Franchisees say McDonald's expansive menu—it offers everything from high-priced salads and cheap snack wraps to cappuccinos
louis vuitton
and smoothies—appeals to a broader swath of consumers. In its latest quarter, McDonald's revenue rose 5% and its net income was up 12%, while Burger King's latest quarterly revenue fell 1% and its profit was down almost 17%.

Sorry to unintentionally break your streak. In my defense, I didn't know it was carbonated either.

I'll call you whatever I want, and you'll like it.

I kinda wonder if the "bajillion freckles" would even be there if it wasn't for the 20 years of summer camp!

Oh, we'll be hitting up the snack room all right.

Although it won't be as easy to pop down the stairs and be right there...

Very misleading header there, Jer. But I DID enjoy the teaching this past Sunday- questions or no. Glad you are "with" us now.

Les

"Can we get this dude an emmy please?"

Seriously. As soon as possible please.

Where would this season have been without the flash sideways?

it would have been a great season. the kwons' and sayid's dramatic deaths, the origin of the jacob/MiB story, using desmond as a weapon, etc. all of that greatness would still have been there AND they could have spent time answering more questions. maybe not as head-scratchy without the sideways world, but still great, i believe.

and i agree with you on the kimmel thing. THOUGH i totally called the probst bit when i saw his foot hit the sand and i loved it.

I really liked the limbo story line. I'm completely fine with that making me part of the masses it made happy. But I refuse to accept that it was solely for the purpose of pleasing the masses. I think it was the closure the story needed. Where would this season have been without the flash sideways? (I'm still not sure if "sideways" plural is supposed to have an apostrophe or not...ha.)

I'm pretty sure they were trying to hint that Jack and Juliet were divorced in the finale/flash sideways, but I do agree with the disturbi-ness of the love polygons throughout the series.

Def agree with the awesomeness of the jack/MiB fight and Jack being the hero.

That Jimmy Kimmel thing was really disappointing/dumb. Besides Matthew Fox crying (so legit!) everyone else was kind of lame. I mean, what the heck's up with Naveen Andrews not watching Lost?! Come on, Sayid. I did really enjoy young Jacob popping up multiple times in the background, though.

Jeremy, I'm going to miss hearing you preach. Thank you for faithfully, and openly preaching the truth, both to yourself and to us.

I'm praying for you.

I actually pushed myself hard to make an A in my Revelation class this semester. I thought it would be the same where I was looking for the grade more than the knowledge, but I found when I actually spent 10 hours studying I would pick up on things in the notes I didn't remember the teacher saying. And I was able to figure out that the movie Sherlock Holmes is built on the Revelation story. It's probably different for you, but my two cents is that when I pushed myself for the grade I actually gained more of the knowledge.

Thanks for this, Jeremy! So good. I know that I've used "that's just the way that I am" plenty of times in my life. Very convicting and a good reminder.

too fun, Jeremy... lol

mom, i actually thought about that when i mentioned egalitarianism! guess it's fitting for both posts!

Uh, your chances of dating will probably be greatly diminished by the quote at the top of your blog today. Just saying.;-)

yes. I thought you knew about it. We all read it and had a good laugh about it. You need some of your own "fires" Jer. Chop chop.

First baseball, now golf. I think you're just getting old.;-)

Hm, I think I'll do this survey now.

1. I don't wear socks, because I don't wear shoes. Moot point.
2. Jack Sparrow?
3. I believe you mean "best republic in the universe"
4. No idea
5. chocolate syrup
6. Thunder is beastly. Especially when you're outside. In the rain.
7. Pup (my cousins called their dog that)--I want to say it was a hunting dog of some sort.
8. Soccer. And I wouldn't have to be forced.
9. GPA is pointless everywhere.
10. Not even worth asking. Manu Ginobili.
11. Emotions. just kidding, I do actually maybe have some kind of heart.
12. Roman Numeral Three is kind of long. And Three just sounds weird. So maybe Frank?
13. Depends on the shoes, and the occasion.
14. non-chocolate
15. Louisiana, Galveston, and central Mexico (like, the part where it's just flat desert for a LONG, LONG time)
16. I think either one might possibly drive me crazy. But grass is better to lie in.
17. Learn latin. ASAP
18. The ones where height and long arms and a total disregard for the condition of my body are helpful.
19. Longhorns. Oh, and SEC fans
20. Yes, I totally ignored the rules of this quiz. But then again, you saw that coming.

1. The left one, but I am right handed. weird
2. Shephard. I have never been introduced to Bauer.
3. Because of UT.
4. Tim Robbins because I think there would be less of a chance that he would punch someone or throw something. And I would want to talk about the weirdness that was Hudsucker Proxy.
5. definitely chunks.
6. lightening because it doesn't wake you up.
7. Shiner... my sister's Great Dane
8. soccer. At least the guys are hot.
9. average GPA from a respected school.
10. who cares
11. mayonnaise
12. bright eyes
13. slip off
14. chocolate please
15. Del Rio, Tx; Houston, TX and... don't know
16. grass grow. at least you would be outside.
17. there will plenty of time for boys. just enjoy your friends and let the rest go.
18. volleyball
19. apple users

Maybe I'll to the rest of this survey when it's not past my bedtime, but I have to comment that as a faithful Spurs fan, I still think Manu Ginobili is flopper (in basketball) whose last name is not Varejao.

