A Meandering Life

The Vendor-Client Relationship in Real World Situations

2009-07-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

Family Promise Concert 09 Poster Front

2009-07-17T09:52:00.001-07:00

Family Promise Concert 09 Poster Front, originally uploaded by polyholly.

This is the second year I've done the poster for the Strathdee's Family Promise Benefit Concert. Just wanted to share some of my work :)

To Be or Not to Be

2009-07-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

For several years now I’ve been struggled with my call to ordained ministry. The main question has been “How is ordination as a Deacon any different from being a non-ordained church professional?” And as often as I am satisfied with someone’s answer to this question, I soon lose my conviction.

I often wonder, as I continue to move my way (slowly) through the process, if all the hoop jumping is worth the stamp of approval at the end of it all. And it comes down to this next question: “What is the purpose of ordination?”

My understanding (at 6:27pm on July 16, 2009) of the purpose of ordination is this: to set persons apart as leaders in the church. It is a way for the church to recognize those who have the gifts and education to serve in ministry and for individuals to make a statement about their commitment to the work and mission of the Church.

I have recently come to a realization about myself. I’ve vacillated back and forth about whether or not ordination is the right thing for me. When people ask me how the process is going I usually just say “It’s going.” I have been very vague about my intentions to be ordained. In my District Committee interviews for the past 3 years I have been unwilling to make a commitment one way or another about ordination or a life as a dedicated lay person.

Since my hiatus from ministry, I have become increasingly aware of my desire to be in leadership in the church. I know that I am not meant to be an administrative assistant for the rest of my life. And the longer I am out of a ministry context the stronger my desire is to serve in a congregation, leading worship, teaching and working with others to make the Kingdom of God a reality in the here and now.

I think, in the past, I had a hard time making the absolute decision to seriously pursue ordination because I didn’t want to make the commitment. I think I’ve been reluctant to admit that I am an adult and have recently decided that it is time for me to take myself and my calling seriously.

6-28-09 Sermon: Practicing Worship

2009-06-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

Please pray with me… may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our strength and our redeemer… Amen.

I’d like to start off this morning with a little bit of history about me. I realize that, while many of you have met me, you probably don’t know much about me or the journey I have taken before I arrived at the doors of Fair Oaks UMC about a year and a half ago.

I grew up in Sacramento and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mark’s UMC. It was my time in confirmation that really got me started thinking about spiritual things and wanting to explore my relationship with God and understand how to live my life according to the example of Jesus. I became very active in the youth group and other church activities. I participated in Sierra Service Project, was on the sacred dance team, and was on the youth council.

In 1998 I went off to college with the hope of becoming an electrical engineer. Two quarters later I changed my major to Liberal Studies so I could go to seminary. I had heard God’s call to ministry, specifically youth ministry.

I went to seminary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in the northern suburbs of Chicago. I learned a lot of things during my time in the windy city: you can’t wear Birkenstocks year round… hats and scarves are not optional in the winter… a jacket in Chicago consists of more than a single layer of knit cotton… and I learned a little something about theology and ministry as well.

There were lots of things I loved about my experience at Garrett. I thoroughly enjoyed the theological discourse at meals. I loved collaborating with other people with similar passions and interests. And I fed off of the myriad of worship opportunities that were provided. There were times when I worshiped six times in single week, perhaps taking communion in each setting. But the best part was that each service was different. We had a traditional service on Tuesdays, a Thursday service that offered more contemporary or informal music and liturgy, and a gospel service on Wednesday evenings. I also participated in worship services on Sundays at nearby churches or for my field education.

In addition to these, there was another worship service that my friends and I started called The Altar. This group of about 6-8 people felt a need for something different than what was already being offered. We wanted something a bit more contemplative and interactive. Less liturgy, but more ritual. We sang old hymns as well as the newest Christian rock worship songs. We read scripture, shared our stories, prayed for one another and ate with one another. And in our worship, we did not face front. We faced each other, in a circle, around the altar. Our musicians stood outside the circle so as to not be the focus of attention.

So, why am I sharing all of this? Because as much as I had invested in this one worship service, it was merely ONE way I experienced and worshiped God during my time in seminary. I found meaning and value in each and every one of the services I attended and I was so thankful to have had the opportunity to experience such an eclectic array of worship styles each week.

In this sermon series we have been talking about ways we can nurture spiritual growth and today I want to offer worship as one way we can grow spiritually. But I seem to be preaching to the choir, aren’t I? Afterall, YOU are already here. So what am I talking to you for? Well, watch out, because I am going to challenge the common understanding of the word worship.

We usually hear it used as a noun:
“Hey, I’m going to worship at Fair Oaks UMC this morning. Want to come along?”

Or as a verb:
“I’m obsessed with Brad Pitt. I worship the ground he walks on.”

But what if worship became more than a noun or a verb? What if we decided that it was a way of living. A way of being.

In Psalm 150 we get a glimpse of the psalmists understanding of worship. “praise the Lord… praise God in his sanctuary… praise him with tambourine and dance… let everything that breathes praise the Lord.”

Mark takes this a little bit further…
“One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’”

Jesus’ answer to the scribe’s question indicates that our highest calling is to love God, to worship God. Notice, though, that he didn’t say, “Love the Lord your God by meeting for an hour each Sunday.” He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Love God with your whole body, with all that you are and all that you do.

But, did you know that this phrase wasn’t new to the Jews? It is called the Shema and is found in the book of Deuteronomy. It continues in Deuteronomy to say, “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a song on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Then Jesus made an addendum to the Deuteronomy text. In Matthew’s account of the Gospel, Jesus says, “and a second commandment is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” For Jesus, loving God and loving neighbor are synonymous with one another. By loving our neighbor, we are loving God.

So what does this all mean? I want to make myself very clear. I truly find value in what we do here at Fair Oaks UMC. I believe that the kind of worship we offer here on Sunday mornings is meaningful and rich. My challenge to you is to think of worship as a way of life, not just something we do for an hour on Sunday mornings. Let’s find ways we can honor God and our neighbors in all we do each and every day. And, after all, we are talking about spiritual “practices”, right?

When learning a new instrument, we practice several times a week. When we first start out we work on the basics. We learn the scales of notes. We get used to the instrument in our hands. We start off with a few easy songs. But as we master the basics, we need to keep moving forward, on to harder and more challenging songs, stretching the limits of what we feel we are able to do with the instrument. If we kept playing the same familiar and comfortable songs, we’d never move past Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It is our love of music and the sound and feel of the instrument that motivates us to press ahead and challenge ourselves to master the instrument and create amazing and beautiful music.

It is the same with our relationship with God and with others. It is great to find a church where you feel comfortable and accepted. But don’t we sometimes get a little too comfortable? For those of you who have been here for a while, try and remember what it was like the first time you stepped foot in this church, or any church. You probably felt a bit timid, unsure of what the people would be like. Wondering…
Where is the bathroom?
Are MY children allowed to go to Sunday school?
Can I trust the teachers?
I hope I’m not singing off key.
I wish someone would say hello.
I hope no one says hello.

Most of you don’t have those questions or thoughts anymore. And that’s great! We want to be a welcoming congregation and I think we do it well. But perhaps its time for you to look for the next challenge, the next step in nurturing your spiritual growth. So maybe you’re asking, what’s next?

I’m glad you asked. I’d like to share a few ideas with you. You can write them down, type them in your blackberry, make a mental note, or completely ignore me, but I hope that you’ll consider taking one of these practices and introducing it into your week.

Choose a meaningful word or phrase from scripture or a favorite prayer and focus on this word or phrase while doing everyday ordinary tasks: vacuuming, gardening, washing dishes, making lunch for your kids. It could be as simple as reciting, out loud or to yourself, this phrase: “Loving God, pour out your Holy Spirit on me.” or repeating the Lord’s Prayer. It may sound silly, but you are turning an ordinary chore into a time for meditation and prayer.

Go to a worship service at another church, especially one that worships differently than we do or maybe even one that you know differs from your theology. Go with a friend and discuss the service afterward. You’ll challenge yourself theologically and you may even discover a new style of worship that speaks to you that you had never experienced before.

Participate in a book discussion group that focuses on theological themes and issues.

Keep sack lunches or McDonald’s gift cards in your car to give out to people in need.

Thank God for the many blessings you have received and then pass those blessings on to someone else.

Share the stories of faith with your children. Not just Bible stories, but YOUR stories and theirs of encounters with the divine. Help your kids recognize God in their lives and that God works in ALL areas of their lives, not just when they’re in Sunday school.

These are just a few ways you can worship, and there are countless others. Perhaps you’ve already got something on your mind. Maybe you’re feeling called to start a new group at church. Maybe you feel led to volunteer somewhere. Whatever it is, just remember that our whole lives are an act of worship.

“Hear, O Fair Oaks UMC: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength… and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Amen.

hover cat?

2009-01-06T16:53:00.000-08:00

i found this online as i was wasting time at work (shhh... don't tell my boss)... i just thought it was funny and needed to share it :) you can find this image and other silly kitty pictures at lolcats.com

one year ago

2009-01-05T21:18:00.000-08:00

it was about this time last year that i left my position at first united methodist as the part-time youth pastor... that part of my journey was filled with confusion, sadness, anger and a lot of questioning about God's call on my life... i have spent the past year mostly doing something totally unrelated to youth ministry as sort of a way of clearing my head and hoping that some distance from youth ministry would shed some light on why things weren't working out for me in that field... i've had the opportunity to discover what things i miss about youth ministry, what i would do differently and what i still have convictions about.

here is a little bit about what i've learned/discovered...
- i can't do ministry in a vacuum... in other words, a committed team of volunteers is essential
- i still believe that a major part of being a youth pastor is to equip the volunteers to do ministry
- before going into any ministry situation, be clear about expectations on both sides
- i miss hanging out with teenagers... i miss being there when they have an ah-ha moment and need someone to talk to
- i don't miss all-nighters or punky, know-it-all kids
- i miss teaching confirmation to squirrelly (and often insightful) 8th graders
- i miss the opportunities to give people new and interesting ways to encounter/experience God
- i think this Deacon thing could actually work out for me

so, none of this is ground-breaking stuff... but, i've been struggling with my call for quite some time and i feel like (for the first time since seminary) that i may be headed on the right path afterall... i've decided to take on a more active (if not pastoral) role at the church i am now attending and hoping to get a taste of what its like to be a deacon (my primary appointment at st. john's lutheran, my secondary appt at fair oaks umc)... who knows... maybe i'll even get inspired to work on my disciplinary questions some time soon :) (or not... lets not get too carried away)

twenty things i'm thankful for in 2008

2008-12-31T16:06:00.000-08:00

in no particular order...

