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<title>the barnes blog</title><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/index.php</link><description>the most important blog ever.</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2009 matthew m. barnes</dc:rights><dc:date>2009-11-09T23:27:23-08:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:06:16 -0800</lastBuildDate><item><title>&#x22;that was it&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2009-11-09T23:27:23-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thatwasit.php#unique-entry-id-468</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thatwasit.php#unique-entry-id-468</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, Stacy and i went to check out Michael Jackson's "This is It."  i haven't really gathered my thoughts about it into a coherent whole, so here they are in no particular order...


...	&bull;	Michael surrounded himself with people who praised him constantly and never crossed him or pushed back on anything he had to say or wanted to do.  this made him come off like a demanding child-star.  (you know... the one where everyone is waiting for his parents to step in and give him some boundaries or a sense of reality.)


...	&bull;	even when he wasn't trying as hard as the other dancers, Michael moved in such a fluid way that he was just captivating.  (seriously... even when he was just clapping along to the beat, there was something about the way he did it that was undeniably great.)


	&bull;	up close, it was scary to see how much plastic surgery he'd had and how un-human he looked.  (tattooed lips, the strange thing above his mouth that was supposed to be his nose and that ridiculous cleft in his chin made him start to look a little Frankenstein-ish.)


	&bull;	from what i can see from this movie, Kenny Ortega is pretty much a massive tool.  ("you missed your cue, MJ." "no... i decided to change the cue." "okay everyone, MJ changed the cue... watch him for the cue.")


...	&bull;	even though he appeared to be drugged or just weird at times, it's pretty amazing that he could (seemingly effortlessly) remember all of that choreography.


...	&bull;	Michael's choreography was AMAZING on the big numbers, but particularly awkward on the ballads.  (note to... well, anyone who ever performs a song like "Human Nature"... just stand there and sing it.  it doesn't need choreography.)


i'm sure i could come up with more thoughts, but those were my first impressions.  i grew up on Michael Jackson.  i remember my dad playing the "Thriller" album when it first came out.  i remember buying "Bad" and "Dangerous" and watching "Michael Jackson's Moonwalker" on VHS in my room.  (i also remember locking the door and practicing the dance moves in front of the mirror.  i was good when i was in 4th grade!)    so, this movie ended up being, for me, a retrospective look at Michael Jackson's career in my life.  what a strange vantage that provides.  it's hard to believe that he was even the same person.  but hearing him sing those songs and dance those moves left no question...   Michael Jackson, as strange and wacko as he may have been, was one talented dude.  and, like him or not, he changed the face of pop culture, pop music and pop dance forever.  like him or not, in one way or another, he influenced what you're listening to and watching.  it would have been fascinating to see if he could have made the comeback he so desperately wanted.  it also makes me wonder... if he could accomplish all of that with what he had, what could he have been capable of if he hadn't been plagued by so many demons in his life?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;my weekend with U2&#x2c; part one&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2009-11-07T11:53:01-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weekendwithU2pt1.php#unique-entry-id-467</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weekendwithU2pt1.php#unique-entry-id-467</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[after a four hour jaunt through the desert, we arrived at the underwhelming "Excalibur Hotel and Casino."  now, this is a bit strange for me because i remember when Excalibur first opened and was the cool hotel that everyone was talking about.  now, it's pretty run down and old.  however, it was one of the more inexpensive spots on the strip, so it was going to be home for a night.  we dropped our things off at the hotel and immediately headed out for some blackjack.


i've never really gambled before.  i mean, i've played the slots once or twice, but that's kinda lame.  going into the weekend, i have to admit that i struggled with the concept.  i mean... i could go and lose a ton of money and i think i'd feel pretty guilty for that, seeing as that would have been money that could have been used for some good in the world.  (or at least for something worthwhile like food or clothes or something.)  however, Kit had a great perspective on this the shaped my weekend.  basically, the idea is that you go in deciding what a day of entertainment is worth to you.  for me, i decided it would be $50.  if you lose it, then at least you got the entertainment that you paid for.  (the thrill of the game, etc...)  if you don't, then it's a bonus.  think of it this way... people drop $80+ to ride the rides and play the games at Disneyland every day and they have no chance at winning that back.  so, $50 a day was my cost of entertainment.  fortunately, i had the luck of the Larsons on my side!


we headed over to the Tropicana (one of the few places with $5 tables) and i immediately lost my $50.  clearly, i had no idea what i was doing.  right around the time that i lost my blackjack funding, Timmy Larson arrived (he had to work that day and left a bit after we did).  we all grabbed some dinner at New York, New York, watched the Angels win the game, and then headed back to Tropicana.  having already lost my money, i just watched.  

...as we were walking back, i was exhausted and all i wanted to do was crawl into bed.  (walking down the strip, i had an encounter with a... how shall i say this?... promiscuous lady.  there was a 50 yard shimmy involved.  needless to say, i chose to walk on.  that's all i'll say.)  as we approached Excalibur, we got a call from Tommy and Timmy that they were walking toward us.  apparently, Timmy had done VERY well at the tables and when we found them, he generously donated $50 to each of our (so far) losing causes.  the Larson brothers wanted to head back to the tables and, being that Timmy had been so generous, i couldn't decline.  (though i wanted to so very badly.)


we walked back in to the Tropicana and arrived at the same table we'd been at earlier.  (it was now about 12.30 am.)  the table was full, so we waited for people to get up.  i was the last to get a seat.  actually, right before a seat opened up for me, i was about to tell the boys that i was heading back to our room.  however, the seat opened up and i sat down.  learning from my earlier mistakes and taking pointers from Tommy and Timmy, i spent the next three hours turning Timmy's $50 into $860.  (and that's after i paid Timmy his $50 back.)  yeah... i'm awesome.  around 4 am, we decided it was probably time to get some sleep.


the next morning, we woke up, had some breakfast, checked out of the hotel and decided to head down to Circus Circus.  (crappy place, but cheap tables there too.)  i mostly just watched because the dealer was sketchy and it seemed like everyone was losing.  after that, we grabbed lunch and hit up the old town Vegas and the Golden Nugget.  so cool to see the old town.  this is the Vegas you see in those old movies.  (it's where the car chase was in "Diamonds are Forever.")  very cool.  we grabbed some pizza for dinner down there and then headed off to the main event... 

...while everyone else seemed to be following the road signs for how to get to the stadium (and taking over and hour for what should be a 10 minute drive), we ignored the signs and went where our GPS told us to.  we got there in 20 minutes and Timmy finagled his way into a pretty sweet spot right up front.  at this point, i was giddy like a little school girl.  

...after a bit, the Black Eyed Peas came out and did their opening set.  they were actually a lot of fun and a great opening act.  i think they really got the crowd warmed up with all their "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Got A Feeling" and whatnot.  it was fun.  (this was the time when we had a little run in with Professor Bastard.  he was a guy sitting next to us with his wife and who was just rude from the first minute he sat down.  he looked like a professor, hence the nickname.)  but it didn't matter... we weren't going to let some snooty professor type ruin anything!


if you've never been to a U2 show, i'm not sure how to communicate it in words.  there's something there that i've never experienced at any other show.  i mean, i've been to some great shows over the years, but there's just something different about a U2 show.  it's like how church should be.  i don't know.  anyway, this was my 9th U2 show and it was probably the best one yet.  from the moment they came on stage, there was an energy in the stadium that was overwhelming.  it was very cool to enjoy it with Tyler, Timmy and Tommy who had never been to see U2 before.  

...on the way back through the desert on Saturday, i was cruising along at 83 mph when i got pulled over by a CHP officer.  now, when i was in traffic school, we were told that we should never admit anything to the officer when you're pulled over.  so, if he says "do you know how fast you were going?", you say "no."  if i'd said "yes... i was going 83" then he can go ahead and write me up for that even if he didn't have anything on me.  so, when he asked the question, i said "no."  he responded with "i got you on radar going 92."  this was not true.  however, i'd already said i didn't know how fast i was going, so i couldn't go back on it and he wrote me up for 92 in a 70.  (jerk.)  i'm going to fight it because the whole thing was such BS and i am NOT giving all of my winnings to the state of California!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Rogue... the climber&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2009-10-17T14:49:50-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/roguetheclimber.php#unique-entry-id-466</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/roguetheclimber.php#unique-entry-id-466</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i learned the hard way the other day that Rogue cannot be put in a pen with no top to it.  why?    because she's pretty talented.  check it out...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;thoughts from a recovering worshipper&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2009-10-05T08:59:28-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/recoveringworshipper.php#unique-entry-id-465</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/recoveringworshipper.php#unique-entry-id-465</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[last month, i was asked to write an article on the subject of worship for a Christian e-magazine.  unfortunately, the article that was published got edited a bit more than i'd have liked.  so, here's the article as i originally wrote it.


...Like many, I grew up going to church and thinking that worship was something you did at an appointed time and place and in a particular way.  ...  (Sometimes, we&rsquo;d worship as the plates were passed after the announcements, but this time was usually saved for what was labeled, &ldquo;special music performance.&rdquo;)  ...  Worship was always singing with a live worship band and was usually led by five or six well-dressed singers with amazing voices singing in perfect harmony.  

...It&rsquo;s as though kids are given a bag, and throughout their lives they collect information to be put into their bag.  

...In Exodus 15, when God has lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt and across the dry ground of the Red Sea, His people respond by singing songs to Him.  

...One thing that was very different about the college group I was interning with was that we did the bulk of our worship after the message.  

...I want to see kids who have been impacted and changed by the very Spirit of God and are compelled to worship Him.  


As people who are called to minister to the children of the next generation, it is upon us to replicate our faith in them.    If we can help our kids experience God and make sure they are free to respond in worship, they&rsquo;ll see a world impacted and changed by Christ through them.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;buying a dog... take two&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2009-10-04T23:13:18-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/seconddog.php#unique-entry-id-464</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/seconddog.php#unique-entry-id-464</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[some of you know the tale of my first foray into the world of dog ownership.  if you don't, here's the short version...


six years ago, on a whim, i bought a Jack Russell Terrier from a pet store at the mall.  at the time, i lived in a condo in Anaheim Hills that had a 5x5 slab of concrete for a backyard.  apparently, you're supposed to research the dog you want before you make the purchase.  i clearly didn't understand this concept and learned after purchasing my dog (Scout) that he required ample room for exercise.  fortunately, everyday i drove by my parent's house on the way to work.  i would drop Scout off at their house to play in their big backyard with our family dog, Baby.  on my way home from work (often times as late as 9 at night), i would pick Scout up only to put him to bed so i could drop him off again in the morning.  after a while, he began staying at my parent's for the whole week and i'd pick him up on the weekends.  after a few weeks of this, my mom claimed Scout as her own and refused to let me take him anymore.  seeing as he was infinitely happier with a large yard and a best friend, i decided to let him stay.  (if you ask my parents, you'll probably hear lies about being a dead-beat dad.  but that's all crap.)


fast forward to 2009.    Scout is still living (mostly) happily with my parents (he's had a few accidents along the way) and i'm getting the urge to enter the dog world again.  this time, i've put much more time and effort into my decision.  i've researched various breeds and found just the perfect one for my situation... a French Bulldog.  they're cute, don't require a ton of exercise and are perfect for apartment life. 


well, last month, i bought myself an early birthday present when i brought Rogue home.  she's a six month old Frenchie (that's what they call them... though it looks very girly now that i see it in writing) and she's amazing.  i had Rogue at home with me for about two weeks when i decided to send her off to the same dog-training course that my parents put Scout through six years ago.  so, for the past two and a half weeks, Rogue has been learning to sit, come, stay and poo and pee in the correct locations.  (mostly, not on my white rug.)  but Rogue comes home on Tuesday and i can't wait to have her back!


here's a quick video of her playing in my place.  (watch for the end when you can see her up close... so cute.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the need to blog&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2009-10-03T17:43:45-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/theneedtoblog.php#unique-entry-id-463</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/theneedtoblog.php#unique-entry-id-463</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[you know... when i last updated this blog, way back in March, i had fully intended to do a better job at keeping it up.


i failed.


my life is pretty crazy these days.  that's why i keep putting this kind of thing off.  i'm doing the ROCKHARBOR thing and the Cook thing (also known as the Tru thing) as well as trying to keep some semblance of sanity going on and it's easy to choose things to not do.  this has been one of them.


however, i'm finding that i miss it.  there is a need to purge myself of thoughts and emotions occasionally and blogging has allowed that for me in the past.  so, i'm back!  


my goal will be to blog at least once a week.  also, i'm doing the twitter thing.  my screenname there is matthewbarnes.  (pretty easy to remember!)


in the meantime, here is a link to a teaser video for what i've been working on (www.truministry.com).  it should be up for a few more weeks.


here's to the need to blog!


-barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the annual framily Christmas party&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-21T17:36:27-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/corkbarneschandlerchristmas.php#unique-entry-id-455</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/corkbarneschandlerchristmas.php#unique-entry-id-455</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we got together with the Corks, Chandlers and our family to celebrate Christmas.  as always, a fun time was had by all!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the big Fashion Island tree&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-19T17:31:56-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/fixmastree.php#unique-entry-id-454</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/fixmastree.php#unique-entry-id-454</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[every year, Fashion Island puts up this HUGE Christmas tree.  supposedly, it's the largest on the West Coast.  (somebody said largest in the country, but i don't think that's true.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;just when you thought it was over...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-15T18:41:02-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/paperstograde.php#unique-entry-id-453</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/paperstograde.php#unique-entry-id-453</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[you think school&rsquo;s out and you&rsquo;re done... but you&rsquo;re not.  the whole &ldquo;last day of school&rdquo; thing is so anticlimactic for a teacher.  today, i graded a lot of papers.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;you&#x27;ll shoot your eye out&#x2c; kid&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-14T18:39:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shootingrange.php#unique-entry-id-452</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shootingrange.php#unique-entry-id-452</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as a surprise date, Stacy took me to do something i&rsquo;ve never done before...


shoot a gun!    it was pretty awesome!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;beautiful pics and Keving too&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-18T18:38:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/picsandkeving.php#unique-entry-id-451</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/picsandkeving.php#unique-entry-id-451</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[a very beautiful day out...


and, here he is...   Keving.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;well intended messages for God&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-14T18:36:53-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/iloveyougob.php#unique-entry-id-450</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/iloveyougob.php#unique-entry-id-450</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the kids in StudioK had a chance to write messages to God on rocks... 


here&rsquo;s my favorite one.  (if you watched Arrested Development it&rsquo;ll be yours too!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;beautiful clouds and hosting the Christmas show&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-12T18:32:06-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/beautifulclouds.php#unique-entry-id-449</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/beautifulclouds.php#unique-entry-id-449</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i was out for a walk today and noticed that the clouds were amazing... so i went back and got my camera.


tonight, i hosted our annual &ldquo;Twas the Night Before Christmas&rdquo; family event.  it&rsquo;s actually an event put on by the Arts department for our families.  (we just support it.)  but, this year, i hosted... and it was awesome!    the families are all supposed to come in their pajamas and watch Christmas stories acted out for them.  check out my PJ&rsquo;s!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the RH leaders Christmas potluck... 50s style&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-11T18:23:41-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rhchristmasparty.php#unique-entry-id-448</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rhchristmasparty.php#unique-entry-id-448</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[what do you do when the budget is running low and you have a giant party to throw for all of your leaders?    apparently, you make it a potluck and give it a 50s theme for extra measure!


i can&rsquo;t believe it&rsquo;s been a year since the last one i was at (as a volunteer!).  what a great year!


Tammi tries to shoot a gun... entertaining.


she looks like she&rsquo;s singing, but she&rsquo;s not... she&rsquo;s talking about her amazing volunteers.


ha ha ha ha ha ha ha


ah... they&rsquo;re goofy.


...i think Pete loses here.


an excellent look for Keving.


i guess she asked &ldquo;what needs to be done?&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;families Christmas lunch and irvine @ night&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-10T18:22:55-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/irvineatnight.php#unique-entry-id-447</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/irvineatnight.php#unique-entry-id-447</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today we had our RH families Christmas lunch and gift exchange...


this is where i live...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a pi&#xf1;ata for &#x27;question of the month&#x27;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-09T18:20:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pinata.php#unique-entry-id-446</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pinata.php#unique-entry-id-446</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[every month, ROCKHARBOR families is looking at another question to be considering in how we do ministry.  each month, at our first team meeting of the month, the question is revealed in a creative manner.  today... it was inside a pi&ntilde;ata.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;time to catch up&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2009-03-29T13:05:54-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/timetocatchup.php#unique-entry-id-445</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/timetocatchup.php#unique-entry-id-445</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[not that there&rsquo;s probably anyone reading this anymore.  i mean, i update so infrequently, i don&rsquo;t blame anyone for having given up on me all together.


however, i&rsquo;ll keep writing if only to allow my brain a place to dump from time to time.


the last few months have been crazy and amazing and busy and overwhelming all at the same time.  there&rsquo;s just been so much going on.  i&rsquo;m not even sure what to include and what to leave out.  how about this?  

...so, as of last week, i am now the Product Developer for the Tr&ucirc; project.  this means that i have my own team that i&rsquo;ll be leading and developing as we develop this project between ROCKHARBOR and David C.   Cook.  in many ways, it&rsquo;s the fulfillment of years of waiting on and trusting in God for what He has for me.


the past few years haven&rsquo;t made a ton of sense for me.  i spent several years trying to figure out what i wanted to do.  i tried to force things to work at Friends and with FIGURE and in other areas so that i could have something.  i guess, deep down, i knew that none of those things was where God really wanted me.  but i couldn&rsquo;t just let go of that.


then He brought me to ROCKHARBOR and gave me the job of Associate Director of ROCKHARBOR families.  while i absolutely knew that this was where He had me, i didn&rsquo;t know or understand why.  nobody really did.  we just knew it was.  as everything began falling into place for ROCKHARBOR families and the project with Cook, i didn&rsquo;t quite understand my place in the whole thing.  i knew, however, that i belonged in it.  i just didn&rsquo;t understand how or where.  what i really didn&rsquo;t understand was that during that time, over the past year, i was being prepared for this moment.


last month, Sharron (my boss and leader of the Tr&ucirc; production team) stepped down.  suddenly, i was called to step up to the plate.  they needed someone to lead this team, but they wanted to do it differently.  they wanted someone who knew and understood the philosophy inside out.  they wanted someone who would lead a team and not manage a project.  they wanted someone who was rooted in ROCKHARBOR culture.  they wanted someone who could work day-in and day-out with Michelle to create a product grounded in the philosophy and ministry of ROCKHARBOR families.  they wanted me.


you can see how it became suddenly clear why God had taken me on the path he had over the past year.  there is nobody else that is qualified to do this job.  so... here i am.  simultaneously the Director of Families Development for ROCKHARBOR and the Product Developer for David C.   Cook.  it&rsquo;s a little overwhelming.  (the project is a little behind schedule and i have to figure out how to get things back on track.)  but the great thing is, this is everything i wanted to be doing.  it&rsquo;s also everything i knew i was capable of.  all of the things that Lutheran High and Friends tried to tell me i couldn&rsquo;t do (and almost had me convinced i couldn&rsquo;t do), i&rsquo;m now doing.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;say goodbye to the interns&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-08T22:22:05-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodbyeinterns.php#unique-entry-id-444</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodbyeinterns.php#unique-entry-id-444</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the last day of class for my internship ii class.  they were a great class and put up with my learning curve a lot.  i&rsquo;m going to miss them! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Tommy in the Hub and my own ugly Christmas sweater party&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-07T22:20:02-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tommyhubsweaters.php#unique-entry-id-443</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tommyhubsweaters.php#unique-entry-id-443</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i&rsquo;m not sure why i took a picture of Tommy hosting in the Hub today... but i did.  and here it is.


and, tonight, i had some of my students over for an ugly Christmas sweater party of my own.  (i have to get the most possible mileage out of that thing!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;DCC trip... day three&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-06T22:06:45-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dcctripdaythree.php#unique-entry-id-442</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dcctripdaythree.php#unique-entry-id-442</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this morning, we met over at Leigh&rsquo;s house for our last meetings.  it was actually kinda interesting.  some of the preschool curriculum discussion got a bit heated.  (a sentence that makes me laugh out loud just now that i read it.)


but it was good.  it lead to some great discoveries about our team and the dynamics we&rsquo;re working with.  in any case, the meeting was a little more relaxed than the others!


...Tori really wants to care but the blanket makes her want to take a nap.


Leigh just observes.  i think we&rsquo;re fascinating to her.  like a case study.


...(the previous pictures of me were posed in order to convince people that i made some positive contributions to the meeting.  i did not.)


later, we headed into town for some lunch and had a lot of great conversations about personality and shared great stories and laughed a lot!  

...also, Michelle accused me of not giving good hugs.  so then, everyone had to rate my hugs and, in the end, it was decided that my hugs were, in fact, amazing.  (thank you very much.)


on the way out of town, we drove through this amazing place called &ldquo;The Garden of the Gods.&rdquo;  it was really beautiful and there were all these amazing naturally occurring formations.  


unfortunately, we didn&rsquo;t really have time for the whole &ldquo;Garden of the Gods&rdquo; thing so we had to haul ass to the airport from there.  we barely made it!


all in all, a great trip... though i&rsquo;m glad to be home!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;DCC trip... day two&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-05T21:42:48-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dcctripdaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-441</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dcctripdaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-441</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, today was pretty much meetings all day. 


but these are pictures i took from our drive on the way into the office.


beautiful.


anyway, i had a meeting with Janet this morning over breakfast to talk about what leadership would look like in the curriculum.  then it was meetings all day to talk about branding and components and content and on and on.


it was very productive though and... the really beautiful thing about this company... they have Mountain Dew in their cafeteria in ALL THREE FORMS!!!   (bottled, canned and fountain dew.)  amazing.


that night, we had the DCC company Christmas party.  this is where i really saw the cultural differences between DCC and RH.  if you saw the pictures from the RH Christmas party, you got the idea of what that was like.  well, this was as opposite as you can get.


people in formals in a banquet room at a hotel.  a speaker.  a full dinner with appetizers, salad (which i didn&rsquo;t eat, of course... being a meat-a-tarian and all), a main course and dessert.  worship.  


well, you get the idea.  it was different.  and i&rsquo;m not sure if we fit in.  we were laughing a lot and having fun.  people kept looking at our table.  (i&rsquo;m not sure if they were annoyed at us or jealous that they weren&rsquo;t sitting with us.  probably a little of both.) 

...anyway, here are the pics...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;DCC trip... day one&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-04T21:31:51-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dcctripdayone.php#unique-entry-id-440</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dcctripdayone.php#unique-entry-id-440</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, Michelle, Tori, Cristi and i headed out for Colorado Springs for a three day trip to meet our Colorado counterparts!


the flight was a little hairy.  we got about ten feet above the runway when the pilot pulled back up because it was too icy to land.  we flew around for 45 minutes while they somehow de-iced the runway.  (i&rsquo;m not sure what this consists of.  i picture hundreds of men out there scraping away at the tarmac with giant ice-scrapers.)  


then, after we landed, Michelle broke her heel while we were getting the rental car.  (really, Michelle?    high heels in the snow?)


so, by the time we got on the road, we were already running late (because of the 45 minutes extra in the air) and we were really hungry!    so, we decided that even though we had meetings to go to, our stomachs had to come first.  we found a Chili&rsquo;s that had a Kohl&rsquo;s in the same parking lot and we got lunch and new shoes for Michelle all in one stop.


and then it was on to the David C.   Cook fortress (it&rsquo;s seriously this intimidating looking building that can only be described as a fortress).


when we got there, we were welcomed by Janet and Leigh and the entire company.  (we were kinda treated like celebrities.  i think it&rsquo;s the California thing.)  we had a meeting or two and headed off to a great dinner.


...oh... when we were getting a tour of the DCC building, we saw this and thought it was pretty cool.  (minus the unfortunate location of the fire alarm.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the first ever ROCKHARBOR ugly Christmas sweater staff party&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-12-03T21:21:55-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rhstaffchristmasparty.php#unique-entry-id-439</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rhstaffchristmasparty.php#unique-entry-id-439</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i think the title says it all.  normally, the RH staff goes to Disneyland for the Christmas party, but this year... well, we have budget issues.  so, we stayed in and made a party of it all!  


enjoy the ugly sweaters and know that i got 3rd place for the guys.  (not bad out of like 30 or so guys!)


...a few sizes too small there, Mike.


Aida won it all!


Lexie actually made Tim&rsquo;s sweater for him!


there are now two Basix cd&rsquo;s floating around out there.  watch out, Tommy!


not an ugly sweater... 

...ugly sweaters and ugly couches.


...waiting in line for TK Burger


Doug Berry tries to hide his Starbucks in his pocket before he goes into the movie theater.  (it didn&rsquo;t work!)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;isn&#x27;t Noah and the Ark such a cute story about death and destruction?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2008-12-02T21:14:40-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/noahdeathdestruction.php#unique-entry-id-438</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/noahdeathdestruction.php#unique-entry-id-438</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we&rsquo;ve been talking a lot lately (both at RH and in my internship class at Biola) about how we tell stories.  mostly, we&rsquo;ve been talking about how we tend to tell them wrong.


for instance, we make Noah and the Ark this cute little story we tell kids about animals and boats.  we make it so cute that people make little cartoon pictures about it and put them up in nurseries and whatnot.  this is jacked up.


Noah&rsquo;s story is about God&rsquo;s vengeance on a world that had forsaken Him and His covenant with all of creation thereafter.    He destroyed the world.  i totally understand why we would celebrate this with our youngest children.  (that&rsquo;s called sarcasm... there&rsquo;s no really good way to denote that in text.)


anyway, i was out shopping tonight for ugly Christmas sweaters (for our staff party tomorrow) and i saw this and it made me laugh because it&rsquo;s EXACTLY what i&rsquo;ve been talking about.  enjoy.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;self-indulgence on account of my earliness&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-12-01T21:10:27-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/selfindugentearliness.php#unique-entry-id-437</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/selfindugentearliness.php#unique-entry-id-437</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i got to Biola early this morning, so i sat on a bench and was checking my email.  i finished that and started my own little PhotoBooth session.  don&rsquo;t judge.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a preview of No Line on the Horizon&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2009-02-20T09:58:45-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nlothpreview.php#unique-entry-id-436</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nlothpreview.php#unique-entry-id-436</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[U2.com posted the full album preview of &ldquo;No Line on the Horizon&rdquo; today.    Rolling Stone also posted their 5 star review for it today.  i&rsquo;m listening to it for the first time right now!  


check it out here!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a little bit of Christmas&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-30T09:55:08-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alittlebitofchristmas.php#unique-entry-id-435</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alittlebitofchristmas.php#unique-entry-id-435</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[here&rsquo;s what the fireplace looked like after we set it up (at my parent&rsquo;s house)...


tonight, Stacy and Tammy wanted to get a Christmas tree.  so, i went with them over to Home Depot to pick one up.  they kept smelling them.  i think that&rsquo;s weird.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;inappropriate Santa&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-29T09:47:49-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/inappropriatesanta.php#unique-entry-id-434</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/inappropriatesanta.php#unique-entry-id-434</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[our family has a tradition that we usually set up Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  somehow, this year, that got pushed off to the day after the day after Thanksgiving.  


anyway, we met up at the house along with Brett and Dakota and began to take Christmas out of storage.  another tradition me and my sisters have is to put Santa and Mrs.   Claus in inappropriate (read sexually compromising) positions in order to freak my mom out.  of course, at this point, she doesn&rsquo;t freak out as much anymore but she does still get a little ruffled and it&rsquo;s entertaining.


Dakota looked ridiculously cute today... especially after she found this crown somewhere in the house.


we went to see Scout again, and (though it&rsquo;s hard to tell here), he actually looked much better.  they say he&rsquo;ll be able to come home in a few days.  (which is a bit hard to believe.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;giving thanks with friends and family&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-27T09:37:07-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/givingthankswithfriendsandfamily.php#unique-entry-id-433</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/givingthankswithfriendsandfamily.php#unique-entry-id-433</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it&rsquo;s Thanksgiving!


we headed up to my parent&rsquo;s house.  we didn&rsquo;t have as many family members there as usual since Amie was in Indiana and Andy moved to Australia.  but Megan brought Ryan (more on that in a moment) and Stacy brought her mom, sister and the kids.


after dinner, Ryan decided to get my dad by smashing his face in a plate of whipped cream... it was pretty awesome!    (anyone that ballsy is more than welcome in our house!)


dad was shocked and got him back in very unoriginal style.


we had originally planned on going to a movie after dinner.  but this is what happens every year.  we decide to see a movie.  the time comes to go.  we debate whether we should really go or not.  and then it&rsquo;s about an 80% chance that we won&rsquo;t end up going.  we didn&rsquo;t go this year.  instead, we watched &ldquo;As Good As It Gets&rdquo; at home.


(Meri loves it when i take pictures of her.)


finally, Scout had a bad week.  yesterday, he got out and was attacked by a bobcat.  he&rsquo;s in the hospital and they&rsquo;re not totally sure he&rsquo;s going to make it.  so, we decided to end the night by going to visit him.  he did not look good.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;purpose driven football&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-26T09:32:53-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/purposedrivenfootball.php#unique-entry-id-432</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/purposedrivenfootball.php#unique-entry-id-432</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was our annual staff football game.  we always face off against another church staff the day before Thanksgiving.  usually, it&rsquo;s called the TurkeyBowl.  however, since it was just us and Saddleback today, we called it Purpose-Driven Football.


unfortunately, we lost in OT.  it was really close though and our team did a great job!    of course, since i am athletically useless for such a competition, i brought my camera and took pictures for everyone.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;playing in the cold&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-25T09:29:12-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/playinginthecold.php#unique-entry-id-431</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/playinginthecold.php#unique-entry-id-431</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[there are two bands that i will see every time they come through town if i can...


U2 and Coldplay.


Coldplay was at the Pond (Honda Center) tonight, so... of course... so was i!


it was great.  they have seriously gotten better every time i&rsquo;ve seen them.  so talented.  


on top of that, it was POURING rain outside and we parked about 1/2 a mile away and had no umbrella.  so, we really were playing in the cold as we ran to the concert and back.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a little peace&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-24T09:25:40-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/littlepeace.php#unique-entry-id-430</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/littlepeace.php#unique-entry-id-430</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i got to Biola early this morning and found this park bench.  so, i just chilled here for a bit and read out of &ldquo;Permission Evangelism&rdquo; (great book!).
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a day in the Outlet&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-23T09:23:15-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayintheoutlet.php#unique-entry-id-429</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayintheoutlet.php#unique-entry-id-429</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[went in to the Outlet (our middle school Sunday celebration service) today.  i haven&rsquo;t spent a lot of time in there, so it was good to see what they&rsquo;re up to.  (especially since i&rsquo;m speaking in there soon!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;family ichat&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-22T09:21:18-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/familyichat.php#unique-entry-id-428</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/familyichat.php#unique-entry-id-428</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Megan, Meri and i had a little iChat about our holiday plans today.  they weren&rsquo;t thrilled that i was taking pictures.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;mowing the lawn or developing families?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2009-02-18T10:37:17-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mowinglawnsdevelopingfamilies.php#unique-entry-id-427</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mowinglawnsdevelopingfamilies.php#unique-entry-id-427</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i like to go on walks.  i&rsquo;m naturally an extravert and don&rsquo;t need inordinate amounts of alone time, but my walks are my sacred time.  this is something i discovered early on last year.  for some reason, my walks tend to be where God talks to me the most.  as i walk and my mind wanders, God reveals things to me that He doesn&rsquo;t in other places.  i&rsquo;m not sure why this is, but i&rsquo;ve been taking advantage of the discovery on a pretty regular basis for a while now.


today is 3rd Wednesday (a monthly day of prayer and reflection at ROCKHARBOR).  so, i thought it would be good to start my day with a walk before heading out to the noon prayer gathering.  as i was walking along pondering the meaning of the universe or wondering why God made Mountain Dew taste so good, i stopped to take notice of my surroundings.  down the way, i saw a man mowing the thin strip of grass that runs along Jamboree in between Campus and Dupont.  it&rsquo;s a long strip of grass and while it&rsquo;s not very wide, it would take three or four trips up and down the strip to mow all of it.  i&rsquo;m ashamed to admit that normally, i wouldn&rsquo;t take the time to even notice someone doing something like that.  but, for some reason, i did today.


as i was walking along pondering my next steps in developing families at ROCKHARBOR, here is a guy mowing the lawn.  his job is to push a lawn mower up and down this ridiculously long strip of grass three or four times before moving on to the next ridiculously long strip of grass.  as i got closer, i noticed something... the guy was smiling.  he was enjoying his work.  here i am, starting to feel sorry for this poor guy pushing a lawn mower (which, in my mind, i&rsquo;ve equated to Sisyphus pushing his rock), when he wasn&rsquo;t feeling sorry for himself.  he was doing his job.  the same as i do mine.  and yet, for some reason, i was (without thinking about it) ready to write him and his job off as unimportant in my worldview.  (which is funny because if he wasn&rsquo;t doing his job, i&rsquo;m the idiot who&rsquo;d be complaining that the grass was overgrown and wondering where my association fees were going.  uggh.  i&rsquo;m a moron.)


i know this isn&rsquo;t the most profound realization ever, but for some reason, it hit me hard today.  i&rsquo;m not that great.  i&rsquo;m definitely no better than the guy pushing the lawn mower.  even more importantly, God loves that guy just as much as He loves me.  (fortunately, God doesn&rsquo;t love on a rating scale because that guy just might deserve God&rsquo;s love more than i do.)  why are we so quick to dismiss somebody like that?    i guess i shouldn&rsquo;t say &ldquo;we.&rdquo;  maybe you don&rsquo;t.  i hope you don&rsquo;t.  


i hope i don&rsquo;t... anymore.


that&rsquo;s all. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;get on your boots&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2009-01-19T00:36:23-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/getonyourboots.php#unique-entry-id-426</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/getonyourboots.php#unique-entry-id-426</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the new U2 single &ldquo;get on your boots&rdquo; just premiered on U2.com at 12.15am.


i&rsquo;ve kinda been waiting for this for a while and here&rsquo;s what i think...


it&rsquo;s definitely different... but i think i just might love it a lot!


it&rsquo;s not quite the &ldquo;Joshua Tree&rdquo; to &ldquo;Achtung Baby&rdquo; jump... but it&rsquo;s some new territory for sure.


check it out here!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;it&#x27;s an epidemic... it&#x27;s Obama fever.&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2009-01-18T23:21:55-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/obamafever.php#unique-entry-id-425</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/obamafever.php#unique-entry-id-425</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it&rsquo;s official.  there is a new pandemic in this country and it seems to be sweeping the nation at a very rapid pace.  

...everywhere i look, i see the signs of it.  and, to a degree, i get it.  things suck.  things have sucked for a while.  from a presidential standpoint, things have sucked for a long while.  people are hopeful.  people are excited about something new.  i am too!  


now, i will say here and now that i did not vote for Barack Obama.  (i wrote myself in.*)  but it wasn&rsquo;t like i was devastated that he won.  the way i see things, things weren&rsquo;t going to be phenomenal either way.    John McCain is old and would have probably died in office leaving Sarah Palin as our Commander in Chief.  this wouldn&rsquo;t have lasted long because she would have been a moving target and then we would have ended up with Nanci Pelosi as our president and i can&rsquo;t think of many things that would be worse than that.  

...but, Barack Obama isn&rsquo;t the answer to all of our questions.  he&rsquo;s a man.  he seems like a good man.  he says &ldquo;um&rdquo; a lot but is a good deal more articulate than his predecessor (which, as we all know, isn&rsquo;t saying much).  in the end, though... he&rsquo;s just a guy... a guy who&rsquo;s being treated like the second coming.  this would have to be the definition of setting someone up for failure.  


...Jackson, Steve Carrell (who didn&rsquo;t do anything funny), Jack Black (who also was not funny), Kal Penn (the guy from House and Harold and Kumar?  ...  Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks (didn&rsquo;t he retire... like five times?), John Mellencamp (he always gets invited to these things), Shakira (obviously), Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Will.i.am (dude... just be William) and, of course, U2 (new single tomorrow!).  


...please, people.  allow your optimism and hope to be balanced with a healthy dose of reality.  i want Barack Obama to do well.  but it&rsquo;s a little bit like the over-inflated, unrealistic sense of unity we all felt after 9/11.  it felt great for a while, but when things went back to normal, we crashed into partisanship harder than we ever had before.  


so, everyone just back off a bit.  give the man some breathing room.  let him feel like a human being.  because if we don&rsquo;t and Barack Obama can&rsquo;t live up to the ridiculous standards of fixing the universe that everyone is holding him to, he&rsquo;s screwed and we&rsquo;re all going to find ourselves right back where we started... looking for hope.


oh... and by the way, i&rsquo;m sure the race thing adds to all the excitement.  personally, i think it&rsquo;s fantastic and amazing that a black man has made it to the Oval Office and that is something to celebrate because it means we&rsquo;ve come a long way.  but let&rsquo;s keep some perspective and set the man up for a chance to do some good.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;thanksgiving comes early&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-21T20:23:59-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thanksgivingcomesearly.php#unique-entry-id-424</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thanksgivingcomesearly.php#unique-entry-id-424</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we had all of our elementary volunteers over for an early Thanksgiving dinner at my place.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;early morning beach trip and reading to little ones&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-20T20:20:44-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlymorningbeachtrip.php#unique-entry-id-423</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlymorningbeachtrip.php#unique-entry-id-423</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this morning, i went down to the beach to watch Stacy surf.  however, by the time i got there, she was out of the water because it was so foggy and the waves weren&rsquo;t great.  oh well.  i like it down there in the mornings.  very peaceful.


later, we went up and saw the kids and i read to them for a bit.  they don&rsquo;t care what the words are... they make up their own stories to go along with the pictures.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;an impromptu haircut&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-19T20:17:37-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/impromptuhaircut.php#unique-entry-id-422</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/impromptuhaircut.php#unique-entry-id-422</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[after work today, Stacy and i were hanging out at my place when i decided i needed a nap.  before i went in to lay down for 20 minutes or so, i told Stacy that i&rsquo;d been thinking about buzzing my head again.  she said &ldquo;cool&rdquo; and that was that.


about 10 minutes into my nap i woke up.  when i walked out 10 minutes later, i had no hair. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a little faster&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-18T20:16:41-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alittlefaster.php#unique-entry-id-421</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alittlefaster.php#unique-entry-id-421</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i wanted to go a little faster.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Nani throws a tantrum&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-16T20:12:14-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nanitantrum.php#unique-entry-id-420</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nanitantrum.php#unique-entry-id-420</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[since the fires were so close to Erin&rsquo;s house, she and the kids came and stayed with Stacy.  so, this morning they came to church.


only about 15 minutes into service, Nani&rsquo;s pager goes off meaning that Erin needs to come and get her because something&rsquo;s wrong.  being that Erin&rsquo;s already on edge because of the fires, i took the pager and went to see what was going on.    Nani was throwing a huge tantrum.  (normally she&rsquo;s really good, but today she did not want to be alone.)


so, i took her and we went over to the Lab service kids rooms and hung out.  she was fine once i was there, but i&rsquo;m still not sure what was up with that.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;eating sushi while the world burns down&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-15T20:07:05-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/eatingsushiworldburns.php#unique-entry-id-419</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/eatingsushiworldburns.php#unique-entry-id-419</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy and i met up with Megan at Koji&rsquo;s for lunch today.  


of course, we knew about the fires that were burning behind Yorba Linda, but we didn&rsquo;t realize how bad they were.  by the time we came out of the restaurant, this is what the sky looked like.


the weird thing was, the smoke never made its way down to South County.  in fact, it was beautiful and really clear in Irvine.  tonight, it was so clear, i took this picture from my balcony.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Nani goes to D-Land&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-14T20:03:18-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nanigoestodland.php#unique-entry-id-418</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nanigoestodland.php#unique-entry-id-418</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we decided she was old enough.


we may have been wrong.


either way, today was the day that we took Nani on her first trip to Disneyland.


(she wasn&rsquo;t big on the rides but LOVED the fountains and the carousel.)  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the ultimate man night&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-13T19:55:02-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ultimatemannight.php#unique-entry-id-417</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ultimatemannight.php#unique-entry-id-417</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[every year, the girls of the ROCKHARBOR staff have a &ldquo;Girls Day Away&rdquo; where they go and do whatever girls do when they all get together.  (i think it was a spa day.)  apparently, for years, the guys have been talking about doing one for themselves but, as Stacy Scott pointed out, they could never get one of the girls to organize it for them.


all that has changed.


tonight was the men&rsquo;s night.


we started at ROCKHARBOR (behind 3080) with a gaming truck.  this thing was pretty cool.  basically, it was a big trailer with about 15 XBox stations in it.  the guys piled in and we played Halo 3 for about three hours straight.


