He's the ultramarathon man. He's run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. He's run forever all over the world. Heck, he looks like me with his shirt off (it's really uncanny).
And now he's at it again. Dean Karnazes is running across the country. Who cares if Regis and Kelly are pimping (and by that horrible choice of word I mean "using him"--thanks Tina for pointing that out) him out for it. It's insane. Today, for instance, he logged 45 miles. That's one day after 40+ from Disneyland to Riverside. Dude's pretty wild.
He's blogging (of course). Site is here if you are interested. Go Dean.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
We're going to need to get our toboggan back from the Cleary's...
...'cause evidently it's gonna snow in Clovis on Saturday!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Lest you think my life is all VIP passes and handshakes with famous people...
...there's a morning like this morning. It's 9:27 as I type and here have been my top 6 highlights thus far:
1. Swept the floor
2. Managed the laundry
3. Watched Lily (with help from The Little Mermaid)
4. Did the dishes
5. Caring for sick Joshy
6. Bonus: the toilet overflowed
OK, gotta run. #7 will be the diaper I'm about to change. I'll spare you the picture...
1. Swept the floor
2. Managed the laundry
3. Watched Lily (with help from The Little Mermaid)
4. Did the dishes
5. Caring for sick Joshy
6. Bonus: the toilet overflowed
OK, gotta run. #7 will be the diaper I'm about to change. I'll spare you the picture...
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A day inside the ropes
What a treat on Saturday to spend the day inside the ropes following two PGA pros, 2008 Masters Champ Trevor Immelman and Paul Stankowski, and their amateur partners, Andy Garcia and George Lopez, for 18 holes at Pebble Beach. Truly, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you to Jim Ha for the generous opportunity!
My top 10 list from the day:
1. Trevor Immelman's golf swing. Wow. That guy has such a smooth, balanced swing. His worst swing on Saturday was better than any golf swing I've ever attempted in my golfing life.
2. Being close enough to Phil Mickelson on the putting green to hear him call something "bullshit." You can't hear that sitting on your couch at home!
3. Shaking some famous (or mostly famous) hands. My list included: Jim Nantz, Paul Stankowski, Ian Baker-Finch, Matt Cain, Andy Garcia, Tom Dressen and Trevor Immelman.
4. Patient golf pros. As sweet at Immelman's swing was, it was his patience that impressed me most. Think about it. It's a 6 hour round of golf at its highest level on one of the toughest courses in the country, punctuated by outrageous and at times borderline inappropriate outbursts from a crazy amateur (looking at you Mr. Lopez). Unbelievable watching Ian and Paul keep their cool.
5. Allow me to quote George Lopez, when he was asked about why he doesn't wear John Daly's golf pants: "I tried a pair once; my nuts caught on fire."
6. Getting in Bill Belichick's way. There I was, leaning against the pro shop counter minding my own business when I hear this gruff "excuse me please" behind me. Yep, that was me, blocking Patriots coach Belichick's walk from the pro shop restroom to the first tee.
7. Sliders on 6. Let me just tell you that the pros eat well on the course. Case in point...the slider burger bar on the 6th tee. So good. And, thankfully, I got my fill before the group behind me got there. That group included Daly, Cain and, oh yeah, some dude named Tony Romo.
8. It takes an army to televise this thing. Part of our package was a brief tour of the CBS compound. Tour guide told us that it takes 300 people to tell the story of the tournament. It was a small village over there!
9. The star of the show was really the golf course. What a gem. Beautiful day, amazing course. I'll have to get back there to play a round sometime, right after I win the lottery.
10. For me it really was all about the pros. I was star-struck by Garcia and Lopez for like 30 seconds. After that, it was all about watching Immelman and Stankowski do their thing. It was great to see someone actually play this crazy game with some skill!
The security thugs were pretty committed to us not taking pictures during the round, but I managed a few. First one is the iconic 7th tee with Andy Garcia getting ready to play. Second one is on the 18th tee. Third one is me in the fairway on 11 in my spiffy Pebble Beach windshirt. And, last but not least, me and Jimmy on 18 green.
My top 10 list from the day:
1. Trevor Immelman's golf swing. Wow. That guy has such a smooth, balanced swing. His worst swing on Saturday was better than any golf swing I've ever attempted in my golfing life.
2. Being close enough to Phil Mickelson on the putting green to hear him call something "bullshit." You can't hear that sitting on your couch at home!
3. Shaking some famous (or mostly famous) hands. My list included: Jim Nantz, Paul Stankowski, Ian Baker-Finch, Matt Cain, Andy Garcia, Tom Dressen and Trevor Immelman.
