reading, good company, and reflection

A Cluttered Home

Alex — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:59:28 +0000

I stepped inside a beautiful house the other day, half dark blue siding and half brick, yard well-taken care of (as well as it can be in Denver in winter), with a basketball hoop in the driveway, in front of a three-car garage. There was a covered patio in front of the house, with a grill and patio furniture, and through the windows you could see long drapes. It could have been a picture out of a magazine, or a finished project on HGTV.

The inside of the house, however, was thrashed.

I’m talking thrashed like, it wouldn’t surprise me if I saw this house on Hoarders at some point in the future. The near future. It looked like the carpet hadn’t been vacuumed in months, boxes were piled high in every room, and some in the hallways, toys were strewn all over, pictures and posters were cluttered together on every wall in no particular fashion or order. Dis-as-ter.

It made me sincerely grateful for a wife that loves a clean, orderly, and well-decorated house.

And it’s funny to me how often people, and especially I myself, do the same thing with our lives. On the outside, we can look picture-perfect. But on the inside, we’re cluttered, messy, and have some serious spring-cleaning to attend to. Like hoarders, we’re afraid or ashamed to let people see what’s on the inside of our home, what we’re like really. Because they’ll probably be taken back, maybe a little offended, and most likely grossed out by the smell.

But when we can be real with others, that’s when the healing begins to happen, the spring-cleaning starts, renovations get underway, old furniture gets replaced, new carpet gets installed, and you find that being real is much easier, more relaxing, and smells a whole lot better than a cluttered, locked-up home.

Resolved

Alex — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:00:27 +0000

With the dawn of 2012 come, like every year, New Year’s resolutions. By now, you’re probably tired of talking about the resolutions that you’ve made for 2012, so I thought we’d kick off the new year with a little twist on the typical reader survey.

What’s the craziest resolution you’ve ever made? And how long did you keep it?

Are you making any repeat resolutions this year?

Do you switch up your resolutions each year, or restart them anew each January?

Best of 2011

Alex — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:20:35 +0000

I’d love to see what you all have been posting/reading this past year.

If you’re a blogger, leave a comment with a link to your favorite blog post that you wrote in 2011.

(If you’re not a blogger, leave a comment to your favorite blog post on someone else’s blog from 2011.)

The Medium is the Message

Alex — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:44:31 +0000

Gandhi is quoted as saying,

I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

Recently, for work, I went to a recording studio just outside of Denver. Upon arrival, we realized it was a recording studio for yoga and meditation music and ambiance, as well as audio/video recorded lessons on getting in touch with your inner peace and striving for nirvana. A statue of Buddha smiled chubbily at me in almost every room I walked into.

The one thing that stood out to me more than anything in that studio, though, were the employees. Every single one of them was calm, cool, and collected, and each friendlier than the next. It could be that they’re just really friendly to guests, or maybe it has something to do with the dispensary down the road (although I doubt it.) The employees did make the whole “inner peace” thing sound and look pretty effective and appealing.

In his book, Flickering Pixels, Shane Hipps writes that the medium is the message. Whatever you’re trying to say, it’s how you say it that really conveys the message.

I really can’t believe I’m referencing this, but if you’ve seen the Mormon episode of South Park, you’ll know what I’m talking about. The Mormon family doesn’t win over their neighbors’ hearts and minds with their Joseph Smith nonsense, but instead with hospitality, caring, and love.

You’ve probably heard someone at some point reject Christianity because of Christians, whether they live double lives, or are self-righteous, Pharisaical, whatever. And you, like me, have either heard or given the response, “Don’t pay attention to Christians. We’re messed up just like everyone else. Instead, just pay attention to Jesus and read the Bible.”

What a cop-out.

As the Church, we are to be Jesus to the world, not to just point the world to a page number and pat ourselves on the back for memorizing book-chapter-verse.

The medium is the message. How did you portray Jesus to the world today?

