Welcome back peeps and peepettes to the 86th edition of Random Rantings Friday!  I’ve got family in town and questions of Boomba and Bam abound! So lets dive in like Louganis… just don’t hit your head!

Last year in August I was watching the Rangers vs. Orioles game where the Rangers scored an historic 30 runs to Baltimore’s 3. At some point during the 8th inning as Texas added 10 more runs I just so desperately wanted to see Baltimore call the game. It was just sad watching them fight so hard to try to win a winless game. I feel the same way watching Hilary these last weeks… Hilary, just call the game! Barack is only scoring more runs!

A woman in Norwalk Connecticut files a claim that her outing with her son was ruined by dog feces. She is actually suing the city because her son stepped into Doggy doodoo. Saying it ruined his shoes and her day- her claims were met by the judge with the phrase “poop happens”

I hit my head while painting my kitchen- I sued the cabinet.

Ministerial update: My new jobs and roles around the Missions Base are taking on a life of their own. I’m now a section leader during 6am-12pm in the Prayer room, mostly overseeing our small groups and small group leaders. Then I’m Assistant Directing our youth camps this summer, and helping start a student ministries department that will have impact globally. Along with starting a media department, packaging the gospel and other sermons in the form of video blogs, podcasts, and other presentations. Not to mention teaching at a Worldveiw class at a charter Highschool next year. The nice thing with all of that is I’m getting my own office here in a week or so! eeeoow!

[Queen] “…Bump Bump bump and another one bites the dust” Bit Torrent friend- Torrent Spy gets sued for $110 million in copyright infringements. Just another in the long line of sued file sharing software peeps. Just goes to show that the FBI warning at the beginning of DVD’s isn’t just there for annoyance.

So its out! The “Evangelical Manifesto” that is. I’ve been waiting for this all week. It came out Wednesday. A group of Evangelical ministers got together and and decided something that I’ve long been saying here: 1. That the term Evangelical needs to be defined theologically as people who are of the gospel, not defined politically or culturally as it has been. 2. They call for repentance in the way we have walked out the gospel in the World. I agree, and repent. We (evangelicals) have made our faith more about single issue politics then we have made it about preaching the gospel. I’m all about seeing abortion ended, but Our charge is preach the gospel first. If we believe in the resurrection power of Christ the way we say we do, then our preaching the gospel will be way more effective than all of us trying to be William Wilberforce. Which for a few is fine, but as a whole we MUST declare Christ and Him Crucified and not let it get lost amongst political agendas. I don’t agree with everything in the manifesto, but I endorse those 2 points for sure!

I just found out that 150 years ago the acre of land my house in on, was the site of a giant civil war battle. It was part of the Battle for Westport. That battle is considered the Gettysburg of Missouri. The land I live on is where the Confederates retreated to. I’m thinking about getting a metal detector and looking for artifacts.

Growing up friends of mine always wanted to get tatoos and piercings. I never had a problem with it, I just never really wanted to, though my mom always thought I should. How many people can say that?

Carrie’s parents are in town this weekend, as is my Mom. Carrie graduates tomorrow from FSM. I’m so excited and proud of her. Listen to my future wife talk about the divinity of Christ is like a vacation in Barbados; simply beautiful. She is so brilliant.

My best friend and confidant Kyle Gebhart, wrote an great post on “The Hidden Danger of Christian Patriotism.” very good post, check it out!

With Oil breaking $126 a barrel, commuters in places like SoCal, people are turning to public transportation. I think there may be something to that. Maybe instead of lobbying the Feds to lower taxes or bring the prices down, we should lobby locally for our cities to get better public transit systems as an alternative to having to drive to work every day. Obviously doesn’t help those in rural areas, but cutting the demand for gas down in major cities, will bring down the cost of supply… just a thought.

When I was 5 years old I had an imaginary friend named Bob. I think I named him Bob because my parents watched the Bob Newhart show, and I always thought he was funny.

I’ve averaged a good couple hundred hits a day on the “Lakeland Revival??” post, and received even more e-mails, lots of questions about what we should do with what is happening. I’m living in Switzerland on this one (staying neutral). But here is what I will say this: The way Jesus deals with the 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3 are key to understanding how we should respond to the church in this day amidst questions and supposed misconduct. Also the way Paul wrote to the Chruch in Colossai (they were worshiping Angels) the way he responds to them is an outline of how the amount of graciousness and love needed. All of us will come away from this humble, and admitting our weakness and need for Christ before Heaven.

