2006: "Keep the Faith"

This is my personal goal for the year. I need to do a much better job of strengthening the faith aspect of my walk with Jesus Christ. Far too often, I've fallen back into selfishness and arrogance. I've let myself believe my way is superior to God's way by not turning to Him with my problems, or exercising my prayer life in making decisions. I need to stop thinking reason is sufficient. Faith precedes reason. It is the stepping stone to not only believing in the God of the universe, but also trusting in His unfailing love and ability to forgive sin, and to separate it from us.

Faith is also empowering. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." One can simply flip through the Bible and see how often Jesus rewards and chastises people by the measure of their faith. Paralyzed, mute, blind, and dead people were restored because of faith. We have the promise of everlasting life because of faith and acceptence of Jesus' gift of salvation. A sea of never-ending darkness can be penetrated by a beacon of faith in the light of Christ. It's that hope in a power that is greater than our own that helps us navigate.

No Room to Crow

Independence Bowl recap

South Carolina jumped on Missouri in the first quarter, taking a 21-0 lead in the span of eight minutes. But in the second quarter, their QB was intercepted on the Tigers' 2-yard line, and the defender promptly took it back 98 yards the other way for a touchdown. Apparantly at that point, the Chicken Curse must have kicked in. Missouri proceeded to outscore the Gamecocks 31-10 the rest of the way enroute to a 38-31 win. Further proof that the SEC doesn't win bowl games by having the largest attendence record of all the Division I-A conferences.

Clemson Basketball recap

But then, the Clemson basketball team had to go and ruin the mood. We lost. 74-69. At home. To Elon.

*GROAN*

At least it's not as bad as losing to Yale. Or Winthrop. But gosh ... Elon?

I might have to close my eyes when our ACC schedule begins next week.

The Best of 2005

I decided to go ahead and get this done now so I don't forget on New Year's Eve. Once again, we're at the end of the year, and it's time for the 2nd annual David awards! I decided since I re-titled my blog earlier this year, I might as well give these an official title, too. I think I'll call it...the Barb Awards. Yay for cutesy synonyms!

So, without further ado, here are David's 2005 Barb Awards.

Candidates for Song of the Year:

1. Casting Crowns - "Voice of Truth"
I've enjoyed listening to this group from the moment I first heard them on the radio while driving through Mauldin. Their lyrics are packed with emotion, yet they have a distinct, down-to-earth flavor to them. The simplicity of the music cuts you right to the heart. This song in particular inspires me because it illuminates my daily struggle against the waves and giants of the world. I can never win facing them unless I listen and believe the voice of truth, which is Jesus, who rebukes the waves and slays the giants of my life. I play this song every time I watch the slideshow of the Pittsburgh trip. I believe it fits. So many are overwhelmed by waves and giants. They need the voice of truth.



2. Mark Harris (4HIM) - "For the First Time"
Too often, I believe, we as Christians are much too focused on the afterlife. Passing off life on earth for the much more pleasurable life in Heaven. In other words, we're not focused on living. We're focused on dying. And that's not how God wants it. He breathed life into us for a reason. We're supposed to be bold. Be willing to take chances, step out on faith, and not holding back. When we do that, we know that our life is being pushed by bigger hands. We can feel ready to live as God would have us. Mark Harris illustrates that truth in this powerful song. He sings it with the appropriate fire and intensity in his voice, like he truly believes every word of it.


3. Rachel Lampa - "When I Fall"
I love this song for its humility. It gets back to the core of the Christian faith. It doesn't try to gloss over indirect praising of mankind with Godly worship language. It doesn't say "If I fall." It's "When I fall." Because that's what we do. We fall, we stumble, get scraped up, tattered, and blemished. And when we kneel before God, He's still standing tall, and He stands us up again. We're not victors. We're just vessels for Jesus, the one, true, and undisputed champion.




And the Barb Award goes to ...

Casting Crowns - "Voice of Truth"

As much as I loved the other two songs for what they stood for, none of them affected me quite like this one did. The raw emotion behind the lyrics, the sense of calling, and the triumph in obeying the voice of truth. Every time I hear this song, I crank up the volume. It still refreshes and inspires my soul despite how many times I've heard it.

Candidates for TV Show of the Year

1. Storm Stories (The Weather Channel)
Many people don't understand my fascination with The Weather Channel. To them, it's just a convenient cable station they'll occasionally tune in to for a quick 10-day forecast or when severe weather threatens. But I fell in love with this network at age 5 and still love it to this day. This drama has been running for over two years and has some gripping tales of survivors of some of the worst and bizarre weather phenomena. It's proof that still-motion photography can still keep you on the edge of your seat. Jim Cantore's narration is also a major plus.



2. Gargoyles (Toon Disney)
This show was a breath of fresh air when it hit the airwaves. Back in 1994, all that kids' TV had going for it was Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and Batman: The Animated Series. Both were hits, but Gargoyles brought something new to the table. Rich continuity. Epic story-telling. Characters with depth. Growth and development. And unlike Batman, Gargoyles didn't have a 50-year-old comic book hero to simply modernize. It built a whole mythology and universe all on its own. While the show never really broke out and knocked down its competition, I loved it because it took the audience seriously and didn't let the kids label stop it from being bold and ambitious with its stories. Something I find to be sadly lacking from today's cartoons.

3. The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (Disney Channel)
I'm giving a shoutout to my good friend Will Swinson for turning me on to this charming series. A Disney Channel original series that actually entertains me! All it took was one viewing for me to warm to Zack and Cody's antics and fun banter; they've got some smart writers on this one. The jokes are legitimately funny, well-timed, and not forced at all. The stories are pretty much standard fare for Disney, but the delivery and chemistry of Dylan and Cole Sprouse drives them home. This show is a near-instant de-stresser for me. I recommend it for anyone who just needs to laugh after a hard day of classes, tests, or work. School's out!

And the Barb Award goes to ...

Gargoyles

This one was close because of the distinct natures of all three shows. But when it came down to a decision, the edge goes to the show that delivers on all counts. Storm Stories makes for gripping drama and Suite Life tickles your funny bone with slapstick comedy. Gargoyles has both and a lot more to offer. I'll take the whole package.

Candidates for Movie of the Year

1. Batman Begins
At last! A live-action Batman movie that does justice to the Dark Knight! Back in 1997, the gaudy debacle that was Batman & Robin flopped so badly that it appeared the Bat-franchise was dead and buried. Even George Clooney admitted as such. Eight years later, director Christopher Nolan resurrects it with a story that gouges out the problems that plagued the 90s movies. We go all the way back to the start with Bruce Wayne. How he came to become Batman. So much potential in the journey never before realized until now. Backed with stellar casting, solid pacing, a dark and depressing Gotham rather than the Vegas-Gotham of the 90s, as well as Chrisian Bale's dead-on perfect Bruce Wayne/Batman, this movie finally did it right. I can now scrub the bitter aftertaste from the Joel Schumacher era (Batman Forever/Batman & Robin)out of my mouth.





2. Dreamer: inspired by a true story
A very quiet movie among 2005's blockbuster epics led by Anakin Skywalker, Batman, a big ape, and a certain lion and four children I'll be getting to in the next entry (consider yourself spoiled). But this one didn't need to rely on dazzling special effects and jaw-dropping scenery to astound me. It just told a good, powerful story about a struggling family that takes in an injured horse. The little girl (Dakota Fanning) is the cream of the crop; she lights up every scene she's in, and that's a good thing given that she's the co-star to Kurt Russell, who plays her father. Russell does an average job, but Fanning and Sonador (the horse) steal the show. It won't blow you away, but it has a lot of heart to go around, and believe me, you'll find yourself cheering at the very end; I promise you that.