31 Days to Finding Your Blogging Mojo

Alex — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:26:22 +0000

If you’ve been blogging for a couple years, you and I probably share some frustrations/questions, such as:

- Why won’t people comment on my posts?
- What should I even write about?
- Is it even worth it to keep a regular blog schedule?
- (Insert frustration or question about the meaning of the universe, but more specifically, your blog)

You’d probably be grateful for a seasoned blogger to come alongside you and help you out, step-by-step, through your blog, right?

Help has arrived.

Bryan Allain, one of the funniest guys I know, has just released his blog-help book, 31 Days to Finding Your Blogging Mojo, to help with all your frustrations and questions about blogging, being a blogger, helping out other bloggers, and something about stabbing a pony with a frozen unicorn horn (you’ll just have to read it). You can pick up the eBook on Amazon here.

All the things I’ve ever struggled with on this blog, Bryan (@bryanallain) answers in this book. I’m convinced that Bryan’s blogging advice will save me months and years of trial-and-error with my blog, and I’m convinced it will do the same for you, too. At the end of every day/chapter, the blog coach gives homework – “Today’s Mojo Action” – practical advice on how you can work to improve your blog and the experience for your readers on a daily basis. I have already implemented some of them, and will work on adding more as my own blog grows and changes.

One of my favorite quotes from the book: – If you talk about your blog with the excitement of an emo teenager talking about his geometry homework, no one will ever go out of their way to check it out.

If you’re serious about your blog, no matter how many readers/subscribers/comments you have on a daily basis, pick up this book. Bryan has some great practical advice that can take your blog to the next level. Check it out. Drop my name to Bryan when you do. He’ll send you an autographed picture of the two of us. (Just kidding.) But seriously.

Best of Summer ’11

Alex — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:45:59 +0000

Today in western Nebraska it was 50 degrees. (Insert chorus of angels singing “Hallelujah!”) It’s definitely a nice change from the less-than-ideal-hot-and-dry-weather we’ve been having lately. And while many of my fellow Nebraska residents were moaning about the end of summer, I couldn’t have been happier. I’d like to take the opportunity to say that today marks the end of summer for 2011.

Let’s reflect on our summer, shall we?

What was your favorite concert this summer?

Did you do any summer reading this year? What book(s) did you enjoy the most and why?

Take this opportunity to plug your favorite blog post that you wrote or read this summer.

Anything else cool happen this summer that you would like to share?

Oh yeah…

I met Nick Hipa this summer at Heavenfest. – @yesTHEnickhipa

#musicmonday

Alex — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 05:01:38 +0000

Oh, Sleeper earned a slot in my Big 10 music conference with their 2009 album, “Son of the Morning,” and have cemented themselves as one of my top artists with their newest release, “Children of Fire.”

Never being a band to pull punches with their lyrics, the bands’ first track, Endseekers, starts off with fierce vocals from Micah Kinard and company, a chilling (in a good way) rally cry:

Pry your eyes and behold our captain
Rally round his feet
As he controls his captive
Bring him to his knees
Behold our captain
Rally round his feet
I’m calling the bold to stand and
Make the coward bleed

And it just gets better from there.

Oh, Sleeper shows signs of maturing as a band in “Children of Fire,” leaving Kinard’s usual harsh scream for singing on several tracks, including their early-released single, Hush Yael. Musically, the band once again does not disappoint. The in-your-face vocals are matched perfectly with the piercing, shredding guitars that Oh, Sleeper has thrived on. Check. this. album. out.

While you’re at it… start some discussion.

– What’s your favorite song from the album?

– Have you seen Oh, Sleeper live? Where?

– Thoughts on where I should get a broken pentagram tattoo?

Follow Oh, Sleeper on Twitter – @weareohsleeper

#listentogoodmusic

Running (or the lack thereof)

Alex — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:07:27 +0000

Some of us have a tendency to ease up when we can see the light at the end of whatever tunnel we may find ourselves in.

