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Christmas Picture at the Gaylord in Grapevine

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-12-28T19:16:53-06:00

Holiday Song

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-11-29T20:15:41-06:00

A couple years ago, I mentioned that I was playing in my friend Alex's Holiday Show. Well, I finally stumbled on to the video from that night. This is me playing, "Almost There," an original I wrote for the show. I think it is one of the better songs I've written, melodically and focus-wise. The audio starts out real weak, so give it a little time. I posted the lyrics under the video. Enjoy!

The tree don’t seem tall like it used to
The star was always just beyond my reach
And I’d wait up all night, by the chimney
Now I just want some decent sleep

Seasons come and they go
And I’m all grown up on my own
Seasons come and they go
But all I want is to go home

So wait a minute, I’m almost there
Make sure there’s lights on the tree
Just promise when I get there
There’s a stocking hanging for me

There’s less chairs around the table now
Faces have turned into memories
And I wish one more time, I could see them there
To hear them say that they’re proud of me.

Seasons come and they go
And I’m all grown up on my own
Seasons come and they go
But all I want is to go home

So wait a minute, I’m almost there
Make sure there’s lights on the tree
Just promise when I get there
There’s a stocking hanging for me

Outside kids are playing
A stocking hanging for me

Lorry Crash

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-11-16T21:47:48-06:00

Sad times in Burkina Faso in the past couple days, as a bus and a goods lorry crashed, resulting in about 70 deaths. A lorry typically ships goods, but will take on passengers (usually on the roof) for a cheaper fee than busses. I rode on a few lorries during my time in Burkina Faso (as pictured below), with all sorts of stuff being transported. The area of the crash was about 100 miles southwest of where I was in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso Video Set to Fiddle

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-11-03T22:50:52-06:00

I got an email from YouTube the other day saying they temporary pulled my Burkina Faso video, due to copyright infringement from using Ryan Adams' "So Alive" as the soundtrack. It gave me a list of licensed songs I could use, with suggestions of songs that would fit time-wise. Reluctantly, here's the result. However, while you are here, please watch the video, as I am only a few views away from 1000.

Above the Lost?

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-10-30T17:05:58-05:00

----My friend Rustin Klafka, who was one of my roommates during my very failed tenure at Texas A&M, and is now the Young Adults Pastor at First Baptist Church of Lewisville, writes a weekly newsletter to the young adults. I pinch-hit for him these week.----

The doctor reluctantly thumbed through the patient’s file muttering something about a missed tee time. This surgery had been looming for weeks and he had exhausted every option of getting out of it. His nurses did their best to avoid bumping into him as he stood in front of the door to the operating room.

The patient had a rare disease and this surgery was his last hope. The doctor was going to try a difficult procedure that could yield a miraculous result, but more likely, a quiet exit from the world. The doctor’s reputation as a competent, successful doctor was in the balance, but so was the patient’s life.

The doctor closed his eyes and massaged his temples with his thumb and forefinger. ‘Why in the world did I agree to do this? This probably won’t even work. How is this going to look to the other doc---’

“Dr. Graydin. Excuse me, Dr. Graydin. We are ready for you.”

Do you value your personal holiness over the lostness of others?

This question was posed to me recently and I have been wrestling with it ever since. Do I care about how I am performing as a Christian more than I care about people hearing and receiving salvation in Jesus Christ?

According to the book of 1 Timothy, we are to be “above reproach” (especially deacons and elders). However, I think we exempt ourselves from relating to the lost in the name of being “above reproach.” Instead of engaging people who desperately need the love of Christ where they are, we pray for them to miraculously want to come to church on Sunday. I am not saying we shouldn’t pray for the lost to come to church, but shouldn’t we be doing something to share the love of Christ with them the other six days of the week?

If you think about people in need of Christ, what kind of people do you think of?

Where do they hang out?

What do they do for fun?

Here’s the bigger question: How are they getting access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? The apostle Paul asks this question in another way in Romans 10, “How can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

The model of Jesus Christ in the New Testament shows Jesus going to the people in need. I am sure Jesus had some sort of home, but from the Gospels we can’t really glean that he spent much time there. Why? He was in the homes of the tax collectors and sinners: the most reviled sort.

In that day, it was a big deal to eat a meal at someone’s home. You had to be careful about who you dined with because you would become associated with them. Jesus was well aware of this because he was known as a “glutton…drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners (Luke 7:34).” A good question to ask is, knowing the ministry of Jesus, would we consider Him “above reproach?”

Now, Jesus was “above reproach” because we know that he was without sin (1 Jn. 3:5). Therefore, his tactics to reach the lost were not sinful. So instead, I think we should view his tactics as our example.

What is keeping us from trying to build relationships with the people who need Christ the most? When the disciples were asked about Jesus’ approach to ministry, Jesus responded, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Could Jesus have said it more simply?

In the story above I tried to show how much the patient had to lose versus the doctor. The patient was going to lose his whole life if the doctor did not go through with the procedure. However, the doctor was more concerned about losing his name and prestige.

Where do your coworkers go after work?

Would it make you uncomfortable to go there with them?

What would your Christian friends think?

Could it be that God has strategically placed you in the midst to be the light of the world?

Think of the most sinful place in America. If Jesus were here today, he would probably be ministering to those there. Why? Because that’s where the sick are.

Who are the tax collectors in our context?

How are we going to reach them?

Are we more concerned about our reputation in the Christian community than the lostness of others?

Congratulations ROTY Chase!

