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	<title>lifeasmission &#187; travles</title>
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	<description>exploring the mystery of life and mission as one and the same</description>
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	<itunes:summary>exploring the mystery of life and mission as one and the same</itunes:summary>
	<itunes:author>lifeasmission</itunes:author>
	<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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		<itunes:name>lifeasmission</itunes:name>
		<itunes:email>jrrozko@gmail.com</itunes:email>
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	<managingEditor>jrrozko@gmail.com (lifeasmission)</managingEditor>
	<copyright>Copyright &#xA9; lifeasmission 2010</copyright>
	<itunes:subtitle>exploring the mystery of life and mission as one and the same</itunes:subtitle>
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		<title>lifeasmission &#187; travles</title>
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		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/category/life-mission/travles/</link>
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		<item>
		<title>A Quick Hop Back Into the World of Student Ministry</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2012/02/a-quick-hop-back-into-the-world-of-student-ministry/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2012/02/a-quick-hop-back-into-the-world-of-student-ministry/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:27:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discipleship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[preaching/teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sermon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[young adults]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[youth ministry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=6281</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a college student at Malone University, I majored in youth ministry.  I did internships as a handful of different kinds of churches, the last of which actually led into a full-time role as a student pastor at a large church, overseeing separate junior, senior high, and college-age ministries. When I was a grad student [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocational-ministry/' rel='bookmark' title='Bi-Vocational Ministry'>Bi-Vocational Ministry</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/bi-vocational-ministry-and-theological-education/' rel='bookmark' title='Bi-Vocational Ministry &amp; Theological Education'>Bi-Vocational Ministry &#038; Theological Education</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocational-ministry-and-spiritual-formation/' rel='bookmark' title='Bi-Vocational Ministry &amp; Spiritual Formation'>Bi-Vocational Ministry &#038; Spiritual Formation</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As a college student at <a href="http://www.malone.edu" target="_blank">Malone University</a>, I majored in youth ministry.  I did internships as a handful of different kinds of churches, the last of which actually led into a full-time role as a student pastor at a large church, overseeing separate junior, senior high, and college-age ministries.</p>
<p>When I was a grad student at <a href="http://www.fuller.edu" target="_blank">Fuller Theological Seminary</a>, I continued to serve in the world of high school student ministry as an interim director at yet another kind of church.</p>
<p>Later, after some time working in a seminary context, I launched into yet another pastoral position at a new church, this time working exclusively with college students and other young adults.</p>
<p>However, I haven&#8217;t really done much in the way of student ministry since the spring of 2009.  So, after nearly a 3-year hiatus, I was excited when my college buddy, Scott, who&#8217;s been a long time youth pastor at <a href="http://www.northcantonchapel.org/" target="_blank">The Chapel in North Canton</a>, asked me to come back into town and help lead a retreat for his high school student leaders.</p>
<p><img class="size-full wp-image-6286 aligncenter" title="chapel_winter_logo_banner" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/chapel_winter_logo_banner-e1329248074863.jpg" alt="" width="499" height="276" /></p>
<p>As you might expect, the topic of the retreat was leadership.  There were to be three main sessions over the course of our time together Friday night and through the day on Saturday, plus a final sermon on Sunday morning.</p>
<p>The theme for Friday night was, &#8220;<strong>Leadership as Followership: Jesus&#8217; Plan to Destroy Your Life</strong>.&#8221;  Here, we focused our discussion around Matthew 20:17-28 and reflected on how Jesus&#8217; role as a leader was located not so much in clever skills and abilities, but a central focus on following where and how God was leading him.  We talked about how a relinquishing of our personal ambition and agenda is fundamental to receiving what it is that God might have for us.  I also sought to pass on a discipleship framework for leaning how to get better and better at recognizing where and how God is at work and responding faithfully.</p>
<p>On Saturday morning our theme was, &#8220;<strong>Leadership as Discipline: It&#8217;s Always Easy&#8230; Until You Have To Do It</strong>.&#8221;  We moved our attention to Matthew 26:36-46 and we spent some time talking about how, contrary to the <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/features/28236-when-jesus-meets-tmz" target="_blank">aberrant Celebrity Culture</a> that seems to mark contemporary Evangelicalism, Jesus-shaped leadership is anything but glamorous.  Rather, a commitment to lead like Jesus did will nearly always take you to a place of utter desperation, disappointment, and dependence upon God.  In terms of discipleship, we focused on what it might mean and look like to structure our lives around practices that intentionally root us in relationship with God, fellow believers, and others who are hurting and/or far from God.</p>
<p>The final session of the retreat on Saturday afternoon revolved around the notion of, &#8220;<strong>Leadership as Mission: Death as a Way of Life</strong>.&#8221;  As we spent time working through Matthew 28:16-20, we discussed what actually drove Jesus as a missionary-leader, namely submission to the unique role he was to play in God&#8217;s mission in the world.  We also reflected on Jesus&#8217; commitment to equip and send others as opposed to keeping everything isolated to his direct (human) endeavor.  This led naturally into presenting a process for discipling others toward maturity and mission.</p>
<p>On Sunday morning, in sharp defiance to the notion the Piperian notion that, &#8220;<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2012/02/03/john-piper-what-he-said/" target="_blank">God has designed christianity to have a masculine feel to it</a>,&#8221; Amy and I preached the sermon, &#8220;<strong>Leadership as Partnership: Embodying a New World Order</strong>,&#8221; as partners who together, as male and female, reflect the <em>imago Dei</em>!  We spoke out of Acts 2 and Ephesians 4, calling attention to the primary role of the Holy Spirit in constituting a body of people who, against all worldly convention, seek to <a href="http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/im-a-pastor-do-i-lead-as-one-ahead-or-as-one-among/" target="_blank">lead one another out of their unique giftedness in partnership for mission</a>.</p>
<p>Seeing some family and friends was a highlight as always, but man, getting back around high school students for a while was a blast.  I was super-appreciative of just how seriously they took our time together and how much creativity and passion they brought to the discussions.</p>
<p>Shame on youth pastors (Scott&#8217;s not one of them!), who <a href="http://wayfarerblog.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/is-youth-ministry-subtly-sabotaging-college-ministry/" target="_blank">sabotage their opportunity to shape a generation of students</a> because they are so focused on growing a huge, cool youth group.  Double shame on senior/lead pastors who, out of their own insecurity, put that kind of pressure on youth pastors to do it!</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocational-ministry/' rel='bookmark' title='Bi-Vocational Ministry'>Bi-Vocational Ministry</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/bi-vocational-ministry-and-theological-education/' rel='bookmark' title='Bi-Vocational Ministry &amp; Theological Education'>Bi-Vocational Ministry &#038; Theological Education</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocational-ministry-and-spiritual-formation/' rel='bookmark' title='Bi-Vocational Ministry &amp; Spiritual Formation'>Bi-Vocational Ministry &#038; Spiritual Formation</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Hawaii Two-0 Challenge</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2011/09/the-hawaii-two-0-challenge/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2011/09/the-hawaii-two-0-challenge/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:23:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=6078</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve always wanted to go to Hawaii. For a long time, I swore up and down that if and when I got married, the only place I would agree to go on a Honeymoon was Hawaii.  Well, after 32 years, tons of traveling all over the world, and my honeymoon behind me, this is a [...]
