You've gotta see this!

I think it was the best one of the 6! Easily the best of the prequels but it may have been the best of the 6. However if they had come out in order (1 - 6) I think "Empire" would have held on as the best. But for my money here is the order(well that is until I watch 4-6 again, which i have an itch to do now that the series is complete):

1- Episode 3- Had a great pace, lots of action and it just wraped everything up.
2- Episode 5 (Empire strikes back) - Could have the most quoted line in movie history! "Luke, I am your Father!"
3- Episode 6 - Vader is reedeemed and the good guys finally prevail!
4- Episode 4 - It started the whole thing
5- Episode 2 - Not bad some cool effects and moved the story along
6- Episode 1 - 3 words - Jar Jar Binks

What do you think?

(and yes my wife is more spiritual then me)

MOVE!

"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps

if you're not willing to move your feet."

How many times have I prayed this and not meant it? Who knows? But, I do know how amazing it is to pray for guidance and courage at the same time...to know what to do and when to do it. Oh, that daily I would be enough of a barbarian to follow WHEREVER He leads...into a conversation...into a tough situation...into the lives of the unchurched around me...into the broken hearts of the students we encounter...wherever...whether I have been there before...whether I will see what I expect or something else...whether I will enter never to return. Lord, give me the courage, the strength, the desire, and the willingness to pray big prayers, to dream big dreams, and to trust YOU above all that I can see...and MOVE!

War Eagle!

The Sporting News Honors Auburn in Preseason Rankings
May 20, 2005

AUBURN - The 2005 Sporting News Football Yearbook has ranked Auburn ranked 16th in the nation and second in the Southeastern Conference Western Division while a number of Tigers have garnered top rankings at their respective positions.

Five Auburn players have been named in the top 10 of their respective positions on a national scale.

Senior Marcus McNeill has been named the top offensive tackle in the nation by the publication and is also a first-team preseason All-American. Sophomore Stanley McClover, meanwhile, is considered the third-best defensive end nationally, is predicted to be the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and is a second-team preseason All-American.

Senior Travis Williams is considered the No. 6 inside linebacker in the nation by the publication. Williams helps anchor a linebacking corps that TSN ranks as the top unit in the SEC.
Additionally, three more Tigers garnered No. 7 national rankings. They include junior wide receiver Courtney Taylor, senior fullback Jake Slaughter and junior kicker John Vaughn.

Three more Tigers earned No. 13 rankings. Defensive end Quentin Groves and nose guard Tommy Jackson combine on the defensive line while junior punter Kody Bliss was also recognized.

Auburn opens the 2005 season by hosting Georgia Tech Sept. 3

at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Buck is gone...I know, it's just for five nights

Well...five nights seems like a long time. I made fun of our friend David last summer because he couldn't sleep while his wife, Farah, was gone...in fact he was pretty useless. Now, I am regretting some of my words. I am not sure I am going to fare that well either. I mean...his flight hasn't taken off yet, but I have already convinced myself that I miss him. I drew a sad face on our calendar at home for today...he erased it. But, don't worry, I put it back; i kinda think it is good that I am sad that he is leaving. Anyway, there is no sense in being miserable while he is gone. He will not be miserable there...seeing old friends...working with students...doing what he loves. I just hope that next time I will be able to go with him. I was invited...but you know how jobs can be. I mean, it's not like I used ALL of my vacation time for a honeymoon or something. I am staying with friends that I haven't been able to hang out with for awhile. It should be fun! But, I will still miss him.

This is a test of BloggerBot 

Today, I came across some quotations about opinions. I am married to someone who is such a good listener...sometimes it seems unfair that he should have to listen to me so much, when I am so good at NOT listening (maybe sometimes just not wanting to "hear"what he is saying) to his opinion. Anyway, I know that learning to listen is a vital part of marriage. And, I know even more that I need to learn to understand where he is coming from. I value the way he conducts his life and the way he leads us; now I need to learn to show that by listening.

"Every man should periodically be compelled to listen to opinions which are infuriating to him. To hear nothing but what is pleasing to one is to make a pillow of the mind."

- St. John Ervine

"Honest differences of views and honest debate are not disunity. They are the vital process of policy-making among free men."

- Herbert Hoover

"It is the man who does not want to express an opinion whose opinion I want."

- Abraham Lincoln

Graduation...Again

Well, I cannot believe it has been an entire year since I graduated from Auburn with a degree in History. I remember the day so clearly. It was a bittersweet day...a great part of life was over. My roommates and friends were all going in different directions. We celebrated! We laughed! But, soon we realized what exactly graduating meant...how our lives would change & most importantly how our relationships would change.

