Most Things Break

Since I'm not on facebook.....

2010-08-23T13:44:00.007-04:00

Since I'm not on facebook (yet) I thought it would only be fair to show friends and family what my actual facebook profile pics probably would have looked like this year if I did have facebook. Here are the top 5 candidates...

Taste testing in Kroger:

***
Bored in Organic Chemistry:

***

mirror testing: what does my hair look like straight up?

***
Christian Rap Music, Yes!!!

**
Protect those eyes!

PS: this is probably the last time I post anything on "the blog"... The blog was cool at first, but nobody blogs anymore. I made the leap over to Twitter (TheRandomT) I guess facebook is just the next logical step. Right?

The Team

2010-03-21T11:55:00.002-04:00

What a squad! They've brought the swagger back to the bluegrass!

Louisville got punched in the face by 'em.
Tennessee dropped 2 0f 3 against 'em.
Oh ya, and here's one more piece of information to always remember: You can't spell D-U-K-E without UK

Remarkable Roommates...

2009-06-06T22:40:00.007-04:00

Word UP! My days of living on campus in the luxurious Haggin Hall are long gone. Now the 'place to be' is Sugar Creek. Having my own room for two years has sheltered me, I sort of forgot how sweet it is to have roommates. Two rock-solid guys: Bryce Cooper (a true Bass Master) and Jon Canler (the real guitar hero) these are the guys I'll be kickin' it with.

If you ever want to have a meaningful conversation, start a bible study, pray, eat delicious food, watch Bear Grylls on our DVR, or enjoy a good laugh ---> then come on by! Here is where you can find us:

3869 Sugar Creek Dr.
Lexington, KY 40517

oh, and the crazy guy with the sword - that's me. (some would say that it's vintage Taylor Wehrle because it's random.)

Coach CAL!

2009-03-31T20:05:00.002-04:00

This can be a very very very good thing. Go CATS!

Let's go get that Nat'l Championship!

Don't just read it, live it!

2009-03-25T17:26:00.000-04:00

Don't question my fanhood...

2009-03-17T11:57:00.006-04:00

I will be here tonight.

Not many CAT fans (my age) can say that they attended a live UK game in Memorial Coliseum. (Tonight will give me another chance to show all the haters that I've never been a fair-weather fan.) Yes, I'm bummed that we didn't make the tournament, but look at the bright side: Kentucky is consistently giving me opportunities to prove my true fanhood. It's easy to support the guys when we're ranked #1 and blowin' out teams left and right. But what about the down times (?), when your team is the butt of every joke and constantly bad-mouthed. When you get beat and punched in the face by just about every team in your conference, when your coach is an idiot and you can do anything about it... What do you do?
Should I just complain, No! HERE'S WHAT YOU DO: You should cheer all the more, louder than ever, this is the time - this is the time to go to the lowest of lowes with my Wildcats, so when the reach the top again I can say I've been with them through it all. May that day come sooner than later...

Remember your history, your tradition - and know that brighter days will come!

Sometimes Great Happens...

2009-01-20T12:49:00.003-05:00

The Boundless.org website has been my homepage for about 2 years now. Each time I jump online a new article is always fresh before my eyes - some good ones, others not so good, but every once in while a great one comes along. These words by Rachel Starr are well-written, they fall into that rare 'great' category not by accident - - read for yourself:

I have a conviction about living by conviction: I'm convinced that I ought to do it.

Every day, I'm faced with choices that will put me in one of three streams: life by default, in reaction, or by conviction. And though living by default is easy and reaction feels good in the heat of the moment, I realize more and more that only a life of conviction is consistent with my faith. It is the life God is calling me to embrace.

I was born in the strong and comfortable flow of a defaulter's life. As a child I simply fell in line with the culture and expectations around me, allowing myself to be carried along. Sometimes the flow caused discomfort, scraping as it did through shallow waters or taking me in over my head, but it is easier to go with the flow than to fight it. Such a life is peaceful, though it lacks depth; it is a life of tradition, of security and happiness in the world as we find it, of avoiding difficult questions.

Many seem to stay in the default stream all their lives. Others break away — often in the teenage years — and begin to live in reaction. I did this, too, for a while: I thought about life according to that which pushed against me. I never rebelled against God or my parents, but I made decisions and set standards by responding to triggers and emotional hot buttons.

Reactionary living can feel very good, as most of us know; we feel alive when we live this way. But ultimately it is just as shallow as default living. As a reactionary, if life stops pushing me, I stop responding. My passion does not live apart from its impetus.

Both streams are very human — both may even be necessary for growth into adulthood. But neither was meant to be a permanent way of life. The more I grow, the more I live with the uncomfortable realization that God wants me to step out of the flow, to lay down my reactions, and to live by conviction.

Merriam-Webster defines conviction as "the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth; a strong persuasion or belief; the state of being convinced." Conviction is not based on stimulus, rebellion, or going with the flow. It requires thorough exploration of a matter, concentrated thought, and committed practice. Living by conviction means living in accordance with what I believe to be true — according to what I've been convinced is true.

I took my first step into a life of conviction when I first put my faith in Christ. Convinced that I couldn't save myself, that I needed to be reconciled to God, and that Jesus alone could save me, I deliberately placed my trust in Him.

But conviction, I'm coming to realize, shouldn't stop there. It ought to permeate my life as I seek to live in God's reality. In Romans 14, Paul speaks of Christians who were divided over issues of diet and date-keeping. He defends their right to hold differing beliefs, but doesn't defend slack thinking: "Let each man," he says, "be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5).

That Scripture shook me one day as I read it — it showed me how many things I had let slide, not bothering to examine them or seek out the truth. In the core issues of life — in morals, personal standards, lifestyle choices, spirituality, family, faith — I should seek to live deliberately. Rather than living as a habitual conformer or rebel, I should do things because they line up with what I believe; I should believe because I have sought out the issues, wrestled with the questions and been convinced of the truth.

As I spend time in the four Gospels, I see how radically Jesus lived by conviction. A default life could never have led to the cross; a reactionary life could never have saved others. Jesus lived first with the conviction of His own identity, choosing to lay aside social mores and expectations for the sake of following God's path. His moral standards were absolute, neither in conformance to the culture nor in reaction to it. Jesus' convictions were so strong that He could not be swayed, baited, or tricked, no matter how hard His enemies tried. To His followers, He promised many things — but chief among them is the understanding needed to walk a well-lit path. "I am the light of the world," he said in John 8:13. "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

To live by conviction requires several things of me.

First, it requires a recognition of authority. My personal preferences and opinions are not convictions. To live by conviction requires that I recognize objective truth as God defines it. If I want to live by conviction, I must regularly seek out the ultimate authority on all of life's issues — I must learn Scripture and apply it soundly to my life. If I wish to be fully persuaded in anything, I must put time and effort into studying the Bible.

Second, a life of conviction requires a commitment to thought. As Gary Thomas wrote in "Ignorant Christians," "The Christian church has thrived for more than 2,000 years because it has largely out-thought its opponents." Christians should be people who think. Believing that all truth is God's truth, I should have the freedom and curiosity to ask questions, of God and of life, tracking down answers wherever I can. As one who is committed first to God's reality, I should question my culture, my education and most especially my own assumptions.

And, I remind myself as I begin to be carried away by the grandness of it all, I should ask questions not out of rebellion, pride or love of debate, but out of a sincere desire for truth — especially when it challenges me.

Finally, conviction is not conviction until I live it. I am fully capable of forming strong thoughts on all sorts of matters, even expressing them freely — all the while stopping short of putting my "conviction" into action. Ultimately, that's not conviction; it's just talk. Faith without works is dead, as James reminds us; what we do not live, we do not really believe.

Bringing my convictions into the realm of action also provides me with a good litmus test: If I find that my convictions cannot be practiced, I may need to reexamine my thinking. God's truth corresponds to reality — if my convictions do not, they may not correspond to God's truth!

Living by conviction, I find, is hard. It bruises my pride, challenges my brain, requires work. It's an ongoing process of reexamination and deliberation that stands in opposition to the ways I used to live. But ultimately, I know that true conviction will infuse my life with power and purpose.

When I'm committed to seeking out truth and living it, to being fully persuaded in my own mind on all matters of life and conduct, I'll find myself living life in a way I could not when I was content to be pushed or carried. By cultivating conviction, I will discover what matters and what doesn't, will begin to live out my faith, will find the heart of God in many areas I didn't think to look before. I'll sharpen my mind and my spirit. I'll become a woman of God amidst men and women of God, adult in my thinking, no longer a child, tossed to and fro by every sleight of men and wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14).

In a time when many around me are willing to forgo thought and simply feel their way through life, I know I've been called to follow the light of the world — to find the light of life — and to live a life of conviction, fully persuaded in my own mind of all that God has called me to do.

the title is true...

2009-01-13T14:52:00.003-05:00

The title is true (Most Things Break)...

There is a time for everything under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 3)

This is the time where I prepare and get ready to say a fond farewell to the good ol' blog. I know it hasn't happened yet, but the days are numbered.

see it in color...

2008-11-21T16:41:00.002-05:00

When Christoph Römhild, a Lutheran pastor in Hamburg, Germany, sent Carnegie Mellon Ph.D. student Chris Harrison a list of 63,779 cross-references between the Bible's 1,189 chapters, the two became enthralled with elegantly showing the interconnected nature of Scripture. Each bar along the horizontal axis represents a chapter, with the length determined by the number of verses. (Books alternate in color between white and light gray.) Colors represent the distance between references. Graphic by Chris Harrison, Carnegie Mellon University

(from Christianity Today magazine)

Pure talent...

2008-11-03T20:38:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you come across amazing sounds that totally resonate with you. Here's a smooth sound that I just can't seem to stop listening to. The song is called "Rylynn" from the 'Art of Motion' CD by Andy Mckee, to put it simply: this guy is good. Enjoy...

It's Awesome to ARC...

2008-10-16T22:18:00.003-04:00

This tool is a phenomenal help to having a deeper bible study. Learn more here.When you Arc scripture you are forced to slow down, think deep. Soak it up!

Word Up!

2008-09-30T16:08:00.003-04:00

When I look at the picture my mind is immediately flooded with powerful thoughts. My entire outlook on words has changed since this conference. The Power of Words and the Wonder of God was eye-opening and Christ exalting weekend. Never before have I walked away from a conference and had so many deep thoughts to chew on... I could probably sit down and copy my notes from each of the speakers and post them here on the blog. However, it might be a lil' smoother if you just clicked on the conference video and watched the speakers yourself.

Soli Deo Gloria.
For more complete insights and thoughts (from a pastor) into the Desiring God Nat'l Conference it would be smart to go to Jonathon's blog.

Listening....

2008-09-06T02:00:00.002-04:00

this is a solid list of the 10 reasons why we should listen fully to questions before trying to answer them... (from a Piper article)

Proverbs 18:13

"If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame."

