I have finally finished the sermon series from the Church of the Resurrection, When Christians Get It Wrong. There have never been a set of sermons that have done more for me than this series, none. If you have some time, I urge you to give it a try. It’s great food for the soul.
On Saturday I had to work overtime and decided to listen to a few sermons. Broadway fans might enjoy this series (I listened to the Beauty and the Beast sermon), but the Seeing Gray series have gotten my attention. As I listened to the first part of that series, he referenced a series of sermons of denominational differences he presented several years ago, a series I recently received in the mail a couple of weeks ago. It’s funny how the timing of things work out.
I now know of two Ivy Leaguers that read this blog. I fear it is only making them dumber.
I believe Jimmy Fallon’s first guest is going to be Robert Dinero. Big mistake. Huge mistake. Colossal mistake. Dinero is a superb actor, but when it comes to interviews, it’s a struggle because he doesn’t like to open up. Fallon needed to go with someone more colorful and loquacious.
One quick Lost note. Remember my theory that Ben killed Penelope? This is how Ben gets Desmond back to the Island. Desmond will follow him for vengeance.
To me – old age is 15 years older than I am. – Bernard M. Baruch
The local news had a sad story of a family that moved into a new house, and their little daughter went missing. She was later found in the septic tank, she fell in a hole that wasn’t covered. I had a very hard time living in my house after my mother’s fall down the stairs and wanted to move for quite a while. I wonder if the mother and father of that child are thinking the same thing.
On Friday night I watched a couple of Abraham Lincoln specials on the History Channel. I think back in the day I would have considered watch such a thing as uncool, but I really dig this kind of stuff now. Anywho . . . this one special talked about the assassination, death, and his original tomb. There was an actual plot to steal his body for ransom, but that wasn’t the part that fascinated me. What got my attention was that the family decided to move the body to another tomb and cover the coffin with a lot of concrete. But before they did that, they decided to open up the coffin, 36 years after the death. They said he was well preserved, beard and everything. This was because during his journey to Springfield from Washington D.C. his body was actually embalmed numerous times. They also described the odor, which I think they described as being a sweet and musky. It was also revealed that his suit was covered in red and blue spots, due to an American flag being place on him that later disintegrated.
I remember my father trying to live long enough to be buried in the Dallas – Fort Worth National Cemetery that was being build. Because he died before the completion, he was buried at a local cemetery, but we later moved him about two years later to the completed cemetery so he could rest in peace with other soldiers per his wishes. It was real interesting seeing your father’s grave being dug up, and I’ll be honest to say that I wondered at the time, and occasionally still do today, what his body currently looks like. I don’t think I could bring myself to look, but it’s a thought. All that to say I wonder what was going through Lincoln’s son’s mind when he saw his father 36 years after his death.
Earlier I typed the word “assassination.” I actually chuckled typing that word because I never realized it has two assess in it.
I remember visiting Washing D.C. in the 7th grade and visiting the house Lincoln was moved to after he was shot and seeing several of his blood stained pillows (another pillow). It was either in that house or in Ford’s Theater that my friend Tim discovered his wallet was missing.
I had an interesting conversation about Netscape Navigator with several developers the other day. Remember that old Internet browsing application? Turns out in a weird sort of way, the FireFox browser is really a Netscape product.
I’ve got a couple of documentaries on the DVR, both happen to be by Alexandria Pelosi, the daughter of the Speaker of the House. I’m not a fan of hers, but just find the topics of her documentaries intriguing, enough so that I want to watch them. About a year ago she made a film about the Bible Belt called Friends of God, then this year she has the Trials of Ted Haggard and Right America: Feeling Wronged – Some Voices from the Campaign Trail. I have got around to the Haggard film, but I just watched the other one. In short, in the months leading up to election night she followed around the McCain campaign and interviewed mainly the most die-hard passionate Republicans. It was very interesting to see their views, and it’s stated in the film that these folks don’t represent the entire Republican party. Some of the interview focused on their reaction as soon as the results came in. I have to admit I felt some empathy for them as they were some of the same feelings I had eight years ago. But when it comes down to Democrats and Republicans, colleges or pretty much anything else for the matter, it’s the die hards, the extremists that drive me crazy. I tend to thing they get so wrapped up in a cause, they forget what their overall focus should be. I think this happens a lot with the church. For example, many get so determined to evangelize and do their best to save souls, they I think they forget about love and compassion and just preach fire and brimstone. I’m not sure if that makes total sense, but I think you get my point.
One entertaining part of that documentary was when those extreme Rebublicans went on a rant and looped Nancy Pelosi in on one of their answers totally dogging her, all without knowing they were talking to her daughter.
And as expected Sean Hannity got a hero like reception at one of those rallies.
Mario made a mistake when he met the Ninja Turtles. Pic
I saw Conan’s last show, and I thought it was cook he paid props to Letterman.
Model-morphosis – Just click and drag the orange bar to see what she looked like before and after being made up.
For the fans of Lost, here’s a very impressive Lost Cake.
If there was one piece of advice I would give to business majors that will be graduating this spring, it would be to start applying to grad school. With all the layoffs, the job market is extremely competitive right now and the chances of getting hired with little or no experience is slim. The only thing they might having going for them is a willingness to take a smaller salary than those already out in the business world trying to get the same job.
