Just an FYI:
If you recieve a letter from me that smells like coffee, its because I was drinking coffee while licking the envelopes. Sorry :)
22 October 2007
One of the students at our house group, a sophomore boy, is a pretty tough kid to work with. Hes just not the type of guy that is realy incredibly sociable, or that opens up much at house group. One of his leaders from last year told me that the way to connect with him was just to play games with him. He said that last year, during their small group time, the two of them would walk around on a golf course near by and see who could find the most golf balls.
The way I;ve been spending time with him is playing fooseball before and after our house group time in the basement where we meet. Every week we wind up playing multiple games, making up different rules, and ways to play each time. Its a great time. I think Chicagoans really like their fooseball because, no joke, I think I have played more since I have been here than in my entire life prior to coming here.
Anyway, this student still doesnt talk too too much, but I have noticed during our games that he will ask me more questions about myself and about Texas and such. Yesterday during our small group time he said that his "high" for the week is that he has now been drug-free for about two and a half weeks, and, even though his friends still party and smoke pot, they have been suppoting him in his efforts to quit. I thought this was great that he revealed this to the group, and that he was open and vulnerable with it. It caught me off guard because I didnt even know that he was even doing drugs.
How ironic that his "high" for the week has been not getting high? Its so amazing that he is letting God guide him through all of this.
The way I;ve been spending time with him is playing fooseball before and after our house group time in the basement where we meet. Every week we wind up playing multiple games, making up different rules, and ways to play each time. Its a great time. I think Chicagoans really like their fooseball because, no joke, I think I have played more since I have been here than in my entire life prior to coming here.
Anyway, this student still doesnt talk too too much, but I have noticed during our games that he will ask me more questions about myself and about Texas and such. Yesterday during our small group time he said that his "high" for the week is that he has now been drug-free for about two and a half weeks, and, even though his friends still party and smoke pot, they have been suppoting him in his efforts to quit. I thought this was great that he revealed this to the group, and that he was open and vulnerable with it. It caught me off guard because I didnt even know that he was even doing drugs.
How ironic that his "high" for the week has been not getting high? Its so amazing that he is letting God guide him through all of this.
20 October 2007
BIcycles.
Since I have been in Chicago, seeing all the people riding their bikes in the city, I have become, once again, infatuated with bikes. I feel like a little kid again, in a sense, because as I walk around downtown, or when I am driving and I see people on their bikes, I slow down and take a look at the different styles and colors and, to an extent, want to say, "hey, can I ride with you?"
I have little to now experience riding road bikes; you know, the kind with the thin tires and the curved handle bars that you have to hunch over. But Dick Towner, the man I am living with (that sounds akward, so for those that don't know, I am living with a family here in the Chicago Suburbs) has an old Schwinn road bike that I have been cruising around on. I love riding this in the city because of the feeling of being able to ride in the streets alongside the cars, and for the most part, keep up with traffic.
When I worked in downtown San Antonio, there was something about bike cops that caught my attention. I think it was that they were gtting paid to ride around the streets of the city on bikes rather than in cars, which allowed them to enjoy, at least a little bit, the environment that they were in. They got to see the sights and sounds, and we free to go as fast or as slow as they wanted. Thing is, they were still cops. Nothing against cops (I love you josh dean), but I just don't want to be one. Then, while riding downtown Chicago one day, I discovered a profession that I never even thought about, that doesn't necessarily take away my passion for ministry, but gives it a bit of a run for it's money: a Bike Messenger!
Bike messengers are a unique type of people. I don't know if I could fit in exactly with their lifestyle, and their lack of fear when flying through red lights and around corners, but there is stll something really cool about the types of bikes they ride, and their style of clothing.
The bikes: much like bmx bikes, they offer a freedom in building and creating the bike yourself. You don't just buy a complete messenger bike (though, you can if you want), you build one out of parts of other bikes, can paint it however you like. Thats one thing I like about my bmx: if i want to paint is solid black, I can. If I want to paint it neon yellow, I can, and it's not out of the ordinary. I like the freedom there.
