Redesign

 

I've spent the last few days completely redesigning our church website. I'm an amateur at webdesign but I think it looks decent. Give it a go and see what you think. Remember, it's beta...and I still have some work to do. The link is HERE. Or...

dallascentralchurch.org

Podcasts

So recently I've gotten into podcasts. I know I'm late to the party. Podcasts have been around for a long time but I never listened to them because I didn't have a smart phone until a couple of years ago. Before then, I would either have to listen to the podcast at the computer (which was too stationary) or download them to my iPod...which always seemed more work than it was worth. I know, how lazy is it to be deterred from plugging a wire into a computer, call up a site, download into iTunes, then sync to your device? Yeah. That was much too tedious. Takes more than three steps? I'm out.

But once I got an iPhone I discovered how great podcasts are. I listen to them in the car when I need a change from listening to music. I listen to them while running. I listen to them while washing dishes. I find podcasts a wonderful thing. It's like going back to the golden days of radio but you get to choose what you listen to. My mind has been blown by some amazing info and great storytelling. And the options are limitless! And free!

The podcasts that I've been listening to recently include the following...

The Liturgists (with Michael Gungor and Science Mike)
National Geographic Weekend (with Boyd Matson)
The Robcast (with Rob Bell)
MTN Meister (Exploring the minds of those who Explore)
Relevant Magazine
Radiolab
Freakonomics Radio
Stuff You Should Know Podcast
TedTalks Audio
NPR Ted Radio Hour
All Who Wander

Trains

I live near a busy rail line. Half my life is spent at this crossing. 

Beach

When it's cold and gray I like to think of the beach. This was near San Diego a year or so ago. 

DMA

Over the holidays we headed over to the Dallas Museum of Art. The DMA is always a nice visit but with admission now free it's a great way to spend a day. Free! They went gratis about a year ago. Free membership, free admission, everything free but special exhibitions. Nice stop if you find yourself in Dallas. 

Gray Days

Another in a series of cold, wet gray days. Day after day, gray after gray. Getting annoying. This is the longest stretch of gray in years. Maybe I could never live in Seattle or Portland after all. 

Perspective

Debut

First basketball game yesterday. Went very well. Think we might have a point guard in the fam. 

2015 Resolutions

I like to make New Years Resolutions. I know some people argue against them saying they bring nothing but shame when people inevitably fail at achieving their resolutions. But I like making goals for the new year. Having goals written down keep me accountable. I don't always achieve every single one, but I don't beat myself over the head too badly for failing to meet them. Resolutions have been a positive thing in my life and I've accomplished a lot more because of them. They focus me and give me direction. So yes, I do have a list of resolutions for 2015 and I refer to them throughout the year to stay on track. I also add and amend my goals if life changes direction.

Above is a screen shot from Jim Wallis's Facebook page. He had posted a series of resolutions for 2015. I particularly like this post. I'm on board with all of them.

8

Today is my son's birthday. He has been a true blessing to our lives. 

Four

Somebody likes to photobomb my attempts at artistic photography. 

Goal

The number one thing he wanted from Santa was a basketball goal. 

Bye Simba

Been super busy but felt the need to get blogging again. 

Wanted to say Rest in Peace to our cat Simba. Simba passed away two days before Christmas. Simba entered our lives twelve years ago when I rescued him from above the ceiling tiles of my classroom. He had just been born a week or two prior to his rescue. His mother had died and we adopted him. He was so little he didn't even know how to eat. 

He had a lot of personality and was super loyal. He was very playful and liked to serve as a guard cat. We were caught off guard by the suddenness of his sickness. He died two days after he started acting sick. Kidney failure. It was a gut wrenching week. But our memories of Simba always bring a smile. 

Bye Simba. You will be missed. 

2002-2014

Paris

We always pass through Paris, Texas on our way to or from Tulsa. Been making that drive for 16 years and never looked for Paris's most famous landmark. On the way back last week we had a little more time to spare so we actually looked for the world famous Paris Texas Eiffel Tower. Found it. Def worth it. 

#DodgeThis

Been too busy to blog lately. But I will say this...last week our faculty Dodge Ball Team won the first annual school Dodge Ball Tournament. Sixteen teams: three faculty teams and thirteen student teams. Who woulda thunk us old timers would whoop up on those younguns? The Paddy O'Brien Shamrockers! Champs!

I will admit I was a bit sore the next day. 

