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You can personalize confetti for free thru New Year's Wishing Wall that will be dropped from the sky on new years at times square.

Shawn A. Busby

My high school friend Shawn passed away this past Tuesday. I've only seen Shawn maybe once in the past 5 years, and that was at our high school reunion in September of 2006. Before that Shawn and I worked together at Menards, before I moved to Macomb. Shawn was one of those people in high school that everyone liked, and he liked everyone. That is probably why he was Homecoming King.

I was trying to think of the nickname that Mr. Smargissi gave Shawn, but I can't think of it. I thought it had to do with something with the would "bear" or "fuzzy". I can't remember. But it was so funny, because here is Shawn this huge guy, and yet his heart was gold. So his nickname matched him perfectly.

PAWNEE - Shawn A. Busby, 29, of Pawnee died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007, at his home.

He was born April 15, 1978, in Springfield, the son of Steve and Camille Muncy Busby. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Marilyn Muncy; and aunt, Susan Busby Becker.

He was employed by Freeman Mine in Farmersville and the Mine Rescue Squad, state of Illinois.

Surviving are two sons, Kolton and Dawson, both of Pawnee; father, Steve Busby of Kincaid; mother, Camille Muncy; a brother, Von Busby; and a sister, Stephanie Busby, all of Pawnee; grandparents, Byron and Mildred Busby and Fred (companion, Margaret Teodori) Muncy, all of Pawnee; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, at Bramley Funeral Home in Auburn, and where services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007, with the Rev. Gary Winkleman officiating. Burial will be in Horse Creek Cemetery in Pawnee.

Tribute to Shawn A. Busby on Facebook
State Journal Register Obituary and Guestbook

Wii Bowling

Wii Bowling, originally uploaded by mufan96.

My brother just bowled a 288 on Wii bowling.

Mizzou Lost

...But I was on the jumbo tron tonight.

Busch Braggin Rights...Memories

Tonight is the game of the year for me and my college basketball watching experiences.. Each year University of Missouri play the University of Illinois in St. Louis, in a series called Busch Braggin Rights. Mizzou is in an 7 game skid in the series.

This will be my 16th year in a row going to the game, I have seen 6 Mizzou wins since then in the series. 1992 was my first ever college basketball and more importantly my first MU game. My brother had gotten four tickets to the game (the arena is split up with a MU side and a U of I side. Gold on one side, Orange on the other side), and these tickets where on the Orange Side. One of my brother's friends didn't want to go, so guess who got the ticket, and 16 years later we have this huge tradition.

Here are some memories that i have of the series, in no particular order (popularity nor date).

non game highlights
Meeting with everybody that is going at the game, at the top of the escalator in Union Station.
Eating at the Union Station food court.
Walking into Union Station hearing drunken chants of "MIZ-ZOU or ILL-INI".

at the game
Dan Reynolds getting pulled over for speeding (1992).
Dan getting beer spilt on his leather jacket from the people sitting above us.
Sitting in the car after the game, in the parking lot ready to leave, and the lady next to us, gets into their car, and opens their door into Dan's car.
Sitting a couple seats down from former Mizzou star Jason Sutherland at a game, post his Mizzou Career.
Garrett wearing his Indiana sweatshirt.
Standing the whole game with Garrett in our seats, which were top row at half court, while his wife sat in the lower bowl next to Whitey Herzog.
Going down to the game, without tickets, and buying 2 scalped tickets for $35/each with Josh Hall. We told the guy all we had was $35 a piece, as we paid him, he goes, "guess you won't have popcorn money." Turns out they were 2 single tickets, we had no clue where the seats were, so we just each grab a ticket. I ended up 10 rows off of the floor on some metal risers, while Josh was in the Upper Bowl.
Ryan Smith forgot his ticket at home, so I went into the game, and took my stub and my brother's stub, and got my hand marked with a black light stamp, and went outside and found ryan, and rubbed my hand on his, and gave him my brother's stub, and got him into the game. Luckily didn't get arrested.
Having tickets all over the place, from upperbowl to the lowerbowl, from center court to the corners, from the gold side to the orange side.

game highlights
Watching freshman, illini, Kiwane Garris miss a pair of free throws, with tied game, and no time on the clock. - a package arrived later to Garris in Champaign that contained two bricks.
Taunting Andy Kaufman.
Rickey Paulding's acrobatic dunks.
Watching a Mizzou fan tackle Chief Illiniwek.
Coach Quin Synder (Mizzou coach) getting popcorn thrown on him by a Mizzou fan at halftime

Another Illinois Game...

