Random Pics

Here are some random pics I took 'cause....
well, I thought them interesting.

Subaru 360 (I think) on the freeway.

I wonder why...?

Somehow this just doesn't sound right.

A whole lotta soy sauce.

On The Streets

I was up in West Hollywood for a few hours tonight.
After parking my car, I started walking towards the hotel. On the way, I saw a couple of black guys hanging around on the sidewalk. There was something purposeful about these two guys.

As I walked closer to them, one of them approached me with a hand full of CD's - obviously home-made music CD's (by making copies of songs onto blank CD's from their computer).
I totally thought they were giving them away.
Alright! Free CD. I'll listen to 'em, and if I don't like it, down the trash it goes! is what I thought.

Turns out they were some music artists trying to promote their songs. And they're asking for donations if I feel like giving any.
Sure. Anything to help the local artists!
So I took the CD (neatly placed inside a paper CD sleave), gave them 5 bucks, and went on about my business - of getting to the hotel.

I was feelin' pretty damn good!
Most people would just walk away, don't even take their CD. But I stopped, picked up a CD from them, and gave them 5 bucks to help them out.
Damn! I'm such a nice guy. I'm helping the local artists... interacting with people whom I would NEVER run into, and I stepped out of my comfort-zone by walking up to them and talking with them briefly. Man!
Good job, Eric. **a little pat on the back**

Then it hit me HARD!
Came down on me with a surge of realization.
W.T.F. am I thinking?!??!?!
I didn't do it right.

Oh the self-righteous me. Patting myself on the back because I talked with some unknown black guys on the streets of West Hollywood. Feeling proud of myself because I gave them measly five bucks.

The right thing to do would've been to stand there with them. Talk with them.
The right thing to do would have been to ask them why they're standing out on the streets, handing out CD's. Asking them who they are. What are their names.
Asking them Why they write music, why they rap. What's their passion. What drives them.
THAT would've been the right thing to do.
Find out who they really are.

Then I remembered the stack of fliers I had in my car for a few months - the fliers to open-mic event that NewSong LA puts up every Friday night, I think.
It would've been cool to invite these guys to come out and perform, if they'd like to.
They may have enjoyed that. Who knows. Anything to get their music out & heard.

THAT would've been an awesome thing to do.

Too bad I threw away the fliers because they've been sittin' in my car for months, and not put into use to invite local artists to come out and perform.

Tuesday Mornings

Email I received from a friend.
I don't know what it is about this email that touched my heart...
It had a powerful impact on me.
Especially the Tuesday Mornings.

------------------------------------
hi friends!

i hope you're having a good week so far. i've been praying, reading your letters and trying to figure out how i can support all these people who are going out on missions this year! it's been a struggle..being so poor and having to be so dependent on my parents, school loans, albert and all of my generous friends. i've decided that if i were to give financially, it would be out of guilt and obligation, and that i'd be giving money that i just don't have. i'm sorry because i know the reality is that we need the money to get us were God wants us to be. although i can't support you financially, i will be committed to pray for you and your team. i'm so blessed to see how God has worked in you and through you and i know that God will open your eyes to all that he is doing all over the world.

i pray that you will grow by leaps and bounds through this experience. i have your team marked down for every tuesday morning until the end of july. thanks for representing the N-OC! in your own ways, you have all supported me, and i hope to be able to give as generously when i finaly start making my own money!

thanks for being a part of my life and i'm honored to have received a letter from you guys. looking forward to hearing all the stories...the good, the bad, the ugly and the God-inspired moments. love, xxx (name omitted for privacy purposes)

Next

What should I tackle as my next career?

...not that I've completely tackled my current one

Career Opportunity

Ever see that movie, Career Opportunity?
You should. Jennifer Connelly in her younger days. Phewww...

Anyone have some kick a$$ Career Opportunity for me?
I'm open to any opportunity.

Think I would enjoy something in the lines of...
counseling...
service...
or operations...

My Resume
not that it would particularly want to make anyone give me a job

Are You Making An Impact?

My friend Erin asked me a question this weekend that made me think.
And the question goes something like this:

Q: "Do you think your actions have an impact on other peoples lives?"

My Answer: "I'd like to think so. But I don't think so."

I would like to think that my actions / my life has an impact on other people's lives - especially a positive impact.
But who am I to say, 'yes I made an impact in that person's life?'
How would I know that I've made a difference in that person's life?
How can you be sure? Would I be cocky if I'd said, 'of course my actions make an impact in other people's lives!' ?

Crazy thing is... God works in some AMAZING ways!

My friend (let's call her Liisa) called me tonight - barely audible on the phone.
I ask her, hey what's goin' on? I don't know, she says. (still barely audible) I don't know what's happening.
Is everything alright? I... don't know. (uh-oh. is she crying?)
Are you home? Yeah. Well, not really. I'm sitting in my car. (she's definitely not not-crying)

Over 40 minutes of conversation that we had, she had conveyed to me how much it meant to her to have the community that she has. And she wants made known to those who have made her feel so wanted and loved in that community of friends, how much she values them.
But she didn't know who to call. She has a ton of friends. Family. But just didn't know who to call.
But me. She knew in her heart, she had to call me.

