Friday, September 29, 2006

A Soccer Story...


So just recently we decided to enroll our son, Tyler, in soccer. We had missed the deadline due to the fact that we were kind of tied up with that whole "having a baby thing" but found out about an opening from a young lady Erin works with. So, we signed him up. It's been an interesting ride, to say the least. I struggle to sit through practices. It's tough watching him play with cones, roll in the grass, and whatever else you can think of while everyone else is actually learning soccer but I know it'll come.

Anyway, yesterday, as we arrived at practice, he was kind of amped up and the coach hadn't shown up yet. So, as Erin, Peyton, and I perched on some large rocks underneath a tree, I told Tyler to run over to another tree and back just to get some exercise. Sometimes it's good to be the parent! So, off he goes. I look to Erin for a moment, the look in my eyes saying, "Yeah...I know what I'm doing", when I turn back to look at Tyler and the tree. He's standing there in front of the tree, now tugging down his britches! Erin starts laughing incessantly, near crying, saying, "He's going to pee! He's going to pee!"

Good times. Long live soccer practice.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

One of My Heroes...

While this might seem a bit contrived or whatnot, I just felt compelled, in the small space of time that I have this morning, to share with you about one of the heroes in my life, my lovely wife, Erin. My wife simply amazes me. For whatever reason, it has just struck me more so lately. I've watched her negotiate the tricky hormonal waters of pregnancy with grace and ease, working through nearly the whole time up to birth. Rarely did she complain, whine, or moan about the crazy demands her body was making upon her. After the birth of both of our children, most recently, Peyton, I've watched her dilligently climb out of bed at all times of night in order to feed and soothe our new little one. As circumstances have deemed for our life at this time, she's had to go back to work but, each and every night, she still pulls herself from slumber to love on this little bundle of joy. She stands as the more lucrative breadwinner in our family, a fact that brings both frustration and pride to my heart, and definately has the better financial head on her shoulders. She continues on hard with her schooling, hopefully to be completed in December, while all of this presses on her. On top of it all, she puts up with a husband who has hemmed and hawed over his place in this world. I could go on and on but, essentially, I've said all of that to say that, well, I really love my wife.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

I Love My Kids...



Sometimes I Fear...

Sometimes I fear...

I'm not a good parent...

God's grace will run out...

Failure...

That I've already failed...

The Church...

That I really am called to the Church...

Success...

That I don't really know what success is...

Falling so hard I won't be able to get back up...

Friday, September 22, 2006

Review: Rogue's Gallery - Various


Here's another review of what I thought was a really great album! Check it out!

Rogue's Gallery - Various

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Livin' La Vida Loca!

"I like to move it, move it!"

Silence Explained...

I know that as of late this blog has not held much interest outside of a self-important posting regarding my bit of review work with INFUZE or some family pictures. I guess there have been a few exceptions but, all in all, I've seemingly diverted from some of what I've discussed most in the past, namely my spiritual journey and wrestlings in particular with the "good monster" (ht: Jars of Clay!) we call the Church. This silence has not been entirely unintentional.

Certainly, a portion of my silence has stemmed from a busy life. A new baby, a four year old son whom we've now enrolled in soccer, those aforementioned reviews, and life in general have taken up the better part of my time in terms of both writing and thinking. In fact, I've even taken some time off from the more serious reading I'm typically accustomed to, opting for, in unusual fashion for me, two Christian fiction works, and a wonderful book I'm halfway through, The Stupidest Angel. I've simply wanted to let my mind cool down.

For so long I've fought with these ideas of church and theology and right living and whatever else you can cram into that conversation that I've simply worn myself out. These are not bad topics nor has the time I've spent on them been a waste but it is honestly exhausting, particularly at this stage in my life as I seek out my future. Therefore, I've taken a few weeks to just veg. I've read some fluff, tried to relax, and have even started back to my early morning basketball gatherings. Don't worry though. You'll see some exasperated posts before long. I'm sure of it.

Just Makes Me Smile...



Friday, September 15, 2006

Review: Turn Around - Johnny Lang


Here's a review I did for the new album by Johnny Lang for INFUZE!

