Febarple

Febarple: noun. A holiday designed for Lent-esque purposes, specifically in abstaining from beverage-related addiction consumption February 15-April 15 each year. 

Yes, friends, it's that time of the year. For those of you that don't know, each year (this is year #3) I celebrate a little known holiday called Febarple (defined above). The first year involved a bet - dinner for the winner (and I ain't gonna turn down no free dinner!) Since then I've simply been doing it for myself. I like to prove that I can do it. 

I love Dr. Pepper. You could seriously put it in an IV and I'd be golden. If I could, my pantry would look like this....

As I've mentioned before, I love traditions. This is a tradition I do, even though I do it by myself now. 

But these next two months will be tough because I RARELY go one day without my sweet elixir. I'm sure my dreams will consist of several variations on this:

Pray. 

**** UPDATE ****

Due to mass volumes (ie. 2) comments that my definition of Febarple should be expanded, I have done so above. If any of you care to join me in the tradition of Febarple of your own beverage addiction, let me know. It'll be a team-building thing! =)

I choose DP... what about you?

A Valentine Happy

Happy Valentine's Day to us all. 

I Got Tagged...

1. Go to where you store your digital photos and open the 4th folder.
2. Go to the 4th picture and post it.
3. Explain the picture
4. Tag an additional 4 people.

Nic "tagged" me in this endeavor, so I decided to follow suit. Mostly cause I like those Tews, but also cause I like sharing pictures. =) So....

This is a photo of the road to Damascus. Damascus, Missouri, that is. =)

All through college it was a dream of mine to travel on this road and take a picture so I could say I was "on the road to Damascus."  (It's funny because of Paul. And Jesus. Oh, Bible humor...)

Anyway, I lived in Missouri for 5 years and never once did I head down this road. So in October, when I was there visiting, my girlfriends and I pulled over on Highway 13 and headed down towards Damascus. It was awesome. 

And because this is a "game" to play, I tag Sarah C., Mr. Maples, Jamie in SoCal, and Teresa in Ft. Worth. 

[ I know the game called for the one picture, but I can't help but share these too... =) ]

Emily and I running towards Damascus...

Jenny having a "Pauline" experience.

Oh happy days on the road to Damascus. =)

Talk Thursday//Holidays

A Valentine's Poem:

Roses are red, 

Violets are blue, 

It's Talk Thursday, 

How do you do?

Hallmark's favorite holiday is here

That means this weekend I'll probably need a beer

Not cause I'm bitter or a hater

It's just rough to see everyone else with a mate (r) 

People tell me "It's ok! Jesus was single too!"

I reply "Yeah, and He was also a Jew"

(That makes sense cause I'm not a Jew...)

Cupid and his pals will send heart-shaped pizzas

While me and my pals will heartily eat... those... pizzas.

Alright, this poem officially sucks.

But you all love Talk Thursdays so you read through the muck. 

How do you feel about Valentine's? 

Do you have plans?

Whatever you do, have a happy holiday and don't be gruff.

Enjoy these Valentine's cards that crack my stuff.

                                                    

 I appreciate the honesty. =)

Dreams

When I was 17 or 18, I wrote a list of things I would like to accomplish in my life. I can't remember what they all were (post for a different day), but the one that I remember well was:

* Learn enough Greek and Hebrew to be able to translate the Bible on my own.

I was in high school when I wrote that. Before the Lord changed my major to Bible and my heart to exegesis and missions. 

Now, I don't have a premonition that I'm going to die anytime soon, but it's really cool to think that I'm going to have accomplished that one thing by the time I turn 25. I took 3 years of Hebrew in college and have translated several parts of the OT; I'm currently taking (and will continue to take) Greek and by 2010 will have translated portions of the NT. 

I don't say that because I'm pretentious or a jerk or self-righteous (I hope). I say it because I had a goal and I will have accomplished that goal. Which is really cool. 

What was a goal you set and have met? 

What dreams are you still chasing?

How do you anticipate accomplishing that?

Time - She's a Tricky Mistress

It has been one year today since I've been home from Missouri. 

In some ways, it feels like I've changed.

In some ways, it feels like I've stayed exactly the same. 

And I'm not sure how I feel about that. 

I'm no longer "homesick" for Washington. 

Now I get "homesick" for Missouri. 

This is the place I know God wants me to be. At times that has been the only thing keeping me here. =)

It's amazing what a year does.

So much.

So little. 

"Time heals all wounds" - I don't know about that. 

