"The continual grubbing on the inside to see whether we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, morbid type of Christianity, not the robust, simple life of the child of God."
"Launch out in reckless belief that the Redemption is complete, and then bother no more about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ said - pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints, pray for all men. Pray on the realization that you are only perfect in Christ Jesus, not on this plea - "O Lord, I have done my best, please here me.""
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
This weekend I am marrying off two great friends, Rob Strauss and Brooke Tichenor. These two have been friends of mine since high school, and I am really looking forward to it!
I come home for a day, and then turn around and am leading 27 people to Bushnell, IL. I am excited about Cornerstone this year. True, I am not as crazy about the lineup in as in years past, but I am pretty excited about the Seminars on N.T. Wright, and checkin' out some J-Pop in the imaginarium. That would be stealing Darin's thunder though, so I won't go there.
Sorry there hasn't been much posting lately, but church stuff, gas pumper boy, boyfriend hasn't had a lot of free time lately. Oh, and my computer was out of commission for a few days. Ya, so get off my back!
I come home for a day, and then turn around and am leading 27 people to Bushnell, IL. I am excited about Cornerstone this year. True, I am not as crazy about the lineup in as in years past, but I am pretty excited about the Seminars on N.T. Wright, and checkin' out some J-Pop in the imaginarium. That would be stealing Darin's thunder though, so I won't go there.
Sorry there hasn't been much posting lately, but church stuff, gas pumper boy, boyfriend hasn't had a lot of free time lately. Oh, and my computer was out of commission for a few days. Ya, so get off my back!
Friday, June 01, 2007
How about that Cavaliers game last night? That was insane! Lebron is really good.
And Utah really stunk it up in their last game. Let's face it though, San Antonio is a better team. I am officially a Jazz fan though, I cannot watch them and not get a little nostalgic about my '05 Illini.
Tuesday is the 5th year anniversary of my stroke. I rarely think about that time anymore. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
I love you guys.
And Utah really stunk it up in their last game. Let's face it though, San Antonio is a better team. I am officially a Jazz fan though, I cannot watch them and not get a little nostalgic about my '05 Illini.
Tuesday is the 5th year anniversary of my stroke. I rarely think about that time anymore. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
I love you guys.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Ewwww, ewww, ewwwww.
Moms, don't you hate when your child is sick and all congested? Never fear, the Swedish have designed a product to help your suffering child. Simply stick this tube into their nose, and then suck their snot into your mouth. Only $15.00 plus shipping.
Oh the memories.
Darin is taking a greek class for seminary, and so I was going through my greek book to see if he could use it (He couldn't, Mounce put out a second edition). Tucked in the pages was this note from my friend Jamie. This brought back floods of memories of me and her, me and Bethann, me and pretty much whoever would pay attention to me, sitting in IDS class. Me drawing and writing notes, not paying any attention to the lectures at all(Click on the picture to make it bigger):
I think that pretty much sums it up. This was probably sophomore year, Jamie assuming that we were both going to be married by 2003. Thinking that we would both have kids, and still being rebellious and smoking "after the kids go to bed of course." Jamie talking about smoking the "phat" stuff, you knew she wasn't talking about weed. She was talking about cigars. That was the extent of our rebellion. Sneaking out in the middle of the night to smoke cigars. Oh, how young and silly we were.
Well, it's almost 4 years past that invitation, and I am still unmarried with no kids, and she doesn't want any. And we are both very, happy. Funny how life changes.
I think that pretty much sums it up. This was probably sophomore year, Jamie assuming that we were both going to be married by 2003. Thinking that we would both have kids, and still being rebellious and smoking "after the kids go to bed of course." Jamie talking about smoking the "phat" stuff, you knew she wasn't talking about weed. She was talking about cigars. That was the extent of our rebellion. Sneaking out in the middle of the night to smoke cigars. Oh, how young and silly we were.
Well, it's almost 4 years past that invitation, and I am still unmarried with no kids, and she doesn't want any. And we are both very, happy. Funny how life changes.
Monday, May 14, 2007
So, I started this new job...
I now work 2 nights a week at Swifty Gas Station. It is a little hole in the wall gas station, that has nothing inside, and they sell nothing but gas and cigarettes. What makes people go there you ask?
