1. What is your favorite scary movie?
Poltergeist. I can remember having nightmares from watching that movie when I was younger. It’s the classic scary movie without getting into all the blood and gore which some horror movies are infamous for. I was never into the Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Freddy movies. These type of fantasy movies just seemed a bit unbelieveable.
Ghostbusters was a good movie. I think if it hadn’t been a comedy, it could have turned into a good scary movie.
2. What is your favorite Halloween treat?
3 Musketeers or M&Ms. I hated anything with nuts in it. Why ruin a perfectly good candy bar and put peanuts in it? I usually gave the ones with nuts to my mom.
On a side note, I remember when we were younger, our parents would always take my sister and I over to my grandparents’ house for Halloween. Granny would always have Juicy Fruit gum for us.
3. Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, describe your best Halloween costume.
I never had any good costumes for Halloween. Usually it was something lame like a ghost or just a mask. Other people’s costumes were always better than mine. I guess they put more thought into planning it.
4. Do you enjoy going to haunted houses or other spooky events?
I didn’t actually start going to Haunted Houses until I was in college. Even then it was sorta stupid.
The first haunted house I went to was in elementary school. We had a fall festival. One of the ticketed attractions was a haunted house. Usually it was a bunch of setups with headless bodies, skeletons, and junk like that. Then at the end someone would jump out and scare you. It was put together by members of the PTA. When I was really young, I would have been too scared to go into those.
As a side note, a few years back there was a trend among churches to have dramatic spiritually centered “Judgement Houses.” Similar to haunted houses, these are dramatic performances which show the ultimate end fo the “good kid” vs. the “bad kid.” Basically they attempt to scare kids into following Christ. They show them what heaven and hell could be like. After the performance they offer spiritual counseling. I don’t really like this approach. Important spiritual decisions should never be made on the basis of emotional appeal. Once the new convert looses that emotion, they will also loose the desire to follow God. I’ve seen it happen over and over. Emtional appeals are made….either scaring someone or playing on their emotions (ie “Feel Good” religion). Rather, decisions like this should be made only after serious thoughtful consideration of the outcome and determined committment.
For some odd reason, I have heard less and less about these type “Judgement Houses” around here. I guess churches are two busy fighting the lottery. Or maybe they finally realized this type of approach just doesn’t work.
5. Will you dress up for Halloween this year?
Probably not. Although I will hand out candy. Last year we didn’t have any kids coming to the door. I guess I live in an older neighborhood.
We record each and every sermon at church. I’ve been noticing we are getting more and more people who request to be on the church tape mailing list. Right now we are upto 23 people. The latest – a truck driver from Ohio. How do these people find out about our tape ministry? Currently we can only dub 3 tapes at a time. We are trying to purchase a larger tape dubber – one which can do as many as 6 or 7 tapes at a time. These dubbers are high speed dubbers which do both sides at the same time. Usually only takes 5 minutes. Yet these 5 minutes tend to add up when you end up doing it 5 times.
Author Archives: Jeff Whittle
The Great Anti-Lottery Sign Tour
My day:
- 6:50AM – Leave home
- 8:13AM – Pick up 700 No Lottery signs at Granny White Church of Christ
- 9:32AM – Deliver 50 signs to an address outside of Lebanon, TN
- 10:31AM – Deliver 100 signs to Willow Ave Church of Christ, Cookeville, TN
- 10:54AM – Deliver 50 signs to an individual at the Putnam County Justice Building in Cookeville, TN.
- 11:38AM – Met individual in Wal-Mart parking lot in Sparta, TN, to deliver 500 signs.
- Back to MJ by 12:50PM
I don’t know why I kept up with this. I took digital pictures of each of the places I delivered signs to. So, the timestamp on the picture shows when I was there.
Some thoughts: Cookeville has every restaurant known to man within a 2 mile stretch on exit 287. And I mean EVERYTHING.
2 of the individuals I met weren’t affliliated with the church of Christ, yet they seemed friendlier than the other “church of Christ” people. I don’t know why that is….
