Movie Trailers

A couple of somewhat poignant flicks today (one moreso than the other).

Just Like the Son

One Last Thing..

Forgiveness II

On Monday I talked about forgiveness. I am currently in the process of going to various folks and asking for forgiveness. These are people who have been brought to my attention as people who I have wronged.

It's very hard to go to these people and ask for forgiveness. There is no earthly reason why they should forgive me. And in the back of my mind, I think about the possibility that they may not choose to forgive me. That I may have hurt them and they aren't ready to forgive. I pray that that is not the case, and thankfully I have not seen any signs of that. I am very thankful for the grace they extend to me.

Cheaper gas vs. Roadwork

Interesting article in today's Post-Gazette talking about a measure being proposed by a lawmaker from Western Pennsylvania. If you don't want to click the link, this lawmaker is proposing suspending Pennsylvania's 31.2 cent gas tax until 10/31/06. The state says that if you do that, then we'll have to stop work on roads and bridges.

I'd really like to pay less for gas and I am kinda ambivalent as to whether road work continues or not. So I think I would vote for the tax suspension. Of course if I worked as a flagger, I might have different feelings. But I don't.

So what's it going to be: cheaper gas or road work stoppage?

Things that maKe me smile

I was moved to this topic because there was a lady in my office this morning and we were working on a problem together.

* nice-smelling women (nice is relative, depending on your olfactorial leanings) * hearing a nice percussion piece
* pizza
* women who smile at me
* rainbows
* words of encouragement
* my nieces
* cookies
* doing nice things for people
* travel planning
* nature

What's that you say?

You say you want a fully-cooked pizza in just ten minutes? Papa John's hears your cries for help. Now they'll be almost as fast as The Pizza Grille.

Forgiveness

Today I was talking to an employee on the phone. He was getting ready to retire and I mentioned that instead of the high cost of our insurance, he may want to look at someplace a little cheaper, like AARP. This man said "I will never forgive them for the way they treated my mother." Needless to say, I was more then slightly taken aback.

After I hung up the phone, I got to thinking. What did AARP do to this man's mother that made him refuse to forgive them? Then I thought "what does it matter to him?" As Christians, we are called to forgive others. Non-Christians are under no such command. At this point, I was going to mention how I had forgiven everybody that had ever wronged me. But then I realized that I couldn't say that. It wasn't true. And that's something that I need to correct.

Because I can't think of any good reason why I should be withholding forgiveness from someone.

Perspective

So far this weekend in my neck of the woods has turned out rather dreary. It started raining last night and it continued today and it's probably going to rain tomorrow. I don't mind it so much, but I know some others don't care for it all and consider it an annoyance. Like baseball players, or yard salers. So I was in the Home Depot parking lot and I had this thought.

Perspective is funny. People in other parts of the world would literally kill for the rain that we are having. The same rain that we find annoying, would be cause for dancing in the streets in Africa.

It's easy to get caught up in the things we take for granted. Things like transportation, clothing, a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. Things that are just a dream for others.

Something for me to keep in mind this weekend as I work through the complete disgust I have for my front screen door.

Borders Rewards

This morning, I'm a shill for the Borders Rewards program. This is the frequent shopper program for Borders stores.

This is a FREE program that you should sign up for, if you haven't already. Why? Well, when you register online, you get a choice of gifts that aren't too shabby. You get either 30% off any DVD, CD or book, a free small beverage from the cafe, or a $5 credit towards "Holiday Savings Rewards." I selected the 30% off coupon and redeemed it on Saturday. I then got a bunch of coupons for 25% off any regularly priced item with my receipt.

So if you enjoy saving a few pennies here and there and you shop at Borders, this might be something you want to check out. Even if you never buy anything there, you could still get a free coffee.

I'm proud

Proud, I think, of too many things.

My World Cup Viewing Schedule

I know you all have been waiting in anticipation. Keep in mind that this only represents the first round.

