Down at Colfax and Broadway

So I am leaving class yesterday, walking out to my peice of crap smashed to heck car, feeling a little tired and worn out from class, studying, being super poor, living in a neirborhood where your car gets broken into, and trying to balance all these things with the relationships that matter most in life. The first song to pop onto my Ipod is "Where the Zero Meets the Fifteen" (lyrics below) by Five Iron Frenzy (yes I still listen to them all the time). I have always liked the song, I mean it's about dealing with all the stuff and still wanting to share in and share Christ with others, right at that moment a guy comes up to me and asks if I have a cigerate and I say "No, I don't smoke." (read the lyrics) And as he walks away all I can do is laugh and smile that God is good and at the very least thinks it's funny (funny in a good way like "Caleb your so cute when your tired, I died for your sins) that I would struggle with the amazing stuff He has given me and put in my life. Anyway I have never connected with this song so much in my life. Favorite line "How can I ever save the world, on cup-o-soup and student loans?" Good thing it's not up to me all I have to do is trust He will fill me up and when I'm bumped He will spill out. Anyway above is a picture of the intersection the song is about, after my senior year in high school my family took a trip to Colorado and I asked my parents if we could swing by downtown Denver to take a picture of this intersection. And how cool are my parents they actually let me, totally an hour out of the way, it's funny what parents will do for their children... Thank God for His grace, Thank God for parents, Thank God for being busy and having things in my life to care about...
Godspeed,
Caleb M. Saarela

"My car broke down in Arizona,
have to ride the bus again,
at ten-o-clock on Tuesday night,
with thirteen cents and a broken pen.
I put my backpack on the bench,
tell two people I don’t smoke,
see the cop across the street,
he thinks that I am selling dope,
I could have walked another block,
to get away from the scene.
Why does it always come to this,
where zero meets fifteen?

And so I gave my thirteen cents,
to the man who peed his pants.
He passes out and falls on me,
I watch my change fall from his hand.
I see the lady next to me,
holds her baby black blue.
The junkie gutter-punks keeps asking,
where I got my new tattoo.
What does it matter anyway,
thirteen cents or all I own?
How can I ever save the world,
on cup-o-soup and student loans?

I want to try and save the world,
but it never goes that way.
God I don’t know what to do,
down at Colfax and Broadway.

Now the man with no shoes on,
says I don’t know how to play.
He says I fumble all the time.
He thinks that I am John Elway.
I put my face down in my hands,
water wells inside my eyes.
What do I have to give them?
Does it matter if I try?
I can’t stand to see yousuffer,
I try to intellectualize,
a formula to end you pain,
it doesn’t work,
God knows I’ve tried.
Sometimes my cup is overfilled.
Sometimes I’m too afraid that I’m going to spill."
R. Roper

New Link

Hi all, I have added a link to Scott Teece's blog. He is the coolest guy I know. He is smart and will probably have useful information on his blog instead of just endless ramblings. Anyway my blog actually has a link on his that is what the coolness reference is to. Anyway you will have to check it out. Ha Ha now I have put all sorts of pressure on him to come through and be entertaining he is sure to fail. Then I will rule the world!!! Or I will get a chicken sandwich or I will get to do a jig with a small man in a funny hat, it's one of those oh well I guess we will have to wait and see.
Getting hungry for a chicken sandwich,
Caleb

P.S. I used "to" correctly there! Right? You know who you are "Bandit Grammar Checker" or the "BGC" for short and one day I will find out who you are and hit you with vowels...

P.P.S. I am in a very strange mood...

One more cool picture

So on Friday Mitch and myself were waiting for Scott and I took this picture of Mitch off of his stereo. Anyway I think it is a pretty sweat picture it is titled "digital reflections." Hope you hate it.
Caleb

A Night with Little to do

Well I have a night here were I actually have some time to relax and do some fun stuff. I still should do some Medical Terminology exercises, but am starting to feel O.K. about where I am at with the subject. First test next week. This is the first test I have taken since May of 2001. Wow I'm old; it's been four and a half years since I was in college. Well that proves there is hope for all of yall who are not sure what you want to do with your life.

I know some people's blogs are like these huge theological places where people share the monstrous ideas. Then there is mine, a bunch of funny pictures with the occasional story about how weird life is.
Well this time I have more pictures and a book review, how bout them apples.

