Today marks a big day for me because the notebook that I use for my personal journal got filled up last night and I am breaking in a new one. I looked over some things from the past in the book, and I realized how much I have changed and grown over the year. I started keeping the journal in June of 2008 and filled it up by July of 2009. So tonight, I will begin writing in a new notebook.
Another option I am considering, in lieu of the road trip, is going to a Young Life camp as an intern for the entire summer. That's possibly the best option because there will be a road trip involved as I'll likely try to work at a camp in Colorado or Oregon, but I'll also get paid for the summer to do something I love. So we'll see. I'm not usually one to plan ahead, but for whatever reason next summer is all I can think of right now. Which is weird because this has been one of the best summers yet.
We shall see.
<3 chanchan
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wanderlust
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Wanderlust - A strong desire to travel
Finally my time in Oxford has a definitive end date. May 31, 2010, my lease in the fine city of Oxford, Mississippi will be up and I'll be moving on, and lately I've been thinking about what I'll be doing when that day rolls around. Right now my plan is to try to go to seminary or go on Young Life staff, but neither of those would start until August/September of 2010. So that leaves roughly two months to do pretty much whatever. As it stands I'll probably just move back home, but the more I think about it, the more I realize I want to travel.
The more I think about it, the more I realize there are just places I want to see and things I want to do. I have a decent amount of money saved up and I can really make this happen. I've been thinking and praying about it a decent amount and I mean...when am I going to get another chance to do that? I mean I may get a week here or there, but to really, actually get out and see the country on my own time with no other responsibilities other than being home by September? That won't happen again in my entire life. So why not?
So here's what I want to do:
-(Optional) Buy an International Harvester Scout. Preferably a Scout II, but any one of them would be fine.
-Load up the vehicle, hopefully said Scout II, and hit I-20 and drive until I got to the Grand Canyon. I have no idea how long this would take, because I'd like to stop and visit friends along the way, but eventually make it to the Grand Canyon. I've never seen Arizona and want to. That drive would also cover Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico. Even though I've already seen all of those states, it would be good to go back. (1,657 miles - 1 day, 5 hours)
-Post-Grand Canyon, I want to make the drive over to San Diego. I want to see that city for some reason, and if I did it in the summer I could catch a baseball game. That actually would be something I'd try to plan my travel times around. After San Diego, I want to drive up the PCH as far as I can. (526 miles - 10 hours, 28 minutes)
-Post-San Diego/PCH/various California hot spots, I want to keep driving north to Portland. The beginning of my trip would involve an e-mail to Donald Miller telling him what I was planning on doing and asking him if he wanted to hang out when I get there. I'm sure he'd be down for it because he wrote a book about doing the same thing. Also, this trip is partly inspired by Through Painted Deserts. (1,082 miles - 16 hours, 32 minutes)
-Post-Portland, I'd drive on up to the Seattle area and visit friends. (176 miles - 2 hours, 49 minutes)
-Post-Seattle, I want to see Mount Rushmore. This drive would cover Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. (1,184 miles - 17 hours, 16 minutes)
-Post-Rushmore, who knows? Looking at the map, the possibilities are endless. The only problem is that I'm back in a part of the country I'm familiar with. So maybe head south to Colorado? Denver is nice that time of year, plus the Rockies are there. Why not? (390 miles - 6 hours, 26 minutes)
-Post-Denver, let's go to Kansas City. The Royals suck, but it's still baseball. (601 miles - 8 hours, 41 minutes)
-Post-KC, I'd head to St. Louis and check out a Cardinals game. (249 miles - 3 hours, 50 minutes)
-At this point, I'm back in familiar territory. I'd probably just take I-55 south until I got home. (504 miles - 7 hours, 32 minutes)
So that would be a rough itinerary of my dream trip. It would be roughly 17 states (including passing through Arkansas and Tennessee) and cover over 6,000 miles. Roughly 105 hours of driving (my math could be way off). And who knows? Maybe I'd head farther east too.
I don't know. I don't know if any of this ever materializes, but this is something I've been thinking of a TON. This is obviously a work in progress and a lot depends on what happens in these next several months and what I wind up doing in the fall. Obviously, with me, things can change. But for whatever reason this is what I'm thinking about a lot lately.
This is insane. Hopefully it happens.
