Six Flags

On Thursday, I went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. Its been a while since I 've been to a theme park other than Cedar Point or Kings Island, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to do so.

Superman The Escape
Deja Vu

Those were just a sample of the rides. Moat of the rides there were nothing that Cedar point or King's Island wouldn't have. However, there are two rides they have that are pretty sweet.

This is Tatsu. What is so cool about this ride is that your seat gets turned over so you are lying down as if you are flying.

This is X. This ride has seats that flip according to where the train is on the track.

Until the sun goes down over Santa Monica Boulevard...

So, I suppose I should continue where I left off... almost a week ago. After I got settled in at the Hotel Wednesday, I tried to figure out what I was going to do. I decided to head up to Santa Monica to catch a movie at the theatre. From there, I drove down the Boulevard to try to catch the sunset off of the Santa Monica Pier.
Unfortunately, I forgot a little fact; the sun actually sets behind the hills:
It still made for good pics, I suppose. I took a bunch once I got there. here are some of my favorites...

For supper, I decided to hit this joint:

Its kinda hard to take a good picture by yourself, as you can see.

It was a good little outing. What was also great was I got to do this all before watching Lost.

Home again in Indiana

Well, I had all the best intentions to keep posting, but as you can see , it didn't go that way. I was in the middle of a post when I thought my Laptop crashed. Luckily, I had realized it was only that the battery had ran out. (I plugged it into a lamp that had outlets, which was fine until I turned the switch to the outlet that the lamp was plugged into, off.)

So, I suppose I have some catching up to do in the next bit.

From K.C. to L.A.

Well, time for more of the Journey. Last night, Anthony and I indeed got our Teahen shirts. We also had pretty sweet seats. However, we saw this for two hours longer than anticipated;Finally the rain let up. Before it did, some idiot had to play slip'n'slide, followed by being dogpiled and arrested by several police officers. He got a good cheer out of most everyone there, along with these people: I totally forgot to mention that the Sox won Monday night. They won Tuesday as well. The only other thing out of the norm was this: That's right, its Dave the Horn Guy. He did Take Me Out to the Ballgame. He got booed. A lot.

Now on to L.A.

Does this make you feel better about prices in Indiana?

Too tired to post more.... more to come.

Waiting

I'm currently waiting to board my flight to LAX here in Kansas City. Yay for free Internet. For now, here is something to ponder.

Ghengis Khan and Royalty

So, yesterday I got to eat at this wonderful establishment.Its a stir fry place not unlike The FlatTop Grill. Good stuff.


The main event for yesterday was witnessing this:

By the way, if you didn't know already, I like taking pictures. With that said, here are a few more shots from last night:
A little pre-game stretching.
A.J. Pierzynski attempting something.The 2nd baseman on my fantasy team, Mark Grudzielanek.

Southpaw Mark Buehrle in mid-throw.

Let's just say those aren't sinks.

Tonight Anthony and I are going back to catch another game. Tonight's is T-shirt Tuesday, with the promotional item being the t-shirt jersey of No. 24, Mark Teahen. Its supposed to storm tonight, so hopefully the game will still be played.

Chillin' in a coffeehouse

So, the trip to Kansas City was fun and pretty smooth. Yesterday was the first time in seven years to fly... before 9/11. I was a little frazzled at the airport. I had no clue what to do, so luckily I just followed exactly what the dude in front of me did. Its weird to see everyone scurrying to take off their belts and their shoes in order to get past the TSA checkpoint.

There's nothing like having a nosebleed out of the blue, and right before boarding the plane.

I experienced the new rollercoaster feel once again. I was completely uneasy as we were sitting on the runway prior to taking off. Once we actually starting moving, all uneasiness was gone.

The ride was actually pretty turbulent. I don't think the Captain ever took the fasten seat belt sign off.

My first impression of the KC area is that its so green. I don't quite know how to explain it, but its like the whole landscape and the area is alive.

Time for some pics:

My first rental car, the Mazda 3 (Its still new)
Sweet nectar of life at the Jerusalem Cafe. (My first in over three months)

A Bluetooth earpiece that lost its owner. (Score one for humanity.)

A small glimpse of the Country Club Plaza - a pretty sweet area of businesses and whatnot right next to the apartment complex where my good friend Anthony resides.
Scooter's Coffeehouse - where Anthony works and where this long post is originating from.

Well, I mean to post something more profound, but there is still plenty of time this week for that. Until then, happy blogging.

Hello from Kansas City

A picture is worth a thousand words... figure this one out for yourself.

Ready now.

I'm ready to be on my way... well at least at want to be. Between the desire to watch the Subway 500, straightening up the homestead, hopefully packing at some point for tomorrow, and certainly not the least of these preparing for NYGO class, I'm going to be up for awhile tonight. It seems like a fitting ending to a crazy week before a vacation.

