Guest Blogger. Jon Jordan.

Meet guest blogger, Jon Jordan. I know Jon because we both used to work for Young Life, and both worked with crazy fun middle school kids. When my YL area and another area were going on a retreat and we needed a speaker, the other girl in charge and I were so excited to ask Jon. I am so glad we did. He loves Jesus deeply and you can see it in the way he gives his life away and in the words that he uses. Jon hails form Katy, TX, has a fantastic wife, Vivien, can rock a mustache, has an awesome Twitter account and website, and surprisingly enough, never really wanted to be a theologian...

I never wanted to be a theologian.

I wanted to be hip, cool and well-liked, and theologians are not hip, cool or well liked. I could lie and say that I have achieved all those things, but my wife and the rest of our friends would just point and laugh at me. But as it turns out, never wanting to be a theological did not stop me from becoming one.

That being said it wasn't long before I realized that you don't really become a theologian, instead you just are one. And not just those who study scripture or go to seminary, but anybody who holds a belief about God and shapes their life around that belief. That covers all of us. Whether you believe that there is no God, or you believe that there are many Gods, your life is shaped by that belief. So it turned out I was a theologian, but at least I'm not alone.

This realization instilled in me a desire to learn as much as I can about the God that I claim exists. My wife reminds me that she never signed up to be a seminary or ministry wife, and I remind her that I never meant to sign up for it either. Once I began the journey of discovering and aligning myself with the historic, orthodox, Christian view of who God is, I found that I couldn't stop. Another strange effect of pursuing God is that I didn't lose interest in other things I enjoy, they just begin to have more purpose. My marriage is my greatest earthly joy, but now I also see it as a picture of Christ's great pursuit of his people. Time with friends is still one of the highlights of my week, but now our relationships are a beautiful picture of a God who exists and creates in community. I still enjoy a great beer, but now that beer points to a God who is the author of Great and the eternity we will spend enjoying him.

Theology matters. I think C.S. Lewis summed up what I continue to believe about studying God when he said that "If these things [the historic-redemptive story of Scripture] are true, they are of infinite importance. If they are not true, they are of no importance. But the one thing it cannot be if of moderate importance." 

Paint Chips.

I have been working on a little (extremely tedious) project involving paint chips lately. If you think about it, paint chips are pretty great...they are free, they come in a variety of fabulous colors, they are easily accessible (and you kind of feel like a rebel just walking into Wal-Mart and taking over 100), and again, they are free. I am going to have a few leftover paint chips, so found some cute ideas of what to do with them from searching "paint chips" on google.  

Gray.

Today is gray here in Dallas but, I have been very drawn to gray (the color) lately. Actually, it is quickly becoming my favorite neutral, whereas brown has typically been my neutral of choice. The summer sun makes gray look so much more vibrant, so I have been thinking it is beautiful on buildings, in room decor, on clothing, and everywhere in between.
All images found via wehearit search "gray".

Eclipse.

Tomorrow night is the big Eclipse movie premiere night. To get myself all psyched I am going to watch both Twilight and New Moon tonight. Do I need to get a life? Yes, but hey, it is my school break, so why not spend the evening watching Rob Pattz's beautiful face and Taylor Lautner's 6 pack abs. I won't tell you what Eclipse is about, I will just let the pictures speak for themselves...

Housesitting.

I have been housesitting for the past week and get to continue to stay at what looks like a scene from a beautiful Nancy Meyers film (that is definitely not in the middle of the city of Dallas) for the next month or so. How lucky am I?

This afternoon my friend Caroline and I had a great time swimming, reading, watching a movie on the outdoor t.v., and of course jumping on the trampoline. I had forgotten how fun and tiring jumping on a trampoline can be.

navy blue.

right now i am lo-oving navy blue rooms. the color is so classic and paired with white or light gray it looks so clean and the color pops so much. it is probably a good thing that i all of the rooms in my house are painted and there isnt a room for me to paint this lovely dark blue color anywhere. 

hipstamatic.

yesterday i downloaded the hipstamatic app for my phone and am already obsessed. although i have not taken cool pictures quite yet, here are some great ones i found by way of google search "hipstamatic". hopefully i will have some pics of my own to post on here soon. 

ponytail.

this makes me want to grow my hair long enough to put it up in a ponytail.

all i ask of you.

this song is a beautiful picture of knowing Jesus. and lately, i have been more confident in Jesus' love for me and that He is for me than probably ever in my life.

enjoy raoul and christine.

RAOUL

No more talk of darkness,

Forget these wide-eyed fears

I'm here, nothing can harm you

my words will warm and calm you

Let me be your freedom,

let daylight dry your tears.

I'm here with you, beside you,

to guard you and to guide you...

CHRISTINE

Say you love me every waking moment,

turn my head with talk of summertime...

Say you need me with you now and always...

