well,blue productions

In the words of Rascal Flatts...

2007-03-15T17:01:00.000-06:00

We're moving on, you will now find us at wordpress. Please update your happy links if we're honored enough to be linked to you. If you're a bonafied lurker you too may find us here.

Just don't call them stupid

2007-03-12T16:42:00.000-06:00

Whether I believe that global warming is real, not real or anything in between, during debate with someone of the opposite view never is there cause to belittle who they are as an image bearer. I don't care if the information someone gives me is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my entire existence, whatever they say there is no need ever to straight up call them stupid unless of course I plan on taking their so-called stupidity upon myself and go on to be nailed to a cross...and the other stipulation of course would then be that I was be the Son of God, which of course I am not, therefore there really is no cause what-so-ever under the umbrella of the discussion of really anything, to ever breach this standard.

I have people that I love that are extremely well-educated people who if they were ever to wander onto a few of the postings on the topic of global warming around here would know immediately that none of us have gone to college for any kind of science ever ever ever. The people that oppose my views on whatever topic still need to know Jesus. In light of this I am beseeching the blogosphere to for the love of all things holy, just don't call them stupid.

Thoughts from Blue Chair

2007-03-09T13:23:00.000-06:00

"Blue Chair" isn't really the place that I usually am when I think of these things, I'm usually talking through something with my earthly beloved...Blue Chair more represents a place that I know that we can all relate to. A place where we go longing to catch a dim glimpse of the reason that we came here. All of this to say this is this week's thought from a blue chair.

This morning as I was thinking about prayer I started to think about John. John walked with Jesus, hung out with Him, ticked Him off a time or two, but the reality is that John was one of Jesus' best friends while He was on the earth. He was in physical proximity to John, John had actual dialogue with Jesus where he would ask a question and then Jesus would speak back not in the tumult of Revelation but in the meekness of the confines of His frame. This brought me to an interesting thought, after the ascension what did John's prayer life look like? How did he talk to his best friend after he watched Jesus defy physics and ascend, literally leave the planet by ascension back to heaven?

Whatever it looked like, that's what I want. I want to be humbled as John was humbled at the realization that God as a man poured His life into mentoring him for the destiny that He, the second person of the trinity saw in him. I want to have the reality that I can hear God as John did alive in my heart and I want to have the trembling on my spirit that John did when Jesus chose to show him who He really is in Revelation. I want to lean against the chest of the Creator and hear a weak human heart beat and be pierced by the reality of the frailty and finity of my human form. I want the fear of Lord.

You've just been bookstored

2007-03-05T18:31:00.000-06:00

Your department could be next.

Thoughts from Blue Chair

2007-03-01T20:07:00.000-06:00

I've been looking at Jewish betrothal customs and Hebrew wedding traditions in hopes of learning more about John 2. My heart was pierced tonight as I read through the list of things that happened when a couple was to be joined in marriage, so much so that I thought I would share it with you.

1. The bride was usually chosen by the father of the bridegroom
2. The price for the bride was established
3. The bride and groom were betrothed to eachother
4. A written document was drawn up (marriage document)
5. The bride must give her consent
6. Gifts were given to the bride and a cup called the cup of the covenant was shared between the bride and groom
7. The bride was immersed in water which is a ritual cleansing
8. The bridegroom departed, going back to his father's house to prepare the bridal chamber
9. The bride was consecrated, set apart for a period of time while the bridegroom was away building the house
10. The Bridegroom WOULD RETURN with a shout and the shofar was blown
11. He would come and take the Bride away, usually in the middle of the night for the marriage to be consummated
12. There would be a marriage supper for all the guests invited by the father of the bride

Even though the Bridegroom pays for her the bride still must give her consent, after he pays for her, after the he has paid the price for her, after she is rightfully his she still can turn him down, she still can say no because he wants her to love him. He wants her to love Him. He wants her to love Him.

Oh So Rediculously Sappy In A Fantastic Kind Of Way

2007-02-27T19:51:00.000-06:00

ILOVEMYWIFE!!!...and I want the whole world to know it....thank you for your time.

Please Pray

2007-02-23T16:54:00.000-06:00

Shelley Hundley is one of our leaders here at IHOP. On Monday her brother Joel Hundley kidnapped his three young children and took them to El Salvador. They are in serious danger, he is not able to take care of them. The youngest is only 10 months old and is still breast feeding. You can watch an interview with Shelley here.

During this last conference every time I saw Shelley the first words out of her mouth were "Pray for Allen Hood" so now let's hold her, Brittany and of course the children's mother and Joel's wife Heather up in prayer. This is a very urgent cry for justice, please pray.

Irony

2007-02-21T11:06:00.000-06:00

I have an incredible amount of trouble with the microsoft website. Maybe it's because I'm a firefoxer and i hate IE, but I am telling you I can never navigate the beast that is microsoft.com. Also, the website inevitably freezes to the point where I have to restart my whole computer not to mention that the entirety of the time that I have been writing this post I have been waiting for a link to load.

Give me Steve Jobs or give me death.

Thanks for the Memories

2007-02-20T12:25:00.000-06:00

Engagement pictures...

Taken by the one and only Jordan Vanderplate...

At our most beloved castle.

Rumor has it that the vine street castle is being torn down to make way for some new apartments/condos. This makes my heart sad. I've had some amazing times at that place and I would list it among the places where Jesse and I fell in love.

One fun story from the castle was one night it was gross and rainy but still at around 1am we all wandered from the Blue Room over to explore. The evening included the boys dropping Katie after poorly executing their master plan to get us in our heels down from one level of the castle to another. Jesse walking across a rotting beam 2 stories off of the ground, Brandon assuring Katie and I that they had a great plan and an overall feeling that scary people lurked around every corner. Anyone else want to be nastalgic in the wake of tragedy?

Bring on the naked church Dancers

2007-02-19T16:54:00.000-06:00

I read an article today based on some census statistics. It stated that the number of unmarried people cohabiting went up 92% from 1990 to 2000. This brings the number of unmarried cohabitating couples in this country above the number of people that are married. A good chunk of the cohabitators say that they really have no plans to get married and think that it's just too old fashioned.

Is this terrifying to anyone else? Not only does this mean that people aren't willing to commit to eachother but it also means that the number of people in this country who are blatantly cool with rockin' immorality like Ben Fold's takes on the suburbs is staggering. All I can say is way to go David Wilerson, you're on the ball.

Recently I was talking with a friend who told me that he didn't vote this past November and wasn't planning on it any time soon. I told him he was stupid, but his rebuttle was interesting. He told me that he was tired of America being mistaken for a God-fearing nation and his responsibilty was to rightly represent Christ and not voting was one of his ways to do it. Based on other statistics it is definite that at least some of these people cohabitating name the name of Jesus and probably go to church every Sunday. Woe to the deception that preaches another Jesus and says it's a service to the Body, the Bride, those who call good evil and evil good. Those who say that living with someone who isn't your wife or your husband is pleasing in the sight of the Lord. Allen Hood once said that "the fear of the Lord is like petting a lion", that nervous excitement that pushes you to go a little further even though you might die.

Jesus, today extend Your gracioussness to us once again and give us the gift of the fear of the Lord. For jealousy is a Husband's fury and in the day of vengeance He will not spare although you offer Him many bribes for your life. Pr. 6:34-35

For Grandma Catherine

2007-02-15T11:19:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday Jesse's beloved Grandma Catherine passed away. Jesse along with Josh and James flew to LA yesterday morning for her funeral. She was freakin' awesome. As I've stated before I would have married Jesse simply to be related to her. She was in a league of her own and was unashamed about who she was. GC made me feel like I belonged in the fam from the first time she met me, it was so sweet and made a potentially horribly awkard situation fun.

Thanks Grandma for making me feel like I was always part of the fam, thanks for never taking any of Jamsie's crap and thanks for locking yourself in the car at Josh and Steffie's wedding, we still laugh about that all the time. We love you and you are greatly missed.

Oh the Grammy's

2007-02-12T12:38:00.000-06:00

I love music. Music is something that matters to me more than most things. I love it. I love real, good raw, rough music. I have a passion for it, but something that I absolutely hate is the Grammy's.

