My Leather Endeavor

My High School lit teacher, Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator, females in a heist and the vast majority of bikers and pilots. This is a group that shares little in common. There is, however, one thing that strings them all together.

That's right, 

Leather Jackets. 

And just recently I got so close to buying one at a local Dillard's that it made me question why I haven't considered one before. Turns out, there is a long, deep subconscious reason why. And thus begins tonights post...

First, let's just get this fact out there. Leather jackets look good. Period. I don't care who you are. I've seen people of all shapes and sizes that, upon sporting leather, have transformed into an entirely new person. For instance, the two shots below were part of a 1992 experiment taken to study the effects of leather-wearing. 

The first picture is of the subject without a leather jacket. Notice too, that he is wearing a jacket, but not a leather one. 

The subject seems rather unpleasant and a bit confused. Typical for non-leather wearers. 

Moments later scientist then provide a leather jacket to the same man -causing an instantaneous reaction.  

They still don't know where she came from. 

Apart from the obvious good-looking nature of the leathered man, the most important thing to notice is the confidence in which leather jackets bring. 

Go watch any action movie. Literally ANY of them. They'll all feature a leathered man. And whether it's just a cultural thing or not, us American boys grow up watching good guys kick the bad guys butt, all while wearing you know what. So looking back, I think it's safe to say that I've always wanted a leather jacket, but I just didn't know I wanted one. That is till last week when Carmon and I went to Dillard's to look at jackets. 

Now, our move to Japan is coming up soon, and the AET's (Assistant English Teachers) there said that April is surprisingly cold. So, being that everything in Japan is 4 times the price here, we thought we should take advantage of the coat sales at Dillard's, especially since my $80 Target jacket is falling apart only after a year of use! 

Pronounced "moron-a"

The "Sale"

Aside from the apparent lack of build-strenght, I've enjoyed my Target coat. Heavy, black, wool, interior and exterior pockets... add a scarf and I'm as metro as they come. 

*Add mug to increase trendiness. 

So when I went into Dillard's, that's really all I was wanting. Just a replacement of the one I've got. And like the heading suggests, there was a sale. 50% off the lowest marked price. Keep in mind we're on the tail end of winter and at that time they had been marked down like two or three times, which means if we were to buy one of the jackets now ...we'd still be getting ripped off. BUT... at least we're not getting as ripped off as we would if the sale weren't happening (or so my wife puts it). I sort of see the justification. Sort of. Regardless, we're there, we're looking for coats, we'll spend the money. 

Then, all of the sudden, Carmon walks up with something. 

Something intimidating. 

Something rugged, sleek and Sexy. 

Something, that at one time... moo'd. 

T'was a leather jacket.

As I've said already, I didn't, nor have I ever really wanted a leather jacket. But for some reason this one was beckoning me. I dismissed the idea at first. But as the night went on, I found my mind wandering back to it. I tried to ignore it, then I fought it... but as I strolled passed the countless aisles and racks of clearance coats and price-cut parka's... I knew... I knew that I had to go back. 

So I did. 

And as I slid my arms through those cold satin lined sleeves a bond was formed. A bond unlike any thing today...  More like the days of old, when dragon and slayer formed a truce, so too did the leather and I. 

"You're not by chance a medium, are you?" 

Reflecting in the mirror, there I stood, leather jacket and all. It felt good of course, but the real kicker was how well it fit. Not too loose but not too tight. My new emergent belly seemed to disappear behind the cool dark brown hide. Whether through allusion or miracle, this jacket gave the appearance I was in shape. I modeled it for my wife, and I could tell by the look on her face that she too thought it was a winner. 

"Why had I never looked into leather before?" I thought, "It's soooo nice!" 

The more I wore it in the store the heavier it got. Not in it's weight though... but in it's burden. Like Frodo carrying the ring, I was beginning to feel the responsibility and expectations that comes with a leather jacket.  Do I have what it takes? 

I can't fight. 

I can't drive above 45 on a motorcycle without freaking out.

I can't fly a plane or dodge bullets. 

Reality, my friends, was sinking in. If I can't do any of those things then I don't deserve a leather jacket. But then I thought, "maybe the reason I can't do those things is because I don't have a leather jacket." Yes! That's it. Surely once I get one, those things will come to fruition. Surely. I started to justify the buy in my head. But there was one problem...

