What was the best costume you've seen this year??

Mars Hill

Yesterday I had the chance to do something that I've wanted to do for quite some time now-- visit Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, MI. Rob Bell is the teaching pastor there and someone who has had a great impact on my Christian journey. He is one who makes me think... makes me "grapple" with life and it's mysteries. I maybe don't agree with everything he says all the time, and honestly i don't have anyone I agree with all the time except for Jesus-- but Rob seems to have a way to change my perspectives on things and look at them in a new/fresh way.

I just finished reading his new book Velvet Elvis and it was a pretty interesting read. I found it left me questioning (which I think was one of the main points of the book anyway) and wanting to dig more into exactly what I believe and why... and just who is this God I serve anyway? I seem to have just barely scratched the surface of who my God is, and i yearn to know more. Often I get so apathetic sometimes and it scares me, but this book seemed to give me another kick in the butt to keep searching out God. I was really pumped the other week because after a sunday night session of neveaH (the local 20-somethings group I go to on Sunday evenings) we started having a really good dialog about the book and seriously, it pumped me up. I can't tell you how much I love to talk about those things... debate in an open environment-- where I might not always agree with everything said, but at least people are comfortable and have the freedom to share. I feel so often lately like I "can't" say anything because I am always shut down right away or people think I'm intolerant because I disagree. Ok people, maybe I disagree, but please-- may i speak? Can you listen to my side-- and maybe disagree yourself-- but listen non-the-less? I love putting ideas out on the table... just to mull about-- grapple with. I LOVE ideas... I love hearing what others have to say about an issue... I love using this mind that God has given me! Why though, do we as Christians seem to be AFRAID of ideas? Afraid of thinking? hmmmmm... that question just frustrates me sometime.

*end rant*

So anyway.. where was i? Oh yeah.. Mars Hill. Sweet body of believers. The church itself is actually in an old mall.. and you know what? It STILL looks exactly like a mall on the outside. That was cool to me, because it really struck home how the Church (big "C") isn't about a building... it's about the body of Christ within that building. Their gathering area is "decorated" warehouse basic. The seats are arranged in "the round" with the teacher standing on a stage in the center of the room, constantly walking, turning and moving about to face the people seated at each of the 360°. Talk about a lot of exercise!
I think my favorite part of the service, well besides seeing Rob Bell in person (btw, he is A LOT taller in person than he looks to be on his Nooma videos!) was the fact that they brought in the local high school drum-line to assist in the worship. It was CRAZY cool! And they were soo amazingly good! It was a totally different style of worship but I thourougly enjoyed every minute of it... I hope that is what heaven is like someday... a little bit of everything.. sounding oh so amazing together-- praising our Lord...
Anyway.. and amazing evening... if you are ever around the Grand Rapids area check it out! And check out the Nooma videos.

Last but not least... never stop asking questions... and exploring along the way in this journey we call Life.

Concert Extravaganza

So... over the last few months I have had the chance to go to two "hip" concerts with my brother. Yeah, even though he is in college now, we still have some pretty fun adventures. Last month we went to Olivet University in Illinois. This concert was so ghetto it was sweet. Seriously. Hip-hop and Rap in a pretty ridged Christian college setting always crack me up. Especially when they try to go cool and are flashing on and off the lights... on their LOGO!! haha. The bro and I had a good laugh. It was just a crazy concert over all-- but definitely more fun than I barganed for. And a sweet deal-- $10 get's you in and both of the artists CDs. oh.. I forgot to mention-- artists were 4th Avenue Jones and John Reuben. Yeah.. like I said ... ghetto. To make this concert even more fun was the fact that my brother was leaving for college-- the NEXT day! haha.. yeah... when you are young you do "stupid" things. (well worth it)

The other concert we went to was DJ Maj. Once again this was a small concert at a church in Ft. Wayne, IN. Talk about SWEET youth program! The bro and I even got to play a good game of our favorite Dance Dance Revolution before the concert. um yeah... I need to WORK OUT! *sorry.. rant there* Can I just tell you how wonderful that game is? And a good work out to boot! if you haven't tried it DO IT NOW! :) Anyway, the concert was great. I really like DJ Maj's new CD-- "Boogieroot" let me tell you--it makes this hippie/artsy-chick feel like I should be driving in a car with huge chrome rims and a spoiler. Yeah... it's just that good.. well, I guess if you like that sort of thing. He just has a really good beat and a great message too. I think this is the kind of stuff more teens should get into-- because it DOES have that good beat and clean lyrics. My favorite part.

