Friday, July 21, 2006

Youth ministry will make you pull your hair out...or shave it off anyway!

Okay, so normally I would only do this for a youth group wager, but honestly the heat just got to me. I decided I couldn't take it anymore, and if I couldn't be cool, at least my head could. So here it is, the look for the time being...I know it's not much, but hey it's fun and it will grow back eventually (hopefully). Hope I don't scare too many of you off! Have a great weekend and we'll be back with more posts next week!
-Matt

Monday, July 17, 2006

Red, White, and BLUES!!!

I am still working on a good post for my thoughts on camp so I'll let you in on Megan and I's weekend, and it was awesome despite the heat. Many of you know that Pensacola is the heart of Naval aviation and home to the Blue Angels flight demonstration team. I never get tired of seeing them since I love flight so much...So contrary to recommendations from people who have lived here longer than us, Meg and I headed to the beach this weekend for the annual Red, White, and Blues weekend at the beach. Needless to say, it was a wee bit crowded (hardly any sand open and shoulder to shoulder in the water) but when the Blues hit the sky it was awesome as always. Here are a few pics from the show. I recommend watching them if you get the chance....
Here are the four formation angels making their first pass over the water tower before moving into the diamond formation (where there is less than 18 inches between each jet)
Here is the diamond formation flying together with two of the angels inverted. This is impressive considering the precision it takes to hold this and still be in diamond formation.
Here is a great shot of the tight formation that they fly, again it is a matter of inches between the wing of the plane and the cockpit of the next plane
Here is a great cloudburst shot that they do when flying in the delta (6 plane) formation. They come across show center with a move into this "explosion" and then they all do a vertical loop followed by a cross where they seem to all come together and miss each other by inches!
Here is one last shot of the diamond formation. I don't know how they hold it without getting caught up in each other's jetwash.
So there you go, despite a little heat and a large crowd it was well worth the show! I tried to get some shots of the opposing solos (where they come at each other and barely miss), but I was always just a second late from show center. If you ever get the chance to see the blues...Make sure you do! It is an awesome experience!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Good morning campers!!!

Well it is officially here, camp starts today and I am sitting here at Laguna Beach Christian retreat (www.christiancamp.com) in Panama City Beach, FL with about every emotion running through my mind. This will be my first time trying to be a camp director so I guess that there is no way to say I did a bad job since I've never done it before. I am excited, nervous, and many other things, but God is good, so HERE GOES NOTHING! Keep me in your prayers this week and I'll try to keep you posted as the week goes on.
-Matt

Saturday, July 01, 2006

He has returned!!!

Since there isn't a whole lot to blog about right now, and I am still trying to figure out the best way to put into words how I am feeling right now, I'll blog about this new movie....
THANK YOU BRYAN SINGER FOR AN EXCELLENT FILM!!!
Okay, so I'll have to admit, I was a little reluctant to go see the new movie. I have always been a fan of comic books and love it when a book becomes a movie (even though I prefer the Marvel brands over DC). With that being said I still wasn't sure if I wanted to see this movie. I mean who could fill Christopher Reeves shoes and still make it a good movie...And then they went and got a newbie actor who no one has ever heard of in Brandon Routh. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. I should have known in the fact that Bryan Singer did an excellent job with the X movies, but I was amazed at how good this one was. It flowed with the past films for the most part and boy did Routh do an amazing job in the suit (he looks AND sounds just like him!)! The story was great, although there could have been a little more dialogue with Supes, and even Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor kept the movie true to its roots. I may make some people mad by saying this, but I think that Kevin has the number for the Lex Luthor character...He just plays a good villain, very convincing! I highly recommend seeing it if you haven't and keep your eyes out for some great sermon snippets that I am sure will find their way into a sermon of mine someday. So great job Bryan Singer and make sure you catch this awesome film. Although Christopher Reeve did not live to see the continuing legacy of Superman, I know he would have been proud. GREAT JOB GUYS! I can't wait for the sequel!