Merry Christmas!!!

Gotta love Botticelli.

Blue Like Jazz

I started reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller again yesterday because I was bored, couldn't sleep, didn't want to be on my computer, didn't want to watch a movie- basically did not want to do any of the normal mundane things I do to pass time. So, I decided that I needed some spiritual guidance and picked up one of my favorite books to read one more time.

It's funny because even though I read this book before and adored it, I feel as though I am reading it for the first time again. I think it's because I have grown a lot in a lot of different ways since the first time I read it so it's as though it is being read with new eyes and a new understanding. I also think I am applying it to my life a lot more this time around.

That's a tough thing about spirituality and life in general I guess: you can be greatly affected by something and want this affect to change your life but it's all lead by emotion. Once that emotion wears off you go right back to the way you were as though this "something" never even entered your life. At least, I know that has happened to me a lot in my lifetime. Whether it be when I rededicated myself to Christ at Acquire the Fire or even when I decided to start working out and getting in shape. While it was happening, it was the most amazing feeling in the world. I felt like a changed person. Once I got comfortable in my life again I went right back to being the lazy person that I am. That's really what my problem is, you know. I am just a really lazy person who never wants to put forth the effort to change my ways because staying sedentary is just plain easier.

Going back to Blue Like Jazz, I decided this time around that I wanted to highlight stuff that hit me as it hit me. Unfortunately, last night I was being (*cue buzz word*) lazy and didn't want to get up to get a pen or pencil. Thus, I missed out on some valuable underlining. Just now, however, I picked up a pencil I had found in my purse earlier in the evening and started skimming through the previously read chapters to find stuff to underline. From now on I am going to keep this pencil with my book so that I won't lose another opportunity to underline key phrases and quotes that hit me the hardest.

So far, I have already underlined a lot of stuff. I wanted to share some of it with you now! :)

Here is a poem by C.S. Lewis that Miller quotes in his book. It really hit me hard and if you are a Christ follower, it will probably strike a chord with you too:

All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through;
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.

Peace, reassurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin;
I talk of love- a scholar's parrot may talk Greek-
But self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.

Translate it as you will. To me, this poem is talking about our hypocritical sinful nature. We sing about our love of God at church, we tell others how much we love God but how do we truly show evidence of that? We need to love God's children before ourselves and that is showing God that you love him.

It's funny, I was randomly listening to "Jesus Freak" today on my iPod and at the end of that song, because I've had that CD for most of my life it seems like, I know immediately which song follows it. At the beginning of "What if I Stumble" by dcTalk a man is talking and he says, "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." That poem and what it means made me think of that. We need to stop being hypocrites because the rest of the world is looking down on us and watching us. They see Christians acting like idiots, acting completely against what Jesus taught, then going to church every Sunday and passionately praising him. (I will be the first to admit that I am one of those people. I'm not going to dish out my opinion and not take it to heart too... I'm teaching myself in this process as well, trust me.) Non-Christians see all of that and think that that is what a Christian is supposed to be like. A Christian is a follower of Christ and His teachings so why aren't we doing that? Why is it "easy" (or at least more compulsory in their beliefs) for Orthodox Jews to follow the 613 laws that G-d laid out for them and yet it is near impossible for us as Christians to follow the TEN Commandments?

Maybe you have some answers to some of my questions, some disagreements to some of my opinions, or just additions to what I've said. If so, PLEASE comment. I really want to expand my brain and my heart as much as possible in this matter. Thank you!

P.S.
Sorry this thing is so long. Unbelievably this is not even half the stuff that has run through my brain since reading this book again and I'm only halfway through it!

Blatant

"Seven, but I look a lot older."

Julie and I went to a sneak preview of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" tonight and it was a very pleasing film to watch. It was extremely well-made and the story was really different and awesome. They did a really good job making Cate Blanchette and Brad Pitt look really young and really old. Like, a really ridiculously good job.

I cried, of course. Probably not for any reasons you all will cry, though. I don't want to give anything away and I don't think I am by explaining this but the whole story takes place in New Orleans and the story ends with Hurricane Katrina hitting. It didn't delve into that a whole lot but the very last scene made me cry. Having been there and having a connection to that place has made my heart save a big section of itself especially for New Orleans. Love it.

Oh, and aP, did you ever see them filming this movie in NOLA? So much of it was either filmed there or in ridiculously good replicas of it. It looked so stinkin BEAUTIFUL in the movie!!!

OK, that is all. When it comes out on Christmas Day you should all see it. It's really good and heartfelt, etc. Good stuff.

The NEW Bionic MAN!

This is going to be my dad's new bionic knee from now on starting tomorrow!

We're all really excited for him to no longer have pain in his knee, for him to be able to walk without a limp, and most importantly for him to be able to play some mild sports again! I know that sounds like a weird priority but if you know my dad at all, then you know that sports are his life. If he misses a Dallas Cowboys game he goes insane. Not being able to play football with my brother this season at church has been pure torture for him. So... that is really important for him to be able to do again. Mind you, he can't play high-contact sports so luckily for him, the church league is non-tackle! :)

If you read this before tomorrow, please pray for him. I want his recovery to be as quick and painless as possible. He's been suffering for so long that it's high time he's pain free! Thanks.

I'll try to update this a little as his rehabilitation progresses. No promises because... well because I am not very blog-update-reliable. I shall try my best, though.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers! Later gators.

Magic

Penelope is beautiful. Penelope is magical. Penelope makes me so happy I cried. Watch it. That's all.

"Eccentric man-child"

I was at Julie's tonight watching some... I believe it is called cable television. I was flipping through the stations, quite saddened by the lack of good game shows being shown on GSN, when I came across Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, a film I had never previously viewed. Upon watching, I became quite entranced and severely entertained. This is now my MOVIE OBSESSION OF THE MOMENT. I was laughing hysterically throughout the entire film, although I did miss the beginning of it. The above scene is probably my favorite as it makes me laugh until tears drip down my face even when I think about it later.

I am pretty positive now that Tim Burton is one of the greatest film directors of my life.

$2.99 RC

"Conversation" we had with two men in the Wal-Mart parking lot:

Them: "Hey, how you girls doin?"
Us: "Well, thanks"
Them: "Y'all drive safe now."
Us: "You too."

[not sure which order this all goes in but all quotes are equally important to the quality of this conversation]

All Them:
"She be ROCKIN that black and white blazer!"
"They rockin them stockings."
"Look at that RC. You got that on sale, huh? $2.99... shoo, you shoulda got two!"

Oh, and there was something about the fact that we had milk and cereal and that we were thinking about the morning or something like that but I can't remember exactly how that one went.

Needless to say, Julie and I were cracking up. These men were thoroughly entertaining to say the least.

This brings me pure joy:

Phone Nonsense.

Bad News: I have no money, my parents have no money, my T-Mobile contract is up today and I wanted to switch over to Verizon and get the LG Dare today but... well refer to the first two things I mentioned.

Good News: I called T-Mobile and they said that because my contract is up today I am now on a month-to-month plan so that I can make my decision to switch anytime!

So I went from super pissed off at the world to happy in about five minutes. I mean, I'm not ecstatic or anything because I was really excited to get a new phone today. I've been looking forward to that for a few months now and now I just have to wait a bit longer. Oh well, I should be thankful that I even have a working phone!

Okay, now I need to start my essay due tonight! haha