Why do so many have the need to update their status, blog, etc? I don't know. Narcissism...? Maybe. A lot of people are thinking about this topic. Many will say it's about connectedness and community. We like to feel a part. We like to be fed.

People move around a lot more now than they used to and it's easier to keep up with friends across the country or world. There are people I haven't seen or spoken to in years, but I feel like I have stayed connected with them when I hear about their kids' baseball game or see their pictures from vacation. No it isn't the same as one on one contact but I think a quick blurb every day is better than a letter once a year.

I have met up with friends over coffee or lunch specifically because a FB and Twitter that I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

Do people update (feed) too much? yeah, definitely. But maybe we're all still figuring out the boundaries of this new world called the internet.

With the snow comes...snow days.  Not for Lee University where I work.  During the armageddon of snow we got to leave early at 3:30.  But the children at the city and county schools have enjoyed several days off.  It's getting kind of silly.  Basically, if the weather person even thinks about the word snow, some counties go ahead and close school  If the weather person actually says the word snow, they go ahead and close for 2 or 3 days.  Everyone is afraid someone's going to get into a wreck.

We were talking about in the office one day.  The legend goes that a long time ago, Cleveland got some snow.  The school officials did not call off school and some parent had an accident on the way to school which ended up killing the child.  From that day forward some type of community vow was taken to never risk the life of a child over snow again. (I think there was a Frank Peretti book written about it.)

Naively I asked, "why is it the school system's fault that this unfortunate accident happened?  I mean if the roads looked so bad, why didn't the parent just say, 'it's not safe on the roads and we're going to stay home today' or 'I don't feel comfortable driving in that' ?"

It was explained to me that it was the city/county's responsibility to decide when the roads are safe.  People are stupid and can't be trusted to make that call on their own.  They need to be protected because they don't know better.  And then it dawned on me.  Our small seemingly conservative town nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains was actually a bastion of liberalism.  These same FoxNews patriots who start screaming SOCIALIST! at the first sign of any government intervention were now asking the government to step in and make basic decisions for them about when they should drive. 

Ok...it wasn't really liberalism, just rich irony.  Apparently, people don't need the government to help them with anything but terrorists, illegal aliens and potentially icy roads. 

Health care? Leave us alone we don't need it. 
Unemployment? Only lazy people aren't working.
Child Hunger? If their parents weren't so lazy they could eat.
Potentially slick road?  PLEASE HELP US - WE CAN'T DECIDE...SHOULD WE DRIVE OR NOT??!!

I'm just having some fun.  Don't get all FoxNews on me. ;)

For your consideration:

1 - I have no idea why guys want to wear "skinny jeans".  I have yet to develop an appreciation for this fashion statement.  I don't mind the  messy bed head, the faux hawk, the ironic t-shirts or hats.  I'm ok with a pinstripe jacket, flannel shirt, jeans and chuck taylors.  In fact I kind of like it.  But "skinny jeans" kind of creep me out.  I suppose it came out of the emo scene and I guess that's cool.  I just don't get it. 

2 - College kids think I'm old.  The student workers in my office were born my senior year of high school/first year of college.  I graduated from college 15 years ago!  When students learn my age they look a little sad for me.  The same look you give someone when they tell you they have a terminal disease and 3 months to live.  I think one girl almost cried.  I still feel like college wasn't that long ago.

3 - Here's the big one, I'm in bed by 9:30 - 10 o'clock.  I'm not asleep by then, but we are in the bed watching TV preparing for sleep.  I'm a sponsor for one of the clubs at Lee.  They start their meetings at 9pm.  Are you kidding me?  As I'm winding down, these guys are just getting started.  This past Tuesday they had voting.  We started at 9pm and finished at 1:30am.   That's right A.M.  The next day I felt like I had not slept in a year.  I used to pull all nighters.  No big deal.  No  longer.

I now that someone will read this who really is old (like 40 something).  And that person will read this and think it's cute and tell me I have no idea what awaits me.  You're right.  I know I'm not as old you.  I know it's only going to get worse.  My only hope is that "skinny jeans" will be a fad and I will not have to wear them in 10 years to avoid a mid-life crisis.

i still love the first matrix (i like the other two).  the first movie captured so much of what i was thinking and feeling about the church at that time (still does i suppose).  sometimes i feel like my calling to the church may be to act as a morpheus.  revealing the truth to those who are ready for it and attempting to rescue them from the lie.  morpheus was a missionary.  sent to rescue those aware of the lie.  while in the matrix, he didn't belong.  many of those who had been 'unplugged' were uncomfortable going back in.  they didn't fit anymore. they were exiles.

a lot of new churches have sprung up in recent years.  many claim their purpose is to reach out to those who don't do church.  but i get the feeling many of them enjoy doing ministry in the matrix.  i'm not sure how many of them have really 'unplugged'.  it seems as though so much of the commercialism and marketing of the matrix still play a large role in these new churches. 

to be honest, i'm not really sure what a morpheus church would look like...but i'll know it when i see it.  i think it will feel like home.

Today I taught my first Theology class.  We really just went over the syllabus and introduced ourselves but it was the first official class.  I'm pretty excited about it.  I love teaching.  I loved teaching at the Christian High School several years ago and I loved teaching at the church in Texas.  It was by far my favorite thing to do.  I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the syllabus and scheduling the lectures, assignments and readings.  I took joy in entering the first attendance role tonight.  I know I'm weird but there's just something about something you really love.

We left Texas so I could pursue teaching and so Angeline could work at Lee again.  Little did I know we would be in Cleveland for over a year before I actually got to do an Intro to Theology class.  I'm hoping it's the first of many.

The other first is Samuel.  Tomorrow (Jan. 15) is his birthday.  I can't believe he will be 6.  We are in the midst of adopting a little girl from the Philippines, but Samuel will always be my first child (chronologically not in ranking).  He initiated us into parenthood.  I've been thinking tonight about when he was born.  I remember going to bed on January 14th and thinking it was the last night of pre-parenthood.  That every night after that I would always be a father for the rest of my life.  Six years has gone by so quickly.  He is such a part of our lives now that I can't imagine life without him.  I'm very proud of him.

Hopefully I can hold on to these happy feelings when we take him to Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday . . . we'll see.

How would you define 2009 in one word?Much of this felt pretty accurate to me.(here's the NPR article it came from)I'm definitely looking forward to 2010.  I am hopeful as to all that it will hold.Peace and Hope to all.

"...the fruits of the Spirit really are beautiful things like peace, patience, kindness, joy, love, goodness, and not the ugly things that have come to characterize religion, or politics, for that matter. (If there is anything I have learned from liberals and conservatives, it's that you can have great answers and still be mean... and that just as important as being right is being nice.)"

Here are some random thoughts: