tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198707652024-03-07T19:11:12.776-08:00CARSON'S BRAIN: Theology / Movies / Yo Mamma / Etc.Think of this as 'Your Happy Place'Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-49488208209324657732012-09-27T10:03:00.001-07:002013-05-14T11:09:45.479-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-7034272881706028722011-01-17T21:07:00.000-08:002011-02-22T15:20:35.864-08:00God Doesn't Want Your LifeI'm not sure where it came from or when I acquired it, but somewhere along the line early in my Christian faith I began to believe a devastating falsehood that I think most Christians share. The lie was that when making large decisions, <span>God required me to go through an overtly spiritual, divine-will seeking process one can only describe as... well... pure hell</span>. Allow me to describe it for you...<br /><br />It began whenever a noteworthy decision with two or more options would present itself to me. Should I major in Religious Studies or Business? Should I ask so-and-so out, or should I not? Are they 'the one'? Should I take the youth pastor position in small-town Indiana or start a rock band in Cincinnati? The moment I realized a necessitated decision lay ahead, I would descend into a spiritual malaise of utter confusion that would usually end in extreme frustration. In short, it was a sort of spiritualized waiting game designed and implemented by me to gain God's attention and demand He point me in the right direction. Because after all, I just wanted what He wanted for me, right? I wanted to please Him by awaiting His will, and not blindly pursuing my own. And above all, I didn't want to go against His will for my life. It all felt so wonderfully spiritual to me at the time, and I thought surely it would work. Sound familiar? For many of you, I'm willing to bet it does, which brings me to my next question... How's that working out for you?<br /><br />For me, God's almost total non-responsiveness to my 'What shall I do next' questions left me feeling like the details of my life weren't important to God; that I wasn't loved enough by Him for my problems to matter; that maybe God wasn't there after all. Over the last 10 years of my spiritual journey, almost nothing has been more damaging to my faith than the conclusions I've drawn from these erroneous, self-imposed requirements for determining God's will. As I've matured however, I've begun asking whether my questions were right to begin with. And as I've done this, I've rediscovered the Gospel all over again and clarity where once only confusion reigned. What in fact I've come to realize is that <span style="font-weight: bold;">there is far more freedom in Christ than fear-mongering for those who would wrestle to find God's will for their lives</span>. Not only was my process NOT what God required of me, but it was in most ways the precise opposite of the faith and responsibility He hoped to see me demonstrate. In fact, it was sin ... plain and simple.<br /><br />Wrestling with God's will is all-to-often sin because for most Christians, the searching doesn't stem from faith and confidence in God's goodness and plan, but rather a lack thereof. It doesn't stem from belief in the Gospel's message that we are powerless to earn a right relationship with God apart from Christ's work, but rather the fear that we must choose each step we take in life correctly to maintain God's blessing, avoid His eager displeasure, and earn His favor. <span style="font-weight: bold;">We think if we overtly spiritualize our decisions, God will actually be impressed with our overt spirituality!</span> Furthermore, we think if we disregard or de-prioritize cognitive reasoning and material factors we'll be more holy in our decision-making, as if God didn't create our minds and the material world with the same intention for good and glory as the spiritual. What I'm describing in fact, is in essence the very definition of 'man-made religion' and the opposite of faith and relationship with Christ. The torment Christians subject themselves to in decision-making is more likely than not a religious ploy ... nothing more. We do genuinely want God's will for our lives, but we also lack the faith to believe He'll be with us wherever we go. So we wait, and we pray, and we wait, and we stress, and we lament, and we mope, all the while believing this will get God's attention and motivate Him to interject. The hard truth however is this process neither impresses, glorifies, nor pleases God.<br /><br />God doesn't NEED your life ... He is fine without you. That's not to say God doesn't VALUE your life, He just doesn't need you for His Kingdom to hold together. But that's what we as Christians often believe isn't it? We often see ourselves as TOO important in the big picture of God's Kingdom. This view is pretty arrogant if you think about it and demonstrates a similar lack of faith that it is God who builds His church and not man. That's not to say we shouldn't view our calling to serve our local church, community, and God's Kingdom with the highest of priorities in our lives and hold others accountable to that, but there's a big difference between elevating the calling we all share and elevating the person called. Bottom line is... <span style="font-weight: bold;">God's Kingdom is bigger than you or anyone you know or any building you visit on Sunday mornings</span>. He will be glorified and He is in control. Even when people go out of their way to disobey or blatantly resist His expressed will, even maiming His Kingdom and people, He goes on building it none-the-less and works all things for the good and glory of those that love Him. What would your next decision look like if you really believed this?<br /><br />God doesn't WANT your life ... He gave it to you. Now certainly God does want to come INTO our lives and conform our hearts to the image of His Son. But what I'm saying is, in doing so, He doesn't want to turn your life into that of a drone or puppet that no longer thinks or expresses its own singularity. He doesn't ask us to check our brains, personalities, preferences, or individual giftings at the door, but rather asks us through faith in Christ to now wield them for His glory instead of our own. That's amazing! <span style="font-weight: bold;">God wants to REDEEM your life and personage, not throw it away or take over responsibility for it</span>. Belief in Christ offers far more than fire insurance. It offers the restoration of our lives (namely, the divine gifts of will, talent, and personality) and grants us the privilege of using them to participate in the spreading of His Kingdom. We should use God's gifts. We should take full advantage of this privilege.<br /><br />Lastly, God is not RESPONSIBLE for your life and how you choose (or fail to choose) to live it ... You are the responsible party. Yes, I said the dreaded "R" word ... responsibility. I think it's imperative for us Christians to understand that while Christ has taken away the ultimate penalty for our sin, He hasn't removed the yoke of being fully accountable to God for our choices. God is not responsible for our decisions, nor does He want to be. But when we ask God to direct our every step without simultaneously stepping out in faith, that's precisely the arrangement we attempt to create. <span style="font-weight: bold;">We'd rather God treat us like robots in order to dodge the responsibility for the hardest decisions life brings, but in doing so we miss the weightiest of His blessings ... the opportunities to exercise faith</span>. We hedge ourselves against failure by casting the responsibility for decisions and their outcome upon His shoulders, rather than believing that in either failure or success God is good and He is with us, even to the end of the age. When decisions we've made don't go well or opportunities we'd hoped for never come, we blame God's sluggishness or our lack of spiritual performance rather than praising Him nonetheless and readying ourselves to step out in faith all over again. In doing all this we judge Him. We hold Him accountable for that which He is not. We believe lies about God's love for us. And in short, we don't believe the good news of Christ. Fortunately there is a better way.<br /><br />Though shalt love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27). We are freely called to wield everything we've been given for His purposes, and to do so with the stamp of our personality all over it. Our decision-making process doesn't need to be robotic nor religious if it's been redeemed. Whether we go to the right or the left with His purposes at heart, God is faithful enough to be with us always, gracious enough to correct us if we make a mistake, and big enough to use it for His glory and our good regardless. Now that's good news!Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-5129203360667097212010-06-14T09:23:00.000-07:002010-06-14T14:41:19.150-07:007 Reasons Why You Should Watch The World Cup<span style="font-weight: bold;">7. THE 'OFF-SIDES' RULE</span><br />The 'Off Sides' rule is one of the trickier in sport, and I think a large reason why many Americans fail to understand soccer and its low-scoring yield. This makes it an odd choice for my #7 reason to watch the World Cup tournament. That being said, I feel once properly understood, this rule can be greatly appreciated for the clever tactics players must adopt to work stealthily around it.