So I've been listening to Dave Matthews a lot lately. One of the cds of his that I preordered, they sent me another cd with some of his live stuff on it. There's a version of his song, "Stay or Leave," which has one of those haunting guitar melodies that gets stuck in your head, and bounces around for a few days.
Now I'm not the biggest Dave fan in the world, that's for sure, but I really like the jam band style of music. His lyrics usually are about drugs or sex or something that completely goes against everything I hold true.
But on this song, there's a line that goes something like this:
"Wake up naked drinking coffee
Making plans to change the world
While the world is changing us"
Now, the wake up naked drinking coffee line isn't what I'm stuck on. It's the rest of the phrase:
Making plans to change the world while the world is changing us.
I think that's where most Christians are. We get so on fire to change the world, and then we look around and see that the world is changing us.
I really don't know where I'm going with this. Other than to note that I want to change the world, and yet I get caught up in what the world says is important, just like everyone else. And if you think peer pressure ends when your teen years are over...think again. I want a video ipod. Why do I want one? Because they're fashionable. Do I need one? Of course I don't need one. I want it, and therefore I've been saving to get one.
I'm beginning to think that there has to be an easier way of life. A key word in the Christian circles these days is missional. I've yet to read a definition that truly fits what it means, but from what I understand, it's being all things to all people, it's making the message of Christ relevant and easier for today's culture to understand.
And again we get a mixed message. Be all things to all people, but be in the world but not of it.
There are only a few things in life that my family really needs. Food. Water. Shelter. Basic utilities. Basic needs such as clothing and medicines. Insurance. I need an automobile for my job.
But then there's everything else I want. Cable, internet, a new computer, nice furniture, and the list goes on and on and on.
Maybe I'm becoming Amish. I don't know. The Lord has blessed me with enough money to do and have what my family needs and mostly what we want.
But I'd really like to be about that changing the world, without the world changing me business.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Things that frustrate me
the cable company
the phone company
the war between them and the poor souls trapped just wanting a phone!
wet sleeves
the smell outside my house
people you need to talk to not returning calls
running into people that you were supposed to call back...but didn't
highliters that don't highlite
myspace.com
mosquitoes
the cable company...wait...i already said that one...sorry t-roy...at least it's not your cable company!
the phone company
the war between them and the poor souls trapped just wanting a phone!
wet sleeves
the smell outside my house
people you need to talk to not returning calls
running into people that you were supposed to call back...but didn't
highliters that don't highlite
myspace.com
mosquitoes
the cable company...wait...i already said that one...sorry t-roy...at least it's not your cable company!
Monday, August 21, 2006
Sugar and spice and everthing nice...
That's what little girls are made of.
Saturday, August 19th.
The crib is ready to go. The changing table is ready to go. The nursery is almost finished. As Kim said, "If she comes tonight, at least she'll have a place to sleep!"
Thanks to Chuck for helping when I came to the part of the instructions that said, "With the assistance of another person..." and looking at my 33 week pregnant wife...I said, "Maybe Chuck can come help for a bit."
Have I wrote about our crib? It's really really cool. Now it's a crib, but as she ages, it transforms like Optimus Prime into a day bed. Then as she outgrows that, it transforms like Megatron into a full-size bed. So, needless to say, unless we have other children who need a crib, this will be her bed until she moves out of our house!
I finally finished "To Own a Dragon" by Donald Miller. Never have I read a book that simultaneously breaks my heart while busting my gut. It was a tough finish after all that's happened this summer.
I want to post a little excerpt. I hope the copyright police don't bust me. I'll quote it to be safe:
To Own a Dragon by Donald Miller and John MacMurray.
Chapter eight: Making Decisions or How to Stay Out of Prison
"I was having trouble sleeping one evening, so I turned on Charlie Rose, who was interviewing this guy Salome Thomas-El. He was a black middle school teacher in Philadelphia, and he had a presence that made you respect him, a soft way with big words and the kind of peace that comes to a man when he has found himself, learned to love himself, and operates for the world out of strength.
