"Your love is not a fight, but it's something worth fighting for."

In the words of Tommy Boy, "That. Was. Awesome!" What a great movie! Be sure to bring your hankie though. Sure the acting was sometimes over the top, but this film honored God the way a film ought to. It dealt with real world issues and wasn't afraid to give real answers. This is a love story for anyone who wants to know what true love is. Marriage is taken so lightly in our culture today, and the Kendrick brothers dared to make a stand in the face of mocking opposition and hold marriage upright as it deserves to be held.

Thank you to every person who made this movie possible. You've built a mighty tool for God to use for his glory.

Did I mention you should go see Fireproof!? Even if you have to drive over an hour to see it! Load up the car and make a day of it!

The Numbers are in.

Yesterday, the newest film by the Kendrick brothers, Fireproof, opened in theaters around the country. Christian film making is something I like to keep tabs on and support where I can, so this afternoon I will be headed over to see it. My enthusiastic review will follow.

As of Thursday night, Fandango.com reported that Fireproof whipped up 41% of pre-sale tickets for the week, ranking first in that category, with Eagle Eye a distant second. Eagle Eye is predicted to be the number one selling film this weekend, and I would say that sounds pretty accurate all things considered. Hey, I'm interested in seeing it.

I'm glad to see such great starting numbers for Fireproof though. Coming in 3rd in box office sales yesterday says something about the excitement surrounding this film. It's first night out, Fireproof brought in more sales than Brad Pitt's comedy, Burn After Reading, it beat out the raunchfest Dane Cook film, My Best Friend's Girl, as well as topped the adultery condoning flick, Nights in Rodanthe.
While Eagle Eye is on top bringing in nearly $10 million dollars last night (Fireproof brought in just over $2 million), the Kendrick brothers should be very proud. Being seen in less than a third of the number of theaters that Eagle Eye is showing in, Fireproof is only $400 behind in per theater sales!! Four hundred dollars! That is excellent news! Let's hope that today's numbers shine for morality as well as they did yesterday.

I encourage you to go out and see this film this weekend if you can to support these guys who have a heart to reach the lost and produce valid family friendly movies that stir the soul.

The Office Files

Since I'm a geek, I am "employed" at Dunder Mifflin Infinity and one of my requested tasks was to create an image that transformed Office employees into Sci-Fi t.v. cast members. Of course I had to use the X-Files as my platform. Here's what I came up with. You like? :)

He was called Dusy Bottoms

Here's the new pup. He finally got a name! I couldn't introduce you to him without one!

Dusty Bottoms

And we all wore pink!

Last Friday night some gals got together for a ladies night that was lovely. Jami summed it up rather well, so I'll direct you to her blog for a few good words and some photos.

College

As I've been preparing to go back to school this fall, I've done most of the usual things. Figured out a driving schedule, searched for great deals on text books, gotten some new items for the wardrobe, and of course made sure I have all the 'office' supplies I need. There's one other thing I've been trying to prepare for, too.

All too often over the past few years, I've found myself wishing I could go back to high school and do it again with what I know now. A little more boldness, a little more love. I'm sort of getting a second chance at this. I now recognize that people will remember you for who you were in school. The question is, who do I want to be remembered as? What will I want people to say about me when they 'remember back in the day'?

It's not a question that will have one final answer. However, I do know this: I want to be known as a friend of Jesus & a lover of God, and I want to be a light in a dark place. I want to live a Matthew 5:16 life. In the words of the Newsboys, I want to 'Shine'. This is the boldness I want to have. The boldness to love people, right where they are. I don't want to be a casual Christian. I don't want people to have to ask if I'm a believer. I want to miss the second half of the day because I'm having a life and death conversation with a lost soul. May I be known as "The Jesus Freak" and may people be drawn to me because of the love poured out onto them through me. May I never seek to 'win' the lost. I am not competing for a prize. May I never have a holier-than-thou attitude that turns people away. May I never use the Sword of the Spirit to slash the heart, but instead use it to loose those in bonds and to free the captives. May I never water down the Gospel in order to falsely quench the thirst of seekers. Oh, there's so much more!

And if there's room, I'd like to be known as a highly skilled tradesman in my field. May it all be to the glory of God!

Epic Fun

After I left the accident last Thursday, I went on my way to meet Amy at the Fair. This year, the theme is Epic Fun, but I'm not sure I'd call our fun epic. We enjoyed all our favorite fair foods; scones, cotton candy, elephant ears. We took a peek at the show dogs, the horses, and the new piglets. Early on, we were able to catch the Konzelman's final show at the fair this year, and it was lovely as usual. The rides were, of course, the hit of the night. All two of them. :) We took a spin on the White Rollarcoaster first, which I hadn't been on in a while. It was a bit more terrifying than I remember. After that, we took a twirl on the Swings, which I do recall enjoying. After that, we were okay to be done with rides. During the Konz family show, we heard about the new fair packs. So we decided to take a peek. After going back and forth about whether or not to get one, we both ended up getting one. We are displaying them in the top photo of our booth pictures. They were filled with lots of goodies to enjoy. It would have been nicer if we'd had those goodies when we got there. I think the major sell point for both of us, was that each bag contained a bottle of water. We were pretty thirsty. Thanks for the fun day, Amy! [more photos are available by clicking the one at right]

Time to get busy!

