Go Dukes!

Here is a picture of the Albuquerque Dukes mascot, the Duke. This was the old minor league farm team that was an Albuquerque institution for many generations. I have fond memories of going to Dukes games and taligate parties not too far from my home where the satium was. Now it no longer exists, and the Isotopes have taken the place of the Dukes. Needless to say, there's no school like the old school. The Duke represents the city so much better than a stupid Isotope.

anyway....

I have not been posting too much personal stuff. But I have been blessed, encouraged and exhorted by my continued reading of all my friend's blogs (which has been rarer, because i dont have a computer)
It has been a stressful time, but a good time. God has been bringing up deeper sins to my attention-- in myself, and in the community i am surrounded by every day: the young people of the summer program. In a real sense, I feel like this is my family. i feel like i have a bunch of little brothers and sisters that i care about so much. Please pray that the kids would have left this summer with an encounter with Jesus' love. There is so much need in the community, so much that could be attended to with far more time, resources, committment, love than i or any of us have. I treasure the small moments of talking to one of the kids where i am let into just a little bit of how they experience their family, their neighborhood, their culture, their relationships.....

Hope is a discipline

There is a God in Israel.

Here is a pic from the Summer Program. This has been a lot of fun for me. As Edna Mode in The Icredibles said, "It has completely confiscated my life, dah-ling." Well, not completely, but as much as a job i love will. It has been a blessing to see the junior staff jr high and high schoolers grow in maturity, responsibility and character--- much of it through difficult and challenging situations.
One thing I've realized about working with kids is that the kids themselves do not necessarily push my buttons--- it is the unpredictability of large groups of kids in a daily schedule that really keeps me on my toes.

I bought this yesterday. Now I am one step closer to becoming Mixmaster J to the IzzAke.

the heat changes things.
i think it has changed the way i think about my life.
its strange that some added physical discomfort would highlight all the other, more deep and irritating discomforts that you spend your time trying not to complain about to your friends.

more later

this was my brother John when he went home to Albq. from Iraq last month 

whew

this weekend's highlights:

saw OZOMATLI for FREE on Friday night in downtown LA. So much fun. At one point, the crowd burst open the barriers and went into the fountain in front of the band. I went for it, shoes and all, and it was worth it.

Saturday night kicked it at home with the homies Rob One and Eric Sermon, watching the Chapelle Show. Havent been entertained like that in a long time

Sunday, Church at Epicentre, then to Will Rogers beach with Tina, Reza, the Partida girls and some other kids from the summer program (and Jorge) that was a lot of fun. In N Out afterwards. Later on, some Settlers with Rob, Eric and Greg over some beezys

Monday, Sabbath in the afternoon in Eagle Rock, then a barbecue in the park at the Rose Bowl..good friends, good weather, good times...and the fireworks.

Today.....first day of the summer program,

Ask me about it.