Jan 2007
"a few of my favorite things"
Saturday, January 20, 2007 Filed in: random
musings | public
service announcements
so, if you know me you
know that some of my favorite things are as follows:
U2, Steak, Mountain Dew, Pizza, Scrubs, Movies, Musical Theatre, anything Apple, Sci-Fi, The Office and Sleep
obviously, those are just SOME of my favorite things. and yes, i can deal with the fact that some of those loves immediately qualify me as a dork (or geek... not sure which). recently, two of my favorite things listed above were combined into one 1/2 hour of awesomeness. two words:
SCRUBS MUSICAL
i've been waiting for this for a long time and for once, something actually lived up to all the hype. if you didn't see it the other night, do yourself a huge favor and download it on iTunes ASAP. it was freakin' amazing. they got the guys who did Avenue Q (the funniest musical on Broadway right now) to write most of the music and it was fantastic. (a clip from "Guy Love," the JD and Turk ode to heterosexual love between males, is posted on my myspace.) anyway, it was fantastic.
download now.
go.
seriously.
i'm not kidding.
--matt
U2, Steak, Mountain Dew, Pizza, Scrubs, Movies, Musical Theatre, anything Apple, Sci-Fi, The Office and Sleep
obviously, those are just SOME of my favorite things. and yes, i can deal with the fact that some of those loves immediately qualify me as a dork (or geek... not sure which). recently, two of my favorite things listed above were combined into one 1/2 hour of awesomeness. two words:
SCRUBS MUSICAL
i've been waiting for this for a long time and for once, something actually lived up to all the hype. if you didn't see it the other night, do yourself a huge favor and download it on iTunes ASAP. it was freakin' amazing. they got the guys who did Avenue Q (the funniest musical on Broadway right now) to write most of the music and it was fantastic. (a clip from "Guy Love," the JD and Turk ode to heterosexual love between males, is posted on my myspace.) anyway, it was fantastic.
download now.
go.
seriously.
i'm not kidding.
--matt
|
"'those people' and a bit of gratitude"
Friday, January 19, 2007 Filed in: deep thoughts
| my life
i was talking to my
friend Lisa a month or so ago and she was talking
about how there are just some people in this world
that can bring out the best in you. of course this
means that conversely, there are also those that can
bring out the worst in you.
so, i've been thinking a lot about this idea lately and i think it's very true. i think that the majority of the people in this world don't cause you to be one way or the other. however, i think that, every once in a while, you meet someone who either brings out the best in you and pushes you to be a better person, or brings out the worst in you and makes you realize how horrible of a person you are actually capable of being. (and trust me, we are ALL capable of being horrible people.) fortunately, i've been blessed with a large number of people in my life over the years who have pushed me to be a better person. but, there have been the occasional friends who have turned me into something i'm less than proud of.
i feel like i've experienced both of those situations lately. and let me tell you... the bad one sucks. it's kinda a mirror to your darkest parts. the good thing is that it shows you the areas of your life you have to guard and defend most heavily. the bad thing is, now you have to guard and defend them.
the thing about the people that bring those sides out of you... it doesn't necessarily make them good or bad people (though they might be). they might just be good or bad for you. but there are definitely some people out there that are just bad for me. i look back at the times in my life when i was around people like that, and those are the times that i've hated myself. i don't blame them. i take responsibility for me and my actions. but part of that responsibility is surrounding myself with good people who will build me up and push me to be a better person and staying away from those who could drag me down.
i want to say thank you to all of you who are those people who don't allow me to be complacent and stagnant. the ones who push me to be a better person. i probably don't tell you enough that i appreciate you. thanks.
