Opening Movie Night Group

So I am starting an Opening Night Group for people/friends who want to go watch the opening night show for movies. Tomorrow Angels vs. Demons, next week Terminator, last week Star Trek.

Change of Seasons: Sort of

So these are my last two weeks as editor-in-chief of the The Campus Newspaper. It has been a good run the last year as editor. We developed a website and our first semester we came out with a weekly newspaper.

I have totally loved my time as editor. I have learned to lead a group of people. I think I have done well. I know there have been times in the last two years where I have been an absolutely terrible leader or when I have lost my cool.

I think I may have leader withdrawals. I turn my job over to Steph and Alyssa gets Stephs job. I will become the Online editor.

Next semester I hope to get involved in photography more as well in managing the online site.

I think I really like the photo aspect of Journalism. It feels a whole lot more fulfilling, possibly because more people have a tendency to see it or maybe I can tell a story better through photography.

I have love my time at COS and would not trade it for anything else. I don't care what popular opinion says about the Central Valley or College of the Sequoias because I love where I am at for now.

Bhangra

I went to an Arts and Lectures series called Bhangra. It was an Indian Dance competition. It literally blew my mind. It was intense. I did not know that the Indian people could get down.

Star Trek

Last night I watched the midnight showing of Star Trek, the movie. It reminded me of when I was young and would watch it with my dad. The movie was great. I give it five out of five. Only with minor complaints. I did not like Spock's mom because she seemed to be to young for the role, she never aged besides a few platinum streaks and smudge of foundation here and there.

But the rest was pretty darn good. I wish I hadn't eaten such a diverse range of food before I watched it so my stomach wouldn't have been in a flurry. Cheese, mandarin oranges, a half of cookie, raw yams, and a few bites of taco bell.

Oh, and we dressed up.

Medieval Times

In honor of a buddy we went to Medieval Times, in Buena Park. It was a blast.

Smile Wars

I just had a smile war with an elderly lady here at work. She smiled then I smiled then hers got bigger, then mine got cheesier.

Persecution

Galatians 6:17 (Amplified Bible)
17From now on let no person trouble me [by [a]making it necessary for me to vindicate my apostolic authority and the divine truth of my Gospel], for I bear on my body the [brand] marks of the Lord Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions--these testify to His ownership of me]!

This verse rocks me.

Healing

Tonight I viewed a documentary called Finger of God. It was amazing! And this comes from a guy who does not like documentaries.

The documentary documents what GOD is doing on/in the earth today. From California, Yale, China, Omen, Bulgaria, Africa, etc.

What woke me when I watched this was the fact that it was not declaiming Jesus, but instead tearing down skepticism and building up Jesus and his kingdom.

I also realized that many active Christians, including myself, can look like fools. This is not a bad thing.

What hit my heart:

1. Salvation- a product of obedient everyday people

2. Instead of tearing down the church it showed how beautiful she is by showing what Jesus is doing through her, us.

3. Asians- weeping in prayer in an underground church. This hit something in me because I know it was not fake, but real.

4. I also liked that it showed the conference ladies/fanatics, and that it did not mock them, but showed there intentions in a positive way.


Jesus was all over it!


Visit the Iris ministries website to purchase it: fingerofgodfilm.com

Dad

I just watched the film Big Fish. I can not help but to think about my father. He is a man that perhaps that many people take for granted, but when it comes down to it he is an amazing man. The father in the movie reminded me of my dad. He has had such an interesting life, meeting other nations leaders, traveling the world, etc.

Whenever I watch a movie like this I realize that my dad is an important person and the love that I have for him.

Intersted

I am pondering the idea of putting some sort of photo book together. Perhaps of hidden places in Visalia and the valley that remain hidden for some strange reason.

Obama

Well here we are. Obama is the President of the United states.

A few things I am excited about.

Prop 11 passed. A big hi five to alternative fuel cars.
Prop 8.
Prop 4- Parents right to know.

Voting

I have mixed feelings about the elections, mostly with christians and how we vote.

I am not against people who vote democrat or pro-choice, but I do have a very hard time understanding there reasoning.

