APU Blogs

Wassssssaaaahhhhh! (The Office…anyone?)

            Hey, I know I suck because I haven’t written in quite a while and in regards to that, I want to send you all a package of apologies from Sincere Sincerititon—expect to see that in your mailbox (metaphorically that it). Well, now that I got you all nice and confused, I’m ready to start. First, let me first talk about The Office firstly. Can anyone say “Rest in Peace”? Oh, you can? Well, let me say that I can’t! I’m freakin’ out! I’m totally bumming hard core…it was a great show and now…well…excuse me for a sec---(*Weep, weep weep*)—um---(*weep, weep *).  You know what I mean? Anyways, good talk. Let me end this first paragraph with a classic Michael Quote: “I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”

            Ok, so let’s talk AIDS Experience Tent. Remember how in the past couple blogs I was talking about the AIDS Experience Tent that I was bringing to APU and how I was super busy? Well, the main reason that I haven’t blogged in a while is because I was cranking out that thing and it was here from Nov. 11-Nov. 16. All I have to say is PRAISE GOD! He is so good! He did some really cool stuff through this tent that got me and all my volunteers stoked! First we had 1041 people go through the tent (maybe YOU were one of those! For that—thanks—you allowed us to have more than 1040---J), we raised just about $3000 dollars which is going to be split between the Nkhoma AIDS Orphan Project and The Nkhoma Teachers AIDS Training Project. All the money is going to the specific community in Malawi, Africa called Nkhoma—I figured: we can’t change Africa, we can’t change a whole country, but we can change a specific community—and let me tell you that $3000 dollars certainly will. Not to mention the greatest praise report about the event: we sponsored 36 children in that Nkhoma community which will sustain children, as well as go into the Nkhoma Area Development Project (Helping the community become more self-sufficient). I’m so excited that we had this turn out! Now, people have an awareness unlike anything else and are passionate about the topic of AIDS in Africa! Hallelujah! (I’ve actually decided to do my senior thesis on this topic) If you don’t have an awareness of the Greatest Killer that has ever hit mankind, I urge you to check out the online AIDS Experience: http://media.worldvision.org/getinvolved/aids_experience/index.html. Thank you everybody who contributed to this awesome project. Oh ya, and thank God that I get time to rest now…and write sicky gnar gnar blogs! wOOt!

            So anyways, I just got back from thanksgiving break and I’m sitting in my apartment with Jared and Chad. We’re talking about Beowulf, which I just saw yesterday. Ok, the movie is hilarious! It’s the most ridiculous movie ever…making it awesome! All I know is that for the next couple of weeks I’m going to be shouting at random moments: “I AM BEOWULF!” It just makes me laugh. I was just talking to Jared and I couldn’t help but be distracted by the big box of Legos that I brought from home! Usually nothing can distract me from the amazingness of Jared’s face carpet—but Legos can. Every lego is like candy for your fingers and your brain—the imaginative part—Imagitellum: (n.)-Lego brain part! Mr. Lego was a Genie-ous (like a smart guy and a genie mixed.) If I had the choice to live in a Lego shack or a normal mansion—I probably would have to think and pray about it. Legos are sweet, but don’t be fooled: Legoland is dumb…actually I’ve never been there, its just dumb cuz its really expensive and I’m poor! I can’t wait to assemble Lego stuff this week.

            So though I have busy with the AIDS tent these last couple of weeks, I have had a chance to do a couple of fun things. Ok, one of the highlights of the last couple of weeks: So I did this event with a bunch of the guys from the Alpha program about two and half weeks ago. We all dressed up like cowboys and went to the best restaurant in town: Steak Corral! This place’s got class! Top quality class. Get this: Steak meals for under 10 bucks, a wagon train that you get your food from, saddles for seats and the most extensive backed potato condiment bar known to this world and Mars (I looked at all the Mars rover pictures: there is no baked potato bar like this one!). I’m serious guys, this place is good! If you come to or go to Azusa, check it out! It’s down Azusa Avenue! Look for the Neon lights, cactus and the building with the corral on top of it! Then, after that, we went to Pay and Play racquetball and we got 4 guys in a room and 4 racquet balls and we just started hiting ‘em in all directions! Ok, some might be thinking, “Ok, this guy is a typical guy that does stupid things”—but I know that there are those out there that are saying right now: “YES!” and this part of the blog is for those guys! Time spent is only as good as the welt that you get from it!  

            As for the rest of life: its pretty dang good. I still love my roommates, big time! They are so fun and I’m really going to miss living with them when I graduate here in two and half weeks (ya, I know! Graughg! But I’ll get to that). I love this apartment because it’s almost as ridiculous as Beowulf. RAWR! I AM BEOWULF! Advice for all those in the future: It’s nice to get roommates that are clean and organized and seem like good housemates, but the most important thing about selecting roommates is find people that are you just love being around and that have qualities that you want to adopt into your life. Find roommates that make you joyful and that intentionally and genuinely want to build you up spiritually. That is what I have now and it has brought so much joy and spiritual encouragement in my life! Obviously, I see these qualities in my Fiancee as well. Ya ya, this is going to get sappy for a while, but just gimme two sentences to get all “Sleepless in Seattle” on ya. I was talking to a long time buddy of mine last night about love and marriage and honestly, I know that Alex is the woman for me because I can truly say that there is no one in this world that can put a smile on my face and build me up like she can. The overwhelming comfort that I have for my life is because of two things: God’s Purposes and a future with Alex. Oh, wow, I did get soft on ya…but, hey, you got to see another part of me.

            Well, I’m leaving APU here it two weeks and I’m in the process of preparing for launch. I’m applying for jobs, hatching it out among grad school choices, doing wedding stuff, getting ready for moving back home, etc. It was weird being at home this last week, knowing that I was going to be back there soon. It’s definitely sad, but I guess exciting at the same time. It’s bittersweet. You all don’t have to, but if you would like, I would appreciate some prayer for this time in my life…there still are parts that are little hazy. Thanks! I definitely will talk more about getting ready to leave in my next couple of blogs. Hey, also! Can you pray that admissions will continue to let me blog until the rest of the year, cuz I really enjoy doing it and I think it will be cool to get a graduate’s perspective. You guys out there are rad! I like hanging out with you all during this blog session!

            Anyways, let me give you the words for thought for the week:  The contemporary term “rad” came from the term “radical”—what’s the best way to connect the dots? Think about it!

-J Gash!