And So Says I

TOMS: Shoes That Fight Back

2010-05-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

Part of being a good person requires that we care for the broken world around us. Spare change for the guy on the street corner, picking up the abandoned trash on the beach, recognizing that we have a job to do. This comes with a price. TOMS shoes is a company that builds simple canvas shoes and when you purchase a pair, a second pair is delivered to a person in need in a developing part of the world.

I own TOMS and wear them frequently. I like knowing that someone else in the world is wearing the same pair, kind of like one of those broken-heart necklaces, without the heart, necklace, or cheesy inscription.

As I said earlier, there is always a catch. My first day wearing them yielded some strange looks and off-color remarks, the best was when somebody said, “you look like a gay ninja.” Is this the price for caring for the world? A gay ninja? I have never even heard of a gay ninja. I picture Perez Hilton in a leotard with a screen pressed unicorn, throwing purple smoke bombs and swatting at people with rainbow colored nunchucks.

Nonetheless, I have done something. I have looked at the world and seen that not all is right. There is brokenness all around. Buying shoes will not end poverty, feed the homeless, or father the orphans, but it is a small step in recognizing that everyone can help. Besides, who said there is anything wrong with a gay ninja?

Have You Flossed Today?

2009-05-11T08:34:00.001-07:00

For me, laying down in the dentist chair looking up at two hands and protective glasses is usually follow by the statement, "you really should floss more."

Who really wants to floss? Do we really have time for it?

As I drove home from work the other I was pleased to see a lady in the car next to me flossing in the rear view mirror. Normally I am not a fan of people pulling out their toilettry bag in their vehicle, turn the mirror towards themselves, and therefore subjecting us to their unfocused driving. But this day was different. She was doing something I know I need to do.

I tried to capture the moment, but its hard while your driving. (Ironically, something else you shouldn't do while operating a vehicle.)

Cool Dad Moment

2009-04-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

Coming from a family without a consistent dad in my childhood, I like to highlight "cool dad moments" here.

Yesterday my wife dragged me to a taping of American Idol and we stood outside in line for 2 hours before they let us in to the studio. Next to us in line was a father and his 13 year-old daughter. As we talked with them about American Idol, who they think should win, and how amazing Ryan Seacrest is (I had no part in this conversation), we came to learn that they are from San Francisco.

They got tickets to AI on Friday, booked a flight, and flew down Tuesday morning for the taping. After the show, flew back. That is a cool dad.

Easter 2009

2009-04-11T22:57:00.000-07:00

Grace National Park

2009-03-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

River guides might be the most fascinating people on the planet. A couple years ago I had the opportunity to go river rafting in Montana. The river was glacier run-off from Glacier National Park and was a chilly 45 degrees. Thoughts of capsizing occupied my mind as our guide explained that the river is dangerous if you are submerged for too long or face rapids without a raft.

Not long into our voyage did we encounter a rapid large enough to flip the raft, scattering my fellow sailors into the raging river. The force of the impact caused me to flip and plunge into the water without warning. Almost as swiftly as I entered, I was plucked from the water and placed back on the raft. The river guide instantly removed me from the turmoil that would have surely swallowed me.

His instructions to me were simple: grab everyone and get them in the raft NOW.

The gathering of doom-impended people was a simple task that required no conditions. If someone was in the river, they needed to get out. I did not reach for only those I love, or those that are nice to me, or those that I thought deserved it.

Everyone facing a certain death deserves rescue. This is grace. While we do not deserve it from God, we ought to be grateful everyday that we were rescued, and we are rescued, and we will always be rescued from the river without hesitation. Because we have fallen out of the boat, we receive God's grace.

River guides teach grace every trip down the river. If someone falls out of the boat, the rest of the raft does everything can to get them back in.

I've Reached the Top

2009-02-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

This is an email I received the other day and I wanted to share it with you.

Hi, Jared Kirkwood (JaredKirkwood).

Jimmy Eat World (jimmyeatworld) is now following your updates on Twitter.

Check out Jimmy Eat World's profile here:
http://twitter.com/jimmyeatworld

Best,
Twitter

I knew that my patience would pay off. So now I am one of the 4,000 people that Jimmy Eat World ignores on Twitter!

Sibilance

2009-02-10T15:29:00.001-08:00

Recently a friend and I have been working on creating an online radio program. It will be distributed through iTunes via podcast with a link from this very blog. Our primary audience we believe will be the 20-somethings looking for entertainment to fill the empty time in their life when they are supposed to be producing. Also, I love looking for jobs I can do in my sweatpants.

We all know that work is a great place to check up on blogs, read the latest headlines from BBC, listen to This American Life...My hope is that soon enough, we will provide another alternative background noise in your office pair of JVC headphones.

I am currently compiling a list of topics, themes, ideas, bits, etc that we can talk about. While our current list is extensive, I would love to hear from you, the prospective listener, as to what you would like to hear. While I am not claiming to know anything, I hope to entertain you while providing a bit of information and possibly the best place to get a taco in Costa Mesa.

Ye Old Sage

2009-02-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted a mentor in my life. And old sage that has wisdom pumping through his veins like an oil refinery. Someone to listen to me, advise me, caution me. This desire brought me to my earliest memory of a mentoring relationship that I was in.

In 6th grade I was a mentor to a 3rd grader. Powerful I know. I volunteered in my class to walk alongside this little sprite and help with his addition skills, teach him the many lessons of elementary school, show him how to get into the fetal position when a bully comes around.

We met once or twice to count M&M's in a subtraction lesson, mainly because the only way to eat them is to teach subtraction or division, I division sucks. Sadly it soon became more of a pen pal relationship. Those wonderful days of me exuding 6th grade wisdom on this little ankle biter were gone and I was left to writing him lousy notes about the weather and homework. The mentor/mentee relationship struggled to hold its head above water. Before long I forgot about him even though I am sure he still thinks of me to this day.

Mentors need to be involved in your life. They need face to face interaction with your joy, pain, frustration. In an effort to learn subtraction again, if you know of anyone, I am looking for this person.

Salvage the Stinkers

2009-01-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

Why are farts so funny?