The only thing I can come up with is that they are deceived, especially in the arena of abortion. I feel like people see the issue of abortion solely as a political issue which it is, in terms of voting. But when in reality it is an issue of Gods law and either breaking or keeping His law.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155394344/bctid1385253264

Woop Woop.

It has been nearly 2 months since I have updated this blog. It is way to long of a time.

My endeavors lately have been in the field of journalism. Here at the Campus News at College of the Sequoias we have come out with four issues.

check out www.coscampusonline.com

It has been a while

School has started. These past two weeks have been a whole lot of fun. This semester we have about 27 people on staff with our campus newspaper. People keep on joining. On thursday a guy walked in wanting to submit cartoons for publication. Most people in the class have some sort of knowledge with journalism, graphic design, and web work. Even html. One of the guys worked for MGM and our ad manager was an ad manager at two other larger newspapers.

We come out with our first issue on August 10th. It should be good.

Africa: Uganda, Sudan, Kenya

Africa: Uganda, Sudan, Kenya

some more photos.

Some photos.

Extended Family

I have been hanging out in Portland and Seattle for the last two weeks. I have realized how much I love my extended family. These type of people are the ones that you hardly ever see but once a year if that, but my case is very extreme.

Over the last 10 years I saw my cousins in Oregon 3 times, two of them in the last 11 months. Which is crazy.

I have found that I love them and I wish I had more time to spend here in Oregon. Even though we differ in our beliefs and even in the way we live it is so great to be able to communicate and have relationship with them. Especially my cousin Aaron. WE arn't exactly the same but we do have fathers who were products of the same home life so we have similar life experience. I wish I had grown up near him so we could of become better friends.

I have realized that I don't like how currently our world operates when it comes to family. I wish that families stuck together like they did 100-300 years ago. A family unit was not just a dad, mom, and children, it also included your parents your in laws and all your cousins and family who just happened to live down the street. What I am trying to say is I like the connectedness there is when a whole family is close not just emotionally, but physically. When a child's family grows in a community of relatives there is great potential that the child will be more or inherently connected to there family culture, which in my opinion is a good thing.

I would love for my future children to grow up down the road from his/her grandparents, cousins, etc. I know this can not always happen but I think it is ideal in raising children connected to there heritage.

Seattle

I am on my way to the northern United States where I will be working with some dear friends of mine. Seattle is our first stop, techinally second, and then Oregon and its coast will be next.

Sudan TidBits

1. The Nile
2. Some Kids
3. Some Kids
4. A Soccer Team we played

AFRICA/LONDON

Wow. I am here in London where we are relaxing and going to enjoy at pint at a local pub. We just flew in from Uganda where we were for a few days post to Southern Sudan. God has done so much in my heart during the last few weeks. I have found a love grow in my heart towards the people of Africa.

God is global. He is the same in America as he is in Africa. In a later post I will explain more, but right now I am going to enjoy a pint.

Some Photos

Sudan Blog

Check out the Sudan blog at www.sudancalls.blogspot.com.

Traveling the World

Over the last few days nine other people and I have been and are traveling to the Sudan. We are currently in London, staying with some kind folks who have taken us in. I can hear fire works going off in the distance. Today is the 4Th of July. The day we celebrate the Independence from the very country I am in. Tomorrow we continue our journey to the Sudan with a flight and a nights stay in Kenya, then a flight to Entebe and a flight to Moyo, which is in the Sudan.

The people that we are staying with here in London are so cool. They are madly in love with God and are messianic Jews. They began relationship with Jesus about four and half years ago. There story overwhelmed me and just about me cry. In fact I just looked up and the shelf above me is lined with Israeli flag, Kepas, and book son the Holy Land including Schindler's list and the Diary of Anne Frank.

I have realized upon my stay here in London that stories of redemption or when Judaism becomes a reality in someones heart because of what Jesus Christ has done I become really excited. It is like God coming full circle with out restraint loving on his children. When they shared their story to us around the table full of fish and chips I felt Jesus come into the room and I wanted to lay down on the floor and sob.

Wowsers!

I am looking forward to this trip to Africa.

1. The boat ride on the Nile.
2. The Safari.
3. African food.
4. Soccer.
5. London.

The Important Things

I find that I can be quite the one to only want to talk about deep things. But I realize that when I do this I realize that I can have quite a sharp edge. Part of my personality when in one-on-one relationship can be quite confrontational.

