The blend of working with The Sandlot today and listening to Radiohead tonight inspired my post. Here are the lyrics that got me to thinking...
"No Surprises" Radiohead
Aheart that's full up like a landfill
A job that slowly kills you
Bruises that won't heal
You look so tired and unhappy
Bring down the government
They don't, they don't speak for us
I'll take a quiet life
A handshake of carbon monoxide
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
Silent, silent
This is my final fit, my final bellyache with
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises please
Such a pretty house, such a pretty garden
No alarms and no surprises (let me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises (let me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises please (let me out of here)
If you changed the word government with "establishment" or "church" this song might sum up the modern American church experience. This is not ok.
Where has our passion gone? Where is the desire to make change and not just be a reflection of our culture rather than setting the pace for our culture?
Why are we full up like a landfill? We have all the stuff to fill up our time and desires, and yet we're devoid of meaning and fulfillment, and merely full of trash. We care so much for the things that other people respect, but we don't respect ourselves.
Is it more important to be a person who cares about things, or to just appear to others to be a person who cares about whatever is trendy to care about at the time?
Are we content to wear a tee shirt that charges us to love our neighbors while denying them when they are in need?
Why are we so content with our comfy, quiet homes that aren't easily upset or challenged? Why does it unnerve us to think about the charge of Christ to sell all we have and follow Him?
Such a pretty house and such a pretty garden.
So much of our desires are about having these things that make us feel comfortable, but we aren't ready for God to shake up our lives in a way that completely throws off our "five year plan".
Personal revival, a renewing of our commitment to Christ and rejection of the things of the world is painful. It requires more of us than a simple, quiet life that is undisturbed by things like allowing the "wrong element" into our churches and keeping the pews clean.
As Christians, we absolutely must train ourselves to love the unlovable, the ones who are so off that they make us uncomfortable. We must train ourselves to stop thinking of ourselves as citizens of the U.S. and start thinking like citizens of The Kingdom of God.
It's a place where politics take a backseat to Truth, and Mercy trumps punishment or people getting what they deserve, whether it's what they worked hard for or what they've earned with bad behavior. That is the opposite of Christ's message in many ways. If we got what we deserved, we'd all burn in hell forever. We're all sinners. No one is better than anyone else where Grace is concerned. Thankfully, Jesus has taken care of this for all of us.
We have got to move beyond thinking of each other as competition or people whose standards we must live up to and start thinking of each other as brothers and sisters.
We absolutely must stop buying things we don't need to impress people we don't like and start living within our means so that we can help meet the needs of those we can help. We have got to divorce our things and our comfort and buy into, wholeheartedly being the Bride of Christ, ready for Him, waiting for Him.
We have to learn that the things our pastors tell us should affect us more emotionally than what we see on television. We've got to start trusting the Word of God more than we trust Americacentric Christian Self Help books.
God wants to bless us with Alarms and Surprises. That's how He operates.
Can we handle it?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Something Yummy This Way Comes
Ok, so, I love holidays with family. I also REALLY love cooking for holidays. Thanksgiving is kind of my Mom's day, with her kick butt dressing recipe (which I'll post, if she'll let me) later in the year. Christmas is kind of the same. But grilling on the 4th, that's Matt's forte, and making salads is mine. Now, we have been eating vegetarian style for the last year or so, and the grill had gone cold for a while.
Lately, with the whole morning sickness thing, I've been eating anything that smells good to me. A lot of the time, this is grilled meat. Oh well. Whatever you can keep down, right?
Anyway, with that said, I made two delicious dishes yesterday for the festivities, and one of them has meat. I just didn't want people judging me, AND I wanted to provide a meatless alternative, just in case.
The first thing that I made is Frito Salad. Yes, it's an abomination to call something with corn chips in it salad, but oh well.
I got this recipe from a lady at church. She makes it for potluck dinners almost every time because she knows I love it so much. I could totally eat the whole bowl. Here is the recipe:
Frito Salad (church lady recipe!)