Every Wednesday I teach a group of high school students about God in an inviting, living room setting. This week, just after the reading of the scripture, one of the students sitting candidly in the middle of room, shifted his weight and delivered a package that could not be confused. Strangely reminiscent of a baritone, the sound penetrated the room thankfully much quicker than the smell. Without reservation, students began to snicker as they pulled their shirt collars over their noses.

Immediately I employed the FART method: the youth pastor's only hope in a stinky situation.

Forgo the urge to laugh
Assess the damage done
Recapture their attention
Tell the story later because its hilarious!

While this method may have its holes, it does a decent job when a student cannot control theirs.

The Xlerator

2009-01-27T22:14:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of washing my hands after using the restroom. I consciously tell myself every time, "this is what adults do, we wash our hands." To my excitement the restroom at the Fuller campus installed these new auto hand dryers that blast out air at an alarming rate. I felt like a kid with an air compressor blowing in my mouth to make it look like I was skydiving!

If you're wondering how fast the air exits the machine, check out the manufacturer's note.

Everything was going good, my hands were dry (and warm, a wonderful bi-product), trees were spared, Mother Earth was smiling...until I went to leave the bathroom. You see, Im one of those freaks who uses his paper towel to open the door as I exit. While I love to believe that everyone washes their hands, I happen to know this not to be true. I was stuck in the bathroom with no paper towel and the stupid Xlerator, in all its air compressed glory, laughing at me until someone else came in. Instead, I managed to use my foot, I know you were worried.

PS. This is my 101st post!

Is This For Real?

2009-01-23T19:12:00.000-08:00

I woke up to rain this morning, which is an incredibly rare circumstance in Pleasantville. I love the rain, the renewal, the smell, the greenery that follows. When my alarm went off, I quickly silenced it and made the decision to lay in bed in a time I call "unprotected sleep." As my brain began to recognize the sound of rain outside my first thought was, "Oh, that sounds like a rain stick!"

My imagination quickly jumps to a boy with his eyes closed and a blissful smile on his face, a sunny day out the window in the background while flipping a rain stick and listening intently to the 15 second soundbite of a cloudier place.

Rain sticks were pretty sought after when I was in high school. I lived in Las Vegas, where rain is even more sparse than it is here. The idea that you could capture a different place and a blissful sound in a stick (aren't all the best things on sticks?) was unbelievable to our teenage minds.

Today you can capture the same faux climate in an iPhone app, alongside the Koi Pond and the Zen Garden, creating a sense of 90s bliss in a modern day MIDI application. Next time I hear rain I hope that my brain is not conditioned to think everything is fake, but that rain, and fish, and...rocks, are real. The only sound effect application that is worthy is the fart machine...the funny sound without the pungent partner.

Higher Education

2009-01-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

I am not sure if I am stoked or disturbed. I am sitting in my class at Fuller Seminary in a grad school level course designed for professional teachers of religions and pastors looking for further education and I smell cigarette smoke.

Someone in here smoked before they came to class. Im not sure if I should high five them for being progressive in a profession that typically shuns the leisurely addiction or frustrated because they stink. Either way, as I breathe in the remnants of a Joe Cool cancer stick, I sneak a half smile and silently applaud the guy behind me for his gumption.

Yoga Fusion

2009-01-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

With the new year comes the reminder that we are fat and out of shape. Satan has come in the form of Costco this year, tempting me to buy a two-year membership to 24 Hour Fitness, something that I have had in the past and did not use.

For the first couple months I was consistent, I looked the part, I brought my own towel, I even made a mix for the ipod. But as with most people and their gym memberships, I quit. The Rocky Road in my freezer was closer than the ab-roler.

So instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a gym membership, my church is offering free Yoga classes on Thursdays (mat included!). In surprise to my athletic prowess, I attended and was subsequently destroyed. I was told this was going to be a yoga class (a secret desire of mine is to be able to contort my body in the strength poses like our brothers to the East), but it ended up being Jazzercise Jane Fonda style with 20 minutes of Yoga at the end. After 60 minutes of jumping, squatting, lunging, Downward Dogging, I felt like my junior high asthma was returning for a second act.

Despite the torment, the experience was something to be desired. My fellow New Year's-Resolutionaries and I defeated those calories in a present-day Battle of the Bulge.

Yosemite Winter Trip

2009-01-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a little promo for our winter trip.

Yosemiski Waldo 1 from Jared Kirkwood on Vimeo.

Looking in the Mirror

2009-01-06T21:43:00.001-08:00

I really want to be a writer. The idea of publishing my thoughts for others to pick apart is thrilling. But I recently have been reading over some of the things posted in this blog (not to say that these are a sampling of the kind of writing I would do or that I actually proof read anything on here) and realized that it is pretty much crap.

That leaves me questioning if I can write, will ever write, or even should write. But the yearning inside persists and I can say nothing other than I want to.

As far as I know, crap never looked into the mirror and thought, "Im crap." So, my writing will never know that it sucks, mainly because it does not have the capacity to think.

Therefore, if I want to and the product has an inability for self-awareness, I will write. You, the reader, will have to deal with it.

The List Returns

2009-01-05T22:12:00.001-08:00

Each year I come up with a few things that I would like to accomplish in the year. Here it is:

-Ask better questions.
-Eat something from the ocean (a personal triumph if this happens).
-Always be reading something.
-Teach a class/seminar.
-Cry.
-Go out of the country.
-Write something worth publishing.
-Golf once a month.
-Get a non-speaking role in a film.
-Stop cracking my knuckles (a constant on my lists).
-Wrestle.
-Be Satisfied.
-Get a speaking role in a film.
-Go on a walk with my wife.
-Stretch.
-Ride every ride in Disneyland Park.
-Get more people to read this stupid blog.

2008 Music in Review

2008-12-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

With each year comes new music, and here are my picks.

Top Albums of 2008:
1. Radiohead In Rainbows (Technically released 12/28/07)
2. Coldplay Prospekt's March EP
3. Sigur Ros Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust
4. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Ray Lamontagne Gossip in the Grain

Honorable Mentions:
Death Cab For Cutie Narrow Stairs
Panic at the Disco Pretty. Odd.

