Getting Tired

Busy. Thats the word of our days lately. Hopefully it will not always remain this way, but I am thankful for things to be involved in, people to be spending time with. I would have pictures to show you... but our digital camera has been momentarily displaced and will hopefully return sometime this week :) Got to love husbands. haha (just kidding).

This last week I've been fighting a head cold. You know, those colds that aren't enough to keep you from your work but add just enough discomfort to the day to make you exhausted. So after my 1 hour and 15 minute commute by bus home, I ate dinner and went to bed. (that is, if I could). We had the most random thing happen to us this last week... as I was getting off the bus I met Kevin at Panera where he said he had bought some "friends" dinner. Of course, the instant he told me this on the cell phone I knew it was homeless people of some sort. One of my favorite things about Kevin is his generosity. He never thinks twice about helping those we pass in the streets in need... and we pass them nearly everyday. I am too anal and worried about money to give as freely as he can... so I praise God that he is not like me in that way and that his compassion is greater than his concern for wealth.

Anyways, back to the story. Basically, he met two people that had obviously been running away from home (from Arizona) and had run out of money. They were young, maybe in high school and had asked Kevin in the parking lot for bus money... and then when they realized he was willing to help they told their whole story. Their abusive step father had been drinking and had gone too far... they were out in LA, the place where everybody comes "to make it" and needed a place to stay and some food. We hooked them up with a local motel and thats when they introduced their blind uncle. He had been tagging along with them as well, but they didn't want to mention him earlier. As we drove them to the motel, the uncle started to get anxiety attacks from not having his medicine, so we then proceeded to drive them to a local emergency pharmacy place somewhere in LA... basically getting to spend a few hours with our new friends. It was an interesting night. We just hope they know God saw them that night and that He cares about them, and are glad that we could help that night.

Aside from that, we've had some tense discussions about money and then spent an entire 14 hours with this couple we've been hanging out with (another interiors person for the firm HOK and her husband). We went to the Getty Villa Museum (on opening day) then went back to their place to hang out, play games, and eat some more food. :)

Then Sunday came, today, and I'm tired. I'm helping with the Launch experience at Mosaic (that seminar like thing that helps empower people as God created them) this year so I had some meetings this morning with that.

Life is good. Its busy. :) I still miss all my Kansas people (and Missouri).

Bye bye for now... we are headed to a friends for a dinner of breakfast.

Mosaic Info

This is some cool stuff that Kevin and I have been learning about the organization we are a part of here in LA, Mosaic. Last Saturday we had a leadership conference thing- basically an event that gathers the leaders of Mosaic together to reinforce core values and discuss new changes, etc.

The core values of Mosaic (to some of you this will be review, but its still interesting, I promise)
1. Mission is why the church exists.
aka. People matter most.
2. Love is the context for all mission.
aka. Love permeates everything.
3. Structure must always submit to Spirit.
aka. Passion fuels action.
4. Revelance to culture is not an option.
aka. Revelance communicates truth.
5. The natural response to spirituality is creativity.
aka. Character causes change.

I think these are it. Basically they have a main statement and then another little slogan thing to help clarify. Kevin and I are really excited about the core values... it is understandable why Mosaic is a huge world movement not only in LA but around the world. They just planted Mosaic Germany this last fall and then next one is Mosaic Australia. Basically people read Erwin's books and if they agree w/ the core values, they can petition to become a Mosaic Wherever they are. It doesn't necessarily mean that Mosaic LA people went and planted somewhere. Kevin and I think that is a healthy sign that not only LA people are going out, but that these values are exciting people around the globe. Its much bigger than LA.