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-10-21T16:27:01-05:00

Congratulations to my brother Chase for winning the Rookie of the Year award from the Lewisville Fire Department. The award is well-deserved and I am very proud of him. Here's a couple of excerpts from this article.

"Seth Taylor was named firefighter of the year; Steve Green, paramedic of the year; Jerry Cunningham, officer of the year; Summer Wilhelm, administrative officer/civilian of the year; Eric Curtis, reserve of the year; and Chase Kirby, rookie of the year."

"Lasky said Kirby, who joined the LFD in May 2007, “did a good job of fitting in with his new shift by displaying an incredible work ethic, a winning-positive attitude and by doing a good job with everything he is assigned to do. His co-workers say he is a hard worker and never complains and he always has a smile on his face and has a positive influence on those that are around him.”"

Tommy Nelson on Depression

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-10-18T23:29:30-05:00

I just found this online the other day. This is really a great listen for pastors or Christians in general. I used to attend Metro Bible Study at Prestonwood when I was younger, where Tommy spoke. Having sat under his teaching, to hear his perspective is enlightening and profitable. The best insight: "You can get burnt out doing the thing you love most."

Lincoln (B)log

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-10-12T17:29:13-05:00

I haven't really put up a substantial blog in a long time, so an update is in order. On August 11, Missy and I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska from Littleton, Colorado. We are planning on planting a church in Gdansk, Poland in September 2009. It is a joint venture between a church here in Lincoln and a missions organization. What makes this special is that we are going with a team from the church. We will be in Poland for 5 years, but the year before is time to gel/train with the team. We have been meeting with our team for about a month and it has been exciting.

Thanks to the generosity of Missy's mom, we are living on a secluded farm that overlooks cornfields and pasture. It is quite a change from the one bedroom apartment from our first year of our marriage. It has been great to be still and relish the tranquility.

We had a good visit with my parents last week when they came to visit for a few days. They got to feed the chickens and they took us out for some great food. This past week my friend Bryant visited. We had tickets to see Ryan Adams & the Cardinals in Kansas City, but the show was postponed. We were already in Kansas City when we found out it was postponed, so we stayed the night there anyway. We were then going to try to go to the show in Tulsa the next night, but it was postponed as well. It was still fun to have Bryant come up and do chores on the farm. The pictures are from my dad.

Frederick Chopin (Part Two)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-10-03T01:19:24-05:00

Frederick Chopin (Part One)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-10-02T00:54:47-05:00

The Blogger Returneth

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-09-29T23:51:35-05:00

Seattle Trip

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-08-26T11:55:12-05:00

Last week I took my long-awaited trip to Denver, then Seattle for the Radiohead concert in Auburn, WA. It was to be my last hurrah with friends from Littleton and we had a great time. Here are some highlights:

...

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-08-09T21:18:11-05:00

One Year!

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-08-05T09:47:48-05:00

(Sunset Park)

Yesterday, Missy and I celebrated our one year anniversary. We both took the day off from work and had a great day. In the morning we went to Mt. Evans and walked around at the top. I got a little lightheaded with the altitude, so we didn't hike as much as we wanted, but it was still fun. Then, later in the day I surprised Missy by reenacting our first date.

First, we ate at Little India's. Before I asked Missy out on out first date I asked one of her roommate's what her favorite type of food was. She told me Indian, but she really didn't know Missy's favorite (Japanese). When we went to Little India's on our first date, our waiter actually talked Missy out of what she really wanted, into something that was not very good. Missy acted like she liked it, though. This time, she got what she wanted. At dinner we talked about what we were thinking about on our first date and how we thought it would go.

After Little India's we headed over to Stella's for some coffee. On our first date, this is where we talked a lot and really got to know each other more. This time, we talked about our favorite memories from our first year of marriage. It was great to reminisce about the good times we have had so far.

Then, we headed over to Sunset Park and took in the remainder of the sunset (the sun did not know it was supposed to set at 8:30, not 8:10). After that, we came home and watched our wedding video. It was fun to relive that day, and to be reminded of our vows to one another.

All in all, this has been a wonderful year of marriage. It has been great to live in Littleton and pretty much keep the same lives we had before we married. That has helped us really focus on adjusting to each other in marriage. I could not have dreamed a better wife than the one I have. She is considerate, sweet and kind. She values time with me and time with friends. She is an excellent cook as well, with a diverse repertoire (I like to think I am pretty good at dishes). God has really blessed us in the communication department as we are both good at talking to each other and working out problems. Most importantly, Missy loves to laugh and have a good time. This past year has been filled with laughter and love. Here's to another year!

(Mt. Evans)

(Stella's)

"Loving Novelty...yet Craving Depth"

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-07-29T15:00:19-05:00

I have read some great articles recently on technology. We are fascinated by technological advances and eat them up. But as they say, "With everything we gain, we lose something." I was thinking about this recently as I contemplated what it would be like to purchase an iPhone. Now, if you're like me the question is, do you need to be accessible most moments of everyday? If so, then the iPhone is probably for you. If not, then why get an iPhone?

Currently, I have a plain old cell phone. I use it to make calls and occasionally text. Other than that, I don't use it. I am not really lacking in my life right now when it comes to communication. Therefore, my current time with my cell phone is minimal and it is not much of a distraction/temptation.

However, if I purchased an iPhone I can guarantee you I would spend more time with it then my current cell phone. I would probably check my email more (unnecessarily), fiddle with the new games/settings and always find ways to make the iPhone experience better. Thus, whatever free time is allowed right now by having an ordinary cell phone would be filled with the iPhone.