I love talking about things that matter. It fills me up. Its like something God given gets filled up deep down in my core. I am going to keep on talking no matter. All I need to do is to work on my presentation skills.

London

I am on my way to the Sudan on Thursday. I am quite excited that we are going to stop in London on the way to the Sudan and the way back. It is going to be a great time. We are going to celebrate the 4th of July in London.

I think I may purchase an Old Navy American Flag Graphic T and sport it in London.

Finances

Last night i found out that we as a group found out that each of us need to raise about $1400 dollars each extra for the trip. Pray. I need this in eight days. And if you feel like donating e-mail me at ezraromero1@yahoo.com.

My life looks like my car.

What I have realized is that my car looks like my life at times. Recently I have been traveling back and forth from my parents home about twenty five minutes from mine. The product of these excursions equals piles and piles of clothes piled in the back of my car. Some of the inhabitants of my car include trash, crocs(the target kind), a high tech lift for my car, under ware, socks, and a bunch of unmentionables.

I find that when my car or my room are dirty many times I am not doing well spiritually or emotionally. This is somewhat true, because sometimes my car is just dirty and everything is OK. But I do have to say that when my car and room are clean I do feel extremely happy.

HELP!

Things I Need for the Sudan(Maybe you want to help out with)-

-Zip off pants
-Mosquito net
-Whicking shirts, and underoos.
-Crocs, size 9 Or CHACOS size 9
-Deet insect repellent
-Finances

Peaches

Lately I have eaten so many California fresh nectarines. They are so good. In fact my digestive tract feels it.

Connection

This past weekend I was a groomsman in one of my buddies wedding. When we were younger Daniel, Mykee, and I all had our secret lives where we were looking for something to satisfy. We all were pretty crazy, not for the good, each in our own way.

Over the past few years we all have come to know Jesus, for ourselves without each other. It was so cool to see these guys within this context. We are each on a similar journey following Jesus in different places. It seems to be that we are all in transition and some sort of change or transformation. Mykee lives in San Francisco, Daniel in Oregon, and I am here in the Central Valley. In fact when I think about there friendship I get excited inside, along with deep appreciation for them.

When I gave my final hugs before I left the day after the wedding I realized the love that is in me for these two friends. I had never stopped to realize this until yesterday. Sure I was sad that we were all parting but I was glad that we are remaining friends, even if it means that we live in different states. Even as I am writing this I want to cry, all I know is that I love these dudes and that I want to see them go far in life. Part of me wants to sacrifice all that I can to see them reach what God has for them.

The reason I was so emotional at the departing was because I wish we lived closer so we can fight for each others lives, as brothers. It was that sense of I wish I could. Kind of disappointing but at the same time hopeful of the future that God has for us in different places.

When it comes down to it, I am realizing that I am a person who loves to have deep connection with others. I am going to have to learn how to do this in long term relationships.

Judging

This is Jaclyn... one of Ezra's other coworkers. I apologize now I am not as good as Ezra and Kat with my words.
But I just really wish that Judgment would be obsolete. Which is kinda weird that I wish that because God will judge us upon our days on earth. I realize that everybody is judgmental to some extent. I recently realized that certain people are really judgmental. It makes me wonder what do they think of themselves because when I start to judge people I think, "Wow I would never want someone to assume I am a certain way." Which I don't think anyone really wants that.
according to dictionary.com judgmental-tending to make moral judgments
-a person QUALIFIED to pass a critical judgment.
WHO'S QUALIFIED? just God!?
maybe not because...
-an administrative head of Israel in the period between the death of Joshua and the accession to the throne by Saul.
also from dictionary.com

Jaclyn

Bachelor Party

I have realized that my blog entries can be quite impersonal and about a subject matter instead about what is going on with me.

So lets delve into what goes on in my life.

I will go to my first bachelor party tonight. This afternoon I will be making tamales for a few hours before the fun begins.
The bachelor party will most likely include lots and lots of duct tape.

I don't believe in, just like I don't believe in Santa, rude bachelor parties because first of all I don't want to see a stripper or get my friend to do as many vulgar things as possible, especially a few nights before he is getting married.

