Real Quick

1. Dr Ron Crews has a POWERFUL word in store for Xtreme tomorrow. I’ve been able to look at his notes and I am ready for tomorrow to get here NOW! Don’t miss it Xtreme!

2. I’ll be flying below the radar early next week for some much needed prayer and studying time. Big things in store.

3. I know a lot of folks are saying this but I’ll say it any way…INVITE someone to church. You’ll be amazed at how many people would come if they were invited.

4. Today has been a great day of relaxing with my Jaemi. God has blessed me with an amazing life!

March 2012 Book List

I have been engrossed in Biopsychology over the last month.  Studying the anatomical underpinnings of  human physiology and behavior through the lens of psychology has been both challenging and rewarding. There is no denying that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. That being said, the complexity of the subject matter has taken a toll on my normal amount of reading. Nevertheless, here is what I have read or finished reading in the last month:

The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson

The Money Answer Book by Dave Ramsey

Introduction to Biopsychology by Andrew Wikens

In the Wake of 9/11, The Psychology of Terror by  Thomas A. Pyszczynski

A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards

Faith, Hope, and Department Stores

Enjoy this guest post from the love of my life, Jaemi. – Carlo

I find it difficult to guest post here when I haven’t posted on my blog in a good while.  The only parameter Carlo gave me was that I couldn’t do a random brain dump.  So what to post about that wouldn’t be random, but also wouldn’t leave looking like I was trying to copy Carlo’s style?  My job is the first thing to come to mind, so I’ll post about that.

I’ve been working at Belk Department Store here in Clarksville since August.  It’s been a pretty great job and even as my job description has changed recently, I enjoy what I do and like going to work for the most part.  The best thing about this job is the relationships I’ve built with my coworkers.  I’ve had an opportunity to live out my faith and bring grace to the people I work with.  There have been some pretty awesome conversations about the church and what the church should be like, what Christians should and shouldn’t be like, and so many other things.  I’ve invited people to church (none have actually come to service, but I won’t let that deter me from inviting them again) and been able to speak the truth in love to some “religious” types.  The most encouraging thing has been the open and honest conversations I’ve had with one of my coworkers who’s husband and his family are all Jehovah’s Witnesses.  She’s not, but she does go to the Kingdom Hall with her husband and has been getting more and more involved in the things she’s being taught at the Hall.  Being able to share my faith and be very candid with someone who genuinely has an interest is so awesome. I love being able to walk out my faith and show people that you can live a life of integrity and be nice and it’s not because I’m on something (and I’ve been seriously asked that question) or that I have an agenda.  It’s because I have something in me that I can share with those I work with and I can’t not talk about.  Whether or not anyone will ever come to Xtreme doesn’t matter.  What matters most to me is whether or not people are able to encounter Jesus through me and realize that they can have some of Him just like me.

When the Hoodie Gets Old

Yesterday marked the 1-month anniversary of the Trayvon Martin killing. Read about it here or here.

Last Sunday, churches all over the country had “Hoodie Sundays” to stand in solidarity and raise a collective voice over the outrage that many people are feeling. READ THIS CAREFULLY: I have been Trayvon Martin. I have been pulled out of a crowd and searched for no other reason other than the fact that I “looked” suspicious. While walking the streets of a suburban neighborhood in a midwest city, I once had someone yell at me “Go back to where you came from n*$&@#!” I have literally run for my life from a mob of angry white folks who wanted to teach us “blacks” a lesson. This all happend in the 1990s. I have been Trayvon Martin. I have spoken about the apparent injustice publicly and my heart breaks for the family who lost their son AND for the man who was so weak he had to chase down a teenage kid, only to get his butt kicked.

However, my heart breaks the most for the millions of Americans who will take off their hoodies and go back to living life as usual. The same thing happend with the whole Kony 2012 thing. Remember that? Or what about helping Haiti? Listen, the reality is that MILLIONS of people are in literal slavery today. In November, closet Racists will NOT vote for Obama just because he is black AND open Racists WILL vote for him just because he is black. How is that right? People of ALL colors and backgrounds are senselessly murdered and raped…EVERYDAY. Who is crying out for them? I am in no way saying don’t stand up for Trayvon. What I am saying is don’t quit standing up when it is no longer trendy to wear a hoodie. Stop following the crowd. Pick a cause, and spend the rest of your life doing something GOOD and PRODUCTIVE to bring change.