First the book, I just finished (like two minutes ago) "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller, who is the author of "Blue Like Jazz." Special thanks to Eileen for letting me borrow it forever you can have it back now, sorry I'm a loser. I really liked the book it made me feel the same way "Blue Like Jazz" did that. “How did it make you feel Caleb?” Well since you asked I have a lot of these thoughts or inclinations in my head but don't know exactly how to explain them and then you read Donald’s writing and you are like “Yes that’s it, I’m so glad he explained it.” I enjoyed his ideas about how our society lives in lifeboat. Meaning the whole thing is going down we had better try to get to the front of the line so we don’t get thrown out like how we value the cool looking people. And we do this even more in the Christian culture. A great experiment is go to best buy or someplace that sells CD’s and look for one with an ugly person on it. It will be a little tricky but you can do it. Especially if you go somewhere off the beaten path like cheapo or electric fetus. Then go to a Christian music distributor and try and do the same thing. Anyway it will be harder to find one at the Christian bookstore. Very interesting.
The other central idea is that the Christian life is about a relationship with God and relationships with others not about solving your problems with formulas. The Bible doesn’t use them. God didn’t put any in the Bible it’s about a story. Anyway formulas are bad they will not solve our problems. They may bring us comfort for a time, but in the end it is only God who can take away the pain. Even the gospel has been turned into a formula. Anyway I think everyone should read Donald Miller's books. Mostly because he gives a different perspective that is not often found in the American Christian culture. I think his books would be highly frowned upon in many churches, which is bad, becuase I think he is right on with a lot of stuff. I don't know if I agree with every word he says and I am sure we would have some theological differences, but the point is this he is thinking outside the box and pushing the American church to think long and hard about what we believe and why we believe it.

Now time for some fun stuff. People have been making fun of me cause all the pictures on my blog are of me and I am really self absorbed, oh wait I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud, my bad, I mean all of you really love me, oh wait that doesn’t sound right either. Anyway a friend who has moved away from the great state of Minnesota was in town last night and he and some friends were over. Here are some pictures of them. I can’t put up pictures of the children at work you know I would be fired and I kind of like my job. So here are some pictures of other people and one of me… Ha Ha…
Godspeed,
Caleb M. Saarela

P.S. You can click on the pictures or any of the pictures on my blog and you will get to see a larger version of them, just so you know.

Feeling a little better

Well I am feeling a little better, good talk with a friend after work and good time hanging with a Scott, Mitch and Nathan. This is a funny picture I mean really funny. And Justin took the other one.
Caleb

Well this has to be short

Just a quick post and then it's off to bed. I had this like super busy but super productive weekend. I studied a ton saw my parents hung out with friends got my hair cut studied some more, and went to a congragational meeting. Anyway here are some pictures of my hair cut (below) before and after. Scott my friend cut it he did an amazing job it looks like a profesional, which I can't spell. Anyway I'm amazed at his...

BARBZERDRY

. Here is a link to a Strong Bad e-mail about such things remember to click on barbzerdry in the e-mail and then after the paper comes down remember to click on napping strong sad (the words) and eyebrow style the words you can also click on the poster while the box is dancing and you will find another easter egg. If you understand any of that last sentence you are my new best friend. BFFTW!!! Yes best friend for this week, I can't settle down you know, I am the cat's meow... O.K. just getting weird now, bye...
Caleb

Random Monday Rants...

All right this is going to be a ton of little different things.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Here is a link to Dr. King’s I have a dream speech.








Yesterday Nathan, Mitch, Brent and myself went up to Bethlehem to watch the documentary “Citizen King” about Dr. King’s life from 1963 to 1968. It was really good, a little mix of information and emotions. If you ever get the chance you should check it out.

Yesterday at church we sang the song “I’m on the Battlefield” arr. by Ron Porter it was a nice song. What I really liked was Pastor Kenny Stokes prayer afterward. I liked how he described becoming a Christian is like being born onto a battlefield. It’s just an interesting way of looking at it. It reminded me of the scene in the movie “12 Monkeys” when Bruce Willis’s character goes back in time and ends up in World War I. He is naked and confused and needs the help of others. Like every analogy it kind of starts to break down but remember when you first came to faith or had that experience that put you back on the path with the Lord, how crazy excited were you? You charged the line, absolutely fearless. As time goes on you need to regroup, refocus, retool, sharpen your sword, and all of the other great war analogies. Anyway it made me think.

Next, my favorite pair of shoes have finally hit their end. It’s over they have been the best shoes for the last three years. I got them two days after I got back from China. I will swear by Vans they are the best, super durable. So I wrote a poem about them. It’s funny and not meant to be taken seriously at all.










My Vans
My skateboard shoes are dying
Holes on all sides explode
They have never seen a skateboard flying
Pops and squeaks along the road

Brown with blue, spots of tan
Lace drag, seams thread barren
Feet slide in and I’m the man
I walk by the chicks are stare’en

I’ve worn them everywhere
In every situation, on my feet
Through horror, trial and care
Now their end they face defeat

Their task completed the quest is over
The insides have been laid to waste
I will see them like my brother
Forty dollars later they will be replaced
Caleb M. Saarela




Goodbye my shoes, oh so sad…

Next, I want to write one little thing about the article on Jonathan Christman’s blog. I believe that there is risk in every relationship. EVERY relationship! It is the risk that makes the relationships in our life worthwhile. If you never take a risk in any relationship you will never get to know anyone intimately. I think about the relationships that have meant the most in my life they are with people who have asked me the hard questions and who I have shared my soul with. I will use my relationship with my roommate Mitch as an example. I have only known Mitch a year and we have lived together for five months. We have gotten to know each other pretty well, we have had the chance to share very personal things with each other, we lead a Bible study together, and we have many of the same friends in our church communities. The risk we have taken is that if we would have a falling out it would affect so many aspects of our lives. I actually think we could pull off the living together just fine. People live together all the time and never interact it isn’t fun but it is doable, but it would have an affect on our friends, Bible study, and we would both lose the joy of the relationship. We have made a decision and said this relationship is worth the risk.
I feel like many people try and create risk free relationships and I just don’t think they exist on a deep level. I am not promoting recklessness but we all take calculated risks in relationships and I think that is a good thing. I have a glued hand analogy but this is getting long so that will have to wait for another time.

