water falling from the sky

just in the nick of time...

I hope the sound helps me sleep.

I think the sound of rain -- whether it be intermittent drops or pouring rain -- is my favorite sound.

A hymn from today's service:

"Not What These Hands Have Done"

Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;

Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.

Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God;

Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.

Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;

Your power alone, O Son of God, can all my sin erase.

No other work but Yours, no other blood will do;

No strength but that which is divine can bear me safely through.

They work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;

Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.

Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee,

Can rid me of this dark unrest, and set my spirit free.

I bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine;

And with unfaltering lip and heart I call this Savior mine.

His cross dispels each doubt; I bury in His tomb

Each thought of unbelief and fear, each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace; I trust His truth and might;

He calls me His, I call Him mine, My God, my joy and light.

'Tis He who saveth me, and freely pardon gives;

I love because He loveth me, I live because He lives.

Minus/Plus

Minus:

The holidays are especially more annoying and sad this year.

Plus:

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and a letter from Mina. 

Maybe the holidays won't be so bad...

40+ street artists you should know besides Banksy.

Audra Lewicki

Audra became my friend while I spent a semester in D.C. She's from West Virginia, but attended Wooster College in Illinois. We instantly became friends some how. I admired her passion, spunk and curiosity. She started a recycling program at her college, which I thought was pretty rad.

Fond memories:

• singing our field trip song while skipping every time we visited various organizations for lectures
• reading/journaling/playing by candlelight and talking about how we felt like we were characters in "Little Women" in South Africa
  
• generally frolicking, laughing and crying together in South Africa

Audra is so vibrantly beautiful.

I was looking forward to her visit to San Diego this week. But, a family emergency came up so she's coming in January. It will have been six years since we first met. Wow.

사랑하는 효정,

생일 축하한다. 

It's probably already your birthday in Korea. 

(I thought you might appreciate:)

Awestruck

What one word describes your current state of mind?

It's Election Day!!!

I'm so excited!

Church Hunting

Hmm, that sounds so negative.
How about I call it church searching?
But then, it sounds so .... lost (?).

Ok, anywho...

I went to a church in La Jolla my mom recommended. It was small and reminded me of FPC (my home church):

• the intimacy of the group
• the awkward newcomers introduction time
• the 'happy birthday' song on the first Sunday of the month. Everyone sounded drunk.

Everyone was very friendly.

Things I liked:

• the group ranged from age 70 to little kids. Most everyone was in their 30s.
• the pastor is Korean, but most of the congregation is Caucasian. There were a few Koreans. One Brazilian guy, one African guy, and generally a good little cultural mix.
• family-ness.
• communion service every first and third Sunday of the month.
  
• singing hymns.

I think the church may have been a little too traditional for me, but maybe I'll get used to it. I don't know; I still want to go back to Flood. I really liked all the different ministries at Flood. Plus, I felt a little more connected. It's odd because I felt more comfortable at the small church yesterday because it felt more like home, but I felt more excited at the bigger church.

Maybe I'll go to both services next Sunday. A whole day of church.
We'll see...

from The New Yorker

UNDECIDED by David Sedaris

This morning's highlights:

• buying a bag of the best oranges in the world at the farmer's market
• talking about pretty things with the jewelry lady
• video-chatting with Kristine, which included a special "E.T." moment and virtual hug