Santa Claus is Dead

There, I said it. I feel like I can say that without too much reprisal since Christmas is over. I don't mean it to sound harsh, but it's true. He has been dead for over 1500 years. There is a very nice and short article over at Pastor Mark Driscoll's blog that is a great read.

Nell and I decided back when Zeke was a baby that we were just going to be up front about Santa. We have always told our kids about St. Nicholas and why he became famous. We just don't tell them that he lives at the North Pole, flies a magical sleigh, and slides down our chimney to enjoy milk & cookies. I know some people think we are monsters for corrupting the youth of our children. I'm okay with that. But I just don't get it. Most parents would not tell their kids Scooby Doo, or the Ninja Turtles or Batman is real. Well, Batman is real...

Now that being said, we do enjoy Santa. We have Santa decorations up, sing Santa songs, and watch Santa movies. In fact, Nell and I both grew up with Santa when we were little and somehow we miraculously turned out okay. I never look down my nose at any family who "does" Santa. It's all fine and dandy, it's just not for us.

I love the last sentence in Driscoll's blog post-

"...we keep the center of Christmas focused on Jesus; it’s probably what Nicholas would have wanted"

Now, if you'll excuse me, Batman is going to be signing autographs down at the mall in a few hours.

Song of the Week: "I Celebrate the Day" by Relient K

I have loved Relient K ever since I heard "Softer To Me" on an old HM compilation back in 2000. This song is a few years old, but it still brings a tear to my eye during the holidays. The vocals are amazing, the piano melody is absolutely beautiful, and the lyrics speak for themselves:

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

You can listen to this song on Last.fm Just click play on the player in the upper right. Check out their homepage here.

I truly hope that, today, you are celebrating the fact that Jesus came to die for you and me. And if not, what are you waiting for?

Really?- Dog Water

I saw this on my trip to the big W today. Wow. Vitamin water for dogs? Really?

There are a couple of rules in my house. Rule number 36b states that the dog will not drink better water than me. I drink it out of the tap or from the little dispenser thingy on the freezer door. If it's good enough for me, it is definitely good enough for Briscoe.

This stuff was regularly priced at $2 and something a bottle and red tag clearance priced at $0.79 per bottle. I am shocked that Wal-Mart's clientele is not buying this up. But then again, when you have $0.79 to blow on your dog at Wal-Mart, you might as well get the 60 pound bag of Ol' Roy.

Musings- Wal-Mart

I'm not sure if it's the shady business practices, the poor customer service, or the general uncleanliness that keeps me feeding the beast that is Wal-Mart. Oh, I remember. It's my um... er...frugality.

Here are some pictures from recent outings:

The carts were so far out into the lot, that it was almost impossible to drive through the lane. (And heck yes that is my sweet ride in the background)



A common Sunday afternoon sight. Chicken anyone?

I got to bare-hand a toilet seat down to the customer service desk to make a return today. It was great walking in with that bad boy. The packaging had a handle at the top so I got to carry it in like a plumber's attache case. There were quite a few stares and I saw some smirks from the peanut gallery in the McDonald's area. But, I nabbed $6 of store credit for my return. Dip that in your ketchup Greasy McGee.

The trip was topped off by an extended check out session. I wanted to pay with my new $6 Wal-Mart credit card, then cash, then my debit card. My poor cashier had a very hard time getting the Wal-Mart card to read. It really wasn't her fault. She tried all kinds of stuff. I especially enjoyed watching her wrap a plastic bag over the card and then try to run it through the scanner.

She finally had to call her manager. By this time the lady behind me in line just sat down to rest in the aisle. The manager, who looked young enough to be the cashier's son, came over, put a key in the register, punched two buttons, and gave the cashier a dirty look. I felt bad for being such a nuisance, but a $6 toilet seat return is a $6 toilet seat return, you know?

Some other choice photos from the last excursion to the big W:

No cheapo crackers, No macaroni & cheese, No strawberry pop-tarts




No cookie dough for the Mrs., No green bag chips for lunch

I just thought this was funny. Nice work whoever you are.

Going to Wal-Mart is like gas station coffee, you know it's going to be bad, but it's so cheap you can't help yourself. And, I mean, where else are you going to get fishing lures, garlic bread, an eye exam, Pepto Bismol, and a movie rental, all while getting the oil changed in your car and enjoying a Big Mac?

