The Big Game

Great game. The best part was that Joey and Bonnie were there, and Bonnie was actively rooting for the Patriots. Rooting for the Panthers in the face of apathy and Jason's utterly mercenary rooting for Superbowl squares would have made me look like the big fool. Well, i'm a big fool, anyway.

Mr. Downtown hosted. I regret missing the fellowship at Mr. Achilles's house, but the new TV: very impressive. The gourmet Super Bowl spread and generosity: even more impressive. Seriously. Mozarella cheese and tomatoes with basil and balsamic vinegar. Homemade guacamole. Homemade pico de gallo. Costco 5-layer bean dip. Tostitos and Tostitos Scoops, and the Fritos equivalents. Buffalo wings with hand-crafted sauce. There was something called "Tuscan bread" that i saw... it involved oven toasting and melted cheese and fresh tomatoes. And then i got in on the lasagna just as i was leaving, though i was so stuffed i couldn't eat more than a bite or two.

The Mountain Dew was flat. Oh well.

I always enjoying hanging out with that crowd of folks.

Silly Thai. Wearing a Julius Peppers college jersey to worship and rooting for the Patriots. I shake my fist at you!

Jake Delhomme looked great during that game. I didn't think much of him before, but he made some excellent throws-- i suspect asking him to play the Tom Brady pitch-and-catch is not his strength, but he shows a nice touch on the deep ball. The Panthers look great for next year. The much-vaunted Panther pass-rush and defensive line didn't make an appearance, though.

Last year, i missed the Super Bowl for a variety of reasons. It's hard not to be bitter about it. I'm trying, though. I was just overwhelmed with a wave of regrets today during the communion service. It was really hard, but sitting next to Phil makes it all better.

Theological detour: Exodus 3:1-12. Pastor Chao insists that verse 2, where the bush did not burn, is symbolic/representative of God's ability to rescue the Israelites despite their bad condition. He didn't explicitly parallel it with verse 7, where it talks about the oppression of the Israelites in Egyptian captivity, but the parallel is implied. I'm not well-read on Exodus theology (or even OT theology. Or NT theology. Or theology.), but i really disagreed with that interpretation. I find it much more in line with the way that God continually represents himself throughout the Old Testament: the pillar of fire on the way out of Egypt, the purifying heat of the coal on Isaiah's lips, etc. However, i was shot down.

When he moved on to picking on Jeff, he asked why does God refer to himself as the God of "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." I know that one! Grrrrrrrr. Getting called out by the senior pastor in the congregation is awesome. It's like getting a facial from Ben Wallace. (Now i feel like a proper Asian-Am evangelistic Christian: i love theology and basketball.)

We talked about values today Sunday School. I find myself in a really curious position: though i talk a good line about the importance of family and personal relationships, i'm really bad at it. It's not just that i burn bridges. I douse them with gasoline and chuck flaming torches at them. One of my dear friends whom i never see, Ms. Fish, had lunch with me on Friday. She gently pointed out that i really enjoy making fun of people. I reflected on the series of social gaffes that gave her that impression, and i'm genuinely humbled that she is still my friend!

At the same time, i've never been a hard person to read. My disdain for... well, a lot of things shows up on my face. I am so grateful for the handful of people who put up with that.

I'm clearly just rambling now. So i'll end on a lighter note.

For some reason, Britney Spears is stalking my car radio. That song "Toxic" was playing 4 out of my last 5 car trips. The last leg (from Tim's back home), it was "Outrageous." Seriously.