June 9 11:55 a.m. ESPN2 Germany vs. Costa Rica, Munich
June 10 9 a.m. ABC England vs. Paraguay, Frankfurt
June 12 11:55 a.m. ESPN2 USA vs. Czech Republic, Gelsenkirchen
June 12 2:55 p.m. ESPN2 Italy vs. Ghana, Hanover
June 13 2:55 p.m. ESPN2 Brazil vs. Croatia, Berlin
June 14 2:55 p.m. ESPN2 Germany vs. Poland, Dortmund
June 15 11:55 a.m. ESPN2 England vs. Trinidad & Tobago, Nuremberg
June 17 11:30 a.m. ABC Czech Republic vs. Ghana, Cologne
June 17 2:30 p.m. ABC Italy vs. USA, Kaiserslautern
June 20 9:55 a.m. ESPN Ecuador vs. Germany, Berlin
June 20 9:55 a.m. ESPN2 Costa Rica vs. Poland, Hanover
June 20 2:55 p.m. ESPN Sweden vs. England, Cologne
June 22 9:55 a.m. ESPN Ghana vs. USA, Nuremberg

Movie Review - Take the Lead

I saw the movie "Take the Lead" a while back. It stars Antonio Banderas as a ballroom dancing teacher who teaching some New York City high-schoolers to ballroom dance. I was listening to the relevant podcast, and they compared it (without seeing it) to Dangerous Minds. It is actually based on the life of Pierre Dulaine.

It was decent, but I may be biased. I have an interest in ballroom dancing. If you don't have an interest in ballroom or Antonio Banderas, this might not be the movie for you. It is kind of formulaic, in it's storyline, but there are a few wrinkles here and there that keep things mildly interesting. The soundtrack is cool in that it varies between ballroom-style music (i.e. Sinatra, Gershwin) and hip-hop (i.e. Q-tip and Black Eyed Peas). It certainly made me want to dance.

But I'm giving this movie a "7." Mostly because it was unoriginal in it's story idea and there was nothing exciting from a cinematic point of view (and by cinematic, I mean the way the movie was shot, film angles, editing, etc..)

Regarding the rotation of the earth

I'm sure one of my friends knows what a cosine is. And here's more regarding that conversation..

So ya think you're a character?

In my travels this morning, I discovered the blog of a writer named Brandilyn Collins. She's got a new book coming out this summer and she's doing this really neat interactive marketing/literary thing. Basically, she's auditioning people to blog as characters in her book. Cool, eh? She'll send you a pre-release of her book and after you read it, you will then decide which character you'd like to audition for. You'll write up an audition piece, and send it off to her. She'll choose the best ten submissions and they will become the newest residents of Kanner Lake.

Sound like fun? Go here to read more about applying to audition. (And if you do decide to audition, and live within spitting distance of me, I'll share my copy with you.)

If I told you I wanted to go Skydiving..

Would you go with me?

If you know me, it's no suprise to hear that I'm not a risk-taker. I'm rather conservative, although I do have flashes of mildly-risky behaviour. Some of you know that I had been planning a trip out to Las Vegas. Well, I'm still planning that trip. As I was doing research about all to see and do in Las Vegas that isn't gambling or topless in nature, I came across skydiving. There are a couple of places in Vegas that do the skydiving thing. The internet brought me to skydivelasvegas.com.

I have to tell you, it looks really exciting. Seriously. It would scare the crap out of me, but it would spectacular. Look at some of those pictures. Wouldn't you find that exhilarating? Okay, maybe not. I could die or break my ankles or legs. But I think it would be worth it.

And no, I haven't been reading Wild at Heart....

Good Friday II

Earlier today, I posted a link to an article about CACO's. That started me thinking. The service I attended this evening got me thinking further.

What must it have felt like to be a follower of Jesus, and then to find out that He died? And I'm not just talking about his disciples. The boy whose lunch fed the five thousand. The leper who was healed of his leprosy. The woman at the well. Lazarus. The woman with the blood disorder. All of these people had been profoundly affected by Jesus. It must have been a kick in the stomach for many of these people when they discovered that He had died.

I think the death that had the most profound impact on me was the death of my grandmother. I was in college at the time. I don't remember who called me or when I found out. I do remember walking along Creekside Drive and crying. The woman who always made sure there were Pop-Tarts in the house. The woman who cooked us chicken and rice and beans. The woman who would always give us some change to put in the offering plate when we attended Sunday services with her. The woman who knew it was a treat for us to go see a movie and would make a point to take us as much as possible. Gone.

But the memories remain. And something elwe. I would like to believe that her generosity inspired me. That I was able to adopt some of her practices and spread some love. And then I wonder back to 33 AD. And I imagine that Christ's death galvanized people. People who believed that He was bigger than this world. And who refused to let the Gospel die out. People knew...

