this is kinda my life these days...

I found myself running for my life and convincing myself that the small bush on the corner of the house would somehow make me invisible to the handful of 3rd graders that were determined to destroy me... Ah, youth ministry. How often we romanticize the thought. What was I thinking challenging a band of over-energetic 3rd graders to a 'Me vs All of You' airsoft war after school?

First of all, these guys are rockin' fully automatic rifles and shotguns. What do I get? Two pistols. Not really too bad except that I had to put the gun in my armpit after every shot to try to cock it so I could shoot again but my hoodie material was too slick and it usually ended in me just abandoning on of my pistols on the ground in discussed and running away in retreat with my remaining gun in hand. I probably would have done better with just one gun to start with. It got to the point that I was so tired of running circles around the house that I would fake being out of ammo just so I could go to the reload station and sit and catch my breath. I really felt old. Yes it was depressing but also motivating. I added another goal to my list: Beat 3rd graders at a game of airsoft. Challenge Accepted.

This semester with K-Life has been a lot of fun. One of the highlights of my week is lunch on Fridays with the 3rd grade guys at Metro. The stories of the week through the eyes of a 9 year old are too much fun. At K-Life, the time we hang out  with (or 'endure' depending on the week) our 3rd-5th grade kids is called Super K. And honestly, I really love it. It keeps me young.

We have all kinds of stuff going on this month for 3rd-12th grade students, college kids, and families! Check out Tulsa K-Life to see how you can get involved in Fun, Faith, and Community.

The older I get the more I love my state. And nothing says 'Oklahoma Pride' like the classics...



I got a random magazine in my mailbox yesterday. I think the Lord is smiling down on me. The magazine is called 'Enjoy' and I don't know what the purpose of the magazine is, but this issue is all about TravelOk.com highlighting Oklahoma State Parks. So, after some reading and planning, here is my lists of camping trips for this year. I don't know if I'll make it to every one, but it's a start.
1. Beavers Bend State Park & Lodge
2. Roman Nose State Park
3. Lake Murray Sate Park
4. Robbers Cave State Park & Lodge
5. Boiling Springs State Park
6. Lake Wister State Park

I also fell upon a new word... Agritourism. Yep, touring the agriculture of the state? TravelOk.com has a really cool program where you can sign up for a 'passport', search locations all over the state to visit like ranches, farms, wineries, etc., and you can enter into winning all kinds of FREE TRIPS! Just click here to visit Oklahoma's GROWING Adventure! I think my favorite part of the website is where you can click on certain things like vineyards, hunting, trail riding, etc., and it shows you a map of everywhere in the state that you kind find whatever it was you clicked on. So I clicked on 'U-Pick' and up pops a map of all the places you can go to pick your own produce. Yep, it's cool.

Well, that's all for today.... Next up. Tulsa grown Black Walnuts... coming soon

I watched 'Food, Inc.'

The other day I was kind of board. Jessica was off having fun with her 6th grade girls small group and I had nothing to do. We have had Netflix for a few weeks so I browsed through a few movies and stumbled upon the documentary Food, Inc.

It will blow your mind (and upset your stomach)

I loved this film. To keep this short and simple, here is a link to the films website. I could talk about food and facts all day, but these guys know more than I do, so go check it out for yourself.

Food, Inc.

If you want to keep reading, be my guest!

I'm not really a hippie or an 'organic' activist, but I really do care about my community and lately the idea of 'eating local' has really got me excited. My plan (we will see if I actually do this) is to try to get as much information about local food and farmers markets and put it up on this blog so that anyone in the area (Oklahoma) can help out local food providers.

I'm really not a good blogger but I figure jump on the bandwagon or get left behind :)

My Mocha Club Project
https://www.mochaclub.org/our-projects/4

Homemade Mexican Fiesta Night

Tonight (Wednesday) is the day off for the wife and I. So for date night, we decided to make a little homemade mexican fiesta.