Top Songs of 2008:
Gobbledigook, Sigur Ros
Disturbia, Rhianna
Glass of Water, Coldplay
Skinny Love, Bon Iver
Love Story, Taylor Swift

Top Songs of 1998:
How's It Going To Be, Third Eye Blind
Iris, Goo Goo Dolls
Josie, Blink182
Gettin' Jiggy Wit, Will Smith
Tubthumping, Chumbawamba
One Week, Barenaked Ladies
Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind
Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Verve

Also, here is what NPR listeners are choosing as their Top 25.

Our New Addition

2008-11-25T17:39:00.000-08:00

As you may know we just opened a Student Center that included this:

At first I thought that this would become the junior high mecca for Newport/Irvine students trying to show of their new Nikes, neon tank tops and short shorts. To my surprise the average age in the park is between 20-45, all rocking sweet mustaches, shirts with beer logos, tattoos of pin-up girls, and of course, cigarettes. Naturally I was shocked that old dudes are skating, but not only could the smoke the Q-Pipe, they could also indulge in a hashpipe! So I am proud to say that our church not only built a skate park but installed one of these babies today:

Its awesome to know that our church isn't afraid of tattoo slinging, mullet wielding, phannie pack wearing, has-beens who happen to have a less-than-attractive addiction. So while I think you're creepy, you are welcome here.

Extroverts: Who Needs Em?

2008-10-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

High school ministry has turned me into an introvert. When I first started in junior high ministry I was a rambunctious teenager taking every opportunity to be on stage and in front of people. It was not uncommon for me to be hopped up on Mountain Dew and screaming for no apparent reason.

I recently took the Myers-Briggs personality test and discovered that my personality, along with my beverage of choice, has changed. I went from an ENFP to an INFJ. I look forward to long conversations with awkward pauses, I love being alone with some music or a book, I am ok if I don't talk to everyone in the room, I like the idea of people not knowing if I like them or not. Becoming an introvert has come with a much more intricate thought life, a better vocabulary, and an appreciation for the finer things. The only downside is that people commonly believe that introverts hate the world...wait, that might be true.

The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

Wedding Photos

2008-10-27T11:56:00.001-07:00

Lighthouses are Convicting

2008-10-19T22:47:00.001-07:00

This weekend was Lighthouse weekend for us at Mariners. We have the opportunity to show high school students that it is our responsibility to care for the poor and needy. There were so many highlights but two stood out to me from G's message.

Compassion is nothing without justice. It is relatively easy to feel sorry for the poor and needy, but if we are not moved to action, justice has not prevailed.

Poor isn't an empty wallet. The definition of poor and needy is usually stated as a lack of financial means...but what if it really meant a lifestyle that lacks hope. Of course money is an issue, but move beyond the obvious. The common bond for all is that we are connected with the source of hope. We are required to use our resources to help them find their hope again.

Mmm Tasty?

2008-10-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

I saw this the other day and thought, "What genius came up with this name for an Oreo Cookie product?"

If you're hungry, I keep mine in the porcelain jar in my bathroom.

The Student Center is Open

2008-10-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a time lapse of the building going up.

Building of the Student Center from Jared Kirkwood on Vimeo.

Main Stage

2008-09-30T16:06:00.001-07:00

Ever feel like your a big fish in a litte pond? Well go do announcements at Mariners in front of 8,000 peeps and you will never feel that again.

Gotta Light?

2008-09-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

For over a month I have been driving my car around with the MAINT light on. Every time I look at it I see $$$$$$$ draining out of my bank account. It has been a constant reminder that at any moment my car could break down, brakes could go out, fuel tank could explode, tiny gremlins could crawl out of my tail pipe and into the cabin and nibble my toes off...

Today at Carmax the guy walked out to my car and performed a code to turn the light off. Yes, a cheat code, much like the Nintendo, ABABUpDoUpDoLR. He said, "Oh yea, that just reminds you to get your oil changed..."

Where are those tiny gremlins when you need them?

Color Blind Shmolor Blind

2008-09-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Brian posted this on his blog and I thought I would share it with you. Its time to see how color blind you are. Check it out right here. Take the test and let me know your score!

The Price for Pain

2008-09-16T19:29:00.001-07:00

I was reminded yesterday of a masochistic passion of mine...getting tattooed. Ok so I have been in the chair 4 times but I still enjoy it. I laid in one position for 2 hours, no breaks, no stretch, no feeling in my arm, not even a smoke break (for the tattoo guy). Worst of all, there was a girl right next to me finishing her full sleeve and took it like a man. She probably loved my little grimaces and flinches...

Another funny sidepoint, laying on your back for 2 hours gets old when you only have ceiling tiles to look at. Thankfully there was a piece of art hanging right above me.

Unfortunately it was a five foot naked mermaid.

Googling Me

2008-09-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

So when I get bored I search my name is various search engines. I stumbled this old video of myself on Vimeo. Nice to know that I am cool enough to be considered "the Mac guy" at a church and to be posted on Vimeo, the hipsters youtube.

Mariners Mac Add from Old Number 9 on Vimeo.

Shredder from TNMT

2008-09-05T15:06:00.000-07:00

If you want your church to build a student plaza with some extremely skatable features, make sure you hire this guy as your CFO.

b3J1bQ==" width=425 height=318 type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always">

By the way, Im not joking, thats our CFO.

High School Again

2008-08-26T16:31:00.001-07:00

There are only a few things in my life that annoy me...today I would like to mention one that has recently made my Top 10. It is the addition of Facebook Messenger. I typically leave my Facebook open all day on my work computer while I go about my normal youth pastoring business (ping pong, soccer, beach, In n Out) only to return to like 12 dialogue boxes open with people thinking I am ignoring them!

The truth is, I hate it. I have no desire to relive my AIM years. Sometimes I see you message me, and I ignore you...don't tell anyone or my sweet persona will be lost forever.

Lost Canyon Recap

2008-08-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

We returned on Wednesday from our Summer Camp to Lost Canyon. It was my first time taking on the role as Program Director and a Lead Character. The job was extremely tiring, but now that I am on the other side, I realized how much it energized me and made me truly love what I do. Here are a couple things I learned:

-You can still minister to students when you aren't staying in their cabin. It just is a different ministry. From stage I was able to use humor to break down barriers and give cabin leaders something to talk about. Also, through games and cheesy taglines, students let go of their "coolness" for a while and allow you to enter their world.

