Emergent Since November 2007
–Do you tuck your bed sheets in or leave them out?
–Does milk have to be fresh out of the fridge to drink or can you leave it sitting out for a while?
–Can you say something nice about the presidential candidate you are least likely to vote for?
–What is your favorite Zombie movie?
–We just got a Wii. Any game recommendations?
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Now playing: A.J. SWEARINGEN - She Could Change Your Mind
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A couple of days ago an individual inquired about my blog. he asked if it was one of those that gave a daily rundown of your day. I assured him that it wasn’t that I rarely post about what my day to day events and that I tend to focus more on religion, politics, entertainment and other things that interest me.
Now, today however, I’m going to tell you about my day. I preached this past Sunday on “Blessed Are the Peacemakers.” Not sure how I can live that out and discuss politics but I am determined to try again beginning next week. I am convinced that politics brings out the worst in us and we, as Christ-followers, need to avoid that which sullies the name of Christ. But, I digress.
After church on Sunday morning we strapped the kids in and went to Kansas City for a couple of days at Great Wolf Lodge. It is pricey but is a great place to take little ones. We decided this year that we were going to push back against the tyranny of birthday parties and take a trip instead. We went offseason, let the kids miss a couple of days of school and enjoyed a great time at a neat park with no crowds.
In case you have never heard of Great Wolf Lodge it is a hotel with a water park. There are several locations in the US. We highly recommend it for one night (we stayed two) as you can begin using the water park anytime your day of check in and continue to use it past check-out time.
Had some great food, made great new friends and enjoyed some quality family time.
Now it is back into the mix as I have to have a class on discipleship ready by tonight. And my sermon on Sunday? I haven’t even looked at “Blessed are you when men persecute you?”
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Now playing: Dar Williams - Whispering Pines Feat. Steffan Lessard, Chris Botti, Cliff E
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MTV appeared on the air in August of 1981. However, music videos had been produced for years. There would be several videos from songs released earlier in 1981 that MTV was able to put into heavy rotation quickly. In many cases MTV would help prolong their chart life.
The second biggest chart-topping tune in 1981 was Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. It spend 9 weeks at #1 (beat out only by the insufferable Olivia Newton John song “Physical). For those of us in the Little Rock area the song would be immortalized by favorite son Tommy Robinson in one of his campaign commercials for Pulaski County Sheriff. Of course it was reworded in that commercial as “Tommy Robinson Eyes.” Alas, I can’t find a video of that.
And who doesn’t remember Rapture? The song that was Rap before Rap was cool. Not that it ever was. But, man, Deborah Harry was smokin’
Blondie actually had two chart-topping singles in 1981, both prior to MTV. The other one is The Tide is High
The Lolita-inspired song Don’t Stand So Close To Me by The Police peaked at #10 in April of ‘81. However, MTV always had a thing for peroxide and video was made for Sting:
The Police - Don’t Stand So Close To Me
And finally, this little nugget by Dr. Noah Drake hit number one on August 1st, 1981, the same date that MTV debuted.
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Now playing: Allison Moorer - I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
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Chloe,
Today you turn 7. I have mixed emotions about this. On the one hand it is so great to experience your continual growth and maturing. And yet, on the other hand, it is hard for me to see you grow ever more independent.
I’m always overwhelmed with joy when it comes to being your daddy. Every day you become a little bit more grown up. I worry a lot about you growing too quickly and I want to wrap you up and protect you from this world. But I know that’s not fair to you and so I try to focus on the delight of experiencing this world through your eyes.
You teach me so much about being a father and my constant prayer is that I will live up to what you need. I love so much the time we spend playing together. I love the hard questions that you ask and your refusal to accept pat answers.
Everybody who meets you is instantly taken in by your sweet smile and caring nature. You have the special quality that draws people to you. When that quality is combined with unconditional grace then people are able to encounter the divine. You have that gift.
Chloe, you are such an exceptional girl and I am so blessed to be your dad. This year as you grow I look forward to all the experiences that will come our way.
Happy Birthday, birthday girl.
I love you,
Daddy
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Now playing: Colin Meloy - A Cautionary Song
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I have noticed over the last couple of weeks my daily hit total sink lower and lower. Monday was the lowest weekday total I have had in the last two years.
I know part of that may be because I have moved a lot of my stream of consciousness stuff to Twitter. In many ways that is more suitable to me.
I also know that my traffic trends up when I post on more difficult topics and if I am going to have high comment totals that political and matters of deep spiritual significance such as nonviolence are needed.
I think one of the things that made the nonviolence series so fruitful were the ground-rules that were laid at the outset: of being respectful to different views, being open in discussion, etc.
As time has passed I have not been as vigilant in ensuring that it stays on that level. As a result I have lost a few readers and even more active commenters. Sadly, it seems to be the ones who agree with me that I have lost most in commenting 
In addition I haven’t had much desire to post political these days. If I posted about every single stupid thing a politician said then I wouldn’t be able to get any work done. And with so much of the political discussion being a reliance on ad hominem and sound bites it is difficult to move beyond the surface into a productive discussion of issues.
I want to be a uniter and there is so much division that I’m not sure that we can even have fruitful discussion. I am beyond sick of Christians putting down people with different views and drawing fellowship lines. I know that I can be guilty of that as well so I have to be very careful.
Can we discuss issues of a more serious nature and maintain a spirit of collegiality and good will? Can we agree to disagree and still remain in fellowship? We have and we must.
