The last thing I wrote was in January, which isn’t a really big deal in itself since there are bigger lapses than that if you look back through the archives.

The embarrassing thing is that the last 4 months have been some of the most amazing of my life.  We had a baby and now we have a baby.  The church has moved out of its original home at the Powerhouse.  I’m learning how to be a father and a husband and a friend and a pastor all at the same time.

This week, in honor of my 27th birthday on Tuesday, I’m going to catch up.  I’ll be putting down some thoughts I’ve had and adding cute baby pictures.  It’ll be fun.  Just like old times.

As for the blog’s neglect – I blame twitter.  Writing paragraphs is such a chore now…

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/2683224[/vimeo]

Blake and I have made some pretty impressive slideshows in the last few weeks.  When people see them, they ask, “Is that more of that Mac magic you are always throwing down?” 

Surprisingly, this time the answer is “no.”

It’s a web-based program Blake found called Animoto.com that allows you to upload pictures and music and then – Voila – a killer slideshow.  You have to pay to make one longer than 30 seconds (3$ a video or 30$ a year).  But if you do this sort of thing often, it’s well worth it.

Here’s another example:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wNnaYKG3b8[/youtube]

You can also download them to your computer, upload them straight to YouTube or embed them from Animoto iteself.

Some of my favorite stuff from the last year:

Baby Excitement

Reflection

Surviving the iPocalypse

There was a visit from the MS Atheist Blogger (and friend).

A collection of pictures from my trip to St. Louis.

My Two Year Church Planting Writing Extravaganza

There was a lot of election stuff:

• Pat’s Voters Guide
• Debate Recap
• General freaking out over whether the debate would happen or not
• Important interviews

And as always, a shameless plug or two for Twitter

Anybody got a favorite?

Today is a good day to check out YouVersion because they also have a 1 year Bible Reading plan and it restarts today with Genesis 1, Psalm 1 and Matthew 1.  If you stick with it everyday, you’ll read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in 2009.

If you have an iPhone or Blackberry, you can read it like I do: before I even get out of the bed in the morning.

I love twitter.  I wont lie about it.  Not only is it a fun way to keep up with my friends and other news, but now that I sit at the end of another year, it’s a great way to take a look back.  

So here it is, my life over the last year in reverse order in 140 letters or less…

I’m dreaming of a dry Christmas. 8:14 AM Dec 20th from web

just spazzed out about getting furniture stain on my carpet. fixed with paint thinner. 5:50 PM Dec 19th from web         

Celebrating 3 years of marriage. 5:42 PM Dec 13th from txt

Driving our new car home from Southaven. 6:33 PM Nov 25th from txt

Taking a break from the misery of car shopping to enjoy the misery of TARGET. 3:07 PM Nov 21st from txt

It’s tenderness is refutable; it’s loiny-ness, debatable. 8:52 AM Nov 15thfrom txt

It’s monday and I just realized that I have 6 speaking engagements in the next 7 days. Headed to the Homan Ranch. 7:49 AM Nov 10th from web

If you had told me a week ago that today I would be driving a Prius and watching a step show in my living room, I would have laughed at you. 8:48 PM Nov 8th from web

Barack should get a new puppy for Hannity too. I know he’s got to be pretty upset tonight. 11:21 PM Nov 4th from web

cnn has it called. Obama with 297 electoral votes so far. ballgame.10:02 PM Nov 4th from web

Sarah was in an accident but she’s doing fine (Sarah: make sure they know its not my fault). We’re going to get monitored at the hospital.5:56 PM Nov 4th from web

Spilled coffee on my shirt while rocking the vote. Going home to change. 8:42 AM Nov 4th from txt

The Super D in Oxford has more beer in it than most bars do in other towns. 7:10 PM Oct 31st from txt

Neil’s wedding starts in 20 mins 9:54 AM Oct 25th from txt

At Pottery Barn for kids. Sarah has a look in her eyes that tells me she’s seriously considering shoplifting. 4:04 PM Oct 23rd from txt

The Orchard Oxford on the msatheist blog. http://tinyurl.com/5epmxb 8:24 AM Oct 23rd from web

On a fancy big city date with my beautiful wife. 6:59 PM Oct 21st  from txt

about to get all continental here in St. Louis. 7:55 AM Oct 21st from web

Straw poll at the Beacon has McCain winning by a landslide. 8:12 AM Oct 20th from txt

