Even more Randomness

It is that time again... my brain is full and in need of some decompression. Get ready  for some randomness.

- I am really excited about our new car. We purchased a 4-runner, and it is awesome. I am very excited that we can finally take our other boat to the lake to sail because we once again have a hitch. We can also go bike riding, which I am really enjoying. It is also really fun to drive. I am used to driving a little Mercedes, so the 4-Runner is a little taller and has a little more engine power.

- I got the Adobe Creative Suite a couple weeks ago. I have not had a whole lot of time to sit down and use it... but it is amazing so far. The package came with a 10 hour instructional DVD.... I was already intimidated by seeing the length of the DVD, not to mention that I have to learn all of the things on there...... 

- I am looking to buy a bike to ride on trails/ road/ wherever. I just want to get a bike that is a good mix so I can use it anywhere. If anyone is bike-savvy out there... I would love some suggestions. I am not looking to spend a fortune, but I want something that will last. Help would be great :)

- I have been ready a lot lately. I forgot how much I really do enjoy reading (at least when it is things that I want to read....). I am trying to read all kinds of books. I just want to see how other people think and learn from them.. even if I do not agree with everything that they say. I would rather read writings from someone with passion that is a little off in a few places who is honest than to read  bland writing that is just a regurgitation of something that has not depth. 

- I might be in love with Thai food... I think I could eat it daily (or at least 4 times a week). Kami and I have found quite a few good Thai places over the last few months.... and they have all been good. I am becoming a sucker for the Thai. 

- I am starting to really like dogs. I have always like dogs.. just from a distance. But lately, I have found myself enjoying playing dogs (although I still do not like the slobber... that still grosses me out)

- Twitter.......... yeah, I might be hooked.

- I am very excited that I get  to teach at Re:Generation 3 weeks during July. (Re:Generation is our meeting on Wed. nights for the student ministry). I am doing a series called The Throwdown        It is going to be awesome.. you should come check it out. 

wow.. that was indeed random. Thank you for checking in.... and making it this far in the blog post. Your diligence is appreciated.   

Do you Twitter??

Twittering- I am not sure if that is a word.. but that is what we will call this new phenomenon.

I am not sure when or how this thing got started, but I think it is neat.

There is just something that is attractive to me about being able to make a little mini- post onto my blog from my cell pone via text message to the Twitter number. I am a sucker for everything new and interesting (I am always making new blogs on different websites just to try them out..... I still like blogger the best). So when I heard about  Twitter, I had to give it a test. 

I think it is fun.... it is kind of like updating your facebook status during the day. You can check out my Twittering on the sidebar of my blog for some random/ funny/ or interesting thoughts on my day when I am not able to write a full-fledged  blog. I hope someone out there finds it somewhat amusing....... if you fit that category, you can follow me on Twitter at this this link

Mission Tour Recap

It was a great Mission Tour this year.... as always. I will try to give everyone a synopsis of the week (hopefully it will be brief..... this could be difficult)

- I was in a completely different role this year. I was not as busy on the trip, but the week before was a little crazy. I was awake most night thinking and worrying about what we were going to forget. (Although I think we did a good job of not forgetting things). I love being an intern; it is a pretty nice setup. I get to go on a trip with some amazing youth and watch them do amazing things; that is hard to beat.

- I was so impressed with the 1st timers.... It is always interesting to see how new/and or/ younger people react to Mission Tour. Some freak out, (I can think of a few off the top of my head), Others come out of their Turtle shell and never go back in. It never fails. There are always a few people that come out of their shell and everyone is shocked that they even have a voice... This year I felt like there were a huge number of people  that came out of their shell. I saw so much growth in students last week.

- God really opened my eyes: While I was taking pictures at one of the Backyard Bible Clubs, I had a moment when the light bulb came on, and everything made sense, I had always been too involved in the past to see it, but this year it was clear. It really did not matter what songs we sang, what crafts the kids made, or the games we played with them; it was about a relationship. It is not about shoving church down people's throat; it is about loving people and actually caring about who they are as a person. I think so many times, we as Christians think that if we are not vocally telling someone about Jesus, then we are not witnessing. But really, our life is our best witness (especially with children, who seem to see right through the fake stuff). I saw the effects of what happens when Christians love because that are in love with Jesus. The church is a mobile unit that is alive and moving. The church was alive this week. planting seeds of love and hope all around Pennsylvania. 

- I am still tired. By the end of the week I think I could have slept on a bench in the rain. Those old metal bunk-beds were amazing feeling by the end of the week.

- I have all of the Outrigger Island VBS songs stuck in my head. . . . .they are a little too catchy. 

I am not sure how many more Mission Tours I will be able to go on with ISBC, so I wanted to soak it all in while I had the chance. 

It really was an amazing week. This is something that everyone needs to experience some time during their life, because there is a good chance it will change the rest of your life.....

Now that I am home and have internet access, I will be getting back into the blog world.

stay tuned....

An Apple a day....

If you have more than a 2 minute conversation with me, there is a good chance something about Apple will come up. I have become a big fan of Apple over the last few years (and so has my family... Even my dad, who used to make jokes about my wanting a Mac, now has 2 Apple computers). I was really drawn to their ease of use and the sleek style of Apple. I love my Macbook; it has been such a great laptop to use this year in college. It just worked.... and that was great. 

My father showed me a video today that was just to good to pass up. I am not trying to bash Microsoft.... but this is just really really funny. This is a video of the new CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, at a conference for "developers"( you will get that when you watch it). 

It is only 19 seconds, so I encourage that you watch it at least twice. Plus, it just does not get old.....

One word. Passion.           and Sweat....

