National Cheesecake Day!

Yes, today was National Cheesecake Day. In honor of this wonderful day, the Cheesecake Factory had $1.50 cheesecake--any kind you wanted! So Steph and I met up there and both enjoyed a slice of heaven. I had the peanut butter chocolate cheesecake and she had the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Of course we each sampled the other and both were oh so good!

Enjoying cheesecake with a good friend...it was a wonderful evening full of laughter, good and random discussions and heart level conversations. Did I mention the cheesecake was only $1.50?!?

Every time I go to the gym....

I think about what I'm going to eat after my workout. It helps me get through it and makes my workout feel totally worth it! Anyone else do this...or do I stand alone..?

If I had to chose I'd rather be angry than apathetic...

This thought has been on my mind a lot lately. I read this paragraph below, written by a college pastor and even though I'm not a college pastor, I really resonated with what he said. I often see apathy in the lives of people who feel that they've done the "church thing" for so long, it's become old to them (I myself dabbled with this apathy for a while). Their spiritual life dies to the lure of new and exciting experiences that are presented to them during and even after college.

I've often said and believe that being angry isn't the worst thing that can happen to a person...it's being apathetic. Whether it's being apathetic at work, in marriage, with the church or with other people, apathy can really be the demise of a person and their relationships. Even though staying angry is never good, at least if you're angry then that's a sign that you care about what's going on and you don't like it...

"People talk so much about how many teenagers walk away from their faith their freshman year of college (common estimates are around 80% who stop going to church after high school). But as a college pastor, the greater concern for me is college students who lose their faith after leaving college. Don't get me wrong, they might still attend church and be nice people raising nice kids. But they have lost all risk to their faith. Their passion for Jesus is cold. The local church is not central to their affections. They don't think about living strategically, giving sacrificially, and investing their talents wisely. They aren't praying for revival in their neighborhoods, workplaces, families, churches... that was for a phase back in college. The dream of being a success quickly replaces the passion to be a blessing."

Put These On Your Grocery List...

Foods that fight aging...

1. Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)

2. Fish (salmon, tuna)

3. Olive oil

4. Legumes (beans: black or soy)

5. Whole grains

6. Low fat dairy

7. Healthy greens (all those good green vegetables)

8. Tomatoes

9. Berries (packed with anti-oxidants)

10. Green tea

My friend Jamie must eat a lot of these foods...or it may just be her good Italian genes...

If Not on the 3rd...Forget the 4th...

Tonight I was watching "Must Love Kids" on TLC. It's a show about three single moms who all have children and are looking to get out and start dating again. It's quite funny actually.

One of the guys on the show said one of his philosophies of dating is "No kissing on the 3rd date...no 4th date...

As I watch these women date different men it makes me feel uncomfortable for them! Some of the dates are pretty awkward! And I'm not a fan of awkward dates...

Yes...What He Said...

A few days ago I redecorated my office. I printed out some great pictures I've taken of students and with students and enlarged them, printed them in black and white and framed them. But the focal point of the wall is this quote. I bought a magnet that has this quote on it and I simply photo copied it and enlarged it and it looked great--and really artsy.

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

I hope at the end of my life I will have succeeded...

You should come check out my office.

Ummmm...

It's the middle of July...

And it was 87 degrees yesterday...

And I live in Fresno California...

Strange? I think so...

But I'm not complaining. Not at all.

The Best Years of Your Life...

Brad Paisley wrote a song entitled "Letter to Me". The first lines of the song say: "If I could write a letter to me I'd send it back in time to myself at seventeen..."

Then later in the song he says "Have no fear these are no where near the best years of your life..."

So that got me thinking...when are the best years of your life? Is it when you're a teenager? Is it when you retire? People often tell me that my age right now is the best time of life... hmmmm...

I can't deny the fact that I do have a pretty great life. I really do enjoy the season of life that I'm in right now...I'm having so much fun! However, Jen and I were talking about this recently and we both agreed that life seems to get better each year. Maybe better isn't the right word... maybe the different seasons of life can't be compared to one another...

But all this begs the question...when do you think are best years of life?

Nelson Mandela: The Secrets of Leadership

This is from Time magazine..."8 lessons from one of History's Icons". Some of these really resonated with me...

