Firefight

Firefight — Jimmy Eat World

This is where our diligence has lead
The waves roll in to claim our patient steps
Can we become more than just ourselves?
And leave the sand, our want, our will, our doubt

It’s firefight, I won’t run
There’s spit and spite all through my blood
For you and me, there’s nowhere left to hide
Except you and me, there’s no one else alive

This is now the moment after next.
Are these still the eyes of the temptress?
Why open the door if you won’t go?
Don’t ask twice if you don’t wanna know

It’s firefight, I won’t run.
There spit and spite all through my blood
For you and me, there’s nowhere left to hide
Except you and me, there’s no one else alive

Is there an answer?
And if it’s an honest one, honestly worth it’s question
There’s no question
The city as my witness
I am who I wanna be, but you could be anything
Just be anything here with me.
Love is quartz and breath the secondhand
If you let go then that’s where time will stand.

It’s firefight, I won’t run
There spit and spite all through my blood
For you and me, there’s nowhere left to hide
Except you and me, there’s no one else alive

It’s firefight, I won’t run
They’re spitting spite all through my blood
For you and me, there’s nowhere left to hide
Except you and me, there’s no one else alive

Filed under: Lyrics, Music

Recipe of the Day

Western Bean Salad

Ingredients
• 16oz can of Pinto Beans
• 16oz can of Red Kidney Beans
• 11oz can of Mandarin Oranges
• 1 cup sliced Celery
• 1 medium Green Pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup sliced Olives
• 1 small Red Onion, diced
• 1 Avocado, diced
Dressing
• 1 TBSP Lemon Juice (2 tsp for avocado)
• 1/4 cup Mayonaise
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Basil
• 2-3 Dashes Hot Sauce

Directions
Drain beans and oranges. Dip avocado pieces in 2 tsp lemon juice and set aside. Combine all ingredients except avocado. Mix dressing and pour over salad and toss. Fold in avocado and chill at least 1 hour.

Filed under: Food, Recipes

Review: The Noticer

The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.
by Andy Andrews

This is a story about a man named Jones. Not Mr. Jones, thank you… just Jones. Jones is a mystery to all that know him. He appears out of nowhere with his tattered suitcase filled with who knows what, but you immediately feel as though you’ve known him forever. And the insights he dispenses are invaluable. If only we could all see things the way Jones sees them.

The title of this book is what drew me in. Although it was a little simpler than I was expecting, I certainly enjoyed this quick little story mostly because of it’s chock full of great reminders. Seeing the world through the eyes of someone else is something we should all remember to do before we make rash decisions—most especially with our significant others! You’d be surprised how many fights you could avoid if you actually saw things from their perspective rather than assuming everyone thinks the same way you do.

I wasn’t familiar with Andy’s previous bestselling book, The Traveler’s Gift, but I’ll definitely have to check that one out as well.

For more information on this book, or it’s side project, visit thenoticerproject.com

Filed under: Books, Reviews

Friday Funny Papers

Our Two Greatest Leaders Make A Pact To Save The World

Tim Tebow and the rest of the 2008 National Champion Florida Gators finally made their White House visit. Tebow showed off his patented steely-eyed Manshake for the 44th President and offered to assist in thwarting global terror threats. Running back Jeff Demps was just fired up to be there. Really fired up. “When you’re suiting up to play, you’re fired up [and] I’m fired up to see President Obama. It’s kind of like the same feeling,” he told the paper. Totally.

(via Deadspin)

Filed under: Sports

Throwback: Puzzling Theology

If Mountain Dew can do a throwback, than so can I.

Here’s a post I wrote in 2005 that I happened upon today. It’s still one of my favorites to this day. Hope you enjoy.

——

Puzzling Theology
November 27, 2005

Sometimes I amaze myself. Like the time I fasted for 40 days without television and it just so happened to fall during the time we invaded Iraq as well as during March Madness and Spring Training and the NBA Finals. For a guy who thrives on staying current, who loves sports and who happens to enjoy watching television, this was really tough, but I got through it. And was better for it. This latest task was just as tough, and just as rewarding in the end.

