P is for Powder

Here are some clips from our ski trip to Steamboat Springs. It snowed about a foot each day we were there.

F is for Film Festival

This is a video I put together from the 2007 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. My brother, Nathaniel, did the interviewing.

X is for X marks the spot

Or, “Zen and the Art of Corn Mazes”

Before entering a corn maze, one has to enter a trance like state. One where you become unified with the corn.

The first few minutes you are in the maze are the most difficult. It is easy to become lost, and difficult to find your way again.

You argue with your teammates about where you are.

Out of this a strong, fearless, resourceful, and charismatic leader emerges.

As you learn to look at the map more, and less at your surroundings you start to get a feel for the scale of the maze. You enter your Zen like state.

You imagine yourself walking along the surface of your map. You use your periphery vision to look at the corn, checking from time to time whether it is matching up with what you see on the map.

It is important that you are not distracted, and that you do not stop. You don’t want to leave your trance like state. Comments from others, like: “are you sure you know where you are going,” and “I have to use the restroom.” Should be ignored.

Upon exiting the maze, it is not uncommon to experience withdrawal. As you come out of your Zen state, you become listless, your sense of purpose and focus is gone and you begin to babble incoherently with friends – you play senseless games late into the night.

P is for Prayer

I am weak my Lord, keep me strong
I am weak my Lord, keep me strong
You have brought me down the valley
I have nothing to drink, Lord
Keep me strong

I am weak my Lord, keep me strong
I am weak my Lord, keep me strong
You have taken all my food
I have no bite to eat, Lord
Keep me strong

I am weak my Lord, keep me strong
I am weak my Lord, keep me strong
You have given me no rest
I have been wide awake, Lord
Keep me strong

N is for Never let go of your ice axe

Earlier this month, Eric Van Vleet and I had a little fun on St. Mary’s Glacier in Colorado. You can witness our pitiful attempts at self arresting.

L is for Love

 

Almost one year ago, I rode my bicycle from Frisco, Colorado to Durango, Colorado. My route crossed the continental divide four times. I did a lot of pedaling uphill.

Some of the lessons I learned from the trip came to me months afterward. It would be difficult for some people to spend three weeks riding a bike alone across unpopulated mountain passes, but for me it was fun and I loved it.

When I am alone I can get along with myself, be productive, think clearly, and am happy.However, when I am alone I noticed that I can become selfish, merely because there isn’t anybody else around.

This is ok, but I have learned that it isn’t good for me to be alone all the time. I have a lot of energy, and if all that energy is put into serving me, a lot of it is wasted.

When I am with other people, helping them, I am less focused on myself. I notice that the faults I have become less. 

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” –1 Corinthians 13

So, what is love? I don’t know, that is something I am learning. However, I do know that love can be powerful-especially the love of God.

God’s love is so powerful and perfect that even though we hated him (when we were sinners), his love irresistibly drew us to him and caused us to love him. No matter how much I try to love, my love has flaws. But God’s love is perfect.

K is for Kilimanjaro

At 19,340 ft, Mount Kilimanjaro is the hightest mountain in Africa.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro usually takes six days. This man did it in under six hours.

I is for I

 

Hello, my name is Hans. 

I love adventures.  

When I am on an adventure, I don’t know what will happen next. When I am on an adventure, I might have a goal like: “I want to get to California.” But, the things that happen along the way make it an adventure.

Most of the time I am looking at the things in front of me. What fun or challenging things are happening right now? What should I do next? What will happen next?

In an adventure, I don’t know how everything is going to turn out. I hope it has a happy ending.

C is for Car Crash

The other day, somebody stepped on the gas when aiming for the brake.

B is for Bike Messenger

Bike messengers look like they have fun jobs.