Visual of our stuff

http://www.faceyourpockets.com/index1.html

A link to a very interesting project exploring the idea of people and their stuff. On looking through it just a little bit it's amazing to see the things that people carry with them everywhere/everyday. It only serves as a collection of images, and offers no thoughts past that; it leaves you to think about it yourself. As a person who is very drawn toward the sight sense, I found it very intriguing in light of the recent Sunday night series "Possessed, when the stuff you own starts owning you."

Gratitude

Chris Scott talked Sunday night about gratitude. There were different areas mentioned, including being grateful for our stuff, our church and a relationship with our God.

One of the things that has really been sticking with me and caused me to consider was the idea of being grateful about our church. Chris said that there is a need this place (the church) fulfills that is not being met anywhere else; that is why we come to this place.

This thought really stuck with me because it is so simple and true, yet the awareness of it becomes more faint the longer we are part of a church body. For me, this is why I came to this place, but I had lost awareness of that simple truth. The first night I attended, I came because I was seeking worship, I wanted to be fed and encouraged, I wanted community, I wanted to be part of something that was actually addressing the need for God in my peer group. It was a feeling very real for me, something I carried with me until I couldn't ignore it anymore, something that forced me way outside my comfort zone to find an answer for it. I can say that I did feel called to this place, and that I felt so overwhelmingly grateful for this place that was meeting a need I could not silence anywhere else.

As time has passed, the sharpness of the awareness dulled. Part of it is due to the fact that I am a part of something that was fulfilling those needs, so the painful edge went away. But sitting there Sunday night, when Chris spoke those words, I felt the complete weight of them. That is the reason I continue to come every Sunday, why my soul is drawn there even when my body and mind are weary. Needs of mine are being met at that place, within that body of Christ followers, that are not being met anywhere else in my life.

For that, I must say thank you to all of the people who come together to be a part of it. We are blessed to be a part of this. To those who gather and worship together and learn to grow together, my gratitude. And to those of you who feel a call to serve and make this place possible, my gratitude for you and for this place we share.

Consider what first brought you to seek out this place.

Who we represent

i'm watching this HBO documentary called "FRIENDS OF GOD".
It's all about evangelical christians in America.
ya.
it's rough.
Ted Haggard is one of the main people interviewed in the documentary...he's the pastor in Colorado Springs who stepped down after it was discovered he was having some sort of affair with a male prostitute...

Other interviews consist of people organizing Christian car shows, a drive-thru church, people who define homosexuality as the route of all evil, people who refute evolution and teach their children that dinosaurs didn't exist and a Christian Theme park.
SERIOUSLY!
It's in Orlando and it's called the HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE.
what? why do we need that?
there was also a bible themed mini golf course that was hella janky.

These are the people I represent in SANTA CRUZ.
oH and George Bush and every televangelist ever and every person with a "GOD HATES GAYS" sign.
When people hear Christian, they see those people.
It's awful...
I feel so discouraged sometimes knowing that.
I'm so tired of Jesus constantly being associated with these people.

If you have a chance to watch it you should.
It's hard but if anything it makes me want to love more.
I don't ever in my life want to assumed as someone who hates because I read the bible, or judges because I believe in God.
I feel like Jesus is so separate from that.
All these screaming people and giant church productions, loud politicians and angry congregations...
I guess our world has become such a loud and chaotic place that the church has responded in the only way tit knows how.

This sounds dumb but I seriously wish that people thought more about the quiet place.
I find myself having to find that place frequently.
Walking to class and driving in my car, waiting for the bus and reading at a coffee shop...i find myself searching for the quiet place where i am reminded fo who i truly represent.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. - Psalm 91:1.

this was a total rant.
i don't know where i'm going with this.
just that it's hard seomtimes...but you guys probably know that.

"The Clothes Don't Make the Man"

This quote sprung up in my mind listening to the message last Sunday about consumerism. Even though our society is so bent on a consumer lifestyle, there is still the recognition that what an individual buys is no measure of their character.

Wikipedia defines the phrase as "An aphorism meaning that you cannot judge a person solely by his appearance."

Have you ever heard that saying? It's usually followed by a "but the [insert thought-provoking attribute here] does."

It's true though, just as much for a CEO as it is for you and me.