The Price

Marked down three times and half off that price it still came to something like $150. It looked good. But as I started to check out I was thinking practicalities. Will this awesome looking peace of clothing keep me warm in freezing, rainy, snowy Japanese weather? 

Gulp. 

I couldn't bring myself to get it. As much as I wanted it I just couldn't do it. What I need is something like what I had. The Metro, not the moto. So, that night, even after all that bonding... I left the jacket there, unable to convince myself of adoption. 

65% off my butt!

Days later and the darned thing is still on my mind! By this time, I've spoken with my mother about said jacket and weaseled my way into her checkbook. She willingly offered to help me with my leather endeavor in which case I accepted. Upon further queries upon Dillard's website I found that the 50% off sale had changed to a 65% off sale. It was a sign from the almighty himself! 

"Great savings I declare!"

Well, come to find out, that 65% off was really 65% off original price. The prior sale was 50% off lowest marked price. Ultimately that means I would have had to pay $50 more for the 65% off sale! WHAT!?!?! Who makes a sale go up? I'll tell you who... DILLARDS! No way in the world was I going to pay that extra $50! 

It was a bummer to say the least, but hey, that's what you get when you read God out of context.  

So all that to say that I never bought the jacket. 

BUT... there is still hope. 

For as I was walking out of Dillard's that night a salesman told me the original sale would be back on this thursday. 

Am I going back? 

What do you think?

For I can still hear that jacket calling my name. 

Reminding me of the covenant we made that one fateful night. 

I dream of the day we will be reunited, and I hope 'tis soon.  

Ignorance is(n't) bliss

Ok, so there's not too many exciting things that have happened in my life this past week. I mean, as far as I'm permitted to reveal on this blog at least. Theoretically, I definitely could have saved the world and you not have ever even known one thing about it. For all you know, I've got connections with the MIB.

I'd be in the pic but somebody had to take it. 

Sadly though, I didn't save the world and had a fairly normal and event-free monday through friday. So, I thought I'd stray from the norm and write about something a little different. I'm just spitballing here. Totally random...how about...

Ignorance is bliss (at least in the movies)

For example, if the MIB existed (they do) and the movies (documentaries) were for reals (they are) then that would mean you and I would be (are) in complete bliss concerning the state of the Universe. We go about our lives totally unaware of the impending doom we are certain to face and all that stands between us and total annihilation is the fresh prince and Tommy Lee... or if you live in the Marvel universe - Hawk Eye.

Because he totally saved the world.

In the movies, us civilians are always oblivious to the catastrophes headed our way. Of course as the audience we know all along that the Titanic does in fact sink, or that those dinosaurs just wont be content behind their fences, and we certainly wouldn't be ok with Bond grabbing the correct set of nuke codes in the prologue. We love conflict, we love drama, we love stories that stack our hero's up against the most unsurmountable odds.
Why?
Well, first off, it would just be boring as ever if that weren't the case.

"Houston, we totally don't have a problem." 

Secondly, it makes for good movie material. You can't have a story without some conflict or tension, and the more a film or book can build that up the better. And the best part of it all is that after the movie's over we can just get up and walk out. We aren't left with the devastating effects of the movie's reality. It is, after all, just a movie. When Earth's last hope was cast upon the likes of Bruce Willis and his rag-tag oil drilling team, you and I didn't have to suffer through all the PTSD that would have inevitably followed for most of civilization.

Speaking of Armageddon...

This last week an asteroid (lovingly named DA14) big enough to wipe out New York City came within 17,000 miles of our planet. Doesn't seem close until you realize that most of our satellites are in orbits further away than that. Ok, so no big deal you might say. It came close, but we've known it was coming for years and years and years and we knew it wouldn't hit us and ..... WHOA!

Out of nowhere another space rock slams into our atmosphere completely unannounced, not invited, and very matter-of-factly. How rude.

Ya. That exact same day DA14 was passing by our planet, mother Russia got a little surprise.
And when I say little I really mean 7 to 12 thousand ton rock little. The comet, one completely separate an unassociated with the other huge asteroid, exploded and broke apart in our atmosphere before it could hit the Earth. It wasn't anything to be too concerned about, however it was big enough for the shock of the explosion alone to shatter glass windows and send over 1,000 people to the hospital.

No doubt this is a rare occurrence, but it goes to show just how vulnerable we are. How ironic that on the one day that so many eyes were turned to the skies to view DA12, a day that should have been proof of humanities ability to be "in the know" about such things, a day that we all knew, in a sense, there's no need to worry about it, that same day - another rock took us by surprise.

