Entries by tag: good ripples
:D
- Current Mood:ecstatic
Yeah, today went well.
So yeah, I spent the weekend up north, as mentioned. The trip up went smoothly until we reached Casa de Fruta, this tourist trap rest stop in the middle of nowhere, about an hour from San Jose. We stop for a quick leg stretch and bathroom break, I pick up some dried fruit as a gift for the parents just because, and then we all pile back into the car... and it gurgles. And stalls. And generally refuses to go. We'd noticed a bit of gurgling as we pulled in, but we figured it was nothing... joke was on us. So after checking the obvious for problems, we drag in both Triple A and Allen's parents, one to retrieve the car and the other to retrieve us. Arrival time was thus two hours later than planned. (Turned out the water pump broke down, meaning the radiator wasn't getting water, if you were curious.)
Saw my good friend Cheryl that evening, along with some of her friends. (I owed her that after not seeing her once all Christmas break, due to one complication after another.) Followed that up with seeing my grandmother (who's getting chemo right now but is holding out okay) for lunch the next day, and the usual crew at church on Sunday. This was not, however, the best choice of weekends if I wanted to see my parents; they were highly busy due to some church planning event (there's some major redecorating coming up in the next few months), so I barely saw them at all Saturday and only saw Mom for most of Sunday. But I did get to spend the last bit of Friday afternoon watching a DVD with both of them.
Still, it was good timing in one other respect. There's this elderly lady I'll call L who was going through some trouble last year and, with the encouragement of her friend R, sought a lawyer... namely, Pam. Coincidentally, R was (and still is) a member of Santa Clara First Baptist; she had no idea until she walked in the door that I was working for Pam as an assistant, but she was glad to know I'd be helping out. I moved down south before the case was resolved completely, but it was basically a stunning victory for our side, and no one was more pleased than L (who was convinced she was screwed and there was no point to fighting it). But I bring this up because R continued being L's friend, and invited her to church, and by another sheer coincidence, L got baptized this Sunday. So it was just cool to see how much better she was doing. I made sure to say hi after the service and congratulate her.
Trip back south was uneventful, although I wasn't able to sleep through as much of it as I did on the way up. Also made sure to bring south as many books as I could pack; I had left most of them behind when I moved for space reasons.
And oh yeah, while I was up there, I was helping Mom out at Costco briefly, and while I was there I poked around the bargain bin computer games, and behold! Brand new, 16 bucks. I haven't seen it used for less than $14. Can you say "Score"? Good!
Saw my good friend Cheryl that evening, along with some of her friends. (I owed her that after not seeing her once all Christmas break, due to one complication after another.) Followed that up with seeing my grandmother (who's getting chemo right now but is holding out okay) for lunch the next day, and the usual crew at church on Sunday. This was not, however, the best choice of weekends if I wanted to see my parents; they were highly busy due to some church planning event (there's some major redecorating coming up in the next few months), so I barely saw them at all Saturday and only saw Mom for most of Sunday. But I did get to spend the last bit of Friday afternoon watching a DVD with both of them.
Still, it was good timing in one other respect. There's this elderly lady I'll call L who was going through some trouble last year and, with the encouragement of her friend R, sought a lawyer... namely, Pam. Coincidentally, R was (and still is) a member of Santa Clara First Baptist; she had no idea until she walked in the door that I was working for Pam as an assistant, but she was glad to know I'd be helping out. I moved down south before the case was resolved completely, but it was basically a stunning victory for our side, and no one was more pleased than L (who was convinced she was screwed and there was no point to fighting it). But I bring this up because R continued being L's friend, and invited her to church, and by another sheer coincidence, L got baptized this Sunday. So it was just cool to see how much better she was doing. I made sure to say hi after the service and congratulate her.
Trip back south was uneventful, although I wasn't able to sleep through as much of it as I did on the way up. Also made sure to bring south as many books as I could pack; I had left most of them behind when I moved for space reasons.
