Did the Writers Guild take out Jack Bauer??

According to this article, 24 has been postponed indefinitely. The writer’s guild strike has a lot to do with it, and I’m guessing that the wildfires and Keifer’s legal issues aren’t helping either. Or possibly they’ve read my blog and are using this as an excuse to do a rewrite so they can add in the cougar from season 2. We’ll see.

Well this stinks…

My brother just dropped off a copy of the 360 game Medal of Honor Airborne. I was really eager to hop on and start playing the multiplayer, and by the time I had loaded the game and was ready to go my brother was already home and had sent me a game invite. Then I tried to join his game only to have a “connection to the EA servers has been lost” message. My brother is online and loving it, and I still can’t get it to work. XBOX live is working great…just not this game. Either I’m not smart enough to figure it out, or there’s something screwy with the EA server.

Either way, it’s a big disappointment. My big reason for wanting to play MOH Airborne was the multiplayer. I guess I won’t be buying this game.

Halo 3 Beta

Last Christmas my brother bought me the X-Box 360 game “Crackdown”. It’s an ok game, but the real reason everyone bought it was to get the chance to play in the Halo 3 Beta testing. The testing includes 3 maps, and is online for about 4 weeks. If you think it’s crazy to buy an entire game just for a chance to pre-play another one…you’re probably right.

So how’s it look? Well, it’s ok. The weapons are pretty cool, with some returning well knowns and some new heavy hitters. The maps are pretty cool too. I like the addition of an ATV type vehicle which is a blast to drive around in. Overall, it’s not a bad game at all, it’s just not that amazing either. I am sure the multiplayer will rock and the single player storyline will be awesome when the full version hits the stores, but the Beta definately comes up lacking.

One fun side note: when I started playing the game on Tuesday, the screen indicated that there were nearly 28,000 people online playing it at the same time. When I played it for a minute last night, there were nearly 80,000. That’s pretty insane!

Brain Droppings #4

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything of merit…and today will not be the day to remedy that. Here’s a little bit of what’s going on with me right now, along with the usual random and unfiltered thoughts:

• I’m tired. We have a new baby at home, but that’s not really why I’m so tired. With Jill out of commission for a few weeks, I’ve had the joy of cleaning her houses for her in the mornings. Then it’s off to church to work there and then off to work on Stuck. Did I mention that I’m tired?
• Ashley sent me over this link to an online article that shows that Amy Lee from Evanescence got married. The funny part is that my fraternity lil’ brother (and former Ev member) was in her wedding, and that the guy she married once stole a shirt from me and tried to steal my wife (then girlfriend) from me. He took my wife (then girlfriend) to Taco Bell to explain all the reasons that I was no good for her. Thankfully, she thought he was full of it. Crazy stuff… and dude, I wouldn’t trade places with you for the world!
• We lost our drummer for our worship team at church, and I’m seriously thinking about going with a digital drummer courtesy of the REASON software.
• Last week at YMEC, during one of our meal times, Tic told a few of us what the theme for Youth Specialties conventions is for 2007. He gave us permission to blog about it, but I totally forgot what the theme is.
• YMEC was amazing! A great time to hang with some incredibly cool people from all kinds of youth ministries. A little more formal than I’m used to, but the people were awesome. It was a great connection time for me, and I think it will pay big dividends for Stuck in the future.
• It’s been a good week for TV. LOST was actually really good last night…if it could pull that off every week, I’d be a huge fan again. Jerico and The Unit really nailed their season finales…I just hope that they weren’t the last episodes we’ll ever see from them. My understanding is that both shows are on “the bubble”. Of all the shows I’ve watched lately though, Jerico has really stood out. Their season finale was amazing!
• I don’t get why everyone is rippin on Spiderman 3 so hard. Yeah it’s cheesy, but it’s a comic book movie. I thought it was fun and a great “summer popcorn flick”. The movie that I’m really dying to see (no pun intended) is 28 weeks later! If you haven’t seen 28 days later, then you need to get off the computer, run out to your video store and rent it right now. The scariest, coolest, most realistic zombie movie of all time. It seriously is amazing.
• Am I the only person alive who thinks that Jordan Sparks (American Idol) looks like she could be Beyonce’s sister?
• Andy Jack and April Diaz are presenting at YS this year…how cool is that? If you don’t know who they are, and you’re into middle school ministry, you need to head out to a YS conference this fall and listen to them…seriously…just do it.
• I bought a Nintendo Wii over two weeks ago and haven’t had time to open it yet. Seriously…what’s going on with me?
• In a little over a week I’m heading to California to spend time with some middle schoool ministry friends…and I can’t wait. It’s a great group of people who I really love being around.
• I’m speaking at a handful of camps this summer, and I’m really excited about all of them…but I’m espescially looking forward to one in June up in Wisconsin. I’m speaking for my friend Andy Jack, and can’t wait to see him in action with his students. I’m taking the whole family with me, which is another major plus for this trip. On the way back we’re going to spend a couple of days in Chicago and stop and see some friends there too. I can’t wait!
• There are times where I GREATLY miss being a middle school youth pastor. I love Stuck and I love everything that we’re doing with it, but I really miss the one on one investment in students and adults that comes with a regular youth ministry gig.
• The other night we went out to dinner with some friends who have just moved into town. My “super spiritual” 5 year old Maddy was standing at the ice cream machine when my buddy Zac asked her if she wanted white or black ice cream. Her response: “In the name of Jesus, I do not want white!” Thankfully she said it loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear.
• My boy loves the ninja turtles. I loved the ninja turtles. That seems odd to me.
• I’m officially calling the time of death on TV’s “Survivor”. Seriously…does anyone still watch this stuff?
• I’ve been listening to (and loving) Sting’s “Songs from the labyrinth” album. It’s a collection of him performing the lute songs of John Dowland. If that’s not enough to get you interested, then go listen to the album’s version of “Fields of Gold”…an amazing version of one of the best songs of all time.

That’s all I’ve got for now.

What an honor!

Typically I try to remain modest about my many accolades and awards, but this one simply couldn’t remain a secret. I’ve been named one of the Top 10 Para-Church Youth Ministers (in the country? the world? I don’t know, so let’s just say universe). Inexplicably, I wasn’t number one on the list…but I’m not suprised that voting in America is off…just look at how long Sanjaya was on American Idol. Anyway, I digress, this is a huge honor and I’d just like to thank…

Ok, no…that isn’t a real list. That list was set up to poke fun at this real list of the top 20 youth pastors. This list is put out by the church report, and has been the topic of conversation the past few days in a series of emails bouncing back and forth between the jr. high summit group. The list is really a sad thing, and several other bloggers are talking about it and responding to it. Check out Kurt Johnston’s thoughts here, and Mark Oestricher’s here.

Let me know what you think of it all.

Why?

Why do I love this video so much? I know this has been around forever, but I still love this video. Maybe it’s because this guy reminds me a little of Ross.

This new video is just kinda creepy though…

Old or new, you gotta respect the Numa Numa kid….

Ohh…that was close!

Whew! My KU Jayhawks dodged a bullet tonight. I really think that they can take anyone though, and I am excited for an NCAA Championship this year!

Anyone else watch the end of the Memphis/Texas A&M game tonight? I love the A&M program, and I think they got robbed tonight. Sure Law should have made his lay-up, but that last foul on A&M was ridiculous. And taking 1.1 seconds off the clock at the end of the game…that was unbelievable. Someone needs to lose their job over that.

Speaking of bad officiating, did anyone else feel like the first half of the KU game was called unfairly, or is it just me?