I realize I haven’t been around much, but guess what? My first year at seminary is DONE! WOOHOO!

Thought I’d say that so the world heard it.  Thank you, Internet.

WARNING: PERSONAL TRUTH BOMB BELOW.

There are moments in life that define us. They define our life, they define why we are the way we are, and they define what we are going to be. These are the moments in which we see a clear change before and after they occurred. They draw a proverbial line in the sand of our life. Falling in love is the highest expression of a moment.

For me, God is the subject of my greatest love story. He loved me enough to scoop me up from my disgusting unregenerate post in life and wrap His cleansing arms around me. Likewise, I love Him enough to share my story with everyone around me, just as He asked me to in His Word. Lest I begin preaching, this love story is not the reason for this post, but I wanted to mention it. Because I can. Because it’s my blog! BWAHAHaHA! *ahem*

I love my wife. Surprised? We were. My love story with Andrea had an incredible yet rocky beginning. I am a guitar player, yet not much of a lyricist or singer, and I have always wanted to write a song that described the emotions behind our beginnings as “Andrea and Ryan.” The story is powerful and meaningful to us. Music is the most powerful expression in my estimation, as it is the only art medium that has invoked laughing, crying, joy, sadness, anger, and love in me.

This is why when I heard a song called “Lonely September” by the Plain White T’s for the first time, I cried. It’s as if the songwriter observed the first 6 months of acquaintance between Andrea and I and put words to feelings. Rather than drag out this post, I would rather you listen to the song for yourself, as it speaks volumes to our experience. Until now, I have never heard a song in which I identified with every single line. I sat for many hours in Jones Hall at Indiana State University thinking the same thoughts that this song portrays.

We didn’t think it would happen. We didn’t anticipate it would happen. We didn’t mean for it to happen. Love is a funny thing and now that it’s happened, I cannot imagine life without her.

As you listen, I will paste the lyrics in this post so that you can read along if you wish.

NOTE: I searched YouTube to find a video to embed that had the song in it. Most of them were lame. However, I found a video of Jim and Pam from The Office. I decided to go with it because the JAM (Jim and Pam combined) story is the best love story on television and The Office is my favorite show.

The Lyrics:

I’m sittin’ here all by myself
just tryin’ to think of something to do
Tryin’ to think of something, anything
just to keep me from thinking of you
But you know it’s not working out
’cause you’re all that’s on my mind
One thought of you is all it takes
to leave the rest of the world behind

[Chorus]
Well I didn’t mean for this to go as far as it did
And I didn’t mean to get so close and share what we did
And I didn’t mean to fall in love, but I did
And you didn’t mean to love me back, but I know you did

I’m sittin’ here tryin’ to convince myself
that you’re not the one for me
But the more I think, the less I believe it
and the more I want you here with me
You know the holidays are coming up
I don’t want to spend them alone
Memories of Christmas time with you
will just kill me if I’m on my own

[Chorus]
Well I didn’t mean for this to go as far as it did
And I didn’t mean to get so close and share what we did
And I didn’t mean to fall in love, but I did
And you didn’t mean to love me back

I know it’s not the smartest thing to do
we just can’t seem to get it right
But what I wouldn’t give to have one more chance tonight
One more chance tonight

I’m sittin’ here tryin’ to entertain myself with this old guitar
But with all my inspiration gone it’s not getting me very far
I look around my room and everything I see reminds me of you
Oh please, baby won’t you take my hand
we’ve got nothing left to prove

[Chorus]
Well I didn’t mean for this to go as far as it did
And I didn’t mean to get so close and share what we did
And I didn’t mean to fall in love, but I did
And you didn’t mean to love me back, but I know you did

And I didn’t mean to meet you then
we were just kids
And I didn’t mean to give you chills
the way that I kiss
And I didn’t mean to fall in love, but I did
And you didn’t mean to love me back but I know you did
Don’t say you didn’t love me back ’cause you know you did
No, you didn’t mean to love me back
But you did

Blogs by seminarians are usually nonsensical discussions on secondary and tertiary issues in the Christian life. You may be wondering by now why my blog doesn’t reflect a similar feel. Truth is, I don’t roll like that. (*cheesy face*) There is nothing missional or productive about debating issues that divide fellowship. Primary issues such as substitutionary atonement and infallibility of Scripture are worth dying for, but issues like drinking alcohol and church-dress code must not divide us. When they do in fact divide us, we become angry with each other, split churches, and tarnish the beautiful, scandalous name of Jesus before the world.

I know that this is nothing new, especially in the blogging world, but maybe I am setting up for a future post that is more “seminary-esque” and I want to make my position on dealing with various issues clear.

IN AN UPCOMING POST: It is a dangerous animal when we attempt to systematize God.

You may have noticed a difference in our right-sidebar here at the site.  There are some new logos.  I imagine you may think, “TNC SOLD OUT!?”  Nope.  It did not.  Just becoming part of the larger blog world.  As part of that, we have joined Technorati. Why is that important? Let’s let them explain it…

Technorati is the recognized authority on what’s happening on the World Live Web, right now. The Live Web is the dynamic and always-updating portion of the Web. We search, surface, and organize blogs and the other forms of independent, user-generated content (photos, videos, voting, etc.) increasingly referred to as “citizen media.”

Technorati encapsulates 12.8 million blogs and over 250 million pieces of tagged social media. TNC is now a part of it!

Click the hilarious image below to make TNC a Technorati favorite!

