Live From Hogwarts
Overall, I think all of the performers at the CMA festival have been great, but I have to say that my favorite was when Hagrid appeared and sang that pretty song about black and white photographs.
You are currently browsing the archives for August, 2009.
Siegfried and Brad
I’m currently watching the CMA festival on ABC, and it appears Brad Paisley just escaped a near death fight with a Bengal Tiger.
Thankfully, he seems to be okay.
Posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago at 10:10 pm.
Recommended
This is one of my favorite books of 2009. And I was lucky enough that the book’s author, Susan Isaacs, was kind enough to read an advance copy of my book. Just this morning, she provided me with this great blurb:
“High Points and Lows is deceptive: Carty lures you in with his easy wit
and entertaining stories; but then he nudges you into a deeper truth about
Jesus and faith. If youth and singles pastors could make the gospel as
relatable as Carty has, I suspect there’d be a lot more butts in the pews.”
And, in whatever ways I can, I want to return the favor. So, here’s my first step: recommending that you all run out and buy a copy of her book.
The concept for Isaacs’s book is at once humorous and brilliant: she— quite literally— takes God to couple’s counseling. Her logic is that, if she and God are supposed to be in a relationship, then they are in sore need of couple’s counseling. What ensues is a hilarious and touching look at one woman’s journey away from God and back to God and away and back and, somewhere between all her coming and going, realizing that God’s love was always steady— that it was her misconceptions of Him that were holding their relationship back. In the narrative, she spares no detail too dark or embarrassing. Like the best spiritual writers, she is always authentic and tells us the absolute truth about her struggles and fears.
Isaacs is a veteran actress/comedian who’s been in countless television shows and movies (just peep her IMDB page. It’s quite impressive). Meanwhile, she’s about to embark on a 65 city tour with another of my favorite writers, Donald Miller (if you’ve never read anything by Don Miller, I seriously suggest you pick up all his books when buying Susan’s).
I’m telling you, if you’re one of those who, like me, believes in God but has spent a great deal of time bitter or angry or confused or apathetic about faith, then this book will provide you with much coveted insight into your understanding of God as Father and of Jesus as Savior.
Grateful,
Austin
Posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago at 12:49 pm.
Listen up, Security Officials:
I don’t care how physically intimidating you are… if I see you on one of these, I ain’t scared.
Posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago at 12:08 pm.
Let’s Reflect
Oasis, the megafamous British pop-band comprised of brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, has officially broken up as of Saturday. Lead guitarist and songwriter Noel writes that he, “can’t go on working with Liam another minute.” These two brothers have been at one another’s throats since the success of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory in the mid-90’s.
But, as far as I know, this is their first legitimate split.
As the two independently move into whatever ventures they next choose to pursue, I can’t help reflecting on two things: (1) Just how great an album Morning Glory was, and (2) how good these guys could have been if they would have parked their individual egos and worked together for the collective good. Some say they could have been the next Beatles, and I’m inclined to agree.
Just listen to Wonderwall again. Perhaps the greatest song to come out of the 90’s, it is unquestionably one of the few 90’s songs to still appear on the radio everyday.
Best of luck to you two Manchester boys. If only you could have given us more.
Posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago at 12:02 pm.
Hi…
… my name is Chuckles. I’m here to make sure your kid doesn’t sleep right for the next couple weeks.
Posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago at 2:32 pm.
Ego
In the Dallas Cowboys’s new stadium, owner Jerry Jones decided to flaunt his massive ego by including a 90 foot digital scoreboard over the field. And, here’s what happened.
This is proof that the only person in the world with a bigger ego than Terrell Owens is Jerry Jones. Shocking they couldn’t make it work together.
Posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago at 11:47 am.
Speechless
As I first watched this, I was amused. Then, plain angry.
Ultimately, though, I’m profoundly sad.
This kid has been spoiled so badly, and on top of it, is chocked full of such an insecurity complex and such a low sense of self-worth, that he has become this monster we see here. No finger-pointing, because none of us are victims, but at the very root, this kid has no chance.
Now, had I put on a display like that, you can bet your bottom dollar that my old man would have ripped that bat from my hands and gone Barry Bonds with it. And I woulda deserved it.
This little punk has no idea what’s going on in the world around him. Has no idea that only 8% of the world’s population even own cars. That his receiving that beat up truck was a privilege, one that he did nothing to earn.
When I was fourteen, my old man told me he wasn’t going to get me my own car when I turned sixteen. I thought he was a monster and told him as much. Let’s just say, it didn’t end well for me. I got a punishment and a tongue lashing and a reality check that I can still feel and hear and remember, today.
And I should have.
Most of us in this country grow up in a place of great privilege, even if we aren’t wealthy. And it is very easy for us to develop an entitlement complex. Some of us are fortune enough to have parents or guardians or friends who devote their lives to bringing us down to reality. Others of us are stuck with weak, insecure people who allow us to remain under the illusion that we really are special.
Unfortunately, we can all take a guess as to which camp this little monster falls in.
Bummed,
Austin
