One of the things that I found very encouraging this past weekend was when I went to lunch with a bunch of Lumps folks after Sunday service. We were at San Tung (our favorite restaurant!) and there were approximately 25 of us in all. We sat in 2 separate tables but the encouraging moment came when I looked around at the ten people who were sitting with me and was able to identify at least one ministry in which each was serving. The challenge with churches in general is that it usually ends up like a football stadium, 22 players on the field exhausted in need of rest, and thousands in the stands in need of excitement. When I looked around me at the face of each person, I came to realize that it was Lumps is not like a football stadium.... that there are a lot of folks who have answered God's call. I also realized that I loved each one and that I was really thankful to God to have such wonderful brothers & sisters in my life.

I like this story. Received this from a co-worker...pretty funny...

The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how
he was going to, after the worship service, ask the congregation to
come up with more money than they were expecting for
repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to
find that the regular organist was sick
and a substitute had been brought in at the last
minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play.

"Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently.
"But you'll have to think of something to play
after I make the announcement about the finances."

During the service, the minister paused and said,
"Brothers and sisters, we are in great difficulty;
the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected,
and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge
$100 or more, please stand up."

At that moment, the substitute organist played "The
Star-Spangled Banner."

And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!

Trees grow faster in the city than in the countryside

Go Figure.

Your Brain Usage Profile

Auditory : 52%
Visual : 47%
Left : 58%
Right : 41%

The sentence that fits me to a tee: "Overall you tend to be somewhat more critical of yourself than is necessary and avoid enjoying life too much because of a sense of duty."

Yikes, am I that easy to read?

http://www.mindmedia.com/brainworks/first-paragraph.jsp

A quote I saw today on another blog... "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day." -The Volokh Conspiracy

Hey, that's true. The point of the statement... that even an item that is broken/wrong in its very nature can be correct given the right circumstances and conditions.

So, I have one more week left at this job. It seems like I just started here but in reality, it's been over 18 months. I was at Deloitte & Touche for 21 months and it seemed a whole lot longer... I guess it shows how time flies when the job isn't all that bad. Can't wait til Friday!

On a more serious note, MT, JD, RC, AT, and I went to visit MQ last night at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at UCSF. The two hours we spent there were amazing... a true testament of God's providence and His power at work. First, it was through His providence that we knew that MQ was there in the first place. Our sis-in-Christ AT works at UCSF and just so happened to spot MQ there randomly last week and sent out an email asking for prayer and aid in helping MQ. We brought pizza which we shared with all of the patients at Langley Porter's 4th floor ward. We then prayed with and for MQ . We then read aloud scripture passages while sitting in the hallway. It was a powerfully moving experience. For the first time in long awhile, I saw a sister cry because she shared in the pain and anguish that another sister was going through during prayer. To me, it is times like these when our faith becomes REAL... when God acts tangibly in our lives to bless another in their time of suffering... when our lives reflect the worship that our lips sing weekly or daily.

If you haven't already, I would strongly encourage you to visit MQ at UCSF. We always should remember (and pray for!) the many brothers and sisters who are suffering each day (not just in foreign nations but also here in SF!) while we live comparatively easy lives.

Went to K&T's wedding this past Saturday and it was beautiful. Very detailed. Pastor B was really great officiating the wedding... K looked absolutely splendid and T got it done... all I have to say to the Lumps guys who were there?...Grab a girl and dance for crying out loud!! Have some fun! Let loose! (No fear!) Seriously...

Props to EC for leading the way...