I feel this way because I want to see a culture of honor established in my life and in the lives of those around me and in my self. So the moral of the story this bachelor party will have no stripper or strip club but may contain a lot of duct tape to tape my buddy to the tree.

Soup

I was just using the restroom when a thought triggered about why chicken soup is called chicken soup and not called tomato or potato when it seems to me that there are more potatoes in it then little pieces of chicken?

Homosexual Marriage

I wrote a post earlier last week that I have gotten some flack for from a friend. SO I want to clarify again what I mean.

In my previous post I guess I made it sound like that I support homosexuality. What I meant was that I don't think us as Christians lobbying for a bill or law to end Homosexuality will change much. I am kind of on the far side of the fence when I say that when I look at human history, even in the bible, I realize and come to understand that when a nation comes to its end then God has a great opportunity to reveal himself through his people.

This gives us as Christians the opportunity to love on those that are very much like us. Homosexuality sin is not much different than heterosexual sin. They both stem from brokenness.

First of all, I do not support the union or even the homosexual relationship between two men or two women.

Secondly, Homosexuality is a developmental issue and without being addressed at it's roots through prayer and forgiveness it can not be overcome successfully. Without addressing core values and the way one has been brought up, the person seeking holiness, rather than heterosexuality, is just simply trying to suppress desires without addressing what is really going on.

The truth is God loves restoration and redeeming peoples lives. It is what he does best. It's not like we are his weird science experiments. It is his love and kindness that drives us to him to receive healing through one-on-one relationship with him.

Tamales

Today and for the rest of the evening I will be making Tamales and have been making Tamales. In total we will be making 600 plus tamales.

My friend Victoria is making them as well along with others who want to help. Victoria is going on the trip.

We are raising money for a trip to the Sudan.

Pray. We need Godly intervention.

Cat Barf---

Hey Dude:=> i just got off the phone with my little brother who is 8. He said that the cat barfed on my parents kitchen table, under the table, and in the middle of the kitchen floor. He couldn't stop laughing.

He said that he could not clean it up because the cat named "Cat" belongs to my sister. I told him to clean it up but I bet that he will leave it there tell my sister or mom cleans it up at 1:30pm. Right now it is 10:06 in the morning.

GROSSSSSSS!!! I love this little guy. He is a great little brother. He just turned 8 last Sunday. (He no joke looks like a mini me) I will have to get a picture of him sometime up here.

Undercover Funny...

This is Kat from the 210 cafe again.... So, I'm not sure if anyone out there has seen the movie, "National Treasure" or it's counterpart, "National Treasure 2", but there's a main guy in there that i think reminds me a lot of Ezra... No, not Nicholas Cage, but Justin Bartha... He is kinda undercover funny. He seems to be naturally goofy, kinda like Ezra and very smart. No Ezra, it's not bad, it's a good trait. Anywho, if you haven't watched the movies, then watch them, in order, and think of Ezra... Till next time!

Don't Cheer Up!

I have a friend that I run into quite often that is quite depressed. A pastor told him that he should focus on the positive in his life, which I totally agree with but I thin k that when issues come up in your life you should face them head on. Because perhaps God is trying to deal with them.

God desires to heal our hearts as his people. It is his gift to us when he stirs stuff in our hearts. It is o.k. to hurt for a while. And when we do hurt we should lean into it to get its full affect. This may seem oxymoronic but it works. Shoot, if God wants to heal me and it his desire then I will let him even if I have to face some of my most gruesome enemies.

So my advice to my buddy is to face it, cry, get a hug, talk it out, get prayer, and watch God heal his heart over a period of time.

Pain is Gods gift to us. It is his agent of change. He uses pain to trigger the core values that are wrong in us. These distort the way we see God and the way we see ourselves. After all our emotions are real but they are not always true. They even may be legitimate but not always right.

So don't always cheer up so quickly. It might be God wanting to love you through pain.

Anime

Tonight I will be playing a role playing games with my friend Alec. It is going to my first experience with this type of game. Hopefully I will enjoy this.

Last semester at COS I wrote an article about the Anime Club on campus. I realized that my perspective on those in this club was jaded. I had the perspective that they were all nerdy and had no life.