<br /><br />In a nutshell, the rule currently states that at the time a pass is made in the opponents half of the field, any offensive player actively involved in the play must be equal with or behind the 2nd defender on the field (the 1st being the goalie).<br />-----This necessitates teamwork, strategic positioning, and most importantly, precisely-timed cuts and passes.<br />-----It eliminates 'cherry picking'<br />-----It makes the SIDES of the field the most strategic area as opposed to the CENTER. From the sides, the ball can be kicked across the front of the goal while 'on-side' players try to dart ahead of their defenders in an effort to make contact and hopefully deflect the ball in. This brings me to the next reason to watch...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />6. THE GOALS</span><br />The goals in the World Cup are often breathtaking; often a thing of beauty to behold. It's true, it doesn't happen many times throughout the game (usually just once or twice), but this adds to the pent-up excitement and euphoria when it does. Because of the difficulty involved in achieving one, and the dramatic dynamics created by the 'off-sides' criterion, the emotional reward for a goal is higher than almost any other in sport.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />5. THE FANS</span><br />Whether it be really annoying horns, or incessant national chants, or just the ugliest costumes you've ever seen, the fans at world soccer events are extremely entertaining to say the least and bring an indescribable intensity to the games. Even watching on TV, one can sense the electric excitement in the air, rising and falling with each play.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />4. NO COMMERCIALS</span><br />Because the soccer game is divided in to two 45-minute halves in which play never ceases, commercials during game play would be unheard of. It's extremely refreshing to watch 45 uninterrupted minutes of play.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />3. SUDDEN DEATH</span><br />This rule wont engage until the later rounds of the tournament, but when it does, there is hardly a more exciting conclusion in all of sport. With the chance for ties removed, the exhausted players are given alternating opportunities to go one-on-one with the goalie and win the game for their team. Beyond thrilling!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2. IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE EVERY 4 YEARS</span><br />Any global sporting event that occurs once every 4 years should at the very least peak your interest because it means you'll only have the opportunity to see about 20 of these in your life. It takes an insanely colossal amount of planning and work for host nations to prep for these events; for adequate infrastructure to be built. Similarly, national teams go through rigorous selection processes to elect their final roster, and there are numerous preliminary games throughout the year to determine which 32 nations actually qualify. The tournament is a huge culmination of these efforts and truly grand in scale.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />1. THE WORLD IS WATCHING</span><br />Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and the World Cup is its crowning crescendo. It is by FAR the most exciting and meaningful event in the sport, and THAT would be true if it happened EVERY SINGLE YEAR, much less every 4!!! You have the best players in the world playing not for the team they were drafted to or for a paycheck, but for the pride of their country and for glory. You have the most fanatical, international crowds you've ever seen rooting not for their favorite player or squad, but for national pride on the world stage. If you are a fan of sports AT ALL, you should be watching this event with great attentiveness and enthusiasm. If you don't yet understand all of the rules and game-play, you should strive to. Just like the Olympics, the World Cup of soccer offers one of the rarest of opportunities to see the peoples of the world and all their beautiful differences and similarities. How could one justify missing such a sporting event? I know not.<br /><br />And so, friends and readers, I beg you ... watch the games! Give soccer a chance. Not for me, and not just so soccer will become more popular in the US, but for you. Enjoy!Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-89568409740420486362009-10-15T23:59:00.000-07:002009-10-16T00:18:41.646-07:00So many ideas ... so little clarity<br />So much fear ... so little hope<br />So many people ... so little charity<br />Can someone please throw me a rope<br /><br />So much emotion ... so little consistency<br />So much anger ... so little peace<br />So much devotion ... so little persistence<br />I'm wondering will it ever cease<br /><br />I wondering will it ever ceaseCarson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-89660740477179942682008-05-30T08:17:00.000-07:002008-05-30T09:52:56.431-07:00Lost Party PoemsFor the LOST Season 4 Finale, our group reassembled (as only we know how) to flex our creative muscles in the form of a poetry contest. In the end, all the poems were so good we couldn't pick a winner. See what you think...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LOST HAIKUS</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Jeffrey Cross</span><br /><br />I am Jin-Soo Kwon<br />I've always spoken English<br />I'm sorry I lied<br /><br />I have some secrets<br />Secrets which no one can know<br />Why should I trust you?<br /><br />You have convinced me<br />I have chosen to confide<br />Please don't let me down<br /><br />I must first tell you<br />Something you might not believe<br />I swear it is true<br /><br />I am from Hanso<br />I was never on the plane<br />You better not tell<br /><br />The truth is simple<br />I must kill all of my friends<br />And reclaim what's mine<br /><br />I'm only kidding<br />I would never kill my friends<br />They shall be my slaves<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LOST HAIKUS</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Sarah Cross</span><br /><br />I'm not a monster,<br />Nor am I a dinosaur,<br />I am the black smoke.<br /><br />I killed the pilot;<br />I tossed him up in a tree.<br />I am the black smoke.<br /><br />I can not be tamed.<br />Ben thinks he can control me.<br />I am the black smoke.<br /><br />I almost killed Locke,<br />But I had mercy on him.<br />I am the black smoke.<br /><br />And Mister Ecko?<br />I ate that guy for breakfast.<br />I am the black smoke.<br /><br />You think you know me?<br />You have no F-ing idea.<br />I am the BLACK SMOKE!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">O KATE</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Brandon Stark</span><br /><br />O Kate, why Jack? Why Sawyer? Why such a bad, bad girl?<br />O Kate, can't you see my potential?<br />Is it Kate? Monica? Lucy? Annie? Katherine? Maggie?<br />O Kate, who are you?<br />O Kate, I'm so glad you survived.<br />But that doctor will have you counting to 5<br />O Kate, I'm so glad you're alive.<br />You know where to find me ... 3362 E. Potter Drive.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SAWYER'S LOST HAIKUS (For the Oceanic Six)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Jay Silverman</span><br /><br />Sawyer:<br />Oh son of a bitch,<br />Oceanic Six Haikus?<br />Snappy nickname time.<br /><br />Jack:<br />Appendectomy?<br />Too much pain for lidocaine.<br />Pill-popping jackass.<br /><br />Kate:<br />Oh my sweet Freckles,<br />No more afternoon delight?<br />Engaged to the doc?<br /><br />Aaron:<br />'Twas taken from Claire,<br />To be raised by another.<br />Kate now has The Kid!<br /><br />Sun:<br />Madame Butterfly,<br />Safe at home with Ji Yeon,<br />But where is Sulu?<br /><br />Hurley:<br />He fears the numbers.<br />My New Otherton Roommate.<br />Stay Puff is loco.<br /><br />Sayid:<br />Captain Falafel,<br />Bug-Eyed Bastard's assassin.<br />All for Nadia.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LEAD ME LOST</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Lauren Marie Kutsko</span><br /><br />Lead me down slowly weaving storylines that leave me at a cliff.<br />Lead me into islanders dirty secrets that leave me miffed.<br />Lead me towards the power of the island then drop me in the ditch.<br />Lead me above the mess and tell me what the hell is going on, bitch.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MUSINGS FROM A RELUCTANT LOST FAN</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Loren-Jack Kutsko</span><br /><br />I never want to leave this island in the sun<br />So many new friends and so much fun<br /><br />Kate and Hurley, Jack and Sawyer<br />Sayid and Jin, Sun and Juliet<br /><br />A television obsession, but for what cost?<br />It's worth even getting dressed up to watch LOST<br /><br />Desmond and Michael, Walt and John Locke<br />Benjamin, Aaron and Vincent<br /><br />You think nothing changes, but what's this a flash forward?<br />Even during an appendectomy you'll never get bored<br /><br />So many new friends, but now they all want to leave<br />They'd better hurry, sooner or later everyone gets bereaved<br /><br />Charlie, Eko, Ana Lucia, Paulo and Shannon<br />Boone and Nikki, Libby and Claire?