Yester-thanks!

Some highlights from yesterday's Thanksgiving festivities:

• My grandma informed me that she read my blog! haha
• Had a wonderful dinner (of course!)
• Played the alphabet thankful game.
• Reenie dropped pumpkin pie... she made up a funny word out of her anger! haha
• Watched THE GODFATHER!!!
• Ate a lot!

Just Some Thankful Thoughts

Right now I am really thankful for...

• Kaitlin and our relationship
• The sound of rain outside
• The ways God provides and directs my life
• The cool conversation I had earlier this evening with the high school guys discipleship group 
• Henri Nouwen's book, In the Name of Jesus
• That I'm almost done with school
• The fact that God loves me unconditionally, even though I don't think he should or that I should have to earn love that great

In the Name of Jesus

Currently reading this book (for the second time...I read it about 4 years ago).  It is an amazing read and really quick.  Nouwen has so much wisdom to share on Christian leadership based on his experiences working with the disability community.  I highly recommend it!

Wordle...My New Favorite Thing!

So I discovered the most amazing thing online today... Wordle!  You can inset texts or a website and you can create sweet word designs.

Here is a Wordle based on a devotional I wrote on Exodus 34:

This is one based on my interests on Facebook and blogger:

This is what I got when I entered my blog website:

Light Safety (Part 2)

You may remember my post not to long ago on the terrible mall sign on Light Safety.  Well, I just so happened to exit the mall a different way last night, and as I turned around, I discovered A NEW LIGHT SAFETY SIGN FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!  I think these are so lame!  Anyway, here is Light Safety Sign #2: 

Micro-Gospels

Yesterday I started discipling a student through the book of Matthew.  He wanted to learn what this whole "Christianity thing" really was rather than buy into his parents faith.  I was so excited to see his maturity in the situation.  He really has a hunger for truth.  So as I we went through the first couple chapters of Matthew, I was so encouraged by the micro-gospels I saw within the larger context of the Gospel of Matthew.  In almost every other verse I saw whispers of redemption, salvation, hope, and Jesus!  It focused our time to talk about salvation and the Messiah!  Praise God for his meticulousness in speaking to us and revealing the truth of Jesus Christ! 

FIT

So today I began my healthy kick!  I am shaping up for marriage... which is in like 50-something days! Not only do I want to be in fit physically (nice abs, decent guns, defined pecs... you know...the things ladies like), I also want to be spiritually fit and well equipt to lead and serve Kaitlin as my beautiful and glodly wife!  So here is my plan/the things I am focusing on:

• Run or exercise once a day (I started with a mile today--which was difficult since I haven't been exercising in a while-- but hopefully I'll get up to 2 or 3 a day).
• Stay in the Word daily.
• Pray for our marriage and relationship.
• I've been watching The Peasant Princess sermon series from Mars Hill Church by Mark Driscoll.  It is an amazing series on the Song of Solomon.  It makes me so excited to be married, have a wife, and be a man who will lead her.
• Healthy eating.  Here are my favorite healthy foods: grapefruit, quinoa, protein bars, red peppers, celery, yerba mate green tea, lean turkey, egg whites, and lots and LOTS of water!!!

I love getting into shape both physically and spiritually.  When I do it combined, I feel good!  So, ya...that's what I'm up to.  (P.S.-Kaitlin told me I have been slacking in blogging, especially about myself, so there ya go!)

GLOW: The All-Nighter (Part 1)

Last Saturday/Sunday, PCI Youth Group had an awesome all-nighter!  We had bounce houses, In-n-Out, games, food, broomball, glow dodge ball, video games, and music.  It was a night to remember, but I can't seem to catch up with enough sleep.  I worked 20 hours straight!!! But it was totally worth it!  I don't have pictures yet, but will post them in the next couple days.  Here is a play-by-play of the night:

8:00pm-9:00pm  Set up

9:00pm-10:15pm  Check-in and Bounce Houses in Sanctuary

10:15pm-11:00pm  Game Competitions (Human Pyramid, Spaghetti Game, Energy Drink Toast, Baby Food Thanksgiving, Chubby Bunny, Diaper Eating)

11:00pm-11:45pm  Glow Dodgeball 

11:45pm-12:00am  Board Bus

12:00am-12:30am Drive  to In-n-Out

12:30am-1:30am  Eat at In-n-Out

1:30am-1:45am  Board Bus

1:45am-2:00am  Drive to Aliso Viejo Ice Palace

2:00am-3:30am  Broomball

3:30am-3:45am  Board Bus

3:45am-4:15am  Drive to Church

4:15am-4:30am Group Rally and Sermon

4:30am-7:00am  Free Time (Leaders: Set up your Rooms!)

            Youth Room-  Music, Coffee, Food

            Sanctuary-  Bounce Houses

            Room 101-  Movie and Popcorn- Napoleon Dynamite 

            Castle Room-  Profile Pics

            Room 103 -  X-Box, Wii, Boardgames

7:00am  Parent Pick-up

4am Diagnosis

So I woke up at 3:55am this morning and could not go back to be for the life of me!!!  I tried and tried, but my ear was hurting so badly.  I have yet to see the antibiotics kick in.  Since I couldn't catch any z's I decided to research my symptoms.  My findings were as follows:

• My Parotid gland is swollen
• My ear hurts and itches
• Other glands surrounding my ear are inflamed 

What does this all equal?  Otitis externa?  Check wikipedia...

Otitis externa ("swimmer's ear") is an inflammation of the outer ear and ear canal. Along with otitis media, external otitis is one of the two human conditions commonly called "earache". It also occurs in many other species. Inflammation of the skin of the ear canal is the essence of this disorder. The inflammation can be secondary to dermatitis (eczema) only, with no microbial infection, or it can be caused by active bacterial or fungal infection. In either case, but more often with infection, the ear canal skin swells and may become painful and/or tender to touch.

Let The Countdown Begin...

2 months (exactly) until our wedding!

January 10, 2009

Here I go...

This week was a long and crazy week, filled with discouragement and amazing encouragement.  It was as if God was challenging me and testing me, but he always blessed me with great things.  Anyway, I am leaving right now for San Diego with my dad and brothers.  We're just staying one night.  Hopefully I can get some work done too.  I am writing student leader retreat curriculum for spring, working on Sunday's sermon, and trying to figure out stuff for our All-Nighter Nov. 15.  (P.S.- Let me know if you want to help out!  We need as many volunteers as we can get!!!)