Hello World

I've been on the road again and left my poor lil blog in the cold.  I sorry blog.  Anywho, I'm about to pass out but I wanted to say that 2009 is gonna be a good year.  I also want to say if you want a disciplined track to read the Bible, my friend Lee Stunningman has a nice facebook group.  Please join.  I struggle to figure out balance in this life and I seem to battle with trying to figure out how to balance life, friends, work, and most important, time with God. 

President Bush

Regardless of how you feel about George Bush, he is still our President. There has been such disrespect of his position by so many people.

See the video below. wow.

Video from Fox

Oregon and Beyond

So after a few weeks of negative blogs from me, or the lack of blogs, here is a small one. I've come to conclude that by the time I learn to balance time and life in San Diego, it will be time for me to move to another city. Either way, it's fun. I spent the week in Oregon with my lil shawty's family and one of our friends from San Diego. It was quite an experience. They have a huge family with lots of lil kids running around. I got sick the last day there and it was a quite nice experience. There is nothing like throwing up from both ends when you are at your girlfriend's family house. Either way, it was a good way to lose 10 pounds from Thanksgiving. I should market the stomach virus. Nevermind. Gross. We also went out and cut our own tree down in the woods, legally. It cost $5 and you can pick one 12 feet or smaller, not a bad deal.

Thinkin about having a New Year's Eve party, I wonder if anyone would come!

Also, my lil fat dog video that I recorded a few years ago is about to hit 100k on youtube! Will you be the 100k hit? :)

From Drop Box

Time

I am sitting in my condo in San Diego and realizing how much I need time to myself. I think for the past year I have been surrounded by wonderful things, people, places, beaches, and a few seals here and there. It has been a supreme blessing to be in this environment and meet a lot of new people and do things I've never done before, but...I think somewhere in the middle of all this I've lost time for myself. If there is going to be a lil shin dig, I want to be the first person on the signup list. I love being around people and lots of them. But I need time to myself. It has become a struggle for me to find time away from everything. In SC, I would just retreat to my room and could usually spend a few hours listening to podcasts, reading, and just being quiet. I haven't done that in San Diego really since I've been here and I can definitely see that my faith has struggled in that process. Jesus knew we needed that, He was God with skin on and He still took those early moornings to be with His Father. I struggle to be with Him and make time for Him. If there has ever been anytime in my life that I should thank Him and want to spend time with Him, it is now. The past year has been more blessed than probably any year of my entire life. I want to be more like Jesus and follow after Him when times are good, I know that ultimately God will humble us and bring us back to a place where we desire that. I don't want to get to that point. Anywho...

The past month has been interesting. I flew back to SC for the first time since May, because of work, but managed to sneak in some time with my family for two days and to make it to a Clemson game. My lil shawty also went with me and visited Clemson for the first time. It was good to be back in Clemson and hit up some MACs after not having it for a long time. I went three days straight I do believe. Some More Random Pics..

Pimp Pictures

So my friend Whitley and her hubby Daniel visited last week.  We had an awesome time and it was cool getting to know Daniel.  See below for their pimp pictures they took in LA.  WOW.

http://www.jasminestarblog.com/

He is still in control.

I think I have been blown away lately by exactly how sovereign the
Lord is. He is so good.

Diego is Crazy

This life out here is completely nutz. I never really thought I would love Cali. It's been so much fun and a flippin crazy amount of work. I have not flown on a plane since May, I do miss my family though, and my Tavaras in SC. He's holding down my fort all by himself now, someone needs to move in with him. That someone needs to be a dude, or multiple dudes, no chicks allowed. They are allowed to visit only. Okay, enough about Tavaras. Back to Diego...

I work in a crazy business environment. There are very professional people there, I happen to be one of them. This job is unlike any thing I could explain, and for a guy who has lived a stress free life for most of it, this job is crazy stress, but still challenging enough for me to NOT let it beat me.

Somewhere in the process of this crazy life, that consists of 90-100 hour weeks, I met a girl. I'm not usually the type that types a whole bunch of sappy stuff on my blog, but I will say that I have a girlfriend. What was that? I just heard some *gasps* from SC. Some of you might be saying that Jesus must be coming back real soon if even I have a girlfriend.

Okay, that's enough for now. I will just say that her name is Abby and I am extremely out of my league. I'm not even at the stadium, I'm not even parking the cars in the lot...THAT guy.

Coach Bowden Fired

Big news from Clemson, well, in Clemson. Coach Tommy Bowden has been fired. It's sad, I know a lot of people wanted to see him go, but it's still sad when someone gets fired. I pray he finds a job at another school soon.

http://www.thetigernet.com/view/story.do?id=7493

Starting to slow down, I hope

So the work weeks I hope will slow down very soon and I'll start to have more time to do more fun stuff. This is the first city I've been to that I don't mind getting lost. You discover new parts and every part is flippin crazy pimp. Wait, there are some ghettos, but still.

Have you ever just really had one of those days where...you really think about what God has done for you, where He has brought you from, where you think He is leading you, and the fact that we gave Him our sin and He gave us Jesus. Well on those days, sad thing is, I don't realize this enough, but the only real response is "Thank-you." We couldn't do jack to save ourselves, we couldn't do jack to secure our spot in heaven, He made our way. I was driving through San Diego tonight and just was going to start thanking God for what He has done, and I really didn't know what to say, I think I realized that He knows my heart already, I just said thank-you. What a flippin crazy awesome God we serve. I have been sayin flippin a lot lately.

community is contagious

how many books have been written on community? I once flew in on a plane every week to San Diego and never really thought I could find people like I have. It's original that God never wanted community to be Wednesday or just Sunday nights. I am glad he chose people to be community instead of days. People are much more spontaneous than days. Days are predictable. I have never really enjoyed predictable.

I drug my feet to come out here and now He has blessed me in more ways than I can type.

Mark Driscoll's boo

It's amazing that I don't even know Mark Driscoll, but he has influenced my life so much. He wrote the coolest thing on his blog and talks about his relationship with his wife of 20 years.

http://theresurgence.com/20_years_of_grace

On another note, what another fun and crazy weekend in Diego City. Meredith Orten and Brittaine Hinkson flew into town, along with Jamie Cheung for one night. I am just blown away by how much community is out here in San Diego. Of all places in the US, I never thought I'd have a community of people like I have here. It's only been a few months and I feel like I know many of these people pretty well. The city is contagious and everyday is something new. It was good to take a few days off and really just have fun and chill out with the peeps. The Lord has been good to me.

Goodness

Last night, I decided to take the long way home. Instead of taking "THE 5" as the crazy Californians call it, I took Harbor drive and drove the Avis special Trail Blazer down by the airport and through the harbor. It's the perfect spot to look at the city. Every week I am just blown away by how cool and how much of a blessing it is to live here. I have learned so much since coming here and met some really crazy and neat people. Kaleo, the church I go to is quite amazing and has challenged me to look the Bible a lot differently and to think in ways I've never really thought.

I am going to be so spoiled wherever the Lord takes me next. This city has straight up blown me away with how cool it is. I really haven't explored the complete city, well except that I've eaten at almost every restaurant there is, well close.

All and all, I'm freakin working my butt off but learning a lot. Well not quite working it completely off, man it is still there. Jeans fit everywhere, well except for that part, maybe I should not eat at so many cool restaurants. Whatever.

Looking back on decisions and the process to come here, it is almost daily confirmed in the small things that happen here. The Lord is so good and faithful to me, when most of the time I am jacked up, He's so good.

