Books Are Friends

In an effort to stuff my brain full of knowledge until it explodes, I've been reading many books of all types...

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
This is one of my favorite books ever. It is arguably Lewis' best work of fiction, and contains one of the most well-written female characters ever. In it he retells the myth of Cupid and Psyche, but it ends up being a allegory about how humans need to relate to God. We wear so many masks, and are often completely unaware of who and what we truly are. The books asks, how can we come to God until we have faces, until we own up to our true selves?

Miracles by C.S. Lewis
Definitely harder to read and understand but a great book that provides logical reasons to believe in the possibility of miracles. To me, the best chapter deals with the miracle of the Incarnation. If you don't think you can wade through the other chapters of philosophy, I would suggest just reading the Incarnation chapter--it's brilliant!

Emma by Jane Austen
I never read it before, and I'm about halfway through. So far, I don't like it as much as P&P or Mansfield Park, but it's still a fun read. I have to have something relatively light to read before bed.

Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen
I just started this one as well, but already I am really enjoying it. It's good soul reading. So far it has been talking about loneliness a chance for spiritual solitude and communion with God...

The Dance of Life: Spiritual Direction with Henri Nouwen edited by Michael Ford
This is basically a categorized book of quotes by Nouwen from a whole bunch of his books, so it's a super fast read, except that the ideas makes such an impact, I have to stop just to digest them.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows by J.K. Rowling
Ok, I know it's not out yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! Only 82 days left!

Creatures, Caves, and Hobbit Holes

I thought it was about time I showed some pictures from my trip to Hobbiton a few weeks ago... I was a proud geek and took a lot of pictures, but I won't bore you with all of them here. Just sticking to the highlights:

The Hobbiton set was built on a farm in Matamata, near Hamilton. It is still an active sheep farm today, but the owners kindly let the city host tours to the remaining sets.


Much of the set has been removed but the actual hobbit holes still exist.


This is me in front of Bilbo's house.


Bilbo's house (aka Bag End) was the only one big enough to go inside. They needed it to be large enough to get a camera in to shoot Gandalf coming to visit.


Much of the sets are gone due to 1) the filmmakers were required to return all the landscapes back to their original state; 2) copyright issues; 3) they were only made to last for a short time; 4) sheep are stupid, and would kill themselves by eating any bit of set design left over.


The large tree and lake behind me are both featured at the beginning of the first movie during Bilbo's birthday party. I think the Party Tree was my favorite part of Hobbiton...


See how dorky I can be?

Now go watch Lord of the Rings.

This trip to Hobbiton was the same weekend as a few other adventures with my Biola friend Rebekah. We stayed with her relatives, so it was great to be in an actual Kiwi home.

Besides Hobbiton, we also went to the Waitomo Caves. You put on wetsuits and golashes (!) and they lead you underground to crawl, walk, swim, and tube in a whole network of caves. The ceilings are covered with real glowworms! And I saw an eel and a weta, which is a hideous and large NZ bug that gives Weta Workshop--Peter Jackson's special effects company--its name.

This is me just after caving. Hidden underneath the hills behind me are miles of caves and tunnels--you would never guess it just by looking at the surface!


Rebekah and I also saw an ostrich while driving. We stopped to take a few pictures and I snapped this just at the same moment the bird decided to...well, just take a look...


We also went to the Otorohanga Kiwi House which is a habitat for Kiwi birds and other local plants and animals. By the way, a kiwi is 1) a flightless bird that is a national symbol of NZ; 2) a fruit; 3) a New Zealander.


The Kiwi House also had tuataras, a lizard native to NZ. I was told it is related to the dinosaurs!



In other news:
My Easter turned out be pretty nice. I went to church and then I came home and made dinner for four friends. I told them I would be cooking to celebrate Easter and they could eat even if they don't celebrate Easter. The food turned out pretty well, although I had a very close call with the garlic at one point. Do not, my friends, mistake a "clove" for an entire head of garlic.

Right now, I am enjoying the last days of my Easter break. I've just been relaxing, working on homework, playing guitar, watching movies and YouTube, sleeping, and reading. Yesterday I went to the Auckland Museum with some friends from church which was quite fun...

God continues to teach me a lot--I'll fill you in another time--but I really feel like I am being transformed and prepared for whatever is next. I'll let you know what that is as soon as I know it myself...

Several Unrelated Topics

Ready to learn more Kiwi words!
sweet as! = "cool!" or, "sweet!"
chilly bin = a cooler, or an ice chest
motorway" = any highway, or freeway-type of road
heeps = a lot of, or a bunch of (as in, "There are always heeps of cars on the motorway during traffic.")

Baseball season is back! Go Sox!


I can't believe Easter is here already! The coming holiday has made me a little homesick. Good Friday at my church at home was always a big deal. Pastor Mike's concept of "The Darkest Night of the Year" was one of our church's most unique traditions. In college, I remember one disastrous Easter with Kimi at a church held in a movie theater where one of the songs for worship was by Matchbox 20. I'm not sure what this Easter will bring, but I will be sure to let you all know...

In other news, lately I am into learning new songs on my guitar (KT Tunstall, Teitur, Corinne Bailey Rae), writing a short story I just started working on (although it's turning into a novel), and listening to worship music (usually I just listen to my devil rock music). Oh yeah, and sometimes I manage to squeeze in some homework.

Had a conversation today with flatmates about the so-called differences between "Catholic" and "Christian." I am constantly being reminded of how little I know, or remember, about the Bible or church history or the world in general (if only I had gone on one less GYRAD and spent more time studying at Biola!). I keep praying that Jesus will show in my life, despite my own shortcomings and inadequacies. It is also very challenging being the token Christian--defending and explaining myself all the time. It's both wonderful and tiring. Today I was really encouraged by the song, "How Firm a Foundation"--there are some amazing lyrics in this song! I have included a few of my favorites here, but you can read the full lyrics here at: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/How_Firm_a_Foundation/


How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”






This past weekend, I was traveling so stay tuned for more pictures and stories.

Thanks for reading, and keeping me in your thoughts and prayers! I have gotten some very kind feedback on my blog which I really appreciate.
Happy Easter!