Sam the Wise

I am working on Urbana reflections. Like any conference there is much to process. But since Urbana tends to be full of more than I expect and physically exhausting it is usually difficult to process anything in a timely manner. And then writing about seemed doubly hard.

So I watched Lord of the Rings instead. I was reminded of how much I love the character Sam. Sam reminds me of my best friend Sol. They are always there for those who need them, no matter the cost. Even as Sam watches what the ring is doing to Frodo, even as Frodo turns from Sam, even as others don't believe in him, he stays by Frodo's side until the very end.

It's because he believes in something worth holding onto.

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.
Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

2015 had a lot of rough moments for me and for our world. There were a lot of times when we just couldn't see the good in the world. But Sam here reminds me that there is a reason to not give and keep going - that there is good in the world worth fighting for.

I hope that in 2016 it is marked by a year of holding onto the good - holding onto the goodness of Jesus and fighting for it. There are many places in our world who don't see it or feel void of it. It's not a call to avoid those places but to go into them and bring hope and God's goodness into them. It's difficult and as Sam says there are a lot of chances to turn back but we don't because we hold onto that God is good throughout it all.

Fast Cars and the Scorpion King (30 Days of Gratitude)

I had to finally admit that I am sick. At least now that I admit it, maybe I can start getting healthier. I am very grateful for the mostly day off. For being able to sleep in, to go to work and not have to rush home to Monday Night Fellowship, for being able to watch the Fast and the Furious with Jenel and comment on Vin Diesel's tight fitting shirts, and the Rock's massive muscles. Thanks for the witty comments and entertaining jokes. I'm grateful for the space to laugh and rest and be after a very full weekend.

Yes now The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) will forever ben either Samoan Thor or the Scorpion King. And you don't mess with the Scorpion King. Ever. So excited for the sixth one to come out on DVD.

I feel it is also worth noting that for the FIRST TIME I finished my meal before Jenel did. That may not seem like a big deal, but it is, since she always comments how slow I eat.

Goals for Year 25

(updated as of December 12)
When I turned 25 I decided to try and do some things I never have done before or just really wanted to get done this year. I created a list a 25 goals to accomplish by the end of the year. Some were big some where small, some were serious some felt silly and all, but together they made amazing memories.

Look through the blog posts over the past year with the 25 in 25 tag or just peruse through the list to see what I've accomplished in one year alone.

Here we go!