Went with a couple of the guys from the church and some student from the pipeline to watch Illinois play Miami University (Ohio) tonight. And Illinois lost. I'm looking forward to the Mizzou game on saturday, debating on what to wear. I'm going to blog about my tradition of going to the MU vs U of I game on saturday. I'm going to do kind of a highlights of years past.

Here is a pic from tonight. I thought it was cool, because I'm in focus, yet the background is like motion blurred; yet its not photoshopped.

Scouting for the Busch Braggin' Right Game

Last night i went to my first U of I game at the Assembly Hall. I've seen the Illini play 15 times, once a year for the past 15 years, but this was the first time at the Assembly Hall. Thanks Jeremy.
I was there doing a little scouting for the MU vs U of I game this saturday. After watching the Illini play a horrible Western Carolina team last night, I don't think Mizzou has anything to worry about.



Also Future Gen selected Mattoon as the site for their clean coal-fired power plant.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

I'm probably the only blogger that goes from blogging about a free Michael Bolton mp3 download to something as serious as Intelligent vs Artificial Design.

So my brother sent me the link for a new documentary from Ben Stein called Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. It about creation, and how if scientists believe in creation and disown darwinism, then they are outed by the scientific community. It comes out in theaters in February 2008.

There is an incredible super trailer here. Its a little over 7 minutes.

Here is the theatrical trailer, which is only a little over a minute.

Walkin' in the Winter Wonderland

Thats right. The free iTunes single of the week is Michael Bolton's "Walkin' in the Winter Wonderland".
Get it here

O Christmas Bulletin Design

We are doing a 3 week Christmas series at First Assembly called O Christmas. Each week will be titled after a popular christmas song.

Week 1 - O Christmas Tree
Week 2 - O Little Town of Bethlehem
Week 2 - O Come All Ye Faithful

So, we decided to do a redesign on the bulletin for these three weeks, and make it look like a cd jewel case insert. Here is what the cover and inside looks like.

O Holy Night

Tonight was the 2nd week of our december series called "Peace". We started out the service with a christmas theme powerpoint game (which we forgot to announce the winner of and award the prize.) Did only 1 worship song, due to sound issues, and then we faded to Sufjan Stevens "O Holy Night". I then spoke a couple meetings about that Jesus came to earth to bring peace between you and God. Ashley read some scripture on the birth of Christ, and then I opened i asked an open air question, "does anyone want share how they came to have peace with God?" and I walked off of the stage.

After about 90 seconds of awkwardness, Travis went on stage and took a couple minutes to talk about how he came to have peace with God, and then Nakari talked (whom I had asked beforehand to get things going). But after that it was student after student that would stand up and talk, some went on stage, while others just stood at their seats.

It was not all good theology that was shared. But there was power in students verbalizing how they came to have peace with god. Confession is good for the soul. It was a pretty amazing night as probably 8-10 students shared.

Last week we talked about our lives being filled with anger, and their was no room for peace. We used the illustration of a jar being filled with dirt (our dark stuff. sin) and because of it, there was no room for peace. So at the close tonight, if students needed to have peace with God. they went to this bowl of dirt, grabbed a handful, and identified what was in their life that they needed to get rid of, then they threw the dirt in a trash can, and then put their hands in a bowl of water, representing God cleansing them and giving them Peace.

Students took a couple minutes doing this, and then we concluded with reflecting on what God had just done, while we listened to O Holy Night.

Christmas List 2007

Some have asked for some christmas ideas (ok, maybe just my mom) so here they are. I'll continue to update it when I think of things. Don't worry, in the spirit of consumerism, I am acutally going to donate some of my christmas money i get this year to Blood:Water Mission

Tech
iPhone - $399
DC Skatebag (for iBook) - $129.00
iBook g4 14" rechargable battery - $99.95
Apple iLife Software '08 - $69.99
Apple iWork Software '08 - $69.99
Rubber Foot/Socket for 14" iBook (need 3 of them) - $3.25ea

Clothes
my measurements.
pants 32x32, shirts medium, shoes 10 1/2
clearance racks are a great place.
anything from American Eagle or Hollister
American Eagle Khaki Blazer. see ebay

