What I am reading:

My Christmas

My five year old nephew, Robert.

Robert-the-Santa-Claus and my dad-the-red-nosed-reindeer.

Lydia, my seven-month-old cousin.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Bono Controversy

There has been recent outrage among the Relevant Magazine audience about a recent article sent out in Relevant's weekly e-mail: "850 Words". In this article (which you can read by going here), the author talks about a recent U2 concert she attended in New York where Bono at one point stopped the concert, put on a blindfold that said "Coexist" on it: in which the "C" was an Islamic crescent moon, the "X" was a Star of David, and the "T" was a cross. She writes that he started saying: "Islam, Jew, Jesus, all true" and repeated it over and over as a mantra. She goes on to say that she has idolized this man for his faith and the things he has done, but left feeling like she was "covered in bile" after thinking he is leaning more towards universalism.

Now, it was certainly a bold article... and Relevant has taken notice of the outcry from readers and cast a special addition of their podcast in order to share some of the thoughts that people have sent them and to further the discussion. I encourage you to listen to this podcast - go to the website: www.relevantmagazine.com, and at the bottom of the page you can listen to it. A lot of people corrected the author - saying that Bono, at his other concerts, has not said, "Islam, Jew, Jesus, all true", but instead said, "Islam, Jew, Jesus. It's true: all sons of Abraham." Now - this points to a song from their newest album entitled Love and Peace Or Else. A line in the chorus states: Lay down | Lay down your guns | All you daughters of Zion | All you Abraham's sons. In that context, the coexist portion of the concert seems to be more about gaining peace amongst a situation that has been riddled by hate and judgementalism - not about all of these faiths leading to God.

However, the discussion continues. Check it out and put in your two cents.

I do agree with the author of the article that we have a tendency to idolize these men and women of faith who take a stand for something - Bono, Rob Bell, Donald Miller, Beth Moore, Switchfoot... etc. etc. Putting them on a pedastal is not healthy - for them or for ourselves. I would caution, however, to not try to swing the completely opposite way where we ignore them and their causes for the sake of protecting ourselves. I should not idolize Bono, but I will say that this man and the work he has done for the crisis of AIDS and poverty in Africa is what has opened my eyes to the need and helped me to hear God's heart on the matter more clearly. If I ever were to meet Bono, I would not be able to thank him adequately for sparking the love of God for these people in my heart.

Once you read the article, read this reply (or portion of it) from Steve Stockman who authored the book "Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2" -

Just one last thing and I promise I don’t mean it to be a cheap shot. Tara says of this rock concert moment, “It was, without question, the most disturbing experience of my life; I felt like I’d been covered in bile.” We have thousands of children dying because they don’t have the water and drugs that we take for granted. We have three people having more control over wealth than the sixty poorest nations. We have wars raging, some of us involved in the killing of thousands of civilians for the most dubious of reasons. We are raping the creation of our God and Father and it is causing catastrophic “natural” tragedies. In the season when God made himself poor, we are lavishing one another with joke presents and gratifying our sick materialism while people die of hunger. Only 13% of evangelical Christians in America are interested in helping with the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. Anti-Christs are rampant and ravaging the world and the most disturbing thing is a mis-quote from a rock star. God forgive us. At least Bono believes He will!

Where's the Love??

I sit in a hotel hallway after lounging in the hot tub for a solid 40 minutes, and I wonder as I check some e-mail and look over my blog (I'm in the hallway because I could tell by the incessant tossing and turning by the person in the bed next to me that I was being bothersome typing away on this appendage of mine that is my computer), why is it that no one is posting comments on my blog anymore? While I thought I was being clever with my posts - giving you some fun things to read, I have absolutely no feedback to encourage me to keep writing... not that that will stop me, but that is besides the point... so, I wonder if maybe my blogging just isn't interesting enough. I feel neglected friends! Where are my big bear hug like replies to my sharp and cunning wit? I'm slightly disappointed and lonely out here in blog-land. So, please, let me know you are still reading... or that you aren't... or give me suggestions of what you would like me to blog about... anything... please... I... just... want... to......... feel.......................loved.

