Ramblings from a Rambler

...things goin' on

2007-10-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

Ugh…so, sorry to my few, but loyal readers…but I just haven’t been updating like I should…

Plenty has happened, but I’ll keep it brief – just the highlights….let’s see…where did I leave off…Well since the last update, I’ve adjusted fairly well to life here in Dalian. Work’s been nuts…so busy, but really don’t have much to show for it, lol...we’re still about two months from being done (assuming things move much faster than they’re going now, lol). Fortunately, I’ll be headed back to the good ol’ US of A in November for *officially* the last of my GA Tech roommates to be married…yep.

Fun things to do in Dalian:
- make some local friends
- go shopping
- learn enough Chinese to help bargain with said shopping
- don’t pay more than 200 RMB for a fake Louis Vuitton…or else you’re a sucker!
- eat “fresh fish”…so fresh, they still have the oil from the refinery on them (see flickr)
- eat cow feet…don’t ask
- eat cow tongue…why not, right?
- go to a football game (pics on flickr…check ‘em out); be sure to go alone…stumble upon the crazy fan bus, get invited along, go nuts with 100 crazy fans…but be sure to be the only ones in the stadium cheering, lol
- visit the aquarium…in the rain. It’s more fun like that…helps you relate to the fish ;-)
- join an international church. Get asked to help out with worship. And lead the first bible study – but be sure that you let God let you lead the group a week late, so that you forget your notes and let Him take over…it’ll go better like that
- when some jerk says that a dvd cost 20 RMB when the price tag says 15 RMB, walk away, lol…you can get them for like 8 somewhere else
- buy some copy’d dvd’s
- buy some souvenirs for an old friend…..and some new ones.
- change your blogger account language setting from Chinese to English

And finally, do better about keeping up with folks back home...

Bottoms Up

2007-09-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

**Voice of Dr. Nick from the Simpsons** “Hello Everybody”….yesterday a few of the managers at work took the other guy (from work) and me out to dinner last night to this nice restaurant on the other side of town. It was a pretty nice place, we had our own room and all…very typical Chinese dinner: lots and lots of food, most of which was put on a giant Lazy Susan in the middle of the table (which makes me wonder who is Susan, and was she lazy…or a genius…seriously, a Lazy Susan is really just a buffet table where you don’t even have to get up to get food…Susan was probably fat…maybe it should be called a Fat Susan). Anyway, Dalian is “famous” (everything here is “famous”) for its seafood…which is most likely because it surrounded on three sides by the Pacific. Haha and every time I ask our translator what something (food wise) is…she either says “sea fish” or “sea vegetable”…sounds fishy to me. pun intended.

The funny thing about nice Chinese dinners, is that it’s traditional for everyone to toast each other – usually to “friendship” and how much you drink is directly proportional to how good of friends you are, so most toasts are “bottoms up.” Also, one of the favorite drinks is so called “white wine”…which is definitely NOT wine, it’s got to be about 50% alcohol. We were finally able to convince them that we’d toast them with coke or juice to their beer. Yeah, yeah, not too exciting I know, but you have to remember that everyone toasts everyone else…so I think I did about 10 toasts or more…so you can imagine that it’s best to toast with something other than alcohol if I actually wanted to make it to work the next day, haha. All in all it was a good dinner and now I have a bunch of new “friends,” lol.

What other news…oh we’re looking into finding a church in the area…and there’s always the Sea Shell Museum to look forward to…

sick

2007-08-31T03:34:00.000-07:00

We go through some interesting areas to work every morning. At one point we go over this bridge and as soon as you get to the other side it instantly smells like fish poop. There’s this other area right next to work that straight up smells like garbage….weird.

So I got sick…yep. I was a this little local place that I’d eaten at a few times before, so I thought it was safe. I had what I thought was tea (I had Coke all the times before this) and apparently the tea wasn’t boiled all the way…ohh, it’s like the Shanghais Shakes or something. I guess everything is made in China, even dysentery (ok ok, so it’s not as bad as that). Anyway, takin meds and stuff…yea for UOP doctors making us carry that medical kit.

What else, oh, there’s a big Economic conference in town this week. Must be a big deal because I can’t open my windows the entire time it’s here. Only thing I can figure is because my windows face the main road where all the hotels are and there are some big wigs and they're afraid somebodys gonna get shot or something. Either that or they’re afraid all the crazy Americans would moon all these big shots and bring bad press down on the city…hmm…probably the latter...sad but true.

k, I’m gonna try and take in some culture this weekend (no no, hold the crazy, stomach churning bacteria please)...let ya know how that goes.

Ps. Someone eat a Quizno’s sub for me (honey mustard chicken)…I’ve got a cravin.

Day at the beach

2007-08-26T03:05:00.000-07:00

Let me first just say that I love that when people drive here, they use the lines on the roads more as guidelines, than as actually lanes, lol…

It’s funny how G-d is right there when we need him isn’t it…I think this new hotel is going to work out pretty well. I just happened to move in the one weekend of the year that the staff takes all of the guests (it’s a pretty small hotel) out for an outing to the beach.

Today, we went to Golden Pebble Beach (which literally has NO sand…only golden pebbles). Anyway, we all met this morning and headed out…in the rain (great beach weather). But G-d stopped the rain for us when we got there and kept it away all day…it was actually kinda nice to not have the sun blaring down on us all day – especially seeing as I forgot sunscreen. OH, and can I just say that the people here can eat! Granted, it’s mostly rice, noodles, and sea food, but I don’t see how the people here aren’t bigger, lol.

After lunch we started playing a friendly game of volleyball…and you’d think that the populace of a country where ping pong and badminton are considered national sports (haha, as in, literally, shown on TV) would be good at volleyball….they aren’t, lol. Anyway, we were playing around, just having fun when this group of guys came up to us and asked if we wanted to play a friendly game. Let me just say, that these guys were H U G E…all of them were taller than me…I mean, these guys looked like the national volleyball team, lol. I thought we were going to get our butts handed to us…but we reluctantly agreed. Long story short…we showed them what America was made of!! Ok, ok, just kidding…especially because only three of us were from America, the rest of the guests were Chinese…but honestly, we DESTROYED them – it was awesome…one of the most dominating volleyball performances ever! Seriously, stories will be told, movies will be made, children’s coloring books will be printed…legends have been created.

All over-exaggerations aside and all things considered, it was a pretty fun day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still ready to come home…but it’s really nice to know He’s listening and knows when I need a pick-me-up (and then provides one, lol).

China

2007-08-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

So, my first work week is finally over…and all in all it went pretty well. I won’t bore you guys with all of the gory details (haha, just most of them ;-). So first thing’s first – business class = awesome!! haha.

K, some things that caught me by surprise: this place is not nearly as crowded as I thought it would be, and I’m not the biggest person here, lol (just bigger than most…ha). Hmm, oh and I haven’t been able to find any crazy cheap market places…but that’s on the agenda for this weekend, lol (that and McDonalds).

So far, my days are kinda boring – wake up, work out, go to work, work out, get some food (ha, at this little place down the street where I point at the pictures on the menu to order b/c no one speaks English), maybe go to Starbuck…and then watch a movie till I fall asleep. A little boring, but it keeps me sane ;-). My hotel is pretty nice…hmm, moving to a new place today b/c the one I’m at now is booked solid in like a week. But all is good b/c the new place has free internet and free breakfast…haha, which brings my total food expense to about 3 USD a day, lol…gotta love it.

