Come and...

God has been stirring in my heart lately. For a while there, I wasn't sure about what so I began to listen. Then for my birthday last week, Kelly and the kids gave me a couple of cd's. One of which was the David Crowder Band's, Collision. This is one of my favorite bands. Simple. Powerful. Different. Creative. Check out the cd here.

One of the songs on the disc is called, "Come and Listen."

Come and listen
Come to the water’s edge
All you who know and fear the Lord
Come and listen
Come to the water’s edge
All you who are thirsty, come

Let me tell you what He has done for me
Let me tell you what He had done for me
He has done for you
He has done for us

Come and listen
Come and listen to what He’s done
Praise our God for He is good
He has done for me
He has done for you

He has done for us

Simple, yet what I sensed God is wanting me to do in this season. Listen. Listen to Him. Listen to others. Listen to music. Listen to creation. Listen to His Word. Listen to who He is and what He's done.

So over the next few weeks, I'll share with you what I hear.

"He who has ears, let him hear." - Jesus

Living To 100 Life Expectancy Calculator

This is a very informative free test to see what you life expectancy is. It walks you through some general questions in the areas of Personal Info (age, b-day, etc), Lifestyle, Nutrition, Medical, and Family. It takes about 5-10 minutes to do. It even gives some general feedback at the end to incorporate into you lifestyle to live longer and healthier. Kinda cool. Click here to calculate your years. Here are my results:

51 years left, baby (Lord willin')!

Great Moment From the Red Sox Nation

And I don't mean them winning their second World Series. Check out this moment when an autistic young man gets a case of the giggles in the middle of singing the National Anthem. Say what you want about the Red Sox and the Red Sox Nation, but this is pretty cool.

Just Run To Him

I'm not much into the mushy stuff in Christianity. In fact, when it gets cheesy (especially on Christian radio) I'm quick to switch stations. However, my brother sent me this via an email and it caught me at a vulnerable moment. This is pretty tender if I do say so myself.



(bu to Matt)

God Still Loves Us

Viral Marketing is an interesting phenomenon that is finding it's way into the four corners of the world. It's an interesting concept for getting certain people to think about particular brands, products, or concepts. And it seems to have made it's way into Christian community for the purpose communicating God's love for us. There is/are some person/people out there looking to make a difference or at least a statement through this kind of radical mechanism. It's called God Still Loves Me.

I'd love to know who is behind this movement, but keeping it subversive and simple is fine by me (even though some/maybe many of the pics are fake). It is definitely out of the box for me. The ones that are real are definitely pretty cool. Here are a few pics to give you a visual.





p.s. How do you feel about this? Is this good Kingdom methodology? What other messages does it communicate to the world at large? Just curious.

(bu to Subversive 1)

Prayer Of The Weak

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Thanksgiving 2007 - Some Of My Favorite Pics

Brett, LA, Jetson, Skylar, Mesa, Matt, and Toni, you were/are missed! Here are some of my other favorite pics from the big day:

Thanksgiving 2007 - Silly Side Of The Turkey

A family of goofs!

Thanksgiving 2007

Here are a few pics from our great Thanksgiving 2007 here in Dayton The Rings/Solin/Carr clan had a some serious fun (apples to apples), serious football (packers, cowboys, huskers), and serious food (all the fixins). Good times were had by all!

Bath Time Tidal Wave

Just in case you ever wonder what bath time is like in our home (or any home for that matter with small kids) and then multiply it by two! Good times.

Grafted And Grateful

I sit here in my house on Thanksgiving grateful for many things - too many list. But I will highlight one. Today (right now in fact), I am surrounded by four new family members (two more are back chillin' at their hotel). My brother, Blane, and his new wife, my new sis-in-law, Crystal, and her kids Blaze, Melissa, and Hayden are watching Pearl Harbor with Kelly and I. It's really cool.

What's cool is that this gathering today was born out of great pain. The Carr family (new fam) lost their dad a year and a half ago to a brain tumor. Two years ago my brother's family was rocked by divorce. Both very different experience, but both very painful. What's even cooler is that God in his grace has joined us together.