It is arrogant to answer before you hear. Humility does not presume that it knows precisely what a person is asking until the questioner has finished asking the question. How many times have I jumped to a wrong conclusion by starting to formulate my answer before I heard the whole question! Often it is the last word in the question that turns the whole thing around and makes you realize that they are not asking what you thought they were.
It is rude to answer a half-asked question. “Rude” is a useful word for Christians. It means “ill-mannered, discourteous.” The New Testament word for it is aschëmonei. It is used in 1 Corinthians 13:5 where modern versions translate it, “Love is not rude,” but the old King James Version has “Love doth not behave itself unseemly.” This means that love not only follows absolute moral standards, but also takes cultural mores and habits and customs into account. What is polite? What is courteous? What are good manners? What is proper? What is good taste? What is suitable? Love is not indifferent to these. It uses them to express its humble desire for people’s good. One such politeness is listening well to a question before you answer.
Not answering a question before you hear it all honors and respects the person asking the question. It treats the person as though their words really matter. It is belittling to another to presume to be able to finish their question before they do.
Careful listening to a question often reveals that the question has several layers and is really more than one question. Several questions are all mixed into one. When you see this, you can break the question down into parts and answer them one at a time. You will not see such subtleties if you are hasty with your answer and not careful in your listening.
A question sometimes reveals assumptions that you do not share. If you try to answer the question on the basis of your assumptions without understanding the questioner’s assumptions, you will probably speak right past him. If you listen carefully and let the person finish, you may discern what he is assuming that you do not. Then you can probe these assumptions before you answer. Often, when dealing at this level, the question answers itself. It was really about these deeper differences.
Questions usually have attitudes as well as content. The attitude sometimes tells you as much as the content about what is really being asked. In fact, the attitude may tell you that the words being used in this question are not all what the issue is. When that is discerned, we should not make light of the words, but seriously ask questions to see if the attitude and the words are really asking the same question. If not, which is the one the questioner really wants answered?
Questions have context that you need to know. So many thoughts and circumstances and feelings may be feeding into this question that we don’t know about or understand. Careful listening may help you pick up those things. It may be that there is just a small clue that some crucial circumstance is behind the question. If you catch the clue, because you are listening carefully, you may be able to draw that out and be able to answer the question so much more helpfully.
Questions are made up of words. Words have meanings that are formed by a person’s experience and education. These words may not carry the same meaning for both you and the questioner. If you want to answer what they are really asking, you must listen very carefully. When the possibility exists that their question is rooted in a different understanding of a word, we will be wise to talk about the meaning of our words before we talk about the answer to the question. I find that talking about the definitions of words in questions usually produces the answer to the questions.
Proverbs 18:13 says it is our “folly” to answer before we hear. That is, it will make us a fool. One reason for this is that almost all premature answers are based on thinking we know all we need to know. But that is “foolish.” Our attitude should be: What can I learn from this question? The fool thinks he knows all he needs to know.
And finally Proverbs 18:13 says that it is our “shame” to answer before we hear. What if you are asked publicly, “My wife and I have had serious problems and we were wondering . . .” and you cut the questioner off by giving your answer about the value of counseling and what counselors might be helpful. But then they say, “Well, actually, what I was going to say was, “My wife and I have had serious problems and we were wondering, now that our counseling is over and things are better than ever, how you would suggest that we celebrate?” Then you will be shamed for not listening.

college football is here...

2008-08-30T16:05:00.005-04:00

The college football season is now in full swing, YES!!!

Hands-down, this is the start of the best time of the year. (or maybe it should be phrased hands-up) I don't want to discredit college basketball (that's my second sports love) - but, I think NCAA football has a slight edge because there are fewer games. With fewer games - the players pour more passion into every game. {the only thing that comes close to college football is March Madness, however, this is just one portion of the basketball season and I'm exclusively talking about collegiate sports during their reg. seasons} . . .

After watching UK football have a 'magical' season this past year - I can't help but have a heightened level of excitement for this year too. Moreover, I'm absolutely pumped to be watching one particular player take the field this year. This player was born exactly one month before I was in 1987. He is a solid believer and quite the baller both on an off the football field. I've grown to admire this guy more and more as I've researched and listened to his testimony. He puts Christ 1st and everything else 2nd. Oh, and I almost forgot: He won the Heisman trophy last season. Who is he: Tim Tebow. If you don't already know about this stud athlete + ambassador for the Lord, I suggest that you do a few Google searches on him... Even if you dislike the Florida gators - you still gotta love this guy - he's the ideal role model for any kid playin' sports right now. And he's not just cool because he's a genuine Christian - he's also cool because he's literally the most rock solid quarterback in the nation. Who's better?

While I'm not a huge Gator fan (although I'll cheer for any SEC team when they play out of conference) I do admire and respect the life of Tim Tebow. He points you to Christ by his lifestyle - and lives out Romans 1:16. --May we all find ourselves using our spheres of influence for the Kingdom...

give this a listen...

2008-08-24T11:58:00.004-04:00

Brandon Heath Lyrics - Give Me Your Eyes

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
To ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work
He’s buying time
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

I’ve been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone

I love this song from Brandon Heath. I love it when the music you listen to just rocks your life sometimes. I love thinking about honest/real lyrics.

Go give this song a listen - it's solid.

- - - check it out.

cheers!

2008-07-26T22:31:00.002-04:00

Here's a toast to all you faithful readers out there....

Despite the rumors of a failing economy, $4 dollar gas, and many bloggers callin' it quits.
----> You are still here. ! no excuses.
congrats

May the good times roll...

Big League Chew...

2008-07-24T00:13:00.004-04:00

I pulled into a lil' run-down gas station in Iowa today...
The ol' shabby gas station looked like something out of an old western movie.
I was feelin' bold - so after I filled up my explorer - I walked inside.
I was determined to see what kind of snacks they were packin'.

The result?

I purchased some of the most flavorful gum known to mankind.

I smiled.
I chewed.
I went back to work.

(it had been quite a while since I'd thrown in a pinch of this stuff
I guess I forgot what I was missin'...)

learn more...

a few words...

2008-06-15T00:52:00.002-04:00

- I wanted to write a lil' story of my adventures in Iowa thus far... By now you probably already know about the intense storms that have rocked the Midwest. Things have been crazy out here. There are lots of stories to tell - but for time-sake I'll just give a word bank (below) that includes the main words that I would use if I were to tell some of the world's greatest stories from this summer.
Key words for the summer are:

books, books!, books!!, cd's, moms, smiles, peanut butter, corn, soy beans, dusty roads, wild goats, hogs, cows, horses, miniature horses, turtles, frogs, dogs, cats, kids, storms, lakes, wind, more wind, gnats, thunder, lightning, flat land, sunsets, rivers, cool clouds, bananas, gatorade, patience, character, growth, integrity, goals, teachable, hard work, prayer, scripture, bbq chips, oreo cookies, christian rap, friendly dad's, angry dad's, monotone dad's (like me), paperwork, laughter, friends, challenges, school pride, police cars, No!, Yes!, Maybe!, letters, e-mails, podcasts, laundry, country maps, city maps, farm hats,

... that's just a taste...

Words are great - - - but God's words are best. Knowing this I would much rather use words after this event in September. Click Here!

unitl next time.
Christ up,
Satan down...

-t

good bye blog... well, almost.

2008-04-30T16:24:00.003-04:00

As last year's summer can attest, I'll be taking a sabbatical from the blogsphere for a few weeks. When I say a few weeks - really I mean about 12 weeks. Or, for those of you who like smaller numbers think 3 months rather than 12 weeks. However, this summer may be a lil' different than the last; I will actually have my computer with me this year. So, before you completely abandon the blog - - - just know that there is the possibility of an occasional super-surprising post arising over the next three months. (Besides, the great blogging legend himself: Wes Cooper occasionally surprises us with a post. Just think of me as following his footsteps for May, June & July this year.) Once August gets here > expect things to be back to normal...

Just know that this post hurts me deeply. But I have to do it. And besides, it may be refreshing to take a brief break from the blog world...

Where I was last summer: Reedsville & Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Where I'll be this summer: Iowa, USA
What I'll be doing: Selling Books
What company I work for: The Southwestern Company
Who'll be doing it with me(?): friends + hundreds of college kids
Why I'll be doing it: to glorify God

good bye, well sorta...

little did you know...

2008-04-25T17:22:00.005-04:00

We are now 3 days away from finals week at UK.
This means that I need to get my movie line-up ready for the week!

Most of you may not know this - but I have a tradition of watching a movie every night of finals week. It's kind of a small tradition... After all, I've only had 3 total weeks of finals in my college career. (at first I didn't make a big deal about it - - even my freshman year roommate {Bryce} may have not even known about my secret finals-movie-week indulgence.) Nevertheless, I love being able to 'de-stress' and take my mind of the books for a lil' bit.

There really is only 1.5 rules for the tradition: Rule #1 Watch one movie for at least every day that you have a final. There is no specific genre. *Nor does it matter if you've already seen the movie. Rule #*.5 at least two of the movies during the week must be one's that you've never seen. Whether you watch it in the morning, middle of the day, afternoon, or night it doesn't matter. Just do it. (hopefully that wasn't confusing)... I love this tradition and I'm finally confident enough to share it with you! >>I had to test the tradition (for 3 semesters) to check and see if this tradition would have a negative influence on finals my performance before I would recommend it to the public. {it seemingly does not, although further testing is in place.}

Here's this semester's line-up:

Monday - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Tuesday- Pursuit of Happyness
Wednesday- (?) not sure yet
Thurdsay- (?) not sure yet
Friday- Blacksheep and/or Tommy Boy

*I've already watched Into the Wild (excellent movie) last night and Braveheart (just as excellent) will be tonight -- just gettin' things rolling. You have to build up momentum heading into this sorta thing...

any suggestions for Wednesday and Thursday?

recent snacking...

2008-04-24T11:54:00.005-04:00

I think it's no surprise (by the picture on the left) in regards to what snack I'm about to mention....

Anyway, I can't help but mention my on-&-off love affair with David's sunflower seeds. For some reason my intense desire to eat them fades during the winter months. However, during spring, summer, and fall > the craving for these lil' seeds comes back. But I'm not sure why I like them so much... (?) Maybe the start of baseball season ignites my appetite for 'em. Maybe it's because I get the chance to spit when I eat them. Maybe it's from the fun workout that my teeth and tongue get from taking the lil' seed out of the shell. Maybe it's because this snack is rich in fiber. Or maybe it's just a combination of all these reasons. (that is more likely).

Well, nothing profound here - - - just wanted to shed some light on my recent snacking habits. I feel that I should always be real with my readers and give glimpses into my everyday life; even snacking habits.

Mmmm. Eat. Spit. Be Happy. or to make this slogan from David's sunflower seeds have a spiritual twist, you could phrase it: Eat (the Word). Spit (the Truth). Be Happy (in tha Lord). Just keep livin' out 1 Corinthians 10:31 and it's all good.

So, what's your recent snack of choice?

semester 'bout done...

2008-04-21T22:34:00.002-04:00

When a college semester comes to a close, more than just the classes fade out. Aside from 10-page papers, multiple choice tests, profs, and lab-reports - -students are also saying goodbye to things like UK parking, W.T. Young library, K-Lair, skipping class (jk), residence halls, etc... While these may seem trivial, there is one thing I'll miss way more than all the others: the Ingite Old Testament 1 Fuel Group!

This bible study (fuel group) has been so refreshing. My eyes have been opened to God's character in ways I never imagined. I'm not seeking to trivialize or diminish the impact of the New Testament in any way - - - but I do want to stress that the Old Testament has been absolutely rockin' my world. Mmmmmm it is good.

Moving through 13 weeks of study (Genesis to Esther) has completely shattered my once shallow view of God. We have a God who doesn't just say that He's faithful, patient, longsuffering, holy, righteous, merciful, creative, just, sovereign, (although He does say these things) but He does more than say it --> He shows it through action! The Old Testament shows it! Solid, through and through...

Rather than write for days (even though I really want to) telling of the O.T. impact on my walk with God - - - I think it suffice to just end this post with one story, and one overall book of the O.T. that I was most surprised to learn from:

(*let it be known that to narrow this down to one favorite story and one most 'surprising book' is extremely tough, but I gotta at least try and pick one...)

Favorite Story: "The 12 Spies" (Caleb & Joshua)
This story captivated me the most of all the O.T. historical narratives. I loved seeing the faithfulness of Caleb & Joshua in the midst of the other spies who had abandoned their trust in God. Moreover, I love seeing how God rewards their faithfulness.

Most surprising book (to learn from): Esther
I used to think that Esther was just a beauty pageant with a story of a courageous woman; essentially truth's only relevant to women. (sad but true) However, after taking a good look - this books is amazing at magnifying the sovereignty of God! Despite name of 'God' not being mentioned anywhere in the book - I was totally surprised to learn so much from this great O.T. story.

Best of all > In every O.T. book we studied this semester - we looked at how everything points to Christ (redemptive-history)! Maybe now you've started to get a glimpse of why it will be so tough to bring an end to this semester...

***Leave a comment: tell your fav O.T. story (be brief), why, and/or one book in the Old Testament that you didn't expect to learn much from > but then were totally surprised!

gotta get that Crazy Love...

