I thought that I would sit, write, and see what came out. So this is what it is, a list of reasons that I have not blogged in a very long time:
1. I have been weeping since Justin Bieber cut off his luscious locks, who are my sons supposed to look up to now? A short haired Biebs? I don't think so.
2. Brian Wilson told me stop, he was threatened by the wit that I possess, that and how much more manly my beard can be than his. You're Welcome.
3. Preseason baseball analytics have consumed every available minute I have. (Really Vegas, you think the odds of the Phillies winning it all is 3/1? (Also, I don't gamble.))
Truth is, I am here, I am not dead but i have been super busy. I'll get back to blogging soon.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Baseball > Football
I will start by saying this, I like football and baseball, but football is the weaker species.
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| Brian Wilson, Genius/Closer |
I have been reliving Giants glory, rewatching the NLCS and the World Series, it has been phenomenal. As I write this the Giants are 26 days away from Pitchers and Catchers reporting to their facility in Scottsdale Arizona. Also as I write this Pablo Sandoval is losing about 25 pounds and the rookies and suck ups are at pre-training which started 4 days ago. I have no expectations of the Giants doing to me this year what they did last year, because last year all they did was rip my heart out day after day week after week, play some hacky sack with it then hand it back to me tattered and worn but having enough life left in it to take another beating the next day. That being said, if they win the World Series again they can do whatever they want with my heart.
But I get giddy because I love stories and I love baseball.
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| Buster Posey, Catcher, 2010 Rookie of the Year |
Football isn't fun because of the stories, football is fun because a guy breaks a tackle and sprints 80 yards while being chased by another dude in a different jersey. It is exciting, it is crazy, there was just a huge play out of no where. Are there stories in football? Yes, but most of them are scandals about dog fighting and shooting yourself in the leg while partying in 'da club.
But baseball is different.
Baseball stories are what make the game.
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| Tim Lincecum, Starting Pitcher, 2 Time NL Cy Young Winner |
Without the back stories that baseball offers it can get boring really quickly. I can't sit and watch the Yankees play the Red Sox as much as ESPN thinks I can because I don't care enough about their players, I don't know their stories, I don't know who the Red Sox 5th starting pitcher is, so I won't watch that game.
But I will watch a football game even if I don't know anything about either team, why? Because football is a more exciting game to watch. It is simple, people get it and that is why the Super Bowl is one of the most watched television events every single year.
I guess what i am saying is football is more exciting to watch but baseball has depth.
Think of Football as the popular cheerleader in high school that can't count to 10 and baseball as the quieter cute athlete who can tutor you when you fall behind in Algebra 2 and also she loves Jesus.
What do you think, cast your vote, Baseball or Football, and don't worry if you choose football I won't judge you, that's God's job.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Terrifying
I stumbled upon this today and I am OUTRAGED that any parent would be so negligent to buy this for their child, mostly because I just peed a little watching it.
Also if you haven't read my Monday Morning with Coop for the day check it out HERE
Also if you haven't read my Monday Morning with Coop for the day check it out HERE
Monday Morning with Coop
About a week ago something happened, I don't know what it was or why it was but someone flipped a switch and Cooper entered into his "terrible twos." Before I get too much further into this I want you to know I never believed in the terrible twos, I considered them an excuse for parents to use when their kids acted out in stores or in front of extended family, but after this last week I can truly say I am 100 percent on board with this whole terrible twos idea.
This is how it happened, Cooper went to bed one night, and it was normal, it was nice. We laid down and read his San Francisco Giants book as I quizzed him on the different pieces of baseball attire (cleats, batting gloves, hat, jersey, etc. (starting shortstop in 2032 for the Giants)) we said his night time prayer and put him down with his ever growing collection of stuffed animals that are in his crib. Everything was good, everything was normal.
