So it has been a while since I have blogged, but in the last three weeks, I have...
Eaten Sushi--the raw kind
Helped a bunch of people move into the dorms
had more meetings than I would care to have in a year
started class--which is awesome
got a new student ID
spent much time in prayer
mudded, primed and painted a room
moved into my house (you may remember I was gone all summer)
cleaned my room
fixed my mountain bike, and started riding again
climbed rocks
hiked
had a leadership retreat
gave the first sermon of the semester
had a great open mic night at the Waterhouse (our building in downtown morgantown where h2o meets)
and...started back into fitness at healthy eating with my roommates.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Thursday, August 11, 2005
changing the world
I'm sitting planning out the semester, and a pre-semester retreat time for the small community of faith of which I am part here in Morgantown. In the cafe where I am sitting, I have been taking in a bit of the conversation taking place around me. It seems like times don't really change. In the first century, there were many people with many different agendas for changing the world. the same is true today.
Twenty feet from me a group of three women are working on a mission, vision, and values statement for a feminist organization they are starting to get rid of evil in the world. Their purpose is to expose the evils of different institutions and point to a better way.
Another person I just talked to was on a crusade against Domino sugar for destroying the everglades. Other people all around me are plotting out agenda's for their organizations and their communities.
In a sense, it makes me hopeful--that so many people are looking for the betterment of God's world. In another sense it scares me. How much are these plans I am developing similar to those plans being made all around me. I pray that I would be humble enough to submit any plans I am developing to God's greater plan. I don't want to find myself guilty of presumption with regard to God's purposes for our community of faith in Morgantown.
Please pray for me, and pray for God's redemption to break through in this community. He is the shaper of our destinies, and the source of all true life!
Also, take time to consider how your day is ordered. Who dictates your agenda for life--is it you? Or are you sumitting all of your goals and ideas to the Master of Life?
Twenty feet from me a group of three women are working on a mission, vision, and values statement for a feminist organization they are starting to get rid of evil in the world. Their purpose is to expose the evils of different institutions and point to a better way.
Another person I just talked to was on a crusade against Domino sugar for destroying the everglades. Other people all around me are plotting out agenda's for their organizations and their communities.
In a sense, it makes me hopeful--that so many people are looking for the betterment of God's world. In another sense it scares me. How much are these plans I am developing similar to those plans being made all around me. I pray that I would be humble enough to submit any plans I am developing to God's greater plan. I don't want to find myself guilty of presumption with regard to God's purposes for our community of faith in Morgantown.
Please pray for me, and pray for God's redemption to break through in this community. He is the shaper of our destinies, and the source of all true life!
Also, take time to consider how your day is ordered. Who dictates your agenda for life--is it you? Or are you sumitting all of your goals and ideas to the Master of Life?
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Long Day
As the day draws to a close, I feel fatigued and refreshed at the same time. Fatigued because the day has been long. Refreshed, because I feel like I was able to see so much of God at work in my life today, and I was able to engage in what he was doing all around me.
I love people. All that I did today was focussed on helping people to get a bigger picture of who Jesus is. In the process, I too received a bigger picture of who Jesus is.
It is no wonder that so much of our faith remains shrouded in mystery. Our God is truly overwhelming in His love. His beauty. His artistry. How could a person explain God. Explain the trinity. Explain an infant developing inside a mother in nine months.
Our God is truly amazing. I hope that as you read this you can reflect on the mystery and the beauty and the artistry of our wonderful Creator.
I love people. All that I did today was focussed on helping people to get a bigger picture of who Jesus is. In the process, I too received a bigger picture of who Jesus is.
It is no wonder that so much of our faith remains shrouded in mystery. Our God is truly overwhelming in His love. His beauty. His artistry. How could a person explain God. Explain the trinity. Explain an infant developing inside a mother in nine months.
