Walk...by Aaron Arkkelin

Those Controlling Rules

2009-02-16T17:17:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking about this a lot the past few months. Rules are everywhere and no one is immune from them. Even the rule-breaking, rebellious, rough-around-the-edges people still have to follow some rules eventually. Now, sure we bend some of these rules. I can hear the captain from Pirates of the Caribbean saying, "they're more like guidelines..." I wonder why we all follow rules? Why do we listen to our parents when we're young? Why do we obey the police? Why do some of us submit to Christ? Other than the fear of belt whippings, being shot, and lightning bolts (joking), it's interesting to think about.

I was driving through a traffic light the other day and thought about how good it is to see the green light--to know that I have permission to go through. I also get really anxious at each light hoping I don't see the dreaded yellow and red. But why don't we just keep driving through? Why don't children, in a Hollywood-movie style, raise up against their parents and never take a command again seriously? Why don't we tell God that we're right and He's wrong and keep doing what we want? I think it's because God has more control of this world than we think. We talked about this a little bit in Bible college. There's this instinctual influence coming from somewhere that makes us all know the basic difference between right and wrong. Sure, our parents help fine tune that, but even those who didn't have parents or had really lenient parents know deep down what is right and wrong.

God is in control. He is the source of influence. He always is. We can take Him out of the schools, government, and even churches, but He'll still have control. Have you felt this? We can deny it, try to run from it, even downright hate it, but God is still in control. Are you submitting? We follow the rules because deep down we all have a love and desire for our Father in Heaven. He has invested in us from the beginning. I, for one, am completely glad. How about you?

The Character of the Storm

2009-01-20T00:07:00.006-06:00

I have always been interested in weather. I would watch the weathermen on TV with jealousy. I would watch "Twister" and kind of think I could do that. I even spent a semester in college pursuing a major in Meteorology. However, due to experiences as a child, I am not a fan of severe thunderstorms. Since it is winter, I figured now would be a good time to talk about summer thunderstorms. One of the incredible things you discover in the first studies of Meteorology is that there is a lot of stuff that goes into the weather. Lots of data, patterns, maps, observations, and predictions. And so I find myself thinking of these thunderstorms. The thing that amazes me is that a storm can hit multiple states in just one day. Even further, these storms often take on the same character in these multiple states. Grant it, some factors change, some areas get different storms, but a big system can cause similar storms in such a large area. Maybe this isn't a big deal to you, but it amazes me.

The character of the storm is all about consistency and velocity. A storm that has great character will last for a long time and show intensity and zeal. There will be large spread results of this storm and people will talk about it for awhile, always remembering its splendor. The character of the storm can certainly be dangerous when precautions aren't taken; but if safety is possible, all you do is sit back and watch in awe.

I feel like God personifies Himself in the character of a storm. Even the insurance companies will agree with that (aka, the "Act of God" justification for non-coverage). I do not agree that God uses these severe storms to act out Himself, but I see His character in them. God is all about consistency and velocity. God is never-ending and always shows intensity and zeal for His people. The results of God's character are world-renown and people have been talking about His splendor for thousands and thousands of years. When we aren't taking precautions to please God, His justice and judgement will certainly prevail, but God is good and saves those who cry out to Him. And when the Almighty saves, we are in awe of His mercy and grace.

Are we, as children of God, taking on the character of the storm, so that the strength and velocity of the storm will continue? Will you be the one who hinders the continuation of the storm? Will you be the one who's watching in awe, only hoping you can offer just something to the character of this storm? I know we all have the potential to do something great in this world. Will you follow the momentum of God's movement, or will you go against it? I can guarantee you that it feels much better to jump into the forward movement and find beauty in the character of the storm.

Are You Serious?!!

2008-12-22T22:36:00.002-06:00

So, I was browsing through some movies on Netflix tonight, and I came across a movie called, "Help! I'm a Boy"...and the title is enough for me to know I may never watch this movie. However, the picture on the box might just deter me first. Frankly, I'm disappointed in Netflix...

Stuck on the Roof

2008-11-10T22:22:00.003-06:00

I love Fall. There are many things about it that make me enjoy the season. Of course the beauty of the trees changing colors, pumpkins and candy at Halloween, and cooler temps are all wonderful things about Fall. However, there are few on this planet that actually look forward to raking leaves. Of course, if you ignore the leaves, your grass dies and your neighbors aren't happy on windy days. I will say that my wonderful wife does the majority of the raking, or has so far. I think it's because I do the mowing during the summer and she is OCD and can't handle the "messiness" of the yard. :) I love her.

Anyway, today my job was to clean out the gutters... Needless to say, I was not excited about it, but, again, it had to be done. I borrowed a ladder from a friend because it was an extension ladder that would let me climb right up onto the roof. I should preface the rest of this by saying I'm not a huge fan of heights. Our house is no mansion, but it's higher than a chair. I got up the ladder and on the roof with little issues. I cleaned out the gutters, though, that was no party either.

Then...I had to get down. If you've ever climbed a ladder and dismounted it, you know that the challenge is mounting again. I could not do it. I was scared to death of...death...by falling off the roof. I tried a couple maneuvers and Sonia tried to help coach me, but to no avail. I was stuck. It was a good 5-10 minutes before I finally got it figured out, mustered up some courage and got down (no, I'm not blogging from the roof).

As I reflect on it now, it made me think about how I approach certain situations. I feel like I'm often stuck on the roof. Do you know that feeling when you just know the right thing to do, and yet you can't move on it? I can't tell you how many people I could have talked to about Christ's love for them. I can't tell you how many lies I could have avoided. I can't tell you how many people I've let walk away when I knew they just needed someone to talk to.

Get off the roof and grab ahold of that ladder. I can tell you it's a good feeling when you get down and gravity is no longer your worst enemy. What's stopping you?

In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil. ~ James 4:17 (The Message)

Hmm...

2008-09-29T14:37:00.002-05:00

Took this picture in Wisconsin at a gas station on the pump. There's two things wrong with this picture:

1) "BORKED"????? I can't tell if this person actually meant "broked" or if they were making up a word. Either way, it's worthy of three underlines and two exclamation points, so it must be something special. My best guess on this is that the dyslexic hillbilly didn't have anything else to do, so someone told him to write this note and were too busy to proofread it...

2) "RecIEpt" is indeed spelled RecEIpt. I remember a little jig in elementary that went, "I before E, except affter C..." Either the peson writing this didn't realize there was a "C" in the word, or they didn't go to elementary school. I'm not trying to be mean, but seriously folks...

It's a good thing I didn't really want the receipt. What are your best guesses as to the meaning behind this note?

Observations from a Scary Place

2008-09-25T15:27:00.003-05:00

It's a scary place to be. The dentist chair. I had an appointment the other day to get some fillings and I just happened to notice a couple of things. Here are my observations:

NOTE: Some of this may be disgusting or whatever. If you have a queasy stomach, read until you can't take it...or don't read at all. ;) It's a dentist office and we all know what happens there. Ok, let's get on with it.

1) It's pretty amazing how much they try to make a torture room look welcoming. Next time you're at the dentist, take a glance at all the things there that really don't need to be there, but add something to the room to make you feel a little less stressed. My dentist office had a small garden outside the window and some bird feeders. It was a small fence-enclosed area, but a nice touch nonetheless. Plus, there's a window right in front of me...an extra that I will not take for granted. At least I can see what freedom looks like...