(by the way, Mike Erre is ridiculously good at Halo.    Pete Shambrook gets incredibly intense when he plays.  to the point that he doesn&rsquo;t hear you if you try to talk to him.    Shawn Scott and i sucked and spent most of the time talking.)


after that, it was off to the movies for the midnight screening of &ldquo;The Quantum of Solace.&rdquo;  (it wasn&rsquo;t great.)


but, we had a great night and it was really good to get to know some of the guys a bit better.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;saying goodbye&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-11T19:45:23-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sayinggoodbye.php#unique-entry-id-416</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sayinggoodbye.php#unique-entry-id-416</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[last week, our extended family suffered a loss. 


as some of you know, my cousin, Jordan, has been living with my parents for the past few months.  we&rsquo;ve become pretty close to him over the past years as he and Megan graduated from Pepperdine together.  aside from Jordan, we&rsquo;re not very close with his family or that side of the family.  he&rsquo;s kind of a more distant cousin and we only got connected with him because of he and Megan going to Pepperdine together.


anyway, Jordan&rsquo;s brother, Jared, passed away last week.  today was the funeral.  i went up with Bekie and met Megan and my parents there.  


it was a bit awkward for a few reasons.  first, we aren&rsquo;t very close to that side of the family.  second, it was kind of like a family reunion, but under horrible circumstances.  (those are always awkward anyway.)  third, they asked Matthew Cork to do the message and i think that trying to give hope and peace to a family you don&rsquo;t know of a person who took their own life is a difficult thing.    (Matthew did a great job and i don&rsquo;t envy him that task.)


Jordan and his family are, of course, a wreck right now.  it&rsquo;s hard to see anyone going through that kind of pain.  i wasn&rsquo;t sure if i should be there at first, but i&rsquo;m glad i went now.  i know Jordan appreciated it.


obviously, it would have been highly inappropriate to be snapping pictures during the service, but i did take one quick one from the car as we were leaving the graveside service.  at least it was a very beautiful day.


on a more positive note, Bekie and i had a great time catching up on the rides up and back.  also, she made me go to the Urgent Care to get my foot looked at because i had refused to do so.  (it was a little infected.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the big God story in class&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-10T19:43:31-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/biggodstoryinclass.php#unique-entry-id-415</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/biggodstoryinclass.php#unique-entry-id-415</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, i taught the Big God Story in my evangelism and discipleship class.  but, before i did, i wanted to see how much these Bible school kids knew.  so, i had them put the events of the Bible in order from beginning to end.  


they did alright!    (of course, with 39 kids, you should be able to do that.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;stacy teaches and mom gets older&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-09T19:41:44-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stacyteachesmomolder.php#unique-entry-id-414</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stacyteachesmomolder.php#unique-entry-id-414</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy taught in Studio K this morning (and last night too).


today was mom&rsquo;s birthday so we went to dinner at Roy&rsquo;s (as we always do for her birthday).
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a man of great influence&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-08T19:39:34-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/manofgreatinfluence.php#unique-entry-id-413</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/manofgreatinfluence.php#unique-entry-id-413</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today... i realized that i, matthew morgan barnes, am a man of great influence and power.


as of today, November 8th, 2008... there is Mountain Dew in the ROCKHARBOR staff vending machine.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;cars&#x2c; coffee and kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-08T19:36:03-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/carscoffeekids.php#unique-entry-id-412</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/carscoffeekids.php#unique-entry-id-412</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Chino&rsquo;s big into cars now so we thought we&rsquo;d take the kids down to Cars and Coffee this morning.  it was fun!    (i love the way Nani came running to me when she saw me from down the path.  so freakin&rsquo; cute!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;ouch&#x21;&#x21;&#x21;&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-07T19:29:58-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ouch.php#unique-entry-id-411</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ouch.php#unique-entry-id-411</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, tonight we were supposed to go to Disneyland with a bunch of people from work.  i was very excited about this.  


Stacy was on her way over to my house so we could go when disaster struck.  as i was opening the door to my bedroom, my foot got in the way (bad foot!)   and the door (with a metal strip running down the side of it) went over the top of my foot and the metal strip cut it pretty badly.


i didn&rsquo;t feel it at first.  i wasn&rsquo;t looking that way, but just from the way the door felt as i pushed it open, i knew something wasn&rsquo;t right.  then i looked down. 


...i knew that the shock of it would wear off pretty quickly so i took advantage of the lack of pain that i was experiencing.  i started to think about whether i had any large bandages or not... just as i began to realize that i didn&rsquo;t, the pain kicked in. 


...all i could come up with to stop the bleeding was wrapping my foot in paper towels and painters tape.  so, that&rsquo;s what i did.


and then i called Stacy and said &ldquo;so... i think we&rsquo;re probably not going to Disneyland, but if you could pick up some large bandages on your way over, that would be awesome!&rdquo;


she was a little confused at first, but then i explained the situation and the level of pain i was experiencing.  she came quickly with bandages.


we didn&rsquo;t go to Disneyland.


we watched &ldquo;Across the Universe&rdquo; instead.  (a descent but too long movie that made some obvious plot sacrifices to fit in particular songs.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;our first date... take two&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-05T19:27:47-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/firstdatetwo.php#unique-entry-id-410</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/firstdatetwo.php#unique-entry-id-410</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[on our first date, Stacy and i went to Koji&rsquo;s and then went bowling.


tonight, we tried a new Japanese place (&ldquo;Tokyo Table&rdquo;) and went bowling at Strike @ the District.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;worship rehearsal and voting&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-04T19:26:13-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/worshipvoting.php#unique-entry-id-409</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/worshipvoting.php#unique-entry-id-409</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;eeek&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-03T19:25:39-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/eeek.php#unique-entry-id-408</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/eeek.php#unique-entry-id-408</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a morning of worship&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-02T19:23:50-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/morningofworship.php#unique-entry-id-407</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/morningofworship.php#unique-entry-id-407</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first, i led worship in Studio K this morning...


then i went over to The Outlet (middle school) to watch Jeff lead worship there.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a very cool night&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-11-01T19:14:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meganbaptism.php#unique-entry-id-406</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meganbaptism.php#unique-entry-id-406</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, Megan and Carly Manarelli got baptized in the service at ROCKHARBOR.    Megan is a 5th grader who i&rsquo;ve known for a year and a half now and Carly is her 1st grade sister who is, clearly, my best friend.  anyway, when you&rsquo;re getting baptized, you can ask for anyone you want to actually do it and Megan asked me.    (Carly asked Stacy.)  this was a very cool honor.


now, if you&rsquo;ve never been to a baptism at ROCKHARBOR, let me set the stage for you.  it&rsquo;s just about the end of the service and there is an inflatable pool on stage.  as each person is brought up to be baptized, the worship team is playing and the whole place is singing.  each time a person goes under, the place goes nuts.  i mean... yelling and cheering like the home team just scored a touchdown.  (the first, and probably last sports analogy you&rsquo;ll ever read on this blog.)  it&rsquo;s a pretty cool experience and i try to make it to all of them.


i&rsquo;ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.  (look for Poison guitarist, CeCe Deville in one of the pictures.  i guess he became a Christian and has been coming to ROCKHARBOR for a while now.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;cars and coffee for a cause&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-11-01T19:10:53-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/carscoffeecause.php#unique-entry-id-405</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/carscoffeecause.php#unique-entry-id-405</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the organization Megan goes to Africa with (&ldquo;Angels of East Africa&rdquo;) is auctioning off a custom West Coast Chopper and was down at Cars and Coffee this morning.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the ultimate costumes for the ultimate costume party&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-10-31T19:19:25-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ultimatecostumes.php#unique-entry-id-404</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ultimatecostumes.php#unique-entry-id-404</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[part of my costume required me to be clean-shaven and have a mustache.  unfortunately, i hadn&rsquo;t let mine grow long enough yet.  (but i tried it out first anyway.)


...tonight was the Anthony&rsquo;s Costume Party.  the costumes were pretty amazing.  let me take you through them.


first, we have Camille and her husband, John as Pam and Jim from The Office.


...Gabe came as a nerd who got beat up.  (might not have been a costume.)


Tom Swogger came as some video game character.  (i don&rsquo;t know who he was supposed to be, but supposedly, he was dead on.)


...Tommy came as.... um... some sort of cheese... thing.  and Keri came as Ugly Betty.


...and Ashley and Tori came as the season of Fall and a butterfly (respectively).


there were some others as well (who you&rsquo;ll see in the group shots), but i didn&rsquo;t get individual shots of them.  however, the winners of the costume contest were, of course, Stacy and i as Michael and Michelle Anthony.


it was pretty awesome.  people literally kept thinking we were them all night.  (yes...   Stacy cut a Styrofoam ball in half to create giant boobs.)  here are the pictures from the rest of the night.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sunrise and costume check&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-30T19:13:40-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/costumecheck.php#unique-entry-id-403</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/costumecheck.php#unique-entry-id-403</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[amazing sunrise this morning...


not sure why i was up to see it.


later, Stacy tried on her costume for Michael and Michelle&rsquo;s costume party.  i tried part of it on too.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;trying on new pants&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-29T19:12:07-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tryingonpants.php#unique-entry-id-402</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tryingonpants.php#unique-entry-id-402</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[okay... but the weird thing is, i took the picture after i&rsquo;d put my regular jeans back on.  why wouldn&rsquo;t i have taken the picture of the NEW jeans???


i&rsquo;m a moron.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;seriously?&#x21;?&#x21;?&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-27T19:11:45-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/seriously.php#unique-entry-id-401</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/seriously.php#unique-entry-id-401</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;happy birthday&#x2c; Ella&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-26T19:10:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/happybirthdayella.php#unique-entry-id-400</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/happybirthdayella.php#unique-entry-id-400</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we celebrated Ella Cork&rsquo;s birthday.  it made me feel a little bit old.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;hangin&#x27; after church&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-25T19:09:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hanginafterchurch.php#unique-entry-id-399</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hanginafterchurch.php#unique-entry-id-399</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[title pretty much sums it up.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;VBS wrap party... three months later&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-24T19:06:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbswrapparty.php#unique-entry-id-398</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbswrapparty.php#unique-entry-id-398</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we&rsquo;ve been meaning to have a wrap party for the VBS skit crew for a few months.  however, every time we try to do it, someone can&rsquo;t make it.  


tonight... we finally made it happen!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;kids&#x2c; dogs and cars&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-24T19:04:45-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsdogscars.php#unique-entry-id-397</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsdogscars.php#unique-entry-id-397</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we took the kids up to my parent&rsquo;s house today.  so cute.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the state of my desk&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-23T19:02:58-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stateofmydesk.php#unique-entry-id-396</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stateofmydesk.php#unique-entry-id-396</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[now that i work for both ROCKHARBOR and David C.   Cook, i have more crap on my desk.  i have my laptop which i use for RH stuff and personal stuff and i have my iMac which Cook gave me for Cook stuff.  it&rsquo;s cluttered but it&rsquo;s kinda fun too.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Tori&#x27;s birthday @ the gypsy den&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-22T19:00:27-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/torisbirthday.php#unique-entry-id-395</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/torisbirthday.php#unique-entry-id-395</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was Tori&rsquo;s birthday so we took her to breakfast at The Gypsy Den.  right when we walked up, her boyfriend, Kevin came walking out.  she thought we planned it.  we didn&rsquo;t.  total coincidence.  worked out though!


(Cristi is laughing and Tori&rsquo;s not sure why.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;YOU know who&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-21T18:55:49-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/youknowwho.php#unique-entry-id-394</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/youknowwho.php#unique-entry-id-394</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today we had a pretty heated conversation in our lead team meeting.  it ended up being very helpful and productive, but it was heated nonetheless.


at one point, Michelle asked a question (&ldquo;who does a good job of shepherding parents?&rdquo;)   that nobody was sure they knew the answer to.  (she obviously had a particular &ldquo;right&rdquo; answer in mind, but nobody knew what she wanted us to say.)


she said &ldquo;come on you guys!    you know who!&rdquo;    (which was a reference to the movie &ldquo;What Happens in Vegas.&rdquo;)


we sorta laughed about that but still didn&rsquo;t know the answer.  what happened next is captured below.  


fortunately, this broke the tension and everybody laughed.  (even though Michelle doesn&rsquo;t look like it in the picture.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;stop going up&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-20T18:54:59-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stopgoingup.php#unique-entry-id-393</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stopgoingup.php#unique-entry-id-393</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[grrrrr.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the two Jordans&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-19T18:52:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/83e83f9786cff1f3415e59b1eb300c5f-392.php#unique-entry-id-392</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/83e83f9786cff1f3415e59b1eb300c5f-392.php#unique-entry-id-392</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[okay... so there are these two kids named Jordan in our fourth grade class at RH.  but they look a lot alike.  for a long time, i thought it was one person... and then i saw them together.  sure... there are differences, but come on!    they look a lot alike AND they have the same name AND they&rsquo;re in the same class.  not related at all.


that&rsquo;s weird.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>NAPCE... day three</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-18T18:46:07-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/napcedaythree.php#unique-entry-id-391</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/napcedaythree.php#unique-entry-id-391</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the last day of NAPCE.    Michelle was the keynote and knocked it out of the park!


she usually talks to practitioners and does well.  but to get academics to embrace the families philosophy that we&rsquo;re talking about is a serious feat and she did it.  (they were literally lined up to talk to her afterward!)    it was pretty cool.


before she spoke though, i needed a caffeine boost.  unfortunately, no Mountain Dew in the hotel.  so, i had to walk to the gas station on the corner.  


there must be an airbase or something near by because the entire time we were in Atlanta, there were fighter jets flying overhead.  i don&rsquo;t know what that was about.


oh... and i saw this really weird ad in the airport.  (those are hands.)


when we got home, church was happening so Stacy couldn&rsquo;t pick me up.  i walked home from the airport which was actually kinda nice.  (it&rsquo;s only like a mile.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>NAPCE... day two</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-17T18:42:05-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/napcedaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-390</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/napcedaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-390</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Jim Burns kicked off the conference last night with sort of &ldquo;state of the families&rdquo; talk.  he continued it this morning but did a great job of setting up Michelle who is the keynote speaker for tomorrow.


it&rsquo;s an interesting crowd.  i&rsquo;m probably the youngest here by 10 years.  it&rsquo;s been fun though.


the last one is me in my hotel room.  i was bored.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a beautiful sunrise and a trip to the east coast&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-16T18:38:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/beautifulsunrisetrip.php#unique-entry-id-389</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/beautifulsunrisetrip.php#unique-entry-id-389</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this morning, i had to go to the airport at a very early time to catch a plane to Atlanta.    Michelle and i were meeting Michael and Janet out there for the NAPCE conference.  (i think it&rsquo;s National Association of Professors of Christian Education... but i could be wrong.)


the sunrise was beautiful before i left.


fortunately, Michelle and i were able to orchestrate some seating changes on the plane and sit next to each other.  we talked the entire way.  seemed like the shortest flight ever!


note to self:  if you want long trips to seem short, bring Michelle.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;macbooks&#x2c; the wind and 3rd wednesdays&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-15T18:32:45-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/macbookswindthirdweds.php#unique-entry-id-388</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/macbookswindthirdweds.php#unique-entry-id-388</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the day...   NEW MACBOOKS!!!


i went and got one.  so pretty.


it was really windy today which provided for a beautiful view outside.


tonight was the second 3rd Wednesday at ROCKHARBOR.  we&rsquo;re taking the 3rd wednesday of every month to set aside for prayer.  we don&rsquo;t work but have prayer meetings in the morning, at noon and in the evening.  (the morning ones are optional.)  we&rsquo;ve been having around 1,000 people show up for these and that&rsquo;s pretty amazing!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;writing on rocks in meetings&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-14T18:30:55-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/writingonrocks.php#unique-entry-id-387</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/writingonrocks.php#unique-entry-id-387</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we had a Families meeting today and Michelle had us take a rock and write on it something that we wanted to celebrate in our ministry
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;bad scale&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-13T18:29:41-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/598e8a0c66d98fb4d0dee51bd60e03b8-386.php#unique-entry-id-386</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/598e8a0c66d98fb4d0dee51bd60e03b8-386.php#unique-entry-id-386</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[you&rsquo;re going the wrong direction!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;24 hours of Corks (part two)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-10-12T18:24:48-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/24hourcorks2.php#unique-entry-id-385</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/24hourcorks2.php#unique-entry-id-385</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this morning, i didn&rsquo;t have a clue how long it would take for three kids to get ready for church.  so, i woke them up at 7 (Nolan was already playing Wii when i woke up at 6.30) and had them start getting ready.  i needed to be at church by 8.45, so i figured that would give them an hour and a half to get up, eat breakfast, take showers, get dressed, etc...


they were ready to go by 7.30.  now we had an hour to kill before we needed to leave.  i really need to figure this kids thing out.


unfortunately for them, they had to sit through two services since i was teaching at the second service and had to be there for the first.  of course, since i had The Conversation all week and then was trying to keep up with the Corks all weekend, my lesson in The Hub sucked.  bad.  what are you going to do?


after church was out, i took them back to my parent&rsquo;s house, but not before we had a large disagreement in the car about where we might go for lunch.    (Burger King ended up being the winner.)


one at a time is good.  three is a bit much.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;24 hours of Corks (part one)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-10-11T00:02:35-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/24hourscorks.php#unique-entry-id-384</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/24hourscorks.php#unique-entry-id-384</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, today i did something that might be considered monumentally stupid.  the Cork&rsquo;s (Matthew and Mardi) are in India and my parents and the Chandlers have been taking turns taking care of the kids.  however, both of them were busy tonight and they asked me if i&rsquo;d take them.  i said yes.  i&rsquo;m not sure why.


i mean, to go from having zero kids to having three kids under the age of 9 in one day is a little overwhelming.  especially after The Conversation being this week and with me teaching in The Hub (high school group) tomorrow.  


first, i picked them up from my parent&rsquo;s around 1.  i decided to keep the entertained by taking them to Boomers for some mini golf.  (good call!)


after Boomers we went and grabbed some pizza at Roundtable.  i forgot how good Roundtable is!


after that, i had promised a friend of mine from church that i&rsquo;d come and check out his art exhibit at the Costa Mesa City Art Show at Triangle Square.  the kids actually seemed to like it.  unfortunately, Ella fell on the escalator and cut herself.  she was okay after a few minutes, but she wanted me to carry her, which i couldn&rsquo;t do for very long.  (she&rsquo;s not two anymore!)


after that, we went home and played Guitar Hero.  but i wasn&rsquo;t sure what to do with them at this point, so i called Stacy (who was working the Saturday night service) and left a one word voicemail...   &ldquo;HELP!&rdquo;


she came over around 8.30 and we all walked to Cherry On Top for some yogurt and then watched some of &ldquo;Elf&rdquo; before hitting the sack.


all-in-all... a good, but exhausting, day.  but we&rsquo;re not done yet!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;The Conversation... day two&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-10-10T23:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/conversationdaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-383</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/conversationdaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-383</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, these last two days were pretty much amazing.  i mean, even though i was a van driver and a session leader for our little summit here, it was pretty great.


this conference was the culmination of everything we&rsquo;ve been working for since i came onboard back in January.  (for Michelle, it&rsquo;s the culmination of over four years of work.)  today, Michelle got to present our philosophy of family ministries and people were eating it up.  this project could be HUGE.  it&rsquo;s the end of the beginning and the beginning of something big.  


the picture below is of the president of Cook (Chris) opening the day for us this morning.  


later today i was driving along and i saw this truck.  i wonder if he&rsquo;s a relative?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;The Conversation... day one&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-10-09T23:53:20-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/conversationdayone.php#unique-entry-id-382</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/conversationdayone.php#unique-entry-id-382</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was pretty awesome.    &ldquo;The Conversation&rdquo; started and we had around 40 people from all over the country here to talk about Family Ministries.    Michelle, Janet, Sharron and i all got a chance to lead sessions and the participants were totally into it.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;gained a little&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-06T23:52:20-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gainedalittle.php#unique-entry-id-381</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gainedalittle.php#unique-entry-id-381</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;preparing for The Conversation&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-10-08T23:50:44-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/conversationprep.php#unique-entry-id-380</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/conversationprep.php#unique-entry-id-380</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[on Thursday and Friday of this week, we&rsquo;re hosting a conference here at ROCKHARBOR to get some feedback from practitioners and professionals on the Cook/RH project.  today, we met to get everyone on the same page for it.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;watching Heroes&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-07T23:49:36-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/watchingheroes.php#unique-entry-id-379</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/watchingheroes.php#unique-entry-id-379</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[yeah... that&rsquo;s Hiro.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;party at Kit&#x27;s&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-05T23:45:55-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kitbbq.php#unique-entry-id-378</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kitbbq.php#unique-entry-id-378</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we had a BBQ at Kit&rsquo;s house for the families team.  we played Bocci Ball and had some great food.  for some reason, i was a little out of it and didn&rsquo;t enjoy being there even though it was a great party.    Stacy&rsquo;s been out of town for the past few days and came back tonight after the party.  it was good to have her back.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;october family time curriculum day&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-04T23:41:40-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/octfamcurr.php#unique-entry-id-377</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/octfamcurr.php#unique-entry-id-377</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[working on the October edition...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Traci on Friends&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-02T23:33:58-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tracionfriends.php#unique-entry-id-376</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tracionfriends.php#unique-entry-id-376</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[turns out that Traci Carpenter was in the background of an episode of Friends.  so, tonight we checked it out.  


that&rsquo;s her sitting at the table in the background at Central Perk!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;puppets and drugs&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-10-01T23:29:51-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/puppetsanddrugs.php#unique-entry-id-375</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/puppetsanddrugs.php#unique-entry-id-375</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, Traci got her new puppet for teaching our 2 year olds.  we had some fun with this.    (Kit made him a joint.)


oh... and these are my feet in the elevator.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a new year... a new project&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2009-01-02T10:29:36-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newyearnewproject.php#unique-entry-id-374</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newyearnewproject.php#unique-entry-id-374</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[yes, it&rsquo;s the second day of 2009 and yes, i&rsquo;m still wondering where the crap my flying car is!    (they* promised that we&rsquo;d have them by now.)


anyway, i know it&rsquo;s been forever since i&rsquo;ve updated my blog.  these past few months have been crazy busy and i had some issues with my web program so i gave up until things slowed down a bit.


no worries though... i&rsquo;ve still been taking pictures almost every day and i&rsquo;ll be bringing things up to speed over the next week or so.  (life through the end of September can be seen in pictures now!)


last year, as you probably already know, was the year of the &ldquo;Daily Picture.&rdquo;  i enjoyed that a lot and (while many found it annoying) it forced me to document life more thoroughly.  i&rsquo;m going to continue that this year, though perhaps not quite as thoroughly.  however, i saw something online a few months ago that gave me an idea for what i&rsquo;d be doing in 2009.


basically, this guy took a picture of himself every day for a long time and put it together into a video slideshow.  it was like one of those flipbooks, but instead of seeing him moving or whatever, you could watch his hair grow and whatnot.  i thought that was pretty cool.  this year, i&rsquo;ll be taking a picture of me every day.  i&rsquo;ll probably just use Photobooth here on my Mac.  i don&rsquo;t know what i&rsquo;ll do with it at the end of the year (video or photobook or whatever) but i think it would be cool to see how a person changes day-to-day over the course of a year.  (i wish i&rsquo;d done it last year when i lost all that weight!)


okay... so that&rsquo;s that.


later i&rsquo;ll post again and sorta bring you up to speed on what&rsquo;s been going on in my life over the past few months.


...* Michelle always wants to know who &ldquo;they&rdquo; are.  &ldquo;they&rdquo; are &ldquo;them.&rdquo;  the collective ominous bunch of people who make ridiculous predictions that don&rsquo;t come true but get them started as rumors anyway.  &ldquo;they&rdquo; can be anyone.  &ldquo;they&rdquo; might even be you.

...**  let me know if you are &ldquo;they.&rdquo;  i have questions.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the Cooks are all in the kitchen&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-30T10:26:03-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cooksinthekitchen.php#unique-entry-id-373</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cooksinthekitchen.php#unique-entry-id-373</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was our first full meeting with our Cook team.  (at least, the California contingent of the team.)


and tonight we went to Islands with my fam and i took this horrible picture.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;another stalled out weigh-in&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-29T10:24:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stalledoutweighin.php#unique-entry-id-372</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stalledoutweighin.php#unique-entry-id-372</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i swear... i&rsquo;ve been stuck around the same weight for a few months now.  grr.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;another wedding... but this one had In N&#x27; Out&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-28T10:20:42-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/innoutwedding.php#unique-entry-id-371</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/innoutwedding.php#unique-entry-id-371</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was Joe and Tammy&rsquo;s wedding.  they met on our Romania trip last year and fast-tracked it to the altar.  (though there was no altar.)  


there was, however, In N&rsquo; Out for dinner!    (my kinda wedding!)    the whole thing was more of a Ro-Union for our old team and we had a great time.


(we got a little tired after dinner)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;playing all night (part two)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-27T10:18:20-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/playallnight.php#unique-entry-id-370</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/playallnight.php#unique-entry-id-370</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the rest of these were after midnight and, therefore, were from a different day!


we had a HUGE inflatable obstacle course in The Hangar.


then we all stayed up forever just hanging out and talking after the kids all fell asleep.


since i had no responsibilities this year, i actually got to go home and sleep around 4.30 am.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;real Scout&#x2c; fake Scout and playing all night (part one)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-26T10:14:25-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/realscoutfakescout.php#unique-entry-id-369</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/realscoutfakescout.php#unique-entry-id-369</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i was at my parent&rsquo;s today.  they have a little statue of a dog just like Scout.  when i saw this, i had to take a picture.  (which one is real?)


awesome.


tonight was the annual elementary all-nighter.  it&rsquo;s a pretty amazing all night long craziness type event.  last year i was in charge. this year, i&rsquo;m just a spectator.  i like that.


crazy kids, including Cori Cruze.


Ashley got us Yogurtland!


to be continued...]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;costume shopping and The Office premiere&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-25T10:10:58-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/costumeoffice.php#unique-entry-id-368</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/costumeoffice.php#unique-entry-id-368</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy and i went shopping for Halloween costumes today.  i won&rsquo;t show you what we decided on but they are pretty amazing and i&rsquo;m pretty sure we&rsquo;re going to be the hit of Michelle&rsquo;s party.  i tried this on for fun.


afterward, we went back to The H for The Office season premiere party.  in the evite, we told everyone to dress up like an Office character.  then i e-mailed everyone except for Tyler and told them not to.  


i just wanted to see Tyler and Allison as Dwight and Angela.


totally worth it.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;grab the kids and run for the border&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-23T10:09:29-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/runfortheborder.php#unique-entry-id-367</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/runfortheborder.php#unique-entry-id-367</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[that&rsquo;s right...


Taco Bell lunch with Chino and Nani!  


mmmm...   Gordita!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a torn up yard&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-22T10:05:13-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tornupyard.php#unique-entry-id-366</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/tornupyard.php#unique-entry-id-366</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first...


after i taught my first class today, i went up to check out the Thrasher house.  the landscapers had begun their work and boy was that place torn up!


while i was there, i went next door to say &ldquo;hi&rdquo; to Janet and she had Dakota there with her.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;more teaching and baked potatoes&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-21T16:04:39-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teachingandpotatoes.php#unique-entry-id-365</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teachingandpotatoes.php#unique-entry-id-365</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[taught in Studio K again this morning and took the camera onstage with me.


Tammi introduced me...


and the kids smiled for the camera...


and i&rsquo;m pretty sure there was something about Jesus too!


Stacy made twice-baked potatoes for dinner.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;teaching at church and Snakes on a Plane&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-20T16:02:23-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teachingandsnakes.php#unique-entry-id-364</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teachingandsnakes.php#unique-entry-id-364</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, i taught in Studio K...


and then had a guy&rsquo;s movie night with Adam and Kyle and watched &ldquo;Snakes on a Plane.&rdquo;  it&rsquo;s the most horribly awesome movie ever made!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a RO-Union for another RO&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-19T15:59:43-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rounion.php#unique-entry-id-363</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rounion.php#unique-entry-id-363</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[obviously, i didn&rsquo;t go to Romania this year.  but Stacy did.  tonight was there reunion (or what we call Ro-Unions).  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;editing my life away&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-18T15:57:55-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lotsofediting.php#unique-entry-id-362</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lotsofediting.php#unique-entry-id-362</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Michael Anthony hired me to shoot and edit some videos for Biola.  today i edited.  i forgot how much i really don&rsquo;t like doing that.  oh well... at least i&rsquo;m getting paid this time!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;staff not-away day&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-09-17T15:31:31-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/staffnotawayday.php#unique-entry-id-361</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/staffnotawayday.php#unique-entry-id-361</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the day i&rsquo;d been waiting for since i came on staff nine months ago.  i&rsquo;d heard all about it last year before i came on and i couldn&rsquo;t wait to see what we were going to do this year.


...every year, the staff gets a fun day away in the fall as a sort of kick off for the next ministry year.  it&rsquo;s a RH tradition that last year had the staff running all over Orange County on a scavenger hunt that ended with a boat ride in Newport Harbor.  that was before i was on staff.  so, i&rsquo;ve been looking forward to this for a long time.


...we showed up in the morning and were told that we would be meeting with our sabbatical groups to catch up and spend some time together.  not quite what i had in mind, but i thought &ldquo;well, we&rsquo;ll do this and then the fun will start, i&rsquo;m sure.&rdquo;


...it was nice to catch up with Laura and Andrew and i&rsquo;m glad we got the chance to do that since our sabbaticals were so long ago.  but as our hour came to a close, we rushed back to RH with anticipation for what would be next.


...however, as Erre began to announce the game, he also announced some changes in the rules.  usually, no one is allowed to touch the walls under any circumstances.  if you do, you&rsquo;re disqualified.  this means that if you get near a wall, you have to stop yourself so that you can at least keep your distance.  furthermore, they would normally line the walls of hall with people to ensure that nobody would go crashing into a wall.  not this year though.


this year, Erre and Todd decided (as they were announcing this, i think) that you would be disqualified if you stopped yourself in any way.  if you put out an arm or leg to stop yourself from hitting a wall, you were out.  everybody thought something didn&rsquo;t sound right about this, but we went along with it anyway.


...as i was hurled down the hallway at breakneck speeds, things were going pretty well.  i was traveling quickly and in a straight line.  as i began to approach The Commons, things changed.  i began to veer to the left.... straight toward an outward sticking corner where Angelina had stopped before me.  i was sitting cross-legged on the chair and my knees were sticking out just a bit.  there was nothing i could do.  


i crashed HARD into the corner and banged up my upper-shin pretty good.  in fact, i&rsquo;m not sure i&rsquo;ve ever been in that kind of pain before.  the wall&rsquo;s corner was reinforced with metal and my shin indented in by about an inch.  there was blood.  there was pain.  and i was laughing harder than i&rsquo;ve laughed in a long time.  (it was a bit confusing!)


...and being that i was 4th out of 11 (i think) i got to sit in the hallway as others came hurtling toward me, blood dripping down my leg and all.  at one point, Amy Burdick was flying toward me.  at the last second, Stacy (who apparently didn&rsquo;t want to see me injured any further) pulled me out of the way.  unfortunately, i was the only thing in between Burdick and the win.  she went almost all the way to the main entrance doors and won the whole thing.  


the pictures don&rsquo;t do it justice.  the wound is much worse than it looks.  you can&rsquo;t hear 1/2 of the people excited about the game and the other 1/2 pleading for someone to stop it all so that there wouldn&rsquo;t be any more injuries.  (i wasn&rsquo;t the only one.  turns out Tracy Close broke her thumb and will need a cast and surgery and others got slammed into as they sat like lame ducks in the hallway.)  poor Carlos (our facilities guy) was pleading for someone to stop this as the hallway was getting torn up from chairs and body parts slamming into it.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;is that Ruby?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-16T15:27:45-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/isthatruby.php#unique-entry-id-360</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/isthatruby.php#unique-entry-id-360</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, the Families Team took me to lunch at Pei Wei for my birthday.  it was crazy trying to get 18 people sitting together in there, but somehow, we made it happen!    unfortunately, there were no pictures to document this feat.


however... as we were leaving, i saw this poster for a place called &ldquo;Wonderland Bakery.&rdquo;  there&rsquo;s a little girl on the poster and i said &ldquo;wow... she looks a lot like Ruby!&rdquo;    (Debbie Guinn&rsquo;s granddaughter.)  this led to a bit of a disagreement as some believed Ruby to be MUCH cuter than this girl in the poster.  we ended up going into the bakery and someone decided to ask the girl behind the counter what the girl in the poster&rsquo;s name is.    &ldquo;Ruby,&rdquo; was the answer!  


who knew???
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;second week on the job&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-15T15:26:20-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/secondweek.php#unique-entry-id-359</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/secondweek.php#unique-entry-id-359</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[driving to work... my hair was a little out of control!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;one last birthday celebration (or a good ending to a sad weekend)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-09-14T15:21:42-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodendsadweekend.php#unique-entry-id-358</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodendsadweekend.php#unique-entry-id-358</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i didn&rsquo;t take any pictures yesterday at the memorial service because... i guess i was a little distracted and forgot. 


today, everyone came over and had dinner and hung out for Brett, Lisa and my birthdays.  it was fun to do that with Jody here and everything.  it was like old times and was comforting.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i love me some Pinkberry&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-28T14:59:25-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ilovepinkberry.php#unique-entry-id-357</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ilovepinkberry.php#unique-entry-id-357</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[title pretty much says it all!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;she wears it well&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-21T14:50:17-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shewearsitwell.php#unique-entry-id-356</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shewearsitwell.php#unique-entry-id-356</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Nani wore my hat today... she&rsquo;s too freakin&rsquo; cute.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;saying goodbye... part one&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-09-12T10:32:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sayinggoodbyeone.php#unique-entry-id-355</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sayinggoodbyeone.php#unique-entry-id-355</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today&rsquo;s word was supposed to be &ldquo;test.&rdquo;  we were going to still try to work it in to the day to create a brighter spot, but Stacy got called in to work (which caused untold chaos with the family anyway) and so we didn&rsquo;t get to do that.


this morning was the graveside service for grandma.  mom and dad had asked me to do the service.  it was just us so it was a little odd.  but with our family, it was, of course, interesting! :-)


Stacy, Megan and i got there before everyone else.    Aunt Pam showed up next and my parents, Meri, Martha and Virginia were about 10 minutes late.  so, as they walked up, Stacy, Megan, and Pam stood in a line while i held up my Bible and pretended to be finishing the service.  as they got closer, i said &ldquo;amen!&rdquo;   and we all started walking away.  we all laughed a bit and then we had to do the service.


i talked about how for us, this was the beginning of a weekend of celebrating who Grandma was to us.  i read some verses and we said goodbye.  it was short and to the point.  


after, we all went to Mimi&rsquo;s for lunch.  later, i picked up Jody up from the airport and we all went up to my parent&rsquo;s to hang out with the fam, the Corks and the Chandlers.  it was exactly what we needed to celebrate who Grandma was.  


tomorrow is the memorial service at the house.


here&rsquo;s the puzzle clue for today that we didnt&rsquo; get to do yet.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;relax&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-11T10:20:42-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/relax.php#unique-entry-id-354</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/relax.php#unique-entry-id-354</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[word of the day :: &ldquo;relax&rdquo;


i had to do a video shoot for Michael at Biola today, so Stacy came up and picked me up there when i was done.  she wouldn&rsquo;t tell me where we were going, but she said it fit in with the theme of &ldquo;relax.&rdquo;


we drove for a while and pulled up at this small strip mall in San Gabriel.  at first i was a bit confused... and then i saw it.  the sign for a Chinese Foot Massage place.  i freakin&rsquo; love foot massages!


and this place only cost $15 for an hour!    they soak your feet in tea water for a half hour (whilst they massage your back, arms, shoulders and scalp) and then massage your feet for a half hour.  yeah... it was pretty amazing.  and all for $15!!!!


unfortunately, it was so relaxing that we forgot to take pictures of the place.  (crap!)


anyway, when we got back tonight, Stacy made me try on the Biola sweatshirt she got me on Monday.  i hung my head in shame for betraying Pepperdine and allowed her to take a picture.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;simple&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2008-09-10T09:52:10-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/325e33becad8a61a9768c48164178a34-353.php#unique-entry-id-353</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/325e33becad8a61a9768c48164178a34-353.php#unique-entry-id-353</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today&rsquo;s word was &ldquo;simple.&rdquo;  it was a relaxing day and Stacy gave me a picture frame.


aside from this week being my birthday week, at ROCKHARBOR it&rsquo;s also been what we&rsquo;ve been calling &ldquo;seek week.&rdquo;  you see, this weekend we&rsquo;re launching the new &ldquo;awakening&rdquo; vision for the next year.  but a few weeks ago, Todd felt like God was saying that we needed to really hand the new vision over to Him in prayer.  so, he and the Strat Team called for a week of prayer.  everyone on staff was asked to do the bare minimum this week as far as work is concerned.  prayer meetings were called every day at 6 am, noon and 7 pm.  the entire community was invited to the prayer meetings.  also, we had people in The Centre all day every day for anyone who needed prayer.


to be honest, i didn&rsquo;t think people were going to get into it.  i couldn&rsquo;t have been more wrong.  i haven&rsquo;t made it to any of the 6 am meetings, but the noon meetings have had a couple hundred people at them (people coming on their lunch breaks) and the evening meetings have all had around 1,000 people!    it&rsquo;s been pretty amazing.  and we&rsquo;ve seen some pretty amazing stuff.


tonight was the highlight of the week (so far) for me.  the theme of tonight was prayer for our families.    Michelle and Roger led a time of directed prayer for the families of our nation, community and church.  but the best was when Michelle led the parents in a time of praying blessings over their children.  parents all over the room were looking their children in the eyes, telling them how much they loved them and praying for them.  it was incredible.


i prayed with one family where the mom was looking her 9 year old in the eyes and telling her she loved her and praying over her.  as she finished, her seven year old daughter (who was adopted from Iran last year) looked at her mom and said &ldquo;mommy, bless me... bless me now!&rdquo;    the mom was crying.  the daughters experienced the love of their mother and the love of God.  and this was happening with dozens of families all over The Centre.


one thing that happens quite often with our Families team is that was have to &ldquo;afterglow&rdquo; (as Michelle calls it).  basically, it just means that when we have an event or a cool experience, our team just feels the need to sit around and talk about it and revel in the greatness of the moment.  tonight, some of us decided to do this at Norm&rsquo;s.  so, we all headed down to Norm&rsquo;s and had some late night greasy food and laughed a lot.  


...oh... and for some reason, as we were leaving, there were two middle-aged men playing football in the parking lot of Norm&rsquo;s at 1.00 am.  weird.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;memories&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-09T12:10:57-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/memories.php#unique-entry-id-352</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/memories.php#unique-entry-id-352</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was my birthday... 30 years!    holy old.


today&rsquo;s word was &ldquo;memories&rdquo; and this was the puzzle i got...


when i got to work, she&rsquo;d decorated my workspace.  as you probably know, i have been collecting the Mountain Dew Green Label Art bottles.    Stacy passed out cans of Dew to a bunch of people in the office and asked them to decorate them and creat our own ROCKHARBOR Label Art collection.  it was a pretty cool idea and i got some fairly creative entries.


after work, we got in Stacy&rsquo;s car and drove for a while not knowing where we were going.  in the end, we found ourselves in Santa Monica where we met Megan for dinner at Houston&rsquo;s on 3rd Street.  i&rsquo;d never been there before, so i was pretty excited.  (and the food was excellent!)


after dinner, we walked around 3rd Street and saw the coolest dog tricks i&rsquo;ve ever seen.  (check out the Jack Russell on the skateboard!)


while we were walking around 3rd Street, i got a text from Katie saying &ldquo;Happy Birthday.&rdquo;  when i texted back that we were here, she asked if she and Alec could come and see us.  i said, &ldquo;of course!&rdquo;   and so we got to hang out with them too!


all-in-all... an excellent birthday!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;starting new&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-09-08T13:12:22-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/startingnew.php#unique-entry-id-351</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/startingnew.php#unique-entry-id-351</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first, i weighed in this morning.


today&rsquo;s words from Stacy were &ldquo;Starting New.&rdquo;  i found this puzzle in my car.  at the front desk was a Biola Sweatshirt as today was my first day teaching at Biola University.


i&rsquo;m teaching two classes at Biola this semester.  the first is an internship class and the second is an evangelism and discipleship  class.  today was my first day and it was pretty freakin&rsquo; awesome!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;starting bad and ending well&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-09-07T13:12:13-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/startingbadendingwell.php#unique-entry-id-350</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/startingbadendingwell.php#unique-entry-id-350</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i woke up this morning to the ringing of my phone.  before i answered, somehow i just knew...


