Friday, June 30, 2006

You Are Big Bird
Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around.

You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy.

You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you.

How you life your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."
The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Links for June

George Bush sings U2

Ministry and Addictive Behavior

Reasons to hate weddings and baby showers

Its a BOY

Offensive Christian witnesses?

Thinking through the tough issues

Some poetry from a student of mine

Cant we all just get along?

Bible warning label

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Steve Martin quotes



The greatest thing you can do is suprise yourself. - Steve Martin

All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work. - Steve Martin

I believe in equality. Equality for everybody. No matter how stupid they are or how superior I am to them. - Steve Martin

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Silly Country Lyric Medley Poem

Have you forgotten?
Why, Why, Why?
I wish it was
the way that it was
before
since you did
what you done
to me

I believe
I am
going to find
someone
somewhere

I saw
an eagle fly
through
the clear blue
sky
and thought
this is
a
real fine
place
to
start

Where I was born
where I was raised
where I keep
all my
yesterdays
Let freedom ring!
Let the while dove sing!
Hell
I'll
make it
on
my own
How about
YOU?

Have you forgotten?
When your long day
is over
and you can
barely drag your
feet
dont forget
to remember
me
since you
did
what you
done
to
me.

New World, Same Place

A new world

awakened

as I woke

this

sunshinely light

white

morning

and rose



A new dream

was dreamt

as I set

the stary sooted

dark circley

night

to bed



And I say

eyes closed and

eyes opened

that

today

has old light

new light

enduring HOPE

Our mission trip crew

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Signs you might not be in the best neighborhood on your work project

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Brittani and I---she was in 4th grade when I worked at Bethel as a full time employee

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Another thought provoking quote

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A lesson I need to learn

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Looking down from the porch at the mess hall at camp

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View from the mess hall at camp

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Our junior highers that chose to go to camp

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Most of my cabin last week

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The other guy in my cabin

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Me at camp with Sylvia, our former children's minister

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One of my favorite sermon quotes

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Wise words from a mentor

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More kids from camp

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Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Revisioning the Seven Deadly Sins

I love the movie Seven. All the suspense of a thriller, some twisted religious content, some psychological derangement. It is all there.

Lately though, I have been doing some thinking about the 7 deadly sins. I think that although I disagree with the whole layering of sin in Catholic orthodoxy, they provide helpful signposts for sinful behavior, much like the 10 commandments. As such, they wake us up that the trajectory of our life may be going in a way that we do not desire.

When I think of the 7 deadly sins though, I imagine people who have intentionally turned to the dark side of their nature in some gross, huge way. And maybe many who committ these sins have. However, when I think of the seven deadly sins of late, I think of them more as distractions. They are not big bad monsters that we buckle under to as often as they are simple distractions that often have huge unintended consequences. How easy it is to become a glutton without realizing it! How easy to become slothful inperceptably!

Most of us think of evil like we think of strip clubs, big neon buildings on the edge of town that we have to work our way around to get to. Sin in my life is more like running out of gas because I didn't check the fuel gage. I didn't intend it to, but the distractions in my life have left me in a place where I am in danger and I am alone, and I need help to find my way out...

Anyway...a few thoughts....

Reformation Commentary of the Bible: Old Testament Volume XIII--Psalms 73-150

Reformation Commentary of the Bible: Old Testament Volume XIII--Psalms 73-150  Edited by Herman J. Selderhuis IVP Academic ISBN 978-0-8308-2...