2) Piggy-backing off of point 1, a TV in the dentist chair is the best idea since Super Nintendo (actually Super Nintendo in the chair too would be awesome)! Not only was it cool to watch some sports and calm my nerves a little more, but it gave the doctor something to talk to me about before drilling my face off. It was a nice moment of connecting before the drill came out.

3) It's always a bad sign when the hygienist hands the doctor a syringe and then places her hand on your shoulder to pin you down. You know that's going to hurt. I'm sure it would hurt more if I jerked my body up as he was pushing the syringe in. I'm going to move on now before I pass out.

4) I actually prefer going to the dentist for a filling over a bi-yearly clean. It's straight down to business, they numb your face, and there's not a ton of poking and scraping. It's drill, scrub, replace, dry, and buff. Done and done. I had two this time and I was in the chair for about half an hour. Not too shabby. Sure they threw in the usual, "brush more, floss more, blah blah blah...", but it wasn't so much that I wanted to stab them in the retina with a toothbrush. Also, you don't have to wait for the doctor to get to everyone else. He/She is the one working on you, so when the procedure is done, you're good to go. Nice.

5) One of the worst things in the world is having to deal with a numb face for a few hours afterward. I literally was watching the clock every second to see how much longer it was going to take. You feel like everyone is staring at you and you're always wondering if there is drool coming out of your mouth that you can't feel. Also, it's really hard to talk to people and smile as part of your lip is dead. I looked in the mirror a lot wondering if the lip was swollen.

6) Expensive...period.

Those are my quick thoughts and observations. All in all, this visit wasn't too bad. Of course, I'm not going to pencil one in every week, but it's doable at least once a year. :)

Now go brush your teeth!

As If Love Weren't Enough

2008-08-25T20:39:00.002-05:00

When storms approach, when people cry for help, our God listens.
When lies control, when tension arises, our God listens.
When the poor need help, when money is tight, our God listens.
When it seems like too much, when the scars throb with pain, our God listens.
When good times are great, when bad times are imminent, our God listens.
When fear grips us, when apathy is our lifestyle, our God listens.

How does He listen? He loves.
How does He provide? He loves.
How does He help? He loves.
How does He encourage? He loves.
How does He heal? He loves.
How does He bless? He loves.

Sometimes in life, we go about as if love weren't enough. We complain, we fear, we worry, we cry. It's okay to admit it. I do all of these from time to time; even a lot of the time. But why? God is love. Isn't that enough? Shouldn't it be enough? Life is hard, and no one said it wouldn't be. Even Jesus made it clear that it would. It's hard because we made it hard, not because of God. Decisions are made that don't make us happy. But God is love and He doesn't make decisions that hurt us.

So how are you living? Are you living as if love weren't enough? I forget sometimes that the love of God is plenty enough.

The Irony of an Introvert

2008-07-30T22:41:00.003-05:00

I'll tell you what, people who are introverts are interesting. Some would say that I am. I would say that I am...sometimes. I often tell people that I am an intro-extrovert. When I am in certain situations, I need to hold back, observe, and reflect about everything. In other situations, I like to live it up, be loud, and be the center of attention.

The funny thing is that I have different feelings at different times about being alone. You see, an introvert likes to be alone sometimes...most of the time. It doesn't mean that introverts are depressed, bridge trolls, who don't know how to socialize. Sometimes, it just feels good to relax and keep things to myself.

Here's the irony:

-I like to be in neighborhoods/subdivisions with people around...not in the country with no one within 5 miles of you.

-I like the roads to be driver-less and hassle-free...a country road would be nice any day.

-I like having a few good friends and not being everyone's friend...it's much simpler this way.

-I like to be in youth ministry where hanging out with lots of middle school and high schoolers is awesome.

-I'm not a huge fan of big parties and/or large groups of people (most of the time).

-I'm a huge fan of going to professional/amateur sporting events.

Again, I tell you I am an intro-extrovert. Any questions?

Why Do...

2008-06-30T13:30:00.003-05:00

Why do:

...3-prong electrical outlets look like block heads who are appalled, or scared, or dead? And why do we have to stick prongs in their face? Is there a group out there, like PETA, who looks out for the electrical outlets? What about PETO? Who's on board?

...People misspell/misuse words on commercials? I can understand we are not all perfect and not all English majors or grammar freaks, but if you are spending big money and hiring people to help, shouldn't there be a standard of excellence we are upholding? For example, I saw that commercial the other day where a girl walks by and the guy uses his camera phone to zoom in to see her and the girl across from him texts him and says, "...YOUR a pig!" For all you grammar wizards out there, this should actually be "...YOU'RE a pig!" Grant it, we are in a texting and IM world, but like I said, where's the standard in the professional world?

...TV stations put full episodes online for people to watch? Don't they know that this is the very reason people get addicted to shows? Ok, so this one is actually awesome. Sonia and I have been watching Lost and are addicted. They have seasons 1, 2, and 3 online and since we missed all of that, we are starting from the beginning. If you can spare a couple weeks of your life, catch up on this show or any other online show and you won't regret it.

...good deals have to come with a catch? The new iPhone is coming out in 12 days. You may or may not have heard that the cost of the phone has been cut in half and is supposed to be twice as fast on the internet (if your area has the 3G network). Awesome, right? Wrong. They are increasing the cost of the REQUIRED data package by $10, which means an extra $120/year. So, in all actuality, you will be paying MORE than the people who bought the original iPhone for high cost. I guess with newer things, you have to expect more money, but why tease and manipulate the common folk by saying it's half the price and twice as fast? It's probably twice as slow... And yes, I'll probably still get one, damn it...

...quality cars break down and crappy cars continue to last and get crappier? Sonia's car is a Buick and seemingly in pretty good condition. Mine is a Geo and looks like it's going to rust into nothingness. Her car continues to have costly and annoying problems, while mine keeps running and rusting. I really don't think it's because it's a Geo. It is kind of ironic, though.

The End.

Walking Wisely in a Fool's World

2008-06-18T10:46:00.005-05:00

"so watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants." ~ Eph. 5:15-17 (The Message)

"Walking wisely in a fool's world" was the theme of the week of camp that I was just at last week. A good friend of mine and I went to a Christian camp in western Illinois to lead worship for a 5th and 6th grade week. All I can say about that week was that it was AWESOME! There were some downsides (like the fact that my lovely wife was not able to go and I had to suffer without her and tornadoes were a probable threat some nights and seemed scarier after the tragedy at the boyscout camp in Iowa), but for the most part it was good. We learned a lot about walking wisely in a fool's world -- making wise decisions, choosing good friends, etc.

Now some would say that me and Chip (my friend who played drums with me that week) were fools for spending a week with 5th and 6th graders; teaching them about Jesus, worshiping together, and investing in their lives. Some would say it is foolish to follow a God that we cannot see and who seems non-existent when disaster strikes. However, this week only affirmed more that we were indeed making a difference in a fool's world. While there were times during the week where I could not take much more insanity, it was one of the wisest choices Chip and I could make. We were able to learn a lot and hopefully teach these kids a lot just by our example and being there to serve them. I had a blast working alongside my good friend Keith Ehresman and learning from him as well.

