not another blog, v2.0

This video has been making the rounds in the blogosphere . . .

It’s a portion of a sermon that John Piper delivered at University Christian Fellowship in Birmingham . . . a college ministry that I used to be a part of. A few folks have been wondering here and there how to get the whole sermon, and since it’s no longer available at UCF’s website, I’ve uploaded it to this server.

Get it here. It’s good stuff.

(Yes, the quotes around both “prosperity” and “gospel” were intentional.)

. . . but I know, change is gon’ come.

(Gotta love Sam Cooke.)

I hope to get back to writing here soon. I’ve missed it, and I’ve missed you guys. Two rather significant items to mention quickly.

• My employer’s client decided not to renew my contract, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I was on the verge of putting in notice anyway. The way they went about it was a bit shady (ie: no “coaching” or any sign that they were displeased… just… “go”), but no big deal. That’s what comes with working at an at-will state.  It just goes to show me that I was indeed doing my job well.  As it was, the commute had me on the road way too much (~3 hours/day), I was getting very little time at home with my family (~4.5 hours/day), and the rest of my time was spent either working, sleeping, or driving.  Couple all of that with the abysmal pay, the non-existent benefits, the ever-mounting responsibilities, and the toxic work envionment, and it was just not a good situation.

  As it is now, I have time to look for an enjoyable (not just a tolerable) job and time to be with my girls.

  So, praise the Lord for (kind of) getting fired. Pray that I find something good quickly.

• This Sunday evening, I’ll be ordained and installed as one of five Ruling Elders of Grace Central Presbyterian Church. This will also make Grace Central a particular church in the Presbyterian Church in America. The real work is about to begin.

The New York Post counts Columbus, Ohio among its top five travel destinations of 2007. This, next to places like Budapest and Venice.

That’s right.

(HT: Joel)

The book doesn’t release until February, but the folks who pre-ordered got their link to the PDF today.  Look for a review some time in the next week.

So . . . yesterday, I applied to Covenant Seminary’s M.Div program (even though  I already know that’s not the degree I’ll end up with — I have a plan).

The day before, I applied to Western Governors University’s BS in Information Technology program.

For at least some of the time, I’ll be working on these degrees simultaneously.

No, I’m not completely insane.

Finally got around to downloading this last night. I’m digging it.
(I’m actually using this cover art in iTunes, but the above is the “official” one.)

Just doing a bit of a blog-pimp here . . .

For some intelligent, insightful, winsome, and often humorous reviews of live shows here in Columbus, be sure to take a look at my friend Joel’s blog, Just Standing There. He contributes to the local “alt-weekly” paper here (and is pretty much the only reason I pick up said alt-weekly on lunchtime trips to Chipotle. Well . . . him and the “Other Variations” personal ads in the back. Those are disturbingly hilarious at times.)

Check it out . . . even if you don’t live here. Joel will tell you if your favorite band is worth seeing live when they come to your town or if you should just stick with hearing them on your iPod.

The girls and I went down to Louisville, KY last week for Thanksgiving with extended family.

Shot during a raucous game of dominos. Those are my grandmother’s hands in the background.

My love (and her hot new haircut, courtesy of the lovely and talented Laura. Unfortunately, you can’t really tell anything in b&w.)

My other love.