I was wrong. I realized that these guys were normal, they were just interested in Anime. For instance I love conversations and will talk for hours, and these will do the same with there passion. They just enjoy Anime more than I do.

So this evening is going to be a fun. I am really going to enjoy the company of these guys and to get to know them.

Guys are Jerks

I have come to the conclusion after watching myself over the last few days and have realized that guys are jerks. Which is so true at times. We try to come across with the best intentions but when it comes down to it because of poor communication skills and lack of a better word we can come across as jerks. Which at sometimes is so irritating because we just don't know how to get what is in our minds out of our mouths in the most loving manner.

Also, we just do stupid things which fall into the category of an jerk.

Breaking up is Hard to do.

breaking up is hard to do... my name is kat... i work with ezra, he seems to tell us ladies that girls take break ups harder then guys, but i doubt that. Or, I must date a lot of guys that are wuss'... who knows.... (don't get me wrong, girls are cry babies and sometimes vindictive bitches too, but we are not talking about us...) You need an example??? K, guys, here's an example that boys take break ups hard.... 2 words" OWEN WILSON"... when kate hudson broke it off with owen wilson, he started taking drugs to a whole-nother level... he tried committing suicide and was spotted crying and hanging out in strip clubs all the time... (not only once, but twice) yeah, he took it REALLY easy, right. not quite... also, if breaking up is so easy for guys, why when they see the girl after the break up, it is way more awkward for the guy... they seem to pee their pants and RUN out of the room... weird... anywho, you boys don't need to pretend you don't cry, cuz guess what, YOU DO!!!

The Dating Game

True love is a hard thing to decipher. At one moment you may be totally infatuated with a person and the next week you find out you are no longer interested.

It is a weird scenario. One that we can not really control. It just happens. Our emotions are a secret little devil that can disguise itself as truth when our emotions maybe lying to us. The truth is our emotions are legitmate but they are not always the truth. I have realized that the dating game can be brutal and that people do get hurt if you take things to fast.

Decisions

I am having to make decisions about long term goals. I need to choose where to go to college in the next months. This is totally exciting but at the same time irritating.

The options as of right now are San Jose State, USC, Sacramento State. \

Also where a relationship should go. I guess I just have to see where that goes.

People have told me I look like...

Over the past years I have recieved a few comments from friends that I look like...

1. A hobit. Frodo Baggins, aka. Elijah Wood. Partly because of his hairy feet.

2. Juaquin Phoenix

3. Tobey Maguire, when I had longer hair.

3. and my Dad, because I am his son.

Manly Man

So I took this survey on Facebook to see how manly I am. The questions that were asked were ridiculous. Including questions like how many beers does it take before I get tipsy, How many girls are chasing me?, and a bunch of other unnecessary ones.

It turns out that I am a MANLY MAN. Whatever that means? I "fit" into this category because no matter what comes my way I can stay calm and alert. Also I have the ability to catch a live salmon with my bare hands.

Homosexual Marriage

For some reason I am not totally against this. I am a firm believer that this is morally wrong for people of the same sex to marry. I am going to vote against Homosexual marriage comes when the time comes around but for some reason I have begun to lose hope in our whole nation to change. I feel like it is mega idealistic to think that our whole culture is going to change, without some sort of a disposal of the cultural norm.

When Jesus was in his prime homosexuality was raging in the Roman empire. It was culturally normal, at least in roman culture. You still would have been despised if you were Jew and claimed to be gay. I just have this feeling that Jesus would do things different.

Maybe he would wait for the culture to get as distraught as it can be and then send his people in to love on those who need it.

As I look on our culture I see a down hill spiral that only Jesus can redeem. I would like to see wrong mentalities switch in our nation and I don't mind if society gets worse. This make light become brighter.

Republican vs. Democrat

Well I recently got into a conversation with a friend of mine where a rift arose in my heart because this person is a Democrat and I am a Republican.

The reason this is an issue to me is because to me a democrat in my mind is one who supports the act of abortion, directly.

This topic highlighted fear in my life along with the mindset that all Democrats are evil and going to hell. I have no right to judge like that. This persons opinion assaulted the way I have thought since I was a child. After all who says I am always right.

This persons reason for being Democrat is that their position regarding the poor and the widows is more aligned with the heart of God. I totally understand that, but part of me associates a vote in that direction a vote for abortion. Which is a passion in my heart to eradicate.

