going green

The gift-giving season has already started to creep upon us, and my mom has been digging for ideas.  Since I've been on the search for a new study Bible recently, I thought this might be a good suggestion for her.   I've actually been on this search for awhile, but the cost of having the extra notes, maps, references, etc throughout the pages does not come at a small price (another good reason to suggest it to the parents).  I've typically researched, shopped for, and purchased my own gifts (on my dad's credit card, of course) for the past five years, so why would this year be any different?

I have spent the previous few weeks doing my research online.  Today, I took the next step in my search, and I spent the afternoon pulling off version after translation after publisher off the shelf at Border's to review my options more closely.  I think a big factor to consider is whether the commentating and notes are objective and at the least, cover basic doctrine upon which most Christians can agree upon.  I am concerned that I do not buy something that has very polarizing or radical theological snippets casually embedded into the text.  NIV is definitely the translation I want, and Zondervan and Tyndale are the largest Bible publishers and offer enormous selections.  I have it narrowed down to the Zondervan Life Application Study and the Zondervan Archaeological Study.  If anyone, which would be the 3 people who read this, has any suggestions, please let me know what you currently use as your study Bible and any comments you like or dislike.

While I was perusing the shelves in the Religion and Bible section, I came across some unique finds.  I found an assortment of gender-specific Bibles, Bibles for Nascar lovers, and even "Collectible" Bibles.  However, one, in particular, caught my eye due to the nature of discussion in my ACG at church this morning.  We've been studying the five approaches Niebuhr suggests as the paradigm to which Christians have historically approached the world and its culture.  Working our way through these approaches has been interesting, evoking too much discussion to keep within our one hour on Sunday mornings, and after several weeks, we've finally gotten to the real application of how we, as Christians, should or do approach culture. Today's discussion revolved around the role of both the individual Christian and the Church as an institution in sociopolitical issues - obviously, a really hot topic! One group member remarked that the church she previously attended had a strong environmental agenda.  So during my browsing later today, I came across, what else? The Green Bible - "The Bible's powerful message for the Earth," complete with a foreword written by Desmond Tutu and essays by Wendell Berry.  What else does the Bible offer?  An NRSV translation, a green-letter edition (as opposed to a red-letter words of Jesus!), green topical index and an environmentally friendly cotton-linen cover, recycled paper, and soy-based ink.  The Bible actually has entire website where you can find more information and see that it also endorsed by The Sierra Club and The Humane Society.

One of the paradigms we've discussed is the 'Christ the Transformer of Culture' model,  but seeing the Green Bible on the shelf today, I have to question whether culture, on the other hand, was actually transforming the Christ that this group is trying to represent?

I have not made up mind as to whether the Green Bible is an example of the Church or the individual Christian's effort to push a social or political idea, and if it is, who does it belong to?  This morning, our group debated as to whether the Church as an institution should take a side in political thought, and this question seems to become increasingly more important every election year.  (As a former resident of Washington, DC, I can't help but think had this same conversation taken place in my old community group there, the debate would have looked a little differently.)  Our group is actually going to be exploring the history of Christianity in America next semester, an enlightening experience from which I think we will be able to see perhaps how the Church historically has or has not participated as an active voice in legislation and political issues, especially those which are controversial.  From there, we can gain insight on where this debate should go into the future and hopefully learn better, how we, as Christians and as the visible Church, can truly love the people and the world around us.

the wonderful world of disney

When I was in undergrad at Baylor (Sic 'em!), I was in a philosophy of leisure class. (Go ahead and laugh for a minute, I know that sounds ridiculous.) We were having a discussion during one class about forms of recreation and how much that differs among people. We all had to go around and say one thing we really loved doing for recreation and one thing that sounded so awful in which you could never imagine yourself participating. So I said, I loved snow skiing and that I would never, ever run a marathon...

My roommate from college, a long-time, incredible runner, also likes to quote a statement I made once in college, "Life's too short to do stuff I don't like, and I don't like running." And I fervently stuck by this statement for about...2 months.

I ended up spending the following summer as a white-water rafting, backpacking, and rock climbing guide in Colorado, acclimatizing quite well to life at 7500 ft. When I came back to Waco at the end of the summer, I was super fit and needed to figure out how I was going to keep up this level of fitness. So I ran. As a means to become a better mountaineer, a better climber, a better cyclist, etc, I started running. And I'm pretty sure, my roommate had a good, "Haha! Told ya so!" moment.

