Prayer Of The Weak

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

But They Are Also Taking Notice Of Us

After the last post, I needed something to restore my hope in the church and God's people. I found it at one of my favorite (and more liberal) websites, BoingBoing. It was a bit unexpected to say the least. This is the title of the post that caught my eye: Revolution in Jesusland: building bridges between progressives and born agains.

Yes. It can be done. Despite all our faults, Jesus is on the move and people are thinking, tasting and seeing that the Lord is good. Here is the intro paragraph to the post:

Zack Exley, one of the smartest progressive online activists I know, has been maintaining a blog called "Revolution in Jesusland," about the evangelical resurgence, with an emphasis on bridging the gap between progressive activists and evangelicals. This is a laudable effort, and Zack's tackling it with wit, humility and a great deal of intelligence.

Read the rest of the post and then check out the website for Revolution in Jesusland. Good stuff.

Thank you, Father, for the millions of men and women out there that by their lives - heart, mind, soul, and action - are leading and drawing people to your son, Jesus. May my life be that kind of life. A life of intellect, meaning, and love. You are on the move - always and at all times. You are awesome!

(bu to BoingBoing)

No Wonder They Don't Take Us Seriously

This is what drives me crazy about Christianity. This is an actual undergraduate/graduate level class at seminary in Texas: Biblical Model for Home and Family. Now it's doesn't sound horrendous, but upon further review of the class, it leaves little doubt in my mind why the world at large mocks us, our faith, our training, and ultimately our God. Here is another quick article about the class.

Here is a sample from the online article:

I [the interviewer] asked Dr. Stovall why did Southwestern Baptist feel it necessary to offer such a program? Dr.Stovall said that "there were several reasons: (1) We were hearing a demand for this from women who have a heart for the home and from ministers wives who want to use their home for hospitality and ministry (2) It rounds out the Humanities degree in a way that makes it the most well-rounded, complete education a woman can receive (3) We wanted to do our part to strengthen the family and to give women the tools to reinforce a biblical model for home and family."

When asked why did Southwestern decide to only leave the program open women? Dr. Stovall said that "The Homemaking Concentration within the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities is only open to women because it was requested by women, is tailored to women and seeks to model biblical womanhood."

Listen, I'm pretty conservative and a moderate traditionalist and even I think this is goofy, even sexist. Am I crazy? Cranky? Overreacting? What do you think? Who knows...maybe I'll feel different after I sleep on it. G'night!

(bu to The Mental Floss Blog)

Calvin and Hobbes

May our week be full of mystery and adventure. May we look to Jesus and each other for encouragement, comfort, and love this week even if life should not bring our way the things for which we hoped. Grace, peace, and Go Cubbies!

Prayer Of The Weak

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Weekend Warrior

It's a busy weekend here in the Rings' house. Lots of packing. Lots of playing. And lots of studying.

The house is lined with boxes that Kelly has packed and taped shut. It's wild to see your home become a house as the personal stuff like pictures, decor, and the like slowly get put away. I'll be packing the Lexus (just flipped 200,000 miles about a week ago) on Sunday with another load full. Last week my parents drove in and out on Saturday and loaded their SUV and trailer with boxes. These little trips will be a big help when it comes to packing our moving van come moving day.

The playing has been happening, big time, too. We went out last night with our friend Kate and her daughter, Olivia. Bill, her husband, was out of town and we all needed some good time together. We went to Chick-fil-a, had a great meal, great connection, and a great time playing in the play land. We finished up the night by watching a compelling movie on the awful story of the genocide in Rwanda that took place in the mid-90s called Beyond the Gates aka Shooting Dogs. Ill try to post some of my stirrings on the movie at a later date. This morning we are playing with lots of Cars and even playing beauty shop.

Finally, after I get some packing and playing out of the way, I'll have to do some studying. I've got a huge midterm (9 chapters and boat loads of content) that I will be studying for. I will also be finishing up a paper for this week. Welcome back to college. Tonight we'll finish up with watching Children of Men and watching the season premier of Heroes.

And then we'll repeat it all again tomorrow! Woohoo!

p.s. Big ups to my nephew, Alex, for acing his driving test. You are so Ricky Rudd now!

Acoustic Stud - Andy Mckee

There are a few things I wish I could do: 1. Communicate like Haddon Robinson. 2. Shoot a sky hook like Kareem. 3. Pitch middle relief like Jesse Orosco. 4. Have passion like Bono. And 5. Play the acoustic guitar like Andy Mckee. This guy is simply amazing. Here are two of my favorite videos/songs - one original (I think) and one cover. I have no doubt you will totally enjoy these and every other song he plays.



(over seven million views on You Tube on the above video)

Indexed Blog

I found this blog via a friend of mine, Dave Booram, and posted on it here. The blog is INDEXED. Here is Jessica Hagy's take on her blog:

This site is a little project that lets me make fun of some things and sense of others. I use it to think a little more relationally without resorting to doing actual math.

Here are a couple of my favorites as I've rolled through the posts:

Out of the woodwork

Enjoy!

Prayer Of The Weak

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rings Wedding Weekend - Fun Pics Part Deux

Here are some fun shots from the wedding day:

A great shot of Bret and Leigh Ann

Ana Kay and her Granny

Big bro and little bro

Melissa and Marcie

Sarah and her rose petals (I love this shot)

Rings Wedding Weekend - Fun Pics

Random shots from the rehersal on Friday night:

Parker scores a racing suit (thanks, Aunt LA!)

