http://www.chuckp3.com thinking out loud about life, art and imitating Jesus Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:39:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en My best friend and cousin, Chad, recently asked me if I would baptize him while our family is together this Christmas season.  Being asked to be a part of such an incredible chapter in his journey with Christ has been one of the greatest honors of my life.  Chad and ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/my-pledge-of-allegiance/ This morning I preached an Advent sermon about Joy.  I focused on the text in Luke 2:1-20, especially the angel's annoucment that the Good News of Joy was for ALL PEOPLE.  I thought the story of Darth Vader was a great illsutration for this radical inclusion... to listen to the ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/advent-sermon/ When Kara's family was out visiting us for Thanksgiving Kara and I went to Manhattan with her brother Nathanael and his wife Laura.  We spent a good deal of our time at the Museum of Modern Art.  It was packed with great exhibits, way too much to see in one ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/nyc-moma/ I caught this on Hulu today and thought it was great. http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/barack-plays-it-cool/ For more insight into Advent Conspiracy listen to the podcast HERE. http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/ac-podcast/ This Christmas I'm joining a movement with Christianity called Advent Conspiracy.  Advent Conspiracy is a new way to engage the season of Advent and Christmas itself.  Rather than getting caught up in a consumer-driven mindset for Christmas that is fueled by captialism Christians all over the world are rethinking Christmas ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/advent-conspiracy/ Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy. Cronyism exists when the appointer and the beneficiary are in social contact; often, the appointer is inadequate to hold his or her ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/bcs-cronyism/ The Universal Declaration of Human Rights from Seth Brau on Vimeo. I really appreciated this creative and important video. http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/universal-declaration-of-human-rights/ Many of you have heard of the website change.org where citizens can post ideas for change in the government, the top 10 of which will be presented to President Obama on his first day in office.  One that I am particularly hopeful about is establishing a Department of Peace and ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/department-of-peace/ A student in youth group sent me this video that I thought I'd pass along I thought it was so beautiful. http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/jason-castro-video/ Well Boise State has done everything that could be asked of them.  12-0 season, WAC Champions, beat Oregon State, ranked #9 in the BCS Standings.  But Utah is ranked #6 and only one Non-BCS Conference team is guarunteed a BCS bowl game if they meet the requirements... so Boise State ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/12/boise-state-and-the-bcs/ Denver lost in spectacular fashion today to the Raiders.  The foreshadowing of the kind of stomach-turning football we would enjoy today came early in the first quarter when the Broncos had driven to the Raiders RedZone on some big plays only to have Jay Cutler fumble the ball on the ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/11/broncos-disappoint/ February 22nd, 2009 will be the 81st Annual Acadamey Awards celebration.  So... we're a few months out and haven't hit the holiday movie rush but if the Oscars were held today, who would you nominate for best picture, best director, best actor in a leading role, best actress in a ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/11/2009-oscar-predictions/ Tonight as a nation we elected Barack Obama to the highest office in our country.  I am grateful for the opportunity our country has been given at this time.  An opportunity to practice a new kind of politics that is about finding common ground and working towards a more just ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/11/president-barack-obama/ If you are feeling confident about who to vote for then get out there and vote today! But, if your conscience is bothering you... if you feel like you can't give either candidate your "YES," then feel free to abstain.  There's nothing in scripture that says it's your duty to vote. Derek ... http://www.chuckp3.com/2008/11/voting/