1 green bell pepper chopped
1 onion chopped
1 tomato chopped
1 package of grated cheese (or 2 cups)
1 can of dark red kidney beans, drained
1 bag Fritos corn chips
1 regular bottle of catalina dressing
Mix it all up in a bowl, yo. If it's traveling, mix everything but the chips, then put them in once you get there to keep them crispy. I let mine sit for a few hours, sans chips, and the flavors blended really well. My father in law went back for multiple servings, and he's picky!
The second thing I made was a variation of a Paula Deen recipe. It called for celery (yuck) and no dill. I was like, forget that, I'm getting creative!
Sour Cream Potato Salad
2 lbs of red potatoes, cut very coarsely and boiled until soft, chilled
1 onion, chopped or diced
1 green bell pepper, chopped or diced
a big handful of chopped fresh dill
about a cup of sour cream
16 fried slices of bacon, chopped (I used a box of the pre-cooked microwave kind)
2 tblsp white vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
boil the potatoes until they're done.
Cook the onions, bell pepper, and about half the dill until tender. I used real butter, but you could use margarine or olive oil, too.
Mix the vinegar, sour cream, and rest of the dill in a bowl until blended. Add as much salt and pepper as it takes to make it taste good.
Mix in the bacon and the onion pepper dill mixture. Blend well.
Pour over potatoes, blend. Serve chilled.**
It said to serve it warm, but I thought that the chilling made the dill soak in better. It would be delicious chilled overnight!
Add to this the fabulous shish-ka-bobs my aunt made (peppers, onion, pineapple, beef in a lemmon pepper marinade), chicken quarters in a Jamaican marinade (I don't like, but apparently they were delicious), grilled silver king corn in the husk (which we got at Dickey's peach shed in Musella), and the most delicious thing my mom has ever made, which I'll share!
Peaches and Onions (don't freak out, it's actually quite fabulous)
FRESH peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
Onions
Butter (real butter, please)
Brown sugar
salt
You put all the ingredients in a pan and cover with foil. Bake in a 375 degree oven until tender (maybe a half hour or more). OH my gosh, it's amazing. Like nothing you've ever eaten before!
Happy cooking, y'all!
Lately, with the whole morning sickness thing, I've been eating anything that smells good to me. A lot of the time, this is grilled meat. Oh well. Whatever you can keep down, right?
Anyway, with that said, I made two delicious dishes yesterday for the festivities, and one of them has meat. I just didn't want people judging me, AND I wanted to provide a meatless alternative, just in case.
The first thing that I made is Frito Salad. Yes, it's an abomination to call something with corn chips in it salad, but oh well.
I got this recipe from a lady at church. She makes it for potluck dinners almost every time because she knows I love it so much. I could totally eat the whole bowl. Here is the recipe:
Frito Salad (church lady recipe!)
1 green bell pepper chopped
1 onion chopped
1 tomato chopped
1 package of grated cheese (or 2 cups)
1 can of dark red kidney beans, drained
1 bag Fritos corn chips
1 regular bottle of catalina dressing
Mix it all up in a bowl, yo. If it's traveling, mix everything but the chips, then put them in once you get there to keep them crispy. I let mine sit for a few hours, sans chips, and the flavors blended really well. My father in law went back for multiple servings, and he's picky!
The second thing I made was a variation of a Paula Deen recipe. It called for celery (yuck) and no dill. I was like, forget that, I'm getting creative!
Sour Cream Potato Salad
2 lbs of red potatoes, cut very coarsely and boiled until soft, chilled
1 onion, chopped or diced
1 green bell pepper, chopped or diced
a big handful of chopped fresh dill
about a cup of sour cream
16 fried slices of bacon, chopped (I used a box of the pre-cooked microwave kind)
2 tblsp white vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
boil the potatoes until they're done.
Cook the onions, bell pepper, and about half the dill until tender. I used real butter, but you could use margarine or olive oil, too.
Mix the vinegar, sour cream, and rest of the dill in a bowl until blended. Add as much salt and pepper as it takes to make it taste good.