1. Courage is not the absence of fear--it's inspiring others to move beyond it.

2. Lead from the front--but don't leave your base behind.

3. Lead from the back--and let others believe they are in front.

4. Know your enemy--and learn about his favorite sport.

5. Keep your friends close--and your rivals ever closer.

6. Apperances matter--and remember to smile.

7. Nothing is black or white--life is never either/or.

8. Quitting is leading too--knowing how to abandon a failed idea, task or relationship is often the most difficult kind of decision a leader has to make.

They're Married!

Have you ever been to a wedding where, as you watched the ceremony take place, it all just felt so right? That's how it felt last night at Sarah and Jameson's wedding. They both have blessed so many people through ministry as individuals and I truly believe they will bless even more now that they're a "team".

Congrats Sarah and Jameson!

D.C./New York in Review...

There Are No Words For This Picture...

Story to follow...

I Have A Dream...

Or I should say, I had a dream...last night. It was short and quite strange...

I dreamt that I saw two scorpions crawling on the floor in my bedroom. They were slow moving so I grabbed a can of Raid and doused them in it hoping to kill them. But as I sprayed them with the Raid they started multiplying...like they were having babies!

That's all I remember. I just hope this doesn't mean I have scorpions lurking somewhere in my apartment...

"Sweet Home Alabama..." I mean Fresno...

Home, sweet home. Got back from D.C./New York this evening. On the flight home I was thinking about what things I would blog about from my time in D.C./New York such as...what things I learned...what things I saw...what things puzzled me...what things made me think...and what things encouraged me...

There is a lot. So slowly but surely I'll post some thoughts and pictures (and MAYBE a video or two...) For now, here are a few things that have been running through my mind as I traveled about...

1. I would not have a gym membership if I lived in D.C. Walking alone was enough to kick my butt on some days.

2. Traveling shouldn't be looked at as a luxury but rather a necessity to better understand oneself and the people and places in the world around us.

3. Fresno needs some kind of railway public transit system! The metro system in D.C. is phenomenal. And the benefits of having such a system are plentiful.

4. I do not like humidity. I would take the dry heat any day over humidity. Hands down.

5. There are a lot of people who are attractive and educated who live in D.C... That's all I'm going to say about that... :)

6. History comes alive when you get to see and experience the things that were taught in U.S. history class.

7. You eat a lot when on vacation and I'm okay with that.

8. Coming home was a bit strange for me. I don't know why, but for whatever reason, it was.

9. One should not try to jump onto the metro as the doors are shutting and the woman's automated voice has said: "Step back the doors are closing" The doors are not on censors and will close ON you! Right D?

10. Because of this trip and the opportunity I have to travel. I am reminded, once again, of how truly blessed I am.

"Jenny From The Block"...NYC Here We Come!

Derek, Lisa and I are on a bus right now heading to New York City! It's a little after 5:30am California time, and we've had very full days while we were in D.C. Lots of stories, pictures and random top ten lists to come...and maybe a few short videos... There is Wi-Fi on the bus (which is amazing!) so the 4 hour ride is a little more bearable.

Here are just a few highlights from the past few days in D.C....

--The people we're staying with! They are awesome and so much fun. We're staying with Lisa's friend Tristan (who she only met once and talked to for a few hours--but he opened his place to us!) He has a few roommates who are fun and very welcoming.

--Watching the fireworks on a rooftop in the heart of D.C. I LOVE 4th of July and I REALLY loved the 4th of July in D.C.

--The metro rides--always interesting...always.

--The history. You learn about all the monuments, museums, buildings, memorials and presidents in history class, but it changes things when you actually see and experience these things in person.

--The people. Lots of young people (between 21-30) live in the city. Very fun atmosphere.

--My plane buddy John. He was traveling back to D.C. and was a really cool guy who was going in the same direction we were so he helped us make sure we got on the right bus and metro so we wouldn't get lost!

--Lots of exercise--we walk a lot. And I mean A LOT. It brings back lots of memories of my time backpacking in Europe.

We still have two more days in D.C. when we return from New York so we still have lots more to see and do! I'm going to try and catch a nap on the bus now! More to come soon!