Currently Reading

-Trey

Tired.

I am tired and weary. I need a hug from my mom. This is my theme song for now. I hope you enjoy it.

-Mallory

Taken the train home

Mallory is taking a 50+ hour train ride home to Oklahoma. We've been talking together about it for a month or so now and she has come to the firm conclusion that she is taking the train home. I'm sure if you've heard this plan that you've thought in your head or expressed it to Mallory that it's a crazy idea and, "why wouldn't you just take a flight home"? I've said the same thing many times hoping that it will trigger something inside her that makes her realize the she would be saving so much time by flying home, time she could spend with her family. I don't think any of us fully understand what it's like for her to actually get on an airplane. What goes on inside her body when she feels that anxiety as the plane first takes off until it begins it's final decent. Furthermore, just because it sounds crazy to spend three days on a train doesn't mean she won't actually enjoy it.

Just look at the view she'll be watching go by for the entire state of California. She told me today that just because it's normal to rush around when traveling doesn't mean she isn't allowed to take all the time she wants. She has a knack for doing things differently and she wants to travel like they did back in the day. I can't tell her that's dumb because I've never tried it, and neither has anyone else that I know. So instead of expressing to Mallory why we think she's crazy for putting herself through something like that, why don't we tell her what an awesomely interesting trip it will be. Maybe not the trip of "our dreams" but it's not our trip or our dreams.

-Trey

Blessed

I've had more encounters with people this week telling me how beautiful my wife is than I can count on two hands.

Just look at her, what a blessing!

-Trey

Noted

As I've been reading The Jesus I Never Knew I come across a profound statement on almost every page. Either words that Jesus spoke directly or insight from Yancey that speaks into my life. Having said that, here is just one paragraph from the book.... for now.

"A political movenment by nature draws lines, makes distinctions, pronounces judgment; in contrast, Jesus' love cuts across lines, transcends distinctions, and dispenses grace. Regardless of the merits of a given issue - whether a pro-life lobby out of the Right or a peace-and-justice lobby out of the Left - political movements risk pulling onto themselves the mantle of power that smothers love. From Jesus I learn that, whatever activism I get involved in, it must not drive out love and humility or otherwise I betray the kingdom of heaven".

- Yancey



I had no idea what the political climate was like in 1st century Palestine when Jesus set into motion the very teachings and encounters with religious authority's that ultimately led to his execution. The Jewish people had been waiting for the messiah for so long and when his teaching didn't align with their political agendas for a revolt against an occupying pagan Roman empire, they simply could not accept him as the true messiah. They wanted a king they could crown as ruler of Israel who would restore the power and glory to it. Jesus always slipped away anytime they attempted to give him this title.

I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth right? So our forefathers said. Love your kinsmen, hate your enemies, right? But I say it's easy to love your own brother, to love those who love you. Even tax collectors do that! You want me to congratulate you for loving your own kinsmen? No, love your enemy. Love the man who would kick you and spit at you. Love the soldier who would drive his sword in your belly. Love the brigand who robs and tortures you. Listen to me! Love your enemy! If a Roman soldier hits you on the left cheek, offer him the right one. If a man in authority orders you to walk one mile, walk two miles. If a man sues you for your coat, give him the the shirt off your back. Listen! I tell you, it is hard to follow me. What I'm saying to you hasn't been said since the world began!

"You can Imagine the villagers' response to such unwelcome advice. The Sermon on the Mount did not puzzle them; it infuriated them".

I know I get all kinds of worked up when I hear people mocking climate issues. Honestly, it makes me want to shove them on the ground. I think the majority of Americans are like that when it comes to the political topic of their choice but I love how Yancey says, "regardless of the merits of a given issue."



How can I get better at this? I think it will be difficult but that is what Jesus said it would be like to follow him.

I better get to work.

-Trey

Ice Bike

About a month ago we had some below freezing weather here in Sunny Oregon. One morning on my commute to work via the bike trail I saw one crazy display of ice skating and biking in one. First of all I thought these dudes were crazy for even being out on the ice considering I saw water running in parts of the creek several hundred yards back but then I realized they were out on a bike. I had to stop and watch, I'd never seen anything like it.



