Gay Guy in Seminary: Day 41 (Run, Charles! Run!)

OMG! I am SO out of shape...but if you've been reading this blog you already knew that. Some of us took the ferry to the city today. Since I had managed to convince my family to come last night instead of today, I was able to take my brother and sister with me. Tasted a pawpaw for the first time today, sorta tastes like a mango. We spent some time at Pier 39, then had lunch at Joe's Crab Shack. The food was okay; typical of a chain seafood restaurants, too salty and ever so slightly freezer burned. We decided after that we wanted to catch the 4:40 ferry back to Larkspur, but we didn't realize quite how far away we were from the ferry when we started heading back. We started walking faster and faster; I was at the front trying to keep up the pace. But all of a sudden, everyone was running past me saying we only had 3 minutes to get there, and I started running too. We were going pretty fast because we were seriously short on time, but my stomach started to hurt and I had to slow back down to a walk. Besides, there were still four people behind me, and if they didn't make it on the ferry, then I wasn't going to get on it either.

End of story, we made it on and got back to Larkspur, where our cars were waiting for us. Brian, Dianne and I had dinner at an amazing italian restaurant called Lo Coco's on San Anselmo Avenue, which I HIGHLY recommend to everyone! The food was deliciously fresh tasting and the service was impeccable.

Then, we got together with Laura, Terra, Ian and Tom to watch Stranger Than Fiction, which I also recommend to everyone. Will Ferrell plays an IRS employee who is auditing a baker played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The movie, on top of being wonderfully original, is about writing and cooking, two things near and dear to my heart, and every time I see it, it pushes me to spend more time doing those things. Please, please, please see it if you have not yet done so. I normally can't stand Will Ferrell as an actor, but I think he does an outstanding job in this movie.

I haven't gotten any homework done this weekend, nor have I done laundry. Sadly, my family will be leaving tomorrow morning, but hopefully I'll be able to get to all of those mundane things I've been putting off since they're been here.

Gay Guy in Seminary: Day 38 (The "Pretty" Side of the Call)

Started the day with a little bit of Lectio Devina. We actually did the prayer exercise instead of just a lecture, and it felt really good. I felt really connected to God while we were doing it.

Afterwards I had to go to Wells Fargo again because they can't seem to figure out how to stop stealing my money. I went ahead and deposited my student loan check...hopefully I won't live to regret the decision.

Went to Marin Coffee Roasters with Terra to study. Tom showed up and left, then Ian came. They have the best music there! Every time I'm in a coffee shop or restaurant, I'm always looking for elements that I can incorporate into the church I think I'm supposed to open someday. From this place, I definitely liked the music, although I've been collecting music for just this purpose for the last 3 or 4 years. They serve food there, but I didn't get anything to eat.

It's kind of annoying that they close at 6:00 pm.

So, here's the "pretty" part of my calling. I believe that I'm supposed to open a "cafe church." It will be both restaurant and church. During the week, we'll serve mainly the kind of drinks you'd find at a coffee shop, but I'm thinking about including wine. We'll also have pastries and really good food. I've been collecting recipes too. It'll have a stage for live music and spoken word, and Bible study groups will be able to meet there, as well as the youth group.

On Sunday, it will turn into a church. This part hasn't really solidified for me yet, but I'm leaning towards a really long service, maybe somewhere along the lines of 5 hours or more that people can sort of float in and out of, or even stay the whole time if they want. It'll be broken up with a fellowship lunch in the middle and will include things like group discussion and lectio devina. Different elements will happen at regular times so that if people really want to have praise music, they'll know to show up later in the afternoon, or if people are more interested in the sermon, they'll know to come around 10 am.

I want the place to kind of function as a community center, where people feel like its a home away from home. I want people to think of it as a place when they can come and relax for a few hours, have a blended mocha, eat some mac 'n cheese, and maybe play Apples to Apples with a few friends before hunkering down to do homework. I can see it so clearly, I know it's what God wants me to do. It'll be so different, people won't know what to make of it at first, but hopefully they'll come to equate church with community and togetherness and comfort.

So, this is my vision. Anyone interested?