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;ve always wanted to go to Hawaii.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-6081 aligncenter" title="lanikai_shoreline_oahu_hawaii" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/lanikai_shoreline_oahu_hawaii-e1317009401466.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6080" title="Hawaii" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Hawaii-e1317009437603.png" alt="" width="499" height="430" /></p>
<p>For a long time, I swore up and down that if and when I got married, the only place I would agree to go on a Honeymoon was Hawaii.  Well, after 32 years, tons of traveling all over the world, and my honeymoon behind me, this is a dream yet to be realized.  My good friend <a href="http://justtosayiblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/north-shore-oahu-721-722.html" target="_blank">Sarah</a> took the better part of a summer to travel around the Hawaiian islands not too long ago, and more recently, my friend <a href="http://jrwoodward.net/2011/08/resting-part-1/" target="_blank">JR Woodward</a> posted a bunch of pictures and videos from the time that he was spending there.  Thus, I&#8217;ve found this interest and dream rekindled.</p>
<p>Making it to Hawaii isn&#8217;t the only ambition I&#8217;ve been thinking about recently.  Three months into being a new dad, I&#8217;m realizing that time is marching on and this body of mine just isn&#8217;t going to perform the way it once did.  The knees are a little more sore, I actually have to stretch before I play sports, and those late night snacks seem to have 100x more impact that they once did. Gone are the days of enjoying 1/2 a large pizza without so much as a thought to the consequences <img src='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' />   Such is life right?  Fair enough, but I&#8217;m waking up to the reality that my ambition for really dropping my weight down is going to require some concerted effort and incentive.</p>
<p>I trust you see where I&#8217;m going with this.  Desperate to get to Hawaii and need some incentive to shed some pounds &#8211; perfect!</p>
<p>My next birthday is coming up toward the beginning of March.  Though I&#8217;ve been as high as 235 and flirted with 200 around the wedding, generally speaking I have hovered right around 205 ever since my sophomore year of high school.  I;m right around 210 right now and would really like to make it to 190.  That would put me 10 pounds south of anywhere I&#8217;ve been in the last 15 years.  20 pounds in about 5 months &#8211; seems achievable right?  Here&#8217;s the deal Amy and I have stuck.</p>
<p>Hit 190 by March 9, 2012 and we book ourselves a trip to Hawaii to celebrate.</p>
<p>But, fail to hit 190 by that date and there&#8217;s a penalty.  The penalty is that it will be a minimum of 5 years before we can even talk about the possibility of making a trip to Hawaii.  Not the end of the world, but honestly, that would be a pretty huge blow for me.  Let&#8217;s face it, it will probably never be easier for us to think about making a trip like this together.</p>
<p>So there it is &#8211; the Hawaii two-0 challenge.  Gotta admit, I&#8217;m pretty nervous, but hey, life gets more interesting when you set some goals for yourself right?</p>
<p>Aside from the basic wisdom of eat healthy, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep, who&#8217;s got tips?</p>
<p>PS &#8211; I should mention that ultimately sheer weight loss isn&#8217;t what I am really interested in.  If it was, I&#8217;d live up the next 4 months and then just suffer through about a month of Atkins to make the weight goal by my birthday.  More than anything, this is about developing new eating and other habits, the fruit of which, I hope, will be becoming a 190 lb. version of myself by my 33rd birthday.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:23:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=5272</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whoa, 2 full weeks since I posted about the beginning of our 1st anniversary trip to Ohio for a wedding.  Time flies&#8230; On July 4, like good American patriots, we left Ohio for the promised land of Pelee Island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie.  I get excited for weeks beforehand when I know [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/1-year-anniversary/' rel='bookmark' title='1 Year Anniversary'>1 Year Anniversary</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='An Engagement Trip'>An Engagement Trip</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='New England &amp; Boston Trip'>New England &#038; Boston Trip</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Whoa, 2 full weeks since I posted about the beginning of our <a href="http://j.mp/8XRg6j" target="_blank">1st anniversary trip</a> to Ohio for a wedding.  Time flies&#8230;</p>
<p>On July 4, like good American patriots, we left Ohio for the promised land of Pelee Island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie.  I get excited for weeks beforehand when I know that I am gonna be able to get up to Pelee.  I love it there.  No hustle, no bustle, no cell phone reception or email.  Just the beach, the water, books, and people I love.</p>
<p>This time around, our friends Matt and Sharon and their son Deacon were among the number of loved ones that we got to share some time with.<br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="315" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PsYlaKRJbgo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1?rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PsYlaKRJbgo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1?rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5274" title="matt, sharon, deacon and grandma" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/matt-sharon-deacon-and-grandma-e1280242736283.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="262" /></p>
<p>The weather was hot, but gave us plenty of reason to lay on the beach and play in the water.  We did some boating, some tubing, made smores, shared stories, watched movies, and soaked in the enjoyment of fun and relaxation throughout the week.</p>
<p>On top of all this, Amy and I continued to celebrate our anniversary.  Here&#8217;s our attempt to capture the specialness of the occasion.  Between the hitting, crying, bugs, and neighborly interruptions, I&#8217;d say we pretty much nailed it <img src='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="315" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ehSbByReZ9M&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1?rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ehSbByReZ9M&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1?rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>We also managed to successfully tote the top of our wedding cake (which had already made its way from Davenport to Elgin), to our hotel in Ohio, in the car to Sandusky, and then on the boat to the island.  It was a well traveled cake, but tasted amazing. Every layer of our wedding cake was different and the top was no exception &#8211; tie-dye!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5275" title="top of wedding cake" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/top-of-wedding-cake-e1280243180141.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="268" /></p>
<p>So here&#8217;s to an unbelievable and unforgettable 1st year of marriage that was capped off by helping one couple celebrate the very beginning of theirs and spending time with another couple on the doorstep of a decade.  Cheers!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5277" title="1st anniversary toast" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/1st-anniversary-toast-e1280243409653.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="300" /></p>
<p>Some additional pictures from the trip <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/sets/72157624348671033/show/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/1-year-anniversary/' rel='bookmark' title='1 Year Anniversary'>1 Year Anniversary</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='An Engagement Trip'>An Engagement Trip</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='New England &amp; Boston Trip'>New England &#038; Boston Trip</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>1 Year Anniversary</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/1-year-anniversary/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/1-year-anniversary/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:35:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[friends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wedding]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=5211</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This weekend will mark year one of marital bliss for Amy and I and it&#8217;s be an incredible year in more ways that I can possible say. To celebrate, we&#8217;ll be heading to Ohio so that I can officiate a wedding ceremony for 2 of my former students who will be living in the Chicagoland area [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/' rel='bookmark' title='1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island'>1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/01/for-the-new-year/' rel='bookmark' title='For the New Year'>For the New Year</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/04/a-year-in-chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='A Year in Chicago'>A Year in Chicago</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This weekend will mark year one of marital bliss for Amy and I and it&#8217;s be an incredible year in more ways that I can possible say.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5213" title="1st anniversary image" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/1st-anniversary-image-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="384" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">To celebrate, we&#8217;ll be heading to Ohio so that I can officiate a wedding ceremony for 2 of my former students who will be living in the Chicagoland area and then we&#8217;ll head up to one of my favorite spots in the world, <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;source=s_q&amp;hl=en&amp;q=Pelee+Island,+Pelee,+Essex+County,+Ontario,+Canada&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=36.915634,78.134766&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=FZltfQIdtrgS-w&amp;split=0&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=Pelee+Island,+Essex+County,+Ontario,+Canada&amp;ll=41.77592,-82.646027&amp;spn=0.135954,0.305214&amp;t=h&amp;z=12" target="_blank">Pelee Island</a>, with our friends the Matt and Sharon for some fun and relaxation.