Monday, September 24, 2007

Watch and capture his heart

Hello my peoples! I was looking for a picture of Rob Bell yesterday for my last blog and I stumble upon this video of Rob being interviewed by the chief editor of Relevant Magazine. The interview is long but if you have some time to listen I would highly encourage you to do so. There are some great questions asked of Rob and some even better answers. It tells a lot about Rob's heart for Jesus' church and where he and his Mars Hill family want to take it.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

May I introduce you to the Bishop.



Today, Holly and I went to our first "Young Marrieds" class. I had a great time in the class. Sam Boone did a great job being "The Substitute" and it was great to see some lights turning on in the heads of those who have never studied the Scriptures in a Narrative format. Narrative meaning that God gave us his word in the form of a story, from Genesis to Revelation; it is a story that has spanned the centuries. It is a story of hope, faith, and love. It is a story that heals and rebukes. Which got me thinking, "I never used to think like this about the scriptures." So who is responsible for my new train of thought. Well the more I thought the more I have come to find that it is Dan's buddy Rob Bell that has been helping me with this journey. But even deeper than that, who do I believe started it for Rob? Of course there could be many wonderful answers but I would venture to state that a main player in Rob Bell's discipleship belongs to N.T. Wright the Bishop of Durham. If you know nothing of this man I am begging you to do all that you can to soak yourself in his wisdom of the scriptures. He is absolutely ridiculous in his knowledge of the Texts. What's so amazing about Wright is that he, along with Rob, Dan, and myself (there are others as well), would be the first to tell you that he is on this same journey in trying to understand the Scriptures as a story not a systematic study guide. His main slant is to read and dive into the historical context of every passage of scripture. It really does bring the scriptures into new light. So without further ado, I introduce to you Bishop N.T. Wright!!!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Could this be...





You are going to have to read this to believe this...this, if not placed into the wrong hands, could solve a billion issues

Did I Forget to Mention...?

I may have forgot to mention that Holly and I are going to have a baby and that the baby is a girl. You can vote on some names that we are going to go with. Of course we don't care if you don't like any of them. Maybe one of those names reminds you of some girl from your past that completely rubs you the wrong way and every time you think of her you cringe and stick an ice pick in your ear...I say to you...seek counseling

Good rain music...


Hey my peoples! For those who watch Greys Anatomy (which I am sure is not much...I know I don't...ok I do) Last season there was this singer on the soundtrack, her name Ingrid Michaelson. She is putting out some great music that is perfect for Cold, rainy weather...it really is good stuff. Now I am not one for female singers much (please don't hate me, I am coming around) but her voice is like butter. She is amazing! Check it out and let me know what you think. Let me know that I am not the only one that thinks she is great. She is coming out in Nov to the Troubadour. Peace to my peoples!

Friday, September 21, 2007

This is real ish...

Check this out. This looks like a good movie that will make you uncomfortable. TRADE

What's Yo Flava!!!

So the other day some great friends of mine, Dan, Adam, and Ian, all went to Substation for some killer sandwiches (which are severely over priced). I, being that I am trying to help my brother Dan out by staying away from soda, purchase Vitamin Water (purple label). It was good. It tastes lighter than Gatorade but what got me hooked was the label on the bottle. HILARIOUS!! Each drink has a weird, quirky story that makes no sense what so ever. LOVE IT. So I ask the bloggnation; What is your favorite Vitamin Water and the story that goes with it?

Little known facts about Vitamin Water:

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Our Health Care System...












Something profound was said today (Wednesday the 19th) at Post Conference that I have at Loma Linda. My prof said that she believed that our generation and the one beneath our generation are going to make significant changes to our health care system. It is profound to me because, well...I have been thinking about how something really needs to change with regards to "heath care".


The other day, while I was frantically trying to get an immunization that I needed for my clinical rotations, I had made an appointment at a local county family health care facility. I am quite accustom to Kaiser and the private health facilities with all of the amenities; this place was nothing like Kaiser. Not only that but everyone, from the staff to the patients just looked different to me. Not different like, "Of course Mike they are not like you," but, "Wow...I have seen where 'The Least of These' are going to the doctors!" I do understand that these are people that can at the very least afford some medical benefits but just staring into the faces of these people got my brain moving beyond what I saw.

