Bugs the Bunny -revisited

Remember the bunny marked for death living with the python?

Well, guess who has a new classroom pet...









Now, what do you name it?
Daniel-saved from the Lion's den?
Peter-cottontail?
Mr. Bunny Foo Foo?

What are your ideas?

New Series at HPF

The series we're doing for the next quarter is going to focus on how Jesus used the psalms. How he quotes them over and over.

Hence the title of the Series: What's on Jesus' ipod?

We are using modern songs with title's that convey the message, as an example-Next week is "Who'll stop the Rain?" and we will be discussing how Jesus stopped the storm.

so check out whatsonjesusipod.org.

We look forward to exploring how Jesus used songs, hymns and spiritual songs, and how we can too.

Lessons from Bugs -the grey bunny

I gained some insights from a grey bunny, not an animated version, but a really cute fluffy bunny that looks similar to this:

You might ask how could such a tiny fluffy thing could grab my brain and not let go.

The answer is CONTEXT.

I walked into my friends garage (on the way into the house to watch my superbowl dreams get flushed away--11 years without a playoff win, arrrrrrrrgh-i still love you Romo and Jessica) and see the most adorable rabbit in a terrarium. My heart melted a little... but something wasn't right.

Because he wasn't alone, and this was, in fact, NOT his home-the context changes because even though Bugs is living there right now, its really a burmese python's home.

I told my friend, "That's a poor bunny, living so close to death..."

He replied, "Yeah, he's been in there for 48 hours, but he's starting to seem at home."

That's when it hit me-I'm a poor bunny.

Why do we allow ourselves to get comfortable with the very things that can kill and destroy us?

Do we realize how close we are to the end? Do we realize the danger we're in?

For some it could be drugs/alcohol, sex, pornography, food, credit cards, debt... For others it could even be positive things that we put out of order, or first in our lives: family, church, work, ourselves.

God, teach me to love you even deeper, I don't want to settle. Keep me from the real death, separation from you. You are first, you are last, you are everything.

Have you ever felt like i do-have you felt similar to this bunny? I also know that one could draw many different lessons from this experience-what comes to your mind?

Forget the Mullet... Fear the Flat Top

If you spend time around Paul Lee this week you might hear, "Marc thought of this."

I'm okay with this, i do have plenty of ideas-good and bad alike, and i don't mind being mocked.

But only by someone who can rock the flat top.



Anyone who can ride a style from 50 years ago into a new millennium deserves some sort of reward or recognition. No matter what, he has earned the right to say and do whatever he wants. Much like Chuck Norris, Paul Lee does as he pleases.

Sadly, Paul has changed his hair style, i will deeply miss the HPF drill sergeant, not only was it stylish, it was functional. But even though its gone, its not forgotten.

Fear the Flat Top.

Live on $2/day?

Some thoughts have been running through my mind today, and its all Francis Chan's fault! (check out the link on the right labeled "Strong, Relevant Messenger")

We, Americans, are rich. We don't realize sometimes that we are, but the majority of the people on this earth (53%) earn less than $2.00 a day. We, however, make 100 times that, but still fool ourselves into thinking that we are not rich. We are... period. And we get a lot of security from it-food, shelter, transportation.

Give us today our daily bread.

I was pretty content with my understanding of Matthew 6:11- on a shallow level:

Sure thing, give me what i need. whatever it is, just give it to me, green lights, good radio stations, boss to be in a good mood, you know...the things that i need.

Its so much bigger than that. Do i need God more than i need anything else? Money? House? Spouse? Acceptance? Food?

What do i really depend on?

Do i depend on God for my very life, for the things that actually sustain me?

How great it would be if i was more than "lukewarm." That i could be like Zacchaeus in Luke 19, and actually get "it."

Do i give to a point where it's a necessity to depend on God for the food i eat each day? Why don't I? Do i not believe that he will care for me?

How hard it is for an american (rich man) to enter the Kingdom of God.

How easy would it be to hear the same words spoken to the church in Laodicea spoken to the church in America:

"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

i would rather hear what Jesus says to Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house."

God, bring your fire into me. I believe you. I need you more than anything, i will find no comfort, no security, compared to what you offer. Take the lukewarm away, change my priorities, increase what's important to you in my life, take away everything else, your will be done, give me what i need for today.

what do you think this looks like in our culture and our community today? what are your thoughts?

Surprising CD

Sometimes its good to just be quiet and rest.

I haven't realized how much I needed this, until a good friend turned me on to this album.


Fernando Ortega

The Shadow of Your Wings

What an experience of just basking in something bigger than yourself. What's more impressive is that this "bigness" is achieved with just his voice, a piano, and a string quartet.

In its simplicity you'll find freedom in the classic lyrics, beautiful melodies, and perfect arrangements.

This cd really brought me to a place of contemplation and reflection. I've let it play through about 8 times today.

How about you? What have you been listening to? What brings you to a similar place?

Real Estate Joy Ride

Its the end of the world. This is it. You need to crawl under your desk and get into the fetal position. Your financial future is ruined, little Billy will never go to college, suburban housewives will soon take to the streets rioting and looting... surely chaos and "pandolerium" will ensue.

I actually find several people with a similar view. But I can't fault them, I'd buy into it as well if I only received my information from sensationalized reports, stories, and articles found in our news mediums.

How did this happen? Why is this view so prevalent? Indulge me for a minute...

Imagine you are driving in your car-radio blaring, wind in your hair-not a care in the world. And if you let me stretch a little, not a care for the speed limit either.
(Some regional real estate markets were let loose, unchecked. Perceived value and supply inflated the demand.)

Caution thrown to the wind, you sustain your speed. Just like Micheal Schumacher, you begin your attack on the upcoming corners.
(Demand is sustained at unprecedented levels, traditional money sources decide to alter their lending guidelines and buy into the over-valuation of property by placing large amounts of their portfolio into dangerous, poorly underwritten notes.)

In the corner you loose control, the car is sliding sideways.
(The percentage of foreclosures rise, mortgage companies become land owners, supply increases, and home values start to fall.)

You quickly flip the steering wheel in the opposite direction in an attempt to regain control, and the car wildly swings the other way.
(It becomes almost impossible to get a loan, many mortgage products disappear, values remain in flux.)

You slowly bring the car back under control. Your heart is pumping so fast, adrenaline makes you tingly all over, and now wisely you slow down, turn down the radio, and continue your journey.
(Values return to the normal range, underwriting guidelines are reinstated, Supply and Demand are kept in check.)

Now back to today. Two of the main factors of the real estate problem of 2007 was with no doubt, INFLATED VALUES and UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES.

Thankfully, central Texas, unlike Miami and California, avoided both.

http://tinyurl.com/36rz3a

So, crawl out from under your desk and tell little Billy he can still go to college. Sound judgment and portfolio diversification is the key. Find out more at:

http://www.stallionfunding.com/

Rock my world

If you are anything like me, you just can't get enough didgeridoo. Even if you're not like me, i'm sure you ask yourself at least once a week "Man, my life is so good, but how much better would it be if i could hear someone play a hollowed out tree trunk." Well, it would be this much better:




(starts it at 1:50)

Rock on.