is that a joke?

The weather has been extremely pleasant the past couple of weeks (save a couple of wet days), which has allowed me to do something I enjoy: ride my bike. I'm not exactly in riding distance to any trails, so I settle for using my bike a means of transportation to places like the grocery store and the book store.

The other day at the local Barnes (which is two stories tall, thank you) I picked up a delightful book, Freakonomics. I have since bought it and read about half of it. When I finish, you will be able to reap the benefit of that which you did not sow by reading my review of it right here at online diary for the masses. Today as I was reading, I came across a disturbing fact: the cost of coffins is way too expensive. The one pictured above is the cheapest one I could find on the internet, and it's $1,000. (Most coffins are easily $3,000 and up).

This got me thinking: What better way to put on display how terribly we spend our money on this Earth than to end up with our carcasses lying in a $3,000 bed... underground? I can understand certain folks justifying such a purchase, for example, people who believe in reincarnation. However for people who claim to be Christians, and claim to believe that they're going to have a bodily resurrection when the guy they claim to be their leader, Jesus, comes back -- these people, the way my critical and opinionated eyes see it, have no business delving into such an investment.

I'll admit, this is a pretty one-sided view of an issue that is irrelevant to most of us (because how many of us will be buying our own coffin?), but it got me thinking, and it was time for a new post, so this is what we get. Since this is my blog, and I'm allowed to be biased and share my opinion, let me tell you what I'd like to have done to my dead earthly body: donate everything that you can. If there is anything left, do whatever is cheapest, all while being jealous that I get to be in the presence of my Maker while you're left to wait.

This isn't meant to be a morbid post, just honest, real, and a little offbeat. Don't cry.

life's a mist

There are times in each of our lives that are reminded, be it rudely or pleasantly, of how blessed we are. Some of us experience these times more often than others.

Last night Jon and I were driving home from a free dinner in my reliable, air conditioned car discussing how blessed we are. We have parents who love us, our needs are more than sufficiently met, we're educated, we have a ridiculously amazing group of friends, and the list goes on. I'm often disgusted by the fact that I can't come close to adequately thanking God for all the blessings He has dumped all over me. I think one way we can thank Him in this short life is by passing the blessings He's given us on to others.

The other day I was reading my National Geographic (Aug. '06) and it had a chart displayed the odds of U.S. residents dying in various events.

Hot weather: 1 in 13,729
Bicycling accident: 1 in 4,919
Drowning: 1 in 1,008
Motor vehicle accident: 1 in 84
Cancer: 1 in 7
Heart disease: 1 in 5
Odds of dying: 1 in 1

The Bible tells us over and over that we shouldn't put too much stock in the things going on in this life. Our lives on Earth are compared to things like a vapor, a tent, a mist, and other temporary things of the sort. I pray that Jesus would allow me to truly, truly see my life as such, and live it accordingly.

I received an email this morning informing me that sometime not long after Jon and I were driving home last night, one of our friends in College Station died in a train accident.

We are so blessed. Not just Jon and myself, but you the reader too. Not just the reader, but every person with whom the reader has come in contact in the past week - or with whom the reader will come in contact in the weeks to come. I do not even claim to understand Jesus' grace, but I am, undoubtedly, eternally thankful for it.

This post is dedicated (as lame as it is) to, and in loving memory of, Walker Best.

confused as ever

In case you haven't heard or read the comment Mal left me (thanks girl) on the previous post, I wanted to let you guys know, that my friend David Gilbert died Thursday as a result of brain strokes caused by his lymphoma. It's with great emotion and confusion that I tell you this. I could ramble on and on, I'm sure, about why I'm so confused, but I'll spare you all. Father's ways are just way freakin higher than mine are, and I trust that many, many people will come to know Him through this situation. dang.

please, please lift this stuff up:
- comfort for the Gilbert's (mom, dad, two bro's) during this crazy season
- comfort for Jennifer Leftwitch who was David's sweet girlfriend
- that this situation will open up doors all over A&M's campus for the Happy News to go out and touch and change lives.

I do take great comfort knowing that David is, right now as your eyes read this post, singing and dancing will all his might in his glorified body, staring into the eyes of JC's beautiful face, and just enjoying perfect intimacy with his Creator. That, friends, is something to look forward to indeed.

Happy Father's Day Pop's, I love you.