David

Need help remembering the Levitical Laws?

2011-04-21T13:33:00.001-07:00

http://vimeo.com/4406566

Scorpions & Spiritual Lessons

2011-04-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

I lost a competition during spring break. It took approximately 32 minutes to drive from Carl's Jr. in Maricopa to the Williams house in Phoenix. I guessed 37, Jessica guessed 35 (I think), and Lindsay guessed 33. According to one source, the odds of a woman having sextuplets without the use of fertility drugs is 1 in 4.7 billion. The odds are similar for Lindsay beating me in a competition, and yet, it happened. The wager: a ticket to a spring training game the next day.

The next day, after 4 tries, we found no success in watching a spring training game; they were all sold out. So...I am off the hook. While Lindsay tried to finagle some money from me, no money was exchanged and no tickets either. Shortly after, while grabbing milkshakes at QT, I did make her a bet: She couldn't go 2 hours without talking about me, or to me. Megan witnessed our binding agreement and we shook on it. About 2.7 seconds later, Lindsay began talking to me, and I was $5 richer - or I should have been, but she never paid.

However, 2 weeks later I received a medium sized package in the mail, filled with packing paper. Taped to the bottom - a $5 monopoly bill. Touche Lindsay, touche.

Phew...Now that you know the background, let me tell you about one of the best spiritual lessons ever. I'm not sure where it came from, but one day, it just popped into my head. How could I send a unique part of Arizona to Texas AND simultaneously do as Colossians 3:16 says, and "teach and admonish one another with all wisdom..."? Here's how. Enjoy the pictures, look up the reference and remember how much your Heavenly Father loves you!

Step 1: Capture a gift from Arizona.

Step 2: Prepare spiritual lesson.


Step 3: Mail package to Lubbock.

Can't Find a Date - Have You Looked Here?

2011-04-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Consider a new local hang out open in every major city - the Christian Inspiration section at Barnes & Noble.

Have you kissed dating goodbye? You may want to reconsider now that virtually every book in those two rows can be used as a conversation starter.

Want to meet a girl's who is not afraid to reconsider long held orthodox beliefs and do something unpopular with the Evangelical world? Pick "Love Wins" by Rob Bell and see who walks over. The conversation may go something like this:
HER: Oh is that the new book about heaven, hell, universalism, and God's victorious love? Doesn't it seem like he's gone too far and alienated many evangelicals?
YOU: Why yes it is, and yes it seems he has. Would you like to make an unexpected and well, unorthodox decision and join me for dinner tonight? I have a 15% off coupon for Boston Market that expires in a week and was hoping to use it.

Or perhaps you just want to cut to the chase and make a clear statement to a guy. Give "Lady in Waiting - Becoming God's Best While Waiting for Mr. Right" a go.

HIM: Is that book about the long lines in woman's restrooms?
YOU: Oh haha [twirling your hair]. No, actually it's about waiting for Mr. Right and becoming Ms. Right in the meantime. What's your last name by the way?

Okay, let's say none of those work or that's not your cup-of-tea. You'd rather meet someone entirely contradictory and illogical. Grab "100 Ways to Simplify Your Life" off the shelf and see who pops in to your life.
THEM: Hi, I've been watching you from the "Spirituality" section, errr, I mean I just walked up. What book is that?
YOU: Oh it's a book about simplicity. Apparently a simple life is achievable once you do away with everything and practice these 100 principles. Wait, what's that in your hand?
THEM: It's "A Piece of My Mind" by Charlie Sheen.
YOU: Marry Me?

Good luck out there!

Some Old, New Music

2011-02-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

At one time, hymns were the melodies that slowly drifted me into a comatose state for the Sunday sermon, and then revived me when it was over. The repetitive melodies and seemingly endless amount of verses were enough to cause me disdain for hymns, concluding in my childhood and teenage years that they were boring and used grammar I had never heard of (which is not saying much). However, I have now come to find a new love for ancient hymns that have been redone. Below are a few sites and groups whom are devoted to arranging new music to all-but-forgotten hymn texts. I've included a few song examples under the groups.

Red Mountain Music

It is Finished, Pt. 2
O Come All Ye Faithful

Indelible Grace

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Dennis

2010-06-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

On our first night in New Orleans [Monday] we visited the New Orleans Rescue Mission. For $5 a night, a person can get a bed, a meal, and a shower. Part of staying at the Mission is attending evening service. On Monday night we (Living Water) were the evening service. As we do typically when we arrive, we began meeting and talking with some of the residents. I sat down and began a conversation with a man named Dennis. After some small talk about what we should experience in New Orleans, Dennis mentioned that he used to work off-shore on a boat. He then proceeded to tell me how he went from employed and married to unemployed with no family.

