Romantic Scribbles

So Erica and I have some exciting news forthcoming, and while I want provide full disclosure here I’d like to talk a little about what’s going on.  (No we are not pregnant currently.)

Let’s start with the idea of calling.  From the time I was a kid I wanted to be a preacher.  Yes I’m sure that like many kids my desire stemmed from a desire to be like my Dad, who has been a preacher my entire life.  When I was in high school I believed my desire was confirmed with a calling.  In fact prior to graduating college I never seriously entertained the idea that I might do anything other than preach.  Then life happened.

Life from 22-30 has been kind of tough for me.  As someone who was always sure about what he was called to do, I never felt like I was doing what God wanted me to do.  I had some jobs that I thought might prepare me for ministry in the future, but in every career decision I made I felt slightly left (or right) of center.  I had jobs in which I was successful.  Jobs where people looked and said, “hey take a look at that Shawn kid, watch out for him he’s going places.”  And I had jobs where felt like a complete failure, and people seemed to say “Shawn who?”

So, I ran to the place where I was assured of positive feedback…School.  I’m good at school, and I thought maybe even it was a calling to go and get a terminal degree.  Now I’m not saying that I made wrong decisions, or that God wasn’t calling me to take the steps i’ve taken.  All I know is that my journey has had more uneasiness and confusion than I anticipated.

But, right now something has changed and I feel the strongest prompting of God that I can remember in my post-college life.  In fact at the moment I feel a strong calling from God to be right where I am.  I feel, for the first time in quite a while, that I’m right in the middle of God’s will.  And that belief has me wondering about the last 8 years.

As I look back and try and construct a narrative of the events of my life, I think that those 8 years weren’t wasted.  God was preparing me for something, teaching me something.  Maybe the lesson might have been shorter if I learned it quicker, but I don’t think I could walk where I believe God is asking me to walk if he hadn’t taken me on this journey.

God has showed (is showing) me something about pride and ego, success and faithfulness, and calling and discipleship.

So I leave you with the promise that in the future I will share more of where God is calling Erica, Jude and I.  All I will say for now is I’m excited and nervous, but confident.

OK so I know I’m a sporadic blogger and have no right to call out others for not blogging…but…I’m going to. Let me give you some context: So often I go to my blog feed and there are countless blogs by people. Some of friends, many are not, and as I scan through the list I think how I’d rather be reading blogs by the following list of people.

So here it is a list of people I wish would blog more, or start blogging, or tell me where their blog is so I can read it.

1. Crystal Hutcheson. Crystal stop sucking and start blogging.  Crystal was my first and–to date–only intern.  I believe I have had no other interns because people are intimidated to attempt to fill her shoes.  She is super creative, reminds me of Tina Fey, and is one of my favorite people in the world.  Her blogs tend to be creative, funny, and way better than mine. So stop subjecting the world to my crap and give them something good to read.

2. Tammy Davis.  I know you’re all busy taking care of kids, and Terry and whatnot, but come on for realss.  Tammy happens to be one of the most creative people I know, and while I greatly admire her husband Terry, I’d like to hear a little more of Tammy’s voice in this inter-webs kind of life.  Tammy I implore you to make it happen.

3.  Andy Frazier.  To the left is a picture of a friend named Andy Frazier playing another round of what I can only assume is the game he invented in the Summer of 2000 called Corpse.  Basically Andy just goes limp and falls seeing who or what is willing to catch him.  It’s this kind of dedication to awesomeness that demands attention.  I’ll admit I don’t often stay in contact with Andy as much as I would like, but his writing is creative and entertaining.  Andy please for the love of all words that end in “o” write something.

4.  Garrett “GRockLobstar” Laubscher.  Garrett was my college roommate my Freshman and Sophomore years in college, and while I wasn’t always easy to live with, Garrett was awesome.  Garrett lives and breathes punk rock, anti-establishment, and good ol’ fashion family values.  He’s smart and I hear he’s only gotten smarter.  His is a perspective I would like to read on a regular basis.  Garrett stop rockin’ so hard and write something.

5.  Kevin Switzer.  Despite the fact that in this photo Kevin looks like an angry convict, Kevin Switzer is the best tweeter I know.  His tweets are regularly a bright spot in a twitterverse full o’ crap.  Kevin has a blog, but doesn’t write on it very often. I, however, believe that Kevin has the ability to string together more than 140 characters of good times.  I, therefore, humbly implore you to write more often.  (And not technical crap about Iphone 4.0, let the tech geeks write about that junk.  You’re gifts are too powerful to waste on that nonsense.  It’s like leaving Luke to target swamp rats in his T-16, while the Death Star destroys the galaxy.)  So in the name of selfishness I request that you write more.

