Category: Stuff (Page 13 of 65)

Tagged: Part I

07/11/2007 / Blake

Rick tagged me, and I must reply….that’s how life works.

The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Any time my daughters have thrown up on a person, it’s always been me. Always. I don’t know if I attract that sort of stuff or if they feel comfortable emptying their stomach on me or what.
Tonight I’m going to go see Evan Almighty. I’ve heard it’s really good. Looking forward to it. Not been to a movie theater in a while.
I’ve been married now for over eight years. When I was eight I didn’t think I’d ever get married.
I need sleep but wish I didn’t. If I didn’t need sleep I’d read more books, learn more skills, watch more movies, exercise more, pray more, have more projects, maybe make extra money, and have to cut my hair more often.
I enjoy online communities. I’ve created one once before. I have a project now in mind.
I’ve recently started having some hands on time with a Mac. And now my next computer I buy will be a Mac. Either an iMac or a MacBook.
I think one of the best feelings is brushing your teeth with a brand new toothbrush.
I’ll always be a MSU Bulldog fan no matter where I live.

There…I’ll add tags later.

Well, sad to say that I’ve been under cover lately, it seems. I’ve had TONS of stuff in my head. I’ve been reading, listening, praying, being quite, and all kinds of stuff. And through all that I think my head has been really crammed with stuff, but also quite clear too…if that makes any sense.

But since we last caught up, I’ve had a busy life:

Went to Camp Lake Stephens for Camp Rainbow just outside of Oxford. CLS is such a part of my own history and faith journey. God matured me in a lot of ways there, and even introduced me to my future wife there. The Wife and I were able to take a few high school students over to volunteer for the week. I think everyone should volunteer for Camp Rainbow at CLS at some point in their life (I did it for seven and want to go back sometime!)
Got to attend The Orchard Oxford while in town. A good friend, Pat Ward (I mentioned him here once before), is the pastor of this church plant. It’s being planted by The Orchard in Tupelo. The Wife and I have a good history with the church and its people. The pastor of the Tupelo church even married us.
Got to see many friends, some planned, some unexpected while there. Always good times.
My dad took our girls for the week! He lives about 30 minutes from CLS. So we had no kids for a week.
Therefore our Fourth of July consisted of sleeping late, playing tennis, then watching it rain the rest of the day and night.
Went back to get the girls and visit with family in town from Virginia. I saw cousins I’d not seen since nine years ago. That was pretty crazy, but really good. Everyone is grown and married now. I got their emails. Now I gotta make sure to keep up contacts with them.
Brought the girls home, then realized my dad has strep throat. And now Addie does too. Fun times!
It is so nice to get a few days break w/o the girls. But it’s so great to have them back.

So…did you miss me?

[tags]Camp Lake Stephens, Camp Rainbow, The Orchard[/tags]

Feast One Hundred & Forty Nine

06/22/2007 / Blake

Appetizer
Name a funny habit you have.
I like to eat Cap’n Crunch with every meal.

Soup
If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?
Probably guitar. That way I could wow some people w/ my new skill. And maybe even fill in some Sunday nights when we don’t have someone to lead worship.

Salad
How long is your hair?
I keep it short in the warmer months. So much that I started shaving it w/ clippers last summer. It’s easy and cheap.

Main Course
When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?
Eh, it happens daily. And I think people forgive me daily.

Dessert
What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
The freezer. It keeps my ice cream from melting…

BigStuf Camp and Student Life Camp

06/14/2007 / Blake

Matt Jackson asked me my thoughts on comparing Student Life summer camps and BigStuf summer camps.

I’ll start off by saying that I think that both are top notch organizations and you can’t really go wrong with either. I’ve carried groups a bunch of times to the Student Life Tour and never was disappointed. And one year we went to the Student Life camp at Covenant College. With BigStuf I went as a college leader back in 1994, and then I’ve carried a group of my own every year since 1997.

Again, you can’t go wrong if you’re trying to decide between the two. BUT…if I was having to choose between the two, I’d probably choose BigStuf (I guess I have since I’ve gone 10 years in a row!) But here are a few thoughts:

I think BigStuf is the best combination of teaching, worship, and fun. It’s located right on the beach @ Panama City Beach with lots to do literally right out side the door of your room. With Student Life, their camps are spread out all over the country in some really good locations. It was beautiful on top of Lookout Mountain when we went.
The schedule at BigStuf is a lot more relaxed than the schedule at StudentLife. At Student Life breakfast starts at 6:45 vs. 7:30 at BigStuf. And BigStuf breakfast is not mandatory. Most of my students go, but not all. Also the first “meeting” of the day is 9:15 at BigStuf vs. 8:15 at Student Life.
There is more free time at BigStuf as far as the afternoons. But this year our “free time” was full of the tournaments our church was involved in. We did quite well in Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, and Basketball. But that was our “rec” time. At Student Life, there are scheduled recreation times where everyone participates. And afternoon free time seemed much shorter.
At Student Life there were quiet times in the morning w/ your youth group where they were more individual times in the afternoon at BigStuf. I see the value in both of these…
Each camp has a time for your church group scheduled in there.
Student Life has the kids split up in to “Family Groups”. BigStuf does not. I think it’s kinda cool that Student Life does that. And they have adults from church groups to lead these. Cool stuff.
Both camps have good teachers and worship leaders. I’ve actually seen some of the same teachers and worship leaders be at both camps during the same summer even.
Randy Hall and Lanny Donoho are both visionary leaders w/ a great camp. Both guys have done exceptionally well with what God’s built through their efforts.
Student Life does seem to be a little cheaper, but not tons.
I’m not sure about all of them, but I notice that at some of the Student Life Beach Camps you have to drive to and from the meeting place and the hotel. At BigStuf…it’s all w/in a few hundred yards.