3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
It pays to go into movies with low expectations, because this one blew me away. Every single character, with the notable exception of Peter, clicked with me. Lucy (Georgie Henley) was just adorable; easily the best of the lot. The characters of Narnia were exceptional as well. I was surprised by how attached I grew to secondary ones like Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Oreius, Mr. Tumnus, and Fox. The White Witch, portrayed by Tilda Swinton, gave me chills (heh); she practically oozed evil just with her facial expressions. Liam Neeson did an admirable job as Aslan the lion, rock-steady and fearful when the time called for it. But the key scenes were Aslan's sacrifice on the Stone Table and the climactic battle between Narnia and the Witch's minions. I feared that director Andrew Adamson would take the former over the top with the whipping and slashing (ala The Passion of the Christ), but he showed remarkable restraint by keeping it true to what it was. The final battle was surprisingly intense for a Disney movie, packed with just enough emotion to keep things from feeling crowded. Excellent, excellent film.

And the Barb Award goes to ...

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

It came down to either Batman or Narnia. And where Batman has Katie Holmes, Narnia has Lucy. No contest.


And that wraps it up for this year's Barb Awards! Tune in again next year, same Barb time, same Barb channel, and same shameless Batman parody! (hehe...)

Finding Joy

My Christmas recap is a day late. But who cares? It's not like this blog is another of my class assignments, and I have to meet deadlines with each one of my posts. If that were true, I would have flunked out a long time ago.

I had to work at Chick-Fil-A for much of the day on Christmas Eve. I admit, when I first saw myself scheduled, I winced. Like most people, I imagine, work was the last thing I wanted to do on such a special day. I know that I'm a dreadful workaholic and tend to drown myself in my duties to the exclusion of fun and time being spent with friends and family. But I have feet of clay. I'm a slacker. I like to kick back and enjoy myself as much as anyone. Inwardly, I griped and whined about the hand I was dealt. But I decided to look at it this way. I'd be surrounded by eight or nine other people who, just like me, wanted to spend Christmas Eve with their folks. It made it easier to deal with because even though I was away from my family, I didn't feel as alone as I would've felt otherwise. Plus, God had me there for His purpose. People, our customers, the last-minute Christmas shoppers, needed us. No doubt they were feeling the stress of getting those elusive gifts, dealing with frustrating checkout lines, as well as putting up with the crush of holiday traffic jams (yikes!). They needed food. Nourishment. And a friendly smile and warm greeting. Even if all our fryers and bread tables and registers overloaded and maxed themselves to the brink, I hope we did lots of loving. The food and water of the world is only finite. As Jesus told the woman at the well, we will thirst again. But those who receive the love that Christ offers, and sample His food, the bread of life, will be satisfied spiritually. Filled with joy in the powerful name of Jesus. Our Messiah. Emmanuel. God with us.

Suddenly, working the backbar at a mall restaurant takes on a whole new significance. Maybe if I tried to remind myself of the many opportunities God puts out there for me to share His love, I would learn to be more thankful. I'm mindful of this fact every day I'm alive, but on Christmas I'm reminded anew of just how awful a sinner I am. I'm selfish, stubborn, hard-headed, and ignorant about so many things. I know that God loves and cares for me as His own child, and that He loves me because I am David, not because I'm super-spiritual or perfect in works. I can never be any of those things, and He wouldn't want me to be. But when I celebrate the birth of My Savior, who alone was perfect and without fault in every way imaginable, I just want to drop to my knees and weep. He loves me despite my sins, my failures, all the times I've turned my back on Him. He's always been there, just like a shepherd, waiting for his lost sheep to come running back into his arms. I'm amazed he hasn't put a bell on me. "Oh, listen. There's the bell ringing. David must have wandered away from me again but now he's coming back."

Okay, okay, lame attempt at humor, I know.

I'll try to stay on the subject. I worked at CFA until about 7:00 at night. We had a good shift; very hectic, but we made it through. I got a surprise gift from the manager; I'll definitely have to thank him for that. My family headed down to Whitmire for Christmas Eve dinner, gifts, and fireworks with my Mom's family. Yes, we shoot fireworks on Christmas Eve. Don't you? :) They said everyone missed me, but not nearly as much as I missed them. I went home and turned on all the Christmas tree lights and the fireplace gas logs so the house would be nice and bright for our devotional time. I sat up with Izzy, my dog, watching A Christmas Story (a charming movie, by the way) while I waited for them to get home, which they did soon after 9:00. Elves must have come by at some point in the evening, because we found new t-shirts for each of us lying under the tree. Ironically enough, mine, Susannah, and Baxter's were patterned after A Christmas Story, while my Mom and Dad's looked like A Charlie Brown Christmas. Anyway, we gathered for devotionals. Susannah started it by reading The Night Before Christmas as Mom provided visual aides for each line, hehe. Then Baxter read the story of Jesus' birth from Luke 2 in the King James Bible. He's gotten to be a very good reader. After that, I read a document my Dad had picked up from an online resource. It's called "Teach the Children," and yes, it's the same document that I posted here just a few days ago. I loved it the moment I saw it. I love the truths in there. The truths about Santa Claus. The truths about the ornaments and symbols of the Christmas season. The bell. The holly leaf. The candle. Even gifts. They represent much more than the commercialization that our world has heaped upon them. So I was glad to read it.

Then my Dad started talking about Jesus, specifically why He came to Earth the way He did. I have talked about that here, too. It was a meager and humble birth, not the grandiose arrival that everyone was expecting. It was a tiny, helpless baby, not an invincible, conquering ruler. In the company were animals and shepherds, not the high class of society. I'll never fully understand God's plan in the birth happening that way, but I suppose that was the whole point. It's not about our human expectations, our timetables, our predictions. It's about God's divine Will. Letting it happen as God sees fit for it to happen, and trusting in Him to do what is best. We aren't supposed to grasp all the answers, or even understand completely. If we did, God wouldn't be God. He would be grounded to a human understanding, no more than an idol or a manmade figurehead, unworthy of our praise and worship. It's the mysteriousness of God's plan that allows for faith, the first stepping stone of a deep, personal relationship with Him. Faith in something we can't see, comprehend, or physically latch onto. Impossible and absurd by the standards of our secular world. But faith makes all the sense in the world on the terms of our Heavenly Daddy.

After Dad talked, Mom started singing "Silent Night." She loves that song, and she knows I love to harmonize on the lyrics, so I chimed in with her melody. Was it really a silent night; that fateful eve in the manger stable with the Christ-child, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men? I don't know. The angels in heaven must have been rejoicing, so we know the gates of Paradise were anything but silent. The Bible said Mary treasured up all these things in her heart. She was probably overcome not only with the birth process, but with the significance of what had taken place. Keep in mind, Mary was only a little girl, probably no more than 14 or 16 years old, when she gave birth to the Son of God. It only makes sense that she remained quiet, taking it all in. And I can suppose the shepherds were still basking in the glow of the star of Bethlehem. Still hearing the angel's words comforting their fears, soothing their hearts with God's awesome promise. No doubt they were pretty excited. Maybe the silence had another meaning we don't yet understand. I can't really say anything for certain. But it's still a beautiful song.

