Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Clifton StrengthsFinder

This just in narcissistic nerd just learned more about himself.

All kidding aside I love to take these types of personalities tests and quizzes. This one is called Strengths Finder, and it comes with a book. You need to get to book to be able to log on and take the test. I first got wind of it a few months ago when all the BIOLA kids took it for a leadership class, I wanted to try it out then but never had a reason to, until now that is. My entire Life Group, aka Small Group Bible Study, took it. It helps us function and understand each other better individually and as a group.
The test determines what your top 5 strengths are from a pool of 34. And from what I read about mine, it seems pretty accurate, at least it is very insightful. And here are mine, or to quote the test itself...
"Below are my top five themes of talent, ranked in the order revealed by my responses to the Clifton StrengthsFinder. As you may know, the Clifton StrengthsFinder measures the 34 themes of talent determined by The Gallup Organization as those that most consistently predict outstanding performance. The greater the presence of a theme of talent within a person, the more likely that person is to spontaneously exhibit those talents in day-to-day behaviors. Focusing on natural talents helps people build them into strengths and enjoy personal, academic, and career success through consistent, near-perfect performance. How well do you think these themes describe me?"



Ideation

You are fascinated by ideas. What is an idea? An idea is a concept, the best explanation of the most events. You are delighted when you discover beneath the complex surface an elegantly simple concept to explain why things are the way they are. An idea is a connection. Yours is the kind of mind that is always looking for connections, and so you are intrigued when seemingly disparate phenomena can be linked by an obscure connection. An idea is a new perspective on familiar challenges. You revel in taking the world we all know and turning it around so we can view it from a strange but strangely enlightening angle. You love all these ideas because they are profound, because they are novel, because they are clarifying, because they are contrary, because they are bizarre. For all these reasons you derive a jolt of energy whenever a new idea occurs to you. Others may label you creative or original or conceptual or even smart. Perhaps you are all of these. Who can be sure? What you are sure of is that ideas are thrilling. And on most days this is enough.



Strategic

The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios, always asking, “What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?” This recurring question helps you see around the next corner. There you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. You cull and make selections until you arrive at the chosen path—your strategy. Armed with your strategy, you strike forward. This is your Strategic theme at work: “What if?” Select. Strike



Maximizer

Excellence, not average, is your measure. Taking something from below average to slightly above average takes a great deal of effort and in your opinion is not very rewarding. Transforming something strong into something superb takes just as much effort but is much more thrilling. Strengths, whether yours or someone else’s, fascinate you. Like a diver after pearls, you search them out, watching for the telltale signs of a strength. A glimpse of untutored excellence, rapid learning, a skill mastered without recourse to steps—all these are clues that a strength may be in play. And having found a strength, you feel compelled to nurture it, refine it, and stretch it toward excellence. You polish the pearl until it shines. This natural sorting of strengths means that others see you as discriminating. You choose to spend time with people who appreciate your particular strengths. Likewise, you are attracted to others who seem to have found and cultivated their own strengths. You tend to avoid those who want to fix you and make you well rounded. You don’t want to spend your life bemoaning what you lack. Rather, you want to capitalize on the gifts with which you are blessed. It’s more fun. It’s more productive. And, counterintuitively, it is more demanding.


Positivity

You are generous with praise, quick to smile, and always on the lookout for the positive in the situation. Some call you lighthearted. Others just wish that their glass were as full as yours seems to be. But either way, people want to be around you. Their world looks better around you because your enthusiasm is contagious. Lacking your energy and optimism, some find their world drab with repetition or, worse, heavy with pressure. You seem to find a way to lighten their spirit. You inject drama into every project. You celebrate every achievement. You find ways to make everything more exciting and more vital. Some cynics may reject your energy, but you are rarely dragged down. Your Positivity won’t allow it. Somehow you can’t quite escape your conviction that it is good to be alive, that work can be fun, and that no matter what the setbacks, one must never lose one’s sense of humor.


