the TALK

Today was average to say the least. I didn't accomplish all the things I wanted to, but I worked my AB's when I worked out, and they are so, so that is good. My philosophy class was cancelled, so I went straight to the YMCA to get my work out on. I was suppose to go straight home, eat food, then work on papers due for Friday in my PHILOSOPHY class. It is 11PM, I am sitting in the library auxiliary 24/hr study room BLOGGING, because it is obviously more important than doing my study. DO'OH!

Before I came here, I went to have dinner with my sister and her roommate. I forget what it was called, but it was SOOO GOOD. Traci (to the left) is a super good cook. Apparently my sister is too, because when I gave Traci all the credit, I got barked at. ;-) I love my sister Merideth so much, and wish I could spend so much more time with her. DARN YOU SCHEDULE AND LIFE APPOINTMENTS!!

BUT, right after work was the highlite of my day. I got to meet with Dave, my old youth pastor gone mentor (guy who I meet with every Sunday). Well, if I had any kind of gut, I would share the topic. But I am spineless, so we will just call it a Christ talk. No, that's lame, not lame, but not sufficient. It was more of a learning and realization time for me on some specific areas that have needed addressed for quite some time. But I came to find that it isn't so much as what I thought needed fixed, but needs to be left to what God want's to reveal. I learned so much about the way I approach things, and was really challenged in a powerful and meaningful way. YESSS!!!

Back 2 study time.

Peace, Grace & Peace. First the Grace....then comes the PEACE!

Love is where it's at

At work, I had fun with the kids. Can you believe it?? I could sit from afar, and watch, pointing and yelling, but I actually get down and dirty with um. Is this a hard concept to pull together? I am hanging upside down, there were three little ones running and laughing around me. It was much fun. Later I became the SLIDE TROLL, and would tell the kids if they wanted to get by me to go down the slide, they had to figure out the password. If your kids to be loved in a real and genuine way before and after school, well Lincoln Elementary is where it's at. FO SHO!


God some things accomplished today. Crap I have lots to do this week. But, it's all good, I will accomplish them all. BSF was awesome as well. There are 215 (with an 82% attendance average) guys signed up for BSF, and it is so powerful to see a huge body of grown male influences desiring to impact their own personal spiritual walks, but the walks of their families and communities, be it work, clubs, etc. It is such a good and awesome thing for me to be involved in. Dang, some other sweet things happened today, I don't have the finger power to share them all, but I will share this one specifically.

~STARBUCKS~

Okay, so this is pretty cool. I am driving home from work. There is a Starbucks on the way home (yea, not a big surprise) if I take a kind of "out of the way" route. I did, not even considering the Starbucks. Well, I was approaching it, and extremely tired. Knowing that I had a night of Bible Study Fellowship ahead of me, which involves a lot of sitting and writing and listening, I knew I was going to need some extra help. I NEVER go to Starbucks, it is way too expensive...and for what? Coffee? I don't care if it is the best of the best beans, it is way to expensive. I really pondered going, and finally gave in, and justified it by saying I would just get a small whatever. I pulled up to the drive through. As soon as I got to the window, this girl (name not mentioned for certain reasons) from my past was at the window, and said, "Ohhh my gosh, Mikey Riley, this is so weird, I was just talking about you yesterday with Clint!" I said, "Clint (good friend from way old past) works here, no friggin way!" She said, "heck yea he does, and we both just got into a conversation about you yesterday, and yadd yadda yadda." Just then, Clint pulls up. She asks me what I wanted, and I explained my position, I gave her my debit card, and she handed it back to me. She asked me if I wanted 1 or 2 shots. Then handed me the largest Moca Cream I have ever seen in my life. I then, went inside and talked with Clint about how Jesus is working in his life, and it was good good good. How friggin cool is that? Worry cuz it's too much, and I hate spending money on stuff like that, and I end up getting complemented, a free drink, and hearing about how God is working. Triple good. :-b