-A good finale to your program is worth the late-night work. We ended our week with a medley of Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Bohemian Rhapsody...a brilliant combination that made for some good laughs (and skinned knees).

-The time you put into a video usually comes back ten-fold at camp. The couple hours I used to create a Behind the Music for our program characters really brought some flavor and backstory to us on stage. Using students in the video was one of the best things I could have done.

-Thanking your team and reminding them of how great they are is necessary. No one likes a leader that takes all the credit!

-Lastly, getting sleep at camp is overrated. Get to know the people around you, make friends with the camp staff, buy your team some ice cream, be the last one to sleep and the first to wake up, appreciate what you have while you are there...not when you get home!

Be safe and hot coffee.

Hooray for Camp

2008-08-07T19:43:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that my absence is only temporary and while the void is great, the time is too little and my patience is too feeble. We are planning for our summer camp...one gigantic character role for myself. J Pockets is off to camp and will return next week.

I look forward to reading the indulgent work of my blog buddies, sipping coffee and discussing the Finer Things, and partaking in the ancient art of literature when I return...

In the meantime, be safe and hot coffee.

The HOT List

2008-07-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

Some friends of mine were approached to make a feature length film based on their "305" spoof for MTV, which received 3.5 million views on YouTube. I was in Palm Springs a couple weeks ago on vacation when I stumbled across their film in Hollywood Video in the "HOT" section!

Needless to say, I was thrilled for my friends and absolutely floored that their film was sitting in a video store in downtown Palm Springs! My excitement was heard all around the store.

As I continued to walk around the "HOT" section, my "I-know-those-guys" excitement was tainted a little when I saw this:

All I have to say is I am honored that my friends can be in the "HOT" section next to such greats as CareBears and Garfield!

Irvine Beach Party

2008-07-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend some of my leaders and I took students beach camping. Here are couple a shots from the weekend:

For more pics check this out!

Three Cheers for Class Clowns

2008-07-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this article on Kurt Johnston's blog. Unfortunately, it is a little off for youth pastors. I was the class clown of my high school with a graduating class of 825...I have a job that pays close to six figures (but just a little shy)...and I am not in the manufacturing industry.

Nice try though I guess. I just feel bad for those other class clowns that are stuck fabricating PVC pipes or welding car parts together or doing some job that eventually a machine will take over (ala How Its Made).

P.S. Contrary to the article, I am stoked on my job!!!

P.S.S Its worth a look to see where you fit...

Summertime Reds

2008-07-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

There is something welcoming about a sunburn. It stirs up memories of my childhood playing in the pool or the beach. It is a symbol of the first of summer and it usually happens while you are doing something daring or exciting. Oh the joy it is to look at your skin that is red as Christmas and think, "man i love summer."

I got my first sunburn of the year today. You can forget all that crap above, this sucks.

All I can think about now is the smell of aloe vera and how the elastic band in my boxers is carving its way to my spine.

In line with my Behind

2008-06-25T16:17:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had someone stand really close to you in a line? Whether your at the Post Office, the grocery store or Disneyland, it is incredibly frustrating to feel another person standing so close that their breath is warming you up. I feel like at any moment they are going grab my wallet, sneeze on my neck, or squize my cheeks (the southern ones).

For some reason I get so upset. The invasion of my personal bubble is not only annoying, I believe it is a health risk.

Anyone else feel my pain?

Forget You Subway Jared

2008-06-23T22:41:00.000-07:00

So I don't know if you have seen me lately, but I am about 20-25 lbs under-weight. Its relatively embarrassing but I am making some lifestyle changes to turn my frown into extra pounds.

First, I am packing the protein and upping my calorie intake. In order to achieve my 2 lb increase a week, I am eating 4,000 calories a day (hasnt happened yet). My stomach feels like I am harboring a full size panda.

Second, I am increasing my core strength. This includes ab routines, stretching exercises, and a fusion of yoga/fitness/pilates. Pretty soon, Pierce Brosnan will be weeping at my fruit-infused abs.

Third, lowering the reps and stepping up the weight. I feel guilty writing this because I am lazy and haven't really done this yet. Oh well.

Well with any bit of discipline and some illegal help, I should like this in a couple of weeks:

Refining Student Ministries

2008-06-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

The high school staff and I went to visit Saddleback's new student center on their grand opening today. Here are a couple of things I learned:

-Its huge
-waterfalls and baptisms totally go hand-in-hand
-Ampitheater seating in a high school room is simply awesome
-Josh Griffin sounds like a radio personality
-Shuffle board is no longer just for me and my grandparents

Overall, that place is awesome and I am getting more and more excited to open our student center!

Revelation(s)

2008-06-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

I woke up in the middle of the night last night to an epifany. I dreampt that I had not blogged in recent times and that my eager readers were foaming at the mouth in anger and had malice in their eyes. Well, forgive me and please stop sending hate mail. I understand that your life sucks without my usual rants.

Life is coming back into my veins and the words into my fingertips.

It feels good...Im going to chase this feeling.

Battle of the Ice Creams

2008-06-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

Dibs vs. The Scoop

Dibs:
-small, bite size amounts
-covered in chocolate
-travel case, even though its ridiculous
-no dishes/silverware required
-progressive and hip

The Scoop:
-traditional
-faithful
-air-y
-eat a lot without shame
-tons a places to purchase around town

AND THE WINNER IS:

Join us next time when we sample the early 2000s phenom DIPPIN DOTS!!!

Climb Into iPhoto

2008-06-06T08:45:00.001-07:00

The other night at 747 I gave my last message of the year. I wanted to give student's an opportunity to make a decision if they felt ready. All year we have been giving students snapshots of the life of Jesus, attempting to paint a portrait of this person we are asking them to follow.

I illustrated my point by asking if they had ever been on vacation. Most had and surprisingly all had taken pictures on their various adventures. I asked if they prefered going on the vacation or looking at the pictures when they got home. Naturally most people would rather being sitting on a beautful beach in Hawaii rather than looking at a picture of it.