And so, live for Christ and walk as if every day was your last. Choose wisely as many will call you foolish and worse names. The reward for the persecuted and those who choose Jesus daily will be more than worth the verbal (and sometimes physical) punishment we receive here. Our God is a God of love. Walk wisely brothers and sisters as we strive toward the same purpose and aspirations...

Finally, here's some funny quotes from kids and such during the week. Classic stuff.

- "What size shoe do you wear? I wear about a 36." ~ Kyle (a 6th grader with normal feet)
- "Did you guys see the comet? It was heading for Japan. I'm glad it's heading for Japan." ~ Kyle
- *A girl pokes me in the stomach* "That's not fat, those are ABS!" ~ a 5th grade girl
- "You guys are the best band EVER! You're even better than Green Day!" ~ Ryan
- "Chip has to chug this mustard and...why don't you chug the ketchup, Aaron?" ~ Keith (after Chip got a package and had to do something funny to get it)
- "Belly flop! Belly flop! Belly flop!" (followed by a belly flop from me and Chip) ~ evil chant

It's Time For a Happy Post...

2008-05-27T08:26:00.003-05:00

I've been looking back at some of my older posts and realize I've had a lot of complaining and deeper posts. It's time for a happy post.

Without further delay, here are the random thoughts of life that are making me happy:

1) The weather is getting consistently warmer, the sun is shining, house and lawn projects are getting done, and we are finally getting "settled" into our new house.

2) I sold my XBOX 360 for a number of reasons and that made me sad. But then I rekindled my love for the Super Nintendo and great games like Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball, Donkey Kong Country (1, 2, AND 3!); and hopefully I can find Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles somewhere. Classic system...classic fun.

3) The Cubs are in first place and have been consistently staying there (more or less). What else could I ask for?

4) I realized that I can now do drywall stuff which may come in handy someday. I feel proud of myself.

5) Of all the high gas prices in the country, ours have mostly stayed under $4, and that's okay with me (I'm an optimist)...for now.

That's all. It's been a good past few months. We have really been enjoying life and I couldn't feel more blessed with a great wife, great job, and great community to continue encouraging me.

Let's hope the next post isn't a sad one...

Pretending to Make a Noise

2008-05-23T23:10:00.003-05:00

Relient K has a song called "Gibberish" and it literally is a song full of gibberish. Sometimes we all talk gibberish, or nonsense, or whining, or begging, etc. The chorus of the song repeats this line over and over: "Stop talking gibberish and just stop talking." That says it all. And so does the picture.

Not only did my mom and grandma say this many times to me, I'm pretty sure James warned us about this in James 3 when he personifies the tongue as a flame, a rudder, a horse-bit, an un-tamable beast, a wild killer, and a confused spring, tree, and well.

"It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell."

I am a huge fan of positive noise. I couldn't be more against people who pretend to make a noise. When the noise is rightly placed, it can sound beautiful, encouraging, and empowering. When a noise is wrong placed, it is simply...a clanging gong. I've met both types of people. The thing about the posers is that there often is no solution to the whining, complaining, discouraging, and power-sucking. Now those who know how to make noise, know how to solve problems and offer tangible and realistic solutions. The saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" applies because it offers a solution. When someone comes to me and complains because the communion table was moved and blames others for "moving God aside," I have to wonder where the solution is. Usually their solution is move it back or I'm going to REALLY raise some hell about this. I have always been a solutions person. Let's not worry about how we got there; let's worry about where we got in the first place and then evaluate.

Of course, before you make a noise at all--positive or negative--you have to decide if it's willing to even say anything at all. Are you ready to fight about simple aesthetics while people are starving outside our doors for Jesus and healing? What battles are you willing to die fighting for? And that is for a whole other blog post.

So what type are you? Do you make noise because sometimes the "room" is too quiet; or do you pretend to make noise and hurt peoples' ears (and morals) with a clanging and hurtful gong? I would hope I am the first, but I'm sure, as a drummer, I've made some pretty crappy noise in my life. God forgive me for pretending to make a noise and sucking the life out of so many people and situations.

"And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life."

S.W.O.B. - Learning From Our Weaknesses

2008-04-23T09:52:00.004-05:00

Today, I'm in an all-staff, all-day, all-mind-zapping, planning day! Yay...

Seriously, my mindset coming into this was not necessarily positive. I have been to school and classes and lectures and conferences and all-day events tend to drain me. Also, the overall outcome is usually boredom. We started the meeting with prayer and devotion (which was a great way to start this day), and then moved right on to an evaluation time.

Let me step back a few years. In 2006, I went to an awesome conference called Catalyst in Atlanta, GA. It is a conference packed full of great speakers (Christian and non-Christian) to help empower church leaders throughout the world. The line-up this year is pretty cool as well (www.catalystconference.com). Anyway, in 2006, there was a speaker named Marcus Buckingham. And yes...he's British. Marcus is a businessman and spoke to us as if we were businessmen. He preached of using our weaknesses to make us strong. Today's society, he argued, is telling us differently. We use our strengths to make us stronger and we try to push our weaknesses aside and get over it. It's all about being better.

And so, today, I sit here amongst great people -- the staff of this church and we evaluate ourselves. We are using a formula called S.W.O.B. to help us be honest. That acronym (not the strep throat test) stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Barriers.
Then, we take four areas and apply them to this acronym: Mission, Worship, Spiritual Formation, and Community. The questions are how effective are we at these four areas. The presumption was that it would be easier to talk about our strengths than our weaknesses. Amazingly, we have been filling the board with weaknesses, while our strengths are overwhelmingly strong. Now, the easiest thing to do would be to draw the line at strengths and weaknesses and see that we have more weaknesses and hate ourselves and say we suck. The great thing is that Marcus Buckingham and this S.W.O.B. method allow for more than that. The opportunities allow us to look at our weaknesses and act on them. The barriers allow us to know what might get in our way. This doesn't mean it will, but it might.

I'm actually loving this. We are planting seeds as a leadership to build strength from our weaknesses. When we are honest with ourselves, we learn more about ourselves. Humility is more important than greatness. We will truly grow from this as a church, a staff, a people, a community, a city, a world, a Kingdom.

Pray for us for the rest of this day as we continue to dream, expect, and act. May you learn from your weaknesses to grow your strengths. We will always fall short, so let's not ignore that. Let's learn from it.

The Chick Flick Formula

2008-04-06T21:12:00.003-05:00

Alright, I promised my wife I would post this, so here it is. It's nothing new; I've heard it used before. However, I told Sonia about it a month or so ago and she claimed I was insane and even had the tenacity to tell me I was wrong. :) Since then, she has not been able to prove her point and I have...multiple times.

Here's the deal...there's a formula when it comes to chick flicks. I have to admit that I can handle a good chick flick from time to time (as long as she watches Braveheart with me). However, it gets very predictable after time. Take the following list as an example.