Jesus Christ made a way for us to enter into the Holy of Holys. We ONLY have entrance into that place through the blood of Christ, for He rendt the veil with rending of His flesh so that we could encounter the living God. But it’s only through Christ and His Holy Spirit that we have entrance to those things that are in the heavenly realm. He has become the Great High Priest, we are in Him through faith. Where He is so also are we. But our entrance to things supernatural cannot be found anywhere except in The human man who is God and is returning to the Earth; Jesus Christ.

From Randomness to the gospel… that’s how I roll. much love to you all.

I’m out like drilling in ANWR!

The ironic thing about not being able to sleep one night when in the morning section, is that during the prayer room at 6am you can’t stay awake! That’s me today. I’m meditating on Galatians 5. I close my eyes to pray and a few minutes later Steeno is hitting me in the shoulder to wake me up.

However today is going to be fantastic as my mom and Carrie’s parents are in town for the weekend! But I first must make it through Galatians, the mountain of meetings this afternoon, and the projects with unchecked boxes next to them. If you are a friend pray I get a second wind…first wind at some point today!

Praise the Lord for Espresso!

p.s. 6. 6 is the number of times I nodded off while writing this post…

I saw this Cartoon over at good ol’ JimB’s blog and thought I’d share it:

I could make this a never ending rant, but I wont. But i will say that congress, not just on this issue but many others, over the last 10+ years has been all but useless. In fact I’d say that congress more fits the parody of the bureaucratic Vulgans from Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy than a body of government accomplishing anything.

On this I think even Jefferson and Hamilton would’ve agreed.

May 7th. This date holds a place of significance for the ministry I work for. Significant because it the bench mark that its been another year added since we started this prayer room phenomenon.

BUT as much as I love IHOP, this date carries an even more significant meaning to me this year. This is the day my beloved fiance’ and I started dating. I’ll briefly share the story:

So I had liked Carrie for years, but never really had a chance to talk to her or meet her. But in September of ‘06, I gathered up the courage to ask her out for coffee; she surprisingly said yes. That was the beginning of many “dates”. Though if you asked her, she wouldn’t have considered them dates but “hang’n out with a friend” times. After making it clear that I liked her in November, I’d spend the next 5 months trying to figure out if she returned the sentiment. Either way the relationship progressed into a wonderful friendship. In March I went back to Phoenix to DJ a friend’s wedding and raise support funds. She had gone to her home in Minnesota to relax during her Easter break from school. During that time we talked on the phone a few times, and she had time to think outside the bustle of school and leading interns. Then a week later I got an e-mail from her. In it she all but finally admitted what I had suspected all along- that she liked me. This was exciting, but yet surreal at the same time. Was the girl of my dreams, the one I had always wished to be with but never thought it actually possible actually returning my affections?

She got back in town and the first thing she did was accompany me for coffee. After a consistent number of these coffee dates through the month of April things started to become clear. Then one night as I was walking her out to her car from the prayer room she paused. “Sooo I have a question, and you can think about it, but what do you think about maybe us defining this relationship as “dating”? WHHHAAAA!! I leaped inside. Was this really going to happen? Were things really working out? “Think about it?” I said, “I think we should totally define it as dating.” “Ok then” She said. We paused and smiled at each other, but she was in a hurry because her interns were waiting for her to lead their meeting back at her apartment. I blissfully jumped up into the air as she drove away. I was so happy to be progressing in a relationship with the woman of my dreams.

I went to her apartment and waited outside for her meeting to get done. She came outside and we both looked at each other like; What just happened? It was a wonderful night!

I know look that same woman in the eyes everyday, happily knowing that I get to look into those same eyes year after year. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful, brilliant, witty, fun, and loving woman such as she.

Paul said a man who finds a wife, finds a good thing. That joker wasn’t kidding around!

I love you Carrie!

Today is one of my favorite holidays; My Mother’s Birthday.

One night about 7 or 8 years ago my mom and I were having one of our many late night conversations about my life. I had graduated from High School, and was now working at a Meat Packing Plant in the mornings and was doing pretty much nothing the rest of the day. I was kind of depressed about the whole scenario. My whole life I had wanted to do great things, I had visions of changing the world, yet I was doing nothing. My mom had always encouraged my to dream big, to shoot for the moon, that nothing was out of my reach. Instead I was working a blue collar job wondering if it was a glimpse of what life was going to look like.

