Jaron and the Long Road to Love

Everyone who reads this ought to know upfront that I love three things in a big way (I love other things too in a big way but they're not currently relevant to the conversation):

1. Country music

2. Biblical & theological accuracy

3. Humor

While this song (which is likely my new favorite song) is both country and humorous, it is not biblically and theologically accurate, so don't get your panties in a twist when you hear it. But it made me laugh and I like to share things that make me laugh.

Enjoy.

Talk Thursday // Pick a Side...We're at War

For years, war has been brewing. People are picking sides, fighting vehemently for what they stand for, giving no ground to those who oppose their view. During this time, I have stood idly by, not sure how to expound on the overwhelming nature of the fight. Leaders on both sides of the fence are doing their best to tell America, and the world, how to cast their vote, where to place their loyalties.

But as promises are made and many are broken, I can keep quiet no more. Americans need to take a stand! It's time for the Hephzibah reading community to stand and assert their stance!

The war that I'm obviously talking about is Mac vs. PC.

I gotcha there, huh? You guys (you know who you are) were getting riled up to talk about health reform or the troops in Iraq or gay marriage. But before your steam lets completely out, take a moment to declare your stance on the Mac/PC topic.

With the announcement of the new iPad and the flurry of Vista commercials, Justin Long and that guy with the glasses are probably rollin' in the dough and America is torn usunder. Do I buy a Kindle or an iPad? Should I use a Zune or an iPod?? Which will be better for school: a Dell or a MacBook??? Windows Media Player or iTunes???? Blackberry or iPhone???? SO MANY CHOICES!!!!!!

So which are you? Are you a Mac or a PC? Do you have life-size posters of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates hanging in your bedroom? Do you text on your Windows compatible Blackberry or go i-style with the iPhone 3G? (or are you like me and have a Sony-Ericsson that only types about one letter/minute because it's been dropped about 12 too many times?) Would you rather have a cup of coffee with the bespectacled guy or with Justin Long?

If I were to ever have enough money to feed a 3rd world country for a week (well, first I'd try to feed a 3rd world country for a week) THEN I would buy an iPhone 2G (because it'll unlock for T-Mobile) and a 16GB iPod (because the batteries on those iPhones aren't so great when you listen to music all the time).

Obviously, I'm a Mac.

What are you?

Talk Thursday // I Am...

"Describe yourself in 3 words..."

That was the first Talk Thursday we ever did here.

The whole point of Talk Thursday is to open up conversation. Sometimes it's silly; sometimes it's reflective; sometimes it's just a topic.

But today I want to know you.

Finish the sentence "I am..."

Let's get to know each other a little bit.

You are...?

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. =)

Haiti

There's a lot going on today in the world. And there's a lot of hardships. I don't pretend that you don't have yours as well.

But if you can, think about the devastation that just occurred in Haiti earlier this week. And after thinking and praying about it, if you can, help from here.

Give here.

Or here.

Or here.

Some of you can't give monetarily or with your time. I know I can't right now. But help other people know how they can, if they can. We are all part of this global community...let's help one another out.

Talk Thursday // Harry Potter

So I know I'm a little late to the party, but I've just started reading the Harry Potter series for the first time. I started reading "Prisoner of Azkaban" last night and am intrigued to say the least. I haven't even seen the movies so this is all new to my Muggle brain! =)

I don't want to use this blogging format to stir up controversy, but there has been a lot of discussion over the last 12 years regarding this series. And I'd like to know your thoughts (in a completely respectful and gracious manner to all other opinions). The main thrust of the controversy is over now (since most of it has been aimed at the Twilight series), but likely the vast majority have read the books or at least seen the movies.


As for my two cents, there is a clear picture of good vs. evil theme throughout the book and evil is depicted by greed, pride, selfishness and control whereas good is depicted as loyalty, honesty, working towards something greater than your own means, and risking your own life for the people you care about. These are universal themes of goodness that are simply set in a backdrop of wizardry.


So, what are ya'll's thoughts on the Harry Potter franchise? Good/bad/indifferent? No spoilers!!!