Books
Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne (pre-order) - $11.55
Let Story Guide You: Why Some Lives Make Sense and Others Don't by Donald Miller (pre-order) - $13.59
unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons - $12.23
The Beautiful Mess: Practicing the Presence of the Kingdom of God - $11.19

Video Games
Guitare Hero III: Legends of Rock for PS2 - $50
Guitare Hero Encore: Rock the 80s for PS2 - $50

Music
Knuckles Up by Flatfoot 56 - $12.99
Jungle of the Midwest Sea by Flatfoot 56 - $11.99
Lost Songs by Anberlin - $12.88
When I am God by Oh, Sleeper - $12.88
I'm Only a Man by Emery - $9.72
iTunes giftcards work better, because it is only $9.99 for a cd with no tax. Everyplace has the giftcards.

11.25.07 Artwork

Here is what i've came up with as far as visual for this upcoming sunday am message.

What Would Jesus Buy

The docu-comedy What Would Jesus Buy sparks my interest, too bad its not in a theater anywhere close to me. I'll have to wait for it to come to redbox.

Actually this sunday im speaking on consumerism at the 930 service. The big idea is, you become what you consume.
I'll looking for a good title. Any ideas?

My South Park Character

Ok. So i've not watched South Park probably since like 1997 at Jenny Sams' house, but i found this south park character maker and thought it was cool.
here is me.

Doh

Doh, originally uploaded by mufan96.

Look what i won at a church auction.

My Grandma Passed Away

Mary M. Blotna, 81, died at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 2007, at Alton Memorial Hospital.
She was born Nov. 5, 1926, in Decatur to Martin J. and Lena L. (Miller) Hill.
She married William “Earl” Blotna on Feb. 22, 1946, in Shipman, Ill. He died April 5, 2002.
She was the Piasa postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service. She was a member and past president of the State Association Postmasters United States. She had also been a member and vice president of the National Association of Postmasters United States.
Survivors include four daughters and sons-in-law, Lynne and Robert Well of Grafton, Vickie and Stanley Courtney of Pawnee, Ill., Stephanie and Thomas Schmidt of Town and Country and Andrea and Steve Crane of Piasa; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Mary Blotna of Jerseyville; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, Drew Schmidt; one brother, Martin J. Hill; and two sisters, Caroline Hill and Margaret Hill.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Targhetta and Wooldridge Funeral Home in Brighton.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Burial will be at Piasa Cemetery.
Memorial may be made to the Drew Schmidt Memorial at St. Louis Children’s Hospital or the Piasa Cemetery.

christmas already

christmas already, originally uploaded by mufan96.

I think christmas comes earlier and earlier. Only one thing on my list iPhone.

God turns a nobody into a somebody

Last night at the pipeline, i used the story of Gideon and talked about how God used him to defeat the Midianites. I posted my cell number on the screen and tvs and encouraged students to text me questions about the topic throughout the night.

Here are some of the texts i received.

Where are you going with this?
Why hero's why not something else?
You should relate it to real life.
Are you a superhero?
Amen to that.
Who is your favorite superhero and why are they your favorite superhero?
How did the torch not go out?
Are you saying us as christians are a small army going out to save the world from sin and other stuff cuz we are mighty warriors?
If we are all made different then y do we try 2 fit n 2 a world were people r so fake?
I want to know what god has planned my future to be because i cant seem to find it.

Momentum

I just got back from momentum, a youth convention of 3000 that was held in peoria. I wasnt really about to take a lot of pictures just with the busyness of my schedule. Here are a couple photos that luke sent me.

Momentum

I just got back from momentum, a youth convention of 3000 that was held in peoria. I wasnt really about to take a lot of pictures just with the busyness of my schedule. Here are a couple photos that luke sent me.

Pre-Momentum Setup

Today i arrived early to help with Momentum. Wanted to share a couple pictures of my hotel room at the Pere Marquette.

Upgraded to Leopard today

Last night i backed up my iBook with Super Duper which took about 4 hours to do all 80gbs. Today, it took about an hour or so to do a clean install of leopard.

The Glorious Unseen

I just purchased their debut album on Tooth and Nail Records called, Tonight the Stars Speak. Its only $7.99 on itunes.



The Glorious Unseen - Tonight the Stars Speak

Changing the world one hug at a time

I wrote an article for the local mattoon newspaper. Journal Gazette

Here is the article.

It was a sunny day as I drove toward Charleston from Mattoon this past Monday afternoon. I could feel the wind whipping through my car, as I had the windows down and the air conditioning blaring, as I typically drive short distances.

