2009 in Rewind

Seriously folks, where does the time go?  Looking back, this year has been an emotional one, filled with milestones along with some twists and turns, but through it all God has been good and gracious and I thank Him for bringing me to where He has at the close of 2009.  I have to say I’m looking forward to 2010 and seeing what the Lord has planned….for me and for those I love.

Year in Review

1)   Ringing in 2009 (Moroccon style) with some of my oldest and closest of friends

2)   Hosting the Leadership Conference in Philly

3)   Having dinner at Morimoto’s

4)   Seeing both my parents retire after 30+ years of working and enjoying the fruits of their labor

5)   The birth of so many new babies, both of friends and family alike
6)   Continuing with a great group of people into our 4th year of the Romans Bible Study  (and yet we’re still only on Romans 8...we may just be the slowest readers ever =P)
7)   May 2009 being 5 years of practicing optometry
8)   Taking my 8th trip to India with both my immediate and extended family and trying out some new adventures like houseboating
9)   Seeing my 2 younger cousins get married and celebrating with them in their joy (engagements, bridal showers, weddings, etc)
10) Taking a trip to Spain with my best friends to celebrate a new decade of life
11) Turning 30 along with the rest of our 6 (wo)man crew, aka “the Boyz”, and being able to celebrate with most of them
12) Starting a blog!!!
13) Finally getting to see The Lion King on Broadway
14) Watching the Phillies get to the World Series
15) Getting a new Bible (ESV) that’s changed the way I learn Scripture and motivating me to really learn on my own
16) Buying my first car =), and saying goodbye to my Forrester of 9 years (you don’t understand, it was emotional, we’d been thru a lot together)
17) Taking part in the Philadelphia Marathon by running and training for my first 8K
18) Cooking and hosting another Thanksgiving meal
19) The always fun and festive "annual" K White Elephant Christmas party
20) Digging out of the 2nd largest snow storm of all-time in Philadelphia (23.2 inches to be exact)
21) My friend S running a third successful Host-A-Christmas Drive
22) And finally….God bringing people to intersect my life and teach me things about the world and myself, people that have stayed awhile, some that haven’t, but both having an impact and challenging me in ways that have brought me closer to the Lord.

Have a Happy New Year everyone and may 2010 be filled with warmth, kindness, and joy for all of you.

Good Eats - Iron Hill Brewery

It's an annual holiday reunion of sorts with "the Boyz" tonight, minus a few key players this year.  It's always great to catch up with my oldest of friends and laugh the night away remembering the ridiculous stories of our youth.

Dinner Tonight:

Iron Hill Brewery

The Shoppes at English Village
1460 Bethlehem Pike

North Wales, PA 19454

P: 267 708.2000

F: 267 708.2050

http://www.ironhillbrewery.com/

"We're passionate about producing distinctive, full-flavored handcrafted beers, accompanied by fresh–from–scratch New American cuisine in a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Our goal has always been to provide food and beer that is inspired, consistently crafted and presented by a knowledgeable and courteous service staff."

Strength in Weakness

When you are in the midst of a trial, there's a power coming into your life that you've never experienced before. When you see a hard thing coming, try saying, "I may not want this, but I know I'm going to see Christ working in my life in an incredible way."

God never allows a thorn but that He provides sufficient grace and strength in our weaknesses. Sufficient grace is not just enough to survive, but enough to have supernatural joy in the midst of anything He allows us to go through.

-Taken from the Weekly Walk by James MacDonald

"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me... For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Merry Christmas

As I was sitting in church and looking at some of our parishioners faces, it struck me how painful the holidays can be sometimes. It’s often referred to as the holiday blues, right? I was looking around at the families who currently have very sick children, husbands that have lost wives, children that have lost fathers, and on a day that is described as joyful for most, it can be very painful because we‘re reminded of what we may be missing. Even if we haven’t gone through any earth-shattering life changes, whatever struggles we may have, big or small, they all seem to be under a magnifying glass between Thanksgiving and New Years. Even at work my boss and I were remarking that during this season our patients seem to be a little more stressed, have a little less patience, and can often come in with very foul moods. As much as we describe Christmas as "the season to be jolly", there's very little joy to be found among us despite what the Christmas songs profess.  It sounds depressing doesn't it? I promise this post does get better.

