Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year

Quiz

So here you go:

Today (Thursday) tens of thousands of people marched in the capital of a South American nation to oppose proposed amendments to their constitution.

For one point: Which country?
For one point: When was that country's constitution written?
For one point: What would the amendments do?

Have fun

Tentative Christmas List

Books:
*Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead
Children of Hurin by Tolkien

CDs:
*The Question by Emery
Storm the Gates of Hell by Demon Hunter
Restored by Jeremy Camp
X: Christian Rock Hits 08, 03, 04, 05, and 07Worship (I have 06, 07)
The Afters
Rush of Fools

Other Stuff:
*A nice watch
Maybe something with Strongbad on it?

I'd be cool with other stuff too.
Whatever

Christmas?

So I was wondering whether or not we are going to do an exchange and if we are who's organizing it? Just thought we could get that all settled so we can start thinking about gifts. Thanks

Visit me?

Hey I'm working tomorrow from 8-4 tomorrow in case anyone wants to come visit...

Underoath - Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape

Underoath

Yesterday I went to an Underoath concert with Martin. Underoath is a christian heavy metal that is very popular even among non-christians, so I was a little aprehensive about the people who would be there. It turned out to be an odd mix. Lots of obviously non-christians but also quite a few christians. Then there were some parents and some people that didn't really fit ("fresas" and other people like that). It was at the Rialto theater in downtown Tucson which was a pretty nice place for the concert. The concert was supposed to start at 6:30 but didn't start until 7:20 but that was ok because martin and me some time to hang out. The first band that played is called "Maylene and the Sons of Disaster." Their music was good and they put on a good show. The second band was definitely the worst. They were called "Poison the Well" and pretty much overall bad. Bad music and bad lyrics made worse by swearing. The third band, "Every Time I Die," had some really good music and put on a pretty good show but again was ruined by lots of swearing. Which brings me to my problem with the concert: the first three bands were not christian bands. It was pretty frustrating. Then Underoath played and it was awesome. It was a great show and great music just like I thought it would be. They played two of my three favorite songs including the song they played for the encore. The best part though was when the leader singer stood up in front of everyone and said "Jesus saved my life." It really pumped me up for the last few songs and seeing as I was right up at front in the edges of the mash pit it helped. It was a fun concert.


Now I'd like your opinion. Should christian band tour with non-christian bands, whether as the main band or as an opener or not at all?

On a seperate note, why is Jimmy Rollins getting so much attention as the fourth player ever to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 home runs in a season, when the third was Curtis Granderson (this season too) and he did it sooner in the season?

So here's me and few others at a gas station outside Hermosillo. Thought you might like that picture.

I'm doing a few things right. The bible study I'm in is going well. We're doing the ten most important chapters of the bible. Its pretty cool. Jason Barbieri and Ryan Malarkey are the leaders and they're both really wise guys. This week we did the second half Psalm 139.

Work's going really well. Next friday I'm covering a shift at Grant and Swan becoming the third Crawford to work there. Any suggestions?

I'm having fun in a fantasy football league with Steven. He beat pretty good last week though.

I'm also trying to figure out how to move back to Nogales. We'll see how it goes, pray for me all right?
More coming more often, I promise.

Socram

sorry

I really do plan on writing more. I've just been really busy getting so many things organized. School, work, housing, and church...

This past weekend I went to Guaymas with the youth group from Manantial de Vida. We had a lot of fun. There were 27 people including the pastor and his family and Jose. Also Anavi's boyfriend Joel went and Albano. We spent all day saturday at a beach near Guaymas called Cochorit. Then later that night we went into downtown Guaymas and met a youth group from there. It was really nice downtown but the water wasn't that great. After we got back to the house we had a time together out on the beach. I played a few songs on my guitar and then Albano gave his testimony. He's going to be starting at the Bible Institute and Jose wanted to focus on the call. It was pretty cool. I got sick though afterward and had a pretty rough night. On sunday we went to a beach near San Carlos. It was nicer especially in terms of water. There we heard the testimonies of Joel and Graciela. Then we had a time to say goodbye to Flavio since he leaves on Saturday to school in Hermosillo. It was a good time. I got back late Sunday. Here's a couple pictures:

