Justin Acuff’s Blog

Ok, I heard this from some people last year and from some different people this year… So I want to know what you think. Should I stop putting up pictures on the CSC Website? I’ve heard from a number of people that the end of year slide show has lost what it used to have because the pictures have already been seen. I want to know what you think, so please feel free to comment.

Anybody else want to go see this?

I really didn’t plan on posting twice within a few hours of each other, but I will. Ok, so I just received this email that was addressed to the webmaster of laurelchurchofchrist.org. I’m going to let Mike Buckley answer this guys email, because I know my response would be too much for this guy to handle. Here’s the email that I got:

I was reading your website and enjoying it until I seen you wrote you meet in the “gym” sometimes. What do you mean by gym? Churches of Christ don’t have gyms in them because that is clearly unscriptural and not acceptable in the Lords Church because the it serves no purpose to teach or edify or glorify God, I’ve heard that all my life by all Churches of Christ all over the states and have never seen any with one so I wanted to understand what you meant before I visit. Thank you

Ok, now here’s my thoughts. (I’ll admit, I haven’t studied this at all.) As you can see this guy really gets hung up on the word gym. I don’t know if he envisions us playing a nice round of 21 while we’re waiting for the communion tray to reach us or what! Is he correct in saying that a gym is clearly unscriptural? I guess so, if unscriptural means that its not mentioned in scripture. (If it is, please point me too it). Other unscriptural items could include: microphones, air conditioners, and I think, even baptistries. (Cause aren’t most baptisms recorded as being in a river?) He also goes onto to say that its not acceptable because it serves no purpose to teach or edify or glorify God. WHAT!?!?!! Many good things can happen in a gym that can glorify God. Many of you know that Mike Buckley became a Christian because of the influence of the guys on his Intramural Basketball team when he was in college. Can’t the same lesson that was given in the auditorium be given in the gym and still have the same affect God had intended for it to have? Does the building itself even really matter? The church are those that belong to God. This guy may be surprised just who all that includes.

This guy also says that he hasn’t heard or seen any Church of Christ with a gym in it. To this, I would say, just how many Churches of Christ has he been to? Even Washington Street (in Fayetteville, a really conservative church) had a gym built when they were doing work on the building. I can think of many number of Churches of Christ that have a gym. Even some of the smaller churches I’ve seen (less than 100 members) may still have a basketball goal outside the church. Not every church needs to have a gym. Laurel is a large congregation and a gym is of a great benefit to the church and the community.

To this guy, I would like to say he needs to understand a lot more if attending a church that has a gym bothers him. There are other churches in the Knoxville area that are probably better suited for him. Sometimes I really wish we could just drop the “of Christ” off our name and just be The Laurel Church. (Cause really, doesn’t most of the Churches belong to Christ anyways?) I am not proud to say that I am a member of a Church of Christ. I am proud (maybe proud isn’t the best word, but you know what I mean) to belong to God.

I wonder what he was taught on kitchens?

God Loves You!

Ok, so thanks to some pretty severe thunderstorms, none of the camping outings took place. We had planned a camping trip in Elkmont and the CSC had a leadership camping trip planned in Norris. With my Friday night now free, I called Todd to see what his alternate plans were. We (some of the core of the CSC) meet over at Todd’s place for burgers, hot dogs, brownies and a discussion of this year and plans for next. Having been around the CSC for over 8 years, I’ve seen and heard a lot of the same suggestions. After a while, I had stopped going to these. It almost always boils down to this… We have lots of good things we would like to do, but not enough time to do it in and not enough people dedicated to make sure it gets done. I didn’t get home until roughly 3:00 AM. Most of y’all already know that is WAY past my bedtime.

I was expecting a call from Michele on Saturday morning around 7:00. Since we didn’t go camping the night before, we had still talked about going on the hike we had planned for that day. I was relieved when she called and said she wasn’t coming down until later. This gave me time to sleep in a little bit more and get some of the stuff done that I needed to get done. So we meet up with Bryan, Meredith, and Robert to bike the 11 mile Cades Cove loop. Michele and I had managed to get ahead of Bryan and Meredith. Most of the time, Robert was with Michele and I. It made me realize I need to get my bike at home fixed. The hamburger(s) we grilled out before hand didn’t settle very well with me, but that’s a different story. The last half of the ride was wet thanks to the rain storms that decided to roll in.

