Spring Break

Wow is has been a while since I have posted anything. Well I will start from spring break. I went to South Pardre Island, Texas for spring break with Master Plan Ministries. It was a 24-26 hour drive one way so there was a ton of time to get to know eachother pretty well in a crammed 15 passenger van. There were 25 of us I believe, and we just took the gospel straight to the beach where all the college students were partying and breathing in what the world has to offer them. We went to out to the beach 3 of the days we were there and set up a volleyball net and brought frisbees for conversation starters. Then we would also go out in groups of 2 and just get into conversations with the kids and try to share the Gospel with them. I was defiantly an interesting experience but God is amazing and the growth that I experienced was life changing. We also went into Mexico for 3 of the days. We had 1500 Spanish new testament Bibles to hand out and it was amazing as well. I don't know how to speak Spanish very well but that did not stop God from getting his word to people. With the little Spanish that I knew I got into some good conversations with people and many people accepted Christ into their lives. I also took some soccer balls with me into Mexico and handed them out to little kids and shared the gospel with them as well. That was so much fun. I got to play with some of the kids and that is a language that I understand completely. Even though there is a language barrier with the Spanish speaking people it was easier to share with them because that are more relationship oriented people where the college students think that life is all about them. Well God work and brought many people to Him that week and I believe that there were many seeds planted as well. God is so GOOD!

Guess What?

I did laundry yesterday for the first time since I have been back to school from Christmas break! I know you guys are all proud of me, but like I said before, I have so many clothes that I don't see the point in doing laundry every week, and besides it saves money on detergent. Also, Josef please forgive me, I shaved my beard off tonight. It was pretty big, the biggest I have ever had it so I took a few pictures of it before I shaved. The reason I shaved is because I will be leaving this Thursday for South Padre, Texas on a mission trip with Master Plan for spring break. The weather is showing the highs to be in the 90s. I am stoked.

Practical Application

I have been reading through Corinthians lately and I would just like you share with everyone what I am learning so far. I am in chapter 11 right now, but in chapter 10 there were some amazing verses that stuck out to me.

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. -1 Cor. 10:23 (NASB)

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. -1 Cor 10:31 (NASB)

These two verses have been in my mind lately. In my daily life I have found myself time and time again tolerating and doing things that are neither profitable nor edifying toward anyone. 10:23 has helped open my eyes to see how Satan has been working in my life without my knowledge.
10:31 plainly states that whatever we do, we should do for the honor and glory of God. When we decide to live a life that is more glorifying to God, we will begin to accomplish that which is profitable and edifying toward others. Tony B posed the question (and Cosby has expanded on the question) of ,"what if we started to live the scriptures?". I believe that these two verses in Corinthians are that start of an practically explanation of how it can be possible to live as if the scriptures were written directly to us today. Be imitators of Christ.
What if ?...

Friendship Week

This week is Friendship Week. So I encourage you to show your friends how much you appreciated them.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born of adversity." -Poverbs
17:17 NASB

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his
friends."-John 15:13 NASB

Now More Then Ever...

Last night I was studying with my buddy Chris for an anatomy test that we took today and we got into a conversation that shocked me as well as made me sad. He was quoting some sayings from southpark and was all excited that season 5 comes out on DVD soon and asked me if I watched the show. I told him I did not because I did not like the humor. Chris then asked me what I didn't like about the humor and so I told him that I didn't like it because I think that the humor is perverted. He then asked, "what is wrong with perversion?". I was shocked that he actually asked such a question. I told him that it twists the way that men and women were intended to be seen and thought about. He told that he didn't think that there was anything wrong with perversion because everyone deals with it. Wow! That is all I can say to that is, Wow! It makes me sad that Satan is having the world think that such a thing is ok and does no harm. After thinking about I have come to the conclusion that Chris really needs Christ in his life, and it also encourages me to witness to others because I realize more than ever how much they need Him. I ask that you would pray that I would have the courage and boldness to proclaim the gospel as I should.

