:: Thinking InLoud ::

BACKPACKS AND FAITH

2010-04-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

So anyway, JC went to a baseball game right after school and of course, brought his backpack. While he was there, he asked a friend's mom to watch his backpack so he could run around and hang with his friends. No big deal right? Well, he got home that night and was sitting in the chair around 8:30 and it just hit him that he forgot his backpack. So we hopped in the car to go find it. On the way there, I asked him if he was praying and he said, "yeah, how did you know." I said, "because if I were you, I would be praying". I then asked him how much it was going to cost him to replace his books and he said $60.00. For a 13-year old that is a ton of money and I felt bad that if we couldn't find his bag that he would have to pay to replace his books. Well, we finally got there only to discover that it was not where he left it and it was not in the lost and found. The conversation then turned to thoughts like, "what are you going to learn through this." Of course, he learned to be more responsible with his stuff and he didn't want to pay.

JC then said that he was going to keep praying and I said, "I will pray with you, but I really don't have that much faith that we are going to find it." I know, I know, it wasn't the best example, but I was focussed on the "reality" of the situation. JC, however was focussed on the "possibility" of the situation. Isn't that the difference maker in prayer.....those that focus on the reality and those that focus on the possibility. I suppose that is what faith really is....

A week went by and JC called me on the phone and said, "Dad, that prayer thing really works, I found my bag." It turns out the lady that he asked to watch it took it home and didn't know how to get in touch with him. However, his friend that he went to the game with called the lady and she said that she had it. I told JC that he had more faith than me in this situation and I am glad that he was faithful in prayer. Who knew that I would go back-to-school in the area of prayer as my failing grade was popping out of the top of the backpack that I failed to pray about. Hmmmm.....reality and possibilities. Jesus, increase my faith.

SURPRISE

2010-04-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

Golf is the hardest game to master.....mainly because you never do. However, today I made 6 birdies.......and for the last two hours of today, I am still convincing myself that I have it mastered, until I play again and realize that I do not.

DRAW.....DRAW.....DRAW

2010-04-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

So I was in Russia walking around an open-air market when I felt this presence behind me. He was walking all hunch backed with a pad of paper and piece of chalk right up next to me and saying “draw. draw. draw.” in a Russian accent. Apparently, he wanted to draw a picture of me and he wanted me to pay him for his efforts. I politely said that I was not interested and he left me alone………….for about 10 minutes. I then felt his presence behind me again saying “draw. beard. draw”. I politely said no again and he left me alone……………for about 10 minutes. Again I felt his presence behind me and he was still saying “draw. beard. draw. free. I need to draw.”

This guy was persistent and obviously had a deep desire to draw my face and/or beard and at this point he was willing to do it for free. I knew better about the whole free idea, but I finally caved into his demands and asked him how long it would take. He said three to five minutes so I agreed and stood there while he went to work on my chalky portrait. He then finished in the agreed time and I couldn’t resist the need to ask him how much. He informed me it would be 1000 rubles which is $40.00 in American money. I said I was not going to pay him that much and told him I would pay him $20.00. He said $30.00. I said I did not want it for that, but he was more than welcome to keep it for his personal collection. He finally said, “for you…500 rubles.” I paid him the $20.00 and he rolled up my picture and handed it to me.

He was satisfied with his artwork. I was happy to help a self-employed artist and I was also rather impressed with his persistent salesmanship.

Here is the point of the story. Don’t take no for an answer because you may just get your wish of sketching an American with a giant beard. I will be having an auction of this portrait sometime in November so please save your money so I can at least get my money back!

THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME

2010-04-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

So anyway........ I always like to start my stories with "so anyway" because it effortlessly connects the past, present and future. As with most stories, there is always a past, present and future. PAST Every since Julie and I have been married I have called her Lola as a simple endearing name. I am not sure why I chose Lola other than that I think it is so random and sweet. For those of you who know the song "Lola", I did not see Julie as a transsexual prostitute. In case you didn't know, there is a song called Lola about a transsexual prostitute. I am fairly sure I have offended some of you just by putting those two words together and others are mad that I ruined the song for you because you had no idea and still others knew nothing about the song and I am sorry to have introduced you to the reality of popular music from the 70’s. To all of you I say, relax, it is what it is and has nothing to do with us. I am also sorry for the extremely long run-sentence two sentences ago. Back to the simple endearing name.......I always called Julie Lola when I was trying to be cute, well as cute as someone can be with a giant wig on his chin. I made a reference one day about possibly naming our baby girl Lola. Julie was not for the idea at first. A few months later, we went to a birthday party for Ashly Allen where we met a couple that just named their baby Lola. I don’t remember their names, but I do remember Lola. Imagine that. I then started the whole "it is not fair that they get to name their baby Lola and you won't even consider it" routine. I would not leave Julie alone about it until she at least considered it as a way to connect my two little princesses. That night, we arrived at home after the party and Julie said, "OK, here is the deal, if you put your hand on my stomach and say the name Lola and she moves, I will consider it." So, I put my hand on Julie's stomach and leaned in real close and said, “Lola”. We were not expecting anything since I hadn’t felt her move yet. Needless to say, it was the first time I felt her move. We both looked at each other like God himself had given us a sign much like the angel with Mary and Joseph only we were together when we got the message. I couldn't stop laughing and Julie knew she could potentially be naming this baby Lola. As all good signs from God, this one needed to be tested so Julie said, "OK, you need to do it again." At this point, I was so confident God had spoken through the movements of young babes, I said "Absolutely not, you said one time." Actually, I put my hand on her stomach, leaned in real close and said, “Lola”. I know God is hilarious because she moved again. I quickly said, “Hey Julie, how about if I put your hand on my stomach and you say six pack.” Hey, it might have been worth a try! At that moment, I tried to convince Julie that it should be the name. She stuck to her original statement (I was going to say stuck to her guns, but it sounded stupid) and said she would consider it. We talked to the boys and they really liked the name and then one day we all just sorta started calling her Lola. PRESENT We are now in the hospital with Lola. She finally decided to eat and open up her little eyes. I am writing stories. Julie is rearranging furniture in the room and bundling Lola. (not at the same time of course) The boys are with MeMaw and PaPaw at the mall who spent 12 hours getting here yesterday. Papa and Iowa visited last night and are working today, but my mom(Iowa - that is another name story for later) stopped by earlier to check in. Kristi, Julie’s sister, drove in last night to surprise Julie. Flowers arrived from our church and Julie's brother and sister-in-law. Kathy stopped by and said hello. We have been reading a bunch of comments on facebook, answering emails, text messages and phone calls. Thank you all for your humor, love, sincerity, attention to detail and friendship. Life is surreal right now and I like it that way. Sometimes it is good not believe what is actually happening….. FUTURE Only God knows…..

IT HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS.....

2010-04-05T17:37:00.001-07:00

It has been five years since my last blog......

No really, I stopped blogging because I thought I was going to use my facebook account and just post notes, but that didn't work that well. Mainly, because I didn't feel like writing anything. I did write two notes on facebook that I will eventually copy and paste to my blog. Anyway, why did I start up my blog again. Well, a friend of mine started blogging for the first time and I decided to resurrect my blogging account. After a few times of trying to get it reinstated, I am officially back to the blogging world.

I suppose only time will tell how much I decide to blog this time. Since I am writing for a living now, it is either going to inspire me to write more or I may decide that I have written enough.

What is the moral of the story? I don't really know, but I guess that is the beauty of blogging.

A TOOTHPICK

2005-11-28T12:45:00.000-08:00

What is that in my tooth? I can’t seem to shake it loose. It must be a piece of turkey left over from my dinner, not making me thinner, but I do feel like a winner. It is driving me crazy. I’ve gotta get it out. I need a toothpick. I need a toothpick. I need a toothpick. I need a toothpick. Does anyone have a toothpick?

“Son, calm down, I have a toothpick.”

Thanks Dad! But don’t you think it’s kinda sad
That in America with everything we have
Thanksgiving becomes and hums along with a brief once-a-year recognition
Like an ignition that we start up and turn off as soon as we warm up
To the idea that we have been blessed and no sooner do we forget
About those 799 million that go to bed hungry, every night, every night
Every night, we lose sight of the reality that we have the privilege to sit down at a table. Because I’m able, my family’s stable, I even get to sit beside Aunt Mabel.
Who’s been praying for me since I was a little kid, despite the things I did.

