Thailand

This summer I get to go to Thailand for study. It's going to be an incredible trip, although, the language is rather hard to understand and learn. Nevertheless, I'm forcing myself to be able to hold a coherent conversation with someone while I'm there. I just picked up some books on Thailand and some maps...now I have my winter break reading material.

My week at a glance

This is my week, for those of you who are faithful readers:

• Finals (they should be realitivly easy, but everytime I state that, I end up failing)
• Junior High christmas party on Wednesday, I'm already looking forward to 9pm when it ends
• Christmas shopping on Friday
• Coffee with some of my most awesome friends
• A Wahoo's run
• Mailing out Christmas cards
• Working on my music (my CD will be out in 2007)
• I'm going to go hiking Saturday morning to have my devo time (should be really cool)
• Clean my disgusting apartment (my roommate needs to take a class on picking up his crap)

Seems like a lot stuff in one week, but trust me, it will get done!

Starbuck Don'ts

Coming from the horse's mouth, here are a few things that Starbuck employees hate about customer habits:

1. Not knowing the menu and taking eons to order.

2. Hassling employees about company policies that they have no control over.

3. This is the most important one- people who LICK the whipped cream, caramel, etc. before leaving the receiving bar! Do not even make eye contact. Quite disturbing... in fact don't even have your straw ready.

4. The most frequent occurring annoyance is people who STARE while the bartista is making the drinks. They know what they are doing folks, and more importantly you don't!

Thanks Ashley!

Book Question

Can anyone recommend a good book on JH/HS student counseling?

Favs and Loaths

here are few of my favorite things...

• Antique books
• Middle school ministry
• Morning fog
• Church history
• Coffee
• My dog (Ba'leigh pronounced "Bay-Lee")
• Synthesizers
• My family
• Thai food
• Sci-fi novels
• Journaling
• Haggis
• Languages
• Coffee
• Adults with ADD/ADHD
• sarcastic people
• Working with awesome friends
• My heritage (Irish and Spanish-yeah that's right, I can sing and dance)
• Chinese food
• Hiking and taking walks by myself

Things I loath...

• Traffic
• Ignorant people
• People who cry about EVERYTHING (get some thick skin)...okay maybe not so much
• Sleep
• Turkey stuffing
• Fake people
• Abercrombie and Fitch
• Not having coffee
• Library fines
• The sound of ice being crunched inside someone's mouth
• People who lie
• The French (just kidding....:.)
• Professor's who take forever to grade assignments
• CRV taxes for anything that comes in a bottle, plastic container, etc.
• Foul language
• Not having health insurance
• Expensive gas

What are some of your favs and loaths?

Fun week

This is the rundown for the week so far:

• had some major headaches this week. Advil is not working.
• Went to a meeting at Saddleback to discuss winter camp 2007
• Played darts with Kurt Johnston, Mike Lovato, and Matt Hall- fun times!
• Ate a massive Philly-cheese sandwich...I was dying on the way home
• Played Frisbee golf and lost a Frisbee on top a roof at Saddleback
• Writing a huge paper on the Napoleonic Wars
• Student leadership meeting and tacobell...gross!
• heartburn to kill a horse...darn that GURD!
• I filled out my seminary application for Southwestern

Good Enough

This is a quick concept that has been moving through my head for the last few months. When does a person say "no" to an internship and "yes" to something else? Is there a standard formula that is used to determine when and how a person is eligible to ride without the training wheels? Is a person considered superior when placed into a position of great responsibility and or commitment? I wish I knew...for I feel that I am going to end up at the starting line again. When is a person "good enough" to fly solo in ministry?

Southwestern Seminary

Yesterday I visited Southwestern Theological Seminary. Absolutely incredible! I'm still praying about this, but, as of right now the peace I have about this place and the doors that God has opened for me has be exciting to see.

My flight home to So. Cal was good. I had a a whole row to myself. However, we we landing at LAX, we had to wait for 40 minutes before docking with the terminal, and then another 40 minutes to retrieve my baggage. That sucked!

Other than that, God has something special for me in the state Texas. Please keep this lifted up!

A Sunday morning in Texas

Today I got to visited my friend's (Mark) church. Cottonwood Creek is incredible! The people are friendly, the service was inspiring and the atmosphere warm and loving. I got the chance to chat with the youth pastor. Nice guy, however, while I waited in the youth room to chat with him, only one student out the 25 (who were still lingering after the service, they run 150+) came up to greet me. Now I know how new students feel when they enter a new ministry for the first time. Greeters are "so" important. I literally judged the ministry within my first five minutes there....Exciting atmosphere, high energy, and I walked away feeling unwelcomed.