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE COST OF LOST</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Todd-Carson Joyner</span><br /><br />I once was told in tales of old that nothing's ever free,<br />And I have found this wisdom sound for true it's proved to be.<br />For who would think a simple show, the title just ONE word,<br />Could claim my life, my time, my nights, and make me such a nerd?<br /><br />The show is 'LOST' and oh the cost, I hardly can describe,<br />The hours I lose in search of clues to explain why Charlie died.<br />Late night chat-rooms, forums, polls ... the answers never come,<br />More QUESTIONS do! And now I'm screwed 'cause look, it's half-past 1:00!!!<br /><br />I never sleep, but when I do I dream of crazy islands.<br />I've started using nicknames and hear whispers when there's silence.<br />I've canceled meetings, shrugged off friends, and hung up on my Grandma,<br />To bake pink 'Fish Biscuits' and build a friggin' diorama!<br /><br />It's really sad, and yes, I'm mad at how much time I'm losing.<br />But if you dared to watch, and cared, you'd understand my choosing.<br />Though I may never grasp the ever-escalating cost,<br />I've surrendered, payment rendered to the gods of LOST.<br /><br />So here I am, and addict fan on another Thursday night.<br />Thank God I've got some addict friends who understand my plight.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LOST LIMERICKS</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Kacie Koch-Joyner</span><br /><br />There once was a man who's a surgeon.<br />The girl he liked was no virgin.<br />Found Adam & Eve,<br />Who the crap is Steve?<br />He wants off the island, it's urgent!<br /><br />There was also a preggie named Claire.<br />She sat in a wood rocking chair.<br />She abandoned her baby,<br />Without even a maybe,<br />She supposed to raise Aaron; she don't care.<br /><br />John Locke is a cripple no more.<br />He's a hunter and killed a few boar.<br />Went looking for the cabin,<br />Some jumped on his bandwagon,<br />Now he's knocking on destiny's door.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WE COULDN'T LEAVE THE ISLAND<br />(to the tune of Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start The Fire')<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">By David Ciminello</span><br /><br />Time travel, John Locke, Richard Alpert, Black Rock,<br />Mr. Eko, comic books, Appendectomies.<br />Backgammon, Michael Dawson, spinal surgeon, Kate Austen,<br />Hugo Reyes, US Marshall, flash-back memories.<br /><br />Book of Laws, Mikhail, dynamite, Henry Gale,<br />Vincent and Desmond Hume, Shannon kissed her brother Boone.<br />Oceanic Eight-Fifteen, Is this all a bad dream?<br />Sayid Jarrah, Little Annie, sail the raft at fool moon.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We couldn't leave the island,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Physics always changing, time was rearranging.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We couldn't leave the island,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We tried to sail away, but we were kept at bay.</span><br /><br />Mr. Clucks, 'Cabin Fever', Benjamin the Great Deceiver,<br />Orchid Station, bad vacation, sending out flares.<br />Whispers, Abbadon, Sawyer is the long con,<br />Golf course, Kate's horse, jungle-polar bears<br /><br />Hydra, Pearl, and the Flame, Sawyer loves his nicknames,<br />Marvin Candle in the Hatch, Apollo bars, Cyclops patch.<br />Rousseau, James Ford, Mittelos, wild boar,<br />Mr. Paik, Heroine, Who is Mr. Widmore?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We couldn't leave the island,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Physics always changing, time was rearranging.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We couldn't leave the island,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We tried to sail away, but we were kept at bay.</span><br /><br />Jin-Soo Kwon, Looking Glass, Charlie's band 'Driveshaft',<br />Smo - kie's racket, Who is in the casket?<br />Hanso, Kevin Johnson, Who is gonna be your constant?<br />'Live Together Die Alone', How does Sawyer make Kate moan?<br /><br />Man of Faith, do not doubt, Locke goes on a Walkabout,<br />Bernard, Rose, Morse code, Walt, Jack, things explode.<br />Films by Edgar Halliwax, Dr. Shepard fixes backs,<br />Season 4 has been a ball, I can't wait until the Fall!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We couldn't leave the island,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Physics always changing, time was rearranging.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We couldn't leave the island,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We tried to sail away, but we were kept at bay.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TONGUE TWISTING WITH LOSTIES</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Susan Gruenling</span><br /><br />Oh how I adore this show<br />And I shall sing its praise<br />LOST is such a special word<br />Oh let me count the ways<br /><br />L is for the lady on the lam in love with the good-looking leader Doc<br />The lustful ladies man and the liberated no longer lame Locke<br /><br />L is for large and loveable 'Loco' Hurley's unlucky lottery loot<br />Learning life's lessons in a land littered with lean-tos built to suit<br /><br />L is for the list and those left behind literally facing life and death<br />The island life force and the laws of nature leading them through the test<br /><br />L is for the loss of life's little luxuries their loathsome location steals<br />And last but not least, L is for the likelihood that little will be revealed<br /><br />O is for the Others and the original occupants of old<br />Our overjoyed over-eagerness on when the outcome will be told<br /><br />O is for the omnipotent and obscure Orderly overseeing all are well<br />Observing the odd Orientation films that occasionally don't gel<br /><br />O is for Oceanic 815 obviously not on the ocean floor shelf<br />The outstanding object of our obsession with this show you've outdone yourself<br /><br />O is for the ornery, the overweight and the optimistic of this ordeal<br />The ominous obituary and the oasis that can heal<br /><br />S is for the stranded ones secluded on the secret scientific shores<br />Where self-seeking, skillful and serious soldier Sayid hunts for boars<br /><br />S is for swaggering Southerner Sawyer's smug remarks soliciting a smile<br />Sweet and supportive sincerities are simply not his style<br /><br />S is for the sexy spinal surgeon, shipwrecked sailor, sacrifices, symbols and scotch<br />Your spellbinding series and stimulating storytelling is surely why we watch<br /><br />S is for scary stormy smoke monster savagely searching and stalking its prey<br />Successfully safe, the six survivors are surprised and shocked by what they say<br /><br />T is for topsy-turvy twists and turns that torment your target audience<br />Thought provoking theological time travel theories not to mention my two cents<br /><br />T is for the treachery, the targeted, the tyrannical and the taboo<br />The troubled; tough and tender, oh whatever will they do<br /><br />T is for my thankfulness towards Thursday night TV time<br />And thankfully the time has come to terminate this terrible rhyme<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ODE TO ISLAND DRAMA</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Christie Cowles</span><br /><br />There once was an island babe named Kate,<br />Who couldn't decide who she wanted to date.<br />She flirted with bad-boy Sawyer,<br />While dear Jack secretly adored her,<br />Although Juliet despised her,<br />The other girls admired her,<br />All the while Kate was planning her escape.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">YOU 'LOST' ME</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Mandy Cross</span><br /><br />Tonight I did laundry and flossed<br />As I sat and watched some LOST<br />I was partly amused<br />And severely confused<br />Perhaps it'd help to get sauced.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ODE TO HURLEY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Lauren Marie Kutsko</span><br /><br />Hurley is confused and sweet,<br />I just like the way he eats,<br />He's always scared to go too far,<br />Unless he's in a beat up car.<br />Just because he sees the dead,<br />Doesn't mean he needs to be in bed,<br />He freaks jack out and makes him drink,<br />And this is why i like Hurley i think.Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-15880666005207229602008-02-21T23:53:00.000-08:002008-12-11T10:49:43.046-08:00How To Throw A 'LOST' Themed PartyWell, last month for the Season 4 premier of LOST, we decided to throw a themed party and pull out all the stops. It was such a success I figured, 'Why not share it with the whole world?' So here you go...<br /><br />The first thing any self-respecting LOST party needs is 'DHARMA' food logos ... especially on the beer. The beer labels are already available online <a href="http://www.labelfeeds.com/media/IndieHQ/BeerOutlinedType.pdf">here</a>. Simply print and affix to standard longneck beer bottles (will work best if you remove the existing label with a razor blade).