The style: Messenger bags, which are so popular now. You may have seen college students, or even John Hinkebein with one. Its the one-strap bag thats popular these days. And short pants, or, "shants" as some people call them. They are 3/4 pants, either made that way, or you can take regular pants and cut them at the calf. (Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "capris? like girl pants?" but no, these are guy pants, VERY different...) This style if so you don't get your pants caught in the chain on the bike.
This may all seem a bit confusing. But I will take a picture next time I am in the city and post it for you all. Longong story short, I decided that with some of my free time, I am going to start building bikes. I love working on bikes, and tinkering with gears, and parts and such. My first project: a messenger bike. So, if you have bike parts laying around, or if you had an old bike that you wanted to throw away, or sell at a garage sale, let me know, and I'll see if I can help you clean out your garage for the winter.
You may not have read all the way through this. Maybe you just skpped to the bottom. But thanks for checking out the blog anyway. Good days!
Since I have been in Chicago, seeing all the people riding their bikes in the city, I have become, once again, infatuated with bikes. I feel like a little kid again, in a sense, because as I walk around downtown, or when I am driving and I see people on their bikes, I slow down and take a look at the different styles and colors and, to an extent, want to say, "hey, can I ride with you?"
I have little to now experience riding road bikes; you know, the kind with the thin tires and the curved handle bars that you have to hunch over. But Dick Towner, the man I am living with (that sounds akward, so for those that don't know, I am living with a family here in the Chicago Suburbs) has an old Schwinn road bike that I have been cruising around on. I love riding this in the city because of the feeling of being able to ride in the streets alongside the cars, and for the most part, keep up with traffic.
When I worked in downtown San Antonio, there was something about bike cops that caught my attention. I think it was that they were gtting paid to ride around the streets of the city on bikes rather than in cars, which allowed them to enjoy, at least a little bit, the environment that they were in. They got to see the sights and sounds, and we free to go as fast or as slow as they wanted. Thing is, they were still cops. Nothing against cops (I love you josh dean), but I just don't want to be one. Then, while riding downtown Chicago one day, I discovered a profession that I never even thought about, that doesn't necessarily take away my passion for ministry, but gives it a bit of a run for it's money: a Bike Messenger!
Bike messengers are a unique type of people. I don't know if I could fit in exactly with their lifestyle, and their lack of fear when flying through red lights and around corners, but there is stll something really cool about the types of bikes they ride, and their style of clothing.
The bikes: much like bmx bikes, they offer a freedom in building and creating the bike yourself. You don't just buy a complete messenger bike (though, you can if you want), you build one out of parts of other bikes, can paint it however you like. Thats one thing I like about my bmx: if i want to paint is solid black, I can. If I want to paint it neon yellow, I can, and it's not out of the ordinary. I like the freedom there.
The style: Messenger bags, which are so popular now. You may have seen college students, or even John Hinkebein with one. Its the one-strap bag thats popular these days. And short pants, or, "shants" as some people call them. They are 3/4 pants, either made that way, or you can take regular pants and cut them at the calf. (Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "capris? like girl pants?" but no, these are guy pants, VERY different...) This style if so you don't get your pants caught in the chain on the bike.
This may all seem a bit confusing. But I will take a picture next time I am in the city and post it for you all. Longong story short, I decided that with some of my free time, I am going to start building bikes. I love working on bikes, and tinkering with gears, and parts and such. My first project: a messenger bike. So, if you have bike parts laying around, or if you had an old bike that you wanted to throw away, or sell at a garage sale, let me know, and I'll see if I can help you clean out your garage for the winter.
You may not have read all the way through this. Maybe you just skpped to the bottom. But thanks for checking out the blog anyway. Good days!
