Your Favorite Blockhead!

In 1987, Suicidal Tendencies released an album with a song called “Join the Army”. This ‘whimsical title’ is very relational to my thoughts today. USA Today released this article last Thursday: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-08-09/army-suicides/57096238/1 I sincerely hope that you will take the time to read this article before proceeding further, but I must be rational. I know that not everyone will. So, I am going to only share this one particular quote with you from above: “Suicides have increased across the military, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Congress last month. He said service members of all branches are killing themselves at the rate of about one per day. ‘That is an epidemic,’ he testified. ‘Something's wrong.’”             Something is VERY wrong, sir. According to another study conducted by the Defense Department staff of USA Today, suicides are only second to being killed in combat and is listed above traffic accidents. I have p

So, our good friend Snoop Dogg has now changed his name to Snoop Lion, and is redirecting his sights on a new reggae album. Odd. Every time someone in the city had been interviewed on what they would like to say to Snoop Lion, the cynical laughter and scoffing begins. Hey, perhaps his “reinvention” is sincere. His visit to Jamaica certainly seems to have revolutionized his way of thinking. One evening, I started laughing about it with my wife, and was struck by an idea I had to get down as soon as possible. I started thinking about the significance of the King of Beasts, the lions in our own lives. We are all familiar with that great scene from The Lion King , as Mufasa speaks to Simba from the heavens. “Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king.” This is an improbable spectacle of virtue, pride, and rule. It is almost a display of sovereignty, don’t you think? However, the lion that I actually wanted to talk with you is even greater. Aslan, the Lion of Narnia.

After visiting Dave Ramsey and Dan Miller's websites for a couple of years: www.daveramsey.com www.48days.com ...if you happen to look in either the Resources or Library section of these two pages, you will see a visual array of books that these men have enjoyed, recommended or even required for their team to read. Since leaving the Navy, I am overwhelmed by how many books I have read, thanks to their influencing me to expand my library. So, for fun, I have finally put together MY personal library for you to browse through. If you wish to do the same on your blog, I will truly enjoy seeing what books you guys recommend, as well. Oh, one more thing. I am challenging you to be COMPLETELY HONEST. Put up books that you have completed, not purchased. Have fun browsing and I look forward to seeing YOUR recommendations, fellow bloggers! Btw, I have broken them down into categories as best I can, and have also included a small list at the bottom that I feel are MUST-reads. Enjoy!

            I thought I had seen it all until a week ago. I was driving behind this woman that would not speed up in the fast lane. I turned my blinker on, and went around her. As I took a glance out of the passenger side window (expecting to see her texting), what I saw made me scream at the top of my lungs. She was steering the car with her knees…AS SHE SCRATCHED OFF THE NUMBERS ON HER LOTTERY TICKET!!! I have watched countless people in front of me at the local convenience stores buy these things like its lunch-time! Not just the poor communities, but people who are dressed to kill, jacket/tie and all!! It is absolutely driving me berserk. I remember a friend of mine who, just for fun, would get one Lottery ticket a year: on his birthday. This being said, enjoy these great snips from the Dave Ramsey Show about your chances of winning at this scam called the Lottery. Perhaps, a new way of thinking will emerge in America if enough people hear and share these messages: http://www.

In his book, The Strangest Secret , Earl Nightingale writes about a remarkable discovery.   “We become what we think about.” Now, that being said, I want to address music in our generation. Yes, OUR technology-driven “golden age” and an unlimited selection of music. In his play, Madea Goes to Jail , Tyler Perry says at one point to the audience, “See? Them children don’t know nothing about music. That’s why I feel sorry for these babies… All they sing about is sex. Music back in the day had mystery in it, you know?” I observe from afar a lot of these ‘young cats’ at Texas Tech University and throughout my hometown of Lubbock blasting their bass in their cars at full volume, jamming to their IPods and I just feel distressed. A.W. Tozer once said, “An idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.” Since we got married, my wife has been not just a positive influence for me (pertaining to my faith walk), but she has helped shed light on an unremitting hindrance in

As I was driving home today, I saw several people shouting and raving in front of the McDonald’s sign about everything from: “God is my Savior,” to “…the wrath of God.” As I turned the corner, I was reminded of a Nooma video I saw a while back called Bullhorn. Rob Bell says at one point in the video, “…You just don’t find Jesus waving Heaven in front of people like some carrot on a stick.” Now, plenty of people have attacked Rob for his films and have labeled him as a Universalist, yet until you actually see this up-close and personal, you just don’t feel the lack of humility until the guy with the bullhorn is shouting at you in your vehicle or as you walk past, and might I add, in the middle of “the Bible Belt”. A thought came to my mind that their proclamations sounded similar to the Marine “prayer”. If you have ever seen the movie, Full Metal Jacket , you will remember these words. “This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.” If we take just a moment, this

For the first time, I recently believed that I was ready to read, and thoroughly embrace, a book called Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge. After reading this book, a pastor from Atlanta, Georgia exclaimed in praise of this book, “I have fallen in love with Jesus all over again.” A pastor…Hmmm, if the impact of this book is THAT strong… “Am I ready to tackle this?” was the question I repeatedly asked myself until now. I have reached a chapter entitled, Disruptive Honesty, and would like to share some discoveries I have made and what has been weighing on my heart for a minute, now. It begins with a story from the Bible, as follows: “When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised. Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” (Luke 11: 37