I only have a minute…

Apple’s new iPod Nano ROCKS. Take a look–it’s incredible.

I got my DVR box finally, and got it working. I haven’t explored all it has to offer, but I tested it out with a rerun of Star Trek: TNG, and it was pretty fun. I ran across this channel that seems to play Star Trek all day long…I think I might like this!!! So far, I’m impressed!!

New version of iTunes is a FANTASTIC upgrade. It’s classier, smarter, and there are some great new features. Steve Jobs is the bomb…yay Apple!!

Praise Habit is a great book!

I’ve heard from several people already that choir was frustrating or hard last night…I thought it was great! There was a lot of hard work, yes-we really did WORK hard in places, but I thought it was a great rehearsal in that aspect AND it sounded really good from where I was standing, especially in the 2nd standing arrangement (don’t know why that made such a difference, but it did…). I was worried last week about the new song “Homeward Bound” (not the animal movie…) but this week it sounded much better, and pretty good, actually!

My DVR isn’t here yet. I’m getting mad at Cox.

iSight and iChat are cool. I talked with my folks last night using it and it is really cool for them to be able to see the kids and talk to the kids on a regular basis. Incredible technology…another thumbs up for technology. Yippee!

Study of Mark:

Day 26: (Mark 14:1-31)
Here is where we see Jesus as the BROKEN SACRIFICE for all mankind. This is the passage where everyone is taking part in communion, and Jesus says “This is my body, broken for you”. Very powerful analogy, imho.

Day 27: (Mark 14:32-72)
Here Jesus goes to pray in the garden, gets betrayed by Judas, is taken before the Sanhedrin, and is betrayed by Peter. One part of this whole section that stood out to me was that even Jesus, the Son of God, was OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WILL. “Not what I will, but what you will”.

Day 28: (Mark 15:1-20)
This is the passage where Jesus is with Pilate before the people. Pilate asks if they want Barabbas or Jesus released and they choose Barabbas…I chose to describe Jesus here as the PASSOVER LAMB. Pilate talks about the passover feast in this passage, and I thought about the customs really being void from there on out because Jesus became the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

Day 29: (Mark 15: 21-47)
Jesus is the SON OF GOD. Here is why…39 “And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and[d] saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”.

Day 30: (Mark 16:1-20)
This one was a little easier to describe. It’s the last chapter of Mark, and the ressurecetion of Jesus is described, so I chose to call Him the RISEN SAVIOR.

I’m now onto a 30-day plan to read Luke. It is substantially longer than Mark, but that’s a good thing.

Hmmmm… Nertz last night. Mike won again. I’m not sure how. I think my streak is really paining me. It’s haunting me. Laughing at me. Why can’t I win?? How long has it been since I beat Mike? Like, forever…maybe 6 months…it’s a tragedy. It’s awful. I need to win next time. I NEED to. ARGH!!!

I have some advice for all of you out there. Embrace technology. That’s all I have to say. Embrace it and use it to make your life easier. I can pay almost ALL of my bills online-no stamps or checks or going to the mailbox. (this is why I haven’t mailed those DVDs mom and dad–sorry–I never go to the mailbox).
Embrace it. I have an iPod and use iTunes to manage my music. It’s incredible. Embrace it. Digital cameras are revolutionizing home photography. Use it. It’s 2005 and the world is moving quickly. You must embrace change. I purchase 90% of my DVDs and other stuff from Amazon.com. It’s easy and fast. No more traffic or overcrowded WalMarts. I buy 90% of stuff for my work online. Sheet music, orchestrations, equipment, books, CDs (iTunes), I buy it all online. I’m using iTUnes to archive ALL of the CD’s that anyone has ever sent me as a promotion from any choral club that I can find in my library. I’ll be able to access ANY of those songs by several keywords or the instant search mechanism. Why wouldn’t you want that?? I just ordered a DVR from Cox–I’ll never have to use VHS tape again. No more old tapes ruining my show or faulty settings on the timer, accidentally set to record American Idol in 2007 instead of earlier tonight…nope. High-speed internet…I think you all know how much cooler that is…
you must embrace technology.

OK. I would post some more about Mark, but I’ll have to save that for tomorrow. Now I need to stop typing and go play with my kids.

Oh yeah, 3 years ago today we pulled up to Midway with our moving van and moved into our house in San Diego. It was a Thursday, Sept 5th. I’m starting my fourth year here…wow.

