A-"Muse"-ing Thoughts

Performing Magic at the County Fair

I was hired to be the Magician at our County Fair this year.  I only do close-up magic (not stage magic), and when the contacted me to ask if I would be willing to do this, they informed me that they were looking for a "roaming magician" that would walk around the fair performing magic for the fair-goers throughout the four days of the fair.  That fit me perfectly and so I said "yes."  

Today was my first day of magic at the fair... and it was not only a blast for me... but I feel like it went very well!  I love performing magic and love the different reactions I get.  For so many people when I first ask if they want to see a magic trick, their response is such that I can tell they do not expect much - and definitely do not expect to be fooled.  So when they are, their reaction is even better because it is overcoming their pre-suppositions even.  So much fun for me.  Three more days of it to go.  I expect it will continue to be a great, fun experience!!!!  

33 Ways You Know You Were A Youth Group Kid

33 Ways You Know You Were A Youth Group Kid

Hey, can I borrow your Jars of Clay CD to bring to the lock-in?

by Jessica Misener  BuzzFeed Staff

1. You were so excited that your crush was also going to the lock-in.

Via: newlifedenton.org

2. You know ALL the hand motions to "Lord I Lift Your Name On High."

Via: 1.bp.blogspot.com

3. You had one of these. (Extra point if you had your name embossed on the cover in gold.)

Via: o.onionstatic.com

4. You at one point decided to kiss dating good-bye.

Via: sovereigngraceministries.org

5. You jumped on one of these at camp every summer.

Via: whitneyorth.com

6. This was the greatest album you'd ever heard.

Via: covers1.img-themusic-world.info

7. Or this.

Via: 0.tqn.com

8. No, wait, THIS.

Via: patheos.com

9. You burned all of your secular CDs at a church bonfire but then "backslid" and bought new copies of everything.

Via: b.vimeocdn.com

10. You used curse word substitutes like "son of a biscuit," "frickin'," "what the fudge," and "dad gum it."

Via: b.vimeocdn.com

11. You were allowed to get whatever you wanted...from here.

Via: goodereader.com

12. This was your pastor's favorite phrase.

Via: 3.bp.blogspot.com

13. Every Wednesday night you were at Fuel, The Edge, Fire, Reverb, The Blaze, Kindle, or Echo.

Via: newhopedurango.com

14. You said "just" a lot when you had to pray out loud.

Image by Jessica Misener

15. You went on a mission trip to Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti, Ghana, Nicaragua, Uganda, or Venezuela.

Via: camppointumc.com

16. Your parents bought you a purity ring.

Via: kay.com

17. You had this shirt.

Via: afterbaby.com

18. Or this one.

Via: farm3.staticflickr.com

19. Or this one.

Via: god4me.com

20. You prayed at school during "See You at the Pole."

Via: urbanchristiannews.com

21. You rode all around town in one of these.

Via: farm5.staticflickr.com

22. You knew the best Sunday school kids had Bibles that looked like this.

Via: 7drizzles7.files.wordpress.com

23. You were encouraged to "share your testimony" with your classmates.

Via: liesyoungwomenbelieve.com

24. You went to TGI Friday's after youth group with a party of 14, and everyone ordered water.

Via: celebratekc.com

25. You knew the most important question in the world was "How far is too far?"

Via: 4.bp.blogspot.com

26. You had that one girl who would always cry and be dramatic when praying out loud. (Or you WERE that girl.)

Via: pamelavcarmichael.com

27. You signed a "True Love Waits" pledge.

Via: samplertosower.com

28. Instead of Halloween, you went to your church's "Harvest Festival."

Via: lakeshoreoakland.com

29. All the concerts you went to gave you the opportunity to sponsor a kid.

Via: lakeshoreoakland.com

30. You "guarded your heart" or knew someone who guarded their heart.

Via: thetestofthecross.files.wordpress.com

31. Your youth pastor had a soul patch.

Via: 0.tqn.com

32. Your parents would only let you listen to TruthFM, WayFM, The BridgeFM, HopeFM, LightFM, ShineFM, or PraiseFM. (Safe for the whole family!)

Via: prolinenyc.com

33. You wore this 24/7.

Via: goodereader.com

Pavlov

LOL LOL LOL

Say Goodbye to Fido

As a youth pastor, the following picture made me laugh....

As a pet-lover, the following picture made me cry...

Now my emotions are all messed up and I sound like a crazy person laughing hysterically while bursting into tears.

(ok... knowing that the above picture is NOT real has allowed me to actually not cry.)

 

Now this is the Way to Do April Fools

If you think you are creative and good at pulling off an April Fools joke, check out the joke that this guy pulled off.... pretty impressive!!!

http://bit.ly/picture23

(HT: androidmoser)

Jack Bauer Evangelism

Ok... I am going to just let this one speak for itself... but it makes me LOL!!!

 

Swine Flu

I saw this picture today and thought it was SO funny that I had to post it on my blog. (NOTE: No, I am NOT saying that the Swine Flu that is infecting people is funny, I am saying this picture and caption is funny)

Happy Valentine's Day Christianna

The "Maybe Baby" - the Play Room

My wife is absolutely amazing!!!  And you know the thing that is so wonderful, is it seems like every day I learn something new about her.  And sometimes those new things are things that surprise me.  One of the things that always surprises me (although it shouldn't surprise me any longer) is how incredibly creative she is.  She also has an amazing way of thinking outside the box.  I mean it... she is AMAZING.

Ok, so you want an example of my amazing wife... you got it.

A while back we were talking about the "play room" we have in our house and what we wanted to do with it.  Christi told me she really wanted to make it not just kid-friendly, but a place they would be excited about and like to spend time there.  One of the themes she considered for that room was an "underwater" them - with the ocean and fish and maybe a mermaid or something.  Now, before i go any further, I must admit, that when it comes to artistic nature - I'm a black hole - I have none.  In fact, I can barely draw recognizable stick figures.  So, with that wonderful non-existent artistic nature that I have... I simply could not picture how to make a room look like that.

So not too long ago when I was at work one day, Christi decided to paint the play room and get it set up with the underwater theme that she had told me about.  When I came home from work that day, the room was done... all painted and everything.  I walked up the stairs to see it and could not help but burst out loud with a "WOW... that is AMAZING!!!!  WOW!!!!"   I mean I couldn't believe how awesome it looked.  I couldn't imagine it in my mind, and this was so much more incredible than I could have even pictured.  And so, we have our put-together play room for the "maybe baby" and other kids. 

And given all of that description, I have to share her incredible artistic talent with everyone.  Check out these pictures of the room she did:

My Simpsons Character

Another fun one is found at simpsonizeme.com where you can upload your photograph and it will generate what your Simpson's character would look like.  Well, other than the end result being a bit too skinny (but it probably couldn't tell that from my head-shot picture only), here is what my Simpson's character would look like.