Tour

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...

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

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

Spanish Man

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?!?!

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

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!

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

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

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.