A moment

I walk out to my car and realize I've forgotten my ipod, but instead of returning to get it I turn on the radio instead. The christian station is playing a song that fits perfectly with the gently falling raindrops. As I pull away from the house the combination of the music and the rain make me feel happier about driving to work on a day that I'd rather enjoy from home. I come to the first stop sign at the edge of my neighborhood and sit just to survey the wonder before me. The rain clouds stretch from the far east on my right, to just above the skyline to the west. The has just dropped below the cloud cover and the effect is beautiful. The sky to my left is a pale gold fading gradually to a steel gray and finally to the dark blue of the rain cloudsin the east. Stretching before me is a beaten road whose end I can just see. The rain is falling gently and as I begin my drive down that road I notice a rainbow on my right and I feel as though God is saying, "The road may end but there is hope for those who trust in Me."

James

So I'm finishing up my study of James. It really is a great book. There's a lot of great stuff in it. I love chapter 3. He talks about the tongue and how it controls the whole person. Just like the rudder on a ship. Controlling what we say is so hard to do and only comes with God's help. Then he goes right on to talk about wisdom. This is my favorite part of James: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes down from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." I love this because it flows straight from everything that he was saying about the tongue. I mean if we have the "wisdom that comes down from heaven" then we'll know how to control the tongue. I also like the word submissive. It means we have to be humble to be truly wise. We need to be servants of not only God but of everyone; willing to help even our most dispised enemies. Then in chapter 4 he talks about submitting to God. "You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives...Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" We need to give everything to God, our plans, requests, pains, needs, and even the things we think are of no consequence, like watching a movie or eating ice cream. Everything we are, were, and hope to be needs to be given over into His care before we can truly do His will. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Next I'm going to study Romans with Manuel. I think it'll be great. I think we can learn a lot from each other. Please pray for me in that.

Starbucks

So for anyone who didn't know for whatever reason, I got a job at starbucks. I went in for the first time today and had to sign stuff and read stuff, and then read some more. I had fun though. The people I'm going to be working with are cool and I think once I get the hang of where everything is and how to make it all it'll be great working there. Mom is going to cringe when she reads this but its 1:45 and all I've had today is two grande mochas and some coffee at the end of my shift when we taste-tested Verona coffee (which was good by the way). Overall I think I am going to like it there.

I had a good weekend. I had lunch at the pastor's house on saturday and got to talk to him and Marina for awhile. Then after the quinciñera saturday night I went over to Stephen Stoller's house with Adriel where we watched amovie and caught up on everything going on (it was Stoller's birthday). Then on Sunday we had a good Sunday school class and afterward we ate at the mall. Then we went to the Tech and played fútbol rápido and basketball. Then I drove back up to Tucson with Leonardo David. Overall a great weekend.

Random thoughts: Ocean's Thirteen is definitely a good movie, I'm pretty hungry right now, its nice to be earning money again, James is a sweet book (I've been studying it for about three weeks now and I've learned so much), I don't have anything in the Mullet House that I can make myself for lunch, and will mom ever use her blog?

Have a great day. I'll be posting more often now I think.

Jobs

So right now I'm sitting in the Mullet House in Tucson waiting for dinner and for the first Tuesday night bible study to start. I am currently unemployed and with not much hope of working this week. Still I am optimistic. I'm looking at a few jobs as a medical records clerk here in Tucson. Also if a position opens and Rain Gutters of Southern Arizona then they'll give me a call. I'm still looking for other stuff too. We're starting a bible study tonight that'll go through the summer on Hebrews. I'm looking forward to that. All in all this summer is shaping up to be a good one. Be back soon. Hopefully sooner than three weeks.

