Chivalric Dreams

Blog moving forward

2009-02-03T09:53:00.002-05:00

My Blog has moved to Greg and I's website: www.theszramas.net

I hope that you'll check it out. ~K

Matthew 25 Network

2008-07-10T08:57:00.004-04:00

Rant time.

I'm sick of being invited to support this group and having my faith questioned when I decline to support it. This group in and of itself is against principles for which I stand firm. I'm not saying that I don't support strong and true application of Biblical principles to our everyday lives. The reason that I cannot support this group is because I do believe the Bible to be God's holy word to all who accept the love and grace of his son's sacrifice upon our behalf. I therefore cannot in good conscience use my faith as a political platform in support or opposed to a specific candidate. I will vote and my faith will influence my decision. However, I will research issues and determine for myself which ones I hold to be most pressing for my faith. That my dear friends is the significance of free will. If this political action group were truly supporting Christian ideas I wouldn't be reading unwavering support for the democratic party on their online boards and Facebook profile, but rather I'd be reading about Biblical stances by both candidates and how they aligned with Biblical principles. Faith is not politics. Faith can affect your politics and frankly should; but politics should never affect your faith.

In light of constantly being invited to join and support this group, I will be writing a series of BLOG posts looking at the principles they list and how the Bible actually describes the roles of the faithful in fulfilling them. I say the faithful because this includes the individual as well as the church. A government composed solely of believers following Biblical principles would be a dream come true; however, the Bible places responsibility for action upon the shoulders of believers and not their governments. This action should include voting for a candidate that holds closest to what you believe to be the closest following of God's will. It should not include judgment upon fellow believers who hold different views of how Godly living can be carried out. Along these lines I plan to refute the Mathew 25 Network placing responsibility for caring for the sick, hungry, mourning, weak, widows, and orphans upon government structures such as welfare while still trying to claim decisions on abortion are up to individuals' morality due to the separation of church and state. You can't have it both ways.

I want it to be perfectly clear that I will not be attacking the faith of those involved with the Matthew 25 Network. Each of their members has their reasons. Rather, I will be using their agenda as a platform for illustrating that faith cannot be used as a judgment measure against those who may disagree. Nor can it be a political pawn in the realms of man and still hold fully to Biblical principles for every single, free-willed, grace-filled believer trying to follow the example of Christ. It is from this view point I plan to exam why I will not support a political party using my faith as a notch in its support base.

Consider this: No man since Christ was perfect in God's sight. We as believers are called to model Christ in our everyday living and this means following the scripture as best as we can while acknowledging that others are doing the same. And finally, Christ was not the political king that the Jews expected, but according to scripture, the anti-Christ will be a visibly moral and highly political man. I'm not saying that either candidate is the anti-Christ, I'm just giving you some things to consider going into an election year.

Rundown of the Interim

2008-05-08T09:48:00.004-04:00

So it has been way too long since I've last posted and for that I apologize. Here's the brief rundown on the past few months.

January:
Greg and I visited PA, where he talked to my Dad, and then he proposed (twice). YEA!!!
We went to see Professional Bull Riding. It was awesome.

February:
Wedding planning kicking into full swing with contracts, and venues, and catering, oh my.
The AU Chi Alpha 10th Anniversary shindig was a blast, especially catching up with folks I never see anymore.
Greg proposed a third time, this time giving me a beautiful three stone ring.
My parents met Greg's Mom, step-dad, siblings, and grandparents during a trip to Abingdon, VA.

March:
More wedding planning and dreaming.
Greg and I started premarital counseling in PA.
We had a engagement celebration at Dave and Buster's in Rockville, MD.
Easter morning, Greg and I went to the Sunrise service at Arlington National Cemetery--it's quite possibly my favorite service of the year, and there is something moving and sacred about celebrating Christ's resurrection surrounded by graves of the departed.

April:
Greg went to Las Vegas for a week for the websphere conference.
We went to Paul and Jen's wedding in PA.
Invitations were designed and printed as wedding planning keeps moving on.

And finally we get to May, during which we've already had bridesmaid's over to help with invitations, went to hear the National Symphony Orchestra perform Copland works which was amazing, and are celebrating friends college graduations this weekend. Oh, and did I mention wedding planning. ;-)

Anyway, I hope to be better about posting in the future.

God is Faithful

2008-01-22T13:17:00.001-05:00

Psalm 45

1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme

as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.

3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.

4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;
let your right hand display awesome deeds.

5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.

6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.

8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.

9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:
Forget your people and your father's house.

11 The king is enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.

12 The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift,
men of wealth will seek your favor.

13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber ;
her gown is interwoven with gold.

14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her
and are brought to you.

15 They are led in with joy and gladness;
they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

He asked....

2008-01-19T21:09:00.000-05:00

I said, "Yes!"

Christmas 2007

2008-01-10T08:37:00.000-05:00

Greg and I traveled to Williamsburg, PA to spend the Christmas holiday with my family after making our rounds through the traditional DC Christmas sights like the National Christmas Tree.

We checked out the White House decorations.

Our visit to the tree was great.

Once in Pennsylvania, Greg made a new friend, my sister's cat, Boots.

And after receiving his gift from Tink & Jay, Greg promptly put it on his head. Yeah, there's nothing more I can say to that one.

We had a great Christmas and I hope you all have just as much fun.

Flower Personality Quiz

2008-01-08T09:35:00.000-05:00

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist.
People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you.
You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words.
Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What Flower Are You?

2007 Year in Review

2008-01-03T11:43:00.000-05:00

January--
New Year's Eve at Steve and Corey's place.
Sign up for eHarmony on a whim with friends.
Kristy returned to Vienna.
Anne flew for study abroad in Italy.
Rachelle headed for China via Vienna to visit Kristy.

February--
Help with registration at the Potomac District XA retreat.
Same old hanging out, chillin' out max and relaxin' all cool.

March--
Chandler teaches me to play Halo, in spite on my lack of video game skill.
First eHarmony lunch date...I wasn't the least bit impressed.
Have a book review featured on NCC's ZoneGathering.com BLOG.

April--
First date with Greg! - Flowers, a great restaurant, and a good personality, this time I was impressed. ;-)
Mom and Dad visit Arlington for dinner.
Free walking tour weekend in DC.
Johnnie Walker tasting with Brad and Sooya.

May--
WMZQ fest with Greg.
Catch up with a friend from PA in DC.
Have an article featured on ZoneGathering.com.
Greg in San Francisco for a week.
First time I make dinner for Greg.
Fly to Seattle to surprise Kathleen for her birthday.
First time Greg makes dinner for me.
Met some of Greg's family (Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, Grandma) and
Tour Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg, VA Battlefields.
Guinness tasting and multimedia event with Seth, Brad, and Greg.

June--
Discovering DC Small Group starts..
Took Greg to see Hamlet at the Shakespeare Theater as his birthday present.
Mary and Jason's engagement party.
Dancing at Glen Echo with Greg.
Surprise Birthday party for Greg and meeting his friends.
Day catching up with Anne as she's back in the states.
The All Holiday Party...enough said.
Presley Family Reunion (meeting Greg's Mom, Mr. Bill, Nathan, and Courtney).
Trip to PA and Car Inspected.
Hillbilly Bluegrass.
Concert on the Bay at St. Mary's College, MD--Parente's Cowboy Rhapsody, Copeland's Billy the Kid, Suzy Bogguss, and Fireworks to the William Tell Overture.

July--
BBQ and a movie for the 4th due to Thunderstorms.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Chris and Katy Norberg tie the knot in PA.
Greg takes me to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Kennedy Center Opera House.
National Embrace your Geekness Day.
NCC Summer Leadership Summit.
Family BBQ in PA (Greg meets my family and I sing at Vicksburg).
Dinner with Tim and Kathleen in VA.
Randy Travis concert at Wolf Trap.

August--
My cousin Beth gets married.
Dave & Buster's.
NCC Team Leader training.
South Carolina for Ryan (Greg's brother) and Christina's wedding.
Visit Dave (Greg's college friend) in Charleston.
Szrama-Thompson wedding in Greenville, SC.
Dinner with Rachelle in DC on visit from China.
Mary (Stalcup) and Jason wedding. (Yes, that's 3 weddings in a month, poor Greg.)

September--
Greg takes me to the MD Renaissance Festival.
In turn, trying Mead...it's yummy.
Hazel and Monty/Mike Farewell parties.
Anne and Greg plan a Surprise Birthday Dinner for me. (Curry, Yummy!)
My Birthday and Baptism Anniversary.

October--
Greg's surprise birthday present to me- NSO tickets for their performance of Beethoven's Ninth and dinner at The Oval Room (and yes, I know that he's awesome).
Wine Tasting at Greg's apartment complex.
Housewarming party for Greg and Mike's new apartment.
Visit Greg's grandparents in Abingdon, VA.
Antique shopping and a visit to Bristol Speedway.
Guinness tasting and multimedia event with Greg.
AU Honors Alumni Advisory Board Meeting.
AU Honors Alumni Reception.
Pumpkin Carving Party at Chandler, Ellen, and Meg's.
Handing out Halloween Candy at Greg's.

November--
NCC Fall leadership Summit
Anne's Birthday Party at King Street Blues and then Greg's place.
Quick Trip to PA and the Dentist.
Mike's Birthday Dinner at Buca Di Beppo.
First time ever flying for a holiday.
Fly to Atlanta for Thanksgiving with Greg's family in Canton, GA.
Visit to Stone Mountain and it's Christmas village.
Greg and I make dinner for his family so his Mom can visit and relax a bit.
Learned to play Rummikub and the Carcassone games.
Spent 3 hours on a the tarmac on a weather delayed plane.

