CRS Us Placers Kanye West Pharrell Lupe Fiasco Thom Yorke

I just discovered this video! I love it. Check it!

As Tall As Lions -

One of my favorite bands right now. I'm hoping to make one of their concerts soon. Check it out!

Thought of the day

Last night we had our life group, and once again it was just an encouragement to be apart of something real. We talked about "shame". It is really difficult to put into words sometimes what you feel shame for because I don't believe that anyone of us are developed/nurtured to know how to express that. So what the heck are we suppose to do? Do we have to wait around to hear someone say they deal with the same thing in order to let it out? Do we wait for the Holy Spirit to envoke brokeness >>>> confession?

For me my frustration is with time... it takes time, everything takes time. I don't want to hurt anymore, I don't want to feel those same shameful things, I don't want deal with it at all. Yet I am reminded of a book I read, "Making all things new" by Henri Nouwen.

- Our first task is to dispel the vague, murky feeling of discontent and to look critically at how we are living our lives. This requires honesty, courage, and trust. We must honestly unmask and courageously confront our many self-deceptive games. We must trust that our honesty and courage will lead us not to despair, but to a new heaven and a new earth.

I will get frustrated, but I must seek solitude.
Henri Nouwen also writes:

Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and him alone. If we really believe not only that God exists but also the he is actively present in our lives-- healing, teaching, and guiding--we need to set aside a time and space to give him our undivided attention. Jesus says,"Go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place" (Matt 6:6).

"I need thee oh I need thee, every hour I need thee..."

SNL Digital Short

Freakin Hilarious! If you haven't gotten to see any of Andy Samberg's Digital Shorts, I highly reccommend that you get to watching them.

Ninja Warrior: The Fireman

So I have this new favorite tv show. It is called ninja warrior. It is the most intense, amazing, hilarious show. Check it out! I know you will become a fan too

Life Group Tonight!

Tonight we had our life group over at Jason and Nannette's house. First off what an amazing couple they are, so real and sincere and an amazing house. Let me just say that we have the best group, all in different walks of life and fun personalities. Tonight was our turn to share from last week's message "lying". A difficult topic I know, but all in all it went well with great discussion. Tuesdays have become the new fridays in my world...

Walking Cliche'

I just realized tonight that I am a walking/talking/praying cliche'... I just took a moment to think what I said when I prayed and man was that wierd... I think I used like almost every saying I heard in school in that one prayer.... How weird? Ah whatever.... I love God>>> he is awesome....

Relevant Church Getting Busy

An interesting way to approach things. If you visit their blog website (http://blog.relevantchurch.com/)you can download their guide that they are using. I hope it works for them...

Some Q time!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having some Quality time with my wife. We decided to go to Starbucks to put together a discussion for our small group. I just love the way she thinks. She is so precise and knows how to ask the right questions. I truly adore her. I reccommend that if you do haven't met her or gotten to know her, you should!
http://www.myspace.com/jbarthelme

Pat and Oscars + Friends= Good time

Last night Jami and I planned an out to eat night with Kevin & Christi McIntosh. It was so much! We decided to go to Pat and Oscars and let me tell you, I have never had a bad experience there. Jami and I signed up for their eclub so we go a coupon for "Buy one sandwhich combo get another Sandwhich combo free" (cheap I know) but man for 8 bucks we got a lot of food. We had great conversations and afterword we decided to watch a movie over at Kevin and Christi's house. We watched "kung Pow" a spoof on kung foo movies, man it was good to laugh that hard. What a night it was. we will defintely be doing more of that.

Got my doo done!

So I decided it was time to get my hair cut (tired of the shaggyness) So drive over to Great Clips or whatever and wait about 5 mins (I like that). So as the girl begins to cut my hair I suppose it is routine to strike up a conversation. She was very nice and polite. For some reason I have a difficult time talking when there are scissors or clippers by my head. As soon as I feel like I should respond I think of the worst possible thing that could happen.... oooops I just shaved off the back of your head... or oops I think I got your ear..... Yikes.... man I got problems!!

Big Bang Toast of the town!

I found this article on relevant magazine. It's about a man in England who claimed his toast depicted the "big bang". The only thing I ever found in my breakfest was the word "wow" from my alphabets cereal.
How easily we are amused....

Blah!

Life from inside the blinds
exposes only the space to which they are opened
so that in those spaces you may find
the sequence to the things left in their places

The Warmth provided by the rays
is only limited by the clarity of the outlook
so that in the cold we may find
that blanket of Son and everlasting sleep.

The day before Valentines!

