Hi friends,

The first little Holland girl appears to be stubborn (I have no idea where this comes from!)--just fine to wait for the due date or later to show herself. Which means, of course: PRAY FOR LISA! She's putting on a strong front, but I know this is going to be a long week if that baby doesn't come.

Okay, I'm hanging out for a bit today at Tupelo in East Sac, today, and have a couple of blog-worthy pieces of information:

1. A GREAT article on being Single & Christian at the same time, appropriately entitled: "Singled Out By God for Good," by Paige Benton. I have to admit that, because I've been married for 10 years, I don't ponder the dilemma of undesired singlehood nearly enough (mainly only when hearing the horror stories of dating from my single friends). But Paige has me thinking deeply about it now, with her funny, deeply meaningful perspective on being single. Helpful no matter where you are at in life.
2. City Life has a square at CHALK IT UP! and the amazing artist: Erick Veil. Please come out to this FREE event & see all the mind-boggling works of chalk art. This is one of Sacramento's coolest & most unique summer traditions. Fremont Park, 15 & Q, Friday-Sunday September 5-7. (Hint: The artwork gets progressively finished as Saturday progresses, and it's especially fun to go twice in the weekend to see the before/after, and then to return a week later & see the cool effect of the art slowing wearing away.)

Erick's square last year for the center for contemporary arts... it's mind-boggling that someone can do this with chalk!

Book I Just Pre-Ordered

Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)
by Frank Schaeffer. http://tinyurl.com/mjxakc

I'm excited about this one!

Events for Consideration

August 28, Friday 6:30pm --Race for the Arts, W. Land Park.
Anyone want to head up a group to run or walk together? It's the Race for the Arts.... "a nonprofit organization that raises funds and awareness for California nonprofit performing, cultural, and visual arts organizations and for school music, drama, and art programs."
http://www.raceforthearts.com/about.html
The run/walk location is William Land Park. Run/Walk and Children's Fun Runs
6:00 P.M. - Kids' 1/2 mile (8 and under)
6:15 P.M. - Kids' 1 mile (ages 9-12)
6:30 P.M. - 5 km Run/Walk Start (3.1 miles)
Apply now online or register the day of. $30/person.... benefits local arts programs.

~~~~~~~~~~

September 5-7--Chalk it Up! Fremont Park, Downtown.
http://www.chalkitup.org/festival.html -- Come check out awesome chalk art. Interested in being a chalk artist to help with a City Life square? Let me know ASAP. Regardless, it's a must-see yearly midtown event. Free to visit. And...benefits local arts programs.

~~~~~~~~~~~

September 26 -- Eat Your Art Out, Downtown Crawl for the Arts.
This is one of those rare events where your money goes directly to the local arts programs, restaurants benefit from extra visibility, and you get the huge bonus of a great afternoon sampling the city's best foods with cool people on your "crawl team". I'm tentatively signing up as a Crawl Captain. Contact me directly if interested. Also, the website: http://crawltix.com/ It's $35/ticket, but remember: think of it like a donation (because it is) that you get a huge reward for (because you do... it's really fun & yummy).

The Start: Uh, Why?

Look, I'll be honest: I'm not a fan of blogs or blogging. But the time has come. It's not for reasons of self-absorption. I do not want to "blogligate you" (Credit for that great term to my friend Scot Sherman).

No, No. This blog is for you. You, who are connected in some way to City Life Church, I create this blog for you. I am entering into a couple of months of going (somewhat) underground, and I want you to stay connected to my vision for the City Life Community. I also want you to come out knowing me better. My 3rd baby (girl!) is on the way any day now, and I won't be up front as much at City Life on Sundays or at events. Things will go fine--we've got great help--but I thought: what a perfect opportunity to let you into my (perhaps bizarre) brain a little bit. Perhaps you'll feel even more connected to me & the vision of City Life than you normally do. That'd be great.

So, expect me to highlight local events, service opportunities, ways to further connect with the City Life community, and other goodies like links, great quotes, random facts about me & spiritual growth resources.

I hope you like it!

Have a great day!