1. Read 25 new books
1. Liesel and Po by Lauren Oliver
2. Healing for Damaged Emotions by David Seamands
3. God Went to Beauty School by Cynthia Rylant
4. Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen
5. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns) by Mindy Kailing
6. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
7. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
8. Helen of Pasadena by Lian Dolan
9. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
10. Legal: the First 21 Years by Jonathan Walton
11. The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell
12. Out of Solitude by Henri Nouwen
13. Your Mind's Mission by Greg Jao
14. Far, Far Away by Tom McNeal
15. Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller
16. Who Pooped in the Park by Gary D. Robsen
17. Real Life by James Choung
18. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie 
19. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz
20. Penguins Hate Stuff by Greg Stones
21. Zombies Hate Stuff by Greg Stones
22. Love is an Orientation by Andrew Marin
23. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
24. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
25. Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
2. Visit 25 new places
1. Snarf's Sandwiches in St. Louis, MO
2. St. Charles, MO
3. Dune Point State Beach in Malibu, CA
4. Old Los Angeles Zoo
5. Saladang in Pasadena, CA
6. Solstice Canyon in Malibu, CA
7. Eurekea Burger in San Luis Obispo, CA
8. Raku Sushi in San Luis Obispo, CA
9. Firestone Walker Brewery in Paso Robles, CA
10. Barrelhouse Brewery in Paso Robles, CA
11. Road to Seoul BBQ in Korea Town, Los Angeles, CA
12. Menchie's Frozen Yogurt in Granada Hills, CA
13. Freddie's Frozen Custard in Bakersfield, CA
14. Zuma Beach in Malibu, CA
15. Neptune's Net in Malibu, CA
16. Salsa and Beer, Van Nuys, CA
17. Runyon Canyon, Hollywood, CA
18. Good Pho You, Granda Hills, CA
19. Zaika Indian Cuisine, Bakersfield, CA
20. Tea Bar, Bakersfield, CA
21. Pike Brewing, Seattle, WA
22. Space Needle/Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
23. Olympia Roasting Coffee Co, Olympia, WA
24. Kalama Burger Bar Inc., Kalama, WA
25. Stumptown Coffee, Portland, OR
26. Golden Road Bewing, Glendale, CA
27. New Delhi Palace, Pasadena CA
28. Saigon Deli, Fresno CA
29. Pizza Factory, Bishop, CA
30. Fraizer Park, CA
31. Forest Home, Ojai, CA
32. Seoul Sausage Company, Santa Monica, CA
33. Blockheads Shavery, Santa Monica, CA
34. Sweet Snow, Northridge, CA
35. Reality LA Church
36. Flour + Tea, Pasadena CA
3. Meet 25 new people that are not work related: I need to know their name, where they are from, and where they are going.
1. Older couple on metro (great story)
2. Norrette from H.O.P.E.'s House
3. Pastor Chuck and Pastor Dre from H.O.P.E.'s House
4. Carol - my racing friend from Downtown Dash
5. Toro, my roommate's guitar playing friend
6. Angela, a woman who lives in our apartment complex
7. Monica, from H.O.P.E.'s House (lots of new church friends)
8. Damon from the 168 Film Contest I helped out at
9. Kristina from the 168 Film Contest I helped out at 
10. Kokeb Shi, Sol's Friend
11. Randi, Jenel's Friend
12. Marshall and Alexander - the bagpipe players at the warf
13. Anna, the waitress at Marche in Seattle who got us onto the hotel rooftop
14. Lisa, the woman from the doughnut shop in Seattle (it was her birthday)
15. Austin from Tennessee - attending the WDS conference/Voodoo Doughnuts 
16. Nate also from Tennessee - attending the WDS conference/Voodoo Doughnuts 
17. Jonathan too from Tennessee - attending the WDS conference/Voodoo Doughnuts 
18. Katie at Chris and Jane's wedding
19. Beth at Chris and Jane's wedding
20. Mike from A Night of Scenes at H.O.P.E.'s House
21. Brandon from A Night of Scenes at H.O.P.E.'s House
22. Shannon, family friend, Jacob's, girlfriend
23. Mac, family friend, Jessica's, boyfriend
24. James from Texas, serving the Global Intern Trek food
25. Beth from The Toloumne Lodge 
26. Reality LA - Encino Community Group
4. Lose 25 lbs 
1. Finished on April 1st
5. Get rid of 25 things that I don't need
1. 12 items of clothing
2. The four boxes donated to the Girl's House Garage sale that probably had 50 items in it
