So much of today was great. But it's so easy to let the one downer take over the day.
I refuse to do that today.
I woke up early and enjoyed a good breakfast with people that treat me like family.
I got to just sit and pray before making a bunch of phone calls, and God answered my prayers and then some.
Our office manager and his wife had me over for lunch, and then offered an invite to join the kiwanis club.
I'm going to check it out.
We had home made lasagna for lunch.
The pepsi was the perfect temperature.
I talked to mom for over an hour and we mostly laughed.
My christmas bundle from asian man records came in the mail.
Some of the kiddos called and made me laugh.
I plugged in our christmas lights at the apt and one of our neighbors smiled at me, and told me she liked our lights.
dinner was quick and cheap.
i watched most of the chronicles of narnia.
one lame phone call, immediately followed by another that put me back at ease.
I finished narnia, and put things into perspective.
I jammed on guitar for a few minutes.
Jimmy Kimmel was funny.
Now Oprah is giving stuff away.
I asked my friend for prayers.
He responded a few minutes later.
I ran across The High Calling, by G.D. Watson that made a huge impact on me a few months ago.
Now I'm listening to jack johnson getting ready to sleep.
That's right it was a good day.
one love, one heart.
12.13.2007
12.07.2007
"You promised me a rockin chair." - Mose Harper
snowmen.
i love calvin and hobbes comics. i ran across this collection of calvin and his demented snowmen today.
24
i had a map of simi valley on my wall today, and i was marking out where all of our kiddos from church lived. our office manager said my office looked like ctu.
american dream.
i'm a huge switchfoot fan. tonight at spark i used this song as means to talk about consumerism around christmas.
When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line
When success is equated with excess
If you're time ain't been nothing for money
I start to feel really bad for you honey
Maybe honey put you're money where your mouth's been running
If you're time ain't be nothing but money
I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom
(chorus)
This ain't my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I'm tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream
When success is equated with excess
When we're fighting for the beamer, the lexus
As the heart and soul breathing the company goals
Where success is equated with excess
I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom
(chorus)
Cause baby's always talkin 'bout a ring
And talk has always been the cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what I want you to
If I show up with the right amount of bling?
Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we've been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain't my America,
That ain't my American dream
(chorus)
the line that sticks out to me is 'success is equated with excess'. it reminds me a lot of luke 12:15 where Jesus warns that, "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
christmas list
the american dream song has been ringing in my head lately because i put together my annual christmas list for my mom a few days ago. i really had trouble this year because there's nothing that i really want that can be bought. me, mi madre, and mi hermana are going to spend a week together. that brings me more joy than any store bought 'thing' possibly could.
at this point, the only reason i even bother making a list is because of tradition. back in high school i turned my christmas list into a piece of art for mom and every years ice i've done the same. i don't even remember what i put on there for this year, but i know i like giving mom her own piece of art every year.
thrice
another band that i've been listening to a lot lately is thrice. today was a perfect thrice day. i was trying to keep my energy up for class tonight even though i felt like garbage all day. later in the day it became overcast, and now it's raining. the latest thrice album, the alchemy index vol. 1 & 2 have been the perfect soundtrack for the day. the first six songs revolve around the element fire, and the last six revolve around water (their follow up with wind and earth should be out soon). anyways, the heavier fire songs were a perfect way to get stoked for hanging out with the kiddos tonight, and the water songs have been a perfect listen with the rain outside.
aside from the pace of the music, the lyrics really grabbed me today too. in the song the arsonist, i really liked the verse:
There is truth beneath the floorboards;
there is hope in brick and stone.
But they tell me just to shut my mouth;
leave well enough alone.
But I think maybe all that's needed,
is a match and gasoline;
because I don't think that any one of them believes that there will be a reckoning.
there's something powerful in the message there. it's a great call to arms to being passionate about being a revolutionary christian. the same song has a great line in the chorus:
I love this city, but I've set and numbered its days.
I love this city, enough that I'll set it ABLAZE.
wow. the idea that we might have to do something extreme to save what we love. i'm not really sure why this hits home so much right now in my life, but it really has struck a chord with me.
well, that's enough serious stuff. here's some stuff that's been cracking me up this week.
kent tekulve was a great pitcher back in the day. somebody made a t-shirt with his unmistakable silhouette on it. it's my nominee for t-shirt of the year.
and lastly, one of my favorite things in the world are really bad record covers. so here are a few really bad christmas album covers that i found.
racial sensitivity is a must.
polygamy does not go well with christmas.
which present to open first?
the two things i nerd out on the most cancel each other out to be really funny.
one love, one heart.
i love calvin and hobbes comics. i ran across this collection of calvin and his demented snowmen today.
24
i had a map of simi valley on my wall today, and i was marking out where all of our kiddos from church lived. our office manager said my office looked like ctu.
american dream.
i'm a huge switchfoot fan. tonight at spark i used this song as means to talk about consumerism around christmas.
When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line
When success is equated with excess
If you're time ain't been nothing for money
I start to feel really bad for you honey
Maybe honey put you're money where your mouth's been running
If you're time ain't be nothing but money
I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom
(chorus)
This ain't my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I'm tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream
When success is equated with excess
When we're fighting for the beamer, the lexus
As the heart and soul breathing the company goals
Where success is equated with excess
I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom
(chorus)
Cause baby's always talkin 'bout a ring
And talk has always been the cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what I want you to
If I show up with the right amount of bling?
Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we've been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain't my America,
That ain't my American dream
(chorus)
the line that sticks out to me is 'success is equated with excess'. it reminds me a lot of luke 12:15 where Jesus warns that, "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
christmas list
the american dream song has been ringing in my head lately because i put together my annual christmas list for my mom a few days ago. i really had trouble this year because there's nothing that i really want that can be bought. me, mi madre, and mi hermana are going to spend a week together. that brings me more joy than any store bought 'thing' possibly could.
at this point, the only reason i even bother making a list is because of tradition. back in high school i turned my christmas list into a piece of art for mom and every years ice i've done the same. i don't even remember what i put on there for this year, but i know i like giving mom her own piece of art every year.
thrice
another band that i've been listening to a lot lately is thrice. today was a perfect thrice day. i was trying to keep my energy up for class tonight even though i felt like garbage all day. later in the day it became overcast, and now it's raining. the latest thrice album, the alchemy index vol. 1 & 2 have been the perfect soundtrack for the day. the first six songs revolve around the element fire, and the last six revolve around water (their follow up with wind and earth should be out soon). anyways, the heavier fire songs were a perfect way to get stoked for hanging out with the kiddos tonight, and the water songs have been a perfect listen with the rain outside.
aside from the pace of the music, the lyrics really grabbed me today too. in the song the arsonist, i really liked the verse:
There is truth beneath the floorboards;
there is hope in brick and stone.
But they tell me just to shut my mouth;
leave well enough alone.
But I think maybe all that's needed,
is a match and gasoline;
because I don't think that any one of them believes that there will be a reckoning.
there's something powerful in the message there. it's a great call to arms to being passionate about being a revolutionary christian. the same song has a great line in the chorus:
I love this city, but I've set and numbered its days.
I love this city, enough that I'll set it ABLAZE.
wow. the idea that we might have to do something extreme to save what we love. i'm not really sure why this hits home so much right now in my life, but it really has struck a chord with me.
well, that's enough serious stuff. here's some stuff that's been cracking me up this week.
kent tekulve was a great pitcher back in the day. somebody made a t-shirt with his unmistakable silhouette on it. it's my nominee for t-shirt of the year.
and lastly, one of my favorite things in the world are really bad record covers. so here are a few really bad christmas album covers that i found.
racial sensitivity is a must.
polygamy does not go well with christmas.
which present to open first?
the two things i nerd out on the most cancel each other out to be really funny.
one love, one heart.
11.20.2007
YO JOE!
This came in the greatest email i've ever received.