Turn Around - Johnny Lang

Friday, September 08, 2006

Priceless...


Cost of two cans of Chef Boyardee: $1.69 buy one get one free!

Cost of two bags of gourmet movie theater butter microwave popcorn: $.99

Running time of Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi: 135 minutes

My son, Tyler, and I, sitting in the dark, watching the movie, munching our snacks: Priceless...

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

What Do I Do Now?

Scot McKnight, once again, has tapped into my thoughts in this blogpost of his. I'm continuing to wrestle with the thought of what I'm supposed to do with my life. No, this is not the Rick Warren, "purpose driven" wrestling match I'm engaged in but rather is the one that balances a sense of calling, obligation, and desire. I have a degree in Christianity, so to speak, but have become disenchanted with the walls within which that point of operation has placed itself. Do I dare venture outside the walls and seek to build new ones? Do I pursue other loves, though the tend to lack stability?

I don't know the answer right now. I'm keeping my eyes peeled and my ears open. I can pray, and I can seek, and I can hope.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Tales From the Photo Counter

Just last week my wife shared with me an experience she had at the photo counter of one of our local Walgreens/CVS stores. I thought I'd share it with you.

"So I went up to the store to print out a bunch of these pictures since we were going to be scrapooking. And I'm up there, printing all eighty of my pictures, which takes a freakin' long time, and I'm holding Peyton and a lady comments to me, "She's beautiful". I replied with thanks and checked on my pictures.

The lady continued. "Are you going to shave her head?"

At this, I did a double-take. "Uh, no, I hadn't planned on it."

"Well," the lady of Indian descent replied, "in my country it is customary to shave the head of infants so their hair grows back more full and lush."

The little girl around her feet said, "You shaved my head, didn't you, Mommy?" The mother just nodded.

Weird, huh? And for those still wondering, no. We're not doing it. Even though Peyton has a an old man wraparound right now, we're not doing it.

Monday, September 04, 2006

For Mature Audiences Only

Okay, so this isn't exactly a nasty post but some would potentially be, um, disenchanted with where I'm going here so, before you go any further, consider yourself warned. There is material here of a frank sexual nature that may be offensive to some. If this does not scare you, keep on reading.

Okay, glad you stuck around. This really isn't nasty or obscene. Rather, it's more of an observation. I spend a lot of time in grocery stores. One of my jobs is for a local bread company wherein I travel a route, one day a week, and do what are called "pull ups". Essentially, we just pull any backstock the regular distributors have left in the store and make sure the shelves look neat. It gives them a day off and puts some money in our pockets. It's easy and relatively quick. So, as I travel these grocery stores week in and week out, I am constantly running across new displays and products and whatnot. Well, not too long ago I was running my route and somewhere along the way came across the display of contraceptive devices, and condoms in particular. When, might I ask you, did the condom selection become so varied and huge? There are normal condoms, lambskin condoms, ribbed, colored, and they all come in varied sizes as well.

Now, it's entirely possible that I've missed these great number of varieties simply due to the fact that, whether I've been married or not, the purchase of condoms has mortified me. As you go to purchase the condom, you're almost having a three-way of sorts right there. Because, unless you're a person without scruples, you've got to pay for these things. And, inevitably, there is always a female cashier working that day. I don't know. It's just a weird thing to sort of broadcast to the world that you're anticipating a good chance at sex, at least good enough to invest a few bucks. Which brings us to my observation of choice.

As I perused (and it's not like I sat there for an hour, I just walked by the display!) the great array of contraceptives available to a young man like myself, I was taken with the package that contained the flavored condoms. Now, this is perhaps the most bizarre of purchases to make. This not only implies that one is anticipating the opportunity for sex, but is also looking for a good chance for sex of the oral variety. Maybe it's just me but this seems pretty damn ballsy. And as you go through the line with your package of banana, strawberry, and pina colada flavored prophylactics, you're declaring to the whole world, or at the very least the world that happens to be in your check-out line that you're going to be entertaining someone down south. Hmmm...Crazy...

