back at BSF and boy it sure feels good.

Now I did many, many things today, but I want to focus on what was most important to me. The thing that stood out to me today was me getting back into BSF. Ohh it felt so good. And looking back on the night getting back into BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) I can sincerely say that studying the word is the only thing that I really enjoy to learn about. It is the only thing I can study that makes any real sense. This year we are studying the Gospel of John. So tonight I met and got to meet my small group for the first time, then I got to hear the first lecture of the year. Boy it was good. Here are some of the key things I pulled from it.

**We gain knowledge of the Bible through study (that means actually spending time in the Bible other than listening to the pastor tell you on Sunday morning).

** We gain insight of the Bible through meditation (that means actually attempting to apply what you read and learn to every day life).

This next one I really really like. **The greatest cure to trouble in my life/our lives is to focus on Jesus. If you focus on the actual trouble all the time, you will be troubled. If you focus on Jesus all the time, he will infect your mood, attitude, thoughts, and actions. AND, there will my strength lie.

John 20:31 states the purpose of the book of John. It does so very precisely and doesn't mess around.

**What is the focus of my life?

I love that my notes are compiled of mostly questions. BSF calls them challenge questions, and I find that a well placed question is much more impacting and insightful than any amount of given knowledge. Sooo true.

Janice, I think of you more times through the day than I can count on my hands and feet put together. I am so thankful you are in my life, and it is made more clear to me each day why you are in my life. Such a motivating and good thing. Love you miss!

no more doctor

Well, today I made myself available to serving my mother. She had a doctors appointment at 11AM and some errands to run before it. I got home from work and got her in the car. Oh, speaking of "THE CAR," my car (smurf mobile) no longer has breaks, so I am done driving it for the summer. I will get them fixed when I get back from Arizona. But, the awesome thing is that my cousin Matt agreed to let me use his car, and he is just using my moms car (i'm not allowed to drive my parents vehicles. . . because of past bad decisions). So, I packed my moms wheel chair in Matt's car, and off we went.She had to stop at Jo'Ann fabric's to get some string or something and to the bank, and some other things. Then we went to the doctors office to have her stitches removed. Wow, they really cut her up good. A serious operation in deed. I hope she won't mind me broadcasting her foot on the internet, but here goes. . .Yeah, the picture does not really needs words. I'll just let you fill in the blank____.

Well, back to work. Today was the 2nd to last day at the YMCA childcare for me. I am gonna miss these darn kids. I love playing with them.Especially this little bugger. Good ole Tony.

When I got home from work for the evening, I found out something that is not so good. I got a letter from the Indiana Center for Multiple Sclerosis saying that they are shutting the doors as of June 1st. :o/ This is going to make things kind of tricky on me, mostly because I not only have to find a new neurologist that will keep me on the TYSABRI, but will also take me as a patient. Tricky Tricky Tricky.

P.S. I HAD MY 15th INFUSION OF TYSABRI TODAY!!!

I thought that was a pretty cool hill to climb over. A hurdle to tackle, ya know? My health is going great, and I am so happy about that. I am not scared about the whole doctor/neurologist thing, because I have no idea who I am going to go to, so basically I have to just turn it over to God in prayer. I will be asking that God provides someone who will take me on as a patient and continue with my TYSABRI.

Also, today was my last BSF. I loved BSF so much this year, and God taught me so much through the journey of Moses and the Israelites. I learned that I am the Israelites. Also, that I am extremely hungry for the knowledge of the Bible and Truth. It is an awesome thing. I have to finish packing tomorrow, and also tomorrow I leave for Indianapolis. At 6:30AM, I leave Indianapolis and start my journey to Arizona!! WHOOP WHOOP!! It is going to be awesome, and God is already doing a lot. I LOVE JESUS!!

george @ BSF & Tony

My day started off by me going into the MAC computer lab. I really like using these computers, they rock hardcore, BUT, the lab is freezing. It seriously feels like it is 50 degrees in there. Maybe cold concentrates the mind, and energizes the soul. OR, maybe the thermostat is broken.

Tony, who is pictured above and I waited for the buses to come and drop off kids. More or less it was just an excuse to hang out with my buddy.

On a sweet and awesome note, George came to BSF tonight because they had an intro class and he wants to be in the study next year. PRAISE THE LORD! GOD IS SO GOOD! Seriously that is such an awesome thing to me. It shows commitment, and that George is striving to do and seek more for his life. Committing to engage in Christian accountability is the best thing for someone seeking a followers heart. To George it may not have been that big of a deal, but to me it was a huge step. I know God is working in his heart.

P.S. on a funny note, I tried to be sneaky and snap this picture without George knowing. I thought my phone was on silent. But it was not. Not only was it not on silent, but when I was at work, I wanted to show Andrea that my phone has a setting that says, "SAAY CHEESE!" right when you snap a picture. Well, it was still on that setting, and of course it played loud and clear right during the lecture. It was perfect Mikey fashion.

