The Standard Blog

Thrift Boys

2009-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Getting Old?

2009-04-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

Its official, Kimberly and myself are now homeowners. We purchased 1445 E Englewood, Fresno CA 93728.

We have gone to Lowes/Home Depot a few times and end up looking at things like: trees, ceiling fans, lights, paint, door locks, flowers, air conditioners, wood floors etc. I have mentioned to her several times; Dang we are getting old, these are the kind of things we are looking at buying. We even watched a home tv show on landscaping tonight. Lord please help me to enjoy being 23 and not 50. Different seasons of life. I will update some pictures on here of the house b/c we are going to be doing some fun and new things to the house and want to document the before/after of it all. Thanks for your prayers and love.

Lack of Patience

2009-03-29T23:34:00.000-07:00

I have never been a man of much patience and that definetly shows itself to me now. Kim and I were suppose to close on our House (the one pictured below) last thursday but currently do not hold any keys to it. Friends from the neighborhood have told me that this was the most stressful thing that they have ever done in their lives and i am beginning to see just a piece of that. I think that is way to big of an overstatement but i see this is a big stress hurdle that needs to be overcomed soon. I don't want to bore you w/ all of the details of everything (whoever it is that may be reading this) but we are experiencing a few set backs that need to be overthrown. Kim and I are seeking God in this and as of recently i have been reminded that since i believe that Kim and i are following God on this adventure of house purchasing and relocating into the neighborhood we serve that we need not take ownership and control over everything where we are not letting God be who he is. Brad's sermon was another reminder to me that the best thing that we can do is let God be God. All else is secondary and how love for him should be ever increasing.

Who am I to try to take things into my hands and be frustrated over anything?

Engagement Photos

2009-03-15T23:13:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures that my brother Andrew Q and his wife Denise Q took for Kim and me. We are so excited about how they came out and my new wedding job is to put together a guest book photo book for the wedding. I am pretty excited about it and know that it will be hard to mess up because we will at least have some sweet pictures that will be in it.

The Moment

2009-02-26T16:26:00.001-08:00

I often feel very safe and secure in where I live. Although it is not the most up and coming areas of town, I love all that it is. My end of the street can be very quiet at times when the northern section tends to be more rowdy. However, after a day like today, I notice different events or pains that exist around. Today at Neighborhood Thrift, it came to my attention that drugs are definitely around this area and can affect lives to those we care about. A very crucial conversation took place as I learned how drugs were affecting this guy and that it tends to take control w/ very little intention being needed. After leaving the store with that heavy on my heart I rode my bike down my street heading to City Hall for a meeting, right across the street I saw a volunteer hanging out outside of a neighbor’s house. Although I can be wrong, I got the sense that something shady had just happened and I may have appeared at a wrong time. I had a conversation with this guy who was an all-star volunteer and he informed that he got the job he was going for at Chuckchansi park being an extra hand around there when events/games were going on. This was a big accomplishment for him and I was super stoked to see him get some much-needed work. I pray that I am still able to enter into relationship with him later down the road but who knows.
Even tonight I am reminded that pain exists in this community as I observe really high dollar cars drive up and down the street. Ivan my roommate says that these could be cars from outside the neighborhood bringing drugs down or perhaps picking them up. I have seen cars drop prostitutes off down the street as to avoid them being put on the main drag. Although this is a very safe neighborhood for the most part, I should remember that good things aren’t always happening and God is calling for me to be a part of a small story of Fresno. He wants all of these people to be cared for and valued just as much as those on the north side of town but roadblocks tend to be set up in unfortunate times. As he uses my neighbors to be a part of his redeeming process, his ultimate goal is for them to see the hope of God and his Kingdom.

Prayer Time

2009-02-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

I really wish i had more time to post on this but i don't have the internet at my house and am prohibited in doing so. I have had a lot of thoughts that i felt that i would like to post on here but never the time to log in and get it done. This season is one of prayer i feel. Prayer for my job and its future of waiting on a building and prayer for a marriage commitment that i am going to be making very soon as well as prayer for growing up and putting an offer on a house.

This is the one that we are in the waiting process for. A bid has been put on it from us and we just wait it out to see if God wills this to go through or whether we move into an apt or find something else. We know that it will only be because God destined this for us and its hard to not think/worry/be anxious about hearing back. It would be a great situation because it is really close to the Susan B school as well as the thrift store. Andrew/Denise/Kim and I went by there yesterday to show denise and i met the neighborhood who happens to be a shopper at Neighborhood Thrift. This is all that i will say and leave it in the hands of the Lord. He is good.

So as i was saying this is a real season to just keep prayer ahead of me although it doesn't happen half as much as i would like. Love and Peace

Life Update

2009-01-24T16:12:00.000-08:00

Update on Life 1/09

Hallelujah. Who am I? I am constantly brought to this question in wondering why it is that God has given me all that he has.

1) A wonderful lady that is by my side to be married to me in May
2) Two great friends to run a thrift store with.
3) A brother and sister who live within a mile of me who I get to work with and be blessed with.
4) A terrific roommate to live with in a neighborhood in which we love.
5) A God who lets me be a part of what he is doing in Fresno.

I feel lately that I want to be much more introspective in this season of life. What does God want of me and how have my previous experiences formed who I am now. I am much more of a verbal processor and have learned this in living with Ivan. Challenging questions don’t seem to let up from me when someone asks me something I feel like I know but don’t really. Being challenged in different situations and staying away from the routine is what helps me thrive on a weekly/daily basis. Staying challenged helps me to think about how much actions and my heart are entwined and support each other (because they don’t always seem to do that).

Life is moving right along with the store doing great and expansion hopefully on the near future. Every week we are constantly learning more and growing as a team, that seems to manifest itself in many different ways (relationally with customers and volunteers, and financially). Marriage is coming soon and it can not come quicker, although I know we have a short engagement Kim has gotten most of it figured out w/ a bit of my assistance in that area. The date is May 2nd and if you think that you are invited you should plan on being there! Kim continues to blow my mind and reminds me that I am a very lucky man to belong to such a great girl. Hope that this post finds you well.

B

Guatemala

2009-01-18T09:24:00.001-08:00

The trip to Guatemala was one that gave all of those involved a smile on their face (at least I think). The team of 14 of us left on the 1st of January and returned on the 10th. It would be a long post if I were to write it all out but some of the highlights can be seen by looking at the pictures. We were able to experience Guatemalan culture in many different ways, by attending 8 different villages in 5 days we saw some of the most beautiful people in the world. Kids as young as 1 years old dressed in their traditional native Indian dress and mom’s who seemed as if they were 60 still breast-feeding. The people there were very hospitable and gave us their best which was sometimes displayed in a nice cold Coca-Cola or lovely pine needles spread out on the ground in order to provide a lovely aroma and keep the dust down. To see young and old celebrate in praise to God through kids worship and dancing put smiles on everyone’s faces.

Off to Guatemala

2008-12-31T08:51:00.000-08:00

On New Years Day a team of 14 or so of us from the Well Community Church are headed down to Guatemala to spend some time serving w/ an organization call Christians in Action. This trip is an interesting one for me, as i feel like i haven't prepared too much for it by myself but have been doing plenty of group activities w/ those who are going. We have a spectacular team going and are looking forward to what lies ahead on this journey. You can check out what we are doing by looking at our blog as we will be updating it frequently. I will miss my lady but the trip will only be for 10 days, God always shows his love and grace in distance such as this. Please pray for us, PEACE

I got myself a future wife!

2008-12-25T22:59:00.001-08:00

On December 21st I proposed to Kimberly Urquhart. She said YES and now we are moving towards getting married to each other on May 2nd 2009. Plans are coming together and we are trying to enjoy this even though hiccups come along. She is a very special gal that loves God very much and wants to follow Him all of her days. Because of this i know that God has prepared an amazing future of unknown events in our lives.

Redistribution

2008-12-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

I am glad i get to blog again (i originally started this b/c i was subbing a lot and had tons of time on a computer so once again, i am back subbing, thus i am blogging)

Throughout the last few years of my life, I have been very attracted to the idea of Redistribution. There are 3 R's which are used frequently w/ the CCDA they are Relocation (moving into the neighborhood) Reconciliation (between God and each other w/ your neighbors) and Redistribution (of oneself and materials).

Of these three redistribution has caught my attention, partly due to slowing becoming a man of business and of economics. The thrift store that i am a part of is also looked at as a redistrbution of goods to those who our local community. Some middle class some lower class some even upper class. I am reading a book by Robert D. Lupton called "Compassion, Jusice, and the Christian Life - rethinking ministry to the poor." He is one of my favorite urban ministers that really focuses on the thoughts and actions that "relocators" (those moving into the urban neighborhoods w/ an intention to be a part of change) make towards there neighbors. He believes (as many do) that we need to restore human dignity to people and stop w/ the welfare concept. There is much to learn from this book but here are a few things i am taking from it thus far.

1) "Doing for others what they can do for themselves is charity at its worst"

2) "Perhaps the deepest poverty of all is to have nothing of value to offer in exchange. Charity that fosters such poverty much be challenged. We know from 40 years of failed social policy that welfare depletes self-esteem while honorable work produces dignity. We know that reciprocity builds mutual respect while one-way giving brews contempt"

3) "We must come to deeply believe that every person, no matter how destitute or broken, has something of worth to bring to the table"

These are just a few thoughts that are powerful to me that i should be keeping in mind when working w/ those that come into our store on a daily basis. There are a few people that i can think of that seem to be able to offer little to nothing to us but how can i think differently about that? usually it seems impossible especially when someone seems off their rocker for sure. Do we need to start w/ medication for some or forget that and just try to work w/ them for who they are now? Where is the line?

I read a fresh view of the story of John 9 where the disciples ask jesus "who sinned here?" and he answers there question in a way that only Jesus can. By healing this man and responding that it was "for God's power to be displayed"

"Through eyes of faith we recognize that this could be an opportunity for tragedy to be transformed into celebrations so that the power of God may be seen at work in him and in her."

