Only 4 more days of working for the Man!
Melissa
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Christian Book Store
I have had little use for the Christian Book Store, their selection of Bibles is small, they have way too much Thomas Kinkaid stuff, to many wierd home stuff, a crappy music selection, and don't get me started on 'christian living.' Anyway, this isn't supposed to be a negative post, Melissa and I sifted through the used book section last week and *that* place is a gold mine. They have real Bible studies, books of J. Vernon McGee's 'Through the Bible,' books on practical discipleship, and all sorts of good stuff for between 25 cents and 2 dollars. We loaded up and it's been good reading so far, I highly recommend you check it out.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
My New Job
I have a new job! I start December 1st. I will work at a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Firm called Friedman and Perry here in Fremont. I will give more details later but I'm so glad that I will be leaving the government soon. Once I have left the government I will give my opinion about what it meant for me to be working for the government and describe some truths and non-truths about the government. Overall, I'm glad and sad to be leaving, but I am mostly glad. Only 13 more working days here!
Melissa
Melissa
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sad
It's sad that a month has passed with nothing new going up here, so here you go. Melissa got a new job, right down the street. Hooray Melissa.
In bigger, better news, we spent a week down in Mexico from October 11th to the 20th in some training for doing mission work. That was outstanding. I doubt I'll be able to convey all that was impressed on us during the week, but I'll try.
The speakers we had were professors or staff from Azusa Pacific University, which got me thinking, if you can go to a christian university, do it. I never thought it mattered, education is education. The thing is Melissa had teachers in college who would spend their time telling her about how fruitflys have the gay gene, I had plenty of instructors who would go out of their way to bash Christ, how much better would it have been to have professors who loved the Lord and brought that to the lecture.
We learned about the global situation of the gospel, you can see for yourself at the Joshua Project. Namely where it isn't. This was the part of the week where we learned about different missionary movements in the past several hundred years and how we're stuck on the last one. Basically meaning that there aren't very many missionaries going out, and the ones that are going out are heading to places that have already been reached.
This fed into the discussion about Mexico in particular. Ensenada, where APU has been sending short term missions groups for some twenty years, has been reached, the gospel won there, the need for American Missionaries to go down and do VBS and do outreach events for kids, teenagers, and adults, is almost non-existant, the Mexican churches there can do that themselves, and are, without our help. Central Mexico on the other had is very Mexican Catholic, not to be confused with Roman Catholic, they're heavily into witchcraft, they burn books (Bibles), and see evangelical christians as cultists. The same situation they had in Baja not twenty years ago. So the need is not for Baja, but deeper, and the people who are best equipped to go in and set up beach heads down there aren't well meaning American Churches, but well equipped Mexican churches from esablished congregations in Baja, Mexicali, and other gospel saturated places. The need those Mexican churches have isn't for VBS, or for Americans to show them how it's done, but for partnership and help equipping their own missionary teams to go to those hostile locations, devolop contacts and then start funnelling down Americans (or more evangelical Mexicans).
That said, Melissa and I are starting to collect translators from across the great state of California. We're going to try to send them down with other teams that go to Ensenada and Mexicali to start building those partnerships with the Mexican churches and do a little more fellowship and help them understand the big picture.
Read this parable, I wouldn't exactly call it subtle, but I hope it helps you understand what we're talking about. If you are at all interested in coming with us on a mission trip to Ensensada we can take you (if you're a leader in church) for free. Let us know, your eyes will be opened to what God's doing out there.
In bigger, better news, we spent a week down in Mexico from October 11th to the 20th in some training for doing mission work. That was outstanding. I doubt I'll be able to convey all that was impressed on us during the week, but I'll try.
The speakers we had were professors or staff from Azusa Pacific University, which got me thinking, if you can go to a christian university, do it. I never thought it mattered, education is education. The thing is Melissa had teachers in college who would spend their time telling her about how fruitflys have the gay gene, I had plenty of instructors who would go out of their way to bash Christ, how much better would it have been to have professors who loved the Lord and brought that to the lecture.
