A Christmas CD

I figure, that if I write this down for all to see, that it will help me to deliver the goods. For the past couple of Christmases, Bridge and I have tried to put a CD together of our music as gifts. Well, this year is no different, but the desire is stronger, the need to is greater, and the product is closer to being finished. Our goal is to deliver a 5 song CD "demo" by the first of the year. We're trying to get it done by Christmas, but the extra week may prove beneficial.

The 5 songs to be included (for now) are:
Covered In the Dust
Forever Is Your Reign
Intimate
Jeremiah 17
And He Shall Be Called

These are always subject to change, but we're pretty confident that these will be the ones on there. So, you, the readers and followers of Sounds From the Batcave, are hereby sworn in as witnesses to this endeavor, and are encouraged, nay, expected to hold us accountable. I would like for you to continually check up on us, and ask us how the CD is coming along.

If you would like to receive a CD as gift this year, or an MP3 download (I think I can do that), then please feel free to sign up. If you would like a CD, then I will ask that you help us out and pay a shipping fee, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Until then, check here for updates on the status of the project, for some musical excerpts, and to keep us accountable to finish the project by the deadline. Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving and thanks for your support.

A Living Room Blog

Please check out my post on this blog. Feel free to comment over there, or come back here to say something. Thanks.

Quick Sounds

At the bottom of the every post, you have 3 "quick sounds" options: nice thought, nice try, and nice nice baby. These are to give you the ability to respond or comment on the post without having to type a comment when you don't have the time. Or, if you're just too lazy. Whichever. At least take 3 seconds to read the choices and check the option that bests suits your feelings. If none of the options work for you, then oh well, make something up. Feedback people. It's for you. Thanks.

Audience Participation: Which Is Worse?

Some of these are humorous; some are thought provoking. I encourage you to participate and answer in the comments section (I know, I know - where else would you answer, right?). My answers are in italicized (obviously), but they are in no form the "correct" answer. These are simply my opinions. What's yours?

Which Is Worse?

1. Obama or McCain?
2. taking another cookie in front of your son or having him call you a cheater for doing so?
3. the economic "crisis" or the government "bailout"?
4. high gas prices or no car to get you there?
5. having to help a lizard give birth or realizing that's not a foot you're pulling on because lizards lay eggs?
6. missing out on an opportunity to grow and realizing it or having no clue?
7. Barney or "Tickle Me" Elmo?
8. two birthdays in two days or a birthday and Christmas in two days?
9. waiting for Jesus to return and doing nothing or not knowing Jesus?
10. changing a dirty diaper or mopping up the "didn't-make-it-to-the-toilet" mess?
11. disciplining your child in front of people or watching someone else not discipline their child?
12. singing off key or having no rhythm?
13. going to class and having a pop quiz or going to class for an open book test and forgetting your book?
14. running ahead of God or dragging your feet?
15. taking this survey or ignoring the requests of a friend and repeatedly not commenting on his blog?

Now, go answer before you read my answers.

My Answers:

1. Obama - for lots of reasons
2. "you cheater" - he said it with this look on his face like he was "gonna do me in"
3. the bailout - why are we rewarding greed and bad money-handling again?
4. no car - I know walking is good for you, but still
5. the realization - this was a story I read from an email - very funny
6. again, the realization - it burns to know you could have gotten so much more out of an opportunity
7. Barney - I never did like the big, purple dinosaur
8. birthday and Christmas - who likes having your present intake cut in half?
9. not knowing Jesus - tough one - can there be a tie?
10. mopping - at least with a diaper, it's all contained (in theory, anyway)
11. watching someone else - you don't help the child learn anything but how to be a spoiled brat
12. singing off key - you could still play drums if you had rhythm
13. open book - that's just plain off if you don't take your book to an open book test
14. running ahead - another tough one - surely there can be ties
15. being a heartless friend who reads every blog posted but never comments on anything - but I'm not bitter

BONUS:

not posting in 5 days or realizing nobody reads your blog unless you prod them?

I think you know the answer. Don't you?

Political Levity

Another Prickly City gem. If you don't follow the comic, Winslow, the coyote or something, has been campaigning for president, and Carmen, the girl, is his V.P. running mate. They are on their way back from the vice presidential debate, where Carmen was not allowed to participate, when this happened:
I'd like to know where yours and mine are too.

Also, check this out. ABC has a test at the below address to see who's campaign statements--McCain's or Obama's--you agree with most. They don't tell you who made the statements, of course, but a statement made by each candidate on the same topic (economy, immigration, judiciary, etc.) will be side by side. You just pick which statement you agree with and, after selecting all 13, you'll find out which candidate's philosophy you support. Try it at:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/MatchoMatic/fullpage?id=5542139

If you're comfortable with it, tell me who you most matched, and I'll tell you who I most matched. I will say that I was surprised to find out that I matched all 13 statements with one of them. Have fun.

A Question

Does the church today, in particular the American church, enjoy peace and increase in numbers? If so, why? If not, why not? Ok, so I have more than one question.

Acts 9:31 says:

Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (NRSV)

Now let's look at the question again. Do we in the American church live in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit?

Please, I look forward to your thoughts.

EepyBird.com

The above cartoon is from Aug. 2nd's Prickly City. I once did a sermon illustration on the kind of impact Jesus should have in our lives using diet coke and mentos. It was good. This is funny. If you've never tried putting mentos in diet coke, you totally should. Check out this website. Simply amazing.

If you have tried the mentos and diet coke trick, please share your adventures.