He said to me, “I don’t know what it is but I know that God is mad at me.” When I asked why he thought so, he began to tell me his story. On a car ride some months back, Dennis’ wife and parents were killed in a car wreck. In one night he lost all three. After that, he began to drink and that lead to the eventual loss of his job, which led to his homelessness. “So I’ve got anger towards God. When I see Him I’ve got a bone to pick with Him. I told that to one preacher and he said ‘oh man you don’t want to fight with God, He’ll win.’ I said I know but I still need to take some things up with Him.”

Dennis, as many would, was having a hard time understanding why the sudden death of his family occurred, and why to him. At this point, he believed it was because God was mad at him.

Soon our worship program began so we stopped talking, but I scribbled down a the following passages for Dennis to hand to him at the end of the service. I mentioned that he might feel like he has a few things in common with Job. And so we left the Rescue Mission.

• Job 1-3 & 40-42

• Matthew 5:45

This picture was taken Thursday afternoon. We had a cancellation at a detention center so we went to a homeless outreach where the serve lunch. I was one of the last to walk in and I saw Dennis and Greg Dreas (on of our leaders) speaking. Dennis and Greg had prayed at the mission for a job and room to stay in. Turns out that Dennis was offered a position by a man who owned several rental properties, which Dennis was to do handyman work. He also found a affordable room to rent nearby. Next Dennis said that he had read those verses and they really helped. He is already seeing his anger towards God leave and is recognizing that God provides when we ask Him. It was a highlight of our trip, seeing a man who was mad at God on Monday, and now on Thursday, is giving Him thanks for providing for him and realizing that God did not cause his family to die to send him a message.

Sunrise Snowboarding

2010-02-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures and a video from a recent trip some friends and I took up to the mountains. Enjoy!

"Shred the Gnar" video

Anonymous Encourager

2010-02-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Last night after Bible study was over, I went into my office and found the following letter on my desk:

"Dear David,

Thank you for everything you do for the student ministry. I know that being a youth group leader can be difficult and that you didn't come here seeing the happiest faces. I just really appreciate that you have stuck it through and just didn't give up on us. I also apologize for any unkind feelings you have felt from anyone at the church, it's been a rough few years. Thank you again, and I hope you are having a wonderful day.

Keep up the good work!

Sincerely
VERITAS Group Member"

It made my week :-)

White Chocolate's 1st Music Video - One Less Lonely Girl

2010-01-07T23:30:00.001-08:00

http://vimeo.com/8610609

Colons aren't the only organs that stink

2010-01-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

The insides of a human body aren't very pretty (cartoon insides are a little prettier, but not much). My insides are not very pretty either. No, not my intestines, colon, heart, stomach kind of insides, but the other insides. The attitudes, the defenses, the reactions, the stuff that comes out when you least expect it. There are parts of me that I wish didn't exist.

These ugly parts of my inside seem to come to the surface predominantly in my relationships. Perhaps you've had this same thought, "The world would be much better off if everyone saw things the same way - specifically my way" (which would also be your way so you'd be happy as well). Man vs. Woman, Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend, Friend vs. Friend, Relative vs. Relative, Employee vs. Employer. Just some of the relationships where my "insides" don't stay inside.

And as nice as that would be (if everyone saw things my way) I admit (reluctantly) that I'd be a very one-dimensional person and the church would be a very one-dimensional church, in a multi-dimensional world. More and more I am realizing that other people in my life, whether family, friends, or church, can actually help me become a more complete person, more like Christ.

I recently started reading Luke and am paying particular attention to the Pharisees. For some reason I have more in common with them than I wish to admit.

This is Matthews account of Luke 11:39-40:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean."

My insides aren't very pretty - both the seen and unseen. As I was looking back on 2009 I resolved to do a few things differently. The Holy Spirit has helped me see that love is a greater motivator than criticism. I don't respond well to criticism, but show me you love me, and it's taken a bit better. Strikingly it's the same with others. Many people look in the mirror and don't like everything they see - both inside the cup and outside the cup. More criticism doesn't seem to be the answer.

Along with the earlier passage about hypocrisy, I repeat this C.S. Lewis quote to myself:

"This year, or this month, or, more likely, this very day, we have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behavior we expect from other people."

May 2010 (and the rest of my life) be more about cleaning the inside of my cup than pointing out the dirt in others'.

