Further In and Further Up

If you've ever read C.S. Lewis, you've likely encountered this thought through a fictional media.

On the surface, it would seem that Lewis was referring to higher, deeper, and more core truths (and he likely was). However, the idea can be translated over to another aspect of life and spirituality that is oft misunderstood in western thought (it might be in eastern as well, but a westerner has trouble elaborating on such a point with any sort of validity). The idea is that of holding things in tension and under examination, but still living a life seeking joy, peace, contentment and hope.

This noble-sounding idea encounters its difficulty in the actual practice of life where one encounters pain, chaos, discontent, and despair. So what is one to do? Throw up their hands in disgust and begin to live for themselves? Continue trudging through, and hoping against hope?

C.S. Lewis or the author of Hebrews might say that there is a separation between those who engage this idea with themselves as a god and those who engage it as ones with a high priest who has been made perfect. There is a new contract with a new high priest who strives on our behalf. This should give us hope. Hope for life, hope for the realization of a world where things are not as they are now. In order to truly encounter God and His Kingdom, we must be willing to let the things of this world that are not eternal be shaken off so the Unshakable Kingdom can move to the forefront.

Sharing some Photos

From Thanksgiving: I'm hoping to get back on posting more regularly

Like Children.

It's difficult to go very long in the work world without realizing that it often is just killing the soul. "Grow up and act like an adult", is something often uttered in a silent voice in the mind. But doesn't it seem that things are just wrong? That the real person you used to be is being replaced by a robotic unit working for the bottom line.
Another example is in how we relate to others. Many people, myself most guilty among them often live and "love" in ways so as to keep people at a distance. It's not that we don't care, or aren't transparent. It's simply that we've been hurt and just can't really handle it anymore, so we despair and deal with it by denying risk. I don't mean to say whenever somebody doesn't pursue a relationship, it's because they're scared. Often, that gut feeling early on is a pretty good indicator.

But what happened to that kid? That kid with a heart of gold, that kid who cried "daddy", the kid who was willing to throw down with someone twice his size for messing with his brother, and the kid who's not at all ashamed to say, "that's wrong. Here's an idea: in the midst of growing up, the kid felt like he had to change and become fully independent, and to do that, she had to deny other parts of herself. What to do now, when the independence is all that's left?

My only answer is to cry out to God for mercy. To ask for renewal and rebirth. For Humility and grace. It's going to be a long road, but "There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere..." Here's to a different kind of freedom, a different kind of kingdom; one where the heart of a child is honored and longed for.

Better Late than Never...

Let's keep showing up. Check out Ephesians 2:10 and the link below.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20060812/23668.htm

Gabriel's 2nd B-day Party

Pizza and 4 straight hours of Gabe play-time makes for a good night.


Ya, and Gabe was sporting the Caveman look all night. Showing off the baby-guns.

Seeing the Fam in FL

It's easier to go to work when work is cool...

No we didn't design this bridge (Newcastle upon Tyne Millenium bike/pedestrian bridge), but this thing is sweet. The bridge pieces stay in position relative to each other, but the whole thing rotates to allow waterway traffic to pass underneath (see the picture on the left). How nice is that?

Vacation Pics 2

Tris (a good man) taking us sailing. You know you love that shirt.

View from the stern of our fine vessel as we come about

View from the San Bernadino Mountains Near Big Bear (Xterra triathlon)

Sunset in La Jolla Cove

Back to Snow Valley, Swim Portion

Portion of bike on the terribly long (and steep) hill. We're talking a solid mile hill at insane grade.

My foot after running into some tie wire on the mountain. Mmm, tasty.

Dream spot in the cove I ran around (ask for the story if you talk to me).

Sunrise in Monterrey

Some Vacation Pics 1

Jumping Porpoise. Great stuff.

Stanford Chapel

Little moon shot of the San Francisco Skyline.

The mountain creatures are a bit more brazen than the flatlanders.

Big PartyWorking his way down the non-trail side of Lembert Dome. He called it "Grandma's Cake walk."

Volcanic Ash Desert wasteland, saltwater lake, and Negit Island (old volcano)

This was all east of Yosemite. Great stuff.