Salome had started a chess club in his school, recruiting from the projects around the small campus. He told Charlie Rose what he wanted to teach these students was not how to play chess, necessarily, because chess doesn't really mean anything in the real world, but rather the art of making good decisions. He would walk up to kids hanging around outside a convenience store and ask them if they wanted to learn to play chess. Of course the kids said no, chess not being the most fashionable sport on the playground. So Salome would tell them that telling him no was a bad decision, that if somebody offers to teach you something, you should give that person respect, and ask more questions to find out if you might need this information in the future. That was a bad decision, Salome said to the kids, to dismiss me in that way. The kids didn't really know what to say, so they got tough, threatening him. Ah, Salome would say, another bad decision. I can see that, if you and I were playing chess right now, you would be losing, because in chess, you cannot make bad decisions and win. You have to make good decisions.
"Have any of you ever played chess? Salome asked.
"I know how to play chess," one of the kids answered.
"What is the legal move for a rook?" Salome asked the boy. The boy stood there silently until finally Salome spoke into his shifting eyes, "You are telling a lie, aren't you? You do not know how to play chess. A lie is another bad decision. If you knew how to play chess, you would not make so many bad decisions. you would know, intrinsically, the way to get ahead in life is to make good decisions. And so I will ask you again, and I want you to think about it for five seconds before you answer me. Don't answer right away, because this isn't wise. I want you to think about what I am going to ask you...
"Do you want me to teach you how to play chess?"
The children stood there, confused but interested, until one of them blurted out nervously, "Yes, I want to learn chess."
"Fine then. You have made a good decision. This is the first rule of chess. Make good decisions. The only possible way you can lose in chess, and for that matter in life itself, is to make bad decisions. If you do not make bad decisions, you will not lose in chess, or in life. And the more good decisions you make, the better your life will be. It is as easy as that. Who else would like to learn to play chess?" And of course, the kids belonged to Salome from then on, and he has influenced hundreds of children, lined up facing each other, their chess sets placed atop long tables, their hands quick to punch the timers, eight-year-olds, ten-year-olds, teenagers, playing men five times their age and beating them."
I think that's going to be our motto for the upcoming school year. Making Good Decisions.
Almost time for staff meeting. Time got changed from Mondays at 1 to Mondays at 10.
I think that was a good decision.
Saturday, August 19th.
The crib is ready to go. The changing table is ready to go. The nursery is almost finished. As Kim said, "If she comes tonight, at least she'll have a place to sleep!"
Thanks to Chuck for helping when I came to the part of the instructions that said, "With the assistance of another person..." and looking at my 33 week pregnant wife...I said, "Maybe Chuck can come help for a bit."
Have I wrote about our crib? It's really really cool. Now it's a crib, but as she ages, it transforms like Optimus Prime into a day bed. Then as she outgrows that, it transforms like Megatron into a full-size bed. So, needless to say, unless we have other children who need a crib, this will be her bed until she moves out of our house!
I finally finished "To Own a Dragon" by Donald Miller. Never have I read a book that simultaneously breaks my heart while busting my gut. It was a tough finish after all that's happened this summer.
I want to post a little excerpt. I hope the copyright police don't bust me. I'll quote it to be safe:
To Own a Dragon by Donald Miller and John MacMurray.
Chapter eight: Making Decisions or How to Stay Out of Prison
"I was having trouble sleeping one evening, so I turned on Charlie Rose, who was interviewing this guy Salome Thomas-El. He was a black middle school teacher in Philadelphia, and he had a presence that made you respect him, a soft way with big words and the kind of peace that comes to a man when he has found himself, learned to love himself, and operates for the world out of strength.