On a funny note, I forgot to pack my nice dress shoes. So, I wore the nicest church outfit I own and my rainbow's!!! I got the funniest stares, and I am sure that everyone knew that I was not from Texas.

Texas Homes

In Texas, homes are cheap, and you get a lot of house for your dollar. This home is going for $260,000. In California this home would go for $650,000, and you wouldn't get sweet tea from your neighbors.

Texas Day 2

Well, its actually day three, but Thursday was over before I knew it and nothing really happened. Okay, so this is what's been happening today:

• Got up really early to see Allen High school football team beat the crap out of Rowlett.
• Got to see a Texas style football game in the "Texas stadium- home of the Dallas cowboys." Texans take their football very seriously...almost fanatical.
• We drove by where President Kennedy was assassinated. The grassy knoll was packed with tourists, and the book depository was kind of neat. This kind of weird- they have two "X"s on the road to signify where Kennedy was shot.
• We ate lunch at this really crazy cool pizza place called Brooklyn. Great food, even better service. My friend Mark got slice that was kind of skimpy on the meat, the manager came over and took it back. The same slice returned packed with meat. Texans don't mess around when it comes to food.
• Now, I'm watching am Auburn game. What is happening to me...?
• By the way, I am the mayor of the town "Lucas"!

Texas Day 1

Well I have arrived in Texas safe and sound. The flight was jam packed and boring. Other than that pretty uneventful. Here's a few snibbits of adventure:

• Allen Texas is absolutely amazing. I don't want to leave. Everything is clean, new, and friendly. The food is down-right incredible and the people here are very hospitable.
• The school system here is amazing, the high school reminds of a college. Allen spares no expense for the children of the town.
• The food is great. BBQ is unmatched.
• My friend's house is like some one would see off of MTV Cribs; incredible!

Well, I have much to do and lots to see, peace out!

24

Within the past 24 hours...I:

• re-edited a 12 page paper on the demographics of Cairo Egypt
• listened to 311
• made a cake (for Veronica)
• played Jenga with Veronica
• re-charged my iPod...Twice
• dropped my car off at the shop (I am carless at the moment)
• ate breakfast at Chick-fil-e with a good friend and mentor
• packed my bag
• finished last minute ministry details
• talked with God
• cleaned my room (I hate returning to a messy house)
• ate lunch at Mr. You's (Lovato's favorite place in Riverside...Just kidding)
• re-designed 2 event flyers
• made an "old school" powerpoint presentation...All I can say is that MediaShout rocks!
• blogged

I leave for Texas tomorrow and I'm so tired...thank God for Starbucks!

Crazy Week

So this week is packed with too much stuff. Here's a taste:

• Have to take my car to the shop (Wednesday morning...6am to be exact)
• Meeting with Chris (Wednesday afternoon)
• Midweek program (Wednesday night)
• Pack for Texas (Wednesday)
• Drive to LAX (Thursday morning...early)
• Visiting Southwestern Theological Seminary
• Hang out with Mark and family
• Flight back to LAX (Monday night)
• Class on Tuesday
• Midweek on Tuesday

With all of this, I am totally excited about flying to Texas and doing church up until the very moment of leaving on a trip like this.

Time and Homework

I have way too much homework. It seems that the papers seem to be piling up, research is slow, and I need more coffee. I am much obliged for Starbucks and Veronica (for tearing me away from my books) for a good break.

Okay, I'm leaving now...

Letters....

I just ran across this interesting story. I had something like happen to me. My parents love antiques, and they bought a old briefcase for me at an estate sale. Inside the briefcase where the research articles of a man I knew years ago and who I greatly respected, and has since passed away. It's weird how we acquire stuff like this.

Jesus Action Figure

As I was making my Christmas list I cam arcoss this on the net. Absolutely rediculous, but somewhat humerous at the same time. Okay, I need to go and pray now.

No, I really have a Christmas list!

Turkey Bowl

This is my game face!

Turkey Bowl has finally come and gone...thank God! Here are some highlights and lowlights:
Highlight

• The t-shirts were really cool
• The weather was great
• Students had fun
• HALO...I won every time
• Domino's Pizza instead of Gelato
• Students brought their friends
• No one got hurt

Lowlights

• Not every student showed
• Stuck with a few extra shirts (they are now on sale $10)
• HALO brings out worst in some students (lying, manipulation, etc.)
• A rude basketball team from somewhere trying to intimidate us
• Late parents

Overall, a great event and hopefully God was glorified!

Funny

I just read this...kind of funny. I guess he's not getting that Red Rider BB gun this year for Christmas.

My New Toy

I got a new Dell Axim PDA. It's cool, just need to figure out how to connect it to the internet.