4. Patient golf pros. As sweet at Immelman's swing was, it was his patience that impressed me most. Think about it. It's a 6 hour round of golf at its highest level on one of the toughest courses in the country, punctuated by outrageous and at times borderline inappropriate outbursts from a crazy amateur (looking at you Mr. Lopez). Unbelievable watching Ian and Paul keep their cool.
5. Allow me to quote George Lopez, when he was asked about why he doesn't wear John Daly's golf pants: "I tried a pair once; my nuts caught on fire."
6. Getting in Bill Belichick's way. There I was, leaning against the pro shop counter minding my own business when I hear this gruff "excuse me please" behind me. Yep, that was me, blocking Patriots coach Belichick's walk from the pro shop restroom to the first tee.
7. Sliders on 6. Let me just tell you that the pros eat well on the course. Case in point...the slider burger bar on the 6th tee. So good. And, thankfully, I got my fill before the group behind me got there. That group included Daly, Cain and, oh yeah, some dude named Tony Romo.
8. It takes an army to televise this thing. Part of our package was a brief tour of the CBS compound. Tour guide told us that it takes 300 people to tell the story of the tournament. It was a small village over there!
9. The star of the show was really the golf course. What a gem. Beautiful day, amazing course. I'll have to get back there to play a round sometime, right after I win the lottery.
10. For me it really was all about the pros. I was star-struck by Garcia and Lopez for like 30 seconds. After that, it was all about watching Immelman and Stankowski do their thing. It was great to see someone actually play this crazy game with some skill!
The security thugs were pretty committed to us not taking pictures during the round, but I managed a few. First one is the iconic 7th tee with Andy Garcia getting ready to play. Second one is on the 18th tee. Third one is me in the fairway on 11 in my spiffy Pebble Beach windshirt. And, last but not least, me and Jimmy on 18 green.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Musing on John 11:25-26
I woke up this morning thinking about the words of John 11:25-26: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” What a beautiful promise from Jesus! For those who believe, even in physical death there is eternal life.
Three nights ago the chapter at Fresno State suffered a devastating blow when David Chen, a student leader in their community, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. David had been involved with InterVarsity for three years and had been leading for the last two.
In my current role with InterVarsity, I seldom spend time with students. Which is weird, given that we're a student ministry. Honestly, I'm still getting used to this reality. After all, InterVarsity staff don't come on staff to NOT hang out with students!
But I did know David, at least in passing. I've spoken at the Fresno State large group meeting each of last couple of years and I remember David. Last time I was there, earlier this Fall, David was leading, or helping to lead, worship for the evening. And the image that remains for me is of David playing his guitar, singing with a huge grin on his face. The picture below will give you a sense of what I mean.
To be honest, as a university ministry we don't spend that much time talking about heaven. Or, if we do, we talk mostly about what the old song calls "heaven it the real world," life in the Kingdom this side of eternity.
Tonight the Fresno State chapter will gather to grieve together even as they celebrate David's life. Tonight we'll talk about life, death, eternity and heaven. And I'll be there ready to pray with students, with a few boxes of Kleenex in one hand, a plate or three of cookies in the other and with John 11:25-26 on my heart.
Yesterday, our staff at Fresno State sent along the following picture of David, now a full time citizen of heaven!
Three nights ago the chapter at Fresno State suffered a devastating blow when David Chen, a student leader in their community, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. David had been involved with InterVarsity for three years and had been leading for the last two.
In my current role with InterVarsity, I seldom spend time with students. Which is weird, given that we're a student ministry. Honestly, I'm still getting used to this reality. After all, InterVarsity staff don't come on staff to NOT hang out with students!
But I did know David, at least in passing. I've spoken at the Fresno State large group meeting each of last couple of years and I remember David. Last time I was there, earlier this Fall, David was leading, or helping to lead, worship for the evening. And the image that remains for me is of David playing his guitar, singing with a huge grin on his face. The picture below will give you a sense of what I mean.
To be honest, as a university ministry we don't spend that much time talking about heaven. Or, if we do, we talk mostly about what the old song calls "heaven it the real world," life in the Kingdom this side of eternity.
Tonight the Fresno State chapter will gather to grieve together even as they celebrate David's life. Tonight we'll talk about life, death, eternity and heaven. And I'll be there ready to pray with students, with a few boxes of Kleenex in one hand, a plate or three of cookies in the other and with John 11:25-26 on my heart.
