Random Conversations in Random Places

It's time again for another rousing story of "Interesting Conversations Sarah Finds Herself In When She's In Random Places", which is what I assume everyone waits for in their days. =)

A couple years ago, I shared about the Starbucks conversation; on Saturday there was another blog-worthy with a man who tried to scare me out of doing international missions (ask for that one later).

However, today's conversation didn't occur in Starbucks...no, no...it was at the chiropractor's office.

There are several reasons why I love going to the chiropractor. Getting my back fixed is one; moments like this afternoon is one as well.

Starting with the Seahawks and their stylish and practical gear, the conversation quickly turned to what I did this weekend. Well, considering that homework encompasses my life, I mentioned to my doctor that I wrote a biblical theology paper. I'm assuming he thought this was cool/interesting because for the next 10 + minutes we discussed (meaning he talked, I listened in fascination) "theoretical theological quantum physics", the Matrix and the Bible.

Now, I've never seen the Matrix ("Firefly" & Orson Scott Card tap my nerdery in sci-fi stuff), but I've read the Bible. And I've never before considered them as having anything to do with the other. Until now.

Thus, I give you the short-short version of the "theoretical theological quantum physics" as per my chiropractor:

Ok, so, in the "Matrix" people are really just warm bodies in vats run by machines (I keep saying this is going to happen!). Neo, our protagonist friend, is the sum of all the anomalies in the machinery universe. He has "free will" and can see outside of the created world that the machines have created for humanity. He is told that he is the 6th version of the anomaly so that the machines can keep "upgrading." So Neo 7.0 is just the one that we, the audience, are introduced to, but he is not the only, nor will he be the last.

At this point, I couldn't really see where this was going to tie in with the Bible, but this is what my doctor then said (Sarah's paraphrase): "It's like Genesis/Revelation - God says that in the end, He will create a new heaven & a new earth. How many times has He or will He do that? It doesn't matter for Him to tell us; what matters is His love and grace for us now. But it's an interesting theory."

And for the last 6 hours, I have been turning this over in my head. I have since come up with 3 thoughts (yes, only three):

1. It's really moot for God to tell us if we're the 2nd or 6th or 12th version of heaven & earth. And we're never going to know that this side of heaven. What does matter is that God loves us and has asked us to demonstrate this love to the rest of the world. I've been so annoyed in one of my classes this semester - Christian Theology 2 - because we go round and round and round about whether or not someone can lose their salvation and if all are elect or if there is an "elect" and if babies go to heaven when they die. Yes, those are important things to talk about and consider and hammer out biblically. But at the end of the day, the biggest thing that matters, no matter what side of an argument you land on, is the fact that God loves us and wants us to love Him and others in return. It's irrelevant for Him to give us all the details about His character, His plan for the universe, history, future, etc because the biggest thing to know and acknowledge is His love.

2. That guy is smart. And I'm a little jealous.

3. My life is hilarious. I get to have the greatest conversations in the most random places and carry them around with me forever. So many reasons to keep going back to the chiropractor. =)

This concludes Sarah's random conversation of the day with her doctor. However, I am curious: have ya'll had an awesomely random conversations lately? And what do you think of the "theoretical theological quantum physics" theory?

Penguin Awareness Day

Here's a little fun-fact: today, January 20th, is Penguin Awareness Day.

For many of you, you think "oh! Penguins are so cute!"

For others, you don't care and now wish you could take back the 42 seconds it took you to link to this blog and read that sentence.

For me, I just don't care for penguins that much. (Please direct all hate-mail to sarniclew at gmail dot com.)

So instead of raving about how cute penguins are and their non-existant contribution to my life, I thought I would share with you:

7 Things That Are Better Than Penguins

Thing 1: Sandwiches

This might make me sound like Joey Tribbiani, but really? What's better than a sandwich? They have bread, they have meat, mine have mustard. What's not to love? And they provide great taste and sustenance. Can you do that, Penguin? I don't think so.

Thing 2: Justin Timberlake

Sexy, charming and humorous are three words I can use to describe JT. I don't wish to use any of those words on penguins.

Thing 3: Amazon.com

I like things that are resourceful. I like books, DVDs, and music. Amazon.com provides all of that. Penguins can give me the bird-flu. No bueno.

Thing 4: Wings

Sorry penguin, but honestly, what's up with you? You have wings but they don't work? Sure, you could say, "Ostriches have wings but they don't work, why don't you pick on them?!" Well, ostriches are ginormous and they are mean. I'm not about to pick a fight with them. Plus, flying is awesome; I totally wish I could.