You Say I'm Rich

2009-12-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

I was listening to You say, "I'm rich" by Shane & Shane and began to read Revelation 3:14-22. It's the same passage the includes the "lukewarm" verse and the often mis-applied "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice..."

How often do we find ourselves in a good place and think we're well off. Certainly not during a church fight, turmoil or other serious events, and never when attendance is rising or popularity is gaining. I was reading an article entitled "How a mighty church falls" and in it the author explains 5 stages in the process of organizational slippage. The 3rd stage of decline emerges when leaders and organizations ignore or minimize critical information or refuse to listen to things they do not want to hear. You can call it Denial of Risk and Peril. Like Homer Simpson's brilliant rule about obeying the law - I'm not breaking the law if I don't see it", it is natural and easy to avoid drudging up the unsatisfactory and poor parts of my life and ministry.

Recently Domino's pizza came out with a commercial where they voiced people's dissatisfaction with there pizza. "The crust is like cardboard" or "the sauce is tastes like ketchup." They explained how they weren't afraid to look at reality - even if it was bleak.

In my own life I do not want to be like the people of the Laodicean Church who thought they were rich, well off, and doing okay, but Jesus says they are poor, blind, wretched and naked. Is my evaluation of my life the same as Jesus'? Is the reality of my condition the same reality God sees?

There are a few things I remind myself of often. 1) Money doesn't equal God's blessing. 2) Lack of money doesn't make me more spiritual 3) Jesus never wrote a book, spoke at a conference, traveled far away from home, or was on staff at a large church. Verse 18 reads,

" I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see."

Here's the link for the song w/ a brief intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdfuzg11ar0

Phase 2

2009-08-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

They stuccoed the house this week and put some primer on parts of the walls (I think it was primer). I'll find out in 3-4 weeks what week I'll close on.

Diving

2009-08-14T01:50:00.000-07:00

Faith Comes By Hearing

2009-08-09T00:08:00.000-07:00

Romans 1:18-25 is pretty clear that no one has an excuse when it comes to knowing God, as God has made it "evident among them...From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen."

And Acts 4:12, John 10:9-10, John 14:6, John 3:15-16 and a host of other scripture is clear that Jesus is the door by which man must enter to have eternal life. I'm not confused about either of these truths.

However, this next part is difficult to understand. I am reading a book called "Faith Comes By Hearing" edited by Robert Peterson and Chris Morgan (my theology prof. at CBU). It is an entire book devoted to the question, "What is the fate of those who have never heard about Jesus?" The 3rd chapter begins with this quote:

"What kind of God is he who gives man enough knowledge to damn him but not enough to save him?" - Dale Moody

I haven't read the chapter yet so am interested in the explanation, and ch. 4 discusses if it's just or unjust that the un-evangelized can be condemned to hell without ever hearing the Gospel. What do you think? Is it fair or unfair and why?

Try, Try Again

2009-08-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately the house mentioned on the previous post did not work out. Without saying the price of the house, the highest bid was $10k above mine. There are 3 other houses I am going to check out tomorrow and hopefully put in an offer or two.

Possible House

2009-08-02T22:45:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures of what may be my future home. Nothing can compare to the 550 sq. ft. palace I live in now, but this will have to do. I should find out tomorrow if I had the highest offer. If not, then back to the search.

This is the view from the balcony outside the master bedroom.

Let it snow

2008-12-21T10:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics from our house in Washington as of Sunday, Dec. 21st. Hopefully the rain will stay through Christmas and it won't rain.

What a difference 12 years makes...

2008-09-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

...12 years go by...

We're almost all in the same spots too (minus our dead dog).

Building Makeover

2008-09-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

This has been up since August. It's the main wall in our student building. On the left - VERITAS - that is our high school group. I'll let you look up what it means. On the right - ROOTS - that's our middle school group.

2 Degrees of Separation

2008-07-20T00:51:00.000-07:00

I have never felt closer to the leader of our country than I do now.
That is my uncle with the beard.
My uncle Terry, Aunt Lu, and my cousin Rodney's kids.

Tiger Stripes

2008-04-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

Sunburns are not uncommon in my world. In fact, they are helpful to me. Once a year I think I'm invincible. This is usually about 6 months after the last time I was out in the sun. I think to myself, "I haven't been sunburned for half a year, certainly I won't get sunburned today."
Notice the hands on the lower back. These are my own. I had some access sunscreen from my face and wiped it on my lower back. The good news is I'm all peeled and have a fresh layer of new skin.