In my opinion, for a movie to be a chick flick, it has to follow these guidelines and qualifications:

1) Two separate stories with bad relationships or botched relationships in the past.
2) By some freak accident, event, coincidence, etc., these two stories collide and it's love at first sight (even if they don't "show" it at first e.g. 10 Things I Hate About You).
3) Through time spent around each other, things start to click.
4) As they start to get close and you think nothing could go wrong (except for Meet the Parents), something goes wrong (Murphy's Law?).
5) They fight and split ways and spend the next few days or hours crying, splurging, drinking, etc.
6) An epiphany happens either through self-reflection or friends or mothers and the girl or guy has to go win the other back.
7) Cue the cheesy music and the couple reunites with tears in the eyes. The one who screwed up apologizes profusely and begs to take him/her back.
8) With jubilee, they embrace, make out, and go home and make babies...or something like that.

It happens again and again in chick flick after chick flick. I told Sonia about this and she agreed but decided to make it her mission to prove me wrong. Basically, still waiting...

I'm so putting this up on Wikipedia for the "Chick Flick Formula." I bet that wouldn't get edited at all...

Tradition Is A Cult

2008-03-11T12:25:00.002-05:00

The title of this post came from a man I respect fully and have gone to with many problems I am wrestling with--my father-in-law, Bob Marshall. I am wrestling with this thing called tradition right now. To be honest, I've been wrestling with it for the last 8 years or more. I grew up in a Lutheran church and tradition is what it was built upon. We stood when we were told to stand, we knelt when we were told to kneel, we spoke when we were told to speak. You get the idea. The organ took up half the church and banners, robes, and pews identified this church. By about my freshman year in high school, some of these things didn't make sense to me and bored the crap out of me. I looked for something different and found it in a little church down the road from where I lived. Little did I know then, I wasn't much further from tradition as close-minded thinking, comfortability, and power-driven elders defined them.

I'm sure we've all seen tradition in one form or another in churches around us. If you're like me (and I'm not saying you are), these churches probably make you shudder and run the other direction. After talking to Bob Marshall some more, he told me, "People's faith lie in tradition." Of course this upsets me because I know it's true. I know that people's faith SHOULD lie in Christ alone. Isn't that what Christ would want from us?

Now I have been known to "rock the boat" from time to time. If there is one thing I can't stand...it's tradition. The problem the Pharisees had was their tradition. Their faith was soaked in it. When Jesus came along and rocked the boat, they fought with a vengeance to defend their "faith." Bob explained further, "If you rock people's tradition, you rock their faith." It's too bad it comes to that. I hate that it comes to that. When I meet people who are Pharisaic in thinking, I want to just slap them and tell them to grow up. Nonetheless, I think I need to turn the slapping hand back toward myself.

I find myself putting my own tradition in non-tradition. All of a sudden, if someone wants me to change the way I think about things, I will defend it with all my life. I guess I'm more of a Pharisee than I thought at times. The real challenge is to find the balance. I'm not talking about a blended thinking, but a balanced thinking. Jesus didn't come to establish a new religion. He came to establish a new thinking about religion. He didn't want people's faith to lie in tradition. He wanted their faith to lie in Him. When we're doing this, we find it's no longer about what we want. It makes things a lot easier. If a church is going to try to reach people for Christ, they need to put themselves aside--along with their traditions--and put Christ in front--along with His teachings. Jesus never wanted us to be traditionalists or non-traditionalists. He wanted us to be Christ-followers.

Windshield Wiper Conspiracy

2008-02-21T20:59:00.002-06:00

During the worst winter of my life, the last thing I want is windshield wipers that don't work. When I say they don't work, I don't mean that they won't even move. I mean when they wipe across the window and leave one streak or more RIGHT IN YOUR LINE OF SIGHT!! Am I the only one that this happens to? It always happens at the worst time too. The rain is pouring down, the wind is blowing the snow violently, the sleet is sticking everywhere, the ice is freezing the instant it hits your window. And so you say, "Thank goodness I have these handy windshield wipers to clean off my window and improve my view in this horrible storm." Then you click the windshield wipers on, they make one swipe...two swipes...and then you realize something is wrong. The windshield looks great everywhere except for that one line of moisture that is in your line of sight!

Now I don't have much scientific proof to back this up...but I'm pretty sure the windshield wiper companies have a conspiracy going to either sell more windshield wipers (since they seem broken) or kill us all. I think it might be the latter.

What the French Toast?!

2008-02-12T22:13:00.002-06:00

This is one of the funniest commercials I have seen in a long time. Behold:

Changed Perspectives

2008-01-20T19:36:00.000-06:00

Perspective is all about where you are in life. I found out last night that I didn't even know that my perspectives had changed. Apparently, life is confusing.

Yesterday evening, Sonia and I journeyed up to Lake Geneva, WI to visit the youth group of Evangelical Covenant Church from Lafayette, IN. This is the church I have been hired at as of Tuesday and we have already been actively involved with this youth group. We hung out with them one weekend in the Fall, then spent New Years' Eve staying up all night with 150+ kids, then went to this camp in Lake Geneva this weekend. They had been there since Friday, but I was tied down at church, so we made an appearance Saturday evening. We got to hear a speaker named Doug Pagitt from Solomon's Porch -- a church in Minneapolis, MN. He is a phenomenal speaker and I can tell that he has done some great things as a pastor of his church. He is also an author which makes it awesome because now I can read his books and know that I talked to this guy and he talked to me and he's cool.

Afterwards, we split into different groups and Sonia and I went with a group of guys from ECC (a little awkward for Sonia...). All I can say about what happened next is that it was amazing. I was speechless. Teenage boys poured out their hearts before each other...some in need of healing, some in need of answers to tough questions, some in need of help, some in need of friends, some in need of Christ. The tears came hard and fast as these young men were as transparent as glass. I can say honestly in the years I have been in ministry, I have seen few moments like this. After we all prayed for these teenagers and the smiles were on faces again, it was on to other things. As Sonia and I were walking out, it seemed like Bob (the Youth Pastor at ECC) and I were on the same page. We both knew what these camp and conference moments were like. Away from the everyday routine, it's easy to pour out your heart and "get it all of your chest." However, once camp and conferences are over, it's back to the real world and many of us lose focus of what we said or promised to do. I've done this before...Bob and I knew some of these kids would do the same. So, he asked me, "What do we do to keep them focused?" This is where I had one of the most interesting perspective changes. I blurted the first thing that came to my mind, but I genuinely meant it. I said, "Well I don't know if this is right, Bob...but I just feel like I want to hang out with these kids. You know...invest." It wasn't that Bob approved of this answer or that I needed a pat on the back. The funny thing is that a couple of years ago if someone asked me that same question, I would have said, "Let's have a nice cool event when we get back when we get them pumped up again and blah blah blah." Basically, I realized my perspective had changed from programming to investing. I think this is a huge thing in my life. I really think I finally get what Jesus was saying and doing when he hung out with people. It wasn't to make Himself look good or to invite them to the next conference. He hung out with people because He cared and He would do anything to keep from losing them. I really want to hang out with these kids and get to know them.

Isn't it funny how perspectives can change just like that? I know this change was the result of years of trials, observations, and thinking. But mostly, I felt God taught me something in that moment last night. These kids might or might not have been sincere, but they are God's children and He cares about them more than any of us ever will. I think I need to start loving them for that reason alone.

There's Something About...