So here was my challenge: for 8 months we have looked at many pictures of Jesus. We have seen him heal people, walk on water, raise the dead, challenge the Pharisees, and give us a promise that will change our life forever.

Would you rather just look at the pictures? Or choose to live the story behind each shot?

As If Jesus Couldn't Get Any Better

2008-06-05T13:09:00.001-07:00

So I have been riding fixed gear bikes for a little over a year now and still love it. I appreciate the simplicity, the uniformity, the bare necessity of the bicycle. But now I have found another reason to love my favorite commuter hobby. I found this flier on the Trackosaurus Rex blog.

5 Things That Remind Why I Am Not Rich

2008-05-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

-God loves me too much
-Jesus came for the poor
-I don't want to want
-I know that I will never stop wanting more
-I don't deserve what I have

5 Things Make Me Wish I Was Rich

2008-05-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

-Cirrus
-Vespa
-Mac
-Nikon
-Triumph

Get out your knee and elbow pads

2008-05-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

I have been noticing a trend in wheeled shoes lately that I thought was noteworthy. Growing up my friends and I loved to rollerblade, but you must remember that this was the late 80s and early 90s. Recently I visited Target and found this:

As I drive around Irvine I see more and more people blading with their dogs and kids. Ridiculous! I can't believe that rollerblading is back! FINALLY!!!!

J Pockets and Marty Mar part 2

2008-05-20T16:14:00.001-07:00

To my faithful readers, you shall be the first to see the new video:

If you ever said yourself, "why am I still reading that morons blog?" Well, here is your answer.

Top 5 Songs beginning with "The":

2008-05-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

 The Beatles – Love
 The Kooks – Inside In/Inside Out
 The Beastie Boys – Ill Communication
 The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow, Wincing the Night Away
 The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle

Stick Man and Playdoh

2008-05-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here is our attempt at "underground marketing." We sent this, the first of 5 vids, to some key people and we are seeing who this reaches.

Not showing on Sunday, no one on staff is going to talk about it, completely underground.

Ants and the Elephant

2008-05-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

For Mikey:

In a remote region of Africa lived a giant herd of ants. They minded their own business by climbing up a large tree to gather food for the group. Life was peaceful for this community. One day an elephant trampled on top of their hill injuring some and destroying their home. The ants climbed up the elephant to relatiate but in a moment of extreme discomfort, the elephant shook off the ants.

Slowly they fell to the ground below.

Ants were strewn all over the ground, some with broken limbs, others knocked unconcious, some even dead. Hope was lost for the ant community.

But just then, one of the ants looked at the elephant towering overhead and saw one remaining ant on the neck of the beast. The slightest ounce of hope had been restored to the injured ant. He gathered the energy to raise an arm and with great desperation yelled to the ant above, "CHOKE HIM!"

Yummy for Tummy

2008-05-04T18:57:00.001-07:00

Free snacks are always good. Whether they come from a left over event, on an airplane or in the form of music, they are well-received. Here is a sneak peak of the new Coldplay album set to come out in June. Give em your email address and they will give you a song. Free stuff rocks.

The song is not anything like previous Coldplay. It sounds like it was recorded on a 4-track in a bathroom stall. Chris sounds a bit around in the middle, maybe cause he just realized that he named his kid after a fruit. Either way, I am looking forward to their next album and some more free snacks.

Twitter

2008-05-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

I have created a Twitter account to see what all the buzz is about. So far, I have no one following me and I am following no one. So Twitter sucks. But then again, I created it 5 minutes ago. If you use it, look me up, if you don't, create a page and lets stalk each other via social updating sites.

How Old Are You?

2008-04-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have been noticing a common trend in my twenty-something friends that reminds me a lot of my grandmother. For instance:

--Knitting
--Making their own hats
--Driving terribly
--Hip replacement
--Watching musicals
--Eating cottage cheese
--Walking with a limp
--Insomnia
--Dentures

As you can see, being old won't be that different than now.

New Music

2008-04-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

I was in the mood for some Brit Pop today, so i picked up these two albums from the iTunes discount bin.

Happy Earth Day

2008-04-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

As a tribute I carpooled to work, cut my power usage by 23%, wrote in a recycled notebook, ate oatmeal, thought about planting a tree, and dreamed of surfing.

Find of the Week

2008-04-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

I don't particularly love grocery shopping, mainly because I go when i am hungry and waste a bunch of money on too much food. But my wife convinced me to check out Sprouts Farmers Market today. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.

Distance from my house: 1/2 mile
Market appearance: Trader Joes meets Henrys
Food Quality: Delicious, try the granola.
Customer Service: Who knows
Line time: 4.5 minutes
Environmental Issues: Farmer grown food, no pestacides, and reusable bags for 75 cents.
Cost compared to Alberstons: Pretty much equal.
Food available: The usual
Overall rating: 9.2

Death by Toyota

2008-04-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

I went on a trip to Mammoth this past week and met some new friends. Unfortunately I killed all of them with my car.

Radical Rodents

2008-04-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

Yet another reason why I need to either quit surfing or really try harder.

I Think I Love You

2008-04-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

I think my wife would be hot with some tattoos. A 3/4 sleeve preferrably. Yesterday she entertained the idea of us tattooing each others names on our wrists as a sign of utter devotion and temporary insanity. Here is the amazing graphic I put together trying to plead my case.

Its a small step toward her sleeve, but at least she is thinking about it. Actually, thinking about Kim sitting in a tattoo chair makes me laugh.

Inspiration Around Every Corner

2008-04-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

We need inspiration in our life. For some its a sunset, others a good film (like Flicka), but for me inspiration comes in peculiar forms. Here is a list that only scratches the service:
-Triumph Motorcycles
-books by N.T. Wright
-tattoos that show careful consideration and the artists expertise
-surf movies that have twin fins and eggs
-a good breakfast
-coffee that burns the roof of my mouth leaving danglies
-a fixie built from the ground up
-words like: create, develop, and design
-gum that lasts longer than 20 minutes
-movies that challenge who I am
-movies that dont make me think
-and lastly, music that defines my exact mood

What are some things that inspire you?