Ok so there are so many more that I wish would blog, but this is a beginning.  Now if you’re too reluctant to set up your own blogs at least, for the good of humanity, guest blog here.

PS.  All pictures stolen from Facebook.

So I’m making a CD of Alice in Wonderland read by Jim Dale.  Now Jim Dale also happens to narrate the Harry Potter series in the US for which he has won a few grammies.  In any case if I had a billion-jillion dollars I would hire Jim Dale and have him read everything too me.  He has the most melodious voice of anyone I know, well with the possible exception of my good friend John Gove.  (John I’m not sure who will read A Christmas Carol to me while I sleep this year, but I hope somehow, some way it’s you.)

Here’s a video of Jim Dale talking.  I have no idea what he is talking about (I wasn’t listening) but I just like his voice:

So I thought I might escape pollen fest 2010 without the usual sinus track infection.  Well after producing somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 pounds of snot today it looks like that is not the case.  The doctor seemed to agree, and she added things like ear infection and perhaps strep to the mix.  She prescribed me a half a dozen medications, and told me I’d be better before I left for Haiti in June.  Awesome.

Beyond the mucus nastiness things are pretty good.  I love my job, I’m making progress on my dissertation, and I only feel overwhelmed a few times a week.  Jude who started as the cutest baby in the world has continued to grow up at a level of cuteness that is unmatched in recorded history.  Here’s some photos that prove my point:

With this I believe I can rest my case.  Well, in any case I hope you’re all doing well, and there should be more updates coming soon.

By the by as I type this New Moon is on.  This movie is something…that’s all I’ll say.

So lately I’ve been frustrated by a few things.  I could probably write a full post about each, but for now I’ll just provide a list with some thoughts.

1. Citing grammar/grammatical mistakes to win an argument:  I’ve seen this a couple of times recently.  In this scenario a person makes a valid and potentially strong argument opposing someone’s ideals, and instead of engaging with their critique the person dismisses the person for being too stupid to use the English language appropriately.  Now I like language, I believe in using correct grammar, my personal grammatical skills are average to below average, and I appreciate when my friends help correct my grammatical mistakes.  (Thanks Andrea.)  For me, however, I’m much more concerned with the content of someone’s remarks over their form.  Furthermore, I don’t think that grammar is a sign of intelligence.  You can train a monkey to put commas in the right place.  In fact when you disparage someone for an obvious typo or an incorrect apostrophe I lose respect for you.

2.  John Piper books: I’m glad John Piper exists.  I’m glad he writes books.  However, every time I turn around someone is trying to push a John Piper down my throat.  I love you all and your love of reformed theology, but I’ve got a reading list a mile long and Piper is not first, second, or even third in line.

3.  The reaction to the health care reform bill: This one is more involved, but I will try to succinctly state my reasons.

(A.)  I don’t think that the signing of this bill means that suddenly the sky is falling, I now live in a communist country, or that I’m in danger of death squads trying to kill my grandma.  I could be wrong, but for now this type of reaction annoys me

(B.)  The arguments that draw on Christian teaching seem weak or selective at best.  I’m not saying Christians need to support this bill, I’m just saying that those who turn to the NT for reasons to oppose this bill may not find the clear teaching they’re hoping for.  Furthermore, I think Christian leaders who base their arguments on Scripture seem to send the message that says if you don’t vote like , if don’t support what I support you can’t be a Christian.  Christians who oppose this bill should be free to oppose it, just find better arguments that closes off the kingdom to people who vote different than you. This one bothers me the most, especially because I’m worried that we are putting unnecessary obstacles in front of the Gospel.

(C.)  The rhetoric has become so radicalized that conversation between opposing groups has become impossible.  In fact the other side has become the enemy.  (Both sides are guilty of this by the by.)  For those that oppose the bill, please don’t say it’s evil and compare it to women getting raped or people killed by radical Islamists.  It doesn’t prove your point and just ensures that no one will want to talk with you (except those that already believe what you believe).  I love the people who support this bill (even though it is flawed) and I love the people who oppose this bill (although I hope they support health care reform at some point).  I just want the rhetoric and apocalyptic language to tone it down a little so that maybe we can have a discussion between opposing parties some day.

Furthermore, if you keep inciting people into a rage and turning the opposing side into a ruthless enemy then don’t be surprised when death threats go out and bricks go through people’s windows.

4.  Backs: Listen back I’m tired of you hurting.  I’ve got junk to do, and I find it hard to do on muscle relaxers and pain killers.  You cost me a full day this week and some other minutes on various other days.  Enough’s enough, this economy is bad and you don’t want to be out on the street looking for a job.

5.  Diaper rash: Enough said.