My first race was a half-marathon, the Bearathon in the Spring of my senior year. That was three and a half years ago, and I now I've done several 5Ks, 10Ks, 10 milers, and half-s. I made a complete one-eighty and put a full marathon on my thirty list last year. About the same time, I made fun new friend from my old office in DC who was looking for a first-time marathon friend too, and we signed up for the Disney Marathon. After a little peer pressure, we got three other friends to sign up and one to come along as a cheerleader. I bought Hal Higdon's book and started training fall of 2008.

The marathon itself was one of the most fun things I think I've ever done. You feel so good when people are cheering for you, and it feels like a real accomplishment. The current US population is 304 million and only 425,000 ran a marathon this year, and I'm one of them. Training was the worst part because the Disney was January 11th, so I was doing 15-20 mile training runs alone in December in Indiana. Crossing the finish line felt great, but really, the whole experience was awesome. I think I learned too that anyone can run a marathon if you just discipline yourself with the training, and I also recommend running one to anyone out there that has ever thought about it.

So that's another check off my list! Also, I think I now consider running as an equal counterpart to my other recreational activities, instead of just a means to them. This all coming from the girl who once said "Life's too short to do stuff I don't like, and I don't like running."

We rode rides the entire day before, from 10 am to 7 pm.  Maybe our times would have improved had we actually rested the day before. But ehh- we had fun!

The start line.  We boarded the bus from our resort hotel at 3 am, and the race started around 5:50 am.  There were like 25,000 people I think.

We also rode rights the entire day after! We're in the back row with our hands up, except S who was gripping the Hollywood Hotel's elevator handles with white knuckles!

Note that all six of us had medals when I actually first explained that we had one cheerleader.  Somehow Active.com messed up and I had two registrations, so both Kellen* and Ellen ran the marathon!

the day i wish i owned a snuggie

Today I was laying on the couch thinking about how I want to live the life I picture myself living. This picture of life that I have is one in which I cook more food from scratch, learn how to do things myself, be more artistic, accomplish my 30 before 30 :) and several other things that would make me a better person.

One of these is also to watch less tv and read more books. So as I was sitting here trying to decide how to relax this afternoon, I decided to finish two of the books on my coffee table. However, the outside temperature right now, although sunny, is about 50 which makes my apartment about 62 degrees which, in turn, means I need to lay here with a blanket. I seriously asked myself, 'Hmmm, how can I can lay here wrapped up in a blanket and still be able to hold my book?' Suddenly, it came to me...a Snuggie! The blanket with arms!

Does owning a sunggie put me toward or further away from the life I picture myself living?

spinning wheel

So I'm not doing so well on this so far. I thought I was going to be on a roll with my blogging...however, as any good procrastinator can tell you, I have a good excuse! After my last post, I got really busy at work and with meetings. Then I had to go to ATX for a wedding and was gone all week. I surely couldn't go all the way there and then not hang out with my friends because of a silly blogging commitment. And then after I got back I had to turn around and drive out to DC for a job interview. So now, I can finally get to it.

I am fulfilling the life of a bobo by blogging on my MacBook Pro in this Eastern Market coffee shop called Peregrine. It's probably one of the most bobo things I could think of. Unless of course, I was actually sitting on my Eastern Market balcony of my own little brownstone, sipping my own french press java from beans I had roasted myself.

So I actually had a followup post to the previous ben fold post two weeks ago. One of my other goals on my list is to be proficient at a musical instrument. And after watching Ben on Sunday night, I know it's so cliche, but he inspired me. Playing banjo or cello would be really cool, but I think the piano is something that feels un-done, and that I want to complete.

I took piano lessons starting in second grade. But I hated practicing, and I couldn't wait to quit. My mom wouldn't let me quit until I was in 8th grade. I really have nothing to show for it anymore either. I can play little snippets of a song called "Spinning Wheel" by Albert Ellmenreich. This should not be confused with the popular song from 1969 by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears. The song I know is not that cool. I suppose Ellmenreich's song is a good description of my current rhythm in life. There's the drone bass suggesting the constants in my life like my foundation in my faith and my family- a solid base- or bass. But there's also the staccato melody that's ever-changing, leading me down paths I never knew I'd walk, adventures I never knew I'd take.

Regardless of my past lack of commitment, I decided to take piano lessons again in the fall of 2008. With the one of the most world-renowned music schools at my fingertips, I surely thought I could find a new beginning in my pianist hobby. Yet, it again didn't work out. I did end up paying $30 a lesson for about 3 months, but then after Christmas, I failed to set aside a time for appointments. I wasn't completely happy with the lessons overall, so it was easy to give it up. My teacher was incredibly talented, but at playing, not necessarily teaching. Plus, at $30 an hour, it was tough to justify when I was trying to tighten the belt on my spending. This will be something I continue to work on, but like a lot of things I want do right now, it's going have to be put on hold until I gain full-time employment.