December--
Greg and I's only free Friday for two months.
Ellen, Chandler, and Meg's Christmas party.
Kelley and Kasey (Greg's cousins) in the Nutcracker in Fredericksburg, VA.
Dinner with the Watts Family.
Breaking Point.
Scheduled date night to make sure we get one in December.
Chandler's Birthday dinner.
Greg's office Christmas party complete with Santa Claus.
Visit to the National Christmas Tree with Greg.
Greg and I head to PA for Christmas with my family.
Tinka makes dinner for my parents, herself and Jay, Greg and I, and my Nana.
Greg makes DVD shelves for his apartment.
Christmas eve secret Santa style exchange at my Grandmother's house.
Greg gave me a crystal unicorn for Christmas.
My Dad made ribs.
Lunch with the Bennis family and Kate rides back to Arlington, VA with Greg and I.
My Mom and Dad deliver some larger pieces of the DVD shelves.
Dinner with Greg and my parents in Arlington.
Stain and help Greg to assemble DVD Shelves.
Games, food, drinks, and friends help to ring in the New Year.

Belated Thanksgiving Pics

2007-12-07T09:25:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while since Thanksgiving; but these are still fun.

This year I flew for Thanksgiving, or any holiday for that matter, for the first time. Greg and I traveled to Canton, GA, a suburb of Atlanta to spend the holiday with his family. I felt so blessed to be able to share the time with them and to be accepted into their fold. They're awesome. And of course, the Thanksgiving food was awesome!

Thanksgiving evening, after the big meal for lunch, we all went to Stone Mountain. It was so much fun. Beyond just the Christmas lights and getting sneezed on by 3D animated reindeer, there was so much going on. First, Greg danced me around the plaza in the Christmas village. Then we learned about the meaning of 'Confidence.'

After a movie and exploring the Christmas village to buy cool hats, we took a train ride. Most people decided to ride in the enclosed car, but a few of us braved the open air car in spite of the cold. The ride was awesome and included a sing along, tons of Christmas lights, and telling of the real Christmas story. Greg's Uncle Jeff kept us and the gals in line.

Then came the Old General Store with tons of classic candies and of course, the Barrels o' Fun out front. Greg, Courtney and Mr. Bill all braved the crazy foot massages.

And of course, no visit to the Altanta area is complete without seeing the Coca-Cola Polar Bear. Poor Greg. What can I say? I'm a sucker for cute, fuzzy animals.

But don't worry, he's still talking to me.

He's just holding me tighter in check. ;-)

Brain Teaser*

2007-11-01T10:22:00.000-04:00

There were 4 people sitting in a row, trying to win $50 from a riddle.

The one in front was wearing a red hat.
The second from the front was wearing a blue hat.
The third from the front was wearing a red hat.
The last was wearing a blue hat and is blind-folded.

Each of them were informed that they are all wearing a hat, the last person is blind-folded and that there are 2 red and 2 blue hats. if they can guess the color of their hat, then they win the prize.

There was a long silence, then one of them guessed the color of his hat correctly. Who was it?

Note that they can only see the person in front of them and are not allowed to turn around and see behind them.

Did you figure it out? Is that any better Steve?

* Red Hat, Blue Hat from www.brainteasercentral.com

Brain Teaser*

2007-10-24T15:17:00.000-04:00

I have one, you have one.
If you remove the first letter, a bit remains.
If you remove the second, bit still remains.
After much trying, you might be able to remove the third one also, but it remains.
It dies hard!

Did you figure it out?
The answer is listed in comments section, but don't peek.

*from www.braingle.com

Abingdon, VA

2007-10-22T14:59:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Greg and I had the opportunity to visit his grandparents in Abingdon, VA. It was wonderful to drive through the mountains of Virginia while the leaves are turning. I LOVE fall with the cooler weather and the beautiful colors blazing from the trees.

Abingdon is such a cute historical town with tons of antique shops and Bed & Breakfasts. It's also home of the Barter Theater, the state theater of Virginia. We went to see "Driving Miss Daisy" there on Saturday evening. It was a great show and the theater itself is positively gorgeous.

After church on Sunday in Bristol, VA, the Greg's grandparents took us to see Bristol Speedway in Bristol, TN. I had such a great time getting to know them a little better and exploring the area. The Pictures below are from Bristol Speedway.

Greg with his Grandparents

And every man's dream, squashing Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at Bristol...

It was so great to spend some time exploring the area with the Presleys. I really can't wait to go back sometime and explore a few more of the little shops and historic sites.

Gettysburg Address

2007-10-17T12:46:00.000-04:00

I don't know why this speech is on my mind, but it is and so I thought that I'd share. Maybe it's having to memorize it in fifth grade, or maybe it's that modern rhetoric comes no where near as eloquent and honest as this. Maybe a big part of it is that we as a nation are currently entering a new type of civil war through backbiting political rhetoric replacing physical altercations.

I love that unlike most high media profile candidates today, Lincoln said what he meant and what he was doing as opposed to explaining what he wouldn't do. He stated simply the way things were instead of manipulating various constituencies against each other or other candidates as opposed to rallying them around a cause one believes in. Frankly, Lincoln was man comfortable in his own skin as opposed to changing daily his beliefs and promises to better fit the crowd surrounding him.

Anyway, I love this speech, so without further ado: Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Sin rant

2007-10-08T11:24:00.000-04:00

So, after a rousing debate over the legitimacy of 'fundamentalist Christians' using sin as a 'guilt inducing motivator for brainwashing,' I just needed to rant about some key facts of faith and life.

It is free-will which led to the first sin and consequently death entering the realm of human existence. Therefore, sin came out of choice and continues to remain a choice in the sense the each and every individual must choose to remain in it and living as they always have or to choose Christ's gift of redemption and forgiveness. The latter choice encouraging change and growth as the individual continues to choose how they will act each and every day.

Now for those who argue that sin is a guilt trip inspiring word developed by religious zealots to regulate the morality of everyone around them rather than a world altering phenomena; I defy you to look into the face of a badly beaten and abused child or that of a rape victim or murder victim's family and tell them that sin, moral/ethical depravity, does not exist. Continuing in this vain, sin exists and leads to pain, suffering, and persecution for both believers and non-believers of God.

It might be argued that if God is as powerful as we claim could not He stop all of it. I believe that yes, He could; but while God is loving and merciful, He is also patient and just. This means that He does not give us free will only to take it away if He thinks we are making a mistake. Rather, He gives us free will and allows us to follow it to its conclusion even when those conclusions sadden him. Frankly, God is our father and creator and we are created in his image. It follows that if our earthly fathers teach us, love us, and provide us guidance, but ultimately must allow us to make our own decisions; then why wouldn't God be able and allowed to do the same in the limits of our intellect?

* For continue thoughts please see previous entry (http://kendit.blogspot.com/2006/12/lyrics-to-life-hell-mountains-and.html)

Grammar Quiz

2007-10-05T14:26:00.000-04:00

You Scored an A

You got 10/10 questions correct.

It's pretty obvious that you don't make basic grammatical errors.
If anything, you're annoyed when people make simple mistakes on their blogs.
As far as people with bad grammar go, you know they're only human.
And it's humanity and its current condition that truly disturb you sometimes.

The It's Its There Their They're Quiz

How did you do?

Candidly Kendi *

2007-10-04T15:41:00.000-04:00

Today's Question: "Love is not a feeling, am I correct?! I've been having this ongoing, periphery conversation and I said in an email last night that love is not a feeling. And [my friend] completely said the opposite. Am I crazy?"

Wow...well, you can argue the love thing both ways. What the world traditionally thinks of as love is most definitely a feeling and frankly that feeling is a part of love. However, more importantly love is an active choice. People choose to have that feeling for whatever reason (familial connection, attraction, desperation, lust, etc.) even if it is sometimes a seemly subconscious choice.

True love also require action. After all, "Love is patient, Love is kind. it does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered and keeps not record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres." (I Corinthians 13) No where in that passage does it say that love will always give you the warm fuzzies. As for the argument, we can point out that love ALWAYS protects, trusts, and perseveres. It doesn't say that love only does these things when standing next to one another. I mean, if that were the case, astronauts would stopping loving their families as soon as they left the atmosphere and that seems a little ludacris.

Hartley Coleridge has a sonnet made famous in that a film version of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility that might give you a literary/philosphical support outside of Biblical text.

Sonnet VII
Is love a fancy or a feeling? No.
It is as immortal as immaculate Truth.
'Tis not a blossom shed as soon as youth
Drops from the stem of life--for it will grow
in the barren regions, when no waters flow,
nor rays of promise cheats the pensive gloom.
A darkling fire, faint hovering o'er a tomb,
That but itself and darkness nought doth show,
It is my love's being yet it cannot die,
Nor will it change, though all be changed beside;
Though fairest beauty be no longer fair,
Though vows be false, and faith itself deny,
Though sharp enjoyment be a suicide,
And hope a spectre in a ruin bare.