A few days off

I have developed 5 new gray hairs this week in one side of my head. Is this normal for 28? Proverbs at least says that is found by a righteous life :)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2016;%20Rev%2021:10;&version=47;

Either way, it is coming in fast and I think this job is lending me a full head of it. I am crunk up about taking a few days off in almost two weeks and DOING NOTHING. I REPEAT, NO WORK. I haven't had a real, real, real, day off in a LONG time and I am so burned out.

More Peeps

So after a frenzy of people coming into town over the last few weeks, there are more! Meredith and Brittaine are next on the journey to San Diego to visit me!

It shall be another crunktacious time with no baby's mama drama.

Tough to Slow Down

Lately I'm finding a hard time with balance. I have learned a lot about myself since coming out to San Diego. The job that I have consumes so much of my time and I literally have to plan out almost every minute of the day to make sure I get what I need accomplished. I leave work, usually very late and it's tough to adjust. I think everyone needs this "simma down" time. I had to apologize to at least one person this week and asked they forgive my "jerkness." I take pride in being nice to people and being patient, I have not been that lately. There is a pattern, it's mostly at work :) When I leave work, everything seems fine and I can be me again.

Anyway. San Diego has been interesting and it's been fun to continue rambling through the city and meeting peeps. This whole experience has definitely matured me in more ways that I care to share. This has been a nice weekend and we are having a nice "BBQ" on the beach on Monday. BBQ in San Diego just means, "grill out."

San Diegans have some jacked up terms.

What would you ask?

After playing volleyball on the beach for about 3-4 hours today, I'm tired for some reason. I really don't like sand but I like to beat people. I should have taken off my shirt but the thought of sunscreen and sand makes my skin crawl.

Anyway, for some reason I thought about Solomon right before I'm about to crawl in my bed. In 1 Kings 3:5-12...it raps like this...

1 Kings 3:5-12 (English Standard Version)
English Standard Version (ESV)

5(A) At Gibeon(B) the LORD appeared to Solomon(C) in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." 6And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because(D) he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and(E) have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7And now, O LORD my God,(F) you have made your servant king in place of David my father,(G) although I am but a little child. I do not know(H) how to go out or come in. 8(I) And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people,(J) too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9(K) Give your servant therefore an understanding mind(L) to govern your people, that I may(M) discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"

10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12behold,(N) I now do according to your word. Behold,(O) I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

God gave him something that I don't think many people would have even thought to ask. In our culture today, most people would ask for money, fame, popularity, beauty or a boat load of other things. I wonder what I would have asked? I think about all the things we have to make decisions about and lead others into. It would be nice to always know that the God of the universe said that you will always be wise and discerning. Side note...Universe comes from two words, UNI=one Verse=spoken sentence. We live in a spoken sentence. God is cool. Anyway, I think everyone wants to always know they are making the right choices and acting and leading in the direction they should go.

All and all, I guess if we always knew we were doing the right thing, life wouldn't be near as exciting and faith would be too easy.

On a blah note, I have to go back to work tomorrow.

A week in a few words

This has been quite an interesting week to say the least. It was been pretty interesting in many aspects and it is 2:56 in the morning and I just got finished doing some work, and I can't go to bed thinking about work, so I must come write a lil blog to change my thought process.

All the peeps have been here this week and it has been pretty crunk. I have learned that I am apparently either not a good coordinator of social things or the group of friends I coordinate with has major issues. Maybe it's a combo of the two. Either way, I think I might retire from being the social coordinator. I don't deal well with drama and I prefer to keep a "drama-free" type lifestyle. I think I am too simple minded and think logically on too many different fronts. It is also hard to please everyone. I know in speaking, you are almost always going to say something that will offend someone, it is inevitable. Okay, enough about drama.

I did have time to edit a quick video of my friend Tabronkias and how he caught a crab in Point Loma.

Risk and Reality

I think a lot of people think about these dreams they have and the things they would really like to go. When you are a kid, I'm sure you had dreams of something crazy that you wanted to do with your life. I don't think that changes much when you get older, well except maybe you go from a fireman to an actor, or a policeman to a doctor. Who knows, either way, you still dream.

I think I've been too guilty of being a dreamer and not really pursuing things full force. It seems like I always drag my feet to commit to something, but once I've committed. I'm committed. It was a big risk to leave everything and everyone in SC and move to San Diego. I think, even if just for a short time, God has already taught me so much and shown up to me in places I did not expect.

I guess I really want to end my time here on earth knowing that I went after everything that I felt was good, and I jump on opportunities when they came. Right now, I think I have dreams and what I would like to call bonus dreams. Dreams being the things that I believe God has gifted and given me to do, ie. speaking and teaching about evangelism. Bonus dreams would be that I really want to do voice-overs commercially some day. I've spent my whole life thinking about it, made few steps in the direction, but there is a lot more I could do.

Right now, I'm crunk about all my peeps Jet-settin into Diego for the weekend. It's is going to be crunkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.

I write stories that make me feel good

I have reasoned with people for so long on the day of rest. I really don't think it matters what day you take, I do think it's important for a believer to take a day and relax, focus on the Lord, what is He doing in your life, and for your body to physically rest. I've not done that in a LONG time and today it caught up with me. I can't even get enough energy to finish writing this and I usually love to write, but I will just say that the Lord is good and there are days that we can just call them "opportunities to grow." :) We did make it to LA, saw "The Price is Right" and made it back safely. I ended the day with my phone hitting the floor in Target and completely cracking and ruined. God has given me so much grace in so many areas, I just looked it, took a deep breath, and now I'm thanking God for the time He gave me with the wonderful iphone.

How do you dissect a day?
The time was early and we were on our way
Traffic was light and the gas tank was full
We stayed up too late the night before and I really wanted to nap and drool.
Continued driving so we could find our way
Price is Right was found to be ghetto but I still found it cool.
I am glad I made it back home safely, realizing the Lord still rules.
Yes my iphone took a big smack and now has a crack.

I will just end this long day poem and eat a pizza and digest the day.

There is no title

This week is ALMOST over! I feel like all I ever write about is work because lately, it's all I've really had time to do and process. It's been 7ish AM to about 12PM every single day and I am not exaggerating. I leave each day like, "what in the world am I doing?" or "when did all this happen?" It seems like everything just happened quick and I'm here. I'm not complaining but making a statement how fast time flows. Literally, you have to take advantage of life or it will take advantage of you. I keep reminding myself of that always. I feel like, if I'm not careful, life could quickly take advantage of me, so I always need to take time to stop and process where I am. Right now, I know God has me in a season of learning and stretching in so many different ways. I think I struggle with discipline in so many areas and just being here in San Diego and this job, are forcing me to grow in that area. If I fail, people know. I really know my call in this life is to speak and travel and share the good news with the lost, but mainly to train christians to share it and encourage people along the way to talk with their family about the Lord. I feel like right now I need to go somewhere and speak.

There is something about standing in a room full of people that I don't know that drives me like nothing else. Right before I speak somewhere, I get this feeling inside that feels similar to night before Christmas when you are 10. It's all you can do to stay in your room, everything in you wants to just camp out in the living room and meet santa when he rolls in. Speaking generally makes me so much stronger. I leave places and hope and pray that something happened there advanced the kingdom, I almost always leave knowing I've been changed. I don't think it's because I'm some great speaker, because I'm not, but I do think it's just putting yourself in a position to allow God to use you. It just does it for me. Two times in my life I've spoken somewhere and literally felt the Lord draw me out of what I've planned and go with something else. That feels like driving a motorcycle about 130. I've never done that :)

All and all, I need to write things like this to remind myself why God made me and to reiterate in my head what my future is, at least full time future. I'd also like to...

write a book
earn a private pilot's license
do voice-overs professionaly
learn all johnny cash songs on guitar

I'm completely stomped out for the night and now going to eat fruit and relax on the couch.

