Isn't There A Line?

Santa Claus, kneeling, his eyes fixed upon the baby Jesus.

The head of Santa Claus, on a pole.

A Helicopter, propeller moving, carrying Santa Claus.

Two snowpeople who appear to be ... attempting to create a third through natural methods.

A giant snowman, standing in a balcony, hands stretched out like the Pope giving an imporant address to the people.

What do these things have in common?


... I'll give you a moment to ponder your answer



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got a guess?


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If you guessed "Things scene in Northwest Ohio in people's front yards" you win!!!!

"Elf Puke" has simply gone too far. And has stopped making sense. I love houses who compiment their beauty with simple white lights on their porch, or even running across their house. I love a nice display in a front yard that is well done. I really enjoy driving down the street and seeing a wonderful and festive display.

What I don't get are people who feel the need to cram a decoration on every square inch of their property. People who mix and match with no need or desire for a theme. People who spends what i have to estimate at thousands of dollars in lighting bills (not to mention the cost of the decorations themselves).

Isn't there a line? Isn't there a point where common sense should kick in?

How I hope that I never join these people in elf puking my house. I've decided to enact a "Betts Law" (think man law, only ... just me and Rachel). Any external decorations we buy and put up, we have to give matching time and money to a charity.

I hope that will keep us from losing our senses and going overboard on the decorations.

Need This, We Do Not

Left Behind: Eternal Forces

That's right. A video game about the prohetical-fictional end times.

And not just any video game. A video game where you kill non-believers who refuse to convert to Christianity.

Because I know how I'd react if someone told me I had to covert to Christianity or die.

Wow. I'm pretty speechless when it comes to this game. here is a nice article about the game, highlighting some thoughts, and giving viewpoints from some people way out there.

I'm just left with one question ...

Seriously, who thought this was a good idea?

My Hope

So, as I mentioned previously, we went to see "The Nativity Story" last week. While there were a few things that went counter to what is in the Bible, there was nothing that was major among those, and I think they did a really good job painting the story, and the few things they took artistic liscense with were good things to do so with.

The major theme of the movie, to me, seemed to be the desperation among the Jews for their Messiah. The despair among the people, the opression of the Romans, the cruel living conditions ... all made them cry out and call out for their King to come and save them.

I've been reflecting on that. How desperate have I been for my King? How many times have I honestly said "You are my hope" or "nobody but you can rescue me?"

A couple, for certain, but not often enough, I think.

Anyways, it brings to mind another Skillet song ...

Times are hard, times have changed, don’tcha say?
But I keep holding onto you
It’s hard to keep the faith alive day to day
Leanin’ on the strength I’ve found in you
You’re the hope of all the earth

You are my hope
You are my strength
You’re everything, everything I need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope
You are my hope

Far beyond what I can see or comprehend
Etching your eternity in me
Nations dream and angels sing “Jesus reigns”
And every knee bows down
You’re the hope of all the earth

You are my hope
You are my strength
You’re everything, everything I need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope
You are my hope

Carry on and I sing of how
You love and I love you now
All the times that I start to sink
You come and you rescue me
You are my hope
You are my hope
You are my hope
You are my hope

And my prayer is now that my hope truly be on the shoulders of my King. That I yearn to see him rescue me from every pit of despair I find myself in, regardless of the circumstances that bring me into that pit.

We have good friends

So, yesterday, I'm at home working on a few things (chief among them, I believe, was Kansas clinching the Big 12 North title on my current season of NCAA Football 2005 for the Nintendo Gamecube with a thrilling come-from-behind 36-35 victory over rival and then-#5 Missouri), and Rachel calls to talk to me about Small Group. Our Small Group meets on Thursday evenings, but a few of our members had other obligations last night, and it was supposed to be myself and my wife, Terry and his wife, and Karen.

Karen had a scheduling mishap, which was what Rachel was calling to tell me. So that left us with a choice, to either cancel group for the evening, or just have a really small group with just the two couples. I thought it would be good to see Terry and Caddie, but we ultimately left it up to them.

A call came while Rachel was still at job #3, and Caddie asked that we refrain from eating supper until Small Group, so we could have a meal together. So that was fine, as we usually don't have time to eat until after Small Group anyways. What happened next completely blew me away.

The door bell rang at about 6:15, and Terry stood on our door with a box, and asked the simply question "do you have room in your fridge for a ham?" I could only mutter a simple yes, as astonishment took over my mind at the love being shown to us in this simple and small way. This was followed by a trip around the back roads of Findlay to Tony's Restuarant, a local place, where Terry and Caddie treated Rachel and I to dinner (mmm ... steak sub was excellent, and Rachel tells me the chicken pot pie soup was, too).

As dinner was wrapping up, they asked if we had any plans. Rachel's big plan was to catch up on some of the ironing, and my big plan was to watch the Browns-Stillers game. Terry mentioned that if those weren't too pressing, they'd enjoy treating us to a viewing of "The Nativity Story" at the theatre. Blown away again by generosity and love, Rachel and I accepted, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the movie.

We have such great friends. And such a great God who has put us in position to live life with them. I literally was crying today as I was driving and reflecting on the agape shown to us last night. Love given without any expectation of a return. Thank you Terry, thank you Caddie, and thank you God.



Oh, and for those of you who have been praying about this, I have an announcement to make ...

I Have A Job!!!

It Was Good

The show last night was good. It lasted almost three hours. But that didn't matter. All that really mattered was that I was able to enjoy an evening with my wife. For those three hours, financial pains didn't matter, struggles to pay bills didn't matter, medical worries didn't matter. I was simply able to enjoy time with my wife. And what a blessing that was.

By the way, if you live in Findlay and you get a chance to see the show, you should. It might not make you laugh, and it might not make you cry, but it will entertain you. And, you'll get to see eight very well made vests.

