What Are You Saying

Look at the ant. He’s weak, but his Creator has taught him to use whatever strength he has to prepare for the future. Consider the locust. He has no king, but when his numbers multiply, God has taught him how to line up and move as one. Look at the spider. He too is a lowly creature, but by using the ability God gives him, he rises to high places.

Do you sometimes feel small and insignificant like an insect? When you do, remember that God showcases His wisdom and greatness through even the smallest things. That’s because His “strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). —Mart De Haan

This was today's QT from the Daily Devotional at http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml. And no it's not affiliated with our church. Some of the times the devotionals are great, depending on the contributer. But other times like today's you find yourself saying... WHAT!? Just look at this guy. You can tell he skips around in the fields and plays with butterflies. Yeah I know...I'm a hater.

Back From the Mountain

We went up to Lake Tahoe this weekend for our Annual Summer retreat. Though my spirits were low before I left, I have to admit that I had a great time there. Our retreats are always fun. The guys in our group are a fun bunch. There's just something about male fellowship. Not to sound too Brokeback but I think guys just have more fun than girls. Put a bunch a guys in the water and give them a nerf football and they will have hours of enjoyment. And that's exactly what we did. We played Nerf football in the lake. It was a blast. Then when we got back all the guys piled into the hottub. That was pretty Brokeback.

The food was amazing. Jimmy and Jae did an amazing job coordinating the food.

Besides all the fun we had, we dove into the word of God in small groups. I'm glad that Jae was in my group because it was really good to read the Bible together and pray with him. I feel that we all need to do that more together, not just at retreats. We shared a lot during the small groups and we prayed for each other each time as well.

Our group prayer time at night was amazing. I really felt God's presence there. I feel like everybody let down there walls and shared from the heart. Afterwards we all went around the room and just prayed for each other. It was really moving. Even the new guy Danny came over and prayed for me.

After we got back we had so much meat left over we had a bar-b-q at Jimmy and Jenny's.

The Incredible Jin

I've been discouraged lately. I guess it's because of a lot different reasons, but the biggest being finding a new Pastor.

My mind set is not really right for the retreat this weekend. I feel very distracted. Angry, sad, confused, filled with unsaid words, rage, all of these emotions running through me at once. Sometimes I feel like David Banner. When things are good and I'm calm, everthing is very peaceful. But then something will happen and I feel this trigger go off and I get filled with this sudden rage and like David Banner, I want to just flex, rip off my clothes and just start smashing things. I think that's why I love working out so much. I get all of my anger and frustration out and go home all tired and subdued.

I prayed with Mary for the first time ever last night. We've prayed in meetings together and she has heard me pray out loud in front of others. But this was the first time we ever prayed together just me and her. I guess that tells you how discouraged I am.

I've always kind of resisted praying with Mary because I feel prayers are personal. I used to hate praying out loud in front of people. But I think sometimes we need to pray for each other out loud, as one voice.

Our prayer time was good. At first it was kind of awkward, we were both smiling really hard trying not to laugh, but once we settled in I think it was sweet and refreshing. I'm glad to have a wife who I can journey this narrow road together. And it is a very narrow road.

If you read this blog and are a fellow believer, pray for me. Pray for our church. Pray for this weekend, let it be...AWESOME.

More sad news...

Heard some sad news today. One of my good friends is leaving for Irvine because his company is relocating. He is leaving at the end of September. This does not bode well with me as another one of my good friends is leaving at the end of September too. What the hell man.

I guess that's what happens when one settles in one location. You have to watch the people that you love move away. It's funny really because my whole life I was the one that was always moving away. I'm not sure which one is more painful. I hate change. I realize that I am a creature of habit. I like things to stay the same. This is not the same.

I have known this friend for about 3 years. During that time I feel like we got pretty close. Especially during the latter parts. He is one of those people that you can make the wrong first impression about. He's the type that you really got to get to know before you can make a judgement. And then you find out that he's a really cool kid. I think that I'm probably the same way.

Well I'm gonna miss you friend, this one goes out to you.

Crazy Weekend

Man what a weekend. Friday got off work, worked out for an hour, went home took a shower, went to Jimmy and Jenny's for small group, went back home, slept for 4 hours, woke up at 3am, went to Jae's house, packed up and drove to Bodega Bay, got there at 6am, boarded our boat, fished for 9 hours, drove back to Jae's house unpacked, drove to my house to take a shower change clothes, took Bart to the A's game at 6PM, came back home 9:30ish, and crashed.

Then Sunday morning woke up went to church, after church played basket ball for a couple hours, 7:30pm went to a leaders meeting at church, came home early because Christian had a fever of 102.9, then after putting him to sleep, crashed again.

This upcoming weekend more of the same. We are having our Summer retreat. Man I just want to veg out for awhile.

I did have a good time deep sea fishing. It was the first time I went. And though I had a good time it would be ok if I never went again. It cost $110 per person and 3 of our guys didn't even fish because they were too sick. Poor guys, just yakkin all day over the side of the boat. I caught a bunch of huge fish. Bigger than you would ever catch in a lake or river. I had to throw like 5 big ones away because they were endangered. It was kind of stupid because once you unhook them and throw them back, they're already dead. (Doesn’t make much sense) The deck hand was like, "write your congressman". He was kind of an asshole, but I liked him.

The Call of Abram

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

When I was in college this passage inspired me to leave the church that I was serving at to serve at this smaller church that asked me to come and help them. I'll save my story for another time. But I am reminded of how sovereign God is. He wants the best for our lives.

That's why we must pray as a church (even if you don't go to our church pray for us) during these next few months as we search for our new Pastor. Pray for God's lead during this whole process. As he prepared Abram to go to a new place and become the father of a great nation, He is preparing someone right now to come to our church and lead us. Let's ask God to bring us someone excellent, because He will.

Food Network

Last night I made some seafood alfredo for dinner in honor of Mary's new job. It was first time I ever made alfredo, turned out pretty good. Next time I will just add the seafood on top of the noodles and not mix it in the alfredo sauce. A couple of our friends came over to enjoy the feast.

The next dish that I want to try making is this dish I saw on the food network. It was salmon on puff bread, with a little pesto sause and tomato. It looked really good and easy to make.