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terça-feira, julho 29, 2003
I have to post something, just to let everyone know that Sunday was an awesome day and God has blessed me so much. Sunday night at church I finally let go of some burdens I had and doubts that just kept me from being as close to God as I could've been. My doubts were not in God but were of myself and my faith, but I surrendered to God and told Him that from then on I had no doubts and I wanted Him to use me. And He did use me and blessed me with 4 accountability partners within that same hour! We're reading a Proverb a day, learning about wisdom.
Other blessings include the oppurtunities to travel and see some friends soon as well as go to Purple Door. God is so good, in ways I didn't expect. I am blessed and want to give back so much more.
Today I read John 13 which is where Jesus demonstrates what a servant is. He didn't just tell them to be servants, He showed them!
John 13:34 & 35~
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, you also love one antoher. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.
Don't just say "I love you," show it!
I like what Toby Mac says "Somebody shut me up so I can live out loud."
segunda-feira, julho 28, 2003
I'm usually not up the news, especially that which is sports related, but I found this article about Kobe Bryant and I think every guy should read it.
sábado, julho 26, 2003
He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. ~John 9:25
The more I learn about the Bible and such, the more I realize that I don't know very much. I was reading in John tonight and the verse I put up there is from a quote from one of the blind men Jesus healed. What an amazing quote...I just can't get over it. I could go into all the spiritual implications and such, but just think about it, this guy was seriously blind from birth and never seen anything. Jesus did something practical for this man, He healed Him. The Bible doesn't say that this guy believed in Christ before he was healed. The Pharisees weren't impressed by this miracle, nor by the man's testimony, pretty much condemned him and cast him out. This is when Christ comes to him again and the man asks Him, "Who is He [the Son of God], Lord that I may believe in Him?" So...what does this lead me to? It's time to act first, speak second.
Preach without ceasing and if necessary use words.
terça-feira, julho 22, 2003
For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. ~John 4:44
At YouthStock, the speaker (Sean Patrick from Finishline Ministries) said something that has stuck with me, which is unusual cause I forget stuff, but he said (in my own lil paraphrase), "Remember the whole 'WWJD' hype. Well, forget 'What Would Jesus Do' and just do what Jesus did." That got me thinking, how can I do what Jesus did if I don't know what He did, so I am reading the Gospel of John for my Quiet Time and I love it. I'm learning so much about Christ and what kind of person He was. And as I have read the first 5 chapters of John this is what I have learned in order to DO what Jesus DID:
* He loved all people--the outcasts, the adulators, the rich, the cripples...He treated them all the same.
* He had holy anger towards those who made basically a "mall" out of the temple, His Father's house.
* He sought to give in practical ways--to give hope for the adulterous, to heal the cripple, new life to the old.
* He went against the flow--check out the verse at the top of this post. I really like this verse; it gives me hope for my future ministry abroad, but also not to give up in my ministry here.
I could write so much more and I did, but it got deleted, so if you wanna know more, just ask me, I am more the glad to talk about it, it's exciting stuff.
sábado, julho 19, 2003
Preach without ceasing and if necessary use words.
YouthStock is over...but I'm not sad, just tired...oh oh...my team came in 3rd!!! This is exciting because the first night we were in 8th place (last place), then last night we were in 5th and tonight we made it into the top 3! I'm a bit competitive. I learned a lot during YouthStock which maybe I'll talk about at a later time...but right now I need ideas. The last Sunday I was at college before summer break, a guy named Kevin from my school challenged us at our little WV church to do 2 things this summer, he called them our summer assignments:
1. To get into God's Word.
2. To get God into the world.
I am pretty faithful about having a daily quiet time, but I will admit I struggle during the summer and sometimes miss a day, but I know I can't take a vacation from God's Word even though I'm on vacation from school. As far as getting God into the world, so far this summer I've done a lot of ministries through my church such as going to Brazil (which was the highlight of my year, let alone summer), I've also helped with Vacation Bible School and most recently YouthStock. I need some other practical ways I can get God into the world during the next month that I am home. Click here ( ) to give me your ideas.
Thanx for your help
sexta-feira, julho 18, 2003
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Night 2 of YouthStock went well with a record number of kids being there--275!!! I know some aspects of it could've gone better... a lot of prayer and preparation is needed for tonight. Just pray that God will really open up the hearts of a lot of the teens to His will. It was awesome last night to see a lot of people go forward to pray for God to help them overcome temptations and having boldness to witness.
