Surprise: Friendship and Understanding.

So today I was surprised by the response I received on an email I sent last night. I wrote it because I felt I needed to. Once I sent it I became afraid because it exposed a part of who I am to this person. I was surprised by the response I received. It was one of friendship and understanding.

I continue to be surprised by the way God works in us and through us.

Peace,

Digital M

More Thoughts.

The last few days have been rather slow and calm. No surprises, which makes me wonder if I have shut off looking for them? I think that even though we have sort of ended the Surprise Me series, I want to continue with the blogging. It won't be everyday but often enough so it is worth checking back. I have found writing and reading the blogs to be a very good way for us as a community to dialog with one another more.

It is funny that this month I have met my neighbor and started a new friendship, all the while neglecting some friends that I have had for much longer. To these friends of mine I wish to apologize for neglecting you. What got me thinking about this was another blog. It reminded me of how all friendships take some work on both ends for a friendship to truly work.

My week, as I stated earlier, has been slow. I have been teaching the past 3 days and have only really had contact with students and my fellow professors. Yes, I have emailed people, but compared to the past few weeks. Where I think I have spoken to someone from the UR community everyday; it seems so different. Empty almost. I know that will change tomorrow with a little video shoot that I will be helping out with. I'm not going to give out details, but you will be able to check it out this weekend at the UR.

Well, that's it for know. I am going to write one of the friends I have been neglecting a long email now.

Peace,

Digital M

Conversations, Frisbee Golf, and Being Afraid.

God has been surprising me lately with conversations. He has given me some very good and deeper conversations over the past few weeks. Conversations that have been bringing members of the community closer together. It is amazing how superficial many conversations we have with one another happen to be. Understanding one another takes these deeper conversations. One of the bigger surprises is realizing that we are all very different and yet deep inside the same. How if you get to the core of a person, you can find that what you believe in your core and what they believe in their core are the same.

I hope that what has started in me these past few weeks continues on. This bible passage which I have heard many times recently at the UR has become my favorite bible passage.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:34-40

Some of the things that I have been doing these last few days include celebrating a friends birthday, playing frisbee golf for the first time, and working on a new web project.

Lastly, the truth to why my postings have slowed. It is not because I don't have time or are lazy. The truth is I am afraid. I am afraid that people will begin to know me. I mean the true me not just the bits I allow them to see. I am slowly realizing however that letting people know me may be the best thing for me. Especially, spiritually. Which brings me back to people's core beliefs. If they are the same as mine then the details of me won't matter because the core is what is truly important. If that makes sense?

Striving to Love,

Digital M

Surprise: Great Days.

OK, so I was thinking yesterday and I think that I have decided to add a little additional prayer that I am adding at the end of every day. "Thank you, God." I figured that since I am starting my day with a simple 3 word prayer that I should start ending my day with a simple 3 word prayer. Just thanking God each and everyday for the surprises that came with that day, good or bad.

I have been having an incredible week ever since last Friday. It is like I have been completely renewed. And all I can say is, "Thank you, God!"

Thank you for your grace.
Thank you for your love.
Thank you for your forgiveness.
Thank you for surprises.
Thank you for community.
Thank you for friends.
Thank you for neighbors.
Thank you for sending your son.
Thank you God.

Peace,

Digital M

Thoughts.

I have missed a few days now of blogging. It has been a combination of things that have prevented me from writing. First, I have been a bit busy. Second, I started out being fairly anonymous in my blogging which helped me to write. Now I fear that too many people know my real identity and after Sunday many more will be able to connect Digital M to me.

It isn't really a surprise that I am afraid of this because I tend to guard myself against letting too many people know me completely. In fact I don't think anyone does. It is funny the person who probably knows more about what I am thinking through deep inside my head is my newly met neighbor, Eric. Since meeting a little over a week ago we have had 2 in depth conversations about life.

OK, now a recap of the past few days.

Thursday: Heard from my younger sister. Her and I don't talk very often. She called to tell me that she had surgery on Wednesday for an ankle problem that she has had for a while. This is the 2 or 3 time it has been operated on.

Also on Thursday, I hung out with Eric and Megan for the evening. We watched some TV over at their place. Afterwards Eric and I had the second of the previous mentioned conversations.