I know where I'll be next weekend. You?

What is keeping you going?

My frazzled edges are turning a crispy golden brown. Beyond the sheer, undeserved grace of God's will, these are a few things keeping me going right now:

1. Strong coffee


2. Re-runs of "The Office"


3. Escaping into Google Reader


Drop a comment about what's putting gas in your tank.

New photos from today

I have been a little behind with new photos. I just put up a few new ones from our trip downtown, and our afternoon today. After you click the link below you can look at the pictures on the page or click the Slideshow button near the top right. Enjoy!

My Flickr photos

About 14 weeks

The newest baby Stortz will be here in about 14 weeks. I know most pregnancies usually time track with how far along they are, and not how far they have to go. But, for the sake of my wonderful wife, I am trying to keep it positive and it sounds better to say 14 weeks left, than 26 weeks along. Hmmm. 14 weeks is still a long time when you are pregnant. Maybe 26 weeks along does sound better... anyway.

We had our second ultrasound on Monday. The first ultrasound a few weeks ago revealed some cysts in the baby's brain that needed to be checked out further. It sounded very serious, but they assured us that is was probably nothing to worry about. And, thank you Lord, the second ultrasound proved that to be true. Everything looks healthy and on track.

We also decided to find out the baby's gender, albeit a little reluctantly for me. I thought it would be a fun surprise to not find out. It turns out I am a glaring minority on this one. Apparently there are clothes to get, accessories to buy, and rooms to plan. Not a big deal, though. We were having such a hard time picking out a name that it was nice to narrow it down a bit. We are expecting a boy and settling into the name Titus.

It was a lot of fun getting to tell the other kids. Zeke has been spot on about his brother and sister and his new brother was no exception. He knew it was going to be a boy and was not surprised. Selah's a bit confused and still seems to think that there is a baby growing in her tummy. But Eli wins the prize for best quote. When asked "What if the new baby is a girl?" He responds-

"If it's a girl, I quit!"

God bless that honesty.

Joyless appreciation?

I know my mood lately has been less than upbeat. I have had so much on my mind lately. Life has been going by at such a breakneck pace and it's hard for me to take it all in sometimes. I feel like a '78 Pinto getting lapped in a NASCAR world.

One thing I keep going over is the relationship between joy and thankfulness. Although I feel I have been losing some of my joy, I still feel very thankful. I so appreciate all that I have been given- salvation, my wife, my children and family, my health, my home and life, and even my job...sort of.

I am thankful for it all. I know I am. For whatever reason, it just has not given me much joy lately. It's a wierd feeling. At first thought, these two ideas should have a positive correlation. As one goes up, so does the other. You would think. I guess I'm just not sure.

Thankfulness is not listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, although joy makes the number 2 spot. After some examination, I can see a relationship between joy and hope according to Romans 12:12 and Romans 15:13. I haven't come across a similar relationship between joy and thankfulness yet. Should thankfulness inspire joy? Here are some things I have found out about joy for sure:

-Jesus had it
-Paul had it
-fruit of the Spirit
-you can lose it
-something we should always be full of
-can be filled with it by God
-things can give it to you
-it can be complete
-you can do do things with joy

I know I need to get some joy back. I guess I'm just in my annual winter slump. Joy and thankfulness...what are your thoughts?

Musings- holidays

We just went through the lobby of a hobby type store that will remain nameless. I saw Halloween pumpkins and Christmas trees side by side on the shelf. I'm not sure why it bothers me, it just does. I also overheard one guy comment to another guy that "This tree looks cute." But I know why that bothers me.

It's October 11th and this display has probably been up for a while. I guess it just adds to the rush- rush, never-get-caught-up feel of life. Let the holidays breathe a bit. I don't want to be thinking about Valentine cards while I'm finishing my Thanksgiving turkey.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Song of the Week: "Let It Fall" by Nevertheless

This song is from the album "Live Like We're Alive." It was one of my favorites of 2006. It is one of those albums I can listen to over and over because, not only is the music great, but I emotionally connect to so much of it.

