the surge
  • Home
    • Message from our Pastor
    • Calendar of Events
    • Amazon Link
    • Connect
  • I'm New
    • About You
    • Times, Locations and Parking
    • What to Expect
    • Statement of Belief
  • Unstoppable Love
    • Small Groups
    • Partners in Community
    • Generosity
    • Serve
    • The Surge Residency
  • Media
    • Prayer Requests
    • Current Series
    • Message Archive
    • Sample Message & Music
    • Resources
    • Music
    • Diving Deeper
  • Blog
  • Giving

Not Your Ordinary Blog:

We have a bunch of bloggers: writers, teachers, photographers, students,
foreign correspondents, musicians, poets and friends.

They're thinking deep thoughts... and occasionally will put hand to computer to share those thoughts with you.  We also use our blog for announcements and some housekeeping items...
but scroll through and read a few posts, you will be delighted.

Then leave us a comment, or send us an email - we'd love to hear from you too!

Email the Surge!

Something Funny This Way Goes ~Dwaine Darrah

12/30/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've not had great luck in the realm of comedy.  My favorite cartoonist was Gary Larson, who produced Far Side, and then abruptly quit.  Next to suck me in and drop me like a the Rock-a-Bye Baby song was Bill Watterson, the guru behind Calvin and Hobbes.  Finally, it was Dave Barry, whose weekly pieces in the Miami Herald would bring whatever I was drinking shooting out of my nose.  Same with his masterful books:  His personal best?  Dave Barry Slept Here; A Sort of History of the United States.  But he, too, stepped aside, now only resurfacing in late Decembers to summarize what's been going on all year.  So, I wait for these. . .

I have a suspicion my mom looks less forward to them, although she's never said it.  But because the Lousville Courier doesn't publish Dave's articles, I have a Hobbit, ur, habit, of calling and reading her the whole thing every year.  It's assumed the stature of a ritual at this point. 

So, for your amusement, here is the opening of this year's article in the Washington Post magazine (29 December).  You'll have to read the rest of it yourself.

'Cause you're not my mommy. 



What a Cliffhanger of a Year, by Dave Barry:

It was a cruel, cruel year--a year that kept raising our hopes, only to squash them flatter than a dead possum on the interstate (Interjection here:  it's clear to me that Mr. Barry does, in fact, watch The Surge messages on line--it had to be this photo, which appeared on a slide we used just a few weeks ago, that led him to his choice of a word picture.) 

Example:  This year the "reality" show "Jersey Shore," which for six hideous seasons has been a compelling argument in favor of a major Earth-asteroid collision, finally got canceled, and we dared to wonder if maybe, just maybe, we, as a society were becoming slight less stupid. 

But then, WHAP, we were slapped in our national face by the cold hard frozen mackerel of reality in the form of the hugely popular new "reality" show "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,", which, in terms of intellectual content, makes "Jersey Shore" look like "Hamlet." 

Another example:  As the year began, the hottest recording artist was the brilliant singer-songwriter Adele, whose popularity made us think that maybe, just maybe, after years of rewarding overhyped auto-tuned dreck, we were finally developing more sophisticated musical tastes, and then. . .

WHAP, we were assaulted from all sides by the monster megahit video "Gangnam Style," in which a Korean man prances around a variety of bizarre Korean settings riding an imaginary Korean horse and shouting a song that, except for the words "Eh, sexy lady," is entirely in Korean.  It was that kind of year.  Remember back in 2011, when the big sex scandal involved Anthony Weiner, the ferret-like congressperson who committed political suicide by tweet?  We all thought, "Oh, well, another Washington politician who wants to regulate everything except his own personal ding-dong.  At least there are SOME institutions, such as the Secret Service, the CIA and the Army, where males in positions of responsibility can control their. . .

WHAP. 

Did anything good come out of 2012?  Maybe, Just maybe.  Consider:  For years now, Washington has been paralyzed by bitterly partisan gridlock, unable and unwilling to act in the face of a looming, potentially disastrous economic crisis.  But this year, we, the people, finally did something about it.  We went to the polls, and we made our decision.  Which is why now, as the year ends, we can look forward to a future in which Washington is. . .

WHAP.




0 Comments

The Surge Announcements Dec 30th, 2012

12/30/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Good morning Surgeons!

We're beginning our Toxic series, today's message is about Toxic Thoughts.  

