Taking the Week Off
I’m taking the week off from posting here. I’m just too busy and writing would take time from some projects that must be finished. I’ve got lots of posts lined up and will be back next week.
Lark News-Rapture Takes Two
OTTAWA — The Rapture occurred March 31, 2005, at 9:43 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time and took both people on the planet whose theology was exactly correct.
Dan Wilson of Ottawa, Canada, was snatched away while sleeping.
“He spent years refining his eschatological scheme,” says his wife. “Just last week he told me he had it all right, but I still disagreed with him on a minor point. I regret that now.”
Rejna Thanawalla of New Delhi, India, also experienced the Rapture, say friends.
“She knew exactly what the books of Revelation and Daniel meant,” they say. “Sadly, none of us listened to her.”
In a surprise, Tim LaHaye says he was “slightly wrong on the subject of the Beast,” and was left behind. Other prophecy experts say they, too, botched minor points in their end times charts.
“Looks like we’ll have to stay and wait this out,” said one disappointed pastor.
A Weird Kind of Vindication
I saw this week that Starbucks may be adding pour-over drip coffee to their menu soon.
I felt an odd kind of vindication. That’s my preferred brew method at home. I still enjoy a french press, but the cone is fast, easy to clean, and tastes great.
In Starbucks’ stores it will mean you can try different coffees.
I don’t drink Starbucks much anymore; I mainly drink coffee at home. But more people should know about pour-over drip coffee.
*photo by rudolf_shuba
Thinking about Films
Most Underrated
- The Village (I don’t know why people don’t like this movie.)
- Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Perfect for quotes; but it’s so silly a lot of people can’t sit through it.)
- Galaxy Quest
Weirdest Disney Films
- Pete’s Dragon (I always hated this one.)
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (This had a weird vibe. But I can still remember the magical incantation. I don’t say it aloud in case it really does something.)
- Fantasia (This is what I imagine a bad acid trip to be like.)
Best Comedies
- No Time for Sargents (Andy Griffith)
- The Paleface (Bob Hope)
Joseph’s Favorite Movies of All-Time
- 101 Dalmations (animated)
- The Dish (Funny Australians)
- The Bourne Trilogy
Monday Shorts
- I haven’t watched a Super Bowl in years. The last one I can remember was in high school. It’s just not high on my list of things to care about. Now soccer is another story.
- I found out this weekend that you can listen to podcasts in itunes at a faster speed so you finish quickly. I first thought, “so I can listen to more stuff.” Then I realized that it would mean I would have even more random things clogging my brain. No, thanks.
- Strawberry Soup is on the menu this week. Ask Emma what it is. I just know I like it.
- I feel like reading a Vince Flynn thriller. I haven’t read one since high school. Know any good ones?
- I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends later this week.
“ Oh beloved brethren and sisters, how great is your favor and power with God! Use that favor and power.
Robert Chapman, on prayer
Robert Chapman: a biography, Robert L. Peterson, 97
Shakespeare and Star Trek: Live Long and Prosper
On our date last night, we talked about Shakespeare (we’re weird, I know)-what we had read, what we liked, what we hated. And we talked about how knowing some Shakespeare is necessary because his plays and poetry have influenced so much of western culture-even pop culture. Emma told me about the number of words that Shakespeare coined that are now real words. I told her about innuendo that we get from Shakespeare (my mom would say, “that’s Joseph alright”).
I watched the latest Star Trek earlier this week (Emma watched some until Ellie’s bed time), and there was so much that made me say, “So that’s where that comes from.” I’ve never watched a Star Trek movie or tv episode, but I knew the names, quotes, planets, back stories, etc. We also talked about Christ-figures in the movie and how even if they may not have been there on purpose, it’s diffficult to tell a story in the West without them.
I love truth. I love facts. But it seems that people share stories most. It’s our common language.
Reading Less|Doing More
I’ve been reading a book a week for over a year now, so reading is my go-to topic when I don’t have something else to blog about. But right now, I’m slowing down on my reading.
I realized the other day that reading can get in the way of finishing my projects. I can use books as a way to stay busy, but not necessarily productive.
So now, I’m still reading, but not at the pace I’ve been reading. I’m trying to finish up a teaching project I’m working on, and after that I hope to finish a writing project I’ve had going for a year now.
What can keep you busy but not productive?
Shorts on Feb 1
- Why is February spelled so oddly? We don’t pronounce it FEB-RUE-AIRY.
- I finished Believers: A Journey in Evangelical America this week. And started Robert Chapman: A Biography.
- Emma and I lay in bed one morning this weekend debating who would be the best actors in a film version of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. She wouldn’t agree that Gary Oldman (think Sirius Black) should play Peet the Sock Man. Or that Emma Thompson should be Nia, the mother. That’s the kind of thing we do and one reason I love life with her.
- Ellie thinks I’m a superstar. She loves it when I’m around, and that can make mom jealous. But she loves her mom too.
- One day we will get a minivan. Emma has no choice in the matter. Car seats and car doors don’t play well together.
