The Greatest Game in the World.

Do you smell that? (Actually, it has nothing to do with picture, but OUCH) It's in the air again, the pollen is collecting in throats and the sweat is accumulating on upper lips . This is soccer weather. After months of playing indoor or just settling for a run, I can finally play real soccer again!

I was supposed to play soccer golf with my buddy this afternoon, but he has the audacity to call me two hours before it's time to tee-off and claims some little lady came in for surgery in the Ob-Gyn department where he's rotating... so I guess I have to take the back-burner to his career and some chic's yoo hoo. How's that supposed to make me feel? What is a guy left to do after having his soccer hopes dashed so quickly? I decided I could settle for some pick-up, I guess.

I thought I'd be settling, but instead I was reminded why soccer is the greatest game in the world. No other sport is more widely appreciated. It truly is the one reason I even question my patriotism- maybe I'm part Brazilian. At a pick-up game.

My experiences with pick-up games are limited to basketball, soccer, ultimate, and a little bit of football. Nothing is quite like soccer though. Only on a soccer field have I ever found Nigerians, Brits, Jamaicans, and Americans all uniting to enjoy the beauty of one game. And by beauty, I mean sheer brilliance. Most sports end-up with bickering about cheap fouls, but this afternoon it was very different-I heard lots of "Niiiiiice ball" and "Grrrreat shot." I've witnessed several fights playing basketball- all of course unwarranted, but on such a perfect evening it only seemed appropriate to christen the season with such a fantastic display of the sport. Gosh it feels good to be back.

Then again, I may just be shocked to have found a group of guys that could actually play soccer at UVA. I was under the impression that UVA guys sipped on Zima whilest playing Bocce ball in their plaid shorts and Polo sweaters on the Lawn. Well, maybe they'd occassionally take a break from tossing their balls around to complain about the caviar.

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Now playing: The Wedding - Say Your Prayers
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Might as well be my namesake....

I generally don't like to post anything while I'm at work because I'd like to prevent any bad habits from forming, but I couldn't help myself today, now. I was just plugging away on my PCI RNA extraction, listening to my man Erwin McManus preach on one of the beautitudes, and BAM! Erwin, maybe more specifically, I think God, spoke to me. I mean, yes, it is truth, and yes, it is a good idea communicated effectively- but this was for me. He met ME. And Erwin brought the HEAT for the entire message.

"It seems God measures you less by what you do, but more by what you desire..."

That isn't entirely new to anyone who has been around the church for very long, but it was definitely a reminder. Right NOW, what do I crave? What do I feel like I couldn't go another second without? Is there anything I plan my day around? When I'm lying in bed, what do I hope for for tomorrow?

Everyday holds something new to me, Jesus claims we should seek out righteousness and faithfulness in everything, especially in our thoughts.

I'll let you guess which beautitude he was discussing, but given the title of the blog, it shouldn't take too long to figure out...



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Now playing: Erwin McManus - Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
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PITCH your TENT

I haven't been blogging long, but I think I have a mental vault of classic videos that need to be shared- lots of comedy, some drama, and great music to spread around. I first watched this video about a year ago and probably watched it everyday for half a year. I feel terrible for the guy and I can't help but squirm in my seat when I watch him try to recover and fail miserably.



The only thing that could make this video better would be the real life experience. This last Sunday the guest pastor was preaching through one of his camping adventures and apparently he had pitched his tent just outside a bear cave. It was a good story already, but it woulda been even better with a similar slip, is that so much to ask?!

Fair warning, this video is PG-13, so....look out!


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Now playing: Kristian Stanfill - Kingdom
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Apples 2 Apples can be "Annoying"

We decided to take it easy tonight at Real Life. Over the last month and a half we've been studying through Revelation on Wednesday nights. If you've ever been brave enough to read through Revelation, you know we deserved to take a break from the dense/intellectual (well, that is ALWAYS relative) study and enjoy a night of fellowship.

First of all, I love Apples to Apples. It is one of the first games we turn to as a group. It's always fun and it doesn't matter if you don't know what somethingmeans because there are 3-4 synonyms on the card and it is usually more funny if you throw down random cards anyways. Tonight we played a first: Apples to Apples: Bible Edition. Either way, we had only been playing 10 minutes or so and Emily states, "You know, they say whatever cards you end up with actually describe your personality. I already have confusing, truthful, and fun!"

To which I look down, read and say, "I already have annoying."

What kind of Bible game is this?

I almost wonder if Emily brought that up just so I could be annoying.