Conference Calls and Headsets

I am not exaggerating when I say that I have been talking on the phone now for almost the complete day. I started a call about 10AM this morning and have been on the same call for most of the day. Literally with a headset in my ear and working working working. This whole move I'm still trying to digest. I went from a place that I knew everyone, knew my job very well, and knew everything about my surroundings. I'm now in a place that is completely new. I will be the first to say that this experience is stretching me out. I still have a phone in my ear right now and talking, but I just needed to type as usual and do something non-work related to get my head straight!

On another note, being a guy is such a crazy thing. Girls have it rough in so many ways and have to deal with things that men cannot even comprehend. Have you read Leviticus? :) All and all it is tough to be a guy too. There are times when pride is such a crappy thing to have, well almost always. I can speak for most dudes and say that we are a prideful species. What do we have to prove and why in the world do we need to prove ourselves? It doesn't matter if it is in your job, your ministry, your relationships, I think all guys feel the need to prove themselves. To a certain extent, this can be good from a Biblical standpoint, in that you are realizing that your worth is in Jesus and because of him, and anything you do comes out of that understanding. I know that I sin in the way I try and prove myself to people around me. I know in my job, I can't stop until I've beaten something. It drives me nutz for something to beat me. At the end of the day, I want to know I've done something that changed for the good. One day, I hope to speak to thousands of people, and sleep at night knowing I shared the good news.

It's neat how God communicates to us all. He has such a funny way to deal with me and sometimes it makes me just kinda throw my hands, but I have to just laugh. I know that He knows how to deal with me and bring me to a place that He can teach me. It seems like lately, I'm learning more than I can really process, and it's sad because I haven't really felt like I've engaged Him lately or spent time with Him like I know I need to. I talked to one of my boyz today that I haven't talked to in a while. It felt good to talk to someone that really knows who you are and I can be myself. I've learned that in new environments, I'm a little shy and really can't be myself and relaxed. I've confirmed that I need to be around a large group of people to stay sane.

It's also crazy how God puts you on the different side of the fence sometimes so you can get an idea of what it is like. Sometimes I am guilty of seeing life so one-sided, but then He comes and puts me in my place...oh, so that's what it's like over here. ouch.

So I'm glad I wrote a little blog that I can read again one day and laugh at. For now, I'm going to get back on my call that I've been talking through while writing this, and sit in a lab for the rest of the night.

Lil crazy

It's so crazy to try and explain to people what I do in this job. I really haven't found a way to describe it in a way that makes sense. All I have done the last few weeks is work day and night and it's starting to take a toll on me. I NEVER get stressed, almost NEVER, and the last few days I've been straight up jacked up. I'm in the middle of the biggest project in our company and I know this is a season of life God has me in, so I try and keep that in perspective. I know that He has me in San Diego for this short time for a reason and I will keep going. My phone rang more times today and my email went crazier than ever before. I just have to keep taking deep breaths. I am still working now, but figured I needed to write something and do something non-work related, and well, I ended up writing about work! I am going to walk downtown and pick up some food and walk back to my condo with a fresh brain.

The good news is, I told my company today that I'm taking off next week and going to veg out. This vegging out includes going to PRICE IS RIGHT! I need a few days with some good friends to get back in a right state. The only thing that keeps me sane is to be around people!

Maybe God is trying to stretch me for something that I'll need later in life. :) I really can't wait for a day when I can travel and speak to crazy groups of people and tell them about Jesus. He is full of grace!

Tavaras, can you bring my guitar out here to San Diego? I miss it. It misses my bad playing of it.

Just a Jumpstart

When I was about 12 or 13, my parents bought me a dirtbike that was this exact model. A Honda 1977 XL 100. It was $375 and I remember clearly going to pick this thing up. I was so happy. Looking back, I realize how awesome it was for my dad to go get that for me. We did not grow up with money, and I realize now that $375 was a good amount of cash, it still is. I drove this dirtbike for SO long. I'd drive all over Hamer and visit all sorts of people. This thing would sometimes break down and I would get so mad. I would spend the day trying to get it back going. There were times when no matter how much you would try and kick-start it, it just wouldn't crank. What it needed was a good constant push-start. A "push-start" is exactly how it sounds. You put the bike in gear, pull the clutch in, and push it as hard as you can. You get going as fast as you can and let out the clutch. This will engage the wheel against the ground and turn the engine over. The faster you are going, the more times the engine will turn over and the more likely you are to get it going. My mom would see me pushing this thing all over the yard trying to get it running, and eventually, the motor would catch just enough, and I'd jump on and GUN the gas and off I was going again. I'd usually ride around for as long as I could because who knew how long it would stay running.

I stumbled across a note from a friend and some of our conversation back and forth a few years ago and it got me thinking. We talked about all sorts of things and lots of questions and answers, and just good discussion.

For me personally, I need to be around people that are going to do more than kick-start me. I need to be around people that constantly talk about the things of God and push me to grow in Jesus. I've realized this as I've gone in and out of Christian circles and friends. I incredibly enjoy a good conversation and many times walking away with questions and things that make me wonder how I really view the world. I want to be a husband like that someday where my relationship with my wife and kids is the same, we push each other to be stronger. Right now, I hope to be that friend to people that challenges them and leaves them desiring another drink from the fountain of hope at the end of the day.

I am not sure where this motorcycle is today. Last I saw it, it was sitting in a barn near our house. I got a newer one MANY years later and have enjoyed it :)

And yes, I posted back to back blogs. Sue me. Blogging makes me feel better after long days of work.

Go push-start someone.

Working on the weekend is for the birds

What a straight up blessing it is to be in San Diego for a lil while and enjoy all the crazy things there are here. This blessing comes at a price, I am here for W O R K. I am not kidding you, this has been one of the longest weeks in my entire life and qualifies in the top 3 of most work done in my entire life. I have been in a lab for 16 hours almost everyday this week! Tonight, when not many people were there, I turned on this rap mix that John Flowers made for the 2008 New Year's party at Canterbury. I know yall remember that mix. I had to do something to get crunk and stay sane while I worked.

Tomorrow, MORE WORK! Once this is done, I'm straight up ballin for a few days and we all know the 3rd week of August is PRICE IS RIGHT :) Anyone want to come???

Schedule and Organic Fruit's change on corporate america

Unreal. The last two days. Wake up about 5:30, walk down 4 steps, talk on a conference call for about 20 minutes. Get ready, struggle to go to work. Work harder than I have ever worked in my life, at least on the top 5. Leave work at 12:23 AM. Do the same thing today. Good news is, everything is now working and happy. Bad news is, I'm straight up exhausted, so forgive me for yet another organic video. My goal is to eat every organic fruit I can find for the next few weeks. One a day.

Canterbury

Cliche it is, but time is so amazing. It seems like we were just having "Monday" nights at Canterbury and now it's been about 3 flippin years! Time will straight up take advantage of you if you don't take advantage of it!

Canterbury, I hope Tavaras is taking good care of you. I shall be home eventually and get back to my SC roots. But for now, I must complete this season...Yes, I see you in there old dirtbike. Yes, I see you there Rover, please don't let Ed abuse you while I'm gone. Apparently he's been letting strangers drive you! Forgive him for that.

It's been almost a 17 hour work day, there is no way that is normal. I am babbling, I must eat some organic peach, maybe, then walk up the 4 steps to my lion loft. (It's what I call it because the comforter I put on it is majestic and makes me feel like a Lion when I slide into the covers.) RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRarrrrrrrrrr.