<3 chanchan
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Wanderlust - A strong desire to travel
Finally my time in Oxford has a definitive end date. May 31, 2010, my lease in the fine city of Oxford, Mississippi will be up and I'll be moving on, and lately I've been thinking about what I'll be doing when that day rolls around. Right now my plan is to try to go to seminary or go on Young Life staff, but neither of those would start until August/September of 2010. So that leaves roughly two months to do pretty much whatever. As it stands I'll probably just move back home, but the more I think about it, the more I realize I want to travel.
The more I think about it, the more I realize there are just places I want to see and things I want to do. I have a decent amount of money saved up and I can really make this happen. I've been thinking and praying about it a decent amount and I mean...when am I going to get another chance to do that? I mean I may get a week here or there, but to really, actually get out and see the country on my own time with no other responsibilities other than being home by September? That won't happen again in my entire life. So why not?
So here's what I want to do:
-(Optional) Buy an International Harvester Scout. Preferably a Scout II, but any one of them would be fine.
-Load up the vehicle, hopefully said Scout II, and hit I-20 and drive until I got to the Grand Canyon. I have no idea how long this would take, because I'd like to stop and visit friends along the way, but eventually make it to the Grand Canyon. I've never seen Arizona and want to. That drive would also cover Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico. Even though I've already seen all of those states, it would be good to go back. (1,657 miles - 1 day, 5 hours)
-Post-Grand Canyon, I want to make the drive over to San Diego. I want to see that city for some reason, and if I did it in the summer I could catch a baseball game. That actually would be something I'd try to plan my travel times around. After San Diego, I want to drive up the PCH as far as I can. (526 miles - 10 hours, 28 minutes)
-Post-San Diego/PCH/various California hot spots, I want to keep driving north to Portland. The beginning of my trip would involve an e-mail to Donald Miller telling him what I was planning on doing and asking him if he wanted to hang out when I get there. I'm sure he'd be down for it because he wrote a book about doing the same thing. Also, this trip is partly inspired by Through Painted Deserts. (1,082 miles - 16 hours, 32 minutes)
-Post-Portland, I'd drive on up to the Seattle area and visit friends. (176 miles - 2 hours, 49 minutes)
-Post-Seattle, I want to see Mount Rushmore. This drive would cover Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. (1,184 miles - 17 hours, 16 minutes)
-Post-Rushmore, who knows? Looking at the map, the possibilities are endless. The only problem is that I'm back in a part of the country I'm familiar with. So maybe head south to Colorado? Denver is nice that time of year, plus the Rockies are there. Why not? (390 miles - 6 hours, 26 minutes)
-Post-Denver, let's go to Kansas City. The Royals suck, but it's still baseball. (601 miles - 8 hours, 41 minutes)
-Post-KC, I'd head to St. Louis and check out a Cardinals game. (249 miles - 3 hours, 50 minutes)
-At this point, I'm back in familiar territory. I'd probably just take I-55 south until I got home. (504 miles - 7 hours, 32 minutes)
So that would be a rough itinerary of my dream trip. It would be roughly 17 states (including passing through Arkansas and Tennessee) and cover over 6,000 miles. Roughly 105 hours of driving (my math could be way off). And who knows? Maybe I'd head farther east too.
I don't know. I don't know if any of this ever materializes, but this is something I've been thinking of a TON. This is obviously a work in progress and a lot depends on what happens in these next several months and what I wind up doing in the fall. Obviously, with me, things can change. But for whatever reason this is what I'm thinking about a lot lately.
This is insane. Hopefully it happens.
<3 chanchan
Saturday, July 4, 2009
It's Been A While...
I've been thinking for a while I needed to update this thing. Every so often, a profound thought will hit and I'll be like "oh, I should write about this" and then I just don't. But today, on Independence Day, I've actually got some free time for the first time in a while so I figured why not.
Quick recap - working 2 jobs. One at a place called MulchEZ, the other at Lovelady Property Management. I don't do a whole lot at either one so it's pretty cool. Moving into a new house here pretty soon. Got a dog.
OK, that's the basic stuff. Lately, though, I've found my relationship with Christ to be perhaps the healthiest it has ever been. As I look back over the year that was, and I'm using last July 4th as a reference, I can see how several experiences I've had have prepared me for the current situation I'm in. And several verses have been playing through in my mind over and over again. The first has been a recurring theme for me:
Jeremiah 29:11-14:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD...