Winter

It is always weird when it snows down here. Got a light dusting last night. Looks nice. I mean, if it's going to be in the 20's at least it can look the part. Makes me think of Colo and skiing. 

Engines

When we go to car shows my son likes to take pictures of all the engines rather than the cars themselves. 

Corduroy

I have actually dreamed about the perfect corduroy run. Sometimes I can hear the crisp slicing of the ski edge into the line. Man. 

Front Loaders

So yesterday I was sick. I called in to work, went to the doctor who found I just had some virus...nothing serious. Well, I had the rest of the day to rest, nap and catch up on Netflix. Watched episodes of Portlandia, Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Miami Vice. Yes, Miami Vice.

I'm watching an episode of Miami Vice, from season one (circa 1984) when the following exchange takes place...let me set the scene first.

A drug deal is being negotiated. However, the buyer isn't too keen on the deal. The seller decides to sweeten the deal.

"How bout I throw in some high-end VCRs?"

"Front-loading?"

"Of course! Only the best!"

"Okay, let's do it."

VCRs to sweeten a drug deal? Man, I miss the 80's. Yeah, those top-loading VCRs were so ghetto.

Nice Season

So it's been a few days. Guess it took me that long to get over the Royals losing in Game Seven. Great season. I was just hoping they make the Wildcard game and they ended up American League Champions. Took it to seven games. Proud of the Royals.

Game Seven Day

It all comes down to tonight. Game Seven. Game Seven. Man oh man. Game Seven. 

Faith

Stand tall Royals fans. We got 'em right where we want 'em. 

Ready

Hoopston, the Goose of Wisdom, is ready for tonight. Go Royals!

Country Breakfast

Today's blog post is dedicated to Billy Butler.

Royals even the series 1-1.

Royals got this.

155

This is my 155th post of the year. I haven't posted this many blog posts since the first year I started Dave's Internet Lounge in the current format back in 2006. I'm still super busy, like everyone else in the world, but being able to blog via my phone has allowed me to keep blogging. Even if the posts are often super short. Happy 155th. Party like it's 2006. 

Tonight

So tonight's the night. The night I almost thought would never get here. The Kansas City Royals host the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. I, for one, will not take this for granted. Back in 1985, I assumed the Royals would compete for a spot in the Series year in and year out. That's how the success of the late 1970's and early 1980's conditioned Royals fans. Royals fans knew that 1985 was special. There had been a lot of heartbreak due to the freaking Yankees. And when the Yankee hex was finally broken in 1980, KC was beaten back down by the Phillies of all teams. I still hate Tim McGraw because he's the son of Tug McGraw who got the final out for the Phillies in the 1980 World Series against Kansas City.

But still.

We didn't expect to have to wait this long to get back. The popular narrative is that Royals fans have been suffering for nearly 30 years. Actually the Royals were competitive until 1994. That's when the strike hit and small markets got the shaft in the new economic reality. With the death of Ewing Kauffman and the retirement of George Brett, the franchise was rudderless for a long long time. But not as long as people make it out to be.

But still.

It was bad. It was really bad for a really long time. People just kind of laughed or smirked when I told them I was a Royals fan. They appreciated my loyalty to a team but looked at me with pity. But at least my team had a ring. There's a lot of teams that still have never won the trophy. Seattle and Washington/Montreal still have as yet to even make the World Series.

But still.

This year's Royals are the reason you should never jump on a bandwagon. Bandwagon fans never get to feel the great satisfaction of seeing their years of loyalty rewarded. Johnny come lately fans of the Heat, Lakers, Yankees etc... they'll never get it. They'll never have that feeling. They'll jump up and down and feel a temporary excitement when their newly adopted team wins but they won't feel the deep joy of a fan...who's rooted for a team for decades, through thick or thin, through the highs and lows...who sees their team win after an insufferable drought. That joy doesn't come when you shallow reasons for supporting a team.

I support the Royals because I grew up in Kansas City (Overland Park actually). I attended  countless games at Royals (now Kauffman) Stadium with my family and my best friends. I painted a giant sign of the old Royals logo and put it in our picture window overlooking our street during the 85 playoffs. I attended game 5 of the 1985 playoffs with my Dad. I recorded all seven games of the Series on VHS cassette. I listened to hundreds of Royals games on a small transistor radio in my dark bedroom on muggy summer nights. I have worn visiting Royals gear into the Rangers Ballpark for 16 years to cheer for a mostly terrible team in a hostile stadium. I could go on.