Organic Fruit

So I took it easy this weekend for the most part. I've been guilty of too much "go go go" since I've been out here. I went to church this AM and came back to the condo for the rest of the day. Lisa and Scott Freeman surprised me from SC and stopped by with their little girl Riley. So Cute. I spent some time with them and then they went about church planting business. They are starting a church out here called "Elevate."

Most of the day I spent doing things like cleaning and veggin out. It was good to relax and not really have any major responsibility for the day.

Since I took this job here, I've realized that I need at least one day a week to veg out. You can start to take yourself too serious if you don't have a good down time day. Sounds like it was God's idea? Hmmm.

If you spend most of the day in a one bedroom / loft, you might make videos like this. I'm sorry.

New Christian

Pride can be a good thing in certain circumstances. I have pride in my school, Clemson. I am glad I went there, it was a blessing and I'm proud of what it stands for. I'm proud of my family and how they have shaped me and taught me about life without even knowing it.

I realized tonight that there is the other side of pride that is so bad. There are so many times when I know the right word to say to someone, but I don't do it. It's this disgusting thing inside me that worries that I might come across as not cool or whatever the word you want to plug in. God puts something in your heart and you fail to deliver. I know God is sovereign and ruler of the whole creation, but I still believe He gives us morsels of words for people. Paul said how will people know unless a preacher goes. How will people know unless they are sent. There is something that can be said about a glass of wine. I'll be the first to say that I've never been drunk in my life. I don't say that to sound like a super Christian, but to follow up with my sinfulness. There is something that a glass of wine does to me. It almost cuts off a layer of pride. I'm not even sure how to describe it. I think it makes me think less of myself and look into others more. I'm not writing this to say everyone go out and have a drink and get wasted, but I am saying that something can be said about getting over yourself and looking into others lives a little more than you look into your own. I'm guilty of selfishness and pride and it sucks. I have definitely learned that when you do step outside of yourself and step into someone's life, God will show you something and teach you. I learned tonight from a guy who is only been a Christian a few short months. I'm prideful in my first thought and thought, what can I teach this guy, in turn, God uses him to teach me something. He's cool like that.

John Mayer and Dear Verizon and Manliness

So a friend of mine invited me to John Mayer in Irvine. Secretly, I knew Colbie Callet was playing too and I am man enough to say that I like her music. C'mon, who hasn't rocked the car radio with "Bubbly" or "Realize"...don't lie??? It was about a 2 hour drive on Sunday because, well for some reason, everyone in San Diego decided to leave that day and head north to Los Angeles. The show was in Irvine which is about half way to LA. The show was awesome, Colbie was sweet, and John Mayer is a freakin beast on the guitar strings. Straight up amazing. If you don't like his music, you at minimum have to give mad ups to his guitar skills.

I really was mad at Verizon because they pretty much oversold the show. We had lawn seats and couldn't even find a place on the lawn. We even got kicked from a waiting area by the goofy Verizon guys. He literally asked me to move when it was the only place for us to even stand. I was the first one to be asked to move and had about 15 people behind me, I felt the need to be the group spokesman. In a nice way, I explained that the show was oversold and we had nowhere to go. He explained to me that I should sit on a lawn, I asked him to find me a spot in a few words. He then told me in a joking smart A kinda way, "Call Verizon, I didn't sell the tickets." I really wanted to punch him. I am writing Verizon a letter for sure. All and all, we found a way to the lawn and forced out way onto a piece of grass. "Sir, my friends are sitting there" explains a nice young man. "Not to be rude, but these are lawn seats and I am going to sit here" explains me. :) He quickly came back and said, "Cool" or some nice California phrase.

I have noticed a few more things since I have been in San Diego that I must comment on. Listen, the girls here must wear some clothes. I saw a girl in my favorite Sushi restaurant the other night, I have never seen a shirt like this. It was literally a lower case V neck. I think I just made that up, but the "V" went all the way down and her breasticles were literally out to the wild. What in the world? Ya know, that kinda shirt will make guys look for a second, but scandalously dressed woman, those guys won't think about you in a romantic way. They will probably think you are trash and think very low of yourself. I am just being honest. Again, lingerie is sold because, well at least for a brief time, provides somewhat of mystery to a man, if you are married :) Diva girls, wear some clothes. You can be hot and modest in the same sentence. Mystery is hidden in modesty.

On another note, let me be the first to say... Many of the men in San Diego seem to shave their chest. Listen, let me be the first to say, I am a man and have chest hair. I'm not saying that every girl wants the incredible hulk mixed with a monkey, but chest hair is part of being a man if your genes allow that. Since when did culture tell you that chest hair was not cool and make these men shave their chests? I am a man and I have chest hair. If you want, I can take my shirt off and make cave man noises. Or Tim the Toolman noises. If you say something rude, I can punch you :)

What a blessing it is everyday to live here in San Diego and to meet so many awesome people. The church here has so many interesting people that are way deeper than the skin. We spent time on Saturday night going through a book that had 4,000 questions. I learned more about people that night than I ever thought you could learn in one night. Pretty intense.

Also Clemson Alums, we have made #1 on a list. Top 10 Happiest Students!

Mission

When I am in work mode, I get very intense and make a b line
everywhere I go. I noticed today as I looked at people I passed,, they
were set and walking fast somewhere. It's like they were on a mission.

Where are you?

Grillin and Chillin

So a very stupendous weekend in Diego. Played some frisbee, went and heard a straight up unreal message from Matthew 13 about the weeds and the wheat. Whew. Had some grillin action tonight and some major food was thrown down. I named at least 4 cows on the grill. There was bessy, susan, and I can't remember the rest.

I admit, it was a challenge the first few months here to meet friends. It's tough to go from more friends than you can imagine to a city and know hardly anyone. We have met some cool cats at Kaleo who also enjoy the art of the grill.

Also today, we were playing frisbee in balboa park while the gay pride festival was happening on the other side of the fence. Quite an amazing cultural experience. Not to mention that our frisbee went over the fence and it was a Jesus frisbee. It came back safely.

Filipino Talent Show

Some friends from Kaleo invited me and Gill to go to a talent show last night.  This was quite a cultural experience as most of the church was Asian and the talent was HILARIOUS.  You had hula dancers to rappers.  Solo artists to punk bands that made you feel weird afterward.  All and all this was quite fun.

We spent some time shooting some pool at a place in University Heights called "Lancers."  Tonight we are venturing out to a new place called Neighborhood Burger which is in the Gaslamp just down from where I live. 

The Gamer and Rockstar lifestyle continues. haha. 

A few things in San Diego

So living in California has changed a few things about me.

1. I eat yogurt everyday pretty much. There is a place called Yolicious. I get a plain yogurt with granola and mango. It is very tart but only 13 calories per ounce and for a fat boy, this is good.

2. You have to drive a little crazy here. I have noticed myself getting impatient at many places and probably once thought of myself as very patient. The city makes you think you are important enough to be places at certain times, imagine that.

3. Diva girls aren't that bad. I don't really desire to date one, but they are quite funny.

It has been an interesting cultural experience to live right downtown and be able to walk to all the cool places. It is a treat to live downtown and SUPER friggin nice. The 3rd week in August is going to be straight up awesome out here. At least 5 of my friends are flying in...

Ashley Jones
Josh Jones
Jason Grier
Keith Norris
Ed Edwards
Julie Edwards
Tavaras Brockman (maybe)
You too?

It's going to be one crunk week and we are going to be hitting up the Price is Right. So if you want to get a new car, just come on down to Diego!

I am missing home a bit and thought about flying home this weekend but didn't work out. Ed has my car and drives it more than I do. Well, I'm kinda glad because gas prices are out the roof like batman. Speaking of him, opens tonight!