2008-01-13T23:17:00.000-06:00

I love my hometown. Valparaiso, Indiana (or as some know it -- "vale of paradise"), is my hometown. I love everything about it. It has a small town feel, yet it has a big city feel at times. The downtown is beautiful and there are so many businesses to satisfy any need. My family's house of about 15 years and still going is 5 minutes from the thriving downtown areas, yet it is surrounded by farmlands and a beautiful and small subdivision. We have a pond (sort of...more like a swamp) in the backyard and a hill in the front that is perfect for sledding. There are old oak trees out front, maples in the back, and pine trees on the top of the hill that have been growing for years. The driveway curves around a big oak tree and causes people to avoid backing down the driveway in their cars. There is a huge school of 2 bazillion kids in town, but I got to go to a small school called Morgan Township and spent 13 years there. Yes...I went from Kindergarten to graduating senior at the same school. The entire school (K-12) had 500 kids...the high school had 200. My graduating class was 45 or so and a good majority of those were people who were there with me on my first day of Kindergarten.

I love my hometown. I used to write a column in my school newspaper called "Things You Need to Know About Valparaiso." It highlighted little known facts about Valparaiso and touched on random things that were around Valpo that might be cool to people to know. I learned a lot about that town doing this. I went to college at Valparaiso University for one year and hated the school, but I loved Valparaiso.

Plans are in motion for Sonia and I to return to Indiana in ministry. We are not going back to Valpo, but it still feels good to be going back to Indiana. I wrote a song recently that talked about missing home. One of the lines says, "There's something about...being home." It's a great feeling thinking of home. Sure there are many bad memories of home and Valparaiso, but I still love it. The pros definitely outweigh the cons. I have a dream that someday I can go back to Valpo and plant a church there. It is a great town for it. That would be awesome and I would live there forever. Of course, living that close to the parents and in-laws might be challenging, but we would take advantage of the free babysitting when we have kids. :)

I hope you have a hometown that you can call home. I know some people don't and it's sad to hear that. I really think God meant for us to find a place that we could call home. There's something about...leaving home....missing home...being home...someday.

Good times, Video Games and the Ultimate Irony

2007-12-18T22:34:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time...
Aaron missed hanging out with his friends and especially his old dorm roomie, B-Joe. B-Joe liked to be called B-Joe because his real name is Bradley Joseph and it is cooler to tell people your name is B-Joe. Aaron thinks he's pretty cool, so they hang out and they were dorm roomies. So, Aaron found a few days he could get free and headed down to Moberly, MO (known by some as "Mo-town"...or a craphole), the place where he graduated college. College classes were coming to an end for the semester, so a bunch of guys decided to get together and celebrate. Luckily, Aaron was there and had nothing to do with the end of the semester, but went with them anyway. The guys decided to be adventurous and went to Buffalo Wild Wings (better known as "B-dubs" or "BW3's") in Columbia, MO. It just so happened to be 50 cent Boneless Wing Thursday and so the wings were ordered and eaten in no time. Some of the guys had as many as 16+ wings, some had something else and realized it was Boneless Thursday and ordered some more wings, some had a hamburger...

Many of the guys went home for Christmas break, so B-Joe and Aaron hung out and played video games. Then on Saturday, they played more video games. Then on Sunday, they played...chess...or video games. They had a super time as millions of inches of snow fell outside--ruining any chance of doing anything outside of Moberly.

Aaron visited other friends during his visit, including Tyler, Tyler, and Keith and really enjoyed catching up with them. Unfortunately, the time had come for Aaron to leave. Looking back on the time he spent down there, Aaron really appreciated what he had to cherish. He missed hanging out with friends that he missed a lot. He developed even more appreciation for the community of these guys and the great times that he had with them. He appreciated Dave for all of his extreme comments and loving words. He cherished Jon for his humor and Brett Favre-centered thinking. He appreciated Tyler Myers for his Taco Bell obsession and serving heart. He cherished Tyler Morris for his manly minivan and his pest control sermon illustrations. He appreciated Keith for his wisdom and generosity. And for B-Joe, he cherished his new Nintendo Wii and the willingness to do what God asks him to do...even when he doesn't know what that is. Most of all, Aaron appreciated and cherished these guys for being his friend and encouraging and building him in many ways.

He looked back on that and missed it. He looks forward to years of continued friendship with these guys.

The ironic part comes now. Aaron was running after someone, tripped, went down to his knees, then went face-first into a cement wall. Somehow, he seemed fine and didn't suffer any serious injury because of this. Ironically, Aaron has a blog entitled "Walk"...or else you might hit a wall.

When I'm Not Being Jesus

2007-12-09T16:33:00.001-06:00

The other day, I got home from work or somewhere and it was cold out. I pulled into my parking space and this lady pulled in to the spot next to me at almost the same time. She was first out of her car and then I got out. She was doing something near the front of her car and I didn't know what, so I glanced over. I saw that she was trying to open her hood so she could put antifreeze in. Unfortunately, we have had ice and snow for the past week and this was proving to be a hard task with the iced-over hood. So, big strong...Christian...me walks by and pretends that I don't see anything...ouch. Could I have helped her open that iced-over hood? Absolutely. Did I do anything? No. I went into my warm house, turned on the TV and pretended that that didn't just happen. I guess you could say that was one of those times when I was not being Jesus.

Well today, I was making four sandwiches at the same time for a group of people. I wrote down their specific orders, yet I decided to totally ignore what one of the guys wanted and made him something totally different. My mind was somewhere else, to say the least. I didn't realize this mistake until I took the sandwiches out to their table and was handing them out. No one was responding when I was asking who had the mistake sandwich...and that's when it hit. I apologized, of course, and offered to go make him the right order. Before I could say another word, he says, "Don't worry about that. I'll eat this one. I'm not picky." WHAT?!! Who does crap like that? I am so picky when it comes to wrong orders, especially when it is a totally different order. But this guy totally ate it and said he liked it (while he might have just been "being nice"). They paid later on and I gave him the sandwich at no cost because of my stupidity. Here's where the story gets even better. On the way out the door, the guy stops at the counter and leaves me a tip!! WHAT?!! I was pretty sure that I totally screwed up this guy's order, tried to make an excuse for making the wrong order, let him eat the mistake, and then he tips me on top of that! Now that's being Jesus.

I don't know if that guy was a "Christian." I don't know if he even believed in anything, but he displayed it better than I do sometimes. It's not because he gave me money, while that was fun. It is because he took a rough situation (that could have gone MUCH worse), just laughed and then even gave me something despite all that. I can tell you, I have read about Jesus doing this a lot during His time on earth--along with many other amazing things. He continues to offer things to people, even when they don't deserve it. That's what us Christian folk call grace.

Man...sometimes I suck. Please don't hate me...I'm working on it and I'm sure I'm not alone. I can probably think of other times where I did alright at this, but I sure missed it this time. God forgive me for letting that lady struggle out in the cold to get the hood open. Forgive me for the hundreds of other times I missed out on being Jesus to someone. Help me to learn from this and take the opportunities that come in the future.

Don't Take Christmas Away From Me...

