Things I know I love

I know. If you've ever even met me, this is not a surprising fact, but I can't really have a blog titled "Things I know I love" and then not include it. So, I love Chipotle. I love that I can walk to Chipotle. I can also go easily when I'm in Finneytown. I can basically go daily (if I had that kind of money). And it's just good food. (and as Jenna pointed out the other night on the phone, our lives kind of revolve around meals)


I thought I'd surprise you with this one. I really have an affection for these kids. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's just the emotional sap in me that thinks it's about a lot more than football. (I'll give you the schpeal if you really want it.) So, without boring you anymore, I KNOW that I love the Bengals.



Well, this is something I know I would love. Living in a state where no one campaigns. I cannot stand another day of campaigning. I am ready to stay at the farm for the next two weeks until this whole mess is over and I no longer have to listen. The interesting part is how much these commercials sound like the campaign speeches of fourth grade where candidates would promise to get pepsi in the drinking fountains. (I'm not sure how it worked out for them in your school, but Whitaker's water fountains to this day only serve water. Lying politicians.)


My job at the wonderful innovative joyness. Not only is it fun to be around fun products all day (And the free tshirts), but I get to meet cute old men from England, a funny man from Brazil, and I may have helped Jeff Rowe. (for those of you that aren't so enthusiastic about my love #2, he used to be our #3 before baby Palmer, now he's on the practice squad. Also, Chad, Shayne, and Frostee were in the store.) Lets just say this job may have some perks.


These kids for giving me a home and much needed entertainment. While I figured it would be a quick jaunt into poorness, they were prepared for the long haul. (it may be rough on the pride, but it is heavy on the fun.)


And last but not least, for those of you still reading (congrats, thank you, way to be a real friend) my costume for costume club on monday. What better to wear to finneytown young life than a Finneytown cheerleading uniform from 5 years ago? I can't think of a single thing.


ps. i'm pretty sure if john and i ever met, we'd both know it was love.... just saying.

Love Beyond Reason

(I'm going to jump into the a chapter of John Ortberg in which he's talking about the leper healed in Mark)

"The law said, 'Don't touch.' The Gospels are full of stories about people who sought to touch Jesus: little children, the woman suffering from hemorrhages who desperately grasped the hem of his garment, the prostitute who anointed Jesus' feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, and doubting Thomas, who demanded to feel Jesus' wounds with his own hands.
Unlike all of these, the leper made no attempt to touch Jesus. The leper understood the situation. He knew the law.
But notice what Jesus did: 'Moved by compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I do choose. Be made clean!''
Jesus touched the leper before he healed him. He touched the leper while the leper was still unclean. This would have scandalized anyone who watched. To toucha leper was to be regarded as unclean yourself. This was a great miracle. This is God, who, after all, made the law, breaking his own law, for the sake of humanity. Jesus did not need to touch the leper to cleanse him. He performed other miracles at a distance; all he had to do was say the word. The word healed his body, but the touch healed his soul. But Jesus wanted something understood.
The miracle of the touch is that Jesus was willing to share another person's suffering in order to bring about healing. This is a foreshadowing of the cross: Jesus taking on our sin so that we could take on his life. By his stripes we are healed.
In a contagious world, we learn to keep our distance. If we get too close to those who are suffering, we might get infected by their pain. It may not be convenient or comfortable. But only when you get close enough to catch their hurt will they be close enough to catch your love."

He later quotes C.S. Lewis and it's beautiful so you get both for the price of one.

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell."

Encouragement

Oh, despite the fact that life isn't too different, I feel like so much has happened since the 5th. I start, for real, my job on Tuesday. I will actually get to help people realize the joy of Apple (and get paid for it). I'm pretty excited about this. I was in the store the other day (because my dog is a ruiner of love, or the iphone...maybe one in the same..?) and a friend who leads in my area was in debating about the new macbook. (which is extremely hot in pictures, pure love in person) I walked away to go back to Kari (my sister who was in town..friend-sister..who knows?) and then later saw her leaving with it. I wanted to start clapping. I knew she would love how easy it makes everything. And who can look past how amazingly cool she'll look with it when she's sitting in the library writing papers.

