I don’t like the SEC.
I know there are a lot of people who like the SEC and they are a really strong conference, but I still don’t like them. Undoubtedly I prefer the PAC-12 because I live on the west coast, watch USC games and just generally like this part of the country better than the parts I don’t live in. But my dislike of the SEC is a lot stronger than simply preferring the place I live over another; my deep dislike of the SEC is rooted in ESPN’s preferential treatment of and fawning over the conference.
ESPN has an east coast bias which extends south to include the SEC. It seems as if in the eyes of ESPN, the SEC can do no wrong. Last night after the game, Brent Musburger and the dreamy Kirk Herbstreet kept dumping praise on Cam Newton for how well he endured the trials he faced this season. Despite what the NCAA ruled, it seems that some of the trials Newton faced were self inflicted. Newton played great but he I don’t know if anybody who was under as much scrutiny as he was deserves such blind devotion and adulation.
This sort of biased coverage will continue for the foreseeable future, though, since ESPN and SEC signed a 15-year contract in 2008. So those of us on the west coast will have to continue to endure ESPN’s east coast bias, in hopes that 2023 will bring some change and recognition of the other half of the country.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Music Monday 39 - Top Albums of 2010
The amount of new music I listen to has been taking a hit over the past few years. I still really love music and listen to it frequently, but because of my iPod, I rarely get introduced to new bands. I’ll listen to my XM every so often just to see what’s out there, but for the most part I listen to my iPod and sports talk. So when going over the new albums I got in 2010, there weren’t too many to compile a list of my favorites. But, from that limited selection, here are my top albums of 2010.
Kylie Minogue – Aphrodite
I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Kylie Minogue. I love her pop/dance music and it generally puts me in a really good mood. I’ve probably listened to Aphrodite more than any other album in 2010. The songs “Aphrodite” and “All the Lovers” are great to listen to with the windows down on a warm summer night. Kylie also faced and defeated breast cancer a few years ago, and Aphrodite is something of a victory lap for beating the cancer.
Brooke Fraser – Flags
Brooke Fraser first came to my knowledge as part of Hillsong United, a gifted worship leader and a powerful song writer, penning the songs “Hosanna” and “You’ll Come.” Flags is the follow up to her 2008 release Albertine. I enjoyed Albertine, but Flags is a much stronger album. The lead single “Something in the Water” is a great song with a fun video but the duet with Aqualung, “Who Are We Fooling,” is my favorite song on the album. “Who Are We Fooling” is a sad and honest look at a relationship taking its last breaths.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are a throwback to the Motown era of the 60s. I purchased this album in 2010, but it sounds like it could have been purchased in 1965. I Learned the Hard Way has such a sublime throwback feel that I can’t help but close my eyes and just experience the music, not when I’m driving, though, that would be dangerous. Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings is a new group that I discovered for myself in 2010, thanks to seeing their album on sale at Starbucks.
Tyrone Wells – Metal & Wood
I love Tyrone Wells; I have every one of his albums. He released the EP Metal & Wood in March and it was less like an EP and more like a full album release. The EP has 10 tracks on it, a few of which are covers and older songs, but it’s still an awesome album. On Metal & Wood, Tyrone continues to address social issues with a hopeful spirit, knowing that things can get better if we all work together.
There are my top albums of 2010. Obviously, there’s a lot of music I missed. I would love for you to educate me. What were your top albums of 2010?
Kylie Minogue – Aphrodite
I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Kylie Minogue. I love her pop/dance music and it generally puts me in a really good mood. I’ve probably listened to Aphrodite more than any other album in 2010. The songs “Aphrodite” and “All the Lovers” are great to listen to with the windows down on a warm summer night. Kylie also faced and defeated breast cancer a few years ago, and Aphrodite is something of a victory lap for beating the cancer.
Brooke Fraser – Flags
Brooke Fraser first came to my knowledge as part of Hillsong United, a gifted worship leader and a powerful song writer, penning the songs “Hosanna” and “You’ll Come.” Flags is the follow up to her 2008 release Albertine. I enjoyed Albertine, but Flags is a much stronger album. The lead single “Something in the Water” is a great song with a fun video but the duet with Aqualung, “Who Are We Fooling,” is my favorite song on the album. “Who Are We Fooling” is a sad and honest look at a relationship taking its last breaths.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are a throwback to the Motown era of the 60s. I purchased this album in 2010, but it sounds like it could have been purchased in 1965. I Learned the Hard Way has such a sublime throwback feel that I can’t help but close my eyes and just experience the music, not when I’m driving, though, that would be dangerous. Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings is a new group that I discovered for myself in 2010, thanks to seeing their album on sale at Starbucks.
Tyrone Wells – Metal & Wood
I love Tyrone Wells; I have every one of his albums. He released the EP Metal & Wood in March and it was less like an EP and more like a full album release. The EP has 10 tracks on it, a few of which are covers and older songs, but it’s still an awesome album. On Metal & Wood, Tyrone continues to address social issues with a hopeful spirit, knowing that things can get better if we all work together.
There are my top albums of 2010. Obviously, there’s a lot of music I missed. I would love for you to educate me. What were your top albums of 2010?
Friday, January 7, 2011
Freeform Friday 22 - Shower Thinking
These days I’m doing a lot of thinking. I have two blogs to update, sermons to write and preaching series to develop. While I enjoy these activities, they do require a lot of focused thinking. The truth is that I don’t have as much time as I would like for focused thinking; I wish I had a dark room with comfy chairs in which I could sit and ideate. Unfortunately I have no such room and I have to squeeze my focused thinking in when I can.
So I do my focused thinking in the shower.
Some people cringe when I talk about the practice of shower thinking. For them it seems a little too personal to talk about what happens behind the shower curtain. If we can get away from that side of showering, though, we can easily see that there are few times better suited for focused thinking.
You’re alone.
There are few distractions.
It happens every day.
In our busy lives, we often don’t have a daily scenario in which we’re alone and free from distractions. Showering provides that daily scenario and we should use it as such. We shouldn’t see showering as just an opportunity to get clean and allow the hot water to wake us up; we should see showering as the environment for our most focused thinking of the day.
In the shower I don’t have my phone, I can’t check my email and there’s no television or radio to derail my thoughts. The only tasks at hand are shampooing and loofa’ing, which do not take too much mental effort. Since the task of showering is so mindless, it frees me up to think about an upcoming sermon or blog post. It also provides a quiet moment that God can use to speak to us.
Since we hopefully shower every day, we should view those 10-15 minutes as more than just a necessary task. Showering can provide the much needed opportunity for all of us to spend some time in focused thought, whether that’s prepping for a sermon, planning out some goals or preparing for a party. Just don’t get shampoo in your eyes.
What other situations provide you time for focused thinking?
So I do my focused thinking in the shower.
Some people cringe when I talk about the practice of shower thinking. For them it seems a little too personal to talk about what happens behind the shower curtain. If we can get away from that side of showering, though, we can easily see that there are few times better suited for focused thinking.
You’re alone.
There are few distractions.