Chicken Tortilla Soup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 jalapenos, finely diced
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can whole corn, rinsed and drained
3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
2 limes, juiced, plus wedges for garnish
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 (8-inch) flour tortilla, grilled, cut into thin strips
1 avocado, pitted, sliced
1 cup shredded Monterrey cheese

In a large saucepan heat the vegetable oil. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Once the onions have softened add the garlic and jalepenos and cook for another minute. Pour the chicken broth, tomatoes and beans into the pot and bring to a boil. Once at a boil lower heat to simmer and add your chicken breasts. Cook the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes. Once chicken is cooked remove from pot. When cool enough to handle shred it and set it aside. Add lime juice and fresh cilantro to the pot. In a serving bowl add a mound of shredded chicken. Ladle soup over chicken and top with a lime wedge, grilled tortilla strips, avocado slices and cheese.

Salsa
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 white onion whole
2 jalapenos peppers
1 serrano peppers
1 garlic clove
1 freshly squeezed lime
finely chopped cilantro
salt and pepper

Coarsely chop in blender to desired consistency

Guacamole
2 avocados pitted, sliced
1/2 white onion, diced
1 jalapeno peppers diced
1 clove minced garlic
1 freshly squeezed lime
salt and pepper

Mash with fork in a bowl and enjoy

a Matt Mungle review for new indie film "To Save A Life"

"Smells like teen spririt"

Have you ever had your life changed by a film? I don’t mean walk out and feel the weight of what you saw only to have it fade away after several hours and a late night dinner. Rumor has it that when Bambi was released that hunting license sales plummeted. I am not sure how many people don’t think of Psycho whenever they enter a bathroom and see the shower curtain pulled shut. But that is not what I am talking about. I mean have a movie actually alter the course of you how you live, act and think; for a lifetime.

The new teen geared drama, To Save A Life attempts to do just that. To get young people, and old I suppose, to stop and think about how they treat those around them. How a life can be forever marred or encouraged simply by how it is treated by its peers. The story centers around Jake Taylor (Randy Wayne) who is the big man on his high school campus. Good with a basketball and even better with the ladies; he has it all. When a tragic event occurs involving a friend from his early childhood it rocks Jakes world and makes him start seeing that how we treat others can have a dire impact on the lives around us. His decision to choose people over popularity does not come without a cost.

I dare not call this a Christian film. Although it is unapologetic in its call to action concerning God and faith. But unlike the typical faith based films it does not dance around the relevance and reality of life. It doesn’t make the church out to be all knowing and perfect and the world to be this awful place. To Save A Life displays the struggles and limitations of students both in and outside of the church walls in a way that I have not seen before. Also most Christian films are written as if to get those outside the church walls to take faith seriously. This one instead needs to be seen mainly by those inside the church walls who proclaim to live a certain way but instead are deceiving themselves.

Granted, To Save A Life plays more like an afterschool special than a blockbuster wide release. It has the pacing and writing that is intended to carry a message. It is not meant to entertain but rather to get you to think about life. Some might believe that the theater is not the place for a sermon and I would normally whole heartily agree. But this film is different. It is gritty, truthful and open about things that most times are overlooked or played out in a political correctness that white washes the issue. I appreciated the fact that it took chances and risks ridicule. And you have to admire a film that practices what it preaches.

To Save A Life is rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving teen suicide, teen drinking, some drug content, disturbing images and sexuality. As I said there is no candy coating or glossing over of what teens do and face daily. It has to be frank or it loses its validity. Even though it depicts these things I think that the message, regardless of what you choose to believe spiritually, should be instilled into kids at even a younger age than 13. Only you know your child and so be a wise parent. But I also think it touches on issues that could impact the life of someone your kid sees daily. I give it 4 out of 5 beer pong shots. Not a perfect film or one that you should see as a light outing. But one that needs to be seen by groups of young people who want to engage their culture and think about life as a whole. So says Matt Mungle

Matt Mungle (matt@mungleshow.com)

(4 out of 5)

Review copyright 2010 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.