a Hoodoo freestyle

I'm gonna spit a rhyme about tha Hoodoo
but I couldn't spit and it get heard by you
So I gotta type it on this keyboard
on my same machine as my e-sword.

The Hoodoo is a van I drove 'round town
the above pic is of the Hoodoo broke down
I drove 'round Brenham, pickin up my clique
the Hoodoo got so hot, it make you wanna stick
Ya head out the window to catch some of the breeze
when I pulled up, my boyz holla "please,
why you gotta pick us up in the blue van?
why you trippin' and not drivin' the white one man?"

I quickly would reply,
look my boys in the eye,
asking why they hatin' on my sweet ride
I drive 'round town,
throwin' hata's down
When they look upon my ride wit a frown

That's about all I've got to spit
it's hard sometimes when I don't got my clique
to hit a beat on the Hoodoo walls
as I fear that a window's gonna break and fall.

I thought I'd share my final post about Brenham and dedicate it to the Hoodoo. Freestyling is a artform that has probably never been written until now. It's verbal, improv poetry and the kids in the hood are amazing at it. They usually spit about things that aren't very edifying, but they rhyme, and they impress me. So, I hope you all enjoyed the Hoodoo freestlye as much as I enjoyed driving it around this summer.

D.O.'s Art Gallery (soon to be closed forever)

This very well may be my last post from Brenham, TX. Over the summer I've been allowed many opportunities to let my creative juices flow into various art forms. Inspiried by Faith, I've decided to post some of my pieces in a sort of an online art gallery.

This first piece was done in the local Wal-Mart parking lot. We Mission Brenham employees have been trying to get folks to donate school supplies to kids who can't afford their own, and you better believe that this sign has kept our baskets full! (Click to enlarge, then check out the school bus!)

My second and final piece, (yeah, it's a small gallery) is currently on display in room C of Mission Brenham. It's not too often that you see artists spending any significant amount of time working with dry erase boards, but I've taken it upon myself to start such a trend. I installed this board myself, and since its ceremonial hanging in room C, it has hosted plenty of Bible verses. Perhaps none of the verses were quite as unique or artsy, however, than this:

I apologize for the poor lighting, but if you click on it, I think you'll enjoy some of the sneaky pictures behind the words. Now as for the message in this verse (which Jesus himself spoke), I don't know what to tell you. It's weird. Honestly, now that I post this picture, I realize it's not very funny.

BUT, take heart. If all goes as planned, my next post will be a progression of a mural of sorts... the Hoodoo that I often talk about (remember the van seat with no back?) is getting tagged tomorrow. This has a whole lot of potential. Hurray for art!

flight of the butter

Of all the pictures I've taken this summer, this one is certainly one of my favorites. I might even go so far as to say it's one of the top ten I've ever taken. I realize it isn't perfect, but hey, neither am I, so it works out.

Why the butterfly picture post?

Oh well I thought I'd switch up the pace a little. As you all know, the past few posts have been a little bit heavy, serious, and other non-funny things. Well butterflies are by no means a laughing matter either, but they can boast one thing: beauty.

That's right, butterflies are pretty.

And so for this post, I'll list a few things that I think are pretty, and in your commenting, if you so choose, you can tell the world what you think to be pretty.

Let it begin.

Sunsets, mountains overlooking rivers, puffy clouds in an otherwise blue sky, horses, puppies, old couples, human eyes, my sister, certain guitars, Chaco tans, paintings, traditional Chinese dress, smiles, butterflies pollenating flowers, and Utah.

limited time only (part two)

As is so often the case, I was on my way to finishing a masterpiece of a post when the computer freaked out, and forgot that I was ever online in the first place. So, pretend that I started out with an extremely clever introduction that linked the previous post to this one. It also talked about how the first post really was a giant incomplete thought... man, I wish I hadn't lost that original "limited time only (part two)" post.

The way I've decided to close out this two-part post is this: instead of whining and spilling out all my thoughts of Brenham for the mostly uninterested world to read, I'm just going to make a little list of things I've learned during this short season of refinement. Some of these lessons are the ones that I've learned before and will continue to re-learn as the years go by, while others are new. Most of them weren't fun to learn, and honestly probably won't be that fun to read, but hey, you came to the blog voluntarily.

• I am selfish - I love myself way too much.
• Ministry is hard - Not hard as in the opposite of easy, rather hard as in not enjoyable, exciting, glamorous, appealing, or other attractive things.
• It would behoove me (and probably you) to focus more on knowing Jesus better, and less on worrying about where He may or may not want me to be.
• Jesus' grace is ferociously amazing

I'm sure I learned more than four things this summer, but those are the ones that have kept coming up and impacting me a whole lot on a daily basis. I'm very thankful that God loves me enough to teach me things like this. I don't deserve it.

As I write this I'm enjoying the fact that I'm done for the summer. I get to go to Dallas this weekend and see my friends, including that special one Brooke! I get to spend one more week here in Brenham debriefing, and hopefully I'll quiet down enough to let the Lord finish showing me the things He taught me whilst I was here. I'm looking forward to a sweet week of rest in College Station following the last week in Brenham, but more immediately than all of those, I'm looking forward to a free dinner tonight.

