This is the type of person I want in my corner when things get hard and I need someone to carry me:
1. They need to love Jesus
2. They need to love you
3. They have to be brave enough to call you out
4. They have to be willing to get in trouble with you
5. They have to be committed
What'd I miss?
Monday, October 10, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Baseball is Life
I can remember when I was seven years old I went to a Giants and Dodgers game, I was as close to hell as I ever hope to get, Dodger Stadium. In that game in 1992 a pitcher named Kevin Gross did the unthinkable to my Giants, he threw what is known in the biz as a no-no. I was the only person in the stadium crying tears of anger and sadness as I walked out with my Dad who was wearing a Dodgers hat.
That same year on my way home from visiting my aunt and uncle in San Mateo I cried as news broke that the Giants were going to be moved to Tampa Bay. They ended up staying.
A year later I was at Candlestick park sitting in terrible seats when chants began to ring out, first it was "BEAT LA" then an inning later it turned to, "DODGERS SUCK."
When I was ten I went to a game for my neighbors birthday, I got to run the bases at 3COM park at Candlestick Point.
In 2000 I went with my Dad sat 13 rows behind home plate and watched the fifth game ever played at AT&T Park as Barry Bonds faced off against Randy Johnson.
My Dad slipped into a coma that night he never woke from hours after Bonds broke the all time home run record of 755, he ended with 762.
I took Sarah on our first date to watch the Giants get beat by the Twins.
I took Cooper to his first game at four weeks, and Micah to his first at five weeks, it happened to be game three of the NLCS where Matt Cain shut down the Philadelphia Phillies.
I watched the Giants win their first World Series in 56 year with four generations of fans, the youngest being less than two months old and the oldest being in their 70's.
I watch baseball because I love the game. I love situations, I love the grass, I love that the game that was invented over 150 years ago has remained largely unchanged, I love that no matter what happens in life, baseball will be there. The history is rich, the stories have been written since the 1880's.
There is just enough time in baseball to see tragedy and triumph coming at you like a freight train.
There is enough time in life to have no clue what is going to happen.
Baseball, like any other hobby or sport that people love to revel in and waste time on, is great for enriching your life, but terrible for turning it into your life. There was a successful t-shirt that said, "Baseball is life" I had one, I wore it with me blue and white striped denim shorts in the early 90's. That shirt is not only wrong, it's sad.
Life is bigger than that, it is more important than that. We've been entrusted to pass on a message that is better than tracking a team. What have you dedicated your life to?
That same year on my way home from visiting my aunt and uncle in San Mateo I cried as news broke that the Giants were going to be moved to Tampa Bay. They ended up staying.
A year later I was at Candlestick park sitting in terrible seats when chants began to ring out, first it was "BEAT LA" then an inning later it turned to, "DODGERS SUCK."
When I was ten I went to a game for my neighbors birthday, I got to run the bases at 3COM park at Candlestick Point.
In 2000 I went with my Dad sat 13 rows behind home plate and watched the fifth game ever played at AT&T Park as Barry Bonds faced off against Randy Johnson.
My Dad slipped into a coma that night he never woke from hours after Bonds broke the all time home run record of 755, he ended with 762.
I took Sarah on our first date to watch the Giants get beat by the Twins.
I took Cooper to his first game at four weeks, and Micah to his first at five weeks, it happened to be game three of the NLCS where Matt Cain shut down the Philadelphia Phillies.
I watched the Giants win their first World Series in 56 year with four generations of fans, the youngest being less than two months old and the oldest being in their 70's.
I watch baseball because I love the game. I love situations, I love the grass, I love that the game that was invented over 150 years ago has remained largely unchanged, I love that no matter what happens in life, baseball will be there. The history is rich, the stories have been written since the 1880's.
There is just enough time in baseball to see tragedy and triumph coming at you like a freight train.
There is enough time in life to have no clue what is going to happen.