In a desperate attempt to recapture music lovers' attention the Grammy's gave The Police a gazillion dollars to reunite and open the show with none other than "Roxanne". I still didn't watch. That's right, it's that bad. The Grammy's are so lame I would guess that it's the only thing that you can get on TV in the first layer of hell.

Even worse, they made it about politics and handed the Chicks every award they could for taking on the man. Dude, you might think that you're really stickin' it to the president by bashing him but the truth is is that even though you took home a bunch of trophies he still got re-elected, so looks like your little rampage didn't even really actually matter because the people who vote on whether or not you get little statues are the people who never would have voted for him in the first place.

We'll file this under things that don't really matter, just spouting random thoughts.

Kaiser Sosa and Identity Theft

2007-02-10T11:01:00.000-06:00

I've spent fragments of the last few days three feet from Stephen Baldwin...it's been awkward. I don't really know what to do with it.

Every now and then ya just gotta...

2007-02-07T09:33:00.000-06:00

It's freezing here and basically every where else so I thought I'd post some rockin' wedding pictures to make us all want the beach so bad we'd claw our own eyes out.

Enjoy

Where I come from that just ain't right...

2007-02-03T08:58:00.000-06:00

Here at IHOP things happen fast. People fall in love quickly, they get married quickly and they have children quickly. However, this is not the case for everyone. I get asked if I am pregnant probably a minimum of twice a week. My parents have never even brought it up, Jesse's parents have never asked, every stand up comedian on the continent knows that this question is not one that should ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever didn't have enough evers memorized be asked. So, today my question is why do people here find it totally okay to ask?

Things to ponder:
-I've lost a little weight over the last few months and I'm really starting to feel good about and in my body, when someone asks me if I'm pregnant the first thing it does is shatter my self-confidence.
-It's a really REALLY personal thing, when it happens, we'll tell you.
-We're not ready. We're waiting, this concept seems foreign to some, but it's just the truth, we are. There is nothing wrong, we do want kids someday, but that day is very very far away.

So the next time that your inspired to ask a newly married person if they are pregnant try to reflect on what you would want if it was you or your wife. We do allot of things without thinking about how they make others feel to satisfy our own curiousities but I'm telling you, it doesn't do good things for the people your asking.

Good night, and good luck.

I've found my Comfort

2007-02-01T20:10:00.000-06:00

Recently, I've been extremely uneasy. The reality of the end-times has been hitting me lately, with the president of Iran being a serious Mahdist and Israel nearly nuking Tehran it's hard to ignore the signs that the we are in serious times. Recently the urgency had been hitting me, as you know it does, but this time I had no comfort. I knew that Jesus was returning but, before that the saints along with the rest of the world are going to be handed over to satan...this is cause for disturbance. Since I've been so stirred I've been reading many things. I've tried to stay informed about the Sunni-Shiite crisis in Iraq within which the US may be aiding in the largest genocide the earth has ever seen as well as the growing possibility of nuclear exchange between Iran and Israel. In the wake of my disturbance I decided to read something that I knew would although be terrifying hopefully bring me peace, so I have become a student of the end of the age. Most recently, I've been enveloped with my old buddy Daniel. This is where I found comfort.

Daniel 7 verses 13 and 14 was just what I needed: "I was watching in the night visions, and behold One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him, then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed."

Jesus is coming, He isn't going to leave us in ruins, it is His objective to return to the planet and once and for all make manifest in the natural the destruction of the works of the devil which was brought to fullness by the cross. These are still grave times, but I have found my comfort and I am coming up leaning.

Good idea, bad idea

2007-01-28T22:13:00.000-06:00

For Christmas Jesse and I received a rockin' gift from brother John, Anamaniacs season 2 on DVD. Hold down the jealousy please, I know it's awesome. There is a segment in this timeless cartoon called good idea, bad idea which highlights the good and bad ideas of one Mr. Skullhead. Recently I realized something that I do reguarily is a bad idea and I wanted to let you in on it.

Why I don't read a certain blog any more:
Many of you know what blog I am referrring to, the rest of you feel free to bear with me.

1. I get offended
2. I get deffensive
3. There is literally NOTHING that any of us can do or say that will change anything about what these individuals feel about IHOP.
4. These two are still brothers in Christ and I don't want to crucify them in my heart
5. It isn't life giving
6. I'm not mature enough to handle it.

This is how I feel. I know and trust that these individuals just like you and I on some level are actually trying to work it out and since I don't know them personally I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and try to keep my comments to myself so one day when I see them in heaven I know that my heart did not hold offense when persecuted.

These are my thoughts, no penny required.

Today

2007-01-22T22:05:00.001-06:00

Today I'm working it out, I'm rediscovering the joy of what it means to be saved. I want the temporary to be temporary in my heart and I want to know what it means to have the gospel alive on the inside. I want to know what it means to have good doctrine, I am hungry for a theology that lends itself only to life and life abundantly. Today as I sit here in these patented blue chairs I want you to know something very important...work it out. I challenge you to remember the faithfulness of the Creator of the universe, the I Am, Jesus. Remember today who He is and work it out, it's going to take a while, roughly eternity, but we can do it, just stay the course, not the course in Iraq, but the one that matters, the course into the heart of God, the one that I was created for. My heart is longing today, I'm going to work it out.

Just another thing that would only happen to me

2007-01-18T13:04:00.000-06:00

Today we received a shipment of 5 large displays. They were shipped to us in large crates that needed to be torn to shreds in order to get the displays out of them. Kirk, Jesse and I were working with prybars (crowbar if you prefer), hammers and screwdrivers to get them out of the crates on the patio outside of the bookstore. I recognize that I was wearing a skirt and heels but that doesn't warrant the event that transpired.

I received several offers for assistance which I politely declined but there was one man who literally, I am not kidding took my prybar out of my hands looked me in the face and said "I like you."

I don't know what happened and I don't even know what that means I just know I was angry. I wasn't struggling, I wasn't crying, I wasn't hurting myself or others, I was just working, next to my husband at that. It was an agitating experience.

My sisters and I helped build our house. Footings, framing, digging the hole, concrete, wiring, sheetrocking, plumbing, taping, puttying, painting, doors, windows, roofing, siding all of it. We helped, our house is still standing. Just like Rosie, we can do it. Good night and good luck.

Ice Ice continues

2007-01-15T12:16:00.000-06:00

Our subdivision is still being blasted...the party never stops.

Boys

2007-01-11T09:05:00.000-06:00

I've been waiting for something blog worthy for a while but this was a gem.

At onething a man told me that the reason men get married is because women are far more mature then they are and can take care of them. I would like to think that there are many reasons for one to get married like being completely smitten with another and never wanting to be without them but this person wrapped the mystery of marriage up in guys being immature. I laughed and thought of all the ways Love takes care of me, which are many.

A few days later another man in my life inquired to us about a foot injury. He said that he had been treating this infirmity for a bit and it simply wasn't getting better. I asked him what he had been doing for it and he told me that he had been putting alcohol and peroxide on it. I advised him to just roll with the alcohol since using both an acid and a base was probably not the best thing to do. Upon further inquiry he told me that it wasn't your run of the mill isopropyl alcohol he had been using but in his thrifty boyness it was hand sanitizer. In that moment I realized something, this kid does need to get married.

God is ridiculously amazing. The things that he puts in each of us. Lord knows I just would have run to the store for some rubbing alcohol, but not boys...boys are different. Thank You Jesus for making us unique.

Onething in a Post

2007-01-03T20:16:00.000-06:00

So now that I'm lucid I thought that I'd share a few of my favorite onething moments with you. Here we go people.