Some downsides…I’ll probably be here for a while…the refinery is already a little behind. I’m hoping to be back by early November, which kinda sucks =(.…right now, just trying to get settled-in. So if anyone feels like giving me a call, my skype stuff is set up just call the number on my facebook profile and it’ll forward to my cell here (only costs me like 2 cents a min). I’m like 13 hrs ahead of you, so don’t call between 10 AM – 7 PM Chicago time (well, you could call…but you might not like how I answer the phone, lol), Or you could send me an email…I got plenty of time.

Aight, I’ll put up some pictures later…for now I’m think I’m gonna go to the American Embassy (i.e. Starbucks, lol) and then maybe get some Subway for lunch =).

K, as Joe’s Crab Shack says “Peace, love, and crabs”…well, ok…not the crabs part, b/c that’s just gross. ;-)

update

2007-06-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

wow...so much has happened since my last post...

well, for starters I don't usually post when I'm in Chicago - mostly because anything I would want to say to anyone, I just tell my roomates and/or firends, lol...this is a bit tougher overseas (or out west)...thus the beginning of the blog a while back. Anyway, what all's new with me? Welp, a good frined from back home is havin a baby =), which is awesome - it's amazing how God works in some pretty crazy circumstances...what else, I'll be in yet ANOTHER wedding for someone from back home this November (always the groomsman...ha), my sister graduated (which is pretty cool...she's an ER nurse), ohh things are going relatively well at work! Basically, if I can get some good experience/jobs over the next 6 months or so, then I'll be able to get an office job - everyone I've talked to at work is pretty "on-board" with the idea, so I think it's going to work out =) God answered that prayer pretty quick (relatively speaking...). What I mean is that it was pretty quick considering that we want everything instantly these days, but really, when you think about it, a few weeks/months really isn't that long in the grand scheme of things...besides, the best things are always worth waiting for....

hmm...that reminds me of some other things going on...or should I say potentially going on. what? nevermind...that's another story altogether - one I might share soon...

Anyway, here I sit in Tulsa, OK waiting to go back to Chicago (my new home =) and I can't wait. I've gotten to the point where I get soooo freakin excited when I'm done with a job and get to go home - it's pretty much the greatest feeling ever, lol. I can't wait to take some vacation and see my friends...play some guitar, and sleep in. God's so awesome...even when we screw-up, or stumble, or "forget" to spend time with him, or just get so busy that we lose our priorities...even when all this happens and we realize that we're so unworthy of his love...it seems like that's when he shows us most strongly that it's just not true. He loves us...He loves us so much. It's pretty freakin ridiculous when you think about it, lol..but I'm so grateful.

Summers night, your delight
How long's it been
Too long...at least it feels too long
I fell back there, a pebble really...but a boulder to me
I'm up now...
but you know that - you helped me up
Ok, you picked me up.
But, I'm up now...and back in the race
It really is amazing...your grace that is
Confounding
Confusing
Comforting
...Uncompromising
Unyielding
Unending...
All encompasing
Surrounding...like water...like an ocean
Like an ocean of love
A glacier of earth and ice and fire
...Steady, slow, and fast all at once...but never stopping
Unstoppable really
Which is good, because I never want you to stop
...regardless of what I say or how I act sometimes...

I'll leave with this: one drop of God, one breath of the creator, the smallest peice possible of Him that is "I Am", is more powerfull than all the evil that has ever existed (or ever will) put together. God is "I Am"...everthing else is "i think i am right now", or "i was...or thought i was", or "i may be". Nothing else really IS, but God...and He IS awesome, and loving, and He does listen and answer...even when, maybe especially when we don't think we deserve it...

back

2007-03-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

well, i'm back again. been back for almost a week. now, i'm off to the magical land of Whiting Indiana (which is pretty much right next to Gary, IN) so as you might expect, i'm pretty excited. lol. i should find out early next week what's next b/c this job in whiting is only suppposed to last a night or two (yup, back on night shift)...i worked 90 hrs last week. doin that and not getting paid overtime, and in fact, only getting 1 day of comp time kinda makes you think about stuff. working ridiculously long weeks is precisely why i didn't get some dumb corporate job downtown.....so maybe change is in the wind, or maybe i just need a day off. oh, i'm seriously thinking about getting a condo - i really want a house, but probably won't be able to afford one of those in chicago for another 20 yrs or so, ha. but i am starting to look in E-town. it's nice there, i like the lake. anyways, i'll update when i know where i'm headed next. peace till then.

working on the night train...

2007-02-27T16:19:00.000-08:00

night shift sucks....and i haven't even done it yet. last night i got 4 hrs of sleep in preparation for sleeping most of today and working tonight, butttttt as usually, things at work are behind schedule. there was no point in me coming yesterday. i am missing the red hot chili peppers tonight and am pretty bummed...all becuase people can't get their crap together. it sucks....i'm venting. ahhh, so tonight i'll be up till probably 4 or 5am and then sleep till about 2 or 3. maybe longer, hopefully longer. i have to work tomorrow at 8pm or so, so if anyone wants to pray for me - you can pray that i don't get asked any quesitons that i don't know the answer to. I really don't want to look like an idot. Normally, looking like an idot wouldn't bother me that bad...it's just when the client is paying like 1200 bucks a day, they aren't too excited to hear "i don't know". so yeah, that's where i'm at right now. i'll update in a few days to let you know how it's going. peace till then.

ps. i miss chicago already...

New Schedule...yet again...

2007-01-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

So, the wonders of my job never cease...

I'm in Texas at the moment (Houston to be exact), and tomorrow night I'll be in Cheyenne, Wyoming (yes, I said Wyoming). I'll then fly back here to Houston on Saturday, only to do it all over again next Monday, and then once more the Monday after that. It's alot of travel, but I hope not as stressfull as it sounds. On the bright side this is all for work training and it's only going to last 3 weeks, and that means I'll be back in Chi-town to see my boys in action at The Well. I continue to have second thoughts about my job...and my future. I've come to love Chicago so much, well, ok - more to the point, I've come to love the people there so much...I hate leaving. Not to say that I'm completely miserable, I am driving a Dodge Charger and I got to see Donovan, both of which are awesome. Overall, these 3 weeks come at a good time, I suppose. There are some things that I could use a few weeks of relative silence to try and hear God on...

There are some things that I could really use a "voice from heaven" on...although, I've come to the point where I'd "settle" for God to just stir up a passion. How do you hear from God on stuff that you know you have a bias on. Any sort of feeling/sign that supports your desire/opinion then "it's from God"; anything that doesn't support it is just your mind playing games...So, God, I wait for you...

Have you ever felt like you're waiting on something that seems like it'll never happen...but you still have hope? Where does that hope come from? Is it vanity? Is it God? Do we hold on, or let go? How does faith come into play?

Hope to hope,
Dare to hope,
Hope to love,
Selfish love?

No, not anymore.
Maybe then,
Maybe now,
But not now,
Not anymore.

Now, Love to love,
Nothing more.
Expect nothing,
Ask nothing,
Give everything.
Just love.

Love hopes,
Love endures,
Love bears all.
(and leaves the rest to God)
Do you?
Do I?
Can we?
We'll see...