My favorite line is "nor will it change, though all be changed beside," and isn't that what we are talking about essentially. First, he says nor WILL is change as opposed to nor CAN it change. Seemingly small words, but a huge distinction between choice and ability to change. As God gave us free will that most definitely applies to our strongest emotions. We choose to love emotionally and actively. The last part of the line, simply points out that change of pace, atmosphere, place, and/or time does not affect true love as it will not bow to such changes thus remaining a constant in need of growth and further action.

If simply looking for the emotion, one can find it and will be burned up by it. But to find someone who lives love, whose heart is illustrated everyday in a million ways, not only in romance but also in everyday action, is a true blessing. Praying for someone, calling a friend just to chat, listening, making dinner for someone, getting up everyday to see the same faces and still saying good morning, taking out the trash, giving a hug, remembering a birthday/anniversary, giving gifts, squeezing someone's hand or offering an arm in a crowded place, writing a note, still making breakfast for someone without grumbling for 10 years, allowing someone their personal space, helping someone pack, encouraging, being truth when honesty is not easy, carrying someone's stuff when they've had a long day, opening a door, taking time to bake the person's favorite even if it may not be yours, compromising so that the other person is better cared for. These are just a few expressions of real love. While the emotion is a part, it is the long term action which truly defines it. After all, people may remember Romeo and Juliet for the tragedy of their affair, but in the end, it is really the tragedy they are remembering not their love which didn't not face the long term testing by fire to determine it's fullness.

*In middle school I decided to take on an advice column in the school paper and called it Candidly Kendi. I loved it. Writing the above modified email reminded me of doing that, so I entered it as such.

What kind of dessert are you?

2007-09-25T11:30:00.001-04:00

You Are Smores

Unusual and unconventional, you make your strange ways work for you.

You've got personality - no one's denying that!

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

Civics 101

2007-09-24T15:28:00.000-04:00

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has developed a quiz to illustrate how little American history is being taught in instituions of higher education today--a very dangerous trend.

Civic Literacy Quiz (http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx?loc=interstitialskip)

I scored a 54 out of 60 or 90% on the quiz. The average score during the month of September thus far is 74.5%.

How did you do?

Quarter Century Mark

2007-09-21T08:13:00.000-04:00

Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day and also marks the beginning of Yom Kippur.

Other reasons for this date's significance:
International Banana Festival Day
Theotokos--the birth of Mary mother of Christ in the Russian orthodox tradition

Famous Births:
H.G. Wells, author
Gustav Holst, composer
R. James Woolsey, Jr., Director of the CIA
Jerry Bruckheimer, TV and film producer
Stephen King, author
Bill Murray, actor
Dave Coulier, actor
David James Elliott, singer and actor
Faith Hill, singer
Luke Wilson, actor

Significant Events:
The infamous, "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" letter is published in the New York Sun
J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit is published (1937)

Oh, and of course, Happy Birthday to me.

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!

2007-09-19T08:55:00.001-04:00

You are The Cap'n!

Some men and women are born great, some achieve greatness and some slit the throats of any scalawag who stands between them and unlimited power. You never met a man - or woman - you couldn't eviscerate. You are the definitive Man of Action, the CEO of the Seven Seas, Lee Iacocca in a blousy shirt and drawstring-fly pants. You’re mission-oriented, and if anyone gets in the way, that’s his problem, now isn’t? Your buckle was swashed long ago and you have never been so sure of anything as your ability to bend everyone to your will. You will call anyone out and cut off his head if he shows any sign of taking you on or backing down. If one of your lieutenants shows an overly developed sense of ambition he may find more suitable accommodations in Davy Jones' locker. That is, of course, IF you notice him. You tend to be self absorbed - a weakness that may keep you from seeing enemies where they are and imagining them where they are not.

What's Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!

What decade diva are you?

2007-09-18T14:05:00.000-04:00

You are a 1950s Diva

High heels, pretty dresses, classic makeup...
You're a feminine beauty who knows how to play up her assets!

What Decade Diva Are You?

Food for Thought-- IF by Rudyard Kipling

2007-08-29T11:43:00.000-04:00

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

What Color is your Brain?

2007-08-24T14:12:00.000-04:00

Your Brain is Orange

Of all the brain types, yours is the quickest.

You are usually thinking a mile a minute, and you could be thinking about anything at all.

Your thoughts are often scattered and random - but they're also a lot of fun!

You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about esoteric subjects, the meaning of life, and pop culture.

What Color Is Your Brain?

South Carolina Wedding Pics

2007-08-23T10:22:00.000-04:00

The Elder-Szrama family.

The gals before the wedding.

Greg and Kendi on the dance floor.

Weekend Lessons Learned/Remembered

2007-08-21T15:25:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday morning, Greg and I headed for South Carolina to visit a friend of his from college and then to continue on to Greenville for Greg's younger brother's wedding. It was a good trip during which I was reminded of several things.

1) Always think about how your actions/decisions might impact those closest to you.
2) 'Soft' is not a masculine compliment, no matter how well intentioned.
3) Carefully read soda bottles or you may be trying to stay awake with caffeine free soda.
4) Scent shopping is fun and tortuous at the same time.
5) Girls will always be girls and like to be told they are pretty.
6) Boys will always be boys and should be allowed to be.
7) Life altering choices leading to life altering events demand punctuality.
8) Never hand a group of men a bunch of boutineers... It isn't pretty.
9) Biscuits and gravy never go out of style.
10) Sabers are fun.
11) Involvement in weddings is fun and stressful simultaneously.
12) Old friends are great and a refresher to the soul.
13) Smelling pretty is fun, especially when you're told so.
14) Always remember to grab all of your luggage.
15) Satellite Radio and CD's are gifts from God not to be taken for granted.
16) Never take your family or what they do for you for granted.
17) Dancing is an indoor activity from May through August.
18) Southern summers are hot.
19) Siblings rock! And finally,
20)Always pay careful attention to the crazy man at the rest stop on the interstate...

Hollywood Pin-up

2007-08-09T15:35:00.000-04:00

You are Betty Grable

The ultimate girl next door

You're the perfect girl for most guys

Pretty yet approachable. Beautiful yet real.

What Famous Pinup Are You?

Religious Philosophy Quiz

2007-08-03T15:49:00.000-04:00

You are a Believer

You believe in God and your chosen religion.

Whether you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu..

Your convictions are strong and unwavering.

You think your religion is the one true way, for everyone.

What's Your Religious Philosophy?

Personality Quiz

2007-07-31T11:00:00.000-04:00

Your Personality Is

Guardian (SJ)

You are sensible, down to earth, and goal oriented.

Bottom line, you are good at playing by the rules.

You tend to be dominant - and you are a natural leader.

You are interested in rules and order. Morals are important to you.

A hard worker, you give your all at whatever you do.

You're very serious, and people often tell you to lighten up.

In love, you tend to take things carefully and slowly.

At work, you are suited to almost any career - but you excel in leadership positions.

With others, you tend to be polite and formal.

As far as looks go, you are traditionally attractive. You take good care of yourself.

On weekends, you tend to like to do organized activities. In fact, you often organize them!

The Three Question Personality Test

Scottish Nostalgia

2007-07-17T13:19:00.000-04:00

Oh for the days of 50 degree summers and plenty of rain...

Overtoun House

Yet another robbery averted by hugs and wine...

2007-07-13T13:57:00.000-04:00

A Gate-Crasher's Change of Heart

Washington Post

Will It Blend ?

2007-07-11T10:50:00.001-04:00

This is just awesome.

Bill of NON-Rights

2007-06-28T15:04:00.000-04:00

Thanks, Steve!

Agree or not, these certainly make you think:

"The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye from GA:

”We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.”

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone – not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!"

Body Part Quizzes

2007-06-19T09:21:00.000-04:00

What People Think of Your Mouth

People see you both as mysterious and exotic.

You definitely have cultivated your own unique interests and lifestyle.

Brainy and quick witted, you aren't one for superficial friendships.

But if someone can make you laugh or think, they'll likely be your friend for life.

What Does Your Mouth Say About You?

What Your Hands Say About You

You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills.

Flexible and broad minded, you can fit in to any situation. There's no telling where your life will take you.

Consistent and reliable, you like to count on structure and routine in your life.

Your emotions tend to be nervous and potent. Your energy - both positive and negative - deeply impacts your life.

What Do Your Hands Say About You?

Your Eyes Should Be Brown

Your eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom

What's hidden behind your eyes: A tender heart

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

Deep Thought of the Day

2007-06-12T12:46:00.000-04:00

This is a quote from a conversation a few months ago with a friend :

"It's because we want more than romance and sex, we want love. And while romance is an expression of love, it only has value when love precedes it. Ergo (another good word), it in itself is hollow. Most people, while they may desire love, are willing to settle for something sub-par to avoid the loneliness or think they have found it when there's nothing there. So, yeah, that's my theory... Actually, I like that. I'm gonna CC it to myself..." ~Matt Michels

Left Brain/Right Brain

2007-06-07T12:51:00.000-04:00

You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.

Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.

If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.

Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.

Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.

If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.

Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Power Color Quiz

2007-06-05T00:20:00.000-04:00

Your Power Color Is Red-Orange

At Your Highest:

You are warm, sensitive, and focused on your personal growth.

At Your Lowest:

You become defensive and critical if you feel attacked.

In Love:

You are loyal - but you demand the respect you deserve.

How You're Attractive:

You are very affectionate and inspire trust.

Your Eternal Question:

"Am I Respected?"

What's Your Power Color?

Seattle Pictures

2007-05-30T13:10:00.000-04:00

Tim and Kathleen are well. Seattle was fun. YEA!!! for good friends and catching up and visits. Here are some highlight shots.

