David Crowder Band-SMS (Shine)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
You dropped your pants!
Imagine me running after a man down Wells street with a mega soda from Subway in one hand and a copy of Anne of Avonlea in the other shouting, "Excuse me! Sir! Sir! You dropped your pants!"
If you had been walking down Wells street at lunch time today you would not have had to imagine... A pair of jeans fell out of this dedicated jogger's unzipped backpack and landed right at my feet. Obligated by sympathy I scooped them up and tried to catch him since the ipod was impairing his hearing. (Apparently he was not expecting anyone running after him shouting about pants.)
So a lesson for all of you... a word to the wise... zip up your pants before running at lunch otherwise, you'll drop them!
If you had been walking down Wells street at lunch time today you would not have had to imagine... A pair of jeans fell out of this dedicated jogger's unzipped backpack and landed right at my feet. Obligated by sympathy I scooped them up and tried to catch him since the ipod was impairing his hearing. (Apparently he was not expecting anyone running after him shouting about pants.)
So a lesson for all of you... a word to the wise... zip up your pants before running at lunch otherwise, you'll drop them!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Aragorn Strumming on the Old Banjo
When I started the last post I had no intention of writing about men. Not sure how that happened...(wah!wah! Bring on all your witty reasons.)
What I meant to write about the concert, was that Andrew Peterson was talking about hope and despair. He was describing a scene from Lord of the Rings (forgive me for not remembering exactly which one… they are ALL so epic). Long story short: someone almost gave up but then didn’t because something/someone intervened and then everyone was victorious.
Andrew pointed out that to despair is to assume that we know the end of our story, but we really don't. At any moment something could happen or someone could show up and it could totally change the course of things. And so despite the dire circumstances or the darkness or the hurt, there is ALWAYS cause to hope.I know the details are a little hazy, but the point stands out in my mind.
I was reading through some old journals a few weeks ago and was struck with how many times I said the same old things.... every time thinking they were original or groundbreaking. Oh well- at least I am consistent. :) I wished somehow that from my current place in life could have spoken to the Rachel who penned some of those hopeless words; wished in those moments of despair and loneliness I could have told her what hope and light was coming round the mountain (with Dinah...haha).
Also, quote from my journal Summer 2008 after seeing Lord of the Rings for the first time: "How did I ever live without this epic narrative in my life?"
Also, quote from my journal Summer 2008 after seeing Lord of the Rings for the first time: "How did I ever live without this epic narrative in my life?"
For the love of the weekend...and men
Last weekend rocked my face off… no seriously, there were so many favorite things packed into one weekend that my little heart could hardly contain it all:
Fall colors and a walk through the park – check!
Derek & Sandra concert – check!
A drive to Naperville at sunset – check!
Girls running club – check!
The marathon – check!
Spending time with so many good friends – check!
Tastee Freeze – check!
The Amazing Race – check!
Andrew Peterson concert – check!
Tag team story telling – check!
Praise and worship with the church – check!
Deep sleep – check!
My heart may burst just from reading this list back!
Saturday night’s Andrew Peterson concert was such a gift. Andy Gullahorn and Ben Shive came too and all three were wearing plaid.
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| 3rd row seats courtesy of the most generous Dave & Joscey! |
I don’t know these men personally, but there is something so rare about them that comes through in their music. Their love of the Gospel, of Jesus is so apparent and I find myself thirsty to know the Word more. Their humor and honesty about themselves leaves you with no doubts that they are regular guys- though more poetic than most.
Oh dear- I feel like this is turning into a fan post and that’s not really what I want it to be at all.
The media and the world is so quick to exalt and measure men by their harshness of power; and I just appreciate that these guys manage to avoid the trappings of that mentality and focus on the cross instead. Don’t get me wrong, I love a strong man as much as the next gal, but I think there is something skewed about the expectations men feel; whether it’s from women or the church or the world or even themselves. I couldn’t really explain to you why men are always such a passion subject for me. For what it’s worth though: I really want to see men have the freedom to glory in their Redeemer; to serve and speak and love and lead from that place.