Side notes

Thanks for your great comments. Just because songs today aren't as deep as you want them to be doesn't mean they're not from the heart. Sure our society is becoming shallow but its still sincere worship right?

Also greatest president: Abraham Lincoln. Greatest president of the last 140 years: Reagan.

I can't really comment on the greatest writer thing because I'm not really that well read. For example on Steven's list I've read never read Foote, Wolfe, or Wilder, and the only one from Jane's list that I've read is Faulkner. But just so that you can all see, here are some of my favorite books (once again in no particular order):

1. Band of Brothers (Stephen Ambrose)
2. Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton)
3. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
4. The Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
5. The Screwtape Letters (C.S. Lewis)
6. The Empyrion Books (Stephen Lawhead)

I would put Lawhead's new book "Hood" but its still incomplete as the first book in a trilogy so I'm not puting it in yet. Also I know that Empyrion is two books but I read it as one book.

And there you have it. Also, three sweeps by Eastern Conference teams is pretty predictable. And why oh why do the Red Wings struggle so much in the playoffs? I went to Tigers Baseball games two Fridays in a row and both times Gary Sheffield choked in the ninth. I also wonder at the Lion's draft picks.

You have been reading Mark's random thoughts. Tune in next time for...something else.

Mana

I bought a new CD in Ann Arbor while Jane was here visiting (we had a lot of fun by the way). The CD is "Amar es Combatir" by Maná. Just like their previous albums, this one has excellent music variety and skill, great vocals and catchy melodies. But I noticed a trend in this one that I didn't hear in the last one (Revolución de Amor). This one is more hopeful I think. There are even mentions of God. The following lyrics are from the song "Tu Me Salvaste." Sorry they're in spanish.

Eso es he tocado fondo
y no se como salir
de este abismo

Tengo el alma destrozada
siento que no puedo seguir
estoy perdido

Chorus:
Tu me salvaste del infierno
volvi a nacer
cuando no creia nada
volvi a creer
sanaras mi pesar
TU AMOR LO VA VENCER
me salvaste del infierno

Alterados mis sentidos
no recuerdo que es reir
no soy el mismo

Deprimido
confundido
no quedan ganas de vivir
porque dios mio

Chorus

Gracias por llegar a mi
gracias por estar aqui
yo jure que era mi fin

Gracias por amarme asi
gracias por estar aqui
no se que haria sin ti

Chorus

Solo tuuuuu puedes salvarme

3 days

Here we go (in no particular order):

-Graduation Day: Senior breakfast with all my friends from school. Then graduation from Nogales High School when I walked around the track on crutches. Hugs all around from family and friends. Dinner at home with everyone and then off to Sephen's house where we all just talked. It was a lot of fun.

-Tucson: Going to Tucson with Martin, Ariel, Flavio, and Yulian. Guitar Center and the mall. Then back to Manantial de Vida for youth group and music practice.

-To be named: I can think of several that i would like to put in here but they all have flaws that i can remember. For example State marching festival my freshman year was great but i didn't enjoy the ride back. Also any number of days at the cottage could go here but since none particularly stand out i don't feel like i can name just one. So I am going to leave this one blank in hopes that another day in the future will be that perfect day.

A Prayer

Where do I turn when I hit a dead end and the road seems to collapse behind? There's nothing to go back to but the road seems to end. I look for You Lord. Be my strength. I need You to continue on. I have no one left to blame but myself. When I fail now its all on me. When I mess up its all on me. I'm sorry for my mistakes. For the lies, omissions, and half-truths. Lift me up Lord from the depths. You alone can help me now. I'm sorry for my immpurities and short-comings. Keep me from temptaion. Remove it from my sight, thoughts, and reach. Hold me to a higher standard and help me reach it. Never leave me King of kings, oh Lord of lords. How can I ever thank you for what you've done? I give You praise, because You are deserving of everything I am and everything I have. I give it all to You. I'm sorry Lord forgive me. Accept this offering of praise from this unworthy man. There are not words to describe Your amazing power, Your wonderous being, or Your unending love. You are astounding, unfailing, immense, and unchangeable. Your reach extends to the ends of the universe, and Your eyes penetrate my soul. I strive to be like You. I want a heart after Your heart. Make Your thoughts mine, and Your will my will. Lift me up Lord from the depths to which I have fallen, and give me strength to carry on.