Mix in the bacon and the onion pepper dill mixture. Blend well.
Pour over potatoes, blend. Serve chilled.**
It said to serve it warm, but I thought that the chilling made the dill soak in better. It would be delicious chilled overnight!
Add to this the fabulous shish-ka-bobs my aunt made (peppers, onion, pineapple, beef in a lemmon pepper marinade), chicken quarters in a Jamaican marinade (I don't like, but apparently they were delicious), grilled silver king corn in the husk (which we got at Dickey's peach shed in Musella), and the most delicious thing my mom has ever made, which I'll share!
Peaches and Onions (don't freak out, it's actually quite fabulous)
FRESH peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
Onions
Butter (real butter, please)
Brown sugar
salt
You put all the ingredients in a pan and cover with foil. Bake in a 375 degree oven until tender (maybe a half hour or more). OH my gosh, it's amazing. Like nothing you've ever eaten before!
Happy cooking, y'all!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Welcome to the Hotel California
Hello, welcome to the Twilight book club. I'm (insert generic white girl name like Jennifer here), may I take your coat? Yes, have a seat. We all have a deep love for Twilight in common, which is what makes us all get along and have common interests to talk about. What, you're a deeply troubled adolescent who is vulnerable and has a questionable relationship with your parents? That's very similar to Bella... You'll fit right in here. Don't you just LOVE Edward?
Most young women and many young men have had a conversation similar to this, if not quite as tongue in cheek. I have a pseudo relationship with the girl who works at the bookstore based solely on her rabid fanhood for Twilight. In fact, my relationship with the coffee shop worker friends of last summer... started because of this novel. (shout out)
Many folks know my opinion of these novels. I feel that they have a dangerous anti-feminist, idealized, love-worshipping bent to them that I'm not sure is healthy. They seem to set up a whole new generation for failure in any relationship that does not involve a vampire, specifically Edward. I have a bit of Twilight Fatigue or possibly Twilight disillusionment, post Breaking Dawn.
Edward. The name can cause shrieking at decibel levels typically only heard by dogs and dolphins. It can cause a light sweat to break forth on the forehead of many a young woman. Her heart rate will increase, she will begin emitting pheremones enabling stinky, spotty teenage scum to ask her out while her defenses are down. It can forgive all your sins and heal your wounds.
It's kind of sick. Seriously. In fact, I looked up some information on cults, and oddly, the Twilight phenomenon meets a lot of the factors for coercive persuasion that are typically found in cults. Would you like a run down? I thought so! *** SPIOILER ALERT*** There will be things that you will not understand if you have not read past the second book.
1. People are put in physically or emotionally distressing situations
Hello, I'd like to welcome you to adolescence, the stage at which young women are most susceptable to coersion, particularly by a sparkly vampire who seems sensitive even if he is a stalker... I'd add here that the ones who seem the absolute most susceptable are the ones who would rather dream about love and romance than think analytically with common sense. I cannot think about a stranger sneaking into my room and staring at me all night long as romantic. I also cannot consider a person who limits my interaction with people, family, friends, etc. because he wants to keep me "safe" a romantic person. Controlling? Check. Creepy? Check. Romantic? I'm sorry, but no.
2. Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized
Not having a real Edward. Oh, or not having vampirism. Take your pick.
3. They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader
Well, they do in their own minds. It's Edward, of course. It is frightening the amount of girls who truly don't realize that Robert Pattinson is an unwashed, rude, egotistical British actor, NOT Edward. Oh, and that Edward is not Jesus.
4. They get a new identity based on the group
Again, I will point to the fact that I am now acquainted on a semi-real level with perfect strangers based on the simple fact that I read the series. We are in this secret club.
5. They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives, and the mainstream culture) and their access to information is severely controlled
This may be self-imposed, but still... The more rabid fans will sequester themselves for days on end, re-reading the books for the fiftieth time, and then get online and watch Youtube videos of fanmade New Moon trailers. Their access to information is severely controlled because of the groupthink that KEEPS PEOPLE FROM POINTING OUT HOW CREEPY EDWARD IS.
