never been here before

6/30/07 Update: The series finale of Studio 60 aired this last Thursday. With the return of the show on May 24th, I'd hoped that though the show was canceled, it would still go out with the excitement it came in with. With the exception of the heart-breaking performance of Nathan Corddry in the final four episodes, nearly everything about the way this showed ended irritated me. I was particularly confused about how the K&R shows suddenly turned into West Wing episodes. Gone was the funny, quirky fast-paced dialog and along came the ham-fisted treatment of the pre and post- 9/11 climate and the completely unrealistic courtship of Danny and Jordan. (And the manufacturing of dramatic plots completely unnecessary of a once-smart show.) And don't even get me started on how Harriet handled Danny's question about why God doesn't fix the bad things that happen to us. So far this year I've not come out ahead. I started the season a regular watcher of Studio 60 , The Ni...

I had a wonderful evening last night - dinner, movie and coffee with a couple of friends. One is leaving for 4 weeks on a short-term mission trip to Denmark so we had a little goodbye for her before she leaves. I enjoy Steve Carell - obviously since I put Little Miss Sunshine on my best of '06 list and The Office is just about the funniest show to me ever. You add Lauren Graham and I'm intrigued - Morgan Freeman and I'm happy. While the movie isn't all that funny, (I expected many more laugh-out-loud moments than I got. There was maybe 6 or 7.) a moment in the movie will stay with me for a very long time. It's not a spoiler, but it is a nice defining moment - so read no further if you're dying to go and don't want to be spoiled in any way shape for form. God asks Evan's wife: "Do you think that God gives us patience when we pray for it, or does he give us opportunities to be patient? And when we ask for courage, does he give us courage or give ...

Priced at 98 million dollars, this piece of contemporary art is an actual human skull encrusted with more than 1,000 carats of diamonds. This piece, titled "For the Love of God" went on display in London back in February. Denying that was an expensive gimmick, the artist (Damien Hirst) said that he wanted it to represent hope, "wealth against death" and "the ultimate victory over death". If you ask me, this is the ultimate expression of "you can't take it with you", no? You can read more about the piece here .

I've been busy hyperventilating.

**No I am not impersonating Dwight when I say "question".** Hee. Is it better to not confront a person you've already forgiven, that has recently come back into your life after a long period of absence, and has never acknowledged or apologized for the hurt they caused? Especially when said person hates confrontation and probably doesn't think they did anything wrong? Or should I try to clear the air? (Because even if it's not on their mind, it is on mine. But I don't want to do this for selfish reasons, either.)

One of the beautiful things about the electronic age is the ease it's given us in contact our Senators and Representatives. Today I received an email from World Vision: Did you know that an estimated 250,000 children are exploited in armed conflicts worldwide? These "child soldiers" are forced to serve as combatants, spies, human mine detectors and sex slaves. You can do something to help end this horrific practice. Join us as we speak out and say "no child soldiers." The Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 Stopping the use of child soldiers begins at home. The United States currently provides military assistance to eight of the nine countries that are reportedly implicated in child soldier usage: Burundi Chad Colombia Cote d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of Congo Sri Lanka Sudan Uganda However, a bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would put restrictions on U.S. military assistance for governments that use child soldiers. The Child Soldier...

This? Just made my day.

Word's gotten around at church about my application to seminary. Last week two people mentioned it, then this week four did. I imagine the senior pastor brought it up at the last board meeting, in order to discuss what they would do if I left - whether to look for someone within the church, or to hire outside the congregation. Those that mentioned it to me were excited and positive, but each time someone brought it up, my heart sank. And I've had to stop and ask myself why my reaction was what it was. I'm not trying to keep it a secret. I told the pastor and the ministry committee last fall it could be a possibility. But I really didn't want anyone to know - and I am remembering now as I type that I did the same thing when I picked up the guitar. I told my dad and four months later I stood in front of the congregation to lead worship with it and everyone was surprised. And I know exactly why I kept the guitar a secret - just like I'm certain of why I didn't wa...

This is how I feel tonight. Something's in the air tonight The sky's alive with a burning light You can mark my words something's about to break And I found myself in a bitter fight While you've held my hand through the darkest night Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon To a kid from Oregon by way of California All of this is more than I've ever known or seen Come on and we'll sing, like we were free Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us Come on and we'll try, one last time I'm off the floor one more time to find you And here we go there's nothing left to choose And here we go there's nothing left to lose So I packed my car and I headed east Where I felt your fire and a sweet release There's a fire in these hills that's coming down And I don't know much but I found you here And I can not wait another year Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon To a kid fr...

I was shopping at Target earlier and walking towards the check-out I spotted two women, probably in their earlier 40s. They were impeccably dressed and adorned with nice jewelry, both had the latest style of haircut; the epitome of a woman secure and happy with herself. They were standing in the children's clothing division chatting. And while I didn't hear anything they said, I knew what they were doing. They weren't just chatting, they were gossiping. I was struck by how their eyebrows were arched, the faces animated in disbelief, their hands gestures exaggerated. But mostly I was stuck by what looked to me like judgment in their eyes. I saw one shake her head- it seemed in disappointment - while the other one continued to share what she knew. Why do I knew these two women were gossiping? Because I've been there. I've done it countless times before. I've spoke with animation on my face and judgment in my eyes and voice as I shared a juicy piece of gossip about...