Woah! Its been 8 months?

Naturally when I sit down and realize that its been 8 months since my last post, it scares the crap out of me. Where has all the time gone? No clue. But for the 12 people following my blog and any who have randomly strayed onto my blog, let me update you. I promise next post will be back to nonsense.

So Last we talked I was in sunny Southern California, living the dream enjoying a winter vacation free of charge. Unfortunately dreams don't last. Mid February I got an email from my buddy Nate trying to seduce me into moving to Georgia and taking over his youth group as he and his wife Steph would be moving to Illinois for grad school. Long story short, I wound up in Georgia. Macon, Georgia to be exact. "What the heck is in Macon?" You may ask... well let me tell you. If your zipper says YKK on it, it was made in Georgia. If you are listening to any music by the Allman Brothers, Otis Redding, or Little Richard, it was made in Macon. If you were recently mugged or stabbed or chopped up into little pieces, chances are, it happened in Macon. If you recently stopped at a 7/11, Chipotle, or Toys 'R Us, you were NOT in Macon.

While Macon does leave a lot to be desired, there is something about this small town that has captured me. I don't know quite what it is. It might be that, much like Buffalo, it is a town that is suffering from a ever worsening economy, a serious lack of respect from the bigger cities in the state, the small town feel, the awesome old people at my church, the southern hospitality that is too good to be true or just the fact that its the middle of October and I can drive around with the top down on my Jeep. This town is just a perfect fit and I couldn't be happier than I am right here (unless of course I was in Buffalo)

I am working at Riverside United Methodist Church and my new church and church family have been so awesome it blows me away. For the first month I was here, things were great because Nate was still here and we just coasted through the summer and it was fun. Then the next month was great because I was still coasting through the summer even though Nate had left. Then I went on vacation and came back to a bit of a shakeup and in a very short time I went from being in charge of Student Ministries to also being the new worship leader (for the time being). A whole new adventure and a lot of learning to go along with it.

As of right now everything is going really well and things are progressing and getting better every week. With our Wednesday night programming we have been getting 2 or 3 new students each week and our numbers are steadily going up. With worship things are getting better every week as we gel more and more as a band.

I also got a new puppy so having two kids has been another challenge. I just realized that. But its fun.

My brain is pretty much fried today, but i will back soon with my usual stupidities. Take care and God Bless!

jungle cat!

So today is Wednesday... Tonight we start worship for the High School at church so it will be fun and interesting. Lets hope it goes well... Last night was the first night since I have been here that I have slept through the night... It was so wonderfu!... On Monday night I got my bike which is a huge blessing cause now I can roll all over town. It is definietley a girls bike that has been painted grey for my benefit. Its not so much the low female crotch bar, but the butterflies all over the seat that give it away. I have decided that they are dragons... They are pretty cruel too.

I know someone is going to think that I am sick for this but it must be shared all the same, more as a way for me to explain and express how sorry I am about it... We were sharing prayers requests at our college group last night and a girl who shall go nameless shared that during the Super Bowl her aunt's new kitten died. At first we all felt really bad and a collective awww went up from the group... she then began to explain the nature of the young cat's demise.... her other aunt brought over her two siberian huskies.... she then began to explain how these two dogs got a hold of this new innocent sweet adorable kitten and proceded to rip it to shreds.... the story was rather detailed.... it took everything inside of me to hold in my emotions, but in the end I proved to weak to contain myself... I relesed one of those nose pig grunt restrained laughs that often sends snot out of your nose... and only one other person shared my level of emotion about the situation... I tell this story not to mock this girl or to say i think its funny that someones kitten is dead.... but the way this story was presented just took me to an emotional level that just freaked me out and i could not contain my feelings... I love cats and I hate when they die, and I am sorry for my actions.... but the mental picture of this situation is oustanding.... simply stunning....

I miss my dog

Five Iron Frenzy is great


Combo of the day.... Chillax... classic.. chill and relax... chillax... nuff said....

Man this stinks!

Well, I just spent the last half hour updating people on what things are happening, but when i tried to post it got erased... thats the worst. I do remember that i wrote that I'm really not impressed by third day. I don't get it. But who cares... I am going to make this short cause I don't want to spend another half hour trying to figure out what I wrote.

Worked on the sound system in the youth room, which is called modular three, but i think we need to change the name of that, cause that name totally blows. but everything is working in there now which is awesome cause now we can start to do some stuff... but there is electronic drums which is the lamest thing ever.

