Finley a Spur!?!

It has happened...Confirmation, Finley signed with the San Antonio Spurs for $2.5mill. He turned down something like $5mill from the Heat. All I think of is that he wants to prove to Dallas that he can still do damage...and what better way than to stay close. I know that I was down on Finley most of last season - but I do believe that he still has the skill and now the motivation to show Dallas what he is made of. I think he will be an excellent 6th or 7th man (he would have filled that role well for the Mavs).

I am now curious to see what is in store for the S.A. roster. Manu, Finley, Van Exel, Barry, and the rest make for a very crowded back court. Tru?

holla

Nothing important...Just iPods and Starbucks and Your Thoughts

Creflo A. Dollar's Daily Dollar:
Zephaniah 3:16-17, "Confidence in God's Annointing"


I recieved my dead iPod back from Apple yesterday (for the back story, see here). I now am in attempt to slowly bring down the Apple company. I have started a new blog as a place of community for those who have suffered iPod loss. We will also be welcoming to any and all Apple product loss sufferers. Thanks Shawn for sharing your story on your blog...please come see us @ deadipod. Please share this site with your friends.

Have you ever removed the cardboard sleeve from your Starbucks cup? Have you ever read the blurb on the side of the cup entitled, "The Way I See It"? Let's do two things with this:
1) Next time you pick up a machiatto, latte, or your favorite coffee blend or drink, read the blurb and share it with us.
2) Write me a "The Way I See It" blurb for this week....whatever is on your mind...comment it to this post.

Thanks.


Here's my cup blurb for today (Here is what some dude is screaming about):
"Everywhere, unthinking mobs of 'independent thinkers' wield tired cliches like cudgels, pummeling those wh dare question 'enlightened' dogma. If 'violence never solved anything,' cops wouldn't have guns and slaves may never have been freed. If it's better that 10 guilty men go free to spare one innocent, why not free 100 or 1,000,000? Cliches begin arguments, they don't settle them."
-Jonah Goldberg, Editor-at-large of National Review Online.

It's going to be a good day - the glass is half-full.

Today is the first day back in school for Midlothian kids. That means that all of my students get back to business (and so can I), Lindsey will be meeting 20 new kindergarteners today, and we are now back on a 6:00am wakeup call! Now, considering that I am, and always will be a night person, this would seem miserable. But I have created a morning schedule that invigorating for me. The start of a day that allows me to do many of the things that I enjoy, all before I have to get busy. This morninig, I woke up, fixed Lindsey some breakfast, started my coffee, and sat down to catch up with Creflo Dollar. I had begun to watch his morning program last school year, but never caught it during the summer. I am a crazy preacher junkie. This is not b/c of any book that I might be currently reading - I have been this way for a long time. Sometimes, I tune in, hoping for something good to come out of their mouths to their media masses; sometimes I watch/listen for pure entertainment. They are fascinating to me. So many scare-tactic messages; so many feel-good messages; and then there is Creflo Dollar. This dude can definintly be included in crazy-preacher categories b/c of the energy and passion that causes his dancing and yelling...But, watching @ 6:30am in my dark living room - I can't help but share in a little of his excitement. This morning his message was on confidence in God. He alluded to getting beat up in a high school fight and how that is not considered a good fight. Then he talked about 'the good fight' that christians fight against satan. He asked the congregation if anyone had ever gotten into a fight that they knew they would win (even before the fight). What kind of confidence did they have gping into a fight like that? He then did some fancy footwork that Apollo Creed would have been proud of, and talked about playing around with his enemy, with the confidence that he knew he'd win. Although I am doing a pretty poor job of re-telling his message - it was in its detail and delivery, no doubt, a great start to my day. Now, it is time for more coffee, Good Morning America, a chapter from my current book, and off to work.

You can mail your gift of support to:

Kevin Boyd New iPod Fund
Longbranch Community
200 Longbranch Rd.
Midlothian, TX 76065

Yes, it has happened. I recieved an email from Apple:

Dear Apple Customer,
The repair of your iPod Mini has been placed on hold at the Apple repair center due to damages related to damaged casing.
The repair is pending your approval of the following quote for repair costs: $255.95 + tax.

There were 2 small dents on the corners. The denting occurred several months ago and the iPod has worked fine until recently. I told the customer support representative about the dents when I intitially called in for repair almost 2 weeks ago...he told me to purchase the AppleCare warranty and to send my pod in to have it fixed. Now they tell me that the dents negate the warranty.

So I called Apple's service department today to remind them that the dents had nothing to do with the pod dying and that I mentioned the dents even before purchasing AppleCare. The representative kindly re-emphasized that the warranty was not valid due to the dents in the casing. I foolishly asked if I could be reimbursed the cost of the wasted AppleCare...his reply: no. "So, pretty much...I wasted my $60 for AppleCare." "It would seem so," he said. "Wonderful," I replied. "Have an Apple-riffic Day!" he answered. (Really, he said "have a nice day...but I heard Apple-riffic.)

My iPod mini is being sent home...unrepaired. I could buy a new one for less than what they are charging to fix it, not to mention the cost of the warranty. Besides, where am I going to get the dough? And so, after eight months of constant companionship, I will attempt to live a feeble life filled with mixed tapes and CDs, recorded from the many downloads that were intended for Lucy the Silver iPod. (I named her Lucy in memorial.) No more cool white earbuds streaming out of my pocket. No more "On the Go" playlists for personal or ministry activities. No more of my favorite bands, always @ my fingertips. .: "...A piece of me died that day..." -a quote I heard once; I don't know where or in what context, but it seems appropriate :.

