Boring Facts

Hello reader,

Here are some things you don't care about regarding my every-day life...

• I eat salad for lunch about 4 times a week and for dinner about 3 times a week. Today's salad includes dark, green, leafy vegetables, cauliflower, brok-o-lee, peas, corn, asparagus, grilled chicken, beets and craisans. With olive oil and red vinegar.
• I eat salad because I'm getting old and what I eat affects how I feel, move and think. Jonathan Edwards was a smart man for being vigilant over his nutrition.
• I work on the fourth floor of my building. The cafeteria is on the second floor. Whenever I see someone taking the elevator down I take the stairs and race. When I beat them I feel a universal sense of victory for all who take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• After dinnner I eat my before-bed meal which usually consists of yogurt, string cheese, microwavable Trader Joes / Lean Cuisine, and kettle corn/pop corn
• I like the sound of preaching - I'd estimate I listen to 3-4 sermons a day. It could be different ones or the same one multiple times
• One of my major weaknesses is finishing books - I'm always reading multiple books at a time and almost never completely finish a book. I'm currently reading "Prodigal God" by Tim Keller, "Why We're Not Emergent" by Kevin Young, "Managing the Non-Profit Organization" by Peter Drucker, "Invitation to Lead" by someone, and I just ordered "Tale of Two Sons" by John MacArthur.
• When I wake up Monday-Thursday I fantasize about going to sleep at 10PM. Inevitably, I always sleep much later despite not having a TV or internet.
• I rarely take a shower in my apartment - I go to the gym at work almost every day and shower there. Saves money on soap/shampoo, etc.
• Yesterday I applied to summer internships at Acumen. They do business stuff for poor people around the world. Very awesomeness.

Bonus Season

Later today I will get my bonus figure. Expected to be sharply down due to economic situation - particularly on Wall Street.

Here's the first verse of today's ESV Study Bible Reading:

Psalm 41:1 "Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him"

I know my bonus will be less than half of what it was last year. Earlier on I was disappointed about it, but reading Psalm 41 reminded me that there are billions with far less than I have.

Please Don't Tell

What's up.

For our Team Building Event at work, we're going to Please Don't Tell (PDT).

Here's the review from CitySearch

In Short
This initials stand for "please don't tell" at this hidden lair, which slakes the city's thirst for impeccably made cocktails and Prohibition-era intrigue. Patrons enter through a "secret" entrance inside the St. Mark's wiener joint, Crif Dogs, to sample a drink menu devised by Jim Meehan (Pegu Club, Gramercy Tavern). Most of the room's light emanates from the glowing bar top, which attractively illuminates exposed brick walls hung with taxidermy and crescent-shaped leather banquettes.

So... Hot Dogs in a Club you enter through a Phone Booth

Why We're Not Emergent Part 1

I'm going to do something boring for all of my 2 readers!

I'm going to do a commentary / book review on "Why We're Not Emergent" by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. What will be different about this review is that it (1) won't be as well written as the other ones on the internet and (2) I'll incorporate thoughts from (a) a personal perspective (b) a corporate perspective as memeber of a church & fellowship.

Why am I doing this?

Because though I had been following the Emergent 'debate' from a distance, it has now entered my church and it is important to address and understand for the sake of guarding our doctrine.

Emerging Church Leaders are guys like:

1) Brian McLaren - author of "Generous Orthodoxy"

2) Doug Pagitt - author of "A Christianity Worth Believing"

3) Rob Bell - author of "SEXGOD" and "Velvet Elvis", NOOMA

Many probably don't know that there are, in fact, different stances on the Emergent church. I think it's naive to accept everything that posits itself as "Christian" without thoughtful examination. Our litmus test can't be our own experiences (i.e., well, it was helpful for me). The standard by which all else is judged is the Word of God.

OK - hopefully I can be disciplined enough to do this regularly for you two guys/girls reading this and not bore you to death.

I like...

Art.

Mark Rothko.

The Real Narrow Door

Exclusivity.

.

I think there is an American fascination with exclusivity and elitism. We rank, rate, and tier. Country clubs, the Ivy League, and most prestigious X lists.

And I've bought into it. I was disappointed when I didn't get into Stanford Graduate School of Business today - the first time a school rejected me after getting into Peddie, Lawrenceville, and Penn. There has always been an underlying pride issue there, that somehow I'm better, when I'm really not.

.

Thankfully, with every rejection to come, more of that pride will be stripped away.

For the next several months, God will be working on my soul to teach me patience, humility and trust, as I await more decisions from various schools. My guess is, God has a lot of work to do on me.

.

But there is one place where I know my admission has already been guranteed - and few get in.

.

"And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Stive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luke 13:23-24, ESV)

.

While I'm disappointed I didn't get into Stanford, I have something infinitely better to look forward to.

Chariots, Horses and Essays

Where am I putting my trust?

It's 11:20PM right now. I am currently in my work office editing business school essays. I sometimes prefer to work on these essays in my office rather than at home because:

(1) I have internet at the office and not at my studio

(2) I like having my apartment as a place for stuff other than work - reading, writing, ministry, sermon listening and sleeping. (and eating string cheese)

Anyway. This business school application process has been an ongoing struggle to trust fully in God. During this process I've had to do a lot of introspection and self-evaluation. Through these times I've become more aware of my weaknesses as an applicant, whether its in the areas of work experience, academics or otherwise. So, partially in an effort to counterweight these weaknesses I'm trying to write really great essays. Essays have become my hope.

Unfortunately, I'm not an essayist.

Fortunately, God rules over everything, including admissions officers.

In today's ESV Study Bible reading I read Psalm 20:6-8:

"6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8 They collapse and fall,but we rise and stand upright."

So, even as I continue to edit my essays tonight, I am reminded that God hears me and answers me from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. I will trust in God.