In The Beginning...

Well school has been going on now for about two weeks. I have been really busy getting settled in here at Columbia! I am having a blast! Classes are going to be a lot of work, but I am going to really enjoy them. 

The community here at CTS is just what I thought it was going to be like. I am having a great time getting to know everyone here. I can feel a strong connection with most of my colleagues. As one would guess, living in such a close community there are times when there is conflict. From time to time my personality has and will continue to clash with others. I am working hard at handling my self so I can grow closer to these people. This is something I will continue to pray about for sometime! 

Along with my new beginnings here at CTS, I have new beginnings in a church. Last week was my first week as Director of Youth Ministries at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. I am really looking forward to the opportunity I am going to have at this church. I am excited to get to know these young people and the congregation as a whole. 

I pray that I may patients grows, with myself, others, and God. I pray that through my growing patients I may have stronger relationships with myself, others, and God. I hope that as I go forward in my studies I will hear God's call clearer. 

As you may know!

Well it is official! I now live in Decatur, GA. I have been here since Tuesday. My dad and I took off on our journey on Monday to start a new chapter in my life. I really enjoyed our trip over, and will have many great memories from the trip. The first day we drove from Graham to Meridian Mississippi. The next day we drove on in to Atlanta. Once we got to town and finished putting my dorm together we got to see some of my family. A great aunt and uncle of mine live pretty close. It was great to visit and eat a meal with them. I am glad that I have some family close to me. I feel I will be visit with them frequently. 

I still cannot believe I am here. I mean it feels like yesterday I was starting at Texas A&M. Don't get me wrong I am really excited about my new experience and cannot wait tell the rest of my classmates arrive.  Class doesn't start for another two weeks. This will be nice because I will have sometime to get familiar with the area. At the moment it is pretty quite on campus. Greek school is wrapping up today with their final, and other students on campus are taking their ordination exams. 

One thing I am really excited about learning more information about is Eastminister Presbyterian Church. This church is looking for a part time director of youth ministry and I think it would be nice to be able to gain so more experience working in a church before I graduate seminary. My dad and I drove by the church on Wednesday and found that there were some people at the church so we were able to look around. The neat thing about our visit to the church was when I introduced myself some of the people already knew who I was! I couldn't believe that. 

The things I miss the most are my family and all my friends I have made over the years while at TAMU. I miss my college friends and my friends I made at FPC Bryan. These people have all helped me be the true me. Coming from a smaller town it is hard to be your true self. 

God has been all around these past few weeks. God definitely was present on the trip here. The first leg of the trip we had to drive through heavy rain in thick traffic. Thank you God for our safety. Way back at Mo TLC earlier this summer in Small Group Leadership Group we all wrote ourselves a letter. Yesterday after I dropped my dad off at the airport I read my letter. In the letter I reminded myself of the time I had that week, and charged myself to step out! To not be afraid of alone time! As an extrovert I struggle with being alone. I charged myself to grow in my spiritually and work on my prayer life. 

I pray that I may open myself up and listen to God while in this new place! I pray that I will be lead in the direction that God has set out for me! Amen 

Personal Legend

I just finished the book The Alchemist. If you have not read this book I highly recommend it. This book is about a boy who travels around from Spain to Egypt to find his treasure. Along the way this boy learns a lot about himself and about what it is he is meant to do. During his journey he learns how to listen to the world around him to help make his decisions. 

This book was a helpful reminder for me. I feel that often I set the cruise control of life and do not really pay attention to what is going on around me. I forget about all the beauty in the world. An expression once heard "stop and sell the roses" comes to mind. This is a great idea. One that in our country we need to be shouting from the roof tops. We to often set our personal cruise controls and forget that we are here to live and not just pass the time by. 

A scripture I was reminded of while reading The Alchemist is the story of the good Samaritan from Luke 10. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.

In The Alchemist the boy suffered many difficulties as he was searching for his treasure. He lost all his money twice, was near death several times, and was in a foreign land without a friend. This boy, while searching for his treasure, had many Samaritans helping him along the way. People who he did not even know lending him a helping hand.  Many of the times we are searching for people to help and don't realize we are the ones who need the help. We try to fix others problems when ours are the ones needing to be fixed. I am not saying not to help others, but to really look at yourself and realize who you are. Pay attention to the world around you. What your body is telling you, and the signs you see. 

This has been a very good week for me. I had more free time for myself then I am use too. I journeyed to DFW for a psychological evaluation to prove I am sane for seminary. The jury is still out;) on that, but it was a good experience. While in the DFW area I got to see some friends I will not get to see in a while since of my move. I went to the Rangers game on Wednesday night, and had a good time even though the score was not what I wanted. Along with getting to do all this I had lots of time for myself. I arrived Monday and checked into the hotel and was able for the first time to dive into my new prayer book I received as a gift. This book is going to be great for my spirituality. The prayer book follows the church calendar and has daily reflections. On Tuesday I spent several hours in a Barnes and Noble and read part of two books. This is when I found The Alchemist. This was a great time to find so new readings. I really enjoyed the time I was able to escape and have this only time. 

I have been thinking for sometime about my grandparents, and I have enjoyed getting to spend this time at home with my grandparents. Today I was feeding cattle with my Granddad and got to learn more about my Granddad's past. I defiantly think these moments are God moments. As a young child I always wanted to know things about my Granddad, but it never seemed as though he wanted to share. Now he is sharing without even me asking question. God has been present at these times. 

Building for the future!