Activator

“When can we start?” This is a recurring question in your life. You are impatient for action. You may concede that analysis has its uses or that debate and discussion can occasionally yield some valuable insights, but deep down you know that only action is real. Only action can make things happen. Only action leads to performance. Once a decision is made, you cannot not act. Others may worry that “there are still some things we don’t know,” but this doesn’t seem to slow you. If the decision has been made to go across town, you know that the fastest way to get there is to go stoplight to stoplight. You are not going to sit around waiting until all the lights have turned green. Besides, in your view, action and thinking are not opposites. In fact, guided by your Activator theme, you believe that action is the best device for learning. You make a decision, you take action, you look at the result, and you learn. This learning informs your next action and your next. How can you grow if you have nothing to react to? Well, you believe you can’t. You must put yourself out there. You must take the next step. It is the only way to keep your thinking fresh and informed. The bottom line is this: You know you will be judged not by what you say, not by what you think, but by what you get done. This does not frighten you. It pleases you.


Those of you who know me best feel free to let me know if you think the tests assessments are correct.

Monday, April 28, 2008

A Week Excuse.

I drew and wrote this last week while subbing. Today was the first day I could get around to posting them.



While driving I realized that this past year has been very difficult. But would I change it? Now that I have tasted this kaleidoscope of flavors and smells would I, or could I abandon them for the safe and mundane vanilla? I don't think I could. I know sometimes I pick fruit that is not yet ripe and bite into it only to find bitter disappointment. Or I hesitate or forget to gather soon enough only to find rotten and over ripened opportunities. But what ever the outcome, I am learning, growing,and experiencing. What I am trying to say is that I am trying to live a life of risk for the Lord. I can afford to risk at this stage in my life. It is exciting and scary, to quote Eugene Peterson it's an "in between moment".


(OG Sketch)

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Friday, April 25, 2008

Let's all go to the lobby...

I drew these today while recording PotterCast.




Guess who is who

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Pellegrino Time

I was having a really bad day on Monday, but my wonderful and awesome parents came out to visit me to cheer me up. They came with gifts, food and PELLEGRINO!





I love them so much.

Monday, April 21, 2008

"Am I above a bruise?"

Hey Guys, sorry for the lack of posts. I have like 3 paged from my sketchbook that I want to scan in an post. But this week all my drawing time has been spent painting frames for an animatic. Once it is finished I may be able to post some of it, but right now it is too classified ;)

To tide you over here is the doodle I did last Thursday while recording PotterCast. I had fun.



I wish I could just sit here and ramble away with what has been going on in my life and heart, but I dont really have the time to get into specifics. The Lord has been doing an overhaul on my heart these last few weeks and it really came to a head this past week; in many forms like comfort, rest, and solace, and in some really scary ways too. Issues dealing with my future, finances, friendships, love, lust, doubt, depression and my calling. I guess I needed and continue to need to really search myself and see if the path I am on is the one that I want my ministry and life to go down.  And I think I have realized something, I realized that I don't really care anymore. And that is a good thing, all I really care about is that wounded hand.  As long as Christ's hand in mine I will be safe, I wont always be comfortable but I will be safe. The best part is that He walks beside me, He will never drag me only adventure out with me. With each step His love will reveal more and more of the path ahead.

It will be a hard journey, with many joys and many tears. When I get weak I will remember Christ is my support. When I am wounded I will remember that even Christs heal was bruised when He crushed the serpent. And when I doubt and fear I will spur myself on by asking, "Am I above a bruise?"

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Professor Frakitty

My HP nerdiness has brought forth some new and awesome fruit!
Me as a cat! HEY-OH!



My friend
Grace Alba drew this!
I lent her my copies of the HP Series. Now I can nerd out with her about Harry Potter stuff, and we can nerd out and do drawings together of HP stuff too! WOOT! Check out more of her HP art by clicking Professor Frakitty.
I love her
Tonk's.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Which Witch?

I always fall for the fictional girls. Le sigh... Any who because of my regular obsession with Harry Potter and my reinvigorated interest in Buffy I decided to draw two or my all time favorite fictional ladies. I should have added Demona into the mix, but I didn't think of that until right now.



