Well, we drove to Stupendous Eating Implements (Grand Forks), North Dakota and have been spending the day touring around completing some Christmas shopping amidst the wreckage of Black Friday. Still plenty of meat left on the bones of consumerism for us to pick over.

 

Amogst other things picked up the complete anime series – Ergo Proxy ( http://www.activeanime.com/html/content/view/5022/71/ ). Have watched five episodes so far and find it very good. 18 more episodes to go. The closing credits song is Paranoid Android recorded by Radiohead for the series. Very cool.

 

Since it is Sunday I plugged the iPod in on the drive down this morning and listened to a podcastof Rob Bell’s sermon from Oct. 24 about The Beatitudes…specifically on Blessed are the Peacemakers. Some very good points were made – particularly the point of peacemaking consisting of a third way that takes no sides. A brilliant use of Joshua 5:13-14 ensued:

What I like about these verses is the answer of the Commander of the Army of the Lord (what an awesome title). The question he was asked was the Biblical equivalent of "are you with us or against us?" (it also helps to imagine Joshua at this point with a Texas accent)…the answer – neither. Says alot. Why not take sides? Perhaps because God’s love extends to both.

 

We are staying at the Guesthouse Inn which has a special for pastors (first night free, each additional night $45). I would like to bring the kids here because the entire atrium of this place is glass enclosed and consists of swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, arcade, minigolf etc. It also has a decent restaurant. The room pastor’s stay in is called The Prophet’s Chamber. I suppose we are fortunate the prophet is out of town and we can use his "chamber". It seems from the decor that the prophet is stuck solidly in the 80s which is fine when we are speaking of music but really too bad in terms of decor…but we are not complaining too much. I am going to guess that the prophet likely sports a mullet.

 

In other news I smuggled some Goose Island Oatmeal Stout into the Prophet’s Chamber…consider it sort of a liquid grain offering. Having never tried it before and having a great passion for all things stout (which seems to be the direction my body is heading) I thought I would give it a shot. It’s pretty good actually. It’s not Guinness (nothing is really) and quite frankly it tastes more like a Scottish ale then a stout but it still wasn’t bad. The first sip is somewhat sweet but that gives way quickly to a burnt chocolate with oaty overtones. It’s a tad too carbonated as far as I’m concerned (which is why I think it’s more like a Scottish ale) and has a somewhat bitter aftertaste but not too bad when all is said and done.

 

I naped too long after snacking too much and now feel bloated and wide awake…bad combination. Might wander around a bit outside. The hotel is pretty much in the middle of downtown Grand Forks. Maybe I will watch some of the anime trailers on the Ergo Proxy DVD’s.