Congrats to my long time friend, (as of 3 years ago, I think that's a long time friend) Carl on becoming the the director for YFC for Mid Ohio. He's the one in the bottom right corner of the picture. I pray that Carl's vision and presence at YFC will impact our schools and ignite a new generation of Christ followers to change the world. Check out www.prayforateen.org and partner with them if you felt led to.

  Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira

This past Sunday believe it or not they let me teach again. No real slip ups. We talked about 3 of the 7 churches that Jesus addresses in Revelation. I talked context and Andrew talked about application. It's amazing how much clear the bible speaks when you here the context that it was written in. If you interested and have 45mins to spare click play.

Voting Day


Voting is a great privilege our
country.  This year was the 1st year that Ohio voters used the electronic
voting machines.  I sneaked a picture of the where I voted. 

Some issues that we voted on are:

   Issue 2: Ohio's minimum wage
   Issue 3: Legalized Gambling
   Issue 4: Smoke-Less Ohio
   Issue 5: Smoke-Free

Issues 2 and 5 passed.  2 was not
too controversial and neither was 5 for that matter because it passed by 79%. 
However Issue 5 means no one will be able to smoke in public places, including
restaurants, bars, etc. 

Thought 1:
I guess I'm just naive to the world of politics, but as I've talked about
before in posts.... "one persons freedoms are in conflict with another" and they
are in very delicate balance with one and other.  For example the freedom
to not smoke in ANY bar or restaurant will be considered as hinder some peoples
freedom too many.  But it will greatly increase the pursuit of life for the majority who voted for the freedom to breathe
clean air (smoking kills, it is a fact).  This tension
makes politics confusing to say the least and at the same time makes democracy simple. 
Majority rules! Majority's freedoms are the right ones, which leads to a just
law (or at least it is what allows us to sleep better at night). 

Thought 2:
A common approach by most political groups and candidates is to bang the drum over and over again on
one major issue.  They tend to find the biggest (or scariest)
drum to beat too.  For example - national security or national, global, local
economics. Possibly pro-life, pro-choice, etc.   They use these as trump card
or vetos that make all other issues less important. The problem I have with that
tactic is that it's in direct conflict my Messiah teachings.  My teacher
(rabbi) taught me to love and help the marginalized and rarely is an issue an
open and shut case.  He taught me to purse life and have it to the full.  He teaches me about freedoms and laws.  He taught me to care about all issues,
all life, all liberties and all freedoms.  Not just mine.  This makes
politics much more cumbersome.  And evens the playing field on many of these
issues. 

Thoughts 1 and 2 are two completely
different thoughts, they do relate to one another.  Should I allow
democracy (majorities' views) or my Messiah's teachings of shalom to guide my decisions about politics, and ultimately my ability to sleep at night.

After Thought::
I did vote for issue 5 and believe it is the best resolution to a
complex problem, but I still understand why smokers are pissed off.  But as
one of my good friends who is a smoker said,<paraphrased> "alot of smokers act
like the man is trying to keep them down, but the truth is that they're addicted and
want to smoke wherever and whenever they want.  They take the I don't care if it's bad for me, or you approach." 
This is why I voted for issue 5.  I value life, all life.  Health is
good - life is good. 

TALLADEGA NIGHTS

Pretty disappointed in this one. Minus a few key moments, the knife in the leg and Will Ferrell running around in his
underwear with a helmet on (not sure why that's so funny, but it is).  The
baby Jesus prayers, although funny, was milked too long and became lame. 
However I do occasionally sneak in a pray now in then that goes "thank you, baby
Jesus for my smoking hot wife!" because I am thankful.   and the gay
thing w/ the French driver even lamer.  Funny how movies shape our
theology.  Our comedies have been the same for the last 15 years.  The
Wayan brothers, Will Ferrell (besides in Elf), Rob Schneider, Jamie Kennedy, all
the parody movies (Scary Movie, Date Movie, etc.), and older Adam Sandler movies
all have the same premise.  A normal vocation with some crazy premise mixed
with some gay jokes, some sex jokes, some fart jokes, some gay sex jokes
possibly with farts missed in.  Most of these got their roots from older
Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy movies.  I must admit occasionally their is a
good one that will last the test of time, such as Tommy Boy, but their isn't
much creativity anymore. Most of those actors have one good movie in them
(excluding Adam Sandler).

Medication
Words and music by derek webb

Don't lie to me
Tell me something true
'Cause I'm only free
When I look at you

And you look so good it hurts
And love, I come undone

CHORUS
But I don’t want medication
Just give me liberation
Even if it cuts my legs right out from underneath
Don’t give me medication
I want the real sensation
Even when living feels just like death to me

Don't paint my face
I need to see the scars
So I don't forget
the back of my tutor's arm

'Cause I just can't keep it straight
Which kills and which one saves

CHORUS

BRIDGE
‘Cause the truth is I need you just like the air I breathe
Just like a freight train needs the tracks beneath
So I’d rather suffer my whole life and be this rich man’s wife
If loving you means suffering

CHORUS

Keep inspiring, keep loving, keep hoping, keep living….

