Fatburger and Becky

My friend Becky is sad that I didn't post about a game night we had on Friday with my friends from Cal State Fullerton - Scott, Becky, Shannon and her husband Steve and kids, and my family. We had a great time eating pizza, watching the USC/UNC game, and playing some Cranium.

Becky was upset that I posted about burgers and not this game night. However, I was thinking of them when I posted Fatburger as the #1 burger because they introduced me to the delicious King Burger with bacon, cheese, and a fried egg on top.

Also, about burgers. I do love the A's Burger joint. It tastes a lot like In-n-Out. They also have really good breakfast burritos. All my previous in-n-out comments were just to make people mad. It really would be my number one.

Are you happy Becky?

Rating Recently Seen Movies

300 - 8 out of 10. Freaking awesome!! There were some naughty bits so be aware of that, but the main character makes me want to be a braver man. Visually stimulating. I wanted to fight Matt Davis and Jason Krusiewicz when we left the theater.
Flags of Our Fathers - 8. I really liked this well-made film that details the battle, but even more went into the story of the guys who raised the flag (or didn't).
Dune - 1 out of 10. I loved these books, but this movie straight up sucked. Don't waste your life by seeing this film.
The Departed - 8. This was a well-made film and was pretty entertaining although disturbing. Marky Mark was the best actor in the movie.
Marie Antoinette - 5. I rated this pretty low but it was interesting. It was kind of plot-bare, but visually intriguing.
The Holiday - 7. This was great for a romantic comedy. All the actors were great in it - Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. Jack Black is great when he isn't his normal annoying self. Kate Winslet was the best part of the movie and so were Jude Law's two daughters.
Babel - 3. I hated this movie. I know that it was well-made and different, but watching it is one of the most miserable experiences of depression a person can go through.
Stranger than Fiction - 7. Fun movie. Maggie Gyllenhall is superb with her cute revolutionary baker character.
Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses - 6. Grace loved this movie and it wasn't as torturous as the title makes it sound. Would I buy it? No.

AGREE OR DISAGREE???

Awesome Night!

I led worship in our Jr High Ministry last night and it was both fun and God-honoring. Here's the set-list:
1. No One Like You - Crowder
2. Take it All - United
3. My Glorious - Delirious

Then a great message by Josh Simpson beginning a sexual purity series on how only the agape love of God can fill the void in our lives that we try to fill with relationships with guys/girls.

4. You are My King (Amazing Love)
5. From the Inside Out - United
6. Marvelous Light - Charlie Hall
7. What the World Will Never Take - United

The people in the band were really good and the kids were totally into it. I love nights like that. High energy and high response from the students and having fun playing the songs at the same time. During the first set I was dressed up like Yosemite Sam with this HUGE cowboy hat and ridiculous long moustache made out of red yarn. It was a Cartoon theme night. I had to take it off for the second set because I couldn't even take myself seriously.

Mozza Reviewed in Times

I didn't even realized it opened but Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali's pizzeria opened in Los Angeles a few months ago and it was glowingly reviewed in the LA Times today.

I want to go so bad. They have salumi, intense looking bruschetta, salads, and some other dishes as well as pizza. Mario Batali's dad's salumi is tasty. I had it in NYC at Lupa. I'm going to call for a reservation ASAP. The Osteria Mozza opens in the Spring and will have more pasta and meat dishes.

Chilaxing

I have been given a wonderful gift. Bea didn't have to be at work until a little later today so she took Grace to school just a few minutes ago and I get to actually stay home and relax in the morning on my day off. I'm by myself in my house in my pajamas at 7:40am. You have no idea how rare and wonderful this is.

I might watch a movie (either the rest of Ghandi or A Scanner Darkly) or I might read a little or I might just sleep. Hmmmm....I love my choices.

What's a simple form of relaxation for you?

Things I'm Thinking About...

- Who will my church pick for a consultant?
- Am I really supposed to accept my sin and that will help?
- How many people in Los Angeles will die from the nuclear bomb that exploded on 24 and will Jack Bauer and the rest of CTU get radiation diseases?
- What will I post about on Sanctity of Life Day this Sunday?
- When am I going to get time to prepare my teaching for Elevation on Jan. 28?
- Why did the Chargers lose and why did they do so many stupid things in that game?
- Will my parents be able to watch Grace when we go to Hawaii because I already paid for the tickets and hotel?
- How many kids are going to turn in applications for Africa because 36 have taken applications and I'm worried we will have too many?
- A big decision I have to make at church that everyone has an opinion about how it should be handled.
- Do I have issues with submission and authority?
- Will the baby be a boy or a girl?
- Will we get our money back for the adoption?
- Why is living simply so hard?
- Lots of other church issues I can't write in a public blog.
- Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ?
- Why did Erin want me to say that her family is the best family ever?
- Why do I keep forgetting to ask her about her marathon?
- Is March 3rd (the day we leave for Maui) ever going to be here?
- Will I ever speak at a camp again?
- Am I going to drop my PhD program?
- Will Peyton Manning be able to finally beat the Patriots?
- When will the next U2 album come out?
- Where do babies come from?

My Favorite Family

My favorite family in the whole world is the Krusiewicz family. Erin and Jason are incredible people with perfect kids. They rock!! And in no way did they try to get me to say this on my blog. I swear.

Sports Clips

So I'm going to this place called Sports Clips to get my hair cut today at 5pm. I will give an update after, but it's basically a place that you can watch sports on TV while getting your hair cut. I couldn't get any pictures of their website because they are all on a slideshow, but you gotta check it out. The whole place has sports memoribilia, there are games on, you get a nice shampoo and a little massage with a hot towel over your face. Should be good. I'm gonna get their just in time to watch the beginning of the Philly/New Orleans playoff game.

Sad Day for Coffee Lovers

Today is the last day you can enjoy one of these at the Diedrich's in the Orange Plaza (circle).



It makes me very very sad. Starbucks bought all the Diedrich's franchises which are much less corporate and have Free Wi-Fi. I go there all the time and now I'm just bummed. And guess what, of course there is another Starbucks right across the street. Stupid. At least some of the employees are opening up a small privately owned coffeeshop down the block in a couple months.

Favorites of 2006

Alright, I've been seeing all these different posts on people's favorites of 2006 and so now I will give it a shot.

Favorite Movie - I haven't seen enough to deserve to say.
Favorite Christian book - Simply Christian by NT Wright
Favorite Secular Book - Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klostermann
Favorite Blog by a "famous" person - Marko Ostreicher
Favorite Blog by a "non-famous" person - The Wonderful Noise by Victor Estrada
Favorite Worship Song - Inside Out by Hillsong United
Favorite Sermon I preached - Resetting Our Hearts - Part 2, Malachi 2:1-9. Check it out on iTunes under Podcasts for Calvary Church Elevation - January 22, 2006 or HERE
Favorite News - Finding out that Bea is pregnant - Baby due on July 5

That's enough for now