"When Clarity of compassion illuminates our vision we can visualize healin that goes far deeper than physical cure"

AMEN

Ode to Dave

2008-11-02T23:02:00.000-08:00

I recently had an unblievable chat w/ my boy davey franz who is currently is Bangladesh. I got to hear his voice for a solid 30 mintues. It was fantastic. As i was looking through some pics on my computer, i couldn't help but really miss him. I hope that you enjoy all of these, b/c this is something that i couldn't resist posting. Some things don't always work out as you have planned but they are always a blast. enjoy the hitch hiking to san fran pics. so full of HOPE.

These pictures were taking at all different times during our trip and all of the them were enjoyable. God Bless Friendships!

Simply

2008-10-29T23:18:00.001-07:00

It has been far too long on this deal. i am going to try to make it more frequent from now on. i guess being on the computer just makes me feel like i am working still or something. I just wanted to share w/ you something that makes me feel like i am living the LIFE. here it is

It is just a great juice. My ol' roommate nate turned me on to this stuff but it is usually too dang expensive to buy, however, at Target i found it at an affordable price. I would suggest you go out and give it a shot. i wasn't feeling to good, just having a little sickness, and just wanted to chug some OJ, so this is what i went w/. i drank a large bottle in a day and never looked back. Love

Change and Chocolate

2008-09-30T22:50:00.000-07:00

Today i was thinking about how funny/crazy change has been in our lives. We are one person in one season of life and then someone who has changed a bit (maybe for the good maybe not so good). An example of this is when i was in junior college and looking forward to a life of comfort and "success." I think that a lot of factors had played into this season of my life, relationships that i had around me, some male some female. Through changes in my life i realized that God had much more designed for me than that vision that was planted into my heart and mind. As i said, many influences were around mainly being one of the culture that i was plugged into and the lifestyle that i was grown up around. A lifestyle of passion and following God began to stir about in my heart and a search for what i would enjoy spending a majority of my "work" life doing became a desire of mine.
God ultimately brought me down the path of using a bachelor's degree that had been so fortunately bestowed upon me. Through choices that i had made which i knew would ultimately be good (ie the Pink House) he directed my path. All of this to really say and comment on my opening sentence, what i had ultimately wanted to become now becomes hard to not judge against those exact things. What i wanted originally is no what i don't want for anyone yet what happens and belongs to many that i know. Its just a crazy thing that i have recently noticed and am choosing to think about in a more positive way. I hope that this doesn't come of boastful in any way b/c i am not intending it to be, just that i feel that i am content in what i have found to be comfortable for me. God has a way of changin us through seasons of our lives to i think ultimately please him and for him to use us in the most glorifying way for him. Life gets a heck of a lot more exciting when we think about the future in this lense and one that realizes that He is never done w/ our character and w/ our goals/dreams/expectations that are within us. I hope that this is making some sort of sense. What i am doing and living right now may not be where i ultimately land in 15 years but if i have realized a few things in my immature life it is that it will be one great ride.

On a side note b/c i know that everyone likes a great picture, here is one of Kimberly and me at a recent wedding we attended in bakersfield. They had a few chocolate fountains and some fine treats to put them in and she did something very unexpected (at least that is what i thought) with a table of our friends around. Man she is
lovely. This is one of the last days that the stache was at its full length, i recently shaved it down to absolutely nothing, with a razor and everything. i havent felt that in over a year and a half...

life is toooo good

2008-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

Things are a cooking here in Fresno. I want to just post a little bit about my life currently. This week is exciting for the Thrift Store b/c i recently got the store on Fresno City College's Work Study Program, which means that kids at the college who have financial aid to work can come to the store and work 15 hrs a week and the state will pay them. I posted the job and within 2 days i got a total of 18 applications! God is good, free labor and a chance to free Garth and myself up to get things rolling w/ the community! I am a little anxious about it all b/c now we have to interview people and find jobs for them to do. It is a great step and i am excited to see the new life that we can bring into the store. We have a lot of great community outreach ideas, such as creating our own currency for the local kids programs to promote good behavior/good academics and in the process get our name out there a bit more. Trying to serve the community in new ways is our mindset and i think this is a great step for us.

I also had a spontaneous opportunity to go to Shaver Lake w/ Andrew and Denise for Saturday night. He invited Kim and i up to hang out and enjoy Denises grandmas house that is unbelievable. we played an intense game of monopoly (i missed you dave) and watched too many seinfelds. Life is good. hope that you are all well. love bryan

Well...

2008-08-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

So, today is my first day subbing again. it has been quite awhile but it seems like i never really stopped. this is such a great job, i am at hoover high today and the kids have been great. although the most chatty class is coming up next. Life seems really busy lately, after my girl moved up here it seems like i have things going on every single night. although they are not all long things and they are fun things they are still things that i have to be a part of. I enjoy being busy and having things going on that i want to be a part of, but sometimes it is also nice to not have any plans and just come home and see what happens. I am super blessed to be a part of all that i am be it the Thrift Store, dodgeball, Guatemala, The Well Southeast or other various events. I am still learning to balance different things in life and learning how to say no to some. (although thats the tougher lesson) because i want to be a part of those things but need some time to just sit down and read books that i want and watch films every so often. i think its a responsiblity thing but also that life is just a bit busier right now. It is absolutely terrific to have Kim live 4 streets away from me and makes for less long phone calls and a chance to get to have more one on one time w/ her. Thanks for all of your love.

Truth

2008-08-10T23:51:00.000-07:00

How can we seek truth in the simple and compilcated? (if you read this leave me your thoughts)

Bryan

Portland...mmmmmm

2008-07-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Well we are a few days down in our portland adventure, seeing and being w/ my friend Chad as he gets married in a few days. We got in to town on saturday evening at about 11:00 pm and went camping sunday afternoon. We went to a place called Canon Beach (where come of the goonies was filmed) and stayed two nights there. To fill you in on a bit of what happened, we made torches out of my jeans shorts and ran around the coast, found an illegal spot to camp on the coast, made a shelter out of ginormous drift wood pieces, ate ravioli and mac and cheese boiled by laying it next to the camp fire, and many many more things. i will upload photos soon of the adventure. the wedding is thursday and there will be a lot of hangin out until then, i hope to hit some sweet thrift stores and discover some pants that are in need of some loving. this city is incredible. the end.

ENJOY THE PICS

just some things in my brain...

2008-07-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

well all my friends, i sit on my lawn at 9:43 typing this message under a sweet moon w/ a cool breeze. I got back from a killer weekend at Morro Bay where we had a weekend get away for my Boy Davey, we played a ton of monopoly (which is one of my favorite games to play) and had a few beers while we walked down to the water many a time and watched entirely way toooo much T.V. My girlfriend just left fresno and is headed back to bakersfield. it was fantastic to see her for the afternoon/evening b/c it will be a bit until we get to hang out again. i leave for Portland on saturday as i will be particpating in and enjoying my best friend Chad's wedding. we (friends and family) have been looking forward to this for about eight or so months and it will be the gathering of the year. It is sad when we can only count on getting friends together for weddings even though we are all super close w/ each other. life has a way of taking people to different locations and different time periods. We are going camping on the west coast of Oregon for his bachelor party and will have the time of our lives there i am sure. friends from different walks of his life coming together to form one heck of a week.
Life is great in all aspects of the word. Things with the job are going very swell as the Well Community church keeps expanding and job descriptions keep shifting. The apt is great but i feel the lack of involvement that i have gotten to have yet. It seems like i am going to have to be a heck of a lot more intentional to develop the relationships that i want w/ the neighborhood. it is not going to come easy as i am a white man in a hispanic culture. Ivan and i have had a blast together going through a book together and just sharing more about our lives. here is a few pictures of the area that we live in, the one pic w/ the sun glare is what has been dubbed the "martin park" b/c we live behind the family wtih the last name of the martins. The picture w/ the stairs is where ivan and my studio is located. behind the park and behind the house. it is really a beautiful place to dwell...

I am not really sure what else to include in this blog, i really need to start riding my bike more, awwww, which brings me to something else. last ngiht while playing dodgeball, i was headed for a ball near the center line and locked my ankle in place and moved my body and heard/felt 4 or so loud cracks. i immediately went down b/c of the pain and the inability to move and had to be escorted off of the court and to a hospital near by. i was lucky enough to have my brother there so he took care of me and was super patient w/ my 4 or so hour process of getting x rays and all of that jazz. it turns out that there were no broken bones but they are not sure of the 'soft tissue' around it. so i have crutches and am taking care of it so that i will be good to go this weekend up in portland.
other than all of this i feel like God has been ohh so good to me. he keeps leading in me in paths that i really feel fit me and has put those around me who have much to teach. i love all of you and let me know what else i should write on. love and peace

B

My Plants (organic ;)

2008-06-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from my cherry tomatoe plants. I got them quite awhile ago and didnt' know if they would make it b/c of the werid weather which was real warm and then cooler and then warm again. I have them in pots b/c of my moving in the last month. I would like to pot them but who knows what will happen. Anyways, i am really excited that they are going to be eaten very soon. i have only had one so far but....soon. click on those pics and see how lucious they are!

New Post!

2008-06-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Hello all of those out in bloggerville. It is a friday evening and i am sitting on my new porch and sweating a bit outside, but enjoying it anyways. Beautiful monarch's flying around and a slight breeze. I am looking down upon my lovely cherry tomatoes that i have had for a while, and they are coming right along. I acutally was messing around w/ my one red tomatoe and i accidently pulled it off of the vine. So....i ate it! and it was awesome. NOt amazing but not bad either, i enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of its fruit. Well anyways, that is all a side note. Life has been great for me recently. Work has been busy but great to have my brother working in the same office. We are having a great time. God is Good.

So ivan and i moved into a little studio in the lowell neighborhood, which is just a half mile or less from the Pink House (which made for an easy move). Although our space is small, i think that it is all we need. I have had fun w/ some kids around the corner and this place feels much different than the PH. Although it was sad to leave my home of the last 10 months, i think that it was time and was needed. I learned a ton about myself and had some great times wrapping up my emotions from the impace of the PH and i am super happy to have had the experience of that community. God is Good. It has been great to see the Lord's hand on our new adventure and even though we arn't sure how long we will be here, we are sure that we have some sort of season to experience here. I will post some pics of the place sometime, next time i whip out the camera.