So, back to the question: What would I be losing? Well, I would not be as "present" in social situations since I could be checking football scores or stock prices. Perhaps, I would spend less time in prayer or reflection, since I would always be inundated with new emails.

Now, I know the response to that would be, "But, Clint, you could be connected to more people with the iPhone." This is true, but what kind of depth are we talking about here? We are everywhere and we are nowhere. As this blog notes, "One thing that is troubling about new technologies is, despite the ability to communicate at any time, we seem to have little of substance to say to one another."

New technology is not inherently bad, but far too often we do not consider what we are giving up when we gobble up new technology. I know it would be cool to know where I am globally positioned, but do I really need to know that? Do I really need to check my email 20 times a day? I know it's possible, but is it good for us? Do I need to always be distracted!!!???

Please read this brief poem on Google from one of my former professors and I will leave you with a quote from this article: “As our attentional skills are squandered, we are plunging into a culture of mistrust, skimming and a dehumanising merger between man and machine.”

Free Fallin'

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-07-16T13:02:32-05:00

I am not much of a Tom Petty fan, and the song, "Free Fallin'" has probably been overplayed through the years. So when I saw that John Mayer was convering the song, I thought maybe he was doing it as a joke. Imagine my surprise watching this sincere rendition that blows Petty's away.

Since Last We Last Spoke

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-07-05T16:08:25-05:00

Here's where we have been the past couple of weeks. We had a great time at all the weddings and get-togethers. I made a picture page with all of the places we have been since we've married. By the way, there are new laws passed in Arkansas and Wisconsin for dresses you can wear at weddings. Apparently, Missy looked so ravishing in both states that when she entered a room there was a huge vacuum of oxygen since everyone was breathless. This vacuum caused the oxygen (there were 30-second gasps) to return to the trees that exhaled said oxygen, which promptly made the trees explode. Since this would be bad for Dunder-Mifflin Infinity 2.0, the laws had to be passed.

Viva La Viviuum

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-06-17T11:55:17-05:00

The new Coldplay CD came out last week and it's pretty good. I especially enjoy the song "Lost." David Gray got some flak for criticizing Coldplay's last album, "X&Y," because he said they did not try anything new. I agreed with Gray, so I'm glad to see Coldplay explore some new sounds. Plus, how can you not love this commericial?

Apple iTunes ad : Coldplay "Viva La Vida"
Uploaded by Kynerion

Scattershooting...

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-06-15T18:23:55-05:00

This weekend was a fun surprise as my friend Brian flew into town for Gregg and Tami's wedding. It took place in Western Nebraska so Brian flew into Denver on Thursday and we were able to eat some Ted's, take some pictures (see below) and watch the NBA Finals. I had to work on Friday so Missy took him around Denver and he got to take some pictures of Red Rocks. Saturday, I drove to Hamlet, NE for the wedding. It was a fun time as Mason and Shawna were also there, and it was good to celebrate the union of Tami and Gregg. We wish them nothing but the best.

Today, Brian and I woke up and played a round of golf, ate some Qdoba and then I took him to the airport. It's hard to see Brian now unless we are both in Texas at the same time, so I'm glad it worked out. Tonight, we are hosting the Gingery's, who are stateside for a couple more weeks. They are a family I met in Ukraine and helped me while I was there. I hope to repay their kindness tonight. Happy Father's Day! Here's the promised pic (Brian's photography site):

Daniel's Bachelor Party

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-06-10T19:00:56-05:00

One of my best friends out here in Colorado, Daniel, is getting married in Green Bay, WI. pretty soon. Missy and I are excited to be a part of it all and look forward to the weekend. Daniel and his wife Michelle will most likely be moving to Pennsylvania at the end of July as he takes a youth ministry job (the church just needs to vote him in).

This past weekend we had his bachelor party. It was organized by his best man, Dan, and it has to be one of the most original bachelor parties ever put together. Daniel is very competitive and likes to occasionally put his money where his mouth is, so Dan organized an all-day and all-night event with 40 different competitions. The buy-in price was $20 and it was winner take all. Some of the events were Par-3 golf, medicine ball shotput, hold your breath contest, dunk contest, 40-yard dash, Halo competition, hot-dog eating contest and the mother of them all: the one-mile race. If you got first place in an event you got 10 points, second got 8, etc.

Most of the outdoor activities took place at the middle school near the house were Daniel and I used to live. During the summer we would play one-on-one basketball for 3 hours in 100-degree heat at the middle school court. The games were intense because we both wanted to win so badly and never gave the other an inch. Usually, Daniel had a stronger perimeter game, while I would bang down near the basket. I don't know who won more games between the two of us, but it had to be close to even.

This set the stage for the one-on-one basketball showdown last Saturday. We both had to play some tough games to make it to the championship, but we made it. It was the first one to score 7 and we knew the battle would be epic. The game probably took about 30 minutes and we were going full throttle the whole game. In the end, I took the game. In any other bachelor party I would have let the bachelor win, but I knew Daniel wanted my best. As we shook hands after the game I think we both knew the game was symbolic of the end of our time together in Colorado. We both started seminary at the same time, lived together for 3 years, tried to understand girls and did our best to help each other work out our salvation with fear and trembling. God has blessed me with deep, rich friendships in my life and I am thankful to Him for my friendship with Daniel.

