farming

Like a farmer who must daily till his land, I must actively nourish and clean up my mind; less it be sapped or littered with weeds  (1) .  Change seems constant;  similarly, as time passes, my worldview continues to be conformed (2).

What will I conform myself to !!!?

Sow; plant; think; apply;

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. “

(1) Honestly, I actually don’t know much about farming but I’m assuming this is this case.

(2) this seems contrary the maxim, “can’t teach a dog new tricks.”

back

Dear friends,

I’ve been chasing a goose.

During this hiatus, I’ve found that goose isn’t too different than chicken.

Maybe much of what I strive to gain I already have been given.

goodness

5/1/2011

- time with mom

- mom recovering !

- kind nurses, staff, and doctors!

- visit from family (A,L,M,R) , generous gifts, support, fruit, chocolate!

- supportive calls and emails

- prayers bringing healing and peace

- visit from S, V, J !

- being able to speak healing to neighbor, C.

- being able to pray for resurrection of J.

- Kind staff that let me use the staff microwave to heat my food!

- Watching clips of NBA playoffs

- gre studying in vmc

- warm bed

- plenty of food and water

4/30/2011

- after prayer, diagnosis shifted !

- mom has physical rest and recovering!

- listening to A. Wommack messages and discussing them with mom

- encouraging messages and emails

- being able speak healing to S.

- subway and 7 layer burrito

4/29/2011

- RW at ALCF!

- Learning the dance with N, R, and K!

- Romans 7 & 8

- Safety in travel

- Jhall – youth really engaged, positive

- Being able to leave Jhall early

- pictures for S2S

- sleep

focus

life can be painful and difficult,

but it’s when I shift my focus onto the needs of others, the surrounding goodness, and the beauty around me; the pain leaves and all is well.

(2 Cor 4:16-18, 10:5; Phil 4:8, Psalm 1)

beauty

4/18

- giving blood and receiving $50!

- juice, bagels, and yummy breakfast

- delish spaghetti leftovers

- R. calling me

- good health

- talk with mom

- Mark 11

4/17

- running with God

- cozy bed

- oranges and protein shake

- R healing !    Lives on the streets,  prayed for him on 4/14 :  feet were gray, scabbed, oozing liquid, and anticipated amputation;   today his feet were rosy, clean, and he was even walking !

- time to practice gre

- loving dinner prepared by mom

- talk with C.

- talk with M.

- talk with T.

4/16

- potatoes, broccoli, and spare ribs lovingly prepared by mom

- learning writing skills

- healing infected gall bladder of E.

- learning about silver with R.

- delish spaghetti leftovers

- walk in the park with mom

- healing  damaged cartilage of  S. with mom

- working out with R.

- right eye healed from redness

4/15

- encouragements from J.Wang

- friendship with M, invitation for breakfast

- learning hip hop dance with N and R

- Safety in travel

- JHall youth – friendship, growth

- learning writing skills

- reminder from S. about taking stats classes

- every need provided for in all times

five guys burgers & fries

b:   You guys see that guy over there?

a:   yeah, the one with the caste around his neck ?

b:   I want to heal him, but how should I approach him ? I know there’s not a formula, but I fear it’s going to be awkward.

a:  Do you care for him as a person?

b:  yes

a: Then, it doesn’t matter what you say.  Just be yourself.   Show him that you care.

24 hour fitness

M. and me are doing tricep pull downs

A gentlemen approaches us:

“Are you using this handle?”

“It’s all yours“

He’s like 6″1′ , 250 lbs, gruff and walks with a left prosthetic leg

(brain:  it’s not going to happen, he’s going to get offended and beat you up)

(spirit:  hehe, you don’t know who I know. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do the things I am doing, he will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.”)

5 min later

talking with God

This might sound crazy or weird, but this is how I talk to God.

I grab a spiral notebook and I write directly to him and I write down what I think He is saying to me.  We have a conversation over paper, and this helps me to keep track of it.   I write speaking directly to him and I write His words as if he were directly speaking to me.

perspective

I believe God’s power to heal is greater than the devil’s power to destroy.

I believe God’s desire to heal is greater than the devil’s desire to destroy

For God is superior to the devil in every way

juvenile hall vocab

words the minors have taught me

Call boy =  young child who transports drugs or money from their backpack from one place to another.  A minor I work with would bike from one part of san jose to another as a call boy, and no one suspected him

O.G.  =   original gangster,  a title that seems to be given to older gang members

Stripes =  acknowledgment / respect given to gang members

Bangin = being active in a gang  ,  gang banging

Soldier  = gang member who is active

Hood  =  neighborhood