Through our conversation she had told me how much she appreciates me for doing all that I do. And that she knew I'd be the only person that she wanted to call tonight.

Through our conversation I began to see how God had answered the question that I'd been holding in my heart throughout this weekend - perhaps even much longer.
Through her God has shown me that my actions do not go unseen, and my actions do have an impact on others' lives.
God had surfaced the insecurity that's been in my heart through a question-game.
And He had made me really soak in on that question for a while.
And shown me a little gimpse of what my life means to others - where I fit-in in grand scheme of things.

My actions do make an impact!
And through that realization, God had made clear that Liisa's actions have a huge impact on my life as well.

---------------------------------------------------

on a separete note:
Over the phone we prayed for each other. It was my idea, I think. Well, not entirely.
But when it came my turn to pray, I totally blanked out!
I totally forgot all that I was going to pray for us! AWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

I need a lesson in public praying.
Is there such a course?
Well, there should be.

$3

This was the gas price last Friday when I filled up.


And here's another sign I thought interesting.










"high intensity beds mean: more tan in less time"
I don't think it's necessarily a good thing...

Experiential Weekend

Yaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii !

I survived the 2006 STM Experiential Weekend!
This is one of our training weekends to get ready for our mission trip this summer.
I was a little reluctant about this weekend...
...been a little too tired to attend these meetings...

I must say, it's been a really awesome experience!

-------------------------------------------------------

So I learned a little more about each member on our team.

Suzanne has this special talent where she writes words in inverted direction - so that she'll be facing the other person and writing on a dry erase board that she'll be holding in front of her chest. Pretty neat.

Another thing I've discovered about her...











picking up scissors with her foot

writing her name using her foot

her foot got in my field of vision

our pair up exercise. that hair reminds me
of those two characters from In Livin' Color
Ha Ha!

Price War$

OK,

I respect those who make a ton of money - because in my mind, they put in their dues and probably deserve it. But at what cost?

Exxon Mobil last year reported $36B in profit - the most ever for any corporation!
Oil industry says they raise the price of gasoline because the price of crude oil has skyrocketed.
Hello?
Profit = Net Income - Operating Cost.
Obviously Exxon Mobil has been raising the price of gasoline a whole lot more in relation to rise of the cost of crude oil.

The chairman of Exxon Mobil last year received a whopping $398M compensation for retiring! I wonder if he's gonna use any of that money to feed the poor... or give back to the community who's paying $3.00+ / gallon for gasoline.
Hmmm....

Now, would there ever be a price war for the consumers' business among the oil industry? like they do with airline industry?

What if we all stop buying gasoline from Exxon Mobil. I mean everyone!
Will they then lower their price in order to lure consumers into their gas stations? Can we then stop buying from.... say, Shell. Then will they lower their price to compete with other oil companies?
Hmmm... something to consider.

LET'S START A PRICE WAR AMONG THE GASOLINE COMPANIES!

Would that actually work?
...somehow I don't think so.

Hangin' Out With The Girls

Forget going in to work!

I just wanna hangout at NewSong all day.
They're sooo much fun!
Even if I just sit in that green leather chair and don't move a muscle all day long.

An Old Friend

Called up an old friend tonight.
I sent him a support letter, and haven't even communicated with him since July of last year!
I found out he got engaged last September.

One thing he said tonight that really made me see the power of a support letter.
He said, "you know you're the only friend I'll support financially for something like this, right?"
THAT IS CRAZY!
I know how much money he makes, and that aint enough to live.
And here he is. He's gonna support me financially.

The power of a support letter.
It has brought us closer, I feel.

Support Letter Story

So I have this coworker who is absolutely not the type of person on your team.
He is inconsiderate, obnoxious, got some major attitude malfunction, and just out-right liar, if you ask me.

But you know what he said?
Said he'll support me on this mission trip!
I don't think he's lying about that.

What a trip!
Someone I totally didn't expect any support from.
Now that's pretty cool.

Then of course there was one co-worker who said, "what is this? some cult thing? and you want me to give you money, right?" Then he threw a $20 bill on his desk without even reading my support letter.
I should've just given it back to him, telling him that I don't need his money if he doesn't believe in what I'm doing.
That thought didn't register to me strongly until later.
DAMN.

In Rehab

So I met a girl a few weeks ago.
WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA!
That's what I said. Fo' Shizzi'.
So I got a cool girl friend.
Asked her... you know... the 411.
She said, "she's in rehab."
Hmm......

So this is what happens when good friends
get together for some good times.
You cover up your beer so that no one
can throw peanuts in your drink.

WHOA!

Make sure to shred those Credit Card Applications that you don't want!

http://cockeyed.com/citizen/creditcard/application.shtml

49 and Counting

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..............
My eyes hurt.
It's that pain right around where your eyeball meets the eye socket. Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu......
I'm so dang tired...
I don't know why. Didn't even to anything that exhausting. Unless you consider sitting in front of a desk stuck inside a building with no windows - an exhausting work.
Aaaaaaaaaaaa! Now my head hurts too. Damn.
Probably from my eyes hurting...
This blog entry really sucks. I don't even know. This entry has no value added.
Ha Ha! Value Added. I just learned that last week.
See? I'm putting my training to use.

