World Cup is Still Lame

So I went to world cup again... mostly because I didn't have cash on me and knew Puddin' Heads doesn't take plastic. So I get my oversized cup of coffee at Starbuck's price and take a seat in a corner table. As I take out my bible to read the crowd starts to pour in and the volume reaches slightly irritating levels... the music turns to some rock/punk mix. I look across the room and see photos of some frontal nudity and I wonder to myself... is this for real? Yup... it is frontal nudity hanging on the wall. I pause to think, am I the only one who realizes that there is a naked woman on the wall? Conversations continue, children sit with their soccer-moms and play with the crumbs of thier overpriced bun cake... A VCU security officer sips his coffee while techies like myself soak up the free wi-fi... The trendy art kid with his $10 salvation army sport coat with patches on the elbows slings his $125 deisel bag over his sholder and I wonder... is this for real? What a strange parallel universe exists in World Cup. I can't decide if I hate it or if I need to stay here longer... One thing is for sure, I gotta change seats becase the topless woman is starting to wig me out...

Rainy Morning

I must admit that I really like raining mornings. I guess it is easier to like rainy mornings when you have a really good life. I would imagine that if life was harder, rainy mornings might bother me a bit... However, I have to admit that I have it pretty good. I have a wife that loves me and works to understand me. I have a son that sleeps through the night and doesn't cry that much. I have a great roof over my head (and will soon have a great basement under my feet). I have two cars to get around. I have money in the bank. I have food in the fridge. I have money for 'every good work' that God places before me. I have great friends. I have inlaws that help me with my school expenses. I have parents that stand with me in everything I've ever done... For all that I have been given in this life, I am most grateful to God, who has acted according to his grace to give me far, far more than I deserve. May I never take it for granted or think that which I have been given is mine at all...

Don't see that everyday...

So I was going about my normal morning ritual at starbucks. As I sat reading my Bible and meditating on the being of God, I see a camotion out of the corner of my eye... I look up in just enough time to see a hawk fly right into the front window of the store with a resounding THUD. Not sure if I really just ssaw that happen, I watched as the hawk flew around to the other side of the building and across the street where he perched on top of a vacant building. He (or she) has been there for about 15 minutes now and I can only assume that this bird is shaking off a tremendous headache. In a final bit of odd-ness, I can see an outline of the hawk on the window (it was apparently a dirty bird... or had dandruff). What a weird event...

Apocalypse now

Ok, today’s sign that the end is near:

I was talking to a student (whose name shall remain anonymous) this afternoon. The student was informing me that her professor openly declares to her class that she is a relativist. Now, in life, you ocassionaly run into someone who might who claims to be a relativist, but when really pushed, they’ll collapse under the pressure. However this professor has somehow managed to hold tight to her relativism. This student actually said that the professor announced to the class that “there are no wrong answers in her class.” WELL OF COURSE THERE AREN’T! There CANT be! If everything is relative, then when she said I have to write a paper on subject xyz, I can turn in a slice of American cheese and she’ll have to give me an A… however, what does that A ‘mean’? I could answer all her questions with the number 5 and they’d have to be right… but what is 'right'

Now, here in lies the thing that makes me want to vomit up my granola bar… This lady is a university professor who is supposed to be helping to equip the future leaders of our nation. What a screwed up world we would have if this professor’s life outlook and philosophy were to become the norm of society. It just doesn't work...

In the words of the principal from Billy Madison, “Mr. Madison (mr/ms Professor), what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

Folly

So, last night I preached at Paideia for the first time. My text was Ephesians 4.25-32. In general, I feel good about the evening. However, I must admit that preachers are quite susceptible to insecurity following any given sermon. The fact is that we have been entrusted with a great task in preaching... we are to stand before a group of people and expound on what God has revealed about himself in scripture and how that relates to us. It is a monumental task that should be taken with great trepidation for the mere fact that there are a lot of people who will simply believe what you say. The fear in my heart is that I stand and declare something that is not true to the nature and character of God... even in subtle things... As I reflect on last evening I run through the sermon in my head (I'm scared to listen to the cd) and I ask myself, "Was I true to the Word? Could I have said something better? Did I labor too long on a point? Did anyone get it?" Just as I am on the brink of thinking that I should, for the safety of all mankind, never preach again, the gentle word of God rings true in my heart, like a tuning fork adjusting my internal pitch of fear to that of faith... "in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe." Ahhhh what comfort the word of God brings. In the wisdom of God he has chosen to use frail and fallible men (like me) to preach the message of the cross and see lives transformed. While I might not have spoken with eloquent words, or I might have made mistakes, the reality is that I attempted, with every fiber of strength of mind and heart, to preach accurately God's word. I trust that He is more than able to take my folly and save those who believe.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
~ romans 11.34-36 ~

C3

So I am here at C3 for the first time and am really impressed with what all is going on. I highly recomend you drop by and check it out... Tell 'em Ryan sent you (this won't really do anything, but it'll be cool). It is a really nice space that you can just go and hang out. They have lots going on, so check out their site: www.c3va.com

Coffee, Art and Cool People

First things... well, first.

I went to World Cup to get coffee today. I unashamedly admit that it was for the sole reason that I knew they had free wifi. That said, I must admit that World Cup is lame city! The atomosphere was cramped and, while I like techno as much as the next guy, it just doens't work well in highly caffinated, tight spaces. I couldn't deiced if my headace was related to the caffine, the music, or the fact that I had to put my computer, watch, phone, coffee and book all onto a talbe 20 inches wide while everyone that tried to sit next to me bumped it causing intense fear to shoot through my body at the possability that my new computer might die from an unintentional drowning... Puddin' Heads RULES!

Secondly, I have been inspired lately to art. I know 'art' isn't a verb, but that is the best I got right now... I admit that this desire has been spurred on by my friend michelle who has started a non-profit called C3 (www.c3va.org). Check out the site and you too might be inspired to be cool...

I gotta go, world cup is making me insane...