Growing up, I used to think of people as either having a happy or not-so-happy demeanor, nothing in the middle. But as I’ve made my way into adulthood, I realize that life happens, and depending on the circumstances (as mentioned above) we now have to try…we have to try to maintain that joyous outlook despite what may be going on around us and in us. And on this Christmas day, I’m reminded that instead of trying, I can believe that my outlook on life can be eternally fixed. That on this day a baby was born, so that I can have an eternally joyous outlook. That on this day “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory… and from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1: 14-16). That on this day, all those faces I’ve seen that may be struggling because of life’s circumstance, can be as joyous as the person who’s lost nothing, because Christ came to this earth and experienced everything that we could possibly experience and then some. That true joy doesn’t depend on anything that happens on this earth, but comes from delighting in the words and life of our Savior.

So on that note, I wish away any holiday blues you may be feeling, and wish you all a truly joyous Christmas and a contentment that can only come by resting our faith on that humble babe that was born on this glorious day.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Good Eats - Bonefish Grill

A rare dinner out with the family tonight at one of the nicer chain restaurants in the area...and more importantly a restaurant my parents actually like!

Bonefish Grill

1015 Easton Road, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

(215) 659-5854

http://www.bonefishgrill.com/

Light up the Night

Excerpts from this week's The Weekly Walk by James MacDonald . .
it offers us a new way to look at the Christmas season.

"One of the favorite traditions of the Christmas season is to turn on the Christmas tree lights and light up the night . . . This tradition is well suited to the real celebration of the season. John 3:19 says that when Jesus Christ was born, the light came into the world.  In fact, more than two hundred times in the Bible, God is described as light. Figuratively and literally, whenever God appears, light appears.

Have you ever been in some pitch-black place when you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face? That's what life is like without Jesus. You can't fully appreciate the light until you feel the weight of the darkness.


If you feel lost, alone, and trapped - searching but not finding - Jesus Christ is the light.


If you feel cruelly crushed under the wrongs done to you, Jesus Christ is the light.


If you feel perplexed by an issue or circumstance that you can't figure out, Jesus Christ is the light.


Maybe loneliness, despair, and confusion describe you. If you want to know the way out, you first have to admit that you’re in darkness. You may not be ready to die, but you're also not fully living. You don't see any purpose to life, and you don't see any hope worth trusting. But all that can change right now.


Like any other genuine follower of Christ, nothing made sense to me either before I turned to Jesus. I couldn't sort out anything in this mixed-up world. But since receiving Jesus as my Savior, I understand what's going on. Although life still isn't perfect, and never will be until eternity, I realize what my own sin does to my life. Suddenly Christmas is so much more than a stale exchange of gifts and some silly guy in a red suit. At Christmas those of us who know Him celebrate the forgiveness of sin that can be found only in Jesus, the gift of Christmas."

Good Eats - NYC Edition - Lupa

Today was a day off and I decided to spend it walking the streets of NYC.  I've always found wintertime to be a really enjoyable time in the city amongst all the shoppers, the lights, and the different sights and sounds that come with the season.

After a little window shopping, sipping some hot apple cider in Bryant Park, and a visit to the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza, the night ended with some good food at one of Mario Batali's restaurants in Greenwich Village:

LUPA

170 Thompson Street
between Houston St.

and Bleecker St.

New York, NY 10012

(212) 982-5089

http://www.luparestaurant.com/

Quotable Quotes

This is my wish for you:

Comfort on difficult days,

smiles when sadness intrudes...

rainbows to follow the clouds,

laughter to kiss your lips,

sunsets to warm your heart,

hugs when spirits sag,

beauty for your eyes to see,

friendships to brighten your being,

faith so that you can believe,

confidence for when you are in doubt,

courage to know yourself,

patience to accept the truth,

love to complete your life.

-Anonymous

Happy Birthday Jerry!

27 years ago today, God decided I no longer needed anymore attention from my parents. Therefore he gave me a little brother to upstage me from then on out with his smarts and many accomplishments. =P

In all seriousness, may God continue to use your life and the amazing gifts he’s given you for His glory.

 Happy Birthday Jerry…love ya!      

Good Eats - Gaya

Dinner Tonight:
Office Christmas Party 2009

GAYA KOREAN RESTAURANT

Authentic Korean Cuisines

http://gayarestaurant.com/

1002 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422
T. 215.654.8900 // 215.654.8300 // 215.654.8311 

A look at the insane amount of good food we had at dinner tonight

Video from Matt

So I've come to know of this story from a friend's tweets (yes, I just said that...I knew there was a reason why I joined Twitter.)  The message in the video below is so simple and simply so powerful. I've never heard of this pastor (Matt Chandler) until I saw this, but listen to his whole powerful testimony if you can. 