Promise me that all you say is true

that's all I ask of you

RAOUL

Let me be your shelter

let me be your light

You're safe, No one will find you

your fears are far behind you...

CHRISTINE

All I want is freedom,

a world with no more night

and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me...

RAOUL

Then say you'll share with me

one love, one lifetime

let me lead you from your solitude

Say you need me with you here, beside you...

anywhere you go, let me go too

Christine, that's all I ask of you...

CHRISTINE

Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime...

say the word and I will follow you...

(right) BOTH:

Share each day with me,

each night, each morning...

(right) CHRISTINE

Say you love me...

RAOUL

You know I do...

BOTH

Love me - that's all I ask of you

Anywhere you go let me go too

Love me - that's all I ask of you...

prop stylist or set decorator?

lately i have been thinking about being a prop stylist or a set decorator when i graduate from interior design school. i love the idea of creating the world that people live in visually.

there is one prop stylist that does photography that i love named megan guthrie. here is a look at some of her fabulous creations...

and there is a set decorator named lydia marks that i would love to talk to and ask how she got started in her business. she has worked on movies such as sex and the city 1&2 and the devil wears prada, both of which feature really great offices.

skinny ties.

how wonderful are these skinny ties i found while shopping at urban outfitters today?

and, all 3 were a mere $9.99! now if i only had a guy...

guest blogger. mallory mccall.

todays guest blogger (a little late in the day) is none other than miss mallory mccall. mallory and i were on the same wyldlife team for a about a year, and through that year became really great friends. we went through some tough stuff this year when highland park young life dissolved and she was frequently my sounding board, shoulder to cry on, and friend to laugh with too. her heart for Jesus is open, honest, and full. she is famous around highland park for driving an awesome yellow jeep, in college mallory spent a semester at sea traveling the world (ask her how many countries she has been to), is in love with tim riggins and edward cullen, just rented a rocking new old house, and is one of my best friends here in dallas. but, there is something else about mallory that she would like to share with all of you readers of oh and the world spins madly on...

I proudly confess I am a word nerd. I’d rather write an essay than circle an answer; send an e-mail than make a call; and leave a note instead of waiting for you to return. Growing up, my mom was a first-grade teacher, which means there was an educational lesson woven into the most mundane tasks, and she took that whole “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” thing to the extreme. Her idea of brain food was a bowl full of gibberish.

For five years (Monday through Friday, August through May), I ate a bowl of soggy Alpha-bits Cereal. Before drowning the tiny whole-grain letters in a sea of white water, my brother and I would race to create the “most impressive” word before Dad’s instant coffee sent the microwave into a ringing fit of rage. (We’d giggle and pretend the incisive beeping was the censored shouts of a boiling-hot Mr. Potatohead mug. Yes, seriously, a cussing cup.)

Ultimate loser family, right?! Poor kids missed out on Cartoon Network and Toaster Strudel. Cheap dad drank fake coffee. Learning-obsessed mom should have fed us shredded newspaper instead, huh?

It’s lame, I know. But I ate it up (pun totally intended). The kid with the “most impressive” word won shotgun, which included radio rights. And when you’re 8 years old, those things matter… a lot.

Sigh. That was when I learned the power of using the right words. Think about it—letters, lyrics and even tweets are the confession of an honest expression. Why is it easier to write what we really feel or think versus just saying what’s on our heart and mind? How can so much emotion hide behind a 6-inch pen?

Postsecret, Letters to Crushes, heck, even Letters to Juliet prove the power of the written word. Feeling powerful today? Write something, I dare you.

tony awards.

did you catch this last night? it was fabulous. and boy, can matthew morrison dance and sing. i may have a slight to major crush on him.

m.i.a.

i am going to be m.i.a. for a few days due to school work, so i am going to leave you with my favorite quote right now. it is a great reminder in the midst of school and work busyness.
"What I must do first of all is be faithful. If I believe that the first commandment is to love God with my whole heart, mind, and soul, then I should at least be able to spend on hour a day with nobody else buy God. The question as to whether it is helpful, useful, practical, or fruitful is completely irrelevant, since the only reason to love is love itself. Everything else is secondary."

-Henri J.M. Nouwen

lonny mag issue #5.

here is a little peek into the latest issue of LONNY online magazine came out today. it is full of wonderfulness.

the exposed beams and dark floor are gorgeous with the dark cabinet fronts.

this would be perfect for baby joel (my new nephew).

that ceiling is to.die.for.
yes, it is easy to be distracted by the view, but the pillows are great too.
i would not mind reading a book sitting that chair one bit. not one bit at all.

i hope you are as inspired by this month's issue as i am!

hallelujah.

i got an "a" on this project.

guest blogger. rachel sherbakoff.

meet rachel sherb or sherb, as i like to call her. she is one of my favorite people in the world. i have known sherb since she was 16 on the way to frontier ranch and went to webb school of knoxville. then i was lucky enough to have her transfer to the school where i was a young life leader (w-e-s-t west west, b-e-s-t best best) and then she went to auburn where i later went on young life staff and we got to be besties there. rachel is a fiercely faithful friend, loves Jesus in such a real way, and as you can see from her pictures she both beautiful and so much fun. she is the friend that will come over at 2 a.m. when you think you hear someone breaking into your house (which she did for me), loves to watch movies and make cookies on a saturday night, and will go on any and all road trips and bring the best music. rachel has amazing taste in music (which is fitting, since she lives in nashville) and has always kept me up to date on the best indie, folk, and rock tunes. so, here is her summer music playlist. your ears will thank you...