Lawn Art

2008-04-15T23:20:00.000-07:00

Let's clear the air

2008-04-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

So I've been getting phone calls and text messages from friends who, although haven't said it, think I'm unhappy/slightly depressed/having a hard time transitioning. I understand why, and moving states, starting over and building a new community isn't all that easy and definitely takes time. But have no fear, I'm doing great. After all, I just turned 23.

Plus, when you've got a body like this, how can you been sad?

Collage of sorts

2008-03-17T15:52:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time there was a three-way prank tug-of-war. Here is the damage:

1. My room

2. Nikki's room

3. Abby's car

It's here!

2008-03-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I said a mysterious box had arrived from Apple, yet I wasn't positive if it contained my computer. Well...have a look.It's a 15-inch MacBook Pro. What's a boy to do?

Mysterious Cardboard Box

2008-02-07T19:05:00.000-08:00

So today I walked into the front office of the church, went over to check my mailbox, and saw 2 HP computer boxes, and on top of the two boxes was this box.
It wasn't opened and on it said "Apple Refurbished." It had our A/V guys name on it and I'm HOPING it's a new laptop...for me. I was asked several weeks ago if I wanted a laptop or a desktop and I said "laptop. MacBook Pro. If you want more specifications I'll let you know." Well it's been 3-4 weeks since that so I'm hoping it has arrived. I'll keep you posted.

Wanted: Dead or Alive

2008-01-28T19:49:00.000-08:00

If you have seen the perpetrator of the heinous act, please call me immediately. You can also tell them (Michael Cartwright accompanied by Shane Golba) that the ink bled through the paper onto my car and now I have a stained car. They can make a check payable to "David Gantenbein."

Palm Trees: So. California as Cactus': Phoenix

2008-01-16T21:33:00.000-08:00

I've been in Phoenix for two weeks now and it only took me one day to notice that I've traded palm trees for cactus'. Or is it cacti? Life has been good thus far. I'm playing on the church softball team, been offered a head coaching position at a middle school, went to a park in Phoenix and spent time with homeless people, and met many good people.If I had to say the best part so far, I would say all of the new people. The students, parents, and church folk have been awesome. I'm working on getting an apartment or house to rent for 6 months or so, and possible buying after that. We'll see, it kind of drains me figuring all that stuff out. It was easier when my parents did all that stuff.

The Advent Conspiracy

2007-12-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

It's almost Christmas which means if you're like me, you've at least started spending money you don't have to buy your friends and family gifts this year. This might be an idea for next year for your family, church, or group of friends. Check out this movement started by Imago Dei in Portland, OR. Even if you don't "officially" join, its a great idea for Christmas, or maybe next year if you already went into debt this Christmas.

The basic idea is to take the $450 billion we spend at Christmas (or your share of it) and give relational gifts instead. "Because God gave us a relational gift, His Son, we decided to give meaningful and relational gifts too." It would only take 22% of what is spent each year on Christmas to supply the world with clean water ($10 billion). Click here to see the website or here to download the brochure.

Last night was so warm & I didn't even have to wet the bed

2007-12-14T12:43:00.000-08:00

Last night was by far the most comfortable night of sleep I have had in the winter, in a long time. Before I paint the picture, let me paint for you winter nights in Washington:

My dad thought 55˚ was warm for the house, or at least a 40˚ temperature outside didn’t constitute heating the house. A few times I got in trouble for changing the thermometer settings. I guess heat was seen as a privilege, not a right. When my sister or I would complain about the frigid chill, he would reply, “Put on a coat.” I thought coats were for outside? I distinctly remember watching T.V. downstairs and actually seeing my breath. No joke. Once he’d walked into our bedrooms and see us shivering, he’d turn the heater on, so that was nice.

Queue last night. We recently started using the heater and it feels so nice. I added a quilt to my bed a few weeks ago to battle the cold, but the heater has made it a perfect insulator. I only slept for 6.5 hours but it felt like I slept in. I remember waking up a few times at night from dreams (good ones), to think to myself, “It’s so warm!” Not to hot, but perfect. It helps you sleep so much better. The best part is getting out of bed and not having to bolt to a hot shower. Even the bathroom was warm!

In my dad’s defense, he did have to pay the electric bill, and I don’t, Josh does. I had an electric blanket but I think it stopped working when I had to wash it because of an accident. C’mon, I was only in 10th grade! What 16 year old doesn’t wet his bed?

Calvin & Hobbes

2007-12-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

An email from my mom. Enjoy.

From the article...

2007-12-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

What is a negative tendency of this generation as it relates to the faith?

