iTyler
I've noticed a recent trend in my life lately and it is this: I wish I was an apple product. It's true. I have recently been beefing up my "i" possessions, and I will have to say that I have started to become a little jealous of them. They are so cool! How could you not want to be an "i" product. Now, I realize that Apple is a long way from making people, but you know that when they do, they'll be cool. Everyone will want one (or want to be one) but some will still spout off excuses including cost and compatability.

So I started out by getting an iPod, then I got iTunes. Quickly, I purchased an iTrip so I can listen to my iPod on my iRadio (okay I made up the radio). My plan for the near future is to get an iMac (2.0 G5) which will include iLife - an impressive lineup of software. You see where I'm going with this. Hopefully, my lust for 'i' products will be outdone by Apple's ability to release new (and cool) technology. As long as we can keep this love affair going, I don't see why iTyler won't soon be within reach.

I AM NOT SPIRITUAL.
So here's what's happening. I have accepted a full-time 'interim' worship ministry position at my father's (and Father's) church in Brownsburg, IN (Cornerstone Christian Church). I will hold this ministry position for an indefinite amount of time. I am excited about this opportunity.

I will be living in Avon, IN in my parents house. There is plenty of room for me there. Avon is not much different than current sub-urban habitat. One difference is that almost ALL roads are single lane...how annoying. You don't have to wear a motorcyle helmet (by law), but I will anyways.

The ministry I will be doing should prove to be a bit of a challenge, but it will be fun. My goals are to create a 'culture' of worship, as well as develop a good worship band. The church hasn't had a minister of worship for a very long time and they are hungry for someone to come in and lead. In some ways, this is a new avenue for me b/c I haven't ever been a full time music person. I am sure to be stretched as I stretch the volunteers and congregation. Through all of this, I guess the point is being able to generate an environment where people may fully express themselves to their Creator God. Good luck, me.

As I have been thinking about all this, I realized that I am not very spiritual about it. Not only that, but have been wondering if some people are overly spiritual about a job position they take. My older brother and I had a great discussion about this (and perhaps it should stay there rather than take public form...but, oh well). We have been talking about how many Christians (esp. in the "ministry") glamorize a/the "calling" from God. Now, our conversation lasted a good hour, but we basically agreed (this is opinion) that God doesn't call people to "work in the church." I mean specifically to be in vocational ministry where the church pays your salary.

"Yes, after much prayer and meditation, God has called me to be employed by a church."

It's perfectly fine (in my opinion) if you are under the employment of the church, but I don't figure that God actually calls you to this. So does God call you to ministry? Sure. How can you be sure? Well, as a Christian I have a responsibility to serve God and do good works. Right? So, how will I know what service or what good works I should do? By praying and fasting? It's a good start, nothing wrong with that. It may be easier to determine by observing the way in which God has gifted you. I am sure that I shouldn't be in children's ministry - not because I prayed about it and God "closed those doors," or "revealed to me otherwise," but because I wouldn't be using the gifts (and, although fleeting, passion) that are given to me. For me it's common sense. So I haven't been fluttering around saying things like, "Well, I am just waiting to see what God's will for my life is..." I already know what God's will for my life is - to serve him by using the gifts that he's given me. Will there be some slight alterations? Sure. Who would have guessed that I would be a youth minister for 2 years. Not me. But the whole point of my transition is about finding a place where I can use my gifts the most.

So what about the employment stuff. Will some people use their gifts to the greatest potential and not find themselves in vocational ministry. You bet. Should we just forsake the whole employment by a church idea. Nah. Although it seems very romantic that everyone would be volunteers it isn't the best case for all churches, or all ministries (ministers). I think about it this way. For some people, God has gifted them in such a way that in order for them to reach the highest potential of using their gifts, they need to be working full time in the church. It would be a waste of their talents and abilities to be holding down a nine-to-five at the local Best Buy. Obviously, different circumstances require and raise up different leaders. I cherish (and am kind of jealous of) those who work in ministry but are paid through some other means. But that doesn't mean I look down on others for being employed by the church (after all , that'd be a bit of "biting the hand that feeds," huh?).