1. my job
2. my supervisor
3. my co-workers
4. chloe (my pupinator)
5. my parents
6. my grandma and grandpa
7. my grandma's caretakers
8. school
9. connecting with old friends
10. my trip to SLO with the girls
11. the 24" iMac in my office at work :)
12. my wii
13. standing on my own two feet again
14. fair oaks umc
15. wall-e
16. the opportunity to be creative
17. the music circus
18. closed doors
19. open windows
20. God's light in the darkness (can I get an AMEN?!)

twenty random things i miss...

2008-12-30T20:05:00.000-08:00

in no particular order

1. trapper keepers
2. math homework
3. walking in the snow to study with friends at panera
4. theological conversations with teenagers
5. oscar
6. how easy it was to make friends when i was in school
7. dunkin donuts munchkins
8. wesley jokes over dinner in the garrett cafeteria
9. thursday night farmer's market in SLO
10. friends who will go see a movie at a moments notice
11. sierra service project
12. getting new clothes, shoes and school supplies each august
13. training with Team in Training
14. playing guitar with the guys at SLOUMC
15. singing country roads at the top of my lungs
16. drinking espresso at the piazza san marco in venice
17. how magical christmas was when i was younger
18. being attached
19. living in yosemite
20. swimming

Vote NO on Prop 8

2008-10-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

I just want to go on record as saying that I have voted NO on Prop 8. For those of you who don't live in California, Prop 8, if passed, will change the California constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. If you do live in California, I urge you to vote NO on Proposition 8. Regardless of your views on homosexuality, discrimination is wrong. Prop 8 will build discrimination into our constitution. If you don't live in California, please keep us in your prayers as this next election comes and goes.

While looking on the No on Prop 8 website I found a variety of commercials that have been put together. This one, which I haven't seen on tv, spoofs the mac vs. windows commercials. Just thought I'd share it.

good ol' two-eight

2008-10-17T15:52:00.001-07:00

sooo, this weekend i am going out of town (to tiburon to be exact) with my parents for my birthday... i will be turning twenty-eight on monday... its sort of a boring birthday... no big milestones... just one year closer to the BIG three-OH... its definitely been a year of ups and downs... thankfully i'm at an up part and have been for awhile now... if only i could figure out what i want to be when i grow up... eh, thats over-rated... anyway, there ya have it... let's give a warm welcome to good ol' two-eight.

something funny to launch you into the weekend

2008-10-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

Someone tuned me on to this blog which offers photos of cake decorating gone wrong.

Here are few posts to peruse...
Creative Grammar
Beyond Bizarre

Montana de Oro

2008-09-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I spent some time in San Luis Obispo with some girlfriends from college. We rented a house in Los Osos, ate tons of great food, and caught up with each other. On Friday morning Christy and I took a hike out at Montana de Oro, and I thought I'd share the photos with you. Enjoy :)

Word of the Day

2008-08-21T16:54:00.001-07:00

fal·de·ral
[fal-duh-ral]
–noun
1. mere nonsense; foolish talk or ideas.
2. a trifle; gimcrack; gew-gaw.

For whatever reason this word has been in my head all day. I love how "gimcrack" and "gew-gaw" are used to describe this word. Who the heck knows what those words mean? At least they're fun to say :)

Here's to falderal, nonsense, gimcrack and gew-gaw... Cheers!

I've become IKEA furniture

2008-08-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

Ready... Set... Launch!

2008-07-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

Today, after months of hard work, we finally launched the new website for St. John's Lutheran Church. Thanks to Digital Deployment St. John's has a darn cool website that has tons of potential and we're hoping to get the congregation to see more as a tool rather than a static, cumbersome online document. I hope you'll take a look and let me know what you think.

The Long Goodbye

2008-07-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

This past year has been a hard one for my family as my grandmother's (on my mom's side) health has deteriorated. At least a few years ago we started to notice her loss of memory. At first is was pretty minor, just forgetting a few things here and there. As time progressed she started calling several times a day to ask the same question. And as if that wasn't bad enough, she has had a series of small strokes over the past few months that have left her practically paralyzed on her left side. It has gotten to the point where we had to have her in a rehab facility to try and get some of her strength back as well as buying us some time until we could figure out the best way to care for her. The worst part of having her in that facility was going to visit and and she would ask over and over again when we were going to take her home. Well, grandma came home about a week ago. My grandpa has hired a caretaker during the week, but evenings and weekends are tough. She can't do much for herself anymore, but the hardest part is that, with the Alzheimer's, she doesn't remember that she can't stand on her own.

Anyway, I don't mean to be a downer, but I'm guessing that some of you are experiencing something similar with your family members. A few days ago I saw a commercial for the Alzheimer's Association (or something like that) and they called the disease "The Long Goodbye" and that phrase really struck me. This really has been the beginning of a long goodbye to this woman who has spent her life taking care of her family and loving each and every one of us unconditionally. Now its time for us to show her how much we appreciate all that she has done for us and to love her with every ounce we have.

Gramma, we love you!

Comic Sans Saves the Day

2008-07-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

A glimpse into the exciting and dangerous lives of our favorite fonts.

Flickr Addict

2008-07-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

My name is Holly and I'm a flickr addict.

If you don't know what flickr is, drop everything and go there now. Its an amazing community of photographers from around the world, sharing their photos and creating online communities. Even if you don't create an account and upload your own photos to share, you can get sucked in and spend hours perusing the amazing variety of photos. Anyway, here are a few of my favorites that I have on my flickr. And if you decide to take the plunge and join, be sure to look me up. I'm always looking for fellow flickrers :)

FotoViewr - Create your 3D photo gallery

What have you to do with me, Jonah?

2008-07-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is a sermon I delivered on Sunday at Fair Oaks UMC. I was a little hesitant to say yes when Pastor Kelly asked me to preach, but decided it would do me good to do some theological thinking. I was surprised to find that it actually felt good to be up there and sharing my thoughts with the congregation. Anyway, here it is. Feel free to leave comments.

Please pray with me…
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts gathered here today be acceptable in your sight or God our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

The story of Jonah is one of those stories that, if we’ve spent any time in Sunday school as a kid, we’ve heard over and over again. Who could forget the outrageous story of a man who refuses to listen to God, tries in vain to escape God by getting on a boat to anywhere but Nineveh, he gets thrown overboard and swallowed by a big fish. At first glance this story teaches us not to anger God or we may end up in the belly of a whale. Perhaps its been taught so many times in Sunday school as a way of scaring kids into obeying their parents or behaving in church.

But there’s more to the story of Jonah and the big fish that, in my experience, doesn’t often get shared. There are four chapters in the Book of Jonah. It’s a great story with adventure, poetry, suspense, drama, and a surprise ending.

Here’s Jonah in a nut shell*…

Chapter 1
God says… Jonah, go to the wicked city of Nineveh.
Jonah says… No
He gets on a boat that’s going anywhere but Nineveh.
God says… You said no? Let’s see if I can change your mind
And God sent a storm… The sailors find out that Jonah has been cursed for running away from his God and they decide he must be thrown overboard in order to save themselves.
God sends… a huge fish… to swallow Jonah
And God says… Now stay in there and think about what you’ve done.

Chapter 2
Jonah thought… a lot. And Jonah prayed… a lot

My head was all tangled in seaweed at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root.
I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—
Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive, O God, my God!
When my life was slipping away, I remembered God,
And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple.
And I'll do what I promised I'd do! Salvation belongs to God!"

Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.

Chapter 3
God says… Jonah, go to the wicked city of Nineveh
Jonah says… How can I say no?
And Jonah was on his way. He entered the city and began to preach…
“In forty days Nineveh will be smashed.”
And to Jonah’s surprise… they actually listened.
Word of Jonah’s news made its way to the King of Nineveh.
The King made a decree… Everyone must turn around, turn back from an evil life and the violent ways that stain their hands. Who knows? Maybe God will turn around and change his mind about us, quit being angry with us and let us live!"

God saw that they had changed their ways and he showed them forgiveness and mercy.

Chapter 4
Jonah was furious. He lost his temper and yelled at God…
"God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That's why I ran off in the first place! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!
Jonah went off to sulk while he watched and waited in the sun for something to happen to Nineveh.
God sent… a lovely little shade tree.
Jonah really needed that glorious cool shade and he began to calm down. But Jonah still had a lesson to learn.
God sent… a worm… to eat away at the tree until it died away. Jonah was stuck in a sweltering heat without his beloved shade tree.
“I’m better off dead,” he said.

Then God said to Jonah, "What right do you have to get angry about this shade tree?"

Jonah said, "Plenty of right. It's made me angry enough to die!"

God said, "How is it that you can change your feelings from pleasure to anger overnight about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You didn’t plant it and you didn’t water it. It grew up one night and died the next. So, why can't I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 people?”

You’re probably thinking, “what do you mean, The End?” That’s it? God asks a question and there’s no answer. I need this story to get tied up with a ribbon. Jonah needs to see the error of his ways, he and God share a hug and they go out for frozen yogurt at the end of the day, right?

But this is what makes the Bible so interesting to read. It’s like one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books. Do you remember those? As a kid we used to get these books that at the end of each chapter you got to choose which direction the story would take. Sometimes our decision would bring the hero of the story to a miraculous and perfect ending. Other times our hero would get lost and unable to save the day. There are often unanswered questions in the Bible that require us to place ourselves into the story and answer the questions for ourselves.

This story isn’t really about Jonah. This story is about us.