This just rings so true in my life right now. A year ago, when I was crushed to find out I wasn't going to get to move to Washington, when I was in the middle of some situations that really sucked, and when I was maybe as depressed and sad as I've ever been, God knew the plans he had for me and he has been so faithful to help me realize that. And that leads into the next verse I've been thinking about a lot:
Phillipians 1:6:
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
I think about this verse in the context of the last 6 years. It's unbelievable to think that I'm still here, in Oxford, after all this time, it's unbelievable to look back at the work God has done in Oxford, and it's unbelievable to think that he would have chosen me to do a lot of it. Whether it has been through Young Life or just my personal life, I can honestly say that nothing is the same as when I came in as a freshman in 2003, and it has nothing to do with anything I did. A lot of this is just now starting to settle in, because for the first time I have a definite end point for my tenure in Oxford - May 2010. My lease is up and I'm moving on. I don't know where yet, but I feel like the Oxford chapter of my life is coming to a close. In the past, I probably would have freaked out about leaving and moving on, but God has proven himself trustworthy time and again over these last 6-7 years and I have no doubt that He will do it again.
Finally, I feel like I want to list out the music I've been listening to lately because I can't remember a time I was more into music than I am right now, both playing and listening:
Act Of Congress
The Avett Brothers
Blitzen Trapper
Fleet Foxes
Five Iron Frenzy (as always...)
Old Crow Medicine Show
Anyways, that's all for now. I'll probably write again in like 3 months and I'll be the only person to read it again, but hey, I like writing!
-Chandler
Quick recap - working 2 jobs. One at a place called MulchEZ, the other at Lovelady Property Management. I don't do a whole lot at either one so it's pretty cool. Moving into a new house here pretty soon. Got a dog.
OK, that's the basic stuff. Lately, though, I've found my relationship with Christ to be perhaps the healthiest it has ever been. As I look back over the year that was, and I'm using last July 4th as a reference, I can see how several experiences I've had have prepared me for the current situation I'm in. And several verses have been playing through in my mind over and over again. The first has been a recurring theme for me:
Jeremiah 29:11-14:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD...
This just rings so true in my life right now. A year ago, when I was crushed to find out I wasn't going to get to move to Washington, when I was in the middle of some situations that really sucked, and when I was maybe as depressed and sad as I've ever been, God knew the plans he had for me and he has been so faithful to help me realize that. And that leads into the next verse I've been thinking about a lot:
Phillipians 1:6:
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
I think about this verse in the context of the last 6 years. It's unbelievable to think that I'm still here, in Oxford, after all this time, it's unbelievable to look back at the work God has done in Oxford, and it's unbelievable to think that he would have chosen me to do a lot of it. Whether it has been through Young Life or just my personal life, I can honestly say that nothing is the same as when I came in as a freshman in 2003, and it has nothing to do with anything I did. A lot of this is just now starting to settle in, because for the first time I have a definite end point for my tenure in Oxford - May 2010. My lease is up and I'm moving on. I don't know where yet, but I feel like the Oxford chapter of my life is coming to a close. In the past, I probably would have freaked out about leaving and moving on, but God has proven himself trustworthy time and again over these last 6-7 years and I have no doubt that He will do it again.
Finally, I feel like I want to list out the music I've been listening to lately because I can't remember a time I was more into music than I am right now, both playing and listening:
Act Of Congress
The Avett Brothers
Blitzen Trapper
Fleet Foxes
Five Iron Frenzy (as always...)
Old Crow Medicine Show
Anyways, that's all for now. I'll probably write again in like 3 months and I'll be the only person to read it again, but hey, I like writing!
-Chandler
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The Week That Was
Let's recap the week. Because it may have been the best ever.
Monday: I studied for a while because I actually had a test I was worried about. Borderline between a C and D so I needed to do well. So I studied for quite a while. The Silver Dollar City people called and set up a time to close out my Worker's Compensation case and told me I'd most likely be getting a check for $1,600 or so.
Tuesday: Worker's Comp conference call. Apparently when they said $1,600, they meant $5,000. Then I took the test. It was one of those where I knew I studied hard for it but honestly felt like it could have gone either way. But I walked out feeling confident about what happened, so that was that. Then I started to get ready for Wednesday, which happened to be one of the biggest days ever. I was super nervous going to bed because so much seemed to hinge on Wednesday. I spent some time reflecting on Phillipians 4:4-7:
-"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Also, I read and reflected on Jeremiah 29:10-14:
-"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me a with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."