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ6jBC7-TeEyZYKHyAJ4eYJdbJk1ztnKYdcDJmzQmRV4jDaYoublrhOeXUcs5J857j13pYfhjtQkdtKFFffdnvubnf3iIgynhmE37xoM09EzRa9vlPRhcRlIlIKDOdcQuQ9AI/s1600-h/IMG_4513+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ6jBC7-TeEyZYKHyAJ4eYJdbJk1ztnKYdcDJmzQmRV4jDaYoublrhOeXUcs5J857j13pYfhjtQkdtKFFffdnvubnf3iIgynhmE37xoM09EzRa9vlPRhcRlIlIKDOdcQuQ9AI/s400/IMG_4513+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169934989415744850" border="0" /></a>Next, if you're really serious about surprising your guests, the food itself needs to be LOST or ISLAND themed. In our case, for dinner we did 'Taco Night' with mango salsa & chips as an appetizer. For desert, we painstakingly created 'Fish Biscuit' cookies and served them with tropical flavored sorbets from Costco. All I can say about the cookies is good luck! I used Pillsbury pre-made sugar cookie dough, dyed it the right color using mostly red & some yellow dye, and cut them out with a 'Fish Biscuit' cookie-cutter that I hand-bent from what was originally a large heart. Lastly, when the cookies came out of the oven, I cut the fish mouths out (for authenticity) and quickly used a cake-icing letter-guide to imprint the word 'DHARMA'. This was truly a pain in the ass, but in the end ... worth it. So, like I said, good luck! Here's someone else's <a href="http://www.kungfoodie.com/lost-fish-biscuit/">post</a> about making the cookies that I found to be helpful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEzIrFEqsTD1CJ-G9Gnl5w2iaw15bSBTdPmpYmGeUieVksX60vpibUhtQMRvbRv7riCzsHXKyY-bjYcQSY86ukueth5S8eyo3KU7V37eWC7XFxqKNzaNkQ1wfzOFw55J3omA8/s1600-h/Kauai+018+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEzIrFEqsTD1CJ-G9Gnl5w2iaw15bSBTdPmpYmGeUieVksX60vpibUhtQMRvbRv7riCzsHXKyY-bjYcQSY86ukueth5S8eyo3KU7V37eWC7XFxqKNzaNkQ1wfzOFw55J3omA8/s400/Kauai+018+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169940779031659906" border="0" /></a>Here's the stuff you'll need along with the final product<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8k2XjpJmuKdO6FwdorD7lS6MLbfPzGd34Ot7f7LaBqZAN0jfV1FkD5AiGqve7Wv-Tj6QgC7_gqa1qEa2yKx_Izg1GMJ5i-60UA12cUirxRHh1G7cwOiGAYX-z9VQ6esHt6jr/s1600-h/IMG_4547+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8k2XjpJmuKdO6FwdorD7lS6MLbfPzGd34Ot7f7LaBqZAN0jfV1FkD5AiGqve7Wv-Tj6QgC7_gqa1qEa2yKx_Izg1GMJ5i-60UA12cUirxRHh1G7cwOiGAYX-z9VQ6esHt6jr/s400/IMG_4547+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169941560715707794" border="0" /></a>Decorations are a must and you can get as creative as you want. We did quite a few things including: Placing SUITCASES full of clothes and BACKPACKS full of dynamite around the television, Scattering COCONUTS, MANGOES, and PAPAYAS around the house, Stacking DHARMA BOXES in various places like supply drops, and Taping 'QUARANTINE' signs on all the exit doors. I even re-created a few Publisher Images from the BRAINWASHING scene and loaded them into my digital picture frame.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0foTLkCTqELNNl13IefjiL_5mSrte8rSCBpUIeuyKQ5UqPLg2iX54x_OYa8qh-rkyKbzcozmvTpiD_uhJlHwSk1bedvLIR_ov8bD52Sv6UylQnhyXuBBfGLkTJOyYmu8sIdl/s1600-h/IMG_4507+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0foTLkCTqELNNl13IefjiL_5mSrte8rSCBpUIeuyKQ5UqPLg2iX54x_OYa8qh-rkyKbzcozmvTpiD_uhJlHwSk1bedvLIR_ov8bD52Sv6UylQnhyXuBBfGLkTJOyYmu8sIdl/s400/IMG_4507+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169944206415562146" border="0" /></a>The dynamite was created by wrapping red paper mache around candles<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik75S1bGOqk1EpBVzYk8NLmngeTnTj5hLieq-HkRG7BcRW9ZVSlxFFHScsbpsOHKzenrZx-d-WReyvm1NQ9kAaSWJXP5qU9g9iCRYjY4pScUS1z6_Q4vSlO8N1cJjDJR7j8RjA/s1600-h/IMG_4511+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik75S1bGOqk1EpBVzYk8NLmngeTnTj5hLieq-HkRG7BcRW9ZVSlxFFHScsbpsOHKzenrZx-d-WReyvm1NQ9kAaSWJXP5qU9g9iCRYjY4pScUS1z6_Q4vSlO8N1cJjDJR7j8RjA/s400/IMG_4511+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169944412573992370" border="0" /></a>The large logo was printed on multiple sheets of paper and taped together.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fdi7OKvLKruvCi-ozv-mf7KBCr2scEOO0BAhpsZENT85QmxI3oCWDK0JX7tk7Si8jMVD4RpNfnnrxG1ggnf4OwhpZ9x_r2zyomhRwZPNy88dtDJLHc6PAKEtzeb8yD8py7VM/s1600-h/IMG_4509+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fdi7OKvLKruvCi-ozv-mf7KBCr2scEOO0BAhpsZENT85QmxI3oCWDK0JX7tk7Si8jMVD4RpNfnnrxG1ggnf4OwhpZ9x_r2zyomhRwZPNy88dtDJLHc6PAKEtzeb8yD8py7VM/s400/IMG_4509+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169944627322357186" border="0" /></a>Poster board painted first with metallic, and then black over letter stencils<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8_ocaF04vGQMsMCzt1vYBEO4Q-RpsBw7LuDTclAaKPZd-h9hMz0MFwQh6SQhtkIHQU71SYdJX_ErNeNO-FB_eyQ1yvvn2-9tNLYpZBrBQcPAUlbdHKn7eboI5z6sw6t0UoF_/s1600-h/Kauai+016+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8_ocaF04vGQMsMCzt1vYBEO4Q-RpsBw7LuDTclAaKPZd-h9hMz0MFwQh6SQhtkIHQU71SYdJX_ErNeNO-FB_eyQ1yvvn2-9tNLYpZBrBQcPAUlbdHKn7eboI5z6sw6t0UoF_/s400/Kauai+016+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169947900087436834" border="0" /></a>Lastly, if your group is totally obsessed and awesome like ours, you can open it up to LOST-themed costumes and props. In our case, we held a 'Prop Contest' and voted on the winner. Some people came dressed up and the props were awesome. The winner won a Beanie Baby Polar Bear.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3NGGCu0AvtoA_pTMew53EtNyvuj9kkBeuyGb6j7MbBqaZSfd-87VSUqoT74fG3nlb5olz41URpPsUW9BR9dle-Y8tAUlTYWqPsHcel82VU8kAwR7j4Iwjv0TS1uJnd0QJw4_/s1600-h/Kauai+020+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3NGGCu0AvtoA_pTMew53EtNyvuj9kkBeuyGb6j7MbBqaZSfd-87VSUqoT74fG3nlb5olz41URpPsUW9BR9dle-Y8tAUlTYWqPsHcel82VU8kAwR7j4Iwjv0TS1uJnd0QJw4_/s400/Kauai+020+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169945954467251666" border="0" /></a>Pictured: A diorama with real sand & power cable along with the 2 characters that found it.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56PzugUyo2E0x9wkD2qkbmJJOISncK49WTqCmaXWm-mvffvP5xTw410fVRrIE_vsKahMYUJeVHIsV0QKPhc5ni0ZMeYJRIZM9qeEukNIfNzc8bgc_1ZBX9S8r6SFWCPZ3gvvA/s1600-h/IMG_4506+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56PzugUyo2E0x9wkD2qkbmJJOISncK49WTqCmaXWm-mvffvP5xTw410fVRrIE_vsKahMYUJeVHIsV0QKPhc5ni0ZMeYJRIZM9qeEukNIfNzc8bgc_1ZBX9S8r6SFWCPZ3gvvA/s400/IMG_4506+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169946388258948578" border="0" /></a>Pictured: Pearl Station Pneumatic Tube, Tropical Fruits, Hurley's Comic, Connect4<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2TCDNEVllifLdzKGLgz7tKojqmThOpCdNkUX_LizfKjJ1Qmwgq8me_OhG7MdTTo-Q9o0eeBqrjWW6fXYFWVqbyGSxFGxJL7GymJE9-gZm-nKTGV4B15SWA_yhEJnepm8vjUW/s1600-h/IMG_4541+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2TCDNEVllifLdzKGLgz7tKojqmThOpCdNkUX_LizfKjJ1Qmwgq8me_OhG7MdTTo-Q9o0eeBqrjWW6fXYFWVqbyGSxFGxJL7GymJE9-gZm-nKTGV4B15SWA_yhEJnepm8vjUW/s400/IMG_4541+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169946757626136050" border="0" /></a>Pictured: Backgammon, Bottle w Notes, Ranch Composite, Handcuffs, Kate's Plane, Virgin Mary Statue w Heroin Bag, Apollo Chocolate Bars, Golf Ball, Charlie's Guitar, and yes ... MUMMY YEMI !!!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIKwg2vO8M8VIET2VEa73IsmbiR5soEN55Hwtpy7HMVr6Kju5yvPatWjsmf0VGdr25mplpHwpAKQ_2octpR812-VbsG1Te2YmIqv1v8_yPLuAdQ8MzxAtCudbqIdHgw10VcRV/s1600-h/IMG_4501+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIKwg2vO8M8VIET2VEa73IsmbiR5soEN55Hwtpy7HMVr6Kju5yvPatWjsmf0VGdr25mplpHwpAKQ_2octpR812-VbsG1Te2YmIqv1v8_yPLuAdQ8MzxAtCudbqIdHgw10VcRV/s400/IMG_4501+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169947187122865666" border="0" /></a>Nice job on the 'Dexter Stratton' ring! You can't see, but she's wearing Charlie's checker board Vans too.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69TueXXERyNRQyskROOi_LAHsMu8Z_L7OaKZrjm1cGfRRAMxc9NGnsSb1P6uTG1zcgKJ-4tALJGNlrh51XdkQIL3-FRf-vdd4GuOe5rBAnX_-tZVWp21HnDwhC14rNz2sIsfX/s1600-h/IMG_4520+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69TueXXERyNRQyskROOi_LAHsMu8Z_L7OaKZrjm1cGfRRAMxc9NGnsSb1P6uTG1zcgKJ-4tALJGNlrh51XdkQIL3-FRf-vdd4GuOe5rBAnX_-tZVWp21HnDwhC14rNz2sIsfX/s400/IMG_4520+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169947388986328594" border="0" /></a>I love the syringe!<br /></div><br />Now I know you're thinking we all need to get lives, but c'mon ... you only go around once. And when all was said and done, everyone had a blast being TV geeks for one night. To view an entire gallery of pics, click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sgruenling/LOSTSeason4Party?authkey=VxVGeyE4Qqo">here</a>. Also, to be as helpful as possible, I'm including a brainstorm list of Party Props & Decorations. Have Fun!