But one possibility is that this blog has reached its peak and is in the inevitable slide into worthlessness. If that is the case then I must be willing to pull the plug. That’s the last thing I want to do. I need the forum to move forward that this blog has nurtured.
Who knows what the future brings?
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Now playing: Marie Digby - Say It Again
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OK, this isn’t a proper top 10 list but it’s close enough. I’ve been watching AI this year and enjoying it more than any in recent memory. That’s probably because there is more diversity in the contestants and it’s not just the people trying to channel Whitney/Mariah/Celine and if we can send Syesha home there won’t be any of that left.
So, leading up to Mariah Carey night (yawn!) I began to ask myself what songs would I sing if I was a contestant. Now, granted I can’t sing a lick but if I could select a song from each themed night what would I throw out there. Song selection is so important so not only am I going to share what I would pick but also what I would pick if I were Kristy Lee Cook.
Semifinals
Week One (1960s)
As much as I would be tempted for the rousing sing-along of Neil’s Sweet Caroline I would have to go with a Dylan song here. Sure, he’s not an AI type vocalist but the opportunity to wail on It Ain’t Me, Babe or Like A Rolling Stone would be too much to pass up. If I was Kristy Lee, I would send a shot out to all the covert ops people out there with a rousing send up of The Ballad of the Green Beret
Week Two (1970s)
I feel the need here to do a little Neil since I skipped him in week one. What better foot stomping classic could I choose here but Brother Love’s Travelin’ Salvation Show? Packing up the babies and the old ladies would have to appeal to two major voting blocs. Kristy Lee would have to go with Billy, Don’t Be a Hero tearfully dedicated to her brother fighting on the front lines in Iraq.
Week Three (1980s)
This is my decade. So many choices. I don’t want to be pegged as just a sing-along type guy so a ballad might be a good choice for me. So, I’m going to go with the super-schmaltz and take on Survivor’s The Search is Over. Kristy Lee, of course, is doing Hands Across America.
Finals
Week One (Lennon/McCartney)
OK, so they weren’t really feeling my song choice last week so I need to go back to my wheelhouse during the first Beatles week. And what better choice for me than the rollicking cool tune Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. I’m bringing it, dawg. Kristy Lee struggles. They aren’t American so there isn’t a lot to choose from here. She opts for Hey, Jude which just so happens to be the name of her puppy.
Week Two (The Beatles)
Again? This complicates matters. I’m not the biggest fan and I don’t want to mess up the big name tunes so I’m going to stick to my favorites. Luckily, this week means I can move into the writings of my favorite Beatle, George Harrison. I’m going to go with While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Kristy Lee comes out draped in the flag and busts out “Here Comes the Sun.”
Week Three (Year you were born)
OK, 1968. So many songs but I want something a little controversial this week. I want to stand out since I already know that Kristy Lee is unleashing God Bless the USA. I’m busting out the Phil Ochs’ classic The War is Over. Randy is too stunned to comment. Simon says I would have already won British Idol.
Week Four (Dolly Parton)
Obviously I need something safe after last week. So, yeah, Travelin’ Thru is my choice here. I might have to swing Castro by the dreads but that tune is mine. Kristy Lee grabs “Jesus and Gravity” off of her latest disk.
Week five (Inspirational Songs)
This is a broad subject. Kristy Lee does “Jesus Loves the Little Children“. But to find a song that truly inspires me I go off the charts to the best song released in 2007 Michael McDermott’s I Shall Be Healed. All of his albums clog the top downloads on iTunes for the next month. He finally gets his due.
Week Six (Mariah Carey)
I spend the majority of the week curled up in a corner weeping because it is the end of the road for me. I can’t find a song I like much less one that I want to sing. But just when all seems lost I notice that she released a version of Def Leppard’s Bringin’ On the Heartbreak. I am rejuvenated. Kristy Lee sings Hero and dedicates it to Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee.
There you go. I’m nipping at Young Archuleta’s heels. What songs would you pick?
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Now playing: Tristan Prettyman - Echo
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Honestly, Sundays are draining affairs for me. By the time it is over I am emotionally and physically spent. That’s one of the reasons that not having the traditional Sunday night time where we just repeat what we already did on Sunday morning is such a blessing. I don’t miss that.
However, we have met the last two Sundays to discuss our vision for the upcoming year and it has been an incredibly encouraging process.
We have decided, for at least the next 15 months or so to focus on 4 specific areas in the life of this young congregation. They are:
–Community Involvement and Presence
–Children
–Small Groups
–Worship
Each of the past two Sunday nights we met to discuss in-depth what we mean by these ministry focus areas. All of these have a missional thrust and ties in to the mission statement that we have adopted for ourselves: seeking to be the love of God in Ponca City.
It was a blessed time for me to see the church as a whole buy in and take ownership in these areas. Not only that but we had an uplifting and inspiring period of worship. My sermon on “Blessed are the Pure in Heart” seemed to connect. We began a new class on Grace that elicited great discussion and has already begun to stretch us.
Not only that but we had our first visitors as a result of the website. The fact that they were able to listen to one of my sermons online and still decided to visit is a testament to the growing influence of this body of people in the community.
I’ll take more Sundays like yesterday, please.
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Now playing: Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers (Amazon Exclusive Version)
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Now playing: NPR - Spring Music Preview
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Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
