christmas 2005

i played santa.














michaela and paul.














father.



















katie and brett.














mother.














my new toy.














it's raining outside?

love.

chronic

Probably the funniest thing this season of SNL.










I seriously haven't laughed this hard in a long time.

"Well let's hit up Yahoo Maps to find the dopest route.
I prefer MapQuest...
That's a good one, too...
Google Maps is the best...
True dat!
DOUBLE TRUE!"

love.

pain

The truth is there are things in my life that I want very badly, but can not (and though I would not like to admit, should not) have at this moment in time. Not inherently evil nor wicked, not vile or offensive. These are things in my life that I long to have, that I desire, but would not be proper nor beneficial at this point in my life. God has given me specific instructions in my life and I am discovering that whether or not I comply His good and perfect will, will be done. It is my choice to be used by Him either as a son of God or as a tool to carry out his plan. As C.S. Lewis describes it, "you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it make a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or John." God uses situations that can be evil and turns them into good. Situations where I want something but God says, "not so fast." To go on without these things would stir up a pain that I simply cannot stand to bear.

And the fluke about the whole mess is that God actually uses these seemingly negative positions to produce a good in us that we can never dream of duplicating ourselves on our own accord. We (and by we I mean I) spend some much our life trying to avoid pain. Pain and suffering are never things that we pursue. Yet we would all agree that they are a means to build character and obedience as well as spur on spiritual maturity. So we go about our lives trying to steer clear of any kind of affliction that may be heading our way. Should we run into any kind of hindrance we battle through it hoping that it will be our last.

If I just tackle this one area then I'll be able to finally live life joyfully for the rest of my days.

Unfortunately, this mentality will never hold water. You see, if we really believe James' encouragement that we should consider it 'pure joy' when faced with trials then we should also believe that pain/trials/suffering are a natural step in the growth process. Not always the one way to achieve growth, but often times a sure sign that we are in the midst of a growing season as believers. Based on this belief of growing as a direct result of trials in our lives, we must then also believe (and anticipate) that these trials will not cease until God fully redeems this world at the end of all things. For as long as I am alive I will continue to be pressed, but not shaken. Knocked down, but not knocked out. Persecuted, but surely not abandoned.

"sins do cause grace to abound, but we must not make that an excuse for continuing to sin."

For too long I've been hiding behind God's grace to forgive me of all sin that I might go on doing the things I know I should not in order that I may avoid pain and hurting. The same pain and hurting that can only help me to grow in the end. Therefore, once I press on past the temporary discomfort of my flesh then can I truly begin to be a son of God and grow by great strides. It is ultimately freeing. I can finally find myself at rest when I get rid of the excuses and justifications for acting the way I have been. I can finally begin to mature and live a life that is in pursuit of holiness. What a joy that in itself is! There will be no more deceiving myself in believing that what I do in secret does not displease God, who knows me inside and out. He must become greater, I must become less.

But I do not forget what I am being patient for. I will not fail to remember the reward that is waiting for me in the end. The prize is worth all of the pain and suffering that being obedient and patient may bring.

And frankly I have too much to be happy about right now to dwell and live with this pain for too long.

Your grace is enough for me.

love.

wonderful

Thanks be to God for His gift that is too wonderful for words.
_2 Corinthians 9:15

love.

magic

It looks like Gob Bluth may have pulled off his greatest magic trick yet. The ABC and Showtime networks both have serious interest in picking up the critically acclaimed sitcom Arrested Development. Fox decided not to order a full season of the show and rumors have been swirling that AD would be canned because of its declining ratings. Though negations have not yet begun between the networks, Showtime is reportedly the more fervently interested …12/14/05 | 11:19 AM

thanks for the good news relevant!


love.

connected at the sides

The past few days have been pretty solid. I've just been really joyful lately, thank you God for giving us times of joy.

I can probably conclude that it has something to do with the Christmas season. The good mood is contagious this month and everyone seems to be enjoying life. Christmas time always brings community in focus and I think we find ourselves extremely thankful for the friends and family that we have. I love being around people and I love to spend special occasions with people I love dearly.

Holidays always mean that I get to have my whole family under one roof again. I absolutely love being together with the entire crew: Dad, Mom, Paul, Michaela, Brett, and Katie. They are wonderful and I very much wish we had more times spent together than just once every few months. I don't know if I really appreciated it as much as a younger kid, but in recent years as I've kind of risen to their level (finally, haha) we all share similar interests and it's just great to share in community with them. I think God really blesses this time of year with a heigthened awareness of our surroundings and I hope we do not forget to stop and praise Him for all the things He's chosen to give us and even the things He's chosen not to just yet.