Here are some questions that the story of Jonah poses for us…
When have you found yourself running away from God?
When has God brought you out of the darkness?
When has God brought you out of the belly of the fish?
When have you seen God pour out love and grace lavishly and indiscriminately?
When have you been jealous of God’s forgiveness and love poured out on someone else?
When have you felt that God’s forgiveness was undeserved?

I believe we all have answers to at least of few of these questions. And I think the lesson that God is trying to pound into Jonah’s thick skull is that Love Is Love and God’s love is for all. A pastor I once worked with used to always, “All Means All.”

God’s love is for all, and all means all.

But God also had another lesson in mind for Jonah, and for us. Afterall, at the beginning of this story Jonah already recognizes God’s amazing capacity for love and forgiveness. It’s the reason he refuses to go to Nineveh in the first place because he knew God would spare the evil city.

The next lesson for Jonah is to learn how to offer to others that same love and grace given to him by God. And really, that’s the hard part of this whole story. It’s easy for us to recognize God’s grace and its easy for us to accept God’s grace, but the hard part comes in when we are asked to show the same forgiveness to others. It requires an action on our part. It requires us to consider those who we may not normally consider. It requires us to try to understand the people we try to avoid in our lives. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones and into someone else’s heart.

There’s a lot at stake in pouring out God’s forgiveness on others. The thing is, when we offer love and forgiveness in the same way that God does, without cost or requirement, there’s always the possibility that we will be rejected or unappreciated. Our efforts may go unnoticed by those we seek to serve, but it doesn’t matter. Why? Because we don’t do it to earn a plaque on a wall or to get our name in the newspaper. We love others because God first loved us.

One of the most recent, and probably most accessible, theology books I’ve read is called Velvet Elvis, written by Rob Bell. Rob has this to say about the gospel.

“If the gospel isn’t good news for everybody, then it isn’t good news for anybody.
And this is because the most powerful things happen when the church surrenders its desire to convert people and convince them to join, it is when the church gives itself away in radical acts of service and compassion, expecting nothing in return, that the way of Jesus is most vividly put on display. To do this, the church must stop thinking about everybody primarily in categories of in or out, saved or not, believer or nonbeliever. Besides the fact that these terms are offensive to those who are the ‘un’ and ‘non,’ they work against Jesus’ teachings about how we are to treat each other. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor, and our neighbor can be anybody. We are all created in the image of God, and we are all sacred, valuable creations of God. Everybody matters. To treat people differently based on who believes what is to fail to respect the image of God in everyone. As the book of James says, ‘God shows no favoritism.’ So we don’t either.”**

Rob reminds us with his words of the same truths that God taught to Jonah.

We are all God’s children and worthy of God’s love and grace, even those we label as outsiders, skeptics, and weirdos. God is in full pursuit of each and every one of us and no matter how hard we try we cannot escape God’s reach. Amen.

Benediction
As you go from this space to the other spaces of your lives, remember God’s free gifts of love and forgiveness poured out on you and share these gifts freely with others. Amen.

* This is a paraphrase by Holly Klaman with excerpts from Eugene Peterson’s The Message.
** From Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell, p. 167.

Heat Wave!

2008-07-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

This is not the time to be living in Sacramento...

Current Time: 9pm
Current Temp: 94°F
Wind: NW at 0 mph
Humidity: 39%
Tue - 106°F
Wed - 108°F
Thu - 106°F
Fri - 103°F
And on top of the horrid heat we have the choking smokey air from all the fires we have blazing up and down the state. I can't wait for a cool breeze, and maybe even some rain, to come through. But I'm not holding my breath for that to happen any time soon.

it's a girl!

2008-07-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

for as long as i can remember i've lived with dogs in the house... that is, until i went to college... and even then i had the great pleasure of living with my roommate's dog, cable... a stubborn old black lab with a heart of gold... when i was in seminary i occasionally dog sat for a family who attended the church i was working at... when i moved back to california i was never fortunate enough to find a nice affordable apartment that would also allow dogs, so i did without, again dog sitting for friends here and there just to get my fix...

a few months ago i moved out of my tiny apartment in midtown sacramento into a larger one bedroom at a complex that allows dogs and, as you may have guessed by now, i am in the process of adopting my very first doggie... i found her on petfinder.com and her name is Chloe (well, she currently goes by Bella, but i'm going to change her name once she comes to live with me) and she is about 4 years old... they believe she is a chihuahua/doxie mix and she weighs about 14 lbs...

its just my luck that i am housesitting for all of july so can't bring her home just yet, but the month will go by quickly and i will soon be welcoming a new girl into my family... i can't wait :)

In the middle of chaos...

2008-06-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

but feeling great! For those of you who don't know, I started a new job in February. I'm working at St. John's Lutheran Church in midtown Sacramento. My official title is Administrative Assistant for Publications. Kind of a boring title, but I definitely don't have time to get bored while I'm working. I produce the bulletins each week for four services, create the newsletter (was monthly but will soon be twice monthly), keep the website updated (which is currently getting a complete overhaul), and "other duties as assigned." It's been a great change for me. I get tons of support from the staff and there's a major emphasis on team work. There are lots of really exciting things happening at St. John's. The sanctuary is open to reopen its doors after a year long renovation. The website is getting a complete overhaul and its gonna be amazing. They've had some major staff turnovers which I've heard has turned the whole mood of the staff around (from overwhelmed and underappreciated to being more of a team focused group). Anyway, I just wanted to let ya'll know what's going on. Now that I have internet at home, perhaps I'll be more apt to update on a more regular basis. I hope all is well in your lives.

Let California Ring

2008-01-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

Take a few minutes to watch this video about the campaign going on in California to allow marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples. Go to www.letcaliforniaring.org for more information.

Wii Fun

2008-01-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

My parents gave me a gift card to Best Buy for Christmas so I could get a Wii. For about 3 weeks I was obsessed with trying to find one of these elusive game systems somewhere in the Sacramento area. I scoured Craigslist and eBay for deals, but even used game systems were being sold for more than the price you could get them new in stores ($250). New systems on eBay were starting at $350 and often selling for more than $600. Anyway, I finally caught a break and noticed that there would be some Wiis at Circuit City. I was the only one in the parking lot at 7am waiting for the store to open at 10. I have never done such a thing in my life, but I had to end this madness of searching non-stop for this darn thing. Others showed up around 8:45 and a line began to form at 9. I got out of my car and made my way to number 4 in line. By about 9:30 there were about 10 people in line. The manager stuck her head out the door saying that they only had 6 game systems. Then a few minutes later she apologized for a miscount and said they only had 5. Phew! I made the cut! Anyway, I finally got my Wii and I didn't have to pay $300 over retail price for it. It's quite the fun little contraption. My family and I play often and our favorite games are Bowling on the Wii Sports disc that came with the system and Darts on the Game Party disc I bought separately. Besides playing games, this console connects to the internet and has a fun weather globe where you can check the weather and forecast all over the world. It also picks up top news headlines. AND you can buy old school Nintendo games for $5-10 that download directly onto your console. Anyway, its been a fun new toy and a great diversion for a person who is without a job :) OH, and if you have a Wii let me know. I wanna add some people as friends so I can see how that part works.

Peace, Love and Happy New Year

2008-01-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

The past year has been quite the adventure. I haven't updated much because each time I sat down to write I found that the only words that came out were those of sadness, anxiety and confusion. I quit my job in Los Gatos last February and moved back to Sacramento. I lived with my grandparents for several months, and although I was eternally grateful for their generosity, I needed to have my own space. In May I joined the ministry team at First UMC in midtown Sacramento as the part-time Director of Youth Ministries. I thought it would be a good place for me to explore what God has in store for me while still working in youth ministry, but it turned out not to be the experience I had hoped for. Last Sunday it was mutually decided that we were not a good fit for each other and I am now left contemplating my future once again. Surprisingly, I'm not devastated by this turn of events. In fact, it has been somewhat liberating and I'm looking forward to having my life back. I've decided to find a new church, not one I will work at but one that can offer a loving community and worship that moves my heart. I am hoping in this new year, not to find my place in ministry, but to find my place once again in God's Story. I want to know what it means to be in the presence of God again. This experience has led me to realize that I have not been seeking God, but the approval of the church. I am putting my ordination plans on hold and really taking the time to discover where God is leading me in all of this. It may be that I am being led away from church leadership and in another direction. At one time this thought scared me, but it doesn't anymore. I am hoping to be a bit more regular in my blog posts this year, but I've said that before and always ended up neglecting the poor thing. Anyway, thanks to those of you who have been there for me as I've struggled with all of this. You're a Godsend :) Peace, Love and Happy New Year!

King of Glory

2007-12-11T13:21:00.000-08:00

another new beginning?

2007-09-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

When I left the San Jose area the plan was to move in with my grandparents for a month or two, get a job, and find an apartment of my own... well, 7 months later I am finally moving out of my grandparents house... it has been a long 7 months and I am glad to be on my own once again... don't get me wrong... i love my grandparents... they are amazing people, but I have really missed having my own space... so, after this past weekend I am partially moved in... unfortunately, i am currently living in about 4 different places... most of my stuff is in my room at my grandparents' house, i have moved some stuff to the new apartment, my parents are still storing some of my stuff in their garage, and, to top it off, i am housesitting until friday morning... i'm looking forward to residing in one place, and to being able to invite friends over for dinner... anywho, thats all for now... once i am a bit more settled, i'll post some photos of the place... its not much... just a teeny studio with an 11x15 living space, an itsy kitchen, and a bitsy bathroom... but its MINE! (and of course the best part of this is having an excuse to shop at Ikea!)

South Paw Christian

2007-08-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

I have recently started a new blog called South Paw Christian. If you don't know, a south paw is a left-handed person. Although I am not left-handed in my writing, I found this to be an appropriate title for a person blogging about Christianity on the left. Anyway, while i will continue to use this blog to update on life matters, my new blog will be focused on theology and musings about faith. I hope you will stop by and join in on the conversation. Considering theology is always more fun when there's more than one opinion.