These types of memories do not  happen when you are merely a bandwagon fan of a team that you chose to associate with because they were winning at the time.

Yes, it's just sports. But these Royals also represent a tie to my childhood, my youth, my young adult years. These Royals are a nostalgic tie to connections with friends and family that span four decades. Win or lose, that can't be taken away from me.

Go Royals!

photo: my little league George Brett Louisville Slugger bat that I used from 1983-1986.

Ebola

It's Monday and you still will not get Ebola. Nope, not even a little bit. 

Hoff

There's a framed photo of David Hasselhoff in the Men's Room of our faculty lounge. Long story. 

Searching

I just read one of the best articles ever on John Coltrane. This is written by legendary music critic Nat Hentoff. I'm composing this on my iPad so I can't make a hyperlink, so direct your browser here:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/18/the-stacks-john-coltrane-s-mighty-musical-quest.html

Champs

The Kansas City Royals are the champions of the American League. 

TWENTY-SEVEN!

27 Outs.

The Kansas City Royals are 27 outs away from winning the American League Championship.

9 innings away from home field advantage in the World Series.

They are undefeated in the postseason.

No one saw this coming.

No one.

Being a Royals fan since 1978 I fully expect Ebola to wipe out humanity before Game 7 of the World Series.

That would not surprise me one bit.

27 OUTS!

photo: Brooks Robinson wouldn't make that catch. Moose.

Again?

Another storm Sunday night. Once again, our neighbor's trampoline blew over our fence. Just some minor damage to a trim board on our house. Yes, they had taken down the safety net after the last storm.  No, they had not anchored it down. Morons. They are getting rid of it. I'm not so sad about that. 

True Hero

 

Last year I put up this picture of Malala Yousafzai in my classroom along with other inspirational figures. Yesterday, Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She should have been awarded the prize last year. I'm glad the Nobel Committee made up for their omission. 

Malala became an outspoken advocate for the rights of girls to be educated in Pakistan after her village was overrun by Taliban militants. At the age of eleven she began speaking and blogging about female education. Despite death threats she continued to encourage girls to go to school. On October 9th, 2012, on the way home from school, she was shot in the head by members of the Taliban. Fortunately the bullet did not enter the brain and after many surgeries she made an amazing recovery. She was fifteen.

She has continued to speak out for the rights of women despite continued threats to her life. She has spoken to the United Nations and venues all over the world. Keep in mind she is only seventeen years old. She is a true hero and another symbol of hope in this messed up world.

Yeah

This is how I feel about the Kansas City Royals playing in the American League Championship Series tonight. 

Hope

You see, as bad as things get, I have hope in this world. Last week we went to the annual St. Martin's Fall Festival at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. We've been going for years...and here's the thing...no one even thinks about the fact that we are Protestants. We go, we fellowship, we have fun. And we take that for granted. 

The only reason I even thought about Protestantism during the event is because my European History classes are currently studying the religious conflicts of the 16th Century. We've been examining terrible atrocities like the The Thirty Years War, The French Wars of Religion, Bloody Mary's reign in England, etc... All these conflicts involved Catholics and Protestants killing each other supposedly over religious affiliation. 

For centuries, Catholics and Protestants could not live together peacefully. But today, most of us do not give much thought to whether someone is Catholic or Protestant. Most of us have friends, family or co-workers who are Catholic or Protestant and we don't think twice about it. Even when we have theological disagreements we don't come close to thinking we're going to shun or commit acts of violence against those who hold opposing viewpoints in religious matters.

Unfortunately, it took centuries and millions (yes, millions) killed to get this point. But the fact that we can live together as Protestants and Catholics gives me hope that someday we can live peacefully with Muslims. I have Muslim students who are fantastic people. I have known Muslims who are peace-loving, law-abiding folks who are as disgusted by the violence of extremism as any Christian. 

I have faith that someday, humanity will find ways to co-exist and will look back on these days with wonder and amazement like I look back at the days of Protestant/Catholic violence.

New Weez

 

Crazy week huh? The Royals in the playoffs. And a new Weezer album? And a blood moon with a partial eclipse? The Mayans predicted this.

So I was sitting in class last night at SMU. I was kind of bummed because it didn't look like I was going to be able to buy the new Weezer album on the day it dropped. But then it struck me...let's go digital. I never buy CDs anymore. I download all my music now from the interweb, mostly iTunes. But Weezer is different. Except for rare B sides, I always bought my Weezer albums in the once popular Compact Disc format. Hard copy. Tangible. I can hold it in my hands. 