The interesting thing about these two passages is that "peace that surpasses all understanding" and "welfare" are pretty much the same thing. The original word here, at least according to my ESV study bible, is shalom. The footnote for Jer. 29:7 says that shalom covers all aspects of peace and plenty. So, as it is written here, it's like the prophet is saying "guys, I know you don't have any hope right now, but take faith in this - God has a plan, one for your future, so even though it's not looking so good right now, take heart." When the people have no reason to feel peace, God promises them He is in control, and they can take heart knowing that. That's definitely the effect it had on me.
Wednesday: Woke up, took my second test. I didn't study at all for it because all I had to do was make better than a 9 out of 105 to pass the class. I did much better than that. Then I got a job, so I get to live in Oxford for a while. Spent the afternoon and evening with some good friends, and had a GREAT night that culminated in the first ever Ole Miss flash rave in the library, which truly had to be a top 5 moment ever at Ole Miss. Top 5 in no particular order - LSU game, 2003; Ole Miss vs. LSU basketball - Valentine's Day game, 2007; Double Decker, 2009; Double Decker, 2005; flash rave, 2009.
Thursday: First day of post-college freedom. Sat around and did nothing.
Friday: See Thursday. Besides watching the most disappointing baseball game in history, it was a great day. Saw the new Star Trek, it was fantastic, and I'm not even a Trekkie. The aforementioned test that I had to do well on? 95. Officially a graduate...well, I'm not actually going to say that until the degree is in my hands. But I killed all of my classes this semester.
So all in all this has been one incredible week.
Monday: I studied for a while because I actually had a test I was worried about. Borderline between a C and D so I needed to do well. So I studied for quite a while. The Silver Dollar City people called and set up a time to close out my Worker's Compensation case and told me I'd most likely be getting a check for $1,600 or so.
Tuesday: Worker's Comp conference call. Apparently when they said $1,600, they meant $5,000. Then I took the test. It was one of those where I knew I studied hard for it but honestly felt like it could have gone either way. But I walked out feeling confident about what happened, so that was that. Then I started to get ready for Wednesday, which happened to be one of the biggest days ever. I was super nervous going to bed because so much seemed to hinge on Wednesday. I spent some time reflecting on Phillipians 4:4-7:
-"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Also, I read and reflected on Jeremiah 29:10-14:
-"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me a with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."
The interesting thing about these two passages is that "peace that surpasses all understanding" and "welfare" are pretty much the same thing. The original word here, at least according to my ESV study bible, is shalom. The footnote for Jer. 29:7 says that shalom covers all aspects of peace and plenty. So, as it is written here, it's like the prophet is saying "guys, I know you don't have any hope right now, but take faith in this - God has a plan, one for your future, so even though it's not looking so good right now, take heart." When the people have no reason to feel peace, God promises them He is in control, and they can take heart knowing that. That's definitely the effect it had on me.
Wednesday: Woke up, took my second test. I didn't study at all for it because all I had to do was make better than a 9 out of 105 to pass the class. I did much better than that. Then I got a job, so I get to live in Oxford for a while. Spent the afternoon and evening with some good friends, and had a GREAT night that culminated in the first ever Ole Miss flash rave in the library, which truly had to be a top 5 moment ever at Ole Miss. Top 5 in no particular order - LSU game, 2003; Ole Miss vs. LSU basketball - Valentine's Day game, 2007; Double Decker, 2009; Double Decker, 2005; flash rave, 2009.
Thursday: First day of post-college freedom. Sat around and did nothing.
Friday: See Thursday. Besides watching the most disappointing baseball game in history, it was a great day. Saw the new Star Trek, it was fantastic, and I'm not even a Trekkie. The aforementioned test that I had to do well on? 95. Officially a graduate...well, I'm not actually going to say that until the degree is in my hands. But I killed all of my classes this semester.
So all in all this has been one incredible week.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Best Day Ever?
I haven't updated this thing in what feels like forever but today it feels like I should. Yesterday was possibly the most amazing day ever.
Recap:
I rolled out of bed at about 10:30 and bum around the house a little bit, got showered and headed out to the Square for Double Decker at like 11:30. Got there, met up with some great friends, and walked around for a bit, ate some good food and just hung out. That process pretty much repeated itself until like 3:30 when I walked over to the baseball game with Jess and KB. Watched an AMAZING baseball game that the Rebs pulled out in the 8th inning, so lots of drama and entertainment going on there. Then met up with some people for dinner, then Robert Randolph which was also AMAZING. One of my favorite shows ever, seriously. Then met up with more people for a little late night food action, then I crashed. Today, I wake up rested but completely sunburned due to the great weather and my Chaco tan is coming in nicely. Great day, perhaps one of the greatest days.
