Vacation Update, Day 2

No cool ambient header today as we are on the road currently in San Francisco.  Yesterday we started out at 6:20am and ended up in Santa Cruz by around 5:00ish just in time for dinner.  I always have fond memories of that town as I spent the summer of 2002 working at camp there.  However, I was quickly reminded of the traffic.  With the many hills and land an highly coveted commodity, traffic is terrible along the Monterrey Bay coastline with roughly a few hundred thousand people spread across it.

After a stop by the O’Neill Surf Shop and a quick dinner at Pizza My Heart, we grabbed a coffee from Peet’s before heading to Mt. Cross.  Our friend Ellie works at the camp year-round and it was great to see her.  She was gracious enough to let us stay with her and it was truly a blessing to be there.  It was a tremendous trip down memory lane to walk around the camp that I still remember all the floor plans and layouts.  It was exciting to see the progress that had been made in the last 6 years and I was blessed with the opportunity to share God’s Word during first word this morning before leaving camp.

After breakfast, we went down to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Natural Bridges beach.  With more incredible memories invigorated, we started on our way to SFO to pick up my parents for our week together in San Francisco and wine country.  After wading through more traffic (the staple of the Bay Area), we finally made it to the airport and headed to The Chancellor Hotel in Union Square.  After a great lunch with some some cheeses, bread, and wine at Ferry Station, we visited all the neighborhoods we usually do when in San Francisco (Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, Chinatown, North Beach, etc.) and headed back to the hotel for rest.

This evening we are going to eat at Kuleto’s for some good Italian this evening.  This is truly a great time with family and has already been an extremely relaxing vacation.  It’s good to know that we don’t go back till Monday!

1 Week Down, 3 To Go…

In youth ministry, every trip has a certain appeal.  The Canada mission trip next week is going to be quite strenuous and equally rewarding.  NYG is exhausting and ridiculously expensive.  All overnighters are straight from hell.  And Junior High Camp in Colorado is FUN!!!

It’s bittersweet to be sitting on the floor in our living room (somewhat ridiculous in itself that I still don’t always use the furniture), but I’m not yet ready to get camp out of my system…hence waking up at my conditioned 6:00am to get a warm shower turned into blogging as the sun pours through the blinds.  Today, I miss Colorado.  I don’t walk out to a brisk sunrise over the evergreen and red rock covered mountains.  Instead, I’ve got a window with a bush and an oak tree.

The scenery is spectacular at the Circle K Ranch outside of Delores, Colorado where we have held our camp for the past 30 years.  In this serene valley which has non cellular reception, it’s easy to be aware of the God of the universe.  Like every year, there are certain themes that protrude and happenings that occur to make each year memorable.  Here’s the rundown:

• “I wanna go home…I don’t wanna leave” syndrome – Homesickness seemed to be rampant among our incoming 7th grade girls through Tuesday.  They all wanted to go home and pulled a 180 by Thursday morning.  I learned a lot about their families this week.
• Boundaries honored – This group of 19 was the most enjoyable group I have ever taken anywhere.  They respected the boundaries set and backed off when they crossed. 
• Meredith the youth counselor - Against her strongest efforts, Meredith has become a youth leader.  The girls love her and always look to her for help, advice, and encouragement.  She is their number one!
• “We want sleep”- Our kids didn’t just go to bed on time, they were begging to go to bed 30 minutes before lights out.  It gets even stranger when you consider they every bunkhouse in the entire camp followed suit.  Weird, huh?
• Medics and Biffers - Any game that allows counselors to hit kids withsocks filled with flour is awesome!  It feels like a ridiculous “This is Sportscenter” commercial.  “Get up kid…you’re mom signed the waiver!”
• God is always present - Kids praying, forgiving one another, and showing the grace of Christ is one of the greatest sights in all the world.  Just speechless!
• Breakouts are good – Meredith did a breakout about her battles with anorexia and I spoke about pornography.  Combined with 8 others, breakout sessions were definitely a high point of learning for students as we discussed some very relevant and somewhat uncomfortable topics.
• Counselors always have the most fun! – One of the reason I love this camp is so enjoyable is that I get to work alongside my friends for a week doing what we all love.  Ministry is even better when done alongside friends.

