Here It Is

2006-02-24T22:17:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day just to see rain and lots of it, reminds me of Houston. I guess today after Reggie's funeral and also hearing of other deaths of some of my friend's loved ones it has me thinking, what do I want to be remembered for? Will I be known as someone that engages people and engages God all the time, or will I be known for other things? Today I just realized what a blessing a day off with virtually no school and no work can be, how refreshing it can be to just...........think and meditate.

MMMMMmmm

2006-02-19T22:34:00.000-08:00

Today God continued to reveal to me just the beauty of friendships, people to just talk with. I was really just thinking how cool it is that God uses us foolish people to do His work. People the world probably wouldn't choose. I got to spend a lot of time today at church and there were many surprises..........we'll see where they lead......

Oops

2006-02-17T23:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess school caught up, and a few nights studying till the early hours of the morning have taken it's toll. I guess I shouldn't be surprised when I am so busy and so focused on myself that I'm really not aware of what God's doing.....happens sometimes.

Today was good, got to hang out with a new friend and just enjoy the day. It's cold and I get to sleep in. God has been good even amidst the business.

Hello

2006-02-13T22:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I was driving along Treadaway this morning, getting ready to turn into my "neighborhood" on South 3rd and I saw the train crossing on the bridge above the road. I had been thinking about yesterday and just the frustrations and the train tracks reminded me of how life just goes on, full speed ahead.

I guess it was last summer when there was a derailment right by our house that forced us to evacuate because of hazardous materials that were in one of the cars. Seeing the train push full steam ahead just reminded I guess of how things will happen, but we are to continue on, full speed ahead, because what happened in the past really doesn't matter.

Today was a day to continue on.....

Monday's are busy days, but I feel like Monday's I'm able to accomplish a lot. We meet as a staff, discusss the weekend, and then look ahead to next week, and it's just a fun time to get to know some great guys better.

After work I meet with a guy every week and so I headed up to one of our local coffee shops. He was running a little late so I went ahead, got my coffee, and sat down. I was thinking about "Surprise Me" and the surprises of the day, and how I hadn't seen a whole lot. I then took a drink of my "French Roast" coffee and it seemed to taste like the smell of a can of new tennis balls when you first open them, I know, kind of random, but none-the-less, surprising.

So I'm sitting there waiting and this guy stands up from a table a couple of places down, puts on his coat, and asks me if I was going to church tonight. I had my Bible and I was dressed like I normally do for church, so the question wasn't totally from nowhere. I said actually I work at one and just came from church.

He then came over and I could tell he was just looking for a conversation. I motioned for him to sit down, he took a seat, and we officially "introduced" ourselves. He talked with a speech impediment, and so I had to pay real close attention, but his name was "Dewey." I immediately thought of Night at the Roxbury. Anyhow, he mentioned that he does some odd jobs for another local church in town and he enjoys the pastor there and I asked him about his family, what he did, where he lived, etc...

He told me he was going to go home to watch tv for the rest of the night, and told me he had a dollar and some change to eat tomorrow. He wasn't asking for money, I mean, I've had pushy people hint and beg, and he definitely was not one of "those" I guess something was "leading" me but I just asked him if I gave him $5 if it would help. It didn't seem to me that he was just talking to me to get money. He repeated that he had $1 and some change and so I gave him five bucks. I then thought about that, and the man wasn't asking for money, he was actually appreciative for what he did have, and I was able to help him out. How cool was it to just be able to sit and talk with a random, different guy for ten minutes in a day that's usually routine. I may never know what that conversation meant to this man who, from what it looks and sounds like, lives a pretty lonely life.

It's just continuing to amaze me how God is answering the prayer every morning, "Surprise me, God." Continuing ahead............

Stay the Course

2006-02-12T21:32:00.000-08:00

I continually try to learn the same lesson over and over again....but you know sometimes things are just hard to understand. That's been the case this week.

It's interesting to me that it seems like everytime in our spiritual walks when God starts to do something good, we are immediately tempted by a desire for evil and a desire to choose other things over God's best thing. We give in to negativity.

However, I continually am amazed at the amount of good that goes on, God is up to so much! But i get continually reminded of my own shortcomings, and I tend to want to find the shortcomings of others, and in the midst of these negative thoughts about myself and others, put a damper on the work of God in my life.......seems like a weekly struggle. What if I took all the negative thought and energy that came out of my mind and channeled it into joining God's great work.

Here's a verse that I like:

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8

What if this was the mindset I had all the time?

Saturday

2006-02-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

Today was just a good day to sleep in, enjoy a couple of basketball games at HSU, set-up at PDBC, then went over to a friend's house that cooked.....we then saw a movie. Just a good day to enjoy and have some fun....relaxing..........

Should have caught that one!