It happens every day.
In our busy lives, we often don’t have a daily scenario in which we’re alone and free from distractions. Showering provides that daily scenario and we should use it as such. We shouldn’t see showering as just an opportunity to get clean and allow the hot water to wake us up; we should see showering as the environment for our most focused thinking of the day.
In the shower I don’t have my phone, I can’t check my email and there’s no television or radio to derail my thoughts. The only tasks at hand are shampooing and loofa’ing, which do not take too much mental effort. Since the task of showering is so mindless, it frees me up to think about an upcoming sermon or blog post. It also provides a quiet moment that God can use to speak to us.
Since we hopefully shower every day, we should view those 10-15 minutes as more than just a necessary task. Showering can provide the much needed opportunity for all of us to spend some time in focused thought, whether that’s prepping for a sermon, planning out some goals or preparing for a party. Just don’t get shampoo in your eyes.
What other situations provide you time for focused thinking?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Theology Thursday 27 - New Year Mercies
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23
Even though I know that God’s compassions are new every morning, I don’t often live like that. Like so much of the rest of the world, I buy into the idea that I can only start something new at the New Year. January 1 is the only time when it’s appropriate to make a change, try to be better or do something different with my life. Instead of trusting in God’s compassion on a daily basis to make the changes necessary in my life, I only trust in that compassion on an annual basis.
Trusting in God’s compassion on an annual basis, though, only leads to broken resolutions and good intentions that run out of steam. If I really want to be different, if I really want to lose more weight, if I really want to get my finances in order, if I really want to blog more regularly, one dose of compassion at the beginning of the year isn’t enough to sustain me. I need God’s compassion daily; I need to sit in it and revel in it and be empowered by it.
Lamentations doesn’t say that God’s compassion is new every year; it says every day. It’s up to us to accept that compassion on a daily basis and allow it to transform us into the people that God created us to be.
Even though I know that God’s compassions are new every morning, I don’t often live like that. Like so much of the rest of the world, I buy into the idea that I can only start something new at the New Year. January 1 is the only time when it’s appropriate to make a change, try to be better or do something different with my life. Instead of trusting in God’s compassion on a daily basis to make the changes necessary in my life, I only trust in that compassion on an annual basis.
Trusting in God’s compassion on an annual basis, though, only leads to broken resolutions and good intentions that run out of steam. If I really want to be different, if I really want to lose more weight, if I really want to get my finances in order, if I really want to blog more regularly, one dose of compassion at the beginning of the year isn’t enough to sustain me. I need God’s compassion daily; I need to sit in it and revel in it and be empowered by it.
Lamentations doesn’t say that God’s compassion is new every year; it says every day. It’s up to us to accept that compassion on a daily basis and allow it to transform us into the people that God created us to be.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Leadership Wednesday 30 - Leadership Crucible
Two weeks ago we took our high school group to a church in Hollywood to help out with a toy drive. There were 20 students on the trip who volunteered their time and sacrificed part of their Christmas vacation to work around the church and do whatever was needed. I always enjoy going on trips with our youth group because they end up being a crucible for leadership.
Most of my leadership development has taken place within the context of ministry. When I was in high school I was a student leader, I volunteered as a leader in different ministries throughout college and now I’m blessed to lead our high school ministry. I’ve learned so much about leadership in ministry over the years and youth group trips really provide an opportunity to put what I’ve learned into practice.
Delegation.
Conflict resolution.
Setting an example.
Motivating others.
These are just some of the skills I had to practice and the trip was only two days. Every trip I go on with our youth group is a real-life leadership training course that I can use to hone my skills.
What’s exciting is that I can look back to the first time I was a counselor on a youth group trip and see how much I’ve grown. I can look back to when I was 16-years-old and knew absolutely nothing about leadership; I can identify all of the mistakes that I made back then and how I’ve grown from them. I’m also really excited to continue going on youth group trips to keep growing my leadership; in another 10 years I’ll be able to look back on how much I’ve grown and how much I learned from the mistakes that I’m making today.
How do you continue to hone and sharpen your leadership skills?
Most of my leadership development has taken place within the context of ministry. When I was in high school I was a student leader, I volunteered as a leader in different ministries throughout college and now I’m blessed to lead our high school ministry. I’ve learned so much about leadership in ministry over the years and youth group trips really provide an opportunity to put what I’ve learned into practice.
Delegation.
Conflict resolution.
Setting an example.
Motivating others.
These are just some of the skills I had to practice and the trip was only two days. Every trip I go on with our youth group is a real-life leadership training course that I can use to hone my skills.
What’s exciting is that I can look back to the first time I was a counselor on a youth group trip and see how much I’ve grown. I can look back to when I was 16-years-old and knew absolutely nothing about leadership; I can identify all of the mistakes that I made back then and how I’ve grown from them. I’m also really excited to continue going on youth group trips to keep growing my leadership; in another 10 years I’ll be able to look back on how much I’ve grown and how much I learned from the mistakes that I’m making today.
How do you continue to hone and sharpen your leadership skills?
Monday, January 3, 2011
Topical Tuesday 35 - 9,000 Pageviews
Below is a graph of the traffic on this blog from last week.
You’ll notice that it had somewhat of a steep peak on January 30 around 6:00pm. The post in question can be read here and now has over 9,200 pageviews; obviously this nothing to do with me since that post beat my previous best by over 9,000 pageviews.
However, based upon my experience, I have put together a step-by-step guide for getting over 9,000 pageviews or more for your blog.
Step 1: Insult someone on Twitter with over 380,000 followers.
Now this may seem like the easiest step, but it takes some effort. Not everyone with that many followers will see your tweet, much less care about it. The insult has to be worth a response; if not, it will just disappear into the Internet.
Step 2: Receive completely justified hate from the followers of the person you insulted.
This is one of the most exciting parts of the process. Suddenly when checking Twitter your mentions will go through the roof. You’ll have people mentioning you that you’ve never met. Chances are most won’t have the kindest things to say, but at least they’re saying something, right?
Step 3: Write a response to the situation you’ve created and post it to your blog.
Now there are a couple different ways you can go here. You can respond like all those throwing fireballs at you, spilling out levels of vitriol usually saved for jilted lovers. Or you can take the high road and try to respond in a way that will foster reconciliation. Either way, how you respond isn’t as important as whether or not your response gets noticed.
Step 4: Get the person you insulted to share the link to your blog to his or her over 380,000 followers.
Unfortunately this step is completely out of your control. Your response, vehement or penitent, will most likely fall upon deaf ears. Should it get noticed, though, and shared with a large number of people, there’s a good chance that you’ll be on your way to over 9,000 pageviews.
So that’s my step-by-step guide for getting over 9,000 pageviews.
Honestly, though, I have no idea what alignment the planets were in to get that many eyeballs onto my words. In the end, I can only hope others can learn from my mistake and that in some way God was glorified because of my failings.
Now, if I could get another 9,000 pageviews for doing something positive, I’d be all for it.