The Problem of Small Groups

2008-04-11T11:54:00.001-07:00

I am teaching at a youth worker's gathering tomorrow and my topic is small groups. I can't stop thinking about how weird small groups are. If you have ever been in one, you understand that asking people you hardly know to receive insane amounts of incriminating information with the hope of confidentiality is a remotely absurd. Why can't small groups be formed by our friend groups? The problem is, it would force us to be actual friends to people. To pick them up when their car breaks down, to throw them over your shoulder as you run out of a burning building, to help them blow out birthday candles when they can't do it in one breath. Here's a complex formula I have been working on: Real friends + Jesus based conversation = something more awesome then the way actual small groups work.

Mariners Student Center

2008-04-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

Mariners is building a student center for the community. Check out this webcam to see the progress!

Yes, a ven diagram.

2008-04-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to live your life in complete right standing with God, with humankind, and the world? Our individual worldviews must be able to stand within the overlap of these three. What boundaries must be set in order to stand appropriately before these three primary audiences?

This is taken from a guy named Abraham Kuyper, a Dutch Theologian, who made the case that these are the three fundamental relations in human existence. We must constantly triangulate our situation and make sure that none of these is getting more attention than the other. Our life as a follower of Jesus hinges on this perspective.

Not first, not second, but third.

2008-04-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

I got third place in our annual staff March Madness pool. Brian Hurst got first.

Speaking of Inspired

2008-04-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't make you want to quit your job, build a fixie and ride all day, you are lame.

Taco Tuesday :: Photography Ride from Kong on Vimeo.

It's sad that these 12 year olds have so much talent. First they take surfing from me and now this!

Mix Tapes

2008-04-10T13:17:00.001-07:00

My brother in law just started a new website a couple days ago that has some incredible potential. He posts 5 songs in a virtual "mix tape" just like the 90s. Check it out here to start inspiring yourself to create a mix tape of your own.

I can't help it.

2008-03-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Turns out, I laugh at really bad times. I tend to snicker when telling people bad news, which as you can imagine gets awkward. I laughed once in the “celestial room” in the Mormon Temple, a room dedicated to silence. And most recently I found myself in a full body scanner at the airport laughing alone. I walked into the booth with a glass wall in front of me and it blasted air on me while taking pictures. A friend of mine was on the other side making faces and I awkwardly laughed which drew the attention of the TSA worker who instantly asked, “Are you ok in there?” Then came the rubber glove and my crack business went Chapter 11.

J Pockets and Marty Mar

2008-03-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

If you ever thought to yourself, "I wonder if Jared can rap?" Here is your answer:

The obvious answer: no.

The Big Time

2008-03-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

There was a good chunk of my life where I wanted to do stand-up comedy. I tried it out in some smaller venues, but nothing as awesome as this. What is worse...that they actually used to be on HBO and Showtime, or that this sign is in a Marie Calendar's? The headliner must be proud.

A Rude Awakening

2008-03-07T08:56:00.001-08:00

I don't listen to much rap music but will occasionally indulge in a good hip hop tune or two. Last night I was driving to a friends house and heard a song that came on 102.7 that engaged me. I was semi-paying attention but was emotionally moved by the beat and rhythm of the song. I was tapping my foot and shrugging my shoulders and even had a strong desire to hum along, but the lyrics were the confusing part...the words "green tea" kept coming up. Again, I don't listen to a ton of rap but since when does someone rap about herbal infused teas that aren't laced with Crystal or grinding on the floor? My answer came about 15 seconds later when the voiceover announcer began to talk about Green Tea drinks and other great deals at Albertson's.

Waste of Space or Needed on the Face?

2008-03-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

I just now realized how funny earlobes are. Besides a reason for dangle various items from, what good are they? They seem so unnecessary and quite useless. The question of their existence will make my list to ask God someday.

Drop The Ball

2008-03-03T17:37:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine reminded me of a funny phone conversation I had about a month ago. I was calling a student's house to answer a question about small groups and her mom answered. We had a brief conversation about Mariners and having the student call me back when she gets home. As the phone call was coming to an end I said, "Well Mrs. _____, I am glad that you daughter will be in small group and call me for any more questions." The curteous remark was met with a knuckle sandwich..."This is Matt, her brother."

10 & 2 + 2 on the floor = good.

2008-02-26T14:53:00.000-08:00

There are a few things in the world that make me feel extremely uncomfortable. And one that is high on the list is when driver's stick their left foot out of the window of their car. They are always barefoot and never signal when they change lanes. Friggin hippies.

Holy Exhale

2008-02-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

I was at a conference over the weekend and sat through a very crowded seminar. Everyone sat in an unusually close circle. The guy next to me was facing directly at me so I felt like he was staring at me the entire time. That I will deal with, but something happened that still makes my stomach churn. In one moment of terrible timing I took a deep lung filling breath while at the exact time that this guy exhaled an eyebrow curling breath. All of his breath went right into my nose and filled my chest. It felt as if I put my mouth on an exhaust pipe. His breath was awful too, like he just had a bigmac and a cup coffee. Now this is bad, but in two hours it happened five times! Every time I coughed uncontrollably and secretly vomitted in my mouth, which as my only relief, even that tasted better.

Choose Your Own Adventure

2008-02-21T21:43:00.000-08:00

So there has been a lot of talk around my life about satellite churches with pastors on video. Its an interesting idea that provoked a thought. Wouldn't it be so much easier if the speaker was always on video? No more prep, no more wondering what will be said, just walk over to the DVD library and you have a message tailor made for whatever service you want. Then I thought how about making interactive DVDs where the video pauses and the congregation reacts to a question or a thought.

But even more awesome, what if the DVD pauses and a menu drops in and the church gets to decide where the message will go...a funny story, a clever illustration, a Bible passage, an alter call, a closing prayer, you name it...literally. It then becomes an Sunday School Shout Out or Satellite Church Scene It. Now we have a church completely run by the people who care and completely heretical.

Tissue? I don't even know you.

