Contemplation......

I was listening to an excerpt from a speech. I usually don't listen to close to speeches, they are usually very skewed and I don't like that, but this really struck me.

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here...It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

This is part of a speech spoken by Abraham Lincoln. It was spoken at Gettysburg to honor the dead that gave "the last full measure of devotion" It really hit me. In a time that was so hard, a man tried his best to try and honor these men, he wasn't just speaking for his own men, I think he was talking about the men of both sides. I don't think that Lincoln wanted the war to happen at all and up on that podium looking out across the killing fields that had taken so many boy's lives, he had a great sadness in his heart.

I think then to what God would say. I don't know for sure, but it seems that there is evidence that he was a very Godly man. It seems like this speech might have been written by God, I can see that God would write very similar things. He might say something like this, "May you not forget the great cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, the cause of Jesus." Jesus took it one step further...He was able to guarantee that those that gave their life for him, "there would be a crown of righteousness waiting for them".

I tell all my friends this, I have no bigger wish than to see you all in heaven with me. Jesus wishes that more than I do..........

An adventure sooner than later?

I want to preclude this blog posting with its 3:00 am. You might ask what I'm doing up so early.....well I'll tell you. My body has this amazing system of after having slept 8 hours I wake up. Well last night I fell asleep at 7 pm. That makes for a very early morning. So thats why I'm writing a blog so early.

This is really the continuation of a story that started last summer. While I was traveling through Wyoming on my way to Yellowstone for our family reunion, I had a blow out. Now I've had blowouts before, not hard to deal with, but kind of frustrating. Wyoming however is desolate in places and the place I had the blowout was not any different. What made matters worse was the fact that it was 11:30 p.m. after a very long day. I finally hobbled my way into Casper, where I was going for the night, and got to bed. The next morning, I had to find a tire shop to replace my tire. I went to Big-O tires, where we bough the tires before and they were less then helpful. They finally gave me a "take off tire" in other words, a used tire that they had taken off another vehicle and sold it to me. I then continued my trip. I finally made it up to Yellowstone without any big trouble. After Yellowstone however I decided to make a trip to Idaho to visit a friend who was working there. About 20 from the Montana Idaho boarder I had another blowout. Same story all over again, except this time it was in the middle of the day. Let me tell you, I'm pretty good at changing tires. I got that one changed and continued to Coeur d'Alene Idaho. I then went through the same process again in trying to find a tire to replace my spare tire. This isn't the easiest thing to do either; my truck takes a very odd size of tire. After having found the right tire and having it replaced I headed up to see my friend. The next day when I was heading back to Cody Wyoming, my truck started having different problems. The whole truck was vibrating VERY badly. This was around the Bozeman Montana area. I thought that it must be a problem with my tires. The vibration was coming from what seemed like my front right tire, so I replaced that one with the spare at the first exit for Bozeman. I then got back on the interstate and it was still there. I got off at the next exit, and replaced the back left tire with the spare and got back on the interstate, still no dice. I got off at the last exit and changed my front left tire with the spare, and lo and behold, that was the problem it had a huge bulge in the tread. After that tire problem I made it the rest of the way home without much trouble. We replaced the two tires before I headed back to school.

Now you are probably asking what that has to do with anything. Well, on my trip home the other day I went to stop at a rest area and noticed my back left tire was flat. So right there in the rest area I changed my tire, it had a nice little crack in the side wall and was losing air really fast. I then put on the spare tire. Only to realize that it wasn’t full of air either, but it certainly had more air than the flat tire had. I drove up the road to the next exit that had a town and got off. I went to their filling station, but their air hose was broken, so I had to go to the next town and the next town. Finally I found a little town that had an operating air hose, and you know what, unlike most cities, these small towns have free air!!! I was so excited. I finally got back on the road and made it home in the longest trip ever, 10 hr to make a 7 hr trip. Not the most fun I’ve ever had on a trip home, but at least I know how to change my tire now.

Rejoice.....

I had kind of a hard week last week. I was reading one of my friends notes and ran across this.

What a week. I can't exactly say I'm sad to see it end. This week I struggled. This week I fought. This week I had fun. This week I messed up and missed opportunities. This week I searched, and this week I found. This week I studied, I stressed, and I prayed. And this week, I learned...

