I picked my first strawberry last week. I decided that I was going to give it to the Lord. So I wrapped it in a paper towel, said a prayer, and burned it at the altar (the grill).

I’ve taken up gardening lately. The other day I was reading John 15, and Jesus’ comments about God being a gardener took on a whole new meaning for me. At this point I’m growing cucumbers, egg plant, strawberries, spinach, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, onions, watermelon, basil and a whole bunch of herbs, peas, and about 15-20 other flowers and plants. I know when each one of them grows an inch, I know how much water the get, how much sunlight they need, when I need to move them, when to fertilize, I know what diseases they have, and I know what type of insects are eating away at them.

God takes care of me the same way. That’s a comforting thought. 

Some of you have been asking what I’ve been up to in January. Answer; “fundraising”. Molly and I have a few thousand dollar we need to raise before the end of the fiscal year.

I’ve also decided to shelve my books on history, economics, and politics for at least a month. I need to just be with the Lord and live life without engaging serious things for a bit. I started reading “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Man, it’s beautiful. I haven’t read a novel in almost two years. I’ve been watching lots of UCLA basketball, celebrating that fact that I’ve caught 11 cats in the neighborhood, and last night we watched the first episode of the new season of American Idol. Molly and I will be celebrating our birthday this Saturday. She turned 29 last week, and I turn 30 on the 24th.

Molly and I aren’t priests, but we’re definitely happy with our job. Clergy topped the list of happiest people; Gas-station attendants were the least happy. 

•  Clergy
• Real-Estate Agents
• Doctors and Dentists
• Accountants
• Lawyers
• Athletes 

·      Joseph, an Israelite, had helped Egypt become the nation they were. He coordinated the distribution of food during the famine at the end of Genesis. If it weren’t for the Israelites, Egypt might not have become the superpower they were.

·      The Israelites were exceedingly fruitful. They multiplied greatly.

·       “Then a new king, to whom Joseph (and the Israelites) meant nothing, came into power in Egypt”. The governing powers forget about the contributions of the Israelites.

·      “Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” Pharaoh fears the number of Israelites in the land, and justifies the oppression of a people by saying that their presence is a threat to national security. 

I’ve been writing my talk for Cumbre, and it’s been hard. When I get in front of my computer I begin to get headaches and feel nauseous. I know what I want to say but it’s just not coming to me on paper. It’s frustrating. I’ve felt really alone this week.   

But in the midst of this I’ve also had an awesome time connecting to God. I want, more than anything else, for God to be glorified on Friday. He reminded me tonight that I have people around me who care about me, and that there are those who have passed on and are watching me from above.  

Tonight the Lord reminded me of Julio, the ELAC student I mentored for two years. He was killed in a hit-and-run in 2005. I’ve been thinking a lot about Julio during my writing this week. I might share about him at Cumbre. 

Julio was a funny character. He once got me a USC shirt for Christmas to make fun of me. He knew how much I hated SUC. When we were praying the Lord reminded me of Julio’s gift. So I pulled it out of my bottom drawer and put it on.   

This one’s for Julio.      

“Hey Abner, Check this out man, I was surfing you tube and i found this great speech by non other then MLK!  It’s awsome!  Substitute the word vietnam with the word “Iraq” and it’s still real today!!  I love how he makes reference to God towards the end of his speech!”