Video from Matt

Things I'm convicted of as I listen to it for the the umpteenth time:

I'm a person who can easily let worry and fear get to the extreme, to the point where it can stop me cold in my tracks and literally incapacitate my life.  I've easily written it off as "I'm just a worrier, it's natural to think and dwell on the worst-case scenario...I'm just wired to get anxious."  When actually, I'm realizing how much of a sin it is on my part, truly a sin, to live a life that puts so little faith in the Lord and doubts His will during hardships.  I keep hearing the Lord say during those times, "Where is your faith?"  It's so freeing to watch this video from a man, who as he says stands to lose everything, and still says "I am not afraid" because nothing is better than HIM.

Ask For Whatever You Wish . . . (Part 1)

A couple weeks ago I was out to dinner with some friends and the question was brought up, “Is it okay to pray for certain things?” When we expanded that question a little further we were essentially asking, is it wrong to pray for the things that you desire?  My immediate gut answer was….of course not!  Immediately I think of things like praying for someone’s health, or praying for a child’s upbringing, or asking God for world peace (I just had to throw in my standard pageant answer).  Prayer is communicating with God and regardless of whether I say it out loud or not, He knows the desires of my heart.  I’m fooling no one if I don’t mention it so why not put it up in prayer? Sounds easy enough.  My friend also added that it’s not only asking God for what you want,  but what you do with the response.  Are you willing to accept God’s answer if the answer is not in line with your own will?

After that conversation, I kept thinking about our answers.  Was it really as easy and simple as I made it out to be?  Even in our conversation we were coming up with gaping holes and couldn’t quite answer the gray areas (i.e. when our intentions may not be as pure, or as black and white as healing the sick).

Since that conversation I’ve been doing some reading and some listening….particularly to Keller, Piper, and MacDonald.  The bulk of the sermons brought it back to the basics, in particular the Lord’s prayer, and in digging a little further, analyzing the verse “Give us this day our daily bread.”  Although on the surface the verse talks about a basic necessity, it’s the basis for a broader request asking God to fulfill the natural/carnal desires of our body and heart.

So after listening and reading, the one glaring conclusion I came to was this: my focus on the question itself was inherently flawed.  If in prayer I’m asking God what He can do for me, without taking a whole host of other things into consideration, I’m not praying as I should be.

As you can see from the title this is a two-part post, all I’ve done here is laid the framework for a question that’s been on my mind.  This would be way too long if I started to delve into the answers I sought out, but I will at a later time.  Certainly to be continued . . .

 In the meantime, what do you think?

Winter Wonderland

It’s that time of the year again, where the days are short, the nights are long, and there’s a crisp cold chill in the air.  I know most don’t enjoy it, but I do love the beginning of the winter season. 

Yesterday, we had our first snowfall and although it can be difficult to drive in,  I’m a sucker for that fairy tale winter wonderland look.

Things I love about this season: turtlenecks, pretty scarves, glistening snow, hot chocolate, fireplaces, Christmas, warm blankets, winter coats, snow days, the new year, holiday parties, ice skating, Christmas music, steaming latte's, and for a homebody like me…..just a plain excuse to stay indoors and curl up with a good book.  The wintry weather has arrived and it’s forecasted to be one heck of a season.

Quotable Quotes

"In the middle of the way I am, come be who You are. Bring your Spirit, bring your healing, come be who You are. Let it flow, let it wash over, let it overwhelm me like the sea."

-Sara Groves, Come be who You are

Smile

I was surfing the web yesterday and I came across an Anne Geddes poster I once had hanging up in my dorm room waaaay back in my college years.

How can you not smile while looking at this precious giddy face? =D

Transcending Human Understanding

Yesterday one of our church members sent a prayer request for a baby who was only a couple days old, and whose health was in critical condition. Today that baby passed away after only being on this earth for a few short days. She forwarded the father’s response to everything going on and I’m still in awe over his strength. 

He humbly requested for all to not be sad or worry about the situation because they had full assurance that she was going to a greater place. He expressed that while they are sad over the temporary situation, "it is with joy they release her soul to the great healer who He himself has resurrected from the dead."

Who else, and I mean who else, could give this family that type of peace that transcends all human understanding. They’re able to use this precious baby’s life and death as an opportunity to proclaim the truth, and be a testament to how great the Lord is in their life. How amazing is it that in her short stay here, this child fulfilled God’s role for her perfectly: bringing glory to God’s name.

Quotable Quotes

Prayer is not for gratifying our natural desires. It is for gratifying our desires when those desires have been so purified and so saturated with God that they coincide with his plans.