The story behind the guys with the ice bike is cool as well. They all work at a place called Bike Friday where they make bikes right here in Eugene America. Not just any bikes either, they make bikes that fold up in a matter of seconds. They fold so well that you can jump right off one, fold it up, and hop on a bus, train, or subway. When you get to your stop you just fold your bike back out and off you go. Remember I told you I plan on boycotting gas stations withing the next decade? It's cool people like this that will make it possible for me. Next time you see me maybe I'll have my own Bike Friday.



-Trey

The Best of John Lee Hooker

I just picked up a tasty John Lee Hooker album on vinyl at the local record store. The man is smooth.

-Trey

I AM SECOND

Jan was telling me and Mallory about these "I am second videos". There are several of them, including Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford but I'll let you watch the others on your own. I really like the Brian Welch video because I was a big Korn fan in high school. Sounds kinda lame I know, Clint P. gave me a hard enough time back then so I'd appreciate if we kept the jokes to a minimum. I think we all can remember a period in our life where we liked some really bad music.



The part he talks about feeling important because he's playing in front of huge crowds that are basically worshiping him was really strange for me to hear because I've been apart of one of those crowds. Not just for his band but for countless others. I filled up my life with music for several years thinking it made me cooler than other people. Not that music is bad, I still love music and a lot of the same stuff from years ago but looking back I made it an idol. It's interesting to hear that this Brian guy made the feeling he would get from the fans an idol. I guess it goes both ways.

-Trey

I'm a proud Nazbo

While Mat and Kenzie were in town they caught us up on the funny YouTube videos of 2009 (we're kinda out of the loop now they we're not in college). Mat said the "I love my ducks" video that I posted earlier reminds him of a rap video his brother helped out with at Point Loma Nazarene University.





-Trey

Currently Listening to...

John Mayer: Battle Studies


- Trey & Mallory

The Jesus I Never Knew

I've been handed a copy of The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey. It's been as good as I expected and as good as I heard. It came highly recommend by some close friends and some of the guys at church. It's funny, I've always been interested in Jewish culture, Jewish people, their rituals, their life style, and especially their history. The whole Israeli/Palestinian conflict basically infatuates me. But I never thought I'd learn so much about Jews by reading a book about Jesus. That sounds so naive that it's embarrassing to write. However, after the first third of this book I've realized that I've been naive about a lot of things concerning the one I call my savior.

-Trey

Portland

Mallory and I rode the train up to Portland Tuesday morning. We enjoyed our first train ride together as a married couple and my first train ride since I was just a little dude. We arrived in Portland on a cold gray afternoon in the Pearl District of the city. We didn't know our way around so we just hit the pavement and started walking. After about ten blocks of walking we spotted the Portland American Apparel store. Mallory recalled that some employees from the Eugene store had been transferred to Portland, so we stopped in to say hi. They gave us some tips about where to eat and where the nearest Stumptown Coffee Roasters was located. We ate at a place called Kenny and Zuke's and did some shopping at the Powell's bookstore. Powell's is one of the biggest bookstores in all of America, it takes up an entire city block. Afterward, we did some shopping in the Anthropologie store across the street, when all the sudden huge snowflakes began to fall.



Matt and Kenzie were scheduled to land at 5:00pm so we decided to get some coffee and watch the snow fall for a little while. We went to the Stumptown inside the Ace hotel and got a couple of lattes. The coffee house was awsome and the lattes were even better. We took some pictures together in a photobooth that was setup in lobby of the hotel. I wish I had a scanner so I could show you the pictures. After coffee we went to this tiny little building to grab a bite to eat and wait for Matt and Kenzie. The building was so cool and Mallory fell in love instantly with the warm tiny feel it imposed on you the second you walked in. The pictures are good but I just don't know if they really do it justice. The snow continued to fall and traffic began to back up more and more as we sat and enjoyed our drinks and appetizers. I gave Matt and Kenzie the heads up about the traffic and suggested the may want to skip a car rental and take the "Max", Portland's light rail public transportation. We walked to meet them at their stop and helped them lug luggage all the way back to the train station. We were able to catch the very last train back to Eugene and made it home just after mid-night.




- Trey, Mallory, Mat, & Kenzie