Well, dinner’s over and I’m full from my meal
So sit back, don’t relax, let me take a moment to reveal
The symbol of American comfort is a small wooden toothpick
Please pay attention my intention is for this to stick.

While we use a toothpick to remove excess food from between our teeth
Take some time this thanksgiving to help the person living under life’s table who’s willing to pick up what’s left beneath.

BOUNCE

2005-11-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

So anyway, just when you think you’re unique
You see another guy bouncing the same red dodge ball down the same street
Between his knees and his feet, Wait, we even got the same sneaks
Well maybe not, that’s a bit of an exaggeration.
Dodgy dodge balls in an a mirror like situation
Couldn’t even draw this one up on play station
But who knew that after Tai food we’d see another red dodge ball dude

Yeah, I am serious we just came out of the thrift shop
I bought a pair of pants, a shirt, some shorts and dodge ball to top it off.
I didn’t actually buy the ball, but I stood next to the guy who did
He’s a friend of mine nice enough to spot it, pick it up and buy it for his kid.

Ok so what the point of the story, your startin’ to bore me
The point is, as random as two red dodge balls on the same street may be.
Your only as unique as the guy standin’ next to me.
Bounce, Bounce, Bounce

ROOTS

2005-10-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

There is something about a root system of a person. There is something about a root system of an organization, family, neighborhood, business center, and a tree. Roots matter because they are connected to a history. History matters because it is connected to the present and future. Does God ever work in the present at the expense of history? Hmmmm.... Will God destory roots to build a new tree? My first thought is no. My second thought is no. And my third thought is no. So....what does it mean to live in the present in such a way that honors roots and history?

Root systems can be healthy and growing or infected and stunted. I think we all live with a certain amount of infected roots, but we also live with a healthy sense of who we are and where we come from......if we want to take the time to investigate.

I have been investigating my root system. You know things like what shaped my life into what it is today...family, neighborhood, city, church, relationships, teachers, sports, college, wife, and kids. I began this thought journey about 4 years ago and it has come to a partial, but a more realistic realization in the last 45 days.

Recently, I moved my family back to Des Moines which is the mecca center of my root system. It is where I spent 18 years of my life in the same house, same backyard, same neighborhood and same city. It is where I attended two schools and two churches. It is the place that shaped my view of the world until I actually encountered the world.

I am now "coming home" with new ideas, new concepts, new perceptions, new dreams, new visions and new realities that will fuse with my root system. What does it mean when a person's life shaped by a certain root system is presently being reconnected to a old root system? I have no idea, but I am excited to learn how God wants to take my root system and fuse it into the realities of today for the sake of today and tomorrow. I am not sure what this is going to look like, but I am anxious to see what the "new tree" will look like.

Stay tuned as I write more about this reality......

Well, let me take a moment right now and write about one experience. I enrolled my kids in the same elementary school that I attended as an elementary student. Walking into those hallways after 18 years was a rather nostalgic experience. Same smells. Same look and feel, but different people. I actually had the opportunity to teach the students, teachers and parents during one of my Study Smarts workshops. It was a strange feeling looking out into the crowd and seeing some of the same teachers that taught me and some of the student faces resembling those of my friends. I came to find out later that some of them were actually kids of my old friends. How awesome is that?

What I learned from that experience is that if I leave a place well, I can always return to it with hope and high expectations. It really made me stop and thank God that despite myself, He allowed me to leave well so I could one day return and see different branches grow out of a root system that started some 30 years earlier. Roots and history matter.

GREEN SHOES

2005-04-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Green Shoes

"Hello Pastor Jeremy! Today is gonna be a good day Pastor Jeremy as long as I keep taking my medication Pastor Jeremy. God is good Pastor Jeremy. I am down to a few cigarrettes per day Pastor Jeremy. I tell ya Pastor Jeremy, God is watchin' out for me Pastor Jeremy. This HIV is killing me Pastor Jeremy. I just need to keep takin' my medication, right Pastor Jeremy?" "That's right Billy, you just keep taking that medication and rejoice in the Lord always." "That's right Pastor Jeremy."

