My own personal Helm’s Deep (or: Forgive Me Lord)
Posted on March 12, 2009
Filed Under My Paper Jesus, Some slightly auto-biographical stuff, What little I know about Lord of the Rings | Leave a Comment
Forgive Me Lord
I could tell that morning had come. It wasn’t the light forcing its way through the curtains that told me. It wasn’t the cough from the children’s room, it wasn’t the dog yawning in her bed. Not even the fitful stirrings of my wife laying beside me told me. No, those things didn’t really tell me anything. Yet I knew that morning had come, and despite the inevitability of it’s arrival, I found myself heaving a deep sigh.
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“Hey! Hello in there, laptop! What you got that’s worth living for?”
Posted on February 8, 2009
Filed Under A Geek's Guide to the Scriptures, My Paper Jesus | Leave a Comment
hello...
Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles…. guess what happened last night?!?–and this morning, actually.
Let me explain. No, there’s too much. Let me sum up: It was as if Miracle Max was saying to me “It just so happens that your friend here (pointing to my laptop) is only MOSTLY dead.”
You see, last night one of my sons asked to borrow my Macbook Pro. He and his friends needed another computer so they could play online games together.
Why not?, I thought. Soon I’ll be ripping its guts out anyway. What could he do to it, melt the logic board?
So he logs in with his account (his, not mine, mind you) and suddenly says, “Hey dad! Look! Read more
Laptop! Be healed! (part 2)…not this too!
Posted on February 6, 2009
Filed Under A Geek's Guide to the Scriptures, My Paper Jesus | Leave a Comment
Whoa!! what in the … world!
There I sat, working on my PMP class, trying to ignore the lousy display/text issue, when I noticed my Macbook Pro’s fans. Hmmm… that’s odd. Why can I hear them? Are they speeding up? Sure enough, according to iStat pro, their RPMs were climbing. Then rather suddenly, the little beasties got so loud that the laptop resembled a jump-jet attempting to lift off from my desk! The CPU heat climbed dramatically, utilization pegged–and stayed there! And I wasn’t running anything! Honest! Read more
Laptop! Be healed! …… (rats. now what am I going to do?)
Posted on February 5, 2009
Filed Under A Geek's Guide to the Scriptures | Leave a Comment
In the wee, quiet, blurry eyed hours of the morning I got up and began my usual morning ritual: a warm coffee and my beloved laptop. 
She’s a Macbook Pro, elegant stainless steel case, gorgeous video screen, excellent track pad, and everything “just works.”
I love the sound of my MBP booting up in the morning. It’s the smell er… sound… of techno-victory. I can journal, I can read, I can research, I can webcam my buddy’s favorite beach (lucky stiff…). The world is my oyster! (as long as it has a valid URL).
But as I moved the mouse down to the dock to launch an application, something didn’t seem right. I blinked and rubbed my eyes–there must be something in them. I tried the mouse again. Hmmm. that’s not right, I thought as I absentmindedly took another hit of java. Read more
God Talks too much!
Posted on February 5, 2009
Filed Under A Geek's Guide to the Scriptures, All things Narnia, Generally Spiritual (few if any geek references) | 1 Comment
author’s note: this article was originally sent as an email to a prayer team on 9/14/2004, but for some crazy reason, I never put it on this site. So, here you go…
Verbose: adj : using or containing a great and usually excessive number of words; wordy.
I am going to guess that most of you are familiar with Dave Barry and maybe even Bill Bryson. I marvel at the humor and insight in their articles (although at times their works need some redemption). The circulation of their articles via major newspapers, books, and of course their blogs fits rather well into the category of “massively ubiquitous.” Their books are so successful that they have even achieved the pinnacle of literary success: being sold in airport gift shops.
They are a comfort to me in that their articles tend to run into the 1000+ word range. In other words, their rambling and verbose styles are never “to the point.” Hmmm… reminds me of a certain deity I know… Read more
The silence is deafening (rather like the Trees in Narnia)
Posted on December 10, 2008
Filed Under All Things Narnian, My Paper Jesus | 2 Comments
I don’t think I have had quite the non-response to an article as I have received with My Paper Jesus. It could be that some of my readers are just not into allegories. It may be that some readers are a little concerned for me. But are they only concerned for me or…. maybe down deep are they a bit anxious over their own relationship with Christ? maybe. Or it could be that my over abundance of words finally did some of my readers in. Ah, that must be it.
Whatever the case, the silence has been deafening.
All speculation aside, it’s a scary thing to realize that a faith founded primarily upon head-knowledge just won’t cut it anymore. It tends to rock one’s boat. It’s rocking mine, that’s for sure.
Take the other day. While looking through some applets posted on the “gadget” page of a very popular search site, I came across one generates a daily devotional thought. I was inspired! That is, until I read several of the comments left by visitors of this very popular search site.
Wow! Talk about venomous! Talk about hostile!
“Stupid! Ignorant! Backwords fools! God-people, go to H*ll!” and on and on the various comments went.
It was as if someone walked up to me, saw my Paper Jesus and decided to smash it head in. Read more
My Paper Jesus
Posted on November 10, 2008
Filed Under Generally Spiritual (few if any geek references) | Leave a Comment
Not so long ago I stumbled across the article “To write love on her arms.” What amazed me was the powerful love of the Christians in that true story as they reached out to a very troubled teen.
I made me think. It made me realize. It made me feel very empty inside.
It led me to reflect on the condition of my soul: what I believe and how I felt about what I believe. The following daydream is what I discovered about myself……..
It was a slow morning for a change, peaceful and rather pleasant. Perfect for letting a gnawing thought be heard. Sitting at the kitchen table I decided to spread out all my beliefs in front of me so I could look them over. Before I knew it, the table was completely covered with documents. I could not help but admire how good each and every one of my beliefs looked. I decided to gather them all up and almost by themselves they formed paper mache statue, about 2 or 2 1/2 ft. high.
At first it was a bit amorphous and crude, but in time I was able to add various details like a beard, sandals, a robe, a manly jaw, strong hands–and of course gentle eyes. Eventually, the statue became quite clear, very distinct. He was perfect. And I was proud of Him.
Quite satisfied, I drew him up into my arms and took him out into the back yard with me. What a beautiful day! Together, we enjoyed the sunshine and the birds and the flowers and the green grass and the cool breeze. But then something quite disturbing happened. Read more
I think I get it….
Posted on October 14, 2008
Filed Under Generally Spiritual (few if any geek references) | Leave a Comment
I love the band Switchfoot, and “Awakening” is one of my favorite songs. If you find the Awakening video on YouTube, you might notice that several of the commentators say “I don’t get it…” In fact, if you click on the video below, you might also say “I don’t get it…” And that’s OK.
I gotta say, I think I get it. I mean, I think I always understood the point behind the song, but recently I think I get it, especially since my first ever “official” sermon (I’d rather call it a “talk” but so that everybody knows what I mean… I’ll use the S word).
Now I’m on a mission to make sure that I get it, and keep getting it. What is “it” that I’m starting to get? I feel like I’m waking up! I feel like now is the time more than ever to wake up my faith and trust God to do whatever He wants.
PS: With ”Dare You to Move” I get the same “I’m starting to get it” feeling. Another great song!
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