So this last week has been great. A lot of thinking and a lot of alone time with Christ. We didn't have a camp here at all so all of us here on the property just did random tasks and projects to help prepare for first session to arrive. This past week I have basically done everything there is to do at camp as far as jobs. For landscape/maintenance I did the usual fix-it stuff, watered flowers, dug a ditch, and mowed some grass. I helped out in the kitchen with helping with food preparation but also doing the pits every night for cleaning up for the day. In the house keeping department I went through and helped clean up Kenata(brand new assignment team housing) for the Pastor's camp that just arrived yesterday. I would also say I was a little a part of the harbor team as I learned how to drive the lifetimer boats and the HURRICANE! Let's just say I am a natural. Emily one of my fellow interns told me I was the best driver she has ever taught so that was super cool.
These thoughts are gonna be random order and just things that have been going on this week and such...
-bioluminescence in the water here at Malibu is so cool. So when it is night the water literally sparkles from this algae that is somehow reacts creating almost like a lightening bugs in the water.
-Sitting on docks and just sitting there at night is what it is all about.. nuff said
-Started reading Crazy Love(a book).. so far it is really interesting
-Psalm 19:1-4
-So here at Malibu it is tradition that every week the interns/property staff take on the summer staff in hockey. Lately we have been able to play a little. The first week I played goalie and surprised everyone including me, my guess is that is was mostly from being a catcher in baseball. Yesterday when we played i decided that i wanted to run around and play, and apparently I am Wayne Gretzky. I had a hat trick(3 goals) and an assist. Lets just say I am looking forward to hockey this summer.
-Geese are the devil.. they poop on our yards and won't go away.. Campers please come soon so the geese will perish. I was on poop patrol with colton and pip yesterday
-All the guy interns here are great.. we seriously feed off of each others humor and we just laugh and have a good time every night
-Climbed up inspiration point twice this week. It is a view point of the whole camp and it is beautiful.
God has called me to this place. I know that I am supposed to be here rather than anywhere else. It is weird how God works and the way he works through others. The bonds that I have gained already through this experience are ones that will be hard to break. I was sitting on the dock with Colton just having a chat about life when I realized that him and I are so close yet I barely know a thing about his life. It doesn't take much for two people to bond when the only commonality that you know is your love for Christ.
To fear God.. this is something that I don't think I have thought of that seriously. I have always thought of God as a buddy.. something safe when the realization is that He is everything but safe. He is gonna make you risk some things. He is going to challenge you. He might make you go where you would never want to go. What does it mean to fear? God is big.. TOO BIG for us to even think about comprehending. He has created things more massive and beyond us, yet he cares and loves us more than anything else. His POWER is unlimited. Why fear him? Because he is POWER. Let this fear drive you.
Looking at these mountains and the creation that God has blessed me with brings me back to something my friend Zac Slay once said. He said look at those mountains.. wow aren't they beautiful? Whats more beautiful then those mountains? And really at this point you really don't know how to answer it but the answer is you. Jesus didn't come down from heaven to die for those mountains.. He came for you.. because He loves you. You could wake up tomorrow.. lose your belief, curse God, run away and commit unspeakable crimes but guess what God still loves you. You could wake up everyday seeking God's face by prayer and getting into the word and doing "good" things but it doesnt matter because Christ loves you the same. His love is constant.. limitless.. and patient. It is all up to you to realize the love He has for you because whether you believe it or not, it has been there all along, it just took you some time to find it.
Just remember you are LOVED
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. -1 Thessalonians 2:8
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
NEWS: From Malibu
Hey guys!
So after all I won't be able to update my blog near as much as I had hoped. It turns out that the Malibu internet isnt near as accessible as I had anticipated. So hopefully I will be able to update y'all weekly on my day off. Another bummer is they won't allow us to upload any pictures or videos so these blogs will seem pretty plain but I hope you all can still enjoy it. So let me catch you up on what is going on in my neck of the woods...
