never been here before

It was a rough year for good movies... Little Miss Sunshine I love Toni Collette and adore every movie I've seen her in. Then you add Steve Carell, Alan Arkin and Greg Kinnear? This tiny little independant movie was the most enjoyable thing I saw from the silver screen all year. When all the critics starting raving I was skeptical - because I always am. But this time I agree with them . This movie was an absolute delight from beginning to end, and if I don't see it showered with awards I will be bitter. It has the one of the more unique story lines in independant film that actually reflects real life without being dull or pretentious. You know how hard that is to come across? It is for this reason, I call Little Miss Sunshine the stand-out movie of the year. Others worth mentioning (or not): Comedy: Talladega Nights Best Title: Kinky Boots Best Animated: Cars Biggest Surprise: Click Who the Hell Thought That Would Ever Make a Good Movie?: Snakes on a Plane Wondering What Al...

...I'm so proud of my state. Flatulence Allegedly Sparks Jail Fight It doesn't get much worse than this . Dang, it's good to be a Nebraskan.

Television Best Ad Campaign: Apple Computers. (Like I would say anything else.) Best New TV Show : Heroes , without a doubt. I also really love The Nine . Best Season Finale : Grey's Anatomy . The Office runs a fairly close second, but only because I discovered the show late. TV Series I'm Glad to See Go: Charmed TV Series I'm Most Sorry to See Go: Alias , but only in the Season 1 & 2 state, not present state at the time of the finale. Annoying "News" Item of the Year: Tom and Katie B est Reality Show Personality that Keeps Getting Better: Tim Gunn Miscellaneous Funniest Idea that Emerged : Recutting classic movie trailers into creepy horror movies and vice versa on YouTube. ( The Shining is my favorite so far.) Guiltiest Pleasure : So You Think You Can Dance Funniest Political Moment that Shouldn't Have Been Funny: Cheney shooting his hunting "buddy". Most Shocking Death: Coretta Scott King Really Going to Miss Them: Robert Altman and...

And Happy New Year.

These branches are littering my backyard. Poor little tree. Still no snow. It's December 21st and still no snow. This irritates me. A lot. Better rain... ....is the kind at a husker game in September. Only the die hard fans stay... especially when your friend Angie (pictured here) has never been and loves the Huskers as much as you.

The week of Christmas fell swiftly upon us and without much fanfare. I have several family celebrations to attend this weekend, which means I am in the kitchen this week. A lot. My dad's side of the family doesn't have any cooks, which is a little scary. I actually have one aunt and uncle who do not own an oven. (Luckily this is not the aunt hosting our Saturday get-together) My mother has two celebrations at her house so I am baking and cooking what I can to help her out. Tonight I found myself elbow deep in powered sugar. It's become a tradition for me to bake a classic French dessert, the Bûche de Noël each year. It started with my brother taking French in high school... and I followed in his footsteps. I don't remember the specifics, but most likely our French teacher brought the dessert during a Christmas party. My brother ohhhed and ahhhed over it so much, that I made a point to get the recipe while I was taking classes from the same teacher. Tonight I reme...

Ever have one of those days where you promise yourself it will be different than the last, only to fall back into your normal routine and fail at that fail miserably (and let's face it, somewhat deliberately)? Case in point: I've had a book on my shelf for...well, I'm actually a little afraid to admit how many years, entitled I Really Want to Change - So Help Me God by James MacDonald. I remember being so excited about the book when I first purchased it, but here it is years later and I haven't so much as attempted the first chapter. The biggest change I've been part of the last few years is the change in worship style at my church. Which, admittedly, is a big deal, but it seemed to take forever and once it happened, it didn't really feel like much had changed. Probably due to my gradual introduction of new songs and other instruments accompanying those songs. But is change best when it's gradual? Or is it best to go the whole way, to the fullest extent, i...

Open your iTunes and listen to Relevant Magazine's podcast from 12/15/06. You won't regret it. Besides having a great live mini-show from Andrew Peterson, Jill Phillips, Sandra McCraken and Derek Webb, there is a great story in Slices about the Orlando Magic's mascot boxing a live kanagaroo for the half-time show last week. You've got to be kidding me.