Here at the end of November, I have completed my recent goal to read a book per week for the month. It took some serious dedication and a little loss of sleep at times but the authors and books I choose to read made it all worth while. I even topped it off by watching a great movie that aligned directly with the type of things I have been wrestling with. (City of Angels for those interested. I highly recommend this movie!)

Last night I was trying to break down what this latest feat did for me and at first I related it to a boot camp scenario. You know, like I went to basic training and the authors/drill sergeants ripped apart everything I always thought was true and right and made me question everything, then built me back up to a much stronger man than when I started.

That analogy was decent and on track, but I think I came up with a better one.

Have you ever started building a puzzle by building the perimeter. By taking all the edge pieces and boxing the puzzle in. Then you start to dive into the guts only to tire of it eventually? This was my theology before I started my “basic training”. I had religion, God, Jesus and The Church boxed in and and was trying to make sense of the guts within the perimeters I set up.

The problem is that I was trying to build a flat, square puzzle, when in actuality the puzzle was designed as one of those 3D puzzles. No wonder I tired of trying to figure it out. I was building the wrong puzzle to begin with. I built a perimeter and it wasn’t even a puzzle that had a perimeter. I thought I was way ahead of the game and I found out I had to scrap it all and start over again. The cover of the puzzle box wasn’t even the puzzle I was working on.

You know another thing I learned? The puzzle was supplied to us without all the pieces in the box. Sometimes we get new pieces and get to attach them and it’s so exciting to see how they fit into the puzzle. But we will never get all the pieces until the puzzle creator visits and places it Himself.

Filed under: Books, Theology

I’m Watching You

People Watching has always been a favorite sport of mine, but these days I’ve been paying a lot more attention to those around me. I no longer look at it as a spectator sport, but rather a learning opportunity.

Here are two things that I’ve really been working on lately:

Whenever I see a characteristic in someone that bothers me, I work to avoid that characteristic in my own life.

and

Whenever I see a characteristic in someone that inspires me, I try to imitate that characteristic in my own life.

Sounds simple enough, but ask yourself how often you consciously do that (be honest). And don’t forget that intent is not the same as action. That’s where I’ve been caught up for quite too long. I’ve admired, or been turned off, by many people, but I’ve never translated that into action, at least not concertedly.

These characteristics can be as simple as responding to emails as soon as I receive them (thanks Becca!), to the profound task of loving my enemy (thanks Jesus!), but there is something to be learned from every single person I come in contact with. In person or online.

With that said, have you been watching me? What characteristics do I display that inspire, or bother, you?

Filed under: Uncategorized

Got $25?

I have two friends that are both looking to make a difference in this world, and both need your help doing it.

——

Heather Major – Heather is a friend and high school junior who is being called to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica to help children who have been victims of child trafficking and forced labor. For more information about this trip you can visit their website at globalexpeditions.com.

To donate directly into her account click this link, and than type in her first and last name and her home phone number (found below).

Or you can send a check to:
Heather Major
511 Brown St., Tecumseh, MI 49286
(517) 423-9128 – Home
(517) 442-7984 – Cell
heather.m.major@hotmail.com

——

Greg Kendall-Ball – Greg is a friend and photographer that is partnering with Physicians for Human Rights to document the effect of PEPFAR funds on lives in Rwanda. His plan is to spend several weeks in May, working with clinics, public health centers, and several individuals, helping to tell the story of his this program is having an impact in this country.

Greg will send an 8×10 print from this trip to anyone who donates more than $50. To help Greg, please head over to the PayPal site to make your micro-donation.

gregkendallball.com
gregkendallball.com/portfolio

——

So if you can, please let them know you can help out. Together we can all make a difference! Lots of Donors + Small Amounts = Success.

Filed under: Uncategorized

I Follow Ashton Kutcher on Twitter

And I’m proud of it.

I also follow @rainnwilson and @THE_REAL_SHAQ if true be told.

But it’s Ashton that I’m focusing on today. In case you haven’t been following the story, Ashton Kutcher recently challenged CNN.com to a race to see who could reach one million twitter followers first.

