So, I've known for a long time that little kids like to lock into certain things and want to talk about them all the time. Do you know what I mean? Kids I've known have gotten into Star Wars, Power Rangers, Thomas the Tank Engine, Etc...
Well my child, the cool kid that he is, has gotten hooked on Johnny Cash. Yes, You read correctly. Ethan loves Johnny Cash.
It all started about 6 months ago when I was watching the movie "Walk The Line." Ethan walked through the room and happened to look over and see Johnny Cash (played by Joaquin Phoenix) and the Tennessee Three playing "Ring of Fire". I think he liked watching him play the guitar so he asked me to play it again. After about the third time of him asking me to play that scene again, I just put it on loop. And he sat there are watched them play Ring of Fire for about 30 minutes straight. I didn't know I was creating a monster.
A week or so after that, I had forgotten about the "Ring of Fire" evening and Ethan asked me, while we were in the car, if he could listen to "Ring Of Fire". He actually knew the name of it. So of course I went out and bought a Johnny Cash's greatest hits CD. Since then Ethan has not only memorized every word to "Ring of Fire", he also loves the songs "Walk The Line", "Sunday Morning Coming Down", and even "I've been Everywhere".
We now own 3 different CD's and 3 DVD's. And Ethan knows the difference in each one. Every night before bed he tells me if he wants to watch the real Johnny Cash (a concert DVD) or the guy pretending to be Johnny Cash (The movie Walk The Line).
I began to think this past week that maybe I'd allowed the Johnny Cash fan-dom to get a little out of hand. We went to the beach this past week and on Friday night we went out to eat at Angelo's Steak House. There were 10 of us in our group, because Kristi's whole family had gone to the beach. At one point, there was a lull in the conversation. I guess we were too busy eating, and for some reason Ethan shouted .....
"MY NAME IS SUE. HOW DO YOU DO?!"
If you're familiar with Johnny Cash you probably know that the next line of that song is "NOW YOU'RE GONNA DIE!"
Luckily we were able to stop him before he shouted that out as well.
After we recovered from the laughter I decided that we might have to take a break from listening to Johnny Cash for a while. I'd hate for him to be in Sunday School and someone overhear him singing another Johnny Cash favorite line from "Folsom Prison Blues"........
"When I was just a baby, my Momma told me "Son, always be a good boy. Don't ever play with guns." But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die."
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Vacation
Why does going on vacation have to be so much work??
I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I've done more work today as a result of it than I have in the past week combined. I had to get everything done in one day that normally do in a week at work, I've had to make sure everything is organized at church, I'm currently in the process of getting my car ready (Did you know Anthony's car wash has wireless internet?), and I've still got to go home and start packing. We're going to the beach for a few days, and getting everything in order so that we can go has almost been enough to make me just want to stay home. Almost.
I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I've done more work today as a result of it than I have in the past week combined. I had to get everything done in one day that normally do in a week at work, I've had to make sure everything is organized at church, I'm currently in the process of getting my car ready (Did you know Anthony's car wash has wireless internet?), and I've still got to go home and start packing. We're going to the beach for a few days, and getting everything in order so that we can go has almost been enough to make me just want to stay home. Almost.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Eating with Hitler
So I started reading "Blue like Jazz" by Donald Miller again last night.
I was reading this about 6 months ago and I lost it amongst the piles of junk in my office.......I like the word amongst. It makes my mouth feel like it's accomplished something. That "g" followed by an "st" is not something you can do without putting some real work into it. ....Anyway, When I found it last night, I decided if I was really going to read it, I should probably start again from the beginning. I'm glad I did.
In case you haven't read it, it's a guy discussing Christianity from a non religious perspective. Basically he takes a look at being a Christian from the perspective of someone who hasn't grown up in church. Example....Have you ever considered that Noah's Ark is an awful story. Yes, it's the story of God saving his chosen man, and a bunch of animals. But really it's about God going.."That's it! I'm done with the rest of you. Let's see how long you can swim." I'd never really thought about it that way before. It's kinda funny that we consider it a good story for children and we even go as far as making it the theme for many nurserys. Come to think of it though, I don't think I've ever seen a wall border in a nursery displaying all the floating lifeless bodies. That part is often left out.
Anyway, while reading it again, I read story that Don tells from his childhood, when he first experienced real guilt due to the fact that as a child one Christmas he'd spent all his money on himself and didn't get his mother a good present. Instead he used what was left over to buy her some crappy book she'd never really want. He ends his tale of guilt by saying the following... " And while they ate and talked and chatted away another Christmas, I felt ashamed and wondered silently whether they knew they were eating with Hitler."