Here are the verses that I am trying to memorize for tonight:
Romans 5:12 ~ Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
Matthew 6:24-25 ~ No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. YOu can not serve both God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Philippians 2:5-11 ~ Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Those last verses are awesome, basically says that your attitude, my attitude should be the same as Jesus', which was an attitude of humility. Hmm....wasn't I learning about that last week too....
P.S. Team 2 is coming back! From 8th place to 5th place!!!
quinta-feira, julho 17, 2003
Hello everyone! Praise God for how awesome He is and the ministry oppurtunity He has allowed me to have at YouthStock. Last night was an great time of games, food, singing, hanging out, and being challenged to take the ultimate risk--telling others about Christ. It was really cool too because some people accepted Christ into their lives.
I also wanted to post some of the verses that we are memorizing:
Wednesday
John 3:16 ~ For God so love the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 5:11&12 ~ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Colossians 1:15-18 ~ He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beinning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.
Thursday
Romans 1:16 (our theme verse for the whole event) ~ I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Matthew 6:19-21 ~ Don not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Ephesians 4:229-32 ~ Don not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for the building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redeption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
and I'll post Friday's tomorrow!
Go Team 2!!! We're gonna come back!!!
terça-feira, julho 15, 2003
I just want to say T H A N K Y O U J e s s i...you're my favorite person! Hugs!
segunda-feira, julho 14, 2003
So you can tell the creative juices are really flowing when I am posting song lyrics. I do have a lot to write but sometimes it's easier to post a song in which I can really relate to at the moment, plus it lets ya know what I am listening to...This is "On Fire" by my boys Switchfoot...Read it and Relate....
They tell you where you need to go
They tell you when you need to leave.
They tell you what you need to know
They tell you who you need to be.
But everything inside you
knows there's more than what you've heard
There's so much more than empty conversations
filled with empty words
And you're on fire
when he's near you
You're on fire when he speaks
You're on fire burning at these mysteries
Give me one more time around
give me one more chance to see,
Give me everything you are
Give me one more chance to be near you.
When everything inside me
Looks like everything i hate
You are the hope i have for change
You are the only chance I'll take
And I'm on fire when you're near me
I'm on fire when you speak
I'm on fire burning at these mysteries.
I'm standing on the edge of me,
I'm standing at the edge of everything I've ever been
And I've been standing at the edge of me, standing
at the edge
domingo, julho 13, 2003
I'm feeling pretty "weedy" right now...
in a field of yellow flowers
underneath the sun
bluest eyes that spark with lightning
boy with shoes undone
he is young, so full of hope
reveling in tiny dreams
filling up his arms with flowers
right for giving any queen
running to her,beaming bright
while cradling his prize
a flickering of yellow light
within his mother's eyes
she holds them to her heart
keeping them where they'll be safe
clasped within her very marrow
dandilions in a vase
she sees love where anyone else would see weeds
all hope is found, here is everything he needs
fathomless Your endless mercy
weight i could not lift
where do i fit in this puzzle?
what good are these gifts?
not a martyr or a saint
scarcley can i struggle through
all that i have ever wanted
was to give my best to You
Lord search my heart
create in me something clean
...dandelions...
You see flowers in these weeds
gently lifting hands to heaven
softened by the sweetist hush
a Father sings over His children
loving them so very much
more than words could warrant
deeper than the darkest blue
more than sacrafice could merit
Lord, i give my heart to you
Lord search my heart
create in me something clean
...dandelions...
You see flowers in these weeds
"Dandelions" by the soon to be gone Five Iron Frenzy
sábado, julho 12, 2003
OK well I need to write about how my VBS mission "classes" went. Yesterday I got to tell all the lil childrens about my trip to Brasil and told them about the country yada yada yada. I also made sure everytime to tell them my testimony, in fact, one time one of the kindergarten girls asked what a "Christian" was whoa...what an oppurtunity so I took it and explained to her what a Christian was and how she could be one. It was great...I'm not the best teacher/speaker in the world, but God helped me to just take the oppurtunity and serve Him and further His kingdom.
Next week is YouthStock--3 nights of games, food, music, and the gospel for teen--and I get to serve as a team leader, a huge responsibility that is really fun and exciting! Much prayer needed...
I'm so encouraged to hear about other people who are serving God around the world, and around the nation..."Go and make disciples..." ~Matt. 28:19
Jeff went to Lake Placid NY for a week of Servant Evangelism and God used his service of passing out bottles of water in awesome ways...