Blah

2007-08-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

you know, some days are just bad... they start out bad, they stay bad, and they end bad... i woke up this morning after a somewhat sleepless night... after leaving the house, i hit all the red lights and kept running into all the crazies on the road... i once again had my boss tell me that one of my ideas was wrong and i worked longer than what i put down on my timesheet because i'm only supposed to be working 15 hours a week... yesterday i applied for an apartment that i really wanted and was told they would make a decision today... i still haven't heard about it... probably means i didn't get it... its just been one of those days... blah

Insomnia

2007-08-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

So, last night I slept for a total of about 5 minutes. I can attribute it to several things.
1) I had a latte around 8:30pm
2) It has been warm in Sactown
3) My brain won't stop thinking about
a- wanting to get my own apartment
b- our Fall ministry kick-off
c- what the heck i'm gonna do with my future

Anyway... I'm tired, I've worked more than my alloted hours for the week, and for some reason I said I would go to an all day training tomorrow (that's Saturday) for a children's Sunday school program I will probably not be leading anytime in the near future. Isn't this the kind of stuff I was trying to get away from in my full time position? What's a girl to do?

Time for bed.
Nite.

Song of the Day

2007-08-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Awhile back I heard this song on the radio and I immediately fell in love. What an amazing kick in the pants to get us to live a life that's worth living. Read the lyrics and let me know what you think.

We Live
by Superchik

There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost a son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be their last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
So she could say she loved him one last time
And hold him tight
But with life we never know
When we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend?

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

There's a man who waits for the tests
To see if the cancer has spread yet
And now he asks, "So why did I wait to live till it was time to die?"
If I could have the time back how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we were meant to do

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day is a gift somehow, someway?
So get our heads up out of the darkness
And spark this new mindset and start to live life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy is a reminder to take off the blinders
And wake up and live the life we're supposed to take up
Moving forward with all our heads up cuz life is worth living

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

(repeat chorus)

Meet my inner superhero

2007-08-10T16:58:00.001-07:00

You are Superman

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

Look who's preaching...

2007-08-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

I gave my first sermon at First UMC this past Sunday. It seemed to be pretty well received. I started off a 4 or 5 week series called "I Saw God At The Movies." Other people will be preaching the rest of the series. The movie I chose was What About Bob? with Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. If you're curious, you can read or listen to my sermon here. And, of course, my proud mom demanded I take this picture :)

Book Worm

2007-08-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

at the request of a friend, i am updating... there are several things i'd like to post, but they are mostly things that i don't really want broadcast for all to see on the internet... yesterday i was thinking about a list of theology books that i would recommend to anyone who wants to get a look into my thoughts on God... so here is that list...

1) Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
2) If Grace Is True by Philip Gulley & James Mulholland
3) If God is Love by Philip Gulley & James Mulholland
4) Dangerous Wonder by Mike Yaconelli
5) Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli
6) Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (I haven't finished this one yet, but from what I've read its quite good)

How bout a list of some fiction books?

1) Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
2) Life of Pi by Yann Martel
3) The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

so, that's a little bit about what i've been thinking recently... let me know if you've read any of these books and what you thought of them... and perhaps you'd like to recommend something.

peace,
-holly- :)

High Protien Diet?

2007-06-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a bit of a headache after having two back to back meetings at the church. After getting home, I dropped my bags, grabbed a bottle of motrin, and poured out a few pills. I grabbed my cup and filled it up with water from the faucet. I popped the pills in my mouth and washed them down with water, but as I finished the water I felt something in my mouth. I thought that perhaps one of the pills didn't make it down and had started to disolve in my mouth. I grabbed at it, pulled it out, and dropped it in the sink. As it dropped into the basin, it became clear to me that the thing in my mouth was most definitely not a pill. As legs started to emerge I realized that a spider had made its way into my mouth and I almost swallowed it alive. I was (and am still) totally grossed out by the whole ordeal. All night I felt a lump in my throat and was imagining that I also must've swallowed an egg sack and that spiders were gonna hatch and ... ahhh... it just grosses me out to think about it. Anyway, that was the end of my evening last night. How was yours??

Sorry for the delay...

2007-06-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

oh my goodness... what to say... i haven't written in quite some time and i'm gonna try and get started up again (i know i've said it before, but i really wanna do it this time)... anyway, the big news in my life (if you'd call it big) is that i've moved back to sactown... it was originally gonna be a temporary thing until i found the next big thing, but it turned out that the next big thing for me was in downtown sacramento... so, i've been hired as the part-time director of youth and young adult ministries at First UMC in midtown... now i'm in the process of finding another part-time job to fill in the holes... looking into starbucks... court, you'd be proud of me :) anyway, i'm living with my grandparents and really ready to move out... i love 'em but they can drive me crazy from time to time... and on another note, i reconnected with charleen, a friend of mine that i've known since we were in kindergarten together... we're goin out tomorrow and i'm hoping that we'll be able to hang out more often now that we live in the same city again for the first time since we graduated from high school in 1998... good stuff... so that's whats goin on with me... how goes it with you?

Listage

2007-03-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

1) I am flippin tired
2) I kicked butt on those hills today
3) Photoshop is complicated
4) Moving to Sactown on Monday
5) I'm behind on my fundraising
6) I am grateful for my time at LGUMC
7) I'm getting a little bit anxious about not knowing what my future holds
8) Mom and I are on speaking terms once again
9) Dad is getting what he deserves. Let's hope he learns his lesson this time around
10) let go and let God

District Committee and other things

2007-02-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

So, a few weeks ago (on Valentine's Day to be precise) I met with my District Committee (DCOM). Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Methodist Church, DCOM is a group of clergy and lay people who interview ordination candidates each year and decide if they will continue on in the ordination process or if they will be stuck in limbo for another year. Well, I was a bit nervous about my meeting with them this year due to my recent decision to leave my position at LGUMC. But at the same time I was a bit relieved because I didn't feel the pressure to have all of my theology questions figured out like I have in the past. So, I was pleasantly surprised by their reaction to the news of my leaving my job. They complimented me on taking the process seriously and taking the time to really discern God's call in my life. They also felt I was completely at ease and apparantly very comfortable with sharing my theology, which was definitely not one of my strong points in past interviews. Anyway, overall it was a great meeting with minimal, if any, uncomfortable conversation. I made it clear to them that I'd like to pursue moving on to the Conference level next year and they agreed that I was headed in the right direction. Sweeeet!

In other news, this past Sunday was my going away at the church. The congregation (or SPR) found a way to get me the full version of Photoshop! There is a man in our congregation that has connections with Adobe and he was able to get the software for a good price. Now I just need to figure out how to use it :) We also had a party at youth group. They had surprise Academy Award party for me and gave me the "Oscar" for Best Youth Director :) but instead of getting an Oscar statue I got the Answer Me Jesus. So irreverent, but I LOOVE IT! It was a great way to end my time at LGUMC. I've once again been having thoughts of regret, but I keep telling myself that it is for the best.

So, I am moving back to the Sacramento area in a few days and I'll be living with my grandparents. There is a possible job in the works, but I don't want to jinx it so I'm not gonna give any details quite yet. Sooo, there ya have it. Peace out my friends!

Feeling Good

2007-02-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

Today, for some reason, just felt like a good day... my job was fun today and I didn't feel the anxiety I had been feeling in months past... I am sure now that I've made the right decision to leave this place... although there are people I will for sure miss, I see that this church has a tendency to chew up its employees and spit them out... I look around me and see people working their butts off to make things happen, but there seems to be little recognition or understanding of what all goes into making a medium sized church run... I know that no matter where I go things will not be perfect, but I am determined to find a place that will respect my need to keep sanity in my life and will understand when I won't allow my entire life to be consumed by my job... I'm looking forward to taking my sabbatical and exploring the world of photography... I'm also hoping to take a trip to South Dakota to visit the Grinager-Trefz family and maybe make a pilgrimage down to San Diego to reconnect with some of my college girlfriends... This will be a great time of renewal and I'm ready to take on the world... bring it on!

And the winner is...

2007-01-31T23:01:00.000-08:00

So, there aren't too many shows that I actually intentionally watch each week, but for some reason Top Chef caught my attention. I happened to watch the very first show after channel surfing and somehow ending up on Bravo. I've watched every single episode and it came down to Ilan and Marcel tonight. So, the winner is... ILAN! I am sooo glad. I think I would've thrown something at the tv if Marcel won. It's interesting how nervous I was leading up to the final judges' decision. I'm not the one winning or losing, so why should I be nervous? Strange how we let ourselves get so emotionally wrapped up in people that we've never met. So, there you have it. Congrats Ilan! You deserve it!

New Beginnings

2007-01-21T21:54:00.000-08:00

Wow... its been awhile since I've updated in this blog, and I'm not gonna make any promises about continuing to update now that I've started again... anyway, the big news in my life is that I have decided to leave my position at the chuch where I am currently... I will be saying goodbye at the end of February and moving back to Sacramento to live with my family until I can get some stuff figured out... I'm not too sure what else to say except that this has been a bitter-sweet decision.. I feel somewhat relieved to be released from all the things that seemed to bog me down and cause anxiety, but I am also mourning the loss of the relationships I have created over the past year and a half... So, thats my update for now. Perhaps I'll write again soon... perhaps I won't :) only time will tell... adios

I am horrified...

2006-04-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

I just received an email with a link to a petition that would stop Emily and Don Saliers from doing an address at a UMW gathering because of Emily's homosexual lifestyle and political views. Excuse my language, but HOLY SHIT. You've got to be kidding me!

Read the letter.

One paragraph in particular was quite upsetting to me...

"We recognize the importance of social holiness and social justice ministry. We understand the importance of caring for the environment. However, our research has disclosed that statements made by the Saliers, and shared through
the music of the Indigo Girls, show a liberal political and social activism and bias that most women within the church would neither condone nor support."

How can the author of this "open letter" make the claim that "most women within the church would neither condone nor support" the political and social opinions of both Emily and Don Saliers? This letter greatly upsets me.

Why are we so afraid?

It's been awhile

2006-04-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not sure how many people are still reading this, but I figure I owe it to my fans to give an update :)

I guess my life has been composed of working and training for the Wildflower Triathlon. I've been meeting some really great people through TNT (Team in Training) and I'm even considering being a mentor for the Fall season. We went to Lake San Antonio a few weekends ago for a practice run at the tri course. Unfortunately, I was intensely ill. By the time I got home at the end of the weekend I was shaking uncontrollably with a 101.8 degree fever. I was unable to finish any of the 3 parts of the course. I was totally bummed, but I'm glad I didn't push myself. So, the past few weeks have been recovery time from the chest cold, but my training has suffered a bit. Next week I'm really gonna have to pick it up and putting more time in on the bike. That's the part I'm most anxious about right now.