Recap:
I rolled out of bed at about 10:30 and bum around the house a little bit, got showered and headed out to the Square for Double Decker at like 11:30. Got there, met up with some great friends, and walked around for a bit, ate some good food and just hung out. That process pretty much repeated itself until like 3:30 when I walked over to the baseball game with Jess and KB. Watched an AMAZING baseball game that the Rebs pulled out in the 8th inning, so lots of drama and entertainment going on there. Then met up with some people for dinner, then Robert Randolph which was also AMAZING. One of my favorite shows ever, seriously. Then met up with more people for a little late night food action, then I crashed. Today, I wake up rested but completely sunburned due to the great weather and my Chaco tan is coming in nicely. Great day, perhaps one of the greatest days.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Best E-Mail Ever
Congratulations on being selected for Team 7 (forest green shirts) of the Scituate Soccer Club! My name is Michael and I have been fortunate enough to be selected to coach what I know will be a wonderful group of young ladies. Chris Mac will also be coaching and I expect the ever popular Terry to return to the sidelines. Our first game will be Saturday April 4 at 10:00AM. There will be a half hour of skills followed by a 1 hour game, so total time will be 1.5 hours. All games will be played on the fields in the front of the High School. Each player will be required to wear shin guards and cleats are recommended but not required. A ball will be provided to each player at the first meeting, and each player should bring the ball to games and practices. There is no set practice time allotted for the U8 teams, but I will convene with the coaches to determine the best time and place. If there are cancellations due to rain, all notices will be posted via the Scituate Soccer Club website, no calls will be made (though I will try to send an email). Attached is the Schedule and Code of Conduct. After listening to the head of the referees drone on for about 30 minutes on the dangers of jewelry (time which I will never get back), no player will be allowed to play with pierced ears, hairclips, etc. We used to tape the earings, but that practice is no longer acceptable. Please let me know if your child has any health issues that I need to be aware of. My home phone is 781 XXX XXXX, my cell number is 781 XXX XXXX, and I check my email frequently. According to my wife, my emails get too wordy, so for those of you read too slowly, are easily offended, or are too busy, you can stop here. For the others……
OK, here’s the real deal: Team 7 will be called Green Death. We will only acknowledge “Team 7” for scheduling and disciplinary purposes. Green Death has had a long and colorful history, and I fully expect every player and parent to be on board with the team. This is not a team, but a family (some say cult), that you belong to forever. We play fair at all times, but we play tough and physical soccer. We have some returning players who know the deal; for the others, I only expect 110% at every game and practice. We do not cater to superstars, but prefer the gritty determination of journeymen who bring their lunch pail to work every week, chase every ball and dig in corners like a Michael Vick pit bull. Unless there is an issue concerning the health of my players or inside info on the opposition, you probably don’t need to talk to me. Coach MacDonald has been designated “good guy” this year.
Some say soccer at this age is about fun and I completely agree. However, I believe winning is fun and losing is for losers. Ergo, we will strive for the “W” in each game. While we may not win every game (excuse me, I just got a little nauseated) I expect us to fight for every loose ball and play every shift as if it were the finals of the World Cup. While I spent a good Saturday morning listening to the legal liability stuff, which included a 30 minute dissertation on how we need to baby the kids and especially the refs, I was disgusted. The kids will run, they will fall, get bumps, bruises and even bleed a little. Big deal, it’s good for them (but I do hope the other team is the one bleeding). If the refs can’t handle a little criticism, then they should turn in their whistle. The sooner they figure out how to make a decision and live with the consequences the better. My heckling of the refs is actually helping them develop as people. The political correctness police are not welcome on my sidelines. America’s youth is becoming fat, lazy and non-competitive because competition is viewed as “bad”. I argue that competition is good and is important to the evolution of our species and our survival in what has become an increasingly competitive global economy and dangerous world. Second place trophies are nothing to be proud of as they serve only as a reminder that you missed your goal; their only useful purpose is as an inspiration to do that next set of reps. Do you go to a job interview and not care about winning? Don’t animals eat what they kill (and yes, someone actually kills the meat we eat too – it isn’t grown in plastic wrap)? And speaking of meat, I expect that the ladies be put on a diet of fish, undercooked red meat and lots of veggies. No junk food. Protein shakes are encouraged, and while blood doping and HGH use is frowned upon, there is no testing policy. And at the risk of stating the obvious, blue slushies are for winners.
