Good Eats - Marathon on the Square & Philly Cupcake

Some good eats from this past weekend..
First brunch: 

Marathon On the Square

1839 Spruce St

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 731-0800

http://www.marathongrill.com/index2.html

 
  and then an evening treat from:

Philly Cupcake
1132 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 625-4888
http://www.phillycupcake.com/

Reflections

Based on some discussions last night  . . .

*Why am I so afraid?
*Am I willing to be used in whatever capacity is needed to bring God glory?
*When I ask for God’s will, do I truly want to know the answer?
*How much of the joy I find today is linked to God and how much is linked to my circumstances?
*Will I still cry out His name in praise if He breaks me beyond my tipping point?
*I fear God’s power, but why don’t I find solace in it? Is it because I don’t trust in His goodness?

If I could get to the heart of these questions, how much more could I be a steward for His kingdom!?!

A Perfect Saturday

Yesterday,
A Saturday off from work,
The first day of Spring,
Beautiful, sunny, and 75 degrees,
A group of girlfriends,
Starting the day with a morning bike ride along Kelly Drive,
Followed by a great brunch in the city,
Then some leisurely walking and window shopping,
And ending the evening with some desserts from Philly Cupcakes.

I'm thankful for these simple pleasures and the people I can enjoy them with...a perfect Saturday it was indeed =)

50 Random Questions

Just because it's late at night, I can't sleep, and I need to find more ways to waste time . . .

1. Where were you 3 hours ago? - At the pharmacy
2. Who are you in love with? - No one, next question
3. Have you ever eaten a crayon? - Don't believe I have
4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you? - A pink bottle of pomegranate and mango hand and body lotion
5. When is the last time you went to the mall? - Today, Unfortunately I work there
6. Are you wearing socks right now? - I am
7. Do you have a car worth over $2,000? - I hope so, I just bought it 4 months ago
8. When was the last time you drove out of town? - Probably NYC
9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days? - Nope
10. Are you hot? - Nope
11. What was the last thing you had to drink? - Water....mmmm, delicious
12. What are you wearing right now? - PJ's
13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it? - Let the car wash do it
14. Last food that you ate? - Popcorn, I'm not proud of it
15. Where were you last week at this time? - Probably at home
16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week? - I haven't, I've been good lately
17. When is the last time you ran? - Yesterday....5 miles...wohoo!
18. What's the last sporting event you watched? - Went to a sixers/knicks game on Monday..didn't know a darn player on either team
19. What is your favorite animal? - Animals and I have a sorted past, we don't seem to mesh well, it would be a lie if I answered this question
20. Your dream vacation? - Greece or Italy or Thailand....I'm not picky, any one will do
21. Last person's house you were in? - N's apartment
22. Worst injury you've ever had? No broken bones ever, can't think of anything serious (knock on wood)
23. Have you been in love? - Nope, next question  
24. Do you miss anyone right now? - I miss random people at random times
25. Last play you saw? - The Lion King on Broadway
26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex? - Oh gosh...lure? secret weapon? really?
27. What are your plans for tonight? - You're looking at it
28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment? - I don't have MySpace
29. Next trip you are going to take? - New Orleans
30. Ever go to camp? - Nope
31. Were you an honor roll student in school? - Yes I was
32. What do you want to know about the future? - That everything's going to be allllllll right
33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne? -Yes, Usher, don't laugh
34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit? - More appointments than I care for, the joys of getting older
35. Where is your best friend? - At home
36. How is your best friend? - She's great
37. Do you have a tan? - Yes, the natural kind (it's called being Indian)
38. What are you listening to right now? - U2
39. Do you collect anything? - Personal mementos, things that carry memories
40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know? - Now if I answered that, wouldn't I be the gossiper?
41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over? - July 2001 for a speeding ticket..I don't know why I remember the date
42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw? - Yeah, why? Is that bad?
43. What does your last text message say? - "Ha ha....don't be chicken"
44. Do you like hot sauce? - The spicier the better
45. Last time you took a shower? - This evening
46. Do you need to do laundry? - Already done
47. What is your heritage? - Indian
48. Are you someone's best friend? - Yup
49. Are you rich? - Nope, but I'm not poor...My life is rich in a non-monetary sort of way
50. What were you doing at 12AM last night? - I'm old, I was sleeping

Irish Potato Candy

I don't know much about St. Patrick's Day. What I do know is that I love eating these little indigenous Phila. delicacies that only come out during this holiday. Oh, how I love Philly.