The point is that although I feel that I haven't been very "spiritual" about making career decisions AND I don't think that God is necessarily calling me (or anyone) to be specifically paid by the church, I don't think that God isn't watching over me and continually beckoning me to serve Him as I am able. You are free to disagree (and be right about it).

YOU PROBABLY WISH I WAS YOUR BOYFRIEND (unless you are a guy)
Recently Julie has been noticing (and mentioning) that I have been spending a lot of time in front of the computer. Maybe she doesn't realize that when I used to work, I was in front of a computer almost all day. Maybe she doesn't realize that for the most part I have been trying to get my iPod Photo up to date and burning all your CDs to a computer takes time. And since my iPod will display album art, I have been downloading even more. But she's about to learn for herself the joy of all of this tedious work, because... I just bought her an iPod. Let's just call it an awesome house warming gift. I got her an iPod mini because that's all she really needs. After getting it started for her I think the mini is awesome. It's so little yet...awesome. Anyways, she's very excited and happy. And when she's happy, I'm happy. So here's to another who's joined the ranks of the iPod family. Maybe we'll soon begin this Podcasting I keep hearing about from Luzio.

MASTER AND MAN
BY LEO TOLSTOY

Read and surveyed by Julie Bradley

Master and Man is a short story about a peasant Nikita and his master, a wealthy merchant Vasilii Andreich Brekhunov. The story begins as Vasilii who deals with property and livestock plans a business trip to close a deal. Despite the dangerous Russian winter, Vasilii departs with his horse, Dapple, and his man, Nikita to guide him.
Tolstoy describes Vasilii as a greedy merchant, a calculating business man who does not appreciate the finer things in life. Vasilii is never in need but never knows it. He is crooked, and cheats Nikita out of proper wages for a 19th century peasant. Nikita is quite the opposite of Vasilii. Simple minded, at home with nature, an animal lover - Nikita is accepting of his life in servitude. Nikita has a wife that cheats him too, I think he overlooks this because he knows it’s because of his past drinking and gambling habits. Nikita has sworn off drink as we begin the story, it is only after we begin that we find out about his past habits. I think this is written to encourage the readers opinion about him and personify the character.
Throughout their journey, Tolstoy describes the snowy weather "He was blinded by the snow, the wind seemed anxious to hold him back . . . " and "the snow came down, sometimes too, it rose upwards . . . " And "sometimes they drove into deep, even snow, uniformly white, its surface unmarked by anything at all." In fact, the weather was so bad they deterred off the road three times. It was this third time that was of most significance in the story.
Their horse Dapple, exhausted from all the times getting lost because of Vasilii has to quit for the night. After numerous times getting out of sledges, gullies, and deep snow Dapple was ‘done in’ according to Nikita. So they set up things to spend the night in weather where they ‘might freeze to death.’ Tolstoy writes; "Vasilii Andreich felt quite warm in his two fur coats, especially after his exertions in the snowdrift, but a chill ran down his spine when he realized that he actually had to spend the night here. To steady his nerves he sat in the sledge and reached for his cigarettes and matches." Meanwhile Nikita, after building the sledge for his master to lay, affixed a flag so that if buried alive, they would be found. Then he unharnessed the horse, covered him with cloth, all the while talking to the horse to cheer it. Nikita then made a little hole in the snow and put straw in it and retired for the evening.
Vasilii, however, couldn’t sleep. Tolstoy writes what is going on inside Vasilii’s head. This consists of a fear of dying and then comforting himself by thinking about money and material items. This continues until Vasilii decides to leave Nikita and takes the horse determined to find shelter. Upon leaving, Nikita is awakened. Finding out what his master had done his only request was that Vasilii leave the cloth that was on the horse since it wasn’t in use anymore. But his master had already gone to far and could not hear him.
Eventually Vasilii ends up lost in the blinding weather again and poor Dapple collapses under him caught in a drift. As Vasilii frees Dapple, the horse takes off, leaving Vasilii behind. Determined to escape death he followed the horse tracks before they were hidden with snow. He is lead back to the shafts where Nikita was still laying. All of a sudden he was concerned seeing Nikita get up and confess that he was dying and to give his wife or son his wages. "Then suddenly, with the same decisiveness as when he shook hands to clinch some advantageous deal, he moved back a step, turned up the sleeves of his top-coat and with both hands began digging the snow off Nikita and out of the sledge. When he had got it clear, Vasilii Andreich hastily undid his belt, opened out his coat and, giving Nikita a shove, lay on top of him, covering him not only with the coat, but also with his body which was warm and heated form moving about." It is here that our antagonist turns into the protagonist. Vasilii, upon contemplating what he has done for Nikita, begins crying. ". . . it gave him a special feeling of happiness such as he had never had before." Thus he realizes that life is not about money, but life is about life. This becomes more evident when the reader discovers that Vasilii then gives up his own life for his poor peasant. Master and Man’s themes include money or wealth, the meaning of life and spiritual redemption. The end of the story describes Vasilii’s dream (which is one of my favorite parts of the story) which reveals that God had called him to save Nikita’s life and called him to be with him. The end of the story is filled with pensive thoughts on life, death and bliss.