These are my views and not necessarily the views of the league (but they should be). I recognize that my school of thought may be an ideological shift from conventional norms. But it is imperative that we all fight the good fight, get involved now and resist the urge to become sweat-xedo-wearing yuppies who sit on the sidelines in their LL Bean chairs sipping mocha-latte-half-caf-chinos while discussing reality TV and home decorating with other feeble-minded folks. I want to hear cheering, I want to hear encouragement, I want to get the team pumped up at each and every game and know they are playing for something.
Lastly, we are all cognizant of the soft bigotry that expects women and especially little girls, to be dainty and submissive; I wholeheartedly reject such drivel. My overarching goal is develop ladies who are confident and fearless, who will stand up for their beliefs and challenge the status quo. Girls who will kick butt and take names on the field, off the field and throughout their lives. I want these girls to be winners in the game of life. Who’s with me?
Go Green Death!
OK, here’s the real deal: Team 7 will be called Green Death. We will only acknowledge “Team 7” for scheduling and disciplinary purposes. Green Death has had a long and colorful history, and I fully expect every player and parent to be on board with the team. This is not a team, but a family (some say cult), that you belong to forever. We play fair at all times, but we play tough and physical soccer. We have some returning players who know the deal; for the others, I only expect 110% at every game and practice. We do not cater to superstars, but prefer the gritty determination of journeymen who bring their lunch pail to work every week, chase every ball and dig in corners like a Michael Vick pit bull. Unless there is an issue concerning the health of my players or inside info on the opposition, you probably don’t need to talk to me. Coach MacDonald has been designated “good guy” this year.
Some say soccer at this age is about fun and I completely agree. However, I believe winning is fun and losing is for losers. Ergo, we will strive for the “W” in each game. While we may not win every game (excuse me, I just got a little nauseated) I expect us to fight for every loose ball and play every shift as if it were the finals of the World Cup. While I spent a good Saturday morning listening to the legal liability stuff, which included a 30 minute dissertation on how we need to baby the kids and especially the refs, I was disgusted. The kids will run, they will fall, get bumps, bruises and even bleed a little. Big deal, it’s good for them (but I do hope the other team is the one bleeding). If the refs can’t handle a little criticism, then they should turn in their whistle. The sooner they figure out how to make a decision and live with the consequences the better. My heckling of the refs is actually helping them develop as people. The political correctness police are not welcome on my sidelines. America’s youth is becoming fat, lazy and non-competitive because competition is viewed as “bad”. I argue that competition is good and is important to the evolution of our species and our survival in what has become an increasingly competitive global economy and dangerous world. Second place trophies are nothing to be proud of as they serve only as a reminder that you missed your goal; their only useful purpose is as an inspiration to do that next set of reps. Do you go to a job interview and not care about winning? Don’t animals eat what they kill (and yes, someone actually kills the meat we eat too – it isn’t grown in plastic wrap)? And speaking of meat, I expect that the ladies be put on a diet of fish, undercooked red meat and lots of veggies. No junk food. Protein shakes are encouraged, and while blood doping and HGH use is frowned upon, there is no testing policy. And at the risk of stating the obvious, blue slushies are for winners.
These are my views and not necessarily the views of the league (but they should be). I recognize that my school of thought may be an ideological shift from conventional norms. But it is imperative that we all fight the good fight, get involved now and resist the urge to become sweat-xedo-wearing yuppies who sit on the sidelines in their LL Bean chairs sipping mocha-latte-half-caf-chinos while discussing reality TV and home decorating with other feeble-minded folks. I want to hear cheering, I want to hear encouragement, I want to get the team pumped up at each and every game and know they are playing for something.
Lastly, we are all cognizant of the soft bigotry that expects women and especially little girls, to be dainty and submissive; I wholeheartedly reject such drivel. My overarching goal is develop ladies who are confident and fearless, who will stand up for their beliefs and challenge the status quo. Girls who will kick butt and take names on the field, off the field and throughout their lives. I want these girls to be winners in the game of life. Who’s with me?
