Why worship should rock -- and why you're wrong to tell others it shouldn't

Have you ever read something that made you feel like the "Tasmanian Devil" inside?

It might be a news article, a Facebook post, a Tweet or a text from an acquaintance. But, regardless of the source, it's something that touches a nerve with you, to your very core. It draws an instant emotional response and makes you want to get on a rooftop and shout how you feel.

I felt that way earlier this week, when I read a blog post about worship.

Caption Contest Winner; Plus an interview...sort of

This guy won something. This post is about an award winner. Get it?

Hey guys! Hope you're having an excellent Friday thus far and winding your way down to a well deserved weeekend!

I'm foregoing the "Friday Funhouse" this week, in lieu of a couple other items of business I needed to get to. No worries. It will be back next week, loud and proud.

So, here are the important topics to attend to:

Caption Contest: Win a Free Shirt from MendMark.com!

The kind folks at Mend have generously donated a t-shirt for me to give away to anyone to whom I so desire. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to have a caption contest. Am I right? Thought so.

So here's the deal. The person who can come up with the funniest (in my opinion) caption...wins. Simple, right?

The winner will receive any of the awesome shirts available at MendMark.com that they so chose. One entry per person. No other rules than that. Just be funny!

Here's a little bit of info about Mend:

Mend Mark is an apparel company that uses products to communicate the story of Christ. Every item they sale is distinctly designed to communicate the love that Jesus displayed for others. The company is not about pushing a certain religion or doctrine, but rather their main goal is to give people the opportunity to make Christ's example of love famous to all so that we may hopefully be influenced to model our lives in a similar fashion.

I will be accepting entries until midnight tonight (Thursday, March 29).



Bring on the captions!

TheIsleofMan.Net Interview: 'Joseph Craven from TheGBOAT.net'

THE Joseph Craven watching pensively as a beautiful butterfly flutters its soft wings off in the distance.

Joseph Craven is one of many bloggers I've been fortunate enough to get to know in the past few months that TheIsleofMan.Net has been up and running. Even though most of that acquainting process has been in the way of us trying to sarcastically one-up each other (which usually ends badly for Mr. Craven), I still will go as far as to call him a friend (among other things).

Joseph runs a blog which he humbly refers to as "The Greatest Blog of All Time," which you can find at www.thegboat.net. You can also follow him on Twitter HERE.  

The goal is to interview a blogger from every state in the U.S., as well as province in the "Great White North."

Go ahead and check Mississippi off the list:

TheIsleOfMan.Net Book Review: 'Building a Life out of Words' by Shawn Smucker

Every now and then, I find a blogger and his/her site that totally floors me and makes me wonder how I'd been oblivious enough to miss them. Other times, I'm lucky enough to have that person be a friend to me.

I've recently found both of those things in Shawn Smucker, a guy who is not just an incredible writer, but he's also a really cool, down-to-earth guy. If you don't like Shawn and the words he writes, I don't like you. True story.

Shawn blogs (almost) daily at http://shawnsmucker.com. He is currently traveling the country for four months with his wife and four children in a big, blue bus named Willie, looking for service opportunities as well as other writers to meet up with. You can find him on Facebook (Shawn Smucker, Writer) and Twitter (@shawnsmucker).

Mr. Smucker just wrote an e-book called "Building a Life out of Words," and he blessed me with the opportunity to read and review it.

Between Jobs: Getting from 'Point A' to 'Point B'

By now, most of you know that I found out last week that my teaching contract would not be renewed for next year. It's a nice way of saying that I'm being laid off.

It's been about a week now. Here's the update:

Friday Funhouse: March 23, 2012

How's everybody doing? Good?

Are your brackets as jacked up as mine? Taking Murray State to make it to the Final Four seemed like such a smart move...before the games started. I'm a sucker for hype.

I'll tell you what isn't hype, and that's this week's rendition of the "Funhouse." I brought the funny in a big way, as well as some other items I found amusing or insightful.

If you don't love it, I just don't know how to please you.

Lambo Doors and the cars that shouldn't have them

"Lambo doors" refer to the vertical doors commonly associated with the Lamborghini Countach. They look cool, but, let's be real -- anything on a Countach would look cool.

A recent craze has emerged where fine citizens have taken it upon themselves to install these types of doors on their cars, which are far cries from being Lamborghinis.

I've taken the time to find some of the finer examples of cars that have no business having "Lambo doors."

Check it out:

TheIsleofMan.Net Interview: 'Tyler Tarver from TylerTarver.com'

Tyler Tarver is the proprietor of TylerTarver.com, a website that makes people laugh, think and be late for things.