FiveIronSkanker: Bruce
FiveIronSkanker: Monday, passed out water to Bruce - he was working on Main Street, doing finishing work on a store exterior in the hottest time of the day
FiveIronSkanker: gave him the water and told him that God loved him and wanted him to have soem water
FiveIronSkanker: he was really blown away by it
FiveIronSkanker: so Tuesday...
FiveIronSkanker: I'm out walking again
FiveIronSkanker: and there's Bruce
FiveIronSkanker: go over and say, "Hey Bruce - good to see you again. Just thought I'd bring you another water by and let you know that I prayed about the request you gave me. Is there anything else I can pray for you about?"
FiveIronSkanker: and he said no - I reaffirmed that God loved him and headed out
FiveIronSkanker: Wednesday...
FiveIronSkanker: we're working Main Street again and I'm with Justin H and Lauren
FiveIronSkanker: this time, I go, "Hey Lauren, go over there and say, 'Hey Bruce -" and she did and he was, again, surprised that we remembered his name
FiveIronSkanker: but I wasn't there this time
FiveIronSkanker: I mean, I was watching from the other side fo the street
FiveIronSkanker: and then she got into some conversation with him and he was asking about the church
FiveIronSkanker: Thursday
FiveIronSkanker: Justin decides it's his turn
FiveIronSkanker: we walk to the Mission House to get the cross, and Justin felt the Lord leading him to go visit Bruce
FiveIronSkanker: but Bruce wasnt' around - but his stuff was
FiveIronSkanker: so Justin went to the book store, and by God's leading, picked up a Bible and wrote a message to Bruce about finding the truth and that we loved him
FiveIronSkanker: he went back and set it down
FiveIronSkanker: that was the Bruce story - we never saw Bruce after Wednesday, but the Lord still moved for that stuff to happen
SpAMspike: yeah for real
SpAMspike: you know some sow and some water, but God does the reaping
FiveIronSkanker: exactly
SpAMspike: i saw that first hand in Brasil
Be encouraged...
quarta-feira, julho 09, 2003
opportunities are knocking....will i answer the door?
God is good, even when I'm not bearing any of those "spirit fruits" which are being taught at VBS this week...I can't even name them all without singing some kind of VBS-ish song and doing the motions. Let's see today was patience and endurance and the song was hilarious, but anyway, those are the too "biggies" I need to be practicing the most, especially now, in my present circumstances. I'm not saying that my circumstances are bad, not even, but...I don't know how to say it without sounding totally ungrateful and discontent, but right now is not what I want right now...but these circumstances are perfect for practicing endurance and patience...see I'm looking on the bright side, the glass is half full! Don't accuse me of being a pessimist...
My opportunities are right here--today, tomorrow, and next week--working with kids and teens, showing them Christ's love and what it means to be a Christian...I need two other "fruits," "H 'n' G" as we call them at VBS-- Humility and Gentleness
I'll tell ya how tomorrow goes tomorrow....
terça-feira, julho 08, 2003
random things to put wrinkles in your brain...
a quote... To steal ideas from one person, would be plagiarism, to steal ideas from many is called research.
For the nerd in you... wondering about metric. While I was in Brasil, someone asked me how tall I was--in meters! I told them, "I'm a stupid American, we don't use meters..." Sad to say, the U.S. is behind...
song that fit me today, first verse of "More then Fine" by Switchfoot:
When I wake in the morning,
I want to blow into pieces.
I want more than just ok, more than just ok.
When I’m up with the sunrise
I want more than just blue skies.
I want more than just ok, more than just ok.
keep checking back for more!
domingo, julho 06, 2003
Today...Sunday...I love Sundays...I really do, the only routine I don't mind...church and worship in the morning with my brothers and sisters and then family dinner and nap, followed by church. It's my favorite day and today was no exception. Tonight was a sad time though, I mean it was initially happy...well let me explain. Tonight at church we gave our Mission trip from our time in Brasil. It was wonderful for each of us to share what we learned and saw and had pictures to go along with the stories. I love to do presentations, especially this one because like I said in an entry a day ago, this trip confirmed in my heart that I am to be a missionary in a foreign field, so I shared that with my church family tonight. But the sad part is that this trip is over...like tonight capped it off, no more meetings, no more prep, just memories...
