Feeling Jonah

This pic is courtesy of: http://breadsite.org

Earlier this week I was praying about something and I decided to do one of those Kamikaze-open-up-the-Bible randomly to see if God had something to say to me. I opened up to the end of Jonah (Chapter 4) where God asks Jonah, "Do you have any right to be angry?" It didn't seem to hit me that night, but fast forward a few days and it's making a lot of sense...

I called my pal Foxx earlier today to get some counsel and she posed this question to me, "How do you know anything is God's will?" I gave her my answer which I felt very confident about, but I also realized some defensiveness was creeping in on my part. Foxx and I have been pals for a number of years, and she has seen me move from Minnesota to Los Angeles to New Zealand to Minnesota to a different part of Minnesota to Los Angeles. In other words, she's weathered a good chunk of my transitions and heard my different passionate stances on, "I think God is calling me to do this!" only to be changed into a different "Now, I think God is calling me to do this!"
In my defense, I do believe that my moving around and doing different things is evidence of God working in my life, as by nature I'm a homebody. (Just ask my friends from Wisconsin who still remind me at every chance that I used to proclaim I never wanted to leave my hometown!)
I also have prayed a lot before every major decision to leave, and I have faith that if I'm asking the Lord what direction he wants to lead me in, He's going to be a good Father and answer those prayers.
But I also have to admit that my credibility feels like it gets shot in the foot every time I seem to...um...change my mind. It leaves a lot of room for people to ask, "Kristie, is that really what God wanted you to do, or was it simply what you wanted to do?"

Which brings me back to Jonah.
God asked him to go to the City of Nineveh and proclaim that it would be destroyed because of the people's disobedience.
Jonah didn't want to go. Instead, he sailed in the opposite direction and had to be convinced by sitting in the belly of a whale for a few days.
When he did go and say what God asked him to, the people of Nineveh repented. And God relented. And the city was saved. No wrath falling. And Jonah was mighty TICKED OFF that his words didn't come true.
I can sympathize. I mean, in the Old Testament, there are rules for what to do with prophets whose prophecies don't reach fulfillment.
"You may say to yourselves, 'How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?' If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."--Deuteronomy 18:21-22
And in the preceding verse we read something a little more severe...
"But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say...must be put to death." (vs. 20)
Yikes! I'm hoping the Israelites didn't enforce that one on old Jonah or he really would've been in a rough spot... When the Ninevites repent, Jonah essentially says to God, "I knew you were going to do this! That's why I didn't want to say anything in the first place!" But that doesn't change the fact that God wanted him to deliver the prophecy.
So is it fair to say that translates to the modern world? Does it go beyond prophecies? Does the Lord allow us to think a certain thing is His will for us (even if it doesn't come to completion) that would serve a purpose in the end anyway?
Heady stuff, friends. And I'm feeling it...

I saw the ending quote on a webpage with a pic of Jonah that I didn't use due to copyright reasons. I thought the quote was very worth sharing and pondering though...

Because this one struggling believer answered the call to obedience, thousands came to a saving knowledge of the Lord God. Not even Jonah doubted this would happen; he had actually run away because he knew God would save the Ninevites. How much, I wonder, could God do with my obedience? How much could He do with yours?

—Allen Harris

Happy Birthday Cinjun Tate!

Remy Zero was one of my favorite bands a few years back, and still ranks quite high on my list. Cinjun Tate was the lead singer of RZ, and has a stage presence truly unique and inspiring. He sings with power and clarity and makes sense of even the most enigmatic lyrics. If I've got my data right, today is his birthday. I publicly tip my hat to the man. God bless ya, Cinjun!

So what's been spinning on my cd player(s) lately? I feel a bit out of the loop, to be honest...especially because my car's antenna seems to be broken and my radio reception is horrid. So I have my rinky-dink cd player in my bedroom and my cd player in my car. Currently spinning when I drift off to sleep is Kasabian's cd from a couple of years back. For anyone familiar with it, maybe you can tell me if you agree with the following sentiment or think I'm looney. The song "Clubfoot" is one of those rare gems that invoke inspiration for filming my own music video...I would love to edit something to bring out the musical emphasis...something like Remy Zero's video for "Gramarye". It makes me want to bang things to the beat! Foxx knows what I'm talking about...are you reading this, pal?
And what's currently in my car's cd player? Richard Ashcroft (of The Verve if I dare say he's of something other than himself)'s 2nd solo album from a few years back...I think it's called Human Condition. I have had a heck of a week at work, but it's sure nice to have some good melodies floating around in my noggin to keep me company in the midst of the chaos.

Oh, and one last important bit o' music news...Crowded House's new album is slated for release in July! It's called "Time on Earth"...just that title sounds very CH. Bring it on, Boys! God-willing, I sure hope to secure a ticket or two to see them perform at The Greek Theatre here in LA at the end of August. Please, Lord!!!!