-John Piper

I Can Only Imagine

I have a confession.
When no one's home, I like to blast music soooo loud that it drowns out my own thinking.
Why did I tell you this??.... well try it while listening to the whole song below and see how your heart and mind respond.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

I wanted to write this post on Thanksgiving, but amongst all the cooking and the eating, and then the ensuing food coma...well, let's just say the day got away from me. Thanksgiving does too often get overshadowed by the food and entertaining, and as a result I don't take enough time to reflect on things that I am so thankful for.

So after waking up on the day after Thanksgiving, and in seeing my dad clean up after the big dinner and then wake up early to cook us breakfast, I’m reminded of how grateful I am for these people I call "Mummy" and "Daddy". They have been a living model of sacrificial love to me. Parents, who despite having two grown kids, insist on doing anything and everything to make life as easy as possible for us.

God also knew how much I would need a woman like my mother in my life. I marvel at how she is able to empathize and relate with my struggles despite her vastly different upbringing. There have been many a times I have cried on her shoulder (still do when needed), and I thank the Lord that her words of Godly wisdom and prayers have pulled me through some tough days.

I am grateful for a younger brother who gives me advice that is wise beyond his years and my own.

I am thankful for my friends....for these people who make me laugh like no other, who have seen me through some of my darkest moments, who don't judge me when I stumble, who challenge me in my faith, who stand up for me when I can't stand for myself, who speak the truth even when I don't want to hear it, and who have been there far beyond what the word friendship calls for. Some of these friendships have lasted as long as decades, some only a few months, but both have impacted me beyond measure.

I'm grateful to see the joy of so many of my friends and family bring new lives into this world and embark on their new role as parents.....for the opportunity to hold and play with these little creatures and wonder at what the Lord has in store for them.

I am grateful for having a life where there is an over-abundance of everything and never truly being in "need" of anything.

I'm grateful that I have a job where I come across people from all different walks of life, to be able to hear their stories, and be touched by some of the things they share. A perfect example being yesterday: seeing a patient at the young age of 19 who had already lost vision in one eye due to a military accident, and is now eager to serve his country again as he prepares for a 7 month tour in Afghanistan.

I am thankful for the opportunities I've had to traverse the globe, for experiencing the beauty of majestic mountains and breathtaking sunrises in different corners of the earth.

I am truly blessed and thankful for all of these things, but if for some reason the Lord decides to take it all away or decides that it is enough.…..I know my heart should still be grateful because I will forever be called a child of God. I am most thankful for that security He has mercifully bestowed upon me.  Not only has the Lord guaranteed me life beyond this world, but he's also given me a "script" to live the most meaningful life while I am on this earth, all very neatly packaged in a book called the Bible.

It's a shame how often I do take these things for granted. I’m guilty of more often than not portraying a "woe is me" attitude rather than a "how grateful am I" demeanor. I am blessed beyond measure, and yes, sometimes it does take a holiday to put it all in perspective.

Good Eats - Sabrina's Cafe

This past Sunday's post-race brunch:

A "diverse" menu featuring "innovative" "comfort food" "combinations" wins praise at these "adorable" New American twins in the Italian Market and Fairmount, where "awesome" brunches and "all-day" breakfasts are "worth the wait", and dinners are a "treat"; the digs remind some of "their grandma's basement rec room" but it doesn't dampen the "creative" vibe, which extends all the way to the "friendly" staff's "hair color". - ZAGAT survey 2009

Italian Market                                   

910 Christian Street          

Phila, PA 19147     

http://www.sabrinascafe.com/

Fairmount/Art Museum

1804 Callowhill Street

Phila, PA 19130                             

"Run, Forrest, Run"

8K - 5 MILES - 47 min 53 seconds...
my official time for the first race I ever ran!

A few of us this past weekend decided to take part in the Philadelphia Marathon by running the Rothman 8K.  Now it's no marathon or 1/2 marathon, but 5 miles was more than a sufficient challenge for us because we were all newbies to running. 

Prior to this, the most I ever ran was about 2.5 miles while on the treadmill. Even though I've been more diligent in working out as I've gotten older, running was never my thing.  The stamina and patience needed for it is usually what kills me.  Let me tell you how pathetic I was.  I remember back in high school asking the gym teacher if there was any paper/busy work he needed done on the days we would run track outdoors.  I dreaded those days because I could barely run a mile in under 15 minutes and I would often be at the back of the pack.  Thank God things have changed since then.

