This is Emily and I dancing. Okay, well, posing at the Medina Ball Room, where we have danced. Emily loves dancing and even gets me, who hates dancing, into it. 

This is Emily and I the day after Valentine's day with the flowers my cousin helped me pick out for Emily. 

My friends Ben, Brandy, Emily and Kristina, and my closest friend of all, the world map. 

My friend Noah learns how to juggle. He is a great guy, although tragically, like most other people in this state, he is Vikings fan. 

Here are two of my running buddies, Jen and Ben. I beat Ben by 7 seconds. Jen ran her first race since knee surgery. She beat the ground solidly. 

Here is a picture of one of my running buddies, Jen with another Future Pastor of American, Jon Yurk, the Youth Director at River of Life, my congregation here. 

30 degrees is perfect for a run

It is an odd thing when 30 degrees becomes a perfect temperature for 5K run. A couple of us ran in the St. Valentine's 5K around lake Harriet (number MNL#4,563). Perfect day - two layers of shirts was all I needed...and a couple of friends to encourage me along the way...

Bishop Bouman

The Bishop of the New York Metro Synod, Steve Bouman, spoke with us today. He was a very caring man who shared with us stories of ministry in New York City - stories of prayer and faith and ministry in the wake of 9/11. Quite touching. But he also shared many other stories of life in the poor areas of the city long before 9/11 and even then his thoughts were inspiring about what happens when we listen to the Holy Spirit and listen to the people of God. A tremendous message from a bishop - no tales of structure or social issues - rather an encouraging sermon on the purpose and joys of ministry. I think he made me think quite intensely about minsitry in New York!

Rick Warren's Youth Pastor...

Last night the director of Youth Minitries at Saddleback Church spoke to us. I was ready for some theology I disagreed with and instead I heard a marvelous biblical message about the challenges of Youth Ministry. He, Doug, chose to speak on the challenges because he worried that people often walked away from Youth Minsitry events dissappointed with their own youth ministry and grow more discouraged. He said comparision, need for affection, numbers and "staying fresh" were his biggest challenges. I will continue more later...

DisneyLand

Disney Land rocks. It was so much fun. As an adult I really appreciate the creativity. Post-res, I still look at the whole affair as very artifical and perhaps even superfluous...I am curious how long that experience will color my viewing of things. But the sun and the rides and the company - WOW. Also, Southern Cal continues to dissappoint me - they need mass transit!