SF to LA on bike

Here are the top ten things I learned from my bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles this week:

10. Highway 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay is some of the most beautiful and difficult road to bike.
9. There are parts of my legs that will get burned regardless of the frequency and generosity with which I apply sunscreen.
8. I never want to live in Santa Monica (no bike lanes + angry drivers = angry Blake).
7. I would love to end up in Santa Cruz, Monterrey, or San Luis Obispo at some point in my life.
6. The bike lane / shoulder seems to be the preferred place for roadkill (I saw a deer, owl, coyote, rabbit, squirrel, snakes, and birds).
5. Riding a bike for 12 hours in a day does not guarantee a good night sleep.
4. Hurricane Point near Big Sur is properly named.
3. 12.5 mile inclines are worth a 2.5 mile decline.
2. Knee pain isn't detrimental...chaffing can be.
1. Spending time with old friends is the best way to end a long ride each day.

Here is a pic from Pastor Doug's son in law's coffee shop in San Luis Obispo...best iced americano I got on the trip.

Grace and Peace

ducky wucky

It's happened over a dozen times since I made the announcement in April. When I tell people that I am leaving Jr. High at Trinity and looking for a role in High School or College I usually get the light bulb turning on look. "Oh...yah. That makes sense. Jr. Highers are so _______ (fill in the blank)" is usually what people say. To most people, I guess, jr highers are not who most adults would want to spend time with. The funny thing is, and what I try to tell everyone, I still love jr highers. This wasn't always the case. When I came to Trinity I liked 7th and 8th graders...most of the time. I admit they can test your patience at times. But at the end of the day, I would rather be hanging out with jr highers than with any other age group. They have incredible energy, imagination, silliness, and they get excited about the strangest things. And there is a depth, honesty, and sincerity about them

All that to say, I'm not leaving Trinity jr high because I got burned out or tired of jr highers. If God said that my call was to minister to jr highers for the rest of my life I would be stoked. And hey, maybe He'll say that down the road. But I do sense God is calling me to be a pastor to the whole family in the future and because of that I need to gain experience and insight in how to minister to other age groups. So I leave Trinity still crazy about jr highers and hoping that I will get a chance to play a little ducky wucky now and then at the next church.

Grace and Peace

Today is gonna be the day that I'm gonna throw it back to you...

Today is a weird day. It still doesn't feel like it, but yesterday was my last day at Trinity. As I continue to reflect on my time at Trinity I am just so grateful for the relationships and opportunities from the last four years. I wouldn't be who I am or where I am if it wasn't for the support and love of the people of Trinity. It is truly my home church and I look forward to visiting and hearing how God is moving in the future.

For the time being I have a pretty open plate. No ministry opportunity has opened up yet and so I'm in this middle area with plenty of free time. The only sure things coming up are a bike trip from SF to LA next week with Drew and a backpacking trip with my friends church in July. I may try my hand at the John Muir Trail next month or I my take it easy and go L'Abri in Vancouver (a retreat center) for a couple weeks. For now, Stout and I will hike a bunch, watch Adam drag tires in front of the house, and, together, harass Drew.

Grace and Peace

Blogging

Have you ever felt out of your element? This definitely feels out of my element. Blogging is a lot like Taco Bell...I avoid it at all costs. I'm not huge into Facebook and I have never been on that Twitter thing. This isn't the way I would prefer to stay in touch with people, but I guess it will have to do. I do really hope to stay in contact with everyone the best I can. So I will share random thoughts and stories as they come up. I'll try to update with how God is moving in my life and what Stout has chewed up lately. And my hope is that you will do the same and let me know what you are up to.

For now, here is a pic of Stout when she was 9 weeks old.