Disapointed

I am disapointed because I haven't posted for 11 days and no one said anything to me.

Anyway, in response to Steven's question, after careful deliberation I have decided that I have to clasify this question somehow. For example if I am with a lot of people I would probably choose different places than if it was alone or with just a couple friends. But since I don't really have time to break it down that much I am just going to put down a few places from both. In no particular order:

The Cottage, The roof of the apartment/guest house/pool house (after 13 years I'm still not sure what to call it), Makinac Island, Rancho Betania, Manantial de Vida, Pete's house.

Then there are places where I'd like to go, but have either only gone once or have never gone to. Places that I think would be my favorite places if I could afford to go more often. In no particular order:

Six Flags Magic Mountain, Rockefeller Center Skating Rink, Mexico City, The World Cup (I don't care which country but its in South Africa in 2010 in case you were wondering), Scotland.

In other news I am doing well. I've been getting more excercise. I've played volleyball and ultimate frisbee and soccer all in the past week. I guess this is predictable because now that its getting warm outside I can go out more often. CAV is going really well. I started meeting with some guys on Mondays for a small group. And I'm catching up on work that I still have to do. I hope everyone is doing well.

The following post consists solely of this comic brought to you by "Speed Bump"

Untitled

Where is the fountain that ever flows?
Where is the flower that will ever bloom?
Are they where the bird never crows?
Will I find that place soon?

I am in a place of only death
I need to find a way out
Will you help me? Give me breath
Tell where to find the fount.

Lift me up
I will drink from the cup
Your love is forever
You won't give up, never.

A beautiful day

Today is B-E-A-utiful day. Its funny how winter can play tricks on us and make us appriciate nice weather that much more. After I wrote that I checked the temperature. It is currently 36 degrees outside. Earlier today I was walking around outside in a t-shirt and thinking about it now I realize that six months ago I would have been freezing, whereas all I was thinking about today was how sunny it was. With no clouds the sun shone down bright, and instead of saying that its almost freezing outside, I said it was a beautiful day. And it is because its not 20 degrees and cloudy with a chance of snow. I'm not saying I don't like that weather I just think that after so long of it a sunny day is nice. So cheers to a beautiful day.

In other news I was in class yesterday and Chuck White mentioned David Hume. Hume said that there is no way to prove cause and effect, the continuity of nature, or objectivity. The name caught my attention and I racked my brains to think of where I had heard it. Then it hit me. In Lost Desmond's full name is Desmond David Hume. Coincedence? I think not. Everything in Lost is connected to something and it all happens for a reason. So I'd like for any readers (I think I'm up to about 9) who also watch Lost to comment on this if you so choose.

Hope you all have a great day

Hey everyone from Chicago!
We're all here for St. Patricks Day. Today we went to the Mexican section of the city and tomorrow we're going to go to the parade. We're having lots of fun. Ok. I'll be back later this week for a longer post.

Thoughts from a Coffee Shop

Today I sat at a coffee shop all day and did homework on my computer using my bible. I came across two things in the course of my work that interested me.

The first was Psalm 18:30. I was reading through this chapter and its an incredible chapter. It speaks of God rescuing David from powerful enemies and ends with praise for God. The 30th verse was my favorite. It covers so many grounds. "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." God is perfect and flawless. He's a shield for any who want it. All we have to do is take refuge behind it and we'll be fine. Because God is perfect the only way we can get hurt is if we choose to step outside his protection. For me I choose the shield.