Our God is truly amazing. I hope that as you read this you can reflect on the mystery and the beauty and the artistry of our wonderful Creator.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Time in Parkersburg
Around 7AM Wednesday morning, I finished the drive from Mount Hope to Parkersburg. The last few days have been a whirlwind of meeting people and working out plans for the fall semester at WVU. It has been a pretty cool time, because one of the places I have been trying to pull away to work has been a great connecting place for some future WVU students who are interested in our campus ministry.
It has been really cool to connect with a few of the people who help make this ministry possible as well. One of my greatest joys in doing this ministry is that there are so many people who I know and care about who are prayerfully and financially supporting it. There is nothing better than teaming up with friends and family to be part of what God is doing in His world.
It has been really cool to connect with a few of the people who help make this ministry possible as well. One of my greatest joys in doing this ministry is that there are so many people who I know and care about who are prayerfully and financially supporting it. There is nothing better than teaming up with friends and family to be part of what God is doing in His world.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Surfing
Well, I finally made it into WV late last night. I stayed the night at my good friend Sam Fisher's after a very productive and also very fun day in Blacksburg, VA.
Reality is setting in for me though...no more surfing. This sport became one of the main ways I enjoyed Sabbath this summer.
It was also very informative too. The word surfing is used to describe a number of activities including perusing the web.
For me, the sport is exhilerating. I hope to be able to indulge in this rush whenever I am near the ocean.
Beyond this exhileration, I understand more about the water. Often we hear people talk about catching the next big wave. Until one has caught a wave, this metaphor isn't fully understood. There is a patience necessary to catch the wave. If you go to early, it doesn't break with you. If you go too late, the wave has broken before you can get in it. If you don't wait, you will settle for a mediocre wave, and the ride won't be nearly as enjoyable.
I wonder how many times in my life, I've been in too much of a hurry to catch the good waves. I hope as I grow in faith, I will more consistently catch the waves of the Spirit, and I will be able to more fully enjoy the ride.
Whether it be in the Atlantic, or the great oceans of faith--I know I love catching sweet waves!
For all who have never stood on a longboard as the wave carries you along the break to the shoreline--I hope you can understand.
Go catch some waves!
Reality is setting in for me though...no more surfing. This sport became one of the main ways I enjoyed Sabbath this summer.
It was also very informative too. The word surfing is used to describe a number of activities including perusing the web.
For me, the sport is exhilerating. I hope to be able to indulge in this rush whenever I am near the ocean.
Beyond this exhileration, I understand more about the water. Often we hear people talk about catching the next big wave. Until one has caught a wave, this metaphor isn't fully understood. There is a patience necessary to catch the wave. If you go to early, it doesn't break with you. If you go too late, the wave has broken before you can get in it. If you don't wait, you will settle for a mediocre wave, and the ride won't be nearly as enjoyable.
I wonder how many times in my life, I've been in too much of a hurry to catch the good waves. I hope as I grow in faith, I will more consistently catch the waves of the Spirit, and I will be able to more fully enjoy the ride.
Whether it be in the Atlantic, or the great oceans of faith--I know I love catching sweet waves!
For all who have never stood on a longboard as the wave carries you along the break to the shoreline--I hope you can understand.
Go catch some waves!
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
The Journey Northward
Over the last couple of days I have been slowly travelling northward toward West Virginia. Along the way, I have been able to meet with many friends and share with them what God is doing in my life as well as hear what He has been doing in theirs.
I sat in traffic for two hours in Jacksonville Saturday, and an additional hour in Daytona to make a nine hour trip out of a six hour drive. I had the privilege of stopping in Columbia for the night to connect with Josh and Dana Kelly. It was pretty cool because, among other things we had pizza at "the mellow mushroom". We had the same waiter as we had during my stop on the way to Orlando. He remembered me, and we were able to connect a bit more. Turns out he is a musician, and has some stuff online--gonna try to listen to it soon and keep connected. Maybe it will be a future friend for the Kelly's in Columbia as well.