Baseball, like any other hobby or sport that people love to revel in and waste time on, is great for enriching your life, but terrible for turning it into your life. There was a successful t-shirt that said, "Baseball is life" I had one, I wore it with me blue and white striped denim shorts in the early 90's. That shirt is not only wrong, it's sad.
Life is bigger than that, it is more important than that. We've been entrusted to pass on a message that is better than tracking a team. What have you dedicated your life to?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Confrontation Sucks
I hate confrontation. Not like the kind where Maximus kills Caesar in the final scene of Gladiator, that type of conflict is awesome. I don't like real conflict. Real conflict like you see a brother or sister in Christ that needs to be loved back to where God wants them and the only way to do that is by speaking truth into their life, real, nasty, hard to swallow, truth. These conversations are terrible, no one looks forward to them, but in order to continue growing in faith you have to have hard conversations, you have to do hard things.
Growing up I didn't like to stir the pot, I was often referred to as the voice of reason because I never wanted to rock the boat I never wanted to do anything that was going to get me in trouble, no matter how big the explosion was or how many pieces it blew up into. I like being safe, I liked being comfortable. Throughout these least two years I have come to terms with the idea that if you want to be a good man, husband, disciple, and friend you have to have hard conversations. You have to have conversations that make you uneasy because these conversations are what help people grow, they help us grow.
I am glad I have a group of friends that is more than willing to nail me to the wall if I am acting in a way that is unrepresentative of the body of Christ. I am glad I have friends who will look me in the eye and tell me I am wrong. I am glad I have friends that will walk next to me and at times carry me towards righteousness when I have no more strength and a loss of will.
Hard conversations suck.
Confrontation sucks.
You know why people hate lifting weights? (Other than the fact that it is boring and repetitive (just so I don't offend any really strong people, I lift weights and is may main source of exercise, so back up or I will flex my tricep in your general direction)). People hate lifting weights because you are literally tearing your muscles in order for them to repair themselves and make the bigger and stronger. Last time I checked tearing my muscle wasn't on my short list of things that reminded my of puppies and clouds made of cotton candy.
It's the same thing with confrontation. It sucks, it is literally you telling someone you deeply care about about blind spots in their life. I can't guarantee it will make them a better person, but I can guarantee you will become a stronger version of yourself if you have hard conversations.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Waiting Expectantly
I have had a lot of things get my hopes up in the last few days, the first came on Sunday when I heard for the first time that one of my all time favorite shows 'Arrested Development' is coming back for a fourth season as a prequel to a movie that will be released in 2013.
Today Sarah and I get to put an offer in on a house that we hope will be our home for a very long time. Yesterday we went to our broker and got pre-qualified for what we are willing to pay for this home and now, we start the wonderfully terrifying journey of purchasing a home.
Today Apple will introduce their iPhone 5.
All of these things have me more excited than the Dodger players getting news that they would still get paid regardless of filing for bankruptcy. Two of these things I know will go the way I want them to.
Apple will deliver, they always do and I just checked for when I am due for an upgrade, (not
until April unfortunately). I am pretty sure the new iPhone will do all my work for me, including working out. Awesome.
Arrested Development will meet my expectations for the simple fact that it has been gone for five years, I have watched the series four times and at this point anything new from the Bluth family is welcome.
The one I am not sure of is this whole house purchasing thing. The most important financial decision Sarah and I will make in our entire lives is coming to a head in the coming weeks. This is somethign Sarah and I have soaked in prayer to the best of our ability, God has closed doors on our faces over the past 8 months, we sold a house to buy a specific one only to find out an offer had been accepted the day before we could put an offer in. We lived with my in-laws, my grandfather-in-law, and now we rent a house waiting and waiting and waiting.
We want our home to be a place of refuge for people when they come over, we want our home to be a way to bless God with what he has given us, we want to make sure we are being good stewards of what we have been entrusted with.
This home could be the home our kids grow up in, get their license in, leave from when they go to college.