They pump the gas.
No extra charge, in fact many times they are the cheapest gas in town. And they do all the work, *sigh* I guess "we" do all the work.
Holly filled out the app for me since my handwriting is so bad, I may not have been able to "get a job at a gas station", and she wrote for position desired... gas pumper boy.
I was hired the next day.
They pump the gas.
No extra charge, in fact many times they are the cheapest gas in town. And they do all the work, *sigh* I guess "we" do all the work.
Holly filled out the app for me since my handwriting is so bad, I may not have been able to "get a job at a gas station", and she wrote for position desired... gas pumper boy.
I was hired the next day.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Back to life, back to reality...
Quick photo diary of the week in Florida:
Holly and I were ready to leave about 4 pm on Monday afternoon. We were going to drive through the night and get to her parents house in Naples, Florida, really early in the morning. That is when the master brake cylinder decided to die on Holly's car. 2 hours and $250 later we were on hour way.
She drove I slept, I drove she slept, we listened to many Mark Driscoll sermons, and finally we arrived in Naples.
We hung out in her parents pool (their house is beautiful), and went to bed early seeing as how we were exhausted from our trip.
Wednesday we went to the developments club house, and enjoyed the pool and waterfalls. Awwww, we are so myspace.
Thursday, we drove to Clearwater, and picked up my folks from the airport. We then attended my sister's graduation from nursing school. It was great. SoeYun handed the announcer a card right before she read SoeYun's name: SoeYun "The Awesome" Song. Yup, she read it just like that too!
The entire fam outside the graduation.
The next morning we woke up at 5 am and went deep sea fishing:
SoeBeck tried to kiss Holly, but Holly wasn't having it.
soebs being slick however, whispered sweet nothings in her ear, and she relented.
How did they do that?
Look at my Mom and Dad! They are so cute!
Finally after about an hour on the boat we started fishing. And SoeYun started catching, and catching, and catching fish.
Puffer fish...
Trigger fish...
Sushi fish...
Then Holly started catching the species known as microscopic fish...
Then soebs got into the act...
SoeChun really dug the puffer fish... He kept pissing it off to make it puff up.
Look at all the fish that soebs caught!
Never fear, the fish were put to good use! We had a fish fry, and ate fish tacos to our hearts content!
The next day was spent at the beach...
and buried Soech...
We then started the long journey home. Holly's car was acting up, so we had a mechanic friend of mine come look at the vehicle. He was nice and fixed the part for us so that we wouldn't have to buy a new part. We ended up leaving about noon on Monday, and were excited to get home and sleep in our own beds.
Unfortunately, we should have bought the new part.
100 miles outside of Evansville, at about 3 am, the car died.
We tried to start it.
Over.
and over.
and over.
Finally we called Triple A, and got a tow to a firestone.
Where we napped for 3 hours til they opened at 7 am.
Finally, 5 hours (and $275) later we began our final 100 miles home.
We missed the exit though, and ended up in metropolis, IL.
We got turned around and began our last 100 miles home.
Throughout it all. Holly and I never fought, never got sick of each other, and after we got home Tuesday afternoon, we got cleaned up and spent some more time together. What's up now, Toad?
Fin.
Holly and I were ready to leave about 4 pm on Monday afternoon. We were going to drive through the night and get to her parents house in Naples, Florida, really early in the morning. That is when the master brake cylinder decided to die on Holly's car. 2 hours and $250 later we were on hour way.
She drove I slept, I drove she slept, we listened to many Mark Driscoll sermons, and finally we arrived in Naples.
We hung out in her parents pool (their house is beautiful), and went to bed early seeing as how we were exhausted from our trip.
Wednesday we went to the developments club house, and enjoyed the pool and waterfalls. Awwww, we are so myspace.
Thursday, we drove to Clearwater, and picked up my folks from the airport. We then attended my sister's graduation from nursing school. It was great. SoeYun handed the announcer a card right before she read SoeYun's name: SoeYun "The Awesome" Song. Yup, she read it just like that too!
The entire fam outside the graduation.