Ben Folds

Last night, Brian and I went to see Ben Folds on campus.  It was amazing! He is currently on tour in the U.S., mostly playing with symphony orchestras but last night, he was just solo on the piano.  Here's a clip I found on YouTube.  It's over 3 minutes so I wouldn't watch the whole thing.  It was quite entertaining to watch his fingers move along the piano live, but if you're just interested in the music, there's much better quality videos for that.

(A note:  I though it was funny that this particular YouTube user labeled this video "Zach and Sarah by Ben Folds." Any Ben Folds fans out there know the lyrics specifically start the song saying "Sara spelled without an 'h' was getting bored... Zak without a 'c' tried out some new guitars...")







So, I thought it was crazy because during the entire concert, college kids around me were holding up Blackberries, cell phones, etc actually recording the show.  I couldn't believe it.  I don't even know what I'd do with a video of something like that.  I suppose I do have the user 'beatlecats' to thank for uploading his or her mis-named recording on YouTube so that I could embed it in my blog just to make it more tech-savvy, but as you can see, the quality kind of sucks, and I can't see much of a purpose.

Some of my education and experience of working with college students tells me that this just another trait of Generation Y or Echo Boomers or the Millenials as generation theorists call it. The rise of instant communication technologies, peer to peer file-sharing, and the digital age all play apart.  Much of me wants to deny that I'm in the same generation as these current college freshmen, I vehemently rejected the idea of a camera phone until they stopped making them without.  Now, I love my iPhone.  I guess I'm just a little slow to warm to the trends.

I diverged somewhat today from the proposed blog topic, but I think if I hope to blog up to -what was it?  Two, three times a week, I may have to do this from time to time.  I don't think there's actually anyone reading this blog though so that probably doesn't matter to any of "you" anyway.

Ooops!

Okay, so maybe I'm not cut out for blogging. My last post was May 25th...Sheesh! That was almost exactly 4 months ago. However, I have always held a belief about myself that once I decide to do something, I stick with it to the end. I won't be blogging for all eternity, but for now, I'm not giving up.

So let's see here. As aforementioned, I have accomplished several of my thirty before thirty goals in the past year. Most recently, I finished my master's degree. I wish I could put a "Goal Number" in parentheses beside that statement. That way it would be easier for those of you keeping track. The problem with that method is that the list is pretty dynamic and it's never been written down in full form. I'm quite paradoxical in that I love lists (and apparently, goals), but I can't be that organized and "type A."

Nevertheless, my Master's degree is complete. I am a Master! I feel pretty good about it. This in particular was one of list items that it took quite a bit of time to accomplish. I was enrolled in school for the past years, and it all culminated with the completion of my master's research. I really learned some things about myself over the past two years, and one being, that I love research. Nerdy, right? I know. But I completed a qualitative study exploring bicycle commuting in my town. I learned a lot about the newer research concerning health and active living as well as sustainable practices. So maybe it doesn't sound that interesting, but it is to me.

Now, this blog is also something that I'm starting to accomplish. I have a feeling this is going to be another one of those items that takes a long time to complete. I can't fill that checkbox on this one just cause I started the blog. Seriously. It took me four months just to write a second post. But I will try to set a goal so that I blog more frequently. In an ideal world, I would blog around three times a week. But this is not an ideal world, and let's be honest, it would be difficult to go from one per four months to three per one week. Therefore, the plan is that I'll start small, and try to blog once a week. Hopefully, I'll work my way to three times a week. I think this post in and of itself is enough for one day, at least for someone who is not cut out for blogging.

So one and a half checkboxes are now filled, and only 28.5 left to go!

thirty before thirty

i've been resistant to blogging for a long time. i actually started a Xanga in college when it was trendy but it didn't last long. i didn't think i had anything to contribute, i'd waste space on the world wide web since it wasn't like anyone was going to read it anyway. but it's a rainy day, and i'm taking a break from my master's thesis to create this blog.

i'm 25 and about 6 years ago (the actual start date was 10/21/03) i created my "Thirty Before Thirty" list, thirty things i wanted to accomplish before turning 30.  this year i've actually knocked quite a few things off my list, which, i should note, is very fluid in nature. some days there are 25 things on it, some days there are 31 things on it. anyway, for some reason or another, i decided that starting a blog should be on that list. so here it is, my "30 b4 30" blog, and my attempt at contributing something worthwhile to the good of society.