Road Trip Last Weekend

I took a short road trip last weekend. I went up to San Louis Obispo to visit a former student and friend who attends Cal Poly. We ate at the world's best BBQ place; Firestone Grill. Then we saw Gran Torino. It was my 2nd time to see it. The acting was horrible (except for Clint Eastwood). However, the story more than makes up for it. I highly recommend seeing it.

The next morning I went up to see my college roommate and his family in Melo Park. I hadn't seen them since their wedding. It was so great to be back with old friends and share stories from college days and catch up to how life is now.

The following day I went back to Cal Poly for guys' night. Dinner and Batman Begins after some Texas Hold 'Em and The Office board game. Good times and a lot of junk food.

As important to the trip as the stops was the drive time between the stops. The weather was beautiful and the scenery was amazing. I also love the hours where the only interaction I have is with my thoughts. I get great ideas when my mind is left to wander.

Making great memories, catching up with old friends and creative thinking - three great reasons I need to get out of town more often.

Loving God

My mind has been wrestling with my love for God the past couple of days. I believe God exists and I know that I love him. I'd like to think I'd give my life if it was a choice between standing up for him or saving myself.

However, lately I've been stuck trying to comprehend my love or the passion of my love for God. I would say that although my love exists for God, I don't feel much passion about it. Some would say that's a good thing. Love for God shouldn't be tied to emotion or feelings. To some extent that's true. However, passion is important. I can't imagine a husband being encouraged by his wife's love if it didn't have any passion behind it. Since we are the church, and the church is the bride of Christ, I would think there needs to be some passion behind it.

I absolutely love my car. I have a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. It's kind of my mid-life crisis car. It's the first vehicle I bought that's actually what I wanted. All others were based on what I could buy with what I could scrape together at the time. When I bought my 4Runner, though, I went for a used one because I liked the old body style better, wanted the upgrades and saved $11,000 over buying a new one. Every month I love making my car payment. It sounds silly, but I get excited to make it because I know that payment is going toward something that I love passionately.

I should have at least that much passion for my Creator. Since God is the source of love, I know where to get that kind of passion. Scripture says whatever I ask in Jesus' name he'll give me and won't resent my asking. I'm on a mission to find it. My guess is that most Christians in America also need to take on this mission. As my pastor says, we're only known for what we're against. If we find the passionate love for God that he wants us to have, I know that will change because our lives and actions will change.

I've got a to-do list for 2009. Practical steps for becoming a better person and being more productive. I'm sure none of that will matter and some of it will not be possible or beneficial without God's love passionately showing through. I'll be just another resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

Here's to the mission.