15 Years of Bliss(ish)

Fifteen years ago today a couple of crazy kids, Seth and Crystal, got married.  "Far too young and far too soon!" some people cried.

Nine months later, "far too young and far too soon" again, a beautiful baby girl joined their family....and they were off.

Since then Seth and Crystal have worked hard to create a household filled with love, noise, joy, noise, and acceptance.....and a few rambunctious (and amazing) kids.

A household where they open up a room, and their lives, at a moment's notice to someone in need of a place to live and heal.

A household where all are welcomed and encouraged, nay, forced to be themselves.

A household that shows its love for Jesus in the way it loves people.  Church people, family, friends, neighborhood people, that scary homeless guy, freaks and geeks, it doesn't matter, they might try to hide it under scary demeanors (not really), but they love them all.

A household that strives to be a safe place for hurting people in need of shelter from the storms of this world.

A household that has learned my mother's lesson that "more parties" is always better than "less parties".

I know it hasn't always (ever?) been easy, but I have been impressed with the insane determination to love each other that they have both brought to the marriage.

So please join me in wishing Seth and Crystal a happy fifteen years of marriage and our hope that they will get to experience fifteen more.....and then a bunch after that since, heck, they got married far too young, they have an outside shot at a Double Diamond Anniversary.

Love you guys!

Submarines! from TMQ

Submarines Gone Wild! Last year TMQ did an item on the disturbing tendency of nuclear submarines -- packed with super-advanced sensors -- to fail to detect large ships directly in their paths. Last week, the British nuclear submarine Astute failed to detect Scotland, beaching itself when neither the sub's crew nor its super-advanced electronics noticed the boat was headed directly toward a 640-square-mile island. But the nuclear weapons won't go off by accident. Trust us.

the furious longing of God

Brennan Manning, the author, was working in a leper colony outside of New Orleans when he met Yolanda. A beautiful woman who has had her beauty taken away by leprosy. Her ex-husband had forbidden her children to visit her. Brennan Manning is told that she is dying and visits her one last time.

Below is an excerpt from the book the furious longing of God:

I anointed Yolanda and prayed with her. As I turned around to put the top back on the bottle of oil, the room was filled with a brilliant light. It had been raining when I came in; I didn't even look up, but said, "Thanks, Abba, for the sunshine. I bet that'll cheer her up."

As I turned back to look at Yolanda - and if I live to be three hundred years old I'll never be able to find the words to describe what I saw - her face was like a sunburst over the mountains, like one thousand sunbeams streaming out of her face literally so brilliant I had to shield my eyes.

I said, "Yolanda, you appear to be very happy."

With her slight Mexican-American accent she said, "Oh Father, I am so happy."

I then asked her, "Will you tell me why you're so happy?"

She said, "Yes, the Abba of Jesus just told me He would take me home today."

I vividly remember the hot tears that began rolling down my cheeks. After a lengthy pause, I asked just what the Abba of Jesus said.

Yolanda said:

Come now My love. My lovely one, come.

For you, the winter has passed, the snows are over and gone,

the flowers appear in the land,

the season of joyful songs has come.

The cooing of the turtledove

is heard in our land.

Come now, My love. My Yolanda, come.

Let Me see your face. And let Me hear your voice,

for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful.

Come now, My love, My lovely one, come.

Six hours later her little leprous body was swept up into the furious love of her Abba. Later that same day, I learned from the staff that Yolanda was illiterate. She had never read the Bible, or any book for that matter, in her entire life. I surely had never repeated those words to her in any of my visits. I was, as they say, a man undone.

Click here to order the book.

Myers-Briggs Report

Took a Myers-Briggs test the other day. Below are my results, I found it to be spot on. I highlighted a few areas of special interest, those areas that make me happy or sad, those things that make me tick. Anyway, here you go, let me know if you think this is me.

Your Type Description: ESFJ

• Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative

• Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it

• Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time

• Loyal, follow through even in small matters

• Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it

• Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute

People with ESFJ preferences like to organize people and situations and then work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. They are conscientious and loyal, following through even in small matters, and they want others to be the same. They value security and stability. Sociable and outgoing,

ESFJs are great at celebrations and traditions. They bring a very personal caring to the workplace and home.

ESFJs want to be appreciated for themselves and for what they give to others.