Some great friends walked through that line today...Jay, following in great footsteps received his history degree, Janet (a history major drop out) received her sociology degree...and many others that seemed so far away from this day. I felt like I was leaving them in college forever, but now they are done too. CONGRATS to all of the Auburn grads...I can't wait to see what God does in & through you in these coming years...TRUST HIM ALONE. Oh, and Jay...call me if you get a job using your degree!! WAR EAGLE!

Sonics' Fans

Well, today is a true test! Buck and I are "trying" to become Sonics' fans. We wanted to be able to root for a team together...and not just because a team is playing a team we both hate (i.e. the yankees). In baseball, we both like the Mariners, but have our teams (buck - Cardinals & beth - Braves) and in football it is the same; we both like and follow the Seahawks, but my heart is with the Colts and, yes, my husband is a Bengals fan. They were good...you know like two decades ago (they are starting to compete again though...helps when you have an Auburn boy running the ball for you). Anyway, we like the Sonics...they are a "high-character" team, with a great coach, a fun style to watch, and we picked a good year to start being fans. It has been a fun journey. I would like to say they can win without Ray, but he is the man...the one that can take over a game and make it happen. The series isn't over if they lose tonight, but it will be a steep climb. I think I will be sad if the Sonics lose, in fact, I know I will be sad. Does that mean I am a Sonics' fan?

Normal Windows

I am just wondering if other people have normal windows in their homes. I am not completely bitter yet about the fact that our windows are insane. We either have to get the "super-cheap hope they don't fall if you breathe kinda blinds" or the "buck is a student pastor so we can't afford them" kind. There are no inbetweens for our crazy windows. That is why today after work, Buck will once again go to Home Depot...with something to take back, of course. We are down to our office...the weirdest width windows of them all. Anyway, if you have normal windows and whatever you want fits...I really don't want to hear about it, except maybe to know that there is such a thing as NORMAL WINDOWS!

The newest "Apple" of my eye

I have this addiction, really it's more of a craving, but it tells me that I absolutely MUST have the item pictured below. I mean the outside is only half as cool as what you can do with it.



Beth and I decided that we did indeed need to get a computer for the house. Her one stipulation was that it look really cool (mission accomplished). Besides the coolness factor there are actually a lot of good reasons to buy a computer for the house. E-mailing, keeping track of our finances, checking the scores on the games, editing video's for church and our wedding. Editing video means that a PC just won't do so you have to go to the Mac. Not to metion the fact that Mac just came out with it's latest OS (Operating System). Besides did you see how cool it is??

But we have this silly little thing called a budget which always seems to get in the way of us spending money on "fun" stuff. In the end It's a good thing I realize this but it's awfully hard when you have a craving! So to fill my craving fix I'm posting this and feel better already. Well at least till tommorow.

****Disclaimer (of course Beth is the true apple of my eye, but it's a catchy title, humor me.)****

For all you Spelling Nazis

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt

Hoenstlty deos it ralely mttaer?

It's Raining

I know this will surprise many of you, but it is raining in the great northwest today...almost like it was raining on our wedding day. It never stops. It's not like it is freezing though, just the cold that comes from the rain. Buck and I were not disappointed that it rained on that day. It was peaceful, just like it is today. Yes, it would be a little more peaceful if I were at home, cuddled up with Buck under a blanket on our couch watching Alias and in between episodes maybe just talking. I love when we go to bed before we are really sleepy and we can just talk for awhile. There is nothing better to me. So, the rainy days aren't so bad. I wish everyone was able to enjoy the rainy days like I do. If it slows down the pace of life, accept it & enjoy it. If it makes things a little muddy, remember that a sunbreak (as we call it here) is just over the horizon.

Just give the Cardinals the Pennant

The Cardinals will win the NL this year for 1 reason: Pitching!! They have the best starting 5 I've seen from a Cardinals team since, well, ever. Both Matt Morris and Chris Carpenter are healthy and they both are solid #2 starters with the potenial to have #1 stuff; Mulder is a proven Ace, which leaves Marquis (who is only 26) and Suppan, both of which would be #3's in all but a handful of rotations.

The key to the starting five can be found in Mulder's recent 10 inning Shutout victory over Roger Clemens. Clemens lasted 7 innings and threw 123 pitches, while Mulder threw a mere 107 in 10 innings. How you ask? Simple the Cardinals have bought into Dave Duncan's philosophy of 'let them hit the ball on the ground and take the outs'. The Cardinals won't rack up the strikeouts; they are built to eat innings and force the other team to hit the ball.