-On the last day of the conference I was getting change for one of my cashiers and I noticed as I was standing there that he didn't check an ID on an unsigned credit card. I politlely said to him "Don't forget to check ID, that last card was unsigned." His response made me laugh and cry at the same time. "But Char, his name is on the front." I hope you feel secure shopping with us.
-The boys on the last night were moving the safes from the secret room to the trucks. They realized that they had two safes on a cart and decided to cover them with some drapes. The elevator got to their floor and low and behold there was a lone child in it. Being the stand-up guys they are one of them looked at the innocent child and said "Hey kid, do you like gelato?"
-A last year moment: Last year Jesse tackled me to the ground at the managers station and put peanut butter all over my face while Kristen filmed...and Mark Shumacher came to ask us responsible people a question.
-Our RMS rep. Heidi was with us this onething, God Bless her. She's Canadian and excessively smart. I think that we are a bit of a mystery to her. A bunch of twenty-somethings running a business, it's scary to outsiders. Jesse had to check us all into the hotel and so he needed an ID from everyone. He walked away from the managers station saying "I'll be right back, I'm just going to run and make some fake-IDs out of these." Heidi looked up and said "Oh my gosh that's horrible." Jesse replied in shame with "I'm only kidding."
-This year we decided that next year we will have a bookstore representative on the stage saying "Actually no, you can't do that in the bookstore."
All in all people, it was the best onething ever. I enjoyed it very much and I hope this is only the beginning to smoothly running onethings.

Thanks to all of you who were praying for us, we felt every whisper and every amen. The Lord is good and He is faithful. Thank You Jesus and thank you for holding us up in it.

Blessings to you and yours and Happy New Year!!!

Breathing, we're breathing

2007-01-02T17:55:00.000-06:00

Onething is over people and we're breathing, that's about it. Air in. Air out. That's all we can do. The party starts again tomorrow when the doors at the Forerunner Bookstore open again for business after a week of being downtown. Stop in and see us, we'll be red-eyed, on mucinex and Emergen-C as well as still rockin' the airborne. Hope you had a good onething because we did!!!

Today's Ramblings

2006-12-27T08:05:00.000-06:00

It is the 27th day of December. This day may mean many things to many people, but to us here at the Forerunner Bookstore it can only mean Onething.

Allow me to backup. Beofore the days of onething began there was Christmas. Christmas was wonderful. We had Jesse's family over and had a great time. I feel like we cooked for 24 hours, but it was a raging success. After dinner on Christmas Eve the fam played a round of pop culture trivial pursuit where Mama D guessed LL Cool J to win the music piece of the pie and literally everyone was against Jesse and I. Pure jealousy really, they kept trying to skip our turns and block the TV at the all play portion of the pie piece challenges, but in the end, Josh and Steffane won, which was well deserved, even though Mama D told them the answer, they have a newborn so I believe that they pretty much deserve anything. Christmas day was filled with fun and rounded out with a lovely call from my BF, which was lovely. That's our Christmas in a nutshell.

Back to the matter at hand. Onething. Here we go people, here we go. Yesterday went off without a hitch and today is looking like the same will happen. As for the next four days, I'm simply praying that this year the valet at the hotel won't put another 4 dents in my car. I'm thinking I'll take pictures of all sides of it as Jesse hands him the keys. That should do it. Happy onething!!!!

"Claire McCaskill, STOP STARING AT ME!!!"

2006-12-21T20:53:00.000-06:00

This post is brought to you by an excessive billboard. We get it. You won. You're our new senator. Please stop looming over the highway.

Word of the week: Overcommitted

2006-12-20T16:55:00.000-06:00

You won't be hearing from me very much for the next week or so because my life right now is summed up by one word. Overcommitted. Dictionary.com defines it as this but I feel like a more accurate picture of how I feel is on the same level as the war in Iraq, that's overcommittment.

Onething is soon to be upon us, just a few hours really, but in my overzealoussness to impress my new family I suggested that Jesse and I host Christmas as well. Seemed like a fantastic idea at the time, until this past Monday when someone told me that Christmas Eve was Sunday. It's not that I thought Christmas was after onething, I just thought Christmas was after onething. You know what I mean? My body occassionally goes into a self preservation mode and this was one of those mechanisms the "Don't worry Christmas isn't coming for another 6 months reflex." Jesus help. It's always funny to me around this time of year that literally everything I do is for Jesus. Christmas, onething, literally all for Jesus, but oddly enough I feel the furthest from Him during this time. I want onething redeemed in my heart. For 3 years now it has been nothing but blood, sweat and tears but really 5 years ago it was where the Lord of Hosts marked my heart forever and I have never been the same.

Jesus, for Christmas I want my heart to be alive. I want to fall in love with You at onething, I want to love the conference goers, I want to be alive, I want to feel (something other than the pain in my back and the twitch in my knee) I want an encounter as we work the registers, as we help people, God this is our plea, for the bookstore God, let people meet you in the bookstore, let those of us who are working experience Your heart. God we love You, let us fall in love again.

This year you can catch all the action from onething live right here, or come and check it out for yourself.

Real Thanksgiving

2006-12-18T10:33:00.000-06:00

Jesse and I started a tradition last year that we lovingly call "Real Thanksgiving". This began last year when he and I couldn't be together for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday, I love the fellowship, the friends, the family, I love it, I love a full house and good food and craziness, I thrive off of it. So, when Jesse and I couldn't be together for it last year he suggested to me that when we both returned we would have "Real Thanksgiving." For this event we invite our dear friends and family in the KC area and have Thanksgiving again. This year we did it this past Saturday.

My sister Katherine made a ton of cookies with the help of Kirk and Amanda, Jesse and I made the turkey (so Taryn that means three more), sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, glazed carrots and stuffing. Others brought vats of potatoes, rolls, pie, more cookies and more sweet potatoes. It was beautiful. We had a delightful evening of food, apples to apples and crazy canines. I love having a full house and I love starting new traditions, Real Thanksgiving was a raging success.

Confessions

2006-12-14T15:52:00.000-06:00

I'm not hardcore...You have no idea how painful that was to write, but this is my confession people. I cry, often at that, my heart gets hurt probably easier than most people. I am sorry for misleading you as to who I am, but as it turns out when you get married it's really hard to pull off who you aren't because your spouse just so happens to much better compliment who you are, or they should anyway because if you've been fake the whole time, you're in trouble.

Kirk, Brandon, I'm sorry. I don't even think I could tear someone a part any more...although it was a most treasured skill for many years. You maybe wondering to yourself "What has happened to our beloved Char? She did really go soft when she got married." To which I would reply "No no no, it began happening before Love...the name of the game is Desert Streams."

That's right people, I haven't been living watered yet, but I look forward to next fall when I get to join the band of elite who have admitted that they have a problem and are ready to own it, get healed for real and push delete for real. It might take two times through the 9 month program, but hey, well worth the trouble. You should check it out.

"It's a youth movement."

2006-12-11T17:02:00.001-06:00

Just something that I need to say every now and then when people look at me really funny after I say "I am the manager."

When it's all coming down

2006-12-05T11:55:00.000-06:00

This morning I was reading Revelation and the urgency of the hour struck me so hard that I became instantly alert and said out loud "Jesse, we can't be offended." He didn't hear me, but still, it happened. I thought of end-times scenarios foretold and in the midst of it the issue of offense just kicked me in the face. I don't want to be offended when my friends are being martyred and Marshall Law is the rule of the day. I don't want to be offended when sons betray fathers and mothers turn in daughters. I don't want to be offended when men are crying out for death and can't find it or when a third of the earth is killed, billions, people we're talking billions here.

But, I don't deal very well with my eschatalogical fears. A group of beloved friends and I have taken a humorous approach to the drama of the ages. We have bets on the size of the demonic locust, dioramas depicting our beloved Dale in the tribulation and the one that even I have tried to block out, the infamous inventory of '05 conversation on martyrdom. Why do I find it so difficult to be serious? I don't want to be offended, I don't want to be counted among those with offense in my heart. I find myself often crying out to the Lord in the midst of these scenarios that play out in my head for love and mercy and the grace not to be offended, but for some unclear reason I don't find myself crying out when someone cuts me off in traffic or when my beloved doesn't fold the laundry or when one of my cashiers doesn't do what I ask them, I simply get offended. Now, I feel as though I am prepared not to be offended when everyone is dying but not when my brown towels aren't folded the way I fold towels (oh goodness, I've become my mother)...Why is that? I need Jesus.