The next morning he slept in until after I left for work. At about 10:30 I got a phone call from my wife who sounded worn down, on the other end of the phone was a crying baby and a screaming almost 2 year old. Sarah went on to tell me that Cooper wasn't acting like himself, demanding things saying "no" on a whim when normally he is one of the most obedient children in the world. This wasn't the precious little innocent boy I have enjoyed for the previous 21 months, this kid was a monster (but a really cute monster, think Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.)
It isn't that coop wants to be defiant, he isn't plotting in his crib with Lots-o-Huggin' bear and his stuffed monkey that is wearing a Giants jersey. Coop is just trying to figure out how to be independent, he is testing his boundaries and with that Mom and Dad's patience. So last week the Big TO was enlisted for the first time, and no we didn't call in overhyped and underperformed Terrel Owens to discipline our kid, Coop got his first real big kid time out. He hated it, but not at first.
I asked him I said, "Cooper, if you keep fussing you are going to have to get a timeout," his response was, "Timeout? Okay Daddy!" Hmmm, in hindsight maybe I didn't make it sound scary enough, like instead I should have called it the "Dragons Pen" or "Mannequin Alley." Either way it didn't strike much fear into The Coop, until he had to sit there.
I had to hold my son still in timeout for a whole minute because he refused to eat one more bite of his sandwich before he got to have some jell-o. it took all of my ability not to laugh as my son was melting down because he had to have a bite of his favorite food.
Parenting gets rough, it isn't fun implementing timeout or disciplining your kid at all for that matter, but our oldest is at an age where he knows what is right and wrong and we have to make sure that he is raised in such a way that when he is 35 he isn't collapsing on the floor in a screaming fit because a Barista put whipped cream on his caramel macciato.
Did your kids ever enter into the terrible twos? How did you deal with it, because i am kind of scared I broke Cooper somehow.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Babies are Awesome
Micah spent the afternoon yesterday bouncing and laughing at out dog, Parker.
Then a breakfast dance party
For Uncle Scotty coming home.
Babies are a lot of fun.
Then a breakfast dance party
For Uncle Scotty coming home.
Babies are a lot of fun.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
No Nalgenes or Camelbacks
When I was in college I had no clue what route my life was going to take, probably like a lot of other college age students. I was going to the classes that people were telling me to go to, I was taking tests I was supposed to take and doing assignments I had been assigned (for the most part). When I got married, working part time at The Buckle wasn't going to get Sarah and I financially secure very quickly but at least it was a job and we were generating some income but were by no means able to start planning for the future.
Then in the same week I got three phone calls, three phone calls from three different churches looking for a Youth Pastor to head up their ministry. I began to follow up on the phone calls and I decided to take a job in beautiful Selma, California at Selma First Baptist Church, it was probably Pastor Craig's charm and quiet demeanor that sold me on the place.
I was ecstatic, I had my first real job, I was getting paid a salary not a wage based on how many clothes I could force people to buy (did you hear Buckle has a layaway plan too? You can give us your money today but won't get the product until you can afford it later on. The Buckle credit card is a great option also, buy as much as you want now and worry about the payments later; when you still can't afford the ridiculously over priced, over winged, and over dragoned Ed Hardy and Affliction clothing).
I was a big boy, I felt like Buddy the Elf, "It's Santa! I know him!"
It wasn't until having a few different conversations recently that I realized how quiet some people can be about what it is they do, whether it is a youth pastor shying away form telling strangers his title for fear of being treated differently or a CEO not wanting others to think he is too rich or not in touch with other people.
I think it goes back to wanting to stay relate-able to our fellow man, not wanting to make others feel uncomfortable or less fortunate or pitied or whatever.
It makes me think about how at times I think about how cool it would be to do another type of ministry, moving to San Francisco to help fight poverty alongside college aged students, or having some type of really cool surf ministry or starting an adventure rec company that takes people on adventures where the only thing they can take is a canteen (No Nalgenes or Camelbacks permitted, just canteens) and their faith in the Lord.