I would like to introduce you to my friend Billy. Billy is a 55 year old black man who lives across the street from our church building in a "retirement center" for the mentally ill. Billy is a believer in Jesus and understands Jesus as his Lord. He always has a positive word to say, but struggles within the same conversations he has with himself on a daily basis. Billy includes me in his conversations and I am always happy he does. I am not sure what Billy's future holds for him, but I can tell you this, I will miss him when he finally goes home to be with the Lord. I see him around the city riding his 3 wheel bicycle. I get a little nervous for him, but he always seems to make it home.

Anyway, recently he made friends with a married couple at the Church of Hollywood Downtown who were only with us for a short time before they moved to California. He somehow managed to get their address and has been writing them now for over 6 months. Billy's basic needs are taken care of like food, shelter and clothing. I believe he receives $54.00 a month for spending money. He asked them if they would mind helping him with a new outfit. They agreed to send $50.00 and I agreed to take him shopping. Today was the day of our shopping spree.

I can only imagine the prayer. Lord, I know I am HIV positive. I know I am mentally ill and need to take my medication. I know I have a cigarrette addicition. I know my life could be better. I know You love me. I know I am a child of Yours. I would really like some green converse.........and God said yes.

Hmmmmmm.......

Isn't it amazing that God journeys with us? He takes delight in every detail of our lives. I am sure He enjoyed the smile on Billy's face when he put on those new green shoes. I don't think this is necessary to state, but I believe Billy is a reminder to us all that God takes pleasure in blessing His children. Have you thanked Him lately?

Thank you Billy for believing!

IT'S ABOUT TIME

2005-04-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

It has been about a month since my last blog. I have been blog free for 30 days now and am experiencing some blog withdraw. The symtoms include bottled emotions, silent frustration, internal rejoicing, and uninfluenced lives.

Several people have said (well at least 3) "you haven't blogged in awhile, why not?" Quite frankly I haven't made the time. I say the "made" the time because the excuse of not "having" time is only a lie we tell ourselves to make excuses to others as to why we haven't done something. The reality is that we all make time to do the things that we want to do and somehow ignore the things that we know we need to do. I am not sure if I need to blog, but it apparently has been something that I have not wanted to do lately. So.......

This reality has caused me to evaluate my life in terms of wanting and needing. I would say that lately my life has been consumed by my wants and not necessary my needs. I suppose the goal is to make my wants my needs and my needs my wants so there is a consistency to my beliefs and behaviors. For instance, do I need to spend time in prayer. Yes, do I want to spend time in prayer? Do I need to spend more time with my family? Yes, do I want to spend more time with my family? Do I need to share Jesus with people? Yes, do I want to share Jesus with people? Do I need to love my neighbors? Yes, do I want to love my neighbors? The list goes on and on and on and on and on and on.

Time is a precious gift from God and every person is the universe is given the same amount of it. What is the difference between people who use their time vs. people who allow time to use them. It is time to take control of my time so I am more effective in my personal life and my public life. To that end, is blogging worth my time? I suppose you can answer that question for me by commenting on this blog. Of course, you will have to answer whether it is worth your time.

DAY OFF

2005-03-09T23:45:00.000-08:00

The conversation was great. The waitress was extra kind. The food was fantastic. I was eating Pad Thai and a California Roll at one of my favorite places for lunch. I was with Robert, a new friend of mine. We have been friends now for about 4 months. During that time I have discoverd that we share many of the same passions - people, church planting, theology, Thai food, British comedy, (which for him it makes sense because he is from London), strategic thinking, souls, driving behind the wheel not the passenger seat, working, dreaming and eating. Did I mention eating?

The conversation today was typical to most of our conversations. We talk about church life, Study Smarts, my family, his family, life in general. But then something strange happened. He asked me if I ever take a day off. It is about 11:30 PM right now and I have been thinking about that question for about 11 hours now.

What is a day off? Does it mean that I have stop doing what I don't like doing to do what I really want to do? Does it mean that I organize a day during the week to do nothing at all? Everyday for me is different because I am a husband, father, pastor and business owner. I wake up everyday with a different approach and different schedule - mainly because I really don't have a schedule. The only thing predictable in my life is the unpredictability.

This brings me to a more important question. Does taking a day off mean that I take a day off from who I AM or what I DO? Does it mean taking a day off from both? I am not really sure how to answer that question and I am not really sure it needs answered. I do know that Robert's questions provoked a couple of thoughts for me.

