I had the privilege of driving to the hotel this morning before church and picking up our visiting minister, an experienced gentleman named C.R. Free. He'll be speaking at church for Heritage Night.

We're dedicating a Sunday Night service to our older members, some of whom have been going to our church for over 50 years. The music will be geared more towards the older demographic; they rarely get to hear the songs they love anymore. We've been slowly getting more progressive with our music selection and volume, so hopefully they'll enjoy tonight's music.

Brother Free, however, is clearly more than an experienced elder who has come to preach Heritage Night at The Pentecostals. He is a sharp-minded man of God who immediately revealed his intellect on the drive to the church. His eyes bear a sparkle of wisdom when he speaks--a far off look of understanding and wisdom comes across his face when he begins talking about God.

I've only spent a few minutes thus far with Bro. Free, but I already respect him greatly, and not only because of the respect his age and experience commands. I'm looking forward to tonight.

Feeling beyond tired but knowing rest is still days away...is a bad, bad feeling.

Having fun on ESCAPE 2007

"Spin it with Beckham"

Yes, yes, I know! It's "bend it like Beckham." But the MLS and Los Angeles Galaxy are heralding David Beckham as the savior of soccer in America. The question is whether or not the excitement is warranted.

Beckham received the obligatory panic attacks (or applause, perhaps) every time he would simply receive the ball last Saturday night. The media covered the mess out of the game. Hollywood was watching. America, believe it or not, seemed to be watching as well. It was the first time I had ever seen a soccer game actually playing on the large screens at Buffalo Wild Wings at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City.

Sure, people are crazy about Beckham. But are they crazy about soccer?

I have news for you; if you didn't like soccer before (or don't know if you like it or not), David Beckham is not the one to make you a believer. He has traditionally played as a right midfielder. In other words, he is a passer. He is not a scorer. Yeah, he BENDS ONE IN every now and then with his spectacular free kicks, but he only scored 15 goals in 4 years of club play with Spanish giants Real Madrid. He's a setup man.

He's not fast. He's not particularly skilled with his dribbling. He's not flashy...except for his hair. He can't really use his left foot (understatement). He's NOT going to score a ton of mesmerizing goals. David Beckham is a passer. He is a REALLY good passer. He is one of the best set-piece players in the world, if not the best ever. But he's not awe-inspiring to an untrained eye.

Simply stated: David Beckham is not going to draw that many brand spankin' new LEGITIMATE fans to the sport. Giggling girls will line up to see him, but serious sports fans who have thus far been oblivious to the fact that the rest of the world is in love with the beautiful game are not going to be swooned by Beckham's metrosexual appearance and teeeeny weeny high-pitched voice.

So what can Becks bring to America? OTHER STARS!

If Beckham can increase attendance and revenues, not just for the LA Galaxy, but for the rest of the country, then the MLS just might be able to allure some other big-name stars. MLS needed Beckham, but he might be best used as the biggest lure in the sport. MLS needs a Thierry Henry or a Ronaldinho. Beckham might help bring someone like that across the pond.

Okay, that might be a bit unrealistic. Fine. MLS needs a Brazilian maestro, who does with a Soccer ball what Steve Nash does with a basketball. MLS needs FLAIR and refined talent, not just the methodical American players who permeate the league. MLS doesn't need hand-me-down Europeans and sub-par South Americans. MLS needs some big guns, much like the NASL had with Pele, Best, and Beckenbauer. The NASL handled everything wrong, of course, but it might have worked if managed properly.

The Galaxy is a below-average team (second from last in their conference). Beckham is a great, but businesslike player. MLS is short on style and deep in delusions of grandeur. The All Star team beating Celtic in a friendly isn't going to prove anything to anyone. The SuperLiga is a good way to gain respect. However, MLS isn't going to do it with its current crop of players.

I'm excited about the potential Beckham brings, but I'm still not sure if America is ready to understand, appreciate, and fall in love with soccer.

But one can wish...

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (NLT)

But sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world-to people and angels alike. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our own. We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash-right up to the present moment.

Okay, I have to add this. Check out this slideshow of Steve Bloom in action...

A Photographer's Life

Brave little fella!

For those of you who aren't around me often, you might not be aware that my latest addiction is photography. I've always loved photography, but I've never had a good enough camera to take shots that I would consider anything more than sentimental. That is, until I picked up my Canon XTi a few weeks ago. It's not the top-of-the-line camera by ANY means at all, but it's worlds beyond my old stuff.

I like all kinds of photography. I'm the Discovery Channel type of guy, so I really like scenic and wildlife photography. I'm also a fan of portrait photography, as long as it's of the photojournalistic style. I'm not the biggest fan of traditional studio photography.

With all that being said, I'd like to direct your attention to a few links of photographers whose work I enjoy and admire...

Mark Eric - Mark's Blog

Mark was the photographer at me and Shari's wedding on April 7, 2007. Shari knew Mark from POA in Alexandria, and evidently had heard he was pretty darn good. Come to think of it, I can't remember how we go hooked up to have Mark shoot our wedding.

The day of our engagement shoot, we roamed around downtown Shreveport, and Mark talked about how he didn't care for the traditional wedding photography style, with poses that were talked through in detail. He liked the natural look, with real emotions. We were totally sold on it even before seeing our engagement shots.

Mark's business has exploded. He's been featured in the New York Times, interviewed by Good Morning America and other nationally-broadcast shows, and all of the attention he's getting is well deserved. Go check his stuff out.

Steven Myers - Steven's Blog

Steven's another great photographer of the photojournalistic ilk. He's from West Monroe, and does some of the best portrait photography you can find, along with his wedding/bridal/engagement/etc. stuff. His latest stuff has had this really sweet textured, gritty look that I'm really impressed with.