Love to love,
Nothing more.
Expect nothing,
Ask nothing,
Give everything.
Just love.

Well, what's the next step? Who knows...but for now, it's late and I'm going to sleep.

Lucky Formula

2007-01-26T07:02:00.000-08:00

Check this out...an interesting article from BBC about luck.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3335275.stm

Here are the four main tips on becoming "lucky" from this article:

" - Listen to your gut instincts - they are normally right

- Be open to new experiences and breaking your normal routine

- Spend a few moments each day remembering things that went well

- Visualise yourself being lucky before an important meeting or telephone call. Luck is very often a self-fulfilling prophecy"

Oddly (i.e. conveinently) enough, the professor that did this study is named Wiseman...hmmm...don't know how much this stuff really works, but it's worth a try I suppose. His main point is that "lucky people" are less anxious than "unlucky people" and so they see what is there (i.e. new opportunities and such) as opposed to what they're looking for - an interesting distinction.

Last thought...according to this article, christians should be some of the luckiest people of all - that is, IF we're following what Jesus says in Mt 6: 25-34.

Flip out like a Ninja

2007-01-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

Ok...so this is hilarious: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2513699352936140535&q=7+seconds+of+love+%2B+ninja

this is a video from a band called "7 seconds of love"...i hope this brings as much joy to you as it did to me =)

...as a side note, coke used this in one of thier commercials w/o permission of the band (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6289933.stm - story by bbc). The funny thing is that as much as it would suck to have someone steal your work, this is probably the best thing to ever happen to this band. lol.

Decisions

2007-01-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

So yesterday Steve gave a really great message – I’ll put the podcast link up when it’s posted. The message was about making decisions, and about not letting those crucial moments pass you by because you were too afraid to take a chance and act. This really spoke to me as I’m sure it does to many who are at a similar point in life as I am…recently out of college, and presented with, literally, a world-full of opportunities…I think we all know that we must make these important decisions, but the fear of not knowing what to do can be fairly paralyzing. So, what to do…? The simple answer is: I don’t know. I’ve only recently become OK with saying this…although, once you do, it’s kind of freeing. What’s next? I have absolutely, positively, NO idea....But whatever it is, I pray that God will guide me…for now, at least, I’m going to take a soldier’s approach to life – I may not know when the next mission will come, but I must do my best to be ready to go when called...to act when action is required. I must not wait, hesitate, procrastinate, or abdicate my call when called upon. To do so would not be honorable or faithful.

God spoke to me yesterday and basically told me that thus far I’ve been sprinting, and walking through this life of faith…but what He’s going to be teaching me over the next few months is how to run at a steady pace. I think that the ability to do this only comes with maturity…and maturity comes through wisdom…and wisdom comes by the word of God and by walking with/observing Christ – he is, after all, not only the only way, but our first and best example of how to “walk” the path before us.

My my, my child
My how the world is laid before you
Mine, you are mine, and oh, how I love you

My my, my God
How will I know what to do?
Teach me, lead me, tell me the way to choose

My my, my child
My how you’ve grown in the ways that I’ve shown
But the knowing is in the showing – Truth found only in growing

My my, my God
My peace and patience have worn me thin
All I feel is frustration and doubt creeping in

My my, my child
My faith and grace are ever faithful
And by my own hands I have made you and remake you

My my, my God
Please forgive my asking and re-asking
But hold me, keep me, lead me in the way everlasting

My my, my child
I chose you and choose you, loved you and love you still
I always have and always will
Trust in me and in the path for you I call
For I will teach you to be ready, and will bring you through it all.

Home...

2006-12-26T17:27:00.000-08:00

I'm home, home, home at last. I have two homes now and I've been to both in the same day...thnak you Wright Brothers. No news yet as to where I'll be headed next, but for now I'll be lucky enough to be home for New Years!

top chirstmas songs and other newsworth events

2006-12-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, so check this song out...it's called "Fairytale of New York" and it's a little depressing if you pay attention to the lyrics, but as a song, it kinda grows on you...it's actually a huge Christmas song over here in the UK: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-9040517239704722939&q=Pogues+%2B+fairytale+of+new+york.

One other link...check this out (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6188775.stm) this Indian Athlete failed a gender test!!! WHAT!!!!! how do you fail that??? i don't understand. And what could the test consist of other than...ok, you can imagine. The best part is that "she" only got a silver medal, ahahahahaha. I'm sorry, this is probably really insensitive of me, but c'mon i just couldn't resist.

Christmas Shopping Fun

2006-12-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I've posted this on facebook, but for those of you who don't have it (i.e. J, lol) here it is:

So i just heard the most brilliant christmas shopping method/game ever. What you do is get the number for a shopping channel (one or more than one, it doesn't matter) and then you call them up and order whatever is on the screen at that moment. Here's the cool part - you order WITHOUT having the channel on...so it's kind of a gamble as to who gets what...and it could be expensive, but talk about a way to get stuff for people that you have no idea of how to buy for!! Happy Shopping!

oh...and this too. We MUST start using the slang term "legend"...as in..."aw man, that was an absolutely legend party" (said one of my welsh coworkers). There's some other good slang, but one thing at a time...

Moments

2006-12-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

So…it’s been a little while since I’ve had an up to date post, but….now I’ve moved hotels and have internet…this hotel is even more out of the way than the last one, but it’s a little nicer – bigger room, internet, more tv channels, better toast at breakfast…and way better jelly for said toast, don’t even get me started. Oh, and I’m finally getting to use the slingbox (let’s me watch tv from back in GA)…you may not think it’s a big deal, but I paid a lot to get it installed, and now I’m just happy to use it finally.

Anyways, to the point of this post…I was riding back from London this past Sunday after another cool weekend in London – stayed with March, and for those of you who don’t know him…he’s awesome, and a vicar (i.e. a priest in the Church of England…I know him though all you peps back in Chi-town). It works out really nice know people all over, it definitely helps getting around. We (Veebs, Reon, and I) stayed with him weekend before last…so the church he works at…the church that started alpha….freakin awesome!!! (oh before I forget, Reon is the best tour guide ever, mad props to my spikey-haired Brittish-ago-ama friend…combo of, oh nm, I’m not going to explain it to you…but seriously, thanks Reon.) So this church…HTB – Holy Trinity Brompton, where, yes, Tim Hughes lead worship. What can I say…you are all jealous and you know it. There I said it.

So it was (what is that like the 5th “so” I’ve used??...oh, speaking of annoying habbits…thanks a lot P for telling me about Nick’s habit of calling things “guy” instead of something like “one”; as in “look at this guy,” or “what do you think about that guy” …I can’t stop doing it…ugh, it’s pretty annoying, but I remember you when I do it and laugh) so I was coming back from my second weekend in London, riding on the train, reading a book – I’m not telling you which book b/c it’s a book that I’ve bought more than one copy for some lucky person back home…so I can’t tell you what it is. Anyway, I was reading this book, and suddenly…it happened…I had a moment. Have you ever had “a moment”…it’s tough to explain, and I haven’t had many, in fact I could probably count them on my hand, but it’s one of those perfect moments where, even if it’s only for a second, life is perfect. It’s as if God Himself is sitting right next to you and everything is right with the world. In these moments, anything is possible…and your wildest dreams and wishes could come true. It was like I was a little kid again just lying in the grass with my dog on a summer’s evening, where I had no responsibilities and absolutely nothing to do…but I could do anything.

