Friday, November 27, 2009

Epicness!!!

I am not even sure where to start with this. Let's see here...So over the summer, Stephen, Gio, and I got to know Jayson. Jayson was our boss for Stanley Steemer and we got to challenge him in his faith and I know God did some pretty amazing things over the summer with just our little group of 4. Jayson was hoping that we would be able to come out for a Thanksgiving break trip like we did last year. That is where this story starts...

I knew that we were not going out to El Paso for a Thanksgiving break trip but I really wanted to bless Jayson so that we could see him again and encourage him. I decided that I would try as hard as I could to get down there for a short little trip. So I asked Stephen and Gio what they thought about it and they eventually said yes. I started working on the plans and got a place to stay at and was able to tell Jayson that we were coming down. We got to stay with Ryan and Amanda which was great fun as Stephen and I got to stay with them over the summer.

We headed down to my parents place after The Rock on Friday to stay the night. We got coffee and breakfast to go from my parents, which was awesome, and we were headed to Gio's place to drop stuff off there and to see his mom on Saturday morning. We got there and had even more coffee, which was okay with me considering that it was really good! Finally we were off to El Paso. After a long drive, lots of gas, and good times in the car we finally got down there. We made great time due to Gio's lack of being able to pay attention to what the reading was on the speedometer was.

We grabbed some dinner at Sonic as us three have some pretty good memories at sonic. And then we went to church, and that was freaking awesome in itself. Worship was great and then Tom talked about how we are not citizen's of this world but of a different kingdom. And I honestly can't wait till I am taken home. You can check the message out here, and I recommend it! Just click on Holy War (11/29/09). We stayed and helped clean up a bit and then headed home with the Ryan and Amanda. We got to hang out with them some as the packed up because they were actually headed to Colorado for Thanksgiving break. It was good to catch up some but they had to go to bed.

We hung out for a bit in the morning and then headed over to the shindig they were having that day. We got to eat and have lots of yummy food and hang out with the church. We finally were able to see and hang out with Jayson there and catch up over what all has happened since summer. Jayson and his wife Suzie had their first child the Wednesday before we came out which was one major thing that happened with them. Jayson's brother was out along with Suzie's sister and so we got to meet them and hang out and have much fun chatting. We hung out for a while and then headed over to Jayson and Suzie's for pizza and monopoly.

We played one of the oddest games of monopoly that I have ever played. Stephen, as hard as he tried, could not die. The game went a totally different direction than anyone would have thought it would have gone and it was much fun, or at least I thought it was...Stephen might disagree with me. We had to head out then because Jayson had to work early in the morning and we had decided then that we just wanted to head home then instead of stay the night again. And so we went home to pack up and clean up.

I went to the store to grab some food and coffee mugs and a 3 liter of Dr. Pepper. I have to say that I was very proud of the 3 liter :) Gio drove the first leg of the trip while Stephen and I slept so that we could stay awake together during the second leg of the trip. We got to Albuquerque when Gio decided that it was time to wake me up to drive as he was starting to get tunnel vision, if you understand what that means when driving...I think I understand it. I drove for a while talking with Stephen when he decided that it was time to go to sleep as he didn't really sleep while Gio was driving. As I was driving, I all of a sudden saw flashing lights behind me and that feeling of "oh crap, I'm caught". I was averaging about 85-90 during this time because there was absolutely no one on the road. But the sheriff went around me and I saw him cross over the median to a car that was on the other side of the road with it's flashers on. Well with great excitement I hit 105 when I figured that I should slow down so that a po-po really don't pull me over. I got all the way to Trinidad when the sun was coming up and I could no long drive safely. I switched with Gio again, as Stephen really is not a fan of driving, and promptly fell asleep once we were back on the highway. I was awaken by Gio slowing down and he said that he was being pulled over. After that was done, I went back to sleep and was awoken again because he was being pulled over again. And well, I went back to sleep. We got to his house where we picked up his brother and kept driving to my house. Gio decided that he didn't want to drive anymore and so I took over. I had much fun during this last part and made it home safely. This was not the end of the trip yet. We had to take Stephen home and I drove with my mom up to Fort Collins and back and we had a blast on that drive too.

In all the trip was less than 72 hours and I was greatly encouraged. Jayson has completely turned his life around from where it was when we first met him. He stopped drinking and smoking altogether and has been pursuing Christ even more. It is going to be awesome to see what God does with that man! 

As you can see, the whole weekend was completely epic because everything was very impromptu which made it great and did I say epic, well it was epic! If you ever get the chance, go and see some friends so that you may encourage them and so that you may be encouraged yourself.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Your Love Remains

Here is an awesome video and song from our brothers and sisters out in Utah


Monday, November 16, 2009

More Hebrews and a Proverb

Hebrews just got done talking about how a bunch of the Old Testament characters had faith and because of their faith, it was counted to them as righteousness. And then it says at 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

I am not a citizen of this world. I belong else where and I am awaiting my homeland and my God is not ashamed to be my God!

I laughed when I read this Proverb. It is 27:14
14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning,
will be counted as cursing.
I now have a verse to tell people not to wake me because I am sleeping! Okay...well, that might be taking it a little too far

Sunday, November 15, 2009

mmmm....so good!


Here is some encouragement for you... or at least I found it encouraging.

Hebrews 10:23-25 says:

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
I love verse 23! What is our hope? Our hope is that Christ has covered all of our sin and is coming back! And then it says, 'for he who promised is faithful'. With this, we can know that he will be faithful in redeeming us.


And then in Hebrews 10:31, it says:

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 It just got done talking about our sin and that God will be just and I actually find this encouraging. I am in the hands of the living God which is a place of comfort, but at the same time it is such a fear thing. I am in the hands of the God that could end my very next breath.


Be ready because Christ is coming back, I am reminded of Luke 12:35-48

 35 "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Sounds

A friend of mine found this video...check it out


An interesting talk, I think it is true that music is very powerful. Maybe that is why I like it so much and why I love running sound. Music strikes a powerful chord with a lot of different people.

Words can't describe it....

Alright, so you know how I was talking about my super sweet friends, well their website is up and they have a few songs that you can stream. I have gotten the privilege to listen to the entire CD and it is freaking sweet! I am super excited for when the rest of you can listen to it all. The album will be released on the 13th and you all should buy it.


Now I also have some pretty sweet friends that live out in Utah. We have a sister church out there that is called The Rock Church. They also have put out some pretty sweet CD's and they have a new one that is going to be released on the 14th. Here is the website for their newest CD called Promises.


I just can't escape from all of the awesomeness around me. I am privilaged that I even get to be part of it. Plus some good friends of mine are getting married that weekend as well. It is going to be one epic weekend of awesomeness!

Monday, November 2, 2009

I have the coolest nephews ever!


They were Star Wars Clone Troopers for Halloween