Maybe view this video of Joel McHale on The Soup's take on it.
There you have it.
I read the books, I liked them until the last one, and I always wanted Bella to die. Yup. It would have made it more interesting. Someone should have died. Maybe the creepy baby. Oh well.
Word to the wise: in your dreams, where stalking isn't creepy, you get Edward. In real life, you get Jacob. It's ok. You will live. Jacob is a nice guy.
If you get a real life Edward.... RUN AWAY. HE IS INSANE. Oh, and possibly a pedophile, since he is A HUNDRED AND YOU ARE A TEENAGER. Seriously.
Kool Aid anyone?
Most young women and many young men have had a conversation similar to this, if not quite as tongue in cheek. I have a pseudo relationship with the girl who works at the bookstore based solely on her rabid fanhood for Twilight. In fact, my relationship with the coffee shop worker friends of last summer... started because of this novel. (shout out)
Many folks know my opinion of these novels. I feel that they have a dangerous anti-feminist, idealized, love-worshipping bent to them that I'm not sure is healthy. They seem to set up a whole new generation for failure in any relationship that does not involve a vampire, specifically Edward. I have a bit of Twilight Fatigue or possibly Twilight disillusionment, post Breaking Dawn.
Edward. The name can cause shrieking at decibel levels typically only heard by dogs and dolphins. It can cause a light sweat to break forth on the forehead of many a young woman. Her heart rate will increase, she will begin emitting pheremones enabling stinky, spotty teenage scum to ask her out while her defenses are down. It can forgive all your sins and heal your wounds.
It's kind of sick. Seriously. In fact, I looked up some information on cults, and oddly, the Twilight phenomenon meets a lot of the factors for coercive persuasion that are typically found in cults. Would you like a run down? I thought so! *** SPIOILER ALERT*** There will be things that you will not understand if you have not read past the second book.
1. People are put in physically or emotionally distressing situations
Hello, I'd like to welcome you to adolescence, the stage at which young women are most susceptable to coersion, particularly by a sparkly vampire who seems sensitive even if he is a stalker... I'd add here that the ones who seem the absolute most susceptable are the ones who would rather dream about love and romance than think analytically with common sense. I cannot think about a stranger sneaking into my room and staring at me all night long as romantic. I also cannot consider a person who limits my interaction with people, family, friends, etc. because he wants to keep me "safe" a romantic person. Controlling? Check. Creepy? Check. Romantic? I'm sorry, but no.
2. Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized
Not having a real Edward. Oh, or not having vampirism. Take your pick.
3. They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader
Well, they do in their own minds. It's Edward, of course. It is frightening the amount of girls who truly don't realize that Robert Pattinson is an unwashed, rude, egotistical British actor, NOT Edward. Oh, and that Edward is not Jesus.
4. They get a new identity based on the group
Again, I will point to the fact that I am now acquainted on a semi-real level with perfect strangers based on the simple fact that I read the series. We are in this secret club.
5. They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives, and the mainstream culture) and their access to information is severely controlled
This may be self-imposed, but still... The more rabid fans will sequester themselves for days on end, re-reading the books for the fiftieth time, and then get online and watch Youtube videos of fanmade New Moon trailers. Their access to information is severely controlled because of the groupthink that KEEPS PEOPLE FROM POINTING OUT HOW CREEPY EDWARD IS.
Maybe view this video of Joel McHale on The Soup's take on it.
There you have it.
I read the books, I liked them until the last one, and I always wanted Bella to die. Yup. It would have made it more interesting. Someone should have died. Maybe the creepy baby. Oh well.
Word to the wise: in your dreams, where stalking isn't creepy, you get Edward. In real life, you get Jacob. It's ok. You will live. Jacob is a nice guy.
If you get a real life Edward.... RUN AWAY. HE IS INSANE. Oh, and possibly a pedophile, since he is A HUNDRED AND YOU ARE A TEENAGER. Seriously.
Kool Aid anyone?
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