hello goodbye hello goodbye

"An ad for cigars appears in 100,000 newspapers; sales of that brand increase by 3% for a short time thereafter. A new play receives a viciously negative review in a theatrical journal that prints 500 copies; the playwright shoots himself. Who's the better writer?"
- excerpt from Berlin, a graphic novel by Jason Lutes (a review)

This week I've been watching Band of Brothers on DVD. After about seven hours, your brain turns to mush. World War II was such an fascinating time-- to even say that, risks understatement and cliche.

Famous people I have met:
George W. Bush (U.S. President)
Dirk Nowitzki (NBA basketball player)
Steve Nash (NBA basketball player)
Brad Davis (NBA basketball player)
Mark Cuban (owner of Dallas Mavericks)
Karl Malone (NBA basketball player)
Traci Lords (um, no comment)
Linda Blair (actress, starred in The Exorcist)
Peter Mayhew (actor, Chewbacca from Star Wars)
Ray Park (actor, starred the X-Men & Star Wars, episode 1)
Dr. Drew Pinsky (radio talk show host, Lovelines)
Todd McFarlane (comic book artist, creator of Spawn)
John Romita, Jr. (comic book artist)
Jim Lee (comic book artist)
Lisa Umbarger (bass player for Toadies)
R.C. Sproul (preacher, writer)
Charles Swindoll (preacher, writer)

And I was once standing twenty feet from Tiger Woods!

Bobby Fischer's Pathetic Endgame (via Daniel Miller)

Dallas Mavericks, 13-0

Respect the streak. Fear the streak. Don’t mess with the streak. The streak will hurt you. It knows where you live. Show proper respect.

the antihero, part 1: Searching for Stanley Lieber

Comixtreme just featured my article on their website. It's a weekly/bi-weekly column, titled the antihero :: to be unpublished and uncool. The intention is to write a journal about the long road to getting published, and generate some interest in the comic book I'm writing.

The editors of Comixtreme really loved my column. So much so, that they made this nifty little graphic (above) for it. Hopefully, this article can serve as a good kickstart to the antihero and building my name among comic book readers.

Stan Lee

It was important that Lee's heroes lived in the real world, and not in Gotham City or Metropolis, because they were real people. That is, Marvel Comics imagined how real people might act if they suddenly gained superpowers -- confused, conflicted and not necessarily eager for the responsibility. They were a departure from that straight-arrow hero of the Golden Age, Superman. The next age belonged to Marvel. And Stan Lee ushered it in with his creations.

The Marvel Age brought its own sensibility and vernacular, expressed by characters who developed through their adventures instead of merely bouncing over tall buildings in a single bound from one escapade to the next. Marvel's heroes were tragi-bombastic, beset by every variety of psychological affliction, but usually smart-assing their way through it. Lee invented the vocabulary and the attitude of the modern superhero, placing his characters and their complex stories in a vivid, literary landscape. Lee was also a principal architect of the modern comic book, a major signpost in popular culture and one of the great American art forms of the 20th century.

it's all happening

I am now a writer for Comixtreme. I will be writing a bi-weekly column-- it's an online documentary of my attempts to create a comic book and break into the industry, kinda like American Movie only more tragic and less funny... hmmm...

Last night, Melissa and I met with Brian and his wife. We had dinner at Cafe Brazil. Brian will be doing the art for the comic book. He's incredibly talented. I think I almost cried while looking through his portfolio. I kept thinking, "This guy is good. I hope he doesn't figure out I just started writing comics in May." I felt a little overwhelmed by his talent, which for someone with an ego like mine-- that's hard to do.

So now, I have two people in my life I must keep happy on a continual basis: my wife and my artist. If either one of them figure out I got the better end of the deal...
I'm screwed.

What the hell?! Just, um... what the hell?!
I'm sorry. I can't say anything else about Mr.Jackson, except:
What the hell?! You are a freak. Please don't breed any more children.

CNN ~ 11/14/02 ~ Stan Lee sues Marvel for $10 million

The creative force behind Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk and Daredevil filed a $10 million lawsuit Tuesday, charging his old comic book company is cheating him out of millions of dollars in movie profits.

Stan Lee, who crafted a menagerie of superpowered heroes with very human flaws, now claims Marvel Entertainment Inc. has tried to shut him out of the "jackpot" success of this summer's "Spider-Man" movie.

I think it's important for Christians to be really really ridiculously good looking. Makes for a strong witness in a shallow world.

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The word loses all meaning.

Today, I've done some more research on the comic book I'm writing. I spent time at the Parapsychology Foundation. I also took the psychic test... and failed miserably.

Thank you Andrew Careaga for the You know you're getting old when... comments.
I love The Clash and Elvis Costello. Congratulations.

"You have the right to free speech
As long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it."
-Know Your Rights (The Clash)

The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.


The face of Jesus.

"Man is the Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal . He is the only animal that has the True Religion-- several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself, and cuts his throat if his theology isn't straight. He has made a graveyard of the globe in trying his honest best to smooth his brother's path to happiness and heaven. He was at it in the time of the Caesars, he was at it in Mahomet's time, he was at it in the time of the Inquisition, he was at it in France a couple of centuries, he was at it in England in Mary's day, he has been at it ever since he first saw the light, he is at it today in Crete-- he will be at it somewhere else tomorrow. The higher animals have no religion. And we are told that they are going to left out, in the hereafter. I wonder why. It seems questionable taste."

-Mark Twain, "The Lowest Animal"

Searchtarget.com has taken over my old site monkhouse.org. Oh the terrible terrible irony! My former website is deconstructed!!! It's like somebody took the home I grew up in and turned it into a sleezy convience store... well, not actually, but I enjoy the Grosse Point Blank movie reference.