Iphone

I am really trying to keep the iphone from being an electronic idol.  I think Mark Driscoll talked about this in one of his sermons.  I will say that the new firmware is quite amazing.  For those of you who use Pandora.com, Iphone has an app that also runs it.  AMAZING.  Play all the music you want, free.   It also has some cool games that will come in handy when I'm sitting in airports.  I also have downloaded a Bible to it with commentaries.  Now I just need to be disciplined and read it. 

All and all, good job Apple for creating a great product.  I usually try to stay away from writing nerdy stuff rants, but Apple needed a pat on the back :)

Thursday Night Thoughts

I just realized my subject like spelled TNT :)  I've realized that Bible is very clear and a heart can be very deceitful.  Who can understand it?  I will just be honest and say that a man's heart is probably more deceitful and jacked up, way more than women.  Yes I said it.  I have felt so strongly about things and then find myself later back tracking and wondering what in the world.  It almost makes you want to take a year off from making decisions.  I enjoy most choices and find myself very straight in my thinking.  I make mistakes, all the time. 

I know what will make me feel better.  List my iphone on craig's list and go buy the 3G :)

Deanna BYE

I thought she was on facebook and we could be friends, but Deanna fake has let me down :)

Bernie Speaks Gangsta and has dirty feet

My sister's friend from England came over to visit the US. Needless to say, I had to teach her some nice American phrases. It was also cool to celebrate the 4th with an Englander. WE BROKE FREE! WOO HOO.

It's okay to make mistakes

I right a lot about choices because it seems we are faced with things everyday.  At least one time per week, you will get a call from a friend or you yourself will need to make a big decision.  From the food you eat, to the place they live.  The cute girl this morning in church quote this from Acts 17
 24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

It can be such a struggle to make decisions and for some reason I have always thought I've been good at them.  I find myself always 2nd guessing myself, mainly in the past two years.  It's not like I really "worry" about it, but I do find myself re-visiting the same things many times and wondering if I really did the right thing.  It's tough to decide when trusting in God and you doing some action on your part is needed. 

I just don't like making bad choices and I know it's pride because you have to say, "you know what, I did the wrong thing."  I know God's grace will cover SO many things, but it still makes you think.  Recently I prayed through something and felt I was supposed to do one thing, God sent me so many messages that pushed me to act.  Later, I realize what the messages were for.  They were to teach me something, but I really wasn't supposed to act on them, I was just supposed to listen and make notes.  Oh well. :)  Maybe God allowed for me to make a dumb choice to humble me and teach me something else.  Either way, I know the truth now and can move on.

I think God sends all sorts of people into our lives to speak something different to us.  People are great messengers. 

An interesting Day

So the past week has been full of crazy adventure.  I tried to take a day off work on Thursday to spend time with Ed and Julie, but at some point in the morning, the phone started ringing and I realized it wasn't going to be a day off.  I had to "do work" son.  So I met up with them a little later in the afternoon, along with a friend of my sisters, Bernie from England.  It was quite cool learning about another culture again and hearing a really funny accent.  Sandy Gibbes would have loved it as many times we would talk to each other in English accents, oh the days of Canterbury. 

All and all, we spent one day on Coronado and it was quite awesome.  We saw an orchestra in the park and had funnel cakes, even rich people eat funnel cakes, awesome.  We took a ferry back over from Coronado to San Diego and saw a firework show.  This firework show was the best fireworks show I have ever seen.  Not to mention, they sync two other fireworks shows across the city.  So you can look in three directions and see the same thing, it is unreal to watch.  It lasted for at least 20 minutes it seemed. 

We saw my friend Bernie off at the airport and went on our way to another adventure.  We went to a mission, that happened to be closed, but the drive up the pch was quite cool and scenic.  We finished and drove back to my condo to get ready for dinner.  We went to a really NICE place in La Jolla called George's at the Cove.  Definitely not a first date or even a 5th date kinda place, but nice :)  An interesting thing happened while we were there.  We had nice appetizers and were just getting our meal when a waiter behind me runs right into a table and falls flat on the floor.  Ed and I jump up to help and we realize the server is having a seizure.  Here is the cool part, the girls that were with our group are doctors.  They got up and did work.  They took control of the situation and it was quite awesome to see.  It was so sad to see someone have a seizure like that and my heart broke for the guy.  He ended up coming back and they walked him outside.  This was the first time this had ever happened to him.  He was only 27.  I hope he is okay.  All and all, it was so cool to have friend that could get up and do work like they did and just have the comfort of knowing they knew what was up.  All the waiters were coming by and thanking them.  George, the owner of the place came out and thanked them as well.  They also comped our dinner, which was REALLY nice. 

Ed and Julie will come pick me up tomorrow and then we will pick up the doctors and go do work on some really good breakfast at Richard Walker's.

We will go to church at Kaleo and then they will hit the PCH in a convertible for a drive up to San Francisco. 

Living out here has been so much of a blessing and I hope it doesn't spoil me too much.  I have learned so much about culture in the last few months, that is for sure. 

Wild Hogs Ride Again

So me and my boy Ed are thinking about letting the Wild Hogs ride again.  He is out here right now on vacation and will go back next Wednesday.  He will then come back out here the next week and we are going to be Wild Hogs and get Harleys and ride from Diego to Las Vegas, and maybe Grand Canyon.  The downside is....I have to fly back to SC to pick up my license! 

Anyone interested?  We will get some headsets and get some HUGE harleys and be real cool.  Real Cool. 

JT

Do Work Son

This is my boy big black's shirt.  DO WORK SON.

I can wear this shirt today because it was supposed to be a vacation day, but yet I've been working all day.  DO WORK SON.

Big Opus Lee Cunningham Birthday

Today is my good friend Lee Cunningham's Birthday.  I really like this picture of Lee as it pretty much sums up his personality and character.  He's cool, friendly, God-fearing, and trustworthy.  To own a Malibu boat, you must be cool.  For people to allow you to drive them around, you must be trustworthy. 

On a serious note, this picture does say a lot about Lee.  He's always opening up his things and the gifts God has given him to others.  He is always willing to listen to someone's story and give them good advice.  I think many friends can come and go from your life, just as the seasons come and they go.  Lee is definitely a friend that I know I will always be in contact with. 

Make sure you send him an email or text today and mention something nice that you know about him.  If you don't know him, I know you have at least heard someone say something nice about him.  He knows everybody.  stunningman@gmail.com or text 803 238 8700.  He will kill me for posting his number :)  I mean, it was on the bathroom wall anyway at most local truck stops. 

:) Happy Birthday Stunningman.  Keep doing your thing!

Nomination for The Bachelor

I confess probably too many things on my blog. I absolutely watch The Bachelorette every week. Gill and I sit down and watch it like little girls watching the baby sitters' club. I nominated Gill tonight for the bachelor and he is going to nominate me.

Go and nominate us! It takes like 3 minutes.

Nominate Nominate Nominate

If I make it to the show, I'll make sure it is a blast. It's funny because I don't really watch TV, except for Rob & Big and now The Bachelorette.

Leave me a comment if you nominate!

Mad at Deanna

Okay so I watch The Bachelorette, forgive me. I cannot believe Deanna
would invite 3 dudes to the fantasy suite. How crazy is that. No
wonder Graham couldnt do work. Glad you peaced out graham.

