Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Christmas travels are in full swing...

Hey all...
Christmas is in full swing. Jackie and I officially arrived in Meadville last night to her parent's place. This morning, we slept in until about 9 am and now we're headed out to do a little last minute shopping. Hope all is well in your world!!
Merry Christmas!!!

P.S.: I'm hoping to pick up a last minute Christmas gift for me this afternoon: Guitar Hero!!!! Then I'll really be rockin!!!

JC

Monday, December 18, 2006

Blogger Beta and YouTube frustrations...

I am totally loving the upgrade that I made to Blogger Beta. It's got some really cool things from the creator's standpoint that make blogging more fun (like that was even possible).

But for some reason I can't seem to get YouTube to work with Blogger Beta. If you have some insight, I am all ears. If you are just stopping by, there may not be any YouTube videos for a little while.

But check back. You never know when I might get it figured out.

JC

Sunday, December 17, 2006

The Nativity was worth it!

If you are considering going to see the Nativity: Do it! It was a great movie. I went and saw it with 30 of my closest friends yesterday (our students and leaders) as part of our Christmas party. I thought it was a great movie and did a great job of really describing what Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zachariah and their families must have been feeling as John the Baptist and Christ Jesus were born into this world.

The only negative that I saw was that they did the typical three wise men (we actually have no idea how many were three... although Catholic tradition gives us the number three) who arrived at the Bethlehem (according to Matthew 2, the Magi came to a "house" not a "stable" as in Luke 2). But the makers of the movie may not have been attempting to writing theology so much as just sharing the story.

Overall... two thumbs up. Check it out if you haven't...


Next on my movies to watch list... Rocky!!

JC

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Done for the semester!!

Well...
It's official. I am done with seminary for the semester. My finals are all wrapped up. My Hebrew vocab quiz went well. And I am relieved for be done for another semester!

Yesterday was a great day. I took a little vacation time yesterday to sit on the couch, watch 24 and play video games! It was a great day!!

JC

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Rocky Balboa - Official Trailer

Christmas Day Baby!!!
I can't wait to go and see this while I'm in Caldwell for Christmas. I am totally going to check out Rocky VI (Rocky Balboa)! It's going to be awesome!

Blog Correction... Test Update!!!

Hey Faithful Readers,
This is a correction to an earlier blog where it was reported that "going the distance" belonged to Beck. It does not. It actually belongs to Cake. My apologies!!


As an update for finals... at the point, my church history final is over. It is 11:19 am Central Standard Time and I am done with my church history final. Actually according to Dr. Rea, I received an "A" on my final an "A-" in the class because of the "B" on my bibliography.
All my stressing... worrying... pacing... and cramming is now over for Church History.

I still have a couple of quizzes in Hebrew. But soon and very soon... this semester will be in the books!!!

Friday, December 08, 2006

Merry Christmas from the Clarks!!!




Merry Christmas
from the Clarks!

We don't do Christmas cards (yet). But I thought I would post a little Christmasy picture!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Wal-Mart frustrations!

I know it's the holidays and I'm supposed to be nice and cheery... but I go into Wal-Mart this afternoon to pick up 1 item. I found my item and then went to the "Speedy Checkout - 10 items or less" line. I couldn't go through the "Self Checkout" because it was a gift card.

Well, the line was huge. Not to mention the fact that I found myself behind a woman who obviously couldn't count. She had 19 items (and not small items either... like shoes and a comfortor and 5 boxes of cereal)!!! I don't know if people think that other people can't count or don't notice. But there I stood for probably the better part of 10 minutes while she got all her stuff (all 19 items... I counted) checked out.

Ugh!
a fun little video for an afternoon pick-me-up

Maybe you're feeling a little Thursday afternoon sluggishness... let my little animation friend pick you up!

Closest Book Meme

just saw this on Kurt's blog…
The rules are:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next four sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest!

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I'm trying to be ultra-spiritual or anything... it was literally laying beside my computer.

Leviticus 11:1 (starting)
"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Say to the Israelites: 'Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that hhas a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.'"

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Going the Distance!!!

It's the final week of my fall semester of seminary. And I've got a long way to go. Tuesday at 10:30 am I will take my oral final in my Church history class. I took half of my vocabulary review test yesterday in Hebrew and will take the final half next week. We don't have a final in there, just a couple vocabulary review tests.

I've got Beck's song "Loser" running through my head this morning... "He's going the distance... He's going for speed..."

I've got a couple long days ahead of me. But by this time next week, it will all be over and I'll be sitting on the couch playing video games (I've taken next Wednesday off...) It will be sweet!!!


JC

Monday, December 04, 2006

24 is coming!!!

Yesterday I was watching the Bears beat up on the Vikings and I saw my first 24 commercial for Season 6! Here is a link to the 24 website. It looked pretty darn incredible. I found myself hoping they would go ahead and give us the time and date... I was fully prepared to set up the VCR (poor-man's TiVO) to tape it.

I love me some 24!!!

High Voltage Outline - Dec 3, 2006

Here is last night's outline from High Voltage. This was the final High Voltage until January 2007. High Voltage will be taking a break for the holidays to relieve some of the stuff facing families during the holiday season.

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Lesson Topic: Week 2 - Tis the Season... Christmas
'Fun Factor': Average
Volunteer Involvement: Average
Music: Above Average
Student Involvement in Music: Average
Lesson Quality: Average
Length of Lesson: 30 minutes
Student Response: average
Overall Night Rating (scale of 1(not good) to 10(awesome)): 5

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‘Tis The Season
Part 2 – The Gift
High Voltage – December 3, 2006 – Jim Clark
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

A gift was promised.
But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. Luke 1:30-33
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ – which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23

The stage was set.
So Joseph also went up form the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2:4-5

The gift was delivered.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

A light shone brightly.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them (shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:9-11
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ Matthew 2:1-2
After they has heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Matthew 2:9-10

The news was shared.
So they (shepherds) hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger. When they has seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about his child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:16-18
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:12

The Light arrived.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ John 8:12

Christmas Season Action Steps:
1. Recognize the necessity of not getting too stressed out.

2. Remember to true meaning for this season.

3. Require yourself to spend some time in reflection.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15
The Bottom Line: God gave us the ultimate gift when his son arrived in a manger.

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Here are a few discussion questions to talk with your student about...
1. What does Christmas mean to you?
2. What is one way that you can practically and intentionally slow down during the Christmas season?
3. How can you share the true meaning of the Christmas season with others?
4. Who is one person that you can share the reason for this Christmas season with during this season?
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It was a decent night. High Voltage will return on January 7, 2007. I can't wait.

Bring on the Gators

The Florida Gators earned the right on Sunday to play my Ohio State Buckeyes! Two words: Bring It! Here's a link to a story.
I am greatful that OSU doesn't have to play Michigan again. I wasn't real keen on them playing a team that they already beat in the regular season... it would have been a less than exciting game. But this January 8th match up should be a good one. And it will be fun to beat the Gators for a National Title.

Bears Baby!!!

NFC Central Division Champs!!!
Chicago Bears!!!


Yeah, looking forward to clinching that homefield advantage and rolling through the playoffs. (By the way... those Indy Colts looked great yesterday against the Titans??!!)