Let's see... what else can I share? Well, it has been raining here pretty much non-stop for the past 3 weeks. A few breaks every now and then, but its pretty much a constant drizzle. Yuck! Whatever happened to "Sunny California"?

Well, I guess that's all for now. Not the most exciting update, but thats fairly indicative of how exciting my life has been recently :) Peace out, ya'll

My Birth Order

2006-04-07T16:15:00.000-07:00

Totally accurate! It's kind of creepy how well these things can figure us out.

You Are Likely an Only Child

At your darkest moments, you feel frustrated.
At work and school, you do best when you're organizing.
When you love someone, you tend to worry about them.

In friendship, you are emotional and sympathetic.
Your ideal careers are: radio announcer, finance, teaching, ministry, and management.
You will leave your mark on the world with organizational leadership, maybe as the author of self-help books.

The Birth Order Predictor

Random Thought of the Day

2006-03-11T21:37:00.000-08:00

Ok... so today the name of a guy I dated in college just popped into my head and I decided to write him a letter to see how he's doing. The interesting part of this is that he is currently the "boss clown" for one of Barnum and Bailey's Circus troops. Anyway, the random thought of the day is that I've realized how much I like being connected with people. Whether it be people I see every day or people who have had some sort of impact on me in the past. I have sought out elementary school teachers and long lost friends just to see what they're up to. I think that I have really missed that sense of connection where I am now. It's not that I'm not connected at all with people, but I don't have the same sorts of relationships here that I had in college and seminary. I am aching to have the sort of relationship where I can talk with someone about anything and everything, from the mundane to the spiritual. A best friend and confidant. I have friends in other parts of the country who used to be in this role, and they are still very important people to me, but I long to have a deep personal relationship with someone who is in a reasonable proximity. Anyway, that is my thought of the day.

Observation of the Day

2006-03-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

I LOVE STRAWBERRIES!

Cool Website

2006-03-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

www.pandora.com

A friend recommended this site to me a little while ago and I never got around to checking it out. It's a streaming music site. You tell the site what kind of music you like and it puts together a radio station for you with that kind of music. And the best part is that you can register for FREE!! Check it out folks. You won't be disappointed :)

Just a thought...

2006-02-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

Today I was looking through my pictures from my trip to Italy and Greece. Oh gosh, I miss that place. I wonder if I could just take off for a month and go back. Do you think anyone would miss me? Do you think I'd have a job here when I got back? Who wants to go with me? :) I could really use a vacation like that right about now.

I had a sneeking suspicion...

2006-02-23T08:11:00.000-08:00

You Are 40% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird...
But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

Poll Time

2006-02-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

1. Have you ever bicycled more than 20 miles in one day? not sure, but it will definitely be happening soon
2. Do you normally come to a complete stop at a stop sign? Yeah, normally.
3. Did you “letter” in high school? yeah... in swimming and academics
4. Have you ever blamed someone else for something that you did? probably
5. Do you wear contact lenses? Nope.
6. Did you belong to a college fraternity or sorority? Nope
7. Have you ever bought at item at a garage sale or rummage sale that turned out to be valuable? I don't thinks so
8. Do you normally only pay the minimum monthly payment on your credit cards? I don't have a credit card
9. Did you ever attend a private school? yup... preschool through 8th grade
10. Have you ever bought or sold a piece of clothing through a consignment store? not sure about consignment, but definitely thrift store (gotta love goodwill)
11. Do you normally eat lunch at a fast-food restaurant? i used to... im trying to cut back
12. Did you ever have a favorite soap opera? No, but i've started watching dawson's creek in the mornings
13. Have you broken a bone in someone else’s body? No
14. Did you ever have a pen pal? Yeah, in elementary school
15. Have you ever broken a bone in your body? nope... thanks to milk which "helps build strong bones!"

so funny....

2006-02-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Corey for sharing this in his away message today...

This year, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union Address fall on the same day. As Air America Radio pointed out,

"It is an ironic juxtaposition. One involves a meaningless ritual, surrounded by great fanfare in which we look to a creature of little intelligence and with a poor record of forecasting accuracy to tell us what the future holds. The other involves a groundhog."

city on a hill - songs of worship and praise

2006-02-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

So, I've recently discovered this CD with various artists. I'm not sure what to say about it except that it is unique and very laid back. The bands represented are Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay, Sixpence, FFH, and SonicFlood. How can you not love a collection with those artists??? Anyway, just thought I'd share this new found album with ya'll :0)

she updates, finally

2006-02-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

ok, so its been awhile since i've updated this journal... i guess i've been focusing more on updating my training blog lately... by the way, i have gone to two workouts with team in training and i am having a great time so far... my body feels great and im meeting some really neat people... every morning i wake up excited about the workout im gonna do that day... thats the great thing about training for a triathlon... its not just running everyday... its swimming, biking, and running... gotta love variety... i've also noticed that i feel more motivated in other areas of my life as well... i think that this little adventure is going to change my life...

anyway, work is going well... we kicked off our confirmation program last sunday with seven kids... now we're looking at adding a few more... my co-leader has been great and i don't know what i would do without her... she has been a total blessing... youth group has been going well too... im just working on getting my counselors more plugged in...

well... i guess thats all for now... im taking today off and planning on going running at some point... i might go out to rei or any mountain to look for some good deals on workout and cycling gear... but whatever i do, i must clean my apartment and do my dishes... its waaaay over due... have a great day, friends, and i shall talk to you soon!

Strange Dream

2006-01-26T22:34:00.000-08:00

Ok... I don't remember much about it, but I do remember that the principle from my elementary school was in it... she was working at a coffee shop and she offered me a job... the interesting thing is that I was actually considering taking the waitressing job with all the "extra" time that I have... what does this mean about my life as it is? And why in the world would Mrs. Strawn (my princple) be in my dream... soooo strange

Great Weekend

2006-01-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I went on a retreat with my Sr.High youth and we had an awesome time. There were 9 kids and 4 adults and the retreat theme was on Stressbusting. We talked about stress, what it is, what causes it, and how we can get rid of it. We played four on a couch way too many times, played Uno and Apples to Apples, went on hikes, ate great food, watched movies, worshiped together, played on the beach, and went to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. What a great weekend.

We got back to Los Gatos around 3pm, and 3 hours later I was back at the church for our Jr.High night out to play miniature golf. I was totally exhausted from the retreat, but I had such a great time playing mini golf with these awesome bundles of energy.

I am still recovering from the weekend, but it was totally worth it, and probably the best weekend I've had since I've been here.

Thank you God for these amazing young people!

I've obviously lost my mind!

2006-01-19T22:43:00.000-08:00

Ok... today was such a strange day. I got up late and watched some tv before going into work (not too unusual)... I went in to the office for a few minutes and then went out to do some shopping for our retreat this weekend... As I was returning to the church around 1:30 (with lunch in hand) I realized that the whole staff had been looking for me because I apparantly was supposed to be in a meeting at 1. Yikes! Lee (my pastor) looked a little concerned about the fact that I had COMPLETELY forgotten that we were supposed to meet. I mean, I had practially NO recollection that we had set up this meeting. Anyway, after the meeting I ate my lunch (finally) and got to work on getting some last minute stuff together for the retreat. I was there until about 6:30. When I got home, I took my shoes off and found that I had put on two completely different socks! I have NEVER done that before. What is going on? Well, the youth retreat this weekend is to help them learn about how to deal with stress. Seems this will be a good lesson to learn. I hope that the part of my brain that apparantly went on vacation when I finished school returns sometime soon. I can hardly continue doing my job the way I'm doing it. I need to get my life in order soon, or I'm gonna be in deep doo doo pretty soon. Ok, that is all for now. ta ta.

New Pups

2006-01-19T22:28:00.000-08:00

Well, tomorrow will be a week since my parents adopted two doxies from a rescue shelter near Sacramento. They are believed to be about 5 years old. One boy, one girl. We actually saw them at the pound when we were looking for Oscar. They were there for about 2 weeks before being moved to the shelter. And they were at the shelter for about a week before we adopted them. I went home to meet them last Sunday/Monday and they are sooo sweet. We can't figure out why their owners never claimed them. Doogie is still getting used to them, but I think he'll be ok in the long run. Anyway, we chose two names that my dad can say easily. The boy is named Bob and the girl is named Amy :) Bob is very social and kind of the ring leader. Amy is a bit more reserved, but quite the sweetheart. Anyway, here are a few pictures of the newest members of our family.

This is Bob and Amy snoozing on the couch.

This is Amy. She looks alot like Doogie.

This is Bob. Very regal, don't ya think? :)

Bob burrowed under a blanket on the couch.

Discernment or Therapy?

2006-01-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

If you are in the ordination process for the UMC, read this article and be thankful you're not Episcopalian :)

Long time, no blog

2006-01-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

ok... so its been awhile... well, to update about Oscar... we still haven't found him... I am hoping to scan some pictures and post a photo memorial of sorts... we miss him a lot and so does Doogie (our other doxie)... my parents are thinking about adopting another doxie... we'll see...

anyway, the main reason I decided to post this afternoon is because I found a really neat website that provides commentary and study questions for movies... if you are into taking a deeper look at movies, this would be a great website... I'm thinking about starting a movie group at my church and using this for our study guides... anyway, time to get ready for youth group... peace out, mis amigos.

Sad News

2005-12-26T23:22:00.001-08:00

When my parents and I arrived in Sacramento on Christmas day, we found out that one of our doxies (Oscar) had run away 2 days earlier. Because of the holiday we have not been able to go to any shelters to look for him, so that is what I will be doing tomorrow. I am hoping that through the placement of ads and posters throughout the community and the web that someone will be able to come forward with some news about our little Osckie. We miss him a lot and this is probably the first time I have been really upset about losing a dog. In fact, this is the first time that a dog of mine has run away. It is so hard not knowing where he is and if he has found a temporary home until we can find him, or if he is out in the cold and rain without blankets to snuggle in. I am hoping that we can get some kind of closure in the next few days, even if that means finding out that he was found dead somewhere. At least we'll know what has happened to him. Anyway, please keep us all in your prayers. Especially Doogie (our other doxie) who has lost his brother and his best friend.