Sent from iPhone

Something on my foot

Well this piece of really dry skin has been on my foot for months and months, it might have been there for a year. A P.A. friend of mine a few months back said it was a planter's wart, but I argued and still not really sure. Either way, it's just dead skin that has no feeling. I know this is disgusting, but this is something I am going to document and put Dr. Scholl's to the test and see if his commercials really do what they say. So far, I have taken a callus remover and removed all the dead skin. Next, I am going to place a Dr. Scholl's Salicylic Acid cover on it for 48 hours, then rinse and repeat. I have one small one, and one bigger one. I will keep you updated as the experiment rolls on.

Don't you love blogs, you get to keep up with my feet. Disgusting. I need a wife, I mean a life. Okay, both.

It's prob. good

You know, I do my thing in Diego everyday. Work sometimes more than I should. Play and stay up later than I should. I am only slightly glad that I don't have a "girlfriend" right now...well because I'm pretty sure I would be a broke cracka. There are an unreal amount of pimp things to do, see, and eat here in San Diego. Everyday, I see a new place or something I haven't noticed before. I will say this and have said it many times here, if you are a dude in San Diego and you can't come up with a straight up pimp date, you have zero game. Well, I don't have much game so San Diego helps.

Now you might spend a serious amount of cash, but when the time comes and the woman is right, who cares.

Speaking of women, Ed and Julie will be out here next week :) Of course, Julie has the entire trip planned down to the minute. This will be good for them, they won't miss a thing. A friend of my sisters in Amsterdam is also visiting, so much fun will be had.

Does anyone live in San Diego and want to be my personal assistant? Seriously, I really feel like I need someone to help me out. Between doing daily tasks that I just don't have time to do because I work a lot, well to doing my laundry, filling out my expenses every week, and shipping things. This job will pay nothing, but I will give you access to my condo (to do the laundry) and access to my Xbox 360 and RockBand, well which might leave me soon.

Nice Post

A friend of mine sent a link to this post on beauty, dudes, chicks. 

I am also learning that discernment is a necessary on so many aspects of this life.  I see the people around me and I watch the decision and choices they make and wonder about my own.  You really have to trust God's lead and power over this world or I think you might go crazy wondering if you make the right decisions.  See, Adam had it good.  Some of the major decisions in this life, God made for him.

1.  God literally chose Him.  He knew God.

2.  God prearranged a marriage and woman for him.

3.  God gave him a job.  Take care of the garden. 

Those are like 3 of the biggest decisions we have to make in this life and figure out.  I've got 1.5 of them taken care of.  I wonder if there will ever be a time in heaven where we see how our lives could have played out and what it could have been like had we done this, or done that.  I think that would be interesting to see!

Jesus is my senior pastor

At Kaleo this weekend, one of the elders spoke about not having a senior pastor and the structure of the church is set-up with elders and he said, "our belief is that Jesus is the Senior Pastor."

I really like this church.

Choices always

Urban dictionary is generally where you go when you are listening to the rap music and something doesn't make sense. Urban Dictionary is your guide to everything you DO NOT need to know, generally. I heard about a friend of mine back in SC that just broke up with someone. I really thought they were doing well and all was a go. I don't know the details, but just that it ended.

What was the deal breaker? Urban Dictionary defines it this way:

A deal breaker is ‘the catch’ that a particular individual cannot overlook and ultimately outweighs any redeeming quality the individual may possess.

Very interesting way to put it, but in the reality of things, it is true. Dating is so much about getting to know people, getting to know yourself, and just apart of life. We have to make so many choices in this life, where to work, where to live, who to marry, or who will marry us :) I'm getting older and the older I get, I am finding myself leaning so much more to the sovereignty of God in our lives. I can still maintain freedom, but all and all, I trust He is working things out up there that I don't have a clue about at this moment. I would have laughed a year ago if you would have said, "you will be living in San Diego this time next year." I couldn't have planned this. The blessings that have come in the past few months have been unreal and not like anything I could have dreamed up. I guess I'm just kinda excited about what is going to happen in the next few years. I keep doing my thing, thinking this next big thing is going to happen and God is going to direct me exactly where He wants me and have me do what He wants me to do. I keep doing my day to day thing like everyone, enjoying life, eating too much, and right now listening to Coldplay's newest album which you should pick up.

I've learned over the past few weeks that I really suck at encouraging. If you have ever been around someone who has this gift, it is a blessing. I don't think I have it, but I could try a lot harder than I do. I hear people talk about not having the gift of evangelism, who cares, my boy Rob Dyrdek didn't just jump on a skateboard, he had to practice.

This week I am rolling in a fun car. See below:

Self-Esteem...hmm

I visited Kaleo Church again this weekend in San Diego. The pastor speaks a lot like Mark Driscoll and a very similar style. He is a very hip kinda guy and mostly preaches expository in his nature, but remains very relevant and interesting. He spoke this morning about the Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee. The pharisee was looking down on the tax collector and esteeming himself because he was NOT like the tax collector. The tax collector was looking at himself like he was a nobody without God, the Bible says that the tax collector was left justified, no, not like Microsoft Word. Bad joke.

The message ended up spinning back around to research done throughout the US and other countries and how it relates to how children are taught. A researcher here in San Diego found that kids that have higher self-esteem tended to think they were better in subjects when they actually scored lower than children in other parts of the world that held the belief that they were NOT as good in the subject. (Long sentence). Either way, it made me think about Osteen above and the gospel that he preaches of your self-esteem and how you should esteem yourself and of course mix a little God in there. The longer I live, I realize that I just plain suck. I'm sinful and do stupid stuff, sometimes selfish, and just a lot of time, don't have it together. I know that only in Jesus can I have esteem and anything that is good, is because of Him. He credited my account for good when I was bankrupt.

The pastor at Kaleo went through the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy and how it relates to Jesus. Chapter 7 means you have nothing. Chapter 11 means you have a few assets and could possibly regain control and salvage the company. If you are a Christian or claim to be, at one point in your life, you had to file Chapter 7 with the God of the universe. Maybe you don't remember the day, or the minute, what camp or pew you were sitting at, but at some point, you did. You confessed to God that you have nothing good to offer outside of what He has allowed and given you. There is nothing good in yourself, you are a sinner like the rest of creation in need of a Savior.

It has been quite an experience here in San Diego, I walk around everyday still not believing that I live in this place. I am already getting mean phone calls from friends that believe I won't come back. Who knows the Lord's plan, but it is not currently my plan to stay here for years and years and years. My project is 3 years+ so we shall see. Either way, I have so enjoyed this experience so far, I have a yogurt place in my building that I frequent everyday, which includes some mildly plain/sour yogurt and mangos with pecans. So good. I have also met really interesting people and it feels good to be outside of what is normal for me and what I've been used to for 7-8 years in Clemson. Everyday is an adventure here and I leave work thinking/planning what will happen that night.

As you will see in the pictures below, I am quickly becoming the Self-Proclaimed Medium Level Rock Band Champion of San Diego and quite possibly the Left Coast. How is that for self-esteem :)

Culture

The first few consecutive weeks here in San diego have been very cool
and most definitely interesting. This is a city that stays active and
never stops but remains also very chill. We have managed to go and do
something every night for the past few weeks. My work is fast paced
and intense so when I leave the office, I am ready to have fun and
chill. I will confess that it is rough to slow down once you get in
that fast lane,
Merging to the shoulder can be tricky. I got home tonight and felt
convicted about not being in the Word lately. Crazy how just reading a
few chapters a day can get pushed to the back burner. He has blessed
me so much.

Sent from iPhone

A lil change

When your boxers turn into boxer briefs that means you may have gained
something...

Sent from iPhone

I'm still around...

