I'm too nervous to write in this stupid blog now. I suppose with a title like Cheeto Weiss, the expectations should be low. That being said, lets have a look at the scoreboard. Mr. Connery's appearance was probably my favorite part of the movie, it made me laugh really hard. The lilacs on the way to work smell delicious, I'll enjoy them while they last. I had an excellent time driving with Gabby last night, minus the fact that she had to ride in the seat behind me due to the fact that the shotgun's seatbelt was holding the broken door shut by wrapping it through the handle and around the seat. Oh the Salzmobile.
I listened to Caroline Mahaney last night (and C.J.) during the day. It was really humbling... gosh. Made me realize that I'm going to need to grow a lot before I think of getting married. I mean, I know this obviously. But it was still sweet.
She told a story about a date she went on with C.J. There was a photoshoot of a model in a park, with a crowd watching. SNAP! went the cameras. they'd take a few shots, and then she'd have her makeup artist come touch her up, somebody fix her clothing, and her hair stylist fix her hair. She made some profound comment that I can't quote, but basically something about how utterly ridiculous that girls compare themselves to such magazine covergirls. And it's not external beauty that makes a girl beautiful. It's a start. Just from personal experience, I thought a girl in my 9th grade math class was one of the cutest girls I'd ever seen. She was quiet, seemed really nice, and dressed really modestly for the majority of the time. Well, I passed her in the halls one day, and she was with her friends, non of whom were in our math class. She had a such a foul mouth and loser friends, that she instantly became phsyically unbeautiful to me, I didn't find her cute at all anymore. I never noticed her again. The opposite was also true. But it was a girl at church, and she was beautiful because she loved Jesus She's happily married now.) There's a difference between saying you love Jesus and loving Jesus. If you read this far, my point was to remind and encourage girls especially to rememeber 1 Peter 3:3 beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. AND, my favorite is that in 100 years we'll all be either beautiful or hideous beyond imagination for eternity. And if you're a man and you lack the brad-pitt like looks you were hoping for, you can go for Godly character, or just talk like you have marbles in your mouth. THE DAY IS MINE!

Pull-ups for life.

Reaching, stretching, grasped!
Veins pulsing, sweat beads fall down




so far below.
beating steadily, the drum's rate increases.
a tiny splash, evaporating on impact.
hold slips, reality hits.
searching feet long for support,
exhausted forearms know the price of giving in
to the desire for rest

where's daddy?

gasoline meets flame
an explosion of strength
fingertips like iron claws
options seem impossible
arms reach above hands
bloodied, dirtied

short legs run towards the door as eagerness overwhelms

a brief smile between silent gritting of teeth
scripture floods the mind, perseverance reinforced
a new strength
sweat, blood, dust, stone
efforts doubled, distanced halved
a cry for help

Buon Giorno Principessa!

I'm editing this and adding the encouraging words that Emily Toll said to me yesterday first. We were painting with oil paints (probably the most frusting form of art I've ever experienced, and will increase my patience if I can last more than 10 minutes). Despite the painting part of it, it was very enjoyable, because she's very engaging and knows communicate very well. She was talking about her favorite book - God is the Gospel by John Piper. This was a good reminder, though after thinking about it for some time, I'd realized I'd heard it before. A LONG time ago. And I'd forgotten. BUT here it is. It's simple, but really sweet.

Love people so that they Love Jesus.

Incredible night. Had some bumps along the way, but that's life. After waking up fifty minutes after my alarm went off, calling and getting scolded; I rapidly searched for a nicer shirt, remembered deoderant, then grabbed the longboard, sped over to the Axe parking lot and hopped in the Salzmobile. Using my "Salz Speeders", I was able to arrive precisely at 10:53.

"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precicely when he means to"
-Gandalf the Gray
Good thing you're not a wizard. I brought your cds!, wanna dance? no! :( As if it wasn't bad enough, two of my favorite people to dance with who never come were leaving in a half hour. (whom I could have danced with for an hour longer had I awakened from my brief hybernation.) Okay fine, I'll dance with you, but not yet. YESSSSSSS. From there, it was incredible. I had a blast dancing with every single girl, because they were all really unique and for the most part highly skilled. The only two who weren't was a beginner who had a nasty gash on her hand with a falling off bandaid, so that difficulted things, but she was good for her first night. The other couldn't spin really at all due to something doctor's can't figure out and severe dizziness. Though I didn't drop any girls, I repeatedly bump their heads with my forearm and elbows. And nearly dislocated an arm- sorry Gabby!! Hope it's not permanently damaged, though I can imagine soreness today. After departing at 1:30, the adrenaline and endorphines wouldn't allow sleep until 3 or so. And I arrived to work at 7:35. Aww, peas. I'm a toast.

much love,
-Scotty

As you know, I work at a children's clinic. Exciting day, because we got new fish, which the kids love and I can watch for hours (and do every day I work). BUT the coolest thing was a new dad carring one of those baby carriers (a burse? baby purse... kinda catchy!) across his chest. That's a cool dad. If I ever have children, I will get one. I will try to catch him as he leaves and tell him how totally rock and roll that is. Until then, I will answer the phone for many English challanged patients(I LOVE IT HERE!! SO diverse).

I think my body is going to explode, I feel like I'm going to throw up all the time, my teeth are shiverring. I haven't had much sleep, and I've had caffeine, but I think the monkey bread did it. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat that stuff again. And I keep on getting chilled/sweaty.. I think part of it is sunburnt, but maybe I'm sick.

I was listening to a sermon by Tim Keller the other day. It was on how we are a slave to something. This is just another way to say we worship something. But he relates it to the 3 conversions Luke talks about in Acts. The demon possessed girl- a slave to the demons in her, Lydia - a slave to success in business, and the Jailer - a slave to duty. We need to be slaves to Jesus. He has really good insights, I would definitely recommend listening to his sermons/read his books which I haven't yet.

Struggling to fight for joy,
Scotty

Great. REAL bullets.

I'm reading sheperding a child's heart by Tedd Tripp, given to me by my roomate. Since I wasn't currently really reading anything, I decided to read it... which I mostly do at work. It's really Biblical, it gives me hope for being a parent some day. But it also makes me think of my wretched self, and my own need for Jesus. I'm going to just write down a few things I think were excellent words.

God does open-heart sugery, not a face-lift. He produces change from the inside out. He rejects the man who fasts twice a week and accepts the sinner who cries for mercy.

The finest art of communication is not learning how to express your thoughts. It is learning how to draw out the thoughts of others.

Think about the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is a good model for interaction with yuor children. God could have remained off in heaven. He could have spoken through cloud and thunder as he did in Exodus 19. But what does God do in the incarnation? He comes to earth to dewll with us. He takes on flesh and blood like your flesh and blood. He takes a human psychology like we have. He accepts all the limitations of a man on the earth; he can only be in one place at one time. He experiences all the things we experience. He is tired and hungry at Jacob's well in John 4. He weeps at Lazarus' tomb. Hebrews 2 says "He suffered when he was tempted." p. 76 Therefore, since we have this great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we posess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receieve mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

You can also encourage your children that the unending grace and mercy that you have found in Jesus Christ is offered to them as well. In him there is righteousness that we cannot produce, forgiveness that we cannot merit, and power that we cannot generate. There is hope for needy people in this one who became flesh and dwelt with us.

well.. I'm done with work, so I'm out.
grace and peace,
Scotty

Peanut butter is incredible. MaraNatha peanut butter is the most incredible peanut butter. Peanut butter goes incredibly well with just about any/everything. For example, in yogurt. As long as you don't mix it up to one consitancy, because then it's gross. AND it's a complete protein. yumm.