...now, it&rsquo;s not like we didn&rsquo;t see it coming... we did.  in fact, over the past few years, we&rsquo;d gotten used to being told &ldquo;she&rsquo;s only got a day or two left,&rdquo; but then she&rsquo;d always make some miraculous recovery and be home in a day or two.  


fortunately, this wasn&rsquo;t like any of those times.  there was no traumatic episode or rush to the hospital.  she simply went peacefully in the night.


after i got the news, i still had to go and work at church.  after church, i was supposed to go sailing with Michael Anthony, Kit and Tommy.  however, given the events of the day, i headed up to the house to be with my family.  we spent the afternoon eating (a lot) and talking and laughing.  it was good to be together.


Stacy stayed home today because she had planned something for tonight to kick off my birthday week.  when i got back to my place around 5.30, she was in the kitchen preparing a dinner for me.  i took a quick nap and when i got up she had finished cooking.  but then things got a little weird.


dinner was ready, but she just kept talking instead of serving the food.  then the doorbell rang.  it was Tommy.  he said that he was driving back from the marina (they went sailing without me) and had a birthday present he wanted to drop off.  (a signed copy of his old Basix cd... best present ever!)    he gave it to me... we laughed... he said he didn&rsquo;t want to interrupt our &ldquo;romantic dinner&rdquo;... and then he kept talking.  then the doorbell rang again.  it was Timmy.


i knew that Timmy had taken my place on the sailing trip and so, i assumed that he must have been parking the car or waiting in the car for Tommy and had gotten sick of waiting.  but as we&rsquo;re talking, Stacy reaches into a cabinet and pulls out a whole bowl of popcorn.  this confused me a bit.  just then, the front door opened again and in came more people.  it was a reverse surprise party!  

...the title of the party was &ldquo;the one where matt turns 30&rdquo; (just like the &ldquo;Friends&rdquo; episode) and was mostly like a kid&rsquo;s birthday party.  we had hats, toys and even a pi&ntilde;ata!  

...at the end of the night, Stacy gave me a gift that it took me a while to understand.  (i&rsquo;m slow like that.)  it was a series of picture frames each with a word for each day of the coming week.  these were to be hints of what that day would hold.  the words were &ldquo;surprise&rdquo; (for today), &ldquo;starting new,&rdquo; &ldquo;memories,&rdquo; &ldquo;simple,&rdquo; &ldquo;relax,&rdquo; and &ldquo;test.&rdquo;  i&rsquo;m excited to see what she&rsquo;s got planned!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;stacy&#x27;s back...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-06T13:12:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stacysback.php#unique-entry-id-349</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stacysback.php#unique-entry-id-349</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy came back from her trip and we spent a night in after church tonight.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a new photo&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-05T13:12:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newphoto.php#unique-entry-id-348</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newphoto.php#unique-entry-id-348</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as you probably know, i edit our Family Time Curriculum at ROCKHARBOR.  as i was doing this month&rsquo;s edition, i realized that the picture of me that we&rsquo;ve been using in it was from my pre-weight watchers days.  it was time for a new headshot for a thinner matt.  this is it.  (though in the curriculum it&rsquo;s cropped down to just a headshot.)


also, today i accepted a job as an editor/writer for David C.   Cook on the project between ROCKHARBOR and Cook.  so, now i have three jobs!    crazy!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a night at home with Rambo&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-04T13:11:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nightwithrambo.php#unique-entry-id-346</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nightwithrambo.php#unique-entry-id-346</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy went on a girls surf trip to San Diego for a few days, so i stayed in tonight and watched the newest Rambo movie.  very violent.  very good.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;waking up with the kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-02T13:11:49-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wakingupwithkids.php#unique-entry-id-345</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wakingupwithkids.php#unique-entry-id-345</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[they&rsquo;re just so cute
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;another birthday celebration and a sleepover&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-09-01T13:11:39-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/birthdayandsleepover.php#unique-entry-id-344</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/birthdayandsleepover.php#unique-entry-id-344</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first things first...


tonight, we had another birthday get-together thing at my parents...


afterwards, Stacy and i took the kids back to my place and had a sleepover!    Chino and i made my room into the boys room and Stacy and Nani made the guest room into the girls room.  it was way fun!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a birthday bash and a tour of the 3000 building&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-31T15:53:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/birthdaybashandtour.php#unique-entry-id-343</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/birthdaybashandtour.php#unique-entry-id-343</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we went over to my uncle Vaughn&rsquo;s to celebrate Lorenzo (my newest little cousin), Beau, me, Meri and my dad&rsquo;s birthdays.


Kaela was thrilled to see me!


not a bad view from their back porch!


then, i took Stacy over for a quick tour of the new 3000 building.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;construction update and my video library&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-30T15:45:12-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/constructionandvideos.php#unique-entry-id-342</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/constructionandvideos.php#unique-entry-id-342</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it&rsquo;s been a while since i&rsquo;ve shown you all the progress on the construction downstairs.  it&rsquo;s all coming along pretty amazingly.  almost done actually!


also, you may (or may not) be aware of my movie collecting fetish.  the closet of my guest bedroom/office is pretty much my video library and it needed to be sorted a bit today.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;RA with Kirscher and Wii Fit with Stacy&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-29T15:39:42-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/raandwii.php#unique-entry-id-341</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/raandwii.php#unique-entry-id-341</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, Kirsch came down and went to dinner with us at RA.  i love that place!    (sushi and Mountain Dew&trade;... great combo!)


then, Stacy and i went back and had a little Wii Fit workout.  (i&rsquo;m not very good at the heading soccer balls game... but i&rsquo;m really good at the hoola-hoop game.  and that&rsquo;s a little weird because in reality, i can&rsquo;t hoola-hoop to save my life.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dinner with Nani and my parents at Islands&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-27T15:35:39-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dinneratislands.php#unique-entry-id-340</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dinneratislands.php#unique-entry-id-340</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we took Leilani from Erin so she could have one night with one kid and get a little break.  i picked her up and met everyone at Islands for dinner.  she was so freakin&rsquo; cute!    we were singing songs in the car together based on the names of people that she can say and she was trying to read to me from some picture book she had in the back seat.


at dinner, as you&rsquo;ll see, my dad tried on my sunglasses.  i&rsquo;m not sure why.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Disneyland disappointments and 31 sized jeans&#x22; </title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-26T15:29:14-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/disneylanddisappointments.php#unique-entry-id-339</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/disneylanddisappointments.php#unique-entry-id-339</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we really wanted to go on the new Toy Story ride at DCA tonight... but by the time we go there, DCA was closed.  very disappointing.  


we started to wait in line for Space Mountain, but it was ridiculously long and slow so we bailed, hit up Astro Blasters and went shopping.


i bought a new pair of jeans at Quiksilver.  they were 32s which is pretty amazing.  but the crazier thing is, i fit into the 31s!    however, they weren&rsquo;t really practical as they were cutting off the blood supply to my legs.  but i got in them and i got them buttoned and everything!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weighing in and visiting Ted&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-25T15:26:23-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighinginandvisitingted.php#unique-entry-id-338</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighinginandvisitingted.php#unique-entry-id-338</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[if you know me, you know that i do two things every week.


i weigh-in as part of my weight watchers experiment...


and i go to counseling with Ted.  people sometimes ask me, &ldquo;what does Ted look like?&rdquo;    well, today we were doing some scheduling for the coming month and i had my phone out so that i could check my calendar and i snuck a quick shot of Ted.  shhh... don&rsquo;t tell!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;on stage with Stacy&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-24T15:20:40-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/onstagewithstacy.php#unique-entry-id-337</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/onstagewithstacy.php#unique-entry-id-337</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy was teaching in Studio K today.  she had the kids drawing the story as she told it.  it was pretty cool.  i took some pics.  


these are the celebrate stations i designed this summer.  we have them in every area of family ministries.  the idea is, when God&rsquo;s been doing something that you want to celebrate, you grab a rock out of the basket on the side, write something on the rock and place it on top of the station.  it&rsquo;s been really cool to see our families doing this together.


oh... and the Joker got Stacy.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a baby shower at my house?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-10T09:11:06-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/babyshowerattheh.php#unique-entry-id-336</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/babyshowerattheh.php#unique-entry-id-336</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[yeah... i&rsquo;m not sure either.  somehow, Cori Cook ended up being in charge of throwing Brandi a baby shower and somehow that shower ended up at my house today.  


i let them in, took some pictures (to document the odd, ridiculousness of the event) and got the hell out before the thing started.


note to self... no more baby showers at The H.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;kids&#x2c; scout and RA&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-08T09:04:24-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsscoutra2.php#unique-entry-id-335</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsscoutra2.php#unique-entry-id-335</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today we went to see the kids, visit the dogs and have some dinner at RA.


i&rsquo;m not sure what Stacy&rsquo;s brewing in her cauldron there.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the annual YLFC car show&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-23T13:40:54-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ylfccarshow.php#unique-entry-id-334</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ylfccarshow.php#unique-entry-id-334</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[there was something that, for some odd reason, drew me back to the car show this year.  i don&rsquo;t know if it&rsquo;s because i planned it one year or i&rsquo;ve been going for several years now, but for some reason, it&rsquo;s the one Friends event i keep going back to.  fortunately, i&rsquo;ve been lucky and have only been running into people that i wanted to see.  (yes... there are those that i&rsquo;d rather not see.)


anyway, it ended up being a really fun night and i got to hang out with Letty and Savana a bit more.  plus, i got to see Stuart, Jay, Victoria, Tori, Kaysie, the Service Team, Sabrina, Bri, the Hambright&rsquo;s, the Haines&rsquo;, the Lockard&rsquo;s and a bunch of other people i don&rsquo;t get to see enough of anymore.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;naps&#x2c; nose rings and birthdays&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-22T13:40:51-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/napslipringsbirthdays.php#unique-entry-id-333</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/napslipringsbirthdays.php#unique-entry-id-333</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, since we were celebrating my dad and sister&rsquo;s birthdays today (even though their birthdays are on Sunday), we decided we&rsquo;d get my dad something that he keeps saying he wants.  see, he always makes fun of Stacy&rsquo;s nose ring and jokes that my mom should get one.  so we got her a fake one.  (i tried it on too.)


he laughed, though not as much as i&rsquo;d hoped for. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;last days and helium sticks&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-08-20T13:40:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lastdaysheliumsticks.php#unique-entry-id-331</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lastdaysheliumsticks.php#unique-entry-id-331</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, as you may or may not know, i&rsquo;m going to be teaching a few classes at Biola in the fall.  of course, the irony of this is not lost on anyone who knows me and knows that i&rsquo;ve always made fun of Biola.  but there are two reasons that i&rsquo;ve decided to do this.


first, i&rsquo;ve been asked to help change some of the very things i&rsquo;ve made fun of.  (not all of them... but some of them.)


second, the classes that i&rsquo;m teaching are in areas that i&rsquo;ve been personally exploring.  the first class is an Evangelism and Discipleship class where we&rsquo;re going to look at what it even means to be a Christian and what kind of response we can have to a God who loves us the way He does.  of course, this relates directly to my blog from last month (&ldquo;my significant insignificance and maybe too much information&rdquo;).


anyway, the reason i bring this up is that it became the subject of our entire retreat here.  i got to test out some of my ideas and thoughts on these kids and they loved it and we had some great conversations.  i&rsquo;m excited to get into the classroom and give this stuff a go.  it&rsquo;ll be cool because we&rsquo;ll all be on a journey together discovering the same things instead of my simply standing and lecturing and giving the &ldquo;right answers.&rdquo;


today was the last day of the retreat here and we looked at ourselves in the context of history and God&rsquo;s big story.  it was a great sendoff for all of us.  but before we go, we had to complete the annual tradition of playing Helium Stick.


if you don&rsquo;t know what Helium Stick is, you have to try it some time.  get some thin bamboo sticks (you can get a bag of 5 at Home Depot for like a buck) and have 4-6 people get in a group.  hold the stick out at about shoulder level and have them gather on both sides.  they can use one finger (their pointer) which must be facing up with the stick laying on top of it and must be straight out (not crooked).  the group has to lower the stick to the ground without letting anyone&rsquo;s fingers come off the stick at any point.  if someone&rsquo;s finger comes off even for a second, the group must start over.  


lower a stick to the ground together.  sounds easy!    ha ha.  sadly, nobody succeeded this year.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;talent show?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-19T13:40:45-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/notquitetalent.php#unique-entry-id-330</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/notquitetalent.php#unique-entry-id-330</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we had our annual &ldquo;talent&rdquo; show.  (we use the word talent very loosely.)


we gave each group of kids a few random objects and gave them one minute to come up with a three minute skit (which we would judge from our couch).  needless to say... they weren&rsquo;t good.  though some were entertaining!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;playing cards and sitting in the heat&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-18T13:40:43-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/playcardshotsun.php#unique-entry-id-329</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/playcardshotsun.php#unique-entry-id-329</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[not much to say here.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;going back to Ari&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-17T13:40:39-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goingbacktoari.php#unique-entry-id-328</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goingbacktoari.php#unique-entry-id-328</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[hmmm... maybe doesn&rsquo;t work as well as Cali.


anyway, back to Arizona for the Service Team Leadership Retreat!


i found this application in the iTunes app store where you can &ldquo;Joker-ise&rdquo; your friends.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a new store and a new building&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-16T13:40:35-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newstorenewbuilding.php#unique-entry-id-327</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newstorenewbuilding.php#unique-entry-id-327</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[while we were in Havasu, the Urban Ranch Market opened downstairs and they began giving tours of the new tower that was just finished.  (it has the first rooftop pool in Orange County.)


okay, so it has the first rooftop pool.  it&rsquo;s small and disappointing but has a nice view.  and the market is a great idea, but it&rsquo;s all organic and fancy and doesn&rsquo;t really have stuff that i would want (including Mountain Dew).]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;cleanin&#x27; up and goin&#x27; home&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-15T13:40:33-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cleaningupgoinghome.php#unique-entry-id-326</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cleaningupgoinghome.php#unique-entry-id-326</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the title pretty much says it all.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;in the land of hot dirt&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-08-14T13:40:29-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/landofhotdirt.php#unique-entry-id-325</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/landofhotdirt.php#unique-entry-id-325</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we have decided that the state motto for Arizona should be &ldquo;Arizona... the land of hot dirt.&rdquo;


what do you think?  

...anyway... we&rsquo;re here in Havasu for a couple of days.  i&rsquo;m doing the annual Service Team Leadership Retreat up here next week and wanted to come up here and get things ready.  (also, i wanted to play on the sweet new Sea-Doos.)


this morning, i was hungry and wanted an Uncrustable sandwich.  i didn&rsquo;t, however, want to wait 20-30 minutes for the thing to defrost.  fortunately, when it&rsquo;s 110 degrees outside, 3 minutes on the driveway will do it!


we had to apply the identification numbers to the Sea Doos before we could take them out.    Alex did the ones in the first picture and i did the ones in the second.  i think mine look better, but he disagrees.


it may be hot dirt... but it is beautiful hot dirt sometimes.


tonight, we went to Mudsharks for dinner and then discovered something new in Havasu.  a few months ago, the WalMart here shut down.  now, i hate WalMart.  i hate it with a passion.  it&rsquo;s trashy and dirty and.... i just don&rsquo;t like it.  anyway, when the WalMart shut down it was because they were opening a WalMart SuperCenter down the road.  tonight, we dropped by and i was a little surprised to find that it&rsquo;s freaking amazing!!!    of course, it&rsquo;s brand new and a year from now it will probably be crap, but this place is nice and huge and has everything.


while we were at WalMart... i found that someone figured out how to bottle me!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;visiting the cousins&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-12T13:40:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/visitingcousins.php#unique-entry-id-322</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/visitingcousins.php#unique-entry-id-322</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy and i went over to Bekie&rsquo;s tonight to hang out.  i got a few shots of Beau.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;comic books and the end of the world&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-11T13:40:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/comicbooksendworld.php#unique-entry-id-321</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/comicbooksendworld.php#unique-entry-id-321</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, Phil Hotsenpiller and Rob Liefeld have been working on their graphic novel about the end of the world.  today, i spent a few hours proofing it.  


check it out at www.armageddonnow.net
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weigh-in and game night&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-11T13:40:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighingamenight.php#unique-entry-id-320</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighingamenight.php#unique-entry-id-320</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first things first...


tonight, we had game night with Ang and Alex and played Apples to Apples.  fun game!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;and today we head home&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-06T13:40:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/headinghome.php#unique-entry-id-317</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/headinghome.php#unique-entry-id-317</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it&rsquo;s back to Cali today!


Megan is clearly upset that i&rsquo;m leaving her


these are the Cruse kids (family friends) who were on the same flight as us]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Cheeseburgers for the last night&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-05T13:40:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cheeseburgerslastnight.php#unique-entry-id-316</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cheeseburgerslastnight.php#unique-entry-id-316</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it was our last night...


so we went to Cheeseburgers in Paradise.  (the burgers at Leilani&rsquo;s were better!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;they had lunch at Leilanis...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-04T13:40:05-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lunchatleilanis.php#unique-entry-id-315</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lunchatleilanis.php#unique-entry-id-315</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[...i don&rsquo;t know where i was.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;breakfast at Castaways&#x2c; a walk to the Whaler and dinner at Outback&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-03T13:40:01-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/castawaysandoutback.php#unique-entry-id-314</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/castawaysandoutback.php#unique-entry-id-314</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first, we had breakfast at Castaways Cafe...


then, i walked down to the Whaler for some sun...


then, we had Meri&rsquo;s last dinner with us at Outback Steakhouse
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the day we&#x27;ve been waiting for for 23 years&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-02T13:39:58-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meganworks.php#unique-entry-id-313</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meganworks.php#unique-entry-id-313</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it&rsquo;s true.  i saw it for myself with my very own eyes.  it happened. 


Megan is working.  


no... seriously.  like a real job.  


tonight we went to Leilani&rsquo;s and Megan was our waitress.  just imagine the fun we had bossing her around.  (and she didn&rsquo;t even spill anything!)


Stephanie works there too.


Ashley is clearly outraged by the sub-par service we&rsquo;re receiving.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i wish the food was as good as the view&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-08-01T13:39:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/foodandview.php#unique-entry-id-312</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/foodandview.php#unique-entry-id-312</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we tried a new restaurant tonight.  amazing view and beautiful place!    too bad the food was really expensive and not very good.  (i think that&rsquo;s how they cover the cost of the real estate.)  oh... and our old friend Charly (Megan&rsquo;s friend who was a student when i was teaching at Lutheran High) came to stay for a few days.


there&rsquo;s a good one!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;guitar hero and couch time&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-31T13:39:43-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/guitarherocouchtime.php#unique-entry-id-311</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/guitarherocouchtime.php#unique-entry-id-311</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Whaler construction and dinner at Kimo&#x27;s&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-30T13:39:15-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/whalerandkimos.php#unique-entry-id-310</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/whalerandkimos.php#unique-entry-id-310</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[went down to the Whaler today... they&rsquo;re doing a lot of construction on that place!    (it needs it too... getting kinda ghetto.)


dinner at Kimo&rsquo;s...  (we took lots of pictures with the last one being absolutely the best Barnes family picture ever taken)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Ruth&#x27;s Chris is good&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-29T13:39:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ruthschrisisgood.php#unique-entry-id-309</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ruthschrisisgood.php#unique-entry-id-309</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[kids only dinner at Ruth&rsquo;s Chris Steakhouse.  mmmm!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weighing in and i hate United Airlines&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-07-28T13:39:04-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ihateunitedairlines.php#unique-entry-id-308</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ihateunitedairlines.php#unique-entry-id-308</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first things first...


so, a few months back, my favorite airline for flying to Maui went out of business.  because of this, i was forced to find a new one and ended up on United out of LAX.  this was a mistake.


first, they have a 45 minute before boarding check-in policy and i missed it by two minutes because i had been waiting in their ridiculously long lines for 40 minutes.  not only would they not let me on, but they were incredibly rude to me about it.  


second, when i talked to the United rep on the phone a few days ago, he told me that i needed to be &ldquo;as close to 50 lbs. as possible&rdquo; with my luggage.  apparently my bag was 56 lbs. and so they charged me $100 and basically told me i was stupid.  when i told them what the man on the phone had said, the lady called me a liar.  awesome.


anyway, after dealing with all of that, i finally got to get on the next plane and deal with their equally rude flight attendants.  


i hate United.  i will NEVER be using them again.  (you shouldn&rsquo;t either.)


at least i had a really cute and funny two year old sitting next to me on the flight.  he was either talking to me or sleeping the whole time and he never cried once.  the perfect child.  (of course, he did crap himself while he slept and mom didn&rsquo;t want to wake him up so i got to deal with that smell for an hour or so, but it was already a pretty crappy flight so what was a little more?)


oh, by the way... gas in Hawaii... mucho expensivo.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;autistic kids&#x2c; goodbye lunches and the cutest three year old ever&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-27T13:38:58-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidslunchesandthreeyearolds.php#unique-entry-id-307</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidslunchesandthreeyearolds.php#unique-entry-id-307</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we had an autistic four year old at church today who could read and write better than most second graders!    it was pretty impressive.  and then he used the magnets to spell the word &ldquo;gay&rdquo; and went around yelling it.  we&rsquo;re not sure why.  eventually, i convinced him to spell something else and he changed &ldquo;gay&rdquo; into &ldquo;guys.&rdquo;  i don&rsquo;t think he put the two words together in his mind.


after church, we had a goodbye lunch for one of our interns, Brianna.  sad to say goodbye... good to eat at Haus of Pizza!


finally, it was off to Lori Root&rsquo;s house for a get-together with our old (and soon to be returning to Orange County) friend, Debbie Guinn.  her grand daughter, Ruby was there and she is ADORABLE!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i wanted to believe&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-26T13:38:54-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/iwantedtobelieve.php#unique-entry-id-306</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/iwantedtobelieve.php#unique-entry-id-306</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, i got up and went to see the new X-Files movie...   &ldquo;The X-Files: I Want to Believe.&rdquo;  i wanted to believe it would be awesome.  i now hate Chris Carter for destroying what he so perfectly started years ago.  (in other words, the movie SUCKED!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;new laws and cute kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-25T13:38:50-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newlawscutekids.php#unique-entry-id-305</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newlawscutekids.php#unique-entry-id-305</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i spent a lot of time in the car and on the phone today.  of course, i use my bluetooth headset all the time now thanks to the new California State Hands-Free law!


and i stopped by to see the kids.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;meetings and a departure&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-23T13:38:38-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meetingsanddeparture.php#unique-entry-id-303</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meetingsanddeparture.php#unique-entry-id-303</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we had more meetings with Janet and Sharron (they&rsquo;re here to meet with us for two weeks) and then i had to take Stacy to the airport to send her off to Romania.  (strangely, we forgot to take pictures of this.... but i took a picture of the terminal on the way out because i thought of it as i was leaving!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the family meets the Cook people&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-22T13:38:31-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/familyandcook.php#unique-entry-id-302</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/familyandcook.php#unique-entry-id-302</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we had our first all-in meeting with Janet and Sharron from David C.   Cook.  it was awesome.  (and the picture at the bottom is directly quoted from a conversation the occurred.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;where a kid can be a kid&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-21T13:38:24-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/whereakidcanbeakid.php#unique-entry-id-301</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/whereakidcanbeakid.php#unique-entry-id-301</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was Leilani&rsquo;s second birthday.  well, actually it wasn&rsquo;t quite yet, but we went to Chuck E.   Cheese&rsquo;s to celebrate her upcoming birthday since Stacy will be in Romania.


also, i stopped by Fashion Island today and was shocked to see the the line for the iPhone was still going strong!!!    (the people in line were, i&rsquo;m sure, thrilled that i was taking pictures of them waiting for the very thing i was taking pictures of them with!)


oh yeah... and i weighed in today.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;back for more&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-20T13:38:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/moredarkknight.php#unique-entry-id-300</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/moredarkknight.php#unique-entry-id-300</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy and i went to see The Dark Knight today.  


it was still awesome.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;an early morning and a Dark Knight&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-19T13:37:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlymorningdarkknight.php#unique-entry-id-299</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlymorningdarkknight.php#unique-entry-id-299</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[since we missed the big opening on Thursday night, Tyler, Alex, Ang and i went to see The Dark Knight this morning at 11:00.    (Stacy thought sleeping was more important.)


it was amazing.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the quest... day five&#x21; (and a celebration)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-07-18T00:00:06-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/questdayfour.php#unique-entry-id-298</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/questdayfour.php#unique-entry-id-298</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the last day of The Quest VBS.  it was awesome!  


for those of you who don&rsquo;t know, VBS (Vacation Bible School) is what churches traditionally do for kids for one week during the summer.  pretty much every church in America does it, and we&rsquo;re no exception.  (next year we might be, but that&rsquo;s another story.)  but this year, we decided that VBS needed a little bit of an overhaul.  


typically, a VBS will have a variety of stations for kids to go to all within the theme of the week.  so, the theme might be something tropical and cliche like &ldquo;Living in the Son&rdquo; (did you catch the ever-so-clever play on words there?    Christians can be so ridiculously lame sometimes.)  and each station (Bible story, crafts, worship, rec, memory verse, etc...) will have something to do with the theme.  and... that&rsquo;s pretty much it.  not too exciting.


we decided to take it further.  yeah... we have a theme (&ldquo;The Quest&rdquo; in case you haven&rsquo;t been paying attention. it&rsquo;s sorta a hybrid of &ldquo;Lost,&rdquo; &ldquo;Indiana Jones,&rdquo; and &ldquo;The Goonies.&rdquo;).  but the theme isn&rsquo;t what ties everything together (though it does play out in every area too.)  we start each day with a skit (written by Stacy and acted to perfection by myself and my fellow actors).  the skit sorta sets up a question or idea for the day in very broad strokes.  next, at the Treasure Trove of Truth (Bible Story Station), my character gives the kids a little behind the scenes look at the quest that the skit characters are on.  (i do my whole part for that station on video and we tell the kids that i&rsquo;m video podcasting each night on the island.  they love it.)  during this time, i reveal the &ldquo;ancient truth&rdquo; for that day.  (this is like our &ldquo;bottom line&rdquo; on the weekends.  it&rsquo;s the one thing we want to make sure they walk away knowing, understanding and remembering.)  as soon as they learn the ancient truth, they get a chance to respond to it in a unique way.  (some days it might be through worship or prayer or sharing stories... they actually get to decide how they want to respond.)  after that, they head to small groups where Erika put together and awesome small group booklet that gives them some things to discuss about applying the ancient truth to their lives.  the &ldquo;Artifact Creation Station&rdquo; (crafts) lets them create something (usually straight out of the skit) that they can take home to remind them of the ancient truth.  the &ldquo;Station of Mystery&rdquo; gives them a chance to discover a Bible verse that reinforces the ancient truth.  (this station is new and was completely different every day.  it was awesome!)    admittedly, the games station was pretty much just fun games that didn&rsquo;t tie in too much.  but that&rsquo;s okay... fun is important too.


anyway, today was awesome because we got to see the kids really responding to what they&rsquo;d discovered this week.  they knew all the ancient truths and some of them even shared stories of how they were applying them to their lives already.


then, to celebrate the past year in the lives of our families, we ended the week with our annual Family Celebrate Experience.  we had TK Burger, dancing, etc... and it was awesome.  but holy crap... i did a lot of walking today.  (i try to get 10,000 steps on a normal day.  check out my pedometer for today!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the quest... day three&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-16T23:51:43-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thequestdaythree.php#unique-entry-id-297</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thequestdaythree.php#unique-entry-id-297</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[here&rsquo;s a group of kids crossing the street to go to the Artifact Creation Station (aka- crafts).  now, what you don&rsquo;t see here, is that right after i took this picture, the kids noticed me and started to get excited.  all of us from the morning skits became instant celebrities with these kids.  (it was really funny actually.)  my character&rsquo;s name is Jack, so everywhere i go i hear &ldquo;Jack!    sign my shirt!&rdquo;   or &ldquo;Jack!    did you really crash the plane?&rdquo;    or &ldquo;Jack, let me wear your hat!&rdquo;    it&rsquo;s been a lot of fun!


then, tonight we went and had dinner with the kids.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the quest... day two&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-15T23:50:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/questdaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-296</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/questdaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-296</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this is a picture from the &ldquo;Station of Mystery.&rdquo;  i&rsquo;d tell you what it is... but that would seem to ruin the point.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the quest begins&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-14T23:45:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thequestbegins.php#unique-entry-id-295</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thequestbegins.php#unique-entry-id-295</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was day one of The Quest VBS at ROCKHARBOR church!    (and Erin brought the kids down to see the opening session.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;iPhone day... the sequel (and a funny-raiser)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-11T22:35:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/iphonesequel.php#unique-entry-id-294</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/iphonesequel.php#unique-entry-id-294</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i went to get my iPhone 3G today (of course i did!).  the line was almost as long as last year, but this year they&rsquo;re making you activate in-store and they&rsquo;re having some real problems.  they let the first people in at 8.00 am and by 8.45, those people hadn&rsquo;t left the store and nobody else had been let it.  


so, then i went to the AT&T store and they were already sold out.  


tonight was the Team RO &ldquo;funny-raiser&rdquo; (a fundraiser featuring an improv comedy group).  it was fun!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;my significant insignificance and maybe too much information&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2008-08-02T01:11:30-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/significantlyinsignificant.php#unique-entry-id-293</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/significantlyinsignificant.php#unique-entry-id-293</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as i&rsquo;ve been here in Maui for the past few days, i&rsquo;ve been spending a lot of my time reading in preparation for my first college teaching assignment at Biola this fall.  the book that i&rsquo;ve been spending most of my time on is by a pastor from Simi Valley named Francis Chan and is called Crazy Love.  (by the way, i absolutely recommend that you go straight to amazon.com or wherever after you&rsquo;re done reading this and pick up this book.)


the book is really challenging.  it really makes you think about who God is and who we are in relationship to Him.  it makes you deal with the realities of what God really expects from us and the appropriate ways to respond to His crazy love for us.  


there&rsquo;s a part of the book that talks about how small we are in reality.  it even points to a video (&ldquo;the awe factor of God&rdquo;) on Francis&rsquo; website where he (very briefly) shows how small we are in the grand design of the cosmos.  (it&rsquo;s pretty crazy really.)  anyway, all of this is good and somewhat impactful when you&rsquo;re reading it in a book, but you have to encounter it for it to really hit you hard.  (at least, i do.)


tonight, i went out for a walk.  (i go on night walks at least a few nights a week if not more.  it&rsquo;s how i wind down and process the day with God.)  anyhow, i was walking up and down our neighborhood here in Kaanapali having a nice little walk and talk with God when i hit a dark spot... the in-between spot for two streetlights.  i hit that spot and, for some reason, i looked up.  it was amazing.


there were so many stars.  and it seemed like, the more i stared at the sky, the more stars appeared.  as if they were responding to my gaze, stars started popping out of the blackness and the void of space began to fill with specks of light.  i literally couldn&rsquo;t move for a moment.  suddenly, the things i had just been talking with God about seemed rather insignificant.  in fact, life in general seemed pretty insignificant.  


i was reminded of Francis&rsquo; video and the fact that all of those stars that i could see (including ours) when put together are but a speck of light from a perspective outside of our galaxy.  suddenly, the Earth felt pretty small and insignificant.  and if the whole Earth is small and insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe, what does that say about me?


but here&rsquo;s the weird part.  the fact that God created all of that and still cares about what could easily be considered the insignificant details of my life is pretty insane to think about.  to Him, they&rsquo;re not insignificant.  to Him, i&rsquo;m not insignificant.  to Him, i matter and so do the details of my life.  that just doesn&rsquo;t make any sense to me.  (not that i&rsquo;m complaining!)


suddenly, all i wanted to do was worship God somehow.  and then it happened.  (and this is the part that might be considered too much information.)  as i began to contemplate how i could possibly respond in an appropriate manner, my dinner began to settle, my stomach growled and, standing there in the middle of the street looking up at the stars... i farted.


immediately i started to laugh at the irony of that moment.  i mean... not only am i a small, seemingly (and reasonably so) insignificant being, but i&rsquo;m gross and, in this moment, gassy.  and yet, even in the midst of the great cosmos that He created, He still cares.  as disgusting as i can be (both inside and out), He still loves me with an unbelievable love.


...ps... if you wanna be blown away by how small we really are, check out the wikipedia entry on galaxies.  after i just read that, i&rsquo;m feeling even smaller.  (each galaxy has somewhere between 10 million and 1 trillion stars and there are more than 100 billion galaxies out there!  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;small chairs and late nights at Denny&#x27;s&#x2122;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-13T23:18:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/smallchairsanddennys.php#unique-entry-id-289</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/smallchairsanddennys.php#unique-entry-id-289</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight we finished setting up the Centre for VBS after the last service.  we used these little chairs from the Preschool Playhouse to mark off the different areas.  i like sitting in them.


afterwards, we were exhausted and we had to be back in just a few short hours.  so what did we do?    we went to Denny&rsquo;s&trade;!    in hindsight, not the best choice, but it was still fun (even though the service was awful and so was the bacon).
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a swim with the kiddies and getting my iPhone&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-12T23:18:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidswim.php#unique-entry-id-288</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidswim.php#unique-entry-id-288</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i finally got my iPhone 3G today!!!    also, Stacy&rsquo;s mom was in town, so they brought the kids up to my parent&rsquo;s to go swimming.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;VBS video shoot&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-09T23:18:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbsvideoshoot.php#unique-entry-id-287</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbsvideoshoot.php#unique-entry-id-287</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, part of the VBS fun is that our characters from the skit are also in some video segments for another station.  tonight, we shot those at my place and had a little photo shoot by the pool.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a new haircut and building a temple&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-08T23:18:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/haircuttemple.php#unique-entry-id-286</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/haircuttemple.php#unique-entry-id-286</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, i got a new haircut.  but not just another haircut... my stylist (Laurel) wanted to have some fun, so i let her.  she called it a complete hair makeover.  anyway, it&rsquo;s totally different for me but i love it!


and then i went over to ROCKHARBOR to check out the set Kit is building for VBS.  check out the size of that temple!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dropping the lbs&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-07T23:18:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/droppinglbs.php#unique-entry-id-285</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/droppinglbs.php#unique-entry-id-285</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;VBS skit rehearsal&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-06T23:18:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbsskitrehearsal.php#unique-entry-id-284</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbsskitrehearsal.php#unique-entry-id-284</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was our first rehearsal for VBS.  this is gonna be fun!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a different kind of 4th&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-07-04T23:18:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/different4th.php#unique-entry-id-283</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/different4th.php#unique-entry-id-283</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[normally, on the 4th of July, we have our annual Barnez Family Extravaganza at either my uncle&rsquo;s house or my parent&rsquo;s.  however, this year, everyone was out of town so we had to improvise.


somehow, that meant spaghetti at my parent&rsquo;s.  anyway, afterward we went back to my place to watch the fireworks from my balcony.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a new guitar hero and a trip to the d-land&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-03T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newherodland.php#unique-entry-id-282</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newherodland.php#unique-entry-id-282</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, i picked up the new &ldquo;Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.&rdquo;  it&rsquo;s fun, but i wish they had a U2 version!


later, we headed out to Disneyland!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;on the phone again&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-02T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/onthephoneagain.php#unique-entry-id-281</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/onthephoneagain.php#unique-entry-id-281</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i was on the phone a lot today... so i took a picture or two of that.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i love LA... though i&#x27;m not sure why&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-26T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ilovela.php#unique-entry-id-280</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ilovela.php#unique-entry-id-280</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today i had to run some errands up in LA.  i haven&rsquo;t been up there in a while, but there&rsquo;s something about LA that i really do just love.  i have no idea why though.  i mean... it&rsquo;s dirty and trashy and everything&rsquo;s old and falling apart.  but there&rsquo;s something about it that i love!


unfortunately, right after i took this picture, i dropped my iPhone and the glass shattered.  lame!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;filling in for Liz&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-07-01T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/fillinginforliz.php#unique-entry-id-279</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/fillinginforliz.php#unique-entry-id-279</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[our receptionist, Liz, is out of town and so i volunteered to fill one of her shifts this morning.


she has the hardest job at the church... for sure.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;breaking into the 100s&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-30T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/inthe100s.php#unique-entry-id-278</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/inthe100s.php#unique-entry-id-278</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;grad party delayed&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-28T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gradpartydelayed.php#unique-entry-id-276</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gradpartydelayed.php#unique-entry-id-276</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, even though i graduated over a month ago, we had a little grad open house today.


it was fun and i was really glad that the people who came, came... but there were a lot of people who RSVP&rsquo;d that they were coming and didn&rsquo;t.  that kinda sucked cuz the party was pretty much just an excuse to see people i don&rsquo;t get to see a lot and most of the people who came i see pretty often.  (except for Darci and Summer and Jess and Chad, of course!)


anyway, thanks to those who came!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a shanty in the office and a table read&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-25T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/officeshanty.php#unique-entry-id-274</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/officeshanty.php#unique-entry-id-274</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[our graphic designer, Tyler, has been out of town for a bit.  apparently, up in Cele-Com, they like to do things to each others offices when they&rsquo;re gone.  well, Keith Huckaby took that to a new level by actually building a shanty/office around Tyler&rsquo;s desk while he was gone.  it&rsquo;s pretty freakin&rsquo; amazing!


i guess that&rsquo;s what it takes to get a door around here! 


then, tonight, we a had a table-read for the skits for VBS.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;an early morning at the Pacific Whey&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-24T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pacificwhey.php#unique-entry-id-273</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pacificwhey.php#unique-entry-id-273</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this morning, we had our lead team meeting at Pacific Whey Cafe in Newport.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;down a pound&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-23T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/downapound.php#unique-entry-id-272</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/downapound.php#unique-entry-id-272</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;white doves and birthday parties&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-22T12:22:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dovesandbirthdays.php#unique-entry-id-271</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dovesandbirthdays.php#unique-entry-id-271</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, there was a white dove on my balcony. 


at least, i think that&rsquo;s what it was.  maybe it was a white pigeon.  either way, i thought it was weird cuz it was completely white.


later, we took Erin out for her birthday.  we went to Koji&rsquo;s.  the service was horrible, but we had a good time.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;another day missed&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-20T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/missedaday.php#unique-entry-id-270</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/missedaday.php#unique-entry-id-270</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[no pics.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;games at church&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-21T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/humility.php#unique-entry-id-269</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/humility.php#unique-entry-id-269</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i taught at church tonight... it was on humility.  everyone seems to think that&rsquo;s funny, but i&rsquo;m very proud of my humility!    anyway, the kids played some games too and since i didn&rsquo;t get pictures of me teaching, that&rsquo;s what you get!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;double date&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-19T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/doubledate.php#unique-entry-id-268</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/doubledate.php#unique-entry-id-268</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we went on a double date with Dawn.  dinner at Ra and The Incredible Hulk... and Pinkberry.  a good night!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;finishing my independent study&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-18T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/finishingschool.php#unique-entry-id-267</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/finishingschool.php#unique-entry-id-267</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, i worked to finish my independent study.  but, it&rsquo;s not just that... when i finished the independent study... i finished grad school!    i&rsquo;m officially done!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;puppets and a grad party&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-17T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/puppetsandgrad.php#unique-entry-id-266</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/puppetsandgrad.php#unique-entry-id-266</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Michelle&rsquo;s about to lead a trip to Panama and so she ordered some ethincally diverse puppets to take with her team.  they arrived today and we had a little fun in the office.


and then, that night, we had Chantel Anthony&rsquo;s grad party.  (the pictures from my iPhone did not come out well.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;crap... gained weight&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-16T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/2015.php#unique-entry-id-265</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/2015.php#unique-entry-id-265</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;where people come from&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-15T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/michellesparents.php#unique-entry-id-264</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/michellesparents.php#unique-entry-id-264</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we met Michelle&rsquo;s parents.  always interesting to see where people come from!    plus, her mom has amazing hair.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the cutest kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-14T09:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cutekids.php#unique-entry-id-263</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cutekids.php#unique-entry-id-263</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a big meeting and a reunion of friends&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-06-13T00:19:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/friendsreunion.php#unique-entry-id-262</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/friendsreunion.php#unique-entry-id-262</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, today was a long-awaited day for a few reasons.


first, this morning was our meeting with the people from David C.   Cook publishing.    Michelle has been talking with them for a bit about them publishing some of our stuff.  well, last month she went out to meet with them in Colorado and it couldn&rsquo;t have gone better.  they want to partner with us to create their new curriculum and focus.  today, we got to meet with Janet from Cook and hear about some of the details.  to sum it up, it was AMAZING.  they actually want to send a team of writers to live in California and work with us.  we&rsquo;d be providing the vision and feedback as they write the curriculum.  i mean... this is huge.  


at the beginning of the meeting, Janet was explaining what they were wanting to do (team up with a church, etc...).  however, she was being very vague about whether or not they&rsquo;d decided it was us or if they were still looking.  so, Michelle finally asked the question, &ldquo;so, are you courting us or are you asking us to marry you?&rdquo;    this picture is of Janet in her response to that question.  she immediately got down on one knee and we all started laughing.


needless to say, we were (and are) all very excited about what this means for us.  it&rsquo;s gonna be pretty freakin&rsquo; amazing!


the second thing that made today a day worth waiting for, was that today was our &ldquo;formerly friends&rdquo; reunion at my place.  