We learned about the global situation of the gospel, you can see for yourself at the Joshua Project. Namely where it isn't. This was the part of the week where we learned about different missionary movements in the past several hundred years and how we're stuck on the last one. Basically meaning that there aren't very many missionaries going out, and the ones that are going out are heading to places that have already been reached.
This fed into the discussion about Mexico in particular. Ensenada, where APU has been sending short term missions groups for some twenty years, has been reached, the gospel won there, the need for American Missionaries to go down and do VBS and do outreach events for kids, teenagers, and adults, is almost non-existant, the Mexican churches there can do that themselves, and are, without our help. Central Mexico on the other had is very Mexican Catholic, not to be confused with Roman Catholic, they're heavily into witchcraft, they burn books (Bibles), and see evangelical christians as cultists. The same situation they had in Baja not twenty years ago. So the need is not for Baja, but deeper, and the people who are best equipped to go in and set up beach heads down there aren't well meaning American Churches, but well equipped Mexican churches from esablished congregations in Baja, Mexicali, and other gospel saturated places. The need those Mexican churches have isn't for VBS, or for Americans to show them how it's done, but for partnership and help equipping their own missionary teams to go to those hostile locations, devolop contacts and then start funnelling down Americans (or more evangelical Mexicans).
That said, Melissa and I are starting to collect translators from across the great state of California. We're going to try to send them down with other teams that go to Ensenada and Mexicali to start building those partnerships with the Mexican churches and do a little more fellowship and help them understand the big picture.
Read this parable, I wouldn't exactly call it subtle, but I hope it helps you understand what we're talking about. If you are at all interested in coming with us on a mission trip to Ensensada we can take you (if you're a leader in church) for free. Let us know, your eyes will be opened to what God's doing out there.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Barack Obama
*Warning* Political Post Ahead *Warning*
I like John McCain, I've liked John McCain ever since 2000, I'm going to vote for John McCain. That said, I feel bad for Barack Obama. Barack might have questionable associations (Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko), his shameless backers in the media may have behaved poorly thus far in the campaign (Kieth Olbermann, the attempted hit on Palin's daughter, the coverage of his trip to the Middle East and then Europe), you may strongly disagree with his policy preferences (tax and spend, pull out of Iraq, redistribute wealth, increase the size of the government), but Barack himself seems like a real stand up guy.
He's been beat up by the RNC, by John McCain's campaign, and particularly on right wing outlets for his 'lipstick on a pig' comment and his 'guns and religion' comment, among other things, which are all really stupid things to go after a guy on. I've never seen Barack do this on the other hand, he readily defended Palin's pregnant daughter, he put distance between himself and Rev. Wright, and I've never heard him sieze on something stupid another politician has said. He seems to have a genuine love for the USA, he seems legitimately interested in building bridges with his political opponents, he seems interested in repairing the image of the US abroad, he's fully behind the war on terror, even if not the current occupation in Iraq. With few exceptions in his campaign he's stayed on point with with his plans, and very seldom used pointless negativity when he speaks. So, yeah, Barack seems like an OK guy to me and here's hoping for a productive discussion of the issues that face America over the next couple of months.
I like John McCain, I've liked John McCain ever since 2000, I'm going to vote for John McCain. That said, I feel bad for Barack Obama. Barack might have questionable associations (Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko), his shameless backers in the media may have behaved poorly thus far in the campaign (Kieth Olbermann, the attempted hit on Palin's daughter, the coverage of his trip to the Middle East and then Europe), you may strongly disagree with his policy preferences (tax and spend, pull out of Iraq, redistribute wealth, increase the size of the government), but Barack himself seems like a real stand up guy.
He's been beat up by the RNC, by John McCain's campaign, and particularly on right wing outlets for his 'lipstick on a pig' comment and his 'guns and religion' comment, among other things, which are all really stupid things to go after a guy on. I've never seen Barack do this on the other hand, he readily defended Palin's pregnant daughter, he put distance between himself and Rev. Wright, and I've never heard him sieze on something stupid another politician has said. He seems to have a genuine love for the USA, he seems legitimately interested in building bridges with his political opponents, he seems interested in repairing the image of the US abroad, he's fully behind the war on terror, even if not the current occupation in Iraq. With few exceptions in his campaign he's stayed on point with with his plans, and very seldom used pointless negativity when he speaks. So, yeah, Barack seems like an OK guy to me and here's hoping for a productive discussion of the issues that face America over the next couple of months.