I'd go so far as to say that the level of our  ignorance isn't as dissimilar to the movies as we'd like to think. Honestly, I'd say it's worse, because our ignorance is almost a willing ignorance. What do I mean?

I guarantee you I could ask 10 average, normal Okies who won the Thunder game last night and 8 out of 10 would be able to tell me instantly. They'd probably even go on to quote some statistics and special moments, too. Now, ask those same 10 people which country just went forth with their third Nuclear test and odds are you wont have the same fervent regurgitation of facts. I'm not ripping on Okies here either. It's just us as a people in general. America. It's not that we don't like being "in the know" about the rest of the planet. It's just that we really aren't bothered that much if we aren't.

"Did you hear about Syria invading..."
"SHHH! Pawn Stars back on!" 

First VIDEO blog & my trip to Minneapolis

What do you get when you combine plaid, apple products, messenger bags and a love for God's word? 

That's right... The Desiring God Pastor's Conference! 

This last week Ryan, Matt and I (and every other Bridgeway intern) were invited to attend the annual conference for pastors (or pastors-to-be) put on by Desiring God ministries. The three of us drove there because we lack a certain monetary substance that is required to board planes nowa' days. Thankfully, we had a really nice car to get us there, and the twelve hour trip was actually pretty fun. 

Sucker. 

Anyhow, I brought my camera along so I could try putting together a video blog (Vlog?).

I think I screwed up the audio but hey, it's my first one so don't expect to see it at any film festivals.

I am NOT a professional!

Well, at least that's one way those in ministry should be viewed.

And it turns out that's actually the theme of a conference I'll be headed to tomorrow afternoon, in Minneapolis Minnesota. It's an annual pastors conference with Desiring God Ministries, and my church is sponsoring my trip. Well, the cost of the conference at least. Me and two other interns are making the drive there.

What's that?

Minneapolis is like a million miles away from Oklahoma?

No worries, I've been needing to catch up on my uncomfortably cramped road trips. My body was just about healed of the 90,000 miles I logged with the Summer Singers over the past 3 years, so this conference came just in time. 

"Were you able to get any sleep back there, Jim?"

Honestly, I'm really looking forward to it. I hate that'll I'll be away from the Ol' Wife for a few days but I think this conference is just what I need.

The theme of the conference is actually taken from a book John Piper wrote about ten years ago. It's called, "Brothers, We Are NOT Professionals." What's cool about this whole scenario is that not only was it the first Piper book I read, but it was one of the first big game changers for how I viewed the call to ministry. I find it interesting that I was exposed to it first at the beginning of my college career and here I am now, about to go to a conference focused on revisiting it's topics, right after I've graduated. 

Amazon link*

Taking a quick glance through the book I've come across a plea from Piper I had highlighted. It's a pretty good representation of what this book -and this conference I assume- is all about. 

"First, submit yourselves to God. Draw near to Him. Live by the power of His grace. Let Him shape your desires rather than the world and the feisty, self-centered temperament of our culture. Let your life and your mouth bear witness to the real delights of knowing and trusting and obeying and being shaped and guided by the Creator of all things who loved us and gave Himself for us. Be a Christian -- and a visible and audible one. The world needs you so badly." 

It was my freshman Intro to Ministry course where my professor told the class about some dude named Piper and then listed off a series of books we should all read, this being one of them. BTW, the professor was Dudley Chancey, and he's one of the most non-BS real deal disciples that I know. The man's always got 20 things going on and never slows down. The first thing he said to our class was something along the lines of, "Most of you guys spend your nights searching for porn and don't really care about ministry or sharing the Gospel". BOOM! Don't quote me on that but I'm pretty sure it was something like that- or just as in your face. The point is he does what needs to get done and says what needs to be said. So when he suggested Piper's book I went straight to amazon.

Dudley running on all cylinders. 

When I took that shot we were conducting an interview about defining the Gospel while he simultaneously booked flights for mission trips to Honduras, helped one student put together a resume and organized some community outreach for students. Somewhere in there he teaches too. 

Anyway, back to the conference. I'm super pumped about it. Can't wait to see what God might reveal and hoping to have a good time with my fellow interns, Matt and Ryan. If we get into any shenanigans I'm sure it'll be great blog material. Hey, and I get to use my Red Oxx bags too! 

WINNING.     

If you're interested, there will be a live stream of the conference February 4-6. I've added the link HERE.