Snoqualmie falls

At the base of the falls

The Troll bridge complete with real VW.

The Space Needle

And, the Dangerous Duo...poor Tim.

Seattle, Washington

2007-05-21T15:10:00.000-04:00

This past Friday I flew to Seattle, Washington to visit Kathleen and Tim. Tim organized the whole thing to surprise Kathleen for her birthday which was last week. It's been great. My hosts are awesome. A birthday BBQ on Saturday was a fun way to meet new friends in Seattle, and visiting Wit's End, a new church plant was a great experience. Tim and Kathleen have taken me to see the beautiful Snoqualmie waterfall, Lake Washington, Lake Union, Puget Sound, a fish ladder, the locks between Puget Sound and Lake Union, and one of my (and apparently Kathleen's favorites), the Troll bridge. This afternoon, Kathleen and I are going to Pike's Place, an open air market claiming to be the oldest on the West Coast, and the Seattle Center (home of the Space Needle) before joining Tim for their small group tonight. Should be a blast.

Love style

2007-05-15T23:58:00.000-04:00

You Are 49% Passionate, 51% Compassionate

You possess an ideal balance of passion and compassion.

You definitely can get swept away and lose your head a little.

But you're rarely a fool for love!

Is Your Love Style Passionate or Compassionate?

Check This Out!

2007-05-09T13:41:00.000-04:00

Today on www.zonegathering.com, I have an article printed concerning the Bible as a fairy tale. It is a continuation of the Bible as literature study for the Wednesday Bible Drills on NCC's leadership BLOG. Please check it out as I'd love to hear your feedback. Thanks!

Pearls of Wisdom by Dave Barry

2007-05-08T12:43:00.000-04:00

Here you go!

Weekend Update

2007-05-07T12:37:00.000-04:00

Not usually one to post such updates, I couldn't resist this week.

First, Friday night brought Spiderman 3 at the Uptown Theater, my favorite theater in all of DC. There were about 18 of us that got tickets to go, so it was a little crazy, but extra thanks to Steve and Lenora, Mike and Chandler for standing in line to save seats. Movie was a little cheesy for my tastes and slightly obnoxiously made up counter to the comic Spiderman storyline, but on the whole it was entertaining and a good time.

Saturday meant the WMZQfest concert at Nissan pavilion in Manasses, VA. Despite being a little chilly and having to dodge a little rain, it was a great time. The line up started with a side stage around noon and then the headliners around 4:30pm. The side stage at one point featured a family group called Gipsy that looked like two seventies go-go girls complete with bob hair cuts and mini skirts, a hippy cowboy, and an eighties doll, with big hair and a super short puffy, shiny silver skirt. Their music wasn't horrible but it almost hurt your eyes to watch them. They were the low point of the performances, if only for their horrendous lack of fashion.

When the main stage started, Chris Young opened. his stage presence was a little weak, but to hear him sing, "You're Gonna Love Me" and "Drinkin' Me Lonely Tonight" was well worth it.

Then Josh Turner took the stage with his song, "Will You Go With Me?" For those unfamiliar with his music, Josh Turner has a very deep, smooth, bass voice that sends shivers up and down your spine the first time you hear it. He's also one of my musical heroes because he turned down several Christian recording contracts before landing a mainstream country contract because he did not want to limit his audience or his music just because he is a Christian and wants to sing about his faith. He's just an amazing performer and man of faith. Anyway, when he sang "Your Man," I did something I am not generally prone to doing. That's right, I swooned as Mike and Renee would say. Not to the point of passing out, but my knees definitely went a little weak at hearing that song live in the deep timbre of his voice. I almost felt bad for Greg who had to put up with my gushing.

Next Clint Black took the stage for a very brief set. A late addition to the lineup, he was incredible as usual, especially as he performed the Monty Python universe song. It was later announced that he was recovering from surgery and therefore had kept his set brief. Now that's a professional for you, never forgetting that the show must go on.

Terri Clark and Montgomery Gentry were the two lead acts. They put on a marvelous show. Montgomery Gentry was a little flashy for my tastes but then again I'm about the music, so lights and smoke don't really impress me much. On the whole I highly enjoyed their closing the show, with the exception of one or two very politically charged remarks that I felt could have been left out of their performance. I'm very opposed to performers using shows that you've paid to see as a way to promoted their political platforms. Don't get me wrong I'm pro freedom of speech and what they say off stage or in interviews is theirs to say. However, when people have paid to hear music, I don't think they should be subjected to platform jargon. That's just one of my little annoyances. Terri Clark pulled out some fun tunes such as "Easy on the Eyes, Hard on the Heart" and "Girls Lie, Too" for an upbeat fun set, surrounding a deeper center with pieces such as "If I were you," and closing with an encore of "I Wanna Do It All." She's a great performer and presented an overall enjoyable show.

Finally, Sunday brought the first NCC Ballston picnic of the summer. Fried chicken, brownies, good friends, and some killer rotations of volleyball meant an all around good time. And it will only be better next month I'm sure.

Anyway, it was a great weekend. Hope yours was too. ;-)

Star Wars Character Quiz

2007-04-27T15:32:00.000-04:00

You scored as Obi-Wan Kenobi. One of the last jedi knights. People find you to be a bit aloof, but you know you travel the honorable path and that is all that matters. Now if only you could get your padawans to listen to you.

Obi-Wan Kenobi

81%

Leia Organa

75%

Padme Amidala

75%

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

69%

Han Solo

63%

Luke Skywalker

56%

Yoda

50%

Palpatine

50%

Boba Fett

44%

Darth Maul

44%

Which Star Wars character would you be? (pics)
created with QuizFarm.com

Celebrate the Bard

2007-04-23T16:23:00.001-04:00

Today is Shakespeare's birthday. YEA!!!

Are you Scary?

2007-04-23T12:43:00.000-04:00

You Are Not Scary

Everyone loves you. Isn't that sweet?

How Scary Are You?

Cat or Dog?

2007-04-18T15:14:00.000-04:00

You Are: 90% Dog, 10% Cat

You're a dog at heart - and it's not a bad thing at all!

You love unconditionally, and you're extremely loyal.

And while you may act silly at times, you're really quite smart - and a good learner!

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Tragedy

2007-04-16T16:11:00.000-04:00

Officially the worst single shooter massacre in American history occurred today at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, VA. My prayers to the victims and their families.

Post and Times coverage.

Breaking the Color Line

2007-04-11T10:36:00.000-04:00

Jackie Robinson is often credited as the first man to break the color line in professional baseball.

On Sunday, April 15, 2007, the Pirates, the Dodgers, and the Cardinals entire rosters will be wearing the number 42 in honor of the 60th anniversary of Robinson's MLB debut. That's just awesome.

Easter Reflections

2007-04-10T12:56:00.000-04:00

So, this past weekend, I experienced Easter in a whole new way. Some of the things in this post are hard, but I'm not saying them in search of pity, I only say them to explain the mindset that enabled me to appreciate a whole new side of Easter; the disciples' viewpoint.

Let me start with some background. Wednesday afternoon I received a phone call from my Mom telling me that my great-uncle had died. His funeral was Thursday morning, so there was no way I could get home for it. Good Friday took on new meaning as I reflected upon the death of Christ. Saturday, I helped with the NCC Easter Eggstravaganza and went home depleted emotionally.

This mindset is what took me into Saturday evening. As I sat in my room early Saturday evening getting ready to go to a baptism service, I picked up my Bible and turned to Habakkuk chapter 3. I often turn to this chapter when my heart is breaking for its encouragement and beautiful poetry. Saturday, it provided the final blow, and as tears started to fill my eyes and I closed my Bible and simply wept. Grabbing my teddy bear from the floor where he had fallen, I held him tightly and soon began thinking about why I was weeping. I was mourning my uncle, that was clear. I was pitying myself because I was sitting alone when all I wanted was a friend and my family. I was weeping because for the first time in ten years, I had no plans to sing at a church for Easter, not for lack of invites but due to wanting to be at my own church. And soon, I was reflecting upon the irony of mourning when others were celebrating the good news of Easter.

See, we often hit Good Friday and reflect upon Christ’s death but it’s always with the rose colored glasses shouting, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.” The truth is I knew that, as did the disciples who Christ told that they would see Him again. The difference is the experience. The disciples weren’t saying it’s hard today but He’ll be alive again on Sunday. Although Christ had told them that they would see Him again and he had explained that he would be raised to live on the third day; He had also mentioned that He was going to prepare a place for them in His father’s house. They knew he was the son of God, so his father’s house meant heaven. They may have thought that they wouldn’t see Christ again until heaven. Even if they knew that they would physically see Him again on Earth, they were mourning. Their Lord and friend was dead. Some had denied Him in His final hours. Others stayed and watched Him stand in the face of false accusations, face insults and lies, suffer torture, and finally, agonizingly die.

John specifically came to mind. I identified with him as He stood at the cross caring for Mary. I felt the strength that John must have needed to care for Mary and to watch his friend die; a strength that doesn’t come from yourself, but rather can only come as love flowing through you despite yourself. I imagined John’s heart and eyes flooding with grief. I pictured him slowly walking with the aged Mary, helping to guide her footsteps down the hill at Golgotha, lending his shoulder while she cried, and wondering to himself to whom would he turn as she and others turned to him. I could almost hear him asking, “Why now? I miss Him already. Who will teach us? Who will teach me? What will I do without Him?”