2007-12-08T21:41:00.000-06:00

Okay, now that it is officially December...we can start talking Christmas. I love Christmas--for lots of reasons. The sad thing is that I have heard from some people over the years that we should stop supporting so many things during Christmas. The Hallmark-ization of the holiday, the materialistic focus, the bitter shopping trips, selfishness, greediness, family feuds (not the cool game show), etc. The list goes on. Have you heard one of these excuses from someone who just can't stand Christmas or what Christmas has become over the years? Did we forget baby Jesus? I'm sorry people, but I think there are still a lot of things about Christmas that baby Jesus would be ecstatic about.

Almost every year, my extended family and immediate family get together at my grandma's house in Ohio. It is a small house and the average number of people is somewhere around 15 and growing. The house can really only sleep 2...okay that was a bit of an overstatement, but you get the point. However tight the sleeping arrangements are, it is a BLAST! I shudder at saying the word "tradition," but we have a lot of it as a family when it comes to Christmas. I was telling Sonia about these the other night and they are pretty extensive, but all very cool. I'll spare you all the details, but these things are what I think of when I think of Christmas. Most of all, I love hanging out with the people I love. I also think of buying presents (for people who need and don't "need" them), seeing town streets decorated with lights and wreaths, and driving slower just to see what that house has for lights and decorations this year. I love how businesses start thinking Christmas and decorating and putting out the cinnamon potpourri. I love giving gifts to people. Not because they need more stuff or so I can have debt, but because it feels good and it is a way that I can show love. It's not vital to the season, but I love doing it. I don't give with expectations of receiving. It is just fun for me to put thought into gifts and to give them to people on Christmas.

Christmas is something special to everyone. There are many things that people love about the season. Some people get it more than others, some people love it more than others. I totally understand people who don't take Christmas to the extreme. I am not pushing Christmas down your throat if you are one of these people. But to those who are trying to push anti-Christmas, anti-giving, anti-materialism, anti-selfishness, anti-greed, anti-Hallmark, etc. down my throat: PLEASE...don't take Christmas away from me...

Have a blessed and happy Christmas! It is a great season because it teaches us to love, give without expectations, spend time together, and cherish God's gifts to us...including Jesus. These are things that I think would make baby Jesus smile and giggle. Yay for that!

Nickelback Sucks

2007-11-20T02:56:00.000-06:00

Someone showed me this awhile back and I thought it was great! Here you go folks...proof that Nickelback can't write songs and when they do, they just repeat the same stuff! Sorry to all you Nickelback fans out there, but they have no reason to be as big as they are and call themselves "quality" musicians. The same goes for people who lip sing and try to brush it off. How does Ashley Simpson still have a fanbase? People really make me wonder sometimes. This is probably the most bitter post you will see from me. So here's the link:

http://www.thewebshite.net/nickelback.htm

It works really good if you can pan between your left and right speakers. By the way, just to bring it home more...Casting Crowns does this too. It's time to quit when all your music starts sounding the same. That's life. Can you dig it?

Here's My Card

2007-11-19T21:18:00.000-06:00

Everyone else is doing it, so I figured, why not? What do you think (first one is the front, second one is the back)? It really is a cool way to let people know about you without putting titles or whatever on there. It's more of a persona card than a business card. I think it will be cool to pass this out to people.

Revival Town

2007-11-17T20:59:00.000-06:00

I have been serving at Community Christian Church for a little over two years now and it has been a blast! I have lots of good and...not so good memories. This weekend was one of those great memories that I will never forget. Every month, our church picks one weekend to deem "Baptism Weekend." Basically, instead of offering an "altar call" every service and dunkin' them there, they have a once-a-month weekend set aside to focus on baptisms. This is really cool because usually multiple people are getting baptized in a single weekend. This weekend at church was a baptism weekend and it was awesome. I mean, every baptism weekend is awesome, but this one was especially awesome.

Here's why: We had three people tonight at the service who planned on getting baptized. They did and it was cool. Then, the small groups director, Steve Kirby (playing the role of campus pastor for the night) got up and told anyone else that they could baptized on the spot that night. It was as close to altar call as you were going to hear, but it was cool and not forced. Tonight, one person decided after the service to get baptized. Then, my good friend Mike Onken, decided to get baptized in his clothes and all. He literally threw his wallet and cell phone aside and said, "Let's do it!" It was emotional, to say the least. Finally, another man decided to get baptized later on. So, not only were there three planned baptisms, but 3 other improv baptisms! That's 6 in one night! It was awesome to see, especially as Mike is a really good friend.

The last thing about this is that Community Christian Church, as a whole, has been trying to take the end of Acts 2:47 really seriously this year. Paul says, "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." As of the latest numbers, there have been over 200 baptisms already this year (churchwide), and over 200 days of the year. Literally, they are asking God to save 365+ people in one year! That's so cool! How many churches can ask for that and expect it? It really shows a lot about the type of church and leadership that this is. This weekend at Montgomery, we added 6 to the number that continues to grow. The Montgomery campus definitely did its part to help! Way to go! There are two more services tomorrow and I wouldn't be surprised if we see some more lives changed. It is so exciting to do ministry at a church that is continually moving forward with God!

The Dominator: Coca Cola

2007-11-09T23:27:00.000-06:00

Today, I was eating my lunch in the teacher lounge while subbing. My wonderful wife made the brown-bag lunch for me and included baby carrots in there. I like baby carrots and it was a good thing they were in there as I was hungry and they are healthy too! I bought a Coke to drink. When I got to the carrots, I opened the bag and looked at my Coke, and said to myself, "This is a weird combination. This might taste really weird..." I mean, when you think about the two together, it sounds gross. It's like Carrot Coke. However, I ate some carrots and decided to give it a shot. I took a drink of the Coke and to my great surprise, I found that the Coke canceled out any taste of carrot in my mouth. And so, I found out that Coke is indeed THE Dominator when it comes to combinations of food and drink. It doesn't matter what you had before you take a drink, you will taste nothing but Coke when you are done taking a drink. I can't tell if that's really awesome or really scary...

The Empowerment of Leadership

2007-10-25T15:15:00.000-05:00

Are you a natural leader? Have you ever been asked to lead? Have you ever asked someone else to lead? Do you run when you hear the very mention of being the leader of something? This post might be for you.

Recently, I was graciously asked to be the leader of the Producing Team at CCC Montgomery. I was humbled to accept the position, knowing that it would be a challenge for me. I have only "officially" been the leader for a few days now, but I can tell you there's something special about it. Now let me make this disclaimer early and strongly: I do not view myself as anything better than you. I am merely a man who said yes to a call. Anyone is capable of it and I encourage you to do the same someday.

Now that that's said, let me continue. In my experience of leadership, the same feeling has always come to me when there. There is truly a phenomenal empowerment in being a leader of something. This something could be anything from a class group to leader of a country. The true challenge for a leader is how he handles this empowerment. I personally try to keep this in check constantly. If I am in a leadership position, that means that others are expecting me to lead. How can I lead when my ego leads only to destruction and failure? Herein lies what I feel is the greatest challenge of being a leader--keeping it in check. This isn't anything new. You've all heard things that reflect the same idea. A leader can easily fall into the trap of thinking it is all about himself/herself. With leadership, though, it is the exact opposite. LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT THOSE WHO TRUST AND FOLLOW YOU.