Mark Driscoll: This generation can be a whiny bunch of idealists getting together in small groups to complain about megachurches and the religious right rather than doing something.

Efrem Smith: I’m very concerned about the continual influence of consumerism Christianity and a Christianity that is very self-centered. Even in some of the social justice initiatives that I see, I wonder at times if it’s really about social change and kingdom advancement or if it’s about the sense of accomplishment and adventure one gets from the experience.

What do you see as the greatest challenge for young Christians in the next 10 years?

Mark Driscoll: There is a strong drift toward the hard theological left. Some emergent types [want] to recast Jesus as a limp-wrist hippie in a dress with a lot of product in His hair, who drank decaf and made pithy Zen statements about life while shopping for the perfect pair of shoes. In Revelation, Jesus is a pride fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is a guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper, halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up. I fear some becoming more cultural than Christian, and without a big Jesus who has authority and hates sin as revealed in the Bible, we will have less and less Christians, and more and more confused, spiritually self-righteous blogger critics of Christianity.

View the entire article at: http://relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7418

11 Things They Didn't Teach You in High School

2007-12-04T21:39:00.001-08:00

This is an excerpt from the book, "Dumbing Down our Kids" by Charles Sykes. It's targeted at high school seniors and college grads.

RULE 1
Life is not fair - get used to it.

RULE 2
The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

RULE 3
You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with car phone, until you earn both.

RULE 4
If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.

RULE 5
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping they called it Opportunity.

RULE 6
If you mess up,it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

RULE 7
Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

RULE 8
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

RULE 9
Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

RULE 10
Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

RULE 11
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Anymore "Rules" you can think of? This is a good opportunity for the older...I mean wiser generation to enlighten us).

Self-Admitted Thief

2007-11-30T12:23:00.000-08:00

Today in 4th period science, some of the students were trying to figure out my first and last name. I always write "Mr. G." on the board so I don' have to hear the repeated butchering of my last name - Gantenbein. I told the group I was talking to that if they guess my last name, I'd tell them they got it right. After a bit I walked to another table group to answer a question. 30 seconds passed by when then came back to the teacher's desk and sat down. I was filling out a hall pass for a student when two students, Eric and David, came over saying, "Andrew how do you say your last name?" I didn't initially think they were talking to me but then realized they somehow found out my middle name and were trying to see if I'd respond to it (they thought it was my first name). I wanted to know how they figured out my middle name since I don't have a name tag or anything.

Me: "That's not my name."
David: "Yes it is."
Me: "How do you know?"
David: "I looked in your wallet."
Me: "What! Well go ahead and take a walk to the office. You don't go people's personal stuff like wallets. Seriously go to the office."

He was in shock since his intentions weren't bad, but just thought it would be a good way to find out my name. Then Eric and a few others started laughing at him saying, "you just told on yourself. You deserve to go to the office." He couldn't really look up, he was so embarrassed, having realized he just told a teacher that he had been going through their wallet. Eventually I said, "David, you don't have to go to the office, but don't ever go through my crap." He nodded. The heckling continued. Then I thought what a great story this would make and I definitely needed a picture of him. I took about 90 seconds for him to be able to look at the camera (I told him I'd give him a referral for looking through my wallet if he didn't let me take a picture, but I wasn't serious). So here he is, in all his genius:

Hurley Sale!

2007-11-30T10:23:00.000-08:00

It only happens twice a year, but it's finally here. The Hurley Winter Sale. This will be more 3rd Hurley sale to date and I decided during the first one not to give myself limit. It's quite a site. It's only advertised a few days before the actual sale, at a random warehouse somewhere in Costa Mesa or Irvine. When you walk in you see lots of clothes, boxes, people, and free popcorn. It's a glorious sight. Here's the flyer if you're interested.

I'm a godfather!

2007-11-26T23:10:00.000-08:00

I look forward to the day when I'm an uncle and can tell my niece's and nephew's to do things their parents say not to, but that's going to be a while, a long while. However, some very good news is I'm a godfather (I don't think you capitalize it). Paul & Christy Large (formerly Christy Herron) are pregnant! I'm so excited. Christy and her family were at the hospital when I was born and now she's having a baby! So awesome! It's a girl so my name is out of the question but all it took was asking and she said I get to be the godfather.

I don't know exactly what a godfather actually does, but here's a list I compiled of my soon to be responsibilities:
1. Pray for her regularly.
2. Set an example of Christian living (& how to be awesome).
3. Help her navigate moral issues (& other issues - i.e. Don't eat the yellow snow).
4. Tell stories of how her mom and aunt dressed me up like a girl and put on makeup.
5. Other misc. privileges but NOT including changing diapers. I don't do diapers.

