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I've Been Tagged. Not Like a Cow.

2006-10-11T17:04:00.000-05:00

I've been challenged. I can't turn down a challenge.

Apparently this is about books...

1. Changed your life: hmmmmmmm lots. But, the ones that have most are probably unexpected. Such as Jesus Freaks by dc Talk, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, and The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis.

2. Read more than once: Yikes. I've read most of the books I've read more than once. The ones I've probably read the most are The Chronicles of Narnia, The Harry Potter Books by JK Rowling, (yes, I'm serious) the Hardy Boys books by Franklin W Dixon, or The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger.
3. Want on a desert island: The Harry Potter Books. Totally,

4. Made you laugh: The Captain Underpants books. Hilareous.

5. If you've seen the movies or plays, the book is hilarious: I don't get it.

6. Made you cry: I can't admit to this. It would be unmanly.

7. Wish had been written: hmmmm more Narnia books or (in the future) like 15 more Harry Potter books. At least.

8. Wish had never been written: Ugh Virgina Woolf books. Bleh. Especially To the Lighthouse.

9. Currently reading: Finding the Will of God: A Pagan Notion? by Bruce Waltke and, as always, Harry Potter books.

10. Fact or fiction: Fiction. Totally.

11. Awesome book that is empowering me: uhhh The Bible? Weird question.

12. Meaning to read: When I want to read, I read, darnit!

Did IStep On Your Trumpet?

2006-10-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

So last year I was browsing trailers for indie movies and documentaries on Apple's movie trailer website (cause you can watch them in high definition instead of crummy streaming windows media junk), when I came across the trailer for a documenatary entitled Danielson: A Family Movie. I was confused at first, then I was intrigued. The movie is about a band led by "Brother Daniel." His band has had many names: Danielson Family Band, Danielson, Brother Danielson, Daneilson Famile, Danielson + Soul Junk, and has had a total of THIRTEEN records since 1999.

The thing that draws me to this band isn't so much the music: it's weird. Or the lyrics: they're weird. Or the performing: it's weird. Or their message: it's weird. Ok, so all of those things draw me to the music, but it's the combination of these things that are interesting, not so much any of them individually. That probably didn't make sense. Let me explain.

Brother Danielson is an outspoken Christian. His band is made up of family members (brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephew, etc) who support him in all of his crazy endevors. He preaches a message of grace, healing, freedom and growth from stage, and emphasizes that message with costumes and dances. Yes, costumes and dances. Danielson usually wears a tree outfit, but sometimes wears other unusual and, frankly, surprising costumes. His sisters always dress in old-fashioned nurse outfits.

Their music is an insane mix of folk, rock, hip-hop and all sorts of other styles. They plan instruments like flute, triangle and violin. I could go on and on. Instead, watch this krazy awesome music video.

If you're, errrr, captivated, like I was... watch these videos. What do you think?

Angkor Wat, One of the Forgotten Wonders of the World

2006-09-26T11:25:00.000-05:00

I miss Cambo

A Man of War

2006-09-12T11:54:00.000-05:00

Wild at Heart

I've been meaning to write about this for a while. Over two months, in fact. Actually, I can't even believe it's been that long, but I just checked the windows calendar (you know, like double-click on the clock on the bottom right) and it's been over two months.

After considering all the facts, I think that this story would be best told in the third person.

Ryan had Advertising Media over in Gaylord Hall, on the southeast corner of the South Oval. Beautiful building, by the way. And you gotta love all the Macs everywhere in there. He hadn't bought his July campus parking permit yet, so he parked all the way over on Stinson, right by the Catholic church. The quickest way to Gaylord from there is to cut across the parking lot he would have liked to park in anyway, the one that the Huff lies right in the middle of.

Ryan was walking across the aforementioned parking lot, which is very open and empty. Really the only break in the monotony of asphalt with white lines are the small islands with tiny, thin, leafless trees planted on them. As Ryan passed under one of these spindly little trees, he feels something smack his head very hard. Whatever it was also managed to pull some of his hair out. OUCH.

Ryan looked up in surprise, and stopped in his tracks. He was paralyzed by fear and shock. A bird was circling his head for another attack. The bird dive-bombed and pecked him in the head again. OUCH x2.

Ryan recovered from his shock and began to run (still in fear). The bird took chase. He kept circling above and attacking. OUCH x3 and OUCH x4.

Suddenly the soldier in Ryan came out. He took off his ridonkculously heavy backpack, still running, and began to swing it at the bird, going for a kill. The bird was too quick, however, and continued to attack.