G.I. Joe Movie
Release Date: August 7, 2009
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Stephen Sommers
Screenwriter: Stuart Beattie
Starring: Sienna Miller
Genre: Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: Not Available
Official Website: Not Available
Review: Not Available
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Movie Poster: Not Available
Production Stills: Not Available
Plot Summary: The movie will be a modern telling of the "G.I. Joe vs. Cobra" storyline and its compelling characters that Hasbro created 25 years ago. The premise of this fantasy is the story of the G.I. Joe team, led by Duke, and their "fight for freedom wherever there is trouble" against the evil Cobra Commander and his Cobra force. This storyline was an instant hit with kids in the early 1980s, spawning a highly popular 3-3/4-inch action figure line, comic book collection and animated series. The G.I. Joe team will not be based in Brussels. Instead, they will be based out of the "Pit" as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series. And, in keeping with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra fantasy, the movie will feature characters and locations from around the world. Duke, the lead character and head of the G.I. Joe team, will embody the values of bravery and heroism that the first generation of G.I. Joe figures established.
Trailer
Coming Soon!
Oh man, you thought i went nuts over the transformers movie, that was just practice. nothing compares to G.I. Joe when it comes to nostalgia madness in my world. I want to go back in time and hi-five my seven year old self and tell him, "it's really going to happen!"
53.
Dad would have been fifty three today. It's a number that means a lot to me. One of the first things I can remember knowing about my dad was that he used to fly helicopters. big ones. the biggest in the free world. The CH53 Sea Stallion.
I wanted to do something to honor dad today, but i couldn't think of anything special. i went on a short run, i put my truck into the shop again, i played guitar for a while and i read a bunch today. i cried a little, i prayed for a while, i talked to mi madre for a few minutes, and i watched hunt for red october (dad took me to see that for my 10th birthday). all in all it was a quiet monday.
turkey day.
was good. i spent it with a family from church. it was nice to vacation for a whole day in an actual house. we worked on the pool filter, ate a big lunch, watched football, played guitar, and ate pie. i was very thankful.
ska band.
i tried out for a ska band last night. i think i did all right, although it took me a while to get used to the drummer who was wearing a t-shirt that said 'i speak klingon'. more to come on this later.
scrooge.
i've decided to get really hyped this year with the christmas spirit. i may even go buy a tacky christmas sweater. all i know is last year we went all out decorating the apt and now i've got yuletide fever. oh yeah, and i'm addicted to gingerbread cookies ad gingerbread lattes.
proximity.
so the dating scene around here has been interesting around here the last six months or so. for the first time in my life i've gone out with women that i hadn't met through church. we're not talking about a lengthy list by any means, but it has been a real learning experience. there's so much less pressure than going out with girls at church, because there's zero repercussion if it ends at a couple of dates. it's kind of nice to avoid that drama. and it's nice not have everyone in on my business. very nice. the only real hassle has come from females at church who are angry that i've 'given up' on them. a: i haven't given up on the church dating scene. b: i'm not going to go out with someone just because we're both single and we both go to the same church. there's a certain thing called interest that remains high on my priority list. and closely related is 3: nothing makes me feel less important than when i'm 'supposed' to go out with someone because there's no one else around. that line of thinking closely parallels that of the geniuses that come up with arranged marriages. by the way, statistically speaking, single 27 year olds outnumber married 27 year olds almost 3 to 1.
purpose.
i'm a big fan of henry rollins. if you don't know who he is, he's the former lead singer of the hardcore punk band black flag, who now spends his time telling crazy stories and commenting on all of those vh1 'i love the...' tv shows. anyways, he's got some unique opinions on a lot of issues, and he's a very well thought out individual. on his show last week he was ragging on the blogging community, saying that we have an irrepressible desire to feel important that manifests itself in believing that the world needs to know what we are thinking. i have to disagree. while i do see some people using the blogosphere for that very purpose, i think the majority of folks that i have come across are just simply journaling. at least that's what i do. i try and write every week so that i can look back and see what was going on in my life at a certain time. i mean, in this blog alone i've written about g.i. joe, my dad, dating and thanksgiving.
well, i've got a busy week coming up, so i'm outta here.
one love, one heart.
G.I. Joe Movie
Release Date: August 7, 2009
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Stephen Sommers
Screenwriter: Stuart Beattie
Starring: Sienna Miller
Genre: Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: Not Available
Official Website: Not Available
Review: Not Available
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Movie Poster: Not Available
Production Stills: Not Available
Plot Summary: The movie will be a modern telling of the "G.I. Joe vs. Cobra" storyline and its compelling characters that Hasbro created 25 years ago. The premise of this fantasy is the story of the G.I. Joe team, led by Duke, and their "fight for freedom wherever there is trouble" against the evil Cobra Commander and his Cobra force. This storyline was an instant hit with kids in the early 1980s, spawning a highly popular 3-3/4-inch action figure line, comic book collection and animated series. The G.I. Joe team will not be based in Brussels. Instead, they will be based out of the "Pit" as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series. And, in keeping with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra fantasy, the movie will feature characters and locations from around the world. Duke, the lead character and head of the G.I. Joe team, will embody the values of bravery and heroism that the first generation of G.I. Joe figures established.
Trailer
Coming Soon!
Oh man, you thought i went nuts over the transformers movie, that was just practice. nothing compares to G.I. Joe when it comes to nostalgia madness in my world. I want to go back in time and hi-five my seven year old self and tell him, "it's really going to happen!"
53.
Dad would have been fifty three today. It's a number that means a lot to me. One of the first things I can remember knowing about my dad was that he used to fly helicopters. big ones. the biggest in the free world. The CH53 Sea Stallion.
I wanted to do something to honor dad today, but i couldn't think of anything special. i went on a short run, i put my truck into the shop again, i played guitar for a while and i read a bunch today. i cried a little, i prayed for a while, i talked to mi madre for a few minutes, and i watched hunt for red october (dad took me to see that for my 10th birthday). all in all it was a quiet monday.
turkey day.
was good. i spent it with a family from church. it was nice to vacation for a whole day in an actual house. we worked on the pool filter, ate a big lunch, watched football, played guitar, and ate pie. i was very thankful.
ska band.
i tried out for a ska band last night. i think i did all right, although it took me a while to get used to the drummer who was wearing a t-shirt that said 'i speak klingon'. more to come on this later.
scrooge.
i've decided to get really hyped this year with the christmas spirit. i may even go buy a tacky christmas sweater. all i know is last year we went all out decorating the apt and now i've got yuletide fever. oh yeah, and i'm addicted to gingerbread cookies ad gingerbread lattes.
proximity.
so the dating scene around here has been interesting around here the last six months or so. for the first time in my life i've gone out with women that i hadn't met through church. we're not talking about a lengthy list by any means, but it has been a real learning experience. there's so much less pressure than going out with girls at church, because there's zero repercussion if it ends at a couple of dates. it's kind of nice to avoid that drama. and it's nice not have everyone in on my business. very nice. the only real hassle has come from females at church who are angry that i've 'given up' on them. a: i haven't given up on the church dating scene. b: i'm not going to go out with someone just because we're both single and we both go to the same church. there's a certain thing called interest that remains high on my priority list. and closely related is 3: nothing makes me feel less important than when i'm 'supposed' to go out with someone because there's no one else around. that line of thinking closely parallels that of the geniuses that come up with arranged marriages. by the way, statistically speaking, single 27 year olds outnumber married 27 year olds almost 3 to 1.
purpose.
i'm a big fan of henry rollins. if you don't know who he is, he's the former lead singer of the hardcore punk band black flag, who now spends his time telling crazy stories and commenting on all of those vh1 'i love the...' tv shows. anyways, he's got some unique opinions on a lot of issues, and he's a very well thought out individual. on his show last week he was ragging on the blogging community, saying that we have an irrepressible desire to feel important that manifests itself in believing that the world needs to know what we are thinking. i have to disagree. while i do see some people using the blogosphere for that very purpose, i think the majority of folks that i have come across are just simply journaling. at least that's what i do. i try and write every week so that i can look back and see what was going on in my life at a certain time. i mean, in this blog alone i've written about g.i. joe, my dad, dating and thanksgiving.
well, i've got a busy week coming up, so i'm outta here.
one love, one heart.
11.16.2007
Busted.
Two of my kiddos came in to SPARK tonight calling me a hypocrite for ragging on mcdonald's all the time, then they handed me this...
one love, one heart.
one love, one heart.