Church & Study

Matt (cousin) went home on Friday. His dad came and picked him up so he could be home for a bit, so see my cousins (his sisters) little girls and family. Well, he came back yesterday afternoon (his dad, my uncle brought him) because he wanted to be able to go to church at Grace. I was kind of planning on waking up early, not going to church, and going straight to the library so I could get to work on work. BUT, I decided to take him to church instead, because it seemed more important in the grand scheme of things. It was a good decision too!!It was a sweet service. Ya see, I really like how they do things at Grace, because the physical church building and pastors and elders and what not are really there to facilitate the house churches in every possible way they can. This is awesome, because personally, I believe that is where the real connection with believers and growth takes place. Not in a building you go to once a week and get "preached to." Now, I am not saying that is a bad thing, I just really like the outlook Grace Gathering is taking on the subject. So, today and I think next week or maybe for the next two weeks they are going to have the house church leaders come up and discuss their groups. Things like what the individual groups mission statements are, their names if they have one, what they are doing or will be doing in order to impact the community, and things of that nature. Pretty cool stuff, really got Matt amped for the whole church group body.After I dropped Matt off at home, it was Library time. It took me entirely way too long to accomplish what I accomplished. I am not going to say how long I was here, or how much I got done, let's just say I could have done better. Sure, I could have done worse, but I could have done much better I believe. Also, I have a headache now.

Grace & Peace!!

BOX BALL / FOUR SQUARE

I was so lazy today. It was as if I had nothing to do....but I had much to do. I think when you have weeks and weeks of non-stop going, going, going, it is just so extremely NICE to take a Saturday off. Well, sort of off. I sat around for most of the day, after I got done with my BSF study. THEN, I WENT TO PLAY SOME SERIOUS BOX BALL at one of the other leaders houses. What a night!Yes, Yes. Young Life will be in full swing. It was so much fun, and the guys and small hand full of ladies had such a good time tonight. I waited and waited for this kid to come who I was so hoping would. But, after an hour went by, I called him up and talked to his mother. Sounded like quite a crazy day for him. I am so glad I called, that way I didn't allow myself to assume things. I will just look forward to seeing him on Wednesday when I go to Snider. That is that. Tomorrow will be filled with studying, reading & writing. Ohhh boy.

Bishop, 70's, stripper

As soon as I walked into my English class this morning, my prof handed me this book. It is a compilation of what different college students have to say about their prayer lives. Things like how they enter into prayer with God, how it affects their lives and how it is used as a relational building tool. He said he was at a book store, and the man working there thought highly of it. So, good ole Tom A.K.A. TKO got it for me. I have had time to read through the first chapter, and I am really liking it. It is put out by The Catholic Company. It's so cool, and I have never had a prof do anything for me like that. I have been extremely blessed so far with some darn cool prof's too. Well, Tom invited me to go to a mass/service this late morning/afternoon. I didn't have any thing else to do, except go work out at the YMCA, so I said what the heck. Off we went to St. Joseph Hospital, which is downtown Fort Wayne, Tom drove. It was a really good experience. I actually had time to see who the Bishop is for Fort Wayne, and South Bend Indiana. Anyways, I got a chance to go through a Catholic mass and sit down and have lunch with Bishop John D'Arcy. He is an extremely grounded individual, and quite fun to listen to and talk with. Although my time with him was brief, he gave me a good look at the role of a Bishop in the Catholic faith.Now, although I view Bishop D'Arcy as just a man. One who sins just as any other man, and put no type of significance on him any more than the next guy. I do have a better understanding, at least I think I do of his place. When he walked into the hospital, the people in Tom's Serra Club which is a group of devoted catholic men and women who want to make a difference in the community by spreading the "catholic love" if you will, jumped up and just kind of put him on a pedestal. To me this isn't the case. BUT, from what I saw and experienced, these people love the Lord. The repetitive actions of a Catholic religion may just seem like boring words and movements to me, but from what Tom told me, it means so much more and is much deeper to him, and the majority of the people in the Serra club. So, from that experience, I can say this. While it is not for me, and I can see much better ways for my own self to impact people's live in Christ, I can't say it is wrong.

Tom took me back to school, and I finished the day pretty regularly. When I got out of work, I went over to a coffee house/Christian book store where my friend would be playing a "gig." Ryan is a fellow Young Life volunteer, possibly becoming on staff here in the near future, God willing.

Ryan was great, the crowd was sweet too. Most of the people there were from different campus ministries from School. I hope to be getting more involved with these kinds of people. I thought tonight would be a good time to start. SO, I went to a 70's theme dance party. Held at someones apartment. It was time for me to step out of my comfort zone, and get jiggy with it. I went to my best friends parents house, and borrowed some clothes as well as talked with his mom and brother for a while. Here are some pictures from the parteezy. Also, this is pretty much the first party that I have had fun at, where there wasn't any alcohol. It is all a mind set. It really is. If you wanna have fun, you have to make that fun for yourself.I had some slick shoes on too. (Zach, Ryan, Tom)(Zach & Tom)

Strutting their stuff to say the "LEAST!"