David and Angela Robles (and their little girl, Rylee), Jennifer Stowell, Melissa Kirscher, Kit and Gina Rae, Dana Van Egdom (her husband Jeff couldn&rsquo;t make it), Stacy and i all got together for the first time since my birthday last year (September 9th, if you were wondering).  it was so great to catch up and find out what everyone&rsquo;s been up to.  it&rsquo;s amazing to see how God is using us all in different, but awesome ways all over California and the world.


tonight, we ate, caught up, played, ate, swam, ate and talked about what an amazing group of friends God brought together and how we need to be intentional about/open to how God might use us together in the future.  it was a great night and i don&rsquo;t remember the last time i laughed so hard!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a playdate in the park and 2nd one-year anniversary&#x2c; part two&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-12T00:13:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/parkplay.php#unique-entry-id-261</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/parkplay.php#unique-entry-id-261</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[we took the kids to the park this morning... so cute...


and then tonight I took Stacy to Javier&rsquo;s at the Spectrum for dinner...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;matching shoes and a trip to Target&#x2122;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-11T00:09:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shoesandtarget.php#unique-entry-id-260</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shoesandtarget.php#unique-entry-id-260</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Michelle and Stacy both got new shoes and they were quite excited about it...


and tonight we went to Target&trade; for a little shopping...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;our second&#x2c; first anniversary&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-06-10T23:43:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/secondfirst.php#unique-entry-id-259</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/secondfirst.php#unique-entry-id-259</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, Stacy and i celebrated one year together... again.  (this is the second time we made it one year.  we just haven&rsquo;t done it twice consecutively!)


since i&rsquo;ve got so much going on, Stacy planned our date for tonight.  i&rsquo;m planning one for Thursday night.  she took me to a sushi place down on the water in Newport and then to The Melting Pot for dessert.  amazing!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;22 pounds&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-09T23:42:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/twentytwopounds.php#unique-entry-id-258</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/twentytwopounds.php#unique-entry-id-258</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a cool car at church&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-08T23:40:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/churchcar.php#unique-entry-id-257</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/churchcar.php#unique-entry-id-257</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this car was parked in front of the church today.  funky.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;balloon poppin&#x27; fun&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-07T23:38:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/balloonpoppin.php#unique-entry-id-256</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/balloonpoppin.php#unique-entry-id-256</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we played a game with the kids in StudioK where they had to pop balloons.  you&rsquo;d be amazed at how kids can find a way to get themselves hurt just by popping balloons.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a cousin&#x27;s graduation&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-06T23:32:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kaelasgrad.php#unique-entry-id-255</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kaelasgrad.php#unique-entry-id-255</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, my little cousin Kaela graduated from 8th grade.  i&rsquo;m getting old.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;planning to celebrate&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-05T23:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/planningtocelebrate.php#unique-entry-id-254</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/planningtocelebrate.php#unique-entry-id-254</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we met at the Reichert&rsquo;s to plan out our Family Celebration Experience in July and to watch the game.  i didn&rsquo;t watch much of the game.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;team lunch at Cosi&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-04T23:27:43-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cosilunch.php#unique-entry-id-253</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cosilunch.php#unique-entry-id-253</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today we had lunch at Cosi... i freakin&rsquo; love this place!    amazing.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a birthday get together&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-28T21:03:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/crapnophoto.php#unique-entry-id-252</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/crapnophoto.php#unique-entry-id-252</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Adam&rsquo;s birthday get-together at Roman Cucina.  so good!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;construction update&#x2c; dinner with the Chandlers and a cold Vespa ride&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-03T01:51:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/constructiondinnervespa.php#unique-entry-id-251</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/constructiondinnervespa.php#unique-entry-id-251</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[pretty self-explanatory...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;another weigh-in and a visit with the Corks&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-02T01:51:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighincorks.php#unique-entry-id-250</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighincorks.php#unique-entry-id-250</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Sophie and Ella got haircuts... so cute!


i love them.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;more kids responding&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-06-01T01:51:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsrespond.php#unique-entry-id-249</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsrespond.php#unique-entry-id-249</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i know it&rsquo;s the same as yesterday, but it was really cool to see kids responding to God like that...


we also went to dinner with the fam at Islands.  i don&rsquo;t have pics of that though!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;kids at church and comedy night&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-31T01:50:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsandcomedy.php#unique-entry-id-248</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsandcomedy.php#unique-entry-id-248</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, we started some new things at church with the kids.  we created a response area in the back with some crosses where kids can pray, give and write notes of affirmation.  but first they built towers out of dixie cups.


and then, it was comedy night here at The Plaza


that guy was funny!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;some consulting and a wedding&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-30T01:50:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/consultingandwedding.php#unique-entry-id-246</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/consultingandwedding.php#unique-entry-id-246</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this morning, Michelle and i met with a group of about 25 leaders from Portland who want to know about RH and what we do in Families.  it was a lot of fun and they were really into it.


and then we had Angelina and Alex&rsquo;s wedding this afternoon...


even though weddings aren&rsquo;t my favorite, we had a great night!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a chance for change&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-29T01:50:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chanceforchange.php#unique-entry-id-245</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chanceforchange.php#unique-entry-id-245</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Michael Anthony (Michelle&rsquo;s husband) was recently made the Department Chair of the Christian Education department at Biola.  the awesome part is that he&rsquo;s completely redesigning the program from the ground up and he&rsquo;s asked me to be involved and to teach some classes next year.


so, today we had our first meeting with a bunch of people to talk about the future of the department and it was pretty awesome.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a new game for the wii&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-27T01:49:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newwiigame.php#unique-entry-id-244</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newwiigame.php#unique-entry-id-244</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[got me a new wii game!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;racing and walking&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-26T22:34:12-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/racingandwalking.php#unique-entry-id-243</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/racingandwalking.php#unique-entry-id-243</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first... a weigh-in...


then... a trip to Dromo 1 racing for Alex&rsquo;s bachelor party...


and then Stacy and i went for a walk
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Michelle teaches and Gina and Brianna drink juice boxes&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-25T22:34:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/michelleginabrianna.php#unique-entry-id-242</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/michelleginabrianna.php#unique-entry-id-242</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Michelle taught in The Hub (the high school group) today...


and then Brianna and Gina were drinking juice boxes in the preschool hallway.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;construction&#x2c; a beautiful day and a trip to Yogurtland&#x2122;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-24T22:34:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/constructionandyogurtland.php#unique-entry-id-241</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/constructionandyogurtland.php#unique-entry-id-241</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, it's been pretty cool/interesting to watch the construction going on outside my building.  the third tower is almost done and the shops down below are as well.  so, today i took some pictures.  (besides, it was BEAUTIFUL today.  nice and cool.)


and tonight, after church, Erica, Stacy and i went to Yogurtland&trade; for a little post-church snack.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a day in without pictures&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-23T22:34:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayinwithoutpics.php#unique-entry-id-240</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayinwithoutpics.php#unique-entry-id-240</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, we pretty much spent the day in today and didn&rsquo;t take any pictures of it.  don&rsquo;t think of it as a pictureless day as much as a day of nothing represented by an empty space in this blog (aka- i forgot to take a picture today).]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the return of a childhood hero&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-22T22:34:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/indianajonesreturn.php#unique-entry-id-239</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/indianajonesreturn.php#unique-entry-id-239</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the day i've been waiting for for 19 years.... the return of Dr.   Jones.


unfortunately, it was good, but great.  kinda like Indiana Jones meets the X-Files.  (i kept waiting for Mulder and Scully to show up.)


after that, we stopped by the mall so Stacy could buy some shorts.  (this is me waiting at the Quiksilver/Roxy store.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;RA for skit writing&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-21T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/raskits.php#unique-entry-id-238</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/raskits.php#unique-entry-id-238</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[yesterday was a hard day... today was harder.  though it ended okay, it was tough.  


so, Stacy, Kit, Tommy and i met up at RA to brainstorm ideas for the skits for VBS this summer.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;an evening with a murderous barber&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-20T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sweeneytodd.php#unique-entry-id-237</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sweeneytodd.php#unique-entry-id-237</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was a rough day in the office.  so, as Stacy was out with a friend tonight, Tyler came over and we watched Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.  it's the romantic and beautiful story of a wronged barber who decides to get his revenge by slicing the throats of his clients and allowing the woman who lives downstairs to use the bodies to sell mincemeat pies.  (it's a tragedy.)


ah... the romance.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a weigh in... early breakfast... and service team time&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-19T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighinbreakfastservice.php#unique-entry-id-236</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighinbreakfastservice.php#unique-entry-id-236</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[lost a few pounds...


had an early lead team meeting about some really cool opportunities...


had lunch with my friend Jorge...


and then i went to work with my Yorba Linda Service Team friends...


a good day all-in-all.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dinner on the beach&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-18T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dinneratcorona.php#unique-entry-id-235</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dinneratcorona.php#unique-entry-id-235</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[after a LONG day, Stacy and i hopped on the Vespa, picked up some Pei Wei and headed down to Corona del Mar for dinner and a walk.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the return of the Hero&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-17T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/heroreturn.php#unique-entry-id-234</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/heroreturn.php#unique-entry-id-234</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i hadn't played Guitar Hero in months... so i busted it out today.  


i'm still awesome.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a great t-shirt and hanging out with Kirscher... without pictures :-(&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-16T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dinnerwithkirsch.php#unique-entry-id-233</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dinnerwithkirsch.php#unique-entry-id-233</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first, Stacy bought me a sweet t-shirt...


um... and then Kirsch came down tonight and had dinner with us, but we didn't take any pictures.  that was dumb.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;office finale&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-15T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/officefinale.php#unique-entry-id-232</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/officefinale.php#unique-entry-id-232</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so we had people come over for The Office season finale but since Tyler didn't come through for me and wear his Dwight outfit, no pictures were taken.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dinner at Lucille&#x27;s&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-14T21:30:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lucillesdinner.php#unique-entry-id-231</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lucillesdinner.php#unique-entry-id-231</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today we had a Families Lead Team dinner at Lucille's.  (amazing food!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;capstone day&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-05-13T20:32:21-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/capstone.php#unique-entry-id-230</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/capstone.php#unique-entry-id-230</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was a day better than graduation... it was the day of my capstone presentation.


in our program, the capstone project and presentation is the culmination of all the work we've done.  mine is a project called "Reflections of Leadership on Popular Culture" and is an instructional resource on using popular culture to teach leadership concepts.  (you can download it here if you'd like to see it.)


anyway, today was my presentation and it went really well!    plus, my parents, Stacy, Michelle and some of my other friends got to see what i've been doing for the last two years.


(Rob Liefeld, Emily Cartaya, Michelle Anthony, Stacy Igarashi, me, Carrie Domen, mom, dad and Dave McIntire)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weight gain&#x21;?&#x21;?&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-12T20:31:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weightgain.php#unique-entry-id-229</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weightgain.php#unique-entry-id-229</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i'm up .2 pounds.  bummer!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;mother&#x27;s day on stage&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-11T20:31:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/momsdayonstage.php#unique-entry-id-228</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/momsdayonstage.php#unique-entry-id-228</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[being that it was Mother's Day and i was teaching in Studio K, i thought it would be fitting for mom to come down and teach with me.  we did and it was a blast!    the kids loved it too.


after that, we went to see Grandma and then to see the kids.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;AIDS walk 2008&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-10T20:31:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/aidswalk.php#unique-entry-id-227</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/aidswalk.php#unique-entry-id-227</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ROCKHARBOR went on the OC AIDS Walk.  it was cool to be one of the few faith based groups there especially since we were also the second largest group there overall!    (of course, it would be hard to beat the AIDS Support Foundation!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a baby and a bonfire&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-09T20:31:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/bonfireandbaby.php#unique-entry-id-226</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/bonfireandbaby.php#unique-entry-id-226</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Nani was SO cute when she fell asleep today...


and then tonight, we had a kidsROCK volunteer bonfire.... it was awesome.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a very early morning&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-08T20:31:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlymorning.php#unique-entry-id-225</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlymorning.php#unique-entry-id-225</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i woke up at 4.30 am and couldn't go back to sleep.  (bunch of loud snorers in my cabin!)


so, i went for a walk and a drive.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;RETREAT&#x21;&#x21;&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-07T20:31:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/retreattime.php#unique-entry-id-224</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/retreattime.php#unique-entry-id-224</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was our main day at staff retreat.  we were up at Ponderosa Pines Camp in Running Springs.  i didn't really know what to expect, but it was very cool to hear about how we're going to be approaching the vision of the church ("give yourself away") for the next year.  also, we spent some really intentional guided time in prayer.


plus, i got to hang out with a lot of people i didn't know very well before and even play a little volleyball.


and then we played spoons (with granola bars instead of spoons) until like 1 am.  (and i kicked Michelle's ass at some game called Rubbish.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;my desk&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-06T20:31:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mydesk.php#unique-entry-id-223</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mydesk.php#unique-entry-id-223</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i finished my desk today.  and then we left for staff retreat.


(that's a mountain dew bottle collection, mountain dew truck, jack-in-the-box bobble head, mountain dew license plate, Buddy Christ, MacBook, keyboard and mouse, Dunder Mifflin Mousepad, monitor, Office magnets and Ikea magnetic pen holders.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weigh-in and business cards&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-05T08:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/businesscards.php#unique-entry-id-222</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/businesscards.php#unique-entry-id-222</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today... i hit the 18 pound mark!    only 22 pounds to go.


also, i got my new business cards and my profile was (finally!)   posted on the ROCKHARBOR website.  (click here to check it out... a bit entertaining.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;exhausted&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-04T08:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/exhausted.php#unique-entry-id-221</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/exhausted.php#unique-entry-id-221</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was thoroughly exhausting.  church, interviews, dinner, meetings... i'm tired.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;in progress... no more&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-03T14:10:39-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gradday.php#unique-entry-id-220</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gradday.php#unique-entry-id-220</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[for two years, i've been writing "degree in progress" on r&eacute;sum&eacute;s and applications.  well, no more.  today was the day... graduation!    i am now a double master.  (you may reverently bow in accordance.)  check out the pics!


they were taking pictures of us... so i took pictures of them too!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a presentation and a hooding&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-02T14:10:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hooding.php#unique-entry-id-219</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hooding.php#unique-entry-id-219</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was Emily's thesis presentation.  she did a great job.  amazingly enough, it fit in perfectly with what we've been doing at RH and what the Orange Conference is about.  very cool.


that night, we had our hooding ceremony and banquet.  it was great to be able to be there with my friends from the program as well as Stacy and my parents.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;comin&#x27; home&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-05-01T14:10:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/backhome.php#unique-entry-id-218</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/backhome.php#unique-entry-id-218</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[back home now!    good to be back.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the freedom of total surrender&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2008-05-06T11:21:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/totalsurrender.php#unique-entry-id-217</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/totalsurrender.php#unique-entry-id-217</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[a lot of Christians talk about how we're supposed to try to be loving with the love of Christ or loving as Christ loves.  it's a great and, i believe, well intentioned sentiment.  in fact, it's one that i've often been known to endorse.  (see my blog entry for 12.20.06 entitled "all you need is love.")  recently however, i've changed my mind.  i'm done trying.  


...He shows mercy and grace to people who don't, for any reason, deserve it and He is the definition of sacrificial love.  and, He is all of these things all the time.  so, if the call in our lives is to be like that... to love like that... we're screwed from the start.  we've been set up for failure.  we don't stand a chance.  it's a good thing that He doesn't expect that of us.


...He's not the God that sets us up for unavoidable failure.  i mean, i feel like a God that would do that doesn't fit into the criteria listed in the previous paragraph.  so, what are His expectations of us?    the only answer that could possibly make any sense is that God expects nothing less than a total surrender of our lives to HIm.  oh.... that's all.


we all know that we're not capable of perfect love.  we have sin in our nature and the one's who taught us to love did too.  the one's we look to for that perfect love in our lives (our parents, boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, kids, best friends, etc...) are imperfect just like us.  no wonder we're always let down by love.  but God is different.


...He IS love.  that doesn't mean that God is lovING.  it doesn't mean that He likes love or tries to show love.  it means that He is the embodiment of love.  obviously, we aren't God.  for us to ever think we could attain God's love is to believe that we could be God and that is (as Jermaine from Flight of the Conchords would say) a preposterous hypothesis.


...He gave us Himself.  more specifically, He gave us His Spirit.  when we accept Jesus as God, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live in us.  and since God is love... we suddenly have the embodiment of love living in our soul.  so the challenge becomes not to choose to show all of the attributes of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 (as i had previously supposed), but to choose to let God work through us.  to set aside our own selfish desires and allow God to do His thing in and through us.  to totally surrender our own will to the will of God.  only then can the people around us really experience the love of God through us.


with the majority of Christians (including myself) running around trying to act like God and failing miserably, is it any wonder that non-Christians often despise us?  ...  we look ridiculous as we preach one thing and then fall flat on our faces using every ounce of our human weakness to live up to the unreachable standards we've set for ourselves and the world.  no wonder we're regarded as morons.  it's time to let it go.  it's time to stop trying to act like Christ and, instead, put ourselves aside let Christ act through us.


there is great freedom in this recognition of our limitations.  now, the pressure that we put on ourselves to be more Christ-like can be lifted.  (this is a relief since the effort is really pretty futile.)  instead of praying for the strength to be able to love like Christ, pray instead that you would be able to surrender to His will and be filled to the fullness of His Spirit as Paul did in his letter to the Ephesians.  then, God (love Himself) will shine through you.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dirty south adventures - day four&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-30T20:16:45-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth4.php#unique-entry-id-216</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth4.php#unique-entry-id-216</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the last day of the conference was great.  very much confirmed what we're doing at RH and led us to some great conversations about how we can improve ourselves and our contributions.  at the last meeting, Louie Giglio spoke about being culturally transcendent and was amazing.  here are the pics!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dirty south adventures - day three&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-04-28T21:13:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth3.php#unique-entry-id-215</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth3.php#unique-entry-id-215</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was another great day at the conference.    Donald Miller ("Blue Like Jazz") spoke tonight and was fantastic and entertaining.  the whole conference so far has been a great confirmation of everything that we're doing at ROCKHARBOR.  


but the best part of the day was lunch.  i met up with David and Jen for lunch and had a great time eating pizza and catching up.  in many ways, i think that our lunch was an answer to prayer.  we talked a bit about our old team from Yorba Linda for a while.  we had an AMAZING team that was, unfortunately, never allowed to find it's potential.  (honestly, if things had gone a little differently, that dream team would, absolutely and unquestionably, be setting the standard for children's and family ministries in this country.)  anyway, we realized that we have an amazing resource in each other and that the fact that we all met and got a glimpse of our potential as a team may allow us to do some incredible things together in the future.  so, we decided today to be intentional about that and get the team together again sometime to brainstorm for the future.  (watch out... there's a good chance we'll be taking over the world soon!)


Michelle's pretty excited that we're probably going to be having lunch with Reggie ("Reg" if you know him) Joyner tomorrow.  actually, we all are.  it could be a great opportunity for our team.


off to bed!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;monday weigh-in&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-20T21:28:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weightday.php#unique-entry-id-214</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weightday.php#unique-entry-id-214</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dirty south adventures - day two&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-04-27T21:24:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth2.php#unique-entry-id-212</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth2.php#unique-entry-id-212</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the conference didn't start until tonight, so today we went on some adventures through Atlanta.  first, we headed out to Coca-Cola&trade; World.  (don't worry... i felt conflicted about the whole thing and am still a devoted Pepsi&trade; fan since they make the Dew&trade;.)  nevertheless, it was pretty cool!    after that, we went for a walk through the Centennial Olympic Park (and it's fountains!)   and then went to visit the CNN building.  after that, we hit up happy hour at McCormick and Schmick's (or something like that) where a 1/2 pound burger was only $1.95!!!!    (amazing!)


after that, we headed back to the convention for the opening session.  it was pretty freakin' amazing!    i mean... the A/V setup alone was as cool as almost any concert (except U2) that i've been to in the past few years.  the worship was great and Reggie Joyner (Reg if you know him!)   gave a fantastic new application of the prodigal son parable.  (i'm sure i'll be blogging about that at a later date.)


afterward, i met up with Jen Stowell in the lobby of the hotel and we made plans for lunch tomorrow with our old friend, David Robles.


overall... a fantastic day!    check out the pics below...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dirty south adventures - day one&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-26T21:24:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth1.php#unique-entry-id-211</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dirtysouth1.php#unique-entry-id-211</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Tyler, Tommy, Michelle and i met up with Debbie on a layover in Phoenix and headed out to Atlanta for the Orange Family Ministries Conference.  we're already having a ton of fun.  (and i'll be adding pictures later too because Michelle has more on her camera.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;hospital visit for dad&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-25T21:24:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dadinthehospital.php#unique-entry-id-210</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dadinthehospital.php#unique-entry-id-210</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[dad's ITP came back last week and hit a low yesterday.  (personally, i think that God is punishing him for bringing the mustache back.)  so, he went back into the hospital.  this morning, me, Brett and Dakota went to visit him.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;chapel time&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-24T21:24:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chapeltime.php#unique-entry-id-209</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chapeltime.php#unique-entry-id-209</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we all went and did chapel at Prince of Peace school in Costa Mesa.  (dumb name for a school.)


we had fun though!


and then we went to lunch with the kids.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;where&#x27;s my picture?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-23T21:24:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wheresmypic.php#unique-entry-id-208</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wheresmypic.php#unique-entry-id-208</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i don't know what happened to the picture from this day.  i'm not giving up on finding one though.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;my new printer&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-22T21:24:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newprinter.php#unique-entry-id-207</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newprinter.php#unique-entry-id-207</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i got a new printer today.  that's pretty much the highlight of my day.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a day on my back&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-21T21:24:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayonback.php#unique-entry-id-206</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayonback.php#unique-entry-id-206</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i spent most of the day lying down with an icepack on my back... it hurt real bad!


this is where i spent my time... right there on the couch!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;back to work and a birthday party&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-19T22:49:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/backtowork.php#unique-entry-id-205</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/backtowork.php#unique-entry-id-205</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was my first Sunday back after my sabbatical.


tonight, we had a birthday party for Megan and Nolan at my parent's house.  even though my back was in HUGE amounts of pain, i had a lot of fun.  (and had my first exposure to vicodin!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;new jeans&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-18T22:44:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newjeans.php#unique-entry-id-204</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newjeans.php#unique-entry-id-204</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[my weight loss has reached the point where i had to get me some new jeans!    my 36's were just hanging off me so i had to downsize to 34's.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day tweleve... the final day&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-17T22:44:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thehuntington.php#unique-entry-id-203</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thehuntington.php#unique-entry-id-203</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the last day of sabbatical.  we met with Stacy Scott and debriefed our sabbatical.  at the end of the meeting, she gave us our final envelope with our last assignment.  the assignment was to take the $20 bill inside our envelopes and go do something for ourselves.  the rules were that we had to do it today and turn in our receipts on Monday.


so, Stacy decided to surprise me and took me up to the Huntington in Pasadena.  it was beautiful!    even with my back in the pain that it's been in (i hurt it on the retreat), it was a pretty awesome day.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day eleven at APU and Disneyland&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-16T22:43:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaleleven.php#unique-entry-id-202</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaleleven.php#unique-entry-id-202</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i went to my final capstone class tonight and then to dinner with Katie and Emily afterward.


on the way home, Stacy called and let me know that she was with Chino and some friends at Disneyland.  i wasn't going to go, but then i decided to surprise her.  she had said that she was going on Pirates and so when she go there, i was waiting for her.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day nine and a retreat&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-15T22:43:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalnine.php#unique-entry-id-201</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalnine.php#unique-entry-id-201</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today we started on a retreat for our sabbatical.    Stacy, Laura, Mike, Andrew and i met Nick Taylor down at Mission San Luis Rey for a great day of spiritual guidance and free time.  it was an awesome time of getting to know each other, share our lives with one another, pray and have some solitude.  in the afternoon, Nick led us through a great spiritual direction exercise.  


in the evening, we were told that we could do whatever we wanted, but we had to do it as a group.  so, we decided to go into downtown Oceanside.  we walked on the pier and had dessert at the DQ.  


the cool thing was, we had the entire mission to ourselves at night.  (and it's a pretty big place.)  it felt pretty spooky, so we went for a midnight walk in the graveyard where a black cat followed us around the entire time.  it was awesome.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day eight with a weigh-in&#x2c; a visit from the kids and a walk in the park&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-14T22:43:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaleight.php#unique-entry-id-200</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaleight.php#unique-entry-id-200</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[weighed in this morning...


then i went over to Stacy's and hung out with the kids for a bit...


and then i decided to go to the park and read my sabbatical book reading.  so, i jumped on The Hornet (my Vespa) and headed down to the park.  it was beautiful there.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day seven at a new church with an old friend&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-13T22:42:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalseven.php#unique-entry-id-199</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalseven.php#unique-entry-id-199</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[each sabbatical group is being assigned another church to visit on during their sabbatical.  we were assigned the Crystal Cathedral's contemporary service.  however, by the time i picked Stacy up, two of the other members of our group had cancelled on us.  so, we decided to drive up to Simi Valley and visit our friend Jen at Discovery Church.  


we had a lot of fun getting to see Jen in her new job up there and hang out with her all day.  (that's her on stage there.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical -day six and strangely curly hair&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-12T22:42:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalsix.php#unique-entry-id-198</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalsix.php#unique-entry-id-198</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i woke up this morning and had unusually curly hair.    Stacy thought this was entertaining.


afterward, we went out and took a ride on the new Sea-Doos.  it was pretty amazing!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day five and a windy day in Havasu&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-11T22:42:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalfive.php#unique-entry-id-197</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalfive.php#unique-entry-id-197</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[last night, after everyone came over for The Office, Stacy, Ashley and i headed out to Havasu.  


unfortunately, it was so windy that we couldn't go out and use the new Sea Doos today.


so, we played Uno, went to Walmart and watched movies.  (we ate at Mudsharks again too!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day four and completing the corner&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-10T22:42:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalfour.php#unique-entry-id-196</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalfour.php#unique-entry-id-196</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[one thing you have to understand about the sabbaticals is that they've given us some great ideas and structure for our two weeks.  however, Nick (our pastor in charge of the sabbaticals) made it clear that he wanted us to make the most of our sabbatical time and that some days, that might mean doing our own thing.  i say this only to say that if i don't follow a theme for a day or something, it's okay!  


anyway, today was a day of rest for us.  we were encouraged to really rest... whatever that means for us.  well, i ended up doing a little shopping and then some housework.  but, in all honesty, for me it was restful.


i have this corner in my place that had two benches to sit on and nothing else.  i've been looking for some stuff to fill out the corner and, today, i found what i was looking for.


after i put up the shelves and the painting... we met Michael and Michelle for dinner at The Chophouse.    Michael had a really good week that is going to work out well for me as well.  he was promoted to the position of Department Chair for the Christian Education department at Biola.  (the part that is good for me is that he wants me to teach and help him design a few classes next year!)    pretty sweet!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day three and shopping for a bedspread&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-09T22:41:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalthree.php#unique-entry-id-195</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticalthree.php#unique-entry-id-195</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today had me worried.  our assignment was to meet in the green room at RH today at 10.30am.  i thought it was going to be some stupid icebreaker games or a project to work on.  but i was really wrong. 


when we got there, our Lead Pastor, Todd and two of our Elders were there.  they simply wanted to pray for us and anoint us and our sabbaticals.  it was pretty awesome.  then, our group went to lunch together at Boudins.


afterwards, i went to the mall and looked for bedspreads.  liked a few.  didn't buy any.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day two and completion of the collection&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-08T22:41:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaltwo.php#unique-entry-id-194</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaltwo.php#unique-entry-id-194</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[day two was all about getting things in order so we can rest for our sabbatical.  so, i did laundry and cleaned the house.


also, i've been collecting these special edition Mountain Dew&trade; aluminum cans.  they had famous artists do their own designs and they're kinda hard to find.  anyway, i started collecting them a few weeks ago and completed my collection today.  (check them all out at www.greenlabelart.com)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;at the... noose?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2008-04-16T09:14:57-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/atthenoose.php#unique-entry-id-193</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/atthenoose.php#unique-entry-id-193</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[okay...


so after my last blog about the stations of the cross, i had a thought.  (i hope it's not sacrilegious.)


what if Jesus had been killed another way?    what if He'd been hung?    would we have nooses hung everywhere?


what if He'd been poisoned?    would we be wearing little vials around our necks?


i think our songs would be different too.  


just a thought.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sabbatical - day ten and the stations of the cross&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>daily photos</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2008-04-16T08:59:14-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/crossstations.php#unique-entry-id-192</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/crossstations.php#unique-entry-id-192</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it's been interesting having this retreat at a Catholic mission.  obviously, i'm not Catholic and have never been able to understand Catholicism much.  out of curiosity, i looked into it at one time.  i wanted to understand where all of the rituals, rules and traditions of the Catholic church had come from.  (since i couldn't find them anywhere in the Bible.)  it was interesting to find that many of them were adapted from other mystical religions because Constantine (who adopted Christianity for the Roman Empire) didn't want to make it too hard for people to convert.  so, they kept things like rosary beads, a hierarchy with bishops and a pope and certain prayers and just changed the names and meanings to fit Christianity.  (obviously, the very simplified version... but still pretty accurate.)  anyway, that was always hard for me to swallow as it seems like the perfect example of taking a simple relationship and offering of salvation and turning it into religion with rules and traditions that actually have nothing to do with the relationship that was originally offered.  however, it's true that God can take anything and use it for good.  i've seen that in the last day here.


one thing that the Catholic church loves is its iconography.  this is where we get the prevalent image of the cross.  (we don't even question it.  but we don't put up little electric chairs or bullets to remember others who have died.  for some reason, displaying the method of torture and death when it involves Christ is considered normal and even spiritual.)  the Catholic church took this instrument of death and turned it into a symbol of sacrifice and beauty.  it's also a symbol of remembrance.


this morning, we were given a piece of paper with the 14 stations of the cross listed on it.  each one had a short description and something to think and pray about.  around a field, behind the mission, there is a road with the 14 stations of the cross.  we were asked to walk the road, stopping at each station to read and pray.  i was a little averse to this at first.  i was wrong to be.


God took something out of someone else's religious background and used it in my life in a real way.  the stations of the cross had/have me dealing with and processing issues of sacrifice, forgiveness, loss, injustice, failure, the needs of others, kindness and selfishness.  it really became a time of intense self-reflection.  it also highlighted a few things in my life that i need to deal with and work through with Him.


anyway, if you get a chance to do something like that... something that feels out of the ordinary or a little unfamiliar, don't pass it up.    God can use it to change you in amazing ways.


also, we had breakfast and saw the largest rose i've ever seen in my life.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;site updates&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2008-04-11T16:17:23-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/siteupdates.php#unique-entry-id-191</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/siteupdates.php#unique-entry-id-191</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[a few quick updates to the site today...


-  a new picture on the home page!


-  some updated info in the random facts section


-  the ROCKHARBOR family curriculum that i write/edit is now available in the downloads section.  (the new april edition is up now.)


-  new blog about my first day on sabbatical.  i'm a little behind on the daily photos updates, but they're coming soon.


thanks for stoppin' by!


-barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;it&#x27;s a sabbatical - day one&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-04-07T18:04:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaldayone.php#unique-entry-id-189</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sabbaticaldayone.php#unique-entry-id-189</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was day one of my two week sabbatical.  people have been asking me a lot about this sabbatical and what it's about.  so, here's the deal...


one thing that ROCKHARBOR is really intentional about is their traditions.  of course, everyone has traditions and they can often become traditions simply for tradition's sake.  however, in the case of RH, their traditions are always very purposeful.  one strong tradition that RH holds is pouring into their employees (and volunteers for that matter) and making sure that they know that they are valued.  this comes out in a number of ways.  some of those are traditions in themselves.  for instance, every year at Christmas, the staff is taken to Disneyland and given either a deluxe annual pass or the cash equivalent as a Christmas bonus.  last Thursday, the girls went on their annual girls retreat.  this year, a limo picked them up and took them all to a day spa.  (apparently, the guys have never had one only because, from what i'm told, they haven't had a girl to plan it for them.  i'm told that we will be breaking that tradition this year!)  


anyway, one opportunity RH has created in the vein of this tradition of valuing the staff is our sabbaticals this year.  over the course of the next few months, everyone on staff (from the top down to the receptionist) will get a two week guided sabbatical.  now, at first, i was kinda skeptical. (i think it was the word "guided" that did it.)  stuff like this tends to have ulterior motives.  but i was mistaken.  from what i've already seen (and heard from others who have already completed their sabbaticals) it's a very intentional time of rest and growth.


here's what i know so far...


today we met at ROCKHARBOR for our sabbatical orientation meeting.  there are five people in our group including myself and Stacy.  we were told that we will have 8 free days and four group days during the sabbatical.  we are not allowed to step foot on campus, respond to e-mails or phone calls that are RH related or work in any way that would be considered RH related.  


each day, we have an envelope that we open.  the envelope will have our instructions for that day.  most of them will be a simple scripture reading, a focus for the day and a small reading in the book we were all given.  on our group days, our envelopes will tell us where we will meet and what we will do.  the sabbatical will end with a two-day retreat next week.


the great thing though is that the structure that they've provided is loose enough to make it our own time but structured enough that it won't simply be a vacation.  (after all, we are still be payed for this!)    i'm excited about it and i'll keep you updated on what we've been up to every day.


- barnes


ps... here's my weigh in for this week...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sticky notes on the screen&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-06T18:04:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stickynotes.php#unique-entry-id-188</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/stickynotes.php#unique-entry-id-188</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i left a little surprise on Stacy's computer screen.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a time for retirement&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-05T18:04:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/benderretirement.php#unique-entry-id-187</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/benderretirement.php#unique-entry-id-187</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this morning was my friend Larry Bender's surprise retirement party.    Larry and i went to India together in 2005 and really helped to launch the India campaign that Yorba Linda Friends is still pushing hard.  (i think they've built over 15 schools and sponsored around 1,000 kids or more.  it's a pretty cool deal.)  anyway, Larry has really been instrumental in keeping that going and he's a pretty cool guy.  


also, my friend Jay Hoff brought his baby who i've never had the opportunity to see.  so, it was nice to finally meet her.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the return of Battlestar&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-04T18:04:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/battlestardwight.php#unique-entry-id-186</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/battlestardwight.php#unique-entry-id-186</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[make fun of me all you want, but i frakkin' love Battlestar Galactica!    and i'm not the only one.    Friday night was the 4th (and final) season premiere and we had a little get-together.  so, after Jonas' 30th birthday party, Stacy and i headed back to my place to meet Tommy, Keri, Timmy, Amber, Trevor and Tyler for the show.  and it was awesome.  and Tyler dressed as Dwight from The Office.  that was awesome too.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the long awaited M3 sedan&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-03T18:04:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/m3sedan.php#unique-entry-id-185</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/m3sedan.php#unique-entry-id-185</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[for years i've been saying "BMW should make an M3 sedan!"    well, today, it arrived.  i stopped by Crevier BMW to see one.  they're pretty awesome.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;walking to work&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-01T18:03:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/walktowork.php#unique-entry-id-184</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/walktowork.php#unique-entry-id-184</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, for some reason... i walked to work this afternoon for our kids worship rehearsal.  it's 3 miles and i made it just under 45 minutes.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a sad day indeed&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-03-31T18:03:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodbyebaby.php#unique-entry-id-183</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodbyebaby.php#unique-entry-id-183</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[last night, dad called and let me know.  our family dog, Baby, who we've had for 14 years, was in bad shape.  she couldn't stand up on her own.  so, this morning, i went up and we all said goodbye.  it was really sad.


we got Baby in 1995 because Megan (who, i think, was in the 5th grade at the time) made a bet with my parents that if she could get 100% on a test, we would get a dog.    Megan had been having trouble in whatever particular subject it was and so they made the bet.  well, Megan got 100%.  (of course, later we found out that she had told her teacher about the bet and might have had a little help!)    a few months later, we got Baby.  


we didn't get to name her.  she was already 2 1/2 years old.  we got her from a kennel where somebody paid for her to be for 6 months.  nobody ever claimed her later and they were going to put her to sleep.  she's been a fantastic dog.  and we all loved her very much.  


in more happy news, i lost a few more pounds!    (i'm down 11 now!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a prayer for the elders and time with the kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-04-02T18:04:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/elderprayer.php#unique-entry-id-182</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/elderprayer.php#unique-entry-id-182</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[our Elder board goes on retreat this weekend to cast vision for the next few years.  today, everybody got a paper with the name of an Elder couple to pray for this week leading up to the retreat.  it put mine up in my cubical with my fortune cookie fortunes (and my "Office" quote magnets).


the kids came over with Erin tonight.  so cute.  just love them.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;flippin church&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-30T18:03:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/flippinchurch.php#unique-entry-id-181</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/flippinchurch.php#unique-entry-id-181</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[my friend's mom was in a town called Flippin, Arkansas last week and took this picture.  she showed it to me this morning.  i had to have a copy.


awesome!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a porsche in the desert&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-29T18:03:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dessertporsche.php#unique-entry-id-180</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dessertporsche.php#unique-entry-id-180</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[dad came up in the porsche...   Stacy and i drove it back.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Easter with the fam&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-23T22:02:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/easterwithfam.php#unique-entry-id-179</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/easterwithfam.php#unique-entry-id-179</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[somehow, after all of that, we made it home for Easter with the fam.  (and yes.. even Vaughn, or Vaughnald, or Bilvaughnald was there!)    just pictures...
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the day between&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-03-22T12:05:10-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/daybetween.php#unique-entry-id-178</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/daybetween.php#unique-entry-id-178</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[one of the really cool things about Easter at ROCKHARBOR is that starting at the first Good Friday service, and going through the end of the Sunday services, the fairgrounds are constantly covered in prayer.  for three days straight, staff and church members alike signed up for hour-long prayer walks for every hour.  each hour (even the ones in the middle of the night) had anywhere from 2 to 20 people.  well, today, at 5.00 pm, i had my hour.


when i got there, i found the prayer walk tent.  each of us took a rock out of a jar and our instructions for the walk.  they told us where to go and ideas of things to pray for.  after we got back, we added our rocks to the pile of all the people who had been praying over the past day and a half.  it was cool to see that symbolic representation of all the people who came together in prayer for this weekend.


after it was over, we had rehearsal for the next day's kid's services.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;on the lake again&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-28T12:05:10-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/anotherlakeday.php#unique-entry-id-177</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/anotherlakeday.php#unique-entry-id-177</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[another day on the lake!    dad came up today too.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a day on the lake&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-27T12:05:09-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayonthelake.php#unique-entry-id-176</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayonthelake.php#unique-entry-id-176</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Megan, Stacy and i went up to Havasu on Wednesday night.  we spent all day today on the lake.  it was around 90 degrees and the water was pretty cold, but it was fun!    (plus, we saw the strangest looking motorhome ever and got to eat at Mudsharks, which is pretty much amazing.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;unloading Easter and playing Operation&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-26T12:05:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/easterandoperation.php#unique-entry-id-175</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/easterandoperation.php#unique-entry-id-175</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we unloaded all the stuff from Easter.  it was pretty intense, so this afternoon, the girls took a break from work and played a game of "Operation" on the floor of the bullpen.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;spiritual parenting&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-25T12:05:07-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/spiritualparenting.php#unique-entry-id-174</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/spiritualparenting.php#unique-entry-id-174</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[one of the foundations of RH Families is our Spiritual Parenting class.  our entire staff goes through this class so that we'll know what the parents and families are learning.  tonight was the last night of the class for March.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;monday... the day of rest (and a weigh-in)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-24T12:05:06-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayofrest.php#unique-entry-id-173</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dayofrest.php#unique-entry-id-173</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this week's weigh-in...


that's right... i'm down 8 pounds!


Stacy and i took the day off and laid out by the pool.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a hot and amazing Easter&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-23T12:05:05-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hoteaster.php#unique-entry-id-172</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hoteaster.php#unique-entry-id-172</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, Easter was a-freakin'-mazing.  i'm pretty much going to let the pictures tell the story.  what i will say is this...


...-  we had over 9,000 people show up (that's 2000 more than last year)


-  the name ROCKHARBOR wasn't mentioned once from any stage (as we simply promote it as "OC Easter," it's not meant to promote us.  we gave any visitors a list of local churches to choose from.    ROCKHARBOR wasn't even first on that list.  this was impressive to me.)


-  we had nearly 1,000 kids


-  the main service had an amazing "stomp" style number that told the story of salvation using no words (it was very moving)


-  the kids service was held in a tent (we had stages on three sides and had a skit and worship on one stage, hosts on one and i taught on the other)


-  we handed out thousands of free bottles of water and Krispy Kreme doughnuts


-  services ended at 12.30 pm and, due to our ridiculously amazing staff and volunteers, we had the entire place torn down (including the main stages and the kid's tents) and packed up by 1.30 pm!!!


