Bad joke at the classifieds

ME: Journal Star Classifieds, this is Gray

Man: Whadya say your name is?

ME: Gray...its like the color

Man: Man thats weird!! But its unique, huh?

ME: yep

Man: Say, do you know how to catch a "unique" rabbit?

ME: no

Man: U--"NeeK" up on it...hahahah

Me: Oh (fake laughter)

Man: Thats a good clean joke you can tell your kids.

I told my superviser the joke and she said she knew it from grade school. Can you think of a worse joke...especially to tell your kids. No, my kids will know real humor.

What if you were caught at "just the right time"

Take a look at these pictures. Some of you may have seen these, but I couldn't stop laughing!

Pictures taken at just the right time!


HT: Byrnesys Blabberings

3 Common objections to getting google reader and why they're wrong!

1. "...But I don't really know what google reader is or how to set it up."

This is a common objection and, lucky for you, there is an easy answer. Abraham Piper has a very helpful post on how to set up a google reader that will tell you everything you need to know (Thanks Jake!)

2. "...But I like going to blogs, I don't want to read everything on a small screen" (sorry Jacob, I got this one from you)

Well quit your whining and get a google reader anyway. It doesn't mean you can't go to blogs anymore. Reader is well worth it even if you only use it as a reference tool. I'm willing to bet that everyone who reads blogs likes reading one or two that only update once or twice a month. Reader will let you know when it has been updated and then you can feel free to go to the site to actually read it.

3. "...But I don't want something else to distract me from the really important things in my life, and spend my time soaking up useless information from the World Wide Web from websites which, before I stumbled accross them, I didn't even know or care that they existed..."

Ok, well you have a point there. Just remember spiderman: "with great power comes great responsibility." I don't want anyone to neglect their studies, their wives, or their work for a little extra NPR news! But, seriously, everyone should get it.

Out of the woodwork

Last night Bekah and I spent some time in fellowship with a small group group of Christians who are involved in the Redeemer Church plant here in Lincoln. The time reminded me of how prevalent brokenness is in our world, in our Church. Usually, all it takes is one or two people who are willing to be vulnerable about their lives; then people seem to spill over with all of their problems. Who knew that so much divorce, marriage/family problems, illegitimate children, addictions (past and present), and financial woes could exist in 10 very clean-cut looking Christians? And how amazing is it for it all to come out of the woodwork into the light of day? People looked relieved, comforted, understood and closer to one another. It was amazing how free flowing it was once it got started.

You know that feeling of being ashamed of your roots?

A highschool in Charleston, Mississippi held its first interracial prom recently! Wow. NPR has the story.

It has only taken 38 years since the schools in MS were forcefully integrated for it to actually have a prom where everyone was invited. Of course there was some community uprisings, and of course there were some white parents who wouldn't let their children go, and I'm sure there were some threats to the principal, but progress is progress.

In the face of death...

...people do different things. What is it that drives some to live life to the fullest, some to party harder, some to become philanthropic, some to repent, some to work harder than they have ever worked before...?

According to The New York Times, the actor Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing, Ghost) has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Seemingly, the thing that drives him is finishing the role that he plays in his current TV show "The Beast" where he is playing a wise older cop with a sketchy past. Swayze says that his character in the show is "multilayered, unpredictable, and downright entertaining" and he indicated that he had been searching for this type of character for a long time. He is leaving his doctors at Stanford and traveling accross the country to film the show.

What drives this man? Is it a lasting impression? A namesake? A genuine love of acting? Certainly his desire to work and produce good drama until his death is admirable, but something in his attitude makes me uncomfortable. He says, "I'm in great condition. I'm a cowboy. I'm a dancer. I'll beat this."

I'm glad he is not "eating and drinking for tomorrow we die," but is there any time for reflection of purpose, for reconcilliation, for repentance (no knowledge of his spiritual state). This might be the very last thing he ever does. Indeed, it may kill him. The "Living like you're dying" sentiment is an interesting one and I'm not sure that it is biblical, but you have to wonder what he is thinking. Don't you?

Just so everyone knows...

...I hugged josh ritter twice last weekend.  I'm not talking about side hugs or even the "grab hands and bump chest kind of 'guy hug.'"  I am talking about real, full-frontal hugs.  His concert was amazing and we talked briefly about Colonel Mustard, medieval history, and the building of St. Petersburg after the show. Yeah, we are tight now.