Quote for the week

"I've lived in good climate, and it bores the hell out of me. I like weather rather than climate."

-Steinbeck

Absolutely Terrifying

Seriously, this thing creeps the living bejeesus out of me.

Apparently it's a dog.

And apparently, it's marketed for its cuteness.

Well, at least now we know that the apocolypse is finally upon us. Bout time.

Apparently, Irony is not one of the recognizable spiritual gifts

Once again, i am thoroughly saddened by the American Christian Community. I think i should rename my blog.

I've had a few conversations with people about this topic of late, and now that i am doing the cliche thing and blogging about it i can put my opinion out and hopefully move on. There is a big conversation (apparently) and stink about the fact that the movie The End of the Spear that came out this week about martyred christian missionaries has a lead character played by a gay activist, Chad Allen.

And this, apparently, is the largest terror to the christian faith since, i don't know, Marilyn Manson.

I just read a relatively short sighted and saddening article here about this movie and it's production company composed by a pastor from a church down in Denver. In of which (it's long, watch out) he calls for an apology from the media company that produced the film, for all congregations to drub the movie from the pulpit, that Chad Allen's growing teen fan-base will turn all young christians gay and that we need to hunt down homosexual activists with high powered rifles and the intensity of the LORD. (ok, the last part isn't true, but the first three are.)

Now, before i get much farther, i will say that i have not seen the film as of yet, but one of the pastor's other major complaints is that the Gospel is so 'dumbed down' that we shouldn't

"worry about it being a tool of evangelism. The Gospel is so hidden in the film that the chances of people getting saved are slim to none."

I have been told by other friends that have seen it, though, that the film is quite powerful and moving, and i am looking forward to seeing possibly this weekend. But, apparently the literal vision of watching people die for their faith is not a visible enough interpretation of the gospel. Hm.

The production company in question, Every Tribe Entertainment simply sustains that Chad Allen was the actor they chose because he is a good actor. That he was the best actor they could find for the role, and they want to make the best films they possibly can - and that was all that guided their choice. And i'm pretty sure that there is no part in the film in which Ecuadorian tribesmen declare their hate for the missionaries because they support gay-adoption rights, but because they were missionaries of the gospel. But, to fight this vacuum of morality in Christian cinema, the pastor in question suggests that:

Does anyone really believe that Chad Allen was the best possible actor for Nate Saint? This would be like Madonna playing the virgin Mary. I propose that the Christian film-making community come up with a code of ethics that will show the difference between a Christian film company and a secular film company.

Nice. Because, you know, when you begin putting rules and laws onto a medium of ART really allows it to remain ART. And way to not appear judgemental at all, I'm sure that the gay community will continue to look to christians for other similar nuggets of love.

Can we simply have a discussion about why these men died? And for what? Why they gave their life? Can we let the film be just that -- A film?

i would digress, but i already have, and someone much smarter than me has already weighed in with some wonderful thoughts over at internet monk. Here's an excerpt for the skimmers:

"It’s really just like the God of Jesus to put the Gospel’s story of reconciliation into the custody of Chad Allen, gay activist, so that the Pharisees can really get stewed. It’s like a lost chapter of the Gospels. It’s simply outrageous that no one checked in with the culture war powers that be to get the word that real sinners- Activists!!!- can’t be playing missionary martyrs or Christians who must forgive murderers. Oh the notoriety! Those impressionable minds!

It really is like the God who made Balaam’s Ass a preacher to make Chad Allen a preacher. "

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice… Philippians 1:15-18

On being loved...

So, as i managed to pick my way down through the stairs in my percocet-induced haze last Friday night, (a direct result of getting my wisdom teeth systematically removed from my head that morning) (all four. it was fun.) i was contemplating my current innability to play Halo with any efficiency when i noticed my bedroom door closed.

Odd.

Normal people would probably just push through their door and fall face first into bed as i had been planning to do, but i paused a moment and thought.. "i didn't leave my door closed when i left. and the only way it stays shut is if it quite purposefully placed into said position."

barring myself for the ninjas that awaited me on the opposite side of the door, i shrugged my way through the threshhold to find not ninjas... but worse. I had been 'Pinked'.