2008-04-18T17:13:00.003-04:00

Francis Chan's new book- Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God will be out soon. (May 1,2008)

Francis Chan is an amazing communicator - so 'down to earth' and real every time he speaks, always pointing to Christ. He pours out an intense love for God in every sermon. (If Chan's book is like his preaching, I know it will be amazing.)

Ok, maybe you aren't the biggest Francis Chan fan in the world, that's fine. But just know that if I were in a room with John Piper, John MacArthur, Francis Chan, Billy Graham, and Joel Osteen --> Chan would be the first of those 4 real pastors (and yes, I mean 4 not 5) that I'd wanna talk to. Don't get it twisted : I love MacArthur and Piper and Graham - but there's just something about Chan that resonates with me each time I hear him speak...

Oops, this wasn't supposed to turn into a 'Taylor loves Chan' post... I just want to simply say go get the book Crazy Love! Also, for more info on Francis himself - go to his website.

a fresh cut...

2008-04-18T01:12:00.003-04:00

pre - cut

post - cut

between - cut

some sweet chivalry...

2008-04-16T11:17:00.004-04:00

This lil' guy knows how to treat the ladies.

1 Timothy 4:12

Watch and learn fellas.

it's World Blog Day (?) ...

2008-04-15T13:07:00.003-04:00

I think I'm supposed to make a post today b/c it's World Blog Day....

but I'm not totally sure what that means to you (the readers).

For more info on 'world blog day' --> check out Adam Baird's blog.

so, in order to spice up this post a lil' bit - - - please enjoy the picture below.

wonderful wedding... (in photo)

2008-04-07T11:40:00.019-04:00

The 'Ross Wedding' in Louisville this weekend was excellent. The focus was on Jesus Christ; how marriage should constantly be a picture of how Christ loves the church. This wedding was certainly one of the best I've ever witnessed! Why? --> Because the ceremony was all about God's glory and the specific roles he created men & women to fill within marriage. Yes, very solid indeed... *side note* The Reception was one-of-a-kind too! Everyone who attended enjoyed delicious coffee and sweet morsels of goodness. Moreover, we all had a chance to select a coffee mug of our choice (the mugs were crazy, from random places and with random sayings written on them) and we were allowed to keep them! My mug was apparently a 'Merry Christmas Dad' mug . oh- good times, what a wonderful wedding...

Making Time- no excuses...

2008-04-04T11:18:00.002-04:00

Do you ever have those days where you stop and think about reading your bible (but thinking about it is only as far as your effort gets), yet you just move on to something else? Maybe that happened to you this morning, maybe now (which could be one reason why you're online), or maybe it will happen to you tonight just before you go to bed. Either way, I think it happens to us a whole lot more than anyone would like to openly confess.

In the past few days this pattern of living has occurred more frequently than I'd be willing to admit. But I don't want to take it lightly, acting as if it's just a phase. There's too much danger that can happen when significant time has passed with a Christian not staying solid in God's word. Maurice Roberts in 'The Thought of God' hits the nail on the head when he says, "The believer is in spiritual danger if he allows himself to go for any length of time without tasting the love of Christ...When Christ ceases to fill the heart with satisfaction, our souls will go in silent search of other lovers."

Moreover, C. J. Mahaney is rock solid by reminding us the essential reason we look to the Bible:
"When we look inward we live by the subjective, the temporal, the ever-changing, the unreliable, the likely-to-be-false. When we look outward, to the gospel, we live by the objective, the never changing, that which is perfectly reliable and always completely true."
No matter how you slice it - jumping in the word is crucial. If you 'feel like it' or not is merely an excuse. I was reading Mark 1:35 yesterday and was so convicted for how I've lived in the past few days. That verse talks about Jesus rising early in the morning while it was still dark... > I doubt Christ had 'happy feelings' of gettin' up that early, but He did. And Christ's example of having discipline should be followed by all believers. (that doesn't necessarily mean you will wake up before sunrise every morning - - - but it does mean that you will have discipline.)

I'm not really writing to bash emotion or feelings. They are wonderful - a gift of God. But I do want to keep them in proper balance; not heavily minimizing them, nor overplaying them. I'm simply getting to the fact that if we are led only by emotion, then we will never follow hard after Christ. We will just do what we want to do, when we want to do it. There are numerous books and thoughts on this subject much more in depth than this lil' blog post... Seek them out, and may you look to Jesus as the true example. - - - grow in the Lord.

gettin' it off my chest...

2008-04-03T16:31:00.005-04:00

I've done something nobody would readily detect... I'm not too proud of what I've done either - but unless I tell you, here, now, in this blog post - you may never know about it...

here's the scoop:

Quick stat: 6 of my 7 most recent blog posts have included pictures... (Not that anyone's counting except me.) . . . ok, Here's why my conscience feels a lil' shaded: I fear that in some weird way I'm using the excuse of relying on a 'good photo' as a crutch in my posts. Allow me to explain: Writing a post is sometimes difficult; every blogger knows that. Especially when you try and capture your audience with just words. I mean what can you actually say that would be meaningful enough for someone to log onto their computer, take time out of their valuable, busy, stressful, 100mph-day to sit down and enjoy reading? Do you try and make people laugh a lot? Do you bring them to tears? Do you just give news feeds of political happenings? Do you tell about the latest book you've read? Do you tell about the weather? Do you do try and share the gospel in every post? Do you try and say something profound? Do you complain about something? Do you just not write anything - and use a picture instead? Or do you just type random thoughts (like this post) and string them together in hopes that readers will come back again and read your next post in a few days? What do you do?

Yes, a blog is usually simple - but can also sometimes get quite complicated. However, the good outweighs the bad (at least for me). A blog can be beneficial for a guy > Undoubtedly for a guy like me, who sounds much better in the written form than in person. I like written words - my low mumbling monotone-voice just sounds so much better in a blog post than in person. > ok, ok , let me jump off this tangent and get back to the point of the post: So, with regards to photos in my posts --- my point -- is that often I start to lean on the lazy side by thinking, "Just put a photo up, that will be enough." Then I casually make a few clicks, and voila! A picture is put up, a post is born. (Hooray, I put no effort into the post, but I led people to believe that I carefully worked hard to be creative!) Well, I can't keep laying my head down at night knowing that I'm doing such a disservice to the blogsphere. But before things get to far, know this: I am not saying that pictures in blogs are bad. I cannot make a sweeping statement like that. Yet, I do wish to say that sometimes (mostly just recently) a blogger (I) can 'hide' behind photos knowing that if he posts enough of them, then he will not have to write. Above all, I just feel kinda lazy merely tossin' up some quick pics, then sittin back. There's no work in that. Unless of course you go to great lengths to find the perfect photo (But that's another story). Ok, now that I'm in the 39th sentence of this post - just realize that the sole purpose of this rambling is just to clear my conscience about postin' so many photos lately. . . I mean, who am I kidding? I love pictures, and besides, selecting a solid picture for a post in not a bad thing - in fact the best Christian blogger out there uses them in just about every post. And when chosen carefully - the visual, picture, video, whatever - adds enormous quality to the post...

Now that that's off my chest - maybe I'll get back to 'normal' posting and use photos and ramble less.
Thank you for your patience (and reading down this far) while I worked out this little tizzy of random thoughts in my brain.

Mmmm... Buttery Hot!

2008-03-31T12:15:00.018-04:00

Things were solid down south... Charlotte was sweet, and the beats were bangin'. And I can't help but mention Dave Blake, he came through in the clutch - we stayed at his house in Spartanburg, SC before coming home Sunday. Thanks go to: Sho Baraka, Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Dave Blake, and Our Lord... > what a weekend.

To say that the trip was great would be an understatement.
Pictures are sometimes better than words:

get hype...

2008-03-28T13:49:00.004-04:00

Big things are gonna happen this Saturday.

The picture above is a clue.

If you need to know more, click here.

Jeremy Hobbs, Evan, and I will be leaving 'the 859' early this SAT morning. We are travelin' down to Charlotte, NC. And yes, when we get back - YOU WILL SEE PICTURES. And Yes, you will wish that you were there...

more NASCAR fun... (?)

2008-03-25T19:14:00.004-04:00

I never thought I'd be using 'more NASCAR fun' as the title of a blog post, but I guess there's a first time for everything...

-Anyway, one thing I learned at the track on Saturday is that NASCAR is all about these 4 crucial things: Driver's Name, Driver's #, Car model, & Car Sponsor. > This determines EVERYTHING! (if your a crazy fan: this determines a lot of things: your tattoo's, your favorite type of beer, your favorite number, your favorite colors, your child's name, your enemies name, etc... ) So, realizing the importance of these little details - I have carefully chosen my own NASCAR identity if I were ever to be a driver. (and I asked John Wiley for his specifics too)...

For me:

Name- Taylor Wehrle
Number- #16
Model- Ford
Sponsor- Old Spice Deodorant

For Wiley:

Name- John Wiley
Number- #24
Model- Nissan
Sponsor- Dean's Chocolate Milk

***leave a comment: let us know what your NASCAR info would be***

the right ingredients...

2008-03-24T21:59:00.015-04:00

What ingredients do you need - to have a good time?

What if these were your ingredients:

cars
a 1.3 mile track
mullets
clothes that don't match
Vienna sausages
skoal
loud engines
a country accent

Well, if you mix all these together (and many more) you get a special creation that is commonly known to the public as NASCAR. But this actually turns out to be an interesting mix; And lil' did I know that a NASCAR race woud be a good time w/ lots and lots of laughs...

While my first NASCAR experience did NOT include skoal or Vienna sausages, I still had a good time this past Saturday - I went to the Pepsi 300 at the Nashville Super speedway. Myself, John Bailey, Larry Thompson, Chad Elliot, J. Canler, J. Woodyard, & J. Wiley all traveled down to Tennessee for this crazy race. There was lots of racin' and a sweet lil' Third Day concert right beside the track before the start of the race... No, it wasn't Daytona, Talladega, or even Charlotte or Bristol, but it was The Pepsi 300 & it was fun! - - - before you're mind starts to drift to far, know this: I'm NOT a NASCAR fan yet, but this past weekend allowed me to take a few steps in that direction... scary, I know - but you should give it a try....
oh ya!

We're all weird people...

2008-03-21T13:16:00.010-04:00

thoughts from the day:

Life is full of ONLY weird people.

There's no such thing as a normal person.

Catch people at the right time, right moment, and you'll see. We all say dumb things & act the way we shouldn't ...

Take a moment and think about all the people you know - friends, family, acquaintances . . .
If you do - you'll be sure to laugh.

no one gets excluded...
(although these pics only represent a tiny % of my friends...)

my Wildcats lost...

2008-03-20T18:25:00.004-04:00

I was gonna post something awesome,
but my wildcats just lost.
-
I've been a UK fan since birth
and I've always counted the cost.
-
There's no greater feelin' , cheerin' for that White & Blue,
but when the CATS go down,
O so Sad, so sad, it's true.
-
But hey, the next season is around the corner
and the tradition WILL continue,
Keep your head up: a Nat'l Championship is surely on the menu.

Spring Break Hunting Island pics...

2008-03-15T16:15:00.042-04:00

I guess being in college automatically means your Spring Break will be amazing. Well, this year - that theory was only confirmed again in South Carolina! Traveling to S.C. to spend time with a good friend (Dave Blake) and having fellowship & fun on Hunting Island was nothing but solid. These pictures don't reveal the true fun of the trip, but they are better then me writing a paragraph. Let these photos suffice:

The man in S.C. we came to see: the one, the only --> Dave Blake

playing some beach baseball & 'beach golf' (so we called it...)

fun in Spartanburg, S.C. - "night of the downtown signs & statues" :

putting up a beautiful tent by the beach:

Pictures below = places where we had delicious food:
(disclaimer: We did NOT go to the gay fish co.)

craziest beach sign ever:

Do You Tattoo? . . . who knew...(?)

2008-03-11T03:14:00.006-04:00

Do you know these fellas:
Nick Cooper & Ben Cooper, or Jeremy Hobbs ?

What do these men have in common?