Good Friday

Just wanted to pass on this link this morning.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sins curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

-Stuart Townend

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

-Sir Isaac Watts

Jesus Keep me Near the Cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary's mountain

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river

Near the cross a trembling soul
Love and mercy found me
There the Bright and Morning Star
Sheds its beams around me

Near the cross O Lamb of God
Bring its scenes before me
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me

-Fanny Crosby

This is Love

Nail-pierced hands, A wounded side
This is love, this is love
The Holy Heart, was sacrificed
This is love, This is love

I bow down to the Holy One
I bow down to the Lamb
I bow down to the Worthy One
I bow down to the Lamb

The Son of God, died for us
This is love, this is love
He walked the hill, He bore the cross
This is love, This is love

-Terry Butler, Mercy Vineyard Publishing

I Will Glory in my Redeemer

As we go through Holy Week, I'm going to be posting some lyrics this week that mean a lot to me. Some of them may be familiar, others may be new. I ask that you just consider these words as you remember what Christ did for us.

I will glory, in my Redeemer
whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
and hung Him on that judgement tree.
I will glory, in my Redeemer
Who crushed the pow'r of sin and death
My only Savior, before the Holy Judge
The Lamb who is my righteousness,
the Lamb who is my righteousness.

I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my life He owns
I have no longings for another
I'm satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness, my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
my feet are firm held by His grace,
my feet are firm held by His grace.

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagle's wings
He crowns my life with loving kindness
His triumph song I'll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
and when he calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold,
His face forever to behold.

-Steve and Vicki Cook

Shopping List II

Cereal
Tomato Sauce
Hot Dog Rolls
Chicken Tenders(.99/lb. at Karns)
Brownie Mix
Spices
Grapes
Bread

Also, congratulation go out to the David Crowder Band who finally took home a few awards from the Gospel Music Awards. They're finally getting some industry love. Here's a complete list of the winners.

Gay Marriage Piece

Check out this article from Joe over at The Evangelical Outpost.

Favorite Foods Shake-up

Big news here people. I like peanut butter. It's great with jelly, crackers, chocolate, and supposedly, celery. Peter Pan peanut butter has been the brand of choice for probably 95% of my life (please don't ask about the dark days of Skippy). But in the name of all that is good and natural, I'm about to make a change. To natural peanut butter. That's right ladies and gentlemen! I'm shaking off the bonds of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and embracing the natural peanut butter life. I think I will try out the Smuckers offering and see how that tastes. As always, I will keep you posted on any new developments related to this change.

If you have tried natural peanut butter, and have a favorite, let me know!

What's up Crofton?

Congratulations to the Maryland Terrapins on beating Duke 78-75 for the national championship last night. Winning is sweet, but it's even more so when you're beating Duke.

Spring - When a young man's thoughts...

turn to the fact that he probably missed out on Red Sox tickets again this year. Nuts!!

Last night, I was at one of my favorite bookstores. I read this magazine, then I read about this city. And then I stumbled onto a book by a guy named Rob Eager. He wrote a book titled Dating with Pure Passion.

I read the first two chapters last night and I just want to mention something that he illuminated for me. He talked about how earthly marriage should be a reflection of the heavenly marriage of Christ and the Church. He talked about gifts, that God the Father has given us because of our marriage. He talked about the fact that because we're married to Christ, we've been given the gift of forgiveness. He went on to talk about the other gifts we've been given, including unconditional acceptance. Then he brought it back around and showed how those gifts should be mirrored in an earthly marriage. It was a really cool insight for me to make a correlation there with the gifts we've been given, and how they should be used in marriage.

Hooray for gifts!!

Tuesday morning bliss

This is what awaited me when I walked out the front door this morning.



I was less than thrilled. I spent several minutes walking to houses next door and across the street to retrieve our trash and recyclables (is that a word). And I couldn't see any other cans on our block that had been toppled.

Perhaps we need heavier trash....

Plug - 05/05/06

Details here.

Verse of the week

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Psalms 86.11

Recipe for failure.

Okay, so I tried to make those Bacon Cheese Burgers yesterday. I'm afraid that they didn't turn out as well as I expected. First, they were thick. Thick as all get out. Check out the picture.

Because of the thickness, they would not cook completely. I cooked them in the pan for over 20 minutes on medium and medium-high heat. I could not get the outside edges to brown. In desperation (and because the choir concert was starting in less then 45 minutes), I threw them in the microwave. You don't have to leave me any comments to let me know how wrong I was. All the beautiful grease left the burgers, leaving them pretty dry. Sadness.

I think I'm just going to focus on baking.