Future Laundry Love Sounds

So yesterday, as I was folding clothes, I was switching through channels and of course.....200 channels and nothing on, when I stumbled across Justin Timberlake live at Madison Square Garden. SO I left that on......DUDE, call me what you want, but I am man enough to admit it...that boy is talented. The weird thing is this: My little sister used to sing in competitions in Memphis as a kid. There was a kid by the name of Justin Randall that always won or placed high. He was a DORK.....really goofy looking and very sweetly dancing around. I remember him singing "Two of a Kind" by Garth Brooks at the Hickory Ridge Mall center stage. (He beat out my sister's rendition of "Wind Beneath My WIngs" that day..it was bull). But he was doing this horribly cheesy dance holding a HUGE belt buckle with a Stetson resting gently over his "buddy the elf" afro. It was BAD! Anyway.............long story short.....that kid is Justin Timberlake.
So....I plan on searching through my parents old videos and finding those tapes.....and then I am thinking Ebay, VH1 Before They Were Stars, or good ol' fashioned extortion.

But I must say..."What Goes Around" is a bomb song, and he jammed it live......you've coem a LOOOONG way young Justin Randle......a long way.

Holiday Flicks

Hey guys....just a goofy fun post for you to waste 5 minutes of your life on. I LOVE Holiday movies........and have my personal faves. I will share them ONLY if not on this list. I thought you may enjoy this list of the top holiday movies....let me know if you agree...or if any essentials were left out! Be careful...turning on the TV to find these, you may have to wade through useless crap about steroids, another knocked up Spears, and Paris Hiltons new look........ YUCK.....but finding these classics WILL be worth it!

here

That is the WORST list ever!!!!!! Don't you hate it when folks try to be all indie street cool....and list CRAP! Please......what about the Christmas Story? Where is the Grinch? I mean really.....Metropolitan? Love Actually? Pieces of April? The Dead?................and CHILDREN OF MEN?!?!?!?!? (great flick but not CHRISTMAS)!

The top holiday flicks are left out....I loved Mr. Murray in Scrooged. Recently ELF has moved to the top of my list......and the #1 of all time: Christmas Vacation!


So tell me, my loyal 2 readers.....what do you think?

Time to Go!

I leave in just a few days, on a life changing adventure for our Lord. I am filled with excitement, fear, joy, anxiety, etc. It will be a new world to me. It is one of: poverty, new smells and sights and sounds; a world of corruption, chaos, war and disease. It is also a world full of people that Jesus died for. I do not know exactly what to expect, but I do know this: I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

Our leader on this trip andmy friend, Greg Woods shared these words with us, and I want to share them with you (paraphrased):

“I wish there’s a way to insure total safety for us, but I cannot. The good news is…there is ASSURANCE! God’s hand is on this mission. He wants it to happen and He has called us to this honor. ….I understand our fears…but, BE ASSURED…You’re traveling in the hands of an all-knowing…all-powerful…ever-present God whose love for you and your family is deeper than you’ll ever realize. He has our best interests firmly anchored in His heart. He apparently believes each of us have the gifts necessary to accomplish His desire and intent in Uganda. Perhaps, even as I compose these words, He is clearing the path before us…Snakes are swimming to the other side of the Lake Saka; big trucks, with careless drivers are being steered clear of our paths; and viruses are being contained and eradicated…and all will be smooth sailing. He can do that! But perhaps not. For the life of me, I can’t see Him doing that for us, if He did not see fit to do it for Paul. And perhaps we are being shaped to be like Paul. When you’ve gulped stormy sea water on your way to the safety of the shore; when you’ve wrenched the fangs of a snake out of your skin; when you’ve had to shake the dust off your feet and move on or been left for dead by the brethren; you finally get to where Paul got when he said:
“For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (Rom 14:7-8)
The only assurance I can extend is that “we belong to the Lord”…this mission experience “belongs to the Lord”; come what may…IT IS HIS!

