The least of these

I left the grocery store today, with the two basic necessities for making fake blood: Corn syrup and food coloring. That's sounds weird doesn't it? Okay, well it's not important. The point being, that as I pulled out of the parking lot there was a rather haggard looking man standing on the corner with a sign that read "Homeless. Please help. God Bless." I saw him. You couldn't miss him. I did what, I suppose, most people would do and pretended not to notice him as I kept driving home so I could attend to all the important things that I had to get done before heading back to campus. Here's how I justified it: How do I know this guy is actually homeless? Woodford county isn't a hotbed of homeless people. I'd feel like such a shmuck if I gave him money and he was playing me. Better to not bother, right? The fact is that I didn't have any cash on me anyway, but that's not the issue...not for me at least. It was my immediate response. The verse from Matthew where Jesus said, "When you've done it unto the least of these you've done it unto me." If I had been able to meet this person's immediate need, at least part of it, would I have done it? Probably not. Why not? It's easier to ignore the issue and go on being comfortable. I believe we need to act with wisdom, but shouldn't our first reaction be to want to reach out?

Just a thought.

It's been forever since I've blogged about anything, but I saw something yesterday that made me think. Don't worry...this will be brief.
As I was driving home from North Carolina yesterday I passed a vehicle that had an ichthus stuck to one side of the rear bumper and on the other side was a bumper sticker that read, "Real men love Jesus." Sandwiched right in between these two was another sticker that read, "Obama Sucks!" So, here's my thought: regardless of our opinions of how well a president is doing or not doing, the Bible instructs us to pray for those in leadership over us. Shouldn't we be doing that instead of spending our money on bumper stickers proclaiming "Obama Sucks!"?

My final entry from Los Angeles...maybe.

Okay. So there has been a wee bit of gap in my blogging. Not that anyone has noticed, but I do believe that I said that I probably wouldn't be doing it with any degree of regularity in my last post. Anyway, we are heading into our last full week of classes here at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center. I can't believe how incredibly fast the semester has gone by. I am currently suffering from mixed emotions about the end of the semester. Obviously, I miss my family and will be glad to be reunited with them for more than a couple days (I went home for Easter), but on the other hand, I really like it here in L.A. and have been blessed to have made so many new and wonderful friends. The trip and the sacrifice of being away from my family feels to have been worth it both personally and professionally. Lori will be flying into LA next Sunday and will be attending our premier and our banquet with me. I also will not have classes or internship that week, so Lori and I will be doing a bunch of stuff around town. Seeing the sights and what have you :-)
So, I wanted to thank all of you that take the time to read my mindless blogs for all your support and prayers for me and my family throughout the course of the semester. You all are wonderful.
Thanks to all my LA friends who have made this one of the best semesters I have experienced in my time back in school. You all are wonderful as well!

Week Six in L.A.

These keep getting later and later. One day late here, two days late there...yada yada...
Lots and lots going on. With every passing day I become more and more drawn to this town. I'm drawn to it. It probably has something to do with the weather in the winter :-) But, also the atmosphere and being so close to the film industry. Not making a solid decision yet, just thinking out loud.
Anyway...it was a good week. I can't believe how fast it seems to be going by. The sad part is that being so busy with class and things that I've had less time than I'd like to really explore and experience Los Angeles. Little bits and pieces, but not as much as I'd like to.
The week started out with an ear infection and too much money spent at a clinic where they just checked what I said was wrong and didn't check anything else. So now it feels better, but still feels a little clogged up. And I know you all want to know about stuff like this.
I've had to refocus a little this week, reminding myself of the song I feel like God put in my heart upon my arrival here:
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2. Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Anyway...the highlight of this week was the opportunity to be a part of "110 Stories," a dramatic reading of accounts from 9/11 to raise money for the Los Angeles chapter of the Red Cross. I helped with Craft Services (Food) for the actors. I spent my day in a room with people whom you'd recognize if I took the time to name drop. Then I got to watch the show thanks to the generosity of the wonderful casting director I have the privilege of interning with. Sitting in the row next to me and my friend was Gary Sinise. I feel different about dropping that name since I didn't actually meet him, he was just watching the show. It was a late night, but so worth it. Great experience.
I finished filming my last project for my MPP class this weekend and am working on the editing now. Look for it on FB in another week or so. Now I can focus totally on the HPW film that I'm directing. That's a load off :-)
So, I find myself really enjoying the time here, falling in love with this exciting town and really loving the February weather here. My sympathies to my East Coast peeps :-)
Well, it's late so that'll have to do for now. Love to you all

Week Five in L.A.