11.15.2007
Sometimes nothing is a pretty cool hand.
veterans day.
on monday i actually celebrated veterans day. i started doing this a few years ago. it always bothered me that holidays get turned into days off, and i completely lose site of the fact that these days were set aside to remember something specific. veterans day for me is a time of deep appreciation, especially this year. i don't know why, but i've been in a very appreciative mode lately. anyways, what did i do to celebrate veterans day? i went up to the reagan library for a while and spent some time praying at the piece of the berlin wall that they have on display there. i ran into several vets and talked with them for a while about their experiences in korea. and then i decided to call the vets that we have at our church an thanks them for their service. i can think of no higher calling than be willing to put your life on the line for another person. in fact, this is one of the best descriptions the bible gives on what love looks like in action.
i encourage anyone reading this to sit down and share a cup of coffee with a veteran, and ask them for their story. it's an easy way to show your appreciation.
capri sun.
i got all nostalgic yesterday buying groceries when i saw a box of capri suns, so i bought a pack and was stoked to get home and drink one. as my stupid little yellow straw bent and then poked through the back of my pouch spilling grape drink all over my carpet i remembered why i stopped drinking these things in the first place. file capri sun under bad nostalgia.
beard update.
it's gone. i wasn't really awake when i started shaving yesterday and ended up shaving it off. so back to the ol' sideburns and gotee.
rob bell.
i went to thegodsarentangry tour the other night and was completely blown away. it's the best description of how religions start up that i've ever heard. i'd love to try and explain it, but i know i couldn't do his speech justice. so, i'm encouraging you to pick up the dvd or book whenever it comes out.
angels and airwaves.
if i could put together an album i would want it to sound like 'I-Empire'. simply amazing.
appreciative.
sometimes God works in the smallest moments of the day. a few days ago it was kind of cold here (for socal). i was stoked to get home and get warm, but when i opened the door i realized that we had forgotten to turn on the auto heat setting on our thermostat. normally i would be a little frustrated, but instead this time i kind of smiled and recognized that i am truly blessed to even have a place to live. i'm even more blessed that i have a place that will get warm in minutes. the funny thing is, i didn't even turn on the heat. i just threw on my favorite hoodie and read for a while.
direction.
i've got a pretty good sense of direction, but every once in a while i realize that a street that i thought went one direction actually runs completely perpendicular to what i thought. i was talking to a friend the other day and he said to travel south on this one road, and i asked him if he meant east. we finally got out the maps and i realized that he was right. dangit. this happened to me a lot at oc when there weren't any mountains for reference points. now there's too many mountains.
the zipper.
learn it. it's a simple concept. one car goes, and then another from the other lane. repeat. we've got to put an end to this double dipping, or shotblocking nonsense on americas roads.
politics.
an update on my decision this year to be informed. evidently being informed means you are supposed to listen to other people rant on about their candidate when you don't even know them and all you're trying to do is sit there with a friend and enjoy a gingerbread latte, and all of this starts because there happens to be a politically based headline on the newspaper that was already sitting at your table.
my neighborhood.
since i read okchick's blog, i consider myself tagged by her most recent post. the question posted was, 'what's your favorite place in your neighborhood?' without a doubt mine is the reagan library. my apt complex is at the base of the mountain so i like to head up there as much as i can. it has a great view towards the west, and on a clear day you can see the ocean. if you look north around sunset, you get an idea of what the song means when it says 'purple mountains majesty'. the inside of the library has a lot of interesting stuff, but my two favorite things are outside. the is a huge chunk of the berlin wall standing there, and it's covered in artwork which always inspires me. my favorite though, is reagan's memorial site that has my all time favorite quote on it,
I know in my heart that man is good.
That what is right will always eventually triumph.
And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.
well, that's about all i can write on this lunch break so...
one love, one heart.
on monday i actually celebrated veterans day. i started doing this a few years ago. it always bothered me that holidays get turned into days off, and i completely lose site of the fact that these days were set aside to remember something specific. veterans day for me is a time of deep appreciation, especially this year. i don't know why, but i've been in a very appreciative mode lately. anyways, what did i do to celebrate veterans day? i went up to the reagan library for a while and spent some time praying at the piece of the berlin wall that they have on display there. i ran into several vets and talked with them for a while about their experiences in korea. and then i decided to call the vets that we have at our church an thanks them for their service. i can think of no higher calling than be willing to put your life on the line for another person. in fact, this is one of the best descriptions the bible gives on what love looks like in action.
i encourage anyone reading this to sit down and share a cup of coffee with a veteran, and ask them for their story. it's an easy way to show your appreciation.
capri sun.
i got all nostalgic yesterday buying groceries when i saw a box of capri suns, so i bought a pack and was stoked to get home and drink one. as my stupid little yellow straw bent and then poked through the back of my pouch spilling grape drink all over my carpet i remembered why i stopped drinking these things in the first place. file capri sun under bad nostalgia.
beard update.
it's gone. i wasn't really awake when i started shaving yesterday and ended up shaving it off. so back to the ol' sideburns and gotee.
rob bell.
i went to thegodsarentangry tour the other night and was completely blown away. it's the best description of how religions start up that i've ever heard. i'd love to try and explain it, but i know i couldn't do his speech justice. so, i'm encouraging you to pick up the dvd or book whenever it comes out.
angels and airwaves.
if i could put together an album i would want it to sound like 'I-Empire'. simply amazing.
appreciative.
sometimes God works in the smallest moments of the day. a few days ago it was kind of cold here (for socal). i was stoked to get home and get warm, but when i opened the door i realized that we had forgotten to turn on the auto heat setting on our thermostat. normally i would be a little frustrated, but instead this time i kind of smiled and recognized that i am truly blessed to even have a place to live. i'm even more blessed that i have a place that will get warm in minutes. the funny thing is, i didn't even turn on the heat. i just threw on my favorite hoodie and read for a while.
direction.
i've got a pretty good sense of direction, but every once in a while i realize that a street that i thought went one direction actually runs completely perpendicular to what i thought. i was talking to a friend the other day and he said to travel south on this one road, and i asked him if he meant east. we finally got out the maps and i realized that he was right. dangit. this happened to me a lot at oc when there weren't any mountains for reference points. now there's too many mountains.
the zipper.
learn it. it's a simple concept. one car goes, and then another from the other lane. repeat. we've got to put an end to this double dipping, or shotblocking nonsense on americas roads.
politics.
an update on my decision this year to be informed. evidently being informed means you are supposed to listen to other people rant on about their candidate when you don't even know them and all you're trying to do is sit there with a friend and enjoy a gingerbread latte, and all of this starts because there happens to be a politically based headline on the newspaper that was already sitting at your table.
my neighborhood.
since i read okchick's blog, i consider myself tagged by her most recent post. the question posted was, 'what's your favorite place in your neighborhood?' without a doubt mine is the reagan library. my apt complex is at the base of the mountain so i like to head up there as much as i can. it has a great view towards the west, and on a clear day you can see the ocean. if you look north around sunset, you get an idea of what the song means when it says 'purple mountains majesty'. the inside of the library has a lot of interesting stuff, but my two favorite things are outside. the is a huge chunk of the berlin wall standing there, and it's covered in artwork which always inspires me. my favorite though, is reagan's memorial site that has my all time favorite quote on it,
I know in my heart that man is good.
That what is right will always eventually triumph.
And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.
well, that's about all i can write on this lunch break so...
one love, one heart.
