My Three Year Plan

On Sunday, I ventured to Dangerous Dan's, a greasy option on Queen and Broadview. I was invited by Dave to partake in a tradition six years strong. The tradition is the following:

Eat the Coronary: Two 8oz. patties topped with a fried egg and four strips of bacon (AND the fries. Can't forget those).

I wasn't ready. As a matter of fact, I completely wussed out of it.

I ended up having a regular burger (w/cheese and bacon) and even THAT sat funny afterwards. So here's the deal: Next year, I will take the weekend to prepare my body for what it will receive. I plan on having the coronary. In 2011, the 'ball buster': 24oz. If you happen to be in the area and have no regard for your physical health, I suggest you give it a go. Jared is my hero.

Timing

My watch keeps dying on me. Its a relatively new watch. Purchased it about four months ago. Sometimes its fast, and sometimes its off about 8 hours. Beforehand, I always used my phone to tell the time, but I missed having a weight on my wrist that I could simply rotate 80 degrees and know the hour.

I'm still joyous inside at the thought of my old friend picking up a Bible and going at it. I've been praying for about ten years for this event to occur. And yes, he might just say its all junk, but I'm hoping, and still praying, that he will see Jesus as I see him.

I keep hearing people quote Assisi: 'Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words'. Now hold on one second, if God didn't want me to speak his gospel, He would have made me a mute. In this faith journey, it has been mostly living by example which is primary, but after a while, you have to connect the dots. What is it that makes you different? Why is your outlook the way it is? What hope is there in this life?

Well, let me tell you . . .

Means To An End

First off, an embed:

I have been slowly reading a book called: God and the New Atheism by John Haught. Its a pretty small book, but distractions (i.e. life) keeps getting in the way of me actually reading the whole thing. The book is a response to all the recent writers who have been critical to those who claim faith in any sort of God. I think I'm about 1/3 of the way into the book. I seemed to have misplaced it recently. Anyways, found this trailer and I am looking forward to watching it (October 27th. Straight to DVD, unless you live in L.A. or N.Y.). Can't figure out where the director of the doc will go with it.

I am always amazed at those who are able to explain the faith in plain language. More than light analogies and foreign language ('Christianese' as some would call it). It doesn't only help firm my beliefs, but helps me explain them as well.

I was in Ottawa on the weekend. I hadn't been there since a week before Mother's Day. Hung out with my mom (of course), met my friend's baby (super cute) and had a man date with a high school friend of mine. We've kept in touch since we graduated in '03. We went to an eatery off of Merivale Road. We started into the usual 'How have you been' conversation, then we entered into the 'religion' conversation, the first time since I've known him.

Not getting into the nitty-gritty, but he understood. He said he would investigate.

Moving into my own place in November. Kinda looks like the house Snow White and the Seven Dwarves lived in. Once I'm in, I'll show you what I mean.

Expectancy

I had a good talk with a close friend a few nights ago. We haven't spoken in a while, so there was much to catch up on. He asked me how I was feeling. I told him I was feeling expectant. I'm still not entirely sure of what, but expectant nonetheless. He liked it.

I'm not entirely sure what it even means to have 'arrived'. Is that when you're married, have a few children and are in a full-time position somewhere? Is that when you check off everything on your 'To Do Before I Die" list? When everything you have ever planned out is a booming success?

The big asterisk with regards to plans as a Christian is that, ultimately, they're not your plans at all. They're sent down to you. Sometimes the plans are clear-cut, and other times its sent down step-by-step. At this moment, my plans fall in the latter category. Whatever the case, as long as you are following the plans set out for you, you can't go wrong (if only following was as easy to do as it is to say).

That not-yet-arrived feeling is a comfort as much as it is a discomfort. But if God takes care of birds and dispels the world's concept of beauty with a flower, not made by man, how much more will he care for me?

A whole lot more, He says.

The Winds Of Change Are Plentiful These Days . . . .

Last week, I made a big purchase.  I mean BIG.  I second guess myself when I make a $60 purchase (with the exception of anything dealing with car maintenance.  What can I say, I love my Cavalier).  

I own a Macbook Pro, and will be paying for it for a very VERY long time.  I'm also hoping it will pay for itself.  I plan on putting this bad boy to work.  Gone are the days of CRTL-ALT-DELETE.  Welcome COMMAND-OPTION-ESCAPE.