TimHowey.Com

Turkish Faith Reality Show

Turkish TV is producing a "Competitive Evangelism(?)" type of series for TV, locking a bunch of avowed & verified atheists up with evangelists from various faiths.  You've got to read the full story here.

A "Hat Tip" to Tom for the link.

Quote of the Day

This quote cracked me up today.  Came from my The Office daily calendar.

   "Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?'  And if they would, I do NOT do that thing." -- Dwight Schrute

Yup, that's all I've got after a 14-hour workday (broken up by a family night break).  My mind is "mush-for-Jesus!"  :-)  Had some INCREDIBLE planning times today.

An Olympic Junkie

Ok.  I'm big enough to admit it.  I'm an Olympic junkie.

Here are several thoughts:

• The Olympics are cool.  When else do I care a bunch about rowing?
• Michael Phelps is the man.  But will I hear anything about him before the next Olympics (besides on a Wheaties box)?
• What's up with the Jamaican sprinters?  They are dominating.
• I love watching USA Men's basketball.  I like this team better than the shameful display our previous teams put on.  But I'm always critiquing their defense from my living room.  ("Stay in front of your man!!!")
• I've enjoyed watching boxing.  A lot of skill.  But give me my MMA.
• I didn't even know that trampoline was an event!  Did you?
• I need the Olympics to end so I can get more sleep.  :-)

"Gold! Gold! Gold!"

What is my family doing tonight?

Watching the Olympics...  Watching swimming...  Chanting, "Gold! Gold! Gold!" during the races.  :-)

P.S. So much for France smack-talking the U.S.A. in the 4x100 Men's Freestyle.  Woo-Hoo!

Me & My Wife's Secret Love

So I'm eating lunch today, and I look over & see this man (my wife's other love interest) sitting in this restaurant.  He writes this blog & she will ONLY trust him with her weather.

So I stopped him on his way out & ask him for a photo.  Now, only 1 of us has been in a photo together!  :-)

March Madness Update 3

It's OVER!!  KU wins the NCAA tournament!!  (I should have some pretty happy friends tomorrow.)

Here's my family pool update.  My 1st grade daughter dominated my family...  And she's 7...  And she has NO idea about basketball...  And she called herself "Poofy" during the tourney.

(To the right, you see the face of cold hard, in-your-face, basketball picks.)

Here was our family pool, from rounds 1-6:

• 1st = 116 pts.  1st grade daughter (24+12+5+4+1+0)
• 2nd = 104 pts.  3rd grade son (24+10+5+3+1+0)
• 3rd = 101 pts.  Poor old Dad (23+11+4+3+1+0)
• 4th = 82 pts.  Poor Mom (18+10+5+3+0+0)

March Madness Update 2

Ok, we're down to the Sweet 16.  The first 48 games of the NCAA tournament are done.

Here's my family pool update.  The quick version is that my 1st grade daughter has more points -- not just than anyone in my family -- but in ANY online pool I'm registered for.

Here are the cold hard facts:

• 1st = 48 pts.  1st grade daughter (Rds.1-2 = 24+12)
• 2nd = 45 pts.  Dear old Dad (Rds.1-2 = 23+11)
• 3rd = 44 pts.  3rd grade son (Rds.1-2 = 24+10)
• 4th = 38 pts.  Poor Mom (Rds.1-2 = 18+10)

P.S. When I just had Mom proofread this, she read, "Poor Mom" & started giggling.

Wooooooooo!!!!

Wooooooo!!!

Wooooooo!!!

Wooooooo!!!

Wooooooo!!!

Web Bonus - 24: What to Say to God?

Alright.  We finished week 4 of 5 in our new series called "24."  In it, we are wondering -- of all the things Jesus COULD have done with His last 24 hours on earth -- WHY did He choose to do what He did?

Yesterday we looked at what in the world Jesus said to God in His last 24 hours.  The story was from John 17 and Matthew 26:36-46 .  We pointed out that Jesus was making time for 1 of our 5 purposes at Grace:  "Worship."

Hare some thoughts from yesterday:

• Here were the cross-references yesterday:
  • For simply talking to God -- Matt 6:7-9
  • For praying for others -- Eph 6:18
  • For praying for the church -- Matt 9:37-38
  • For saying exactly what you want -- Php 4:6-7
• I saw God touch a bunch of hearts across the room.
• Last night, I was so tired when I went to bed that my body felt heavy (ever feel like that)?  But my mind was spinning on several things, so I got to "practice what I preach."  I laid awake praying for whatever mind mind went to, until I finally prayed, "God, can you shut down my mind?  I need some sleep here!"
• We tried communion again where people get up & go to 1 of 8 tables around the room.  It was a powerful moment watching God move people together to do this.  A beautiful moment.  We've just tried it twice now, but I like it.
• Prospective Members Class went awesome again yesterday.  We do it once a month.  One of our leaders visited the class again & she emailed me this note of encouragement:
  • "I just wanted to say how awesome it was being part of Prospective Members Class today. It was a trip doing it again after two years. I totally remembered why we fell in love with Grace Church. The vision and heart of its leadership makes it such an easy environment to grow in...those were difficult questions being thrown your way and you confidently and lovingly answered them all."
• Next week, I hope to give people an time-line of Jesus last night (a la 24).  We'll see how prep goes.
• My friend Gary sent me a heads up about a 24-related song by Switchfoot, called "24."  Check it out here:

L8R.

Web Bonus - 24: What to Say to People?

Whew!  Week #3 of 5 in our "24" series is in the books.  In it, we are wondering -- of all the things Jesus COULD have done with His last 24 hours on earth -- WHY did He choose to do what He did?

Yesterday we looked into what Jesus chose to say to His 12 apostles (his "Band of Brothers"...his men's group) at His finally good opportunity to speak with them before He died.  (Good question -- What DO you say the last time you see someone on earth?)  Our story came from John 13:21-14:31.  We pointed out that Jesus was making time for 1 of our 5 purposes at Grace:  "Discipleship" (i.e. teaching & helping someone else walk with God when you aren't around).

Here some thoughts from yesterday:

• Baby dedications yesterday (see Matt 19:13-15.  I LOVE babies.  Too cute!
• When people used to ask me how many kids our family would have, I would always answer, "12...1 for each Apostle."  :-)
• This message this week wore me out.  I wrestled & studied...and thought & rewrote...and retried & revamped all week long.  Counted it up.  Spent 24 hours preparing this week's edition of "24."
• Here's more info on the Triclinium.  That's how I'm going to eat ALL my meals now.
• The 3 clarifying references I gave on teaching/discipleship were:
  • Matt 28:19-20 -- ALL Christians are called to discipleship
  • 1Cor 12:29-30 -- NOT all Christians are gifted teachers
  • Eph 4:15 -- ALL Christians are called to "speak the truth in love"
• Here's some bonus material I had to cut:
  
  • Rom 15:14 -- Christians teach each other
  • Col 3:16 -- Christians teach through songs
  • Prov 4:4 -- Dads teach their kids
  • Prov 31:1 -- Moms teach their kids
  • Tit 2:6 -- Men teach younger men
  • Tit 2:3-4 -- Women teach younger women
• People keep sending me ideas similar to our "24" series.  Thanks guys!
  
  • The movie, My Life (1993)
  • The song, Live Like You Were Dying (2004)
  • The movie, The Bucket List (2007)
  • The last lecture of Dr. Randy Pausch (2007)

L8R.