My friend also said that they do not support homosexuality or abortion.

As soon as I heard this persons opinion I wanted to leave this friendship by the roadside and never drive on that road again. But I have decided after 15 hours of frustration that I will stay friends with my friend because I cannot run from every disagreement. Plus I don't want to be a person, yet a Christian, who is insubordinate, and hate filled. God is love and I want to be like Him.

How can I be like him when I have so much judgement towards those who are not like me. I have decided to get over my own opinion and stay in friendship with my friend.

Girl meets Boy

I recently met a girl who is driving me insane. In a good way. I won't publish her name because that would be embarrassing to her.

What I like about her...

• She thinks I am funny.
• She likes to travel.
• She is a good complimenter.
• She likes me
• She is an amazing conversationalist.
• Also she is able to have open honest conversation.
• She is alright with the fact that I use words out of context.
• Also she wears skirts all the time. Not mini skirts, but ones with a decent length and not gross.
  
• Oh, and she is older than me.
  

More to come at a later date...

???

Also what is the Emergent Church?

Florida

I hear the rumors that revival is breaking out in Florida. A few of my buddies are going this weekend to work in Florida and to visit Lake land.

Sometimes I get skeptical about this revival because I begin to think about is this real. How is this one revival going to bring transformation to society?

I am at a coffee shop eaves dropping in on a conversation between two local pastors. They were talking about the Lake land revival. One of the pastors mentioned that all he is hearing is about this mans name or what that prophet prophesied. He said, "Where is Jesus in all of this?"

At this point I am sort of indifferent to the whole thing because I am not sure what is going on but I am not going to dismiss the rumors because God may be definitely moving. And I don't want to be going against what God is doing. When it comes down to it if people are falling in love with Jesus because of it and are pressing into relationship as fruit because of it then I say let it be seen as worthwhile. God may be moving. I am not sure.

After all I live on the West Coast thousands of miles away from where this breakout is going on. Personally I want to become deeply acquainted with Jesus. This is the way I am going. It has been very hard to do so over the past few weeks. This is the direction I am in pursuit of.

Dorothy

Kansas City or bust?

If you are anything prophetic you must visit Kansas City. First of all you will get a revelation of who the bridegroom is. Second of all you will experience community that will leave you drooling.

Oh, by the way this is Mike Bickle he started the House of Prayer in Kansas City.

I love...

• I love the sound of prophetic music in the morning.
• I love reconciliation between friends and family
• I love my family
• I love the fact that God found me in muck and mire and decided to have relationship with me.
• I love flowers sundrieing.
• I love homemade sun brewed tea.
• I also love the land where I was raised. The mountain next to my parents house is yearning for my return.
  
• I love traveling.
• I want to travel to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with a few good men.
  

My Father

Today is my dads Birthday. He is one year shy of the big 50.

When I think of my dad I think of fishing trips, campers, rvs, bears lifting them, etc. My dad is a man of God. He has given his whole life over to the purposes of God without relenting.

He has remained comitted to loving God and family. This has challenged me extremely.

He is a soft man who is not afraid to cry. Ideas come out of him as if they were water flowing from a faucet. He currently is a handy man and missionary.

This afternoon he probably went golfing and then went back to work to bring in some money so he can take my little and only sister to Africa this summer. I remeber when it was my turn to go on a trip with dad. We went to Russia with a few of my buddies. I am glad we had that oppurtunity to get to know each other better event though I was fussy on that trip.

We played barf bag puppets for hours on the airplane ride there. I was annoyed but now that I look back on it, It was a great time. I love him.

I love my dad and nothing could stop this.

Last night I watched the movie Amazing Grace again. 

Every time I view it I am impacted greatly. I cannot get it out of my mind that God wants to see abortion end. Part of me would like to do what William Wilber-force did to end the slave-trade. 

I don't know how to explain it but I have this rumbling or this sense that God has a plan and he wants to bring it to pass. I love the part in the movie where one of his colleagues wants to bring about revolution and Wilber-force tells him never to speak about revolution again in front of him.  I am beginning to understand this. We are constantly looking to bring about revolution, but I think what Wilber-force was after was reformation.  He wanted to bring about lasting change without an underlying vein of rebellion.