From Wikipedia:

Irish Potato Candy is a traditional Philadelphia confectionery that is not Irish and does not contain any potato, but is a cocoa powder and cinnamon covering over a white inside of coconut nougat made to look like a potato. It is an extremely sweet treat, generally made up of some blend of coconut, confectioner's sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk or cream. The treats are about the size of a large marble and are especially popular around St. Patrick's Day.

Oh Ryan's of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, makes the largest distribution of Irish Potatoes shipping about 80,000 pounds to major chains and smaller candy stores mostly in the Philadelphia area.

Many people believe that the Irish Potato was created as a commemoration of the Irish Potato Famine.

Seasons (of Life)

Today was beautiful: bright sunshine, a cool breeze, and not a cloud in the sky.

It was the first day of spring-like weather after experiencing many days of rain and gloominess (and being able to spend the day outdoors provided some much needed energy for the soul and body).

Funny how life can be the same way: first we have to weather the storms to truly appreciate the beauty that comes afterwards.

An Unraveled Life

"For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great."

- Psalm 25:11

The word guilt in today's verse means literally to bend, to twist, to distort, to warp, to pervert, or to ruin. The word means sin. David in effect said, "For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my bent-ness; pardon my twistedness, God. Pardon my distorted, warped, perverted way of thinking, God. Pardon my ruin, what I've done with myself." It's an incredible statement of personal admission. David's prayer flowed from humility born of adversity. "I'm wrong, God! My actions are wrong! My words are wrong! My motives are wrong! I am wrong!"

When was the last time you were undone? When was the last time your life was unraveled by your own shortcomings? How quickly we are worked up about the shortcomings of others. When was the last time you were taken apart by yourself? Not by what your spouse needs to learn. Not by what your mom’s doing wrong. Not by the shortcomings of the leaders in your church or where you work, but by yourself. That's the moment that God’s trying to bring about. That's where all this is headed. Not that you should observe the shortcomings of others, but that you should have a better understanding of yourself and where you're failing. That's what God is always going for in your life.

- an excerpt from this week's The Weekly Walk by James MacDonald

Quotable Quotes

The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of 10,000 temporal problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters that at the most cannot concern him for very long; but even if the multiple burdens of time may be lifted from him, the one mighty single burden of eternity begins to press down upon him with a weight more crushing than all the woes of the world piled one upon another.

-A.W. Tozer

What happens to infants who die?

That's a question I've always had and have heard different things on the topic.  It's very hard to think logically about the security of salvation when it comes to our infants and children.

On the Desiring God blog today, here's how John Piper tackles the question:

How do you gauge...?

How do you gauge how well you’re handling life?

For example…
Physically I know I’m doing well if my blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, etc. are all in check.
Financially I can gauge things based on my bank accounts or debts.
Socially I can base things on the quality of my relationships.

But how do you tell how things are going mentally, emotionally, or spiritually with yourself? Human feelings can be so fleeting and fickle: happy one moment, not so much the next.  It’s not something that’s so easy to gauge, is it?

Just something I‘m pondering tonight.

Good Eats - Lorenzo's

The birthday boy had a craving for a slice of Lorenzo's, so a few of us made a 10 pm run down to South Street for a couple slices of their infamous pizza...delicious!  What's interesting is that they DON'T allow any toppings on their individual slices, their pizza is that good with just your basic ingredients: dough, cheese, and sauce....and if you dare to ask for a topping, be prepared to be treated like the soup nazi from Seinfeld!