But then I thought, it's music. You can't hold music (excepting sheet music, etc...) in your hands. It's aural. So while my professor was off on a tangent about wall paintings in Pompeii, I pulled out my phone. I went to the iTunes store. I downloaded Everything Will Be Alright in the End. After class I went to my car. Pulled up iTunes radio on the phone and through the magic of Bluetooth (which we take so for granted these days) was able to blare the new Weezer on my car stereo on the way home. 

So let's get this out of the way: it's not the Blue Album. Nothing ever will be. The Blue Album arrived in this world fully formed in musical perfection. And EWBAITE is not Pinkerton. But it is a lot better than the last couple of albums. Much better than Death to False Metal, Hurley or Raditude. I'd even put it up over the Red Album. I've only listened to it twice so I need time for it to marinade before truly giving it fair judgement. I'd put it above Make Believe and on par with The Green Album and Maladroit. Maybe even better than Maladroit. 

Way too early rankings...

1.) Blue

2.) Pinkerton

3.) Green

4.) Everything Will Be Alright in the End

5.) Maladroit

6.) Red

7.) Make Believe

8.) Raditude

9.) Hurley

10.) Death to False Metal

Glad they brought back Rick Ocasek to produce. Some of the tracks really rock. My favorite at this point is the duet with Bethany Cosentino, from Best Coast. Best Coast is another great band and Go Away is very nicely done. Lots of guitar solos that harken back to Maladroit. I'm happy with it. Not a huge fan of Back to the Shack...the first single released. It's okay, but instead of singing about how you're going to play like it's 1994...just play like it's 1994...which they do on most of the tracks. 

I came away happy after the first listen. The last couple of releases have some nice moments or two but I always came away meh. This one actually rocks. So yeah, I dig it. Nice comeback Weez.

Carpe Weezum

New weezer album drops today. "Everything Will Be Alright in the End." Weezer Day. Seize the Weez. 

Bring on the Orioles

No way. No way in my wildest dreams could I have predicted the Royals sweeping the team with the best record in baseball. No way could I have imagined the Royals playing in the ALCS this year. 

I'm so glad Kansas City started hitting the ball far. And I'm so glad they won game three in only nine innings. I'm just so very glad. 

Winning the Wildcard game was gravy. Now, everything is just surreal. I am enjoying every minute. Now I'm getting greedy. I want to beat Baltimore. And I want KC to win the Series. That would make 29 years worth it. 

Could it Actually Happen?

Could it really happen? Could the Royals really sweep the team with the best record in baseball? Could it happen tonight at The K with the Royal's best pitcher on the mound? I don't care how they do it, I just hope they do it. Although, it would be nice to win in nine innings. Three games with free baseball at the end is wearing me out. I'm too old for extra innings. By the way, the Royals have not lost a playoff game since 1985. 

Gift

So last night our neighbors donated their brand new trampoline to us. Actually they just put it up yesterday. Five hours later a storm blew it over our fence, onto our roof. This is where it ended up. 

Three Years

Here's another thing I remember: In 1984 the Royals won the American League West with only 84 wins. Detroit won the AL East with 104 wins. The Royals would have finished somewhere around 4th or 5th place in the East. People called the West the AL Worst.

The Royals had fallen on tough times after the 1980 World Series. The 1981 baseball strike and a big drug scandal in 1983 had hit Kansas City hard. Willie Wilson wins the batting title in '82 and then gets busted for cocaine in '83 (1982 batting avg: .332, 1983 avg: .276). That was the first time I had heard of cocaine. That story was the spark for the drug conversation with my parents. Big drug trial in Pittsburgh involving a lot of baseball players including a bunch of Royals. Wow. Crazy times.

1984. It had been THREE YEARS since the Royals had last been in the playoffs. That was considered a terrible drought in KC back then. THREE YEARS! Kansas City had been so good that three years without being in the postseason was unthinkable and completely unacceptable. And remember there were no wildcard teams back then. Only four teams made the playoffs. And yet, Kansas City fans could not BELIEVE it had been three years since the Royals had last made the postseason.

And we didn't call it the ALCS. We called it the playoffs. It was the American or National League Playoffs...then the World Series. Playoffs. No acronyms.