ESFJs use their Feeling primarily externally and radiate warmth and energy. They are encouraged by approval and hurt by indifference and unkindness. Conflict-filled or tense situations make them uncomfortable, and they work to ensure these don’t occur. ESFJs are likely to be warm, sympathetic, helpful, personable, cooperative, and tactful.

ESFJs focus on the present and base decisions on experiences and facts. Though they enjoy variety, they adapt well to routine and don’t like work that demands mastery of abstract ideas and impersonal analysis.

They enjoy their possessions and take good care of them. ESFJs are likely to be practical, realistic, down-to-earth, decisive, thorough, and consistent. They are sensitive to the needs of others and good at providing practical caring. Much of their pleasure and satisfaction comes from the comfort and pleasure of people around them.

ESFJs are energized by interaction with others and genuinely interested in others’ lives and concerns.

They feel most comfortable in structured situations and enjoy creating order, structure, and schedules.

They prefer to do things the traditional and accepted way. For the sake of harmony, ESFJs will

agree with others when they can. However, they also have strong values that they express clearly and confidently when they think it is appropriate.

ESFJs value family and social ties. They enjoy belonging and are good at celebrations and traditions. Others usually see ESFJs as sociable, outgoing, enthusiastic, energetic, organized, and orderly, and as persons committed to preserving traditions.

The Crazy Christian and the Left-Wing Looney - A Story of Friendship

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

Lewis and Clark

Ben and Jerry

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Earnest Hemingway

Brutus and Sparrow

Jonathan and Jeff.

Friendship is weird.

Way back in 1993 when some pimply faced new kid in school with slicked back hair and a chubby, shy kid with a terrible hair cut first met, no one had any idea that they would still be friends over seventeen years later.

In fact, no one had any thought that they would be such good, close friends that people would think of them like a married couple.

We lived at each other’s houses and knew each other’s parents so well that we got the birds and bees talk from two sources.

People would come up to me and say, “Hey man, Sparrow owes me five bucks. We both know he is never going to pay me back, but he will pay YOU back, so why don’t you give me the money and you can get it from him.”

For a friendship to last this long you have to be willing to talk about issues, since when you are as close as we were and spent as much time together as we did, you are bound to get into arguments. Dumb ones mostly. Like how it was impossible that I couldn’t like a song that Jeff loved so much. We argued about that for almost two hours I think. Worst part was that it was a Goo Goo Dolls song.

There was one time we got in a fight about something moronic and didn’t see each other for two weeks. Kevin had to drive out to North East to pick Jeff up so we could “hug it out”. By the time the two weeks had passed we had no recollection about what the argument was anyway. Might have been Matchbox 20.

We are on such opposite sides of so many issues, religion, politics, alcohol (he doesn’t like beer), and other vital issues. However we manage to put that all aside, even the fact that he know that I really want him to think like I do on religion. I am amazed by how many friendships are destroyed by politics or religion….or alcohol. In regards to politics, we are all being screwed by our politicians so why fight about it? And religion? What good does it do me or him if I chase away a friend by harping on it? He knows my thoughts and feelings on the matter, one day he will realize I’m right. :)

So in closing, Jeff, I love you, although not in a move to Massachusetts kind of way, I can’t think of anyone else I would rather be practically strip-searched and kicked out of Canada with.

Just so I can keep track of it.

Artist: C-Lite
Name: No Tombstone

Just posted it here so I remember it.

A Note From My Mom

I've been going through a lot of stuff in the house, getting rid of old stuff that I don't use and sorting things in preparation for moving next year and I found a notebook from my 24th birthday. My Mom had the idea that it would be neat for people to write something nice in a notebook and I could read the nice notes later.

My 24th birthday would be the last birthday I would celebrate with my Mom as she would leave us six months later.

I found the book recently, sitting on a bookshelf of course, and thought that I would share the note my Mom wrote to me.


To My Dear Son, Jonathan,

As I look back over the years, the one gift you have given me, which stands out, is laughter. From your baby smile, which you did with your whole body, to your obsession with the Dukes of Hazzard (“I’ll be Luke and you be Daisy.”) you’ve given me smiles and laughter. Remember at the dinner table when you practiced being windshield wipers? And Mr. Spoon? And the stories you would act out with whatever was handy?

Even ushering me down the aisle at Elizabeth’s wedding, you got your emotional Mom to smile and laugh.

And so in this coming year I would wish for you many smiles and much laughter.