The day went from 10 AM-1:30 AM and I was even more tired from working 4:15-9:30 AM that morning at Starbucks. About 9 hours of the day was spent in the sun doing physical activity. It was grueling, but was one of the most fun days I have had in Colorado. Kudos to Dan for having a great plan to honor one of the best persons I know. Oh, and Daniel won the grand prize. Here's a picture from the championship game:

Kobe Bryant

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-06-05T10:53:39-05:00

The NBA Finals begin tonight with the Lakers pitted against the Celtics. I am not rooting for either team, but I love watching Kobe Bryant play. I think Kobe is fascinating for a lot of reasons, but I what I like about Kobe is there is no question he is going to do anything it takes to win. I love watching players who want to win so badly (Tiger, Iverson, KG). A few articles I've read lately on the polarizing Kobe Bryant:

-SI's Chris Ballard on Kobe's Killer Instinct. My favorite line:

"[Bryant} who, no matter what he does, will never get the chance to play the one game he'd die for: Bryant versus Jordan, each in his prime. "There'd be blood on the floor by the end," says Winter, who has coached them both."

-SI's Ian Thomson on watching Bryant grow up.

-And Bill Simmons on the Finals, who is always a fun read.

Free Wi-Fi @ Starbucks

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-06-03T11:57:28-05:00

I have mentioned to some of you that Starbucks would have free wireless Internet soon. Well, today's the day. Here is what you have to do to get the free wireless:

- Purchase a minimum $5 reloadable Starbucks Card
- Register the card online in the Starbucks Rewards Card program
- Use the card at least once a month

This will entitle you to 2 free consecutive hours of Wi-Fi per day.

Everything is Now Illuminated

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-31T01:37:51-05:00

Late tonight Missy and I took in the movie, "Everything Is Illuminated." I read the book last year in Ukraine (it made my Top 10) because most of the story takes place in Ukraine. The movie was okay.

Normally, though, after watching a movie I will head over to the IMDB message boards and see what people are saying about the movie. Normally, I can find a thread concerning a question I had during the movie, further insight into making the movie, or a discussion on how to interpret a scene, character, etc.

Browsing through the message board for "Everything is Illuminated," I saw a thread for "Driving in Ukraine." I clicked on it because in the movie they showed people driving on the left hand side of the ride, which I had not seen in Ukraine. Scrolling down the thread, a particular post caught my eye:

That's right, I had already seen the thread before and posted while I was in Ukraine. You might think that was easy for me to forget since I probably post a lot on IMDB. However, here are my IMDB posting stats:

I have only posted once before! Let me tell you, it was a strange feeling to stumble upon something you have done while not expecting to see it. I definitely do not have the memory of this guy!

Funny

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-25T17:45:02-05:00

Avenir, Zukunft, будущее, 将来?

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-21T23:16:15-05:00

Graduation

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-19T12:15:38-05:00

Well, this weekend I closed the chapter on my seminary career. It was a great weekend as my parents, grandma, brother and his girlfriend were here to celebrate. Missy and I won the "Conway/Maxwell Memorial Missions Award," which was a tremendous honor and surprise. As for the future, I leave you this exchange between Dignan and Anthony in the movie "Bottle Rocket" with pictures following:

Anthony: So, Dignan, what's next? Do we meet the crew after we go on the lam or what?
Dignan: Everybody wants to know what's next. May I enjoy this moment?

One Reason Missy and I Attend an Anglican Church

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-16T12:24:27-05:00

Missy and I go to Wellspring Anglican Church in Englewood, CO. We appreciate the liturgy and structure of the church. In a new Christianity Today blog, the writer hits on some of the main issues why younger people are seeking more high-church congregations. Namely, we are tired of personality driven churches and want God-centered churches:

"In my area we are seeing a striking number of younger evangelicals move toward high-church traditions—particularly Anglican. This has been discussed in the pages of Christianity Today as well as U.S. News & World Report. Some are calling it the “return to ritual.” At first glance one might see this as being completely out of phase with the trend outlined above. After all, high church traditions are all about structure and hierarchy. There are priests, and bishops, and even archbishops.

But a closer examination reveals that this trend may also be coming from the same discontentment with personality-driven congregations. Anglican worship is built on a time-honored liturgy that emphasizes prayer, Scripture, and the Eucharist. While preaching is certainly present, the preacher and his/her personality does not dominate corporate worship. The same could be said of the worship leader. Personality takes a backseat to tradition.

Similarly, while some churches are trying to minimize risk through a team structure, high-church traditions protect congregations from the failures of a single leader through a hierarchy that stretches far above the local church. This is one example where the much-derided denomination still has an advantage over non-denominational churches."

To understand this more, I would highly recommend Robert Webber's "Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail."

New Microphone/Freestyle

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-12T19:49:15-05:00

I just got a new microphone for my birthday! It's a Blue Snowball USB mic, which means it plugs straight into my computer. I tested it out tonight by freestyling to Jay-Z's "99 Problems." It's not my best freestyle, but I talk about turning 27, graduating and Missy probably being irked that I recorded that song instead of working on my paper. Just click on the Songcast on the left to listen. Church!

While the Cat's Away...the Mouse Watches TV?

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-12T00:06:25-05:00

So Missy surprised her mom this weekend by going home to Nebraska, which meant this was the first time I had been away from her (except for 3 combined days of camping). I had grand designs of finishing my last paper for seminary and other reading, but apparently I had other plans for myself. I sabotaged the whole weekend by requesting seasons 1 & 2 of The Office from someone at work and promptly watched all of them. To be forthright I was still recovering from being sick earlier in the week (from camping), though truthfully I gave in to sloth.