In every ministry I have been a part of, in every brokenness I have experienced or witnessed, there is a unique role in healing that only men can play. Sadly, too often men of God are absent from this process. I’m not sure why that is… Men, don’t you know how vital you are? Have you never considered how cool you are? You hiking, biking, money making, bicep curling men out there? (lest this list exclude you, please insert your –ing activity of choice)Seriously, the church needs you, the family needs you, the Westside of Chicago needs you, the world needs you! Please don’t hide. We think you are really great. REALLY GREAT!
I’m pretty sure only women read my blog, so this is not a very effective medium for my gushing. Maybe I should go climb a mountain and shout this…or the rooftop perhaps? :) [insert Fiddler on the Roof song here!]
Monday, October 18, 2010
Petition
A friend recently interviewed me about my educational experience for a paper. I do have a varied educational experience- private school, public school and home learning. :)
As I talked stream of consciousness about my time at Armada Elementary School, I was struck with what a terrible child I was and how many schemes I came up with there. You all my not believe it because I am so great now (hahahaha), but my poor mother. I wonder if she knew what she was getting into by teaching me at home. :)
Here are a few favorites, terribly embarrassing favorites:
1. In 2nd grade, buying a recorder from the 4th grade class while I was supposed to be "in the bathroom." I didn't know how to sneak it back into my classroom, so I shoved it down a pant leg. Yeah, the ones with the stirrups on the feet. I had gotten $3 from my Mom for it- told her it was a requirement for school. (Which it was for the 4th graders) I came home and showed her what I had "learned" about playing the recorder. I think I tried to keep up that act for about a week. :)
2. In 1st grade, throwing an absolute tantrum while my mom tried to bundle me into a snowsuit. I still remember the sobering conversation my Mom had with me about being a bad testimony. I wish Mrs. Holleweg could see how well behaved I am now.
3. Offering to clean the gym at recess for a couple weeks straight and was really just playing in there with Jean Marie Belvedere instead. How did I pull that off?
4. Going to the music lab for the last time slot of the day. I wanted to keep playing that interactive musical computer game for more than my allotted 15 minutes, so I kept turning the timer back. Apparently while I was do-ra-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do-ing the whole school was looking for me & the bus was waiting on me. oops!
All time favorite terribly embarrassing memory from Elementary:
I hated recess. Isn't that sad? I never knew what to do or who to hang out with though so it was always awkward for me. Most times I stood and talked to the adult monitor. A few times I remember doing something with a group- like pretending to be newscasters or eating bark. Yeah, some kid named Daryl convinced us it was very nutritious. Once I got in trouble for saying the word "hell" when telling another girl about Jesus. (You should have seen my defiance when I was confronted by a teacher... you would have thought I was being marched out to the guillotine!)
Anyway, at recess one day I noticed some rust on the swing set and suddenly I had this bright idea of what I could do at recess. I started a petition for the swings to be replaced. I was sure that the rust was evidence of a million safety violations and I was determined to right this injustice! :) hahahahaha. Despite the passionate and convicted speech I offered, my classmates were less than concerned. I was sure they were just afraid of getting in trouble though- apparently I was the only one with enough guts to zealously stand against the administration...to fight the system...to defend the cause of the weak! I promise I am not exaggerating how noble an endeavor I thought this was.
Knowing that "the man" who was actually a woman would not take me seriously on my own I devised a plan to work the audience- for their own benefit of course. I started offering candy bars to everyone who would sign my petition and suddenly my page was filling up with names. Next to their name they wrote their candy bar choice. :) I was all politician in my youth though and had no intention of giving anyone a candy bar.
I left the petition for Principal M and went back to class. At the end of the day, she came to my classroom and took me to the hall for a chat. She asked me if I really thought the swings were a danger. I told her solemnly that I did. She told me that she would send the maintenance men out to inspect them regularly. She seemed to be taking this as seriously as I had hoped. She even put me in charge of reporting any swings whose condition was getting worse to her right away. A smart woman.