Terrifying.
But our home is where we are. It doesn't matter where we are, we are the Anderson's and where we lay our head at night doesn't change that.
If you have read this far do me a favor and pray for us today, if this isn't where we are supposed to be pray that God would slam the door (gently) and make it evident where he does indeed want us. Have a good Tuesday waiting expectantly for what God has for you.
Today Sarah and I get to put an offer in on a house that we hope will be our home for a very long time. Yesterday we went to our broker and got pre-qualified for what we are willing to pay for this home and now, we start the wonderfully terrifying journey of purchasing a home.
Today Apple will introduce their iPhone 5.
All of these things have me more excited than the Dodger players getting news that they would still get paid regardless of filing for bankruptcy. Two of these things I know will go the way I want them to.
Apple will deliver, they always do and I just checked for when I am due for an upgrade, (not
until April unfortunately). I am pretty sure the new iPhone will do all my work for me, including working out. Awesome.
Arrested Development will meet my expectations for the simple fact that it has been gone for five years, I have watched the series four times and at this point anything new from the Bluth family is welcome.
The one I am not sure of is this whole house purchasing thing. The most important financial decision Sarah and I will make in our entire lives is coming to a head in the coming weeks. This is somethign Sarah and I have soaked in prayer to the best of our ability, God has closed doors on our faces over the past 8 months, we sold a house to buy a specific one only to find out an offer had been accepted the day before we could put an offer in. We lived with my in-laws, my grandfather-in-law, and now we rent a house waiting and waiting and waiting.
We want our home to be a place of refuge for people when they come over, we want our home to be a way to bless God with what he has given us, we want to make sure we are being good stewards of what we have been entrusted with.
This home could be the home our kids grow up in, get their license in, leave from when they go to college.
Terrifying.
But our home is where we are. It doesn't matter where we are, we are the Anderson's and where we lay our head at night doesn't change that.
If you have read this far do me a favor and pray for us today, if this isn't where we are supposed to be pray that God would slam the door (gently) and make it evident where he does indeed want us. Have a good Tuesday waiting expectantly for what God has for you.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Gaming (Not the Nerd Kind)
Here's the deal, I love games. I play games at our youth ministry as a way of getting students involved, getting them more comfortable, and as a way for them to interact with other students and volunteer staff. Last night at Youth we played a game that myself and Alex Harrington, a now graduated student made up one day. It is called Ninja Assassin, and it is glorious.
I won't explain the whole game, but you have three ninja assassins, they "kill" others by sliding two fingers across their neck, when that happens the civilian dies. Ninjas are killed by pulling off a ski mask they are wearing. When/if a ski mask is taken by a civilian, they put it on and are now the ninja assassin. Ninjas can kill other ninjas and the mask they take acts as an extra life. There are no trials and the game doesn't stop until the time limit is reached or there is only one person remaining. Also, and most importantly, the game is played in the dark in a three story church, incredible, I know.
When I play games I am kind of like a cat and an owl combined, not fast and smart, I sit on top of things and make loud noises. I have noticed a few very distinct personalities that come out during these games that I thought you should know so next time you play Ninja Assassin, or any game of the kind, you can be prepared:
1. The Closet Mountain Lion: This is the girl you think is really sweet, innocent and quiet. She probably hasn't said anything all night except how you look like a middle-aged Brad Pitt, don't be upset she said middle-aged though, Brad at any point is a compliment. She probably drinks water and not soda and will give away the candy I threw to her in the audience because she got an answer right. Don't be fooled, she is dangerous, she's ready to pounce and go for the jugular as soon as she is within striking distance. Did you know the spacing of the mountain lions four canine teeth are exactly the width of a single vertebrae of a deer, hers most likely match up with your spine perfectly. Don't be fooled, she will win in the end, and she will let you know about it.