You’ll notice that it had somewhat of a steep peak on January 30 around 6:00pm. The post in question can be read here and now has over 9,200 pageviews; obviously this nothing to do with me since that post beat my previous best by over 9,000 pageviews.
However, based upon my experience, I have put together a step-by-step guide for getting over 9,000 pageviews or more for your blog.
Step 1: Insult someone on Twitter with over 380,000 followers.
Now this may seem like the easiest step, but it takes some effort. Not everyone with that many followers will see your tweet, much less care about it. The insult has to be worth a response; if not, it will just disappear into the Internet.
Step 2: Receive completely justified hate from the followers of the person you insulted.
This is one of the most exciting parts of the process. Suddenly when checking Twitter your mentions will go through the roof. You’ll have people mentioning you that you’ve never met. Chances are most won’t have the kindest things to say, but at least they’re saying something, right?
Step 3: Write a response to the situation you’ve created and post it to your blog.
Now there are a couple different ways you can go here. You can respond like all those throwing fireballs at you, spilling out levels of vitriol usually saved for jilted lovers. Or you can take the high road and try to respond in a way that will foster reconciliation. Either way, how you respond isn’t as important as whether or not your response gets noticed.
Step 4: Get the person you insulted to share the link to your blog to his or her over 380,000 followers.
Unfortunately this step is completely out of your control. Your response, vehement or penitent, will most likely fall upon deaf ears. Should it get noticed, though, and shared with a large number of people, there’s a good chance that you’ll be on your way to over 9,000 pageviews.
So that’s my step-by-step guide for getting over 9,000 pageviews.
Honestly, though, I have no idea what alignment the planets were in to get that many eyeballs onto my words. In the end, I can only hope others can learn from my mistake and that in some way God was glorified because of my failings.
Now, if I could get another 9,000 pageviews for doing something positive, I’d be all for it.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Music Monday 38 - Tron: Legacy
I have very strict rules about listening to Christmas music so December is always a struggle for me. I have to live with the tension of having a limited time to listen to Christmas music and wanting to listen to other music as well. That tension really weighed me down last month with the release of the Tron: Legacy soundtrack.
The first week after Thanskgiving was great, I was blaring “All I Want for Christmas is You” and Band-Aid. But then, on December 6, everything changed. Daft Punk released their soundtrack to Tron: Legacy and I didn’t want to listen to anything else, not even Wham! consoling the Christmas brokenhearted. I was completely conflicted but Daft Punk won out more often than not.
The soundtrack is amazing and completely made the movie; I don’t think I would have enjoyed Tron: Legacy half as much as I did if it had a different soundtrack. Daft Punk are a perfect fit for the movie and they even make a cameo in the film. I enjoy listening to movie soundtracks when I read or I’m trying to write, but I listen to the Tron: Legacy soundtrack when I’m just driving around; it’s that good.
In the end, I feel like I listened to enough Christmas music to get my fill, especially when all the casinos were still playing it last week in Las Vegas. The same can’t be said about Tron: Legacy. I listen to it all the time and I’m sure that will continue for some time. At least it will continue when I’m not with Alycia; I think at this point she’d prefer hearing “The Christmas Song” a few more times.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Freeform Friday 21 - Apologizing to Adam Schefter
I was taking a break from blogging until the New Year. Then this morning I sent out this tweet:
@ScottHiga: Adam Schefter sounds like a tool when he says "Matthew Hasselbeck" What is he? Too professional to call the guy Matt? Just sit on it, Potsie
Adam Schefter is an NFL analyst for ESPN. I didn’t know why he was calling him Matthew; I’ve never heard him called Matthew before. Then Adam Schefter replied to me by tweeting this:
@AdamSchefter: RT @ScottHiga Schefter sounds like a tool when he says "Matthew Hasselbeck" Too professional to call the guy Matt? ... He prefers Matthew.
Then I had almost 50 people who I don’t know tell me that I’m a tool and that I got totally owned by Adam Schefter.
I couldn’t agree with them more.
I got caught up in the faceless nature of the Internet. If I knew Adam Schefter personally or if he was more to me than a face on the television screen, I wouldn’t have called him a tool and posted it on Twitter. If I knew Adam Schefter personally I would have simply asked why it is he calls him Matthew instead of Matt. I fell prey to the anonymity of the Internet, though, and responded inappropriately and poorly. I thought I was just making a joke that four of my friends would enjoy. I forgot that while Adam Schefter doesn’t know me or care what I think, he probably doesn’t like anonymous attacks any more than I do.
So I apologize to Adam Schefter, even if he never reads this or cares. Regardless of his paying attention, I was still wrong.
Some of those 50 people who responded to me might suggest that I’m only apologizing because I got caught; they would be right. Had Adam Schefter not called me out to his 380,000 followers, life would have continued and I wouldn’t have felt the need to apologize. But because he did, my action has been cast in its proper light and I can see that I was unequivocally wrong. I am sincerely sorry and I look at this as an opportunity to learn from a mistake and not make it again. That’s the nice thing about apologies, even when they fall on no ears, we can still grow from them.
@ScottHiga: Adam Schefter sounds like a tool when he says "Matthew Hasselbeck" What is he? Too professional to call the guy Matt? Just sit on it, Potsie
Adam Schefter is an NFL analyst for ESPN. I didn’t know why he was calling him Matthew; I’ve never heard him called Matthew before. Then Adam Schefter replied to me by tweeting this:
@AdamSchefter: RT @ScottHiga Schefter sounds like a tool when he says "Matthew Hasselbeck" Too professional to call the guy Matt? ... He prefers Matthew.
Then I had almost 50 people who I don’t know tell me that I’m a tool and that I got totally owned by Adam Schefter.
I couldn’t agree with them more.
I got caught up in the faceless nature of the Internet. If I knew Adam Schefter personally or if he was more to me than a face on the television screen, I wouldn’t have called him a tool and posted it on Twitter. If I knew Adam Schefter personally I would have simply asked why it is he calls him Matthew instead of Matt. I fell prey to the anonymity of the Internet, though, and responded inappropriately and poorly. I thought I was just making a joke that four of my friends would enjoy. I forgot that while Adam Schefter doesn’t know me or care what I think, he probably doesn’t like anonymous attacks any more than I do.
So I apologize to Adam Schefter, even if he never reads this or cares. Regardless of his paying attention, I was still wrong.
Some of those 50 people who responded to me might suggest that I’m only apologizing because I got caught; they would be right. Had Adam Schefter not called me out to his 380,000 followers, life would have continued and I wouldn’t have felt the need to apologize. But because he did, my action has been cast in its proper light and I can see that I was unequivocally wrong. I am sincerely sorry and I look at this as an opportunity to learn from a mistake and not make it again. That’s the nice thing about apologies, even when they fall on no ears, we can still grow from them.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Theology Thursday 26 - 700 Miles of Effort
I went on a blind date once and I had to drive about 20 miles in order to pick her up. 20 miles is about the maximum distance I’d travel to meet someone I don’t know. Had my blind date lived 25 or 30 miles away, I might have just said no; the date didn’t go that well so maybe I should have.
