What If Your Last Name Was..."Smelley"?

I'm sitting here watching the first SEC football game of the 2006 year (I can barely contain myself...seriously) between Mississippi State University and the University of South Carolina. To make a long story short, the starting QB for South Carolina got hurt about midway through the 1st quarter, and the backup QB who came in for him is named Chris Smelley.

What if your last name was "Smelley"? What if (for you girls) you married a guy whose last name was "Smelley"?

"Hi! My name is James Richard Smelley! Good to meet you."

Hey!

Another blog...

I've created another new blog specifically designed for "visual" updates. I'm becoming a computer geek because I've figured out how to post pictures, and I figured I'd create one more blog where anyone who wants to know what I've been up to can see some pictures. You can check it out at http://rickiepickies.blogspot.com/. I know this is probably the worst name ever for a blog, but URLs like "rickspics" were already taken. Heck, maybe the cheesy name will lead folks to check it out.

What's Everyone LIstening To?

I'm curious to see what everyone's listening to these days. If you're like me, you've grown tired of the radio and have migrated into 1 of 3 categories: 1. Indie rock, 2. Talk radio, or 3. Record label artists that aren't popular. That's where I am. I'm to the point now where I will not listen to the radio unless the battery on my iPod is dead, Rick and Bubba aren't on, or I've already listened to the cds lying around in my car. You've gotta work hard these days to find innovative and creative music. It's not all that accessible. Hopefully we're all about to witness a movement of new writing, new ideas, and a change from the usual G D Em C that we're used to hearing.

Here's two people I'm in to right now that I think are worth checking out (see above pics):

1. Bruce Hornsby (www.brucehornsby.com)

2. Brad McConnell - "Interest Relief" (www.myspace.com/bradmcconnell)

Who are all of you listening to?

This is The Year!!!! Auburn Tigers: 2006-2007 National Champions!!!

Stormy Weather...The Best Time of My Life

If you're like me, you can look back on college and pinpoint some great memories. One may be the first date with your present spouse. Another may be playing ultimate frisbee (for those of you who went to Montevallo). Another still could be Beach Project, a certain class, hanging out, etc.

My favorite memory is unique, but I fear it could offend some people. I can't think of a good way to preface this, so here it is: My favorite memory of college is when Hurrican Ivan hit...Ok, before you gasp, let me explain. Since I doubt anyone from Louisiana or Mississippi reads my blog, I'm going to go through with this. And if any of you have family or friends in that area, please don't take this the wrong way. I've noticed that when a big storm is going to blow through the area, people cling together and hang out. I LOVE THAT! It's one of the few times in life where you can get a bunch of people to focus their attention on one thing.

We received word Wednesday morning around 10:00 a.m. that the University would be closing at 1:00 p.m. and remain closed until Monday (assuming things would be cleared up by then). I remember packing a light over-night bag to stay at Adam Wright and Chris Megginson's place. I parked my car in the back lot of First Baptist Church Montevallo and walked down to the Island Street Apartments complex where they lived. I'm sure we invited numerous people to hang out, but I distinctly remember Jeff Reinblatt and Dennis Spears coming over and playing Halo. We jammed on the guitars and made ridiculous home videos.

The next day we had more people over playing Halo. Stephen Shivers and Allen Hampton were among them. Jason were you there? We all loaded up in our cars and somehow managed to make it to the caf where everyone was eating in the dark. Poor dorm folks. I think we were the lucky few who never lost power. Weird as this sounds, I was bummed when things returned to normal, cause that meant that everyone else was going back to their same ol' lives.

NEW BLOG!!!!!

Hey guys! I have a new blog that is going to serve as a schedule page. Be sure to check it out for my upcoming performances. www.rbappearances.blogspot.com This will be linked from my website eventually.

Quiet Time: Intimacy or Homework?

If any of you are like me, spending time alone with God sometimes feels like homework. You dread it, you lack motivation to do it, and even sometimes once you get into it, you still find your mind wandering and your attention unfocused. Now we know that quiet times are not intended to be homework by any means. It is meant for time with a Father, a developing and deepening of a relationship. Only thing is, what if you don't "feel" like it? What if you'd rather do something else? Sure, you can force yourself to do it and end up joyful and satisfied (usually the case), but should the preface to my quiet time be, "Aww man. I forgot I had to do that"? I don't think so.

Maybe these feelings root from the training I received in college (which was excellent training by the way), and I just need to mix things up a little to get away from the same ol' same ol'. I'm thankful that I've learned how to cross-reference and read over and over for deeper meaning and look up the Greek. But most times, I don't want to do that. And what's harder, if I feel like I'm having to force myself to "tap in" to God, I lose motivation and think, "Well, I'll just try again tomorrow."

I wouldn't say that my walk with the Lord is suffering right now. It's actually really good. I guess I just want to desire God and not feel like he's a gas tank I go to each day to fill up.

Here's a promise I'm clinging to...

"...he who abides in me in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing...These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." -John 15: 5, 11