It's all downhill from here

I just crossed the halfway threshhold of my summer. Last night we ended our third of six conferences. Things went pretty well here at Chapman U. It was a solid week overall. Jonathan Mast and Dusty Frizzel did great jobs speaking for us, and Matt Bayless did a swell job leading worship. Recreation options are the tough ting here on the campus...we don't have a gym or a pool...we don't really even have a decent size field to throw a frisbee or kick a soccer ball. There is a small lawn outside the auditorium where we tried setting up a volleyball net. The only problem is that is is one of those volleyball/badminton combos you get from Wal-Mart that is good for neither. So we may scrap the volleyball this next week and go for some soccer or ultimate. I understand why there is not really a place to play outside here. There are houses for sale near the school that would probably sell for 60-80k at home. The owners are asking between 600-800k here. So if I had a football field here in Orange County, I'd sell it and be independantly wealthy.

Libby Jo got to go to the Pacific Ocean yesterday...that was pretty cool. She didn't really care for the water too much. I can't blame her...it was pretty cold. She did have fun hanging out on the beach and looking cute. We did our tricks to impress all the people there at Huntington Beach. Th rest of the crew went to Laguna Beach today. Erin, Libby and I stayed here at the school and took a big fat nap which was wonderful. We're going to try and get together with everyone for dinner tonight.

So-So Cal

I am in sunny southern California. It's definitely sunny...it's stinking hot here. Don't get me wrong...it's really pretty nice weather...but when you hear all the time about how nice it is, and how awesome the weather is out here...you kind of expect a little more than you should.

I have finally been to an In-N-Out burger too. It's good...but a little like the weather...not exactly as good as advertised. It's probably a lot like the Krispy Kreme blitz of a few years ago. KK's are good doughnuts, but if you hype 'em too much, people will be disappointed...after all...they're just doughnuts.

I preached this monday night for the first time this summer. I feel like it went fairly well. I'm having a hard time communicating what God's glory is to people...specifically high school students. I can't describe his majesty and greatnesss in a way that is as affective as I want it to be. My friend Steev said it's like trying to explain to someone the Pantone palette and only being able to use the wrod "blue" in reference to color. That seems about right.

The good news is that my message at least got some students thinking. I told students on Monday night that they weren't the most important thing to God...that his Glory is what he values most. I had a group of girls come up to me on Tuesday morning at breakfast and say, "So, is God just full of himself or what?" I almost said, "Yes..to the point of overflowing." I explained to the girls what idolatry is...putting something in God's place...and then said that God keeps the same priorities. He values what is most valuable...Himself. To do otherwise would make him an idolater. It isn't that God loves people less, I think people just misunderstand how important God's reknown, name, glory, etc. are to him. We want a give and take relationship with God...we'll be God-centered if he's man-centered. That's not the way it works...which really is the best thing for us in the long run.