So in the past couple weeks leading to the race, it was fun to go down to Kelly Drive and to start training outdoors...1st 2 miles, and then adding about a 1/2 mile every week. Kelly Drive is just such a beautiful place and running there definitely became a stress reliever and a time to relax and reflect.  My main running partner sent me an email during our training and since I don't think I can re-state what she said any better, I'm just going to cut and paste her exact words :)

i wanted to share this thought with you. while i was running yesterday, i was inspired and reminded of an old academy award winning movie called, chariots of fire. i dont know if you've ever seen it, but it's about a true story of two athletes in the 1924 olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian, and Harold Abrahams. facing much opposition, Liddell sees running as a way of glorifying God before returning to China to work as a missionary. It's really a great story on finding God even in the ordinary things and how much He means for us to enjoy it. there's a well quoted line by Liddell towards the end of the movie, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." If you have a few spare hours, i think it would be a real blessing and maybe even a great blog =)

The whole experience has definitely been a blessing and needless to say I took her advice on the blog as well =). I haven't seen the movie yet, but it's on my list of movies to watch.

So in our training, the most we ever ran was 4.5 miles. We were hoping the adrenaline would carry us the last 1/2 mile and we were right. There were 18,000 people registered total to run between all 3 races and everyone is essentially running at the same time. When you get to the last 1/4 mile, there's thousands of people cheering you on on both sides of the track. It's just such an awesome sight to see: a sea of people rooting you on as you're heading towards that finish line. There's no way not to feed off that contagious energy of the crowd, and it just pushes you till you reach the end.

The 5 of us enjoying our post-race brunch

I think all of us have been bitten with the running bug now, so we're planning to do the 10 mile Broad Street run at the beginning of May next year...and dare I say maybe even the 1/2 marathon next November =).  I'm excited to keep up with the running and to see how far we'll all go...we shall wait and see.

Quotable Quotes

The soul hardly ever realizes it, but whether he is a believer or not, his loneliness is really a homesickness for God.

-Hubert van Zeller

Healthy Baking

I like to bake, but I have to admit that I don't make the healthiest baked goods. So on my day off today I decided to experiment with some healthy baking.  I know it doesn't sound appetizing...luckily though I found this great website, 101 cookbooks, which makes healthy meals sound and look delicious.

The only problem with baking this way is I usually have to search high and low at specialty grocery stores for alot of these ingredients, and also usually pay double the price.....oh well, there's no price for good health, right?

So from the website I decided to make an Apple and Carrot Shortbread Cookie (right) and a Carrot Oatmeal Cookie (below), which also happens to be completely vegan.

Some of the interesting ingredients included things like whole wheat pastry flour, semolina flour, coconut oil, Muscavado brown sugar, etc.

The cookies definitely are not as sweet as your normal typical cookie, but the flavors of the natural ingredients like the apples, carrots and even the coconut oil really do shine.  I definitely am going to experiment some more and hopefully I can continue cooking and baking with an edge on the healthier side.

For My Good

What's your reaction when you feel like you're being disciplined by God? Are you even aware of it when it's happening? When it does, do you feel disheartened or angry or unfairly punished? Within the past couple years, I can honestly say God has made me more attuned and aware of when He is disciplining me. Instead of being thankful for God dealing with me as a Father should, my reaction is often one of sadness, guilt, worry, shame, etc.
But the thing is, God doesn't see it that way....He sees it this way:

"It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." - Hebrews 12:7-8

"How is it with you today? Are you in a difficult circumstance as a discipline from your loving Father? Do you feel His sadness that it had to come to this in order for you to learn? I don't want to get older and still be an adolescent Christian. I want to grow up in the Lord and trust my heavenly Father even when I don't understand what He's doing. I want to believe that the Lord is way smarter than me. He gets it. His discipline is for my good...Your Father loves you. Everything He allows is for your growth and good. He sees the long picture, even when you can’t. I wonder how I make God’s heart sad when I don’t understand that He lovingly draws near to me even in times of learning (See Psalm 34:18). "      

          --Taken from The Weekly Walk by James MacDonald

Sunday Thoughts

During bible study today we were focussing on I John 2:15-17.

It reads:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

You may ask why I post or share such things. It may seem like it's to share and spread the Gospel, and to a certain extent that is part of my intention.  At the core of it though, it is more for selfish reasons.  It's to keep myself accountable.  If I'm not writing about it, I'm likely not thinking about it....and I NEED to think about these things.  I want to transform my way of thinking because I find my life and thoughts are too often consumed with things that are of this world.  This is my way of constantly reminding and inundating my mind and heart with the ways and words of the Lord. 

Good Eats - Creperie Beaumonde

The place we had dinner tonight isn't worth mentioning....so I won't.
On the other hand, the place we stopped in for dessert was fabulous.

Creperie-Beaumonde

Northwest corner of 6th and Bainbridge Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19147

215.592.0656

http://www.creperie-beaumonde.com/

Booty, God, Booty

Did you just go huh? I did when I read that title.

