Yesterday I said that the Snuggie is the dumbest invention ever. I stand corrected.

This is the Laptop Body Sweater Wool Privacy Curtain. That's right. When you're in the airport or the Starbucks or anywhere you don't want someone looking at your screen, this is what you can use to keep private. So, the Snuggie is dumb but this is dumber.

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So I just ran across the dumbest thing I have ever seen so, of course I had to share it. The following video is what happens when people call the number at the bottom of those late night "Are you an inventor?" commercials. Totally ridiculous.

Really!? I'm going to wear this to a sporting event. I would love to see someone wear that to a Raiders' game. O, no black...well sage green should be just fine for the Black Hole. Really!? Maybe if its a light saber fight an I'm planning on disappearing when Darth strikes me. Really!? Do I want to get beat up by an MIT graduate for being to big of a nerd. Really!?

First of all, this is totally unoriginal. You may recall Friar Tuck wearing the exact same thing in Disney's Robin Hood.

Yes, that's the one.

Secondly, I have an idea if you want to stay warm and still use your hands...two ideas in fact: a SWEATSHIRT or a JACKET! Who is sitting under a blanket thinking, if only these hands were free. This is ridiculous. And to add to the ridiculousness, I think the first few lines in the commercial rhyme. Then, mysteriously they decided to stop rhyming. I can imagine someone sitting in the marketing meeting saying "I'm not sure they'll take us seriously if the whole thing rhymes." AAHH! I thought culture and technology were supposed to progress. Well my friends this is a giant step backwards. If you already have a SNUGGIE I apologize...to anyone who was ever attracted to you physically because you just bought the blanket equivalent of a moo moo. If I ever see anyone outside in the garden with one of these on I will stop where I am and listen for a trumpet in the East because SNUGGIE's my friends, are the mark of the beast...AAHH I'm rhyming now.

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Just wanted to take time on this fun day to congratulate my fantasy football team on their victory in the Bay Hill's Tithers Fantasy Football League Championship. With guys like Drew Brees, and Ladanian Tomlinson the season started with high hopes but we did go through some lean times. After surviving a cross country move, we slipped into the playoffs and then dominated. We really pulled together as a team and had some key play from normally unsung heroes. Its been a great season and with this congratulations, I'd like to announce my retirement from the Bay Hill's Tithers League. You were all good...I was just better.

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Our family will be leaving town today for a week of family visiting. We'll be heading first to Georgia to visit Beth's brother and his family, then on to Alabama where we'll visit my sister and her family and then be joined by my parents. We'll be back next week and Beth's parents will fly in for the holidays. Its going to be a busy week with a lot of traveling. Keep us in your prayers and have a Merry Christmas.

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Blog Break for the Holidays

2008-12-16T08:00:00-05:00

TJ

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Something has been on my mind the past few weeks and I just can't hold it in any longer. As the Christmas season is upon us, I have noticed a disturbing trend. Its Penguins. They are everywhere I look. Huge inflatable penguins wearing Santa hats. They so cute, cuddly, and WRONG!

Now I've never been to the North Pole but I am a frequent viewer of nature programing and an avid reader of science books (that one was for my family), and I do know one thing about the North Pole. THERE ARE NO PENGUINS AT THE NORTH POLE! So then, I ask you, why do people insist on including penguins in their Christmas decorations?

Its a ridiculous thing and it makes me angry. My hatred for inflatable Christmas decorations notwithstanding, its just an outright slap in the face of geography and nature. Penguins only live in the Southern Hemisphere. There are penguins in Antarctica, South America, South Africa, and a lot of warm places that would make you say "WHAAAT?" But go to the north pole, look around, any little birds waddling around in tuxedos? I think not.

So, lets end the madness! Enough with the penguins already.

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I guess it was the other former Auburn D-Coordinator who went to Texas.

Iowa State's Chizik to take over at Auburn

Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

MORE: Coaching carousel

Iowa State's Gene Chizik will be the next Auburn coach, Rivals.com has learned.


Gene Chizik is the new coach at Auburn.
Chizik has been the coach of the Cyclones the last two years, compiling a 5-19 record. Iowa State finished 2-10 (0-8 in the Big 12) in 2008. Chizik was defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2002-04, helping the Tigers go 13-0, win the SEC championship and finish ranked No. 2 in the nation. That year, he won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.

Auburn is replacing Tommy Tuberville, who coached the Tigers for 10 seasons. Tuberville compiled an 85-40 mark (52-30 in the SEC) with four SEC West championships and an SEC title in 2004. But the Tigers slumped to 5-7 in 2008 and missed the postseason for first time since Tuberville's debut campaign in 1999.