10.31.2007
10.26.2007
"I rant, therefore I am." - Dennis Miller
guten tag.
the fires.
to start off with i'd like to thank everyone that's called or emailed me about the fires out here. san diego got hit the worst by far, but the ones up north have been pretty crazy too. if you know anyone at pepperdine they can give you a better description than i can of how bad it was, but i will say that from what i saw the fire was a few yards from devastating the campus. also, keep the folks from malibu presbyterian in your prayers. they lost their building in the fire. as for me, i was keeping an eye on the six flags fire due east of us about 20 miles, because there's nothing in between but mountains of brush.
nywc.
one of my favorite events of the year is the national youth workers convention put on by youth specialties. this year the speakers all gave great messages and the seminars i went to really helped put things into perspective. francis chan from cornerstone really hit me hard with his talk on saturday. he talked about how his view of youth ministers changed when his daughter joined the youth group. it's so easy to get caught up in programming, pastoring, event planning, phone calls, studying... but the thing that needs to be the most prevalent is a love for Jesus. it's so easy to love ministry more than Jesus. it sounds weird to say, but i really got hit hard by this. and judging by the looks of those around me, i think it hit home with quite a few others as well. it was an odd idea at first, but the more i started comparing my love for Jesus to my love for ministry, my love for church, my love for being a part of kids lives, and my love for myself, i realized that things have been out of line for quite some time. i'm not sure how this plays out exactly, but i love wrestling with this idea. in my mind i've been running these competitions about who/what would win for my attention, and the reality of who/what does win my attention and it's been a humbling experience. it's so easy to be lukewarm.
nywc 2.
even if the sessions weren't that great, i would go just to have time hanging out with the youth ministry mafia. this year we decided to save money on hotels and crash at an empty condo that was up for sale. so we set up a projector and chilled every night wither watching movies, or playing nintendo wii (which i finally caved in and bought for our youth room). which, by the way, is the biggest prank one country has ever played on another. seriously, nintendo couldn't come up with a better name? anyways, hanging w/ the mafia was the perfect mix of accountability, jokes, terrible jokes, mockery, support, brainstorming, cynicism, hope, spirituality, and a lot of mexican food. needless to say, the fact that we were in san diego prompted me to give my usual 'd.j. reality mexican food tour' of my old stompin grounds. i doubt those guys eat mexican food for a month.
nywc 3.
i recognize that i am now officially a nerd after being really excited for the huge sale they have on all the new youth ministry stuff at the convention.
beard update.
i grew out my beard a few weeks ago and i've had some great mixed responses. one lady at church said i looked homeless. another said i looked distinguished and mature. my kiddos said i was just lazy. one chica at the coffee shop muttered under her breath 'indie-hipster', and another thought i was a cowboy (don't ask). so i guess my beard gives me that mature-lazy-distinguished-indie-cowboy-homeless-hipster look that's real popular these days. the worst comment though goes to valleygirl who asked if it itches, to which i replied that it didn't anymore, and she said that it must 'really be growing on me'. that hurts my head to think about. which leads me to...
the dreadful moment.
there are certain things in life that you just have come to accept. we are all growing older at the same rate, we are all terminal, and our bodies will not always be in the prime condition that we desire. i had a moment yesterday that i can not turn back from. it's one of those moments where you realize that your life has moved from one chapter to the next, and tomorrow has become today. yesterday morning i found a grey whisker. i am now old.
politics.
i have decided to be more politically involved during this election year. i'm not really sure what has brought this on, but after feeling so disenfranchised in the past couple of elections i decided to get myself informed for 08. I've been reading up on a lot of the top candidates, enough to where i think i could hold my own in a decent political discussion. i've stayed away from politics on this blog in the past, but there are a few things i feel passionately about to go ahead and put out there for the world to read. 1. the war: i have been a strong supporter of the war over the past few years, but i feel like we need to rethink our approach at this point. i'm not for cutting and running, but i would like to see a better exit strategy to avoid any more of our soldiers becoming frustrated overseas. 2. abortion: i am an avid pro-life advocate. even in extreme circumstances i feel that every child should have the option to live. i also find it odd that the opposing side is called 'pro choice' when the person who's life is at stake is not given a choice. 3. capital punishment: i'm completely against it. i could never sentence a person to die unnaturally. as a christian i feel that man should have every chance to turn their life around. more than anything, i have a lack of trust in our legal system. 4. life support: yet another one that throws me out of the right-wing box. the terry schaivo case a few years ago made me so upset. why do we as christians want to hold on to a body full of pain when there is such a greater alternative? i think holding on shows a lack of faith. when my time comes, my time comes. i'm going to be mad if you try and keep me here. 5. immigration: there is only so much our country can bear. the rate of people that need our help expands exponentially more every year than what we are capable of supporting. the laws and ideals that once were relevant need to adapt as times change like so many other laws and ideals have. and lastly, 6. free speech: this is becoming my biggest issue as it becomes more and more likely that my ability to speak the gospel will become increasingly limited (legally).
celebrities.
i can't pass up the opportunity the comment on the wave of celebrities that feel they have to influence political culture. seriously, i'm tired of it. you get the same news we do, let us make our own opinions. if you think about it for a second, should we really trust people who are professionals at making us believe things that aren't real? these are also the same people that say their violent movies and raunchy lyrics do not affect culture, yet they turn around and use their spotlights to praise each other for how much of an 'influence' their latest artistic masterpiece is making.
celebrities 2.
can we not combine the names of celebrity couples anymore? and can we not use the first initial-first syllable nickname generator anymore? and while i'm at it, can we stop calling every controversy something '-gate'?
red sox.
i don't even know where to begin on how much i am pulling for the rockies right now. if the sox win i have to put up with annoying fans bragging. if they lose, i have to put up with annoying fans whining. all i know is they have become the very yankees they claim to hate. congratulations on buying yourselves a post season. now go wash that fake stain off your socks.
the rub.
well i've spewed a lot of stuff that needed to be vented, which is odd because God has been really good these past few days (well, i've taken the time to notice). we got out of san diego safely after the convention, and some things around here that have been tough to deal with have settled down. i got spend time with some of the greatest friends i could ask for, and i got a chance to flirt with a bunch of attractive christian women. i got a number from a chica with amazing blue eyes, and i got a phone call from a kiddo that just needed to talk. i've seen prayers answered and hearts moved. i saw grown men cry out for renewal, and the same men on their knees accepting Jesus back into first place. i heard my thoughts put into words by teachers, and listened to kiddos ask questions to people they think have the answers. i sat with thousands of people that love ministry like i do and worshipped a God that loves us all.
i hope your day is blessed. i pray that as you read this your life is in a place that you can truly say that you love Jesus the way you want to.
one love, one heart.
the fires.
to start off with i'd like to thank everyone that's called or emailed me about the fires out here. san diego got hit the worst by far, but the ones up north have been pretty crazy too. if you know anyone at pepperdine they can give you a better description than i can of how bad it was, but i will say that from what i saw the fire was a few yards from devastating the campus. also, keep the folks from malibu presbyterian in your prayers. they lost their building in the fire. as for me, i was keeping an eye on the six flags fire due east of us about 20 miles, because there's nothing in between but mountains of brush.
nywc.
one of my favorite events of the year is the national youth workers convention put on by youth specialties. this year the speakers all gave great messages and the seminars i went to really helped put things into perspective. francis chan from cornerstone really hit me hard with his talk on saturday. he talked about how his view of youth ministers changed when his daughter joined the youth group. it's so easy to get caught up in programming, pastoring, event planning, phone calls, studying... but the thing that needs to be the most prevalent is a love for Jesus. it's so easy to love ministry more than Jesus. it sounds weird to say, but i really got hit hard by this. and judging by the looks of those around me, i think it hit home with quite a few others as well. it was an odd idea at first, but the more i started comparing my love for Jesus to my love for ministry, my love for church, my love for being a part of kids lives, and my love for myself, i realized that things have been out of line for quite some time. i'm not sure how this plays out exactly, but i love wrestling with this idea. in my mind i've been running these competitions about who/what would win for my attention, and the reality of who/what does win my attention and it's been a humbling experience. it's so easy to be lukewarm.
nywc 2.
even if the sessions weren't that great, i would go just to have time hanging out with the youth ministry mafia. this year we decided to save money on hotels and crash at an empty condo that was up for sale. so we set up a projector and chilled every night wither watching movies, or playing nintendo wii (which i finally caved in and bought for our youth room). which, by the way, is the biggest prank one country has ever played on another. seriously, nintendo couldn't come up with a better name? anyways, hanging w/ the mafia was the perfect mix of accountability, jokes, terrible jokes, mockery, support, brainstorming, cynicism, hope, spirituality, and a lot of mexican food. needless to say, the fact that we were in san diego prompted me to give my usual 'd.j. reality mexican food tour' of my old stompin grounds. i doubt those guys eat mexican food for a month.
nywc 3.
i recognize that i am now officially a nerd after being really excited for the huge sale they have on all the new youth ministry stuff at the convention.
beard update.
