the 5 most likely origins of wedge salads

I have a new favorite TV show.

Yeah, my friend T brought a couple of seasons of “Modern Family” on DVD, and I think it’s hilarious.  But that’s besides the point.  I only bring it up because an episode of my new favorite show reminded me of something that really bothered me while in the U.S. last year.  I’ve not mentioned it until now, but I can’t keep it in any longer.

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Wedge salads?!  Seriously?

prayer and the ambiguous direct object infix

image courtesy of heavenawaits

[I'm building a small soccer field in my back yard.  We moved a bunch of dirt around to make the yard level.  Then we added manure and planted grass.  The grass is growing, but it'll be three or four months before we can play on it, I think.  But that's all besides the point -- just a little aside.]

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Five Tanzanian guys helped to plant the grass on the soccer field; and we got it all done in one day.  Christie and I wanted to feed the guys a good Tanzanian meal, so we asked Margaret to cook for the guys — and to cook something they’d really enjoy.  She did.  And the guys anxiously awaited lunch.  

Once we were all washed up and the food was set out, we decided to pray.  Not all these guys are religious, so I asked Kulwa (a Christian) to pray before our meal.  After some discussion as to whether he should pray in Sukuma or Swahili (Swahili was decided upon), he bowed his head and began by saying:

“Tumshukuru.”

Translation:  ”We should thank him (or her).” Or even “Let’s thank him (or her).”

See that little ‘m’ towards the beginning of the word?  That’s a direct object marker; it tells us we’re thanking a single person (or being, in this case).  Kulwa could have said, “Tumshukuru Mungu,” and it would have been a very specific, “Let’s thank (him) God.”  

But the him is assumed when preparing to pray, right?

Not if you’re Oscar, one of the other guys in the group — one who was not so accustomed to praying before meals.  He heard, “Let’s thank him/her,” and quickly responded aloud, interrupting Kulwa’s prayer with an emphatic, “Thank you, Margaret!”

We all had a good laugh.  [Except maybe Kulwa who possibly thought Oscar's comments sacrilegious.]  In the end, though, God was thanked, Margaret was thanked, the guys where thanked, and I’m going to have a beautiful (yet small) soccer field.

Also, it’s always a good idea to thank both God AND the cook for the food.

question of the week (1)

I named this post as if I have a “question of the week” every week on aliens and strangers.  But we all know that’s not true.  All the same, though, this week there is a question.  Hence, your question of the week:

How do you feel about Christians using hyperbole and sarcasm — especially as they relate to humor?  More importantly, what does the Bible have to say about it?

This has come up recently, and I’m curious what others think on the issue.  I myself absolutely love hyperbole and sarcasm.  Hyperbole is my middle name, and I want to marry sarcasm.  I employ one or the other of these tools of rhetoric at least a billion times a day and I’d die if, as a Christian, I weren’t allowed to.

At the same time, though, I don’t think either of them are humorous.  Not one little bit.

pass the pringles

I know I already blogged something today, but this is too funny not to post — so I’ll be quick.  Jonathan Acuff, whose book, Stuff Christians Like, will be in stores in April, wrote earlier today:

…my wife literally said to me the other day, “Are your pants fitting right?” because the button of my jeans could pop off and kill someone right now since I put on 15 pounds over the holidays primarily from Salt & Vinegar Pringles (I swear those things are made from unicorn dreams) but that’s beside the point…

Unicorn dreams… that’s hilarious.  I mean, it’s just funny.  No matter who you are.  No way you didn’t smile…

While you’re giggling so, go ahead and check out the Stuff Christians Like blog.  I don’t think you’ll be unhappy.