I don’t want to travel that far to see people I know, much less someone I don’t know. Yet every Christmas I’m reminded of how far the magi travelled in order to see Jesus. The magi were most likely from Babylon and they would have made a 700 mile journey to Bethlehem in order to see Jesus.
Seven hundred miles.
That puts me to shame.
Sometimes I don’t want to drive 10 minutes to church.
Sometimes I don’t want to wake up 15 minutes early in order to spend some time in the word.
Sometimes I don’t want to disconnect from Facebook and pray.
If I had been one of the magi (I am “Oriental”) I would have set the cap at about 40 or 50 miles. If the newly born king was 50 miles away I would have gone, but anything more than that and I would have stayed at home and done all sorts of hood rat things with my magi buddies.
We can learn something from the magi. They were so intentional about seeing Jesus; no distance was too great to keep them from worshiping the newborn Lord. Their effort begs the question: how much effort am I putting into spending time with Jesus? We don’t have to travel 700 miles to spend time with Jesus, but even today it still takes effort and intention. And if we want to really spend time with Jesus, if we want to sit at his feet and worship him just as the magi did, we have to make the effort.
I don’t want to travel that far to see people I know, much less someone I don’t know. Yet every Christmas I’m reminded of how far the magi travelled in order to see Jesus. The magi were most likely from Babylon and they would have made a 700 mile journey to Bethlehem in order to see Jesus.
Seven hundred miles.
That puts me to shame.
Sometimes I don’t want to drive 10 minutes to church.
Sometimes I don’t want to wake up 15 minutes early in order to spend some time in the word.
Sometimes I don’t want to disconnect from Facebook and pray.
If I had been one of the magi (I am “Oriental”) I would have set the cap at about 40 or 50 miles. If the newly born king was 50 miles away I would have gone, but anything more than that and I would have stayed at home and done all sorts of hood rat things with my magi buddies.
We can learn something from the magi. They were so intentional about seeing Jesus; no distance was too great to keep them from worshiping the newborn Lord. Their effort begs the question: how much effort am I putting into spending time with Jesus? We don’t have to travel 700 miles to spend time with Jesus, but even today it still takes effort and intention. And if we want to really spend time with Jesus, if we want to sit at his feet and worship him just as the magi did, we have to make the effort.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Leadership Wednesday 29 - Get Serious About Fun
This week our church’s staff had its annual Christmas party. In my three Christmases on staff we’ve had a nice lunch at church and sang some songs. This year, though, we went to a local deli for lunch and then headed to the bowling alley to knock over some pins. Our senior pastor, Rob, wanted to be sure that our team was making time to just have some fun. And, as you can see in the picture below, Rob made sure that he was having fun.
It’s easy to get caught up in the task of leadership. Leadership is a serious business, or at least it should be if what we’re leading has any value. I spend a lot of time in vision and planning meetings, learning from our past mistakes to make a better future. Leadership is about creating a better future through our businesses or organizations and we need to take that task seriously.
But it’s also important to have some fun.
We need to go bowling, we need to wear silly hats, we need to laugh and have a good time. Gathering a team together, without an agenda other than having fun, goes a long way in building camaraderie. Having fun strengthens relationships, which will provide the foundation for the serious task at hand. And we’ll have a much greater chance of completing that serious task if we get serious about having fun.
How have you seen fun help your leadership and strengthen a team?
It’s easy to get caught up in the task of leadership. Leadership is a serious business, or at least it should be if what we’re leading has any value. I spend a lot of time in vision and planning meetings, learning from our past mistakes to make a better future. Leadership is about creating a better future through our businesses or organizations and we need to take that task seriously.But it’s also important to have some fun.
We need to go bowling, we need to wear silly hats, we need to laugh and have a good time. Gathering a team together, without an agenda other than having fun, goes a long way in building camaraderie. Having fun strengthens relationships, which will provide the foundation for the serious task at hand. And we’ll have a much greater chance of completing that serious task if we get serious about having fun.
How have you seen fun help your leadership and strengthen a team?
Topical Tuesday 34 - Winners Get Second Chances
Michael Vick is currently leading all players in voting for the NFL’s Pro Bowl. It’s great that Michael Vick is actually getting his second chance; he has appeared repentant and made the right choices since his release from jail. I worry, though, that Vick’s second chance wouldn’t have been so quick in coming if he wasn’t leading the Philadelphia Eagles toward the playoffs or racking up points for fantasy owners.
As a nation, I feel we can be very forgiving, especially when it comes to athletes. If athletes are repentant and seem to change, we can forgive them. The process of forgiveness can be accelerated, though, by winning. If Michael Vick wasn’t having an MVP type season I don’t know if he would be as far along in his second chance as he is. If he was still riding the bench or having a mediocre season, he might still be that “dog fighting guy” instead of that “guy who won me my fantasy league”.
Everyone deserves a second chance, but that second chance shouldn’t be based upon whether or not someone is a winner or a loser. The second chance should be based upon grace and the person’s willingness to change and embrace the new chance he or she has been given. We shouldn’t withhold grace and forgiveness based upon performance; we should freely give them to the winners and the losers, because when we do, everybody wins. (Except for my fantasy team, they’re still losers.)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Music Monday 37 - Unjust Christmas Songs
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Christ who described his mission as this:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Jesus came to bring peace and justice; he came to set things right. Some Christmas songs reflect this truth. O Holy Night contains this line:
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
But there are a lot more Christmas songs that reflect injustice and even encourage us to participate in those activities.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Everyone loves the story of Rudolph. He was invented for a Montgomery Ward coloring book and has since become as traditional as Santa Claus. Very early on, through the story of Rudolph, children learn that life isn’t fair.
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.
What games do reindeer play? I imagine all the reindeer standing out in the snow picking teams for dodge ball and poor Rudolph just standing there until the end, both captains fighting over who would have to have Red-Nose on their team.
Rudolph was singled out because of a birth defect. He was born with a red nose and there was nothing he could do about it. But, instead of hiding it or begging his parents to get him rhinoplasty, Rudolph embraced his nose and it eventually led him to greatness. Life isn’t fair but if you work hard and have an exploitable physical deformity, good things can happen.
Winter Wonderland
I really like Winter Wonderland because it’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to living in an actual winter wonderland; it was 80 in Southern California today. I also like the song more now that I’m married because I have someone with whom to conspire by the fire. There is a peculiar line in the song, though, that exemplifies the unjust nature of life, even during the Christmas season.
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown.
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kiddies knock him down!
What the crap? Who are these rogue children running through this alleged wonderland knocking down snowmen? Snowmen take a lot of effort: snow has to be piled, carrots have to be acquired, buttons have to be removed from clothing. But, after all of that hard work, some punk kids from the neighborhood come and knock Mr. Snowman down. In the punk kids’ defense, clowns are creepy and deserve any abuse they get
Jesus did come to break chains, release the oppressed and set things right. That work began with his birth and continues today through his followers. Even when we celebrate his birth, though, it’s good to have reminders of what exactly he’s setting right. So every time we sing about an ostracized red-nosed reindeer or a prematurely destroyed snowman, we can thank Jesus for his birth and the way he is rebuilding and recreating this world.
