Monthly Archives: September 2008
The Batcave, aka The Nerdery
Much like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, the Batcave serves as a place of privacy and tranquility where Batman can be himself. – Wikipedia
When I need to get away and do some focused hard-core study for a class or a lesson I pack up all my gear – my notebook, Bible(s), book(s), iPod, pens, and highlighters – and head straight for my new, secret getaway. This place serves my needs because it is away from my desk, it is always quiet, and I avoid distraction from email or phone calls. I call this place of privacy and tranquility…
The Batcave
This top-secret photo was snapped during my last visit and smuggled off the premises on my iPhone.
So where is the Batcave? I’ll never tell. However, I will spill the beans on what the Batcave is.
The Batcave is an annexed room next to my local comic book shop. The room is often used by groups of people play fantasy games like D&D, Warhammer 40K, and World of Darkness. It’s official name is The Gamers Guild.
That’s right I study at The Nerdery. But as you can see from my picture, in the middle of the afternoon no one is playing anything. The room is almost always completely empty. The people at the comic shop are so cool and so kind to let me use this area to study. I am so thankful to them. Every employee there has teated me so kindly. I love my new study-home.
It is so quiet there that I feel like my productivity quadruples. I just throw on my iPod (or don’t) whip out my pen and notebook and go to town crafting lessons. Very awesome.
Sure, there is no supercomputer or trophy room filled with the spoils of past lessons or retreats and there definitely is no Batmobile waiting in the wings (I do have a black car though) but this Batcave suits me just fine.
Until next time readers. Same Bat-channel. Same nerdy writer.
Finished
I finished my model ’69 Camaro Z/28 late Tuesday night. I have yet to take photos of the finished product but here are some more pics of the building process. I really had a great time. I spend a lot of my time studying and writing so this was a nice change of pace. It isn’t every day that I get to build something with my hands. I finished well but I think I can do even better next time. Mustang maybe?
I sure am glad that I spent all that time on the fan and the fan belt. Whew!
Over the weekend there were some classic Camaros parked down the street from the church building. The owners refused to let me flip one on its side so I can only assume that this looks correct. They had no respect for authentic pursuit. Jerks.
Cleanest. upholstery. ever.
I am actually proud of the small detail on the dash of the silver Camero emblem that I managed to paint. I almost wept I was so proud. Almost.
I spray painted the first coat in my real garage. For some reason my wife freaked out when I started prepping the kitchen table for an impromptu spray painting area. I’m only kidding. I never prep anything.
Step Into My Garage
My wife is taking a group of our teens to a girl’s conference this weekend leaving me home alone Friday night and all day Saturday.
What’s a swinging bachelor like me going to do with my new found freedom? Work on my classic 1969 Camaro Z/28.
Unfortunately for me, this classic car is only a 1:25 scale model.
We went to the craft store on Monday and I got the itch to build. I put together a Corvette back in college and I had a lot of fun working on it. My fat fingers make it a real challenge to glue some of the tiny pieces together but I’m up for the challenge.
I have completely taken over the kitchen table. For all practical purposes this weekend this is the garage.
The engine has been lowered into position and has been fastened to the frame.
Here I’m letting the glue dry so that I can apply some paint touch ups when I get home.
I’m pretty upset that when I finish this piece and glue it into place it will cover over the front part of the engine obscuring the view of the fan and fan belt. I’m just sayin’.
Stay tuned for more pictures of my classic ride.
One Year: Never Forget
If/Then
I never cease to be amazed at the awesome promises given to us in God’s Word. Check out Proverbs 2. There are some powerful if/then statements that cannot be ignored. Check it out:
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” (Proverbs 2:1-11 TNIV)
It doesn’t get much better than that right there!
Hot, Flat, & Crowded pt 1
I love living back in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. I mean L-O-V-E, love it.
It is great to be living in a place where I am afforded great opportunities to do neat things. Every band imaginable comes through town, there are wonderful festivals and community events every weekend, and there are ample opportunities to see and hear great voices.
Last night, I had the opportunity to hear Thomas Friedman, author of The World Is Flat speak at the University of Texas at Arlington. Friedman was speaking on his latest book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution- and How It Can Renew America. This isn’t a pithy commentary on recycling your Coke cans or hooking up your home with solar panels. This is a call to radically change the face of the planet by harnessing the imagination and innovation of 300 million Amercans to once again solve a giant “multi-generational” problem. We’ve done it in the past, Friedman argues, and we MUST do it again.
