Karate Kids and Chocolate Chips

Last night myself and my housemates (Boy) Alex and Pete along with Steph, Hannah, and (Girl) Alex went camping. It was a blast! We swapped funny story after funny story about our first impressions of each other. About how no one can remember steph's name (sorry). About how every girl thought my house was full of nerds. This didnt make sense to me until I realized that when they introduced themselves to us, my house was doing karate together in the living room...

We shared past stories about what God has done in our lives and talked about some of the things we are going through. It was just sweet fellowship.

Today I had plans to read some of John with Jersey at 3. I read Philippians 1 and baked up some cookies and began to head over. On my way over I received a text from a friend who has just been laid up with trial after trial. As I was walking over to Jerseys I was stopped in my tracks. I began to think about the pain my friend has been going through lately, and the pain that I have, and my other friends have as well. I began to think of Philippians and Paul's willingness to suffer. I began to think of Psalm 73 and the psalmist saying "whom have I in heaven but you? On earth there is nothing I desire besides you." For the first time this verse became real to me. I stopped on the side of the street and worshipped.

I told God "I am willing to do whatever you want. If it means for me to suffer greatly so that others might be encouraged and see how beautiful You are...I'm down."

Jesus is beautiful. His cross is real. His grace is sufficient for you and me. If I can encourage you in any way I would tell you that your suffering is so that others can see Jesus in you and through you. Respond accordingly.

I need to remember..

"So I don't want to take the lead
Cuz I'm prone to make mistakes.
All these folks that follow me gon' end up in the wrong place.
So, just let me shadow you. And just let me trace your lines.
Matter fact just take my pen.
Here, you create my rhymes.
Cuz if I do this by myself I'm scared that I'll succeed.
And no longer trust in You, cuz I only trust in me."-Lecrae "Background"

"I enter rooms and hope they notice me
To fill my social insecurities
I'm asking if there's any hope for me
Cuz there is room for only one"-Jimmy Needham "The reason I sing"

"Whom have I in heaven but You? On earth there is nothing I desire besides You" -Psalm 73:25

Random. Random Thoughts.

Last Saturday our house went to watch UFC at the Oxford house down the street. Jersey, one of the guys who lives there, invited us because we do not have cable. At one point I had to walk a friend home and came back to Jersey sitting outside by himself smoking. Out of nowhere I said "When you gonna let me show you whats in that book I got you?" (I had given him a bible a few weeks before) He said "This weekend."

One of my best friends told me yesterday that was the coolest thing I have ever said. I would have to agree. Im thoroughly convinced that I did not have very much to do with it (Thanks God, pound it?) but nonetheless it was sweet. It feels weird to do stuff like this, stuff you read about or hear about other people doing and wishing you could do cool stuff like that. You can. God has been working big time on me since I have been here and I am just starting to notice it (because Im an idiot).

Two things that I have been feeling lately are: 1. You are going to do bigger things than you think. 2. You struggle with idolatry alot.

Spurgeon says our hearts are idol making factories. Mine feels like "Nike". Psalm 73 is the chapter I believe the least in the Bible, so Im gonna memorize it and allow Gods Word and prayer transform me.

Lunch with Jersey is on Saturday. Planning on layin down some Gospel. Could use your prayers.

A Million Miles In A Thousand Years

"A Million Miles In A Thousand Years" by Donald Miller is the best book I have ever read.

It has inspired me to make a story. Or at least ponder what I want my story to look like. Challenged to make moments memorable. How will I do this? I don't know. I could spend time hanging out with the guys from the rehab house. I could share the Gospel with them. I could ask that girl to coffee. I could mentor some middle school students. I could have more deep talks with my roomates. I could take a trip, I dont know where but just take one. Or I could continue to play out the scenarios in my mind of what those would look like along with their outcomes.

I dont know why I am prone to watch these moments pass by. Part of the book was that Satan throws every obstacle in the way to prevent you from making a good story. Fear of man is definitely my greatest opponent in story making. I trick myself into believing that its wisdom and patience. I cant discern when the wisdom and patience end and where the fear and sin begin.

Ive decided that I want to write a book. But first. I must make a story. I must search why my "writer's block" is the way that it is. Then I must write daily. On page and on lives.