I am with him on this one. As I mull over the revolutions that have happened in the past there is usually unnecessary death and violence that take place due to anger or frustration.  Anger is a good think but it needs to be funneled in a different way. For instance, in Wilberforces case he used his frustration to see laws abolishing the slave trade come into reality. 

Our Actions make the difference. Are we going to retaliate because of offense or are we going to use what wounds, what we deeply care about, us to bring about reformation?

Reformation is the act or an instance of reforming; specifically : the equitable remedy of reforming a writing (as a deed or contract) and enforcing it as reformed.  And to reform is the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.: social reform; spelling reform. (Dictionary.com)

Coffe Shop Conversations

Coffee shop conversations can take you to a number of places. Including but not limited to in-depth talks about the Sudan, political agendas, and the reason why we live.

Today a conversation led me to feet.

Today I was thinking of the incredible design of our feet. There is incredible force on our feet dued to gravity. Many people think feet are disgusting but I rather enjoy the creation of them and beauty.

First of all their are so many little bones in them and also without them we would just fall over flat on our faces.

Sudan Calls

Sudan.

We leave July 6th. 

Radiant Church, where I attend, is going on a trip this summer to the Sudan. We recently went on tour with John Mark McMillan and his band to raise money for the building of three wells that are being built as you read this. 

We are going to see how the project is going and to serve the people of the Sudan. I don't feel directly connected to the trip but I am trusting God that he is going to reveal the purpose of my going.

We are hooking up with The African Childrens Choir, Safe Harbor  and Jona Toledo. We plan on holding open air meetings along with soccer and distribution of aid.

If you want to support me in going, contact me at totally_alive1@yahoo.com.

Community

It has been a long time since I have posted anything, but today is a day of new beginnings.  I am listening to Joanna Reyburn a worship leader out of Kansas City. 

School is almost over with one week to go. 

Well lets cut through all the bull and concentrate on what is really going on in my mind. 

I am longing for community. For communal housing. I live with three other guys but it is more like we play by one guys rules because he owns the house. Well kind of as it should be in that scenario. But something in me is looking for a group of people that want to partner and co-labor with Christ.

The Church I attend used to have a community house where three couples and two singles lived there. I am not wanting to copy them but I am realizing a dream inside of me to live in a community home like that or a discipleship house where we pursue relationship  intentionally. 

Another option includes getting a guys discipleship home started where we discipleship occurs through one on one relationship and service to our church. It would be great if this was linked to our church. I would love to be under the leadership of Radiant Church through an endeavor like this. 

Part of me sees myself sitting on nights with whoever else lives in the house and spending my free time listening and in communication with them. 

I want to invest into relationship with other young men and see them get free in the same way God has set me free. I think that is what I am getting after. I want to invest into relationship. By taking a place of service to whoever lives in the house. 

Cinco De Mayo.

CINCO DE MAYO!!!
The small town where I am from throws a cinco de Mayo carnival in the park each year along with a parade and plenty of mexican food.

I went to the park today and enjoyed two carne asada tacos made with homemade tortillas. They were divine. And fattening.

Bless Israel

BLESS ISRAEL!

Today in a prayer meeting at College of the Sequoias we prayed for Israel. 

 God Cares deeply for Israel after all he is fully man fully God, and Jewish. 

Pray for Israel.  

GREEN ISSUE

Check out the GREEN issue of the CAMPUS NEWSPAPER at www.coscampusonline.com. 

I love this comic strip. I laughed my head off when I read it the first time. Or so I think. 

LAS VEGAS

Well I am going to Las Vegas.  

Friends in the past have commented on Las Vegas and how unruly it is and how they hate it. The funny thing is I don't mind it. Sure there is free porn everywhere and sexually illicit shows. When I was there last  I really enjoyed my stay, and I did not do anything immoral.  For instance, my buddy George hates Vegas and feels gross every time he goes there. I on the contrary felt at peace when I was there last time. The porn, prostitutes, and all the smoke are a few of my complaints. 

I think God can redeem Vegas and/or its inhabitants. After all he did spare Ninevah. 

Here is a little slide show of what I will be doing in Vegas. 