Answer: They all have a fresh tattoo on their arm! They look good - ask to see 'em the next time you are around these guys. The Cooper brothers have the word "Brothers" written in Greek (very nice), along with other a few other tatts...While Hobbs is now sportin' a sweet "To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain" tattoo... (I know I could have mentioned many others with a tattoo, but these are the most recent of my friends to get one...)

Getting a tattoo is a big step, a permanent step. Care and consideration is crucial in choosing what mark will be on your body for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! Wow, that is a scary thought - maybe that is why I'm so hesitant to get one. However, I must give a shout out to these guys, it takes guts to get one, and even more discipline to even pick out what you want... I tried to pause and think about what I would have for a tattoo...

after some thought, It could look something like this:

of course it would be in all black (not half gray, half black) and it would be slightly different than the Timberland symbol. Although not too different. Moreover, I would probably put the word "Psalm 1" in Hebrew letters. Maybe even have it written within the art - between the bottom of the tree and the two lil' rivers... ha just a thought...

Psalm 1 has meant so much to me in life. Words in a post like this are too few & would only barely express my love for this psalm. Indeed, if I ever get a tattoo - it would probably be following that theme of scripture...

what would you have as a tattoo?

motivational poster...

2008-03-09T15:14:00.001-04:00

quiet study...

2008-03-07T01:12:00.006-05:00

Having the chance to study in one of the nation's largest collegiate libraries is a joy & privilege. Other times it can just be downright hilarious. No, I'm not talking about the students rappelling from a rope of off the 5th floor core, nor am I talking about having CD players hidden strategically in the library blastin' out tunes; although both are funny and both have actually happened in W.T. before. However, this time my laughs came with no one else around. I snapped this quick photo (above) while in the W.T. Young library yesterday. Did you notice the simple command on the white card in front of me? It says, "Quiet Study - Be Courteous, Be Quiet." I laughed after reading it... -b/c I was the only guy in the library! Whose gonna make noise besides me? Who's gonna be offended if I make noise when I'm the only one there? What kinda punk does this lil' white sign think he is? So, what did I do? I showed that lil' white sign who's boss... - - - I did what any person (or kid) would do if he finds himself in a huge room all alone; I shouted a hearty "whoot! whoot!"
Then I waited to see if there would be an echo. There was. I Smiled. Then went back to readin'.

I love the library...

it all reminded me of that age ol' riddle:

If a tree falls in the forest,
and no one is around to hear it - does it make a sound?

If a kid yells in a library,
and no one is around to hear it - does it matter?

wedding Shout-Out....

2008-03-04T18:51:00.004-05:00

... Truly, this is the 'Year of the Wedding'. If I include the month of December (2007) - A total of 10 'friends' I know will all be married in a few months! Oh ya! I'm pumped, and also perplexed: never in my life have so many of my friends moved towards marriage in such a short time... I guess that's just how things go.

A shout-out must go to these grooms and their brides:

John Ross & Brooke !
Jason Lamb & Laura !
Andy Henard & Kate !
Chandler Snyder & Kelli !
Nick Cooper & Jennifer !

who will be next?

2 options...

2008-03-01T18:08:00.003-05:00

kill or be killed.

"For if you live according to the flesh
you will die,
but if by the Spirit
you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live."

-Romans 8:13

believe the REAL hype... (in Africa)

2008-03-01T10:20:00.007-05:00

The past couple of days have been kinda rough. Nope, not because of external things, no big tests due, no papers to be typed, no sickness, nothing like that. Difficulty has come through my mind and heart: the conviction of the Holy Spirit. You see, ever since the last post (about Vitamin-Water) I have also been looking at my Blood:Water Mission brochure from the Passion conference. Ya, I gave a lil' $cash$ to them at Passion, but then I just went on my way and here I am back in school; no big deal right? Well, I took a moment to pause and think about the kids who have a daily struggle to find clean water to drink. Then I looked around my dorm room; I especially looked at my fridge full of Vitamin-Water! I felt so convicted that my only problem consists of choosing which flavorful drink will give me the most 'extra' vitamins - basically something that kids in a 3rd World would never even dream of having! I could not take the conviction any longer (the Holy Spirit is too strong). Therefore, you are now looking at the manifestation of that conviction. Yes, a blog post. It may seem weak or to overly simple - but I wasn't about to log on my computer each day and look at my apathetic attitude to the needy...

Quick Rundown:
Essentially, Blood:Water Mission is an organization that is sort of like the financial 'well' (pun intended) that other organizations like Africare and LifeWater International use to accomplish kingdom work. With an ultimate purpose "Compelled by God's call... to empower communities in developing countries to gain safe water, adequate sanitation, effective hygiene, and a knowledge of Jesus' love..." A solid group with a solid purpose.

OK, I recognize that this may seem like just another post, just another needy mission organization asking for money, just another 'guilt-trip' to try and get you to care about the suffering world around you. However, I'm simply posting here today to live out some conviction that the Holy Spirit has placed on my life. So while I'm not asking you to travel out of the country and commit your life to working for Blood:Water Mission (although you could). - - - I am asking you this: What things does the Spirit convict you about now? How often to stop and think about the crazy immeasurable blessings we have living in this country? Do you believe that giving in truth faith ($ or anything) has ripples that go on into eternity?

How to Help? (1000 wells project)

*Make water your only beverage for just two weeks.

*Save the money you would usually spend on beverages and collect it in a special cup.

*After two weeks, send the money to Blood:Water Mission and it will be used to drill clean water wells where the need is great.

more info? -click this picture:

believe the hype...

2008-02-28T23:45:00.004-05:00

I'm sure all of you already know about Glaceau's Vitaminwater... There have been numerous ads on TV (especially the Super Bowl) for this new drink. Yes, there has been much hype about the drink; but I like it b/c it's all true. This stuff is amazing. I first sipped some of it when I was working last summer - since then Vitaminwater has been my prime beverage of choice. No longer do I reach for Gatorade or dare I say Ale-8-One when I stop at a gas station. Nope, others can't even phase the greatness of this new drink (not even Starbucks). Star...who ? Vitaminwater is truly something special. The makers claim that "one sip may result in a boycott of other beverages." Try it. Decide for yourself.

The website for Vitaminwater is excellent: Check it...

Power-c (dragonfruit)
Vitamin C + Taurine
More strength

Defense (raspberry-apple)
Vitamin C + Zinc
More immunity

Focus (kiwi-strawberry)
Vitamin A + Lutine
More clarity

Balance (cran-grapefruit)
Vitamin C + glucosamine
More flexibility

Endurance (peach-mango)
Vitamin E + ribose
More sustained energy

Essential (orange-orange)
Vitamin C + calcium
More morning nutrition

Vial-t (lemon tea)
Vitamin C + E
More vitality

Energy (tropical citrus)
Vitamin B + guarana
More immediate energy

B-relaxed (guava-jackfruit)
B vitamins + theanine
More relaxation

Rescue (green tea)
Vitamin C + egcg
More metabolism

Charge (lemon-lime)
B vitamins + electrolytes
More electrolytes

Multi-V (lemonade)
Vitamin A to Zinc
More key nutrients

Formula 50 (grape)
50% daily dose of vitamins
More fuel

Revive (fruit punch)
B vitamins + potassium
More recovery

XXX (acai-blueberry-pomegranate)
Triple antioxidants
More antioxidants

Passion D.C. (in photo)

2008-02-25T22:39:00.051-05:00

The trip to D.C. for PASSION was awesome. Rather than ramble on and talk about the trip, hopefully these photos will be suffice. Enjoy...

go get a "Rag Rug"...

2008-02-20T23:02:00.012-05:00

You may be wondering what these pictures are all about.... (Above), Your eyes are feasting on "rag rugs" as they are called. These little rugs are cheap, soft, and only cost $2.57 at Wal-Mart. All of these pictures are separate shots taken from the two rag rugs that lay on my dorm room floor. There's nothing magical about them, nothing holy, but I would suggest that you go out and get one!

Why?

Well, since we all know that reminders are a good thing - these lil' rugs can be an amazing reminder to get down on your knees and pray to the Father (Ephesians 6:18). No, these rugs will not suddenly make you a mighty prayer warrior - but with a daily reminder to pray, it could soon happen...
Moreover, I love these lil' rugs because the name RAG RUG is a reminder of Isaiah 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

And to take the symbolism a bit further: the many colors of the rug can be a reminder to pray for all the colors & people groups in the world. Or to even sound more spiritual - you could look at these colors and see them as representing the flags of every Nation in the world, ultimately created to display His glory & renown.

- All in all, If it can encourage your walk w/ Christ,

while only costing $2.57 - why not try it?

February at a glance...

2008-02-17T17:34:00.005-05:00

This is the calendar sitting on my desk in the dorm room. (Click on it to zoom in) Nice right. (?) Some would even say it's downright 'girlish' or cute. Buy hey, at least I'm organized. Ok, so what's the point of this post ? it's simple : : : one HUGE event still lingers for the month! Get hype for the 22nd - 24th .... Most of you already know what this is - if not check the calendar!

PASSION!

random side note:
I've had a test every week in February!
(there is one right after Passion, but the Ignite post card is covering it up...)

2nd random side note:
What other solid event is missing from this calendar?

15 hearts...

2008-02-15T00:12:00.007-05:00

Thanks & much love to these two girls - arranging a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner for the fellowship of 15 hearts (15 people)... Kristin & Stacey planned an excellent evening: Dinner at Friday's. Even better = it was dinner at Friday's on a Thursday! Strong, very strong ladies...

Some other quick pics:

a word on Posting Percentage %...

2008-02-13T13:19:00.005-05:00

3 posts in 3 days: brilliant...

Well, not quite - Quantity is good, but it cannot replace Quality.

I know that there are no set "rules" in blogging, but sometimes I get a sick feeling deep down inside when I abuse the 'quality status' of my own blog posts. What I mean by this is that when a blogger posts each consecutive day - regardless of how "good" the post is - the overall quality of the post diminishes because it is lost amongst the shuffle of numerous posts...(at least specifically for my blog) I deduce this fact from the notion that a solid post should (in theory) linger on a blog. {I realize that 'linger' is relative to the individual and could be a point of argument for some...) However, all I'm trying to say is that I have done YOU a disservice by posting so frequently (3 posts in 3 days). Moreover, since quality is a relative term, usually it is defined by YOU (the readers) and this often manifests itself in the from of comments. Comments, like posts, have a quantity & quality aspect to them; yet the playing field is slightly different.

Some of us post frequently: Justin Tapp. This man's posting percentage % goes is incredible and something I will probably never be able to do. While others have a more relaxed, consistent posting % style: men like John Wiley, Jeremy Hobbs, Dave Blake, Myself and even Justin Sok all post at fairly consistent pace. Then there are others like Adam Baird and Brandon Sok, who leave significant time between posts - but what they lack in timing - they make up for in quality. Then others like Smitty, Braswell, Wes and Jonathon have a unique postin' % that I'm not quite sure how to define yet. Nevertheless, we all have our tendencies....

In all these words, I simply want to say that 'Most Things Break' will inevitably one day break (pun intended) if this break-neck speed of posting is continued. I will try to refrain from posting consecutive days unless by the merit of special occasions - which I reserve the right to determine. Thank you for your patience in putting up with 3 posts in 3 days and having to wonder about the recent influx in my posting percentage. (it is only a phase, it won't last long). I hope to return to around a 4 - 5 day posting pace (my norm) in the next week or so...

*If this post made absolutely no sense at all to you - don't sweat it. I barely even know myself what I'm exactly trying to say....

Hoooraaay for blogs!

solid logic...

2008-02-12T17:20:00.000-05:00

So, what's a more concrete (non-sarcastic) response to atheism?

answer:

Romans 1:18-22

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools..."

yearn to learn...

2008-02-11T22:01:00.001-05:00

It feels good to learn! It feels extra good to learn truth! {Just as the kid pictured above.} Imagine for a moment that you could switch the math problem in his hands and replace it with a copy of God's Word. If you can imagine that - then you are getting a small glimpse of how I've been feeling over these last 3 weeks... I can't help but empathize with this lil' guy in the picture - I feel just like him when I learn truth from Scripture!