Things 5 & 6: Sharks and Killer Whales

The underwater enemies of penguins are sharks and killer whales. And I love both of those things. Have you seen them?! They're massive and powerful and awesome and other amazing adjectives! Plus I'd so rather watch "Free Willy" or "Jaws" before "March of the Penguins" any day.

And the final thing that is better than penguins....

Thing 7: The Bible

Yeah, I had to toss that out there. No offense, penguin, but you just got the ultimate smack-down. Jesus-style. In all fairness, Jesus probably thinks you're pretty cool, but I don't see it in the Bible. So there!

You might really like penguins. And that's fine. But $5 says you can name 10 more things that are awesomer than penguins. Go on...I dare you. =)

When God is Funnier than You Thought

Have you ever had those moments where you stop and think, "Whoa. God is a lot bigger and funnier than I ever imagined."

I had a moment like that last night. Allow me to share. =)

A few weeks ago, a friend asked if I was interested in an opportunity to nanny for her aunt this coming weekend on a cruise in Alaska. This might interest me normally, but the "icing on the cake" was that this cruise was the Gaither Homecoming Alaskan Cruise and my friend's aunt is Ladye Love Smith of Ladye Love & Reggie Smith who sing with the Gaither Homecoming crew.

You have to realize that before 2 years ago I couldn't STAND Southern Gospel and especially the Gaithers. I harbored this little vendetta because it was "uncool" and for old people. You also have to realize that I've never before moving home I was not so good with the being around children-thing. Although, I'm still not sometimes...

But I knew it was one of those once in a lifetime things that I just would regret if I didn't try to make work. I turned in my notice for my job hoping that everything would come through. I started planning what I could take to entertain a 7-yr-old kid for a week while his parents perform. I thought through how to be cool and not act the way I did when I met Sandi Patty last summer (but that's another story...).

And the Lord let everything work out.

Last night my mom looked at me and said "Sarah, isn't it incredible the things the Lord will give you, even when you don't ask?" And I honestly would have never, not in my wildest dreams, thought to ask to nanny on a cruise ship. In Alaska. For the Gaither Homecoming show. Two years ago I would have never even dreamed this was something I would have even wanted to do. Now I'm excited to go and minister to this family so that they can minister to a whole cruise-ship full of people. I'm excited to hang out with this little kid so that he can be part of his family's life. I'm excited to hang out the members of a group that I love to listen to.

This might be one of those things that you think, "What is the opposite of name-dropping?" because you think this is lame. And that's ok. But it's amazing to me what God wants to give us, even when we don't know we want it.

And btw, you should probably learn to love the Gaithers cause you know we're gonna be singing "Because He Lives" all the time in heaven. =)

Sharktoid Factoid, No. 1

Did you know that Great White Sharks have been known to jump out of the water at over 12 feet?! Since they are easily one of largest and heaviest shark species, this ability is fascinating and awesome. Researchers have observed that in an attack, they move directly vertical towards their prey on the surface at speeds near 20 miles per hour.

Hecks yes.

Shark Week 2009, Greatest Week of the Summer

I know I've mentioned before that sharks are my most favorite animal (alongside lions) in the world. I have been fascinated with sharks since I was little and Shark Week on the Discovery Channel is the greatest week of my summer. 

And it's here once again. 

Since I feel like I haven't been here much lately and this week of awesomeness is upon us, I have decided to celebrate Shark Week Sarah-style. (Which we all now is the best style. ;) )

To start things off right, please enjoy this video. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but mostly you'll just laugh. 

Happy Shark Week, everyone!!

This Week

I had forgotten how much I love VBS. The songs, the excitement, getting to act as silly as possible because kids LOVE that! On Sunday's we are doing "Outrigger Island" for the kids program at church. It was a blast. Now with Sports Camp well underway, I see this week shaping up for awesomeness. Which is a strange feeling indeed because I don't do well with children - they intimidate me and parents get mad because I threaten them with bodily harm as my means of obtaining obedience. But I love it all the same. 

This week at Veritas is Sports Camp. It's like VBS, only this time we're putting lacrosse sticks in the children's hands and telling them to have at it. I feel an inordinate amount of bruises to come...

So if you don't see very much of me on here this week, it's because I'm plumb exhausted from the go-go-going-ness of it all. But I promise pictures to come. =)