Mary and Mary Run From the Tomb

There’s a post I’ve written that gets a lot more views around Easter. Makes sense because it’s called How far Peter ran to the tomb of Jesus. I won’t spoil it, just click and you’ll find out it’s not a 5K and I bet he and John didn’t embarrass themselves like I did in a recent sprint triathlon.

How I probably looked during my sprint triathlon.

This past Easter, though, the pastor was preaching about Jesus being crucified and buried. That was on a Friday. On Sunday, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb to mourn. You probably know the story that they found the tomb empty. Well, guess what happened after that? They ran back to tell the disciples. How did I miss that when I was writing about Peter’s run?

So full credit goes to Mary and Mary for running the very first Jesus the Risen 1K. I probably focused on Peter (and John) because they’re guys and I’m a guy so it’s natural to imagine myself in their situation. However, as is often the case in life and in the Bible, women usually have “been there, done that” when it comes to things it might take guys a bit more time to understand, grasp, or believe.

Mary and Mary, I salute you as the first women to run between the tomb and the upper room or that general area.

Are there other stories in the Bible where women are a step ahead of the men? Share below and I’ll see you tomorrow…

-Out of the Wilderness

American Idol – Rules, What Rules?

I’ve been enjoying this season of American Idol. There are at least 10 great singers in the top 24. Scratch that, judges broke rules to keep another 2 so instead of 24 there are 26 going to the live shows. I love the singing and I’m not trying to be a party pooper but one of my pet peeves happened in yesterday’s final Showstoppers episode. I know, I know, here we go again with a pet peeve!

The judges mentioned a few times about “rules” and how they’ve been breaking them. One time they strayed from the normal format to let contestant Mariah Faith open a show for Noah Thompson and Huntergirl. Another broken rule was when the let Fire come back for a second audition.

But why stop there?

In the last 2 episodes, judges Lionel, Katy, and Luke mentioned more than a few times how it was so tough to whittle the group down to 24. They even said in order to keep Malik and PJ, they had to cut someone they planned on keeping. Remember that as we get to the surprise ending that wasn’t that surprising. There’s one spot left in the top 24 but 3 contestants sit in front of the judges waiting for their fate to be revealed. They tell Iam Tongi he made it through. As the other two rejects console each other, the judges announce the rejected pair actually made it, too. So instead of 24, there are 26. But what about that one they had to drop earlier in the episode to make room for PJ and Malik!? Why not just have 27 because if you can break the rule to have 26, then who cares if it’s 27 or 28 or 83?

Like I’ve said before, it doesn’t appear that any contestant needed this more than Fire so why not break another rule since rules don’t really seem to matter, and let her go to the live shows? American Idol is so lame. Ugh! But I’ll be watching next week because a handful of my favorites made it through.

As of now, since the top 24 top 26 have been named, my top 2 are Zachariah Smith and Megan Danielle. If I had to pick more favorites, I’d include Warren Peay, Lucy Love, and Iam Tongi. I guess it’s only natural to pick a bottom 3 as well. My least favorites are Michael Williams, Nutsa, and Matt Wilson.

My mom, sister, and I were keeping track of all the contestants chosen for the top 24 and even with the addition of 2 at the end, only 25 were named. You can do a search to find spoilers if you want, and I couldn’t resist, but apparently one singer dropped out which made room for a previously rejected contestant. I won’t name that person, but I suspect we’ll know next week when the show airs live from Hawaii.

How do you feel about the top 26 top 25? Should Fire have been given a green light for another chance to sing live on next week’s show? Chime in below!

-Out of the Wilderness

American Idol – Fire is gone, or is she!?

Hello and thanks for checking out my blog today. I post every day at 1pm central and since American Idol has included really talented singers this season, I can’t help but write about some of the episodes. Even judge Katy Perry is growing on me even though she and I would probably agree on 3 or less things in real life. But on the show, I bet we agree that Warren Peay, Wé Ani, Zachariah Smith are top 10 material! In fact, if you watched the first half of this week’s double header, you saw that those three are already going to the top 24 live show next week. Where Katy, Luke, Lionel and I disagree are a few others they sent through last night. I’m talking about talented singers (but not standouts) Michael Williams, PJ, and Malik. Like I’ve said before, I miss Simon. He’d be honest with these three guys. One is only there because he looks like Tom Cruise (as pointed out by my mom). The other two are gay so cutting them would be a hate crime in today’s culture. Idol ain’t got time for that!

I’ll probably get cancelled for using that GIF since I’m a straight, white guy. So the judges broke whatever made up rules the show has, to send both to the top 24. Sadly, as the judges explained, one contestant they had planned on keeping had to be cut to let PJ and Malik through. So they can break made up rules but having 25 singers instead of 24 on next week’s live show is an unbreakable rule? OK, sure.