Thank you all for helping me be a part of this mission! I love you all and cannot wait to come home and tell you all about it! Merry Christmas-

Christmas Crazies

I have never really been too interested in participating in the “Running of the Bulls” in Pamplona Spain. The thought of those huge beasts bearing down on me doesn’t exactly excite me. But, recently, I have begun to think that just maybe, I am ready for the challenge!

I say this because; if you are crazy enough to venture to the mall, Target, or heaven forbid a Wal-Mart this time of year…..there is a really good chance that you are placing yourself in much more danger than any of those bull runners! I think I’ll take my chances with “death by beef” over that crazy lady racing after the last Cabbage Patch Kid!

This time of year, it is simply crazy to get out there in the holiday mix. Just ask any of our church folk who are lucky enough to work in retail the day after Thanksgiving and see how much “Christmas cheer” they saw that day! Everyone is busy. Everyone is working hard to finish up the year strong. Everyone is financially stressed. And everyone wants to get the very best gifts for their loved ones. So, as a result, you get a literal rat race of people, all running themselves crazy, and no one enjoying a minute of it!

I just want to encourage you all to slow down this Holiday season. Find a night to get away. Maybe read a Christmas book with your kids. Take a drive in the car with no radio and look at Christmas lights. Take some time and thank God for all you have this year. But do something. Slow down for a night. Take advice from the 46th Psalm: “Be still and know that I am God”.

Merry Christmas

Blessed are the peacemakers........

....for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(my best bud Bigboy suggested maybe it should read "blessed are the PIECEmakers")



The story about the shootings at the churches and YWAM in CO are absolutely terrible. But I have to admit, I struggle with the fact that the church had an ARMED SECURITY GUARD. Not sure how to feel about that one.

Golden Compass

If you are like me, you are getting kind of tired of chain emails and bulletin/blogposts about the evils of Golden Compass. I am not arguing their merits or truths, but simply stating, I am sick of hearing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I found these stories interesting. Not sure, if I agree with them, but found them interesting. One sounds intelligent, another kinda' ignorant. but they were fun reads. See what you think for yourself.

here are the links:
okone


kindadumbone

Uganda Blog Update

This is a blog I am tracking daily from a Dr. on ther ground in the center of the ebola outbreak. It is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. There are REAL heroes today. I pray for them.

here

Cries of the heart

I am a whimpering ball of confused emotion today. Everywhere I turn, there seems to be devastation. Our friends in Uganda are dying, as we speak, and they sit back watching loved ones go...and can do nothing. As I talk to folks to help with our Christmas Baskets, I am hearing of kids without any clothes, shoes or even blankets to keep them warm. I hear of families torn apart by drugs and poverty. Teens are SO sad and lonely they are crying as they are brutally killing strangers in shopping malls. I want to cry out to God, but I fear what I may sound like.

Will I echo the words of David: "Why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from the words of my groaning? I cry out by day, but you do not answer. Many bulls surround me...roaring lions open their mouths wide against me........But you oh Lord, be not far off! Oh my strength, come quickly to help me!"

I really do not know what to think or even how to think today. I need peace that is NOT man made.

In Hebrews it says "...God has said "never will I leave you; never will I forsake you".
I long to be the man who places those words in his heart and clings to them with full fervor and faith.

Hear my heart cry God, for I cannot put the words on my lips today.

Ebola Uganda Updates

Well.....the deadly ebola situation in Uganda is gaining steam. It sounds much more serious than previously believed. It is scary for me, all the way over here in safe ol' Oregon. I cannot imagine what the brave saints on the ground in Uganda are going through! I do not know what to think or do about any of this. All I feel is a despearte need for prayer. Please read these blogs from our contacts over there. they are sad, somber and scary. I beg you all (if anyone actually reads this) to PLEASE be praying for these people!


here
and
here

Ebola prayers

Well, I leave for Uganda in exactly 3 weeks. And thsi story is all over the news today.



here



Not sure what to think here. Am I scared? Shoudl I be? Is my faith weak? Is it strong? I am realy confused to tell you the truth. I covet your prayers.