Day 17 – Burbank, CA

(written on Monday 1/24/11)

Psalm 63:2-5

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and Behold your power and your glory.
Because your Love is better than Life
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied with the richest of foods;
with the singing lips my mouth will praise you.

I’m currently sitting outside a Dazbug coffee shop, I didn’t get any coffee but they have free Wi-Fi! Where to begin. It has been just a little over two weeks since I arrived in L.A. and as you can tell from the absence of blog material, I have been busy! But I wouldn’t have it any other way, to quote myself in talking with Aaron the other day, “A disciple’s work is never over.”

I said it in a comical sense but the more I think about it the more I realize the work that God has given me and the calling to be a Disciple of Christ is never over, and it only increases with time. But I give praise to that Fact, and I rejoice with my hands lifted high! I take great joy in the trials and tasks assigned to me for it is achieving for me an eternal glory and I stand firm walking forward each day.

Psalm 61:5-8

For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name....
... v. 8 Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Week 2 Jan 16-22

These are my Roomates!
from left: Lex, Andrew, Gordon, Anson, Aaron


Sunday: We went to Ecclesia Church in downtown Hollywood, It was really amazing, and we were worshiping in an old theatre which was surrounded by the city. I could just feel the Light of God shinning out from our praise.

The week went about the same as the week before, classes homework, no sleep!
Then I got to pick the place I Intern at I picked Radar Pictures, they have produced some great films like, The Last Samurai, Jumanji, and Dumbo Drop. I will be reading scripts and summarizing them! It should be some good experience to just understand the industry and how it works.


Saturday: Breakfast

Aaron and I convinced our roomies that Pronto Donuts was amazing and we had to eat their sometime, so we did, Saturday morning my new pal Gordon and I woke everyone up at 9:30am and forced them to go get donuts! It was a twenty five minute drive but so worth it. The donuts were a sugary taste of Heaven, and it was my roommate Andrew’s Birthday so what a great way to start it off!

Later that day we went to Dockweiler Beach near LAX, It was my first time in the Pacific Ocean since 2007 but so WORTH it!!!

Table

Journal Exert: January 15, 2011

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies

You anoint my head with oil my cup overflows.

*I wrote this while sitting at the table in my room after breakfast.

I thank you for this table. The Table is used for a lot of things. Food, games, fellowship. As I embrace the day of rest I pray one thing.
Place my table in the presence of my enemies”

Because this is where the men of God reside, this is where the disciple way dines. This is where the crucified with Christ find joy, fellowship, nourishment. This is where battles are won and fought. Hearts are mended. Relationships restored.
Those who dwell here are, ”anointed with oil and their cup overflows.

The table for the disciples where the broken are restored...

Week 1: Jan 8-15

The first week was super crazy busy, fun, exciting, new, exhausting, and draining.

Saturday: the 8th

We moved in to Park LaBrea Apartments (pictured above)which hold over 11,000 residents, and located in the Heart of West Hollywood, we are about two miles from Sunset Boulevard and thirty minutes from Santa Monica Beach, “depending on traffic”. That gets said a lot here. Which I have learned if Google Maps says it take 15 minutes double that time, and hope for the best.

My week consisted of going to orientation meetings 4-6 hours each day, shopping for food, which is harder than I ever thought. Hanging with the new roomies, going to Chipotle, and staying up super late almost every night to finish homework which was assigned when we arrived here.. Yes I procrastinated..

Friday: We played some night football, which was really hard because there were no parks with lights, and little open space near our apartments, but it was still fun and no one was seriously injured.

Saturday morning: a group of guys got together and we made pancakes for Breakfast!




Then we went to the Kodak theatre where they hold the Academy Awards every year!

Sight & Sound

Journal exert 1/8/11.

Morning.

As I awake here in LA, I have this familiar feeling. I can’t quite place it at first, the sound of plans landing nearby. The scent in the air. The city smell. I’m reminded of Miami. Of waking up in the Hogar. Of finding a quiet place to pray and worship you. Lord I’m reminded of being in your will, of being sent somewhere other than my home. My home was made a mission field as well. My Life is in your hands. May I be crucified with Christ so that I may be living through him, and I pray once again, ”SEND ME TO THE WORLD!” and you have, I thank you for this step of the journey.