Went to the college group tuesday night which was really cool. Everyone was really nice and really encouraging... A girl named Danielle found me a bike like 2 minutes after i mentioned that i needed one. got In & Out afterwards... such a good burger.

yesterday was a little less productive, but it was still fun all the same. found a job posting on craigslist for a wellness/nutrition/spa type thing, and sent an email and the lady called me like 20 minutes after i called in, so i have an interview on monday which is exciting... hopefully its not some totally shady joint, if not, awesome i found a job... It is blowing away how much God is taking care of me and how quickly.

the high school group here is awesome! we met last night (wed) and they are all friends and they were all really nice to me and they all want to learn about God and its just really cool. Also potentially found most of a band, which is great! just need to find a guitar player now.

This morning when we got to the office i set up a table and made myself a little desk and office in the corner that i have been hanging out in, i am a little more official now, which just makes me feel important, which once in a while we need.

Everyday more and more, God affirms that this is what i am supposed to be doing which is really exciting, cause it was a big step of faith, but He rewards our faithfulness...

The California Sun

Well guys, its my first full day in Cali... if you don't know what's going on, I just moved to huntington Beach California yesterday... I am gonna be leading worship for the middle school and high school at Christ Presbyterian Church. The adventure has begun.... I need to find a job but thats all good. That will come. I think its really cool the way that God works things out. The last thing I thought, or planned for that matter, was to come out to California to be a volunteer worship leader. I was thinking I would get hired to be a youth pastor. But once again God has shown that his ways are higher than ours. I guess he gives us fair warning though. I think a lot of times we think we know what He wants, and sometimes we are on the right track... I know that God wants me in to make ministry my life, but I didn't think it would be like this.... but He does things in His own way, and when we follow Him its much better than what we thought He wanted us to do. Romans 8: 28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." the trick is to seperate what His purpose is from what our purpose is. Its very easy to confuse the two. When we get it right though -and actually pursue that will - , some amazing things are going to happen. Psalm 62: 11 & 12 says "One thing God has spoken, two things I know: that you O God are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving." When we give Him control and follow His plan, He will move mountains for us... because He loves us.

I'm back!

Hello again to the 2 people that follow my blog, John-Mark I know at least will read it. Its good to be back to the world of the blog... I lasted 6 days on my first time out, and i just got lazy and sleepy so i stopped. Not realizing how long it had been and today the aforementioned John-Mark made a comment about the blog, so i decided to start up again and see how it goes.


Let me catch you up on whats been happening with life over the last month and a half or so. First of all, things with Christ City Ministries are moving along well. In 6 weeks 11 people have made first time decisions for Christ and we've had 2 re-dedications, which just blows me away. We have met some really cool people and are starting to build relationships with some of them which is the whole idea. we plan to open up our friday night club night event in mid November so check that out as it gets closer.

Three of the last 4 weekends (not including this one) i have been all across the map for weddings. I lived with 6 guys in college in my townhouse. 4 of them have gotten married since April, 3 since late September. Erie, PA, and in the last 4 weeks, Ohio; Charlotte, NC; and Long Island. Lots of time spent in cars, but they were all great. Weddings are so much fun when its your friends getting married.

I am exhausted in many different ways so i am afraid this is all the blog you get today. not even a combo of the day... false

Manwich- a name brand of  Sloppy Joe, but literally a Man Sandwich.

Scooter race

Are you ready for some football? First monday night game and its a defensive struggle. Good stuff. I do hate the jets though so i'm hoping the Ravens pull this one out. Plus I have decided to pardon Ray Lewis of murder after his incredible Old Spice commercials. I'm loving what he is doing right now.

today while on my way to class i was driving down main street and i saw not one but two overweight men driving scooters down the sidewalk. I like to assume that one was chasing the other. It was an amusing scene, but to add to it, the man being chased had an eye patch. A little bit of sidewalk scooter swashbuckling. Thats what i like to see.

am i the only one that thinks that Mark Sanches is stupidly overrated? I'm not too wacko for Flacco right now either though... he has been overthrowing recievers all night.

For any of you that remember Groundzero, the student center at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church, we are bringing it back. Its not going to be a part of EHWC, but it is what we are going to call our cafe club thing for Christ City. Had a good meeting with J-Who today and we got some big plans for this thing. If you are interested in volunteering in the city or donating money or other things, let me know. We are gonna need a lot of help, but God has given us a vision of what we gotta do and we are gonna get it done.

Man, Sanchez is freaking out!
RAY LEWIS JUST KILLED A MAN!


I know during the day I had a lot more things to say..... I might have to get the notebook back...
I did accidentally hawk a lougy on my dog today... That was kinda gross... It was like in Sinbad's movie "First Kid" When he slow-mo jumps in front of the bullet.... Thats kinda what happened here... The lougy left my mouth and in slow motion my dog ran by and got nailed in the hind leg...

