Friday, September 29, 2006

The Centurion

No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secrecy that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.

I was talking with a close friend about a series of recent setbacks...stubborn outbursts really, that both Jillian and have embraced throughout the summer. He reminded me of the Centurian whose faith was so great, yet so humble, that Christ testifies as to this gentile's belief.

Well, I've lacked that humility, and it's time to get some. Time to tackle the big issues and uncover my light. There is no sense having this candle burn within me if I simply smother it slowly.

As the weekend draws near, let's raise our hearts and minds to Christ and ask him to send the Spirit onto and into us, so that what we do these next few days will reverberate in the halls of heaven. 

Thursday, September 28, 2006

How Much is Your Blog Worth - September, 2006

In Courage tradition, we step back and take a look at this blog's worth at the end of every month. Started in October, 2005, we have been fairly faithful in measuring Courage's growth and decline (using the same formula applied in the AOL-Weblogs, Inc. deal). As of today, Courage is worth:


My blog is worth $46,856.82.
How much is your blog worth?

And, because I'm a dork, let's take a look at the last several months in graph form:

Now, if that doesn't make me dorky, I'm not sure what will :)

How much is YOUR blog worth?

Thursday Thirteen & CarnivAOL

Here's today's Thursday Thirteen (click the link to visit Laura, who hosts the TT):

Thirteen of my favorite video games of all time:

1. Baldur's Gate II (including Throne of Bhaal)
2. Super Mario Brothers 3
3. Counterstrike
4. Civilization II
5. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
6. Baldur's Gate (including Tales of the Sword Coast)
7. Half-life
8. Command & Conquer: Red Alert
9. Smurfs (for Coleco Vision)
10. Hero's Quest I: A Quest for Glory

~~

Submissions are being accepted for the next edition of CarnivAOL. Visit the link and check it out!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Wings

You know, I love hot wings.

Love them.

Yet, when it's past midnight and I'm afraid to fall asleep because my bottom half is wracking itself with spasms and the sharp pains of gassy bliss, I feel somewhat betrayed by my passion.

I eat them, I cherish them, I lick my fingers clean, but here they are betraying me to the porcelain god and leaving a ring on my butt. I drink water, hoping it will dilute this raging beast in my bowels. No luck.

While I've been gone for a week it's been for good reason (I suppose). My teaching load is heavy this semester and I admit to being quite unused to self-imposed deadlines. Accordingly, when I have stacks of papers to grade and only so many hours to run my eyes over the bounty produced by my students, I'm afraid I let my journal gather some dust.

Other than work, life seems better than it has been.

When I'm not on the toilet.

Been crazy nuts!

Hi everyone!

Things here at the ranch have been insane. I'm still here, and will post a bit more later tonight. For now, even though I drive a Mustang:

You Should Drive a Lamborghini

A true daredevil, you're always in search of a new rush. Clearly, you're a total speed demon... just don't get caught!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

The Thursday Thirteen, and some blogthings

The Thursday Thirteen, hosted by Laura of Adventures in Juggling, is a meme that highlights thirteen items of your choice. Today, I'm going with thirteen random things in my office:

1. photograph of my brother
2. a huge dictionary
3. a putter
4. a painting of Abraham Lincoln
5. a beer stein
6. stinky sneakers
7. Blis lip balm
8. The Little Disturbances of Man, by Grace Paley
9. lots of magnets
10. a purple binder clip
11. a chess set
12. a big empty box
13. a hand-blown glass paperweight.

Here are a few blogthings:

You Have Good Karma

In general, you like to do the right thing when it comes to others.
Your caring personality really shines through.
Sure, you have your moments of weakness - and occasionally act out.
But, all in all, you're karma is good... even with those few dark spots.

You Are 20% Capitalist, 80% Socialist

You see a lot of injustice in the world, and you'd like to see it fixed.
As far as you're concerned, all the wrong people have the power.
You're strongly in favor of the redistribution of wealth - and more protection for the average person.
 

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Camping Trip '06

Just some of the shots we snagged on our camping trip earlier in the month. I think I'm really starting to like fishing!

 

Not one, but many

I have not been as alone as I thought these past few months. So many prayers and well-wishers, so much love and devotion, I realize that I am nothing more than a product of the love and kindness others have for me and I for them. It reminds me of this passage from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians:

Brothers and Sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Your indomitable spirit has fueled me - you are all saints!

Charley

 

What Chess Piece are You?

The Black King
You scored 2 Power-Finesse, 3 Leader-Follower, 1 Unique-Ordinary, and 1 Offense-Defense!
You are comfortable letting a situation evolve, reacting to it, and exploiting the weakness of your enemy when he over-reaches. Your followers are loyal to you, and would gladly fall upon the sword of an advancing rook or queen for you, but you would rather use them to sneak in and suprise the enemy. You are content to let others do your dirty work, even your Queen.



My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
free online dating free online dating
You scored higher than 99% on Power-Finesse
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You scored higher than 99% on Leader-Follower
free online dating free online dating
You scored higher than 99% on Unique-Ordinary
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You scored higher than 99% on Offense-Defense
Link: The What Chess Piece Are You Test

Monday, September 18, 2006

It's been a while

Hello again, everyone. I appreciate your kindness, concern and patience. I think I'm back. Since I stopped posting, things have been a little crazy - here's a brief breakdown:

1. I found a job teaching social foundations of education at a local college
2. Jillian and I moved from our apartment (not neccessarily of our own will)
3. Jillian lost her grandfather and I saw my parents for the first time in over two years
4. I suffered a serious relapse with some medical issues

I know that doesn't seem like much of a list, but trust me when I tell you that each of those proved far more daunting than I would have liked. I've had so much support from so many of you - there's no way I could have left here for good!

___

From Luke 7: 1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to on, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good  health.

When we reflect on the mundane and routine moments of our lives I wonder if we live out the humility shown here by the centurion. While an unusual moment that requires an exhibition of great faith by the centurion, we see that he lives out his faith every day. If we establish true humility in our 'normal' lives we will find true humility when we need it most.

 
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