2. The Over-Aggressive: You have told this kid to calm down 6 times, three guys have been socked in the nose, a sprained ankle, a concussion, and some cracked ribs are all the result of this player and I barely finished giving the rules. I get it, you want to play and win, so do I, but don't push me over the railing trying to get the ski mask off my head, you can have it, I don't want to die.
3. The James Statton: I had a student whose motto was, "If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'." He has better grammar than that in real life, but his motto held true for the vast majority of the games we played. Granted he was better at most games physically, but he could find a loop hole in my rules faster than I could explain in the game. THinking back I think he had a gift that I probably should have encouraged more. Either way, this student will indeed cheat at every possible juncture to win, playing to win isn't good enough winning to win is the only way to keep this player happy.
4. The Honest Abe- Lincoln was honest but he always gave it the old college try. This student is the one who keeps in mind where they are and the point of what they are doing. They are here to have fun and enjoy their friends. These are the students I wish I was more like in high school. Truth be told I was probably a combo over-aggressive/James Statton. This person will mock you for getting to into the game and laugh at you when you cheat to win, they will also try their hardest when it is their turn to step up to the plate. All in all, they frustrate an over-aggressive because they don't seem to care enough about the game to hurt others to win, and frankly, I say, good for them.
What personality are you when when you play games? Which ones did I miss? Let me know.
I won't explain the whole game, but you have three ninja assassins, they "kill" others by sliding two fingers across their neck, when that happens the civilian dies. Ninjas are killed by pulling off a ski mask they are wearing. When/if a ski mask is taken by a civilian, they put it on and are now the ninja assassin. Ninjas can kill other ninjas and the mask they take acts as an extra life. There are no trials and the game doesn't stop until the time limit is reached or there is only one person remaining. Also, and most importantly, the game is played in the dark in a three story church, incredible, I know.
When I play games I am kind of like a cat and an owl combined, not fast and smart, I sit on top of things and make loud noises. I have noticed a few very distinct personalities that come out during these games that I thought you should know so next time you play Ninja Assassin, or any game of the kind, you can be prepared:
1. The Closet Mountain Lion: This is the girl you think is really sweet, innocent and quiet. She probably hasn't said anything all night except how you look like a middle-aged Brad Pitt, don't be upset she said middle-aged though, Brad at any point is a compliment. She probably drinks water and not soda and will give away the candy I threw to her in the audience because she got an answer right. Don't be fooled, she is dangerous, she's ready to pounce and go for the jugular as soon as she is within striking distance. Did you know the spacing of the mountain lions four canine teeth are exactly the width of a single vertebrae of a deer, hers most likely match up with your spine perfectly. Don't be fooled, she will win in the end, and she will let you know about it.
2. The Over-Aggressive: You have told this kid to calm down 6 times, three guys have been socked in the nose, a sprained ankle, a concussion, and some cracked ribs are all the result of this player and I barely finished giving the rules. I get it, you want to play and win, so do I, but don't push me over the railing trying to get the ski mask off my head, you can have it, I don't want to die.
3. The James Statton: I had a student whose motto was, "If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'." He has better grammar than that in real life, but his motto held true for the vast majority of the games we played. Granted he was better at most games physically, but he could find a loop hole in my rules faster than I could explain in the game. THinking back I think he had a gift that I probably should have encouraged more. Either way, this student will indeed cheat at every possible juncture to win, playing to win isn't good enough winning to win is the only way to keep this player happy.
4. The Honest Abe- Lincoln was honest but he always gave it the old college try. This student is the one who keeps in mind where they are and the point of what they are doing. They are here to have fun and enjoy their friends. These are the students I wish I was more like in high school. Truth be told I was probably a combo over-aggressive/James Statton. This person will mock you for getting to into the game and laugh at you when you cheat to win, they will also try their hardest when it is their turn to step up to the plate. All in all, they frustrate an over-aggressive because they don't seem to care enough about the game to hurt others to win, and frankly, I say, good for them.
What personality are you when when you play games? Which ones did I miss? Let me know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)