When I was up at the Justice Building in Cookeville, I noticed 2 Spanish-looking men talking to a lady behind a window. She was chewing them out because they didn’t understand something. She mentioned something about learning to speak English. I felt it was rude of her, but typical of someone living in a semi-rural part of the south who hadn’t been forced to travel to a different country to experience different cultures. We treat individuals who don’t necessarily speak English fluently with less respect. It would have helped if there was some type of translator standing by (this was a building of courts; there were probably some available). Anyways I’m not sure what these people wanted, so it’s really none of my business. I just wish this particular lady hadn’t been rude to them.
I don’t know if I should feel bad for not believing in this anti-lottery movement more. Like I said before, I’m not loosing sleep over it. I have yet to see book, chapter, verse which tells me that lotteries are sinful. Yes, it probably brings about bad things in society. But then again, lots of other things can do this too. And we aren’t exactly vigorously campaigning against those things. Should I feel bad for putting effort behind something that I’m not 100% behind?
Church Vans and Footwashings
“He who angers you controls you”
–seen on a marquee of a church sign near my home.
There’s a white 15 passenger van setting in my driveway as I type this. I’m making sure I don’t stop to use pay phones, especially in the metropolitan Washington area. Actually it’s the church van. I’m taking a vanload of signs to Cookeville and Sparta tomorrow. Folks just can’t get enough of those “No Lottery” signs. I felt guilty listening to “Jane Says” by Jane’s Addiction in the church van driving home from church. The song isn’t vulgar or anything (actually it’s pretty cool – when was the last time you hear a Jamacian style kettle drum in a rock song?).
I taught the great footwashing episode of John 13 to the 5th and 6th graders tonight. For the most part it went ok. Some of the boys just couldn’t keep quiet. I’d much rather see them keep quiet when the Bible is being read. Might have to separate them. Anyways I hope the class got something out of the lesson. Sometimes I really don’t know if they are actually listening. But then they say something later on which reminds me that they are listening, even when you don’t think they are.
I tried going to a particular consulting agency today. Out of the numerous ones I called, this was the only one which was staffed with a live person – the rest had voicemail – which they don’t bother returning messages. I told this particular consulting agency that I was looking for a job in the IS field. They told me to come in and fill out an application. When I arrived, I started filling out an application. 5 minutes later they told me that applicants looking for IS jobs should submit their resume online. So there was no need for me to come in. It is frustrating. Why bother anymore?
This is what breaking news is turning into these days
What its like working at a gas station in Maryland.
Trip to Jackson, TN
Got called by David Shannon, our minister, at 10AM today. He asked me to take 1500 “No Lottery” signs to Jackson. So I did. It was a good 2 hours and a half to get there. Phil Waggoner rode with me and drove the way back. It was good to have some company along. Phil is a good guy. He’s a good listener and a geniune person. He may not be the best planner in the world, but he tries. He has an honest drive to seek and save the lost. Easy to approach. Good guy.
The ride down there was fairly uneventful. We ran into a traffic jam around Bellevue. Road construction again. We pulled into Dickson for lunch. Phil said he couldn’t eat at Wendy’s, Burger King, or McDonald’s, which is fine by me because I was having hamburgers for supper at a cookout tonight. That left Subway, Ruby Tuesdays, and Cracker Barrel at this particular exit. I opted for Subway since we really didn’t have time for a real “sit down” meal. Ugh. I still don’t understand why everyone loves Cracker Barrel. I can’t find much I like there. I usually end up getting a ham and cheese omlette. I guess I’m not into country food.
I got back and immediately went to the cookout for the audio/visual team at church. We got together and discussed what we’d like to do for the upcoming year. The main things – a bigger and better tape dubber; a possible batch CD burner – if we ever go to CDs rather than tapes.
I have got to study over my lesson for Wednesday’s night Bible class. I was hoping to look over it today, but the trip to Jackson didn’t make it possible. So I’m hoping to look over it tomorrow. There is nothing worse than looking like an idiot in front of a bunch of 11 and 12 year olds. Or maybe it’s looking like an idiot in the middle of a job interview.