John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

Country Grammar
it's true. I'd like to call myself a music lover and that I can appreciate all kinds of music no matter what, but it just isn't true...you see, I have this thing called my 'honest opinion.' In the realm of the music world there is a lot to have an honest opinion about and for the most part my honest opinion IS that I like most kinds of music and can appreciate all kinds of music. However, there are two types of music [if you'd call them that] that really bother me: Hip Hop and Country. With a few exceptions, I would consider this some of the most shallow music that exists.

The other day, my brother [Jon] and I were driving to Adam's new home in Bedford IN to attend his ordination. The car ride was 5 hours each way. We had plenty of time to talk about whatever it was we knew, thought about, or had an opinion about. We got into a discussion about music and how bad Hip Hop and Country really are. Any time I hear a song by Nelly, or Chingy, or 50 cent, I want to destroy whatever source the music is being played from. And the truth is, I rarely even hear country music [except at Lonestar Steakhouse]. When I do, I cringe with mental anguish. As we talked about disliking this music I started to realize that both types have quite a bit in common.

Earlier, I referred to these two types of music as shallow. Well, consider this. [For the most part] both country and hip hop artists sing/rap about the same thing... Women or cars [or tractors] or alcohol. The distinction is that hip hop is getting women and cars, and country is always losing them... You're likely to hear the word dog [dawg] in both types of music, but one refers to another person or friend and the other refers to something that ran away [along with a wife and a Camaro]. Odd isn't it? So, it is my contention that hip hop and country are really like music paternal twins...sure they look a little different, but they come from the same mother...now the question is, 'where is that "mother" and how do we get rid of it.'

WHAT WAS I THINKING...
The other day, i remembered a long, lost friend. He was a good friend all the way through college and during my first year of ministry. We spent a lot of time together over those years. I relied on him quite a bit for all kinds of things. He aided me in my homework, he always played video games with me and my friends, and everytime I was gone I could be certain he'd be waiting for me when I returned home. My long lost friend is...Nap Couch.

The furniture in my apt. does not lend itself to good long naps. I was watching a movie last week and thinking about how our love seat was becoming more and more uncomfortable the longer i sat on it. I remember thinking, 'I wish i could just stretch out and take a nap on this chair.' I figure that's how basketball player must feel in any kind of furniture. Suddenly my heart and mind were swarming with memories of the wonderful naps I used to take on Nap Couch. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed having that couch.

It started one day when I was a sophmore in college looking at the local Salvation Army for a cheap couch. Not having much money, I was slightly turned off by the 3000 credit, smoke-and-urine stained, crooked, lame looking couches. So...as I was browsing the store, the manager told be about a couch they had 'out back.' When I went out back the truck driver told me that they had an extra couch. There was no more room in the store for it and they couldn't put it back on the truck, so I was told I could purchase this couch for 1000 credits. AMAZING DEAL, i thought. And I ended up being right. It was the best 1000 credits I've ever spent.