• Homework
• Work with Event Force
• And Fun in the Venetian.

My first SLIDESHOW that actually worked

These are some random photos along with ones that can be considered as earth day-ish.

The Green Issue

I work on a Newspaper staff at College of the Sequoias, today we came out with our  green issue. Come check it out.

Check out the GREEN ISSUE at www.coscampusonline.com.

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. Most people view it as a lame Holiday where nuts and fruits are celebrated. Hippies come out of their caves and nomads walk college quads across the USA. 

I enjoy Earth Day, because God loves the earth. We should do our best to keep the earth in good condition. When I think of the earth and the contamination that is supposedly happening, I imagine the earth as a whole. All the layers. How can the earth, as large as it is ever be fully contaminated. It seems like like the earth itself is a renewable resource that renews itself without the help of man. I am thinking the earth can destroy its inhabitants without a mere explosion. 

We as humans are frail and subject to a world and universe, not to mention God, that is way larger than any thing we can think or imagine.

Friendship

Hey world.

I am going to have a good weekend. I am determined to.

I will let you know how the weekend went on monday. 

This semester at school seems like the semester of redefining friendships. This weekend I plan to hang out with some new friends.  I feel that I do not have many established friendships at the moment and something inside of me is longing to have them. 

I have found myself alone a lot over the past few weeks and I realize that I am in need of balance of some sort because I am such a social person that I need conversation and hang out time with other people.

So I am going to give myself to relationship. Part of me is afraid. Like anyone else I want to be accepted and loved. 

One of the things that has kept me from true authentic relationship is offense and fear of rejection. I am looking to face these fears because with them in the way I find myself dying on the inside. 

My consensus is to go for friendship. Making new friends is messy and sustaining friendship through honest open two way communication is even harder. For some reason I want to hit it off with a group or a person so well. It has not happened to me like that. I  think it just might be me and a feeling of inadequacy I feel. Or the thought that if people really would know what I am like they wouldn't want to know me. 

Life as it is has to come to an end. Something deeper, more honest must emerge. 

The new job. 210 is its name. My first day  is friday.

Come check it out.

Math

Math.

I know there is a legitamate reason we study math, but I have yet to find one. I am able to do math but it does take me a long time to do it. Perhaps to long.

1. God is a genious.

2. He created all mathematical equations.

3. I am becoming mathmatically literate.

Taxes. Oh my gosh taxes.

Taxes. OH my gosh Taxes.

This is Warren. 

 He Does not know that I have a picture of him that is going online. I appreciate Him very much so. He is a great man. Warren is the type of guy that when you really speak with him he makes you feel totally accepted.

God is not pie in the sky. He is with us. He knows my name. He enjoys me. Perhaps these are bold statements but I firmly believe God enjoys us. I was made to enjoy God and to be enjoyed by Him. 

Photos of the day.

Picture of the day

 Notes for a NEWS ARTICLE.

Media

Lets start a conversation.

What do you think about the media as it is today?

The Daily Photograph:

Psycho Ninja Warrior 

Living in a newsroom full of renegades of the times.

The workforce is a valuable resource that Christians should look down upon. 

We are called to live a life of faith, but faith is not limited to support letters and car-washes. In fact it goes beyond them. Faith transcends into hearing and then obeying the voice and word of God. It takes faith to consistently obey. The only way a person who believes, rolls on, and trusts Christ can have faith is through a gift. Christ gives out faith.

  "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given  you." Romans 12:3

I say  this because I have a job interview. 

Gutenberg

If Gutenberg did not event movable metal type the state of the journalism world may not be as advanced as it is today.

We are living in a time where an emerging sect of men and women are found to be much like Gutenberg. Video and photos have  revolutionized the written word. Mostly enhancing it's beauty but on a case by case basis downplaying the power of the written word.

The world of photo journalism and video are the standard and have become a demand.

I am excited to experiment with video, blogging, and photography.  Be on the lookout for my media experiments in the weeks to come.

This past weekend I went to a conference for young journalists. It was pretty basic but what I came away with was that to be a  quality Journalist in this day and age you have to be a well rounded media expert (of sort). This is including but not limited to  writing, video, blogging, internet, and audio skills.

I have a ways to go. But I know now what I need to improve in.