Grandness Straight Ahead

Bring it, summer!

I’m better prepared for summer this year than I ever before.  Youth trips planned…check.  Transportation for youth…check.  Personal vacation…double check.

I’m really excited for this summer.  We are taking our largest group ever to junior high camp and it’s just a great group of kids who love being together and having a great time.  We leave next Sunday and return 5 days later.  Many times we can learn a lot about the kids we work with by spending some time with their parents.  Well if this holds, true I’m really looking forward to working with this group considering nearly every parent I asked jumped at the chance to help drive…one who could because of a medical issue even offered to pay for gas!  There are good years ahead here.

3 days after our return to Yuma, we (Meredith and I) will be hitting the road.  We are going to Napa Valley for a friend’s wedding/vacation with parents with stops along the way to see two great friends from our past.  We will also get to visit the camp that I worked at for a summer during college.  It will be great to rekindle some old memories from the Santa Cruz area.  A trip to the Bay Area is always great…this is one of our favorite spots in the country.  There are so many different cultures, artists, and historical sites.  And most importantly, there is a plethora of fantastic food!  (Yeah, I’m a food snob)

Upon our second arrival back in Yuma in less than 2 weeks, we will turn around and depart the following morning for seperate destinations.  I’m headed to Washington on my way with a group of senior high students for our annual Canada Mission Trip.  Meredith is headed to St. Louis and eventually Chicago to see her family and her best friend since childhood.  Exactly 2 weeks later, we will rendezvous at no other than PHX Sky Harbor (baggage system from hell) Airport.

By that point it will be August 22nd and school is just a few weeks away!

“Originals” Prevail

This past week I spent some time in Las Vegas with my wife and her parents.  We had a tremendous time walking the strip, seeing award winning shows, and eating divine culinary delights.  As the weekend drew to a close, we had one final meal to partake in and I knew just the place.  When we visited Las Vegas a few years ago, we learned that at the Red Rock Resort and Casino there was a location of one of my favorite restaurants of all time, The Salt Lick.

My affinity for this Texas barbeque destination began in my childhood as my family traveled throughout central Texas and more often than not ended up at this smokehouse with picnic tables and a BYOB policy in Driftwood, Texas.  Every time I find myself in central Texas, I make sure that I allocate enough time for an excursion to this small, sleepy town where the entering and leaving lines stand within sight of each other.  The brisket and sausage are legendary in central Texas and the place is packed every weekend with people from all walks of life who come together in the name of good food and triple the population of Driftwood.

In the past years, they have extended their reign by opening a few additional locations in Austin (all of which I have made a point of checking out).  More recently they opened up the location in Las Vegas, which gave me great joy to know that they brisket and sausage that I held so dear was only 4 and half hours away.

So as we sat down to our lunch on Saturday afternoon with great anticipation of what I have come to know as some of the finest smoked meat on the planet, I realized we were set up for failure.  The restaurant was entirely too clean and lacked the smokey smell that infiltrates the other locations.  When our food arrived, the salivation quickened until I took my first bite and realized this was simply good, not great.

As I realized my memories didn’t coincide with my current experience, I couldn’t help but think how much better the original smokehouse in Driftwood was in comparison with a neon city that never sleeps.  This isn’t the first time this has happened to me.  Other entities that find themselves in this categorization are music I listened to as a young teen that isn’t nearly as good now (think U2, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains), my youth sports prowess (I remember every big play I’ve ever made, even if it was only the 2nd inning), and the 1994 and 1995 Rockets NBA Champions teams (they are the best).  As I get older, I think my music, youth sports experiences, and championship teams of my childhood are far greater than any of their modern contemporaries.  None of it is as good as the “original”.