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">For anyone who remembers and enjoyed the <a href="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/06/looking-back-2008/" target="_blank">recap from 2008</a>, Amy and I are working on a recap of 2009 and hope to have it finished by the time we come back.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em><strong>So, you married veterans out there, as Amy and I reflect on our first year as husband and wife and do our best to ask some helpful questions of ourselves as we charge on into the future, what words of wisdom do you have to offer?</strong></em></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/' rel='bookmark' title='1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island'>1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/01/for-the-new-year/' rel='bookmark' title='For the New Year'>For the New Year</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/04/a-year-in-chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='A Year in Chicago'>A Year in Chicago</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 2</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories-part-2/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories-part-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[salvation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=5113</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I ended my previous post about Amy&#8217;s and my trip to San Francisco by saying that one of the highlights for me was seeing Wicked for the first time on account of its similarity to my favorite recent TV series, LOST. The connection I want to make is well articulated in the quote, Strangers and [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories/' rel='bookmark' title='San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 1'>San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 1</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2006/04/the-power-promise-and-potential-of-stories/' rel='bookmark' title='The Power, Promise, and Potential of Stories'>The Power, Promise, and Potential of Stories</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/cultural-gravity-part-1/' rel='bookmark' title='Cultural Gravity (Part 1)'>Cultural Gravity (Part 1)</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I ended my <a href="http://j.mp/cFZ89u" target="_blank">previous post</a> about Amy&#8217;s and my trip to San Francisco by saying that one of the highlights for me was seeing Wicked for the first time on account of its similarity to my favorite recent TV series, LOST.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5114" title="wicked" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/wicked1-e1276293458118.jpg" alt="" width="210" height="210" /> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5115" title="lost" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/lost-e1276293494935.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="190" /></p>
<p>The connection I want to make is well articulated in the quote,</p>
<blockquote><p><strong><em>Strangers and enemies are merely people whose stories we haven&#8217;t heard yet.</em></strong></p></blockquote>
<p>We saw this at play in LOST inasmuch as our assumptions and assessments about the nature of the main characters were subverted over the course of getting to know their history and background.  Let&#8217;s face it, it&#8217;s just way harder to be so critical of Sawyer once you learn that someone was responsible for conning his mother out of money resulting in his father killing her and then himself right in front of him.</p>
<p>Similarly, in Wicked, we are given a story behind the relationship between the &#8220;good&#8221; witch and the &#8220;bad&#8221; witch from the Wizard of Oz.  We learn that the &#8220;good&#8221; witch was actually a fairly empty-headed, spoiled brat who always got her way and was extremely judgmental.  At the same time, we learn that the &#8220;bad&#8221; witch was a product of years of scorn and ridicule from her father and peers.  Not only did she blame herself for her mother&#8217;s death, but she was extremely mindful and caring toward her invalid sister.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s be honest, life is easier when we pretend that we can engage it in black and white.  Truth be told, our need to control life in this way is probably directly related to our own fears and inadequacies.<strong> </strong></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>It is when we lack contentment in who we are in Christ, that we default to judging others so that we can feel better about who we are.</strong></p></blockquote>
<p><em>&#8230; I am more valuable than him because I work hard and he&#8217;s a lazy bum.</em></p>
<p><em>&#8230; I am nicer than her because I saw how rude she was to the bank teller.</em></p>
<p><em>&#8230; We are a more devoted family than them because they are constantly missing church services.</em></p>
<p>Little do we know that&#8230;</p>
<p><em>&#8230; he was born addicted to crack and never had the sort of love and support it takes to help someone to recover from that sort of disability.</em></p>
<p><em>&#8230; she just found out that her 2 year old son was diagnosed with Lukemia and their family is uninsured.</em></p>
<p><em>&#8230; as a family, they are trying to spend time with their neighbors who think Jesus is a joke.</em></p>
<p><strong>Stories change everything</strong>.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Identifying with others by entering into their stories is risky because we almost always discover that we have more in common with the people that we would just assume distance ourselves from as strangers and enemies that we&#8217;d like to admit.</strong></p></blockquote>
<p>So here&#8217;s the challenge before you you and I today (and for the rest of our lives!) &#8211; to risk entering into the pain and uncertainly of the stories of the people we consider strangers and enemies that we might identify with them as Christ entered into the story of humanity and identified with it &#8211; such is the nature and meaning of incarnational ministry and witness.</p>
<p>I will never be able to watch The Wizard of Oz with as much innocence as I once did. And regardless of what you and I thought about the conclusion of LOST as a television series, there is something profound about this notion of our salvation being bound up with our willingness to truly know and be known by others, especially those we are most unlike us.</p>
<p><strong>Stories change everything.</strong></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories/' rel='bookmark' title='San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 1'>San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 1</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2006/04/the-power-promise-and-potential-of-stories/' rel='bookmark' title='The Power, Promise, and Potential of Stories'>The Power, Promise, and Potential of Stories</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/cultural-gravity-part-1/' rel='bookmark' title='Cultural Gravity (Part 1)'>Cultural Gravity (Part 1)</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories-part-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 1</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:03:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wedding]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=5070</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A wedding between our friends Matt and Brianna last weekend gave Amy and I the opportunity to take our first trip to San Francisco. The wedding was held at the Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill and was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever attended. Thursday and Saturday we stayed in Gilroy, just [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories-part-2/' rel='bookmark' title='San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 2'>San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 2</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/cultural-gravity-part-1/' rel='bookmark' title='Cultural Gravity (Part 1)'>Cultural Gravity (Part 1)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/04/know-a-good-wedding-song/' rel='bookmark' title='Know A Good Wedding Song?'>Know A Good Wedding Song?</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px;">A wedding between our friends Matt and Brianna last weekend gave Amy and I the opportunity to take our first trip to San Francisco.</span></h5>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-5073 aligncenter" title="matt and brianna" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/matt-and-brianna-e1276207543136.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" /></p>
<p>The wedding was held at the <a href="http://www.guglielmowinery.com/" target="_blank">Guglielmo Winery</a> in Morgan Hill and was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever attended.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-5074 aligncenter" title="DSC01698_1" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/DSC01698_1.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="300" /></p>
<p>Thursday and Saturday we stayed in Gilroy, just south of Morgan Hill and apparently the &#8220;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilroy,_California" target="_blank">Garlic Capital of the World</a>.&#8221;  Sounded pretty ridiculous to me until we drove into Gilroy and all we could smell was garlic &#8211; seriously!</p>
<p>After the mandatory trip to In-N-Out&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="400" height="300" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1nsx-LcSWqs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1nsx-LcSWqs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>We of course felt compelled to visit the Garlic Shoppe.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5089" title="DSC01726_1" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/DSC01726_1-e1276272238746.jpg" alt="" width="398" height="240" /></p>
