Domo Arigato

Remember this commercial?



And look!.. that's Tony Hale from Arrested Development!

brilliant.

love.

Enough is Enough

Sometimes I don't even know how or where to begin to help. There are so many hurting people in the world, but where do we start? Genocide, AIDS, natural disasters, wars, human rights, lack of clean water, poverty, homelessness... this list can go on for days, but what good are we doing? Is anything being accomplished? Am I even doing anything to help? Am I doing enough? The thoughts can send even the most devout into a sea of doubt. So what do we do?

Take Darfur for instance, we've been hearing about the problems in Darfur for a couple years now. The Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel groups have been fighting back against the Sudan government since February of 2003. They've won a couple of battles, but in response, the government begins arming the Arab Janjaweed militia to take out any civilians who support the rebels. Violence has raged since then - in 2004 and 2005 alone there have been a onslaught of fighting, even though there has been a heightened awareness of the conflict, including some 7,000+ African Union protection force soldiers. Divisions between the two rebel groups have only made things worse and have stunted any progress of negotiations. Hundreds of thousands have died and millions have been displaced, but only survive by external assistance. Things have gotten worse, not better, for this region. Our action is necessary and needed immediately.

I wish there was more that I could do. I'm only a student at small univeristy and an ocean away from everything that's going on. I can give money, I can pray, but I feel guilty because of the blessed life I've had. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe I'm supposed to feel a sense of guilt, without it, maybe I would not be inspired to do anything. I want to be able to do something drastic, something large to benefit, not just Darfur, but all sorts of places in the world that need the help of those more fortunate. God will not let his beloved creation die like this, but it is up to us, it is up to the Church to act. If we continue to ignore the evil in the world, or if we continue to read about these atrocities and then sit and do nothing, then we are failing to bring the message of love and hope to the world God created. We know there is a better way. We are called, as followers of a eternally loving God, to be a monumental force for good in the world. If we do not act, then we fail to love the way that Jesus loved. And that, I think, is a disgrace.



love.

songwriter

I guess I don't normally post music I'm working on, but I just feel like sharing this one. I have this heart for politics, justice, Christ, and what we should do in response to that, lately. I suppose what I've written flows out of that heart.

When You See Things The Way I Do

You’re going to look at them and walk away
You can see their eyes but do nothing
Jesus Christ came for the marginalized
He came for the ones with tears that fill their eyes
And you pass them by…

When I was hungry you gave me food
You clothed me and gave me your shirt and shoes
There are miracles in front of you
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do

You can name the men on your dollar bill
You can ignore the poor by your free will
You are allowed to live your life from your purse
And you can be assured that someday
The last will be first…

When I was hungry you gave me food
You clothed me and gave me your shirt and shoes
There are miracles in front of you
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do

Your cries won’t be ignored; your cries won’t be ignored
Your cries won’t be ignored… anymore

When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do
When you see things the way I do


Thanks for allowing me to make mistakes and for your continued support and love.


love.

pandas

Discuss...


love.

working for the church

I have fourth row tickets to one of three sold out shows in Chicago.

You should probably be jealous, and I cannot wait for May when this night happens.

Please watch...




love.

there are two colors in my head

Blast in the morning.

I've spent the past couple days basking in my love for Radiohead. I'm glad.





love.

rockstar keeps me awake

I'm still working on this stupid 20 page paper... that I started tonight.

I'm distracted often. I can't help it.

I'll probably go to bed at 10 AM. Oh well.

Ethnic dinner date tonight will be fun, because I love Panda House.

I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore. I've been writing too much about communism and fascism. I can't think clearly. Alright, well I'm going to write about Adolf Hitler! See ya!

love.

i am robot and proud

I don't know, I guess I have ADD or at least it reoccurs everytime I have to sit down and write a 15-20 page paper. Maybe that'll go away in time? I hope so.

I think I want to revive this thing. I have been pretty on and off with my posts. I also think that I am going to be post about any and everything more often instead of trying to spend so much time focusing on what to write about. Maybe this will be more real you know? I don't know what I'm talking about.

I think I read that radiohead's new album is coming out in August, also travis' new album will be out in May so that's exciting.

I love radiohead. A lot.



love.

reflections on snowdoubt

Do you ever have moments when you just want to yell, with a lot of excitement and happiness, "YES!!!?"

That's how this weekend was.

I am so happy.

love.

the reunion begins...

the ONLY good part about the grammy awards last night.

love.

you don't have to put on the red light!

love.

wincing the night away

In a surprising sales report, Billboard has reported that the latest release from indie rockers The Shins debuted at No. 2. Wincing the Night Away moved 118,000 units last week, the highest ever for a Sub Pop Records band ...1/31/07 | 2:30 PM

This is one reason why everyone should buy the new Shins album.

Go buy it... now.

love.

if anyone comes thirsty to me...

The gospel is so offensive, how can you ever convince anyone to believe that what they believe isn't right?

As I reflect on this I am realizing it isn't solely my job to convince anyone, because God will redeem man, not me.

God pursues people, I suppose prayer is in order.

love.

global warming?

Meteorologists are saying that remarkably mild conditions across the East Coast and Midwest are not necessarily the result of global warming and most likely have to do with global weather patterns and jet streams. Temperature records have been broken throughout the United States as New York City saw its first November and December without snow since 1877 ...1/4/07 | 9:43 AM

here's an inconvenient truth.. you're still not president!

love.

a new year.

2007. worrrrrrrrrrrrrrd.

love.