Happy Christmas
***I'm excited tonight cause there's a pretty awesome play that's supposed to go down in Belton, TX at my friend Brent's House called "The Godly Child". It's a puppet show put on by he and his little sister, but I hear it's supposed to be grand.
***Max Lucado preached at Oak Hills' Westside Campus in San Antonio, and that made me really happy to see a church reaching out to the corners of the city. He told a story about some kids who put on a nativity story a few years back, and it included a hospital room where a Doctor came out from behind a curtain holding a baby and said, "It's a GOD!!!"
I thought that was funny.
***Lastly, a text message that was sent to my brother tonight, "If some guy in red comes into your bedroom, grabs you, and stuffs you in a bag... It's ok, I've asked you for Christmas."
Man, that's kinda creepy, but it would be really funny if that happened.
***I think that I like these two quotes a lot,
"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God."
-C.S. Lewis-
"Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!"
-Santa Claus-
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
A Redemption of Modern Hip-Hop ("Runaway Love")
For quite some time, I've been anything but a fan of Ludacris... He's nothing but a bunch of fluff who sometimes makes catchy songs, but songs that nevertheless have nothing important to say outside of the fact that money allows you to buy a lot of things, even sex if you wanted it...
However, I've grown an affiinity for his latest song, "Runaway Love" that he does with Mary J. Blige. I think it speaks some truth, and I feel like that's what Hip Hop is all about-speaking truth about the harsh realities of life that some people are afraid to talk about. I hope that you enjoy it....
My only hope is that he'll continue making music like this. Speaking of a solid Hip-Hop video, here's Tupac's "Brenda's Got a Baby"...
However, I've grown an affiinity for his latest song, "Runaway Love" that he does with Mary J. Blige. I think it speaks some truth, and I feel like that's what Hip Hop is all about-speaking truth about the harsh realities of life that some people are afraid to talk about. I hope that you enjoy it....
My only hope is that he'll continue making music like this. Speaking of a solid Hip-Hop video, here's Tupac's "Brenda's Got a Baby"...
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Are You Gay?
Yep, that's right. That's the question I've been asked these past couple of weeks. Either someone has asked me directly in some form or fashion, or they've asked someone who knows me whether or not I'm gay and in-turn they come and tell me that someone was wondering whether or not I'm gay. Let me give you the reasons they suspected I was gay...
1.) I had glasses
2.) I had, "you know, kinda messy hair".
3.) I was hanging out with a guy.
4.) I was hanging out with a guy.
5.) I was hanging out with a guy.
And then there's the reasoning from my father, who predicted when I was younger that I would be gay, that it was because I was into Art and stuff. To his defense, his brother (my uncle) was an Artist and was gay.
Lessons to learn from this in case you don't want people to think you're gay.
1.) Don't wear glasses.
2.) Always make sure to comb your hair.
3.) Don't hang out with a guy.
4.) Don't hang out with a guy.
5.) Don't hang out with a guy.
Yeah, pretty ridiculous huh? This kind of thing would happen the moment that I start dating someone.
Well let's break it down. Numbers 1 & 2 pretty much defines most people in America. In fact, under those qualifications, you don't have to be a man to qualify for being "gay". Numbers 3 & 4 came from Hostesses at two different restaurants who saw Brent Hines and I hanging out. And finlly, Number 5 was from my new neighbor who saw my brother and I walking into our apt. together and proceeded to tell us about Jesus and how homosexuality was a sin after she found out we weren't in the military together (though she never actually accused us, she just heavily warned us-two young men walking into an apt. together holding dinner for four people-of the perils of being gay).
In all honesty, I'm not bashing on gay people in this post nor am I ashamed of people thinking that I may be gay as if someone should feel less for having those feelings. It's not my place to judge. However, what bothers me is the irrational fear that people have of someone next to them being gay, much more someone next to them being different than they are.
This lady, for instance, kept talking about how the Harvest was plentiful and the laborers were few and how we needed to be Harvesting "those types" of people. How we should pray that people be Holy, or they just get out. She said she had prayed that prayer for people in our apt. complex. Among this kind of jargon, I've also heard that scripture thrown out that we are to walk on the Narrow Road of righteousness, where few walk, and not on the Wide Road that leads to Hell, where many are walking through it's gates. I don't know how I feel about these scriptures when people use them in this context...