<p>Amy was even brave enough to taste the Chocolate-Garlic Ice ream.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="400" height="300" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgGQX9YmP4U&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgGQX9YmP4U&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>We spent Sunday with our friend Jeanelle seeing some of the sights around the city of San Francisco including Hyde St. Pier, Ghiradelli Square, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park and the adjacent beach.  We also took the perfunctory trip across the Golden Gate Bridge.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-5075 aligncenter" title="DSC01746_1" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/DSC01746_1-e1276208270921.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="178" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-5076 aligncenter" title="DSC01765_1" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/DSC01765_1-e1276208393605.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="178" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5090" title="DSC01767_1" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/DSC01767_1-e1276272767284.jpg" alt="" width="391" height="178" /><a href="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/golden-gate-park.jpg"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5091" title="DSC01783" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/golden-gate-park-e1276273044804.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="178" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5092" title="DSC01780" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Jeanelle-on-beach-e1276273112963.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="178" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="400" height="300" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EOkx9mxGyJ4&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EOkx9mxGyJ4&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x3a3a3a&amp;color2=0x999999&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>Sunday evening, Amy and I went to see Wicked at the Orpheum in the Union Square district of downtown.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5094" title="DSC01793" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/wicked-e1276273438106.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="243" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>~~ Lots more pictures </strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/sets/72157624128149515/show/" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> and videos </strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/jrrozko#p/c/305C06151E27370A" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p>
<p>Now, Amy is a musical buff, she&#8217;s seen em all (multiple times in many cases!) but this was my first time seeing Wicked and I loved it.  It was probably one of the highlights of the trip for me.  Why? <strong>Because Wicked bore a striking resemblance to one of my favorite TV series&#8217; of all time, LOST</strong>.  Let me offer a quote I heard recently as a prelude to my explanation of that observation.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;<strong><em>Strangers and enemies are merely people whose stories we haven&#8217;t heard yet</em></strong>.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>More on that in my next post.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/06/san-francisco-strangers-and-stories-part-2/' rel='bookmark' title='San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 2'>San Francisco, Strangers, and Stories: Part 2</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/cultural-gravity-part-1/' rel='bookmark' title='Cultural Gravity (Part 1)'>Cultural Gravity (Part 1)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/04/know-a-good-wedding-song/' rel='bookmark' title='Know A Good Wedding Song?'>Know A Good Wedding Song?</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Year in Chicago</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/04/a-year-in-chicago/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/04/a-year-in-chicago/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:43:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[chicago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1893</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Talk about irony. 1 year ago to the day, I drove from Canton, OH to the O&#8217;Hare Airport to pick Amy up upon returning from a trip to the Middle East. This marked my actual move to Chicago! Later today, exactly 1 year later, I am taking Amy back to O&#8217;Hare to make another trip [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/04/chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='Chicago'>Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/obx-chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='OBX &amp; Chicago'>OBX &#038; Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/01/a-kenyan-new-year/' rel='bookmark' title='A Kenyan New Year'>A Kenyan New Year</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Talk about irony.</p>
<p>1 year ago to the day, I drove from Canton, OH to the O&#8217;Hare Airport to pick Amy up upon returning from a trip to the Middle East. This marked my actual move to Chicago!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" title="Chicago" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/chicago.png" alt="" width="480" height="212" /></p>
<p>Later today, exactly 1 year later, I am taking Amy back to O&#8217;Hare to make another trip to the Middle East.</p>
<p>Crazy!</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/04/chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='Chicago'>Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/obx-chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='OBX &amp; Chicago'>OBX &#038; Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/01/a-kenyan-new-year/' rel='bookmark' title='A Kenyan New Year'>A Kenyan New Year</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New England &amp; Boston Trip</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:18:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1349</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week Amy and I went on a trip through New England.  I was in Richmond, VA attending a training event with Ecclesia and Amy was in Chicago.  On Friday morning, we both flew into Boston and met up there.  Here was my cool view as we were landing. Here&#8217;s me getting anxious about seeing [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/boston-bound-lookin-for-tips/' rel='bookmark' title='Boston Bound: Lookin for Tips'>Boston Bound: Lookin for Tips</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='An Engagement Trip'>An Engagement Trip</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/' rel='bookmark' title='1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island'>1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last week Amy and I went on a trip through New England.  I was in Richmond, VA attending a training event with <a href="http://www.ecclesianet.com/" target="_blank">Ecclesia</a> and Amy was in Chicago.  On Friday morning, we both flew into Boston and met up there.  Here was my cool view as we were landing.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="rainbow" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4081653183_35af18de32.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s me getting anxious about seeing Amy again (this was the first time we&#8217;d been apart since getting married 4 months ago).</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="282" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=3f6e888e58&amp;photo_id=4083435721&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="align" value="center" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="282" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" align="center" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=3f6e888e58&amp;photo_id=4083435721&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false"></embed></object></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="284" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=b742922201&amp;photo_id=4084225640&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="284" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=b742922201&amp;photo_id=4084225640&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false"></embed></object></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="282" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=2db8fc18f3&amp;photo_id=4083486989&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="282" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=2db8fc18f3&amp;photo_id=4083486989&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false"></embed></object></p>
<p>We rented a car and drove up the coast to Portland, ME.  Here are some pictures from along the way.<br />
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<p>We had a good time exploring Portland.  We ate at this awesome place called <a href="http://www.sillys.com/" target="_blank">Silly&#8217;s</a>, somewhere you should absolutely visit &#8211; and don&#8217;t bother eating for a day and a half before you go, you&#8217;ll want the room for the &#8220;Gravy Danger.&#8221;</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="sillys" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4082426602_8722d361f7.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>
<p>The next day we drove west through the White Mountain National Forest that spans New Hampshire and Vermont.<br />
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<p>A day of driving took us through the really hip downtown of Brattleboro, VT<br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="282" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=4eb76103e8&amp;photo_id=4085366002&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="282" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=4eb76103e8&amp;photo_id=4085366002&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false"></embed></object><br />
