This will be my final informational post for this blog. Soon I will be creating a new one on a different hosting site, and will post one more time to let you all know where you can view it!
I am so grateful for all the ways that God has blessed me, to lead me to the place I am today. I truly feel like now is a time of harvest in my life, and there is hardly a greater feeling. I graduated from 24/7 in May, returned to Ohio to marry an incredible girl, and now that we are back in Greensboro, I'm employed at an amazing church with amazing leadership doing my dream job.
24/7 finished out well with few complications. Going through it was one of the best decisions of my life, intentionally putting myself out there, subject to situations through which I would need to persevere. Out of those situations arose a new self, and a renewing of my mind which I now see was necessary to move to the next point in my life that God wanted me to be at. Extra special thanks to Stephen, the cadre, all the first years, and the amazing staff at Daystar for the amazing leadership training I was provided.
What a fantastic feeling it is to be married to an amazing girl such as Kayla. She brings me so much joy and challenges me to be a better me. Daily she empowers me to look inward to reach to my full potential and encourages me to purify my heart. My life is different now that we are married, and so is our relationship, but in the best way we could imagine. We don't consider ourselves to have fallen victim to "Newlywed Syndrome", but now in our marriage, we have chosen to receive each other as God's perfect gift. We are truly blessed to have the marriage that we've been a part of for the past month, and we are eager to see what God has next for us. We have received an amazing amount of love and support from all of you and I'm so very grateful for it. You have made us feel so valuable, and we hope that we can reciprocate someday.
Working at Daystar so far has been an absolute blast. Working under the leadership of Eric Freeman (Worship Pastor) has been a better experience than I had previously imagined it would be. His leadership has been highly influential to my development in the past and continues to do so. I'm always being challenged to take a step beyond my "norm" so I can be better prepared for future situations and responsibilities. It's truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Daystar staff, and I'm so excited to see what the future brings. I'm so glad to dedicate my life to this ministry.
Thank you all for keeping up with my blog! There are times where I would have loved to write an entry and share, but the internship kept me plenty busy. I will keep you all posted on my next blog, which may be starting in the next couple months. Please allow me to conclude with a passage of scripture that has kept me going these past few months when all I wanted to do was give up.
ROMANS 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Alabama Missions
An opportunity to help with the disaster in Alabama has presented itself, and 24/7 will be headed down (even further) south to assist with this catastrophe. Please keep us in your prayers. We will be leaving Monday at 6am (May 2nd), and will be returning this Thursday evening (May 5th). Prayers for safety and endurance would be greatly important, but even more so, that we would be able to reach people in the name of Christ, and to show His love to those who have become victims of this disaster. Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers
When I get back, I will post a more informative entry to update you all on what's been happening since then.
When I get back, I will post a more informative entry to update you all on what's been happening since then.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
OH BOY!
PSALM 34:4-5
I sought the Lord, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
There is a lot of difficulty within the small task of BEGINNING this post because of the amount of things that have been happening since my last post in January. I'll try to make this as manageable as possible! So perhaps I'll slap some categories on this one! Thanks all for reading, I love you all so much.
24/7
Things have been busy as always with 24/7. This semester we have begun a new outreach project. There is a high school across the street from Daystar, Grimsley High School. Every Monday and Wednesday morning we head over there to open doors and greet students as they arrive at school for the day. It's a subtle gesture, but we believe that God can use it in powerful ways. We have also had the opportunity to help keep the grounds clean through trash cleanup and landscaping. I never thought I'd be able to say this, but I've had the chance to develop and deliver four sermons for our speech class. I would never imagine it would be something I would be interested in or passionate about, speaking in front of others. However, God has given me an eagerness to do this. It's been a joy and a pleasure! There is a lot of fulfillment in delivering the word of God to a group of people. That's something I've never done before! But God has been revealing some great things to me through it.
Recently, we've had the pleasure and honor of having a great man of God come speak to us as a class. His name is Dr. Bill Bennett, 80, mentor of pastor Allen, and President of Mentoring Men For The Master. He has such a rich history of evangelism and building up leaders to devote their lives to Jesus. His wife has recently passed away in October, and he is such an inspiration. What a blessing it was to hear his words of wisdom.
Workouts have been changing ever so slightly as we prepare to enter the triathalon in April. We have incorporated swimming, and I've been slowly adjusting to the different muscle groups that it entails. But goodness, it was hard to get used to! Breathing was where I really got caught up. But yesterday I swam 1800 yards (36 back & forth laps) freestyle. It was definitely a challenge, but I was glad I got through it! Trevor, a 2nd year student, instructs us on swimming and he is RIDICULOUS at swimming. Granted he has years of swimming under his belt, however it doesn't change the fact that he is AWESOME.
