Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Whether or not you know it, you have most likely seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt [Inception, (500) Days of Summer, 10 Things I Hate About You, Third Rock From The Sun, etc etc etc]. Let me just say, I love him. [And I've called eternal dibs. So there.]

Whether he's dancing with a cartoon bird:



Or fighting some bad guy in zero gravity while wearing a super fly suit [Not to mention when he's smiling while flipping in the van.]:

This one couldn't be embedded so you'll just have to watch it on your own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEbMBSGV-VA&feature=related

Yes, now you remember. You love him too. But remember, I already called eternal dibs.

Half-Marathon Training

I have these friends, Paul and Sarah, and they're basically the best thing since sliced bread. Well, they [along with Paul's sister, Amber, who is also pretty stinkin awesome] are training for a marathon and are excellent at making me wish I was an awesome runner too. So, now I'm going to train for a half-marathon. Once I get back to Texas I will start training [because it's warmer and I can actually breathe while running] using this training schedule because it's the only one I found that looks doable for me.

I am not a great runner, so I will be so excited if I get better! I decided to write about it on here because that way I will be held accountable for my running. So please, please, please ask me how I'm doing and I'll write on here about my progression.

Bonus: Once I run 5 miles consecutively, I will have completed #1 on my 101 in 1001 list!

On Singleness

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

I've come to the point [finally] where I see singleness as a blessing. It has taken me a very long time to let God soften my heart toward this. I thought that if I softened my resolve on wanting to have a relationship or wanting a husband ASAP, that God would take those things away from me. [Sigh.] I am so dumb.

He knows what will make me most satisfied: Himself. By keeping from me the things I thought I wanted, He has shown me Himself, the thing my heart truly desires.

And wait, there's more! [And you didn't think it could get better, right?] By allowing me to be single, God has given me a world of opportunities for His fame and for my joy. If I had been married, I would not have been able to pack up everything and move to Texas to meet the people who would point me to the person of Christ. I would not have so many possibilities for this summer. I mean, if it is His will, I can literally go to the ends of the earth this summer, which would not only be so cool, but would also bring Him glory!

This is not to say that I never want to be married, but I am so thankful to God that He has given me this time to enjoy Him and use my whole self for His work!

BASIC.Holy Spirit

Francis Chan talks about the power of the Holy Spirit and the way the church does not use the Holy Spirit's supernatural ability. How can we make our church like the Acts church?

[Wow, that is large]



For more information and trailers of the BASIC series, go to http://basicseries.com/

Picture Post

Though you may have seen many of these on facebook, I wanted to post some pictures from the last few weeks. These few weeks have been the busiest since I've been here but I have gotten to know the students so much more and I am so thankful that God has given me this time to spend with them.

Two weeks ago, we had our Bibleville performance which went really well and was super fun. This is Andrew. He and I do "Word of the Day" every day at school.

This is Andy. We do excellent basketball commentary since I am clearly a basketball expert. My key words are: Rally, Zone Defense, Man-On-Man, Set A Screen. He also happens to be the most photogenic person I have ever met.

This is Alma. She's our only senior girl and I just love this picture of her. She played a flapper in the play.

These are the thugs (Josh and Andrew) trying to take the victim's (Benjy) money. He offers them a chicken, of course.

Oh. My. Lanta. This is my favorite part of the play. Evelyn (Rachel) comes to bail Harvey (Nate) out of jail. Then Harvey points the gun at the jail keeper (Memo) and then they have a laugh because it was a fake threat.

Bubba (Tim) watching Detective Doyle (Gabe) use the flavor detector.

We have also had lots of basketball games lately. I looooove going to the games! Esli is the girl with the ball. The girl behind her is Mary.

Our soccer team!

On Wednesday we had a thanksgiving service instead of our usual chapel. Between songs the students got up in front and gave testimonies of the things that God has been doing in their lives, stories of their salvation experiences, and the way God has used struggles to bring change in them and glory to Himself. It was great to hear where they had come from and how God is working in and through them.

On a lighter note

We love slow days at work and we love Mrs. Lopez's new window!

My Decision and My Reasoning

"All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16

I told my friends that I would make an official decision today (November 19th) about whether I would be coming home for good in December or I would stay in Texas for another semester. I thought it would be best if I wrote everything out so they—and you—can know my heart and know that I have not made this decision lightly. In fact, for about two months, the decision making process had consumed me. And that, my friends, is where the problem began.

‎"We focus our energies on telling God exactly what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. In fact, we repeat ourselves over and over again just to make sure God didn't miss any of the important details. But what if, instead of spending all our energy making plans for God, we spent that energy seeking God?" - Mark Batterson

This was me. Somewhere in my crazy head, I had made myself think that I was deciding on the rest of my life and that if I stayed I would never get to go home again. [That is ridiculous! Committing one year to this ministry does not mean that I can never go home again.] So I pleaded with God constantly that He would let me go home and I kept trying to find reasons that would “influence” his decision—and they are great excuses. I want to start a ministry in town. I want to start a non-profit that would provide aid in Africa, India, somewhere. I want to be a direct influence on my brother's lives. I want to work with the kids in the Heritage youth group. I want to be in community with the College and TwentySomethings again. There are things I've learned here that I want so badly to take back and share with the people at home and model my life after the lives of people at MCA back home in Johnson City.

But I still have more to learn. I can still start a ministry in June. I can still start a non-profit that will provide aid to foreign nations in God's timing. I can influence my brother's lives by staying in Texas because they will see me giving up what I want to do what God wants. I can still work with the kids at Heritage in June, but until then I can love the students here fiercely so they have no doubts that they are loved not only by me, but also by an Almighty God who wants them to love Him. I can still be in community with the College and TwentySomethings in June, but until then I can devote myself to the people God has placed me with now by serving them in every way possible and treating them like Christ would treat them. God will still work in the lives of the people in Johnson City whether or not I am there.

I've also been reading about making an influence on further generations. Telling my kids that I tried out the mission field, missed home, and left would not be the kind of influence I want to have on my future family. I want to be able to tell them that I did all, gave all, for the glory of God and not for myself because I want my future children to remember that and live their lives in the same way.

I am growing spiritually here more than I ever have before. Before I knew a lot about God and about being a Christian and I did love God; but now, now I cherish Christ in a way that I never even knew was possible. I actually love the person of Christ, His characteristics, His sacrifice, and His plan. My heart has been softened to Him and His word. Before I was rarely moved by the Word; now, I am brought to tears by the way He rescued my in my wickedness and gave me the greatest gift of all: Himself.

Friends at home: I am so thankful for you. My love for you has grown even more by being separated from you. I cannot wait to see you over Christmas break and I do hope that God will give me the opportunity to live in community with you again. Until then, I will pray for you and think of you always in eager anticipation to see you again soon.



“For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” - Philippians 4:11

Paul was in prison; I'm just in Texas.



In Christ—who has saved me from death.