Odd Job

Well, another lazy Sunday and I'm ready for Christmas. I keep thinking of these great blog subjects, and then promptly forgetting them. So instead, I'll post about some jobs that I bet are fun to have:

sporting event cameraperson
sports journalist
ESPN anchor
department store Santa or elf
ice cream man
Vince Young
movie trailer announcer voice guy
cartoon artist

I mean really, guys get paid to write about fantasy sports. How sad is that and how much do I wish I was one of those guys? And how great would it be to give ice cream to kids on warm Summer days? I would be the singing kind of ice cream man but not the Van Halen kind. And don't even get me on movie trailer announcer guy. That may be the coolest job in the world.

Which reminds me, I've been thinking lately about dream jobs. I wonder if we lie to ourselves when we say we can't do what we want to do. For example, I heard this guy talking the other day about how he's not enjoying his job and he's going through his mid-life crisis, but at least he has a job so he can't really complain about being miserable, etc. We've all heard that, right? My question is, why not? If you are miserable, shouldn't you be doing something else?

There's a tension here of course. The majority of the world does not have the ability to choose what they do for a living. And, in our country, we are more richly blessed than anyone deserves. So I can understand not wanting to feel some sense of empowerment because of the country in which we live. At the same time, why is it wrong to work at a job that you enjoy? Is it bad to do what you want to do in life? Or more than that, did God create us to do certain things? Is a job more than just an income?

This raises some interesting issues. For one, there's the issue of fulfillment. Should a job be a fulfilling thing? There's also the issue of contentment. Can or should we be content with our lives regardless of job? If your job totally sucks, should you just rise above it and be content and not try and change it? And what about purpose? I am familiar with the idea of people who aren't "in ministry" working a job in order to support the church financially. Is the the only purpose to the jobs people work who aren't paid ministers? Finally, what about identity. If you aren't defined by what you do, but who you are (which I believe) how does that affect one's profession?

Tickle, Tickle... Santa Claus

If you recognize the title of this blog, then you know what this entry is about: the uber-important Christmas Carol!

First of all, if you live in Memphis and own a stereo, you ought to be listening to WRVR for the rest of the month. All holiday songs, all the time. Even that scary seductress Delilah is playing them. I almost put a picture of her on here, but I decided it was too scary.

Second, as I listened to the radio in the car yesterday, it hit me that some Christmas songs are really great to hear, and some are just awful. For example, the Backstreet Boys would be better off putting their abilities towards a less critical holiday, like Flag Day. A Backstreet Boys Flag Day song is something I can handle, not to mention the necessary Fag Day joke. On the other hand, N'Sync is okay for me. Hey, I'll even admit to enjoying some of Clay Aiken's voice (as opposed to just Clay Aiken). Then there's the ~classic "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Hate it. The worst part of that song doubles as the title of this blog. On the other hand, I have a soft spot for "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." And I hate country music, so go figure. Also, surprisingly not annoying is the Chipmunks Christmas song (the first time). Then again, two of the greatest song writers ever, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, did not come through as usual with Lennon's "Happy Christmas" (the screaming children have got to go) and McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" (too simple for a five year old). I also maintain that song about how the guy gave his heart away last Christmas is not a happy song and no one should ever want to listen to that song over the Holidays.

Of course, when I told Jesse about this, she vehemently disagreed with me, so I guess it's a little subjective. So then, two questions:

1. What Christmas song is your absolute favorite? (Mine is Bing Crosby, "White Christmas")

2. What Christmas song makes you most want to kill yourself?
(see above)

Newsworthy in Memphis

The news here is great. Once, during LOST, we were pleased to see that a local man stabbed his neighbor with a fork. We were also thrilled to find out during Gilmore Girls that Paris Hilton puked on stage. You see, there's a lot going on down here in the Mid-South that's newsworthy. But the best by far, and certainly worthy of a pic, is the following newsflash...



See, there's nothing to be afraid of in Memphis. Deep down inside, I think we all have a little momma's boy in us. Even girls.


Speaking of girls, how about that cookie exchange last night????? Thanks. I think...

Ethics

If I can ever finish with the classes I don't enjoy at HUGSR this semester, I can start writing my paper for Dr. Fortner's Major Prophets on Old Testament Ethics. The reading for it has been awesome so far. My favorite has got to be Old Testament Ethics for the People of God, by Christopher J. H. Wright. This is his magnum opus on the subject, and he's the man to write it. Don't just buy it, read it.

Speaking of great reading, Christianity in Culture by Charles Kraft is monumental. I recommend it for any fan of critical thinking. It changed the way I think about everything. If anyone has read it, contact me now, because I have no one with whom I can discuss the book.

Jesse has a cookie exchange tonight with 18 or 19 other females, for which I am excited. Yay cookies. We made a lot of cookie last night, and I'm not sure, but it is technically possible we actually finished this morning.

Congratulations are in order to Ohio State for winning the National Championship. What's that? They haven't played yet? Oh don't worry, I am well aware of that fact. Congrats Buckeyes.

And the Mavs are back to their old ways. And the Red Sox will probably end up keeping Manny. So things are looking good for the holidays.

Finally, I need a good pet name for Jesse. Logan calls Rory, "Ace." That dude on Men in Trees calls Marin, "Coach." I considered, "Tiger," since she's an Auburn girl, but it's not sticking. At the risk of hearing from anonymous, any suggestions?

P.S. Go to ESPN.com and watch Happy Birthday, Larry and tell me you don't get totally creeped out by Bill Walton. That guy is officially psycho.

Official Time

One hour, fifty minutes, and fifty seconds.

The BIG Race

Jess and I (and a few other people) are running the St. Jude (half) marathon tomorrow morning. I am pumped. It's going to be great. Yay!