Salome had started a chess club in his school, recruiting from the projects around the small campus. He told Charlie Rose what he wanted to teach these students was not how to play chess, necessarily, because chess doesn't really mean anything in the real world, but rather the art of making good decisions. He would walk up to kids hanging around outside a convenience store and ask them if they wanted to learn to play chess. Of course the kids said no, chess not being the most fashionable sport on the playground. So Salome would tell them that telling him no was a bad decision, that if somebody offers to teach you something, you should give that person respect, and ask more questions to find out if you might need this information in the future. That was a bad decision, Salome said to the kids, to dismiss me in that way. The kids didn't really know what to say, so they got tough, threatening him. Ah, Salome would say, another bad decision. I can see that, if you and I were playing chess right now, you would be losing, because in chess, you cannot make bad decisions and win. You have to make good decisions.
"Have any of you ever played chess? Salome asked.
"I know how to play chess," one of the kids answered.
"What is the legal move for a rook?" Salome asked the boy. The boy stood there silently until finally Salome spoke into his shifting eyes, "You are telling a lie, aren't you? You do not know how to play chess. A lie is another bad decision. If you knew how to play chess, you would not make so many bad decisions. you would know, intrinsically, the way to get ahead in life is to make good decisions. And so I will ask you again, and I want you to think about it for five seconds before you answer me. Don't answer right away, because this isn't wise. I want you to think about what I am going to ask you...
"Do you want me to teach you how to play chess?"
The children stood there, confused but interested, until one of them blurted out nervously, "Yes, I want to learn chess."
"Fine then. You have made a good decision. This is the first rule of chess. Make good decisions. The only possible way you can lose in chess, and for that matter in life itself, is to make bad decisions. If you do not make bad decisions, you will not lose in chess, or in life. And the more good decisions you make, the better your life will be. It is as easy as that. Who else would like to learn to play chess?" And of course, the kids belonged to Salome from then on, and he has influenced hundreds of children, lined up facing each other, their chess sets placed atop long tables, their hands quick to punch the timers, eight-year-olds, ten-year-olds, teenagers, playing men five times their age and beating them."
I think that's going to be our motto for the upcoming school year. Making Good Decisions.
Almost time for staff meeting. Time got changed from Mondays at 1 to Mondays at 10.
I think that was a good decision.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Back to reality at hand
Road trip to the STL went as well as it could have. Got to see my brother. I've now seen my brother more times since Christmas than I have in the past 10 years. And that number is 4 times. Our relationship is hard to understand. We're close...always knowing what's going on in the other's life (thanks to Mom) but we never see each other.
It was good to see my family again. We usually only see everyone at Thanksgiving, but with Dad's funeral, David's wedding, and Jim's funeral, it was another occasion to see everyone.
Trying to get things ready to go for the new school year. We're going to try some different stuff. I think it'll go well, just some i's to dot and t's to cross.
More later.
TJ
It was good to see my family again. We usually only see everyone at Thanksgiving, but with Dad's funeral, David's wedding, and Jim's funeral, it was another occasion to see everyone.
Trying to get things ready to go for the new school year. We're going to try some different stuff. I think it'll go well, just some i's to dot and t's to cross.
More later.
TJ
Monday, August 14, 2006
Another road trip
My cousin Jimmy passed away on Sunday.
Jimmy was my first cousin. The 2nd son of my dad's sister. One of those people that you literally knew all your life.
He'd been sick for quite a few years. They found out he was diabetic when they were expecting their first son, who is now 21 or 22. About 7 years ago, Jimmy had a kidney transplant. As with most transplants, it wasn't totally successful, but gave him a few more years with his family.
I sat with him and his wife, Teri, at the wedding July 15. We shared stories of our trips to DC, and I really enjoyed just visiting with him. He looked good, and seemed to be feeling well.
An infection later, he slipped into a coma. While in the coma, he had several strokes, which rendered massive brain damage and heart damage. He never regained consciousness, and passed away on Sunday.
So I'm driving back to St. Louis on Wednesday to say goodbye.
This has been a summer.
Dear God, I don't know Jimmy's eternal destination. You do. I hope he's there with you. Give me words of comfort for Teri, Matt, and Drew, and all of the rest of the family during this time. If Jimmy's up there, tell him to say hi to Dad for me.
Amen.
Jimmy was my first cousin. The 2nd son of my dad's sister. One of those people that you literally knew all your life.
