Not for all the tea in China.

I gassed up the car Friday afternoon and drove. And drove. Picked up my friend Michelle Palmer and drove some more. 5 long hours later, we arrived in West Monroe (the armpit of Louisiana). Just in time to check the first item off my bucket list: Attend an Andrew Osenga Concert.

The cramps in my legs and lowerback seemed to melt away as Andrew made sweet sweet love to his guitar.
And everyone there in that "too big of a room for such a small crowd" witnessed it.
For the next hour his humility, his passion, his anger, his brokenness and his redemption were laid bare for us to see.
It was like he was cooking and the penetrating smell of emotion filled the room.
Everyone wanted a taste of it.

It was memorizing, inspiring, and oh so satisfying.
I PR that the rest of the bucketlist will be just the same.

Was it worth the drive? Yes. Worth the cramps? Yes. Worth the sleepless drive back? Yes.
Would I ever trade the experience? Not for all the tea in China.


awesome moment in time

New-City Nervous

For those who don't know, I'll be leading students on a 2-week mission
experience in Vancouver in May.
It's all about S led friendship building and life on life J sharing.
And lots of PRwalking.
When I think about this great task ahead, I get a little nervous.

These students are trusting me to lead them in a city I barely know, connect with a people I've never met, and relate to a culture I know little of.

They need me to take the lead in this big city, but I'm pretty clueless on how to really do it.
All I have is a few short months of mission experience, but is that really enough?
Then I remember, it's the spirit that has carried you to this point, and it's his S that will see you through. It's not about my competency or how well I do.
It's about who I'm owned and operated by. And that's the Father.

This week I have an opportunity to do great things. Because my Father is great.

Fast forward

Well, one more month then it's graduation and off to Vancouver.
What have I been upto lately?

Well here's my to do list this week:


and that's only scratching the surface.

I've been plugging along all this year, at it's all been really great.
Ministry has been joyfilled and life-altering, Saints winning the Superbowl, and graduation is right around the corner. It's all been deeply satisfying and will probably go down as my favorite year at NSUEY.

But to be honest, I'm feeling a little tired. A little weary from the journey.
Emotionally spent, if you will.
I need to be refreshed, renewed, and poured into.

I need to spend time with people who I want to be around, true friends.
Rather than those that I have to be around.

I want to be around those who have a heart for the nations that I do.
Because I need to be reminded of how big G is and how he reaches out to the middle east, Middle Kingdom, NK, and Afreeka.

I hope that times comes before I lead this team, because He knows how much I need it.

A new Beginning

The guitar is sold.
The magazine subscriptions have been cancelled.
The airplane ticket is bought.
The news is slowly leaking out.
And I'm trying to give away old stuff that I forgot I even had.

After graduation, I'm moving to Vancouver.
I've already begun the long-goodbye.
The sound is sweet and it's calling me to follow my gut feeling.
I'm taking that chance, that risk.
A new beginning.

Micro Blogging

Well, it's been a while since we've last chatted. 12 days to be exact.
There so much to say and so little space, so let's try a bunch of small random
bullets to catch up:

-Saints won the Superbowl! Now they are selling the sod (chunks of turf) where certain "game-changing" were performed. This is getting ridiculous.... but the fans deserve it!

-Our week of "Crazy Love" dorm outreach has passed. Made some promising connections with some guys in the dorm. Praying for more divine appointments....

-A friend of mine sent me a wonderful gift: a hand crafted calendar.
You can pick one up here and you should. Because she is awesome!

-I'm currently working on my resume. I look back on all the video spots I've been a part of and thanking G. Who woulda thought: it all started with a wedding video and I can't believe they paid me!!

-yesterday was the first time I slipped in the shower in like 10 years. That's right I've keep track of these kind of things.

-CEC came and gone. Musical worship was truly life shaping. Aaron K truly is a W Pasture

see you soon!

Bucket List

My goal is to accomplish all of these within the next 2 years.

-Attend an international film festival

-End my college career on a sweetest note ever: Ultimate Frisbee, all my closest friends, and BBQ all on the back deck of the BCM.

-Attend an Andrew Osenga (my fav. artist) Concert April 9 2010

-Be part of the production crew for a short film
-Play on a semi-professional Ultimate Frisbee Team
-learn how to surf
-Celebrate Chinese New Year. In China
-Enroll in Seminary
-Move to a big city
-Learn martial arts

I am lame.

Today I forgot my mum's birthday. Yea I know, I'm sucky.
She sent me an e-mail:

"hi to day is 2 / 3 2010. my birthday. ar you forget? ........"

It's interesting how I can focus so much on making impact in other peoples lives and forget the most important woman in my life. Mum.

I'll make it up to her...... (Tony turns to camera) If it's the last thing I do.......