Helvetica Film

This film is sort of old as far as blogging goes, and I saw it a long time ago, but is worth being reminded of. I was reminded of it by this tattoo Alison found online. I loved it...so here's the tattoo to accompany the film trailer.

Helvetica preview from Ken Lam on Vimeo.

A Run In With The Roots

Last night was a very interesting night with a few highlights just slightly too numerous to share via twitter. I was working at Urban Outfitters and checked my phone on my break. I had several texts from Alison basically saying we got free Diesel passes to an amazing show that night (Passion Pit, Cobra Starship, The Roots, and....Lady Gaga...). All I had to do was close out the sale section. Well, I was doing just that when Alison came down to say hello! She sadly said that the club was full and they weren't letting anyone else in. So, what does she do? She helps me close down sale hahaha...how great is that?? After I got out of work, we decided to go back and check on the show again. At the door, Alison very nearly ran into the guitar player for the roots and subsequently got yelled at by their security. We got out of the way and decided to head home after being denied entrance a second time. That's it and that's all.

WWI Vets Are Still Alive!

This is an article talking about the life and funeral of a British WWI veteran. I couldn't believe they are still living! Well, I followed a link to information on and interviews with the last surviving American WWI veteran on the website for the Library of Congress. Stories include experiences with German prisoners, lying about his age to enlist, and pestering officers to send him to France. I'm a sucker for history...and this is a gold mine.

Sufjan Stevens FILM

In case you haven't seen or heard of this yet...

THE BQE- A Film By Sufjan Stevens from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

So...the trailer was unclear...did Sufjan Stevens do anything in this film??

How to lose and iPhone and Be Thankful

It's been a week since I moved to NYC and there's a decent amount to report. I'll start from the very beginning...a very good place to start.

So, the first mentionable thing to happen to me in NYC is that I lost my phone. I got into a convo on the bus leaving La Guardia and left it in my lap. My hands were full of bags and I was worried about getting off the bus, so when it stopped I got up and left as quickly as possible after saying goodbye to my Brazilian dancer acquaintance. After I went down two tiring staircases carrying 100+ pounds of luggage, I realized my phone was still on the bus. I may have let out a few choice words to myself, caught the attention of a few passers by, and then got over it and attempted to figure out what train to take--since the one I wanted to take was shut down in that area. Long story shortish...I rode the train all over NYC in order to not have to transfer and finally arrived and hour and a half later to Alison's apartment--drenched in sweat.

Well, lucky for me, that's as bad as it's been thus far. The next day I went to my new church, Resurrection Presbyterian, and hung with my good friends Mario and Alexis at a bar serving free pizza with the purchase of a beer.

Now for the blessings given me in New York:
-First of all, yes, I lost my iPhone, but Chuck had very graciously given me a gift card to the Apple store that is the perfect amount to replace it with a new one. And losing the phone is the only way I would have cancelled that service, so now I save $30/month on a cheaper plan. Perhaps I've been forced into an unpleasant blessing haha. I miss my phone badly (perhaps too badly)...but it's for the best.

-I signed up for a bank account today, and since I did it today and at Bank of America, I receive $100...FOR FREE. Right?


-Now for the really great one. I got a job after only 3 days of searching!!! I intended to look for a job at Urban Outfitters immediately in New York. I had been working there for a month before I moved for that reason. Well, my good friend Jamie Finch informed me that now is actually perfect timing because they are hiring 2 people next week. So, I went in and talked to a manager two days in a row. The second day they took me downstairs and started interviewing me before I realized it. The next day I called to follow up on the second interview date and after a series of phone transfers was offered a job without the second interview! The fact that I will be working a week after I got to New York is a HUGE blessing.

Things are far from easy, but they are moving in the right direction. I am looking for another job as a bar back, banker, cook, sales associate, loss prevention agent, barista, substitute teacher, and band director. Pray for that if you will, as that is the next step necessary in affording an apartment. If you are reading from St. Louis, I miss you. Please let me know what you're up to if you have the time.

Where To Go From Here

As many of you have heard already, I will, after July 5, no longer work for Calvary Church. I'd first like to say that Calvary has been one of the most instrumental pieces in shaping my life to this point. For example, I had never played guitar in public until I did so at Calvary in 7th grade (13 years ago!) with plenty of help from Dave Milliken. My first true encounter with God's love and mercy happened on a youth trip. My first icy parking lot doughnuts were there. I can think of endless numbers of relationships, conversations, and teachings that will never and could never leave me wherever I am. Lucky for you, I will not list them all.

However, one of the more recent teachings that has changed my thought processes is the idea of a calling. Throughout my years in youth and Mosaic I've heard prayer requests for a calling many a time (Rom 8:28). As for me, I feel a strong draw to New York, but do not hear a sure calling to either St. Louis or New York. A study we went through in a college age class talked about a missionary that at one point decided to go to a foreign country and start an orphanage. He did just that, and did so without feeling a strong calling to do it. That orphanage has helped many a child, and no doubt through the workings of God. So, rather than being sure of a calling, I intend to live by this:

Romans 12:1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Throughout this terribly imperfect life, I move up and down in my feelings for and toward God, but am always perfectly certain of my salvation in Christ alone. So, in my move to NYC, I intend to do this:
-I hope to seek God's face
-I hope to serve and worship Him in everything
-I hope to identify true happiness with Him alone
-I hope to be perfectly satisfied in success or failure

I ask you to pray for this end if you will.

As for more concrete and physical plans, I hope to get settled and somewhat financially stable in 6 months to a year before I set plans in motion to be a teacher--more specifically a band director for junior or senior high levels. This involves getting a graduate degree in education--if possible, through a program that will pay for school in exchange for teaching in the city for two years.

If you are reading this, you have some sort of love or interest for me and my future. Please do pray for me. I could never fully express my appreciation to Calvary, friends, and family for the support that has been very freely given. I love you all so very much.

Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You

I fell in love with the imagery in this video. Found on thematerialreview.com.