Cardinals 27 Steelers 23

That is my prediction for Super Bowl XLIII. 

Here is the thing: I am not going to say that Pitt isn’t a good team, because that would be a flat out lie. They are better than good – they are a great team. Their defense is ferocious. Ben may not be the best or flashiest QB in the league, but he is calm and a good leader. Willie Parker is a solid RB, and can really wear down a D. 

BUT… I am biased…I do love me some Cardinals…& this team is SCARY (in a good way)

If.. I mean when the Cardinals win the SBXLIII I am going to post everyday next week about the Cardinals and their season. It is sort of my tribute to them and this season. 

So there you have it. I have boldly come out against all the “experts” and predicted an AZ win. 

 

technically not working…

So technically I have a week off, totally and completely off. Yesterday I spent the morning reading at Starbucks, then I went and played ping-pong with my Old Man and my Bro. I know what your thinking… and yes… I beat them both. Badly. Then Liz and I took my parents to dinner for their 30th wedding anniversary (it was actually in Nov., but my mom couldn’t taste yummy food with her chemo treatments). Then I came home hung out with my wife. I loved yesterday. 

So today… I had coffee with Joel, which is always a treat. After coffee I jumped back into A.J. Jacobs book, which I love. After reading for a while I decided to jump back onto the bike and head home. But… Nick called me in the middle of my ride, so we met up at my house and I we went to a gourmet lunch (del taco). After our lunch we went to Barnes & Noble. Nick worked and I read, and wandered, and read, and browsed, and read, and loved every minute of it. Then I was dropped off at home. 

After such a great morning, I started to feel a little guilty. So I packed up the cable box (tear) and drove off to the UPS store. I also picked up a converter box (we are those people with a converter box!!!). Then I was a regular house husband and cleaned up around the house. Dishes? Done! Dusting? Done! Planting a Lime tree? Done! 

To top it off.. I got to go on a bike ride with my wife. I love this not working business. 

Is anyone willing to pay me to continue this? I will also clean your house and be a house husband for you too! Any takers????

New Jobs!!

So today has been crazy for me. I recently resigned from full time Youth Ministry. I loved my job, but the time had come for me to leave the church that I was at. So that naturally led to a need for a new job. The job search has been crazy and stressful. I have been trying not to worry or get stressed out, but I didn’t do as good a job as I wished. 

But… It has come. I can now say that I have 2 jobs and am waiting to here back on the 3rd. First, I was working at Chili’s. I had gone through 2 training shifts and they were working with me in my many requests (not that many, but it was tricky). But, I just felt that Chili’s was not the best option for my wife and I right now. So I continued to search. 

Today I filled out the paper work to become a Barista (AGAIN for the 3rd time) at Starbucks. I also had a phone interview with an organization that places foreign exchange students into American homes. I will hopefully be doing that on the side as a case manager. And… I accepted a job at Superstition Springs Community Church as the 5th & 6th grade director. 

So I will be working at the Bux, SSCC, and possibly be doing the foreign exchange student thing. I am excited about the changes that are coming my way.

Books I am into right now

The Year of Living Biblically

I am only about 70 days into this year long adventure from author A.J. Jacobs. So far this book has been insightful, culturally relevant, but most of all hysterical. Jacob (this is his new Biblical m.o.) is learning many lessons about himself and the Bible. He is attempting to live life according to the Bible as literal as possible. If you can imagine this leads to many uncomfortable situations and awkward encounters with people. So far my favorite story comes when Jacob is determined to live by the law of stoning adulterers. So naturally he goes to a park and his mission to find a worthy stoner seems too easy. He has an encounter with this old man who is admittedly an adulterer, but unwilling to take a “stone” because of it. 

I am really loving this book. I highly recommend the book to this point. I promise that you will get something out of it. 

 

The Blue Parakeet

  Scott McKnight presents some compelling thoughts on the Bible and what it looks like when we read it. So far in this book McKnight writes about the idea of the Bible as a story. He argues that we (evangelical christianity) have moved away from the story of God that is found in the Bible and we have transformed the Bible into little morsels of truth that are often taken out of context. 

