le emerald city

i type this from a room in the holiday inn at fishermans wharf in san francisco. so far, we have been lost, seen a great deal of asians and are preparing for a night out. anika and i have our own room, in which we have set up our computers and are listening to britney spears from an asians' mac. we know they are asian because their library name is in japanese. or chinese. we can't tell the difference.

hmm

the depth of true, authentic, caring community is impossible and incomprehensible to articulate.

interesting ambiguity

first, good news! i am fully funded for my time in the UK. i cannot say how crazy the past 2 weeks have been. essentially, i have raised $11,000 in a matter of ten days. its extremely affirming, to say the least, and it gives me hope that God will be doing crazy things this next year.

second, i have had quite a few good conversations with my parents. we are starting to become friends rather than a parent/child relationship. i appreciate their wisdom and willingness to let me process and journey through a period in my life that is not easy. they give me hope.

third, i started a group on facebook called the california cardigan club. currently, i am the sole member. it saddens me to see that no one appreciates a good cardigan anymore. you don't have to be from california to be in the club. the name is simply to give some alliteration. everyone, including phillip seymour hoffman and lavar burton, should join.

fourth, i am debating on the types of gifts i shall give this year. the last thing i want to do is contribute to the consumer/materialistic mindset a holiday full of meaning has taken on. i am encouraged by groups like this. i have been trying to think on the practical level, something full of meaning and resourcefulness, something of real value. ok, i might break down and buy the whole family this. it brings us together.

lastly, i have been contemplating much about the ambiguous nature of language in church. as i sat through reedley mb's service on sunday, i tried to listen with a fresh set of ears and a clear mind, as if i was someone who had never been before. it got me thinking.....is the reason for our disconnect with the culture around us purely linguistic? there are so many words thrown around in church that i have never heard in a movie, newspaper article or song (unless purchased from Berean). just something to think about.....

and now off to visalia for fellowship with good friends.

here i go a-wandering...

this is the story of my foray into a steel pipe as narrated by tim haydock.

setting my course to plan

i have been in pasadena for exactly a week now. i thought it was going to be just a short jaunt into socal but it has turned out to be much more than that. here are highlights.....

1. laughing, discussing, and imagining a better world with my best friend.
2. watching david bazan hit the proverbial nail on the head with a phenomenal show at the glass house in pomona on tuesday night
3. being tripped out by 'i'm not there', the new bob dylan movie in which 6 different periods of mr. zimmerman's life are told through the perspective of isolating each period through a different character i.e. dylans infamous show and absurd media attention in the uk (period character played by cate blanchett, who was unreal) or dylan as he rode in on the crest of popularity out of the folk scene (played by an admirable christian bale).....it was confusing as hell yet beautiful, oh so beautiful.
4. 3 american apparel deep v's + the new m.i.a. album + new brown bobby d shades=solid finds and hipster heaven
5. spending time with rob and darcie young, good friends. they live in anaheim hills. yes, the oc (dont call it that).
6. walking up and down colorado boulevard, watching the rose parade stands go up. its almost time for new years.....which brings me to the biggest thing....

you all know i am headed for the uk in a little less than 3 weeks. a part of that is gaining the finances as well as submitting the visa application. currently i am working on all the documents for the visa but my financial situation has done very well. currently, i stand at $8500 which is very close to my need of $11,000. it feels great to have a sort of affirmation about the whole thing. i am hoping that the Holy Spirit would completely deconstruct the mental structures i have in what kids need and bring a fresh sense of willingness, humility, and ultimately a just mind to doing things that will help the healing process in their lives. i have been struck lately how much of the Gospel is based on the idea of restoration, making things right, putting things back together, the holistic process of bringing peace to people's lives, both internally and with each other. i'm on the path to getting over a lot of the argumentative issues of the Church and am ready for something beautiful and peaceful and true and just to happen in God's kingdom. Maybe that stuff is in the UK.......

and coming up later, my journey to save a baseball.

descent into old age

i am now 22 years old.



my birthday was yesterday. it was a good day, full of relaxation, a nap or two with the sounds of a documentary on hillbillies on the history channel in the background, good friends, a bit of worship, and great times.