First off, it's pretty irrational to bluntly assume that since a guy is hanging out with another guy that he is gay. Maybe if all he did was hang out with guys, but seriously? The first time you see him? Second, wearing glasses and not combing your hair does not make you gay. And hanging out with your brothers doesn't make you gay. It doesn't make you not gay either, it just makes you human. People hang out with men and women. Sometimes I wish people would realize that people are people, and you can't just pin-point a list of qualifications that will automatically stick a person in a certain group of people. Humans just don't work like that.
And as Christians, we should be more conscious of this idea. How ironic is it for us to say that all of us American Christians are walking on the narrow road? My, I wonder, this is an awfully large road for all of these people to be walking on it. Doesn't being a laborer qualify you to walk on this road? Well, what does that mean to be a laborer? Obviously it implies someone who suffers, someone who is willing to spend months, years, possibly even an entire lifetime seeking one thing: Harvesting a crop. I think this is what Jesus was getting at when he says the Harvest is plentiful. I think what he means is that there are lots of people who are destitute of friendships and relationships. That, in a sense, there is a great poverty of love in this world and we are called to be agents of change in light of this poverty.
In order to love people, in order to speak truth in their lives, you have got to love them and you have got to suffer and labor in their life because that matters to people... It matters that you would stick out with them through the thick and the thin, that you would be available at 3am to answer an emergency phone call or drive 3 hours out of your way to help someone out. And honestly, I would guess that many Christians don't suspect this is what means to be a laborer/someone who walks on the Narrow Road. Instead, they probably think it means being able to find out who is a sinner and who isn't, and once you do you say a lot of "true" things like, "God loves you and doesn't want you to be this way! You're going to hell, don't you realize God loves you?" Man, that is so detrimental.
That lady told my brother and I that she told one of our neighbors that once she discovered that he was gay. This killed me.
My Christian Brothers and Sisters, Let us not do this. Let us walk a narrow road that is defined by a labour of love, specifically of loving people even when it hurts (Luke 6). Let us love people who are different from ourselves. Why? Because our world is a world stricken by a poverty of lovely relationships, of healthy relationships and they are desperately in need of those few who are willing to commit to a labour of love. My Brothers and Sisters, Let us be different. Let us, as Oscar Romero would say, "be a better world".
p.s. Jennifer suggested that if no one buys this, I may have to buy in to the crap stereotype of what it means to be straight and take on the "beer chugging" manly man approach so people will believe I'm straight.
1.) I had glasses
2.) I had, "you know, kinda messy hair".
3.) I was hanging out with a guy.
4.) I was hanging out with a guy.
5.) I was hanging out with a guy.
And then there's the reasoning from my father, who predicted when I was younger that I would be gay, that it was because I was into Art and stuff. To his defense, his brother (my uncle) was an Artist and was gay.
Lessons to learn from this in case you don't want people to think you're gay.
1.) Don't wear glasses.
2.) Always make sure to comb your hair.
3.) Don't hang out with a guy.
4.) Don't hang out with a guy.
5.) Don't hang out with a guy.
Yeah, pretty ridiculous huh? This kind of thing would happen the moment that I start dating someone.
Well let's break it down. Numbers 1 & 2 pretty much defines most people in America. In fact, under those qualifications, you don't have to be a man to qualify for being "gay". Numbers 3 & 4 came from Hostesses at two different restaurants who saw Brent Hines and I hanging out. And finlly, Number 5 was from my new neighbor who saw my brother and I walking into our apt. together and proceeded to tell us about Jesus and how homosexuality was a sin after she found out we weren't in the military together (though she never actually accused us, she just heavily warned us-two young men walking into an apt. together holding dinner for four people-of the perils of being gay).
In all honesty, I'm not bashing on gay people in this post nor am I ashamed of people thinking that I may be gay as if someone should feel less for having those feelings. It's not my place to judge. However, what bothers me is the irrational fear that people have of someone next to them being gay, much more someone next to them being different than they are.
