Joel Osteen... prophet.

I am still crying. I think it's from joy. If it isn't from joy then I'll just decide to SMILE and enjoy life. Thank you, Todd Wright, for the easy to understand instructions on getting the youtube screen onto my blog. You are the best! I know this superlative pales in comparison to the over-the-top man-crush blog of my good friend, Jason... but, still.

Damage Control

I'm sure we all have seen the video of the student pastor who gets his chance to talk in "big church" and messes up trying to say, "pitched his tents". Well, a friend of mine, Scott Murrill of Grace Community Church in Columbia, MD, might have topped it.

He was attempting to get the crowd all fired up by imagining with them the impact of true Christ-followers living out what they believe. His metaphor was damage. The word he combined with damage was God. You do the math. As in, "We could do alot of God _______." An audible gasp eminated from the crowd of 800 shocked church goers. That is classic.

So, in short, don't combine God with damage. Period.

Can Juliet control the future?

I know that LOST has been a little slow lately ... but, I think the last episode was one of the most intriguing in a long time.

So... can Juliet determine the future? Everyone assumes that Mittelos Bioscience made her ex get hit by a bus... but she said it - and it happened. Then she wanted her sister to get pregnant... bingo. Then she wanted Jack to mess up during surgery... I don't have to remind you. Also, she seemed so sure that Jack wouldn't allow Ben to die. How did she know that? I think she was relying on her ability to control things.

Ok... if you watch, shoot some holes in this one.

Where are the sad songs?

When you sing worship songs to God, those songs should include every facet of life... shouldn't they? I mean if we experience it, we should filter it through the lens of our life in God and express it back to him - even if that expression is haunting, uncomfortable, and doubtful. It seems to me that all of the songs we sing in church are all happy clappy. And then, when people show up we tell them to "sing it from their heart". Well, what if they can't? What if the song we are singing isn't their song that day? What if their song is sad? Is that okay?

See, I don't think crying to God is an expression of doubt anymore than a child crying to its mother is a lack of trust. A lament is a profound expression of faith. Faith that someone is listening. Faith that the someone who is listening doesn't require a smile and a hop to care for you. Faith that there is hope beyond the sorrow... or at least faith that there is a chance of hope. Or else why cry? Babies left abandoned in crowded orphanages give up crying after awhile. They know that no one is listening. I hope the church - in our effort to celebrate the goodness of God - doesn't minimize the fallen state of the world.

It's ironic that in our effort to be relevant... we paint on a smile and ignore the real life situations confronted by everyone.

So, Todd, write a couple of laments if you haven't already. Your new recording project will stand out in a crowd of true but incomplete pictures of the life in Christ.

New Ride

I know... I haven't blogged in awhile. But, I need your help.

As many of you know, our van was stolen. Now we are faced with the dilemma... suv or mini van.

But, more spefically - if you were shopping for a vehicle that could seat 7 people, what would you buy? Make and model please. Your opinions mean a lot to me. Help our family find our new ride.

And they used to call them...

Hot Links! Just look it up, Jason.

Caption Contest!

Let's see who can come up with the best caption (that's the words written under the picture, Little Rachel) for my profile pic (the one with Jason in the background). The winner... uh, gets to have their caption used.

Sounds exciting.