Simply stated: he's gooood.

Steven shot Kris and Sarah's wedding (friends of mine) a few months ago, and really milked everything he good out of the beautiful plantation setting. He's a great, humble guy, and really knows what he's doing behind the lens.

Daily Dose of Imagery

This is the site of Sam Javanrouh, an Iranian-born Canadian living in Toronto. Apparently the pictures he posts on this site are taken for his personal enjoyment. He just happens to have a really good eye, along with some great equipment to capture the beautiful shots he comes across, mostly in the Toronto area. I check his site every single day, and I just wanted to share the love.

Steve Bloom - Some Wildlife Shots by Steve

Baron sent me the second link the other day, and this guy takes some REEEEALLY cool wildlife pictures. I'm all about the monkeys, so those were particularly cool. I don't know a lot about Steve Bloom's work, but everything I have seen, I like. A lot.

I check Mark, Steven, and Sam's sites every single day to check for new material. I really like the stuff I find there, and it's very helpful for getting new ideas, even for everyday amateur photography of a personal nature. Check 'em out.

Anger is a funny thing. Even when you think it doesn't exist inside of yourself, it lies dormant and waiting, even for months.

Burying things within and neglecting to address them for long periods of time will inevitably result in a reaction that is an exaggerated caricature of the pain and frustration that has finally come to light. Apologies and apparent resolution does little to quell the deeply-rooted discomfort that instigated the reaction in the first place.

Long story short: the result of unrestricted anger does little to solve the problem. It only settles it a bit deeper.

Hotel water.

For years I've been baffled when trying to take showers at hotels. I'm using soap, shampoo, and what appears to be water, but there's something peculiar happening...nothing washes off.

You can soap up and stand under the water, but THE SOAP JUST STICKS TO YOU! You can try to wash the shampoo out of your hair for 10 minutes, but with one rub of the hands through your hair, you'll feel the slippery Suave elixir taunting you in the strands of your hair.

My wife and I bring our own soap and shampoo, which washes off just fine at home. My conclusion: hotels are using quasi-water!

That's right. You heard me La Quinta, Holiday Inn, and Best Western! You're using sub-par quasi-water! Sure, it looks like water. It feels like water. It might even taste like water, but it is not water!

This startling revelation led me to conclude that hotels must be using water that has been artificially manufactured in Hong Kong or China. There is little doubt that they must also be using young children to sweat in factories for hours a day manufacturing this "water." It's like the t-shirt that you wear that begins unraveling only months after an average bit of usage. Cotton? Perhaps, but undoubtedly it is not very well put together.

Well, this water is not properly put together! I demand a federal investigation into this "water" that hotels supply to their unwitting customers! I demand American-made water! AND I DEMAND IT NOW!!!

Wrong!

Okay, I lied. I'm still going to use this page, simply because the Mac one takes a bit too long to make one stupid little post. It's incredibly annoying.

MOVED!

For the 3 of you that are out there, I am moving my blog to RYAN AUSTIN DEAN, and it will stay there as long as I have a .mac account (presumably forever).

So go there, bookmark it, and spread the good news.

I knew this was going to happen...

I've been smitten with serious iPhone envy. I want one. I don't just want one...I looooong for one. Sound creepy yet? Good, because it is getting very weird. I watch the videos on Apple's site. I'm not talking about the commercials. I'm talking about the "this is how you turn the iPhone on" videos...the simple stuff!

Last night I saw one in person for the very first time. A friend of mine, Derek, is the early adopter kind of guy, so he whipped his out after the church service (I'm at camp meeting in Alexandria, LA). I was smitten. He had complaints about push calendar syncing, but the Apple fanboy in me longed for one of my own. Now one of my oldest friends, Brad, has one. Another ancient friend, Josh, is looking for one.

Me? I'm just trying to figure out some way to get my hands on one. No ideas are coming. I'll just suffer in near-silence.

Hysteria.

That's the only word that fits. People camped out for days, sweating out the intense summer heat with umbrellas and smiles. The release of one of the most-desired products of all time was accompanied by mass hysteria. Even if some of the hottest places in the United States, people camped out overnight, fighting other tech fans, blistering weather, and a roll of the eyes from Apple haters.

You didn't have to look far to be touched by the iPhone. Not an Apple fan? No big deal! If you turned on a television...iPhone. If you read a newspaper or magazine...iPhone. If you looked anywhere, it seems...iPhone!

It started with a keynote presentation by Apple's CEO and perennial mind-blower, Steve Jobs. I watched this presentation the day of the iPhone's unveiling - January 9, 2007. The iPhone had been rumored for years. Apple fans speculated on what kind of advancements it would bring to the market, but even the best guesses weren't quite accurate. Touch screen, no stylus, and patented out the wazoo, the iPhone blew minds as soon as Apple fans worldwide saw it.

But it wasn't only the Apple fans that nearly blew a gasket; it was everyone. The iPhone is that beautiful, that simple, and in many ways, as revolutionary as Steve Jobs made it seem. Tech geeks and journalists have often referred to the effect that Jobs has upon those who listen to his voice as his "reality distortion field." Jobs can make ANYTHING seem cool. The amazing part is that the things Apple puts out are almost universally beautiful and intuitive. The iPhone is no different.

There are already complaints with the iPhone. Many of them can be addressed through future software updates (lack of IM). Others will require hardware changes (8 GB is NOT enough for several movies or TV shows). But one thing is certain: the iPhone is off to a blazing start. If it can ride the media wave it's currently on, it will continue to sell throughout 2007. If it proves to be as much fun to use as it appears, then it will revolutionize the industry forever.

That's not hyperbole. That's the iPhone.