baking

So, I'm home in NC for the week...and the garden on the farm is in full bloom.  Actually, it's past bloom and moved into delivery.  Today we picked blueberries, blackberries and raspberries until we couldn't stand it anymore.  I'm sure there are still plenty still left on the vines (in some cases branches.)  But, we've decided to turn these delicious fresh fruits into radical concoctions of muffins and trifles (thought not like the Friends version of a trifle.)

As we speak, my mom is baking.  I made her pause for a picture with me.  Here it is:

We're working on a batch of double berry muffins.  I've found that these Kitchen Aid mixers are something.  They basically do the baking for you.  I'm giving this mixer a name...what about Sylvester? I believe that I could simply put the ingredients next to Sylvester and he would just take care of the rest.  He could probably even put the mixed ingredients into the oven.  He's just that good.

who knew?

So, I was sitting here in my office around 8 am, trying to figure out a way to motivate myself to get started on some very important work. We'll, let's be honest, it can't be that important. Regardless, I started searching through podcasts on my iTunes and was listening to the most recent Catalyst podcast, when Steven Furtick was suddenly speaking through my computer. See, Pastor Steve grew up close to where I grew up...the Low Country of SC. We went to rival high schools, though we didn't know each other. Actually, I'd never heard of Pastor Steve until I went to church with my cousin Lindsey in Charlotte. She's been attending Elevation church..a relatively new church that is growing by leaps and bounds.

So, I googled Pastor Steve to see what's been going on. I mean, I figured that he's been moving up the ladder of notoriety to be included on a Catalyst Podcast. And, what I found was actually alarming. There were several blogs and articles dismantling Pastor Steve. And, I'm not sure if I'm either naive or taking things out of context, but there just seems to be too much hatred and disdain among Christians towards other Christians.

Let me relate this back to what I've been reading and learning. We (the Church--the one that Jesus died for) love to condemn others. I think it makes us feel better. And, please notice that I'm using the first person plural here. We (I'm stand with my brothers and sisters in guilt) thrive in hate and are void in love. True love is lost in our generation. I see it propelled in the media. Our society feeds on the weaknesses of others. And, hatred among brothers and sisters in Christ weakens our call from our precious Lord. If you don't like the message that someone is preaching, then by all means, go to another church.

Sometimes, it seems that we feel the need to complicate things and make them harder. I feel like Jesus made the message simple enough so that all can understand. I'm going to go and listen to the Beatles song "All We Need is Love."

the dentist

I had a dentist appointment this morning.  My dentist office is this mom and pop shop.  It's just a three person operation...Dr. Elliot (the dentist), Corrine (his wife--the admin.) and Dawn (the hygienist.)  I like the fact that when I walk in, they know who I am.  They remember the conversation we had six months ago.  I feel like it's a simpler way of life.

Speaking (or rather, typing) about simple ways, I'm reading this book by Shane Claiborne called "The Irresistible Revolution."  It's got me thinking...and acting a little different.  I'm not an ordinary radical, but I do believe that I need to have a greater impact on my world.  (Claiming this as "my world" is a struggle for me, since I like to share and say "we" a lot.  But, the impact I have is on my world.)  Anyways, it's a book worth reading.  It's one of those that shakes you up a little, if you let it.  And, sometimes it's good to get shaken up a little.

I think I'm going to see if Brent wants to play Rockband for a while.  I'm working on my rhythm by playing the drums!

it's raining

Tonight, I went to get my headlight fixed on my car.  I recently was informed that it was burnt out.  It was a kind police officer who blocked my car from advancing through a traffic light and megaphoned me that I needed to turn on my lights.  I told him they were, only to find out that one was not.

So, I drove to the friendly Advanced Auto Parts, where a helpful guy named Timmy tried to install the replacement light bulb.  Apparently, it's a huge ordeal to change a head light on a Pontiac Vibe.  I think Timmy mentioned some disassembling of my car in order and the need for a hacksaw to perform the service.  I opted to get the dealer to fix it, along with some other needed repairs.  Timmy thought that was a good idea.

On my way back, I got caught in one of those storms that the South is famous for.  You know, the one where it's raining on one side of your house but not the other.  And, the storm comes out of nowhere.  But, it's been a while since it's rained and it smells so good.

this week

So, this week, my bff in Memphis, Khorey, left to move back to Florida.  It was sort of sad, but he left at like 3 am, so I wasn't awake enough to really reflect about it.

And, I just found a video that our RAs made about a year ago.  It's a satire about a day in the life of the staff in our office.  I'll see if I can upload the video.  It's sort of long, but I'm amazed at how the students really picked up on the small details and quirks of each of us.