on where I've been (pastoral ministry and Costco) and where I'm going (guidance counselor).

How about you?

(bu to Dave B.)