My family then prayed the Lord's prayer, followed by personal prayers reflecting on Christmas, its true meaning, and for those in the world who don't know it. I'm so thankful to have hope in Jesus. He's the reason I rejoice; the rock I lean on in times of sadness. I know my Dad was thinking about his Dad, my grandfather, when he prayed. This time next month, it will have been two years since he died from cancer. Losing him was terribly hard for all of us. I could fill page after page of this blog talking about his wisdom, corny humor, comforting voice, and keen ability to understand, but this is getting lengthy enough already. Our hope in God's plan of salvation to all of those who believe on Him is what sustains us, and gives us strength to keep going. We know that we will see Poppy in Heaven one day. It's okay to be sad and miss him while we're here on Earth, but death is not the end. God holds mastery over death itself, and it will one day be banished forever along with sin and suffering. Death in itself is evil and will eventually meet its end, just like Satan. If that isn't a reason to hope in Jesus, then I don't know what is!

I don't usually sleep well on Christmas Eve, and this year was no different. So I just stayed up and listened to all of my church cantatas, singing along (quietly of course) as the Spirit led me. My sibs got up around 5:30, ready to dig in. So we headed downstairs to the Christmas tree for present time. I try to go slow on my presents since I'm the type who likes to savor the moment by actually taking time to look over presents, not unwrapping them, giving them a glance, then tossing them aside for the next one. So I'm usually the last child to get through my lot. My Dad cooked his traditional Christmas breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and smoked ham. I know that he looks forward to that every year, but it's not a good idea to enter the kitchen while he's slaving over the stove. It tends to get pretty smokey. I'm amazed we've never set off the fire alarm in the house. So breakfast was terrific, and at about 10:00, we got all dressed up (a few of us wearing new clothes from the morning) to go to church. Anna Kate sat with us and we had a wonderful service. It blended the traditional and contemporary styles into one package, so we enjoyed singing gospel hymns and swaying back and forth to some rousing modern praise. Randy preached a good sermon, and we celebrated the Lord's Supper. I wish every Christmas could come on Sunday. When I hear things like, "[insert name] Church will be closed this Sunday due to the Christmas holiday" and "Aw, Mom, we have to open presents! Do we have to get all dressed up for church?" my spirit aches with sadness. I wonder if some of these people would treat Easter the same way. I can just imagine it. "[insert name] Church will be closed Sunday due to the Easter Egg Hunt." "Hey Mom! What's Jesus have to do with the Easter Bunny?"

Sigh. I really am getting mauldin in my old age. I'll stop now.

My tardiness aside, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and that you found some hint of the true joy that is the Christmas spirit. Remember to look for it in the most unlikely places. After all, I found some in cooking fries and packaging chicken in a greasy backbar this year. Funny how God works like that. Then again, it's just like Him.

Song of the Day: Camp Kirkland - "The Ways of God"

Verse of the Day: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." - Romans 11:33-36

When Hope Was Born

It was the eve that it all came to pass. The night that God's plan foretold by the prophets of Israel would finally be revealed. The dusk penetrated by the dawn. The Messiah, the Christ-child was here. And hope was born.

Up until this point, the descendents of God's servant Abraham had struggled in captivity for nearly 700 years. It had been four centuries since the last prophet had spoken of Israel's long-awaited Deliverer. Within that span of time, religious groups like the Pharisees had taken it upon themselves to cement the Law as the centerpiece from which righteousness and holiness was attained. They built a fence around the law and encircled it with rituals and rites, which only served to further erode the spiritual heart of God's people. Ritual had supplanted reality. Reality was a lifetime of bondage to a foreign people. The Law, circumcision, and sacrifice were, they believed, the only possible connections to the God that had set in motion their circumstances. Many found obedience to these laws much too difficult, and so they turned to far easier and more satisfying idol worship. Where is God in all of this?

Where was the promised Messiah? He came. But not in the way they expected. Never in a million years were they anticipating a Savior's birth the way it took place. They wanted a couple of well-renowned status, not two nobodies like the virgin Mary and the poor carpenter Joseph. They wanted a birthplace of towering landmarks, festivities, and bright galas, not a shoddy little manger encompassed by hay, manure, and dirty, smelly animals. They wanted the first word to spread to kings and monarchs from far and wide, not broadcast by the Bethlehem starlight to a group of nameless shepherds in the fields. God's plan did not meet their expectations; despite Isaiah telling them the kind of Savior who would deliver them, they simply wanted another 'great' king like David. How short they sold themselves! For even David was "a man after God's own heart." He knew his one, true master.

A mere king was insufficient. He could not meet the standards set by mankind because of our depraved nature. The Savior had to be greater than man. Only God fits that bill. But at the same time, God had to become like a man in order for the transaction from bondage to liberty to take place. As Aslan subjected himself to Edmund's rightful torture, humiliation, and death sacrifice in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so it must be with us and God. Like Edmund, we are traitors. We've given in to selfishness and our own greedy desires, and in doing so, we have fallen into the deceptive clutches of Satan, our own White Queen. Our sentence is death, and it must be paid, or peace can never be possible. But we can't pay this sentence. Only God, as a man, can. It is only by his power that we are victorious against our White Queen and we are restored.

That man was God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Fully God and fully man. Where our rituals were useless, Jesus provided. Where our courage failed us, Jesus taught us to have faith. And where we could not stand and fight sin and death, Jesus bore them both on a wooden cross. And He triumphed. Once and forever.

This is when it all began. The night when hope was born.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas!

This won't be a long entry (seeing as I have to work on Christmas Eve. Sad, but what are you gonna do?). But I just want to say how much I have been blessed this week. So many moments of happiness and peace from God. I vowed that I would not waste this vacation from school, and thus far, it has been anything but a waste. I've had some memories that I will forever treasure, grown in several areas, had fun with family, and eaten more food than I probably should have. Hehe. Not that I've gained any weight mind you. Still tipping the scales at about 129 lbs.

I'll probably add more later, but I just want to wish all who stop by here a Merry Christmas Eve and a Christmas filled with love, laughter, and peace. Look for ways to share the love of Christ today. It's His birthday that we're celebrating; what could make Him happier than boosting someone's Christmas spirit on this special day? Soak in the moments when you're together with the ones that you love the most, because they are blessings gift-wrapped from the Father. Material possessions are only temporary. Gifts of the Holy Spirit are life-sustaining and forever.

Teach the Children

This is unofficially "Keep Christ in Christmas" continued. I ran across this on my Dad's desk early this afternoon. It sums up pretty much exactly what I was talking about yesterday. That we as Christians need to focus less on soap-boxing and consumer ethics, and more on actually doing what Jesus said to do. To be examples of Christ and to look for opportunities to raise people up and to teach them what that love means. Especially the children.


Teach the Children

This is how it happened.

I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.

He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. "What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat, and I saw that he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul that we all know.

He then answered me with a simple statement. "Teach the children!"

I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood there, bewildered, Santa said:

"Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten."

Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle.

"Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward Heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR.

"Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE.

"Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light, we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again, he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH. Then he placed it on the tree.

"Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of himself.

"Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will that we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF.

"Teach the children that a holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said:

"Teach the children that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON...Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!

"Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE and presented HIM with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."

Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree.

"Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.

"Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of our Savior's birth. The angels sang, 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men.'"

Suddenly, I heard a soft, twinkling sound. From his bag, he pulled out a BELL.

"Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind back to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me, and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said:

"Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas, and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."