sitcoms

"Sitcoms have been my schooling in many areas. For example, it was in this specific pop-culture medium that I discovered the following life lessons:

- Neighbors eavesdrop on all conversations.
- Life is performed live in front of a studio audience.
- Parents out-of-town equals crazy party.
- All problems resolve in exactly twenty-two minutes.
- A conk to the head causes amnesia.
- A second conk to the head cures amnesia."

excerpt from Flashbang by Mark Steele

bummer

Though I made what I would consider a valiant effort to win tickets to see U2, those efforts were thwarted. And so I will have to wait for the next tour and try my hardest to get tickets or pay an arm and a leg for them - since they aren't getting any younger... but they are getting better so maybe that is the upside - the next tour will be better than this one. Who knows. Thus, seeing U2 in concert remains firmly on my list of things to do before I die.

My evening wasn't completely shattered, however. Instead of rocking it out at the Qwest Center, I rocked it out with some friends as we busted some moves to a techno beat at The Bricktop. My abs will hurt in the morning, but what fun we had.

Ooh, ooh, PICK ME!!

My mission tomorrow: Go to Council Bluffs, IA... hang out at a club called Vertigo at Harras Casino for four hours... attempt to win a pair of tickets to see U2 in concert tomorrow night at the Qwest Center. Will it actually happen? Will I get to knock one of the "Seven Things To Do Before I Die" off of the list? We shall see. In the meantime, cross your fingers for me... give a shout out to God for me... and maybe, just maybe I will be rocking out to the greatest band in the world this time tomorrow night...

Seven Things

Here is a list of seven things - something I saw another guy post on his blog, so I thought it was a pretty sweet idea. So, here it is:

Seven thing to do before I die:
1. Learn to play the piano.
2. Backpack across Europe.
3. See U2 play in concert.
4. Set foot in every country in the world (I know, I know... it's not very realistic, but do these really have to be?)
5. Live overseas.
6. Learn to tapdance.
7. See an opera (I know it sounds easy to do, but I haven't had the chance yet.)

Seven things I cannot do:
1. I cannot play the piano (blast!).
2. I cannot burp on command... in fact, some would argue that I cannot properly burp period. My pseudo-burps end up sounding like a frog.
3. I cannot touch my tongue to my nose.
4. I cannot sing.
5. I cannot handle heights without freaking out.
6. I cannot ski.
7. I cannot touch my toes.

Seven things that attract me to my significant other:
Oh wait... I don't have a significant other. Sad.

Seven things I say most often:
1. "Blast!"
2. "I concur."
3. "Punk."
4. "Emma, wanna go for a walk?"
5. "Sweet."
6. "Shut your dirty mouth!"
7. "That rocks my face off."

Seven books I love:
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
2. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
3. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
4. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
5. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
6. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
7. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Seven movies I watch over and over (or would if time were available):
1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
2. You've Got Mail
3. Garden State
4. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
5. A Christmas Story
6. Any movie with Audrey Hepburn
7. Any movie with Fred Astaire

litebright and snow

I just noticed that the background of my blog looks like a LiteBright. Oh how I loved LiteBright growing up - making up all those designs and seeing them lit up all pretty. It was also oddly satisfying to poke the little pieces into the paper, and then when you were ready to design something new, it pull the paper off and feel all of those little pieces pop out. It brought me hours upon hours of entertainment as a child!

Emma loves the snow. Since it was 40 degrees today, instead of the typical 8, the snow is quickly melting. Today might be the last time for a while for her to romp around in it. She loves to run and slide, and would gladly stay outside in the snow for hours if she had her way and if snow wouldn't get stuck in her paws and freeze her toes. And since I'm feeling better, it was fun running around with her. It is so great having a dog!

A Review and Some Honesty

The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe is well worth the time and money to see. I was very impressed with it - especially that they kept it very close to the book. It looks cool - of couse because WETA did the effects for it (the same company that worked on Lord of the Rings). However, if you are expecting something similar to Lord of the Rings - either don't go or change your expectation. Because Tolkien and Lewis were two different men with two different stories, the results are different from each other. This movie is, however, true to the spirit of the book and is, I think, close to what Jack would have wanted it to be. (You know... C.S. Lewis... aka Jack... 'cause he and I are so close...).

