Tonight we headed downtown to catch the symphony. Great show. We saw our friend Jason play the bass. I thought he looked like the consummate classical muscian up there. The show was titled "Comfort and Joy" and ironically we managed to sit one row away from a screaming baby. Let's take an inventory, shall we? Yep. Comfort and Joy took a lunch break when Temper-Tantrum took center stage. Thankfully, this did not last long.
Then I came home, wasted some time on facebook, and my friend Josh posted the following video, which brought me tremendous comfort and joy....
What the heck?! Dude. I'm mildly disturbed. Highly entertained. Good feelings restored.
Dec 22, 2009
Dec 17, 2009
Powell's Books
Powell's is my favorite bookstore in Portland -- three levels of wall to wall books, which take up an entire city block. Powell's boasts of being the largest new/used bookstore in the world. And it's opened until 11pm and that includes the coffee shop (cue: ann's happy dance).
Fun Facts about Powell's (facts taken from: http://www.powells.com/):
- roughly 6000 people visit every day
- Powell's parking garage only has 40 spaces (what the heck?!). There are other parking options. And when all else fails, use thine legs.
- 122 subject areas and over 3,000 subsections
- there's a seperate building for the technical stuff (you won't find me here -- unless I'm with Bruce, in which case, you still won't find me here).
Excellent coffee. Great people-watching. Elvis was performing outside on the sidewalk the last time I went. And he was tone deaf. Who knew? Powell's, you and I will get better acquianted soon....really soon.
(video from www.youtube.com)
Fun Facts about Powell's (facts taken from: http://www.powells.com/):
- roughly 6000 people visit every day
- Powell's parking garage only has 40 spaces (what the heck?!). There are other parking options. And when all else fails, use thine legs.
- 122 subject areas and over 3,000 subsections
- there's a seperate building for the technical stuff (you won't find me here -- unless I'm with Bruce, in which case, you still won't find me here).
Excellent coffee. Great people-watching. Elvis was performing outside on the sidewalk the last time I went. And he was tone deaf. Who knew? Powell's, you and I will get better acquianted soon....really soon.
(video from www.youtube.com)
Dec 12, 2009
Korean Proverbs and Klingons
Dr. Kon is renown at our seminary for his Korean proverbs, of which my favorite two are:
1) “When the whales are fighting, the shrimp’s backs are broken open” (translation: when the big dogs are fighting, the little guys suffer. And I'm not sure if that's a threat to the big dogs or a consolation to the common folk).
2) “When in tiger’s teeth, don’t move. And you will stay alive.” (This gem is my favorite and it was given during Hebrew studies, of which I was frustrated over translating a word which, in the end, amounted to "he.")
This week I have clocked about 60 hours of study. That’s right. Work. Sleep. Eat. In that order. What has taken me 80 hours to accomplish could have been completed in 40 or less hours. That’s really sad. I’m tempted to blame it on Tony Furtado and his wicked guitar/banjo skills, which call out to me, “Take another break. Behold the awesomeness of a brilliant musician.”
Or I could blame the scent of our undecorated Christmas tree in the living room, which I swore I would not decorate until finishing my two big projects. Epic failure there. At precisely 1am last night, I popped in a xmas movie and basked in the glory of tree sap and ornaments. So desperate was I that I even made room for Bruce’s Star Trek ornaments. Nothing says “peace on earth” like seeing a Klingon ornament hang two branches away from baby Jesus. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a branch strong enough to hold up the Borg.
This morning another Dr. Kon proverb came to me, “Wherever you are, be all there.” Today I’m resolved to focus on my remaining projects. No more distractions. No more facebook, ipod revamping, youtube watching, Furtado groovin’. Time to focus ... after I rearrange my study area. Again. (Does it count if I listen to Furtado while I rearrange stuff and eat lunch?)
1) “When the whales are fighting, the shrimp’s backs are broken open” (translation: when the big dogs are fighting, the little guys suffer. And I'm not sure if that's a threat to the big dogs or a consolation to the common folk).
2) “When in tiger’s teeth, don’t move. And you will stay alive.” (This gem is my favorite and it was given during Hebrew studies, of which I was frustrated over translating a word which, in the end, amounted to "he.")
This week I have clocked about 60 hours of study. That’s right. Work. Sleep. Eat. In that order. What has taken me 80 hours to accomplish could have been completed in 40 or less hours. That’s really sad. I’m tempted to blame it on Tony Furtado and his wicked guitar/banjo skills, which call out to me, “Take another break. Behold the awesomeness of a brilliant musician.”
Or I could blame the scent of our undecorated Christmas tree in the living room, which I swore I would not decorate until finishing my two big projects. Epic failure there. At precisely 1am last night, I popped in a xmas movie and basked in the glory of tree sap and ornaments. So desperate was I that I even made room for Bruce’s Star Trek ornaments. Nothing says “peace on earth” like seeing a Klingon ornament hang two branches away from baby Jesus. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a branch strong enough to hold up the Borg.
This morning another Dr. Kon proverb came to me, “Wherever you are, be all there.” Today I’m resolved to focus on my remaining projects. No more distractions. No more facebook, ipod revamping, youtube watching, Furtado groovin’. Time to focus ... after I rearrange my study area. Again. (Does it count if I listen to Furtado while I rearrange stuff and eat lunch?)
Dec 6, 2009
Sifted
(I wrote the following after emerging from a very dark season of my life littered with personal tragedy and grief...)
God, you find me in a dark room
Where unknowns taunt deepest wounds
This season of waiting you grant me dwell
Where ears come to life and eyes fail
Your voice's rhythm bids me step
And learn to trust what you detect
I stand. I step. I move as you lead
Till step turns to walk and walk turns to speed
Together we weather and storm the storm
By faith I move; my eyes reborn
You in me and I in you
Old things pass; all things new
This season of waiting nears its end
As darkness fades with Spirit’s wind
Eyes can now see and ears can hear
Things I never at once could bear
You illuminate the mysteries that filled
A season of darkness where old things were killed
Together we run, in freedom I yield
To your every move; in you I am healed
I survey the expanse of a once dark room
Light revealing your grace on each wound
My heart it swells as hands are lifted
Freedom mine from all you have sifted
Narrow is the path that leads to life
Yet large is the venue of mercy in Christ
Old things pass; all things new
Joy's fullness I find in you
God, you find me in a dark room
Where unknowns taunt deepest wounds
This season of waiting you grant me dwell
Where ears come to life and eyes fail
Your voice's rhythm bids me step
And learn to trust what you detect
I stand. I step. I move as you lead
Till step turns to walk and walk turns to speed
Together we weather and storm the storm
By faith I move; my eyes reborn
You in me and I in you
Old things pass; all things new
This season of waiting nears its end
As darkness fades with Spirit’s wind
Eyes can now see and ears can hear
Things I never at once could bear
You illuminate the mysteries that filled
A season of darkness where old things were killed
Together we run, in freedom I yield
To your every move; in you I am healed
I survey the expanse of a once dark room
Light revealing your grace on each wound
My heart it swells as hands are lifted
Freedom mine from all you have sifted
Narrow is the path that leads to life
Yet large is the venue of mercy in Christ
Old things pass; all things new
Joy's fullness I find in you
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)