WORLDS ARE FORMING

A walk around Town Lake, Austin.

The other night I got the urge to take a walk around Town Lake, which goes right through Austin, not far from my house.  It was just about sunset after a 90 degree day, a cool breeze was blowing off the lake and people were out and about.

Feel like I got some good shots, but more than that, it was really nice to just walk and think.  (For a while I worried that some people might think I was Sketchy McSketch alot, taking pictures along a path where many people run, walk, and bike.  I got over it.)

Austin is great.

Yet another reason I am for gun control.

A hush.

This morning I read, with shock, on CNN today that a 4 year-old boy from Minnesota was killed this weekend after wandering behind a paper target while people from his party were doing target practice.  Apparently he had camouflage pants on, so he was a bit hidden, and it was an accident.

I really sat here for a moment silent and a bit sick to my stomach.

I am deeply sad for the family, and cannot imagine the pain and guilt that must be part of this situation. 

Yet still, I have to ask,

"Whose fault is it?"

Recipe time.

Last night, while a huge thunder and lightning storm raged through Austin, I watched The Aviator with my former-cointern-friend-in-from-out-of-town Jenny, and we decided that we NEEDED to make brownies.  I just happened to have all the fixin's and we proceeded to concoct the goods.

However, when Jenny and I hang out, we've never been the kind of people to do things the "normal" way.  So, we decided to take our brownies to the next level.

By the way, yes.  I am blogging about food.

First, I said,

"Hey, how about we add some chocolate chips?"

Jenny said,

"Oooh, that's a good idea."

Then, I said,

"Ok."

Next, Jenny said,

"How about something else?"

Then, I queried,

"Like what?"

Then, Jenny lit up and EXCLAIMED,

"PEANUT BUTTER.  Definitely peanut butter."

So, we got some peanut butter out (crunchy Jif, thank you) and decided we needed to thin it out, so we did, with the assistance of Silk soy milk, until it was the consistency and color of .... well .... just imagine.

Peanut butter swirled.  Lightning lit the sky.  Thunder rolled across the Hill Country.  Chocolate chips found their home in batter.  35 minutes later, between saying how WEIRD Howard Hughes was and how long the movie was, we marvelled at our creativity, and exclaimed the praises of our creation.

(Really...Aviator guy Howard Hughes.  Poor guy!)

How's the new look...look?

How does it look on your computer?  I am always uncertain whenever I change this thing up, what it will look like on other monitors, especially the colors.

(The banner is a detail of a picture of granite I took in West Yellowstone.)

Austin Summer 2005: Week One.

I wasn't kidding when I said that I hit the ground running.  Life has been BUSY over the past six days in Austin.  Full of moving in, unpacking (not very successfully), working, meeting, eating, hanging out, shopping, sleeping, and finding time to relax.

It really is good to be in Austin, what I like to call home #2.  I've felt well-welcomed, so that is a major blessing.

I love my house.  I am grateful for it.  Tragedy of the day: I couldn't find a toaster.  Turns out they don't have one!  Dang!

My good friend Claire is moving from Austin tomorrow, so we've been trying to hang out this week.  She's introduced me to an AMAZING new(er) coffee shop in Austin, Progress.  I will definitely be spending some time there this summer.  We also hung out with other good friends, Kara and Jenny at one of my favorite restaurants, the Roaring Fork.  Side note: I promise I have male friends.  It might appear to some readers that I only have female friends, but alas, not true.  There we go.

I vow not to be consumed by the job this summer, I really want to rest in order to regain some sanity and be able to be a faithful and useful person in ministry this summer.

A scripture I love right now: Luke 7:36-50.  The woman who was at Jesus' feet, pouring perfume and tears...being forgiven much...loving much.  I realized the other day that I want my life and ministry this summer (and beyond) to be marked by that...at His feet, sacrificing, confessing, being forgiven, and being sent out: healed and forgiven.  I have once felt the warm tears of a friend upon my feet while in Costa Rica, she just happened to be crying when we were huddled in prayer.  I cannot imagine being on either end of the scene in Luke 7, though.  It has been good to consider the woman's angle as well as Jesus' in this scene.

Today was my day off: slept in (that means waking up at 7:30, getting out of bed at 8:30), went to coffee, got locked out of the house by my own doing, ran errands, ate at Texas French Bread, shopped at Buffalo Exchange, got odds and ends at Target and HEB and Barnes & Noble, checked out a few gyms (to join...really LH), made a great dinner, made a gift for my niece, and am now at Spiderhouse, blogging, chatting, resting.

Ok, that's all. I'll blog when I can.  Some pictures to the right...Austin: Summer 2005!  I'll try to add some when I can.  Haven't taken many.

You are loved!  Thanks for they prayers.

Fuji FinePix S5100: So bloggable.

Many people have been asking who she is that has been taking the pictures on my site...

Fuji FinePix S5100.

4.0 megapixels.

Got her on Amazon for a great rate.

I love her and commend her relatives to you all.   Andrew Zirschky (formerly at nakedchurch.blogs.com) introduced us.   

He said: "Hands down, you won't get a better camera for a better price."

It's great for an amateur like me.

DAY 11: Wichita Falls to Austin.

