Jun 10
Life, exercise, videos exercise, ipod, nike, nike+ ipod No Comments
I’m trying to get fit, but as I’m a techno geek at heart, I will use technology to help me! I’m using the Nike+ iPod to track my running. Watch the video to see all it can do.
number of view: 215
Apr 29
It has been a super crazy week and next week is gonna be super crazy in a good way! My wife are going on vacation!
I usually try to write a few posts a week, but these next few weeks will be without any blogging.
number of view: 85Apr 21
Christianity, Life, politics, theology gay marriage, miss universe 3 Comments
[Note to the Reader: This post is a little long, but keep reading as it takes some time to set up my premise!]
I was browsing FoxNews.com today and ran across this story headline:
Now, I don’t follow the Miss California pageant or the Miss America pageant or the Miss Universe pageant or any other pageant. I think these things are shallow and bad examples for our daughters, but that is another post for another day….
I wasn’t quite sure what the story was about, but it had piqued my interest. One can sum up the article with the following quote:
So did her answer to Perez Hilton’s gay marriage question cost Prejean the coveted crown?
This was the last place I would expect to see the Culture War erupt! Another article on the subject is posted at the Dailymail.com. It says:
Prejean, a blonde student was one of the favourites to win the Miss USA title at the pageant held on Sunday at the Planet Hollywood hotel and casino in Las Vegas and shown live on TV.
Having negotiated earlier rounds of modelling in a swimsuit and evening gown, she was down to the final 15 and had to answer a single question from one of the panel of five judges.
Prejean picked celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who is openly gay and calls himself ‘queen of all media’.
Hilton asked her: ‘Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalise same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?’
Prejean paused for a moment before replying: ‘Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage.’
She continued: ‘And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman.
‘No offence to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be – between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.’
Gay Marriage and Abortion are the two biggest issues on the Culture War front between Evangelical Christians and the culture at large. But when Christians and the culture talk about gay marriage, I don’t think the questions being asked are in the same categories for both sides.
When someone like Perez Hilton (again, who? I just don’t keep up with media enough!) is talking about gay marriage, or gay rights in general, he is doing so thinking that these “rights” are just as absolute and redeeming as the slave’s right to freedom and the woman’s right to vote. So it is in this context he asks the Miss Universe contestant if she thinks gay marriage should be allowed. To him, it is tantamount to asking, “Do you think Hitler was evil?” Of course the answer should be yes.
Miss Prejean hears the question and automatically filters it through her Christian worldview. She comes to the question of gay marriage with an entirely different context. Being gay is a lifestyle to be chosen. The importance and magnitude of the question isn’t nearly so close to her (and many Christians in general). When she hears “should gay marriage be allowed?” she is hearing a question of morality, a question of right or wrong. It doesn’t really affect her personally.
I never could understand why gay people reacted so critically when disagreed with. This is America right? Aren’t we allowed a dissenting opinion? Aren’t all viewpoints and world views allowed at the table? Do their rights cancel out my rights?
If the question of gay marriage is elevated to the status of questions of racism and prejudice, then yeah, they are correct in getting so ticked off.
This post isn’t an answer to the question. It is me just writing down my thoughts as I ponder this issue. It definitely isn’t as black and white as I used to think!
Comment and let me know what you think.
Apr 09
Life dumb people, rant No Comments
I picked this picture because Nate's team is the Yankees. That's the only reason...
Just a quick rant…..
Nate had a ball game today and well, conditions were not conducive to playing! It is 54 degrees and raining like crazy and the team we are playing belongs to the league president and he won’t call the game! IDIOT!
Our coach actually had to forfeit so we could get our kids out of the rain. And when our kids started walking off the field, the parents of the other team started booing and shouting “What about the kids!”
Am I just delusional or do I not want my kids out in that kind of weather so he doesn’t get sick and ruin his entire Easter break?
Ugh, some parents are just plain idiots…
number of view: 175Apr 05
Life, family family, kids No Comments
I love my kids. Let’s get that straight right now. They know how much Cindy and I love ‘em, but today I was filled with gratitude out how much they love EACH OTHER.