Friday: I was asked by my friend Mike to share some of my surprise story about meeting my neighbors and help him edit another one. I was glad that he asked and I got to help him out. That night a group of about 10 of us got together and played X-Box for the entire evening and well into the wee hours of the morning. It is amazing how addicting videos games are for people. I think I ended up stopping at about 4 AM.

Well, I hope all your days are surprise filled.

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: Skipped Day, Noodles, and 259.

Alright, so I missed a day of blogging. Did the world stop? No, it just kept on turning as it should. Nothing surprising or interesting happened Tuesday anyway, so nothing lost.

Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday was much different. First of all I remembered to pray our 3 word prayer out loud this morning. It was then off to a meeting with a potential client for a web site gig. Thank you Ethan for the referral. The meeting went well and I have a good idea what the person is looking for. They liked the initial design concept that I put together. Now if I get the price right, I will be able to help them out with their ministry. Working with people to help them get web sites up for their ministries is where I have found some of my greatest joy. So I pray that my price fits in their budget.

After the meeting it was time for lunch with my friend Mike McQuade. It is amazing how little time I have known Mike and how glad I am to have him as a friend. Since we share a lot of similar interests it is not unusual for us to hang out at least once a week. We had lunch and browsed Best Buy. Surprisingly, neither of us bought anything. PS If you are looking for a Noodles and Company in the area of 35W and 494 the new one behind the Best Buy store there is open now.

From lunch it was off to school to work on another project, this one a small video edit for some friends. Then finally teaching for the day. Class was pretty easy since tonight was a lab night.

When I got home tonight, I had one final surprise before blogging for the day. 259! That's how many visitors the Upper Room web site had on Monday of this week. I love it! Keep checking out the site. Might I suggested checking out the forum.

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: Calm.

Today was another one of the days when nothing surprising happened. Which I am finding is great to have because then you can reflect on the previous few days' surprises.

I have come to the decision that I am going to invite Eric and Megan over for dinner either this Thursday or next Thursday. I have come to the realization that in life the little things like this often mean more to people then extravagant acts. One of the best times that I had a few weeks ago was where about 5 people from the UR got together for dinner and played a game. That was one of the best days I had in a long time.

Well, I don't have much else to blog for today, so I will just say peace and remember to love your neighbors as yourself.

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: Sunday's Message.

All I can say is "WOW." Sunday's message was incredible for me. When Brian told the story about the lady who called him up and told how the acts of her neighbors made the housing development a neighborhood. WOW! So now I understand why I met one of my neighbors this week. It is like He used that to open me up so that I could once again hear Him.

I think I had closed myself off to hearing God about a year ago. It is funning how you think you are listening but really you are just nodding your head and saying, "Yeah. Yep. Uh-huh." Or saying if you give me this, then I will listen. So I guess this first week was about making me listen again. I can't wait to see what the next week will be about.

Peace,

Digital M

PS. Here are the lyrics to a song that I feel was speaking to me this week.

Artist: Big Dismal
Album: Believe
Song: Just The Same

I don’t want to be the one to break you
But could I please borrow some change
You see my car’s broke down and I need some gasoline
It’s cold out here do you know what I mean

Did I let you down
Did I throw away all your expectations

So I reached in my pocket and I grabbed some change
I said it’s nice to meet you, what’s your name
You look like you could use a friend

‘Cause I’m not like all the rest
‘Cause I know what it’s like to be down on your luck
And you and me we’re just the same

It probably won’t make a difference
But they say you get what you give
And I feel lucky for the things I have
‘Cause God knows man that ain’t no way to live

Did I let you down
Did I throw away all your expectations

I didn’t mean to hurt you
I didn’t even stop
I didn’t even give you the time to explain your situation
I got my own situation
It’s true in a lot of ways
I’m just like you

So I reached in my pocket and I grabbed some change
I said it’s nice to meet you, what’s your name
You look like you could use a friend

I’m not like all the rest
‘Cause I know what it’s like to be down on your luck
And you and me we’re just the same

Surprise: Neighbors.

This blog is for yesterday, Saturday. I didn't get a chance to blog last night at the time I usually do because I was in a really deep discussion with my new found friend and neighbor Eric.