- matt
so, i've been thinking a lot about this idea lately and i think it's very true. i think that the majority of the people in this world don't cause you to be one way or the other. however, i think that, every once in a while, you meet someone who either brings out the best in you and pushes you to be a better person, or brings out the worst in you and makes you realize how horrible of a person you are actually capable of being. (and trust me, we are ALL capable of being horrible people.) fortunately, i've been blessed with a large number of people in my life over the years who have pushed me to be a better person. but, there have been the occasional friends who have turned me into something i'm less than proud of.
i feel like i've experienced both of those situations lately. and let me tell you... the bad one sucks. it's kinda a mirror to your darkest parts. the good thing is that it shows you the areas of your life you have to guard and defend most heavily. the bad thing is, now you have to guard and defend them.
the thing about the people that bring those sides out of you... it doesn't necessarily make them good or bad people (though they might be). they might just be good or bad for you. but there are definitely some people out there that are just bad for me. i look back at the times in my life when i was around people like that, and those are the times that i've hated myself. i don't blame them. i take responsibility for me and my actions. but part of that responsibility is surrounding myself with good people who will build me up and push me to be a better person and staying away from those who could drag me down.
i want to say thank you to all of you who are those people who don't allow me to be complacent and stagnant. the ones who push me to be a better person. i probably don't tell you enough that i appreciate you. thanks.
- matt
"dead"
Thursday, January 18, 2007 Filed in: random
musings
"o blog, where art thou?"
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Filed in: random
musings | my life
wow... i think i must have gone on blog overload or
something. i mean... i was blogging like a freakin'
blogging maniac and then just...
nothing.
anyway, i'm back. and i've committed myself to blogging once a week. i think it's good for my soul (or some crap like that).
life is unexpected. well, not life i guess. that's pretty expected. but the things that happen in life. i'm probably in the best place i've been in a long time. (both location wise... in bed right now... and emotionally/spiritually.) my little plan for the new year... it's been working. i feel growth and balance already. it's fantastic! i've come to a place where i've finally been able to realize a few things. here they are, in no particular order:
1. worrying about the future doesn't do anything. seriously.
2. it's okay not to know everything about where you're going and what you're doing. in fact, when you don't and you're okay with that, that's when you suddenly start to figure things out! (weird)
3. i need the new iPhone. now. (it's not shipping until June!)
4. i'm impatient.
5. counseling can be kinda fun.
6. my mountain dew addiction is not something i need to kick... it's something i need to embrace and control. (also, if i drink those cool little half cans, i drink the same amount of cans that i do when i drink the big ones, but i'm cutting the amount of mountain dew i'm actually ingesting almost in half!)
7. you never know what great opportunities are out there until you stop looking so hard and really let God show them to you.
8. i have a strange need to fix things and people. this is good when i'm able to use it to help others. this is bad when i get overly involved and emotionally attached to a situation i have no business attaching myself to. i just end up being irrational and acting very stupidly. i need to find that line in between helpful and stupid.
9. i am passionate about leadership development. i LOVE helping people figure out who they are and what they can do with that. especially when they can figure out how they can use who they are to help others and serve God. that's awesome.
10. i'd like to do that for a job.
11. even though they say they are... my church isn't really looking for that right now.
12. other churches are.
13. is an unlucky number.
14. physical activity sucks... but it's necessary to not be fat.
15. i like Chinese food. (specifically orange chicken or madarin chicken from Panda Express or seasame or honey chicken from anywhere.) this is new for me. i've always hated the Chinese and their stupid food. just kidding. i just hated their food. (but now i don't. hence the existence of point ..15.)
16. the past is in the past. leave it there. seriously... everybody always feels the need to dwell on the past. sometimes, it's just not necessary to dig up old skeletons. what we've done does make up who we are... but just because you did something (or things) that were bad, doesn't mean you're bad now. if you learned from it, it could mean you're better off.
17. i don't go to the movies enough.
18. celebrities with bands aren't always a bad thing. (check out Gary Sinese and the Lt. Dan Band sometime. seriously.)
19. despite the beliefs of most Christians or people who think they have taste or moral character, The OC started out as a good show, hit a few rough patches, but is now excellent again. i'm very sad that it has been cancelled. Seth and Summer (mostly Summer)... i will miss you. (The OC on The CW anyone?)
20. high school students devoted to serving God and serving others (and not selfishly serving their own interests as most high schoolers are in the mindset of doing) inspire me.
okay... there are 20 things that i've recently realized. yes... some of them are random. yes... some of them are shallow and superficial. but, i don't care.
i'm excited about what's going on in my life right now. i'm excited about the amazing possibilities that lie ahead of me. for those of you that are prayers... pray for me in the next few days. there are some really great possibilities on the horizon that could change some things for me in big (and good) ways. i'll keep you posted.