All that being said, I enjoyed The Office immensely. I was relieved to find it was not one of those shows that is smarmy about itself (see Arrested Development), but can laugh at itself. The Jim/Pam storyline is very engrossing as well. And yes, I lament the fact that I watched television instead of reading important books, but as I mentioned before, the couch re-soundly beat the desk. So, if you have a sick week, watch The Office. You'll feel good (and read the Bible, too (I do graduate from the seminary this week)).

Sincerely,

Clint
The Assistant (to the) Regional Manager

Charge to the Graduates

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-05-07T15:50:49-05:00

Most Important Issues on which Christians Should be Knowledgeable

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-04-30T12:48:05-05:00

1. Islam

Not just a general knowledge of Islam but also the main tenets and the ability to see through the "white-washing" of the media (i.e. "Islam is a peaceful religion," etc.). The more I learn about Islam the more I think this will be a HUGE issue. The main issue: in the West (U.S. Europe) we are trying not to have children, while in Muslim countries, which are growing they are "baby-making machines."

Eventually Muslims will probably outnumber Christians geopolitically. Islam does not have any fact/value split so there is no distinction between politics and religion whereas in America we see religion as a personal choice.

2. Bioethics

Most saliently homosexuality, but also abortion, cloning, and the like. Bound up in this area is the ability to defend the Bible as a reliable document (not many have a high view of Scripture) because simply pointing to the Bible is hardly enough these days. You must be able to defend the Bible as reliable and true. Common questions concerning bibliology that indicate a mistrust of the Bible as a source:

"Isn't the Bible full of contradictions?"
"Who decided what books were included?"
"Isn't the Bible historically unreliable?"

We must be able to answer these questions.

3. Truth

The ability to articulate what truth is, what the Bible says about truth and an understanding that in our world truth is not a universal anymore (i.e. many say/believe "that's true for you, but not for me")

4. Immigration (for U.S. citizens)

One of my professors just released a book, "Christians at the Border" or you can listen to his lectures on the subject here (Feb. 4-5).

What do you think is important for Christians to be knowledgeable on?

Wow, Street View in Google Maps

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-04-28T22:25:45-05:00

I just checked out Street View in Google Maps and it is pretty amazing. The way it works is that cars driving the streets take continuous photos from different angles and can give you a 360 degree view from public property. Of course there are some privacy issues here (and it does reek a little bit of "Enemy of the State") but for the most part it's fun to play around with. Here's some pics I grabbed:

Here's the Starbucks where I work (I couldn't get a close up shot of Missy's work)

Here's Denver Seminary (hard to see, but down the hill):

Here's our church:

Here's our apartment (I guess I was home that day since my truck is there):

Here's the old house I where I used to live (looks like Ryan and Tim were home that day):

This is the Taco Bell I went to all the time before I was married. Now, I actually get balanced meals!

The Good Life in Omaha, NE

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-04-25T16:00:34-05:00

This weekend Missy is in her friend's wedding in Omaha. The dress rehearsal was last night which means the wedding is tonight. As most of you know, the bride and bridesmaid's day is full of getting their hair done, manicures, makeup and pictures. Which means that I get a free day to do what I please!

After sleeping in until 9 (which is really sleeping in for me), I watched some television (we don't have cable at the apartment so static-free channels were exciting) and checked my email. I then went to Runza's for a sandwich and then to Starbucks. I talked to a friend on the phone for an hour and did some reading for school. Missy stopped by the room for 30 minutes and then I went for a run. After the run I swam in the hotel pool and then retired to the hot tub.

The ceremony is in a couple of hours and then we will have the reception. It should be a fun night of matrimony and excess. Hopefully, they will play this song. Yakshemesh!

Why I Don't Listen to Much Christian Music

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-04-18T14:21:25-05:00

"In his newest musical project, "A Different Man," Crosse poured himself into the lyrics, he said, honestly relating his personal struggles through his music. "Sometimes, Christian music paints an unrealistic picture of the Christian walk. Sometimes the walk is very hard. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it's not easy even when you know Christ, even when you have your purpose defined as serving him," Crosse said. "I know because I've faced (problems), and I want to talk about them. "It really turns people off when they hear music that continually represents Christians as people who don't have problems. Hey, I want good feelings too, but realistically, we do have struggles."" - Clay Crosse, Christian musician

"It seems that a very narrow brand of Christian music has emerged over the last few years. It all sounds like Radio Disney to me. There are all these bands with a hard edge but High School Musical lyrics. “Radio that’s safe for the whole family” has come to mean that unless it makes sense to a 9 year old we won’t play it or put it on our record. Unfortunately that’s just not my world. Where’s the music for adults!" - James Tealy, Christian songwriter

Get Your Talons Up(date)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-04-08T13:36:08-05:00

If you are a graduate of North Texas like me (Missy graduated from Doane Univeristy with a biology degree), then you probably get the North Texan, which is a quarterly publication for alumni. In the back there is always the "Class Notes" section which keeps you updated on other alumni. UNT is a big commuter school, so I never recognize any of the names. However, I decided to send in an update that I will graduate from Denver Seminary.

If you are a graduate of UNT I challenge you to update your profile in the "Class Notes." All you have to do is submit the form here. The challenge is to get recognized in the "Class Notes" section every quarter. The game will be to see whose updates can be the most mundane in nature. For instance:

*Clint Kirby, Littleton, Colo., was recently recognized for his legendary service at Starbucks Coffee by receiving a 35 cent raise per hour. Kirby will most likely use this newfound cash to Biggie Size the #2 combo meal at Wendy's.