Okay nerd question... Who would win in a brawl Willow or Hermione? I think Hermione knows more, but I would argue Willow has more raw magical power, mind you at one point she did almost destroy the world. Maybe if Hermione recruited Xander she would be to defeat her. Lol I dunno. Now I wanna draw a little comic of Harry, Hermione, and Ron versus Buffy, Willow, and Xander. Oh what fun would that be.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

David

Some drawings I did today.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Church Notes | Sex Love & God: week two

This week the study addressed way that love can flourish. Through restraint, risk, and resolve.

"Restraint has nothing to do with slavery and everything to do with freedom."

Love is giving the other person the freedom to reject you.

Resolve to love your spouse, don't believe the lie that there is a greener pasture out there. That there is someone who can fulfill you on a deeper level. There will be times where you need to roll up your sleeves and choose to love.



This weeks message was needed on my part. Having never known love in this manner it was refreshing and encouraging to me to see what patience can bring. I will have restraint until I find the woman God has for me. When I find her I will need to risk my heart by letting her not just look at me, but truly see me. And I will resolve to wait for her, and not to curb the appetite of my flesh by settling. It is going to be a long and rigorous road, and I know I wont be able to walk it without Christ.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Buff Trees

I am drawing some frames for an animatic in doing so I realized that I suck, so I needed to calm my mind and to indulge in some idiosyncrasies.

Last night I played a rousing game of Telephone Pictionary at my buddy Phil's apartment with some friends from church, Chris, Kayla, and Sarah, as well as Jimmy, one of Phil's roomies.

Hungry Worm turned into...



Alien Buffet.

Blind Guide-Dog turn into...



Blind Frankie (and I will have you know I would be this sad if I went blind).

And the best for last. Sore Branches turned into...



... Chris's AWESOME drawing of a male Strong Tree who like to work out! :D

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Homeless Doodles

These are some doodles who did not find their way into my sketch book.









And I did this one while recording PotterCast this week, hence the names.

The Burbank Adventure

On Tuesday Phil, John, and myself went out to Burbank, CA to see a recording of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. We got there early and made a day of it, It was fun.
He is a record of our shenanigans.



I also stopped by the Comic Book store to catch up on Buffy Season 8. I have been watching Buffy online while working and drawing, I am hooked again.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Snobby Frankie



Last Friday evening after getting dinner with some pals we headed over to Chris's apartment. On the way over to his place Chris and Phil we subject to another rant of mine about Port wine, so we moseyed on over to a Ralph's to buy some. I found a 10 year old Tawny Port. When buying it I was not carded, the cashier instead asked me about the wine and expressed to me that he has been meaning to try some. I encouraged him to do so. On the way out of the store I pointed out to Chris and Phil that he did not card me, and that it must have been because I was so refined and classy. Phil however brought clarity to the situation, as he often does, by saying he doubts that many kids buy expensive desert wine to get crunked on.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Church Notes | Sex Love & God: week one

Notes from Sundays service, we started a new series on Sexuality. I am really looking forward to it, the Pastor really knew how to handled and teach on this topic.I am praying that the Lord shows Him self to me and in me in some new ways over the next six weeks.



I had fun coloring this one. Did it while watching Buffy on Hulu.
Stay tuned for a Buffy/Potter drawing.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Church Notes

Church on Sunday was a wonderful and powerful experience.
The Lord met me where I was.

It is so humbling when the Lord bends down and meets you where you are. It can be very difficult to accept. I know I can do nothing for Him, but I feel like I need to do something. In my head I think I can meet Him half way via obedience and sacrifice. I forget that all I can to is be willing and obedient. Sunday night after service during a time of Worship and Prayer He came down beside. Through the prayers and encouragement of a friend and brother the Lord lifted me up out of my despair and doubt. It was an oasis of peace in this dessert I have been marching through. I am not out of the brier and thorns of my own trials, but I have a refreshed clarity and renewed drive for Him.



As clique as it may sound, it is true. I can do nothing for Him, but I can do mighty things Through Him, If I let Him.

How anyone can claim Christianity is void of dynamics, and is only dead set of rules is beyond me. It's a living and dynamic experience of existentialism, philosophy, knowledge, hope, faith, confusion, clarity, love, growth, determination, sacrifice, humility, and I could go on. But I wont. Ha ha I ranted again.