Thursday, May 17, 2007
Airplanes, Airports, and Heroes?
Yep, I've been on 3 flights today and I still have one left to go. I'm on my way to my Montana, but I have 3 hours left in Seattle before we will be heading there. I've been in four airports so far. Eureka/Arcata, Redding, Portland, and now Seattle. Now I am watching an episode of heroes on my computer sipping on an iced vanilla late from Starbucks. This is turning out to be some day! I can't wait 'till we're finally in Montana!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
My foot is hanging in mid-air...
Take a moment and picture a giant...
Good, now picture him walking along a road. Imagine how long it takes for this giant to take each stride, how long it takes for him to lift his back foot off the ground and bring it out in front of his other foot and lower it to the ground. Now keep this picture in your mind and you'll understand quite easily the state I am and have been in for a while now. You see, I have taken my foot off the ground and began stepping into this wonderful new part of my life. This current step is the one that will land in my being in Macedonia for two amazing and life changing years. While my foot is off the ground, it hasn't quite landed yet, but some how I feel as if this step is somehow completed and my thoughts constantly go towards where my next foot fall will land. This next footfall is what will happen after my journey to Macedonia. Where will I go? What will I be doing? Who will be involved in it? Although some would warn against me looking so far ahead at this point, seemingly neglecting the 2 years I'll be in Macedonia, I feel somewhat content with it! I surprise myself with that point, and almost scare myself with that point. Then I remember, this trip began as something not my own. It was something that I was called into, something pre-determined for me. When I decided after nights of tears and struggling over a measly application to go ahead and do it, I had to decide to let go of it at the same time. I am the type of person who likes to have some say in how I do things. I like to organize priorities, even though I don't appear like I do at times, I do! I like to have some control. With this trip, I knew from the beginning, and for the better, that I had no control over it. I didn't know where I was going to go, who I was going to serve with, how I was going to get there, what I was going to do! I had no say in it from the beginning. Of course, yes, I did decide in a sense to go to Macedonia with this specific missionary but it was only because God led me to this point of security in it. So should I be thinking of the next giant stride of my life even though my foot hasn't even fallen to end the stride I'm on yet? I don't think so, but I do think I need to be focused more on this stride to be completely honest. I think that's the balance of walking...
Good, now picture him walking along a road. Imagine how long it takes for this giant to take each stride, how long it takes for him to lift his back foot off the ground and bring it out in front of his other foot and lower it to the ground. Now keep this picture in your mind and you'll understand quite easily the state I am and have been in for a while now. You see, I have taken my foot off the ground and began stepping into this wonderful new part of my life. This current step is the one that will land in my being in Macedonia for two amazing and life changing years. While my foot is off the ground, it hasn't quite landed yet, but some how I feel as if this step is somehow completed and my thoughts constantly go towards where my next foot fall will land. This next footfall is what will happen after my journey to Macedonia. Where will I go? What will I be doing? Who will be involved in it? Although some would warn against me looking so far ahead at this point, seemingly neglecting the 2 years I'll be in Macedonia, I feel somewhat content with it! I surprise myself with that point, and almost scare myself with that point. Then I remember, this trip began as something not my own. It was something that I was called into, something pre-determined for me. When I decided after nights of tears and struggling over a measly application to go ahead and do it, I had to decide to let go of it at the same time. I am the type of person who likes to have some say in how I do things. I like to organize priorities, even though I don't appear like I do at times, I do! I like to have some control. With this trip, I knew from the beginning, and for the better, that I had no control over it. I didn't know where I was going to go, who I was going to serve with, how I was going to get there, what I was going to do! I had no say in it from the beginning. Of course, yes, I did decide in a sense to go to Macedonia with this specific missionary but it was only because God led me to this point of security in it. So should I be thinking of the next giant stride of my life even though my foot hasn't even fallen to end the stride I'm on yet? I don't think so, but I do think I need to be focused more on this stride to be completely honest. I think that's the balance of walking...
Friday, May 11, 2007
This past week
I have been sick for the last few days. Because of it, I have been trying to medicate myself so that I can get better as rapidly as possible. I leave next Wednesday for Michael's wedding in Montana and am looking forward to it quite a bit. I like the idea of being able to support a friend by being one of his groomsmen. I've known Mike since about kindergarten so it's nice to be able to be a part of and see him starting the rest of his life. In the meantime, Rebecca made it safely home to Highland, Illinois. She'll be flying out here on May 22nd, only 2 days after I return from Mike's wedding in Montana. This next week will fly by so fast, and she'll be here before I know it!