Keep Christ in Christmas II

Last year, I posted an entry commenting on the efforts made by people and corporations in our country to take Jesus Christ - the reason we celebrate - out of the Christmas holiday. I will admit that a couple of my statements were unnecessarily provocational and took too much stock in information that wasn't entirely accurate. I wrote that post in an inspired mental state, having just listened to Dr. James Dobson comment about the situation on his radio show "Focus on the Family." It made me angry to hear the lengths to which people were going to remove Christ from Christmas in the name of political correctness. And the more I think about it, the more that I wonder just how much those same people believe personally in the value of PC. Are the reasons they give - equality and tolerance - truly valid? Or is it that they can't stand to watch people enjoy something that they themselves can't understand? And if that really is the case - attacking Christmas to bring some sense of clarity to the celebration - then what does that say about us Christians? Shouldn't we be doing more loving and service than "soap-boxing?"

What's made me consider this is the increasing amount of stories I'm hearing about Christian groups threatening to boycott stores like Wal-Mart and Target. Their reasons? The retailers have apparantly been naming their trees "holiday trees" instead of "Christmas trees," and gone with the seasonal mantra of "Happy Holidays," rather than "Merry Christmas." Now I myself don't see the problem with wishing somebody a Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings. But, apparantly by their thinking, I'm shutting out the true meaning of Christmas when I do that. What standard makes that accurate? To be quite honest, I'd be a little more worried about my heart if I was spending my time blindly slamming retailers than letting the Holy Spirit direct my activities. I'm not saying there isn't a time to be confrontational. Peter and John had to confront the Sanhedrin council, but they did so "filled with the Holy Spirit." And they had a lot more reason to act than over a retailer's label. But they, and the first followers of the early church, spent the majority of their time leading. Reaching out. Learning. Praying. Not being "know-it-alls."

Frankly, I think the idea of boycotting an entire store over a questionable slogan is rather foolish. It's almost like refusing to buy groceries from Publix just because they sell Buttermilk, which I don't like. Am I not going to shop there because of that? Of course not. A grocery store conventiently located one mile up the road from Furman? If a product or a slogan was my sole reason for driving someplace else out of my way to stock up on goods and survival stuff, then I think I'd need to seriously re-think a few things. I don't even know if that slogan is endorsed by every single cashier who works there. It's not like the people who actually stand behind the registers and slide goods across the scanner to ring up our purchases are consulted on such matters. I would at least want to learn more information about the inner workings of a store before making the bold move to cease going there. Slogan or no slogan, if I had a fever and Publix was the only store around with Motrin, I'd be up there in a minute's time.

The point behind this long-winded editorial is, I feel that we as Christians need to be focused on actually sharing and ministering about the reason that we celebrate Christmas. We might reach more people or at least persuade more people to listen if we don't come off as trying to make a sales pitch or weasel Christ into a purely business corner. Jesus wasn't about giving financial tips or trying to instigate mass protests. He showed what it was really about through His actions. He was patient with people (despite the overwhelming evidence of who he was), and He acted out of unconditional love (not petty gain or status), lowering himself to a servant's status. He let people whip, beat, ridicule, and spit on Him while bearing their burdens on a cross. He died so that they, and we, would not have to. That was the depth of the love of Christ. It is a sacrificial love that I know I need to do a better job of emulating. And we would all do well to act likewise. If only to bend one more ear. To make ourselves heard.

Stabs of Joy

I'll get to a "regular" update later, but I wanted to get this done first.

For five years, my church has shared our "Stabs of Joy" for the past year. Basically, they are times or moments in the year that we have experienced the Spirit of God or felt the joy of Heaven coming down in power and shining in us and around us. This has been quite a year for it. So here are my 2005 Stabs of Joy, in no real order:


- Joining the BCM Leadership Team. These people are just incredible. They have been a true blessing to me in ways I can't put into words. I love them dearly.

- "Leave it Behind." Our BCM spring Dinner Theater at Berea First Baptist Church. Once again, a wonderful oppurtunity to work with fabulous people and to worship God even through hectic practices and scene-blocking. Everyone involved was great, but I like to recall the unsung heroes of the production. Included are Matt McNair, our sound guy whose expertise and helpfulness were invaluble. Paul Triplett and Rodney Norvell, who came and played their characters without the benefit of practices like we had. Taylor for his stellar video and graphic work. Kat Garber, our stage manager, and a leader beyond her years. Jenn, John, and the other servers who prepared and served food for the performance, as well as waited tables and greeted people as they came in. God works in so many ways, especially in what goes on away from the stage and the spotlights. What a blessing that was.

- Worship under the stars. Over Beach Weekend, I went with BCM to Spring Maid Resort in North Myrtle. I made the mistake of sitting out on the sand during the heat of the day in my bare feet. Feet without one drop of sunscreen on them. You know what happened next. I'm in agony that evening; standing up and walking around required a herculean effort to ignore the pain. Somehow, I managed to join our praise team in leading a worship night on the beach. That night, I thanked God for the blissfully cool sand in which I buried my feet.

- VBS "Ramblin Road Trip." I've helped lead the music for the past few years at my church's VBS. But I've been fortunate in the past to have well-trained, experienced adults to rely on for help. This year was different. I got to work with a relative newcomer to our church who had never once done VBS. So for the first time, I was the veteran leader! We had an awesome week. As always, the kids made it great with their smiles, funny antics, LOUD voices, and bubbly enthusiasm. I wish I had a videotape of them doing "We Believe" in sign language.

- Creative Arts Camp. The first church-related activity that I really had to plan out on my own. Lots of prayer took place throughout the days leading up to it. But God totally provided everything for our drama section. We had fabulous helpers (Lynn, Lauren, and Justin), materials for skits, ideas and inspiration, and of course the kids!

- Johns' Island mission trip. Throwing down mortar and cement in 100 degree heat. Singing African American gospel songs at a retirement home. Playing silly, enhilirating games and contests on the beach. Those were only a few of the highlights of my week with old & new friends from Shannon Forest Christian School. Go Turtle Time!

- Chris & EA's wedding. Two incredible people whom I had the privilege of serving in BCM with last year and continue to see on occasion. I miss you guys!

- White Oak Children's Retreat. This kind of came up last minute, but it still managed to be fun and make an impact. Annie Ruth is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet and I cherish every chance I get to work with her. Answering the kids' questions about Christian faith was also great to do. And you can't beat bonfire songs!

- TNT: 10/4/05. A random TNT is one of my stabs of joy? I love each Tuesday Night Together with BCM, but I confess, the first few felt a little uneasy. Probably because I was actually helping to make it happen rather than just watching it happen. I felt that this TNT was when everything finally gelled together and flowed smoothly. The message, the music, everything.

- Anna Kate Rampey (and her family). *HUGS!!!* Love you, cherry sweet!

- Pittsburgh mission trip. What a great way to spend fall break. I hope I can go back this February.

- "Forever Gloria!" Our church Christmas cantata. Getting through the end of fall term was made much easier by reuniting with my choir buddies. The musical piece was incredible. Forever we'll sing "Gloria in excelsis deo!"


Honorable Mention (or those I don't feel like elaborating on, but want to name anyway):
- Friday Afternoon Football
- The "Bubbles" Family Group!
- Going to Zaxby's with Jenn Wilder
- Praise & Worship Team
- Blake Campbell
- Air hockey on Paladin Nites
- Sunday night prayer meetings
- Tumbling down a hill at Robert Morris University
- Watching Poltergeist with Karrah, Leanna, and Hudson
- Talks with John Dickson in the DH
- Learning the "Freedom" dance
- Beautiful sunshine
- Passing the PRAXIS I on the first try
- Freshman Survival Night (ice cream!)
- Suite Life with Will Swinson (a.k.a. "Zackster")
- Random hugs
- Hot chocolate
- Quiet time
- SFC Crusader Volleyball
- Religion-33 (Paul's Life and Thought)
- No insects in my dorm room :)
- Brisk, chilly weather
- The Blackburns' Sunday School class
- Growth in my walk with Christ

That's all for now! Goodnight and God bless!