Talk Thursday // Arctic Freeze

Well kids, I'm off to the glorious metropolis that is Louisville in the morning for a preaching conference with the Academy of Preachers. Other well-known guests such as Chris Dodson will be there, as well as Dwight Moody. Not so much the dead one, but the alive one. (That joke is only funny to the 3 of you who know who Dwight Moody is.)

And as excited/nervous I am about the opportunity to preach this weekend, I'm more disturbed by the freaking freezing weather I will have to deal with while there.

(If you can't see that small, it says 28, 21, 18 as the highs for the days I'm there.)

So this led me to wonder what was going on weather-wise in your part of the world. There are places that are having "deadly cold" and are shutting schools down for the cold. Up here in the NW, it's been in the 50's and just rainy.

As a secondary question, what is your perfect weather? For me, it's anything that allows me to drive around with the windows down, country music up and the sheer joy of wearing flip-flops. For Missouri, that's late-spring/early-summer, before it gets uncomfortably hot. For Washington, if it's even possible, smack-dab in the middle of July/August.

Mmmmm....I'm so ready for warm weather again! Let's hope this weekend doesn't freeze me out completely!!

PS: any prayers you want to pray for me, I'll be preaching on Friday at noon EST; I would really appreciate them. =)

PPS: if anyone is interested in reading my sermon, I will be posting it on SereYodh when I return.

Have a great weekend, friends!!

Random Thoughts

Sometimes I want to make my computer background/screensaver something really weird just to see if anyone would respond. (Weird - i.e.: Robert Pattison's headshot or all the boys from NSync.)




How would you respond if you saw something like this on a co-workers computer?

Talk Thursday // Auld Lang Syne

2009:

* The wedding of two of my best friends

* Started a Master's program

* Went 4 months without work

* Googled myself and came up with nothin'

* Made a ridiculous and terrifying video

* Watched my sister graduate from college and get engaged

* Hung out with awesome people in Missouri and Tennessee

* Worked in the worst department in the history of GroupDeath

* Enjoyed an awesomely hot summer in Washington

* Had a great Veritas summer program

* Hung out with the Gaithers! in Alaska

* Got to hang with the Roomie, Seattle-style

* Was hired by her most favorite department

* Ministered in Ukraine with awesome peeps

* Had one of the roughest months of my life

* Celebrated my sister's marriage and gained a brother-in-law

* Finally finished a horrific semester

* Enjoyed a low-key and relaxing holiday.

2010:

* Going to the Academy of Preaching conference in Louisville, KY

* Starting a new semester of grad school

* Enjoying life in Washington

* Meeting new people

* Making better decisions for my health and well-being

* Anticipating Veritas growing

* Learning to love better

* Celebrating Rachael's high school graduation

I don't know what this year will hold. I can't even begin to anticipate the coming year. But I know that God will be provident throughout it. And I know that even if things get crappy I have people around me who will support and love me.

What about you? How was your 2009? What are you looking forward to in 2010?

Harry: What does this song mean? For my whole life I don't know what this song means. I mean, 'Should old acquaintance be forgot". Does that mean we should forget old acquaintances or does it mean if we happen to forget them we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot them!?

Sally: Well may be it just means that we should remember that we forgot them or something. Anyway it's about old friends.

Happy New Year's, friends!!

Socially Awkward

Recently I've had several discussions attempting to define the words "dork", "geek" and "nerd." Everyone I've talked to has had a different association with such words. I've always simply assumed they were synonymous. Even the dictionary seems to have a hard time identifying which is which. All things sci-fi, fantasy, comic book, mathmatical and computer-related I associate with those three words (yes, WoW and D&D players, I'm looking your direction).

So how, you ask, can we easily determine what these words signify?

Glad you asked.

I give you, for the first time ever, the How Socially Awkward Are You? Scorecard!! Tally up your scores to see what category you fall into. I'm basing the questions off the dictionary definitions and extending it to other pursuits outside the ones listed above.

