Skunkape Revival

the ween is awesome.

admit it Laura... admit it in the deepest reaches of your cold, fundamentalist heart.

So it turns out a lot of my students are also blogging.. on a different service
As much as I enjoy this, it kind of makes me nervous for so many young people to have such easy access to web publishing... got to wonder how much libel is flying around some of those blogs.. and some of those kids publish so much personal information... I think their parents would freak out if they knew what went out in those chatrooms and IMs and Web sites to total strangers... I know I spoke with my sister about that a few years ago... hopefully she's followed my advice... but she's almost 18 and soon will be able to do what she wants. It makes me scared for her... but at the same time I don't think I give her credit for the kind of woman that she's growing up to be. I think most of us still see her as the baby sister. I hope that doesn't ever cause her pain.
Went with Garry and Justin to see a football game last night.... actually I was dragged to one... yes... JUSTIN AND GARRY DRAGGED ME TO A FOOTBALL GAME.
They were really more interested in the halftime show, but it turned out to be a pretty good game as Duncanville more than likely won their district championship by beating Arlington Lamar 27-20. Sometimes I really miss playing HS football... but I know there are a lot of things that I wouldn't miss at all.
Afterwards we went to No Frills for Woodchuck, Tacquitos, Crawfish Quesadillas and NTN.
I took second place in both games - Garry won the first one because I had a faulty controller (it's a legit excuse). And I just plain lost the second game.
Now I'm going to go get ready to view some photo contest entries with ATPI. Then maybe a costume party tonight... it's almost Halloween you know...

Currently...
Spinning - Some Bobby McFerrin CD that I could've sworn I didn't like
Reading - SCF-WOP
Viewing - uhhhhhhhhh...
Surfing - SCF-WOP
Considering - ghosthood
Feeling - Itchy (and scratchy)

Went to 8:10 tonight at FBC-Euless... met a lot of great people, heard a great message and had some good coffee afterwards.
The message put an interesting question to me... when's the last time I really looked to God's Word for answers to life questions... or consulted scripture to make a decision or discern a course of action...
What a convicting question? The answer is a long, long time.
This how I related it in an IM conversation...

me* (11:41:52 PM): when's the last time I've gone to the Bible, looking for answers to questions other than ones about the Bible...
laura* (11:43:00 PM): hmmm
laura (11:43:08 PM): that's a good question
laura (11:44:13 PM): maybe you just need more crises in your life!
me (11:45:11 PM): maybe I need to start believing everything that I say I believe about God's Word...
laura (11:45:30 PM): what do you mean exactly by that?
me (11:46:47 PM): ask me what I think about the Bible and I can give a long list of very theologically sound things - with my mouth I confess that the Bible holds a high place with me... but it's not evident in my actions...
me (11:47:25 PM): I have problems all the time... but I certainly don't go to the Bible to look for solutions... I rarely even go to God in prayer about them...
me (11:47:47 PM): I try to work out solutions in my own flesh... which could explain why I feel so tired all the time.

It all goes back to something I learned on this 60-day program I started today...
If I've been wanting to solve these problems because it'll make me feel better, or feel more worthy, or feel like a better Christian - then it's all focused on me, and God is not focused on me. God is focused on God. When I'm focused on me and not on God, we are at odds and I fail in my attempts to solve my problems. But if I'm on the same page as God, that is, if my motivation to change or correct a problem because it will glorify Him, then we're working in concert together. If we're on the same page, then I'll be where the Spirit of the Lord is... and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Because God is sure not going to play a part in helping me to end or correct a selfish practice that only leads to more selfishness or self-idolatry. But God will help me if my focus is where it is supposed to be... on Him and the Radiance of His Glory, Jesus Christ...

Currently...
Spinning - My wheels
Reading - Your mind
Viewing - My next move
Surfing - Safari
Considering - Jesus, the Radiance of the Glory of God
Feeling - Like the morning won't come soon enough

Went with Bryan, Amanda and Mike to see David Wilcox last night.
What an uplifting, moving and unique show! And everybody seemed to share the same opinions. Dave has a way of mixing a lot of therapy with his music - helping everybody drain all that "ragwater and blue ruin" that seeps into your mind.
David rarely talks directly about God during his shows - but it's almost always there - just underneath, just past the edges. His is a playful kind of invitation - come and see - see what this "big love" is all about - see that life can be a whole lot more than it is now... come see that this whole incarnation is a wonderful adventure, a sacred romance and a worthwhile journey.

I know this is a longer post, but endulge me - what few readers are out there. Here are the lyrics to one of David's newest songs - as of yet, unpublished. It's called the Hard Part. And this is the poetry that spoke to my heart at 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2004.

I see the look that's in you eye that says I must keep most of me inside 'cause
You'd never love me if I didn't hide the secrets of my heart
Well I'm not here for the surface stuff I just get bored with all that fluff
So show me the edges even if it's rough and let the real love start

You think your shame and deep disgrace is more than I can bear
But you can go to your darkest place and I will meet you there
I'm strong enough to take it and I know what you've been through
You've got a whole heart give me the hard part I can love that too

You look at me with some surprise and I see the doubt that's in your eyes
Like something deep inside you cries with a hunger to be known
Like a tiger born in a city zoo there's been no place for what's inside of you
You try to live like the others do, but it leaves you so alone

I know you think that the heat of your pain is more than I could stand
Burn it all in one big flame and I will hold it in my hand
I'm strong enough to take it and I know what you've been through

You've got a whole heart give me the hard part I can love that too
Now your eyes well up with tears as desire mixes with your fears
After so many wounded years can you long for what you've missed?
You want a cool breeze to dance with your flame

And a long-lost lover who knows your true name
And a secret garden beyond this shame and it all comes down to this:
You think your drowning hope will die in a sea without a shore
I can drink that ocean dry and still come back for more

I'm strong enough to take it and I know what you've been through
You've got a whole heart give me the hard part I can love that too
You've got a whole heart give me the hard part I can love that too
I love you.

Thanks Dave. You're the best.

Currently...
Spinning - Little Stevie Wonder, ladies and gentlemen!
Reading - A note from Bryan - who went back to Conway this morning before I woke up...
Viewing - a documentary on KERA on the Joe Louis-Max Schmelling rivalry
Surfing - dub, dub, dub dot davidwilcox dot com
Considering - Giving Him the Hard Part
Feeling - Hopeful

Apparently Kammie has a blog...
You know what that means....
Kammiebass, kammiebass, kammiebass, kammiebass...

Good news for a good weekend...

My boy Bryan is down from Arky-land to go to Screams...
and hopefully we'll get to take part in Scaraoke and hear the creepily thin Jewish man sing Phil Collins' "In the air tonight" and gyrate in a way that is altogether distasteful... again.
Then we're going to hear the greatest singer/songwriter/storyteller who ever walked God's Good Green Earth...
What are YOU going to do that's so great?

Currently...
Spinning - Grace
Reading - LOTR and some book from ASNE (fun with acronyms)
Viewing - Some show on KERA for the history of Broadway (yes, I know how gay that sounds)
Surfing - Trying to get a feel for indesign
Considering - going to bed without cleaning for company
Feeling - a little gassy (sorry... but I ate at the new Lushaj place tonight and the combination of too much garlic and calimari - ugh, I won't go into it)