Song of the Day: Amy Grant - "Love Has Come"

Verse of the Day: "Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4

Movie Review: "King Kong"

Breath-taking love story, but do fun and soul suffer?

I'm no professional film critic when it comes to movie reviews, so don't expect anything here on par with Roger Ebert or Christopher Null or Bob Longino. Those guys are professionals, and they get paid to do these things. I'm just a college student with an opinion and a blog from which to share it for those with nothing better to read.

Now that we have that settled, here's my critique...

It's no secret that the film industry has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of director Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings fame) and his 25-foot mega-blockbuster remake of King Kong. In comparison with recent years, the box office has been in a noticable decline. 2004's hit The Passion of the Christ, which grossed $370 million in domestic revenue, helped gloss over that fact last year. It helped funnel in more money than the box office would have seen otherwise because it lured wide varities of audiences like conservative Christians to check it out. This year's offering of films, while not terrible, hasn't quite met expectations, and the late-season surge made possible by films Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe can at this point only chip away at the deficit. But this is the big monkey everyone's been waiting for.

Kong grossed a solid but comparitively unspectacular $9.8 million in its Wednesday premiere this week. But the critics and film analysts have kept a guarded optimism about its longevity, supported by initially positive reviews. This film isn't slated to be an overnight hit like The Return of the King or Spider-Man 2, but a steady success. The goal is to win the marathon, not the opening lap. Think Titanic. That's the strategy that Kong is banking on.

So what did I think? Does the movie deliver?

Yes and no.

Jackson's three hour length gives him the freedom to go for the jugular in many areas and it shows. Chase scenes piled upon chase scenes, gory battles with gigantic insects and T-Rex stampedes all provide a sensory thrill ride. You feel like you're being entertained, that's for sure, but just the same, you can't help but wish the movie would cut to the chase already. The first third of the movie prior to Kong's first appearance felt like filler material. Just the obligatory establishment of the Great Depression era (which was filmed in such a way that it came off a little too documentary-ish) and trying to flesh out a crowded cast as we wait for the title character to take the stage.

Don't read me wrong on that last point. There were some fine characters in the ship's crew that got some great moments to shine. Jamie Bell as Jimmy and Evan Parke as Hayes were fun to watch, and you definitely felt for Jimmy as he watched his father figure Hayes ripped away. But in the back of your mind, you know in the end that the side characters are doomed to either be devoured or stomped. Only a few are going to survive to see the climax (Ann, Jack, Carl). So while they had some good scenes, their lack of importance to the main plot made them feel like unnecessary fluff. Maybe I'm being too critical. A newcomer to Kong may like them more.

One scene from the side characters that struck me as an critical theme was Jimmy's reading Heart of Darkness and Hayes' monologue of the Marlow character. It made for a nice parallel to Carl Denham. Very neat touch.

The first third of the movie feels painfully stilted and awkward, and what's worse is that even the characters seem to be aware of it, because they save their best for later. It's not until the ship crashes ashore on Skull Island that it really starts to get cranking. Very elaborate scenery. The island natives were downright creepy, but still, the part where Carl tries to hand the little boy a piece of chocolate ... and the ensuing result ... cracked me up. The flick does a good job of building up to the first appearance of Kong, with just the right level of foreshadowing given by the island legend and the chants of the native tribe. The CGI in the rescue boat scene was a little too obvious.

King Kong, the"eighth wonder" himself, really shines as a living, breathing, emotional character. I have never seen a CGI creature with believable expressions and feelings pulled off so brilliantly. His movements were spectacular and you couldn't help but tear up when he looked upon Ann coming toward him in the city spotlight. I really liked the constant focusing on the pair's eyes. His fight scenes were stunning and downright brutal. Every time you had thought Kong vanquished a creature, back he came to tear into the mighty ape. That added a palpable sense of drama and unpredictability to the fights. The constant changing of scenery and landscapes also helped with that.

As we all know, the real crux of this movie was Ann and Kong, "beauty and the beast." And I have to say that Jackson creates a vivid portrayal of love between two different species here. We feared for them, laughed with them, cried for them (well, those of us willing to show emotions). This relationship was powerful and believable, and it succeeded in besting the original in that category, which primarily featured Ann screaming and doing little else. Sure, Naomi Watts' Ann has her moments to scream, but she gets a whole bag of emotions to show in it. The silly, ludicrous frozen pond scene (that's some REALLY thick ice) was pushing it, but I can overlook that.

What seems to be missing from this movie, however, is a sense of fun. Despite all of Jackson's efforts, sometimes he works too hard to pay homage to the classic by wringing every last drop of emotional angst out of the scenes. This movie is a remake, and he never lets us forget it. This is especially true in the first part of the film as Jackson tries to flesh out too many characters and pack in enough backstory to distract from where the movie eventually goes. It's okay to play it a little loose and have fun with the source material. There are moments, but not enough.

A sense of soul is also not quite there. We all remember the classic, final line of the '33 film. "'Twas beauty killed the beast." This time, although Jack Black makes a good effort, it doesn't quite recapture that same feeling. It is almost canned, just tossed in there in a moment of enlightenment. And we're left searching for what the nature of the film is. True love is sometimes sacrificed in the greedy corruption of a money-driven world? Kong wasn't the monster, but the men who tried to use both him and Ann for their own purposes were? Both of these are good themes, and I'm sure there are others in there, but I wasn't sure which, if any, that Jackson sought to convey.

All in all, though, King Kong did enough things right to entertain me, respect the original masterpiece, and smash me into my seat with a vast array of phenomenal special effects, CGI, and animatronics. It could've been shorter and perhaps been better, but give them credit for having the ambition to go the distance. I'll be watching to see if Kong indeed wins the marathon. In my opinion, it's off to a good start.

Grade: B

Finishing the Race

And so, another fall term at Furman comes to a close. I had my essay test on Paul this morning. It was about as challenging as I expected it to be, and then some. But I went into it knowing I gave it my best and prepared the best way I knew how. I actually couldn't sleep much thinking about it last night and ended up waking up around 4:30 AM. I knew there was no way I was getting back to sleep, so I cracked open my Bible, PowerPoints, and cheat card and started up again. I studied in Johns Hall until about 6:30 when I moved my stuff to our classroom in Furman Hall. I figured a little breakfast would help the old weary brain, so off I skipped to the Dining Hall in a 15-20 degree Wind Chill. Had a very nice breakfast with Lauren, who apparantly has issues with sleep as well. Then I headed back and reviewed a little more until about 8:30, at which time, I closed the books, so to speak. So come what may. I can accept whatever happens on the final. Although I really, really want an A in this class.

All right, exciting news! I received an A in both English-21 (Literature) and English-39 (Grammar) this semester! Very pleased about that. Conquering Dr. Rogers' system felt quite vindicating, almost like resolving a subplot left from freshman year. So now it all comes down to the outcome of my Paul final, which I'm not abolutely confident about (but then again when am I ever confident coming out of an exam? I always feel like something between the likes of roadkill and slag). But whatever happens to it, that'll prove to be a much-welcomed boost for my GPA.

So anyway, I'm back home now (I had to rush back to Furman this evening to grab A Christmas Story before they closed the Residence Halls) and relishing every moment. I have eaten fried chicken and carrots for supper, listened to lots of Christmas music (mostly from the cantata), picked out the last part of Anna Kate's present at the mall, helped my brother set up a VHS player in his room so he could watch movies, started wrapping gifts, and picked up my CFA work schedule. I'll have a good few days by next week, but nothing too overwhelming.