Try to keep it to the truth, but let's make the North Texan come alive. Come on Mean Green! We are known for our school spirit (remember all of the pep rallies and games we went to?) and our fellow alumni must know what we are up to! It's imperative to our existence!!!! Agggghhhhhh!!!!

Spring Break

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-30T15:04:52-05:00

This week was the last Spring Break of my existence and my brother Chase came up for the week. We had a blast as we went camping/fly fishing for a couple of days, went to the Nuggets/Mavs game, ate at Ted's, saw the movie "21" and hung out. We did not catch anything while we were fishing at Deckers, but we had a blast being away from civilization while gathering fire wood and cooking meals. This was Chase's fifth trip up here since I've been going to school in Denver and he has got to do pretty much everything, but we found a few things around he hadn't.

Weekend in Dillon

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-20T11:11:20-05:00

Last weekend we were able to spend the weekend with Bryant and Lesley at his aunt's mountain home in Dillon, CO. It was a great weekend as we ate at the Dam Brewery, went snow-shoeing, slid across the floor in socks and watched some movies. Here's some pics, with more forthcoming later.

Media Abstention (Final Day)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-13T20:04:59-05:00

Day to Day:
Morning - Worked
Afternoon - Met with Jon S., Daniel
Night - Relaxed

Admission:
Ready for music!

Time when I most longed for media:
No time today.

Observation:
Today was a long day as I was gone from home for about 14 hours. It was nice to come home and have a shower. We will probably be off to bed early. I will possibly post my paper for class. For now, Missy and I are looking forward to a fun weekend!

Read today:
-Denver Post, New York Times (at work)
-Isaiah 58
-Part of 1 Chapter of Anthony Hoekema's The Bible and the Future (for class)

Media Abstention (Day 9)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-12T19:56:49-05:00

Day to Day:
Morning/Afternoon - Class
Night - Missy and I had dinner, read some

Admission:
I am ready to listen to music again!

Time when I most longed for media:
Missy and I really wanted to watch a movie tonight.

Observation:
Wednesday is the day of the week in which I feel the most studious. I have class most of the day, so I spend most of my time on campus. I had a lot of reading to do tonight so I tried to catch up on it.

I am ready again to have choices in how we spend our time. That doesn't mean we are going to start watching TV and everything right away, but it is similar to being under house arrest for a day. You may have spent that day in your house anyway, but knowing that you cannot go outside can be taxing.

Read today:
-5 Chapters of Henry Cloud's Intergrity (for class)

Media Abstention (Day 8)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-11T12:53:22-05:00

Day to Day:
Morning - Worked
Afternoon - Class
Night - Missy and I had dinner, relaxed on our balcony

Admission:
See observation.

Time when I most longed for media:
Not much. I much more longed for sleep!

Observation:
Today I really felt the effects of the media fast. In the past few days I have talked with friends about their problems and tried to be faithful in praying for them and helping them in any way. This afternoon I was emotionally spent. I realized that I was dwelling on other's issues throughout most days. This was helpful because I prayed more for them than ever, but I was becoming consumed by their plights.

I realized that typically when talking with friends about what is going on in their lives, I care about them and I do pray for them. However, interspersed throughout my days our little emotional escapes. I might go to ESPN.com and read an article about Dirk Nowitzki and forget about my friend's (or my own for that matter) problems, or flip on the TV or watch a movie. In any case, I escape the emotional weight through some sort of media.

It was interesting today to realize this as I began to understand I could not handle the emotional weight of other's problems. I am far too accustomed to escaping into something else when things get heavy. So what's the lesson? Should I just revert back to escaping because things were hard today? I don't think so. I need to learn how to balance concern for others with other everyday practices like work, recreation and fellowship.

I think today was very surprising for me because I feel pretty self-aware and I have no problem discussing feelings and the like. I learned though, that just like the people in the military I referred to in the Day 4 blog, I can fall victim to the same thing.

Read today:
-Denver Post, New York Times (at work)
-Sermon on the Mount
-1 Chapter of Scott Rae's Moral Choices (for class)
-Heifetz's The Work of Leadership (for class)

Media Abstention (Day 7)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-10T12:51:36-05:00

Day to Day:
Morning - Went to class
Afternoon - Worked
Night - Dinner with Missy, talked and prayed

Admission:
I have had to keep track of my email because of the eBay stuff, but I am trying to restrict it to financial matters and school.

Time when I most longed for media:
Not much today.

Observation:
I have been able to spend a lot of time in prayer during this fast. I really feel like I have shared in people's burdens and have had a lot deeper concern for them.

Read today:
-Some counseling books for a class

Media Abstention (Day 6)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-09T23:26:15-05:00

Day to Day:
Morning - Went to church (well we, umm, almost went to church. Has anyone heard of Daylight Savings Time?)
Afternoon - Missy worked. I did homework. Called some friends. Daniel came over.
Night - Missy and I had dinner, talked and read.

Admission:
Unfortunately between the eBay fiasco and since I am emailed stuff for school I have had to check my email. I have tried only to open above-mentioned items with varying degrees of success.

Time when I most longed for media:
Not much today.

Observation:
Today I really noticed the effects of the abstention. Missy left for work late in the morning (almost really late as we forgot DST) and usually I would putter around and delay doing homework. Well, after cleaning around the house and doing other chores I realized that there was nothing else to do besides my homework. So I went to work and got it done. I called some old friends and talked to one of them for a while. Afterwards Daniel was in the area and wanted to come by. I told him he could and we had a real good talk.

