Keep going, my friends...

There's been a solid response so far to our little game of clues...the Bartee baby boy name reveal. Thanks to all who are having as much fun with this as we are. Below is the 2nd clue, as well as a little bit of a tweak/edit on clue #1 which I think will help some of you who are scratching your head.

Let me remind you, you are welcome to send either of us as many guesses as you like (via text, Facebook, or e-mail), but please know that for the sake of this little contest you'll have to wait until this fella scoots on out before you'll know if you are correct. We never promised this to be some baby-version of Mafia where the storyteller tells the sheriff in the night if their guess of the mafia is correct!

And for the sake of secrecy, keep your guesses to us private--anyone caught running up to any member of the Bartee family (Shiloh included) and trying to submit their ideas could result in the remainder of these clues being forfeited and the reveal being shut down. On a related note: all you sweet folk out there who enjoy my daughter so much...it'd just be peachy if you'd refrain from stressing her out by asking her what her baby brother's name is...I mean, it's stressing her mother and me out, too, but, seriously...let's have fun playing the game, checking the new clues on the assigned days. Cool beans?

June 3rd Clue #1
Our son’s name was used in 3 actions movies in the ‘90s. One was comedic, one was an action flick, and one was more on the sci-fi side of the things. I wish he'd been a good guy.

June 7th Clue #2
A sports player known for his defense.

June 10th Clue #3
~~Random movie hint~~

June 13th Clue #4
~~Additional movie(s) information~~

June 18th Clue #5 (this is his projected due date!)
~~Final, ultimate clues revealed~~

The moment you've been waiting for...

Here we go, people. The time has finally arrived...the Bartee's are ready to drop some clues/hints about the name of our little baby boy who's expected arrival is in the next 2.5 weeks. I must admit I was a bit loopy on meds after passing a kidney stone late Monday night when I created this list Tuesday afternoon, but I think it will strike your curiosity and awaken the little adventurer/discoverer within you. So, glance below at the schedule of clues, and have a blast!

If you have a legitimate guess...I mean, this is something you truly think we'd name our son, not something silly or cute or you just trying to be amusing...then send me a private message on Facebook, an e-mail, or a text (for those of you out there with my cell). Carly and might tell you if you're correct...hey, it's worth a shot, yes?

June 3rd Clue #1
Our son’s name was used in 3 actions movies in the late ‘90s. One was a comedy, one was comic-book related, and one was a disaster. Sadly, each time the character was on the villainous side.

June 7th Clue #2
~~Sports-related clue~~

June 10th Clue #3
~~Random movie hint~~

June 13th Clue #4
~~Additional movie(s) information~~

June 18th Clue #5 (this is his projected due date!)
~~Final, ultimate clues revealed~~

Think before you speak

Normally I'm not into posting things that have been sent to me via e-mail, but this one was just too good to pass up, especially considering I've been married now nearly 7 years now. I realize that a few of these may be slightly exaggerated, but i found them humorous nonetheless. Enjoy, and be sure to watch what you say to the special lady in your life.

9 Words Women Use

1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something,and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you're an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says "Thanks a lot" - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say "you're welcome" ... that will bring on a "whatever").
8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying ____ YOU!
9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement,meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "What's wrong?" For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Be Careful

A few short days ago my little daughter Shiloh was running a temperature that was nearly 103. She had a cough, and was just hurting all over. I held her in my arms and for the time in my life I felt something and said something so enormous and so profound, that I surprised myself. I don't know why I was surprised when God chose to honor my request.

As I held my frail, sick daughter I said a simple prayer to the Lord, "Father, if you would just take her sickness and give it to me. If you'd just remove her symptoms and place it on me. I just want her to feel better." Now, at the time, I was sincere...I meant every word I said...it was the pulse of my heart for my sweet little girl to get well. And I remember sort of marveling at how I could come to a place of selflessness for another person, specifically as it related to pain and health and such. However, my belief and understanding of what God would do was this--that He would be proud of my selfless prayer, heal my daughter, and that would be that. I did not anticipate Him making good on my words.