6. Actually try 25 things on my Pintrest boards
1. Pencil Poles
2. Chipotle Pesto Pasta
3. Alphabet Pilates
4. Valentine's Day Cake Cookies
5. Standing Abs workout 
6. Chalkboard mirror 
7. Couch to 5k
8. Instagram Bookmarks
9. Mini corn dog muffins
10. Must-Have Apps for Writers
11. Rolo Stuff Ritz Crackers
12. Modern Wall Art
13. The Pizzadilla
14. At Home Speakers
15. Coffee ice cubs
16. How to Tie a Long Scarf
17. Top 10 Songs for Running
18. 200 Running Songs
19. Easy Mac and Cheese
20. Pitch Perfect Drinking Game
21. Fitness at Home
22. Sharpie Mugs 1 (I did 18 of these so I'd count them as 4 items) 
23. Sharpie Mugs 2 
24. Sharpie Mugs 3
25. 30 Day Push Up Challenge
7. Write 25 handwritten letters
8. Learn to cook 15 new dishes
1. Brownies from scratch
2. Chipotle Pesto Pasta
3. Valentine's Day Cake Cookies
4. Mom's Dump Chili
5. Mini Corn Dog Muffins
6. Rolo Stuffed Ritz Crackers
7. The Pizzadilla
8. Turkey Sliders
9. Chicken Salad Sandwiches
10. Corn and Black Bean Salad
11. Cofee Ice Cubes
12. Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese
9. Get coffee/tea/ice cream/etc. with 15 old friends
1. Frozen yogurt with Maise 
2. Coffee with Noemi
3. LA Adventure with Melody
4. Burgers with Meghan
5. Sushi with Nene
6. Smoothies and Beach with Nicole
7. Twinship Adventure Time with Sol
8. CSUN Tour with Yi-ki
9. Hike with Sarah A
10. Pizza with Meg
11. Get Shaved with Justin
12. Corner Bakery with Peter
13. Lunch with Kathy
14. Lunch and laundry with Christina
15. Denny's with Lengyel, Brendan, and Nate (and many others)
10. Physically record 10 family stories
1. No Pants
2. Mom
3. Dad
11. Memorize 10 passages of scripture
1. Proverbs 3:5-6
2. Philippians 4:4-7 
3. 1 John 1:9
4. Luke 4:18-19
5. Isaiah 61:1-3
6. Psalm 103:1-5
7. Psalm 40:1-3
8. 1 Peter 1:3-7
9. Philippians 4:12-13
10. Ezekiel 11:19-20
12. Find 10 new musical artists (or new albums) and recommend them to someone else 
1. JJ Heller - Loved 
2. Pentatonix - Radioactive (Imagine Dragons Cover)
3. Lindsey Sterling
4. Sara Bareilles - Brave
5. Ólafur Arnalds - Old Skin
6. Todderick Hall - Wizard of Ahhhs 
7. Birdy - Skinny Love and The District Sleeps
8. Ylvis - What Does the Fox Say and What's the Meaning of Stonehedge
9. The Head and the Heart
10. Beta Radio
13. Watch 10 movies I can't believe I haven't seen yet
1. Jumanji
2. The Hobbit
3. Butter (after watching it, I can't believe I hadn't seen - so good!)
4. Family Weekend (same deal as Butter)
5. 50/50
6. The Breakfast Club
7. The Amazing Spiderman
8. Fast and Furious: Toyoko Drift
9. Fast Five 
10. Fast and Furious Six
14. Give up 4 bad habits - turns out I focused more on developing new habits 
1. Gained - gratitude 
2. Gained - writing consistently 
3. Gained - consistant prayer times 
4. Gained - taking space for myself 
15. Run 2 5K's 
1. Glendale Downtown Dash
2. No official 5k but have run 3.2 miles several times since 
16. Blog once a week
1. January - success!
2. February - finished!
3. March - almost didn't make but pulled through at the end
4. April - completed!
5. May - done with!
6. June - accomplished!
7. July - win!
8. August - literally once a week and that's it
9. September - a struggle (NSO got the best of me)
10. October - not totally
11. November - thankfully yes :) 
12. December - will be done
17. Blog in another language (probably Spanish, maybe Italian)
1. Espanol 
18. Learn to drive a stick shift
19. Create a piece of art to frame
1. Modern Wall Art
20. Learn a new skill
1. Really wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument, but I learned how to do push-ups better and I'd say that's a pretty sweet new skill. 
21. Begin to learn another language (Spanish, Italian, and ASL are my top 3 to choose from now)
1. Practicing my ASL while at work. I have half of the alphabet down and a few words. It's a work in progress. 
22. Write something and send it to be published
1. Working on the poetry skills
2. Working on a book idea... possible portion here. 
23. Go out dancing
1. Had a dance party at Exponential and I busted a move or two
24. Write a song
1. Green Christmas
25. Face a fear
1. Heights Part 1: Standing on a cliff's ledge
2. Heights Part 2: Going up the Space Needle