Back in the day, one of the best things about summer was making a mixed CD for all of your friends. These days, I don’t get the fortunate pleasure of burning a CD, creating a fun title for it like “Rach and Meg’s Summer Fun Volume One 4 Life” and decorating the CD with a silver Sharpie. I would do that except my CD burner is broken on my computer and I don’t have enough money to fix it. Secondly, we have IPods and we can just make a playlist. As I prepared for my drive to the beach with my family, which I drove (8 hours) alone because I am all grown up and don’t live anywhere near my family, I created my Summer Playlist. Enjoy!


1. Oh My Stars, Andrew Belle - Belle’s voice will make those lazy afternoons and summer sunsets linger just a little bit longer. Play this song as you are winding down your action packed day and eating your peach cobbler. Belle also lives in Nashville, which is definitely a plus.

2. Airplanes, B.o.B - As you make your way to the local Sonic with the windows rolled down, turn up the volume and sing your heart out. Then look up at the sky, find an airplane, and make that one wish you hope will come true this summer.

3. The Outsiders, Needtobreathe - I recently saw these guys in concert and almost quit my job to follow them. If this song doesn’t want to make you play the banjo, clap your hands, and sing along, not sure what will.

4. Good Life, OneRepublic - I mean, isn’t summer all about the good life? At least for me it is because I am a teacher and I get lots of time off in the summer. If you happen to be at work reading this, go get this song and you will instantly be in a better mood.

5. Wavin’ Flag, K’nann - Somalian native has made himself known to us Americans as his remixed hit has become the anthem for the World Cup. Get yourself pumped up for the big event, which starts this Friday.

6. Your Side Now, Trent Dabbs-This is just a good song. Another Nashvillian, Dabbs is going on a summer tour with Andrew Belle and Andy Davis. Go check it out. It will sure to be a good one. I have played this song on repeat since I bought it.

7. I Was Made for Sunny Days, The Weepies-The Weepies are probably one of my top five favorite bands. If I were able to choose two famous people to be friends with, it would be them. This song is off their new album and it’s free! Their new album isn’t out yet, but it comes out so soon! Now, if only they would go on tour so I know they are actually real people.

8. American Honey, Lady Antebellum-What’s summer without a country song? This song will put your heart at rest, vocal chords in their element, and your heart aching to be the fourth member in their band.

9. Rosalyn, Thad Cockrell- “The way you walk around this town, you think you own the corner on the market of a Broken Heart.” That’s just one of the many good lines in this song. This song will help you get over that bad relationship (even if you weren’t in one) and sing a new tune in your heart. This song makes me wish my name was Rosalyn. His other songs are amazing as well, of his latest album, To Be Loved.

10. The Beat, Ben Rector-This guy is just talented. This song will have you putting a beat on your steering wheel driving to the pool. Definitely play this song real loud where everyone can hear you at the stop light. That’s the way it was meant to be played, in my professional opinion.

11. In My Veins, Andrew Belle-Yes, he is that good that he has made this esteemed playlist twice. This song was on the album that Ten out of Tenn put out for Nashville Flood Relief. Now, it may be little deep for summer (in some eyes), but man, it’s sooo beautiful that you will instantly replay it.

12. You and I, Ingrid Michaelson-This is the song for summer love. It makes you want to stand on the roof and dance. Enough said.

13. Back Home, JJ Heler- I may be a little late getting into her music, but this song resonates deep in my soul. My favorite line is the very first, “Don’t let your eyes get used to darkness, the light is coming soon.” The light is here, enjoy summer, lay your sorrows down, and come back home.

**(Bonus Track!) 14. Things I’ll Never Say, Avril Lavinge-Ok, I couldn’t resist. You may not have played it since you were thirteen, but go re-live it. It will make you smile and it’s an instant summer hit.

undulation of form.

in my history of architecture, interiors, and furniture class we just studied the baroque period. i have been struck by borromini and his idea of undulation of form, where the buildings look like they are moving. it is beautiful and now i see it in some of my favorite buildings.
here are some of his beautiful designs...

THE GETTY in l.a. has some beautiful uses of undulation of form. (and, i am slightly obsessed with southern california these days, so of course it would be on my mind.)

isn't the view spectacular?