It's been fun. It makes me happy when I can hang out with my siblings. I can't wait to see what other adventures await us in the months ahead!

4th Avenue Jones & John Reuben Concert
Meet the Jones'. The 4th Avenue Jones that is ;-) This pic shows the logo I mentioned above (the one that they felt they needed to obsessively flash lights on)
I didn't know Napoleon Dynomite knew how to play the base for John Reuben!?Two hot studs. *wink* Ok.. so I have to point out that John Reuben's shirt says "Black to the Future." That just totally cracked me up... because this boy is soooo white.. but it so fits him.
The whole Jones Crew.
Awe... I just love babies... especially ones with "fro"-hawks

DJ Maj Concert
This is the stage where DJ Maj rocked the house. It was at a Missionary church. Let me just tell you this was one cool youth group set up. Before the concert we got our groove on with a little Dance Dance Revolution. yeah.. it was that sweet.
Gettin the mix on.
DJ Maj and crew. They were so down to earth. Actually, this shot might show up on DJ Maj website... I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Orange Colored Frustration

so. i have a confession to make. the last few days i have been having some really hateful feelings. becoming angry and impatient. thinking distructive thoughts. sinful thoughts.

about.

orange trucks.

yes, it's true. they make me want to drive off the bridge that is on my way to work. seriously. i don't think they know there is a speed limit, and if they do know, they like to drive 15 under-- even if they have a huge line of cars behind them. the crazy thing is there is not just one of them-NOOOOO-- there are like 7. no joke. and to make matters worse- i swear they know my work schedule. they are there when i go to work, and then again when i leave work. just when you think it is "safe" watchout. they are there. waiting to pounce.

hmm. i think God is teaching me a thing or two about patience.

i just hope i learn my lesson soon.
really soon.
a girl can only take so much.
;-)

Widgets

May I please tell you one reason(among many) I love Macs? Widgets. What are widgets you ask? Well.. they are small applications that sit in their own translucent layer on screen. Fun applications like a mini Google Maps, a colorful calculator, a Translator and even a Hula Girl! A new one that I just downloaded today will take anything you type in and "translate" it into Yoda-talk. Talk about SWEET! I even found one that will look up what the cheapest local gas price is at the moment... um, well.. THAT price doesn't look cheap to me-- I think this thing is broken! lol -*tear*

I guess I'm all excited about this because I just got upgraded to the new OS X-- Tiger this week and just think it is so nifty. I wish I could afford one of these babies at home-- especially with all the problems i have been having with my PC as of late (yeah, I would call having to reformat at least 7 times a PROBLEM!) I guess I will just have to save up my pennies and put this on the list of stuff I would one day like to own-- along with a Digital Rebel Camera... and a new VW Bug to replace the flower-power Honda :) Hey... sometimes you just gotta dream high.

Somethings you just will never understand

So... I'm reading this interesting book right now that a lot of the ladies in my church have been reading. Well... mostly married woman.. but I figured I could always use a head-start on the game. haha. The book is called "For Women Only" and is basically a tiny pin-hold glimpse into the mind of a guy. Very interesting... confusing... exasperating... because honestly sometimes I just DON'T get the male psyche! But the thing I've come to realize is that... I don't HAVE to get it. Gals will never truly understand guys and vice versa. And honestly, that fact is kinda nice. AND kinda relieving.
*sigh*

So... feedback time. What is one thing you wish you really did understand about the opposite sex? (I only said one... because like I said... it's impossible to get it all) ;-) ok.. discuss! (please?)

Bosom Buddies

Did a cancer walk today with gals (and one guy) from work. It was really fun.. really early in the morning....and REALLY cold. I think we had the cutest shirts there. Yeah.. we were team "Bosom Buddy" and one of the gals made us shirts. We walked 3.5 miles. Man.. all I can say after that is that I am in BAD shape :-p

Me... and some co-workers. Yeah.. I look cheezy as always-- even when I'm cold and only half awake.

A little Bite of Happiness

Happiness.
A temporary state of being.
Caused by many a thing-- all green lights on the way to work, a childs laughter, finding five bucks in your pocket, spending time with a friend... the list could go on and on... and would be different for everyone.
My happiness today was found in a little box that arrived in the mail.
Can I just tell you how happy homestarrunner.com makes me? And now I have all the little "toys" to make me smile daily. O the joys.

Oh.. while I'm at it.. here is a little "virtual tour" of my cubie... yeah.. this is where I spend 40+ hours of my life a week. Gotta say it is one of the most colorful cubes on the block and I am proud of it!