Burritos and Boats (30 Days of Gratitude)

I am just thankful for an evening of really good conversation over delicious Freebirds burritos with Brendan. It was an amazing conversation that just gave me a lot of faith and hope for the future.


And really funny text messages from Sarena as you can see next to me. I appreciate the Finding Nemo reference.

And Darin beginning to open up and be real with his struggles and the state of life he is in right now. I appreciate his honesty and his willing to begin letting God dig into the deeper parts of his life.

It could have been an exhausting day since I didn't sleep well the past two nights but it was a good day, that was extremely productive personally and ministry wise. It reminded me of why I love doing ministry - to make an impact and influence in student's lives. And I was very much reminded of that today.

Minons (30 Days of Gratitude)

I am thankful for my student leaders today. They have joked that they are my "minions" from Despicable Me. They do what I ask but kind of drive me crazy and I don't always understand what they are saying (look up clips on you tube if you've never seen the movie). But they are so much more than that. They are an amazing group of 12 people who are letting Jesus work in their lives in radical ways this year. I don't think I would have asked for any other group this year. They have blessed me in ways I can't describe and have been instrumental in my healing from my brokenness with students in the past. They have helped return to me my confidence in my ability to lead others, they have both encouraged and challenged me, they have made fun of me, they have laughed with me, cried with me, screamed with me, and even go on random adventures with. They are some of my favorite people who I will treasure for ever and keep in my life for a long time.