My lizard ate 2 baby mice today... That was great. El Guapo is the greatest.

I just saw a person on TV with face paint, a wig, a stupid hat and an old school chiefs jersey screaming at the top of his lungs..... with a blue tooth in his ear. I hate it when people walk around with blue teeth. If you are in the car, sure use it. Even if you are walking around doing something, but the people that walk around not talking to anybody, just wearing the blue tooth in case someone calls. Antonio Gates just scored... he's on my fantasy team. Its usually business people that aren't really that important to their company, but they want to feel important so they wear that old blue tooth. It really sends a signal to me that people don't really like you that much so you are trying to seem more important than you really are. What phone call are you going to answer while you are at a football game? And how do you expect to hear them when you are on a blue tooth?  Stupid people.

Oh well, I don't care.



COMBO OF THE DAY!
In honor of a terrible game, Manchez - Mark Sanchez
"Man did you see Manchez play tonight? bad..."
"yeah how bout that game against the Bills last year where Manchez threw like 6 picks...."

Never Forget

I know I'm sick for saying it, but 9/11 make a wish. When you are finished filling out an application for my incarceration at Guantanimo I will explain. A few years ago I was driving in the car and the clock read 9:11 and he declared 9:11 make a wish! You need to understand that he isn't the brightest ever and he got confused with the expression 11:11 make a wish. So pretty much after that it stuck. When we play ping pong and the score is 9-11 we declare 9-11 make a wish. we even go to the point where if it is 9-10 or 8-11 we give up the point so we can have a score of 9-11. I realize that some people are going to think that I'm a totally sick person who doesn't appreciate national tragedies but you people need to just get over yourself.

But seriously, nine years ago there was the greatest attack on the United States in over 60 years. Thousands of lives were lost and hundreds more were given in service on that day and the days after. We remember those who lost and gave their lives and those that continue to do so protecting our freedoms. I joke all the time, but what happened on that day is no joke and we need to not forget what is going on in our world. Its not just extremists with planes. Its gangs on the streets, its kids in college, its men, women, kids, political leaders, famers and city folk. We are killing each other. We live in a fallen world corrupted by the sin that we so freely indulge in. There is only one hope for freedom and their is only one escape for all the pain in the world. Lets just hope that we can continue to share the light to the world.

On a lighter note, I had a great fantasy draft tonight. Saw my aunt and uncle from NC and my cousin and her husband and kids from Chicago. I think too often we don't appreciate our family. Family is the best! Specifically mine. My family is the best!

Today was our first "Hit the Streets" event for Christ City Ministries. It was amazing. We went down to True Worship Church down on Walden. It was amazing. We were in one of the poorest communities in Buffalo. We just went out in front of the church with a cooler full of pop and a playlist of music and started handing out free pop and water. We took the chance to talk to people and get to know some people and pray with some people. I have been on a few overseas missions trips, domestic trips to reservations, service projects downtown, and I honestly felt like i was on a missions trip to another country. Its amazing how different is when you cross over one intersection. One side of Walden Ave. is nice plazas and neighborhoods. My uncle lives on one side of Harlem, and as soon as you cross over Harlem its an instant change. We entered a different world and there are people so close to us that are living such a different life than us (us being middle class white kids and adults) To get an opportunity to get down there and meet people and hopefully start to change some lives is such a cool thing. The best thing is that we are gonna be their every week. God is gonna do some amazing things with this ministry.

 check us out @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Buffalo-NY/Christ-City-Ministries/146518998709599?ref=ts and http://www.wix.com/jwhodakid/christcityministries

Its Saturday and you all know what that means, a preview of the Bills game which will probably be over by the time you read this so maybe next week I will do this on Friday... Well we are playing the Dolphins. Its the home opener. Though this game will probably carry less meaning than the Bills Dolphins games used to, there is no question that The Ralph is gonna be hoppin. The Bills are debuting their new offense and defense under first year coach Chan Gailey. The Dolphins are changing up their 3-4 a little with new coordinator Mike Nolan. Bottom line is if the Bills young offensive line can protect Trent Edwards and open up some running lanes for CJ Spiller they might have a chance. The defense is going to need top production from their defensive backs, but even with this they are going to have a tough time against a Dolphins running game that is very good behind backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. If the Bills can keep those two in check and make Chad Henne win the game, there might be a chance. All in all it is the beginning of a season that probably won't be too great. But its the Bills, so what do you expect. All the same, GO BILLS!

COMBO OF THE DAY
Garybeth- A rather personal combo, the combonation of my father Gary and my mother Marybeth

"Hey Greg, are Garybeth coming up for graduation?"

Have a great first day of football, enjoy your games and remember that no matter what the people tell you, there is no sex in the champagne room