Why Frank Viola Left the Institutional Church
5 August, 2008 
I’m a big fan of Frank’s books. I think he has a tremendous amount of wisdom to offer. I’ve often wondered how he got started on his simple church/home church journey.
I need wonder no more: WHY I LEFT THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH
To put all four reasons into a sentence: I had been captured by a higher vision. I envisioned the church to be something far beyond what I had experienced in my thirteen years of traditional Christianity. And that vision sent me on a 20-year odyssey.
Where have you gone, Joe?
1 August, 2008 
Been quiet here lately. It’s just been that kind of summer. Yesterday saw Kerri and I say farewell to Marriage Actually, the last b5media blog on which either of us were writing. It’s been a fun time. Hard to believe it’s been nearly 2-1/2 years since I first sold them on the idea of a blog about Baldness.
Let’s see… as a sensitive, post-modern kind of guy, it seems I should be appropriately retrospective in this moment. So, what did I learn?
- Getting paid to write is fun.
- There is a difference between being into something and being able to write regularly about it.
- Virtual business relationships are here to stay, but there is still something missing from face-to-face and even voice interaction.
- I met a number of cool and interesting folks.
There. That seems appropriate.
I wish b5media and its bloggers all the success in the world. Perhaps the future will bring me back their way again sometime.
Meanwhile, I wonder how else I can get paid to write…
Fantasia THX
14 July, 2008 
All I can say is “Amen!” to today’s comic from Jessica Hagy over at Indexed entitled Why did he do that?. Too many of today’s blockbusters are less about story and more about (1) special effects; (2) “star power” names; and increasingly (3) “star power” soundtracks, all with little consideration to whether or not any of the three actually serve the story. AI was the first one I recall thinking this about. Oh, there are exceptions. But they are just that: exceptions.
EURO 2008 Team of the Tourney - Turkey
I know they’re out, but wow! You can’t ask for more drama and entertainment. Three come-from-behind wins, only to be undone in the semifinals by a come-from-behind Germany. And that against was is practically the second choise side considering all of their injuries and suspensions!
Runner-up: Spain, and not just because they sent Italy packing, but that’s a major bonus.
Jesus Has Left the Continent
My friend forwarded this article from House2House, and the section at the end just knocked me out:
The Christians in the West have been able to eliminate Christ and His direct presence in their midst. I have a feeling sometimes that the whole Christianity in the West could be going for years before they discover that Jesus has not been with them for a long time. He has gone somewhere else. He is not with them anymore.
The personal message I got from Bro. Yun is that of Jesus asleep in the boat. …people think, “Okay, we can row it ourselves now. Thank you very much.” And Jesus goes to sleep in the boat. Great storms arise. They have to wake Jesus up before it is too late to calm the storm.
That’s it. I think Jesus is in my life, but largely he’s asleep. I’ve told him I can row from here, so he’s gone off to catch a nap and let me do as I wish.
A Good Week Draws to a Close
It seems like it’s been ages since I could say that honestly. Certainly there have been good moments and good days, but there have been few weeks that I could say were satisfying as a whole. A few of the highlights:
- Father’s Day breakfast with my parents, and who doesn’t like breakfast?
- 90 minutes of soccer later that day… and then I got to watch some Euro 2008. (Turkey are the comeback kids, no?)
- Good weather, meant I could ride to work a couple times.
- While work is still seriously busy, we made good headway on a number of fronts. I think we’re all pretty proud of ourselves and rightly so!
- On Wednesday the D&D campaign continued. Not only did all the regulars make it, but Tom was there to boot! Good times were had by all.
- Speaking of Tom, Thursday brought more games, more good conversation, and a bit of late night music, too. It’s always nice when Tom makes it into town. He’s good people.
- Samantha has her dance recital tomorrow. I can’t believe this is her fourth year! The time has just flown. And a special thanks to Dara for her willingness to watch the boys that night.
A good week indeed…
Post-Fathers Day Musings
Monday evening after Fathers Day, and here’s what’s on my mind:
- “Boil ‘em, Mash ‘em, Stick ‘em in a stew“
- I love having the guitars out and available. It’s so nice to just pick one up and play for a few minutes… even if my timing isn’t always great.
- The boys were sick over the weekend. It was about time they picked one of my holiday weekends; normally Kerri gets to celebrate with illness.
- Did you see the Turkey - Czech match! WOW!!! Amazing! One more example of why I love soccer.
- I cannot wait until work slows down a little. (It will eventually slow down a little, right?)
- An extra big breakfast… even a relatively early one… is unwise before a soccer game. My omelette sat like a lump during my entire game on Sunday… which we still managed to win. W00t!
- Wednesday’s role playing session looks like it might be a packed house: The regular crew will be there plus potentially two more, Don Juan and Tomas! I’m very excited. Who’s gonna help me with the monsters?
- Speaking of Tomas, I get to see him for three or perhaps four days in a row while he’s on furlough. I hope his ladies are having a grand time, and I’m glad he’s coming to the little-D for a few.
- Have you ever played Save Dr. Lucky from Cheap Ass Games? Good stuff. I can’t wait to Kill Dr. Lucky.
- I’m no longer a night owl, so I must now be off to bed.
Golazo!
Did you see the second Dutch goal against Italy? I’m not sure what was more impressive: Giovanni Van Bronckhorst clearing off the goal line and then hustling down field to deliver the service to Kuyt… or Wesley Sneijder’s amazing finish… or the simple fact that the dour Italians were CRUSHED 3-0. One more reason I’m excited to be getting cable on Saturday!
Wii!
On Friday Kerri stopped into our local Family Video to clear our late fees and rent a couple movies: New releases - five nights - $1 each. We got a couple for the kids and a couple for us.
She also rented Mario Kart for the Wii. (Not $1 for five nights, but still a fair price.) We all got into it. Kerri and I both stayed up too late one night. Samantha and Jake are old enough and coordinated enough to complete most of the tracks. And Luke was happy so long as he had either a monkey, a dragon or a dinosaur on a cool motorcycle.
Next up: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