Deads
I got really excited when I came to the gym today because there was a kid at the rack next to me who had the bar loaded up to 450lbs and looked ready to pick it up. I've never seen anyone in real life lift that much weight, so I was pretty happy I'd get to see that kind of pull. So he bent down and grabbed the bar, then went and took a drink of water, then sat on the calf raise machine, then stretched his back, then took 45lbs off the bar, the stretched his back again, then took another drink of water, and then he looked at the bar again. Twenty minutes later he went and got a friend to unload the bar for him, I was kind of disappointed but he was acting like he might have hurt his back on a previous pull, so I'll try not to be too upset. Maybe next time.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Same As It Always Was
From Volume II, Book II, Chapter III of Les Miserables:
"Towards the end of October, in that same year, 1823, the inhabitants of Toulon beheld the entry into their port, after heavy weather, and for the purpose of repairing some damages, of the ship Orion, which was employed later at Brest as a school-ship, and which then formed a part of the Mediterranean squadron.
This vessel, battered as it was,--for the sea had handled it roughly,-- produced a fine effect as it entered the roads. It flew some colors which procured for it the regulation salute of eleven guns, which it returned, shot for shot; total, twenty-two. It has been calculated that what with salvos, royal and military politenesses, courteous exchanges of uproar, signals of etiquette, formalities of roadsteads and citadels, sunrises and sunsets, saluted every day by all fortresses and all ships of war, openings and closings of ports, etc., the civilized world, discharged all over the earth, in the course of four and twenty hours, one hundred and fifty thousand useless shots. At six francs the shot, that comes to nine hundred thousand francs a day, three hundred millions a year, which vanish in smoke. This is a mere detail. All this time the poor were dying of hunger."
I thought that was interesting. So much of what Hugo editorializes in this book are the same kinds of things people complain about now regarding the government.
"Towards the end of October, in that same year, 1823, the inhabitants of Toulon beheld the entry into their port, after heavy weather, and for the purpose of repairing some damages, of the ship Orion, which was employed later at Brest as a school-ship, and which then formed a part of the Mediterranean squadron.
This vessel, battered as it was,--for the sea had handled it roughly,-- produced a fine effect as it entered the roads. It flew some colors which procured for it the regulation salute of eleven guns, which it returned, shot for shot; total, twenty-two. It has been calculated that what with salvos, royal and military politenesses, courteous exchanges of uproar, signals of etiquette, formalities of roadsteads and citadels, sunrises and sunsets, saluted every day by all fortresses and all ships of war, openings and closings of ports, etc., the civilized world, discharged all over the earth, in the course of four and twenty hours, one hundred and fifty thousand useless shots. At six francs the shot, that comes to nine hundred thousand francs a day, three hundred millions a year, which vanish in smoke. This is a mere detail. All this time the poor were dying of hunger."
I thought that was interesting. So much of what Hugo editorializes in this book are the same kinds of things people complain about now regarding the government.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Fractured Ribs??!!
I went to the chiropractor today because of my constant back pain. It's not confirmed yet but my chiropractor thinks that my upper back ribs might have been fractured from my car accident from a year and a half ago. She has to take a closer look at my x-rays to make sure if they were fractured, but either way my spine is all out of wack from my accident. Of course Kaiser refused to take an x-ray of my back went it happened since "it's all muscular." Let just say I'm slightly pissed off and if my chiropractor tells me that in fact my ribs were fractured, someone is going to be writing a lot of angry letters and making angry phone calls to Kaiser. I hate Kaiser.
Melissa
Melissa
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Mexico Pictures
I haven't forgotten to post pictures from our Mexico Mission Trip from June. Hopefully Jesse and I are planning to go down to Mexico in October for some leaders training. Here you go!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Hand
I knew this would happen sooner or later - finishing my last set of deads today and one of my callus(es?) catches and rips a dime size chunk of skin off my hand:
I wasn't sure what gym protocol was for skin disposal, so I put it in my pocket. It hurt a little so I'll try this removal method from Jim over at Beast Skills before next time.