I also can start booking sub jobs this week. That might be where I'm most excited. I love Apple and all, but high school kids...call me crazy but I love 'em. There's just something about it. Maybe I never outgrew it, but I'm pretty sure it's just because they're real. (You're thinking, why Mandy, of course they're real. They don't fill high schools with mannequins. Don't worry I know this.) They aren't afraid to tell you the truth; even if that means sharing crappy stuff about their life. And to think, I could get paid to hang out with them and make them like school. Call me even more crazy, but that's pretty exciting too.

Also, we all know the feeling when someone you love, loves something you love. I have always known about Matty's love for cincinnati. (Although it was nice to be reminded on his post about the joy it brings him). I love how excited he gets to visit and how much he makes me appreciate all of the greatness of my city. I guess for some reason, I just didn't think Kari would have quite the same reaction. Little did I know. Kari and I had a ridiculous good time while she was here. I showed her my favorite restaurants, we cruised downtown, I showed her my life. It was all and all a perfect visit. (okay minus Tay.)

All that to say, I'm encouraged. In life, in ministry, in friendships. (And in the fact that thanks to sara and I, fleafest '08 has come to an end.) The Lord is good. He holds us up and places our brothers and sisters around us. He provides for every need. So I am encouraged, and excited. Excited to start work both at Apple and Finneytown. I'm excited for fall weekend. I'm excited for the Thanksgiving invasion from Virginia. I'm excited about the Nouwen that Kolia is having me read. Be encouraged, and get excited. (even if today's loss to the steelers was a particularly painful one.)

Redemption

Despite my sadness over Kenny Watson being released, I am excited for Chris Henry to be activated this week onto the 53 man roster. You might be rolling your eyes and frowning at your computer. I'm okay with that. There are a few reasons I am excited he's back and a few generally exciting things about the entire situation.

I am excited because Chris Henry is an excellent player. If you watched him in the 2005 season, this man was on fire. His height gives him an advantage and he knows how to use it. In the following seasons, I will give you that he was timid. He took a big hit in that playoff game of '05, and sometimes seemed hesitant to allow himself to get into the same situation. That being said, he is a very talented football player. I am also excited for him as a person. I don't know much about his personal life, but I can tell you a few things I learned from my mom having lunch with Nancy. Chris, at a moderately young age, became a highly paid professional athlete. Following Katrina, he welcomed a large amount of family into his Northern Kentucky home. I don't know how many people, how long they stayed, or many details at all to be frank, but I know he took them in. And as a 20 something individual, I can relate that that could be hard and overwhelming. Now, do I think those are good excuses? No. But I think that taken in context, we might better understand him.

Okay, situation in general. Who doesn't love a story of redemption? This kid lost it all. He had his dream, he made mistakes, he kept it, he made mistakes, he kept it, he made mistakes, he lost it. In a way, there could have been a part of him that just expected one more chance. He hadn't really felt the effects of his actions until this point. And all of a sudden, he spends a good period of time with nothing. No phone calls from interested teams, no contract, and no ability to play for that matter. And just as easily and as freely given as the grace we receive, he got the phone call he had only hoped would come. In an interview this year, one that I of course cannot find, Mike Brown talked about the struggles with Chris Henry. (Pre-release) He made the statement that some people just look for the redemptive quality in people, and he couldn't help but be one of those people. Whether that's because of his belief in Christ, or just his innate desire for Christ, I don't know. But I do know that I'm happy he's our owner.

Good, Bad. I'm happy that our owner doesn't give up on people. I'm happy that he desires to see the best in them and wants what is best for them; even when that's not the popular decision. Because who doesn't love a story of redemption?