Andrew,

Clearly, you HAVE NOT experienced Dallas. Or at least my little corner of it. Come visit me so I can prove you wrong :)

Also, why is everyone hating on Dallas? It looks just like Houston but with hills! Hills, people, HILLS!!!

If you mean highways that dip and incline every now and again, then yes, Dallas has hills.

Andrew and Marie,

You guys are breaking my heart with those Manu comments!

Also, why is everyone hating on Dallas? It looks just like Houston but with hills! Hills, people, HILLS!!!

1. Left and right.

2. Bauer because Shepherd is a wuss.

3. The land.

4. Tim Robbins because I don't think Sean Penn would like me very much.

5. Chocolate chips

6. Lightning when its locked in the clouds

7. Hmm. If I get dogs someday, I want to name one Faulkner and another Myshkin.

8. Soccer probably. Unless it's a close game of golf on the last two or three holes. And Tiger Woods probably has to be playing for me to be interested.

9. High GPA from a nowhere school. I don't get the sense that there's a great deal of difference in difficulty from one school to the next. In big-wig universities, the difference is in the kind of people they admit, and not really in work load. I'm convinced I could go to Harvard and make an average GPA (probably above average, if I'm allowed to choose my major). But I'll never be able to go to Harvard for about 1000 different reasons.

10. No flop is legitimate. And Manu.

11. Probably big crowds when I'm required to be social.

12. A-Rob.

13. After I break them in, I just slip them on/off.

14. Chocolate

15. Dallas, all of Kansas, and Baltimore

16. Paint dry, assuming it's inside

17. I'd probably tell myself to not be intimidated by Summer Wayhan when I meet her two years down the line.

18. Football.

19. Probably the French. I would say Apple users, but PC zealots are just as bad (they are most often gamers).

1. Right. I am right handed. However I think I am somewhat left dominant.
2. Bauer? Although I don't watch either.
3. psh. I love everything about Texas. Let's see: Sunshine. Humidity. Buc-ee's. Tex-Mex. "The stars at night." Southern hospitality. Home. BFND. Bluebonnets. The Lone Star. Etc etc.
4. Tim Robbins. Although, I don't really have a strong feeling either way to either one.
5. Both. duh. but I suppose I would stick with the chip if someone was forcing me to make a decision.
6. Neither. Thunderstorms are the worst thing ever. Although, I did sit outside and watch a lightening storm last year... but that's another story entirely
7. I once named my German Shephard Six. I was six years old and thought a lot of myself apparently. It's pretty unique, therefore, the best I can come up with.
8. Soccer. definitely.
9. High GPA from a joke school. Trust me. Telling people my GPA from a hard school still makes me look dumb. People can't relate difficulty in their mind. They like numbers/concrete information.
10. Literally? Ginobli tends to "flop" more. Figuratively? Duke. But then again, I don't really follow basketball. And I am still a Ginobli fan (don't fret, DG).
11. SNAKES! although, there is NOTHING irrational about it.
12. I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you ;)
13. Slip them off.
14. Chocolate. Specifically, dark chocolate.
15. The area around Hobby airport and your school. Shawnee, Oklahoma. Lousiana swamps.
16. Grass grow. It seems less toxic to your health. and least you could be outside. in a hammock.
17. "Calm the stink down! there is plenty of time to stress later in life ;)!"
18. No sports whatsoever. But you probably already knew that! ;)
19. excuse me, definitely the French. Apple. Is. Awesome.

ps: sorry I felt the need to elaborate on most of my answers! I'm sure you found it enjoyable though, so it's cool!

1. Right one first; Right is my dominant hand

2. Shepherd

3. Because Texas is the best (I can't escape circular reasoning when trying to explain to people why Texas is so awesome)

4. Mm... Sean Penn. Has a cooler name

5. Chips. (Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream)

6. Lightning. Thunder is just annoying

7. Buddy!

8. Ew. Soccer

9. Avg GPA from a "respected" school

10. Don't watch basketball

11. Bugs

12. Chatterbox :)

13. Slip on and off

14. Hard

15. Hmm...haven't been too many places... Dallas, TX?

16. Paint dry

17. In 5 years you aren't going to remember or care how you did in school or what you wore. And neither will anyone else!

18. Volleyball

19. DEFINITELY Apple users :)

1. I'm not totally sure since I rarely wear them, but I think I put them on my right foot first... with my dominant right hand, of course.

