#ucd aacf

[theglumbakester]

throwback: Men’s Retreat

Good night Justin and Caleb.

[theglumbakester]

"...while some may be more inclined to pray than others, this does not excuse us from praying.  Not praying because we’re not inclined to pray is no more a valid excuse than sinning because we’re inclined to sin.  There is a reason why many people refer to pray as a spiritual discipline; it is something that we must, in large part, learn to do and come to enjoy."

[theglumbakester]

How would you serve if there weren't any titles?

Think on this: Given that AACF is still around next year and you're still around, but there are no titles to provide total (or guided) direction for your service, what would you do?  What would you seek to discern and carry out?

(a thought-provoker from JPK)

Remember, serving and leading don't require a title.

[theglumbakester]

G: Why are you standing back here??

SF: I prefer standing to sitting (during worship). Very brief pause. G: You're crazy. SF: You're standing here too. G: No, haha.  Not about that.  Last night.  Today.  Driving all the way how last night and coming back today. SF: Oh.  Chuckles.  Well, a lot of people here mean a lot to me. G: Ahhh.  And you mean a lot to a lot of people here. SF pauses. SF: Thank you.

This was by far one of my favorite moments from this weekend.  It was an extremely brief conversation, a quiet one.  But...these were genuine statements and everything aligned quite well with the personalities present.  It could have unfolded in no other way.

[theglumbakester]

Quotables XXIV: Leadership Retreat Edition.

Jordan: Do it Caleb.  Throw a question in there (during some theological something or other). Caleb, to Dorcas: Can I use your nail clipper?

Jordan: I want to be a colorful butterfly when I grow up!!!

Lester: All right, let's do some physical therapy (for my back). Adrienne: I wanna show you some stuff that I learned!!  ...but it'll only help your jaw...

Jordan: Why don't we just [plan Thanksgiving Dinner] with them (LAME)?  It'll be like a group hug.  Except planning Thanksgiving Dinner.

Greg: (After Fellowship after) Body Life is eating out, right? Elaine: If you want it to be.  We can change things up, go crazy!!

Elaine: I could just be Jordan for Halloween!  HAWTDOGS!

Jordan: I'm gonna go squeeze Frank.  Doesn't he look squeezable?! Elaine: ...he reminds me of a penguin!!

Elaine: What if I called Stephanie a hawtdog.  No wait, she's a fraud, isn't she? Jordan: Yeah, she's a fraud.  I also call her Winky.  I'm gonna call her that the next time I see her and she'll be so confused.

Lester, as some of the guys are quoting movies: The girls look very un-entertained. Elaine: I'm excited! Jordan: What movies would you like to quote?? Enoch: How about...GLADIATORS!! Elaine: Oh, I thought you were talking about the chicken (that was being reheated and brought to the dinner table). 

Elaine: Whenever I look at you (Frank), I'm tempted to do the Frank face. Lester: Do it!! Elaine: I can't anymore... Lester: Why not? Elaine: Because it's gross.  (to Frank)...not when you do it! When I do it!

[theglumbakester]

Patterns, LTC 2012: Part I

Reading Chris and Nick Tom's posts about St. Louis and cooking have inspired me (okay, and reminded me) to finally post about LTC!  This post will consist of blurbs (long and short) of different things.  Let numbers indicate new things!

1) One of the main things that God showed me through LTC was that my focus should be on the people and not the programs, which Thomas hit on during Tuesday's Plenary (Patterning the LOVE).  Discipleship involves walking through life with other people and living it with them, and caring about the people more than the programs can help me to see opportunities to love on people.

During the Koinonia/Body Life workshop, we discussed a variety of things, ranging from AACF's mission to leadership to ministry to different types of people to event planning.  Again, the idea of "people over programs" came up, and the idea that one can run an amazing program, but not reach or love on anyone.  Sure, lots of people can come out and hang out, but if our goal is for people to see the love of Christ and all we do is small talk and give out free food, have we accomplished anything?