One more thing…

Rock N’ Roll
I am such a dork

Godspeed,
Caleb M. Saarela

Check it out...

So you should all check out Jonathan Christman's newest blog, it is about dating. I am interested to see what people think about it. Actually I'm really interested to see what Jonathan has to say. Please excuse my horrendous spelling on my post I was writting fast at work. Anyway check it out there is a link on the side.
Godspeed,
Caleb

So this is tired

I think I am starting to get it. I mean what it really means to be tired. To run from one thing to the next for like three days straight, and to forget the joys of more than five hours of sleep. I think this is what most people call "real life". Already in the morning I hear myself saying things like "God don't let me be rude or short tempered today because of my lack of sleep." And I'm not even that far into this. Anyway I think that is a good place to be, not resting on myself to keep my temperament but resting in God to keep it. Trusting that even though I am tired and the students are not listening I am going to be loving and it has nothing to do with me. In the end it comes down to being satisfied in God and Him getting the glory and me getting the joy, really Christian Hedonism in practice, yea... O.K. I got to get back to work. I now have an e-mail address I can check at work it is, saar0068@metnet.edu
O.K. bye...
Caleb M. Saarela


This made me laugh this morning from the Five Iron Frenzy song named "O' Canada"

"They've got trees, and mooses, and sled dogs,
Lots of lumber, and lumberjacks, and logs!
We all think it's kind of a drag,
That you have to go there to get milk in a bag.
They say "eh?" instead of "what?" or "duh?"
That's the mighty power of Canada.
I want to be where lemmings run into the sea,
Where the marmosets can attack me.

Let's go to Canada, let's leave today,
Canada, oh, Canada, I Sil Vous Plait."
R. Roper

So nice to be back

Wow it's nice to be back at work. I am not complaining about the huge amount of time we had off but it is nice to be doing something. It was nice to see Justin again he really liked my new camera, he likes taking pictures of random things and then erasing them. I'm really interested to see how this all works heading pretty much straight to school after work. I know millions of people throughout the history of the world have done this it's just I never have. I will be going from three years of "aimless nothing" to a focused direction. It's funny how much things can change in like three months, or even in a matter of weeks... It's funny how one little thing can change how you see things, your life, the world.
Anyway, one of the most horrible things on the planet starts later this month. That's right American Idol is back. I would never watch the show and don't really mind when others do, way to go mom, but what I hate is the way people treat it like news.
"This morning on action news an American Idol update, and some other news about our community but back to the important stuff." "Last night in a stunning turn of events someone sang!!!" It's a show, not news. I think I want to vomit...
Singing with the Kings,
Caleb M. Saarela

P.S. I didn't spell check this or grammer check it, sorry just writting at a break at work...

I need to go back to work

Seriously I am climbing the walls I need to go back to work. I was too good with my time the week and now I have nothing to do. So I have sat and read like the whole day finished my paper and at least the Gopher hockey team is on tonight. Anyway I would put my affirmation of faith on here but it is pretty boreing. Well everything starts monday back to work back to school. There are so many cool things going on in my life right now I will tell you about them later. O.K. I love you all Five Iron Frenzy and the movie "Grosse Pointe Blank" rule... Bye
Caleb M. Saarela

Have I been Super Sized

Well I finally saw Super Size Me. I'm probably the last person on the planet to see it but I am on my two-week movie binge. Anyway I really liked it and was challenged by it. I felt like it really had a good balance and a healthy view of the concepts they are looking at. If you don't know the concept they are basically saying fast food is bad. But what I like is that they don't place all the blame squarely on companies like McDonalds, they are able to find a nice balance between personal responsibility and corporate responsibility, which is rare in most scare tactic movies. The thing that affected me the most was the shock his doctor was in. When his doctor basically sees the effects on his liver as the same affects of a long drinking binge and then comments, "I didn't know you could do that with a diet high in fat." Amazing, the shock of the doctor still makes me laugh.

I know some people have seen this movie and have not eaten fast food since, I don't think that will happen to me, but I will take the free advice for the many nutritionist in the movie and try and limit how often I eat a fast food restaurants to once a month or so. Anyway you should see it for the comedic value and for the interview with the author of Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser. O.K. that’s all I got man I’m super boring these during my break.

Oh a note about the New Year. I don’t know who reads this really but if I haven’t gotten the chance to hear about what the change of year means to you in 2006 I would love to hear from you. Especially right now I have time to hear from you so e-mail me let me know your thoughts on the New Year, cmsaarela@yahoo.com. O.K. talk to you soon.

Hungry Hungry Hippo(ing),
Caleb


"My body... officially hates me."
Morgan Spurlock