Dunno why, but these moments happen most often when I’m on a trip somewhere…traveling at night, like when you were young and would go on long overnight bus rides for a field trip or something. All you friends were around you, but you were the only one awake and could just sit there and stare out the window and dream…maybe I’m the only one that did this…I think that I loved trips so much b/c you could just roll the window down and hear nothing but the wind go by…and imagine yourself going anywhere…being anyone…doing anything. I guess this is why I love just going for drives too…

I still dream…
Wondering, waiting, creating…
Creating worlds of possibilities…
Of what it means to be me…
Of what could be…and of what is

I still dream…
Of flying high
With the wind in my face
And the sun on my skin
And every step…a new chance to begin

But I always come back to this place
This place of wondering and questioning…
Wondering why you put these dreams in my head
Questioning what good are dreams in the face of the world outside
In the face of “reality”
In the face of…me.
And yet…
And yet, a small voice.
A whisper…whispers
What if…

What if “reality” isn’t…
What if dreams can come true
What if my dreams are your dreams
And what if the world can change
And what if anything is possible…

Oh, I still dream…
I dream of what’s next
Of what God has yet to teach me and of what I have yet to learn
I dream of you…
And of what we’ll someday do, and where we’ll someday go
And of how much I have left to grow.
And I beg God for more patience and grace.

He just smiles…

I still dream…
And nothing can take that from me.

I thank God for these moments…they’re usually gone as soon as they come, but they did come. And I pray that you have a “moment” today…even if only for a moment.

Dublin story...finally

2006-12-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I’m finally getting around to writing about my trip to Dublin – it’s been a busy at work…ok not really, but I have had to write up a report and send into my manager back there in Chicago and people keep moving us from office space to office space, anyways, here’s my story about Ireland.

First off, this only works if you pretend to hear me talking with a fake Irish accent. So, I booked my ticket with this website lastminute.com. At fist glance the website looked nice enough and so I booked a trip on a local airline and a stay in a decent hotel (like a 3 star)…then the fun started. I got an email a few days later telling me that they had to drop my hotel reservation and rebook me into a 2 star hotel…needless to say, I was pretty ticked off. More than anything, it was the fact that they booked me in a lower hotel class and didn’t even offer any sort of compensation – so I wrote them a nasty email telling them that “in my experience, the customer is number one” (you know, all that crap)…they replied that they were sorry for the inconvenience and were going to refund some of my money. *note to self, write more nasty emails*. The next day I then headed off to the airport at about 4 in the morning…you see, the town I’m in is so out in the Welsh countryside that the closest airport of any size was like 2 ½ hrs away. So I get on my flight and land safely…ok, I’m using the term “safely” here pretty liberally – by “safe” I mean that we landed…it was the roughest landing I’ve ever experienced and let’s all be happy that nothing fell of the plane (is there a community college for pilots…perhaps online courses??).

After I landed, I got to ride on one of those double-decker busses, which was pretty awesome. Once I got to the center of town (which has this really huge spike in the middle…not sure of the purpose, other than to help drunk people, and lost tourists, find their way) I went searching for my hotel. I started off down the river, walking away from the town center…and kept walking….still walking…hmm, this looks kinda like a ghetto…yeah, definitely a ghetto…if I have to take off running, can I run faster if I jack my backpack up higher??....ah, finally, my hotel. It looks ok from the outside – nice little pub at the bottom and all, so I went into the bar (yes, I had to check in at the bar…this should have been my first clue)…but the room wasn’t ready yet. Back to town.

My fist stop was Trinity College, which is pretty impressive, and a little weird b/c I kept wondering if there was any relation to the one in Deerfield. Then I set off toward the Guinness brewery, but got hungry on the way and ate at a traditional Irish restaurant…Quiznos...dunno if you’ve heard of it. Anyway, on to the brewery…needless to say, it was awesome!!!!! I even learned to pour the “perfect pint” (and I have a certificate to prove it), got some free beer (well, free with price of admission), and got to learn about my favorite beer. It was glorious. Fun fact…Arthur Guinness (the guy who invented it) was brilliant – he secured the lease for the St. James Gate Brewery (i.e. Guinness brewery) back in the late 1700’s for a 9000 yr lease at like 45 pounds a month…”ultimate rent control…brilliant!!” There is also this cool bar at the top/end of the tour where you have a great view of Dublin.

After the brewery I decided to go back to my hotel and check in (and drop off the load of souvenirs I had procured so far. Stopped at Christ Church on the way…lovely. Speaking of lovely…as I said on facebook, I think I’m in love with the women of Ireland…well, ok, their accents anyway….brilliant!!. Yeah, so I checked into my hostel…hotel…nope, definitely a glorified hostel. I at least had my own bed and toilet, but that’s about it, it was basically a closet with a bathroom. Not cool, especially when I’m paying like 60 pounds for the room (this is like 100-120 bucks) – yeah, I know!! Needless, to say ,I wasn’t too happy…my trip to Dublin (Guinness mission accomplished) had now become a quest for a better hotel! The search began…I quickly discovered that every hotel in Dublin was booked for the night…got a nice walking tour of Dublin though, cool city…saw lots of cool stuff, and met a bunch of hotel desk people.. My search finally brought me to the end of the tourist part of Dublin (at the end of this pedestrian walking shopping area – very nice)…so a few blocks past this shopping area, I see a small sign for a hotel (as a side note, the street I’m on looks like nothing but condos) called Copper Jack’s or something. This being my last resort, I go in and ask for a room and the attendant says that the only thing they have is next door; I’m so happy that I found something that I don’t care if it’s back across town. So we go and see the room and (please see pics – this is my 2nd hotel room) and it’s amazing, esp for only like 40 euros more than my original room. I took the room! Then I went back to my original hotel (yeah, by this point, I’m pretty experienced at getting around Dublin, lol) and come back. Oh, as a side story, on my way back to my 1st hotel (which as I mentioned, is kinda in the ghetto) this van slows as it approaches me and then pulls over really fast – now I’m ready to fight at this point, but it turns out he was some lost tourist and needed directions…not as exciting is it…so let’s pretend that it was kidnappers/muggers/terrorists and I fought them off – yeah, I know, some people would call me a hero…some call me a space cowboy, some call me a gangster of love…some call me Morice ‘casue I speak on the pompatous of love…so yeah, I'm walking back to my (new) hotel and I see this line of people out the door for, what looks like a regular apartment. Only, not many apartments I know have huge bouncers outside (unless it's to keep out Jehovah's witnesses and sales people). So, it turns out there is some really popular underground night club under my hotel...pretty cool. And no, unfortunately, I didn't go in (left my "clubbin" apparel in Tenby, of all places, haha). Fortunately, I couldn't hear it from my room...

