So ... my mom was telling the following story ...
'So the boys (aka my little cousins) were in town and just wanted to play with the other kids in the neighborhood. So they met them and they decided to play star wars ... and went in and got their full costumes with robes and light sabers and everything. The kids around the neighborhood saw this and said "HOLD ON!" So they all ran and got their robes and light sabers and they had a fight and they even had a Jedi Council ..."
At which point I turn to my brother and said ... 'So a group of hyper kids sat down and had a political discussion?'
In his best Mace Windu: 'We will bring candy to the republic.'
I died laughing.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Traveling with Beer and Turbulence
So I flew out to St. Louis yesterday. Went with my brother to be out for 8 days and we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my mom’s extended family. All 25 of us will be in one place again and causing no small amount of trouble. However we had to make it out there first.
The adventure began at John Wayne airport at about 4pm, for a 4:50 flight. It is at this point that I would recommend for those flying out of the LA area to look into Burbank, Ontario, or John Wayne (Orange County) for getting out of town. My brother checked a bag, and we were clear of security by 4:10. BO YA!
It was at this juncture that my brother informed me that he is not a huge fan of flying so we hit the bar. My brother surveyed the full bar, and I looked at the Sam Adams on Draft. I informed my brother that I didn’t want a pint, yet one magically appeared along with a tall glass of bud light for him along with a shot of jagermeister. I thanked my brother for being a quality type of gentleman and he replied that I owed him 7.50 for a pint.
We then boarded the plane and began to wonder if my parents were checking bags (they were going to arrive about 20 min after us) and we began discussing the nature of 7.50 for a pint and how one could easily find a quality 6 pack of beer for 7.50.
Me: Man I should just get you a 6-pack of something.
Bro: Nah, I’ll take a case of Natty Ice.
… It should be noted that Natty Ice is widely recognized the least expensive beer on the market running about 50 cents a can if you get a 12 pack.
Me: Really? I’m offering you good beer and your going for quantity over quality?
Bro: Sir, you do not realize the quality beverage that Natty Ice is. You will note that it was not served at the bar because of it’s high quality.
I rolled my eyes at this point.
So we boarded the plane and took our seats and my brother proceeded to scan the Airline shopping magazine in hopes of something that would calm his nerves further. We saw an infant who was dressed in a white star outfit looking somewhat quizzical as to what was going on.
Bro: Oh here it is … the nerve massager … removes unwanted flight stress and anxiety.
Me: How much does it cost.
Bro: … about 300 dollars … it is perfect
Me: Maybe … but think about how much Natty Ice you could get for that, which would also go to cure the aforementioned symptoms.
Bro: (smiling holding back laughter) … that was well done.
Me: I know …
Around this time we were getting ready to taxi out and take off when the captain came on and gave us ‘special’ takeoff instructions.
Captain: Welcome aboard … yada yada yada … if this is your first time flying out of John Wayne airport I wanted to let you know that take off is slightly different. What we are going to do is lock our brakes and rev the engines until they are warm. Let the brakes loose. We will then take a bit of a steeper angle upward till we reach about 1000 ft (1/6 of a mile) and then we will cut our engines down to almost nothing to keep it quiet for all the local residents below us. Then hit the ocean, rev them up bank to the left and go for cruising altitude.
At this point I thought to myself … ‘so … we have to be quiet because the people on the ground built their houses under an airport takeoff route and every person that has to leave from that airport will get the feeling of taking off and then a split second of freefall and gliding over orange county. I realized why my brother was anxious about flying. Doubly so when the ride went up and then the engines cut and I almost waited for the plane to take a nose dive and crash into the ground, it leveled out but … seriously.
It gets better … This is where the turbulence kicked in and I was thankful for my brother’s 7.50.
We then had turbulence from JW all the way to Phoenix where we had a stop to make before continuing onto St. Louis. This prevented the crew from serving wonderful beverages that quell motion sickness. About 3/4 of the way there the captain finds out that there is a 30-40 min line to land in Phoenix and the plane does not have enough fuel to wait to land. So we turn around and land in Ontario, pick up some gas, and then head back to Phoenix. Many of the passengers were wondering if someone could order pizza and Natty Ice for the delay. 20 minutes later we are back in the air with clearance to land, and no pizza or Natty Ice, nor are they able to serve us on board beverages because the turbulence was still in effect. We get to phoenix and by this point people have been displaced and a crack team of overworked and underpaid individuals are trying to figure out how to get everyone where they want to go and not lose money in the process … on the Monday before Turkey Day. If they had asked row 22 the two gentlemen there would have mentioned that pizza and Natty Ice would have calmed many problem individuals.
