Extravaganza Time

On Saturday my friend Terah and I had an extravaganza. That's our affectionate name for a day spent together. Extravaganza events included a race, breakfast at Cracker Barrel, shopping, Pumpkin Spice frappucinos, more shopping, pizza and a chick flick.


This is us right after we finished the Great Pumpkin 5K—during which we nearly got run over by draft horses! The military guy behind me actually had to give me a shove to keep me going. The race was awesome. We ran along corn fields, past horses, down wooded paths and beside a pumpkin patch.


We thought it was hilarious that the Castle Rock Outlets just happened to be having a "shopping extravaganza." After we had this picture taken an official event photographer asked if he could take our picture as well. Great deals had by all! Hooray for extravagant friendships!

Improv for Home

This report is late in coming, but our free improv show raised $452 for the Gathering Home duplex. Nearly a dozen people pitched in, making desserts, performing on stage, greeting and running the sound board. Melissa, who designed the colorful fliers, also painted these piggy bank houses for the event. We invested around $100. By the end of our improv evening, the banks were stuffed full. Thank you to everyone who attended or donated time and talent.

The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ —Matthew 25:20

Old Friends and Pumpkins

The last Suz-Terah extravaganza took place in Nashville, Tenn.

Fall is my favorite season. Leaves changing color. Warm, spicy drinks. Hats and scarves. I also love the abundance of pumpkin-related foods. Yesterday a friend and I enjoyed pumpkin bagels with pumpkin cream cheese. And, of course there is my perennial favorite: the Pumpkin Spice Latte. I'm not crazy about the pumpkin ice cream, although it's OK. I hear that the restaurant where my roommate works serves a mean pumpkin cheesecake.

This weekend, my dear friend Terah will be in town. We will be enjoying our yearly "extravaganza." On Saturday, we will kick off the day with a 5K race beside a pumpkin patch and cornfield. Following the "Great Pumpkin Run," we plan to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Then some serious shopping will ensue, most likely followed by a chick flick. This constitutes a perfect fall day for me.

What are your fall traditions? Whatever they are, remember this: Viva la pumpkin!

Jared Meets a Hero

On Friday, radio talk show host Dennis Prager spoke at chapel. From Wikipedia:

Dennis Prager (born August 2, 1948) is an American syndicated radio talk show host, columnist, author, ethicist, and public speaker. He is noted for his conservative political views and for his study of the consequences of secularism in the 20th Century.

Since Prager is Jared's favorite (he admits that Prager's show sometimes distracts him at work), I invited him. A friend in my department snapped this picture. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

Stick Horses in Pants' New Promo Video

It's here! Created by Abe Stopani—this video rocks.

Too Many Text Messages!

I think I may be a text-aholic.

Since the weekend, I've sent and received more than 200 messages. That's too many!

Overall, I believe text messages are a rather inferior form of conversation. It takes so much time to say anything! And probably a third of the messages I send are clarifications on previous messages that were not understood by the recipient.

Then again, texting can be very convenient if you're not in the position to take a phone call—say riding in a car with a bunch of other people—or need to convey a specific piece of information, such as a meeting time. Not to mention, text messages brighten my day when a friend makes a little joke or just says hi.

What about you? Are you a text-aholic? Do you find it addictive, rude, helpful? What's your best text message story?

Thanks for the Ratings

Thank you to whoever watched my YouTube videos and rated some of them a five! Look for a fall vlog, coming soon....

Talkin' Church, Part 2

When last week's Boundless podcast came out, my friends and I wondered if we had been too controversial or not articulate enough—more than half the interview was missing. Today I found out they split the interview into two separate podcasts, so you can still hear Jared say, "I'm not sure churches CAN work together."

For the second part of our discussion, listen to Episode 34.

Being Weird

Someone had the brilliant idea of creating still shots of various moments of our Stick Horse dance (to "Wild, Wild West")...at Jeremy's wedding...in our dress clothes. I present to you four of eight photos.


Wild Wild West, Jim West, desperado, rough rider...


Watch your step with flex and get a hold in your side....


With all of this, from the start of this, runnin' the game...


James West tamin' the west so remember the name.

[photos by Stefanie Norred]

Eventfulness

This past week has been eventful for me.

There were some actual events: improv workshop, improv show, a concert, a sick day (is that an event?), a CEF meeting. But mostly the eventfulness is in my heart, relationships and the things God is doing.

A few realizations from all this eventfulness:

1. God is a mystery. As I watch Him work in my life and the lives of those around me, I realize I understand very little of the big picture. This is good, because God's ways are higher than my own (Isaiah 55:9).
   
   
2. Perhaps what God is doing in me is more significant than the things I'm praying He'll do in others.
   
   
3. A verse that is meaningful to me right now: "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20, emphasis mine).
   
   
4. God is an "ever-present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1)...or helplessness or inadequacy or confusion.

I love the moments where God meets me and asks me to depend on Him. There's an urgency that seems to open my eyes to the spiritual. That kind of eventfulness is a wonderful thing.

Talkin' Church on The Boundless Show

It's official. We're famous.

Last week, I, along with my friends Melissa, Jared, Elisa and Matt, discussed our church experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly) on the Boundless Show Podcast. It's episode 33.

I also told a humorous story about a muffin on the appropriately named audio column, "The Hungry Years." Yum!

The Way it Should Be

"The more I see you and dad, how happy you are, it makes me want to get married."

—Makaena, 9, on the Daily Durias

Free Improv Show

Our pastor challenged us to make our "talents" grow to benefit the Gathering Home duplex for needy families. If you're in the Springs, come out for some amazing dessert and a few laughs!

No Offense, but...

"No offense, but ..."

Nothing puts me on edge like those three words. What follows is never pleasant.

No offense, but you have a lot of zits. [Read: Someone should tell you your face is hard to look at.]

No offense, but your name is kind of old-fashioned. [Read: I think your name is dumb.]

No offense, but you just don't have the experience for the role. [Read: You are a talentless wannabe who could never compete with the likes of me.]

What someone means when they say "no offense," is that they are about to offend you ... badly. The thing is, offense rarely presents itself in such an overt way.

Exactly. Although, all three of the above statements were delivered to me at some point in my life. (And do you know I can picture exactly where I was when I received each insult?)

It's pretty easy to get offended, as I point out in today's Boundless article, "No Offense." But what really is the heart of offense? As Christians is it OK to be offended or is it contrary to God's kingdom? The answer to that question might surprise you...no offense.

Read more....