What other hidden meanings can you find in your favorite Christmas carols?
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Jesus came to bring peace and justice; he came to set things right. Some Christmas songs reflect this truth. O Holy Night contains this line:
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
But there are a lot more Christmas songs that reflect injustice and even encourage us to participate in those activities.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Everyone loves the story of Rudolph. He was invented for a Montgomery Ward coloring book and has since become as traditional as Santa Claus. Very early on, through the story of Rudolph, children learn that life isn’t fair.
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.
What games do reindeer play? I imagine all the reindeer standing out in the snow picking teams for dodge ball and poor Rudolph just standing there until the end, both captains fighting over who would have to have Red-Nose on their team.
Rudolph was singled out because of a birth defect. He was born with a red nose and there was nothing he could do about it. But, instead of hiding it or begging his parents to get him rhinoplasty, Rudolph embraced his nose and it eventually led him to greatness. Life isn’t fair but if you work hard and have an exploitable physical deformity, good things can happen.
Winter Wonderland
I really like Winter Wonderland because it’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to living in an actual winter wonderland; it was 80 in Southern California today. I also like the song more now that I’m married because I have someone with whom to conspire by the fire. There is a peculiar line in the song, though, that exemplifies the unjust nature of life, even during the Christmas season.
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown.
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kiddies knock him down!
What the crap? Who are these rogue children running through this alleged wonderland knocking down snowmen? Snowmen take a lot of effort: snow has to be piled, carrots have to be acquired, buttons have to be removed from clothing. But, after all of that hard work, some punk kids from the neighborhood come and knock Mr. Snowman down. In the punk kids’ defense, clowns are creepy and deserve any abuse they get
Jesus did come to break chains, release the oppressed and set things right. That work began with his birth and continues today through his followers. Even when we celebrate his birth, though, it’s good to have reminders of what exactly he’s setting right. So every time we sing about an ostracized red-nosed reindeer or a prematurely destroyed snowman, we can thank Jesus for his birth and the way he is rebuilding and recreating this world.
What other hidden meanings can you find in your favorite Christmas carols?
Friday, December 10, 2010
Freeform Friday 20 - Preaching Lions
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader releases to movie theaters today as Hollywood continues to cash in on the popularity of fantasy epics created by The Lord of the Rings. I haven’t seen the movie yet but I probably will. I most recently read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader on our honeymoon and it was one of my favorite books when I was younger. I replicated and enlarged the cover of the book onto a sandwich board to wear in our school’s book parade. I felt pretty classy having a classic on my board while all my classmates had those flash-in-the-pan Goosebumps books on theirs.
I remember reading a review for the last Narnia movie, Prince Caspian; it said that the movie was all right but that it was a little too “preachy” at certain points. I assume the reviewer meant that the parts about Lucy needing to believe in Aslan even when no one else would were too preachy. It makes sense, though, that a movie heavily marketed to Christians would be a little preachy; Christians like preachy.
Most every week Christians go to church, gather together, sing some songs and listen to a preacher. Christians get preached at all the time.
I go to church and listen to the sermon every week.
I listen to myself give a talk every Tuesday night.
I got to conferences and listen to people give messages.
Sometimes I even download sermons and listen to them throughout my day.
Christians like being preached to, even if it’s coming from an anthropomorphized lion who is analogous to God. I don’t know if The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be any good, but I am sure that it will have some preachiness to it; and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Maybe someone will see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader just to be entertained, end up being intrigued by the story of a lion who can renew and recreate, and then perhaps that intrigue will push them to want to hear some more preaching in a church on Sunday.
I remember reading a review for the last Narnia movie, Prince Caspian; it said that the movie was all right but that it was a little too “preachy” at certain points. I assume the reviewer meant that the parts about Lucy needing to believe in Aslan even when no one else would were too preachy. It makes sense, though, that a movie heavily marketed to Christians would be a little preachy; Christians like preachy.
Most every week Christians go to church, gather together, sing some songs and listen to a preacher. Christians get preached at all the time.
I go to church and listen to the sermon every week.
I listen to myself give a talk every Tuesday night.
I got to conferences and listen to people give messages.
Sometimes I even download sermons and listen to them throughout my day.
Christians like being preached to, even if it’s coming from an anthropomorphized lion who is analogous to God. I don’t know if The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be any good, but I am sure that it will have some preachiness to it; and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Maybe someone will see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader just to be entertained, end up being intrigued by the story of a lion who can renew and recreate, and then perhaps that intrigue will push them to want to hear some more preaching in a church on Sunday.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Leadership Wednesday 28 - Elizabeth Edwards and Legacy
Sadly, Elizabeth Edwards died yesterday. Elizabeth Edwards was the estranged wife of former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards. In her death, Elizabeth Edwards is being remembered for her commitment to social justice and her resilience in facing life’s struggles. In recent years, those struggles have included cancer and a cheating husband. Looking back across Elizabeth Edward’s life, it’s easy to see that her legacy will be different from that of her husband, John Edwards.
In 2008 I really liked John Edwards. I believed in his message of social reform and meeting the needs of the less fortunate. For once in my life I had emotionally invested in a political candidate; for the first time I had a dog in the fight. When Edwards didn’t move past the primaries I still held him in esteem as someone who cared about the things I cared about and wanted to enact some change. That all changed, though, when he confessed to having an affair while his wife battled cancer. My view of him degraded further when he confessed that he had fathered a child with his mistress, a child he had initially denied and disowned.
In this couple we have the opportunity to see how our actions will affect our legacy. Elizabeth Edwards will be remembered as an extraordinary woman, full of grace even in the midst of difficult circumstances. John Edwards, for all the good he’s accomplished and might accomplish in the future, will have a difficult time shaking his reputation as a liar and philanderer.
The scary thing is that our legacies can be defined by a single mistake. Leaders attempt to do good and make the world a better place but all of that hard work can come crashing down because of one poor decision. Moral failures hurt our ability to influence others and enact the changes that we would like to see in the world. Because of this fact, I view my life as standing on the edge of a knife; I know that any poor decision, any moral failure, could tip me over and unravel everything I’ve worked so hard to attain.
Our choices influence how we will be remembered. And even though we won’t be there to hear our own eulogies, we should want them to be good, full of reflections on the positive impacts we made in this world. Those positive impacts will be a lot easier to recognize when there aren’t any poor choices or moral failures covering them up.
What value do you see in thinking about your legacy?
In 2008 I really liked John Edwards. I believed in his message of social reform and meeting the needs of the less fortunate. For once in my life I had emotionally invested in a political candidate; for the first time I had a dog in the fight. When Edwards didn’t move past the primaries I still held him in esteem as someone who cared about the things I cared about and wanted to enact some change. That all changed, though, when he confessed to having an affair while his wife battled cancer. My view of him degraded further when he confessed that he had fathered a child with his mistress, a child he had initially denied and disowned.