Lorenzo and Sons Pizza Inc

305 South St

Philadelphia, PA 19147

(215) 627-4110

http://www.lorenzoandsonspizza.com/home.html

And if you're wondering why I'm writing a post about pizza close to 2 o'clock in the morning....that would be thanks to a lack of sleep secondary to the scary stories my friends decided to tell tonight....I just need to remember: Jesus always wins! =P
 
Good Night!

2010 International Philadelphia Flower Show

We got an early taste of spring while attending the Flower Show this year.  This year's theme was "Passport to the World". The flowers and arrangements were of course beautiful, and the frangrance was even more divine....

                                               

Remind me to live here :)

http://www.theflowershow.com/ShowInfo/index.html

Good Eats - Penang

Dinner Tonight: Malaysian Cuisine in Chinatown

                     

HOURS: 7 days/week (11:30AM - 1:00AM)

ADDRESS: 117 N. 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

TELEPHONE: (215) 413-2531 & (215) 413-2532

http://www.penangusa.com/index.html

Quotable Quotes

If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death.

— Dave Davidson

Don't Stop Believin'

TGIF!
It's been a long day to end a long week,
and I'm more than happy to be sitting at home this Friday night relaxing to a retro favorite  . . .



Does anyone else get a rush when they hear this song??  I don't know what it is, but I always do.

What makes you cringe?

I’ve been following the Olympics pretty religiously over the past week. I find myself coming home from work, plopping myself on the couch, and rooting the Olympians on as they do their thing. I love listening to the cheesy back stories they do on the athletes minutes before they’re about to race…being reminded over and over again of all the years of training coming down to this one moment. The bell rings, the race starts, the athlete begins to cruise along beautifully…and then it happens: a fall, a simple misstep that leads to a horrible crash. And what do I do?

I cringe.
I cringe at their pain.
I cringe at the disappointment they must feel in themselves.

Do you ever find yourself cruising through life and then taking a misstep? Are there moments in your life you look back on and just cringe? Do you have flashbacks to your past and think “Oh God, What the heck was I thinking?”

No matter how smart or logical you think you are, no matter how much you’ve “trained” yourself to act and be a certain way, there are those moments where your words and deeds don’t match the perceived reality of yourself.

Here is the reality: We are all sinners.

I am a sinner.

Let me say that again……I am a sinner.

Here’s the catch, the beauty I really see in that statement:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -2 Corinthians 12: 9

I’m glad I look back on moments in my life and wince, because I know the Lord is convicting me. He’s convicting me of my weaknesses, of the fact that I am a sinner and even more of my need for His grace. His grace reconciles me, not my works or lack thereof, but His grace, that’s it, that’s all. I would be more concerned if I didn’t feel the weight of my sins, not as a burden to bear, but as a reminder that He needs to be ever present for any hope of transformation. It’s not enough to know his Word, for even the devil could spit out the Lord’s words in verbatim…the Word has to penetrate, penetrate enough to cause change.

So unlike those athletes whose careers may be over after one horrible fall, our lives don’t have to be defined by our missteps. In fact the harder we “fall”, the greater the conviction that nothing can save us except for Christ…

Because Christ’s grace is sufficient…

Christ’s grace is sufficient for me….

Anytime I look back and cringe, I need to remember…

Christ’s grace is sufficient.

Good Eats - NYC Edition

Some good eats from Valentine's Day weekend in NYC...
Saturday Dinner:

MXco

1491 Second Ave. at 78th St,

New York, NY 10075 

212-249-6080

and a fabulous Sunday Brunch:

Penelope

159 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10016-8154

(212) 481-3800

My meal: Pumpkin waffles with apple butter.....soooo good!

http://www.penelopenyc.com/

Valentine's Day Weekend

I’m going to be bold here…
And mention Valentine’s Day…
As an unmarried Indian woman in her 30’s…(please sense my sarcasm here =P)

All kidding aside it was a great weekend spent with my best friends in NYC. We started off Valentine’s day with church at Redeemer Presbyterian and hearing a sermon by their senior pastor Tim Keller. I’ve been listening to his sermons online so it was a great pleasure to hear him in person for the first time.