"love and peace (or else)"...
matt
nothing.
anyway, i'm back. and i've committed myself to blogging once a week. i think it's good for my soul (or some crap like that).
life is unexpected. well, not life i guess. that's pretty expected. but the things that happen in life. i'm probably in the best place i've been in a long time. (both location wise... in bed right now... and emotionally/spiritually.) my little plan for the new year... it's been working. i feel growth and balance already. it's fantastic! i've come to a place where i've finally been able to realize a few things. here they are, in no particular order:
1. worrying about the future doesn't do anything. seriously.
2. it's okay not to know everything about where you're going and what you're doing. in fact, when you don't and you're okay with that, that's when you suddenly start to figure things out! (weird)
3. i need the new iPhone. now. (it's not shipping until June!)
4. i'm impatient.
5. counseling can be kinda fun.
6. my mountain dew addiction is not something i need to kick... it's something i need to embrace and control. (also, if i drink those cool little half cans, i drink the same amount of cans that i do when i drink the big ones, but i'm cutting the amount of mountain dew i'm actually ingesting almost in half!)
7. you never know what great opportunities are out there until you stop looking so hard and really let God show them to you.
8. i have a strange need to fix things and people. this is good when i'm able to use it to help others. this is bad when i get overly involved and emotionally attached to a situation i have no business attaching myself to. i just end up being irrational and acting very stupidly. i need to find that line in between helpful and stupid.
9. i am passionate about leadership development. i LOVE helping people figure out who they are and what they can do with that. especially when they can figure out how they can use who they are to help others and serve God. that's awesome.
10. i'd like to do that for a job.
11. even though they say they are... my church isn't really looking for that right now.
12. other churches are.
13. is an unlucky number.
14. physical activity sucks... but it's necessary to not be fat.
15. i like Chinese food. (specifically orange chicken or madarin chicken from Panda Express or seasame or honey chicken from anywhere.) this is new for me. i've always hated the Chinese and their stupid food. just kidding. i just hated their food. (but now i don't. hence the existence of point ..15.)
16. the past is in the past. leave it there. seriously... everybody always feels the need to dwell on the past. sometimes, it's just not necessary to dig up old skeletons. what we've done does make up who we are... but just because you did something (or things) that were bad, doesn't mean you're bad now. if you learned from it, it could mean you're better off.
17. i don't go to the movies enough.
18. celebrities with bands aren't always a bad thing. (check out Gary Sinese and the Lt. Dan Band sometime. seriously.)
19. despite the beliefs of most Christians or people who think they have taste or moral character, The OC started out as a good show, hit a few rough patches, but is now excellent again. i'm very sad that it has been cancelled. Seth and Summer (mostly Summer)... i will miss you. (The OC on The CW anyone?)
20. high school students devoted to serving God and serving others (and not selfishly serving their own interests as most high schoolers are in the mindset of doing) inspire me.
okay... there are 20 things that i've recently realized. yes... some of them are random. yes... some of them are shallow and superficial. but, i don't care.
i'm excited about what's going on in my life right now. i'm excited about the amazing possibilities that lie ahead of me. for those of you that are prayers... pray for me in the next few days. there are some really great possibilities on the horizon that could change some things for me in big (and good) ways. i'll keep you posted.
"love and peace (or else)"...
matt
"my résumé"
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Filed in: public
service announcements
"new year... new song"
Tuesday, January 02, 2007 Filed in: my life
okay... so welcome to 2007. (as though i'm the
official host of 2007 who needs to welcome everyone.)
anyway... i've had a lot of time over the past week or so to just think. (which hurts... i just took some advil liquicaps to help with that.) and i've come up with some stuff. mostly, i've decided that it's time for some changes. no more sitting around and waiting for crap to happen. i gotta get back to being an active participant in my life. so, i came up with a plan. i won't go into the details of it here... but it's a well-rounded plan to enhance my life in a variety of areas. basically, i took an objective look at each area of life (physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, cultural, etc...) and came up with a specific plan to make each of those areas a little fuller. i mean... strategic planning and leadership stuff is what i do for others all the time. it's time to do it for me.