-  these are just a few of the over 300 pictures i took
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a good friday&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-03-21T12:05:04-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/agoodfriday.php#unique-entry-id-171</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/agoodfriday.php#unique-entry-id-171</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[well, first we went to lunch.  (the Larson's love their cell phones!)


after that, we had three Good Friday services for kids (i think 6 services overall).  it was pretty awesome to see these kids totally getting emotional and really worshipping as we talked about what Jesus did for us.    Tommy and Timmy and Ashley took turns leading worship, Stacy gave a message tying some video clips together and giving the Good Friday story and i wrapped it up with a message about how it applies to us.  the kids seemed really into it.


after the service, we had to load up everything that hadn't been taken to the fairgrounds.  again, i was amazed at how many volunteers just showed up and made it happen.  we were done in no time.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;what i do&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-03-28T01:26:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/whatido.php#unique-entry-id-170</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/whatido.php#unique-entry-id-170</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[lately, i've been getting a lot of questions about what exactly it is that i do.  (also, some staff at my home church have been making comments to some of my friends such as "i don't get what he does" and "i don't understand how he's qualified to be in family ministries.")  so, i'm going to tell you exactly what i do so that if anyone asks, you can put to rest any (probably justified) worries that anyone might have that i'm somehow unqualified to be doing what i'm doing or any confusion as to what it is i'm doing at ROCKHARBOR.  


...probably the most important aspect of my job is to work with Michelle to make sure that the vision of Family Ministries is happening from birth through high school.  we have a fairly new and specific vision and so ensuring that we're all working toward the same vision and are on the same page is a huge priority.  this involves a lot of meetings, of course, but more importantly than that, it involves me being directly involved in each area of Families and building relationships with all of our Families staff.  of course, my organizational leadership degree (which i'm about to finish in two months... hallelujah!) ...  Michelle and i started talking at an event last summer and it became immediately clear that we were already on the same page as far as our ideas of what Family Ministries should be.  after that, we both sorta knew it would just be a matter of time before we ended up working together somehow.)  


in addition to helping keep the vision throughout our team, i also work with Michelle to develop the implementation of the vision and brainstorm for the future.  she and i meet for an hour every other week just to brainstorm and dream.  (we meet much more often than that... but this time is dedicated to us thinking big.)  this is probably the most fun aspect of my job simply because Michelle and i process very similarly.  (out loud and collaboratively.)  so, when she and i get in a room together and start coming up with ideas, we tend to accomplish more in those 60 minutes than we do during the rest of the hours of the week combined.


another aspect of my job involves training all of the large group teachers that we use.  my teaching experience as well as my masters in education are a huge help here and are being used in ways that i never anticipated, but absolutely love.  i meet regularly with the large group teachers from elementary, middle school and high school (though the majority of our teachers come from elementary so i end up spending most of my time there) and help them to develop their teaching skills.    Michelle and i have also developed some teaching requirements that we want to see implemented from birth through high school, so i'm in charge of making sure that all of our teachers are on the same page with that.


tapping back into the organizational leadership stuff, i'm also in charge of staff development for the Families team.  this is one of my favorite aspects of my job because it's all about building relationships and helping people to become even better at what they do.  so far, i've mostly been focusing on building up the team as a whole to work interdependently (even having our Early Childhood Associate working with our High School staff).  it's totally fun and very cool to see happen.  as an extension of that, i also work with all of the interns in ROCKHARBOR Families on leadership development stuff and making sure that they're growing and learning in their internships.  (right now, we have seven interns who are totally amazing, dedicated and loving it even though they aren't paid!)


...anyway, just when Kit was really getting into it, he ended up becoming the Interim Middle School guy (until we found Tyler) so it was more of a side project for him.  since it's a large part of my job description, i've been able to put some time and effort into making some small changes and involving our whole team.  (allowing each of our team members to contribute also sets each of them up as experts in their area of ministry.)  so, each month, the whole families team now contributes to our Family Curriculum.  we make it available to our RH families on the weekends and to everyone else for free on the internet.  (you can see March's here... http://www.rockharbor.org/content/content_images/ministries/families/March-08.pdf)  check it out... it's pretty cool.  


one last huge project that my ed background plays into is our 18 Year Scope and Sequence.  part of the Families vision is to plan out what a kid would learn if he or she were to enter our ministries at birth and go through high school.  we look at when they should be exposed to what things and how often we should repeat things.  (also, what should be repeated, when and when and how we should approach particular topics, etc...)  we also take into account kids that join part way through, new believers, kids with particular giftings, etc... it's a HUGE project and i've kinda been overseeing it.  (though, to be fair, the ministry directors do most of the work!)  

...on top of all of that, i also teach regularly in Studio K (our elementary program) and The Hub (our high school program) and soon, The Outlet (our middle school program).  i also host and lead worship in Studio K.  i often work with Tommy to develop the look or atmosphere of a particular program or with Stacy to talk about curriculum.  of course, there are a ton of little things here and there that i do, but those are the main parts of my job.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;getting lost all over again&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-20T00:58:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lostagain.php#unique-entry-id-168</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lostagain.php#unique-entry-id-168</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[a little get-together for Lost tonight.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Easter setup&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-03-19T00:58:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/eastersetup.php#unique-entry-id-167</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/eastersetup.php#unique-entry-id-167</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[every year, ROCKHARBOR does Easter at the Orange County Fairgrounds.  it's a big deal. we basically advertise it all over the county and invite anyone to come.  (you can check out the website at www.oceaster.com)  we put it on though we don't advertise it as a ROCKHARBOR event.  we offer newcomers a list of OC churches to check out including ROCKHARBOR, Newport Mesa, The Crossing, Mariners, Yorba Linda Friends and others.  anyway, this has been going on for years now and has quite a few traditions associated with it.


the first tradition is that our Wednesday staff meeting is held in the Pacific Amphitheater where the services will be held.  the entire meeting consists of two things.  the first is storytelling.


this was actually really cool.    Todd (our Lead Pastor) opened up by asking people to share stories of Easter's past.  however, he made a very intentional effort to say that "even for those of you who weren't here for these stories, you're part of the family now and our history is your history."  and somehow, it was.  even though i wasn't there for any of these stories, i felt like i was.  i felt like i was apart of them.  and one by one, people began sharing stories from Easter's past.  some of them were hysterically funny.  some of them were seriously moving.  but it was a great time of storytelling and sharing.


the second part of the meeting consists of each staff member being assigned a seating section.  then we were sent off to march around our section seven times (like Joshua at Jericho) all the while praying for the people who would be sitting there this weekend.  at the end of that time, we all came back to the front of the amphitheater where Mike (our Teaching Pastor) read the story of Joshua.  then Pete Shambrook (one of our pastors) blew on a trumpet and we all yelled at the top of our lungs for a good 30 seconds to a minute.  (check out the video clip at the end of this entry.)  maybe kinda dumb... but somehow, it was an awesome thing to be apart of.


the cool thing is, it's a shared experience.  it's one that happens every year.  so for the 10-15 of us who just joined the staff this year, we felt like we were a part of it even though we hadn't experienced it before.  


the rest of the day was spent eating free Chick-Fil-A and setting up the children's tents.  we had SO many volunteers show up to help put this on.  our church really knows how important this outreach opportunity is and they were there in total support.  so much so, that we actually were done by 8pm (way earlier than we thought or has ever been done before!)    not only that, but the tents came out awesome!


it's crazy to think that so much work goes into one day... but i'm really excited about it.  if you don't have a place to go for Easter, come to the fairgrounds at either 9 or 11 am.  it's gonna be great!


- barnes
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>:-(</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-18T00:58:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sadface.php#unique-entry-id-166</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sadface.php#unique-entry-id-166</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i could have sworn i took a picture for this day.  but, alas... i cannot find one.  sad.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weigh in and some construction&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-17T00:58:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighinandconstruction.php#unique-entry-id-165</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/weighinandconstruction.php#unique-entry-id-165</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, this morning was my one week weigh in.  yup... i lost five pounds!!!    on my way!


while i was doing some work, i looked out the window to where they are doing construction across the way and i saw this guy single-handedly dismantling the scaffolding.  he was up there, not tied to anything, and using his feet to move these boards.  i watched the whole thing and can't believe he didn't fall.  i know it's just a parking structure and some stores, but it's really been quite fascinating to watch the whole thing go up.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;team ro 2&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-16T00:58:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teamro2.php#unique-entry-id-164</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teamro2.php#unique-entry-id-164</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was the first meeting of the new Team Romania.  unfortunately, i don't think that i'm meant to go.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the new old house&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-15T00:58:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/remodelpics.php#unique-entry-id-163</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/remodelpics.php#unique-entry-id-163</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[over the past few months, i've been overseeing the remodel of the house i moved out of on Thrasher.  it's just about done and here are the pictures.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weight watchers desserts&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-14T21:29:31-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wwdesserts.php#unique-entry-id-162</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wwdesserts.php#unique-entry-id-162</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;new camera&#x2c; a trip to the island and macbook twins&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-13T21:29:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/macbooktwins.php#unique-entry-id-161</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/macbooktwins.php#unique-entry-id-161</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i got a new camera... woo hoo!


we took a trip down to Balboa Island


this is a really creepy house of stuffed rabbits (how can people with such a great view have such horrible taste?)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;yesterday&#x27;s flowers... today&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-12T10:08:19-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/yesterdaysflowers.php#unique-entry-id-160</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/yesterdaysflowers.php#unique-entry-id-160</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[yesterday, i got Stacy some flowers.  here are the pictures she took of them today.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;photoshoot&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-11T22:08:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/familiesphotoshoot.php#unique-entry-id-159</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/familiesphotoshoot.php#unique-entry-id-159</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, after our Families Team meeting, we had a Families Team photoshoot.  here are some of the results.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;projects all around&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-03-10T22:07:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/projectday.php#unique-entry-id-158</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/projectday.php#unique-entry-id-158</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[here are pictures of two projects that began today....


the first is one that Stacy and i began today that will, hopefully, last a long time.  we joined the Weight Watchers Points Program.  (i'm gonna get thin again!!!)    it's actually pretty cool cuz you can eat whatever you want, but just in limited amounts.  it really just makes you think about your food choices and "budget" them just like you would with money.  i'll be weighing in every Monday.  i started off today at 223 lbs. (i'm sad to say).  but i'm headed toward my goal of 185 lbs!  


the second project was not one of mine, although i assigned it.  at ROCKHARBOR, we're doing Family Ministries in a very non-traditional way, but in a way that makes a whole lot more sense when you look at it.  the basic idea is that parents should be the primary nurturers of their children's faith... not us.  we play a supportive role.  the goal, overall, is to not "create" good, Christian kids.  that's never successful.  the goal is for parents to be creating environments in which the Holy Spirit can work and grow within their kids as He chooses.


anyway, once people get passed their preconceived notions of "how church should be," it's clear that this makes way more sense.  but, sometimes it's difficult to communicate this to people and get them past those preconceived notions and previous paradigms.  the project i gave our team was to come up with some creative ways to approach that.  tomorrow is the due date and today i got to see some of the groups in our team working on their projects.  it was pretty cool.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a beautiful sunset and a fun meeting&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-09T21:43:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbsmeeting.php#unique-entry-id-157</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/vbsmeeting.php#unique-entry-id-157</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight was the VBS vision meeting for Children's.  the suggestion for Naked Day for when we teach on Adam and Eve may not have been taken totally seriously.  (but just think about it... we could do fig leaf clothes for the craft.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;kaela&#x27;s birthday dinner of chaos&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-03-08T23:25:06-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kaelabirthday.php#unique-entry-id-156</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kaelabirthday.php#unique-entry-id-156</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight was my cousin Kaela's 14th birthday party.


it started by going to Beau's baseball game (her little brother).  the game was going long and so my uncle started to get antsy and wanting to go to dinner.  so he took grandma and went to Benihanas (where Kaela wanted to go for dinner for her birthday).  he got there and called us to say that the wait was an hour and a half and he didn't want to wait.  so we met him at another Japanese restaurant.  when we got there, we found that the wait was 2 hours.  well, this did not go over well with anyone.  


Uncle Vaughn wasn't happy... his wife Erin pulled up right then and was trying to calm him down.    Amie (my cousin who was in town with her little daughter Tillie from Indiana) was getting hungry and just wanted someone to make a decision.    Kaela suggested California Pizza Kitchen and everyone kinda brushed her off.  (which was funny because it is HER birthday party.)  after a 15 minute discussion on everywhere we could go... making calls... everything...   Uncle Vaughn said "how about California Pizza Kitchen?"    everyone was like "okay!"   and Kaela said "i said that 15 minutes ago!!!"


so, then we went to CPK which was fine... but just chaos with four kids under 10 and a restaurant full of people.  anyway, we went back to Bekie's and had ice cream from Baskin-Robbins (which was amazing!).  anyway, here's a pic of Kaela with our little cousin, Kate.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;kids and dogs&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-07T23:25:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsanddogs.php#unique-entry-id-155</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidsanddogs.php#unique-entry-id-155</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[picked the kids up.... got some pizza... visited the dogs!    (the kids love "Scoutie" and Chloe.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i love these kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-06T23:24:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidvisit.php#unique-entry-id-154</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kidvisit.php#unique-entry-id-154</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the kids came over today!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;scope and sequence&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-05T23:24:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/scopeandsequence.php#unique-entry-id-153</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/scopeandsequence.php#unique-entry-id-153</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we did chapel at Friends Christian School and then had our Family Ministries Scope and Sequence meeting at my place.  five hours of planning and meeting... good times!  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;crap... no pics&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-03T23:24:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nopicsagain.php#unique-entry-id-151</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nopicsagain.php#unique-entry-id-151</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i'm not sure what happened, but the pics i took on my iPhone for the 3rd and 4th somehow were erased. :-(  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dinner at Mastro&#x27;s&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-02T23:24:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mastrosdinner.php#unique-entry-id-150</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mastrosdinner.php#unique-entry-id-150</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy's birthday dinner at Mastro's Ocean Club with my parents.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;ROunion with Emese&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-03-01T23:19:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/emese.php#unique-entry-id-149</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/emese.php#unique-entry-id-149</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[our friend, Emese (pronounced Emma-Shay) from Romania was visiting.  we thought that lunch at Ruby's on the pier would be a good idea.  who knew the weather would suck so bad?    we had fun though and then hung out at Stacy's after church.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;new york... day three&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-29T12:00:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nydaythree.php#unique-entry-id-148</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nydaythree.php#unique-entry-id-148</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[pics of the pad


a quick cab ride


 


out for a walk


 


after going all over the city and visiting like five Aldo's, Stacy finally got her boots!


     


the cab ride back to the airport (you can watch tv in the cabs now!)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;new york... day two&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-28T13:27:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nydaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-147</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nydaytwo.php#unique-entry-id-147</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[   


just some walkin' in NYC pics


in front of the Apple Store on 5th Ave.


     


hangin' out at 30 Rock


 


and we finished our day with a little Hairspray (staring Norm from Cheers as the mom!)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;new york... day one&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-27T13:23:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nydayone.php#unique-entry-id-146</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nydayone.php#unique-entry-id-146</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[stacy got her coffee


in front of Bond No.   9


my favorite little pizza place in SoHo


the deli across from Marc Jacobs ("yous peoples bitches!".... long story)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;suprise&#x21;&#x21;&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-02-26T13:08:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/surprise.php#unique-entry-id-145</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/surprise.php#unique-entry-id-145</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, i got to do what i've been planning to do for weeks.  tomorrow is Stacy's 30th birthday and i wanted to do something big for her.  so, last night, when i dropped her off, i said "you need to go inside and pack a bag for four days.  it's going to be cold.  i'll pick you up at 7.00 am."  she was like, "what?!?!?!"


so, this morning i picked her up at 7.  we loaded up my car and got on the freeway.  she had no idea where we were going.  i made little comments like "you should get comfortable... it's going to be a long ride" and "i hope we can make it there today!"    she was even more confused. she thought we were going on some ridiculously long road trip or something.


then, i pulled off the 405 at Century and she realized that we were going to the airport.  we parked the car and hopped on a shuttle for LAX.  then there was a little hickup in the plan.


when we got to the terminal, i realized that i had left my wallet in the car.  we didn't have a lot of time, so i had to quickly find another shuttle, rush back, get my wallet and get back to the terminal.  fortunately, i was able to do this in about 15 minutes.  unfortunately, i had to have Stacy check us in when i wasn't there so i didn't get to be there when she found out that we were going to New York.


anyway, it was all pretty cool.  we flew on the new Virgin America ($129 each way and direct from LAX to JFK!) ...  each seat has a touchscreen where you can watch live tv, listen to music, watch movies and even order your food that they bring to you when you want it. 


when we got into New York, we realized that the airline had lost Stacy's bag.  lame!    (it worked out though.  it was waiting for us at my sister's place when we woke up the next morning.)  anyway, we went to Meri's place (it's actually our family's place... she just lives there) and got settled in.  then we went walking looking for dinner and found this noodle place called Ollie's.  i wouldn't recommend it.


by that time, it was getting late so we went back and watched some episodes of The Office and played with Meri's dog, Kona.  all in all... a great day!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;visiting Ella&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-25T20:40:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meandella.php#unique-entry-id-144</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/meandella.php#unique-entry-id-144</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight, Megan and dad and i went to dinner at Hibachi and then went over to see the Cork kids.  i spent most of my time playing with Ella.  she's adorable.  i just love her.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;prayer boards&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-24T20:40:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/prayerboards.php#unique-entry-id-143</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/prayerboards.php#unique-entry-id-143</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ROCKHARBOR put up these really cool boards out in the hallway outside The Centre.  each one is for a different region of Orange County with the cities listed and facts about those regions.  and there's a place at the bottom where people can sign up to pray for those regions.  it's really kinda cool.


   
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;mustaches and hospice kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-23T20:40:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/healthbridge.php#unique-entry-id-142</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/healthbridge.php#unique-entry-id-142</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, today i woke up and decided to shave off my goatee.  but, since Stacy hates mustaches, i stopped 1/2 way through just to take this picture.


anyway, the main part of my day was spent taking a bunch of our ROCKHARBOR kids down to a children's hospital called "Healthbridge."  we went down and spent time singing for and reading to these kids who have all kinds of disabilities and disorders.  it was pretty amazing.  


       
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sweeping&#x2c; mopping&#x2c; guitar hero and fur balls&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-22T20:40:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sweepmopfurballsu2.php#unique-entry-id-141</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sweepmopfurballsu2.php#unique-entry-id-141</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the title pretty much sums up my day.  sometimes i don't realize how much floorspace i have... that was a lot of mopping!    also, i have this stupid rug that sheds fur balls and makes it look like i have a cat or something.  (and you all know how much i HATE cats!)


      


oh yeah... and tonight i went to see U2 3D again.  more amazing the second time than the first!    (i also like it better in regular theaters than the IMAX because they use the higher quality digital projectors... it was awesome!)    here's a picture i took.  (blurry because of the 3D!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;chick-fil-a and a trip to the Hurley store&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-21T20:40:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chickfilaandhurley.php#unique-entry-id-140</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chickfilaandhurley.php#unique-entry-id-140</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, Stacy brought me Chick-fil-a in the office for lunch even though she wasn't working.  so nice!


 


and, yesterday i got to go to the Hurley employee store and do some shopping.  i bought Stacy this jacket that she wore today.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;more tv&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-20T23:04:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/americanidol.php#unique-entry-id-139</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/americanidol.php#unique-entry-id-139</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight it was "Boston Legal" and "American Idol!"    (which i haven't watched in a long, long time.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i miss The Office&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-19T23:03:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/fcb951eae9aa33ec098b6e0c07dd8be7-138.php#unique-entry-id-138</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/fcb951eae9aa33ec098b6e0c07dd8be7-138.php#unique-entry-id-138</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, tonight we watched Office episodes because we miss it so.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;we do chicken right&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-18T23:03:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kfc.php#unique-entry-id-137</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kfc.php#unique-entry-id-137</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was President's Day.  this means...   NO WORK!!!    so what did we do?    i cleaned up the house, did laundry, paid bills, visited grandma and stopped by to see Erin and the kids.  the most exciting part of my day off was...   KFC dinner!    (haven't visited the Colonel in a long time.)  nothin' like some extra crispy legs and thighs.


(this is, in no way, anything like the KFC we visited.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;picnic in the park&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-16T21:49:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/picnic.php#unique-entry-id-136</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/picnic.php#unique-entry-id-136</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Stacy and i made a picnic lunch and rode the Vespa down to a little park overlooking the bay in Newport.  it was beautiful.


   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;lunch and yogurt&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-17T21:50:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/yogurtland.php#unique-entry-id-134</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/yogurtland.php#unique-entry-id-134</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[after church today, we went out to lunch at Corner Bakery&trade; with Breanna and Ashley.  (i LOVE the grilled ham and swiss panini... no tomatoes and pesto mayo instead of mustard mayo.)


 


then, tonight Ashley took us to her favorite yogurt place called Yogurtland&trade;.  the line was freakin' 45 minutes long!    (it was good, but it wasn't that good.)


    ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;flying helicopters and potty training&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-15T21:50:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/helicopters.php#unique-entry-id-132</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/helicopters.php#unique-entry-id-132</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the kids came back over today.  so cute.  so, i found this little helicopter thing at Target&trade; that was cheap and awesome.  it's called an AirHog&trade; and it's a remote controlled helicopter.  so, Chino loved it as i was flying it around my place.


the other event of the evening was when Leilani (age 19 months) ran to the bathroom and started taking off her diaper in front of the toilet. can't hardly talk, but wants to use the toilet.  so, she gets on there and i go out to the dinner table where Chino is playing and tell him that she's on the toilet.    Chino (who is a year and a half older) has yet to be potty trained, so he gets this look on his face.  he's not about to let her show him up.  so he runs in there and as soon as she's off, he jumps on and pees.  hysterical.  so we were doing double potty training!    awesome.


we also had fun dancing around and having them jump all over me.  it was a fun night!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the hallmark/sees candy conspiracy&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-02-14T21:50:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/arethavalentines.php#unique-entry-id-131</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/arethavalentines.php#unique-entry-id-131</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i mean...   Valentine's Day.  we had a pretty good one, i'd say!  


this year, V-Day fell on a Thursday, which means no work for Stacy or i.  (we work weekends and have Thursdays and Fridays off.)  


so, we grabbed lunch after meeting up at her house and exchanging gifts.  (she got me the Friends Deluxe Edition of SceneIt&trade; (which is awesome because somebody stole my old version.  i have my suspicions as to who, but i won't name names here.)  after lunch we headed back to my place where we took these pictures on the balcony.


  


that night, we headed out to LA to see Aretha Franklin in concert at the new Nokia Theatre.  (we'd bought the tickets for my parents to use, but my dad didn't realize that he'd be out of town.  so, we used them ourselves.)  what an experience that was!    lots of middle aged white people trying to dance and sing along.  lots of middle aged black people actually dancing and singing along.  it was quite the night.


barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Kathy&#x27;s birthday lunch&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-13T21:49:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kathbday.php#unique-entry-id-130</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/kathbday.php#unique-entry-id-130</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the title pretty much describes this one pretty well.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;back in the classroom&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-12T21:49:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teachingagain.php#unique-entry-id-129</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/teachingagain.php#unique-entry-id-129</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[sometimes i really miss teaching.  today, i got to lead our Family Ministries team in a leadership development session that i designed (the whiteboard picture is from that) and then i got to guest teach in my friend's speech and presentations class at APU.  (she teaches the class.)  it was a blast.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;wrestling family members and Mika&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-11T21:49:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mika.php#unique-entry-id-128</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mika.php#unique-entry-id-128</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, i stopped by my parent's house this morning and got to witness Megan and dad in a wrestling match.  i've never laughed so hard in my life.  (neither had they.)


     


and yes...   Megan did grab her bat for protection.  (for those who don't know my family... well, this is fairly common and is just how we show our love for one another.  that and deep sarcasm.)


tonight, we went to see the most fun concert i've ever seen.    Megan, Alex, Bekie, Kaela, Stacy and i went to see Mika up at the Wiltern.


that is the opening act.... a rap group that, i think, Mika found performing out on 3rd street.  (they were just that good.)


        
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;talkin&#x27; bout love&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-10T07:16:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/talkaboutlove.php#unique-entry-id-127</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/talkaboutlove.php#unique-entry-id-127</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, i spoke in "The Hub" (our high school group at ROCKHARBOR).  i spoke on love.  since i couldn't take a picture of myself as i spoke, here's a picture of Eric and the other guy (don't know his name) leading worship after i spoke.


i'll also throw in this picture of my parents.  this is their prom picture!    i used it in my talk.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;looking for towels&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-09T07:16:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/towelsearch.php#unique-entry-id-126</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/towelsearch.php#unique-entry-id-126</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[not very exciting, but i went looking for towels today for my new place.  i did this alone.  i didn't know what i was doing.


(towel swatches)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;flight of the conchords&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-08T07:16:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/flightoftheconchords.php#unique-entry-id-125</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/flightoftheconchords.php#unique-entry-id-125</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Bekie bought me "Flight of the Conchords" a few weeks ago and i started it today.  i love it!


(that's me watching "Flight of the Conchords"... though you can't tell here, i spent most of the time laughing.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;waiting on the dmv to change&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-07T07:16:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dmv.php#unique-entry-id-124</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dmv.php#unique-entry-id-124</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[waiting forever at the DMV is just something we can all depend on no matter what.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;an office bike ride and dinner with the kids&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-06T07:16:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dougbike.php#unique-entry-id-123</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dougbike.php#unique-entry-id-123</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(Doug Berry riding Stacy's bike around our office... highly entertaining)


(we gave Leilani a new teddy bear... she kept kissing it when she thought nobody was looking)


(after dinner, they watched Monsters, Inc. and were very into it)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a birthday lunch&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-05T23:06:29-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ashbirthdaylunch.php#unique-entry-id-122</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ashbirthdaylunch.php#unique-entry-id-122</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we celebrated Ashley's birthday (even though it was last week) by going to lunch at Panera.  it was a lot of fun!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;run away&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-04T23:06:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/famretreat.php#unique-entry-id-121</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/famretreat.php#unique-entry-id-121</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this was our one-day retreat.  i'm not going to go into too much detail except to say that when you have a leader like Michelle and a team like ours, a retreat like this is nothing short of inspiring.  but, that's what a little vision and direction will do for ya!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;superbowl Sunday at the h&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-03T23:06:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/superbowl.php#unique-entry-id-120</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/superbowl.php#unique-entry-id-120</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i'm sure you all know that i don't care about professional (or unprofessional for that matter) sports at all really.  but, when we realized that our Family Ministries Staff Retreat was planned on the superbowl, i offered to have a party at my place before we left.  it was a lot of fun.  


watching the game


from left to right...   Michelle (the boss lady), Ashley (awesome do everything girl), the top of Tyler's head (Middle School guy and Dwight Schrute impersonator), Raelynn (new Middle School staffer), Brandi (in charge of the Nursery), Eric (Middle/High School worship guy), Tommy (all Families production stuff), Kit (Children's director) and Cori (High School staffer and superbowl ignorer).


Cori still doesn't care.


Angelina (Pre School director), Kathy (amazing admin) and Stacy (girlfriend/Elementary director) care so much about the game, that they're laying on my bed watching old episodes of "Arrested Development."


this is what the person with the best and most direct view of the tv during the game chooses to do with it.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a very long service&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-02T23:06:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/reallylongservice.php#unique-entry-id-119</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/reallylongservice.php#unique-entry-id-119</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i love ROCKHARBOR, but sometimes...  


anyway, tonight was one of those "sometimes" as our promised hour and a half service hit a full two hours!!!    i heard the service was amazing, but you try handling several hundred kids for two hours straight when you've only planned an hour and a half worth of programming.  anyway, here are the pics!


(the front doors)


(the 6.00pm service lets out at 8.00 pm)


(the mad dash to pick up the kids in Studio K)


(some quick shopping in the Bible Bucks Store)


(me and my little friend, Ella..   Ella...   Ella...)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;getting Lost all over again&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-31T10:21:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lostpremiere.php#unique-entry-id-118</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lostpremiere.php#unique-entry-id-118</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i know this is two entries for one day, but it was too much for just one!  


one of the things that's kinda been hard for both Stacy and i since we've moved down here has been losing our old group of friends.  there were a lot of things that we were happy to leave behind when we both chose to move down here, but one of the things that kept us there for so long was our really tight group of friends.  we've sorta been mourning the loss of our group lately.


anyway, it's fun to reconnect with them from time to time and when we realized that today was going to be the season premiere of Lost, we thought it might be time again.  of course, everybody being scattered around the state, not everyone could make it.   (Kit couldn't come and, as always, we missed Dana and Jen.)  but, we had fun nonetheless.  plus, the new season of Lost looks like it's going to freakin' ROCK!    (check out the free 8:15 recap on iTunes... it's awesome!    it recaps three seasons of lost in 8 minutes and 15 seconds and is hysterical.  a good reminder of where we've been for longtime fans and a good way to catch new fans up to speed.)


anyway, so Kirsch, Amanda, Brianne, Erica, Ashley, Stacy and i gathered here in "the h" for the premiere.  but, i thought it was a little girl-heavy, so i invited Tyler to come to.  impressively, Tyler totally held his own with our sarcastic group full of girls he didn't know.  


...and we all watched the premiere and were blown away.  then, because you just have to, we all played Guitar Hero III&trade; for an hour or two.  the perfect ending to a perfect night.  (actually, the perfect ending came when i got to go to bed.  after the doctor, carrying a three year old around Disneyland&trade; all day and then a little party,  i was exhausted!)


...(Erica watching the Guitar Hero... up close!)


(Stacy and Amanda chillin on the couch)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the wonder of Whole Foods&#x2122;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-02-01T09:52:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wholefoods.php#unique-entry-id-117</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wholefoods.php#unique-entry-id-117</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today, we took Stacy's car to get new tires at Costco&trade; and then walked around The District shopping center for a long while.  we ended up having dinner at Whole Foods&trade; which is a pretty amazing place.  (you should check it out if you get the chance.)  they have pretty much every food in the world available there for your immediate consumption.  it's very impressive.  but the most impressive thing to me, from the viewpoint of an org. leadership guy, was the feedback board at the front of the store.  


they have a bulletin board at the front of the store where anyone can leave a comment card asking a question, making a comment or even giving a complaint or suggestion.  the cool thing is, the cards have a place for your comment and then a place for a response.  the manager reads all the cards and responds to each one individually and then reposts them on the board so you can see that your comments have been heard and taken into consideration.  it's really pretty impressive.  i was impressed anyway.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the doctor and Disneyland&#x2122;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-31T09:52:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chinodisney.php#unique-entry-id-116</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/chinodisney.php#unique-entry-id-116</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[if you've been around me any time in the past month, you know that i have this annoyingly persistent cough that just won't go away.  finally, i went to the doctor today.  he gave me drugs.  i hope i get better.


(the Mountain Dew&trade; was not prescribed by the doctor but is my own drug of choice.)


after that, Stacy and i took her nephew, Chino to Disneyland&trade; for his 3rd birthday.  here are the crappy pics i took on my iPhone&trade;.    Stacy has the good ones on her camera.


   


 


  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;seeing Scout (and Baby)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-30T09:51:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/seeingscout.php#unique-entry-id-115</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/seeingscout.php#unique-entry-id-115</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i had a dentist appointment this morning, so i went up to see my dogs for a few minutes.  gotta love em.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;funny cards at Target&#x2122;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-29T09:51:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/targetcards.php#unique-entry-id-114</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/targetcards.php#unique-entry-id-114</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as usual, Tuesday is Target&trade; day.  tomorrow is Ashley Otani's birthday (happy birthday, Ash!)   so, i needed to get her a card and whatnot.  we found this new line of cards by a guy named Jim Benton that's pretty entertaining.  (some of the phrases on the cards included "nobody's perfect... but i'm as close as it gets," "it's cute how you think i'm listening," "exercise hard... eat right... die anyway," "don't blame me... i was born awesome," "please put all criticisms in the form of a compliment," "i'm not saying i'm cool... that's your job," and "i sincerely want you to genuinely worship me.")


  


  


- barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;service and a haircut&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-28T09:48:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/haircutservice.php#unique-entry-id-113</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/haircutservice.php#unique-entry-id-113</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[when i woke up this morning, i just felt like the mohawk had lived its life.  


for a few years now, i've been doing leadership development with the high school service team at Yorba Linda Friends.  even though i'm not there anymore, i've continued my work with them because they're awesome and i love working with them.  tonight was my first time back with them since September.  


(that's Emily, Vicente, Jeremy, Alex and Kaysie from left to right.    Daniel's in the back.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a day without pictures&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-27T09:48:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/no%20pics.php#unique-entry-id-112</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/no%20pics.php#unique-entry-id-112</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[no photos for today.  sad.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;snow in orange county&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-26T23:35:12-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/snowcaps.php#unique-entry-id-111</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/snowcaps.php#unique-entry-id-111</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[okay...  so there wasn't really snow in Orange County.  but after several crappy weather days, from a brief period of time today, the clouds parted and the mountains in the distance were revealed.  and though they are not in Orange County, the snow on them could be seen from Orange County.  it was beautiful. 


of course, by 4.00pm, the clouds were back and by 7.00pm, it was raining once again.  


tomorrow...  thunderstorms!  :-(


barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;more... just... more&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-25T16:06:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/moreILA.php#unique-entry-id-110</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/moreILA.php#unique-entry-id-110</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i'm braindead.  another full day of paper writing.  however, i ran out of room writing on the windows of my office and had to move into my bedroom.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;brainstorming on glass&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-24T16:06:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ILApartone.php#unique-entry-id-109</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/ILApartone.php#unique-entry-id-109</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[sometimes, when i have a paper to write or a project i'm working on, i do my brainstorming on the windows of my condo.  that was my day today.


  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;you too need to see it&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2008-01-23T16:06:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u23d.php#unique-entry-id-108</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u23d.php#unique-entry-id-108</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i've been waiting for this day for over a year now.  i heard about it.  i read about it.  i even saw pictures and clips.  but nothing could do justice to describe how awesome U2 3D actually is


of course, you all know how big of a U2 fan i am.  i've seen them live 8 times (once on the PopMart Tour, three times on the Elevation Tour and four times on the Vertigo Tour).  i have all their music, bootlegs, dvds, rare cds and b-sides.  so, one would think that, no matter what, i would absolutely love this.  this may not be true.


i mean... i've seen them a lot.  i've seen (and own) all the dvds and everything.  so, if there's something new, it had better be pretty good.  honestly, there was a part of me that was worried that i might not like this at all or might get bored seeing something i've seen so many times.  i couldn't have been more wrong.


even if you're not a U2 fan, you need to see this movie.  the use of 3D is AMAZING.  it really redefines the movie entertainment experience.  it's not over-the-top, in-your-face 3D like you'd probably expect.  it's way more subtle than that most of the time.  simply put, it feels like you've been given an all access pass to walk around stage, through the audience and into the amazing graphics during a U2 show.  when Bono looks you straight in the eye and sings "Beautiful Day," you feel like he's literally standing right in front of you, making eye contact and singing to you.  when the crowd jumps up and down and undulates like the sea, you feel like you're right in the middle of it.  when the guy in the row in front of you pulls out a joint and lights up, you can smell it.  (oh wait... that might just have been in our theater.

...my only complaints are that they could have done more with the interactive graphics.  during songs like "The Fly" and "Love and Peace," the graphics people do some pretty cool stuff to immerse you in the song.  however, it seems like this could have been done a bit more for consistency and just because it's pretty freakin' cool.  also, i wish they'd have done a few more songs.  as it stands, it's slightly under an hour and a half.    U2 shows generally run around two and a half hours.  not that they should have done the entire setlist, but it would have been cool to see songs like "City of Blinding Lights" or "Mysterious Ways."  however, these are minor quibbles in comparison with how amazing this thing really is.


this film will set a new standard for how movies will be made.  in fact, it already is.  the company who made it (3ality Digital) has studied and perfected the 3D process.  they've eliminated the aspects of 3D that made you get headaches or feel seasick before.  it really is nearly perfect.  and, in the past few months, as people have been experiencing this within the movie industry, the studios have announced a large number of 3D films for the next two years.  so seriously, check it out.  right now, it's showing at IMAX theaters only.  starting on February 13th, you can see it in regular theaters as well.  oh... and if you do go and see it, make sure to stay through the credits for one last song and an amazing 3D graphics display.  


check out www.u23dmovie.com for more info and online ticket buying too.


...* this quote stolen from my old friend, Tracy Cynaumon who now has some other last name that i can't quite remember right now.


**  seriously.  he lit up right there in the movie theater.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;morning people&#x2c; guy&#x27;s nights and mourning people&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-22T14:45:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/morning%20people.php#unique-entry-id-107</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/morning%20people.php#unique-entry-id-107</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, i've never been a morning person.  never claimed to be.  never was willing to put in the effort to be.  i'd rather sleep in or be grumpy in the mornings and then be a perfectly pleasant person in the afternoon, evenings and into the night.  lately, i've been feeling the need to change.


i would never have admitted it before, but i've always envied morning people.  they're so bright and cheery and i feel like they get so much more out of their days than i do.  a week or two ago, i decided that i would make myself over  i would become a morning person.  i mean, i like mornings.  they're beautiful (sometimes) and seem like a very useful time in the day.  i've just never been able to enjoy them due to my penchant for late nights.  

...7.00 am... snooze.  but then, before i could fall back asleep, i felt guilty and got my sorry ass out of bed. (just because i work at a church now, doesn't mean that i'm not going to say "ass" anymore.  sorry if that offends your sensibilities.  also, keep your eyes open for "damn" and "hell.")  anyway, i threw on some clothes, grabbed my MacBook&trade; and my morning Mountain Dew&trade; and headed out to the cold of the balcony for a little morning alone time


...anyway, because i snoozed so long, my time was cut a bit short.  (stupid having to go to work.)  but i got a chance to catch up on the news, drink my Dew&trade;, read Isaiah 40, talk to God and take some pictures before heading off to the shower.  could i be a morning person?  

...if you know me, chances are that you know that most of my closest friends are not of the male variety.  it's not intentional (or maybe it is on some subconscious level) but i always seem to end up with more friends that are girls.  lately, that has been changing a bit.  so, tonight we had a guy's night here at "the h."  (by the way, in case i've never mentioned it, my new place is referred to as "the h."  this started because it is the "H" model and when we were looking at places down here we referred to it by its model designation to differentiate between it and the other units we looked at.  now it seems to stand for "hell yeah!" 

...Kit, Tommy, Jer, Tyler and Timmy came over and we had pizza and played Guitar Hero&trade; and watched Swingers.  doesn't sound too crazy or out there exciting.  but you know, it was pretty cool.  as we were talking, i realized that i'm not the only one who has trouble just "getting together with the guys."  so, it was pretty nice to be able to do that.  i think we'll have to do it again soon.  (i'd post pictures.... but it's a guy's night... you really think we took pictures?  

...of course, the big news today was that actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment.  first, i want to acknowledge that this is indeed a tragedy.  i liked Heath's movies (never saw Brokeback... but i liked the ones that i saw), i think he was incredibly talented and i am still very much looking forward to seeing him as The Joker in the upcoming The Dark Knight.  having said all of that, watching the reactions of the people at work today as they found out was priceless.