So…anyway, a very long story short – I found a great hotel room, got a great tour of Dublin, found a secret night club, and spent as much as if I’d just booked the trip myself instead of using one of those travel websites...but had fun! :-)

Dublin

2006-11-25T03:48:00.000-08:00

Yup...I'm in Dublin right now...at an internet shop thing - I hope to send out an update tomorrow or monday. Oh, also, I've uploaded some pics on to flickr, so check em out - link to the right :-)

Ok...back in Wales in that internet cafe i was telling you about (the one that closes at like 5, so gotta be quick - spent all my time today coming back from ireland and washing clothes, but did get some more good pics outside my hotel, put em up later...of course) btw, i just heard a commercial for "Now 65", you know, those CDs that have all of the current popular music...65, holy crap that's alot of those things, what do they put a new one out each month??

anyways, Dublin. yeah, Dublin was a blast - got to see the Guinness brewery, and a whole bunch of other stuff in Dublin. And i have a great story about my hotel....just to wet your appetite (sp?). basically, i was originally booked in this really crappy place by the online service that i used and so i went looking for a new place, but all of the hotels in Dublin were booked. right when i was about to give up, i found one...a really nice one, that just so happened to be a few stories above an underground nightclub, haha. it's always an adventure with me, i tell you what. anyways, gotta leave you on that note ;-)

almost end of my first week abroad

2006-11-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

So...i've been a bit remiss in put up stuff, but thanks to those who've been emailing me and sending facebook msgs, it means more than you think :-). Here's some stuff from this week...what's been going on and some musings about my time here so far....

So, I arrived in London at about 5:30 AM, which is waaayyy too early…but this also meant that the lines weren’t that long, so it was fairly stress-free getting through customs. After getting in, I went to get my rental car. Now I was fully expecting to receive something that made the Mini Cooper look big, but no suck luck, lol. I actually got a very nice little car (please see facebook and flickr – flickr address is on the right) that even had navigation…pretty cool. Actually, i hope to get some pics up this weekend...

However, I must say that driving on the opposite side of the road is pretty confusing, but I managed to arrive in Tenby, Wales after only 1 wrong turn and about 5 hrs of driving (not b/c of the wrong turn, but b/c it was pretty far from London). Tenby, is a beautiful little European town with lots of history. There is even a castle near the refinery (not far from here, it’s actually pretty close to work – in Pembroke); I plan to go this weekend…unfortunately, the two major downsides are that since the town is soooo small that everything except some bars and stuff is closed by the time I get back from work and I have extremely limited internet access…..only like a bit at night at the hotel desk

Hmm…yeah, the roads here a really narrow, and everyone drives like they’re in a rally, but I’ve decided that I’m just going to be “that guy” and drive super slow and piss everyone off – that’s the best way I know how to not have to deal with local authorities, haha. It looks like I’ll be here at least until sometime next week, which means that I’m going to try and get to Ireland this weekend – dunno if I’ll get as far as Dublin, but I’m going to try.

So far, I’m doing ok…I think it’ll be a little while ‘till it’s set in. Haha, and then a little while more until God makes it ok…but I know he will. That and I’m really grateful for all of you back home (both in GA and Chicago….and Korea and NC and various parts of the world, lol) it means a lot to know you think of me occasionally. Again, feel free to send me emails, or phone me…let me know if you have any questions about my trip so far – I’m sure I’ve forgotten something cool/funny that’s happened so far…haha, like how I’ve already burnt out my alarm clock b/c I didn’t buy one that is good for 240V.

So, the following are some musings about my time here so far:

Customs/culture: people really do say “bloody” a lot, and “mate” – you know, it’s curious that we don’t have a word comparable to mate – it’s kinda like a cross between “man” and “friend”, as in “no problem, mate” and “me and my mates” – pretty cool…that and most of the other typical UK things like “brilliant” and “what are you on about” (aka. What are you going on about, I think). So far most of the people are fairly friendly. One thing that’s funny is I’ve noticed that the “gents” here all seem to have either a shaved head, or spiked up hair (clothing, and style in general is a bit different here). Hmmm, what else…oh, everyone holds their fork with their left hand and uses it like a spear (as opposed to the hold-it-like-a-pencil-but-use-it-like-a-shovel method we have in the states).

I got the chance to watch a Liverpool game last night – I went into a pub to get some food, and sat down (they had some couches in the back and a big, ~200in, projection screen) just about when the game came on. What was cool about it was that this just so happened to be a Liverpool pub, so everyone in there was cheering. Haha, although since Tenby is so small, everyone consisted of about 15-20 people, but it was fun anyhow. I was talking to these two older guys in there and they mentioned some things I found interesting…apparently England is having similar issues to the US, in that there are a lot of people immigrating there for work, but instead of like Mexicans (no offense Ryan, lol) it’s all Polish and Indian people. OH, tea and coffee (tea esp) is big here – I’ve even got a tea set thing in my room (comes with one of those plug in boilers, lol, it’s great). Ha, ok, so the queen’s picture is on all of the money here…(I was looking at some coins the other day) and I’ve realized that her picture has changed – she looks older on the newer coins than she does on the other ones. I find that hilarious that they change her picture to reflect her age, ahaha. Two things about the money here – the bills are too big to fit in your wallet w/o everyone knowing what you’ve got (maybe that’s the point), and I’ve never seen (don’t think they even have it) a bill smaller than 5 pounds. This means that you have to carry around 1 and 2 pound coins…now, I have enough trouble losing quarters, now I have to worry about losing pounds – fyi, the pound is worth almost 2 US dollars...which I constantly have to remember b/c everything here costs the same (numerically) except that’s it’s really twice as expensive b/c of the exchange rate. Fun, lol. The weather here is fun too. The countryside is beautiful – maybe ill get some pics up soon…but there’s a reason that it’s so green, lol. I think it rains more and the wind blows harder when it’s sunny out. And there seems to be much fewer hrs of daylight. But one cool thing is that all this rain means a lot of rainbows. Saw one just this morning on the way to work as a matter of fact.

Work: work is pretty fun so far…actually, we aren’t doing much here. They don’t really need us, but we came with the price of the catalyst so they’re tolerating us. For the most part, everyone just kinda ignores us. But that’s ok…makes our job easier. I think everyone in the world uses Microsoft Outlook….It’s funny, my boss here (it’s just him, his wife, and myself here from my company) has said this is pretty much his nicest location, which, except for having like zero internet, I’d have to agree, it’s much better than say, India. It’s ok, just that the town (and even refinery) are kinda out in the middle of nowhere. My hotel is pretty much a glorified bed and breakfast. I only occasionally get to use the hotel computer (that is when the girl behind the desk isn’t sending emails to her boyfriend). So far, I’m scheduled to be here for about another week and a half, then, I’ll probably go to Spain until about Christmas. I may spend Christmas in Spain, or I may spend it in the air coming back…we’ll see, but my sister has already tried to get me to fly her out there…which I’ll probably do b/c missing holidays is no fun – today happens to be Thanksgiving...and I’m working – yea!! Of course, any of you are welcome to come visit, lol. If you can get here, you’ll have a place to stay.

Oh, this is cool – I’m going to Ireland this weekend, Dublin to be precise. I’m going to visit the Guinness brewery!! Should be a blast – ha, the only thing is since the town I’m in is so far out there, I have to get up at like 4 on Saturday to drive a few hrs to the nearest airport…that should be fun. But I suppose that I can’t complain too much seeing as how I get to go to Ireland (and by “get to” I mean I paid to go, haha, but it’s obviously much cheaper. I’ll let you know how that goes…hopefully, I’ll be able to find something like an internet café or the like in Dublin…I’ll also have to mail some post cards – if anyone wants one, let me know (include your address). Oh, that reminds me, souvenirs…who wants what?? I’ll see what I can do ;-).

