locked OUT

I have two classes on Tues & Thurs, well my philosophy class brought some interesting conversation. It was really pretty cool how it all came about. Ya see, we are currently discussing a guy (famous philosopher) who is an existential atheist. To broaden your understanding of what existential means, I found wikipedia to actually be quite helpful. Anyways, we got into the whole debate on Free Will & how this philosopher says very bluntly, you can't have God & Free Will. I kept explaining that you absolutely, and that it makes the foundation for God. It was really pretty awesome how it happened. I got to share my faith, and did not feel shunned or anything of the sort. There were those who shot down my way of thinking, but I was not defensive, I was okay with it, and continued to intelligently approach my views. My prof does not agree with me one little bit, in fact, it would be safe to say he probably thinks I am lacking in many ways of basic intelligence. BUT, he has never felt the peace that passes understanding. I kind of offended this guy named Avi. Avi is a practicing Orthadox Jew, and with my statement of faith, it did....in a round about sort of way, condem him. I say that carefully, because God never condems anyone. There is always an opportunity for change. But, by saying to an Orthadox Jew, you must accept that Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully man to inherit the kingdom of heaven, you are....in a way, condeming him/her. When class was over, I waited for him, and we both walked a bit to discuss the matter further. Much respect for him, and I believe that goes both ways.

When class got over, and I was ready to go home to eat lunch........I WAS LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR!!!Yes, it is a horrible feeling to walk up to your car and frantically search yourself for car keys that aren't there. As you approach your vehicle, you hope and hope and hope that you just accidently placed them down while in the bathroom, or maybe dropped them when exiting the class room. You are thinking that anything would be better than locking them in your car. When all other possibilities are exhausted, you reluctantly approach your car..............there they are. Right in the ignition where you left them. As Homer Simpson would say, "DO'OH!!!"

So, I called around and found that help was not going to be contacted by phone, well not without really putting someone out. So, I started walking. I started to walk to my friend Josh, who works near by. I have frequented his work while on my way home from school on Tuesdays and Thursdays when I see him in his car on lunch break. I tried calling him, but he didn't pick up. So, I didn't really have any other option, so I just started walking over there. When I did, I roamed his building a bit, which is right across the busy street by my College. And I called him again, he picked up this time, and I told him my situation, and asked if I could borrow his car for a bit while I went home to get my spare key. He agreed, and saved my butt. I put $10 in his gas tank, and all was well with the key world. I was so thankful for him today.

Something amazing happened too. My friend Jama is getting back today. WOWZERS!!! It was so crazy how God worked that situation out too. Our last phone conversation & letter happened about 2 months ago. I have been meaning ever since to write her back. But sometimes I am so darn stupid with my priorities that I just kept putting it off, and putting it off. Jama has been at a place called Mercy Ministries which is in Nashville, TN. Boy oh boy did a lot of prayers and "GOD WORK" go into getting her there. But she went, and has been there for many months. I just so happened to take the time to write her a letter. I was doing it in the 45 spare minutes I had before I had to go back to work. As soon as I was done writing it, I gave Jama's mom a call to see when she was scheduled to come back. I knew it was sometime soon, but whether it was next month or what I had no clue. I called her mom, and when her mom...or so I thought called me back, IT WAS JAMA!! She was calling from her moms phone, on the road, driving back with her mum from Nashville!! I just so happened to call her mom, on the day that Jama was coming home. Coming home from her 4-6 month stretch in Nashville at Mercy. Hummm, ironic or God ordaned..... I will go with the later of the two. :-)

I went to a seminar tonight that BSF had about preaching the gospel. It was awesome, and I am super duper tired.

G'Night!!

these halls were made for loving

I was in awe after I left Snider (school I do contact work in for Young Life) today. Left and right kids were just opening their souls up to me and allowing me to not only poke and prod into territory that is typically forbidden, but were loving and willing enough to allow me to gently provide insight and words of comfort. Now I was not providing answers and a guide to end all pain, just served as a caring individual who wants to genuinely take an interest in their lives. It's a beautiful thing when this all comes into focus and things make sense. It is a beautiful thing when you pray and pray for specific individuals to be impacted in a way, and then see God not only impact in the way you specifically prayed for, but to see God go way beyond what you ever thought was possible.