It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of like minded individuals, I am super glad I went.

On my way home, I remembered a phone call I got from my friend Tony. He called to tell me he got his Liquid Oxygen tank, and has set up shop. He has started to blow some glass. I had to go over there to check it out on my way home.

Yes, Tony has got it up and running, just like he said he would. It was so strange going over there. I went from a positive up beat, Christian influence, to a place totally opposite. Don't get me wrong, I love every single person in there just as much as any Christian. It was just amazing how different the mood was, the everything. For instance, One of the girls that was over there works in a sex shop type place, that is actually inside a strip club. She politely told me about this "local" stripper who is coming to the club tomorrow, and wondered if I would be interested. I politely explained that wasn't really my thing, and that was that. I just got to see polar opposites today. Both sides are loved by God, both sides need loved by man.

That was my day.

this is what it comes down to

Good day today, good classes, good kids, good stuff. When I got off work, I went to pick up my cousin. He took the bus to the mall, and I picked him up there. I dropped him off at work this morning. We had to leave the house at 5:45AM in order for me to make it to work by 6:30AM. I did, and all was well. So, back to getting off work. I picked Matt up, and took him home. We ate dinner, and my parents and I talked with him, and it was awesome.See my moms hands to the right. Those are "talking hands." When she wipps those things out, it is time to listen. :-) I would know, I have seen those enough in my life time. Not so much recently, but plenty of times in my life, especially my former life(one like 1.75 years ago and earlier). It was so cool to see my family function in the way it was functioning tonight. Mother, Father and boy acting together as a body of believers to spur Matt on. It was a beautiful thing, and I really felt the Holy Spirit working in him. Felt, and saw, physically saw his demenor change. GOD IS GOOD!!

G'Night

Here's It at........just deal

Busy, forgetting, tremendous, impact, frustration, goofy, stress, child child, happiness, cold fingers. Those words alone explain my whole day and then some. I suppose I can put some pictures on and let ya'll in on the KNOW though. I went to work, then class, then SNIDER for lunch time. It was great ya know. Saw the usual peeps, plus some new ones. I didn't get to work out today, which sucked, because I hate it when I don't get to work out. Time just wouldn't allow it today though. When I got off work, I went back to Snider for their Powder Puff game, and then a homecoming dance.Yes, Yes. Although the kids were having lots of fun brushing up against each other in a very sweaty and close fashion......I still do not miss high school.

Young Life made a pretty cool presence known there. We passed out Freezie pop's. It was fun, and kids are goofey. SO GOOD.I am so friggin tired. I will explain at a later date, but tomorrow I have to get up super early for a very specific reason. I am happy to do it though. I really am.

Drive, Doctor, Bison, Sleep, GRACE, love

It is 12:02AM, I should probably be sleeping, but I have to bring these things to people, because if I don't....how else will you see them???? More importantly, how else will I remember them???So, here goes.My day started off with some driving. About 2 hours and 15 minutes of driving. My car doesn't have cruise control, and when you get up past 65, it is a little bit shaky. No big deal by any means, I am so thankful for that shaky car it isn't even funny. It just proves to be an interesting drive. It wasn't much of a pretty drive, and music just didn't have the appeal I thought it might have. So, I just talked with God most of the time. And, well thought. I think a lot when I drive. God is often in the fore front of those thoughts.

The whole reason I was driving was because I had a doctors appointment at the Indiana Center for Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunopathological Diseases. LOL. Right when I got there I said, to the sectretary/receptionist, "so how is The Indiana Center For Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunopathological Diseases treating you today?" She kind of chuckled, and said under her breath, "say that one again." So I did, and she gave me a smile. Then it was off to the waiting room. And waited.And waited. I actually waited in that little room for 63 minutes before anyone saw me. They didn't forget me, just went to lunch. LOL, acutally I dunno why it took so long, they are usually quick. The important thing is, the main doc. Dr. Kolar wants to keep me on the Tysabri, and said I looked good. Actually, they could tell I have been working out. The other Doc. who checked me out and did all the physical tests said my hearted sounded different. Like I had been working out. I said, in the MANLY MAN voice, "yea well I lift weights every now and then." (clears throat)I got there at 11:50 and didn't leave till 2:10, I was a little hungry to say the LEAST. I really wanted FISH, but set out on a search to find something unique and yummy. I found Ted's Montana Grill. And, holy diver was it good. They serve Bison meat there. It is actually a chain of stores owned by Ted Turner, yes the T.V. guy (CHECK THIS FOR MORE INFO.) started these aweome restaurants that serve Bison meat. It is sooo good too. This is a picture of a Bison Burger. It was amazing, and delicious. This place was so nice inside, and I am so glad I found it!!