I am grateful for Amanda who quite literally saves my life when it comes to organizing details and who is willing to give the difficult things in life a second chance.
I am grateful for Anne who came in last minute and immediately jumped into leadership and our vision, who is letting Jesus give her strength and confidence.
I am grateful for Brendan who never wants to settle, never wants anyone else to settle, and is letting his heart heal from the things of the past.
I am grateful for Darci who is open, honest, and vulnerable even in the hardest of times, who seeks after justice and the gospel for all those she knows and those she's never met.
I am grateful for Darin who is willing to step outside of his comfort zone, take risks, and is willing to go where Jesus has called him.
I am grateful for Jenel who is opening herself up to transformation by Jesus, even if that means letting him into the hard places in life and who is seeing God's kingdom with new eyes.
I am grateful for Mark who is open to God changing his world view and who is sensitive those that others may be ignoring.
I am grateful for Miriam who doesn't want people to stay where they are at and who vulnerably shares in order to bring people into her own life and struggles so they may do the same.
I am grateful for Monique who's sensitivity to the Holy Spirit teaches us how to listen and for her desire to see others experience the Lord's grace as well.
I am grateful for Ryan whose musical talent blesses anyone with ears to hear, his laughter is contagious and his heart longs loves all he comes into contact with even those that are different than him.
I am grateful for Sabrena who takes care of those in her midst, providing food or comfort or even challenge to those around her, and for taking risks in new areas.
I am grateful for Sarena who sees all those around her and longs for them to be seen for who they are, and that she is discovering how to use the unique gifts God has given her.

Beer. Tall Bikes. Bears Costumes.

Bears. Tall Bikes. Beer.

Three things that appear in the Blue Like Jazz movie along with a writer's ability to tell a story, a producer's faith in the project, and thousands of willing fans that want to make history.

When I first read the Blue Like Jazz book I was intrigued. Donald Miller spoke about faith and spirituality in a fresh way that I coming from a more conservative background had been only recently encountering since I had attended college the three years previous (to reading the book). I was hooked from the start because I felt like I was speaking with Donald Miller at a coffee shop about his views on faith, Jesus, religion, and fathers.

When I heard the movie was coming, it took a while for me to be on board. I was one of the first to be dedicated, and then I saw how important it was that this story came into being.

The story follows a young (and moderately fictionalized) Don Miller as he enters in freshman year at Reed College in Portland Oregon. Trying to escape infidelity and hypocrisy of his Texas Baptist roots, he seeks acceptance in all forms: getting drunk, making fun of God, drinking more beer, riding tall bikes, civil disobedience, and drinking more beer. Don faces the reality that most college freshman do - they feel like a astronaut in a robot invasion, just slightly out of place and trying desperately to belong. In addition, many Christian students, as they transition into new phases like college test God - to prove them that putting their faith in Him has not been a waste.

And Don feels his 19 years as Texas Baptist have been a waste, so he tries to escape. But Don realizes that no matter how much he tries to escape God, he has failed. He realizes there is brokenness in the world - youth pastors mess up, parents let you down, people have affairs, cooperations screw over the little guy but in spite of that there is a lot of good in the world. When the movie is over, many of the character's questions of "where is meaning in life" and "Why would God let this happen to my life" and "Where is God in the broken crap of our lives" remain to be fully answered. The real Donald Miller and Producer Steve Tyler want us to question that for ourselves and come to our own answers.

I appreciate that this movie doesn't wrap up nicely. Many "Christian" movies or many sentimental (they are not always one in the same, but many are) try to have a perfect little ending to their movie - with the answer to the deep questions of life easily spelled out. But you can't answer these deep questions in a two hour movie and I think Blue Like Jazz really does a great job at this. This isn't your typical Christian movie. In fact I used the term "Christian" with hesitance. Does it have a nice ending? No. Does it have a lot of sentimentality? No. But does it talk about Jesus - absolutely. Does it wrestle with hard, deep Christian themes - of course. But beware - if you don't like beer, tall bikes, or bear costumes this movie may not be for you.