So the travel there was quite the process after all... Addie(another intern) and I traveled from Kennewick to Seattle on Sunday(5/9).. We ended up getting to Seattle much later than I had hoped and by the time I had dropped Addie off at her friends I was looking at arriving at Lauren Lavergne's house at 11 pm.. When arriving Lauren's family welcomed me with open arms.. they are the nicest people. Her father David then tried helping me figure out traveling details for the following day to get to Malibu. He helped tremendously.
The next morning I met up with Addie and we left Seattle around 7 am.. We got stopped at the border and had to get out of the car and get interviewed by the border patrol.. they probably asked us 30 times if we were getting paid this summer which we had to kind of lie and say that we weren't. Realistically we are getting gifted the money for our hard work.. we don't have wages so I would say we were just bending the truth a little.
Once we got across the border we ended up meeting up with some of the fellow interns at the first ferry. That is where I met Pip, Stephfan, and well I already knew Shawn. As we boarded the ferry, we sat around chatting with each other briefly about who we were and where we came from. As we got off the ferry we realized that we were gonna be pressed with time in arriving at Egmont, I instantly turned into a rally car driver. On the way there Addie and I listened to "Outsiders" by Needtobreathe probably around 6 times. We were rocking out! I was so excited.
At the Egmont landing I met other property staff such as Harold the main man in charge and of course another intern who i consider to pretty much to be on staff there and that is David Wood. David turns out to be a guy that both Noah and Kevin got to work with last summer and he is awesome. He is 27 but the age difference really isn't that bad.
When I arrive at Malibu I see my boss.. the man himself Gil! He is a bearded man kind of larger but with a kind of lighter voice that I recognized from my phone interview. I move into my room and Pip and I decided to share a room together. At our first meal I look around and realize that I am 1 of 15 total people at Malibu.. It was crazy.. But I LOVED it.
The first morning I wake up and watch as Pip a larger fellow tries to get off the top bunk.. He explains to me that it has always been tough for him to get off top bunks because he has bad ankles.. at this point we hear wood cracking and with a slight boom the bunk bed collapses.. Thank the Lord I wasn't under there.
I can't really describe my job totally to you yet because I am still trying to figure it out still. The first day I planted a bunch of flowers and watered, but since then I will go ahead and let you know everything I have learned:
After the mens camp left I was able to to just rest up a little bit and bond with the other interns. Last night we had a get together at one of the property staff guys house named Matt Sear. His family is darling and I love hanging with his kids. But anways, all of us interns got together and watched a movie and then had a super sick jam session. Colton the sound tech intern who came in with the the mens camp just jams on the guitar. I watched as he picked up and figured out how to play a bunch of songs including some needtobreathe. Colton and I have really started to bond a bunch already. We get along really well and laugh together.
Today on my day off I had a quiet time at the dock and just sat and took in the beauty that is here. This place never gets old to look at. I really believe that is a taste of heaven. I love it. After my quiet I saw with Colton and we just talked about life.. most specifically marriage and stuff it was cool. I am really excited for that the summer has in store. Praise the Lord for this opportunity. Well until I have time to write again.. Keep me in your prayers!
So after all I won't be able to update my blog near as much as I had hoped. It turns out that the Malibu internet isnt near as accessible as I had anticipated. So hopefully I will be able to update y'all weekly on my day off. Another bummer is they won't allow us to upload any pictures or videos so these blogs will seem pretty plain but I hope you all can still enjoy it. So let me catch you up on what is going on in my neck of the woods...
So the travel there was quite the process after all... Addie(another intern) and I traveled from Kennewick to Seattle on Sunday(5/9).. We ended up getting to Seattle much later than I had hoped and by the time I had dropped Addie off at her friends I was looking at arriving at Lauren Lavergne's house at 11 pm.. When arriving Lauren's family welcomed me with open arms.. they are the nicest people. Her father David then tried helping me figure out traveling details for the following day to get to Malibu. He helped tremendously.