We had a busy Sunday. My In-Laws celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary (huge props to them!) and Hannah had a birthday party to attend. Cindy was at AT&T Park watching the Giants play ball and I got to be the chauffeur hauling kids around. After all was said and done, we all got home around 6pm and were all pretty tired.
In spite of that, my three kids, ages 14, 12, and 10 all decided to outside and play jump rope together. Nothing earth shattering or mind blowing, but it made me so darn proud of ‘em. I love the fact that they get along (for the most part!) Of course there are the mandatory sibling bickerings, but they actually enjoy each other’s company.
God has done a good work here….and I’m glad he has let me be a part of it!
number of view: 193Mar 12
Life, calvin & hobbes calvin & hobbes 1 Comment
I saw this post on Digg and absolutely had to share it. I’ve been a HUGE Calvin and Hobbes fan ever since it was in the papers. I still read the collected books to this day.
No other comic has touched me as Calvin and Hobbes. I actually choked up a little upon seeing this picture! I was never so proud as a dad as when my daughter Bekah started reading through our Calvin and Hobbes Collection.
If you don’t have the books, you can view the entire collection of comics here. Someone has lovingly scanned every comic strip and sorted them by date.
Man I miss Calvin and Hobbes….
number of view: 564Feb 01
Life, calvin & hobbes, humor calvin & hobbes, humor, Life, thin beard 1 Comment
I empathize with Calvin’s plight. I’ve not shaved for over a week and this is all I have to show for it:
What’s going on here? This much jaw hair grows on my brother’s face in just about 4 hours. Don’t I share the same gene pool? So I ponder, like Calvin, why am I cursed with a thin beard? It just doesn’t seem fair!
What kind of beard would I grow if I could? A big viking beard that could be braided would be awesome! Something like Zakk Wylde….
I mean, what screams “metal god” more than long hair and a big beard?
number of view: 1026Dec 31
Life 2009 goals, Life 5 Comments
It’s that time again. Time to look back at how the year went and time to look forward to see what the new year might have in store.
I found my blog entry for January 1, 2008 and in it I listed some of my hopes for the new year. Read it below:
Hopes and Goals for 2008
Today is the day I’m going to try to get some of my goals and hopes for 2008 written down. Maybe if I write ‘em down I’ll be more apt to keep ‘em!
Now, these are in no particular order, but I think the ones I list first are probably more important as they are at the forefront of my mind.
1. Read my Bible all the way through by year’s end. I want to start in Genesis and end in Revelation. I want to see God’s plan for us from start to finish. This is going to take some discipline on my part. If I can’t read it then I want to listen to it on my iPod. By reading what God has to say for my life, I hope to get closer to Him and love Him all the more.
2. Lose 40 pounds. This will be the hardest goal I have. If I drop 40lbs, I’ll be right at a nice 200lb. A lean mean fighting machine! Honestly, if I can’t change my addiction to fast food, then this goal will get flushed down the toilet! I wish there was just a magic fix to get un-fat, but there isn’t. I’m most concerned with getting adult diabetes if I can’t get my weight under control.
3. Be more available for my wife and kids. The computer shall be my mistress no more. If one of my kids needs attention or help for something, I want to be able to say sure! no problemo! not, wait until I’m done editing this video!
4. That said, I do want to be more creative and use technology to further that creativity. I hope to learn Adobe Illustrator and Artrage 2 to help bring out the hidden artist in me (and boy is that artist hidden!) I’d also like to find a nice “Photography for losers” kind of book to help me figure out better picture taking!
5. I want to read some classic literature this year. Not Shakespeare, but maybe Dante’s Inferno, Moby Dick, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Beowolf or The Iliad and Odyssey or Plato’s Republic.
6. Get on our piano and try to learn some more music stuff. My long term goal is to get a bass guitar, but until then, I need to practice with what’s available.