Oh yeah, her name is Kiera Ranea. I know everyone is excited and I can't wait to see Paul & Christy as parents and Danny & Kathy as grandparents!

God Politics

2007-11-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today I have been hard at work doing my best to provide quality (substitute) education to high school students at El Modena. I've been barely surviving the 8:52-1:42 work day (with a 30 minute lunch), which includes 2 hours of Planet Earth and 2 hours of down time. You're probably exhausted just reading about it. Fortunately I have internet and have been checking out anything of interest. Hotmail, espn.com, wellsfargo.com, and cnn.com. I realized that I knew a little about the upcoming presidential election, but not much, mainly who the candidates were. I was curious as to who were the front-runners and what the different candidates thought about different issues. In short, I'm pretty disappointed. It's like going to Hometown Buffet (which isn't A-grade food to begin with) and only finding water-drenched salad, re-microwaved macaroni & cheese, and stale brownies.

I was coming across issues like abortion, social security, same-sex marriage, and Iraq and not finding anyone who stood out, nor any positions that could really fix the problem. So then I asked myself, "how would I fix it?" Iraq for instance. More troops, less troops, help Iraqis protect their own country, continue to kill other humans, stop killing, leave and risk another takeover, stay and continue to see people die? Are any of those a solution.

In the brief collision of thoughts that bombarded my head, I realized there was only one solution to the mess we have made. What if instead of dropping bombs God infiltrated our hearts? What if we stopped viewing the 1% who are fighting us as the 99%? Is their a solution to fighting and hate? I started to imagine (and it has been imagined first by others) that God does not favor Americans over Iraqis, that He isn't looking at us saying, 'nice job on killing your brothers and sisters 6,000 miles away.'

One thing I can't stand is when church's start talking about politics, as if church position or formal policy will influence something. Never has the Christian faith lived and breathed like it should when it was in the White House (or any countries capital). And sorry, you're getting a piece of the "brief collision of thoughts" that filled my head.

The South-Wing Veranda

2007-11-13T10:34:00.000-08:00

Last Friday was the best party of the year, and the best party I have been to in a while. The occasion? Josh Simpson's 28th birthday. Location? Balboa Bay/Newport Harbor. Theme? Preppy. His parents house is actually 3 houses down from one of the girls on MTV's Newport Harbor. I don't remember her name, but she's spoiled. If you want a good idea of what it was like, think of Wedding Crasher's when they are at the vacation house. I decided to go with the golfer/sporty look, and I think it worked well.

The horderves were on the dock and inside the house and sparkling cider in champagne glasses added a touch of class. It was fun enough just handing out, talking about stocks and the our investments, playing croquet, and doing some friendly banter here and there. The real party got started though when the words sounded, "Oh Snap!" I have a video of Josh dancing, it's pretty funny. The 2nd half of the night was mostly dancing, and those who were dancing were mostly girls.

I hope you're still reading, because I'm going to let you in on a secret of mine. I like but don't like dancing. I think its incredibly awkward at times. For instance, at my Homecoming dance my senior year, the urinal overflowed onto my pants and it looked like I wet myself (the urinal was clogged and it was obvious other people had used it before me. Ugh.). Dancing is fun in a small room with a big crowd because you don't really have to be a good dancer, just able to move with the larger crowd. But when people fan out, then you're in trouble.

I've figured out a method that works for me though. Because I'm baptist, I think it's in my genes to not have rhythm. Yet there is part of me that still can move and keep a beat, which is probably the black baptist part. I think its more powerful than the all-white southern baptist. Knowing this, I figured out how to work this to my favor. By combining my accumulated dance moves I've learned over the last 8 years with the large amount of time I spend watching music videos, I have a decent repertoire of dance moves. Unfortunately they last for about 15 seconds per session. So during the party, you could expect to see me like this:

Yes, that's me, totally pop-lock and droppin' it. And at other times, I just take pictures or watch others dance. I've realized the key to my success as a dancer is quality, not quantity (and making sure I have pictures of the 2% I dance).

Leaving on a jet plane

2007-11-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

This Friday I'm leaving for Arizona to visit a church that I've been interviewing with for about a month. It's Foothills Baptist Church in Phoenix. I'm excited for the visit, and am looking forward to meeting the people there. I'm semi-nervous, I feel like there may be a lot of expectations and I'm only there for 2 full days (Fri-Sun). I feel prepared for whatever meetings and questions they have. Its a big difference than from interviewing at my previous church, and I also know what to ask and what are signs of health (and vice versa). Thus far, those who've I've talked to and met seem very trustworthy and reliable. They haven't tried to hide anything and have been very honest.

