Yes, that couch is older than I am. But, Heidi loves it and won’t let us part with it.

What were your favorite commercials? Me…Google and the Letterman and Leno one.

• Bob Dylan
• Bruce Springsteen
• Ben Harper
• Tim Reynolds
• Eddie Vedder
• Van Morrison
• Colbie Caillat
• KT Tunstall
• Alabama
• Randy Travis
• Waylan Jennings
• Johnny Cash
• Sara Bareilles
• Neil Young
  
• Jason Mraz
• Avett Brothers
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Fleetwood Mac
• Norah Jones
• AND anything from that Hope for Haiti concert*
  

What I am looking for are Christian artists with similar sounds. Now, we don’t need to have some debate on “What is Christian music?” I get it. I will still listen to the above. Most of their lyrics aren’t that bad. They just don’t “say” much of anything. (Now Johnny and Randy Travis could already be on both lists). But I am looking for some Christian music with a little melancholy and grit like the Boss. Something beyond the P & W sound of most things out there. Not just loud, just something unique. Or coffee house gals or . . .

Does it exist?

*on that concert…The songs seem to touch everyone, sweeping, lyrical, moving. Did you notice how many of them hint at faith and God and Christian themes. People are always drawn back to it. But, I notice “Hallelujah” and “Like a Prayer” and “Halo” and songs like that only have minor hints of truth. If you really listen to the lyrics they are so far from truth/God. The hope is in people or symbolism or themselves. Saying the word prayer isn’t enough. In some ways it is actually sad. The songs in the end say nothing…

I look at a lot of reviews. Of books. Of Movies. Of the new Ipad. Whatever. I like reviews. I like to read them by people I trust all the way to others I don’t know. But the ones I trust, well, I value their opinion. And, yes, you know what…it influences my opinion.

But, you will then invariably get the counter of “Have you read/scene/held it?” No I haven’t. “Well then your opinion doesn’t matter and you are uninformed,” they will scoff. Really?

I was thinking about this this morning. (yes two this’s’s…) Anyways. If someone tells you that the milk is spoiled. Do you trust them? Or must you try it yourself first. You know. Just to make sure. I say that is foolish.

So if someone I trust says a book or movie or song is rubbish, I don’t feel the need to “try it for myself” just to prove they were right.

And you?

Another thing I like is carpentry, building things and painted furniture. So without you thinking I am too “crafty” I am going to link to a crazy gal’s site, with a pretty cool paint job on a thrift store china cabinet.

Sometimes you just have to go for it and not worry about it being an “antique,” or what will the neighbors think, or whatever. If it is something you will like and enjoy in your house . . . go for it. See beyond what it looks like at the thrift store, garage sale or on your neighbors lawn on your city’s trash pickup day, (ie, our current set of dining room chairs…and yes I did reapolster them, that is how I roll…even if I can’t spell reaploster and I am not going to google it) see what it will look like in your living room.

So enjoy.

Oh, and I forgot. When you get over there you will see they had to rent a uhaul. Well, I have a truck. So there. Not too crafty.

“Transparency has become disconnected from intimacy”

“I suspect, however, that some Internet exhibitionists are simply lonely.”

Read it all here.

What do we teach our kids all the time?

Be gentle, share, be nice, don’t hit, don’t take things, don’t steal anything, what would Jesus do, etc… All good things of course, but then comes sports.

Isaac just had his first basketball game over the weekend and on the way home Heidi and I were laughing at the irony of what we teach at home and then what is expected of them on the court or field or whatever. As you can see from the pict above Isaac (in green) wasn’t quite sure why the boy kept stealing the ball from him (over and over). That isn’t Christlike is it? I mean at home that would result in the lose of Wii privileges.

Basically when it comes to athletics your kid should do everything opposite of what you have been teaching.

Since it will most likely be a shorter session outside I have some “frostbite specials.” Email or call me and lets set something up.

This 2009-2010 Kansas City winter has been wild. Snow, snow, snow everywhere.

Jesus is always controversial.

More on this here.