Anyways, let me know how things are back in the states. Updating soon….

update from the UK

2006-11-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

Hello all, well...i'm here and it's pretty cool, however, i don't really have good internet access - i'm on the hotel computer right now...i'll try and get some stuff up later this week, but pictures may have to wait until this weekend. you can try and email me b/c i should be able to get those at the refinery (but we only have dial-up there...) working on alternatives. keep you posted...also, i hope to have my call forwarding up soon, if you want leave a message at my old (404) number and i'll call you back.

Arthur in the Bible??

2006-11-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

I’m at work…and due to the nature of my job, there are times where I’m really busy and time where I’m not so busy. This is one of those not so busy times…so I thought I’d write a sermon of sorts….more just my own musing, so take it for what it’s worth, its long, so settle in….

God works in mysterious ways…they’re mostly a mystery because I can’t understand his unsurpassing grace. What amazes me most is that when we step out there with nothing else to catch us and no other options…he’s there. This begs the question as to why we aren’t out there more often. Why is our memory so short and our trust so limited as to define God and limit his power by placing on him the constraints of not our past encounters with him, but rather our own shortcomings of a self-developed faith that is built in the filthiness of our own pride?

What would we do without Thomas and Peter, and the stories divinely not omitted from scripture? I feel sure that if it were up to them, they would have pleaded not to have history remember them at their weakest moments – Peter denying Christ after three years and countless miracles (arguably the most poignant in Peter’s life, and in his example for us, being walking on water) only to return and become one of (if not the first) leader of the early church…and Thomas, the doubting disciple. How many of us can relate to these two men? How many of us are comforted by the knowledge that even these men, who lived and breathed with Jesus, could deny his power and authority, only to turn again to him and be welcomed with open arms.

This vein doesn’t stop here either…the Bible is riddled with people struggling with their faith…and also with stories of overcomers. David, the divinely anointed “man after God’s own heart,” turned a deaf ear to God when he chased after Bathsheba – when he chases after what he wanted and not what God wanted.

To borrow an analogy, the bible is filled with many Arthurs and only a few Galahads; meaning that there are many examples of great men, who are just that…men (and women for any ladies reading this…I don’t want to not be “PC”) who are true to their God and their people, but who also struggle with not just outside forces, i.e. enemies and hardships, but also internal struggles. There are few cases where someone is a Galahad, a pure heart. For most of us, Galahad is something to be sought after, to work towards; however, one must also acknowledge the beauty in being an Arthur…one must be ok, and even admit their need of being cleaned up and not knowing how to do it themselves. We cannot, under our own power go from being an Arthur to being a Galahad. Only through Christ can this be done.

The job, however, is not finished once we accept this realization of our need for Christ. The awakening to our dependence on Jesus serves only to usher in new challenges and thoughts that must be battled. We begin to question why. Why would Jesus die for us, why does God love us so, what use are we if we can’t even save ourselves, even in some small way? No, our salvation is entirely hinged upon the cross and it is up to us only to turn and praise God. What we must do is accept…simply accept our salvation…our fate. As a side note, the use of the word “fate” here is meant with only the best connotations and I realize that “destiny” could have been used, but to me, “fate” implies a more real-world, and less romanticized, emotion than would “destiny” – this is purposeful to inspire this salvation as a reality and not a dream – although it is a dream that I greatly anticipate waking to.

Read Ephesians 2.8-10 and I Peter 1.3-7 … I choose not to quote either here so that you’ll actually read them for yourself ;-). The passage in Ephesians speaks of God’s love for us – love so amazing that he chose us not just while we were still sinners, but before “the foundation of the world” (this part is actually back in ch1.vs 4) and of how (vs. 8) he saved us by his grace through faith. Now, if he’s saved us by his grace…then who’s faith are talking about here? I would argue that it may be our faith, but that if we have any faith at all it is because God gave it to us. I believe that it is God’s faith in us (and within us – the two not being mutually exclusive) that can (and does) save us – but can (and does) only do so because of God’s infinite grace. And how can we even be subject to this grace? Christ’s sacrifice alone makes it possible for us to even be brought into the presence of God and his grace.

The passage from I Peter says (vs. 9) that the outcome of our faith is our salvation…now if it is God (through Christ) that saves us, that is the manner and means of our salvation, and if we stand on the basis that God’s word is true and complete, then “our faith” must, inevitably, be a product of and gift of God in us. Furthermore, Peter says (vs.6 and 7) that “our” faith may (speaking from experience, moreover will) be tested as gold refined in the fire… (I wonder if, in light of today’s culture, platinum would be a better analogy than gold, eheh)... and that this testing by fire would produce praise and glory and honor (to God) at the revelation of Jesus (and what he’s done for us). So, it seems that tested-faith, not simply faith alone, produces praise to God.

There is a story in Luke (Lk 17.11-19) about Jesus cleansing 10 lepers. They see Jesus and beg for him to have mercy (or grace, if you will). Jesus does so, heals them, and then says to them to go and show themselves to the priests. The leapers are then cleansed as they go along. Then one of them, upon seeing that he’s been healed, turns and praises Jesus. His faith, upon being tested, produces praise when he is refined by the power of Christ. Now, there is much more to this verse, but for now, we’ll concentrate on this – that the man saw he was healed, and praised God…to which Jesus responded “rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” “Made well”…I think there is a fine distinction here between “healed” and “made well”…all ten were healed, but only one was made well…made whole (again this says nothing of the fact that the only man to turn was a Samaritan…I’ll let you hash that one out with God). What an experience…to be so visibly cleansed of something; and furthermore to be made well – the Bible doesn’t mention this man elsewhere, but I often wonder what struggles in faith he may have faced in the future despite such a life changing event.

Even so, I’m comforted by the stories of Peter, and David, and Moses, and so many others…that “the steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way, though he fall, he shall not fall headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand” (Ps. 37.23, 24). God knows us (Ps. 139) and he loves us (Jn. 3.16), and just as Jesus prayed for Peter that though he was temped, that his faith would not fail (Luke 22.31), so he (Jesus) prays for us. This is an interesting passage, because Jesus tells Peter that Satan has demanded to sift him (Peter), but that Jesus has prayed for Peter that his (Peter’s) faith would not fail, and that when he turned again (turned from what?), that he would strengthen his brothers. Wait just a minute…Jesus says here that Peter’s faith will not fail, but Peter denied Jesus anyway…Peter’s faith (as in anything that was in Peter that was solely of himself – his own human trust and faith) did fail, but the faith that God had placed in Peter did not fail, because God is in it for the long haul, and Peter did, eventually, return to strengthen his brothers. I think that God sees our human frailties and that though we are faithless, he is faithful, and that though we may fall, as long as we return to God, we will not fall away.

In the end, faith is a gift of God to us – to let us see, and experience him. Faith is a medium in which we come to know God. Faith is evidence of a concrete gift from God…one that we always assume is our own concoction…but I would argue that it is not ours, but rather it is from God. So, what of the questions people have about their own shortcomings and lackings of faith…I don’t think we, necessarily lack faith, as it were…not so much as it is more often that we are frustrated – frustration being the product of unmet expectations. This frustration produces doubt…which, when the doubt is our own human doubt, opposes, not replaces or diminishes, the faith God has placed in us. If we confine God to our plan, our expectations, or even our past experiences (past experiences should serve only to confirm God’s working in our lives) we will be disappointed. We must stand on God’s faith, the faith that when tested produces praise, and not on anything that is a product of ourselves. Faith is evidence of God’s choice of us from before the beginning of time…and faith in its purest form is hope, it is trust…it is, in a word, love.