Thought One: I don't feel like I really work during the day because who I am is what I do so I don't need a day off.

Thought Two: If what I am is what I do, then taking a day off would mean that I stop being me.

I suppose I have never thought about a day off.

Thank you Robert for helping me realize that I can spend each day being who I am and that doesn't require a day off. I know that is not what you meant by your question, but it really caused me to be thankful of the fact that I am doing who I am. I am truly living a dream!!!

CEILINGS AND PLATFORMS

2005-03-01T17:32:00.000-08:00

Am I a ceiling or a platform? Managing people requires that in some way I become a ceiling for those around me as to somehow control the process of the person they are to become. Inspiring people requires that I become a platform for those around me to contribute to the process of the person becoming who they are to become.

A ceiling serves as a boundary of containment. A platform serves as a launching pad for something bigger. A ceiling slows progress. A platform initiates progress. A ceiling limits potential. A platform releases potential.

Lord, help me be a platform for those around me. Help me inspire people to greatness. Help me not be so arrogant to believe that people need ceilings. Make me the best platform I can be. Thank you!

COMPLICATED SIMPLENESS

2005-02-24T16:28:00.000-08:00

Basketball

Well, I started playing this sport called basketball in first grade. My dad had a rule in the house that went something like this...."If you start something you have to play it for at least two years before you decide to quit." And so it was. I played my first year and wanted to quit, but I had to play one more year. I am glad I did because that second year is when I fell in love with the game. I have been playing ever since...from all star teams to AAU teams to all-state player to college. My basketball career ended after my first year of college when I met this beautiful girl and we were married. Here name is Julie. Now we have two awesome sons - JC and Colby.

......And as fate or God or destiny would have it, I am now coaching my two sons at the local YMCA. It is a blast. My oldest son is 8 and my youngest is 6. I am coaching 7 and 8 year old kids. (They let Colby play because I was coaching) We are officially team #5, but unofficially we are THE HEAT.

This experience for me has been a stretch to say the least. It is hard to coach basketball when your team doesn't "really" know the difference between offense and defense and what it means to transition. We are starting slow. We are learning where things are on the court, how to pass, how to do a layup, where to stand, when to move to the other end of the court, how to dribble, how to shoot, how to play defense and an array of other activities including keeping them focused during our stretch time. Also we are working on keeping them focused. Did I mention we are learning to stay focused?

Anyway, sometimes it is necessary to go back to the basics to truly appreciate the more complicated things in life. Sometimes it is necessary to let go of the complicated to appreciate the simple. Thank you HEAT for teaching me this lesson!

SILENCE MODE

2005-02-22T21:04:00.000-08:00

Silence Mode

Am I really that important that I need to carry around a phone. Are the people in my life important enough that I need to call them while going through a drive through? "Hey could you hold on a minute, I need to order a #9, cheese only. Sorry about that.....I didn't think I would get through the line that quickly. I can't believe how good the Coke tastes from McDonald's. I wish you were here so we could enjoy it together. So when are you coming to see me?"

You know how the rest of the conversation usually goes - two lonely people discussing mostly meaningless details so they don't really have to concentrate on things that truly matter in life.

Imagine how different the world would be if we spent our time encouraging others for real - not patronizing remarks that only add to the subtle self defeating thoughts that most people deal with anyway, but real authentic praise for something you admire in someone else either because you don't have it or because you do have it and you know how difficult it is to maintain.

I recently experienced this on a bus trip home from a camping trip with about 12 single adults. I was the only married person on the bus. The group was rather diverse and I used to be responsible for the group's spiritual growth. I was invited to go, but I really wanted to stay home that weekend with my family, but my wife said that she would be fine with the boys at home and that I should go...so I did.

We left on a Sunday afternoon, drove 5 hours, stayed one night and drove home in about 7 hours. It was on the way home that I experienced what it meant to genuinely and publically admire something about another individual and have them reciprocate the same courtesy. The crazy part about the "game" was that it was initiated by a visitor to the group. The group was a Christian group and she was a visiting atheist brought by someone who was concerned for her soul.

When the game started, it was so awkward listening to people tell one another good things about one another. In fact, no one was even looking at the person who was giving the compliment. Our society is so not used to hearing someone praise them that we didn't know how to react. As time went on, it became evident to me that our lives should be filled trying to catch people doing something good.