Jesus, be with us all today, help us to be among those without offense in the end of days when You again choose to grace humanity with Your tangible presence. We love You, come quickly.

A restful day in love

2006-12-02T16:38:00.000-06:00

Today Jesse and I had a day that we've needed for a long time. We did nothing but enjoy eachother. We hung out, watched March of the Penguins and just reveled in the beauty that is the mystery formally known as marriage. Date night is always rockin', but then there is that sweet, beautiful day where you just sit with eachother, laugh, cry and fall more deeply in love. This was a day where we went from being you know, moderately annoyed with life and eachother to being so in love most people wouldn't have wanted to be around us for very long. God is so good, He killed me today with the love of another.

Thank You Jesus for today and tomorrow. We love You and ask that You return soon.

From one generation to another

2006-11-29T18:14:00.000-06:00

The infamous Grandma Cat came to Thanksgiving. This woman is incredible and I would have married Jesse just to be related to her. She is credited with the quote of Thanksgiving:

"That's it, I'm done, I'm out, bury me now."

Thank you GC, we all appreciate you. Next, a quote from my own grandmother. Jesse and I went to MN not that long ago and my grandma also had a little whisper of wisdom for all of us. We were having dinner and one of my aunts was late because of a work meeting so my uncle asked my grandma if she would like him to top off her wine glass to which she replied:

"Sure, might as well get drunk."

Thank you grandma, my life is always enriched by your presence.

Love your grandparents today, they're rockin' people.

Life outside the Bookstore

2006-11-28T17:27:00.000-06:00

Some times in our random rants here at FBS I wonder about the other departments and if they are as eclectic as we are. Today the following conversation took place between a nameless/faceless department in my office. See if you can guess who it was.

All of these things were being said at the same time:

-So, are you going to dress warm tomorrow?
-Oh yeah, I check the weather everyday before I leave my house
-How is it going to get cold so fast?
-It said freezing rain, who came up with that? Freezing rain, don't these people know that if the rain is frozen that's called snow?
-I think if it's frozen before it hits the ground then it's called sleet
-It's going to be 20 degrees or something
-Why does it do that? It's like 60 right now...

And then they left...name that department folks, extra points for who said what.

Guerilla Radio

2006-11-28T10:59:00.000-06:00

For Thanksgiving Jesse and I traveled westard to St. Louis. Jesse's father has a radio show and every Thanksgiving he has the fam on the show to talk about the holiday season and favorite Christmas movies and what not. It was a good time. Mostly we all just sat in a little room and did really random things. Every now and then Bob came over our head phones (Jesse's dad) and told us the things that would get him fired and asked us all to adhere to things that wouldn't get him fired...I think we did okay. The boys sang a song from Holiday Inn, Jesse's mom and I rocked the female scene and Bob tried to get us all to talk about IHOP and Jesus instead of making fun of James.

I think everyone should have a chance to be on the radio, it was fun and people responded well to the randomness. I think that the people who called in or just heard us and talked to Bob later related to it because at the core of the family we're all the same. No matter how messed up or how perfect the unit is you're still a bunch of people who didn't pick eachother but will be tied together forever. My sisters and brother and I are so different from eachother, we've got two artists who love the backstage (ceramics and sculpture for one and drawing for the other) a mathematician techie genius, a science geek who sings and loves attention and a Lord of the Rings, horse riding, Cars fanatic, not to mention none of us are anything like our parents. Kathy and I aren't Republicans, (but I'm a not Democrat either) Anna doesn't really care she just wants world peace, Ruthie is a hippie and monkey will probably own many guns. I love this game. Love your family today!

"You Christians take your fish eating selves and get out of here!"

2006-11-19T13:18:00.000-06:00

All that to say don't see Happy Feet...it had an agenda 17 miles longs that lured you into the theater disguised as a happy dancing cute little penguin.

Just thought I'd come clean

2006-11-16T18:25:00.000-06:00

I had an extremely stimulating conversation today with by far the most right-winged person I have ever met. It was extremely interesting and yay terrifying. It inspired me to confess something to my parents...mom, dad, I'm not a Republican.

Interjection: "When all hope is lost the answer to your prayers is Chuck Norris." I just heard this on a commercial for Delta Force and I thought that I would share it with all of you.

That's all for today citizens, good night and good luck.

I just wanted to say

2006-11-14T23:08:00.000-06:00

I love this. I love the end of myself, I love family, I love Minnesota, I love friends, I love JESUS, I love my incredible husband and I love being alive. I love this. Remember today that the end of yourself is quite possibly the best place that you can be.

Every now and then

2006-11-05T21:03:00.000-06:00

Once in a while I just like to take a minute to dwell upon how incredible God is. I hope that I actually do this everyday it's just that every now and then I bubble over and must post it here in the ramblings category. God is so good, he is so good. There is nothing I could do without Him and I wish that there was something that I can do for Him. My life seems like such a small thing compared to being rescued from hell and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It's really incredible. Everyday I'm reminded by my surroundings the faithfulness and the love of the Uncreated.

I love You too. On the days I can't see You or hear You or even know that You're real I know that You're whispering "I love you" to me. Crazy...weird...and unnaturally natural. Thank You Jesus for You're unmerited grace, I cannot repay the things that You've done, but I will waste my life here, before You.

This is also that every now and then that warrants the bragging on of my Love. Married or celibate God knows what He has for our lives. I have the privilege of death by marriage. Here on this cross I am in love and the man that I belong with is killing me but it hurts in a way that I never thought possible. I love dying. I love being crucified here and I am glad every morning to wake up next to him and be ready to die to myself. I am stubborn. Very very stubborn. This one is so patient, loving and kind, Jesus knew what would kill me fastest and I have to say it's the whole nice thing. He's so nice...all the time, he is nice to a fault...a fault that makes me cry because of how stubborn I am...dying, I'm dying here. Jesse, God is, I love you and it is my honor to die here with you. I can't believe that we've only been married for four months, I feel that I've known you for a lifetime and been close to you since the dawn of time. I love you. Thank You Jesus for this one, he is truly beautiful.

This Other Half

2006-11-03T07:23:00.000-06:00

So my feeling as of late is one of a kind of struggle. A bit of a hardship, if you will. Then again...momentary light afflictions right? At least I'm not in a fox hole with one leg left as a guy tries to tell me I'm a good shot. But then again. Aren't we all? Aren't we all?

This is my post. Like it or not. I only post once in three blue moons and so I feel I have a right to be as weird as I want. I'm not sure if the crowds will really go for it, but I'm not here solely for posterity.

Ok....so...um....something of substance....
Relinquish my dreams far reaching chasm!!
I pray you feel my turse diparture from one storm!!!
Rip me not!! For my help is Most High!!!!

'Tis a far far better thing I do....'Tis a far far better place I go to.

To be.

All right. I hope this has satisfied all your little thirstiness for a blog. There's a little bit of this, little bit of that. I tried to hit home with the classics. Then again who knows? Maybe noone'll get it........................

~The husband a.k.a. not the girl who usual writes this.

Nothing I can do about it

2006-11-02T16:48:00.000-06:00

Today was one of those days. I walked in the office at 9 am ready and raring to go and the first instances of the day made it pretty clear to me that Mama said there'd be days like this, for real.

So, I had a homie from another department come in and ask me where Rock and Roll was, I said in a meeting she said "There is a man on your couch wailing...right here in the store." What? Surely this will be the weirdest day ever I thought to myself. I walked out to investigate her claims and it was yay worse than I expected.

On the floor next to the couch was a man weeping and sobbing as he was draped over the furniture...oh goodness, what do I do with this...I was curious as to what he had been reading that would undo him in such away...Passion for Jesus? Evidential Power of Beauty? Prayer by Balthasar? What touched him in this way...the answer my friends is none of the above...can you guess it? The Rapture Question Answered...I need to get serious about the way I study the end-times, but seriously, The Rapture Question Answered...this is my life. I walked away looking at my smiling cashiers and shrugged...there's nothing I can do about it, really nothing.

