This has been a lovely weekend. After attending a Toys for Tots meeting for work, I headed off to Costa Mesa with my friend Anh Thu for a Patti Lupone concert at Segestrom Concert Hall. The show was excellent (what a performer!), particularly viewed from the third row in an exquisite setting. The experience was taken to the next level of surrealism by the fact that it was ... FREE! Evidently in honor of arts month there are many free performances in select urban areas across the country. I stumbled across the tickets when checking out www.sparkoc.com for weekend cultural opportunities. Also, the first third of the evening was unexpectedly an Audrey Hepburn tribute for which the orchestra played songs from her movies, including "Charade," "Moon River," the theme from "Roman Holiday" and the suite from "War and Peace." I think God sometimes gives us "present" experiences.
Friday night was John's birthday party, and though I was semi-somnolent during much of the evening, it was still good to gather with friends. Plus, he let me make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
Saturday after a few errands and catching up on sleep, I trickled down to Long Beach to visit Pam's commune, reminiscent of the Wesley House. We had a lovely time chatting over pasta and then I was able to catch her show at a Long Beach coffee house hot spot.
This morning was my second visit to my new church, another small and personable Foursquare Church in Costa Mesa. Donovan and one of his friends from class (originally hailing from Japan) came as well. The pastor spoke on living in victory, being fighters and taking authority. It reminded me of the verse that says the kingdom of God is violent and the violent take it by force. That is one of those verses that the church doesn't like to teach because it has so often been abused and we aren't quite sure how to handle it. Violence isn't always negative. Birth, for example, seems quite a violent episode to me. Defending the innocent and the oppressed is generally violent business as well. It has long been a disappointment of mine that the church has not called its people, especially its men, to fight. There are so many admirable and right opportunities--so much necessity--to do so.
Fight, people!
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