Cascade :(

Sadly, Cascade College will be closing it's doors at the end of the Spring 2009 semester. My life has been blessed by Cascade and I still don't know exactly how to feel about this news - I'm kind of in shock, kind of in denail, the grieving process hasn't started yet. Here are a few of my favorite Cascade memories

Meeting Amy
The Lower JC - hours of wasted time and classes skipped, but relationships built.
No dinner on Sunday - really? No food for 250 people living here depending on the cafateria for food and it's closed?
Rich Jandt doing things.
Shawn Jones handing out 89's.
What wooden mallet?
The cafeteria prank in which Rich wrote Lamda Chi Omega on everything and the Lamda president got chewed out by the cafeteria staff.
Different color water on each floor of York-Landreth.
Room 302.
Colored mice.
Alvin Chan's revenge.
James Wood going from Alpha Chi to failure to Alpha Chi
Kingsmen
Wes Harrison watching TBN every night in our room (he didn't live there).
The black pepper incedent.
Ryan Peters vs. the drunk security guard
Billy McKenzie's blue suit
Ryan Emmons and I trying to walk to Wal-Mart

So many good memories, I am flooded with them right now - not all of which can be detailed here. Any Cascade memories you have?

Cold

So, I decided that after living here for 6 months and having TX plates with registration that expired in June I should go get my CO liscense plates this morning. To do this, I had to go to the Garfield County Courthouse, which is located in downtown Glenwood Springs. There is no parking downtown to be found and I had to park a loooonnnng ways from the courthouse. I don't generally wear a coat - because I go from my house to the car and from my car to the church. It is warm everywhere I am, much to warm for me to have stupid long sleeves on. Well, I had to walk basically to Denver from my car in 10 degrees and it felt cold. I got to the courthouse and forgot that they have metal detectors and no knives allowed in courthouses. I had to walk back to my car to ditch my leatherman. Then walk back to the courthouse. I went and did all the registration stuff, then noticed the sign that the county clerk doesn't accept credit/debit cards - of course they don't. I don't ususally carry any cash and never carry the checkbook, and there is no ATM in the courthouse - so back outside and a nice little 3 block walk to the ATM, then back, through the metal detector for the 3rd time and finally, my car looks like a local.

I'm rooting for the Phillies in the World Series. I'm reading a book called Twelve Keys to an Effective Church by Kennon L. Callahan right now. I'm excited because my friend John Kirklin is coming to visit next week. NBA season starts next week - go Bulls. I saw a electric pumpkin carver on Amazon's Gold Box deal of the day yesterday and almost bought it. We have sucky knives at home and they don't carve pumpkins very well. I need to buy a snow shovel.

Another reason I like Colorado

On a few occasions today, I have turned to look out my window, it has been beautifully sunny out with snowflakes falling. Sunny and snowing. I had a dream last night that it had snowed like 2 feet when I woke up and I didn't have a snow shovel. I think this dream had a lot of help from reality - Denver was getting snow last night and it was on the local (our local channels come from Denver) news weather forecast right before I went to bed. And, I don't have my snow shovel yet - so I dreamed about it. Also, I think I might buy snow tires soon, I wouldn't normally, but I drive 20 miles to work each day and it might be helpful to have those studded tires.

The church is having a worship weekend this weekend, we have Kip Long, the worship leader at Sycamore View Church of Christ in Memphis coming to lead, and I think it is going to be a really great weekend for our church. I've already been really encouraged by our succesfull launch with our small group ministry - we've had 75-80% particpation! God is good and it is a lot of fun to join him in his work.

Some thoughts...

I was reading the end of Mark 8 this morning - the part where Jesus tells the disciples around him that if they want to become his followers they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him. I don't have any profound thoughts on this - I understand the deny myself stuff - logically, it's just a lot harder to put into practice. One thing that caught my curiosity is the take up your cross phrase. I've never given this a lot of thought. Obviously Jesus knows where he is heading (to the Cross and Calvary) but I don't think that this statement would have made any sense whatsoever to the disciples Jesus is talking to. Now, that doesn't usually stop Jesus from saying things, I'm just wondering if this is a phrase attributed to Jesus after his death/resurrection/ascension. Also - what does it mean, exactly, to take up my cross? What do you think it means?

I watched the Bears-Vikings game yesterday, that was a lot of fun (48-41) but the one thing that struck me was Kyle Orton is good - not just a nice breath of fresh air after watching Rex Grossman crap the bed for 3+ years - but Orton makes good checks at the line, good decisions with the ball and a great passer rating. So this is what it's like to have an NFL QB!

Amy and I watched Iron Man last night - I'm not usually a big fan of the superhero movies (I loved the last two batmans, hated the last spiderman, refuse to watch edward norton degrade himself as the hulk, ect.) Actually, of all the superhero movies this decade (and there have been tons) I liked the first Spiderman, and the two Batmans. But I really liked Iron Man. It was fun, I was entertained the whole time and I've always liked RDJ - in spite of his issues, he's always hooked me in his movies. So, I liked Iron Man and I recommend it.

Now you know that. Oh and happy birthday to my friend Rich.

Lots of fun...

So, first, I've been a bad blogger the last couple of weeks - I've been really busy and haven't thought much about the blog. I should be back on course for a while.

