Categories
General

Mill Mountain Star

Shooting Mill Mountain starHad the chance to go up to the Mill Mountain star observation deck tonight with Chris. Good view, even though it was humid out. Stopped at Krispy Kreme on the way up, but the doughnuts weren’t hot. Bummer. I’ve been keeping busy this week–hopefully, I’ll make it to the river this week and get back into more regular posting.

Categories
Faith

That Monday Morning Kind of Faith

One of the most frustrating things that I see is people who call themselves Christians, go to church on Sundays, and wake up Monday morning and live exactly the same as their friends who have never been inside a church.  On Sunday, they pay lip service to God, yet Monday they’re out putting themselves before anything else.  Fudging the numbers to get the results, cheating a client on a business deal, giving into temptations, making bad decisions, using people, it just goes on and on.

I’m sick of people playing pios on Sunday.  Game over.  Your life doesn’t show the fruit of a believer.  I’d rather you not call yourself a believer, a Christian, whatever.  All that does is cheapen the title for those who have made Christ Jesus the head of their lives.  For those of you who have made Jesus the lord of your life, what are you holding back from him?  It’s a huge risk to cast your entire life onto Jesus, but the reward is a relationship now and forever with God.  It’s worth it.

I like the way Donna Lasit from Hillsongs Church in Australia puts it in her song “Believe.”  I don’t want to be satisfied with my life as it is.  I want to be a Monday morning Christian–going as hard after God on a Monday morning in class or at the office as on a Sunday morning at church.  No one said it would be easy, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.

We believe in You
We believe in the power of Your Word and its truth
We believe in You
So we lay down our cause
That our cross might be found in You

I’m not satisfied doing it my own way
I’m not satisfied to do church and walk away
I’m not satisfied, there’s no love in my life but You

I’m not satisfied living in yesterday’s hour
I’m not satisfied to have the form, but not the power
I’m not satisfied, Oh Lord I am crucified in You

Categories
General

A Capitol Third?

A little known fact about A Capitol Fourth, the PBS aired concert and fireworks coverage live from the steps of the capitol, is that the dress rehersal on July 3 is open to the public. This year, we went down early and ate dinner inside security so that we could save time and get good seats. The crowd wasn’t as large as last year, but there were still thousands of people there. Since there was a Nationals game downtown tonight as well, the metro trains were crowded coming home after the concert.

Last year, the dress rehersal wasn’t really a rehersal at all. There were no breaks and no do-overs. However, only about half the acts for the actual event were there. The Beach Boys were filled in for with a band half their age. This year, every single scheduled performer was there, even though several numbers were repeated and there was a break in the middle. Jason and the other headliners did an excellent job adlibbing through the wrinkles.

Jason Alexander up closeThe headliner was Stevie Wonder and the announcer Jason Alexander (George on Seinfeld). Other guests were Vanessa Williams, Elmo, JoJo, Michael Bolton, Jo Dee Messina, and the National Symphony Orchestra. With this extrordinary cast, the highlight of the evening was easily Jason Alexander. He performed the opening number singing, dancing, and drumming during the course of several choruses. As the announcer, he did most of the introductions from a booth located behind the VIP seats–about 50 feet to the right and maybe 15 feet in front of me. During one of the breaks, he came up to the fence near my section and was talking with people. I didn’t get in a word or a handshake, but I was able to snap a close up picture on my cell phone. Too bad I let others convince me that I wouldn’t need my camera the year I got up close seats.

Tomorrow morning, I’m headed back to Blacksburg.  My summer class starts on July 5.

Categories
Colorado

Red Rocks and Downtown

This morning, we enjoyed a large hot breakfast provided by the hotel. After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel, loaded up the car, and headed back to the 16th street mall to pick up some last souvenirs of the trip. When we were done shopping, we jumped in the car and drove to Red Rocks park 15 miles west of the city.

The original plan was to take a look at the famous amphitheater, which is beautifully surrounded by naturally occurring red stones, and is also acoustically perfect. Since there was a concert this evening, the amphitheater was closing to the public minutes after we arrived, so we hurried up to the amphitheater, got a quick picture of the stage, and then headed to the park’s trading post.
We decided not to hike the Red Rocks trail, since it was over 90 degrees outside and we were already hot from running to the amphitheater.

Red Rocks amphitheater seating Red Rocks stage

From Red Rocks, we drove to Dinosaur Ridge, a hill that has many dinosaur fossils exposed along a winding road. Unfortunately, the road was closed and we didn’t have time to walk up the road, so we didn’t get to see much of the ridge.

To see a little more of the city, we drove to the airport on the east side of the city by going through the city center instead of taking the interstate around the city. We got to see several of Denver’s neighborhoods and took a mid-afternoon snack break at a local burger and frozen custard chain. Today’s flavors were strawberries and cream and vanilla. Both were excellent in the 90+ degree heat of the afternoon.

Now, we’re waiting for our flight in the Denver airport. We’re hoping that our flight is on time, since it leaves at 6:40pm mountain time and lands at 11:50 eastern time. I don’t have internet access in the airport, so this update will actually go out once we’re on the ground and back to the house.