It's hard to believe that week five has passed and we're on to week numero six! It's so funny...during the week I'll think "I really need to remember that when I blog." Then, I forget what it was when I actually sit down. So, let's see what I can remember. On Wednesday I sat down with a new friend of mine for coffee and we talked about life, family, faith, film, and then some. It was such a nice conversation and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's always nice to get another perspective on things.
What else? I got hired as a production manager for a Census Bureau PSA and that was a good experience. Of course, there's always those moments when you feel in a bit over your head and forget things and feel silly...but, that's how we learn, right? So, that went well until the very end when everyone had left and I locked my keys in my trunk. I had to call AAA and wait for them. Then I hit tons and tons of traffic heading back into LA. At one point it took me thirty minutes to drive one mile. So, I turned the music up and chilled. Unfortunately though, I couldn't allow myself to get too chill since I only got two and a half hours of sleep last night. It's my fault, I admit it. I went to IHop with some friends and had a great time hanging out and chatting. Too fun :-)
I'm gearing up to shoot my second and final project for my MPP class, so that'll be nice and I'll be totally finished with that class on the second of March. However, still waiting on our locked script for the HPW project that I'm directing. I'm super excited about it and am thrilled to be working with the people I'm working with. We'll start the casting process pretty soon and I'm looking forward to that.
Funny story: Heard a piece of a conversation that a boy had with his mother at the park today: Little boy running around in the beautiful seventy-two degree, sunny weather (That's right, I said it) and his mother says, "That's a good work out, isn't it?"
The boy says, "Yeah, but you're the one that needs it." WOW! Anyway...
I got to talk with my family again today. I cried. I know that it's feeling even bigger since I'm tired, but I'm really missing them. If I didn't know that what I'm doing is the right thing to be doing...it would be unbearable. Nonetheless, I miss them greatly.
Well, that's it for me. I love you all and thank you all for your continued love and prayers. It has truly been a spiritually refreshing time for me.

Week Four in L.A.

I've got to tell you that the hardest part about doing this once a week is that I forget what has happened too often.
So, let's see what I can remember for those of you that actually read this :-) I was offered a job as a production manager for a weekend PSA shoot. I took it because, well it's a job, and it's experience, etc. I'm excited about that prospect. I'm loving my internship, working with some amazing people and getting lots experience and gaining tons and tons of knowledge as to how this business works on several different levels.
I really like the city of L.A. It's got a fun "vibe" to it and there's tons of things to do and most of it is within walking distance. I'm thoroughly enjoying my time here. I do, indeed, miss my family and talk to them often. Maybe too often...I'm afraid I'll get home and they'll be, "Oh, hey dad. I know you were gone, but we talked to you every freakin' day, so it was kind of hard to really 'miss' you." I'm sure that's not the case, but it would suck if it was. Blah blah blah
I bought a GPS, so that's cool. I'm pretty pumped about that especially since I'll be traveling some with the PSA shoot and it would be horrible to get lost. Which, by the way is easy to do in this town if you don't know where you are or where you're going. Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and I'll be heading out to spend the day with my cousin, Erica, and her boyfriend. I think it's been something like 12 or 13 years since I've seen her and I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with family. And using my GPS to get there :-)
What else? I've helped some other students out on their projects and that's been fun and even had some time to sit down to dinner with some new people and start to build relationships. Which is awesome and I enjoy getting to know people.
David and I watched "Serenity" on blu-ray, which kicked some serious booty. Then we stayed up late jumping back and forth between "Blue Harvest," "The Best of Will Farrell," both of which had to constantly buffer, and "What Happens in Vegas." We laughed so hard and it was a great stress reliever. I'm so thankful for good friends.
I'm still picking through the AFI top 100 movies. I keep putting them in later at night and end up falling asleep, so it's taking me forever to watch them. Right now on my coffee table sit, "The Searchers," "Raging Bull," and "City Lights." I'm looking forward to watching them, I just have to start them earlier in the evening I think :-)
Well, I can't think of too much else. I guess if I think of anything I'll let you all know. Thanks again for all your love and support.

Week Three in L.A.

Wow I can't believe that three weeks have passed already which send us speeding into week four. Amazing. Anyway, this'll be rather brief since I need to go get ready. Good week, I was selected to direct one of the five Hollywood Production Workshop films that we'll do this semester, and my script was chosen as one of those five films. so, that was exciting. David and I have been working on developing a feature length script and that's going very well and we're having a lot of fun doing it. Definitely looking forward to where that will lead us.
I started my internship this week and ended up having dinner at the Marina Del Ray Ritz with the two producers and casting director from my office, the writer/director for the film they're working on, and the investors. It was pretty cool. I felt a little like Leonardo in Titanic :-)
The weather continues to be wonderful for the time being: 65 degrees and sunny. I even walked several miles around town yesterday in shorts and a t-shirt. My legs hurt, but I can still live with the weather :-)
I had a couple tough mornings this week as I really felt the absence of my family. One of those mornings I even called Lori and, more or less, broke down. Usually the mornings are so quiet and that's when my mind has time to register the time and space between us. Normally there's so much going on that my mind stays occupied. Not that I don't miss them or don't think about them in those times, but it's just easier to deal with since my mind is in a different gear. If that makes any sense at all.
What else? I shot my first Motion Picture Production class project and have been working on editing it this week. Another final tweak or two this weekend and it'll be done. Woot woot! I also worked on David's project and had a blast and today I'm helping Ben out with his project and am looking forward to that as well.
As far as trying to get through the top 100 movies on the AFI list, I had to bring Lawrence of Arabia back to give someone else a chance to watch it. I felt like I didn't have time to watch all aprox. 4 hours of it. I could've broken it into chunks, but I feel like I've been so busy with projects and stuff. I'll get through it eventually. I'm going to try "the Searchers" and "The Clockwork Orange." We'll see how that goes.
So, I think that's about it. If I think of anything else I'll add an addendum.
Thanks again to you all for your love, prayers, thoughts, and support.