"Time wounds all heals" often seems more appropriate. 

So here's to a year. 

What have you learned from February 7th, 2008 to February 7th, 2009?

Talk Thursday//BookWorms

I recently finished reading The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs & Jesus Wants
 to Save Christians (not to be confused with Jesus wanting to save Christmas) by Rob Bell & Don Golden. Both were AWESOME!! and I highly recommend them both. Currently I'm reading Churched:One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess by Matthew Paul Turner. And it is fuuu-nnny!

So for Talk Thursday, what are you reading? What would you recommend? What wouldn't you recommend? Let's make this like a big ol' book club. =)

Happiness Is....

What is happiness to ya'll?

Vague

I just need to say that I'm hurt and tired of being hurt. 

I long for things I cannot have. Not now, maybe not ever. 

Prayer makes me EXTREMELY uncomfortable. 

Being vulnerable makes me tired and I don't like doing it.

I wish God would stop with this "already/not yet" business and change me immediately to what He wants me to be. 

I wish there was no struggle. 

I am more annoyed with myself now because this was all about me when there are much bigger things going on in the world. 

Sorry for the vague post. I needed to emotionally vomit. Hope that's ok with ya'll. If not, well, come back tomorrow. I'll have something happier up then. 

Talk Thursday // Today

Yikes! It's 9.38 pm PST and I'm just now getting home and getting to Talk Thursday! This is my favorite day of the week and I almost missed it! But even for you Midwesterners I still made the cut. (Sorry East Coast - I failed you.)

Since our Talk Thursday is almost over, what was the best part of your day today?

Mine was meeting the newest addition to Veritas church - Addison Reynolds. She still looks kind of like an alien mixed with a Sharpei, but I like her. 

That or the crab mac 'n cheese from Twist in Belltown. It could be a toss-up. 

What was yours?

I Googled Myself

It's obvious you've reached the status of "nothing" when you google your name and nothing about you comes up.

There are approximately 14 million webpages concerning "Sarah Lewis'" and not a one of them are me.

Wow...that'll put your life into some perspective, no?


Do you Google yourself?
What does Google have to say about you?

Deuteronomy 25.11

The Bible is weird. For those of you who haven't read it, it's weirdness is probably what is keeping you away. For those of you who have, you know what I'm talking about. 

There are some weird things happening all throughout the pages of Scripture - things we can't even begin to get our minds around (Judges 19, anyone?)

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is called a "sundry law" which states that "If two men, a man and his countryman, are struggling together, and the wife of one comes near to deliver her husband from the hand of the one who is striking him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals, then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity." (Deut. 25.11)

       

(thank you for the visual aids, TheBrickTestament)

Why is this my favorite? I don't know. But I like to use it as a threat. Until I remember that the retaliation is that my hand will be cut off...

Still! Stuff like this is in the Bible! Mixed in there with Moses and the temple and Jesus! Why, even in the Ancient NearEast, with the Hebrew people, would this have even been an issue?! I honestly don't know. 

How utterly strange. 

And how wonderfully fascinating. 

Man, the Bible is weirdly cool!

Talk Thursday//Memories

In an attempt to get to know my reading audience, riddle me this, riddle me that:

What is your favorite memory? Ever. 

I'll share. It's a little personal, so beware. =)

A friend (who shall remain nameless) and I were driving back from Kansas City one Spring Break day and since the vehicle we were occupying did not have a radio or tape deck for the iPod, we decided to sing hymns the whole way from KC to Bolivar - about a 2.5 hour drive. It was very sweet and wonderful and I really like that memory. 

So, come on...tell me yours. Let's share. 

(And two cool points for the person who points out the connection between the picture & the topic! Go!)

Can You Use That In A Sentence, Please?

pro⋅cras⋅ti⋅nate

    [proh-kras-tuh-neyt, pruh-]Show IPA Pronunciation  
verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.

–verb (used without object)

1.	to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.

–verb (used with object)

2.	to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.

Origin: 
1580–90; < class="ital-inline" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%; color: rgb(77, 78, 81); line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; font-style: italic; ">prōcrāstinātus (ptp. of prōcrāstināre to put off until tomorrow, equiv. to prō- pro- ¹ + -crāstināre, deriv. of crāstinus of tomorrow; crās tomorrow + -tinus suffix forming adjs. from temporal advs.); see -ate ¹ 

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009. 
Cite This Source

Yeah, it's my first week of graduate school and already I don't want to do the assignment. This is lo tobv, my friends, lo tobv. 

