Sometimes when I get bored, I think about important things like the economy, alternative water conservation methods, dill pickles, and time travel. For example, I was feeling bored today, so above I’ve posted a picture of me thinking about time travel into the future. Those aren’t paws, they’re wiggle future fingers.
Inevitably, this led me to mull over the dialogue between Marty McFly and Dr. Emmit Brown in “Back to the Future Part II”…you know, space/time continuum and all that. But then I thought, what if it could actually happen? What would I do if I traveled into the future? Would I be able to communicate with my present self about important things that could change the course of history? Would that alter the current universe we know exists? Would I wear a funny silver jump suit?
These questions, though seemingly insignificant at present, could be very important in your near future…that is, if you plan on attending RADIATE08.
What’s not to love about the following list of things that I love?:
1. Quaker instant oatmeal–Warms the body and the soul. 2. Finding money on the ground–Hey, the best things in life are free, right? 3. Drinking the milk in your cereal bowl after eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch–They should carton that stuff and sell it along side eggnog at Christmas. 4. Getting a hand-written letter–Sadly, this is a lost art-form. 5. The after Thanksgiving sale at Best Buy–DVDs for $4.99? Nothing more needs to be said. 6. Toast. 7. Wearing a sweatshirt fresh from the dryer–Like a hug that lasts for just the right time.
Love is truly an important thing. More on this as time continues…
Above is the promotional video for RADIATE08. It rocks. It’s very cool and it’s available to add to your computer on the downloads page.
It got me to thinking, though…aren’t there college students out there that also have video cameras, computers, time, creativity, gusto and sass? The answer, of course, is “probably”. So that got me to thinking…I should put a challenge out there and see how many people actually respond.
So here it is: We are going to have ourselves a little contest. Make a promotional video for RADIATE08, upload it onto YouTube, and send me the link. I can be reached at shelbyabbott@gmail.com. There are no guidelines here other than it must be “G-Rated”. I know I shouldn’t have to say that, but a couple of you are sinners out there…oh, wait, all of you are…oh, wait, I am too.
Anyway, make your video, upload it, send me the link, and it will be judged by myself and some of my colleagues. We will show the top few at RADIATE this year and there will be a people’s choice award (probably by applause at one of our main meetings) to see who wins. If you win, we’ll bring you up on stage and you can talk a bit about it in front of everyone.
With the end of the regular season in Major League Baseball and the NFL already jaunting into week 5, it’s got me to thinking about a few things. They are as follows:
1. My body was not designed by the Lord our God for Professional League competition (note the fact that I am 5′6″, 137 lbs.).
2. At no time in my life will there ever be a desire for someone to purchase a ball of any kind that I have written my name on.
3. I will never be invited to play in a celebrity golf tournament. A) Because I’m not a celebrity and B) Because I think the best round of golf I’ve ever shot was a 98…and that’s when my Dad kept saying, “Just put another ball down and hit it again, who’s gonna know?”
4. Weight rooms can scare me.
So, what does any of this have to do with RADIATE08, you say? Let me connect the dots for you. With the end of baseball comes the height of the football season, which makes me think of Thanksgiving day, which makes me think of gravy, which inevitably leads me to think of the Cracker Barrel, which makes me think of Cracker Barrel’s delightfully tacky Christmas decor during the holiday season, which leads me to think that RADIATE is only 3 days after Christmas, which makes me think of RADIATE08. There. Simple enough for you?
Now, whenever you think about sports, you should think about RADIATE, shouldn’t you? Besides, they’re both good for you and make you healthy. Sports bring physical health, RADIATE brings spiritual health. (wink) Now, I must sign off to go do some push ups.
David Blaine tried to wow us two nights ago with his “Dive of Death” that turned out to be nothing more than a dive into boredom. If you didn’t see it, you didn’t miss much other than some sweet card tricks with John Mayer, Serena Williams, Orlando Bloom and Eli Manning. Blaine surely knows how to amaze people (apparently celebrities) close up with a deck of cards and a dollar bill, but the big stunts just end up being a big disappointment.
So, what’s my point? Well, it’s simply this: RADIATE08 will be the opposite of that…a non-disappointment.
You might be thinking, “Hmmm, what’s all this hype about RADIATE in Washington, D.C. on December 28 through January 1?”
To which I respond: “Good question, friend. The hype will lead you to a place that won’t shatter your illusions, that’s for sure.”
You: “Good, because David Blaine’s ‘Dive of Death’ television special certainly shoveled the disappointment into my life…I hope RADIATE won’t be like that.”
Me: “You who have ears, hear this: RADIATE08 will most definitely not shovel any kind of disappointment on you or your family. Instead, it will shower joy, happiness, glad emotions, spiritual growth and maybe some candy on you. Also, perhaps, some delicious tasting potato chips. Go forth and spread the news.”
RADIATE08 preparation is in full swing all over the east coast and we’re busily working to make this the best conference you’ve ever been to. The conference team is dripping sweat all over their computers and phones like Michael Phelps fresh out of the pool to make RADIATE the experience of a lifetime for you. Our web designer is adding fresh new things to download (including some embarrassing icons with my face on it… by the way, those make me feel awkward) in the RADIATE08 Downloads.
Papers are flying, desk chair wheels are turning, carpet burns are piling up from scrambling around too hastily, the water cooler is bone dry, and I have carpel tunnel from typing! But it’s totally worth it!
RADIATE08 is going to be fierce. The good kind of fierce, not the wild animal attack kind of fierce, and I can’t wait to see you there!
Behind the scenes shots of the Bridge Band in the recording studio for the upcoming parody tune. It’s still being mixed, but I’ll post it when it’s ready!
I wanted to give you some insight into what I’ve been working on with a very special little group of boys known as “The Bridge Band”. We were in the recording studio last week laying down a track (do I sound too Hollywood?) for your ears to be graced with that will hit the web very soon. A video crew joined us as we recorded, so that footage will also be found online very soon. Stay tuned to find out where.
So, what were we recording and why? Good questions.
Answers: A Jonas Brothers Parody; and to promote the greatest conference these United States of America has ever seen. Too much hype? I think not.
P.S.-Who am I? Another good question.
Answer: My name is Shelby. I’ll be your RADIATE08 conference emcee. Nice to meet you. We’ll talk more soon.
RADIATE08 is an annual event where college students from the Mid-Atlantic Region, involved with Campus Crusade for Christ gather together to grow closer to Jesus Christ through teaching, worship and community. It is also a chance to be equipped and encouraged to share the love of Christ to your campus and to the world.