I have not read too much of the book yet, but I am finding it very helpful for me personally. It has given me insight into how I can read the Bible and I can understand the Story of God better. I am enjoying it very much. I will give a better synopsis of the book after I finish it. 

Prediction time

What is your prediction on the outcome of the SUPER BOWL???

great video

This has been around a while, but I still get goosebumps when I watch it. (it’s one of those songs for me)

Just 2 Ordinary People

My wife and I have been asking some tough questions lately regarding the environment. We are curious what the relationship between being “environmental” and following Christ looks like.  The more we talk and pray together the more we feel a responsibility to change some of our habits and help others question some of theirs. So that brings me to the title of this post: What can 2 ordinary people like us do to make an impact to improve and sustain our world? I have already caught myself being discouraged by our tiny efforts, thinking that what we are doing isn’t even a drop in the bucket. Then, I remind myself that it is in the small things that we see great progress. So here is what we are doing around the Barton household to make our tiny impact. 

- hanging our clothes up to dry

- we have replaced all our bulbs in the house with the compact fluorescent  bulbs

- we ride our bikes around town

- we plan on planting a garden soon!!

- we take our own bags to the grocery store

- we visit the farmers market

- we turn off the lights around the house (sometimes we light candles for our light)

This is what we have started to do. What are somethings that you are doing? What is your take on conserving and re-using? Do you find it too big a task to make any significant changes? Join us!

Here is a great resource for “green” living.

Also, I know I have recommended it before, but it is worth your time. Save God Serve the Planet

This is our new dryer

 

Liz's transportation

Location of our future garden

President Barrack Obama

Today history was made.  No one can ignore the excitement that has surrounded this new President of the United States. Today Barrack Obama has been sworn in as the 44th President. My hope and prayer is that we can come together as a nation and become united once again. 

Here was his Inauguration Speech. 

 

My Prayer for President Obama:

Father, 

I pray that you would guide Mr. Obama. I ask that you would give him wisdom beyond his years. I ask that you would keep him and his family safe. 

Lord will you please use him as a tool to unite the people of this nation. I ask that we would learn to love in a new way. 

Lord, I ask for your blessing on our new President.

Amen

The time has come…

Hello Super Bowl!!!! 

I knew they could do it. I have been a Cardinals fan for a long time now, and it has been a painful ride. But now…

Guilty Pleasure

Ok, so I am going to admit something that is not easy. 

Ready…

I watch American Idol. I follow the show. I watch all the episodes. 

Wow, that was hard. So tonight I watched the very first episode of season 8. It took place right here in the PHX. It was good. I have to admit that there are some stories that are quite touching. I know, I know. I can’t help it, I listen to some of the stories (I am sure that the producers twist and turn as much as possible) and I get sucked in. The winner tonight was Scott Mcintyre. He had a great audition, but his story is even better. If you did not see it just watch the Hollywood rounds of A.I.

Anyways, on a somewhat more serious note. I had a great prof at ASU that talked about this ugly side of our culture. He made a point about how when American Idol comes on the air FOX 10 news takes a ridiculous amount of time to cover more on A.I. I would challenge you to watch a newscast immediately after A.I and see how much time FOX 10 dedicates to A.I. For example, tonight they interviewed the “bikini girl” after the show to get her take on things. 

It makes me wonder if FOX 10 really does not have anything better to cover than the highlights from a tv show. Gaza? Whats that? Is that a contestant? 

I watch the show, but purely for entertainment  value (and the occasional Scott Mcintyre story), but have we gone too far when we have allowed our “news” stations to take 20 minutes on the 9pm news to cover the “bikini girl”. 

What do you think? What should the news station cover? Do you watch American Idol? 

ps. because of my prof at ASU, I always feel a little guilty when I watch the show because we used to talk about what it represents. Thanks Dr. Williams, I appreciated your class.