In this couple we have the opportunity to see how our actions will affect our legacy. Elizabeth Edwards will be remembered as an extraordinary woman, full of grace even in the midst of difficult circumstances. John Edwards, for all the good he’s accomplished and might accomplish in the future, will have a difficult time shaking his reputation as a liar and philanderer.
The scary thing is that our legacies can be defined by a single mistake. Leaders attempt to do good and make the world a better place but all of that hard work can come crashing down because of one poor decision. Moral failures hurt our ability to influence others and enact the changes that we would like to see in the world. Because of this fact, I view my life as standing on the edge of a knife; I know that any poor decision, any moral failure, could tip me over and unravel everything I’ve worked so hard to attain.
Our choices influence how we will be remembered. And even though we won’t be there to hear our own eulogies, we should want them to be good, full of reflections on the positive impacts we made in this world. Those positive impacts will be a lot easier to recognize when there aren’t any poor choices or moral failures covering them up.
What value do you see in thinking about your legacy?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Topical Tuesday 33 - Chili Cheese Fries
I spent most of the day Sunday waiting to get word from my sister that she was in labor and going to the hospital. On a day full of false alarms that call never came. As Alycia and I waited, though, she went out to get some lunch. At my request she went to The Hat and got a cheeseburger for me and we shared an order of chili cheese fries.
I know chili cheese fries are unhealthy; there is nothing redeemable about them other than their taste. But, in that moment of weakness, that’s what I wanted and that’s what we got. There are a lot of foods that are bad for me yet offer no temptation. There are other foods, though, which are bad for me and tempt me to no end. Here are some of those foods.
Chili Cheese Fries
The aforementioned chili cheese fries from The Hat are delicious. What’s not to love about French fries piled high with chili and melting cheddar cheese? The best part about The Hat’s chili cheese fries is that when the order is up, the shredded cheddar cheese isn’t melted. But by the time the fries make it to the table, the cheese has completely melted and transformed into one calorie-infested mess of tastiness.
Chick-fil-A Sauce
I don’t know how the Cathy family invented Chick-fil-A Sauce but am I glad they did. I think Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays so people can go to their places of worship and praise their deities for Chick-fil-A Sauce. It’s kind of like honey mustard but it has a smokier, BBQ-like flavor that is hard to comprehend. I think I have a better shot at understanding the expanding universe than wrapping my mind around what makes Chick-fil-A Sauce so amazing.
Coke Zero
I gave up soda for almost five years. I was drinking 20 oz. bottles of soda like children drink Frappuccinos but then quit cold turkey. For five years I basically drank nothing but water and iced tea until I visited the Coke museum; in Atlanta five years of soda sobriety came crashing down. When I first started again, I mostly drank Coke; I never had a taste for Diet Coke. Then I got introduced to Coke Zero and my world was forever changed, like when I saw Paula Abdul’s Coldhearted video and realized I liked girls. I have no idea what chemicals make Coke Zero taste so good without any calories, but I like them, even though I probably shouldn’t.
I normally eat better than chili cheese fries and Chick-fil-A sauce but sometimes I just want to be bad. We shouldn’t make poor food choices frequently, but when we do, we should make them count. Don’t waste a bad food choice on a Big Mac or Hostess apple pie; save it for a Double-Double or a piece of pecan pie.
What foods tempt you the most?
I know chili cheese fries are unhealthy; there is nothing redeemable about them other than their taste. But, in that moment of weakness, that’s what I wanted and that’s what we got. There are a lot of foods that are bad for me yet offer no temptation. There are other foods, though, which are bad for me and tempt me to no end. Here are some of those foods.
Chili Cheese Fries
The aforementioned chili cheese fries from The Hat are delicious. What’s not to love about French fries piled high with chili and melting cheddar cheese? The best part about The Hat’s chili cheese fries is that when the order is up, the shredded cheddar cheese isn’t melted. But by the time the fries make it to the table, the cheese has completely melted and transformed into one calorie-infested mess of tastiness.
Chick-fil-A Sauce
I don’t know how the Cathy family invented Chick-fil-A Sauce but am I glad they did. I think Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays so people can go to their places of worship and praise their deities for Chick-fil-A Sauce. It’s kind of like honey mustard but it has a smokier, BBQ-like flavor that is hard to comprehend. I think I have a better shot at understanding the expanding universe than wrapping my mind around what makes Chick-fil-A Sauce so amazing.
Coke Zero
I gave up soda for almost five years. I was drinking 20 oz. bottles of soda like children drink Frappuccinos but then quit cold turkey. For five years I basically drank nothing but water and iced tea until I visited the Coke museum; in Atlanta five years of soda sobriety came crashing down. When I first started again, I mostly drank Coke; I never had a taste for Diet Coke. Then I got introduced to Coke Zero and my world was forever changed, like when I saw Paula Abdul’s Coldhearted video and realized I liked girls. I have no idea what chemicals make Coke Zero taste so good without any calories, but I like them, even though I probably shouldn’t.
I normally eat better than chili cheese fries and Chick-fil-A sauce but sometimes I just want to be bad. We shouldn’t make poor food choices frequently, but when we do, we should make them count. Don’t waste a bad food choice on a Big Mac or Hostess apple pie; save it for a Double-Double or a piece of pecan pie.
What foods tempt you the most?
Monday, December 6, 2010
Music Monday 36 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas?
Most Christmas songs are full of holiday cheer and a festive spirit. Even though we’ve heard them time and time again, Christmas songs can inspire us to really embrace the season.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year can make us believe that Christmas actually is the most wonderful time of the year.
Let it Snow can make us think that it would be a great thing for the heavens to dump 13 feet of snow.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas can make us long to be home for Christmas, in spite of the insanity that comes from family gatherings.
As I’ve been listening to Christmas music this season, I’ve noticed that one song, which should be full of Christmas cheer and merriment, actually isn’t. A song titled Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas should be a lot merrier than it actually is. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sounds like it’s full of cheer and merriment but it’s actually composed of brokenness and tears.
In the song we’re told to have a merry little Christmas because our troubles are a very real and present reality. These troubles which are not out of sight, these troubles which are not miles away, have been darkening the months leading up to Christmas. But now that it is Christmas, we can be merry and light while making the Yuletide gay.
The song also encourages us to reflect on the “golden days of yore” because the days we are currently living are so much worse than the olden days. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is like looking through a high school yearbook and thinking that those days were so much better. Instead of inspiring us to be present in this holiday season, it asks us to reflect on the better times of yesterday: like when Wham! was making Christmas hits or Furbies were flying off the shelves.
So be sure to have yourself a merry little Christmas because, according to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, life is hard and whatever your golden days were, they are much better than today is.
What Christmas song most inspires you for the season?
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year can make us believe that Christmas actually is the most wonderful time of the year.
Let it Snow can make us think that it would be a great thing for the heavens to dump 13 feet of snow.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas can make us long to be home for Christmas, in spite of the insanity that comes from family gatherings.