This weekend there is another event planned. Much like our Missions Training and Amazing Race. They call it Eco-Challenge. I believe it will be quite similar to the Amazing Race with the problem solving aspect mixed with physical endurance. But since the Amazing Race had an emphasis on problem solving, I am lead to believe that Eco-Challenge will have an emphasis on physical endurance. Hopefully it goes well!
CHURCH
Being involved at Daystar continues to be a blessing, and I'm learning more than I thought I could ever learn in a season. I've continued to lead the worship at Vert (high school ministry), and it has been a great experience and a true honor! The youth pastor, Seth Tanner, has been sharing his vision for Vert with me, and trying to align myself with that has been a healthy challenge for me. Not that our ideas clash, but learning to be sensitive to what God has put on Seth's heart for this group has been a new experience for me. I've really been enjoying taking on that responsibility.
CULTIVATE is Daystar's method for building up musicians who are interested on serving on the worship team. Every Thursday, they have a quick message to share with the students and then they break off into groups to enhance their skill & practice songs on their instrument. I've been given the privilege of not only taking on a secondary instructor role and providing percussion for their 2nd phase students, but I've been able to start a small group with four of the younger guys going through the program. We are holding our first small group session tonight at 5pm. I would love prayer for this small group to be successful in molding the hearts of these students, and shaping them into great young men of God.
I'd encourage you to visit Daystar's website to see what is happening there and who they are as a church. http://www.daystargso.com
You can also view a video montage of Daystar's baptism service and other videos at http://www.vimeo.com/daystargso
WEDDING
What a wonderful girl I have the privilege of marrying! With all I've been busy with, time has been going by SO quickly, but to be honest, it has not been going by quickly enough! The excitement for the wedding is building and Kayla and I can almost physically feel God working on our relationship as we grow closer to the big day (which I am happy to say is only 100 days away from today!) We have been spending each Saturday using the creative part of our brains to come up with unique and cost effective ideas to make invitations, escort cards, centerpieces, etc. It's been amazing to do this together and it's been such a blast! Our efforts are paying off, because we managed to complete our invitations this past week for only $98 total! That's about $0.62 per invitation! And thanks to our incredible volunteer help, they turned out very nice looking.
In a few short weeks, Kayla and I will begin to start up with regular pre-marital counseling sessions with the Brinkley family (Jason Brinkley will be officiating at the ceremony). Though we are just beginning our pre-marital sessions, the past 6 months have been a GIANT pre-marital counseling session for Kayla and I. Daystar just finished up a 4-week sermon series on Marriage, and we learned so much through that. There is no doubt in my mind that one of the main reasons God has placed me here in Greensboro, is so he could teach Kayla and I essential things through teachings and crisis moments, that if I had not moved down here, we would have gone into our marriage not knowing. It's amazing how you can see God's plan for you so clearly in hindsight. On March 17th and 18th Daystar is holding a marriage conference that Kayla and I have registered to attend. The opportunities for us to learn about marriage are plentiful and unique. We are so grateful for all of these great things that will lead us to have a strong and healthy marriage. As June 18th approaches our hearts continue to beat faster as we think about how God will bless our marriage, and how we will be able to bless God through our marriage. Though it's difficult to make ends meet, He is also still providing for us through spontaneous donations in time where we feel like we are not going to make it financially. And did I mention yet that God had blessed me with a job at a local restaurant on Fridays & Saturdays? All of my income from that job will be going towards the honeymoon and Kayla's wedding ring.
Well now that this is over, you can take a break until next time! ;-) I'm anxiously anticipating the arrival of my dad and brother this upcoming week. They have been planning to come, and were able to figure out a time to come. Also the following week, a friend and mentoree of mine, Kyle Kapps will be in the Charlotte area and I'll be bringing him to Greensboro to attend a Sunday morning service at Daystar. So needless to say, there are many things on the way for me to keep my mind off the slow approach to the wedding. And I'm greatly thankful for that! Goodbye lovely people!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Further provision for the wedding, that minimal financial trouble arises as we continue to save.
- That God would use Eco-Challenge this Fri/Sat to build the leadership skills of myself and my fellow students
- For a child at Kayla's elementary school who is going through some difficult family issues.