* sniff * sniff * cough * cough *

2005-12-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

Friday night it started out as a dry throat. By the end of the evening I could tell that it was more than just a dehydration that making my throat feel so scratchy. After a restless night, I woke up with a runny nose. ICK! This is just about the worst time to have a cold with Christmas on the horizon. At least I don't have much going on at the church in the next few weeks.

Thursday night is going to be the first young adult gathering for LGUMC in who knows how long. So far there are 6 people who have confirmed that they will be coming to a coffee, cider, dessert, and ornament exchange get-together. I'm hoping that this will be the start of a regular young adult group. This church (in fact, most UM churches) tend to neglect this age group. I'm hoping we can change that at this church.

My folks are coming into town on Friday. For the first time in a long time we will not be spending Christmas morning at my parents house. Instead, they will be here with me in my humble abode :) It'll be fun. And we're gonna have Christmas Eve dinner using my fun Christmas flatware. Who knew that I'd like playing house? :)

Ok... time to go do my dishes, go to the grocery store, and eventually find my way to the gym.
Peace.

A Christology

2005-12-16T10:43:00.000-08:00

So, I've been looking around at a lot of other blogs online recently and I really admire how people put their beliefs out on the line and allow people to comment on them. I have always had a hard time with sharing my thoughts on Christology because I've been afraid that others will read/hear it and tell me that I'm not a Christian. Anyway, I have decided to go ahead and post what I wrote for my DCOM and see what kind of conversation it starts. Probably not much, but its worth a try. So, here it goes...

Thoughts on Christology:
A Work In Progress

In working on this paper I realized that I needed some sort of direction in order for me to present a focused account of who Christ is to me. I decided to focus this statement by answering two questions: “Who is Jesus?” and “Why does Jesus matter?”

Who is Jesus?
I believe Jesus, the man, was an image/likeness of God. He is a living icon through whom we can see and experience God. Before Jesus, scripture and the revelation of God were presented by prophets and other chosen messengers. While they brought God's message to God's people, Jesus projected the image of God while remaining fully human at the same time.
Jesus died, not to be our scapegoat or our substitute, but to show that he believed fully in what he taught and in his way of life, and he did not compromise even when his life was on the line. He was committed to the Truth no matter what the consequences.
Jesus is a re-presentation of God's love and grace for the world in human form. By faith, I believe he performed miracles of healing that no person can explain. I do not claim to have Jesus all figured out, but I do believe in his combined humanity and divinity and that it is his deep and intimate connection with the Divine that we should aim to strive for. “The Christian life moves beyond believing in God to being in relationship to God.”1 John Wesley believed that humans are called to constantly strive for perfection in love. I believe Jesus is our greatest example of this.

Why does Jesus matter?
I do not claim that Jesus is the one and only way to God. I believe that Truth is met by many different roads, but that the road through Jesus Christ is the one that makes the most sense to me. What is the point in being a follower of Christ, then, if Jesus is not the only way? Because Jesus has shown us a tangible way to live that glorifies and honors God, our neighbors, and the earth. Jesus is the light, and we are called to be mirrors that reflect that light for others. Jesus connects us to God and shows us the life God intended us to live; a life free from sin and in connection with all of creation. By living as followers of Christ we are participating in God's eternal Story and helping others see glimpses of Heaven and participate in the coming of the Kindom of God.

As the title of this paper states, this is a work in progress. I am constantly thinking about and reshaping my theology. I pray that I will never claim that I have it all figured out, because that will be the day that my faith will no longer have meaning.

Finals no more!

2005-12-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

For the first time in 11 years I am not studying for finals or stressing over papers and projects right before Christmas! It is an amazing feeling to be free from all that madness. BUT this does not mean that I don't have my own deadlines and things to get done. Its just that its all (pretty much) on my own terms now.

I just want to say goodluck and stay strong to all of you who are in the midst of school madness right now.

Peace.

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

2005-12-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Your Inner Child Is Surprised

You see many things through the eyes of a child.
Meaning, you're rarely cynical or jaded.
You cherish all of the details in life.
Easily fascinated, you enjoy experiencing new things.

How Is Your Inner Child?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas.
Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

My Thoughts Exactly!!

2005-12-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

This article/review from Christianity Today says EXACTLY what I thought of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Hits the nail on the head. Its like they took the thoughts right out of my random little brain :)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2005-12-09T23:22:00.000-08:00

Warning: If you've never read the book or seen the movie, you may not want to read this post as I give away part of the ending.

Just got back from seeing the Disney rendition of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I was quite pleased with the outcome, and it was fun to see it on opening night. The set up of Narnia was really beautiful and I think they captured the grandeur of Narnia pretty well. There was a scene that they added that was not in the book, which was ok. But I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't very much set-up for Aslan. In the book, there is much more detail about Aslan's character before we meet him. I was also a little disappointed that they skimped on the details when Aslan came back to life. Thats my favorite part of the book and they really rushed through it. Other than these things, I really enjoyed the movie, and I'm curious to see, if they do another one, which book they'll do next.

I found myself very emotional during the whole movie, but I think it was more because I was thinking about my own experiences with the book and knowing what was going to happen next. It was the anticipation of the story that was causing me to be this way. I'd be curious to know how I would have experienced the movie if I had not read the book so many times that it is now a part of me.

Oh, one more observation. When Aslan came back to life, the people in the audience all cheered. I wondered if they knew what was going to happen, but were just excited to see it on screen OR if they really had no idea that he was going to come back. Interesting.

Sarah, I'm curious to hear what your experience was with the movie. Has anyone else gone to see it??

Breath of Heaven

2005-12-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

I was listening to a random Amy Grant Christmas CD today and heard this song. I have heard it before and I had forgotten how incredible it is. Anyway, although you can't hear it on this post, I'll give you the words to ponder. I would suggest finding a way to hear this song though. Its simply beautiful. Gives me chills :)

Breath of Heaven
by Amy Grant

I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,
And I wonder what I’ve done.
Holy father you have come,
And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven

Simple Pleasures

2005-12-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

So, I went to Target today to get a better room heater for my apartment (my pilot light has been out since Saturday and it won't be lit until Wednesday). Anyway, when I was leaving the parking lot I was pleasantly surprised to notice that there is now a Panera right next door to Target!! For those of you who have not had the great pleasure of eating there, it is truly one of my favorite places. The food is pretty good, but its also just a fun place to hang out. They have free internet access and pleasant music. I used to go there often with my some of my fellow nerdy seminarians to study. I miss those days :) Anyway, I decided that I had to stop and get something for dinner. I may have to make my way out that direction a bit more often. You know, Chipotle is out there too. Hmmm... maybe I should think about moving to Cupertino :)

So, to go along with the title of this post, here is a list of some of life's simple pleasures that I've experienced in the past few days...
- finding a local Panera :)
- getting an email from a long time friend
- getting an email from a new friend
- having my very own Christmas tree to light when I come home
- listening to Christmas music
- smiling at a baby from across the room and having her smile back

What simple pleasures have you experienced this week?

Happy Advent!

2005-11-29T18:22:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Being in church on Sunday I realized how much I really like the season of Advent. I love watching families light the Advent candles together. I love singing Advent hymns. The only thing is that I miss spending Advent with my other Advent loving seminerdians. People in churches just aren't as excited about church traditions as seminarians are. Anyway, since we didn't have youth group on Sunday I decided to go to Target and buy some Christmas decorations for my apartment. My parents will be spending Christmas Eve and morning at my place this year, so they gave me their stockings when I was home for Thanksgiving. I bought a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree (cute lil thing) and I made my very own fireplace to hang our stockings on :) I even bought some nice table linens and put out my Christmas place settings to set the mood for the season. Take a look...

Anyway, I hope your Advent season is getting off to a good start. How about, just to make this a bit more interesting, you tell us what your favorite part (tradition, hymn, etc.) of Advent is.

Peace and Blessings,
-Holly- :0)

SLO Girl's Weekend Photos

2005-11-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

Check out these pictures from my weekend in San Luis Obispo with my college peeps :)

Update:
Here are Janet's pictures from the weekend.

This weekend was....

2005-11-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

AWESOME!!

Here is a tribute to the weekend in list form.

- 5 women... Christy, Holly, Janet, Nicole, and Suja
- San Luis Obispo, CA
- Firestone - mmmmm, tri tip sandwich and basket-o-fries
- Bubble Gum Alley
- Thai Classic with Curry, Pad Thai, and some spicy as hell noodley thing that Janet ordered
- Coffee to keep us up all night long
- Naked pillow fight (ok, that didnt really happen, but I threw it in there for all the guys who believe thats what girls do when they get together)
- Staying up til midnight talking about... ummm... stuff
- Charlie's Angels hiking to the top of Madonna Mountain
- Splash Cafe and seeing a glimpse into our futures
- A walk on the pier to ogle... i mean watch... the surfers ;)
- Sea Canyon apples and dancing in the car
- A trip to campus and a drive by the Princeton Place house (ah, memories)
- nap time
- Tahoe Joe's (yes... more foooood)
- Random tv watching
- sleepy time
- Sharing breakfast, sharing hugs, and then heading out of town

I am sooo glad that we were all able to finally get together. I've missed our random talks and having a great group of girlfriends to hang with. Thanks for the love!

ps... pics will be posted soon, so be sure to check back

Some pics from Big Sur (CA coast)

2005-11-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

tired, but doing well

2005-11-15T16:47:00.000-08:00

In case anyone out there has been dying to hear what I've been up to for the past few weeks, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update. Somehow I get the feeling that there aren't too many people who read this thing anyway.

I am feeling quite sleepy today. Perhaps it has something to do with the intensely long board meeting I went to last night at the church (7-11:45 pm). We did our annual ministry reports which was good to hear, but some people just talked way too long. Then we had a closed meeting to discuss a confidential matter that took another hour and a half. This church is doing a lot of great things, but it definitely has quite a few past issues that they are trying to work out in order to move forward.