And with that... a few things I'm thankful for:
_Chronicles of Narnia (all of them!)
_My Family
_Worshipping with the students at Ignite
_My wonderful Friends
_God's push for fellowship

This week has been great.
I had a great birthday (probably the best birthday surprise ever.)
I had a great time seeing Chronicles.. 2 times in 1 day.
I had a great time bonding with multiple groups of people I hold dear.
I cannot wait until Paul and Michaela join the rest of us in Saginaw for Christmas.

Stop right now..
Thank God for something in your life. (I'm serious, do it.)

I thank God for each of you.

love.

another year older

I was not expecting anything extravagant for my birthday, but what can I say I have some pretty fabulous friends. In fact, I wasn't even planning on anyone even remembering.
Mind you my birthday is today and as soon as it struck midnight my friends were already here wishing me a happy birthday. Thanks guys, very much appreciated, you made me happy!

Nathan and I went to get a cake at meijer, but we ended up getting not only a snickers cake but some fruit/drinks/dip..etc. When we came home Britney, Cassi, and Mallory came over followed by Troy, Kyle, and Ashley. They sang me happy birthday and it was glorious. Afterwards much hanging out was done until about 2 am when Kyle and Ashley left.








Plenty of Mario Party was played and plenty of fun was had.

It's also Katie's bithday today! How cool is that?! (I'm still older. ha)

I'm twenty years old today.
Wow.

love.

festivus

deck the halls.






















love.

fairy tales

Currently Listening to : Pink Bullets _The Shins
Currently Reading : The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe _C.S. Lewis

I've been reading The Chronicles of Narnia the past few days to help prep myself for next week. Initially, I wouldn't have said I was very excited about this film, but lately I can hardly wait for it to grace the movie screen. It's funny how by the time I see this movie I'll be 20 years old and I'm still very much enthralled by stories - a fairy tell at that. What is it about it? I think it might have something to do with things inside of me wishing to hear how good, though put up against what seems to be impossible odds, triumphs over the evils of the world. That sounds like a silly answer but who doesn't love to hear an epic like that? Think about the success of Lord of the Rings. Think about Harry Potter. Fantasy stories about a compelling force for good overthrowing evil. Think of the gospel. There's something inside of us that wants to be part of something big. So I'm almost finished with the book and everyone should probably start getting excited for what I'm dubbing the "new Lord of the Rings".

I was also very excited to read this about the film today as well...

Is this going to be a secularized Hollywood version or will C.S. Lewis’ Christian themes stay intact?
"It’s no secret that C.S. Lewis was an outspoken Christian and his faith was woven throughout everything he wrote. Narnia is no exception and much of the stories are allegorical in nature. Will Hollywood have its way and strip out Lewis’ spiritual messages? Not so, promises Douglas Gresham, co-producer and stepson of Lewis himself. A committed Christian, Gresham has vowed not to “change the words of the master.” Indeed, Walden Media itself has a track record of family-friendly films so it seems that the film will be in good hands. Many are concerned that Disney's influence will water down the Christian themes which run through the Narnia stories, but it's important to remember that Walden Media is ultimately in charge of the film, not Disney."

Also, today (though most of you will probably be reading this after this day has passed) is World Aids Day which is an international day of action on HIV and AIDS which takes place every year on 1 December. There's alot that we can do to help change things. Whatever means you can is beneficial to fight for this cause. Whether its going abroad or just remembering to pray for those in the world who battle with this throughout their entire lives do something this week to remember that you are only part of God's creation and He loves all of His creation just the same.



be a blessing this week.

here's how:
DATA
World Vision
The ONE Campaign
Blood:Water Mission

love.

Music.

Current Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Michaela and Paul's house (which is freakin' sweet)to be exact)

I'm a little bored right now, but I'll be heading to bed shortly. I have to get up for a little Mars Hill action in the morning and I could not be more thrilled. It is in fact much of the reason I am in GR this weekend.

Anyway, I promise to update tomorrow, but for now I've been enjoying all kinds of new music, and if you know me even a little bit you'll know I love music very, very much.

If you would like to listen to some excellent music that is phenomenal I would strongly suggest this...










enjoy God's gift to the earth: music.

love.

help.

26,000,000 in Africa live with AIDS.

Another 3,000,000 will be infected this year.

6500 Africans will die of AIDS today.

1 Billion very important people lack access to clean water.

25,000 people lose their lives to water-related illnesses every single day.

"The two things Africa needs most are clean blood and clean water."
-Dan Halsetine

Maybe it is because Africa has become a wide spread topic of discussion these days. Or, maybe it is because I am becoming more and more aware of the need. Maybe it is just that God has placed something on my heart that I was ignorant to for most of my life. In any respect, I have been continued to be blown away by the unsettling facts about a crisis in our world that can be solved, but we have been lacking in our commitment to help those who are in need.