Psalm 29:4-5

The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is Majestic

Late Night: 1:15am

Here, I am in Los Angeles California on a Saturday Night January 8th, 2011. If you had asked me five years ago where I would be on this date I would have probably had no clue. If you would have asked me 5 days ago I might have said the same thing. Father God, I hope that I would say “The only place I need to be is FOLLOWING CHRIST!” Everything else is secondary. Lord may I live and breathe that every day.

And Jesus said, Come Follow me.

Road Trip, Part Two

Thursday: Driving time: 14 hours.

Aaron’s Camaro was fixed and ready to go at 11am; we went to pick it up and were on our way!

We made our way past St. Louis and it was then my turn to delay the trip, in my stubbornness to get to Cali without using GPS and with me trying to drive and take a picture of the Arch we missed the exit and when thirty minutes in the wrong direction towards Kansas city.. I felt dumb.

We continued on our way. Found another Chic-fil-A.

Next, we drove, and drove, and drove some more. If I ever have kids, and they happen to read this, don not do this!!!

The Gauntlet: We drove from Oklahoma City to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 8 hours.

We spent the night in a hotel parking lot, in the front seats of Aaron’s Camaro with a beautiful view of the night skyline.

Journal exert: January 7th, 2011Friday: Driving time: 12 hours. Albuquerque, NM to Los Angeles, CA
Lord against all odds we are here in L.A. We got here at 8:30pm, 2 hours before Lauren’s flight got in. Lord may we be in your presence. Lord may we do your will. Shelter us tonight give us rest. Heal our tired bodies.

To go out without knowing.

Day 1

3 1/2 hours done, 1 day, 7 hours to go...

Well the saying goes, getting there is half the fun..

Then you could say we are having way too Much Fun!

We woke up at 9am, ate baked french toast for breakfast (Thanks MOM!!!), left the house at 10:30am.

Aaron's car was having some problems, so we decided to get it looked at. We took it in and had the fuel filter, and some fuel injector cleansing fluid put in. Delayed us for about 45 minutes, but we figured it would be better than waiting on the side of the road somewhere.

His car is ready to go, Aaron spots the Chic- Fil-a across the street and picks up a chicken sandwich for the road.

12:30pm EST

We set off for L.A. taking 1-70 west towards St. Louis.

It's a beautiful day, sun is shining, we plan to make it to Tulsa, OK for the night, a 10 hour drive!

I spend the first few hours, just thinking, praying and feeling excited for the journey.

3:55 pm EST

Then about 20 miles outside of St. Louis, Aaron calls me," Dude, something is dragging under my car, I'm gona pull in front so you can see"

This is what I see!

We pull over on the nearest exit, and end up in Maryville, IL. The first place, is some towing and repair place, they tell us to go further down the road, we find a Midas. They tell Aaron his whole muffler and exhaust needs replaced, and they can not get the parts till the morning.

5:00pm cst

Two hours later, we are sitting in an Econo Lodge down the street, thinking wow, that just happened...

and I’m left thinking, PRAISE GOD!!! He is so good, thank you God for this day getting us this far in the journey, thank you for being with us this far in the journey, I don’t deserve to be going, I don’t deserve to have this life, yet you give it anyways, and I’m thankful.

But I wasn’t that joyful at first, but then something wonderful happened.

I stopped, looked at the sunset, and realized, Wow God, thank you. Immediately something I read the other day came to my mind.

“He went out, not knowing where he was going”
- Hebrew 11:8

“One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, What do you expect to do?
You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what he is doing...

...Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you go out in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?”

- Oswald Chambers, Utmost for his Highest, January 2nd.

All I have left to say is PRAISE GOD! He is GOOD. I’m thankful for his protection this far on the journey and trust him with the rest.

All of you, Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble

Humble yourselves therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

-1 Peter 5:5-7