If things had been up to me, they would have turned out differently. But they're not. And they didn't. Yet as I sat praying and pondering the meaning and purpose of prayer, a verse jumped into my mind. The verse was this one: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:6-7).

Slowly, God began to bring my mind into focus. I had been praying and petitioning God, and I was confused as to why things weren't working out according to my requests. That's when He gently reminded me of this text and pointed out that maybe I was wrong in my thinking... See, the verse doesn't say, "present your requests to God, and everything will work out the way you want it to," or "present your requests to God and whatever you desire will come to pass." It doesn't even promise that everything will be made clear or that we'll understand why things happen the way they do. No, the promise is something greater. The promise is... peace. Peace that transcends all understanding. Peace that says, "It's okay that things don't seem to be working out. It's okay that I don't understand right now. Because I know the One who does... and I trust Him."

The things I was praying for, well, they'll pass away. Yes, they seem important now. And maybe they are... but the peace that comes from trusting in a God whose plan is perfect and whose wisdom is magnificent? Nothing else really compares. That's the kind of treasure that will last. And that's a reason to rejoice. No matter what.

Another semester come and (almost) gone... and if this lesson is the only one I remember, then so be it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thank you Heidi for allowing me to reproduce this on my blog.

Fear.....

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
~Maryanne Williamson

My Plan for Discipleship

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling and I'm finished with wavering; I've made my choice, the verdict is in and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate His presence, cultivate his character, participate in His family, demonstrate His love, and communicate His word.

Since my past has been forgiven and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven,I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead, I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of His family.

Because this life is preparation forth the next, I will value worship over wealth, "we" over "me," character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivate by praise, frustrated by problems debilitated by temptation or intimidated by the devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace. I'm Spirit-led, purpose-driven, and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: "However, whenever wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes!" Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on the final day I'll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!"

May this be what I do everyday....

Adapted from a statement at a leadership conference in Phoenix

On the verge of a new adventure

I looked back and its nearly been 6 months since I've updated this blog. When I left off last time I was just finish an adventure that starte in August of 2008. I look back on the last six months, a lot has changed. I'm sitting in a room where believe me no AC is needed watching snow filter down from a very cold day. I think about how it was a year ago, I miss it at times, the simplicity of it, the carefree attitude, but realize that I'm not going to have that exact same experience again. Thanks to God and his infinite wisdom a lot of other things have changed over the course fo the summer and this first semester back at school.

School has changed. As I'm sure my fellow SM's can appreciate, school has become somewhat of a lonely place and sometimes dark place. There are however lights in the dark. Keeping up with my fellow SM's from last year has been one of the things that has kept me going in addition to my family. It seems that God brought a whole new set of friends into my life while I was gone and they are amazing, I wouldn't trade them for the world.

As I look back I'm forced to look forward too. This semester has probably been the hardest one to date. I don't think I was ready to get back in and start studying. Amazingly enough, probably God, my grades are pretty good.

As I look ahead I see one thing on the horizon. I see another adventure. For those that don't know or I haven't talked to recently, I'm going to be in Nicaragua next semester. To be gone again almost feels normal, to be back out of the country. I think when I left the Marshall Islands, I left a piece of me there. A piece that will never come back, but hopefully I can pick up when I leave the country again. I've heard soldiers coming back to the states, but never really coming back, I guess I feel that way at times.

In Nicaragua we will be doing a ton of different things, we will be doing Medical work in the villages, we will be taking classes in Ocean, shoreline, and underwater rescue, we will be doing some relief work and some community development work, we will also be having some fun. This time, instead of going by myself and not knowing anyone before we get there, I know everyone. We've been taking classes together for a long time and thats either good or very bad, I guess time will tell us that. One thing I know for sure is it will be a time when we will all become very close and hopefully become close to God as well.

As it kind of was when I was in the Marshall Islands, I will only have internet max of once a week, so I'll be updating my blog then, I'm sorry I won't be sending out personal emails to everyone, but I'll try to keep this as up to date a possible. Right now, we have approx. 38 days until we leave the country. I don't know if I'll update again before we leave or have my next update be from incountry.

For now, keep our whole group in your prayers. Also keep the SM's on the island of Yap in your prayers, one of our own was killed a few weeks ago, it has to be tough on them, the school family, the island family, SAU family and her personal family.