I have been listening to "Let It Fall" almost every day this week. There is something about it that gives me hope. Check out the words:

We wear it on our face. 
We keep up with the pace and don’t slow down. 
But perfection without grace is such a lonely place to be found. 
We go ‘round and ‘round and never really move at all. 

Oh, we are bruised and destined to lose doing this alone. 
Oh, let it fall and cover us all – this grace that’s not our own. 

See it in our eyes. We’re running for the prize. Don’t burn out. 
But without a hand to hold, we’ll never really know what life’s about.
We go ‘round and ‘round and never really move at all. 

Let’s live like we’re alive. We’ll take the pain in stride. 
We’ll learn from our mistakes and be glad we ever tried. 
Let’s live like we’re alive.
Live like we’re alive and run with him into the night! 

I really like these guys. They just released a new CD about a month ago. I don't have it yet. The songs they have put online are a little bit softer than their previous stuff. I think I hear a little more piano too.

You can listen to a clip of this song on Last.fm You have to scroll down a bit, it was number 19 last time I checked. Check out their full page here or on MySpace.

Sometimes a surprise is better

People leave. It is a natural part of life. The longer you live, the more people you are bound to see come and go. As a teacher I have 20+ young people that come and go each school year. Some I get to know extremely well, and some not as much. Some kids are almost forgotten after a while, and a few kids I could not forget if I tried. But I always know I'll say goodbye when summer comes around. The end of school is as inevitable as the beginning. I plan for it. I work for it. In many cases I hope for it. It always arrives right on time. Saying goodbye is not a surprise. But, sometimes a surprise is better.

Every year there are always the "move aways." They start the year at one school and then move away to another. Parents will usually tell me a month in advance that they are moving, but sometimes it's a surprise. The parent will show up in the room, kids in tow, and tell me they are moving. They get their things packed up and withdraw from school. Occasionally I'll get a heads up a few days prior. Sometimes it's a nice surprise.

The hardest combination is when a student I love and adore dearly tells me that they are moving in two weeks. Two weeks? That is far enough out there to not be "soon," but not enough time to fully mentally prepare for it. It is just enough time to get really sad and down. This heartbreaking combination just happened to me.

Two weeks ago one of my sweetest and most precious students told me she was moving. She was actually in my class last year, but they are always "my" students. That first week I didn't really process it. It was just one more thing I did not want to think about. But this week, I could not stop coming back to it. I kept think about how much I missed having her in class this year. I was so glad I still got to see her every day in the halls. I just took it for granted. She is a very bright and capable girl and I know she will do well in any school. I'm not worried about her, I guess I was just thinking selfishly.

It was very hard to say goodbye yesterday. I didn't cry though. I was tough. I knew if I cried she would start crying too. She gave me a big hug and I gave her a little kiss on the forehead. We said our goodbyes and that was that. It's hard to say goodbye to someone you know you will probably never see again- especially when you have been mulling over it for two weeks. I think a surprise would have been better.

Two Pizzas?? (Can that be right?)

Somewhere along the lines, my family got big. It seems silly but I just realized it tonight. We have always been a 1 pizza family. It's a staple on the Wal-Mart list. I don't even have to write it down. I just pick up a frozen pizza every time I go grocery shopping. Now I am going to have to pick up two.

We had pizza tonight for supper and 1 just didn't make it. When dad is cooking, the meals are always a little sketchy but usually plentiful. Not tonight. The Red Baron did not quite make his destination. I guess 5 people eating 1 pizza does sound a little chinchy. With 3 kids feeding from the trough, I guess I'm going to have to start buying a little more. Now when kid number 4 gets here... it might be time for dear old dad to learn something about side dishes.

I added a countdown timer to the sidebar so you can see how much longer untill we will officially be a 6 member family.

Song of the Week: "Receive" by The Wedding

This song has been rolling around in my head ALL week. Even my 6 year old son has been singing it with me. Their blend of pop-punk infectiousness with hardcore inspired screams and breakdowns had me hooked since I first heard them on Power FM.

I missed seeing these guys back in August. They were playing at a church 30 minutes away, but I had committed to a prior engagement... I hope that won't happen again. I can imagine this band is a sight to see live. Here are the lyrics:

I can hear a train a-comin'
I hear the ground beneath my feet
This is not speculation, this is my bones growing weak.
The sound of angels screaming
The drums are marching off to war
This is not speculation, please do not televise The King.