Originality and our first experiences are paramount in any avenue of our life.  Our parents’ marriage largely deems our own marital outlook.  Michael Jordan showed us what it means to be the best athlete on the planet.  And when it comes to varieties of staple foods such as pizza and hot dogs, our preference is often rooted in our original childhood experiences. 

Even our Christian faith and spirituality are impacted by the phenomenon of origin.  My Lutheran church experiences have molded my worship style to be more contemplative and intellectual and less energetic and interactive.  What about the Bible passages we have memorized?  Why does everyone seem to know John 3:16 and perhaps the more pertinent question is how does that shape and construct our theology?  Because of Ephesians 2:8-9 I know I am saved by grace through faith given, not earned by the Holy Spirit.

Our origin in our faith is actually something that Paul seemed to comprehend as he penned Colossians 2:6-7 exhorting his readers to often and consistently go back to the where their faith started.  Remember the passages you first learned that taught you the basic teachings of Jesus Christ.  And even though he encouraged his readers to continue to grow in depth unceasingly, he was quick to remind them that such digging was only worthwhile if it started at the same location.

So what are those points of origin you keep coming back to?  For me I go to Psalm 143 on bad days.  I look at Job 38 to be reminded of my feeble humanity in light of God.  Romans 7 reminds me that God can use my sinful soul despite wicked desires.  Acts 17 encourages me to be diligent in my study of the Bible.  Luke 11 exposes the Pharisee within.  2 Corinthians 5 is there when I need to hear forgiveness and more focused on reconciling relationships and that there’s more important things in this life than being right.  Romans 12:1-2 makes me aware of what I’m putting in my system and challenges my choices of consumption.  And on the worst of days I get about 5 words into Matthew 26:38 and following before I remember Jesus blazed the trail I walk.

Many honors and glories will be lauded upon the newest, latest, and greatest.  They will provide hours of entertainment and intrigue, but they will never fill the spots in my life and soul formed by my “originals”.

Being “Authentic”

Last fall I was watching TV one evening and came across a show on Travel Channel called No Reservations featuring an older gentlemen (Anthony Bourdain) that simply went to different corners of the globe, ate interesting food, and drank like a coed on spring break while sharing his life narrative.  Fast forward 6 months and I often find myself perusing the TV guide hoping for an episode in the coming hours.  I love watching as he explores cities in ways that normal travel periodicals ignore.  But the real star of the show is the host himself.  His happy-go-lucky, tell-it-like-it-is attitude is always in plain view.  Best of all, he talks to the camera like it’s a good friend enjoying another round of drinks and reminiscing on old memories.

The authenticity and “real”ness that Bourdain brings to No Reservations is the same that is desired in youth ministers.  Everybody wants someone who is like-able, relevant, “cool”, honest, genuine, real, and authentic.  After serving in youth ministry positions for almost 4 years, I’m not fully convinced that authenticity is really as desired as much as liked for the way it reads on a job description.

Authenticity means telling the truth and being who I am.  This is in no way acceptable in the church as I have discovered when it comes staffing.  If it did, my resume would include the following:

• Loves Jesus
• Eats unhealthy
• Loves sports
• Drinks beer
• Enjoys cigars
• Occasionally lazy
• Can be quite critical
• At times selfish
• Loves most people with the exception of Christians who are always “great and happy”

If I actually put included this information on my resume, I would probably wouldn’t have to worry about a second interview.  But in the “Church, Inc.” culture that exists in many of our congregations, being anything less of Jesus makes you unqualified. 

The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (of which I am a member) has a wonderful system for connecting church workers with congregations.  It is dubbed “the call process” and is exactly what it sounds like.  We believe that God calls individual church workers to a specific place for a specific time to do what they were created for in that time.  In many days past before transportation was so efficient, interviews were rarely conducted.  The search team would simply pray over the list of names they had been given by the governing church body and issue a call to ministry for the person as they were led by the Holy Spirit.  That’s it!  They prayed, listened, and followed God.