The next morning I met up with Addie and we left Seattle around 7 am.. We got stopped at the border and had to get out of the car and get interviewed by the border patrol.. they probably asked us 30 times if we were getting paid this summer which we had to kind of lie and say that we weren't. Realistically we are getting gifted the money for our hard work.. we don't have wages so I would say we were just bending the truth a little.
Once we got across the border we ended up meeting up with some of the fellow interns at the first ferry. That is where I met Pip, Stephfan, and well I already knew Shawn. As we boarded the ferry, we sat around chatting with each other briefly about who we were and where we came from. As we got off the ferry we realized that we were gonna be pressed with time in arriving at Egmont, I instantly turned into a rally car driver. On the way there Addie and I listened to "Outsiders" by Needtobreathe probably around 6 times. We were rocking out! I was so excited.
At the Egmont landing I met other property staff such as Harold the main man in charge and of course another intern who i consider to pretty much to be on staff there and that is David Wood. David turns out to be a guy that both Noah and Kevin got to work with last summer and he is awesome. He is 27 but the age difference really isn't that bad.
When I arrive at Malibu I see my boss.. the man himself Gil! He is a bearded man kind of larger but with a kind of lighter voice that I recognized from my phone interview. I move into my room and Pip and I decided to share a room together. At our first meal I look around and realize that I am 1 of 15 total people at Malibu.. It was crazy.. But I LOVED it.
The first morning I wake up and watch as Pip a larger fellow tries to get off the top bunk.. He explains to me that it has always been tough for him to get off top bunks because he has bad ankles.. at this point we hear wood cracking and with a slight boom the bunk bed collapses.. Thank the Lord I wasn't under there.
I can't really describe my job totally to you yet because I am still trying to figure it out still. The first day I planted a bunch of flowers and watered, but since then I will go ahead and let you know everything I have learned:
- How to turn on the Hydro(powerhouse which runs camp), and how to turn on the emergency generators
- How to burn garbage with the incinerators
- Replaced a sink tap
- Replaced a bunch of light bulbs
- Worked on some showers
- Replaced a toilet
- And much more...
After the mens camp left I was able to to just rest up a little bit and bond with the other interns. Last night we had a get together at one of the property staff guys house named Matt Sear. His family is darling and I love hanging with his kids. But anways, all of us interns got together and watched a movie and then had a super sick jam session. Colton the sound tech intern who came in with the the mens camp just jams on the guitar. I watched as he picked up and figured out how to play a bunch of songs including some needtobreathe. Colton and I have really started to bond a bunch already. We get along really well and laugh together.
Today on my day off I had a quiet time at the dock and just sat and took in the beauty that is here. This place never gets old to look at. I really believe that is a taste of heaven. I love it. After my quiet I saw with Colton and we just talked about life.. most specifically marriage and stuff it was cool. I am really excited for that the summer has in store. Praise the Lord for this opportunity. Well until I have time to write again.. Keep me in your prayers!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
It has been a long time coming...
Wow.. I have really slacked when it comes to writing these past two weeks. I really have no excuse. Life has been up and then down lately. I got a unpaid internship called "Coug Guys and Gals". It is pretty sweet. I get some free Wazzu gear and a free sports pass. All I really do is on football and basketball game days I talk with boosters for the school, as well as future students about the athletic department. It is really cool and I am excited about it. I als
o interviewed for a job at the student rec center but ended up not getting it. It was a real bummer but the lady said she recommended me for another job position so I get another interview with them tomorrow.
This past weekend I got the chance to go on a camping trip with all the guys in the Nu House. It was a trip that was way over due. It was a great time of guy stuff. We sat around and camped in a Farrugut State park. It was great. Made all of our food on the fire and sat around and smoked some stogies and pipes while talking about Jesus. It was awesome.
Our last Young Life club was great. It ended with a bang! We had about 75 students there. I am really excited for what God has in store for next year. The excitement for next year is gonna make college young life huge! Here is a pic of some of us before club... How many Young Life leaders does it take to figure out a power point?