He's a teacher, a filmmaker, a husband and a father. He's an overall good dude, and for some reason, he likes me and my website enough to let me interview him about important things like blogging, Mountain Dew and baby pee.

If you don't enjoy this interview, you may be a robot. That's not an insult. Robots rule.

It Is Well With My Soul

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul."

On Thursday, I received the news that my teaching contract would not be renewed for next school year, as a result of budget cuts the school is making, due to poor re-enrollment numbers.

I've worked at this school for six years. I've coached there, as well. I've made countless connections with kids and parents alike.

I've put in many hours. Poured my heart out inside the classroom and on the court. I've been touched by many, and would like to believe I've touched hearts also.

How did I get the news?

The school's administrator casually walked into my classroom, during my planning period, completely unannounced, sat down in a desk, then callously told me that my services would no longer be needed. He was gone almost as soon as he came. There was no meeting. I was offered no opportunity to respond. It was cold. It was heartless.

It was not a surprise, and I'd be lying if I told you I totally hadn't seen it coming.  

March Madness Bracket Contest Update II

Last Monday, I encouraged you to send in your brackets, so we could determine who is the least terrible at picking winning teams in the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, aka: "The Big Dance."

While I didn't get a ton of entries, I've always been a "quality over quantity" type of guy. 

Here were the top notch submissions:

Friday Funhouse: March 16, 2012

Congratulations. 

You made it through another grueling work week. You wanted to quit, several times. You didn't. Somehow, by the grace of God and the ripples caused by "The Butterly Effect," you made it to Friday in one piece.

You deserve a reward. 

Here you go. Here is your portion of "funny."

Enjoy.

TheIsleofMan.Net Interview: You, the reader

One of my favorite things that I've been blessed to be able to do with this blog is to interview some very cool people. If you've been around for a while, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

If you're new here, you can check out my interview archive HERE.

Today, I'm flipping the script a bit. I want to interview YOU! I am fortunate enough to have some really awesome readers and commenters here on this site, and I'd like to get to know all of you a little better.

So, here are my questions:

March Madness Contest Update, Etc.

Just a quick word to those still thinking about entering the March Madness Bracket contest. I know that some of you felt it was a pain to have to print out the bracket and take a picture of that. No problem. Keep it simple. I just need to know who your picks are.

There are multiple sites you can go to in order to electronically fill out a bracket. Feel free to visit any of those, and when you're done, you can either take a picture of the computer screen and send me that, or you can do a "print screen" and send me that jpeg file (just make sure the picks are legible).

There's still time. I just need them in by 6:40pm ET tonight. Right now, I only have a couple entries. I'd love for more of you to get involved.

Don't be party poopers. Submit a bracket today!

Speaking of March Madness, my friend Clay Morgan is having a competition of his own over at Educlaytion.com. I'm involved and would love your support.

Here's the deal. Clay has set up a March Madness bracket involving movie protagonists. Each of the contestants picked a particular movie hero and listed the reason why that character should win. I picked John McClane from Die Hard. It was kind of a no-brainer.

So, to help me and John McClane get the victory, click HERE, scroll down to the voting portion and click on McClane's name. Just that easy.

Thanks guys!

**Note: If you want to participate in the IsleofMan Bracket Competition but are having issues, please e-mail me at kevinrhaggerty AT yahoo DOT com. I'll help you get it worked out. I just want you to be involved!**

Isle of Man March Madness Bracket Challenge

It's that time of the year again! The time when men go into their caves and watch hours of basketball between teams and players they haven't seen all year, while pretending to be experts on it all. The time when women wonder why they didn't marry that effeminate guy from high school who used to always notice when she got her hair cut or had recently purchased new shoes.

Last night, the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament brackets came out, meaning that the office pools and armchair analysts will soon be in full bloom.

We got ya covered.

After the jump, I'll detail the rules and expectations for the "2012 Isle of Men March Madness Bracket Challenge:"

Friday Funhouse: March 9, 2012

How's it hanging?

Don't answer that. It was a stupid and unprofessional way to ask how your week has been. Disregard it entirely.

Finding the bets of "teh internets" can be exhausting. You've got way too much going on for all those shenanigans.

So I did it for you. But before we get to the animated gif goodness and other pics that will make you literally slap your knee, I have a question for you.

Did you know that you can find "TheIsleOfMan" on Facebook? After much cajoling, I gave up and created a "Fan Page." I felt conflicted about it, but you asked for it and I caved. So, please, don't let the page just sit there with its proverbial butt flapping in the wind. Go HERE and "Like" the page. Also, if you can share it from your own profile, that would help a lot. Thanks!

Anyway, here are the items that entertained, educated or just flat out made me laugh this week.