As I’ve been listening to Christmas music this season, I’ve noticed that one song, which should be full of Christmas cheer and merriment, actually isn’t. A song titled Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas should be a lot merrier than it actually is. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sounds like it’s full of cheer and merriment but it’s actually composed of brokenness and tears.
In the song we’re told to have a merry little Christmas because our troubles are a very real and present reality. These troubles which are not out of sight, these troubles which are not miles away, have been darkening the months leading up to Christmas. But now that it is Christmas, we can be merry and light while making the Yuletide gay.
The song also encourages us to reflect on the “golden days of yore” because the days we are currently living are so much worse than the olden days. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is like looking through a high school yearbook and thinking that those days were so much better. Instead of inspiring us to be present in this holiday season, it asks us to reflect on the better times of yesterday: like when Wham! was making Christmas hits or Furbies were flying off the shelves.
So be sure to have yourself a merry little Christmas because, according to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, life is hard and whatever your golden days were, they are much better than today is.
What Christmas song most inspires you for the season?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Freeform Friday 19 - Zombie Jesus
I’m planning on starting a new blog in January. The axiom is to write about what you know so my new blog will be focused on the intersection between Christianity and nerd culture. I’m very much a Christian and I’m very much a nerd. It’ll basically be Nerdy Stuff Christians Like but I think I’ll come up with a better name. In advance of launching the new blog, I thought I’d write some preview posts to give a flavor for its direction.
I have the opportunity to lead a number of small groups as well as have lots of conversations about Jesus. Given the opportunity, people like talking about Jesus and reflecting on who he is, what he did, what he’s doing and how he’s affected their lives. And while it may seem nonsensical, in a number of these small groups and conversations, the idea of Zombie Jesus gets brought up.
Zombie Jesus is based on the fact that Jesus died and rose again. Normally, when something dies and comes back to life, we think it belongs in Zombieland more than a children’s Sunday school class. When people start thinking about Zombie Jesus they’ll ask me what I think. I don’t think Jesus was a zombie; here are some reasons why.
1. Zombies Scare Me
I’m freaked out by zombies; they legitimately scare me. I really want to watch The Walking Dead because I hear it’s a great show. My fear, however, cripples me and keeps me from tuning in. So Jesus can’t be a zombie because he’s not scary. He’s the perfection of love, grace, compassion and peace; I’ve never seen a loving, gracious, compassionate and peaceful zombie.
2. Zombies Eat Brains
Imagine a world run by zombies. All the food: groceries, fast food and fine dining would be brain-centered. Zombie Soccer Mom would load her kids into their Zombie Suburban and head to Brain-fil-A and get some brain nuggets. (I definitely think Brain-fil-A would have a spleen mascot telling all the zombies to “Eet Mor Brayns”) Zombies eat brains but Jesus ate food. Part of his being fully human was his need for sustenance; we often see Jesus enjoying a meal with people, meals of fish and bread, not brains.
3. Zombies’ Greatest Threat is a Shotgun
If you’ve ever played a zombie video game, you know that the best way to kill a zombie is with a shotgun blast to the head. What makes a shotgun so effective is its ability to kill a zombie without much need for accuracy. I’ve shot a gun once before but I’ve been led to believe that I could survive a Zombiepocalypse with a little more cardio and a big shotgun. So Jesus couldn’t have been a zombie because shotguns didn’t exist in the first century.
4. Zombies are Dead
By their very nature, zombies are dead. Whether they’re labeled as “the walking dead,” “the living dead” or just “reanimated corpses” the focus is on them still being dead. Jesus is not still dead. In Luke 24 the angels ask Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary why they’re looking for the living among the dead. Jesus isn’t dead; he isn’t even among the dead. Jesus conquered death and gives the opportunity for new life.
I’m glad Jesus isn’t a zombie because if he was going to church on a weekly basis would be quite the traumatic experience. Also, I’m glad that Jesus isn’t a zombie because through his resurrected life we have the opportunity for a new and transformed life. And while I am glad that Jesus isn’t a zombie, it would be cool to see him do the Thriller dance.
I have the opportunity to lead a number of small groups as well as have lots of conversations about Jesus. Given the opportunity, people like talking about Jesus and reflecting on who he is, what he did, what he’s doing and how he’s affected their lives. And while it may seem nonsensical, in a number of these small groups and conversations, the idea of Zombie Jesus gets brought up.
Zombie Jesus is based on the fact that Jesus died and rose again. Normally, when something dies and comes back to life, we think it belongs in Zombieland more than a children’s Sunday school class. When people start thinking about Zombie Jesus they’ll ask me what I think. I don’t think Jesus was a zombie; here are some reasons why.
1. Zombies Scare Me
I’m freaked out by zombies; they legitimately scare me. I really want to watch The Walking Dead because I hear it’s a great show. My fear, however, cripples me and keeps me from tuning in. So Jesus can’t be a zombie because he’s not scary. He’s the perfection of love, grace, compassion and peace; I’ve never seen a loving, gracious, compassionate and peaceful zombie.
2. Zombies Eat Brains
Imagine a world run by zombies. All the food: groceries, fast food and fine dining would be brain-centered. Zombie Soccer Mom would load her kids into their Zombie Suburban and head to Brain-fil-A and get some brain nuggets. (I definitely think Brain-fil-A would have a spleen mascot telling all the zombies to “Eet Mor Brayns”) Zombies eat brains but Jesus ate food. Part of his being fully human was his need for sustenance; we often see Jesus enjoying a meal with people, meals of fish and bread, not brains.
3. Zombies’ Greatest Threat is a Shotgun
If you’ve ever played a zombie video game, you know that the best way to kill a zombie is with a shotgun blast to the head. What makes a shotgun so effective is its ability to kill a zombie without much need for accuracy. I’ve shot a gun once before but I’ve been led to believe that I could survive a Zombiepocalypse with a little more cardio and a big shotgun. So Jesus couldn’t have been a zombie because shotguns didn’t exist in the first century.
4. Zombies are Dead
By their very nature, zombies are dead. Whether they’re labeled as “the walking dead,” “the living dead” or just “reanimated corpses” the focus is on them still being dead. Jesus is not still dead. In Luke 24 the angels ask Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary why they’re looking for the living among the dead. Jesus isn’t dead; he isn’t even among the dead. Jesus conquered death and gives the opportunity for new life.
I’m glad Jesus isn’t a zombie because if he was going to church on a weekly basis would be quite the traumatic experience. Also, I’m glad that Jesus isn’t a zombie because through his resurrected life we have the opportunity for a new and transformed life. And while I am glad that Jesus isn’t a zombie, it would be cool to see him do the Thriller dance.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Theology Thursday 25 - The Little Drummer Boy
Alycia and I were listening to Christmas music and "The Little Drummer Boy" came on. Alycia told me that she thought "The Little Drummer Boy" was the most theologically correct Christmas carol. I told her she was ridiculous because there is no record of there being a drummer boy in the stable with Joseph, Mary and Jesus. I also told her that a song with the word “ass” in it can’t be theologically sound. Then she gave me the look that makes me feel like a little kid who just got in trouble.