This lady, for instance, kept talking about how the Harvest was plentiful and the laborers were few and how we needed to be Harvesting "those types" of people. How we should pray that people be Holy, or they just get out. She said she had prayed that prayer for people in our apt. complex. Among this kind of jargon, I've also heard that scripture thrown out that we are to walk on the Narrow Road of righteousness, where few walk, and not on the Wide Road that leads to Hell, where many are walking through it's gates. I don't know how I feel about these scriptures when people use them in this context...
First off, it's pretty irrational to bluntly assume that since a guy is hanging out with another guy that he is gay. Maybe if all he did was hang out with guys, but seriously? The first time you see him? Second, wearing glasses and not combing your hair does not make you gay. And hanging out with your brothers doesn't make you gay. It doesn't make you not gay either, it just makes you human. People hang out with men and women. Sometimes I wish people would realize that people are people, and you can't just pin-point a list of qualifications that will automatically stick a person in a certain group of people. Humans just don't work like that.
And as Christians, we should be more conscious of this idea. How ironic is it for us to say that all of us American Christians are walking on the narrow road? My, I wonder, this is an awfully large road for all of these people to be walking on it. Doesn't being a laborer qualify you to walk on this road? Well, what does that mean to be a laborer? Obviously it implies someone who suffers, someone who is willing to spend months, years, possibly even an entire lifetime seeking one thing: Harvesting a crop. I think this is what Jesus was getting at when he says the Harvest is plentiful. I think what he means is that there are lots of people who are destitute of friendships and relationships. That, in a sense, there is a great poverty of love in this world and we are called to be agents of change in light of this poverty.
In order to love people, in order to speak truth in their lives, you have got to love them and you have got to suffer and labor in their life because that matters to people... It matters that you would stick out with them through the thick and the thin, that you would be available at 3am to answer an emergency phone call or drive 3 hours out of your way to help someone out. And honestly, I would guess that many Christians don't suspect this is what means to be a laborer/someone who walks on the Narrow Road. Instead, they probably think it means being able to find out who is a sinner and who isn't, and once you do you say a lot of "true" things like, "God loves you and doesn't want you to be this way! You're going to hell, don't you realize God loves you?" Man, that is so detrimental.
That lady told my brother and I that she told one of our neighbors that once she discovered that he was gay. This killed me.
My Christian Brothers and Sisters, Let us not do this. Let us walk a narrow road that is defined by a labour of love, specifically of loving people even when it hurts (Luke 6). Let us love people who are different from ourselves. Why? Because our world is a world stricken by a poverty of lovely relationships, of healthy relationships and they are desperately in need of those few who are willing to commit to a labour of love. My Brothers and Sisters, Let us be different. Let us, as Oscar Romero would say, "be a better world".
p.s. Jennifer suggested that if no one buys this, I may have to buy in to the crap stereotype of what it means to be straight and take on the "beer chugging" manly man approach so people will believe I'm straight.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
I AM A SUPERHERO!!!
So I found out that I have Superpowers today. That's right everyone, the rumours are all true and I am, in fact, some sort of Superman... Storytime:
This morning as I am getting ready to make some eggs, I grab them (with my superhands) out of the fridge and I crack them against the bowl to find... Yes! Exactly! They had boiled inside the shell immediately after I placed my hands on them. I HAVE THE POWER TO HARDBOIL EGGS WITH MY HANDS!!!
In other news, I went to see "The Pursuit of Happyness" last night. Jennifer came with my mother, my brother, and I to go see it and it was a really good time. Turns out that I'm ok with the title of the movie now, whereas originally I was upset that it was misspelled and it just sounded kinda cheesy... However, now I'm good and I think the movie did a good job of making you understand why its called "The Pursuit of Happyness". Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that it was an amazing movie.
Also, in the previews, I learned that I couldn't even dream of becoming a real man unless I had kids. Geez, that's gonna be a downer if I never end up getting married or having kids.
Also, for all of you Stephen Colbert Fans out there... Here's a snippit from Merriam Webster's Dictionary Website...
This morning as I am getting ready to make some eggs, I grab them (with my superhands) out of the fridge and I crack them against the bowl to find... Yes! Exactly! They had boiled inside the shell immediately after I placed my hands on them. I HAVE THE POWER TO HARDBOIL EGGS WITH MY HANDS!!!