I have been reading Velvet Elvis recently and probably have about a quarter left to read. It has been a great read so far. People say that he is crazy, some people say that he is wrong, some right, a bit of everything. I just enjoy reading new perspectives and some great insight to passages. One thing that i read today really has stuck in my head. Let me tell you about it.

He is discussing the Jewish tradition of following a rabbi and how powerful it was that he asked the working class people and the youngsters to be his disciples. Since they are fisherman, it means that they didn't make it to study the rabbi and his yoke, thus were sent to learn the family trade. So continually throughout Jesus' ministry, he is continually dissappointed in their lack of faith in themselves. For example, when Peter sees his rabbi walking on water so what does he chose to do? walk on water of course. When he starts to sink he yells for Jesus to save him. Jesus says "you of little faith, why did u doubt?" the point that Bell makes is What does Peter lose faith in? not jesus but himself, he loses the faith that he can do what his rabbi is doing. Rob Bell continues on with the idea that "God has an incredibly high view of people. God believes that people are capable of amazing things" (pg 134). It is a powerful message that God knows that we love him and wants us to trust him with our lives, but we chose not to believe and live it out. As Bell ends the chapter

"The rabbi thinks we can be like him."

What do you think about this? it keeps me encouraged, b/c i tend to not count him in on everything.

So what else is new? I am going to bako on sunday to see kimberly and hang out w/ the family for a few days. that will be FUN, and what is my big news for the next week!?!? TPH 2008. what is that you might ask? Tom freaking Petty at the Hollywood Bowl on wednesday! It has been a long time awaiting. I think that we bought our tickets on the superbowl sunday. My life is going to be that more complete i think. It should be a great time w/ Jeremy, Dave, Elliott, and Everett. Anyways, we are super excited. So that is all for now. Love and Peace for now!

lack of information

2008-06-15T01:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been such a long time, i miss blogging. but w/ new jobs and transisitions, comes a lack of time for such things. here is a brief little update:

moved out of pink house
moved into the lowell neighborhood
shot a wedding at the coast w/ andrew q.
have been working.
not getting enough sleep

thats it for now, love and peace
bryan

Community/Relationships

2008-05-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

Relationships are definitely not always the easiest things to deal with. I have realized that very much in the last week or so. Especially living in community with one another when you come in close contact with them. I am sure that the type of person that i am makes it hard for me as well. For instance, i enjoy people very much. Having fun, chatting, catching up, or just lounging around. When things arn't right between me and someone else i usually want to get to the bottom of it and figure things out. And then there are times when i have no idea what to say to them, or how to respond or what i expect to happen. I live in a house with 10 other people. You can imagine how things come up and just with the ups and downs of life sometimes, things arn't always perfect within in the house and outside of the house. We did a catch up on everyone's life this last week and i started us off. All i had to say was really good things are happening in my life. And i feel like they usually are like that. I don't know if that is just my perspective or if it is just that i am super blessed w/ a terrific life. I feel as if God has been laying out my present stage for a while and i think that he is doing a mighty fine job. The other people in the PH shared how they are doing, whats going on and it wasn't always great terrific things. Some people had some pretty crappy things to share and just that life kind of bites right now. Like really bites. It stinks to hear those things and makes me want to jump in and try to solve their problems (if they are even theirs to begin with). Usually this stuff comes as a shock b/c they have been keeping it close to them and not lettign anyone know the disappointments that they are facing. Thats a bummer b/c we live in a "community house" but things are understandable b/c maybe they don't feel open to share w/ everyone or don't really want to. Its great to have these discussions at a later point and be able to just listen and/or speak if that is what they need to. The aftermath of this sharing time has been pretty great, i think that i have learned more about individuals in my house this week and that counts for something. That in turn may open up other conversations with them at a later time.

On to another point of relationships, i have discussed this w/ some people before but it makes sense the more i try to grasp it. As my brother has said to me "you have always been good at having a lot of friends" and i think that he is right. I have really great friends and i think that sometimes there are a lot of them. Their are different groups in different cities and different times of my life. Some are pretty close and some are just still friends that i enjoy keeping up with. Recently i have i guess let the relationships take care of themselves a little bit more. Instead of me having to always keep up the relationship i feel as if putting it into the other persons hands might be better.

I think as i get a bit older i have realized these things and am very appreciative of it. I am not sure if this sounds like a whole lot of rambling or what, but it is a piece of what is inside at the moment. Thanks for reading.

Perkins' Story

2008-05-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is the current book that i am reading through. I am about 2/3 done with it and i am completely amazed at what i just read. For those of you who know who John Perkins is then you might know some of this story. He is basically hailed as one of the early urban ministers in our generation. He grew up in post war times in Mississippi and dealt w/ a lot of the extreme rascist movements in the south. This book is essentially his autobiography and explains why and how he does the things he does. During the Pink House ministry we have learned much about his three R's of innercity life. Relocation, Reconciliation and Redistribution. in October we went to St. Louis to attend the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference and heard him speak and give bible studies. I wish i would have read this book before i met him and heard him speak. His story is pretty incredible, to listen to the struggle and battle that he had gone through and how God had kept leading him on to establish leaders and those willing to die for their faith. if you are looking for an encouraging read and one that is super interesting. Go for it.

oh Kindergartners

2008-05-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well today, i subbed for a kindergarten class for the enjoyment of some awesome little kids (and a little bit of cash). So far the day had just been going alright. i forgot about how much work these little kids were but they really just want to have a great time all the time. so i will introduce to this kid nick. so he turned in his practice pages to me and it had his name on the top so i just put the name to the face and asked him how the sheet was.

Nick asked me "how did you know what my name is?" i responded "i can read you mind and i saw that you name was nick" nick said "that is witchcraft, my mom says that that is a type of voodoo magic or something." I asked Nick if his mom knew about that stuff and he said "No she is right with God" so questioned him about that statement and was wondering how he knew that. Nick said "well she goes to church and prays to God" i asked him "well are you right with God too? and how do i become right w/ God?" Nick asked "what church do i go to?" he told me that church that his mom goes to and then asked me what denomination it was and if it was catholic (how does a 5 year old kid know the word denomination????) Nick said that "that way to pray is to either be on your knees or i guess you could be in bed too" i thought that was pretty profound. Then i asked how do i know if i am right with god and he then said this exact statement "do you do outreach??" i responded that i do actually. he contemplated my decision and thought that as long as i pray and do outreach then i might be good with God. This next part blew my mind. Later on the playground i was doing yard duty, i thought that i would prope a little bit more and see what else his theology consists of. Nick said to me that "judgement is going to come at 6pm" my mouth just dropped and i asked him what that means he said that "judgement is part of sin" he didn't know when this will come but it could be any day but would be at 6 pm.

Anyways i think that was most of the conversation that we had, but i thought that it was remarkable. I told the teacher about how interested i was in our conversation and he said that he sometimes says huge words like justify when kids are in trouble but get caught talking or something. I think that we need to teach kids like Nick more often. I couldn't believe this kid. He was awesome, and left me wondering "Am i right with God?" and i think that we could learn a bit from this child. SInce i have this memory, i guess i could share another one from recess.

This kid Israel, had a little pocket paintbrush in his pocket and was chasing a girl around the jungle gym. She was screaming b/c he told her that he was going to paint a mustache on her face if he could. She came up to me scared but having a blast w/ it. They love to have any reason just to run away from each other. Its great. Well that is it today.

Love and Peace, Bryan

Boo for wisdom teeth

2008-05-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

So wednesday the 7th i will be getting my wisdom teeth removed. i am really really really not looking forward to this. it seems like everyone has their own story of how painful or just how awful the whole process is. you know what i mean? like one of my housemates said that it took her 2 weeks to recover. now that seems a little crazy to me but everyone is different i guess. My procedure is going to be one of no anastesia. so i won't be put to sleep for the process. they will just numb the area and then rip em' out. it is just not something that i am looking forward to. but...the lady that i talked to said that i could bring my ipod so that i don't have to listen to them pulling that crap out of my teeth. i know who i will be listening to and will make it allllllll better...drum roll......mewithoutYou! it should be marvelous. i am pretty sure that they can make the best out of any situation. so please keep me in your prayers if you get the opportunity. the procedure will be at 4:00 pm. blessing to all. i need to start putting up some more posts on here. so for the negligence i apologize.

on other news, life is great. the job is fantastic, a true blessing to be around those who i get to. it really matches up w/ where my heart is so i can't ask for anything more. there is a really terrific girl that is hanging around me which is a blessing and i get to go to the beach to spend time w/ the family. my brother is moving up here shortly which can't come any sooner for me, and ivan and i got a studio apartment in the Martin's house in the Lowell neighborhood which will be a great time as well. there are a lot of fantastic events happening except for tomorrow. well love and peace to you all. bryan

St. Francis

2008-04-29T21:54:00.001-07:00

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, harmony.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.

Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."

New Stuff

2008-04-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

Just a little update, i feel as if i dont have much to report than stuff about myself and what is new w/ me. As of May 1st i will be fully employed by the Well Community church and Every Neighborhood Partnership. I will be working full time split between two different areas, the first is 3 days a week at The Neighborhood Thrift Store helping to push it forward and increase profits in order to fully engage in the community by hiring residents in the susan b. anthony 'hood. We are going to develop a job training program to increase their work experience and skills and transfer them to other employers to continue their work. The other two days i will be doing admin work for ENP (Every Neighborhood Partnership) and participating in the economic development area of their process. I am super excited to start this and will be done subbing as of next week. I have had a good run at that and have enjoyed doing it the last 8 or so months. I am super stoked about the opportunity that God has placed before me and all the great people that i will be in touch and contact with. That is all for now. Thanks

Bryan

Random Thoughts 4-15

2008-04-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a little update on my life.

Today i will cover a sorts of topics, thoughts and musings. First of all, if you want to hear the gospel preached around soly who Jesus is what significance his death/resurrection/life is check out Mark Driscoll speaking. You don't have to watch all, or any but if you desire to.