It makes me think about how I feel insignificant in my role as a Youth Pastor sometimes, how I am not doing enough things or being as relevant or as crazy as some of the other functioning ministries out there. But then I remember some scripture in 1 Corinthians 12 that tells me I have a specific function, I am where I am for a reason I have no reason to be ashamed of who I am or what I have been called to.
If everyone moved to the city to battle poverty, the kids who grow up on farms will be left with no one to lead them. If everyone ran a surf ministry, the people who are terrified of dark water would be left behind (Hey, it's scary, you can't see what is down there and a crazy huge fish could eat you whole, it's possible, ask Jonah).
I guess what I am saying is, be content with what you do and who you are in the Lord. God has put us where we are for a reason, be there and be stoked for the opportunity to serve.
Do you feel like the place you are at gets stale sometimes or do you dream of something bigger? What is it? Leave a comment and start the conversation.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Gandalf and Strip Clubs
As I write this my wife is asleep in bed, Coop is in his crib and Micah is in his swing next to Frodo Baggins. Frodo is listening to his uncle give a speech at his one-hundred and eleventh birthday and the shire looks phenomenal. Theres fireworks and wizards and green everywhere, its like the 4th of July, St. Patricks day, and Disney's Anastasia are all hanging out in a field.
There is security and safety and innocence. Yet in the midst of all of it all there is more darkness than anyone could have imagined. One thing I noticed watching this movie (The Fellowship of the Ring) again was how careful Gandalf was not to touch the ring once he knew the power it could hold over him.
This is probably the Youth Pastor coming out in me but rather than let the ring control his actions, rather than risk the temptation he simply fled from it. I said in a talk a long time ago that I have zero desire to prove that I can beat temptation. I am not going to go into a strip club and turn my back to the stage to prove I am strong enough, I am simply not going to go into a strip club.
Gandalf knew this, he didn't need to prove he could carry the ring he didn't trust himself to even touch it much less bear the burden of wearing it. There were other people, stronger people to carry that burden.
Too often we fool ourselves into thinking we can handle the sin that plagues us constantly by making a goal or resolution and wish really hard and assume it's under control. But the sad truth is that it isn't. Not until you draw a hard line in the sand and invite your elf, dwarf, 3 hobbit, 2 men, and wizard friends to stand with you. It will also be a lot of fun because the elf and dwarf will have this competition going on about who can kill more orcs.
You can't beat sin alone, you have to be part of a fellowship you have to stand with brothers and sisters in Christ who have your back when The Nazgûl are trying to kill you and take the ring at Amon Sûl.
Do you have a fellowship? How do you fight the garbage in your life?
- Peter
There is security and safety and innocence. Yet in the midst of all of it all there is more darkness than anyone could have imagined. One thing I noticed watching this movie (The Fellowship of the Ring) again was how careful Gandalf was not to touch the ring once he knew the power it could hold over him.
This is probably the Youth Pastor coming out in me but rather than let the ring control his actions, rather than risk the temptation he simply fled from it. I said in a talk a long time ago that I have zero desire to prove that I can beat temptation. I am not going to go into a strip club and turn my back to the stage to prove I am strong enough, I am simply not going to go into a strip club.
Gandalf knew this, he didn't need to prove he could carry the ring he didn't trust himself to even touch it much less bear the burden of wearing it. There were other people, stronger people to carry that burden.
Too often we fool ourselves into thinking we can handle the sin that plagues us constantly by making a goal or resolution and wish really hard and assume it's under control. But the sad truth is that it isn't. Not until you draw a hard line in the sand and invite your elf, dwarf, 3 hobbit, 2 men, and wizard friends to stand with you. It will also be a lot of fun because the elf and dwarf will have this competition going on about who can kill more orcs.
You can't beat sin alone, you have to be part of a fellowship you have to stand with brothers and sisters in Christ who have your back when The Nazgûl are trying to kill you and take the ring at Amon Sûl.
Do you have a fellowship? How do you fight the garbage in your life?
