Let the Hecticizm Continue...

I honestly dont think that is a word.. Hecticizm, but if it did exist, it would be the process of continuing hectic. I think thats a good definition..

So, Monday was crazy, both with work (which somehow consumed something like 17 hours) and with life (you fill in the blank). I got to bed about midnight-thirty (thats right before midnight-thirty five), but got very little sleep. Tuesday was a blur, because of monday, but tuesday night was awesome.

I am getting back into running sound for church during the third service (two weeks a month, one on, one off). I forgot how much I like running sound. I enjoy the music, and the worship so much more when I am in the booth. I have full control, and its awesome. I cant wait to go at it again.

Today has been actually a really good day at work. I started at one of my jobs in kingsburg. One of the many job descriptions I have is a problem solver. I actually got to solve some issues today. That is one of the things I enjoy most about my job. I like to look at a problem, diagnose, and fix. It is in my blood. I have spent most of the past two months in the office, trying to find more work, or bidding, etc. But being able to spend some time in the field, during a beautiful day was great.

But now I am stuck in the office working on my bids. I have one I finished, and one more to get out today. After that, I have two weeks to get one more out (its a bigger job though, 4.4 Million).

Life is getting busy, but I am enjoying it so much right. I have been truly blessed.

Welcome back to reality

Well, after a long week, I am able to reflect back. I guess the best place to start is at the beginning (of the week at least). So I got back to Fresno from Hawaii about four on monday morning.. I guess taking the 1 through Malibu, Oxnard, and Camarillo is not the quickest way home. In fact, it added about two hours to my time. Once I finally got up on monday morning (late morning), I ended up hanging out with a friend for most of the day. We went to Me'N'Eds, hung out at the park, and went to the batting cages. It was a lot of fun. You dont realize how much you miss someone until you spend some quality time with them.
After some great conversation, I was back home to prepare for tuesday. It was really hard going back to work. With the way that work is structured right now, I have so many responsibilities, and it is hard to keep up with them. But, I really think that it has helped me to start the day off correctly. I have the hardest time reading my Bible in the morning. But what I have started to do is try to get to work early, and get my reading done at work. It helps me focus, and keeps my life in check.
Tuesday night, I went to see definitely maybe. It was a pretty good movie. Of course, it was one of those movies that has a happy ending, where the boy gets the girl that he really wanted all along, but didn't know it. Good thing it was based on reality...
Wednesday night was spent at church getting "trained" to run sound for third service. The choir was there and all that fun stuff. I left there at about eight thirty, and went to dinner with a friend. I dont care what you say, Red Robin is a bad idea at nine at night. It was a night spent with my friend Harry Potter (my throne) that leaked over to the morning. I think I lost my small intestine...
Friday night was spent at Roger Roca's. There I watched 42nd street with a friend, and it was a pretty good play. I have never been there before, but would go again for sure.
Saturday was out at my brothers new office doing some demolition. Of course, there has to be action in everything I do, so when we went to the dump, I got stuck.. Mud at the dump stinks, and I brought it all the way back to Fresno with me for all of my friends to share with...
Church this morning was really cool. We talked about church planting, and how to glorify God. The major point that hit me was being fruitful. It isn't something I am good at. I try to be the best friend that I can be, but I have a hard time talking about Christ. I am very timid in a lot of my life, and sharing Christ is no exception.

All in all it was a good week spent with some great friends. To top it off, I was challenged at church to be more of what Christ wants me to be, and less of what the world wants from me. After all, life isn't about me, but about what I can do to glorify God...

Vicious Man eating turtles and docile sharks...

So, Yesterday, I went shark diving.. I know, "Blake, are you stupid?!?" well, yes, but this wasn't one of my stupid ideas. The idea sounds inherently dangerous, but its not.. Apparently the sharks that we see are the same as all the other tourists who do the same thing. These have been "Trained" to be at the spot we dive, so they can get a free meal. after we "chummed" (it was more like chum because they didn't put a lot in the water) we got in the cage to see these pansy sharks. They were long, some up to about 15-18 feet, but they weren't trying to attack the cage or anything.. So much for the element of danger.

All that being said, it was amazing. I was totally in their environment, and I just got to watch them. They were so graceful. it was awesome to be able to be in the water, and watch them eat the little bit that they did. 20 minutes went by way too quickly.

After that, we went down to one of the beaches, and watched the sea turtles come in. There was one on the beach when we got there, and probably about 50 tourists watching him. He looked at us the way turtles do (you know, all turtle-ly) turned around, and went back in the water. apparently we weren't as entertaining as we found him.

Then to lunch.. at world famous pizza bobs (I dont know that that means it is necessarily good, because no matter how good or bad it is, people are still going back to their mother lands, and talk about it). But all that being said, the food was pretty good.