So the Royals beat out the Angels and A's (Texas and Seattle were always at the bottom of the division with the Sox and Twins somewhere in the middle) to win the West. 1984 was the last year of the best of five format for the playoffs (Not ALCS. Playoffs). And the Royals got swept. Got swept bad. Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammel, Sparky Anderson and that crew. It was inevitable. Tigers won the series that year and half the city was burned down in the celebrations. Seriously. They burned that sucker to the ground.

And I was depressed. Eleven years old and I was depressed. I remember after the game seeing Dick Howser leaning against the dugout wall as rain fell in Detroit. He watched the stupid Tigers celebrating in the rain in old Tiger Stadium and he looked so forlorn. I thought we can't get lower than this.

Of course things got better the next year and KC won the whole freaking thing.1985. Nineteen-EightyamazingFive.

And then it went away. The magic. TWENTY-NINE YEARS the magic stayed dead. Kauffman dies. Brett retires. Young stars like Beltran, Damon and Dye traded away for nothing. Small market realities sink in. Teams that most AAA teams could beat.

And to think, I remember when three years was considered a terrible playoff drought.

So EXCUSE ME if I over-celebrate a little bit. I think Kansas City fans have earned it.

Wow

That may have been the craziest thing I've seen in a long time. Three comebacks, 12 innings, sac bunts, stolen bases, a pitcher who four months ago was pitching in the college World Series, and more craziness. 9-8 Royals. Game over right before midnight. On to an actual series. On to Los Angeles. Go Royals. 

Tonight

TONIGHT! Tonight the Royals are in the playoffs. Glad to see the revival of an old tradition: dyeing the fountains of Kansas City blue when the Royals are in the playoffs. 

And last night the Chiefs humiliated the New England Patriots to get their season back on track. In the process they shattered the Guinness Record for being the loudest outdoor stadium in the world.   

Been a crazy week for Kansas City fans. 

Overrated by Eugene Cho

I just finished reading Eugene Cho's new book, Overrated. Excellent read. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Christian service. Cho, the pastor of Quest Church in Seattle, examines the current trend of starting non-profits, NGO's and other service enterprises that have become synonymous with "hipster Christianity." Many Christians want to do the work of Christ. But Cho states that we must ground our efforts in prayer and humility. We must ask ourselves why do we want to do this work? Is it for Jesus? Or is it to make ourselves feel good about ourselves? And what are the unintended effects of our initiatives on those who we are trying to help? Are we really thinking these things through? Are we building relationships with those we are trying to help?  

Cho asks a lot of really great and hard questions. His book is a needed wake-up call. I found it truly inspiring and a humbling read.

"Ministry" can sound great on paper. Then you get in the trenches and you find the reality that humanity is broken. The people you want to help can be seriously messed up. You have to be prepared for that reality. People will be mean, they might smell bad, they may betray you, they may look weird, they may spoiled, they may be entitled, they may be abusive...the list can go on and on. If you are not basing your efforts on walking with Christ, then you will burn out and your initiative will fail. Your ministry must be bathed in serious prayer. This isn't about getting on the cover of Christianity Today or Relevant Magazine. Ministry is serious stuff that can only be done through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 

This book spoke to me and fit my past experiences perfectly. This book is short, accessible and an important read for those desiring to make a difference in their communities.

Last Day

Game 162 of the season today. The division is still in play. If the Twins beat the Tigers and the Royals beat the Sox, then the season will end in a tie for the divisional title. If that happens, the Royals will play the Tigers in game 163, in Detroit. Whoever wins, wins the division. 

I had totally forgotten what this all feels like. 

Worst case: the Royals have wrapped up home field advantage for the Wildcard play-in game. Best case: Royals win the Central and get a guaranteed divisional  series. 

Either way, for long-suffering Royals fans, it's all gravy. But I'm telling you, a run for the Series would be really really nice. 

Clinched

The Kansas City Royals have clinched at least a wildcard spot. This is the first playoff berth for KC since 1985...when they won the World Series. I was 12. I was in 7th Grade. Twenty-nine years. I almost cried last night. 

Reservoir Dogs

Yesterday was Hollywood Day on campus. So the Reservoir Dogs showed up. I, of course, was Mr. White. 

New Toy

This week we were bequeathed one of my Wife's Grandfather's guitars. Her Grandfather, who passed away several years ago, played for many years on this 1960's Custom Kraft Hollow Body before moving up to Gibsons. This thing has a sweet raw sound. Now I gotta get an amp. Looking forward to trying her out.