where we caught a glimpse of the ever-growing reality of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postchristianity" target="_blank">Post-Christian</a> America,</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="church/pharmacy" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/4081520289_a07de2f0d4.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>and had an incredibly delicious maple latte at <a href="http://www.mochajoes.com/roasters/aboutus" target="_blank">Mocha Joe&#8217;s</a>.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="mocha joes" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4082281050_844f3efccb.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>Then, it was off to Providence, RI where we had a great Thai dinner, saw &#8220;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1019452/" target="_blank">A Serious Man</a>,&#8221;at <a href="http://www.avoncinema.com/" target="_blank">The Avon</a></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="avon-serious man" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2507/4081529495_2537f9f5d4.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>and walked around the campus of <a href="http://www.brown.edu/" target="_blank">Brown University</a>.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="brown university" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/4081572741_e3b8285125.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>The next morning we drove into Boston.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="284" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=90ddcb9b95&amp;photo_id=4085431002&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="284" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=90ddcb9b95&amp;photo_id=4085431002&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false"></embed></object></p>
<p>We stayed at a cool little place in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Bay,_Boston" target="_blank">Back Bay</a> part of Boston, &#8220;<a href="http://www.chandlerinn.com/" target="_blank">The Chandler Inn</a>.&#8221;  Over the 2 days we walked <a href="http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/" target="_blank">The Freedom Trail</a> &#8211; some of those pictures here&#8230;<br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="376" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&amp;lang=en-us&amp;page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjrrozko%2Fsets%2F72157622751436614%2Fshow%2F&amp;page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjrrozko%2Fsets%2F72157622751436614%2F&amp;set_id=72157622751436614&amp;jump_to=" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="376" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&amp;lang=en-us&amp;page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjrrozko%2Fsets%2F72157622751436614%2Fshow%2F&amp;page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjrrozko%2Fsets%2F72157622751436614%2F&amp;set_id=72157622751436614&amp;jump_to="></embed></object></p>
<p>But some of my favorite parts were visiting the actual location of Cheers</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="cheers" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4081611719_efe7974bd7.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>
<p>Getting placed in an impromptu Diet Coke commercial</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="diet coke" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/4081754349_9175dc3ac3.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>worshipping with the incredibly diverse congregation of the historic <a href="http://www.parkstreet.org/" target="_blank">Park Street Church</a> amidst their 200 year celebration</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="park street 1" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/4082516042_8e460a98ff.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="park street 2" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/4081755279_993057d6b3.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>and indulging in my favorite dessert, Boston Cream Pie, at &#8220;<a href="http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/BostonParkerHouse/Dining.aspx" target="_blank">The Omni Parker House</a>&#8221; where they invented it!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="boston cream pie" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/4081766289_01f41ac5ed.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>
<p>Not to worry, Amy made sure to add her name to the Declaration of Independence!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="amy signing dec of ind" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4081753493_a44e6dd112.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>
<p>Our trip finished up with 2 days in NYC where we got to see our friend Jorge</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="Jorge" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4082404468_d9d1fee4fb.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></p>
<p>who took us to an incredible place for NY pizza.<br />
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<p>We got to spend time with my bother Alex and his girlfriend Michelle.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="alex&amp;michelle" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/4081639371_f10a16bc68.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>
<p>We went for a walk through Central Park and Alex showed off his mad bouldering skills.</p>
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<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="282" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=62648f777f&amp;photo_id=4085521920&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="282" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=62648f777f&amp;photo_id=4085521920&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false"></embed></object></p>
<p>We visited <a href="http://www.serendipity3.com/" target="_blank">Serendipity</a> of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240890/" target="_blank">John Cusack movie fame</a> and enjoyed a famous frozen hot chocolate.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="frozen hot chocolate" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/4081638145_912b6aab75.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>
<p>Especially meaningful for Amy who has done theater her whole life, we got to attend our first Broadway show, <a href="http://disney.go.com/theatre/marypoppins/#/home/" target="_blank">Mary Poppins</a>.<br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="282" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=488e9d4047&amp;photo_id=4084787999&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="282" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=488e9d4047&amp;photo_id=4084787999&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true&amp;hd_default=false"></embed></object></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="mary poppins" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/4081641949_c7593cf40b.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>When we left the show, we walked through time square where a billion people were watching the Yankees game on a huge screen &#8211; very cool.<br />
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<p>And to cap off the evening, we hit up Ray&#8217;s Pizza (from Elf!) for some more excellent NY pizza.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="rays pizza" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4081642805_e8b55356a2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>It was an unforgettable trip and I&#8217;m already anxious to make it back.  Feel free to check out our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/collections/72157622753063556/" target="_blank">full collection</a> of pictures and videos.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/boston-bound-lookin-for-tips/' rel='bookmark' title='Boston Bound: Lookin for Tips'>Boston Bound: Lookin for Tips</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='An Engagement Trip'>An Engagement Trip</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/' rel='bookmark' title='1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island'>1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Boston Bound: Lookin for Tips</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/boston-bound-lookin-for-tips/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/boston-bound-lookin-for-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:16:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1274</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have had something like a 15 year love affair with Boston, which is strange for someone who has never actually been there, but that&#8217;s about to change.  Amy and I are currently planning a long weekend in Boston and various excursions from there around New England. So, who&#8217;s got the 411 on Boston and [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='New England &amp; Boston Trip'>New England &#038; Boston Trip</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;">I have had something like a 15 year love affair with Boston, which is strange for someone who has never actually been there, but that&#8217;s about to change.  Amy and I are currently planning a long weekend in Boston and various excursions from there around New England.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-1275 alignnone" title="boston planning" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/boston-planning.jpg" alt="boston planning" width="400" height="299" /></p>
<p>So, who&#8217;s got the 411 on Boston and the surrounding area?  What and where do we need to make sure to check out?  What&#8217;s our best bet for scenic, yet affordable accommodations?  Looking for any advice anyone wants to throw our way, thanks.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='New England &amp; Boston Trip'>New England &#038; Boston Trip</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/boston-bound-lookin-for-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cultural Gravity (Part 1)</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/cultural-gravity-part-1/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/cultural-gravity-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:51:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[chicago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[memphis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[midwest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[missional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[suburban]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1148</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Try to jump and hang in the air for 10 seconds.  How&#8217;d you do?  You either failed, cheated, or are reading this from the moon.  You are a captive of gravity.  It pulls at you, refusing to let you wander off. Culture is a lot like that.  The various elements of the culture we inhabit [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/08/cultural-gravity-part-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Cultural Gravity (Part 2)'>Cultural Gravity (Part 2)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/12/toward-a-missional-vision-of-theological-education-cultural-pioneering/' rel='bookmark' title='Toward A Missional Vision of Theological Education: Cultural Pioneering'>Toward A Missional Vision of Theological Education: Cultural Pioneering</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/the-church-emerging-and-the-multi-cultural-future-of-western-christianity/' rel='bookmark' title='The Church Emerging and the Multi-Cultural Future of Western Christianity'>The Church Emerging and the Multi-Cultural Future of Western Christianity</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Try to jump and hang in the air for 10 seconds.  How&#8217;d you do?  You either failed, cheated, or are reading this from the moon.  You are a captive of gravity.  It pulls at you, refusing to let you wander off.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freakingnews.com/Anti-Gravity-Pictures--935-0.asp"><img class="aligncenter" title="gravity fish" src="http://www.lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/gravity%20fish%2024-07-2009%2012:38:50.png" alt="" width="320" height="241" /></a></p>