Without the fast the day would have looked something like this: After Missy left for work I would have flipped on the TV for a while or got on the Internet. I would do this so I wouldn't have to do homework right away. I would eventually start doing my homework late in the afternoon so either my time with Daniel would have had to be more brief, or I would have to do my homework at night when Missy came home from work. Either way my time with others would have suffered so I could waste time on the TV or computer.

Today I realized how much space this abstention has given me to be with others and to talk to people have not talked to in years. How much space is in your life? I think in our culture we have to be intentional about having boundaries and creating space to be hospitable and servants to others.

Read today:
-4 chapters of Duane Elmer's Cross Cultural Conflict.

Media Abstention (Day 5)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-08T12:54:42-06:00

Day to Day:
4:15-12 PM – Work
12-4 PM – Jared B., Bryant and Jon came over while Missy was at work. We were going to play football, but opted for laziness instead.
4-10 PM - Missy and Lesley cooked dinner for Bryant and I (don't worry we did the dishes). The food was fantastic!

Admission:
During dinner we listened to music. However, I must say that all of my friends have been respectful of the fast and have opted for the silence when we have hung out.

Time when I most longed for media:
Once dinner was over we tried to play some games. I think we all just wanted to watch a movie, though.

Observation:
Halfway through the fast I have learned many things about myself. Everyday it becomes easier to unplug a little more and not multi-task. I also expected myself to read more books during this time. Instead, if Missy is working I will usually call someone on the phone or try to organize a place to hang out with friends. If Missy isn't working then we will usually make dinner together or play a game. Thankfully, she is working tomorrow afternoon so I can catch up on some homework!

Read today:
-Denver Post, New York Times (at work)
-Sermon on the Mount

Media Abstention (Day 4)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-07T12:37:23-06:00

Day to Day:
9:30-10:45 AM - Class (first class was cancelled!)
11-4:30 PM – Called people, worked
4:30-7:30 PM - Was very tired and had a headache. Didn't feel like reading. Looked at some old pictures (not digital) and went to bed.

Admission:
The night before was somewhat of an ordeal. Since I was not checking my email I had Missy check to see if there was anything important. There was an email (we thought) was from eBay. Unwisely I had bid on an item right before the fast. Well, a hacker got our info and was trying to sell something through my username. We caught it but I had to get online with eBay customer service and then change all of our usernames/passwords to everything on the Internet because they were all similar to my eBay info. It took about an hour but fortunately everything was fine.

Time when I most longed for media:
Not really a moment today. I really enjoyed the silence even though I was not reading or talking to anyone at night.

Observation:
It was interesting today because something disturbing happened in class (a student was real rude to the teacher). This made me sad because I had never seen this disrespect at UNT and this was taking place at seminary. Normally after class I would flip on the radio or iPod as I was leaving or get home and catch up on other news via the Internet. However, because of the fast I continued to think about class and lamented the fact that this took place. I prayed for the student and teacher continually and reflected on the event. If I was not doing the fast, I do not think I would have reflected on this as much. I think this is what's problematic with so much technology: we never slow down and reflect on what's going on.

My old pastor Wes, who is now a chaplain in the Army, told me that most of the soldiers do not come to chapel or seek much counseling because they play video games and beef up their MySpace profiles. He was concerned about this because they are going through some traumatic events, but they are escaping their feelings by hiding behind technology. He was concerned that one day in the future those feelings will come back with a vengeance, but they will not know what the problem is because it is so suppressed.

It's interesting to think that many times I do that too. I may not do it intentionally, but my mind will jump to the next thing without thinking about what is really happening.

Read today:
-Denver Post, New York Times (at work)
-Galatians 5
-Sports Illustrated

Media Abstention (Day 3)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-06T18:52:17-06:00

Day to Day:
4:15-12 PM – Work
12-3 PM – Came home. Read some. Played guitar. Did pushups/crunches
3–5:15 PM – Met my friend Daniel to hang out and talk.
5:15- On – Mainly read. Called some people I had not talked to in a while. Hung out with Missy.

Admission:
Without hearing much music (except at work) some songs can get stuck in my head for a quite a while. The song for the abstention has been T-Pain's "I'm Gonna Buy You a Drank." As you know, you can't necessarily pick the songs that get stuck in your head.

Time when I most longed for media:
There wasn't really a definite moment today, though I felt out of the loop at work when I had to catch up on the Texas and Ohio primaries. It didn't take that long to catch up.

Observation:
Last night I talked to a friend on the phone and he brought up the point that our society is addicted to media/busyness. I thought this was a fair point because I have experienced some withdrawal at times and sometimes I don't know what to do with the quietness. I simply am not accustomed to it. It makes me wonder what adjustments I should make post-abstention.

Read today:
-1 Chapter of Scott Rae's Moral Choices (for class)
-Denver Post, New York Times (at work)
-Galatians 5
-Sports Illustrated (new issue came today!)

Media Abstention (Day 2)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-05T20:42:31-06:00

Day to Day:
7 AM - Woke up with Missy
8 AM-11 AM - Classes
11 AM-1 PM - Break in between classes. Had lunch with Missy. Talked with my old roommate Wes. Read
1 PM-3 PM - Class
3 PM-On - Got the mail. Talked with Missy. Played guitar for a while. We ate dinner. Read some. Played Scrabble.