I remembering breaking down and crying while I was talking it out with her. I was going through all the things I wanted to accomplish, all the things I wanted to do but I had no idea how to do them all. Once I had stopped ranting, I hung my head and continued to cry. My mom said gently but soberly, “Son, look at me.” I wiped my eyes and lifted my head to make eye contact. “I don’t care what you do. You can be famous and impact the world, or you can work at McDonald’s the rest of your life. I only care about one thing, that you love Jesus with all that you are. You do that, and I will always be proud of you no matter what you accomplish.” These words changed my life. She never cared about how talented I was, or how many great things I could accomplish, though she rejoiced in them. She only ever wanted one thing for me; to know and love Christ with all I am.

This is the picture I forever carry of my mom. She is a wise woman. One of the most well read people I know. I would often catch her up late at her desk, with her glasses pushed down on her nose, peering over the rims and reading some book. My mom has much wisdom and has done many things. She has been to more countries than I can count. Every year she’d be off to some far off destination, whether it be for exploration, or ministry. No matter what she did, no matter her fault, no matter the circumstance, no matter how much wisdom she accumulated, she has still only ever cared about one thing; Loving Christ, and those around her. She loved both very well.

I remember when I was in Junior high and high school, she would always go to some far off nation to minister. Turkey, Croatia, Russia, Venezuela, etc. One thing I always adored about her was when she returned her wedding ring would be missing. Some times she would inform us that it was gone, sometimes my dad would just notice. The story was always the same. She met some old lady who had nothing of value and had lost everything. My mom would be praying for her and want to leave her with something of value, so she’d take off her ring and give it to her. Mom was always so generous with what ever she had. She doesn’t care about accumulating things of value, she’d rather give them away and accumulate a treasure of love for Christ on the inside.

My mom is also cool. I mean the coolest! Growing up I went through many phases of musical taste. She never made me go to my room to listen to it, instead she’d tell me to crank it up in the living room where we all were. Sometimes it was Rap, sometimes it was Harcore/ metal, I even went through the 2 month Ska phase I think everyone my age went through. My mom liked whatever I played.

My mom introduced me to the art of tepeeing houses, the joy of dancing your heart out to your favorite music in the kitchen, the beauty of good theater, and the ability to enjoy life no matter the circumstance or hardship one is facing.

If I gain any respect, any honor, any stature in this life, it will be because I have had parents who showed me that the best way to live life is to be broken and resting in the grace Christ. That love and humility is more important than honor and accomplishments. My mom is a woman who truly fears God, and loves Him with all her heart. She’s taught me all I’ve ever really needed to know. I grateful to her for the man I am becoming.

I love you momma! Happy Birthday!

Enjoy

Father bless this guy… I about busted my gut. I love my charismatic brethren.

Welcome back to Random Rantings Friday folks, this is episode #85! Brought to you by the word Boomba, and the numbers 8 and 5. Lets get started eh?

Pet peeve: Gas station pumps are the most annoying thing on the planet. Ok maybe to the most annoying, I want set that designation aside for spam mail and phony bill collectors. No but really, especially during the winter. It’s 5 degrees out and the wind is blowing snow on my face, and it goes through a series of needless questions: Car Wash? Receipt? Then the pumps beeps when I push a button. As if I needed to know I pushed a button… I’m the one who pushed it!!

If you watch one movie in the next 6 months I highly suggest one that has been on DVD for a month or so now: Disney’s Enchanted. The cover makes it look like a sappy love story. But the whole thing makes fun of past Disney movies and the idea of “happily ever after” If you know the whole thing is satire, you will burst a seem laughing. Really watch it.

The best Greek food you’ll ever find in Kansas City is Tasso’s on 83rd and Wornall. Seriously the best pita bread and hummus I’ve ever had. Their gyros are to die for. I had now idea there could be such a difference in pita bread and hummus, but Tasso’s proved me wrong.

A 21 year old guy in Texas stole a check from his girlfriend’s mother’s purse, and made the check out for $360,000,000,000. and tried to cash it. Luckily those at the bank realized that there are only maybe 3 people on the Earth with that much money… so they called the cops. Oh yeah, and they also found 2 ounces of weed in his pocket; surprised? What’s funnier is when you view the check, it looks like he thought “340 billion… no wait that’s not enough- 360 billion. Rock on!”

The new instant messenger application on Facebook makes for awkward interactions. I don’t generally check my Facebook page for longer than about 5 mins at a time. But then someone I really like pops up and says hi. But I only have a couple of minutes to browse because of my tight schedule. Then they get offended because I ignore them. Or if you they say hi, and I say hi back, they then ask 3-4 questions about how life is going. In my mind the answers to how life is going is always a few paragraphs… 30-40 mins later I’m still chatting on facebook and time is starting to be lost. luckily I just learned about the “off line” button.