I got her sickness. I got her fever. I got her cough. I got even worse drainage and swelling of my glands and throat. And did I mention I was swabbed for strep throat and missed days from work? Now, understand that being a children's minister now will put me in more direct contact with kids and their germs, but I'm thinking my illness might have been linked to those sweet, innocent, and powerful words I prayed with my daughter in my arms. Be careful when you pray and ask God for things--whether they're for you or someone else. He is listening, and delighted to grant our requests, in His own special way.

Also, be careful when you choose to read the Bible in 90 days. You're in for an adventure in discovery, discipline, and the divine. I highly encourage any believer who feels they're up for a challenge in their walk with Christ to experience this.

If you're looking for some incredible new music, be careful with Vampire Weekend. Those of you who know me recognize my musical tastes lie somewhere between classic rock and praise/worship music. This is neither of those, but boy howdy, is it something. Sort of a what a modernized '50s swing band would be, and the songs aren't even that long either. They always leave me wanting more. (warning: 2 songs do contain an offensive word, but pay particular attention to "Punk" and "Boston.")

Be careful if you choose to read The Shack. It is not something for the close-minded, the stubborn, or the judgemental. Wait a minute, maybe that's exactly who it's for. Proceed with caution, but be prepared to be encouraged in your relationship with Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu.

10 Things I Think

It has been way too long...I have aged...I have slacked from this site...and yet I've been reading my little tail off in my 90-day Bible Challenge. In fact, one of the coolest things from this past weekend @ the Saturn Road Retreat I was speaking at was this: a note from a junior high girl who said she enjoyed my talks and wished me good luck on my Bible Challenge. That little piece of paper is joining me on my Scripture journey. Okay, so here's the updated ramblings of my mind--stay tuned for a regular post in the next few days. Enjoy, friends, and thanks for taking a few minutes to bond with my brain in this digital world. Peace.

10 Things I Think...

1) The NCAA Final Four this weekend is gonna be sick. You've got the 4 #1 seeds, arguably the 4 best teams in the land, and I'd be happy with 3 of the 4 winning...and I'll admit it--I cannot stand Memphis. I've yet to see them shoot baskets, free-throws, or long putts on the green against Happy Gilmore. My bracket has Kansas cutting down the nets, but I'm just happy for some unbelievable hoops in a 48 hour span.

2) Some sports personalities took the whole April Fools Day thing the full extent of the fool. Driving into work on the local Houston channel, I heard that the Rockets had traded Luis Scola to the Kings for Ron Artest straight up. Although shocked and sort of disappointed, I took the bait. It was hard not to--they had people calling in, making conversation. And when I realized the error of my ways, I was most certainly not going to fall for it again. So when Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon (my PTI boys) led their show on April Fools with a story about how Kansas and Davidson had to replay the final 16 seconds of their game from Sunday because a player on the floor had 5 fouls and never left--I didn't bite. I was actually proud of myself this time...maybe related to that whole "fool me once, fool me twice" thing.

3) The Israelites in the Old Testament sure knew how to fight...they also knew how to complain with the best of 'em. And for the record, I apologize for always visualizing them as a bunch of wusses in turbines who just had whips and sticks for weapons--Joshua, Joab, Abner--these cats could dish it out for the Lord!

4) My wife is a pretty hot pregnant lady. If you weren't happy for me before she began to house our little fella, then you most definitely are now. And in the words of a one-legged Amy Poehler, "Jealous!?" I am a lucky fella to say the least.

5) Have to confess----there have been several moments where I've missed my XBOX 360 & Call of Duty 4. Moment of silence, please.

6) My daughter placing 6 of her dolls and babies face down on the floor, each with individual pillows and blankets for nap time is unreal. She had just moved them all over from being in the "naughty spot" (a.k.a. "Timeout).

7) Sermon prep for an Easter Message, while daunting, was actually a blessing. In fact, it was quite fun, and I rather enjoyed it...especially the time @ Panera Bread, writing my intro drama.