The next morning we woke up at 5 am and went deep sea fishing:
SoeBeck tried to kiss Holly, but Holly wasn't having it.
soebs being slick however, whispered sweet nothings in her ear, and she relented.
How did they do that?
Look at my Mom and Dad! They are so cute!
Finally after about an hour on the boat we started fishing. And SoeYun started catching, and catching, and catching fish.
Puffer fish...
Trigger fish...
Sushi fish...
Then Holly started catching the species known as microscopic fish...
Then soebs got into the act...
SoeChun really dug the puffer fish... He kept pissing it off to make it puff up.
Look at all the fish that soebs caught!
Never fear, the fish were put to good use! We had a fish fry, and ate fish tacos to our hearts content!
The next day was spent at the beach...
and buried Soech...
We then started the long journey home. Holly's car was acting up, so we had a mechanic friend of mine come look at the vehicle. He was nice and fixed the part for us so that we wouldn't have to buy a new part. We ended up leaving about noon on Monday, and were excited to get home and sleep in our own beds.
Unfortunately, we should have bought the new part.
100 miles outside of Evansville, at about 3 am, the car died.
We tried to start it.
Over.
and over.
and over.
Finally we called Triple A, and got a tow to a firestone.
Where we napped for 3 hours til they opened at 7 am.
Finally, 5 hours (and $275) later we began our final 100 miles home.
We missed the exit though, and ended up in metropolis, IL.
We got turned around and began our last 100 miles home.
Throughout it all. Holly and I never fought, never got sick of each other, and after we got home Tuesday afternoon, we got cleaned up and spent some more time together. What's up now, Toad?
Fin.
Monday, April 30, 2007
On the road again...
Holly and I are headed down to Florida this Afternoon. We will head to Naples to see her Dad and Step-mom, and then to Clearwater to watch my sister graduate from Nursing School. Please pray for us as we drive if you get a chance today! See you at the beach! Oh, wait no I won't... suckers.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Overheard...
Our church is trying to raise some money to pay off some debt on the new building. We hired Injoy Stewardship Services to help us raise money. It's a John Maxwell thing, but that's another topic for another day.
The Injoy guys called a meeting with the staff, and they shared with us the vision of what we are trying to do with the campaign. It has some very good ideas in how to get a big majority of the church to get involved.
One of the guys said something that bugged me a little bit though... He said, "we had more fun (at a certain event) then you should have at church event."
That's the problem, isn't it? Too many people feel that church SHOULD be stuffy, lifeless, and achingly boring.
That is community? I know that when I experience community, I laugh hard enough to make my sides hurt, I cry with my friends that are hurting, I get my hands dirty with their dirt as we pray for each other. But mostly, I laugh. A lot.
To steal from Campolo and Yacconelli, the kingdom of God is a party.
The Injoy guys called a meeting with the staff, and they shared with us the vision of what we are trying to do with the campaign. It has some very good ideas in how to get a big majority of the church to get involved.
One of the guys said something that bugged me a little bit though... He said, "we had more fun (at a certain event) then you should have at church event."
That's the problem, isn't it? Too many people feel that church SHOULD be stuffy, lifeless, and achingly boring.
That is community? I know that when I experience community, I laugh hard enough to make my sides hurt, I cry with my friends that are hurting, I get my hands dirty with their dirt as we pray for each other. But mostly, I laugh. A lot.
To steal from Campolo and Yacconelli, the kingdom of God is a party.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
"cause id like to see you out in the moonlight
id like to kiss you way back in the sticks
id like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
and id like to check you for ticks
oooh you never know where one might be
and oooh theres lots of places that are hard to reach
id like to see you out in the moonlight
id like to kiss you way back in the sticks
id like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
and id like to check you for ticks
oh id sure like to check you for ticks"
*** I copied and pasted these lyrics... I take no responsibility for the lack of apostrophes in this post.
id like to kiss you way back in the sticks
id like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
and id like to check you for ticks
oooh you never know where one might be
and oooh theres lots of places that are hard to reach
id like to see you out in the moonlight
id like to kiss you way back in the sticks
id like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
and id like to check you for ticks
oh id sure like to check you for ticks"
*** I copied and pasted these lyrics... I take no responsibility for the lack of apostrophes in this post.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
SoeBeck and Holly go see the Cardinals
Early one Tuesday morning, SoeBeck and Holly drove to St. Louis to see their favorite team, the Cardinals. They were battling against the evil Pirates, and they were both very excited. That is until SoeBeck was pulled over by a police officer and handed a ticket. This made soebs sad.