Freaking....

Obviously my procrastination method is blogging. What's yours?

Talk Thursday // The Boob Tube

I never thought I was one of "those" people whose life revolved around TV. Yes, I have my shows, but wouldn't stress if I had to catch them later online. 

However, over the last several months I have found myself balking at plans that take place during my shows. Sometimes even refusing to answer phone calls when I'm watching. I used to chalk this up to the fact that my sister and I had a standing date for these things and I didn't want to cut into time with her. Yet again, I was wrong. It's me. And it's the TV. 

So, fess up people. What shows are you addicted to? If you say "none", pray. Because we all know you're lying. Then you can come back and tell us. Or leave an anonymous comment. That way we can't judge you. =)

I'll be real: my shows are currently "How I Met Your Mother" (Mondays @ 8.30/7.30c), "NCIS" (Tuesdays @ 9.00/8.00c), & "The Office" (Thursdays @ 9.00/8.00c). But if I could, I would also watch "The Colbert Report" (because I love him). I'm waiting for "Make Me a Supermodel" to return & I will most likely get hooked on "American Idol" again this season. 

Off to School, Mom!

My first day of graduate school. I was ready!

Backpack....check!

Notebooks....check!

Water of smartness...check!

The ability to read...check!

What eluded me was the ability to find single men at seminary. THIS IS WHY I CHOSE A NON-DENOMINATIONAL SEMINARY PEOPLE!

 

Jason Segel or Justin Timberlake, I know you're both single. If you just happen to be studying at Multnomah Biblical Seminary, I would gladly let you buy my dinner. Gladly. 

Ahhh...the life of an SBU grad who didn't get her ring by spring; she was forced to go to seminary. I freaking want my $$ back....

=)

I'm a Jerk

December came in with record-breaking snowfalls for Western Washington. January came in with record-breaking rainfall for Western Washington. It rained so much here that rivers crested and they had to close down 2o miles of I-5 due to flooding.

My first thought? How am I going to get down to school? This is so unfair.

People have lost homes and businesses under feet of water; the state was backed up with trucks who couldn't deliver their loads; some people missed incredibly poignant events because of the rainfall. 

And that was my first thought. 

It's amazing what a little perspective will do...

I'm a jerk.

Nothing Makes Senses

Apart from celebrating the wedding of two of my dearest friends and spending glorious time with several more wonderful and dear friends, this was probably the highlight of my trip to Mississippi:

Ahhh...I love the South. 

Talk Thursday // Superheroes

It's a bird! It's a plane! 

Well, either way, it's pretty awesome. 

Which superhero would you choose to be? Why?

I'd totally be the chick version of Superman. Flying abilities & X-ray vision? Thank you VERY much. =) Or Storm. Cause she was hot. Wonder Woman wore entirely too little.

Fluffy

Oh the Irony

Freaking terrorists have made it impossible for regular people to carry toothpaste or Red Diamond Sweet Tea onto a plane. 

And yet the irony is that there are some airports that have no problem allowing sharps containers to hang on the walls of their restrooms. WTF?? 

Don't get me wrong...I don't want insulin-dependent people to die; I'm not evil. But seriously, people. NEEDLES - - SWEET TEA. Where's the justice? 

I love the consistency in our International Airports. 

Talk Thursday // Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Since we all do it and everyone always wants to know and I just love cliches on this blog, let's hear 'em! 

What are your resolutions for 2009? 

(And if you don't say pray more, read your Bible more and love sweet little Baby Jesus more, here's to wishing you a happy new year, you pagan. =) )

Transition

Tomorrow is my last day of work. Therefore if anyone knows of people hiring Wednesday through Saturday shifts in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, it would be awesome to know. =)

I've applied at World Vision; I've applied with T-Mobile; I'm going to apply at Starbucks.

Hopefully here in the next couple weeks I'll land something.

Deep down I know that God is provident. And maybe I even know that closer to the surface, but it's easy to feel anxious when things are changing and it's a blind move.


Lord, help me to not be anxious in anything.


Hmmm....often easier said than done....

Christmas Blues

It's a bad sign when I get the saddest over the Christmas season passing because I can no longer sing "Ox and ass before Him bow and He is in the manger now" without sounding a little off.


I need a hobby.


For sure.