Since I was in Indianapolis(which is a big city compared to Fort Wayne) I decided to take advantage of what it had to offer me in the food department. So I also stopped for Ice Cream at Maggie Moo's. It was good, and when I finished, I set back off for home. But let me tell you, all that food and the boring drive home started to make me super sleepy. I found myself dozing off, so I had to pull over into an empty parking lot and take a little nap. HA!! This is something I have never done before. But I wasn't going to fall asleep on the road and possibly hurt someone else, so I just took about a 30-45 minute nap. When I got home I went to Campus Crusades, something I had also never been to. It was on the IPFW campus, and it was cool. It was good, but while I was in it, I got a phone call from my cousin Matt. He felt as though he was in trouble, and in reality, probably was/is. It all came down to much phone calls, and my willingness to come get him if need be. Well, long story short, I prayed with him many times, asking God to just take over in the situation. There was one point when I was in my back yard, very late at night, in the dark, where Matt said some things that were directly God driven. Some thoughts and ideas that only Christ can implant in us stupid and sinful humans. I rejoyced, and now I am sharing it with anyone who chooses to read this, and myself of course, so I can come back on this moment and remember the joy and gloriousness of Christ!

G'Night!!!!!!!

first Mobile Blog

Today was a good day, I am not going to do a typical blog post because I literally just got done blogging for Fri, Sat, & Sun. I am too tired to do a typical sit & post Blog update. SO, I am going to try out this whole blog from phone concept a.k.a. MOBILE BLOGGING. This picture was taken while I rode to BSF with my pops. Beautiful sky if I may say so myself. Today was busy, busy, busy!!! I am currently sending this entire post from my cell phone. This will not be a typical post, but for today it is all I got. I am just entirely too TIRED!!

-Grace & Peace

It's Sunday, LISTEN UP.

I woke up early this morning after a Young Life sleep over/weekend thingy got over. Well, I still had promised my cousin that I would take him to church. SOOOOO, I got my booty home, in the shower, and out to where my cousin is staying. Picked him up, and we went off to church.It was the 11:15AM service, so it was set up a little different than last week's 9AM service. It was a more traditional set up, they still had tables towards the back, which personally I think is awesome. But all the chairs and attention was faced towards the front. This is a church of house churches, which again is great. My cousin is being very interested and I think that is just great.

What I think is even greater is Dave Church. Or the Sunday evening church I have been going to for quite some time now. I made this poem up about it.

Ode to Dave Church
Rough week
Spirits low
Work is constant
I need a break

Computer crashing
Selfish Sister
Urinary problems
I need a break

Work imposing
Children yelling
Car is stalling
I need a break

Familiar faces
Friendly smiles
love prevailing
I found a break

Word of God
Compassion tugging
Man of faith
I found a break

Feeling welcome
Always gentle
Laughs are hearty
I found a break

Dave, this may be insignificant, but I promised you I would write you a little something something. Take it for what it is my friend. Love you Dave.

today is motivate Saturday

Saturday, ohh Saturday you did me well. Indeed today was much needed, both for inspiration and motivation in Christ. Young Life is very rewarding and without a doubt part of God's play of early ministry in my life. But, like any commitment, it can be difficult to get past the initial PUSH into action. So, today served as a great reminder for why I am involved with YL, and gave me the extra PUSSSHHH I needed to get involved and stay seeking kids. We started out at 10AM this morning at a committee members house on the South side of town(the rich side of the South part of town). We had this big beautiful house to use for Saturday and Sunday morning. We did a lot of meeting time as a group. It was the people that are involved with the school I am in, and then a group that we referr to Young Life SOUTH. They go to schools south of Fort Wayne, and yea are close but not in the same school as me. Great group, and glad to have them around. It was really quite awesome how God showed up during praise time, talk time, all time, and renewed my spirit and spurred me on in that good yummy feeling God sort of way.