- For Joel, my host mother's nephew, who is going through some behavioral counseling. That he will show improvement and it will be lasting.
SONG FOR THE MOMENT: Hillsong - Yahweh
I sought the Lord, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
There is a lot of difficulty within the small task of BEGINNING this post because of the amount of things that have been happening since my last post in January. I'll try to make this as manageable as possible! So perhaps I'll slap some categories on this one! Thanks all for reading, I love you all so much.
24/7
Things have been busy as always with 24/7. This semester we have begun a new outreach project. There is a high school across the street from Daystar, Grimsley High School. Every Monday and Wednesday morning we head over there to open doors and greet students as they arrive at school for the day. It's a subtle gesture, but we believe that God can use it in powerful ways. We have also had the opportunity to help keep the grounds clean through trash cleanup and landscaping. I never thought I'd be able to say this, but I've had the chance to develop and deliver four sermons for our speech class. I would never imagine it would be something I would be interested in or passionate about, speaking in front of others. However, God has given me an eagerness to do this. It's been a joy and a pleasure! There is a lot of fulfillment in delivering the word of God to a group of people. That's something I've never done before! But God has been revealing some great things to me through it.
Recently, we've had the pleasure and honor of having a great man of God come speak to us as a class. His name is Dr. Bill Bennett, 80, mentor of pastor Allen, and President of Mentoring Men For The Master. He has such a rich history of evangelism and building up leaders to devote their lives to Jesus. His wife has recently passed away in October, and he is such an inspiration. What a blessing it was to hear his words of wisdom.
Workouts have been changing ever so slightly as we prepare to enter the triathalon in April. We have incorporated swimming, and I've been slowly adjusting to the different muscle groups that it entails. But goodness, it was hard to get used to! Breathing was where I really got caught up. But yesterday I swam 1800 yards (36 back & forth laps) freestyle. It was definitely a challenge, but I was glad I got through it! Trevor, a 2nd year student, instructs us on swimming and he is RIDICULOUS at swimming. Granted he has years of swimming under his belt, however it doesn't change the fact that he is AWESOME.
This weekend there is another event planned. Much like our Missions Training and Amazing Race. They call it Eco-Challenge. I believe it will be quite similar to the Amazing Race with the problem solving aspect mixed with physical endurance. But since the Amazing Race had an emphasis on problem solving, I am lead to believe that Eco-Challenge will have an emphasis on physical endurance. Hopefully it goes well!
CHURCH
Being involved at Daystar continues to be a blessing, and I'm learning more than I thought I could ever learn in a season. I've continued to lead the worship at Vert (high school ministry), and it has been a great experience and a true honor! The youth pastor, Seth Tanner, has been sharing his vision for Vert with me, and trying to align myself with that has been a healthy challenge for me. Not that our ideas clash, but learning to be sensitive to what God has put on Seth's heart for this group has been a new experience for me. I've really been enjoying taking on that responsibility.
CULTIVATE is Daystar's method for building up musicians who are interested on serving on the worship team. Every Thursday, they have a quick message to share with the students and then they break off into groups to enhance their skill & practice songs on their instrument. I've been given the privilege of not only taking on a secondary instructor role and providing percussion for their 2nd phase students, but I've been able to start a small group with four of the younger guys going through the program. We are holding our first small group session tonight at 5pm. I would love prayer for this small group to be successful in molding the hearts of these students, and shaping them into great young men of God.
I'd encourage you to visit Daystar's website to see what is happening there and who they are as a church. http://www.daystargso.com
You can also view a video montage of Daystar's baptism service and other videos at http://www.vimeo.com/daystargso
WEDDING
What a wonderful girl I have the privilege of marrying! With all I've been busy with, time has been going by SO quickly, but to be honest, it has not been going by quickly enough! The excitement for the wedding is building and Kayla and I can almost physically feel God working on our relationship as we grow closer to the big day (which I am happy to say is only 100 days away from today!) We have been spending each Saturday using the creative part of our brains to come up with unique and cost effective ideas to make invitations, escort cards, centerpieces, etc. It's been amazing to do this together and it's been such a blast! Our efforts are paying off, because we managed to complete our invitations this past week for only $98 total! That's about $0.62 per invitation! And thanks to our incredible volunteer help, they turned out very nice looking.