Anyway, I think they both have the edge in different departments. One thing Matt asked about was the Mission Experience that Student Life has in some of its camps. BigStuf does not have that as a part of their program, so they’re absent of that.

And I don’t want it to sound like I like BigStuf better just because there is more free time and you can sleep a little later (though it is nice). But the one year I was a Student Life, the overall schedule seemed a little too tight. Like you were always moving from one thing to the next w/ hardly a break. But some people really like this because it wears the kids out and they go to sleep more quickly at night!

But … either way you go, you can’t go wrong. Both are being used by God to touch the lives of both students AND adults!

Hotel, Hotel. You so fly!

06/01/2007 / Blake

This is one of the most hilarious videos I’ve seen in quite a while.

Done by some of the guys out at Saddleback.

Time for a new camera…

05/26/2007 / Blake

When I was really young, my dad went to work in South Dakota for a year. So he bought a camera while he was away to take pictures of all the pretty landscapes up there (ha ha!) But when he came back I wore that big Canon SLR around my neck as if it were my favorite necklace. I took lots of photos. And wasn’t it great that you had to buy film and pay to have it developed back then?

Later on in middle school he got me a little Canon point and shoot. I used it a lot. Wore it out. But when I was in high school I decided I wanted to step up w/ the big boys. So the summer after my sophomore year in high school I mowed yards and pulled weeds for a lawn care service. I saved most all of my money and bought myself a camera just as school started. Had to use my grandmother’s credit card for it and everything!

I started taking pictures for the school yearbook and the local newspaper. I did almost all of my schools sporting events. And I loved doing it. Even got to learn darkroom techniques. I became known as the “Picture Man.” I’d take photos on Friday nights at football games, then develop them first part of the week. And then I’d bring them to school and watch people ohh and ahh over them. Made me feel good. I knew that was my creation from start to finish.

But life moved on. I used it a little more while working in Amory. But everything w/ newspapers was moving Digital and I didn’t have that. But now I want back in the game!

We just bought Continue reading

Friday’s Feast #144

05/18/2007 / Blake

Feast Number One Forty Four

Appetizer
List 3 emotions you experienced this week.
Shock, happiness, confusion

Soup
Name a car you’d love to have.
The Volkswagen Passat
Salad
Describe your typical morning routine.
Get up, get the girls some breakfast and eat with them, get a shower and then dress. Then go to work.

Main Course
Have you ever emailed someone famous? If so, who, and what did you say to them? Did they reply?
Not sure what famous means…but probably not.

Dessert
Do you listen to podcasts? If so, which ones?
Heck yes. The Village Church, Relevant Magazine, Simply Youth Ministry, Mars Hill Bible Church, The Official LOST Podcast, Jay and Jack, Kidd Kraddick In The Morning, Coffee Break Spanish.

Friday’s Feast #143

05/11/2007 / Blake

Feast Number One Hundred and Forty Three

Appetizer
Tell about a time when you had to be brave.
When I was in a wreck back in high school and had to call the parents of some girls that were in my car to tell them about the wreck.

Soup
Which upcoming movie are you excited about seeing?
Live Free or Die Hard

Salad
Name an item you try to always have on hand.
My cell phone or my wallet.

Main Course
Imagine the most relaxing room you can think of. Now describe it!
Either on the beach or in the mountains. But with lots of windows. Some fluffy cushions. Some cinnamon roles baking. Listening to Explosions In The Sky.

Dessert
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest), how spiritual or religious are you?
8

Fridays’ Feast #142

05/04/2007 / Blake

Feast Number One Forty Two

Appetizer
Name something you would not want to own.
A chihuahua. I hate those dogs

Soup
Describe your hair (texture, color, length, etc.).
I’ve been cutting it myself lately w/ some clippers. So it’s short and dark.

Salad
Finish this sentence: I’ll never forget ___________.
The day I saw my 2nd daughter born in the passenger seat of our Ford Explorer.

Main Course
Which famous person would you like to be for one day? Why?
Steve Jobs. So I could go ahead and see if the iPhone is worth all the hype.

Dessert
Write one sentence about yourself that includes one thing that is true and another thing that is not.
I’m about to go to the gym because I love it so much!

Advent Conspiracy

05/04/2007 / Blake

The last few Christmases have been kinda weird. I guess it’s sorta the same as it’s always been. But the last minute rushing around trying to find a few presents for people that you hardly ever see. Presents that you know they probably won’t like, but you gotta check their name off the list. And you know there are people somewhere checking your name off a list getting something they don’t really think you’ll like (and you’re not expecting fireworks when you open that box either.)

But Rick McKinley and friends up at Imago Dei in Portland came up with Advent Conspiracy. Seems intriguing:

“What if this Christmas your family, your friends, your church entered the story of Christmas and celebrated the birth of Christ in a way that was accurate, prophetic and transformative personally and globally. Could this baby that was born over 2000 years ago lead to something that dramatic today? We think so.

What if Jesus came to earth today? Would it change the way we celebrated his birth? Would we still be overwhelmed by holiday consumerism? Would we continue to be content to just sing about him on Sunday and shop for ourselves throughout the week? Would it still be simply a nice story of the birth of God among us? Or would it radically change the way the church lived out the reign of God among us in a consumeristic culture?”

Very interested to see what comes of this.
(ht to Sikora)