Why am I getting hits from all over the world??!!

So, I've been getting random hits from all over the world the past three days. I'm not sure what's going on, but I would love to find out! If you're reading this and you don't know me, would you mind commenting how you stumbled onto my blog...
If it's because of the "next blog" link, then does anyone know why the hits started only 3 days ago???

I would really appreciate it!! Thanks!

Jesus Video #2

I have a few papers I'm working on, so my blogging life is suffering. But I think these videos are good fillers.

Hot Tub

One of the reasons we chose our apartment was the hot tub and pool. Unfortunately, it was out of commission the first three months we were here.

However, it's now repaired, and I am doing my best to get my money's worth.

Those pesky bacteria and dead skin cells are no deterent to me - I'm just a happy man living the good life...Wahoo!!

Bassey Ikpi - Homeward (this poem is clean!)

I can't get over these "def poets"...
The poem below I find especially beautiful because of a friend I have here in Seattle. She is Kenyan, although she's lived in the states for over 10 years.
It wasn't long ago that I sat across from her, listening to her share the pressures she's felt to assimilate into the American culture. "To belong" - it's what we all desire, but for some, it requires much more of us.
The majority of people I encounter are similar to me; for me to belong, I'm not required to change much.
...but if my culture was different, my first language was different, the way I thought was different, the way I viewed God was different, the clothes I wore were different, my heritage was different, my history was different, my political views were different...what if I didn't grow up watching the same television shows, or listening to the same music? What if I was always left out of conversations because I couldn't relate to the cultural expressions? What if I had a different color of skin?

I can't remember the last time I cried so hard. I could barely speak, and I felt embarassed. Everyone in the group stared at me in bewilderment. Through the tears, I mustered enough voice to stammer out, "I feel sad for you, but my tears are for my personal loss of you right now. There is beauty in you that I can find nowhere else." I hated that she was forced to assimilate. It certainly was not fair to her, but it was also not fair to me...

There is beauty in her uniqueness, in her heritage, and in her culture. She adds so much to my life that I can find nowhere else, and for others to force her to forget, to leave it all behind...and for what???!!

I hate it. I absolutely hate it. Why do we exclude? Why do we force assimilation? Why can we not celebrate our diversity, our uniqueness, our individual beauty?

I love the poem below because in it, I see the face of my friend.

Are the youtube videos loading?

Def Poetry Jam

Tonight, I watched season 2 of Def Poetry Jam. It would not have been long ago that I would have turned it off early into the show. The language and content are extremely explicit, and I would have quickly judged these poets as too graphic and crass. Thankfully, I am no longer the same person...

Two poets into the first episode, I saw this guy below, and I realized that it is me who was practiced at turning my head, which would have previously proven true if I had turned off the dvd...

Sure, I seemed kind enough around those who were like me - conservative, evangelical, pro-life Republicans who are patriotic, support the war, love football, have a good education, never did drugs and so forth. But I was quick to judge those who were different - liberals, democrats, homosexuals, pro-choice advocates, etc. Maybe if I wasn't so quick to judge - maybe I would hear their stories and I would understand...

These poets give us a glimpse into the realities of life that they know, and for their honesty, I am grateful.

Paradox, pt. 2

...continued from yesterday.

Many of you will definitely resist these thoughts. "But God does not want us to dwell in our suffering," you may say.

And I would probably agree with you. But what if, instead of dwelling in the suffering, we allowed the despair to have "presence."

Joy and suffering are always present in our lives; it's only a matter of the degree to which we recognize them.

Think about it this way. The cross is necessary because this world is full of crap. We have all suffered (even if we want to immediately turn it in to a positive or quickly chalk it up as a lesson from God). We've lost loved ones. We've felt hungry. Jokes have been made at our expense. Not to mention the violence we've inflicted upon others. I lose my temper. I ignore my wife. I don't return the phone call of a friend.

The need for the cross is present everyday.

Yet, we also live with the reality of the resurrection. We have loved and we have felt loved. There is goodness in each of us.

Dignity and depravity. The cross and the resurrection. Joy and Suffering.

These paradoxes are all present everyday; if only I could become more accutely aware...