Beard

Today was another typical, insanely busy Monday. I am so glad that I shall be dreaming within the next hour. Thank you for those who answered the conviction question for me. To me it is just a weird concept.
So just to let you all know, I have a pretty good size beard now. I like it but, at the same time to don't. A long beard catches food and liquids which requires you to clean it out. Also the mustache tickles my nose which can become quite annoying. The reasons I do like to though, are the fact that it does keep my face warm. We went snowboarding 2 weekends ago and when the snow hit my face I didn't feel it which was nice. A beard is fun to have because none of my friends up here can grow one and this is the first time that I have let it grow out this long. I think that I might shave it off soon though, in not sure yet. I would show you how long it is, but I don't have a digital camera so I can't.
Also another crazy fact about me is that i have not done laundry since i have been back at school from Christmas break. I've got tons of clothes i dont see why i should.

Conviction

If anyone could answer this question for me that would be most awesome:

When Christians are convicted it is the Holy Spirit inside of us that is convitcting our hearts right? Then what is it that convicts the hearts of non-believers?

Psalm 109

But You, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me; for I am afflicted and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I am passing like shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust my knees are weak from fasting, and my flesh has grown lean. I also have become a reproach to them; when the see me they wag their head.
Help me O Lord my God; save me according to Your lovingkindness.
With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; and in the midst of many I will praise Him.
Psalm 109 (NASB)

V-Day

Last night was awesome. About 12 of us guys that are involved with Master Plan Ministries here on campus put together a V-Day dinner for all the single girls in the ministry. It was amazing. We got Cornerstone to let us use their sanctuary to host the event. We put up 6 tables in the sactuary in a "U" shape, facing the stage, with red table cloths and a gold center piece on all of them. Then we placed candles suspended in water, flowers, and candy hearts on the tables. As the girls arrived we had a few guys valet and then a few others to escort the ladies into the sanctuary to be seated. As they arrived we had elegant cello music as background music. Once all the girls had arrived (about 35 of them I believe) we served them their salad and water. After that we served them lasagna and dinner rolls with sparkling cider. All the ladies were in dresses and all the guys were in a shirt and tie (except me I didn't know I was supposed to be so formal so I wore a button up shirt and jeans). As they were eating the main coarse I played a little guitar and sang and then my buddy Nick did the same. After they were done with dinner we all told them how honored we were to have them as our sisters in Christ and shared a few verses of how we felt toward them. Then we brought out chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. After that we hung out and escorted them to their cars as they left. The night was amazing and I could see Gods' love everywhere in everything the whole night. The girls felt loved and honored as they should feel and all of us guys got to bro down and really bond through the experience. I would say one of the best parts of the night was we were all tired and about to leave when we got outside and my buddy Ronnie had a random flat tire. So we all stayed and helped get the tire changed at about 12:30am. It was awesome and we just laughed and loved on eachother the whole time. O ya and we had some cigars to make it all the more fulfilling. So I just to say that God is good and his love in amazing and faithful. And for all you girls out there, don't live by what this world tells you but by the Word of God especially what he says in Proverbs 31.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Cartoons

Do you guys remember the days when the cartoons were actually good and had rad characters like the Thundercats and the Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles and the Transformers? Man those were the days, when I used to get up real early, extremely excited, to watch Saturday morning cartoons. What has happened to cartoons today? They are horrible and Disney put perverted messages in them half the time. I'm glad I grew up when the cartoons were in their prime. Not that they were exactly the best thing to watching as a child, but what else does a young boy have to fulfill the dangerous adventure and excitement that his heart is longing for. I don't know about you but growing up in a big city does not fulfill the desire of adventure and exploration.

I don't really remember the Thundercat very much but I do know that I liked them. The fact that they were not human and had crazy strength is awesome.


Well that's enough cartoons for today but I might talk more about them more tomorrow...