It's like a fire coming down
We got it, We got it now.
Burn it up, burn it red
We got it, We got it.
It's like the rising of the sun
We got it, We got it now.
Turn it up, breath it in
Full redemption.

Clap your hands for breathing
Feel your heart begin to beat
This is our desperation, this is the deep calling deep.
You cannot keep us silent
We are the prisoner set free
This is our desperation, we are the service of The King.

All aboard. I hear, hear a train. Do you hear it?

Go check them out on their MySpace page. It's the first song on the player.

From my journal...

To even catch a glimpse of how amazing God's love must be for us can be life changing. I think we get a glimpse at salvation. We get a taste right then of our own filthiness and of the Lord's sweetness. But then we have to keep our eyes open for the next taste- not because it's so big, shaking, and rare, but because it is so prevalent, subtle, and easy to miss.

Pray with me, like Paul prayed, that we could have the power to grasp how wide, how long, how deep, and how high Jesus' love for us truly is.

Worship Wednesday

It's something I came up with years back when I was in college. I'm not even sure how the idea came about, other than Jesus inspiring me to do it. I call it Worship Wednesday and I do it like this.

First, you have to understand fasting. Fasting is a time when you voluntarily set something aside to focus more on God, and his provision and providence in your life. Usually this is with food, but it can really be done with anything. Worship Wednesday is a type of fast.

Second, you have to be pretty into music or at least listen to a lot of it. Music is the thing that gets fasted so music needs to something you will actually miss if it is gone.

Okay, here it is and it's real simple. I stop listening to all of my usual music for the day. No metal, no hardcore, no punk, no Power FM. Nuthin. When I'm in my truck on Wednesday, the radio is off. I use that time to pray and clear my head. During the day I only allow myself to listen to 2 types of things. I will listen to music that is very praise and worship oriented, or I will listen to podcasts of my favorite preachers like Ed Young, Mark Driscoll, or Perry Noble.

I feel refreshed and recharged by the end of the day. And when Thursday roll around, I feel very appreciative and enjoy my "regular" music that much more.

You could really do Worship Wednesday with anything that vies for your time. Try it out, and let me know how it goes.

Song of the Week: "Anyone Can Dig a Hole, But It Takes a Real Man to Call It Home" by Underoath

I have really been enjoying the new Underoath album this week. All in all, it is some of their most mature work to date. I found myself going back to one song in particular this week. It gets bonus points for having such a long title: "Anyone Can Dig a Hole, But It Takes a Real Man to Call It Home."

This song so perfectly sums up my emotions during the last few weeks of my life it is scary. I am always amazed at the level of connection that is possible through music. I'll let the lyrics speak for themselves:

I'm no leader, I'm just a mess
It's not the way it's supposed to be
It's just the way it is
I'm afraid we're all victims here
And I'm the one who's in charge
I've lead us all astray again

Oh, how the plot thickens
Are we too far gone
We always assume the worst
I'm afraid no one's listening anymore

I'm freaking out
I'm so sick
I'm making me sick
Don't look down, don't look down

The only thing in my way, is myself
I'm just thinking out loud, I'm just thinking
How can I still be alive
I should have been gone so long ago

I can't get away from it all
I messed up like I always do

I gave you nothing
I took you nowhere
You're still listening

The world around me has taken a turn for the worst
I'm left alone
Climbing to the top
Should I jump, should I stay,
Can I make another day

I am the one who's wrong
God forgive me

Unfortunately, this song has not been legally released on the web yet, so I can't share the whole thing with you. If you check my recently played played tracks on the right, or go to my Last.fm page you might be able to grab a 25 second listen. You can check out their other stuff on MySpace and PureVolume.

I actually bought a NEW, NEW, NEW CD!

I actually did it. I think this is the first time it has ever happened. I purchased a CD that was new in all three categories! Let me explain.
*Category 1- Condition: I usually buy old CD's. You know- used, pre-owned, previously listened, gently loved, etc. It's a big thing for me to buy a new CD.
*Category 2- Freshness: I usually buy older CD's. Most albums I get have been around for a little while. Some may be fairly new to me or they might be old bands I have liked for a long time.