* You are able to give an answer to any question regarding the Lord of the Rings and/or Harry Potter franchise. (Nerd)

* You spendmost of your free time researching - anything. (Geek)

* Much of your conversation is "correcting" someone else's conversation. (Geek)

* You don't mind eating anything as long as there's money involved. (Dork)

* When watching comicbook movies, you are not only annoyed or disappointed by the differences from the original comicbook, but you rant about them afterwards (even though you will buy them anyway). (Nerd)

* Your Amazon wishlist includes anything in the sci-fi genre and/or textbooks. (Nerd)

* Impressions of any "Austin Powers" character is in your standard repetoire. (Dork)

* When reading XKCD, you get most of the jokes (without using Google or feigning laughter). (Geek)

* Bathroom humor is your primary source of laughter. (Dork)

* You are able to use the words "Linux", "meme", "avatar" and "bytecode" properly in conversation. (Geek)

* You are unable to differentiate between they're/their/there or you're/your. (Dork)

* Improper grammatics annoy the crap out of you. (Geek)

* Your movie collection includes one or more Star Wars DVDs. (Nerd)

* Your movie collection includes anything with Sean William Scott. (Dork)

* You don't consider Orson Scott Card "true" sci-fi. (Nerd)

* You are more knowledgeable about another timeperiod than your own. (Geek)

* There is a shelf in your house/apartment/parents basement showcasing some kind of collection. (Nerd)

* You spent the better portion of your morning writing a blogpost analyzing the differences between nerds, geeks, and dorks. (Dork)

Score
Mostly Geek: While you are knowledgeable about computers, history, grammatics or math, its hard for you to talk to the opposite sex. On the bright side you can spell properly and will likely be richer than anyone you graduated with.

Mostly Nerd: People love you because you're fun...until you start talking about LOTR or the differences between Spiderman the comicbooks or Spiderman the movie. Even though you can sit through the entire series of Star Trek, I don't recommend it.

Mostly Dork: Geeks and nerds sometimes have a hard time with you, but you likely dated in highschool and can make anyone laugh. But please stop with the impressions - they're getting old.

After scoring myself, I'm mostly a geek, but am slowly gaining "nerd" characteristics. I think this was cemented last night when I excitedly opened an Amazon package and it contained the Firefly series. My "geek"-ness will be more established when my new commentaries come in the mail this week... And when I talk about how excited I am about these things in public, I solidify my dorkiness.

So how socially awkward are you? ;)



(And if you're offended by this, well, I just can't help you.)

There's Still Magic

No matter how old I get, there is still something utterly magical about the simple beauty of our family Christmas tree.

Talk Thursday // Maranatha

For those of you hoping that the title of this post was in reference to the awesomeness that was contemporary Christian worship music of the '70's, 80's and 90's (including the Duke of Awesome: Psalty the Singing Songbook), sorry. It's not about that. Rest assured, one day when I can expound the awesome enough, there will be a post about Maranatha music, but until that day comes, the one or two of you that even know/care what I'm talking about will just have to wait.

Oh look! That's what we're talking about! *Segue!!!*

Sidenote: I think I've been reading webcomics too much lately...my brain moves differently now than it did 24 hours ago...

If you didn't know, we are currently in the Season of Advent (based on the Christian calendar). It's the 4 week long season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin word, which means "coming", which is similar to the Greek phrase Maranatha (you see how I made that connection?...yeah).

This season was designed initially as a time to spend fasting and praying as Christians waited for the coming celebration of the birth of the Messiah. It was like the Nov/Dec version of Lent. In that time, pastors and priests would preach on the expectation of the arrival of the Christ-child, and how that expectation was manifested in our lives.

It was a time of self-denial in anticipation of a coming celebration.

Cause who doesn't want to celebrate a birth? Who doesn't want to celebrate the hope of new life? Who doesn't want to celebrate life in general?

That's what Jesus' birth brought. Like the majority of all births, there was the sheer joy of the birth of a child. Unlike the majority of babies, this particular baby carried with Him the hope of a future new life. He was called Immanuel, which means "God with us." He was known as the Messiah, the Savior, the Anointed One.