After a fierce battle, with a few feathers flying through the air and more than a little hair pulled out and bumps on the head, Ryan escaped. When he had run all the way to Asp (by the honors dorm) the bird gave up. He knew he had lost. Ryan swaggered the rest of the way to Gaylord, sweaty and hot, but victorious nonetheless.

On a side note, Ryan told three particular individuals this story, none of whom believed a word of it. As said individuals and Ryan drove by the spot later that day, they witnessed a young child being attacked by a bird in the very same spot, while his sister looked on and laughed. I however, was not laughing.

Regulus

2006-07-05T05:12:00.000-05:00

I think maybe R.A.B may be Regulus Black. I am absolutely convinced that the B stands for Black. I just read the books again. It's all starting to make sense. I think I've about got how Harry will kill Voldemort figured out.

It's Like That Movie, The Might Ducks

2006-06-06T02:12:00.000-05:00

I am the champion.

In related news, don't mess with my computer -- you'll regret it in a big way. And by big I mean public. And by public I mean accessable to billions. Yes, billions. Consider yourselves warned.

Did you guys see that alien-head-in-the-duck's-belly x-ray? Kraziness.

Dangit Somalia.

The Shortest Road

2006-05-24T12:47:00.000-05:00

I really do miss Chicago. In some ways I'm glad I'm not up there this summer, but I sure do miss that place. And Judson. And Jimmy John's. And the drive out to St. Charles. I could go on and on.

On that note, I photoshoped up a map from Judson to St. Charles for Preston and anyone else working out there. Here you go.

CLICK ON THE MAP FOR A BIGGER, ACTUALY READABLE VERSION

Norman Prison Blues

2006-05-04T23:51:00.000-05:00

I hear the train a comin´
it´s rolling round the bend
and I ain´t seen the sunshine since
I don´t know when,
I´m stuck in Folsom prison,
and time keeps draggin´ on
but that train keeps a rollin´ on down to San Anton...

When I was just a baby my mama told me
"Son, always be a good boy,
don´t ever play with guns"
But I shot a man in Reno
just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowing,
I hang my head and cry

I bet there´s rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
they´re probably drinkin´ coffee
and smoking big cigars
Well I know I had it coming,
I know I can´t be free
but those people keep a movin´
and that´s what tortures me

Well if they´d free me from this prison,
if that railroad train was mine
I bet I´d move just a little further down the line
far from Folsom prison,
that's where I want to stay
and I´d let that lonesome whistle
blow my blues away

Make Music, Not War

2006-04-24T17:19:00.000-05:00

I want one of these ... but one that still shoots.

I would start a revolution; people would no longer call their guitar their "axe." They would say "Hey, let's go see Ryan's show tonight -- that guy can really wail on his gun!"

I'm going to go call that guy right now for a price list. I want one made out of an AK-47. I think that would match my gangsta style of music.

http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs3860

Oh yeah?! Well...

2006-04-23T22:47:00.000-05:00

Ok, that song kind of makes me laugh, and I put it there as an inside joke of sorts ... not sure it really worked out like I had figured.

Just to clarify, I'm not emo or depressed or hating people. I just tried to find a song that made it seem so.

What I actually want to say with this post:

Conflict resolution doesn't mean yelling out little things at people as they walk by or are sitting accross the room. It doesn't mean pointing out things people have done or still haven't given back or otherwise making people look bad in front of others. It doesn't mean reminding someone of their faults or mistakes as a defense against something they say to you. Do it right people.

That's just something I observed after our little meeting tonight.

What's Your Motivation?

2006-04-13T16:13:00.000-05:00

You may not believe it but I'm back.

You also may not believe what I'm about to write ... a serious post!

Dick Jaques likes to talk about how hearts are like cups of water. As we live our lives, we let things into our cups. Attitudes, actions, thoughts, speech, things we listen to, watch, submit ourselves to; the things we experience make their ways into our cups. When the cup is knocked, something is going to spill out. If your cup is full of clean, fresh water -- a pure heart -- clean, freah water come out. If your cup is full of luckwarm, cloudy water, or even smelly, muddy water, that is what will come out.

Last summer at Project Impact I saw the worst in a lot of people. It was a beautiful thing, though, because we experienced people spilling the dirty water from their cup and replacing it with clean, fresh, pure water. We were all surrounded by people who cared more for us than themselves, whose motivations for their actions were unselfish and pure -- not for their own gain but to serve others. Our groups and the groups around us genuinly wanted us to learn and grow. So, even though I saw the worst in people, I also saw the best. I know what those around me now are capable of. Many of them were even there.