I wasn't sure what gym protocol was for skin disposal, so I put it in my pocket. It hurt a little so I'll try this removal method from Jim over at Beast Skills before next time.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Paranormal State
While getting ready for a wedding on saturday Melissa and I watched a show on A&E called Paranormal State. It's a reality show about paranormal investigators from Penn State. It was interesting, so we watched it. The episode we watched focused on a mom and daughter in Maine who were being haunted / harassed, by some animal-human spirit. They brought in some native american shamans and a psychic medium named Chip Coffee. Anyway, apparently some tree had been cut down on the property and a spiritual vortex was opened and that's where this thing was coming from (according to the shaman and his tribal elder). So they burned an eagle feather and did some chants to fix the problem, but it didn't work.
The episode ended when the psychic guy told the mom: "Here's what you have to do - say 'In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, get out of my house.'"
That's what the mom did and everything was made right, there was no more 'presence' felt by the psychic or the residents of the house.
I'll have to watch some more and see if Jesus is the answer to every problem or just some of them.
The episode ended when the psychic guy told the mom: "Here's what you have to do - say 'In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, get out of my house.'"
That's what the mom did and everything was made right, there was no more 'presence' felt by the psychic or the residents of the house.
I'll have to watch some more and see if Jesus is the answer to every problem or just some of them.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
It's Been a Couple of Weeks....
Sorry for no update in a long time. Here are a few things that have happened in the last couple of weeks:
1. Jesse and I took our church’s youth group down to Ensenada, Mexico the last week of June. We framed and put up drywall on the second story of a church (La Escalera de Jacob-Jacob’s Ladder), sanded and painted window bars and doors. We had a great time serving the people of Mexico. I’ll post some pictures up soon.
2. No updates on my crazy allergic reaction. The last time I got tested nothing happened. I have to setup another appointment and take stronger drugs to see if it causes anything.
3. Jesse and I are still house hunting, which is always fun.
4. We are going to my cousin’s wedding in about two weeks in Los Angeles. While we are down there we are going to go to Disneyland, which is always exciting but Jesse has never been there so that will be extra fun.
5. Our plans for Peru trip are on track, so the next step is to buy our plane tickets. If you want to come let us know!
6. Rocky got a haircut by a professional groomer so he looks funny and cute. I bought him a doggie couch which he looks really cute on. I post some pictures too.
Melissa
1. Jesse and I took our church’s youth group down to Ensenada, Mexico the last week of June. We framed and put up drywall on the second story of a church (La Escalera de Jacob-Jacob’s Ladder), sanded and painted window bars and doors. We had a great time serving the people of Mexico. I’ll post some pictures up soon.
2. No updates on my crazy allergic reaction. The last time I got tested nothing happened. I have to setup another appointment and take stronger drugs to see if it causes anything.
3. Jesse and I are still house hunting, which is always fun.
4. We are going to my cousin’s wedding in about two weeks in Los Angeles. While we are down there we are going to go to Disneyland, which is always exciting but Jesse has never been there so that will be extra fun.
5. Our plans for Peru trip are on track, so the next step is to buy our plane tickets. If you want to come let us know!
6. Rocky got a haircut by a professional groomer so he looks funny and cute. I bought him a doggie couch which he looks really cute on. I post some pictures too.
Melissa
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Once Again!!
Yesterday we put our deposits down for our trip to Peru in January 2009! We are actually going on the true Inca Trail and we are going to see more Inca sites. This year a couple of our friends and co-workers are going with us so it should be a fun group. We are really excited!!
Melissa
Melissa
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Gym
I think that a popular magazine must have published a new workout routine recently because there were three or four groups of young men at the gym doing bizarre variations of a plate curl at the gym today. At least none of them were frat curling, they were all doing their curls *next* to my beloved squat rack.
Jesse
Jesse
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A Little Scared
I'm a little scared that I'm actually going to try to go into anaphylaxis on Friday. It will be my fourth time that my body wants to die on me. Oh well, at least the doctors and nurses will be right there next to me to save me. It's not fun when you start losing your breathing ability and feel like your body is being burned.
Melissa
Melissa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)