Trees...whee!

Just a follow-up from the Earth Day post about media conglomerate Disney planting trees for every ticket sold for Disneynature's flick, Earth: They really did it! In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees campaign (a dollar plants a tree), there are now 2.7 million seedlings in Brazil's Atlantic Forest sprouting high and mighty for the circle of life (image courtesy of Nikki Finke).HUZZAH! A marketing gimmick well played. Peruse the story here.

On another note, Saturday bike rides with friendly folks are smashing brilliant. Venture to and fro with us! It makes me love weekends more. Onward, ho!

In an impermeable firestorm

of colliding emotions these few days past. A forthcoming post shall emerge should I be graced with the ability to articulate such tomfoolery. Golly. Good thing God’s promises are keeping ‘em at bay.

Otherwise, I’d be bouncing off the walls whilst bawling my tear ducts out. Which just might stall the onslaught of muscle atrophy associated with the nine-to-six. Deblob I must. Therefore, no more eating-centralized socializing (unless it’s froyo, maybe). From here on out, it’s gonna be hula-hooping, more bike-cruising, stair-racing, jumping jacking through Trader Joe’s, or dodging frazzling LA traffic. Take your pick.

Time to book more meetings for los bossmen. And then reschedule ‘em. More than once. What a game!

The fest's spunkified spark

Traversed westward to the alma mater this Saturday past. Though I'm prone to haunting the Westwood neighborhood intermittently throughout the workweek nowadays, actually stepping foot on campus is a rarer feat. I kinda, I daresay, miss (the lively loveliness of) campus. Ican'tbelieveIjustsaidthat. EERIE.Anywho, the annual springtime Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA was host to a maddening multi-thousand infestation of bookworms per usual,although I must confess I was supremely all ajitter to encounter G(a)linda from Wicked's OBC and Olive Snook from Pushing Daisies (two of my most heralded entertainment sensations)- the irresistibly pint-sized Kristin Chenoweth,who just stole my heart when she attributed eerthang to God's grace (her hilariously sharp wittcisms and contagious spunkifiedness didn't hurt, either.).She not only autographed copies of her wickedly new autobio, but also John Hancocked Elaine's Wicked quilt. SCORE.We were giddy folks,sorta really.Plus, plenty o' scribes of literary brilliance made their presence, including Eric Carle,to commemorate 40 years of The Very Hungry Caterpillar fandom.We failed to nab his autograph due to the legions of wailing toddler-toting, double-decker stroller-armed, frazzled yet steely-eyed mommies who'd been standing guard to ensure their precious places in line since daybreak.But ya know, 'tis heartening to see that perusing books ain't a lost art,particularly these.And we had to alleviate Irene's yearning for Diddy Riese post-fest, to which we did not object. YEAH! YUM.

Christianity, analogous to suppression?

“At first sight, then, a relationship with God seems inherently dehumanizing. Surely it will have to be “one way,” God’s way. God, the divine being, has all the power. I must adjust to God—there is no way that God could adjust to and serve me.

While this may be true in other forms of religion and belief in God, it is not true in Christianity. In the most radical way, God has adjusted to us—in his incarnation and atonement. In Jesus Christ he became a limited human being vulnerable to suffering and death. On the cross, he submitted to our condition—as sinners—and died in our place to forgive us. In the most profound way, God has said to us, in Christ, “I will adjust to you. I will change for you. I’ll serve you even though it means a sacrifice for me.” If he has done this for us, we can and should say the same to God and others.” –Tim Keller, The Reason for God

Can’t ya see? Biblical Christianity isn’t suppressing at all. In fact, ‘tis the opposite. It is absolutely liberating. The message of Christianity, aka the gospel (“good news”), emancipates us from life’s insecurities, from the fear of death, from the speculations of our purpose on earth, and from our naturally selfish, prideful, and rebellious human natures with the solution to ‘em all in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Christ there is purpose, joy, hope, peace, the answers of life, and everlasting life with our magnificent God.

Matters of life and purpose are worth stopping to think about:

In commemoration of this homey globe,

HAPPY EARTH DAY! (Snapshot taken May 2008 with NorCal's herculean California Redwoods. Sheer wondrousness.)Let's be better caretakers of our environs, whether it's chugging h2o from stainless steel bottles instead of plastic ones, printing on recycled paper, wiping with cloth rather than paper napkins, commuting via bike instead of automobile, supporting local farmers by buying locally cultivated organic foodies, de-plugging electronics in disuse, purchasing products crafted from recycled materials, using reusable totes at the market, or planting more trees and flora! Each and every bit everyday (not just today!) makes a difference.

Jeebies, I'm gonna celebrate by watching the premiere of Earth tonight...SO excited for this epic feature by Disney's new indie film label Disneynature!!! If you go opening week, Disney shall plant a tree in your honor! Watch the trailer here and then go watch the real thang!

The interceding one

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." -Romans 8:25-26

'Tis mind-boggling epic that the Spirit intercedes for us 'cause God knows us deep dippety down to the depths of our hearts - infinitely better than we know ourselves. Much I be waiting on that I lift up in prayer. Help me to acquire patience as I await and hope for your perfect will, thanks to the mercifulness and kindness of Jesus Christ.

Daddy-o dear,

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO YOU!!! I love my dashing daddy-o so super mucho!

The Friday fair

The lot's Earth Day Fair, that is. Which occasioned a slew of thrilling eco-friendly freebies: tires-turned bottle openers, recycled pens, reusable totes, renovated absorbant cloth-napkins, stainless steal filtered canteens, organic baked sweets, plant and veggie derived play dough, etc. Huzzah for sustainability, green products, and global energy initiatives. Conserving our dear earth is the way to live, mis amigos. Not to mention that the ridiculously fanfared nomadic Kogi Korean BBQ trucks graced our presence. Savory stuffs but not worth the swooning LA hype.But the choiciest treat of all? A visiting Janice. I love callers at the nine-to-six. A hearty thankya to those who've popped in thus far!

As I was cruising down PCH,

I knew it was going to be a jolly grand afternoon. 'Tis nothing short of enthralling to zip along the majestically serene and boundless California coast on a sun-dazzling weekday afternoon, accompanied by the placid breeze and sea-salty air. Particularly when I'm usually hemmed in by a grey cubicle fortress. Thank you, Jesus, for a half-day from the nine-to-six to indulge at the neighboring Getty Villa and Santa Monica Pier for the youth group's spring break fellowship outing. Veritable blessed fun marveling at Greek and Roman antiquities circa the New Testament times, gaping at God's creativity in his stunning creation and through man's hands, and cavorting in escapades with the church famaree. My heart soared. I wish I had brought my bicyclove to the pier, though! I love the City of Angels, indeed.I love my muchmuchmuch! Thank you Lord for crafting us for community with one another.