This Week on the SoC

Thanks to everyone who has called in or shared an encouraging word about The Spirit of Clarksville! You can listen to last week’s shows here. We have a great show lined up this week! Today we’ll be continuing our talk with Tim Catchim about the church and engaging culture. On Tuesday, Dr. Ted Denney will be sharing some encouragement from the word. We’ll also hear from Pastor Mike Burnette, Chris Edmondson, and Kenny York throughout the week. Listen live 9-10am on 1400am (local) WJZM.com, or Shoutcast.com.

Sunday Thoughts

1. We had a GREAT Sunday at Xtreme! 2nd service was packed!

2. The entire “Keeping it Real” series should be online no later than Tuesday.

3. Campus missionary Jonathan Miller shared his heart with us this morning. It’s an honor for us to partner with him and the work that will be done at APSU.

4. Thanks to everyone who signed up to help us make this Easter amazing at Xtreme!

5. I preached my heart out about “hope” today. No matter what the situation, God NEVER leaves us hopeless.

6. This Tuesday we’ll be helping Manna Cafe feed over 250 people. Join us at 5:30 in front of the Vacation Motel on Providence Blvd.

7. I had a great time hanging out with some friends at a birthday party last night. However, I paid for it today! I am super tired. Time to chill out!

Real Quick

1. Tomorrow we wrap up or “Keeping it Real” series at Xtreme. Jonathan Miller, campus missionary to APSU will also be briefly sharing about what God is doing on the campus. It’s going to be a BIG Sunday! Join us at 9 or 10:45am.

2. I’m experimenting with taking Saturday as my full day off instead of Friday. For the last 7 years, Friday has been my day off. However, with the radio show and some other scheduling issues, Fridays might not work anymore. We’ll see how it goes.

3. Thanks to everyone who listend, called in, or spread the word about The Spirit of Clarksville! We’ve got a great show planned for next week!

4. Time to chill! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hope

This Sunday at Xtreme we wrap up our 4-week journey through the Book of Malachi with a talk about Hope! No matter what the problem, Jesus is the answer. That is hope you can believe in and take to the bank every time! This series has been a blast to teach. We’ll also be committing as a church to go all in for the Kingdom and doing some planning for our Easter services. It’s going to be a powerful Sunday. Join us at 9 or 10:45!

Have we run out of words?

I am sure that I am not the first one to notice this, but why do the lyrics of the top hits from the last 18 months all seem to repeat the same words over and over again?

“Kiss me, ki-ki kiss me”

“But there’s a side to you that I never knew never knew, all the things you’d say they were never true never true“

“Easy come, easy go, that’s just how you live oh take take take it all it all but you never give”

“Her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they’re not shining”

“I’ve had the time of my life and I owe it all to you-you-you-you-you-you-you…“

You get the point point point point. I’m just wondering, since when are we in such a word crisis that we need to reuse the same words over and over and over in order to sell a record? Don’t get me started on worship music lyrics!

 

 

The Psychology of Reality…TV

Reality television seems to offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of “normal” people. One could argue that watching reality television is a cathartic experience in which the viewer is able to find resolution their deepest conflicts. For example, a timid individual may be attracted to a show like Jersey Shore because of its focus on extroverted individuals. The timid person who watches Jersey Shore may find within the show a sense of their true self.  By living vicariously through the “reality” stars, the timid individual is then able to release their inner “wildman/woman” and reconcile any inner conflict they may have.  From Rogers’ view, each individual defines for themselves what issues are important or not (Friedman & Schustack, 2009).  So, reality television may serve as a venue for individuals to explore and process issues like relationships, sexuality, aggressiveness, and wealth all from the safety of their own homes. That is just one theory. Conversely, reality television can also enable individuals to repress who they really are by chasing after a fantasy of who they think they should be. According to Rogers, existential turmoil and inner conflict arise when we settle for understanding “who” one should be without trying to become one’s true self (Friedman & Schustack, 2009). Reality television could potentially allow one to deny their true feelings via desensitization. For example, if we experience personal betrayal or violence, it is a traumatic experience. Yet, when betrayal and violence are portrayed via reality television, it is entertaining. This contradiction occurs because reality television has created a climate where individuals do not have to take responsibility for their feelings.

This ladies and gentleman, is what is killing America. Not so-called reality TV. What is killing us is the fact that more and more people waste their God given time sitting on the couch instead of being responsible for their actions, feelings, and station in life. TV is not the devil. However, if it were, I’m sure it would look like the Real Housewives of Whatever.

 

Friedman, H., & Schustack, M., (2009). Personality: Classic theories and modern research (4^th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Higher Education