18 October 2007
And now that I know that I can post pictures, and have demonstrated such on my last post, here are some of the pictures I have been wanting to share with you all.
Here is an example of my Sunday Morning Sunrise routine that I have done most Sunday mornings before Impact. This is at North Avenue Beach, just north of downtown Chicago.
This is a picture I took while reflecting on a few scriptures while on the beach.
This is Corner Bakery, some sort of magical, delicious place that I like to eat/ sip coffee at downtown. Its pretty cool, there are many of them downtown, but this is the one I frequent the most. Just blocks off of Michigan Avenue.
This is the Illinois Prairie Path- a 60-something mile long bike/jogging path that goes from the northwest suburbs to the southwest suburbs. No, I didnt take the whole 60 miles, but I attempted to ride from Elgin to Wheaton, until I realized I didnt eat breakfast. So, after about 10 miles, I decided to head back and eat.
No explanation needed here. My dad and I were lucky enough to make it to a game on my first full day in the area. It was a great time, and, even though the Cubs lost this day, it was a bit of a dream come true to be there.
That's all I've got for now. Check back though. Now that I am picture-posting savvy I should have more up on occasion.
Here is an example of my Sunday Morning Sunrise routine that I have done most Sunday mornings before Impact. This is at North Avenue Beach, just north of downtown Chicago.
This is a picture I took while reflecting on a few scriptures while on the beach.
This is Corner Bakery, some sort of magical, delicious place that I like to eat/ sip coffee at downtown. Its pretty cool, there are many of them downtown, but this is the one I frequent the most. Just blocks off of Michigan Avenue.
This is the Illinois Prairie Path- a 60-something mile long bike/jogging path that goes from the northwest suburbs to the southwest suburbs. No, I didnt take the whole 60 miles, but I attempted to ride from Elgin to Wheaton, until I realized I didnt eat breakfast. So, after about 10 miles, I decided to head back and eat.
No explanation needed here. My dad and I were lucky enough to make it to a game on my first full day in the area. It was a great time, and, even though the Cubs lost this day, it was a bit of a dream come true to be there.
That's all I've got for now. Check back though. Now that I am picture-posting savvy I should have more up on occasion.
Some mornings are better than others. Today, for example, I met with a few of the students on the Conant campus (the high school I am working with), and talked about our student-led ministry, Uprising, and what we would be doing for the remainder of the semester. That went well. Then I stopped to get a cup of coffee before work. More specifically, a Mint Condition, from Caribou Coffee. This is just your standard mint-mocha drink, but with Andes Mints crushed up on top. That went well. Then I decided to drive with the windows down, blasing some of my old rockabilly tunes, more specifically, The Stray Cats- Brian Setzer in the pre-orchestra days. That went well.
Rockabilly used to be my jams. For those of you who didn't know me back in the day, I am going to post my first picture on this blog, just as an FYI to show you. Don't laugh at me.
Here it goes....
Rockabilly used to be my jams. For those of you who didn't know me back in the day, I am going to post my first picture on this blog, just as an FYI to show you. Don't laugh at me.
Here it goes....
16 October 2007
w-w-w-w-w-w-wipeout....
My insurance policy that I have has a very low deductable. I think that is because I seem to be particularly prone to injury. This past Saturday night my small group leader Jeremiah (a 3 year intern), and I went longboarding at a golf course near where he lives. The thing is, 1) it was night time, and 2) some of the cart paths were a little steeper than others, being that this is also where they have snowboarding and skiing when there is snow on the ground.
Well, I'm no Tony Hawk or anything, but I usually feel pretty comfortable on a board. Not that I can do anything fancy, but I can atleast balance, and thats the biggest part. So, we find one hill that, no lie, intimidated me a slight bit. I wasn't trembling in fear or anything, but from the beginning I thought, "this may not go well".
