From worshiping Allah to worshiping Yahweh

I've always been pretty intrigued by Islam. And I've had the suspicion we get so much of it wrong. Here is a very interesting Q and A by a Christian who used to be a Muslim. It's long, but I think you might learn something. I know I did.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/october/35.112.html

Here are some quotes that stood out to me:

When asked what was different between his childhood and that of a typical North American's, part of his answer was: "We had close proximity to the natural world without the demand to subdue and exploit it."

When talking about joining the Catholic Church: "I realized that a cultural paradigm had usurped the place of God in our enlightened scheme of things, and that was one reason why for so long the church tried to make me feel guilty and untrustworthy for claiming the Christian name...I thought Jesus was for real in spite of the prevarications of the church. "

When asked about keeping relationships with his Muslim family and friends: "The love of money is a universal desire, admittedly, but being in America turns it into a prerequisite. It trumps everything else."

Advice to evangelical missionaries: "The cultural captivity of Christianity has not spared evangelicals in America. Witness the bellicose tone of many evangelical leaders applauding America's military intervention in Iraq, making religious militancy a partner with America's military might in a joint assault in the war on terror and on Islam. The flag has become a more prominent symbol in many evangelical churches than the cross...One should also recall that Christianity originated in the Middle East, and that the language of the Arabs is much closer to that of Jesus than, say, English. We risk a chauvinistic promotion of American culture in the guise of true religion unless we can separate meat and sandwich."

There is much more!

Just Because...

Jeff had these waiting for me when I got home last night. Just because. Man I love him!

When I Woke Up This Morning...

...it was sunny. And snowing.

blog stalker

OK, so I read a lot of blogs and the authors of those blogs may or may not know I read them, let alone post them here for the entire world (I mean, all 5 of you) to read. So if you see your blog link here and would rather I remove it, no problem, just let me know!

Also, it's been a long time since I've blogged. But I will. I swear it. By the moon and the stars.

In the meantime:

Mr. President.

Gorgeous family, people. Gorg. Eous.

Her outfit? I love it. Love it.

Her gown? I want it.

342 days since I stopped...

I didn’t make any resolutions this year. I didn’t sit down and write out what I’d like to accomplish. When anyone asked if I had any resolutions I would answer with “I’m not sure.” Because let’s face it, we’ve all done the tired act of dreaming big and then nose-diving into December having succeeded for about 1.3 months. OK, maybe YOU have done better than I have. I will give you a blue ribbon. Congratulations.

I’ve been thinking about what is BEHIND a resolution, more than the actual statements I’ve always made.

I want to eat healthier. Why? So I stay thin? So I feel good? So I’m “in?”

I want to work out 3 times a week. Why? So I can fit into what is “pretty?” So I can be healthy? Live longer? Why?

I want to stop complaining. Why? So I’m not an annoying friend/wife/co-worker? So that life looks a little lighter, a little less cynical? So people like me?

I want to write to my friends every month. So they know they are loved? So I look like a good friend? So that I can maintain friendships that might otherwise dwindle? So I'm not lonely?

The fact is, I don’t know exactly what is behind the resolutions I’ve made in the past or those I contemplated making this year. But what I THINK—well I think we all just want to be happy. Content. Filled with joy. At peace. Loved. And, at least for me, making resolutions is a way to try to reach those goals. But once a year? I wonder if the reason so many of us drop our goals is that we only think of them as annual resolutions. What if every day we resolved to have a good day, be thankful for what we have, be kind to those we come across at the store or in the lane beside us, bite our tongue when we think of something negative to say and instead think of something positive to share, make efforts to tell the ones we love we love them, serve people, give to others when it’s not easy or convenient, learn something new, teach something, share something, try something, be something. Wouldn’t it be cool to live every day full of such resolve? So that when January 31st of whatever year rolls around, it feels just like another, normal, joyful, wonderful day?!

This reminds me of happiness. Everyday happiness :) I hope you have a really, truly, beautiful year!

Someplace New Review Catch Up

It's been so long I don't even remember what number I last used, but that's OK. This will just finish up the 2008 places and then I'll start over for 2009, since we haven't eaten anywhere new yet this year.

Front Range Barbecue.

You guessed it-not a lot of choices for a vegetarian. But that's OK. They had mac n cheese to offer, as well as fried artichoke hearts, which were delicious! I think they might have even had a salad. And I had mashed potatoes and gravy and a grilled cheese sandwich. They did, however, have tons of meat! They were voted the best BBQ place in the Springs for 2008 by the Independent. I think Jeff really enjoyed it. I can't remember exactly what he had, but for sure ribs. He loves ribs! The atmosphere was pretty strange. The restaurant was in an old house in Old Colorado City area, so it seems small and the tables were set up in different rooms of the house. The decorating was plain and there didn't seem to be a real theme. But it was comfy and clean, so it worked. I'd give it a 6 of 10. But that's mostly because of the lack of veg fare. :)

Me Gusta.