This last week I had some great times with Jesus. Over the camping trip we had about 30 minutes on our own and it was great. We talked about a trio of verses that I have read a bunch of times but I hadn't looked at them as much as I did that day.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul?" Matthew 16:24-26
When it says deny yourself, it really makes me think of the areas in my life that I still hang on to, that I haven't given fully to God still. When God says take up your cross I think he wants us to think about what Jesus did for us and how he carried that cross for us. He wants us to be like Jesus and carry all the brokeness, and heartache and just give it up to him. God wants us to lose our lives for his sake. He wants us to give him love...
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
If we don't fully sacrifice ourselves to God as Jesus did for us, we will never experience what God really intends for us. We will never experience what Love and Life is.
Those three verses in Matthew are just filled with stuff that you can chew on for a while. The word is active and alive that is for sure!
o interviewed for a job at the student rec center but ended up not getting it. It was a real bummer but the lady said she recommended me for another job position so I get another interview with them tomorrow.This past weekend I got the chance to go on a camping trip with all the guys in the Nu House. It was a trip that was way over due. It was a great time of guy stuff. We sat around and camped in a Farrugut State park. It was great. Made all of our food on the fire and sat around and smoked some stogies and pipes while talking about Jesus. It was awesome.
Our last Young Life club was great. It ended with a bang! We had about 75 students there. I am really excited for what God has in store for next year. The excitement for next year is gonna make college young life huge! Here is a pic of some of us before club... How many Young Life leaders does it take to figure out a power point?
This last week I had some great times with Jesus. Over the camping trip we had about 30 minutes on our own and it was great. We talked about a trio of verses that I have read a bunch of times but I hadn't looked at them as much as I did that day.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul?" Matthew 16:24-26
When it says deny yourself, it really makes me think of the areas in my life that I still hang on to, that I haven't given fully to God still. When God says take up your cross I think he wants us to think about what Jesus did for us and how he carried that cross for us. He wants us to be like Jesus and carry all the brokeness, and heartache and just give it up to him. God wants us to lose our lives for his sake. He wants us to give him love...
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
If we don't fully sacrifice ourselves to God as Jesus did for us, we will never experience what God really intends for us. We will never experience what Love and Life is.
Those three verses in Matthew are just filled with stuff that you can chew on for a while. The word is active and alive that is for sure!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
He is Risen!!
Easter was something that some people celebrate only once a year. What does Easter generally consist of? Once a year church visit, brunch, Easter egg baskets.. searching for eggs? a bunny? Easter is a celebration of what God did on the cross for us. It is a time for us to realize that Jesus not only died but also rose for us... for us. He died so that we could have eternal life.. not Easter life.. not temporary life.. eternal. Now that is something that deserves more than just a day of recognition, it deserves a lifetime.
This video has been something that I have gone back to a bunch lately. It reminds me of what Jesus was.. and is.. and is to come.
I have been able to read through the book Sex God by Rob Bell. I really like it. It is about the link between sexuality and Christianity. It is very interesting. In one of the chapters it talks about what love is. It says that love is a risk. Love is putting yourself out there not knowing what the response will be. God is risking His love for us everyday because God gave us a choice. He said we can either love Him back or not. Can you believe that heartache that God must feel everyday because of the way we betray and throw away His love. God gave His one and only Perfect son for us, and we just turn away.
In church the pastor mentioned how in the Bible it says that Light was made before the sun. Read it, its in Genesis. It made me think more into what light really is. Light is more than just what the sun gives off.. its something that we need. We literally receive vitamins from being in the light. The suicide rate in Seattle(always overcast, no light) is much higher than other areas because we need light. God made us to need light. But it doesn't stop there... the light is where God is. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. -Matthew 5:13. God wants us to be a light but also wants to be in His light. We can be a light to one another.