A major reason for my new level of joy and/or "hypeness" over the Word is due to our Old Testament 'Fuel Group' class for Ignite. Formerly in my life, I used to just look at the Old Testament as a collection of sweet sounding stories. I knew they were all true, but I didn't really make a personal connection to how they could apply to my own life. Moreover, I never even realized the magnificence of God's displayed character in the O.T. - - - Our Ignite bible study has been fresh and has given me new acuity in understanding God's sovereignty - we have been looking at Redemptive History in the O.T. - looking at the major themes within each book - then seeing how it all points to Christ.

here's a quick peek into some of the class content. (*major themes)

Genesis
1. God Reveals His Character:
-Eternal
-Creative
-Holy/Just
-Merciful/Gracious
-Sovereign
2. God Chooses a Particular People for His Glory.

Exodus
1. God Sovereignly Words to Save His Particular People for His Glory
study 3 parts: (sovereignly works - saves/redeems - all for His Glory)

Leviticus
1. Holy Worship
2. Holy Living

* with these major themes - the focus on Christ has been paramount.

I realize that this post does no proper justice in summing up the beauty & depth of these first three books in the Old Testament. Nevertheless, may you be encouraged to dive deep into scripture and increase your love for God with an understanding of Redemptive History. Don't go another day making the mistake that I once did - seeing the O.T. as just a nice collection of true stories - rather, see it as having power (like the New Testament) to change your life!

more than words...

2008-02-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

People today could care less about the level of their vocabulary. We are a people who care more about the smooth beats in our ears (iPod) and the flashing lights in front of our eyes (TV) than we care about actually using our brains. Therefore, it is no surprise that after a period of time -most of us grow up and find that we have let our minds go to waste. Hey, pull that iPod out of your ear, turn of the TV, take a second to stop, recognize the gift that you have! = Do you realize that your brain is a gift from the Lord... (?)
Our minds were created for development & growth, to learn new words, to build a vocabulary, to create sentences, to feast on God's Word, to be creative and to use it all as a means of praise. And Yes, I realize that our brains do much more than merely combine words - we react to things, we decide, we interpret, we evaluate, we learn, we navigate, to sum it up: we do amazing things with our mind as we go through life...
OK, I'm sure none of that information is new to you. My purpose in saying all that was simply to set up a lil' backdrop for the main focus of this post. Enough of the chatter, here is the spotlight of this post: The Visual Thesaurus (or VT for short).

At this point your probably wondering what the hec this thing is/ or does. Well, aside from being pretty self-explanatory - The Visual Thesaurus is about the most solid/useful computer program I've ever seen. I love it. The VT has been helping me replace my over-use of the word solid by showing me some other hearty adjectives that are similar. (Although I will never truly give up saying the word solid, it is a staple of my vocabulary and rightfully so...) But who care's about what I think, check out what others are saying...

Some quick reviews:

New York Times:
"Inventive. Imaginative. Ingenious. Fanciful."

Education World:
"A+"

Yahoo:
"A near-perfect combination of content and design."

HOW IT WORKS

Say you have a meaning in mind, like "happy." The VT helps you find related words, from "cheerful" to "euphoric." The best part is the VT works like your brain, not a paper-bound book. You'll want to explore just to see what might happen. You'll discover -- and learn -- naturally and intuitively. You'll find the right word, write more descriptively, free associate -- and gain a more precise understanding of the English language.

OK - I've hyped it up enough. Just go to The Visual Thesaurus website - see it for yourself. (the online version is only a trial, so you'll have to re-open the website to keep using it...)

almost here...

2008-02-05T18:58:00.001-05:00

It only comes once a year. Nope , I'm not talking about the Super Bowl, not Valentines Day, and certainly not Halloween...
I'm talking about the Give Me An Answer conference! Held at Southern Seminary each year in Louisville, KY this collegiate conference can be summed up with just one word: solid. This year's topic is Sprititual Warfare. The conference will be Feb 8th - 9th. No doubt - things will surely be intense. Get hype & get ready for battle - this ain't a game...

If you only had one word - how would you describe the Conference?

just a regular day.... (not anymore)

2008-02-03T17:41:00.000-05:00

When you sum up life here on Earth usually you include 4 basic things: sleeping, working, eating & playing. Although these topics sound overly simplistic to define the contents of a life - God created them for a reason. Specifically, in these 4 areas we have the ability to glorify our Creator in some amazing ways.

A few days ago I was surfin' tha net trying to find a solid mp3 podcast to quench my insatiable hunger for online sermons. Mission Accomplished. But, this time what I found was a lil' different type of sermon topic than what I was typically used to::: No, it wasn't another Francis Chan or John Piper (or even Ben Stuart) podcast - this time I went to the Sovereign Grace website and feasted on what at first seemed like 'ordinary stuff'. However, after listening these few (4) sermons on the so-called mundane & routine parts of life - I now go about my day with a fresh mindset on how I can best glorify God. Everything in life matters, I'm convinced that absolutely everything we do as humans can be used to give Him more glory. I really had my mind stretched by the sermon titled "A Biblical Understanding of Sleep". I never knew that God could actually be glorified in the way I go to sleep each night... Did you?
Here is where you can go to get the mp3 message (for free!).

I know that some of you probably think I'm crazy about glorifying God w/ a proper mindset towards sleep - but at least go check it out, you won't regret it.

all the Great One's have a blog...

2008-02-01T17:29:00.000-05:00

Let's just say that randomly your all-time favorite pastor/speaker decided to start a new blog. (if you don't have a favorite, then just pretend with me). Well, If that was true > then wouldn't you want to tell everyone you knew about it? ~yes.

But then again, I could just be joking... or, not.

ok, so, I guess whether I'm kidding or not - that's what this link (below) is for:
FRANCISCHANSBLOG.BLOGSPOT.COM

enjoy.

5 books....

2008-01-30T23:59:00.001-05:00

Outside of the Bible, the 5 books pictured above (in no particular order) have had the most significant impact in shaping my outlook/mindset on life. "Life is about the people you love, the books you read, & what you'll do because of them." (ok ya, so I made that quote up...) But anyway, all I'm tryin' to say is that readin' has become more and more of a joy in my life recently. I used to not enjoy reading very much, but over the past two years my book cravings have certainly increased. Maybe it's a sign that I'm getting older, maybe it's just the way I'm wired by God, or maybe it's just a passing phase (I hope not)...

These are the books that have resonated inside me the most > so, what about you?
(if you're a regular reader, narrow your comment down to just your -top 5-)

testing a theory.... or 'gray concrete'

2008-01-30T15:13:00.000-05:00

Webster defines a theory as:
-the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another
- abstract thought: speculation
- the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art
- a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action
- an ideal or hypothetical set of facts, principles, or circumstances —often used in the phrase in theory
- a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena
- a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation b: an unproved assumption

knowing these facts (the definition of a theory) then let's do some testing of our own and TEST JOHN WILEY's theory...

John Wiley says:
"that he (Taylor) can post about 'concrete being gray' and people will still comment on the post!"

For the content of this post, let it be known that:::

-most of the concrete
that I've seen in my life
has been gray.

humm.... I'm willing to test it.
so may the theory testing begin...

my childhood mentor...

2008-01-27T15:33:00.001-05:00

I think we all know who the stud in the picture on the left is: it's Doug! So why am I posting on Doug? Well, while the last post had a broad scope on some of the greatest shows on Nickelodeon - this post will be a bit more specific. The spotlight is on Doug, and for good reason... His self-titled show on Nickelodeon dominated my after-school TV watching as a kid. He was like a mentor to me (before I even knew what a mentor really was.) I always knew that there was somethin' special about this show, but I could never quite put my finger on it. It was just good, pure & simple. However, now that I'm older (and to some "wiser") I'm finally starting to recognize what I've learned from this show growing up. The simplicity of the lessons that Doug can teach you are very easy to see, refreshing, and can have a profound impact on your life. So here's to you Douglas Yancey Funnie (aka Doug) - you are in my fictional character hall-of-fame, for teaching me so much...

A few things I've learned from Doug:

See things Big, but keep things simple
Don't be afraid to show your true heart
It's good to write in a journal (but NOT a diary)
Have friends that are not always like you (i.e. skin color)
Talk to a girl if you have a crush on her
Hold your ground against bullies
It is OK to daydream
Have a pet dog
Enjoy the music you listen to & don't be afraid to dance
There is more to life than clothes (yet, Doug was always stylin')

thanks Doug, truly I am a better man because of your simplicity.

Nickelodeon, A time of greatness...

2008-01-23T11:20:00.001-05:00

With a lot of the big-name show writers on strike these days, I've been trying to think back to a time when TV shows were at their absolute best. So, my mind immediately went back to my childhood. This was a time of greatness, a time that reigned supreme, a time where Nickelodeon was king. I was proud to be one of the loyal subjects in that kingdom. O' those days... My fresh, young, inquisitive mind fed on shows like Salute Your Shorts, Global GUTS, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Doug, Double-Dare, All That, Are You Afraid of the Dark, The Secret World of Alex Mac, Clarissa Explains it all, The Wonder Years, Family Matters, Fresh Prince, Kenan & Kell, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, and there's more... What a feast!

Without a doubt, this was THE greatest time in the history of America for a kid to be growing up watching TV. Nickelodeon was life, and life was good.

This post is straight fact! - - - What else do you need. (?)

I dare someone to try and argue against this TV lineup. No, I double dare ya!

the Man behind the blog...

2008-01-22T01:06:00.001-05:00

How well do you know me? (Hopefully you can at least recognize that I'm in the above picture). But do You really know Me? You might frequent Most Things Break often, or this might just be your first time to the blog. Either way - this post should be beneficial for ya. It is aimed at letting you learn a lil' bit more about me: the Man behind the blog...

{answer these questions the best that you can - - - But don't get frustrated if you don't know the correct answer --- they (the answers) will be revealed in the comments section at the end of the post.}

#1 When is my birthday?
a) August 24th b) September 9th c) September 10th d) September 14th

#2 What is my favorite late-night snack food?
a) ham sandwich b) cousin Willie's popcorn c) M & M's d) Bagel-bites

#3 What is my favorite building on UK's campus?
a) W.T. Young Lib. b) Haggin Hall c) Memorial Hall d)none of these

#4 The vehicle I fantasized about getting while in high school?
a) Toyota 4Runner b)Jeep Wrangler c)Dodge 4x4 Truck d) Station Wagon

#5 The word/adjective that is used most in my vocabulary?
a) strong b)bogus c)solid d)tight

#6 What is my middle name?
a)Stan b)Stamm c)Damn d)none of these

#7 Before coming to UK - I liked what division 1 school's sports?
a)Georgia b)Florida c)Michigan d)always has been UK

#8 The nickname of my high school's sports fans?
a)creekdawgs b)rowdies c)crazy commodores d)none of the above

#9 How I feel about Facebook?
a)secretly love it b)absolutely hate it c)indifferent d)it's not for me

#10 The music genre I like the most?
a)country b)hip/hop + R&B c)alternative d)everything BUT punk rock

#11 My favorite bible verse(s)?
a)Psalm 1:1-3 b)James 1:22 c)Hebrews 11:6 d)Galatians 5:22-23

#12 The spiritual gift(s) God has given me? (to the best of my knowledge)
a)wisdom/discernment b)encouragement/hospitality c)preaching d)administration

#13 My favorite book in the Bible?
a)Ephesians b)Galatians c)Philippians d)James

#14 The main reason(s) I like to make blog posts?
a)just for laughs/fun b)You! (your comments) c)to record my thoughts d) A,B,C

> So, how'd you score ?

be Unashamed...

