Let's Play Keep Away!

A song has recently caught my attention. It is eloquent yet captivating. There is a certain flow to it that makes it strike a chord with the deepest parts of who I am. It is melodic at its base and harmonious in its structure. This song has only a few lines but it resonates like an epic story that stands the test of time and culture. I would strongly recommend a listen.

The song is "Meteor Shower" by Owl City.

"I am not my own...for I have been made new,

Please don't let me go...I desperately need you"

It will change you!

Turn My Swag On...

Lets explore some things together shall we? OK! Here we go.

I recently returned from our Senior High Mission Trip to Clarksdale, Mississippi and it was a blast. I experienced several things that were new to me and several that were simply revisitations. From the Blues to the Bar-B-Que, every moment seemed to hold something exciting. So to avoid a long post or ranting, I have chosen my top three moments of the week (in no particular order).

1. WORSHIP! The kids really got into it! Every night topped the night before and every night there was something amazing that couldn't be avoided. The energy and spirit in the room was incredible.

2. ABE'S BARBEQUE! Nuff Said, But I will continue. Easily the most delicious pulled pork sandwich I had ever experienced. Plus, we became regulars and got some SWAG (I'll get to this).

3. DRUNK BASS PLAYER AT BLUES CLUB! He was a big man who asked me to stand up and with whiskey on his breath, he informed me that I need to be a fighter for a living. He then proceeded to put me in a headlock and spout off terms and profanities I didn't know existed...but boy could he play that bass!!!

It really was a trip to remember.

In closing I would like to share a story with you. Jimbob made a mix tape of music Johnny and I would hate (and we listened to it). There was a song that has changed my life and I would like to share the chorus with you.

"Holla at the Benz

Turn my swag on

Took a look in the mirror, said wazzup, wazzup, wazzup

Hey, Get money!"

-Soulja Boi Tellum

If only I knew what it meant.........

Lets Play Catch-Up!

I have officially dropped, and then lost the figurative ball. I have pushed any sort of blogging/writing to the back burner but with some newly found free time, I thought I would catch you (if anyone is reading) back up to speed.

Just A Few Items

-I am still with Amiee (oh boy she's hot!)

-I have finally gotten a new phone!!

-I got a new guitar (oh boy Amiee's hot!)

-I found something that truly upset me (I'll elaborate)

What Is So Upsetting You Ask?

Let me tell you what happened... Well, I was in a dining establishment enjoying a delicious meal. At the end of my meal, I had to excuse myself from the table to go to the restroom. So I venture a walk to the back of the restaurant, open the door and....THERE IT IS! The most truly annoying, stupid thing I've ever seen. What is it? Well, before I come out and tell you. LEt me explain the layout of this restroom.

-No bigger than 8x8

-Nice paint/wallpaper

-trendy sink and sparkling clean mirror

-Not even the smallest amount of smell in the air

Sounds great right? WRONG! What I left out is this....

In this bathroom, stood not a single commode, nay, there was a commode AND a urinal. Whats the big deal with this? Let me itemize it for you!

1. No stall to separate the two receptacles
   
2. They were no more than 3 feet from each other
3. Both faced the same direction

Not a huge deal you say? Well, WRONG AGAIN! 

It violated the unspoken pact that men have with each other. Urinals in a line, no problem. Rows of toilets (partitions included), not a huge deal. Urinal next to a free standing commode with no divider....You have crossed the line Blue Mint!  

 

I Feel A Need to Share

Last night, I cooked. Its something I do very consistently. I am not a gourmet chef, but I am also not a "add water and microwave" kind of guy. I like to explore and experiment. I like to feel like I am a pioneer of something culinary. And last night, I succeeded. What I did was nothing new. It has been done before, but I maintain that what I did last night is as good if not better than any version ever done. What was it you ask? Oh, merely Beer Can Chicken. But, I will share my secret, nay my recipe, with you in hopes that your tongue can tingle in joy while the veritable bevy of flavors dances on your palette like Baryshnikov on a dance floor. Am I playing it up? Read the following and then you tell me!

Irish Beer Can Chicken

1 Whole Chicken (Sans Gizards)

1/2 Cup "Secret" Spice Rub (Equal Parts) 

• Lawry's Season. Salt, Paprika, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Cayenne Powder

1 Can Wexford Irish Creme Ale (or Irish Beer i.e. Guinness, Smithwicks..) 

1 Marinade/Turkey Injector

1 Beer Can Chicken Holder (thats its actual name)

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 450 Degrees Farenheit.

2. In bowl, combine spices and mix.

3. Open beer, pour half into glass to be used for injection. Inject chicken breast and thigh with beer of choice. Place Beer can (half full) in to Holder. Place the chicken (butt end first) over the can so it is sturdy. 

4. Rub spices generously over entire chicken.

• Once oven is ready, place the Chicken and Beer holder in a Cake pan (to catch drippings) and insert it into the oven for 15-20 minutes.
  
• Then after 15-20 minutes, reduce temperature to 350 and cook for 40-45 more minutes. 
  
• Pull out and let sit for 5-7 minutes. 
  
• Then eat!  
  