I’m probably reaching for the moon by hoping to accomplish all of these things this year. I can only try.
I read this list now on December 31, 2008 and am a little amazed at how much I failed! I didn’t read the entire Bible, although I did listen to quite a few books on my iPod. Losing 40 pounds? Hahaha, that’s funny! Let’s just say I didn’t gain any weight (which is a good thing I guess). I was able to make good on goal number 3 – getting off the ‘ol computer and hanging out with my family more. I didn’t learn Adobe Illustrator or read in classic literature, and I didn’t get on our piano at all. One outta six is a pretty bad average.
Honestly, I’m not worried about it or even feeling guilty. Those were good goals. I’m even gonna carry some of them into 2009.
That said, here are those goals for 2009:
1. Follow Jesus where ever He takes me.
2. Get healthy and drop some pounds.
3. Make family a priority.
4. Definitely read more and watch less movies.
5. Pick up the bass guitar and learn some sweet bass lines.
6. Buy Guitar Hero Metallica the minute it comes out!
number of view: 361
Nov 29
Life, tech, www 5000 hits, blogging, redesign No Comments
My little ‘ol blog has had over 5,000 hits now! I know most blogs get that kind of traffic in just one day, but for me, that stat is pretty awesome!
I thought it would be a perfect time to celebrate and do some redesigning. Thus the new look for the blog. Cheers!
number of view: 115Nov 17
Christianity, Life, audio, music, videos Christianity, lyrics, metallica, poetry No Comments
Stop what you are doing and take a minute to listen to the song below. As you listen, scroll down and read the lyrics that go with the music. Even if you don’t like metal, listen to the song!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxgc4PCklnI]
Metallica - Broken, Beat & Scarred lyrics You rise, you fall, you're down then you rise again What don't kill ya make ya more strong You rise, you fall, you're down then you rise again What don't kill ya make ya more strong Rise, fall, down, rise again What don't kill ya make ya more strong Rise, fall, down, rise again What don't kill ya make ya more strong Through black days, through black nights Through pitch black insides Breaking your teeth on the hard life coming (Show your scars) Cutting your feet on the hard earth running (Show your scars) Breaking your life, broken, beat and scarred But we die hard The dawn, the death, the fight to the final breath What don't kill ya make ya more strong The dawn, the death, the fight to the final breath What don't kill ya make ya more strong Dawn, death, fight, final breath What don't kill ya make ya more strong Dawn, death, fight, final breath What don't kill ya make ya more strong They scratch me, they scrape me They cut and rape me Breaking your teeth on the hard life coming (Show your scars) Cutting your feet on the hard earth running (Show your scars) Breaking your life, broken, beat and scarred But we die hard Breaking your teeth on the hard life coming (Show your scars) Cutting your feet on the hard earth running (Show your scars) Bleeding your soul in a hard luck story (Show your scars) Spilling your blood in the hot sun's glory (Show your scars) Breaking your life, broken, beat and scarred We die hard We die hard We die hard Lyrics | Metallica - Broken, Beat & Scarred lyrics
If nothing else, you have to give James Hetfield credit for the poetic force of his lyrics. This is one strong song and the music that is delivered behind the lyrics pushes the song into metal legend. It energizes the listener and makes him just want to lift something heavy or do some feat of greatness!
But beyond that, believe it or not, this song actually reminds me of some words written by the Apostle Paul, the guy that wrote two thirds of the New Testament (bet you weren’t expecting that, eh?)
In the book of Second Corinthians, chapter 6 Paul says this:
3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
One might wonder how in all that is good and holy could I connect a Metallica song with the Sacred Scripture? Well, I have come to finally understand that all truth is God’s truth and I can take the poetic lyric of Metallica and yes, it can help me ruminate and meditate on what God has done for me! Crazy, eh?
Even though we might go some through some crazy stuff in this life, it makes us stronger and can actually bring us into a closer relationship with our Creator. Is there a bigger point to this blog? Not really. Just a very cool secular song reminded of some very cool sacred writings!
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