EDIT ADD:

So, anyway, I see a 2-page ad in PEOPLE for that new show “3 wishes”, and the picture is TOTALLY someone I taught at MLCS. I knew it was in Tuolumne, but still. It was cool to see that pic…and weird.
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Mark:

Day 23 (Mark 12:1-17)
Here we see Jesus declared by the Pharisees as a MAN OF INTEGRITY. “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” Even though it says He sensed their hypocrisy, I still believe it’s true-Jesus was a man of integrity, a quality that seems to be fleeting nowadays. I won’t be one of those people that constantly complain how the world is spiraling down the toilet or anything, but ACTUAL integrity is very difficult to find in people in our culture because of the high value placed on success (at any cost). In a society where you can pretty much sacrifice anything to make something of yourself, the men and women who DON’T sacrifice their integrity for personal gain are like gold.

btw- I’m ACTUALLY listening to the Casting Crowns album right now, how powerful…this group is revolutionizing Christian culture with their amazing lyrics and music. One of the best lyric/music combos I’ve heard since Michael W. Smith. The truth in their songs leaves me so humbled before the throne of God…I saw them at Saddleback in July and I cried through most of their songs even though I’d heard a lot of them before. They (like we do at our church) put the words of their songs up on the screens while singing, and it was something to really SEE the lyrics that I’ve been singing all this time. It moved me. Listening to LIFESONG (the title track) also moved me this morning.

Day 24 (Mark 12:18-44)
This passage is where Jesus gives the Great Commandment, and I couldn’t think of anything more fitting to describe Jesus here but LOVER. Now, as I type that and read it, it looks silly and funny–but in the pure sense, Jesus is love. God is love (1 John 4). There’s no better way to describe what Jesus wants from us but to say that it is LOVE.

Day 25 (Mark 13:1-37)
Jesus is OUR GUIDE. This is a very interesting passage. Jesus starts talking about the future and giving sort of a doomsday report of is to come. It’s a little shocking, actually. But one of the things he says to the disciples that I love, is to not be worried about what to say when they are brought before the Sanhedrin or other religious leaders, because the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say. I love that promise! So though all the chaos that may come in the future, Jesus will be OUR GUIDE.

If you haven’t heard the Casting Crowns album LIFESONG you’re wasting your time. GO GET IT! You won’t regret it.

We should be playing NERTZ with Brad & Suzie on Sunday (or maybe tonight). And my DVR set up should be here today…yahoo!

Oh yeah, Christy got a job! She’s teaching two classes at school. A small High School vocal ensemble and elementary music. It will be good for her and good for them. I’m glad she’ll be able to use her gifts in this way. She’s been freaked out about working and stuff for a while (I guess that first year of teaching was traumatizing!!!) but she shouldn’t be freaked out ’cause she is very gifted at teaching. Good job, dear!

OK- so there’s a picture of Baby Noah…not SUCH a baby anymore-so we’re trying to break that habit…there’s a pic of Noah. Isn’t he handsome? And such a ham for the camera…yeah, he’s almost two years old.

I think yesterday I ate more ice cream than is beneficial for any human being. Mind you, this is light ice cream, but that doesn’t matter. I had a nice big bowl at lunch, and another when I came home around 9 PM (and I’ve been trying not to eat too late). Anyway, I bought this 1/2 gallon of strawberry ice cream (Dreyer’s Grand Light–the best brand ever!) at lunch time and now there is hardly any left in the carton. It’s pretty unthinkable–this travesty. I don’t think anybody should consume that much ice cream in any given 24 hour period–it’s inhumane. I’ll be paying for it for a while…

Mark:

Day 19 (Mark 10:1-31)
Here we see Jesus as a person who GOES FOR THE JUGULAR (a phrase coined by a brilliant theology professor Dr. Baloin). Whenever he’s asked questions, Jesus cuts right to the heart of the issue of whatever is really in that person’s heart. For example: the rich man that asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus’ response ultimately was to sell everything he had and give to the poor–not because that was God’s law, but because that is what THAT guy needed to hear. Another example:Pharisees testing him about divorce. Check it out. Jesus does this a few other times in scripture, also…

Day 20 (Mark 10:32-52)
Jesus is a SERVANT. Read it here: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Day 21 (Mark 11:1-19)
Jesus is JUST. Here Jesus curses the fig tree and overturns the tables in the temple. He was and is a God who loves JUSTICE.

Day 22 (Mark 11:20-33)
Here we see that Jesus is CLEVER or SMART. Now I know that sounds funny-Jesus is smart? Of course he is, he’s all-knowing!!! But I thought the way that he handled the Pharisees who questioned him about who’s authority he was doing these things with was just so clever. He could have just told them the answer, but he made them trick themselves into lying, saying “I don’t know”. It is great. Read the passage–its just phenomenal.

OH yeah– NEW CASTING CROWNS ALBUM–it’s a must get!!!