The Pink House is ending in exactly 2 months from today which means several things for my life. First it means that i will have no place to live after we move out of the house and that my environment will be changing. Secondly, it is a fork in the road to determine where i want to live, Ivan (my roommate) and myself have had many discussions about what and where we want to live. We are sticking together, wherever that may be. Right now we have a few options and whichever way it turns out, we will hpefully be in a neighborhood in which we feel that we can be a part of.
He posed the question to me last night and it is one that i think that we forget to ask way too often he. He asked me "what do you think that God is trying to tell us through all of these opportunities and options?" God has something planned for us and feel as though he has given us a heart for something to is contrary at least to what i use to always desire and feel for. The question that he asked is great b/c it leaves it up for us to try to understand how we feel God in what is currently happening in our lives. No matter where that may be. It is easy for me though to get too connected w/ everything else but reaching towards God. Although i know that it is ultimately because of what he has done in my life and with his sons sinless life i need to focus on showing that to those who don't know what that is about. The social gospel and action sometimes over runs what the story of each of our lives are about when we get to the heart. Anyways, that is just a little update about what is going on with the future. There are some great things happening now in the Pink House and dont' want to miss out on what that will be. IN two weeks there is going to be another block party that i am going to be a part of. Bounce House, food, maybe slip and slide, music, games, cakewalk, and many other awesome activities.

This weekend i am going to play with Stepsonday for just two shows, one in upland, and the other in bakersfield. I am really looking forward to it, hanging out w/ Jason and Chad. Going to bako to see friends and family. I really appreciate the opportunity to play music a little bit and be able to enjoy a weekend outside of Fresno every once in a while. On another note, i am trying to finish the game of James Bond 007 Goldeneye. I use to be pretty dang good at the game back in late middle school early high school, and i picked it up again recently and it has probably become an obsession. I will try to complete a level and sit there for like 40 min and then i slap myself in the face b/c i hate video games and the whole concept of them. But maybe i will just indulge a bit more. i think i have 4 or 5 levels left! I am out. Peace and Love

Bryan

Amish

2008-04-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well in class today, we are talking about immigration of those from around the world to the US. we had a great discussion and the kids enjoyed the discussion as well. we started asking questions about how the amish live and what we thought about it. it all stemmed from now knowing whether they use friges or not. so i did some wikipedia and thought that all of this was very interesting. i really want to go hang w/ them for summer or sometime. maybe a weekend would suffice. these are some counter cultural communities.

** Single Amish men are clean-shaven; if they are available to court women, they will put a dent in their hat. Married men grow a beard. In some more traditional communities, a man will grow a beard after he is baptized

** Moustaches are not allowed, because they are associated with the military, and because they give opportunity for vanity

** Rather than immediately taking up housekeeping, the newlywed couple will spend several weekends visiting the homes of friends and relatives who attended the wedding.

** The marriage ceremony itself may take several hours, followed by a community reception that includes a banquet, singing and storytelling

** There are Old Order communities in 21 states; Ohio has the largest population (55,000), followed by Pennsylvania (39,000) and Indiana (37,000).

** It is also the proximate cause for rejecting education beyond the eighth grade, especially speculative study that has little practical use for farm life but may awaken personal and materialistic ambitions

** The Amish dislike the telephone because it interferes with their separation from the world: it brings the outside world into the home, it is an intrusion into the privacy and sanctity of the family, and it interferes with social community by eliminating face-to-face communication (but some use it for out going calls...)

** Church members do not join the military, apply for Social Security benefits, take out insurance or accept any form of financial assistance from the government.

PAPA festival/MCC

2008-04-02T23:02:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this festival/conference that is happening this summer. It is just a really exciting idea and concept of community getting together to learn from each other and work together. Each person that goes to the event participates in some way or another so that it can all happen. Someone created a type of currency for it so that their own system is in place. If someone has knowledge in one specific field they help out and teach it whether it be bicycle repair or cooking food, each individual contributes to the whole. I wonder if there is any way to go, who knows...Watch the video and tell me what you think. I just thought that i would share this b/c it is very exciting that stuff like this is happening. (not to mention mewithoutYou is going to be performing!)

One a different but similar note, this weekend is the MCC sale!!! if you are not coming you should! great food, great people, great stuff, great cause! sweet mennonite women spend all year making quilts to sell here and some go for 7000 dollars! incredible stuff. there are a lot of great items from overseas that can be purchased from those who create in order to have sustain living. please come.

Guilty Pleasures

2008-03-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

So i am subbing at roosevelt high and the last time i was here there were some girls who were wearing "senses fail" t shirts. i was talking to them about how i liked that song 'buried alive' and i just saw them walking around and they asked me if i ever got the song again because it has been so long since i had heard it. so i came back to my room and found this sweeeeet video. tell me if you enjoy it as much as me!!! good stuff...my life is full of a lot of 'guilt pleasures' but i love it. i can't help but post this one as well. listen to it and tell me you don't think its super catchy and great. if you don't like it, we may have to talk later and there will probably be a punch coming from me!

Ideas

2008-03-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

So, you should all know that ENP is a future partner of mine in employment. The Neighborhood Thrift just opened its doors a week ago and has been an amazing adventure. I will be working tomorrow all day if any of you want to come by to get some sweet jems and say hello to me. there is a lot going on and i cannot WAIT to see how God is/will be using this venture in the upcoming times.
Another exciting idea that a friend of mind opened up my eyes to was the idea of a 'community garden.' I had never really thought of the potential of that and all that it could entail until i have recently been researching it. Come to find out in Fresno there have been many ideas and possiblities of it but nothing that has really been put to the plow (nice pun huh?). Having a plot of land in a neighborhood that would serve as a connecting point to grow fruit, veggies, flowers and herbs and yet would bring in revenue is exciting. There are so many directions of this whether it is self sustaining agriculture or to produce income, all of the above is possible. There are so many connections in Fresno and so much knowledge in these neighborhoods that just needs to be put together. Just imagining all of this gets me really excited and ready to move on it. Little by little the garden shall overtake the world!

check out resources such as these community gardens

Religiousity

2008-03-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

lately, i have been dealing, contemplating, and discussing different religious views and ideas and practices. things like war and its biblical view and all the postmodern mumbo jumbo as well as the biblically conservative point of view on issues. it just seems as though i have been a little too heavy into those themes and ideas than just talking/praying and figuring out who God is an what he means to me. I know that some or most of those things can help us learn who he is and shows us the character of God but lately i feel as if it is doing the opposite. There are so many issues and arguments to have about what the bible says about particular ideas and theories and i need a break from it. I know that God is a beautiful creator and that he cares about our world and wants us to love each other. I also know that we need to learn to put others in front of ourselves and that he has things for us to learn in all different circumstances. But much more than that i feels as if i am not sure of things and don't really know how important they are. What do you think? How important is it to study and know every little detail about what i think and what you think and how they are different and which one is wrong and which one is right. Maybe its important and maybe its not as. I hope that this time will pass and that i can dive into some ideas later but for now i need to just figure out how to love those around me and God himself not the theories and ideas. I hope that you are all doing well.

Spring Break!

2008-03-18T20:36:00.001-07:00

So, on sunday i left fresno to stay the night in bako and then had a dentist appointment on monday morning. It appears that i will have to have my wisdom teeth out soon. great....So i made it down here to San Diego on Monday afternoon, Kim and I drove and made it in great time. I have been especially blessed to get to spend some great time w/ my long time buddy Kyle Kuhlmann. One of the most gentle genuine humans that i know, he takes care of everyone and doesnt accept anything else. We have been friends since 3rd grade!!! nuts. Yesterday we went to some beautiful cliffs off of La Jolla and then had dinner w/ my buddy Joey. That evening we went downtown for ST. Pattys which i knew would be an adventure, for the best or the worst.
It definitely turned out to be for the worst. Just a really sad sight to see as people are wearing just crazy slutty clothes. I was with a bunch of people whom i wouldn't usually spend time w/ but they befriended me. Needless to say it just wasn't my bag, if you get my drift or if you know anything about me. However, i did have fun w/ Kyle and we enjoyed each other, i did get to see Dieter from Laguna Beach. that was pretty exciting as i am a long time fan of such a shallow and dumb show. However, i enjoyed that.
This evening, i had dinner w/ a second (or maybe third) cousin of mine whom i barely know. It was a blast, he had some beautiful daughters, Rashmee and Pria. My cousin Eric married an east Indian lady and thus they have very ethnic babies who are absolutely darling. We got to catch up w/ our lives and he is a very admirable man. We hadn't seen each other in probably 6 or 7 years, but it was terrific. i love being able to develop relationships w/ those who i know but don't really know, much less family. God is good.
So i will be here for the next 2 days and then i am back up to fresno to help out w/ the "neighborhood thrift store" and am excited for that ministry. Hope all is well w/ you guys out there. Easter is coming...the day that makes our faith what it is.

Jesus for President

2008-03-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

By the way, i picked this up this last weekend while in Santa Barbara. I had been looking forward to this for a bit and am enjoying it so far. It has set up a lot of the Jewish culture in the Old Testament. It has really put a lot more of the bible in the context to understand that when Jesus arrived what he was really walking into. You may have remember a post that i did on some parables in Luke. 19 and 20 i think, and in this book they discuss them briefly. It is the parable of the 10 minas and how at the end of the passage he says

27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me."

They write about in the book that the Kings of the time were Herod's three sons Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip and they were pretty power hungry kids. (these kids are remaining after he killed his other sons that were threatning) Some of the jesish people didn't want these sons in power and went to protest and later got murdered. So all to say that this is most likely the kind of story that Jesus is referencing and he uses his political satire. His character doesn't represent the charachter of God which is why he doesn't start the parable out "The Kingdom of God is like..."

So i got my question answered in a different way that i had thought and am thankful for those who know a lot more that me! Go pick up the book and read through it as well. it is pretty exciting.

Newt Hunting

2008-03-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Jenny and I went on a hunt for newts last weekend at Pine Flat Lake. I realized that it is little over a half and hour away and so we made it a short little sunday trip. It was super beautiful and we had success out at the lake. At first we went down to the dock and then followed a river up and after 15 min or walking up it, Jenny spotted the bright orange specimen. I got pretty excited and went further up and saw like 8 more! it was spectacular. She wanted a playmate for her current newt Hector. And since she is a biologist she loves to study the creatures. So here are a few pictures. We had a blast and are inspired to go Backpacking in Yosemite soon. If any of you are interested we would love for you to come along!!!

