Believe in Yourself

In Survivor Amazon, one of the survivors, a middle school principal, brought his school’s banner as his luxury item. On it, it said “Believe in Yourself.”
I received a comment tonight from a parent of one of my Wednesday night Bible class students. She said that her son had really enjoyed the class and that he was getting alot out of it. This is coming from someone who I don’t even know. So it makes me feel good that kids are getting something out of the class. Sometimes I prepare and prepare and I’m not sure the kids are listening. But the part that I don’t know is that they are listening. And they are getting something out of the class.
That same family placed membership at church tonight.
Believe in yourself. Even if others don’t believe in you. Believe in yourself.

Huntsville

May 1987 was when my 6th grade class went on our journey to the NASA Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. This was big time stuff to us 6th graders. We all wore our class t-shirts – red with airbrushed names on the back. I got my first Walkman tape player just for this trip.
And we were let loose for free time more or less without the annoyance of chaperones. No wonder this was big time. It meant a certain degree of independence for us. Our own bit of NASA more or less in our own backyard. That is, if our backyard extends to the greater metropolitan area of Huntsville.
So I did go to Huntsville this weekend. No Space and Rocket Center for us. Instead it was video games. And trips to Target. It wasn’t necessarily as big time as my 6th grade trip. Fun. But not earth shaking.
I think what I found is that video games are time wasters. And not much else. Probably helps you develop hand-eye coordination. But I don’t think it would get you a job.
Speaking of hand-eye coordination, I need to see the eye doctor about glasses. Hmmmm….

String Quartet Tributes

If you do an Amazon search for “String Quartet Tribute” you’ll find lots of selections. I’ve listened to samples of some of them. I’m torn in buying some of them, particularly the U2 and Foo Fighter tributes. However I’m very much aware that there is a good chance that some tracks are indeed elevator music. “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is just plain awful in string quartet version. The songs that sound good are the ones that are ballads. “All I Want Is You” by U2 comes to mind. “Yellow” by Coldplay is another good one. I find myself wondering what “Under the Bridge” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers sound like.
It may all be just a fad, kinda like the bluegrass versions (Pickin’ on…). Many of these albums just came out this year or last year. I’m not sure who is this 4 person string quartet is. But it looks like they just go around covering other people’s songs somewhat as a novelty album. And then make money off of die hard fans that need it for their wedding.

There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You

Ben Folds’ new song “There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You” would have been much better if there hadn’t been so many curse words throughout the song. It’s good music. But vulgar. Ben Folds would have made it much further if he could control his potty mouth. Some excerpts from “There’s Aways Someone Cooler Than You” (You get the idea of the song):

Now that I’ve got the disease
In a way I’m relieved
‘Cause I don’t have to stress about it like you do
I might just get up and dance
Or buy some acid-wash pants
When you don’t care then you got nothing to loose
And I won’t
Hesitate
‘Cause every moment life is slipping away
It’s ok
Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall
But there’s always someone cooler than you

Worry

I need this right now:

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:33-34

Bill Cosby at Lipscomb

I guess I should post some thoughts about Bill Cosby’s performance at Lipscomb April 30. It was sold out. Possibly upwards of 5,000 people there. I had bought our seats knowing that there might have been a chance we’d be staring at Bill Cosby’s back the entire time, since the usual setup would be to have the stage on one side of the arena. But fortunately it was round robin style.
Bill came out wearing a purple Lipscomb t-shirt with “Hello Friend” written on it. I later found out what “Hello Friend” meant. I wonder if Cosby ordered the shirt beforehand and had it printed on there. No mention of Hello Friend from Cosby. I guess he figured we’d look it up ourselves.
Before starting his routine Cosby saluted those who had been killed and wounded serving in the war and their families. There seemed to be enough standing ovations before he really got started I had wondered if too much time had elapsed. Cosby has a tendency to turn serious on you.
Cos brought two brothers on stage (ages 7 and 9) whom he had met in the dressing room area. He managed to do a great job improvising with them, by just asking them questions about why they get into arguments and how they share their drawer space. (Hint: their boxers are in the same drawer….The Horror!).
After they left Cosby went on about the Bible. It turned awfully silent as he mentioned the Bible and God, because at Lipscomb with a church of Christ crowd, there are some things that you don’t joke around with. Cosby kept mentioning that there must be some pages missing in the Bible since his helpmate wasn’t always the best. He did mention that seemingly just a short time after the woman had been created, that she starts to have a conversation with a reptile.
When being presented a picture from a fan, who mentioned the picture was of his 4 sons, who wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for Bill Cosby. Cosby seemed quite confused about it. “Was I in the bedroom?” he asked. Then he pointed out that he had been told that it was a Christian university and that he had to watch what he said. “But if you slip up, Christians know what you’re talking about…” he said.
Cosby ended his performance with his Dentist routine from “Himself”, a performance over 20 years old, but still gets the laughs even today.
In the middle of the Dentist routine I saw 6 Metro cops huddled around the steps of the stage. I really thought they might have caught a criminal who just happened to be in the VIP seat. As it turned out, they were just there to escort out Cosby. I wish I had know that. I spent the greater part of the time wondering who or what they were interrogating down there.
There were a couple of limos outside of the arena. I wondered if I hung around there long enough, would I see Cosby get into one of them?

Big Fish Quotes

“A man tells so many stories, that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal. ”
–Will Bloom
“It’s rude to talk about religion, you never know who you’re gonna offend.”
–Edward Bloom
“What I recalled of Sunday School was that the more difficult something became, the more rewarding it was in the end.”
–Edward Bloom

Going forward

What exactly happens when one does go forward to confess sin and pray for forgiveness? I had seen it done countless times before. Never from a first person perspective. Its always good to have a note prewritten just in case you can’t get the words out. And it helps the preacher to understand your concerns. During the prayer your mind is wondering. Your emotions are shot. Then comes the encouragement. People are always happy to give you that. There are some who will always hug respondents. I call them perpetual huggers. Then there are those who are your friends who you know are up there hugging you because they care about you.
And it was easy. I didn’t cry. It was just something I had to do.

Help!

I’m going to go out on a limb and say Howie Day’s version is better than the Beatles’ version. Yeah. You just read that. Howie Day. Better than the Beatles.

Help! I need somebody,
Help! not just anybody,
Help! you know I need someone, help.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody’s help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured,
Now I find I’ve changed my mind I’ve opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being around.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won’t you please, please help me.
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But ev’ry now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I’ve never done before.
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being around.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won’t you please, please help me.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody’s help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured,
Now I find I’ve changed my mind I’ve opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won’t you please, please help me, help me, help me, oh.