List December #1

Alright, December is here, and with it comes tons of year end lists! Just to reiterate a note from last year; I realize that this is completely self-indulgent and I don't expect anyone to care all that much what my favorite stuff is, but I love reading others year-end lists so I always find making my own fun as well. We'll get to favorite music, books, and movies of 2008 a little later in the month but I figured this one would be a fun one to start out on! What's on your list?

Speaking of lists, don't forget to check out who topped out Q's top 50. Wow. Speechless. Almost as bad as Paste's. Of course, nothing tops Blender's list of mediocrity (not surprising). I honestly think music magazines have lost their minds this year. Mojo and Uncut's lists are somewhat better...i guess.

Anyway, on to the first list!

Favorite Alternative Albums of the 90's

Pearl Jam - Ten










Nirvana –Nevermind

Nirvana -Unplugged in New York

Dinosaur Jr. - Without a Sound

Alice in Chains – Jar of Flies

Radiohead - The Bends

Radiohead - OK Computer

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

Soul Asylum – Grave Diggers Union

Stone Temple Pilots - Core

Live – Throwing Copper

Counting Crows – August and Everything After

REM - Out of Time

Weezer – Blue Album

Soundgarden - Superunknown

U2 - Achtung Baby

Neil Cole and Ed Young Jr.

Here's a good Leadership article interviewing two very different pastors: Neil Cole and Ed Young Jr. HT: Gentry

While I was in NYC I actually got to meet both of these guys. I met Ed Young Jr. at a church planters luncheon that the North American Mission Board had for about 30 or 40 pastors. And I did a two-day workshop on church planting with Neil Cole at the same venue ironically (thanks to my friend Paul Gomez). I cannot think of two different pastors than these two.

The luncheon with EYJ included popular catch phrases such as "It's the weekend stupid" and "People are people anywhere you go." Two phrases that I couldn't disagree with more. It also included pastors being giddy about meeting their idol which I didn't really understand at the time. One guy raised his hand and asked, "When are you going to plant a church in the city Ed?" followed by a flushed giggle. I almost vomited. But I will give Ed this, he remembered every single person by name on the way out. He certainly doesn't lack charm or charisma. But he also says things like, "That's off the chain."

The workshop with Neil Cole was about an organic style of church planting and the house church movement. This was something I was quickly drawn to and excited about. It seemed so much more natural and appealing, less about the Sunday production and more about relationships. Less about providing religious goods and services to demanding consumers and more about being a missional community. Neil Cole is one of those guys that if you don't like, it's your fault. He too has charm and charisma, but more in a toned down way. I think he could walk in anyplace and meet anyone and that seems to be key to his way of "doing church".

The article is a fascinating read. Enjoy!

How could you not like this show?

Guess I should post the original for a reference point:

A True Story

As I was approaching the elevator in an airport parking garage in Tampa I see about 8 people who appears to be one large redneck family looking around at the elevator whom appear to be having a hard time getting the elevator to work. I hear this:

"I think you might need a key or something."

As I approach they start to walk away. I hit the button and the elevator door opens and I hear:

"Hey, this guys got it figured out."

"Yeah, I cracked the code" I think.

The family gets in the elevator, the youngest boy of which has a filthy face and the father had a killer mullet along with a button up shirt with the sleeves ripped off.

I ask, "what floor should I hit?"

"Ah, we're just along for the ride."

I press 6 (the top floor).

He explains further, "I'm building the elevators on the other side of the garage and was just bringing my family to see what we're doing."

This is okay, but I'm confused on how you can be building an elevator but not know how to open the doors! Yikes. I still can't believe this happened.

Paste Magazine - Best Music of 2008

Since Paste Magazine rolled out their new format I've been less than impressed. This magazine used to be insightful, have articles I cared about, and good recommendations for new music. But all that changed when the swapped formats for a more shallow, "Blender-esque" type music mag.

So I guess I'm more surprised that Paste already has their best of 2008 music picks out (seeing that it's only November), than the fact that their list is horrific in places and their number one pick is a travesty.

Decide for yourself here.

Do you remember the NES Advantage controller? I think they should have made an NES Advantage controller nano.

I never understood how this enormous block controller was much of an advantage.

Yes, that is what this blog has come to. But the good news is, List December is right around the corner. And rumor has it that Devin is going to provide some lists. We'll see!

In The Know: Should The Government Stop Dumping Money Into A Giant Hole?

Huh?

