The Lord is Beautiful.

I don't enjoy swimming. I went to class today but was afraid of getting in the pool. I was literally scared to do it. I went to the bathroom twice, but even when I was done, I didn't have the courage to go out and swim. I stood at the exit trying to psych myself up to get in and swim and I couldn't do it.

I'm dropping the class.

Am I wimping out? Yes.

Would I rather be a wimp than be miserable on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-10:20? Certainly.

It was peer pressure that got me into the class and peer pressure that got me to stick with the class and it was peer pressure that tried to belittle me into not dropping the class.

I think it's time I made some of my own decisions, so I'm making the decision to drop swimming class because I abhor it. Call me a wimp or whathaveyou, I don't like the water, I don't want to do swimming anymore, I'm wimping out.

I didn't want to lose the unit, but I also didn't want to not enjoy myself during a physical education class of my choosing.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28. The Lord is Beautiful. Went I got to work, I read an email about a 1 unit seminar that requires me to go to the city of angels film festival and watch 8 films. All that and I get a unit of credit.

Problem solved.

Even better: there is another 1 unit seminar at the same place as the festival the morning before. So I get there early and go to a 4 hour seminar on "Reel Spirituality" (reel like the film reel as a play off of real. clever.) and I get another unit of credit.

Extra bonus blessing.

So. I drop a class I don't enjoy that lasts all semester for two days a week and go to a film festival and a seminar that will take up one weekend and double my credit worth from the class I dropped.

The Lord is Beautiful.

So that basically made my Tuesday morning/afternoon.

Now for my Intro to Mass Media Speech.

Played a little Price is Right: Movie Budget Edition to start off my speech on Movie economics.

The professor loved it.

Then spoke on some Movie economics.

The professor loved it.

I really enjoy speaking in front of people, it's actually one of my favorite things. The professor appreciated my high energy and clarity and my quick paced but very information packed presentation.

I'm really happy that he enjoyed it, I would have been disappointed had he not. I'm glad God blessed me with the ability to enjoy public speaking.

The Lord is Beautiful.

Covered for a fellow employee today at the ER and that went well.

Met with Ricky about DPing an upcoming film of mine and he agreed to and is excited about the project. I'm very glad about that, Ricky is not only extremely talented, but he is a true joy to be around and to work with. Hooray.

I am finishing up a few synopsizes for another film that I am directing. (Matthew, I will get those to you by the end of the week, I have been quite busy).

Went to youth group. Practice went great. I'm glad that the students in the band are in Student Passage (student leadership) as they meet at 6 and therefore we are forced to move efficiently through practice to be done by 6.

And efficiency is one of my favorite things.

Jetted to Starbucks with Heather before our respective youth groups and waited to be helped by the gentleman behind the counter as he was talking to a friend.

I am very critical about service as I grew up around criticalness all around, but especially in service as my parents run a quick service restaurant or "fast-food" restaurant for those of you sans QSR magazine. Hah.

And working there for 5 years definitely added to that.

So. I am critical of service, and I hate bad service, especially when it's my team that's giving it, but also when I am the receiver of it.

The thing is, giving good service is so easy, there really is no excuse to giving someone bad service.

I sure am getting up on the soapbox tonight. Geewiz.

Youth group was splendid though we certainly missed David during the music.

And at Mark's afterwards. We shared some good cookies and string cheese and soda and catch phrase laughs and david letterman laughs.

Food. Fellowship. Fun.

Yes, I just said the three F's. Yes I just used the title "the three F's" for "Food. Fellowship. Fun."

Too far, I know.

Rocked some As Cities Burn on the way home. woot.

Uhh, not really tired, but will likely hit the bed soon as I could use the sleep.

I think the song "Wake Dead Man, Wake" by ACB on the album "Son, I loved you at your darkest" is amazing. The lyrics talk about how we need to love God not only in the good times, but in the bad as well just as God does to us. It recognizes that though we are quick to stray, God never ceases to love us.

"Let the dead bury their own dead

will you still love me in famine
as when love began at the harvest
or would you gain the whole world
son, I love you at your darkest
but what good is the whole world
when I promise no tomorrow
I only promise your tomorrows
will never take you past my palm

love, what is love without trust
at my word would you bring your Isaac

son, I loved you at your darkest"

at my word would you bring your Isaac. that is a really powerful line.
That really humbles me. It makes me wonder if I would really sacrifice what is closest to me for God. No doubt I say that I would, and truly think that I would, but if the moment came, would I really?

But no matter what: "son, I loved you at your darkest"

He loves us even when we are at our darkest places. What true love.

The Lord is Beautiful.

That's the kind of love I want. Love that can love others to the end, even during their darkest times.

God, give me a love like that.

So be it.

I hope you enjoyed this book I just wrote, I'll be signing the inside of the cover later.

Until then, I am going to work on a short film project for a friend, then hit the sack.

Nightynight.

Lee