So, in case you are wondering how my triathlon training is going, I'm just gonna say that I am at the very beginning stages of getting ready for it :) I have been going to the gym a few times a week, just trying to get in shape. My bike is still broken, so that needs to get fixed. Sarah and I are gonna start workout journals so we can keep each other accountable. And maybe I'll even try to train for the marathon in SD and run it with Tammy. Who knows.

This weekend is the weekend I have been waiting for. I am going to down to San Luis Obispo to meet up with my girlfriends from Poly. Here's a shout out to my Tenaya Gals: Christy, Janet, Nicole, and Suja. HOLLA! :) We're are gonna go to Pismo, do a little hiking, and eat lots and lots of food...mmmmmm, Firestone **drool**

Ok... thats all for now... im off to the gym and then I'm goin out for sushi...
Peace,
-Holly- :0)

ps... if you read this, let me know what you're up to... I feel so disconnected sometimes... I'd like to know what's going on :)

Brief Update

2005-10-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been crazy crazy crazy... For those of you who don't know, my birthday was on the 20th... i was able to go home for that day and have dinner with my family... last weekend i went to a leadership retreat for church where our new leadership structure was rolled out... there were were a lot of questions, misunderstanding, and concerns about it... i am quite excited about the way things are going, but others seem afraid to let go of the past... anyway, the youth group has been working on a haunted house and halloween party for the past few weeks... it is now crunch time and we've got to pull together all the crazy last minute stuff on Saturday and Sunday afternoon... the party will be on Sunday evening... I think its gonna be good... i DO know that if this happens next year, we will be doing in a totally different way... this time around involved much more chaos than i can handle... I'm also trying to hash out our confirmation program and get the adult volunteers for youth group pulled together and on the same page... well, thats whats goin on in my life right about now... oh yeah, AND i'm working on my DCOM Christology paper that is due at the beginning of December... if anyone has any good books or other resources I should look at, please pass on the names and authors... alright, ive gotta get back to cleaning my apartment... mom is coming for the weekend... peace :0)

Glad to see that my 7 years of college paid off :)

2005-10-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

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Good Times and Tiredness

2005-10-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago I found out that my next DCOOM meeting is going to be on January 4th. I have to write a short paper describing my Christology and they'll probably be asking me other questions about my theology. I am totally freaked out about it because I haven't done any prep for this since I last met with them. Does anyone know of any good books on Christology that would be helpful? Preferrably books that aren't terribly heady/wordy. Anyway, for my meeting I have to have a videotaped sermon. I planned a worship service for the youth group last Sunday and I videotaped it. I'm hoping that they'll accept it. It was a short sermon, but the majority of the Word was witnessed to in the prayer stations around the room. It was a really cool service and I loved putting it together. Eventually I'd like to do this on a regular basis in our chapel which has a labyrinth inlaid in the floor.

So, yesterday my mom had the day off so she drove down to see me. I put her to work for a little bit and then we went to lunch, the mall, and then rented a movie. It was nice. I normally take Fridays and Saturdays off but I didn't get to take either one last week, so it was really nice to take the afternoon to goof off with my mom :) I really felt the lack of days off today. I was yawning all day and had a total lack of energy. I'm gonna really have to get that gym membership taken care of. Perhaps working out on a regular basis will give me more energy.

Well, I suppose thats all for now. I'm gettin ready to watch Commander in Chief. Have a great week!!
Peace.

Warning: the following content may not be suitable for those who never ever feel stressed out

2005-10-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to thank Karen N. for helping me to blow off some steam which prevented my brain from exploding. She's a great listener and I'm lucky she's around. I've just been feeling a tad overwhelmed by budget stuff, volunteers, confirmation, youth group, summer mission trip, and other personal insecurities. I have a phone phobia so I end up not making the phone calls that I should or in a timely manner because I get anxious about making the calls (who knows why).

So, despite my apparent insanity, I had a really good time at the National Youth Workers Convention in Sacramento last weekend. I met up with some of the UM youth pastors in the San Jose area and I also got to see a few of my old school SSP peeps. The theme was really good: "Jump." It was all about jumping into ministry, and jumping into God. Its the first time that I actually understood and appreciated the theme. I got some good ideas about worship and leadership training, and it gave me some time to sort out some stuff that I've had swimming around in my head for awhile. Oh, and I got to see an advanced screening of "Dreamer" with Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning. Really cute movie and quite inspirational.

Update on the triathlon deal: I have checked out the membership fees at a local athletic club and I believe it is something I can afford. I get a discount for being "clergy." I went jogging once and it wasnt as terrible as i thought it would be. I've also gone swimming. I need to get my bike fixed so I can start using that to go to work. I may have a training partner too. She's one of the other youth pastors in the area.

Ummmm, what else?? My birthday is in a few weeks (Oct.20th), but I have to spend it at a leadership retreat for the church. My folks will be celebrating with me in early November. I might have to make some plans for the actual day. Perhaps I'll treat myself to dinner and go see a movie. Or I'll just stay at home like I do every night.

I want to welcome Jeff and Heather to my blog :) Good luck in the 3 Day, Heather. You'll do great!
I guess thats all for now.
Peace.

I must be crazy...

2005-09-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Ok. In the past few days I've been trying to come up with some sort of fitness goal, because I just know that if I have nothing to work toward then I probably won't stay motivated to work out. Soooo, I have decided that before January 2007 I will enter and complete at least one sprint triathlon. I know that Jan 2007 is a long time from now, but it'll give me time to get in shape and to find the right triathlon in a place and time when I can actually do it. It seems most triathlons and other races of the sort are on Sundays. That kind of limits the dates that I would actually be able to do it. Anyway, I'm wondering if there are any other adventurous women out there who would like to do this with me. If so, perhaps I can find something in an area that we can race together (ie: LA, San Diego, San Francisco). Let me know if this interests you. It'll be good to have someone to keep me accountable. I hope that my drive and excitement about this lasts longer than a month.

It has begun.

2005-09-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

The past week has been totally crazy with trying to get ready for our Kickoff this Sunday (yesterday). I had a parent meeting on Tuesday. Then we had Sunday school on Sunday morning and youth group on Sunday night. We had almost 30 kids on Sunday night and we had a really good time with the scavenger hunt. I believe this is gonna be a good year. I just need to work on getting my volunteers all on the same page.

On Wednesday I met with a group of other youth pastors in the San Jose District and I had a really good time. It was nice to be around some of my own kind :) I joked with my staff that I was going to a meeting of my own species, and those of you who are youth pastors know that there is some truth in that statement. It was a really good meeting and I'm hoping that this group will be a good source of support and encouragement.

This weekend my grandparents are coming to visit and I think we're gonna celebrate my birthday a bit early. This will be the first time that they have come to see where I live and work. I'm gonna have to actually clean my apartment :) At least I have time to do that now.

Whats on for this week? 7:30am staff meeting, dance class, laundry, phone calls (ick), pilates, writing a bible study, and maybe some hiking if I'm feeling motivated. Sounds like a piece of cake, doesn't it? Let's hope its easier than last week. Well, I guess thats all for now.

What are YOU up to this week? (This is not intended to be a rhetorical question. I really wanna know)

UM Ad Campaign

2005-09-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

While sitting on my couch and playing on my computer during commercials I was drawn to a commercial that spoke of inclusiveness and acceptance of different points of view. To my surprise, this was one of the several new spots that The United Methodist Church now has on television. I saw this one (http://media.umcom.org/im/spots/mpeg/i_believe.MPG) and another one on TBS. I'm sure they are being played on other stations as well. I must say that these ads make me proud to be a United Methodist. Take a look at it and tell me what you think.

Just so you know...

2005-09-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

... its tie-dye shirt day :)

New Toy

2005-09-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

So, I've bought another toy... Saturday, I went to the Apple store with my parents and bought a 12" Powerbook... its a pretty little thing with some really cool software... I'll still be using the old computer (despite my dad trying to take it off my hands)... the new computer doesn't have any word processing software so I'll be using the old HP for that stuff... the new one will be mainly for music, pictures, and video editing... Eventually I'd like to get some word processing software on the powerbook, but I don't need it right now... Sooo, I've been playing with it and trying to get used to working on a Mac... one question for you Mac users out there... why is it that the Mac mice only have one button when the computer is capable of handling a two button mouse?? Also, does anyone out there use OpenOffice? I'm thinking about using that instead of buying MS Office or something else...

On the job front, we are starting UMYF (youth group) soon... I'm anxious to get things started, but I'm also afraid I won't get everything ready in time... I'm still trying to meet with my volunteers and get them through our Child Protection Policy... So many things to think about and so many things to do... BUT I've gone through this before and I can get through it again... I'm excited to meet all the parents and youth and to see what they are all about.

Well, I suppose thats all for now... let me know how you're doing! I'd love to hear from my readers :)
Peace out!

Good stuff

2005-08-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

This week has been pretty good, despite some major deadlines coming up. Tammy, a friend from seminary, came and visited for a few days. Monday we drove down the coast to Santa Cruz. We went to the Boardwalk, walked on the beach, ate tons of junk food, and went on a few rollercoasters. It was good time fun. Tuesday, Tammy spent some time in my office while I was in meetings all morning, but then we went out shopping and had In-N-Out for dinner :) Wednesday we had a late breakfast, I had another meeting (boo) while Tammy chilled in my apartment, and then we went to Chipotle for lunch. By the time we were done it was time to say goodbye and take her to the airport. It was a great couple of days and it was really nice to have someone around who I could just chat with (and boy did we chat!). Tammy, I know it was YOUR vacation, but having you here did me a lot of good. Thanks for making it happen! :)

Now, as I sit at my computer at the church and prepare myself mentally for a 6 hour staff calendar meeting, I am so excited to hear the sounds of the high school next door. School starts on Monday and I can't wait! I could really use some energy right now and I think thats what the high school is going to provide. I LOVE having my office in a place where I can see and hear the drumline practicing. How cool is that?!

Well, I need to go get some nourishment before my meeting marathon. Have a great weekend, my friends.