To think about the passion of Christ in death is humbling. To consider His death was the only sacrifice for erasing sin, overwhelming To think that He died for me is truly and heartbreakingly awesome. Still, this is only thinking. This is not watching, wondering if you had been a better person would he have lived; if you hadn’t denied Him would He not have been killed; if you had spoken would the lies have been disproved. It is not watching someone you have learned to love, cherish, and hold above all else, perish. For while we each came to know an already risen Christ, the disciples knew and loved a living, human Christ who died and then rose. They loved the man before they loved His deity. We can reflect upon Christ suffering and how sad it may have been, but we cannot know the pain of losing a Lord, brother, son, confidant, teacher, and friend all at once. We’ll never lose Christ, whereas they did for two days.

The Jewish literary tradition explains eternal suffering as dictated by the distance you are from God for eternity. In other words, the disciples experienced hell, in the truest sense for two days as they were completely separated, physically and spiritually, from Christ, something that we never have to experience unless for some reason we choose it. In the midst of celebrating the angel of death passing over their ancestors, the disciples faced God himself dying before them.

We don’t like to talk about pain or about God’s justice; rather, we like to focus on the hope and love that comes from Christ. This year, I experienced Easter in light of pain and better understand that justice and mercy can coexist; that it is too easy to look to Sunday on Friday without appreciating the torment in between; and, that without suffering and justice, hope and mercy are meaningless. In my mourning, I turned to Christ while alone in my room, but the disciples had lost Christ for a while. The hope I seek, they did not yet have available. And that makes Easter morning, the stone rolling away, all the more precious to me.

Good Friday

2007-04-06T14:36:00.000-04:00

A day to consider that one man voluntarily faced an excruciatingly painful and gruesome death to save others. We don't cringe over Memorial Day or Veteran's Day, why should we cringe over this? Maybe, because it personally affects us. It was because of us that this man died. He died because we sent him there with our actions just as those who had come before us have. It was no political death, no government or similar authority sent him to die. God made sure that we knew about this through the illustration of Pontius Pilate literally washing the guilt and responsibility of Christ death from his hands. This is from where the figurative washing hands of something comes. But while Pilate as an authority washed his hands of the death, as man he faced the same decision as the rest of us. Do we accept that this one, blameless man and His voluntary sacrifice like one thief? Or, do we mock Him and deny that He died for us under the false, boastful guise of intellectual or moral superiority?

It's about time...

2007-04-05T10:35:00.000-04:00

So running low on lyric submissions and busy out of my mind the past month or so, I have not posted a real, honest to goodness written post for quite a while. To make up for this, I've decided to share some thoughts on life in general.

Life goes on and so must I.

There is always time for a cup coffee (tea, whatever) with a friend.

Life isn't fair.

When life gives you lemons, thank it graciously for the lemonade, or when appropriate, throw them back.

Life is a highway, and I'm gonna ride it all night long...
(yes, I know it's a song lyric, bonus points if you can name both the one hit wonder and the current group that have re-popularized the song)

If God is good and God is life; then life is good.

Life is measured by how you live your dash. (cliche but accurate)

I have no regrets, for as my Pappy used to say, "The man who never made a mistake, never did anything." Christ excepted as he was considered God, not man, in this context. Beyond that, Christ never sinned but who's to say that he didn't hit his thumb with a hammer at least once while helping Joseph or trip over at least one rock as a child. Maybe he didn't being God incarnate and all, but it does make me wonder. Anyone have thoughts on that?

As Dolly Parton said, "You can't have rainbows without the rain." And no, we are not including clinically produced rainbows using prisms, only the natural ones arcing across the sky, though this does make me wonder and proves the awesomeness of God. After all, he placed a rainbow in the sky as a promise to Noah that he would never flood the entire earth again to destroy it. The Bible doesn't mention it raining at that particular juncture. It may have been, though I like to think that after 40 days and nights of rain and the time spent on the ark surrounded by water, God was merciful and it wasn't raining at that covenant's proclamation. On the other hand, being trapped on an ark with all those animals for that long, maybe sending rain was the merciful thing so that Noah and his family could have a shower, the stench must have been awful. Maybe I'll have to add that to my gazillion and one things to ask when we get to heaven, was it or was it not raining?

YEA, I deserve to be here...

2007-04-02T10:48:00.000-04:00

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

Brain Teaser*

2007-03-27T08:45:00.000-04:00

I constantly collide into all the others,
The only one of 16 without colors.
Associated with English and banking and breaking,
The answer is right there for the taking.

*from www.braingle.com

Baseball 1864

2007-03-24T10:13:00.000-04:00

Also known as why Conan O'Brien is highly amusing.

Check this out.

Mythological Creature Quiz

2007-03-16T15:03:00.000-04:00

You Are a Pegasus

You are a perfectionist, with an eye for beauty.

You know how to live a good life - and you rarely deviate from your good taste.

While you aren't outgoing, you have excellent social skills.

People both admire you - and feel very comfortable around you.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

English Challenge--I dare you.

2007-03-12T12:57:00.000-04:00

The Chaos: An English Pronunciation Poem

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Hear me say, devoid of trickery,
Daughter, laughter, and Terpsichore,
Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles,
Exiles, similes, and reviles;
Scholar, vicar, and cigar,
Solar, mica, war and far;
One, anemone, Balmoral,
Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel;
Gertrude, German, wind and mind,
Scene, Melpomene, mankind.

Billet does not rhyme with ballet,
Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet.
Blood and flood are not like food,
Nor is mould like should and would.
Viscous, viscount, load and broad,
Toward, to forward, to reward.
And your pronunciation's OK
When you correctly say croquet,
Rounded, wounded, grieve and sieve,
Friend and fiend, alive and live.

Ivy, privy, famous; clamour
And enamour rhyme with hammer.
River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.
Stranger does not rhyme with anger,
Neither does devour with clangour.
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,
Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,
And then singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge,
Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.

Query does not rhyme with very,
Nor does fury sound like bury.
Dost, lost, post and doth, cloth, loth.
Job, nob, bosom, transom, oath.
Though the differences seem little,
We say actual but victual.
Refer does not rhyme with deafer.
Feoffer does, and zephyr, heifer.
Mint, pint, senate and sedate;
Dull, bull, and George ate late.
Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,
Science, conscience, scientific.

Liberty, library, heave and heaven,
Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven.
We say hallowed, but allowed,
People, leopard, towed, but vowed.
Mark the differences, moreover,
Between mover, cover, clover;
Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,
Chalice, but police and lice;
Camel, constable, unstable,
Principle, disciple, label.

Petal, panel, and canal,
Wait, surprise, plait, promise, pal.
Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, chair,
Senator, spectator, mayor.
Tour, but our and succour, four.
Gas, alas, and Arkansas.
Sea, idea, Korea, area,
Psalm, Maria, but malaria.
Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean.
Doctrine, turpentine, marine.

Compare alien with Italian,
Dandelion and battalion.
Sally with ally, yea, ye,
Eye, I, ay, aye, whey, and key.
Say aver, but ever, fever,
Neither, leisure, skein, deceiver.
Heron, granary, canary.
Crevice and device and aerie.

Face, but preface, not efface.
Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.
Large, but target, gin, give, verging,
Ought, out, joust and scour, scourging.
Ear, but earn and wear and tear
Do not rhyme with here but ere.
Seven is right, but so is even,
Hyphen, roughen, nephew Stephen,
Monkey, donkey, Turk and jerk,
Ask, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.

Pronunciation -- think of Psyche!
Is a paling stout and spikey?
Won't it make you lose your wits,
Writing groats and saying grits?
It's a dark abyss or tunnel:
Strewn with stones, stowed, solace, gunwale,
Islington and Isle of Wight,
Housewife, verdict and indict.

Finally, which rhymes with enough --
Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?
Hiccough has the sound of cup.
My advice is to give up!!!

Stolen from Rachelle, this poem is an awesome challenge to a native English speaker, let alone for someone learning. Could you read it all out loud and understand it?

PS--Is this challenge enough for you Steve?

On the Breakwater

2007-03-08T10:43:00.000-05:00

by Carl Sanburg

On the breakwater in the summer dark, a man and a girl are sitting,
She across his knee and they are looking face into face
Talking to each other without words, singing rythms in silence to each other.

A funnel of white ranges the blue dusk from an outgoing boat,
Playing its searchlight, puzzled, abrupt, over a streak of green,
And two on the breakwater keep their silence, she on his knee.

AU in the News

2007-03-06T14:08:00.001-05:00

Faculty Residential College

Brain Teaser*

2007-03-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

What is 3/7 chicken, 2/3 cat and 1/2 goat?

From Brainangle.com

Can you pass 8th grade history?

2007-02-26T13:57:00.000-05:00

I did...and would again according to this random test.

You Passed 8th Grade US History

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade History?

How did you do?

Brain Teaser*

2007-02-16T12:22:00.000-05:00

Crazy Guy on a Plane--Is that not a great title?

A line of 100 airline passengers is waiting to board a plane. They each hold a ticket to one of the 100 seats on that flight. (For convenience, let's say that the nth passenger in line has a ticket for the seat number n.)
Unfortunately, the first person in line is crazy, and will ignore the seat number on their ticket, picking a random seat to occupy. All of the other passengers are quite normal, and will go to their proper seat unless it is already occupied. If it is occupied, they will then find a free seat to sit in, at random.
What is the probability that the last (100th) person to board the plane will sit in their proper seat (#100)?