So if you are a bill collector asking for outstanding hospital bill payments that were supposed to be taken care of by the government subsidised hospital. (at least that’s what they told me) If the person doesn’t have the money, don’t then proceed to tell them that they should change careers and get a job that pays better. No joke, the guy actually started to tell me how to live my life! Father bless him and my he know Christ and his mercy and grace… because mine would have been lacking toward him.

More and more I’m grateful for the cross. That sounds funny to say but i really mean it. The older and wiser i become, the more I realize one thing; that I have nothing without Christ. If I were on my own I would have cursed out the bill collector above. Without Jesus and His helper holy spirit within me I would be totally depraved. Blessed be Christ because He set me free from sin and death.

So I put a glass of water on my nightstand the other night as I do most nights. At some point in the night I knocked over said glass of water and my phone the was sitting face down on the nightstand soaked in a pool of water all night. When I woke up the screen was all jacked… now I need a new PDA phone!

So I’m about 90% done with my kitchen/dinning room. I only just have a few more thing to touch up. Then I start on my office. I plan installing bookshelves all the way around the room, because when Carrie moves in, she isn’t gonna let me keep my thousands of books in the dinning room and living room like I have been!

You know what word i like: Dank. It means by definition, clammy or unpleasant, but I’ve generally heard it as a slang word. Something like: “Bro that tat on you wrist is dank!” just sound cool to me.

Three men in Wilson Oklahoma tried to bust a dog out of the pound so the dog could attend his owner’s memorial service… um I think the headline speaks enough. HA!

Yesterday was Carrie’s last day at school! Her graduation ceremony is next week. I’m so glad she made it. I’m throwing a huge BBQ at my (our) house after the ceremony- gotta show off the kitchen

Expect a video blog soon showcasing the kitchen. finished!

peace out peeps!

]]> http://zackhensley.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/random-rantings-yadirf-boomba-85/feed/ zackhensley http://zackhensley.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/disappointment/ http://zackhensley.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/disappointment/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:52:53 +0000 zackhensley http://zackhensley.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/disappointment/

5:01am, my alarm still screaming at me to get up. I finally manage to lift my head out of the pillow. My eye lids feel as though spring traps, snapping closed every time I open them. I do my usual morning prayer thanking God that I’m alive, and to have grace for the day. I sit on the edge of the bed with my head in my hands trying to remember why I agreed to help lead the prayer room so early. I love the prayer room, but 6am? Then a subtle rouse of excitement hit my heart… The Suns played last night! And they were up in the 4^th quarter when I went to bed at 11pm! I jumped out of my lethargy, and grabbed my laptop to look up the scores. The page can’t load fast enough. I feel like it’s 9^th grade all over again, and I’m waiting to see if I made the basketball team. Then, the anticipation stops and I really feel like its 9^th grade when I didn’t make the team; Suns lost.

My first thought is; I told you so! I felt like google-ing Steve Kerr’s home number, calling him up and asking him how he thought the trade for Shaq went now? I felt like calling up Jerry Colangelo and begging him to take the team back from Robert Sarver. I felt like finding Steve Nash’s house and asking him what happened to the fire he played with those to MVP years? For 5 out of the last 7 years we have lost to the Spurs in the playoffs. This is disappointment.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing of true consequence. After all it’s only a sports game. Yet I thought this was the year. Grant Hill showed flashes of his Detroit days all year. Shaq was slower, but still looked more dominate then most centers. Amare was stepping it up, and the prospect of him and Shaq down low sounded like a defensive nightmare for anyone trying to guard them. Turns out The Spurs, as usual, were up to the task. I’ll say one thing about the Spurs, though Tony, Manu, and Tim are all exceptional players, don’t make the mistake of underestimating Kurt Thomas. He was the difference maker on the defensive end. He made the Shaq/ Amare duo look more like The Tick and Arthur than Batman and Robin.

Well what can I say… it’s over. Next year Shaq will be even more slow, Grant will have given those surgically repaired ankles another year, and Nash will finally began to do what all players do in their mid 30’s- age. My best of luck to these guys as they watch the rest of the playoffs from their couches. I’m going to root for the Hornets the rest of the way. Chris Paul looks like the second coming of Kevin Johnson. I miss ol KJ.

Ok ok back to reading I Peter.

So today it’s 7:49am and my blog has gotten 52 hits from people searching Shakesphere. Some how getting to a post I wrote a year ago mentioning Shakesphere in it.

What’s the deal? is it like national Shakesphere day? Is it his birthday? I just thought it unsual that all of a sudden 52 people this morning decided that searching “Shakesphere” was important. How they got here, I don’t know. Either way I thought it strange.