In other news, I went to see "The Pursuit of Happyness" last night. Jennifer came with my mother, my brother, and I to go see it and it was a really good time. Turns out that I'm ok with the title of the movie now, whereas originally I was upset that it was misspelled and it just sounded kinda cheesy... However, now I'm good and I think the movie did a good job of making you understand why its called "The Pursuit of Happyness". Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that it was an amazing movie.
Also, in the previews, I learned that I couldn't even dream of becoming a real man unless I had kids. Geez, that's gonna be a downer if I never end up getting married or having kids.
Also, for all of you Stephen Colbert Fans out there... Here's a snippit from Merriam Webster's Dictionary Website...
Saturday, December 16, 2006
The End Time Blues
Well it's the end of the semester.
I'm feeling like I've just gotten out of a poool after wearing really thick winter clothing like a sweater or an overcoat or something. I'm not entirely sure why either. I'm done with finals, I'm done with work. I know that when I go home, I won't be working because I don't have a job in San Antonio anymore. All the while, I still feel like I have irons around my rib cage and shoulder blades just pulling me down.
It is moments like this where I wish that I really were Superman, that gravity and anything else wouldn't really affect me. Instead I could just rise above whatever was troubling me and breathe in the atmosphere for a moment. Perhaps while I was growing up, this is what I liked the most about the idea of being a Superhero. I liked thinking that sometimes at night when I was tired from saving the world for so long, that I could take a break and float with my eyes closed until the brush of some solar wind came across my neck and the rays from our sun began to rub against my skin. Too, I liked the idea that while I was up there, I could look down on the world and see what was really wrong or maybe I could listen just a bit closer to the cries of those who felt like I did.
Sometimes I wish that I were a Superhero. For now, I think I'll just be good to my friends and family cause that's the best that I can do. I miss home and I'm really glad I'm going there tomorrow. I'll get to see my mom and my brothers and of course, I'll get to see my niece who calls me all the time and just happens to make my day. I'm not looking forward to the drive, just being there.
Peace.
I'm feeling like I've just gotten out of a poool after wearing really thick winter clothing like a sweater or an overcoat or something. I'm not entirely sure why either. I'm done with finals, I'm done with work. I know that when I go home, I won't be working because I don't have a job in San Antonio anymore. All the while, I still feel like I have irons around my rib cage and shoulder blades just pulling me down.
It is moments like this where I wish that I really were Superman, that gravity and anything else wouldn't really affect me. Instead I could just rise above whatever was troubling me and breathe in the atmosphere for a moment. Perhaps while I was growing up, this is what I liked the most about the idea of being a Superhero. I liked thinking that sometimes at night when I was tired from saving the world for so long, that I could take a break and float with my eyes closed until the brush of some solar wind came across my neck and the rays from our sun began to rub against my skin. Too, I liked the idea that while I was up there, I could look down on the world and see what was really wrong or maybe I could listen just a bit closer to the cries of those who felt like I did.
Sometimes I wish that I were a Superhero. For now, I think I'll just be good to my friends and family cause that's the best that I can do. I miss home and I'm really glad I'm going there tomorrow. I'll get to see my mom and my brothers and of course, I'll get to see my niece who calls me all the time and just happens to make my day. I'm not looking forward to the drive, just being there.
Peace.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Secret Santa Tips...
Just a tip for anyone who may be looking to get me something for a Secret Santa Present (You know who you are)...
I'm really interested in Jay Z's "Kingdom Come" album. That or his "Collision Course" compilation with Linkin Park.
In Fact, here's my entire Wish List on Amazon (Thank you Tripp Page). Anything on there would be awesome...
I'm really interested in Jay Z's "Kingdom Come" album. That or his "Collision Course" compilation with Linkin Park.
In Fact, here's my entire Wish List on Amazon (Thank you Tripp Page). Anything on there would be awesome...
O Holy Night
I listened to this over and over again... and cried. And cried and cried and cried. I cried laughing unbelievably hard. I honestly haven't heard anything this funny in a very very long time.
It's one of the most amazingly awful renditions of a christmas song ever.