I John 4.8 – God is love.

And, God loves us (Isaiah 43.4)

And all we can do and all that God requires of us is to love him (Mt. 22.37-40) and in doing so that we would do “justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6.8).

Office Space and Vikings

2006-11-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen the movie Office Space? Well, if you work in an office then you’ve probably, as I have, come to realize the brilliance and truth represented in this movie. It’s frightening how much of this movie I see brought to life in my job. Now I don’t exactly have your typical job and so I don’t even want to think what it must be like for those suckers down on Michigan Ave.

Most of the people at work are so dang serious, it’s ridiculous – for example, I was in a meeting once where we were talking about importing some catalyst (don’t worry if you don’t know what that is, suffice to say it’s one of the things that my company makes) … anyway, this guy was talking about having to deal with import/export taxes (or duties) and he said “well, we could do that and just eat the duty on it.” WHAT!!?? Did he just say that…and why is no one laughing? No one!…I don’t think you can fully appreciate how hard I was trying not to fall out of my chair and die of laughter – it’s not that it’s really that funny in and of itself, but to hear some one say that in the middle of a meeting and nobody catch it was pretty freakin hilarious – that one made it a little easier to go to work the next day.

Ok, so recently I got a laptop for work and so I got a backpack to carry it in so that I don’t walk through foreign airports/cities having this nice shoulder bag w/ “DELL” plastered on the side screaming “HEY, steal me!!!” Great idea, right? Well, it may be in some airport, but I feel like I’m 12 walking into work with my backpack on…well the skipping probably doesn’t help. Sometimes I try to carry it on one shoulder to look more professional and that helps.
Anyway, this year-ish of work has shown me not to take things too seriously…and that if I ever had to work in a cubical, I’d probably go postal. Remember back in the day when all those people were going postal – i.e. postal workers going nuts because their jobs sucked or something…recently, I’ve seen postal workers wearing those safari hats, and high socks, and walking everywhere again…I think that’s helped them not be so crazy – honestly, how serious can you take yourself when your wearing a safari hat? I’ve also realized that I could never work your typical 9-5 job…life is too short…..

I’m watching this show on the History channel right now where they’ve built this replica of a Viking longboat and now they’re giving it away to this Viking re-enactor guy…I just don’t understand re-enactors…man, they really get into character – I mean, they just showed the guy pillage a town and burn it to the ground. Ok, not really, but I just don’t really understand them – I guess they just want to find some escape for their lives….which proves my point that you gotta have a job that you love. I’m giving my a little while longer to see if it grows on me…b/c if not….

Update

2006-11-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

So...I'm still here chillin in Chicago. I was supposed to be in Indonesia right now, but I suppose I can't complain too much - I like it here in Chicago. I've got great friends and a plenty to do...I suppose I'm as ready as I can be to leave, but God has kept me from leaving just yet, so the question remains: why am I still here? Still trying to figure that one out...but in any event, I've gotten stuck on this project at work where I'm going through these manuals and creating this giant training presentation (i.e. death by powerpoint). I suppose that powerpoint is better than overheads, but there has got to be a better way...ugh, it's awful. I had this one professor in college who taught the class via an Elmo. For those of you who don't know, an Elmo is like an overhead projector that uses a video camera instead of a back light. So Dr. Ray (that's the guy's name, Dr. Ray) would turn down the lights and write out his notes on a pad of paper on the Elmo...that was worse than powerpoint I think...less color and no cool animations. For my seinor design project at Ga Tech we had to do a powerpoint presentation and at the end for one of the slides we had an animation of a baby running across the screen - it was pretty funny...guess you really had to be there to appreciate it......isn't it annoying when people say that "oh..you had to be there, muwahhhaa" yeah, I guess I would have had to be there punk, why don't you stay in the moment, hunh? Anyways, the baby thing was pretty dang funny...of course, lots of stuff seems funny at 5 in the morning after having been up for like 3 days straight. So, I think that stream-of-consciousness is my new thing for writing, its fun.

Like I said, I'm doing this powerpoint thing at work...and once I'm done with that, then I should start travelling - towards the end of the month (this month), i.e. in about two weeks. I might get to go to England (well, Wales to be precise) but then I might have to go to Pakistan...I guess it balances out in a weird kinda way. Either way, I'll keep you updated.

On a side note, I was driving home and a thought came to me: where does the word "sorry" come from...maybe it's like the person admitting that they are sorry (as in the adjetive and not the state, the two not, necessarily, being mutually exclusive). I suppose, more to the point, would be to ask where "apology" came from...hmm, I'll have to do some research.

Incredible Prank

2006-10-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

See here: http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?mission_id=62

this prank is great!! we have to try this...

Patience

2006-10-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

I’m still waiting
Anticipating
Resting in the contempt of the unknown
The unsaid
The un-shown
At least to me.

Who cares
Who knows
The shadow knows
The shadow of things to come
Foreshadow
No shadow
Showdown at high noon.

Long afternoon
Too long
Time to go home

Home is where the heart is
The heart of the matter
That’s what matters
Is love alone
To be alone….lonely
Not me, not I, not now.
Now is the time to fight, to run
Run where, run to nowhere.
Somewhere

She is somewhere
Life is somewhere
Somewhere far away
A galaxy perhaps
Far away from today
Today is the day

No, not today
Not yet
Patience my son,
Patience.
Penitence?
Non-sense…or common sense.
Sixth sense.

Patience is a virtue
So true
So you.
Where are you and why can’t I see you
To know you
To be where you are
To go where you go
I’m ready
Or not
Not now
Not yet
Not today
Today we wait
Tomorrow maybe, but not today
Today we wait

Patience my son,
Patience.

Soon. Too soon. Not soon enough.

Enough.

Patience my son,
Patience.

what now??

2006-10-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

So, ok...for those that don't know, I travel with my job. When I say “travel” I mean like all over the world. So anyways, I was all set to go to Indonesia (which on an aside, I found out is infested with pirates)……However, my going there was contingent on there being a problem there. The cause of the problem was discovered today and it turned out to not be my company’s fault, but rather that of the refinery. So, here I am stuck in limbo; however, I get to see one of my good friends who’s coming into town next week (if I’d gone, then I wouldn’t have gotten to see ‘em). I also might get to go to my roommate’s b-day party……so the question is “what now??” So as Clash wrote “Should I stay or should I go??”

And will it be my choice…we’ll see what He has planned.

back...finally

2006-10-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

I was gone...back now...leaving soon....that's my life right now. A lot has happened since I found that magical elixir called He’brew. I’ve moved out of my beautiful apt in Evanston and have stuffed (literally) most of my worldly possessions into a 7.5x10 ft storage locker. You know, nothing gets you in the mood to throw crap out like moving…I certainly realized how much crap I had…I threw a lot of stuff away – hopefully all this moving and living out of suitcases will teach me what I really need in life. What do we really need in life…one word: Jesus. In the end, I think John Lennon had it right when he sang “all you need is love” – this makes since, especially when we consider that God is love (1 John 4:8).