I'm not going to get into the discussion of the satisfaction of money or buying things because that's for you to decide for yourself, how to be a steward of your money. You're the only one who can examine if the way you're living your life is fulfilling to you. I can't decide that for you; I can only wrestle with the question for my own life.

But I ask you to consider the truth of the statement "the clothes don't make the man." It applies to how we consume things, what it important in life, maybe even why we consume so much.

Why can't we all be like baby ducks

This baby duck is selfless... Watch it feed the carp

Our Journey

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense until it applies to your own life.

Within the past few days, I've had reason to take a journey into my past. No, I didn't go on some trip to my ancestor's homeland to discover my roots; and no, I didn't discover some long-lost diary that exposes some deep, dark family secrets.

I went on this excursion sitting in front of my computer screen. How does that work, you may ask. It's simple really. I went to work transferring old digital images from cds that have been sitting around for ages, transferring them onto a more reliable storage medium. (In case you're wondering, yes, that's how I roll.)

What I wasn't prepared for was the frame of mind this little organizational task would put me in. You see, I once again was looking at parts of my life (and some people in my life) I really would rather forget. I remembered who I was at those times. I remembered the relationships I engaged in during those times. I remembered things that are still apart of me, even though they are years past. Needless to say, I ended up mentally beating myself up again for things I cannot change. My day and my mood was swiftly headed downhill.

Gradually the awakening began, prompted something other than my own self. I realized how grateful I am for current things in my life, especially in such contrast to these times in my past that were staring me in the face.

I cherish the healthy relationships I have currently. I am thankful for the community of people following God that I am able to be an active part of. I am amazed by the amount of growth that has begun and continues in me by the grace of God.

And I think I was about due for the reminder that I do live a good life. If it had to happen by facing the ghosts of my past, then so be it. I am glad for the heart check.

If you were around to hear Chris Coli speak on "Story," then hopefully these thoughts will make you revisit your own thoughts that were inspired by that series. Otherwise, hopefully it will cause you to examine your own life, where you are, where you've been and where you're going.

Myanmar's steps forward

Currently, the people of Myanmar are still living in the midst of disaster, but there is hope. That hope is what is fueling this post. It is important to not give in to the idea of despair.

My hope is that the information included here will serve as an update on the situation as it progresses, but also as a reminder to pray.

Some aid is getting through to the people of Myanmar. One of the fears in the aftermath of this disaster, is that people will die from untreated injuries or from disease spreading via poor living conditions. Reportedly, a medical team from Thailand will be allowed into the worst-hit area of the country. Although it is a small step, it is a step forward.

There has been much discussion about the government junta's misuse of the monetary and goods aid that is pouring into the country from foreign countries. Recently the government announced that they will allow workers to come in from the surrounding countries to distribute aid. Although it is a small amount, some cargo flights carrying supplies have been cleared for entry into the country.

The biggest demonstration of caring, however, seems to be coming from within the country itself. Although the junta is stalling help, the people of Myanmar apparently have stepped up into the existing need. It is reported that people who have already suffered through losing loved ones or their own homes, have joined the effort to help. These people who have already gone through so much are setting aside their own worries to help those who are even less fortunate than themselves. That is a huge example for the rest of the watching world and even the ruling government of Myanmar. The citizens are stepping in where others currently cannot or will not.

Please continue to pray for these people. We do not have to admit to understand this situation in order to bring it before God in prayer. My other encouragement is to keep an eye on the news and as more aid is allowed into the company, please consider donating to the cause.

Captivated

I am so excited to be writing my first Chard and compass blog, here I go!

A well known fact about me is that I am pretty obsessed with Jason Mraz, and not just his music. He shares something special with this planet, he has a beautiful way of looking at life and I have gained much insight from him. (if you are a fan and not aware of his rad blog check it out here)

Let me explain further - I had an ah-ha! Mraz moment last week when I attended a Shawn McDonald concert at my old church, University Covenant Church in Davis. I had been looking forward to the concert for a long time to catch up with old friends and to experience Shawn’s music in person. Shawn has written some wonderful songs that are my life theme songs (am I the only one who has theme songs? – I know I am not alone - you know you do too!) anyway back to the concert, I was waiting to hear Take My Hand, and as soon as the first chord started I whipped out my camera to record the song through my cameras video feature and I saw many around me do the exact same thing. Cell phones and cameras were all around me. All these people were digitally trying to perfectly capture the moment. There I was front row at an amazing concert, filled with God’s presence and what was I doing but watching and experiencing it all through the little screen on my camera, to make sure I captured this moment on my little camera and I had a sudden memory that jerked me back to reality….