2008-01-17T14:34:00.000-05:00

Song: Young & Unashamed
Verse 1

Hey when they see ya boy, what's they first impression?
Probably not a teen redeemed from the worst transgressions
That's repented from the path of His first ancestors
Was cursed but since rebirth this person's dressed in
The glorious righteousness of Christ
They probably think I'm on the stage 'cause I like the mic
Or like to get hype, but really I'm laid back main
But sometimes could lose my mind if you say that name
(Who?) Jehovah Jireh, my soul's provider
Life without Him's a contradiction like bein' poor with Prada
I done wrote a lot of flows, in my soul's a fire
That shut up in my bones, ah my soul desire
Is for some slick guys to the know the Lord He died
But still the Son did rise like it was mornin' time
So if you think you fully satisfied wit a 'vette wit chrome
You better check yourself like playin' chess alone
I'm a stranger, is Earth really my residence? Nope
I'm a alien and I can't wait to rest at home
My dress ain't always fresh to def I ain't impressed wit clothes
But Christ, He's the key to life dog and death's the door
Since the moment I believed, my flesh was broke
Sin lost its control and death its hold
So maybe now you'll understand and get up in ya brain
Why ya boy so young and unashamed

I know that most of you out there have no clue who Trip Lee is; much less any of the other members of the 1-1-6 Clique (based on Romans 1:16). But the group is solid, the beats are tight, the lyrics are truth, and the glory is God's. They are undoubtedly the leaders of Christian Hip/Hop today. {They are expanding the reign of Crossmovement from the late 90's ...) Go check 'em out.
(Despite the hatin' by some, I'm not ashamed of my music...)

So, What are you 'unashamed' of?

"Hey look, Free T-Shirts!"

2008-01-16T15:05:00.000-05:00

I attend a large public University - which means that on random occasions I will walk across campus and see swarms of students hovering over a random table outside a classroom building. What are they doing? Duh, they are gettin' their free t-shirt! For freshmen - this may seem like good news, but we all know that usually the only way to get your free t-shirt is to fill out an extremely long questionnaire, or sign up for a new credit card, or sign up to join the military, or sign to vote democrat, etc. You get the idea...

Well, today was different. Today was how it should be. Today, felt good. ---Walking out of my PSY 312 Brain & Behavior class at 3pm I came across one of those free t-shirt tables. There was already a small swarm of students receiving their shirts when I walked up... However, this was not like the free t-shirt distributions that I was normally used to. No, this table had an aura about it that maintained the three C's : cool, calm and collected. In other words, there was just a strange peace within the people at the table - no one was overly hype or anxious. Things were just chill, it was nice.

Twenty seconds later,
I left that table with a free t-shirt & I left with a smile.

This is what the t-shirt said:
{except for the part on the image below that says 'Most Things Break' - (I had to draw this picture in paintbrush on my computer because I couldn't find any pictures of it online...)}
When I got back to my room I immediately jumped online and checked out this website -
B/c no way would I be wearing a t-shirt with a website across the front of it - if I didn't know what the website was all about...
So, I checked it out - and I was amazed.
If you want to see it too then go for it! ---> everywildcat.com

I was amazed was b/c
1. For the first time in my college life, I received a free t-shirt without the usual hassle.
2. The students passing out the shirts were living out the gospel - just as their website!

Take home message:
Stay in school! & Go for those free t-shirts b/c sometimes good things happen... (like today)

Rowdy for Regan...

2008-01-12T10:52:00.000-05:00

The guy to the left of these words is Brian Regan. You might not know who he is just yet, but you should, and you will (if you read this post). Regan is quickly becoming my favorite comedian. His stand up is solid, and best of all it is 100% clean. No cussing, no problem.

I came across Brian Regan while driving to Nashville with Adam Reynolds over the Christmas break. We popped in a CD of one of his stand up routines and the rest is history. Rolling down the interstate listening was fun but also dangerous. I began to laugh so hard that things became quite UN safe when my eyes filled with tears from laughter as I buckled over in laughter. This is ok, but not while you're in the driver's seat...

Long story short: Regan is good, real good. Here is a clip from YouTube as a little preview... (although his best material is on his DVD's and CD's the online clips are still good)

His tour is also becoming more and more popular, check BrianRegan.com to see if he will be in your area anytime soon.

"Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects."
-Arnold H. Glasgow

mindset of prayer...

2008-01-10T09:46:00.000-05:00

"Prayer is, therefore, not only the measure
of our hearts, revealing what we really desire;
it is also the indispensable remedy
for our hearts when we do not desire
God the way we ought."

- John Piper

Back in Action...

2008-01-07T17:24:00.000-05:00

This past holiday break was very productive & refreshing. However, yesterday I moved back on campus - so, in order to keep this streak of refreshing productivity constant - I will spend significant time at the following locations...

It's pretty simple...

Where I will sleep: (and continue my training in law enforcement)Where I will eat: (mostly)

Where I will study: (beautiful, the place where dreams of a 4.0 GPA become a reality!)

Where my thoughts about these places will be posted:

~ Most Things Break ~

Nashville, more like Cashville...

2008-01-02T14:40:00.000-05:00

Only those with true game can travel down to Nashville and bring it strong... Therefore it was no surprise to see both the Wehrle family and the Wildcats down in TN for the Music City bowl !

Florida State was weak on many levels for the game. Not only were they beat on the field, their fans were certainly shown up by the Kentucky fans. UK people were every, but I can't say the same for Florida State. For example: look (below) at this lonely FSU fan, he's the only one there to watch his team loose... How sad :-(

The game was intense - but UK brought it strong and fought hard for a Win in the Music City!!!!

MUSIC CITY BOWL CHAMPS x 2 !!!!

Overall, the trip to Cashville was a blast. --- After the game, thousands of UK fans dominated the city - eating and celebrating. What a night! (even the basketball team won earlier that day) Shu, sometimes it just feels great to be a wildcat fan. 'Nuf said...
The next morning the Wehrle family set their sights on the Opry Mills mall --> That thing is HUGE! After chillin' in the mall, we watched I Am Legend on the iMax theater inside... Then to cap it all off, driving back toLexington we are greeted with a beautiful snow covered Lexington!

on a side note:
I snagged a fantabulous pair of $30 pumas in the mall...

I figured if Tiger Woods (below) can get a sweet Nike contract for winning, then I should get a sweet pair of Puma shoes if the CATS win. It just made sense.

was the trip great (?) : Yes!

wisdom in psalm...

2007-12-30T00:08:00.000-05:00

1 "Blessed is the man who walks
not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers."

Psalm 1:1-3

sometimes it is best if a post is just straight scripture...

Random thoughts, or maybe Artwork... ?

2007-12-28T18:15:00.001-05:00

writing to resolve...

2007-12-25T20:08:00.000-05:00

I know with Christmas wrapping up (pun intended), our thoughts immediately focus towards the New Year.
No doubt some of you out there already have some noble New Year's Resolutions in mind....

Well, before you get too far - allow me to introduce the best list of Resolutions my eyes have ever seen:

the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.

His resolutions were not like the ones we so often hear today; to start exercising more or to change to a new diet, Nope, his list consisted of spiritual things - full of wisdom, zeal, serious sincerity, and focused on increasing his desire for the Lord, they are all saturated with biblical truth.

Edwards committed himself to read over his list of Resolutions at least once a week to keep them fresh in his mind. He started the list in his youth and he kept adding to them well into adulthood.

Some of my favorite Resolutions of Edwards' list include:

#1 Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

#6 Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

#25 Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

#56 Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

if you want to see more,
then check out this complete list of all 70 of his resolutions...

Don't diss Denim...

2007-12-23T00:45:00.000-05:00

The top 5 reasons on why I
enjoy going with the all-denim look -

Take note:

1. Denim looks great and is appropriate for any holiday. (e.g. Labor Day, Presidents Day, Christmas, the 4th of July, Birthdays, etc. - it's all good with denim.)
2. Denim lasts long, period.
3. It's American.
4. Having a solid all denim outfit means that you are 'down to earth' - a true gentleman.
5. And Lastly, but maybe most important: Sportin' the all-denim outfit is true style b/c that is what the CATS used in '96 to win the Nat'l title. (the best college basketball team in history...)

this is "the" classic...

2007-12-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

The book I'm pumped to be reading right now:
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

A pilgrimage is an arduous journey,
not a cross-continental flight.

This is not a devotional classic (it is an allegory). It is a dangerous tale: a call to the high stakes of every Christian's journey. Do not pick it up expecting quaint amusement - it is a story woven through with undeniable truth, great cost, and overwhelming joy.
One of the most widely read books of all time, this adventure reveals John Bunyan's intense grasp of the Scriptures. Penned while in prison for refusing to compromise the gospel. The Pilgrim's Progress is a guide for the journey from death to life. The times have changed, but the landmarks and adversaries are very much the same.

Paintin' like a pro... (or like a kid)

2007-12-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

Today I was wondering why almost every computer has a Paintbrush program. (?) It seems kinda primitive. If you have ever tried to use it - you know how tough it is to actually paint something you want. I think it is probably just one of those features that is only meant to be used when you are bored. Or maybe it is a trap for kids to keep them occupied for hours. Or - I guess it could just be one of those perks that you get without even realizing it is importance, kinda like free napkins at a restaurant. I dunno... Anyway, rather than spend another day wondering why I have it, I decided to just act like a kid again and paint on somethin' !

It all came together when I found one of my Cancun pictures with a paintbrush in my hand! Mere coincidence - I don't think so.
So, for lack of a better post: the above picture is the product of 15 minutes of pure paintbrush bliss. Enjoy the masterpiece. Better yet - go Paint your own!!!

I highly doubt that you've forgotten how to use this amazing program on your pc. But if you did just follow these steps:

1. click start
2. highlight your mouse on "all programs"
3. click "accessories"
4. look at the list, then click on "paint"
5. Make a masterpiece.
6. repeat step #1

wow, this post was really lame... oh well, it's winter break - my mind is on vacation...

The Ugly Sweater Party - (top studs)

2007-12-16T15:54:00.001-05:00

These guys were certainly bringin' it strong at the Ugly Sweater Party.... Enjoy
(Below in order) - Canler, Wehrle, & Wiley obviously set the tone for the evening:

these guys are lookin' good...

talk to me & you'll see...

2007-12-11T18:24:00.000-05:00

(I must give props to Jessica
Hagy for the idea of this drawing.)

Cryin' for the Cats... I don't think so.

2007-12-10T12:58:00.000-05:00

For the most part, if you live in Kentucky then you love college basketball. If you live in the heart of it all: Lexington, KY then you have to love college basketball. (if your one of the .05% that disagree then I would politely ask you to stop reading this post, for you will not understand.)

My intentions for this post are fairly straightforward - I have 2 thoughts/opinions I hope to dish out, then I want to offer some encouragement via video to all the Wildcat fans out there.

Thought/Opinion #1
There are way, way, way too many UK fans out there who are purely fair-weather fans. Ya, I said it! Of course I (just like all of you) realize that this season isn't quite what we want it to be. However, all of the whining and complaining is really not necessary. I'm not saying that we can't critique the team and intelligently express our concern to others - but the petty whining I have recently noticed is completely unacceptable. Please, do me a favor: the next time you watch a game with friends make sure that you throw up at least 2 or 3 positive thoughts about the team before each negative critique you give... After all, if you can't even find a few good things to talk about during the game - then consider yourself a fair-weather fan - who only supports the team strictly when we win.

Thought/Opinion #2
One thing I would like to see out of the CATS this year is a game played with heart. H-E-A-R-T from the first whistle to the last. It's simple, but it's what Kentucky is all about. But for some reason we're not showing very much of it right now. Regardless of talent or tradition - Having heart on the court is a personal choice that must be made by each player. It's not something that just happens, you have to want it. Until a few more of our players make that choice to play with passion, it will be a long season. > One of my old basketball coaches used to tell me, "It takes no talent to hustle, only a heart." or maybe I just made that quote up myself... Either way, I feel that heart is a missing ingredient that the Cats quickly need to find.

Encouragement:
I know watching our team might be tough for you right now... but here are some short clips that might cheer you up. click on each one... GET HYPE!!!

This one will lift your spirits and get you hype for any game!

This one has a great song and a great ending.

This one is quickly becoming a classic.

This one just makes you feel really, really good inside.

Holla at cha boy! This is how we roll...

Just for kicks...

oaks of righteousness...

