Drug Bust at Starbucks

I've never been this close to a legitimate drug bust. Wow.

Two of San Diego's finest are absolutely shredding through a VW Passat wagon pulling out tons of pill bottles, black bags, and grocery bags full of brick-shaped objects. SO COOL.

And this after I stood behind them as they ordered a Skinny Vanilla Latte and a Chamomile tea, respectively.

Hahaha! A cowboy just walked out to help them. I swear to you it's an honest-to-goodness cowboy. Skinny Jeans, boots, button-down shirt, black cowboy hat. THIS IS THE MOST RANDOM THING I'VE EVER SEEN. If a rabbi starts in with them, I think I'm obligated to pen a fresh joke or two... ha

Well as you already can tell the evening finds me at Starbucks and I'm listening to a band named Copeland . It's a new band to me but they've been around for a while and have a really unique style. I'm reading Henry Nouwen's Lifesigns, a WONDERFUL book whose first few chapters detail the differences between fear and love in relationships. This little book has already completely changed the way I relate to people, and I'm just getting into chapter 3. I'm challenged by Nouwen's ideas, and I sense God's hand in the mix. I love that!

This evening I'll also nail down some calendar items, work on a song I've had swirling in my head for about a month, and then--well after 12--put on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and trip out on Johnny Depp's take on Wonka.

I need to write soon about the "6 Stages of Faith." This comes form a handout I was given by a teacher last quarter. Oh, and that reminds me: I start classes this upcoming Tuesday so pray for/call/text me Tuesday to give me a little encouragement!

Live from San Diego, over and out.

at

HAHAHAHAHA Ok so a cop just walked by the Starbucks window HOLDING A GUN I watched him pull from under the driver's seat. THIS IS AWESOME!!! I'm sure glad I parked two spaces over and not right next to the guy...

Well, I got my first D...

Well it seems my ability to pull last-minute term papers and get decent grades has met its match with one Dr. Glen Scorgie.

Man, that sucks...

To be fair, though, I re-read the paper after I got my grade and it was total crap. I don't think I would have even given myself a D, to be honest. It was all spotty and obviously had more input from the caffeine than from my brain.

Lesson learned, though. I'm already about 40% done with a paper that's not due til Friday, but I still have a ton of work to do this weekend, even after I turn in this paper. A few more mini papers due on Monday, then a final Monday night, and then another final Tuesday night! Ugh. THEN I'm done til after the new year.

God, you're good, even when I'm bummed. Thanks for the lesson and encouragement.

Pray for me non-stop til next Tuesday night at 9:30.

at

My Credo

I'm listening to MuteMath and working on my Credo Paper for my Systematic Theology class. Crazy stuff, man.

There's so much what I'll call "head knowledge" out there--theological speculation and deduction, some of it--that I sometimes forget that God's actually calling me into relationship with him. A lot like how when you're growing up your parents buy you shoes that are a little too big for you because you'll "grow into them," some of us budding theologians seem to know so much about God that our relationship with God suffers. Right or not, it's something I've experienced, and I know I'm not alone.

I guess my encouragement for you today is to not think so much about the intricacy of the character of God or to wonder so much about the existence of God, but to find and rest in the presence of God. That's the place we should all want to be.

Honestly yours,
at

Class, Week 2

I should be brief because I'm actually in class as I write this, but class has been wonderfully stretching to my spiritual life.

I'm spending a lot of time in prayer, and just trying to attentive to God.

I'll be posting some notes from classes from time to time, but not now.

A pic of my current class:




Keep a soft heart, friends!

Aaron

Live from my iPhone

Backstage at PLNU's chapel and I just played my first electric guitar set since late May...

Then, at the end, Milton Karahadian came up on stage and prayed for me during the prayer time. That was really cool, and I'm still (and will always be) figuring out that my relationship with God includes that with those around me as well.

Give someone a call today and tell them you're praying for them, and maybe even pray for them over the phone!

May Christ's love compel you to mend and grow relationships today!

at

Zach's Craziness vs. Justin's Jealousy

There seems to be a bit of mayhem going on at the Chicago House, and we're not just talking pillow fights and chocolate shakes...

It would seem based on this blog that there's a bit of roomy jealousy going on, and I'm sitting squarely in the middle.

At first I played it off like it was just Zach being Zach, but then I read this little post and decided I was a much bigger deal (to these guys) than I had previously imagined.

My name (well...my last name...shows how well they know me...) is plastered all over these things, and it's not something I'm proud of. Love triangles are no fun, especially when you're the third point and you don't understand why the other two points are trying to draw lines at you.

See, this isn't the first time my roommates have fought over me, nor will it be the last. I just wish there were enough of me to go around.

Sorry guys, but I'm just one man... And I have a job, so I work. Unlike you.

xoxo

-at

Intimacy in the Middle

I'm reading "Life Signs" by Henry Nouwen, and it's a killer book to say the least!  One thing I've been thinking about a lot:

Nouwen writes about how there are two ways to kill real, true, honest, life-changing intimacy.  The first is being too far away from someone to really know them.  This phenomenon (well...actually not a phenomenon because it all too common!) is prevalent because it's easy to stay distanced from people.  

I have no problem avoiding people, and all it takes to really let a relationship go by the wayside is to not call someone, or email them, or text them (or return any of their attempts to get to you first).  We all know relationships take time, and the best, deepest relationships take time out of every day.  (In case you aren't really reading into what I'm saying, this also plays out in your relationship with God!)

So intimacy killer #1:  Distance

The second is like the first in that there's a proximity at work in the relationship.  Instead of being distant and standoffish, you can injure intimacy by putting up a false closeness to the other person.

This plays out in my daily life as I'm walking around my work seeing new and old faces all the time.  Some people I know well, and others I merely know their names, and still others are just faces to me...people who I say hi to as we pass but nothing more.  

Since I started reading this book, I've begun intentionally getting people's names, even if I have already gotten their names 5 times already.  After reading this book, I'd rather not pretend that I can remember their names and instead are enjoying the freedom that comes from being on a truly level playing field.

See, when you fake closeness or allow a separation to take place there's an imbalance of power.  Someone has control of the situation, even if they don't know it.  When I walk by a fellow Apple employee and just say hi (full well knowing that I DON'T know their name), they have power over me because I am completely cut down by my inability to remember their name!

So, intimacy killer #2:  Fake Closeness

And this outcome, this power stratification, leads to fear, and that's when people have to start making decisions not based on love, but based on what is going to make the fear and the pain and the awkwardness go away.

Today, don't be fearful of what someone thinks of you if you have to ask their name a few more times to get it right!  Just humble yourself and be honest, and the genuinely close relationships will flow!

All glory to God!

at