One such individual who was flying to Omaha was to stay on the plane, be put up in a hotel in St. Louis and fly out in the morning. This individual decided to work the system and made an effort to get a flight voucher. He returned empty handed. Not even wine from a box.
Bro: You will notice that he did not even bother to ask for Natty Ice as this establishment is not high enough caliber for their product.
So now it is 9:21 PST, 11:21 CST and we are probably somewhere over a farmland state. My brother will soon have a distant second to his desired Natty Ice, and I will have some water to wash down the Ritz snacks that were served. We are ‘due’ to land in about an hour in what will probably be sub-freezing temperatures. And while I am wearing jeans, socks, shoes, and have a winter coat in the overhead … part of me wishes I was in shorts and sandals … just on principle.
The adventure began at John Wayne airport at about 4pm, for a 4:50 flight. It is at this point that I would recommend for those flying out of the LA area to look into Burbank, Ontario, or John Wayne (Orange County) for getting out of town. My brother checked a bag, and we were clear of security by 4:10. BO YA!
It was at this juncture that my brother informed me that he is not a huge fan of flying so we hit the bar. My brother surveyed the full bar, and I looked at the Sam Adams on Draft. I informed my brother that I didn’t want a pint, yet one magically appeared along with a tall glass of bud light for him along with a shot of jagermeister. I thanked my brother for being a quality type of gentleman and he replied that I owed him 7.50 for a pint.
We then boarded the plane and began to wonder if my parents were checking bags (they were going to arrive about 20 min after us) and we began discussing the nature of 7.50 for a pint and how one could easily find a quality 6 pack of beer for 7.50.
Me: Man I should just get you a 6-pack of something.
Bro: Nah, I’ll take a case of Natty Ice.
… It should be noted that Natty Ice is widely recognized the least expensive beer on the market running about 50 cents a can if you get a 12 pack.
Me: Really? I’m offering you good beer and your going for quantity over quality?
Bro: Sir, you do not realize the quality beverage that Natty Ice is. You will note that it was not served at the bar because of it’s high quality.
I rolled my eyes at this point.
So we boarded the plane and took our seats and my brother proceeded to scan the Airline shopping magazine in hopes of something that would calm his nerves further. We saw an infant who was dressed in a white star outfit looking somewhat quizzical as to what was going on.
Bro: Oh here it is … the nerve massager … removes unwanted flight stress and anxiety.
Me: How much does it cost.
Bro: … about 300 dollars … it is perfect
Me: Maybe … but think about how much Natty Ice you could get for that, which would also go to cure the aforementioned symptoms.
Bro: (smiling holding back laughter) … that was well done.
Me: I know …
Around this time we were getting ready to taxi out and take off when the captain came on and gave us ‘special’ takeoff instructions.
Captain: Welcome aboard … yada yada yada … if this is your first time flying out of John Wayne airport I wanted to let you know that take off is slightly different. What we are going to do is lock our brakes and rev the engines until they are warm. Let the brakes loose. We will then take a bit of a steeper angle upward till we reach about 1000 ft (1/6 of a mile) and then we will cut our engines down to almost nothing to keep it quiet for all the local residents below us. Then hit the ocean, rev them up bank to the left and go for cruising altitude.
At this point I thought to myself … ‘so … we have to be quiet because the people on the ground built their houses under an airport takeoff route and every person that has to leave from that airport will get the feeling of taking off and then a split second of freefall and gliding over orange county. I realized why my brother was anxious about flying. Doubly so when the ride went up and then the engines cut and I almost waited for the plane to take a nose dive and crash into the ground, it leveled out but … seriously.
It gets better … This is where the turbulence kicked in and I was thankful for my brother’s 7.50.
We then had turbulence from JW all the way to Phoenix where we had a stop to make before continuing onto St. Louis. This prevented the crew from serving wonderful beverages that quell motion sickness. About 3/4 of the way there the captain finds out that there is a 30-40 min line to land in Phoenix and the plane does not have enough fuel to wait to land. So we turn around and land in Ontario, pick up some gas, and then head back to Phoenix. Many of the passengers were wondering if someone could order pizza and Natty Ice for the delay. 20 minutes later we are back in the air with clearance to land, and no pizza or Natty Ice, nor are they able to serve us on board beverages because the turbulence was still in effect. We get to phoenix and by this point people have been displaced and a crack team of overworked and underpaid individuals are trying to figure out how to get everyone where they want to go and not lose money in the process … on the Monday before Turkey Day. If they had asked row 22 the two gentlemen there would have mentioned that pizza and Natty Ice would have calmed many problem individuals.
One such individual who was flying to Omaha was to stay on the plane, be put up in a hotel in St. Louis and fly out in the morning. This individual decided to work the system and made an effort to get a flight voucher. He returned empty handed. Not even wine from a box.
