A few weeks ago Ian and I went to see an ABBA tribute band. He was super excited because his family cut their musical teeth on ABBA back in the 70s. I was slightly less excited because I grew up on hymns and Mozart and only know of ABBA because I had to sign this agreement to like them when I married into the family. But I like Super Trouper, so off we went. The experience was (how to put... Read more
Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, “What should I do today? What about getting completely naked and take a walk in broad daylight?” So, I’m not sure what caused this, but the maker of the viral sensation of the Kony 2012 video (which Steve Haas wrote about last week) apparently had some sort of meltdown. According to eye witnesses (and a few unfortunate camera phone videos), Jason Russell was: “spewing out f-bombs and screaming about the iPhone, its... Read more
To all of my friends who are not Jesus people, this post is not for you. You’ve got your own issues when it comes to talking about sex and contraception. Maybe we can get coffee and talk about it someday. To my fellow Jesus peeps, however, we need to take a time-out and think about how we really want to talk about contraception. Things have gotten weird recently. And ugly. And it’s not okay. I had decided not write about... Read more
St. Patrick’s Day is the most widely celebrated saint’s day in the world. Most of the coverage surrounding this unique holiday – at least here in the U.S. – focuses on revelers wearing green, drinking Guinness beer, eating corned beef and cabbage, and attending leprechaun-themed parades. There are 36.5 million U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry, which is more than eight times the population of Ireland itself (4.5 million). This festive occasion – which was originally recognized by Catholic leaders with “great... Read more
Earlier this week, Chick-fil-A founder Samuel Truett Cathy celebrated his 91st birthday! Many people know that Chick-fil-A is a Christian company, but do you understand how their core values drive everything from their restaurant service to their charitable efforts? Check out my post at The Salt Shaker, where I talk about Truett’s example of excellence, integrity, and humility. Then go enjoy an original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich to celebrate good food and a great man! Read more
There are pros and cons to hopping off the tourist trek and trying to immerse yourself in local culture. For example: Pro – Your can make local friends who will invite you to birthday parties, celebrations of holidays you’ve never heard of, and sporting events that aren’t in any of the guidebooks. Con – Your friends aren’t always around, and you occasionally find yourself pantomiming in front of a pharmacist and praying that the pill she gave you will reduce... Read more
Over at Tinsel, I’ve put together a brief primer on “The Hunger Games,” the wildly popular book series about post-apocalyptic America that the tween and teen set is devouring. The movie adaptation of the first book opens in a week. What’s it about? The Hunger Games takes place in a post-apocalyptic future America. The Capitol, run by President Snow, brutally rules what’s left of the former country. There are 12 Districts (a 13th having been destroyed by the Capitol for... Read more
Ever attempted a “food challenge”? Are you amazed by those people who can down a hundred hot dogs? I recall a group of my husband’s friends who were to eat as many donuts as possible in 60 seconds and the top score was…2! Apparently, not as easy as it looked. Presently, there’s a cinnamon eating challenge that’s gone viral. People are attempting to swallow a teaspoon of cinnamon and many are recording their efforts on YouTube. Why you ask? Well,... Read more
I lied. I said I finished my series on race, but I’m not done—and I worry it makes folks uncomfortable out there. Because talking about race in America almost always feels uncomfortable. I spent last week at InterVarsity’s Multiethnic Conference. 350 campus staff of almost every stripe showed up—we had Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Asians, Natives, and Middle Easterners. The Asian group alone included focus groups of East Asians, South Asians, Southeast Asians and Filipinos. I suspect it felt a little... Read more
I have no memories of anything before my youngest sister was born when I was six. If that held true for Ezra, he would remember nothing of our three trips to Mexico, and little of our trip to China or our first trip to Costa Rica. Even if the boys do end up with memories from those trips, what will the be? When people ask them after each trip what they remember, they usually say something like, “I bought a... Read more
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