<p>Culture is a lot like that.  The various elements of the culture we inhabit pull us toward some sort of center.  Culture, in all of its various forms: language, architecture, customs, expectations, rhythms, etc., creates a sort of reality for those who live in it.  This is what I am calling <em>cultural gravity</em>.</p>
<p>Cultural gravity cuts two ways &#8211; it simultaneously frees and binds.  As regular gravity gives us the ability to walk around and explore our immediate surroundings, it also binds us there, making any desire we have to explore our not so immediate surroundings extraordinarily difficult.  Analogously, cultural gravity is what enables us to authentically enter a particular time and space &#8211; to know it personally and deeply.  But it can also trap our imaginations and stymie us intellectually and creatively.  The longer we live with in a particular brand of cultural gravity (geography, tradition, denomination, etc.) the harder it will be to enter new ones with any degree of receptivity or discernment.</p>
<p>Anyone who has ever lived cross-culturally has experienced this tension.  It is why new cultures can be hard to adjust to and why we may have a hard time (or outright fear!) returning to the culture we came from.</p>
<p>As one who has had some varied over-seas experience and has moved from the suburban mid-west, to urban So. Cal, to some blend of suburban/urban culture in the midsouth, and now lives outside of Chicago, these are some thoughts I have been having.</p>
<p>In Part 2 I plan to offer some reflections on what I think cultural gravity has to do with missional churches.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/08/cultural-gravity-part-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Cultural Gravity (Part 2)'>Cultural Gravity (Part 2)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/12/toward-a-missional-vision-of-theological-education-cultural-pioneering/' rel='bookmark' title='Toward A Missional Vision of Theological Education: Cultural Pioneering'>Toward A Missional Vision of Theological Education: Cultural Pioneering</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/the-church-emerging-and-the-multi-cultural-future-of-western-christianity/' rel='bookmark' title='The Church Emerging and the Multi-Cultural Future of Western Christianity'>The Church Emerging and the Multi-Cultural Future of Western Christianity</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Southwest is Better</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/southwest-is-better/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/southwest-is-better/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:48:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[funny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[random]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1064</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is why I love to fly Southwest. (ht: Steve) No related posts.
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is why I love to fly <a href="http://www.southwest.com/index.html" target="_blank">Southwest</a>.<br />
<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivjybzdXVmI&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivjybzdXVmI&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object></p>
<p>(ht: <a href="http://www.stevekmccoy.com/reformissionary/2009/03/lotsolinks-33109.html" target="_blank">Steve</a>)</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>An Engagement Trip</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:45:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[friends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[memphis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1025</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thanks to the generosity of Amy&#8217;s team leader and co-workers, she was given the opportunity to work remotely for the last two weeks.  Throw in three weekends, and you&#8217;ve got almost 3 full weeks together! And thanks to some too-good-to-be-true family and friends, that time was jam packed full of fun and memories. If you [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/' rel='bookmark' title='1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island'>1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='New England &amp; Boston Trip'>New England &#038; Boston Trip</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks to the generosity of Amy&#8217;s team leader and co-workers, she was given the opportunity to work remotely for the last two weeks.  Throw in three weekends, and you&#8217;ve got almost 3 full weeks together!</p>
<p>And thanks to some too-good-to-be-true family and friends, that time was jam packed full of fun and memories.</p>
<p>If you missed it, be sure to check out our <a href="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/03/amy-g-drops-the-f-bomb/" target="_blank">engagement story</a>, cause that&#8217;s where the fun began.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1030" title="proposal-scene" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/proposal-scene-300x151.png" alt="proposal-scene" width="429" height="215" /></p>
<p>Engaged on Friday night in Chicago, we drove back to Memphis on Saturday, on the phone virtually the entire time and dreaming about our wedding and honeymoon inbeetween (details on both, TBA).</p>
<p>A neighbor gifted Amy and I with two tickets to see &#8220;Light in the Piazza&#8221; at the Midtown Playhouse.  It was a fun and romantic show and we had a great time.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="light in the Piazza" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3362507623/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3362507623_3de55bce62_m.jpg" alt="light in the Piazza" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="light in the Piazza" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3362508213/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3362508213_b85a9c6280_m.jpg" alt="light in the Piazza" /></a></p>
<p>There was a blizzard in Memphis Saturday and Sunday, so attendance was way down at our morning services, but two of my co-pastor friends took it upon themselves to announce Amy and I&#8217;s engagement from up front to much applause and congratulations.  We spent the rest of the day with our friends taking turns holding baby Asher.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1031" title="baby-asher-friends" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/baby-asher-friends.png" alt="baby-asher-friends" width="495" height="135" /></p>
<p>On Monday Amy and I were off to Washington DC.  We were there for a church planting conference and had the chance to stay a couple nights with Amy&#8217;s aunt and uncle as well as see a few friends we each have there.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1033" title="dc-2" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/dc-2.png" alt="dc-2" width="499" height="167" /><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1034" title="dc-with-abby-and-cris" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/dc-with-abby-and-cris.png" alt="dc-with-abby-and-cris" width="499" height="155" /><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1032" title="dc-1" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/dc-1.png" alt="dc-1" width="502" height="198" /></p>
<p>Amy was there as a representative of <a href="www.iteams.org/ " target="_blank">iTeams </a>- making connections with those who are looking for ways to help people get involved in international missions, and I was checking into <a href=" http://www.ecclesianet.com/" target="_blank">Ecclesia</a> as a possible resource and partner for <a href="http://lhchurch.com" target="_blank">Living Hope</a> as we think about church planting.  The conference was fantastic and we were really happy to connect with our friend and Fuller professor, Eddie Gibbs.  Got to see some of the city on Friday afternoon and then we were off to Ohio.</p>
<p>My mom picked us up at the airport and after visiting for a few hours &#8211; it was lights out as we were both dog-tired.  Saturday morning we traveled down to Canton to see some of my closest friends.  We spent the day with them, talking all kinds of wedding details and just catching up.  Monday the 9th was to be my 30th birthday so my friends arranged a dinner and a party at my friend Jay&#8217;s sweet new downtown office.  Tons of people came to meet Amy, say congratulations, and Happy Birthday.  As usual, I got sick on Sarah&#8217;s puppy chow, but well worth it.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="bday party" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3362545123/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3362545123_a79679c686.jpg" alt="bday party" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="bday party" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3362551649/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3362551649_943f042249.jpg" alt="bday party" width="292" height="215" /></a></p>
<p>Sunday was another full day of cruising around, meeting, and catching up with people &#8211; Meysembourgs, Snavely, Solida&#8217;s, Neftzer, Gouglers, and many others.</p>
