Don't hate me...

For writing this. I'm not trying to take myself too seriously. I don't ever expect the following "parable" to ever mean anything to anyone, or to be forwarded to everyone on your contact list. I just like to write stuff from time to time, and today I thought I would write like this.

One day God came to me in a dream and said to me that like Solomon he would grant me a request supernaturally. I realized that, like Solomon it would be a good idea to wish for my self improvement. So I wished that I would be stronger.

I woke up the next morning expecting to discover a new body stronger than my old one. But sadly I realized that no Spiderman like transformation had taken place. Disappointed I staggered blearily through the dark until I stubbed my toe on an unexpected object. There was a weight bench in my room.

God came to me again in a dream to tell me that he was sorry the last request didn't work out so well for me, so I could try again. This time I thought I would be just like Solomon and ask for wisdom and intelligence. The next morning I woke up expecting to feel smarter. However I still couldn't do the morning crossword. Later that day I went to get the mail, and found an unexpected letter with no return address. It was a recommended reading list.

A third night God came to me again and said I had one more chance. I thought long and hard about what I wanted most, and after much deliberation I figured that God would finally honor my request if I asked for something "good" something that he would want me to ask for. So I asked that he would help me love him more.

The next morning I was wakened by a phone call. It was bad news. Really bad. I thought that because I loved God more it would be easy to take. It wasn't. It hurt worse than ever because I felt like I had been betrayed by God. I didn't feel loving at all, I felt angry.

I screamed at God. "You could have made me stronger without the weight bench, I could have woken up with muscles"

"You're right" he said, "I can do that. But unless you understood what it took to gain that strength you wouldn't understand how to keep it."

"You could have made me smart!" I wailed "you could have put an encyclopedia in my brain"

"You're right" he answered, "I can do that. But you wouldn't value it properly. You would abuse that knowledge."

Finally I had had enough and in utter despair I accused him "But you didn't have to do THIS to me! You could have made me love you without taking away something else I loved more!"

"Actually you're wrong," he said, "I can't do that."

Peep this trash

So I went to a concert at church this weekend featuring this up and coming "artist" named Josh Wilson. People who take themselves too seriously call themselves artists. People who one day wish to be called "artists" call other people "artists" hoping to make the phrase seem more legitimate. Well fine, then I'm a joke artist.

But that's not the point. Josh Wilson does NOT take himself too seriously. I spent some time with him today before the concert and I think I've never met anyone with a better ratio of talent/humility. Which is not to say that I don't know some pretty cool and humble people, but this guy was crazy talented.

Anyway, the concert was awesome, not only is this guy a good musician he is funny, and a sweet dude. He also loves God. Some people are performers, and some people were just made to be on a stage because that's where they come alive. He is one of those guys.

So check this video of him playing Amazing Grace. He's 24, recently graduated college, and is trying to make it as a full time musician. He's never played with Audio Adrenaline but he's starting to make a name for himself. He recently got picked up by a Christian label and his music is available on itunes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UND-DtHBZQ


Everything about this post makes me miss Ben Taylor.

The Adventures of Bunny Deluxe (Part III)

Congratulations all you faithful readers who have made it this far. We've followed the progress of our lovable blue friend from adventures past, to the present, and finally we wave goodbye to him as he hops off into the future. But where is he going you ask? Anywhere that grown men hope and children dream. That's the place for him!

but more specifically he will be serving in "The reign forest" this Sunday at NewPointe. Which means that he's going to be babysitting the young'ins. But even more exciting than that, it appears that our friend is going to be taking his biggest leap of all....To Africa.

Yes, that's right. Africa. NewPointe is sending a missions team to Egypt to do a children's VBS, and they invited my best inflatable friend along for the ride. And no one here is bluffing. Next time you see B.D. he is going to be serving the Lord in the mission field. I just hope that he doesn't suck up too much sand.

