“Spiritually-competitive”?!?

I had no idea what this could possibly mean, so I went online and did a Bible search for the phrase.  Zero results.

“Spiritually-competitive….”  I still can’t imagine what that could mean, but it sounds so antithetical to everything Jesus ever said, I couldn’t help but find it hilarious.

Guess we won’t be claiming any of those cash prizes.

It did give me an idea, though–maybe we could boost our budget by hosting a spiritually-competitive tithing competition.  Hmm….

“The first testicular guard, the ‘cup,’ was used in hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974.  That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.”

“In the book, The No Significant Difference Phenomenon, author Thomas L. Russell cites 355 research reports, papers and summaries dating back to 1928 that found no significant difference between online and in-class learning.”

Wow!  I was shocked to discover that people have been taking college courses through the Internet since the Roaring Twenties.  Whoever these online students were, they did a great job keeping their pioneering technology top secret for more than half a century.

You’d think that there wouldn’t even be any argument about the value of online degree programs since they’ve been going strong now for 82 years.

To use Earth Day as a teaching opportunity, one of the teachers had me and another teacher go out on the playground and throw trash all over the place.  Well, “trash” meaning plastics, paper products, and aluminum stuff.  Then she was taking her class outside to pick it all up and sort it out into bins.  Pretty creative teaching idea.

I felt like such a litterbug.  I’m something of a recycling fascist in my home.  “Carolyn, what are you doing with that half-used napkin?!?  Don’t throw it away–it’s recycling!  Don’t you care about the environment?  Think about our child’s future!”

So it felt quite unnatural to unrecycle.  Especially since a couple parents in the parking lot had to have seen me throwing trash all over the playground.  I have to admit, however, that there was something defiantly satisfying about it.

Speaking of recycling, only one time in the last six years have I seen anyone at the Ocean Pines recycling center that appeared to be about my age or younger.  Usually it’s the older folks recycling.  What’s up with that?  Certainly dispels any preconceived notions about the younger generations being more environmentally conscious.

Next time I see him, he’s wearing it on his back.

And to think I voted for him for President.

Anyway, when I looked at the warped, twisted mailbox, there was something strangely familiar about it.  Finally I realized what it was.  Compare below:

• We’re almost halfway through the series “Revealed” at CrossWay.  It’s going well, but I wish I had another two or three months to prepare for it!  Guess I’ll always feel that way.  Sermons are like paintings–it’s hard to reach a point where I can say, “It’s finished.”
• Laura Marie is eating “solid” food!  Doesn’t look that solid to me, but I guess it’s solid compared to milk.  She really likes the peas, green beans, and carrots, but the sweet potatoes seem to be her favorite so far.  It’s so cute to watch her eat with a spoon!
• I’m really pulling for a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.  That’s the classic matchup, and it hasn’t happened in 28 years.  Unfortunately the Phillies don’t seem like they’re keen on the idea.  And the Angels aren’t exactly one step away from elimination.  We’ll see.
• Cheez-its rock.  And now they have some made with whole grain, which are even better.
• Greg Cooper, the youth pastor at Ocean City Worship Center, is leaving soon to become the pastor of a church in Columbia (Maryland, not South America).  I’m sad.  Happy for Greg and his wife Heather, but sad for the community, the Worship Center, and me.  Greg is such a tremendous asset to our community.  His absence will leave a hole in our ministry to the teenagers in this area.  He’s also a lot of fun to hang out with and very encouraging.  Today we’re having our last hurrah at Plaza Tapatia, which I think is the only place we’ve ever met for lunch except for one time in D.C.  God bless you, Greg and Heather!  (Sniff sniff.)
• Autumn is totally the best.  I love the smell.  If I ever took two months off, I think I’d take all of October and November and just sit on the back porch watching the trees, drinking Vanilla-Macademia coffee, and listening to the wind.  And maybe reading a 19th-century Russian novel.
• A couple days ago I finished reading Monster by Frank Peretti.  It was really a great read.  I’d forgotten what an amazingly talented writer Peretti is.
• About a month or so ago, Carolyn and I started having a community group at our house.  We talk, pray, read the Bible (we’re going through the Gospel of Mark), and eat.  It’s wonderful.
• Speaking of Mark, I’ve been studying it for a couple months.  It’s been great to slow down and really spend time in Mark.  It’s been spiritually invigorating.

I loved my dad’s response.  He said: “Send him to a Nats game, and tell him it’s t-ball.  He’ll be surprised at how big the kids are and how well they play for that level.”

Nice one, Dad!  (I’m not sure if the second part is true, but it’s still funny.)

Our worship leader at CrossWay, Josh Engle, turns 35 today.  Happy birthday Josh!

As of last Wednesday, I’ve now been at CrossWay for two years.  Sure has gone by quickly.