The next week I got so many demands from my classmates for candy bars, I decided I would have to follow through. So I went home and told my Mom very matter of factly I needed 50 candy bars. :) haaaaaaaaaaa! If you know my Mom you know how she responded. After an initial "WHAT?" and my explanation of things; she marched me through Sam's club muttering under her breath about how I was giving her gray hair and was going to be the death of her and next time I should think before making promises and no daughter of hers was going to not keep her word. She put a giant bag of assorted fun size candy bars into the cart. I opened my mouth to argue that they were supposed to be full size and give the list of the kinds I needed. I closed it right away though because I saw that look in my mom's eye. I knew I had a better chance of talking Jean Marie into a Snickers than persuading my Mom to get something else. Si se puta!
As I talked stream of consciousness about my time at Armada Elementary School, I was struck with what a terrible child I was and how many schemes I came up with there. You all my not believe it because I am so great now (hahahaha), but my poor mother. I wonder if she knew what she was getting into by teaching me at home. :)
Here are a few favorites, terribly embarrassing favorites:
1. In 2nd grade, buying a recorder from the 4th grade class while I was supposed to be "in the bathroom." I didn't know how to sneak it back into my classroom, so I shoved it down a pant leg. Yeah, the ones with the stirrups on the feet. I had gotten $3 from my Mom for it- told her it was a requirement for school. (Which it was for the 4th graders) I came home and showed her what I had "learned" about playing the recorder. I think I tried to keep up that act for about a week. :)
2. In 1st grade, throwing an absolute tantrum while my mom tried to bundle me into a snowsuit. I still remember the sobering conversation my Mom had with me about being a bad testimony. I wish Mrs. Holleweg could see how well behaved I am now.
3. Offering to clean the gym at recess for a couple weeks straight and was really just playing in there with Jean Marie Belvedere instead. How did I pull that off?
4. Going to the music lab for the last time slot of the day. I wanted to keep playing that interactive musical computer game for more than my allotted 15 minutes, so I kept turning the timer back. Apparently while I was do-ra-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do-ing the whole school was looking for me & the bus was waiting on me. oops!
All time favorite terribly embarrassing memory from Elementary:
I hated recess. Isn't that sad? I never knew what to do or who to hang out with though so it was always awkward for me. Most times I stood and talked to the adult monitor. A few times I remember doing something with a group- like pretending to be newscasters or eating bark. Yeah, some kid named Daryl convinced us it was very nutritious. Once I got in trouble for saying the word "hell" when telling another girl about Jesus. (You should have seen my defiance when I was confronted by a teacher... you would have thought I was being marched out to the guillotine!)
Anyway, at recess one day I noticed some rust on the swing set and suddenly I had this bright idea of what I could do at recess. I started a petition for the swings to be replaced. I was sure that the rust was evidence of a million safety violations and I was determined to right this injustice! :) hahahahaha. Despite the passionate and convicted speech I offered, my classmates were less than concerned. I was sure they were just afraid of getting in trouble though- apparently I was the only one with enough guts to zealously stand against the administration...to fight the system...to defend the cause of the weak! I promise I am not exaggerating how noble an endeavor I thought this was.
Knowing that "the man" who was actually a woman would not take me seriously on my own I devised a plan to work the audience- for their own benefit of course. I started offering candy bars to everyone who would sign my petition and suddenly my page was filling up with names. Next to their name they wrote their candy bar choice. :) I was all politician in my youth though and had no intention of giving anyone a candy bar.
I left the petition for Principal M and went back to class. At the end of the day, she came to my classroom and took me to the hall for a chat. She asked me if I really thought the swings were a danger. I told her solemnly that I did. She told me that she would send the maintenance men out to inspect them regularly. She seemed to be taking this as seriously as I had hoped. She even put me in charge of reporting any swings whose condition was getting worse to her right away. A smart woman.
