moving, part one...the remix

I've decided to move to a different blog site. So if you're here looking for whatever I've been doing on this site, I'm now doing that over at

www.exchangedliving.com

same me, different look. hope to see you there.

a patriotic quiz...

In light of celebrating the fourth of July this weekend, I figured I'd post a self-made patriotic quiz... it's multiple choice and fully based on scientific fact. Write down your answers and check them against the key at the end. i hope you score well: your patriotic reputation depends on it.

1. Which of the following colors run?

A. Red
B. White
C. Blue
D. Are you kidding?

2. Which of the following song writers wrote "God Bless the USA"?

A. Francis Scott Key
B. John Phillip Sousa
C. Lee Greenwood
D. Bruce Springsteen

3. If the US and any other nation were arm wrestling, who would go "over the top"?

A. The other country
B. Sylvester Stallone
C. The US
D. Neither.

4. Who is the best movie war vet?

A. Lieutenant Dan (from Forrest Gump)
B. Walter Sobchak (from The Big Lebowski)
C. Ron Kovic (from Born on the 4th of July)
D. Rambo (from First Blood and every other Rambo)

5. With liberty and _____________ for all.

A. Justice
B. Freedom
C. Don't blaspheme the pledge of allegance
D. Both A and C

6. Most patriotic hot dog topping:

A. Ketchup, because it's red like the stripes of our flag.
B. Onions, because they make me weep like the National Anthem does.
C. Chili and cheese, because I like chili and cheese.
D. Yes.

7. If Rambo and Rocky fought, who would win?

A. Rambo, because he's a vet and a green beret.
B. Rocky, because he's wearing American flag-themed shorts (and he beat Drago).
C. Rocky, because Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, and Apollo Creed were in one of his movies.
D. America. America would win.

8. What's the best part of a 4th of July celebration?

A. The grill-a-thon day-pass to eat your weight in hot dogs and burgers
B. An all-day opportunity to blow stuff up with fireworks
C. Standing up next to Her and defending her still today.
D. Pruney fingers from swimming all day.

9. "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." - Adlai Stevenson

Best reaction to this quote:

A. "Let Freedom Ring!"
B. "God Bless America!"
C. "Didn't Ben Franklin say that?"
D. A, B, quickly think C to yourself, and then immediately say the pledge of
allegance.

10. Which of these is the best way to not forget the cost of freedom?

A. Tape $1.05 to your arm.
B. Think about all of the war vets and patriots who gave their lives for our
freedom.
C. Eat another hot dog.
D. Forget? No. I will never forget. Freedom isn't free: it cost folks like you amd me...

---Let's see how you did---

Answers:

1. D. If you missed this, you're probably a communist.

2. C. I actually had the opportunity to perform with Lee Greenwood when I was in college. People got so excited they almost threw whatever they had in their arms, including babies. It was almost dangerous levels of patriotism. Almost...

3. C. The US would go over the top and win. If you have no idea what this is refering to, check this video out, the final arm-wrestling scene from the movie Over The Top.

4. D. Rambo is the best. Not because he was the best on this list, but because he was also Rocky, who wore the American Flag Shorts and even made the Russians chant "USA". I'm sorry, but no one can beat that level of patriotic power.

5. D. Get the pledge right or don't say it at all.

6. D. No hot dog topping is more or less patriotic if you put them on your hot dog in America. This is about freedom, people. Top it how you want--let freedom ring.

7. B. There is no object with more patriotic power than those shorts (unless he wore a flag, which he couldn't because 1. it might look like a skirt, and 2. it might touch the ground). Because he has those shorts, he would destroy Rambo. Honorary Mention for choosing D: wow, what a fight.

8. C. If you do not stand up EVERYTIME you hear Lee Greenwood sing that song, you have no self-respect or love for this country. Keep sitting, Benedict Arnold.