*From Brainangle.com

In preparation for the Valentine season....

2007-02-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt.

And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting.

Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt.

And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

Dear January,

2007-02-02T16:11:00.000-05:00

HA!

You tried your best, and you had me really going at some points. You threw some pretty strong curves, though I'm extremely grateful for your laying off the death card so much this year. Still, though you won several battles and at least one box of tissues suffered from this strategy, I have once again won the war. My faith is stronger. I'm meeting new people. And, some good friends have reminded me of the treasures that they are. I still love my family. I'm still very thankful for my co-workers and my job. I still love lame jokes and though it was hard at some points, I can still laugh at the ridiculousness of life.

So January, Thanks for making me stronger, but next year, can we take a break?

~KT

Thoughts on Leadership...

2007-02-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

Check this out!

Brain Teaser*

2007-01-24T16:21:00.000-05:00

I hover out there in darkness unseen.
I will shred things to pieces 'till they're just smithereens.
I might serve as a gateway to places unspoken,
Yet I'm sealed off to man, forever unbroken.
I twist and distort, only darkness escapes,
I destroy all I find
Whatever I take

Hint:
I'm a wonderful thing, a mysterious lure.
But if you reach my horizon you're a goner for sure.

*From Brainangle.com

Just a thought.

2007-01-17T16:30:00.000-05:00

"Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less."
~Rabbi Julius Gordon

For the record concerning age...

2007-01-16T15:34:00.001-05:00

You Are 24 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Life Experience

2007-01-11T13:37:00.000-05:00

Going along with the January tradition of examining one's life...

You've Experienced 68% of Life

You have all of the life experience that most adults will ever get.

And unless you're already in your 40s, you're probably wise beyond your years.

How Much Life Experience Do You Have?

Lyrics to Life: "Hands"

2007-01-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

"I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
for light does the darkness most fear...

Heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken" ~Jewel, Hands

A friend once wrote that this song reminded him of me. I like to think that my faith is strong enough and my confidence great enough to stand up for those who cannot find their own voices through injustice. I pray that I lean on faith and hope to get through heartache and pain. I hope that I will not be broken by pain and fear but rather only bend to God's will. In the grand scheme one person may not seem like a lot, "my hands are small I know;" but I plan to keep working to make life more pleasant for those around me and to speak up where others are passing by and turning faces from suffering of our fellow men, rich and impoverished, surrounded or alone. No one person can do it all, but I plan to do the most that I can with what I have.

Not generally one to make resolutions, this is my ongoing goal in life; a mission of sorts. It's kind of like the story of the boy on the beach with the starfish throwing them one by one back into the sea as he walked along. When asked why when there was no way he could possibly save them all, he picked up another one and said, "I helped that one."

Vsev on IMDb

2007-01-03T12:32:00.000-05:00

This is jsut cool!

Vsevolod Horodyskyj

Ex-Mas Eve

New Year's Traditions

2007-01-02T12:56:00.000-05:00

So I'm a day late on this , but que sera sera. There is a Germanic/ Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut to welcome in the new year. The pork is a fresh meat, thus representing the new things ahead, fresh outlooks, and new wealth. Sauerkraut, a traditional pickled/fermented cabbage dish, represents thanks and remembrance of lessons learned and bounty from the previous year. This meal is shared with family and friends on New Year's to celebrate and to share remembered and future blessings. While I haven't actually had my share of this dish yet this year (I'm making it later this week), I'm still going to take advantage of time to reflect and to project.

Lyrics to Life: Holiday Edition

2006-12-21T20:39:00.000-05:00

"Silent Night, Holy Night
All is calm, All is bright..."

I love this carol. When I arrived home to the farm, I got out of my car and immediately stared at the sky in wonder. I love the city, but I also love the feeling of smallness and grace that comes from looking up into a black sky filled with millions of points of light. Stars and planets, each and everyone with a name that the Lord of the heavens knows, and yet, this same God, responsible for this mass beauty and awe-inspiring grandeur, knows my name and every detail about me, down to the number of hairs on my head. How's that for a reality check?

The silence of the night and the beauty of the stars in their brightness remind my soul to take heart and to keep the peace and calming assurance found only in God's plan. How can a night like this be anything but holy?

The Geography Cup

2006-12-15T14:11:00.000-05:00

Everyone should do this. It's setup so that you can and should take the quiz several times so check it out and test your skills.

Good Reminders

2006-12-12T12:02:00.000-05:00

This is GRRRRRREAT!

David Kuo spoke at AU spoke at American University a few weeks ago and the above link leads to one of the responses he received. It's a wonderful testimony while also being a challenge to the church to stop the pettiness that is turning people away from Christ's love. If you've not read Kuo's book, Tempting Faith, I highly recommend it. In a city where politics are the life's blood, it is an especially poignant reminder that we need to refocus on God's plan for us rather than our plans for God's focus.

Just for Fun!

2006-12-11T12:55:00.000-05:00

Lyrics to Life: Hell, Mountains, and Walkin' On

2006-12-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

There are two songs currently on the country charts that strike me each and every time I hear them. Their popularity makes me think that the ideas of pushing on through trials is a common factor for the human race. I think it safe to safe that at some point in everyone's life, we feel like we need to continue to push through what ever struggles we have because;

"If you're on your knees you might as well be prayin'...
If you're goin' through Hell, keep on moving.
Face that fire.
Walk right through it.
You might get out before the Devil even knows you're there."
~Rodney Atkins, If You're Goin' through Hell

Now, I don't know about being able to get out of tough times before the devil knows your there, because most likely the devil is well aware of our struggles and exploits them to bring out the worst in us and in our attitudes. After all, if one really is in Hell, then it is too late to try to escape. However, for those figurative hell on earth moments in life, an attitude of perseverance and looking past the flames and pains are crucial. Life requires courage to face problems and strength to keep walking. I love what Paul says in II Timothy 4:16-18

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul fills Second Timothy with reminders to endure and persevere through personal hardships, attacks, false doctrines, and persecution. So, if God stands beside and strengthens His children, then why does He allow them to face hardships? While I'm a firm believer in the philosophy that God really does not want any of His children to suffer, I also believe that He has given man free will. This means we are not puppets and must make our own decisions concerning beliefs and spiritual matters. This is a rant I'll continue on at a later date, but in reference to God providing strength and encouragement, it means that when we are facing hard times we have the choice to turn to God and lean upon His strength or we can choose to try to find our own way. Sometimes our way works and we can find something to fill in the gap where we have left God out of our lives. Eventually though, that gap will catch up with us. See, I don't think that God puts trouble in our lives, but He uses such troubles to teach us, strengthen us, encourage us and to pull us together. I love the way another popular song puts it:

"There are times in life when you've got to fall,
Lose your grip, trip and fall,
When you can't lean on no-one else
That's when you find yourself.
I've been around and I've noticed that
Walking's easy when the road is flat
Those danged old hills will get you every time
Yeah, the good Lord gave us mountains
So we could learn how to climb"
~Lonestar, Mountains

Yes, I am well aware of the double negative, but the message is still a great one. God allows us to faces trouble and struggles so that we can grow stronger and learn how to climb higher and harder. Like good parents eventually have to let their children dress themselves even if it means mismatched socks, God allows us to learn through experience as well. He gives us the wisdom of those who have gone before us and hopes that they will share their insights and furthermore that we will learn from their insights rather than having to face such pain. Unfortunately there are often circumstances such as illness, injury, attack, death of loved ones and other uncontrollable events that must still be faced. And that's when it is crucial to turn to God to learn how to find the strength and encouragement to continue. Rodgers and Hammerstein put it well in the concluding reprise from their musical, Carousel.

"When you walk through a storm
hold your head up high
and don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm is a golden sky
and the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind.
Walk on through the rain,
though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on. Walk on with hope in your heart
and you'll never walk alone.
You'll never walk alone."
~You'll Never Walk Alone

A Haiku Favorite*

2006-12-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

I'm an elitist.
Stupid people bother me.
Pretentious, sorry.

*From Hughes Hall contest in 2004.

Brain Teaser of the Day*

2006-11-28T08:25:00.000-05:00

Six letters have I, and many more;
One word tells what the others are for;
Conceal a thing is what I do;
So what am I? Need a clue?

Words together make this rhyme;
Now while you ponder for a time,
Your brain is on a merry chase,
And I'm staring you right in the face!

*From Brainangle.com

Thanksgiving Fun

2006-11-27T12:21:00.000-05:00

Playing guitar with my cousin Hanzel.
Escaping my dad's new attack birds.
Baking/Cooking.
Seeing family I haven't seen in a really long time.
Catch Phrase with over twenty people (The guys creamated the ladies).
Getting a face covered in mud.
Dunkin' Donuts.
Graceful moments such as tripping over invisible sidwalk bumps.
Discussing movies with my dentist (Yes, he was working on my teeth at the time).
Cats & Dogs (not the movie).
Hammers, nails, and tin roofing.

Giving Thanks

2006-11-27T08:15:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season so I'm going to list a few things I'm thankful for, though I must say this is the massively truncated version.