...at any point.  instead, each area of desks seemed to find out on their own in various ways and have a variety of reactions.  from the guys, it usually was something like "wow... bummer" or "ah man... that sucks!"  ...  Stacy was quite distraught.  mostly because (and i just realized this) i think she thought she actually might have had a chance with him or something.  (not that i'm worried about it.  i mean, she knows that if Penelope Cruz comes along... )  anyway, other girls reactions varied from near tears, to looks of befuddlement.  however, my favorite, by far, was from Raelyn, our middle school intern.  though the news had been circulating for nearly two hours, i was sitting at my desk when i heard Raelyn shout "NO!!!!"  ...  Tyler was trying to meet with her and finally just gave up.  when he came over for guy's night he told me that she ended up being useless for the rest of the day.  (considering that she only interns one day a week, that's a bummer.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;weird weather day&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-21T23:42:20-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rockharborrain.php#unique-entry-id-106</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rockharborrain.php#unique-entry-id-106</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was weird because it would be beautiful and sunny one minute, raining the next and then beautiful and sunny again the next.  who can keep up?    here's a picture outside ROCKHARBOR tonight.  i just love the streets when they've been recently rained on.  (that smell of rain on asphalt is almost intoxicating.)  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;teaching the teachers&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-20T23:42:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/leadertraining.php#unique-entry-id-105</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/leadertraining.php#unique-entry-id-105</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this weekend, we had leader training for kidsROCK (our Children's Ministry).    Stacy and i developed and co-led a class on creative teaching and classroom management and it was pretty much awesome.  we have amazing leaders/teachers/volunteers.  


a group doing the "human knot"


good discussion


they were very excited]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i am a hero&#x22; and &#x22;Christmas coming down&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-19T23:42:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/guitarheroandchristmas.php#unique-entry-id-104</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/guitarheroandchristmas.php#unique-entry-id-104</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[before church, i finally got around to taking Christmas down.  here is my light fixture sans Christmas red lights.


i LOVE my guitar hero.  after church tonight, i came home and played for an hour or two.  so great!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;motion sickness standing still&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-01-18T23:41:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cloverfield.php#unique-entry-id-103</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cloverfield.php#unique-entry-id-103</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i went and saw Cloverfield today.  i don't know if it was because i hadn't eaten, or what, but the whole shaky-cam thing made me almost throw up several times.  i mean, i almost had to leave the theater a few times.  as far as the movie goes, it was pretty much exactly what i expected.  i liked it, but it wasn't the end all that everyone has been making it out to be.  anyway, i enjoy going to the movies alone, so this was a nice morning escape for me.  (except for the near-vomit experience.)  and yes... i know this isn't a picture i took.  but it'll have to do.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;sister Mardi&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-17T22:09:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mardithenun.php#unique-entry-id-102</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mardithenun.php#unique-entry-id-102</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, Stacy was getting her hair done today and i stopped by to say hi and saw Mardi Cork there.  she was coming from getting her hair washed or something and i thought she looked like a nun, so i took a picture.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;balancing the budget&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-16T22:06:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/budgetday.php#unique-entry-id-101</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/budgetday.php#unique-entry-id-101</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[what i'll remember about this day is that Stacy and Michelle stayed at work till 6.00pm trying to balance the Winter Camp budget.  (you should have seen the excel spreadsheet and color coding!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;apple day&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-15T17:24:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/macbookair.php#unique-entry-id-99</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/macbookair.php#unique-entry-id-99</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[it only comes a few times a year.  when it does, i count down the days, go in late to work and sit up and pay attention.  it's Apple Day.  the day when Apple decides to unleash some new awesome products on the all too suspecting public.  pretty much... when i think of today... this is what i'll remember.


the macbook air.  www.apple.com/macbookair]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a day of rest&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-14T17:24:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/bikerides.php#unique-entry-id-98</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/bikerides.php#unique-entry-id-98</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[since we worked all weekend, Stacy and i both got the day off on Monday.  we took our beach cruisers and went for a bike ride.


(our bikes parked outside of Juice It Up!)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;shell burgers for everyone&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-13T17:23:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shellburgers.php#unique-entry-id-97</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shellburgers.php#unique-entry-id-97</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Ralph (the guy who runs the camp in Idyllwild) told us that his wife is a "burger connoisseur" and that she said that the best burger in town was to be found at the Shell station.  what?    i know.  but they even had a sign... "best burger on the hill."  hmmm...  we had to find out!


  


              


they weren't that good.


barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;winter camp fun&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2008-01-12T16:52:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/winter%20camp.php#unique-entry-id-96</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/winter%20camp.php#unique-entry-id-96</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, in case you hadn't figured it out, this weekend was Winter Camp for ROCKHARBOR.  we joined forces with some old friends at Mariners Church (Jen Epperson) and at High Desert Church (David Robles) that we'd worked with at Yorba Linda and it was amazing!    (i was the speaker and the mohawk went along with my talks.)  it was such an amazing time and the kids were fantastic.  i'm so proud of Stacy for it all.  she came up with the idea to do it, decided that we should plan our own camp (even though it's WAY more work), put the whole thing together with our team and made it awesome.  as far as me being a camp speaker, it was a great experience.  i'd been wanting to speak at a camp for a long time, so this was very cool for me.


(Stacy, me and Ashley hanging out during freetime)


(me speaking on stage)


anyway, camp was really cool, but i'm also really glad to be back in my own bed and out of the freezing cold.  


barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;an impromtu haircut&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-11T16:48:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/impromtucut.php#unique-entry-id-95</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/impromtucut.php#unique-entry-id-95</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i know that this is two daily pictures today, but this one had to be posted.  i got me a haircut!    yes... it's a mohawk.  yes... it was for a purpose.  yes... that's hair all over my shoulders.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;when everything goes wrong&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-11T10:27:17-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wrongadapter.php#unique-entry-id-94</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wrongadapter.php#unique-entry-id-94</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[when we got to camp and started setting up, about a million things went wrong at one time.  it was pretty amazing.  the biggest (for me) was that everything for the entire weekend was going to be run through my computer and i'd brought up the wrong adapter for the projector.  (the one in the picture.)  i called people... i googled the area for an Apple Store... i tried it all.  then i stopped, closed my eyes and asked God to just help me relax and present a solution to the problem.  i'm not kidding when i say it was less than a minute later that the camp host/manager guy showed up and had the exact thing i needed.  and just in case that wasn't enough, right as he showed up, i got a call from my friend David who was on his way up and said that he had found the part at a Best Buy.  amazing!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a time for dogs&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-10T10:10:29-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dogtime.php#unique-entry-id-93</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dogtime.php#unique-entry-id-93</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[in the chaos of preparing for Winter Camp, i took a few minutes to visit my dogs.  the german shepherd/chow mix is Baby.  we've had her for 13 years or so.  she's very old and not doing so well.    Scout (the jack russell terrier) was an impulse buy a few years back.  i saw him in the mall and had to have him.  (note to self: research dogs BEFORE you buy them)  anyway, it was nice to take a few minutes out of a hectic day and run around with the dogs.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;prepping for Winter Camp&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>daily photos</category><dc:date>2008-01-09T23:08:26-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wintercampprep.php#unique-entry-id-92</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wintercampprep.php#unique-entry-id-92</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i spent most of the day in the office prepping for Winter Camp and this weekend.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a new project&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2008-01-09T14:49:52-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pictureproject.php#unique-entry-id-91</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pictureproject.php#unique-entry-id-91</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, last night, some of us went out to French 75 for dinner and we were talking about life and stuff.  my good friend, Ashley Otani, mentioned that she had a new camera and that her New Year's Resolution was to take more pictures.  this got us talking about taking pictures and recording our lives when we came up with a fantastic idea.  what if each of us were to take at least one picture every day?    what if we could look back at a year and have a picture to represent every day of that year?    how cool would that be?


so that's what i'm gonna try to do!    a picture every day.  and i'm going to post them here.  some days, you might just get a picture with a caption.  other days, it might be a whole blog.  just depends.  i'm going to start with a picture from last night of us at the dinner table since that's where this whole things started.  here's looking forward to a whole year of pictures!


- barnes
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Sydney Bristow is still amazing&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2008-01-05T00:46:53-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alias.php#unique-entry-id-90</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alias.php#unique-entry-id-90</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[in another life, when i was a teacher, there was a show that began during the first month of my first year in that profession.  it was called "Alias."  this was the first show i watched from the first episode to the last.  it was like a mini-movie every week.  it had action and adventure, romance and sci-fi, conspiracy and drama.  plus, it introduced the world to Jennifer Garner.  it was amazing.  it aired on Sunday nights and the discussions in my classes on Monday morning would, inevitably, center on the happenings of "Alias" from the previous evening.  


was Sydney going to get caught?    did Sloane know that Syd and Jack were double agents for the CIA?    was Irina really good or really evil?    are Syd and Vaughn ever gonna hook up?  ...  where was Sydney during those lost two years? 


these were just some of the MANY questions that this show left us asking over the first two seasons alone.  it was like nothing television had seen before.  yes... over the seasons, it lost its way a few times.  but... even at its worst, it was more enjoyable than most of the stuff being produced.


anyway, the reason i bring all this up is that Stacy and i recently decided to rewatch "Alias."  and you know what?    it's just as good the second time!    and it's so cool to see now, because this is the show that set up the successes of shows like "Lost" and "Heroes."  it was the first show (at least, that i watched) thatmade every week a cliff-hanger and had an over-arching plot that ran the course of the series.  (it's also kinda cool to see where shows like "Lost" and "Heroes" clearly learned from the mistakes made by "Alias.")  all this to say, "Alias" (and Sydney Bristow) kick ass and if you haven't watched the show before, do yourself a favor and get the DVDs.  (or borrow mine.)  you won't regret it.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the best day of the year (part three): the value in a Christmas party&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-12-30T15:14:58-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rhchristmasparty.php#unique-entry-id-89</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rhchristmasparty.php#unique-entry-id-89</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i should have known better.  i mean, if i could say one thing about ROCKHARBOR, it would be that they make sure that their people know that they are valued.  the importance of genuinely valuing people and making sure that they know it is something we talk about a great deal in my Org. 

...anyway, even as i walk onto the patio that night i can tell that a lot of effort went into this party. the patio and entry area have been decorated really well and there are tables set up in the entry with TONS of great food on them.  before the doors to The Centre (the worship center) open, tons of people are standing around, talking and eating Christmas foods and drinks.  it was fun to see everyone, but i was still a bit skeptical of the evening.


then we went inside.  they had completely redecorated the entire Centre for this one night.  backdrop, lighting, decorations... everything was different than it had been the day before.  (and different than it would be the day after.  the staff all came early to set it up and stayed late to put it back the way it was.)  all the seats had been removed and nicely decorated tables with chairs replaced them.  a dance floor was in the middle of the room. yes...  a dance floor at church.  this, of course, piqued my curiosity.  at this point, about 500 people made their ways in and sat down at the tables.


then the fun began.  our Teaching Pastor, Mike Erre took the stage as Santa Clause and got the evening going.  i don't think i've laughed so hard in a long time.  first, Kit and Tommy led the whole place in a "gameshow" called "So You Think You Can Carol."  five of us were chosen to go up on stage and finish the lyrics to Christmas carols.  i lost.  (i said it was "join the ancient yule tide carol" and it's freakin' "TROLL the ancient yule tide carol."  honestly... who trolls?)    after that (and this is where i laughed the hardest) Mike (Santa) got up on stage and had the entire room break into groups by their months of birth.  then each group was assigned a "day" (as in "The 12 Days of Christmas") and had to come up with an action to along with their day.  then he led the whole group in the song.  there's no way i can do justice to the hilariousness of how this turned out, but it was really, really, really funny.


then Todd (our Lead Pastor) took the stage to talk about why we were here and how ROCKHARBOR owed so much to its leaders and how we were the real ministers of the church.  he thanked us for all that we've done and are continuing to do.  and then he invited the staff members to come up to the mic if they wanted to so that they could specifically point out volunteers who had gone above and beyond.  over the next 1/2 hour or so, staff member after staff member came up to the mic and sang the praises of specific volunteer leaders or groups of leaders who had made an impact.  it was incredible.  even people who weren't specifically mentioned got it.  we really are valued.  what we do is noticed and it is important and it isn't taken for granted.  it was pretty amazing and you could see it on the faces of the people sitting around.  then, Michelle Anthony, who is literally over 200+ volunteers, got up to speak and she talked about me!    this isn't even the person i work for.  this is the person who the people i work for work for.  that someone at that level would take notice of what a volunteer leader was doing is pretty impressive.  (at this point, i wasn't surprised that that Michelle knew me.  she had sought me out months before to get to know me because she had noticed what i was doing and had already approached me about a job.  but for her to get up and talk about me in front of 500 people was unnecessarily nice.)  


anyway, after everyone felt properly valued and thanked, Todd brought the program to an end with some Christmas carols.  and then... the real party began.  they had hired a DJ.  the music started and everyone took to the dance floor.  the dance floor located right in the middle of our worship center.  it was pretty awesome. (as the pictures of Mike (Santa) dancing with his wife clearly show!)  

...now, as much of a fun party as it was, i don't tell this story because of that.  i tell it because it was the first time in my experience that a corporate event of any kind (church, work, school... whatever) actually succeeded in appreciating people the way they should be appreciated without any ulterior motives or agendas.  because of that, people want to continue to be apart of what's going on there.  they want to serve and do it excitedly.  people felt like they were a valued part of a team.  actually, no.  it was more than that.  they knew that they were a valued part of a team.  


...like i said, ROCKHARBOR gets what so many other organizations don't.  they take the time to make sure their staff and volunteer leaders don't just feel like they're valued, but actually know that they are.  this makes us want to work even harder for the good of the whole.  and it really does work just like that. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a better day&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-12-30T15:12:33-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/betterday.php#unique-entry-id-88</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/betterday.php#unique-entry-id-88</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i made it!


so, i had a bad day with the flu and then got up and went to Maui the next day.  i'm feeling much better though i'm finding that recovery is slow (as far as my stomach being able to take on normal foods and whatnot).


anyway, thanks for the comments and well-wishes!


- barnes]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the worst day of the year&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-12-27T13:19:33-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/worstday.php#unique-entry-id-87</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/worstday.php#unique-entry-id-87</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as i'm in the middle of my three part series on the best day of the year, i'm going to take a very brief moment to point out that today, December 27th, is officially the worst day of the year.


the short version...


i started throwing up last night as the stomach flu officially kicked in.  as a result, i sent my girlfriend and my family to Maui without me this morning as i continued to vomit.  now, while they're in paradise, i'm sitting here feeling (and looking) like total crap.


hopefully tomorrow will be better and i can catch up with them.


by the way... please feel free to leave comments on these blogs.  i'd be good to know if anyone is reading them.  just click on the little link at the bottom that says "comments" and leave me one.  thanks!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the best day of the year (part two): my creation&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-12-22T09:36:22-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mylights.php#unique-entry-id-86</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/mylights.php#unique-entry-id-86</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, after the excitement that was an early Christmas, i really didn't think that Thursday, December 13th could have gotten any better.  oh how wrong could i be?


for anyone who isn't aware, back in September, i moved into a condo in the safest city in the US...   Irvine.  and i love it.  i mean, i really love it.  the condo is great.  the location is great.  i'm five minutes from ROCKHARBOR, three minutes from Fashion Island, five minutes from South Coast Plaza, three minutes from The District (and awesome new center down here with everything from Costco, to Best Buy, Target, a great movie theater, great restaurants and more), two minutes from John Wayne Airport and about 10 minutes from the beach...  it's wonderful.  so, over the past months, i've been slowly decorating my place in my own style.  (it came partially furnished and i've kept most of what was here.  but it needed some more things that weren't here and there were a few things that needed replacing.)  one of the biggest problems with my place was that there was no lighting near the dining table.  so, if you wanted to eat at night, you either ate at the table in the dark, or ate on the couch.  (you can guess where i've been having my meals for the past two months.)  this needed to be remedied.


in October, i was down at South Coast Plaza and i walked by the Jon Varvatos store and saw the coolest light display.  basically, they had hung these wooden racks from the ceiling and just had about a thousand light bulbs hanging from them.  (it's very cool.  check it out if you're down there.)  so, i was talking to my designer friend, Diane, and told her what i'd seen.  obviously, their design wouldn't work for me, but i liked the basic look of the bulbs hanging from the ceiling on cords.  so, i came up with an idea.  my dining table has these wooden beams that run through it (like a cross). what if we got two beams to match, hung them from the ceiling directly above the table and dropped light bulbs from there?  

...now, i'll stop quickly to say that i'm no designer.  i was seriously just dreaming out loud and had no idea that any of this was even a possibility.  but Diane, being a designer, started pondering.  she said she knew a guy who did scenic design for Disneyland who could create faux beams out of Styrofoam.  and she knew an electrician who was good at this kind of random stuff.  so, she set to work on the design.  


over the next few weeks we met with the Disney guy and the electrician and it seemed like this might actually happen.  and, on Wednesday, December 12th, the Disney guy showed up at my place with the beams.  (they looked fantastically real!)    the next morning, at 9.00am (just a 1/2 hour before early Christmas began) Diane, our friend Jon (who's a carpenter) and the electricians showed up to install the thing.  by the time we came back from Balboa from our Segway tour, the light was almost done.  within an hour, the realization of my initial daydreamings was complete and it is amazing.  (we even threw a few red bulbs in for the Christmas season.)


there's just something about the creative process that is so exciting and satisfying.  to have an idea and to see that idea come to life over time is really cool.  anyway, that is the second reason why Thursday, December 13 was the best day of the year.  i dreamed it up...   Diane designed it... and there it is!    and now, i can eat at my table fully lit.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a short blog with some news&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2007-12-18T10:04:24-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newjob.php#unique-entry-id-85</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newjob.php#unique-entry-id-85</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[big news for me...  


as of January 7th, i'll be the new Associate Director of Family Ministries at ROCKHARBOR Church.


nice.


good day. good day.


-matt]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the best day of the year (part one): an early Christmas&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-12-20T08:40:48-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlychristmas.php#unique-entry-id-82</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/earlychristmas.php#unique-entry-id-82</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i think every year has at least one of "those" days.  you know the ones where you know when you look back on that year, you think of that day.  i suppose it could be a good day or a bad day, but in this instance, i'm talking about the good days.  last Thursday was that day for 2007.  this (and the following two blogs) will deal with why.


...Stacy and i sort of have a tradition.  we celebrate Christmas early.  now, my official reason and justification for this is that we do it so that when the real Christmas comes around, we can focus on others and not on ourselves.  this, of course, is a lie.  we really do it because i'm super-impatient.  and it's not so much about me getting the gifts (though i thoroughly enjoy that) but it's that once i have her gifts, i can't wait to give them to her.  


so, in early November, we decided that our Christmas would be on Thursday, December 13th.  (i pushed really hard for Friday, December 7th, but was brutally rebuffed.)  the problem was, i got Stacy's big gift two weeks before that day.  this, for me, was torture.  so, after what seemed like a decade of waiting in agony, the day came!  


...i'm so perceptive.)  anyway, i told her she needed to be here at 9.30 then so i could give her her gifts.  (that sentence had the word "her" twice in a row. though it made sense, i still didn't feel comfortable typing it.)  so, at 9.30, in the middle of the chaos that was going on at my house (which you'll hear about in the second blog in this blogtastic mini-series), Stacy arrived ready to be dazzled by what i had told her was "the best Christmas present ever."  but, first... i had to throw her off a bit.


in case you couldn't tell, to me, this is all sort of a game.  so, i decided that i needed to have some fun with it.  i had been picking up a few smaller things here and there over the past months that i knew she wanted, but that, alone, didn't live up to the title of "the best Christmas present ever."  so, we went in my room and i pulled out a wrapped gift.  (it may or may not be important to know that all gifts wrapped by me are wrapped in aluminum foil.  this ensures easy wrapping and unwrapping as well as ensuring that mine are the shiniest gifts under the tree.)  she quickly ripped off the Reynolds Wrap&trade; surrounding her gift and found a new case for her computer.  nice?  

...after that, i told her i was going to run into the bathroom and asked her if she could grab one of my belts for me in my closet.  she looked at me with the "get your own freakin' belt" look that i had expected, but then, being the great girlfriend that she is, she said "okay" and headed for the closet.  as she walked in the closet, i awaited her reaction.  "um... 

...she had been saying she wanted a beach cruiser for like six months.  i kind of pretended to ignore her talking about it and when we did, it was about how it would be smarter to wait till next spring or summer.  then i totally lied and told her that Megan wanted one and wanted me to research them for her.  so i did.  and Stacy helped and told me which one she would want.  it couldn't have been easier!  

...so, i put on the blindfold (and my sunglasses over that so i didn't look like a complete idiot) and we headed off for what seemed like an eternity.  (i think it was about 10 minutes.)  i tried to guess where we were at every step of the way.  she kept acting amazed that i was figuring it out.  (of course, when we got to where we were going, i realized that i had, in fact, figured nothing out and we were at least 20 miles from where i thought we were.)  anyway, we got there and i took of the blindfold to find... 


...Stacy had booked us a Segway tour of the Balboa Peninsula.  now, you might be thinking... "that's lame."  or "you're a huge dork."  well, the first one is absolutely not true.  (the second is fairly accurate.)  but, we had SO much fun on this tour.  yes, we looked like idiots.  but, holy crap are those things fun!  

...i think Stacy one-upped me on this one.  i told her, i'd never been given an experiential gift.  people always give things, not experiences.  this was amazingly fun and i'll always remember it.  (i highly recommend it.  seriously.)  then we grabbed lunch in the Fun Zone.  (i had this ridiculously large burger that came with fries... on it!)  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;branching out&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2005-07-05T08:52:07-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sushi.php#unique-entry-id-81</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/sushi.php#unique-entry-id-81</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[okay... so, if you know me, you know that i am the pickiest eater in the world. but you know what, i tried something new the other night and, i'm shocked to say, i really liked it. i am now a fan of sushi!   of course, it couldn't be that simple with me, could it?   no. the problem is that i don't like spicy food or avacados and i'm allergic to shrimp. (an allergy i've only developed in the past year... which sucks cuz i LOVE shrimp!)   so, i got this caterpillar roll thing and had him make it without avacados and i got a tuna roll and i totally loved it and now want more. i can only imagine how good it would be if followed by an icy cold Mountain Dew. mmmm.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;if i were the President of the United States...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2005-07-05T08:50:14-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/potus.php#unique-entry-id-80</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/potus.php#unique-entry-id-80</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[there are several issues that, as president, i feel i must address before dealing with lesser issues such as foreign policy, the war on terror and world hunger. they are as follows:


...if the speed limit is 65, please do not drive less than 75. if you must, please stay in the far right lane (aka... the "retard lane"). from this day forth, driving less than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit in the fast lane is punishable by death.


2. restraunts: if you advertise a particular item of food or beverage, please actually have it available. those not complying will be immediately desimated by an arial strike force. 

...3. as they have been scientifically proven to be pure evil incarnate, cats are no longer welcome in our country. all cats must be either deported or destroyed within the next week. (if you wish, the government will collect your cat to be unleashed against our enemies at no additional charge.)


...5. as of August 1, 2005, CBS will cease to exist. they have continually produced the suckiest shows of the past decade. there will only be two major networks that will be officially recognized by this government and they are NBC and ABC.   FOX can stay as it continues to create unique and subversive content (ie- "Arrested Development"); UPN will continue to serve the minority viewers who still think that "Moesha" was a quality program; and the WB will continue to produce over-written, over-acted and over-hyped programming geared toward high school girls such as "Everwood," "Gilmore Girls," and "Summerland." 


6. as an addendum to number 5, ABC is hereby required to find a better timeslot for "Alias" in the coming season. (also, please make sure that this whole "i'm not really Michael Vaughn" thing doesn't end up stupid. oh... and as the president, i demand to know what's down the hatch on "Lost" and i mean now.)


...8. as of January 1, 2006, all PCs will be abolished and replaced by Macs. anyone using a PC after this time will be shipped off to join Bill Gates and the rest of the Microsoft crew on the imaginary island of Tonga (which, i believe, he actually owns).


...10. we're getting rid of Arkansas. next weekend, we'll be placing an add in the paper for any country that wants to buy themselves a new state. we don't expect any takers.


thank you for taking this time to listen to these suggestions (demands). i know that, together, we can maybe make this a kinda great nation once again.... possibly. (we may have to get rid of Texas though too.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;why God&#x2c; why? and other thoughts on middle America&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2005-07-18T08:49:12-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/middleamerica.php#unique-entry-id-79</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/middleamerica.php#unique-entry-id-79</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so... i've spent the last few days hanging out in Nashville, Tennessee with a brief stay in Somerset, Kentucky. what the crap is going on out there?


i am, now more than ever, fully convinced that God never intended for the middle states to actually be inhabited by people. i mean, seriously! ...  (note to the reader: just as a warning... don't ask people there that question. they tend to get offended and quickly go on the defensive. although, i must say, it is entertaining to hear them try to tell you why it's better than California... always good for a laugh, those middle-staters are!) 

...if you know me at all, you know of my FIRM belief that country music is of the devil. (if you know that, then you probably also know that my parent's cat, Jake, is in fact the devil from whom all country music flows.) so, now i'm voluntarily going to visit a place that is proud to declare itself the Country Music Capital of the World!?!?!   i'm a pretty freakin' good person to put up with that crap for my family/friends who have been dumb enough to move there. (perhaps an award should be bestowed.) 


...1... the middle states are only for flying over or driving through.... quickly. they're simply there to make you put in some effort to get to the other side where the good stuff is.


...3... everyone in Tennessee is still in high school as all anyone there seems to do is sit around and gossip or complain. however, they do it with a huge smile on their faces as they pretend that life is just so gosh-darn amazing. also, if you accused them of gossipping or complaining, they will go to any length neccessary to deny it because they honestly believe they weren't doing either.


4... nobody really knows anyone there. seriously... these people put a HUGE amount of effort into being fake. as referenced in ..3, it is very important to a person in Tennessee to seem, by all outward appearances, that life is absolutely perfect. these are the same people who's lives are actually falling apart and are living in a deep denial.


...anyway, i'm sure this is an overgeneralization and not everyone is like this. however, even good people get sucked into it, i'm sure. it's like high school... it's hard not to get sucked into the popularity contests and gossip sessions. run for your lives.


i will say this for them though... they've got some great food. and that might make all the rest totally worth it.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;only in America&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2005-07-30T08:46:22-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/countryiscrap.php#unique-entry-id-78</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/countryiscrap.php#unique-entry-id-78</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[only in this amazing country of ours could we have an entire industry dedicated to people who aren't talented. only here would people say "hey!   you suck... come over here and we'll call you the best of the suckiest and make you a star!"   only in America could you be rewarded with vast amounts of money, beautiful women, big houses, awards, cars and everything else that comes with celebrity for not being good at what you do. 


these thoughts struck me as i was riding back from the airport today and my sister Megan, who apparently has no taste in music, put in some piece of crap country cd. i mean seriously... these people can't write... they can't sing... they copy music that's been played about 50 million times before... it's quite horrific. and yet the power of marketing and peer pressure have convinced millions that the talentless are talented. 


now, don't get me wrong. there was a time when "country music" (very different than it is today) was the heart and soul of a great country. just listen to the soundtrack from "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"   to hear some samples of bluegrass/country. (mostly modern, updated samples, but good ones nonetheless.) anyway... that all died with Johnny Cash. now it's all horrible. country "stars" all write and sing about the same crap over and over again. and now it's worse because they've made a concerted effort to cross it over with pop music and develop a hybrid that is truly revolting. 


all this to say... if you want to be a star and have no talent... country music may be for you!   if you can't sing, but want to make millions at it anyway, move to Nashville!   if you have nothing to say, but still want to write songs... there's a whole industry that will call you downright amazing and pay your bills. 


this just makes me feel that the end of the world must be coming soon]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;strange occurances&#x2c; acts of God (or things that keep me up late at night)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2005-08-18T08:45:22-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/godisworking.php#unique-entry-id-77</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/godisworking.php#unique-entry-id-77</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[have you ever just KNOWN that God is working in your life?   like, things just start working together and you know something big is coming?   you don't know what it is or what He's up to exactly, but you know He's moving?   it's like the whole of the cosmos is working together to show you something that only He could. 


that's my life right now. it's not even big, huge things... but it's just something i feel. something i know. i don't know the answer. heck... i don't even know the question!   and, as much as part of me wishes i knew exactly what it was He was up to, another part of me doesn't care cuz i know it's gonna be great. 


where we going?   i don't know. just along for the ride.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;BOOM&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2005-09-07T08:41:59-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/boom.php#unique-entry-id-76</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/boom.php#unique-entry-id-76</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ever feel like your head is going to explode?   i have. right now, in fact. it's so out of my character to let go of things. if you know my family at all, you probably can realize that control freak tendencies are instilled at the genetic level if you're a Barnes. so, though things are very cool and exciting (as my last blog indicated), i'm also having a really hard time not knowing what's going on or where things are going. i don't know why i'm telling you this. just one of those nights i guess!


sorry that my blogs have been so serious lately. (i think i've been listening to too much Coldplay or something.) i'll try and come up with something interesting and funny to say soon. thanx for reading.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;here today... gone to Amsterdam?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2005-09-16T08:41:28-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gonetoamsterdam.php#unique-entry-id-75</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/gonetoamsterdam.php#unique-entry-id-75</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[hey everybody... i'll be in Amsterdam for the next week. (going with the church... not for the drugs and legal prostitution!)   i'll have internet access, so drop me a line. see ya when i get back.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;FOOLED YOU&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2005-10-11T08:40:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shiningtrailer.php#unique-entry-id-74</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shiningtrailer.php#unique-entry-id-74</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ya know how some movie trailers can be really deceiving?   you go and see the movie and it's nothing like what the trailer made it look like?   this is the perfect example of how some good editing can totally pull one over on the audience.... plus, if you've seen the movie (and if you haven't you should be shot), it's really funny.


http://www.ps260.com/molly/SHINING%20FINAL.mov]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;OUT OF CONTROL&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2005-11-21T08:37:37-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/outofcontrol.php#unique-entry-id-73</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/outofcontrol.php#unique-entry-id-73</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA["i had the feeling it was out of control... i was of the opinion it was out of control..."


most of you probably don't know that those are words from a very old U2 song (their very first single from back in 1979... i was one year old. you probably weren't yet born.)


Bono said that the song was about waking up one morning and realizing that the two biggest events in your life (your birth and your death) have nothing to do with you. you have no control over them. (yes... i know... suicide would void that statement, but generally speaking it's true and a little weird to think about.) 


i usually think that there is nothing in our lives that is completely out of our control. i mean, it seems like you can always do SOMETHING to change a situation or whatever. but right now, i feel like things are happening that are out of my control. there's nothing that i can do that wouldn't just make things worse. and i hate it.


control freak?   yeah... maybe. it runs in the family. i feel like my life has been a series of events consisting of me trying to take control and God smacking me upside the head and saying "you're an idiot!"   and yet, here i am again... pissed cuz i'm out of control. and the cycle continues...]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a disturbing lack of creativity... help&#x21;&#x21;&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-01-09T08:36:26-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lackofcreativity.php#unique-entry-id-72</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lackofcreativity.php#unique-entry-id-72</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ummm... yeah. so, this weekend, somebody (Melissa) commented that i hadn't posted a good, creative or entertaining blog in a long time. i hadn't realized how long it's been. i don't know what's wrong with me, but i find that i have had a disturbing lack of creativity lately. 


so, please forgive me for posting stupid surveys or lame online test results. i want my creativty back!   maybe i just haven't been inspired by anything lately. i don't know. anyway, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to pass them along. in the meantime... i'll just continue to not be entertaining in any way.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;back to school... back to school... to prove to dad that i&#x27;m not a fool&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-02-16T08:34:47-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/backtoschool.php#unique-entry-id-71</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/backtoschool.php#unique-entry-id-71</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i've become one of those people i hate. you know the ones. they complain about school and how they just can't wait to be done with it. and then they finally finish and what do they do?   they sign up for more! ...  why would you want more of that?"   i know. i get it. i'm that guy now. 


i'm not proud to be that guy. but here i am. and as horribly cheesy as it sounds, i found a program that i'm just interested in. there isn't some great practical application that i'm doing this for. it's just that i found something that i really want to learn more about. sure, it can be used in a lot of areas and will, no doubt, be useful in whatever future (and present) ventures i plunge head-first into... but mostly, i'm just interested. so... what the hell?   why not get another masters?   do i need two masters degrees?   probably not. but i'm doing it anyway!


so... on February 8th... i go back to school to get my Masters in Organizational Leadership (that's leadership for organizations not for getting organized... that would take nothing short of a miracle and direct intervention from God himself) at Azusa Pacific University. the worst part... the classes are from 4.45 in the afternoon until 9.30 at night!!!   (um... that's just short of five hours.) i'm gonna die.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;random thoughts from the dam amster&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2005-09-22T08:33:14-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/amsterdam.php#unique-entry-id-70</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/amsterdam.php#unique-entry-id-70</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, i've spent the last week in Amsterdam learning about culture, art, history and religion. if you know me, you know that i'm a bit ADD (not as much as Megan) and have all kinds of random thoughts that usually have nothing to do with what's going on around me. as i was sitting in my "classes" this week, i decided to write some of them down. a few are just good quotes. i'm posting them here because i don't know what else to do with them. here they are in no particular order...


...- people are dumb and that's why John the Baptist has two skulls in Europe.


...- why does everyone think that they're right about everything and everyone else is wrong?


- what's wrong with the world that we can't have one plug standard? 

...- how come whenever i get distracted it's almost always by thoughts of women or food... or both?


...- that crap in your eye when you wake up... where does it come from?


...- why does there always seem to be such a struggle to balance the head and the heart?


...- "row, row, row your boat gently down the stream..." and then someone else comes in and it starts all over again. it works... until somebody screws it up.


- "what stench in your life do you need Christ's fragrance to cover up?" - phil graff


...- contrary to popular belief, God's preeminent characteristic is not His holiness... it's His love. everything else flows from that. so, stop trying to be so freakin' holy and start loving people. everything else will flow from that.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;oh... dumb surveys&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2005-09-28T08:31:29-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/randomquestions.php#unique-entry-id-69</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/randomquestions.php#unique-entry-id-69</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i don't think so... but i like to look at them. and, according to "matthew m. barnes' rules for life, vol. 

...i'm a little confused about this. gonna have to get back to you on that one! 


...well, since sometimes i am another person and that person is most certainly friends with me, i suppose the answer would have to be "yes."


...matt, barnes, barnsey (not a fan), mattbarnes (i swear there's a small contingent of people out there that think it's all my first name), mateo, MB, jackass (thanks dad!), little shit (thanks mom!), "hey you!"   (thanks all the people who i've made such an impression on that you can't even remember my freakin' name!)


...(last night on The West Wing, i learned that if you don't like a question, you simply reject the premise of that question.)


...crash... but i need to watch it again because i put it in on my laptop on the way to Amsterdam right after i'd taken a sleeping pill and don't remember much of it.


...if you pick one that is supposed to be your favorite, you're just setting yourself up for a letdown. in my book, all days suck until they prove themselves otherwise.


...i've got a house with a youth pastor roommate who sleeps in a little white bed and a ironman running roommate who sleeps on the floor and works for a toy company. i like to keep it interesting.


...i don't have one of those. except in my office where it's the cover of "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" by u2.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;deep fried.... whatever&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-01-10T08:30:26-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/friedgoodness.php#unique-entry-id-68</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/friedgoodness.php#unique-entry-id-68</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(so, as you may know... i've had little inspiration to blog lately. but, Melissa reminded me about this and i decided that i'd throw it up here. it's an experience i wanted to share. now... on to the blog.)


in mid-2005, i was introduced to something that would forever change my life. it is called a Monte Cristo sandwich and i had it for lunch at the Blue Bayou at Disneyland. ...  my stomach was happy, my heart was burning and my arteries were clogging. i couldn't have been happier. however, this only led to letdown for a few reasons. 


1... i have to go to Disneyland and make reservations ahead of time to get lunch at the Blue Bayou. what if i wanted one on a whim? 

...2... they don't serve Pepsi products at the Blue Bayou and, clearly, a Mountain Dew would only serve to complete this meal and enter it in to the top 10 eating experiences of my life.


the second one was simply and easily solved by sneaking cans of Mountain Dew in. (though the waiter did give me a strange look, it was totally worth it.) but the first... what to do???


then came the call. my friend, Jen had found the actual Disney recipe for Monte Cristos. i was elated. so, to make a long story short, i ran down to Target, bought a deep fryer (everyone should have one) and invited some friends over for a night of Monte Cristos.


...Korean television (don't ask)... and deep fried sandwiches. quite nearly a perfect night. however, after we were done eating our sandwiches... we still had a vat of boiling hot oil and grease... what to do? 


now, the average person would say "that's pretty gross... let's turn it off and clean the thing up." but not us. no... we said "let's fry stuff!"   so, we started frying things... a banana (it was too mushy though and sorta fell apart)... a marshmellow (kinda acted like the banana)... and a snickers bar (melted... but it was good). we were gonna fry some fudge that we had as well as some brownies, but i don't think they made it to the fryer (our mouths may have gotten in the way). 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;so here&#x27;s the thing about blogs... (read this if you have one)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2005-02-17T08:28:10-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/blogs.php#unique-entry-id-67</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/blogs.php#unique-entry-id-67</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i really don't get the whole concept. i mean... i'm supposed to go online and share my private life and personal secrets with... the entire freakin' world?!?!   i mean, seriously... if you know me, you know i am not a private person at all. you wanna know something, i'll tell you. but this is ridiculous. especially since everyone and their freakin' mother is on here. there's no way you can write something about someone else and not think that it's not going to get back to them. and, for all of my younger friends, you do know that your teachers/counselors/administrators/janitors spend a great deal of time on here reading what you're writing, don't you?   i mean, of course they do!   some of them are nosy, but most of them just care and if you're gonna write the stupid stuff you do on here, can you blame them for checking it out?   please. they'd have to be freakin' retarded not to. to sum up... blogs are bad. unless you're famous and you're like "dear fans... this is what i've been up to in my life lately," you really shouldn't have one. (and then, let's face it, you'll have your own website and not need a myspace anyway. plus, of course, you'll be mostly lying.) of course, seeing as it is the current fad and cool thing to do, i'm sure i'll be caught up in it in no time myself. if that happens, please... someone give me this lecture. all right... end of rant. we now return you to your regularly scheduled willing participation in the voyueristic nature of Big Brother.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;me website nuevo&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2006-07-21T00:47:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newsite.php#unique-entry-id-66</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newsite.php#unique-entry-id-66</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[however, i&rsquo;d be shocked if anyone actually looked at it.  in fact, i&rsquo;d be shocked if anyone was even reading this.  (who am i talking to then?  

...anyway...  there&rsquo;s a whole buttload of crap on this site that you can check out.  first, you have the &ldquo;home&rdquo; page.  (that&rsquo;s fancy internet lingo for the first page of the site.  hope I cleared that up for ya.)  it just has a picture of the back of my head and a little welcome note.  nothing too exciting.


...page (with the question mark), but apparently you can&rsquo;t put a question mark in the file name.  and since I&rsquo;m using iWeb to do all of this, one doesn&rsquo;t have much control over how the site works.  anyway, the &ldquo;who&rdquo; page is pretty much about who I am.  (random facts... r&eacute;sum&eacute;... values... etc...)


...after the &ldquo;who&rdquo; page comes the &ldquo;clips&rdquo; page.  pretty much these are either video clips i&rsquo;ve shot, edited or stolen from the internet.  i&rsquo;ll leave you to decide which is which.  (although, once again, who is &ldquo;you&rdquo; if nobody is reading this?)


...next it&rsquo;s the &ldquo;blogs&rdquo; page.  ummm... pretty much that&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;re reading right now (if in fact &ldquo;you&rdquo; are.)  so, if you don&rsquo;t understand what might be found in that section, you are probably technically an idiot and should be pointed and laughed at.


...&ldquo;rants and raves&rdquo; is a section where i rant and rave about whatever the crap i feel like ranting and raving about.  if anyone gives me crap about it, my next rant and/or rave will maybe involve the 1st amendment.


...&ldquo;leadership links and resources&rdquo; is pretty much exactly what it says it is.  i&rsquo;m going to be adding to it soon, but right now it&rsquo;s just a bunch of links to internet resources on leadership.  soon, it will also host all of the content (handouts, etc...) from leadership sessions i&rsquo;ve lead/written/put people to sleep with over the years.


...finally, the &ldquo;connect&rdquo; section.  i&rsquo;m a people person, dammit.  i like to connect with people.  sorry about the swearing there, but i have a strong belief that you can add the word &ldquo;dammit&rdquo; to the end of almost any statement and make it exponentially funnier and/or more intense.  (see pretty much any Charlton Heston movie ever made for more examples.  okay... i&rsquo;m really not sorry about the swearing.)


...that brings us to the conclusion of our in-flight instructions.  if you don&rsquo;t like something about the site, please feel free to find someone who cares and tell them.  if you do like something about the site, tell me because my ego clearly needs a bigger boost.


...ps... that&rsquo;s Strongbad up there in the picture looking at his sweet old compy.  (he has since destroyed compy and now has lappy.)  anyway, check him out over at www.homestarrunner.com  he&rsquo;s pretty much awesome and i find that we have much in common.  (except of course that he constantly wears a mexican wrestling mask and boxing gloves.  yes... even to bed.  and no, we don&rsquo;t know how he types with the gloves on.  and don&rsquo;t ask.  he gets pissy about that.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i can&#x27;t get to sleep...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2006-01-16T22:02:58-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cantsleep.php#unique-entry-id-64</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/cantsleep.php#unique-entry-id-64</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA["i can't get to sleep..."


by the way... just wanted to throw this out there.... 


if you get a chance... check out this song. it's called "Overkill" and it's by a guy named Colin Hay. he was the lead singer for that 80's band, Men at Work and it's actually a remake (much better) of one of their songs. anyway, they used the song in an episode of Scrubs (one of the best shows on TV, by the way) and it's stuck with me ever since. i got it off of iTunes. it's just an acoustic guitar song, but it's one of those songs that i think pretty much everyone can relate to at one point or another. check it out if you want.


i can't get to sleep...


...night after night my heartbeat shows the fears


...night after night my heartbeat shows the fears.


...i can't get to sleep...