I jokingly asked my pastor to take up an offering to send me back to Brasil. I told them that I only need a one-way ticket and that I'd trust God to provide one for the return flight...my pastor said that I should provide the ticket and ask God to provide the one back--in His timing. Maybe I will...
I love this song, it's been out for a couple years, but it is truly timeless...not until we are in heaven can we quit imagining....
I can only imagine
by Mercy Me
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine
sábado, julho 05, 2003
well, well, well, I am finally posting because there's been a lot going on in my head lately and I think writing will help relieve some of the tension on my brain:)
I'm finally realizing I am home from Brazil, and readjusting I guess. It's was so hard to come home, everything in me was fighting against it, I wanted to stay so bad and I could've too...but I'm to darn responsible! More then ever I long for the days when I can be spontaneous and do what I want without being accountable to someone else schedule, but ultimately I realize, I will always have to answer to someone, one way or another. I am beginning to realize why it was so hard to leave Brazil, for starters, I really have nothing to come back to here at home--no exciting job and no significant other--I could've stayed the whole summer without missing out on anything, for the first time in my life I have the freedom to just go, leave without any restraint and I can't. Another reason that it was hard for me to leave Brazil was because I finally realize for sure that being an overseas missionary is what God wants me to do, so I got a small taste of the future and it's very good, a lil bitter at times but overall satisfying. I really want to be an overseas missionary now, but I have at least 2 years before I can go and it's been somewhat disheartening for me to realize that. I know that I am a missionary wherever I am and have many opportunities to witness especially in the next 2 weeks, but I want to go to the uttermost parts of the earth!
I feel like I'm having a wilderness experience-- I'm some place between Canaan and Egypt, a place called the wilderness...
Patience and Contentment definitely the traits I am being tested on right now... On Dec 12 I posted a poem that really describes what I'm feeling right now, with wanting to "go" when I have to stay...I must wait. A lot of people relate it to love, but I think it can be taken so much deeper then just that...there are so many things the each of us wants right now, but we have to wait and it's hard, but ultimately God's timing is best...sounds so clique I know.
Ok that's all for me kids...God bless...
quinta-feira, julho 03, 2003
I am lazy...here's the e-mail I sent out to tell about my trip...It's a good overview of what went on...I'll be posting more as time goes on and maybe some photos too....
Hello Everyone!
I can't believe that I am writing this e-mail already, the e-mail to tell you how my trip to Brazil went. It went fast, so many people told me that 10 days in Brazil was not enough time and they all were right!
I want to thank you all for praying for me and my team. God blessed us greatly with safe travels both to and from Brazil. We also had safe travels while we were in Brazil--driving there is really quite an experience, but God kept us safe!
This trip was an awesome experience for me in so many ways. Not only did we see a lady and several children come to Christ, but we were an encouragement to the believers at the church's that we visited. I think we were at 6 churches and also had an open air church service. The open air service was probably the most memorable for me because it was in a really poor neighborhood and we did our program on the front porch of a lady's house. I was also able to share my testimony at that service with Mrs. Weber translating in Portuguese and Mr. Weber translating in sign language (the Weber's are the missionary we were stayed with). It was also the open-air service where a lady accepted Christ as her Savior, Mrs. Weber had been talking to her since January and after 6 months of not being ready, she was finally ready to make a decision. It is such a blessing that God used us in the process!
The best part of all of the services was afterwards when we got to meet the people of the church and try to communicate despite none of us knowing Portuguese and very few of the people knowing English. But as one lady told me, even though we couldn't communicate with words, we still were in the same family of God and had that special bond of love. We met so many children, sometimes there were more kids at the services then adults.
This trip was truly the best experience of my life. I could've have stayed all summer--or even all year! I learned so much about people and about God. I also learned what it takes to be a missionary and know more then ever that God wants me to be a missionary, maybe not to Brazil, but maybe so, I really don't know and it's all up to Him.
Thank you all so much for praying. Oh, I know I asked prayer for me learning the handchimes and I think I did OK, it was fun.
Some follow-up prayer requests are: that Mrs. Weber will be able to follow-up with those who recently became Christians; that the one piece of luggage that ended up in Germany will get to the Webers soon (it contained most of our supplies for the kids and for the Webers Sunday School seminar); that the teens of our team will recover--a few are sick, but nothing serious, our only injuries were a chipped tooth and scraped knees and one boy ended up with 87 mosquito bites. Needless to say it was an interesting trip full of memories and many inside stories, but I won't go into them all!
y'all I wanna go back...
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