Election Backings... my verdict is still out.

My good friend David announced his election backing for presidency today over at his blog- Mitt Romney. I know David has put a lot of thought and effort into coming to this decision. I admire his dedication towards thinking his decision through to the end and really taking seriously all the many aspects of potential candidates. I am still undecided as to who I will be supporting during this upcoming battle for the presidency. Upon returning from my honeymoon I am vowing to give this area more thought and will pick a candidate to support.

This an area that I have been personally convicted over the last few years- I think it is so very important to be politically and socially informed. As Americans, it is our right and should be our privilege and honor to take part in choosing the faces of our nation. I strongly disagree with those who argue that 'one vote doesn't make a difference' or say that ' it doesn't really matter in the end'. A politically informed people is one that benefits from the increased awareness of issues that affect our daily lives. By diving into the nitty-gritty of politics, one is forced to search our their morals, personal convictions, and passions.

Incredibly Blessed!

My wedding is less than 10 days away- wow, how time flies! I couldn't imagine waiting six months to marry Celeste back when I proposed in August, and now the big day is almost here. Yes, the last few weeks before the wedding can contain a lot of stress and anxieties, but I can't help but just be utterly excited about what the future holds! I am so incredibly thankful that I will soon be able to call Celeste my wife- I still cannot believe that she has chosen to spend the rest of her life with me!

The Lord is sustaining us and giving us the strength to face any obstacle that comes our way, and I know that through Him we will prevail! It has especially been interesting in recent days. We found out that our condominium is going to be built four months earlier than was originally anticipated. This news, while exciting, is also a bit cumbersome because it brings with it a whole new list of things that have to be taken care of. It has been interesting balancing wedding planning along with housing contract/selections. Talk about a lot of life changes in one short period of a year! God is good my friends- He is able to sustain you through any and every obstacle that comes your way. It is my prayer that I do not take his blessings in my own life for granted. Thank you to my friends and family for their overwhelming support during this big time of transition in my own life and Celeste's.

More MacBook Air Insight...

I received an excellent email from my friend Darryl yesterday. He responded to my post about the release of the MacBook Air and offered a different perspective on some of the cons that I had listed in my original post:

"Now about the MacBook Air. Having actually held one in my hand at the Macworld Expo, I can say that the pictures don't really give you an idea of how thin and how light this thing is. When I picked it up, I thought "this can't be a real computer. This is a prop." I understand your concerns with the lack of an optical drive and limited ports, but after watching a demo, I can see a niche for this thing. You're a young professional, using your Mac Pro for most of the heavy lifting, but then you've got to fly to Kansas City to do a presentation. Why lug around an optical drive when you don't need to? Just slip your MacBook Air into an envelope and off you go. I'm speculating. I'm sure there's someone out there who needs one. "

Very good perspective on this! I think, in my effort to evaluate this new computer, I overlooked some very practical uses for this. Thanks Darryl for the perspective- much appreciated!

Cloverfield messed me up...

I got back from the midnight showing of Cloverfield a little bit ago and am feeling a little queasy.

Here's a tip to those going to see the movie: 1) Do not sit in the first five rows of the theater (I sat in the very front and all the way to the right due to packed crowds), 2) Do not watch this movie on an oversized screen (I watched it at the Cine Capri... a screen larger than the standard IMAX screen), 3) Do not watch this movie with food, nor if you are feeling even slightly ill. I've never, ever experienced motion sickness before in my life... but I did today. Both my brother and I had an extremely hard time keeping ourselves from becoming nauseated (I can't believe this!) and he actually had to leave for a little bit during part of the film. I am convinced however, that this is entirely due both to our proximity to and the sheer size of the screen. It was really odd for me to feel as if a movie was going to make me lose my lunch. This is one of those movies that I think would be much better to watch on the small screen. Don't say I didn't warn you! Now where is my Pepto Bismol...

That being said- I really can't objectively review this film at this point in time, though I'll do my best to convey my thoughts thus far. I was pretty distracted by my stomach for most of the movie but did enjoy aspects of it. The monster was pretty well done and the shots of it were placed very well throughout the film. The appearance of the monster did not seem forced or overused; this would be an easy thing to do considering that that really is the payoff the audience is looking for. Acting seemed to be mediocre, but wasn't bad considering the unique format and roles that the actors had to fulfill. None of the characters were super lovable, though there were some comical moments that were well placed. The plot line was a little rough to follow, but then again you don't need to know to much for this film... its a group of young adults running from a monster... it honestly doesn't get much deeper than that. I applaud the writers and directors on this film purely for its uniqueness- its something that hasn't been done before and has helped people look at movies in a different way.