Shua educating the peeps on the finer points of respecting nature

Sailing in San Diego

Nice Cool water and Malibu, beautiful
The boys enjoying the view at the Heroes Garden, Pepperdine University

From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

note the truck sitting on the deck


West Virginia takes a lot of crap from the rest of the nation for being hillbillies, dating your sister and stuff. But in all truth, it's a really beautiful place with some sweet hiking and pretty good people, all in all...

However, when things like this happen; it reminds us of why the jokes are told. http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/3227076.html

Let's start with dude in the truck. You drive over this bridge all the time. You know your truck is close to the clearance limit, and you have some contraption in the bed of said truck. You should probably make sure it's all the way down and that you'll be underneath the top chord of the truss. (Yes, I know the bridge was twice the legal weight limit, but the failure was caused by collision with the truss). C'mon dude.

Next let's go to the responsibility of the state. I know the bridge is old, but let's take the sign off of a load-bearing member. That's about it.

The TRI

Check out the new blog, dedicated to training of the physical, you can read my first race report there.

http://www.torchdefitness.blogspot.com

Give to Whom it Belongs...

A tale is recounted in my mind recently where a man is asked if people should pay taxes to the authority. The man asks for a coin, and asks whose face is on it. The people respond with the name of the current political leader and the man replies, "Give to the Leader what is his..."

A slightly different take: If belonging is denoted by what face is on something, and we presume that man is made in the image of God, what does this say about what we belong to and should be given to?

Shoes and pedals

I'm using the X/2 stainless pedal. I've already got my one tip-over out of the way, so there shouldn't be too many more falls. ;-)

The New Bike

Contributing to my new hippie "ride your bike to work" attitude, as well as breaking up the monotony and banging on the knees, this little fella promises hours upon hours and miles upon miles of enjoyment. See above for Pedals and shoes.

Finding your cow pasture

I've learned in the past while that many people who are very healthy (I know physically and I'm pretty sure mentally too) are all about eastern mysticism, zen buddhism and the like. They speak of mindfulness and breathing techniques. I have a friend who is getting a Ph.D in clinical psychology and has found that there are many Christians who are more depressed than their non-christian counterparts (this testing has something to do with alcohol, and I can explain more later with his permission). The point is that there are a great deal of mental health issues within Christianity. This has to do with a number of things I think: Stigma attached with certain behaviors, trying to live up to a perceived super-christian standard, or myriad other particulars.

I heard a smart guy speak one time about how he stayed sane. His wife had been killed in a highway accident about a year earlier when a car came over the median and collided with head on with hers. He said he had to take time and go out to a cow pasture with high grass and just lay there. He would let all of the thoughts in his head work through his head and just wait until his brain was empty of the thoughts of his day and week. Then he would start listening for God.

We were created and told to take breaks, to rest, to commune with family, nature, and God. We often don't do these things and then say God or our faith is failing us. God has given us and continues to give us all that we need. We need to slow down, take deep breaths and process our day. We need to get outside and exercise. In short we need to find our cow pasture.

What is yours and when was the last time you were there? What do you think will happen if you go there? What is out there?

Testing the Limits of the human heart and then? Sabbath

In a couple of days I'll have completed 7 years of schooling, well over 200 hours of credit, attaining 3 degrees along the way and the first of a couple professional certifications. I've had to dig deep many a night and battle off sleep, push beyond my given limitations to achieve difficult things. However, I'm looking forward to a normal schedule (if only for a while), and some good solid marathon training with plenty of sleep. ahhhh

While most people think I'm crazy and driven, I simply think total surrender is the only way to live a good life.

There's some inherent ambivalence in that statement when it comes to our lives. Of course, times where we make mistakes or settle. But we press on.

I can't understand or explain many things in this life. But at some point I believe there will be a respite from the storm, a sleep for the weary, and peace for the chaos. That's what we're all searching for right? How do you get there?

Isabella Grace

I told some people I'd put up pictures of the new child, born April 10. She was a bit premature and a C-section baby, but she's doing well. Enjoy.