Sometimes the simple things make the most sense.
This video has been something that I have gone back to a bunch lately. It reminds me of what Jesus was.. and is.. and is to come.
I have been able to read through the book Sex God by Rob Bell. I really like it. It is about the link between sexuality and Christianity. It is very interesting. In one of the chapters it talks about what love is. It says that love is a risk. Love is putting yourself out there not knowing what the response will be. God is risking His love for us everyday because God gave us a choice. He said we can either love Him back or not. Can you believe that heartache that God must feel everyday because of the way we betray and throw away His love. God gave His one and only Perfect son for us, and we just turn away.
In church the pastor mentioned how in the Bible it says that Light was made before the sun. Read it, its in Genesis. It made me think more into what light really is. Light is more than just what the sun gives off.. its something that we need. We literally receive vitamins from being in the light. The suicide rate in Seattle(always overcast, no light) is much higher than other areas because we need light. God made us to need light. But it doesn't stop there... the light is where God is. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. -Matthew 5:13. God wants us to be a light but also wants to be in His light. We can be a light to one another.
Sometimes the simple things make the most sense.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wiped
So life as I know it has been a roller-coaster this last week. Last weekend was crazy busy but great. On Friday I got together with a bunch of guys and we had a man night. It was great just hanging with some guys and eating great food and playing some midnight frisbee. It was definitely a good night. The next night I actually went on a date dash. I kind of took one for the team because Andrew had a dat
e and needed a wing man. I went into it thinking it was going to be awkward but it ended up being awesome. I really enjoy getting my groove on.This week has been nuts. I had something every night until tonight. I had 3 exams this week and didn't know I was gonna do as bad as I did. I had two job interview type things this week as well. Last night there was club and it was great. We didn't have as many students as we wanted but the night was full of fun. Yesterday I was spending some time with Jesus reading through 1 John chapter 4. It really spoke to me. One of the verses that really stuck out to me was verse 18.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
In verse 16 it says that God is love. It makes me think. We are always afraid of love, and guess what.. most people are afraid of God too. Love comes from God. We are afraid of it all. So as I was thinking about how God is love I decided to take verse 18 and replace God with the word love.
"There is no fear in God. But our perfect God drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in God."
If we don't Trust in God, if we live in constant worry, we will never see what God has for our lives. If we don't live in love for each other and for God then we will never have a FULL life.
So, yesterday was april fools day and this is one of the pranks I pulled...
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Talk
So last night I had the honor to give the message at College Young Life Club. It was awesome. It went really well and I think I really got what God wanted me to say across. It would have been sweet to get more feedback from students in what they thought and I don't know just build conversation. One of things a definitely saw this week while preparing was the way prayer was working. I really don't know if I have prayed that much about something before. Not only was I praying but I was also asking others to pray for me whenever I got the opportunity. I know that because of bathing my talk in prayer it made it easy for me. God helped me come up with a focus that I was excited about and that would flow from me with ease and that is exactly what happened. I think by me lifting my message up it helped me understand that nothing could go wrong, that God was with me up there and I had nothing to worry about.
Tonight in my small group we focused on Matthew 11. I just want to highlight a part and share with you. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:28-30. First I just want to explain to those of you who don't know what a yoke is.. that thing on those oxen's necks.
It says in that scripture that we must take up His yoke. Now when I first heard this I knew what yoke meant but I didn't realize totally what He meant by it, until tonight. When you are in a yoke, there are usually two so when I read "take up His yoke," I am on one side and God is on the other. If I take up His yoke I will learn from Him because He is right next to me. It says that His yoke is easy, and I think it is easy because He has control of it. He has control of the weight. It isn't on my shoulders but His. You're problems are no longer yours but His. You can see from the picture that these two oxen are stuck together, they can't go opposite ways. This is what God is representing here. If you take up His yoke you will be going in the direction that the Lord wants you to go. He has the lead and all you have to do is follow.
