If you have a few minutes...

Take a listen to Pastor Phil's sermon from this past Sunday. I'm endorsing it.

And I slept through it....

Small earthquake in the greater 'burg area last night. I didn't notice. However, I noticed that I had drooled on my pillow. Coincidence?

Unfortunately no. That's what I get when I sleep on my side with my mouth open. Earthquake details here.

Places I'd like to visit (International Version)

In no particular order:

1. Paris, FR
2. Auckland, NZ
3. Oberammagau, DE (for the Passion Play)
4. Calgary, CA
5. Rome, IT
6. Tokyo, JP

Bono talks about your soul

In the New York Times, no less. Link here.

Picture Day II

I'm trying to keep my camera in the car more often so that I can capture random stuff I see that's worth capturing. Like this:



If you haven't heard, the internet is all abuzz about how a certain celebrity has challenged a certain world-wide Cable News Network in a little contest to see who can be the first to acquire one million "followers." Needless to say, I was very suprised to see this billboard in one of the local towns. I didn't think that the 17055 was a part of the pop culture scene. But I guess if you have the money to spend...

Picture Day I

I haven't posted anything about this, but has anyone heard about this:

Look familiar? No? Look closer at the vertical lettering:

This my friends, is the Mountain Dew Throwback. And it is the first time Mountain Dew I've had in probably three years. Some of you may be noticing that this is not the current Mountain Dew logo. You would be correct. This is the old logo which is being brought back for a very brief period of time. But the biggest deal of all, is the fact that like the old label, the stuff inside the bottle is the old Mountain Dew, before high fructose corn syrup. This beverage is sweetened with sugar. Just sugar.

Pepsi is also releasing a throwback version of it's flagship Pepsi soda with an older style label (sadly, not the classy round one that I like the best). Look for both in local retailers by April 20th.

Places I'd like to visit (Domestic Version)

1. Portland, OR
2. Minneapolis, MN (specifically, the State Fair)
3. Salt Lake City, UT
4. Birmingham, AL
5. Savannah, GA
6. Austin, TX

What I learned this Lenten season

I learned a few things this Lenten season which I'd like to share with you. All of these came as a result of me reading the Bible.

The first thing I noticed was how direct that Jesus was with his disciples. In reading through what He shared with His disciples at the Last Supper, he didn't mince words. Consider these words from Luke 21:

You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me.

Note that he didn't say "You MAY be betrayed" or "All men MIGHT hate you." He uses the word "will," letting the disciples know straight-up that the road ahead for them will be painful. I found this incredibly insightful and I wondered paid much attention to that fact.

The other thing I learned was that a familiar miracle to me actually occurred between the resurrection and the ascension. I'm speaking of the miracle where the disciples are out fishing in the boat, and not catching anything. Jesus tells them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat. But they don't know it's Jesus. They do what He asks and are overwhelmed by the fish that they catch. Immediately, they realize who gave them the instruction and are overwhelmed with joy (for the full story, read John 21). I thought this miracle occurred much earlier in His ministry.

Did you learn anything this Lenten season?

O death, where is your sting?

"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf of spring-time"
-Martin Luther

Reading between the events

I have to admit that I've never paid much attention to The Last Supper. I am aware of it's significance and what took place there, but I'm more aware of the events that took place as opposed to the words that were said.

I've been learning over the past couple of days that Jesus said a lot. A Lot. If you have some time, start at John 13, which opens with the meal and foot-washing (which most folks are familiar with) and read through chapter 17. Chapter 18 starts with the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane. But really look at the words that Jesus gave to his disciples in those five chapters. I'm discovering that some of the most well-known statements made from Jesus occurred on this very night.

Here'a s link if you want to read these chapters online.

The words of Luke..

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As
he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of
Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the
village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied
there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If
anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs
it.' " Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told
them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are
you untying the colt?" They replied, "The Lord needs it." They brought
it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he
went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near
the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole
crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all
the miracles they had seen:
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in
heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd
said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he
replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." As he
approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If
you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you
peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you
when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle
you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground,
you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone
on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to
you."

A Football Related Note.....

If the Redskins dump Jason Campbell for Jay Cutler, I am going to be a
very disappointed fan.