Most CD's are used/old or used/new to me. Some are new/old and a precious few are new/new to me. But today something magical happened...

*Category 3- Release date: I have never acquired a new CD on the super special Tuesday that all things new are released. This category has always been "old" until today. Today it all aligned and I have my first new, new, new CD! And it is sweet:

UNDERØATH Lost In The Sound of Separation

I have made it through half of the album as I type this. I am very impressed so far. I am a bit biased as these guys are one of my all time favorite bands ever. I was a little disappointed with their previous release "Define the Great Line." It never grabbed me like their previous work did. This new material is drawing me in much more. I think I already have the song of the week picked out...

Check them out on MySpace and let me hear your thoughts.

They Really Can't Hear You

I have never gotten it. I mean I've tried. The Lord knows I have given it time. My wife has been involved with it since middle school and my in laws are definitely into it. It's getting to be that time of year. It's a Texas high school tradition. Yet here I sit on a sultry August night under the Friday night lights of the local football game, and I still don't get it.

I have tried for years but I still find football to be about the most uninteresting thing going. All the running and throwing and chasing the little ball- I just don't see what all the fuss is about.

But the thing I really don't get are the "talkers.". You know, the people that sit in the stands and talk to the players on the field... Their eyes are fixed on the action and they start saying things like "C'mon defense!" or "Gittem 42!" or "Gawn hold em!"

I really don't get it. For the life of me I can't figure out who they are talking to. It's not the rest of the crowd because they are right there watching the game. It can't be the players can it? Maybe if I yelled at the players I'd like football more. Still, I can't help but wonder if the "talkers" know that they really can't hear you...

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Great Quote: Multitasking

"Multitasking is the art of distracting yourself from two things you’d rather not be doing by doing them simultaneously."

I found this very funny, but not ha-ha funny. This is a great quote that I grabbed from a post on 43 Folders, my new favorite blog.

Song of the Week: "Promise" by Spoken

God speaks to me through music. If that sounds freaky to you, then God probably doesn't speak to you in music. If He does, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

It has been a VERY difficult week for me with all the typical duties of a husband and father of three plus the added stress of getting ready to start a new school year. This song came on the radio at one of my lowest points this week. I know God is trying to cheer me up and wants me to lay my worries on Him. These lyrics have definitely been speaking to me:

Yet another day seems like it’s wasted
You don’t feel you’re any closer to the prize
A dead end job where there’s no future
Praying that tomorrow things won’t be this way

Things will get better this I promise you
And I know that you won’t feel this way forever
Things will get better this I promise you
And I know loneliness won’t last forever

Yet another day, another tired morning
You’re catching up to your intentions
You’re thinking life has to be easier than this
Maybe tomorrow things won’t be this way

Things will get better this I promise you
and I know it wont feel this way forever
Things will get better this I promise you
and I know we can find a way to make it better
things will get better this I promise you
And I know loneliness won't last forever

I got a chance to go see these guys about two years ago with a good friend of mine. The stage presence and energy these guys have live is astounding. Check them out on PureVolume. "Promise" is the last song on their playlist. They also have the video on their MySpace page.

Meeting Ron Clark

Wow! All I have is one word for this guy: PASSIONATE!

Our beginning of the school year kickoff featured award winning educator Ron Clark as the keynote speaker. What a treat. I was definitely not feeling school this year. In fact, I remember just telling Nell that this was the most unenthusiastic I have ever been about starting school. That is definitely not the case anymore. This was exactly what I needed.

Ron has been a personal teaching hero of mine for years and it was a pleasure to hear him talk. His passion for teaching is a marvel. The guy is a dynamo. And although he did not talk much abut it, he is a believer in balance, which is so important to me. He is also the "real deal" as he continues to teach and spend his time in front of a classroom full of kids each year. This gives him incredible street cred as a presenter. I feel very privileged to have met him and definitely feel ready to roll for this year!

You can check him out here at the Ron Clark Academy.

Messed Up by Grace

I started listening to some sermons from Perry Noble at NewSpring Chruch in Anderson, South Carolina. I saw him at C3 this year and loved his controversial no-nonsense presentation style. His latest series is answering the top questions that were voted on by people online. The one I just listened to is called "Can I Loose My Salvation?"