Now, I see the opposite all around me. Many people are so selfishly motivated that they are tearing relationships apart. They are losing respect from those around them and creating malice. People who "care about" someone else fight over their relationship, both with the person they "care for" and with other people who also claim to. I see no selflessness in this, only selfishness. They don't care about the others involved or even the person they claim to "care about," evidenced by the fact that every person involved in these situations is always hurt. People are also defensive and aggresivley sarcastic and mean. People make fun of people. People make fun back even worse. And so on. People avoid people. People talk about people. It's sick.

I've had my fair share of these things, though luckily I have never been directly in the thick of it. I just want it all to stop. I want people to actually listen and act on what wiser people tell them. Every action has a motivation from the heart. If you strive to change the action, but not the motivation for the action, changing the action does no good. It will either come back or manifest itself in a much worse way. What we need is heart change. Ask yourself, "What's my motivation for saying/doing/thinking that?"

Nathan Cole, One Bad Mother

2006-03-20T00:35:00.000-06:00

According to google,

Mayor Nathan Cole of St. Louis

Bisexual Nathan Cole

Nathan Cole, the famous opera violinist

The REAL Nathan Cole's REAL hand. I can only assume he's referring to his totally straight part in the totally awesome video made for the Group Date Glorieta bus

Awesomeness

2006-01-25T17:37:00.000-06:00

2006-01-19T14:23:00.000-06:00

Snakes on Plane

2005-12-30T17:08:00.000-06:00

I was reading about new movies coming out next year, and there is one in particular I want to see. In fact, I thought it might be a joke, until this guy Dave showed me a poster for it. It totally scared me, but it just made Craig sad.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's true. Snakes on a Plane. Didn't believe it was real, did you? Not till you clicked on that. And you know what makes it better? Kenan Thompson is in it. He's so dope. Remember Kenan and Kel? WHOOO LOVES ORANGE SODA?

Items of Interest

2005-12-12T18:44:00.000-06:00

I'll update... as soon as I have something interesting enough to update about.

In the meantime, here are two pictures that I find interesting:

As interesting as such a safe schoolbus is, I do find it necessary to point out the grammatical error in the second picture. "Worlds Safest Schoolbus" should be written "World's Safest Schoolbus." Thank you for your time.

Coverings to the Windows of the Soul

2005-12-01T02:17:00.000-06:00

I just thought I'd use a cheesy title.

Anyways, I'm working painting a giant piece of art encompassing 4 large canvases (really it's a kind of foam board, but a canvas sounds more professional). This painting will cover the windows in the living room.

I have a few different ideas of things I'd like to do. This is a rough draft of one.

Although this idea has a lot of meaning to me, and I would really like to do something to that effect (keeping in mind that the scan is a very very basic rough draft), I am wondering if it is too depressing to do. Especially covering such a large space. What do you think?

I Live With a Woman

2005-10-17T17:55:00.000-05:00

I have made a disturbing discovery. This discovery was groundbreaking. Life-shattering. My world was turned upside down. Right now I'm confused and scared and don't really know what to do. You see, I found out that my roommate is actually a woman. All this time, I thought he was a so-called "manly man." The problem is, I'm locked into my lease, and so is he/she. I could use your prayers.

It all began Saturday night. The Third Annual Girls Slumber Party was taking place next door. Some of the guys decided they would dress up like women and crash the party. Kind of sick, but mildly funny. I wasn't really worried about my roomie at that point, though. I just thought it was a silly little prank.

Move ahead to Sunday night. This is when my suspicions were aroused. He put the skirt back on. Not only that, he was trying it on in different ways; as a normal skirt, as a tube top, as saggy pants. I was becoming a confused young man. So I locked him outside in his skirt. I guess he wasn't ready to go public with his secret, because he freaked out.

All doubts were removed today. I thought it would be funny to put on my Spooky Sounds CD. We didn't get through the first track before he began to get creeped out. By track two he was lying in his bed under his sheets. So, naturally, I went outside and banged on his window. The ensuing scream could NOT have come from a man's lips.

I love you Junk.

Just Who Is That Girl?

2005-10-06T03:07:00.000-05:00

Many of you have asked me, "Who is this Rita Stevens, this woman of mystery?"
Others have expressed interest for the purpose of gossip and water-cooler talk. Some have offered congratulations, but more have conveyed surprise. After all, why would a woman with such a legacy, one who’s credentials precedes her so, one who has impacted so many people, go out with Ryan? Even those people, however, are still a bit curious about that one thing. Who is Rita Stevens, really? The fact is, not a large number of people know. To most, she is but a legend.

