Friday Musings

More Kudos for the Flying Mango
I've talked about how the Flying Mango is one of my favorite restaurants before. I saw yesterday that the Des Moines Register's food critic released his review in the Datebook. The anonymous "W.E. Moranville" had high praise for the BBQ, calling it "Five-Star Food", and "arguably the best barbecue in town." You aren't going to get an argument with me. This is perhaps the most-overlooked spot in town in my book. If you haven't been you should give it a try.

United 93
The first movie about 9/11 is being released today, recounting the tragedy of flight 93 and the passengers who fought back. Unbelievably, it currently has a 95% "fresh rating" on Rotten Tomatoes, which is very impressive. Especially for a film dealing with this kind of weighty subject matter. In fact, some have been critical of the director for doing this project so soon after the tragedy. I can understand those for whom the film is too painful to watch. However, I also think it is time to tell the story of the heroes whose bravery against terrorists deserves to be remembered.

Friday Musings

Ahhh, Golf
Tomorrow I am going to try getting out on the golf course for the first time this year. It won't be pretty (really it never is). But I'm looking forward to it.

Yes! NBA Playoffs!
Can't you just feel the excitement in the air? Just kidding, I really could almost care less. Even though the Bulls are in it. I heard on the radio yesterday that the NBA set an attendance record this year, but I have no idea how. It has quickly become the least interesting of professional sports, even though I love basketball. If I had to rank the pro sports in the United States, they would be:

1. NFL
2. MLB
3. PGA
4. NBA

A New Link For Greek Geeks
This is for the couple readers out there who make use of online New Testament Greek tools. I found a much better site than the one I had linked to previously (www.greekbible.com). It is www.zhubert.com. Some of the niceties are: the ability to "hover" over words to see things like definition/case/tense, a parallel version of the NET Bible (with all translator notes!), word-usage charts, Strong's dictionary and MUCH more. I am just beginning to explore, but it appears to be the Swiss-army knife tool for those who use Greek on the web.

Mike's Top Ten Online Biblical Study Resources
When I went to school at Emmaus, one of the guys who I took Greek with was Mike. He is a keen intellect, avid reader, deep thinker and all-around good guy. Right now he and his wife live in the UK, where he is conducting a "literary-historical reading of John 21." Just don't ask me what that is. Anyways, I just found his blog, where he listed his favorite online study resources. That's where discovered the Zhubert site, and I am eager to explore more of his recommendations. Be forewarned: this isn't material for the faint-of-heart: it is geared more towards a seminary level. He also has a site for film reviews at imagefacts.blogspot.com

Good Friday

It seems appropriate today to pause and think about the last words of Jesus as He suffered on the cross. Each of the seven contains riches of insight into the person and character of our Saviour.

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.

Dear woman, here is your son,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

I am thirsty.

It is finished.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for being
Forgiveness for the enemy,
Welcome for a thief,
Compassion to a mother,
Forsaken from your Father,
Thirsty for me,
Faithful to the last,
Trusting in death.

Friday Musings

Reinstalling My World
I took the plunge to Windows XP yesterday here at work, and so have spent the day watching progress meters and hunting for CDs to reinstall the necessary applications to get actual work done. Not a fun experience, especially when it seems I have to hunt down a bunch of prerequisites before I can even install Microsoft .NET. What fun. But look on the bright side: I have time to write Friday Musings!

Another Birthday
We celebrated my birthday by going to The Flying Mango this week. It is a cozy little Des Moines restaurant/caterer with great smoked meat (of course) and Cajun dishes. The BBQ is so good that I’ve never tried any of their other items, but that’s ok. I had the baby-back ribs this time and they were fall-off-the-bone tender. An added bonus was that it was our first time out to eat since Nora was born–quite the treat. Also, I received a NET Bible, which will be much-appreciated study-companion tool.

Another Blogger
Congrats to Jenica (and Andy), who just got their first blog off the ground. Be careful: it’s addicting. Nice pictures! You get extra credit if you can get Andy to write anything there.

The Masters
Nothing says spring like The Masters golf tournament, which stands alone in my mind as the best of the majors. Here are five reasons why:

1. It is always played at Augusta National, so the memories from the tournament are synonymous with the course itself.

2. It occurs in the spring, right at the point when you are dying to get out and play.

3. No commercials.

4. The silly tinkling music in the background which is strangely inspirational.

5. Watching the winner put on the dorky green jacket and still loving every minute of it.

Apple Hits Grand Slam

Apple announced software today that lets you run Windows on the new Intel-based Macs. Get ready for the cheap PC-clone-makers out there to just get rolled by Apple now. Think of all the fence-sitters who want a Mac but have been too scared because they have some pet Windoze software they want to run. No excuses now. They can have the elegance of Mac, use it for pictures, movies, DVDs, and Internet surfing, and still run whatever else they might want to. And all at blazing native speed.

Hope Springs Eternal

Opening day is a special one in baseball, because it means that "next year" is finally here. And one of these seasons, "next year" is going to be "this year". GO CUBS!!!