reminds me of rob-

I have a little extra margin today, I thought I would share a list that has been in my head lately-

sometimes my friends message me and tell me that they saw something and it reminded them of me- its probably because I'm a creature of habit and do the same things 100 times over. either way, it blesses me to know that someone thought of me-

1. sour punch straws

I always have these when I'm with students. I would switch to a different candy, but these are a winner every time. even when I buy them at the store, the teenage or college aged checker sort of looks at them lovingly as they run them across the scanner. I've had a number of people say, "whenever I eat these, I think of being a student in your ministry." I did my first talk to children recently and I just had a box of them in my hand. you could have heard a pin drop. I used to have a gun that would shoot them out into a crowd of students. ironically, I've never had one. I'm not into sour stuff. 

2. malibu grill

I moved to san jose 17 years ago- I would guess that I have averaged one trip to malibu grill a week. 52 weeks times 17 years is 884 visits; times an average of about $20 a visit means that I have given this place over $17,000! that's insane. anyhow, I go there a lot. Jane and I have made many models of malibu grill for her toys and for my plant. I have often said, "if we have never been to the malibu grill together, then we probably aren't really friends." I have often had friends say, "Rob! I went to malibu and you weren't there!" I don't work there! but maybe I should be a shareholder or something. one time there was a big fire at the grill and they needed to finish a catering job- so they asked me if they could use the church kitchen. I made some calls and we got the green light. the next week the whole place smelled like malibu bbq. they said thank you by giving the church staff free bbq. I had praised God in church many times- but never like that!

3. mister rogers
I did not watch a lot of mister rogers as a kid- but I saw this clip, and it has travelled with me ever since. 



I have used it for training leaders, for training students before service trip, and in sermons. it embodies everything I want to be as a youth worker. I keep a photo of this scene in my wallet and on my desk. now my friends often share mr. rogers videos and quotes with me all the time- and it doesn't bother me one bit. 

4. monterey and otters

I have written a bunch about how much we love otters- I am an otter evangelist! I'm always sharing otter-stuff online. one of my favorite sermon serieses was called "keystone species" and it was all about the spiritual lessons that we can learn from otters. we got passes to the aquarium and go there at least once a month. we love to go on a rainy day- that's when the sea-life parties at the surface. I often have friends say, "I was in monterey and I expected to see you!" or they will send me otter videos- I don't mind- keep them coming!

5. U2
I have loved these guys since I was a teenager. I have seen them in concert many times. when I start chatting about their songs or their concerts, I don't know when to stop. I post a lot of their songs on my facebook page- they're the best. whenever there is news about them I'm often asked, "did you hear the news?" "did you get the new album?" "do you have tickets to the show?" and the answer is always yes. 

6. red vw beetles
I drove a red beetle for years. what a fun car! my friends often gave me miniature beetles, or said that they saw one and thought of me- dw drives it now- but I had lots of great memories in that car. I as often told that it smelled like crayons. I could never smell it, but I can now, now that I don't drive it as much. everyone thought there were crayons hiding under the seats, but that's just how vw upholstery smells. 

7. los gatos/ los gatos creek trail/ the great bear/ CCC's
I don't know anyone who loves the town of los gatos more than me. I love the history, the shopping, the atmosphere, the architecture. I love oak meadow park and vasona- I love the los gatos creek trail- I have written about both of those spots several times on this blog. I love the train at oak meadow park- and my favorite spot in downtown los gatos is the great bear coffee shop. and my favorite drink is their coffee-chocolate-cream milkshake, or the CCC. just like I said about malibu, "if we haven't had a CCC at the great bear, then we probably aren't really friends." my favorite way to welcome a friend into town or to recruit a volunteer is to take them to the bear. I often have friends share with me photos of their CCC's or picture of them at the bear. 

8. be awesome today

this is a phrase that I use to remind students to have good behavior- but it has turned into a kind of mantra. friends often share when they see something with the words "be awesome" on it. I often tell students- "you can be awesome anywhere- at your school, on your team at your house, and definitely at church; so be awesome today."

and I guess that's my message for myself and for you right now. wherever you are, whatever you're doing, whoever you're with:

be awesome today.

God is love.
-rev-rob

rocks in my pocket

awhile back I was having a tough week. I was anxious to say the least. I happened to be at my local bible bookstore, and I happened to notice their selection of religious gifts on the counter next to the register. a friend of mine used to call these things, "jesus-junk." I normally ignore these things, but I saw a glass stone with Matthew 28:20 on it, and on that particular day, that verse seemed to be very comforting to me- so I bought it  and kept it in my pocket. I kept it in my pocket for weeks. every time I put my hands in my pocket, I felt it, and I was reminded of Jesus' promise to be with me whatever I face. sometimes when I was feeling extra anxious, I would hold it, or read it, or just feel it in my hand. as you can see from the picture below, I practically wore the letters right off. 

later I found another rock at the bible store and kept it in my pocket- it reminded me to give those anxieties over to God- and of how much He cared for me in that moment. these rocks  served as physical memory cards- and sometimes I would quote the verse out loud while I was holding it.

I got other rocks- each one addressing my response to fear and anxiety- they helped me to coach myself whenever I was headed into a situation that I was unsure about-

I eventually developed a collection of these rocks, and was able to choose which one would go in my pocket depending on the bible verse that I needed for that day.

when I walked around, I could hear these verse-rocks clicking against my keys in my pockets- it reminded me how how the Israelites kept verses sewn into the corners of their clothes and tied around their wrists.

sometimes when I was in a tense situation, I would just put my hands in my pocket and I was reminded of the promises that God has given us in the bible to watch us, care for us, deliver us and redeem us; and it gave me perspective, and helped to settle my heart.

eventually, I bought all of their rocks! of all of the "jesus-junk" I had ever seen there, these were by far the most helpful. I started thinking of other verses that I would like to have in my pocket and I began to look online for the manufacturer of these rocks or of some way I could create my own.

I didn't see anything that was reasonable, so I just made my own with a sharpie. this was one that I kept in my pocket for a few weeks. I felt that I was being argumentative and defensive, so I just decided to stop talking so much- and listening more. 

this was the last rock that I made over that season. Its not a bible verse, just a saying, but I made it in hope that things would change and improve. there were days that I looked at this rock and didn't believe what I had written on it; it seemed to good to be true- but I kept it in my pocket nevertheless. 

well, I can thank God that this rock- and all of my rocks in my pocket were right. God had never left me- He cared for my anxieties- He sustained me- He delivered me from my fears- He was my lamp and my salvation, just like the Bible (and my rocks in my pocket) had promised. and all of these problems made their way into and out of my life, just like so many before them. 

now I have a box full of rocks- and I'm wondering what  I should do with them. maybe I will display them as some sort of tribute to God- old testament style. or maybe I can hand one to a friend who needs one of them more than I do right now. 

as I look back on this time, I can conclude that God is good, and His words are true; and this little practice can help calm your heart and focus it on the truths of the bible, which are eternal and bigger than our present circumstances.

God is love.
-rev-rob