'Querque Trippin

So, also far too late in the chronological order of this blog, but too great not to share, are some spots of our (liz and i's) trip down to see Brian and Amy in Alberquerque. Seeing as how i am laid up in the house for the weekend with my swollen face due to my wisdom tooth surgery yesterday (helllooo applesauce!) i really have excuse to get these things up. so.



The camera itself didn't really come out until our second day of the land of enchantment (otherwise known as New Mexico) when we went and explored Alberquerque's Old Town - after accidentally going over the Rio 'Grand' river. But, the downtowny area turned out to be quite quaint, with three or four million trinket and artwork stores, slightly weird signs and sculptures, and a wonderful candy shop to boot.





I think this was already posted. But it's too good not to show it again.












I'm not sure if i was breaking a town ordinance or not, but, irony waits for no law.










Seriously, doesn't this just make everyone involved feel awkward? Yes, i thought so.






Yes, Liz obviously agrees.









Its a game of Good Cop - Irate Cop.






Yes, yes, i have a very nice caboose. It's True






After a day of such silliness, Brian accompanied us to the top of the Sandia Range, via the worlds longest Tramway. (Quite the shortcut considering the round trip hike takes about 8 hours. No thanks, i already made it to the of Longs Peak last September, and almost died.)






Up Up Up Up Up!





The view from the top.




This was actually a stone refuge built by the CCC in the 30's for travelers along the range to get out of the elements. Pretty darn cool.








The Middleville travelers - and how do you celebrate a good, cold & windy hike?





With Irish Coffee of course!









All in all, it was a great long weekend, even when we miscalculated our romp back north on the scenic route through Taos - which caused me to make the mini rev to about 90 for about two hours for liz to catch her flight back to the midwest. Thankfully, though, greater forces were at work (like the fact that once again, United Airlines is run by monkeys) and her flight was delayed and gave her enough time to get onboard, checked luggage and all. Course, this makes for a very inconvenient and rushed goodbye - which i would not suggest for anyone to try. Quite lame.

Just another workday

Scene: Office Breakroom/Kitchen

me: "are you really making more coffee? It's after 3 in the afternoon."

seceratary: "well, yea - we have people here that work until 5."

me: "yea, but coffee? I don't drink that stuff after noon!"

sec: "well, what do you want to die from then?"

Wyoming State Parks Boost Economy... what a shocker!

But Seeing as how there is a rash of Wyoming/Michigan news on the airwaves lately, i simply must bring it to everyone's attention. Apparently a study done at Michigan State confirms that in Wyoming, for every dollar they spend on the state park system, they generate $6.23 in revenue.

In other news, i still have a very boring desk job.

Main Gate Afternoon Exchange

Woman Gate Guard: "Everytime i see your car, i think of that movie, what is it... 'Shag me Baby!' - what was it? "

Me: "Uh, Austin Powers? "

Woman: "Ah yea, that's it. "

Moral of the story: using the phrase 'Shag Me Baby' in conversation between two strangers turns out, actually, to be slightly awkward.

Come join us out west!

Booming Wyoming communities to recruit workers in Michigan

This made me smile as i drove into work this morning on NPR. It's always quite bizzare to hear national news about michigan... but not so bizzare when it's about the severe unemployment rate. Good thing you got that degree! Now move to Gillette!

A Christmas Story

So, i know that i am almost a full month behind schedule, but the unruly task of sharing and putting the post that i thought my winter travels deserved has taken me a while to draw the energy to do so.

So, as i sit in my favorite coffee house in Fort Collins, i shall try to share the madness that ensued on my visit to Michigan, and attempt to do the same for the Albuquerque visit that ensued shortly afterwards.

There's always something great about going home, something akin to putting on your favorite worn-in pair of jeans or listening to the first album you ever bought that you still love, but to a much stronger degree. I've also discovered that if you only go home every six months, and then only plan about three full days to be home on said visit, that life can get hectic.

But it does make you feel popular.

I flew into the Indianapolis airport very late on the night of the 23rd, and was picked up by miss liz and we headed over to Richwood, Ohio (where the clock strikes 'hospitality') for the beginings of Christmas festivities. Grandma J is the absolute best for (over)feeding and before leaving for michigan the afternoon of the 24th i was rewarded for my intentions to marry liz with presents.