Love,

Mom

Some songs to listen to

Chris Tomlin



Mercy Me

New single from J. Medeiros

Holding On



Not only is the song great but the video is just fantastic. New album comes out September 1, can't wait!

Favorite Song of the Moment

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Your Guardian Angel

Spurgeon and Fireflight

"I am with you alway."

-- Matthew 28:20

It is well there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us.

It is well there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life. O my soul, set not thine affections upon rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures, but set thine heart upon him who abides for ever faithful to thee. Build not thine house upon the moving quicksands of a deceitful world, but found thy hopes upon this rock, which, amid descending rain and roaring floods, shall stand immovably secure. My soul, I charge thee, lay up thy treasure in the only secure cabinet; store thy jewels where thou canst never lose them. Put thine all in Christ; set all thine affections on his person, all thy hope in his merit, all thy trust in his efficacious blood, all thy joy in his presence, and so thou mayest laugh at loss, and defy destruction.

Remember that all the flowers in the world's garden fade by turns, and the day cometh when nothing will be left but the black, cold earth.

Death's black extinguisher must soon put out thy candle. Oh! how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone! The dark flood must soon roll between thee and all thou hast; then wed thine heart to him who will never leave thee; trust thyself with him who will go with thee through the black and surging current of death's stream, and who will land thee safely on the celestial shore, and make thee sit with him in heavenly places for ever. Go, sorrowing son of affliction, tell thy secrets to the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother. Trust all thy concerns with him who never can be taken from thee, who will never leave thee, and who will never let thee leave him, even "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." "Lo, I am with you alway," is enough for my soul to live upon, let who will forsake me.

Fireflight

"Forever"

Sometimes I feel so cold
Like I'm waiting around all by myself
Loneliness gets so old
I'm in the lost and found sitting on the shelf
Been stuck for way too long
But I hear Your voice
You're who I'm counting on

Oh, tell me You're here
That You will watch over me forever
Oh, take hold of my heart
Show me You'll love me forever

I know that You can tell
When I start to let my hope fade away
I need to catch myself
Open my ears to hear You calling my name
Been fighting way too long
But I hear Your voice
You had me all along

When I'm starting to drown
You jump in to save me
When my world's upside down
Your hands, they shake me and wake me

Plants vs. Zombies

I love Pop Cap. They made Peggle. They are awesome.

Here is a link to download a demo of their newest game "Plants vs. Zombies"

http://popcap.com/games/pvz/?icid=Interstitial_pvz

Incredible

My Church did a rendition of this last week at the end of the worship service. Now I usually find such things cheesy and awful, but this was so great. In some cases I think it was done better at New Life than at this place.

The song is Everything by Lifehouse

Recession Follow Up

My brother recently sent me this link to a tent city outside of Sacramento. These are homeless people, people who need help. And what do you do? What can you do?

I think this is where people feeling the pinch (the one that makes them not give money to others since they are strapped for cash but can still find 1.2 million dollars for camcorders) really hurts. I know people will be looking for the government to save these people when a good charity or two that had 1.2 million dollars in donations coming in could do so much more to help these people, and help them more effectively too.

Have we become so used to looking to the government for help that we can't even help each other? Are we so tired of our money being extorted by the government to be used as they see fit that we don't want to spend another dime on anyone else?

Why doesn't the church do more to help? Aren't hard times the best time to show love to people who need it? Of course it is harder in hard times to find that extra bit to give, and how do we balance helping those outside the church with helping those in the church?

Many times I feel like I have more questions than answers. I think what it comes down to is that we need to focus on smaller parts of the big picture so you don't feel overwhelmed. If we each faithfully do our small part to help then the bigger needs will get taken care of.

Hmmm....sounds familiar.

Spurgeon

"Sin ... exceeding sinful."

-- Romans 7:13

Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin.

The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, "Is it not a little one?" Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: "We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in the main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent." So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns, and pierced his heart! It made him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful."

Funny Pictures

I was looking for some new wallpaper for my cell phone and stumbled on these. Hmm..that baby looks familiar....

The Stand - Michael W. Smith

The Stand

I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand
My soul, lord, to you surrendered
All I am is yours x4

Angry Baby Picture

This is quite possibly the best baby picture ever...of a baby I don't know that is.

The Slap Chop

This amuses me

Prison Break

This was so funny it would have been a crime (get it?) not to share.