Dedication
Post:

John Hodgman

Better known as "PC" on Mac commercials

I recently found out that
John Hodgman is often on the Daily Show with Jon Steward. I was curious what
else John does, so I found his wiki article.  There was a lot of information.

  (1) he is an
author/writer,  The Areas of My Expertise

  (2) he use to be

a literary agent (whatever that is)

  (3) he is a Yale graduate

  (4) he plays clarinet

  (5) started the

700 Hoboes Project, a Flickr site
  (6) and he’s hilarious.

Watch his recent appearance on ComedyCentral

If you watched the video above go to

http://hodgman.blogspot.com not

http://hodgeman.blogspot.com which is some other guy.  Warning, if you’re
interested in the Chuck Norris jokes, they are very explicit.  John also blogs
at

http://areasofmyexpertise.blogspot.com

If anyone has read it or listen to the audio version (spoken by John)
what is your thoughts or review of the book.........?

The Halloween
the Flamingo Died
(a.k.a. John, John, Jonny Halloween!)

Let me start off saying that
the name “Halloween” basically means “All Saints Eve”.  But as always
Christian’s messed up their holiday(s) by moving it to counter pagan holiday.
 Here is some information from Wikipedia’s

Halloween entry.

The
term Halloween, and its older spelling Hallowe'en, is shortened
from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening before

"All Hallows' Day" (also known as "All Saints' Day"). The holiday was a day of religious
festivities in various northern

European Pagan traditions, until Popes Gregory III and

Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of

All Saints Day from May 13 to November 1. In Ireland, the name was All Hallows' Eve (often shortened to Hallow
Eve), and though seldom used today, it is still a well-accepted label.

FYI – Christmas was also moved
to counter a pagan holiday.  Probably how we got Santa.

So last night I was waiting
for Sondra to come back from Tennessee.  She was on a college visit with her
sister.  So I decided pick up some CDs I’ve wanted:

John Mayer,

John Legend and

Jonny Lang. Their new CDs are amazing and they are $10 each at

BestBuy right now.  On the way to BestBuy I decided to listen to the radio
(Sondra had my iPod).  I ended up listening to talk radio and they announced
that today, Halloween 2006, will be the last day that the

plastic pink flamingo will be made.  That’s right the plant that made the
plastic pink flamingo yard décor/art is closing.  They interviewed the designer
of this plastic master piece that’s graced the yards of many lower middle class
homes (try not to laugh).  His name is

Don Featherstone.  They asked him about what made him decided to make a
plastic pink flamingo.  He said (paraphrasing) I was an art student fresh out of
college and decided to put money on the table and make a living instead of make
great art.  So he thought that it doesn’t have to be tasteful or elegant, but
hast to appeal to the masses.  He admitted that are/were tacky, but everyone
wanted one.  So… everyone hold on to their original Don Featherstone signature
flamingo’s, they’re going to be worth money soon.  A little known fact, they
also made cast iron flamingo for the upper middle class.

I’m so glad my wife is home.
 It’s like holding your breathe for days when you’re gone.  I love my desert
flower!  “This is why we’re here, this is why we’re here…“

Oh my word... it's Bill Worner.

Seriously Nick... It's scary!  You look to BW crossed with the lead singer of the Black Crows in this picture. And Brian strangely resembles Lion-O from Thunder Cats .
(Brian is on the left, Ash is in the middle, & Nick is on the right,. BW is Nick's dad).

Sondra took Laura (her sister) to Johnson Bible College for a college visit.  She's been gone since Saturday.  Since she's been gone I figured I'd get somethings done such as rake the leaves.  While raking the leaves I broke my new rake.  They don't make them how they use to.  It's so weird that it gets dark at 5:45PM.  I barely get home before then.  It makes it very hard to get any yard work done.  However, I must say it's much easier to get up for work in the morning.  This has been a pretty boring post.... so I at least want to say "I love you Sondra and can't wait for you to get home."

Ah...
the memories

So, pretend you are the assistant manager for
a coffeehouse/pizzeria. You come into work early afternoon to find one of
your staff running around taking pictures of other staff doing crazy stuff.
What do you do?

You laugh and go along with it. But only
a few hours. Can't seem like your soft.
Zack I can't believe you put these on the internet. If Brumby's was still
open it would most likely be closed now. : )

http://picasaweb.google.com/MrZackCole