Bro: You will notice that he did not even bother to ask for Natty Ice as this establishment is not high enough caliber for their product.
So now it is 9:21 PST, 11:21 CST and we are probably somewhere over a farmland state. My brother will soon have a distant second to his desired Natty Ice, and I will have some water to wash down the Ritz snacks that were served. We are ‘due’ to land in about an hour in what will probably be sub-freezing temperatures. And while I am wearing jeans, socks, shoes, and have a winter coat in the overhead … part of me wishes I was in shorts and sandals … just on principle.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Post Crazy Pre Insanity
Ok … the Cliff Notes
1) Finished Internship
2) Moved in with Parents
3) Have 2 weeks of traveling
Expanded version
Internship: So I finished up my internship at Highlands Church in Paso Robles on Nov 14th. It was lots of fun and while I could go into some detail about what I learned I think I will refrain for a while, I haven’t had a full chance to really look back and see what I learned. However the Staff did send me off right by having a dinner party and I got a couple of gifts from the gang and I was sad that I didn’t get the chance to get to know some of those people better, some due to time constraints, some due to missing each other due to schedules. Either way I’m sure I missed out on some things.
Moved: I now reside in Santa Barbara as my ‘home base.’ My parents moved here a week before I did and we are still waiting for the contractor to install the moat and hot oil defenses. After that we will quest around the land to search for knights wishing to join the cause. And after my quest I shall return home to renew old friendship with those who I have lost touch with in the area. I started that, but with number 3 it makes it hard to set stuff back up. Either way life is still a little crazy and there are still boxes to unpack. However, the house is … functional in the sense that things like meals, TV, sleeping, and bathing can take place for the sake of others who might wander through the front door.
Travel: I leave tomorrow morning for Pasadena, Fly out from Irvine on Monday to Missouri for 8 days, get back on a Tuesday and stay in Pasadena till Wed night or Sat night. The first trip is to help a friend move and spend some time with friends down in Pasadena before they all go crazy with finals. Mental overload pending. Then I am flying out to Missouri for two reasons: The first is Turkey Day, and the second is Family. In a rare alignment of the planets all 26 family members from my mom’s side of the family will be congregated within the same town. Now normally we plan to do this every other summer, with some success. However this is winter and I’ll be packing my cold weather gear and gloves … GLOVES! I’m going to take a picture of myself in snow, shorts, a T-Shirt and sandals on principle. Then I will be going down to see the Methodist church that a few of my cousin’s go to that is about 4k people and just see the fun stuff. Planned highlights … playing music with my cousin who can sing.
Flying back into town comes the random section of the travel. I will be back in Pasadena on Tuesday probably around noon, or so I hope … this is the flight where I have to change planes in 40 min … Oh Joy! Anywho … After an overnighter I’ll be having B’fast w/ the Burbank Pastor crew and then meeting with my directed reading Advisor at 1pm. Then things get interesting. One of my friends is playing the Seminary Coffee shop on Friday night, and then another one of my friends is hosting a cookie decorating party (in her studio) for whoever shows up. Stay longer … maybe; Go home … do I still have clean clothes? Either way I’ll be back in Pasadena in time for the Christmas season to shop and need to do some purchasing.
I’ll have my camera and I’ll try to take pictures, but I’m sure the cousins will as well. I might try to get some fun video too. Of course … then I have to figure out how to post it.
1) Finished Internship
2) Moved in with Parents
3) Have 2 weeks of traveling
Expanded version
Internship: So I finished up my internship at Highlands Church in Paso Robles on Nov 14th. It was lots of fun and while I could go into some detail about what I learned I think I will refrain for a while, I haven’t had a full chance to really look back and see what I learned. However the Staff did send me off right by having a dinner party and I got a couple of gifts from the gang and I was sad that I didn’t get the chance to get to know some of those people better, some due to time constraints, some due to missing each other due to schedules. Either way I’m sure I missed out on some things.
Moved: I now reside in Santa Barbara as my ‘home base.’ My parents moved here a week before I did and we are still waiting for the contractor to install the moat and hot oil defenses. After that we will quest around the land to search for knights wishing to join the cause. And after my quest I shall return home to renew old friendship with those who I have lost touch with in the area. I started that, but with number 3 it makes it hard to set stuff back up. Either way life is still a little crazy and there are still boxes to unpack. However, the house is … functional in the sense that things like meals, TV, sleeping, and bathing can take place for the sake of others who might wander through the front door.