After the movie, Dan and I had coffee together for the first time in several weeks. Because it has been so crazy lately, we haven't had much time to talk. And it was good. But it was hard. Because when you talk to someone who has been going through the same things and have been facing the same struggles, it seems like those things come rushing back to you and face you head on. And it isn't just the pain of death that has been facing us. We both have felt huge wounds this semester coming from ministry that we haven't dealt with before, and for me it has hurt me so much to the point of not really wanting to press forward. A lot of confusion. A lot of pain. It is hard to keep doing something that can be so hard - yet there are glimpses of glory in it even so. But, talking through some of that was difficult - to admit that I am still bleeding from it. To face the fact that I'm not the only one. This semester has been so hard, I can barely explain it. But there is beauty in doing campus ministry - there is a new beginning every 6 months or so. So, I'm glad it's close to being done. I need a rest. I need to stop and allow myself to grieve. For the loss of my grandpa. For the loss of Brianna. For the hurts I experienced. For a lot of loss. I need to stop pushing it away and just let it come. Please pray that I will do this. Without really feeling it, I won't be truly healed. Doesn't it say that somewhere - that God rends in order to bind up? I need to endure the rending... for I desperately need the binding up.

life is fun right now

I finally feel better! Not one hundred percent just yet, but I can actually breathe and have energy. And I don't have to blow my nose every five seconds - more like every five minutes, so a huge improvement. This afternoon has been spent baking 8 dozen cookies for our church Christmas Program and dancing in my living room to some great music (Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Coldplay, Jack Johnson).

Speaking of Jack Johnson - my favorite song of his is "Better Together" and yesterday I downloaded the video for it... I did not realize how gorgeous he is! He's not movie star gorgeous, but there's something about him that is beautiful. He's an everyday kind of man with a great smile. Maybe it's just because I really like his sound. I don't know. I was just surprised.

There are times when it is really good to be in full-time ministry. Tomorrow morning will be one of those times when I get to go see "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" for free! I am very excited about it. Though it is at 9:00 in the morning, I am not complaining one bit. Oh, and a note to Lanae and Brady - don't worry, I can guarantee that I will probably want to see it again with both of you on Monday afternoon as well!

if only...

Today, I went outside to get in my car only to discover that it was snowing - again. The weather hasn't really been normal around here - not for a typical Nebraska winter. Usually it is bloody cold and windy, but with absolutely nothing to show for it. I have always said that I wouldn't mind the cold if it would just snow already... little did I know that we'd have two solid weeks of white around here. Not that I mind - I love it. It makes everything feel like a fairy tale. So, I was walking to my car and I had this overwhelming desire to go snowshoeing. Oh how I wish I could go snowshoeing... but there are several reasons that I cannot.

1) I'm still sick - dang it! And though I feel loads better than I have in a few days, it still would not be smart to be marching around in wet snow.

2) I, unfortunately, do not own any snowshoes.

3) It is bloody cold out there! It has hovered between 0-10 degrees for the past three days. Not exactly smart to be marching around in the freezing cold either.

4) There isn't exactly a lot of fun places to go snowshoeing in flat-land Nebraska. With no mountains, walking across a field isn't much fun. How I wish I lived in mountain country.

And so, I am left to sit inside and work - all the while dreaming about things I cannot have. Oh well, at least it's pretty.

Attention Anonymous Stalker:

I was wrong - you are not who I thought you were. So I am back to square one. Who are you?

Sincerely,

Jenny :)

The Church

Over the past week, I have been amazed at the body of Christ. How we can pull together to uphold each other through difficult times. Here is something that was said at Brianna's funeral that I thought was perfect:

"The body of Christ is, in fact, the Bride of Christ. And the Bride of Christ is, in fact, a very large woman."


Also, nine years ago today I was united with Christ in His death and ressurection through the waters of baptism. From that day on, my life was changed. Thank you God for the overwhelming grace You have showered me with. I have not enough words to express my gratitude.