Crazy World Indeed

How insane has this week been? Some saying we are on the verge of a Great Depression-like situation. Also, a very really reminder that you can't always get what you want and that sometimes you can really hurt someone even when you are trying to do the exact opposite.

Weekend in Review

This weekend was the first time that I had both Saturday and Sunday off since I started working. The urgency of the project is over as the deadline has been successfully met. Thus, no need for overtime. Friday, we began transitioning into a new project that and so I will have a while longer to continue working at this job. It was also brought to my attention by my co-worker that our supervisor on this assignment was asking her what she knew about my background and qualifications because there "are always opportunities here." So it will remain to be seen if something more permanent will emerge from the situation. Honestly, I'd have to give such an option serious consideration if the pay was right since it's been such an ideal situation so far. I'll keep you all posted.

The weekend was great. Saturday morning, Tim, Julia and I headed off to a great farmer's market that is located at Portland State University. I bought some delicious strawberries. Tim came home with a nectarine he really enjoyed and Julia, who was the only one smart enough to bring along any real amount of money, brought home all sorts of fruit and vegetable delights. Then I hiked off, with the two love birds dawdling behind to find the main library which was a few blocks away. The library is in a grand, old three story building. It was a pleasant experience walking through all the rooms checking everything out and acquiring a new library card. I plan to spend a lot of time there this coming winter as it will provide a nice way to get out of the house when the winter sets in.

This morning, Tim and I went out and bought a frisbee. Then we headed over to the University of Portland with Julia and Sluggo, her dog. It was a very beautiful day in Portland today and so we joined not a few UP students in the quad. Tim and I worked on our frisbee throws. He wants to learn to play Ultimate and Julia ran her dog silly chasing his ball all over the place. It really made me miss college and everyone I knew at Chapman but it was a leisurely day nonetheless.

Tonight, Tim and I went to a church that one of my temporary co-workers told me about when we were working together. It's called Red Sea. From what my coworker told me and what I could glean from the website I understood the church to be affiliated with Mark Driscoll's Acts 29 Network of churches. I assumed the experience would be similar to the white, urban evangelical church stereotype that I have in my mind. Largely it was except for the fact that 3/4 of the congregation are black. I don't know that this is even noteworthy and in some way it makes me feel kind of weird to even point this out as noteworthy. This congregation, though small (there were only around 40 there tonight) was by far the friendliest group of Christians we have gone to church with since we've been up here. After the service was over, we were invited to dinner by many of the people in the church and also invited to someone's house for BBQ and a movie on Wednesday. I felt bad having to decline both offers but Tim and I were exhausted after the events of the afternoon and this Wednesday I think Megan and her parents will be in town.

I'm not really sure what to do about the church. There is no reason not to go back, but like Imago Dei, I'm not sure if I should commit to something right away. Should I keep exploring or just settle down?...realizing that ultimately church is about things that are so much bigger than just me.