<p>Monday was a full day with my mom and other family.  Amy got the grand tour of Stow, where I grew up and got to meet both my Aunt Fannie and Grandma Ernsberger.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="stow tour - aunt fannie" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3363378140/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3363378140_0c35c87b8f_m.jpg" alt="stow tour - aunt fannie" /></a><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="stow tour - grandma e" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3362561271/" target="_blank"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3362561271_4a8c4b69af_m.jpg" alt="stow tour - grandma e" /></a></p>
<p>Had an incredible dinner at Macaroni Grill with my buddy Kenny and then ice cream, cake (actually Boston Cream Pie &#8211; a personal fav!), and a few gifts back at home.  Amy had written to all my closest family and friends asking for pictures and short blurbs and she compiled them all together into one of the most meaningful presents I have ever received.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1035" title="30-bday" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/30-bday.png" alt="30-bday" width="499" height="160" /></p>
<p>We left early Tuesday morning to head back to Memphis where we were set to have a slightly more regular schedule.  Amy was working and so was I and thanks to the generosity of our good friend Lee, we had an extra car to use to help each of us get around to appointments and meeting spots.  Still, the days and evenings were packed.</p>
<p>Tuesday we picked up the car from Lee, gobbled down dinner, and Skyped about all sorts of wedding related stuff with Amy&#8217;s parents.  Wednesday we cooked dinner and hosted my house group &#8211; that never ends early (which I love!).  Thursday the Donahoe&#8217;s, who host Amy when she comes to town, invited us and our friends Matthew and Lisa over for a celebration dinner and then we caught Slumdog Millionaire with Greg and Chandler.</p>
<p>We did lots of wedding planning on Friday and then my friend Ryan from LA flew into town to spend a few days with us.  We took him to Rendezvous to get some good Memphis BBQ and then watched <em>The Dark Knight</em> (it just never gets old).</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1036" title="rendzvous" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/rendzvous.png" alt="rendzvous" width="497" height="215" /></p>
<p>The night was rounded off with a midnight run to Gibson&#8217;s donuts for the after 11 &#8211; 6 donuts for 1.25 deal.  Saturday morning we met our friends the Kerrigan&#8217;s at Memphis&#8217; best breakfast spot, <a href="http://brotherjunipers.com/" target="_blank">Brother Juniper&#8217;s</a> and then drove around some of the cooler neighborhoods in urban Memphis and even visited an estate sale.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1037" title="junipers" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/junipers.png" alt="junipers" width="495" height="183" /></p>
<p>Ryan and I went for a quick run and then the three of us went to see &#8220;Race to Witch Mountain.&#8221;  No, not because any of us particularly care for &#8220;The Rock,&#8221; but because Amy was in it.  She did some extra work while she was in LA and in the movie you get to see her twice during the credits.  Have a look!</p>
<p><object width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=68975" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=2bff629572&amp;photo_id=3363338438" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=68975" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object></p>
<p>Sunday morning was filled with plenty of congratulations since it was the first time that many people got to see Amy and I since we had gotten engaged.  Ryan, Amy and I had a great lunch with our friends Zach and Liz and then we spent a few hours (she went nuts!) with Liz as she took some engagement pictures (not currently available).  We actually ended up being late for a surprise engagement party that my house group was throwing for us in the form of an ultimate frisbee game.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1038" title="frisbee" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/frisbee.png" alt="frisbee" width="498" height="207" /></p>
<p>We had a great time playing frisbee and then I had the privilege of baptizing a new friend who is on his way of to Fuller.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1039" title="baptism" src="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/baptism.png" alt="baptism" width="498" height="185" /></p>
<p>We spent the evening over at the Kerrigan&#8217;s eating up all the leftovers from the folks who have been providing them food while they adjust to having a newborn in their lives and playing everyone&#8217;s favorite game, &#8220;&#8230; And a bottle of wine.&#8221;</p>
<p>While I was at staff meeting Monday morning, Amy and Ryan worked from a coffee shop in the Cooper-Young district and got to check out another great BBQ spot &#8211; Central.  We went downtown for a few hours to check out some of the sights and walk down Beale St. before Ryan had to had to the airport to head for home.  Amy and I had yet another great dinner with our friends Sam and Allison and then made a short little video for our wedding website (unveiling soon!).</p>
<p>I just put Amy on the Megabus back to Chicago a little bit ago and I miss her already.  While we are bound and determined not to let it take over our relationship, the next several months will be filled with planning and preparation for our big days and those to follow.  We cover all your support and prayers as we try and figure out the future together and plan for a celebration of marriage that will be both enjoyable and meaningful to all those who can celebrate with us.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/07/1st-anniversary-trip-to-pelee-island/' rel='bookmark' title='1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island'>1st Anniversary Trip to Pelee Island</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/11/new-england-boston-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='New England &amp; Boston Trip'>New England &#038; Boston Trip</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
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		<title>5 Days, 4 States, and All Kinds of Goodness</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/02/5-days-4-states-and-all-kinds-of-goodness/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/02/5-days-4-states-and-all-kinds-of-goodness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:43:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[friends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=979</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Time to come clean. I can hide no longer. The Amy G. I have mentioned and interviewed, well&#8230; we&#8217;re actually a couple. I know, never saw it coming did ya?! That being said&#8230; This was a whirlwind of a Valentine&#8217;s Day weekend for us. Though Amy has traveled all over the world &#38; lived in [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/2-days/' rel='bookmark' title='2 Days'>2 Days</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='An Engagement Trip'>An Engagement Trip</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Time to come clean. I can hide no longer. The Amy G. I have <a href="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/02/04/some-me-stuff/" target="_blank">mentioned</a> and <a href="http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/21/amy-g-unplugged/" target="_blank">interviewed</a>, well&#8230; we&#8217;re actually a couple. I know, never saw it coming did ya?! That being said&#8230;</p>
<p>This was a whirlwind of a Valentine&#8217;s Day weekend for us. Though Amy has traveled all over the world &amp; lived in both Los Angeles and Chicago, she had never been to NYC. My brother and his girlfriend live there, so for Christmas, I got Amy 2 tickets to the city. But, as has been the case with all our other times being together, we sought to pack as much in as we possible could.</p>
<p>Our journey began in Indianapolis where I got to meet some of her close college friends as well as a bunch of people she used to work with at Global Partners. Then, we traveled to NYC where we were able to spend time not only with my brother and his girlfriend, but 2 of my good friends who were in from OH and DC.</p>
<p>We took the Staten Island Ferry to view the Statue of Liberty.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 016" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291324134/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3291324134_c3edbef44e.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 016" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 019" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291325544/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3291325544_550406b5b4_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 019" /></a></p>
<p>Saw ground zero.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 021" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291326798/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3291326798_f7cbc5f767_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 021" /></a><span class="flickr-image alignnone"> </span><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 020" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290508959/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3290508959_8ecd725859_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 020" /></a></p>
<p>The flat iron building.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 035" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291334450/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/3291334450_f4c7e52245_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 035" /></a></p>
<p>And went to the top of the Empire State building &#8211; an unforgettable experience!</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 040" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290520259/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3290520259_44d3e51aee_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 040" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 044" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291339310/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3512/3291339310_59a2ee4d4e_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 044" /></a></p>
<p>We also got to see Grand Central Station and Time Square.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 056" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291345706/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3291345706_f83893fba4_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 056" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 072" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290537157/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3290537157_9edb622ca4_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 072" /></a></p>