Chances are, if you are reading this, I love you, and I don't tell you that enough.

p.s. Special thanks to Uncle Stan for the magazine article of a comment he left. I really do appreciate it.

limited time only!

The title isn't to make you think that I'm offering you something that won't be available much longer, rather it's to let you know that I don't have a whole lot of time to write this post. As usual, I'll apologize for there not being a picture. I'll also go ahead and apologize for it not being funny or awesome. Sorry and sorry.

So here's the deal: I've got until Friday the 28th of July. Once that day comes (really, once 12:30pm that day comes) my work here in Brenham is over. I will have to stay another week to clean up and debrief and things of the sort, but the work part is over. Sadly, there just isn't a whole lot that excites me more than the thought of my time here being over. Why is that sad? Oh, well let me tell you. (Disclaimer: being that I have limited time to write this I'm sure I'll say things that I haven't completely thought through yet, but this is what's on my mind, and if it's heretical, know that I really do mean well).

Jesus said tons of things about how we, his followers, ought to be involved with helping those who cannot help themselves. In America, I believe that a huge group of people that fall into that category are the people who we often call "poor." I don't like the thought of calling people poor, but then I realize that Jesus did, so it must be okay. Anyway, the way I read scripture, I think as a follower of Jesus I should be involved in helping the poor, and I think that should be in a more tangible way than simply throwing money at them through some organization like Compassion International. I actually like doing things of that nature, but I really think that Christians do stuff like that and then check the "help the poor" box off their good deeds list.

Ok, crap... lots of people just walked in the room, and I can no longer go on letting my fingers think for all of you to read; not their fault, my mind just can't handle it. I also have to leave to drive around Brenham for an hour, picking people up for a youth conference in a van that broke down on me last week... Sorry for the incomplete blog, but maybe it'll give you something to work with... this one had the potential to be way too long, so it's probably best. Terrible ending... dang it.

Mission Brenham-mobile

I know it's hard, but try no to be jealous.

You can print this picture and make it into a magnet

Reminding you to pray for me as I pray

For discernment as to

Whether or not

I should stay

In Brenham

In the

Fall.

KAA U know U know

We got on the ghetto bus.Kevi made a hilarious mask.
We went to the first ever Wal-Mart.
All my junior high kids posed.
This is my secret spot where I read and napped and hung out with my Jesus.And this is the sunrise I got to see each morning (save the ones I slept in).

So there you have it. It was a wonderful weekend and now you get to see some pictures from it.

so lame

I've been trying to put KAA pics up for a while. I give up. Terrible.

and we're back

I'm so sorry that, yet again, this is a picture-less post. I thought about waiting until I would be able to attach a photo, but then I thought you might all be scared that I had died or something. Well praise be to God for getting that Silver Eagle Bus all the way to Missouri and back. It really doesn't make sense for that machine to have done what it did, so praise Jesus.

The gist of my weekend was as follows: wake up before the sun does, go down to my secret spot that overlooks the lake, spend a few hours with Jesus, breakfast, meeting, and do whatever I want with the rest of the day. It was one of the most restful weeks I've ever experienced (and that rest was much needed). Oh man, that was good rest in the Lord.

I'll share one anecdote to leave you with until my post that actually has pictures.

One afternoon we were given the opportunity to go swimming. For those of you who haven't been to a Christian camp in a few years, swimming pools are no longer what they once were. Now-a-days, simply swimming is not an option. You can however, play water basketball and volleyball, jump off a series of diving boards, jump from a platform to a trampoline into the water, blob, and swing from a trapeze.

I was unfortunately unable to take advantage of each of these options (including the one I most wanted to try: the trampoline), but I did get to hit up a few. I decided to start out with a swing down the trapeze, before I had even entered the water.

I climbed to the top of the of the tower, listened to the nice young man tell me all I needed to know about swinging down and letting go - most of which I dismissed with a confident, "I've done this before." I was holding the handle and recounting all of the various tecniques required to successfully complete the swing. I was told to lead with my toes, so I pushed off, put my toes out in front (pointed, of course, as any former gymnast would), and as I began to swing downward towards the water, I my flight was rudely interrupted by my very own butt. That's right, the platform hit my butt far harder than my father ever did. I still managed to swing all the way and do a back flip off, but the flip was really only to save face for the butt smack.

Over a week later (this morning) I was actually able to look at my wounded butt in the mirror, and it's a pretty gnarly bruise my friends. I'm not sure if that is going to be one of the pictures in the next post, but stay tuned... you never know.

off we go

The bus displayed before you is the very machine that will be taking us (Lord willing, and only Lord willing) to Missouri on July 2nd. It was donated to Mission Brenham by some nice folks at some Tabernacle, and part of their name is still visible on the side of the bus despite the letters having been removed. The farthest this bus has ever gone with Mission Brenham was back in 2005 when it went to College Station... almost. It didn't actually make it all the way successfully, which is why I'm asking you to join me in praying that the Silver and Purple Eagle would by the grace of God get us to KAA and back.