Enjoy:

The Top Ten Ways to NOT Network

Networking is overrated and only for working stiffs in conference rooms

If you're a blogger or really any kind of entrepreneur or creative type, you hear non-stop about "networking" and how to do it.

Being the blogging prodigy that I am, I've found the value of networking to be vastly underrated. It's really important. No man is an island...even on "The Isle of Man."

With all that said, I decided to flip the whole conversation on its ear. Any "average Joe" can tell you how to efficiently network. I'm not tryin' to go that route. BO-RING!

Instead, I'd like to share some of my experience, as well as (and even moreso) the experience I've viewed other bloggers undertake in their failure to network properly.

So, here it is. The top ten ways to NOT network:

TheIsleofMan.Net Interview: 'Jessica Buttram from MeetTheButtrams'

Jessica Buttram is a wife, a mom and writes at her personal blog, "Meet The Buttrams." She's also one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter. If you don't follow her, you're missing out.

Jessica was nice enough to take donate some of her valuable time to answering another round of my inane questions and helping me produce an interview that ended up being better than it should have been.

Quick note: Do you read this blog regularly or at least somewhat regularly? Do you enjoy the content? If so, why not subscribe? It's quick, easy and a nice way to say thank you to yours truly. I'm not asking for much. I commit to provide quality content to you on a regular basis. I'm asking you to commit to read it. Thanks!

No Bromance for Me: Dude Love Weirds Me Out

I'm not a touchy-feely sort of guy. It's probably to the extent that it's a flaw. That's fine. I admit that. I could be more in touch with my feminine side.

Why am I that way? I don't know. My parents hugged me sufficiently and told me they loved me when I was little (and still do). I wasn't scarred by anything traumatic.

But I've just never really been cool with showing affection to dudes. Let's high five, give "dap," fist-bump and maybe even punch each other.

If I appreciate you, I'll call you a moron or tell you you're getting fat. It's what guys do. It's what I'm comfortable with.

So, you'll understand why I may feel less than kosher about a new movement that seems to be stirring. You see it on Facebook. Sometimes, you hear it in person.

One guy tells another guy: "I love you." 

I just don't get it. I mean, if his mom died and he needs comfort, I met let one fly, but casually? Or in passing? I dunno. I think it's too much.

All that recently got turned on its ear by a friend of mine.

Guest Post on Grace at TheHandwritten.com

Today, I'm guest posting over at Michael D. Perkins' TheHandwritten.com. My post is on the topic of grace and it's based on my all-time favorite Bible verse. So head over to Michael's site and check it out HERE.

After you head over to TheHandwritten.com and read my post on grace, I'd love it if you came back here and posted a quick comment with your favorite Bible verse. Feel free to include a short story with why the verse has special meaning to you.

Have a great Monday!

Free Stuff: ModernVintageMan.com Giveaway!

Recently, I made two new friends in Tim and Matt over at ModernVintageMan.com. To this point, the friendship has been totally one-sided, largely involving them telling me how awesome I am.

They're not wrong, but that isn't the point.

The point is that Tim and Matt are also awesome, and they're putting together a very nice "dude-friendly" website. If you're a guy or just one who enjoys guy culture (you know who you are), you should head over to ModernVintageMan.com now.

While you're there, you need to check out a cool giveaway they are running from now through March 6. All you have to do is join their email list and "Like" their Facebook page for a chance to win a sweet handmade leather journal from Renaissance Art. You can look like Indiana Jones while you pensively write down your innermost thoughts or the grocery list. 

Look, nobody cares what you write in it, but if you don't enter the contest, you're gonna be writing a lot of nothing...and you're going to be doing it nowhere. 

Don't be a dummy. Enter the contest now.

Friday Funhouse: March 2, 2012

Wanna see some cool stuff I found this week? Don't be a dummy. Of course you do.

After the jump, I've included some of the betters pics and vids that I stumbled upon in these here interwebs.

Enjoy:

Guest Post for TamaraOutloud.com: 'An Idiot's Guide to Driving'

Today, my friend Tamara Lunardo is running a guest post I wrote for her called: "An Idiot's Guide to Driving." The post is a segment of a book project that I'm working on, hopefully to be released by the end of March.

Here is an excerpt of today's post:

"Idiots.

They’re everywhere. But the place where they stand out the most is the road. Specifically, behind the wheel.

There’s really no hiding when you’re steering a two-ton weapon of death. If you’re an idiot, people are going to know.

They’ve got guides for everything these days. 'Doing your taxes for dummies.' 'How to make a bicycle using origami…and a Bic lighter.'

I thought I’d get into the act and write my own. I’m passing it on to you, free of charge.

You’re welcome.

Here it is, without further ado: 'An Idiot’s Guide to Driving.'”

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE POST HERE!