O Holy Night
It's one of the most amazingly awful renditions of a christmas song ever.
O Holy Night
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
A Duet with Ray Charles
I'd like sometimes to believe that I'll cross that Bridge,
But I've got Georgia on my Mind.
It helps me not that I hear her song everywhere I go,
Because when Georgia sings, I'm lost in Georgia dreams.
Georgia, sweet Georgia,
I've got you on my mind
And I don't know how to get you out.
Someday I'll cross that bridge in Savannah
But for now, when the sun sets low,
I've got Georgia on my mind.
But I've got Georgia on my Mind.
It helps me not that I hear her song everywhere I go,
Because when Georgia sings, I'm lost in Georgia dreams.
Georgia, sweet Georgia,
I've got you on my mind
And I don't know how to get you out.
Someday I'll cross that bridge in Savannah
But for now, when the sun sets low,
I've got Georgia on my mind.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
The Incident of the Writing on the Truck in the Midnight
I almost didn't go to church this morning. I had gotten ready, though I woke up a little late, and after I had brushed my teeth and put my hoodie on, I walked outside to find that my truck and my roommate's car had been written on with that window chalk stuff...
Now, you gotta understand folks... This just doesn't happen to me. It happened once a year and half ago (the first of its kind) and I had estimated it would probably be the last time... However!! Let me explain why I almost didn't drive my truck to church...
While my roommates car had messages about his love for Texas all over it (he's from Tennessee), mine had something completely different... Let me map it out for you:
Front Windshield- "I Want the W."
Passenger side Window- "Bringin' Sexy Back"
Back Windshield- "Sex... Yeah..."
Driver side Cab window- "SEX PUP."
Driver side Window (The most awkward of all)- "Matt likes the Sex Crimes."
That's what I woke up to. Now, I'm not upset, though I was little embarrassed driving my truck to church, but the thing is that I have no clues as to who could have done this... Hence, I have no way to get them back. These are my only clues...
1. Their target was me and not my roommates (The person who vandalized my roommates car fessed up at his church this morning and doesn't have any reason whatsoever to do the same to my car.)
2. It looks like Girls' Handwriting.
3. They were in a rush because they left some windows blank and the writing was kind of sloppy. (Maybe it was too cold and they weren't wearing enough jackets or something... I don't know)
4. They must have seen Borat, because from what one of my buddies from church told me, the "Sex Crimes" thing is a quote from Borat.
5. They must have done it between the hours of 2am-8am because 2am is when I got home, and 8am is when I woke up.
So there ya have it. I got pranked, but I have no friggin clue who it is... cause those things could fit a lot of people.
If you have any clues or hints... Let me know.
Now, you gotta understand folks... This just doesn't happen to me. It happened once a year and half ago (the first of its kind) and I had estimated it would probably be the last time... However!! Let me explain why I almost didn't drive my truck to church...
While my roommates car had messages about his love for Texas all over it (he's from Tennessee), mine had something completely different... Let me map it out for you:
Front Windshield- "I Want the W."
Passenger side Window- "Bringin' Sexy Back"
Back Windshield- "Sex... Yeah..."
Driver side Cab window- "SEX PUP."
Driver side Window (The most awkward of all)- "Matt likes the Sex Crimes."
That's what I woke up to. Now, I'm not upset, though I was little embarrassed driving my truck to church, but the thing is that I have no clues as to who could have done this... Hence, I have no way to get them back. These are my only clues...
1. Their target was me and not my roommates (The person who vandalized my roommates car fessed up at his church this morning and doesn't have any reason whatsoever to do the same to my car.)
2. It looks like Girls' Handwriting.
3. They were in a rush because they left some windows blank and the writing was kind of sloppy. (Maybe it was too cold and they weren't wearing enough jackets or something... I don't know)
4. They must have seen Borat, because from what one of my buddies from church told me, the "Sex Crimes" thing is a quote from Borat.
5. They must have done it between the hours of 2am-8am because 2am is when I got home, and 8am is when I woke up.
So there ya have it. I got pranked, but I have no friggin clue who it is... cause those things could fit a lot of people.
If you have any clues or hints... Let me know.
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