Turkey Dayz

I hope you all had a good thanksgiving. We spent most of the morning purging our closets of things we don't use and wear and then strung up christmas lights around the house before we got together with a bunch of our friends for a big pot-luck. Then, I filled up my belly with the room I made in my closet. It was good times. We've made some really good friends out here. we especially enjoyed hanging out with chris and brandi (architect and teacher) who have recently been coming to our small group. We miss family and friends from the East Coast though. Looking forward to moving back this summer.

This morning, I played in the Mosaic Turkey Bowl with Chris and a bunch of other friends. We had some hard fought games, but came victorious. That's the second Mosaic sports tourney we've come away with the In and Out burger prize, thanks to stellar play by TJ, Evan, and others... Hannah also loved being out there as she loves to pile up the flags and put them on her head...well, maybe I like to do that to her. She really loves to grab the cones and anything else she can and say, "DO DO"

All in all- great time to celebrate and reflect on life. I am incredibly grateful for my family, friends, and life God has given me to live.

Peace

Corey

Hanging out with the OC and Invisible Children

I did something I probably won't ever do again in my life. Me and a friend went down to a club in LA called the King King for a party to celebrate and raise money for Invisible Children. If you haven't seen the film, you should really check it out. The money you pay for the film goes to helping orphans in Uganda which has been ravaged by civil war for many years now. Kids are always the ones who pay when adults go to war.


Anyway, back to the OC. The blonde actor on that show saw the film and organized a night to raise money for the cause. How am I connected you might ask? One of my good friends at seminary grew up with the producer of Invisible Children so he invited us to come. There were many famous people....and us. And I am one of those people who can't recognize famous people, I just know I've seen them before somewhere. It was an interesting environment to be in to say the least. LA....orphans....pretty people.....poverty.....I think it shows people are longing to make a difference in the world through unconventional means.

Invisible children is doing an amazing job at raising awareness and creating grassrooots solutions in Uganda. In almost every country in Africa, there are many problems because war and AIDS have pervaded many of the places over the last 20 years. Being at fuller has opened my eyes to these realities as some of my neighbors are from Ethiopia and Kenya. I have been learning how little things can go a long way.

One of my friends, Chris and his wife, Andrea, are over there now working in an orphanage and he sent some pictures of one of the wars. They are distrubing, but I think eye opening to the realities that we remain separated from.

Anyway, it was an interesting night seeing the collision of poverty and power in the same place. I'll never forget it. And, I got hit on by a guy. yes, you can laugh at that.

peace

corey

hannah getting ready for baby sister

hannah at the fall festival at fuller

2 kinds of animals in the world

We went to the LA zoo this weekend with my mom who was in town visiting and I have to say that place was impressive. It is a non-profit organization that is kept up better than busch gardens. Hannah loves animals. I wonder if she'll be a veterenarian? who knows? However, according to her there are only two kinds of animals in the world, well no, 3- puppas, shish, and neigh neighs. It is really cute watching her call the Tapier a puppa and the llama a neigh neigh.

we had a great time. everyone says that kids grow up so fast, and they are right, but we are savoring every moment of it.

I'll give it another try...

Hello friends and anonymous computer people out there.... I felt rejected by the blog world, but I've recovered and am attempting a comeback. I've reshaped my blogger identity and am looking for some healthy internet conversations about life. But, mostly I am looking forward to staying in touch with my friends while living all the way across the country.

Hope to hear from you all soon

much love

cp

Travelling..

We are in DC right now visiting with our family up here after being with family in Roanoke for the last week. Hannah is having fun with all the love and new places, and it is a very refreshing time for us. We're going to a wedding celebration tonight.

Driving down 81 in Virginia reminded me of how much I love the East Coast. Even though Southern California is beautiful and great weather, it can't touch the beauty of the mountains and countryside out here. Plus, we don't have smog.

peace

cp

Sleepy Sunday...

I woke up early to get Hannah this morning and then had a great day at Mosaic and time with friends afterwards. Then, the whole family crashed out for a Sunday nap.

This should be a good week as I finish up a class and get ready to go back to Virginia to see family and friends. We leave Saturday morning. This summer seems like it's flown by.

On another note, anyone got any good music they think is worth listening to? I realized I'm really lame when it comes to knowing good music.

Changing the World?...

The other day, I was working out at 24 hour fitness, when I noticed a sign that said something like, "join now- we are changing thousands of lives."

As I thought about that while walking into the gym to lift weights, I began thinking about all of the organizations from Subway to Starbucks to churches to civic organizations that claim to be changing lives. I mean, even I am developing sports leagues that raise money for orphans in Africa.

Then, I flashed back to this conversation I had with a guy at a local coffee shop earlier this year. We were talking about meaning in life, and I shared with him that Jesus has changed my life. And I'll never forget his response, "So, coffee changes peoples' lives."

His statement has stuck with me because I think it reveals a lot about our culture. Everyone is claiming to have the life-changing answer out there and Jesus has become just another option for change. It's easy to get jaded and skeptical about Jesus because people have used Jesus to justify whatever they want to do so much that he is only another option like coffee to give someone energy and meaning in life.

Ever since that conversation, I have been thinking about his question: how is Jesus changing someone's life different than coffee changing someone's life?

Without going into the obvious differences, I think it really boils down to hope. The movement that Jesus brought into the world through his life, death, and resurrection and offers to all humanity is inspired by hope. When I look at the world, I often get jaded and cynical or else just self-absorbed and thinking about what kind of coffee I can buy today in view of all the problems around us from broken relationships, to hurting and lonely people, to the wars and poverty we see around us, to the pain I often feel in my own life. But when I look to Jesus, I find hope because He calls to a life bigger than my taste buds, preferences, and even cynicism, into a life given for the good of others. The more I follow Jesus and see the reality of the broken world, the more I am hopeful that more people will join us in the movement to bring hope to those in despair, love to the lonely and hurting, and faith to those who are searching for meaning in life.

Can coffee really give me that kind of hope?

Maybe the reason there are so many organizations marketing changing the world is this desire has been placed in our hearts by the Creator?