The Adventures of Bunny Deluxe (Part II)

Hello and welcome back to the second breath-taking installment of The Adventures of Bunny Deluxe. When we last left our hero he was hanging out in the trunk of my car. But no longer.

Bunny Deluxe has made his presence felt here at NewPointe when he made an appearance in Danny Bunelle's Office. This sparked an intra office adventure that had the staff at NewPointe on edge for days. (See Danny's description of events here)

Dave D. turned it into a game of Mafia. B.D. appeared in a different office every day until someone was able to guess who was helping to transport him. If they bunny appeared in your office, you were out. If you guess incorrectly, you were out.

For three wonderful days B.D. brought joy and happiness to the NewPointe staff and watched over us as we worked our little hearts out.

It was a regular "whodunnit" mystery; everyone in the office had a suspicion and accusations were flying. Oddly enough no one guessed me. Until Mike spied me on surveillance camera.

Well all good things must come to and end, and B.D. isn't hopping around the office anymore. Instead he's sitting in Faye's Cubical waiting for his next big break. Where is B.D. going in the future? Find out in the third show-stopping installment of "The Adventures of Bunny Deluxe!"

The Adventures of Bunny Deluxe (Part I)

Welcome to the adventures of Bunny Deluxe. We're about to take an action packed adventure through a three part series detailing the wild escapades of your friend and mine, the biggest blue bunny you have ever met...Bunny Deluxe.

B.D. appeared one Easter morning on my front lawn in an attempt to antagonize my father. Despite the friction it caused in my house Bunny and I quickly became fast friends, and all throughout my high school years we were inseparable.

Fast forward a few years and you find me (Steve) a young college freshman with a song in my heart and a pocket full of dreams. But I also had something else no one knew about. A trunk full of bunny. I resolved that all through college I would leave Bunny Deluxe in my car, in case I ever needed him. And boy did I ever.

It was common practice for B.D. To come to class on a test day and help raise morale, or just start a discussion. He appeared once in chapel during a worship conference to show students how to "fall on their faces" before God. He even came with me to Miracle Camp to party with Jeff Witzig at our midnight Luau

But my favorite time with Bunny Deluxe involves Spring Break of 06. Which we entitled "Spring Break 07." (I forgot what year it was while writing an E-mail...happens all the time) Anyway, B.D. came with us and visited over ten different states as we drove from Indiana to Kentucky, to The Grand Canyon, to Las Vegas, to Laguna Beach, to Denver Colorado, and back.

The Hoover Dam? West Coast? St. Louis Arch? Mt. Falcon? Been there, done that. B.D. is a world traveler who loves a good time. And he's always been there for me. So where is he now? Read on to find out. Bunny Deluxe's most recent exploits are going to be reveled later this week in another post.

Honor God Today

So if you are anything like the typical young college student and/or the typical adult, and/or the typical adolescent and/or the typical child you are often times faced with difficult situations in which it is hard to know what is right. Since I believe most of my readers fall into at least one of these categories I think that this may be relavent to you.

I've heard so many people my age say they want to honor God, that they want to make the "right decisions" and that they don't know what to do because they don't know what God wants for their lives. Unfortunately I know this feeling all to well.

"God" we say, "I want to do your will, but I have no idea what it is!" Do I go to grad school or get a job? Do I join this ministry, make this move, take a job offer, start a relationship?

Well I have the answer to all your questions. But it would be too easy if I just told you, so have fun figuring it out yourself.

But here's the point. At my stage of life I feel like I'm faced with these sort of decisions about every six months. And every decision seems to have terribly far reaching implications, and they are overwhelming because they are too big for us. Well, the truth is that it is too big.

I can't predict the future, and I can't deal with the entire future all at once. It IS overwhelming. Only God is going to be able to handle the future. But if I take it one day at a time, I think I can handle that. Whenever faced with something difficult, and I'm paralyzed by fear, I'll stick with the one standby plan that always works. I'll ask "How can I honor God today?"

