caroling?

i used to love christmas caroling. i love the harmonies, the gooy feeling you get inside, and the smiles that it brings to others.

i went caroling with my church a few days ago and i was mixed with emotions. like i said, i really like caroling because i get to sing songs from choir long ago and pretend that i can sing. i looked through the song list-jingle bells, we wish you a merry christmas? should a church be endorsing these songs that don't reflect "the reason for the season?"

but my near disdain for caroling is deepened by two factors: 1)the church sings glorious songs about Jesus the Christ and doesn't seem to sing them as if they were true or even recognize what they are singing, but sing them out of tradition and cause they're purty. (i mean, away in a manager? what?) 2)the world has adpoted these wonderful truth-telling songs about Jesus Christ as merely "nice and purty songs." i dunno.

i know some of you may want to stone me, but i'm simply making an observation. i don't desire to get rid of christmas songs, but rahter see them used differently in the church and the "world," restoring their purity and beauty.

quantum of solace: a review

i was finally able to see the newest james bond film, quantum of solace. i had heard that it just wasn't as good as other bond movies. i would have to agree. while the cinematography always rocks my socks, the plot was severely lacking. i mean, can anyone tell me what "quantum of solace" or the "the solace project" actually is? and who the heck is mathis? the movie only ran an hour and forty minutes, leaving plenty room to develop the plot. i really loved the way the action scenes were intertwined with other things going on in the movie, (i don't know how to fully explain it and i don't want to destroy it). i really liked things blowing up and the stupid humor. i can't lie-i also enjoyed daniel craig as james bond. if the movies were a little bit more "bondy," i might call mr. craig my favorite james bond.

there's my dilema and review. i loved it and i hated it, and am still completely confused.


anyone else see it or am i the only heathen of the bunch? any other thoughts?

break thus far

break has been very interesting thus far and it's so weird that it's Christmas eve already! i've been to SF twice, played football in the rain, listened to the prosperity gospel, watched friends go ice skating, and made (well, still making), christmas presents.


san francisco times one was with the youth leaders at church. we drove up saturday night and drove back sunday morning for church. we stayed in a sweet hotel a 1/2 a block from union square. after dinner, we walked around and then headed back to the rooms for a game of apples to apples and mofia:

youth leaders in union square

at church on sunday i learned that Jesus didn't die for the world, but died for me-wow! then, i got to play some football in the rain to get out my aggression/anger from the sermon:

choir at church (thanks betsy)

christmas clash crew

me and kim: we beat each other up on the line ;)

monday was ice skating night, but i just watched. good times tryng to figure out my camera:

ellen, betsy, heather, and cari-sister and youth group friends

today it was san francisco times two. ellen and i headed up to the city our uncle. we went to the legion of honor to check out a lame da vinci exibit, but i got to see some monet, picasso, and, my favorite, dalhi:

me and salvidor

ellen and me outside the legion of honor

tuesday night i went bowling with the "high schoolers." ugly sweaters was the name of the game:

this was the Luster King

cari, marge, betsy, and me; ANTM anyone?

it's been a good break. i think i've decided i can't move back home after grad (in a year and a half). i can't handle living here this long, how could i handle living here months at a time? i'm excited for christmas, to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, the Christ. I hope i'm learning more and more what it means to follow Him and to search after Him. I pray the same for my friends.


Happy Christmas!

a new kind of matercard commercial

i was "stumbling" around and came across this webpage titled "the mastercard commercial i'd like to see." in light of things like "advent conspiracy" and just thinking of friends overseas, and the genocide in darfur, i think it's enlightening.