I have been so slow on writing blogs, which is unusual.  Partially it's because for the past few weeks I haven't gotten on a plane, which has been a big change.  Time on the plane was my time to write blogs about random stuff that nobody cares about :) 

So the past few weeks in San Diego have been straight up awesome and crazy.  I love where I live and being downtown in the heart of a city is where it is at.  There is a bar/restaurant/bowling alley right in front of my place and I frequent this location :)  Of course, my job is nutz and I work alot, but it has been well worth the opportunity to be here in a great city.

The biggest news I have is...I think I found a church.  Through a friend in SC, I met up with a new group of friends here in San Diego.  I found out about an Acts 29 church plant called Kaleo.

It meets in a movie theater and the first service was pretty dang cool.  I am not sure that I will even visit any other churches, I was totally digging this church from the start.  We had a blast over the weekend and it is so cool to meet new friends.  It's the strangest thing to go from a place where you know everyone, to a place where you know very few.  This is a big change.  I'm adapting but am definitely noticing that it is tough to stay in touch with East Coast!

Is this world full of booger eaters?

Okay, let me take you back to a few blogs in the past regarding booger eaters.  There was the guy in church that I saw, then I saw the same guy at GSP airport eating AGAIN.

I kid you not, I couldn't make up stuff this good.  I was on my way to church for the first time here in San Diego and just happened to glance behind me, and I see this guy eat a big fat booger.  You have got to be kidding me.  I keep watching and he downs at least 3 while he is stopped at the traffic light! 

http://justintanner.blogspot.com/2007/10/planes-boogers-and-good-food.html

Is this a common thing?  Do any of you know anyone that eats?  Or do you, yourself?  This just blows my mind.

To top it off, I was visiting a new church and the first thing I noticed is the little girl in front of me.  She come in with an IPOD Touch.  Well it was very distracting because I am easily distracted.  I kept looking to see what she was doing and watching.  Next thing I know, I see boobs and a sex scene on her ipod.  My friend Gill saw the same thing, this lil 6-8 year old girl was watching straight sex scenes in church.  She wasn't just watching, she would fast-forward to the scene.  It made me so mad, I wanted to say something to her dad so bad, but he was what looked to be like a first date and I couldn't catch him alone.  I so regret not saying something.  I totally didn't pay attention to a single thing in church. 

Back to other stuff, my parents had a blast in Diego, we hit up Sea World, Coronado, and just ate some good food.  My mom is convinced now that First Class flying is much better than coach :)

Parents Weekend

So I just surprised my parents in Houston. It is their 32nd wedding
anniversary and being the good son that I am, I booked them a San
Diego weekend:). They will be chillin in the regency suite at the
hyatt on mission bay. The really funny thing is that my dads first
flight was this morning. This is very ironic because I fly across the
country more times than I can count. They are booked first class on
the way back so they will get to see the joys of the air. :) My
parents work the hardest of any people I know and they have taught me
a lot. My mom has taught me a lot about sacrifice and putting others
first and my dad has taught me how to work hard. When you grow up
crawling under houses and in attics, you learn hard work very fast.

I am chillin in seat 1A and my parents are on the same plane as me,
this is so funny. I asked if one wanted my snooty seat but they chose
not so I will eat my breakfast and then take a nap.

Then we will take Diego by storm. :)

On a side note, Rob & Big is the funniest show on tv. If was still
consistently in Clemson, Tavaras and I would have to shoot our own
version since Rob & Big is going off the air :)

American/Dutch Nephew

My lil nephew that I have only seen on one visit. Luca! He's going to be a Dutch Super Star. I only ask that my sister gives him sweet tea when he needs it, makes him say "yall"...

Time

There was a time, not too long ago when I spent a lot of my day not really sure where the time went. The past few months, I have had to discipline myself to every minute of my day and where it will go. This is not merely out of growth as a person, but more out of necessity!

Southern Cali

So I'm going to be famous. Not. But, I am going to be on my first tv show. I mean, I thought living in SoCal meant that you were supposed to be on tv. I will be heading up to LA on Monday night to be an extra on "Way of the Master" tv program. It will be at Grace Community Church which many of you know the pastor, John MacArthur. Ray Comfort I met a few years back and was supposed to meet up with him in Greenville to do some evangelism, but it ended up raining and we never got to go. Either way, I think this will be fun. For those of you who loved "Growing Pains", Kirk Cameron will also be on the set :)

It is against my better judgment to go because it will mean I will be on the road a lot on Monday, but hey, what's new. Plane or car, all the same. Well except I don't get those nice meals in the car :)

The show will be focused on unbiblical preachers and the top 10 ways they fill the church with false converts.

I thanked God today for my senses. You know those 5 things that you
learned as a kid. We can touch smell hear taste and see. Of course
those are listed in no particular order. He has magnificently designed
us. I am sitting in first class eating breakfast and just noticed how
good orange juice tastes and that fruit smells so sweet. I am looking
out the window and I can see pillows and pillows of clouds. I like
that we were made to enjoy. This sounds stupid but I like to enjoy
with people. When I eat sushi, I like to try the rolls at the same
time as the people around me.

If you are a Christian, one day we will sit at the table of the KING
and enjoy.

Confessions Friday

I'm one tired joker.  But tomorrow I hope to start my chance at breaking some Guiness World Records.  I've about earned enough frequent flyer miles in one week to take a free trip, that's not normal.

Flew in late last night, drove to Clemson in a pimped Volvo, thanks Alamo.  Worked til about 8:30 tonight, now staying at Ed and Julie's because my flight leaves at 6:40 out of GSP.

I will fly in to San Diego about 10:20AM.  Co-worker will take me to a job, we will install some equipment, verify it works, company gets paid a huge check, and I will get on a plane back to Charleston by 2PM, hopefully to pick-up my car that is all lonesome there. 

After this week, I plan on doing some major chillin and possibly see my lil sis play softball for the first time ever :(.  I will also see my mom for Mother's Day.  I finally talked them into taking a trip out to San Diego for their 32nd wedding anniversary.  My dad has never flown, ironic! 

If you haven't watched Mark Driscoll's sermon on Sin, you need to get on Itunes and download that, on the spot.

Okay, so my confession is that I have now worn the same boxers for going on two days and same socks.  Don't tell anyone.

This is hilarious

There was a time when I complained to someone about never getting to travel.  Oh I laugh at that day all the time.

I got the call today while I was working in San Diego, "you need to fly back to SC on the next flight out."  So I booked a flight from San Diego to Atlanta at 12:30 and I flew out at 2:40PM.  I arrived into Atlanta at 12:00AM and drove to Pendleton.  It's 3AM and I am about to go to bed.  I will do some very important work on Thursday, then fly back out on Friday morning, first flight out.  Then install some equipment in San Diego, then fly back to Charleston on Friday night's red-eye.  Then back to San Diego on Monday.  5 flights in like 5 days, across the country.  That is crazy, I don't care who ya are.  Fun season.

I laugh at the days to come

There is at least one time per week, that I just, well, with lack for a better word, just giggle and laugh. It's not a point where a man-card should be taken away, so go easy on me.

I flew in from San Diego on a red-eye Friday night/Saturday morning. I had the busiest and most stressful week of the year, got sick, trained and talked for 6 hours a day and still made it through. I told someone today that I wasn't sure how I made it through the week, and I felt awful, because it was a time when I should have said, "Jesus is totally how I got through this week." I don't know how, other than God, that my voice stayed throughout the week, I did have a steady stream of snot.