<p>For Valentines Day dinner, my brother managed to get reservations at a swanky Tapas bar that (though sadly small in size) offered some amazing tasting cuisine.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 077" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291356696/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3291356696_b584b865c2_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 077" /></a></p>
<p>Quite serendipitously, we got to spend time with a good friend of mine and a good friend of Amy&#8217;s, both of whom happen to be part of the same <a href="http://trinitygracechurch.com/" target="_blank">church community</a> that we were visiting on Sunday morning &#8211; and got to have lunch at the Seinfeld restaurant!</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 083" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291359602/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3291359602_eb763f832c_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 083" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 084" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290543149/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3290543149_33d0cbe559_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 084" /></a></p>
<p>On Sunday, we traveled down to Princeton together. We got to see and stay with 2 of Amy&#8217;s good college friends, Dave and Holly and their 2 little girls. Dave is working on a PhD at Princeton and they were good enough to take us by &#8220;Schuller Field,&#8221; recently named for a good friend of mine who passed away a few years ago after finishing the first year of his MDiv there. Here&#8217;s a few pictures of small plaques fixed to two benches at the field.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 095" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290547707/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3290547707_fb3d808e57_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 095" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 089" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290545643/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3290545643_d0c70478ac_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 089" /></a></p>
<p>The next day we got to take a nice stroll through Central Park, followed by visits to the coolest looking Mac store around and FAO Schwarz (remember the <a href="http://blogs.amctv.com/future-of-classic/big-piano.jpg" target="_blank">piano scene from Big</a>?) where Amy got to choose any stuffed animal she wanted for her Valentine&#8217;s Day present.</p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 106" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290553083/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/3290553083_9a659fd210_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 106" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 102" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290550535/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3290550535_1aee34e989_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 102" /></a></p>
<p><a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 110" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3291372324/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3291372324_acaf44bc86_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 110" /></a> <a class="flickr-image alignnone" title="Valentine's NYC Trip - 114" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/3290557533/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/3290557533_813eb5114a_m.jpg" alt="Valentine's NYC Trip - 114" /></a></p>
<p>Monday afternoon we traveled back to Chicago where we got to spend the evening with our friends Noel and Ashley in Lawndale.  Tuesday morning it was back to Memphis for me.  Told you we packed alot in!  Some more pictures <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/sets/72157614005798265/" target="_blank">here</a> if you&#8217;re interested.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/07/2-days/' rel='bookmark' title='2 Days'>2 Days</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/03/an-engagement-trip/' rel='bookmark' title='An Engagement Trip'>An Engagement Trip</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>A Kenyan New Year</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/01/a-kenyan-new-year/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/01/a-kenyan-new-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:39:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living hope]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=913</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am recently back from a 10 day trip to Kenya in Africa.  Though the entire trip was incredible from beginning to end, the highlight just might have been ringing in the New Year by participating in African tribal dances around a huge bonfire (which featured the stylings of Ben K. who introduced our Kenya [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/04/a-year-in-chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='A Year in Chicago'>A Year in Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/kenya/' rel='bookmark' title='Kenya'>Kenya</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/hello-africa/' rel='bookmark' title='Hello Africa'>Hello Africa</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am recently back from a 10 day trip to Kenya in Africa.  Though the entire trip was incredible from beginning to end, the highlight just might have been ringing in the New Year by participating in African tribal dances around a huge bonfire (which featured the stylings of Ben K. who introduced our Kenya friends to the timeless art of &#8220;the robot&#8221;).</p>
<p>I am really at a loss for how to summarize the trip.  It featured stops in Lagos, Nigeria, Nairobi, Kenya, and Dakar, Senegal.  We got to go on safari and see all sorts of beautiful African wildlife.  We attended a crusade, visited slums, drove through a market (which, by the way, was meant to be walked through), visited with local pastors, enjoyed local cuisine, helped to run a summer camp, and entered into relationship with an incredible bunch of orphans.</p>
<p>I had been dreaming about visiting Africa for a number of years and I&#8217;m already anxious to return.  The landscape, both cultural and spiritual, is something I long to further understand.  The marks of Western colonialism are painfully obvious and though I was overjoyed to hear one pastor speak openly against it (he preached a message about faithfulness being the mark of true success &#8211; a message I implored him to share with his bothers and sisters in the US), the prosperity gospel is sadly entrenched amongst African Christians.</p>
<p>I loved getting to travel and serve alongside the other guys on the team.  I could go on for a long time about the great stuff I saw out of them, not to mention stories of all the various Africans I got to know while we were there.  But I think I will leave anything further to these pictures (which I have tried my best to add helpful descriptions to) and any specific questions you might have.  I hope to share more pictures and links as others on the team post them.</p>
<p><object width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=63961" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="flashvars" value="&amp;offsite=true&amp;lang=en-us&amp;page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjrrozko%2Fsets%2F72157612244750438%2Fshow%2F&amp;page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjrrozko%2Fsets%2F72157612244750438%2F&amp;set_id=72157612244750438&amp;jump_to=" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=63961" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrrozko/sets/72157612283457905/" target="_blank">some more</a> from John.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2010/04/a-year-in-chicago/' rel='bookmark' title='A Year in Chicago'>A Year in Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/kenya/' rel='bookmark' title='Kenya'>Kenya</a></li>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/hello-africa/' rel='bookmark' title='Hello Africa'>Hello Africa</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hello Africa</title>
		<link>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/hello-africa/</link>
		<comments>http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/hello-africa/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:50:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JR Rozko</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=862</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Remember the scene in Ace Ventura 2 where Jim Carey says, &#8220;Three darts is too much!&#8221;? That&#8217;s about how I feel today. Aside from my shoulders feeling like Mike Tyson punched them for about an hour, I woke up this morning stiff as a board and with a fever. All thanks to the 5 vaccinations [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/kenya/' rel='bookmark' title='Kenya'>Kenya</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter" title="darts" src="http://www.lifeasmission.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ace%20ventura%20dart.png" alt="" width="286" height="234" /></p>
<p>Remember the scene in Ace Ventura 2 where Jim Carey says, &#8220;Three darts is too much!&#8221;?  That&#8217;s about how I feel today.</p>
<p>Aside from my shoulders feeling like Mike Tyson punched them for about an hour, I woke up this morning stiff as a board and with a fever. All thanks to the 5 vaccinations I got yesterday &#8211; Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and Flu.</p>
<p>No, I am not a hypochondriac, I am heading to Kenya in a little bit more than a week with a small team of others to help put on a camp for an orphanage that a couple from <a href="http://lhchurch.com" target="_blank">Living Hope</a> helped to start.  I have been looking forward to getting to Africa for years and I&#8217;m about get to live that dream.  We&#8217;ll be gone Dec. 25 &#8211; Jan5, so be looking for pictures and stories shortly thereafter.</p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/12/kenya/' rel='bookmark' title='Kenya'>Kenya</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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