I think an obstacle for me this year will be in realizing this concept.  As an organizing and planning maniac, I can easily allow myself to get swept in the details of the event, making sure everything runs as smoothly as I can get it to run and providing the space for other people to interact, which is something that actually brings me a lot of joy.  However, as one third of UCD AACF's Reach team for the coming year, I think actually reaching out to people myself (both inreach and outreach) is something that God will be challenging me with.  I have to constantly remind myself and ask God to remind me that the people are more important the programs we plan.  The people are broken and hurting, the people are the ones that respond to interaction.  The event (program) is just a tool for getting to that point of interaction, of investment in the lives of others.

A few other gems: 2) Check once in a while: "Why am I here (when posed, here = LTC)?  Why am I serving?"

3) Just asking, "How can I pray for you?" can open doors.  Or, when people start to irk you, try asking how they're doing.

4) On obedience: It is doing no less, but also no more than what God asks of you.

5) Semi-related to obedience; think: If we don't lead people to Christ, are we really doing ministry, or becoming stumbling blocks for the people?

*"Part I" because I plan to briefly outline my notes for the plenary sessions next time.

[theglumbakester]

Quotables XX: FISHIES G+ Hangout and Back in LA Edition

FISHIES G+ Hangout Jordan: Mmmm...this lighting makes me look extra dark. Everyone else: Yeah, sure.  Blame the lighting.

Jordan: Wow, my seat's all wet.  Mom's not gonna be happy.

Darren: Hey Jordan (who was in HI for this), I'm closer to you than you think.  I'm literally right behind you.

Jordan: Hey guys, I think Stephanie got hacked.  Stephanie said she's going to the gym now.

Darren: Wait, now that Janice is cleaning (her violin), I want to clean something...

Darren: I haven't washed my sheets in over three years.

Home/LA/Whittier   Spencer: What's so special about 7th grade? Danny: It's not 6th grade, and it's not 8th grade.

Val: [Pokemon-themed VBS] would be the hottest VBS.

Kid in SEP: Uncle Nate, why are your pants so skinny??

Emily Henderson: You know Christian works at Jack in the Box?? Courtney Mears: Does Christian work at Jack in the Box? Emily: That's what I just said...

David Baes: Are those cake-on-a-stick!? Everyone else: ...you mean cake pops?

David: It has chunks of aloha vera in it! Emily: ...aloe vera.

David: He had a cake full of mouth.

Older man at the barber shop, referring to my hair (untrimmed): I remember when my hair was parted.  Now it's departed!

[theglumbakester]

Quotables XIX: (late) LTC Edition

On the road: Dorcas: Does Dippy basically mean...derpy?

Campus time: Elaine: Can I pick someone (to share next)? Ed: Yes!  (no one was volunteering, typical passive Asians) Elaine: ...does anyone want to go?

Enoch: You guys should hug now. Linda/Elaine: AWWWWW!!  *hug* Linda: Thanks for encouraging us to hug, Enoch!!

Dorcas, on Enoch's patting others on the back: It's so dainty!

This one requires context and I hope you get this: Linda set her stuff down on a chair and went to get something (probably snacks).  Elaine and Frank took the seats on both sides of her, without knowing it was her and... Linda: *gasp!!* You're sitting next to... Elaine: getting really excited, gasping with joy    Linda: ...me, Frank! Elaine, deflated: Oh. ^if you didn't get that, there's no pause during Linda's line.  That was just to show that Elaine was getting excited about getting to sit next to Linda (of course) but Linda was excited about Frank sitting next to her (ministry partners).

Miscellaneous others, including Koinonia workshop:   Jon Liu, on letting other fellowships "steal" Christians from AACF so we can reach the lost: We want the lost!  Maybe the goats.  Turn them...into sheep...

Context: Granucci (CSULB) was struggling to read a passage in the Bible.  Cheryl (SLO): It's because you're an only child. Michael (SLO): Didn't have anyone to read with.

Richard: It's like the movie, "The Eyes Have Hills."

Michelle (SFSU), about Lester: You sound like our friend David.  But more...accurate.

Enoch: Yeah, you get pretty gassy here (at LTC). Joseph (UCR): Not just gassy...

Alyssa (CSULB): Have you farted in front of your boyfriend? Adrienne: Yes.  He doesn't like it.

Adrienne: I still haven't heard my boyfriend fart.  He won't do it.