I'm not sure when I'll know if it's a go, or no-go. I imagine after this weekend their search committee will meet again and possible vote, but I don't really know. I suspect I'll know more after this weekend. You can definitely pray for me and the church that we'll all be of one heart and one mind, no matter what the outcome is.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes (Pt. 1)

2007-10-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple months I have known that God was going to bring some changes in my life, specifically my job, as a youth pastor. For a variety of reasons but mainly a few, my time at my church is coming to an end, in fact, October 15 will be my last day. It’s been weird lately, spending time with our kids and youth. I know, but they don’t (they will on Sunday). Throughout the last year I’ve explored other areas like teaching and non-profit ideas, but God has closed every door. I know ministry is what God has called me to, but my experience in the church has often left me wanting to not earn my living through one. But I’ve learned (and been told) that my future experiences will not be just like this one. To keep it short and to keep the 2 people that read my blog, don’t be surprised to hear in the near future that I’m moving. Near or far? I don’t know. Here’s a list of places that have contacted me:

• Costa Mesa, CA
• Phoenix, AZ
• St. Louis, MO
• Washington DC

It’s kinda fun, two or three days I hear from another church, so even though I don’t picture myself going to certain places, at least I know I have opportunities.

Kid's Say the Darndest Things

2007-09-27T11:46:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was substituting a class called "ICE" which is like in school suspension. Basically it's a small group of kids, almost always guys, who have gotten in trouble at school and so rather than suspend them (since it's wasn't that big of an offense) they keep them together in one class all day. So, for 6 hours, we sat in one classroom and they copied packets of rules for hours on end. One of their assignments was to write a letter to the person they offended. This was the funny part.

You see, out of the six boys who had gotten in trouble, only one was there for missing detention. Two were in there for "pantsing" each other, and the other three were kicking each other in the groin. My parents said I should feel right at home.

The best letters were those from the groin kickers. Some favorite lines were things like; "You shouldn't kick a man there because he is very sensitive there." Then the kid who wrote it asked if he should write the proper term for groin or the slang term. I said the slang term is fine. I talked to them about how it happened and it was pretty much a chain reaction. One boy came up from behind the second boy and kicked him in the groin. Then the third boy saw it and he kicked the first boy in the in the same place. Then the boy who was kicked originally, punched the one who kicked him in the groin, and he "laid down on the ground in the fetal position." So, overall, it was a fun day.

That's How We Roll in Seattle

2007-09-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

As probably none of you knows, I finished seminary last spring. Yes, I am officially a master, or have a Master’s degree, although Master David looks pretty cool. Though, I don’t go by any of these, for of course that would be a bit queer (queer in the Narnian sense, undoubtedly). Anyway, to celebrate, I thought it would be fun to have a celebration to mark this achievement. Thus, I decided a baseball game would be fun, but not just any baseball game, a Seattle Mariner baseball game. So, I bought tickets for an Angel/Mariner game. I had been talking about this since July and it finally happened yesterday.

I’ll cut to the details. The Mariners lost 9-5 but scored first which means they unofficially won. However, none of that matters because there was a fight. Yes, a baseball brawl. Here’s the low-down: Our catcher, Kenji Johjima (he’s Japanese) was hit by a pitch (cause the Angels don’t like Japanese players). So later, we ‘accidentally’ threw inside on Vladimir Guerrero. We didn’t hit him, but he was standing closer to the plate than we, in Seattle, like. The very next pitch he hit a home run. Now it was on like Donkey-Kong. The next time he came to the plate, we threw at him, and it went over his head. Our pitcher was ejected and the benches cleared, as you can see below. Luckily for the Angels, it didn’t break out into a full on fight because, in Seattle, we take off our cleats and stab foo’s. Eventually the game ended though and we went home, I fell asleep in the living room as people were leaving, and now the celebration is officially over.

Oh snaps! Really...his wrist snapped.

2007-09-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a hand in breaking two wrists on a 12 year-old. The following is a recollection of that fateful day.

