losing mark crocker.

Yesterday morning I found myself in a familiar spot for Washington... Starbucks coffee. Except this time I went to one that I not accustomed to going to but has a bitter sweet taste to it. As I ordered my usual grande ristretto whit mocha, I was quickly hit with sadness. One of my best friends Mark Crocker, who used to work at this Starbucks, was no longer at the counter. He recently moved to California for school... and I will be honest, it is hard. You know when people leave and it doesn't really hit you till after they are gone. Well these are one of those times. Mark Crocker is an amazing friend. He is one of those people that is always there. He is the guy that is there when no one else is. He is the guy that you swear is going to be famous one day for something. Anyway, I just wanted to say to you Mark that I miss you man. You have been such a great friend to me. It is hard when those closest to you leave, and I am definitely feeling it now. As I sat drinking my coffee alone, I knew I lost a great friend. Bro, I wish you weren't gone; night frisbee will never be the same. Well cheers to you Mark. I hope that your time in California is amazing, and that you change the world. Love you man!!

Let the games begin

If you didn't see the opening ceremonies of this summer's Olympics, you definitely missed out. This summer's games is in Beijing, China and is an awesome place to host the Olympics. Last night I was amazed at the opening ceremonies. They had every where from the largest LED screen in the world, to over 15,000 performers that we constantly in sync with one another at all times. What was most amazing was the structures that China built just for these games....With over 40 billion dollars, they built some of the most architecturally amazing buildings. Anyway, I am really looking forward to the games. My favorite competition has to be the beach volleyball. Well let the games begin...

I tried to find some of the footage but they aren't allowing just yet... Here is a cool commercial for the Olympics

Dark Knight Again

Tonight I saw the Dark Knight yet again with my house brother Levi. I absolutely love this movie. Anyway, I couldn't help but think of the actor Heath Ledger. He did an unbelievable job protraying the Joker like no one ever has before. It is one thing to be a great supporting actor, but another to never break character.... ever. He did an astounding job and deserves an award for sure. It is really sad though that his life was literally taken by this role. It is amazing how you can get so wrapped up in something so deep that it comsumes all that you are. Anyway, I left the theater tonight eager for another movie, yet sad to see the last film of such a great actor like Heath Ledger.

Here is Heath's last interview before he died:

A Walk into Manhood

Today I had the amazing privilege of being a part of Wesley Wimberly's "entering into manhood". Wesley is one of my Junior High Students and I am really close with all of his family. The Wimberly's have a tradition every time one of their boys turns 12 years old. As each one turned 12, the kids invite their heroes over and they bring a Word from the Lord for their future. It was such a neat experience to see all of his heroes and the memories that each of us had with Wesley. Many of us couldn't help from crying as his dad, Tim Wimberly, handed him a Bible and encouraged him for his future. Anyway, I gave Wesley a journal with a scripture in it and a bag with a joke between the both of us. I gave him a Texas Longhorn shirt with a USC hat. It reminded us of the game that the two teams played against each other two years ago.. when my team, Texas, beat USC... Anyway, all that to say, it was a great night. Being able to hear from the Lord for Wes and give him an encouraging word was so cool and honoring. If you don't know Wesley, you are definitely missing out on one great guy...

The First Drive

Today I went with Levi Parmiter to get his permit. I got to watch as he took his first drive with his permit. I totally remember the excitement and the fear of that day. When I first got my permit, my mom pulled out her "handy" video camera and taped me all the way home. Levi didn't get that kind of debut, but we did get some good pictures of his drive. Anyway, cheers to you Levi! More driving to come... I promise... and way more trips to the gas station too!!!

Sent from my iPhone

The best Leaders on the Earth

I am convinced that our youth group has the best leaders in the whole world. This last weekend was our annual leaders retreat. Everywhere from college aged singles to married couples, gather together to grow, have fun, and talk about the future of our ministry. It was such a blast. This year we headed up to Panhandle Lake Camp where we dominated each other in beach volleyball and spoke vision into each other's lives for the next season of leading. Our leaders are truly amazing and are the most fun people in the world to hang out with. Anyway, we are truly blessed to have each one of them on our team... we couldn't do it without them...All I have to say is that Chocolate(Daniel Hunt), Vanilla(me), and sprinkles (Noah Wimberly) could not be beat in volleyball.

