Ripped Off

I don't like to whine, but today I'm hurt. Some of you may have heard that when I play music with my homies, we like to call ourselves "Deer Pants." One of the first praise songs I ever heard was "As the Deer Pants for the Water..." Immediately the metal image came into my mind of a Deer wearing pants. So, I thought it would be cool to name a band that name.

Some friends of mine told their dad about our clever name, and he proceeded to copyright the name and start a Men's ministry at his church with the same name. They have a website where you can buy hats and aprons with MY band's name on it. This ministry is going nationwide in that they're creating reproducable curriculum a la 'Men's Fraternity'.

This pretty much means that legally I can't use the name. You know what I would hate more than being jailed for copyright infringement? Someone coming up to me and saying "Hey, did you copy your name from that men's Bible Study?" I think I would lose it. Ever seen that movie "Falling Down" with Michael Douglas? Yeah, kinda like that.

So.. for the handful of people that read this, I need ideas for a new band name. Here are a couple of ideas: (please don't steal and copyright) "Red Letter Edition" or "Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters"...

Dying Americana

A bunch of us went to the Drive-in Movies tonight... I say Movie(s) because it was a triple feature for 5 bucks. I got a little nostalgic, because to me, the drive-in represents the innocence of the 1950's, which is all but lost.

We're lucky to have such a cool drive-in so close. In 1958 there were 5000+ drive-ins, and now there are less than 500 nationwide. The Winchester, located in south OKC has been owned by the same family for 68 years.

Anyone want a HOT DOG?

John Wooden

I'm reading Wooden's Autobiography "They Call Me Coach" He was the UCLA basketball coach for 27 years, and has been called America's winningest coach, with 12 NCAA titles, and 7 consecutive titles from 1967-1975. He's coached greats like Kareem Abdul Jabaar, and Bill Walton.

He reads his Bible everyday, and considers faith to be essential for coaching. To be entrusted with the lives of young men without God would be impossible, says Wooden. His coaching style reflected all of life, not just basketball. He taught his players respect, integrity and hustle.

Guys like Wooden really know how to lead and teach men. Seems like discipleship closely parallels the training on sports teams.

You should read some biographies. It doesn't take long, and their are some cool men and women out there that we can learn from...

What's a vice?

In case you were wondering Amy, (the only reader of this blog) a vice is used to hold something while it's being welded, cut, shaped, etc. One turns the handle to tighten or loosen the jaws around the object. Now you know.

Can you see how this relates to my life? The word "vice" is a double-entedre. It can also mean:

1 a : moral depravity or corruption : WICKEDNESS b : a moral fault or failing c : a habitual and usually trivial defect or shortcoming : FOIBLE vice of curiosity>
2 : BLEMISH, DEFECT
3 : a physical imperfection, deformity, or taint

The sinful nature of man. The vice we fight against.

Disunity

Seems like were at that point in the living arrangement when we're starting to get real with each other, and when I say real, I mean real selfish. What I do is stuff "stuff" down deep and it begins to simmer and rears it's head as anger a month later. Others are withdrawing, talking trash behind each other's backs..etc. Well, the bottom line is that our sin is keeping us from honoring God where we live. So, who's gonna be the bigger man try to unify this house? I hope Dave will do it, but I need to step up. I think they're looking to me because I'm the oldest. Lord please help me remember that I don't have any rights, and that I must consider everyone better than me, for You oppose the proud, but give grace to the humble.