He'd been sick for quite a few years. They found out he was diabetic when they were expecting their first son, who is now 21 or 22. About 7 years ago, Jimmy had a kidney transplant. As with most transplants, it wasn't totally successful, but gave him a few more years with his family.
I sat with him and his wife, Teri, at the wedding July 15. We shared stories of our trips to DC, and I really enjoyed just visiting with him. He looked good, and seemed to be feeling well.
An infection later, he slipped into a coma. While in the coma, he had several strokes, which rendered massive brain damage and heart damage. He never regained consciousness, and passed away on Sunday.
So I'm driving back to St. Louis on Wednesday to say goodbye.
This has been a summer.
Dear God, I don't know Jimmy's eternal destination. You do. I hope he's there with you. Give me words of comfort for Teri, Matt, and Drew, and all of the rest of the family during this time. If Jimmy's up there, tell him to say hi to Dad for me.
Amen.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Okay. I get it. I'm old.
Only 4 years since I last went to King's Island, that magnificent roller coaster park about 15 minutes from my house. I wouldn't have gone this year, except Ashley gave me a couple free tickets, and I actually had been wanting to go, but couldn't bring myself to part with $40 or so.
So I picked up Proudfit at 930 and we made our way to the park. He had to be back by 3 to get ready for work, but with an overcast day at the end of summer, we didn't anticipate too heavy of a crowd. Sure enough, the lines weren't too bad. We decided to ride the Italian Job Stunt Track first, as neither of us had been there since it opened. Pretty cool setup. Three mini-coopers in a train, with 4 in each car. You launch out quick and do a corkscrew and a couple drops. Then it stalls out and a helicopter "shoots" at you and something blows up in front of you. Then you dive into darkness (I guess like the subway scene) and come roaring out of a billboard into a spray of water. It was a lot of fun, only over too quick.
We took to the Vortex next, and rode in the first car. Same classic ride as always. Ashley had said to recheck out Flight of Fear, which entered my banned list a few years ago when it shook the tar out of my neck. They had changed it up. So we did. And she was right, it wasn't as bad as I remember it. Next we went on the racer. First car. We barely could fit in the car. And it hurt. My arms kept banging down on the safety bar. And my hips got bruised from being wedged in too tight. By now, I was beginning to regret spending my day off at KI. But we went on to ride Top Gun. First car again, and a smooth ride. I timed it. 47 seconds once you reach the top of the hill until you stop. Not exactly a record-breaker.
We decided to eat, so we went to Skyline. Not sure about the choice, but it was one of the more economical places. I had mentioned Tomb Raider, since I'd never rode it. Matt said it was fun, so we went over there. Tomb Raider is really hard to explain, but I'll try. You're in stadium seating, on a platform, strapped in. This is a good thing. because you start moving all around and flipping upside down, and literally hanging upside down for a good 10-15 seconds, putting way too much pressure on your neck and face. Ack! After this, both Matt and I were ready to go. In pain, tired of walking around in a misty mess, seeing people with way too many tatoos in way too many places that shouldn't be seen in public.
All in all, a good day at KI, but I'm still a little sore. And I have a slight tummy ache. Probably from Skyline.
We saw our baby yesterday. She has grown oh so much! The doctor said she was up to 4 pounds and 5 ounces! She said she was in the 65th percentile, so a little above average when it came for babies. She's still projecting out to October 8th, so hopefully things continue to go well for both mom and baby girl.
We had baby class last night. I must say that I wasn't that thrilled with our class. We have the save-a-baby class on Saturday and breastfeeding/baby care basics on Monday night. Then 4 more weeks of baby class (Lamaze) on Thursdays. Maybe I'm just getting really anxious.
Night club tonight. Domino city! Got to get our food ready to take. I'm gonna make a red beans and rice concoction.
Later!