In other news, I was finally able to get in contact with a human being in Marlin who told me lots of valuable information regarding my ticket. I'll be paying, it seems, at least $180 for my driving faux pas. As crappy as that is, you do what you gotta do. Thanks to all of you who commented on my ticket venting post.

Let it be known that I in NO WAY condone breaking of the law. I honestly don't even speed normally, that was just a special day I guess. I hope that you will all follow my lead as I drive defensively and within the given legal confines of speed and yielding.

(For those of you who've been a part of my life for a really long time, this bus is made by the same eagle people that all of our friends in Sycamore tattooed on themselves... you know?)

Marlin to Missouri

I've been sitting at this computer for the past thirty minutes with my most recent speeding ticket in front of me, desparately trying to figure out how in the world to learn more about the steps I need to take in order to put this thing behind me, both physically and mentally.

"But D.O., we didn't thought the last speeding ticket you received was your sophomore year in college?"

Well yeah, you would have been right if you'd have asked me that at Lauren's wedding. After leaving Brooke at the airport and crying all the way down 360, I-20, and on to 35W, I went ahead and got pulled over in the God-forbidden city of Marlin, TX. I was going an unacceptable seven miles-per-hour over the posted speed limit. A disgusting 77 in a 70.

WHO GETS A TICKET FOR THAT?

I'll tell you who doesn't: the girl in Brenham with whom I am working who got pulled over for going 17 over the speed limit and left with a warning. Too bad I wasn't taking three black ladies to church when I got pulled over...

I, in my rattled state of being issued a ticket, went ahead and signed on the line saying that I would appear in court before a judge before the stated date. I thought surely there would be some way to get around that, and if nothing else, that there would be an online resource that would provide the answers I needed.

Well, apparently Marlin, TX's Police Department is all but unaware of what most people call the Internet. They have, however, completely mastered the age-old art of allowing their phones to ring until the answering machine (that doesn't tell you whether or not you are actually leaving a message) picks up informing the caller of their ridiculous hours, and indirectly sharing the fact that said caller will never really be able to contact the courts save a trip back to the wretched town.

"Why do you need to get this ticket behind you so soon?"

Well, it boils down to the fact that I'll be gone the entire last week of my grace period. I'll be a little busy relaxing and enjoying God's creation and His people at a wonderful place called KAA. I'm real pumped about this camp for inner-city folks. I'll fit right in.

Okay, sorry for the long, ranting, whiny post... and for the lack of a photo of the officer who pulled me over.

picture pictures

word pictures

I know that you, my beloved readers, would greatly enjoy a few pictures from my time spent in Brenham. Well as it turns out, that is something I cannot offer. It isn't that I haven't taken any pictures, I certainly have; but I haven't had any means of getting those pictures on the internet. The one time I was able to get my pictures on a computer, the internet didn't work. So, this is what I'm going to do for you: I'll describe a few pictures to you, and you can enjoy them, and even tell me which one is your favorite.

1. Me and EJ (Eric Jr) sitting on the couch at Mission Brenham. I was looking hard, like the true gangsta that I am, thinking that EJ would do the same. I learned as soon as I looked at the picture that EJ smiled really big, like he normally does, so I just looked stupid. EJ's smile is something that I hope to never see as anything less than beautiful. It really is a light in the midst of the darkness that is many of these households.

2. Pearlene, Shaquita and Matt in a wonderful rockstar pose, black and white, on a very cool brick wall. I accidentally left the exposure on my camera at +2, which made all the pictures too bright, but it actually turned out cool (as you can see) because it has an all white border, with the three subjects in the middle and bricks inbetween them. Pretty cool.

3. Me sitting in the front passenger seat of the HooDoo. Said seat has a back on it, but it's very broken, and lays flat on the ground behind the seat (as if eternally reclined 180 degrees). I'm sitting up straight with my seatbelt on, as all passengers in Mission Brenham vehicles ought to.

More pictures to come in the near future; they may actually be in color.

tha's straight gutta'

As many of you know, and as perhaps more of you do not know, I'm going to work in Brenham this summer. I'll be doing inner-city mission work there for ten weeks. For those of you who think "Brenham" and "inner-city" do not belong in the same sentence, allow me to relieve you of your ignorance: 10% of Brenham's residents live in government subsidised housing; a number that was at one point the highest percentage in the state. That said, I am obviously going to have to hone my ebonics skills before heading out there. Some of my current youth group kids grew up in the hood, and they help me stay up on various street terms. One of my new favorites is "tha's straight gutta" or "that's straight gutter." The latter is there for the Supercinski's. Anyway, the afore mentioned statement is simply another way of saying, "that's cool!" or "that's wonderful," whichever you might normally find yourself saying. If I think about it I'll keep you guys updated on my new words I learn throughout the summer, but I'll be honest, I probably won't think about it. Something I also won't be thinking about is the new gutter that some mystery man installed right above our front porch this morning... it is without a doubt the shortest gutter I have ever seen. Straight gutta.