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PROPS & DECORATIONS</span><br />Handcuffs (<span style="font-style: italic;">Spencer's</span>)<br />Toy Plane (<span style="font-style: italic;">toy store</span>)<br />Sand & Shells w Power Cable (<span style="font-style: italic;">Home Depot/Lowe's/Michael's</span>)<br />Luggage w Clothes<br />Backpacks w Dynamite (<span style="font-style: italic;">spray-paint or paper-mache candles</span>)<br />Tropical Fruit (<span style="font-style: italic;">coconut, mango, papaya</span>)<br />S.O.S. Bottle w Hand-Written Notes<br />Dharma - Ranch Composite, Beer, Supply Boxes, Cans, Boxes, etc<br />Other Hidden Dharma Logos (<span style="font-style: italic;">toilet paper, remote control, etc</span>)<br />Stuffed Polar Bear<br />'Driveshaft' album<br />Guitar w 'Driveshaft' Stickers<br />Pearl Station Pneumatic Tube & Notation Booklet (<span style="font-style: italic;">create using a large water bottle</span>)<br />Stuffed White Rabbit painted with 15 or 8<br />Diorama scene (<span style="font-style: italic;">sand & shells for beach</span>)<br />Digital Photo Slideshow (<span style="font-style: italic;">screenshots & pics using your computer or digital picture frame</span>)<br />Quarantine Signs on Exits (<span style="font-style: italic;">use a textured spray-paint for cool effects</span>)<br />Boardgames: Backgammon & Connect 4<br />Hurley's Comic Book (<span style="font-style: italic;">purchase online or re-create</span>)<br />Download Hatch Computer Clock (<span style="font-style: italic;">recommend Yahoo widget version </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/lost">here</a>)<br />Fish Biscuit Cookies<br />Apollo Chocolate Bars (<span style="font-style: italic;">print and wrap around Hershey bars</span>)<br />Virgin Mary Statue w Heroin bags (<span style="font-style: italic;">obviously fake</span>)<br />Hurley's Golf Flag (<span style="font-style: italic;">long branch with red surf shorts</span>)<br />Caged Sawyer & Kate cut-outs (<span style="font-style: italic;">dog kennels work well</span>)<br />Strap a homing beacon to your dog<br />Eko's stick (<span style="font-style: italic;">good luck</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">FOOD & BEVERAGES</span><br />Fresh tropical fruit (<span style="font-style: italic;">pineapple, mango, papaya</span>)<br />Themed drinks (<span style="font-style: italic;">daiquiri, pina colada, mai tai, mini liquor bottles, MacCutcheon Scotch, served in halved coconuts</span>)<br />Taco Night<br />Mango Salsa<br />Mr. Cluck's Fried Chicken (<span style="font-style: italic;">slap logos on KFC or Church's</span>)<br />Dharma products<br />Apollo Chocolate Bars<br />Tropical sorbets<br />Sushi (<span style="font-style: italic;">sea urchin? ...eww</span>)<br />Airplane food trays (<span style="font-style: italic;">could use frozen dinners</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DRESS UP IDEAS</span><br />Dharma workers (<span style="font-style: italic;">jump suits, syringes, beer</span>)<br />Charlie (<span style="font-style: italic;">F.A.T.E. on fingers, 'Not Penny's Boat' on hand, hoodie, checker vans, guitar</span>)<br />Kate (<span style="font-style: italic;">plane in envelope, handcuffs, orange juice w white powder, wedding dress</span>)<br />Jack (<span style="font-style: italic;">shaved head, scratches on face, mini liquor bottles, black suit</span>)<br />Locke (<span style="font-style: italic;">khaki pants, bald head, large knife, bowl of orange paste, wheelchair</span>)<br />Sawyer (<span style="font-style: italic;">long hair, suitcase full of monopoly money, hoard of medicine, hand-written note</span>)<br />Sayid (<span style="font-style: italic;">long curly black hair, tank-top, transmitter, pictures of Nadia</span>)<br />Rousseau (<span style="font-style: italic;">rifle, tank-top, music box, notes</span>)<br />Ethan (<span style="font-style: italic;">crazy hair cut, Wisconsin hoodie, syringe</span>)Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-85853494110014019352007-03-14T02:01:00.000-07:002007-03-14T02:02:10.995-07:00Amazing Statistics<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ljbI-363A2Q"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ljbI-363A2Q" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-24584177082002624582006-12-08T22:28:00.000-08:002006-12-08T22:42:33.384-08:00VIDEOS-OF-THE-YEARI love that Brandon posted the "Where The Hell Is Matt" video. So, not to be outdone, I figured I would post the 2 best videos I've seen all year. Here they are ... self explanatory if you watch the first one 'til the end...<br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NFjj_DQWCtU" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wm8PHnaeJ-M" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1162884065473910552006-11-06T23:12:00.000-08:002006-11-15T19:06:53.733-08:00Psalm 8 (a paraphrase)O Lord, my Sovereign, how majestic is Your name which shadows and haunts my life.<br /><br />You've placed Your glory where I can see from afar, and yet not conceive of it or lay hold of its understanding. From small, simple places You haunt Your words and the pulse of passion into my overblown, inflated life. There is no argument against You because You leave us all aloof and perplexed. But when I look at the immensity of Your fingerprint on the world and the inconceivable galaxies, who am I that You would waste even a thought on me; my spirit that You would aportion breath and sustenance and even the slightest of pleasantries. Yet You made me in Your image; Your composure; managing the same emotions as You. And You delegated Your energy and creativity and love as a mark to my species. You even allow me the honor of responsability in this madening, stubborn place. I am unbound with dominion over every other living thing.<br /><br />O Lord, my Sovereign, how majestic is Your name which shadows and haunts my life.Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1162842722671654982006-11-06T11:33:00.000-08:002006-11-15T19:06:53.662-08:00LIFE & DEATH / 3 FUNERALS / WINDS OF CHANGEEver since I can remember, I have been fascinated with the philosophy of death, but never before have I seen it so unromanticized, or come so close to it's brutality, as during the past 15 months of my life. Starting last year with my only slightly scary bout with Mono, followed by the loss of a Grandmother, and ending (<em>hopefully at least for a time</em>) last week with the tragic death of a co-worker's boyfriend, I feel as though for the first time I have been formally introduced to the undeniable problem of pain and felt the sobering moment of its slap across my face.<br /><br />This morning as I stood along the back wall of this boy's Memorial Service, having arrived a little late from my monday morning trek up the hill, all I could seem to feel was a certain sense of remorse for the man I had become. I didn't know him at all really, aside from the shape of his form passing by my cubicle day-in and day-out, but the profundity of words spoken about the man painted a picture of someone much more kindhearted and happy than I; a man much closer to Christ and more beloved by those around him. Suddenly cornered by a desperate search for hope, a trial began deep within and I began to cross-examine my own heart. I demanded an accounting for my own existence. I didn't bother waiting for answers I knew would never come either. I simply asked the questions...<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">How did I become such an ineffective and non-descript witness to the Gospel?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">At what point did I lose sight of the prize of God's glory and the meaninglessness of this world's problems?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">What do I stand for? And who could testify on my behalf?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Who would come to bid my earthly remains fairwell? And would they cry for the absense of my light in a cold and callous world?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Would anyone's life have been changed ... truly and meaningfully changed?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Would people remember me years from now?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">To where has my joy departed?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Am I truly known by another living soul on this earth?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Has it all been for naught?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Will even an ounce of my life's offerings survive the purifying fires of righteousness?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Do I really know Christ ... the intricacies of His person and the whisper of His voice within?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Have I truly loved people?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Have I served enough?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Please tell me ... have I lived at all?</span></em><br /><br />I don't really know how to end this. It's time for a change in me. It's time for this man to get real. I no longer want to strive after futility. I want to meet Christ all over again, even as if it were the first time. I want to truly sense my existence as a NEW creation in Him and start afresh. I want all of you to know the glory of who God has made me to be, and what's worth standing for in this life. And to give God something real in return! Break me down and build me back up from the ashes, O God. Tear down this fortress around our slumbering, degenerate hearts and be the coming Messiah of Hope again! Or take my life now and spare the world my meaninglessness.Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1162240860371118222006-10-30T12:18:00.000-08:002006-11-15T19:06:53.577-08:00A Dialogue...