Deep Fry

They say turning 30 is a watershed moment in a person’s life, ushering with it a greater sense of confidence and clarity. But for me…at least right now…I have no clue where to begin.   After all…it’s not every day you phase into a new decade. Granted, I can appreciate the hearty buzz of a “ happy new year ”, the cordial texts from family members, not to mention the amusing Facebook comments from “friends” you’d least expect. But this year…I can’t help but feel clouded, caught amid a ‘ spectacular now’ and the rocky roads far past…yet faintly visible in the rear-view mirror. * Sigh * I suppose what I’m trying to say is: I’m not ready to be 30 . I don’t feel it, don’t look it, and quite frankly, want nothing to do with it. Not to sound cliché or anything; I get why people audit their value 1 when they approach meaningful age markers. I guess it’s just…though there’s much to look forward to and much to be thankful for…I just don’t know how to process my 20’...

I’ve always found Thanksgiving to be one of the more “amusing” days of the year.  We get the day off, we immerse ourselves in good food and tradition...not to mention we have a valid excuse to give sweatpants a workout. But perhaps you're like me and  have wondered why Thanksgiving is so undervalued in spite of all this. I mean...yeah, Thanksgiving gives camaraderie and healthy dialogue a platform. But at the same time...it's still a mere shadow of what it used to be (i.e. a part ial celebration of individual fulfillment 2 ... with an emphasis more on what  we do  for one day than who we are...and have the privilege of being... 24/7 3 ) when we compare to its original intent. Thus, I'd submit it's fair to re-evalute Thanksgiving and to consider the day as  more than an appreciative celebration over what we have . After all, we call the day Thanksgiving (as opposed to ‘ Thanksgetting ’; c ough, Verizon , ...

Have you ever had a revelation shortly after a favorable cinematic or musical experience? Perhaps the delight and insight seemed disjoint at first, but after mulling it over, you realized, ‘ Hey, I can string these two together to capture a powerful metaphor? ’ Well...let’s just say that’s where I am now as I write this. First, allow me to divulge the insight… Lately, I’ve been reading about the wounding/forgiveness relationship and how unholy tolerances of [seemingly] minor deceptions can lead to deeper heart issues. As a guide, I’ve been soaking in Terry Wardle’s Wounded: How to Find Wholeness and Inner Healing in Christ , where he not only shares testimonies of people who conquered unforgiveness, but provides a sequential, biblically-based prescription on how to defeat it as well. His first point, in particular, caught my eye: “ Do not move to forgiveness too quickly ”. Now, could Mr. Wardle have been looking for a contrarian perspective to kick things off? Perha...

One of my favorite 80’s movies is Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure . I mean…you talk about a blast from the past in more ways than one. This movie, man…it definitely qualifies. Not to mention you get to see Keanu Reeves show some actual emotion for once in his career.    But in all seriousness, with all the ‘ Back to the Future ’ talk this week, I couldn’t help but think about the movie, particularly the iconic speech scene when Abe Lincoln proudly proclaims: “ Be excellent to each other… and party on dudes! ” Granted...you’re probably wondering why the random movie reference. Well, let’s start with the word “excellent”; specifically… what does it mean to be excellent? When we talk “excellence”, we normally associate the term to satisfactory or above satisfactory performance…which isn’t too surprising considering we’re conditioned as kids to think as such. Even as adults, the tendency is to discount excellence as a quantitative assessment. Yet, when we consider ex...

Well, folks. We’re only one week past the autumnal equinox…and I think we all know what that means… …break out the fall décor, have yourself a very merry pumpkin space latte , and check Cameron’s blog for yet another preliminary winter weather forecast. Now, I’m not gonna lie...my winter weather  forecast for middle Tennessee last year held up rather well. Granted, I normally don’t toot my own horn considering I’m just a humble, amateur meteorologist in it for the love of the science; however, after the multiple ice storms and ankle-biter snow events we experienced between January 23 - February 21, I’d have to say my “B+” grade, in terms of activity and magnitude, was the correct call. So as the leaves start changing and the days grow shorter, I’m sure many of you are wondering: what can we expect this winter. Well, I’m so glad you asked. Last year , I itemized and graded certain atmospheric criteria to obtain an overall grade for the winter. This year, I’ll foll...

I’ve always had a thing for red umbrellas 1 … …a peculiar liking considering my preference of wet over dry…and the fact my favorite colors are on the opposite end of the spectrum. So naturally…when my home church decided to set up a red umbrella by our welcome desk earlier this summer, my fascination couldn’t help but rekindle. What a nice touch , I thought 2 . This will add some flair to our lobby. But while the red umbrella, no doubt, offered a charming visual, the more I passed it by, the more I realized its unique significance, specifically, it wasn’t just some classy décor there to look cute; it was a landmark drawing people to a place they could connect 3 and discover hope 4 . Suddenly, I could sense the Spirit broadening my definition of the term. Yes, hope is a sure and steadfast expectation ( Proverbs 23:18 ), but this doesn't mean it's limited to a feeling about the future, a dollop of quixotic optimism 5 ...or pride in someth...

No question, we were made for community…to dwell in peace and harmony with one another ( Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10, Colossians 3:14 ). Unfortunately, in this day and age, it’s far too easy to lose sight on what real community is. And while many point the finger to “rugged individualism”, technological advances, and unholy tolerances…perhaps the biggest culprit lies in how we culturally define relationship, specifically…that relationship and community are the same thing…and that community is the byproduct of formed the relationships. Granted, such falsehood is easily bought, especially when you factor in we’re living in the most narcissistic age the world has ever seen. Yet, when we take what we hear and experience and contrast it to God’s Word, we find the truth looks radically different. You see, before creation, community existed within the Trinity. There was no need for God to bond with Jesus…no need for the Holy Spirit to befriend God…no need for Jesus to send...