Being healthy and alive
Awesome friends and a supportive family
Great co-workers
The blessing of a home and income to share
The opportunity to lead a small group and to share life with other people
Being able to see, hear, sing, and talk
Smiles
Laughter
The smell of rain and the comforting hypnotism of a warm, cozy fire
Hot tea and good books
Hugs
The ability to hike and play and generally immerse myself in the beauty of creation
Thunderstorms and snow flurries
Memories and being able to recall them
Cooking, sewing, baking, and the like
Gummy Bears (bouncin' here and there and everywhere...)
Faith and Hope

Oh there's so much more to even begin to list them all in humbling. I mean, those are the macro things, let alone the micro things like synoptic nerve tissue firing electronic impulses, H2O molecules reacting uniquely in transformation through phases, the exact cubic crystals of sugar and the fact that Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and the ABC song have the same tune. YEA!

PS--You know you just started singing one of those if you've read this far.

Fun Fact

2006-11-21T12:01:00.000-05:00

According to the US federal government, no person has legally died of old age since 1950. As of January 1, 1951, old age legally cannot be listed as a cause of death; underlying causes such as organ/tissue failure are required to be cited. There is still debate concerning this logic in cases such as a 97 year old John Doe passing away while sleeping due to cardiac failure who was otherwise in perfect health. In other words, if he didn't die of old age, why did his heart stop?

Oh, and for the record, road traffic accidents, consumption, and unintentional injuries are still acceptable.

L'amour and le mariage

2006-11-21T08:27:00.000-05:00

This article saddens me greatly. On one hand, there is something to the argument that marriage and intimacy are very personal things, but at the same time, I wouldn't want to dedicate my life to someone who wouldn't make a public statement to the same effect. Its a matter of accountability in working on building the relationship. It also saddens me that most of the couples mentioned in this article have been together significantly longer the the average American rate for years married before divorcing. Its just a very sad commentary upon our societal direction and priorities.

The quotes below, located at the end of the article, come from a long term, cohabiting couple, Folet and Titouh. Maybe it's petty, but to say that marriage does nothing for them and then use the terms husband and wife to make social situation easier though they refuse to acknowledge it legally or religiously seems like a major logical schism to me.

"I don't see how marriage would bring any more to our union as a couple," Folet said. "It doesn't take away anything, it doesn't bring anything."

Followed by: "Saying, 'This is my friend or my companion,' doesn't say you've been together as long as we have," Titouh said. "So I say, 'This is my wife,' not to have problems."

"When you say 'husband' and 'wife,' it's more concrete," Folet conceded. "More like a real couple, not a relationship in passing."

Weekend Reminder of Friendship

2006-11-20T12:52:00.000-05:00

The major life lessons of the weekend were reminders defining friendship, both good and bad. Last evening I was looking through my quote journal and found a few great thoughts to ponder and to share:

"Sometimes the measure of friendship isn't your ability to not harm but your capacity to forgive the things done to you and ask forgiveness for your own mistakes." ~Randy K. Milholland

"A good relationship expands your circle of influence rather than closing in on itself." ~Mike Godzwa

"It’s the friends you can call up at four a.m. that matter." ~Marlene Dietrich

"Adversity does teach who your real friends are." Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign

"There isn’t much better in this life than finding a way to spend a few hours in conversation with people you respect and love. You have to carve this time out of your life because you aren’t really living without it." ~RealLivePreacher.com August 27, 2003

"If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair." ~Samuel Johnson

"I couldn't be friends with somone I couldn't find the absurdity in." ~Darcy Scott

"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." ~Albert Camus (often attributed to but not confirmed)

"A friend is one who walks in when others walk out" ~Walter Winchell

"Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." . . . . It is when two such person discover one another,when, whether with immense difficulties and semi-articulate fumblings or with what would seem to us amazing and elliptical speed, they share their vision - it is then that Friendship is born. And instantly they stand together in an immense solitude." ~C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Brain Teaser of the Day*

2006-11-16T12:02:00.000-05:00

Can you identify the following songs and their artists?

1) Refrain from halting, the first person, immediately.
by Female monarch.

2) Multiple timepieces.
by Low temperature, stage production.

3) Unbleached, natural sweetener.
by Perpetual motion of small rock.

4) Sugary infant, belonging to me.
by Firearms & thorny plants.

5) Refrain from remaining, on your feet, near myself.
by Poisoned insect injection.

*from Braingle.com
Answers are listed as a comment, but no cheating.

Air Force Memorial

2006-11-15T13:15:00.000-05:00

Lyrics to Life: "I Enjoy Being a Girl"

2006-11-15T12:59:00.001-05:00

In response to some verbal comments I've received concerning last Wednesday's posting, I couldn't help but post these lyrics.

“I enjoy that my silhouette is curvy.
That I walk with a sweet and girlish gait…
I adore being dressed in something frilly,
When my date comes to get me at my place…

When I have a brand new hairdo
With my eyelashes all in curl
I float as the clouds on air do
I enjoy being a girl…

When men say I'm cute and funny…
As around in a dance we whirl,
I just lap it up like honey
I enjoy being a girl…

When someone with eyes that smoulder
Says he loves ev'ry silken curl
That falls on my iv'ry shoulder,
I enjoy being a girl…”

~from Flower Drum Song, I Enjoy Being a Girl

Anne's 21st

2006-11-13T22:26:00.000-05:00

The lovely Scottish Warrior Princesses strike again.

Lyrics to Life: "One of the Guys"

2006-11-08T16:32:00.001-05:00

So, a good friend sent me this lyric and well, I think this says it all. I love being girlly but I can hold my own. Its often hard for other people, especially guys, to put the two together, but I maintain that it is entirely possible for a girl to be a lady and a tom-boy at the same time.

"I love getting all dressed up to the nines
But sometimes it's fun to be one of the guys
Somethin' bout old blue jeans and a baseball cap
Fellas I get it and I admit it
It just don't get any better than that ...
I like to put my hair up in a ponytail
Climb up in a pickup and just raise some hell
Have a four-wheelin mind boggling real good time
Then go home and play poker all night long
I still love chick flicks and a real good cry
But sometimes it's fun to be one of the guys"
~Kellie Pickler, One of the Guys

Letting go...

2006-11-06T16:33:00.000-05:00

"Sometimes it is harder to deprive oneself of a pain than of a pleasure." ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is such an odd statement; yet it is so true. Too often the heartaches we face come not from letting go of those we love, but rather in holding on to things we mistake for love. We often cause ourselves undue pain and heartache by not wanting to let go of something or someone, because we think it is or that they are exactly what we want. I love Corrie ten Boom's sentiment on this:

"I've learned to hold things loosely in my grip, lest God need to pry it from my hands."

We need to hang on through struggles and not lose faith while trusting that God knows what's best for our hearts. It is God and faith that we must never lose. It is rare that these things will cause us pain, though other things may bring pain as we stand up for them. Too many pains could be avoided if rather than clinging desperately to someone or something without which we do not want to live, we allow ourselves to give things up to God. He may take them away for a while; He may allow us to keep them; He may take them away completely; but, in the end, His will for us and our relationship with Him is better than anything we might imagine .

The sweet, sweet smell of success

2006-11-03T16:16:00.001-05:00

Emily Dickinson once said that "Success is counted sweetest/by those who ne'er succeed/ to comprehend a nectar /requires sorest need." And while there are definitely times when I agree with her, esepcially concerning the generally successes of everyday living, last evening was definitely a great example of a successful person relishing success. Vsev's movie is great. Even better was being there for his night, to see him beaming all evening. And, the best was hearing him tell of how thankful he was to everyone who helped with the film and supporting him in its making.

I'm so blessed to have such awesome friends.

Ex-Mas Eve Premieres Tonight

2006-11-02T12:27:00.000-05:00

The long awaited movie premieres tonight. YAY!
Sir Vsevolod rocks. That's all I have to say on the matter.

Chris, Rob and Alex have just been dumped, but they are not about to let their ex-girlfriends ruin the holidays. Instead, they launch a collaborative effort to get back at the three women who broke their hearts.

Written and directed by Vsevolod Horodyskyj. Starring Joshua Mims, Jefferson Smith, Bret Terrill, Rachael Barainca, Megan Lee, Lori Lewis and Randahl N. Lindgren.

This film has won several top honors at the Visions Film Festival including Best Screenplay.

For more information check out: http://www.exmaseve.com

Lyrics to Life: "Rich Young Ruler"

2006-10-31T12:13:00.000-05:00

"Poverty is so hard to see when it's only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we're all living so good that we moved out of Jesus' neighborhood
where he's hungry and not feeling so good from going through our trash
He says, 'More than just your cash and coin, I want your time, I want your voice
I want the things you just can't give me'

...What is this, hey what's the deal? I don't sleep around and I don't steal
'I want the things you just can't give me'

Because what you do to the least of these, my brothers, you have done it to me
because I want the things you just can't give me"

~Derek Webb, Rich Young Ruler

This song makes a strong and challenging point. It is way too easy to look past the problems we're not walking by and the people we're not seeing face-to-face. We are called to give of ourselves in order to help our brothers and sisters in Christ and to reach out to those in need of love, friendship, shelter, food, and hope. There are so many excuses that we can drum up, so many reasons why there is just not enough time, or property to go around. The fact is when we let those excuses govern out decisions we are not following Christ through shrewd stewardship, but rather we are evading the call to reach out through refusal to give up creature comforts. Now this is not to say that a single gal should approach a man on the street at midnight in defiance of safety concerns unless she feels a very definite call to do so. It does mean that that same girl could recruit some friends to return later, or could volunteer at a local shelter, or could monetarily support others who are working on the front lines. See, we all have our place and a way to be in service.

