Having Something You Can Finish

I found this blog post to be really encouraging.  It is about a class taught by Dr. Gregg Allison at Re:Train, a part of Resurgence.  He talked about having something in your life as a pastor that you can finish because a pastor's work is never done.  In ministry, in working with people, there is always something to do.  He recommends having an outlet that allows something to be finished whether it be finishing a basement, writing a book, or something else.

This really spoke to me because as you might have noticed I have many hobbies.  I enjoy doing many different things.  I struggle sometimes, thinking that these interests are taking the place of ministry in my life.  Right now I am not a pastor, I am a seminary student.  My ministry is living an authentic life in front of my co-workers at my non-ministerial job.  Still, I have often struggled with some of my interests being a good thing.  I have wondered if bonsai, beekeeping, video games, and other things are an unwise use of my time.  This encouraged me that they are a good thing, that they are healthy.  Of course there is a balance and I have to make sure that the hobbies don't replace other things.

The Great TLA (TGL)

Today in class Ed Stetzer used TLA as a term in his lecture!  TLA is finally starting to catch on!  I have been trying to bring it into our vernacular since high school (which I graduated from in 2004).  We see them everywhere.  They affect music, education, government, and churches, basically everything.  FIF, TIU, NIU, UIC, MPG, all of these things are TLA's.  Life becomes easier when we understand and utilize the TLA.

Every good marketing strategy needs a TLA.  It is almost impossible to remember anything without it (almost hyperbole).  Even psychological disorders utilize TLA's.  Where would we be without terms like OCD, DID, and GAD, all psychological disorders?  What about the educational side?  NIU, TIU, MBA, PBJ, and the list continues.  Can I pull a TEDS move (I know, not a TLA, but it is under the TLA umbrella of TIU, so it's okay) and say that since smart people seem to use TLA's more often that they are a great idea?  In my Persuasion class in undergrad I learned that people are persuaded by referral to authority and/or experts among other things so the logic seems to fit.  I could go on with more day-to-day uses such as MPG, ETA, CTA, LOL, GTG, and BRB.  Without these nifty TLA's instant messaging and texting could take three to four times as long.  How could we convey our laughter across the internet without TLA's?

If you are not sure what a TLA is at this point, friend, this is for you.  It is a three letter acronym for Three Letter Acronym.  What could be more efficient?  What could be more exciting?  Doesn't just saying it bring a smile to your face?

Those were rhetorical questions but these are not.  Do you think this term is helpful?  What TLA do you use on a regular basis?

I'm not a Coffee Drinker

But that doesn't stop me from loving my new french press! It is incredible. The french press was recommended to me by the pastor who officiated mine and Cassie's wedding, Thom. He is a missionary.  He started a coffee shop as a place to meet people and reach out to them. He said the best coffee is made in a french press. I kept that in the back of my mind until a about a month ago when Cassie and I were at a thrift store. We found a french press for $1.50! We had to pick it up. We didn't find out until we got home that it was made by Bodum exclusively for Starbucks! It was cool to see that it was probably a quality product.

As I said before, I am not a coffee drinker. I try to only drink coffee 1-3 times a week, and I don't really love it like other people. But this french pressed coffee is so good! It tastes richer and feels fuller than drip coffee. Granted, it does take more work to make, and the clean up is a little more involved, but it is so worth it.

If you are a coffee drinker I recommend you check out a french press if you haven't. If you know me personally then I will gladly make you a cup sometime if you are on the fence!

Corn Festival!

Corn Festival has come and gone.  I was there September 25 and 26.  As always it never fails to deliver.  The petting zoo was great.  What could be better than being 23, married, hanging out in the petting zoo with old friends?

 

 Check out these animals!  We have a punk rock chicken in the upper left, a 'fro-wearing duck, a rabbit, and the coolest cow ever.

Now that I live on the North Shore of Chicago it's hard to remember my roots.  Growing up in a town where you have to learn about SMV's in driver's ed is a completely different experience from the North Shore.  For those of you less informed, SMV's are Slow-Moving Vehicles, things like this awesome tractor to the right and combines.  Hanging with me on the tractor are two of my great friends and groomsmen, Jason and Mike.

Take some time and ponder the beauty that is Morris, Illinois.  Sorry I don't have more pictures for you.  Maybe next year I'll have more.  I'll get some of the corn fields along the country roads.  Nothing feels more like home than driving between huge rows of corn on the country road.

Corn Fest!

Welcome to a magical place called Morris.
Where the corn grows tall and the grass is green.
Welcome to a festival that brings old friends back together.
Back to their roots.
Back to the ground they tilled.
The air they breathed.
The grain they grew.

Am I Going Green?

I never was one for "going green." Not because I hate the environment (we are called by God to be good stewards of the land). No, mostly it's because going green is expensive. Free roaming chickens cost more, organic milk is like twice the price, and it just doesn't fit my budget. There are some things about going green that I do like though. Hybrid cars, or even fuel cell cars, heck any cars that are going to save me gas money. The thing is, once again, those are expensive too.

Now that I am married I am looking forward to the day of buying a house. Fortunately for me there is a green house option that is actually cheaper than a regular house. It is called the cob house.

For those of you who know a thing or two about cob houses you might be thinking that I have fallen right into the hippy, granola-eating, give up on society pit. This would not be true (though they are such interesting people). Cob houses are made from mud, basically. It is a combination of clay, sand, and straw. The movement is big in Oregon, and my best friend Mike told me all about it. Cob houses are beautiful and can be made for under $5,000.

There are some pros and cons to this whole endeavor though.

Pros

-cheap

-good for the environment (I am partly green)

-easy to heat
-beautiful
-different
-get to build (and design) yourself
Cons
-building codes
-small usually only about 200 sq ft (not easy to build large)
-have to build yourself (which could take a long time)

So who knows, it might become my next house. I'll have to wait for Mike to go to Oregon in the summer for a workshop. After he comes back and builds his cob oven we'll see where we are. Let's just say I am mildly optimistic!