Thursday, July 30, 2009

No Coincidences

1 week. This isn't a countdown but yet it's true. A week from this very moment my internship with the JESUS Film will be over. I've been removing grain from the Hi-Def version of the JFilm. It is a SLOOOOOOOW process because Mac + Adobe AfterEffects = slowest rendering time imaginable. In the words of Ryan Reynolds' character in The Proposal "Congratulations, I'm 100." I am also editing footage from a trip Mikey went on to Bolivia around the same time I did. 4 hours of footage put into a 30 min and a 10 min video. My rough cut chopped it down to 47 minutes(took me multiple days to do so but still). It definitely makes me long for Santa Cruz...a lot. There's a shot in the city center and I knew exactly where things were in location to it. I really want to return there some day.
Mikey gave me this project (a) so I didn't run out of stuff to do while he was on vacation and (b) because he knew I had been to Bolivia. Not a coincidence.
But are there really such things a coincidences?
I don't think so. I think when our eyes are truly open it is God revealing something about ourselves or something about his nature to us. God revealed one more thing which I think he wants me to realize before I leave here. He's opened my eyes to several things, 1st was Luke 12:25 - 26 then it was John 10:10. Now it's Jeremiah 1:5.
"'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.'"
God is talking to Jeremiah here, when he's first called to prophecy. Jeremiah tries to come back saying he is too young and God essentially tells him to shut up. I like the nice Godly nice way Jeremiah puts it but still...I'm pretty sure God was telling him to shut his mouth for a second. He follows that with verse 8 saying "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." Ok. How many times has God told me this? Do not be afraid. Do not be anxious. And yet, I try to weasel my way back into my shell in my dark corner using excuses like I don't know how to speak well. (I haven't learned from Jeremiah or Moses apparently.) God always interrupts Jeremiah and Moses when they said those things and he does the same for me. But I'm thick headed. I keep up with my excuses. But why? God is with me. He will rescue me. He's a BIG God. And we may be small and insignificant but he cherishes us. He knows us...I'll get to this in a second.
Back to Jeremiah. After God telling him that he is with him and will rescue him he does something outrageous. Ridiculous even. He touches Jeremiah's lips. God TOUCHED his lips. Then said "Now, I have put my words in your mouth." Whoa. I want God to touch my lips. And it could happen but for now I have to lean on the Spirit.
So, I heard this story...and specifically Jeremiah 1:5 twice. In one day. No coincidences. God is trying to make sure that even though I write how he delights in me that I realize that he really does. He knew me before I was even formed. KNEW me. I don't even truly know me. We are a mist, a vapor, and yet... he knows us. And has set us apart. Apart from the world. For his works. He says later in Jeremiah 29:11 '"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He's serious when he says he set us apart.
But wait (you say - in my head-) God is talking to Jeremiah... not me specifically.
Well back to how I heard this marvelous verse. I first Jeremiah 1:5 - 10 from Francis Chan, who put it really well in his book Crazy Love that I will botch up. Essentially he said that not only does God know us but he has set us apart to be a prophet to the nations. And this wasn't just for Jeremiah. It's for us too. There are so many nations in need and we are to go to them. Then I heard the verse again at Cassie's church's high school service, TNT. The youth guy mentioned this part specifically as well saying that nations doesn't just mean to travel all over the world. That nations can be our families... our schools. And we (not just Jeremiah) are called to them. Set apart for them.
So God is talking to me and you (whoever you are reading this.)
No coincidences. God wants my heart on this verse before and as I leave Orlando. I am known. I am set apart. And I am appointed. And that realization of that is just so sweet.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Mist

