Wonder:

I saw two things that amazed me, three that were beautiful. As this proverb - like statement suggestion, I was caught up in three things this very early morning. I was not surprised by any one of them, just blessed by them.

The alarm rang once at 5:50 AM and again at 5:55. I do not get along with mornings and they certainly are not very kind to me. However, this choice of mine to rise early was not for me. What would I have to gain by waking up an hour and a half before my routine time of rising? Nothing, yet everything.

My reason for waking up was for the purpose of interacting with some junior high kids at the Hamilton Southeast Jr. High Youth for Christ Campus Club ministry. I have never been involved with YFC, nor did I think that I could make a difference in the lives of anyone in that sort period of time. After talking with Michelle Koppin, the head of the area YFC, I realized that what I give a kid in three months may be more love and attention than they’ll get in a year.

The first thing that I saw was both amazing and beautiful. I saw the sun rising over Geist Reservoir, burning a dark magenta hue. I almost had to stop the van, get out and stare. Unfortunately, I rose with enough time to get me out the door and to the school before starting time. It reminded me that God is still the King of my day and He put that sun there.

The second thing that I saw was both beautiful and amazing. I saw about 30 - 40 junior high kids come to school an hour early, on their own volition, to be loved be high schoolers and adults in Jesus name. I saw today why I needed to be involved. It wasn’t for me, it was for each
of them.

The third thing that I saw was just plain beautiful. As I pulled into the parking lot of the Fall Creek Welseyan church, I saw the same sun I had seen earlier riding high above the clouds but piercing the canvas of sky with brilliant rays. It reminded me that there is strength for today and a bright hope for tomorrow.

Just Fall into the Sea Already:

Hollywood: Do I need to say more? For years, I have watched movies which have entertained me, yet some that have severely lowered my intelligence (What Lies Beneath, The Blair Witch Project, etc.).

I have also seen Hollywood take something precious to a large majority and ruin it for the masses. Has anyone seen a positive video game turned movie? No. Prime example: Street Fighter. Anyone seen it? If memory serves me correctly, it was like a live action G.I. Joe without Cobra Commander's stand-in, M. Bison, screaming at his men with demoralizing hatred or even slightly cool. Video games turned to movies are usually synonymous with another word: B-movie.

Or how about the Mario Brothers movie? It was so bad, I took years of psychology just to figure out the different types of memory blocks to tune out such a painful part of my childhood.

Disclaimer: I am not against the idea, I just haven’t really seen one done well. I have not seen either Resident Evil movies... but people who have seen them have thoroughly enjoyed them. They may be an exception.

What I have seen lately is that Hollywood is releasing a movie based off of the PC’s original king of first person shooters, Doom, this fall. What’s even worse is that the movie is going to be starring America’s other fake world (wrestling)’s own The Rock.

Here is what I think happened: Id software got wind that Bungie was teaming with a stellar team to create a movie based off of Halo, that they decided to try to catch them ahead of the game first. Sadly, in their attempt to remain king at something has driven them to the loss of their title as the Supreme King of First Person Shooters (with an actual plot line) and will set them up for ultimate failure when pitted against Bungie’s colossus.

Here is a little foreshadowing of events to come:

The White Flag:

I can’t believe that I am admitting this, but I am having a hard time sleeping again because of a girl. I’ve moved past the initial bitterness and my heart has begun to feel again. These thoughts of her hurts. I see her name every where, yet I still care to know how she are and just what is going on in her life.

I can’t help it. I have a heart that, despite all logic, wants to love without condition. Don’t take that as a statement of undying affection, it is the gift and curse that God has given me: I care about people. When they are closer to me, I care more deeply.

Dear friends, I love you all. When I say all, that encompasses even the friends who don’t feel like friends. My heart hurts without reciprocation, but I persist none-the-less.

Maybe I love with this intensity because I want to be love with the same intensity. I think that is a fair guess. Maybe it is also an unrealistic expectation. I don’t know, but I do know, whether gift or curse, I must use this heart of mine the way that God has intended it to be used.