Admission:
I had to somewhat check my email to get the lecture notes for my class. One of my emails that I noticed said "Favre's retirement..." I instantly was curious, but abstained.

Time when I most longed for media:
Halfway noticing my email inbox. I wanted to see who I had emails from and what the content was.

Observation:
I noticed that I have much more boundaries in my life with the abstention. As I am driving around in silence I feel free and not bound by self-imposed demands. Normally during my 11 AM-1 PM break between classes I check my email or other websites while cramming in my reading. Today I had time to enjoy lunch with Missy and have a conversation with Wes without thinking about how I was going to check my email when the time allowed and possibly end the conversation early.

Read today:
-1 Chapter of Scott Rae's Moral Choices (for class)
-1 Chapter of Anthony Hoekema's The Bible and the Future (for class)
-1 Chapter of Boa, Buzzell and Perkins' Handbook to Leadership (for class)
-Sports Illustrated

Media Abstention (Day 1)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-04T20:42:56-06:00

-----I decided to upload my daily journal to the website since it does not require me to be online and I am terrible at journaling unless it's a blog-----

Day to Day:
4:15-12 PM – Drove to work without music, read Gal. 6 before work, kept the music off at work until 6:15 AM when customers arrived.
1-2 PM – Class
2:30 – 5:15 PM – Hung out with Bryant and Jon. No music or TV. Enjoyed listening to the background noises of birds and traffic.
5:15- 9 PM – Mainly read. Called some people I had not talked to in a while. Set up a romantic surprise for Missy while she was at work (every month I buy her flowers based on the month of our anniversary (today I got her seven daisies) and do something unique. Today I did a scavenger hunt of cards).

Admission:
I forgot to not multi-task as I drove and called Jon, but quickly remembered and set out not to repeat the mistake.

Time when I most longed for media:
Driving around in my truck in silence. I am so used to filling that space up with music or radio.

Observation:
I am excited to see what thoughts and ideas I have during this time as I clear out my mind to think.

Read today:
-100 pages of Hans Finzel, Change is Like a Slinky (for class)
-Galatians 5
-Deuteronomy 5
-Exodus 20
-Westminster Catechism (On the Ten Commandments)
-Matthew 5-7
-Sports Illustrated
-Denver Post, New York Times (at work)

Media Abstention

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-03T18:24:09-06:00

In my Ethics class this semester we have to abstain from some form of media (TV, Internet, email, music, etc.) for 10 days. During this time you are to reflect on the effects of the fast in your life and walk with Christ as you meditate on either Is. 58, Matt. 5-7, Ex. 20 or Gal. 5.

I have elected to forgo most of all media (music, Internet, TV, movies, email) during this fast. I know that if I gave up only one of the mediums I would fill up my life with another. Missy will check my email for any emergencies and I will check our banking website 4 times during the fast. I will still make phone calls, but I will only do it while at the apartment (or any other place as long as I am not multi-tasking). I will take phone calls at other times but will try not to multi-task.

I am excited to "unplug" from our culture. I wonder how many times we are "of the world" when we just think we are "in the world" (John 17, 1 John 2). Perhaps your response is "this is dumb, there is nothing inherently wrong with TV or the Internet." I agree there is nothing inherently wrong, but they can send messages overtly and subliminally which we readily accept without thinking. Perhaps the next question would be, "won't you be bored?" It is possible I will become bored, but that is only a byproduct of our culture which says, "You must never bored! Always be busy and entertained!" So if I become bored, so be it. A hundred years ago there were people who roamed the earth without blue-tooth technology, 600 HD channels or iPhones and I think it's possible they had a full life. In fact, they probably had a fuller life than we do because there was no television to vegetate in front of.

I will give a full report of the fast when it's over (Missy is doing it too) and I encourage you to consider doing one as well. Even if only for a day. If our culture is like a river, how much do you swim upstream?

Links

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-03-02T11:54:09-06:00

-I really enjoy this guy's covers of pop songs. Make a playlist of all his songs, grab a book and enjoy your afternoon. I especially like "Lovestoned,"Wyclef's "Sweetest Girl" and "Beautiful Girls."

-"Yes We Can" not doing it for you? Find more of Obama's substance here and here.

-We went to my friend Bryant's sister's show at the Denver Art Museum over the weekend and it was great. She is very talented and you can find her songs here.

-In case you didn't notice, the world stopped turning this week and Starbucks closed for training for a few hours.

-Someone beat Michael Jordan at one-on-one?

-One of Missy's friends is taking a trip to see the world. He is journaling about his experience here.

In Need of God?

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-02-26T13:45:46-06:00

"Each year, I ask myself this question: How much of my life and ministry last year required the existence of the Christian God to explain it? How much would have happened if God did not exist?"

-J. P. Moreland

Back to Brighton (for a day)

clintkirby@verizon.net — 2008-02-25T19:27:32-06:00

Yesterday, Missy and I went by Grace Evangelical Free Church to see everyone and to show them the new guitar they helped me purchase. It was definitely strange to walk back into that building responsibility free. Their new pastor, Tony, is a great guy and I think he will be good for their church. They have decided to revamp the church with a new name, values, etc. You can see their new (I guess there was never really an old website) website here.

It was fun to see old friends and to hear how they have been doing. I have kept my distance from the church since last April as I wanted Tony to have a clean slate and a good start. So it was nice to reconnect with old relationships. I mentioned that I was to play a song on my new guitar and I ended up getting roped in to helping lead worship. I was more than glad to, and I don't really think I can sit in that building doing nothing on a Sunday morning.