I tried to get one of the girls to snap a picture of when we all went to an open field near a church to play the Young Life Cup! But, she either didn't, or forgot. It was a blast though. We played 4 innings of wiffel bal, followed by 4 innings of kick ball. It was a close call too. But, my team was down by one. I did get an amazing double play after missing a vital catch. I totally redeemed myself.
After the Young Life cup, we had some time to kill, so one of the Juniors at Snider was playing in his band at a local coffee shop near by. We went and stopped by to have a listen. They were so good, it the music wouldn't have been so loud, I would have recorded some of it so you all could have a listen. It was like a mix between Sigur Ros, and Bright Eyes. No lyrics though. Very emotional, and at times had a very industrial feel to it. I LOVED IT!! Landon, the kid that goes to Snider is leaning over all the way to the right. I think he was adjusting something on his foot pedals or something. They were so rocking good though. Seriously talented and right up my alley for a genera of music I really appreciate and enjoy listening to. So, as soon as the set got over, we went to an independent film that was about American Teenagers. The film was called.....American Teen. I think everyone who has ever been a teen, or anyone who has a teen should see it. Yea, that means everyone should see it. Especially Hoosiers. The film was a documentary on this group of High School kids that went to Warsaw high school. A film crew just followed them around, and had full access to every part of their lives. The school is like less than 45 min away. I have been there before, and the film was just all too familiar in every way. I GIVE IT TWO THUMBS UP!God is good, God is great, and I thank him for this day.
:-)

Unique experiences.

Something strange happened today. This is worth telling too, because it is just delightfully bizarre. I am walking into IPFW to work on a project that I have been putting a lot of time into for one of my classes. There was this girl who was standing outside the bus stop. I suppose she wasn't really standing either, more like pacing. She just had this look on her face that said stressed and disconnected. Well, I walked by her, then had a tug on my heart. Ughh, so I turned around and asked her, "are you waiting on a ride or for a bus?" She said she was waiting for a bus, but that she thought she had just missed it. She had this giant purse, full of books and quite possibly all of her belongings. She was acting strangly too. She was maybe 24 or so. She said she needed to get to the mall, and since it was only maybe 10 minutes away with traffic. I told her I would be happy to take her. As soon as she got in my car she acted very tense. She leaned forward covering up her bag, and looked like every muscle in her body was flexed. I asked her if she was stressed out about anything, and she said, "I am so sick of people asking me that, I had a cop ask me the same question eariler today." She said nothing more after that. I didn't bother asking any more on that subject either. So I kept driving and talking to her. When I asked her if she was from Fort Wayne, she replied, "No, I just moved here from Elkart, IN." Elkart is about 2 hours North West of Fort Wayne. I said, "ohhh I have family near there." She said, "it's a horrible town, I hate it." I asked, "why?" She told me, "well I got 666'ed three times there." I kind of looked at her, expecting her to explain. But, she didn't, so I had to ask, "well, what does it mean to get 666'ed?" From what she explained, she told me that several times she had machines print out a receipt and all it said was the three numbers 666. She said that one time she was at a coin machine, and all that printed out was the numbers 666. This also happened at an ATM, and I forget what the third instance was. I asked her, "well, why was it happening?" She told me that THEY, were sending her a message. I had to ask, who are they? She explained that "they" are the electronics. She kept saying, I just hope I get paid soon. It has to happen eventually. In my head, I am thinking, this girl is either possesed, on acid, or just nuts. I tried to understand what she was saying, but couldn't get through to her. I shared Christ with her as best as I could, but couldn't really get through to her. Or maybe I did, I dunno. It was just an extremely strange situation.I went back to IPFW, and got some serious help from the Media Help center. This place ROCKS!! This guy from Napal, hooked me up with some serious photoshop skills.

When I left school it was late, so I went to get some food. Chinese food that is, and after I ate, I started handing out these surveys to people that I have to give out for my OLS project over Australia. It is a 6 question test with general knowledge questions. I gave some to a handfull of Chinese guys. It was good stuff.

When I got done with that, I called my friend Andy. I needed to ask him a question, but then found out he was playing Tennis with his cousin/my friend Alex at a park. It was like 11PM, but I had a tennis racket in my trunk, so I said, "i'm on my way." After a bit of tennis, I went back to his house and played on the Wii, and then a little garage disc golf (pig). It is just like playing pig in basketball, but you take different shots with a disc, into a disc golf hole, or catcher, whatever they are called.

I got home super late, and that was my Friday.

I can feel it coming in the air tonight...