First, I would like to say how this experiment is causing me to question and at the same time strengthening my beliefs. Yesterday I said the prayer and like many of my fellow bloggers out there I added a challenge to God in it. I said I am not going to leave my house today and I want you to Surprise Me. So I am sitting at home doing things to fill my time. Finishing Season 3 of 24 on DVD, playing Playstation, and browsing the web. All of this waiting for God to surprise me with a phone call, because I was thinking this is the only way he can surprise me when I have shut myself in.

By about 9 PM I had frankly given up on being surprised. So after this is when He decided it was time to go to work. Sometime between 9:30 and 10, there was a knock on the door. Of course I am thinking what kind of maniac knocks on people's doors this late. Surprise its Eric. I invite him in to see what's going on. We talk about what has been going on for him today. It was suppose to be his bachelor party tonight, but the buddies he had invited, bailed on him. So he had only been hanging out with his soon to be brother and father-in-law. Although he thinks his in-laws are awesome people, I could tell he was disappointed in the fact that his buddies bailed on him.

After that discussion we ended up going back over to his place with some beers and watched a movie and had some conversations every so often during it. About 3/4ths of the way through the movie his fiancee (Megan) and her friend (Holly, I think. Definitely begins with an H.) came home from dinner and whatever else they did. I don't think she was totally thrilled with the fact that I was over, especially since Eric and I had just met 2 days ago and she doesn't know yet if I am an axe murderer.

Well the movie finished up and Holly left and Megan went to bed. So Eric and I walked back over to my house and got into a really deep discussion about my beliefs, his beliefs, and where ever else the conversation went. One of those discussions that I still don't know what exactly we said but some how both of us felt better by the time we were done. Like I said I am still trying to figure out what we said, but I know one thing it was a Surprise conversation and God was present with me.

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: No Surprise.

So today was a pretty mundane day. Woke up at the crack of noon. Made some web updates to various sites that I work on. Then headed over to a buddy's house to talk web stuff. Sat around there and watched some TV and a movie (Unbreakable). I know I said it was mundane but it happened to be a great day because nothing happened. I wasn't required to do anything or be anyplace or even to talk to anyone. There were no surprises today and I am perfectly fine with that.

I hope all of you reading this experience a day like today. I think you will feel refreshed and ready to take on the next surprise filled day.

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: I Have Neighbors.

I have been living in my house for a year and a half now and prior to today I had only met my very next door neighbor. Well today that changed. I met my neighbor 2 doors down. Cool guy by the name of Eric (Or Erik didn't ask him which way he spells it.) and his fiance. (Who's name escapes me.) Anyway I was cleaning off my grill, getting it ready for the first "Grill Party" of the season, when he parks his car and comes over and introduces himself.

We ended up talking for like an hour getting to know each other. I found out that he has a nice looking '66 Camero, which he has been fixing up for the past year or so. He is going to school to be a psychologist and currently works at the Bumper to Bumper in town. He is a little older than I am and plays PS2, when not working on the car. His fiance works for the county sheriff's office. It was cool meeting them because they acted very neighborly. Something which I have often wondered if it had become lost in our society of busy people. They invited me to come over whenever I want and I said I would let them know when I was having my "Grill Party".

It is interesting that this happened today, because it was the first day that I actually spoke out loud the prayer, "Surprise Me, God." Every other day this week I only really thought the prayer. Coincidence maybe but personally I think something more was at work.

Still Learning,

Digital M

Surprise: In The Mail.

I don't know about any one else but I think I would rather have a bunch of little surprises than 1 big surprise.

So, today brought a little surprise in the mail. I was not expecting anything other than bills or things trying to get me to spend more money. Instead there was a package. Wrapped in brown paper. Address from Portland, OR. I had picked up my mail on my way to teach at 5:00 PM, so I was driving. I immediately began to unwrap the brown paper. Hard to do when it is taped well and you are only using one hand.

I manage to open one end to reveal a Blood Pressure Measurement Kit box. First thought is, "Dang I hope that is not what is inside." Tearing away more of the brown paper I quickly realize that the box is older and what is inside is not the picture on top.

At this point I have pulled up to a stoplight, which helps because now I can use both hands to open the box. Upon opening I find newspaper stuffing and a note:

"Digital M,
I got this for you in Hawaii. Sorry it took me so long to mail it.
Love,
Mom"

Now I know it will be something cool, last time it was a pipe smoking monkey carved from coconut shells. I remove the newspaper stuffing to find something wrapped in tissue paper. The light has changed to green now and I am moving again, back to one hand. Upon examination of the tissue paper it has been taped around the object. So I have to wait until the next light, hoping that it is red when I usually hope for green.