A year or two ago while at a Jason Mraz concert, Jason stopped playing and turned on the house lights and chatted with the crowd. He wanted to tell us a story. Once when he was traveling in Egypt he was spending time at the Pyramids, he was taking his time to soak in being in such awesome presence of these monuments. Jason watched as many tourists came through to see the sites and would be carrying their camera, pulling it up to try and capture the perfect picture, being unhappy with the lighting in the first, deleting the picture they had taken and then trying again, after that process finally finding one they were content with and then the tourist would walk away from the pyramid looking at the image on their camera screen, not at the actual thing standing in front of them. In this moment Jason decided to LIVE life and SEE it and he lives in a way that is not rushed and tries to capture moments in his memory not memory SD stick. At his concert he encouraged us to do the same, stop taking his picture, stop recording the song and feel the music, to be in the moment with him, to dance and sing and to experience life in the instance. I was shook to reality in that moment and I thought about all the times I was so focused on capturing an image on my camera I did not fully experience the moment, the music, the view, the people. I tried to change, yet I found myself once again trying desperately to have Shawn McDonald on my little camera screen and in doing that failing to enjoy the entire moment and being in that place at that time. I need to continue to remind myself to be in the moment, to slow down and enjoy the moment that God has made.

My Karen Friends

My friend Ian found this video and sent it to me. It is some of the Karen people I met while I was in Thailand. My heart has been heavy these past few days with all that is going on in Myanmar (Burma) but seeing this video gave me so much joy. In this video you see some of the most oppressed people in the world singing Amazing Grace what a beautiful sight/sound

How to help with Myanmar (CLICK ME!!)

Hey all I'm sure you know what is going on with the situation in Myanmar. in the picture you see here we are outside an orphanage that has most likely been destroyed by the storm. As you know Our church is very involved with the country. I am writing this because I think it would be a shame if we sat by and did nothing. Crosswinds has already started moving on getting a check cut for $5,000 dollars. What a blessing that is. I do think that we can go above and beyond our giving. (for some of us it maybe a good time to start giving) I feel like if we can each give 100$ we can really make a difference. If you want to make a donation click the link above. I know money is tight right now but I think we can pull this together even if it is a small amount. Sorry if this post is a jumbled mess but time is an issue right now. FYI World vision is one of the few faith based NPO's being let into myanmar right now and thats why we have chosen to use them (plus they are pretty friggen awesome)
Much Love
Joshua
One last thing if you do donate money for myanmar let us know about it in the response not to be a bragger but maybe to encourage others to give

Myanmar News

Recently a natural disaster has torn through the country of Myanmar.

The most interesting thing about the situation is that this situation may provide a way for foreign countries access to the country, even if it is for a short time. Apparently there has already been a call for international aid, but from what I understand, the ruling party of Myanmar has not given express permission for people to enter the country yet.

Although this is a huge tragedy and many people's lives have been altered or destroyed; please pray that God will be continuing to use this situation for His plan.

A link to a news article is included if you would like more information.
http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=OTk0MTAz

Myanmar Campaign

Updated information surrounding the issues in Myanmar. Check out this website for current info: http://uscampaignforburma.org/

Included in the above page is also the celebrity campaign to raise awareness of what is going on within the country. Each day for the next 30 days a new video will be premiered, each featuring a different public voice who has given time for this cause.

Hey Boat... Where have you been?

I saw this picture today and it stirred something inside of me. To be honest anything that has to do with the ocean usually will get some sort of positive response from me. I look at these run aground boats and wonder, What have you seen? What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you at sea? Who made you? Did you ever come close to sinking? I think of the sweat and labor that went into the creation of these wave warriors. I hope when I get older I am not silent like these boats. I hope I keep telling stories upon stories of the wonders I have seen and the waters I have traveled. I would rather sink to the bottom doing what I love than be silent on the shore.

this is why i'm adopting...

Is blush the new pinkberry?

My friend Scott said "pinkberry is what snow should taste like" if
this is true I hope blush tastes like God's white fluffy hair.