James 4: 14
"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
My favorite part of this is the God-like way 'What is your life?' is asked. I have been learning this summer that God really is, you know, God. He's big. He's powerful. And he delights in me. Weird. I read this verse last Saturday (so a week ago) and being compared to mist hit me. We are only on this Earth a little while and then we vanish. At least in God's eyes that's what we're like. Yet he cherishes each and everyone of us. What is up with that? The verse, to me, goes hand and hand with Luke 12:25 - 26 when Jesus asks why are we anxious when we can't do such a small thing like add an hour to our life. Add an hour? A small thing? Who is this guy that can say this? Then I realize through all my thick headedness that he is that same God mentioned in James that says I'm mist yet also says how much he loves me.
My Luke 12:25 - 26 revelation was all in front of my computer watching Brian Deacon (He plays Jesus in the JESUS Film) repeat these verses. Not only is this my favorite scene (the lighting is great in this shot - one of the rare ones) but just those words. Even though it's human Brian Deacon saying them I can just imagine the real Jesus giving me a similar look and asking me: Why be anxious? What is your life?
Now all of this has hit extreme relevance in my life. Right now. Why? Cuz my internship ends in less than 2 weeks. 2 WEEKS! I feel as if I started a new chapter in a new place and I have to return to the old place. I feel my throat tighten and my heart drop into my stomach when I think about leaving. It doesn't help that I have been living on my own, creating a lifestyle for myself, for the last several weeks while I've been house sitting. I guess mostly it's my want to not uproot my life (once again) and just be settled for once but what fun would that be? I must put a bookmark in this chapter of my life to return to later. I pray, earnestly, that I return. And I know even if I don't return to work here I will return to visit.
There have been many kidnapping plans. I won't spoil them because I think several will be tried in less than 2 weeks time. (hint there's milk cartons, duct tape, and a meal once a week involved.)
This week is CSU, so mostly everyone is gone which means we get to have parties. We had a lunar landing party and today we had a field day party. We had to wear shirts or jerseys of our alma mater or fav team. And shocking enough the Ohio/Michigan rivalry found itself down here. 3 of us wore Ohio based shirts and 2 wore Michigan shirts. (One of the IT guys was passing out Michigan shirts and hats to all he could :P) It was hot but it was fun just to stand outside.
JESUS Film Field Day Group

Playing cornhole in the Quad.

Ohio Reps. That and we matched.

I don't really pick sides. Shaking Michigan color pompoms.

Earlier this week I took an excursion to Downtown Disney just for fun. I took silly pictures, ate really good fish and chips, and saw Public Enemies (Wasn't that great. The cinematography was distracting. Depp and Cotillard were great, though.) I'm not going to Disney World while I'm here so I took a picture with me and some "princesses" for a friend of mine. Some parents looked very concerned as I wandered around grabbing princess dolls.
Me and the Princesses...for some reason I could only find "baby" Ariel and Jasmine. Odd.

My most photogenic new friend.

I may be sad that I only have 2 weeks left but I will finish them out with joy because I'm sure God has something great planned with them.

Friday, July 17, 2009

The painful part of being an intern...

...is transitioning into the "leaving" part. I feel like I have been here for AGES when in fact I've only been here for 9ish weeks. I have 3 more weeks and then I depart back home for a few days and then to school.
I said good bye to one of my disciplers. She will be gone for 3 weeks and won't be back until the day after I leave. I had just a great time with her. Lots of good laughs.
Lots of laughs

Lots of good laughs has been the theme for this week. Most people are gone for CSU and so now it's just us crazy people. One of my friends got new contacts and she can't see up close. This resulted in her walking into a tree, me having to read her coupons, and me noticing that the film she cut up to hand to tour guests did not contain Jesus and in fact had some random guy in them.
I had to remind her that Jesus wears white in all/most of the shots and she said the person in the film was wearing white. To which I had to inform her that he had a white beard and was not wearing white.
I love talking with people that are older than me and have really ridiculous senses of humor. It is so much fun. One instance is my boss. His hair is now blue... because he declared today "Blue Day." Another example is one guy who "retired" last year. We went to lunch with him. He and my friend mentioned above were in the front. They're both older than 50, whereas Steve and me in the back are younger...by a lot. They were joking in the front how they were ready to go home to Jesus as we were driving to Quiznos. We had to remind them that we couldn't wait to go home to Heaven but we didn't want to go just yet. Probably one of the scariest/funniest experiences.
At Quiznos we had fun joking about the Michigan and Ohio rivalry. We also had fun with Quiznos trays.
Steve with his thought/speech bubble

In work I am done with my Magdalena edits. I'm kinda glad. I'm now working on the HD version, and some other random projects. The head replacement is still happening as well. :P
I have grown a lot but I will miss this place...a LOT. The next 3 weeks will be full of fun, laughs, and then those dreaded goodbyes.
Oh Florida.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

It's begun...

...the exodus of CCCI and JF. If there has been little to no people working this past month there is absolutely no one working now...and even less after this week. It will be an experience.
I had my advisor come by and I was approved (I'm pretty sure) for getting credit for this as an co-op. He seemed overwhelmed. A. CCCI HQ is huge. B. JF spares no expense on its Master Studio equipment C. People are largely welcoming and will love to talk and learn things about you even if you are just there for an hour. I had to talk/guide/entertain him for an hour because he was 3 hours early but it went over smoothly besides that. I had my co-worker from Cleveland chase him down and talk to him. It was quite funny. Unfortunately no flying monkey or light saber fights happened while he was around. Also, the poor guy was doomed for two days of rain while he was in "sunny" Florida but the sun finally showed up on Saturday. So hopefully he gets to enjoy some days on the beach.
I have gotten to talk to some of my friends who just got back from Summer Project and it is so cool to hear how God is working all around the world right now. The stories make you mourn for the way people are living yet be equally joyous for the peoples' lives that are being touched.
As well as having friends coming back, I have friends leaving. For Cru's staff training as well as for Nigeria. A travel team group of women leaves later today and will get back just before I leave. I will see them again but it will be for a short time. It's sad but I know I'll see them again, and if not on this earth, in heaven.
My time here is winding down. One month left. Already thinking about whether or not I'll be back with the Orlando Summer Project next year. It's up to God. But I would love to come back and JF, especially, is willing to be really flexible when it comes to scheduling since next year my brother graduates from high school and I want to be there for that. So we'll see. I'm not going to worry about it right now. :)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Majoring in loitering and minoring in cake