<strong>THE VOICE OF THIS WORLD</strong>:<br />“Your shadow below is a cold, bitter sight,<br />Even he leaves you alone in the night.<br />No one you can hold; No one who can hear;<br />And people just haunt you, they never stay near.<br />Nothing lasts, and all shades turn to gray,<br />The sun always sets and the night turns to day.<br />Relationships may come but most of them go.<br />You won’t find love, you fool, don’t you know?<br />Haven’t you learned from the years of your youth?<br />The number of steps in your past has been two.<br />You can’t get it right! You’re destined to fail!<br />So how does it feel in solitude’s jail?<br />Are you going to cry with life's wind in your face?<br />Your tears will just dry and your cries will erase.<br />No one will listen in this masquerade.<br />Your countenance will fall and your vibrance will fade.<br />Yes, you’ll be alone 'til the last grain of sand,<br />And you’ll go to death's grave a weak little man.”<br /><br /><strong>THE VOICE WITHIN</strong>:<br />“God, like a shadow, has stood by my side.<br />He never has left me, though leaving, I tried.<br />To Him do I hold and I know He can hear,<br />The haunts of my mind and the shed of my tear.<br />True, this world will pass, but pass not, will the fame,<br />And the glory of Christ; they will shine like the day.<br />Nothing is lost when you’ve gained what I know,<br />That love came to find me and rescue my soul.<br />Now the traces of pain from the years of my youth,<br />Have all given way to the Light and the Truth.<br />Truth that God is my right and God cannot fail.<br />My sin was a prison, but Christ paid my bail.<br />And though I may cry in this blowing of grace,<br />My tears, He will dry and my cries, He’ll erase.<br />Despite all mal-effort and despite all sin’s raid,<br />My life, a great telling of God’s glory displayed.<br />I’ll be one with Christ at the last grain of sand,<br />Having gone to earth’s grave a weak, little man.<br /><br />And the lies of this life will be but ablaze,<br />In the light of God’s glory, God’s honor, and praise.”<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Carson Joyner / 1997-2002 / Written at two different periods in my life.</em></span>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1161198342221934632006-10-18T12:01:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:53.506-08:00HOUSE PICS ( 2308 E. Fraktur )That's right, I've further joined the GOOGLE bandwagon by utilizing their Picassa tool. Enjoy this gallery showing pretty much everything thus far. <div style="FONT-SIZE: 83%; WIDTH: 194px; FONT-FAMILY: arial,sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div style="BACKGROUND: url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left 50%; HEIGHT: 194px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/carsonjoyner/2308EFraktur"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; MARGIN-TOP: 16px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" height="160" src="http://lh3.google.com/carsonjoyner/RTZ1xgFjABE/AAAAAAAAAOU/Ss7m_VPiscc/s160-c/2308EFraktur.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/carsonjoyner/2308EFraktur"><div style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #4d4d4d; TEXT-DECORATION: none">2308 E. Fraktur</div></a><div style="COLOR: #808080"></div></div>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1160435146437657572006-10-09T15:37:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:53.423-08:00Thoughts On Community ???I've been thinking about community a lot more these days. How do you create it? How do we make it authentic? (ooh forgive the 'christianese' buzz word) And better yet, how do you cultivate it and KEEP it authentic, given the crazy pace, distance, and ever-changing nature of modern life?<br /><br />There are moments when I definitely feel like authentic community is in fact happening ... like today when I logged on to my blog and saw all the New Valley peeps there with their comments and fellow blogs. And yet, the truth is that my heart desires so much more than weblinks, common clicks, and profiles. I want the real people! I want so much more committment to and from other friends. So much more 'face-time'. So much more prayer and sharing one another's burdens and celebrations in day-to-day life. And so much LESS surface relationships, shallow conversations, and fraud.<br /><br />Jesus, chose 3 of the 12 disciples to engage on a more personal level; to go deeper with and to let inside his closest circle. Maybe the problem is that we honestly think we can foster authentic community with TOO MANY PEOPLE at the same time! I'm guessing that if the Savior of the World felt like he could handle 3 inner peeps, that I might be biting off a bigger flinstones vitamin than I can chew with my personal network of roughly 200 people. What do you think?<br /><br />Anyway, I'm looking forward to moving south and closer to the church and some friends. I look foward to fostering deeper community with a select few (for starters) and seeing where it leads me. I'm looking forward to becoming a more complete, understood, loving person. I'm looking forward...Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1159315460224474482006-09-26T16:53:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:53.342-08:00SEASONAL TREATS ( My Passionate Love Affair With Little Debbie )<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Little%20Debbie.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Little%20Debbie.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/pumpkin%20delights.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/pumpkin%20delights.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>ODE TO PUMPKIN DELIGHTS</strong><br /></span><br />Delightful, delightful, maker of treats,<br />Dear Little Debbie, when will we meet?<br />I buy all your products; I love every one,<br />From the 'Nutty Bar' to the 'Honey Bun'.<br /><br />But one time a year, the best of them all,<br />Pops up in stores and blesses the Fall.<br />They’re there when I’m hungry; They’re there when I’m sad.<br />They make me feel fuzzy ... like huggin’ my Dad.<br /><br />No introduction could ever suffice,<br />For I speak of course about your 'Pumpkin Delights'.<br /><br />It’s just no surprise that the world is delighted.<br />We can’t choose a president but on this we’re united!<br />They’re loved by the seniors and adored by the Frosh,<br />No one can resist little treats made of squash.<br /><br />They don’t solve every problem or affect world peace,<br />But they’d solve all of mine if they grew on the trees!<br />But Lo, they do not and Thanksgiving draws nigh.<br />Soon millions and billions of turkeys will die.<br /><br />We’ll laugh and we’ll play and we’ll fall down and giggle;<br />A little less flex and a little more jiggle.<br />And when we come back to college, will anyone care,<br />That these seasonal snacks are no longer there?<br /><br />I shudder to think that this will be the case,<br />So I’ll spread the good news with passion and haste.<br />I’ll make sure your treats will last till the end,<br />By giving a Pumpkin Delight to each of my friends!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Written my Junior year at Indiana University while emcee'ing for Campus Crusade. 11/2000</em></span>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1158681086676937292006-09-19T08:44:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:53.272-08:00Home UpdateSo as it turns out a giant monsoon storm hit my house and rain water broke through the roof and into the home, destroying the recently installed floors, patio, speakers, drywall, etc.. No worries. Then, on Monday a whole collection of contractors were toured through the home to apparently demonstrate how NOT to go about building a home. No worries ... at least that's what I keep telling myself. Kum bay ah...Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1157512651644483472006-09-05T19:38:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:53.200-08:00LABOR DAY PICS!!!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20024.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20055.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20055.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20052.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20047.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20044.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20044.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20022.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20086.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20086.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20084.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20084.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Labor%20Day%20092.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Labor%20Day%20092.jpg" border="0" /></a>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1155580793125663552006-08-14T08:52:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:53.062-08:00MY NEW HOME !!??!!Here's the thing... I'm NOT a fast decision maker ok. I AM however methodical, sure-footed, anal, wary, a worry-monger, an over-processor of information, and a viewer of multiple angles on any given situation. I mean, it took me over 3 months to decide what kind of SLEEPING BAG to buy for the church camping trip for crap sake! But not homes ... No No Noooooo! Apparently I buy homes in ONE DAY!!! Why demonstrate caution here? It's only the biggest and most important single investment you'll ever own ... No biggie.