In my minds eye I began to visualize those on the streets, those who have lost everything, those who have lost hope and love and shalom. Even today (Wednesday the 19th) I got another lesson on the health care system while waiting for my TDaP shot. The facility was ran down in a three story building that looks like it needs to be imploded. All of the same people that don't "look like me" where there; the guy that paces to much do to some form of drug, the single mom with two kids that won't stop screaming (you know...the one where everyone around is judging the mothers parenting style); the gangster and his homies that are staring down everyone but all they want is an immunization. God has continued to open my eyes to those who have (me) and those who have not.



What makes me better than the least of these that I should get better health care? What makes me better than the rest of the world that I should receive or feel like I deserve better health care than the least of these? What makes me think that I am NOT apart of the least of these? or that I am NOT apart of the problem. What will our generation do for our family of human kind? Social Health care seems to be a common answer but it has shown to many holes in how it works in other countries.

So today (Thursday the 20th) I have seen a bit of my challenge to say the least. As someone apart of the heath care system I am obligated by God, no less, to turn my education around and make right what we have done wrong in God's wonderful cosmos.
Open your eyes and stretch yourself to visualize what can be fixed and that which will allow God's Kingdom to reign here on earth as it is in heaven.

Monday, September 17, 2007

If you have 8 mins...take a gander!

This was really good and refreshing. I have never really heard Tony Campolo speak. If you haven't either and you have heard that name thrown around then click on this link (Tony Campolo) and check it out. While you are there check out Daley Hake's blog. He is an amazing Photo Artist.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Surfing...

Hello everyone out there. I was listening to a class from Mars Hill called The Narrative of Scripture (which is amazing. I will blog about it later) and the pastor was talking about different resources which I would love for you all to check out yourself. More specifically you need to read an interesting article about Aid to Africa. It will give the other side, a different perspective...the kind that will bring balance to what you might have conceived. This article then led me to The Africabeat which I plan to visit regularly. I hope you do also! Educate

Monday, September 10, 2007

Horizons



The Horizon has always been a fascinating object to look at. The sun rises from it and it sets from it. It always brings on a new day and it closes it the same. We can stare at a horizon for hours as if we could catch a glimpse of what is on the other side. For those of you who know me you might be asking yourself..."What the crap are you talking about Mike!" I will tell you.

I say all of this because I believe we can all agree that we can feel, we can sense, in the deepest part of our being that something in our lives is just over the horizon. We start to get that urge; that feeling of unsettledness (if that is a word) that we can sense that something is about to radically change in ones life. Well I feel that way! It is nerve racking and exciting all the same. It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside (that's from Moulin Rouge, rent it). It really has me unsettled at the moment. I am going to have a baby but I can reassure you that this is different. I am not nervous about the baby because I am too ignorant to know what I am about to get into.


What I lack is the ability to actually see over the horizon.


I really wish I could just be here instead. Here, unlike the last picture, the waters are clear to see for miles. The weather is consistant everyday of the year. The waters are inviting and calm and I can have a Mojito delivered to me whenever I want.
But where is the excitment and adventure...

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Living by example...

This is my good friend Dan ( his face is blocked for his protection )... He has shown me what i get to look forward to as a father. Um... We haven't really had a heart to heart... No, he is showing me by example... Thanks for living it out for me big D

Friday, September 7, 2007

Your Friendly Mullet Photographer...

So holly and i are eating dinner at The Grove Grille and santa mullet sits down next to us... Why is this ok to have in our culture? What we should do is legislate against this like we do with everything else in California. Send me your picks, he you have them, me a sick mullet! If you haven't seen one you are not looking hard enough.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

You Have Got To Be Kidding

So this semester in nursing i am learning how babys can make it through a pelvis... Let's just say i am glad i'm a guy! What the freak monkey?!?

Sunday, September 2, 2007

wow...really...wow???

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So I saw this at Borders a while back. It is a sign on an end cap that was selling items that were considered "Punk Rock Life"...for those that subscribe to the "Life of a Punk Rocker"...consumerism!

Knowing So Little

When did knowing so little feel so enormous. As my buddy Dan and Bill and Trav and anyone else that has been searching will tell you; We have all been feeling like knowing what we know is not enough and more is needed. I feel like I have been scouring The Texts and any book for their wisdom in a new light that just keeps getting bigger the more I search. It is exciting but daunting all the same.

It's not all bad because now I feel like life is just about to start.