So how bout the name Nap Couch [you are probably wondering]. Well it's a simple thing really. I found that whenever I sat on the couch for more than 20 minutes, I would find myself inclinced, nay, compelled to take a nap. I took the best naps in my life on that blessed couch. It was super comfortable and it was long enough for me to stetch out and niether my head nor my feet touch an arm rest. My naps have never been the same since it's been gone.

This is how I lost the couch. I moved into a new apartment. The couch was too big for it [sad, I know]. I gave the couch to Lucas for safe keeping in Hannibal. Lucas left Hannibal. Bam! No more couch...

Tis a sad story with no happy ending, arrrgh!

ARE YOU A COMMENT KILLER???
-you may be guilty of this at some point in your blogging life. You know exactly what I'm talking about. I will admit that I have done this numerous of times (i believe). I am talking about being a comment killer. You know you are excited to see (comments 9) and then click on it to see what everyone wants to say...you put down your own comment, full of whit, and check it again the next day...and the next day...and the next day. Then it hits you, you've killed the comments. It was going good until 9, then you added 10, and then nobody commented after you. Soon a week goes by and the author simply puts up another post. I hate that. I reminds me of when friends sit around a table and and are joking about something and someone adds something that just doesn't cut it and then there is awkward silence. We need to reinstate the 'then I peed on his face' phrase to help those of us who run the risk of killing blog comments.

This post is poorly written and I am sorry.

UPDATES:
-I believe I mentioned that the church, as a parting gift, gave me a generous gift card to Best Buy. Well, I used it to buy an ipod photo...that's right, 30 GB of space for all my music and photos. I have tried out the slide shows, and it is really cool. I like to open a folder that has all pictures of me and then play some soft music...it brings a tear to my eye.

-I went to the world aquarium in downtown St. Louis and pet a shark. Cool, but it gave me chills.

-today I did something that I haven't done in a long time (since college). I didn't go to church. It felt great. Although considering that I didn't work all week it actually just felt like a regular day.

-today on the clearance table at Walmart, I noticed HDTV tuners were only 10,000 credits. I bought one. It totally rocks. I only get about 8 channels with it. All local, but they look like they do in Best Buy. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it or not...I have 30 days to return it. John will be surprised tonight when he turns on the TV and watches Austin City Limits in true 16:9 1080i HD.

-today, I decided to stop saying 'dollars' and start saying 'credits.' So, one dollar is actually 100 credits. I assume this will catch on quick and be huge in the near future. I am single handedly causing a word to become extinct.

-My brother is being ordained next Sunday. This means he gets good tax breaks.

-upon buying my ipod and making several visits to the apple store, I have decided that my fate is to save up and buy an apple computer. Julie is going to get an ibook, John's probably going to get a powerbook, I REALLY like the powermac (but not the price), I'm diggin the mac mini but I need more power, so I'll probably settle on the G5 imac. Anybody have any suggestions here?

-here is a positive and negative plug for Napster. (+) When you sign up with Napster, you can download your songs on up to 3 computers. Imagine my surprise that when I logged in on Julie's computer the program prompted me to start downloading all my previous downloads...for free. (-) Napster's music is fully, digitally protected. If you download the music in Napster, you can play it in any music player, but the file must remain in a WMA format, so if you have a player (say, itunes) that doesn't play WMAs, you cannot load any Napster songs onto your newly purchased ipod. The way around is to burn the Napster songs onto CD, then re-rip the music into itunes (into mp3 format). Unfortunately, you'll lose all the album info...annoying. So what's the big deal? Napster is actually cheaper if you buy albums. Most albums are only 900 or 1000 credits no matter how many tracks are on it. If, however, you only are downloading individual songs, it is 99 credits...just like itunes. On itunes, you'll pay for each individual track on a whole album (i think). Oh, and if you are one of the ones who just downloads music using a program like kazaa or morpheus or whatever, that's stealing so stop it!

-I've loaded up some new photos.