In birth, He came as the hope of parents. He came as the hope of Israel.

In His life, death and resurrection, Jesus ended up being the hope of the whole world. He ended up being the hope for life after death. He gave the world the inauguration of true hope.

Hope in life.
Hope in faith.
Hope in the midst of persecution and trials.
Hope in death.
Hope in God.

So how does that go with waiting? Glad you asked.

Right now, the season of Advent waits to begin the celebration of the birth of the Messiah. But beyond that, the world and mankind wait for the return of the King. (like I said, too many webcomics...)

Our lives are full of expectancy. We wait for the bus, we wait for our paychecks, we wait for new shows, new gadgets, more time.

But the whole world is waiting for the coming of God. We hope in the midst of the waiting. We say Maranatha - "Come Lord."

In the meantime, we celebrate. And party-hardy

What are you waiting for? What are you hoping for? What are you hoping in? What are you celebrating?


Merry Christmas!!!!!

A Break From the Regularly Scheduled Christmas Program

So it's been all sorts of "Christmas-y" up in here the last couple weeks. For the first time in...well, longer than I can remember, I've been consistently excited through this Christmas holiday. I think it helps that I haven't ventured into the mall at all....

Anyway, as a break from our Christmas musings and holiday cheer, I wanted to direct your attention to the new blog roll on the side of the page - "WebComics that will A) Waste Your Time and B) Cause Laughter." Lately (probably as a response to my lacksidasical daytimes) I've been reading a lot of new (to me) webcomics. And they are funny. As I find more that I enjoy, I'll add to the blog roll. And if there's any that you like that I don't know about, please feel free to share.

This might make me a dork. And I'm learning to be ok in spite of that. =) Hope you all are having a Merry Christmas Eve Eve. I'm working today. Which means clicking links on the side panel. =)

Winners of the Name that Christmas Song Contest!!

Well, it's taken me well over a week to finally get back to the most awesomely awesome musical Christmas blog game ever (If "ever" means "within the confines of Hephzibah's blog"...).

In tallying up the scores, the three awesomely great people that played each got 9/10. But I'm going to make each of you a Rockin' the Yuletide CD. Because I'm a giver. =) It won't get to you before Christmas 09 commences, but it will assuredly be to you BEFORE Christmas '10 begins. That much I can promise.

So, Erica G, Sara and Adina, send me your current physical addresses to sarniclew at gmail dot com and you'll get a super rad Christmas mix. Just because you're cool. And I'm on break and need things to keep me occupied. =)

Thanks for playing!!

Talk Thursday // Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I know that a lot of fundamentalist Christians have a problem with you. They see "satan" instead of "Santa." And I'm sorry for that. That must suck. You get a lot of flack from a lot of people and I don't want to give that to you. Sure, I have some weirdness with you coming in through people's chimmneys (but if you came through a window, I suppose I'd be more creeped out) and those flying reindeer kinda freak my stuff out. And I won't even go into the elves you have up in the North Pole, especially Elf on a Shelf (except for that Will Ferrell movie...that was hilarious!)

All that to say that, I feel pretty ambiguous towards you. You're a jolly guy who, for some reason in every mall around the world, makes small children cry. If you're so jolly, why do they cry so much? I think it's a valid question. But I'll likely tell my unlikely future children the story of Ol' Saint Nikolas, cause that's a pretty freaking cool story.

Santa, thanks for reading this blog. And thanks for helping kids have imaginations. Good times.

In closing, can I leave you with some of my Christmas list? I've been pretty good this year, I think (leaving out the incidents with over-spending at Wal-Mart).

* iPhone
* Any Word Biblical Commentary
* the "Firefly" season

* Peace in my family
* Help with my friend's burned-down house
* Veritas church moving in the community

I know you're not God and can't do some of those things. But whatever you can help with, that'd be great. And I'm going to let my friends leave their lists too. Since we know you're reading the blog.

Merry Christmas Santa.

Love,
Sarah


What would you say to Santa? And what's on your Christmas list?

Ukraine Pictures Finally Posted!