Today after church a few of us went on a Wildflower hike at Porter’s Creek. Doug and Glo Woodall, Melinda Connell, Dan Watkins, Sarah Meyer, Audrey Haywood and I (the van driver) went on this hike. Nancy Prosser had organized it and got permission for us to use the church van, but backed out because she thought the weather would be bad. It was a little cold, but it was a good day for it. Audrey and I pretty much trail blazed our way to Fern Branch Falls. Dan and Sarah were shortly behind us. The rest of the group were the wildflower lookers. One day I’ll probably go to look just at the wildflowers, but I like hiking because its good exercise and the conversations on the trail.

I had my camera with me at RFK Stadium to see the Washington Nationals get beat by the Florida Marlins.

Warning: This post may contain a statement or two that will rub you the wrong way. Please be ready for it…

Ok, so yesterday was part two of the Spruce Up Day at Laurel. There were jobs that we just couldn’t finish (or even start for that matter) last week. This week was targeted to be the CSC / Young Professionals day. Todd had sent out a couple of emails on CSCLIFE to remind people about it. Well I showed up at 8:15 and Todd was there. A little bit later Joey showed up. I had things to do in the afternoon so I could only stay until 11:15 or so. In the noontime, they were expected some of the Young Professionals to show up cause they had some stuff to do in the morning.

After I stopped working to take pictures for the Laurel Backyard Habitat Site (this links to Laurel’s Gallery not eNature), I got a chance to talk to some of the “older people”. They shared with me some of the sentiments that maybe we as “college students” may not be aware of. I will summarize and hopefully not add to what they said while also not taking away from what they said.

A lot of the older people have put MANY years of work and money into the house at the CSC and the ministry at the CSC. In the past, as with yesterday, none (or only a couple) of the “college kids” showed up. (Joey and I don’t count) The older folks would like to see the students involved in MORE things at Laurel. We have our own class on Sunday morning, we sit in our own section during service, we have our own heart-to-heart group that is independant of what the congregation studies, and we aren’t even there on Wednesday night anymore. I explained to them that many of our students are involved in Agape. They see that, but that that is just one ministry. So here’s the challenge that has been issued to us. Look for other ways you can more involved with Laurel and folks of all different ages. Maintaining our portion of the Third Creek Bike Trail is one way. I wasn’t there at the end of the day yesterday, but I’m almost certain there is more work that needs to be done.

Well things are really starting to look good for a return trip to João Pessoa, Brazil. It looks like the dates for the trip will be July 9^th - 25^th. We will be doing follow up work for Let’s Start Talking. You can check out some of the pictures from last year’s trip in my Gallery.

Well this was supposed to be last weekend, but because of the fact that it stormed all last weekend, it was postponed until this weekend. We were supposed to be working from 9:00 - 3:00 today. I didn’t show up until noon though. The grass at our house REALLY needed mowing. Due to the fact that we are getting kicked out of our house, nobody really wanted to do it, but it was looking bad. So this morning, I cut just the front yard and a little bit of the back. If it was in the fenced in area, Paul’s gonna have to cut that himself. Anyways….

A few people from the CSC had come to help do yard work at Laurel. These were Adam B., Wilson, Jon, K-Mon, and myself. (There may have been others before noon). Nancy Prosser was wanting me to get some new pictures to put up on our Back Yard Habitat Site over at the National Wildlife Foundation (the link is at the end of the post). As soon as I arrived, I was immediately put to work on getting pictures. The picture above, I went over there to get a picture of the bird feeder, but Wilson just couldn’t resist requesting an action shot. I’ve got a lot of stuff to do that is due tomorrow (worship slides for tomorrow morning and a slide show about spring break for Sunday night), so I won’t get a chance to put some of these pictures up until tomorrow.

The next bit of work was spreading mulch with Adam. For those of y’all that don’t know, the Knoxville Symphony is putting on some Home Show. Laurel is the parking lot people get on a shuttle bus from. All the time we were working, everyone would come up to us and say how wonderful things are looking and how good of a job we were doing. Not that it really mattered to anybody, but I was nice to hear people compliment. After we “finished” mulching, Jon Brown grabbed me to begin painting the rails to the west side entrance. Kristen was also pulled to paint. It was really good to catch up with her.

