lack of information

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.