TMNT

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were definitely my favorite of all time. I remember getting up in order to watch them kick the enemy Shredder's butt and have a laugh with Michelangelo. Also what little kid wasn't drawn in to the fact that they loved pizza as much as I did?

Denver the Last Dinosaur

Does any one remember denver the Last Dinosaur because I do. Me and my buddy Kirk were just chillin and he told me that on google images they you can just go wild and find really cool/weird things sometimes. Like did you know that there is such a thing as Siamese dogs? Well there are. Anyways so I decided to look up old cartoon logos and I remembered about Denver the Last Dinosaur. That was a sweet show about skateboarders that stumbled across a giant egg when out riding one day. It was a sweet cartoon.

Crazy

This last weekend was crazy. Friday night I went to a show down at Durango Joes Coffee shop that a guy in my dorm put on. Then I went back to my buddy Gunners' room and played a Japanese soccer game on playstation called winning eleven. The game was awesome but I lost both games that I played. The next morning I woke up at 10am and went to Farmington with the softball team for practice which was pretty good this time compared to last week. Last week it was cold and I didn't get to document any of the hours that I worked because there was no Certified Athletic Trainer there. But this week it was warm and there was a Certified there. We got back to Durango at about 5:15 and left at 6 for the mountains. Master Plan Ministries had a retreat this weekend and I led worship Saturday night. It was awesome and I feel that God made a big appearance in everyone's hearts. The retreat was awesome and two students accepted Christ into their lives. That is amazing! Well the next morning we had a talk and then left. Later Justin Picked me up and we went and watched the superbowl with a high school youth group. That was interesting. I really forgot how immature high schoolers were(even though are not far from college students). It kind of sucks that Philly didn't win because I like them and they are my second favorite team, but I thought it was good game and the Patriots deserved the win. So that was my weekend.

Today was another story though. It was another Monday but this one was even more compact. I woke up at 6:30 and had some Raisin Bran(man I love that stuff) and then went to my Meeting at 7. After the meeting I worked in the training room from 8-11 and this morning was super slow, I mean I almost fell asleep a few times. Then I had class from 11-1:15 and that time sucks because we don't get any sort of break. Well then it was off to get something to eat from the CHUB. The food isn't too bad in the cafeteria but sometimes it is hard to find something that is good for you. After eating I went right back to the training room to work from 1:30-4:30pm. This time things went by faster because we were non-stop, packed with athletes the whole time. Well from there I went to World Religions which I thought was pretty cool today. We talked about how different religions view suffering and Death. It was interesting to hear individually what people believed. I was amazing to hear that people don't care about what is to come after death. Then we talked about suffering which is a big topic for non-believers. People are so quick to accuse God for bad things but think it was there doing when it comes to good things. I am so glad that I know there is hope for us all. After class I went and ate at the CUB again. Tonight I had a test at 8pm which I think went pretty well so I am happy about that. Man, Mondays are crazy but I'm getting stuff done which is good.

Oh yah, and it has been snowing all day. And this is what it looks like.



Wow that is an amazing quote.

Weird Fact

Here is something that i bet most of you don't know.
Did you know that an ostriches eye is bigger than it's brain?
Well have fun with that.

Kindness

This is just an awesome picture with a great saying,

I just want to encourage all of you to love and appreciate each other unconditionally as Christ does.

Mondays

So today was a freaking long day. Every Monday I have to be in the training room at 7am for a weekly meeting. Then I work in there from 8-11am which is pretty boring because not very many people like to come in for things like treatment and rehab in the morning so I just sit there and read for class or something. Then I have class from 11-1:15. Class was pretty good today I learned quite a bit about the foot and toes. After class my buddy Thomas and I ate lunch. We had a great conversation about Jesus Christ! I took Thomas to a campus ministry thing last week and he told me that he liked it and I feel that he wants to start changing his life around for God. That makes me so happy because he is such an awesome guy. Then I had to be back in the training room for softball from 6-9:30pm which gets a little boring as well but, the girls are pretty goofy so I'm not too bored.