Because of the intrigue surrounding the subject, I have decided to help you poor curious souls in your quest for truth. So again I remind you of your question...

Who is Rita Stevens?

As an officially certified computer geek, the first place I turn when I need information is my trusty friend the internet.

According to Google, Rita Stevens is the author of a book about Madagascar, a realtor in the beautiful city of Silver Springs, a Mariachi singer, and a witness in Alaska Federation of Natives, Human Resources Committee v. The State of Alaska.

While this information might help if one was doing research for a middle school paper on “What is Rita Stevens,” it doesn’t help us much in discovering the wonderful woman I just got through spending the summer with in Chicago and who now lives next door.

When I can’t find what I want on the internet, I usually turn next to asking my friends. So, I made some phone calls.

“What do you think of when I say ‘Rita Stevens’?”

- “A great maker of disciples.”
- “Hott.”
- “You mean your girlfriend?”
- “Myyy Rittaaaa…”
- “She’s an awesome DT leader.”- “I hear you talk about her all the time, but I’ve never met her.”
- “When I went to OU I always got her confused with Debbie Adams.”
- “I read her book, Madagascar. It talks all about this island in Africa. Kind of boring though. Oh, not that Rita Stevens?”
- "Oh yeah! She's cool!"
- “You should have seen her in Germany, she’s so selfless. She really has a heart for God. “
- “How’d you land that catch?”

I think we are getting closer now. I think it’s time for a picture search.

I don’t know where any of that got us, but I’m now going to tell you what I know.
Rita Stevens is beautiful. When I use that word, I use it very inclusively. 1 Peter 3 describes a woman of true beauty. That beauty comes not from outward adornment, jewelry, or clothes, but from “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” It also describes the purity and reverence of her life. Now, not only is my girlfriend incredibly pretty, she also has that internal beauty Peter describes. In addition, she is funny, zealous, looked-up-to, courageous, smart, fun, prepared, trusting, patient, trustworthy, wise, joyful, great listener, kind, faithful, hard worker, gentle, pure, teachable, a seeker of knowledge and wisdom, sweet, self-controlled, sought-after, awesome. And beautiful.

We Must Protect This House!

2005-09-15T12:49:00.000-05:00

Ok, it's game time.

Because Ryan feels as if his own creativity has reached a point where no one can relate to him (kidding), he has decided to challenge himself. He also feels the need to talk in third person. That will stop now.

Give me a topic to post on and I'll run with it. Suggest a subject for a story, a person for a tribute, an issue to discuss, whatever. But I need a challenge, I'm just in the kind of mood or something.

I Made a Little Treat for You in Paint

2005-08-26T12:03:00.000-05:00

Come on now, the poor little guy's lonely!

A More Traditional Xanga-like Update

2005-08-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

Now, those of you that know me (which probably makes up about half of my readership -- which, for those of you that are gullable enough to believe the "intricate web of mysteriousness" that I am spinning in the online world, does not mean a ship of readers, rather it means the throngs who flock to my blog every time I update) know that I hate the kind of update that is just describing what is going on in my life. However, as I still don't have the pictures I need to do my summer update, I am going to give in and bore you with tales of my life.

However, I think you all do know that I would never strictly settle for such ridiculous boredom as I have just described. Nay, I will still shake the world of blogging with this entry as do with every other. Don't you believe I was going to settle. Don't lose faith in my earthquakelike blog updates.

I spent my summer in Chicago, IL as a leader for Project Impact 2005. That was crazy hard and crazy fun. I learned so much. I also met some amazing people and developed some life-changing friendships. By the way, I'd like to insert a shameless shoutout to far and away the coolest girl I could have ever gotten to know this summer. Yep, I said it. And online at that.

Since I've been home from Chicago, I've just been working on my new home, where I live with some pretty cool guys and lots of pretty electronic things, like big screens and surround sound systems and fingerprint readers. I've also taken a class/slept in a cold room in the Physical Sciences Center. In my spare time, I've been trying to prepare for ministry in the fall, helping out a little at the BSU, trying to plan some fun things to do with that one special girl I just mentioned, done an MT retreat or two, eaten crackers, sandwiches and oatmeal for every meal not provided my sweetheart of a neighbor, Holly, watching lots of Aqua Teen and MXC, and chillin' wit my homies. Amen.

I leave you with this:

Go to church.

New Beginnings

2005-08-12T01:03:00.000-05:00

Here's to new beginnings which lead to new tomorrows.

It seems to have become tradition to begin anew in the blogging kingdom at the end of every summer. The end of summer draws near, and so -- I must start again!