lists (stolen from jo)

i was recently stalking a friend's blog and saw that she was listing things that she currently likes and dislikes as a way to keep people updated on her life. what a beautifully insightful and simple idea. so i thought i would give it a whirl. here it goes...

things i like right now: LOST, bluegrass bands with cute upright bass players named alan, brewery tours, fresh cilantro growing on the kitchen table, reading fiction, browsing the goodwill, spring cleaning and purging, curriculum based instruction and RTI, drinking margaritas at puertas

things i don't like right now: angry british neighbors, skype-ing, voice resonance exercises/laryngectomies/tracheostomies (voice class... eww), endless interviews, hearing screenings for prepubescents, feeling old (oh how i loathe undergrads), the lack of sidewalks in muncie, eating food at puertas

shepard fairey + stephen colbert + giant eagle = awesomeness

simply hilarious. the link for the printable version is below.
http://www.comedycentral.com/images/shows/colbert_report/downloads/colbertOlympicFairey.pdf

a plower of royal fields

Celebrity pregnancies have made it a social norm to bestow upon your new bundle of joy the most ridiculous and disturbing name as possible. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis named their daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow named their daughter Apple. Robert Rodriguez’ four children are named Rocket, Racer, Rebel, and Rogue.

Interestingly (and thankfully), recent trends for newborn names suggest a return to more traditional forms. The top five girl’s names for 2009 were Isabella, Sophia, Emma, Olivia, and Ava. Aiden, Ethan, Jackson, Jayden, and Jacob topped of the boy’s list. (Side note: Kim doesn’t even break the top 100).

I don’t know if this future SLP in me or just simply my anal retentiveness, but all these names sound the same. All the girls names end with an “uh” and the majority of the boys end with a form of “en.” Don’t get me wrong, these are beautiful sounding names. And the same time I guess that’s my point. They all sound beautiful… but what do they mean?

I was struck by this concept of name meaning when recently reading through the first couple chapters of Luke. In the first chapter Zechariah was approached by an angel who informed him that his old, barren wife Elizabeth will bare him a son that will be called John. Zechariah scoffs at the angel (naturally) and thus was stricken mute. Amazingly Elizabeth becomes pregnant and a baby boy is born.

In Jewish culture is was expected that the first child would carry on the father’s name. However, Zechariah supported Elizabeth in naming the child John and wrote on a piece of paper that he should be called such. At this point Zechariah’s speech immediately returned. John means "YAHWEH is gracious".

Later on in this chapter an angel pays a visit Mary. She is also informed of a miraculous pregnancy and births a baby during the next chapter. This baby was given the name Jesus. Jesus means "the Lord is salvation".

These babies were not given their names because they sounded beautiful. They were given names that reflected the Lord. Their names represented a relationship with God and signified a level of hope for the child’s future. Now we name children after polluted cities and foods in the produce aisle.

Even though I enjoy harping on celebrity and popular names, it important to realize that in the end it does not matter what we are named. Yes, I would love to go back to an era in which children were christened to reflect the truths of Christ. But the beauty of it is that names no longer define an individual and their path. It no longer matters what we are called. Rather that which is essential is how we are called to live in Christ. Our identities should be rooted in the one who is beyond all names and labels – in the I Am.

ragamuffin

Why am I afraid to dance, I who love music and rhythm and grace and song and laughter? Why am I afraid to live, I who love life and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of the earth and sky and sea? Why am I afraid to love, I who love love?

-- eugene o'neill

consider the ravens

i've got bills to pay
taxman on my tail
just keep prayin' that
the check's in the mail

there are times it seems
when everything's lost
and i'm moaning, i'm tossed
and i see

between the river and the ravens i'm fed
between oblivion and the blazes i'm led
so father give me faith, providence and grace
between the river and ravens i'm fed
sweet deliver, oh you lift up my head
and lead me in your way

i've grown sick and tired
of trying to stand still
i've learned to let the wind
pull me where it will

throw myself into
the will of the wait
i can never be great
'til we're free

between the river and the ravens i'm fed
between oblivion and the blazes i'm led
so father give me faith, providence and grace
between the river and ravens i'm fed
sweet deliver, oh you lift up my head
and lead me in your way

although i'm walking through
the valley of the shadow of death
evils all around
it's coming from the right and the left

trust that i will see
the glory above
oh, your banner of love
flies over me

between the river and the ravens i'm fed
between oblivion and the blazes i'm led
so father give me faith, providence and grace
between the river and ravens i'm fed
sweet deliver, oh you lift up my head
and lead me in your way