Homeless

2008-03-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

Well i dont' feel like i know too much about the homeless and if i will ever figure it all out. But living in the Pink House has risen the ideas for me and last night was one of those nights. As a house we discussed the issues of giving cash to men, judging them or not judging them, being a hindrance to them, and just being there for them. Ivan and i had learned a lot of Jay the other night and it has been on my heart ever since. Later in the evening, Ivan and i were talking out on the balcony and he said something that really struck home. To sum it up it was basically saying how in homeless and the poor and marginalized we are called to be a presence, not just some people. That we kinda write 'gods gifts' off as if that person over there is called to it and i am not. we are all called to compassion on each other, no partiality as Paul and John and James state. In the poor we have connection w/ them wether rich or not, because there is something lacking in us all, but society covers it up w/ material things or appearance or whatever it is. But in each soul of ours we need to be made whole and complete in Christ. I will end this with a very blunt statement from James

17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

let us set apart time to be w/ each other and get moved by God and see his love in all.

ummm....

2008-03-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

Well, life has been very busy lately but amazing. This weekend has
been great, on Friday evening we had a Pink House Fundraiser which was
a black tie bunko night. With a lot of work it turned out to be a
success, over 50 people showed up to it and all said that it was an
enjoyable evening. I will post some pictures soon, we emptied the top
two apts and the ladies of the house decorated it beautifully. People
in the house gathered up gifts for the prizes and many people left
satisified. We had some incredible desserts made by Jazz and Nate,
cheesecakes, peanut butter balls, creme puffs and italian sodas. It
was great Saturday was another terrific day full of many great people
and events. Started the morning w/ Habitat doing some roofing, then
went to do some sorting at the wherehouse of the future thrift store,
and then had lunch at doghouse for Ashley's b-day. It was terrific to
hang out w/ friends and then continue to hang w/ dave and paul at a
little football match w/ Travis, Ryan and Austin. After about 35 min,
we were huffing and puffing and way out of shape. I ended the night
watching Planet Earth with some housemates, which had never seen it or
heard of it before. I couldn't hardly believe it so i put it in the
DVD player w/o hesitation.
Sunday came and it was nice to sleep in until about 11am. Jenny
(lives under my apt) had talked about going hunting for newt's at Pine
Flat so i thought that what better day to do on a beautiful Sunday
afternoon. WE made the 30 mile drive or so (which was so incredibly
gorgeous) and found a little streaming coming up out of the lake. She
decided to follow it and we walked up it for about 15 or so minutes,
and low and behold, she spotted a bright orange belley newt. I got
pretty excited and walked up stream to see if there were any others
b/c she said they usually travel in hoards. So i saw like 5 or 6 more
and wanted to grab them but it wasn't needed.
Later sunday evening, ivan (my roommate) and i were sitting around and
didn't have much to do. Well actually he was doing homework and i
didn't have anything to do. He proposed the idea of grabbing our
guitars and playing down on G street. On G is where the 'tent' city is
and where ivan and his buddies go down and skate and hang out w/ the
homeless at. I thought that it sounded like a great idea, so off we
went. we started playing on the street across from tent city. There we
were playing some guitar and a lady across the street from us started
grooving to the music. It was beautiful, she then came over to us and
wanted a cigarette, and offerred some misc. services to us, ivan asked
her if she thought it would be possible for us to go and hang out w/
the guys who had some sweet bonfires and play some music for them. She
heavily advised otherwise so and said they woudl most likely charge us
rent and probably steal from us because we were outsiders. So we moved
down the street a bit, (watched some drug deals happen) and met
another guy who sat down and introduced himself as Jay. So we ended up
spending quite a bit of time w/ him. He enjoyed listening to some
music and i played some AC/DC that he rocked out to. Ivan was pretty
hungrey and so was Jay so we decided to go to Rallys for a bit to eat.
In the truck Jay explained his story of homelessness and how is wife
had cheated on him and it was all downhill from there. He was a super
brillant guy and understand a lot of the systematic issues w/
homelessness and how there is a lot of scandel in it all. He informed
me of a lot that i had no idea about. He was very driven to pick
himself up and was waiting on a check from the gov't for the two
tourrs of wars that he served in. He definitely knew the gospel and
said some pretty profound biblical messages, said he attended
'cornerstone' church and the fact that the preacher was an ex ganger
member and could help those like them and relate to them. He discussed
miracles that he had seen God perform and explained how he prayer in
'cuss words' because he was so over joyed w/ how much God loved him.
We never mentioned much about God but agreed a lot w/ him about how
lovely he is. This happened to be his birthday and he felt truely
blessed that we crossed each others paths. He explained to me in the
car that he just wanted to talk about some stuff that was on his mind.
I haven't stopped thinking about Jay since and he shows me why we need
to seek justice for men like him. I dropped him off at his area of
tents and as i feel asleep in my warm bed i wondered how he was doing
in the cold in his tent w/ his buddy Gino. He said next time maybe him
and i could jam together on guitars...

New Project of Tulips

2008-02-24T14:58:00.000-08:00

After thinking and talking i finally did it! i planted my very own flowers. i thought that i would show you all the process of these beautiful plants. I wanted to plant them as seeds but i guess it is too early for that. So after some help from the OSH lady she directed me to this wonderful flowers. Everyday they seem to change, which is pretty dang exciting if you ask me. check em'. I also have a plant of cilantro that i haven't even used yet but is growing marvelously. The last picture of the three is the tulip before it started showing any color and the top picture is them getting ready to break through.

Shaver Lake

2008-02-21T19:40:00.000-08:00

So because i work for the man....the school system....the state. I was forced to not work on Monday b/c they were closed so, i went on a little journey up to Shaver Lake. I discovered that it was only 45 miles a way and just thought i would hike around a bit (which made it very difficult in several feet of snow) and just chill. So here are a couple of pictures that i took. The beauty was unbelievable. All of the snow along side of the lake was simply breath taking. I hope that you enjoy a few of them. I listened to God for a bit and it was amazing. He seems to be on pretty good terms w/ me lately and i Love Him.

Harsh words?

2008-02-15T12:22:00.000-08:00

So currently i am reading through the book of Luke and am in chapters 19,20,21. As i read some of jesus's words and the stories that he tells, they are not very comforting and peaceful all the time. I know that this is something that we hear quite often about how Jesus's words weren't always reader friendly but it is totally true. Especially to the culture that we are in where we don't want to offend people or not being 'loving' in the way that we think of (acceptance). I am not sure if this makes sense but check out the passages:

***His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

24"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'

25" 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'

26"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me."*** Luke 19.

This has a bit of a twist from my usual interpretation of the parable of the Ten Minas. The master is requiring that when he gives his servants money that interest is made from it, and that we should not fear him to the point of being afraid of having to deal w/ the authority. He wants us to deal well w/ what is around us and move forward to him and to others. But the end seems super harsh "bring them here and kill them in front of me" wow that is intense. It seems like he could have ended the parable much earlier but this is here for a specific reason. Any ideas?

The second parable is such:

***14"But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

"What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"

17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
" 'The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone[a]'[b]? 18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.*** Luke 20:9

Another twist as Jesus says, they what they will do is kill the tenants and give the vineyard to others. I think that my reaction was the same as the Chief Priests. But he brings the heat again. This is something that has been on my mind since i read it. "i need more grace than i thought"

Verrrrtex

2008-02-14T23:04:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures taken by David Rickett of Stepsonday at the Vertex in Arroyo Grande.

Brilliant Rock Album

2008-02-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

Nada Surf

New Album "Lucky" i recently got it up in seattle and haven't stopped listening to it. Well occasionally, but not too much. It is really great.

The Road

2008-02-13T08:56:00.001-08:00

Tour

2008-02-07T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Here is a little recap of what my life has been like the past week. So we started off on the tour really excited b/c we had just bought a sweet van the day before the show! so all loaded up in the van we head off the Orange County to play in Upland CA. It was a great show, on the way there we picked up some shirts for the tour and made it to the show a little late and played after the band that was playing when we got there. It was a little rough as far as my playing went. I didn't do awful but not my best for sure. So loaded w/ snacks from Chad's financee we hit the road we a little bit of money in our pockets from the last show's merch that was sold. We make it to San Francisco, which is just down pouring rain all over us. (at this time we had terrible windshield whippers) then we play at a place called 'the bike kitchen'. It was just that, a place where people bring their bikes and get them fixed. it was a sweet little community joint where we met some great people. And the bands that we were to travel w/ up the west coast. (Jet Lag Gemini, and Weatherbox) so we had another great show and head off to Sacremento to stay with my Uncle and his terrific family. THey were a true blessing to us, as they fed us and gave us terrific beds to sleep in. We chilled w/ them all sunday and watched Tom Petty win the superbowl there. then headed to the show where lakes drove out. there were very little people there, which made for a huge bummer of a show. but we brushed it off and drove up to Portland the next day and it made for a real long one. In portland we have stayed w/ Jacob White he is amazing. on tuesday we just chilled out w/ some great friends and tooled around the city during the afternoon. On wednesday we slept till noon and then left for Seattle to beat the traffic. the show there when alright. not tons of people but not too bad. it was for sure my best performance as i think i nailed it. but didn't go so hot for everyone else. so that brings us pretty much to now, we are really excited for the show tonight in Portland. there should be all of the crew from here at the show so it will be a blast. Jacob is also having an after party for everyone to get together and have a great time. THen tomorrow we head back to bakersfield. and will get in late and then play the show on saturday night. that will be another exciting show. most of our friends/family will be there.

I have been having a really great time. Although you imagine it being one way, it is usually not what is expected. Eating off of giftcards to save money and then getting peanut butter and jelly and eating it in the van is not the rock and roll lifestyle, is sure is a hell of a lot of fun too. i will have to write more on it later, but i just wanted to let you guys know how everything is going for sure. I am doing very well and super excited for this opportunity. i would love to be able to continue this for a while. although it is not the most lucrative step its all good!!!! god is good!

You Know...