And oh yeah, while I was up there, I was helping Mom out at Costco briefly, and while I was there I poked around the bargain bin computer games, and behold! Brand new, 16 bucks. I haven't seen it used for less than $14. Can you say "Score"? Good!
"Alas my love, you say goodbye
Wipe the poison from my brow
Alas my love, this guilty night
It gives me up like a foster child
And in this moment I take my vow
These angels sleeping at my feet
And in this moment you do not know how
How my spirit wants to flee"
You see it was one man against the night
Taking on a multitude
That had left Him high and dry
No candle burning vigil could light the way
Darkness hit the ground like a fallen satellite
He wrestled until morning
With human souls and dark angels
And there He finished His work
On the third day
- Kevin Max
Wipe the poison from my brow
Alas my love, this guilty night
It gives me up like a foster child
And in this moment I take my vow
These angels sleeping at my feet
And in this moment you do not know how
How my spirit wants to flee"
You see it was one man against the night
Taking on a multitude
That had left Him high and dry
No candle burning vigil could light the way
Darkness hit the ground like a fallen satellite
He wrestled until morning
With human souls and dark angels
And there He finished His work
On the third day
- Kevin Max
Emmanuel. The word means "God with us."
Although I won't argue that the resurrection isn't the most important event in Christianity, the birth of Jesus is in many ways just as amazing. Not because of the virgin birth or the angelic announcements or the star of Bethlehem; I don't think anyone who believed in God before or since would deny he was capable of doing all of that without breaking a sweat. But because, starting right then, the Creator of the Universe proved he could understand what it was like for us. He became human, and everything that came with it.
He was a baby; he needed diaper changes and feedings. He was a kid; he stubbed his toes and skinned his knees. He was a teenager; he went through puberty, his voice broke, he probably had acne. He was a young adult; he worked as a carpenter, got sore muscles and sweat. He made himself dependent on others.
And when death came, he feared it. He faced it, but he feared it. And by the time it arrived, he would understand pain, to levels his human body was never designed to tolerate.
For thirty-three years, the most powerful Being in existence walked among us. God was with us.
If God just wanted to die for our sins -- no small thing, don't get me wrong, but if that's all he wanted to do -- he could have showed up as an adult for a few days, gotten killed off, and that would have been that. Like some celebrity getting some photo ops with starving African kids for charity before going back home to a Hollywood mansion and a professional chef. But God went for the whole package.
And so we don't have to wonder if someone like him cares about us mortals. We don't have to wonder if he truly understands what it's like to be human. He does. He stepped off his throne and spent thirty-three years proving it. That's the miracle of Christmas.
Although I won't argue that the resurrection isn't the most important event in Christianity, the birth of Jesus is in many ways just as amazing. Not because of the virgin birth or the angelic announcements or the star of Bethlehem; I don't think anyone who believed in God before or since would deny he was capable of doing all of that without breaking a sweat. But because, starting right then, the Creator of the Universe proved he could understand what it was like for us. He became human, and everything that came with it.
He was a baby; he needed diaper changes and feedings. He was a kid; he stubbed his toes and skinned his knees. He was a teenager; he went through puberty, his voice broke, he probably had acne. He was a young adult; he worked as a carpenter, got sore muscles and sweat. He made himself dependent on others.
And when death came, he feared it. He faced it, but he feared it. And by the time it arrived, he would understand pain, to levels his human body was never designed to tolerate.
For thirty-three years, the most powerful Being in existence walked among us. God was with us.
If God just wanted to die for our sins -- no small thing, don't get me wrong, but if that's all he wanted to do -- he could have showed up as an adult for a few days, gotten killed off, and that would have been that. Like some celebrity getting some photo ops with starving African kids for charity before going back home to a Hollywood mansion and a professional chef. But God went for the whole package.
And so we don't have to wonder if someone like him cares about us mortals. We don't have to wonder if he truly understands what it's like to be human. He does. He stepped off his throne and spent thirty-three years proving it. That's the miracle of Christmas.
