let it snow

Betsy and I are home for the holidays. And by "home" I mean El Paso, Illinios.

Bet you didn't know that Illinois had an El Paso, did you? Well it does. Population 2,500. Two of those being my parents; still living in the same house I grew up in, across the street from the park and a block away from the elementary school.

Yesterday morning I woke up and looked out the window. And what my wondering eyes did see?

Snow. Which was a site for sore eyes.

Well...at least it was for two people born and raised in the mid-west, very used to snowy winters. Betsy and I almost started to buy into this whole 'global-warming' thing. Having lived in Tennessee the last few years, where it is 70 degrees well into December (at least it was this year), you begin to wonder.

But alas, our fears were calmed yesterday by the big, powdery flakes falling from the sky. I took some pictures.

I have titled them "Giving Al Gore the Snow-Capped Finger".

an important life lesson

Listen to me very closely.

I don’t care how hungry you are. I don’t care how good they make it look on the menu. I don't even care if you have a free coupon…

Do NOT purchase a Bloomin' Onion when dining at Outback.

Just don't do it.

Oh...it tastes great, don't get me wrong. It is fantastic. But the next day, I guarantee you, that you are going to wake up feeling fat, greasy, and generally unsuccessful at life. I kid you not. You will wake up in a bloated depression every time.

And you can't brush that taste out of your mouth either. Not a chance. And why would you want to? Why would you not want it to linger for the rest of day, reminding you that, given the choice...you are the type of person who chooses to eat a deep-fried onion?

Seriously.

This past weekend, Betsy and I went to Outback and chose to eat a deep-fried onion...dipped in the accompanying spicy-horseradish sauce. And not only did we eat the whole thing, halfway through, we stopped the waitress and asked for more sauce.

Oh, we knew what was coming. We knew we were going to regret it the next day. But that didn't stop us.

I just don't get it. I have never walked into Chili's and thought, "Hmmm…an Awesome Blossom. That sounds really good. I’ll have one of those." Never. And they’re exact same thing!

But every time I walk through the doors at Outback, its…“Screw the bread. Just bring me a Diet Coke and the greasiest Bloomin’ Onion you can scrounge up back there.”

I need help.

Maybe this is not so much a “lesson” as it is a confession. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 7, “I do what do not want to do…”. Now, I don’t know if that guy ever ate a Bloomin’ Onion or not, but he sure hit the nail on the head with that one. Because every time I walk into Outback, I, too, do what I do not want to do.

May God have mercy on my soul. And my colon.

into the wild

It has taken me a week to wrap my mind around this post. I tried on numerous occasions to finish it...but each time I failed. I apologize for that. And I'm not even sure I've completed my thoughts on this yet, but regardless here it is...

Betsy and I saw the movie "Into the Wild" last week. It was exceptional. We are still talking about it. I knew the basic plot-line, but had not read the book. It is hard to believe that this could actually be a true story. It's incredible.

There are many "morals-of-the-story" that I walked away with. But, more than anything, I left the movie with a newfound respect for the very real danger of someone placing too high a value on their own ideology.

(I want to note, at this point, that the following thoughts are based on the movie "Into the Wild" and the character "Chris McCandless". I am not so naive or presumptuous as to think I know anything about the actual man or his motives based on the Hollywood adaptation of his life.)

Many people have called what Chris McCandless did "heroic". But I question that.

Yes, he was brilliant, courageous, and true to his convictions...all classic "hero" characteristics. But in many ways, he also seemed to be nothing more than the typical, melodramatic, self-involved "twenty-something": infatuated with his own idealistic world-view and convinced that if something is broken or flawed in any way, than it must mean it is deficient and false in every way, and therefore must be left-behind.

Time and again, he stubbornly, and selfishly, choose to live out his own romanticized version of reality...alone. Leaving in his wake numerous opportunities for true community, friendship, and love. He sacrificed every relationship, every chance for real human interaction. He walked away from it all.

And, ultimately, that left him lost and lonely.

So why am I having such a hard time blogging about this...because a lot of the time, I do the same thing. Maybe not to the extreme, the way Chris McCandless did. But I feel that I, too, am often nothing more than the typical, melodramatic, self-involved "twenty-something" infatuated with his own idealistic world-view.

I claim to be searching for truth, but walk right passed it and into the arms some quixotic belief of how the world should work if everyone else would just come to their senses and think how I think and believe what I believe.

But here is the reality, the tragic reality for McCandless: truth, beauty, life...these are not abstract, conceptual treasures to be sought out in isolation. They aren't ideas found in the pages of our books or the backs of our minds. They are practical and precious jewels that can be unearthed right underneath our feet if we would just be brave enough to dig through the dirt and muck of flawed relationships and broken hearts.

We can't embark on some epic journey...toward truth and beauty, and away from love and human interaction...and expect to find anything other than an illusion.

