Happy Cliché Day!

Today, I have been informed via Twitter (How would I know anything without Twitter? Really.), is National Cliché Day. Luckily, a post about cliches has been brewing for quite a time in my busy mind. The reason for the prolonged stewing is mainly because it took me this long to figure out how to put the accent mark in cliché (and I didn't really apply myself to it; generally, I'm a quick learner). So, let's go at it, this cliché rant--because this will be a rant.


I am not going to rant about how we should stop using clichés. Oh, no. While I have mentioned before that I dislike clichés, it is not because of the clichés themselves (with the exception of "this side of the grave", which makes me shudder and, strangely enough, isn't typically used in a morbid way), it is because they have become clichés. How sad that such colorful expressions become so common that they are no longer original. The whole reason they are clichés is because they were worth repeating--thousands upon millions of times.


This avoidance (like the plague) of clichés carries over to other things, too. A style can become clichéd. Quotes are clichéd. [Mark Twain, C. S. Lewis, anyone?] Bible verses are clichéd. [And this is the saddest of all, in my opinion. Take Jeremiah 29:11. It's a beautiful promise, but it's been printed on approximately 90% of all religious graduation cards out there. It has become so overused, that I never really paid any attention to it until I had to teach it to 5th and 6th graders every week for 10 weeks one summer. It's lovely--one of my favorites for sure.]


The Southern folk are fond of their colorful expressions. We don't just say, "Give me an estimate," we ask for a "ballpark figure." My grandmother didn't just say, "She wasn't very pretty," she said, "When God was passing out good looks, she must have been asleep. Bless her heart." We say someone is "stubburn as a mule," "quiet as a mouse," and "sly as a fox." I love it. Sadly, though, many of these have become clichés.


Maybe we should just continue to churn out some new creative ways of saying things. I agree; we should. But why can't we say "there's an elephant in the room" when that is the most perfect way of saying there is something unavoidable, which should be addressed? Elephants are definitely unavoidable in the middle of the room, and really should be addressed--I mean, why is there an elephant inside?


Basically, I both love and dislike clichés. I want to be able to make cliches--write or say stuff that is worth repeating--and use clichés that are already worth repeating. There's my rant--my two cents, if you will.


So, have a happy cliché day. In fact, I hope you are tickled pink, happy as a clam (or a lark or a pig in the mud) by today and all its clichés!

Things I Like Tuesday: Fall!

crisp morning air - shivery nighttime temperatures

 bonfires - pumpkins - jackets

orange, yellow, red! leaves

festivals - parties - friends - family - holiday anticipation

(fall is pretty much my favorite)

photo credits: flickr user Munira :)

yo, check it

I wrote a rap.

I got into the assignment by accident. See, at work, we have these creative meetings where we plan out sermon illustrations, kids videos, logo designs, and other creative stuff. The particular meeting where I was assigned rap-writing duty was one to discuss creative elements for a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. The pastor said something about the sixth commandment (do not murder) and how he wasn't going to simply preach on physically killing people. I replied, to clarify, "Like, killing in the head?"

Somehow that translated in his mind to "Killin' in da Head"--the perfect title for a rap. Since I was the one to "come up with the title", I was assigned to writing the rap (also probably because everyone thought it would be funny to make me write a rap).

Using this (hilarious) guide, along with this video, I wrote a rap.

Without further ado, "Killin' in da Head":

Killin' in Da Head from FBC Goodlettsville on Vimeo.

Performed by Jeff Kelly and Ryan Coatney
Lyrics--Elizabeth Hyndman (2nd verse edits--Ryan Coatney)
Music--John Carroll
Video/Editing--Jeff Kelly

Things I Like Tuesday: Catalog Living

The tag line for Catalog Living is "A look into the exciting lives of the people who live in your catalogs." So funny. Here's the link: http://catalogliving.net/

a quote I stole from another blog

“If I had my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time.

I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip.

I know of very few things I would take seriously.

I would take more trips. I would be crazier.

I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets.

I would do more walking and looking.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would have more actual troubles, and fewer imaginary ones.”

-written by a Friar in a Nebraska monastery

[as quoted on Matt Wertz' tumblr]

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

I found the Church in Eastern Kentucky

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [...] For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. [...] The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you." 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, 12-13, 21
     Recently, I went on a mission trip to Leslie County, Kentucky with a group from my church. Leslie County is one of the poorest counties in the country, located in the Appalachian Mountains. 
     We talked a lot about the fact that often on mission trips, it is easy to slip into a sort of savior-complex. We often subconsciously, if not consciously, think "I'm going on this mission trip because these poor people need my help." I realized that isn't true. The truth is, they do need God, but not us. And certainly, he can reveal himself without our help. Thankfully, we are sometimes allowed to be a part.
     The first day we were there, we helped with food distribution. I put my camp WalMart-run skills to use by running through WalMart as if on Supermarket Sweep to get fill a few carts full of food (because of a mix up, we had run out). Once the WalMart van got back, I helped people get food and take it to their vehicles. Two of the ladies I spoke with told me about their ministries. They didn't use the word "ministry," but that's what they were doing. They told me of their hearts for children and elderly folks and explained to me what they did to make a difference in the lives of those they know.
     The next day we went to a small church service. Half of our team nearly outnumbered the members present, but I saw from their calendar that low numbers did not limit their caring for the community around them. They had several listings for Angel Food distribution, among a few other community-wide events.
     We went to a "holler" to love on some kids that afternoon. We got to see these rough-and-tumble kids joyfully greet the Big Creek Missions (the organization we worked with) staff who love on them year-round. They loved us automatically because the Big Creek staff brought us and the Big Creek staff loved them.
     Monday, we went to an adult daycare center to play games with the residents. Our youngest team members, Lillie Cate (3) and Nora Blake (2) enjoyed the activities as much as the residents and showed them Jesus by not realizing the differences between themselves and those at the center.
     Later, we worked at a clothing distribution center helping out a lady named Drucie. Let me tell you, Drucie was a big surprise. She retired from being a hairdresser, but read Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper and determined not to waste her retirement. She took over the clothing distribution center and began taking mission trips to Haiti. Her goal is to open up a soup kitchen and an orphanage in Haiti and I believe she'll do it. She sat and talked with us for a while before the center opened. She is extremely well-read--she discussed both Piper and R. C. Sproul with us. At one point she said some people wait around for a calling, but "it's not a calling; it's a command!" Love it.
     During all of this, I was a part of a team that included preschoolers through grandparents. There were people from all stages and walks of life, serving alongside each other. I should also mention that during the days, half of our team did construction work, while the other half did the activities described above. I love that God used both ability and availability in our team. Some people were able to use the skills and gifts they already had, while others learned new things as they simply made themselves available for God's work.
     So, while God graciously allowed me to be a part of the work he's doing in Appalachia, I became very aware that I was far from being needed. 
     This mission trip showed me the Church. Young and older, across cultures, serving side-by-side to show God's love to those who need it.