So ... Fall Term? Academic-wise, it's been the most productive of my semesters at this fine liberal arts institution. I have a very real shot at a 4.0 average for this term, a definite first in my three years at Furman. Spiritually, it has gone from the mountain peak to the desert place. But God has pulled me through it. He has shown me time and again that if I just lay my burdens at His feet, He'll take care of them. I know that His shoulders are much broader and stronger than mine, so I need to do much a lot of that. Socially, I have learned that friends are the best therapy for maladjusted workaholics like me. Consider yourself blessed beyond imagination if you find yourself surrounded by true, genuine friends who are kind enough to listen to you whine and share their burdens with you. I need to do better at hearing the concerns of others and lifting them up. You never know when some one might need a boost of encouragement. All I know is, I can't be dry for long when I have friends like these. I have watched them grow and mature in their own faith and spiritual journies; it has been an amazing thing to see.

Song of the Day: CeCe Winnans - "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

Verse of the Day: "I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but to all of those who have longed for his appearing." - 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Shhh! "Studying!"

Yeah, right. When you have to put quote marks around your activity, it usually means you're avoiding it like the plague.

So yes, I have only one exam left to prepare for. It's on Paul, and it's tomorrow morning at 9:00. The thing is, it's one of those essay tests that could cover a broad range of topics. Anything is fair game. And that only makes my job more difficult because I don't know what topics to focus in on. Our interpretation of Paul on the resurrection, marriage, homosexuality, women, freedom/slavery, etc, any one of those could show up as possible essay topics. Even with the aid of a 3 x 5 index cheat card and a non-cliffnotes Bible, this is going to prove a challenge for me.

So how did I prepare for this exam, you ask? Did I spend my entire week reviewing notes and PowerPoints like I should have? Not a chance. Even today, I spent my afternoon with good friends Lauren, Taylor, and TJ (fellow Paul classmates) as we sat around in Taylor's room half-watching LotR: Return of the King while bouncing ideas off each other. That counts as studying, doesn't it? Their cheat cards looked far more impressive than mine, but I'm still not finished adding to it. We probably wasted more time than we spent doing Paul-related work, but it's okay. Times like these are when lifetime memories are created, and I'll treasure those much more than the grade I get on an essay exam. Our conversations rambled on to any random topic we could think of, from cow jokes to Disney sequels to creepy memories of snakes and spiders to Seesalt memories. Oh yes, and there were the occasional jabs between Lauren and TJ that made me wonder if Taylor and I would end up playing referee to a fight. We went to Firehouse for dinner, and I ordered a 6-foot ham & mayo sub. Wow; guess I was even more hungry than I thought. Even better, Tiffany and Kristin also came and ate with us. Good times, all.

So anyway, I'm going to see how much else I can accomplish on the studying before I decide to call it a night. I'll be finished soon! I just want it to be over with. Many prayers would be appreciated, s'il vous plait. Goodnight!!

Song of the Day: Amy Grant - "Breath of Heaven"

Verse of the Day: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." - Luke 1:46-48

Forever Gloria!

As promised, my thoughts on our Christmas cantata...

It was fantastic! I'm not exaggerating when I say I look forward to this every year. Not only because the actual performance is always great, but it draws in so many facets of our church. The Sanctuary Choir, the orchestra, children's ministry, drama, lighting and scene production crews, women's ministry ... everyone gets to contribute in some way. In the end, it combines together for a massive celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The theme for this year's musical was "Forever Gloria" (as if the headline didn't give it away). It was composed by Randy Vader and Jay Rouse, with a few notable contributions from Camp Kirkland and Handel's Messiah. Even as the cantata begins with the orchestra performing the "Canticle of Glorias" overture, you know you're in for a powerful experience. The opening canticle sets the tone immediately and gives such an air of triumph and regality, and it should! We are here to celebrate the birth of our Messiah, our Mighty King, a birth made even more incredible by the way it took place. Our Savior didn't come to Earth as the all-powerful and conquering ruler everyone expected. He wasn't born in a lavish palace flanked by royal figures and monarchs. Jesus Christ was born in a dirty, dingy, and smelly manger stable. It all happened according to God's plan. No small chance that Bethlehem was chosen as the site of His birth. Bethlehem was known as the House of Bread. Isn't that so appropriate for Jesus? From the House of Bread comes the Bread of Life, the giver of eternal life to all people. As I enter the Sanctuary with the rest of the choir on the tail end of the canticle, I feel like I'm flashing back to that wondrous night, and perhaps getting just a tiny glimpse of the significance of this little helpless baby's birth.

The triumphant tone stays strong through the opening two songs: "Rejoice!" and "Gloria!" I cannot describe the feeling I get when we hit the chorus of these incredible works. "Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! Rejoice!" Repetitive, I know, but that's all I'd want to do in the presence of Jesus the Messiah. To bow down and rejoice with all of my might, at the top of my lungs, every shred of dignity and pride left behind. Think about it! This is the ultimate gift from Heaven above, the fulfillment of all the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah. Emannuel, God with us, has come at last! Wow! There's a point in the song where we repeat the word "rejoice" over all four sections (soprano, alto, bass, tenor). I love how it starts strong, and yet restrained, a little mysterious. The second time is stronger, louder, and yet still a bit held back, and the third hits fever pitch, practically yelling out the words: "Rejoice! O Come! Emmanuel!" "Gloria" is simply a really fun song made even more amazing by the contribution of our children's drama players, who come racing down the aisles as the narrator finishes and do an interpretive dance to the music. Watching them get into it really helped those of us in the choir, and we needed to be just as loud as in the first one. Near the end, we repeat the word "Gloria" as an intended closing chorus, and as the music draws to a close, the conductor stops the music, and the audience erupts into applause. We wait about five seconds, then he strikes up the chorus again, we fold our books to our sides and start clapping along to it. Reprise! The volume at the very end of the reprise about knocked me over!

The tone becomes a little more subdued (but still strong and clear) by the third song "Noel, Sing We all Noel" as we move to a celebration of the reverence of the Christ-child. The harmony is beautiful, especially once the tenor and baritones split off from the rest of the choir and then rejoin to sing "Gloria in excelsis deo!" The fourth piece is sort of a combination of two pieces: "Lovely Baby" and "Jesus, King of Angels," and it marvelously continues the reverence theme built up in the third song. Celebrating the lovely baby Mary had and how it "must have come from Heaven to turn out this way." The guitar does a great job in accompaniment with this. "Star of Bethlehem" is just precious because it opens with a child narration and solo. Gracie Strawhorn especially did a great job on it.

"Follow the Light" was difficult to sing at first, but I got better with it the more I practiced. The solo is marvelous, it seemed all the solos were good for this cantata. "Three Gifts" was another tough one because I had to figure out where the tenors came in with the rest of the choir, but once I got that down, I enjoyed it. Then we began the invitation time with "I Give You My Heart." Randy Kirby did a good job leading the music on that piece; Pastor Randy gave a very moving altar call that I'm sure touched a lot of hearts in our congregation. It's pretty much a given that events like these draw in people who are lost or suffering, and I could feel the Holy Spirit moving in a mighty way through the sanctuary. I hope some lives were changed last night; even if it was just one, it would be well worth it. Because that's what we're all here for: to become one with Christ, and help others to do the same.