Jeremiah goes down ahead of me, and I watch the route he takes, thinking, "pshh, I can do this..." So I tried, and about midway down the hill I start wobbling like crazy. And, while trying to straighten myself out, I overcompensated, the board flew out from under me, and I went tumbling down the hill. Not too far or hard, mind you, but when I finally stopped, laying on my stomach, I couldn't help but think, "there is no way that just happened."
There are certain reflexes your body does when you wipeout like that: run the tongue on the backs of your teeth- good, they're all there; wiggle your fingers- good, they're not broken, or missing; bend your knees, good- no torn acl (the most important one for me to check).
There is no moral of the story, but times like this, honestly, I really enjoy them. They make for good stories, and good laughs. Ahh. The life of an intern.
My insurance policy that I have has a very low deductable. I think that is because I seem to be particularly prone to injury. This past Saturday night my small group leader Jeremiah (a 3 year intern), and I went longboarding at a golf course near where he lives. The thing is, 1) it was night time, and 2) some of the cart paths were a little steeper than others, being that this is also where they have snowboarding and skiing when there is snow on the ground.
Well, I'm no Tony Hawk or anything, but I usually feel pretty comfortable on a board. Not that I can do anything fancy, but I can atleast balance, and thats the biggest part. So, we find one hill that, no lie, intimidated me a slight bit. I wasn't trembling in fear or anything, but from the beginning I thought, "this may not go well".
Jeremiah goes down ahead of me, and I watch the route he takes, thinking, "pshh, I can do this..." So I tried, and about midway down the hill I start wobbling like crazy. And, while trying to straighten myself out, I overcompensated, the board flew out from under me, and I went tumbling down the hill. Not too far or hard, mind you, but when I finally stopped, laying on my stomach, I couldn't help but think, "there is no way that just happened."
There are certain reflexes your body does when you wipeout like that: run the tongue on the backs of your teeth- good, they're all there; wiggle your fingers- good, they're not broken, or missing; bend your knees, good- no torn acl (the most important one for me to check).
There is no moral of the story, but times like this, honestly, I really enjoy them. They make for good stories, and good laughs. Ahh. The life of an intern.
13 October 2007
Cool Things I have going on:
At the beginning of the month I signed up for a gym membership at a place called God's Gym (www.ercgg.org), in Elgin, the suburb I am living in. The membership is fairly inexpensive, $20/month, and is only a few miles from where I live. I did this for two or so particular reasons: 1. As some of you know, Caleb Schmidt and I are having a workout-off until he turns 18, which is in about 1 year and a half. He punched me in the face once at YL and left a bruise, so I told him when he turns 18, its going down. He seems to think he has me, but I don't think he has any idea what he has coming. 2. God's Gym is directly across the street from Elgin High School, and is an outreach organization to keep kids (and even adults for that matter) off the streets, and out of gangs. It a rough crowd that works out in there, which is good because it motivates me to really "pump iron" (yeah, I know that sounds lame), so that I fit in. God's Gym also provides after school mentoring and tutoring for students, and is run on a primarily volunteer basis. Upon signing up they ask if you would like to volunteer with them, and I said "Yes. Yes I would like to.' So, beginning this next week I will meet with one of the volunteer coordinators there to find out how I may serve them.
Next, I talked to one of the students in my house group that I have been getting to know some, and he and I are going to start meeting on Wednesday's before church every other week ad just start going through the bible some and talking and getting to know eachother more. I am very excited about this. He is a cool guy, and I know he's got some great potential in him after he graduates this year to continue to grow into the man God's created him to be. And, he throws a decent frisbee, which, might I add, is the sport that every Christian male needs to know how to play.
Last, Elevate, which is Willow's junior high ministry, has been looking for volunteers to lead small groups for their students. Unlike Impact, since the students aren't able t drive on their own, Elevate has services during each of the 3 main Willow Services, so they are in need of a good amount of leaders. So, I decided that with some of my free time I am going to check out one of their services, which I am doing tonight, and possibly start leading a small group. I hear Elevate has a good time in their services, and a few of the leaders have become some of my good friends up here, so I figure I may as well help out.