Alycia was right, though; "The Little Drummer Boy" is a simple song full of some of the most basic theology. The song is about a little boy who stands before the newborn Lord and plays his drum. He doesn’t have any other gifts to bring, just the desire to play his best for Jesus. And when we look at what we can bring for Jesus, that’s all he wants from us.
We’ve all been gifted and created with specific talents and abilities. God knit us together and gave us those talents; he just asks that we use them to the best of our ability for his purpose and his glory. I love the image of a timid boy worshipping Jesus by playing his little heart out. It’s a reminder that worshipping Jesus can be just a simple act of offering what we have to our Lord.
What Christmas carol inspires you to reflect on Jesus and your life with him?
Alycia was right, though; "The Little Drummer Boy" is a simple song full of some of the most basic theology. The song is about a little boy who stands before the newborn Lord and plays his drum. He doesn’t have any other gifts to bring, just the desire to play his best for Jesus. And when we look at what we can bring for Jesus, that’s all he wants from us.
We’ve all been gifted and created with specific talents and abilities. God knit us together and gave us those talents; he just asks that we use them to the best of our ability for his purpose and his glory. I love the image of a timid boy worshipping Jesus by playing his little heart out. It’s a reminder that worshipping Jesus can be just a simple act of offering what we have to our Lord.
What Christmas carol inspires you to reflect on Jesus and your life with him?
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Leadership Wednesday 27 - Big Fish in a Different Pond
I recently had the opportunity to visit a high school to speak at its Christian club. Even though I work with high school students and enjoy speaking to people, I was really uncomfortable. As soon as I stepped onto the campus I felt like a fish out of water, like I didn’t belong, and at any moment all the students would realize I didn’t belong and mock me accordingly. In a flash I felt like a timid, nerdy freshman again, avoiding eye contact and attempting to go unnoticed.
And while I didn’t necessarily enjoy the experience, it was a good experience.
At this point in my life I’m fairly comfortable at church and in settings related to church. Whether that’s running youth group, preaching in main service, meeting with other youth pastors or going to a conference, I feel like I belong; I am confident that I’m supposed to be there. Walking around on that high school campus, though, that confidence slipped away. I realized that in a very specific pond I feel like a big fish but there are plenty of other ponds where I’m nothing but a guppy.
It’s good for leaders to spend some time in another pond and realize that we’re probably not the fish we think we are. Staying in the same pond, I can begin to get a distorted image of myself; I can see myself as a pretty big fish. I’m not a big fish, though; I’m just a small fish who feels comfortable and knows my way around a certain pond. Hopping into another pond is like a cold splash of reality; that new pond reminds me of who I really am.
But who I really am isn’t all that bad: I’m not a guppy but I’m not a marlin either. God’s the one who has placed me in the pond where he wants me, the one where he thinks I can be most effective. Any effectiveness I have, though, isn’t going to come from trying to be a big fish in that pond; it’s going to come from relying on God to use me as he sees fit.
When have you ever jumped into a different pond and felt completely out of place?
And while I didn’t necessarily enjoy the experience, it was a good experience.
At this point in my life I’m fairly comfortable at church and in settings related to church. Whether that’s running youth group, preaching in main service, meeting with other youth pastors or going to a conference, I feel like I belong; I am confident that I’m supposed to be there. Walking around on that high school campus, though, that confidence slipped away. I realized that in a very specific pond I feel like a big fish but there are plenty of other ponds where I’m nothing but a guppy.
It’s good for leaders to spend some time in another pond and realize that we’re probably not the fish we think we are. Staying in the same pond, I can begin to get a distorted image of myself; I can see myself as a pretty big fish. I’m not a big fish, though; I’m just a small fish who feels comfortable and knows my way around a certain pond. Hopping into another pond is like a cold splash of reality; that new pond reminds me of who I really am.
But who I really am isn’t all that bad: I’m not a guppy but I’m not a marlin either. God’s the one who has placed me in the pond where he wants me, the one where he thinks I can be most effective. Any effectiveness I have, though, isn’t going to come from trying to be a big fish in that pond; it’s going to come from relying on God to use me as he sees fit.
When have you ever jumped into a different pond and felt completely out of place?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Topical Tuesday 32 - My Grown Up Christmas List
When I was younger it was really easy for me to make my Christmas list. I would sit down with the JC Penny catalogue, go through it and write down all of the G.I. Joes that I wanted. That was it. The hardest part of making that list was deciding how to prioritize all of the G.I. Joes: did I want Snake Eyes more than Shipwreck?
Making a Christmas list is a little more difficult now that I’m older. It’s not difficult because I’m asking that no more lives would be torn apart or that wars would never start, it’s difficult because I have more expensive tastes and a budget to work within. When I was 9 G.I. Joes cost $4.00 so I was pretty sure I could get at least 5 or 6 for Christmas and feel really good about my presents. Now all the sweaters, watches, shoes and sunglasses I want cost more than $4.00, much more than $4.00. And on top of wanting more expensive gifts, I’ve also gotten to the point of adding items to my list that I need. That’s probably the most depressing part about being older at Christmas: toys and video games get exchanged for underwear and linens.
So here is my grown up Christmas list:
• Ray Ban Wayfarers
• A repair job for my broken PS3 (i.e. glorified Blu-Ray player)
• A new black watch, ideally a Movado but something from Diesel would do
• A bookcase
• Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whiskey
• Steve Madden shoes
• Space Catan
• Sweaters from Express or Banana Republic
• Anything Star Wars Adidas
I’m not really planning on getting any of those items and I’m all right with that. I knew I wouldn’t get all of the G.I. Joes I asked for but it was fun to dream. In the end, in spite of my older, more expensive tastes, I’d be satisfied with a Target gift card and world peace.
Making a Christmas list is a little more difficult now that I’m older. It’s not difficult because I’m asking that no more lives would be torn apart or that wars would never start, it’s difficult because I have more expensive tastes and a budget to work within. When I was 9 G.I. Joes cost $4.00 so I was pretty sure I could get at least 5 or 6 for Christmas and feel really good about my presents. Now all the sweaters, watches, shoes and sunglasses I want cost more than $4.00, much more than $4.00. And on top of wanting more expensive gifts, I’ve also gotten to the point of adding items to my list that I need. That’s probably the most depressing part about being older at Christmas: toys and video games get exchanged for underwear and linens.
So here is my grown up Christmas list:
• Ray Ban Wayfarers
• A repair job for my broken PS3 (i.e. glorified Blu-Ray player)
• A new black watch, ideally a Movado but something from Diesel would do
• A bookcase
• Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whiskey
• Steve Madden shoes
• Space Catan
• Sweaters from Express or Banana Republic
• Anything Star Wars Adidas
I’m not really planning on getting any of those items and I’m all right with that. I knew I wouldn’t get all of the G.I. Joes I asked for but it was fun to dream. In the end, in spite of my older, more expensive tastes, I’d be satisfied with a Target gift card and world peace.
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