Save the date - Jan 13th, we'll be having our monthly after church lunch, hosted time by Tracie Moulton, check Facebook and your email for details:

Jan 13th, starting about 1:30, hosted by Tracie Moulton!
1754 Wexford Way, Vienna, VA 22182

Next week we'll continue our Toxic series with Toxic Influences and it's going to be great - so don't miss it!

Hope you are enjoying time with family and friends - have a great New Year's!
~The Surge
0 Comments

The Surge Announcements Dec 23rd, 2012

12/23/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Merry Christmas Eve Eve Everyone!

Today we have a special guest speaker, Tim Jones!  He'll be talking to us about Christmas, Carols and probably cheese, or something equally random.

We had a lovely time at our Christmas Party on Dec 15th, the musicians were great, so was the food and company.  Special thanks to everyone who helped bring off a successful and warm event.

Selma and Young Life had a wonderful Holiday Hoopla!  Santa, pickles, games, laughter and some meaningful moments resulted in a great celebration of Christmas time.

We're finishing up our Shadows series, with No More Shadow Boxing... and the substance behind the shadows of Christmas being present in the gift of God's love.

Save the date - Jan 13th, we'll be having our monthly after church lunch, hosted time by Tracie Moulton, check Facebook and your email for details:

Jan 13th, starting about 1:30, hosted by Tracie Moulton!
1754 Wexford Way, Vienna, VA 22182

Next week we'll start Toxic and it's going to be great - so don't miss it!

Thanks and have yourself a Merry Little Christmas... NOW!
~The Surge
0 Comments

Sheep Jokes ~ Greg J

12/20/2012

1 Comment

 
"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night...."
Luke 2

I have read that in Jesus' time shepherds were social outcasts. This has puzzled me. Sure, shepherds tended to be paid minimum wage. There's the odor problem. I can't imagine a parent being thrilled with little Amos or Anna saying, "Dad, Mom, when I grow up I want to be a shepherd."

But shepherds had opportunity for advancement. Get a ram and ewes of your own, put on some Barry White, profit! You could diversify into wool, mutton, or the shofar industry. The big figures of Bible history began as shepherds: Abel. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Joseph and his brothers. Moses. King David! Shepherds all.

So why couldn't shepherds get more respect?

I pondered the life of the shepherd. There they sat on that silent night. They watched their sheep sleep. If these were cold, low-grade sheep, they watched their heaped cheap sheep sleep.

Perhaps the shepherds told each other jokes to pass the time. What kind of humor would a first-century Seinfeld present? What material presented itself?

(To see a response to the following, rest your mouse pointer over the question.)
 

  • What do you call a sheep with one eye and a wooden leg?
  • How does a young sheep wake up in the morning?
  • Where do sheep go to get their wool cut?
  • If you want to buy a sheep, where do you get everyday low prices?
  • Did you know you can get electricity from sheep?
  • How do sheep keep the wolf out of their car?
  • Actually, it’s dangerous for sheep to have cars...
  • What do sheep do in church?
  • How do you wish a sheep merry Christmas?
  • Where might one go to learn more sheep humor?

 
Now you know why the people of Bethlehem groaned when the shepherds came to town.

(These baaad bits were inflicted on residents and visitors during our recent caroling at Powhatan Nursing Home.)

1 Comment
<<Previous

    Our Writers:

    At The Surge we love doing things together... that includes writing a blog!  Here are a few of our main contributing authors:

    Greg Johnson

    Jesus++
    Me--

    Dwaine Darrah

    Our fearless leader, Dwaine is the lead pastor at The Surge.  His experience in counter terrorism with the CIA prepared him for ministry and he likes dogs and babies even more than E does.

    E

    E (short for Eric Reiss) is the Wingman at The Surge and likes dogs, music, Mexican food, his wife Karen and his little girl Evangeline... not necessarily in that order.

    Archives

    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Beliefs
    Betrayal
    Buildings
    Caesar
    Career
    College
    Corn Flakes
    Decisions
    Denomination
    Fishing
    Holy
    Hope
    Jesus
    Kids
    Lord’s Supper
    Memorizing
    Missions
    Pan And Echo
    People
    Peter
    Psychology
    Respect
    Rock
    Rome
    Shadows
    Time Discernment

    RSS Feed

Home

Message from our Pastor
Connect
Calendar of Events
Church Community Builder
I'm New

Times and Locations
What to Expect
About You
Why Meet at the State Theatre?
Unstoppable Love

Small Groups
Partners in Community
Serve
Booking at the Barn
Prayer Requests
Media

Current Series
Sample Message and Music
Music
Diving Deeper
Message Archive
Blog

Giving

Contact Us

Announcements
website  design by story.gs