- Peter
Things Change and That's Rad
Before you start reading look at the date, it may just blow your mind. Now look at the time this post went up, too bad your head just exploded and now you cant read the rest of my post...
Big kid beds are sweet, and not sweet like daisies and sun-dresses on 3 year old girls, sweet like, Jack Bauer really made Chloe shoot him in the chest. It is a big deal, it is crazy when it happens and just like me when I saw the last episode of 24, Coop started jumping on the bed, playing with his Buzz and Woody toys, and even peed a little.
Transitions continue to happen in the Anderson home, and they are phenomenal. Cooper is getting used to his bed by laying it in before nap time and bed time, reading books, in bed with mom and dad and occasionally taking a nap.
What I have realized since becoming a dad is that your kids are in a constant state of change and transition. A day doesn't go by when I am not amazed at something one of my boys does. For example I got a picture sent to me yesterday of Micah being a big kid and supporting himself, holding his head up, he looks like a stud, I know.
Not long after that picture was taken my wife sent me a second one of our same loving beautiful comedian. He decided to vomit everywhere, on Sarah, on himself, and the whole time he looked adorably disgustingly cute doing it.
Cooper was this old not long ago, he was vomiting and looking cute doing it, now if Cooper vomits it not only is really not cute, it is cause for concern.
The transitions that our boys make also causes me to have to protect my boys in different ways. I want my boys growing up taking risk but two days ago Cooper was rocking on a rocking chair backwards when he almost fell off the back and cracked his head on the most vicious coffee table ever created.
I don't have to worry about rocking chairs with Micah yet, right now my main concern is putting enough pillows on the couch so he doesn't roll off the side.
This turned into me throwing all of my thoughts onto the page, so take from it what you will, but I will end with this.
As Christians and beyond that as humans in order to grow we need to be in a constant state of transition, it doesn't have to be with our kids, it doesn't have to be with a new job our spouse, it needs to be in deciding to go a new direction with your life and going in that direction.
Most of us have broken our New Year Resolutions by now and that's okay, but transition is what grows us and makes us who we truly are. Transition and enjoy the ride.
Look back at your life what are some of the hardest transitions you have ever had to make?
Big kid beds are sweet, and not sweet like daisies and sun-dresses on 3 year old girls, sweet like, Jack Bauer really made Chloe shoot him in the chest. It is a big deal, it is crazy when it happens and just like me when I saw the last episode of 24, Coop started jumping on the bed, playing with his Buzz and Woody toys, and even peed a little.
Transitions continue to happen in the Anderson home, and they are phenomenal. Cooper is getting used to his bed by laying it in before nap time and bed time, reading books, in bed with mom and dad and occasionally taking a nap.
What I have realized since becoming a dad is that your kids are in a constant state of change and transition. A day doesn't go by when I am not amazed at something one of my boys does. For example I got a picture sent to me yesterday of Micah being a big kid and supporting himself, holding his head up, he looks like a stud, I know.
Cooper was this old not long ago, he was vomiting and looking cute doing it, now if Cooper vomits it not only is really not cute, it is cause for concern.
The transitions that our boys make also causes me to have to protect my boys in different ways. I want my boys growing up taking risk but two days ago Cooper was rocking on a rocking chair backwards when he almost fell off the back and cracked his head on the most vicious coffee table ever created.
I don't have to worry about rocking chairs with Micah yet, right now my main concern is putting enough pillows on the couch so he doesn't roll off the side.
This turned into me throwing all of my thoughts onto the page, so take from it what you will, but I will end with this.
As Christians and beyond that as humans in order to grow we need to be in a constant state of transition, it doesn't have to be with our kids, it doesn't have to be with a new job our spouse, it needs to be in deciding to go a new direction with your life and going in that direction.
Most of us have broken our New Year Resolutions by now and that's okay, but transition is what grows us and makes us who we truly are. Transition and enjoy the ride.
Look back at your life what are some of the hardest transitions you have ever had to make?
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