The next week I got so many demands from my classmates for candy bars, I decided I would have to follow through. So I went home and told my Mom very matter of factly I needed 50 candy bars. :) haaaaaaaaaaa! If you know my Mom you know how she responded. After an initial "WHAT?" and my explanation of things; she marched me through Sam's club muttering under her breath about how I was giving her gray hair and was going to be the death of her and next time I should think before making promises and no daughter of hers was going to not keep her word. She put a giant bag of assorted fun size candy bars into the cart. I opened my mouth to argue that they were supposed to be full size and give the list of the kinds I needed. I closed it right away though because I saw that look in my mom's eye. I knew I had a better chance of talking Jean Marie into a Snickers than persuading my Mom to get something else. Si se puta!
Running & Hemorrhaging
Only the Lord's sense of humor could have determined that girls running club would become such a huge and favorite part of my life.The season is getting close to the end and that makes me a little sad.
We ran our first 5k about a month ago. I ran with Niema and quickly learned how motivating a few silly bands can be. :) There were signs set up along the way- some with inspirational quotes, others with fun facts about the neighborhood. Niema and I welcomed the distraction to get our minds off running. One of them said that running asks of you every day if you are strong...Niema told the sign to "Shhhh!" Another one had a Bible passage on it from Romans. Something about suffering producing perseverance. Niema asked what that meant and so we ran and talked about it. When I asked her what suffering was she said, "THIS!" :) haha. It was so great to have such a rich conversation that came about so naturally. So thankful that the Word of God has everything to do with real life.
Our church started Bible studies for kids and youth this Fall. I really love the Jr. High age group, but we only had 1 Jr. Higher in our church. So we opened it up to the girls in running club and that has been a BLAST! Tamika is leading the group with me and teaching them a praise dance to perform. I tried to follow along last week and got laughed at, so I will now be in the cheering section of the dance troop. :) Right now we are talking about our image and identity. Pray for these young women who are getting so many mixed message from the media and their peers; that God alone would define them. It is such a deep lesson that I know I am still learning... pray that it would really take root in their hearts and minds.
You could also pray that they would be convinced they are not all hemorrhaging. :) Wednesday's lesson was about the woman in this condition who touched Jesus and was healed. On the way home, everyone was still very concerned they might "have that."
We ran our first 5k about a month ago. I ran with Niema and quickly learned how motivating a few silly bands can be. :) There were signs set up along the way- some with inspirational quotes, others with fun facts about the neighborhood. Niema and I welcomed the distraction to get our minds off running. One of them said that running asks of you every day if you are strong...Niema told the sign to "Shhhh!" Another one had a Bible passage on it from Romans. Something about suffering producing perseverance. Niema asked what that meant and so we ran and talked about it. When I asked her what suffering was she said, "THIS!" :) haha. It was so great to have such a rich conversation that came about so naturally. So thankful that the Word of God has everything to do with real life.
Our church started Bible studies for kids and youth this Fall. I really love the Jr. High age group, but we only had 1 Jr. Higher in our church. So we opened it up to the girls in running club and that has been a BLAST! Tamika is leading the group with me and teaching them a praise dance to perform. I tried to follow along last week and got laughed at, so I will now be in the cheering section of the dance troop. :) Right now we are talking about our image and identity. Pray for these young women who are getting so many mixed message from the media and their peers; that God alone would define them. It is such a deep lesson that I know I am still learning... pray that it would really take root in their hearts and minds.
You could also pray that they would be convinced they are not all hemorrhaging. :) Wednesday's lesson was about the woman in this condition who touched Jesus and was healed. On the way home, everyone was still very concerned they might "have that."
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Peculiar Loves
Tonight I told a friend that I have peculiar loves….and since then I’ve been listing them all in my brain. So here are some…feel free to add any more that you know that I have forgotten.
Nova Scotia
This place is fantastically colorful and ALIVE and I can’t wait to go there sometime!