This semester is going good so far and I am learning a ton from class and from the training room. The new roommate is a great Christian guy named Ryan which is kind of funny because it isn't much different from Brian(B-Rich). I have to say that I do miss B-Rich a ton though because he is an awesome guy and we had so much fun together. I love you bro!

I wish I could work up at camp this next summer but I will not be able to because I have to be here the whole month of august for athletic training. The good news though is that Brad Hixson might come down and live with me in Vegas for the summer and we will work construction together. That would be awesome because he is an amazing wonderful guy.

Where I Live

This is what it looks like where i go to school. Andrea you would love this place. You should come visit.

My Life Be Like...

I am so tired. Last night was a long night. If you don't know, I play the drums in the worship band for a gathering called SNL(salt n light) which the campus ministry puts on. The ministry is called Master Plan Ministries. It is the euivilant to campus crusade which we are connected with. Well last night I brought one of my close friend whom I play soccer with to SNL. He liked it which is exciting and said that he would like to go again next week. After that we have another gathering called APEX which stands for After Party Extra. It is basically a time in which anyone on campus can come hang out with us at the Student Life Center and play Basketball, Soccer, volleyball, Badmitten, Dodgeball, and have free pizza and drinks from 9pm-12am.

In the middle of all this fun and excitement we have something called halftime. It is a time when everyone takes a break, congregates into a room, and someone shares their testimony with the group. Last night was interesting because there were quite a few kids there that were drunk. Not just your average quite drunk, but your noise obnoxious friendly drunk. I'm glad they were there. Then after that I came back to my room and tried to play around with my blog settings. It is so confusing because I cant figure out how to do any of the things that I want to do to design it. I'm over it though.

Today is a whole other story. I woke up this morning at about 6am to the after shock of a migrane. At first I couldn't figure out why my head was hurting so I just laid there in bed confused about what I was feeling. Then I got up and took some aspirin and fell back asleep. Then at about 9am the phone rang and it was the Athletic Trainer/Boss telling me that I had to go to Farmington today with the Softball team for their practice at 10. So I got out of bed with a throbbing headache and got ready. We left here at 11 and didn't get back until 5. I really do like the whole athletic training thing but sometimes I wish I was getting paid for it. Yep that's right I work in the training room for like 16 hours a week and don't get paid for it. I love it.

I watched Daddy DayCare with some friends tonight and I thought it was hilarious. I defiantly recommend that movie to those of you who have not seen it yet. It is a good clean comedy that everyone can watch and enjoy. Well I know it is only 10pm but I'm tired and sore from working out (for like the first time in 3 months) yesterday so I'm going to bed.

First Time

Wow! So I did it. I have started a blog. In the past I always told my self that I would never start one of these because I hate to type. Well I still hate to type but I figure this will be a good way for me to just write my thoughts down and to maybe keep intouch with those that I don't get to talk to all the time.

So, it begins. My life has been pretty wild lately. School has been kicking my butt. If you don't know my major is in athletic training at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. I was received into the athletic training program at my school this semester which take up about 16 hours of my time each week, outside of classes. Also Rachel and I broke up over Christmas break, which is real hard for both of us, but I am just trusting that God knows what He is doing and I hold fast to:

Romans 8:28-"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"- NASB.

So things might seem to be a little hard for me right now but I have hope that it is all within God purpose.

Today has been a good day. It has been snowing or raining all day which kind of sucks. I'm the kind of person that doesn't like snow very much just because all the things I love to do outside are put on hold until it melts. I can't play soccer, or Frisbee for like 3 months. I do have a snowboard so I could go do that but I don't have a pass which makes it real expensive. I will give you this much though, the snow is extremely beautiful and it make the air smell refreshing. Anyway, Tonight should be pretty chill, I have to be in the training room with softball from 5-10 and then I shall hit the sack. Well that's good enough, I'm outty 5 o. Peace