Hunger Games

We went to see the Hunger Games.  It was very good.  Good acting, directing, good story, even though it's not the most original (The Running Man anyone?).  It was the first time in a long time that we've been able to go out to a movie.  It was nice.  Recliners in the theater.  Gotta love it.

Taking my wife to see Hunger Games this morning.  I hope I don't get hungry...

Oh, why, DLST?

Oh why did Ben Franklin promote this.  Tired.  Not really, but my wife is!  Gotta love the spring forward!

Music - Revisited

I've listened to the song many times, but isn't it interesting that even though I can sing the words, I've never really listened to the song or paid attention to the words and their meaning.

Jars of Clay is a great band, and their song "Two Hands" hit me for the first time today.  Here's some of the lyrics I pulled off the web:

I use one hand to pull closer 
The other to push you away 

If I had two hands doing the same thing 
Lifted high, lifted high 

I have a broken disposition 
I’m a liar who thirsts for the truth 
And while I ache for faith to hold me 
I need to feel the scars and see the proof 

And if we just keep digging we can reach the foundation 
Of our souls 
And if we just keep cutting all the chains from our hearts 
We’ll lose control 



This song reminds me of the call to integrity and authenticity - two things that are almost unheard of in post-modern America.  And the great part is, that God's got it under control.  If we can only give up that old, broken-down self, He has something new in mind for us - a new self that is based on the perfection of His Son.  Pretty cool!

Re-design

Being that I haven't updated the design and "look" of this blog in ages, I'm trying out some new looks.  Beware, it may change often until I find something I like!  Modern blogging technology rules.  It's so much easier then it used to be!

Cheers!

Psalm 147 - Ian's Paraphrase

This is a response to Psalm 147 I once journaled that I turned into a song; well, half a song actually.  There really isn't a chorus yet.  But here you go none-the-less:

In my strength have I sought after life’s delights,

“If only these idiots would listen to me.”

Yet I have not the strength to change the one life

I have power over my own.

Oh to echo Paul’s sentiment, 

“Why do I do the things I do not wish to do!”

But in God, will I find my true strength,

to expose every one of my weaknesses.

He will make me strong, he will rebuild me,

with him as my footings, my foundations.

I will hope to put my hope in him,

Then will I be held in honor.

Praise the Lord!  I will praise His name!

Addictions

I admit it.  I'm an addict.  If Merriam-Webster's definition is accurate (: to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively) then I am addicted to many things:

1.  Facebook.  Hours spent pouring over the lives of people I will probably never again have a meaningful conversation with.  Pics.  Posts.  Likes.  Comments.  Nuff said.

2.  Soccer.  There is no greater pull on my time that I am completely obsessed, habitually surrendering myself to every tidbit of info on, even in off-season.  Sounders, MLS, Donovan, Dempsey, Altidore, Howard, Everton, EPL, USMNT, etc, etc.

3.  Gaming.  I love computer games.  And here' the funny thing, I'm a mac guy and most games don't play on macs.  So, instead of playing these wonderful games, I instead, watch endless streams of NS2 (www.unknownworlds.com/ns2) and SC2 (Starcraft!).  At least with World of Warcraft, I ended up playing a bunch!

And after all of my addictions (and I haven't covered food, spending time with the family, and the outdoors) I am left completely empty most of the time.  I spend hours devoted to a game that I will never play, and I realize that in the end, that game will have added very little, if anything, to my life.

So, what would my life look like if I chose to become an addict to something else, if I chose the one thing that does matter, that will give something in return for utter devotion?  What would the world look like if we all became addicted to being a disciple of Jesus the Christ?

It's been said that Gandhi rejected Christ after meeting too many Christians, but what would it have looked like if he had seen Christians, Christ-addicts, people obsessed with building relationship with the Healer, the Saving-grace of my life, the one man who always seem to reach out to the lonely, broken-hearted, and hurting?

The world would be a different place!  Become a person today who can't help but habitually devote your life to Christ!  Let's change the world today - starting with our self first!

Weird Youth Ministry Moment(s)

So there I am, sitting right in the middle of a wonderful, local, frozen yogurt shop, playing spoons after the big game last night.  We were meeting there instead of our normal meeting because of the Superbowl.  Eventually we ended up taking over the entire space, playing some hard-fought spoons.  In fact, there were only 3 other people in the shop:  three high school girls doing homework over in the corner.