The Blue Like Jazz Trailer...

One Hundred

I have been thinking about this post for quite some time. This marks the historic 100th post of this blog, that I started back in 2011. I began it right after I finished my first ever online blog, Tre. Sei. Cinque, which is Three.Six.Five in Italian. It was my photo a day blog (go ahead, and give it a look see).

So for the 100th post, I have decided to make a list (I really do love lists) of my top 100 things I have done/learned since I started this blog. They are in the order that they come to my mind...

1. Always call a few days in advance to set up the water for your house before you move in. 
2. Pintrest is amazing but can suck you in to hours of time consumption. Be aware.
3. Knowing the weather ahead of time can be your best friend - find a good program to check your daily weather.
4. Take lots of photo adventures with friends.
5. Try to arrange your sickness during breaks and holidays so your mom can take care of you.
6. Kids carry germs. Lots of them. Sanitize and take your vitamins regularly.
7. Performance doesn't mean worth. It is, however, a challenge to believe this of yourself and others.
8. AAA baseball games are amazing and cheaper alternatives to professional games. 
9. Not planning can lead to some fantastic things.
10. Pigeons hold grudges. 
11. Fusion food made look scary but is secretly awesome.
12. Everybody needs a second chance because first impressions aren't always correct.
13. Photography can be such a blessing to others, but mostly to myself.
14. Sandwiches are best done in San Luis Obispo, High Street, Gus's, Konas....
15. Audio books make commutes more than tolerable but enjoyable.
16. The phone is an amazing invention, and I never appreciated it until it became a lifeline to maintain long distance friendships. 
17. Long distance friendships are full of confusion, frustration, and high phone bills. But are also full of God's grace. 
18. Sometimes you have laugh, otherwise you'll cry. But sometimes you just need to cry. 
19. My body will never get used to waking up 5:30 am. 
20. Strength Finder is just as good (if not better) that Myers-Briggs. 
21. Pho 75# 2 is the best Pho place ever. 
22. A child sitting on your lap is better than most expsensive therapy. 
23. Transitions from college to adult is one of the hardest transitions to make. 
24. When looking for a good place to eat, choose a place with the longest line. It probably has the best food. 
25. Joy is not always immediate and sometimes you have try to find it. 
26. The power of the cross is something that we should meditate on daily, not just at easter time. 
27. "She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me,' For she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."-  Genesis 16:13
28. Memorizing scripture is one of the best things you can do for yourself. 
29. The best things aren't always done in the conventional way. 
30. Entering a contest can't hurt. You could win a car. Or in my case, a snuggie. 
31. There is never not a bad time for scones. 
32. Forgiving others is not a feeling, it's a choice. 
33. No amount of pre-sleep will ever prepare you for the pain of an all-nighter when you are an adult. 
34. Enjoy the local coffee shops, bars, and bookstores. Even if they aren't actually local to you, they are local to someone. 
35. Know how to disarm your smoke detector. And quickly. 
36. Don't eat all sugary foods all day. It will make you feel like a crazy person. To remedy: eat some eggs or something with salt. 
37. Be excited about the small things. And make a get psyched mix if you need help. 
38. When throwing up, aim for the toilet. If you puke in the sink, you will have to clean it up eventually.
39. Despite might what I may wish, my hair will not truly accommodate bangs the way I want them to. 
40. People admire you when you admit your flaws. 
41. It is appropriate to applaud after airport security finally shuts off a 40 minute beeping alarm. Be warned, it may confuse new comers to the terminal. 
42. Even after our teenage years, much to all of our disappointment, people are still driven by the opinions of others. 
43. Cheerleading can make for a surprisingly good musical with the right writers. 
44. Fries are always meant for sharing. Especially fries from The Hat. 
45. When dressing up for Jr. High students, go big or go home. 
46. "Sometimes you have to have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself." - Blue Like Jazz.
47. Keep calm and eat more ice cream. 
48. Money is stressful when you don't have enough. It is even more stressful when you have more than plenty and try to spend it well. You buy more crap that you don't need. 
49. It is still cool to built a fort when you are an adult. 
50. When people don't respond on the phone, it could mean they are listening intently. It could also mean, they are falling asleep. It is always ok to ask if they are still there. 
51. Drinks are complimentary in first class. And the stewardess will look at you weird when you giggle at this. 
52. I am not exempt from hardship just because of my faith in God. (When God Lets you Down.)
53. Take risks. 
54. The Lord is enough and is greater than the things that I lack. 
55. Bing is the new search engine of choice. 
56. Embarrassment lingers for a moment but shame roots itself in deep. If left undealt with, it becomes a part of your identity. 
57. Be extra nice to people who serve you (waitresses, cleaning crews, stewardesses, etc) because then they will go out of their way to help you. 
58. Sometimes the place you want to be the least is right where you are supposed to be. 
59. Stage Manager should really be Stage Mother. 
60. Want to make actors work better and stay on task - feed them.
61. "The miracle of grace is not that God stops the storms of life. The miracle of grace is that he is willing to stay in the boat with us during the storms of life." - When God Lets you Down.  
62. Our anger is often misplaced, not at the one who is absent, but at the one who is present. 
63. If plan "A" doesn't work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet. 
64. You can have more than one favorite student. But NEVER tell them who your favorites actually are. 
65. Celebrate the good years with people who have them. It means that they will celebrate with you when yours finally come around. 
66. At age 25, you don't have to have everything figured out.
67. Don't work for people who make you miserable. The paycheck isn't worth it and you still have time to find the job that you love.
68. There is no need to rush dating and marriage. Spend time maintaining the close friendships of people around you. 
69. When moving to a new place, don't spend all your time church-hopping. Figure out what you must have from a church, what you would like but can live without, and what is not necessary. Pick one that fits the best. No church will be perfect but you need to be in community somewhere. 
70. Counseling is an amazing resource and more people should do it.
71. Practice spiritual disciplines like fasting, memorizing scripture, listening prayer, etc. 
72. Volunteer at places. Many places. 
73. Learn how to cook more than just pasta and Top Ramen. Then learn how to cook eggs other than just scrambled and chicken grilled. 
74. Even the young can start a revolution. 
75. The best way to get to know someone is let them take you to their favorite restaurant or cook their favorite meal. Food bonds people. 
76. Sometimes we need to waste our lives for God and to worship him. 
77. When you shut people out of your life, you are risking that they will take the hint and stay away. Be vulnerable with the people that matter to you. 
78. Dress up and let people compliment your outfits. 
79. Wear clothes you love, no matter what people say about them. 
80. "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him." - Psalm 40: 1-3. 
81. Spend time thinking about all the things in your life that definitely didn't happen by chance. 
82. Staying positive doesn't have to be overly bubbly and pink, but it is seeing that there is more to your situation than the here and now. 
83. People do see you when you sing loudly in the car. But their looks just mean they are jealous they aren't blasting their favorite musical. 
84. No matter how many you seem to buy, bobby pins and hair ties always seem to disappear within minutes of opening them. 
85. There are times when you may have to be in a box of crap. 
86. Looking at something close up can bring revelation. 
87. Clean your oven regularly. And regularly is not once every six months. 
88. It is ok to doubt God. Questioning means you are seeking real answers. Just don't stay in that land forever. Let God answer you. 
89. When making a difficult decision, take a false step into it. Try it on for a while and see how it fits before you commit. 
90. Don't let college students get a hold of your hats. Sometimes you don't get them back. Sometimes they play "keep away" from you as if you were back in elementary school. 
91. Be aware of your expectations. If you are holding tightly to a way something is done, God may want to challenge that. 
92. Visit the places you love frequently. You often don't realize how much you love a place until you can't go there. 
93. When you are in college you can miss a lot of sleep each week. When you become an working adult, even missing a few hours of sleep is a death sentence. 
94. Give yourself into what do you love. Your passion will bless others. 
95. We sometimes need to sit in the reality of our own sin, it makes us realize how amazing and necessary that Jesus redeems us. 
96. Nerf wars are always a great idea. 
97. Always know what time it is when you are having a late night conversation. Being loud at 2am is much different than being loud at 10pm. People generally don't enjoy laughter at 2am. 
98. God's kingdom is an upside down one where the king's throne was a cross, where he uses the incompetent for his purposes, and he redeems rather than condemns
99. Sometimes it is best when we don't totally fit in, when we are an astronaut in a robot invasion. 
100. 100 is a really large number and writing a blog post about 100 things you learned is a much larger feat than anticipated... next time I'll do it after only 50. 

Loving Something

"Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself."