Tonight at Young Life, we played this crazy game. We took a 26' intertube, and made it do things you wouldn't think possible of a 26' bike intertube. It was controlled chaos at it's best.
After the craziness of the games and fun singing and what not. I gave the talk tonight. I gave a talk over the story in Matthew 19:13-15. I started off by sharing a story of when I was a little kid, and some of the insane crazy antics I was up to. I used a couple of pictures of me when I was a young buck to kind of set the tone for who little kids are and how they can act, both good and CRAZY!! Here are the two pictures of "little mikey" I used.I was an adorable little kid. Seriously, just look at that curly hair and that look, it just makes you wanna say "awwww." Well, the kids loved it anyways. The way I went with this was that Jesus was not this guy who only choose to be with the uppity high class society, he wanted to be with the smalls of society. He wanted to be with the children of the world, and even went so far as to say that the kingdom belongs to children such as these. WOW! We are painting this on going picture of, "who is this Jesus guy?" He hangs out with prostitutes, tax-collectors, nobody's, children, degenerates of society. He loves on them and just spreads the Good Word. It is such a powerful and amazingly sweet thing to see and be a part of. What a privdlage for me to be able to impact the lives of young people. It is needed so badly, there is so much pain and grief walking through the halls of Snider. If I just let all my true emotions out when I walk in those halls, and didn't try to be a quote, unquote, "STRONG FIGURE." I would just well up in tears constantly over what some of these kids are going through. WOW!! God is sooo GOOD!!

alright Barack, lets see what you got

Before I talk about the new president, I wanted to comment on how bedazzled I was to see this guy riding his bike down a super busy street. Now, Fort Wayne has laws and all that jazz to protect bike riders, the thing I don't understand is why this guy chooses to ride his bike in the street when there is a perfectly good side walk running to where ever he is going....it is quite bewildering.

I am honestly surprised that Barack Obama is the new president. Well, maybe not too surprised, but maybe more like......well I am just kind of taken by it all. Mark my words...I just hope he is able to stand up to half of the things he said he is gonna do. I don't really believe in him, but that doesn't matter.

I stopped by my sisters house to check on John her fiance's nose. He had surgery today. He had to have some stuff taken out of his nose to open the air way or something like that.I think two things at the same time when I see this pic, I think, Poor John because I know his nose is going through a rough time right now, but then I think GO JOHN! Because of how him and my sister Brandy are going to get into school and make something of their lives.

Crap!!! I did not vote for many reasons......I did not write what I posted below, but I agree with it 100%!!

I am not voting today.

For the last several months I have had so much propaganda thrown at me from both parties to vote for the right candidate, as well as non-partisan urgings to get out and vote because it's my civic duty. I'm just tired of it. I'm ready for tomorrow to come so all the commercials will be over.

I made the conscious decision not to vote a while ago. I've written about this in a previous note, but when Christians put so much hope in the power of the voting booth and in one man to save us all from the woes of the opposing party, this is idolatry. Christians, our faith is not to be in a political system. The Kingdom of God, which is what we should be striving for, is far above this. And for Christians to vote for the candidate who most represents Christ in their policies and character, and expect them to fulfill the duties of the Church while we sit back and live our comfortable lives is irresponsible of us. If we want change, it needs to start with us, not with our politics. If you think that spreading the wealth is the most Christ-like policy, don't just let Obama take care of it, start doing it yourself. This is what Christ has commanded us.

I know that Christians need to be active in our world. I know that voting is often a part of that. But at this point in my life, this is the best way I know how to "make my voice heard." This is my way of being active politically and spiritually. My hope is that Christians will wake up and look beyond the propaganda to see how Christ has called us to live in this world. My hope is that Christians will stop putting their hope in a political system and start being active in their own communities to bring change. My hope is that people will start taking personal responsibility for bringing hope into this world rather than relying on one man and a government to do so. This is how I'm choosing to make my voice heard this election. I'm not judging you for voting by any means, but I just hope to raise awareness that Christ has called us to something greater than a political system.

I think this election has changed the idea of Christian voting. I know it has for me, even though I haven't voted previously. Our faith shouldn't be dominated by any one political party. I hope that this election makes people really think about why they vote and where our responsibility as citizens of this great nation and as citizens of the Kingdom of God cross paths.

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!!

Glory, Glory, Halluliah!!

Today was awesome! I promised my Young Life buddy, Vantrell, some time ago that I would come and check out his church. He just recently got involved with the Chior, and is real proud of it. So, this morning I got myself around and drove down town to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. If I could sum the 2 1/2 hour service up, this is what my notes have to say.