It’s like Dublin Dr Pepper . . . Pepsi and Mountain Dew made with real sugar. Link
I was lucky enough to get a leaked copy of the new U2 album, which is about a week away from being released. I’m thinking about giving a review, and so far I’ve listened to it fully about five times. But so far I don’t think it’s their best work, and definately doesn’t fall into my top five U2 albums. I expected something more edgy and catching, something that makes me contemplate, something that I could totally see being sung in concert. Maybe my expectations were so high that there wasn’t any hope for anything they were to put out. The last album seemed to tell a story, with one song leading to another building a bigger story. As of right now, I’m not getting that feeling from this album.
Sunday school was a bit different as we took a personality test. I usually don’t like these sort of things as I have trouble picking or ranking an answer as I don’t always feel I totally align with just one answer. I had to take these several times in grad school, and it seems like something that pops up at work once in a while. I remember the last two times I took one. My scores will indicate how I fit into one category, but there is always a tie for a second category, so I can never really rank my results, and this happened again. This particular personality test has four categories, Blue, Orange, Green, and Gold. I think I found the same test online (actual test here)if you would like to give it a try, and the color explanations are also listed. WifeGeeding was a Gold, and I’m a Green (20 points) , with Blue and Orange tying for second (each with 14 points, Blue with 7). In short, Green people are want to know the “why” behind things, open minded, and rational. After we found out our color, we then separated into our color groups to list what we consider our strengths and values, and then we had to come up with a bumper sticker that would best describe us. We listed such things as exploration, randomness (that one made me laugh), analytical, math, problem solving, composed, and even though it’s not really a positive thing, we realized we were all pretty indecisive. Our bumper sticker slogan was, “Honk if you want to know why.”
I think this is really a long Bag of Randomness and wonder if anyone has fallen asleep reading this.
WifeGeeding and I have talked about what we should give up for Lent. I’m considering giving up blogging for 40 days.
Giving up blogging for 40 days is a very poor choice in that you are depriving the rest of us of a necessity. Most theologians would consider this to be selfish. I urge you to continue blogging as normal.
Giving up something for Lent is my question also. What I need to determine is………..what do I need to remove from my life for 40 days that would cause me to spend more time in prayer, study, and fellowship w/ the Lord?? I’m sure God will show me something between now and Wednesday. Hope you get to attend an Ash Wednesday service. Quite moving.
I think I am going to give up work for 40 days. I would have WAY more time to seek God. Of course after the 40 days I would have plenty of time too if you catch my drift.
While I admire your determination to give up something that would be a great personal sacrifice to you, I really don’t think giving up the blog is the right way to go. I’m not sure if you realize this or not, but you have many readers on here following your exploration of the church very closely. Many people who would never admit it to another human being are tired of being pew warmers, but need to see someone else take hold of their own destiny before daring to follow suit themselves. You are blazing a trail, and it would really be a shame to see that trail go cold for more than a month just as things are really heating up in your own search for truth. Just something to think about. :o)
I’m totally in love with the new U2 album. Listen to track 2 and picture that in concert. It’s gonna be awesome! I think it was tapped from the same vain as Gloria. Also, I’ll Go Crazy is going to be fun in concert. And Moment of Surrender is a gospel song like I Still Haven’t Found! But Breathe is probably my favorite track.
Remember LENT is about more than subtraction. It's about adding something to take it's place.
Here's an equation: -++=x.
Translation: subtraction plus addition equals multiplication.
Kudos to you for considering the blog thing, I dare you to follow through!
Giving up blogging for 40 days is a very poor choice in that you are depriving the rest of us of a necessity. Most theologians would consider this to be selfish. I urge you to continue blogging as normal.
I second the motion.
*Dan has a good point. Rather than giving up blogging for lent, why not just give up blogging about bacon for lent?
*The personality test was interesting.
I am also ‘green’.
Giving up something for Lent is my question also. What I need to determine is………..what do I need to remove from my life for 40 days that would cause me to spend more time in prayer, study, and fellowship w/ the Lord?? I’m sure God will show me something between now and Wednesday. Hope you get to attend an Ash Wednesday service. Quite moving.
I think I am going to give up work for 40 days. I would have WAY more time to seek God. Of course after the 40 days I would have plenty of time too if you catch my drift.
I really like Jonathan’s equation!! Hope I can remember it and use it sometime to share w/ others.
While I admire your determination to give up something that would be a great personal sacrifice to you, I really don’t think giving up the blog is the right way to go. I’m not sure if you realize this or not, but you have many readers on here following your exploration of the church very closely. Many people who would never admit it to another human being are tired of being pew warmers, but need to see someone else take hold of their own destiny before daring to follow suit themselves. You are blazing a trail, and it would really be a shame to see that trail go cold for more than a month just as things are really heating up in your own search for truth. Just something to think about. :o)
I’m totally in love with the new U2 album. Listen to track 2 and picture that in concert. It’s gonna be awesome! I think it was tapped from the same vain as Gloria. Also, I’ll Go Crazy is going to be fun in concert. And Moment of Surrender is a gospel song like I Still Haven’t Found! But Breathe is probably my favorite track.
Read my review of the album here: http://mockingbirdnyc.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-found-grace-inside-sound-theological.html