Now that I have your attention, read the short and sweet post that goes along with it....

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2008/04/113-booty-god-booty/

I promise you'll at least chuckle.....while realizing how true it is.

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

When I doubt my worth in this world....

It was battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No, From the room far back a gray
Bearded man came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin and tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

 "One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered, But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand." "What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and scarred with sin
Is auctioned cheap to a thankless world
Much like that old violin.

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

- Myra Brooks Welch

Veteran's Day

Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, whether you're for or against our international policies, today was a day to remember the everyday people who make a choice to put their lives on the line to serve our country.

A couple years ago, I got a healthy dose of what reality is for these men and women when I worked at a VA hospital for a year and a half.

The majority of patients I saw came with charts filled with diagnosis after diagnosis of physical, mental, and traumatic disorders. You would think that we as a country would do our best to take care of them, but more often than not, these veterans have to fight to get the necessary care they deserve. In the back of my mind I would wonder, "Why would anyone willingly want to do this?" And yet, the majority of these veterans, despite their circumstances, walked in with a smile on their face, grateful for what they do have.

Today is a day I'm reminded of the veterans I came across and the sacrifices they made. The least I can do is acknowledge them and lift up a prayer tonight for them and their lives.

Happy 40th Birthday....Sesame Street?

Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th birthday today.

I don't know about you but I can't believe it's ONLY 40 yrs old.

I just assumed it was established decades before my time....when actually it had only been around 10 yrs when I was born....meaning that I'm feeling very old right about now.

Well anyway, Happy Birthday Sesame Street....here's to another 40 years!

Agape cont...

Bear with me for a moment.

I'm still thinking of agape.

I'm thinking...It's so much more than the warm fuzzy feeling I reduce it to...

I'm thinking...I've heard this a million times at every wedding, but I think I need to hear it again...

Love is patient and kind;

love does not envy or boast,

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing;

but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

- I Corinthians 13:4-7

Agape

"Agape" was a word that was thrown around a few times in yesterday's Sunday sermon. It's a word I haven't heard or thought about in quite awhile. To even call it a "word" is really an understatement. It's more of a concept that describes a state of being that I am light years from ever fully grasping.

If you look up the definition of agape on Wikipedia (because who looks at the dictionary anymore), it's defined as a "Greek word translated into English as love. Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love." So many times I use the word love like it's such an ordinary thing. Yet, have I ever really loved anything to the extent that was described above? Have I ever fully gave myself unconditionally expecting nothing in return? I know myself, I am too selfish a creature to even come close to what agape describes.

The author C.S. Lewis is given the most credit in defining agape through his book The Four Loves. He distinguishes agape, the kind of love Christ taught and showed, as "the highest level of love known to humanity - a selfless love, a love that was passionately committed to the well-being of the other."

Can you imagine the depths of the relationships we could have with one another, or how different this world would be, if we all strove to love as Christ loved us?

Good Eats - New Delhi Restaurant

Lunch Today:

NEW DELHI INDIAN RESTAURANT

4004 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA

[P] 215.386.1941 / 215.386.2125

http://www.newdelhiweb.com/

My friend and I had been craving North Indian food for awhile now so we hit up New Delhi for lunch today. We hadn't been there for several years and it used to be a favorite of ours during our college days. It was a little nostalgic because it's still packed with all these young college kids. You get a great tasting and filling North Indian buffet for a really cheap price. You can't beat that as a college student....or as an adult. :-)

By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North

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Well, that does suck

It was a great series to watch, but the NY Yankees proved to be too much for the Phillies last night. Of course, I'm still very proud of the Phillies for how far they did get.

I think even worse than the Phillies losing the World Series.....is now having to listen to all those NY Yankees fans :)

You're Not Going Under

This is Pastor James MacDonald's devotional for this week from The Weekly Walk. A great message that I've surely needed to hear in the past, and will surely need to be reminded of in the future. Read on and be encouraged.

"Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." - 1 Peter 4:19

I've said it for years, there is nothing good that God brings into your life by way of transformation that He doesn't bring through the funnel of perseverance. If God can get that one characteristic into your life, He can truly make you what He wants you to be.

First Peter 4:19 encourages us with,"Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."

Did you hear what you're supposed to do? Entrust your soul to your faithful Creator. God is faithful to you. He's got His hand on the thermostat. The fire will not get too hot. He's watching the depth gauge; this trial will not get too deep. God puts up the boundaries to your trials."That's all. That's my daughter. I know what she can handle. Not that much. Not there. Not now." God protects His own. He will not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able to take. And in the middle of it all, He tells you to entrust yourself to His care.