Yesterday, the girls and I all went with the Dowdy's to their cabin. Pat is one of the elders at church, and they own some land (86 acres) with a cabin that Pat built in the mountains/forest between Glenwood and Aspen. We rode up to the cabin with the Dowdy's, had a wonderful lunch and got to go 4 wheeling through some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. The Dowdy's property is adjacent to the Strawther's property (they go to church with us also) which is like 160 acres - so we got to ride through all of it. Mountains, groves of aspen trees, running water, ponds, it was beautiful. Allyson rode between Pat and Patsy, singing the whole time until she fell asleep and Lauren rode between Amy and I - but she fell asleep right away. It was a wonderful day.

Ramblings

I read Mark 6 this morning, the part when Jesus sends out his followers 2 X 2 and they proclaim that all should repent and they didn't bring food or even a change of clothes. It's interesting, but I'm still contemplating the significance of the whole thing.

The Bears won yesterday, destroying the Detriot Lions, but the Lions are terrible, so it's hard to feel as good about that victory as say, the win over Philly last week. But, Kyle Orton had a really good day, and even if it was against a bad team, Grossman would have fumbled 3 times and thrown 2 int's.

The White Sox won yesterday as well, now they face a must win today to force a game 5 and send it back to Tampa Bay. I like their chances today at home with Floyd pitching - I'm more worried about what could happen Wednesday.

What I saw this past week:
Heroes - it's good again like season 1 - not crap like season 2. I really liked the first couple episodes - I love (as always) the Hiro storyline and think that his new "nemesis" is fantastic. I'm (as always) indifferent to Peter, Claire and Parkman. And I am wonderfully excited that they killed Ali Larter's character and made her a completely different character (hopefully no more episodes with her irritating son!)

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - it's a fun show. Not overly amazing, but I like the mom (the queen from 300) and I've always been a Summer Glau fan (River from Firefly). I don't really like the guy playing John - and I am surprisingly happy about Brian Austin Green. Last Monday's episode was the best ever.

NCIS: Par for the course with NCIS.

The Mentalist - a new show, I like it - it is like a serious version of Psych (one of my favorite shows). If you haven't seen ths show - give it a watch this Tuesday (provided of course that it's on and not some senate debate).

Pushing Daisies: They didn't resolve the end of last season, and moved forward like it never happened - this is a problem for me. But it's pretty to watch in HD.

The Ex List - I made it to the second commercial break, then deleted it - this show was awful, terrible, horrible, boring, really bad. Don't give it a watch. There is a reason it premiered on a Friday Night.

The Unit - amazing. Sunday nights 10 PM Eastern/Pacific 9 PM Central/Mountain. Watch it!

I'm currently reading: Night Probe by Clive Cussler (I had the book and Cussler is always a fun read). Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (starting it today).

Hmmmm

It's interesting that the people who should have/could have known Jesus the best were the ones who don't believe in Him. Mark gives another contrast in the beginning of chapter 6. We have just read of the little faith of Jesus followers during the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Mark then takes us to the faith of the Garasene Demoniac, followed by the faith of Jarius the Synagogue leader and the faith of the hemorraghing woman. Then we get to chapter 6 and Jesus goes to his hometown and instead of being amazed - they make snotty comments like: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary..." And it says that they stumbled because of him or that they took offense at him. So many times when people encounter Jesus in Mark, they leave amazed - but here it is Jesus who is amazed - at the people's unbelief.

So, what camp do you land in? Is Jesus so commonplace to your life and world that you miss the amazement and think (maybe unconsciously) it's just Jesus. Or are you amazed daily that the son of God, the Holy One is breaking into our world. Lord, let me always be amazed by you and never take your presence in my life for granted.

Playoffs!

Monday night the White Sox had a make up game (from an earlier rain out) which they had to win to force a 1 game playoff with the Twins to get into the playoffs. They beat the Tigers on Monday night (in nice 8-2 fashion) setting up last nights premature heart attack game. The White Sox won 1-0 behind 8 shut-out, 2 hit inning by 23 year old John Danks and a Jim Thome home run that hasn't landed yet. The ChiSox play the Rays tomorrow. Go White Sox!

Jarius

I have two daughters, Allyson is 2 (3 in December) and Lauren is almost 17 months and they (along with their mother) are the delight of my life. I love playing with them, watching them have fun, learn things and experience life. I believe that this is how Jarius must have felt about his own daughter, which is why I think he is so stricken with worry. Jarius' daughter is sick, very sick - so sick, in fact, that this synagogue leader has turned to Jesus for help. If this were a movie and not a sunday school story, I would watch it on the edge of my seat, I would be tense and my heart would ache with Jarius. Especially when Jesus, Jarius and friends were making their way through the mob of people and Jesus suddenly stops and demands to know who touched him. Really?!?! Who touched you? Who hasn't touched you! But Jesus persists in seeking out the hemorrhaging woman whose incredible faith healed her. This woman's faith is an amazing story - but it costs Jarius' daughter her life. Because, while Jesus was speaking people came from Jarius' house to tell him that his daughter had died. Devistating. But this is where Jarius really amazes me - Jesus tells Jarius to not fear but believe - and he does. We know the story, Jesus shows up tells the mourners that the girl is only sleeping, they laugh at him, he sends everyone out except Jarius, his wife, Peter, James and John then raises the girl to life. A happy ending! I'm still amazed at the faith and trust of Jarius and pray that I can trust as well as he.

Mark has something important in all these stories of Jesus - he is healing all sorts of disease and infirmities (sickness, blindness, lameness, withered hands, ect.) he has cast out unclean spirits, he has calmed nature and has raised the dead - don't miss Mark's picture of Jesus.