Free Stuff

Hey my lil' sis gave me a great scoop and I'm sharing it with all two of you faithful readers.

Until July 14th you can download "The Alchemist" audio book for free on Itunes.

I think that you actually want to do this.
(Except Andrew Smith, I'm not sure you will like this)

This blog has never lead you wrong before.

The Old Apartment

A summary:

I am moving to Huntington College in 3 weeks.
I have student housing
I have few worldly possessions
I am poor

Ergo

I have lots of room in my new appartment.

How much room you ask? Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living-room and a kitchen.
Who is living with me you ask? No one.
Do I have that much furniture you ask? Nope
How much money do I want to spend you ask? Zero

So what am I going to do you ask? good question.

I could save a bedroom and a bathroom as "guest rooms" that I stay out of and are therefore clean.

I could spread out and "sleep around" (Huntington gave me 4 beds)

I could make one room for dirty cloths (keeps the clutter down in other rooms)

I could dedicate one room to a random object(s), such Ender's Game or my lab equipment.

I could give one room to Cortney and Maria.

I could put a table in one room and call it the meeting room/conference room/war room

I could make one room completely empty.

I could spend a million billion dollars and furnish my whole apartment like an adult (NOT)

I'm not sure what to do, give me your suggestions. steveconn@tayloru.edu and perhaps one day you'll be fortunate enough to visit.

Also, whilst considering this plight please note that my friend Kristen Osborne is in a similar situation, except she has an ENTIRE BUILDING to herself. Please visit her.

P.S. If you would like to contribute ANYTHING to the Steve Conn Zero Dollar Campaign (the one where I spend no money on this apartment) I would like you to know that I am not too proud to accept stuff you would just as soon throw away.

The 4th

Celebrate the Independence of your country by blowing up a small piece of it!

Just wanted everyone to know that if you somehow missed the big fireworks extravaganza at the Conn house (which the vast majority of the people in America did) you are a communist and do not appreciate our country.

My grandpa buys about 12 million fireworks and there is a very "professional" crew of men like myself resposnsable for lighting them in a pre-determined order to create the greatest effect.

I wouldn't quite say it's a "safety last" opperation, but it's certainly not "safety first." Safety first would involve NOT shooting off fireworks. But let's just say that it was the biggest rush I've had since I almost lost all future generations of Conns to a water balloon launcher. (see previous post: the gauntlet)

I believe it was Francis Scott Key who penned the words

"and the rockets' red glare,
the bombs bursting in air, made sure that night,
that the Conn men were scared!
Oh say is it done burning
or do you think that it's stuck?
Go grab the torch and get ready to duck."

God bless America.

Supply and Demand

So for those of you who don't know Dwight he is the very wise and lovable senior pastor at Newpointe. He is, ultimately, running this circus. Sometimes he's a circus because as an adult with a lot of knowledge in his head, a platform to speak from, and ADD, you can have some interesting conversations with Dwight.

Example:

Me "Hey Dwight, did you see the Indians last night?"

Dwight "What happens all too often is that we get scared right? And then we run from God. and where do we hide? In the what?....In the church, that's right. you guys alright?"

Me: "What?"

Well it goes on like that for 45 minutes and you realize that it doesn't matter if either one of you have ever seen the Indians in your life because no matter what you ask him about you're going to wind up being a one man audience for a pretty good sermon. And I'm ok with that.

But anyway yesterday I asked him SOMETHING and what I got back involved this little nugget. Despite being a verbose guy Dwight tries to keep the number of times he speaks limited. He doesn't ever speak in staff meeting and he tries to keep his mouth shut in small groups. And he said he tries to do this because he wants his words to remain valuable.

And I'm way guilty of this. My opinions are a dime a dozen because I'll tell anyone what they should be doing better at any time. And I always have a thought or a comment on everything. Well from now on I'm going to try to make my opinions a little less common because the inflation rate on them has been worse than the price of gas lately. I doubt I'll get any complaints.