Gabe's Visit & Subverting the Empire!

On Monday night I hung out with a friend of a friend. His name is Gabe. His brother lives here and he has family all around this area in upstate New York so he's here for a few weeks. It was fun to see someone from back home. We grabbed some Starbucks and walked around the park for a bit. We tried to go into F.A.O. Schwartz (which btw he had never heard of!!), but alas it was closed. So, we took a really strange photo instead....

We're going to open mic night at a famous jazz club next Monday. It's gonna be awesome! No I will not be partaking in the singing portion.

Yesterday was defiantly one of those days where you just feel God.

For lunch I went and got food with two of my fellow interns and we went and sat in a park. We were discussing about our evening plans and I told them I was to a discussion about being an artist and a Christian in a secular world. Little did I know that this was going to open whole bunch of questions. To my surprise, the two were very interested in what my faith was and how it affected my decisions. We touched on everything from abortion, to gay marriage, to drinking. I know it's strange, but no one has ever actually asked me questions after I casually mention church or that I'm a Christian. I have many nonbeliever friends, but they have just never been interested like this before. Overall I think our conversation went well. They didn't always agree with what I said, but they listened. It was very cool and I'm glad I got a chance to talk with them about my faith. One of them had actually never met someone who lives their life by their faith.

On my way home from work, I got the text message from Josh saying how his father's cancer had spread through his brain. Operating is no longer an option and chemo is the next step. All the mean while construction has stared on their home. This family has been through so much and my heart just breaks for them and I don't like that I can't be there. But God is sovereign and His plan is perfect. Now we just have to wait and pray.

After dinner I went to the artist discussion. I heard about it on Sunday at church. It was called Subverting the Empire Through Art. I thought about not going. Thinking I was tired and little sick, but I forced myself to go. Saying I need to meet more believers and I need good fellowship. As I went to the building, I didn't even think about the location of the address off 5th Avenue. Until I approached the building and it hit me, this is 5th Avenue. There was a door man dressed to the nines, a gentleman at a desk inside, and gentleman in each elevator. Once we reached the 38th floor, he showed me to the door of the apartment. As I walked in I felt so out of place, but you know, acted like I belonged. Said hi to a few people and to JR (the pastor who I met on Sunday). I noticed a few people looking out the panoramic windows so I went for a glance. You could see central park and up around the whole city. It was amazing and beautiful.
There were about 14 of us who went. For almost two hours we talked about what we as artist could do, to help send a different message to the city then all the negative ones we see everywhere. We talked about the city needs and what contradicts the norm. We picked a central theme of Hope and Relationships. Each of us is now to brainstorm how we can use our gifts to spread this message. We're going to meet in two weeks and see what we came up with.
It was great to meet some new people and have fellowship with believes. I left so encouraged and with the names of people. Now I'll have someone to sit next to on Sunday. I'm glad God put it on my heart to go.