...night after night my heartbeat shows the fears.


ghosts appear and fade away.


ghosts appear and fade away.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the recipe&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2006-01-20T22:01:38-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/montecristo.php#unique-entry-id-63</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/montecristo.php#unique-entry-id-63</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[okay... after my "let's fry everything" blog... several of you have asked for the recipe for Monte Cristos. they're really easy to make and take very little time. here you go...


...8 slices of egg bread (challah works well) sliced 1/2 inch thick


...- whisk the egg and water together in a mixing bowl.


- add the flour, salt and baking powder and whisk thoroughly, scraping the sides of the bowl.


...- on one slice of bread, arrange a slice each of ham, turkey and cheese and put the other slice of bread on top (umm... i think it's called making a sandwich)


...- heat the oil in the pan to between 365 and 375 degrees (don't let it get hotter than this)


- dip half of the sandwich in the batter allowing the excess to drain


...- place on a cookie sheet covered in paper towels in a warm oven until ready to serve


- sprinkle sandwiches lightly with powdered sugar (sounds weird, but makes a huge difference!)   and serve with blackberry preserves on the side (i think this is gross).
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;HOLY FREAKIN&#x27; HUNGRY&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-02-07T22:00:38-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/starving.php#unique-entry-id-62</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/starving.php#unique-entry-id-62</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today is the last day of something i challenged myself to do two weeks ago. for the past two weeks, i have been on an all-juice diet/cleanse/fast/detox thing. (that's the official terminology.) yeah... it's true. i haven't eaten anything in two weeks!   now, i tell you this not to brag or gloat (though i am quite impressed with myself right now) but to warn you. 


yes... it's a great excersise in discipline. and yes... i have lost around 15 pounds. and it's true that there's something spiritual about it that seems to kinda help clarify a bunch of stuff. but there are some definite problems with this concept.


...i mean, really. there are only so many combinations of apple, grape, orange, pineapple, pear (which is the best, by the way), rasberry, tangerine and strawberry juices that you can try. and, after a while, they really all start tasting very similiar. (although, with my very own juicer, i feel like that guy on the infomercials in the middle of the night who clearly should be dead of old age but is still juicing his way to the ripe old age of like 140. maybe i could live forever. hmmm.)


2. even though the first two days are hell on your stomach and your psyche, the rest of it is mostly psychological. but sometimes you feel like you're going crazy! ...  you probably know how much i love my food. (if you don't, well... first you don't know me. and second, the answer is... a whole-freaking-lot!)   yeah... well, it was pretty much on my mind a lot of the time because i just missed the taste. tasting things is wonderful and taken for granted. people always ask whether you'd rather be blind or deaf. i'm glad that tasteless isn't an option. and now i think i understand the cravings of pregnant women. i was craving the most random stuff at the most random times. (one minute i want pizza, the next it was sushi and the next it was the gnocci with the tomato cream sauce from Grazzianos.)


3. finally, and here's the bummer i'm dealing with currently, you can't just have the meal you've been dreaming of for two weeks when the thing's over. apparently, it takes several days to slowly come off your fast before you can eat normal foods. otherwise you get real sick. (last night i dreamed the i forgot and ended the whole thing with a big steak dinner and just as i finished, i realized what i had done. luckily, i woke up before i found out about the getting sick part.)


so, i went from posting a recipe for the most amazing sandwich you'll ever have to not eating for two weeks. i don't know what's wrong with me. (i went from frying everything to juicing everything. not as fun, i gotta tell ya!)   i'll probably do it again sometime. it is supposed to be very cleansing for your system and, i have to say, i do feel healthier. anyway, i think that next time i'll do it for like a week instead. anyone wanna join me? :-)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;yes they did&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2006-02-08T21:57:55-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u2wins.php#unique-entry-id-61</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u2wins.php#unique-entry-id-61</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[U2 just walked away with FIVE grammy awards including Album of the Year (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), Song of the Year (Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own), Best Rock Album (HTDAAB), Best Rock Performance (Sometimes...), and Rock Song (City of Blinding Lights). plus, their producer (Steve Lillywhite) won Producer of the Year. that's 20 Grammy's overall putting them in the top ten Grammy recipients of all time. awesome!


it should also be mentioned (or Megan might hurt me) that Kelly Clarkson won two awards beating out some bigtime competition like Gwen Stefani and Paul McCartney. she's awesome too so that's cool. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a night at the Radisson in Visalia&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>deep thoughts</category><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-02-18T21:56:38-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/jensbaby.php#unique-entry-id-60</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/jensbaby.php#unique-entry-id-60</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ know what you're asking yourself. "why, dear God, would he be at the Radisson in Visalia!?!?"   well, normally i would be as weirded out by the thought as i imagine you are right now, but tonight is different.


...Jen and i met, very randomly, in high school at a leadership camp at UCSB. we have one of those rare/great relationships where, from the moment we met, we were instant friends. we don't see each other much (because she lives in freakin' Visalia!), but when we see each other, it's as if no time has passed at all. (even though, at times, it's actually been years.) 


normally, when i see Jen, it's in Orange County. i live there and she lives in Visalia so i automatically win when we play the "where are we going to meet up?" ...  two weeks ago, Jen gave birth to a little girl she named Nathalie. because of these extenuating circumstances, she won the battle this time. but that's not what this blog is about.


i don't know what it is about this baby, but i think she might actually be as close to perfect as a baby can come. as soon as i got to the house, i was handed the baby and i didn't want to let her go. (this is abnormal for me as i'm generally bored with babies who cannot walk, talk or at least crawl.) for some reason, i'm totally enamoured with this child and totally weirded out by the fact that this baby belongs to my friend. 


i think it's because she's really my first close friend who's my age to have a baby. maybe it's because it makes me realize that i am (and people i'm friends with are) capable of doing this thing that i already know i'm capable of doing, but am not actually sure i could do. plus, i've known Jen for so long and i still think of her as the goofy high schooler i met at UCSB all those years ago. so, the whole thing is this weird experience for me. i don't know. i've been around babies a lot, but somehow this one is different. 


then i got to thinking about the idiots in this world who take children for granted. these people who have kids and don't appreciate them or realize how amazingly great they are and what a miracle they are. the ones who actually treat their kids like animals or worse. the one's who don't want their own children. i thought about this tonight as i was holding Nathalie and she looked up at me with those piercing eyes and she gripped my finger with those fragile little hands. i mean, if anyone ever needed proof of God... there she is. and millions more like her. how could you look at any of them and see anything but God?   to ignore that... to somehow see a burden or a mistake... i can't even fathom it.


so, now i'm back at my room at the Radisson in Visalia just in awe of God's creation. anyway, sorry this one isn't funny or random. maybe you understand what i'm talking about, and maybe you don't. if you don't, that's okay. it took 27 years for it to hit me.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;random thoughts from class&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-02-21T21:55:27-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/classthoughts.php#unique-entry-id-59</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/classthoughts.php#unique-entry-id-59</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[okay... last week, while i was in class, i had random thoughts running through my brain and i wrote them down. here they are in no particular order...


- i wonder if the Tawianese exchange student dropped the class because he had as much trouble understanding us as we did him?


...- the two people at the other end of the room are constantly typing stuff on their laptops. what the hell are they typing? 

...- also, their computers aren't plugged in and their batteries never seem to die. are they faking it?


- on that map on the wall, east is up. that's weird.


- how come love isn't a value in any of these books? 

...- why does Jesus always look the same in movies when we really don't know what Jesus looked like?   i think i wanna make a Jesus movie and have Him look really different. maybe beardless. and with a mullet. 


...i mean... who came up with it and why?


- i bet people see me writing this stuff down and think i'm taking notes just like i think those people typing are taking notes. maybe they're typing out their random thoughts.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;oh... the depression&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-03-09T21:54:33-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u2postponed.php#unique-entry-id-58</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u2postponed.php#unique-entry-id-58</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[there was one event that i've been looking forward to for months now. i planned my school schedule around it. i planned my life around it. i was going to see U2 do their only stadium show in the US in Honolulu in April. and then it happened.


last night, U2 posted on their website that the rest of the dates on their Vertigo '06 Tour have been postponed due to a family illness. 


now, i'm sure that this must be something pretty bad for them to cancel 10 concerts taking place in four countries (Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the US), and i really pray and hope that whoever is really sick gets better... but this sucks!


so now, i must pray specifically that whoever is ill gets better within the next week or so. that way, the band can say "just kidding... we'll reschedule the dates we missed but we'll do the rest now!"   otherwise, i gotta figure out what to do with these plane tickets!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;saying goodbye (to imaginary friends)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-05-23T21:53:14-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodbyesydney.php#unique-entry-id-57</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/goodbyesydney.php#unique-entry-id-57</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[you know... i get a lot of crap for watching as much TV as i do. people think it's indicative of laziness or that it's a waste of time. but, i truly believe that one day, we'll look at certain TV shows as art (much like we do plays and many movies now). people said the same kinds of things about plays in Shakespeare's time and about movies in the first half of the 1900s. 


right now, i think we're in a sort of TV renaissance. some of the stuff currently on TV (or over the past few years) has been extraordinarily well written. unfortunately, a lot of people don't would rather watch the crappy stuff that has earned television its stereotype and many good shows are going away. here are some of the ones i've had to say "goodbye" to lately.


...ALIAS... i just finished watching the series finale of this show and i'm really kinda sad. i mean, it wasn't the best show on television, but it started out that way. because of people who couldn't keep up with how smart the show was, the producers were forced to dumb it down a bit. anyway, this is probably the show i'm the most attached to, only because it's the only show i've followed from the first episode to the last. (plus, Sydney Bristow is an extremely attractive character for a lot of reasons.) 


...The West Wing... i've said this many times: the first four seasons of this show were the best TV writing ever. amazing stories... amazing acting... amazing music... amazing everything.   Aaron Sorkin is a genius. after season four, it sorta went downhill. it was still a good show, it was just a very different kind of show. if you never watched, get the first seasons on DVD. they're great.


...Will and Grace... yeah, it went on for too long. yeah, the characters got a bit stale and the stories were overdone. but you know... it was generally pretty funny. another show where the first four seasons were great. for better or for worse, Will and Grace changed pop culture forever.


4.   Arrested Development... this was, quite simply, one of the two best written comedies on network television. (the other being Scrubs, of course.) it was incredibly smart, amazingly funny and brilliantly acted. the American public seemed to miss this and it was cancelled mid-season. the Bluth family was probably the most dysfunctional family imaginable and it was always fun to watch them go through life. another show where you need to buy the DVDs and find out how amazing it was. 


...Everwood... now, i know it's a bit fem to admit that i watch this WB show, but Everwood was really underrated and well done. the acting, the stories... all of it seemed real and very rarely seemed like the contrived melodrama the WB usually puts out. it was dropped at the last minute because the new network (the CW) decided to bring 7th Heaven back. this is, perhaps, the greatest injustice of scheduling i've ever heard of.


now, there is some good TV still out there and hopefully more to come. but, please watch LOST, Scrubs, Battlestar Galactica (sounds lame... but it's seriously really good), What About Brian?, Grey's Anatomy, etc... and make sure that we still have some good TV to watch in the future.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;public service announcement (aka- six months of hell)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2006-06-02T21:51:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hell.php#unique-entry-id-56</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/hell.php#unique-entry-id-56</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[this is a public service announcement...


today, i begin on a journey that promises to be the most difficult journey of all. i'm attempting something that nobody seems to think is possible. (even i'm quite skeptical.) it's true that i could attempt this feat, and horribly fail very quickly. but this is a challenge i must face. what is it that i am attempting? 


as of last night, June 1st, 2006 at 8:00pm, i have given up Mountain Dew.


(i'll give a moment for the shock to wear in.)


actually, not just Mountain Dew, but all soda. i've decided that i need to try to live a little healthier. also, i've been addicted to Mountain Dew since the 7th grade. i averaged it out the other day and found that i've consumed somewhere around 16,000 cans of Mountain Dew over the past 15 years. that's a lot of money. so, i'm giving up soda on a trial basis for six months. now, i know what you're thinking.... "he'll never make it." i know you're thinking this because many of you have told me this and because, really, i'm thinking it too. but i have to try.


so, last night at 7:58pm, i had my last Mountain Dew. (it was SO good!)   anyway, i simply ask for your support during this challenging time in my life. i tell you all of this mostly to warn you... if you see me and i'm acting oddly, just assume it's to do with the withdrawl symptoms. if i'm easily annoyed, lacking in patience or just being a pain in the butt, please understand... i've just said goodbye to one of my best friends and closest companions for the past 15 years. 


this concludes this public service announcement. thank you.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;where everybody knows your name&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2006-08-04T21:50:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/myspaceischeers.php#unique-entry-id-55</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/myspaceischeers.php#unique-entry-id-55</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[myspace is like the new Cheers. just a random thought. 


anyway, what i really wanted to say was that when i renewed the website for my company, FIGURE, Inc., they gave me a free new domain name. so... now i have my own website with all kinds of random matt crap that you probably won't care about at all. but, as long as it's there, i might as well let people know so if they're bored they can take a look. the address is www.matthewbarnes.net (hard to remember... i know.) check it out. or don't. 


peace]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;there&#x27;s no way that was 10 minutes&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-08-08T21:48:55-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/10minutes.php#unique-entry-id-54</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/10minutes.php#unique-entry-id-54</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[you know how some mornings you hit the snooze button and it's like the most wonderful thing in the world. the ten minutes (or whatever your alarm clock gives you for a snooze) seems like an extra hour and it's like a gift from God. okay... well, today it was the exact opposite of that. it was like i hit the button and the alarm went off again right away. i was pissed. 


thinking that it must be broken or that maybe i didn't hit it properly, i tried it again and it happened again. then i looked at the time and realized that 20 minutes had really passed since the first alarm. i hate that crap.


ps... i also keep having this recurring problem where i hear my alarm go off in the morning... some song is playing... and i keep trying to reach for the snooze button, but it doesn't happen. instead, in my mind/dream/half awake state i think i've done it and i can't figure out why the music isn't stopping. it's only after about 3 or 4 tries that i realize that i, in fact, have not hit the button but have only done so in my dream-like state. this has never happened to me before last week but has pretty much happened every day for the past week or so. please tell me i'm not alone in these experiences.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;my pre-birthday&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-09-02T21:47:39-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/surpriseparty.php#unique-entry-id-53</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/surpriseparty.php#unique-entry-id-53</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was not my birthday (though it is coming up soon). no... today was just an ordinary Friday. i had a dentist appt. this morning... some meetings this afternoon... nothing too special. until "it" happened. that one word.


"SURPRISE!!!!!"


yeah... i thought i was just going up to my parents house for dinner with the fam and some friends.... but there were like 50 people there instead and they were all there for one purpose... free food. oh yeah... and celebrating my birthday. 


now, i've never really had a suprise party like that though i've always wanted one. when i graduated from high school, my parents threw me a surprise grad party with like 120 people at a really nice place... but somebody told me about it ahead of time and the surprise was ruined. (i still have not forgiven her for that.) anyway, because of that... i've always wondered how i would really respond.


apparently, dumbstruck is the word to be used. i think i stood there like a complete moron for about five minutes cuz i was freakin' in shock. but it was awesome.


i love the show "Scrubs" and so Stacy (my awesome, party-planning girlfriend) planned a "Scrubs" themed party complete with an IV hanging from a chandlier, cups of pills (Smarties) everywhere, a huge picture of the cast of "Scrubs" with my face replacing Zach Braff's (hilarious), games of "Operation" lying about (watching my dad try and play when he thought nobody was looking was quite entertaining), and plastic hospital urinals filled with apple juice.


plus, a ton of my friends and family were there and it was pretty much perfect. so, thanks to everyone who came and helped plan and/or decorate for my party. thanks to Stacy and Jen and my fam for putting the thing on for me. thanks to Brittany and Maggie (Margaret) for staying up until 1:30 watching "Scrubs" on DVD with Stacy and me and just hanging out. and thanks to all the losers who were invited but didn't come. (i'll expect your excuses in writing by Tuesday morning and they'd better be damned good.)


anyway, i have great friends and family. thank you all. and if you see me walking around, drinking out of a plastic hospital urinal that looks like it's filled with pee... just laugh. life is good.


oh... and if you weren't invited... it's not my fault.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;getting to know me&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-09-09T21:44:24-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/randomquestions.php#unique-entry-id-52</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/randomquestions.php#unique-entry-id-52</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[What is your blood-type?:	i think B-... but who knows. (i do know that that's the grade i got in intro to math. i'm a math retard).


...Have you ever made a prank phone call?:	that's a dumb question... if anyone had not made a prank call in their lives, they are not living a life worth living. (ps... if you haven't... i'm not advocating suicide.)


...What does your screen name mean?:	it means the end of the world is coming on March 3, 2032. or maybe it's my initials and last name plus my favorite number. what do you think it means?


...What is the meanest thing anyone has said about you?:	this one girl who hated me told everyone i was gay. (actually, i ended up going out with two girls who wanted to find out if it were true. so, that kinda worked out for me.)


...What college do you want to go to?:	hmmm.... well, considering i spent 7 years at Pepperdine and a year at Azusa already... i don't know that i need to add another one to the list.


...If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?:	the day i didn't back up my old computer before it died and lost everything from 9th grade through Grad School


...What is one thing you want me to know about you?:	my name. don't you hate it when people forget your name. actually, that really doesn't bother me. it's when i forget other people's names. that sucks.


...Would you ever have sex before marriage?:	no. i've waited 28 years now... i think it would be dumb to give up at this point.


...What's the kinkiest thing you could ever actually see yourself as doing?:	two words: Bungee Sex (just kidding... i don't even know what that means.)


What's the meanest thing anyone has ever done to you?:	told me i was going to have a steak dinner and then given me pizza instead.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;&#x27;just&#x27; sad&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-21T21:43:33-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/justsad.php#unique-entry-id-51</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/justsad.php#unique-entry-id-51</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i hate the word "just." people say "just" all the time. "just do the right thing." "just do what God is telling you to do." "just be patient." "just be strong." "just." like it's easy. like those things are so easy to do that i have no excuse for not doing them.


i'm sad. i wake up as though from a horrible dream and feel like someone is sitting on my chest and telling me to "just breathe." i'm overwhelmed. i can't deal with the onslaught of emotions i'm experiencing. the loss. the pain. the confusion. the lonliness.


i try to go through the motions of my day. try to act somewhat normal. i go to the store to buy toothpaste (cuz i'm out). even that sucks. i walk down the aisle to some really crappy love song. i get my mentadent whitening and think "really?   i came all the way down here just for this?"   as i check out at the register the girl asks me "how are you today?"   she doesn't really want to know. (people who ask rarely actually want to know.) as i say "fine" i wonder if she can tell. i wonder if she has any idea. i think about all the people that come through her line all day that she asks "how are you today?"   and wonder how many of them are lying to her when they say "fine" and wonder whether she knows or cares that they're lying.


all i want to do is call my best friend. all i want to do is share this with her like i've shared almost every experience with her over the past two and a half years. but i can't. she can't be my best friend anymore and i can't be hers. 


"just" doing the right thing is not easy. "just" following where God is directing can be excruciating. 


i know this isn't like me. i know i'm the optimist or at least the realist and the one people depend on when they get like this. but it's my turn. maybe just for a few days. i don't know. i'll get through it. i'll be fine. i know that. i "just" miss my friend.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i feel numb&#x22; (day two)</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-22T21:41:33-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day2.php#unique-entry-id-50</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day2.php#unique-entry-id-50</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[yesterday was sad. today is numb. at least it was until a few minutes ago.


i've become so overwhelmed with emotions and thoughts that i think my brain has just stopped me from feeling them. there is so much good in my life and in the world and yet i feel like my universe just exploded. 


i lost my girlfriend and my best friend in the same instant. there wasn't even a build up to it. we went to dinner. we had a great night. we had fun. and then it was over. my whole life was pretty much her for the past 2 1/2 years. i don't even know what to do with myself right now. 


i lost my friends too. i mean, i know they're still there for me and that they still care and all... but realistically, it's not going to be anywhere near the same. they were hers first and they still all work with her. we can't be together right now, which means somebody has to be left out and it's going to be me. it should be me. i don't want to steal her friends from her. i want her to be surrounded by friends who can take care of her and love on her and make her feel loved and special and important. but that's a double-edged sword. that means i don't have them. so, i can't see how our random Disneyland trips, or lunch every Wednesday (and most other days too), or Grey's Anatomy every Thursday night can happen anymore. on top of all of that, the one person in my life who totally understands me and who i could talk to about anything (because we are essentially the same) got married a few weeks ago and so i lost that connection. (and rightfully so.) at least before i met Stacy, i had a 70-80 hour a week job that took up my time. now... how do i fill my time?   i mean, sure... there are things that i do and am working on (FIGURE, Revolution, church stuff, house remodel and school) but there is now a HUGE void that i just don't know how to fill.


so now, i have a useless Disneyland pass. (i'm not going to go by myself... even though Jen would.) the shows i used to watch with Stacy and our friends, i now hate watching because i watch them alone. i eat alone and all my favorite places remind me of her. i have no distractions. i start to wonder... can i have a life here?   do i need to go away and start over someplace else?   i don't want to make new friends. i like my friends. i don't want to find a new church. i like my church (most of the time). i don't want a new routine... i like my old routine. i don't want a new best friend. i miss my best friend. until a few minutes ago, i was completely numb. 


now, all of a sudden, there are tears in my eyes again. (i really thought that was over.) i never cry. before this week, i hadn't cried in over a year. how lame. what the hell is wrong with me? 

...by the way... i know i have my family and i know i have many amazing friends who care about me. (if you're reading this, you're probably one of them.) family is great, but is not supposed to substitute for friends. it complements friends. and the great friends that i have aren't apart of my regular daily life. i love them and i appreciate them. but they can't fill this void either.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;thanksgiving&#x22; (day three)</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-23T21:40:28-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day3.php#unique-entry-id-49</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day3.php#unique-entry-id-49</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[first things first... happy thanksgiving to everyone!   i hope that you all are truly enjoying your holiday and have much to be thankful for. (in fact, i really hope you're not reading this on your holiday and it is, in fact, over at the time you're reading this.)


before i say what i want to say for today... i have an apology to make. i've obviously been sad lately. however, i know it's not the end of the world. i guess i just want you (whoever "you" might be) to know that i'm okay. sometimes things suck... and i know you all know that. but there is also much good in life. lately i've been blogging about the sucky and i'm sorry for focusing so much on the negative. but, you know... i have a lot to be thankful for. (which brings me to my thoughts for today.)


i am SO incredibly thankful for the past 2 1/2 years with Stacy. she changed me and my life in amazing ways. she walked with me through everything and allowed me the privelage of walking with her through the fire on several occasions. even with the way i've been feeling this week, i wouldn't go back and trade a day of it. the relationships i have now because of her, the experiences we had together, the support that we were for one another, doing ministry together, encouraging one another, the vacations we took, the trips to Disneyland and San Diego and everything else... i'm thankful for it all. i don't regret it and i definitely do not look at it as 2 1/2 years lost. i gained so much. i had the best, best friend i could ask for. i'm lucky i got to have her for as long as i did.


i also have a lot of other things to be thankful for. my family, friends, church, God, life, this world, mountain dew, great tv, the internet, tivo, apple, steak, potatoes (mashed or baked), rainbow sandals, electricity, my car, sushi, school, smart people, dumb people, in between people, the smell of rain on the pavement, the fact that i live in a place where i don't get to smell that too often, snow, microwaves, pizza, water, jeans, shoes, U2, and much much more. so, Thanksgiving actually came at a perfect time this year. it's probably the first Thanksgiving that i've actually spent some time thinking about what i'm thankful for. 


i'm feeling better today. i was doing pretty well actually, until i decided to show one of my relatives the FIGURE video we did a few weeks back which, very prominently, features Stacy. (if you haven't checked it out, you should. www.figureonline.com/figure/media) i know this is the right thing... i just miss my best friend. she's a pretty cool chick.


happy thanksgiving everyone. love to you all.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;&#x27;where do you see yourself in 10 years?&#x27; is a stupid question&#x22; (day five)</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2006-11-25T21:38:49-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day5.php#unique-entry-id-48</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day5.php#unique-entry-id-48</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[people always ask dumb questions like that. i think i probably used to as well. but last night, i got a whole new perspective on it.


last night was my 10 year high school reunion. it was very surreal. i saw a lot of people i didn't necessarily want to see. i saw some people that i did. i had the same conversation about 50 times. "so... what have you been up to?"   also known as "please summarize the last 10 years of your life in about 30 seconds before i lose interest and move on to the next person i don't particularly care about." it was actually kinda entertaining. 


some of the people are exactly where they were 10 years ago. some have made something of themselves... some have not. some have families... most didn't. some of the groups that i saw leave together at the end of high school... they showed up together last night. that's a little strange for me because i, very quickly, moved on from high school never to look back. i'm not judging... good for them that they found their lifelong friends at age 16. i did not. 


but it got me thinking... i remember graduating from Lutheran High School of Orange County way back in 1997 and thinking, "i wonder what it will be like at my 10 year reunion." it was not too different from what i had envisioned for everyone else... but not for me. i never questioned that i would be there with my wife and that we would probably have a child at home. i never questioned that i would be knee deep in a successful career of some sort. i never questioned that i would have made so much progress in 10 years that the many "less than motivated" peers that i graduated with would just have to be impressed. it's funny that i never questioned those things. i guess i should have.


am i really so different at 28 from the person i was at 18?   i mean... sure. i've grown up. i've changed. i've had a million life experiences that have brought me to where i am today. but... i'm still trying to figure out what i'm going to do. i'm still looking forward to the wife and the family life. and, of course, to make it all worse... i just kinda started it all over this week. i mean, any progress that i'd made toward those things just sorta fell by the wayside. 


so, while i'm not out partying and clubbing with my high school friends like many of the people i saw last night (and thank God i'm not), am i really that different from them?   they're doing the same things they were doing 10 years ago... and so am i. i'm still here. i haven't really moved. (and i'm not talking about geography.) did i just waste a decade? 

...WAY too much to think about. so much more than i've even shared. i am overwhelmed. but i can't let myself be bogged down in self-pity. i'm giving myself until Monday to do nothing and allow myself to process. as of Monday, i'm going to start figuring my life out. it's time. i don't know where i see myself in 10 years... but it sure as hell ain't here.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;amputee&#x22; (day six)</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-26T21:35:08-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day6.php#unique-entry-id-47</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day6.php#unique-entry-id-47</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i went down to pick up the jeans that i had to have altered. the ones that Stacy and i picked out last week. (the ones that are on her credit card and i have to pay her back for... i haven't forgotten.) i picked them up and looked down the way and saw the sushi place that we always ate at. i think i've only eaten sushi without Stacy once in my life (and it was because she was out of town). i felt like i needed to do this. so, i went in and ordered my tuna roll and a mountain dew and sat down alone. this was the most utterly empty meal i've ever eaten. i didn't not enjoy it. but, for some reason, i felt like it had to be done.


today was my first time at church since it happened. i didn't know what to expect and, therefore, did not properly prepare myself. i'm not a big cryer at all. it's not that i think i'm too macho or some crap like that... i just don't cry much. before this week, it had been over a year since i'd cried about anything. i mostly got it out of my system on Tuesday. i cried a bit on Wednesday afternoon and very briefly on Thursday (Thanksgiving). but since then, i've been better. until today.


i saw her performing this morning in church. i saw all of our friends and family. i saw her sister and her mom and the kids. i saw a glimpse of my life without her there.   Chino (that's what we call her little nephew who's not quite 2 years old) saw me. he jumped from his mom's arms into mine and said my name. (one of his favorite words for some reason.) he wouldn't let go. ...  Erin (Stacy's sister) said that he's always asking for me. then i had to give him back to his mom and say goodbye. at this point i'd already teared up several times that morning. then, by accident, i saw Stacy.


...see... for Stacy to move on, she has to completely erase me from her life. if i hadn't already known this about her, i'm sure i would be offended. by the day after we broke up, i was nowhere to be seen on her myspace page... i'm sure that any pictures of me in her room or office were gone... she had to make me go away so that she can move on. the problem is... that's not how i deal with things. i need to remember. i need to deal with the pain and difficulty of having her in my life but not. i'd give anything to be able to just sit down and talk with her every once in a while. share a meal. just... be. 


it's stupid. it's definitely not the smart way of dealing with it. i entitled this blog "amputee" because that's what i feel like. it's like we were joined at the heart slowly over time and now we have to unjoin. i have to become separated from this part of me. of course, the smart thing would be to make a clean, quick cut. get all the pain out of the way as quickly as possible and take it apart. that makes sense. that's what Stacy needs. but for me, i'd rather slowly undo it and move apart. it doesn't make sense. but, i'm an idiot and that's how i work. 


so, the pictures are still up. she's still on my page. maybe it's a bit of denial. maybe it makes me feel like things are still a little bit normal for just a second when i log on and hers is the first face i see at the top of my friends list. i don't know. i have to hold on to those things a little bit because i can't hold onto her at all. she needs the clean break. and, above all, i want her to be happy. so, i'll give her whatever she needs.


today was tough. my little Ella (our friend's daughter who's 3 years old) told me that she had no hugs for me... only for Stacy. she looked like she was going to cry when she said this. (she doesn't understand why Stacy's not around anymore and is angry with me i think.) for the first time in a very long time... i left church without Stacy. we didn't go to lunch together. we didn't come home and take a nap on the couch together. i went down to see "Sweet Charity" (the musical) at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. it was the first show i've seen there without her in a long time. (i had to be the one to point out that "that's where Jeff works" to my roommate who couldn't care less.) i almost broke down in the middle of the show once or twice. i looked over next to me and forgot that she wasn't sitting there with me. 


they say that amputees' minds sometimes mess with them and they can feel "phantom" sensations in their amputated limbs (even though they don't have them anymore) like they're still there. i totally get that. even though she's gone... i still feel like she's a part of me. i think, in some way, i always will.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;addendum (a request for prayer and a good song)&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-11-26T00:07:49-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/addendumforprayer.php#unique-entry-id-46</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/addendumforprayer.php#unique-entry-id-46</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as a quick addendum... there are a lot of other things going on in my life right now too that just add to the chaos of feelings. some of them are things that i'm struggling with (the future, career stuff, personal stuff) and some of them have little to do with me and have more to do with watching other friends of mine wrestle with some pretty major stuff. if you have a moment and are so inclined, please throw up a prayer or two for me, Stacy and my friends. 


i appreciate everyone's support more than you can possibly know and i'm sure Stacy does too. if you're one of "our" friends... please just keep loving on her and taking care of her in whatever ways she needs.


crap. now i'm crying again.


ps... (if you can have a "ps" to an addendum) if you haven't heard the song "Bad Dream" by Keane... it's fantastic. actually, everything by Keane is pretty fantastic.


"i wake up... it's a bad dream. no one's on my side. i was fighting, but i just feel too tired to be fighting. guess i'm not the fighting kind. wouldn't mind it if you were by my side, but you're long gone... yeah, you're long gone now."]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;gray civics everywhere&#x22; (day seven)</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-27T00:04:12-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day7.php#unique-entry-id-45</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day7.php#unique-entry-id-45</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight will officially be one week. it's weird... in some ways, it feels like just yesterday. in other ways... feels like a year ago. in no way does it feel like a week ago.


i really thought today would be better. i mean... it started off better. i talked to Stacy very briefly last night (her choice, not mine). and while it may have made things worse for her (i really hope not)... it really helped me. i even woke up today feeling better about things despite the rainy weather. but, i guess as the day went on, that feeling began to fade. 


today was "try to move on with my life" day. i decided that working from home isn't the most effective thing for me. so, i've hijacked an empty office at my dad's company where i can go a couple of days a week to get things done. i went out there this morning and started working on some stuff for FIGURE and Revolution and school. it started off well, but by this afternoon, i couldn't focus anymore so i left.


...seriously... they're everywhere. she drives one. i kept seeing them today and it kept reminding me. over and over and over. 


the next thing i know, i'm walking in the door to my house at 4:00 where i spontaneously start crying again and having, what can only be described as a panic attack. what the hell?   i didn't even see that coming. it just happened. (that's really not normal. at least, not for me.) maybe it's because it's been a week. maybe it's because i keep wanting to believe that i'm okay and i'm moving on with my life and i'm really not. maybe it's because i can't move on because i have no idea what to move on to. new friends?   i don't want them. i like my old friends. the church wants to hire me. can i work there? ...  if not, we're certainly not going to spend the money on remodeling. i've put so much time and effort into planning this remodel... but maybe i should just move and get away from here. what's holding me back?   it seems like there's nothing here for me anymore. but, i don't want to leave. i'm not ready to give up my life yet. it's MY life. 

...i'm sure i'm overreacting. i really, really hope i am. some of you have said that i shouldn't be sharing these thoughts on myspace. if you feel that way then... don't read them. maybe it's lame that i do. maybe it's stupid of me to be broadcasting my feelings. i'm sure it is, actually. but this is what i have right now. so, for now... i'll just keep writing until this goes away. or until i do. at some point, something's gotta give. and i have a feeling, it's not going to be the gray civics.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;strike that... reverse it&#x22; (day eight)</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-28T00:01:41-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day8.php#unique-entry-id-44</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day8.php#unique-entry-id-44</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[should be short today. 


today was the inverse of yesterday. started off as the worst day yet. woke up feeling like i'd been hit by a truck. panic attacks... spontaneous outbursts of crying... the whole works.


went to lunch with some good friends who let me just talk. that really helped. talked to another friend after that. came to some realizations. of course, these realizations cause me to question everything that i've done and everything that i'm doing. but... at least i feel like i'm making some progress.


this afternoon was good. had a meeting at the church. it was the first time i'd been in the offices since we broke up. a little strange to know that she was right behind that wall. hard not to go and plop myself down in the chair in her cubical like i always do. but, good to be able to go there and not have the world end (as was my fear, of course). 


right now i'm feeling a lot of anxiety. but it's better i think than before. 


i decided last night (and again today) that i'm going to visit a therapist. i've never done it before but i think i should. i have some issues that i'm discovering and didn't necessarily realize or want to admit before. i think i use certain situations as distractions (emotionally) so that i don't have to deal with the reality of my situation. of course, in the end, reality always gets ya. because of that, i also have some guilt issues. 


it would be good for me to have someone to talk to. someone who is not biased and will tell me the things i don't necessarily want to hear. i have a lot of questions right now. a lot. i need someone to help me find the answers. i'll let you know how that goes.


thank you to my friends for being my friends even though it may be awkward or strange to be so at this time.


on the edge of sanity...


matt]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;just a song for day nine&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-29T23:59:37-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day9.php#unique-entry-id-43</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day9.php#unique-entry-id-43</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[when i was in high school (my jr. and sr. years) i was kinda a mess. all depressed and whatnot. but then i got over that and realized that God is in control if i'll let Him be and that He can do a much better job of dealing with crap than i can because He can see the big picture that i can't.


fast forward about 5 years. i think pretty much everyone who knows me knows how much i love U2. in 2000, they put out "All That You Can't Leave Behind" (a fantastic album). one of the songs on there really hit me and i always said i wish i'd had that song back when i was in high school.


this morning, i randomly heard the song for the first time in a while. it's called "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (long title). it was perfect timing to hear it again. 


just so you know... things are getting better. i'm figuring things out that i needed to figure out. things about myself. things about my relationship with Stacy. things about my relationship with God. thanks for your support and your comments. here are the lyrics to the song...


...You got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it


...Now you're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it


...You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it


...You've got yourself stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it


...You've got stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it


...Now you're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a little more&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-11-29T23:57:44-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alittlemore.php#unique-entry-id-42</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/alittlemore.php#unique-entry-id-42</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[today was a pretty good day. more stable. i stayed pretty much the same all day.


the only sad part was driving home from school. since i started grad school at APU, i've never made the drive home without talking to her on the phone all the way. it was very strange to just sit in the car. 


anyway... i don't have much else to say i guess. tomorrow i have a meeting at the church to talk about them hiring me. (after 2 1/2 years of talking about it...   NOW they want to offer me a job. fantastic!)   pray please.


-me]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;therapy gone wrong... Denny Crane style&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-11-30T23:55:33-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/therapygonewrong.php#unique-entry-id-41</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/therapygonewrong.php#unique-entry-id-41</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as you probably know, i've been talking about seeing a counselor. i figure, i've convinced so many others to do so over the years, i probably should give it a go myself. 


as you may also know, i've been filling my spare time (of which i have much these days) with the second season of one of my favorite shows, "Boston Legal."


anyway, i was watching episode 23 of season 2 entitled "Race Ipsa" (sad that i've gotten that far in 9 days) which starts off with Denny Crane (William Shatner) in a therapist's office. it was one of the funniest scenes on the show and i can only hope my trip the counselor goes so well. 


anyway, check it out if you get a chance. if you haven't watched "Boston Legal," you should. it's one of the funniest shows ever. buy the DVDs. or borrow mine if you'd like. totally worth it.


matt]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;no more numbering days&#x22; (day 11) &#x22;crap... starting tomorrow.&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-12-01T23:52:18-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day11.php#unique-entry-id-40</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/day11.php#unique-entry-id-40</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i guess i shouldn't be numbering the days since we broke up. i think that it probably makes things worse... like it's the center point of my life or something. i mean, right now... it feels like it is. but eventually, it wont/shouldn't be. anyway...


Stacy posted a blog the other day about all the memories we have together. it was one of those really funny and really sad all at the same time kinda blogs. (it was mostly accurate with a few small exceptions.) i guess i've been thinking a lot about that kinda stuff too. though, i think for me... the focus has been more on the things that i normally do with her that i now have to do without her.


almost every week for the past 2 1/2 years, Stacy and i went to Target together. we discovered Corner Bakery together and ate their often. she introduced me to sushi and we had it very regularly. we watched a lot of TV and movies together. at night, if one of us went to the bathroom or something, the other would hide somewhere in the house and try to scare the crap out of the one who was in there when they came out. we drove everywhere together. we went shopping at Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza pretty regularly. we worked at church together. we went to musicals and plays. we went to lunch several days a week together. we had dinner together almost every day. we sat up talking about and solving the problems of the world all the time. we went to the movies. we played with the Cork kids. we went to concerts and listened to a lot of music together. we talked about going to the gym and then went to do something else anyway. we went on vacations together. we hung out with my family. we supported each other when things sucked and celebrated when things were awesome. in case you're not getting the point, we did everything together. we lived life together.


so, life is very different now. all these things that i couldn't imagine doing without her... now i'm doing them without her.   Target wasn't the same without stalking her up and down the aisles and amazing her with my stealth-like abilities. not going straight to her cubical when i come into the office goes against every instinct in me. shopping is boring.   Corner Bakery and sushi are lonely and empty. life in general is less full. 


i hope she's doing better. (hopefully being surrounded by friends is a helpful distraction.) not that i'm doing horribly... i'm actually doing better than i thought i'd be. (i am REALLY bored which just gives me more time to think, unfortunately.) it just takes some MAJOR getting used to. it's giving up a whole way of life. it's giving up apart of your identity. it's looking at the world in a new way. i know it will get easier. in some ways, it already has. but... i still miss her a lot. and it doesn't matter if i take down pictures or if i remove her from my myspace or whatever... because i'm surrounded by the memories of us everywhere. it's just something i have to deal with. 


most of all though... i just miss talking to her.


...ps... despite what she might say, i actually am a good liar and she believed a good number of my stories (mountain cooling machines...   Joe loves Dawn... and more). also, it was i who did the majority of the waiting outside dressing rooms while shopping. not her. the rest of what she said was pretty much true.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;shopping for friends&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-12-02T23:49:16-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shoppingforfriends.php#unique-entry-id-39</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shoppingforfriends.php#unique-entry-id-39</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i'm bored and i'm in the market for some new friends that i can hang out with on regular basis. sitting around does not help with any of the things i'm dealing with. doing things does. plus, it's annoying and unproductive (or is it non-productive?   i can't believe i used to be an English teacher.) just puttin' it out there.


by the way... i found this Christmas song about two years ago. it's by a guy named Ron Sexsmith (poor guy must have gotten made fun of a lot as a kid) and it's one of my favorites now... short, simple and great.


...maybe this Christmas will mean something more


...and maybe forgiveness will ask us to call


...for reasons we can't quite recall


...maybe the star that shined before will shine once more


and maybe this Christmas will find us at last


...for the love we've been shown in the past


...(this was the song played during the last scene in the Chrismukkah episode of the 2nd season of The OC... probably the best episode of that show ever.)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;i think i&#x27;m gonna throw up&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-12-02T23:45:47-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/throwup.php#unique-entry-id-38</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/throwup.php#unique-entry-id-38</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[tonight was the first time i've been back working with the kids at church since the breakup. it was weird. to do that without her... it was weird. it felt wrong. worship went okay... then after that... while i was teaching... i sorta felt like the room was closing in on me. it had to be my worst lesson ever.   Stacy wasn't there tonight (she had the night off), but to be in her room, on her stage... teaching and leading worship without her. it just... it didn't feel right. plus, these kids (who i adore) kept asking where Stacy was. i had to say "i don't know." obviously, they don't have a clue that we broke up. (they probably didn't know we were together in the first place.... kids are slow sometimes!)   but it was strange to say that i didn't know where she was and then realize that i really didn't know where she was.


anyway, after church on Saturday nights, we usually go to dinner. a lot of the time we go to Mimi's or go out with my parents or something. church ended and i really didn't know what to do with myself. do i go home and be alone on a Saturday night?   do i call anyone i can think of to desperately make plans?   before i could decide, i ran into Phil and Tammy who have been trying to get me to try this Italian place they love in Fullerton. so, Phil, Tammy, my parents and another older couple went on over and had dinner. it was fun (Phil and my dad together usually are pretty entertaining)... but hello?   i'm hanging out with my parents and two couples that are their age!   this was my Saturday night fun. this is why i'm in the market for new friends. i'm accepting applications now! 