The second thing was the mention in Genesis 6 of the Nephilim. This topic interests and I'd like to know what all of you think about it. So any ideas?

Chicago

I'd like to thank my sister here for hosting a fun-filled weekend in Chicago. It was so great that I might just have to do it again. For more details you can check out her blog. However I would like to add that the Thai food we had for lunch was good also and that our waiter at the Cheesecake Factory was a pretty cool guy. And also, what is so wrong with wanting to jump down to walk on the ice chunks that were obviously thick enough? Oh well. Thanks Jane.

More Stuff

The following takes place between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM. I sleep. Period. Anyway. So continuing my update, I've been watching some TV. The past few episodes of The Office were hilarious; especially the vampire thing with Jim. The newest Lost episode was cool and interesting but I won't go into specifics just in case. I do agree with Steven though and the idea that they're obsessing over the others too much. I want to know whats going on at the beach more. I started watching 24 for the first time. Its pretty cool. Of course I miss a few things because I haven't watch any of the other seasons but it helps to have Dustin there to help explain thing every once in a while.
I've also been following the Red Wings and the Pistons and the Suns. They're all doing pretty well but I'm not sure if any of them are ready to do it all. But then you never know.
I'm staying here in Michigan for spring break. I'm not going to like it but I guess its something I have to do. I'll get a lot of work done and I'll be able to give support to CAV in a time when support wavers. I was looking forward to come home but I can wait...for a little while.

Update

Hey everybody. Sorry its been so long. So here's the update. School's going well. My class are pretty cool. I really like my Introduction to Missions class with Chuck White. I've gotten some interesting questions like "Why are you taking this class?" Its fun. We watched "Beyond the Gates of Splendor." I love that story. I've been hanging out a lot with Juan Cordova in his room. He's a cool guy. We speak spanish together and it bugs everybody. Also I've been hanging out with a girl in my Soc100 class. Her name is Ashlee Lemmon and she's from Minnesota. I've seen her everyday since about a week before Valentines Day. We talk about church and missions and class and people. We talked about dating and decided that we had decided before this year that we weren't going to date until next year. Then a few days ago we set some boundaries for our friendship. CAV is going well. I'm giving guitar lessons on thursdays and I'm leading worship two weeks in every month. My friends are great there. So I'll be posting more often now.

thoughts from foundations of worship

I thought I'd share a few ideas that either drifted through my head or were stated out loud during my foundations of worship class today.

We started out today by telling everyone what our denomination is and it surprised me that so many of the people in the class are nondenominational. I'm trying to decide how I feel about this because its a trend that is really spreading. On the one hand I think we don't fee secure enough in our beliefs. But also it shows the quality of discipleship in the church. People are coming to believe less and less what their fathers believed (again: good thing or bad thing?). Its this non-conformist movement thats sweeping the world as well. On the other hand I think it shows that people are becoming more and more aware of the fact that people in the world don't understand there are 24,000 denominations. Why the division? Why the problems? Why do christians all believe different things? So while its good that we recognize that denominations are bad, its bad that the solution we have found is to create more churches, each with their own set of beliefs. I'm not sure if any of that made sense. I was thinking out loud.

The second topic has to do with why we go to church. The question brought up is are we going to church for what we can get out of it or for what we can give to God through worship? In other words do we go to give glory to God or to feel good about ourselves for another week? An interesting thing that came up was feeding versus consuming. We get fed so that we can have energy to work for God, but if we continue to eat without exercising our spirit its just consuming. We get spiritually unhealthy, out of shape, and fat. Isn't that a great testament to our faith? I'm goiing to be thinking about these things a lot for awhile.

sorry

I've been a little busy. More coming soon

a dilemma

I found out two things today. The first is that there is a retreat on the 10th and 11th of February for CAV. I may or may not be able to go to that depending on homework. The other is that on the evening of the 10th there is a concert here in Spring Arbor featuring a band called Disciple that I had a chance to see about a year ago but couldn't. If I ended up going to the retreat I'd have to leave to see the concert. Now its only at summerset, about 20 minutes away, so I could go back after the concert. The reatreat is ten dollars and the concert I think ten also although I'm not sure. Any thoughts on this?