Here is some footage of us waking up Joe Fisher, one of our leaders, from a nap.

The Office Withdraws Again...

"That's what she said!"... That line, made famous by the one and only Michael Scott, has got me craving the Office yet again. I don't know what the deal is these last couple of days, but I have been craving The Office a lot. Seeing that I own all the seasons, I couldn't help but throw in a few discs and laugh away. Levi(my house brother) and I ended up watching way too many episodes. The thing that I like the most about the Office is the random awkwardness throughout the comedy. It can't get any better than that. Anyway, I am looking forward to the new season more than ever... It can't come fast enough.

I miss the office just like Dwight misses Jim::

Saturn Strikes Again

Today was such a great day... I got to do one of my favorite things in the whole world, and that is hanging with my Junior Highers. I invited all of them over to my house to swim in the lake and for an awesome BBQ, and it was awesome. But today, the Saturn struck again. The Saturn is a giant blow up toy that looks just like Saturn. You stand on the ring of Saturn and try to balance on the ball, eventually tipping the whole toy forcing the person on top to fly head first into the water. Anyway, after launching a few kids... it couldn't get any better.

I am so honored to be able to be in these kids lives. Every day that goes by and every moment I get to spend with them, I realize how privileged I truly am. After hanging with my students I couldn't help but realize how much God's hand is on their life. Each one is so different, yet has so much potential to be great. God knows the plans He has for them, and I am blessed to be able to play a part in helping them encounter Him. If you aren't serving young people, you should be. There is no greater reward than to lay down your life to see another's get closer to the living God. Plus... you might even get to launch a kid off a Saturn and watch them face plant into water.

The only thing better than the Saturn on a lake is getting to blob a kid.
I hope you are as amazed at this video as I was...

Running Tired

This past weekend Shane Rogers gave an incredible story that I wanted to share. He told of a story of when he was hiking with his newly born Caleb. He had Caleb in one of those backpack things... carrying him on his back. As he climbed the mountain, Shane began to get really tired and fatigued from trying to carry Caleb all the way up. Although his wife was trying to help relieve him, he was determined to make it all the way up the mountain. He struggled and struggled just trying to carry his son all the way up. His point of the story pointed towards our relationship with God. Many times we see our relationship with God like this.. we struggle just to keep God on our backs and fight to make it up... For some reason we have begun to believe that this is the way it is suppossed to be. We struggle to stay a child of God... we struggle to make right choices... we struggle to find hope... we struggle just to make it up.

Yet it should be the other way around. Think of the hike from Caleb's perspective. He had no worries. He just rested in knowing who he was. He knew he was Shane's son and knew that his dad was going to take care of him no matter what. This is more of what our relationship with our God should look like. We don't have to work to make it.... we are God's children no matter what. We just need to rest in His presence. I don't know about you, but it is easy for me to lose sight of just resting in God... living joyfully for His name. He gives me the strength to overcome... the joy to live life... the power over my self-control to make right choices. Stop running tired, but rather run resting in knowing who you are.

I love Bear from Man vs. Wild:

Apple vs. PC

To me, there is just no comparison. I have been a PC user my whole life, until the last few years where Apple just has completely blown me out of the water. I started off with a basic powerbook G4. From its super friendly interface, to its astounding dependability; I was sold from the moment I began to use it. Today I own a MacBook along with an iPhone and ipod. It seems as though the more I use mac, the more fluent things flow. Everything from my iphone, to computer and even my ipod... things just work and they work fast. There is probably endless debates on which is better, and I am sure there are reasonable arguments both ways. But at the end of the day, Mac's just work. It is kind of like buying a car. I can find you a cheaper car that can do just about the same thing as a nice Honda... but at the end of the day, the Honda works. Mac's just work... period. I don't know why I shared this with you, other than to convince you to at least give them a try. It is so worth it.

Here is one of my favorite mac vs. pc commercials