Some how that phrase seems to fit so well how I feel sometimes. After some internal debate, I'm going to make a confession to all of you. I feel guilty about the worship service that I led last night. (For anyone who doesn't know, I work part time at my church leading the music.) I purposefully picked songs that meant something to me, and avoided the normal hymns that we typically do on a Sunday evening. When I planned the service, I was tired of doing songs I didn't get anything out of just to keep everyone happy, so I thought it would be a good time to put together a service that I would enjoy.
As the service began, God spoke to me clearly, not in an audible voice, but through the expression on the faces of those who came to worship. He said to me "you've been selfish." I knew right away that those worship songs chosen were not going to assist anyone in having an experience with God. Instead, the majority of the congregation either stood their silently, or tried to sing a song that clearly meant nothing to them. It was like looking at a bunch of people who were at a funeral for someone they didn't know. They looked sad, but somehow not effected in any real way.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anything about style of songs (I'm sure they'll be future blogs about Contmeporary vs. Traditional worship) , I'm simply saying that the song choices were made based on what I wanted to do and nothing else. As a worship leader, I feel it is supposed to be my job to facilitate a worshipful experience, regardless of the style of music. I know you can't please everyone, but it's definately not right to try to please only myself.
Thankfully, God is forgiving and full of grace. He and I got everything straightened out last night. But, guilt is an awfully stong emotion. I think it's fair to say that "Last night I felt ashamed and wondered silently whether they knew they were being led in Worship by Hitler."
I was reading this about 6 months ago and I lost it amongst the piles of junk in my office.......I like the word amongst. It makes my mouth feel like it's accomplished something. That "g" followed by an "st" is not something you can do without putting some real work into it. ....Anyway, When I found it last night, I decided if I was really going to read it, I should probably start again from the beginning. I'm glad I did.
In case you haven't read it, it's a guy discussing Christianity from a non religious perspective. Basically he takes a look at being a Christian from the perspective of someone who hasn't grown up in church. Example....Have you ever considered that Noah's Ark is an awful story. Yes, it's the story of God saving his chosen man, and a bunch of animals. But really it's about God going.."That's it! I'm done with the rest of you. Let's see how long you can swim." I'd never really thought about it that way before. It's kinda funny that we consider it a good story for children and we even go as far as making it the theme for many nurserys. Come to think of it though, I don't think I've ever seen a wall border in a nursery displaying all the floating lifeless bodies. That part is often left out.
Anyway, while reading it again, I read story that Don tells from his childhood, when he first experienced real guilt due to the fact that as a child one Christmas he'd spent all his money on himself and didn't get his mother a good present. Instead he used what was left over to buy her some crappy book she'd never really want. He ends his tale of guilt by saying the following... " And while they ate and talked and chatted away another Christmas, I felt ashamed and wondered silently whether they knew they were eating with Hitler."
Some how that phrase seems to fit so well how I feel sometimes. After some internal debate, I'm going to make a confession to all of you. I feel guilty about the worship service that I led last night. (For anyone who doesn't know, I work part time at my church leading the music.) I purposefully picked songs that meant something to me, and avoided the normal hymns that we typically do on a Sunday evening. When I planned the service, I was tired of doing songs I didn't get anything out of just to keep everyone happy, so I thought it would be a good time to put together a service that I would enjoy.
As the service began, God spoke to me clearly, not in an audible voice, but through the expression on the faces of those who came to worship. He said to me "you've been selfish." I knew right away that those worship songs chosen were not going to assist anyone in having an experience with God. Instead, the majority of the congregation either stood their silently, or tried to sing a song that clearly meant nothing to them. It was like looking at a bunch of people who were at a funeral for someone they didn't know. They looked sad, but somehow not effected in any real way.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anything about style of songs (I'm sure they'll be future blogs about Contmeporary vs. Traditional worship) , I'm simply saying that the song choices were made based on what I wanted to do and nothing else. As a worship leader, I feel it is supposed to be my job to facilitate a worshipful experience, regardless of the style of music. I know you can't please everyone, but it's definately not right to try to please only myself.
Thankfully, God is forgiving and full of grace. He and I got everything straightened out last night. But, guilt is an awfully stong emotion. I think it's fair to say that "Last night I felt ashamed and wondered silently whether they knew they were being led in Worship by Hitler."
Saturday, July 22, 2006
It's A Boy
Gavin Howard Stinson was born July 10th, 2006 at 7:35am
6lbs, 15oz
20 1/4' long.
Mother and child are happy and healthy. He looks a little like his big brother, Ethan
6lbs, 15oz
20 1/4' long.
Mother and child are happy and healthy. He looks a little like his big brother, Ethan
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Look! Up in the sky, it's a bird! It's a plane! No, It's......
I can't wait to see this movie.
If anyone wants to go, I'm planning on being there opening night.
http://raincloud.warnerbros.com/wbmovies/supermanreturns/teaser/teaser_300.asx
If anyone wants to go, I'm planning on being there opening night.
http://raincloud.warnerbros.com/wbmovies/supermanreturns/teaser/teaser_300.asx
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