Dang it, I just thought of something to post, but I need to work on it yet. Who knows, Maybe I'll post it from a Coffee shop in Kansas City.

Dreams.

Anyone have whacked out dreams? Here's one for you: I don't remember all of it, but I remember delivering camel sandwiches to several offices around a plaza. Later on, I noticed everybody in reverent worship, be it weeping, singing, and whatnot while that song by Casting Crowns... "Voice of Truth" was playing. I saw someone I haven't seen in 10 years who was crying, and gave him a big hug. He asked me why I did that. I told him that no matter what he had done he was loved. Probably the most outlandish part of the whole thing was that I was singing along with the song in a non-mocking manner.

Bored

Well, I had great intentions of getting to bed at a decent time, but I see Relient K is on Leno tonight.

Got the important stuff for my trip finalized and reserved, I'm a gettin' excited.

My favorite song of the latest Switchfoot album has a music video. Here it is...

The Illusionist

I finally got around to watching this movie. I've enjoyed Edward Norton in the movies that he's been in, so knowing that ahead of time, I knew it would be a good movie.

I wasn't disappointed.

The Illusionist could have been a movie by M. Night Shyamalan. Maybe its because I feel like I'm captivated by movies like this, or maybe its because I shut my brain off and was just entertained. I don't know, but I like this movie a lot, maybe more so than The Prestige.

I'm so discouraged.

While listening to Adam Sandler guest host the Late Show(which was pretty funny), I was scanning the world wide web in preparations for my vacation next month. I found a statement that just made me sad...

Due to the increased demand for tickets because of Mr. Barker’s retirement in June, there are no more March or April tickets available Online, by mail or in the Ticket Booth. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Now that my life-long dreams are smashed to pieces, I'm open to suggestions for about three days of my vacation week.

Hello, Jack.

You gotta love the creatvity some television writers have.

?

This episode of Lost hurts my head.

Unexpected Blessings

I had the opportunity to run Media Shout at The Effect, the young adult gathering at church tonight. As I was leaving, I got to have a conversation that frankly was the highlight of my night. It was such an encouragement to be able to share about what was going on in my life and just to be able to talk for awhile.
Its kinda funny how that works. Sometimes God will use the smallest things to bless, encourage and even challenge you when you least expect it.

XLI

Booyah!!

Time for a post

I really haven't really gotten a hang of Blogspot yet... my posts are still too sporadic at best. Its late and I should be in bed. But this is the only time I feel like posting. 3DYC was good, Christmas went well. School did not go smoothly. I hate papers, I can't write papers.

I wonder what my direction is in life. I am trying to learn to be content in some areas of my life...relational and occupational. I honestly like my job. Most days I can look back with a sense of pride and accomplishment with what I have done and realize what impact it has on the ministry at church.

College is an area of life that frustrates me. Why can't I write a freakin' paper? Why can't stick with it? Is this God's way of closing a door in my life, or what? One verse that has always intrigued me was Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Looking at this verse right now I see problems in my own life. Where is the courage in my life? Are people taking note that I have been with Jesus?

This leads me to another point... I fear I am too content in my relationship with Christ. I think I am starting to understand how it was to live in the time of Israel leading to captivity. Other things started to erode their dedication to the LORD, whether it was worshipping idols, or forgetting the Law.

Now I'm not saying I'm being enticed by golden calves or so on, but something more dangerous. Doing life. Doing Ministry. Apathy. I am stiff-necked and stubborn. I have seen the miraculous wonders of the LORD, and yet I don't follow him whole-heatedly.

This doesn't scare me. Yet I am scared to death by that statement.

I guess in short, I suck at being a Christ-follower. In the meantime, I need to love Christ more. All my problems will either be taken care of or won't matter if I can do that.

I'm the person of the year!!

This just in:

Time Magazine has just ran out of ideas, so they elected to have me be the person of the year. As a matter of fact, since you are reading this, I'll share the honor with you. Article here.

Spiritual Warfare

Do you want to know what spiritual warfare looks like from Satan's side? Just watch me attempt to write a paper... I'm sure its a lot like that with the same outcome.


Strike 3.

I'm out.

Today's example of embarassing

My phone is on vibrate as services are going on this morning as to not distract anyone. I was in the kitchen with everybody who is about to eat before setting up the Grand Hall after church. Unfortunately for me when you hit "play" button on the outside of my phone it will start playing songs, alphabetically (with numbers superceeding letters). There is nothing like hearing "2 Legit 2 Quit" during the middle of a prayer.

Notre Dame... How I loathe Thee

I have found yet another reason to not like Notre Dame. Besides the fact that everyone and their sister touts their sports programs as a result of a mandate straight from Heaven, something happened that frustrated the socks off of me.