Does anybody have suggestions on an affordable web hosting company? I've got a new domain in mind.

A few days ago, I stepped down as editor of Next-Wave Magazine. I'm still a contributing editor, just no longer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. Charlie Wear has been cool through all of this, which I appreciate. He's one of the few people I know who can communicate the very heart of Christ-- simply through an e-mail.

Next-Wave is doing some great things. Seriously, no complaints. I just needed a break. Right now, I'm focusing more on my writing and I want to see where that leads me. I'm trying to publish some stories. In a few months, I may get a new website running. I don't know. It won't be a magzine or anything like Next-Wave or (the site formerly known as) Monkhouse. Probably, a more commerical site for my writing and for publishing in general. I don't know yet. Brainstorming, brainstorming.

"It is the chiefest point of happiness that a man is willing to be what he is."

You are Desiderius Erasmus! You have great love for others and will do just about anything to show it to them. You are tolerant and avoid confrontations, so people generally are drawn to you. You are more quiet and reserved in front of strangers, but around some people you open up. When things get tough, you like to meditate alone. Unfortunately you often get things like "what a pansy," or "you're such a liberal."

What theologian are you?

A creation of Henderson

I remember the first video tape my parents ever rented for me.

The Golden Seal.
"A heartwarming parable about a young boy's innocence put in conflict with the pride and greed of adults. A fine production which demonstrates the often painful necessity of giving up small dreams for larger ones."

Why of all the experiences in my life, have I held onto this one? My first rental.

What's YOUR Writing Style?
brought to you by Quizilla

Students write the funniest things:
"In other people's perspective or point of view, many people have different views."

I started reading the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Alan Moore is an incredible writer.

When I was in high school, I saw Mr.Holland's Opus at the theatre. I hated it. I was upset Mr.Holland never became a composer like he wanted to. Instead, he remained just a teacher. Okay, I admit (at the time) I completely missed the message.

I recently saw the film again and it moved me-- maybe because I saw myself in Mr.Holland. I wanted to be a professional church pastor. I wanted to go to seminary. Preach every Sunday. Have an office. A church of my own. Write a book on ministry. Become a "voice for a generation." But first, I decided to teach high school English for a year-- then I'd pursue my "real career." Three years later, I'm still teaching and I couldn't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be.

Not that it wasn't a difficult realization, it was. I'm still dealing with it. So let's see how you deal with it:

MR.HOPKINS' OPUS

I will never become a professional church pastor.
I will never go to seminary.
I will not preach every Sunday.
I will never have an office.
I will never have my own church.
I will never write a book on ministry.
Some mega-pastors make a six figure salary, I will probably never make beyond $50,000.
I will never live in a large house in a gated community.
My voice will never go beyond my circle of friends and the students I teach.

I will remain just a teacher.

While I will never go to seminary, I will teach future lawyers and doctors and politicians and thousands more who will take care of you.
I do not preach every Sunday. I preach for an hour and a half, four times a day, Monday through Friday. My sermons are truly "interactive." I do not give altar calls. I simply watch my students grow up before me. I will spend more quality time with your children in the next year, than you will.
I do not have an office. I have a classroom. A hundred students enter in everyday. I cannot shut the door. I cannot take the afternoon off to play golf with my pastor buddies. I cannot leave to attend a conference during my work week.
I will never have my own church. I partner with other teachers. I share the burden. My students have dealt with death in their family, divorce, cancer, drug abuse, unhealthy relationships, apathy, the fear of war, violence. And yet they still come to class everyday.
I will never write a book on ministry. I'm too busy attending football games, school plays, judging debate tournaments, proctoring the PSATs, and running the chess club.
I will never make six figures. I will live simply, humbly, without pretense.
My voice will not reach this generation, but I will change the lives of students I care for, and that is more than enough.

You pastors get so excited about foreign missionaries, and neglect the everyday church goer who works hard at their unimpressive job. You pastors freak about about attendance and offering, and forget to lay yourself down. You pastors measure your success by programs and buildings, and forget about transforming the community around you. You pastors dream of fancy titles and recognition, and I am ashamed for you.

I will never be one of you. I'm just a teacher.

More signs of suburban hell:
I saw a billboard on the way to work, LAKE ARLINGTON RANCH-- MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITIES

Who rules the world? More fun political flash movies...

For those in Texas still wondering: Who should I vote for as Railroad Commissioner?
The Houston Chronicle has a good election site with bios on all the candidates for all the offices.

Dialogue from Belle and Sebastian's Storytelling

"Let me ask you something-- not as your guidance counsellor, but as your friend. What do you want to do with your life? What kind of long term goals could you possibly have?"

"I want to be on TV. Maybe have a talk show or something. Like Conan, Early Letterman?"

Melissa bought a new turntable (Numark 1600) and tuner. I'm currently listening to the Virgin Suicides soundtrack-- track 2, "Hello It's Me" by Todd Rundgren. It sounds soooo good.

This past weekend, my friend Aja witnessed a police officer beat an innocent person senseless in Deep Ellum.

Dan, where do you find these sites?! Biting satire... I love it! :)
Black people love us!

Google knows me. Whoa.

david hopkins is program director at the wesleyan campus ministry in the small college town of commerce
david hopkins is the editor
david hopkins is gone electric
david hopkins is a well
david hopkins is a contributing editor for next
david hopkins is a community pastor with axxess
david hopkins is professor of education
david hopkins is a christian who actually "deconstructs" himself online as a form of evangelism and discipleship
david hopkins is not a party to this lawsuit
david hopkins is shaking his head

Now I REALLY feel "deconstructed."