His message was entitled “The Mocking and the Spitting” based off of Isaiah 50:4-11 and was the third sermon in a series called “The Songs of the Servant.” After his sermon which focused heavily on the torture of Christ before crucifixion he says (and I’m paraphrasing here) : “Don’t think I forgot about Valentine’s Day…..who else would love you enough to be tortured and killed just for you.” What a great reminder of a love with absolutely no limits especially on that day.

Quotable Quotes

"Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down."

- quoted from the soon to be famous Grace J. (who got it from a FB friend, who got it from ??... ultimately from Unknown)

The Road to Reward

A snippet from this week's The Weekly Walk :

You and I have got to conquer. Jesus said, "The one who endures to the end will be saved" (Mark 13:13). People who aren't really saved give up and quit. The truth is, we will all experience tough seasons in our lives. We will experience hard weeks or even a rough month or year. But we get moving again. Endurance doesn't save us, but it does prove our salvation. We have to finish strong. We have to pick up the pace as we get older. A real Christian says, "I love Him more and more. 'I press on' (Philippians 3:14) to be sanctified day after day, growing in Christ." That's the life of a believer - one who conquers. Conquerors get the rewards. Rewards will not go to the quitter. They will not go to the "I-tried-it-and-couldn't-do-it" type of people, nor to the "faith-was-just-a-phase-I-went-through" kind of people. All those people? Not conquerors.

"The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life." The book of life is the volume containing the names of all the people alive on the face of the earth. If they die outside of the Gospel, without receiving the gift of eternal life that is found in Christ - their names are blotted out of the book. They're not going to live forever...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . .

One for the record books...

It’s the second biggest snow storm of all time in Philly (28.5 inches).
It’s the second major snow storm of this winter season.
It’s the second time we’ve had to shovel about 2 feet of snow.
It’s the second time we’ll be stuck indoors for 2 days straight.

I love the snow, but I SECOND the decision to end the winter weather already and bring on the springtime warmth and sunshine….one can dream, can’t they =)

PS - Oh and I forgot, there’s another major snowstorm scheduled for this Tuesday…..eek!

“Can I ask you for some advice?”

Where do you seek wisdom from? Where do you go to get advice?

I’m thinking about this because I’m half-way thru the book of Proverbs and I’m amazed at how this book gives wisdom on basically every facet of human life…

From how to deal with finances, to courtship, to sexual ethics, to disciplining children, to how to speak, act, think, how to labor and how to love, how to choose your friends, how to obtain joy, on finding contentment….and the list goes on and on (and this is only from the first half of Proverbs.) I often make the Bible out to be such a “mystical” piece of literature, when it’s much more of a “let’s get our hands dirty with the nitty-gritty of everyday life” type of book.

Now I know that God should be the ultimate from whom we seek wisdom, but let’s face it, when something is going on in our lives it’s natural for us to seek advice from the people that surround us. A good friend once told me, be very careful who and what you listen to, especially when your heart and mind are in a vulnerable state. I don’t think I thought much of it at the time, but recently I’m seeing the validity of that statement.

As I’ve grown up, I’ve experienced the importance of surrounding myself with people that speak God’s truth. I find it very easy to be swayed and seduced by the ways of the world and I have found that in those moments when I’m not thinking clearly and looking for direction, the words and prayers of a person rooted in Christ is the ultimate blessing.

And you know who those people are and aren’t. You know who to approach to get sympathy, or who to see when you want someone to revel in your anger, or who to find when you’re looking for affirmation, but do you know who to go to when you’re really seeking the Truth?

Those are the people I want to go to and ask, “Can I ask you for some advice?”

Say - John Mayer

An old favorite I currently have blaring . . .