Saturday (yeah, I'm behind on my entries; so what?) Allen called in Brian and I for a special mission. We went over to a nearby park with a banner, which we were to attach to a bridge over the lake. Then we were to film the result as Allen and Christina (his girlfriend for six years) rounded the bend, and Christina read the message: "Christina, will you marry me?"
*waits for the "Awwwww"s to die down*
Unfortunately, there was a snag... the letters on the banner weren't large enough. We should have checked earlier, but it simply wasn't legible at any distance that you could reach without walking on water. So Allen gets her to the planned point, and it's clear from there that there's... something... hanging from the bridge... (D'oh!) So he makes some excuse to make a phone call and gives Brian updated instructions on the sly, then heads around the side of the lake, facing Christina away from the bridge while we furiously take down the banner and reposition it across the entryway.
Alas, by this point Christina had figured out something was up, and she was able to deduce from there. So the only surprise for her was that Brian and I were involved. But hey, she still said yes (like there was ever any doubt), so all's good. Congrats, both of you!
*waits for the "Awwwww"s to die down*
Unfortunately, there was a snag... the letters on the banner weren't large enough. We should have checked earlier, but it simply wasn't legible at any distance that you could reach without walking on water. So Allen gets her to the planned point, and it's clear from there that there's... something... hanging from the bridge... (D'oh!) So he makes some excuse to make a phone call and gives Brian updated instructions on the sly, then heads around the side of the lake, facing Christina away from the bridge while we furiously take down the banner and reposition it across the entryway.
Alas, by this point Christina had figured out something was up, and she was able to deduce from there. So the only surprise for her was that Brian and I were involved. But hey, she still said yes (like there was ever any doubt), so all's good. Congrats, both of you!
- Current Mood:satisfied
Iraqi girl with a serious heart condition gets treatment. (The start of the story can be found here; scroll down to "Days 11-16."
Anyone who still thinks American soldiers don't care about the Iraqi people can bite me.
Anyone who still thinks American soldiers don't care about the Iraqi people can bite me.
- Current Mood:optimistic
One of the things that annoyed me about this incident is that I had renewed my Elance account two days before the insults started flying. Granted, I'd only gotten one job out of the three-month subscription, but it had earned me $52, and I'd only paid $25 for the subscription. And now that I actually had a job under my belt, maybe I'd have better luck getting more clients.
Both arguments to continue my membership fell apart when Bozo the Client demanded his money back and gave me a D+ feedback in one motion. My one other experience with Elance hadn't been that great for the contractor either; it was the time my boss hired someone to do some advertising and then never was able to decide what he actually wanted from her. Between those two incidents, I suddenly had very little faith that this site was worth even $25.
Unfortunately, it was too late to retract my subscription fee, no matter how much I suddenly wanted to -- I was stuck for another three months.
...Or was I? See, the resubscription process is pretty automated. I just say okay and they charge my credit card again. The same credit card I used last time. Last time being three months ago. As in, before this.
Yup, Elance came to me and let me know my credit card wasn't any good anymore, and would I please give them a valid number? I said no, goodbye, and terminated my account on the spot.
Both arguments to continue my membership fell apart when Bozo the Client demanded his money back and gave me a D+ feedback in one motion. My one other experience with Elance hadn't been that great for the contractor either; it was the time my boss hired someone to do some advertising and then never was able to decide what he actually wanted from her. Between those two incidents, I suddenly had very little faith that this site was worth even $25.
Unfortunately, it was too late to retract my subscription fee, no matter how much I suddenly wanted to -- I was stuck for another three months.
...Or was I? See, the resubscription process is pretty automated. I just say okay and they charge my credit card again. The same credit card I used last time. Last time being three months ago. As in, before this.
Yup, Elance came to me and let me know my credit card wasn't any good anymore, and would I please give them a valid number? I said no, goodbye, and terminated my account on the spot.
- Current Mood:surprised
In Christ alone my heart is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final death
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final death
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
- Current Music:In Christ Alone
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