Digital Wilderness

Old news by now…Calipari takes Kentucky job, will be nation’s top-paid coach.

How do you feel about the hire? I’ve never been a fan of Calipari, he just rubs me the wrong way, but I hope it’s something I can get over and instead enjoy the style of play, the recruits and everything else he will bring to the program. I will admit I’m very excited about the potential regardless of the misgivings.

I do wonder about the quickness of the hire, though. Didn’t the AD Barnhart and UK Pres Todd say they were going to take their time and do it right this time? Granted, Calipari’s reputation proceeds him and he has tons of experience, but still…

Also, Calipari is expensive! That, coupled with what the school could potentially owe Gillispie…well, that will make a bunch of professors and other staff very unhappy. Re-affirms how much UK has made athletics a priority.

I’m just glad the madness is over…all the media reports – many false, many just stabs in the dark – were making my head spin!

Here’s to a new era in UK basketball!

This week’s Music Monday selection is: Ten Talents by Emery

I crank this song up often. I like how it starts out slow and quiet then goes into screaming. Bolded lyrics below are ones I particularly like.

Listen:

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Lyrics:

Last night I had a dream that you decided to leave me and no matter what I said, my persuasion fell upon your deaf ears.

Don’t leave me here alone. I’m not so good on my own.
I’m not so good. I’m not so good on my own.

Is it too late? Am I too gone? Is there something I should know?
Am I working for nothing? Will there ever be anything to show?

Is it true? I don’t know what the storybooks have told.
Though I wouldn’t be so bold to say so.
Will I do what I’m told? Will I play my hand or fold?
Will I stand my ground and hold? I would like to think so.

But if I just walked away, would you still save me?
Or would you take back all that you gave me?

Is it too late? Am I too gone? Is there something I should know?
Are we working for nothing? Is there anything to show for the service?
Is it worthless? All the waiting is the hardest part.

Come home my dear because I love you. I love you still.

It’s a slap in the face when I feel my complacency grow. It’s the thrill of the chase, when you catch it you just let it go. I take for granted the grace that is given me daily I know, oh.

How can you say that you love me when all that I want, all that I want is your blessing and then I am gone. Nothing I do can make up for the things I have done, oh.

Your love is all we need. We’re gonna make it. So let’s close our eyes tonight and just believe.

Rumors have been flying all day (week…month…year…whatever) about the status of UK’s head basketball coach.

Kentucky.com is reporting at this hour (as is ESPN and a number of other sources) that Gillispie is out as Kentucky coach. There will be a press conference at 4:30pm today to announce the news. What will be most frustrating to fans, especially after all the rumors about Donovan being in town, is “They are not planning immediately to announce the hiring of a new coach.” I don’t want a repeat of two years ago with the transition…

Will Meeks stay? Will Patterson stay? Can they land Donovan while he has a window in his contract? Will they look to Travis Ford? Can they bring Pitino back? How will the $6 million dollar buyout of Gillispie’s contract be handled by the students and staff of a school short on funding? Oh, the questions…

I particularly like this article from Mark Story that discusses the situation: Gillispie situation not about winning at all costs.

Oh, the drama! KY Secretary of State Trey Grayson had this to say on Twitter early today: “We may need a stimulus package for KY if no Billy G announcement is made shortly. I can’t imagine much productive work is taking place.”

Remember the book Where The Wild Things Are from your childhood (or maybe more recently)? The movie is coming out later this year. Here’s the trailer. Looks pretty good…

Looks pretty good.

In this third installment [of ABC Nightline's Face Off], philosopher Deepak Chopra and Bishop Carlton Pearson will face-off against Pastor Mark Driscoll of the Mars Hill Church and Annie Lobert, founder of the Christian ministry “Hookers for Jesus” about the existence of the Devil.