Here is the kicker: the Cards are known for thier killer line-up, but the line-up has yet to produce and they are still 14-5. Yeah, it's good to be a member of the Cardinal Nation!!

Counting Down...

ONLY 129 DAYS 'til opening weekend in college football. WAR EAGLE!

And, speaking of college football, here is a great link to visit:
http://www.auburntigers.com/football/page.cfm?doc_id=9514

A Great Question...

So, a friend at work e-mailed me today with a great question:
What do you think is the balance of being honest with someone when they say, “How are you?” I truly believe that even in the midst of struggles, we should have joy, and should not be pessimistic or negative. But I also feel strongly that, as Christ-followers, we should be authentic. What do we say when someone asks that and means it?

I rambled on for a few minutes with an answer, but I still feel like I could discuss this for days or years...and never know how to truly be authentic and joyful all the time:
That is a great question…one I struggle with practically every day of my life. I never know what to do…even in the small encounters of life. What do I say on Sunday mornings at church? (Reason #764 I hate “meet and greet” time) What if I don’t feel good or even feel like smiling when I am at work? I really am pretty happy most of the time, but when I am bummed, I am way bummed. But, that doesn’t mean I have lost all faith in Christ. And, I don’t want to sound “religious” with “I am having a tough day, but God is still good” as a response, even though that is probably the most honest I could be in many situations. During the times when I am struggling with my faith and purpose, I think it is the hardest to be authentic because I don’t want people to know that I am struggling with that, but how many people in my life really want to know that I am struggling with that…four or five? But, those also pose the greatest opportunities to share our journey with someone else or even encourage someone else without ever knowing it. Even though I don’t do it well, I think it is important to think of some great things that God is doing…kind of like a fall back tank. For example, sometimes there are specific things that really frustrate me...and Buck knows it; but when he asks me I don't want to just complain some more. So, now when Buck asks me about my feelings toward certain subjects (someone whom I know wants authenticity) I can HONESTLY say what I am struggling with, but point out what God is doing in my life at the same time. Does that make sense? I am REALLY trying to do that as far as this new transition in my life goes…but that still brings us back to the everyday generic, “how are you?” question we hate. I think we have to trust God…that we will have joy in the encounters that need joy, but that we would be real with our struggles, our bad days when an opportunity to let everything out (in a healthy way, of course) arises. It all goes back to being lead by the Holy Spirit. I think that will be hard for me as long as I live. I think we know when God provides us with the opportunity to grow by sharing, to feel better by crying for a little while, to dig into His Word, and/or to encourage others through our struggles. I also think we know when a smile is needed. If deep inside of us we do have the joy of Christ, then smiling or saying we are good is authentic. Sometimes we have to share the joy even when we don’t feel like it. I don’t know if that makes any sense…just a bunch of ramblings.

If you have any thoughts on the subject let me know.

The Weekend is Finally HERE...well almost

Do you ever get to the point on Fridays where it seems pointless? By about 2:30pm I usually begin to shut down: I may still take a few phone calls...I still deal with the mail...but, other than that I just check out sports scores and let the weekend begin. I just love the weekends! And especially this weekend, because Buck and I have NO plans until Sunday morning. We have a few things to get done around the house and some student ministry administrative tasks to take care of, but for the most part we can just hang out and relax. We will probably watch at least three or four episodes of Alias. We are on season two. I am trying hard not to tell Buck what I already know. But, once we get toward the end of this season we will both be in the dark. Anyway, we all need weekends with no plans!

That's it I quit!

I'm tired of it. Tired of the guilt, the constant nagging every month as I look at my bills. Tired of throwing money down the drain so today it stops! I'm not doing it anymore!

I'm officially quiting the Gym! Bally's will no longer be recieving my $22.37 each month. As good a deal as it has been I just simply haven't gone in the last 4 months so I'm done.

Maybe this will work...

Well, Buck and I had a lot of trouble maintaining our individual blogs so we are going to try a joint blog. Maybe between the two of us it will work.

Our wedding was so wonderful...we both really relaxed and enjoyed the day! I didn't want to walk away and immediately forget the emotions I felt or the words that I said. It was great to have our family and friends here with us.

Anyway, we are beginning to settle into married life. Besides fighting over the covers and his elbows to my face, the adjustment hasn't been too difficult. We are trying now to pull our lives together. We are busy getting our house in order...trying to figure out what things we really need and how that fits into our budget.

And, we are really excited about finally getting to focus on our ministry in Tacoma and at Discovery. We were so distracted for the few months before the wedding, that we didn't put the time or energy into the students that is needed. I think a few relationships are beginning to develop on a deeper level. Please pray for us as we continue to explore ways to reach students.