Yesterday, our staff at Fresno State sent along the following picture of David, now a full time citizen of heaven!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Sure, he can't tie his shoes or ride a bike, and he can barely button his jeans...
...but our boy dominated his awards ceremony today, and, midway through third grade, he's reading at a 6th grade (almost 7th) level. Congrats Joshy!
Monday, February 07, 2011
Because if it wasn't obvious enough that the pack of white people were out of place in the neighborhood that summer...
...they got us these hideous yellow shirts. Team shot from the Los Angeles Urban Project, summer of 1995.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
A Super Bowl update from A Fly in the Soup
Happy Super Sunday people! It's 11:42am, the Super Bowl pre-game show is already on (4 hours before kick-off mind you), I just woke up from the first of several planned naps and by the Lord's mercy it's sunny and 63 degrees today! I'm mulling a lap or two around the neighborhood at halftime.
As for the game, put me down for the Packers rolling the Steelers 35-14. Close first half before the Pack pulls away in the second half. For the record, I will be wishing I was watching the game Riddoiugh-style in Orcutt, CA with a full plate of amazing tri-tip in front of me and the spirit of Beaker bird hovering in the air...
Speaking of the SB, intriguing article here about the small town of Portsmouth, Ohio, a town which once had an NFL team (in the 30s). Interesting to consider how that town's fortunes might be different today had the team (which went on to become the Detroit Lions) stayed.
Enjoy the day! Pack 'em!
As for the game, put me down for the Packers rolling the Steelers 35-14. Close first half before the Pack pulls away in the second half. For the record, I will be wishing I was watching the game Riddoiugh-style in Orcutt, CA with a full plate of amazing tri-tip in front of me and the spirit of Beaker bird hovering in the air...
Speaking of the SB, intriguing article here about the small town of Portsmouth, Ohio, a town which once had an NFL team (in the 30s). Interesting to consider how that town's fortunes might be different today had the team (which went on to become the Detroit Lions) stayed.
Enjoy the day! Pack 'em!
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
The Power of a Whisper
In the last chapter of The Power of a Whisper, Pastor and author Bill Hybels writes "part of the reason I have written this book is to encourage you that it's actually possible to follow through Mission accomplished. For me the power of a Hybels book comes from the array of stories that he is able to bring to bear on his topic. If the dude hasn't done the deed himself, then he knows someone who has. I love that. I mean, really, there isn't much that was new for me in this book. Yep, the Spirit speaks and when He does, we need to obey. Who hasn't heard that before?!?
And yet I do need to keep hearing it, and if it's wrapped in a cocoon of well-told and vivid stories, all the better. Hybels' genius, then, is in the demonstrating. This is a personal book. You get to read about Bill's parenting, his dark nights of the soul, his journey to understand his ethnic identity and, along the way, you get at least part of the story of the remarkable work of God that is Willow Creek.
I was most grateful for two chapters worth of content. Chapter 7 is about parenting, and specifically the importance of listening for and then heeding the nudges of God as we seek to lead our families. Most often I think of hearing from God in a ministry context, so it was powerful for me to be challenged to consider doing the same thing here at home. And then the second chapter that was powerful for me was chapter 9. The whole chapter is terrific, but the portion about racial justice is extra strong. As my mostly white church engages with this book this Winter in our all church study, my hope is that we examine ourselves with the same intentionality and vulnerability that Hybels examined both his own racial biases and the racialized culture that we live in in this country.
So, in the end, you gotta love Hybels. Recently I started following him on twitter. Only bummer there is it's tough to tell a story in only 140 characters! Let me close with perhaps my favorite quote from the book: "the God of the Scriptures is irrepressibly communal, hopelessly familial and his whispers are still ours to hear." Amen.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Freakin' Popliteus?
So I'm pretty sure I've tweaked my popliteus. Popliteus. Sounds like some microscopic animal. Or maybe a really bad virus.
Who knows, but I think that's what is strained in the back of my left knee. Found some seemingly helpful info here and here.
For now, it's gonna be:
1. More cross training on the bike.
2. Easier pace, shorter runs and less of them.
3. Shorter strides and a more even footfall.
4. Better, deeper stretching before.
5. Ice after.
6. Massage?
7. No racing til March?
Keep you posted.
Who knows, but I think that's what is strained in the back of my left knee. Found some seemingly helpful info here and here.
For now, it's gonna be:
1. More cross training on the bike.
2. Easier pace, shorter runs and less of them.
3. Shorter strides and a more even footfall.
4. Better, deeper stretching before.
5. Ice after.
6. Massage?
7. No racing til March?
Keep you posted.
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