In the meantime, I am still waiting for my financial update to come from Missouri for the last month's donations and pledges. I know a lot of people have contributed and I'm really excited to see how much people have given to my trip. I have also sent out all except about 8 of my newsletters so that's also exciting. I only have one more to write before I am scheduled to leave for Macedonia.
That's life for now.
In the meantime, I am still waiting for my financial update to come from Missouri for the last month's donations and pledges. I know a lot of people have contributed and I'm really excited to see how much people have given to my trip. I have also sent out all except about 8 of my newsletters so that's also exciting. I only have one more to write before I am scheduled to leave for Macedonia.
That's life for now.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
A Cool Saturday Morning in Redway
I'm sitting in my living room on this beautiful cool Saturday morning in May. My living room is freezing and I'm sipping on a cup of Starbucks Sumatra roast to kick my day off right. I have a day of cleaning house and yard work ahead of me, but I thought I may just write a bit before I get it going. It was brought to my attention by my beautiful, loving girlfriend that I haven't written in a while so I have decided to do just that.
A little while ago, I went to the Nor Cal Nevada district of the Assemblies of God's district council. It's a set of meetings for all of the pastors in the district to come together and take care of the business issues that face the district, to worship together, fellowship, and share their ministry with eachother. They even have breakout sessions/seminars to encourage the pastors in different areas of their ministries. I went to see some old friends that are serving in full time ministry and also to possibly make new friends. I stayed with Scott Tuttle, who is the youth pastor at a church in Morgan Hill but he's a good friend. He helped me make a few contacts with pastor friends of his so I might be able to visit their churches and gain their support for my Macedonia trip. The trip turned out to be like a family reunion because I saw a lot of my dear friends from my life at Bethany and catch up with them a bit. I know that they are friends for life, and that's exciting as I sit here in Redway with fairly few friends close by.
In a few weeks I'll be making my way up to Montana to be in another friend's wedding. I look forward to my time away from Redway. It will be a sort of vacation from the repetition that seems to consume my days this spring. Only two days after I return from Montana, Rebecca will be arriving and I can't wait to see her. I want so much to get to know her in person instead of over the phone. We can talk until we're both blue in the face but it doesn't allow us to truly know eacother until we can experience each other in person. I look forward to those times so much.
This summer is shaping up to be a busy and exciting one. With Rebecca, ministry, visiting churches around the state, and of course work on the side, my summer is not going to be lacking much excitement!
Things you could pray for me about:
That I continue to be diligent about my time with God,
That I would continue seeking God's guidance with my relationship with Rebecca,
That God would keep me safe in travels
That God would provide what I'll need for my trip.
A little while ago, I went to the Nor Cal Nevada district of the Assemblies of God's district council. It's a set of meetings for all of the pastors in the district to come together and take care of the business issues that face the district, to worship together, fellowship, and share their ministry with eachother. They even have breakout sessions/seminars to encourage the pastors in different areas of their ministries. I went to see some old friends that are serving in full time ministry and also to possibly make new friends. I stayed with Scott Tuttle, who is the youth pastor at a church in Morgan Hill but he's a good friend. He helped me make a few contacts with pastor friends of his so I might be able to visit their churches and gain their support for my Macedonia trip. The trip turned out to be like a family reunion because I saw a lot of my dear friends from my life at Bethany and catch up with them a bit. I know that they are friends for life, and that's exciting as I sit here in Redway with fairly few friends close by.
In a few weeks I'll be making my way up to Montana to be in another friend's wedding. I look forward to my time away from Redway. It will be a sort of vacation from the repetition that seems to consume my days this spring. Only two days after I return from Montana, Rebecca will be arriving and I can't wait to see her. I want so much to get to know her in person instead of over the phone. We can talk until we're both blue in the face but it doesn't allow us to truly know eacother until we can experience each other in person. I look forward to those times so much.
This summer is shaping up to be a busy and exciting one. With Rebecca, ministry, visiting churches around the state, and of course work on the side, my summer is not going to be lacking much excitement!
Things you could pray for me about:
That I continue to be diligent about my time with God,
That I would continue seeking God's guidance with my relationship with Rebecca,
That God would keep me safe in travels
That God would provide what I'll need for my trip.
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