2008-01-30T14:01:00.000-08:00

So lets so, where am i these days you may ask? i had a terrific last week or so. The Pink House had a retreat to the Minturns House which was about 1.5 miles away. which made for a great weeekend but, not like the usual retreat that we would have anticpated. maybe being in the snow or something like that. But...we did a sweet photo scavenger hunt on friday night, driving around downtown and taking funny pictures w/ random people (basically felt like we were back in youth group) but fun nonetheless. The weekend was spent hanging out w/ each other. playing worship, jenny played the cello and beth the violin and me the acoustic guitar and i think that it sounded spectaular. IT was filled w/ terrific food from my roommate Nathaniel preparing it all, and just great time spent together.
As soon as i was home from the retreat i left to go to bakersfield to pracitice w/ Chad and Jason for the upcoming tour. We practiced sunday-mon-tuesday and i made it back to fresno in time for my weekly Pink HOuse meeting. Pracitce went very well, we just played the set over and over again, and needless to say i think that it will sound great.
Life has been filled lately w/ a lot of teachers going through the bible and stories that i have always known but great to hear w/ new perspective. Its funny how the same story will come from 2 or 3 different people in the matter of a week. The story that is in my mind of Peter in Acts 10 when he has a vision about basically reconciling the Jew and Gentile. I am also currently reading Randy White's book "encountering God in the city" and he discusses the same story. It is powerful in how important it was for Peter to do this and to get it right for the foundation of the church. Yet currently we do intend to get it right but it never always happens. WEll whatever, that is just what is on my mind. check it out

I am really excited to go play some shows with Stepsonday it should be quite the adventure, as we don't know what vehicle we are going to be driving and we leave in 2 days. I am sure that it will all work out, and i pray that God allows them to buy a van soon! Life is really just moving right along with little time to be stagnant. I need to discover some alone time during the next ten days and allow God to speak.

My friend Jesus

2008-01-18T10:28:00.000-08:00

Let me set the scene for you. Winchell Elementary, located at orange and kings canyon, kindergarten, 20 students. I had an aide in the class for the first part but then was on my own after lunch which was only 2 and half hours remaining after break. I set up some activities for them to do. you know, cutting and glueing stuff to match and what not, but nothing is going smooth. the lesson plans state that if i want to for 30 min, i can either put on a 'educational video' or take them out to the playground. After pondering these options, i swing for both. After the movie, i read them a story and then tell them that if they behave i will take them to the playground (knowing that regardless, i would take them to the playground).

When we get out there, the kids are having a blast. I am just patrolling the jungle gym like a standard teacher, walking around a bit. Then this great little kid named 'jesus' comes up to me and proclaims

"I challenge you...to be a kid again!"

i reply "i accept your challenge"

Jesus 'Ok. follow me for your first challenge!" (this is a kindergartner mind you)

Se walk around the playground going down the slides, and as all the rest of kids see me playing, they run and scream over at me and literally chanting

"Go teacher Go!"
"Go teacher Go!"

It was awesome. so there are basically like 5 challenges of just fun things on the jungle gym that he wants me to particpate in. Most of the other kids are just following and going down the slides after me. and just saying 'hey teacher. watch me do this' just wanting me to share in the excitement and give them my approval.

The final challenge was having to dig a hole in the sandbox. I thought to myself, 'man then i am going to get my hands all sandy and dirty' but i figured, that is exactly why he is challenging me to be a kid again. So i dug and he finally gave me his approval. The playground ended w/ Jesus telling me that tomorrows challenge is going to be a HUGE sandcastle. When i informed him that i wouldn't be back he got a little sad but soon carried on with his playing. It was a spectacular day and i had a blast with the kids after all. I heard the statement numerous times that 'teacher your the best ever!" which isn't the most unheard of thing for kindergartner's to say but still touching nonetheless. It turned out to be a highlight in subbing for younger kids, and a very memorable experience.

So moral of the story...sometimes we need to just become kids again, and lighten up and have a blast. Even if it doesn't make sense because we might get a little dirty. Jesus just wanting me to partake in his enjoyment of the playground. And i am glad that he did.

Friends

2008-01-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

Spanish Man

2008-01-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

A photo i found in my library of a man in Barcelona, Spain. We lacked quite a bit of understanding. But he let me take his photo

You can buy happiness?!?!

2008-01-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

This is a very interesting article about how when we spend more money on an item (this example was wine) that the more that we think that it is worth or purchased for will make us think that it is better. It was tested w/ telling people that there is a 90 dollar bottle of wine and their mind reacted much differently w/ more excitement than if it was only 2 dollars. (even if it was the 2 dollar). SO the idea is that the more that we spend on items the more exciting it will be thus the more happiness we will have. God helps us all! i am guilty of this in many ways too. although it is usually not my money...

Genesis 28

2008-01-14T23:13:00.000-08:00

15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." 17 He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."

Just a thought about how i desire to see the Lord in all things. But only in the obvious do i acknowledge it. There is a ways to go.

Homecoming!

2008-01-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

I would just love to inform you all of my roommate Ivan coming home and joining w/ the house again. The first time that i saw him back, i had just arrived home at the house from work. I saw a lucia's friend april's car so i just went into lucia's apt. and when i entered i heard a male's voice. When i finally recognized it, i was completely speechless. I was looking at him w/ very little words to say because although i knew he had the possiblity of being home soon, i didn't know when it would be though. It was amazing to see him although i had such a lack of words to say.
We had some great discussion at 1 am this morning and i look forward to connecting w/ him the rest of the Pink House. We discussed the search that everyone is on and how music and culture fit into all of that. How music in our generation and the themes that are discussed are unique to the generation that is current. It is a intriguing thought and conversation to have. Ivan is a great listener and speaker...

On another note, i just had a great conversation with a kid who is a sophmore at Edison High School. Last time i subbed for him i butted in on a religious conversation about the search for God and it turned out to be a great discussion. This kid Jose' is confused and searching and challenging himself with thoughts about Who created God, if God created man. Also the age old question of what and where is heaven and hell, as well as why does everybody say that everyone elses religion is wrong. It was great to take with him and share my thoughts on the bible and how i see these things. Also to tell him that i am in a similar boat w/ the issues but to keep on looking and challenging himself in this.

I hope that you day is going well, i am excited for the Delta Spirit, Lakes, Sparrows gate show in San Luis tonight. Good times will be had, hopfeully a dip in the ocean as well. Cheers!

Question./Statement

2008-01-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have all this time during the day while i am substituting and need ideas on what i can do either online, or just quietly at a desk for many hours everyday!?! I am terribly bored w/ the internet, and i feel as if i can only read for so long. Any help would be appreciated. also i think that my roommate may be coming home today and am pretty dang excited about it.

Another sweet anouncement is that i will be going on tour playing bass with a terrific rock band called Stepsonday in early february. CHeck out their music at www.myspace.com/stepsonday it should be a sweet little west coast tour from LA to Seattle. This super exciting for me as i have dreamed of such an opportunity for sometime. Check out the dates, and if you can make it to any of them, it would be grand

Dicotomy of Decisions

2008-01-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

It seems as the older i get and the more freedom that i get, the more opportunities come around. There are so many great opportunities in front of me and the options are endless. It is hard to try to know with which one (or even ones) i want to go with but i think that life usually pans out and is enjoyable regardless. The hard decisions for me to make is whether it is best to try and work out multiple options or just stick with one and go balls to the wall with it. Or maybe the decision needs to be put more in Gods hands than mine. I know that ultimately it is his choice for a
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9" But, how do we decide when we feel that he has given us several choices and the decision just needs to be made? maybe this is over dramatic, but whatev. When many choices are good then it is just a win win situation right? Life is good and God is good.

The New Year is Upon Us!

2008-01-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

There are some things i want to accomplish this year:

Read as many books/articles as i can
Learn more about myself
Eat a little better
Play more music
Go on a lot of out of town trips
Go to places i usually don't
Relax at home more often
Listen to more mewithoutYou
Not eat out so much
Only shop at thrift stores
Be more conscious about purchases made
See God in everything
Drink less soda
Look forward to new releases (music)
Research interests
Spend more time w/ Family
Meet more friends
Get better at photography (give away pictures)

more to come....

Here is a video from South Africa, it is our friend Phil who told me a story once about kicking items. Watch for yourself. Good times. He really meant a lot to us and this will always hold a dear place in my heart. Make sure and focus on laura's reaction after the first kick. Feel free to check out the other videos i have put on Youtube on my link on the left

Scripture and Other

2008-01-07T08:38:00.001-08:00

Last night i was reading Genesis 6. Have a read for yourself.

The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD

I main question that i was struck with after reading this passage was "why did noah find favor with the Lord" he was about to wipe the ENTIRE earth out but found one human who was worthy to carry on the generation of human existance. This seems as if Noah must have been a pretty legit man and had someting that not many did. I want to know what it was that Noah had going for him before all of this happened and how i can become something of that.

Last night i went to the Hofbrau with a few friends b/c it was Jon Moritz's b-day. It was an absolutely smashing time, enjoy a few beers and some great company at a fine location. I feel as though it is a much more beautiful way to enjoy alcoholic beverages with friends when it is limited and in moderation. I may not have done such a great job of this in the recent past but look forward to the future. It is just a beautiful thing.

I am at a middle school today substituting and started out the day but not leaving until i absolutely had to and then on the way to work was thinking 'i should really give myself so extra time to get to work' and low and behold i was stopped by an extremely slow moving train on butler avenue. it tested my patience a little bit but everything ended up ok. It was a long train and slowed down as it passed not sped up. I usually have a hard time in these circumstances but am learning what to do when there is nothing you can do. I think it is just try to make the best of the situation and let go b/c there isn't anything i can do about it. So what did i do you might ask??? I selected a song on my ipod from a guilty pleasure group. There are called paramore and have a couple of excellent songs "hallelujah" and "misery business" They are super duper poppy but write catchy songs that i enjoy. (What have i become.....) Plus the singer is especially cute check out one of these two songs if you have the time. So n e ways i am doing jr. high and it is not going to be easy, i really don't enjoy jr high b/c they are old enough that they don't give much affection or sincerity and not easy to deal w/ like high school. but i thought that on the week back from vacation i should take whatever i can get b/c i just really need to work. fund s are low

Also i recently just purchased a new truck so i am very excited. It is actually used but a great ride. I may possibly post a picture but probably not. It is a blessing and i am very stoked to have it. i just can't believe this is my seventh car.... dang it. Well, i hope that this isn't too long of a journal. Let me know your thoughts, questions, concerns, input. All praise be the God!