i grew out my beard a few weeks ago and i've had some great mixed responses. one lady at church said i looked homeless. another said i looked distinguished and mature. my kiddos said i was just lazy. one chica at the coffee shop muttered under her breath 'indie-hipster', and another thought i was a cowboy (don't ask). so i guess my beard gives me that mature-lazy-distinguished-indie-cowboy-homeless-hipster look that's real popular these days. the worst comment though goes to valleygirl who asked if it itches, to which i replied that it didn't anymore, and she said that it must 'really be growing on me'. that hurts my head to think about. which leads me to...
the dreadful moment.
there are certain things in life that you just have come to accept. we are all growing older at the same rate, we are all terminal, and our bodies will not always be in the prime condition that we desire. i had a moment yesterday that i can not turn back from. it's one of those moments where you realize that your life has moved from one chapter to the next, and tomorrow has become today. yesterday morning i found a grey whisker. i am now old.
politics.
i have decided to be more politically involved during this election year. i'm not really sure what has brought this on, but after feeling so disenfranchised in the past couple of elections i decided to get myself informed for 08. I've been reading up on a lot of the top candidates, enough to where i think i could hold my own in a decent political discussion. i've stayed away from politics on this blog in the past, but there are a few things i feel passionately about to go ahead and put out there for the world to read. 1. the war: i have been a strong supporter of the war over the past few years, but i feel like we need to rethink our approach at this point. i'm not for cutting and running, but i would like to see a better exit strategy to avoid any more of our soldiers becoming frustrated overseas. 2. abortion: i am an avid pro-life advocate. even in extreme circumstances i feel that every child should have the option to live. i also find it odd that the opposing side is called 'pro choice' when the person who's life is at stake is not given a choice. 3. capital punishment: i'm completely against it. i could never sentence a person to die unnaturally. as a christian i feel that man should have every chance to turn their life around. more than anything, i have a lack of trust in our legal system. 4. life support: yet another one that throws me out of the right-wing box. the terry schaivo case a few years ago made me so upset. why do we as christians want to hold on to a body full of pain when there is such a greater alternative? i think holding on shows a lack of faith. when my time comes, my time comes. i'm going to be mad if you try and keep me here. 5. immigration: there is only so much our country can bear. the rate of people that need our help expands exponentially more every year than what we are capable of supporting. the laws and ideals that once were relevant need to adapt as times change like so many other laws and ideals have. and lastly, 6. free speech: this is becoming my biggest issue as it becomes more and more likely that my ability to speak the gospel will become increasingly limited (legally).
celebrities.
i can't pass up the opportunity the comment on the wave of celebrities that feel they have to influence political culture. seriously, i'm tired of it. you get the same news we do, let us make our own opinions. if you think about it for a second, should we really trust people who are professionals at making us believe things that aren't real? these are also the same people that say their violent movies and raunchy lyrics do not affect culture, yet they turn around and use their spotlights to praise each other for how much of an 'influence' their latest artistic masterpiece is making.
celebrities 2.
can we not combine the names of celebrity couples anymore? and can we not use the first initial-first syllable nickname generator anymore? and while i'm at it, can we stop calling every controversy something '-gate'?
red sox.
i don't even know where to begin on how much i am pulling for the rockies right now. if the sox win i have to put up with annoying fans bragging. if they lose, i have to put up with annoying fans whining. all i know is they have become the very yankees they claim to hate. congratulations on buying yourselves a post season. now go wash that fake stain off your socks.
the rub.
well i've spewed a lot of stuff that needed to be vented, which is odd because God has been really good these past few days (well, i've taken the time to notice). we got out of san diego safely after the convention, and some things around here that have been tough to deal with have settled down. i got spend time with some of the greatest friends i could ask for, and i got a chance to flirt with a bunch of attractive christian women. i got a number from a chica with amazing blue eyes, and i got a phone call from a kiddo that just needed to talk. i've seen prayers answered and hearts moved. i saw grown men cry out for renewal, and the same men on their knees accepting Jesus back into first place. i heard my thoughts put into words by teachers, and listened to kiddos ask questions to people they think have the answers. i sat with thousands of people that love ministry like i do and worshipped a God that loves us all.
i hope your day is blessed. i pray that as you read this your life is in a place that you can truly say that you love Jesus the way you want to.
one love, one heart.
10.10.2007
'Live Free, Blog Hard'
so i'm hanging out at the local coffee shop with free wifi, and the barista chica sees me on my laptop (working on class for this week), and she comes over and says, "live free, blog hard". i'm not sure what that means, but i laughed anyways. so yes, i am one of those guys that hangs out at coffee shops and sits there with his drink and a laptop. there are worse things i could be.
this week is relatively mellow compared to last. plans and goals are getting finalized for our fall overhaul of the youth ministry. right now it's a matter of putting a name and some finishing touches on some events and i think we're going to be ready to go for our nov 1 starting date. i'm kind of excited. i feel like i just finished finals and all i have left are a few presentations.
i also started this franklin-covey organizational system that seems to be pretty cool so far. i still think it's a glorified day planner, but supposedly people pay a lot of money for the stuff that one of my deacons gave me for free. anyways, i basically spend time every day planning out the next day, and it helps me get more stuff done. i figure anything is better than what i'm doing now, but this seems pretty cool so far. it def has a spiritual side to it that's been a blessing the past week, and it's nice to look at my top priorities every day and see relationship with God at the top of list.
i finally got head down to murrietta this sunday and hang out with cactus james, and dantheman. i bought him his first baseball and glove, but he's still in the 'i can't hold things' phase. to his credit, he is only a few weeks old, so he has plenty of time to learn. it was pretty trippy to hold him though. he was quiet, seemed really strong, and just kind of sat there looking at me for a while. i was just glad that he didn't cry. all in all it made for a good week. oh yeah, and it was pretty cool seeing dantheman as a dad.
we hung out in san diego with some friends visiting from tulsa for most of the afternoon, then i had to head back norte to try and beat traffic, which didn't really work. but, it did afford me some time to blast some new tunes really loudly for a long time, which i enjoy a lot and haven't done in a while. i listened to both bedouin soundclash albums, angels and airwaves, some classics like wilson pickett, otis redding, james brown, the temptations and ben e. king. a pretty eclectic drive. anyways, there were a few lyrics that stuck out that i wanted to share.
I'm sorry I have to say it but you look like you're sad
Your smile is gone; I've noticed it bad
The cure is if you let in just a little more love
I promise you this, a little's enough
-A Little's Enough by Angels & Airwaves
That chorus over and over again hit home. I've been in a little bit of a funk lately. call it a busy schedule, call it frustration, call it uncertainty, but there really is a lot to that idea that joy comes from opening up yourself for others to love you. i don't know, it hit home for me, and i've been in a much better mood the past few days.
When the walls fall down
On your old town
Then you began
See I had these walls
Built up so strong
Built when I was young
In wars I've won
But if I'm alone
Stone upon stone
So tall I could not see
Beyond my wall
But your walls fall down
And your walls fall down
And when walls come down
On your old town
You began
A bit unassured
A bit insecure
I climbed up to the top
And saw I lacked
And my fist stone cracked
Foundation collapsed
Standing on the ground
In stones I found
That your walls fall down
And your walls fall down
And when walls come down
On your old town
You began
In other lands
From where you stand
Beneath a shelter built by many hands
There is a stone
And you've locked the door
Of people you were swore
you came for war
And your walls fall down
Walls fall down
Walls fall down
Like a stone falls down
I'm no stone
I'm no stone
Its just a stone
Stone falls down
Says hes a stone
(Walls fall down
Walls fall down)
No man's a stone
-Walls Fall Down by Bedouin Soundclash
This song hit pretty hard mainly because i was on my way out of san diego. it made me think of all the different things i've had to lose, gain and go through in my journey over the last ten years or so.
the odds that i end up watching high fidelity tonite are pretty good.
and on a completely random note... why is it that a new pair of shoes are the most comfortable thing in the world? i found the most comfortable pair of shoes (or sandals - there's a debate going on) and i'm not sure if the reason i've worn them the past three days is that they're that comfortable, or i'm telling myself they are because they're new. oh yeah, and if anyone thinks i'm a shoe junkie, i left my old shoes at the beach this weekend so i needed a new pair. therefore this was buying - not shopping. anyways, here's a pic of my new shoes...
well, there's more excitement going on in my life, but i feel like skating for a few minutes before class starts up.
one love, one heart.