For me, that empowers me in a totally different way. Once my ego is aside, I can truly be empowered to put other people's hopes and dreams first. I can be empowered to invest in someone and see the fruitful results of this. Empowerment is what encourages me to keep going. It is not a selfish empowerment that keeps me striving as a leader; rather, it is the exact opposite. If people on my team are happy and accomplishing things together, then we are all empowered, but the leader can be even more. There's satisfaction in this empowerment that many don't find.

When Christ said, "the first shall be last," I think he was warning those who let the empowerment go to their head. But I think he was encouraging us in how we model our leadership as well. When you are a leader, you should be encouraged to put yourself last. There is no better position than that! We have all seen it in real life: the best leaders are those who are servants.

If you are a leader today or tomorrow, take encouragement in Christ's model for you. If you don't think this will ever be you, I think you might be wrong. No matter what your leadership is, you can and will be empowered by it. What will you do with that empowerment?

Maybe someone will read this someday...

2007-10-25T15:01:00.000-05:00

Well, I've had a blog now for a little bit of time, and I've tried to keep it entertaining, yet informative at the same time. Now, the time is upon me when I must reflect...I think maybe two or three people might be reading this. So let me introduce you to some blogs that I love to read hoping that maybe one of them will catch this and return the mention, or just rip on me. Either way, it might be worth the publicity. Here's the list of my favorites:

www.daveferguson.org - Dave Ferguson; Lead Pastor and Co-Founder of Community Christian Church

www.multisitearts.com - Bill Carroll; Creative Arts Champion at Community Christian Church

www.cartermoss.com - Carter Moss; Campus Pastor at CCC: Montgomery

ericseddyfications.typepad.com - Eric Bramlett; Community Christian Church

charissaholland.blogspot.com - Charissa Holland; Creative Arts Director at CCC: Montgomery

soniarae.blogspot.com - Sonia Arkkelin; my wonderful and insightful wife

delpper.blogspot.com - Bethany Delp; a good friend of Sonia and I who is a great artist and fun to read

So, maybe I've sold out. Maybe I've broken some rules of blogging. But I have appealed to the greater good of those I religiously read. Maybe someone will read this someday...:)

Dave Ferguson seems to always find a way to see where people are writing about him. Dave, if you are reading this...thank you. That is all.

Tumbleweed

2007-10-18T15:36:00.001-05:00

Today it is very windy. For those who live in this area, that might be an understatement. I was on my way to work this morning and driving along when I see something crossing the road. Sure enough, it was a HUGE tumbleweed...yes, my friends, a tumbleweed...this thing could have taken out my car... Okay, what?! I'm in northern Illinois...close to Chicago...this is an extremely populated area. There is no reason, nor any source as far as I can tell, for tumbleweed. I'm just saying it...scared the crap out of me.

Of course...as windy as it was, it could have been an entire bush...

Board Games

2007-10-07T21:53:00.000-05:00

For anyone that doesn't know, I work at a Cafe in a subdivision called Hometown. But that's not real important here. I was working there on Saturday morning and this lady came in to get some coffee and hang out in the Cafe. After awhile, her sister came in and got some coffee too and sat down with her. Then, the first lady pulled out this box and I realized they were playing a board game. Now these ladies are probably in their mid- or late-40's. I only say that because I was really touched by this. My family has a serious addiction to board games and I've never been a huge fan, but I don't mind every now and then. But here's two ladies who are taking a Saturday afternoon to just relax and play a board game with each other. I hope that someday I can have that type of relationship with my siblings. The cool thing is I remember them being in there another weekend before playing a card game, so this seems like some sort of tradition. I can't think of a much better way to spend a beautiful afternoon with a loved one. It's the simple things...you know?

The Simple Complexity of Art

2007-09-22T19:30:00.000-05:00

I love art because it is the most simple complex thing I can wrap my mind around. I live and breathe art. I love to create it; I love to see others create it; I love to show it to others. I'm not just talking about paintings on a canvas, while metaphorically speaking, that would do. I am instead talking about the art of life--or in this specific post, the art of life and ministry. You see, ministry has a lot to do with art whether people want to admit that or not. Jesus and the disciples had to minister in creative ways. Do you remember that fancy church word "parable." It's a story and it helped illustrate a concept. It was art and that same art is still as important today as it was then. Here's three reasons why I think so:

1) Art is an act of free will. Since the beginning of time, God has allowed us to make decisions. He has allowed us to choose right or wrong, black or white, naked or clothes, obedience or disobedience. Art is just one way that we truly have the freedom to make all the choices we want. What an awesome display of free will when an artist puts together a sculpture from a bunch of pieces of trash! Some people would say that is crazy, but in the artist's mind, he/she could do whatever he/she wanted to do...because that's what art is all about. In ministry, we have the same great freedom to let go and live free...take risks and see where it takes us.

2) Art is a source of positive release. Most great creations come from the innermost release of our souls. Have you ever had something on your mind and finally just wrote it down to clear your conscience of it? Next thing you know, you see a poem in those words so you write some music and put the lyrics in. Finally, you have a Billboard top song and you are making millions of dollars on one thought? Ok...so maybe you haven't been there. The great thing is that we have the potential to release that from inside of us! It feels great to get something on paper that was on your mind. That release that we call art is usually more than we could have ever seen. It's the culmination of our thoughts, the cries of our inner soul, and the creativeness given by a creative God that create this thing we call art. The wonderful potpourri of our lives presented in art make it a beautiful thing to create, witness, or support.

3) Art relates to everyone. There are few things on this planet that can boast that statement. The fact that art has the potential to be relevant to everyone is an enormous gift! Imagine all the things you could do with that type of influence. Music is one of the best places to see this statement in its fullness. Everyone likes music. I'm not talking about a specific genre of music...just music. It's amazing what power music can have on an individual. Some people's lives are changed by a song or musician! That's incredible if you ask me. But it's not just music. Art can touch everyone, everyday, everywhere in positive and negative ways. It is often at the root of most controversies. Yet, it can sometimes be at the height of beautiful things. Art is the fuel behind the definition of beauty. It makes life worth living because we all know it's there and makes us feel better, gives us a reason to shout, forces us to think, takes us to happy or sad places, and reflects our personalities.

Art is a passion of mine for these and many reasons. What's your passion? I'll bet art has something to do with it. God bless.

That freaky cat in the window...

2007-09-18T17:26:00.001-05:00

We moved into a new apartment complex in Oswego, IL at the beginning of August. It has been really awesome. When I get home from work or back from an errand, I tend to just glance around at the other apartments. On the end of the building we are in, there is a two bedroom apartment. In this apartment there is a cat...a black one...and it sits in the window...all the time. Now, I don't usually mind cats. I had two growing up and usually didn't have a problem with them. I'm probably more of a cat person than a dog person. However, this cat freaks me out!

Every time I walk past this apartment, he is in the window on the second floor. His black silhouette always catches my eye. Or is he forcing me to look at him? Either way, the cat just sits there and stares. By the time I get a little further down the sidewalk, he moves into the next room so he can look out that window. He/she just sits there. I don't know what's up with this cat, but it's starting to freak me out! I think he might be eating my soul or something. Someone call an exorcist.

Exit Signs

2007-09-10T21:50:00.000-05:00

Have you ever stared at an exit sign before? Maybe in class, or on the train ride, or during that boring date...I was at work tonight and staring at an exit sign. I caught myself wondering, what is the point of an exit sign? I mean really. They're pretty and all and are really annoying in the movie theaters just below the big screen, but why do they have to be there?

