I spent the week in Palm Springs with my wife courtesy of our church. 2 days with our church staff. 2 days by ourselves. 2 days at a our church’s marriage retreat. It was amazing. And it was 112 degrees. Yep. 112. I could have fried an egg on the hood of my car. Easily.

On day 2 of our time by ourselves, I tried to convince my wife to go with me on a hike in the morning. She said nope and looked at me like I was sick in the head. So did all my friends I tried to get to go with me. So, I went by myself. My bride stayed at the Westin and enjoyed a lazy morning and read an such. I went hiking in a desert canyon oasis by myself. All by myself.

So I hiked on an indian reservation on a 2 mile trek until a sign said the trail ended. But there was so much more climbing to do so I ignored the sign and went off trail. Then I found a waterfall and a secluded pool. So I read Blue like Jazz for a while and then I read Psalm 63 and then I relaxed for a while and then I went skinny dippin.

Maybe next year I’ll convince the wife to go. That would be fun. If so, I won’t be posting that. Here’s the full photo set of my hike surroundings.

TJ: Dad, I have to do a science project.

DAD: Ok, What do you need help with.

TJ: I don’t care what we do, but I have to do a report on it. I can’t do the baking soda and vinegar volcano, but I want something to blow up.

DAD: Ok, let me get on the internet and find out how to blow something up… ok…. TJ I found one that makes soda explode.

TJ: Yeah Dad! Let’d do that!

DAD: Fill out the form and tell your teacher what we’re going to do.

….

TJ: Dad. I have bad news. Our science experiment got rejected. My teacher said our hypothesis was not good enough.

DAD: What?

TJ: Yea, she wants us to do an experiment watching radishes grow. Here it is.

DAD: Um, we’re not doing that. Here, take this note to your teacher. Brief note summary (my kid wants me to blow something up in the name of good science and you want me to grow radishes? Can we just come up with a new hypothesis?)

…

TJ: Dad, she says she still doesn’t get it, but if can make a hypothesis, we can do it.

DAD: Sweet. I’ll make something up. You make the list to give to Mom to buy and lets blow up some soda bottles.

TJ: Sweet.

….

End result: bottom photo is what happens when you dump 10ish mentos all at once into a freshly opened bottle of diet pepsi. Shoots up higher than my kid and creates a science memory he actually will care about. I’m sure someone is supposed to watch radishes grow. Just not an 8 year old boy.

Mabe we’re raising a future pyro-technics man.

I am sick. I am tired. I could list a lot of things I’m sick and tired of in me and the world. But that would be pointless and endless. But maybe it would make me feel better. Doubt it. Right now it should suffice to say that I have a sore throat and sleepy eyes. I’m going to take medicince and go to bed… someday. After my stinkin seminary paper is done.

Ok, so I’ve become kind of a podcast junkie. I subscribe to several. I listen to them while I drive- almost exclusively now. Most are long so I have to listen to them in 15 minute intervals… but I kinda like it. I listen to one that’s basically the audio of ABC news nightline. Like watching the news without the pictures. Kinda wierd. Kinda cool. I wish my church did one so I could listen to the messages too.

Anyway, I subscribe to some that are silly, some from my friends, some from preachers, and one from Relevant Magazine. Which is fast becoming my favorite. It’s professional and spontaneous too. This last one I really enjoyed. It has a great conversation among friends thinking/debating the issue of how much financial success is it ok to enjoy as a Christian. Very interesting. I really enjoyed being a fly on the wall in the discussion… though I think it missed a huge piece of the puzzle by not discussing how the way I live and the choices I make with my own money affects the poor and hungry around the world. I really wrestle with that a lot myself. But it was great stuff anyway. I think it’s worth playing in a small group or with some friends to provoke a quality discussion and react/respond to it while looking at some key passages from the Bible.

So, if you want a great listen download the Relevant Magazine Podcast episode dated 5.19.06 off of itunes and give it a listen while you drive.

One more thing… one of the guys in the podcast team (Tyler) won a karoke contest by singing a Johnny Cash song at a local bar where a radio station was hosting the competition. It’s really funny. Plus, if you enjoy Karoke… they’re challenging others to a duel. I laughed. Perhaps you will too.

2:30pm:
“Dad, can we please stay up and watch a movie tonight?”

“Ok, if you guys take a nap today, you can stay up till 9:30 pm.”

9:00 pm…
“you guys want some popcorn?.”

Never mind. I’ll just go get the camera.