Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

George Bush seems to be a regular ole Joe. He’s pretty cool.

*foresees comments from a certain Lutheran blogger*

The weight room is open twice a day. Normally, I go to the early session, but lately I have been sick of skinny guys and reggae pop. I went to the evening session today. Two huge scary dudes were listening to Alice In Chains while grunting and screaming. I think I’ll be going to the evening session from now. It’s way more inspirational. Plus the guys are way more friendly than the pretty boys in the afternoon session.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with what has been happening in my own life, in regard to my roommate, Tim Eaton, you can hear it from him here.

My journeys are taking me outside of Christianity…They tell me I never actually believed in God, I was never a Christian to begin with; I’m not sure whether that’s true or not. Regardless, I am not one now.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you were never one of us. You did more than taste. You imbibed, and it is turning to bitter gall. It’s hard for me to believe you’re doing this. It’s hard for me to believe this is real life. But it’s real, and it’s eternal.

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s an “About Rachel” link added right under “About Rick.”

Who else watched the season premiere tonight? What did y’all think?

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has been barred from conducting communion services in 350 Church of England parishes because of his support for women priests…

1 day, 20 hrs and 25 minutes.

I know that I am just echoing other great theologians who favor liturgical worship when I say that the actions change the heart - but it’s so true. If I don’t feel repentant over something, I can force myself to do some sort of action, like kneeling, reading a passage of scripture about sinfulness, the grace of God, etc., and my heart will be changed. Every night, my family corporately prays the Lord’s Prayer. I never can get through “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” without thinking about how I’ve failed to be forgiving, and should not expect forgiveness of my own sins if I haven’t forgiven others. It convicts me and makes me forgive my debtors every time.

I’m frustrated with people who are afraid of a lot of high-church liturgy in worship because it could become an “empty shell” or merely externals. The external affects us internally. It’s how God purposed it, and we grow through it.

Tonight Rachel and I watched Miss America. I had interesting links to two Top Ten Finalists this year. Miss California attended Riverside High School, which I pass every time I go to Rachel’s house. It’s about three miles from her house.

Second, Kelley Scott, Miss Oklahoma, is an old high school friend. She was a year behind me, and she dated my friend Brad, so she often sat at our lunch table, and she was in our “group” at prom. When she first moved to Owasso, I had the privilege of showing her around the school. Funny, the things you remember. For as much time as I spent with her, I remember remarkably little about her…though I believe she was Reformed. It was kind of weird seeing an old friend in the Miss America pageant.

I have it in my day planner to marry a girl prettier than all of the contestants.