The afternoon consisted of snorkeling in the same area as yesterday, only this time, I didn't go next to the rocks... We saw a little squid (really little, he was only about two inches long), angel fish, turtles, puffer fish, and lots of other fish that I dont know the name of. It was pretty cool, but stupid me didn't think about actually putting sunscreen on, you know because Im going to be in the water. But when you are snorkeling, your back is exposed, and my back has plenty of burn to show for it. But it was worth it.

The evening consisted of sitting on the beach, drinking a bottle of wine, and watching the sun set. That is when it hit me: Hawaii is truly beautiful, and just watching the sun set into the vast ocean was so pretty. It was one of those moments where I could see God's hand on creation.

What beauty. I am truly one lucky person right now.

Mexican traditions in a polynesian world.

So, Im here in Hawaii now.. It is pretty cool. I have learned quite a bit in the 12 hours I have been here...

For instance, Never go snorkeling in the same proximity as surfers... There are a few reasons for it. #1. If surfers are surfing where you are snorkeling, then it is probably a little rough.
#2. If surfers are surfing where you are snorkeling, then you may get run over.

So, I didn't get hit, but I did get pummeled into the rocks.. The left side (that is the drivers side) of my body is pretty beat up. I have a gash on my forearm about 8" long, and numerous scrapes and bruises on my leg and foot.

But, I totally have a cover. Don't tell anyone this, but I am going shark diving today, and I am going to tell all the girls that I got viciously attacked by sharks, and had to fend for my life. Luckily, I got away. The shark, not so much. He is sitting on my brothers wall right now with a picture of the victor next to it, (that would be me).

So, that story will not go over well, but I can try.

Im off to get into a cage! Peace out

I'm not your frickin' caddy!!!

So... I'm going to Hawaii on Thursday to see my brother... I know, "Hawaii... I am SOOO jealous..." (please someone say that so I dont feel like a moron)

But, to have things shipped from the mainland to Hawaii is incredibly expensive.. not only that, but they dont have a lot of the products that the mainland has to offer, such as CD cases (the cheap plastic ones) and beer...


So, To make a long story short, I am taking 500 (that is a five with two zeros to the right of the significant digit) CD cases, yes, five hundred, over to him. Luckily, I got luggage for Christmas. BUT THE CD CASES TAKE UP THE BIG BAG!!! FRICKIN' A!!!!

Then, I get the, "Blake, I want beer, can you find..."

Yea, I can find...

so I go to the local Bev Mo... I know, hard to find there, Beer mart here has it... and I find 75% of all requests.. Now I get to pack this beer in my luggage (please God, dont let it break or blow up) and take this to him so he can get his drink on...

So my question to you is:

Do I have on a golf cap?

Do I look like a caddy? (Ill answer that for you, no, caddies dont look this good)

Do I sport anybodies clubs but my own?

I'm not your caddy, I'm not your delivery man, Heck, I wont even do your stupid windows... Make someone else your #$(&$#%...

Timeline from now until...

This past month has been a whirlwind. I look back at the first month of 2008, and wonder if this is a precursor of what is to come. Life has changed so much. I have gone from looking to a house to not wanting to have a part in the market. When something doesn't feel right, I tend to push away hard at it. I become the little boy who crosses his arms and says, "no!". That's the way I feel about it right now.

Part of the reason is because I don't know where God has me going. I am not sure that construction is the end-all to my life. Partially, because I miss Rwanda. I miss the idea of simplicity and a people driven society. Instead of "who has the most stuff", it is much more about the idea of relationships, and people matter. When it all boils down, it is people that matter. What I have couldn't mean less to me.

I know that having things isn't bad, but when it becomes the basis of what you do, it becomes your new god. I see nothing wrong with having stuff, as long as it is used to reach people.

I am a pretty lucky person. God has given me the ability to fit into a world where many Christ-followers would either be intimidated, or would choose not to go. Construction could be my ministry. Granted, I don't always see it that way, but that is the ultimate point of being here on earth isn't it? We are here to worship, and show the love of Christ.

I guess it breaks down to I could either be in fresno in six months, or I could be far away. The interesting thing is, being away from here wouldn't bother me. Sure, I may miss some of my friends, but I would see them again.

One of my closest friends told me one time that she had no problem being one place over another because ultimately, Earth isn't her home town, she belongs in heaven. At first, I thought it was korny, but I think I see where she is coming from. Life isn't about being one place and making that home, it is about being where Christ wants you, and making that your nesting spot until he has something else for us.

Ultimately, I don't know where He wants me, or what exactly he wants from me. I can say that I am excited about the next six months, but It also freaks me out. I operate off of a calendar. I like to know where I am going and what I am doing. But God doesn't work on my calendar, and thats ok. It teaches me that life isn't about me, it's about Him. I have a part in what He does, but I'm not the focal point.