When it come to me and writing papers, there is one phenomenon that occurs when Jeffrey Simpson gets serious about the task at hand: That is the occasional pilgrimage to the Hesburgh Library.

I got to the Library a little after 10 p.m. I started to look up books, and found very few. After riding the super-elevators up and down from floor to floor to little avail, I finally had one place to look. In the basement, I hit pay dirt. I found the exact things I was looking for... the same things I typed in the search on the computer that showed no results.

Its almost midnight, and its time to go home. Any resemblance of a librarian leaves by 10 p.m. As a result I am left to use the electronic self-checkout. I run my I.D. through the scanner and type in my pin. After several attempts, the computer prompted me to see the "Monitor" a.k.a. the Library Police. I talked to one of the people, in which they said to try the other computer. Same lack of results. I was then informed that the only thing left was to come back tomorrow after 9 a.m. and before 10 p.m. Anybody want to go to Notre Dame with me after church?

A new Weapon in the War on Bethel's Campus

Mishawaka, In. - As the war on Bethel's Campus escalates, Administration introduced a new weapon of mass torture in hopes to demoralize the local inhabitants. Eminating from the main gazebo on campus is a collection of Christmas songs played at obnoxious levels in efforts to subdue the opposition. Opponents of the war say that they have crossed the line by instituting this new measure way too early...beginning in the month of November. "The fact that they are playing "Winter Wonderland" when there is no snow is enough to drive anyone mad." Said one Adult student who wished to remain anonymous.

Ironic

Last Tuesday night at class, I ran into one of the gentlemen who ushers at church during one of my breaks. The guy that I had been sitting by for 5 weeks also talked to the man from church. Later, the guy I sit by asked me how I knew the gentleman. I told him that I go to his church. He responded by telling me that he went to his church. I saw him today at church.

Thursday I was a little late to answering the door bell. To my dismay, I realized I missed the Jehovah's Witness crew. They left me a pamphlet saying that "The End Of False Religion Is Near!" It talked about what is false religion and how it affects you.

History has been made....

Can you do better than this?
Give it a try.

It is going to be a sad, sad day...

Cherish these last few moments. Article here.

What time is it?

So we had the time change this past Sunday morning at 2 a.m. The last time I drove my car was last Thursday. I'm up here frantically studying at Bethel because I thought I had apparently lost an hour of time, by looking at the clock in my car. Even after continually check the time in my cell phone, I still feel hurried, when in all reality, I'm doing just fine.

Thanks Mitch.

Stuff

• I just heard "Dead Man" by Jars of Clay on WFRN of all places.
• Friday for lunch, I went to the Nappanee McDonald's with another employee of the church. It was so packed, we ate in the play area, sharing a table with a family and WWIII going on in the background. Needless to say it was quite the experience.
• I got a sufficient grade for my first class as an adult student at Bethel. I'm into my second class now, and I am enjoying it thus far. I have learned so much in the past 10 weeks, and am excited to learn more .
• Freshman guys are crazy.
  
• I'm excited to see the 11-0 Falcons take on the 9-2 Jimmies this Friday.

Having a big mouth is beneficial at times

As I'm waiting for my class to start up at Bethel, I came across this.

Are You Watching Closely?

The Prestige.... go see it.

And look for Gollum.

Random question of the night

If you had to drop what you are doing and had to do something else for a living, what would it be?

I'll tell you mine. I came up with this as I watched my Fairfield Falcons improve to 9-0 on the season.

I would move to Culver, In. I would love to document Culver Military Academy and the Students that attend there. Either that or somehow work there and find a way to start a ministry there. I can't place my finger on it, but this was my first trip to CMA, and something about the place intrigued me.

Good Monsters

In my last accusation of music, I purchased the latest album from Jars, entitled Good Monsters.
There are few bands that are touted by the Christian community that can evolve and endure over time. In my humble opinion Jars of Clay is one of them. Also in my humble opinion, there are several bands out there are "beating a dead horse" and don't know when to quit. As someone I was talking to the other day put it, "It seems like when all else fails, they decide to put out a worship album."
Anyway, I like how Jars isn't much afraid of changing their style from time to time. If you a have a few bucks lying around, I recommend picking this album up.

Current favorite worship songs

Ahh... its good to be up and running on the 'net again. After a chaotic week a moving, work and school, I thought I would start off with my top favorite worship songs right now.

• Everlasting God by Brenton Brown. Its all Pastor Jeremiah's fault for playing it two weeks in a row at WNY.
• Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall. ...Sin has lost its power, death has lost its sting. From the grave you've risen victoriously. Need I say more?
• I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) by Chris Tomlin. I love the old hymns. I also love when someone puts a new twist on them.
• You Never Let Go by Matt Redman. I 'm not explaining my self on this one. I just like it.

• Madly by Charlie Hall. ...Let what we do in here fill the streets out there...