as you know (if you know me at all)... i love music and songs just jump out at me sometimes. very often these songs are by an Irish quartet you may have heard of called U2. anyway, i was listening to my iPod yesterday and the song "Yahweh" came on. this was not a song that particularly caught my attention when it first come out (on the album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb") but came alive in an accousitc version they did in concert. (Check out the "Vertigo 2005 - Live from Chicago" DVD to see what i'm talking about.) anyway, Yahweh is the Hebrew name for God used often in the Old Testament. after hearing this song yesterday, i decided that it is my new prayer.
happy new year, everyone! thanks for everything in 2006... looking forward to everything that 2007 holds.
matt
"Yahweh"
take these shoes
click-clacking down some dead-end street
take these shoes
and make them fit
take this shirt
polyester white trash made in nowhere
take this shirt
and make it clean
take this soul
stranded in some skin and bones
take this soul
and make it sing
Yahweh... Yahweh
always pain before a child is born
Yahweh... Yahweh
still i'm waiting for the dawn
take these hands
teach them what to carry
take these hands
don't make a fist
take this mouth
so quick to criticize
take this mouth
give it a kiss
Yahweh... Yahweh
always pain before a child is born
Yahweh... Yahweh
still i'm waiting for the dawn
still waiting for the dawn
the sun is coming up
the sun is coming up on the ocean
this love is like a drop in the ocean
this love is like a drop in the ocean
Yahweh... Yahweh
always pain before a child is born
Yahweh... tell me now
why the dark before the dawn?
take this city
a city should be shining on a hill
take this city
if it be your will
what no man can own
no man can take
take this heart
take this heart
take this heart
and let it break
anyway... i've had a lot of time over the past week or so to just think. (which hurts... i just took some advil liquicaps to help with that.) and i've come up with some stuff. mostly, i've decided that it's time for some changes. no more sitting around and waiting for crap to happen. i gotta get back to being an active participant in my life. so, i came up with a plan. i won't go into the details of it here... but it's a well-rounded plan to enhance my life in a variety of areas. basically, i took an objective look at each area of life (physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, cultural, etc...) and came up with a specific plan to make each of those areas a little fuller. i mean... strategic planning and leadership stuff is what i do for others all the time. it's time to do it for me.
as you know (if you know me at all)... i love music and songs just jump out at me sometimes. very often these songs are by an Irish quartet you may have heard of called U2. anyway, i was listening to my iPod yesterday and the song "Yahweh" came on. this was not a song that particularly caught my attention when it first come out (on the album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb") but came alive in an accousitc version they did in concert. (Check out the "Vertigo 2005 - Live from Chicago" DVD to see what i'm talking about.) anyway, Yahweh is the Hebrew name for God used often in the Old Testament. after hearing this song yesterday, i decided that it is my new prayer.
happy new year, everyone! thanks for everything in 2006... looking forward to everything that 2007 holds.
matt
"Yahweh"
take these shoes
click-clacking down some dead-end street
take these shoes
and make them fit
take this shirt
polyester white trash made in nowhere
take this shirt
and make it clean
take this soul
stranded in some skin and bones
take this soul
and make it sing
Yahweh... Yahweh
always pain before a child is born
Yahweh... Yahweh
still i'm waiting for the dawn
take these hands
teach them what to carry
take these hands
don't make a fist
take this mouth
so quick to criticize
take this mouth
give it a kiss
Yahweh... Yahweh
always pain before a child is born
Yahweh... Yahweh
still i'm waiting for the dawn
still waiting for the dawn
the sun is coming up
the sun is coming up on the ocean
this love is like a drop in the ocean
this love is like a drop in the ocean
Yahweh... Yahweh
always pain before a child is born
Yahweh... tell me now
why the dark before the dawn?
take this city
a city should be shining on a hill
take this city
if it be your will
what no man can own
no man can take
take this heart
take this heart
take this heart
and let it break