Last night Kutcher passed the 1 million mark, just 30 minutes before CNN. He could be found celebrating with champagne on a live video stream. Today he is on Oprah, helping her set up her own twitter account.

For some this is a big “so what” moment, but for me it’s the small details that make this a great story. As part of his challenge he said he would donate 10,000 mosquito bed nets to charity for World Malaria Day if he won, and 1,000 if he lost. CNN agreed to do the same. Win/Win.

A few months ago I was at a meeting and a couple of people were talking about how celebrities are always on the news for going to other countries, and how the “real people” never get that kind of attention. One of them even said, “Well, there’s them’s that do, and them’s that talk.”

Needless to say, that pissed me off a bit. For more reasons than I can tell you now, but I really think we miss the point (especially in the church) when it comes to celebrities and charity.

We are constantly lampooning them for screwing up, but when there are those that try to use their fame and fortune to draw attention to, and assist those in need we say they are doing it simply for the press.

And you want to know why people in the church are cynical towards them? It’s simply because they fall on the liberal side of the political scene. Because their issues don’t align the same (at least that’s what they’ve been bred to think). When they do find a celebrity that is right-leaning and outwardly religious, they jump all over them like a fly on a terd (see Mel Gibson and Kirk Cameron).

Well, I’m here to simply say “well done” to the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, and Ben Affleck.

Keep up the good work friends.

Written by a Christ-follower who knows that love is greater than hate, that grace is amazing, and that Jesus was neither a Republican nor a Democrat.

**UPDATE**
So apparently as I was typing out this post the celebrity twitterers have been challenging each other to match the 10,000 mosquito net’s donation. As of this second, Larry King and Ryan Seacrest are in, and they’re working on Diddy and Oprah. Rock on people!

Filed under: Uncategorized

The Hits Keep Coming

I shouldn’t be surprised.

He was riding a bike without training wheels at three years old.

At four he was channeling Pelé.

And now this.

This past Saturday, at the mere age of 5, my boy Tanner ran his first 5K (that’s 3.1 miles btw). Not only did he run the entire course with me, but he also did it in 37 minutes 45 seconds. Finishing first in his rather large age group (1-10).

Congratulations Tanner!

3 generations of Hawkins runners representing!

Filed under: Exercise, Tanner

March Debrief

As bad as January started, I have high hopes for 2009 if the rest of the year can match March.

It started with a company trip to Anaheim—my first ever visit to California. In addition to the awesome weather, I was able to squeeze in a trip to The Mayan with a coworker to visit Mosaic and shake hands with my favorite author/speaker, Erwin McManus. Mosaic was an experience I’ll never forget. Even the cab ride there was memorable!

March 1st was also when I also started my 40 Days of Water fast. I didn’t think it would be that big a deal, but I’ve really missed the comfort of coffee in the morning, and burgers, wings and pizza just aren’t the same without an ice cold Coke! Regardless, it’s been a learning experience and I’ve finally perfected the habit of refilling our filtered water jug.

In March I also became an uncle for the fourth time, received another bonus at work, started getting another $15 per week in my paycheck due to the stimulus tax restructure, my taxes got completed and I’m getting a healthy return, Tonia got a Wii for her birthday, Tanner has started jogging with me, I got a new grill, and the weather is finally picking up!

Books Read:
Wide Awake
The Audacity of Hope (Audio Book)

Movies Watched:
The Rocker – 3/5
Chocolat – 4/5
Close Encounters of the Third Kind – 3/5
Glory – 5/5
Howard the Duck – 3/5
Armageddon – 4/5
Max Payne – 3/5
Slumdog Millionaire – 5/5
The Secret Life of Bee’s – 4/5
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada – 3/5
Monster’s Ball – 3/5
The Machinist – 4/5
Beverly Hills Chihuahua – 2/5
Fallen – 4/5
Australia – 3/5
Twilight – 5/5
Milk – 3/5
October Sky – 5/5
Jerry Seinfeld: I’m Telling You For The Last Time – 5/5
Premonition – 4/5
The Benchwarmers – 4/5
Special – 3/5

Previous Months:
January 2009
February 2009

Filed under: Books, March, Movies