Comedy Show in Philly

For all of those looking for You Tube clips seeking to expose my secret life as a comedian, unfortunately due to the headliner's contract, no recording was allowed! So the vault remains closed!

But here are a few bad pics from my camera phone. I'm looking to see if some other people I know there knew of anyone that took some good pics. I don't even have any of me! But the first pic was right after I was done which I took from the first level balcony, and the second is on the floor level right before Michael Jr. was done.



Over all the show went great. It was an incredible room, a sell out show of about 350 people, and very generous hosts (first time I had a driver waiting at the airport with my name on a
card.) I was very pleased with my 15 minute set and it was a good opportunity to try out some new material I have been working on. Actually, I think everything but two bits were new stuff so it was a risk to be sure! But it paid off.

I wasn't sure I was going to make the show because my flight from Tampa was delayed a few hours because of weather, and the flight before mine was canceled. That would have been a huge disappointment! But I made it and out of all of the comedy shows I have done this one will be an experience i won't forget! I also found out that Michael Jr., whom also started out in NYC was asked to open some shows for Jerry Seinfeld back in the day! Nice to know I'm now only one degree removed from Jerry!

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Vacation!

I'm extremely excited right now as Kelli and I will be chilling at the beach in Florida on Monday and going to a wedding that next weekend. We're taking an overnight flight tomorrow night and will be there by about 9am. Really looking forward to having a week away to rest and get away from school. We haven't been back since we moved over two years ago so it will be good to see old friends.

Friday night I've got a little excursion up to Philadelphia to do an opening set of stand-up for Michael Jr. and then back to Florida for the wedding on Saturday afternoon. Going to be a hectic but exciting weekend.

For those of you who didn't know I did stand-up or believe me, here is proof!

This was in NYC at Gotham Comedy Club which was kind of home base. I think I saw on Last Comic Standing that Gotham has a new space now which looks amazing! I love this picture though because I still can't tell if Bill Clark is about to sneeze or is laughing. I prefer to think he's laughing.

My favorite moment though was a New Talent show that Gregg Farah and I did at Caroline's on Broadway. It was amazing to be on the same stage where almost every comedian that I love has performed. We were interspersed with professionals like Eddie Brill and Judy Gold. I was right after Bill Burr from the Chappelle Show which was a hard act to follow! But I was very encouraged as Eddie Brill who has been doing comedy since before I was born encouraged me and said, "Hey kid, good stuff, you keep doing that, I mean it." That was a highlight of my comedy career! I'm hoping that Friday night will be a highlight as well! I've got some new material that I'm excited about so we'll see!

Obstinate

There are days when I wake up feeling "obstinate" for lack of a better word. It's a feeling of utter rebelliousness. For some reason I feel like not submitting to anyone or anything. I just want to do my own thing in my own way. This phenomenon cannot be explained and is not driven by any particular circumstances. I simply wake up knowing. I begin my day with my patience meter on 0. As the day goes on the little irritants (that on normal days probably would not bother me) accentuates and reinforces my overall obstinate disposition. I simply cannot find a way to refocus those feelings into something positive. It's almost like it is impossible to overcome for the day. I just have to wait it out knowing that waking up feeling that way 2 days in a row is improbable at best.

This does not play out well on days when I have class and have to sit for 2 hours under someone's teaching and listen to a select few students say absurd things. Yesterday was one of those days. Under the pressure of all that was irritating I lost it on some student that was talking to hear himself talk. The class laughed at my outburst assuming that what I was doing was with the motivation of humor, but it wasn't. It was out of anger. Humor has been a pretty natural way for me to express anger though, it always has. But that's probably another topic. I'm finding it harder and harder to hold my tongue when class gets out of control on inane discussions that seem completely removed from the world I live in or the context which I "do" ministry.

Now with that said, don't misread what I am writing. Seminary has been a place of incredible growth for me personally and has made me a MUCH better and more balanced thinker than I was before Seminary. I didn't realize how much I did not know but now I definitely realize all that I still don't understand and that has be invaluable. I wouldn't trade it for the world. And I think the professors at Western are fantastic! But there is something about that third year that is getting very tiresome. No wonder they give you 25% off your tuition to finish your third year in the MDiv program rather than take the M.A.!

I'm not sure how to conclude this blog post. I don't write too much that's serious on here anymore. But this is the best I can do at written processing. As most of you know, I'm definitely not a great verbal processor!

Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?

In The Know: Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?