Laurel’s Backyard Habitat Site

My name is: Justin Taylor Acuff
I may seem: Overbearing
I am really: Easygoing
In the morning: Wake up, maybe eat breakfast, take a shower, brush my teeth, watch the news, read my Bible, go to work.
I like to sleep: on my back
If I could be doing anything right now I would be: Playing soccer
Money is: money
One thing i wish i had: My own house
One thing i wish i didn’t have is: Atopic Dermatitis
All i need is: God

Firsts

first best friend: Chad Brown
First Car: 1983 Pontiac Bonneville
first Date: Putt-Putt and Movie with Amanda
first real Kiss: Nicki when I was 12 at Oak Park
first screen name: jacuff
first self-purchased album: Um… Hangin’ Tough by New Kids on the Block
first funeral: This is probably my first memory… I was barely 2. I think and it was one of my great uncles.
first pet: Tasha (a cat)
first piercing: none
first credit card: visa
first enemy: Brandon
first musician you remember hearing in your house: The Beattles

Lasts

last cigarette: never. smoking is gross
last car ride: Um… I’m usually the driver, let me think… I guess it was with Mer back when Nicoll came up for the Speghetti Lunch
last kiss: Junior year, but it hasn’t been so bad
last good cry: I don’t remember. Its probably been a while.
last library book checked out: Um, that’s even been longer than the kiss
last phone call: Nancy Prosser
Last time showered: this morning
last movie seen: Um, it was the first half of Napoleon Dynamite
last beverage drank: Orange Juice
last food consumed: Wednesday dinner at Laurel… Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, Roll, and Pecan Pie… Yummy Pecan Pie.
last crush: well it lasted all of like two days
last shoe worn: Rockport Boots
last cd played: Um… It was probably Switchfoot, The Legend of Chin since that’s the last one I converted to MP3.
last annoyance: Gossip
last item bought: Tire Rotation and Balance
last dissappointment: When friends start dating and shut out everybody else
last time wanting to die: I can’t think of a time I just wanted to die.
last time scolded: Again, Its been such a long time, I can’t exactly remember when
last shirt worn: Plain White T-Shirt
last website visited: I copied this from Jason’s Xanga, but it was snopes.com
last word you said: Ok
last song you sang: It’s The End of the World as We Know (And I Feel Fine) by R.E.M.
what color socks you are wearing: white with the grey heal and toe
what color underware are you wearing: Hunter Green Boxers
what’s under your bed: Assorted stuff in Rubbermaid boxes
what time did you wake up today: 6:15

future

where do you want to go: Europe
what is your career going to be: Computer and Software Engineer
where are you going to live: The South
how many kids do you want: 2
car i like: Aston Martin DB9

current

current mood: chilled
current music: U2
current taste: Coffee
current hair: short
current clothes: khaki’s and a polo shirt
current desktop picture: Canyon de Chelly
current color of toenails: clear
current love: life
current infatuation: Gee, this is a hard one to answer.
current time: 10:43 am

That’s right as of today (April the 1st), I am no longer going to be doing the CSC website at http://web.utk.edu/~csc. I have been doing it for far too long. Its time for somebody else to step up and do it. People just complain and are unappreciative of the work you do. Give me a break! I’ve got lots of other things to do here. So it took me 4 days to get up pictures from the Spring Break trip. There were just way too many pictures taken of all the same stuff. Also people, please set the time and date on your digital camera! It will make having to sort through some 2000 pictures a lot easier! For these reasons, I am throwing in the towel, tapping out, and quitting.

Now you may ask, who is going to do it? I don’t care! That’s why we have elected officers. Here’s another thing that gets me. People might have actually stopped reading by this point and they won’t realize that today is April 1st. While I’ll admit, I haven’t gone through as much planning for this years practical jokes, I might still have a few up my sleeve. I was a little premature in putting up a picture of Mer. I’m just waiting to see what all others can dish out today. Be careful, don’t ever dish out more than you can take.