What to do when you know the inevitable is coming

It is only a matter of time. The pedullum swings
The long hand ticks. Minute after minute
The sweat forms on your brow in haste
As chicken to the feed on the ground
Your palms feel warm
Your fingers start to shake
Your leg twitches
In time with the clock
Tick, twitch, drip, tock
Tick, twitch, drip, tock
Your mind races and all you see is blurred
The mice in your head have given up on the cheese
The smell of guilt is all around
Your mind feels like a safe
Nothing in. Nothing out
Information like
Smoke on the wind
Uncatchable
See, smell, touch, nothing
See, smell, touch, nothing
Then something simple slips through
You offer a prayer, a plea, simple
Please help me in my need
Time stands still
And in the pause
A voice speaks out
Loving and comforting
Trust Me always
Trust Me always

The end of vacation

I've decided that I really don't want to leave Nogales. And I'm really struggling with it. I know that I have to allow change and I know that I made the decision to go so far away but its still hard. Its been great hanging out with my friends and really making new ones. So its hard to leave it all to go back to school. A lot of my friends here have really grown in the Lord and its cool too see them stepping up not only in the youth group but also in the church. Right now of the five original members of the youth group one is the assistant music director, one is the director of a new dance ministry, and one is the director of the children's saturday morning club. I hate having to leave this great progress that the church is having especially in the youth group.

Having said this I am looking forward to going back. The classes I'm taking this semester look really cool and i know some people in almost all of them. Intro to Missions with Chuck White is one I'm especially looking forward to. Also working with Communidad Agua Viva is going to be fun. Its really going to either be a turning point or not. I ask for prayer to organize my life and to be able to take the initiative in my schoolwork.

So to summerize: I don't want to leave but I do want to go back. I have to accept change when God dishes it out. And I ask for prayer for this semester.

God's hand in everything

I'm taking a course online and one of the programs doesn't work on our computer. So we decided to try it on the Martin's computer in the Mission house. It worked and so Monday morning saw me at the Mission house working away on this program for my class. Now Sunday night it got down to 14 degrees in Nogales and by accident the heat wasn't on in the mission house. As I'm working I hear this dripping sound. I turned around and see that there's water literally pouring out of the ceiling. One of the pipes had frozen and busted and water was building up in the attic/crawl space. So I called Dad and Dad called Mom and different people ended up going over and we finally got the water turned off. There's some water damage and some work to be done but it should be ok. The point of my story is that if the program had worked on the computer here at the house then I wouldn't have been at the mission house and the water would still be on. The only thing stopping it would be the freezing temperatures at night. The water damages and water bill would be through the roof (or ceiling and carpet and pipes and furmiture and computer). So thanks be to God that it didn't work. His hand is indeed in everything.

ummm

don't worry they won't all be like that last one :) which i've been told was boring. and i guess it is :)

Random thoughts for the beginning of a random blog

So here's my first post on my blog that will soon be sweeping the nation as a stunning window into the life of a college student from Nogales. Ok not really but I hope to use this to keep anyone who cares updated on my thoughts actions and stuff like that. My posts probably won't be too long because I'm not that great at writing but I kind of hope that this will help me.
So I've been having fun at home this break. I had a good talk with Pastor Juan Carlos about ministry and such on saturday over a delicious meal of carne asada burritos. It really helped me get some thoughts straight and provided some clarity to an otherwise jumbled mind right now. I went to a birthday party for Marina yesterday that was a lot of fun. The whole youth group was there and a piñata and a jumprope. Unfortunately the trampoline was broken but oh well. For those who didn't know I'm taking an online course. Thats going ok. I'm getting through it. I think I'll stop now because I'm out of ideas. I'll be back though.