After breakfast Sunday morning at the Kelly's, I travelled to Charlotte, where I attended church with Sarah Nelms and her friend Jen. We had some pizza at Brixx in Charlotte, and I continued my journey northward to Virginia.
Sunday evening, I was able to meet and stay the night with my friends the Arringtons in Bedford, VA. We were able to enjoy both dinner Sunday night and breakfast at the Peaks of Otter monday morning. It was definitely a refreshing time of sharing.
After this, I journeyed to Roanoke, and spent the evening dining, conversing, and resting at Marc and Mandy Hinkle's new place.
Today I am meeting with folks in Blacksburg, VA, and trying to crank through as much stuff online as possible.
I sat in traffic for two hours in Jacksonville Saturday, and an additional hour in Daytona to make a nine hour trip out of a six hour drive. I had the privilege of stopping in Columbia for the night to connect with Josh and Dana Kelly. It was pretty cool because, among other things we had pizza at "the mellow mushroom". We had the same waiter as we had during my stop on the way to Orlando. He remembered me, and we were able to connect a bit more. Turns out he is a musician, and has some stuff online--gonna try to listen to it soon and keep connected. Maybe it will be a future friend for the Kelly's in Columbia as well.
After breakfast Sunday morning at the Kelly's, I travelled to Charlotte, where I attended church with Sarah Nelms and her friend Jen. We had some pizza at Brixx in Charlotte, and I continued my journey northward to Virginia.
Sunday evening, I was able to meet and stay the night with my friends the Arringtons in Bedford, VA. We were able to enjoy both dinner Sunday night and breakfast at the Peaks of Otter monday morning. It was definitely a refreshing time of sharing.
After this, I journeyed to Roanoke, and spent the evening dining, conversing, and resting at Marc and Mandy Hinkle's new place.
Today I am meeting with folks in Blacksburg, VA, and trying to crank through as much stuff online as possible.
Goodbye Starbucks
Saturday morning commenced the long trek back to West Virginia for me. Before the last of us Mountaineers left O-town, we had to make one last stop in Starbucks. This was one of my stomping grounds for the summer, and a primary place of contact for meeting people.
Behind my right shoulder is Kateland. She was one of my favorite Barista's over the summer and a great new starbucks amigo! I made friends with quite a few staff, but she was one of the very few working when we left Saturday.
Behind my right shoulder is Kateland. She was one of my favorite Barista's over the summer and a great new starbucks amigo! I made friends with quite a few staff, but she was one of the very few working when we left Saturday.
CocoaBeachBaptism
It's been a while since I have blogged, but it isn't because there's been little to say. Last Tuesday the space shuttle launched from Cape Canaveral, but a few hours before that something even cooler happened. I had the privilege of baptizing two of my friends in the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise. We were journeying into the water together as this picture was taken. We held hands as we journeyed into the water together (but then we body-surfed back in after the baptism!).
It was a beautiful morning for our LT community, and I consider it a distinct honor to be able to be a part of this step of obedience for these two young followers of Jesus.
It was a beautiful morning for our LT community, and I consider it a distinct honor to be able to be a part of this step of obedience for these two young followers of Jesus.
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I just met the most beautiful little girl the other day. I was able to see my old roommate's little 2 month old daughter for the first time. In the picture, you can see her posing on a blanket that my mother crocheted specifically for her.
As a single guy, I've tended to avoid a lot of interaction with wee children (as most single guys do). Partly because of the awkward way people look at you. Partly out of a reverent fear and awe of something so miraculous and beautiful.
Now, as a result of some work God has been doing in me, I don't want to miss out on fully appreciating little miracles like Abigail. When I visited, I held her. I danced with her. I sang to her. I talked to her. Children are so beautiful, and so delicate. I am so glad I am able to enjoy this wonderful gift from God.
If you are a person who avoids children, you are definitely missing out. It's cool to think that we as the people of God all share in the care for one another--including the infants and children of our communities.
Take some time and care for the infants and young people in your community. They represent the future of God's world.