Travel: I leave tomorrow morning for Pasadena, Fly out from Irvine on Monday to Missouri for 8 days, get back on a Tuesday and stay in Pasadena till Wed night or Sat night. The first trip is to help a friend move and spend some time with friends down in Pasadena before they all go crazy with finals. Mental overload pending. Then I am flying out to Missouri for two reasons: The first is Turkey Day, and the second is Family. In a rare alignment of the planets all 26 family members from my mom’s side of the family will be congregated within the same town. Now normally we plan to do this every other summer, with some success. However this is winter and I’ll be packing my cold weather gear and gloves … GLOVES! I’m going to take a picture of myself in snow, shorts, a T-Shirt and sandals on principle. Then I will be going down to see the Methodist church that a few of my cousin’s go to that is about 4k people and just see the fun stuff. Planned highlights … playing music with my cousin who can sing.
Flying back into town comes the random section of the travel. I will be back in Pasadena on Tuesday probably around noon, or so I hope … this is the flight where I have to change planes in 40 min … Oh Joy! Anywho … After an overnighter I’ll be having B’fast w/ the Burbank Pastor crew and then meeting with my directed reading Advisor at 1pm. Then things get interesting. One of my friends is playing the Seminary Coffee shop on Friday night, and then another one of my friends is hosting a cookie decorating party (in her studio) for whoever shows up. Stay longer … maybe; Go home … do I still have clean clothes? Either way I’ll be back in Pasadena in time for the Christmas season to shop and need to do some purchasing.
I’ll have my camera and I’ll try to take pictures, but I’m sure the cousins will as well. I might try to get some fun video too. Of course … then I have to figure out how to post it.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Strengths and Weaknesses
So we were sitting around staff meeting a few weeks ago … probably close to a month and we were discussing the scripture that was going to be used for Sunday service. I can’t remember the context exactly. I remember we were in a series on faith and getting to the last couple before the sermon series would switch. One of the things that came up was a comment that in examining our self realized strengths we sometimes loose sight of the other things that God might want to teach us and prefer to fall back on our strengths, which become a crutch rather than a powerful movement.
This has been stewing in the back of my head for a while and I have been trying to decide if I am leaning on my own history and unwilling to learn new skills through internships that have much I can learn from. I think I might have become something that I was afraid of when I went into seminary. I have become more academic that practical in my mindset.
There I said it … I’m not happy about it … and a part of me is weeping inside.
This isn’t to say that I don’t know how to be pastoral in any given situation, but the thoughts running through my head end up being some messed up sociology experiment rather than trying to see and meet the needs of the person in front of me. I think I miss doing ministry for the sake of ministry, when there wasn’t the issue of what is the right way to examine a doctrine, but rather to just care for people (or in my past life JH/HS students). Where the message of the gospel was not spoken in words but in actions. I think more than anything I would just like to remember the basics of ministry and throw most of my seminary education out the window.
I think I need to examine some of the baggage I’m carrying around … trying to prove that I am strong enough for ministry … and instead surrender. Or maybe I'm just thinking too loud over here ... God only knows.
This has been stewing in the back of my head for a while and I have been trying to decide if I am leaning on my own history and unwilling to learn new skills through internships that have much I can learn from. I think I might have become something that I was afraid of when I went into seminary. I have become more academic that practical in my mindset.
There I said it … I’m not happy about it … and a part of me is weeping inside.
This isn’t to say that I don’t know how to be pastoral in any given situation, but the thoughts running through my head end up being some messed up sociology experiment rather than trying to see and meet the needs of the person in front of me. I think I miss doing ministry for the sake of ministry, when there wasn’t the issue of what is the right way to examine a doctrine, but rather to just care for people (or in my past life JH/HS students). Where the message of the gospel was not spoken in words but in actions. I think more than anything I would just like to remember the basics of ministry and throw most of my seminary education out the window.
I think I need to examine some of the baggage I’m carrying around … trying to prove that I am strong enough for ministry … and instead surrender. Or maybe I'm just thinking too loud over here ... God only knows.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Toys and Tools
Toys: Something that is more fun than practical in use.
Now granted this toy has practical uses, and Becca always did say that I looked happier with a bass in my hand than a guitar, and I agree.
Tools: Practical use for a situation, job, or ministry
My internship pastor gave me this as a thanks for my work. Needs some cleaning but is freaking sweet.
The top marking is residue of some old label on it ...
So now I have a very nice sounding 4 string bass and a portable communion set. Sometimes I like the small things in life.
Now granted this toy has practical uses, and Becca always did say that I looked happier with a bass in my hand than a guitar, and I agree.
Tools: Practical use for a situation, job, or ministry
My internship pastor gave me this as a thanks for my work. Needs some cleaning but is freaking sweet.
The top marking is residue of some old label on it ...
So now I have a very nice sounding 4 string bass and a portable communion set. Sometimes I like the small things in life.
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