A group of people who should get even more credit than the writers and directors however, is the marketing team. I have not seen a marketing campaign quite like this in some time. The marketing invoked curiosity by playing off of the potential's audience's imagination. In a culture full of 'give-it-all-away' previews, Cloverfield was refreshing in that it gave nothing away... in fact, it left you wanting more. This feeling drove millions of people to the web in a desperate search to understand what the movie was all about. The funny part is, by the end of the film, you still have no idea how this monster originally arrived or why the movie is called Cloverfield. This really is a film where less worked out to be much more. I'd be interested to see what this film grosses in it's opening week- I'm sure that the posted profits will absolutely smash the expenditures made for this film.

Cloverfield- Sneak Peak Review

My buddy David was able to make his way into a prescreening of the highly-anticipated film, Cloverfield, on Tuesday. The movie is opening tomorrow and I am really looking forward to it. The crazy person in me is telling me to get in line tonight for the midnight showing... the jury is still out on that. Regardless- enjoy this review David has posted at his blog, A Fruitful Life. David was kind enough NOT to include spoilers, so you purists (like myself) out there are safe. Thanks David!

Matta's is Closing

I shudder at the title of this post; I truly never thought it would come to this- Matta's is closing. My good friend David, forwarded me on the Tribune article today and my jaw dropped when I read it. For any of you non-Arizonans (or perhaps, to be more specific, non-Mesa residents) who may not know it- Matta's is a Mexican restaurant that has been a staple and symbol of Mesa, Arizona since 1953. It is home to some of the best chips and salsa in town (scratch that... make it "best chips and salsa in the WORLD") and has an atmosphere that has come to define downtown Mesa and the history that surrounds it. Sure, its not the end of the world, but man am I going to miss it!

When an establishment like this closes, one cannot help but reminisce the memories that have been made throughout the years. My parents took us here for years when my brother and I were children and it became 'our restaurant'. Indeed, my parents often frequented Matta's during their high school/college years, and it is as much or more a part of their personal history than my own. I can distinctly remember birthdays, baptism celebrations, graduation dinners, family night outings, father-son pow wows, work lunches, and a plethora of other occasions at this restaurant. It's hard to let go of something that has become a symbol of your childhood, as silly as that seems. Humans are beings of tradition and personal history; Matta's was definitely part of that for me. Matta's you will be sorely missed!

A Sidenote- Throughout the years Matta's has established a few new restaurants that bear its namesake (though in my opinion, none of them maintain the atmosphere and feel of the original). These off-shoot restaurants will continue to remain open; just the main restaurant, which is operated by 85-year old Mary Lou Matta, is closing. You can read the article published in the Tribune for more information about this.

MacBook Air - Because they can?

Though the topic of the MacBook Air is, I'm sure, circulating millions of blogs as I type this, I felt it my duty as a loyal nerd to report on this new item in the Apple lineup. Simply put- its the thinnest laptop created thus far. At a tapered height of 0.16-0.76 inches, this thing is definitely thin! The good and the bad from my point of view:

• The good: The geek factor is strong with this one- you've got to hand it to Apple, that's just mind-boggling that they can fit that much computer in that amount of space. I also heavily applaud the standard provision of 2GB of RAM in this unit (though this is something that many people seem to gloss over given the novelty of the unit's size). It's about time that computer manufactures in general armed their customers with a sizable amount of RAM. This is a standard that was long overdue in a world of computers that come sufficiently underpowered in this department. The multi-touch feature is also very neat and could definitely be used powerfully given the right application. However, I fear that this feature will be sorely underutilized in the general public. At 3 pounds, thats an extremely enticing payload for your backpack, messenger bag, or... manila envelope.

• The bad: I give my disclaimer on this section, because it is touching on a pet peeve of mine that has been buried under the surface until now. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. Don't get me wrong, this notebook is highly impressive, but there are some significant trade-offs for the benefits. The absence of an optical drive, the loss of peripheral ports, and a susceptibility to damage are all things one most take into consideration with this machine. My largest concern with this would be reliance on a wireless network for it to be useful/functional. The remote disk tool that lets you 'borrow' another computer's optical disc is highly suspect in my opinion. Time may prove that I am wrong in this regard, but I am boggled by how this might work wirelessly, and efficiently. Call me crazy, but I really am not too pumped about having to find an optical disc to borrow ("Excuse me sir... uh... are you using that? Gotta setup boot camp... you understand of course.").

