23 April 2011

A Rush of Blood to the Head: Of Brian Mullan, Broken Legs, and Forgiveness


"A rush of blood to the head"... Before it was a Coldplay album title, it was an English idiom. Still is an idiom, I suppose. Silly rock stars hijacking our popular phrases. Anyway, a "rush of blood to the head" basically describes when one gets overexcited or angry and, in a quick reactionary burst, does something silly (and oftentimes regrettable).

Colorado Rapids player Brian Mullan had a rush of blood to the head on Friday night. And it certainly led to regrettable behavior.

Upset that a foul was not called during the MLS match he was playing in, Mullan reacted by making a foolish, reckless, and altogether malicious tackle on a fellow player (who happened to be uninvolved in the original incident).

The photo above shows the result as it happened. The young, talented Steve Zakuani suffered a broken tibia and fibula as his teammates looked on in horror.

Immediately, the internet exploded in rage against Mullan's actions. The calls for punishment were swift and severe, with fans calling for anything from lengthy suspensions to formal criminal charges being filed.

The outburst is understandable, as we imagine that somehow our games, our sport, is safe from the nonsensical violence that plagues our society. And yet every so often we are reminded that the human condition doesn't politely remain outside of the chalk lines of a football pitch.

Fitting, I suppose, that it is Easter weekend. It is a weekend for forgiveness and remembrance that we all fall short of the standard and that we need Jesus to bring us back to wholeness. Steve Zakuani is a follower of Christ and I imagine that he will forgive his offender. Whether the rest of us will is another question entirely.

What is certain is that we all occasionally suffer a rush of blood to the head. Luckily, ours aren't placed on national TV for all to see and judge.

**Below is the video of the play. It is not for the squeamish. You've been warned.**

The Passion of the Christ

It is All About Jesus, Part 2: The Passion of Jesus

14 April 2011

It is All About Jesus: The Mind-Blowing Beauty of Scripture

I preached on the night of 4/10/2011. All about how all of Scripture is about Jesus and not us...and how incredibly, mind-blowingly beautiful it is... Enjoy.

08 April 2011

Deco Pizzeria


Deco Pizzeria just opened in the Deco District. The food is superb, the service wonderful, and the friendliness of everyone involved refreshing.

The only problem one might discover is in the fact that the restaurant's name steers you to pizza...I am proposing a name change to "Deco Pizzeria, CheeseSteakeria, Saladeria, BuffaloWingeria, Meatballeria, and SweetPatioeria" so that the fullness of awesomeness might be known.

In the week leading up to the grand opening, we made sure to make several visits to our new local gathering spot. Some highlights...

- The pasta dishes, which were always solid and very reasonably priced, are a hit with everyone. Bella, for one, might have a meatball addiction.

- The wings are killer, served traditionally or naked with sauce on the side. The wings are meaty and have just enough kick to have you reaching for your drink.

- The Philly Cheese Steak was a surprise winner, peppery and stacked with fresh grilled onion and bell pepper.

- The wife reports that the salads are superb and that the fruit pizza was "amazing".

- And, finally, the pizza. Well put together, good proportions with regard to cheese/sauce/toppings and that fresh out of the oven crispiness in the crust make for a good foundation. Word from friends has it that the White Pizza, in particular, stands out.

So there you have it. Roll a ton of great food options, reasonable prices, and friendly staff into one place (and then add one of the best outdoor patios in the inner city) and what we have is a new place to call our own.

Deco Pizzeria, welcome to the neighborhood!!