I sometimes wonder if we have become so interconnected and overloaded with information that we are no longer sensitive to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit in our calling of church workers.  In the search for the “right person” for the job, many search committees ask too much of candidate and too little of God.  And the same is true for many church workers.  In the search for the “right job” we ask too many questions about buildings, budgets, and bodies and too little of our God.  Too often both congregations and church workers are seeking something that has relatively nothing to do with God.

There’s a great saying in the LCMS that “the person does not seek the call, the call seeks the person”.  There is great beauty to this statement that suggests that we are to be authentically about God above all things.  In the discussion of interviewing I often hear comments like “they sound like a great candidate” or “they have great references”.  I can’t wait for someone to say “they don’t sound like they walk with God” or “I didn’t sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life”!  Not that those should become the new interview buzz-phrases, but that we would be at the very least authentic to the heart of God that judges the heart rather than appearance.

From church workers, we need to be honest about our own lives.  We aren’t perfect and are fools to try and convince anyone otherwise.  Most of us can’t stand when people gesture and position themselves to appear “great” and “happy” when we are looking.  Why should we expect a different response of anyone else?  Above any of this, we need to seek God’s desire and call for our life.

Churches need to stop looking for the perfect fit or skill set in their workers.  They need to seek the counsel of the Lord.  They need to stop exhausting themselves trying to offer every program that might appeal to everyone without taking into account who is in their midst.  Churches need to understand who they are and what God has called them to do (here’s a hint: it’s not everything the big church down the street is doing).

I think we can learn some things from Mr. Bourdain (other than how to chain-smoke and do jager bombs).  This show successfully appeals to a specific audience because it understands its identity and keeps it at the forefront of production.  We (church workers and churches) are about Christ the risen savior and we are at our best when He remains our focus.

The TSA Lacks a Soul

I was traveling via air over the weekend on US Airways aka “the people who don’t smile”.  As I was waiting for my return flight to Yuma last night, I heard the words that we all dread in airport terminals: “Flight blahblahblah to place you really want to go is cancelled”.  I B-lined my way to the customer service desk to pick up my hotel and meal vouchers along with my ticket for the first flight out in the morning.

After a restful night’s stay at the Radisson, I went to the airport to check-in as instructed the evening before.  After waiting 5 minutes in one line, an agent told me that I needed to be in a different line on the other side of the terminal only to reach the desk and find out that I already had a valid boarding pass and didn’t need to waste my first 40 minutes at the airport in ticketing lines.  After waiting another 20 minutes in the security line, I found myself 10 minutes away from my flight’s departure.

As I made my way through the metal detector I was surprised to find that my bag had been flagged after clearing the same exact station only 3 days earlier on my outbound flight.  I walked over with the lady and apologized for my not using a Ziploc bag for my hair putty and cologne in my hurried procession and expected to hustle to catch my flight before the door closed when I heard, “If you would like keep these items you must get a Ziploc bag from the back of the security line and come back through.”

I will omit the exact words of my response as the fires of thousand suns burned in my eyes.  I told the lady I wasn’t thrilled about leaving behind a $50 bottle of cologne and didn’t have the time to go back through the line.  My initial thought was to grab the bottle of cologne and throw it to the ground watching it shatter and screaming something along the line of “I’m unhappy with the level of service your airport has displayed today”.  Rather than explore the possibility of being tackled by security and detained, I stormed off with a profanity-laden tirade under my breath and ran down the terminal to make it to the jet-way just as the door was being closed.

My digression appears complete…

10 Best Meals Ever

One of my favorite things to do in my free time is cook, which in turn means I also enjoy eating that some may describe me as a connoisseur.  Here are the 10 best meals I have ever eaten with explanation.