Talk Thursday // Labor of Love

• Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, becausehe was of the house and family of David, 
• in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son ; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no roomfor them in the inn. 
• In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 
• And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 
• "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. "And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 
• "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

~ Luke 2.1-20 ~

He came because of love. Not out of convenience or obligation or judgment. 

God made Himself incarnate in human flesh to be the redemption for us. Immanuel - just like He promised.

The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace and the Wonderful Counselor.

God help us remember the gift  You gave in Jesus beyond today. 

Merry Christmas.

Young At Heart??

It recently high-fived me in the face that I am old.

Not old in the sense that I am physically old (although my chiropractor may beg to differ).

But I'm not a kid anymore.

It's been snowing here like crazy-face. We've had some 18 inches of snowfall in the last week alone.

And I am so irritated. I realized that I only appreciate snow when it is convenient for me. There were days when I would seriously consider "work or not work?" That question is just a different way of saying "$$ or my safety and the safety of others?" I've gone with $$ each time.

Kids, on the other hand, see snow and they think:

"Tobogganing!" "No school!" "Hot chocolate!" "Snowball fights!" "Playday!" "Yippee!"

It makes me sad that I don't have those thoughts. I feel...unyoung at heart. Which is stupid.

Ok...I'm going to figure out a way to play. Even if it means more laundry and being cold.

The kid inside me needs it.

(The metaphorical kid in me. I don't have a bun in the oven or anything. Just to clarify. =) )

Put on Your Yamaka, It's Time to Celebrate Hanukkah

I want to be a Jew. I have "Jew-envy."

Well, kind of. I want to keep Jesus AND get all the awesome traditions that come with practicing Judaism. You all know how I love traditions.

Since I'm not a Jew but want to be, I semi-practice Hanukkah. Do I understand it all? No. Do I practice it properly? No. Is it too much of a stretch to believe that the same God that became a baby also was capable of causing oil to last for 7 nights? No.

Therefore, I tip my hat to all of you Hanukkah participants. It is a beautiful celebration of an awesome God. And if there are any nice Jewish families in the greater Seattle metropolitan area that would like to invite some goyim to the festivities, I accept!!! (I have my own menorah, know the "Dreidel"song and everything...)

Happy Hanukkah, החברים שלי !!

Things You May or May Not Know About Me

1. I love country music. It makes me happy all the time.

2. If I had to choose two food items to eat for the remainder of my days, I would choose any variation on chicken and potatoes. I cannot think of a form of either one that I dislike.

3. Reading fills me. But I always feel a little guilty picking up a novel - I feel like I should be plowing through LOTS of other non-fiction books.

4. Dr. Pepper is the greatest drink on the planet. Ok...so that's not so much about me as it is just a random fact, but now you know. And knowing's 1/2 the battle.

5. I've become more of a warm-climate person as opposed to the cold-climate person I once was. Darn you, Missouri! Darn you!

6. My favorite color is orange. But combinations of brown and pink ignite major emotional responses in me.

7. I consider myself a thespian (of sorts), but I much prefer directing and tech work over acting.

8. In high school, I was the president of the Astronomy Club. Call me a dork, but at least I'm the coolest dork you've ever known.

9. Though I'm rediscent to admit it, I like Christian music stations. In small, small doses.

10. When I'm bored (or lack motivation to do things) I can easily pass the time by looking at the wall.

So there's some Sarah-trivia for you. What are some things we may or may not know about you?

Talk Thursday // WishList

It's Talk Thursday, Christmas is upon us, and the shopping craze is still going strong.

* So have you been naughty or nice this year?

* What do you want for Christmas? Don't worry, you can tell here - Santa reads the blog. =)


And PS, You need to watch this...it'll make you happy. =)

First Snowfall!

No church, no driving....

Good times of slippery danger. 

Less Like Scars

it's been a hard year
but i'm climbing out of the rubble
these lessons are hard
healing changes are subtle
but every day it's...

less like tearing, more like building
less like captive, more like willing
less like breakdown, more like surrender
less like haunting, more like remember

and i feel You here
and You're picking up the pieces
forever faithful
it seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
but You are able
and in Your hands the pain and hurt
look less like scars and more like Character

less like a prison, more like my room
it's less like a casket, more like a womb
less like dying, more like transcending
less like fear, less like an ending

and i feel You here
and You're picking up the pieces
forever faithful
it seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
but You are able
and in Your hands the pain and hurt
look less like scars

just a little while ago
i couldn't feel the power or the hope
i couldn't cope, i couldn't feel a thing
just a little while back
i was desperate, broken, laid out,
hoping You would come

and i need You
and i want You here
and i feel You
and i know You're here
and You're picking up the pieces
forever faithful
it seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
but You are able
and in Your hands the pain and hurt
look less like scars and more like Character

Thanks Sara Groves, for verbalizing exactly where i am...one year from removed from everything i knew at the time. Thank You, God for your faithfulness and Your wonderous love that i can't begin to fathom.