TJ
So I picked up Proudfit at 930 and we made our way to the park. He had to be back by 3 to get ready for work, but with an overcast day at the end of summer, we didn't anticipate too heavy of a crowd. Sure enough, the lines weren't too bad. We decided to ride the Italian Job Stunt Track first, as neither of us had been there since it opened. Pretty cool setup. Three mini-coopers in a train, with 4 in each car. You launch out quick and do a corkscrew and a couple drops. Then it stalls out and a helicopter "shoots" at you and something blows up in front of you. Then you dive into darkness (I guess like the subway scene) and come roaring out of a billboard into a spray of water. It was a lot of fun, only over too quick.
We took to the Vortex next, and rode in the first car. Same classic ride as always. Ashley had said to recheck out Flight of Fear, which entered my banned list a few years ago when it shook the tar out of my neck. They had changed it up. So we did. And she was right, it wasn't as bad as I remember it. Next we went on the racer. First car. We barely could fit in the car. And it hurt. My arms kept banging down on the safety bar. And my hips got bruised from being wedged in too tight. By now, I was beginning to regret spending my day off at KI. But we went on to ride Top Gun. First car again, and a smooth ride. I timed it. 47 seconds once you reach the top of the hill until you stop. Not exactly a record-breaker.
We decided to eat, so we went to Skyline. Not sure about the choice, but it was one of the more economical places. I had mentioned Tomb Raider, since I'd never rode it. Matt said it was fun, so we went over there. Tomb Raider is really hard to explain, but I'll try. You're in stadium seating, on a platform, strapped in. This is a good thing. because you start moving all around and flipping upside down, and literally hanging upside down for a good 10-15 seconds, putting way too much pressure on your neck and face. Ack! After this, both Matt and I were ready to go. In pain, tired of walking around in a misty mess, seeing people with way too many tatoos in way too many places that shouldn't be seen in public.
All in all, a good day at KI, but I'm still a little sore. And I have a slight tummy ache. Probably from Skyline.
We saw our baby yesterday. She has grown oh so much! The doctor said she was up to 4 pounds and 5 ounces! She said she was in the 65th percentile, so a little above average when it came for babies. She's still projecting out to October 8th, so hopefully things continue to go well for both mom and baby girl.
We had baby class last night. I must say that I wasn't that thrilled with our class. We have the save-a-baby class on Saturday and breastfeeding/baby care basics on Monday night. Then 4 more weeks of baby class (Lamaze) on Thursdays. Maybe I'm just getting really anxious.
Night club tonight. Domino city! Got to get our food ready to take. I'm gonna make a red beans and rice concoction.
Later!
TJ
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Seeing Her
Headed out in a few for another appointment...another sonogram. I never get tired of seeing her on the screen. I'm just getting anxious to see her in person and hold her in my arms...
Steak day today, then Cards vs. Reds, part IV. Cards took the first one, only to have the Reds rally back and take the next two. Can we break even? Do I feel guilty taking a free ticket from the Reds to root for the Cards? Maybe a little...
Baby class number 2 tonight. I missed last week due to SMASH, so I'll have some catching up to do. Saturday is another baby class, and Monday another.
Tomorrow--King's Island! I haven't been in 4 years, and wouldn't be going this year except Ashley gave me 2 free passes! I asked Proudfit, as he's headed back to school next week, and I'd like to spend a little more time with him. He's one of the first youth I ever rode rides with out there, and I'm really excited. I wish Kim could go, but it wouldn't be much fun for her not being able to ride any rides.
Well, she's just about ready to go. I've been sleeping hard this week, for short amounts of time, then nearly crashing in the afternoon.
Can't wait to see my baby. Prayers for continued good development are appreciated!
TJ
Steak day today, then Cards vs. Reds, part IV. Cards took the first one, only to have the Reds rally back and take the next two. Can we break even? Do I feel guilty taking a free ticket from the Reds to root for the Cards? Maybe a little...
Baby class number 2 tonight. I missed last week due to SMASH, so I'll have some catching up to do. Saturday is another baby class, and Monday another.
Tomorrow--King's Island! I haven't been in 4 years, and wouldn't be going this year except Ashley gave me 2 free passes! I asked Proudfit, as he's headed back to school next week, and I'd like to spend a little more time with him. He's one of the first youth I ever rode rides with out there, and I'm really excited. I wish Kim could go, but it wouldn't be much fun for her not being able to ride any rides.