Just because Apple can make a notebook this small, doesn't mean they should (though I'm sure the novelty will, again, post major profits). This trend has followed suit among cell phone and camera manufactures as well- smaller is better, smaller is better, tiny, tiny, tiny. In my humble (or not so humble opinion) this is a huge oversight. We've established that 'microfying' things is cool, hip and extremely possible, but at what point do we remove the functionality aspect from the very product we are trying to make better? This is the same reason I am a critic of the iPod Touch. This product has so much potential- a beautiful interface (albeit directly from the iPhone), a huge screen, intuitive design, and 8-16GB if space... wait... 8-16GB of space? So you've got this amazing, wonderfully-functioned, music-playing machine and the storage on it is limited to 1/10 of its more affordable brother, the iPod classic. Just doesn't make sense to me.

So, to sum up- this is definitely a geeky, mind-blowing release by Mac, but in the end I just have to ask- why?

Covenant Marriage License

Celeste and I have elected to pursue getting a covenant marriage license over the traditional marriage license available. Some interesting facts about covenant marriage licenses:

• There are only 3 states that offer this type of marriage license: Louisiana, Arkansas, and Arizona.

• In Arizona, less than .25% of couples getting married choose to use this type of license.

• This type of license has been debated since 1947 when France discussed its creation. It wasn't until 1997 that Louisiana became the first state to pass the creation of covenant marriage licenses in an effort to curb quick divorces.

To be honest- the binding part of our marriage promise to one another does not come from the state-issued license, it comes from the vow that we are making in front of an almighty God who has brought us to one another. However- pursuing a covenant marriage makes a statement in our minds to the public. It tells people that we are willing and able to make our marriage different from what the world perceives. It is a way for us to become part of that 'less than .25%' and make a statement before God and those that are attending our wedding. It is a way of saying that marriage is good, right, special, and a God-given blessing to sinful man.

T-Minus 20 Days...

We are getting close to that day my friends! I'll be a married man in less than 20 days . Wow- God is so good. The wedding plans are going well and I know it'll be a lovely ceremony. Our prayer, as always, is that this will be a time where the name of Christ is lifted up for all to see. We serve a magnificent God and we can't wait to share that with you all. Please continue to lift us up in your prayers as we make this monumental step in our lives.

People are ridiculous...

They truly are...

Things to mark life by.

You may notice that I made no special blogging attempt during the New Year. No resolutions, no inspirational messages heralding the next 365 days of our lives, no special video production, nada, zilch, nothing. In the past, I have made a big deal about the new year, but oddly enough I was not inspired particularly to do so this time around.

Please understand, I certainly do see the merit in such things- the new year is a great way to get a fresh start and help facilitate 'reorientation' of one's perspective on life. As a Christian, it can be a wonderful opportunity to focus one's walk with the Lord and commit towards further excellence in faith an almighty God. I have definitely experienced these blessings in the past and am thankful to God for them.

The thing is, this year is different because my life is being marked by a greater event- the beginning of my marriage. With marriage on the horizon most everything else seems to pale in comparison. The patient expectation of marriage companionship is drawing near. During this time I find myself reminded of a THE everlasting covenant that supersedes all covenants- the promise of eternal life through THE bridegroom, Jesus Christ. What an awesome and wonderful thing our Lord has done- he's taken a wretched bride, His church (read here as you and me!) and made her beautiful through His own divinely ordained, sanctifying process. I can think of no better way to mark the new year, then by the event of my own wedding. What an excellent, two-fold reminder God gives us through the anniversaries and occasions of weddings. It is my prayer that on these special days I would always remember that 1) I have been blessed beyond measure by a beautiful, intelligent, God-centered woman and 2) I have been even further blessed beyond deserving by a Savior that provided a means of redemption for a dirty, sinful creature like myself.

All this to say- events are great, holidays are wonderful, resolutions are grand, but... realistic appreciation of the relationships God has placed in your life and a commitment towards deepening those relationships is, in my opinion, the best. Whatever event you mark your life by, be it the New Year, a wedding, or something else, it is my prayer that you keep it centered on the one thing that truly matters most- Christ.

"Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD." -Psalm 31:23-24