Painting. Pink painting. 8:05 AM Oct 17th from txt

There are a lot of pregnant women at the OBGYN today. 10:25 AM Oct 13thfrom txt

I WAS JUST ON THE JUMBOTRON!!!!! 7:46 PM Oct 8th from txt

Headed to camp to teach old people about the Bible. 9:32 AM Oct 7th from

The Square is Nutts right now. sheesh. 2:13 PM Oct 3rd from txt

I’m wearing out my refresh button trying to figure out if the debate is still on or not. 4:56 PM Sep 25th from web

 Breaking news: Congress has a plan! 1:38 PM Sep 25th from web

Windows down. Listening to Buddy Guy. 5:05 PM Sep 15th from txt

Researching for sermon by listening to NT Wright. He’s pretty much like a Christian Richard Dawkins. 7:49 AM Sep 10th from web

time to get out there and mow mow mow. 4:03 PM Aug 22nd from web

Synchronized diving. Dumb. 7:17 PM Aug 12th from txt

Had to order a new computer. My other one was in a car accident. 4:12 PM Aug 6th from txt

Getting my AC fixed TODAY! 8:52 AM Aug 5th from txt

it’s 10pm. wife’s been asleep for an hour and a half. i’m eating a turkey burger watching the daily show on hulu. 10:06 PM Jul 22nd from web

on a hot day like today, there’s no telling what I’ll do for a klondike bar. 3:01 PM Jul 17th from web

Cupertino, we have a problem. 8:44 AM Jul 11th from txt

There’s closer to 20 of us now. My best joke of the day: ‘are you here for the new razr too?’ 6:37 AM Jul 11th from txt

The older guy next to me is trying to figure out his ham radio while he waits for his new iphone. 5:21 AM Jul 11th from txt

4Am. Can’t sleep. Feels like Christmas morning 1987. 4:08 AM Jul 11thfrom web

Going to see jt and dave at steeplechase in oxford. 11:12 AM Jun 26th fromtxt

baby update: everything is good. it is about 7/10 of a centimeter. Due date is Feb. 1. Heart sounds like moww moww moww moww moww moww. 11:16 PM Jun 13th from web

Between ms methodist conference and apple keynote, i’m predicting a total twitter meltdown in a few hours. 8:37 AM Jun 9th from txt

Purple rain purple rain. 8:05 AM Jun 3rd from txt

BABY!!!!! 8:13 AM May 30th from web

and miles to go before I preach. and miles to go before I preach. 7:59 AM May 25th from web

Harrison ford is old and he wears old man pants. 10:39 PM May 22nd fromtxt

Headed home from truthproject.org 8:44 PM May 21st from txt

Going to watch my friend get baptized in the ocean. 7:32 AM May 10thfrom txt

The problem with riding you bike to starbucks is that by the time you get there, you don’t want coffee anymore. 8:43 AM May 8th from txt

Celebrated daddy’s birthday with mary lee and fried mac and cheese nuggets. 4:39 PM May 6th from txt

praying for Neil. 1:49 PM May 3rd from web

Playing in the grove with sarah, ellen and the bro in laW. 9:48 PM May 1stfrom txt

going to the Galleria mall after being out in the forest made me want to cry like that indian from the 70s. then i went to the apple store. 3:46 PM Apr 25th from web

Today i preached a mini sermon and gave the alter call prayer at a black church this morning. It was an awesome experience. 2:15 PM Apr 20th from txt

Dude. A bic lighter just exploded. 7:31 PM Apr 17th from txt

Just installe a dog door and i didn’t even ruin the door. 5:07 PM Apr 12thfrom txt

At woodland. It’s crazy here. 2:30 PM Apr 11th from txt

heading out to shelbi to let the dog out. then on to FCS. 4:38 PM Apr 10thfrom web

still trying to figure it out. 4:19 PM Apr 10th from im

Spam gets 1 response per 12,500,000 emails | News | TechRadar UK.

I uploaded the extended-grandparent version.  

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/2184384[/vimeo]

Look out for the twist at the end.  The baby already types faster than I do.

Just in case you wondered.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJKkMLKFHxo

You can really hear the Star Trek fanboyism in his voice.

More vids:

Barry spreads the hope.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jll5baCAaQU

McCain says goodbye:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjQYKoc4N7c