Thanks Jessica

I believe the children are our future

Twice as nice

I just realized that to double my usual posting output... I only had to post one more time this month.

Done and done.

It will change your life

I spent a week at Camp Barnabas... and I was reminded what the Kingdom of God should look like. People serving others in a way that can only be defined as love. I fully joined in on what was clearly a superior way of living life. And the result was a joy that I am convinced few experience in the fake world. Why does it always shock me that when I make the choice to seek others good before my own that I receive from God what he has promised? Why don't I trust that the God who has asked me to expend myself can refuel me when I obey?

What was particularly telling was the fact that I have a tendency to budget my energy during times of service so that I can accomplish a week of a Christ-like servant attitude. You know - putting others first, encouraging them, not whining, speaking the truth in love, putting action before affection, humility, and a general love for all with whom I come into contact. I was well aware of how many more days I had to have the mind of Christ before I could let down and be myself again. And then God, as he has often done before, reminded me that his Kingdom on Earth doesn't just exist at Barnabas and that I was being asked to live this way... the rest of my life. I was being asked to never go back to selfishness, whining, spotlight hounding... and all of the other crap that fills the dark, distracted side of me.

The whole problem with that way of life is that I can't budget for it. It exceeds my resources. If I am going to live that life, I have to admit need. Believe me, it is not that I fear selflessness or any of the character qualities that come with living the life of Christ. My fear is needing God to accomplish it. Seven days? Yeah, I can do that. The rest of my life? I'm going to need some help. God help me... I'm going to give this a shot. My attempts to find joy for myself, by myself don't compare to the joy of doing God's work through God's empowerment.

7 Random Things

Well, I have been at Reality Week, our camp, all week and didn't know that I had been tagged by Robert. So, now that I am back... here are some of the many random things that make up The Lance.

1. I used to collect beer cans. I had a collection of about 500 of them and foolishly sold them for $200 to a guy I knew in Longview... those cans could have sent my kids to college. Well, a community college - if they got a good paying job and lived at home while attending classes.

2. I refuse to write with those composite wood pencils. You know what I am talking about? Those pressed wood kind that have the lead (graphite) that just writes weird. I prefer the real wood sort. I hope someone out there who reads this one understands it.

3. I have consistently maintained that "Twister" is one of the worst movies that most of the people I know loved. I have never understood the appeal of this disaster (in more than one way!) movie. Good tornado chasers vs. bad ones??? Come on.

4. My principal in elementary school took my Rubik's cube from me in the 6th grade. He told me he would give it back to me at the end of the year... he never did. I have never forgotten.

5. I failed spelling in middle school with a 56. I refused to do what I considered "busy work". While I aced every test... I consistently scored a zero on my homework.

6. My dream car is a Fiat Spider. Red convertible with tan interior. Mmmmmm baby.

7. I have (with Jason's help) recently coined a new word. Slaboomby (alt. spelling Slaboombi). It is an exclamatory expression denoting surprise/delight/awe. (i.e. I was just walking down the street and SLABOOMBY! she walked into my life)

Bonus! I am addicted to thinking up plot lines for movies. I bought a screenplay program and am currently writing a "short" entitled Webcam about a police detective who witnesses a girl with whom he is having an internet affair being abducted. I have an filmmaker friend who is going to help complete the project.

Great Music... Great Guy

Heard some great music at the Pour House, a coffee shop in Westminster. Thoughtful lyrics and incredible vocals. Jon is going to be a worship pastor at a church plant in Hagerstown, MD. They played a great lament... Embrace. Todd, I don't know if you still read this thing - but, the whole idea of lament (I think) is about holding on... not letting go... even if you can't make any forward progress. You can check these guys out at http://www.myspace.com/jonandcarrie

Supreme Seat-mate?

So... on the way back from the fantastically successful Crash event in Houston, something pretty weird happened with this lady that I sat next to on the plane.

Don't, Todd... just don't.

Anyway, I think I recognize her... you know? I think she is somebody pretty important. But that can't be right because we are flying Southwest. Important people don't fly Southwest... do they? She's reading this Philip Yancy book about prayer (I don't remember the title) and I am becoming more convinced that she is exactly who I think she is. She turns to me and says something like, "I feel like I have to read every page 2-3 times to understand what this guy is saying."

So, she started the conversation. I wasn't just bugging her while reading.

I asked her what her final destination was. "D.C."
What do you do in D.C.? "I work for some people there... mostly practice law"
Hmmmm. Ever been nominated for anything? (pause) "Yes, I have been nominated for some things."
Anything big? (longer pause) "Yes, president Bush nominated me to be a justice on the Supreme Court."

I know this might not blow anyone away; but, I sat next to the personal legal counsel to President Bush, Harriet Miers! We had a long conversation. She asked my advice on her commencement address for the graduating class at Dallas Christian. She gave me a book... and signed it! And, she rode Southwest! I bet Alito, Roberts and the rest of those justices don't fly Southwest. In short, I wish she had been approved... we could use someone on the Supreme Court as down to earth and friendly and humble as Harriet.

Check her out on Wikipedia!