(kind of like that Phil Collins song)
I can just "feel" that a new LOOK for my BLOG is just around the corner. Something really awesome and sweet is going to take place on this here online journal of mine. I am going to make it sweet & simple. Then, I am going to bring the masses to it. I think I have a lot of good to share, and people need a good "life" blog to follow. Heck, if more people BLOGGED like I do, I would follow them. I like the every day in's and out's of life.

Okay, so something happened today that is worth sharing. I totally got locked out of the house. I was coming home after my 10:30AM-11:45AM class today when I realized I was locked out of the house. I got the garage door opened, but the door to the actual house was locked mysteriously for some reason. UGHHHH!!! This was a problem, because I had to PEE like a race horse. I was really determined to get inside. Well, not because I had to pee, because I ended up taking care of that in the back yard....."hoping no neighbors were home and looking into their back yards. Anyways, I knew one of the screens only locked in on half the side on one of the windows on the second floor. So......I got out the extension ladder, and propped it up against the side of the house. Ahhh, relief set in because I made it inside, and could start my lunch. So happy! I put some water on the stove top to bring it to a boil, and started preparing things for lunch. "Ohhh, I forgot something in my car, I must go get that," I said. So out to my car I went, and when I went to go back inside. Well, I remembered I hadn't UNLOCKED the DOOR!!!! This is what I looked like.It was more urgent this time, because I had water boiling. After I had to laugh it off for a second, I repeated the same ladder trick, and made it in, once again through the window. Ate some lunch and badda bing, badda BOOM.

The latter part of my day was spent in STUDIO-M at IPFW. I was working on the brocure for my OLS group project.

One last thing. I got my test back for that first OLS test. I got a 90% and was pretty pumped about that.

G'Night (11:16PM)

The cat house I guess??

After I visited Snider High School today, I was driving back to campus, when I came up to a busy intersection. It is especially busy during, near, and right after lunch time. Well, there was a lady broke down in the front of the turning lane. There was a whole line of people super upset with her, but not willing to get out and help. So, I drove by and yelled, "hey, can I help you push your car to the gas station?" She had this look of relief on her face, so I told her I would be right there. She had her small son with her as well. Her son was, ohhh maybe 8. LOL. I parked my car and crossed heavy traffic and came up to her. Only to find her young son in the drivers seat, and her ready to push the car with me. I assured her I wouldn't have any problem pushing her car, and asked if she would please steer the vehicle. She agreed, and as soon as we got the arrow, I PUSHED and PUSHED and PUSHED the car through the intersection, through the Speedway gas station, and she continues to say, "keep going, just a little further," I mean she had used the braked several times....and my legs were turning to jellow. As soon as we got directly in front of the gas station, this big guy came and helped me out. It all worked out just fine and dandy. :-)

Good work, today. I got to talking about EYES with several of the kids. We talked about how pretty eyes can be. To prove my poing, I was taking pictures of different kid's eyes, and showing them off. Check out this little girls eyes. Very pretty mix of blueish green & brown. Even better that my work day was my WORK OUT session at the YMCA. I saw two guys I had not seen in forever. One of them was one of the guys I spoke about who I thought was "ignoring" me. We talked and talked and remembered old times. The other guy, I hadn't seen in quite some time. We talked about God, and the impact he is having in our lives. Great talks really.

Then I come home to ms Kitty.This is not the same cat, because this one is not a Siamese, and it has a very short stub for a tail. This cat had bells and a tag with phone number on it. Very super friendly too. I played with her for a bit.

My days are tiring, but satisfying. I can't wait to this weekend. Big Young Life volenteers get together thingy. If I only hadn't lost my bathing suite.....DO'OH!!!!!

G'Night (11:10PM)

631 today

Today is my Six Hundred and Thirty-First post. That is a lot! I suppose if I am going to be addicted to something, I would much rather it be typing into my computer every day religiously, than any kind of substance or unhealthy act. Yes, indeed BLOGGING has taught me self-discipline and brought me joy. It reminds me of things, and people point things out to me that I would otherwise ignore, not realize or just pay no attention. It is a good thing in my life.

Today I had my first test for my OLS class. I think that I could have done really good......or I could have totally failed miserably on one of three Essays, which would drastically lower my final score. UGHHH, I did my best though, I really did. Also, I got back my first paper for that class. It was only a 4 page paper, but I got a 100% on it! Yes sir, that always feels good, easy assignment or not.