As I was getting close to Charleston I grabbed my cell and updated my online blog about my upcoming adventure that day.

As I got into town, I realized that I needed some change so that I could plug a parking meter on campus. So I stopped at the first gas station I saw.

As I pulled in, I had the thought of “How am I going to be able to go up to the register and just ask for change?” So when I walked into the gas station, I grabbed the closest thing I could find — a pack of Wintergreen gum for 30 cents.

As I paid with a $20 bill, I asked for a dollar in change. Finally, I was on my way to do what I came to accomplish in Charleston that day.

I got back into my car, proceeded to go toward the Union parking lot on campus, and quickly found a parking space. I got out and filled the meter with an hour’s worth of change. As I reached into my car to close and lock the door, I grabbed my 3-foot by 2-foot sign that read “Free Hugs” on both sides.

This day was a special day because it was Monday, Sept. 10, National Free Hugs Day. National Free Hugs Day is a day declared by the Free Hugs Campaign as a day that they promoted free hugs around the world.

So as I held on to my sign, I started to walk to the quad, where most of the student foot traffic would be. As I was walking out of the metered parking lot I passed a couple of meters that were either flashing “expired” or that had a couple of minutes left on them. I reached down into my pocket and put a coin or two in each of them, since I had all that extra change from the gas station.

And I was off. I was off to the quad, my destination. It was at the crossroads, where four sidewalks that seemed to merge into one, that I stood.

At times I would hold the sign above my head, with both arms up and then sometimes with one arm up. Once in a while my arms would get tired, so I would drop them down and just hold the sign in front of me.

Within several minutes the hug-a-thon began. I was getting hugs all over the place, and from all sorts of people. I hugged muscular football player-type guys, to girls who were wearing iPod buds. All different types of hugs, too.

Some hugs I gave and received were with two arms around and a tight squeeze where my back almost popped; some were just a side hug, with barely an arm around each other.

After the free hug, I would engage in a simple conversation with the students with phrases such as “Have a great day” or “Pay attention in class” or even the occasional “You are cared about.”

After every hug, the expression of every person, girl or guy, athletic or overachiever, was a smile.

As a Christian, I have to recognize that Jesus has done some incredible heart changes in my life. I could list bullet point after bullet point of what Jesus has done in my life.

I went out on a warm Monday afternoon to EIU to do one thing and it was this; Jesus has changed my life in so many ways that I believe that Jesus’ desire is for me to bring change to others’ lives.

Jesus has changed me to bring change to this world, and for me on that day it was through one hug at a time.

Camp Staff Meeting = Free Stuff

Twice a year, I meet with a small group of leaders from around the state to discuss our annual youth summer camp. You know a good meeting always gets started by getting free gifts.





Here is the agenda so far as i know it.

Thursday
Lunch @ Portillo's
Meeting
Dinner @ Texas de Brazil
Whirley Ball

Friday
Breakfast
Meeting
Lunch
Go Home

Im not positive on the schedule of what we are doing for tomorrow yet.

Pimped my iBook

My iBook has been very sluggish recently. I grabbed a stick of 1gb ram from crucial.com, and install it today.

About this Mac before.




Front of iBook


Back of iBook


Step #1 Remove Battery


Step #2 Remove Keyboard


Step #3 Remove RAM Shield




Step #4 Insert RAM stick at a 30 degree angle.




The results.

Peace.

I spoke at first assembly this past weekend on being a peacemaker. You can download the mp3 here. Katie even helped teach!

Here are some resources I used.
Myth of Redemptive Violence by Walter Wink

Matthew 5:1-12
Video from sermon spiced called "Do you see needs?"
Scenes from the movie Gladiator
Story of Telemachus

Calling all Peacemakers sermon series by Rob Bell.

I've never really have studied on this topic before, but it has caught my interest. And I have these 2 books coming in the mail.

My Free Hugs Video

september adult series

i gave free hugs at eiu

I went with aaron to EIU for about 30 minutes to give out free hugs. I basically just stood at the major intersection of foot traffic on campus. Over 40 people stopped for a hug. I have put together a video, I will post it after we premiere it sunday am at service.

Straight Outta Lynwood Tour

Wake the dead show

Wake the dead show, originally uploaded by mufan96.

its nice going to a show with friends.

A Weekend at the Illinois State Fair