Ten Minutes Rule

Yesterday we finally made out to our first Oregon outdoor "adventure" after a month of living here. We went for a small hike. It was raining, not the big rain, the kind of rain Portland probably has all the time during winter. Walking into the forest, I felt that I was actually in the novel Twilight (read the first book, abandon the rest, you may still have happy thoughts). Everything was wet. When the wind came, the tree would shake all the water down. Then you would have rain water all over your face and head. Otherwise, the trees blocked most of the water. You wouldn't feel that it was raining. The mist covered half of the hill. When you looked down toward Portland direction, everything was covered in the mist.
The two boys each had an umbrella in hands. They waved the umbrellas back and forth, flipped it inside out and outside in, like two octopus swimming in the sea. The forest was quiet. Along the way, we saw 3 bicylist. Apparently, if you took the wide road through the forest, you could bike all the way to Portland. As usual, Justin found a banana slug and put on my car. The poor thing was so panic, that it pooped on my car. Why boys love yakie things or it was my expression that Justin was after?
Back in the forest, I was thinking how our lives have changed. If there is a psychology book on analyzing the stages of what people go through when they move from one place to another, I am probably in the stage that is called comparing stage. I compare everything here to my Sacramento home. I even made up a rule called 10 minutes rule. When I was in Sacramento, it took me at least 40 minutes or longer to get to work or home per one way. Now it takes me 10 minutes to get to work from where we rent the place. It took Steve 30 to 40 minutes to send the kids to school to Woodland. Now it takes him about 10 minutes. I started to send the kids to Chinese school to learn Chinese on Saturday morning. Why? Because it takes me about 10 minutes to get to school. Back in Sacramento, I had to drive all the way to South Sacramento for that. So I never did it. When I lived in Sacramento, every weekend, I would go to the farmers' market to get my fresh vegetables, which it took me about 15 minutes to drive to Broadway. Now, I don't do that any more even there is a farmers' market in Beaverton. First of all, there is no Asian fresh vegetable at the farmers' market. Even I go to the Farmers' market (once), I don't get my beloved Asian vegetables, no to mention the price for "fresh" is so high here. Second, as you guessed, it takes more than 10 minutes to get there. Here within 10 minutes, I could go to Winco, Fred Meyer, Trader Joe's, Safeway, or Albertson. People become lazy when everything seems just shrinked to 5 to 6 miles of radius. As for this hiking trip, the 10 minutes rule may not apply, but I don't think it took us longer than 15 minutes to get here. If it did take longer, mainly due to the husband did not know which one was the right entrance. If we were in Sacramento, we probably had to drive over an hour to find a spot for hiking.
I was walking in the forest, in the mist, imagine if a terrible good look vampire may show up (haha). Everything was beautiful, so picture like. However, I had to admit that I missed Sacramento terribly. I missed my old life because I already had habits that were built up. I knew everything around me. I had friends at work, friends at home, friends at the Club to take exercise class with. I liked what I was doing at work, my co-workers were wonderful. I never knew how the Gathering made me so comfortable. I know years from now, I am going to laugh about this my self made comparing stage theory. Where we live is a beautify place: the green, the hills, the rain, and my 10 minutes rules (heehee). Sorry, still don't know much about Portland, since it is half hour away. Someday, we will make to the Columbia river. As for now, I would just stand in the forest in Beaverton, looking at Portland through mist, which couldn't see anything much.

Searching for church 2 - Solid Rock

Solid Rock has a reputation with me. Before I came to Oregon, my friend Shelley has sent me the Sermon via mail. Then when Erin from Dave's church - Bridge of Life knew we were going to move to Oregon, she also said to us that a friend of hers love Solid Rock very much. So on the third weekend after we arrived Hillsboro, Shelley took us there. Well, she did not really take us, since she had a friend to visit her from California that weekend. So she told me the address and promise to meet me there. She repeated several times to tell me to arrive early and help her to get 5 seats as well. "Because if you don't go there early, you have to stand" she said. I had a hard time to imagine. However, it was true.
Solid Rock has 4 sermons on Sunday: 8 am, 10 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm. It also has one on Saturday in Portland as well. The popular time are very full, such as 10 am and 12 pm. It has more than 5000 members. The church is located in a business office area, a little bit like the Gathering's office building, except it is at the end of the drive. One way in and one way out. The traffic is very very bad. The parking is hard to find. There are people there to direct traffic. People are everywhere.
When you got inside the door, you felt that you were at the entrance of a movie theater, except there were lots of food, juice, and coffee on some big tables. There are many big double doors to get into the hall. One feels like coming to a rock concert than anything else. We had a hard time to find seat; however, we did manage to sit with Shelley's family and her friends. When the music started, you really felt that you were in a rock music concert. It was so professional. Shelley said they have many bands come to sing because so many bands want to sing here. Here everything is packed. I don't think there are many empty seats. The kids were sent to the proper age group. Everything is so organized and everything is so pleasant, except there are so many people. We had to wait in line to get Justin and Darian back.
When I look at Solid Rock, I think about Ron. The music, the sound system, the surrounding, they all have the idea how Ron would like the Gathering to be. No one hands you a basket and there are Bibles all over the place for your connivance to take one and follow the sermon. I have to admit I am really impressed about Solid Rock. According to Shelley, within 4-5 years, Solid Rock has grown to this big church. It was intended for young people. They want the kids not leave Christianity after leave home and going to college. That is why the music is so strong and there are many young people program within the church. Shelley is very grateful to Solid Rock because she feels that her child has matured over the years coming to this church. Of course, the sermon so far is very good as well. We are on 1 Corinthians. The among of background matches my desire to learn the history behind of everything. The message is so clear and simple. I get to know so much about Paul.
So did I find a church I like? Yes, I did. Would I consider this is it? No, because I can't handle its size. Here, everything takes extra time. Of course, don't think about going to bathroom. We can't just get our kids because we have to wait in line. We can't get out the parking lot, because one way in and one way out. The second week when we went there, the traffic light were out. Boy, can you imagine the pain everyone was going through? Justin has decided after 2 visits, he does not like Solid Rock for one reason only, too many people. I don't know what to do yet. One thing for sure, I know I like the sermons a lot. Here is Solid Rock website: http://www.ajesuschurch.org/info/church-info/
Let me know what you think about the sermon. Next time: another big church in OR we visited last weekend.