Even if God nor i wanted the scars in the first place, at least they are proving to develop hopefully godly character in this long-dormant heart.

Talk Thursday // Christmas Love

Excluding baby Jesus, what is your favorite thing about Christmas or the Christmas season?

(Disclaimer: I only excluded baby Jesus so that you wouldn't feel compelled to give that answer out of a sense of necessity, not because I don't think Jesus should be part of Christmas. It was function...it's not like I say "Happy Holidays" or anything....) =)

(And another thing: is it just me or does it look like the sun is rising over Jesus' head? Oh. My. Gosh. "Sun rising"..."Son rising", what?! I love XPoW's!)

Just Me...That's All I Got

Does anyone else ever do this? 

You hear a great song, see a beautiful photo, read a fantastic story, or eat an incredible treat and just get defeated. I've written before about feeling jealous over other people's experiences, but this is a different kind of envy. It's not just that I want the same experiences people have, but I want to do what they can do. 

My whole life I've summed up my abilities into: "I can do a little bit of a lot, but there's nothing exceptional." I can play the piano, but not that well; I crochet, but basically at best; I can translate Hebrew, but not as well as others; I write but not at the caliber I desire; I'm pretty nice, but certainly not the nicest person you've ever met. There is nothing that makes me stand out in the crowd. 

I'm just me. And most days, that's simply not enough. 

Yet, during little moments of clarity, I wonder if being me is my ability. Some people are able to endure - to keep going in the face of adversity; maybe I just keep going in the face of mediocrity. 

I want to be more. But am I supposed to be? 

Word Verification

I see people leaving hilarious definitions of the word verifications they see when they want to publish a comment. And I think it's awesome.



So...what's yours?

Observations

* Strongbow is great. 

* It's obvious that I'm getting old when 10pm is super late - even on the weekend. 

* Impromtu girls' night is good for the soul. 

* The first Alli Rogers CD - Always Eden - is incredible. 

* Downtown Seattle at Christmas makes my heart happy. 

* It is highly irritating that some people can get away with wearing pj pants and hoodies to work when I can't even wear open-toed shoes .

* Jokes are always more hilarious when they include Old Testament humor.

* Even things that were once considered evil and wrong, can begin to grow on a person after time (in my case, the Gaither Vocal Band and maybe, somewhere down the road, bananas).

* My new Chanukah candles are awesome. 

* Books are like drugs...you can never get enough.

* I miss being around guys. 

* God confuses me, but I guess that's just part of His charm. 

Talk Thursday // Deserted Island

Deserted Island


You all know how this game is played.

Imagine you're stranded on a deserted island, all by yourself, for an indefinite period of time. Assuming there are survival resources on the island with you, what 5 items do you take with you? Are you more practical or indulgent or both? How will you stay sane?

I love Talk Thursdays!! =)




And Jonah wrap-up on SereYodh

"Flava" # Dos

December... wow.... I'm astonished. And stuff.

Well, I haven't done any link love since August, but I figured today would be a good day for that. 1) It's Monday 2) Filing = turning my brain to mush 3) Did I mention it's Monday?

So in the spirit of Christmas giving, here are some great blogs to check out. =)



* A Genuine Faith: This is Dr. Rodney Reeves' blog. If you went to SBU, you know him, you love him, now, you too can read him! Even if you didn't go to SBU, he's awesome and you should check it out. Some of it goes over my head. But you people are greatly smarter than me. So enjoy.

* Jesus Blog: This is a collaborative blog that is written by some people I know, some people I don't. But it's always good, always relevant and always honest. And I like those things.

* JustWallpaper & other good stuff: This is one of those people that I don't know from Adam. Randomly I happened across his blog and was hooked. It's creative-y & funny(-y). Those are things I appreicate. So should you.

* SereYodh: Yes, this is my other blog. Finishing up Jonah this week and starting Advent next. Yes, I have just pimped myself. And I'm not ashamed. =)

So there's your opportunity to read some more good stuff.

What are you reading? What do you think we should be reading too? Is it you? Go on ... "pimp" yourself, too. =)