this week is relatively mellow compared to last. plans and goals are getting finalized for our fall overhaul of the youth ministry. right now it's a matter of putting a name and some finishing touches on some events and i think we're going to be ready to go for our nov 1 starting date. i'm kind of excited. i feel like i just finished finals and all i have left are a few presentations.
i also started this franklin-covey organizational system that seems to be pretty cool so far. i still think it's a glorified day planner, but supposedly people pay a lot of money for the stuff that one of my deacons gave me for free. anyways, i basically spend time every day planning out the next day, and it helps me get more stuff done. i figure anything is better than what i'm doing now, but this seems pretty cool so far. it def has a spiritual side to it that's been a blessing the past week, and it's nice to look at my top priorities every day and see relationship with God at the top of list.
i finally got head down to murrietta this sunday and hang out with cactus james, and dantheman. i bought him his first baseball and glove, but he's still in the 'i can't hold things' phase. to his credit, he is only a few weeks old, so he has plenty of time to learn. it was pretty trippy to hold him though. he was quiet, seemed really strong, and just kind of sat there looking at me for a while. i was just glad that he didn't cry. all in all it made for a good week. oh yeah, and it was pretty cool seeing dantheman as a dad.
we hung out in san diego with some friends visiting from tulsa for most of the afternoon, then i had to head back norte to try and beat traffic, which didn't really work. but, it did afford me some time to blast some new tunes really loudly for a long time, which i enjoy a lot and haven't done in a while. i listened to both bedouin soundclash albums, angels and airwaves, some classics like wilson pickett, otis redding, james brown, the temptations and ben e. king. a pretty eclectic drive. anyways, there were a few lyrics that stuck out that i wanted to share.
I'm sorry I have to say it but you look like you're sad
Your smile is gone; I've noticed it bad
The cure is if you let in just a little more love
I promise you this, a little's enough
-A Little's Enough by Angels & Airwaves
That chorus over and over again hit home. I've been in a little bit of a funk lately. call it a busy schedule, call it frustration, call it uncertainty, but there really is a lot to that idea that joy comes from opening up yourself for others to love you. i don't know, it hit home for me, and i've been in a much better mood the past few days.
When the walls fall down
On your old town
Then you began
See I had these walls
Built up so strong
Built when I was young
In wars I've won
But if I'm alone
Stone upon stone
So tall I could not see
Beyond my wall
But your walls fall down
And your walls fall down
And when walls come down
On your old town
You began
A bit unassured
A bit insecure
I climbed up to the top
And saw I lacked
And my fist stone cracked
Foundation collapsed
Standing on the ground
In stones I found
That your walls fall down
And your walls fall down
And when walls come down
On your old town
You began
In other lands
From where you stand
Beneath a shelter built by many hands
There is a stone
And you've locked the door
Of people you were swore
you came for war
And your walls fall down
Walls fall down
Walls fall down
Like a stone falls down
I'm no stone
I'm no stone
Its just a stone
Stone falls down
Says hes a stone
(Walls fall down
Walls fall down)
No man's a stone
-Walls Fall Down by Bedouin Soundclash
This song hit pretty hard mainly because i was on my way out of san diego. it made me think of all the different things i've had to lose, gain and go through in my journey over the last ten years or so.
the odds that i end up watching high fidelity tonite are pretty good.
and on a completely random note... why is it that a new pair of shoes are the most comfortable thing in the world? i found the most comfortable pair of shoes (or sandals - there's a debate going on) and i'm not sure if the reason i've worn them the past three days is that they're that comfortable, or i'm telling myself they are because they're new. oh yeah, and if anyone thinks i'm a shoe junkie, i left my old shoes at the beach this weekend so i needed a new pair. therefore this was buying - not shopping. anyways, here's a pic of my new shoes...
well, there's more excitement going on in my life, but i feel like skating for a few minutes before class starts up.
one love, one heart.
10.04.2007
I'm not really superstitious, I'm just plain stitious.
so i'm in the middle of what may turn out to be an all nighter.
right now i'm literally watching paint dry.
i feel like i'm back in college again.
a couple of weeks ago i was asked to do a painting of a father and son walking down a path together. i thought i was feeling artsy this past weekend, but i looked at what my painting session had created and i was really frustrated. it looked like a weak attempt at a norman rockwell painting, which really isn't my style. i was pretty frustrated because the more i painted the more i didn't like what i saw. so i took a step back and painted over what i had. i started over with a fresh (dry) canvas and thought about what i would like to see. still stumped. so i went over to my stack of art(nerd) books and started looking through pictures i hadn't sen in a long time. and just like that the inspiration was back. i found this old surfer magazine that david carson had designed and remembered how i used to love his style back in the day. so i looked at the blank canvas and started putting stencils together with my painting in mind.
(break to spray another layer of stencils)
so instead of a father and son walking down a path i found a great pic my friend had taken of him and his dad walking at the beach towards the ocean. i photoshopped it out to get it stencil-ready, and started throwing down paint on the canvas. then i put together some cool one-off stencils for the youth group name and off i went.
i'm watching my canvas dry right now, and i'm feeling very in touch with God. it's been so long since i've done a painting like this, and it's something i enjoy so much. the problem with me and art is that i really have to be in a zone to put something together, and it's been so long since i've been in that zone. but looking at this painting and thinking of God listening to my cry for inspiration, it reminds me that i really need to cry out to God sooner for so many things. i sit here and wait for inspiration to hit, and God is right there waiting for me to cry out for help.
i just realized that i only closed the screen door and now my apartment smells like spraypaint. the cuz should get a kick out of that in the morning.
(breaking to clean up)
anyways, now that i've got all the stencil shavings cleaned up, i'm kind of ready to just sit back and enjoy what i've created. it's weird to think that in a few hours i have to hand this giant canvas off to someone else. i really don't like selling my paintings. maybe that's why i gravitate to stencil work? hmmm. either way, i'm smiling because i know tomorrow when i hand this off to my friend i can stand tall knowing that i like what i created.
what else...
the past few days have been a little rough. i found out that one of my best friends from jr high was killed in a motorcycle wreck back in 02. i had tried to get a hold of him ever since i've moved out here, and now i know why i haven't been able to. he was the only other white guy on the bus when i was in jr high, and although he was a couple of years older than me, he let me hang with his friends until i found my own group to be a part of. i never really fit in, but he always stuck up for me. i remember he used to give me a lot of grief about not acting like a christian too. i also remember very distinctly one time he told me that if i was a christian i should act like it. yeah, that still rings pretty clearly. i wish i could find out more about the events around his death, but the obituary records are a hassle and his parents don't speak a lot of english. but for the time being i have a mission. i'm going to track down his family and let them know he had an impact.
well, the sound of the keyboard is starting to get to me, so i think i'm going to call off the all-nighter and get some rest. i feel better having written all of this out anyways. thanks for joining in on my cheap alternative to therapy.
and because i don't want to leave on a downer note, be sure to check out my new favorite website dedicated to swedish rock bands from the 70's: www.omodern.com
i'll post a pic of the latest artwork soon.
****update****
one love, one heart.
right now i'm literally watching paint dry.
i feel like i'm back in college again.
a couple of weeks ago i was asked to do a painting of a father and son walking down a path together. i thought i was feeling artsy this past weekend, but i looked at what my painting session had created and i was really frustrated. it looked like a weak attempt at a norman rockwell painting, which really isn't my style. i was pretty frustrated because the more i painted the more i didn't like what i saw. so i took a step back and painted over what i had. i started over with a fresh (dry) canvas and thought about what i would like to see. still stumped. so i went over to my stack of art(nerd) books and started looking through pictures i hadn't sen in a long time. and just like that the inspiration was back. i found this old surfer magazine that david carson had designed and remembered how i used to love his style back in the day. so i looked at the blank canvas and started putting stencils together with my painting in mind.
(break to spray another layer of stencils)
so instead of a father and son walking down a path i found a great pic my friend had taken of him and his dad walking at the beach towards the ocean. i photoshopped it out to get it stencil-ready, and started throwing down paint on the canvas. then i put together some cool one-off stencils for the youth group name and off i went.
i'm watching my canvas dry right now, and i'm feeling very in touch with God. it's been so long since i've done a painting like this, and it's something i enjoy so much. the problem with me and art is that i really have to be in a zone to put something together, and it's been so long since i've been in that zone. but looking at this painting and thinking of God listening to my cry for inspiration, it reminds me that i really need to cry out to God sooner for so many things. i sit here and wait for inspiration to hit, and God is right there waiting for me to cry out for help.
i just realized that i only closed the screen door and now my apartment smells like spraypaint. the cuz should get a kick out of that in the morning.