Prior to taking over Iowa State, Chizik was defensive coordinator at Texas from 2005-06, helping the Longhorns forge a 12-0 record in 2005 en route to winning the national championship.

From 1998-2001, Chizik was defensive coordinator at Central Florida. He also has served on staffs at Stephen F. Austin (1992-97) and Middle Tennessee State (1990-91).

Chizik, 46, is a native of Clearwater, Fla., and a 1985 graduate of Florida - where he played linebacker.

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Well I Was Close

2008-12-13T16:54:00-05:00

TJ

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The ball is really rolling now at Wellspring. If you would like to hear about what's going on and literally sit in with our launch team as we cast vision and follow God's lead you can on the Wellspring Podcast.

Come listen to weekly messages and a couple of messages Pastor Trey delivered at Keystone church as well. Subscribe to the podcast and you will have a weekly update in your iTunes podcast folder. Enjoy.

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Wellspring Podcasts Now Available

2008-12-12T11:45:00-05:00

TJ

Comments

Muschamp most likely to
Auburn

Last Edited: Thursday, 11 Dec 2008, 10:30 PM CST
Created On: Thursday, 11 Dec 2008, 9:41 PM CST

* Joe Emer
* Charissa Cowart

- FOX10 News sources have told us Auburn will name Will Muschamp its new Head Coach sometime Friday. Muschamp was Auburn's Defensive Coordinator two years ago.

This season he was on the sidelines as the Defensive Coordinator for the Texas Longhorns. He was also named as the Longhorns Head Coach in waiting.

According to our source, Auburn will hold a press conference sometime Friday to make the announcement.

We will continue to update this story as it develops here on Fox10tv.com.

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Muschamp to Auburn: Most of You Don't Care But I Do

2008-12-12T00:03:00-05:00

TJ

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So, as some of you have seen in the past couple of days I am in major need of a new desk. Currently I am working in the guest room on an old sewing machine table that is meant to be a side table. I am sitting in a red and white toille chair that Beth's mom picked up off of the side of the road and Beth recovered (which is a huge improvement from the step stool I was sitting on yesterday). Anyway, Beth and I were talking and she really wanted to buy me a desk but money's a bit tight so I was willing to make do. Well this afternoon we received a card from a family at our former church Bayhills and what was in it but a little bit of cash. Enough to really help out with buying a small desk. It never ceases to amaze me how God provides right when you need it. All glory and honor to Him!

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As many of you know, a couple of weeks ago I tried out for real life rock band to the lead singer. Well, everything went well and I am the only person (so far) that they have asked back. Part of this deal is that I would be the one choosing the songs we would cover. Eventually we would write our own stuff but would begin with covers. Now the genre of this band is straight up rock, not pop, not alternative. My problem is that I don't really listen to rock all that much. So, as Dora the Explorer would say, I need your help. Respond with some of your favorite "Radio Rock" songs, preferably from the last 3 years or so. Also, be in prayer that this band works out, they are really good and there's a decent chance this could be my only 2nd job. Wouldn't that be nice. Looking forward to hearing from you guys.

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If your sitting around wondering what to do with all of that extra money you've got stashed away, please allow me to make a suggestion. Wellspring now has online giving available. So, for those of you are are committed to giving to Wellspring or to my family your life has now been made easier. If you are just thinking about giving, try it out...its a lot of fun.

To give, click the "Online Giving" image on the right hand side of this blog. This will take you to a third party link and prompt you to set up an account. After a few easy steps you can schedule your giving and link it with your bank account or a credit card. This will save you the hassle of having to write a check and send it every month plus don't forget the 42 cents you will save on stamps.

Seriously though, we appreciate any and all contributions and are so honored that you would even consider supporting us and this ministry. Happy Giving!

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Online Giving For Wellspring Church Now Available

2008-12-09T16:09:00-05:00

TJ

Comments

Its funny, at no time in my life have I had more time on my hands and yet I haven't written many blog posts lately. Well I was thinking about one thing in particular so I thought I would share. If you follow my Twitter you know that I am considering no longer telling people that I am a pastor here to plant a church and just telling them that I'm a singer/musician/songwriter. This obviously sounds much cooler, not that I'm saying it is (it is) but it has another effect as well. Generally when I tell people what I do, their mood changes immediately. It doesn't matter if they are church going types or party going types. No matter their background, mine is always a buzz kill.