It airs tonight at 11:35 but is online now:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaceOff/

A couple friends posted this on Facebook, so I thought I’d follow their lead as I procrastinate on some other posts I should be working on…

***********FOODOLOGY***************

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Thousand Island

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
O’Charley’s

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Breakfast foods

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Bacon, Ham, Sausage…basically any meat

What do you like to put on your toast?
Butter

***********TECHNOLOGY***************

How many televisions are in your house?
2

What color is your cell phone?
Black

***************BIOLOGY******************

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Wisdom teeth

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Um, a table I guess

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Not that I can remember

************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Nope

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Not really sure…

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000?
Why not, I’ve done worse for free

************DUMBOLOGY******************

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
One

Last person you talked to?
Gina

Last person you hugged?
Becky

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************

Season?
Fall

Holiday?
Halloween

Day of the week?
Sunday

Month?
October

***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************

Missing someone?
Yes

Mood?
Pretty good lately. Warmer weather certainly helps!

What are you listening to?
House of Heroes new album

Watching?
Nothing

Worrying about?
Too much…school, deadlines at work, busy upcoming schedule, vacation plans, dating, etc.

***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************

First place you went this morning?
Shower

What’s the last movie you saw?
Watchmen (not recommended for everyone)

Do you smile often?
Yeah, even when I don’t feel like it

Sleeping alone tonight?
Yep

***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************

Do you always answer your phone?
Nope

It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Don’t know, I’d ignore it

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
I’d keep them blue

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Not sure, haven’t been to Sonic all that much, at least for drinks

Do you own a digital camera?
Yep

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Nope

Favorite Christmas song(s)?
Sleigh Ride, Greensleeves

What’s on your wish list for your birthday?
Books and time to read them

Can you do push ups?
Yep

Can you do a chin up?
I hope so, but it’s been a while

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Trying not to think about it so much

Do you have any saved texts?
Yep

Ever been in a car wreck?
Yep, prom night

Do you have an accent?
Don’t think I do…

What is the last song to make you cry?
Not really cry, but Love Is Not a Fight by Warren Barfield really gets to me emotionally

Plans tonight?
Class

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
It’s sure felt like it a couple times

Name 3 things you bought yesterday:
Didn’t buy anything

Have you ever been given roses?
Nope

Current hate right now?
Don’t really hate anything, but I am still bitter about some things

Met someone who changed your life?
Yes, I’ve been blessed to have crossed paths with some amazing people, many who don’t realize the difference they’ve made in my life. I should do something about that.

How will you ring in the New Year?
At the Maddox’s house, which has become an annual can’t miss event

What song represents you?
Wilderness by the Supertones

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
As much as I have felt like I wanted to at times, I wouldn’t actually do it

Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Yes

Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
No

Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now?
That’s up to God, and that’s my prayer every day

Ever cheated on anybody?
No

Would you be a pirate?
Rather be a ninja

What songs do you sing in the shower?
Don’t sing in the shower

Ever had someone sing to you?
Not to me, but when I’ve been around

When did you last cry?
Mid-February

Are you afraid of being alone?
Yes

Do you like to cuddle?
Yes!

Have you held hands with anyone today?
No

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Jenee and Jennifer

What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
Oldies. Parents choose the radio stations then

Do you believe in staying close with your ex?
It takes time, sometimes a lot of time, but yes, I “believe” in keeping in touch with exes, as long as it’s not forced or bad motives

Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Yep

What is something your friends make fun of you for?
Being “old”, bad jokes (“daddy” humor), my laugh, movies I quote too much (baby steps, laugh it up fuzzball)

Today is the first installment of a new weekly series titled Music Monday. Each Monday, I’ll share one of my favorite songs, songs that I enjoy the music/lyrics and have spoken to me on some level.

This week’s Music Monday selection is: Say Your Prayers by The Wedding.

I consider this my “pump me up” song. If I need to motivate myself to take that leap of faith, to get out of my comfort zone, I turn up the volume and blast this song. I particularly like these lyrics:

You wanna walk with me.
If you love me then just love me, don’t you give me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let me see how serious you are.