(breaking to clean up)
anyways, now that i've got all the stencil shavings cleaned up, i'm kind of ready to just sit back and enjoy what i've created. it's weird to think that in a few hours i have to hand this giant canvas off to someone else. i really don't like selling my paintings. maybe that's why i gravitate to stencil work? hmmm. either way, i'm smiling because i know tomorrow when i hand this off to my friend i can stand tall knowing that i like what i created.
what else...
the past few days have been a little rough. i found out that one of my best friends from jr high was killed in a motorcycle wreck back in 02. i had tried to get a hold of him ever since i've moved out here, and now i know why i haven't been able to. he was the only other white guy on the bus when i was in jr high, and although he was a couple of years older than me, he let me hang with his friends until i found my own group to be a part of. i never really fit in, but he always stuck up for me. i remember he used to give me a lot of grief about not acting like a christian too. i also remember very distinctly one time he told me that if i was a christian i should act like it. yeah, that still rings pretty clearly. i wish i could find out more about the events around his death, but the obituary records are a hassle and his parents don't speak a lot of english. but for the time being i have a mission. i'm going to track down his family and let them know he had an impact.
well, the sound of the keyboard is starting to get to me, so i think i'm going to call off the all-nighter and get some rest. i feel better having written all of this out anyways. thanks for joining in on my cheap alternative to therapy.
and because i don't want to leave on a downer note, be sure to check out my new favorite website dedicated to swedish rock bands from the 70's: www.omodern.com
i'll post a pic of the latest artwork soon.
****update****
one love, one heart.
9.26.2007
There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot.
hola blogworld.
i decided to take a page out of juliacanyoumakesomephonecalls' intern handbook and move my office outside today. and by office i mean the book that i'm reading, my notes for class tonight and now my laptop. anyways, it's been a relatively quiet afternoon which is good because today has been a study day. which brings me to my first point...
studying.
i study now more than i ever did in high school or college. at least it's mostly stuff that i'm interested in. although i do have to say, i miss having pictures in my books.
sick.
i've been kind of sick for almost a month now. it's lame. what started out as a sore throat turned into a real bad cold, and then a sinus infection. now i just sound like i smoke two packs a day. the worst part is that the hassle of going to the doctor again outweighs my desire to try and tough this out. cough.
i wonder if those last two things are related?
raise.
i got one. after three years here. i don't know if it's good or bad, but i do know i would hide any video evidence of me in the process of asking the elders. i realized about a half hour before our meeting that i had never actually asked for a raise before. either one was offered, or i haven't worked at a place long enough to deserve one. either way, i plan on saving my extra 25 bucks a week. and by saving, i mean keeping up with rising rent costs and gas prices.
tv.
i'm not one to get super hyped up about new seasons of shows, especially now that we have a dvr, but i have to say i was on the edge of my seat for the new episode of heroes. i felt like a dork, but oh well. the show rules, hiro nakamura may be the coolest tv character ever, and the show had nothing to do with a hatch or finally getting to the other side of the island. oh yeah, i'm hyped up for the new season of the office. i was pretty collected until i saw the title of the 'fun run' where michael puts together: Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race For The Cure.
houston.
i got to take a week off and head to houston and stay at my grandparents house which was much needed. what did i do on my time off? i slept a bunch, hung out with mi familia (much love to mi madre and hermana for hanging out for the weekend), watched every episode of the office over the course of a week and went to astros games every night. oh yeah, and i played scrabble. just what i needed.
clean out.
so i've lost enough weight now that a pretty good portion of my clothes don't really fit anymore. i had a bunch of shirts that were drowning me and pants that were starting to fall off, so i decided to go get a bunch of new clothes. but first i started with going through all of my old stuff and getting rid of the stuff that didn't fit. by the time i was done i had chopped my closet in half. i really liked looking at that half empty closet so i decided to forget the new wardrobe, and just stick with the old stuff that fits. i know this may not seem like a big deal, but anything i can do to avoid trying on clothes is a good thing. i realized that i really had all that i needed (which meant i had twice as much as i needed to before) and all i really had to do was go pick up some new jeans so i had something nice for church, dates, etc... anyways, it was a good feeling getting rid of all that stuff that had accrued in my closet. now my biggest issue is whether or not i spend the money to tailor a target dress shirt, or i go and get a couple of new tailored dress shirts. maybe i should just skip that all together too.
running with it.
taking a cue on how good it felt to get rid of a bunch of old clothes, i went ahead and got rid of a bunch of old electronics, sports equipment, hats and cd cases too. i actually have too much storage in my room now. it's a good feeling.
back on the plan.
so ever since i've been back i've been trying to get back into the gym routine again. lame. that, and the cuz has me on a new workout plan that is kicking my butt. although, i went longboarding the other night and i was pretty stoked to see how much more balance i have now as opposed to last year.
the spiritual.
i've been back on a personal reading kick again, and i'm going back and re-reading some of the books i know i need to draw from more. the first up is 'a new kind of christian' and next is 'velvet elvis'. after that i'm not really sure. if anybody has any good suggestions i'm all ears. it's amazing how much reading can impact the rest of your spiritual walk. it's like having a conversation with yourself sometimes, one of those conversations where you know that you've been pushed to think. anyways, it's been a blessing.
the times they are a changing.
i've been talking to a lot of the socal youth ministry mafia, and it's interesting to see how much things are changing around here. without getting into specifics, (i hope you understand why) the shape of southern california youth ministry is in for a major adventure of the course of the next few years. people and programs come and go, but i've really been drawn to 1 Corinthians lately, where it basically says that we are not called to follow one man or another, but we are all called to follow Christ. This is one of those verses that i should have written right over my desk.
slump.
i've been in artistic slump lately. one of these days i'm just going to sit down and draw. if anyone has any ideas for inspiration feel free to chime in.
bedouin soundclash.
having a cool band name pays off. this is by far my favorite recent music discovery ( followed closely by flatfoot 56, yo-yo ma and culver city dub collective). anyways, i've been listening to nothing but their music for almost 4 days now, which is almost unheard of for me. i rarely if ever can handle listening to an album more than once in a day, much less listening to one over and over for several days. anyways, if you wondering what they sound like, they're a three piece folk/reggae group that probably could be best described as paul simon singing for the clash. check out hush, when the night feels my song, and until we burn in the sun.
all the rest.
i don't feel like going into details on the rest of what's on my mind. so i'm just going to go on the ultimate unrelated ramble. we hired a new preacher. i'm almost finished with the plans to overhaul the youth ministry. it rained for a couple of days here, and i got sit on the porch and jam. i may be helping direct teen camp next summer. i have two potential mission trips on the horizon to africa and honduras. i finally figured out how to use my dad's camera. i'm getting really stoked about heading to nyc again this time for a family christmas in manhattan. the chargers need to beg and plead to get martyball back in san diego. the astros need to unload a bunch of pinch hitters and invest in some pitching. the astros have the best crop of rookies in baseball, hands down. 3:10 to yuma was awesome, especially from a family perspective. i went through my baseball card collection and i think i can possibly retire in about five years. two very close friends of mine are both working on their first girlfriend ever, and i'm pretty stoked for both. the cuz re arranged our apt and i keep running into stuff. when you can't sleep, listen to yo-yo ma. when you need to study, also listen to yo-yo ma. when you are driving in the rain, do not listen to yo-yo ma. i don't like it when people don't return phone calls. i can't stand it even more when i forget to return a phone call. i'm never showering at the gym again, it's just weird, especially since i was the only one under 55 in the locker room.
steven wright.
one of my new favorite comics. he's the guy on the couch in half baked, and he has a billion one liners. so to leave you today here are:
TOP TEN STEVEN WRIGHT JOKES PICKED AT RANDOM:
10. I intend to live forever. so far, so good.
9. I'd kill for a nobel peace prize.
8. I have a rare picture of Houdini locking his keys in his car.
7. I know the guy that writes all those bumper stickers. He hates new york.
6. I like to go to art museums and name the untitled paintings... boy with pail...kitten on fire...
5. I plugged my phone in where the blender used to be. I called someone. they went AAAAHHHHHHH.
4. In my house i put fake brick wallpaper over a real brick wall. People come over and i say, touch it... it feels real.
3. I hooked the accelerator pedal in my car up to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and i'm gone.
2. the judge asked, " what do you plead?" i said, "insanity your honor, who in their right mind would park in the passing lane?"