The Joy of picking out a dress

Haha!
This is a shot that my pal S took of me in a dress one size too big for me when we recently went to a shop for me to get my Maid of Honor dress for Cheryl & Lizzy's upcoming September wedding. I just have to laugh at this pic because I was feeling pretty sick right about this time (feverish, wanted to just go home and sleep), so I think my health is affecting my attitude a bit. Otherwise I would be smiling. For real.
Cheryl decided she liked the other dress option better so I won't be wearing this getup at her wedding..
Why am I sharing this photo with the rest of the world?
Because I like being the one to laugh at myself first. Ha! ;)

Home again, Home again, Jiggedy-Jig

As incriminating as this photo may look, it's not bad at all. This is a pic of me from roughly one week ago...enjoying a Ginger Brew (Ginger Ale) at my pal Foxx's place in Minneapolis. Good times! Foxx has been a great friend for a number of years now, and we've been roommates twice. She graciously let me crash at her place for a few days while I was in town. (As did my pals Jess & Karl, but I didn't get any pics of their lovely home.) This next pic is one Foxx flashed in her mirror as we did half-hearted karate kicks...really, we can both look more fierce if we want too. :)

So anyway, Folks, I've been back in LA for over a day now. It struck me as rather amazing that I was looking forward to returning. In some sort of weird way, this city (which I once despised with a passion) has found a way to feel like 'home.' I was shocked myself when I referred to it as such, but there you go...home for now anyway.
Driving in WI & MN was like a walk in the park while I was there. (Despite my wheels turning out to be a Town & Country Van...not used to that!) I talked with my friends Spot and S who are both from MN and lived/live in LA too. It's quite a difference! Once you drive out here and get used to it, you'll never complain about traffic again! The lanes on the freeways in MN are wider, there are significantly less cars, and when you see all the street parking you could ever want, it nearly brings a tear to your eye.
Which makes me wonder all the more, how on earth could I have missed LA?! Weird..
Transitions are just weird in general.
They are like a puzzle my brain just can't ever figure out. There always seems to be something unfinished...incomplete...maybe that's the essence of life...maybe the day it all feels fulfilled is the day you die.
When I embarked on my vacation, it was amazing how the last 11 months sort of melted away...almost like I woke up from a coma, and there I was back where I'd always been. Now back here in LA, it's sort of the same thing. Like the last week and a half was like blinking my eyes for a moment. As I walked to the library yesterday, and then later drove to work, it felt like I had never left. Time and space...ever enigmatic...
I will say that as wonderful as it is to be a guest in someone's house, nothing beats your own bed...or your own car...your own life...

The Blitzkreig's End has come!

Phew! What a vacation!
It's been great, but I'm honestly ready to get back to work and life-as-I-know-it for now. That's a good thing. :)
So I've had the opportunity to visit with heaps of peeps (Ha!), and successfully co-threw the Bridal Shower for my pal Cheryl yesterday. Missions accomplished.
Meanwhile some random bits...
I was super-bummed when my favorite Minneapolis based radio station--Drive 105--died the day I drove back into MN. Now it has become "Love 105" playing a nauseating mix of love songs. Blech!
I was @ The Rock on Friday night (that's a church I was a part of for a few years) and got to see my old small group leader Chris on his last night there (he's switching to a sister church).
I took pictures of 5 different babies with their parents (my friends!)...and it could have been 6 if I was thinking straight.
I had the chance to attend Eaglebrook church last night (where I attended last year), and was really touched by the message shared from Colossians which involved the idea that faith and love are very connected concepts...love is evidence of faith.

The Things you find out

So today is my last full day in WI before I head up to MN for a few days, and then fly back to California.
It's nice to get the feeling I never left. Like it doesn't feel that weird for me to be back here visiting. It feels weirder to think about the fact that I have a full time job (and an apartment) in LA that I'm going back to. Like that's the oddity. Does that make sense?
Not that I want to live in Wisconsin again, mind you...just saying.
I'm doing way to much sitting on my rear and eating over here...

Anyway, I found it interesting to learn a couple of days ago that my grandpa is fully Norweigan. Why is that interesting? Because heretofore, I was under the impression he was of Swedish descent. To be fair, he did say that his mom grew up on the border, and moved to Sweden before she came to the U.S. when she was 4. But she was really Norweigan.
I guess it's not such a big deal as the two cultures seem very similar, but I do feel like I have a little less cred in Minnesota now (land of Swedes)--ha! And in fourth grade, when I decided to represent the culture of Sweden to the rest of my class when we talked about heritage...well, I guess I was living a lie...but probably no one else cares.

That's the news for now. Gotta fly to get to my lunch 'appointment'. Take care, friends!

Hello Wisconsin!

Hello from Le Coulee Cheese Castle in West Salem, Wisconsin!

http://www.lecouleecheese.com

My trailer-gator friend (don't worry if you don't get that) Nick owns this shop in our hometown.

You should buy some cheese from him.

Massive amounts.

Ice cream too.

He sells it super cheap.

And any Wisconsin souvenir you could ever want.

Stop in and say hi!

Me, I'm visiting and getting cheese for my mom.

Yay Wisconsin where the traffic (at least in these parts) is like 4am in Hollywood. :)