Closure

I have yet to really address my departure from Malibu. First of all was the departure of my very good friend Andy Thompson. He was my garbage man and a summer staffer during third session. Andy was the guy I referred to in earlier blogs as the guy I really started to hit it off with. In short, our friendship grew deeper and stronger as the session went on and as the goodbye came around it was evident it was going to be hard for us both.

As the summer staff is beginning to board Andy calls me away from the crowds of people to get one last chance for just the two of us to say our fair wells. As we get away we both just start sobbing. We realize that with Andy heading off to South Carolina that we don't know when the next time we will see each other. It is weird when you really can't say any words but hug each other and know deep down that this was/is a cool experience and friendship.

Three days later the day came in which I had to pack up all my things and leave Malibu for who knows how long. As I hug everyone and step on the Laker(water taxi) I realize once again that Malibu goodbyes are the worst things ever. One, you have to leave a place that you have grown in Christ and with others.. oh and not to mention its the most beautiful place on Earth. Two, when you travel by boat your boat takes off soooooo slow that you are literally waving and crying at your friends for a good 10 minutes.

Overall, my adventures in Malibu have been very worthwhile. I learned so much and I have no regrets going away. I just know one thing, the summer flew. As many people ask, what are my thoughts about heading back next year? I have no idea. My plans are in God's hands. I really don't have any jurisdiction anymore.

Run

"Run" from Resonate Church on Vimeo.

Run: A Response from Resonate Church on Vimeo.

"Surrender" from Resonate Church on Vimeo.

Dreaming Big

Dreams. A man who helped change the United States once started off a speech with “I had a dream…” A dream is what changes the world. One day someone had a dream to fly. One day someone had a dream to reach the unreached teenagers of the United States (Young Life). It takes one idea, one thought, one movement to go through with your dream. There are far too many people in this world secular or Christian that never follows through with their dreams or passions. If your heart is aligned with the Lord then your dream should be one that follows what He wants with you. But if the Lord gave you a dream would you follow it? Would you really go for it? Would you leave the country?

Can a dream be too big? The question isn’t the size of the dream but if you think the God of the universe is as big as you the bible says He is then no dream is too big for Him. There is nothing that the Lord cannot do. In Philippians 4:13 it says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The Lord has the power to do immeasurably more than any of us can imagine. In Ephesians 3:20 it says Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. So are there dreams that are too big? No way! Something that I have been thinking about is how we shy away from praying big prayers. We pray for things that in our eyes can be accomplished. Why aren't we praying big prayers? Isn't that kind of insulting to the God of the entire universe? I don't think God enjoys us putting Him in a box. I think He wants us to dream. He wants us to pray BIG prayers.

Some might oberve someone else's dream as stupid or too big. But something that I have been learning is that what we are being told by the Lord might not make sense to others. I once quoted Crazy Love "If our lives make sense to unbelievers then something is wrong." But I would go further into saying that sometimes our lives won't make sense to even fellow believers. That the things that God might be calling us to do might not make any sense but it is what God wants so you do it. So what I pray is that fellow believers would understand that it is between that person and the Lord. That this dream might not make sense but that you must trust in the Lord that it is the plan that He wants for that person. Who are we to judge what God has told another person? Trust in God. Listen to Him and worry about what He wants you to do and trust He has it under control with others. He works in mysterious ways, don't underestimate Him.

I am back

It felt so great to be back in camp. Seeing the summer staff that I left but most importantly my second family in the property staff here at Malibu. They all welcomed me with hugs. It was awesome to hear what was happening in camp while I was gone.

As my time here is winding down, I have lined up some things that I want to accomplish. Updates will be posted on here eventually...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gb7n9B_8m8

Just check out this video

Week out for the wedding

Well I left camp.. Crazy I know. It had been since May 11th that I had seen the great city of Kennewick, WA but more importantly my parents. I missed them so much so it was great to come home. But while I was home I had the honor of being a part of two dear friend's wedding. Cameron Fancher and Cassandra Paeschke. They were both friends of mine growing up and the graciously selected me to be a groomsman. Well it just so turned out that this wedding party included our friend group from high school. In short, it was a solid and may I add good looking group of young adults.

After spending about three days with my parents I jetted off to Spokane where the wedding would take place. That night we had the rehearsal followed by the rehearsal dinner. This night just gave me a taste of the excitement that I was about to have the following day...



To get the wedding day started the groomsmen plus Cam met up in his hotel room to get our stuff on. After that we met up with the ladies at the wedding spot. Before we started off to take pictures I was able to watch the all important first viewing of the groom and his bride. It was a heartfelt time for the wedding party as we saw our two great friends see each other and then exchange their vows with one another. It was an honor to watch. I have to be honest I was holding tears back.

The next thing we did was take photos.. Hopefully I can throw some up on here but either way I can say that pictures were fun.