This is, as all should know, the best way to encourage me: chocolate and books.

I tore my way northward from the land of the buckeyes to the wolverine state. (which, btw, is the bane of every spartan's existence - to have to acknowledge that their homestate's nickname is the same as their hated rival) I spent three days at home, seeing friends, family, opening more presents, eating more food than any person could ever digest in three days time and frowning at the eternal greyness that is upon western michigan this time of year.

Christmas at home with the immediate family (and the ritualistic christmas morning tree shot) was nice as always, and i'm not just saying that because i got a new thatch doormat to bring home with me on the plane.

Matt even took his gift from dad in the form of a newly inked tattoo, which itself took the form of my tattoo. Can you guess which is me? (the slight discoloration on my back is from another gift that matt gave me, years ago when i was 4 or 5, when he knocked an entire pot of coffee on me from the kitchen counter. Thanks Matt!)

Christmas at home faded into Christmas with the entirety of the Joyce cousins at at the Welz's house (plug: Go buy a soccer lamp, i owe as much for the part time work uncle herb always gave me between jobs when home making his bubble concoctions)and i also got more things, namely in the form of an REI gift certificate from Jen & Ken, (another plug - Liz and i are registered there for July, go and spend ridiculous amounts of money on us)

The entire roster of Joyce cousins - Please note Jon's wonderful smiling face. They grow up so fast, eh?

But, after a few days of family, food and friends (notedly: Dwight Wades cooking and corn casserole, if you want his address to go and beg him for it, simply ask) i screamed back to Ohio, where liz and i did some more wedding planning,

and then reported promptly to the airport on wednesday night only to volunteer our seats to some other lucky couple on their way to Denver. Then, once fully rested on a comped hotel room and dinner the night before, we volunteered our seats (again) for the sake of an hour and a half delay and finally got to Denver on Thursday, sometime around noon.

For those keeping score, that equals 4 (FOUR) free roundtrip plane tickets, and a first class ride to Denver that day. This is an amazing answer to prayer as to how we were going to afford our cross-country romance, as we now have airfare that covers us well into april. God is good, and United Airlines is run by monkeys.

Once back in the west, i worked a few days the following week, spent New years in the Denver area with the Bishops, Janie and Tiff:

and climbed around Golden on new years eve:

All in all, it was quite the two weeks or so, and i ultimately enjoyed spending time with people i live far too far away from, and specifically my elizabeth. And i know that anyone that has made it thus far is probably completely satiated with pictures of myself and my betrothed, i shall only make you digest one more.

Hopefully i will get some of the pictures from the following weekend's adventure down to New Mexico to see Brian and Amy Bishop (and their ridiculously large house) up soon, but that may take as much if not more internet engergy than i can generate for the time being. Cheers all ~

Also, here are some more pics of the trip and older ones, as well.

The State of the, uh, States.

create your own personalized map of the USA

How on earth did i miss these? well, you can't blame me for alaska and Hawaii, at least they are definetly not on the way of any road trip.

Oh my goodness

This may indeed be the very best blonde joke that i have ever heard - even if they are cliche. tooo good.

G.I. Schmo

Interesting article i found on Slate this morning, about the drooping recruiting numbers that have been going on with the army, and what they are having to do about it. I had to take a similar test for the air force, and it's pretty darn long and thorough... but my beef may be with the parting shot at the end of the article that puts words into servicemembers mouths that i would probably say is not the popular opinion among troops. though it is mine... roughly.

Quantity is Job 1

So, i have a wonderfully large post in the works, documenting the travels of myself and the beautiful miss liz over the last two weeks, but i actually have work to accomplish at the moment, and will just have to attempt to satiate whoever reads this with a fun picture from our trip down to Brian and Amy's house in Albuquerque, NM.

Yes, we are magical.

my ridiculously hot fiancee

I have been quite absent from the blogosphere of late, because, well, i've been out living life too much to really have a moment to document it. But, one of my favorite memories of the recent days has been the day of climbing at Golden, CO this past weekend with my cousin Dylan who is much more diligent than i and has managed to record said event.

Basically, i was back home all last week and brought elizabeth back to the mountain west with me for this week. Please stay tuned for thoroughly depressed entries next week, when she leaves and i find myself burning time on the blog(s).

till then.....