A great pic of Mom and Dad!

Alex, Ana Kay, and Uncle Bret

Blane and Alex with Crystal's boys Griffin, Hayden, and Landon

Sarah and her new BFF, Melissa, Crystal's daughter

Rings Wedding Weekend - The Hitch

The Big Day was awesome. The Bride was beautiful and Blane was a big stud! All the kids were amazing, too. Lots of friends turned out from Peoria along with the families to celebrate what God was grafting together and finally seal in this simply and honorable ceremony. It was a priviledge to officiate the wedding with my bro-in-law, Don. But how cool is it to be able to perform the wedding ceremony of a sibling. That was too cool and I am humbled to have been apart of it.

Along with some pics, I've included Blane and Crystal's vow's to each other. They wrote them for each other and had people talking during the reception. It was tender and real.

Blane : I promise to love you without reservation / because of you, I laugh, I smile, I live again! / I look forward with great joy to spending the rest of my life with you / caring for you, nurturing you, cherishing you / being there for you in all life has in store for us / and I promise to be true and faithful for as long as we both shall live!

Crystal: I marry you with my eyes wide open. / And today, I come to give you my love / comfort you in times of distress / encourage you to achieve all of your goals / laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit / always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

The Brides Maids (minus Melissa who is standing with her mother)

The Groom Dudes (and half of me)

Blane and Crystal Rings

Evan and Crystal

Uncle Boo and Sarah

Can't Tase This

I must be in a sick mood. I was laughing out loud at this video remix based on MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This" and the UF student who got tased at the John Kerry speech. Hy-ster-i-cal! Or so I thought.

Our New Home in Ohio

Just thought you'd like to take a look at the new house that we bought in Ohio (click right here). It's a very nice all-brick ranch in Kettering. It is literally about one minute from my parents house. That is a great location given that my mom is going to be watching the kids four days a week while Kelly and I work.

The house is located in a cul-de-sac and we even have kids next door that Sarah and Parker can play with (we were praying for that). The lot, as you can tell by the pictures, is a great size and will give Kelly the opportunity to do her flower thing and me a chance to do my mowing/grassology thing.

Though we've downsized, we still have an extra bedroom. That means we'd love for you swing on by and spend a night or two. Can't wait to see and hang with you and yours!

Album Covers That Changed Everything

I love music and so found this article on album art and covers very interesting. It deals with the influence of album cover art pre-Mtv (mostly). Very cool. Many of the bands that I grew up listening to myself or via my older brothers and sister are on here. Here is the intro to the piece:

Long before MTV, performers expressed the visual dimension of their art through their album covers. Every music fan has his/her favorites, but several covers stand out for their brilliance, their impact and their ability to make as much of a statement as the music they represent. Every art form has its giants, and album cover art is no exception. The work of the designers featured here spans over 40 years of music.

U2's War album has to be one of my favorite album covers. Not sure why other than it just sticks out in my mind. The boys eyes, facial expression, and bruised lip along with his hands behind his head are very raw and haunting to me. What is he trying to say? What is he telling us about war, violence, and our lives through that gaze of his?

What albums covers stand out for you?

(bu to Mental Floss via blog)

A Funny Mom Blog

I'm not a mom nor have I played one on tv, but this is pretty funny. Her name is Dawn and the name of her blog is Mom2My6Pack or Because I Said So (changing lives, one diaper at a time, since 1994).

My wife thinks that she may have gotten famous with this hysterical ebay auction. Read the whole thing. It is pretty freaking funny.

To all the mom's out there who read my blog (all two of you, thanks, Mom and Kelly!), put this on your blog roll and enjoy!

(bu to my wife, Kelly, via email)

Sign of the Apocalypse

Senator v God.

From my home state of Nebraska and my hometown of Omaha, I share with you this:

State Sen. Ernie Chambers sued God last week. Angered by another lawsuit he considers frivolous, Chambers says he's trying to make the point that anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody.

Chambers says in his lawsuit that God has made terroristic threats against the senator and his constituents, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."

The Omaha senator, who skips morning prayers during the legislative session and often criticizes Christians, also says God has caused "fearsome floods ... horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes."

He's seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty.

This I would think could be a clear sign of the Apocolypse. Here is a link to the full AP article.

Dead Man Alive

Did you catch this story from Reuters:

CARACAS (Reuters) - A Venezuelan man who had been declared dead woke up in the morgue in excruciating pain after medical examiners began their autopsy.

Carlos Camejo, 33, was declared dead after a highway accident and taken to the morgue, where examiners began an autopsy only to realize something was amiss when he started bleeding. They quickly sought to stitch up the incision on his face.

"I woke up because the pain was unbearable," Camejo said, according to a report on Friday in leading local newspaper El Universal.

His grieving wife turned up at the morgue to identify her husband's body only to find him moved into a corridor -- and alive.

Reuters could not immediately reach hospital officials to confirm the events. But Camejo showed the newspaper his facial scar and a document ordering the autopsy.

Can you imagine? What would you think if you were the coroner? How would feel if you were the wife? And to be that guy...I hope life is a bit sweeter for him now.

Here's the link to the article.

NFLRush Blitz Bots

I thought that in light of the onset of the NCAA and NFL football season I would post a game I found on Addicting Games. It's sort of a cross between Space Invaders and a quarterback challenge. It's kinda hard and I'm not very good. Have at it and enjoy!

Go Huskers!

Blitz Bots

Prayer Of The Weak

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.