My name is Kevin.
I'm an iPod-aholic.
I have been sober for 12 days.

Catching my breath

I fully intended to start today in catching my breath, by reading, blogging, and writing to renew my mind. Because of a friendly recommendation, I sat down this morning to begin reading "Post-Rapture Radio". I didn't read much, only the introduction, or prelude. I must remember the alamo...I mean the fact that this book is fiction...I think...I'm not sure. I read a lot of fiction. I read a lot. Normally, I take on three books @ a time: 1) A personal Growth book 2) A professional growth book 3) A novel (for creativity and retreat). I'm not quite sure how "Post-Rapture Radio" is to be categorized. (FYI - I'm also reading "That Hideous Strength" by CS Lewis and "More Ready Than You Realize" by Brian McLaren - regardless of what my sidebar says.)

After reading a bit, I showered, readied for work, dropped of Lindsey's water bottle (that she forgot) @ her work, and took off in the Jeep for my office, which resides in Texas, Midlothian, 200 Longbranch Rd., the village, 2nd house on the left, 2nd office. By the time I arrived, my planned day of renewal had changed.

I don't often get neverous. But I recieved a call on the way to work, that humbled me and frightened me. I was asked to help officiate the funeral for one of my best friends' brother.

I've done a wedding, and the concept of leading in a more ceremonial worship setting does not really frighten me...but funerals are different. There is such a delicacy with which the entire matter is to be handled...and this particular funeral is close to my own heart.

I can recall when my college roomate (Lawdog) claimed that I was the most-liekly-to-cry male friend of his (b/c of emotions, not necessarily b/c of pain). At the time, I agreed. Since then, something has changed in me. My sad, scared, and lonely type emotions tend to reside a bit deeper than the surface. I am still a very emotional person, but it is somewhat rare that I now cry because of life experiences...often these genres of emotional dealing are expressed more with sensibility and rationality, or instead frustration and anger.

Funerals are different. I have already felt the emotional surge as I sit watch my friend deal with the death of his brother. I think I am afraid of weak in a time that I have been asked to be strong. Though having and revealing emotions don't make us weak, I am likely to attempt to mask my emotions in this situation. How genuinely comforting can I be when I am not representing my true self?

I'm done blogging for now.

Comforting

Last week in the small group that Lindsey and I meet with (when we can) talked about being comforting. This week I have spent time with a student who's grandfather died in front of him, and who's family is dealing with serious money issues. And then I recieved a call @ 3:30am this morning...one of my best friends' brother was found dead.

God always gives His strength, and often preparation to His people for the struggles they will encounter.

Read CS Lewis' "A Space Trilogy" - particularlly book 2: "Perelandra"

This is a good Quiz

You scored as Mystical Communion Model. Your model of the church is Mystical Communion, which includes both People of God and Body of Christ. The church is essentially people in union with Christ and the Father through the Holy Spirit. Both lay people and clergy are drawn together in a family of faith. This model can exalt the church beyond what is appropriate, but can be supplemented with other models. Mystical Communion Model 72% Sacrament model 67% Servant Model 61% Herald Model 61% Institutional Model 11% What is your model of the church? [Dulles] created with QuizFarm.com

I am too much of a nerd

You scored as Gandalf. You are Gandalf! This wise, old mage is loyal and brave. He is known for his counsel and advice to his friends and allies during tough times. "All you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you." Gandalf 94% Samwise 81% Eowyn 69% Frodo 63% Arwen 56% Aragorn 44% Faramir 44% Pippin 44% Gollum 25% Which LOTR character are you? created with QuizFarm.com

The end, a new start, and without my best friend...

.:For some reason, this post didn't show up on sunday - sorry:.

The End-
Finally, I feel like I have come to a close on an extremely crazy summer. So many incredible things happened this summer...I can now sit back in my chair and be fully satisfied with the summer's fullness and it's results.

A New Start-
I am now getting geared up for the next 9 months. Lindsey has already started back to work, though, her students don't show up until August 29th. It is budget time around the office - I've already seen some begin to crack...(but I'm still waiting to see tears). I have reinvented our weekly strategy again -- this is very exciting and promising in reaching more and different kids in my town.

w/out my Best Friend-
My ipod is dead. Are you still there? Did you faint? It should be okay - apple is sending me a special box to pack it in for shipping...they will either repair mine, or send me a new one. I am making it alright, due to my aquirement of a Nirvana Unplugged in New York CD.

Tired

Well, we made it through SuperWeek/Short Film Week! This weekend Lindsey and I house sat in a mansion on Joe Pool Lake. This is our 5th time @ this house, and although housesitting in a mansion on the lake is nice, getting up 3 times in the night to let the dog out is somewhat exhausting. This week is finally the end of my very busy summer. I am doing a New Student Orientation Retreat for the incoming youth. 11 year olds!! I just got through the last group and now it starts over again! Great kids coming in...but I am just so tired--I hope I can make it throug this final summer schabang.

Short Film Week

This week Russell Caudle is staying with me as we have begun the task of creating 30 short films that correspond with a curriculum that I am writing. The past day and a half have gone rather slowly, as we are getting used to the concept of shooting many different thoughts and scenes back to back to back. We are also dealing with the SuperWeek animal each evening. Thank goodness Shawn is coming tonight to relieve me from speaking duties. Pray for Shawn's leadership and Russell's patience.

Here's a pic from a film called "Truth or Dare". Just before this pic, I had jumped off of a house as my dare in the game.

Truth or Dare Film

If you have any advice on the short film process -- send it my way!

peace