2008-02-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

Choosing a particular tissue has become my leisure activity over the past 2 weeks. The strip of cartilage between my nostrils is raw and flaky because of various napkins, paper towels or recycled hand towels in restrooms. So I tried the ones that come infused with lotion to moisturize while cleansing. These actually suck. My nose ends up moist and feeling like I am leaking. So I have decided that I like plain old Target brand. Soft, double-layered (so it can withstand the unfathomable force when exiting my face), and comes in a variety of beautiful boxes. Thank you Target for producing a cheap yet effective product. My nose feels like Amy Winehouse at the Grammy's.

Optical Olympics

2008-02-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

Earlier that week I had began training my eyes for the upcoming events. Mainly during the day they remained opened and at night, they sat in darkness. Once the day came, my eyes were as tuned as a harp. The first test was a color blind test: passed. Next, depth perception: by far the swankiest. Then, reading: Cake. And then the main event: a relay in which only myself participated. First leg was field of vision, I usually cheat a bit on this one, and it helped this time. Second, the most relaxing, stare at a small house in a Midwest field with blue skies. And lastly, and they saved the best for last, the sweating chair. This is a place where my hands get clammy, my knees shake, but my eyes are sleeping on a cushion in a white squall. A not so gentle puff of air directly into my eyeball. Freaking sucks. I shake and jump and the doctor has to ask, “are you alright?” Don’t ask, just shoot, my eyes have trained on the steps of Philadelphia for this sweating chair.

Mmm, Bacon

2008-02-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

You know when you throw a piece of bacon into a hot pan of grease and it bubbles and spits and hisses and screams and...you get the point. That is how my throat feels right now. Not like a delicious piece of pig tickling my taste buds, but the itching and scratching and tingling and coughing that comes when you don't wear are sars mask all the time. Hey, theres a thought, I am stopping by Ace on my way home and getting one of those.

Art?

2008-02-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Last night I went with some people to see a friend of mine, Ethan Hulse, sing at a coffee shop. He did awesome and his turnout was even better.

The venue was small but filled with character. I would like for you to notice the "art" in this picture.
This was just one of the many masterpieces, hopefully not self-portraits, in the watering hole. FYI, this one sold for the completely reasonable price of $250.

What Happens in Vegas...

2008-01-30T17:17:00.000-08:00

Kim and I went to Vegas this weekend for a little wintery get away. Here are some highlights:

-Something awesome: This was our view from the room.
-Something unbelievable: Cirque De Soleil.
-Something sad: I lost 30 bucks.
-Something pathetic: That 30 bucks was lost on nickel slots.

Whats the Zip Code here?

2008-01-30T17:11:00.000-08:00

As I came home from work today I realized something about my apartment complex. Either someone just recently started playing Jumanji or we fired our landscapers. I hope its Jumanji.

Del vs. Bell

2008-01-29T18:32:00.000-08:00

Friends of mine will know that I much prefer the authentic flavors of Del Taco over the processed chemicals of Taco Bell. But to my dismay I found myself in the drive-thru line of a Taco Bell wishing I was anywhere else. As I rounded to corner to pick up my order of indigestion of shorter life expectancy, I saw something that literally blew my mind. The car in front of me did not order anything and yet stopped at the pay/pickup window. Then, without warning, the driver of the unmarked vehicle handed the Taco Bell employee a large bag of Del Taco food! I couldn't believe what I was seeing...not only was I frustrated that there was a Del nearby, but the fact that Taco Bell employees refuse to eat there own "food"! Needless to say, with nose firmly plugged, I swallowed my burrito and sulked in my sadness.

**Not actual picture, trust me, I wish I had it.

Askesis

2008-01-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of our recent high school spiritual growth trip. Some memories that won't go away include:
-Four Square (3 hours worth)
-Snoring
-The worst smelling guys dorm I have experienced
-The view
-Tight Rope Walking (still have the scabs to prove it)
-Scategories with a bunch of cheaters
-A car ride with Barlowe Girl as our only music selection

The Prophetic Hygienist

2008-01-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

I had a brilliant conversation today with my dental hygienest. I will play the part of "me" and the hygienist, for reasons of anonymity, will be "DH."

DH: So, what do you do?
Me: I am a pastor at Mariners Church.
DH: Oh...so your a priest.
Me: No, I am a pastor.
DH: So you can't get married.
Me: No, I am married, pastors can get married.
DH: Oh...so your Episcopalian.
Me: Can you just put your hands back in my mouth?

The Future of Youth Ministry

2008-01-16T16:24:00.001-08:00

In the modern era of youth ministry, we look to Doug Fields to tell us what is cool or uncool. Even NBC's American Gladiators has looked to Doug for some inspiration. This is Wolf, one of this years American Gladiators.

Isn't it obvious that some NBC writer (quite possibly after the strike began) stumbled across an image of Doug on a Simply Youth website and felt the need to create a character out of him.

The Bucket List

2008-01-12T21:43:00.000-08:00

-Eat a tomato
-Go to dinner with Bear Grylls
-Visualize myself summitting Everest
-Change my name to Capt. Fun
-Witness something mundane
-Get a bobble-head doll of myself
-Ride a Razor Scooter through the Lincoln Tunnel
-Makes friends with a squirrel
-Make a friend
-Make all my friends virtual
-Sing in an outdoor shower
-Grow a mustache that would make Burt Reynolds proud

Blooger.com

2008-01-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

So I am trying to get a few more friends to enter into this lonely world of blogging. But most people refuse to attempt it without practice. Much like the guy who wants to fly an airplane but refuses to do so until proper schooling has taken place. What a ridiculous notion. Anyway, I keep asking people to join and mistakingly tell them to check out blooger.com instead of blogger.com. For some reason my stupid hands like double "o's" rather than double "g's".

Quick Update

2008-01-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately like the rest of America, I have failed miserably on my New Year's resolutions. The only one that I have really held strong to is "eat more carbs." I have been training for 25 years to make sure that this year I would sustain one resolution for 364 days. So there ya go.

Drink if you Dare

2007-12-28T09:39:00.001-08:00

In the 3rd floor breakroom at my office, there lies a container with the precious elixir that decides the fate for the rest of the day. But this high-octane potion comes at a bit of a price. Everyday, a post-it note is placed on the side of the thermos as a warning before you drink. I like to think that the fairies or gnomes that brew the early morning pot get a kick out of leaving little notes for the humans who find it later. Here is what I found one morning.