The Best Birthday Ever

2006-10-30T19:50:00.000-06:00

Before I give you the spiel on the above topic I would like to take a moment to congratulate my dear and loving husband on the Cardinals win of the world series. Congratulations Love, I'm so glad that it was for you.

Onto the topic at hand. Sunday was my 21st birthday. This weekend my incredibly amazing husband put together the most beautiful weekend ever for me. On Saturday he got some friends together and we all went out to dinner at this wonderful Italian market style restaraunt, it was lovely. Then today my fantastic coworkers took me to Blue Koi for dumpings and ginger basil chicken...oh so yummy. The apex of the weekend was Sunday when the man that I love went the extra mile and loved me excessively well.

Below I chronicle for you the events of a lovely evening:
-Jesse got out of car after a trip to the Prayer Room and gave me flowers
-We got into the car to go to shopping on the plaza and he gave me more flowers
-We went to Antrho and Banana Republic (my favorites!)
-We got back in the car to go to dinner at a yet undisclosed location and Jesse read me a story that he had written about me...he's the cutest.
-Jesse took me to the Crown Center neck of the KC woods and we got to a street where he got super excited and pointed up and said "Look! Look! There it is!" Again, the cutie
-The restaraunt was Skies on the top of the Hyatt, it is KC's revolving restaraunt lit only by candlelight
-I had the KC Strip (mmmm, yummy) Jesse had a double cut pork chop stuffed with crab and shrimp (mmm again)
-Jesse took me home where when I got in our room there were more beautiful flowers

All in all it was amazingly beautiful, Jesus is so amazing, He simply stamped my heart with love over the whole weekend. I have fantastic friends, an amazing family and truly the most lovely dear and loving husband that has ever been. I hope that your birthday will be as lovely as mine.

Isaac

2006-10-25T21:10:00.000-06:00

Did I ever tell you that we have a dog? I was realizing this evening as I was sitting here with him that I've never really spoken of him. Nights like this one make me extra mindful of his existence. You see Isaac, our 9 year old Beagle, is terrified of thunderstorms. He has kept us up for long nights, urinated all manner of places, tried to live in our closet and drooled directly into my mouth. Isaac has an interesting plethera of mannerisms when the clouds roll in. These storms generally occur as we are trying to sleep so the drama increases by a minimum of twenty points. Here is what to expect on one such occassion:

-Isaac feels the storm coming an hour before it gets here
-Nervously, he paces around our room
-At the first crack of thunder he is in between us
-At the second he is curled around my head nervously panting streams of drool onto my head, into my mouth and on my pillow
-Jesse and I kick Isaac of the bed
-Isaac paces around the room and tries to get into the closet
-Isaac pees in the closet
-Char gets real upset
-Char or Jesse takes Isaac outside at 3 am in the thunderstorm
-Char gets the dog bed, the cushion, the blanket, the monkey, the octopus and whatever else she thinks may help and then sets up camp on the floor of the bedroom next to Isaac
-Isaac wont lie down for more than 10 consecutive seconds
-Char gets back on the bed
-Isaac gets back on the bed
-Jesse kicks Isaac off of the bed
-Isaac gets back on the bed
-Char keeps Jesse from maiming Isaac
-Isaac manages to simultaneously drool on both of our faces (we don't know either)
-We collectively hurl Isaac across the room
-We feel real bad
-Isaac ends up sleeping on the bed in between us curled into a little ball of dog directly at the center of the bed

The next day: Isaac sleeps the entire day and we wish that we were beagles.

Tell Me Something

2006-10-25T18:29:00.000-06:00

These three little words are the key to getting to know someone. I tell Jesse this all the time, just a simple little tell me something can unlock a memory lost in the sand of time that make you again realize why you are so in love with someone.

Today I am encouraging you to ask someone, anyone really to simply tell you something. It is really interesting the varied responses you'll get to such questions, the things that different people think you should know. If the person that you asked is confused, favorite cereal is a good default, it will unlock a myriad of things that you didn't know about someone.

Here, I'll go first. Tell me something.

Hurricane Kim Mono

2006-10-20T12:32:00.000-06:00

Jesse just bought me this to commemorate the situation between N. Korea and the U.N.

Jesus has a sense of humor and so do we dang it.

Here is to the platypus that has helped us get over ourselves. Some times life is ugly and so is this platypus. May we always remember this as a time when Jesus made us more like Him and laughed real hard.

What is man that YOU are mindful of him?

Fan by marriage

2006-10-20T08:03:00.000-06:00

Go Cards...

A long way from home

2006-10-18T22:24:00.000-06:00

Times like this make me realize that I have a long long way to go. You know what I'm talking about, times where momentary light afflictions make you want to curse and trade all your oil for mud to sling at the afflictor...unfortunately my oil would translate to very little mud therefore making me the fool cubed. Why are Matthew 5, 6 and 7 so hard? Answer me that...I know you can't...why is simplicity so difficult? Be silent...why is that hard? Why is it easier to curse the thing bringing you closer to home then to take it like a wo/man and just die? This is what I'm saying to myself today...just die already...but when momentary light afflictions and vapors feel like they surely aren't either of those cursing comes easily...my flesh is grass but it fights quite the fight for something that will be food for cows...why is that? I don't understand...

You, yes You, You're crazy...You know it too, it's the way You made it...You said to Yourself this is crazy...let's have them do that...You crazy Uncreated You...Silly Jesus tricks are for kids...not Uncreated Beings that rule and reign with a rod of iron...okay, so I don't know Your hobbies, and I definitely don't understand You...okay...I'm done now...I'll get back to my vapor and love You...You rockin' crazy rocker You. I love You more than anything...I pick the momentary light affliction, that the grass would die and a sweet offering would be given up to You. Let's hang out so I can know Your hobbies, what things deserve a Shandai and what things I can laugh at...bring it on...I'm coming home dang it, I know the way.

Oh how things change

2006-10-17T07:56:00.000-06:00

I once lived in a house with people I loved and adored. Some were my heroes others were those who looked up to me. I moved on with life, love and the pursuit of happiness and watched heroes become fools, others wounded and some made into objects...I watched as friends became enemies, hope turned to despair and faith was tested time and time again.

It's been two years since my dad came back and is now once again on the path of destruction...why is life so cruel?

Jesus will soon come back and wisdom will be justified...wisdom that looks like foolishness...today it's hard.

Stream of conscioussness excerpt as I sat in a pew:

Char: Jesus, why did Luke die?
Jesus: So you would love Me more.
Char: That seems cold.
Jesus: Don't worry, he likes it here better.

Odd, but so comforting. It will only be a minute...just a minute.

The things I miss...

Ode to Love:
You are the most amazing human being I have ever come into contact with. You're beuatiful, wonderful, caring, you love me, you're real, you could never lie to anyone, you're a man of integrity and you are truly my best friend. I love you too.

Sorry this is so depressing, it's just the mood.

Oh, on a happier note...HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!!!!!! This will truly be a good day. Also my Happy Birthdays need to go to David and Seth.

Frat boy, formittable prankster and Friend

2006-10-11T14:00:00.000-06:00

I know you beat me home but I'll meet you in the sky. We all miss you already and are completely jealous of the view that you now behold. As for everything else I am going to let you in on a few secrets. I also want to take this opportunity to say happy birthday since I never did...so sorry friend.

The Pranks:
I know that it was always you and I'm ever grateful that it was never Jasmine in the box.

The House:
We know you weren't really the only one who cleaned.

The chair:
I could have taken you but I didn't want to embarass you.

Your Name:
I know now that it doesn't mean 'rising sun soaring eagle running elk buffalo heart", but it was fun while it lasted. I took the liberty of looking it up, Luke actually means "bringer of light" which makes so much more sense.

Luke Simmons you my friend were a true hero. Your faith inspired us all and your life was an offering. I love you buddy and wish that you could have stuck around, but our God is faithful and you my friend are with him now. Give Jesus a hug from us and tell Him that He is so lucky to have you with Him.