In a few short weeks, Kayla and I will begin to start up with regular pre-marital counseling sessions with the Brinkley family (Jason Brinkley will be officiating at the ceremony). Though we are just beginning our pre-marital sessions, the past 6 months have been a GIANT pre-marital counseling session for Kayla and I. Daystar just finished up a 4-week sermon series on Marriage, and we learned so much through that. There is no doubt in my mind that one of the main reasons God has placed me here in Greensboro, is so he could teach Kayla and I essential things through teachings and crisis moments, that if I had not moved down here, we would have gone into our marriage not knowing. It's amazing how you can see God's plan for you so clearly in hindsight. On March 17th and 18th Daystar is holding a marriage conference that Kayla and I have registered to attend. The opportunities for us to learn about marriage are plentiful and unique. We are so grateful for all of these great things that will lead us to have a strong and healthy marriage. As June 18th approaches our hearts continue to beat faster as we think about how God will bless our marriage, and how we will be able to bless God through our marriage. Though it's difficult to make ends meet, He is also still providing for us through spontaneous donations in time where we feel like we are not going to make it financially. And did I mention yet that God had blessed me with a job at a local restaurant on Fridays & Saturdays? All of my income from that job will be going towards the honeymoon and Kayla's wedding ring.
Well now that this is over, you can take a break until next time! ;-) I'm anxiously anticipating the arrival of my dad and brother this upcoming week. They have been planning to come, and were able to figure out a time to come. Also the following week, a friend and mentoree of mine, Kyle Kapps will be in the Charlotte area and I'll be bringing him to Greensboro to attend a Sunday morning service at Daystar. So needless to say, there are many things on the way for me to keep my mind off the slow approach to the wedding. And I'm greatly thankful for that! Goodbye lovely people!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Further provision for the wedding, that minimal financial trouble arises as we continue to save.
- That God would use Eco-Challenge this Fri/Sat to build the leadership skills of myself and my fellow students
- For a child at Kayla's elementary school who is going through some difficult family issues.
- For Joel, my host mother's nephew, who is going through some behavioral counseling. That he will show improvement and it will be lasting.
SONG FOR THE MOMENT: Hillsong - Yahweh
Monday, January 31, 2011
24/7 on DaystarGSO.com
Hello to all you lovely people.
As Daystar is rebranding, I wanted to bring to your attention that 24/7 has it's own section on Daystar's new website. Go to "Ministries" and then follow the links to 24/7. The new website has a lot of information on who Daystar really is as a church. Feel free to browse the website to have a better understanding to see deeper into Daystar's mission & vision. You can visit the website by clicking the link below, or by going to URL www.daystargso.com
Daystar Church
As Daystar is rebranding, I wanted to bring to your attention that 24/7 has it's own section on Daystar's new website. Go to "Ministries" and then follow the links to 24/7. The new website has a lot of information on who Daystar really is as a church. Feel free to browse the website to have a better understanding to see deeper into Daystar's mission & vision. You can visit the website by clicking the link below, or by going to URL www.daystargso.com
Daystar Church
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Fasting & Prayer
Well, the 21 days of fasting has concluded as of Saturday, and it would be an understatement to say that God has revealed things to me through it. I'd love to share a couple things with you that I have learned through this time.
First off, if you are a believer and have not gone through a period of fasting before, I highly urge you to take part in it because of the spiritual renewal that it can bring. The idea behind fasting is to starve our bodies and our minds of something that we normally crave, and to replace it with God (reading His word, prayer, etc.) The perspectives that I have gained through the fast will be a big part of my faith story.
One of the things I have learned is that our God is a god who keeps His promises. Through many experiences during this fast, the Lord has consistently reminded me that He has uniquely brought me to the place that I am in my life and He wouldn't have brought me here unless He was going to sustain me through it. An example of this started January 15th when some people met at DayStar for a prayer meeting:
I took that time to pray through the Lord's prayer, and I began to present my requests to the Lord when I reached "Give us this day our daily bread". I prayed for financial provision, as I was at the end of my rope as far as money went, and proclaiming my faith that He would provide. After the prayer meeting, 24/7 took part in an outreach project. I had gotten a ride with one of the other students. When we returned, our day was over and I was beginning to get in my car when I noticed a piece of paper sitting on my driver's seat. That piece of paper was a check for a substantial amount of money that would provide for my transportation cost for several months. HOW INCREDIBLE! I was extremely humbled by this act of generosity from one of my friends at church, who had also been fasting and present at the prayer meeting. When I confronted him to thank him, he said that he had been praying for Kayla and I that morning and that God laid it fully on his heart to write that check. He had no clue of my financial situation, and he was sensitive to the Spirit, listening from his heart. I'm honored by that man's obedience, and I'm even more amazed by the grace and provision of our Lord. And even when I got home later that night, I had received some mail. One of the pieces of mail was yet ANOTHER check from one of my cousins, intended to go towards the honeymoon fund that Kayla and I have been trying to build up. Yet another thing I was praying and fasting for provision over. What an amazing God we serve! I know that story sounds fake, but I can assure you that's what happened. Even though I sometimes have to double check (no pun intended) to make sure I wasn't just having vivid hopeful thoughts.