Anytime I hear and really think about stuff like this, it really messes me up. It is just hard to accept because the performance plan makes us feel better- "At least I'm better than that guy..." We want to feel like we are actually doing something to contribute to our salvation, or at least the keeping of it. I think it gives us a sense of control and pride. The bible says that "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36) But once we cross over that line of faith, it is humbling to know that nothing we do can make God love us any more or any less. We do absolutely nothing and Jesus does absolutely everything.

Check out the message (it starts about 30 min. into it) and let me know what you think.

Apples, Berries, and Tootsie Pops

Remember these as a kid? I always liked the dark red ones, and was always on the lookout for that Indian shooting the star.

I had a different thought about this sweet treat though. What if we used it to compare the iPhone and the BlackBerry? C'mon, it will be fun.

Okay, I think the iPhone is like the outer candy shell. They are both bright, slick, shiny, and nice to look at. The media features and browsing are top notch. The sugar rush is there. They are sweet at first, but ultimately let you down with limited functionality and customizability.

The BlackBerry, on the other hand, is more like the actual tootsie roll. It is not quite as nice to look at. Some of the features are burried a bit and require some chewing. But once you dig in and really start to chew, you will be left satisfied with a hearty piece of technology that fills you up.

What's your take?

01100-01001-10110-00101

Believe it or not, there was a time in my life in which I actually owned a pager and I wasn't even in the business of trafficking drugs. When my wife was pregnant with our first child, she wanted a way to get ahold of me immediately if need be. I was okay with this, but I was NOT going to have a cell phone. I can remember feeling so strongly about this. I was completely against having a cell phone. I used to think they were ridiculous and pretentious. So I decided to fight the establishment and I got a pager instead.

I have to think back and laugh at this. #1 for my hard head about embracing new technology (especially if you knew how much I love my BlackBerry now) and how silly the idea of a pager sounds today. But I know people still buy them. I saw a store advertising PAGERS! PAGERS! while driving through a hillbilly-ish town on vacation a few weeks ago.

Technology has come a long way in the last few years hasn't it? I was just laughing the other day at the thought of a dial up internet connection- do you remember that noise? I apologize if you heard that noise to actually get here... Mobile phones used to be bricks strapped to our belts or dead weights bogging down purses. And the thought of a car phone conjures up images of cave paintings and hunter- gatherers.

I have been very guilty this summer of bordering on technology overload. I have signed up for 19 different web services, installed over 15 various apps on my phone, got a new email address, overhauled my iGoogle page, created a Facebook account, designed a website for school, upgraded my BlackBerry's OS, and figured out how to make and save .png images with transparent backgrounds. I'm also wearing suspenders and a pocket protector now.

I have had so much fun this summer discovering all the crazy stuff out there on the web. It truly is amaizing. Lately though I feel it is getting to be a bit much. Behind all the 1's and 0's of binary code there are actual, physical people. And that's what all this stuff is for, right? It's all about relationships. This is supposed to keep us connected. As the new school year begins to get rolling, I know I need to start putting all of this into perspective. Granted, it is a lot of fun, but it is all a means. I need to learn to log on without tuning out.

By the way, the title of this post says "Live" in binary code.

7 People, 5 Days, 1 Van

Otherwise know as family fun on the summer va-cay.

We are off to south Texas. Check the Flickr feed on the sidebar for latest pics of the fam!

Love at the Core

I have been listening to Run Kid Run's new album "Love at the Core" more than just about anything lately. I always know when music connects with me because I willingly seek out time to listen to it.

Although the music itself is nothing groundbreaking, it is phenomenally executed. It's just solid rock with pop and punk influences. It's the kind of stuff that gets stuck in your head for days. This band arose from the ashes of another band, Sidewalk Slam, for anyone who cares about such things. I think I like this stuff better. Click the Bull's Eye target at the bottom and let me know which song you like the best.