I want a vacation.
A looooooooooooooooooooooong vacation - where I won't have to go back to the window-less building.
Sucks.

I am a rockstar

Jack the Balloon Guy

Following is an excerpt from Brian Kim - a site pastor at NewSong NorthOC

A few weeks ago, I did a walk through of Fullerton College with the Dean of Fine Arts who happens to be a strong believer. He has been there nearly 25 years and said that he was extremely excited about us being on the Fullerton College. His desire was to really see Fullerton College impacted in spiritual ways and believed that NewSong could be that kind of community to serve and influence not only the students on campus but also the administration. As we walked around the campus he introduced me to many of the staff - pointing out the ones that were believers and other who really needed Jesus.

One of the women he introduced me to was an administrator in the Admissions department. I think she was the Dean... Iin any case, as I told her about the demographics of NewSong - 70% single, multi-ethnic, average age 27, etc. she casually mentioned that perhaps NewSong could be a church for her son. Her face told me that she has probably been through a lot with him and remarked that it would be a miracle if he ever went back to church. Even the Dean of Fine Arts said that it would be a miracle. I found out that he was a "balloon artist!" and magician that did parties for kids in the area and asked her for his humber and thought that it would be possible to hire him for some of our events. Liz Yim then followed up and hired him for our re-launch. One of our prayers for our re-launch was specifically for him.

He came set up and began to do his amazing art. In between service, I would talk to him as many did, and make comments about his craft. The stuff he did was amazing. At the end of the day, as we thanked him, he said that he thought what we were doing was amazing and that he had NEVER seen a church like ours. The sense of fun, excitement, authenticity of the people, and the kindness he experienced from the kids and parents was unparalleled. He then said that though he went to church as a teen ager, he had not been back in years. Through this friend has not made a commitment to Jesus, what spoke volumes was that he SAW Jesus in your smiles, graciousness, and your apprication fo his art.

As I thought about him Sunday afternoon after the hustle and bustle, I also thought about his mother. I can imagine him talking to his mom and sharing with her his experience on Sunday at NewSong. I pictured her reactions and the hope that was born in her. The possibility that Jesus may be drawing her beloved son to Himself. A miracle? Who knows. But the possibility is there.

We all have moms who have prayed for us or we are praying for our moms. We all have loved ones who desperately need the love and grace of Jesus, people who we would never believe would actually live in freedom from their pasts and their dark present. To be able to be a part of a family where LIFE can be REBORN will always be my greatest privilege.

May we NEVER forget the mission that God has given to us all. To bear witness to the One who runs to meet us in our brokenness.

Support

Ugggggggggggggggh !
My Support Letter writing is driving me CRAZY!
And I'm on a deadline, which means no more revision! Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww !
Can't believe I'm sending out these letters...
I need to be sending out A-team letters! Not class B letters! Awww !
This is definitely gonna need some relying on God to handle things...

On a different note...

Asexuality In America

Watching Showbiz Tonight.
They're discussing "asexuality" - an asexual person is someone who doesn't experience sexual attraction.
Ummm.....doesn't this sound more like an excuse for not being attractive? not being in an intimate relationship? no ability to get laid?
Ouch!

I stand corrected. Americans have waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time; thus creating lame topics, and wasting time discussing it.

Waaaaaaaaaaaay too much time.

There's a First for Everything

Went to Cirque Du Soleil tonight.
Quidam is performing at Long Beach, so I bought a pair of tickets several months ago. I've never been to Cirque Du Soleil before.

The performance was AMAZING!
The four asian girls playing with Diabolos, a woman performing crazy aerial acts on a long sash, 15 Slavic artists throwing each other in the air and doing some crzay acts, the comedians, and some more aerial acts. It was just amazing!
It's interesting how they include comedy relief along with all that crazy action and artistic creations. Reminds me of Moulan Rouge. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......

What really caught my attention was the main character in Quidam - aside from Quidam himself. The little girl that the story revolves around. She is so cute. Her outfit, her hair, just the entire character. Everytime she came on stage I could not stop thinking about the girl I met in France 2 years ago. For some reason she just reminded me of her. I ought to email her. Haven't heard from her in a while.

I Had So Many Emails To Go Through Lastnight

The Fast is now officially over.

I feel bad because I didn't hold fast throughout the entire fast.
Should've known I wasn't going to make it. But it was worth the try. I had to. It was too easy not to.

Was just at Newsong helping out with organizing for our relaunch this Sunday.
I left work because I was dead-tired and I could barely sit in my chair. So I just headed to Newsong to hangout a little bit with the girls.
Little did I know they hadn't finished organizing for the relaunch. That was 4pm.

Just got home after organizing our relaunch material. I was at Newsong for 8 hours tonight after having worked almost a full day of work.
I'm tired. But the difference is that I'm not cranky.
Normally had I worked at my job for this many hours, I'd be going nuts! But spending time with these new friends makes for a more enjoyable time.
My weather update tells me that we're getting rain until Wednesday. Too bad I'll be on travel. F*$&!