theo|digital

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.

Do you have the nerve to say, “Let me wash your face for you,” when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

~ Jesus (Matthew 7), translated sans “splinter/plank” with heart-exposing simplicity by Eugene Peterson’s The Message. This got me today.

The End-User-License-Agreement is as much ubiquitous as it is ignored. Who doesn’t throw the An Important Change to Your Credit Card Agreement mailing in the can, or just hit the [Agree] button?

Trouble is that Sony says that if your house burns down, you’re legally required to delete the music they own. You agreed. And it’s important not to operate nuclear facilities while using the Yahoo Toolbar. huh.

The Small Print Project. Someone is having fun in grad school.

Found it surfing.

Isn’t the story posted along the side of the road the life narrative we really believe? Truth – when it’s presented as such – has not such real power as the billboard-illusions of our lives.

Culture is not something Christians think carefully how to face. Culture is the truth we all walk in the doors already believing.

Ran up to the Chicago Marathon this Sunday. (Not really ran, you understand, but the language is thematic.) My roommate Nick actually ran, and I toddled around with my other roomate JP trying to spot Nick along the 26.2 mile course. Running really isn’t a good spectator sport (there he is!!! NICK!! GO NICK!! GO NI.. welp, he’s gone.) But we did get some great pictures of Elvis, who was singing on a stage at mile 10.5, and saying things like “you’re looking good, baby” “keep running, doll”

yikes.

More Chicago Marathon pics here.
ps – they’re not very good – I didn’t have a good camera with me. Plus I kept yelling when I was supposed to be taking pictures.

Last month, me-and-the-posse pranked my roommate for his birthday. Of course a hidden camera was part of the joke, so here’s the vid I made after the fact.

hee.

now non-specifically referred to as the restroom, is the subject of the 2nd historical picture-book co-authored by my Aunt Sharon. The premise, seriously, is exploring things found in artifact digs around… outhouses. Amazing the things you’ll find.

She also co-authored a book about the history of Naperville, using authentic old postcards they dug up from libraries, shops, and post-card shows.

This is funny, because my friend Nick just posted about my new music fascination. I heard about them from my sister, who doubtless will want to post quickly, claiming that she was first. My friend Matt thinks they’re really cool. And my friend Ty, after shoved my iPod earphones at him, bought the CD from iTunes in 24 hours.

I’d like to be all cynical about corporate-plotted viral marketing using personal relationships for financial gain. But it turns out maybe I really did like them, so I told everyone I knew, regardless of whether I was playing into larger (greedy) hands.

And of course, now I’m posting here. :-7

The first three songs of The Weepies CD “Say I Am You” – Garden State-ish singer/songwriter/pop folk of the kind I like best – can be heard at their website www.theweepies.com.