8) Being kissed on the cheek during the Kids Offering has to be one of my highlights as a minister. Especially when the little fella has a heart of gold, Down's syndrome, and just the biggest smile on his face as his $$ goes into the bucket.

9) So, the MLB 2008 Season has started...really? I kind of hadn't noticed.

10) Bring on the ever-close return of The Office, 30 ROCK, Battlestar Galactica, and the completion of LOST Season 4...hooray for no more writers' strike!

Decade

Friends, please excuse the excuses...but I've been kind of busy turning a page of my life. Ya know, the one where you change the first number in the first slot of your age? Man, it's almost surreal.

My absence has made my heart grow fonder, I might add. I have created lists upon lists of which I need to blog about, yet my time to sit down and be disciplined to type has escaped me. I must not embrace the mirage that everything must be quiet, peaceful, perfect (ya, the "blogging mood"), which seems to be few and far between in my world.

So I've been blessed. I mean, it's just so obvious. I've been given grace, clothed with Christ, and prompted to represent Him in the ways I do. I've got a once-in-a-lifetime wife, the most animated and darling 2-year old daughter, and a roof over my head. We have food, energy, beds, clothes, toys, gadgets, comforts, debt--we have it all, you see. And yet it's all very simple.
I'm thankful to God for giving me 30 years. That's 10,950 days of morning...of sleep...of life. And I can't help but beg Him for another 30 years--for another 60 years even! But ya know what? I'd settle for another decade. I'd be more than happy with another 5. I'd be just peachy to see what might happen over the next 12 months. And I'm scared and thrilled about what God's got in store for the next 3 months...

If you're like me, you're mostly happy with who you are. Yes, we celebrate our gifts, we have developed a healthy self-image, massage our self-worth as others encourage our self-esteem, but there's something else absent. There's this realization and recognition that I may actually be the person whom God has given multiple talents to and I've only multiplied a few of them--I haven't applied them all, or doubled them as the story goes. And it's not that we beat ourselves up about this, but it's more of a nagging reminder that we need to be who God has made us to be. Period. End of story--anything else is like a minor league baseball player with all the goods for the Big Leagues intentionally choosing to stay where he's at, turning a blind, lazy eye to the obvious mechanics of his game that would elevate him to the place that he's meant for.
I don't want to be that guy. Shame on me for all the time I sense I've wasted in the minors. At this point, I wouldn't blame the ownership for cutting ties with me altogether.

And yet, somewhere between this place of awakening and frustration...of unrest and dissatisfaction, I remember the words of my Creator, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart." And maybe that would accurately describe where I've been and where I want to be. Perhaps I've not experienced the fullness of Christ I desire at my core because my pursuit has not been with my entire heart, my entire being. And God's promise is so simple, astounding, and real.

I'd like to share with you a brief life vision I have for the next, oh, 3 months or so. You see, I've got just a few weeks over that time before my son, God-willing, comes into this world looking for his daddy. An earthly daddy which should reflect His heavenly daddy. And am I ready? I recently heard about this idea, this plan that has assimilated by several churches (particularly men's groups) to read the entire Bible in 90 days. I don't know where that strikes you--does 90 days seem like a large number, or does the task seem daunting because most of our Bibles have 4-digit page numerals at their end?!

I am completely hooked at the aggressiveness of this idea. I'm waking up and smelling the aroma of God's promise--He has agreed to meet me! He has agreed to be found--but it requires all of me, and I sense the place where that begins is from this day forward--my 30th birthday. And so for the next 90 days, my strength and mind and heart and soul will pour over God's very thoughts and words, thus launching my quest to find out more of who He is and what He's all about. I don't want to be the 1 talent guy, stuck stuttering and trembling in fear of failure. And I certainly don't want to be some hybrid talent guy who did a few things well but was capable of so much more.