So I finally made it home to Greenville on Saturday morning, needed rest, overslept for a wedding which health-wise, didn't need to go to. Drove to Dillon, hung out with the family for a day, love them so much. Decided to drive out and meet a friend in Florence, that didn't happen, but I did check out a Barnes and Noble for a while. Stayed in Florence for too long and drove to Charleston to stay the night because my flight is at 6:43AM and Charleston is a heck a lot closer than Greenville or Charlotte. It's 2:36AM and I'm just checking into the hotel, and my alarm is set for 5, of course I had to laugh as I set the alarm. What a life. I will fly to San Diego for a few days of extreme work, then back to Charleston on Thursday about 10:30PM. This is a life I could never have imagined. This is not the life I will have, but right now, it's kinda fun and I almost feel like a nerd on tour. I'm not cool enough to be a rock star, but I still get to travel and feel like one sometimes. I found out my next door neighbor in San Diego is a sports agent and he told me he has 20 or so players, I was scared to ask who.

I feel the best when my life is in God's hands. I do not say that generically, but say that in a way that means I just don't have a clue and He's a much better manager than me. I do my thing with the liberty and freedom He gives me, but ultimately I know He is the final say. It seems lately I have been at an extreme peace about where I am right now and the choices I've made, He has given me a confidence that only comes from above. Not in a "I've got it figured out" kinda way, but in a "yeah, this life is a little scary, but keep going, I got your back and know your steps." My confidence is in what Jesus is going to do. I do laugh at the days to come because I think God is going to do some crazy things in whatever is next for me. He has brought some really strange and interesting paths the past few years and I'm excited to see what is ahead. Enthusiasm means..."En" "Theos". In God. I want to stay interconnected to Him and I want to stay excited about the eternal aspects of this life and I so want to stay away from the side-tracks this life can take me.

I bought a juicer a few years ago, and I've used it about 5 times. I really enjoy juicers and really, any kitchen gadget. But one thing I do with the juicer is make OJ. I throw in 405939 oranges or however many it takes to make a glass of fresh squeezed. I can't waste anything so after the juicing is done, I take handfuls of the pulp with no juice and eat it. I can't let anything go to waste.

I'm excited about eating the pulp of this life, nothing should be wasted.

San Diego, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, Tijuana

I hate that you missed a weekend here! My boy J Grier and I flew into San Diego on Thursday for a few days of fun. He works a lot like me and we both needed to take a few days to chill out and have fun. No work, no shoes, no nothing (double negative).

We were on the same flight and got into SD the same time, imagine that. We left the airport, jumped into my new place, and tried to plan out the day. Through a blessing, we came out with 3 tickets to Sea World. These tickets are so expensive, so this was a nice treat. Jason's step-mom, myself, and Greezy went off to see Shamu. This place was amazing. To see animals doing the things they do there, just even more tells me that God beautifully created this world and the things in it, crazy the things we saw. I will be posting pictures once they are all assembled and edited :)

We spent Thursday night going out to a really nice place right on the water, I had some nice spicy scallops and lobster bisque. I ended it with this really nice healthy pastry.

Friday was another day full of wonderful things and probably on the top 5 of best days of this year. We spent the day at Wild Animal Park. These animals were so wild. We literally spent a large part of the day doing the walk around thing and safari, also getting a nice sun tan, I mean burn.

Friday night was quite the highlight. We scored some tickets to the Padres baseball game. I'm not talking about just any tickets, I'm talking about seats with Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. I should have known we were in for a treat when the ticket price was $325. As soon as we walk into the park, we get to meet Dave Winfield, had a really nice, FREE DINNER, and then litearlly were escorted into homeplate seats by Dave Winfield. This was unreal, Jason and I just looked at each other like what in the world, this is nutz. These seats are mostly for players families, rich people, and former players. Not only were we sitting with Dave Winfield, but we also were sitting with David Wells. One of the few pitchers to ever pitch a perfect game. This was an unreal experience. The section were sitting has its own waiter, you can eat or drink whatever you want, you name it. I was such a fatty. We were so close to Randy Johnson who happened to be pitching for the Diamond Backs. We could hear the players and the nice things they would say when striking out :)

In short, it was awesome and some friends came down from LA to join us on Friday night. We spent Saturday kayaking on the bay, chillin on the beach, and watching a Roller thing. Basically, hundreds of people come out and these people do choreographed dances on roller skates, it was unreal and hilarious.

Saturday we went to a multicultural parade Jason's dad was the Grand Marshall of. So interesting, I so enjoy culture. Saturday night we went to Tijuana for quite an experience. We had a nice dinner, then hit the mexican dance club. At first, I didn't feel good, because we had a long day and I had so much sun, plus it was so hot in the club. I sucked it up and hit the dance floor. I will have to admit, this place had hundreds of people in it. At one moment, Jason and I had the whole dance floor peering over our way, it was so funny. They started playing american music so we had to do our thing. We dropped it like it was hot and had a blast. We made our way out of Mexico and were not greeted nicely by US border agents, one was really nice, and this other woman was so rude. Either way, she couldn't ruin such a good night.

I will be posting pictures soon, they are quite fun.

On a God note, the best place to leave our choices and decisions is with Him. They are safe there. Well maybe not how we define "safe", but how He does.

Risks

I found this image on some website.

You know, risks are something I have always struggled with. It seems that my or our human nature is to want to know all the facts before risking anything. Maybe it is just common sense. It seems there are two main types of risks:

Calculated and Un-calculated.

You could probably argue that there are mis-calculated ones as well. Either way, risks are tough, but sometimes it seems that the thought of what you might lose compared to what you might gain gives you the balls to just do it and risk it.

The great thing about following Jesus is that if we are really following close, His spirit does help us at just the right times.

Mary Addison :)

Ed used to push me just like this, oh I miss those days.

Some Comfort

So my new apartment I've been talking about, the bed is out in the open.

I have to find a new comforter and for some reason, I like shopping for comforters.

I want a comforter that looks majestic, something that looks like a lion should sleep in it.

Rarrrrrr.

Moving in Monday

Just flew into GSP from San Diego and I always wonder who it's going to be in First Class :) Well, today, I missed Donny Osmond by one flight. The flight attendant said that he was in the seat across from me just one flight before, oh well :)

So I went and did a walk-through of my new place before I actually move in on Monday. It is straight up pimp. It's going to be tough to go from 2300 square feet to about 800 but I won't be there that much anyway. Plus it is right downtown near some of the best places to eat. Thus, the reason I started working out again. The apartment has a cool intercom system that when you ring my condo, it calls my cell phone number, then I push a button, and it lets you in. I'm probably the only person that thinks that's cool, so whatever. Plus if you notice in the pictures, there is a nice hammock sitting out, overlooking downtown and where I can listen to the roar of Petco park as Khalil Greene slams a homerun :)

Jgreezy is flying into hang out on Thursday and I fly back on Monday. A few more friends, Sam Hoit, Brandi Roe, and possibly Diva Ashlyn Bishop are visiting too. Our tentative plans are as follows:

Thursday: Greezy flies in and we go to dinner and maybe Tijuana on Thursday night.
Friday: Possibly Kayak in the morning and zoo in the later morning early afternoon, possibly Wild Animal Park as well. (Friday night we are going to a Padres game)
Saturday: Sea World, Legoland, or Wild Animal Park if we do not go on Friday.
Sunday: Greezy flies out early and I'll be chilling out for most of the day after he leaves.

I'm excited. I absolutely love entertaining people and having fun. I met a girl on the plane today that was so quiet. I saw her reading her Bible, I said, "are you a believer?" and she said, "yes." I said, "me too, it's encouraging to see you reading your Bible." She said, "I really try." We talked for a few minutes, but she seemed very down. Something in me said that something really bad or mildly bad had just happened to her, but I never came out and asked her. I regret not doing so. When I meet other Christians, I get really excited, many times I feel like the feeling is not mutual :)