It's rare for me to have a Sunday off. I actually looked back to count and I only missed leading worship three Sundays this last year - and one was due to illness. But today was the Sunday School Christmas program and the children's music program is not something I've had time to be involved with at the church for 4 years now. So I took the oppourtunity to not drive the 30 miles to church and instead finish up my Christmas shopping, do laundry ... and watch two Christmas movies. I feel do decadent. The reason I find Will Ferrell so funny is because of this movie. Maybe Bob Newhart makes him funny (because Bob Newhart rocks), maybe it the way he claps at the excitement of seeing Santa, maybe it's because he's gets the crap kicked out of him by a little person...I don't know. But it's freakin' funny. Even Roger Ebert liked it. He said, and I quote, "This is one of those rare Christmas comedies that has a heart, a brain and a wicked sense of humor, an...

When a high-profile evangelical Christain leader has a high-profile failure, we all respond differently. I've been reading about Jay Bakker, son of the Jim and Tammy Faye, who's the pastor of a church called Revolution . It's a small church that holds a casual service in a Brooklyn bar. He started filming a reality show called One Punk Under God airing on the Sundance Channel. His show and his views are another post... but as I read a little about his father's problems back in the 80s, I was reminded of other famous scandels in the evangelical community. Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts... and more recently Ted Haggard and Paul Barnes, these are leaders of large organizations and churches who in one way or another, were exposed for fraud, cheating, etc. And don't even get me started on Falwell or Robertson. The list goes on... leaders in the evangelical community fall. So do I. So do you. But this post isn't about those leaders. It's not really even about ...

Many, many people wax philosophical about the anonymity of the internet. Is it bad or good? Helpful or hurtful? Does it make us more bold than we ought to be? Does it force us inside our home offices, destined to spend our lives in front of a computer, instead of going out and experiencing the world? That's a debate I'm not at all interested in starting here. But this blogsite is one that makes me ask these questions. Submit a postcard size image - with a secret. A regret, a sadness, fear, desire... anything, as long as you've never told anyone before. This is a way the "anonymity" of the internet doesn't draw us further into that anonymity. No. For me it's a reminder that each of us have real and honest emotions we are afraid to share with those around us. We may be strangers, but we are all still connected simply by being human. PostSecret is really a beautiful thing.

Love it. I want to take Hiro home and keep him as my pet.

Want a true worship experience this Christmas? Sufjan Stevens' 42-song collection of chrimstas songs old and new, mixed with some classic hymns like Amazing Grace and Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing had me in tears and truly worshipping. And, come on, how could I not like a artist who's record label is called Asthmatic Kitty?

My brother had the distinct pleasure of attending the Big 12 championship game at the lovely Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. And he was kind enough to email me pictures of his experience. He sucks.

Some say the face is unforgettable I'm sure I've seen it many times Ah, but you know me, I forget so easily I thought I saw you in a Sunday crowd But then I lost you, in blur of color, watercolor clouds Like deja vu Was that you? They say someday I won't need to seek you out But for now won't you come and wrap me up inside your presence? We can celebrate if you stay I know you make your home in many given lots Your vision is so clear you don't see what is not When I find you will I catch the cure you've got? Surely you're not in some distant land? Maybe down the block Even 'cross the street Have you always been near to me? An obscure artist... and even more obscure song. The lyrics really only make sense once you know the title of the song. Hint: It is related to Advent, in a roundabout way. Any guesses?

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1: 22-23) It’s Christmas time… a season we equate with so many “things”. Lights, trees, the colors of red and green, family gatherings, Santa, gifts, just to name a few. I love Christmas. The air turns brisk and cold, I wait in anticipation for snow to blanket the earth, and hope fills my heart like it does no other time of year. Why do our hearts hope at Christmas? Because we know what is to come. The season of Advent is about that hope for what is to come. In a way, we celebrate the art of waiting for Christ’s return. O Come O Come Emmanuel is a classic 9th century Latin hymn that beautifully illustrates this season of anticipation. The song is a plea to release Israel from the longing they feel for the Messiah to arrive. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom cap...

It's quite cold here in the central part of the state. The wind is biting and chilling us to the bones. I've finally dug out my winter coat and searched in vain for my hat this morning. It's just as well... my hair looked too good to cover up anyway. Hee. It's now the first day of December and we still haven't had snow. This time of the year usually offers a different kind of reflection for me. Part of it's the season of Christmas, and another is the wintery weather. But the biggest part of it, I think, is the busyness. We equate this time of year with rushing... through stores, to work, back home, at rehearsals, to church, to get-togethers and parties, to bible study... It is a busy time of year - but why is it busy? The most obvious answer is because we make it that way. Our choice lead to busyness. But for me, it's more than that. My reason for busyness is a little bit of a paradox. The most hectic part of my life this Christmas season is my work at t...