Fortunately for most twenty-somethings, this journey is only metaphoric. For Chris McCandless, however, it was literal...in every way. And I think that may be what makes his story so incredibly interesting.

best of 2007

The categories are: movies, music, books, tv and miscellaneous. I ranked my top 3 in each category, with some Honorable Mentions. One side note...I'm pretty slow when it comes to jumping on most bandwagons, so despite the fact that I have just discovered them this year, some of these might be old news to you. Sorry about that.

Okay, on to the list...

MOVIES:
1)Reign Over Me
2)Once
3)Stardust

2007, in my opinion, an extremely disappointing year for movies. Honestly, I can't remember a worse year. With that said, these three were diamonds in the rough. Reign Over Me is one of my favorite movies of all time. Adam Sandler really ought to be recognized for his outstanding performance and receive an Oscar nod. I know that won't happen. But it should. He was truly incredible. I rarely cry at movies...but I've shed tears every time I've watched this. Honorable Mention: Bridge to Terabithia.

Side note: Knocked-Up, which also came out this year, is the worst movie I have ever seen. I mean that. It was neither funny nor entertaining in any way. I know, I know...what did I expect? Well, Betsy is a big Grey's Anatomy fan (Katherine Heigl stars in both) and I thought the trailers made it look half-way funny. Well, I was wrong. It wasn't half-way funny. It was all-the-way horrible.

MUSIC:
1)"I Can't Make You Love Me" - Bonnie Ryatt
2)"Falling Slowly" - Once Original Soundtrack
3)"No One's Gonna Love You" - Band of Horses

I had obviously heard "I Can't Make You Love Me" before. But not until I was sitting in the Copper Cellar enjoying a plate of Calamari with Betsy...did I stop and listen and truly appreciate this song. I think it is absolutely perfect; from the melody to the production to Bruce Hornsby performance on piano. What can I say...this song's my jam.

BOOKS:
1)The Forgotten Ways - Alan Hirsch
2)Son of Laughter - Frederick Buechner
3)The Chosen - Chaim Potok

This was, by far, my hardest list to compile. I have read so many good books this year. The Forgotten Ways, while reading a lot like a text book, is fresh and challenging. I have read plenty of books that diagnose what is wrong with the church. This is the first I've come across that actually addresses those problems and works towards practical and healthy solutions. And...I think I have a bit of a man-crush on Alan Hirsch.

The Son of Laughter and The Chosen are two exceptional pieces of fiction written by two exceptional authors.

I am pretty sure that Honorable Mention lists are not supposed to be longer than the actual list, but...

Christ the Lord - Anne Rice
The Confessions - St. Augustine
Reflection on the Psalms - C.S. Lewis
Orthodoxy - G.K. Chesterston
No Man is an Island - Thomas Merton

TV:
1) Pushing Daisies
2) NFC & AFC Championship Games
3) 30 Rock

Pushing Daisies is, hands-down, my favorite show on TV right now. It is quirky, smart and unlike anything else.

The two Championship games? Well, in one the Bears won in the cold and the snow at Soldier Field. In the other, Peyton and the Colts came from behind to finally beat the...the...well, I can't remember the name of that silly team they beat, but it was awesome.

30 Rock, I actually started watching last year. But it has just recently passed The Office, as far as I'm concerned, as the funniest show on TV.

MISC:
1)Trappist Ale
2)the morning
3)umm...Crossings

Trappist Ale is...well, ale brewed by Trappist monks. There is a whole lot more to it than that, but that's the gist. There are only seven monasteries in the world that are certified by the ITA (International Trappist Association) to brew Trappist Ale. I have tasted ale from all but two. I've begun collecting the bottles, glasses, etc. Its an odd hobby, but it is my hobby.

Before March, I had heard of this thing called "the morning"...but rarely experienced it. Since then, I have thoroughly enjoyed the evolution from night-owl to early-bird.

Lastly, something called Crossings happened this year. It's pretty cool.


Well, there you have it...my Best of 2007 list. So, what did I forget?

the King of love, my Shepherd is

(click here to download this or other original songs)

The King of Love, my Shepherd is
whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am His
and He is mine forever

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed
but yet, in love, He sought me
and on His shoulder gently laid
and home, rejoicing, brought me

My soul, you restore
and my cup, overflow

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with Thee, dear Lord, beside me
Thy rod and staff my comfort still
Thy cross before to guide me

My soul, you restore
and my cup, overflow

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
within Thy house forever


I love cyberhymnal.org. It is a great resource for those of you who pick out songs on a weekly basis to be sung congregationally...and have already met your monthly quota of Chris Tomlin songs.

I found this old hymn that I had never heard before. Maybe it is well-known. I don't know. Having been born and raised Catholic, I have found that many hymns considered well-known by everyone else are brand new to me (and vice-versa).

Mark was teaching on John 10:1-30, the Good Shepherd passage. This hymn fit perfectly (it comes straight from Psalm 23). So, I picked up the banjo...wrote a simple little chorus...and had my wife sing some sweet harmonies. I was pretty happy with the outcome.

I hope you like it.

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