SoeBeck was determined not to let this setback get him down, and they continued on their journey, this time at a more appropriate pace.
SoeBeck and Holly got to the St. Louis,
and SoeBeck wept tears of Joy at the sight of the beautiful new stadium.
(Picture has been deleted due to the fact that soebs doesn't cry)
Look how excited the happy couple is:
Then SoeBeck and Holly posed in front of the stadium with some Cardinals greats:
(Hottest Picture Ever)
The weather was as beautiful as the Stadium:
Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost the battle to the Pirates that day...
but at least our heroes had each other.
SoeBeck was determined not to let this setback get him down, and they continued on their journey, this time at a more appropriate pace.
SoeBeck and Holly got to the St. Louis,
and SoeBeck wept tears of Joy at the sight of the beautiful new stadium.
(Picture has been deleted due to the fact that soebs doesn't cry)
Look how excited the happy couple is:
Then SoeBeck and Holly posed in front of the stadium with some Cardinals greats:
(Hottest Picture Ever)
The weather was as beautiful as the Stadium:
Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost the battle to the Pirates that day...
but at least our heroes had each other.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
I have a new hero.
Jason Whitlock is a former football player, turned journalist, and is also a black man. He wrote this article on Imus and the rutgers situation, and has also been all over the radio about it. Bravo Jason, bravo!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
A little confession
I don't think I have been to the dentist since I was 12.
29 - 12 = 17 years.
I went today. It was a new patient visit, and so there was no cleaning yet. Dentist went over medical history with me, looked at my mouth, took x-rays.
I told him I hadn't been to the dentist since I was in high school (o.k., a tiny fib, but I said, "like high school" since I don't know the last time I was at a dentist, so I really didn't lie to him that bad), he told me that I had no cavities and that my Sonicare must be doing the trick because I do not have the build up of someone who hasn't been to the dentist in 10 years.
How about 17?
My teeth cleaning will be coming soon.
29 - 12 = 17 years.
I went today. It was a new patient visit, and so there was no cleaning yet. Dentist went over medical history with me, looked at my mouth, took x-rays.
I told him I hadn't been to the dentist since I was in high school (o.k., a tiny fib, but I said, "like high school" since I don't know the last time I was at a dentist, so I really didn't lie to him that bad), he told me that I had no cavities and that my Sonicare must be doing the trick because I do not have the build up of someone who hasn't been to the dentist in 10 years.
How about 17?
My teeth cleaning will be coming soon.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
School board vote
I just saw on the news that the Warrick County is going to middle schools, which means that my ministry will start having 6-8 grades instead of just 7 and 8. It won't start til the school year after this fall I believe. Should be a good thing for my ministry.
Things are going well around here, sorry I haven't posted for a week, I haven't had much to say.
The 'Birds started off slow, but they are coming on strong now!
Now if Albert will just be Albert, I can start absolutely dominating my fantasy league! I would like to point out that I beat Brad Evans Yahoo fantasy expert in week 1 of our head to head baseball league! I beat him by half a point! What's up now Brad?
Things are going well around here, sorry I haven't posted for a week, I haven't had much to say.
The 'Birds started off slow, but they are coming on strong now!
Now if Albert will just be Albert, I can start absolutely dominating my fantasy league! I would like to point out that I beat Brad Evans Yahoo fantasy expert in week 1 of our head to head baseball league! I beat him by half a point! What's up now Brad?
Friday, March 30, 2007
Hospital Rounds
I have spent much of today making hospital calls. 6 people divided by 3 hospitals all over town. Lots of fun.
I actually don't mind doing hospitals, 6 is a little much though.
I got a call for the 6th person on the road however. There was a Jr. High girl just admitted to the hospital. I went in there not knowing what was wrong with her, and when I went to her room, she was laying there reading a magazine.
"Hi, I'm SoeBeck, what's going on?"