Guaranteed you will fall in love with this dish. Its easy, and takes only minutes to prepare. 

P.S.

Also works great with DR. PEPPER if you don't have beer.

Enjoy.

Music, Marriage and Money

Don't let the title fool you. That is not an "A+B=C" equation. It is simply just three things that have been on my mind, and before your mind wanders, lets re-focus and I'l start the explanation.

Music.

There are seasons when my heart and hands coordinate and the words in my head make it to paper before twisting and turning into a jumbled mess that is not recognizable. There is something releasing and freeing about writing. No matter if it is lyrics, poetry, short story or free verse, when the mind and heart can release what is stored it is such an amazing thing. Now, as much as my feeble words have tried to paint it to be poetic, I am not in one of these phases right now. I sit to write and nothing comes out. But that got me thinking....

The times when I sit in my room or in my office and simply strum between two chords and find in the quiet, a peace and a rest that I cannot get anywhere else, is that really something to look past. There are so many times when I simply create the background music for the confronting of my heart with the One who has created me! It is such a beautiful struggle. To know that in the still, when everything is drowned out, I get to be in the sacred space with the one who is the author of creativity. 

Marriage.

I am not (as of now) quite on the brink of this, but it is not far off. I do not have a profound thought here, its just been on the back burner of my mind and slowly creeping forward. To think that I am 23 and not married is not that big of a shock. Its very normal, but in my family, thats almost "over the hill" for marriage. But after August, I will be next in line. So stay tuned to see what unfolds.

Money.

"I don't have enough. I spend too much. I don't have any saved. If you have some laying around, I'll take it." 

These seem to be my thoughts on the 14th and 30th of every month. From the first paycheck I ever received when I was 15 until now. But not to worry, 2009 has become my year of finally reaching financial mediocrity (baby steps people). I am not expecting to have thousands of dollars in my account at all times, but to not have to worry every 14 days would be a huge bonus.  

Whatever happens in the 3 areas I have written about, I know that God is good!

This is something to hold on to...

Here I am. In the midst of the holiday season. It has been hectic so far. From the frustration of Christmas productions to the stress of planning Christmas eve services, I can't help but be optimistic for the next week! Although it will be wrought with time consuming tasks and crazy amounts of travel, I am ready for it.

After the Christmas eve, I will spend Christmas day with my family in my neck of the woods. Then after a day of nothingness, its off to Kansas! Yes, Kansas. I am flying from DFW to Kansas City, then hopping on a plane I hope will allow a man of my size to fit on, and continue on to Salina, Kansas. Then I will spend a few days with my girlfriends family (and make them love me) and then comes the best part of the trip...

Amiee and I will gather our things, get into her Mitsubishi Galant and head back for Texas. But we are not stopping in Arlington, oh no, we will continue on to Centerville to see my parents. Then after a wonderful meal and nights sleep, continue the journey to Houston. We will spend the next few days with my sis (and her family) and my brother (and his family), including New Years (cue music here). 

Now as I always do, its time for a list (I know you are still reading solely to get to the list).

Highlights/Lowlights of the trip (predictions)

1. The 9 hour car trip, followed by another 2 hours the next morning.
2. Seeing snow that is worth playing in (in Kansas)
3. Meeting Amiee's family
4. Hoping to God that I find something to keep me warm in the great white north (not Canada, Kansas)
5. Last but not least, being with my woman as the clock strikes twelve on New Years Eve. (Thats when the real fireworks begin)  
   

New Phones, Birthdays, and Random Trips

Since my last post, many things have happened. I have been on a trip to Tennessee, turned 23, and made a spur of the moment trip to see my parents. So I will quickly recap all of these, one paragraph each.

Tennessee: Went for a youth worker convention and had a blast. In the 20 degree weather that we flew into and spent a good portion of our time in, I wore shorts. People looked at me like I was dumb, the jokes on them, it was the first time I went a whole day without sweating. The convention was incredible. Amazing music, speakers and company! If the food had been better, the score would have increased. Overall I will give it a 7.8/10

Turned 23: Another year older, a little wiser (I hope) and still no gray hair! This past year has shown me ALOT! I have loved, lost, and been given hope! It has been a learning experience. From my mistakes, I have seen who I am who is there for me. I would not change a thing (except for one decision in August/September that kept me from Amiee for a little while longer than I liked). I will give my 22nd year of life a 8.3/10

Trip to the 'Rents: On sunday, I got done with the 9:30am service and was enlightened to the wonderful news that we did not have youth. So my lovely lady recommended that we go surprise my parents in Centerville (2 hours away). So we loaded up and went down to The Abiding Place. We stopped and picked up stuff to make dinner (delicious), and arrived early in the evening. We proceeded to shoot my little bro's new deer rifle (which I'm a little bitter about) and make home-made pizza, and watch movies. It was so much fun to get away for an evening and spend it with my family. I am pretty sure my mom likes (loves) my woman more and more everytime she talks about her or sees her. Due to the fact that I got to relax, eat amazing food and hang out with my lady. I give it a 9.4/10  

Overall: My past few weeks have been near perfect, and the Christmas season may just take the cake yet to close out the 2008 calendar!!