When I was in elementary, we went to a smoke house for a field trip. The fire department had this trailer home that they would pump fog into and tell you how to get out in case you ever had the same problem in your home. So, I know from my elementary "smoke house experiences" that exit signs are really meant for fires. When you can't find the door through the thick smoke, you're supposed to look for that red or green exit sign and crawl towards it. Or maybe, you're just looking for the door in broad daylight. Either way, it points us in the right direction...towards our destination.

God kind of does the same for us. We all have or had a sinful past that would consume our lives. So many times we would just sit there in the darkness and smoke and just wonder which way was out. But God turns on the exit sign for us. He shows us the way out. We stumble and crawl and cough as we make our way through and then we finally reach the exit. There is light again and fresh, cool air. It is a great feeling to know we got to our destination. If you are in the dark, smoke-filled room, look for God turning on the many exit signs in your life. If you have already been led by God out of the room, are you already going back in and getting lost? Take the exit signs seriously and find your way out. God bless.

Seasons

2007-09-07T13:39:00.000-05:00

This won't be the last time I say anything about this. It hasn't been the first time someone has said something about this. But to me...it's awesome to think about.

Do you remember in elementary Geography class when we learned about all the different climates in the world? I don't remember much of it, but I do remember that North America is one of the few places in the world that actually experience FOUR seasons of change. Now, the world knows the four seasons, we all base our timelines and schedules around them. Winter may not have as much significance in Egypt as it does in the U.S.; however, it is still called winter.

For as long as I have been on this planet, I have lived in the prime location for the recognition of the changing seasons. The midwest may be one the best places to experience that. Today I stepped outside on a normal early September day and realized something different. It was hot as usual, but not that hot. There is still a bit of humidity holding on for dear life. But the sky was cloudy and the wind was picking up. I took a deep breath and automatically thought..."Autumn is near..." Have you ever tried to pinpoint the first day that the weather takes a turn for the next season? Now, I'm not sure if this is documented anywhere, but this might be that first day that the season took a turn from Summer into Autumn. I felt it in the air.

I remembered the way the sun tries so hard to be seen in Autumn. I remembered the wind picking up everyday to clear the old leaves off the trees to make way for new life. I remembered most of all the smell of Autumn. Do you know the smell I'm talking about? Maybe it's different for everyone, but I smelled that today and I knew that Autumn is on its way. I know that the first official day of Autumn isn't until September 21st, but I feel like Mother Nature is one step ahead of us saying, "You think you know me? I'll change whenever I feel like it!" Good for you Mother Nature. Thank you for keeping us on our toes.

Some people never know what the difference is between Summer and Winter...Fall and Spring. They know that is what the time of year is called, but they've never seen it. Some people have never seen snow, heard a thunderstorm, or even seen much rain. These are the things we take for granted...the things I take for granted. What will you celebrate today as Autumn is upon us and Winter is ever nearer? Take some time to appreciate the beauty of seasons, especially if you're in a place that knows all about season changes. God bless.

Socks

2007-08-30T15:32:00.000-05:00

You know how after a couple of months, a couple of loads, a couple of foldings, you end up with a few extra socks that don't have a match? When I was in college, this happened about every load. No matter what I did, I would always end up with one extra sock. Have you ever been there? The funny thing is, we never want to just throw that sock away and give up hope. We put it aside in our regular sock drawer (so it doesn't feel left out), and we wait for the next load. Maybe then, another sock will come up missing and the two loners will end up matching each other. However, we all know that this rarely happens. So, you end up with more unmatched pairs of socks than you have matched pairs!

Today was one of those rare days in history when I was looking through my sock drawer for some socks and I found a match amongst the loners! I decided that I wanted to wear short ankle socks, so I found one of those loners in there. Lo and behold, I dug a little more and I found a matching ankle sock! I was so happy and I thought, "this doesn't happen very often." I could almost hear my wife cheering gleefully (she REALLY enjoys the simple things in life). But it made me think...

Isn't that how it is when God finds us again? I mean we're meant to be together. We're a perfect match. I'm an ankle sock, you're a knee-high soccer sock, she's a girlie toe-sock. But we all are meant to find our perfect match--God. And when in that one moment, when no one expects it, we finally do find that match, it is a joyous occasion. Are you a loner sock that hasn't found it's match yet (and I'm not talking about a girl/guy)? Are you hoping that someday someone will cheer when you find that matching sock? Well, I for one will be cheering loudly that day! The Bible says the angels will rejoice when the prodigal son returns home to God. I love to join in when that day comes!

There's just something special about a matching pair of socks...especially when you had given up hope for so long and were ready to throw the loner away. Keep looking loner socks...your match may be closer than you think. God bless.

Walk

2007-08-30T02:18:00.000-05:00

You've all heard some variation of the cliche, "Slow down or life will pass you by." Maybe someone is telling you to read the road signs along the way. Maybe someone is telling you to hold the hand of your friend who is falling behind. Either way, we all have heard the clever illustrations and the cliche continues to be run into the ground...

However, I'm a big fan of redundant, yet IMPORTANT messages. I like messages that are important and repetitive. There are few things that excite me more than things we hear over and over again that seem to be really important. You get the point yet? I have been told too many times to not speed, yet I get a ticket again and again. I know I shouldn't eat that Twinkie because it is bad for my health, but I'll take two instead. We all have messages in life that are important and sometimes we choose to brush them off because we think they don't relate to us.

The speed of life is one of those things, I think. No one really thinks they are moving too fast. You know, more than 75% of drivers think they are better drivers than everyone else on the road. No one really thinks the cliches are directed toward THEM. Surely not. Well, guess what? This cliche, "Slow down or life will pass you by," is for YOU. Too many times we miss out on those important things that God wants us to really enjoy.

When was the last time you appreciated the slow drive through cornfield-filled Nebraska (if you haven't had the "joy" of this trip, I suggest you try it)? Have you ever really walked out the front door on the first day of spring and taken a deep breath to enjoy? Have you gone to a baseball game and gotten stuffed on $5 hotdogs just for fun lately? The list could go on.

My challenge for myself and maybe for you is to slow down. Walking is a lot easier and allows us to enjoy the view. So, before you jump in the car and go to work, take a walk in the brisk air of the summer morning, give your loved one a hug for no particular reason, watch a home video from your childhood.... And don't forget to...WALK...

Beginning

2007-08-30T02:13:00.001-05:00

So...this is what the blogging world is like.

Hello. My name is Aaron Arkkelin. I am young, foolish, and amazingly driven to serve God and do everything for His glory. But before you quit reading, let's talk.

I have a HUGE respect for the blogging world. It has been such a great way for thoughts and musings to reach so many people in ways that might not have been possible. I am blessed to have read some great blogs in the past.

I am just 22 years old. I know that makes me young and frankly, I'm tired of people telling me that. This blog is now going to be in place for you and for me. It is a journey and this is the beginning. I have thoughts along the way just as anyone else does. I want to share some with you...maybe you'll like them, maybe you won't.

Maybe you're tired of justifications. Me too. So, here's my first blog...take it or leave it; love it or hate it. God bless.