Observation of the Day

2005-08-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

It's nice to be in Forty-Niner territory again :) Anyone interested in going to a game sometime? I've got access to season tickets! Just let me know.

...and life goes on...

2005-08-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I've realized that I haven't updated in awhile, but thats mainly because not too much has gone on in the past week. Friday night I found out that a friend of mine from Poly was at her parent's house in Salinas after spending a week in Tahoe. So, Saturday morning I drove the hour and 15 minutes to Salinas so I could have an early lunch with Nicole. It turns out that Suja and her husband Jesty (happy anniversary!) also stopped by on their way down to SLO for a wedding. We went to Applebys for lunch and had a good time catching up. Ok... I was just interrupted while writing this entry by a bunch of the VBS kids who made cards and cookies for me to welcome me to the church! How sweet!!! That just made my day :) Anyway, this Friday is the Jack Johnson concert, and Saturday is my first youth event at LGUMC. Should be an eventful weekend. Peace, my friends. :)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe!

2005-08-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

Just saw the trailer for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The movie (done by Disney) will be coming out December 9th. I hope that this version will do the book justice. All other attempts I have seen have been pretty lame. Anyway, check out the trailer here. Let me know if you wanna go with me when it comes out. Perhaps I'll make it a youth group outing :0)

The New Car

2005-08-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

Soooo, here it is... the new car is a silver 2005 Corolla LE... power doors/locks, cd player, cruise control... thats about it for fun stuff... BUT it will be reliable!! Time to say goodbye to the buggie (sniff, sniff)... Twas a good companion... Buggie! I shall miss you!!!

Damn Car

2005-07-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

I love my car... its the cutest car in the world... BUT its a piece of crap! Today, for the 3rd time in 2 weeks, my car pooped out on me while I was driving to Sacramento to see my folks... how lame is that!?! The first time it was the fuel pump... the second time it was the carburator float... this time it was the ignition switch (which, btw, caused a scary amount smoke to enter the car and emit toxic fumes that were not pleasant to breathe)... soooo, the question is do i continue to put bandaids on a 35 year old car that obviously wants to die OR do i bite the bullet and buy a new (to me) car? Neither option sounds very good to me... what to do? what_to_do?

Life of Pi

2005-07-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel last night. It was a really good book with musings on religion, family, zookeeping, and survival :) I'm curious if anyone else has read it. If so, what did you think? I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the ending. Anyway, I will give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. It was a very entertaining read and it also gives you some things to think about along the way.

Pictures of Italy and Greece

2005-07-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

I have finally posted the pictures from my trip to Italy and Greece with my parents.
Check 'em out!

Nice Surprise

2005-07-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when I got home from work a package was sitting on my doorstep that had this [1] stuffed inside...

Mom's are so cool :)

[1] They're Strawberry Shortcake Pajama Pants if you couldn't tell. When I was a kid my entire room was Strawberry Shortcake, including the wallpaper. There are still a few traces of that wallpaper in the closet in my bedroom at home. Good times!

Update

2005-07-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

1) My car is up and running and a saint from the church paid for the repair
2) Turns out the Jr.High camp doesn't need me after all, so I'm home next week

It seems things are looking up already. Perhaps I can just order some friends online and then everything will be just fine :)

Home Sick

2005-07-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

I was feeling kinda lame last night and I've realized that I am home sick. Although I am technically home, it doesn't quite feel like home yet. I miss having people who know me around to just hang out with or to go to the bookstore together or whatever. For the first time in my life I do not have a built in social group and I believe it is taking its toll on me. I've started looking at some options for after-work activities, such as an adult swim team or sierra club. But until I get my act together enough to get involved I am feeling quite lonely. Its times like this that I wish I were the social butterfly. Any thoughts?

back home... for now

2005-07-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

Well, this past week was pretty good... I just got back on Saturday from spending a week at SSP in Covelo, CA with the youth from Los Gatos and I also got to see some of the youth from Glenview... I was able to keep my mind off of my recent chaos for a little while at least... that is until I walked into my apartment and was greeted by several boxes... my car is in the shop and I have no idea what its status is... I did laundry this morning in order to recover from SSP and also to get ready for my next camping adventure that's coming up in less than a week!! I leave for Junior High camp on Saturday... hopefully after that my life will slow down for a bit so i can get some work done on the fall calendar... I am way excited for Tammy to come out and visit in August... it'll be nice to see a familiar face around here... anyone else wanna come and visit??? well, thats about all the rambling I'll do for now... hopefully i'll be able to update more often now that i have internet IN my apartment now... woohoo!! ok... thats all folks... peace out :)

ps... i saw the new Willy Wonka movie and was pleased with what i saw... it was very entertaining

Living in chaos

2005-07-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

This past week my whole life has been thrown into chaos.
* I have a thousand unpacked boxes occupying my small living space
* The movers broke my bike
* My bug broke down
* The car I borrrowed from the pastor is displaying the check engine light (fortunately nothing has happened to it yet)
* I am feeling totally overwhelmed with the task of getting things ready for the fall
* I am leaving for Sierra Service Project on Saturday afternoon and I can't find anything
* Some serious laundry needs to be done
* Hormones are raging
* AND... to top it all off... a really good relationship has unexpectedly changed.
That's all I have to say about that...

mmmm... ice cream

2005-06-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

You Are Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

You are kind, popular, and generous.
You tend to be successful at anything you try.
A social butterfly, you are great at entertaining a crowd.
You are most compatible with strawberry ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Yosemite and other things

2005-06-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

I have now been living in my new apartment for just over a week now and I am still mooching internet and cable television from Michael's apartment... so far things are goin pretty well although i have been fairly disappointed in my choice to Minimoves to move all my stuff from Illinois... they told me 3-4 weeks... we have now passed week 5... last thursday they said it would arrive on monday... when i called this morning to find out what time they might arrive the woman informs me that my stuff will not be leaving southern california until tomorrow night... why in the world did she not call to inform me of this change??? this company is VERY poorly run... very frustrating... good thing I've got enough stuff to get by... im really just missing my kitchen stuff and the other two-thirds of my wardrobe... anyway, lets hope that my stuff actually does make its way north tomorrow... if not, im not sure what im gonna do... anyway, this past weekend michael and i went to yosemite... we left on friday afternoon and stayed in a tent cabin in curry village... it was cold and the mattress was quite uncomfortable, and despite our lack of sleep we were still very excited to go hike half dome on saturday morning... we made it to the trail head by 7am with plenty of food and water... by the time we got to the top of vernal falls i was ready to stop... that hike kicked my butt! thank God michael was there... otherwise i would have gone back down and spent the day floating on the river or something... it was a killer hike (much harder than the first time i did it)... we did the whole hike (about 17 miles round trip) in 11 hours... if anything it helped me to realize how out of shape i am... now everytime i dont want to go work out i'll think of how my lungs felt like they were going to explode and my legs felt like they were gonna pop out of their sockets... overall, it was a great weekend and i got the opportunity to share my most favorite place in the world with michael... on the work front, i will be meeting with the senior pastor tomorrow and getting some paperwork filled out... and wednesday i will be going to the staff meeting... i officially start on friday... my first paycheck cant come soon enough... well, i think thats all for now... let me know whats goin on with you!

In Limbo

2005-06-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Hello all... I've been stayin at my folks place for just about a week now... I went down to Los Gatos on Monday and spent a full day moving a few things in, bought a bed, did some other shopping, and spent some time with Michael... Then I came back to my folks' so I could go to Annual Conference (which I ditched today... shhhh). They will be helping me to move in for good on Saturday and Sunday. Then I will officially be a resident of Los Gatos, California. Next weekend Michael and I will be going to Yosemite and hiking Half Dome... why? because we're crazy and because I wanted to show off yosemite to Mikey :0) those are some pretty good reasons, dont ya think? Anyway, thats it for this edition of The Inner-Workings of the Random Brain... Tune in next week for more details on the move and to find out whether or not the movers have delivered my stuff (its been a full 4 weeks now!!)

Almost home!

2005-06-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

Howdy all!
What a crazy couple of weeks! I have been on the road and living out of a suitcase for almost 3 weeks now... Italy and Greece were amazing! I don't even know how I can explain the whole trip. I will most definitely post some pictures once I get myself settled. Anyway, we went to Rome, Venice, Florence, Assisi, Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, Olympia, Delphi, and Athens. We also stopped at some other random little cities on our way from place to place. I think my favorite place in Italy was Venice and my favorite place in Greece was Delphi. Our tour group was very friendly and our guide was so passionate and knowledgeable about everything. My parents and I managed to stay sane for the most part. There were moments when I wasnt so sure, but we all survived :) I was surprised to see that there were a good number of other young people (upperteens to mid20s) on the trip with their parents. The dynamic with the group was very nice. Anyway, if you want to know more just give me a hollar and I'll go into more detail. Right now I am in Elko, Nevada mooching off of the free wireless internet at the Days Inn. This is day 3 of my 4 day road trip from Evanston, Illinois to Sacramento, California. So far I've gone through Illinois, Iowa (staying in Council Bluffs), Nebraska, Wyoming (staying in Rawlins), Utah, and now Nevada (staying in Elko). Tomorrow is day 4 and I'll be home. Then its all about sorting through all my crap and figuring out which stuff is gonna go with me to Los Gatos. I shall officially move next weekend. I am soooo looking forward to being in one place for awhile. I'm sick of living out of a suitcase. I'm also glad to be starting my new job soon. I'm a tad nervous but excited at the same time. Well, I think that's all for now. Keep checkin back for pictures. I'll probably post them in a few weeks. Peace out, my friends :0)

It has been a long week...

2005-05-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

hello all... i am in sorrento... since i last wrote i left venice and have been to Assisi (homeplace of St.Francis) and we saw the ruins in pompeii this afternoon... it was really something to see... so well preserved... anyway, i know this is kind of a lame update, but i am so exhausted and i don't even know what to tell you and what to leave out... i will post a full report once im back and i have free reign of the internet (i am currently paying 3 euros for a half hour to satisfy my internet addiction for the time being)... well i guess thats all for now... keep checking for the full report :) peace, my friends