Listen:

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Lyrics:

Look at you now, just standing there like you think you’re something.
The lights are up and the crowd is looking your way.
Waiting for what you have to say.
Go ahead boy give them a little taste of hypocrisy, maybe a hint of blasphemy.
Whatever you’re preaching it isn’t me.
You wanna walk with me, do ya?
You wanna walk with me.
If you love me then just love me, don’t you give me pretty words.
Lay your life down at the altar.
Let me see how serious you are.
These people don’t look to me no more they’ve got their idols in various forms.
With lust in their eyes they crave for more.
Take their place with the corporate carnivores.
Oh, keep your focus for the day will come when everyone will give account for what they’ve done; make me proud.
Make me proud my son.
Look at this broken world; look at my children.
Get ready go; sing to me the right song.
Look up say your prayers on the steps of the capitol.
Look up say your prayers, on your knees.
Look up say your prayers.
Look up say your prayers.
You wanted it to be like you always thought it would but all you seem to accomplish is the
opposite.

A lesson on delayed gratification (start 45 seconds in)

Many of you know that I enjoy Geocaching, which can be best described as “using multi-million dollar satellites to find tupperware in the woods.”

Podcacher.com has a forum in which participants share some of Murphy’s Geocaching Laws. I thought I’d share a few of the funnier ones that I read on the forum.

• When showing friends about geocaching, you’ll have several DNFs [Did Not Finds] in a row
• You’re always on the wrong side of the river or stream
• You’re always on the wrong side of the fence.
• It will always take you longer to find than you expect.
• The muggles sitting near ground zero are always settled in for the long haul.
• You always find the easy way in . . . on the way out.
• You realize you could have parked 10 feet from the cache after hiking in 1/2 mile.

Here are a few blogs posts I’ve been meaning to share but hadn’t gotten around to…until now.

Via Get Rich Slowly – Defeating Temptation: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Tempted to Buy. (read article for full post)

• When will I use this?
• Do I have another one like this already?
• If I buy this, where will I put it?
• If I buy this, can I pay cash?
• Can I buy a good-quality used version for less?
• Do I know anyone who already owns one I can borrow?
• Can I wait to buy this?
• Why do I want to buy this?
• Are there better options available?
• What would my wife say if I bought this?

Perry Noble writes on Four Reasons People Have Moral Failures.

Several months ago I did a post entitled, “Pastors, keep your penis in your pants” that generated a lot of interest. One of the main follow up questions I received as a result of that post was, “Why do pastors (people) have moral failures.” I believe there are four main reasons…

#1 – No Personal Boundaries

Call me legalistic…but I am a FREAK about particular personal boundaries…such as…

* I do not ride in a car alone with a woman other than my wife!
* I will not be on an elevator alone with another woman. (I have literally gotten off on a floor that was not my destination in order to keep this value.)
* I will not counsel a woman alone.
* I will not share a meal in a restaurant with a woman with it being just the two of us…under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! EVER! (And PLEASE don’t hand me that crap about how it is “business!”)

Those are just a few of the examples…but the bottom line is this men…YOU CAN’T HAVE SEX WITH A WOMAN IF YOU ARE NEVER ALONE WITH HER (unless you are an absolute freak…which is another issue altogether!)

Too many men have sold their ministry down the river just to have an orgasm…it’s not worth it men–we’ve GOT to make tough decisions now and be willing to experience some “inconveniences” for the sake of the Gospel!
BTW…my wife absolutely LOVES the fact that she is the only woman I am ever alone with!

#2 – They Think That Temptation Will Never Overcome Them!

One of the Bible verses that has ALWAYS stuck out to me on the issue of temptation is I Corinthians 10:12! Here Paul warns us to always be careful…because the minute that we think we have a particular sin mastered…we are in danger of that very sin actually becoming our master.

#3 – They Stop Pursuing Jesus.

One of the things I know is true about everyone of us is that we cannot pursue Jesus and sin at the same time…and if a pastor is trying to get in the pants of a woman who is not his wife…then he cannot claim that his eyes are on Jesus!

This is why I believe time in the Word of God is essential for anyone who wants to keep a pure heart! Men…we are CALLED to pursue Jesus…and doing so will always lead us away from sin, not towards it!

#4 – Stress

When a man pastor experiences a time of intense stress and anxiety he is way more vulnerable to be lured into sin.

Pastors…we’ve GOT to take the fourth commandment seriously (that would be the one about rest!) We’ve got to take care of ourselves emotionally, spiritually and physically…neglecting these things allows us to become an easy target of the enemy!

I believe that many times pastors and ministry leaders will allow the stress and anxiety of ministry to catch up with them so much that they see a “moral failure” as an escape of the life they feel enslaved to.