Partay

2008-01-06T16:29:00.000-08:00

I was invited to the third annual dinnerfest which was a blast and was at the Whitehouse. We had an amazing dinner and played some sweet games such as catch phrase and big booty (which i had never heard of yet played). I took some sweet pictures and i hope that you enjoy them. Those who were there were Kim, Sarah, Ashley, Tyler, Tim, Jameson, Paul, and Jessica.

Footloose

2008-01-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

Footloose. Incredible. more to come. my battery is dying

Community X mas

2007-12-26T23:51:00.000-08:00

This x mas eve i went out to my mom's families x mas whcih was in Visalia California. I am not always really really excited to go but usually do b/c my mom likes me being there. It is a rather new family b/c my mom was adopted and her biological father contacted her about 6 years ago, so it can be just different usually. However i think that there is some great and exciting ideas/projects/things that they participate in that we normally don't.

For example, most of their x mas gifts tend to be gifts that are very creative and community centered in which my x-tian family doesn't do. (by the way they arn't practicing x-tians which is just different from the rest of my church going family) B/c there are so many people in the large family they can't afford to purchase extravangant fits so for this year they gave everyone "wha-dinger sticks" which are long wooden sticks that have a fat end on the tip in which you place a uncooked bisquit on and spread really thin and cook over a open fire which leaves you with a cup of cooked dough which can handle all sorts of dessert items such as pudding or whipped cream or fruit topping. So basically after dinner we all roasted our bisquits together and had dessert. and their desire would be for us to take these camping w/ us and use them as alternatives to s'mores or in addition to. I thought that it was a brilliant thing to share w/ us all and was unique b/c g pa did it when he use to ditch class when he went to school. They also made simple bird houses for all of the families to enjoy.

So i think that it was a great x mas eve and wherever you are there are things and lesson to learn.

I gave fair trade coffee to my family and framed pics of some of my south african travels as well as my europe adventures and i think that they really enjoyed it.
tomorrow i am off to find and buy myself a car so i hope that that goes better than last time and that it will all work out nicely.

If ever you come near i'll hold up high a mirror, Lord I could never show you anything as beautiful as you ---mewithoutYou

2007-12-17T22:26:00.000-08:00

Seattle

2007-12-16T15:43:00.000-08:00

So, chad, jeremy and i left for seattle on friday at approx. 4:30. we drove straight through the night and arrived in seattle at 7:25 am. we got pulled over once but no ticket so that was nice. It has been a great time thus far, Brian and his wife Corrin have treated us very hospitably. We saw David Bazan last night and he was solid as usual. We went to a lighthouse about 5 min from their apt today and are off to mars hill for a little bit of worship very shortly. I really enjoy Seattle and am having a blast w/ these new friends. Hope you are all doing well and that everything is swell. Good stuff is happening w/ the thrift store and have been super stoked about that ever since. Love to all::

PH X Mas

2007-12-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q0htrwdH_fg/R2Hqc-qZB6I/AAAAAAAAAEE/z0HscvsB7eE/s320/DSC_8717.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143650033011853218" />

X mas Party at the Pink House. Great Food, Great Friends.

Lakes Show. Great Friends, Great Music.

A Severe Mercy

2007-12-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

""The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians-- when they are sombre and joyless, when they are self righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths. But, though it is just to condemn some Christians for these things, perhaps, after all, it is not just, though very easy, to condemn Christianity itself for them. Indeed, there are impressive indications that the positive quality of job is in Christianity and possibly nowhere else. If that were certain, it would be proof of a very high order.""

This is an excerpt from a book that i am reading right now entitled "a severe mercy" it is a great book so far. kind of a love story of two adventurous souls. they are (as some say) pagans and have moved to study at Oxford and are 'looking' into Christianity. He has been hit by CS Lewis's writings and is in search of finding truth in Jesus. i am maybe a 1/3 into the book and would recommend it, however it makes me want to fall in love b/c this couple seems to be very much in love and aware of it all the time. who doesn't desire that right??? well i a librarian today and it is INCREDIBLE. i am looking forward to Lakes this evening in Tower and for what a meeting w/ some thrift store people will go. God is Good. For some reason, i have the song 'if heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool' in my head. well that is what is on my mind today. Love to ALL

Piper

2007-12-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

here is article that Piper wrote in 1980 about God being a one of wrath. just for all of those comments on that last one.

http://www.theresurgence.com/john_piper_1980-08-31_final_judgement

read it.

Also, i am looking for cars online and it is awful! Maybe i won't be one after all, dang...

So this morning i needed to be at fort miller mddle school and i couldn't find my scooter key. i was flipping out looking everywhere, by the time i gave up searching the apartment, it was 7:48. the school bell would ring in 7 min. so i was going to ride my bike there but its like 3.5 miles, so i thought i would ask one of my house mates if they could help me out. sure enough, megan decided she would drop me off at work. when i got there it was 5 min passed the bell, so i can't even imagine how late i would have been if i had rode my bike. I got some stares in the office (probably b/c what i was wearing is just my normal day to day clothes, v-neck, jeans, slip ons, army jacked) and i was super blessed by megan showing me some community and helping me out. so i think i will take the bus home b/c a lot of the students told me which one to take to go downtown. it should be fun. anyways, lesson, is to help those out in binds b/c it is very much appreciated. The rain is beautiful and so are You. ::All Praise Be To God::

a quick couple thoughts

2007-11-30T12:59:00.000-08:00

first of all, i am on my lunch break at home and not wanting to go back to these dreadful 4th graders who have no control at all. it is unbelievable.

second of all, a 3rd grader's name was alondra and she told me the best story i have heard in probably forever. she wanted to tell me how she got her name, she said that her mom once heard a bird say it maybe two or three times, and she thought to herself....i think that i shall name my daughter that! how incredible of a story is that. and the story is just as beautiful as this girl. i see God in this girl.

Middle Ground???

2007-11-28T08:58:00.000-08:00

So lately, i have been introduced to a lot of new and different and rather exciting theological discussions and ideas. It is very interesting to me because i have grown up with one train of thought my entire life and now things are moving and shaking around. the thought i was grown on was the conservative, evangelical church and now there is this whole new deal of i guess you could say "postmodern" (although that work already has too much baggage) but a different i guess more accepting view of faith and life. it is just far different than i am used to and i feel like it may be a while till i can have something figured out. although that may never happen i think that i should keep trying. i feeel as though sometimes i just accept and accept but have a hard time just saying NO to something that is unusual to me. i different contexts all differnet kinds of things may sound not so 'bad' anymore.
then i guess it all comes up on asking how much of this stuff is totally crucial and how much maybe more trivial than i think. i am not so sure i know where this is going and headed but i guess i just need to be honest w/ it all. keeping thinking, keep talking and keep loving is one (or three) thing that i know. Jesus calls us to follow him and love one another, so i will try to continue to do those things and as my boy joe dirt says "keep on trucking!"
so today i am working at Roosevelt High and get off at 11:15 then i am at an elementary that is quite far away. it is far down chestnut by church and i need tob e there by 12:00 so it should be exciting to see how this goes while riding my bike. I think i will post a picture of my beautiful bike soon, cause lately we have been spending a lot of time together. riding bikes is a lot more efficient than i thought. i went from Mclane High (shields and 168) to my house downtown in 30 min exactly!!! i thought that was pretty sweet. So right now i heard a student of mine telling his friend about having a 'kickback' as they are called. And i kinda just giggled to myself about that. For those of you who dont know what that is, it is a relaxed 'drinking' party where things don't get to out of control but usually happen when parents go out of town. i guess it might be to insure that things don't get broken or something. well, i thought i would share all of these random things with you b/c i KNOW you care about it all.
"lifes a garden, dig it!" --joe dirt

Bobby D

2007-11-17T21:45:00.000-08:00

This looks pretty freaking sweet. it looks like an interesting dynamic for a movie on one person b/c some many people play him

http://www.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/imnotthere/trailer2/

John 9

2007-11-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

Today i have been listening to Matt Pond PA's new album and it is great, i have also been compiling a list of interesting things that i am going to start researching. I would be awesome to really really research them. A few things are; shooting stars, the beatles, the kingdom of jesus, LA city riots, i think just things i should maybe know more about already but its never too late to start.
In my bible study, this morning we discussed John 9. It is the story of Jesus healing a blind man but spitting in mud and having him wash in a certain fountain to restore his sight. Brother Thomas discussed how the very beginning starts off and kind of how peculiar this is. The disciples ask Jesus whether he is blind b/c of his sin or his parents. As usual Jesus responds w/ an answer which isn't either one of those in the questions. He states that he is blind so that the work of God will be shown. The answer is much bigger than just a matter of fact statement. I suppose there are many ideas to discuss about just this section of the story. My mind resides on the fact that we just don't comprehend the right questions to ask. I think that more that we can put ourselves in the kingdom perspective of discovering 'how is God going to restore shalom to this situation' we may be closer to this. i love learning about perspectives like this and was proud of my brother Thomas for questioning this part of the chapter when my mind was totally on another part.Then at the end of the chapter Jesus comes down on the judgments of the pharisees
41Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. this is probably a bigger statement than i realize. what do u think?

New Stuff

2007-11-12T21:12:00.000-08:00

So. my friends chad and scott came and hung out w/ me in Fresno this weekend. When they left, scott left me the new Tom Petty "running down the dream" dvd. it is a 4 hr long documentary w/ a live show and is jaw dropping. It was a follow up of tom petty's early beginnings to the now, which entailed quite a lot. His music is absolutely timeless as his early songs are just as terrific as his more recent and 90's music. i am also shocked as a lot of people in my house have NO IDEA who tom petty is and when i sing 'free fallin' they go.."ohhhhh yeah, that sounds familar" this is very shocking to me.

Another happening of the weekend was my wallet getting stolen out of my companion dave obwald's van. while frisbee golfing someone saw my wallet and busted the front window and took my wallet and luckily left my cell phone and keys. i guess its just a litte inconvenient and will all be sorted out soon just lost a little bit of cash and some sweet gift cards. but life goes on and i guess i shouldn't leave my wallet in view of an 'outsider' of the vehicle. much love and peace.