See you in the MK,

Love Char and Jesse

All for not

2006-10-09T19:04:00.000-06:00

Recently I have been struck by the level of vanity in my life. Leah Morgan preached at the Women's conference and proclaimed boldly, as she should have, that anything that doesn't make you alive on the inside are the things that wont mean a thing when we meet Jesus. That means the Gucci sunglasses I want, the anthro dresses I own, this computer in front of me, my CD collection, the doted upon VW, my cell phone, insert your favoirite thing here isn't going to matter at all in just a minute.

I was cruising around myspace today checking up on old school friends and my heart broke. People that I once knew to love integrity, morality and just plain being nice swallowed whole by the spirit of the age...this of course I do not count as their fault but rather mine.

Morality, integrity and genuine care are all sweet characteristics but unless they are the fruit of the Spirit they also are all for not. People knew I was one of those radical Christians in high school, but what does it even matter? I don't think it really mattered that they knew it or saw it because it wasn't contagious enough to change anyone...if I truly made an impact it was only through intercession, which brings me to my next point; this place is real. What happens here is written in heaven, not only here of course but anywhere people pray, places where angels and demons are affected, places where hell is losing it's grip, places where the foxes are trapped and no score is kept is where vanity has no place. I want my life to mean something for real, something other than not, something that was poured out seriously. My desire used to be to change the world but now it is simply to be changed and let my testimony ring from the rooftops. I have come here to die.

And I Quote...

2006-10-08T12:00:00.001-06:00

Today love said something that I've always known to be true about him but just was suprised to hear it outright.

"I'm just a floral pattern kind of guy."

These are the moments people...

A Grief Observed...

2006-10-06T18:30:00.000-06:00

Not CS Lewis...but today the home team lost to the A's bad...real bad. The A's swept the 5 game series in three...three pathetic games...today was salt on an open wound since they beat us soundly with the final being 8 to 3...sad face....go Cards...

Awkward Moments

2006-10-03T21:54:00.000-06:00

In the past 36 hours many an odd event has transpired...here I chronicle one to share with you.

Yesterday Jesse and I went to lunch at 54th with a few friends...he and I were splitting an appetizer sampler...which at 54th is not called an appetizer sampler but rather someone thought it's name was undoubtedly marketing genius. His conversation with the waitress went as follows:

Waitress: "And for you sir?"
Jesse: "I'll have four play please."
Waitress: "Hot or regular?"
Everyone at our table but Jesse: "Giggle, laugh, cough, etc."
Jesse: "Umm, hot please...wait (to Char) you don't like it hot do you?"
Everyone again: ".............giggle, cough.....silence...."
Now Jesse has realized what has happened and why we are all so awkard and yay terrified.
Jesse to waitress now laughing along with the rest of us: "I'll have regular please."
Waitress: "Calm down for me baby it's only Monday."

I don't know what she meant by that but I was the first one to laugh in the situation...but it was because B was staring at me awkardly...93B and Thigh Highs also joined the laughter.

The Home Team

2006-10-02T15:51:00.000-06:00

A BIG thank you to the Kansas City Royals (who have the second worst record in the ALB) for pulling it out and beating Detroit last night! As a result the Twins snagged the central title and are the 2nd best team in all of baseball falling behind the tied for first place Mets and Yankees.

That makes me happy...meanwhile the Vikes bit it and are on their way to having a rough season for the let me see here...8th year in a row...Mike Tice isn't the problem people...Anyway, wahoo, go Twins!

Date Night

2006-09-30T22:02:00.000-06:00

This week was so beautiful...It was the first week since the semester started that we actually got the time together that we are scheduled to. It was amazing...I spent a ton more time than I usually do in the PR with Jesse...studied some old friends (Abraham and Co.) and got to hang out with people all while bookstore goodness and homework got done.

This wonderful week culminated in a gorgeous date night. First I finally got the pictures from our lovely honeymoon developed and then I took Jesse (first time ever) out. We went to Mongolian BBQ, which is where he took me on our second date, and then to Coldstone for some serious creamed goodness. We ate so much chocolate...Jesus is so loving...and then headed home for some quality cuddling. It was wonderful...we went to bed early and got up late and Jesse decided to spend today with me instead of doing his normal 8 hours in the PR...it was just nice to do the every-day together. We did our laundry, cleaned the kitchen, dusted our belongings, bought groceries, got Isaac and Zoey some gourmet treats, brought the Skidlet over from KCAI and dear Elias is in town. We ate some Uno's pizza and introduced Elias to The Tick, which if you don't know is quite and endearing cartoon from the days of Love's youth that he loves...we immediately purchased season 1 on DVD after it's release.

All in all the day has been extremely lovely, I can't wait until our next one...Jesse thinks of me so often...I've never been more in love with Jesus than since we've been married...Jesse points me in His direction so often...once again, what is man that You are mindful of him?

Bitter and Hateful...

2006-09-27T15:56:00.000-06:00

This is me today...bitter and hateful...why? No real reason...nothing that could ever be justified or will be repaid in blood ...just a day...a day in a season revealing the state of my heart and emotions that is not necessarily what I was hoping to see...do you ever feel like your going backwards even when you know that you're getting better? I do...when I am faced and dealing with the state of my heart it makes me think that I am never going to get any where...even when I look behind me in terms of distance I still feel like it is merely a drop in the bucket compared to the momentous feats in front of me that I have yet to scale...Oh Jesus help me...much ado about nothing I tell you...but I'm super offended about it...about the nothing...it seems so big but really it's trivial...I know this but man I tell you I'm still so pissed about it...

Okay citizens...that's all...

Everyone has one

2006-09-26T11:40:00.000-06:00

Today was my moment to be humbled in the light of Christian world stardom...

In the bookstore it is the office of all to work their to keep the onslaughts of people who wrote a book once, paint flags, sell hand-made cards, recorded a CD in their basement and want to promote us AWAY FROM DALE...this is something that you are told from the moment you are hired and it stays ingrained in your being for all times...

Today a gentleman asked for Dale...hearing the fateful words I sprung out of my chair in my office and asked if I could help as the cashier was flailing for words...The man said "Yes, I'm looking for Dale...she is an old friend." I said "Okay, I'll go check if she's here, what is your name?" This is the moment people...wait for it, wait for it..."(little laugh from the gentleman)Yes, she'll know me as Jim Goll." Well actually I think we all do...I knew he sounded prophetic...

And again...right back where I belong...I hope that brightens your day.

Recap

2006-09-26T07:45:00.000-06:00

-Biggest week ever in Bookstore History
-Married to love for three months today
-Feeling the tension of the ever looming 500 to 5000 dash
-Gotta tell someone how I really feel today (this one is going to be a toughy)
-Chilin' at the 8am...Paula's gettin' good
-Dogs don't care what time the first time you move is...it means that your conscious and should therefore be paying attention to them
-Screaming monkeys make beagles crazy
-Adolescent hyenas are uglier than most creatures
-Zoey still loves pizza
-Bring on the Calls baby...I can't think of a better use of my time and yours.
That's it in a nutshell...good luck people...

Some things should never be said...not even after midnight

2006-09-19T11:37:00.000-06:00

For you on this special occassion on the 7 year anniversary of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City I want to share with you my experience so far...

Being that I was simply working ALL day yesterday and yay hours into the night I experienced a side of the celebration that many others do not have the privilege of enjoying...Rock and roll and I worked registers all night, Thigh highs was rocking the raffle booth and Texas was chillin' filling in the MASSIVE holes in all the fabulous sale displays...oh yes, quite a crew...

At 11:38pm a customer whom had visited us several times last night popped in just in time for my husband to leave and then through a series of undisclosable events Thighs to call me barren...no idea...I don't know how we got there or where we were going...as if this is not awkard enough this customer then looked at me and said "I don't know I think you look the opposite of barren"...meaning...pregnant? I had no idea at this point what the crap was going on...I just found myself nearly weeping and crying out for Jesse as the customer proceeded to say what he thought the opposite of barren was in several different ways "Fruitful...Young...Vibrant..." all the while never dispelling his comments as innapropriate or weird...I wanted to shoot myself...this is my shout out to those that a 24-7 place attracts...you don't look barren either.

