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After six weeks of looking, God has graciously granted me a new job. I’ve technically been unemployed since July 30^th, but since I spent about four weeks in Japan and one week recovering from jet lag, I’ve really only been looking for work for the past six weeks. Six weeks is not long by any means but when you’re unemployed and you can’t see the end, it does feel long. So, tomorrow, I’ll be starting my new job in the accounting department of the American Film Institute (AFI). It’s located in Hollywood, just south of Griffith Park.

Though it was my first offer, I didn’t take it because it was my first offer. I had four interviews before the one at AFI and one the same day. Out of all the organizations I interviewed with, AFI stood out to me. It wasn’t because it was the highest paying or that it was the biggest name. It really came down to the fit. It was the only place where I felt that I really connected with the interviewer. There’s a simple reason for this: my new boss is a Christian. Not that I can’t work for or get along with an unbeliever. I’ve had plenty of good non-Christian bosses. However, I just really got along with my new boss. In my interview, I discovered that one of my boss’s best friends is from Japan and her father is a famous pastor and Christian musician. (For those who are interested, his name is Chu Kosaka. He started Japan’s first Christian record company, Michtam Record Company. In fact, when I told Shelley about Him, she busted out one of his CDs from her collection.) Her friend also just put out a Japanese gospel album. You can check it out on iTunes by looking up Asiah and/or you can check out her MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/asiahwitdavoice. This was all brought up because she asked me about the Master of Divinity degree that was listed on my résumé. Who knew?

The past six weeks have been quite a learning experience. Here are some of the lessons I learned:

1.     Don’t set your heart on a particular job. God may have totally different plans for you.

On the same day I had the AFI interview, I also had an interview with Union Rescue Mission. I had my heart set on the URM job. I thought that it would be the perfect place for me. It’s a Christian organization and it’s a great cause. So I prepared diligently for the URM interview and not so much for the AFI one. In fact, I viewed the AFI job as practice for the URM interview. However, after the two interviews, it was clear to me that AFI would be a better fit for me.

2.     Get a lot of recruiters.

It’s a tough market out there. At first I limited myself to just a couple recruiters. I didn’t want to have to keep in touch with so many people. However, it wasn’t until my seventh and final recruiter, that I landed a job.

3.     Don’t be idle when you’re unemployed.

I learned about the perils of idleness a long time ago from the David and Bathsheba story (as well as from personal experience). David was supposed to be out on the battlefield leading his armies but instead chilled at home (2 Sam 11:1). You know the rest of the story. So, when I wasn’t ransacking the Internet for accounting job opportunities, I studied the Word, listened to sermons, read a Christian biography (Contending For Our All, Piper), read an accounting book, taught myself QuickBooks (there’s a free version on their website), ran errands, exercised, and I’m currently working through a book on Excel. This helped to prevent me from wasting time as well as pass the day more quickly.

4.     Learn to commit and be content.

This goes for both looking for a job and a wife. I came to realize that there’s always something “better.” There will always be a closer job, a higher paying job, and job with better benefits, a job that’s not so stressful, etc. I decided to stop worrying about finding the “best” job and just chose one that I know I will enjoy. If another job offer comes along the way I’m not going to worry about it. I can only work at one place and it’s not good or healthy to be a mercenary worker who hops around from job to job every few months to work for the highest bidder. Also, don’t keep passing up jobs just because you think you can get more money. Don't be greedy. That's why the market crashed. Also, it’s not healthy to remain unemployed for too long. When you’re unemployed, most likely, no one is watching you during the day. That’s when you can get into a lot of trouble and fall into sin.

There are probably more lessons, but that’s all I can think of for now. I have to get ready for bed so I can be sharp for my first day of work tomorrow. For all those who are unemployed and looking for work, remember the passage below. I clung on to these verse tightly as I looked for work and I hope to cling just as tightly to them as I start my new job.

Matthew 6:31-34  ³¹ "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'  ³² "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  ³³ "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  ³⁴ "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Yesterday my friend Teddy called me up and asked me if I wanted to go to the Dodgers game. I figured, when else am I going to have such a convenient opportunity to go to a MLB playoff game? I mean I’m currently unemployed, Shelley was at work, and I didn’t have anything else planned for the afternoon. So I thought to myself, “Why not?” and went to game 2 of the 2009 NLDS between the Dodgers and Cardinals.

Here are some pics of the historic event:

The view we had from our seats.

This guy was supposed to be the hero of the game but he ended up being the goat.

Here’s Manny. I think this was a foul ball. He went 0 for 4. 

Here’s the future 2009 NL MVP. He might have popped this one up but he hit 47 of them out this year, tops in the majors.

Here’s who I think will be this year’s NL Cy Young winner. I want it to be Lincecum but I think it will be Wainwright.

Guess who performed God Bless America at the game? Does anyone know what his face really looks like?

Here’s Slash on the big screen. Is it just me or does it look like an iPhone?

Here’s the Dodgers celebrating yet another come-from-behind victory. I swear, the Dodgers are the luckiest team I’ve ever seen.