So the big question is, "is this misleading or lying?" Would you be upset if someone did this to you?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not ashamed of what I do or why I do it. But I have a friend in California (who shall remain nameless) who does testing on animals. Seriously, that's what she does (its for cardiac research so a good cause). She's not ashamed of it but she never comes right out and says, I cut of rats tails or anything like that. She says, "I'm a research assistant." Is this something I should do to be able to have a real relationship with people? If someone knows what I do, I have to spend weeks if not months breaking down the walls that just saying "I'm a pastor" builds. Its an interesting thing.

Let me know what you guys think. Hopefully we'll have some interesting discussion.

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I am blessed to have known my best friend in all of the world (besides my wife) for 28 years 1 month and 30 days. My sister and I have always been close even when she was throwing crap at me or dating (and eventually marrying) my friends...she only married one friend, which looks a lot better now than when they were just dating.

Today is a big day in her life: the BIG 3-0 and I just wanted to mention how much I love her and look up to her and Jared her husband. They have both been two of the biggest influences in my life. They are two very courageous people and had a big role in my leaving the stability and family at Bay Hills to step into the unknown that is Wellspring after they left a great job to go into missions. Sarah, thanks for everything you've done for me whether dragging me along with you and your friends, or just keeping a watchful eye on me while I acted like an idiot. I love you very much.

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So I was reading ESPN The Magazine and in the Bill Simmons column "The Sports Guy" wrote about his favorite YouTube Clip. This clip has everything including Mr. Kotter, Wonder Woman, two academy award winning directors celebrating a little too much and one Robert Conrad who takes himself a little too seriously. Also, this is the first real slow instant replay was utilized. Check it out, but make sure you have enough time to watch the whole thing.



Nice. Go Kotter, go!

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This Could Be The Best 10 Minutes of Your Day

2008-11-26T11:52:00-05:00

TJ

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So its been a little over a week here and these are some of the things I've learned while in South Carolina.

#1: Money isn't going to fall from the sky. Beth keeps reminding me of this and we are having to do a few things because of this fact. That includes the ever-uncomfortable calling and asking people to support us. As uncomfortable as it is, we know that God has ordained this ministry and that He wants us to extend the opportunity to others to join in what He is doing.

#2: Job hunting is weird for a pastor trying to get a secular job. My resume is filled with ministry jobs with the occasional odd job (Tire Technician, newspaper delivery guy, stamp maker, etc.). I think I know how ministry translates to the secular world but I'm not sure the employers will.

#3: Staying home all day throws me off. I've had a hard time with the whole working at home thing. Admittedly and per Trey's orders I have spent most of my time on getting my family settled but when I have worked, its been difficult to get into a routine what with the kids and the TV and the absence of Dan Patrick.

#4: I am within driving distance of a lot of great ministries. This past weekend we drove down to Charleston to drop off Beth's mom at the airport and we went to Seacoast Church. It was really great. We got a chance to speak with the pastor Greg Surratt and the Experiences Pastor Shawn Wood. I can't wait to visit some of the other great ministries and probably visit Seacoast again.

#5: I really love having different seasons. The Bay Area is one of the most beautiful places in the world but there aren't seasons. Its either cool or super hot. Here in Myrtle Beach we have experienced some Fall (its been cold) and are looking forward to Winter, Spring, and Summer. Still won't get snow here except on the rare occasion, but seasonal change is nice.

I'm sure this is not the end of what I've learned but I need to go get my kid up from his nap so the list stops at five. I'm looking forward to what God is going to do here. Keep praying for our family.

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Well its been a while since my last post. Its been a crazy few weeks with packing driving across the country and moving into our new house in Myrtle Beach. Things are finally starting to settle down a bit so I thought I'd take a little time to blog.

What has been amazing is seeing God already begin to work and provide for Beth and I as we have been here. Continue to pray for that because we will need it. I am very excited about what God is doing at Wellspring as well. I really feel like God is going to bless everything we do if we continue to follow his call. Its gonna be unbelievable.

Hopefully next week I can post something smart and thought provoking but recently all of the paint fumes have made me stupid.

I do have a question that I would love for you guys to answer. Yesterday at the DMV the lady taking pictures thought Beth looked like Mariah Carey. She did, however guess that Beth used to teach. I asked her what I looked like and she said "I see a lab coat...a pharmacist." I'm not sure how to take this but I'm wondering what you think. Looking at me, what do you think my job is?

I'm looking forward to your answers.

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I guess everyone is writing about this so I will too. I hope I get to vote. I'm not sure I will because we are leaving very early on Tuesday and if the polling places aren't open, I won't be able to vote. That stinks because I'm into politics but I only have myself to blame for not doing absentee and the state of California for not having early voting. Maybe we'll still be able to vote.