This grafting of two families is very much like our grafting into Christ...powerful, tough, joyous, mysterious and born from brokenness. And through it all something new is being born. Something good is happening. Rough, refining, and redemptive if we are open to it. My bro and my nieces and my new sis and my new niece and nephews are experiencing all the highs, lows, fruit and fragileness that comes with new relationships.

I'm thankful that Kelly and the kids were apart of it this week. Thanksgiving was a chance for all of us to experience a deeper sense of the grafting that God is doing in all of us. With Him and with each other. It's amazing to be apart of it. I am truly thankful for that this year.

Blog Of The Week

Alright. So you've seen bu (big ups) a few times on this blog to a guy named Marko. Who is he and why is he the Blog of the Week? Well, Mark Oestreicher is a long time friend and mentor. He became the Jr. High pastor at the church that I attended in Omaha, NE when I was in high school. I was a young volunteer who would hang out at his apartment with he and his wife and listen to tunes, ride in his Jeep, and talk about who knows what. I later became his intern in Santa Ana, CA when I was a junior in college. Over the years it's been wild to watch Marko grow as a pastor, husband/dad, leader (president of youth specialties) and man of God. Marko has inspired me to be more creative, administrative, techy, and teachable. For that, I am forever grateful.

And so I was pumped when I found out that he blogged a couple years back. His blog is one of the first I visit in the day. It's full of humor, critique, reviews and encouragement for all people, but especially for those near and dear his and my heart - youth workers (esp. middle school youth workers). Some of my favorite ysmarko posts have to do with books (he devours them), middle school students, and Jesus junk.

Marko is an amazing leader, thoughtful follower of Christ, ruthless name dropper, and good friend. It has been my joy to know he and his wife over the years. I am thankful for technology that allows me to tap into his insight over the miles and over the net. I would not be the man I am today without his influence. Thanks, Goober!

Visit ysmarko here.

Seven Deadly Social Sins

I've got to be honest. I'm not excited about voting in the presidential elections that will take place a little less than a year from now. There is a lot of rhetoric about what to change, what to keep the same, and what is best of the American people. But in the end, it's just words to me from mostly lame candidates playing the political game.

So lately, I've been thinking about what is going to be the foundations upon which I should build my political ideologies. What is the paradigm I will use to evaluate their political perspective? There are principles in the Bible, but nothing overtly political that says, "This is the criteria for voting for the right candidate." I know there are issues of love and justice, but what does this look like?

Then I came across this. Not even sure where I found it, but I thought this might make for a guide post for looking at politicians (as best as I can). It's not perfect, but helpful. Maybe it might be helpful for you, too.

Accordion Hero II

Now this is what I'm talking about! Move over Guitar Hero. Step aside Rock Band. Here comes Accordion Hero! I'm about ready to get my polka on!

Prayer Of The Weak

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Where's The Beef?

Just in case you ever wondered and wanted to know what part of a cow your beef came from.

Mmmmmm beef.

Where Have You Gone Joe Dimaggio?

Today is another sad day for Major League Baseball and more importantly its fans. Barry Bonds, baseball's home run king, was indicted today for perjury and obstruction of justice. You can read articles here, here, and here. This video is a bit of commentary from one of my favorite shows, Pardon the Interuption (PTI) on ESPN. So sad.



Update: I want to edit my opening line. "It's a sad day for baseball fans. On the other hand, shame on Major League Baseball for turning a blind eye to McGwire, Sosa, AND Bonds for both home run chases. Shame on MLB for being simply about the shameless marketing and the boat-load of benjamins."

Free Rice - The Game That Feeds People

This a very fun game that is also a great cause. It's called Free Rice. It's goal is to improve vocabulary for free and end world hunger for free. Very fun. Very cool.

I got to 36 and then fluctuated between 33-35. I blame it on fatigue. What can you do?

(bu to Charlie)

Wave of Sorrow by U2

Bono and the boys are at it again...putting out another thoughtful, passionate song to stir the heart and soul. You can check out more about the song, give feedback, and hear what else is going on in the U2 universe by clicking here. Enjoy.

Prayer Of The Weak

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.