Now this is a little scary. Because as I sat in my office dreaming of drinking a piping hot cup of coffee, it was my own selfish desire that got me out of my chair, away from phone and computer, away from the things which I get paid for, and brought me into the breakroom. What were the Smirfs trying to say? Should I not be there? Am I really selfish for wanting the free coffee that sits upstairs? What is a scoffer, don't they have vaccine for that??? Either way, I really enjoy these little notes left for us by the magical creatures who brew the morning coffee.

The Infamous List

2007-12-21T13:35:00.000-08:00

First attempt at New Year’s resolutions:

- Walk the dog more, if I ever get one.
- Eat more carbs.
- Clean my car more.
- See one indie film a month.
- Be more content with my life.
- Not leave cereal in the box if it isn’t
enough for another bowl.
- Save a life (physically, not spiritually).
- Stop cracking my knuckles, even though I’m
convinced it doesn’t really matter.
- Run 1 mile.
- Save a life (spiritually this time).
- Sugar-coat things – verbally and edibly.
- Fly an airplane.
- By my wife flowers.
- Shave.
- Be an educated voter.
- Care about my ears as much as I care about my eyes.
- Get more people to read this stupid blog.

Ah Crap.

2007-12-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

At first glance, this is cute. We dressed alike to a Christmas party. Turns out it's only cute if you're married or twins. Anyone who knows me understands that I would rather eat fish while sitting in traffic than wear the same outfit as another person. I knew that he had this sweater but never thought that we would show up to a function with 45 people wearing it. Crap.

My Other Life

2007-12-19T09:51:00.001-08:00

In case you are interested in what else I do besides write these pathetic words, I work at a church. Which, in many cases, involves the same graceful antics in trying to get people to think. Click here to see what I do.

I Hereby Release You

2007-12-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

I have decided that some things are just not worth complaining about. There are a couple things that I spend a lot of effort wining about when they are enough out of my control that I should just drop it like I have a turd in my hand.

1) That guy that makes a comment inbetween every movie preview. Sometimes the first one is funny and mildly inappropriate, but it is most unlikely that he can keep em coming for 4-5 previews. But I am not going to stand up an shhsshhh him. So…I hereby release you “kind-of-funny-but-mostly-annoying-preview-commentator-guy” from disrupting my movie-going experience in which I paid way too much to listen to you.

2) That guy who drives with his brights on. The worst is when they are on the otherside of the turn lane from you and those LED beams are burning your retinas. It feels like I lost my goggles on the top of Everest and snow blindness is kicking in. I refuse to flash my brights at him because of that movie where they chase after you and kill you. So…I hereby release you “crappy-high-beam-driver-guy-who-is-obviously-inconsiderate-and-only-cares-about-his-level-of-vehicular-visiblity” from causing me anger while motoring.

3) When coffee is so hot that it burns my mouth and makes everything else in existence taste like it is radioactive dust. I am the one who will only drink mouth-scorching coffee, so this one is my fault. So…I hereby…ah you get the point.

4) Lastly, when blogs are so long that you don’t really read them. Thus, this abrupt ending.

Fixie Frenzy

2007-12-01T10:52:00.001-08:00

My brother-in-law and I took our fixed gear bikes down to San Diego and rode all throughout downtown. Saw some interesting things; rode into Padres stadium, almost hit my a car, a stocked aircraft carrier, homeless guys having a pushup contest, etc. A pretty average day in SD. By the way, in almost every picture, we are riding the wrong way on a one-way street.

You Lose Again

2007-11-21T09:33:00.000-08:00

The other night Kim and I babysat for a family with 4 kids. The youngest, weighing in at about 7 years old, challenged me to a rousing game of backgammon. What you must know is that I have never indulged in said game and required a short instruction period before the slaughter could commence. So he began to list off rules like, “you begin over there and try to get here.” “Then if you do this, you are out, and if I do this you are out.” “When you are out you have to do this.” As you can guess, none of this ever made sense. As the game went on, every time I removed one of his pieces, a new “rule” was created and my move was annulled. I believe it is important for all of us to be a good loser to a 7-year old even when the rules seem to fall out of the sky unexpectantly, kind of like bird poop.

Adventures in Entrepreneurship (part 2)

2007-11-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

So due to the lack of celebrity sightings in my wife’s life, it was time to create a new extracurricular hobby. It is my honor to introduce you to Hookwinks, your purse necessity. Did you know that the bottom of a woman’s purse is dirtier than an inner city subway bathroom? Have you ever experienced hanging your purse from your knee to avoid the ground? Now you have a place to craftily dangle your purse by your side. Kim and her sister design and decorate these purse hangers and will be touring Christmas boutiques this month. Hey, at least this one will have a little more return than a picture with Ryan Seacrest.

Expressionless

2007-11-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

So my friend Brian is always really excited about taking pictures. In a recent browse through my iPhoto library, I discovered these gems.

The Grim Reaper

2007-11-15T14:28:00.001-08:00

So this post a long overdo, but whatever. My next door neighbor and I subconsciously challenged each other in a pumpkin carving contest. You may be wondering how that happened, but none of that is your business. Basically I carved this masterpiece. I was going for a Happy Halloween but I will eat you alive with my big eyes and crazy buck-teeth. Then my neighbor revealed this masterful rendition of The Grim Reaper. Needless to say, my pathetic attempt at a pumpkin was just another corpse in the harvest. But wait until Christmas, my isicle lights will destroy him with holiday spirit.

WGA Strike

2007-11-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

Production companies need to appreciate their writing staff. It is not easy to produce such delicious treats as The Office, Lost, and 24 when you are not being compensated for DVD sales, iTunes downloads, and network website promotions while the big wigs with their greasy hair, private jets, Fiji water and comfy dress socks profit from ad sales. Therefore, in an act personal refusal to not cross the picket line (as if I ever had the chance) I am refusing to complain about the lack of "new" or "hilarious" episodes of my favorite evening addiction. I realize this is a bit extreme and I might not last, but I am encouraging one and all to join me in this quest of nonviolent resistence to network oppressors.

P.S. There is an informative blog on Jenna Fischer's myspace page regarding the strike. (Myspace.com/pambeesley)