Addiction

I have a horrible addiction. One that could potentially ruin my career in ministry. I tell the addiction here in hopes that someone can help. It started over a year ago. It started with a movie and now it has become my escape. I must confess...I am addicted to Harry Potter. It's true.
I first realized I might have a problem when I read the fan fiction online after my second reading through all the books. Today, I rewatched just the special features for the "goblet of Fire". When I had a few free hours the other night, I spent it all on mugglenet.com. I think I have a problem. It might not really be a problem until I actually write a fan fiction novel. If you don't know what fan fiction is, you probably can't help.
I HAVE, however, come to the understanding that I can love Jesus and read/watch harry potter. I even used it as a sermon illustration a few weeks ago. SO there.

Michael Scott self awareness

I heard an interview with steve carell on NPR the other day. I love NPR. Mostly on the weekends, but that's not the point. He was talking about his cringe inducing character on the Office, Michael Scott. The interviewer prompted him to respond with the typical "there's a little michael scott in us all" type of answer. Instead, he says something like this.
"Look at your group of friends and think who the Michael Scott is. If you can't think of one, look in the mirror"
So I did that. I think i'm way too much like Michael Scott. Woefully self-unaware. Saying things I don't mean in the absolute wrong moment. I've also been compared by others to Strongsad, and Eeyore. All of this is slightly disturbing. Would I actually do the things that Michael Scott does? With obviously less humorous results?
A good friend of mine used to give me these disappointed looks at almost every attempted joke. Coincidentally, another friend in college would actually make sure I and everyone else knew that what I just said wasn't funny. This has led to a couple of unintentional consequences. I keep my mouth shut and don't make jokes. This makes me seem reclusive and in a state of constant depression. Which is not the case. WHile my sense of humor is an acquired taste...that's the end of that sentence. For example.
Great Scott!
I'm going back to bed.

Beard

I grew a beard. I full on, grizzly adams beard. If you follow the link in the post previous, you will see a brief glimpse of said beard. While I've yet to attain...say...Sean Michel status, I'm quite proud of my questionable sense of style. I think I have my finger on the pulse of what's "hot" in fashion. You may disagree, but I definitely called the resurgence of the waist-coat or "vest". I think I've acurately called the new onslaught of airbrushed beach scene t-shirts. (having bought each member of my family one complete with dolphins) Here's my next step in the fashion war. Untied bowties. Casually slung around the neck as if to say "who...me?" (i don't know what that means)
My recent adventures mentioned below have shown me that the vest and tie and any combination of the two have reached the mainstream. Almost for that reason alone I"m tempted to abandon it and move forward with my airbrushed untied bow-tie concoction. Everybody's got a goatee, a vest, and a tie. Not me...I've got a beard, an airbrushed tee and a untied bow-tie. I'm on the cusp of cool and it's exhilarating. (again...I don't know what that means)
Jesus is the best thing ever.

The biggest day of the year

What an experience.

A while ago, I made the decision I was going to audition for American Idol. Kind of a "nothing to lose everything to gain" kind of situation. So my wife and I made a bunch of plans and saved some money to go to Kansas City to audition. Crazy experience. From waiting in line for six hours one day to get a wristband, to waiting in line for 4 hours to get in...lot's of waiting. I got up to the producer to sing (not any of the TV folks) and sang, then sang again, then again...he says that there's something there, but it's not quite polished enough and to try again. So I took that quite literally and dropped off the wife and kids and drove 17 hours to Jacksonville Florida for the next audition. I still can't believe I did that. I did the same thing all over again. Got in front of the producer (a different one this time) and she said almost the same thing. "You've got a beautiful voice, but the presentation isn't quite there." Crazy time. I did make it onto a local TV Station with Andrew Cook, the brother of David Cook. So...go me. Check it out here.

There was a girl dressed as a bunny, a guy with a fake accent, a guy with a gold glitter jacket, and the guy in front of me finished his song with a handstand and made it through (it wasn't a good thing). I'm sure there were many crazies in the crowd. Most were in denial like me.

I'm still processing the whole thing...debating whether or not to do it again next year...

It's been a weird summer. I started it as a outside salesman for a commercial heating and air company and ended it trying out for American Idol. I met some AWESOME teenagers at seek week and SSWC in the middle. Lots of questions and a few answers. Jesus is still the best thing ever.