Tonight in my small group we focused on Matthew 11. I just want to highlight a part and share with you. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:28-30. First I just want to explain to those of you who don't know what a yoke is.. that thing on those oxen's necks.
It says in that scripture that we must take up His yoke. Now when I first heard this I knew what yoke meant but I didn't realize totally what He meant by it, until tonight. When you are in a yoke, there are usually two so when I read "take up His yoke," I am on one side and God is on the other. If I take up His yoke I will learn from Him because He is right next to me. It says that His yoke is easy, and I think it is easy because He has control of it. He has control of the weight. It isn't on my shoulders but His. You're problems are no longer yours but His. You can see from the picture that these two oxen are stuck together, they can't go opposite ways. This is what God is representing here. If you take up His yoke you will be going in the direction that the Lord wants you to go. He has the lead and all you have to do is follow.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Holy Land
You know that feeling when you leave someplace you love? The empty stomach feeling, like you know you are missing it as soon as you leave? That's exactly what was happening to me today while I scaled my way out of Wildhorse Canyon(aka The Canyon, WaFaRa). I just spent a good 2 days in a place that I will never forget. The canyon will always have a special place in my heart. The best part of the mere 2 days that I was there was that I got to spend it with good friends that I don't get to see very often. These friendships are so special to me because God is the center of them. God intended us to share in relationships with others, sharing in the Love that He shows us everyday. He wants us to reciprocate that Love. I can't explain how these friendships grow so fast except that God is the reason why they happened.
While at the canyon I was able to share it with Andrew, one of my best friends. He had never been to Young Life camp before so while descending into the canyon I couldn't hold back my excitement for him. The first night the camp manager really said something that made sense. He said, "This is Holy ground. It isn't Holy because of the amount of money w
e have put into it, how cool it is, it's not holy because of the amount of work we do for it. It is Holy because every day during this summer leaders get show Christ's love to high schoolers". When I was leaving, it made me think more of this Holy ground. This ground is what God intended life to be. This is what God wants. There is a reason why I felt so uneasy in leaving. I was leaving a place, a world, in which God intended it to be like. God wanted us to all share our lives together with Him in the middle. That is why it is a Holy ground. You can feel the Love when you are there because it overflows.
This week I get the opportunity to share the message at our College Young Life club. I am so pumped. I am sharing John 8:1-11. My plan is to emphasize the Love that God has for us. I want the students to know that God knows us. He knows everything we do, or don't do and still doesn't condemn us. God's love is always flowing and that it has never stopped for us. God will Love us as much as He did yesterday, and the same as He will tomorrow no matter the circumstances. It is a unconditional love that won't stop. It will always be there. It is just up to us to see it. So hopefully the message and overall club will go well. Pray for me!
While at the canyon I was able to share it with Andrew, one of my best friends. He had never been to Young Life camp before so while descending into the canyon I couldn't hold back my excitement for him. The first night the camp manager really said something that made sense. He said, "This is Holy ground. It isn't Holy because of the amount of money w
e have put into it, how cool it is, it's not holy because of the amount of work we do for it. It is Holy because every day during this summer leaders get show Christ's love to high schoolers". When I was leaving, it made me think more of this Holy ground. This ground is what God intended life to be. This is what God wants. There is a reason why I felt so uneasy in leaving. I was leaving a place, a world, in which God intended it to be like. God wanted us to all share our lives together with Him in the middle. That is why it is a Holy ground. You can feel the Love when you are there because it overflows.This week I get the opportunity to share the message at our College Young Life club. I am so pumped. I am sharing John 8:1-11. My plan is to emphasize the Love that God has for us. I want the students to know that God knows us. He knows everything we do, or don't do and still doesn't condemn us. God's love is always flowing and that it has never stopped for us. God will Love us as much as He did yesterday, and the same as He will tomorrow no matter the circumstances. It is a unconditional love that won't stop. It will always be there. It is just up to us to see it. So hopefully the message and overall club will go well. Pray for me!
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