Nepal

Kelsie and I have sent in our applications to Reign Ministries to become assistant leaders on the Nepal team this summer. We are very excited to be working with Job and Bethany Hammond, dear friends and great team leaders. More details will come as we know them and we will hopefully begin the support raising process within the next month!

Back to School

Yesterday was my first day at school since September 16, 2010 (a Thursday). On that day I had been running around between classes (18 credit hours that semester) when I received a phone call from my girlfriend. Her dad was in the hospital and he was doing well. She was sobbing. I hated ending the conversation but I had a Spanish test in 30 seconds. I flew through that test. Honestly I never found out how I did on it. After class I checked my voice-mail to find I message from my girlfriend's mom. Her dad didn't have long to live. That weekend while I was with their family I made the decision to drop classes, move to Minnesota and marry my sweetheart. To be there when I was needed most. To abandon school for the short-term. That was 16 months ago. The short-term just ended. Here I am back to school. Practically Square 1 since only 6 of my 22 credits transferred (shakes head in disgust). New school, new major, relatively new life. I am taking it easy this first semester (9 credit hours). Monday's and Wednesday's. Ethics at 1pm, Intro to Computers from 2-4pm and Algebra from 5.30-7.20pm. By themselves they all appear to be easy classes (I love ethics/philosophy, I already know how to use computers and math runs in the family). However, coupling these three classes with my forty-hour work week, quality time with Kels, household chores, support raising and two small groups I am going to be very busy. Unlike my lovely wife, I do not thrive when busy. I thrive when NOT busy. I can use and would appreciate any and all prayer. These classes are starting the snowball. That snowball needs to gain momentum until the goal has been reached: Completion of the SCTCC AAS Business Managemtn program with a 3.5 GPA or greater.
Here we go.

BTdub

Yesterday Kelsie and I took a trip down to Minneapolis. Specifically to the Reign office. The purpose of our trip was because my good friend Lexey Rust had called me up wondering if I would sit in on Kairos' Beyond the Walls (BTdub) drama and offer pointers. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity. It had been about two and a half years since I had last sat in on a Kairos class and four years since I last last performed BTdub. (BTdub is a drama that Kairos uses on their speaking blitz to provoke questions within students about their relationship with God. It is a story about 5 people trapped in a room with no way out, or so it seems). It was kinda surreal sitting in on a teaching by Doug Easterday about the Father Heart of God. Surreal and very cool. Once class ended we got the drama rolling and after the first run-through the were definitely some things that needed to be tweaked in the mechanics but the cast picked it up quickly and looked ten times more comfortable and fluid in the second run-through. It was pretty cool to be a part of...

Kels and I wanted to make the most of our trip so we planned a double date with our married couple friends, Louie and Sandy. We made an interesting sight considering Louie and Sandy are our seniors by around 55 years. Honestly though it was probably the most fun I've ever had on a double date. We had dinner at Macaroni Grill which I had never been to before and had a really nice time catching up with each other.

We should go to the Cities more often...

Radical Overhaul

Yesterday was 2011. Today, however, is 2012 (in case you haven't noticed). Confession: Last year I was not very diligent or self-motivated. Also, I was generally lacking in passion, desire and faithfulness. Disclaimer: I do not make new year resolutions and what is to follow is not a resolution. Whatsoever. This is something I have been praying about for at least a month now. Paul wrote, "Do not conform 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." In 2011 I was conformed to the pattern of this world. This did not start then. The same was true of 2010 and the latter half of 2009. I mean, I have had small rebellions against the dark prince, but as a whole this year and the years preceding it have been spent in an apathetic daze, disaffected by the evil nature of the world and, realistically, pursuing that evil with my heart, soul and mind. No longer. I want to renew my mind. Reclaim it. Fill it with worthwhile thoughts. Thoughts of love for my wife; not lust for any other girl sporting a low-cut blouse. Thoughts of grace when I get cut off in traffic; not wrath and anger. I want to be transformed. Seriously. This is why I am working on my Radical Overhaul of Priorities (a clunky title, but it suits my need). I want to focus on four areas of my life and set goals to become more Christ-like in those areas. Physically, Mentally, Spiritually and Socially. These goals will be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely). Within these areas I am going to set multiple goals in each area. They are going to be lofty, and at times I am going to fail. Yet I am still going to strive to renew my mind.

Examples: Physically - I am going to begin working out on a regular, scheduled basis and I am going to stop consuming any beverage other than water while at work. Mentally - I am going to get into a habit of memorization and stop filling head with negative content (that means you, South Park). Spiritually - I want to get involved in church now, in an area that I am passionate about and an area that desperately needs people. Socially - I want to find someone who will pour into and disciple me and I want to find someone else who I can disciple.




PS - These last, oh, three weeks have Sucked for me. There were some highlights, but I have been sick with the flu, a sinus infection and pneumonia, as well as general exhaustion and a lack of time to recover or get ANYTHING done. Something I found encouraging during this time was a piece of music called The Shelter, presented by Jars of Clay. I think everyone should check it out.

Happy New Year.