The wedding ceremony was amazing. With friends and family there and the beautiful weather that we were blessed with we had quite the show. While watching this beautiful occasion and witnessing two amazing friends come together it really made me think about what a gift marriage is to us all.

God gave us this covenant we call marriage. And this covenant has been destroyed. Destroyed by divorce but alas there are those who stand firm to the believe that it is until death do us part. A covenant is an agreement that involves promises and commitments. The Bible describes the marriage as a spiritual covenant that is just as binding, and just as sacred, as the covenant that God has made with His people. A fact that many fail to realize is though it is a man and a woman that make the commitment to be married, they are joined in that commitment, bound in that covenant relationship, by God. Our Creator instituted marriage from the beginning and only He has the authority to bind, or say what does and does not break that covenant. Jesus declared, "..What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate" (Matt. 19:6). A marriage covenant involves more than an individual, their spouse, and the law of the land; it involves God and the covenant that He has bound when a man and woman vow their commitment before Him. The only One who has the authority to declare what is a legitimate reason to break that covenant is the one who bound it, and that is God.

There are three things that make up a covenant the promise, the sign, and the seal. In marriage the promise is to married to this other person for the rest of their lives. The sign is the ring of course which is the physical showing of the promise that has been made. And the seal of marriage is sexual intercourse. The seal of sex for marriage kind of gives the whole saving sex until marriage a whole new meaning because it is the seal to the promise that two people have for one another, the seal to marriage.

My dad came up to me after the wedding and asked if I felt any pressure to get married because of being a part of the wedding and all. I would be lying if I didn't start thinking about how cool it will be for me on that special day. But as far as pressure, I am not too worried. It is all in God's hands.

The three amigos at the rehearsal dinner: Noah, Kevin and I

Another Start

A second session came to a close and once again transitions in Young Life are hard. We literally watch a group of fellow believers leave who we have just spent a month of pouring into and learning from, and say hello to a new group of excited friends who we need to be just as excited about getting to know. The two groups basically just trade spots on the Princess as they arrive and leave. But within this heart break of trying to adjust to a new group the Lord has blessed getting to know these wonderful new people.

Within three days I started to bond with one of my summer staff on ODC. He and I just felt a really quick connection with one another that just took off. Within 72 hours of knowing each other he found out that I would be going home for a week during his session. His comment was something like this, "What am I going to do for a week?" And after about 96 hours him and I were sharing one on one conversations about doubting and how the Lord can teach us so many things. I can just tell that this is a relationship that has been appointed by the Holy Spirit. I just pray that the Spirit leads me in it.

Tonight I started to chat with these two girls on summer staff regarding the book Forgotten God and the mainly the Holy Spirit. It was another conversation that was totally annointed by the Holy Spirit. We talked about how the Holy Spirit is working in us and let me tell you it was awesome. I am just excited to see what different conversations I have with them throughout this month.

Kramer and I got our Erasing Hell books from the store the other day. We are stoked to read them. We are trying to see if some of the other interns would be interested in reading it with us. I would love to make it into a sort of Bible study. When I read the first line of the introduction it said something like this, "If you are excited to read this book you have issues." That kind of made me rethink my motives in reading this book. For some reason.. still excited but maybe I am not all that excited in the news that I will hear I suppose.

Tomorrow is my day off. I expect the Holy Spirit to turn my head and make me have intentional time with Him. We need to expect God to show up because if we don't then what is faith really... because last time I checked the Bible it says

"Faith is being sure of what we Hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Lets be sure and certain and expectantly looking for God to show you something. If we don't we are just putting God in a carrying bag that we just like to pull out whenever He is convenient. Whenever we want Him to show up then we will ask Him and really believe, only when you really want to see Him. What we need to do is constantly be in touch with what God wants us to do and look for and see. We need to expect Him to be there... ALWAYS.

Joy and Peace

Intern fun nights are definitely highlights for the each week. This past intern fun night was CRAZY. We decided to try to do as many things in camp in one night. One of the coolest things about the intern fun nights is that they are always a surprise for the interns except for those that plan them(me, cody, emma, and katie). So the night began with all the interns running through the ropes course. We then got them together and told them to follow us as we ran them through the obstacle course. So as we are muddy and wet and starting to get cold we lead the group to the outer dock. As we arrive we tell the group that we are going to go night zip lining into the inlet. And the night doesn't end there... We then run into the camp and jump into the 80 degree pool to warm up a little. After we get out we head over to Hamiltons for some coffee and cocoa. Needless to say it was a solid night.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy. Romans 15:13

So lately I have been going through every verse that Forgotten God mentioned in one chapter of the book regarding the Holy Spirit. When this one popped up the other day I knew God really wanted me to focus on it. I love that the Holy Spirit will overflow hope which fills us with peace and joy. If we stay in touch with the Holy Spirit and trust in its leading then joy and peace won't be something we have to learn or try to have. It will be natural for us.