1. they say we're 98% water. we're this close to drowning. every time i take a drink of water i feel like i'm living on the edge.
and a bonus extra edition of quotes of the week:
officemanagerron qotw: "that guy is out there with his dog again. either that or he's training his kid how to fetch."
astros fan qotw: "hey blue, check your cell phone, you missed a call!"
personal qotw: "dude, stop pretending like you don't want a tattoo of hillary duff on your back."
one love, one heart.
i decided to take a page out of juliacanyoumakesomephonecalls' intern handbook and move my office outside today. and by office i mean the book that i'm reading, my notes for class tonight and now my laptop. anyways, it's been a relatively quiet afternoon which is good because today has been a study day. which brings me to my first point...
studying.
i study now more than i ever did in high school or college. at least it's mostly stuff that i'm interested in. although i do have to say, i miss having pictures in my books.
sick.
i've been kind of sick for almost a month now. it's lame. what started out as a sore throat turned into a real bad cold, and then a sinus infection. now i just sound like i smoke two packs a day. the worst part is that the hassle of going to the doctor again outweighs my desire to try and tough this out. cough.
i wonder if those last two things are related?
raise.
i got one. after three years here. i don't know if it's good or bad, but i do know i would hide any video evidence of me in the process of asking the elders. i realized about a half hour before our meeting that i had never actually asked for a raise before. either one was offered, or i haven't worked at a place long enough to deserve one. either way, i plan on saving my extra 25 bucks a week. and by saving, i mean keeping up with rising rent costs and gas prices.
tv.
i'm not one to get super hyped up about new seasons of shows, especially now that we have a dvr, but i have to say i was on the edge of my seat for the new episode of heroes. i felt like a dork, but oh well. the show rules, hiro nakamura may be the coolest tv character ever, and the show had nothing to do with a hatch or finally getting to the other side of the island. oh yeah, i'm hyped up for the new season of the office. i was pretty collected until i saw the title of the 'fun run' where michael puts together: Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race For The Cure.
houston.
i got to take a week off and head to houston and stay at my grandparents house which was much needed. what did i do on my time off? i slept a bunch, hung out with mi familia (much love to mi madre and hermana for hanging out for the weekend), watched every episode of the office over the course of a week and went to astros games every night. oh yeah, and i played scrabble. just what i needed.
clean out.
so i've lost enough weight now that a pretty good portion of my clothes don't really fit anymore. i had a bunch of shirts that were drowning me and pants that were starting to fall off, so i decided to go get a bunch of new clothes. but first i started with going through all of my old stuff and getting rid of the stuff that didn't fit. by the time i was done i had chopped my closet in half. i really liked looking at that half empty closet so i decided to forget the new wardrobe, and just stick with the old stuff that fits. i know this may not seem like a big deal, but anything i can do to avoid trying on clothes is a good thing. i realized that i really had all that i needed (which meant i had twice as much as i needed to before) and all i really had to do was go pick up some new jeans so i had something nice for church, dates, etc... anyways, it was a good feeling getting rid of all that stuff that had accrued in my closet. now my biggest issue is whether or not i spend the money to tailor a target dress shirt, or i go and get a couple of new tailored dress shirts. maybe i should just skip that all together too.
running with it.
taking a cue on how good it felt to get rid of a bunch of old clothes, i went ahead and got rid of a bunch of old electronics, sports equipment, hats and cd cases too. i actually have too much storage in my room now. it's a good feeling.
back on the plan.
so ever since i've been back i've been trying to get back into the gym routine again. lame. that, and the cuz has me on a new workout plan that is kicking my butt. although, i went longboarding the other night and i was pretty stoked to see how much more balance i have now as opposed to last year.
the spiritual.
i've been back on a personal reading kick again, and i'm going back and re-reading some of the books i know i need to draw from more. the first up is 'a new kind of christian' and next is 'velvet elvis'. after that i'm not really sure. if anybody has any good suggestions i'm all ears. it's amazing how much reading can impact the rest of your spiritual walk. it's like having a conversation with yourself sometimes, one of those conversations where you know that you've been pushed to think. anyways, it's been a blessing.
the times they are a changing.
i've been talking to a lot of the socal youth ministry mafia, and it's interesting to see how much things are changing around here. without getting into specifics, (i hope you understand why) the shape of southern california youth ministry is in for a major adventure of the course of the next few years. people and programs come and go, but i've really been drawn to 1 Corinthians lately, where it basically says that we are not called to follow one man or another, but we are all called to follow Christ. This is one of those verses that i should have written right over my desk.
slump.
i've been in artistic slump lately. one of these days i'm just going to sit down and draw. if anyone has any ideas for inspiration feel free to chime in.
bedouin soundclash.
having a cool band name pays off. this is by far my favorite recent music discovery ( followed closely by flatfoot 56, yo-yo ma and culver city dub collective). anyways, i've been listening to nothing but their music for almost 4 days now, which is almost unheard of for me. i rarely if ever can handle listening to an album more than once in a day, much less listening to one over and over for several days. anyways, if you wondering what they sound like, they're a three piece folk/reggae group that probably could be best described as paul simon singing for the clash. check out hush, when the night feels my song, and until we burn in the sun.
all the rest.
i don't feel like going into details on the rest of what's on my mind. so i'm just going to go on the ultimate unrelated ramble. we hired a new preacher. i'm almost finished with the plans to overhaul the youth ministry. it rained for a couple of days here, and i got sit on the porch and jam. i may be helping direct teen camp next summer. i have two potential mission trips on the horizon to africa and honduras. i finally figured out how to use my dad's camera. i'm getting really stoked about heading to nyc again this time for a family christmas in manhattan. the chargers need to beg and plead to get martyball back in san diego. the astros need to unload a bunch of pinch hitters and invest in some pitching. the astros have the best crop of rookies in baseball, hands down. 3:10 to yuma was awesome, especially from a family perspective. i went through my baseball card collection and i think i can possibly retire in about five years. two very close friends of mine are both working on their first girlfriend ever, and i'm pretty stoked for both. the cuz re arranged our apt and i keep running into stuff. when you can't sleep, listen to yo-yo ma. when you need to study, also listen to yo-yo ma. when you are driving in the rain, do not listen to yo-yo ma. i don't like it when people don't return phone calls. i can't stand it even more when i forget to return a phone call. i'm never showering at the gym again, it's just weird, especially since i was the only one under 55 in the locker room.
steven wright.
one of my new favorite comics. he's the guy on the couch in half baked, and he has a billion one liners. so to leave you today here are:
TOP TEN STEVEN WRIGHT JOKES PICKED AT RANDOM:
10. I intend to live forever. so far, so good.
9. I'd kill for a nobel peace prize.
8. I have a rare picture of Houdini locking his keys in his car.
7. I know the guy that writes all those bumper stickers. He hates new york.
6. I like to go to art museums and name the untitled paintings... boy with pail...kitten on fire...
5. I plugged my phone in where the blender used to be. I called someone. they went AAAAHHHHHHH.
4. In my house i put fake brick wallpaper over a real brick wall. People come over and i say, touch it... it feels real.
3. I hooked the accelerator pedal in my car up to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and i'm gone.
2. the judge asked, " what do you plead?" i said, "insanity your honor, who in their right mind would park in the passing lane?"
1. they say we're 98% water. we're this close to drowning. every time i take a drink of water i feel like i'm living on the edge.
and a bonus extra edition of quotes of the week:
officemanagerron qotw: "that guy is out there with his dog again. either that or he's training his kid how to fetch."
astros fan qotw: "hey blue, check your cell phone, you missed a call!"
personal qotw: "dude, stop pretending like you don't want a tattoo of hillary duff on your back."
one love, one heart.
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