2007-12-09T13:18:00.000-05:00

You know those nights were you just cannot go to sleep? Not the kind where your restless for 30 min or so and then you drift off in slumber. Not the kind where your cold and only after warming up under the covers you soon doze off. No, I'm talking more about the times when you feel wide awake, you have full mental alertness until 4 am - those kind of nights. Well, that is what happened to me last night.
I know why it happened. It wasn't because of the looming finals I will have tomorrow. Nor was it due to the recent pitiful performances by the wildcats on the hardwood? Nope, none of those... To go ahead and sound really spiritual here > it was one of those nights where you just get HYPE! readin' the bible.
Has that ever happened to you?

In my opinion, I think it's purely a miracle of God in itself that we even have the ability to go to sleep at night. There are a billion different things running through our minds during the day, truly it is only by His design that our bodies become still, submit, and quietly recharge for 6 - 8 hrs a night. (not to be naive - I do realize that some folks busy themselves senseless during the day so that they practically collapse when it is time for bed. -- they never decide "to go to bed", it just happens from sheer exhaustion. )

Anyway, last night was great b/c I did a lot of thinking about trees. Yup, trees. The thoughts started in my head after reading Isaiah 61:3 "...that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified." What an awesome metaphor for God's people! They reach up high, but their roots go way down deep. They are secure, solid, firmly planted. Moreover, they bear fruit - they are useful and have a specific purpose...All throughout scripture we (true believers) are compared to trees.
Take notice of passages like Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17: 5-8 - ideal pictures of what our righteousness looks like. Awesome metaphors. It's a beautiful thing.

> my mind ran with thoughts during the night like this: He (God) rather than trees, could have just made boring brown boxes that just sit motionless on the earth sucking in carbon dioxide and pumping out oxygen. He could have...Thank goodness he didn't. However, this thought is silly, b/c everything He makes is beautiful. Ok, in all of this blabbering here's my point >> I encourage you to take time and dive into God's word and think about his colorful metaphors - about Himself, about life, about us. They are awesome. They are all over the place. They are beautiful.

a Christmas wish...

2007-12-05T14:56:00.000-05:00

This is certainly #1 on my Christmas list right now...

Here's a taste of what is on the DVD:

Pole to Pole
Follow the sun as it touches the lives of creatures across the planet, bringing a fresh understanding of how the world is interconnected. From African herds migrating hundreds of miles in search of water to desperate animal hunts, Pole to Pole examines how the seasons produce the greatest spectacles on Earth.

Mountains
Tour the planet's mightiest mountain ranges and meet the rare animals that inhabit them. From a never-before-seen hunt by snow leopards on the treacherous slopes of the Himalayas to a family of pumas struggling to survive the unstable weather of the Andes, Mountains reveals life on the planet's highest peaks.

Deep Ocean
Explore the depths of the planet's oceans and discover some of this mysterious world's most spectacular species. From light shows performed by squids to the blue whale, the largest animal to ever exist, Deep Ocean investigates the waters that cover two-thirds of the Earth's surface yet remain largely unknown.

Deserts
Voyage to the world's harshest environments and learn how life manages to keep a precarious hold in every desert. From the llama-like guanacos of Chile's Atacama Desert that survive by licking dew from cactus spines to lions that scour arid Namibia for antelopes, Deserts unravels the secrets behind survival in unimaginable conditions.

Ice Worlds
Venture to the poles of our planet and find the harshest wild lands, where seasonal change is extreme. From emperor penguins which defy the coldest conditions on Earth to the polar bear that emerges from hibernation with her new cubs, Ice Worlds explores an ecosystem in which few could survive.

Shallow Sea
Dive into the planet's shallow waters where sunlight reaches the seabed and find an explosion of life. From the rarely seen cooperation between snakes and fish hunting for food to the journey of a humpback whale and her newborn calf traveling thousands of miles in search of food, Shallow Seas explores the rarely seen sights of the world's mighty oceans.

Great Plains
Trek to the Earth's largest land habitats, where vast open spaces play host to the biggest groups of animals in the world. From the 2,000 mile migration undertaken by three million caribou in the Arctic tundra to a pride of 30 starving lions hunting elephants, Great Plains reveals the most impressive migrations and boldest hunts on the planet.

Jungles
Delve deep into this ecosystem, beyond the flourishing plant life, and find an environment that tests each animal's survival skills. From the elaborate mating rituals of New Guinea's birds of paradise to the territorial battles of chimpanzees, Jungles examines an environment that occupies only three percent of the planet and yet is home to more than half the world's species.

Fresh Water
Follow rivers as they course from mountain to the sea, nourishing unique and dramatic wildlife. From the world's deepest lake inhabited by the only species of freshwater seal to a stunning look at the world's highest waterfall, Fresh Water offers a unique perspective on the secret lives teeming in our purest waters.

Seasonal Forests
Investigate these temperate regions and find some of the most elusive creatures and well-adapted plant life on Earth. From the giant sequoia tree ten times the size of a blue whale to the trackless Siberian forests where just 40 Amur leopards remain, Forests brings to life a seemingly familiar world that remains largely unexplored.

Caves
Descend into the only habitat not directly driven by sunlight to discover some of the most peculiar creatures on Earth. From Borneo's Deer Cave where five million bats roost to cave swiftlets that build nests from saliva, Caves digs deep into an underground world few people have ever explored.

what's on the top of your list?

anyone need links?

2007-12-04T00:50:00.000-05:00

I don't know why, but I thought it would be a good idea to make a post with a lot of links. Some of the links will be about snakes, others about snails - but that is only the beginning. I the ultimate point I want to get across is this - Truly, one of the marks of a mature blogger is the to know when to include a useful well-timed link. The appropriate placement of a link is not something that can be overlooked if your blog is going to be respected. (Although, it should also be noted that not all posts deserve a link.) The post's link must be fitting in its context and should never be forced within the post. To be blunt, it just looks downright stupid when a blogger neglects the proper usage of including a link. Especially when they overdo it. Ugly.
However, the good news is that with ingredients like time, practice and the helpful comments of faithful readers - a novice blogger will start to learn the ropes, and be on his way to establishing a credible blog. Some have already figured things out: Justin Sok, Dave Blake, etc. Yet there are some (like me) who still have quite a bit of work to do. But hey, that's kinda what I like about blogging - the rules are fuzzy, and just about anything goes. For example: I could spend time making posts that talk about pizza. I could spend time talking about the weather. I could even talk about the poor team performance of UK playing against N.Carolina. Or - I could simply hurry up and end this ridiculous excuse for a post. But no matter how you slice it = I'm proud to say that this post has set a new record in my local blogsphere for random links.
get hype!

fresh thoughts - profound implications...

2007-12-03T15:21:00.000-05:00

As noted in Smitty's blog Cloud Chasing:

a preface to this conversation, I would like to declare RACE to be two very important things:

A biological myth
A social reality

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

* For some reason I feel led to mention the recent thought provoking posts of Jonathon Smith. His blog Cloud Chasing has always been fresh - yet currently his topic/discussion on "race" is certainly something that I think everyone should go check out & read on their own... I definitely feel like some profound thoughts can [and are] manifested out of the post/comments.
who knows? Maybe YOUR comment may be part of the solution...
-may the Spirit continue to lead & conform us to the image of Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria (despite the limited pictures in this post-
I certainly realize that the issue goes far beyond
just black & white in Kingdom)

it's simple.

2007-11-29T17:37:00.001-05:00

clear cut.
simple.
to the point.
-if only all my posts could be like this...

thoughts on a beautiful fight

2007-11-25T16:15:00.000-05:00

I usually get pumped up for a good fight. Not necessarily a fist fight, or an argument type of fight... Rather the kind of fight that is more like a Good vs. Evil ..... something big, something epic.... Like fighting for glory and truth - over darkness and filth, something outside and beyond myself.
Something spiritual.
I came across an article at the Boundless.org website a couple of days ago and it gave a fresh perspective towards the way a Christian should fight. Even now, a few of the words are still fixed in my mind. Read it here. see what you think...
the main point that has stuck out in my mind for the last few days from the article has been this statement: Not falling is the means, not the goal, of a spiritual warrior's vocation. For far too long I have had this mindset towards many battles in my life. ...so may I sharpen my focus on the goal : on Jesus Christ, savior and Lord.

Como esta amigos......?......

2007-11-16T13:07:00.000-05:00

My plane leaves tomorrow morning.... I will be going here:

:-)

This trip is entirely funded by the Southwestern company....

what !?

2007-11-15T11:12:00.000-05:00

A calm night, sitting at my computer
relaxed, barefoot.

Sweet tunes flowing in my ears,
my toes are tappin'.

Swift typing - progress made on homework,
soft carpet under my feet.

Perfect temperature in the room,
comfortable head to toe.

A tickle strikes my foot gently,
I dismiss the thought.

What ! ?

Something grazes my foot yet again,
now running free over skin!

What ! ?

My eyes focus on the floor, my heart stops,
a giant beast standing tall beside me.

What ! ?

A swift movement, a rustle of paper,
the putting on of a shoe.

What ! ?

A swift blow, crushing in force,
a life ended, silence.

What ! ?

Thoughts run through my head,
"Did that just happen?"

What !?

Reaching for a paper towel, folding it over twice,
a disposal of the life that once was.

What ! ?

Once again sitting at my computer, music back on,
yet now- shoes secure on my feet.

Shoes feel snug and warm,
I feel safe.

Ok, I don't think I can keep this poem going.... In fact, I'm not even sure why I started to write this poem. I guess in my head I figured that it would be better to tell my story in poetic form rather than just write it out in normal prose. But as you can tell I'm not good at poetry, it doesn't even rhyme. How lame.
Anyway, the above poem is my way of explaining what happened to me in my dorm room last night... Basically I was sitting at the computer barefoot, working on homework and just jammin away to some music. - when out of nowhere a giant cockroach tickled my foot. Then in a daring move (before I knew what was happening) he scurried over the top of my foot. I freaked out, and in a rage I ended his life.

Moreover, this is the 3rd death in my room this semester. I think enough is enough - it was time to make a post. I guess keeping your room clean is NOT enough. I hate to make excuses, but this one rests on the shoulders of good ol' Haggin Hall. Let's just say that at this point I'm in a serious "Love/Hate" relationship with my dorm right now...

Laugh more....

2007-11-11T23:08:00.001-05:00

Aside from the fact that 4 out the 5 above pictures look more frightening than funny, there IS a reason for putting them on this post. ---> These people are all reaping the benefits of hearty laughter. (although I have a hunch that the guy in the second picture from the top probably needs more health benefits that what he normally gets from his laughter.) anyway, the point is this: LAUGH MORE , it's good for ya...

A good hearty laugh can :

reduce stress
lower blood pressure
elevate mood
boost immune system
improve brain functioning
protect the heart
foster instant relaxation

A night at the movies...

2007-11-10T00:33:00.000-05:00

Tonight I went to go see Dan In Real Life.

initial thoughts:
This movie quietly stands out from the typical Hollywood mold. There are no excessive cuss words, nor are there cheesy special effects. Nope, no computer animated fakeness to be found anywhere either. This film was great because it just kept things simple. It was refreshing and went at just the right pace. Moreover, this movie was great because when you watch it - you end up laughing just the right amount. You laugh as much as you do in real life. Which for me, is quite a lot.

Another reason I enjoyed this movie is because surprisingly about 30 of my friends showed up to come see it. ---(You know those times when you send out a text message to your friends in hope that at least just one of them will actually be able to go to the movie?)--- Well, my observation has always been that people will run around and do their own thing not giving a second thought to the movie unless they get an answer to the question: "So who all is going to be there?" And hopefully if you tell them the right names, then they will show up. Well, tonight a crazy thing happened because people actually did show up. A lot of people. It was beautiful. It was real life. I hope it happens again...

Overall I did learn a few lessons from this night at the movies:

1. That Hollywood will sometimes (mostly by accident) make a good movie.
2. To never text-message a large quantity of friends to come see a movie - because it might actually happen. > Then when they all get there you can't sit with them in a large group. ( b/c there are never 20+ open seats in a theater together available for the group.)
3. That the two lessons above are just things that happen in real life. - I should enjoy 'em.

a college observation...