God knows you better than you know yourself. You're not going to lose it; you're going to be okay. You don't know what you are capable of when you're resting in God's strength and not your own. You're going to get through this one way or another. It's not going to last forever and you will get through it - because God is faithful. He's not tired and He's not wondering when this is going to be over.

Reassure yourself, "I'm not going under." You can keep going for another day, another week because God is producing staying power in you. The ability to remain in that marriage - as hard as it is. The ability to remain in that job - as hard as it is. The ability to stick with it in that difficult circumstance - no matter what. If God can produce in you that staying power, He can give you everything else.

The good's not coming if you quit. Listen, God can get every characteristic of Christ into your life if He can just teach you to stay in the game.

No Surprise

You know how you hear a song a million times, you know you like the beat and the feel of the song, but you never really paid attention to the lyrics. And then finally for some reason, you decide to pay attention.....and it takes on a whole other dimension, a song that provokes a deep visceral response.

I had one of those moments with this song as I was driving into work the other day. At the moment it's one of my favorites.

It's amazing how talented artists can take an experience from their lives, no matter good or bad, and can create a great piece of music from it. Even if you and I don't relate to it, you know someone out there is having a deep gut reaction to the words. That's the beauty of a great song.

Happy Halloween

There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin

- Linus Van Pelt in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Happy Halloween!

Twitter Humor

We do live in a crazy technological world....I guess this is just a sign of the times :-)

Quotable Quotes

The most difficult thing I have ever had to do is follow the guidance I prayed for.

--Albert Schweitzer

Sunday Morning Baking

Tiramisu Layer Cake made for a friend's surprise birthday party this evening :)

People Watching

As I was leaving the mall today, I was walking behind some parents along with their 4 kids ranging in all different ages. The mall was pretty packed and everyone seemed to be in a rush. The youngest of the kids was this sweet little boy maybe all of 4 or 5 years old who was trying to keep pace with the rest of his siblings. Every few seconds his father would look back to make sure his son was keeping up and ask "Are you okay bud?". At which, the boy would nod while trying to walk as fast as his little legs could take him. You could tell he was getting frustrated because he couldn't keep up, but was probably too stubborn to ride in the stroller his parents were pushing.

Finally upon looking back the 3rd or 4th time, the father stopped and scooped his son into his arms. To see the relief on this little boy's face was precious. He wrapped his arms tightly around his father's neck, laid his head on his father's shoulders, and closed his eyes with a little smile on his face. His body had completely relaxed within his father's embrace.

Seeing how safe and secure this boy felt in his father's arms, it made me think about how much more secure and loved I should feel in our Heavenly Father's arms. Sometimes it's so hard to fathom God's love.....but when I see love displayed with such purity among human relationships, I can only imagine and be amazed at what true love feels like from our Father in Heaven.

Good Eats - The Mission Grill

Dinner Tonight:

THE MISSION GRILL | PHILADELPHIA

1835 ARCH STREET (CORNER OF 19TH & ARCH)

[P] 215.636.9550

http://www.themissiongrill.com/

"refined casual Southwestern cuisine prepared by Chef Stephen L. Regosch"

2009 National League Champions !!

Exciting times for Philly again......next stop: WORLD SERIES :)

Old Words, New Meaning

"Emptied completely" was a phrase I heard during Sunday sermon this past week and all I could think of was "Oh boy, I've been there." Why does God bring us to those moments where the weight of life's burdens begin to crush us? I feel like more recently I've been having more of these moments and of course being human I question why. Why does He strip me bare, make me vulnerable, and empty me completely at times?

It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you're facing a challenge, but the beauty after coming out of these struggles is that His intentions and motives couldn't be more clear. God's love is so great that He cares for my eternal being, and forces me in those moments to not only walk...but run to Him, seek Him out, and to kneel at His feet. What an awesome and loving Father we have to call us back to Him knowing that He alone can offer us the guidance, comfort, and solace we sometimes desperately need.

In a book by Max Lucado called Travelling Light, and under the chapter titled "The Luggage of Life", he writes:

"Come to me," he invites, "all of you who are weary and carry burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). If we let Him, God will lighten our loads...but how do we let Him? May I invite an old friend to show us? The Twenty-third Psalm.

The Lord is my Shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil.

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

I've recited this prayer countless times in my life, but a more personal revelation takes place when I recite this Psalm in the midst of a struggle. It offers an amazing comfort knowing that God will "redeem your life from the pit... (Psalm 103:4)" when you call on His name.