But it's not the insanely catchy melodies that keep me coming back to this record. It is the simple, yet touching lyrics penned by the band. The title track is especially close to my heart:

"We want love, love at the core
The cold of the flesh always seems to creep inside of my chest
And I need the pulse of you, God
To fill these veins and touch my heart
So I can start living again
We’ve seen the dark of the night
Sun won’t you come shine some light on our lives


We want love, love at the core
So much more then what we’re living for
We want love , we want love
Love at the core
So much more of this
Life that we’re reaching for
We want love to bind us tonight
Leave behind your own disguise
So love can find you and I"

This is such a wonderful description of what Jesus did for us. It is incomprehensible to imagine the sacrifice. Romans 5:8 says "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us". Amazing. To pay for all of our filth, lies, hate, idolatry, lust, and jealousy, it would take nothing less than "Love at the Core."

Check out the rest of the lyrics for "Love at the Core" and listen to the song on my MySpace page.

Mr. Mom

Do you remember that one? Classic. I love this movie. I have not seen it on TV yet this summer, but I'm looking. I should probably break down and just buy it, but I'm cheap. Favorite line: "My brain is like oatmeal. I yelled at Kenny today for coloring outside the lines! Megan and I are starting to watch the same TV shows, and I'm liking them! I'm losing it."

This summer as my wife finishes up teaching summer school, I can relate to Michael Keaton's character Jack Butler and his plight. It is not that easy staying at home with the kids. They're always. . . around. And they need stuff- food, clothes, playtime, diapers, love, attention. The problems come when they don't get one of the above at the exact second they want it. I got my wife a Mother's Day card that read "I childproofed the house, but they keep getting back in." I don't think the kids got it.

Conversation is definitely one sided. Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy- get me, get me, get me, get me, get me- no, no, no, no, no. But I just pray for patience and wisdom and try to realize that I am touching the future. At least that's what I read on a T shirt.

But truly, deep down, it's great. I am absolutely in love with my three amazing children and wouldn't trade being a dad for anything. It is such an incredible responsibility. I am sad that some dads miss out on really being a father. Sometimes my wife or I will get a comment like "Oh, it's so nice that you are watching the kids." To that I always have to say "Well, not really. I'm not a babysitter. I'm their dad."

Picture courtesy of www.videodetective.com

Styrofoam sin

Ahh, the bi-monthly Saturday ritual- mowing the lawn.

As I was out cutting the grass, a tiny piece of styrofoam caught my eye. Now my lawn is definitely more "Malcolm in the Middle" than "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" but I bent over to pick it up anyway. I noticed another piece a few feet away. Then another, and then another. I realized that I must have shredded a cup underneath the mower without realizing it.

I spent the next minutes grumbling as I picked up the pieces. If I would have just been more careful, I could have simply picked up the little cup before it got chopped up. Instead I found myself bending over to get a squillion little pieces of styrofoam.

But isn't sin just like that? One lie, one lustful thought, one cheat- one little sin can turn into many shredded pieces in our lives just like that. The bible says in James 1:15 that "after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." The more you allow sin to spread and grow, the worse off it is going to be. The more it is left unchecked, the more pieces get strewn about. It is so much easier to stop it before it starts. Don't let the enemy even have a foothold.

Lord, give us all the strength to pick up the little cup before it is shredded all over the landscape of our lives.

Change

The reunion is not as altogether unpleasant as I thought. It is not altogether pleasant though. It's always a little awkward when you haven't seen people in this long. But, it is nice to share a few laughs and catch up with some old friends.

10 years later and here we are. I am glad that so many people have matured. I guess a decade will do that to you. Cliques and groups kind of fade away. You just don't have the time or energy for that anymore. I mean, who keeps a grudge with someone ten years out of high school? I was very surprised at some of the people I talked to. I had some great conversation with a few guys that I almost never talked to in high school. It was cool.

I guess what I'm trying to say is people are people. They mature and grow, but we all have difficulty actually changing. The old adage is definitely true: the more things change, the more things stay the same. And outside of God, people don't truly change. They can't.

The scenery is nice though. . .

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

10 years

Wow! I can't believe I'm heading out soon to the 10 year high school reunion. An entire decade. It sounds like a lot when I say it like that. I'll stick with ten years.

I'm glad to say they were not wasted years. Let's see... since I graduated from high school I have become a believer in Jesus, got married, graduated from college, had 3 kids, moved to the 'burbs, and got myself a career. Not too shabby, Gabby. I have the Good Lord to thank for all that.

Well, we'll see how it all goes. It has been quite a while since I have seen some of these people. Better go hit the yearbook and get myself refreshed.