"Forever Gloria" starts off very mysterious, but the chorus kicks it back up to the triumphant tone. I was saving my voice for this piece especially, because I wanted to hit the chorus at full power; it is that incredible to sing. Our finale was called "Thine is the Kingdom" and it includes the climactic chorus from Messiah. This is where the tenors seriously have to dig deep to hit the impossibly high, sustained notes close to the end. There were several moments where I thought my larynx was going to burst, or I'd snap a few vocal cords. But somehow I managed to hold it to the end. "Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown Jesus Lord with many crowns!"

So, in a nutshell, this cantata was fabulous! I had to learn it in a very short amount of time, but everything came together so well. I had a great time with lots of terrific people, we helped spread the true meaning of Christmas and I think - no, I'm sure - God lifted our hearts up at the same time. Forever we sing "Gloria, in excelsis deo!"

Song of the Day: Casting Crowns - "Your Love is Extravagant"

Verse of the Day: "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." - Galatians 4:4-5

Older, Not Wiser

Well, well. My blog officially turns one year old as of today. I'd say this calls for a flashback...

(Friday, December 10, 2004)
Musings of a Lone Wolf

Well, this is my second attempt at an online journal of sorts. My first try rather fell through when the site owner started charging all members of the community for their daily entries. So hopefully this attempt will last a little longer.

Anyway, enough with the exposition. Hello to everybody out there in Blog Land. The name is Tigerzilla, and for now, that will be the name by which I'd like to be preferred. Only a few people in the online community know my real name, and I know I can trust them. I'm presently a sophomore at the wonderful Furman University in South Carolina, and as you might expect, we are currently under the gun from ... that's right, our friends the finals.

I've already had an exam in Philosophy, two eight-page papers in succession. And I'll have two more exams in Math and Health classes next week. I'm already certain Math is going to be the toughest of the bunch. I seem to have met my Waterloo in this subject. I'm not flat-out terrible at it, but I don't perform as well as I'd like. Of course, that's nobody's fault but my own, and it's up to me to try and change that. Here's hoping.

I'm grateful for the clear, blue, windy weather today. That's my blessing for the day. After last night's torrential rainstorm, which I was unfortunate (and stupid) enough to get caught in, the return of the crisp, beautiful pre-winter skies is truly a welcome sight. I must say, this glorious Creation reminds me every day how awesome my God is and how majestic His works are. All too often, it's easy to take for granted things like good weather, relatively clean air, and all the wonders the Earth has to offer. I just pray that we never forget who we owe all of this glorious creation to: our Lord and Savior, who loves us unconditionally and will never, ever forsake us.

I can't wait for next week to be halfway over. Exams will be finished, and I'll be going home to my family! :) I miss them like crazy, and it hurts me to be away from them for so long. Next Wednesday cannot come quickly enough. For that matter, neither can Christmas. Hey, who says we can't all be kids at heart this time of year?

That's about all for now, folks. Until next time, keep an eye to the sky, live long and prosper, and dance like there's no tomorrow. Of course, you didn't hear that from me. ::trips over my feet::


Hm. It's interesting to look at things in retrospect. Obviously, I'm not really a lone wolf anymore (well, in some ways I still am, but not in the relationship sense). I've long since dropped my old, corny screen name Tigerzilla. I've become a lot more receptive to personal knowledge in the online community (but I'm still very careful with who I share things with). All three of my 2004 Fall classes turned out just fine - even Math, the old Waterloo. I haven't gotten caught in any torrential rainstorms since that night one year ago, but I do continue to see God in the wonders of His Creation. I've gotten an even better understanding of what the love of Christ means for my life (but I'm still growing in it). I still miss my family terribly when I'm away at Furman, but it's become more and more my second home. And I am still very much a kid at heart when it comes to Christmas. Hey, who isn't?

Don't ask me about the quote at the end, though. I don't even remember where I picked that up from...

Furman's season ended today as the Paladins lost 29-23 to Appalachian State. A shame; from the sound of it, we were on the receiving end of some very questionable calls and unlucky breaks. But - spilled milk. No sense crying over it. We had a great year; nothing about what happened today changes any of that. We finished up a lot better than many people thought at the start of the year. It's been fun watching the team as well as watching the fans get a lot more involved in supporting the players. Always great to see. Great job, FU! Go Paladins!

Our choir held the first performance of our Christmas cantata "Forever Gloria" tonight! But I'll reserve comments about that for tomorrow - I'm tired, and we've got two more shows to do. Goodnight and God bless!

Song of the Day: Vader and Rouse - "Forever Gloria!"

Verse of the Day: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." - Matthew 1:22-23

Early Bird Gets the Gifts

I've been pretty moody and philosophical in my last few posts. So I think it'll be a nice break to just have a silly random post again.

Anna Kate and I watched "The Polar Express" last night. It's practically her favorite movie, and I could see why. Whatever your feelings about Santa Claus, this movie will challenge you to set aside your adult half and view it through the eyes of an innocent little child. If only to be able to hear the silver bell at the very end of the movie. The voice talents of Tom Hanks (who did pretty much every adult on the train) also helped my enjoyment a lot.

Oh yeah, we also watched the second half of "Scrooged," starring Bill Murray. It's a very disturbing movie on all the weird levels, but still very funny. I'll go on the record as saying the Ghost of Christmas Present creeps me out.

I had to have a new battery installed for my car yesterday after it zonked out on me at Furman Tuesday morning. Considering that's the first major problem it's had since I got it last Christmas, I'd say it's been in capable hands.

I got to Haywood at 9:00 this morning to pick up my paycheck from Thanksgiving weekend (it was nice to have a summer vacation-esque amount again). And I figured as long as I was there, I'd go ahead and get a little of my Christmas shopping done. A little turned into a lot as I managed to take care of my family presents, as well as get started on Anna Kate's. And because I know she'll stop by here at some point, I'll say no more about it. Nyah. :)

Oh yeah; local sports update. Furman football travels to Boone, NC on Saturday for the I-AA semifinals. Their opponent? None other than SoCon rival, Appalachian State. We took care of business against the Mountaineers in October, beating them 34-31, but that took place within the friendly confines of Paladin Stadium. Plus, this is Furman in the playoffs. Anything can happen (and usually does). But nevertheless, I predict the Fighting Football Paladins will spot ASU an early lead (along the lines of 14-0, maybe), only to come roaring back behind the arm of Ingle Martin and the speed of Justin Stepp. Furman takes a close one, 24-21. One victory from the title game. To all my fellow football faithful lucky enough to travel by bus to Boone - cheer your lungs out, guys! Good luck!

Song of the Day: Jaci Valesquez - "The Chipmunk Song"

Verse of the Day: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." - John 15:5&8

Emergence

I guess this week has been a time to do a lot of reflecting. And that, of course, applies to my humble little blog as well. Last time, I followed up on an old movie I watched. This time I'm touching base on some real tough feelings that I've confided in this little space.

For the longest time, I've felt like I've been stuck in a "desert place" of my faith. I'm not saying I lost it or had any crisis. Faith grows stronger the more it gets tested. But I started out Fall term with so much ambition and spirit in my pursuits. I felt excited about the future and the events that lay ahead. I suppose a large part of that had to do with my joining the BCM Leadership Team. The chance to be a part of a group of servant leaders for Christ, a force that nurtures and stimulates the love of Jesus in ourselves and others empowered me. I genuinely love each member of the team. They are my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I felt so humbled to be serving next to them.