A job interview? What’s that? I haven’t had one lately….
Things I’m looking forward to:
- The Wallflowers upcoming album – “Red Letter Days.” November 5th.
- Corinth’s Bible Bowl – October 27th. Probably a good way to keep in touch with the folks at Portland. Seeing kids get excited about studying the Bible is always a spiritual high.
- Scottsville’s Hayride – October 26th. Although I’m not sure if my long time friends will be there. I still need to call and see if anyone I know will be there. I know that’s bad to say, but there are so many people who I don’t know at Scottsville, I’m sorta reluctant to show up at a function and be with a bunch of strangers.
Cardboard CD Packaging
Darrell seems to think that this whole weblog is about my rantings. I don’t think I rant all the time, do I? Its just whenever he visits this page, I am probably expressing some strong opinion on something which he misconstrues as ranting.
That being said, let me rant about something for a moment. Cardboard CD packaging. I bought 2 CDs yesterday. Tom Petty’s “The Last DJ” and the Gin Blossoms’ “New Miserable Experience – Deluxe Edition.” Both came in those crappy environmentally-friendly cardboard packaging. I want my CDs in plastic cases, thank you very much. Plastic cases don’t wear out over time. Cardboard degrades. You can’t hope to keep it new looking at all. So more than likely I’ll probably put these CDs in some extra plastic cases I have lying around and make a feeble attempt to save the cardboard cases for posterity later on.
Some friends from church emailed me from Wyoming. Seems they’ve run into Ethan Eades out there in Cody. Ethan had moved there from Scottsville. Small world. But then again I guess all of the church of Christ people know each other through someone. It’s that theory of 7 degrees of separation.
Guess the Dictator or Sitcom
Nirvana Redux
I was out Saturday night with some friends from college. After dinner at the Cooker, we went to a used CD store – the Great Escape. There wasn’t much significance with that, except I did see a Lipscomb alumnus working out there. I was sorta surprised, since I was reasonably sure this guy graduated. And now he’s working retail. (Putting that diploma to work) Well, maybe he’s like me and in between jobs. I have considered getting a job at Computer Renaissance (local small computer retail store). But I probably won’t unless I get really bored.
From the “My Dad Can Beat Up Your Dad” Files: Caroline Kennedy and Sergei Khrushchev Meet. Enough with the commemorative stuff about the Cuban Missle Crisis. We’ve had enough already.
Newsweek has dug up the Kurt Cobain’s Diaries When I first heard of Nirvana….around ’91 or ’92, I didn’t really care for their music. Kurt had a certain rural twang to his voice which I couldn’t take. Much of it left a bad taste in my mouth. There was something wrong with having a naked baby on the cover of “Nevermind” (which is why I never bought the album). “In Utero,” their last album was meant to offend. And at times it offended me.
But since Kurt’s death, I learned to like them, especially their unplugged performance….calm, peaceful…. “You Know You’re Right,” the last song recorded by the band, was just released to radio stations. Apparently Courtney Love must have dug it out of her attic. That song is great…strong….driving rock song. Much to the point. It’s amazing that the music is just as relevant as it is today as it was then. You still hear Nirvana songs being played on the radio. Let’s see….in 1991, “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer was big. Do you ever hear Hammer music on the radio anymore? Nirvana had staying power that other music just can’t claim.
What I don’t like is people making Kurt out to be some type of rock god. He wasn’t. He was a leading change agent in music of the ’90s and beyond. But he wasn’t a god; he was just in the right place at the right time. But then he squandered it by giving in to a life of drugs and booze. What could have been will never be answered. We keep asking the same thing in regards to Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Shannon Hoon (Blind Melon), etc…
At the risk of sounding sappy, I enjoy church on Sundays. Going there reminds me that there are people there who truly like me and want me around. Sure, there are plenty of people who just go to feel good about themselves (late to arrive; leave early before the closing prayer). But then there are the “real” people who stay a long time afterwards….and are genuinely concerned for you.
