matt's thoughts

five

that's how many hours i have left of my 20's.  time to say farewell...

growing or just getting older

preparing to speak this Sunday from 2 Peter 1:5-9.  calling it "growing or just getting older."  looking forward to it...but man...no wonder our pastors need speaking sabbaticals!  :-)

new ipod around the corner?

apple is getting ready to announce its latest goodies at a "special event" on Sept 5th.  not sure what the offerings will be...but all signs point to something music related.  this is good news for all us non-iphone users... :-)

ht: wired blog

afternoon distraction

workin' from home isn't all bad! :)

just give it to me straight...

i've been reading through proverbs lately in my devotional times.  i read this verse the other day and just about laughed out loud at the simplicity:

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight."
                            - Prov. 4:7 (ESV)

don't we love to complicate things?!  i love it when the Scripture shoots straight on stuff like this.  i reckon the completion of this thought would be [here].

what a weekend

this coming weekend is my 30th birthday...ugh!  but my wife planned a really special weekend to celebrate a bit early as i have a packed weekend with next week.

she arranged for my mother in law to watch the girls for an outing for the entire day.  we started the day on saturday with a picnic out in the country about 40 miles into the middle of no-where with great mountain views.  while we ate she read me a list of 30 reasons that she loves me.  then we got in the car and headed to tyson's corner, an upscale shopping center near us.  on the way she handed me a folder with notes that she had collected from a ton of my family and friends...a collection of memories and fond wishes.  it was so amazing to sit there in the car and be loved on like that.  it was also really cool to hear the voices of people from so many different seasons of my life.  sometimes its hard in ministry when God puts you in community with people in big ways and then at some point moves you on.  it was cool to hear all of those voices together. 

when we got the mall she took me shopping (my favorite gift being a new timbuk2 messenger bag), and then to our favorite restaurant, Coastal Flats.  we finished the evening with a movie.  i couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful and terrific birthday celebration from my wife.  she rocks...its ok that you are all jealous.  :-)

to top the the weekend off, we had some money left over from what tricia set aside for our date...so we decided take the girls to the water mine.  as we were standing in line ready to fork over our cash, a lady walked up to us and handed us free passes for our whole family! holy cow!! so after an afternoon of playing the the park we treated ourselves to some chipotle.

so now the weekend is over and i'm sitting on my couch gearing up for a super busy week, and my last few days of my 20's...

worship confessional #15

my personal dna

this is me: what are you?

that may work in so cal

was perusing rick warren's blog, curious when the next episode of the podcast would be up when i stumbled on his list of 40 ways to increase baptisms.   a helpful list of practical tips for helping people make the plunge...but...i had to pause when i read number 30:

30.    Have outdoor heaters if you baptize outdoors in the winter.

thanks for the tip rick!  people not from southern california may want to append that one to include:

30a. Keep and ice auger on hand, and hypothermia blankets at the ready if you baptize outdoors in the winter.

overheard

i love working at starbucks  :)  overheard today in a conversation between an american and a british businessman...talking about tv.

the american: "so American Idol...that was your fault right?"