However, I will explain to you who I am voting for. I am not a one issue voter. If you are, that's fine because you're you not me (but if you were me then I'd be you and I'd use your body to not be a one issue voter). Sorry about that. I have always believed in looking at all of the issue and then going with the candidate who is most aligned with my views. This has taken me to both sides of the aisle in past elections and I think that is healthy. I am not willing to pledge my support to any one party because I do not always believe what they believe and it strikes me as a bit anti-democracy. It actually reminds me of West Side Story...without all of the silly dancing.

Because of my belief in voting for the best candidate FOR PRESIDENT (notice I didn't say spriritual leader, father figure, law maker, or most popular), I will always vote for the best candidate. So that's who I'm voting for...the person I believe to be the best candidate and you should too. I always go back to a quote I heard on Jason Boyett's blog, "If I had a family member in need of life-saving surgery, I wouldn't choose my doctor based on whether he was Pro-life or Pro-Choice (pro-welfare or anti-welfare, pro-gay marriage or anti-gay marriage), I would chose the best surgeon." That's how I will (or won't) vote this year.

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Who I'm Voting For

2008-10-30T17:07:00-04:00

TJ

Comments

I heard a quote today from Mark Beeson at Granger Community Church in Indiana. He told his staff, "I don't care who you vote for... but if you value your position on staff, you'll want to vote." That's good leadership. I hope everyone out there is planning to vote even if its for Ralph Nader. This will likely be one of the largest voter turnouts in history. Don't be that guy (or girl) who missed out. Check out this video from some very rich people. By the way, to "The Donald," there may be a few more important things to do but voting is important.

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Go Vote

2008-10-29T14:25:00-04:00

TJ

Comments

As I look around my house at the bare, patched walls and the boxes in every room its really starting to hit me that this is my last week at Bay Hills, and possibly in Norther California. Sure, we'll come back to visit but they always see, "if you leave California, you can never afford to come back." I'm not sure if this is true because we never really could afford to live here in the first place but I get what they mean. We are packing up and hitting the road a week from today to head to Myrtle Beach by way of Vegas, the Grand Canyon, probably somewhere in New Mexico, Fort Worth, Rayville, LA, Montgomery, AL, and Atlanta. How's that for a road trip. The total mileage will be somewhere in the 3,000 range so we'll get oil changes for both cars before we leave and then as soon as we get there. Its going to be sad to leave all of our friends here at Bay Hills. We've grown up so much and I've really learned a lot about how to do ministry here. I've had a great team of volunteers for setup, sound, media, lighting, and our worship team. Bay Hills has truly been blessed with a lot of talent. Most of all we will miss the friendships. Those who have come alongside us to make the fact that we're 2000 miles away from any family much easier to bear.

We are also very excited about what God is going to do in and through us in Myrtle Beach. I know that God has huge plans for Wellspring Church and that things are ready to take off. I'm excited about the new friends we'll make and the new experiences we will have. I'm excited to build a church around the awesome vision that God has given Pastor Trey and that I have wholeheartedly bought into. There is no doubt in my mind that as long as we are faithful to our calling, God will be faithful to his promise.

So be in prayer for us this week as the stress of packing up our lives and moving them across the country will be great. As my parents fly in to "roadtrip-it" with us and as Beth's my flies back to Fort Worth with our two crazy kids. Pray that as we drive across this beautiful country we will enjoy God's creation each others' company. Most of all, pray that our hearts will be prepared and expectant for the great things God WILL do at Wellspring and in Myrtle Beach. Now, its coffee time.

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Its Really Happening

2008-10-27T11:48:00-04:00

TJ

Comments

Well its been such a busy week and I haven't been able to blog much but I definitely wanted to blog today about something I have recently discovered. I might be the last one to figure this out but if you are not using the Amazon mp3 store to buy your digital music you are throwing your money away. Generally I go with Apple on anything they put out but in this instance, the iTunes store is ripping you off. Amazon has most of its albums for $8.99 or less and always has great deals. Example, the day I discovered that Amazon was far superior was when I downloaded the new Keane album for $1.99. That's right 2 bucks. It was a "deal of the day" thing but they have great albums for low, low prices everyday. So, stop using the iTunes store. If you have iTunes, Amazon's download program (you will have to install this, takes about 30 seconds) will automatically add all of your Amazon downloads to iTunes. You have nothing to lose.

I'll take my check now Amazon.

Have a great weekend.

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