Which is weird, isn’t it?

You would think that all of us would sprint towards that light faster than that tunnel scene in Cloverfield.

There’s a temptation, though, to start taking it a little easier. It’s almost over. You’re almost in the clear. But start easing up a little early. Make the end of the journey/trial/hike/race the easiest part. Your feet are killing you. You’re out of breath. You’re thirsty. Dehydrated. You don’t want to collapse fifty feet from the finish line, do you? Slow up.

There was one year in high school when I thought my football coach was going to strangle me. It was an early morning practice during two-a-days (remember those?) and we were running the 40-yard dash and having our fastest times recorded. For whatever reason, and completely involuntarily, I would slow up after 35 yards. Like three times. And I would have to go run it again. Blame it on the early morning practice hours. Blame it on the fact that I was a lineman. Blame it on the fact that my body abhors running anything more than 35 yards. It really didn’t matter that much. I promise. I wasn’t breaking any land speed records as a right guard in my junior year of high school.

There’s self-discipline that goes far beyond just finishing strong on your 40 in high school, though. A kind of self-discipline that is worth more strict training than any sport you’ll ever play. Paul speaks about it in 1 Corinthians:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV)

Whatever tunnel you find yourself in the midst of, keep running, and run strong. Whether you’re fighting that temptation you just can’t seem to shake, going through relationship struggles, issues at work, family quarrels, doubt, whatever it is, keep pushing through it. Don’t ease up just because you see a light at the end of the tunnel. Slowing down will just make the tunnel that much longer. Fight the pain, the cramps, the screaming of your body to just sit down and stop. The end of the tunnel is so much more rewarding, and worth fighting for.

Levels of Play

Alex — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:55:33 +0000

The other day, I heard someone say that they were bummed about the NFL lockout ending because the possibility for college ball to be played on Sunday was gone. (I had heard they might put NCAA games on Sundays, but I’m not sure how much truth there is to that statement.) Keep in mind that I live in Nebraska, and that all things Husker football here is quasi-religious. But still. Four days of college football a week? For me, that just rang “O. ver. load.” (My own people may disown me after this blog.)

I’m pretty sure I’ve written against college sports in earlier times, but I’ve grown more fond of them since those posts, primarily due to NCAA basketball and the March tourney. And I’ll watch college rugby all day. And I’ll watch college football for sure. What kind of Nebraska resident wouldn’t watch the Big Red with the family/friends/psycho fans around him?

But really.

Choosing college sports over pro sports? C’mon. Seriously?

I’m pretty sure that I should put a ban on all Husker fans commenting on this blog, because we all know what you’re going to say. But for those of you who don’t bleed quite as red as the residents of the Cornhusker State, I want to hear your opinions on this:

Would you rather watch pro sports or college sports? And why?

I’ll go first.

Album Anxiety

Alex — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:11:35 +0000

Admittedly, I get a little anxious when my favorite bands release a new album.

(Side note: Just to clear things up, I’m not using the “earnestly desirous” definition of the word “anxious,” but rather, the “full of mental distress or uneasiness” definition. Things all cleared up? Good.)

And it doesn’t even really make sense as to why I’m the one getting anxious. I’m not the one recording the album. Or mixing it. Or playing an instrument. Or singing/screaming. Or running the merch table.

I am the one who’s been talking up the band for years. Who has been going to their shows. Who has all their previous albums. Who has been cranking up certain breakdowns for my friends in the car. Who has been following the band as they video document the making of the new album on YouTube. Who has been anticipating the album for months.

And if the album tanks, I pretend like I didn’t even know they were recording a new album. And I tell people I was in a vault preparing for nuclear fallout. It works like… .003% of the time.

I may or may not be putting too much mental pressure on myself about new albums from my favorite bands.

Two questions:

What new albums have you listened to lately that you love?
What new albums have you listened to lately that were total letdowns?