Amount spent each year in Europe and the United States on pet food: $17 billion

Cost per year to achieve basic health and nutrition for the entire world: $13 billion

Amount spent on perfumes each year: $12 billion

Clean water for all the world: $9 billion

Amount spent on cosmetics in the US: $8 billion

Basic education for the world’s children: $6 billion

Total amount the US spends on Christmas each year: $450 billion (or 16 years worth of food, water, and education for the world)

Initial cost of the US Government bailout of failing financial institutions: $700 billion (or 25 years worth of food, water, and education for the world)

Coming to grips with the alarming disconnects of our consumerist society: Priceless

so excited to have you back, paul!

it's been a crazy semester. i've been able to get used to a new roommate, take 16 units, start going to a new church, and it seems that i've been sick most of the semester.

i haven't made much time to listen to the pod, (aka iPod), or had an attention span to listen to sermons. yesterday and today, however, with finals coming to an abrupt hault, i broke it out. i excitedly choose a sermon to listen to. can you guess by who?





oh brother paul, thanks as always, for being open to the Spirit and speaking truth!

i'm STOKED to be a nurse!!!

finals have sucked. i have a total of ten this semester. i get so consumed with these stupid tests and papers and skills performances that i loose site of what i am doing.

i am watching the john and kate plus 8 Christmas special. john and kate and all their kids got to bring gifts to kids to a pediatric hospital. this is why i get to take these stupid tests and write these ridiculous papers. i hate that i forget why i have this awesome priveledge! thank you Jesus.

i'm so STOKED to be a nurse!

it's a hot toad!

you heard me. you would never put a toad in a pot of already hot water. you would put them in a pot of water and slowly turn up the heat.

i feel like this is what is happening at CBU. this semester, we are slowly not being able to do certain things that we have been able to do in the past. i know i'm a complainer and i should just get over it, but i don't like it! and i don't think the school should be so uber-controlling. well, there's my rant for the day.

the hajj.

pray for them. thousands of lost spend a lifetime trying to make this journey to touch and pray at a stone. what surprising devotion to nothing.

(bbc)

me and my rommie

i know i've written about our amazingness before, but i just can't resist. we have discovered that we have quite a few similarities, but also a few differences. Here they are:

-we both enjoy cheese. i mean really enjoy cheese.
-she doesn't like fish. i would eat it every day if i could.
-we both listened to *NSYNC and had a crush on lance (yes, the currently gay one)
-she can focus for long periods of time....what did you say?
-we both have similar taste in guys: curly hair, medium skin tone, oh, and loves Jesus.
-she is able to study in complete silence. please believe white noise is the name of the game in my book.
-we both a have strange attraction to ronald weisley.
-she doesn't like to drive other people. i just like being behind the wheel.
-we both have mother's that are nurses and older sisters that are teachers
-she has a nack for decorating. i can't tell which way to put the table cloth
-we have two of the same strengths
-she likes lima beans and eggplant. i like califlower, (and pretty much everything else but those two.)
-we both have emotional breakdowns: jen cries, i yell.
-she doesn't like to write and refuses to get a blog. you can't get me to stop suckas!
-we are both obsessed with jim gaffigon and which much rather spend hours watching hours of comedians on youtube



this is just a glimpse of our most current revelations. hope it was enjoyable.

no creative title

i need Jesus SO much! i wish that i could remember everyday that He is all i have. i wish i could stay focused on Him. i wish that i could understand the depths of the things that would bring glory to His name. i wish i knew what it was to fully trust in the Lord for and with everything. i want to move to this place. i want to sing proudly in all circumstances, "for the sake of the cross." i don't just need Jesus, He is all that i have!

delalyed in san jose

i'm comin up on my sixth hour in the san jose airport. i wish i had something interesting to tell everyone. instead:

i saw a guy that looked like he was talking to himself. i later found out he was on his bluetooth. i stood in a line at the security check point that wound out into the parking lot for thirty five minutes. i sat next to this girl who kept talking about boiled vegetables and fish and how she wanted to loose weight; she was drinking a frappiccino. i talked with an OB nurse and a girl who goes to UCR. did you know people leave their computers at the security check points? i finished two hw assignments, but couldn't motivate myself to start the one due tomorrow or tonight. another flight headed towards ontario left before mine. i got starbucks so 5% of my non-fairtrade coffee could go to stop AIDs, (or something). i so want to punch the lady who keeps making the announcements. i no longer want to be a flight attendant.

hopefully, i will see riverside in two hours. if not, expect me on a train next thanksgiving.