Starbucks... How do you do it?

For me, waking up in the morning without some kind of coffee is like trying to start a chainsaw without any gas in it. No matter how many times I try, I'm still not moving without the fuel. What happens when I forget to make coffee at the house in the morning or am running behind? I walk across the street at work to Starbucks.

I recently got my 9th punch on my Starbucks card here at UK, which means I get my next drink free. This usually means that I go out and get the most expensive drink there I can. Pardon me, but I feel so totally rewarded and jazzed about my free drink. And why not? Let's stop and think about this... To get 9 punches on my card means that I've purchased 9 overly priced drinks to the tune of almost $4 each. For all you math nerds, that's $36 "worth" of drinks. Are you kidding me? I deserve a free one for that.

So what makes me run down the halls screaming "Oh boy! Now I get a free one!"? I would have to say it's due to a mystery substance that they must put it the drinks to keep us coming back in droves. Let's just call it "Buck-crack," not to be confused with... errrr nevermind. In conclusion, remember children that toffee nut lattes on a cold Fall day are well worth the price of my arm and leg, which flow freely with Starbucks.

Random Thoughts

• Donavan McNabb is injured and out for at least one game. His backup? 3rd string QB Mike McMahan. Apparently, the 2nd stringer is Koy Detmer, but he is only listed as the 2nd stringer because he catches and holds the ball for the place kicker on field goals. Here's a thought... teach Mike McMahan how to do this and there won't be confusion when Donavan gets hurt. Poor chunky soup boy :(

• This is a great time of year to be a sports fan. Every day is filled with a nice mixture of college basketball, college football, NBA, and NFL with no baseball highlights to crowd SportsCenter highlights...

• Don't you hate sweaters that bunch up around your stomach and make it look much bigger than it should be? Oh wait, that could be the large cheeseburgers and beer that cause that. Never mind.

• If I had to listen to one band all day, I'd have to give the Counting Crows a serious shot at that spot. I never get tired of listening to those guys.

• Christmas stockings are awesome to have when you finally get a house with a fireplace. Yes, I know you can have them without a fireplace, but it's just not the same.

• Speaking of Christmas stockings, check this out: Scooby-Doo Plush Stocking. Frightening or just plain genius?

• I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing my friends become addicted to Homestar Runner. (Jill: "In cwosing, I wook good in wed").

• My sister-in-law is heading to a foreign country today for a mission trip. I can't wait to see how God users her while at the same time teaching her! Sis', thanks for taking this step of faith. I'll be praying for you.

• I'm anxious for Christmas and Thanksgiving to get here! I'm sort of a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving dinners. I think all of us should stuff ourselves silly with turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, salad, brocoli cheese casserole, anything pumpkin, wine, and a truck load of desserts. I look forward to the day when I get to cook the big meal.

• Random thoughts really are quite random.

Nashville

This past weekend was awesomely fun coolness. First of all, Karen came home safely from her business trip (Karen had a business trip...never realized how funny that would sound). I was ecstatic to see her! We got up early the Saturday morning and headed for Nashville a.k.a. "Nashvegas" to see our friends Shayne, Aarron, and Crystal. Hanging out with these guys is always so encouraging. They have such a passion for life and ministry for Christ. It's also easy to say that they know how to have fun as Christians and live life to it's fullest. This is something I strive for so desperately!

We watched plenty of football, went shopping, cooked out some great burgers, and went to church. I was impressed with how God is working in this church. Shayne is working with the media ministry and will be on staff full time as the Assistant Media Minister starting in January. If you've met Shayne, you know how awesome this job is for him. He is able to use his talents to further the ministry at the church... and he's darned good at it!

Listening to Aarron preach on Sunday morning was quite encouraging. He kept hitting on the point that we are in Christ and driving home our need for Him. What I notice the most about Aarron and Crystal is how much they want to engage you in conversation about your life. They love discussing how God is moving in their lives and ours. Again, very encouraging.

We as Christians need to be engaged in each other's lives and build each other up in Christ. Let's stop holding back and start running after Christ together as ONE body. If we think we can do it without the help of other believers... we are arrogantly incorrect. What do you think?

From Here to Eternity

From Here to Eternity

by John Fischer

Where can a dead man go? The question with an answer only dead men know.But I'm going to bet they never really feel at home.If they spent a lifetime learning
how to live in Rome."
- Nickel Creek (popular Blue Grass group)

Christians spend a lifetime learning how to live somewhere else. It's true. We may not always be conscious of it, but our destination is somewhere else. We were made for eternity. We were made to dwell with God, making this life but a shadow of the one to come.
At the same time, we don't just unplug here and sit around waiting for the Holy Helicopter to take us there. God has uniquely connected this life to that one. Our lives here, and in eternity, are related. What we do here matters there.

Jesus once said that those who are faithful in a few things here will be put in charge of many things there (Matthew 25:23). Paul said that when we pass from here to there, some things will stay with us -- those things that were done here by faith -- and the rest will burn up (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Paul also said that our bodies go into the ground as a seed here and spring up new there (1 Corinthians 15:37). The key is to learn what translates from here to eternity and concentrate on those things. What's important both here and there?

Be careful. This is not as easy as it might seem at first. That's because most of what we do here is tangled up in eternity and hard to unravel. For instance: Money won't matter there, but what we do with it here will. Job position won't matter there, but being responsible here will. Material possessions won't matter there, but what we do with them here will. Winning won't matter there, but playing hard and working at the top of our abilities while we are here will. Like a gold thread running through it, we will pull eternity out of our present experiences.

Not to leave out the stark contrasts. If you lived in prison here, you will live free there. If you were sick here, you will be well there. If you were abused here, you will be cherished there. If you were deformed here, you will be whole there. If you were poor here, you will be rich there. If you were outcast here, you will belong there. If you were nobody here, you will be somebody there. If you mourned here, you will dance there. If you struggled with depression here, there, you will leap for joy.

Remember, we spend a lifetime learning to live somewhere else.