I will say that I have a major issue with this song, and it is this: Christ never asks for things we CAN'T give, but he will ask for things that we WON'T give for whatever reason. We are told to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's (Matthew 22:21) and too often we confuse monetary giving with true sacrificial giving. Tithing is important, but the heart behind giving is a crucial part of that gift. Tithing time and resources is just as important as money. God never will ask for something we don't have. He may ask us to give of our time to achieve or acquire something for him. He may ask us to give more of what we have, such as money, than we are ready to give. But these are not issue of being unable to give these are issues of being unwilling to give. This is the main point of the song, though this unfortunate grammatical slip limits its message.

Secrets are fun...

2006-10-27T16:34:00.000-04:00

MWHAHAHAHA......

I mean, Shhh....mwhahahaha...

Wake up and smell the cosmpolitan....

2006-10-25T13:56:00.000-04:00

Ever have someone send you a link to something that once you read it, you're like, "Heck, yeah! Preach it." Yeah, so maybe this isn't necessairly it; but at the same time, yeah, yeah it is. The last paragraph says it all. A rant that works both ways...

Wake up and smell the Cosmopolitan

Ridiculous....

2006-10-24T16:23:00.000-04:00

Attleboro Elementray School Bans Tag

What are we doing? We're not saving them, we're limiting their experience and growth.

Also why I love Steve

Lyrics to Life: "Quiet Please, There's a Lady on the Stage"

2006-10-18T12:45:00.000-04:00

"Quiet please, there's a woman up there,
And she's been honest through her songs
Long before your consciousness was raised.
Now doesn't that deserve a little praise.

So put your hands together, help her along,
All that's left of the singers, all that's left of the song.
Stand for the ovation,
And give her one last celebration.

Quiet please, there's a person up there,
Who's singing of the sins that none of us could bear
To hear for ourselves,
Now give her your respect if nothing else."

~Hugh Jackman in Boy From OZ, Quiet Please There's a Lady on the Stage

Have you ever been charged with bringing up an issue with which others may disagree? It's a tough road to walk, the road of peaceful conflict and understanding, the road of honesty, or even the road of true prophecy.

We all like to think that we take the time to listen, the time to hear what people are saying, but how often do we listen beyond just the words? How often do we pay attention to what is unsaid or stated beyond the words? Granted, we can't be held responsible for something that someone chooses to hide, but we are responsible for dismissing people, for not listening when they're pouring out their hearts, thus possibly missing what God is saying to us and to our fellowship because we refuse to take five seconds to look past ourselves, or worse, because we are too afraid of what we might hear.

I think some of the sadder people in this world are those who consider themselves to be closed books, those who think that no one is reading them, that no one cares enough to listen or to fully pay attention to them. But beyond that I think the saddest people are the unopened books, those who know how to say just enough that others don't bother to turn the pages and discover the true depth; those who know how to be strong on their own and understand that sometimes they need help, but must seek out friendship because no one seems to offer it. Those are the ones for whom my heart truly breaks. Closed books have people asking them what's going on, unopened books have only the faithful readers who see the facade change and know that something is different.

What does that have to do with a lady singing on a stage, not much beyond the choice to listen and to pay attention. We each have the choice daily and hourly to listen and to pray for and care for one another. It is when we lie to each other or to ourselves by ignoring what we see and hear or when we have hardened our hearts to it so greatly that we cannot hear the song anymore that true problems arise and disagreement turns to negative conflict rather than a challenge to grow an to improve.

Facades are such a waste of time. Compassionate honesty is the better choice and pain now is always better than heart break later due to delay because of the fear of what someone may think or say. I'm one of the worst people at this. I hate conflict and I really dislike confrontation. However, I've learned that if I'm struggling with something or someone, the worst thing I can do is put off the confrontation because I'm afraid of what someone may think or even worse of changing my relationship with them. Too many times we hang on to destructive or painful relationships under the guise that there is something wrong with us. We think, "I need to work on this," "I'm going to improve this," "I need to be less needy," "I need more to be more attentive," "I need to be more understanding." And the truth is that we all have things we need to work on because no one is perfect and we fool ourselves in thinking that we need to be the perfect one in a relationship or that the other person will change into the perfect person. Too often we reflect upon missed expectations in a relationship rather than our actual faults. When it all comes down, listening, understanding, and relationships all come down to how we relate our own insecurities and imperfections to one another. The only thing we can guarantee to change in a relationship is ourselves, including our communication. We have to listen and be honest with ourselves so that we can be honest with each other in true love, compassion, and kindness. When we're afraid of the truth or of conflict, we not only have a great propensity to fool ourselves, but we waste the time, emotions, intellect, and heart of the other individual by making demands upon them without just explanation. In many cases these demands are heard beyond words, like friends expecting to see each other or parents expecting a phone call now and then. It is when the communication breaks down, when someone feels hurt or betrayed or unloved, that it is crucial to listen, to be quiet and listen or on the other side, to speak up without fear.

Ahhh, Roberdeau...

2006-10-17T13:47:00.000-04:00

Lyrics to Life: "Don't Forget to Remember Me"

2006-10-11T16:38:00.000-04:00

"Eighteen years have come and gone
For momma they flew by; but for me they just drug on
We were loading up that Chevy, both tryin' not to cry
Momma kept on talking, putting off good-bye
Then she took my hand and said
Baby don't forget
Before you hit the highway, you better stop for gas
There's a 50 in ashtray in case you run short on cash
Here's a map and here's a Bible; if you ever lose your way
Just one more thing before you leave
Don't forget to remember me

This downtown apartment sure makes me miss home
and those bills there on the counter remind me I'm on my own
And just like every Sunday I called momma up last night
And even when it's not, I tell her everything's alright
Before we hung up I said
Hey momma, don't forget
To tell my baby sister I'll see her in the fall
And tell mee-mal that I miss her; Yeah, I should give her a call
And make sure you tell Daddy that I'm still his little girl
Yeah I still feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be
Don't forget to remember me

Tonight I find myself kneeling by the bed to pray
I haven't done this in a while, so I don't know what to say but
Lord, I feel so small some times in this big ol' place
I know there are more important things, but
Don't forget to remember me.
Yeah, don't forget to remember me"

~Carrie Underwood, Don't Forget to Remember Me

So this song really hit home for me when it first came out and a phone call from a friend who heard it confirmed that its message has broad appeal. I'll state the obvious and note that the story of going away to school, staying in touch with family via phone, and God's influence in it all, well that's very much my story, as well as a story to which many people can relate. For me it just happens to fit like a glove, right down to the little sister, phone calls to mom, being daddy's little girl, and being given a Bible with a note labelling it "directions when you're lost." Cheesy, I know, but accurate.

Anyway, I love these lyrics not only because they talk about specific moments that parallel my own life and my relationship with my parents, but because of they way memory is expressed through these words. I think it is a basic human desire to not be forgotten. It's why we work to provide legacies, strive to be remarkable, and desire to produce heirs to carry on our work. See, we want to be remembered but we live not to be forgotten, and there is a huge difference between the two. Not forgetting is passive. It requires little exertion of energy beyond moments when one is on the brink of forgetting and then the information, person, or idea is brought to the forefront of memory. However, remembering is active. It is constantly making the effort to recollect details and pertinent information. it is the difference between seeing someone in a crowd and recognizing their face as someone you have seen before, and being able to place that person's face, their name, their personal preferences, conversations you've had with them, and you're personal reactions to them. Remembering is about memory thriving while not forgetting is about it hanging on. Check this out for another take on a similar concept.

We want to be remembered in the long term but too often we act so that people won't forget us in the short term in order to not feel alone. Christ, on the other hand, faced the greatest forms of human loneliness to secure our company for eternity. If you don't believe that, read the account of Christ and the disciples at Gethsemane in Mark 14:32-42. You see, Christ was looking out for each and everyone of us though His own human preference would have been to escape the suffering that he knew awaited Him. He faced the loneliness of betrayal and denial by friends for the sake of the greater good. Now I'm not saying this as an excuse for us to use the martyr complex as a way to point fingers whenever we feel alone, but rather to point out an example of true humility. He didn't die to not be forgotten but rather to be remembered by those who love Him so that they might live. Christ didn't return before the Ascension and tell the disciples not to forget him. He told them to share the truth of His love with those around them starting where they were and going to the ends of the Earth. He told them to make disciples of others through sharing His love with them, and He told them to remember. Paul's letters are full of references to the power of Christ's example and how we should strive to emulate His humility and love. See, God uses the Bible to remind us to remember.

God doesn't say don't forget me, He says don't forget to remember me in all you think, do, say, and love.

Philanthrophy in the Midwest

2006-10-11T13:45:00.000-04:00

Philanthropy in the Heart of America

I found this fascinating and thought some others of you might enjoy it.

Ex-Mas Eve Premier November 2, 2006

2006-10-05T10:45:00.000-04:00

Chris, Rob and Alex have just been dumped, but they are not about to let their ex-girlfriends ruin the holidays. Instead, they launch a collaborative effort to get back at the three women who broke their hearts.

Written and directed by Vsevolod Horodyskyj. Starring Joshua Mims, Jefferson Smith, Bret Terrill, Rachael Barainca, Megan Lee, Lori Lewis and Randahl N. Lindgren.

This film has won several top honors at the Visions Film Festival including Best Screenplay.

For more information check out: http://www.exmaseve.com