I happen to be the keeper of the cell phones during the game. When the game started everyone turned off their phones, gave them to me to put on the cell phone chair and focused on the people in the bus. No phone calls were accepted for any reason. I witnessed 13 people gladly give up a possible conversation and engage in meaningful conversation that I will never forget for as long as I live. It lasted over 3 hours. Unbelievable!

The experience recaptured my conviction that I need to do more encouraging and quite frankly, I need more encouragement. It feels good to know you are loved. Make someone feel good today!

IT'S ME!

2005-02-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

It's Me

Is this what the world is coming to? A random spot called a "blog" where I can post my opinions, my views, my expressions, my commentary, my beliefs, my victories, my failures, my thoughts, my random behavior, and my life. I am not sure how I feel about this idea. It used to be that I would write "private" journals for my own release, now this private world is going "public" and the world gets to hear how I feel and what I think about stuff. On the surface, I think it is a good idea, but I am not ready to say it is a great idea. I suppose only time will tell.

There is a certain mystique about a me-centered world. A me-centered world suggests that all that matters is me. It becomes about me and only me. While this idea is rather more of a utopia than reality, it is still quite staggering to think about. I mean, imagine a world where the only thing that mattered was me. It didn't matter what anyone else thought about or suggested. It didn't matter whose feelings were hurt or who was blessed. All that mattered in life was me. Not YOU! ME! Not YOU! ME! Not YOU! ME!

Your opinions suck! Your thoughts trivial! Your ideas meaningless! UNLESS, they mattered to ME! I mean after all, the world truly does revolve around me. I am a selfish guy whose sole mission in life is to please myself. I am only interested in you in direct proportion to how it effects me. My life's pursuit is making me the greatest, me the most powerful, me the most intelligent, and me the most significant.

I think this would be an interesting way to live except that it would not matter to YOU!

I LOVE....

2005-02-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

My Family

My family rules! I love my wife. I love my kids. I love being a family. I love sharing values. I love learning to live in the same house. I love watching my boys fight and then making up again. I love rubbing my wife's back and letting her rub mine. I love watching Napoleon Dynamite together. Gosh. I love the process of discipline. I love coaching their basketball team. I love going out to eat. I love eating at home. I love playing outside. I love going to school plays. I love working from home. I love being a pastor. I love watching my wife sleep. I love watching my boys sleep. I love to sleep. I love trying to be a family that represents Jesus. I love our big backyard which means I love our big fence. I love writing I love things, but not so much anymore which means I am done.

HOLLYWIERD

2005-02-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

A Building Redeemed

Recently, my family and I moved to Downtown Hollywood, FL to learn what it means to truly love a neighborhood and a city. By recently, I mean about a year and a half ago or so. My wife and I with our two boys set out to obey a calling from God to start a church in East Hollywood along with some friends and other pastors.

I will never forget the first night lying in bed with my wife being scared to death of what we just did. I remember hearing every noise and wanted to get under the bed. This is a bit unusual for a 6 foot, 200 pound man. However, the unknown is always a bit fearful and we moved into a rather rough neighborhood. We are about 18 blocks from the beach and 10 blocks from downtown. It is a beautiful location, but some of the people are bit shady to say the least. This is the city that God has called us to love.

Our church was able to purchase a building as seen in the picture. This building was an Elk's club, then a sex club and then our church gathering space. It is an awesome thing to "redeem" a building. It is a perpetual reminder of the redeeming we all need.

Inside of the building meets a living, breathing body of Christ whose sole mission is to be the church in the city for the sake of the city! Outside of the building lives a living, breathing body of Christ whose sole mission is be the church in the city for the sake of the city!

Life has been an amazing journey so far in Hollywood. In fact, I was walking downtown with a friend of mine and we discoverd that someone had written on a park bench. The writing said, "Hollyweird - where the freaks come out to play". I really wanted to meet this person. I wanted to know if they were observing something or stating something about themselves. I would never know. What I would know is that they were totally correct. Our city is an eclectic place and I am so excited about living somewhere as culturally, educationally, spiritually, and socio-economically diverse as East Hollywood.

God is good. My family is doing great. The church is amazing. My neighbors are cool. I can only look forward to what God is going to do to make Himself famous here in Hollyweird!