Donald Miller - I love the way you tell stories.

"Do You Exist?"

You may have heard me talk about Blue Like Jazz or my love of Donald Miller. Some of you have seen my Facebook change appearance with BLJ posters and profile pictures, but that is not to seem to hip or cool but to get the word out there about this amazing movie. 

I have seen two advanced movie screenings of this movie and I was deeply moved both times. This movie tells the profound story of forgiveness, acceptance, fitting in, and finding yourself in God's universe. This is a unique tale that deals with Christian themes without being cheesy, over-emotional, or overly sentimental. It appeals to an intellectual audience of Christians and non-Christians alike. It allows to question and ponder our place in the universe. 

But this weekend is make or break for this movie. This is not the Hunger Games that has probably a billion dollar advertising campaign. If this movie doesn't do well at the box office opening weekend, then it may be pulled from Theaters. Blue Like Jazz's ad campaign is largely told through people - people who are passionate about God's plan for this movie to reach more people than ever. 

How can I help? Yes, great question. Start by telling your friends. Buy tickets for opening weekend. Take friends with you. Bring your non-Christian friends and start discussions with them afterwards. Whatever it takes, gets the word out to se this movie. I will be seeing it on Sunday in Burbank, if you want to join me. And if you can't afford a ticket - I will buy one for you, that's how much I want to see this movie go beyond just one great weekend. Will you be a part of this story? 

And here is a copy of the email the producer, Steve, sent to the Blue Like Jazz Street Team for more info

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Do You Exist? I love our distributor, Roadside Attractions.  They've released Oscar nominated films like Winter's Bone, Margin Call and Biutiful. They were the first distributor we screened for, they've got a reputation for both honesty and good taste, and they're genuine fans of Blue Like Jazz. But at our L.A. screening last week at the Pasadena Arclight, the co-president of our distributor made a telling comment afterwards—something to the effect of, "Wow, Steve. I have to admit I was a bit surprised at the crowd. This was a youthful-looking, hip audience with intelligent questions during the Q&A. This is a lot like the audience for our other movies." While I appreciated his candor, it underscored both the joy and frustration of bringing "Blue Like Jazz" to the screen. We've been trying to tell people for six years that you exist. That there's an audience for an intelligent, well-crafted movie made by Christians that takes issues of faith seriously. No, we are by no means the first. But neither is it overstating the case to say that this weekend, April 13th, is a defining moment, as the success or failure of Blue LIke Jazz at the box office can determine for years to come whether or not like-minded projects get funded. I have friends in Hollywood who love the movie. But they're trying to prep me for disappointment. Our PR team has done a superb job. But they can't get coverage from key press outlets, because the national press simply doesn't believe Blue Like Jazz will register more than a blip at the box office. And then, of course, there's the Christian Movie Establsihment, who may well be literally praying that you don't exist. Do you exist? We know we've got a record-breaking 4500 Kickstarter backers. We know we've got a record-breaking 1500 Civil Disobedience Street Teamers. We know we've had full houses at sneak previews from coast to coast. But can we sell tickets this weekend - the weekend of April 13th? We've had an historic series of events leading up to this moment. But there's only one way to finish this story. This is the week we need all our friends to join us in a nationwide "get out the vote" campaign. The theater list will be finalized today. (We'll be expanding to other cities the following weekend.) Fandango will be selling advance tickets on either Tuesday or Wednesday (depending on the theater chain). And we need you to use all your communication tools to help Blue Like Jazz have an historic opening weekend at the box office. These are exciting days as we count down to Friday. More to come... Steve

Bears, Bicycles, and Jesus

I went to see Blue Like Jazz at a screening in LA and was amazing by the acting, the filming, and the direction. I think was more excited to see this than The Hunger Games movie.

Let me begin by saying that I don't traditionally like Christian movies. I find they are often too cheesy (and not the good kind that would come on a pizza) for my taste. They either try too hard to be "Christian" and put unnecessary Christian dialogue or action in the movie or too hard to appeal to a secular audience and have lost all Christian themes/morals in the movie. I'm not saying that Christian movies are awful and I know many people who like them. But they are the equivalent of Hallmark or Nora Roberts movies - good for a quick cry and then easily forgettable.