I got out of Wichita Falls by 10. Got to Austin by 3:15.

Can I just say how great it felt to get out of the car?! Truly! Actually, the drive went very quickly, and I was able to get a few good phone calls in.

Seriously...a whirlwind. Got to Austin, got into the house (it is great...I'll get some pictures up in a few days), went to the store, had dinner with a friend, and headed to church. Fun to see so many folks who were excited to see me as well. It was the celebration for graduating high school seniors, and I had a small part to play in it, nothing too major.

Headed home, hung out with a friend for a little bit, and headed to the grocery store at 11:00. Hey, a man has to eat, right? I was excited at first...getting to buy my own food for my "own" kitchen for the first time in quite awhile...but soon hit an exhausted wall and decided to make it an abbreviated trip.

Went home and slept.

Just glad to be in Austin.

More to come in the next few days!

Much Love.
Josh

DAY 10: Santa Fe to Wichita Falls.

Dang.  It was a long day.  All I wanted to do was get to Austin.

All day, I thought, "Oh, I can make it...I'll push on and head down to Austin today."  By the time 9:00pm rolled around and I had been up since 3:15 at the monastery, I decided to be wise and stay in Wichita Falls.  I wasn't THAT tired, but it seemed to be the best idea.

The Blazer passed the 80,000 mark today.  So, of course, I got out and jumped on the side of the road, between Cline's Corner, NM and Santa Fe, NM.  That was fun.  Don't worry, I was safe, only one car passed me going 90 miles an hour.  No worries.

I seriously thought I was in Texas before I was today.  The mapquest map I had just had the start and end points, and I could not find my AAA map, so I just went with the flow.  Once I got to the "WELCOME TO TEXAS!" sign, I came to my senses, got a big smile, and took a little snapshot.  Definitely put on some Texas country on my iPod today.  Mmm.  Just to prepare.

Good to talk with the parents, CA, Don, Nick, and Tyler today, briefly! 

I think today, Texas became a reality.  My summer, once again, became a reality.  My love for Covenant and the folks there, a reality.  It's going to be a stretching and great summer, filled with struggle and growth.  I am excited for it.  My prayer today: Lord, make me a pastor.  I think that will be my prayer each day.  I am excited to see what God is going to do.

Wichita Falls, TX.  So near to Oklahoma, the are is called Texoma.  Sigh.  I could take it or leave it.  :)

SONGS OF THE DAY:
    ::I'm Ready...Tracy Chapman
    ::Inside...Neah Lee
    ::Sense...Pete Yorn
    ::What Wondrous Love is This?...Fernando Ortega
    ::That's Right (You're Not From Texas)...Lyle Lovett
    ::Wide Open Spaces...Dixie Chicks
    ::40 Acres...Caedmon's Call
    ::In The Palm of Your Hand...Allison Krauss

By early afternoon on Sunday, I'll be in Austin!  The journey is coming to a close!  It will be busy, as I have to settle into the house, be in the 6:30 service, help in the graduating Senior Celebration, and all that.  No worries.  I am excited to look into the faces of friends at Covenant, to give and get big hugs.

Oh!  I will put some monastery thoughts down in the days to come, OK?  I'll keep blogging (when I have the time), even after the trip, so you keep checking in. 

Much love,
Josh

DAY 7 to 10: Santa Fe to Abiquiu (in brief!)

Hello!

I am alive and well, and hope you are too! 

It has been an AMAZING past few days at Christ in the Desert.  I will write more about it later, I need to get back on the road for a long day ahead to Wichita Falls, TX or beyond.  I am almost in Texas!!!

Check out the photo album to the right for some commentary, OK?

I can say this: God is faithful.  Thanks for your prayers and phone messages.  Know that you were prayed for as well.

As we sung or spoke after each Psalm:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end,
                                                        Amen.

More to come later, friends.

Much love,
Josh

For the next few days...at Christ in the Desert...

...and I will not be able to check the blog.  BUT YOU CAN!

I am sitting, having a late breakfast/early lunch at Santa Fe Baking Company, an eclectic and fairly inexpensive eatery Adam and I found last year when we passed through this way on our road trip.  I am sitting at the window, it is a beautiful morning, there is great art on the walls, and I'm relaxed.  Glory.  Santa Fe is a sweet town.

Beginning this afternoon, until early morning on Saturday, I will be spending time at Christ in the Desert, a monastery just outside of Abiquiu, NM.  Adam and I stayed there for a few nights last year, and vowed that we would return.  Our summers are pretty different (check out his link -- he is a busy guy), so the opportunity arose for me to come, and I hesitated for a minute, but could not pass it up.  Hopefully he and I will be able to head there again.

Theirs is an active worshiping and working community of men and women, and like Saint Benedict, they graciously welcome everyone as if they were Christ himself. 

Please pray for me as I worship and work and eat with them for the  next few days.  Specifically, please pray for the ability to rest and "be" there.  Also, for some sense of revelation and guidance regarding the ministry I will be serving with this summer.  I hope to read the rest of Buechner's Sacred Journey, as well as a good portion of Scripture.

Thanks, friends.  Know that I will be think of and praying for you as well.  I am grateful for you.

Stay tuned for pictures and a post on Saturday morning!

Much Love,
Josh