Rings & things

I had ten years to fully upgrade my wife's engagement ring. I scrounged up a meager $175 about 9 years ago to get the first one. That's how I rolled. Actually when you are 18, you don't do much rolling. More like walking...

Now we got it all taken care of- a new band, a new ring, a new diamond. Everybody's happy. The sales lady actually turned out to be from our church. My wife thinks it was a sign from God. :-)

Sent Via BlackBerry by AT&T

Psycho dog

"Are you communicating with me?
Are YOU communicating with ME?"

-What movie is that from? (think ninjas) :-)

When you realize that you suck

Every once in a while it will hit me- I suck. I mean little things happen every day that make us all think that, but I mean deeper. I mean a gut level internal knowledge that every natural thing about you is messed up on some level.

Apart from Jesus there really is no good in me at all. I think sometimes there is some good in me. But no. There truly is none apart from Him. Every little bit of goodness in me is a gift from the heart of the Master.

Thank you Lord for not giving me what I deserve. Give me the strength to extend this to the others in my life.

Some days

Some days I just don’t know if I want to teach anymore. Some days I have dreams of a cozy cubicle. Some days I really do think I could sell cars. Maybe.

Some days I don’t know if I can take one more kid asking me “What did you say Mr. Stortz?” right after I just said it 13 times and had your buddy right next to you repeat it back to me.

I’m not sure if I can take one more kid asking me if his tooth looks “loose”.

Some days I don’t know if I can tie one more shoe, put on one more band- aid, or listen to one more story about what your mom made for supper last night.

Some days I don’t know if I can tell one more kid to stop doing that and go get a Kleenex.

Some days I just don’t know if I can listen to one more tattle about how James was looking at me during recess and now he’s not going to be my friend.

Some days I know I say “Go sit down” more than I say “Good job!”

Some days I say “Go fix this” more than I say “Well done.”

Some days I want to trip the next kid running down the hall.

And some days I want parental consent to biff kids in the back of the head as an acceptable form of discipline.

But some days, more than anything, I just don’t know if I want to reach the end of my life and realize that I never really did anything of significance. I don’t know if I want to be at the end of it all and have had no one tell me thanks for making a difference in their life.

But the truth is many of us will never see the end results of our efforts. We tire for something distant and unformed. Something that has not yet been. Someone else will reap the fruits from the tears, struggles, and labor that we have sown.

The Bible reminds us to “not grow weary in doing what is right.” We get a chance to pour ourselves into something much bigger than any of us. It’s living and organic. It is intangible and wonderful. It is for the greater good. It’s something that all the cubicle workers and car dealers probably don’t understand. But that’s why I teach.

And some days, I just don’t know if I remind myself of that enough.

God bless you all.

Why is the sun hot?

Conversations with my son on the car ride to school this month:

Son: Why is the sun so hot?

Me: Well, there are many reasons. There’s um… exploding gases, and uh...Did you get your lunchbox?

Son: Why do kids in high school drive cars to school?

Me: Well…….. I’m not sure. I guess they like to.

Son: Did Dr. Frankenstein have a mustache?

Me: Well… I’m not exactly sure. We’ll check Wikipedia when we get home.

Son: Why are elementary schools always inside of neighborhoods?

Me: Well, I guess it builds community for the families and safety for the school.

Son: I wish they were close to, like, businesses.

Son: What if all the continents were connected to each other?

Me: Actually (sounding very knowledgable), many scientists think they used to be. They called it (I paused here for effect and nodded my head as I said it) Pangea.

Son: (Completely unimpressed by my vast historical knowledge) But what if they still were all connected right now?

Me: Umm. We would all be…uhh… I’ll check Wikipedia when we get home.

I see a thirst for physics, sociology, literature, geography. A thirst that often dries up far too quickly. As I listen to my 6 year old son, I am constantly reminded that my agenda is rarely his and that kids are quite capable of making their own curriculum. Somedays I just forget that fact as I stand on my soapbox in front of my classroom full of 1^st graders and preach the benefits of knowing the _ump word family, and how learning to properly make a lowercase “k” will, in fact, make you a better author.

Our students will learn despite us, in spite of us, and hopefully on those rare occasions, because of us.