Pacing Myself
Jun 25, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MEDICAL CONDITION: Back Feeling Much Better | ITUNES: “Curbside Prophet” – Jason Mraz }
So I have a weird schedule this summer. I have a lot of conference work to do and a lot of teaching and creative stuff to plan for the fall. However, none of these things have pressing deadlines, which is when I work best. So I am trying to still get up at the same time every morning and pace my way through the work. It’s kinda weird.
I am not sure you can do ministry stuff full-time if you are not a self-starter. It would be so easy to waste all of your time. For instance, blogging instead of working. Dang it. Bye.
Crying
Jun 24, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MEDICAL CONDITION: Huge Back Ache | NOISE: Me Typing” }
Last night Dan and I hung out with Cole and Jaden. This is only notable because Cole and Jaden took it upon themselves to basically be crabby the entire 3 hours or so. Then, when Dan and Jaden left, Cole got happy. What do ya know?
Kill Bill
Jun 23, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Guet | ITUNES: “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” – Santa Esmeralda }
So, we finally watched Kill Bill Vol One last night. My wife and Melissa were totally bored, but Kyle and I liked it. I have been on this Quentin Terrentino kick lately. In the last month I have watched Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and now KB1. He is a phenominal talent. I think one of my favorite parts of his films is the musical selections. I loved the mexican/asian/pop fusion that filled the scenes in Japan in KB1. Looking forward to KB2.
Cole
Jun 23, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Decent | ITUNES: “Boy Named Sue” – Johnny Cash }
So, I have been hanging out with Cole every evening for a few hours while Grace is at Riv doing the VBS thing. I have learned more about his personality this week than I have his whole life. Yesterday, Melissa asked me to summarize his personality for her, so I thought I would bore you all with what I am learning:
1) When you turn on any source of music, he dances in a way that betrays his Finnish / Korean heritage.
2) He doesn’t like to wear hats, and he doesn’t like me to wear them, either.
3) If I sit on the floor to read, and I laugh at my book, he will think I am laughing at him. He will crawl over laughing and put his face between my face and the book. He will then proceed to kiss, gnaw, or headbutt me for a few seconds.
4) If he is crabby, I only have to flip him upside down and zerbit his stomach and he forgets what he was crabby about.
5) He has a deep-seated belief that picture frames belong on the floor.
6) He sometimes laughs so hard, he nearly hyper-ventilates.
7) If I cover my face with something, he will remove it and then expect me to wrestle him for awhile.
Great
Jun 23, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Dysfunctional | ITUNES: “Latter Days” – Over the Rhine }
Quote of the Day
Jun 22, 2004 Quotes
Emma: “We’re performing in the sanctuary at 6 on Friday.”
Noel: “What’s a sanctuary?”
Emma: “I have no idea.”
Van Woes
Jun 21, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Good | NOISE: Emma doing a cheer }
So, I previously mentioned my van saga while traveling to Ignite. Now, you can view it in video format: Hi-Res (5 MB) | Lo-Res (748 K) Mad props to TJ for his help with the compilation.
BTW, this video makes me glad I am losing weight.
For more video fun, check out our vids pages.
Video Game Covers
Jun 21, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Gamey | ITUNES “Legend of Zelda Live” – Nine Inch Nails (Supposedly, although I have my doubts) }
If you are a nerd, you are going to love this: check out these covers of video game songs.
Saved!
Jun 20, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Anti-Sanctimonious | MUSIC “You Alone” – Riverview Band }
A lot of Christians are sounding off on the movie Saved! Therefore, as a public service announcement, I thought it would be good to offer a few things for Christians to remember.
Caricature is only funny when there is at least a grain of truth
Take for example, Ned Flanders. Why is he funny? Because there is a healthy dose of reality in his character. We have all encountered his kind, and not just in movies like “Footloose.” We have encountered Ned in church. Anyone who has spent time in evangelical churches over the last several decades has met at least one cheesy-demeanored, rule-oriented, overly-cheerful, mustachioed Christian. It’s funny, because at the basic level it is true. (As a side note, most “Christian” males in our culture resemble Homer Simpson more than Ned Flanders, but that conversation is for another day.)
Have you ever had a caricature of yourself done at the fair? What is the goal of the artist? Find something pronounced in your face (say a large honker) and accentuate it. But what is the inherent problem? Most of us are self-conscious of our most prominent features. So while the caricature to many is a stunning likeness, to us we fixate on the exaggeration and say, “I’m not that bad.”
The same can be said for caricatures in the media. If you are offended by one of you, do a quick gut-check. You may not be that bad, but is there a grain of truth? If I asked a sketch artist to draw me and this is what he came up with I suspect we would say he is a bad artist:
But call me Gene Wilder 5 times in one week and you may be on to something whether I like it or not.
If you don’t like stereotypes of Christians outside of the church, either shut up or change them.
If you find yourself constantly offended by the portrayals of Christians in the media, maybe the time has come to figure out why. Go find someone who agrees with these stereotypes, take them to a movie like “Saved!” and then ask them to point out where you are the stereotype. If the things they point out are “Christ-like” attributes, congratulations: you are being salt and light in our culture! If the things they point out are not found in the Bible and make Christ look ridiculous, it’s your job to change because you are making him into a laughing-stock and are not making him attractive to our culture.
If you are unwilling to do this, shut up and don’t complain about movies like “Saved!” Because otherwise, you are just adding to the stereotype. If you don’t know which stereotype, go ask a non-Christian.
Now if you need me, I’ll be at the theater laughing at myself.
Willy Noelka
Jun 20, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Swell | NOISE: Cole banging on the front door }
Many thanks to Sharp for this creepy compilation:
