if you know me very well, you know that i am all about people and love getting to know people’s stories.

i think one of the biggest reasons there is such a lack of genuine love on display today is because we just don’t know and have a true understanding of where people have come from and where they are going… the simple but often overlooked and easily forgotten fact that every single one of us is somewhere “in between”… somewhere in the process… somewhere between here and there… between who we were and who we will be…

this video moved me deeply.  i watched it and wept. (thank you for posting it, jay)

do we really know where people are at in their lives???  some are stuck, still on first side of the cards… some have made it to the flip side… but many are somewhere in between.  many people’s cards are still turning… i know some of mine are.

Lord help us to not judge people just because we dont see that their card hasn’t quite turned yet… let us be your love and run in your truth… let us not be so quick to write someone off and close the book in judgement without realizing that the ink is still wet, and the story is still being written…

so everyone has a story… what’s yours?

“i always feel like somebody’s watching me
and I have no privacy
i always feel like somebody’s watching me
tell me, is it just a dream”
– lyrics from rockwell’s 1984 (and only) hit “somebody’s watching me”

i’ve never been one of those whack-job conspiracy theorists, but dang… what’s next?

from the NYTimes…

Judge Orders Google to Turn Over YouTube Records
Thursday July 3, 11:35 pm ET
By MIGUEL HELFT

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge in New York has ordered Google to turn over to Viacom a database linking users of YouTube, the Web’s largest video site by far, with every clip they have watched there.

For every video on YouTube, the judge required Google to turn over to Viacom the login name of every user who watched it, and the address of their computer, known as an I.P., or Internet protocol, address. Both companies have argued that such data cannot be used to unmask the identities of individual users with certainty. But in many cases, technology experts and others have been able to link I.P. addresses to individuals using records of their online activities.

read the full article here…

while it may not sound too over the top for those of you who are not big youtube users, the principal of what is happening here has some pretty far reaching implications.  what are your thoughts about this kind of thing?

this past sunday i was flipping through the new issue of relevant magazine, one of my favorites, and came across an ad and review of erwin mcmanus‘ new book, wide awake: the future is waiting within you.

as i skimmed the short interview about the book with mcmanus, i read this:

“relevant: do you think people ever feel guilty about pursuing the life they want?

mcmanus: yes. absolutely. i think strangely enough, most people live under obligation.  they’re doing what they think other people expect them to do or want to do or demand that they do rather than what they really would have done.  i meet with people whose only goal is to pay their bills, because they think beyond that is greedy and they forget that they don’t have to keep it all.  most people in the western world don’t really understand that to optimize your opportunity is to create hope for the rest of the world.  you can actually provide housing and find cures for diseases.  to me, one of the greatest and most selfish acts among people is to just make enough to survive.”

wow.  after reading that i could not get in my car fast enough and drove to barnes & noble to buy this book.  i’ve been in it for a few days now and it is rocking my world, and it is so right on time for me.  you can check out a sample chapter here.

here’s a great excerpt from the book:

“for centuries now, Jesus has been a focus of every kind of research, from theology to history to philosophy.  his approach to ethics left an undeniable mark on humanity.  what has been significantly underappreciated is how Jesus changed the way his followers actually engaged life.  he launched a movement that unleashed previously untapped potential in those who believed in him.  he created an environment where his disciples began to believe the impossible and soon found they were turning dreams into reality.  his became a movement of dreamers and visionaries called and compelled to dream of a better world.”

there is also a dvd release of wide awake:the short films coming next week that has several short films along the themes of the book. can’t wait to get that!

i am currently watching jon & kate plus 8 on tlc.  this show is incredible.

i don’t know what took me so long to discover it, but i am completely captivated… and worn out.  i have watched 3 episodes back to back tonight, and have already set up a series recording on my dvr to record them all.

I am currently watching the episode where “hannah pooped in her underwears”.  in just the hour and a half that i have spent with the gosselin family, i can already tell that kate has some significant control and abandonment issues and jon needs to grow a pair.  :)  even so, i love this show!  i also love how the producers are not editing out the faith aspect of the gosselin’s family life.  the kids are adorable and so full of life!

speaking of tlc, they have some pretty dope new shows.  in addition to the aforementioned jon & kate plus 8, they have new shows like rock the reception and the singing office.  very cool.

“all men dream but not equally.  those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.” - t.e. lawrence

i am sitting in the hong kong airport, waiting to board my plane headed to los angeles. i have been in indonesia for this event since last thursday, june 5. it was an absolutely amazing experience. i have a lot of stories and pics to share, but in the meantime, i wanted to share a couple of videos from our time in jakarta, indonesia. i’ll tell you what, there are some Jesus-loving people in indonesia! more coming soon… enjoy!

… for this event. indonesia is comprised of over 17,000 islands.  there are close to 250 million people living here, made up of around 300 ethnic groups, approximately 80% of which are muslim.

it took 30 hours and 4 flights to get here. the jet lag is strong. it is presently 1:35pm on friday, june 6 here… 12 hours ahead from my home in houston. i’ll be back home next thursday, june 12.

we’re pretty much sitting right on the equator, and it’s quite hot. this is my first visit to asia, and the 4th continent i have visited… all in the last 19 months. word.

i am laughing so hard at this right now!

… the best!!!

i am presently sitting at gate 120 in the international terminal at lax, waiting to board my plane to hong kong, and subsequently jakarta, indonesia.

i want to introduce you to my new friend bob, who i just met here at the airport.

bob is 21 years old, from bowling green, kentucky and is on our flight to hong kong, then connecting to the philippines for a mission trip he is on there with international mission board. bob will be in the philippines with 5 others for 2 months, serving the people there and spreading the gospel. this is bob’s first time out of the country, and he is about to be in a foreign country, minus pretty much every comfort he knows, for two months, to tell people about Jesus.

here is an excerpt from his blog:

My team will be involved in general evangelism with the people of Camotes Island including children and adults. On some days will be having backyard bible studies, playing with the kids, having bible studies with the adults, hopefully playing some Philippino basketball, maybe even planting some rice with the farmers of the region. I will just say that I can’t wait. I know that God is going to take care of me just as He has taken care of me so far. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for my life this summer.

I just want to make sure that this summer is all about Him, and not about me. This summer will help me focus on Him and loving the people of the Philippines. I won’t have television, sports scores, internet, electricity, running water, warm showers, refrigerated food, juice, disc golf, or any of the things that I enjoy in my life. But I will have no distractions. I will also have kids to love on, adults to share the word of God with, teenagers to play sports with, farmers to help on the farm, and new friends and God to lean on

… ah yes, the magic words. and even better… legal free music!

check out new integrity music worship artist joel auge. he is being featured this week on itunes’ free discovery download with his downright delightfully melodic tune “so deep in love”.  i assure you… it will literally be music to your ears.

the search for great new music is fun, and you know i would never steer you wrong… so go download it for free then tell all your peoples’nem about it. his full album, “on the blue” releases july 1, and you’ll want to check that out, too.