 . . . I just love John Mayer

Groundhog's Day

In my 4th yr rotations, the stars were aligned and I happened to be working out in the boondocks of Punxsutawney on Groundhog’s Day one year. I was kinda excited to be around Gobbler’s Knob because apparently they celebrate this "holiday" hardcore and it’s considered a BIG deal in that city.

Can I just tell you, the whole thing was a bit weird…a little freaky actually. When I had some down-time that day, I stepped out of the office to see all the hoopla. It was like a carnival atmosphere in frigid cold weather complete with ice sculptures, carnival booths, people with groundhog’s hats and big flasks of beer walkin’ around drunk and happy….all for a rodent!

I guess I can’t blame them, there’s not much else going for Punxsutawney, PA. =P

So the prediction was:

Happy Groundhog's Day!

S-l-o-w-i-n-g Down

It's been a busy week....and sometimes I come to the end of a week and wonder, "How did I get here?"

How is it already Sunday?
How is it already the end of January?
How is it that it's actually 2010 already!?! (I could of swore I was just listening to Prince's Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999 and wondering what that would be like ...sheesh!)
Where did this week, month, year, decade go?

Sometimes I just need to slow down...not necessarily in what I'm physically doing, but in my mind and thoughts.  My mind has a tendency to race through life, and when I do that, I run the risk of missing all the great things happening along the way.  I need to slow down enough to really savor the many moments that make me smile and pay attention to the things that make living this life so worth-while.

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,

Or listened to rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,

Or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down,

Don't dance so fast,

Time is short,

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,

With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down,

Don't dance so fast,

Time is short,

The music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,

And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,

'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

You better slow down,

Don't dance so fast,

Time is short,

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It's like an unopened gift...thrown away.

Life isn't a race,

So take it slower,

Hear the music,

Before your song is over.

- David L. Weatherford

Good Eats - Bistro 7

So it's restaurant week in Philadelphia! That means time to hit up the really expensive restaurants for some good food at a reasonable price :) I wasn't able to get reservations to a restaurant I've been trying to go to for awhile now, but Bistro 7 came in as a good substitute....a small intimate restaurant with simple, tasty cuisine.

BISTRO 7

7 North 3rd Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106-4506

(215) 931-1560

http://www.bistro7restaurant.com/

"Bistro 7 is an elegant, food-first American BYO bistro located in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic Old City section. Chef/Owner Michael O’Halloran (formerly of Fork and the White Dog Café) relies on a network of local, organic farmers for the pristine ingredients that form the basis for his eclectic American bistro dishes, and the ever changing menu reflects the best that the season has to offer"

Adele - Chasing Pavements

Listening to some real soulful music tonight. . .
Love the sound of her voice and the song:

Patient Encounters

A couple days ago on a busy workday, I had a 23 yr-old patient come in for a routine eye exam.

He looked a little rough around the edges, didn’t crack a smile, and clearly wasn’t interested in engaging in any sort of conversation when I attempted to make small talk.

About halfway thru the exam he suddenly speaks and asks,
“How old are you anyway?”

I look up from writing my notes, probably appearing slightly annoyed by the question and hesitantly answer, "I’m 30."

At which he says, “you look like you’re 23 or something.”

I started laughing…..he still didn‘t crack a smile.

At a time where I’m feeling every bit my age, and contemplating the expectations I have and haven’t met in my life, I needed to hear that on that day.

Yes, age is but a number...and lately I’m being reminded that it’s not about HOW LONG I’ve been living on this earth, but HOW WELL I’m living on this earth.

Didn't think this kid would give me something to think about, but he did.

Nice kid.

Remembering 2 years ago today...

I'm waking up with the sun shining brightly through my window on this beautiful Saturday morning, and I think...what could be more fitting of a tribute than a beautiful day for a beautiful man that we lost 2 years ago today.

A loving man who truly came to serve his church.
A man who personified the words humbleness and graciousness.
A man of few words, but of larger more poignant actions.
A man who loved and led his family by example.
A man, who in is his short time in Philadelphia, impacted lives more than he probably ever imagined.

