Steam Dot

Yesterday Seth, myself, and his two sisters woke up at 5:30 and headed to Anchorages newest coffee shop called Steam Dot. Kaladi Brothers had been the prime place for coffee, but Steam Dot seriously has stolen some of their thunder. I got an Americano and it was as smooth as I have ever had. We spent about 3 hours at the coffee shop, enjoying each other and talked about our Savior. I haven't enjoyed conversation and grown from it like I did yesterday in a while.

I am convinced that followers of Jesus must live in community, pray in community, study the Word in community, and dialogue in community if we are to grow at all.

At 9:30, Seths friends met us at the coffee shop and we all headed out to a town called Girdwood about 45 minutes away. The highway takes you along the coast and there are snow peaked mountains everywhere. In Girdwood, there is a restaurant called The Bake Shop. It is famous for its overpriced, but delicious food. After breakfast we walked down a trail to a creek. The water was cold, but it was enjoyable to hike around. We ended up at a clearing and spent an hour or so just chilling. Seth and I skipped rocks and played frisbee.

Dinner was at 5. After dinner, Sara Elizabeth and I went on a run. I am making it a goal while I am up here to get back in shape. I would like to be comfortably running 5 miles by the time I leave Alaska.

At 7ish, one of Seths friend came over and we all went to see the new Kung Foo Panda movie. I was wiped out and dozed in and out, not because the movie was bad, but because my body still felt like it was 2 am by the time it was over.

To cap of a great day, Seth and I drove up to flat top, a lookout on a mountain over looking the city. The sunset wasn't specacular, but it sill was beautiful. If I lived in Anchorage, I would go up to that spot frequently.

By the time midnight rolled around, I was just about dead. It felt good to pull the covers over me and drift away for the night.

Day 1 (the full length version)

I awoke yesterday morning numerous time. At 4 I was wide awake. I think my body has an internal security system that doesnt let me sleep past 8 or 9 oclock eastern time. So I fought with it for the next two hours because Seth was completley out and there was no one else was up. At 6 o'clock I just gave up and got out of bed.

The Richardson family is such a blessing for hosting me. When I got in the night before, I found a large sign decorated in markey lying on the bed that was designated to be mine saying "WELCOME (home) JOSH!!!". I also found this gnarley little tub for all of my bathroom gear on the window sill of the bathroom. It had my name written on nit with Duct tape. pretty sweet. no one in the lower 48 has ever done that before.


Yesterday we went to church. Seths dad Dennis is a pastor there. I love Mountain View Church. They are little church of about 50 members. But they ahave a service where homeless people come off the street and get breakfast and coffee and hear the gospel. They are really doing the Lords work.

After church seth and i went to Kincaid Park, a recreational area with lots of trails, freisbee golf course, and trees that smell really good. Kincaid has a trail that leads down to the beach which is pretty sweet. Anchorage is on an inlet and the water is usually a sweltering 55 degrees. perfect for swimming.

seth and i tried slacklining at Kincaid. if you dont know what slacklining is, basically it consists of attempting to balance on a rope that is hung between two trees. the rope is wicked tight and the object is to walk across it. it is quite difficult, but i am committed to becoming a slacklining master jedi by the time i leave alaska. Seth has already achieved this status in the slacklining world.

then we came home and had some pretty awesome vegetable muffins and stuffed shells for dinner. i like the richardsons because they eat really healthy. there isnt really any junk in their house. Probably because Dennis thinks junk food is an abomination or something.

then around 9 seths old friends from high school came over and we had a fire on his porch and made smores. i liked his friends. they all look very earthy. all of them wore chocos. you could tell the loved alaska. seth has got a view of the mountians from his porch. pretty epic.

they all left at midnight. the sun was just starting to go down by then.


i was tired and jumped into bed. i have made a goal only to get 5-6 hours of sleep while i am here. sometimes in life, i think sleep is utterly a pointless waste of time. this is one of those special occasions.


well, to all in the lower 48 reading this,

have a blessed day.


JN

Day 1

Well, welcome to my little blog. Thanks for stopping by. I am not quite sure where this will go, but I am glad you are apart of it. Yesterday was one of the longest days I have had in a long time, on top of two of the most packed weeks i have had in a long time. Yesterday, Off The Wall and Polen finally finished out two week Seize the Summer tour. We had spent two weeks on the road, challenging the Church in five states to seize the summer for Christ. We finished in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, which is where my day started.

I awoke at 4:30, ready for a long day of traveling. My flight left from Philly to Boston at 8:15, and the airport was an hour away. That accounted for such an early wake up.

I was blessed to be flying to Anchorage from Boston... I found the best deal out of Logan airport. So, I landed around 9 and got to spend about 6 hours with my family before heading to the airport again to start my long anticipated trip to Alaska.

God has been so faithful... I only had six hours with my parents and sister, but they were quite enjoyable. I got to see the Atlantic and eat at my favorite diner on the North Shore before I left. I got to Logan around 5 as my flight left at 6:15.


At Logan, I found a Barnes and Noble and started browsing through it. I saw the controversial book, Love Wins, by Rob Bell and after fighting with myself for a few minutes, decided to buy it and read it on the flight. To hear my thoughts on it, check my other blog, "The Heart of Life".

The flight to Minneapolis felt rather long, much longer than 3 hours. It probably had something to do with the fact that reading Love Wins was not the most enjoyable experience I have had in Christian literature. That, coupled with the fact that I ran out of trail mix half way through the flight causing my stomach to make those noises telling me i need to eat.

Minneapolis was beautiful. The sun was setting as we landed. It was bout 830 central time. The flight to Alaska was jammed. Not one open seat. Unfortunately, i didnt get an window seat. I asked the guy at the desk if there were any available, and he sorta laughed at me. I guess people grab them ASAP. So i ended up getting the aisle seat, which is second best to the window.

I realized something about myself while flying. I love to travel. But I dont enjoy it nearly as much when I do it alone. I have been flying alone a lot the past few years since i moved to Ohio. There was definitely a sense of independence at first, but now i just feel lonely and find myself wishing I had a companion who enjoys airports, the feeling of taking off, and turbulence as much as I do.

It was a long flight. About 5 and a half hours. I slept off an on for some of it. I think i probably dozed an hour total.

it was good to get off the plane at midnight. It was even better to see Seths face waiting for me at baggage claim. the mustache was funny, but he looked way more legit with longer hair and glasses. He is one of the only 20 year old that can rock that look. he had his tight jeans, chocos, and v neck t as usual.

Alaska is just as i remember it. The air is so fresh. It radiates the scent of life... the mountains clear and snow peaked. God created a special place when he made Alaska. It only makes me imagine more what heaven will be like. We landed as the sun was setting, somewhere around midnight. Only in Alaska.

We got back to Seths house after 1230 cause of baggage. Thankfully, my guitar came in... and surprisingly in tune!

I fell asleep next to my good friend on the floor of his living room somewhere after 2.

Life is good and so is God. He is continually faithful and has blessed me with so much.

Thank you Lord.

check back tonight for today's post.


from Anchorage Alaska,


JN