Brunch, Broadway, BFF's, & the Big Apple

I'm not a big movie buff or enthusiast, but there's something about live theatre that stimulates the senses and grabs my attention more than any Oscar-worthy movie ever could. Aside from one show I remember that was a little over-rated (Rent), I've enjoyed almost every theatre performance seen thus far.
After being told jokingly that "No 30-yr old should want to see The Lion King", I was finally able to make use of a very generous birthday gift and head to NYC to see the play this weekend. It did not disappoint! The show beautifully captured all of the emotion and drama the original movie portrayed.
When you pair a crisp autumn day in NYC with some great friends, some fine brunch dining, and a Broadway play to boot, you certainly couldn't ask for a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Quotable Quotes

If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, and doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, absent the dread of failure, rejection, and calamity. Can you imagine a life with no fear? This is the possibility behind Jesus' question: "Why are you afraid?" (Matt. 8:26)

--Max Lucado, Fearless

And so it begins....

Having entered a new decade of life this year, and having experienced much already in this lifetime.....I thought a few changes to shake things up were in order. Journaling has become more prominent in my life and entering the blogger's forum feels like a natural progression for me. I've been a lurker on blogs for far too long and so here's to mustering up some courage to start one myself!

I pray that as I do look back on my posts, it is evident that I am a work in progress: a person continually being broken, only to be remolded and reworked in accordance to God's will for me.

Soooo.......to get my feet wet, I thought I'd post something I did on facebook back in January of this year (with a few changes). An introduction of sorts if you will...

25 RANDOM THINGS

1. My favorite color has changed over the years, but more recently it has been white....the purity of it appeals to me.
2. My all time favorite TV show is Three's Company. I really wonder how I came to love it because I'm sure I didn't understand all the innuendo when I was a kid!

3. I am a morning person, I feel the most productive when I can get all my errands done before noon, and then have the rest of the day to relax.

4. My mom's obstetrician who delivered me was M. Knight Shyamalan's mother.

5. I am an Indian rarity in that I am almost never late, and usually have to be 10-15 minutes early wherever I go (annoying to my friends I know:)

6. I have developed a little bit of road rage after living in Boston (loved living there though!)

7. I love to swim and have been swimming since I was a child. However, I'm still more scared of getting into the ocean than most of my non-swimming friends.

8. I love looking at pictures and paintings of lighthouses and have had the pleasure of visiting a few of them. I could stare out over the ocean for hours, it gives me a sense of calmness and peace.

9. I love love love to travel and have been blessed with several opportunities, but I hate hate hate the actual flying part. I love visiting India and have been there 9 times. A few places I've been thus far are the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, and South Africa. The places I most want to see next are Italy, Greece, and Thailand!

10. More recently I have been into reading blogs, and have been moved by some of the everyday things that people share. I am envious of those that can write beautifully.
11. I am a closet sports fan and pay more attention to sports than most people realize.

12. I can fall asleep through any movie no matter how action-packed or good it may be (ie. Gladiator, the Matrix)

13. My brother is probably one of the smartest people I know, and also the humblest.

14. The words and prayers of my mother are the only thing that can truly comfort me in times of pain and struggle.

15. The past 2 years have been the most challenging in my life, but the most rewarding. I've learned that God will speak to you clearly, you just have to listen and accept.

16. I have been blessed with amazing life-long best friends who've made my life so much fun to live. The stories and memories that have been created with them are almost unbelievable :) It can bring me to tears when I think about their friendships.

17. I'm mildly ashamed to admit that I know nothing about Hindi movies or the Bollywood scene :p

18. I was surprised that I became a workaholic when starting my career, but have since learned to balance things a bit better.

19. My favorite song is "Right here waiting" by Richard Marx. My favorite quote is by Max Lucado: "One of God's cures for weak faith? A good, healthy struggle." My favorite book..too many...I read alot!

20. I am a worrier....but apparently hide it well to those who don't know me.

21. I get embarrassed easily. No one can embarrass me like my father can...(well actually one other person and you know who you are :)

22. I love anything associated with food (who doesn't really). I love to cook, bake, try new recipes....I especially like cooking for other people. I could watch TV shows about cooking or cooking competitions for hours. My cuisine of choice these days are Latin/Mexican....and my new favorite ice cream is sticky toffee pudding by Haagan Daz...very yummy and addicting!

23. I am very uncomfortable in large crowds and parties, I prefer intimate settings.

24. I love kids and the birth of my baby cousin has added so much unexpected love and joy in my life. The thought of being a mother one day always gives me goosebumps.

25. I am surprised at myself at how little time it took to write these 25 things & that I am actually going to post it. It was actually interesting to do and a little therapeutic. :p