This past Sunday, my home church had me do the service. I for one Sunday was the preacher. I really enjoyed my experience. I had lots of friends and family there supporting me. If you would like to listen to my sermon you can find it on the web at http://www.fpcgraham.com/Podcasts/07-27-08.mp3 

Life has been at a little slower pace. I have been going out to the ranch in most of my free time. Working feeding the cattle, and doing some chores for my grandparents. It has been good to see them, and get to spend some time with them. 

I have also been spending some time with my old friends. I have been hunting, fishing, and visiting about old times. It has been good getting recall all the old memories. 

I talked to one of my old youth group members today. It was good to talk to them. I learned that they had broken their arm, and didn't seem to let it bother them to much. This was the first time that I have really talked to anyone from my old youth group since I have moved. It is starting to sink in that I am really gone and I am no long there with them. 

As I get closer to moving I am getting evermore excited. I am ready to get to ATL so I can get settled in. A church there has talked to me a few times and is interested in hiring me to work with their youth. I am really interested in finding out more details about this church, and will keep you posted on any news regarding this issue. 

I have begun to miss lost of people! Ones I met this year at Mo and ones I have know for a really long time. It is hard to believe that I am going to be so far away from everyone. I am really afraid I will not be able to go to any of the Mo conferences next year. I cannot believe that I have been to Mo every summer since sixth grade. That is 10 years straight. 

The place I have seen God lately is in the stars! Here in Graham you can see so many! Sitting on the front porch talking with my dad I have seen so many shooting stars. Also while talking with my dad, he has finally been comfortable enough to open up and talk about his beliefs. This is truly a God moment as he has never really talked about these things before. 

Tonight I leave you with this passage from Psalm 139

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thought from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down' you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 

It finally happened!

So it finally happened. I have moved from College Station to Graham! I do not think it has really sunk in yet, but I think it will sink in when I realize I do not really have many friends to hang out with.

Today was a really good day. I got loaded up and headed home around 10:00a.m. I stopped off in Waco and got to see someone I have really enjoyed getting to spend time with. This was a great part of my day. We had lunch together and this person showed me around town where they grew up. I really enjoyed my time I got to spend with them. It is really sad that we have just met and I am moving so far away.

The rest of my journey home was great. I got to do a ton of thinking and have put together most of my sermon I am doing on the 27th. I was really excited about life most of the second part of my way home. I haven't felt this good about life for a long time.

I cannot believe all that is going on in my life right now. I have just finish college, said goodbye to all my friends I have made, and I am heading to a completely different place. It is going to be a challenge, but I feel I am up for the task.

You know, today I saw God in a lot of places. It is hard to pick just one, but I really feel that this one stands out the most. When I was in Waco today I went to the mall with my friend. On the way into the mall, we were entering about the same time as this little girl. I guess she was about 12 to 14, maybe a little younger. What surprised me was the fact this girl opened the door for my friend and I. Now I know, you are probably thinking, big deal! The fact is that we go through our day to day lives and do not really realize the little things. This girl was not obligated to hold the door open for us. She wanted to be nice and do something simple for someone else. Some times the expected done by the unexpected is what we need to realize the best of our lives.

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'

Luke 10: 30-35

MO!

Well today starts a new beginning of another Mo experience. After spending the past week at Mo as a sponsor for our church I will be a small group leader for this weeks Junior High Jubilee Conference. I am expecting a great week, but at the current moment I am having mixed emotions about Mo in general. Don't get me wrong. I love Mo, but I am currently feeling fixed feelings about some of the decisions leadership is making or has already made. I hope things will get better as the week goes on. Please keep this leadership in your prayers throughout this next week!

Today I saw God when we stopped off in Luckenbach. While there we got to see the coolest thing. I saw a man who had birds. He had a Bald Eagle, a Hawk, a Flacon, and a Owl. He gave a great talk about how as humans we need to live along side animals as one community. God was present and defiantly working in this man.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Thoughts I have

As it seems I am in a time of my life were I am transitioning. I just recently graduated from Texas A&M and will be moving twice in the next two months. Once back home and then on to Atlanta, GA. Once I move to Atlanta I will begin seminary at Columbia Theological Seminary to work toward becoming an ordained minister.  Everything is coming right along. Or is it? 

I have recently been working hard on my spiritual practices. Reading Anne Lomott books! Praying truthfully! Not those dressed up prayers. And taking time to contemplate my place in the word. These new added spiritual practices have been very helpful in my time of transition. 

I want the best for all I have come into contact during my time here. I am moving on from one of the most wonderful experiences one could ever have. I have had the great opportunity to work with some of the most wonderful children of God anyone could image. I have enjoyed every moment I have had with them, and hope they have grown as much as I have in our time spent together. Along with these young adults, the church family with which they belong has been a great part of my spiritual growth. My church family here has been huge in helping me throughout these past years. I am so grateful I have met some many loving and wonderful people. I have so many hopes for them and hope that they continue on to reach out to others the way they reached out to me. 

Friends have, and will always be a key part of my life. I cherish everyone of my friends that I have made through the years. The memories we have made will last a life time and have helped me discover who I am. I hope you all will achieve the greatness you are destined for.

God is everywhere! Sometimes we do not realize this presence! Today was a different day. Sometimes we go about our lives differently to try and mix them up. This is a good thing to practice every once in a while, but is a good way to get "mixed" results. I saw God today in a friend. This friend of mine has one of the biggest hearts. We were talking today and I realized that this person has a true passion for our fellow man kind. This person strives so hard for the betterment of those that come in contact. This is definitely God showing up through one of God's creatures. 

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct;  for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."