Hey friends! If you're interested in looking at some of my pictures that I've posted from Ukraine, they're up on my Facebook. If we're not friends on Facebook, that's weird and we should be. So head over there and see them!

See them here!

And also here!

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

1 Peter 3.13-17

Talk Thursday // Name that Christmas Song!

Normally Talk Thursday's function like Linda Richman who encouraged us to discuss how Rhode Island was neither a road nor an island.

Today I present the First Annual Name That Christmas Song Talk Thursday BlogGame! (Otherwise known as FANTCSTTBG).

Objective: name all Christmas Songs based on the line I provide to you without cheating. (You can cheat. Just know that if you do, you'll make sweet baby Jesus cry. And no one wants that.)

Goal: winner(s) get a free copy of my Ultimate Rockin' the Yuletide CD

LET'S PLAY!!

1. "There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy, when we pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie."

2. "We are not daily beggars who beg from door-to-door, but we are neighbor's children whom you have seen before."

3. "Til ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day. A voice, a chime, a chant sublime Of peace on earth, goodwill to men."

4. "Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold."

5. "When Christ was born of Mary free, In Bethlehem in that fair city, Angels sung e'er with mirth and glee."

6. "Born a king on Bethlehem's plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign."

7. (for our Spanish-speaking audience)..."Feliz Navidad, prospero ano y felicidad."

8. "Here we are as in olden days, Happy golden days of yore."

9. "Ox and ass before Him bow, as He is in the manger now."

10. "There'll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago."

Since I'm in KCMO until Tuesday for my sister's wedding, you will have until Wednesday morning to post your answers. And if you want to post a happy thought for Heather and Stephen, you can here. They read this. ;)

C'mon...you know you want to win that prize. ;)

Mothers Are Always Right

My mother DESPERATELY wants to move to Arizona. She loves the dry air, little rainfall and cacti. Ok, so that last one I'm not sure of, but I know she loves the great Southwest. I've said since she began this "Arizona" nonsense that if she were to move there (or Texas or Kansas), I would not follow. She and my dad would be all by their lonesome in the desert.

But since the weather in the Puget Sound has required that I put on two coats just to keep from shivering all day long, I'm now reconsidering my aforementioned prejudices to residing in Arizona or Texas (since Heather and Stephen will be in Waco...maybe I'll transfer to Truett.) Or maybe I'll just pray that God sends me on a mission to Hawaii. Sure, that'll do. =)

Kansas, you're still dead to me.

Rockin' the Yuletide

As an iTunes/procrastination junkie, I made myself the Ultimate Christmas mix last night. And I wanted to share.

* All I Want for Christmas is You, Mariah Carey

* Another Christmas Song, Stephen Colbert (A Colbert Christmas)

* Baby, It's Cold Outside, Dean Martin feat. Martina McBride (Christmas with Dino)

* Behold the Lamb of God, Andrew Peterson (Behold the Lamb of God)

* Christmas Eve, Sarajevo 12/24, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Christmas Eve & Other Stories)

* The Christmas Song, 'N Sync (Home for Christmas)

* Don't Save It all for Christmas Day, Avalon (Joy)

* Hallelujah, David Phelps (One Wintry Night)

* Handel's Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus, Oliver Von Dohnayi: Slovak National Philharmonic Orchestra

* I Pray On Christmas, Harry Connick, Jr. (When My Heart Finds Christmas)

* Joy (to the World), Avalon (Joy)

* Labor of Love, sung by Jill Philips (Behold the Lamb of God, Andrew Peterson)

* A Mad-Russian's Christmas, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Christmas Eve & Other Stories)

* Matthew's Begats, Andrew Peterson (Behold the Lamb of God)

* Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, 'N Sync (Home for Christmas)

* O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Casting Crowns (Peace on Earth)

* O Holy Night, David Phelps (One Wintry Night)

* The Singer [Let There Be Light], David Phelps (One Wintry Night)

* Sleigh Ride, Harry Connick, Jr. (When My Heart Finds Christmas)

* There's Still Magic, Alli Rogers (The Silent Stars EP)


What are your Christmas music must-haves?