-Grace&Peace

lacross & hoedown

Today started out with a very bright and perfect weathered Lacross game. Ya see, there is this kid, Brandin who I met at Snider (school I do contact work @ for Young Life) last year, and well he has been wanting me to go to one of his games. Don't remember Brandin? Well, ~CLICK HERE~ or ~CLICK HERE 2~ and you will see who I am talking about. Well, I woke up this morning and I went to his game. It was pretty cool.I don't fully understand the sport, and I super don't understand why they don't wear leg protection. But, it was good to watch, especially on a day like today.

Then I went to the library and did my BSF, YEAH BABY!!Nothing like a little library that get's me going! I did really like being in the word though, there is no sarcasm there. But prepare yourself for this sarcasm because it is coming at you fast.

THEN I GOT THE CHANCE TO STUDY LAW STUFF!! YES, THE CONSTITUTION! The constitution is so sweet to learn! I just want to memorize the whole thing word for word. . . Then the sarcasm stopped. And the truth came out that I am going to be so happy after Tuesday when I don't have to learn this stuff anymore. It is literally going to be dropped out from my memory. Good use of college credit's? No, but that is just how it is sometimes.

Then the afternoon progressed into the evening, and soon I found myself at a Young Life Hoedown! That is right, get your boots and cowboy hat on because we are square dancing!It was all nice and howdown like in that barn. Pictured above is Ryan, you remember him from when I went to Chicago not to long ago. Here is my dancing partner. Ain't she just the prettiest thing East of the Mississippi? Miss Jenny is what they call her round these parts.

Here is my TUESDAY

Okay, so in reality, I am only feeling the grind of FINALS week slightly. Compared to some, I have it pretty easy. Now I would bet money (if I were a betting man) that next fall semester I will be singing to a different tune, but for now I am thankful.

Morning (Mass Comm) and afternoon classes (Interpersonal Comm) went normal as can be. When I was going through my BSF notes and lesson for the day, I was captivated. First by the fact that I was working on the start of my 30th BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) lesson. And second because the content was so good. The notes really called out the fact that if you proclaim to be a servant of Christ/Christian, yet continue to live in chosen sin (I don't mean sinless, or not struggling-I am talking about saying you are a Christian, but not turning from your sinful ways) then maybe you are not saved. It was an eye opener to me, and a challenge to live a Holy life. I tried not to point fingers in my mind of people who I think fit that standard, and tried to focus on myself, and how I can improve my walk with Christ.

Then work was good.

After work, I had some time to spare before I went to my 6PM class. So, I just kind of started cruising. I was going through a near by large apartment complex and came upon this vehicle. It caught my eye enough that I stopped and took a picture of it.

Evening class was good, but I am going to have to study the constitution A WHOLE BUNCH for my final in my Law Class.

Then I went tanning. I love tanning, it is so relaxing. While I was laying in there just talking with God, he put on my heart that I should go and hang out with Nicky. And also talk with him about camp, and put out the official invite.So that is exactly what I did. My best friend (Jared pictured to the left), Nick's brother was there for a bit before he had to take off. And I think Nick heard me well. I told him to let me know, so we will see.

I finally got home around 9ish, and felt extremely sad for my mom. She was in a ton of pain. In the picture below, she had passed out, probably because of the pain killers she was taking, but man was she in some intense pain. Poor mom.That was my day. A pretty good day if I may say so myself.

Friendship/God/Healing = FGH

The title to this BLOG is not meant to be some deep intertwined meaning that is hard to grasp. More like just something odd/strange off the top of my head I felt like writing. So, don't freak out.

Today was so warm at work, we took the kids outside to try to play soccer and eventually end up on the playground equipment because it was just so insanely nice out.

Then, I went home to study. Well, first I got together all the paperwork for my Internship this summer, and sent it off today. I am good to go in that department (WHOOP WHOOP)! I am so excited to go to Arizona and work at Lost Canyon. God is going to do amazing things this summer, I just know it.

Back to the study part. It was just such a nice day, that I had to take advantage of it. I studied on the screened in porch.Yes, the weather was beautiful. . . the Business Law was not. That's okay though, it's almost over.

Then, around 1:30, my friend George came over and we went through this Bible Study called Growing in Christ (A thirteen-week course for new and growing Christians). It is so awesome, it has the basic premise for what a follower of Christ is, and some foundation laying Scripture to memorize. It is good stuff. As you can see, we also did that study outside. It was just so nice out!!

Then, I went to work of course, and when I came home, my mom had gotten back from the Hospital where she had her second surgery for her foot. Which she broke over a year ago because of a slip at Menards. It did not heal correctly from the first operation, so they had to go in again. My poor mom, she was higher than a kite when I took this picture. I am just glad she is not in pain, and pray that everything heals just the way it needs to this time.