Psalms 121:1-2 When times are rough, tough, and seemingly impossible, where do I turn my eyes?

• God's plans are bigger than what I can understand, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't keep on looking towards Him always.
  

• People are always looking towards someone when in time of need. I must keep my eyes fixed on Christ, the only one worth looking at.

Isaiah 54:17 doesn't say anything about weapons not being forged, it says they are gonna keep being forged (loss of jobs, money, friends, loved ones, sadness, Flesh rising up) but that they WILL NOT PREVAIL against you. Ohhh boy what words of comfort to keep holding fast to the only Rock worth standing on. LOVE IT!!

I was the only white person in that church today. But let me tell you, I felt right at home because the pastor was preaching the word, and I was loving it. All 2.5 hours of it!! Vantrell was really happy that I came out to experience his church too. I was glad he was glad. :-)

After that, I had an appt at the library with a librarian to help me find some books for my paper.I got some helping on how to search for specific books based on key word searches. She helped me to utilize my search engines. It was good help, and I found two books relevant to the topics I needed. Then......it was off to find them. This was made extra hard because they are moving all the books in the library, all over the place. I found them eventually though.I really am not a huge fan of the dewy decimal system, but I suppose it is a good thing it is around. I am just glad there are librarians around to help me when I am unsuccessful, because I only found 1 our of 2 books. :-)

I was so tired, I passed out on the couch when I got home and almost forgot about Dave church. ALMOST, but didn't.

In Dave Church, we talked about how vastly important it is to surrender and praise God when you are being slain. Just like Job said, "even though you slay me, I shall trust you." WOW!! That is what you have to want to attain to, I JUST HAVE TO!!

please say a prayer for my friend Richard. Richard is leaving for an adventure in Christ to go down to Florida tomorrow to get new teeth. It is a long and amazing story, but the fact of the matter is he needs prayer. Please say a prayer for his safety, and that he is able to abound in TRUSTING THE LORD for EVERYTHING!!

G'Night

Happy Birth Day JARED!!

(Good meals on me)

Today is the birth day of my bestest friend in the whole wide world. Now, Jared and I have been best buddies since kindergarten. This is Nicky's brother. So I have been planning on taking Jared out to eat at this really nice Irish bar called J K O'Donnell's which I have been planning on doing. In fact, I called and got in cahoots with his girl friend Allison for about a week. We both wanted to do something awesome for his B-Day, so I helped to wrangle up all his best friends and when Jared and I walked back from J K's, we opened the front door up to a house full of pizza and closest friends. They gave him cards and we played video games all night. IT WAS VERY MUCH FUN!!!

THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR 10-31-08

It happened, a rarity I know, but it does happen. I forgot to BLOG. I fell asleep on the couch, the very comfortable and lovely couch and passed out. I was so tired, nothing was stopping it. I woke up at about 12:00AM and moved myself to my bed.

So at work...YESTERDAY, we had a Halloween party. It went really good and the kids really had a blast and dressed up in all their candy outfits.As you can probably see, I was working the prize table. They could do a pumpkin toss, a pin the nose on the pumpkin, or a pumpkin bowling game (notice the pumpkin theme?). I know they had a lot of fun.I was a footballer. It was fun, and simple. I wish I had more time to devote to coming up with a really awesome and unique costume.......but I don't.Here is dear little Mimi. She is the daughter of the site director Andrea. A cutie to say the least.

When I left, I was tired, and restless. I went to the YMCA to get my work out on, and after a little sauna time and a shower I left. The first person I called on my Friday evening......well.....it was my friend Ryan (fellow Young Life leader). He and some other guys went to a campus ministry dance, but said it was super duper lame. They left and were gonna go get some food some where. I don't like wasting money on food if I don't have to. SO, I called my mom to see what she was doing. She was at a dinner/party with friends. They were eating fish that a hand full of them caught while on their Alaska vacation. I wish I had people in my life that were close to me that I could call and hang out with, but my parents are pretty cool, and so are their friends. So, I went there and got some free fish.The men were in a different room, but I ate and talked with the women. They are a bit more "social," and of course, are more interested in hearing about what is going on in my life. :-)

I need friends my age, but this will do.

Okay, I am at my school, getting ready to type on my paper. It is like 12:00PM, and at 5:30 I will be leaving to take my BEST friend Jared out to dinner for his B-Day. It will be super fun.