Speaking of prayers, I did the opening prayer for the PM service on Sunday. Kevin Bass had me convinced afterwards that I said “Thank you for the sick,” a well known potential mess up which I’ve had a fear of since my early middle school years. But then he told me he had just been joking with me. I just let the words flow, not sure of what I had said exactly. I, like most people, have the problem when praying of asking God for things, without actually giving Him the praise He deserves. Praise vs. Petition. Too much petition these days. Not enough praise.
The Great Anti-Lottery Sermon
The way the pews are setup at the church building, some of them are perpendicular to the pulpit. I was sitting in one of those pews today. Across the way, there are another set of pews facing the pulpit, perpendicular the other direction. So these 2 sets of pews mirror each other. Across the way I could see 2 teenaged girls giggling during the sermon. They were poking each other, and in general weren’t listening. The pew was somewhat on the front row; so everyone on my side of the church could see exactly what they were doing. It would have been as bad if I didn’t realize that both of these girls had become Christians just a few months before. I expected them to be able to sit quietly and listen to the sermon. I guess those expectations were just too high. What was bad was that I was sitting right beside some boys the same age as those girls. All of them at least were acting like they were listening, following along with their Bibles. So I know that even at that age, listening can be done.
And everyone wanted a tape of today’s sermon – The Dangers of the Lottery. There wasn’t alot of scripture reference during it, only that we should be good citizens and follow our government’s laws. As far as the lottery message was concerned, it was of using statistics of crime increase and other symptoms of society attributed to lottery implementation.
Just surfing around the web today. I wonder what happened to these people who were waiting in line for 5 months for Star Wars Episode II ( at www.waitingforstarwars.com ). No updates on the site since April 21. I would have expected some big fanfare when they finally got in to see it. But nothing can be found. Makes me wonder if all this hype was worth it. Will they do the same thing for Episode III?
And I still haven’t seen Episode II. I’ll be waiting for it to come on TV, which might be Spring of 2003.
Still trying to figure this news story out. A friend of mine submitted the link to Fark, but it didn’t make the cut. The news report video is pretty funny.
Nashville Govt’s Ebid site…find really
Nashville Govt’s Ebid site…find really cheap stuff here.
Job Searching
The job search has gone into a rut. I didn’t do anything in the realm of job searching for the later part of this week. I have exhausted all of my 1st person contacts. Would blind calls to HR departments get me a job? I didn’t think so. Why even bother anymore? I should be able to get a job based on my experience and the content of my character. I hate kissing butt in order to get the job. Job hunting is a game. Some people are very good at schmoozing. I’m not. Looking for non-existant jobs is getting me nowhere.
At times I do tend to find excuses to go up to church during the week, if only to have human interaction during the day. A couple of times I’ve gone out to eat with Phil Waggoner, our youth minister, and have found that he’s good guy. Out of all of our youth ministers, he is probably the one who I’ve had the most in common with. John Thomas and I were on different channels – personality clash. Joey Davis….well let’s not go there. Bill Speight was my own youth minister when I was in high school, yet since I have been out of high school we lost touch. He moved to Chattanooga which made it even impossible to keep in touch.
Phil tells me to keep my head up; to have a good attitude. My general nature is to be negative toward life. I enjoy the Gen-X inspired songs of the early 90s. “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam; “I Hate My Generation” by Cracker; “Creep” by Radiohead – at times they’re all anthems for me.
In retrospect I’d say life is precious and I shouldn’t waste it. If it were to suddenly end, that would be it. Nothing to view from afar; just end. I can’t afford that. At times I do get depressed. That’s when I tell myself there’s still plenty of work to do around here. Being a mentor to kids. Paying attention to them when they ask you questions, or just asking how their day was. Trying my best to teach them something somehow. Being nice to an old person. Updating church webpages. Making sermon tapes for shut-ins. Smiling more often. A recent title to a rock album was “Learning How to Smile.” At times I am still learning how to smile. You can’t fake it, like some people do in job interviews. To be genuinely happy is to feel good about oneself. For me it is to make a difference. If I am not making a difference, then I might as well pack up and go home.