As painful as that time was when we lost him suddenly, I thank God for allowing us to come across a soul who so clearly loved the Lord.

Houston Trip / Good Eats

It’s been a great past few days visiting with some dear friends in Houston along with 2 friends from Chicago and New Jersey. It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since we graduated from optometry school and that the 4 of us (our little grad school crew) are all doing our different things living in 4 different states. But despite time, distance, husbands, kids, etc., we have remained as close as ever and have consistently met up once a year to catch up…and when we do it’s just like old times.

So although we had all these great plans to see the sights of Houston, a lot of times we would end up just sitting, eating, and talking for hours, which is usually what happens when you get 4 girls together who haven’t seen each other in awhile! It also fit in nicely with our new mantra in life which we decided was “we just want to be fat and happy”…forget about this whole optometry business…haha :)

So that brings me to the food in Houston, good places we ate at and worth mentioning are :

Uptown Sushi

Zushi Fusion Cuisine

1131 Uptown Park Boulevard

Houston, TX 77056-3227

(713) 871-1200

http://www.uptown-sushi.com/

We also walked around Rice Village, a cute artsy part of town, and had a great lunch here before heading off to the airport:

La Madeleine

Country French Café

Rice Village

6205 Kirby

Houston TX, 77005

713-942-7081

http://www.lamadeleine.com/

Good times!

He Is - Mark Schultz

Listening...loving...overwhelmed by the words and the message...

Good Eats - Zahav

Dinner last night was at Zahav, a relatively new restaurant to Philadelphia serving authentic Middle Eastern/Israeli cuisine.  There's a reason it was named #1 in Philly Mag Top 50 restaurants of 2009; the food was delicious and the bill didn't break the bank!

Zahav

237 Saint James Pl · Philadelphia

http://www.zahavrestaurant.com/

215-625-8800

Vision

The eye really is a beautiful creation.

When I look in to examine all the intricate structures of the eye, I sometimes forget that there’s a soul looking back at me.  That patient is a person, sitting in my exam chair, whose past experiences and relationships significantly color how they see and perceive the world.

Vision is so much more than just 20/20, it’s about processing what you see against what you know.

What do I know?

Nothing for sure, that’s the short answer.

I feel like more and more I’m becoming a person I don’t recognize or at least am not comfortable with at the moment. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but I definitely feel like I’m at a crossroads in life. Things I’ve held to be true and certain of myself, seem to no longer apply or have drastically changed.  I wonder shouldn't I be getting surer of myself as I get older or is that a myth that everyone perpetuates? Do significant doubts and questions inevitably occur with every new season or transition in life?

When I entered my mid-twenties I distinctly remember starting to become comfortable in my own skin. I thought “Finally!”, I no longer feel like an awkward shy teenager riddled with insecurity and doubt.

But these days, it’s different. These doubts are not superficial as of my teenage years, but delve deeper into the core of who I am.

What do I want?

What will I stand for?

What won’t I stand for?

How am I living?

What are my desires and how do they differ or coincide with what God has clearly shown me to be good and true and right?

In the past two years for reasons I have yet to fully understand, these questions about myself have been popping up. The one saving grace though is that as I do become unwound and unraveled, my depravity reaches for things that are not of myself (because they no longer exist or are certain), but for the one thing that I know to be true, God himself. 

Truthfully.....at the moment, it feels like this is the only thing I know to be certain.

Movie Lines

Okay, so the source of this quote isn’t the greatest, but I like it anyways =).  I happened to catch a mid-morning matinee today and in the previews for upcoming movies, Ashton Kutcher (don’t laugh) appeared in a scene with this line:

"Love is the only shocking act left on the planet."

I like the quote, I like it a lot.

Quotable Quotes

To regret one's own experiences is to arrest one's own development. To deny one's own experiences is to put a lie into the lips of one's life. It is no less than a denial of the soul.
-Oscar Wilde

Spring Reminder

I took this shot with my cell phone a couple months ago because it was too pretty to pass up.