2006-02-10T23:28:00.000-08:00

So here we are in the midst of "Surprise Me" and were praying the prayer and all that stuff. We're looking for God's movement in our lives. Well, have you ever had one of those moments where there is a lot on your mind, your busy, and when people talk you really don't catch the gravity of what they said? (therefore, missing the "surprise")

Well, that happened to me this past week. There's a young guy that I've gotten to know pretty well as a result of being an intern in the youth group. I talk to him pretty regularly. A couple of weeks ago he and I spent some time talking during church on two different Sunday's. He was asking for advice on how to deal with some friends that weren't Christians but that accepted him. I told him what I knew, befriend them, don't let them influence him in negative ways...you know, the standard youth minister response. We prayed together and I told him if he ever needed any more advice, just let me know.

Well, Wednesday night at church, it's kind of a chaotic time at the church, but I'm talking with a couple of people up at the church and he comes up and tells me, "you inspired me to lead one of my friends to Christ." (wow!) Of course we believe that God's spirit is the one that calls, but how cool is it that we get to be partners with God? We get to share in the victory of someone coming to a saving relationship with Christ! This young man that I talk to has a lot of people telling him what to do, so I don't deserve really any credit, but I thought it was interesting...the few words and the small amount of time that I spent with this young boy helped him and encouraged him to go out and actively share his faith.

Supposedly some girl had been really struggling and having a lot of problems. He told her that there was someone that loved her more than anything and that she could have this hope. He gave her the Bible, she took it home and read it last weekend, and came back to school last Monday and said, "I want to believe." This was a middle school kid.

Today was the first time this week that I got to slow down. I slept 6 hours in the daytime and it wasn't untill I was laying down watchig a movie tonight did I think back on the past week and realize the gravity of what had happened.

I hope you will pray with me for this girl that has come to know Christ! From what I hear, she is supposed to be at church Sunday.........we'll join together in lifting her up! This was a cool surprise.

2006-02-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

One the Fourth Day....

2006-02-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

Today was an interesting day. You know we all have those times when we just aren't in good moods, start to feel sorry for yourself, etc.... I guess I've lived long enough to know those times come and go, they dont' last forever. But today was one of those days. It's always interesting to me how I get out of those moods. Today, I was able to have a friend really go out of their way and just make me feel like they cared, it wasn't anything special....they just sat and talked. Then I was able to go over and hang out with some guys that are a lot of fun and just have fun not doing much. It's encouraging to see others that are older than me live out the faith succesfully.

I was also thinkin as I was going to bed about the whole concept of grace. I shared yesterday the whole runnin' the traffic light thing....and just how God gave us grace to forgive us being sinful. I thought tonight about just the many things God has done in my life. Where I was five years ago and where I am now. God has done so much, and that shouldn't be a surprise, but sometimes, it's just good to think about how good HE is and what He wants to do in each one of our lives...

Day 3

2006-02-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

So today I was driving and completely ran a red light...........not usual....but none the less, I didn't get caught..........It made me think how many times I break God's law, but yet, through Christ, find forgiveness. I remember looking all around in the rear view mirror to make sure there weren't any cops around, and I remember the sigh of relief when I realized that I would get away free. While God doesnt' let us away free, Christ had to pay, it was encouraging to be reminded how much that forgiveness free us.

Day 2

2006-02-06T22:34:00.000-08:00

So Day 2, not quite like day 1. Good day at school, good day at work. We had our first Home Team tonight and God seems to really be developing a sense of excitement in a place that everyone likes to call "dry"....surprise.... I also had my first intramural basketball game tonight....we won....what a nice shock, and I got to meet some new guys on my team that are pretty cool and I'm excited to get to know...today was the small blessings...........

Surprise Me, Day 1

2006-02-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

Well, this is a whole new thing...I'm not used to this, but it's kinda cool...

So Surprise me started yesterday, and I didn't blog, but I thought I would share what's happened. So we prayed the prayer in church, we've talked about it, Surprise Me, God.

I'm cleaning up the house for the Super Bowl party and I'm taking out the trash. I round the corner to the trash dumpsters and I see a homeless guy with his shopping cart rummaging through the neighbors dumpster.

At first I'm taken back, I mean, these are "dirty" people that are "scary." But then I think, you know, he means no harm. So I take my trash and throw it away. He makes some small talk wondering what I was throwing away, if it was anything of value, I said no, not really, and was polite but continued on my way back to clean up. Well, I had another load of trash to take, so I went outside again. Now this guy is standing in MY dumpster. I come over there and throw my trash in there and then it starts to occurr to me, Surprise Me, God.

So I started talking to him. His name is Patrick. He works and cleans up a lot on the south side of town and he helps get rid of tires. Anyone can take them for free, so long as they can haul them away. I politely shake my head and continue to talk with him. He then looks at me eye to eye and I discover he doesn't have a right eye. At first, it was an appaling site. Then, I kind of regain my mental state and continue the conversation.

I told him to have a good day and I enjoyed meeting him, and as I walked back to the apartment I was thinking what a shock and surprise it was for me to come literally eye to eye with someone that was soooo different than me, so different that my trash was the very thing he was searching for. How humbling. I continue to pray that God would bring me face to face with people that need a friend, people that need a Savior, it really shouldn't be that much of a surprise, they're all around......

First

2006-01-16T14:49:00.000-08:00

this is a first..........