Posted 7:26 PM by Andy
Since I’m waiting for my laundry, now is as good a time as any to reminisce on my encounters since relocating to the Bay Area again.

Halloween. I stopped by Tilden and Mimi’s place in Fremont for their holiday bash. I chilled to the side as more and more folks grooved to the dance music in the house. The interesting point in the evening occurred when Raymond S walked in with Lynn W. I chatted with Raymond about dating women that cross the Chinese and American cultures.

Niners game. I attended my first NFL game when John Y invited me to go an hour before tipoff. We sat in the upper deck bleacher seats but still enjoyed a good view on the fifty-yard line. The Niners won in a romp over the Rams, so the game wasn’t too exciting because it lacked drama. I appreciated the gesture by John, although it was one of those serendipitous situations where I was in the right place at the right time.

Church. My loyalties are divided between City Church and Sunset. The former boasts great preaching that is Christ-centered. The latter is a Chinese church with many of my acquaintances from college and previous fellowship experiences. I visited Lory’s community group and it was a blessing. There were some interesting people in the group, including Eric F, a Messianic Jew who brought many insights to the study. Sunset is establishing their community groups and they are fairly new in existence.

Mike T. Since I’m living with Mike, I have the privilege of interacting with him on a daily basis and also observing him in his life. It’s fun to brainstorm business ideas with him for his tutoring business, and instructive to hear how he talks to customers on the phone. I also get to see up close his heart that beats for God. When I first met Mike, I thought he was a serious guy because he talked about weighty matters like eternal life and discipleship. That hasn’t changed but now I also see his humorous side and his focus on cultivating godly friendships with men. I enjoy the open dialog we share in life and in men’s group where we discuss the qualities of the “exemplary husband,” which is the title of the book we’re studying.

Cool guys. Donny P is the owner of a pizzeria in the Sunset district. I didn’t know him too well. Last week we dropped by to hold the study over dinner, and he came over to chat. Since we were both really open with each other, he told me about some recent relationship lessons he’s been learning. He asked me, “If this isn’t what God wants, then He must have something better for me right?” I wanted to assure him and answer affirmatively, but I held back because God’s ways are inscrutable and higher than ours. Mike Y and Rayfil W. I met these two brothers at Alliance. They are humble and enjoy the Lord’s presence in their lives. Mike is very sincere. The first time I met him he asked me how taking the Perspectives course has changed my life and view of God. Rayfil is more goofy but equally earnest. He can build rapport with little kids easily with his silly banter as I witnessed one day on the outdoor Lawton basketball courts. They also play ball which is an easy way to bond, so I usually run with them once a week.

Birthday. I decided to get some people together for my birthday. On three days notice, four people showed up for dinner. I was touched by Peggy driving up from Fremont to break bread with me. Three more friends came by for dessert. For the nightcap, Spanx, Leon and myself chilled at Mel’s diner until 2:30 a.m. The three of us share some similar life experiences from college and the Christian faith and living in SF, and we are all trying to make our mark in our respective professional fields of endeavor. Good times.

Job Hunt. I thought a change of venue would help my job search, and so far the level of activity has definitely increased. This past week I had multiple callbacks, but the two most promising opportunities are with Oracle and Kensington. I prayed a lot for God’s favor on my life in this regard because without Him, I don’t have a clue what will happen. I will find out this coming week whether I move to the next round with these firms.

Football. Once in a while it’s fun to mix it up and toss around the pigskin. After winning a game of bball this afternoon in the rain, I moved over to the football field. I gave a subpar performance today, with only 1 touchdown and 1 interception and two missed interceptions. The most memorable play went down like this. The QB, Becky, threw a high floater over the middle. I found the spot where the ball would land and was licking my chops, ready to cradle it in and return it for six points. A split second later, Winchell, the intended receiver, came back into the play and caught it in front of my face. Shocked beyond belief, I wrapped him up with my left arm and tried to rip the ball loose with my right hand. What followed was a violent or comical sequence depending on who you ask. I managed to make him bobble the ball slightly but not enough to lose control. Seeing he already had possession, the next thought that flashed across my mind was to stop him from gaining any extra yardage. Embarrassed by the blown interception, I was determined to drop him right there. Since Winchell is stronger than I am, I had to climb on his back to bring him down. Only after we were both on the ground did I take his flags. It was somewhat overkill, but in the heat of the moment, these were my exact thoughts in those few seconds, “I got the ball…what the ?!…take it from him…take him down.” I made sure he was okay after the play, and Winchell was all smiles. I have to concede he beat me on that play.

Allen. The mystery that is Allen continues to befuddle me. The week before I came up, we hung out 4 out of 7 days. He treated me to lunch once, then made me drink wine with him from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. the night before I drove up to the Bay. The most memorable quote from him that night was a revelation to explain why he is such a hardhead, “One day, I decided to cut the soft part of my heart out and that’s how it happened.” The way he uttered those words was chilling and deeply moving at the same time. He is up in the Bay area right now with his uncle. I’m waiting for his call because he wanted me to meet his uncle, the founder of a media processor company.

Tupac. The amalgamation that is part poet, part thug, part visionary, part tragic figure is a touchstone to many in society. The way he speaks and the life he lived has messianic overtones. He was an unwilling revolutionary that had thousands of dispossessed black men ready to do his bidding. He was a convict that wrote the most sensitive poems praising his mother. He lived in an uncompromising and relentless way that upset the establishment. He called his former friends enemies after being shot multiple times at close range in their purview. He prophesied about his own death and wrote songs describing that eventuality. He held the pulse of a generation and was extinguished at his peak. The voiceover concluding his Resurrection movie ends it like this, “Have I changed the world? I don’t know, but I can guarantee you this. I have the sparked the minds of those who WILL change the world.” Rest in peace, brother.

On the shelf. God's Passion for His Glory by Piper, Cries of the Heart by Zacharias.