Andrew Peterson
He is playing a show in Chicago onFRIDAY SATURDAY and I’m thrilled to be attending with dear friends (though I will miss Alli at my side).
Slurpees
After a 2 month hiatus, I had one of these this weekend. SO CHILL!
Barry Manilow
What can I say? The man writes the songs that make the whole world sing! Alli sent me an autobiography of his last month and I laughed and screamed with delight. There is a pictorial section with baby barry and bar mitzvah barry… AWESOME!
Literal Version Videos
Seriously fantastic and make me laugh… no matter how many times I have watched them. “I’m not afraid of heights when I wear leather pants!” bahahahaha!
Hairy, Balding MenGoogle searching this was too ridiculous… so here’s a photo instead of a link.
Chicago (the city & the band!)
Peter Cetera’s voice just cannot be replicated…glory of love….so epic!
90’s music
All of it… I love it! The end.
Smadar Livine
Favorite. artist. EVER! I especially love the bright colors she uses. The details and subtlety of the painting’s significance are such a treat to look at. Maybe someday I will inherit a billion dollars and buy an original.
The Amazing Race
This year I’m rooting for the Home Shopping Network gals… could be the winners!!! :)
Anderson Cooper
He’s serious and intelligent and hosted “The Mole” way back in the day.
Excel
I know it’s incredibly nerdy, but I do love it so much. It comes up more often in conversation than I would like to admit. :) I’m embracing it though.
Nova Scotia
This place is fantastically colorful and ALIVE and I can’t wait to go there sometime!
Andrew Peterson
He is playing a show in Chicago on
Slurpees
After a 2 month hiatus, I had one of these this weekend. SO CHILL!
Barry Manilow
What can I say? The man writes the songs that make the whole world sing! Alli sent me an autobiography of his last month and I laughed and screamed with delight. There is a pictorial section with baby barry and bar mitzvah barry… AWESOME!
Literal Version Videos
Seriously fantastic and make me laugh… no matter how many times I have watched them. “I’m not afraid of heights when I wear leather pants!” bahahahaha!
Hairy, Balding MenGoogle searching this was too ridiculous… so here’s a photo instead of a link.
Chicago (the city & the band!)
Peter Cetera’s voice just cannot be replicated…glory of love….so epic!
90’s music
All of it… I love it! The end.
Smadar Livine
Favorite. artist. EVER! I especially love the bright colors she uses. The details and subtlety of the painting’s significance are such a treat to look at. Maybe someday I will inherit a billion dollars and buy an original.
The Amazing Race
This year I’m rooting for the Home Shopping Network gals… could be the winners!!! :)
Anderson Cooper
He’s serious and intelligent and hosted “The Mole” way back in the day.
Excel
I know it’s incredibly nerdy, but I do love it so much. It comes up more often in conversation than I would like to admit. :) I’m embracing it though.
SIDENOTE: I am listening to a Peter Cetera Playlist on YouTube while writing this. “Couldn’t stand to be kept away, just for the day, from your body…”
Fall
No need to explain this much… you know it’s your fave season too. :)
The Moon
I’m not entirely sure how it started…but the moon has become such a reassurance and reminder of God “seeing” me. It is wonderful to know that though I am small- I am significant enough to the Creator to be fully known.
Bridges over waterThis is how this all got started…As we were walking around Douglas Park tonight there was a bridge over water I got inexplicably excited about. I have a feeling that it has something to do with this favorite moment from Anne of Avonlea…
No need to explain this much… you know it’s your fave season too. :)
The Moon
I’m not entirely sure how it started…but the moon has become such a reassurance and reminder of God “seeing” me. It is wonderful to know that though I am small- I am significant enough to the Creator to be fully known.
Bridges over waterThis is how this all got started…As we were walking around Douglas Park tonight there was a bridge over water I got inexplicably excited about. I have a feeling that it has something to do with this favorite moment from Anne of Avonlea…
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