2. Bauer, I guess. But only because I've never seen Lost.

3. Too many reasons to list. For starters, it has bluebonnets, Buc-ee's, Tex-Mex, my family, the Spurs, Tex-Mex and glorious Texas SUNSHINE... and did I mention Tex-Mex?

4. Tim Robbins. One word = Shawshank.

5. BOTH! But chocolate chips if I have to choose.

6. Thunder.

7. I'm gonna have to beat Molly (or whoever else) to the chase and say TJ...aka Thunder Jet/Thomas Jefferson. I have no idea what kind of dog it is, but I'm picturing a big mutt.

8. Soccer.

9. Average GPA from a "respected" school.

10. I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU PUT THIS ON HERE! Rude. The entire duke basketball team, obviously. All their athletic teams are sketchy (men's lacrosse ringing any bells?!).

11. Cockroaches.

12. Ginger.

13. I slip them off, but I always have to untie and retie them when I put them back on.

14. Chocolate.

15. Rural (as in almost anywhere), Louisiana. Galveston, Texas. Nairobi, Kenya.

16. Paint dry...seems like it'd be faster.

17. This is a tough one. I'd probably say something like this: "Spend less time playing/practicing sports and more time with the Lord".

18. I'd like to think basketball, but I know it's discus.

19. French Apple users. They're the worst.

20. and yes, i stopped at 19 because i figured it might bother some people... I'm taking that as a personal attack ;)

I've had the same weird feeling whenever people say that too. Something just doesn't seem to match up with what the Bible has to say about sin. But I think that the sketchiness of the statement has to do with the context it's used in, or perhaps more specifically, what's being proved.

For instance, the main way I've heard it that kind of makes me want to disagree is when people are talking about judging whether or not someone is a Christian (and just cause I used the word "judging", I don't mean "passing judgement"). It goes something like this: "Since all sins are equal in God's eyes, then a a little pride is just as bad as killing someone, or doing drugs, etc. So you can't say that someone's not a Christian because they live in a habitual sin of incontinence, because you probably live in a habitual sin of pride". The logic sounds good, but the problem is that it seems to contradict nearly every epistle written.

Anyways, that's my two cents. It's a very good question, though--I still don't really have a satisfactory answer. One thing I do know: that God is holy and we are ALL sinful, and thus damned. But God, while we were dead, sent His Son to die for our sins and save us from God's wrath. And that is enough for me. (But don't get me wrong, I LOVE theological nitpicking. It's probably my favorite pastime)

I feel like sin is sin, because it separates us from God; however, whenever people say that "all sin is the same in God's eyes" it makes it sound like God is an unaware, ignorant being. Obviously, that's not what these people mean :). But God created the order of the world, and with that made natural consequences for certain sins, some worse than others. If that makes sense. In any case - I don't think that all sin is the same in God's eyes, but at the same time, any sin separates us.

I started calling you Stroke back in 1994 when the Rockets were doing one of their back-to-back championship runs. Vernon Maxwell, speaking of a good shooting game in the playoffs, said, "We were just out there free-stroking."

So shortly thereafter you were out at Hancock free-stroking, draining 3s like it was nobody's business, so I called you Stroke! ;-)

WHAT??? That is so exciting. Congrats!!! You are such a good secret keeper. Anyway, I am happy for you.

Busta

praying for you... i don't comment often because i usually read your blogs through a feed on my blackberry... but i signed in this morning to let ya know that i am praying for all of you.

Maybe you use the word "Christ-like" a lot. That must be what it is.

Thats pretty cool. I like this.

Spot-on thoughts, particularly the paragraphs about parent's priorities. If parents and teachers and youth groups don't make it clear that Jesus Christ is a worthy treasure to be pursued passionately, but rather promote "good clean fun" as that which is to be pursued—well, its little wonder we aren't seeing our young people staying true to the faith. Jesus Christ saves and sanctifies and satisfies. Good clean fun does none of that.

Thanks for this. It's good to hear your heart.

Glad I got the manifesto before having to coerce it from you! Just kidding. Good post, my brother/pastor/friend/boss. Wow, that's a good amount of ties.

Still, though, this summer hopefully we'll have some chances to talk before I skidaddle out of here.

"So, Jeremy, what are your thoughts on student ministry?"

It's coming...

Well said, Jeremy. Lots to think about in this one. I wish I had answers, because I've struggled with this A LOT in looking back at my own time in student ministry as an adult volunteer.

Focusing on the cross is, I believe, the important thing, as you've stated so well here. Now a student ministry that is awake to the Gospel (to borrow a phrase) may not attract as many students as one that is awake to (fun, hype, events, bigness, video, etc) and so may not look like as much of a success. But I have for a long time believed that the success of a student ministry can only be measured in those lives ten or fifteen years later.

Great, great post, Jerms!

I think that discipleship is one of the main keys. Biblical community is so life-giving!

That was AWESOME!! My dad, Luke and I were riveted. Thanks for finding and sharing that. We watched the badn one too an dit was cool, but not like this one.