It was on Feb. 13 2006, it was a glorious day for it was the day that I asked Jami to be with me forevermore. Of course I wanted things to be a lot different so she took me out to eat and to the movies(The Family Stone) . All the while I was planning on having a friend to meet us at the spot (Corona Del Mar Beach). It was perfect, the night sky was clear and full of stars (a wee bit nippy). And it was there, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me and she said,"Are you Serious?". Not the exact answer I was looking for but she said she would be mine. Oh happy day!

Amazazing!

You gotta check this out!!

Hillbilly's Ten Commandments

Maybe this is the way to teach the 10 Commandments today! Maybe then people would 'get it'.




Tennessee Ten Commandments

Some people in Tennessee have trouble with all those 'shall's' and 'shall not's' in the Ten commandments. Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms.. So, some folks in middle Tennessee got together and translated the 'King James' into 'Jackson County' language..... no joke, read on...

The Hillbilly's Ten Commandments (posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro, TN)


(1) Just one God
(2) Put nothin' before God
(3) Watch yer mouth
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa
(6) No killin'
(7) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal
(8) Don't take what ain't yers
(9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff
Now that's kinda plain an' simple, don't ya think? Y'all have a nice day.

Have you ever...?

Something that happened yesterday inspired me to blog this....
have you ever....?

1. Have you ever been somewhere and it is really loud, so you are raising your voice to talk and all of the sudden the it gets quiet but you keep talking at the same volume?

2. Have you ever said "your mom" as a comeback to a person who's mom just died?

3. Have you ever thought it was safe to pass gas knowing full well there was no one around and then someone comes into your office or room? (and it always seem to smell so much more than usual)

4. Have you ever made a really rude comment while the windows are rolled down not paying attention that anyone could probably hear you?

5. Have you ever been to a wedding and got caught up in dancing silly and then felt really embarrassed after thinking about it?

6. (inspired by yesterday) Have you ever been a place to eat and commented on a certain meal or food that you thought was really gross only to notice that the person at the next table was eating that food/meal? And they obviously heard you...

7. Have you ever put on a dark blue navy sock and a black sock thinking that they were matching only to find that they are not so you do everything possible so no one will notice?

well I know who.... Me

enjoy!!

Silence of a cynic.

I often find myself looking for things to critique. To expose some legitimate observation of what I feel would work or what I feel I see is lacking in substance. My wife said to me last night, "you have a lot to say about everything", to which I thought, "gee thanks!". Then I realized I became that guy. You know, that guy that as an opinion about anything and everything. Not to say he doesn't know what he is talking about, it is just different.
I don't know when I became this person. Somewhere between when I left the Church I was working for and when I graduated school. Something within that frame of time I became the CYNIC. I do not claim to know everything, but I feel I have a lot to say whether it be of merit or not. I just like to be in discussion about various norms/practices.
God is doing a tremendous work within me. and that is all I have to say about that!

"Margin"incapability

Interesting study I read about how people who are sad will spend more/unwisely. Makes sense considering anyone who is sad/down in the dumps wants to make themselves feel or at least appeart to be better. The study by which they used is a little confusing but very thought provoking. So next time you are down in the dumps, remember to keep that margin. Or else you will have more (literally) to be sad about (e.g. Debt, buyer's remorse).

I have no money too spend so that makes me sad thus makes me want something new. There is a complex for you.
If I'm down and out I always look for music... A new Cd that express my disappointment/emotion/emotionless state.

New Life as come Forth!

My sister Joanna delivered her second child last night. She gave birth to a wopping 9 lb 14oz boy (Brady Reynolds). Let us rejoice in this most glorious day!

The Tides are turning red

I just read this interesting article about born again Christians that no longer favor just Republican Candidates. While Evangelicals remain mostly on the conservative spectrum, I am glad to see that perhaps people are taking a better look at the issues (or maybe Bush caused them to turn away, I don't know?). I suppose on some grand scheme that it is a popularity vote and lets be honest who is on the Republican side? But on the serious, I think it is time for Evangelicals to constructively critique the reason why they vote. There are so many important issues to think about from both sides, not just the side with what we/I think is best for this country. Thats my two cents. Peace like a river!

check it out for yourself:
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=291

Invocation

O' Lord, the house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that thou mayest enter in. It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases thy sight; I confess it, I know. But who shall clense it, or to whom shall I cry but unto thee? Cleanse thy servant from strange sins.
- St. Augustine

Renovate

Renovate: To restore to a previous or better state; Make brighter or prettier; Give new life or engergy to.

I am vivified in my pursuit of the things that life has to offer. So as I begin I would like to invite anyone and everyone to join in this pursuit.