And what exactly would I say to someone who explained to me that clean water was something absolutely foreign? (I just looked around me to see - no joke - 7 empty bottles of purified water.) The truth is I do not think any of us can begin to imagine what it would be like to live life without a basic human right and necessity like water. And if we're really honest with ourselves we do not spend much time to stop and think truly what a gift it is to be in the situation we are in, where water and health is taken for granted. Water is free. You can order it in a restaurant for no charge. You have access to cold, clean water in any public restroom or from any public drinking fountain all over the United States.

What exactly do I say to the millions of orphans who no nothing of life with parents to guide them, to protect them, to care for them, to love them? I would hope - and this is where I am beginning to find myself - that I would have nothing to say to them. Not because I do not care, but because I am not spending my energy to mere lip service. No, I want my efforts to be directed in tangible actions. Americans have a unique opportunity and vast resources to help the world live a life that is pleasing and rid of unneccessary illness and death. Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the world’s population, but is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV. (I am sitting in my nice, cozy, and comfortable apartment and I feel horrible that even with facts I still can not imagine the great pain of loss that the people there are facing.)

I know it has been extremely cliche to jump on the African Aide bandwagon, but I am not sure that a lot of people are doing anything else besides talk about the problem at hand. Americans love to talk. They are talking about the atrocities in Africa, but most - even the ones talking - are not doing much to be a living example of the words that they speak. People living with HIV/AIDS are dependant on clean water to survive. Millions of them in African lack access to that life saving water. Did you know that it costs just one dollar to provide one year of clean water for an African? That's only the beginning. One dollar. That's all it takes. I can make a difference, you can make a difference, we can make a difference in the lives of so many people who are just as important as we are and just as deserving of a healthy life.

So I would be a hypocrite of everything I have just said to not do what I can to be a blessing. It costs as little as 10 dollars to provide one person with a lifetime supply of clean water. The 1000 Wells Project is building 1000 wells in 1000 African communities. Many people are already contributing the resources that God's given to them. And since I have been blessed, I certainly want to be a blessing.

I am going to completely just go on a limb, but I would seriously love to see at least one person be touched enough that they would take this challenge up with me. The challenge that 1000 wells is giving is to, for two weeks, make water the only beverage that you drink. With the money that would have been spent on other beverages their desire is that it would be donated to this project.

I just can not stand to continually hear of what has been happening to God's creation for years and continue to hide behind my comfortable American existance. And if I can not be there - yet! - to physically help, then I will give what I can at this moment, my resources.

"Our knowledge now demands our action."
- Matt Odemark

Should you care to dig deeper...

1000 wells project

blood:water mission

lifewater international

africare


Please partner with me and keep me in your prayers as I make a small sacrfice to greatly benefit one of God's lovely children.

love.

leaving a mark

Every Tuesday at 4 Troy, Mike, and I meet to recap last week's ignite (our student ministry) and begin to prepare for the next week. This week, as like most, we were all over the map in our discussion. I really do value the time I share with these two guys and it is an absolute joy to serve along side the two of them. We began to talk about the impact that Mike is starting to see us have in the lives of the students. This is always good for me to hear because I am a little too insecure when it comes to feeling like I am indeed doing what is right.

As I was sitting there trying to overcome my doubt that my life is an example of what I'm striving for, I just thought about the impact that has been placed on my life. I am immediately floored when I think that I can be that in a student's life now. There is one person that pops into my head when I think about influence, Bryan Dyer. I know I've beat this into the ground with my gratitude for the impact he's had on my life, but it all seemed different this time.

Oh, wow. So you have a man crush.

No, I.. ok yes, but it is different because when I think of the profound change that Bryan made in my life I do not think of it as something that was in my past. He lives in Colorado, half way across the nation and yet, his character is still shaping our youth. Not directly. They do not have Bryan as a physical presence, but they do have the Bryan that comes through me. When I saw the passion that Bryan had to be a man after God's own heart I wanted (and still want) to be just like that. His life is still making a difference even in his absence.

I don't get it? So you want to be a legend. Isn't that a little prideful?

You are missing the point. I don't care so much that my name is remembered, but I hold great significance to the weight that my words and actions can carry into the students at this very moment. Just as Bryan had no idea the lives that would be touched by his own, I have no idea the example that I could potentially be setting that could be carried over into the way others mentor. It all seems like a lot of pressure, but I am having so much fun right now loving students and learning to love God even more.

I am blessed to have had mentors like Bryan.
I have been blessed and now I want to be a blessing.

love.

fresh.

Greetings.

I've been blogging for about two years now. Mostly about nonsense.

I think I wanted to escape xanga and retreat to blogger for a number of reasons:



1. blogger = google = automatically phenomenal.
2. I want to write something meaningful. (not that what I say will
actually be meaningful, but that will be it's intent.)
3. My friends from Saginaw and Grand Rapids are writing here.
4. ... I got nothing else I guess.

I should be studying right now, but I want to express my sheer excitement in beginning this new site.

Please enjoy.

love.