This is why I love this man

2006-09-16T16:59:00.000-06:00

I was cruising the blogs this afternoon and taking the Blanc weekend survey. I called Jesse and asked him the Blanc question to which I got this reply:

"The book that has most impacted my Christian life? Are you reading that first 90 days of marriage book?"

I love you too baby, I love you too.

What is man that You are mindful of him?

2006-09-14T19:36:00.000-06:00

I'm pretty sure that I've blogged this beofore...one of my favorite scriptures...weeks like these make me think goodnes...the drama is excrutiating...and what are we in it anyway? Why does the Uncreated put up with our playground bantar and our bitterness? Why does He allow us to hurt and wound others when we all deserve hell? Why are we so depraved that we would injure those that love us and have been there for us in the midst of so much? And how do we treat those that are the offenders and the offendees? What should my heart say to those I want to love but feel like I can't in the midst of offense? But how do I even have the right to ask these questions? What is it that He gives me breath to curse His beloved? And why can't I keep that in mind when I slander them?

One of my favorite Stuart quotes is when he was watching the Passion and watched Jesus get just wailed on and then see Him tell His disciples to love their enemies which is where Stuart said "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard." I know what he means, but I don't wish that I would feel that forever...I want my heart to be pure, but the road is narrow and I am being crucified and currently not being very responsive...this is the predicament of the sermon on the mount this is hard...I'm dying and I should be happy about it...Jesus help me, help all of us and give us grace to love as You love...

The VW Ticker Continues...

2006-09-11T13:30:00.000-06:00

We have to take an emergency trip to St. Louis today so I had to take the Vdubbs in to make sure she was ready for an improptu trip...she will be $447 later...I wrote a poem for this occassion:

Black inside and out
Lovely to a fault
Drivable only on days ending in "K"
Domenica why would I ever give you away?

Conference Week

2006-09-08T18:30:00.000-06:00

This fall at IHOP looks to be an intense endeavor. Conference after conference, weekend after weekend, bookstore craziness to bookstore craziness, class after class, traveling teams, accountants, onething regionals and honestly we're just getting started here kids...this is life at the Missions Base...and there is nothing that we can do about it...

Why do we stay...we stay because we love Jesus? Because we want to finish FSM? Because we like the music? Because what? I stay because when I walk into the Prayer Room (when I get a chance to) I feel like I'm home...more at home than listening to Cities 97.1 and drinking a cup of Caribou Coffee through Minneapolis in a snowstorm...Something inside of me clicks with this place...it longs to be here, to know God, to search out the Mystery that is the Uncreated...this is why we came and this is why we stay...at the moments when I want to quit and move on to anywhere else I remember a Man, I remember the indwelling Holy Spirit and the good Father of all and realize this is the best place I could ever be...not because it's IHOP, but because it is exactly where the Uncontainable Trinity wants me to be.

Thank you Jesus for this place, thank you Jesus for a home beyond Kansas City, a city in the sky and a place in the heart of the Almighty that I might fill...a place to be enjoyed as I run this race...make me forever mindful of Your goodness, Your grace and Your Blood.

What keeps you here?

You know you're a VW owner when...

2006-09-06T15:51:00.000-06:00

Today I was inspired by the Blanc blog to do my own "you know you're a ____________ when" so here it goes.

You know you're a Volkswagen owner when:

-Less than $1,000 for a repair is the best and most shocking news that you have ever received

-You have a list of approved synthetic oils memorized

-You have your service guy on speed dial

-You update other VW owners on your current issue

-A standard garage won't repair your car for any amount of money

-When you try to order parts from NAPA the guy behind the counter exclaims "Holy ____!" at the price of all you parts

-In case of emergency you own a Chilton book

-People gawk at you when you say "Oh yeah, that will totally fit."

...And you won't sell it for anything in the world...Domenica (our 98 Passat 1.8L Turbo), this is my ode to you...we will never leave you nor forsake you...

A Day in Review

2006-09-05T17:23:00.000-06:00

I deem today the weirdest bookstore day ever...

Today the following events occured within the walls of my workplace:

-A child urinated on the bookstore floor
-A woman held her hand in the air until one of my lovely cashiers helped her
-Some one asked me if they could have product for free...you know like you do...

These are the moments people...

Tell us if you have ever had a day in the office worthy of one such title.

It's only 3:30...WHY????????

2006-09-05T14:27:00.000-06:00

This is the email I just sent Rock and Roll...names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I HATE THE EMAIL IN THE SUBJECT LINE!!!!!!!

CAN’T WE BE PERSONAL HERE????????

Whew…this has already been quite a day…

The artichoke will be here this evening…they are leaving to pick it up right now

Pregnancy tests you ask? I don’t know…neither does anyone else…UPS people…tracking numbers…

This is my plea for justice in the realm of mongoose mistreatment every where…

Wedding Picture Favorites

2006-09-03T12:21:00.000-06:00

Our wedding was amazing...here are three Jordan Vanderplate favorites. That's right kids...IHOP's own Jordan Vanderplate has many more talents than he lets on. Check out www.jordanvanderplate.com

Jesus Camp...as if they didn't already think we were crazy...

2006-09-03T10:47:00.000-06:00

This morning we were cruising through the apple.com trailers...you know like you do and stumbled across a movie coming to theatres by limited release on the 15th of this month. The title of the movie is Jesus Camp.

The 87 minute documentary is about a Bible camp in North Dakota and features some of our very own. Lou Engle, a choreographed dance to Breathe/Prophesy, praying in front of the abortion clinic in OP and life tape at the supreme court. To the film makers credit, they weren't trying to make us look crazy...however, like we do the director of the Bible camp did. She didn't mean to by any means, however her poor word choices and unfortunate comparisons to millitant Islam have the liberal buzz freaking out like we're strapping bombs to children and sending them to Democratic Conventions everywhere.

Being narcistic, I of course look at the situation and think of how I could have improved it and made us look slightly less crazy...the responses I read by the likes of Michael Moore and others deemed us brainwashers and no different than the Muslims giving the kids AK-47s and telling them to blow themselves up...I feel like I could have averted this by making one stellar point...We're not telling children to blow themselves up. Apparently an 8 year old praying for the president, speaking in tongues and prophesying is more frightening to our liberal homies than an 8 year old saying that they want to kill all the Jews in Jerusalem and desecrating the bodies of western soldiers after they were slaughtered for wandering into Palestine...This being the state of world that we live in the only conclusion I can muster is that surely Jesus will soon return.

Also interesting...the movies limited release includes New York City, Kansas City and Colorado Springs of all places...They know where we are people and are banking on us seeing the movie. I submit this idea...the sequel should be at onething. Check it all out at www.jesuscampthemovie.com.

So, we're married...

2006-08-06T11:15:00.000-06:00

On the 26th day of June in the year 2006 I married the man that God created to complete me. He is nothing that I thought that he would be and so much more than I ever imagined. I am more in love than I thought humanly possible and it's only gotten better in our first two months of marriage.

Highly recommended to all...no pressure though.

The Paradox that is 53 Days and Inventory

2006-05-04T10:34:00.000-06:00

The 30th of June is D-Day at work. The ever looming fiscal year-end is quickly approaching meaning one thing to me...inventory. That's right, the dreaded physical count of everything...EVERYTHING, no one is safe people, hide the women and children because our accountability to the federal government is about to go on display in large bright spotlights for the world to see.

My world is particularily affected currently, because of another event soon to come to pass in my personal life. 53 days to "I do" people, and if you're quick on your feet you realize that there is 57 days to inventory...this is the paradox...flowers, jones soda, beach blankets, dresses, brdesmaid and groomsmen gifts, 3 receptions people, count them 3, location wedding we've never been there before, addressing invitations VS. cashiers, cycle counts, appropriated tasks and sections, scheduling, Boss Lady K, I WONT BE THERE FOR IT, deconstructing displays, competency must be at an all time high and the list goes on and on...you could say that I'm under some pressure...meanwhile my love is finishing school, final papers, tests, thousands of pages to read, you name it...Kristen helped me stuff some invitations, she's the best.