I guess on the bright side, I didn't end up smelly....Allison :)


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Now playing: The Fray - All At Once
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Almost a Year

SO I knew we had been together almost an entire year when Jordan and I were talking just now, and she asked about the Lakers- Nuggets game we were watching. "Who is winning the series? Oh yea, wait, this is Game One." WHAT? Jordan, did I hear that right? Before I came around she probably thought a nugget was something you flushed down the toilet. Now she is talking about NBA games and Eastern vs. Western conference series.

I am so proud of Jordan learning the NBA play-off system and putting up with me watching series that involve SEVEN games, and she just might be able to tell you who's survived into the conference finals. Next up, the MLS!! She WILL be a D.C. United fan :)

DreamCasting

Man, I am still on a high from last night. As with most Mondays, I met with Allison to plan our small group discussion, but yesterday was different. We met with our "boss" to discuss the current status of things- something I wouldn't usually consider a 'good' thing,' but it was awesome! I'm thinking we might need to meet like that every Monday, seriously :)

I won't bore you with the details, but we started talking about the church, the meaning of church and what it means to 'be' a church. See, in July, our church is having a gathering of all the leadership and anyone else who wants to attend, to discuss our current 'situation.' Our Senior Pastor feels we have reached a roadblock of sorts and wants to discuss our future direction. I REALLY hate I won't be able to attend, but my brother and I already spent a pretty penny on tickets to the Chelsea vs. AC Milan game in B'more on the same weekend.

So we sat around discussing vision. The staff is approaching this retreat with an extreme openness to God's voice, just hearing one of the pastors talk about it last night was really exciting. They are considering all options, no walls- which I think really allows God to work miracles. I'm praying that the time between now and then might be a period of reflection on the past and dreaming BIG for the future. At this point, I don't think there is a plan on how to run such a crucial meeting, but just sitting around talking last night, I really got to thinking.

I think there are two general philosophies, although I'd readily admit there are probably various other ways to conduct such meetings. I am somewhat torn which way to approach them. One way it could go down, would be to have a town hall meeting. Everyone communes with intentions to plan the future direction of the church. Or two, having a senior pastor, allow him to cast the vision God has given him for the church. I can definitely see positives for both. However, most of my exposure to the church world has been around the second approach.

The two days before I was married last year, I was in Fairfax for the "Whiteboard Sessions," where I heard Mark Batterson say, "One God idea is better than a thousand good ideas." Almost a year ago, I still think about that and it heavily influences my perception of the church- as well as soooo many other things in life. If God has burdened our Pastor's heart, I believe we should follow him and if we don't feel the same passion/calling, then it just might be time to find another church. It is crucial to identify similarly with the vision of the church and be compelled to join God's work there. I don't think there is anything wrong with that either- it is important to find a place God is working and that challenges you to meet Him in His work. I think for me, there is an overwhelming attraction to knowing that GOD, creator of the universe and author of salvation, has placed a defined, specific vision in my pastor's heart. Realizing it is biblically ordained and God expressed, I'd follow it to whole-heartedly and self-sacrifically. I've actually been searching for that- I want that.

I think I'll probably post about this again some time , but this is just where I am currently. My soul thirsts for something of God. I desperately want to be a part of God's work in His kingdom right now. Otherwise, what is this life that I'm living? It is fleeting and of my own compulsions, and I don't want that because I know my tendencies and I know they are inconsistent (just to be honest).

I don't think I deserve to be a part of God on Earth, but to think I might be able to be in on 'it' is too irresistable to deny.

Meet my BlogFather

So I had written something up but I just realized that I didn't have the picture from the weekend, so I am settling on something else. That can't be good so early in blogging career. BUT, I think it is probably a good thing, consider this guy is the cream in cheese. I've never met the dude in real life, but after following his blog for so long now, I feel like we could go to lunch and shoot the breeze like old times!
I don't remember how long I started actually reading blogs, but this guy has followers up the wazoo. I am one of them. He's an inspiration and I would like to introduce you to him. You can find his blog in my suggested reading or you can just read here. You won't forget it.
Just as a side note, his entry caught my attention partly because in just, oh say, maybe 2-3 days, I will look more like my brother and father. All three men of the Johnson family will have full beards. Dad might pull it off a little better than AJ or I, but it isn't really fair because our facial hair always grows in with smudges of red. I'm not entirely sure why that is, does that mean I'm still suffering through puberty? Anyways, read Los' post. It is worth the 2.5 minutes.


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Now playing: New Life Worship - Counting On God
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