I went to see my cousin Matt after work today. I took him a piece of blueberry pie that my mom made for her and my dad when they went to a friends house. I also took him an old phone so that he has something that can work as an alarm clock. I want Matt to do good so badly, I would do almost anything to help him succeed.

When I left his place, I went to an old pizza place I use to visit often. Good ole MJ's Pizza. I love this place, and they have great pizza. After the pizza eating, I went to the YMCA and worked out my muscles. It is funny, because I often run into people that I went to high school with, and it seems that more often than not, I find people not wanting to make eye contact with me. They know who I am, and our "connection," but choose not to make eye contact with me. Strange, but not important. I gotta finish reading the BSF notes, and then go to bed. (10:17PM)

G'Night!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Today, after English class I spent much of my time in the Media M room. It's so great, it is a really awesome tool that the university offers. I have been working on a brochure for my OLS group project. I don't know a thing about photo shop, but they give me help, and it is really starting to come together. I AM SO PUMPED!! This place helps with power point, video stuff, anything Media. I left a bit early, because my old pal from last year wanted to meet up for lunch. Good ole Brandin A, who I know only because I always saught him out at school for the majority of last year during lunch time. All I did was took an interest in him. He has never once gone to anything Young Life related, but dangit if he doesn't keep calling me. So, for lunch we met up. You might remember brandin from a little community service project not too long ago. If you do not, then CLICK THIS LINK and you will soon understand what I speak of. (side note)~this is one of the things I really enjoy being able to do with a BLOG. I can look back on life, and pull up dates or thoughts from 5 months ago with just a press of a button. It refreshes the memory, and reminds me of my past train of thought. Anyways, brandon and I met up at Fazoli's and my sampler platter was pretty pathetic. I didn't complain, but my lazugauna was not cooked. :-O, but at the same time there are kids dying because they have not had food all week, so I need to just shut the heck up and count my blessings.

ABOUT BRANDIN
Well, his father was diagnosed with Prostate cancer, and left today for the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis Minnesota. He is going there to have it removed. I'm not going to go into specific's, but it is a huge worry on brandin, his sister(22), mom, and of course FATHER. If you could please just lift him and his family up in prayer. I would so greatly appreciate it. Him and his sister are flying on Wednesday, to be there for the procedure. I just pray that everything goes smoothly, and that no other complications are involved. I also pray that I get put in a situation that I can impact my buddy in an eternal way.

BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) was awesome tonight. This lesson for this whole week has been over Exodus 2:1-10, but as the lecture told, they really pack a punch.

• Trusting God with the outcome. Do everything you can in His will.
  

1. Hebrews 11:23 Faith is trusting in God and ACTING on it.
   

*(interesting comment) It is God's responsibility to maintain our Faith.

• Soverign God determins the outcome of all things according to his own wise purpose and the good of his children.

1. God rewards those who trust in Him. "This was shown in Exodus in how Moses's mom got to keep him, that he was picked up by the Pharoah's daughter, that his sister Miriam knew what to say/do, by parents risking lives to keep Moses, etc."

Then, in closing tonight we sang a hymn. Great is Thy Faithfulness. Well, about 2/3 way through it, my dad locked arms with me. Now, my father is not a very kissy touchy kind of guy. He is proably not like this because his father was not like that. But, I would be a lier if I didn't say, "it felt good for him to be able to do that." We don't deserve anything in life, but boy if we did, my dad would deserve a son who he can lock arms with and sing Great is Thy Faithfulness. That was really cool, on so many different levels, it was really cool!

I have my first OLS test tomorrow at 12:00PM!! I have studies my butt off, we will just see how this guy set's up his tests, and I will be able to plan accordingly after this initial one. Peace!

Grace & Peace

So much to say.

I'm just going to go for it. Okay, I started out my day with a super positive. Now, a "super positive" is something that far surpasses your ordinary positive. Dictionary.com has many different definitions of POSITIVE>> I like #9, {emphasizing what is laudable, hopeful, or to the good; constructive: a positive attitude toward the future; positive things to say about a painting.} With that definition in mind, you can only imagine what SUPER POSITIVE means. Today started off by me taking my cousin Matt to a church near him, a really good church. It was set up differently, all chairs were focused inwardly to the central point of the room. Matt and I sat at a table, and it was really unique, but he liked it, and it was legit.I should have stood up on a chair to take this photo, because this picture doesn't really do the set up, justice. Mat felt encouraged and a sense of belonging, and THAT is what God's love is all about. I am just going to go with the God flow and help Matt in any way that I possibly can. To love him the way I am commanded to love him. To be relational and put my all into him. It's all very good stuff.