I'm about to get rather busy again. My schedule when school starts, will look something like this:


Mon: Study Math & youth soccer from 730pm-830pm.
Tues: Class from 9am-330pm.
Weds: Class from 9am-330pm & youth group from 630pm-8pm.
Thurs: Class from 9am-330pm
Fri: Class from 9am-330pm.
Sat: Youth soccer game 12pm-ish and child care from 6pm-9pm.

Sun: Church from 10am-1130am & Home Group from 3pm - 5pm.

I'd share a link to my Google calendar, but I'm certain no one would take advantage of it.

All it takes is a moment.

On my way to the fair this afternoon, an accident happened right next to me. I was stopped at a red left turn when I hear smashing noises and then see a man and a motorcycle sliding out in front of me. The man stopped when he ran into the tire of a car. For a split second I couldn't process what I'd just seen. It's amazing how quickly your life can change.

I jumped out of my car and was quickly at the man's side trying to talk to him and tell him he was going to be okay. There was suddenly a swarm of people around, three or four were attempting to reach 911 and another came up next to me and told me he was a EMT of some sort. "Was anyone else hurt?" says a voice. It didn't even occur to me to look around at what had happened. As I look back I see that three cars are bumper to bumper and the last car is pretty smashed. Everyone says they are okay. After the EMT dude took over, all I knew to do was pray. So I did.

Eventually, we found out the man's name is Sean. Not five minutes later the rescue team showed up - they were four blocks away Praise God! At this point my car was blocked in by some other drivers headed the other direction who had stopped, so I just waiting around and kept praying. I was finally able to leave, but since I had my camera I took a few shots first.

As far as I could figure out, the third car (far right in the first photo)didn't see the motorcycle and tried to change lanes and hit Sean, but swerved back - hitting the car in front of him. You can see in the photo that the left side of the car is smashed but only the right side of the car hit the car in front of him. I'm pretty sure Sean's body is what smashed the driver's side of the windshield.

As I continued to pray as I left the scene, God gave me a peace that Sean was going to be alright. I still wish there was some way of finding out how he's doing tonight.

Sunday Sermon

------------------This is my 401st post on blogger! Go me!---------------------

I went and visited a rather rowdy church last Sunday, in Maple Valley. The sermon was given by a missionary visiting from Africa. He preached a message that has been heard before, beginning with the reading of Luke 7:36-50. The heart of what he preached was from verse 47. I've heard this message before and it always bothered me. It upsets me like the Prodigal Son and the story of Martha & Mary. In each of these stories, I feel like I relate to the wrong character.

44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

He who has been forgiven little, loves little. I've always heard this and thought about how I've tried to live a Holy life. Compared to many, I have. Compared to a murderer, or an adulterer, or the deceitful salesman, I haven't been forgiven much. Will I ever be able to love the way this woman has - who has washed the feet of Jesus with her hair? The thought has gone through my mind that maybe I need to go out and live 'of' the world in order to be forgiven much, so I can then love much. Sounds ridiculous.

I know that's not the way, but I haven't been able to see any other way. Until God spoke to me in that sermon. It wasn't spoken by the preacher, he never said anything of the like. What God revealed to me was that what Christ did was not to pardon our sin, but to take them on himself and suffer our punishment for us.

What I have been forgiven of is a life eternally separate from God. A life in the burning embers of Hell. My punishment has been fulfilled by the Son of God, willingly, because of his great love. This is what the woman at the feet of Christ understood. This is what she could see that Simon didn't. Simon was still relying on his own goodness. He didn't see how great a punishment he would receive regardless of how much or how little he broke God's law. The punishment would be the same for them both, but Simon couldn't see that. I couldn't see that.

Oh Lord thank you for your great Mercy and Grace. Thank you for your revelations to those who desire to know you more. May we never, NEVER, forget that which you have saved us from. Let it be always written on our hearts that we may love much.

All 6,000+ murder victims

Do not forget to remember EVERY innocent human life that was taken on September 11, 2001.

Stop Motion Poetry

Last month I designed these shirts for a band called Stop Motion Poetry. I emailed them to ask if it was okay to sell them on redbubble and to show them my work. I also offered to sell them the design files, if they wanted to produce the shirts themselves. At this point they've said they are interested in purchasing them, but I'll need to wait patiently for a bit. I'm more excited about seeing one of these shirts on the street that I am about getting paid. Feel free to buy one and make my day!

Drafts

I'm really anxious to post the drafts I'm working on, but they aren't finished. I'm going to try not to post them all on the same day so you're not overloaded. This is just forewarning of the posts-that-are-to-come. For now, enjoy this little comic that brings back memories of childhood musical delights.

...and this one...

AFTER 12 Weeks

Today was the last day of my Fitness Challenge. What do you think of the results?

Wildwood!

I got pooped on.

What are the stinkin' chances!? I was pooped on by a bird today. Gross.

PS- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO CANDICE AND JEREMY!

Orting Trail Ride

This last Saturday was a blast! Five of us went for a 15.5 mile ride down the Orting Trail and back. After which we met Suzanne & Will for lunch at the Park Bench. GREAT food. Feel free to click either of the photos here to see the whole album which contains a plethora of ridiculous photos of yours truly.