Just a reminder of spring and newness and life amongst the bitter cold of today.

The Shack

About a week ago I finished reading a book called The Shack by Wm. Paul Young.  It’s about a man’s encounter with God several years after the brutal murder of his daughter. While reading it I thought some of the scenarios and depictions of God and the Trinity were a little hard to swallow, but I could appreciate the book for what it could convey, and for trying to break some of our natural human misconceptions on God, our character, and how God views us and our relationship with Him.

There were a lot of statements and quotes in the book that made me think and maybe might make you think too. Here are a few that stuck out to me…

*There are times where you choose to believe something that would normally be considered absolutely irrational. It doesn’t mean that it is actually irrational, but it surely is not rational. Perhaps there is suprarationality: reason beyond the normal definitions of fact or data-based logic; something that makes sense only if you can see a bigger picture of reality. Maybe that is where faith fits in.

*Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship.

*…we could talk about the nature of freedom itself. Does freedom mean that you are allowed to do whatever you want to do? Or we could talk about all the limiting influences in your life that actively work against your freedom. Your family genetic heritage, your specific DNA, your metabolic uniqueness, the quantum stuff that is going on at a subatomic level where only I [God] am the always-present observer. Or the intrusion of your soul’s sickness that inhibits and binds you, or the social influences around you, or the habits that have created synaptic bonds and pathways in your brain. And then there’s advertising, propaganda, and paradigms. Inside that confluence of multifaceted inhibitors, what is freedom really?

*Everything is about him [Jesus]. And freedom is a process that happens inside a relationship with him.

*You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved, is a limitation.

*I [God] don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is it’s own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it.

*The real underlying flaw in your life, is that you don’t think that I [God] am good. If you knew that I was good and that everything - the means, the ends and all the processes of individual lives - is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not understand what I am doing, you would trust me.

*You humans, so little in your own eyes. You are truly blind to your own place in the creation. Having chosen the ravaged path of independence, you don’t even comprehend that you are dragging the entire creation along with you.

*To force my [Jesus] will on you, is exactly what love does not do. Genuine relationships are marked by submission even when your choices are not helpful or healthy.

*Just because I [God] work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I needed it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering, you will find grace in many facets and colors.

*I [God] have never put an expectation on you or anyone else. The idea behind expectations requires that someone does not know the future or outcome and is trying to control behavior to get the desired result. Humans try to control behavior largely through expectations. I know you and everything about you. Why would I have an expectation other than what I already know? That would be foolish. And beyond that, because I have no expectations, you never disappoint me.

*Forgiveness does not establish relationship. In Jesus, I [God] have forgiven all humans of their sins against me, but only some have chosen relationship.

Never Been Unloved

I have been unfaithful,
I have been unworthy;
I have been unrighteous,
and I have been unmerciful.

I have been unreachable,
I have been unteachable;
I have been unwilling,
and I have been undesirable.
And sometimes, I have been unwise,
I've been undone by what I'm unsure of -

But because of You
and all that you went through,
I know that I have never been unloved.

I have been unbroken,
I have been unmended;
I have been uneasy,
and I have been unapproachable.
I have been unemotional,
I have been unexceptional;
I have been undecided,
and I have been unqualified.
Unaware - I have been unfair,
I've been unfit for blessings from above.

But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me, to show me
that I have never been unloved.
-Michael W. Smith

I saw this song on someone else’s blog using it to describe their past year and I thought….Yup, this pretty much sums up me and my year as well. What better time than the beginning of a new year to look back, see where you need improvement, and then make resolutions for self-improvement. Let’s be real though, I will still likely be all these things come 2011 (hopefully with some improvements). But despite all my faults, I’m glad I can’t do anything in the next 365 days and beyond, that will ever turn away the love of Christ. 

Here's to a new year.....not dedicated to a list of resolutions, but simply dedicated to growing in God's indescribable love.

And to quote the previous blogger…
From your undone, unworthy, unfaithful, but oh so thankfully never unloved blogger friend =)

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.