Mission Tour starts tomorrow!!! (I am ready to go)

Randomness: part 2

After writing a post about random things going through my mind, I began to realize that I do have a random side after all. I am not always planned and though out all the time. It was every cathartic to just start typing away..... So with that said. Here is the continuation of the random, interesting, and mind-bending( not really) random thoughts on the last week of my existence.

- I am excited about Mission Tour (it is in 2 day)! I am also a little nervous that we are going to forget something..... It might keep me up at night trying to figure out what it is. 

-I just got Leopard last night for my Macbook. I now have the much cooler OS, complete with a trending 3-D dock, time machine, and spaces (along with about 300 other things....). I think it was  a worthy upgrade. 

-I am reading a book called "Faith of my Fathers". Kami got this book for  me before we went to college in the fall. It is a book that is a conversation between a grandfather, his son, and his 3 grandchildren. The chapters are divided by different topics. It has been so interesting to see the views of 3 generations of ministers. They agree on some things, but there are many issues that divide their thoughts. There are some valuable lessons that can be learned from older generations. This has been a great glimpse into the life of other ministers. 

- We got Adobe Creative Suite today!! I am sooo excited to play with it tonight. The package came with a 10 hour DVD and a workflow guide (it is very extensive). I think I may be getting my intern hours in tonight..lol.

- I tried the new southern style chicken biscuit at McDonald's this morning. It was pretty good, and the price was better....free (thanks to a free coupon that came in the mail with Leopard). 

- I am ready for my next reading adventure..... Velvet Elvis. I started this book a while ago, but became busy with school stuff and had to put it to sleep for a while. I enjoy his writing style (and I really like his NOOMA series). I think Rob Bell is a very interesting person. And while I do not agree with everything he says, he does make some great points. I think this should be a good read. 

- There will be more randomness to come

stay tuned.... 

 

It's about time

VBS is done for the year... We did Outrigger Island( which seems to be what everyone is doing). It was great for the students this week, because we are going to be doing the same curriculum on Mission Tour next week. They were able to get some hands on experience with the atmosphere and the material. I need to find a Hawaiian shirt( I do not have one in my wardrobe. I have at least 40 button-up shirts, none of which have any flower type print). 

It is crazy to think that Mission Tour is only one week away. There are still some loose ends to tie up, but we are making good time on getting everything ready. The T-shirts are in, they look awesome if I do say so myself. We have 70 people going on the trip, which is very exciting. There are quite a few first-timer. It is always neat to see people step out of their comfort zone and minister to others in a way that you never thought would happen. There are always some people that surprise you with their willingness to work and serve. Mission Tour can really be a life changing experience; both for the people in Pennsylvania and in our own students. 

Please be in prayer as we continue to pray for us as we prepare for the upcoming trip.

stay tuned....

A Great Commission

I did a study on the great commission this last week. I have read that section a hundred times and have heard many sermons on that topic. 

There was something that author said that really caught my attention. He said that the word "go" in that passage is not a command to go. It is not that you were sitting and now you are going. But it means "as you are going". Those few extra words and the tense of the meaning bring so much more to the table.

Jesus has called us to go, but it is not just for a season. There is not a time when we go, and a time when we stop.... There is just go. We are to actively going and sharing God's love, not just for that week on the mission trip, or those 5 days of VBS( although those are great and important things). The point is, we are always going . Our life as Christians should be filled with "go's", not just once in a while. 

Jesus has commissioned us to go, at all times, to all places, to reach all people. The best part is... God is with us through it all. Jesus says in the end of the passage that He will be with us always. It is comforting to know that no matter how many surprises, disappointments, and curve- balls life throws our way, we have a God who is with us until the end. 

Just something to think about

stay tuned...

Randomness

Life is random, and so is my brain. Here are some random thing that are on my brain.( There may be not rhyme or reason or order of importance... that is why the post is called Randomness)

- It is storming outside. I like to sit and listen to the rain from time to time. When there is a good rain, I always go back to when I was about 7. I remember sitting outside with my grandfather watching the storm. I don't know why I remember that, but it is a special thought.

- I read a book about Steve Job called iCon; it was so interesting to see a person that had so much faith in himself and his ideas despite everything that happened to him along the way. As I was reading the book I began to ask myself, " do I really trust God that much on a daily basis??" I would like to say, "Why yes, of course, I have super-faith," but that is not always true. There are times when I try to do it on my own. Sometimes I feel like we as Christians( myself included), give up something great for something good or comfortable. I am encouraged to see churches that step out of their comfort zones so they will fully rely on God. God has not called us to sit, or be stuck in a rut. I have been thinking about the disciples a lot. When Jesus called them, they had no idea what they were getting into. God called. They answered, and followed. They were not perfect, but Jesus was. When Jesus called, they left everything. I wonder how many people today would be willing to do something like that??

- I am super pumped for Mission Tour; it is going to be life-changing. I am expecting God to move, in the life of those in Pennsylvania, the students going, and in my life. We are going June 13-20, you can check out the ISBC website for blog posts during that time. 

- I have been thinking a great deal about worship; I wish more people could see just how amazing it can be when you have uninhibited worship. It is just amazing when people come together just to worship. I think it is something very important in our Christian walk; we need to have a time to empty ourselves and be renewed by God. You should listen to Chris Sligh's "empty me." It is such a great song about laying it all down before God. 

- I am enjoying some older music. I like new stuff, but it is good to back to some good old stuff as well. 

- I am so tired..... I need to get back into better shape. All the tennis at the beach killed me( actually, it was from not playing tennis or being very active and eating in a cafeteria 3 meals a day at college) 

stay tuned for more random thought as they flow...