I’ve been sleeping on a camping cot for the past month – it’s much more comfortable that one might think….reason being that I’ve moved into the “new hotness” (aka. Jason’s place, aka. Gleenwood, aka. 6413…) It’s great, I love living with these guys…it’s awesome….especially considering that I don’t have to share a bathroom with the Frenchman – you see, he likes to steamroll people, i.e. Veebs (attire optional, lol). These guys give me so much encouragement and peace it’s ridiculous. They mean a ton (english not metric...unlsess we're talking a long ton, as opposed to a short ton - J and Joe are probably the only two who will get that) Laughter is never far off and neither are prayers…Veebs, Jose and I have written a song…email me if you want an mp3 of it…we’ll see what we can do.

I just got the chance to visit home last week – it was great to see everyone…and sad. I really don’t want to leave…sometimes I question whether or not God has taken into consideration how much He’s asked me to give up by leaving Chicago…but then he patiently and quietly reminds me (like this past week) how much I had to give up to leave GA and how amazing it’s been in Chicago and how much I’ve grown.

I’m pretty much prepared to start traveling, but I still don’t know where (for sure) or when I’m leaving…it’s exciting and terrifying all at once. So I guess we’ll see. I think that it will be good. Maybe it’ll be the wilderness that I thought Chicago was going to be. I guess well see…just a few more things to get together and a few more days before I leave...weird to think I dreamt about this sort of adventure when I was a little kid…

The greatest beer ever!

2006-08-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend I discovered the greatest beer ever invented on the planet...ever! As soon as I saw it I got all Ver Clempt (yiddish for "all choked up") because I knew that I had found my beer. The one and only...the self-proclaimed (and Kosher) "chosen beer": HEBREW. So far I've only had the pleasure of tasting the "mesiah bold" flavor, but plan on searching far and wide for the others.

see their website: http://www.shmaltz.com/

SMB3

2006-08-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

So a friend an I just finished Super Mario Brothers 3 last night. pretty freakin awesome. It was pretty much the goal of this summer. I've beaten it before, but not w/o codes/game genie...so needless to say I was pretty psyched about beating it. Thanks Sullivan, good game ;-).

As I type this my office mate is playing NES games on an emulator (basically a computer program that has a bunch of the old NES and SNES games on it and lets you play them through your computer). Right now he's playing Lifeforce. It's pretty cool, you can save your spot by pressing F5 and then go back to that spot by pressing F7 - kinda cheating, but it lets you do things like this: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7600002583337657706. This is a video of a guy beating SMB3 in just under 11 min....think about that...let it simmer...11 min....unbelievable, simply unbelievable.

ps. if you're wondering where my officemate got that NES emulator...well, let's just say I know a guy. send me an email and maybe we can talk...that is, if you're not a cop

Wonder

2006-08-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

hmm...its a great night for a walk.

...ever wonder why. why God has chosen to have things go the way they've gone. why do we want to change the things that we cannot change...or the people we cannot change? who are we to know what is best for us? yet we question God as to "WHY?" and demand a knowledge too great for us. maybe someday I'll truly realize what I already know - that God's timing is not my own, and that whether He comes too fast or too slow for my tastes that, at the end of the day, He knows best.

what an awful student God must take me for, were He to think on me with a mortal heart (fortunately for me, He does not). I find it interesting, if not completely frustrating trying to figure out why God chooses to respond one time, and not another - or does he always respond and I just miss the forest for the trees....how arbitrary God may seem in the moment, but then in hindsight...20/20, everytime. why do I question His voice time and again - He has never failed or forsaken me...never. why do I question? I am as Gomer and God, Hosea...blocking my way, stripping me bare, back to what He created me to be before I clothed myself in the rags of unrighteousness. where I have built for myself a temple of self with pride as its foundation...He is tearing it down and leading me to the wilderness, where I will again learn to depend on ONLY Him....

A good frined and teacher once told me this and I have found it to be true: that "the Jews were better Egyptians than the Egyptians" - once you know what that means, then you'll know where I'm coming from and you'll know why we have to go through some of the things we go through before we get to where God wants us to be.

1:00 AM

2006-08-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

...I'm really gonna miss this place.

God's been showing me so much lately - how He really does have everything under control and how he really does have a plan (not only that, but the plan is currently under way.....just fyi). I've been seeing his fingerprints on everything. One thing imparticular - He's given me a glimpse of what He's doing in other people's lives - people that I care about. It's really comforting to see Him working in others.....John 15.13 (No greater love has a man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends). I would for my friends, but Jesus already did it for all of us. so, since Jesus has already taken care of us, i suppose the least i can do is to follow him - give my life for him. go wherever he takes me. i can go knowing that they are safe and will be taken care of. hmm - psalm 139.9 (If i take the wings of the dawn and settle on the far side of the sea. even there your hand will guide me and your right hand will hold me fast) well, i guess i'll let you know...

There's so much to do and so little time.

Raul Rivero

2006-08-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

So I was reading the news yesterday morning (you'd think I was working, but no - that's another story)...anyway, I was reading the news and saw this story about a recently released Cuban dissident poet who was put in jail for his writings against Castro and communisim (see here: http://www.babalublog.com/archives/002367.html). While imprisoned, he was only allowed to write love poems, which he had to submit to the guard so that they could be censored before Rivero could give the poems to his wife (who he only got to see once every three months). Here's one of those poems, called "Nothing?":

Where I used to dwell
in my autumn, with my rags
and I say dwelled
because I felt alive
inside there as never before.

Where I used to inhabit
tremulous, subtle
and I was recognized
by my sinewsand my veins
and by the air
that traveled in and out
your lungs.

There, down in your blood
streamand within your thoughts
that host now
another guest,
is there not left a remnant of sorrow?
not even some ashes?

Here's one (not written in prison) called "High Fidelity":

They'll be free from the gramophone's pain,
its torture from the rub and the needles.
Chaste, they'll not know the sin
of singing a capella while hungry
caught between the farce and the fair.

The men who stay at home
humming soft melodies
will acquire wisdom.

A fortunate life, serene happiness
will be theirs and their children's.

As light as ash. As clear as eternity.

So that's it...Now he lives in Miami (I think). Anyway, I like them - the poems...Rivero is also quoted as saying this about going to prison: "I was afraid of my own fear. I was afraid of not being able to stand it. Everything is programmed to undo you as a human being." I'll admit, it's a bit cynical, but ensightfull in it's own right I suppose. Especially knowing who it is that said it, I think it's encouraging.......like he was afraid, but that didn't change him, didn't stop him from doing what he believed in...believed was right....hmm, isn't that the definition of courage?

2006-08-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

shit

Blogging 101

2006-07-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

So, this is my first attempt at blogging...hopefully you'll find some richness contained in what follows, but my real hope in doing this is to stay close to those that I can't see everyday. I think that we're presented with an interesting opportunity in "blogs". They can allow us to share what we're thinking and feeling with others, without actually having to have a face-to-face conversation with them. Now don't get me wrong, I think that blogs, emails, letters, telegraphs, pony express, cans and string, etc...should always be used as a last resort to f-2-f communication, but when distance makes this impossible blogging/email/other can be a nice alternative. So, since I'm at work right now, I'll keep this breif and leave you with some excellent blogging alternatives. These are some blogs of some friends of mine...really good stuff.

http://www.xanga.com/pakuna517

http://factandfiction.wordpress.com/

Through Liz Colored Glasses