Secondly, Erwin gave a talk that he also gave at Orgins awhile ago about movements he believes must take place in the church for it really to be a life-transforming, Spirit movement, unity of those that are likehearted. They are listed below. (revised in my words from my notes)
The church must move from:
1. Standardization to Uniqueness.
Stop being consumed with discipline and holiness and conforming to be all exactly alike and focus more on the freedom of Christ, His unique giftings, and the beauty that is spread differently thru us all. Why? B/c misson is why the church exists- not a country club to help people become holy, but a place were broken people recieve freedom and transformation. People will not be drawn to standardization and a list of what to do and how to do it. People are drawn by power and love. This was hard for me and KV to accept at first, b/c we value discipleship so much. But lately, seeing as we will never reach the holiness we will strive to, it makes more sense to focus on others and letting the Spirit guide, than making sure I change myself.
2. Utility to Creativity.
Utility is all about the structure, plugging people in to the system, about a massive organization. Creativity is about empowering, encouraging people to dream big, being flexible to follow people's passions. Being okay with trying and messing up.
3. Homogidity to Diversity.
Strongly encouraging the church to reach outside of the "people like us". The real challenge is to love and value those quite unlike us, our peers. Homogidity communites that "we are everything" and that we value ourselves the most. Diversity communicates sincere love.
4. Pragmatism to Mysticism.
Pragmatism is mathmatical, dependant and limited by what we can define and fully know. Mysticism is unashamed to be connected to an unseen energy... to believe in things beyond the material world. It is intimacy based.
5. Conviction to Compassion.
People used to be dependent on bringing people to God thru this. I have heard this so many times, "but I must make sure they know what they are doing is wrong." It is not trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to convict His own people in His own time. Compassion brings life not condemnation, as John 3:17 says. People want to know if love really exists... not if sin really exists. Live out love and trust the Spirit.

Well this is what we spent a large part of our weekend studying. Kevin and I are very excited to be here and be part of this movement!

Another car struggle

Okay so today as I was on my way to drop off Kevin at his brother's so that they could head out to San Francisco for an intersession course this week... our one remaining car, the Camry, starts smoking. We took it to a brake place we saw down the street and then I caught a bus to get to work while they checked it out. (Steve came and picked up Kevin from the brake place). I guess there is something wrong with our brakes.. a caliber (I think, I have no idea). Anyways, bottom line is... it's going to cost $500 to fix.

I can't help but feel my stomack sink a little. I hate money matters and here we go again. It just seems to be one thing after another for us out here. Maybe thats just life and I'll have to get used to it. Maybe I'll leave the country.

The weekend

Here I am at work, trying to stay somewhat focused... I just finished putting together a large presentation of the interior of a private middle school in Beverly Hills. The project is currently projected to cost over 50 million dollars and to increase rapidly over the next few years. Craziness. What lucky middle school kids. Do they know the carpet that they might walk on could cost around $30 a yard? Its hard for me to see the bigger picture, although it is fun to think about helping middle school kids.

I could not for the life of me sleep last night. At 3:30am I finally got up and decided to try to read a book on money management, thinking that would help me fall asleep. But sure didn't. My mind stayed wide awake, although bored. So here I am after two hours of sleep. I feel quite alright actually, my body kicks back onto its backup system pretty easily... I guess it hasn't forgotten those college days after all.

So the interesting story of the weekend is this: Kevin and I went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in LA on Saturday. They are famous for their rollar coasters... sixteen in all I think. I got to ride three. Three... and then I was done. Maybe forever. The last rollar coaster I rode was called the Goliath...
Towering 255-feet above earth, the massive steel superstructure has one of the world's tallest drops and at speeds of 85 miles-per-hour, it is one of the fastest roller coasters of modern day. Combining traditional coaster thrills with a few new devilish twists, GOLIATH sends riders on a 3-minute "non-stop" high speed adventure over 4,500 feet of steel track with daring "butterflies-in-your-stomach" plunges, huge sweeping spirals, zero-gravity "floating" hills and drops, and the 120-foot-long tunnel shrouded in total darkness for the thrill of a lifetime!

Well after that huge drop and the tunnel we broke into a series of intense spirals... during which I blacked out for a few seconds. The G forces were so strong my mind wigged out. It was seriously scary... I didn't know whether to start crying or laughing... b/c it was an awesome ride yet I could have nearly died. Anyways, thats it... I think I'll retire from them for awhile.

Rose Bowl

I only have one thing to say to my fellow co-workers here in LA...

GO TEXAS!!

haha.

It was just too tempting... I couldn't pass it up, regardless of my lack of interest in football.