2007-11-07T16:40:00.000-05:00

College is great.
Because college allows for much time on my Huffy.

Huffy: Get one. Have Fun!

a word on podcasts....

2007-11-02T00:33:00.000-04:00

It is now time to reveal one of my
all consuming passions in life: podcasts.

There's not just one - there are actually three that I regularly enjoy.
I can honestly say that about 89% of my time spent on the computer consists of watching/listening to them...
I do not want to sound obsessed, but I think I am.
(They're free, and they're saturated with biblical goodness... what's not to love?)

My obsessive podcasts (in no particular order) are:

Cornerstone Simi ~ w/ Francis Chan
Breakaway Ministries ~ w/ Ben Stuart
Desiring God ~ w/ John Piper

do you write?

2007-11-01T22:44:00.000-04:00

- do you write? -more specifically do you write down your thoughts about God and what he is doing in your life? No.(?) If you are saying "nope" right now and are just continuing to read without giving it a second thought, I hope maybe I can persuade you otherwise...
Being human we have a limited capacity to remember things. I do not need to prove this fact for we all know it is true. Ok, if you want proof: then try and remember what your pastor spoke about 3 weeks ago? what did you learn from it? do you remember? Maybe, but probably not.
__(Ok, so what's your point?)__
Well, if it takes a strain to remember something like a recent sermon - how much more difficult would it be to remember what God has been in your life over the past year or so??? and NO, I'm not talking about the "BIG" things. Obviously the huge things that He teaches you can easily recall. But what about the small things? What about all of your prayers? Can you even remember what your prayers were about during this time last year? What about the things you struggled with? What about where your heart was towards God?
{ --- the past few weeks I have been in deep thought. I'm talking super deep. Almost like I've been in a daze. It has been weird, almost beyond words(actually yes, beyond words: this post really does it no justice to how I was feeling)... Basically coming out of this tunnel of thought I can see some things that really slowed me down. I realized that I have recently made my Christian walk very complicated. Trying to make decisions about school, major, time, life - it does start to take its toll. I've been distracted with thought, even paralyzed by thought.
I'm out of that phase (at least for now). If I were to and put into words exactly how I've come out of this mindset from the past few weeks I would certainly write 20 pages. And as you can tell, I'm not one who can write with clarity and conciseness... no I prefer run on sentences and long drawn out rambling when I write.... Hindsight is 20/20 , or is it?}
- For these reasons I will just go ahead and zoom forward to my point for writing this post:

To be clear and concise - my point is this: You should write down your thoughts and prayers to God everyday. - It was so refreshing to look back on past days/months and read how God has provided for me and worked in my life. Yes, it was weird to see my own handwriting and think "did I actually write that?" - but weird in a good way. (this combined with scripture helped me get out of my recent "daze" of thought)... You never know what kind of blessings you will receive from being able to go back and see how God has been at work in your life. Moreover, writing things down helps you formulate clear thoughts rather than run-on prayers. And who knows - maybe the things you write down will help you get out of some future "strange" times of thought. Maybe it will help you praise Him. Maybe you will write down the answer to a question that you have today. Maybe you will be able to give it to someone to read and help them on their own walk with Christ...
---- For me, right before bed is an ideal time... It's simple: Just write down a lil' bit from the day, date it, then go to bed. and I'm not asking you to journal everything that happened to you during the day (although that is not bad) but to just simply throw down some of the things that God has taught you during the day + your prayers. Soon, before you know it you will have an invaluable recording of your Christian walk.
ok, here's my last ( and most important) point:

I firmly believe that some of the things that God is working in your life are way too big to merely see on a a day to day basis. Only by looking back at how he has interwoven numerous circumstances/prayers will you be able to catch a glimpse of what he is doing in the seasons your faith. And yes, you will undoubtedly be able to see the big things: no problem. But what about the small ? this is why you should write: so that you don't miss 'em. B/c sometimes the small things can be the most profound.

just some thoughts.... all I really wanted to say is that I have recently had such a blessing by being able to go back and look at the many steps in my walk with Christ.

go ahead - try it. I doubt you will regret it.

the balance beam of life...

2007-10-30T16:54:00.000-04:00

Got a few minutes(?)
This 3 minute video by Francis Chan is a great illustration:

CHECK IT OUT!

Listening to Fee...

2007-10-28T23:36:00.000-04:00

I had a surprisingly great time at the Steve Fee concert tonight. (I say surprising just b/c I had never been to one of his concerts, much less listened to one of his CD's.)
He sang in font of a small crowd, but that didn't stop the amazing heartfelt worship. Actually the small crowd probably supported the overall quality of the night. I think this is the reason why I like Fee. He basically just gets up there and leads worship, he is not up there for a show (or at least he wasn't tonight). It was refreshing. Just an all around good night. -Well done Fee, well done.

Of all the songs of the night, my favorite was probably the one with the fewest lyrics... It went like this:

Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God, Forever.
(then repeat)...

yup, the night was solid.
anyway after those lyrics, it is best that I just stop. - what else is there? really?

a classic no more...

2007-10-27T01:49:00.001-04:00

America - how could you ever forget a classic candy like this one? (look at the joy on that kid's face above, what a childhood dream he is living be receiving a delicious Werther's original.) Does not quality count anymore? I guess not.

Well, here's to you Werther's - although forgotten my most in this nation, may you at least have the decency of a tribute post written in honor of your humble legacy.

{Please, while there's still time... - Go buy some Werther's, and enjoy.}

ya, I know, "enjoy" is a pretty strong word when talking about Werther's... However, that is not the point - they ARE good, well, umm, sometimes... ok, at least go buy some and remember that it will at least be a great story to tell your children one day when you get older... b/c one day (and I fear that day is coming for too soon), the classic Werther's will be gone.

a KHP double dip...

2007-10-26T16:29:00.000-04:00

yup - it may go against the rules but I'm going to double dip (two posts in one day)...

As most of you know, this is that time of year when you decide what classes to take for the Spring semester. Today when flipping through my schedule book - I couldn't help but notice all of the crazy KHP classes offered at UK...If you know anything about KHP (Kinesiology and Health Promotion), then you know that they work wonders to boost your GPA. They are perfect for any schedule.
The only question is - with so many amazing KHP's which one should I pick?
here is the list:

Competitive Basketball
Ultimate Frisbee
Preparing for a Half Marathon
Pilates
Beginning Tennis
Beginning Conditioning
Awesome Abs
Ballroom Dance
Volleyball
Beginning Tap
Racquetball
Begin Swim
Scuba
Walk/Jog
Body Sculpture
Weight Training
Ice Skating
Fly Fishing
Fitness Walking
Hi/Low Aerobics
Kickboxing
Beginning Modern Dance
Track and Field
First Aid & Emergency Care
Sexuality Education
Drug Education
Team Handball
Water Safety Leadership
Classic Ballet
Sports Officiating
..... and the list goes on... there are many more, but I got tired of typin' em all. but I think you get the idea.

---- please help me decide which one to take. Your vote is appreciated...

a picture to see

2007-10-26T01:42:00.000-04:00

you know how sometimes you just find a great pic and you want others to see it... (?) well, this is one of those times... enjoy.

A story in Photo (Part 2) -soakin' up scripture-

2007-10-20T14:19:00.000-04:00

A story in Photo (part 1 -delicious...)

2007-10-16T10:45:00.001-04:00

the easy roads are crowded...

2007-10-14T16:14:00.000-04:00

The easy roads are crowded,
And the level roads are jammed;
The pleasant little rivers
With the drifting folks are crammed.

But off yonder where it's rocky,
Where you get a better view,
You will find the ranks are thinning
And the travelers are few.

Where the going's smooth and pleasant
You will always find the throng,
For the many, mores the pity,
Seem to like to drift along.

But the steps that call for courage
And the task that's hard to do,
In the end results in glory
For the never-wavering few.

theology & coffee

2007-10-12T12:36:00.000-04:00

sometimes I wonder how things would have been different in the early church if they would have had a Starbucks to go to...

B/c when you are in Starbucks (at least each time I go) talks about God always just seem to flow into the conversation. Before you know it - the conversation gets good, really good and it gets deep. I guess the two just fit together -like hand in glove.

I say these things not just to make a joke - no, I say it because ironically this actually has happened to me every single time I walk into any one of the million Starbucks that we have in Lexington...weird.
but a good kind of weird. The kind of weird that I want to keep coming back to over and over again. ---i.e. = This Friday John Ross led us (myself and 7 others) in a deep investigation of the scriptures on the work of God and his role in salvation- along with some other amazing topics. If felt good to chew on the meat of scripture. I came away from our time with a sense of awe and amazement towards God. This needs to happen more in my walk with him. (not the Starbucks part - but the standing in awe part) At this point I'm still chewing on a lot of the things that I learned. .

~ All in all - I just wanted to say that God is really moving and stretching my mind to understand him more. His holy scripture has been coming alive lately. The kingdom work seems so fresh and evident all around me. Prayer has become more vivid and real. A passion for missions has started to swell in my heart. ---this may sound weird to say, but it's almost like I can feel sanctification happening. (so- my only response is praise).

so while this post may not seem to have a particular point. that's ok with me. I just know that I had to write something about how I feel right now. to throw out some random heart-thoughts. I can't really explain it with the limited words that I know now... but I do know this: God is moving. - do you see it too?

Ephesians 3:20

just think

2007-10-02T01:00:00.000-04:00

- this is a great acrostic! The theme for it comes from the two verses Ephesians 4:29 and Proverbs 10:19 ---- it is all about improving your choice of words... With a careful reading of James Chap. 3 it is easy to see that we all can work on/improve our speech.

thinking about this helped me during the week - maybe it will help you too...

Before you speak, remember to think:

T--- is it TRUE ?
H--- is it HELPFUL ?
I--- is it INSPIRATIONAL ?
N--- is it NECESSARY ?
K--- is it KIND ?

a lil' tribute to MacGyver

2007-09-28T14:52:00.000-04:00

We all know MacGyver is a stud... (well, maybe some of you don't know. But for those of us who grew up having the privilege to watch this guy make just about anything - out of anything - and use that anything to beat the bad guys... o what a joy it was to watch.)

Equally cool with MacGyver's style is the theme song for his show...

allow your ears to enjoy ( I couldn't tell which one was the best, so I posted both of them...)
To hear the theme, click on the two different pictures above.

------

and just for kicks I thought I'd post the actual MacGyver show intro in the link below...
When you watch this clip (the link is below #6) take careful note of the scenes. Some of them are totally random and are hilarious. For instance, Watch MacGyver:
1. Go flying out of the moving jeep. -he looks like a monkey during this-
2. Have a perfect pose when he's on the wing of the plane.
3. Stare down a Cobra. (extra hilarious)
4. Peer out of the top lid of a wooden box. -how random-
5. Play hockey -then making a pose...(although this has nothing to do with the show)
6. Run into the glass window of a local store face first...

------ yes no joke, all of those six things mentioned above are true and totally happen here: in this clip. enjoy.

# 3 keeps me rollin' every time I even start to think about it...

echo prayer

2007-09-27T18:29:00.000-04:00

Well I don't know about you, but I promise a lot of people that I'll pray for them. And of course what generally happens is that I pray a couple times and then forget. Once I tried making a list of everything I wanted to pray about, but that just overwhelmed me. There were almost a hundred people and issues on the list, and I felt like I could never pray for all of them.

If the above statements describe you in the least bit,
then check out ----> www.echoprayer.com

This echo prayer thing is pretty sweet. On the website you can make a customized prayer list. Then you can have the requests randomly sent to you throughout the day through e-mail, or even text sent to your phone. .....

still not gettin' it????

Pure and simple, Echo is a tool to help you pray more diligently.

1. You create a prayer list
2. You set times throughout the week for reminders
3. Echo emails you one prayer at a time from your list

*******You can set reminders for specific prayers or random ones,
and get them as emails, text messages or both.********

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

(James 5:16b)

words from Pre'

2007-09-24T10:47:00.000-04:00

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

-Steve Prefontaine