"I drank an entire bottle of Grey Goose, and passed out."
It was an 8th grade girl who I have never seen before. She told me she was an alcoholic, and was worried about her parents sending her back to rehab.
How has a 14 year old girl been in rehab before, and is now worried about having to go back?
I mean, people messed around with alcohol when I was in Jr. High, I know. To already be in rehab though? To call yourself an alcoholic? She wasn't at a party, she wasn't with friends. She drank a bottle of vodka by herself, on her own. She obviously needs the savior, but she has no interest. What do I do, invite her to youth group? I did. She didn't seem too interested. I mean and why not? Most of my kids are trying to find out whether or not they like girls or whether or not they have the right Ipod.
Goodness. I feel helpless. Kind of all my training goes out the window with something like this.
"Father, help your child. Help her find you."
I actually don't mind doing hospitals, 6 is a little much though.
I got a call for the 6th person on the road however. There was a Jr. High girl just admitted to the hospital. I went in there not knowing what was wrong with her, and when I went to her room, she was laying there reading a magazine.
"Hi, I'm SoeBeck, what's going on?"
"I drank an entire bottle of Grey Goose, and passed out."
It was an 8th grade girl who I have never seen before. She told me she was an alcoholic, and was worried about her parents sending her back to rehab.
How has a 14 year old girl been in rehab before, and is now worried about having to go back?
I mean, people messed around with alcohol when I was in Jr. High, I know. To already be in rehab though? To call yourself an alcoholic? She wasn't at a party, she wasn't with friends. She drank a bottle of vodka by herself, on her own. She obviously needs the savior, but she has no interest. What do I do, invite her to youth group? I did. She didn't seem too interested. I mean and why not? Most of my kids are trying to find out whether or not they like girls or whether or not they have the right Ipod.
Goodness. I feel helpless. Kind of all my training goes out the window with something like this.
"Father, help your child. Help her find you."
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
People really don't like this guy.
Alright, this guy isn't a very good singer. I think that perhaps I could give him a run for his money, and I am definitely NOT one of the best 10 singers in the country.
However, hunger strikes? I mean, how in the world do you care about a show enough to actually go on a hunger strike over the results? I can see a hunger strike for awareness about the aids epidemic in Africa, or something worthy like, Oral Roberts raising 8 million dollars for something or other.
I guess, I can understand Simon saying he would quit American Idol over it. I mean, if you are the creator of a show, and it loses all credibility 2 years in a row by bad singers consistently doing well (that kid with the glasses last season?), maybe you've been exposed as being the laughing stock of the nation. Or perhaps you will realize that you are nothing more than a Karaoke competition and realize you don't have a lot of credibility in the first place.
Or maybe, I am an idiot.
I am excited about Bono perhaps showing up. Please let there be a U2 night, please.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Lazy Sunday
No, I don't have some rap about red vines being crazy delicious! I am listening to Waterdeep right now, and life is all good!
The last few days have been incredible! The weather has been ridiculous! It was 80 here yesterday. Holly and I went to take a walk around midnight last night, and the temperature outside was perfect! This weekend was the start of spring break for our students and all evening church activities were cancelled, so yesterday was simply a lazy Sunday (I don't get those very often), and it was everything I thought it could be! :)
The tourney has been kinda lame. No real upsets, kinda boring. If Florida wins though, I will finish 2nd in my tourney pool. That's like cash money, yo!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
You may be seated.
Today was the day I married off my roomate and the church nursery coordinator. I have to say that for my first wedding, it went pretty well. There was tense moment when Darin was escorting the Brides dad down the aisle pushing his wheelchair as the bride stood next to her dad. The dad stopped him and got out of the wheelchair to walk the bride up the aisle, but Darin kept pushing him back down into the chair. Darin is a bit of a baby sometimes. Alright, that was an episode of the office, but man, you can imagine if Darin did that, right? Anybody?
I screwed up just one real noticable time. After the giving of the bride away and my prayer, I was supposed to tell the guests to be seated. Ya, kinda forgot about that.
They all sat down as one big unit about halfway through my sermon. To which I remarked, "Yup, there it is. Right here in my notes!"
It was fun. The end.
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