...anyway, the food was good and i ate too much and now i feel like i could totally hurl. (does anyone say "hurl" anymore?)   i'm really tired too... so i think i'll hit the sack early (10:45 is WAY early for me) and try and get a little caught up on my zzz's. (not that i snore. well... some say that i do. but i think they're full of crap.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;it&#x27;s just instinct&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-12-03T23:43:52-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/instinct.php#unique-entry-id-37</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/instinct.php#unique-entry-id-37</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so... one of the reasons i've been having such a hard time with this whole thing (and this is just one of many) is that since there was no warning that the end was coming, i didn't know that the last time we did things was going to be the last time we did them. 


little things. like going to lunch with our friends after church on Sunday. (we do it pretty much every week.) or going to dinner on Saturday nights. or eating sushi. or going to Target. all the things i've already posted about. usually, when you have a major transition in life, you see it coming. you prepare yourself. but we didn't get that. 


i remember last year when we decided to take some time apart from each other, we decided to have one last night out. it was a little awkward at first because we both knew that when it was over, we were going to go our seperate ways for a while. but, after a bit, it ended up being one of the most fun nights we've had. i'm sure that's one of those things that was harder for her, but made it easier for me.


this morning, i knew she was down in her room at church. i'm so used to just going down there to see her that i kept almost doing it without thinking. it was instinctual. 


anyway... those are my random thoughts for the day.


-matt]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;dead&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2007-01-18T23:40:18-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dead.php#unique-entry-id-36</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dead.php#unique-entry-id-36</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[pretty much... this just made me laugh.


'What will your obituary say?'   at QuizGalaxy.com]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the dumb ideas i get in my head&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-12-03T23:29:46-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dumbideas.php#unique-entry-id-35</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dumbideas.php#unique-entry-id-35</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i went to my parent's for dinner tonight. (big shock!)   as i was watching last week's Boston Legal (Matthew hadn't seen it yet), and playing with the kids all night... i kept checking my cell phone. i don't know why, but i somehow got it in my head that since she called randomly last Sunday night, maybe she'd call again tonight. i thought of this on Friday and i've been looking forward to tonight ever since. how dumb. not so much dumb that i was excited about her calling... but that i, for no good reason, convinced myself that it was going to happen. i don't even know what we'd say... i just miss the sound of her voice. i worry about her and how she is doing. 


is it selfish or stupid that sometimes i worry that she's doing better than i am?   i should hope that she is. i mean... a large part of me... most of me even... hopes that she is. i want her to be doing well. i want her to be happy. i want her to find the distractions in our friends that i'm not able to find. in fact, i want that so badly for her that i regularly call/text/e-mail our friends to make sure that they're taking good care of her. but... you know what they say... "misery loves company." part of me doesn't want to think that she's actually doing as well as i hope she is. i guess that's kinda sick. 


anyway... my laundry is done. i have to go and switch loads now. (clean underwear, shirts and towels are important!) 


goodnight my friends.


matt


ps... tonight, when i was playing with Ella, she asked if Stacy was coming over. i told her "no." she looked at me and said "i miss Stacy." i said "me too." and she gave me a hug. it couldn't have been any more bittersweet.


pps... if you like old hymns at all (and who doesn't?) :-), check out Avalon's new hymns record. i thought it sounded lame at first too... but they did some really cool new stuff to some really deep old songs. you can check it out on iTunes or buy it in a store. it's called "Faith: A Hymns Collection."]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;to blog... or not to blog&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-12-04T23:26:06-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shouldiblog.php#unique-entry-id-34</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/shouldiblog.php#unique-entry-id-34</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[two weeks ago right this minute... we were sitting right there (i'm looking at a spot on the floor in my room) when it happened. ever since then, as you already well know, my life has been a blur of confusion. this has been well documented here on my myspace blog (as well as my other blog that nobody really reads). normally, i would think what many of you probably think (and what i know some of you think as you've shared it with me... thank you) which is the fact that so openly sharing my life on myspace is borderline loser-ish. 


however, due to the lack of regular companions in my life at this time, my blogs have been a great source of therapy for me. (really... they have!) 

...Stacy has asked me to not have any contact with her because that's what she needs in order to move on. i have done my best to make this happen. however, i know that she reads these reguarly. (hi) i guess i just worry that my writing these things is not helping her to let go. really... all i want is for her to be happy. and i know she isn't right now. if me not writing about these things can help her to get past this and be happier, then it's what i need to do. besides... come to think of it... it may not be helping me to let go either.


so... i'm not going to stop blogging like i normally do. that is to say, i'll blog sporadically about other things in life. but, i'm going to try and not talk about her and any pain i might be experiencing as a result of our break-up. i'm not over it... far from it. but, i've said everything that i can say to the point of repetition. is it really doing any good?   i don't know. maybe for me. but i feel like it might be doing harm as well. and i don't want that.


...i can't believe it's been two weeks. much like a week ago, in some ways it feels like a day... in some ways it feels like two years... in no way does it feel like two weeks. i can already see the good that God is bringing from this situation. i just wish it didn't come along with so much pain and loneliness. i think i've grown and learned more about myself in the past two weeks than i have in the past year. (which just reaffirms my theory that personal growth in relationships is pretty difficult to accomplish. but that's a whole other thing.) i miss Stacy terribly. 


i actually saw her today from across the parking lot at church. she didn't know i was watching. only the second time i've seen her since we broke up. i just wanted to hear her say "hi" even. or just a hug. but she got in the car with Melissa and drove off to lunch. even Denise (who i was talking to at the time) could tell that it got to me. 


...(and, of course, during Studio 60, i missed the times that she would fall asleep because that's apparently what anything Aaron Sorkin related does to her.) 

...i miss my friend. i wish we could at least still be that. at least, on some level. maybe... hopefully... someday. until then... i'll just keep praying and living. the best that i can. one day at a time. 


...ps... you know that if you ever need anything... someone to talk to... anything at all... i'm still here. and that goes for everyone else who's reading this too.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;another song from the past&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2006-12-06T23:24:27-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/songfromthepast.php#unique-entry-id-33</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/songfromthepast.php#unique-entry-id-33</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[here's a song i heard yesterday that i haven't heard in a long while. i used to listen to it in college a lot. it's by a group called Caedmon's Call. i always just loved the lyrics. i don't know what single person can't relate to them.


...We talked about soccer and how every man's just the same


And made speculations on the who's and the when's of our future


And how everyone's lonely, but still we just couldn't complain


...But it's not my job to wait by the phone


...From the rain and the cold to the drink that I spilled on my shirt


Cuz You knew how You'd save me before I fell dead in the garden


And You knew this day long before You made me out of dirt


And You know the plans that you have for me


...* Derek Webb (who wrote this song) is now a happily married man and doesn't sing this song anymore.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a quick trip cuz of drama&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-12-08T23:20:30-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dramatrip.php#unique-entry-id-32</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/dramatrip.php#unique-entry-id-32</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as some of you know, tomorrow i'm heading to Honolulu for the last stop on the U2 Vertigo Tour. it's been such a crazy/weird/dramatic/sad trip and i haven't even left yet.


first... there were four of us going and it was in April. me and Stacy and two of our friends. then the tour got postponed. so that trip didn't happen. and we waited... and waited... and waited... for months to find out when it would be rescheduled.


...Dec. 9th was the rescheduled date. we were very excited about this. until about a month ago when we got an e-mail from our friends saying they weren't going to go. but they didn't mention anything about the tickets at all. so, Stacy called them and found out that they'd already put the tickets on ebay, which we didn't think was very cool. they said that since they'd lost money on their airfare, they needed to make money on the tickets. knowing that Stacy and i couldn't simply go alone without causing a minory controversy (we do work at a church!), they offered to sell the tickets back to us for $50 more than we originally paid for them. (i had originally bought the tickets together and they paid me for them.) we thought that it was a little ridiculous that our friends (who had already bailed on us and put us in a bad situation) would then try to rip us off by selling us the tickets that we already bought back at a higher price. so, we declined and haven't really talked to them since. (the irony in all of this is that i can't imagine that they made any money on the tickets as there are still tickets of similar quality available for the regular price on ticketmaster.)


so now we have two tickets to the U2 concert and nobody to go with us. as we're processing how we should proceed, the next bit of drama hits and we break up. now, on top of mourning the loss of my relationship/friendship/life as i knew it, i've got two U2 tickets and nobody to go with. i wasn't even sure i should go. but, i felt like it would be the perfect chance to get away from the chaos of my life. i felt like i needed this. i've lost my friends. i've lost my girlfriend. this was all i had to look forward too. plus, i felt like if i'd asked Stacy, she would have insisted that i went. so, i was now, more than ever, determined to go. 


so, i invited Brett. he couldn't go. i invited Megan. she couldn't go. i invited Joe. he couldn't go. i invited Jody. he couldn't go. i invited Kyle. he couldn't go. i invited Jonas. he couldn't go. i invited Adam. he couldn't go. then there was Kit... 

...so, last weekend, i booked the flights for Kit and i. we were to fly out Saturday morning and fly back on Sunday night on the redeye. but then Kit called me back... he had forgotten about his Monday morning grad school final. ahhhh! 

...you'd probably think that's the end of the story... you'd be wrong. last Sunday i start checking into finding a room. remember... we only need one room for one night! ...  not one single room. none. apparently, in addition to the thousands coming in for the U2 concert, there's some huge marathon going on too. fortuntately, i have friends who have friends who live in Honolulu. 


so, tomorrow morning, Kit and i will depart LAX for Honolulu where we will arrive at 2:00, see U2, spend the night in some strangers' home, sleep in (i hope), get some lunch, and get on a plane at 2:00 on Sunday to come home. 24 hours in paradise. out of control.


...and i'm still sad that i'm not going with Stacy. this was supposed to be our trip. :-(
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;and i miss you when you&#x27;re not around...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-12-11T23:16:22-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u2withoutstacy.php#unique-entry-id-31</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/u2withoutstacy.php#unique-entry-id-31</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[the trip started off alright enough. we got up at the buttcrack of dawn on Saturday and drove to LAX (both Kit and i on about 3-4 hours of sleep). we tried to sleep on the plane, but were surrounded by noise-making children. 5 1/2 hours later... we got to Honolulu. 


after a quick lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise (not as good as the one on Maui), we made our way to Joe's friend's house where we were staying. when we got there, we both crashed for about 2 hours which turned out to be a really great thing.   Julie (Joe's friend) was way cool and totally took care of us. in fact, it turns out that she had agreed to drop some friends of hers off at the concert (and pick them up), so we now had a ride and wouldn't have to pay for a cab.


turns out the friends of hers had asked her to drive because they were planning on partying it up before the show. by the time we picked these four girls up, they were pretty well plastered. (strangely, as we talked to them, we learned that, despite looking about our age, they each were in their mid to late 30's and married with children. yet they often referenced how often they partied together.) after a long car ride (traffic was bad) that was offset by the very entertaining spectacle that was these girls, we finally got to the show.


...i tried to focus on the show and on the night and everything. and, at times, i was able to do that and just enjoy it. but those times were few and far between. most of the time i was thinking about how she should be there with me. this was our show. we'd been planning it forever. 


a month ago, when she and i were talking about how we needed to start having some of the "hard conversations" about our relationship that we'd been avoiding and about how we needed to start figuring things out... i was very tempted to keep avoiding it for another month so that i could be sure that we'd be able to enjoy this trip togther still. maybe that would have been wrong... and maybe a weekend/event like this is good for making me move forward... i don't know. i just know that i wish she would've been there. it just wasn't the same without her.


so, to finish up the story of this trip... this morning, we slept in until about 9:30. the cab was coming to pick us up at 11:00 for a 2:20 flight. (they thought there would be bad traffic with the marathon going on.) well, we got to the airport in about 15 minutes! 

...i think we both thought that three hours would be a really long time. well, we started talking and eating and hanging out and the next thing we knew, i looked down and realized it was 2:00. our flight was leaving (from the other side of the airport) in 20 minutes. so, we grabbed our things and started making the trek across the airport. we arrived at our gate just in time to see the plane pulling away. (seriously.)


...well, we got put on standby for the next flight. unfortunately, the next flight wasn't until 10:30 pm. also, it looked like it was full and we weren't guaranteed a spot. we HAD to get home though because Kit has a final in the morning. so, after some quick internet work, i found out that there was only one other flight going to LAX between 2:30 and 10:30. it was an American flight leaving at 3:50. so, i called my dad (because he has a million miles with American and is like platinum or something over there)... and he made some calls and got us on the flight. so, we booked it over to that gate just in time to get on the flight and come home.


...ps... for those of you who have DirecTV, they're actually showing an hour's worth of the Milan show from the Vertigo Tour everyday on Channel 101 this month. it's in HiDef (if you have it) and it's worth checking out. it's an amazing tour and different from the indoor arena tour they did here last year.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;all you need is love&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2006-12-19T21:19:37-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/allyouneedislove.php#unique-entry-id-30</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/allyouneedislove.php#unique-entry-id-30</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i've been thinking a lot about love lately. (because, i'm told, it's all you need.) it's made me realize that our language kinda sucks. i mean... most other languages have several words for love in it's many forms and varieties. there are so many different types of love out there and we just have one word to cover them all. most people think everyone is after the romantic type of love. and sure... they are. but i don't think that's the one people NEED. when it really comes down to it, people want and need another kind of love. the love that is a choice. we want people to CHOOSE to love us. probably that's a big reason why i'm a Christian. let me explain.


we all want love. and if you think about it, the times when you're pissed off at someone for some reason, it's because they didn't love you. they didn't show you respect, or kindness, or selflessness, or they weren't patient with you, or they didn't accept you for who you are. it happens all the time. this, of course, is because people suck sometimes. people are imperfect and majorly flawed. and as much as we like to think WE would NEVER do that to anyone else... we do. all the time. 


so, we're all wandering around this planet trying to find love wherever we can get it. and that's okay. but the ironic thing is, the one place that it's offered perfectly and freely, most people pass by. and even those of us who don't, we aren't satisfied with it a lot of the time. of course i'm talking about God.


so, here's the situation as i see it. there is a God who has chosen to create us... chosen to stick with us even when we spit in His face... chosen to go above and beyond to give us another chance. and there are people everywhere who are incapable of loving perfectly. incapable of ALWAYS showing love to us. incapable of being there for us all the time. and yet... we choose to try and find that love in the people instead of where we could actually find it. not only do we choose people... but we depend on them and are always hurt so badly when we're let down.


according to God, He IS love (1 John 4:8 amongst other places). and He defines love as being patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not keeping a record of wrongs, not delighting in evil, rejoicing in truth, always protecting, always trusting, always hopeful, always perservering and never failing (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). (in fact, in that verse, you could replace the word "love" with the word "God" and you suddenly have His defining features.) the interesting thing is... those are all things that one CHOOSES to do or not do. to be or not be. they aren't feelings that we just have. ...  He just IS patient and kind and all of those things. i feel like i don't know anyone who fits that bill. and yet, that's what we expect from each other and refuse from Him. 


don't get me wrong... people are capable of those things. and those are amazing things to strive for and we should be striving for them. but we cannot realistically, with the screwed up state of this world and the screwed up state of the human heart, expect people, even the best of them, to demonstrate that perfect love all the time. i wish we could. i wish i could know beyond a shadow of a doubt that people would accept me completely for who i am. (and i'm a VERY open person. i can't imagine what it must be like for those who are much more private.) but it's just not realistic.


so, as Christians we strive to be more like the Biblical definition of love. (which, even if you don't believe, you have to admit is a pretty good definition.) in doing so, we're striving to be more like Him. and that's all He asks of us. the show His love to those around us. (of course, Christians, as an organization, fail at this more than we succeed i think. how badly have we screwed up God's message to this world?) 


so, maybe John, Paul, George and Ringo really were onto something. maybe all you really need is Love. let's just be realistic about where it's coming from. 


...George Martin (their original manager and producer) just spent a few years reworking some of the original recordings to be used in a Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas entitled "Love" and they just released the soundtrack. it's really cool the way he "mashed up" some of the songs together and it's been getting fantastic reviews.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;window in the skies&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2006-12-19T21:17:12-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/windowintheskies.php#unique-entry-id-29</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/windowintheskies.php#unique-entry-id-29</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[to go piggyback off of the blog i posted about 20 seconds ago... i had another thought that goes right along with what i said.


i've had this new U2 song "Window in the Skies" (off their new greatest hits album, U218 Singles) stuck in my head since the day it came out and i first heard it. (actually, the day after Stacy and i broke up.) this is a band who totally gets what i was talking about in the "All You Need is Love" blog. they sing about it... but they live it too.


look at the amazing things Bono's chosen to do with his fame. he has literally changed the world in huge ways. he's saved thousands of lives (or more) through the Drop the Debt, One, (product)red and Make Poverty History campaigns. he could easily be selfish and just enjoy being famous and successful... but he's chosen to leverage what he has to make a difference and show God's love in this world. and he's made it very easy for you and i to get involved. (www.joinred.com or www.one.org or www.data.org or www.makepovertyhistory.org or www.musicrising.org)


...U2 has a tendancy to weave Christian themes into their music. (have you ever really listened to the lyrics of "Vertigo," or "Mysterious Ways?")   this song, "Window in the Skies," is pretty blatantly about the story of God's love for us. (and it's sorta Beatles-esque in its sound.) here are the lyrics...


...oh can't you see what love has done?


oh can't you see what love has done?


...oh can't you see what love has done?


oh can't you see what love has done?


oh can't you see what love has done?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2006-12-22T21:15:08-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lonely.php#unique-entry-id-28</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/lonely.php#unique-entry-id-28</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i&rsquo;m lonely tonight.


 


that is all.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;an apology and a smiley face&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2006-12-23T21:12:45-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/smileyfaces.php#unique-entry-id-27</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/smileyfaces.php#unique-entry-id-27</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, last night i think i was kinda confused. i think i confused fatigue for lonliness or depression or something. cuz when i wrote that last blog, i was feeling all down and whatnot and i though it was only like 9:00pm.then, about ten minutes after i wrote it, i looked over and realized it was after 11:30. and i was like "oh... maybe i'm just tired" and promptly fell asleep. anyway, i apologize for being so depressing if you read that blog.


anyway, i've got a new favorite song that i wanted to share. it's by Gnarls Barkley and it's called "Smiley Faces." it's got a great feel to it and all, but its got great lyrics too. (except maybe the bridge which sounds cool but has kinda dumb lyrics.) it's basically about a guy seeing someone who has had a rough life but who's still smiling and enjoying it all. (kinda the same message as "Beautiful Day" by some Irish band whos name i can't currently recall.) anyway... lyrics below.


...and i can tell you know how hard this life can be


...was it a story or was it a song?


was it overnight or did it take you long?


...here's a summary of something you can smile about


say for instance my girlfriend she bugs me all the time


but the irony of it all is that she loves me all the time


...because it's easily one of the hardest things to do


...something for us all to aspire to, i'm sure. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;Christmas: &#x27;you know... for kids&#x21;&#x27;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2006-12-26T21:10:13-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/corkschristmas.php#unique-entry-id-26</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/corkschristmas.php#unique-entry-id-26</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Christmas this year was different from every other year in a lot of different ways. if you've been reading my blogs, i'm sure you can guess that part of it had to do with what's been going on in my personal life lately. but today, i'm choosing to focus on the part of Christmas that was different in a good way.


as many know, the Cork family has been living with my parents for the past four months as their house is being remodeled. (as Ella says, their house is "broken." three year-olds have such a great way of simplifying things.) anyway, it's been pretty awesome to have them there. but Christmas took it to a whole new level.


at some point, Christmas started to become sort of a letdown. i mean, when you're a kid, you have all the build-up and anticipation of this holiday that (from a commercial standpoint... though i suppose from a spiritual one as well in a way) is all about you. what would Santa bring me? 

...but, as we grow older, the excitment... the magic... it grows less potent. we remember the excitement of Christmas days past, but the present never seems to match it. at least, not for me. that is, until now.


my family decided that we'd do all of our presents on Christmas Eve so that Christmas morning would be all about the kids. for the first time in years, i got caught up in the excitement. only this time, from the other side of the Claus (as it were). i played with the kids on Christmas Eve and helped build the anticipation for the next morning. i stayed up late with Matthew and Mardi and my family and we carefully placed each gift that Santa brought the three kids. (as is quite predictable, some assembly was required as i put out Ella's Little People Castle with drawbridge action and trumpet sounds.) i grew anxious for the next morning as i hadn't in years as we decided upon the optimal placement for these gifts in order to illicit the greatest amount of joy, surprise and excitement from the kids the next morning. it was fantastic!


Matthew and i made the stupid mistake of staying up until 1:00am in the jacuzzi. this was stupid of course because children like to get up REALLY early on Christmas morning to rush downstairs and find what Santa has left for them. the ironic thing though was that i was so excited for them to come down, that i woke up about every 1/2 hour during the night as i slept on the couch because i wanted to make sure that i didn't miss a single thing. in the end, i was up at 6:00am waiting for them and they didn't come down until 7:00. (apparently, my dad got caught up in it too. he was up at 5:45.)


...Sophie was elated about her rollerblades and her (somewhat creepy) doll whos hair and makeup she can do over and over with the included accessories. and Ella... well, she was so caught up in the excitment of the day that it didn't really matter what she got. seeing her dolls and her Little People Castle with the drawbridge action and the trumpet sounds just added to it. and when she saw the ballerina outfit... well, let's just say she went from pajamas to naked to ballerina in about 24 seconds.


i had more fun just taking pictures and sitting back and watching them tear through it all than i think i ever had being on the receiving end when i was a kid. 


when i was little, i remember thinking how boring it must be for parents on Christmas Day. they don't get much (besides clothes and house stuff that nobody wants). they just get to watch the kids get all the good stuff. my perspective has changed a bit over the past 20 years. parents are lucky... i think they actually get the better end of the deal. i can't wait until i get to have Christmas with my own kids. 


the rest of Christmas was a little more normal. the family came. we had way too much food. i ate way to much of the food. and, of course there was the inherent sadness of it being the first holiday in several years without Stacy. but, all-in-all... being able to focus on the kids made up for (or at least distracted me from) the things that were missing.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;new year... new song&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-01-02T21:06:43-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newyearnewsong.php#unique-entry-id-25</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/newyearnewsong.php#unique-entry-id-25</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[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. 


...thanks for everything in 2006... looking forward to everything that 2007 holds.


...still i'm waiting for the dawn


...still i'm waiting for the dawn


...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
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;o blog&#x2c; where art thou?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-01-17T21:04:08-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/imback.php#unique-entry-id-24</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/imback.php#unique-entry-id-24</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[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! 

...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! 

...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!)


...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. 


...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.


...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. 

...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.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;my r&#xe9;sum&#xe9;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2007-01-17T21:02:02-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/updatedresume.php#unique-entry-id-23</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/updatedresume.php#unique-entry-id-23</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i updated my resume which can be found in the &ldquo;who am i&rdquo; section.  check it out and offer me a job with a lot of money and very little work.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;&#x27;those people&#x27; and a bit of gratitude&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>deep thoughts</category><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-01-19T20:59:51-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thebestortheworst.php#unique-entry-id-22</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/thebestortheworst.php#unique-entry-id-22</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[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]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a few of my favorite things&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2007-01-20T20:58:06-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/scrubsmusical.php#unique-entry-id-21</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/scrubsmusical.php#unique-entry-id-21</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[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]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;death of a masseuse&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2007-02-21T20:55:27-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/deathofmasseuse.php#unique-entry-id-20</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/deathofmasseuse.php#unique-entry-id-20</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[there are few things in life as wonderful as a great massage.  it&rsquo;s probably surprising for most people to know that i actually don&rsquo;t splurge on such things very regularly.  however, maybe three or four times a year i&rsquo;ll decide to put down the $60 and allow for the luxury of someone beating the crap out of my back, neck, arms, legs, hands and feet for an hour.  (the feet is the best part.)


...about three years ago, my mom decided to get me a massage as a gift for my birthday or Christmas or something.  anyway, she&rsquo;d been going to this woman for a long time and hooked me up.  upon arriving i was a little... thrown off.


...you have to understand... when men think of massages, our minds instantly go to some hot, young asian or swedish girl who we would realistically never have a chance with.  this is a very stupid and unrealistic expectation.  however, it never fails to occur nonetheless.  


...Anna was not what i was expecting.  she was not a young, hot asian or swedish masseuse.  

...Anna was the most amazing masseuse i&rsquo;d ever met.  plus, she was totally cool.  normally if the masseuse tries to talk to me during the massage, i get very annoyed.  (i just want to relax for an hour... just play the peaceful music and shut up!)    but, for some reason, it didn&rsquo;t bother me with her.  she was just that cool and just that good.


...i probably visited Anna 7 or 8 times over the next few years.  i found out that she actually drove all the way to Orange from Victorville.  (sometimes, she sat in three hours of traffic!)  

...anyway, last week, my mom was going over to the doctor&rsquo;s office where Anna worked out of.  i asked her to put me down for an appointment as long as she was over there.  when i saw her later that day, she told me that Anna had died from cancer back in November.


...it&rsquo;s kinda weird cuz it&rsquo;s not like i was close to this woman.  i don&rsquo;t even know her last name.  but she was one of those constants in life.  you know?  

...in any case, Anna was cool.  she was this short, old grandmother who could probably kick my butt (judging by the strength of her massages), but was totally sweet and wise and caring.  and she loved God.  and she knew what that meant.  and after you spent any time with her, you knew what that meant too.  i hope that someday, people can say that about me too.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;a cold&#x2c; cold weekend&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-02-21T20:42:48-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nashvilletrip.php#unique-entry-id-19</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/nashvilletrip.php#unique-entry-id-19</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so, last weekend, Megan and i decided to go and visit Jody (and family) in Nashville. 


Megan totally ditched her classes (as did i), and we flew out on Thursday afternoon. when we left LAX, it was 82 degrees. when we landed in Nashville, it was about 30 degrees. that night it got down to 18! 


anyway, we had a really good time just hanging out with the McBrayers there. we really didn't do much at all. we slept in and went for walks and just sat around talking and watching movies. 


it's always good to get to see little Sarah-Clayton. she's almost two now and is SO ridiculously cute. we got to play with her a lot and even a bit in the snow on Saturday.


Saturday night it snowed a lot and then the streets kinda froze over. around 10 pm, Megan and i went outside in our shoes and started running and sliding down the streets. i think the people of Franklin, TN must think we're crazy. (at least, based on the looks Jody and Steph were giving us.) but we're Californians and we don't know what to do with ourselves in that kind of weather!   so we had fun.


the little community that they live in is called Westhaven and it's AMAZING!   it's like track homes, only they don't look like track homes. they're all made to look unique and individual. i never thought i'd hear myself saying this, but i love it there!   i go for walks everyday every time i'm there. it's just so beautiful. i'm not much of a nature guy, but i really do love it there.


anyway, there wasn't much point to this blog except to share in the experience.  here are some pictures of Megan and me from the plane ride back.  enjoy!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;ignoring Brent Wood&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2007-02-27T20:41:11-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/brentwood.php#unique-entry-id-18</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/brentwood.php#unique-entry-id-18</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[he's my professor. yes... his name is really Brent Wood. no... he never lived there. no... he doesn't have a sister named Holly. (these, of course, being the questions i asked the first night of class.) right now, i'm sitting in his class. he's talking about something. i don't know what. (though i just heard him say something about bread. i like bread. actually, i love bread. but i know that no matter how much i love bread, i will find nothing he's saying about it as interesting.)


...- as soon as Yorba Linda Friends found out about this, the quickly offered me a job (as they'd been telling me they were going to do for almost three years).


...- i had a phone interview with ROCKHARBOR church. it went REALLY well. i got called back pretty quickly for a phone interview.


...- i had an interview with ROCKHARBOR church. i was sick. i was drugged. it wasn't bad, but it didn't go as well as i'd hoped.


- i started new classes. i decided to take two instead of the one i normally take. they just happened to be the two most boring classes in the program. i'm dying a slow death of boredom caused by monotonous lectures that have no relevance to my life or even the topic of the class.


...- Meredith didn't die on Grey's Anatomy. i was saddened by this. (my plot to change it to "Izzie's Anatomy" was thwarted again.)


- i said goodbye to Seth, Summer, Ryan, Taylor, Sandy, Kirsten and Julie as The OC went bubye. i was in shock because it feels like that show's been on forever and it's only been 3 1/2 years.


- my mom got another dog. i argued with her over what she should name it. we got it down to Cocoa or Chloe. i voted for Cocoa. so did everyone else. she picked Chloe.


...- i found out that i did not get the job at ROCKHARBOR church. i think i might go there anyway. i really like them.


...and so, here i sit. bored in class. i'm really okay about not getting the ROCKHARBOR job. i mean... i really wanted it a lot and i know that i could have done it very well. however, if that's not where i'm supposed to be, then there's something else. and i'm okay with that.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the old songs&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2007-03-03T20:39:19-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/oldsongs.php#unique-entry-id-17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/oldsongs.php#unique-entry-id-17</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i love it when i hear an old song that meant something to me at some point and it all comes rushing back. especially if i haven't heard it in a long time and had forgotten about it.


that happened today. this was a song i heard over and over growing up. my mom used to play this cassette tape over and over in the car everywhere we went. it was Amy Grant's "The Collection" album. if i hear any song off that album, it totally takes me back to when i was like six.


this particular song, however, reminds me more of college. i sorta rediscovered it my freshman year. when you hear a song as a young child, the meaning can be lost. so, when i heard it in college, it was a combination of nostalgia and discovery. now the song has many things associated with it.


anyway, it's a very simple song that serves as a great reminder for me when i get down on myself and feel like i have to be more or do more or whatever.


"All I Ever Have to Be"


...and all i ever have to be is what You made me


any more or less would be a step out of Your plan


...that i only have to do what i can find


and all i ever have to be


...all i ever have to be
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;waking up is hard to do&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2007-03-08T20:37:38-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wakingup.php#unique-entry-id-16</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/wakingup.php#unique-entry-id-16</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[waking up is, for me, not the best part of the day already. i'm a night person. i'm not a morning person. i LOVE my sleep time. since waking up is what marks the end of sleep time, i don't always like it so much. but when things aren't going well, it's even worse.


when i'm upset or depressed or whatever, sleep is my great escape. you know how people always talk about losing sleep over things they're worried or upset about?   not me. i usually sleep better when i'm upset about something. it's my chance to get away from it all without going anywhere. which brings me back to waking up.


have you ever had something bad happen or been worried about something or upset about something and then you go to sleep and when you wake up, for a split second you feel fine?   you feel like everything is okay, but this is just setting you up for the overwhelming letdown of the next second when you remember how crappy everything actually is right now. and it's just that much more impactful because you had this sorta blissful ignorance that you can have during sleep and that one second after you wake up before you realize it's all not real.


sorta a crappy way to start your day. but, every day gets a little better than the last as you get some distance from whatever event set this whole system into motion. i'm on day three now. life doesn't suck or anything. i know that. i just had a really, really crappy beginning to this week.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;the unforgettable fire... or ring of fire... or world on fire...&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-03-11T20:34:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/unforgettablefire.php#unique-entry-id-15</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/unforgettablefire.php#unique-entry-id-15</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[i couldn't decide which fire related song title to use as the title to this blog, but they all fit as do so many others. (runners up included "great balls of fire," "through the fire," "after the fire," and of course, "we didn't start the fire.") all fine choices, though the ones that made the cut seemed most fitting.


in case you couldn't figure out, there was a HUGE fire today in Anaheim Hills. if you turned on the news at all, you would have seen my parent's house very prominently featured. and since so many of you have been calling or leaving messages on my myspace or whatever, i thought i'd give a quick rundown of my day and what happened.


...9:05 am - Ella Cork pushes herself up onto the counter in the coffee shop. i walk up behind her to say hi. she doesn't know i'm there and pushed herself back off the counter to get down. again, not knowing i'm there she pushes herself into me, bounces her head off of my chest and into the counter where she receives a nice shiner right under her right eye. 


...9:30 am - arrive at my parent's house. they're supposed to have a baby shower for Lisa Chandler today at noon or noon-thirty or something. they're trying to figure out if they're going to be required to evacuate. we load up the cars just in case and wait. (i also find that the side mirror on the Denali is busted. apparently, my dad was so entranced by the fire that when he was backing up, he failed to notice our house.)


...11:20 am - Nikki and i head back to my parent's house. by the time we get there, the streets are closed and everyone is evacuating. as we pulled up to our street, we were greeted by very large flames. (remember... just 20 minutes ago we were told that it was okay and they had it under control. freakin' liars.) they wouldn't let me go up our street, so i drop Nikki of at her car and go to help the Williams' move stuff out of there house. as we're standing in their house, flames approach their backyard.


12:00 pm - i arrive at the Chandler's having gone and got the cake for my mom. i find that my mom's car is having some issues. it seems that so many people were coming up to see the fire and driving like idiots, that one of them decided to illegally u-turn in front of my mom when she was on her way down and she hit them. awesome. even more awesome is that in order to get out of our house, my dad had to drive the Denali through the flames. (he said it was just like in the movies and that it was pretty cool.)


1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - we all watch helplessly from the resevoir above my house (and below my parents') with about 100 other people as helecopters keep refilling and dropping water on the hills around our house. several times during these hours, our house becomes completely surrounded by fire.


3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - during this time we noticed (through the binoculars wonderfully provided by the Jones' who also let us watch much of this from their balcony) that there were in fact trees and bushes on fire in our yard. a while later, a fire truck showed up on our driveway. at some point, my dad decided he was going up there. knowing that he couldn't get up there with a car, he borrowed my Vespa. however, he was stopped at the corner of Serrano and Canyon Rim where he ditched my Vespa and proceeded on foot. knowing that he wouldn't be let up the streets, he climed the hill below the house to get up there. we watched as he tried to fight the fires with a garden hose. this made me laugh a little bit.


...5:30 pm - 7:00 pm - we spend the next hour and a half putting out hotspots with the garden hose and washing fire retardant off of the walls of the house. several fences are fire damaged. all of the plants and trees along the retaining wall are gone. several of the trees and plants in the yard are burnt badly. and thanks to the fire retardant, our house looks like someone poured pepto all over it. (also, the hills around the house look like a barren wasteland. they're still kinda smoking and all black... it's kinda eery.)


...crazy, crazy day. i think that only two houses were actually lost. (not cool, but better than we'd thought it would be.) nobody was killed. at least we're all alive. we're still not allowed back in the house. (dad has, once again, climbed the hill and snuck back in.) mom and Nikki and Martha are staying with the Chandler's and i have four dogs downstairs. (two of them are most likely peeing or pooping on my kitchen floor as i type this.) 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;arrrggghh&#x21;&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>public service announcements</category><dc:date>2007-03-19T20:30:56-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pirates.php#unique-entry-id-14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/pirates.php#unique-entry-id-14</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[just saw the trailer for the new Pirates movie... freakin' awesome


check it out... 


http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/piratesofthecaribbeanatworldsend.html


peace, love and Jell-O chocolate pudding...


matt]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;where did you go?&#x21;?&#x21;?&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>my life</category><dc:date>2007-04-20T20:28:46-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rockharbor.php#unique-entry-id-13</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/rockharbor.php#unique-entry-id-13</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[as many of you know, i started attending church at ROCKHARBOR as of last week. some have been asking why. while there are a lot of reasons, there are two that stand out and that i want to share here. the first has only to do with me while the second has to do with ROCKHARBOR (and me).


over the past months, as i've been going through counseling (or therapy or "happy time with Ted" or whatever you want to call it) i've come to some great conclusions. one of them has been that it's maybe time for me to break out and do something on my own. after college, i came back and worked at the high school that I'd only graduated from four years earlier. after i left there, i immersed myself at the church i'd been at for most of my life (Yorba Linda Friends). in a way, and in certain areas, i've never stepped out on my own to do something that is new and mine. this seems like a good time to do that. and because of the second reason, ROCKHARBOR seems like a great place for me to go.


over the last year, i've been studying Organizational Leadership at Azusa Pacific University. this program is amazing and has caused me to re-evaluate myself, my priorities and the organizations with which i involve myself. these professors are experts in their fields and have years of leadership experience in a variety of areas. (it's funny, cuz a lot of people seem to think that this is very progressive, young and idealistic thinking. however, only one of my professors so far has been under the age of 50. most of these concepts simply come from years of experience with what works and what doesn't, and a lot of it comes straight from Biblical teachings of what a leader should be.) anyway, as i've been learning about how organizations are effectively led and organized and what servant leadership is really all about, i realized that i hadn't really experienced this. it all sounded great in theory, but what about in practice. i thought this until i started to get involved with ROCKHABOR. the thing about ROCKHARBOR is that, in all my experiences with organizations of any kind (churches or otherwise), i've never seen an organization that gets organizational leadership and servant leadership like they do.


now, i'm sure that there are other orgs out there doing the same kinds of things, but i've simply never experienced it at this level from any organization i've had any interactions with. they know exactly who they are, who they aren't, where they're going and how they're going to get there and all of this comes across in everything they do and say. not only that, but they go to GREAT lengths to make sure that every person who comes to ROCKHARBOR knows and understands who they are, what they're about and where they're going.


...pageid=393) in fact, i have yet to talk to a person there who isn't very clear about and very on-board with their vision and mission. (and i've been asking a lot of people.) not only that, but what they're doing is actively engaging their church and actually changing the world and the community that surrounds them.


if you read my blogs or talk to me at all, you know that i interviewed at ROCKHABOR a few months back for a job. during that process, i asked their HR person to summarize what they're about in her own words. she said, "basically, we want to be so entrenched in the surrounding community that if we were to disappear, the community would feel that loss." at first, I thought this was pretty profound. after i thought about it for a while i decided that it's kind of sad that that thought is so revolutionary. i mean, isn't that what churches should be doing anyway? 


as i've had friends who have recently become employed by ROCKHARBOR, i've learned that they are structured in such a way that innovation is inherent and accountability is built-in. they use their time and resources to pour into and build up their staff and volunteers in very intentional ways. they let their congregation know exactly what they expect of them and push them to get outside themselves and "give themselves away." 


anyway, i know it sounds like i think ROCKHABOR is perfect. that's not true. i know that, like anywhere, there are problems. however, even in the two weeks that I've been getting involved there, i can plainly see that when a problem is pointed out, they deal with it and that they're open to discussions about what each person (staff or volunteer) can do to make the church even better. there is a very intentional effort there to make things as good as they can be for everyone involved knowing that in the end, it will only serve to make them more effective as an organization.


over the years, i've seen bits and pieces of this in play in various churches, schools and businesses i've been involved with. but, not like this. so, in the end, i guess my second reason for going to ROCKHARBOR is that with my intense interest to learn and grow as an organizational leader, i want to experience this place that so gets what organizational leadership really is and how it works so that I can continue my education outside of the classroom walls of APU.


Yorba Linda Friends will always be my home church and i'll always be apart of what's going on there in some form or another. but for now, i need to explore this so that i might grow into the leader and change-agent that i know God is calling me to be.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;that&#x27;s nice for John Mayer&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>random musings</category><dc:date>2007-06-11T20:16:25-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/johnmayer.php#unique-entry-id-12</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.matthewbarnes.net/blog/files/johnmayer.php#unique-entry-id-12</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[so... i went to the John Mayer concert tonight. 


...John Mayer plays the guitar very well.


John Mayer sounds just like he does on his albums. (maybe even better.)


John Mayer has a song called "bigger than my body."


i was singing along to his song "bigger than my body" when a thought occurred to me.


John Mayer is tall and thin and may very well be bigger than his body.


that's nice for John Mayer.


i think my body might be bigger than me.


...ps... why is it that John Mayer seems to be the only artist who is waiting on the world to change?   i mean, everyone else seems to be trying to change the world. maybe he's tired. (seems like waiting on the world the change would take less effort than actually changing it.) or maybe he's lazy. maybe he feels like it's too overwhelming. maybe he feels defeated. or maybe he realizes that everyone else is trying to change the world and he's like "Bono's got it covered... i'm just gonna chill over here till something actually changes." 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;positively negative&#x22;</title><dc:creator>matthew.barnes@matthewbarnes.net</dc:creator><category>deep thoughts</category><dc:date>2007-08