Then there’s Fire. This show isn’t just about the best singer. I think they made a mistake in letting her go home. But at the end of the episode, they teased about a twist no one will see coming, so I’m sort of hoping somehow Fire gets brought back? Especially after her cryptic tweet yesterday…

Using phrases like “may not have made it” and “you haven’t heard the last of me” is open-ended enough that she very well could return as a wild card, right? I’m sure I’m not the only one who would sniff and possibly cry a little bit if she makes it to the live shows. But the cynical, or practical, side of me thinks that if Fire truly does want to change her life for her daughter’s sake, maybe trying to become the American Idol winner was too lofty of a goal. Certainly there are available jobs somewhere between famous singer and stripper, right? Go work at Best Buy. Drive for Amazon. Apply at Walmart. But who are we kidding? Give her a chance, Idol producers!

Yesterday I posted about my excitement for the upcoming episode. I listed 6 singers I have my eye on, and now 2 of those made it to the next round. One is out (Fire). Tonight’s exciting episode will reveal if I’m correct about the other two.

Who are your favorites? Do you think the big surprise will be swapping Nutsa out for Fire?

-Out of the Wilderness

Cranked Up for American Idol Showstopper Rounds

I’m sitting in my camper watching “The Kominsky Method” but waiting for a new episode of “American Idol.” Tonight starts the Showstopper stage of the show. I’m not entirely sure what that means but I’m also not looking it up on purpose. I’m hoping Ryan Seacrest or the judges will explain it, unlike the introduction of the Platinum ticket. Am I the only one who had no idea what that was when they gave one to Cam Amen? Here’s out it went…

I was surprised when, on one of the final audition episodes, a contestant got something called a Platinum ticket. “What in the world is that!?” I thought. I was a little annoyed it was handed out with no explanation, as if we all absolutely knew what a special reward it was. Not to ramble, but that’s not the only thing that irked me this season. Katy Perry can be fun to watch, but when she does stuff like this and this, I remember why I don’t like her much.

But I should have grace. Certainly I need grace, too! Pet peeves aside, I’m loving the quality of singers this season.

So back to tonight’s episode… the synopsis is that contestants will be paired up against each other and judges will be sending people home. Yikes! I guess “showstopper” means that the show literally stops for some of the hopeful singers. In other words, you don’t gotta go home but you gotta get the heck up outta here!

Tonight I’m hoping to see Fire, Zachariah Smith, and Megan Danielle. They’re my top 3 up to this point in the competition. A couple of others who’ve captured my interest are Lucy Love, Jayna Elise, and Warren Peay.

Who are your favorites? Were you confused by the Platinum ticket thing? Chime in with your thoughts about tonight’s episode. I hope it’s a good one!

-Out of the Wilderness

My first (and only?) sprint triathlon

You know how when people first do something, like get a tattoo, go scuba diving, or have kids, they can’t wait to do it again? For me, it’s a sprint triathlon and just like that person who got a barbed wire tattoo, swam with hungry sharks, or has a rambunctious kid…. and they NEVER WANT TO DO IT AGAIN, yeah, I feel ya. OK my experience wasn’t quite that traumatic but it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. The course was 1/3 swim, 19 mile bike, and 5K run.

starting lap 2 of the cycling
so fast, the camera barely caught me 😉

This was the bicycling part of the race, as you can see. Before biking was swimming. I must’ve looked like a goofy manatee floating in the lake as I thrashed around trying to find the shore. Then there was the bike. I love my bike but it’s not made for speed. But I still love my bike.

The last of the three challenges was running. It was a 5K, unlike the run I normally do on Easter weekend (Jesus, the Risen 1K). I ran well but not as fast as I would’ve liked. By the end of the race, as I crossed the finish line, I was exhausted and felt like I’m sure Jesus will come back before I do another one of these! How fitting on Easter to think about the return of Jesus, I guess. But also, if something you’re doing makes you wish for Jesus’ triumphant descent from Heaven, maybe that’s a sign.

I really enjoyed the training, though. Working out with my brother in law, practicing my swim, running and biking in the neighborhood will be the highlights I remember from this endeavor. I’m going to “tri” to forget my official time in the race yesterday. I’m going to “tri” to not remember swimming completely perpendicular to the path I was supposed to be swimming. But… I will also “tri” to remember singing as I ran, encouraging people who passed me or I passed on the bike and run, seeing my awesome dad cheering for me as I pedaled by on the bicycle course. Lots of good memories for this manatee. A big thanks to my dad (again) for coming out to cheer us on and take pictures, and to Robin McDougall, a new friend who got a pic of us before the event started!

thanks Robin! I’m on the right, posed with my brother in law and his brother and his brother’s wife.

-Out of the Wilderness