I love my co-workers... a lot.
We've had an increase in deserts around here probably because all of post-production has an addiction to sweet things. (also probably because of all the 4th of July parties lately and leftovers). Well today we had pie. Mostly apple but lots of pie. And what do I hear? Not normal excitement over apple pie but, "Ooo! Second breakfast."
To top it off a light saber fight happened today as well. It started that I threw a flying monkey at one of my co-workers. He responded by whipping out his iphone with his lightsaber app. And in response to that, my other co-worker took off a piece of his cubicle and they had a "lightsaber" fight in between the cubicles. To say I laughed until I cried would be an understatement.
We had a good bye party for two of the travel team guys and there was cake. And "miraculously" all of the post-production guys were there. My co-worker who took apart his cube to make a lightsaber was staring at the cake and said, "I went to school for this." He went one to say, "Yeah you know. I majored in loitering and minored in cake." I will miss them when I leave in a month.
Me at work...notice the flying monkey

Today was hard. Lots of stress but I got through it. It was a trial but I continued through. I realized recently along with this that relying on the Spirit and spending time with Jesus should be about pleasing God. He is pleased just by me existing in a walk with him. I caught myself recently seeing my time with Jesus as a way to appease God so I didn't have a bad day the next day. Albeit...days after I don't have my Jesus time I have trying days but on those days I can blame my lack of time alotted only for Jesus. Like blaming Karma. Which is bad. I should spend time with Jesus, led by the Spirit, because I want to connect with him and hear God's words on a deep and meaningful level.
I recently heard this... "Being hungry for Jesus means desiring a deeper walk with him today than you had yesterday." That is so cool to me. And so challenging...

Friday, July 3, 2009

Incline your ear and come to me...

hear, that your soul may live."
Isaiah 55:3. Probably my uplifting verse of the week. I found it "randomly." My bible flipped open to it after I had just looked at James3:4-6 and felt down about not finding anything really to dwell on in those verses. It's like a father talking to a child. Calming them through the turbulence of life. I wrote about it stating, "Breathe. Relax. Rest in the arms of the Father."
I even drew a picture to exemplify what I was feeling. I want to perfect it. Add some water colors...etc. We'll see. I have been drawing and imagining a LOT lately. Good? Bad? We'll see :P
But along with that creativity comes some craziness. Example: I texted my friend, Ashley, "There be giants in these parts." Because I found giant tea cups. I'm weird therefore I entertain?
Now... wal-mart. You see, I was at wal-mart getting my tire "fixed." You know... the one from the previous post. The one pretending to be flat. Yes. I say pretending. Nothing was wrong with it. All the automotive guys at wal-mart stared at me like I was crazy, spoke rapidly in spanish, and handed me back my keys.
But that night, and here is how cool God is, my travel team friend found that the car she was borrowing from another travel teamer had mostly low/flat tires but she had no tire gauge and no knowledge on how to quickly fix the tires with air. Who had a newly acquired tire gauge and newly acquired speed at the air pump? Well I did from my previous day of craziness. God had a plan for that tire fake-out. I was just surprised at how blatant it was.
Speaking out of how obvious God's beauty is. Here is the amazing looking clouds that threaten to produce every day. The coolest looking clouds on Earth (at least in the US). I'm convinced.
My neighbors think I'm crazy. I stand outside taking pictures of the sky.

At work I have made Jesus headless... is that blasphemous? Well he's headless for now... he'll have a head again and this time it will be the right head. Hopefully not looking like a jibjab cartoon. Most of my coworkers are thrilled with headless Jesus and thinking about marketing it as Halloween version. I'm sure it will go over well. I'm working on a new project that is transcribing CMA(Christian Motorcyclist Association) videos. Soundbooth is supposed to transcribe but Soundbooth + Southern accents = nonsensical words. So I will be fixing that. Tomorrow(later today). On my day off. I will also be working on the revamped bethechangevacations.org website and my co-op report. Fun day. At least there's a potluck at the end of the day and the next day is the 4th.

Yay! Happy Birthday Nation!