Take Off Your Shoes, Stay A While

My weekend was AWESOME! Saturday I was picked up by my Aunt Kaytie and was taken to her Aunt Peggy's house to answer questions about Jesus and the Bible. I was there for 4 hours! It was wonderful! Some of the questions they asked me were:

-Who made God?
-When God says "let us make man in our image" who else is He talking to?
-How good do I need to be to get to heaven?
-How will God judge my sin?
-What makes other people's prayers more important than mine?

and there were many more. It was a great time, I told them to read Romans and let me know if they ever have anymore questions. Aunt Kaytie contacted me again today because she has a lot more questions, so we are hanging again this Saturday.

After getting back I went to Whitworth with my friend Megan to find sources for our Old Testament paper. Then the fun began. A bunch of us Moody students and Jeremy, Hol, and Lauren got dressed up and went salsa dancing downtown. It was a lot of fun! Afterwards I went to the satellite diner with Jer, Hol, and Lauren. We talked life and church and ministry, great stuff. Met back up with my Moody friends at the bowling alley and bowled until 1 am. Im still no good at it! (the picture above is of us at the bowling alley)

Today I woke up and went to Faith Bible Church. It was a great experience and had really solid teaching and worship. After coming home and eating dinner we went and did cookies again today. I met a 45 year old man named Mike who lives in the sobriety house who invited us in and told us about his faith. He explained to us that he has always seen options in his life of following God or following his desires (playing basketball, smoking weed, having sex) and he always chose his desires. Now he would like to do the opposite. I hope God shows me how I can assist him.

2 things Mike said to me that stuck out.
1. Whatever you want to be, be it today.
2. There are 3 types of people in the world.
a) People in Egypt
b) People in the wilderness
c) People in the Promise Land
Which one are you?

My advice to you, If you are "c", realize where you are at, take off your shoes, and stay a while.

A Crushing Weight

School went by really fast today which was great. Thursdays I just have Lifetime Fitness and Intro to Ministry and I'm done by 1030. It's great! Every week for Intro to Ministry we have a speaker from a local church come to talk about their church, their vision, and the service opportunities of their church.

Today while listening to the speaker I was struck with something. I could do the ministry that they were offering. The next speaker, the same thing. Its been like this every week. I came to realize that, by the grace of God, I am blessed with many talents for ministry. I began to wonder why God would give me this. Obviously, for His glory. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I will be held responsible for all of this. I am terrified.

Something to meditate on, am I using ALL of the tools God has given me for His glory?

Crap.

Today has been sweet. Going to work soon. I received an email from my Aunt with questions about Jesus so we are hanging on Saturday. God is just laying so much grace on me. Im stoked to see how that goes and I'm pumped for Saturday period. It looks very promising!

A Change of Pace

I haven't posted in quite a while. I figured I would change the pace of this blog as more of a "here's what has been going on lately in my life" kind of thing. I will post any deep thoughts and things God has been teaching me lately as well.

Where to start? Last weekend was great! I went to Riverview Bible Camp for the Moody Retreat. It was a great time to get to know people and hear how God has brought them to the northwest and what they feel like they are called to do with their life. I got the opportunity to share my testimony with a few people, which is always sweet because it reminds me of where God has brought me.

Pastor Matt Jensen (U District Pastor of Mars Hill Church) was the speaker at the retreat. He spoke about worship and living missionally and it was very convicting. During his worship talk I just felt convicted about my pessimism when it comes to looking at why other people are here at bible college and was just hit with a saying "It's Not About Me." This is something I need to keep remembering.

During the missional talk God told me "I have a special call for you" "You will be a church planter" and "Do cookies at two certain houses." I went up to thank Pastor Matt after his talk and told him what God said to me. He invited me to come to the Acts 29 bootcamp in Seattle in two weeks and he would take care of it. WHAT?! I am so blessed! I feel like the bat boy who just got asked to play in the world series! So humbling!

My housemates + Hannah went and did cookies to the two houses on sunday (baked cookies and took them to people's homes). Next door are three girls named Nevaeh, Nikell, and Unique. We also went to the other house down the street, which turned out to be a sober living house. 7 ex drug addicts or felons, living in a house to get their lives straight. We stayed and talked to Jersey (one of the guys) for two hours. God is moving in Spokane. I am pumped.