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Community%20Map.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Community%20Map.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway, as a result of Friday's events, there are now two unfolding possibilities in my life... [1] either God just opened a HUGE door (<em>no pun intended</em>) and gave me the needed grace to pounce instantly on a great home, or [2] I just did the dumbest thing I've ever done. Time will tell folks ... 20/20 ... you know how it is.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/cl-402-fpl.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/cl-402-fpl.png" border="0" /></a>That having been said, here are some pics of what the 'Model' home looks like. Mine has the same floorplan, but will be completely barren from the lack of furniture and the kitchen will be heavily littered with empty Ramen Noodle bags since that's all I'll be able to afford from now on.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Collage.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Collage.jpg" border="0" /></a>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1153880059578716142006-07-25T19:10:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.990-08:00What Scares Me<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/teenwolf3.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 104px" height="152" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/teenwolf3.jpg" width="178" border="0" /></a>Buying a home scares me.<br />Marriage scares me.<br />Spiders and werewolves scare me.<br /><br />That's about it.Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1153637107432656032006-07-22T23:19:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.870-08:00Home is Where Your Heart IsThe old wicker chair gently creaks behind and below my tired legs as it reluctantly grows damp in the cool evening air. The long-bladed grass shines an odd shade of blue in the filtered moonlight and slides sharp between my toes. The deafening symphony of crickets serenade the air around me as I silently attend their nightly worship with the stars peering intently through their shroud of humid Indiana air. My eyes gently survey the gathered masses of cookie-cutter, cottage houses that ebb along the bottom of the hill, amused at how they seem to huddle together for warmth and quietly drift asleep to the booming chorus of summer bugs and the soft shimmer of a midwestern eve. The image is reminiscent of something I've seen lavished on the illustrated pages of a children's book, and yet this is my haven; my refuge; the place from whence I was thrown. This is my home.<br /><br />It is now that I realize the magic that lingers in the places we call home; a mysterious ownership within the heart that sustains our sense of peace and the promise of safety. When you're home, perspectives somehow seem to broaden and our fickle place in the world becomes just an ounce easier to understand. God seems to descend from His ethereal Throne to reside within a mere whisper and our burried troubles spring forth from the angst and the dark to make their voices heard. Perhaps it is the serenity of home that reminds us to pause from life's hurried journey, and in the 'resting' we usually rediscover our affinity for spiritual sustenance. Indeed . . . it's in this stillness that we find our souls. Home is a function of our sense-of-self, an irrational affection to places that somehow seem to bind us and hem us in ... to define us. No matter how broken our physical homesteads come to be, upon returning we always carry with us the hidden hope of familial wholeness, tranquility, and love. And no matter how wonderful going home can be, it never fully dissolves the profound longing in our hearts for perfection. And so, I find it to prove true that home IS where your heart resides. And my heart is desperately clinging to the hope of Heaven, from whence this world fell.Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1152906645802256272006-07-14T12:16:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.805-08:00Is The World Really Melting ???<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/AnInconvenientTruth.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/320/AnInconvenientTruth.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>Well, Al Gore just seems to mysteriously dominate my blog, but recently I saw his movie 'An Inconvenient Truth' about the dangers and "reality" of Global Warming. Now, as someone who once wrote a refutation paper in College called 'Global Cooling,' it impressed me how much the movie forced me to question the state of our world and our ability to impact it. Anyway, if Al is right, we're all gonna die soon. Is it getting hot in here?Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1151450046477263762006-06-27T15:40:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.520-08:00Things I MissThroughout the course of my 28 years, there have been a multitude of products and fads that have come and gone like the flowers of the field. This is my tribute or 'ode' to those beloved products from my youth and your opportunity to share some of your own.<br /><br /><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="132" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/CrystalPepsi.jpg" width="158" border="0" />CRYSTAL PEPSI<br /><br />What is this bubbly water? Wait just a sec... this is sweet and refreshing. Holy brown! This is Pepsi! My mind is blown.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/biggmixx.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/biggmixx.gif" border="0" /></a><br />BIG MIXX CEREAL<br /><br />Quite possibly the greatest combination of flavors and ingredients of all time. Basically ... it tasted like cinnamon. Yummmmm!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Centurions%20Collage.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/Centurions%20Collage.jpg" border="0" /></a>CENTURIONS CARTOON & ACTION FIGURES<br /><br />It's what every boy really wants ... the ability to snap weapons and rocket boosters into every orophous on the human body.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Voltron.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="200" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/Voltron.jpg" width="130" border="0" /></a><br />VOLTRON (<em>Vastly superior precursor to the Mighty Morphin Gay People</em>)<br /><br />What can I say about this masterpiece? It was made of interlocking metal parts, weighed in at about 5 lbs., and had to be shipped from Japan. Simply awesome!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Micro%20Machines.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/Micro%20Machines.jpg" border="0" /></a>MICRO-MACHINES<br /><br />The perfect toy to barter with and steal from unexpecting friends. That's right ... I'm admitting it. I committed Grand Theft Micro-Machine. But it was a rad gold colored corvette with red stripes ... you understand.Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1149325260908028572006-06-03T01:21:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.382-08:00I Am NOT okay ... Psalm 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Trudy%20with%20boys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 152px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/Trudy%20with%20boys.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>WOW! ...It's 1:19 on a Friday and I just had perhaps the most random 'cry' of my life !?!<br /><br />It all started earlier in the evening by seeing 'The Break Up" starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. The movie was surprisingly good and commendably honest about relationships and I think it definitely put me into a reflective state of mind. I came home after the movie and, much like I often do, began to play around on the guitar, ever searching for the perfect song. But as I played, I looked up at my screensaver as it cycled through old photographs and saw a never-before-seen image of myself as a child. I studied it. I was holding hands with my handicapped older brother and recently-departed Grandmother as we took an evening walk through the undeveloped desert that existed across the street from the home I grew up in. Nothing particularly remarkable about the picture at all except for the flurry of tiny memories it revived. But as I continued to survey the scene, something small in the back of my throat began to churn. I looked into my brother's eyes. A sinking in my chest began to steal my breath away. I looked into my own. And then the walls came crashing down...<br /><br />I'll be honest ... there was a flurry of emotions and thoughts far too long to share here now, but the bittersweet cocktail of nostalgia, regret, sorrow, loss, frailty, anger, and angst found its way slowly down my gullet to the depths of my heart ... and I began to weep. I don't weep often. Almost never. It's extremely rare that I find myself alone and transparent enough to authentically weep before God ... but I did tonight. It was a God-to-heart confrontation, and in that moment, I guess He decided to do some serious house cleaning in my soul. Many things about the condition of my heart were revealed to me; many dark corners exposed; but one thing became painfully evident above all others ... I AM NOT OK.