I ended the night with BSF, and it was such a great lesson. It really pounded the fact into me that I must never stop going after people in Christ. It is such an amazing gift, I must share, no I am commanded to share the Love of God with others. Even if they don't want to hear it, I must share, when at all possible. Not force feeding it to people, but making TRUTH known and living it in and through my own life.

I don't have enough time. . .

I feel like I don't have enough time to get things done that need to get done. Yet, I still did not wake up early today to get them (things) done. No, I was lethargic and postponed things (them). The couch was my demise for most of the day. I finally got around, but my success in completion of those things that need to be completed, mostly SCHOOL. Was minimal to none. (BIG SIGH) The conference to Chicago really threw off my schedule, and though I am not regretting going, I am wishing I would have prepared better for the completion of my duties as a student. I did not have work today, because the kids did not have school for whatever reason. If I would have woke up at ohh I don't know 8AM, and gotten busy, then I would have been in a good place I feel. I did not though. And so, now I am not in a good place. Here is the finished product of skylights that my parents had put in. They look pretty darn good. The roof is not even 50% finished because of all the rain we have been having. The sealing continues to leak, and that causes tension amongst the house dwellers (parents), though slight.

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) was really good tonight. This last week we went through Deuteronomy 1-26. It was a lot of reading, but thankfully I stayed up on it, and was not encumbered by it. I took many notes from the lecture, but this one is the one I choose to share. In the old testament, God commanded the Israelites to completely destroy the towns that God hands over to the Israelites. Completely destroy meant killing everyone, men, women, and children, and burning all the plunder. The note I took was this. . .

• We Christians are not given the opportunity today to completely destroy a people going against God; but Jesus does give us the opportunity to love them anyways.
  

I took this as a direct challenge. I am not trying to say I wish I could completely destroy evil people in my life that go against God. I am saying, I need to be prepared to love people who are very difficult to love. To act in a way that would lead them to believe I am not acting on my behalf.

i-hop, study/sick, Bible study

Started off the day with a little I to the Hoppity. I met with my friend Brandin, the kid who I took sking with me not too long ago, and have known for a little over a year. I met him last year just from hanging out at the Snider lunch room, and going to his table every week to talk with him. Well, sense then, we have established a friendship and try to meet up with each other every now and then. It's good, God is at work some how, even if I can't see how.
When I left I-Hop, I went straight to the library. The library is good because it is very quiet, and there is no mistaking why I am there. I am there to read, take notes, and mess around on the computers just for a little bit. BUT MOSTLY STUDY!! It was quiet, and there was some studying. I have my first Elements of Law test tomorrow morning. I am feeling pretty good about it. God knows I have spent enough time reviewing, reading, and memorizing the material. I feel I should do good. We will see tomorrow. When I got home from the library, I went out back and kicked what was left of my beautiful snow man. If you remember not to long ago, I had a magnificent man of snow proudly standing in my back yard. ~CLICK THIS LINK~ to see what he use to look like during his glory days. As you can well see, he is not in such good shape any more. And in all actuality, he is much worse now even. I kicked what was left of his chest, and now he is nothing more than a puny base. So long friend.Then it was off to Bible Study Fellowship. It was really hard to concentrate tonight though. About half way through the day, I started getting the sniffles, sore throat, and all that non-sense. I was sniffling so much, it was annoying me, I was super tired, and worn out feeling, so I just had troubles concentrating. But, I do remember that the jist of Liviticus 25,26, & 27 were that all men should be treated equally, God is a fair God, and that He needs to be respected and he will then respect you. Seems simple. Ohhh Israelites, you silly silly people. You are so much like people of today. Ohhh Silly, silly people of today (including me).

G'Night! Say a prayer that this darn cold goes away quickly. THANKS!!

awe will happen once I find my nitch

(@ school typing paper)

I am pushing and pushing for this ENGLISH paper to just click. I am making leeway, but nothing that I would call break through. The main topic is "loving yourself," which I do, so one would conclude that writing and telling others how to do this would come with some what ease.......it is not though. Ohhh well, I will keep trudging through until I come up with something that is satisfactory. It is just.....well every bone in my body wants to make some serious tracks on the course of this paper, because procrastination can become my great down fall. I am putting a lot of time into it, but don't have much to show for it.
I got to see a wonderful sunset with the kids at work. They enjoyed it as much as I did. Next time I see something as beautiful as a sunset with them, I am going to try to remember to ask them some kind of a deep question and see what kind of a reply I get from them. Something like....So why do you like a sunset so much so&so? Wonder what that would get me....

BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) was uber good tonight. Those silly Israelites, they keep screwing up, making the same stupid mistakes over and over again........wait, that is just what I do!! Wow, the Israelites and I have a lot more in common that one might think. I took some great notes, but I left my notebook downstairs. I went to work out at the YMCA after I got out of BSF tonight, and my abs are hurting like crazy. Otherwise I would walk my butt downstairs and get them and share what I was learned tonight. The pain is making me march my butt right to bed.

G'Night!!

Golly Gee, God Gradually Get's Gooder.

Infusion # 8 of Tysabri was today. So far, so GOOD! Today would mark month 8, and my health continues on GOOD AS GOLD (knocking on wood). I wanted to include some video of the infusion process.

Having the actual needle placed into my vein is not a problem. It is that darn tape that is so excruciatingly painful. When the tape comes off, so does all the hair on my hairy arms. OUCH!!! Today was really a blessing at the hospital. I was so hungry, and they brought me out this meal, and it tasted so good. It looked really good too. I could tell the cook actually put some time trying to make it pretty, it looked good, and more importantly, it tasted awesome! I am not going to diss on hospital food any longer after this experience.Now doesn't that look pretty? :-)

Today, after I got my infusion, I met up with Tom (Young Life staff) to talk about a the "talk" I will be giving next Wednesday at club. After speaking with him, I am getting so totally excited about it. It is going to be just awesome. I have no worries, God will use it for whatever his purpose is going to be. I just want to make myself a vessel for him to use. Tom is to the left, and I am sitting to the right.....It is kind of a funny picture of us, because I don't usually have my shirt off, I have gained some weight.

In the evening, I went to BSF. It was such a good time. I get so much out of the talks now, it is very uplifting. I wish I had time to explain things I learned and took from the talk tonight in great detail, but I don't. SO, I am just going to highlight the grand points, and explain in brevity how they are impacting my life.

This last week, we went through (Exodus 6:28-10:29), the first 9 plagues that God sent to the Egyptians. There were some amazingly challenging questions, and insights I took from the talk Jack gave tonight. CQ stands for challenge question(s).

*What will it take to surrender fully to God and abandon all other God's?
~Pharaoh hardened his heart & showed an obvious lack of fear for God.
-Sin has hardened man's heart. It is when I diligently refuse to submit to God that I choose NOT to follow Him.
~I must accept the obvious path God is leading me to. By refusing to do so, I am "diligently refusing to submit to God."
-Courage to do hard things in God's will glorifies Him.
-The longer sinners resist God's will, and refuse his word, the louder he speaks through judgment.

(?)CQ(?) How has God kept me safe?
How or when have I chosen to ignore God or hiw will?

FINAL NOTE:
Satan wants humans to believe that compromising to unGodly things is okay. It is when we compromise, that Satan is able to slowly get rid of the thorny ball, and turn it into a smooth ball, easy to handle. I remember my 5th grade teacher use to tell us that that when we tell lies, there is a ball inside us, that has sharp thorns sticking out of it. Every time we lie, the ball turns a little bit. At first it hurts to lie (regret, guilt, etc.), but after a while, the sharp thorns sticking out get worn off and it becomes very easy and painless. That is how I envision consistent sin, not being given to the lord looking like.

These notes really impact me deeply because of some challenges I have set for myself in my life.

this and that

The day started off as usual. Work, then English class. Then I had some time to blow, got my hair cut ya know. I had a nice little surprise when I was walking into Great Clips, my best friend Jared was working at Higher Grounds next door. Well, he saw me walk into G/C and came over to say hello. I told him I would be over to chat as soon as the lady was done clipping.
It was really nice. And, this picture of Higher Grounds Coffee shop is the actual store Jared works at. I knew he was picking hours, but I didn't have any idea it was at this specific location. Ya see, there is a HG coffee on campus of my school, and I just assumed that was the only one he was working at. But all to my big surprise, he saw me!! It was cool to chat it up with him. We chatted it up about an "event" he has planned. I can't say any more because I am not sure if a particular someone reads this BLOG or not. So, until later when plans are more confirmed, I must keep my mouth shut. I didn't really have anything to work on, so after I got done with hair cut and talking, I went home, but watching T.V. was not an option, so I went to the YMCA to work out for a bit.It felt god to pump some IRON!! Some of the guys around me thought I was kind of strange because I took a picture of myself, BUT that's alright, I got nothing to prove.

I started BSF tonight. It was so cool because I got to sit with my dad, who has been involved for about 14 years. I am excited for this years study. It is over the life of Moses. That would be Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. We aren't going to be doing Genesis, because that is a study within itself. It is so cool and keeps you accountable in by being in the word every day. Questions, and it is just super sweet! I get to do it with my dad too. That is awesome!!! He has been praying for me for such a long time, and now he gets to enjoy BSF with his son. That is a beautiful picture. A picture of hope and endurance in Christ. BEAUTIFUL!