1. Napa Rose (Anaheim, CA)- Located in the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland, it doesn’t seem like the abode of fine dining.  Meredith and I enjoyed a quiet meal here over our vacation last summer.  The service was perfectly timed and granted our every request.  The lamb was succulent and equisitely matched with a pinot noir the waiter recommended.  Not only was it a memorable experience, but unknowns to us my parents had called ahead and treated us to the meal as a birthday gift.
2. Brennan’s (Houston, TX)- Over the Christmas break a few years ago, Meredith and I went with my parents to this incredible restaurant.  Everything was immaculate and the service was delightful.  Excellent food combined with an extensive wine list topped off with a table-side cooked bananas foster (quite possibly the best classic dessert in Creole cooking).
3. Rissa’s (Houston, TX) – This place isn’t in business anymore, but it was the setting of a celebration of our engagement with my family.  The filet’s were cooked to perfection and everyone left happy about multiple things that evening (one being the food).
4. Bouchon (Las Vegas, NV)- We had a great meal here on vacation a few years ago.  The Thomas Keller owned restaurant rests on his trademark French Napa Valley-infused cuisine.  Perhaps the most memorable part of this feast was our appetizer of a cured salmon tar tar…simply divine.
5. 1111 Mississippi (St. Louis, MO)- Located in the historical Lafayette Park section of town, this place is at the epicenter of the revitalization of the area.  More great wine country cuisine.  The atmosphere is laid back, yet distinguished.  I had a great seafood risotto dish accompanied by a nice chardonnay.
6. Roppongi (La Jolla, CA) – We ate here a few months ago when we ventured to San Diego for a weekend.  Excellent food with great service.  Our main courses were good, but our favorite part of the evening was the Polynesian Crab Stack that served as our appetizer. 
7. The Salt Lick (Driftwood, TX) – It’s all about grills and meat at this Texas landmark.  Along with my family, Meredith and I journeyed 30 minutes outside of Austin with a cooler packed with beer.  They have no liquor license so it is BYOB in this smokehouse filled with picnic tables.  Few things are better in life than a plate of brisket, sausage, and ribs washed down with a cold beer…and at the Salt Lick, it’s just a little better.
8. Los Cucos (Houston, TX)- I’ve eaten here at least a dozen times over the years and have never had a bad meal.  The menu is gargantuan, but the stars are the fajitas.  They also make a fine margarita.  Favorite Mexican place in Houston.  Unfortunately, they are building new locations throughout Texas and I’m not sure if the quality has been maintained.
9. RA Sushi (Tempe, AZ) – There are many different locations for this chain of sushi bars, but this is my favorite.  With rock music pumping through the sound system and unique design, this is a one-of-a-kind sushi experience.  They are always busy so the fish is very fresh and the staff is always kind.  They also have an incredible happy hour menu that extends till 7:00pm Monday – Friday.
10. The Fish Market (San Diego, CA) – Great seafood in a casual environment.  They have a new menu everyday reflecting the morning catch by local fisherman.  The quality of food is only matched by the view of the sun setting over San Diego harbor.

My Bucket List

I arrived home last night to a nice dinner cooked by Meredith.  The smell of dill, lemons, sate, and white wine infused my senses the minute I walked in the door.  I couldn’t wait to try the fish that she had prepared.  After taking a few bites, we realized that even delectable seasoning couldn’t overcome the fact that the store had sold us bad fish.

Now we were left hungry and befuddled.  So we headed over to Carla Renee, which is a nice, quiet neighborhood restaurant serving delicious cuisine.  Meredith had the crab-cakes and I munched on the Kobe beef sliders…yum (sorry Alaina).  The light is low and the service is some of the best in town…it’s one of the few places in town that considers the impact environment has on an eating experience.

Then we walked down the street to the theatres to see The Bucket List.  I enjoyed it and Meredith cried, because she’s a softie.  I love movies that deal with the problem of death and pain.  In such vulnerable moments of life, the desires for a metaphysical existence are piqued and the reference points of what matters find new alignment.

This got me thinking about how I will handle my own impending death if I am to die in such a way.  What would I do?  Where would I go?  Who would I see?  So here is the beginning of my list to do when death is imminent:

1. Don’t die in a hospital.
2. Explore the national parks.
3. Experience Asia.
4. Be joyful.
5. Go with my wife to one of our “sacred” places.
6. Be completely unashamed of the gospel.
7. Make plans for the kegger in celebration of my entering the eternal.
8. Enjoy an ancient glass of scotch with a fine cigar.
9. Play more golf.
10. Turn off my cell phone and throw away the TV.
11. Hold my wife just because.