Go Green Death!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
one of my favorite things...
the other day, i was driving down the road and the jimmy eat world song kill came on my ipod. i love that song, but i haven't heard it in forever. so i listened to it a couple of times and then put on the entire album, futures, and just basked in the awesomeness of jimmy eat world. and it got me thinking about how many times that really happens. how many times am i just driving down the street and a song comes on and it takes me way back when and a whole new set of memories opens up? i love how that happens. not that i'm trying to relive high school, but some songs really do just take me back to a different time.
i don't know, this was just a blurb that i've been thinking about for a few days. it is an incredible thing - how a song can just take you to a time and place that's so much different, whether happy or sad. it's pretty freakin' cool.
i don't know, this was just a blurb that i've been thinking about for a few days. it is an incredible thing - how a song can just take you to a time and place that's so much different, whether happy or sad. it's pretty freakin' cool.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The New Year
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Anyways, about this time every year I reflect on the past year (as I was watching the NFL playoffs last Sunday, I thought to myself "man it's been a year since the Super Bowl." That's what triggered it this year...ha.) I think about what's happened and all that and wow...what a year it's been. I am literally in the very last place I thought I would be at this point. Last year over the break I was spending time up in the Seattle area and seriously considering moving up there to take a job on Young Life staff. Eventually I more or less decided to go, and was getting geared up for the seemingly impossible amount of money I had to raise. I knew God was bigger than money, though, and I knew if it was His plan for my life, then the money would come. I repeated Jeremiah 29:11 over and over and over again, and I was ready to tackle it. Then the rug was kinda pulled out from under me. I had decided to double major in Political Science and Liberal Arts. Liberal Arts consists of 3 minors, and I had chosen History, English, and Journalism. Everything was in order to graduate, or so I thought, and I went to commencement and walked and all that fun stuff. Then, two weeks later, I got a call saying I didn't actually graduate and I had to come back to retake a class I had made a D in. The worst part was that I got the call while I was at Young Life camp on what is possibly the most important day of the week - the day that the truth about our fallen human condition is presented.
"Welfare." The word in that verse confused me. What is welfare? Is it for my ultimate good? Is it something that is material? What exactly is it? Well, tonight as I looked at that verse I checked the footnote, and the word used in the Hebrew is "shalom." Peace. Not just the absence of conflict, but ultimate peace that only can stem from a relationship with God. Peace that surpasses all understanding. This is a concept I am just now learning as I reflect upon 2008.
The next few months were almost a complete blur. I spent the summer in Branson, Missouri, for Discipleship Focus, and though I was living in "community," I had never felt lonelier. Comparing it to DF the first time I did it as well as my incredible experience at Malibu the summer before was inevitable. I couldn't help but think about the community we had developed in Canada in just a few short days and wonder why the sense of community never developed over an entire summer, for me at least.
After I made it through that, I made the decision to stay in school for an entire year and get a second degree as well as finish up the first, which I am now on pace to do. The first degree is finally finished! The semester itself, though, was miserable. I felt even more alone than during the summer. Everything suffered - my relationship with others, my relationship with God (which was probably the reason for everything else suffering), my attitude towards school, Young Life, everything.
"Shalom" - the ultimate sense of peace that comes only from a relationship with God. The last two weeks or so of the semester were completely different. I began to read the Bible and focus on my relationship with Christ more, and as I focused on that relationship, my relationships with others began to develop. God also met some of the desires he had put on my heart when I began to look to Him to fulfill those desires instead of trying to fulfill them myself, which got...um...interesting. "Shalom." Even though I don't believe I am perfect - or anywhere close to it - I have recovered that sense of peace.
The Christmas/New Year's break was fantastic. A couple of great road trips, a huge bowl game, and a fantastic girlfriend later made this one of the best Christmas breaks ever. And now I find myself here, at 4:45 in the morning, thinking about the upcoming year. There are way more questions than answers:
Do I go on Young Life staff?
Do I go to seminary?
Where should I do either of those two options?
What should I do this summer?
What should I do job-wise this semester?
There are others, but those are most of the major ones. The wonderful thing is that I do feel this sense of peace. So, in a way, I'm in exactly the same place I was last year. And I guess I just need to ring in the New Year with a Bible verse:
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Shalom!
<3>
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Football Conference Supremacy?
I was listening to a radio call-in show today and a guy called in and started talking about the PAC-10's dominance in bowl games this year. Now, to their credit, 5-0 is impressive.
The PAC-10 in bowl games:
Arizona beat BYU
Cal beat Miami
Oregon beat Oklahoma State
Oregon State beat Pitt (in a 3-0 barn burner, might I add)
USC beat Penn State
I won't make any statements as to the quality of the teams the PAC-10 played, but I do think it's interesting that the PAC-10 finished their bowl games the day after the SEC started theirs. With the exception of the GMAC bowl and a few others, the "better" bowl games are typically played later. So that right there is interesting in and of itself.
