I am the current event.

I think it’s time to start working out again.  I saw myself on a security television the other day and saw my stomach.  Bad news bears.  To the right, you will see how my parents used to help me exercise.

If you think this one is funny, check out how to use your baby

I’m working on some homework right now.  I have to write about the rich young ruler.  Be excited because I’m going to post what I wrote.  It will be long, but it will be worth it.  (If any of you said “that’s what she said” you should be ashamed of yourself.)

Hello to you.  If you have been waiting for me to write something (which is highly unlikely) I apologize for keeping you in such suspense.  I’ve been busy planning for Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights over at Lake Chills.  I have experienced a lot in the past week, so let’s get started…

This past week, Debbie was gone in Texas visiting her daughter.  Aaron was out because of elbow surgery.  Tim went back to Fresno.  Needless to say, the week was fairly boring in the office.

Last Tuesday night, I took a trip to L.A. to see a few bands.  Copeland, Lovedrug, Lydia and Lights.  Copeland=awesome.  Lovedrug=unique, but enjoyable.  Lydia=the singer whines to much and the band seemed to care more about their appearance than their music.  All of their sets were the same.  Not my taste I guess.  Lights=there was a reason she was the first to play:)

Wednesday night was a blast.  I’m thinking about setting up a blog just for rooted student ministries for students to check in to see what’s coming up.  Maybe this is a good idea, but only if students check it.

Thursday, I worked on the bulletin.  I put the scream as the bulletin cover.  I thought it was funny.  That night my lovely lady friend, Amanda, and I went out for a date to an Italian place on Balboa Island for our date night.  It could be some of the best Italian food I’ve had in quite some time.  Pas.tu Cafe is the name.  Go check it out.

Listening to a lot of Radiohead and Sufjan Stevens this past week. Delicious.

On Saturday was White Trash Weekend.  I had about 17 people over, all dressed like white trash.  Such a good turnout, I think I’ll have one for our students at lake hills.  Brilliant.

A last bit of info before I get into the heavy stuff.  I turned my parents onto the comedian Jim Gaffigan.  My dad loves his hot pocket bit.

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Youth ministry has been fun recently.  It’s nice to finally have some true support that is more than just encouragement, but a push from behind to tell me to keep going… or else I may be fired.  Just kidding.  Believe me, the pay would not be missed.

Our population in student ministries is not doing so hot, but ministry and relationships are flourishing.  I don’t want to be the one that says it’s alright to have a small group (though there are definitely exceptions).  Population growth insinuates Kingdom growth.  If a church population is dwindling, then the Church (capital C) is not doing it’s job.  I look forward to planning events (bowling, ultimate frisbee, flash-back dances, winter camp, etc.)in the future to encourage our students to bring their friends.  I look forward to seeing how God moves more in Rooted Student Ministries in a mighty way.

I read something by Henri Nouwen today.  If you have never read anything by him, I suggest you do so immediately.  I have two of his books, one of which is just a reading for every morning and his book, “Return of the Prodigal.”  I gave the latter to a window cleaner who is obsessed with Bible codes (DaVinci Code and the likes).  Today, it was about loving our enemies.  The socio/economy of Jesus Christ is totally upside-down.  (Perhaps that’s why he was crucified.  That, and the healing of all man’s sins.)  Who in their right mind would pray for the one that hates them.  I have found myself dealing with the difficulty of loving a certain individual recently.  Because of a few unfortunate circumstances in the past, I have looked down on this person and made them feel unwanted and unloved.  As I was reading over the idea of praying for one’s enemies, it occurred to me that I need not pray for this enemy and their downfalls, but acknowledging that I am no more or less worthy than they to be loved by Christ.  I am the enemy, and yet this individual prays for me.  It’s a frightening thing, this love that Jesus desires for us.

Lord, help me understand better the love you have for me so I can better understand how to love.  Remove my arrogance and replace it with humility.  Obliterate my sense of neediness and desire to be wanted by others, and fill it with the secure sense of being that I need you alone and am desired by you alone.  Help me to not just pray for my enemies, but be aware that I may be the enemy who is being prayed for.  Amen, and come Lord Jesus.

I hope to post again soon, maybe even today.  Look forward to that.

my beard is back.  I think I fully became aware of it when I was in Mexico on Saturday.  I’ll get back to this as soon as I finish telling you what happened on Saturday.

I believe I left off at the Costco in Mexico.  I guess it makes sense.  People need four gallons of mayonnaise in any country, Mexico is no different.

Overall, it was a wonderful day.  We spent the entire day building a very small house.  There were about 10 of us, maybe 11 or 12.  For the first half of the day, we nailed ply-wood onto 2×4’s, pausing for water every so often.  It was suprisingly cool throughout the day.  Never once did someone complain about the heat.  We had a cool breeze coming through the valley we were working in.  God is good.

Ernesto, Chewy and Armando were the three gentlemen we worked with.  Super guys.  Work ethic like I have never seen.  Chewy was 38 years old with 7 kids… I have friend with 4 kids and have had enough, this guy had 7.  Super sperm.  Ernesto works for Spectrum Ministries (a ministry that builds houses and baths and feeds families throughout the Tijuana area) and the other two just help out.

That got me thinking.  I have a feeling that, in the future, more and more ministerial positions are going to be part time rather than full time.  In Acts, we see the word ‘martyia’ meaning literally, “to bear witness.”  Though the apostles were ministers, they worked in regular jobs, letting their actions speak louder than words.  In no way am I saying that full time, paid ministerial positions are bad.  I just have a feeling that sooner or later, those positions will no longer be around.  I consider this a good thing.

Long story short, we met the woman whose house we were building.  She had one child already born, and another one on the way.  I did not see a husband, so this means that either a) he is dead or b) he just isn’t around or c) he just wasn’t around at that time.  She seemed nice enough, so I guess she deserves the house:)

———————-beard————————

I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have facial hair.  I was talking with a new found friend of mine, Tim, about growing facial hair.  Don’t tell him, but I’m envious of his dark, Russian facial hair.  A little while ago, I made the mistake of shaving everything off but some giant chops and a disgusting mustache.  As you can see from the picture above, my upper lip hair is not exactly exciting or appealing.

I found a great website for beards at www.beards.org and I suggest you check it out.  Maybe you’ll see me on there someday.

For a while there, I felt like Sampson without his long, delicious locks of hair.  I based my persona around my luscious beard.  But no need to fret.  It’s back, and is coming back with a frenzy.  Beard Frenzy.  I don’t plan on cutting or trimming it for quite some time.

Be prepared.

I encourage all of you who can grow a beard to do so as soon as you can.  Quit your job if they won’t allow it.  Leave your families if they hate it.  Get a divorce if your spouse can’t stand it.   It’s the new way of life.

Hello to all of you who don’t read this.

Technically, this isn’t my first blog.  I started a blogspot forever ago, and never did anything with it.  I wrote four or five things, and only two of them were really read-worthy.  I think wordpress is much better than blogspot.  Maybe I should just take the two that are read-worthy, copy and paste them and throw them onto this new wordpress.  Or maybe I should just eat some humble pie and forget about it.

The weekend was nice.  I went to Mexico on Saturday and built a house with a group of individuals… and mighty fine individuals, at that.  We crossed the border without trouble and met our friends from Spectrum ministries at the Costco.  I wonder what Costco in Spanish.

I am going to go eat lunch, but I’ll be back to finish this incredibly interesting and adventurous blog.