"Big Gulps, eh guys? Well, see ya later!"

Top Five...random questions on a Monday morning:

1. If Doc Brown were alive and well in 2008, what would the modern day DeLorean be?
2. If it's called Vacation Bible School, why do we meet at our home church?
3. Is Jolly Rancher the most random candy name of all time? Think about it.
4. Why is the man who invests all your money called a 'broker'?
5. Why is yawning so instantly contagious?

Altar/Alter

Top Five...Uplift quotes:

1. "Brick, where'd you get a hand grenade?!"
2. "I didn't think the hug would be this smelly."
3. (An anonymous camper talking to me about Indiana Jones 4) "That guy has his own series? Whose idea was that?"
4. "Plastic Fantastic!"
5. "Speaking of heading out--this is my home, it ain't yours. So you ain't gotta leave, but you can't stay here. Peace."

If there's half a chance in this moment
When your eyes meet mine, we show it off

Viva La Vida

What a difference a week makes! Sheryl Crow put it best when she said "a change could do you good." I'm back at Harding this week for Uplift, and while this week is one of my favorites of the year, being back at this place is invokes different feelings. For all the memories and fun had on this campus, there's been equal/more amounts of anxiety, frustration, and embarrassment. The theme of our Uplift class this year has to do with taking the road less traveled; the path in life that requires perseverance, patience, and humility. And while I'm just the corny game-show host for an object lesson during the class, the message hits home in a powerful way for me...no matter how many times a day I hear it. It's such a reflection of my own life--the enjoyment of being young and irresponsible, crossed with the powerful and inventive ways God helps me come back to him. Being on this campus will always make me smile; but it also serves as a sharp reminder of how much I've screwed up. The light at the end of the tunnel, the good news about this "road less traveled" is that we don't walk it blindly. I've learned that the hard way, but I'm better off for it.

Top Five...Acappella songs:

1. Well On My Way
2. Rescue
3. Teaching the Truth in Love
4. Everybody Said
5. Abba Father

Just because I'm losing doesn't mean I'm lost

Top Five...quotes for this week:

1. "I think everything we're trying to do at the moment is about not starting again so much as breaking down what we've built up before and trying to build something different and hopefully better, or worse in a good way. And this song is one of our favorites, because none of us are doing anything on it that we've ever done before. But we really enjoy playing it. The longer you go on as a band, the harder it is to surprise yourself." -Chris Martin, about the title-track of Coldplay's newest album

2. "Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport..." -Jim McKay

3. "I've decided never to decide another thing again." -Chaos Theory

4. (Actual email to ESPN's Bill Simmons) I've noticed in your columns that you refer to the "TD Banknorth Garden" as "Whatever The Hell The Garden Is Called." We at TD Bank spent over $100 million purchasing the naming rights to the Garden. We would appreciate if you mentioned the "TD Banknorth Garden" by its proper name. With your large number of readers, it would make our investment worthwhile. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Ed Clark, president & CEO of TD Bank

5. "I feel like the best version of myself when I’m with you…and that makes me doubt everything else." -Keeping the Faith

Championship Vinyl

It's been over four months since my last blog post...yikes. In the time since my last post, my favorite sports team has won the national championship, LOST: Season 4 has run its course, I've made a major life change by moving to Houston for the next few years, Coldplay has come out with a masterpiece, and we finally have our two candidates for President. Anyway--I'm going to give consistency an honest shot this summer, starting now. This reboot comes complete with some purdy new colors and a new theme from one of my favorite flicks, "High Fidelity." After all, what better day to start something fresh than the day you were born? (Edit--didn't get this finished in time...crap)

I'll keep it short and sweet tonight--

Top Five...thoughts on my birthday:

1. I need to work out daily more than I already am (at least an hour). Eating out so much is not helping, but neither does being ridiculously skinny.
2. What a month for sports championships--Red Wings/Penguins makes the NHL "cool" again to younger viewers, and Lakers/Celtics is about as good as it gets.
3. The age-old battle of Head vs. Heart tends to fatigue both combatants pretty quickly.
4. I really, really, really wish Houston had a better public transportation system. I envy some of my buddies in Dallas...AHEM, Fireman Dan
5. I definitely feel a year older. Not in a 'cooler' or 'more adult' sense, but in a 'miles traveled' way. Maybe Indy was right--"It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."

-PB