2007-11-08T17:42:00.000-08:00

I came across this picture today and it just reminded me of great times in Cheltenham, England. It was a beautiful raining evening and i saw these 3 friends seperate from each other and i just really like this picture.

Pink House Meeting

2007-11-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

Last evening the incredible Phil Skie came and spoke to the house. We are in our church module and started discussing what we thought of church and biblical references for it. There were ideas from the OT to the NT and only one from Acts. One of my favs was the 'body of christ' which applies to relationships w/ Christ in general.
When we started discusses the ACTS church i thought it was intersting how we always say 'THAT was the first chuch and thats what Sunday's should be like'. I think however that it was never really a day of the week rather their entire lifestyles. Thats just what following Christ was like and what we need to strive to desire and particpate in. I brought up that what is this thing on Sunday? Phil stated that he sometimes refers to it as a production. Not that its bad but the people putting it on gather to set it all up and thats it. I like to think that more of my church experiences come from relationships w/ those in the pink house, my friends (although i wish that we could do some serving more together) and those i reach. i think that would be my goal b/c it doesnt' happen as much as i believe it could and/or should.
I want to experience more love being experienced in my thought life, relationships and activites. Thanks for listening to my rambling and i expect some addtions to this soon.
I am also wizzing throught Brian Mclaren's book "a new kind of christian" and i have enjoyed it very much. A lot of thinking is occuring.
I also sold my car, and intend on riding my bike to most places as well as roll around on the scooter to those places that are a little further. I think that it may allow me to not do so many things and to maybe stay put more often than i have been. It should be a great time to rely on others who are willing as well as learn the ropes of the Fresno bus system. i think it should be easier than maybe expected b/c just about everyone that i know owns a car so there are many out there. I am also maybe considering buying a little bit nicer of a bike to get around town b/c my cruiser is very wobbely. let me know if anyone has any connections to a decent road bike. Love, Bryan

There is no perfect model of anything.

2007-11-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

I had recently read this quote from Richard Foster in his book "The Freedom of Simplicity." Foster discusses how because we are finite human beings we tend to distort the truth and make mistakes regularly. Each movement that involves simplicity is different from the previous one although there are many similarities.
I think that what Foster has to say is true in all different aspects of our lives. A model of someones marriage for example may be different than someone else's but will work wonderfully for each couple. Of course GOd has different guidlines set up and a sort of structure but i think there is a lot of (for lack of a better word) customization to each individual. Same for communities and relationships, i believe. There is no perfect model of anything.
There is a lot that i am trying to learn and contemplate in living a simple life. I think that the same principle applies. WHat i have learned from Foster so far is that living a simple life has to be rooted in obedience and trust in God.
SOmething else that i learned which i thought was kinda neat was that quakers lived in simplicity by the fashions that they chose to wear. they rejected the fashions of the time and wore plain clothing of the working class. they also refused to take off their hats to the high and mighty classes b/c they were convinced that all people deserved equal honor. Pretty awesome stuff. WEll let me know what you think and God BLess.

What Do You Know About Halloween!?

2007-11-02T08:32:00.001-07:00

Well a great time was had on October 31 of 2007. We went as the crew of AP, Jeremoney, Weebie and myself. We had a great time with my broseph Johnaton. Here were our costumes; Ap- a baby, Jeremonmey- AP, Weebie- Naked Chef, Yours Truely- 70's tennis pro. This is a taste for you weebie

New program new pictures

2007-10-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all. i just got a new photo editing software....lightroom and look forward to having fun w/ it. i just edited a couple of south african friends who are originally from the Congo, if you have heard about my trip, you KNOW who they are. tell lme what u think

Weekend of Fellowship & Love

2007-10-29T09:08:00.001-07:00

Well, this past weekend was one for the record books in bakersfield. After having a terrific night w/ jordan weibe (thejinglejanglemorning.blogspot.com) in san luis on thursday, i drove to bakersfield on friday. Friends from all over the country came out of the wood work for this weekend. He was set to propose to his girlfriend on friday night and wanted us all there to witness this love. His friends from portland as well as those in his hometown were there. he band (myspace.com/stepsonday) played at jerrys pizza and he composed a song and then popped the question. we then had an after party at his parents house and it was incredible. the pictures will prove this.

on saturday, i helped my dad w/ some drywall and then hung out w/ friends that night as well. it was just a great time for me and my friends from thursday night all the way to sunday evening. it is amazing when a single event can bring so many circles of friends together and love can be spread. There were new friends met and old ones revisted. Life is beautiful.

Some Current Thoughts (action, no sugar, and san luis)

2007-10-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

So, through this experience in the Pink House i have had many dreams and visions that i would love to see happen. First of all, i do not know who is reading this or if it is just my friends that have blogs (ie; jordan, andrew, gene, that may be it) but i live in the pink house (http://www.fiful.org/). Because the house isn't really physically located in the nearby community i tend to discourage myself about being active in it. It just takes a lot more intentionality and i find myself thinking its too big too handle.
What i have learned through others in the house specifically my roomate Yasser is that i need to make it happen. Because i would prefer to start getting more involved w/ someone else (whcih is possible if i just ask) i need to start on it myself. Gaining passion for action will eventually stream out and hopefully encourage others. A perfect exmple of something like this would be wanting to live a more 'green' life. I can talk about it all i want and come down on people who arn't but i need to be practicing it and help inform others about it. By growing in what you are about then it will spread to others who are near and around you. And if not then i guess it will be something that you will learn on your own and will be a great experience. These are the thoughts currently through my mind. It kinda of ties into what was written on jordan's blog as well check it out (www.jinglejanglemorning.blogspot.com)

On a side note i had a very interesting occurence at the breakfast table. I opened up my cinnamon toast crunch for the first time today and began eating it. as i was eating i noticed that it wasn't as sweet as normal and it just didn't taste right. i thought i was crazy but then looked at the box and realized that it was reduced sugar and i totally didn't notice when i bought it. who the hell wants cinnamon toast crunch w/ less sugar???? not me!!!! but i ate it and it filled me up and there was ultimate satisfaction in my stomach. Then i made a pb and j sandwich for lunch and the pb seemed to have a differenct consistency. once again i looked at the container low and behold 25% less sugar!!!! can u believe that. However in this case i feel as though i have no reason to complain b/c it was one of my room mates peanut butter containers. soo....that has been my day and the absence of sugar in my life. i am excited for my lunch b/c i have some great fruit from the farmers market....i love you all. jordan and i are goign to San Luis Obispo to see Rocky Votolato play and i cant wait!!!! ol' pacific here we come!

St. Louis and the CCDA

2007-10-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

I will soon load some pics from St. Louis and share some experiences from there. Here is a pic of a couple of my pink housemates just walking towards the bus stop. Jenny on the left and Megan on the right. They are beautiful girls and have some great experiences and lives to add to the whole of the house. The is also a pic of my roommates and i standing in front of a flippin polar bear. One of the days at the CCDA conference we decided to go to the zoo. which was completely FREE and i couldn't get over it. it wasn't just some rink a dink zoo but it was legit and it was very enjoyable for the whole house. we saw pretty much any animal that we could so desire and more!
The CCDA conference was pretty incredible. I will assume that most people don't know what CCDA stands for or what it is so here it is. It stands for Christian Community Development Association. It is basically a lot of people from all over the country who have committed to urban ministry. It was founded by a man by the name of John Perkins (look him up if you have a chance). He is almost 80 years old and was very much active in the Civil Rights Movement along with MLK Jr. (maybe not actually w/ him but at the same time as him in the South. He has many different theories and practices that make CCDA what it is. For example the three R's: Relocation, Reconcilation, and Redistribution. The Pink House went to a lot of different sessions of speakers. It was a very informative and beneficial time for the House just to get to know each other and get some excitement. We got to have b-fast w/ Shane Claiborne whcih was pretty exciting for me because of his transformation on my life and ministry. We learned about wonderful ministries that people have started which are building community in different and unique ways. Peace and Love

A Thought on my work.

2007-10-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

So, currently i am sitting in my science class which i will be substituting. And the bell just rang. But anyways, i am thinking that this isn't a very challenging job most of the time. Usually the things that i chose to invest my time in arn't always this easy so it makes me wonder if this is something that i should be doing 40 hours a week. There is a lot of enjoyment that i get out of substituting but that tends to be with the younger kids in elementary school (and isn't as easy as doing middle school OR high school). Interacting with them and seeing how they respond to certain projects makes me laugh. Not to mention the beautiful pictures that i end up taking home!!! But i want to get into high school because this is less work...is this wrong? I am not sure, probably not. I think that i am not in substituting because i am going to change these kids lives, because there is no time for that (on the big scheme of things) but who knows what can be done in 1 hr.

Well i suppose that the answer to this may lie in my response to how i view each day of work and what i want to accomplish. As the ol' Saint Paul says in Col. "whatever you do, do to the glory of God" -amen

Yosemite

2007-10-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

I went to Yosemite with a couple of friends on thursday. It was beautiful. I am going to try to figure out how to post pictures on here. It was my first time going there and it was absolutly beautiful. The colors were changing and it blew my mind! My friend and housemate Lucia took me, john, and daudi.

I had some beautiful things happen today

2007-10-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

So today was a great day as far as substitute teaching goes. I started off the morning at Roosevelt High School which went over w/o any incidents to speak of. In the afternoon i went to an elementary school and had no idea what grade i would be thrown into. When i showed up i discovered that i would be w/ 2nd graders for a couple of hours. Then something beautiful happened...these three girls kept running in my room b/c my door was opened while i was waiting for the kids to finish recess. They did this 3 times and kept saying that they were mistaking my room for another one. I asked them if they wanted me to show them where their room was and they said sure. When i came outside one of the girls handed me a little daisy that she found in the grass and my heart melted. THen she offered me one of her bracelets but it wouldn't fit on my wrist so she said i could give it to my wife or kids....

It was such a beautiful gesture and it made my afternoon.

Lets see how this goes

2007-10-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

Well i am creating this to enhance my creativity. I also tend to have a lot of free time while substitute teaching and think that it may be fun...