Then, the caller said that the SEC was overrated for 2 reasons. The first was because the SEC has lost 2 bowl games thus far. The second was because the SEC "never played tough teams outside of the conference."
First, the bowl argument. The SEC in bowl games this year:
South Carolina lost to Iowa
Alabama lost to Utah
LSU beat Georgia Tech
Ole Miss beat Texas Tech
Georgia beat Michigan State
Kentucky beat Eastern Carolina
Vanderbilt beat Boston College
The guy may have had a point about the bowl records, but half of the PAC-10 wasn't bowl eligible. Half of their league made it, while 8 of the 12 SEC teams were eligible. Stanford and Arizona both came within one game of eligibility, while Tennessee, Auburn, and Arkansas were all within one game. Maybe that speaks for the difficulty of the SEC over the difficulty of the PAC-10, but using bowl games to determine conference supremacy isn't a great way to say who's better.
Now, the winner of the PAC-10 and the winner of the SEC are always going to be elite teams. Same with the Big XII and some years (but apparently not most) the Big 10+1 will be too. The ACC and Big East...not so much. Anyway, you have to compare more than just the best teams in the league to determine which conference is the best, which leads me to my next point.
The caller was bragging about the PAC-1o stepping out to play other BCS conference teams and how the SEC didn't do that. That, in and of itself, was a blatant falsehood, but he also went on to say that the SEC only plays FBS teams and all that. He, nor the hosts, made any mention of Washington and Washington State's impressive combined 2-23 record. Conference record wise (Tennessee actually had a better conference record than Kentucky, but their overall record wasn't bowl eligible), the two worst SEC teams were 11-14 combined, and both of those teams (Mississippi State and Kentucky) won more than one conference game. So, of course a PAC-1o team isn't going to schedule an FBS team because they play 2 teams that would probably barely even pass for FBS teams.
Finally, the caller and the hosts completely failed to mention the SEC stepping out and playing BCS conference teams. The caller bragged about USC playing Ohio State (who sucks) and Virginia (who also sucks). He said SEC teams only play FBS teams, or at least non-BCS teams. The caller and the hosts completely failed to mention the following games:
Alabama beat Clemson
Georgia beat Arizona State
Georgia lost to Georgia Tech
Florida beat Florida State
Florida beat Miami
Vanderbilt lost to Duke
Vanderbilt lost to Wake Forest
Ole Miss lost to Wake Forest
Mississippi State lost to Georgia Tech
South Carolina beat North Carolina State
South Carolina lost to Clemson
Tennessee lost to UCLA
Kentucky beat Louisville
Auburn lost to West Virginia
Arkansas lost to Texas
So, the SEC played 15 games against BCS non-conference teams. In a down year, they only won 6, with no help from LSU as they played no BCS non-conference teams
USC beat Virginia
USC beat Ohio State
USC beat Notre Dame
Oregon beat Purdue
Oregon State lost to Penn State
Cal beat Michigan State
Cal lost to Maryland
Stanford lost to Notre Dame
Arizona State lost to Georgia
UCLA beat Tennessee
Washington State lost to Oklahoma State
Washington State lost to Baylor
Washington lost to Oklahoma
Washington lost to Notre Dame
The PAC-10, who supposedly plays more BCS non-conference opponents, played 14 games (15>14, for those West Coast types who prefer self-esteem to actual math and science marks). They won 6 and lost 8.
Head to head, the conferences were 1-1 against each other.
The SEC got 8 teams into bowls, the PAC-10 only 5. The PAC-10's weak conference schedule is what held USC out of the title game. This was a down year in college football in general, and I don't really know what this post proves or claims one way or the other, but the PAC-10 is not the best conference in football. Never has been, never will be. The SEC will likely be hoisting its third BCS Championship banner in as many years Thursday night.
Demons
I cast out a demon today.
My dad and I went to eat lunch, and then his truck broke down, so we called my mom to come pick us up. As we were driving back to the house, mom's radio started wigging out and my dad goes "Oh, your radio is possessed by a demon." I jokingly put my hand on the radio and said "The power of Christ compels thee." My mom looked at me and said "Don't make fun of that" and right as she did the radio started working right again.
I have realized my calling as a faith healer/demon hunter.
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