This means "I like it" or something close to that in Spanish. But we should really call it NO ME GUSTA. We ate here, in Salida, with Cade on our way home from Montrose the weekend after Christmas. Usually we eat at the most amazing pizza place EVER, Amica's. But we wanted to try something new and different this time. Big Mistake. To start off, they offered us chips and salsa. For $5. With no refills. While the salsa was really quite tasty, charging that much for it was ludicrous. The menu seemed to offer the same general items you would find at any Mexican restaurant, and we ordered what we always do: Chimichangas. YUCK. The guac tasted funny, Cade and Jeff's meat was strange and it was just altogether not impressive. But very pricey! Boo :( The only redemptive thing I can say about it is that it had a cute poster in the bathroom about how to be a global citizen. I would never recommend it or go back. 1 of 10. blllllllllllllll (that is me sticking my tongue out at the place.)

PJ's Bistro

This place seemed pretty good at first glance. We snuck in out of the snow after we finished playing at the penny arcade in Manitou. Side note, games at the penny arcade cost 25-75 cents. It was freezing outside and we all realized we were hungry, so we quickly found a place to eat and PJ's was it. It is located in a historic building that used to be a hotel but is now an apartment. Why did I not know about this cute place to live when I lived alone?! There was a newspaper article on the wall calling it Euorotopia. The server seemed to be from Russia and there were lots of different choices from different countries. Potato pancakes, for example, and Perogi's. I think the place could have been really good. Unfortunately they didn't have the choice that Jeff wanted, although I think he still enjoyed his giant brat and sauerkraut. I ordered potato pancakes (Latke's) with applesauce and sour cream. It had so much potential! And so many onions! :( If you know me, you know that is just. not. good. I tried to eat them. I did. I even drenched them in ketchup to pretend they were hash browns. But it didn't work. The great news is that Cade had a Club sandwich that seemed to be just about the best sandwich he'd ever eaten in his life. Phew! I might go back. But until then it only gets a 6 of 10.

Stay tuned! I got an ipod touch from Jeff for Christmas and downloaded that awesome application, Urban Spoon. You know the one where you shake your ipod and it rolls like a slot machine until it lands on a restaurant. There should be many more new places in 2009!

Life without family just wouldn't be really living

OK, so these pictures are way out of order, but there are just too many for me to click and drag and drag and drag and you get my point. So I'll just caption them and you can use your imagination for the rest :)

Here are Clarence and Chloe in our backyard enjoying the Spring-like weather. Jeff, while enjoying the weather, hates the fact that it WILL. NOT. SNOW.


Jeff and Cade whittling walking sticks with the new knives they got from Santa.


As soon as Cade got the lid off this shoe box, Clarence decided it was perfect for him. As you can see, it's not.


You can't even really see that he's in a box from the top view!


Jake, Jenn, Hannah at Patsy and Jim's house (Jeff's parents) listening to Jeff serenade them on his new electric guitar!


Jeff doing his best to whitewash the cousins outside Jim and Patsy's house in Montrose.



This is how Jeff ignores the chaos around him. He was watching the Broncos get beat. And then his Christmas wish came true: Shanahan got fired! Seriously, it felt like we were in a movie here. There was so much noise and action and it was non stop. Now I know what bigger families with little kids are like!


There are rarely any pictures of Patsy because she is always behind the camera. Well this one is priceless!


All the cousins, Kylie, Conner, Cade and Hannah, helping Hannah open her present.


Jared, Jenn and Jake watching Hannah open another gift. (Jared, Jenn and Jeff are siblings.)


More opening.


We went snow shoeing in Ouray. It was stunningly gorgeous, not to mention a blast. Here is Patsy with Lucy the dog about to slide down this ledge.


Jeff looking over the ledge before he FLIPPED off.


Jeff not waiting for his dear wife to catch up ;P


Patsy, Kylie and Jared.


Lucy, who reminds me so much in looks of my dear old Sheba.


Kylie, Cade, Jared, Jeff.


Another shot of Patsy! I am the winner!






Jeff going to rescue Kylie because when she and Cade just started climbing her snow shoes fell right off.


Jeff trying out his electric guitar after he opened up his amplifier on Christmas morning.


Christmas at our house for the first time!!





Santa brought pocket knives.


...and toys for the kitties.


And tons of other stuff!


Cade is tracking Santa with NORAD on Christmas Eve. He LOVED it! (score one for step mom!)


Decorating sugar cookies for Santa. Score another one for me! My dad and I did this every year, even up until last year. Well, Scott and mom would join in most of the time, but it became a dad, daughter thing even more. Now it can be a Schurz family tradition!


Rolling out the dough.


Mixing the food coloring into the frosting.


Christmas Eve supper with Mom and Dad. It was delicious. Jeff made a ham and we had cheese fondue. Maybe another tradition :)


We went to the Smalberger house a few days before Christmas to celebrate with my parents, grandparents and Scott and Brandy. This is probably the most classic picture I will ever have. Jeff might not be the happiest that it is now here for the world to see. Or at least for the 5 of you reading.



The family picture. I LOVE it!


Grandma playing with her puppy the way you are supposed to play with puppies: on the floor.


Jeff playing with the other puppy the way you are NOT supposed to: on the furniture!


The boys cutting down some trees.




And that's that, folks. Christmastime 2008. It was wonderful. And I am NOT looking forward to going back to work in 2 days. Oh well. Only 358 days until next Christmas!!