Events like the Freshman get-togethers, Katartidzo, and the Pittsburgh mission trip only fed my passion and gave me an even greater feel for the Holy Spirit's presence. I grew closer to new people, learned new names and new faces, forged closer relationships with those I already knew, and felt myself challenged in different, exciting ways. I felt like I was changing on the inside. God was making a new work out of me. Into what, I have no earthly idea.

But somehow, as time went on, into late October and up, my fire began to burn out. I wasn't unaware of this. It was more obvious to me than to those closest to me, although I'm sure they noticed something wasn't quite right. I felt myself slipping back into my cold, melancholy persona that I developed in middle school, building up walls around my feelings again, turning off my emotions, losing myself in studies. And I felt powerless to do anything.

I didn't talk a lot during those weeks. I hung out much less with my friends at lunch, around the dorms, and even TNT. I plunged into daily prayer and quiet time harder than ever. Time after time, I'd cry out to God to show me the light at the end of my tunnel. It wasn't that I lost myself completely in the desert place. Truth be told, I think we all need to experience desert places in our spiritual journey from time to time. Periods in which you feel as if your passion is dying out, and all you can do is cry out to God, lean on Him just to sustain what you've got left. Feelings are finite. No matter how high they get, you can't stay at that level all the time, always on fire with spirit. Eventually, things will bring you down and erode your passion to the point where your foundation in Christ is all that keeps you standing firm. Helps you get out of bed every day. I didn't tell anyone so, but that's where I was.

I can't point to any specific cause for why I've felt this way. It's just one of those dry periods. I haven't been able to help it. I know God is still there and that He loves me, but I suppose sometimes it's harder to find Him. Or He hides His presence from us. I don't claim to understand why, but I accept it as one of those things about Him that is way beyond my meager understanding. Faith isn't supposed to be understood, be rational or even make sense. At least not by the world's standards. But by God's standard, sometimes that faith is all the strength that I have. It sustains me, keeps me going, gives me something to believe in when all my other wells run dry. Praise be to God.

In the past week or so, I feel that I've emerged from my desert place somewhat. For the first time in a long while, I've laughed again, hung out with people regularly, even sang with my full voice at TNT the other Tuesday night. I had tried to sing a couple times before, but midway into it, this awful feeling would come over me. That I was not supposed to be up there, that I was being a phony. And I'd just step away from the microphone and walk away to the side wall and just bury my face in my hands, praying silently to myself. But I managed to sing this week. So I guess the point is, I don't know why I felt dry for so long, and then suddenly God erupted a spring in my heart. You just have to keep seeking God and never stop. It's lots harder when He seems so far away, but He'll never leave us. It's just harder to find Him sometimes. Makes me look all the more to Heaven; being with God forever.

Song of the Day: 4HIM - "Ready to Fly"

Verse of the Day: "Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to Him for protection and you will be glad." - Psalm 34:8

Ernest Saves Christmas

I mentioned in my previous post that I watched this movie last night. You might be wondering why I consider this movie, of all Christmas movies, to be a bonafide classic.

Sure, it's a comedy. No qualms about that. There's a lot of laugh-out-loud scenes, slapstick humor, and rambling digressions from my old pal Ernest P. Worrell. Sure, it's a very simple, straight-forward story that probably won't appeal to people searching for Christmas movies packed with gritty serious drama. Sure, there's a lot of fantastic elements in it that will turn off people who prefer urban, down-to-earth settings over cheap-looking theatrics.

But there's a whole lot more to this movie than that. A deeper meaning is present here in this plot, and it teaches a bigger lesson than just plain entertainment. Ernest Saves Christmas is about more than Santa Claus' decision to retire and pass on his toy sack to an unknowing successor, enlisting the aid of Ernest along the way. Of course Ernest saves Christmas, but there's something else that gets saved as well. Hope. Faith. A child-like innocence in the magic of the season is saved from the cynicism and holiday-jaded people that threaten to destroy it forever.

Like I said, in this movie "Santa" (Douglas Seale), after holding down the job much longer than he should have, comes to Orlando, FL to seek out his replacement. His candidate is a man named Joe Curruthers (Oliver Clark) who just recently had his children's television show canceled and is working out of the children's museum when we first meet him. Immediately we see why Santa has chosen him. Unlike many of the other adults who show up in this film, Joe is honest, kind-hearted, and loves children sincerely. On his way from the airport, Santa bumps into our star, Ernest, who works as a cab driver in this movie, and hitches a ride to the museum to meet with Joe.

During the ride, we see how much Ernest loves Christmas. He loves everything about it. The trees, the songs, the laughter and smiles, chestnuts on an open fire, sleighbells in the snow ... The things he says about the holiday may read like cliches if we heard them today. Not to me. Whether it's Jim Varney's passionate tone or just the magic of the movie, I don't know. But this is a man with a child's heart and faith. It's so unbelievable to see an adult with the kind of innocent joy Ernest has about Christmas. Here's a man willing to screech to a halt on a crowded road in order to rescue a Christmas tree that falls into traffic. A man who believes without hesitation that the old man he's giving a ride to the museum is none other than Saint Nick himself. Just because he says so. That's all it takes.

Ernest: "I don't mean to insult you seeing as how we just met, but you know who you kind of remind me of?"
Santa: "Santa Claus?"
Ernest: "I guess you hear that a lot, huh?"
Santa: "Yes, well, it's to be expected."
Ernest: "Because you look like him?"
Santa: "Because I am him."
Ernest: "Well, how about that...?"

Unfortunately, Santa's plan runs into some complications. First he loses his sack (it gets left in Ernest's car and winds up in the hands of another co-star, whom we'll address in a minute), then gets taken away by the police who think he's delusional, disoriented. It's up to Ernest and the aforementioned co-star to get Santa out of the slammer and get to Joe before 7:00 on Christmas Eve, or both Santa Claus and the magic of Christmas is lost.

Even worse, other people have their eyes on Joe, too. They want him to play a role in a holiday film that they're putting on. It's your basic garden-variety slasher flick, but it has serious implications for our future Santa Claus. Agreeing to this movie means compromising his morals, good character, everything the children loved his show on TV for. Everything decent about himself. But then again, the other option is putting his faith and trust in some old cook who shows up at his doorstep and tells him he must become the new Santa. What path will Joe take?

The other big subplot in this film is that of our other co-star: Harmony Starr (Noelle Parker). She's a kid who has run away from home and has taken to subterfuge and deception. She lies about her circumstances (even her own name is false; it's really Pamela Trenton) and scamming restaurant owners to get a meal. Because this is her only viable means of getting by (or so she thinks), she's convinced that this is how the world works. There's no room for blind faith in a Santa Claus or even Christmas. It's a cynical world in which only the smart and clever survive.

Of course, Pamela's struck immediately by Ernest's joy and innocence. It's meant to provide a stark contrast of beliefs, but the true confrontation is between Pamela and Santa, who is perceptive enough to see right through her facade. He brings her deception and cynicism to the forefront, but she still attempts to deny it and changes the subject to either Santa or Ernest. She steals Santa's sack of toys and plans to use it as her ticket to the life of riches and worldly wealth she's always wanted. But as she waits for the train to depart Orlando, she starts having doubts and wonders if this is what she really wants, who she really is. The pivotal moment comes when she hears a boy trying to convince his younger sister there's no such thing as Santa Claus. Harmony exits. Pamela returns. So Ernest not only saves Christmas, but he saves her child-like innocence and fher aith. That is the true salvation.

Anyway, I love this movie. Watch it for yourself and see what you get out of it. And hey, enjoy the comedy and the laughs for what they are, too.

Song of the Day: Delirious? - "Rain Down"

Verse of the Day: "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" - Hebrews 12:7