One of the things ALL of us need to keep in mind is that the church is HIS bride…not ours. There is no need to stress if we believe He is completely in control!

My prayer is that there would NEVER be another pastor to choose to fail morally! (I hate it when people say a pastor “fell into sin!” THAT HAS NEVER FREAKIN’ HAPPENED–EVER!!! Moral failure is NOT a sin that happens to us…we make it happen!

Men, I want us to make it…to keep our eyes on Jesus! PLEASE, if anyone is struggling in this area and feel like you are about to sin…GET HELP! PLEASE…talk to someone! (Many pastors will not do this because they spend WAY too much time trying to BE the Messiah rather than leading people to HIM!)

Stuff Christians Like: Favorite Post #10. Not Knowing Which Meals to Pray Before.

SCL Guide to Food Prayers:
1. The Stand Up Rule
If you have to stand up while eating, you don’t have to pray. Regardless of what you are eating, standing up makes the food feel very light and insignificant. It’s impossible to cut anything while standing too. You end up just spearing chunks of fruit or meat awkwardly while trying to keep the plate from tipping over onto the carpet, further upsetting the hosts whose dog you just made urinate on the couch because you got it too excited at the Christmas Eve party. That just got personal, but trust me, no prayer required here. Use this easy rhyme to remember: “if you can’t sit, prayer forget it, if you have to stand, God understands.”

2. Wedding food
This rule actually works for any big event where one person prays for the whole room. Listen carefully to that person’s prayer. If it’s good, dig in. If it’s a little weak, you better double up and pray for yourself just to be sure. No offense to the other person, but it’s better safe than sorry. Plus, it makes you look extra holy which is never a bad thing if you’re single and trying to meet a bridesmaid.

3. Drive in
This actually depends on which fast food restaurant you go to. If you go to Chick-fil-A or In-n-Out you probably don’t have to pray because those are Christian restaurants and the holiness is applied like barbecue sauce to the food items. You’re covered. Taco Bell, Burger King and other restaurants are questionable. At the bare minimum, turn your back in the car while they use that bean and guacamole gun at Taco Bell and say a prayer. Chances are you’ll need it. (By the way, if you’re partaking in Taco Bell’s “Fourth Meal” or the food they feed you between dinner and breakfast, you better pray. Lots. You’ve just introduced a grilled, toasted, roasted, 17 layer, bean bandalero to your stomach at 2 in the morning.)

4. Progressive Dinner
A progressive dinner is where you travel with people from house to house having one course at each. The question is, where and when do you pray? Is it before the first house or at each house? Good question. I pray at the beginning and then at each house that serves something that might need a little God. When I used to be a bag boy at a grocery store we called it “spot mopping.” You didn’t mop the whole floor, just the few areas that needed it. Same thing applies here. If one house has a fresh mandarin spinach salad, hold the prayer. If the next one has some sort of homemade sausage that may or may not be squirrel, you better start praying.

5. Gas Station Snacks
Nougat? No prayer. Beef jerky? Depends. If you do regular jerky, no problem, you don’t have to pray. If you do that jerky, cheese marriage thing where there’s a tube of orange cheese spooning the jerky, you better pray. Or if the logo on the bag is a guy in overalls or a barrel with rope suspenders, you should pray.

6. Before or After Appetizers
The best way to get a waiter or waitress to come to your table is to start praying. They’ll materialize out of thin air like some sort of prayer interrupting phantoms. I suggest praying in the parking lot before you get in the restaurant. That way, you eliminate any possible chance of the staff trying to crash your prayer party.

7. Eating contests
I weigh about 160. A few years ago, a coworker challenged me to an eating contest at Fuddrucker’s, a hamburger joint. I accepted and ended up doing just fine in the “1lb throwdown.” I was able to stomach a one pound cheeseburger without a problem. But then he suggested we do a “2lb showdown.” Have you ever seen two pounds of meat on a plate? It was gross. It was like eating two 1lb meat Frisbees. I finished it, but ended up getting the meat sweats and eventually throwing up at work. I am dumb. If you ever find yourself in an eating contest, please pray. Constantly.