On another note, I had a job interview this morning. Took a computerized assessment of my ability for the position, and was told by the computer that the company would be unwise to proceed with me. At least this company didn't drag it out over weeks before telling me they didn't want me. I suppose now it's back to the old drawing boards. Anyone got suggestions or connections?

On a related note, this would usually bum me out, but I'm not really bumming today about it. I was driving home and God just inspired joy in me, to see happiness in the world around me, which is really odd since I'm driving home in a drizzling rain from a job interview where I got rejected. Odd, huh?

Anyway, He put this new song into my heart. I don't know how new it actually is, but I've never heard it before and just started singing it, so I thought I'd share the lyrics with anyone who reads this:

I know that I don’t always see the blessings in my life
I know that I can’t always see through the gloom and pain
I know that I won’t always sing about the work you do
I know that I don’t always look for the light in the dark

So, I want to thank you
Thank you for this day
And, I want to thank you
For the air I breathe
To thank you for the things I see
For all the warmth that’s around me

I know every blessing that I have
Is constructed by your hand
I know that all that’s within this soul
Was made by your great command

And I want to thank you,
Here and now
And I want to love you,
Here and now
And I want to praise you,
Here and now
And I want to be yours
Here and now

Here and now
Here and now
And forevermore

Weightlessness

The sensation of being in zero gravity ... now that's something I'd like to experience. Wether in actual outer space (which would be very sweet), or some kind of simulation, I get the feeling it would just be a rush like no other.

But, I'd also like to feel another type of weightlessness. They type where you don't feel the heavy burdens on your chest and your life. Where you aren't weighed down by expectations, schedules, evaluations, and the such. Where you are just free to live life as it comes.

I think the last time I really felt that way was over a year ago. Rachel and I were on our honeymoon/one year anniversary trip to Denver, and we stopped just west of Denver by Mount Evans for lunch and located a pizza place called Beau Jo's. And we sat, and we enjoyed ourselves. We talked, and we didn't have to rush off. We didn't have to order from the menu based solely on price. We were able to try new things (like honey on our pizza crust). It was totally unplanned, but totally amazing. To this day, we still talk about how good Beau Jo's is, and how we'd return to Denver just to eat there.

And, maybe i'm romanticizing the moment. Maybe there have been other times since then, but that one really sticks out. But I'm hoping we can get some more of those.

I think tonight might be an opportunity. Rachel made some costumes for the local theatre and they gave her two tickets for tonight's show, so we're going. And there won't be a schedule to keep, or a bill to pay, or expectations. Just me, and my wife, and (hopefully) an enjoyable show that we had a small part in putting on.

Maybe tonight we won't feel the weight of the world around us.

I sure hope so.

I don't know how to swim

This is true. In a very physical sense. Never learned how. Don't really float either. I can sink pretty well, though.

Also true on a less physical sense. No idea how to swim and not be dragged under by currents. Never learned early in my life how to deal with setbacks and disappointments, failures and shortcomings. I always succeeded. So I never learned how to swim.

Reminds me of a Superchic[k] song ...

Help me out God I need a little something
Turn the brights on I can't see where we're going
Cause I don't know when things'll work out just fine
Or if this road we're on leads us up
Or is leading me on down to my wishing well
Where I might drown oh I might drown
Cause I can't swim without you God

On a non-related note, I'm looking for a list of movies with some hidden spiritual meaning. Nothing *blam* in your face like "Passion of the Christ", but some stuff with more hidden, secret almost, spiritual undertones. I've got a good list to start with, but I'm always looking for more. Let me know what you got to add to this list:

• The Three Lord of the Rings
• The six Star Wars
• Toy Story
• The Incredibles
• The Princess Bride
• Transformers: The Movie

Dear Sir, You Suck

This is getting old. And I'm sick of it.

"You Suck" letters coming in from companies I've applied to.

You know the type. They say, Dear Sir, You suck. Now, leave us alone. Thanks, Management.

Well, actually, it's more like:

Dear //name//,

Thank you for your interest in becoming //job title// at //company//. We were pleased to get to know you and to interview with you. However, we are pursuing the opportunity with candidates who are //more qualified/more closely fit our qualifications/more experienced// than you.

Thank you again for your time, and good luck in your future endeavors,

//Interviewer//

Blah!

I hate these letters. I hate them like Anakin Skywalker hates Tusken Raiders.

I got one today. Not that it's anything new, but it came from American Family, a job I was really hopeful about, and optimistic about, and even got my hopes and dreams wrapped around.

The whole process sucks.

Why can't a motivated young man with a college degree get a job?

I'm done with the whole thing. So frustrating, so irritating, so depressing. I'm done. I'm just done.

Ugh

That's about the best word to describe me right now.

I got a head cold from my wife (thanks, hun), and spent the night last night at her mom's house in Columbus. After some rest, chicken soup, and some medicine, I'm back in Findlay and my head is still spinning.

Ugh also at the election. Most of the things and people i voted for (or against) didn't go that way. At least the ads are gone, for a bit. But I'm sure they'll start soon for the 2008 elections. I can hardly wait.

Is it Wednesday yet?

I hate politics.

I cannot wait until Wednesday. When the stupid political ads leave my television. When I no longer have to hear about how awful people are, how stupid people are, how people have voted (in a vacuum), and how people are (or are not) associated with George W. Bush.

And while I'm on the subject, can we get to a year when I can vote on a slate based on voting for candidates who are the most qualified and best fits, rather than the least bad or least unqualified? Or at least, can we have a year when candidates focus on their strengths and tout those, rather than trying to tell us how to vote based on who we shouldn't vote for.

I hate politics.

Is it Wednesday yet?