God, make me your vessel. I'm asking for faith and discipline on this journey as I embark to find you. It's not that you've been hiding; I've just been choosing to sit in time-out. I beg you to reveal to me a purpose for my life that I can't imagine, though I might try to guess and piece it together on my own. You guide me, and give me the wisdom as I lead my family closer to you, and as we remain faithful to your calling. And Lord, if the conviction you've placed on my heart resonates with another, then I pray for your Spirit to move in a mighty and mysterious way. If not this idea of a 90-day feast, then may it be another innovation of restoration for their soul--at the end of the day we just want to know you more. Thank you for your holiness, your presence, and your grace in our lives. I'm coming back to the heart of my life's worship--I'm coming back to you. Thanks for waiting and not giving up on me.

10 Things I think

Okay friends, so even with my being absent in Duluth, Minnesota (good times-good people-Great God), I have still managed to create a list. I mean, with 3 different plane rides there and back (that's 6 total for all you accountants out there), I had plenty of time to think about a variety of things. So here goes, and thanks in advance for the love and visits. Peace.

10 Things I Think...

1) The Self-Checkout machines @ grocery stores can be a frustrating thing. Ya know, I like the concept and idea, but somewhere between the sensors and the scanning lies a world of "please wait for cashier assistance." Translation = I should of just gone through the regular line, waited a few extra moments (which ends up being the same amount of time anyway), and chuckled up some good conversation with the workers. There's my future plan, people.

2) After 40 pages of his writings, Barack Obama means radical, authentic business. I'm currently reading The Authenticity of Hope, and I'll be honest--it's clever. Okay, so I've grown up with this whole idea of Christians voting Republican by default, and I'm not really sure what all that means except for the abortion issue. Yes, JFK had his character flaws and personal issues, but at his core was a man driven for social action, innovation, and change. At his core, he was a leader--the kind you want to follow regardless of imperfections. Hey, Obama has 2 daughters (6 & 9), and is still trying to figure out all the purpose and meaning of life and such. But he loves God, his family, and articulates intelligence with the kind of authenticity that I gravitate toward--think Donald Miller as a politcal leader. I am intrigued.

3) Sometimes you can be so hungry, even the sauce on the Taco Bell wrapper is worth licking. So, I was in the airport in Dallas Friday and witnessed a fella do this. Like, he actually finished his taco, pulled the wrapper up to his face, and licked the excess sauce. It was odd, embarassing, and I'd never like to see it again.

4) I hope all of you watched out for double-dippers @ your Super Bowl parties. I was watching the short news clip about how thousands of bacteria can be transferred when someone double-dips and contaminates the whole bowl. They said you might as well look around the room and smooth every single person in there. Yummy.

5) Eli Manning = making the most of the Big Stage.

6) If each of us made a vow to boycott Reality TV of ANY kind, the Networks would have choice but to end the Writer's Strike. I realize that this might require a lot from some of you, being that you have an addiction to some shows with an island and immunity challenges, or even that one show that Isfsf consider glorified karyoke. Hey, but wouldn't ya rather be watching Michael Scott and the Scranton Branch?

7)I'm starting to think tha Oprah might have more purpose towards the good of humanity and the Christian mission than Joel Osteen. You are entitled to disagree here, but the fact remains that my limited scope of TV viewing seems to always display Oprah donating/helping/changing some kind of rotten situation or opressed people, and the Osteens via Lakewood Church celebrate God and themselves at the same time. I could be wrong, and I appreciate that brother Joel has given people perspective in the name of Jesus, but I see more action from the lady with white leather couches and fancy studio. Last I checked, faith without works is dead, and proclamations without action is something Jesus could care less for.

8) When my daughter sings a Sunday School Song, I could just listen forever. It doesn't matter if it's about the wise man & the rock or a little light of hers or even kum-by-yah. It's precious and priceless.

9) If you'd like to read a book about maintaining your character, check out Deadly Character Assassins. It's short, clever, not preachy or extremely religious, and bases the entire discussion around Kung Fu and Ninjas. Oh yes, that's what I said.

10) LOST Season 4 is off to a solid start--more fantab-u-lous adventure ahead.