I’m still trying to process everything and I’m plowing through the book as we speak. Like his other books it is dense but extremely engaging and highly readable.
I hope to finish the book over the weekend and I’ll post my thoughts on it and the lecture early next week.
Where I’m At
Yesterday I posted a bit about how frustrated I am with politics right now. I usually point to the Who’s song, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” with it’s pitch-perfect line of “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss” to sum up my political feelings. The problem with feeling that cynical is that it leads to giving up and inaction. Those are two options that I’m not willing to settle with right now.
I’ve found a new(er) anthem to take me through November and beyond. This song addresses what’s wrong with today and then challenges me to do something about it.
This is the world we live in. Do something great.
Land of Confusion
Genesis
I must’ve dreamed a thousand dreams
Been haunted by a million screams
But I can hear the marching feet
They’re moving into the street.
Now did you read the news today
They say the dangers gone away
But I can see the fires still alight
There burning into the night.
There’s too many men
Too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see
This is a land of confusion.
This is the world we live in
And these are the hands were given
Use them and lets start trying
To make it a place worth living in.
Ooh Superman where are you now
When everythings gone wrong somehow
The men of steel, the men of power
Are losing control by the hour.
This is the time
This is the place
So we look for the future
But theres not much love to go round
Tell me why, this is a land of confusion.
This is the world we live in
And these are the hands were given
Use them and lets start trying
To make it a place worth living in.
I remember long ago –
Ooh when the sun was shining
Yes and the stars were bright
All through the night
And the sound of your laughter
As I held you tight
So long ago –
I won’t be coming home tonight
My generation will put it right
Were not just making promises
That we know, we’ll never keep.
There’s too many men
There’s too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see
This is a land of confusion.
Now this is the world we live in
And these are the hands were given
Use them and lets start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for.
This is the world we live in
And these are the names were given
Stand up and lets start showing
Just where our lives are going to.
Out of My Element
I have been sporadic in my postings as of late. I have been in a different place in my heart and my mind lately and I haven’t wanted to have any of that spill over onto the blog. So much going on- politics, new school year, fatigue- and yet so little I feel like writing about.
I guess one of the biggest things keeping me from posting is that I have been up to my eyeballs in election coverage. Most of the commentators have kept me wishing for a pair of rusty scissors to jam into the side of my head (especially Keith Olberman). Thankfully we only have 8 weeks left.
“I know,” you say, “Turn off the tv. Don’t read about it. Take a break from all the coverage.” If you know me you know that ain’t gonna happen. I have my own personal election watch party I can’t very well just press pause. I just know that I can’t take much more of this stuff.
Mostly because I wonder how much it really matters.
I don’t put much faith, if any, into the hope that politicians of either party can do much to really affect people on the “day to day” level.
I am a firm believer that individuals leading up and reaching out truly affect change. It isn’t the Senators. It isn’t the judges. It isn’t in assemblymen. There is too much pull for power there.
True sacrifice and leadership come from everyday people serving one another.
I seem to have an opinion on just about everything. However, when it comes to politics-specifically this election- I’m out of my element. Right now there are too many people asking me to put my trust in them to do what’s best for the world and for me and mine.
I need to find the answers on affecting change for those I seek to lead and serve for myself. I can’t have a politician do it for me.
Neither can you.
Small Leadership Bites
Here are a few chunks of leadership goodness from Bill Hybels’ latest Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs for your Monday.
Vision: Paint the Picture Passionately
Vision and passion are inextricably bound together in the life of a leader. God made it so. When you have eyes to see the vision that God has given you, you’ll know it because your heart will feel it so deeply that, over time, any lingering uncertainty will vanish.
Bold Moves
As the years went by, my teammates and I began to notice that the primary reason we were making significant progress as a church was that we had enough people making “bold moves.” They were thinking fresh thoughts, pioneering cool new programs, and trusting God to accomplish significant kingdom-building activity in their midst.
Only God
It’s more than an axiom. It is a theology… We watch for our heavenly Father to move and stir and act. and call. And when he does, we humbly thank him with the only two words that could even begin to give credit to the one to whom alone credit is due:”Only God.”