<br /><br />I have not passed through this life unscathed.<br />I have not healed from the swollen wounds of the past, nor have I withdrawn from the economy of regret and the business of carrying heavy burdens.<br />My heart has not been spared the grave injustice that daily murders hope.<br />I hurt in the depths of my chest.<br />I despair over the fleeting nature of life and the brokenness of the world in which we live.<br />And I cry out with every ounce of me for JUSTICE and SALVATION and REST and PEACE and BEAUTY and WHOLENESS and RESTORATION and REPENTANCE and HOPE and LIFE !!!<br />I cry out for Christ.<br /><br />You probably know how it ends...<br /><br />I prayed. I talked it all out with God ... every ounce of it. Like a child eagerly listening to a bedtime story, I asked Him to tell me again about the part where Grandmas don't die, and brothers aren't wrongfully sentenced to a life of imprisonment inside a tortured physical shell; where memories don't fade and the innocence of youth is never lost in the undeveloped deserts of life. I begged Him for hope. And finally, I opened His word and sought out one of the first Psalms of David, a man who knew what it was to be still and to seek after God's heart in times of desperation...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">PSALM 4<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!<br />You have relieved me in my distress;<br />Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.<br />How long, O you sons of men,<br />Will you turn my glory to shame?<br />How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?<br />But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;<br />The Lord will hear when I call to Him.<br />Be angry, and do not sin.<br />Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.<br />Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,<br />And put your trust in the Lord.<br />There are many who say,<br />"Who will show us any good?"<br />Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.<br />You have put gladness in my heart,<br />More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.<br />I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;<br />For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.<br /></span><br /></span>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1147544982972355472006-05-13T11:22:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.241-08:00SEATTLE IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Copy%20of%20IMG_3181.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Copy%20of%20IMG_3181.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was slightly disturbed to find Scott & Jeff both wearing pastel shirts to start the trip<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Copy%20of%20IMG_3207.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Copy%20of%20IMG_3207.jpg" border="0" /></a> Incredible view of the downtown area<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Seattle%202%20125.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/Seattle%202%20125.jpg" border="0" /></a> Washington University was beautiful and had a lot of really cool architecture<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/IMG_3261.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/IMG_3261.jpg" border="0" /></a> Look closely to see one of the major mountain ranges in the distance that surround Seattle<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/IMG_3198.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/IMG_3198.jpg" border="0" /></a> The famous Fish Market where they throw fish at your head ... or maybe that was just me<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/IMG_3240.1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/400/IMG_3240.1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Awesome view of the city from the water.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div></div>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1146672535775208642006-05-03T08:46:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.164-08:00New Valley 'BAND NAME' Competition<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Band%20Name%20Tag.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/200/Band%20Name%20Tag.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>As most of you probably know, during my infamous college years at Indiana University, I sang in a little known band called 'RUSSELL'S BURDEN'. However, after hearing from multiple fans (<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">i.e. our parents</span>) that our name was 'questionable-at-best' and sounded more 'depressing' than our music/message actually was, we decided to change.<br /><br />Thus, the quest for a B.B.N. (<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Better Band Name</span>) began, and my sole mission in life became thinking of the greatest possible names for us to choose from. I wrote down entire scrolls of names I thought were cool on anything I had available to me at the point of inspiration (<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Used napkins, torn fragments of stationary, and the backs of business cards were the most common</span>). I even gave them grades based upon various categories like [1] Marketability, [2] Logo potential, [3] Depth of meaning, and [4] Music type conveyed (Ex: A Folk band named 'THE GRANOLA CLAN' rather than 'HELLA-DEATH'). Here are some of the runners up...<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">RUBIKS<br />COMPANY CAR<br />JEHWOOD<br />WHISTLER<br />CELLAR DOOR<br />WYATT<br />THE PURPLE STUFF<br />THE FRESHMAKERS<br />THE TURNING<br />TRIBE-5<br />TRAFFIC<br />B-VIBE<br />FRED BEAR </span></strong><br /><br />BUT THE WINNER, after all the dust had settled, was "<strong>GREENFIELD</strong>".<br /><br />ANYWAY, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO HEAR SOME OF <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><em>YOUR IDEAS</em></span> FOR A BAND NAME, SO NOW'S YOUR CHANCE. LET'S HEAR 'EM...Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19870765.post-1145385383595396772006-04-18T11:35:00.000-07:002006-11-15T19:06:52.085-08:00THOUGHTS ON GOOGLE and their attempts to take over the world...<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/1600/Al%20Gore%202%20altered.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7407/1975/320/Al%20Gore%202%20altered.jpg" border="0" /></a> As long as you haven't been living in a grass hut with a sherpa and a guy named Osama for the last 10 years, I'm sure you've noticed the steady advance of GOOGLE as a force in our technological world. Now, at the often grand expense of $0.00, you can download and use tools like: Google Talk, Google Desktop, Google Finance, Google Earth, Google Calendar, Google Alerts, Google Local, Gmail, and many more.<br />Where does it end?<br /><br />Now, don't get me wrong ... I love, use, and recommend the Google tools daily, which makes the following commentary admittedly hypocritical. Nonetheless, based on a friend's theory (<a href="http://azbrainmelt.blogspot.com/">http://azbrainmelt.blogspot.com/</a>) that GOOGLE could someday implement an information seeking ALGORITHM powered by Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to beter advance their mission of organizing all the information in the world, here is a theoretical approach to the demise of the universe. Enjoy...<br /><br />Did you know that you can't say the word 'ALGORITHM' without saying 'Al Gore'??? And Al Gore 'invented' the internet, which by the way is the avenue through which our friend GOOGLE has built its galactic empire. Al Gore has also frequently been accused of being very 'robotic' in nature ... possibly a cyborg.<br /><br /><strong>THE TRUTH</strong>, <strong>MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IS THIS...</strong><br /><br />Al Gore IS a cyborg (model D-crat456) that's been sent from the future, by the 'GOOGLE ALGORITHM' itself. His subversive mission has been to expedite the advent of the internet while simultaneously assuming the presidency of the United States, so that the GOOGLE ALGORITHM (<em>the "G.A.", as it likes to be called</em>) could more quickly arrive at the inevitable decision to wipe out humanity as a sentient race and utilize our latent body heat as a power supply by incubating us in tubs of goo! (breath)<br /><br />Fortunately for us, the Future Human Alliance, led by the offspring of Franz Ferdinand, ALSO sent a cyborg (codename 'George' or 'W') to defeat Al Gore in the presidential election and prolong GOOGLE's advance. And all this so that rebels like you and I could pick up on the suspicious trail of events and make the impossible, but neccessary decision to STOP USING THE FREE GOOGLE TOOLS.<br /><br />That's why I'm starting the help group 'Googlers Anonymous'. I've been google clean for about 2 hours now, going strong. Join me, and rememeber...<br /><br /><strong>AL GORE IS THE GOOGLE ALGORITHM !!!</strong>Carson Joynerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567578839941981508noreply@blogger.com4