City Slickers!!!

I love living out by the country!!! I love the tree's, the lakes, the deer, the people and even the bears. People aren't all congested and crammed into this little area. This makes for happier people! We get to play in the woods, climb mountains, fish streams, swim in the lakes, hike, mountain bike ( a personal favorite ), and....well the list can just go on and on. I have to tell you about one of my favorite things though. I love to hang up my hammock between two trees and just hangout to read or take a short nap. The beautiful thing about the trees is that they are strong enough to hold my not so dainty frame and they really don't mind if I use them, I think that they might even appreciate the company. Apparently the trees in our states fine capitol are a bit more fragile.
So here's what went down. I was spending the day in Sacramento and had a fair amount of down time to spend relaxing so I went to this park with my hammock. You probably already have the rest of the story figured out but please humor me. I walked all over this park and it had at least a hundred squirrels running around the place. There weren't to many great trees for hanging a hammock but I ended up finding a spot that would work. I got all set up and read for a little while and then had to go and put some more money in the meter so I took off across the park to settle up with uncle Sam, you know do my civil duty. I'm not going to try and skip out on my fare share. As I walked back to the hammock there was a fine example of a civil servant there protecting my hammock. I was so impressed that one of our own honorable CHP officers was standing guard at my hammock. "I love this city!" I say to myself.
"Is this yours?" that fine civil servant says to me.
"Yes sir it sure is." I respond with a wide grin.
"You're going to have to take it down."
"Are you kidding?" was the response that I came up with...hindsight being 20/20 and all that I think I could have done better with that one.
" No, I'm not." He then let me know what civil code I was breaking by hanging something from the trees. This guy was great at his job!
"Uh....OK." I really dug deep for that witty response. "I hate the city" I then mumbled under my breath.

Father thank you for being so wise in the invention of the tree. Thank you for blessing me with the appreciation for your creation and for giving me the chance to enjoy what you have created so very often. Father I sincerely thank you for the law enforcement around in this great state and pray for humility and understanding on my part. Thank you for continuing to show me that I don't need to understand everything to accept it. Thank you for the gift of life in your kingdom. AMEN!!!

What the Monkey!!!

Jason V., Pastor Mike and I were heading down from Oregon one night and Jason said that if life gets boring then you aren't really following Jesus. This isn't an exact quote but you get the idea. With that in mind I am moving on to another growing opportunity in my life. My hours at Yaks were cut to 15 a week so I am now looking for another job. I've got to be honest with you this is not where I thought I would be as I celebrate 30 and in a worldly way it is a bit disappointing for me but it is never the less an opportunity for growth. The last time something similar to this happened (the goat turd incident of '07) my life was radically changed and I ended up being surrounded by men and women of God who helped me in finding a place in the kingdom of God. WOW what a ride!!! I continue to meet amazing people from around the globe who are passionate about God, I have repented to people that I have hurt in the past for not being a man of God, I have built amazing friendships and have grown the ones that I already had, I have hurt, I have cried, I have laughed, I have felt Love and Joy like never before, and above all else I have found the love of God and have tried so hard to become the man that he has wanted me to be. Talk about a wild year!!! So let's do a quick recap of some of the events of my adult life.

I lived in Colorado where I could snowboard to and from work. While there I got to build a stronger relationship with my grandma and my father.

I moved back to Redding where I experienced a number of rather shallow relationships with friends and women. It's weird though because on of the guys that I used to hang out with that I liked the least has become one of the closest friends that I have ever had. I had no self esteem and was lost and felt alone in the world for a couple of years.

I joined the fire academy and graduated it. I then realized that I really did have value and that I could do hard things and come out on top.

I looked a man in the eyes while he died and saw his spirit leave him.

I worked on a friends 6 month old baby for 40 minutes and still couldn't breathe life back into her.

I went into a burning building as the windows were blowing out and then put the fire out.

I fell in love. That's a hard one to follow up.

I found myself more and more and as I did so found myself surrounded more and more by real friends.

I stuck a really big needle in a ladies chest while she was looking at me and we were doing about 90mph down I-5 from north of bridge bay.

I graduated paramedic school.

I built relationships with boys and girls who had been through some rough stuff and the I got to watch them make the decision to become young men and women that could be proud of who they were. This is truly a beautiful thing and I would encourage anybody to do it!!!

I hurt and was deeply hurt by someone that I fell in love with. Then we hurt each other a few more times. Not so much fun.

I entered into another relationship (for the wrong reasons) but found some beauty and hope in it. It fell apart as well. (no God, no hope)

A dear friend spent close to 2 years patiently loving on me and coming back with "maybe but what if...." every time I tried to tell him that God and the church are a joke.

I FOUND GOD AND HE LOVES ME!!!! He even told me so.

I was broken down to a place where I could start to build a firm foundation.

I repented to some people that I had hurt and in turn brought peace and a bit of life back to those broken relationships.

I found out what a woman of God is and am still single as a result.

I found out what a man of God is and strive to be a powerful one every day.

I built two coffee shops that opened within 6 weeks of each other with some amazing people with a lot of grace (thanks PM, Nat and Jim for such a grand adventure)

A dear friend, his amazing wife and two crazy kids moved in with me.

I am dancing to the Rhythms of His grace.

Well how's that for a bit of a recap? Oh what an adventure!!!! What will I be writing about next year I wonder???? I already have an invite to Tel Aviv to build another coffee shop and work there for a bit. I am a blessed man beyond anything that I can comprehend. I have no clue why God would continue to shower me with His love and grace but I am forever grateful for it. Thank you all for being a part of my life in whatever form it might be in. Really, thank you.