53 days and inventory...the onslaught of craziness is dizzying, my life is not my own...Jesus help! Okay, that's it, fun times kids, fun times.

This is also my official shout out to Kristen...she is going to be pioneering the whole inventory thing. Kristen, you're the best boss/friend/housemate ever...I'll see you at Alias as well as most likely in the next few minutes. You rock and roll.

The Gurgle and Rush

2006-03-18T15:10:00.000-06:00

Deep unto deep?! I feel as if I have but dew drops on my forehead! I've created a postmodern sepulcre of psyche, flesh and paper mache'. Creating it to look a mountain of mud, slopped up and down to tear at the sky yet it only dilutes the veiw of such a perfect blue. I've called it perfect and expected myself to attain it's appearance. If only I knew, I really knew, what these depths are revealing. I can't see the fish but I must be there because visions of this surface are blurring and I cannot breath as I used to. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls. All Your waves and billows have gone over me. Make the sound of our comunion. Free the rushing waves. POUR OUT YOUR SPIRIT! Only in the gurgle and rush of such violence could I feel You. Only in the gurgle and rush of such profound noise could I truly hear and speak. What violence did it take to connect us first. Let our reuinion be perfected. Let my prodigal wonderings cease and let us be restored. I feel it's time I stopped trying to hold my breath. Let Your blood release my lungs and set my sight. Put Your mouth upon my soul and breath. thank You

A study in sociology

2006-02-13T13:25:00.000-06:00

The other day some friends took love and I as well as another accomplice to a little shindig. Out of our group I was the only one that had ever attended one such gathering previously. It was really just a study in sociology, how do we respond and interact with those around us and what kind of people does one such event attract? All of these questions were about to be answered.

As the time drew near for the event to start people were milling about, finding there seats dressed in the traditional garb of belt buckles and rebel flags consuming overpriced cotton candy. As the lights dimmed at Kemper Arena we all took note of those around us. Sitting above us was a crew of cowboys with their lady friends hanging off of their beer breath and lewd comments, to our left a group of about 4 couples and a few singles who appeared to be quite chill and rather satisfied to just be there. We'll talk more about the interesting dynamics in this group later. Meanwhile, the people in front of us were a mystery. There was a man who appeared to be mid-thirties, a woman he was obviously with and a few children between 12 and 14 to the right of the happy couple.

As the music started we all rose to our feet to sing not the national anthem, but another song that I am proud to say I was the only one in our party who knew every word. This is where our study begins.

Proud to be an American rang clearly through the stadium, the cowboys behind us sang out in joyous song reminiscent of some drunkards in an Irish Pub ready to dance a jig on the table tops. The best part was they re-wrote it to suit their own view of the country in which we live. "From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee..." "F--- TENNESSEE!!!!" Classy. I liked it. We need honesty in one such study. Tell me more...

Through out the event all kinds of interesting things were observed...the earlier mentioned intriguing dynamics of the group to our left took centerstage at intermission when most of the group left save two people. The two were a man and a woman sitting apart from eachother and seemingly there with their designated significant others...both of the said others stepped out of the stadium for whatever it is that we do at intermission...during this break the guy who's lady friend was now absent slipped into the seat recently vacated by the left over woman's male homie...he settled in, put his arm around her and started ferociously making out...as I'm sure you can imgine my shock was through the roof...how far we were from IHOP...I forgot about the world...I didn't remember...I'm more sheltered now than when I was homeschooled...someone help me...Jesse noticing my gasping and choking tried to get out of me what could be causing me such distress...I simply patted his arm and just said "Thank you for loving Jesus."

The woman in front of us with her boyfriend? Husband? Significant other...and children was an avid Grave Digger fan and screamed obscenities at any other vehicle vehemently waving both middle fingers in the air...upon one of the aforementioned children getting her attention by saying "Mom, could I have some money for soda?" our group, most-likely in shock...began to uproariously laugh, gasp, weep between the porch and altar and pray in tongues simultaneously, blowing our cover and violating the prime directive therefore invalidating any research we may have previously gathered...oh well, that's why we all work at the bookstore. Here is to redneck events everywhere, may they live on in our hearts as fond studies of the human condition.

The Biggest Assault on Self

2006-02-11T15:11:00.000-06:00

So, I'm getting married in a matter of months to the most amazing human being I have ever been blessed enough to stumble upon. When daring to embark on such endeavors it is recommended to seek wisdom from those that have gone before you. In this case my love and I are doing a little premarital counseling with an amazing couple from our church. We've only met once so far, but the things they said just hit my heart and the realizations that we both made were stunning.

For a while I was so cool with the idea of not getting married, I thought I might be celibate (don't laugh, I'm fully aware that I am only 20). But, while my other friends always seemed to be chasing the wind of relationship I was content to be just me and Jesus, I may have had a crush or two, but at the end of the day He was always more than enough. So, when I started to fall in love with this one, I battled inside myself about it being just me and Jesus and is that better, is that more of death to self, to be single forever, to possibly spend every moment in solitude with the King.

As time progressed I realized that this man was created for me and I was created for him-this would fulfill a dream of God's heart, but the question still remained, is this scorning the good for the best? Will I die here and become the consummation of a dream? No, I won't, but we will, my life is no longer my own, it always belonged to Jesus, but now it also belongs to this one, I can't really do anything apart from him, I'm not talking things like mow the lawn, go out to eat or hang out with people, I'm talking about real things. Move somewhere new, get a new job, buy a new car, I can't do these things independent of him because that is not the way God designed it. God designed marriage to be the biggest assault on self, to attack the secret "golden calves" in our hearts, and this is true. Our marriage counselor said it best when he looked at me and said "You will be crucified on this cross..." and he pointed to my love. I will die. It's already been difficult at times, but at the end of it, I don't think that there will be anything more beautiful.

a mission to the starry stars

2006-02-11T00:30:00.000-06:00

How many beautiful voices never get "heard"? How many walking artforms never get "seen"? If one would simply take a swift round-a-bout view of our world they would quickly notice that a large portion of its populace is driven to becoming famous. The two major routes taken by the general masses are Rock-stardom or the ever loomin Stage. The problem is that so many people don't get to the spotlight. They never find the right place or the right time. Most of the time they have pretty good acting skills and a lot of times they have voices that woo the world. They just never make it all the way. So, I wonder, how many beautiful voices are out there that never even have an oportunity to ring out? How many good acting skills never see the light of day? It just hit me when I was watching this random opera show on cable at the girls house. I wasn't really "watching" it. Some girl turned it on and now one turned it off. Really. I wasn't watching it. I just saw it. C'mon. Well, it hit me anyway. There's a lot of really talented people out there who never get a big shot, or even a medeocre shot. What exactly did God have in mind? Hmmmmm....I wonder.....Hmmmmmm.............dot dot dot.

What is Man?

2006-01-31T09:59:00.000-06:00

For the last year now a verse in Psalms has had my attention. "What is man that You are mindful of him?" What is man? What is it about human flesh and blood that stops the Uncreated in His tracks? We are the only creatures that can give God the metaphorical finger and yet the only ones that when they fell from glory He died for. What the crap? I think that it is this chasym that seperates us from God. The utter disbelief that God would become a man and be mocked and murdered is too far a thought. What manner of love is this? And is this the only measure of true love? Yes, yes it is. I don't really know how to end this other than to say it's worth thinking about what is man that He is mindful of him?...Whoa that was creepy wierd, it's like when you're teachers in Jr. High remind you to come full circle on a paper...nevermind...

2006-01-27T11:28:00.000-06:00

Have a cigar!! It's a blog!!

2006-01-25T11:35:00.000-06:00

So, here it is. What you've all been waiting for. What your dreams have been consumed with for the past eleven years...or so. The ultimate blog-thing-dealy, from Jesse and CHARLEEN!!! DUN DUN DUN! dun. Here will be displayed our ridiculous notions on life, love and the pursuit of happiness for all to be wowed at and enjoy...we know you've been waiting, because we've been watching. And we know what you look like when you're waiting. So in honor of this new group of pages in our lives we're going to make you wait a little longer to see some actual "blogging". HOOORAY!!! ta ta for now.