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Kathy came to serve as music director at my church several years ago. She is an incredibly talented music director, and has done some awesome things in worship. We have had a lot of fun going out to lunch and chatting, and occasionally we would do our Galleria trips--eat at Cheesecake Factory there, then look around at the shops, and maybe go to World Market and Trader Joe's after that. We always have fun. Kathy is such a generous and kind person. I am really sad she is moving to NC (due to her husband's job). I am going to greatly miss her musical talent in church and our fun times hanging out. I hope she will come visit!
Pierogis are semi-circular dumplings of unleavened dough stuffed with cheese or potatoes or onion or meat or a number of other things. They can be fried or boiled. I think I first tried these at Taste of Chicago one year. I buy them frozen and eat them pretty often--it is a quick and easy meal. They are delicious. Though I read they are untraceable in origin, the pierogi is a popular Polish food.
I find myself saying "It Is What It Is" a lot lately. I don't know how I came to start using that expression all the time, but I guess sometimes (especially at this particular time in my life) I feel it's the best way to express how I feel when something has happened that I might not be totally happy with or something has disappointed me or wasn't exactly what I expected. We humans often lament about something not going the way we want or a situation or event not being to our liking. And man, we can waste a lot of energy getting worked up over it, complaining about it. And really what's the point of that--most of the time something's happened and you can't change it, or something is out of your control. So I guess, "It Is What It Is" to me is kind of a statement of acceptance and moving on and not getting dragged down by something. Life's too short for that, man!
I always liked DC Talk--they had a lot of good songs. The guys kind of all went their own way with solo careers. I really like some of tobyMac's stuff--I think he has a unique style. The song "I'm for You" from the album Portable Sounds is one of my favorite of tobyMac's. It's just a good friendshippy, caring, there for you song."Whatever I gotta be, I'll be for you. Whatever you need from me to see ya through. Whatever I gotta be, I'll be for you. I'm for you. I'm for you."
Take a listen: Sample
Martin Luther says, "This faith is of all things the most necessary, for it is the ground of all comfort. He who does not possess such faith must despair of his sins. For the sin which remains after baptism makes it impossible for any good works to be pure before God. For this reason we must boldly and without fear hold fast to our baptism, and set it high against all sins and terror of conscience. We must humbly admit, 'I know full well that I cannot do a single thing that is pure. But I am baptized, and through my baptism God, who cannot lie, has bound himself in a covenant with me. He will not count my sin against me, but will slay it and blot it out.'"
I think you gotta love poker to love this movie. After I got into Texas Hold'em a few years ago, I bought this movie, and I really enjoy it. It gives insight into the game and captures the excitement the game brings. Rounders, people who make their living by playing poker, are fascinating to me.
I can remember when I first heard "Second Hand News" on the radio. It was one of those songs that just got into my head and was so catchy. I think it's my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. To listen to a sample you can go here: Clips"Down down down down down down down down down down down down down down down down down down down down."
Have no fear, little flock;
Have no fear little flock,
For the Father has chosen
to give you the Kingdom;
Have no fear, little flock!
Have good cheer, little flock;
Have good cheer, little flock,
For the Father will keep you
In His love forever;
Have good cheer, little flock!
Praise the Lord high above;
Praise the Lord high above,
For He stoops down to heal you,
Uplift and restore you;
Praise the Lord high above!
Thankful hearts raise to God;
Thankful hearts raise to God.
For He stays close beside you,
In all things works with you;
Thankful hearts raise to God!
Text: Heinz Werner Zimmermann and Marjorie A. Jillson
Tune: Heinz Werner Zimmermann
Lately I've been having trouble sleeping. And the other night as I was lying in bed with a bunch of stuff swirling around in my head, I was trying to pray and needed something to hold on to. And this hymn started going through my head. It was so comforting! Sometimes it's a hymn like this that is so comforting because it speaks simply and plainly that God is there taking care of us, and we really do have nothing to fear. It is that simple; it's something to hold on to in sleepless nights, in difficulties, in all the challenges and struggles in life.
The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel is awesome! I don't even know really what else to say about it. Walther just lays it all out. Understanding this distinction is crucial. "Without the Law the Gospel is not understood; without the Gospel the Law benefits us nothing." Unfortunately many people, many pastors, many church bodies, botch this up and lead people astray. As Walther says, "distinguishing the Law and Gospel is the most difficult and the highest art of Christians in general and of theologians in particular. It is taught only by the Holy Spirit in the school of experience." I read this first as an undergrad when I was studying to be a deaconess. I just recently completed an entire reread of it and was blown away again at how Walther explains everything. Some passages from this book are included under the Theology label of this blog. Check it out!
I wanted to see this movie originally because Matthew Fox was in it. And when I saw the movie in the theater (and then again on DVD) I was blown away at this telling of the plane crash in 1970 that took the lives of 75 people including most of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, coaches and athletic directors and some of the team's supporters. It is incredibly sad, yet this movie is also very much about healing and rebuilding after a tragedy. The movie is shot really well, and really captures well the grief the various people experienced and the process of working through that and figuring out how to go on. Great film, but anyone watching should have a box of Kleenex handy!
Sunsets are amazing--such a reminder of what an awesome Creator we have! My year in Minnesota, I often went to the lakes at sunset. The picture on top I took at Clearwater Beach, FL. And the bottom pic I took outside my house a few years ago.
This cracks me up! This is so how people are. I've seen that a lot!
Dr. C.F.W. Walther says, "Well, do not forget that the blessedness of Christians does not consist in pleasant feelings, but in their assurance that in spite of the bitterest feelings imaginable they are accepted with God and in their dying hour will be received into heaven. That is indeed a great blessedness."
"In the Piedmont region of Italy, eating bagna cauda is a favorite ritual. The diners gather around an earthenware pot filled with hot olive oil, anchovies, and garlic, and they dip raw vegetables or bread into the 'hot bath,' a kind of Italian fondue."
Every year I get Bagna Cauda at the Italian Fest in town. I love garlic, and this stuff is garlicky goodness!
Dave Matthews Band is one of my favorite musical groups. They have a really unique sound, and I don't think their music can really be easily identified as a certain genre. I think they're classified as alternative sometimes or as rock, but with the violinist, saxophonist, bassist, drummer, and Dave on guitar, it's just a unique sound (plus Dave has a distinctive voice). "Grey Street" is one of my favorite DMB songs. I just love the music. DMB is a lot of fun to see live; it is so cool to watch the guys perform. I have been to one of their concerts and definitely want to see them again.
Kathy came to serve as music director at my church several years ago. She is an incredibly talented music director, and has done some awesome things in worship. We have had a lot of fun going out to lunch and chatting, and occasionally we would do our Galleria trips--eat at Cheesecake Factory there, then look around at the shops, and maybe go to World Market and Trader Joe's after that. We always have fun. Kathy is such a generous and kind person. I am really sad she is moving to NC (due to her husband's job). I am going to greatly miss her musical talent in church and our fun times hanging out. I hope she will come visit! 