9. D. This, again, is pretty self-explanitory. Try it. Follow the instructions and see how right it feels.

10. D. Geez. If you forgot, take this Friday to remember. The flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away...(hey)


Hope you enjoyed the quiz...it was made all in good fun. Enjoy your 4th! Leave me your scores in the comments....

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Listening to: Lee Greenwood - God Bless The U.S.A.

summer is here (officially)

there are a few things that must be in place for summer to officially begin (in my universe, anyway). it's like the formation of voltron--where each component is powerful enough, but when they combine, it's on. well, those elements for me are:

1. Window-down weather. You need to be able to drive with your windows down at all times (excluding rain, of course).

2. Grilling. Done and done.

3. yard sales. people selling crap they either don't want or can't afford to keep. i love going to them, and it cracks me up that its a part of what i consider summer to be. the world's longest yard sale trails right through this town in august. joy!

4. summer blockbusters. This summer has delivered (for the most part). I'm slated to see wall-e this week, which I'm excited about. the only big name I saw and didn't care for was Indiana Jones...shame on you, George Lucas, shame! shaaaaaaaaaaammmmmeee!!!

5. Sno-cones. and this is why summer is now officially here. The sno-cone (or sno-ball or shaved ice or whatever you might call it) place next to casa fiesta is now open! Let the blue bubble-gum goodness flow! Seriously, i hate the idea of a summer without sno-cones. You should drive to frankfort right now and treat yourself to a spoonful of summer.

thoughts on our Stewart Home Visit

For those who read this and don't know about the Stewart Home, the Stewart Home is a school for students with special needs in Frankfort. They do amazing work with close to 200 students from all over the US and abroad. Some of us at Hope got in contact with the SH to see if there was a way we could help them do what they're doing there. Different groups of volunteers have gone simply to play and help with some of the students at different times, and we've build a healthy connection with the school and its students. Yesterday, we packed up a trailer and threw a party for the students there. We brought a full band set up, clowns, face painters, bubbles, and the likes and decided to just blow the doors off their hinges for an hour or two.

First, to those who went, thank you. It was amazing to see how well our people worked together to make an event like that happen. It seemed effortless, though I know it wasn't. I was even more moved to see so many people come and not just watch; seeing your hearts come out as you worked with the students there encouraged and challenged me so much. There was more pure joy on the dance floor yesterday than I've seen in a long time. It was beautiful.

Second, and maybe this is a little raw, but what is it about dancing and joy that caught us off guard yesterday? Or me, anyway... I don't know how much of what we sang about even translated to the students we were with...honestly, to evangelize was not the point anyway...but when it comes down to the joy in those moments, the pure enjoyment of life itself, I feel like I was preached to by every student there. For me, every song and dance and laugh and shout was a testament of the goodness of life, and the greatness of God in the midst of all life brings us. Within the presence of God is the presence of joy, unquenchable and overflowing and transforming. I mean, I feel like i see things differently after last night. I know afterwards, a few of us were talking through what we had experienced as if something had come over us...something foreign but not foreign at all. Joy had shown up and looked us in the eye and asked us to dance. And so many said yes.

I'm still processing through it all, but I'd love to hear stories from any of you who went...where's this hitting you?


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Listening to: Doveman - Cities

next steps...

Currently, one of my tasks I'm working on at Hope is helping to develop a curriculum for people new to the faith and new to our church. It would be the next step to our new member training class--deeper into the theology and subsequent practice of our faith together at Hope. As we develop this class, part of me is wondering what people (both at Hope and elsewhere) feel like they either need or needed when first venturing into the faith. What lessons were crucial in getting you going in the faith? Or what were you not told/taught that you wish you had been exposed to early in your walk?

There's a guy in Ft. Thomas named Jeremy Pryor who has posted some interesting videos on what he's calling the Story-Formed Life. It's a discipleship course he's designed based on understanding our story within the larger story of God. This link will take you to his youtube page; if you have time, take a look and let me know what you think of this in the ole' comment section.

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Now playing: Sigur Rós - Untitled 1
via FoxyTunes