MLK = San Diego

With Meredith having no school today, we had the opportunity to skip town for a few days and took full advantage of it.  So after church yesterday, we spurned Yuma for a sunny and temperate version of San Diego.  This was our first time to San Diego since summer and it was wonderful to be in a city again.  We returned relaxed, rested, and ready to return to work after our small escapade.  By utilizing my sweet deal-finding skills, I found an extremely discounted rate at one of the more highly rated places in town known as the Pacific Terrace Hotel.

It has become the normal experience in recent years to feel slighted in some form when staying in a hotel.  The pool’s dirty, the room is dirty, the bed is too hard, the desk manager is rude, the breakfast tastes like breakfast from last month, and the list goes on.  Admittedly, I am a difficult person to please that at times has unreal expectations.  So you would imagine my pleasant surprise to have nothing but praise for the Pacific Terrace Hotel.  So what follows is my review of the hotel/audition to be an editor for the next edition of Fodor’s.

The staff was exceptionally kind and pleasant for people constantly having to deal with grumpy travelers and anxious tourists all day.  We arrived a few hours before check-in, but they readied our room so we could check-in early and begin relaxing.  The hotel only has about 40-50 rooms, so it is easy to navigate and doesn’t have the overwhelmed staff that you may encounter at many larger resorts. 

They also had a gated underground lot (for $20/day), which on Pacific Beach is a luxury considering the lack of space available for building, yet alone parking.  While this might seem like a steep price in most places, it really is appropriately priced in an area where nearly every parking space seems to have a 2 hour limit.  Besides, no one wants to be the dork that’s dragging his suitcases multiple blocks just to save a few bucks.

The rooms at the Pacific Terrace all have a porch area and at least a partial ocean-view as the hotel is located right on the boardwalk at the edge of the cliffs.  Our room was very spacious with a king size bed (although many rooms feature 2 queens) a half-kitchen/bar nook (complete with plates, glassware, and silverware).  Another thing that stood was the decor.  Most hotel rooms look absurdly plain like they were furnished by Hotels’R'Us Generic Apparel.  Not this place.  The room was filled with high-quality furniture and unique decor that reminds you that you are in a truly special spot of the world.  On the tech gadgets front, our room had 42-inch HDTV and iHome (standard in all rooms) for our entertaining pleasure.

The grounds at the Pacific Terrace are well-kept, but not so perfectly manicured that you carefully watch your every step.  The pool area was clean and the hot tub had the correct amount of chemicals (after spending my formative years life-guarding, these are the things you notice).  The views from the porch of our room was outstanding as it gave the perfect opportunity to watch the sun set over the horizon.

The most impressive thing about the hotel is the top-notch service.  The first aspect of this service is the excellence in the amenities they advertise.  Every evening they offer a complimentary wine and cheese hour as the sun sets before dinner and are solely focused on making your evening memorable rather than counting bottles poured.  The continental breakfast was very impressive!  There were multiple options of cereal and fruit alongside various baked goods topped off with good coffee.  Basically, it’s impossible to not be satisfied with breakfast.  These are the types of things that so many hotels screw up and try to save a few bucks by shortchanging the customers.

The second aspect of the service is in the little things that aren’t advertised.  These include giving you large amounts of toiletries so you won’t run out.  They also have baskets outside of every room filled with towels if you find yourself in need of more.  They also have a turn-down service that we discovered when we arrived at the hotel after dinner with at least 5 of 6 mints on the bed.  While many hotels will do any of these with a quick call, there is much to be said for not having to make a call and being allowed to enjoy your stay.  The careful planning and thoughtfulness on the part of the staff is really what sets the Pacific Terrace Hotel apart from its competitors.

Next time you are in San Diego looking for a place to stay, do yourself a favor and check out the Pacific Terrace Hotel.  We found the best rate through the ARES Travel.  Happy travels…San Diego awaits!