Now the norm in youth ministry would be for me to offer an invitation to join us at spoons:

"Hey girls!  Girls!  You wanna play some spoons," I said (this sounded much less creepy there).
"No thanks, I have homework," said one of them.
"What are you working on?  I'll help," I said as I ran over to the corner.
I glanced down at the work and noticed it was Geography, and that she was doing just fine.  We joked about doing homework for a bit, and then saw the other girl pushing her book at me, "Not unless you know how to do geometry," she huffed in frustration.

Ok, so at this point there are a few things you need to know.  First, I've been teaching Algebra and Geometry for 5 years.  Second, I am not a psycho.  Third, God puts us in some wonderful spots to make a difference wherever we find ourselves.

"As it happens, I taught geometry for years," I said.  I saw her eyebrows shoot towards the heavens as I pulled up a chair.  As we started my one-on-one tutoring about lines, slope-intercept formulas, and opposite-inverses, I suddenly hear the other girl on a cellphone.

"She's busy.  She's getting help on her homework."  Pause.  "Some guy."  Longer pause.  "No, he is not a psycho!"

So at this point, I realize that this girl's mom is on the phone, worried that her daughter is in league with a "psycho" who is apparently teaching her daughter geometry.  What should I do?

"Don't worry, I'm not a psycho, I'm just a youth pastor at Bethany.  I am background checked many times, and I've been a teacher and Vice Principal!  And my wife teaches too!"

What a weird meeting in the middle of frozen yogurt delight!  God does move in mysterious ways!  We ended up talking to the girls for a bit after the lesson was done.  And knowing mom's concerns, I gave my full name and phone number to the girls so that mom(s) could check in with me.  I'm not so much expecting a phone call, as a visit from the authorities!  I love the psychotic nature of youth ministry!

THIS JUST IN:

Mom texted me this morning to thank me, and to confirm, once and for all, that I am not a psycho!  Good news, I'm not!

Pruning

 Saturday and some of Sunday (the first quarter of the Superbowl) were spent pruning.  Emily's relative, Bill, came over to show us how it's done.  There are 5 apple trees, 1 pear tree, and 1 cherry tree that needed (and still need) some major work.

The weather was fantastic - sunny and warm.  So far I'm loving the Pacific NW weather-wise.  Anna helped out a ton with Emily picking up the hundreds of branches, and by the end of the day, even by brother-in-law, Devon, helped us finish the biggest tree for the night.  Three trees down, only 4 more to go!

 Emily's also becoming quite the skilled photographer!

Seattle Sounders FC

The Sounders begin their quest for an MLS cup at home on March 17, against Toronto FC.  This marks the fourth year for the franchise, which some consider one of the most successful expansion teams in any sport in US history.   The depth of the squad will definitely get tested, and coach Sigi Schmid will have a hard time getting younger players to step up into the gaping holes left by many veteran players that are no longer with the team.

The Sounders also look to compete in two more competitions this year as well.  Soccer has the weirdly un-american approach of being able to win multiple trophies/championships in one year.  The Sounders have won three straight US Open Cup Championships, but this year may be their most difficult challenge yet.  With the change in the process for deciding where games are played, the Sounders will look to have some very difficult road challenges in the early rounds of the Cup, that they were largely able to avoid these last three years.  They also have a host of new squad players that will get time here that are much less experienced than in previous years.  Even with all the issues that have come up in 2012, there is no real worry about losing out on the cup until another MLS team takes the competition seriously, like the Sounders have!

The last competition is the CONCACAF Champions League.  The Sounders will play their home-and-away series against Santos Laguna starting March 7.

Overall, it looks to be a very exciting year for the Sounders!

Blast from the Past

Emily and I when we were first dating!  Weren't we quite the pair!  We were in Jr. High at the time, both Freshman.  I don't remember having hair that bad or a girlfriend that short; somethings change, some stay the same!

Here's another from our Senior Prom!  Gotta love the white tux.  Emily looks beautiful as always!

Update

Emily, Kyrianna, and I now live in Puyallup, WA, where her family is originally from.  We actually moved in with her grandma, and were sad to lose her this past December.  Emily is working at Karshner Elementary School in Puyallup as a music teacher, while I work at Bethany Baptist Church in town as the interim Youth Lead.

Kyrianna keeps us very busy - and it's nice not being so hot outside all the time like it was in Florida.

First time in a long time...

Testing.  Post from 2012.  Wow, I forgot I had this!