So since my birthday was today, and Rachel’s is tomorrow, we decided to go out of town. We went up to Little Rock and rented a hotel with a pool and hot tub. That was cool and all. We went to the Loony Bin Comedy Club, and heard a horrible comedian, a good comedian, and a hilarious comedian by the name of Andreas Fernandez (who happened to be from the area where I grew up as a young child).

On Sunday we went to Saint Andrews AMiA. We went to both their traditional and their contemporary (electric guitars, drums, etc.) service. Honestly, both were very tastefully done, and I felt very comfortable there (not usually an adjective to describe me in a service with electric guitars).

I’m pretty tired though I think this post is finished.

It’s kind of weird because 9 months ago, I had no neice, nephews, or in-laws. Wait…I still don’t have a neice. Anyway, the whole connection through connection through law thing is kind of weird to me. It’s like playing six degrees of separation by marriage. For example, I married Rachel Eyre, who is sister to Rebekah Tucker (was Eyre), who married Forrest Tucker, who is brother to Heidi Tucker, who is engaged to and plans on marrying Tim Enloe this summer. So, I’d be like 5 degrees of marriage separation from Tim Enloe. I guess this doesn’t disturb anyone else (Tim, don’t take offense; that’s not how I meant it!). It becomes even more disturbing when you realize they all have blogs.

Add to that the fact that when people meet me, I am no longer Rick Capezza. I am “Isaiah’s brother-in-law.” And Rachel is just “Isaiah’s brother.”

Speaking of those “relatives” (I put it in quotes because I’m not exactly sure what the guidelines for relatives are), when we heard Heidi and Tim are going up to Spokane the same day we’re going up, Rachel said, “I wish Holly was coming up too.”

I, of course, said, “Well, maybe we could convince Holly to come up.” Rachel laughed and said, “But Heidi’s already bought her tickets.” WHAT does that MEAN? Can they not BOTH buy tickets?

Within a few days of each other, two of Rachel’s best friends had baby girls and named them Isabella. I find this kind of creepy since they were also made in the same house within a couple of days of each other.

I’m so excited. We booked tickets to Spokane for spring break. I’ll get to see Timothy, David, Esther … oh and everyone else. I mostly miss the little ones.

Also, we’ll get to go to Salem for Easter vigil, which is the BEST service at Salem EVER. No churches that we’ve gone to here in Monroe really match Salem’s worship, as far as a good mixture of beauty, warmth, and reverence go. There’s churches here that are ALL about making sure the service is anglo-catholic, others that are trying hard to be liturgical but worry about what the congregants will say if they do anything like add color to their worship, and others that kind of dismiss traditional liturgy as, well, too traditional. Salem is a breath of fresh air because they lovingly and carefully prepare each service and carry it out with so much genuine love for Christ and everyone around them that the worship service is so much more like a dance than it is like dancing lessons.

The coolest thing about the Easter vigil, though, is the drama of it all. It starts out dark (literally, the lights are off in the church) and gradually, light enters, grows, the liturgy becomes more and more eager, hardly able to contain itself, and then, near the end, there’s an explosion of light, colors, and Alleluias. It’s gotta be the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced. The next day on Easter Sunday, everyone brings whatever bells they have and ring them during the singing of the hymns. It’s so great.

OK, gotta get back into my lenten mood…

The other day, there was a story on the news about someone putting tacks on the roads in a nearby parish. Sadly, they caught the man, and he was a former Auburn Avenue PCA member who caused a lot of trouble for Auburn and Pastor Wilkins by spreading slander and libel like children were held up by knifepoint at Auburn and “other children at the church taunted the [family’s] youngsters because the [family] refused to allow their children to train to fight, fearing they’d be hurt.”

Yeah, Auburn is just really a front for a military operation.

Brad left a comment on the post “Christians and Homosexuality” post below, and it got me thinking.

I don’t know how many times Rachel and I have been discussing issues, and we’ll realize that we have completely different perspectives, whether it’s theology, social concerns, politics, etc.

I love having a relationship like that.

Anglican rift deepens over gays

I’d like to point out this discussion here and the post that sparked it.

I find this to be an issue rather close to my heart. At least a good portion of you know my stepfather is a homosexual. So is my Aunt Laura.

It really bothers me when people make really ignorant comments about homosexuality (like, for example, “There’s no such thing as a monogamous homosexual”), but I don’t usually voice my feelings because I’m already dying on too many hills, or I don’t really feeling getting into a heated discussion. Everyone thinks they know about homosexuals because they read some articles. I’ve had both family and friends make some really asinine comments, and I usually just sit there and think, “Yeah, and how much time have you spent around homosexuals?” or “How many homosexuals can you truly say you love?”

Do I think it’s a sin? Yes, of course. I hate that I even have to make that clear, but some people will just start assuming I’m being a “postmodern” and “blurring ethical lines” if I don’t.

Anyway, just thought I’d point the conversations.

I still think Constantine’s voice is weird, but I heard Constantine had the lead role in Rent on Broadway and that he’s also been on Law and Order. Hmm.

On another note, whoa, Simon, what were you thinking when you told Amanda Avila that you wanted to be her microphone?

Oh, shameless plug: Go Carrie!
(Hmm, she’s a Freewill Baptist)

I coughed so hard just now that my back cracked.