And while I am posting I'll take the opportunity to plug their blogs for them, which you will see on the right side of the page.
Thats all I've got for now. I hope everyone is doing great, and I look foward to hearing from you sometime soon. Until next time, good days.
At the beginning of the month I signed up for a gym membership at a place called God's Gym (www.ercgg.org), in Elgin, the suburb I am living in. The membership is fairly inexpensive, $20/month, and is only a few miles from where I live. I did this for two or so particular reasons: 1. As some of you know, Caleb Schmidt and I are having a workout-off until he turns 18, which is in about 1 year and a half. He punched me in the face once at YL and left a bruise, so I told him when he turns 18, its going down. He seems to think he has me, but I don't think he has any idea what he has coming. 2. God's Gym is directly across the street from Elgin High School, and is an outreach organization to keep kids (and even adults for that matter) off the streets, and out of gangs. It a rough crowd that works out in there, which is good because it motivates me to really "pump iron" (yeah, I know that sounds lame), so that I fit in. God's Gym also provides after school mentoring and tutoring for students, and is run on a primarily volunteer basis. Upon signing up they ask if you would like to volunteer with them, and I said "Yes. Yes I would like to.' So, beginning this next week I will meet with one of the volunteer coordinators there to find out how I may serve them.
Next, I talked to one of the students in my house group that I have been getting to know some, and he and I are going to start meeting on Wednesday's before church every other week ad just start going through the bible some and talking and getting to know eachother more. I am very excited about this. He is a cool guy, and I know he's got some great potential in him after he graduates this year to continue to grow into the man God's created him to be. And, he throws a decent frisbee, which, might I add, is the sport that every Christian male needs to know how to play.
Last, Elevate, which is Willow's junior high ministry, has been looking for volunteers to lead small groups for their students. Unlike Impact, since the students aren't able t drive on their own, Elevate has services during each of the 3 main Willow Services, so they are in need of a good amount of leaders. So, I decided that with some of my free time I am going to check out one of their services, which I am doing tonight, and possibly start leading a small group. I hear Elevate has a good time in their services, and a few of the leaders have become some of my good friends up here, so I figure I may as well help out.
And while I am posting I'll take the opportunity to plug their blogs for them, which you will see on the right side of the page.
Thats all I've got for now. I hope everyone is doing great, and I look foward to hearing from you sometime soon. Until next time, good days.
03 October 2007
Today the Cubs play their first playoff game. Yeah...this doesn't happen every year. I have been wanting to go down to Wrigleyville, which is the neighborhood that the Cubs play in to hang out during a game, but since I leave for Texas tomorrow I wont be able to make it tonight. I'm a bit worried that I won't be able to make it out today. My fear: that by the time I get back to Chicago next week the Cubs will be the Cubs and have been knocked out of the play-offs.
Now, supposing that all goes well in the playoffs this year and the Cubs, by the grace of God, win the World Series, it will have ended a 99-year drought (1908 was their last World Series Win). If they even MAKE it to the world series, it will be the first time in 62 years (1945).
Just a heads up on whats big in Chicago this week. I, as well as another intern in Student Impact, are rocking the Cubs shirts today. And, just to toss it out there, I will probably be wearing it on Friday, as well as possibly church on Sunday.
In unrelated news...Evans and Esther are getting married Saturday!
Now, supposing that all goes well in the playoffs this year and the Cubs, by the grace of God, win the World Series, it will have ended a 99-year drought (1908 was their last World Series Win). If they even MAKE it to the world series, it will be the first time in 62 years (1945).
Just a heads up on whats big in Chicago this week. I, as well as another intern in Student Impact, are rocking the Cubs shirts today. And, just to toss it out there, I will probably be wearing it on Friday, as well as possibly church on Sunday.
In unrelated news...Evans and Esther are getting married Saturday!
02 October 2007
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