After I dropped Matt off at Kroger, I went to IPFW, of course to finish studying for my OLS test on Tuesday. I am feeling like I am pretty prepared.

Then off to Collateral I went. LOVED IT! We had such an amazing worship time. It was so extremely powerful, and the Holy Spirit was in it to win it. We touched on some heavy stuff tonight tool

To live is to die, but to die is to live.

• Luke 9:48 Be least or last
• Matt 23:12 Be humble
• 2 cor 12:5 Do not boast in yourself, only in Christ
• John 12:24-25 Just like the song, "Bids me come and die, to find that I, may truly live."

This awesome quote is something that I must repeat. The guy giving the talk tonight did not come up with it on his own, but I do not remember where he quoted it from, so I will just quote it without giving the creator credit.

If you are born once, you will die twice.
If you are born twice, you will only die once.

This example was given about having real freedom in Christ. I had never seen it this way before, and when I really thought about it, it blew me away. When God told Abraham to take his only son Issac and kill him as a sacrifice to God, found in Genesis 22:1-19, my brain always wants to go directly to how amazing it is that Abraham was willing to do it. Well, when we were discussing this tonight.....I realized how amazing it is that Issac was willing to lay there and take it. A young kid vs. an old man, he could have very easily gotten away or over powered his father. BUT, he knew God's promises to be absolute and Gracious. He knew what God had promised his father. He was willing to take a knife in the heart. That is where his faith was at. BAM!! To live is to die, but to die is to live. I get it, I really do. It is such a beautiful thing. This God thing that is so important in my life. I really can't see myself living any other way and actually feeling fulfilled in life. I know there just isn't any other way for me. Not even in the rhelm of possibility.

I ended the night with some good ole fashion Campus Golf, HA!! Good times Brad.

dé·jà vu/opportunity

I forgot to add this video to yesterday's BLOG. But, well before I got out of work yesterday. I had to do something that I have never done before, nor is it even normal for me to do. Ya see we have this thing at YMCA called the CANI (Community Action of Northeast Indiana) program; helping parents who need finicial aid. Well, there is a little credit card sign in and out thingy for parents to use. And, well every Friday the machine must be plugged in and all the sign in's and out's must be sent to headquarters...where ever it may be. Well, I had plenty of trouble getting the thing to plug in and connect. So much so that I called my Site Director (BOSS) and told her I couldn't get it to work. Well, I figured I would try it one last time. Dé·Jà VU!!!!! It is such a weird and creepy feeling. I remember dreaming this very moment some time ago. Such a strange feeling, I don't understand it one little bit. Well, it was so strange and familiar, I knew I had to start recording the moment so I could remember it indefinitely.

I'm not kidding, this very moment when the machine started printing, just hit me like any other past memory with extreme familiarity would. I swear that I had dreamed this moment before. This very moment in the office. It was just so strange. I remembered the office chair, the plugs that I had to mess with, the copy machine and everything!! I have never done this before, I have never even seen it done before. HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DREAM SOMETHING UP THAT I HAD NO CURRENT INFORMATION ON WHAT SO EVER?!?!?!?So my cousin Matt called me today and asked if I would pick him up from the movies. He had gotten there via the City Bus. The Bus system in Fort Wayne sucks hardcore. Mainly because there just aren't enough people using it to make it run efficiently. So, it took him like 2 or 3 hours to get there. He called me right after he watched his first movie, to see if I would be able to pick him up for the second one (new Batman) he wanted to watch. I told him I could absolutely do that, and planned on picking him up at 6PM. He needed to know if I could or could not pick him up, because if I couldn't, then he would have had to leave for the bus right away. When I did pick him up, I called my mom and we decided to have him over for dinner. During and after dinner, he talked about how he wanted to go to Church. Push come to shove, I told him I would take him tomorrow to a church out by where he is staying. The church is called Grace Gathering. It is supposed to be real good, and I have many friends who go there. I have never been there though. I am so pumped to take Matt. I have prayed for this moment. I have prayed for God to ignite a fire under him. I am excited, but not not putting any pressure on him. I just see God a working. Working real good!!

I had a good time working out at YMCA today too. Felt real good. Studied from like NOON to about 4:15PM. Still have one chapter left to study tomorrow after church.