I wish blog entries had intro music like batters approaching the batter’s box in Major League Baseball. If they did, this one would have “DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’” by Journey. Why? Because I love that song. “she’s just a small town girl!! livin’ in a lonely world!….” But I digress.

It’s time to remove the veil. Many of the links in this feature are things that PG has sent me in my email during his daily time on the interwebz. All 4 LT’s (I’m gonna go with that acronym for

Linktacular Tuesday from now on for short hand. I think it’ll stick…. yup, it stuck.) so far have been at least partially due to his interweb prowess.

One day, this internet, engineering, and coding genius might write a guest article under his moniker, QUEUEBIT…

For now, ON TO THE LINKS!

Insane art from the FORGE in Halo3.

Unlockables Guide for Mario Kart Wii that actually WORKS!

Convert YouTube videos to MPEGs and MP3s, etc!

NFL Draft recap! (For fellow NFL geeks!)

According to the Bears coaching staff and management, the biggest need for us this draft season was at left tackle. I suppose, as always, that by biggest need they mean, biggest need after quarterback, but that is neither here nor there. The fact is, the men who know say we need to beef up our offensive line, and in an attempt to do so, used the first round pick (fourteenth overall) to select Vanderbilt outside tackle Chris Williams. Always nervous about our draft picks, I ventured over to the official Chicago Bears website (www.chicagobears.com) to read about the picks. I found this, to my delight:

The Bears spent a lot of time with Williams in the months leading up to the draft. They interviewed him at the Senior Bowl in January and coach Lovie Smith had lunch with him in Nashville in March.

“We feel like we know him as well as you can know a player,” Angelo said. “Everybody … felt very good about him and what he brings to our football team. You’re going to find he’s very gregarious in terms of his personality, very intelligent and very passionate about football.”

Smith, who feels that it’s beneficial to get to know potential Bears draft picks in their own environment, was impressed with Williams.

“We are very excited about having Chris become a part of our football team,” Smith said. “You’ll get a chance to see for yourself what a quality person he is. He comes from a great family and we think could possibly end up being a very good football player.

In the second round (44th pick overall), the Bears selected a Tulane running back named Matt Forte. I was happy to see that we are concerned with our offense this year. With Williams’ talent at OT and Forte’s abilities at halfback, we should see some serious production this year. As a traditional running team, I am glad to see that we are staying committed to what we know. Said the website of Forte:

The Bears were impressed with Forte’s production and the fact that he remained in school to play all four years. As a senior, the 6-1, 217-pounder rushed for 2,217 yards and 23 touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 282 yards.

“He has excellent speed, he has good size and he can make you miss,” Smith said. “All the things you look for in a good running back he has.”

Some might find this a bit distasteful, but I find it hilarious!

It wouldn’t let me embed it, so you have to click here. But it’s worth it!

It’s Tuesday night (technically Wednesday night late) and it’s been a slow week for links. I only have 3 to share with you, but I hope you enjoy them!

Hilarious ROCKY-style Flash Video

Newbie’s Guide to Blogging - This has helped me immensely!

Spoofee - The best DEALS website you will ever find!

Original Air Date: 17 April 2008

Plot summary: Kevin and Andy team up to reclaim the stolen Dunder-Mifflin parking spaces, which forces them into a showdown with the other five bosses of the office park. Meanwhile, Michael becomes fascinated by a women modeling chairs in a catalog.

Thoughts: A rare occurrence in Season 4, this episode took place primarily in the Dunder Mifflin office. The classic nature of the show was captured wonderfully in the original setting and in Michael’s infatuation with the chair model. At one point he advises everyone on his staff, as they brainstorm names of women to set Michael up with, to use the chair model in their office supply catalog as a “template.” This lack of tact towards women personifies Michael Scott perfectly.

Dwight tells Michael that he should not have to settle and that he will search far and wide to bring the chair model back to date Michael. Through an afternoon of research (phone calls), Dwight finds out that the chair model is dead. Apparently, while high on drugs, she drove her car into a semi and died. Michael is deeply grieved. Jim can’t help but laugh at Michael who is mourning the death of a chair model he has never met.

Meanwhile, due to a construction project, the office workers are having to park 10 minutes away and walk in to work. This is especially frustrating to Kevin who comments that it’s a 30 minute walk for him, and it makes him uncomfortably sweaty. Andy and Kevin gather together the “5 families” of the business park: in other words, the bosses of the 5 companies in the building. They present their case, that the construction company’s guys are parking in their spaces. Without a care, they quickly agree to give Dunder Mifflin their parking spaces back.

Watching Kevin “win one,” as he puts it, was truly heartwarming as we learn he has lost his fiance, Stacy. Watching Andi do a terrible robot dance in the parking lot as the construction workers move their trucks was pure hilarity, in classic Office fashion.

Finally, we hear Jim tell Pam that he will, in deed, be proposing marriage to her sometime. We learn that he bought the engagement ring a week after they began dating. This is a classy advancement in their relationship, and longtime fans were rejoicing! At one point, he drops to one knee and takes Pam’s hand on the sidewalk, in the sunset, and he says, “Pam…… can you wait on me while I tie my shoe?” I laughed so hard. Then he made fun of her for thinking that he was proposing right then.

Brilliant. The show, the humor, the filmography…all of it: Brilliant.

It’s Tuesday, and I hope it’s a linktacular one for everyone. If it hasn’t been, please enjoy some of these links to brighten your day.

Enso - A program that will revolutionize the way you use your PC

Motivational Posters - Halo style.

Quarterlife - full episodes for free on the official website

Bungie’s Publications - The what’s and how’s of being the best video game developer in the world.