What is different about Blue Like Jazz is the hoensty. Donald Miller knows how to tell good stories. I think that is why I like him as an author is he tells amazing stories. His books don't feel like regular Christian books but rather like you are in a coffee shop with him and he is telling you his life story. The movie has the same feel, like you are sitting down with 20 year old Don Miller and he is telling you about his first year at Reed College in Portland and how Jesus met him through his pot smoking, beer drinking, and lesbian classmates.

The characters in this movie are real, partly because they are all based on real people, but also the actors portray them exceptionally well. The movie allows you to question why you "do" religion but also brings you back to the essential point of the power and necessity of Jesus. I like that the movie itself never questions who Jesus is but rather you are watching Don question him. It allowed me to go there with Don (if I needed to) or to watch along, emphasizing with him. It allowed me to evaluate my own life - where had Jesus met in the past and where did I need him to meet me again.

It was a beautiful story and I cannot wait to see it again.

The Hunger Games

Unless you've been living underneath a rock, you've heard of Suzanne Collins's book, The Hunger Games. Currently my Jr. High small group girls are obsessed with it. I have to say, to start out with, that I really love these books since I first read The Hunger Games almost a year ago. I am excited to see it come to a movie but more than that, I look forward to the discussions that can come from this book. Questions about oppression, injustice, and survival in our own world.

While I am excited to see my small group girls so engaged in a book rather than some reality TV show MTV has put out (not that I haven't watched a few of those myself) I am not sure they totally understand the depth of the book. Many of them are much more invested in the romance, making camps of Team Gale or Team Peeta. But honestly, those books are not about the romance. According to Collins's herself the books themes are much deeper than romance. The book "tackles issues such as severe poverty, starvation, oppression, and the affects of war among others." The books itself are not about a girl choosing between two guys (as you may see in Twilight) and isn't the battle of good vs. evil (for example as in, say, Harry Potter) but about how do we wrestle with injustice in our own world? Do we sit back and pretend it doesn't happen like they do in the capital? Do we just try to survive on our wits and knowledge like Katniss and Gale in the first book or do we step out and fight against oppression?

Collins hopes that readers walk away from the books asking how "elements of the book might be relevant in their own lives. And, if they're disturbing, what they might do about them." I appreciate The Hunger Games books, not because they are full of action, violence, or romance but because they allow us to see injustice and oppression in an imaginary world and that should lead us to reflect where do we see those things in society. I think as Christians we should take advantage of this extremely popular book as a transition into asking our churches and fellowships where do we see injustice and what can be done about it? 

Leap Day

I had to have a post on leap day. It would be a shame not to blog on the one day every four years where the date will say February 29th. I don't actually see what is so special about Leap Day (other than it occurs every four years). But the summer olympics occur every four years and they have gymnastics and I think that is that is far superior. So in honor of Leap Day and the future olympics to occur this summer I have included a clip from Stick It and a limerick about a frog.

There once was a froggy named Ted

Who desperately wanted to a girl, wed

So it was on Leap Day

He got on his knee to say,

But a large croak was all to be said. 

And the Stick It trailer. Watch this movie. It is highly amusing.

Blue Like Jazz: The Movie

I am really excited for the Blue Like Jazz movie to come out. I think it is going to be a fantastic work from the creative mind of Don Miller (on a side note - Don Miller is on my list of famous people I want to become best friends with).

Anyway, here is the trailer for the movie. Take a look and be impressed:

Three Lines You Overheard that Were Graces (Joy Dare)

Joy Dare Day 3

"She gets to know people so she can love them well."
I found this on a friend's blog. When I hear things like this I am encouraged. There are many moments when I do feel like a failure - as does everyone I am sure. But when I read things like this, my heart swells up and I feel that great sense of purpose. It is just an overwhelming great feeling of joy.

"The stalling of the ball is a reminder to us to stop and reflect on the year gone by. On the triumphs and missteps, promises made and broken. New Years is about getting another chance." 
This is from the movie New Year's Eve. I was pleasantly surprised by the movie (but more on that later). I love this quote because it brought me a lot of hope for the New Year. 2011 was filled with a lot of hardships and frustrations and I am really looking forward to things improving. It gives me hope that change can be a good thing.

"She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me." 
This is from Genesis chapter 16. It wasn't really overheard per say, but heard in church. This is slowly becoming one of my favorite passages in scripture where the Lord sees Hagar after she has run away from her mistress and her crappy life at home. God saw her in all the crap.