run

i ran 5 miles somewhere around a 7:30 pace.  i usually listen to my ipod while i run.  at the end of the run i add up the length of the songs i listened to in my playlist.  unfortunately my ipod died about 100 meters short of my completion of the 4th mile.  so i’m just guessing what that last mile and change was.

the pursuit of happyness

i just watched this film for the first time.  i’m writing with eyes and cheeks filled and covered with dry tears.  there was a lot of beauty in that movie. 

as will smith encounters and meets new wealthy individuals i kept hoping that he would finally ask for help.  i’m left wondering if he would’ve asked, would anyone have given him a house to stay in?  would anyone pay for him to stay somewhere?  would someone given him food to eat?

the questions were than reflected back to myself.  would i have given this complete stranger a place to stay?  would i have given this man food to eat? 

i wept.  i have never and may never experience the brokenness that will smith’s character felt.  yet, seeing this story made me want to so desperately do anything to help those who at the end of their rope. 

questions continue to hound me.  do i actively look for opportunities to serve those in need?  do i look for people to feed?

it’s time to stop just feeling for people and start acting for people.  isn’t that what the church is called to do, to offer hope, a helping hand, love?  do we do it?  do i do it?  do we want to do it?  can we do it?

i certainly hope that i can never be content with watching a movie like the pursuit of happyness and doing nothing.  feeling and passion without action is worthless.  we need to act.

sorry if this blog is totally scatter-brained.  i have so many emotions and thoughts running through my head after that movie.

lbc marathon

long story short, i’m going to try and run the long beach marathon in august.  it’s been easy for me to skip days of training because i don’t feel like running.  so here’s a small attempt of me creating accountability.  i’m going to post the mileage i run and the time in which i ran it in.

i’m also thinking about using the marathon to raise money for something, possibly having people sponsor me for finishing, finishing without walking, running it under 4 hours, 3 1/2 hours, 3 hours etc.  i was thinking about maybe raising money for the high school ministries at parkcrest, for some sort of cancer research, or for poverty and homelessness in long beach.  anyone have any ideas?  is this a good or bad idea?  let me hear your input.

oh, and today i ran 5 miles in 39:20.  thats about a 7:52 mile pace.

the vegas

so i went with a friend to the wonderful city of las vegas the past couple of nights.  we left monday morning and arrived back in sunny southern california this past afternoon.  i had a fun time.  we stayed at THEhotel (an add on to the mandalay bay).  i laid by the pool, saw a cirque de soleil show (for free), watched the water show in front of the bellagio, played a little bit of blackjack, walked the strip, and stood amazed at the over-the-top, extravagent hotels.  with all of the lights, hotels, shows, and opportunities to win millions i was fascinated by “sin city.” 

there’s currently a building project of what is called the “city center” right in the heart of the strip.  the city center is a project taken on by the mgm grand and consists of several new hotel/condo buildings.  i believe i heard the project costs some 8 billion plus dollars ($8,000,000,000.00 i wanted you to see how many zeros that is).  at the work site i counted 13 cranes that stood 50 plus stories in the air (at this ONE site).  the cranes stood so tall that they had to lean against the structures they were helping build in order to stand.  it was incredible!

the venetian hotel blew my mind away.  it was one of the most beautiful buildings i’ve ever seen.  it “wow-ed” me.  everything in las vegas is done so over-the-top it’s mind blowing.  everything is bigger, fancier, cooler, and any other -er you could think of.  donald trump recently built a hotel/condo near the strip called the trump tower.  the hotel shines like a giant brick of gold…becasue it is COVERED in gold.  the hotel is literally covered in gold (hahaha…that’s so ridiculous).  las vegas must be in architects dream.  the owners of these hotels dont hold back a cent in building these hotel/casinos.  the bellagio has a ceiling that’s made up of blown glass.  there were so so so many “luxuries” that just left my speechless.  everywhere i went i kept thinking “what the?!?!  can they actaully do that?!?!? seriously?!?!?  did they…?!?!? no way!!!! everything is so HUGE!!! WOW!!!”

i returned today, though, feeling a little strange.  when most people think of vegas they think of gambling, money, sex, sin city, strippers, drinking, night clubs, and many more accurate descriptions of the activities that go on in the city.  however, the best word that i can think of to describe the vegas is distraction.

the city seriously blows my mind still.  the hotels, casinos, lights, crowds, etc. just baffle me.  however, as i was there i felt so distracted.  not once did i read the bible that i brought.  not once can i recall taking some time out of my day to pray.  not once did i bust open my james series journal/devotional.  the city that never sleeps became a distraction from what was really important in my life.  i didn’t have to lose hundreds of dollards, go to a strip club, or drink until i blacked out in order to become distracted in that place.  the city that never sleeps offers entertainment 24/7.  with being offered so much to do, i became distracted. 

the past couple of days were a reminder that i must be intentional to remove distractions from my life daily.  there are days when i have so much going on i feel as though i have little to no time to spend in solitude and prayer.  however, it’s important to always always always leave room in my day for prayer and quiet time with my god.  otherwise i feel like i do today…just blah.  it’s not that i feel as though i did anything i regret in the vegas.  it’s more or less that i miss god.  i missed talking to him.  i missed reading scripture.  sometimes it’s not about what i do that hinders my relationship with god; it’s what i don’t do.  and on monday and tuesday i didn’t yield any time to spend with him.  i hate distractions.

p.s.  think about all of the crazy things i wrote about vegas above.  gold covered hotels, blown glass covered ceiling, multi-billion dollar projects, etc.  amazing isn’t it?!?!  i left the vegas with much awe and wonder.  how much more should i stand in awe and wonder of the beauty, creativity, power, and HUGENESS of my god? 

random thought

life looks much more beautiful when i’m not living it for myself.

come

there’s a chorus that i’ve been thinking about, singing, playing, and praying a lot lately.

“holy spirit come”

why’s this in my head lately, you may ask?

1) it’s my humble acceptance of god’s desire to be in right relationship with me
2) being filled with the holy spirit is the only way i know i can be in right relationship with other people
3) being filled with the holy spirit is also the only way i know god can work through me

if i read those 3 statements above on someone elses blog i’d think that they were in a good place. i write them from a humble humble humble place. i write them out of desperation and need, not out of any “wisdom” or enlightened state of being. i write them from imperfection and mistakes, hoping god will grant me grace.

thy kingdom come
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven

holy spirit, come so that your will, the kingdoms work, can be done through me for your glory

got me thinking

so i believe i had the most comments EVER on my pc vs. mac post.  it got me thinking that maybe i should be doing some more polling for advice on any and all purchases i’m going to make.  so here’s the next question:

i’m going to get a new bible soon.  tniv, niv, nlt, or a different translation?

mac vs. pc

which type of laptop would you reccommend?

blown by part II

part of the reason tonight was so great was because i talked less and listened more.  it’s a practice i need to repeat.  simply put, i need to shut up and listen more….to everyone.

blown by

tonight, for about the past hour and a half or so, was one of the few moments i’ve had since i’ve been home that i didn’t feel i blew by.  i feel like i’ve been on the go, as if i hit the ground running since i’ve been home.  it was nice to simply enjoy the moment tonight.