Well, she's just about ready to go. I've been sleeping hard this week, for short amounts of time, then nearly crashing in the afternoon.
Can't wait to see my baby. Prayers for continued good development are appreciated!
TJ
Monday, August 07, 2006
Anniversaries
Today is the anniversary of the day my life changed forever. It's hard to believe 7 years have passed since the lovely Kim Wyatt became my wife. We have such a role reversal from most couples, in that I'm the sappy nostalgic one, and she's not.
Every year, I try and make her watch the video of our wedding on our anniversary, and she tries to get out of it. I guess because it's so long, and she's right, it is a long wedding.
Things are just so different now. Our baby girl on the way. Dad gone home to Jesus. And oh yeah, my ordination service was last night. Wow. It was so emotional and draining. Most ministers are ordained at their home churches before they start their official ministry. I've been doing ministry here for 6 and a half years. I had 6 and a half years worth of people who have influenced me, whisper prayers over me, give me strong verses of encouragement, and shed tears of joy for the occasion. I was a blubbering mess. It came out that eventually, we're going to leave them, and I think they understood. Not tomorrow, but eventually. All things change...go through transitions. God didn't want us to stay the same. He loves us just the way we are, He just refuses to leave us that way. He wants us to change, to grow, to seek out all of the things He's doing.
But going back to the first part...today is a wonderful day. Our parents left a little while ago, headed back to Arkansas. We probably won't see them until the baby comes now, as Kim can't travel anymore. Only about 9 weeks more to go until our little baby girl makes her presence known. The church had Kim's shower on Saturday. I heard from so many people that it was the largest shower they'd ever attended. It took my truck, Kim's aunt's SUV, and the trunk of another car to get all the stuff home. I seriously don't know what we're going to do with everything! And 98% of everything is pink! I love it! My mother did better this time, emotionally. Prayerfully, each time I'm around her, things do get a little easier. Because Kim's aunt was here, if we went anywhere we had to take 2 cars, and mom rode with me most of the time. This gave us a good chance to talk.
Well, I guess I'd better go get a shower...then wake up my bride on the 7th anniversary of the day we said "I will" 3 times.
Hey, now I can marry people. Alright! I'll have to look into that!
Every year, I try and make her watch the video of our wedding on our anniversary, and she tries to get out of it. I guess because it's so long, and she's right, it is a long wedding.
Things are just so different now. Our baby girl on the way. Dad gone home to Jesus. And oh yeah, my ordination service was last night. Wow. It was so emotional and draining. Most ministers are ordained at their home churches before they start their official ministry. I've been doing ministry here for 6 and a half years. I had 6 and a half years worth of people who have influenced me, whisper prayers over me, give me strong verses of encouragement, and shed tears of joy for the occasion. I was a blubbering mess. It came out that eventually, we're going to leave them, and I think they understood. Not tomorrow, but eventually. All things change...go through transitions. God didn't want us to stay the same. He loves us just the way we are, He just refuses to leave us that way. He wants us to change, to grow, to seek out all of the things He's doing.
But going back to the first part...today is a wonderful day. Our parents left a little while ago, headed back to Arkansas. We probably won't see them until the baby comes now, as Kim can't travel anymore. Only about 9 weeks more to go until our little baby girl makes her presence known. The church had Kim's shower on Saturday. I heard from so many people that it was the largest shower they'd ever attended. It took my truck, Kim's aunt's SUV, and the trunk of another car to get all the stuff home. I seriously don't know what we're going to do with everything! And 98% of everything is pink! I love it! My mother did better this time, emotionally. Prayerfully, each time I'm around her, things do get a little easier. Because Kim's aunt was here, if we went anywhere we had to take 2 cars, and mom rode with me most of the time. This gave us a good chance to talk.
Well, I guess I'd better go get a shower...then wake up my bride on the 7th anniversary of the day we said "I will" 3 times.
Hey, now I can marry people. Alright! I'll have to look into that!
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