The day began at Santiago Middle School where I was teaching math for the day. It was a simple day, order of operations worksheets with the occasional reminding to stay on-task. Soon the clock struck 2:50 and the day was over, yet just beginning, for you see I now begun to work for the Lord. After a quick stop at the church, I headed off to see Donny, Johnny, Garrett, and Dillon (the 4 members of “The Man Club” which officially formed the weekend before). I was met outside by Garrett, a faint young man who, at one time, I named Lloyd Christmas, on the account of his new haircut (it was similar to Jim Carey’s in Dumb & Dumber). Nonetheless, I walked inside the house and after a few minutes of air hockey and hearing that the boys tried to skip-school that day and instead watch Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, we played what all Man Club members play: Halo.

Yet Halo soon wore dull, for I conquered all, as expected (and if you’re wondering why my dialect seems queer, it’s due to my current reading of The Chronicles of Narnia – and in Narnia, queer is quite a proper word, meaning something of another sort than it does currently. I also pray thee to read these books, as you will find them a quite noble read).

So we went outside onto the giant trampoline, equipped with a fence around it to ensure safety (yet it is only safe when one jumps into the fence). The boys told me of this new game they had invented called “Leapfrog.” Leapfrog is a game where two people, usually the heaviest, stand on opposite sides, and the “leapfrog” stands in the other corner, as to form a triangle. There is one corner left where the leapfrog will jump. We all jump with the same rhythm and on “3”, jump into the center, all three of us. The purpose is for the two heaviest, in opposite corners to double bounce the third party, so that he flies high into the net. The first attempts with Garrett proved successful, and we jumped him high enough for him to hang on the bars that keep the net up. Mind you, these bars are at least 14 feet off the ground, 10-11 feet above the trampoline. Next Donny and Johnny took there turn and they, for the most part, jumped almost as high, except they kept losing there footing so there feet would come out from underneath them and there backs would hit the fence and they’d land on the springs (Donny and Garrett were competing for the highest jump). They deserve a lot of that though for talking back to the great aunt and uncle.

Ok, here’s where it all happened. Garrett had just jumped once, and was going for his second. I told him he needed to jump a little higher when we double bounce him so he could get underneath our jump. Well…he did. His brother and I said “1,2,3” and bounced. His 80-pound body sailed up to the bars and then cleared them by about 6 inches. Everything seemed in slow motion. I saw him go over the bars as if he was floating. The last thing I saw was him going head first into the ground outside the trampoline. Dillon and I scrambled off the trampoline to get to Garrett. He was on his back making all sorts of agonizing noises. I held his head and neck still and told him not to move, just in case he hurt his spine. Within what seemed like 5 seconds, we told one of the boys to get their aunt and call 911. I had been looking at his face the entire time until he said, “I think that arm is broken.” I looked and saw this . “Goo!” I thought. Yeah it was definitely broken. His left arm seemed it might have been sprained a bit too. He was crying and trying to take the pain. I got him to relax by breathing in and out slowly and thinking about other stuff (other than his jacked-up wrists that was totally snapped). He even cracked a little joke saying, “I broke the record.”

Eventually the fireman got there and splinted both his wrists. I drove his mom and he to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, got him eventually in a bed, and relaxed. He was watching Napoleon Dynamite when the nurse came in to put the I.V. in him. She said, “It’s going to be a quick prick and you can scream and yell and whatever you want.” He seemed to understand. She did it, and he screamed louder than anyone I’ve ever heard. Mind you, he hasn’t hit puberty so his screams are high pitched. They took x-rays and saw that both wrists were broken so he’d be getting casts on both. I then joked with him saying he’d have to have someone feed him. We laughed. I then said he’d also need to find a way to wipe his butt. We laughed, but it was more of a “that’s funny but unfortunately true.” I said I’m not doing it, but that Johnny and Donny could. He also needed to scratch between his legs but I said I’m not doing that either. Today I’m bringing him a back scratcher so he can do it himself.

The Last Days of Summer

2007-09-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

So I have to say that this past Labor Day weekend was by far the greatest I have had to date. We traveled an hour or less to Leucadia, which is sandwiched in-between Carlsbad and Encinitas. This is a view from the patio on the back. Josh’s parents own a beach house and I recommend everyone get one. For 4 days I (along my roommates and other friends) spent the days on the beach skim boarding and not laboring, and the nights and mornings playing cards, watching movies and talking.

The best part about it, besides the company, was the pace. So sllooowww. I got up whenever, went to the beach whenever (which by the way was just outside the front door) and went to bed whenever I want. No work (praise the Lord), no school (two times) and no cell phone reception (three times)! Before this weekend I never thought I could permanently live on the beach, but this weekend may have changed my mind. I definitely could spend May – August on the beach and the other months elsewhere.