Light Safety

This sign was outside the mall.  It bothers me for a couple of reasons...

1. Those are NOT the correct lyrics!
2. Halloween is tomorrow... why don't they tell us to be safe when crazy people can disguise themselves and commit crimes more easily!?
3. It's not even Thanksgiving!  Shouldn't someone be warned not to choke on the wishbone of the turkey before light accidents?
4. We're not in kindergarden!
5. Decoration accidents aren't that common. At least I hope so.  If they are, you don't deserve to put them up. 

I feel better. Glad I got that out. 

Playing with Light

This is what we set up for youth group last night.  It was a great night of conversation and wrapping up our series on vision: Rooted, Growing, Serving, Sowing.  The environment was warm and inviting.  More and more I am finding that the tone we set before youth group, whether with music, candles, prayer, smiles, and encouragements sets the tone for how the night runs.  I don't attribute it all to the "stuff" we do because God can do anything through anything!  However, I still stand by the fact that environment is important.  If anything, we can create space to allow God to move, not our expectations.  

Questions for Action

My old boss and mentor, Katie Powell, is famous for starting sentences with "What does it look like for/to..."  I used to think it was really funny, and it is kind of fun to impersonate her.  However, I find myself asking other people questions with her famous preface.  I have also been thinking of some of these questions for myself.  Here they are...

• What does it look like for me to begin preparing my heart and soul for marriage?
• What does it look like to be productive in all areas of my life (relationships, work, spiritual, school)?
• What does it look like to internalize disability in regards to spiritual formation?
• What does it look like to finish strong this last semester?
• What does it look like to be others focused?

Yeah... I need to ask myself these questions.  They are very abstract, but they force me to think practically.  I love seeing what things can become.  I think that's why my advisor, Lance, calls me a dynamic learner.  I just pray that I can start to use these questions as a springboard to action.  

Thank God, God Suffers!

"Without Christ, suffering is utterly pointless...it is pure evil." (Doug Mazza)

I am glad to serve a God who is well acquainted with suffering and pain and death.  It gives me hope for all the crap in the world and in my life.  He knows the pain we feel.  I think we all forget that we serve a God who suffers. 

Tabernacle

I went to a tabernacle simulation yesterday.

It was really cool.

I want to be Jewish.

Check it out here.

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Saturday, So Fast!

Today I ...

1. Woke up late and still felt like I woke up early
2. Made a pot of coffee and only had 1/2 cup (sin!!!)
3. Lunch at home with the fam
4. Sermon prep touch up for Sunday
5. Bathed
6. South Coast Plaza with Kaitlin (color scheme decisions for furniture... still no decision)
7. Dinner at Wahoo's
8. Updated wedding registry
9. Watched "The Notebook"

It's starting to sound like a chick-day...

simple.

simplicity.  

it really is a lost art.  

i wish i was better at it.  

PCI Youth Podcast #4

LISTEN HERE!!!

Josh, Kaitlin, and Mark are back for round number four!  Joining them on their discussion on COMMUNITY are their friends Yazz and Paul.  This group tackles the truth about being yourself in community and growing together in fellowship.  Don’t worry, it’s not all serious.  Somehow the following topics are brought up: flying monkeys, eye patches, seal laughs, foot talent, and LOL cats!

"Happiness is Having a Cat"

FALSE!  Happiness is NOT having a cat. Unfortunately, the woman driving in front of me this morning thought otherwise.  In fact, she believed that this was true so much that she got a license plate frame that announced it to the world!  What the heck!?  Why would you advertise that you are the Crazy Cat Lady?!  Some people...

My Prayer for Us All

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you man know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may come to know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  

Ephesians 1:17-19

Work Anywhere (and other things on my mind)!

It's so incredible that I can just bring my laptop and work anywhere!  Technology is so rad.  I very rarely stop to think about how much our lives have drastically changed because of it.  So anyway, I'm doing sermon prep for tomorrow night and getting some things together for guy's discipleship group tonight at a local cafe (it's actually a part of a local Orange County church... it's pretty funny, but that's a whole other blog post!).  

I have been mixing around some thoughts on the theology of suffering and what that means for my ministry.  Like usual, Kaitlin has some awesome insight.  I swear, I learn things from her daily.  Please read her blog post on the topic.

Our all-nighter is coming up soon! We call it an "all-nighter" rather than a "lock-in" because we actually leave the church and do things like In-n-Out and broomball!  I can't wait!  The theme is "GLOW" and it will be off the charts!

What else?  Oh, ya... I have amazing friends!  Kaitlin, Mark, Yazz, Rich, Steve... you are all such a blessing.  I have loved hearing about people's lives recently.  God is good and is doing amazing things in everyone's life.  To Him be ALL the glory! 

 

So Much and So Little

Recently, I have had SO MUCH to blog about, but SO LITTLE time to do so.  Life is crazy--full of wedding plans, school, work, relationships, being sick, and very little down time.  However, the Lord has blessed me with strength to get up in the morning and do it all over again.  Here and there I see God in the ordinary and am recharged!  Isn't it amazing that our awesome God is real and involved in the daily?!  It's so rad.  

So anyway, these could all be blog posts by themselves, but I the time is short.  I will do my best to recap the highlights of all things.  Here we go:

• Biola Youth Conference -  This was way fun. We talked about how " The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).  Not only that, there were some sweet pics with the Jesus mural!!!

• Hindu Temple-  Kaitlin and I went to a Hindu temple with our World Religions class.  It was an interesting experience, full of dancing, crazy artwork, loud bells, and chanting.  There was a lot of beauty in the worship, but I sensed a lot of spiritual strongholds.  I spent most of the time we were there praying.  
  

• Hanging out with students- This has been a blast.  A lot of my relationships are starting to grow with students in the group.  Each day looks different and there are always surprises.  This is what ministry is all about, though.  
• Wedding plans- Coming along well.  Kaitlin is making our wedding awesome!  She is working so stinking hard, and I feel like all I do is say "Yeah I really like it!"  I'm so excited... Less than 3 months away!!! CRAZY!!!

• When God Weeps- This book is really interesting.  It was written by Joni Erickson Tada (a quadriplegic) and she is speaking in my Theology of Suffering and Disability class next week.  I really am enjoying exploring suffering on a deeper level.  God is using this book in little ways in my life right now.
• Little encouragements- I have been blessed by so many things and so many people.  It is incredible to me!  I love random things like this!

Well, that's a little recap.  Hopefully I will be on top of blogging.  If not, just check my Twitter.

Prodigal Blogger

I left my blog

Sought a new, cool blog

One that had a cool look

And savvy widgets 

But I wasn't happy

I was out of place

I missed blogspot

I wasn't quite sure 

If it missed me

I came back to check

And was welcomed

With open arms

And I'm home.