The light changes as I approach, so I stop, and rip the taped tissue paper away to reveal a turtle. No, not a real turtle a ceramic turtle. There is a little piece of paper tied around its next that reads:

The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle From ancient times, the honu, or green sea turtle, was prized by fisherman in Hawaiian waters. Renowned for their beautiful shells and tender meat, the turtles were hunted to near extinction. Today they are kapu (protected) by federal and state law, and they are a common sight in every bay throughout the Islands. This weatherproof, high-quality ceramic honu reproduction is ideal as an exquisite adornment to any garden, pond, or pool.

I think, "Cool, now I just need a garden, pond, or pool." Until one of those comes in the mail, the honu will live in the potted plant on the kitchen table.

Hope that your days are filled with little surprises like mine.

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: Good Day.

So you may be wondering why a good day would be such a surprise. Well it starts with getting up after the long day yesterday. I woke up still tired from the 13 hours and now having a head cold, which I understand to be, "Going Around." Waking up in this state is rather difficult all you really want to do is go back to sleep, but it is time, actually past time, to get ready to go back to work.

So I start the drive in thinking, "Geez, I'm a little late and the first class I have to teach is a new one for me." I didn't really have an idea what I was going to do for it. Thoughts like I should just turn around, go home, and call in sick. Or if I walk in and somebody makes the wrong comment, I am going to go off. And some other thoughts that assault my mind in its already weakened state.

Then suddenly this thought comes into my mind, "Why don't you do this for the new class today?" Now I know this thought couldn't have come completely from my mind itself, being that it was full of cold and DayQuil. This single thought turned what could have been a really bad day, into a good day.

The new class went well, as did the two other classes that I taught in the evening. It is interesting to see how God can do simple things to prove to me that He does exist!

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: Unusual DVD.

So for the most part today was unsurprising. It can be hard to be surprised when you spend 90% of a 13-hour day in the same classroom. Venturing out for the minimum things necessary to get through 13 hours, food, water, caffeine, bathrooms, etc.

You can however be surprised by some very simple things in these cases. Take for example, I am showing DVD menus to my DVD Authoring class and I stick in the Spiderman DVD. I take a look at the main menu and "Surprise" it is doing something that all the books that I have read on DVDs lead me to believe was impossible. At this point you are probably thinking, "Whoopee!" With this menu, you see "Cool, Spiderman." I see, "That's freakin' sweet, how did they do that?" Well, welcome to the "World of Nerd."

This "World of Nerd," may be why I have a hard time seeing/hearing God. Anytime something happens, I think I automatically go into nerd mode to try to explain it.

So now it is off to find a web site that tells me how this DVD "Surprise" was done.

Nerd up yourself,

Digital M

Surprise: Guest Speaker!

Wow, tonight really got my brain thinking about what the next 30 days needs to be about. Terry Esau spoke about what it was like for him when he came up with the idea of this, "Surprise me, God" experiment. He said that you need to take your agenda, set it aside, and let God do what God does. I can't think of how many times I have heard these words and for whatever reason I wasn't listening. This will be tough to do.

Peace,

Digital M

Surprise: Lost an Hour?

Well, it is the first day of Daylight Saving Time as well as being the first official day of Surprise Me. I began the day wondering how many people missed something because of the change in time. Thinking back to a few years ago, when my brother was in town during the Daylight Saving Time change and he missed his flight out because of the change. There has to be many people all over that miss flights, trains, and appointments because of this change. They wake up Sunday morning and "surprise" its an hour later than you thought.

It is funny that my initial thought about Daylight Saving is that, "Dang, I lost an hour of time." My thoughts then change to realize that, "Wait, this means that it is getting warmer and summer is coming." Spring is such a great time of the year, everything gets renewed in the spring.

I will write more later tonight.

Peace,

Digital M

UR Bloggers Unite: Form of Jesus

Welcome Readers,

I have been on the web for a long time and this is the first time that I have blogged. It is part of a 30 day faith experiment, in which each day we say a little prayer, "Surpise me, God", and see what he does in our lives. Want to know more check out the church service's web page at Upper Room Community.

Peace,

Digital M