One more thought and then I'm done with this filthy ramble. I'm just imagining what the response of the young man who purchases the aformentioned flavored condom might be.

Me: "So, why'd you buy the flavored condoms?"

Him: "Uh, duh! What do you think?"

Me: "Well, I know what you're thinking but don't you think that perhaps you're putting your hopes out there a bit much? At least right now?"

Him: "Hey, I care about this girl. That's why I bought the flavored ones. I'm looking out for her best interests!"

Me: "Sure you are."

Okay, enough filth. Back to our regularly scheduled program.

(In all honesty, this was just a thought that literally ran through my mind. The purchase of strawberry flavored condoms is one that seriously takes some intestinal fortitude.)

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Reconnecting: Friends, Food, and Faith

Just last week I was fortunate enough to catch up with a dear friend, Celena, and her family. Somehow we'd allowed seven years to pass between our seeing each other although we'd maintained contact through the marvelous medium that is e-mail. Our history as friends tracks back so far, to elementary school, and we've shared so many good and bad times. It's really interesting to see how much our lives change, as well as our mindsets, as we've grown older. Both of us would admit, I think, that at one point in our lives we were simply young and ignorant. We made dumb decisions, held to wrong assumptions, and were really just naive. Yet now, a little older and hopefully a little wiser, we've both come to see the world through a new set of eyes. It was a great time to share with each other what has occurred in the past bit of time, to introduce our families, and to simply discuss life in general. It's really funny how that when you're young, discussing "big" topics like religion or whatnot seem to be just stupid (especially if like me you grew up in a fundie church that told you what you needed to know!) or at the very least, not worthy of your time, but now that we're older, those are the very things in our hearts. We did have a really cool conversation regarding the church and the new ideas and views I've been exposed to involving it.

I'm thankful for friends like, Celena, whom I can just pick right back up with. Tonight I'm going to try to reconnect with another friend who has been more than patient with me in waiting for him to touch base with him after Peyton's birth. Either way, it's nice to be around people who you have history with and who care.

Review: St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley

We were admittedly late getting to this one at INFUZE but thankfully that error has been corrected. Check it out!

St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Overheard in Our Home Sunday Afternoon.

After approximately thirty seconds of fingerpainting....

Tyler: "I don't ever want to fingerpaint again. Never again!"

There go our hopes for an art scholarship....

A Bit of Melancholy

Recently I was reminded of a conversation I had with a friend just a short while after we had finished up our time in high school. The two of us had grown up together in the same fundamental church and were just beginning to spread our wings a bit. We weren't terribly close but that didn't stop us from heading out to a local Denny's one evening for some "Moon Over My Hammy" and good conversation. What sticks out most about that conversation was one point my friend made. He said:

"I don't want to go through life having experienced nothing. I want to experience it all, the ups and downs, the pain and joy. That's real life too me."

Our conversation continued and I tried to label him crazy. I understood what he was saying but, well, I'm not all about the downs and the pain. I think they suck. And while they perhaps make us better people, refined people, people who have been there and done that, I still don't particularly want to experience those things.

Well, in recent days that conversation has come back to me. I've long since long touch with this friends but those words have rang loud and clear in my ears lately. Somehow, deep down, I think that perhaps my friend has gotten his wish. As I've observed my life, as well as the lives of others, it appears as though we all experience those things, the horror of loss, the thrill of small and large defeats. Life is filled with a brutal menagerie of those very experiences. Those of us claiming to be Christ-followers can frame those things in a setting of God's will and sovereignty but that still leaves the sting to be dealt with. In good times there remains a temptation to claim the glory for yourself and in the bad is the yearning to scream at God, accusing Him of all the wrong there is, begging for release.

It's a strange place to be, this life. I'm in a place right now where I can't really find which way is up and I wish that were not so. I'm frustrated by the downs and desperately am hoping for a revival of the ups. I might do some screaming at God but am thankful that His grace is sufficient for even my frailty and foolishness.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Review: Chasing Francis

Here's a review I wrote for a book entitled, Chasing Francis, for Infuze. Check it out!

Chasing Francis Review