Another thing that the Lord has revealed to me is to constantly keep a mindset of fasting; being aware of our surrounding, what we are feeding our bodies & minds, and if it's the best thing for us. The fast has disciplined me to the point of realizing that television, movies, and Facebook are hardly necessary, and can consume much more time than we normally intend; that it's so easy to get enslaved by the craving of food to where we almost get to the point of worshipping food itself without realizing it. I've noticed that even some things that are considered healthy for us can consume our time to the point of neglecting what God has for us. Moderation is a fresh concept to me, and to most of us due to the culture we live in, but it's something I want to pursue so I don't overwhelm myself with what the world says, and that I can fully live into the will that God has for my life, in hopes that I may affect others.
I could go on and on, but I like to keep my posts semi-managable. If you take something away from this post, take away these three things:
-God keeps His promises to us.
-God is more than worthy of our attention and love, but we are not worthy of His. But it's by His grace that He can look upon us as His sons and daughters, our sins covered by Jesus' sacrifice. So be aware of where you spend your time, and ask yourself how much you actually spend with Him.
-Entering into a season of fasting will bring a lot of perspective into your life. God will use that time to reveal new things to you if you are intentional about focusing on Him within it.
As I wrap this up, I'd like to grace you with a promotional video for 24/7 Greensboro. It will give you a brief view into what it is that I have been so blessed to be a part of these past 5 months, and 4 months to come. Created by our very own...Trevor Brock!
First off, if you are a believer and have not gone through a period of fasting before, I highly urge you to take part in it because of the spiritual renewal that it can bring. The idea behind fasting is to starve our bodies and our minds of something that we normally crave, and to replace it with God (reading His word, prayer, etc.) The perspectives that I have gained through the fast will be a big part of my faith story.
One of the things I have learned is that our God is a god who keeps His promises. Through many experiences during this fast, the Lord has consistently reminded me that He has uniquely brought me to the place that I am in my life and He wouldn't have brought me here unless He was going to sustain me through it. An example of this started January 15th when some people met at DayStar for a prayer meeting:
I took that time to pray through the Lord's prayer, and I began to present my requests to the Lord when I reached "Give us this day our daily bread". I prayed for financial provision, as I was at the end of my rope as far as money went, and proclaiming my faith that He would provide. After the prayer meeting, 24/7 took part in an outreach project. I had gotten a ride with one of the other students. When we returned, our day was over and I was beginning to get in my car when I noticed a piece of paper sitting on my driver's seat. That piece of paper was a check for a substantial amount of money that would provide for my transportation cost for several months. HOW INCREDIBLE! I was extremely humbled by this act of generosity from one of my friends at church, who had also been fasting and present at the prayer meeting. When I confronted him to thank him, he said that he had been praying for Kayla and I that morning and that God laid it fully on his heart to write that check. He had no clue of my financial situation, and he was sensitive to the Spirit, listening from his heart. I'm honored by that man's obedience, and I'm even more amazed by the grace and provision of our Lord. And even when I got home later that night, I had received some mail. One of the pieces of mail was yet ANOTHER check from one of my cousins, intended to go towards the honeymoon fund that Kayla and I have been trying to build up. Yet another thing I was praying and fasting for provision over. What an amazing God we serve! I know that story sounds fake, but I can assure you that's what happened. Even though I sometimes have to double check (no pun intended) to make sure I wasn't just having vivid hopeful thoughts.
Another thing that the Lord has revealed to me is to constantly keep a mindset of fasting; being aware of our surrounding, what we are feeding our bodies & minds, and if it's the best thing for us. The fast has disciplined me to the point of realizing that television, movies, and Facebook are hardly necessary, and can consume much more time than we normally intend; that it's so easy to get enslaved by the craving of food to where we almost get to the point of worshipping food itself without realizing it. I've noticed that even some things that are considered healthy for us can consume our time to the point of neglecting what God has for us. Moderation is a fresh concept to me, and to most of us due to the culture we live in, but it's something I want to pursue so I don't overwhelm myself with what the world says, and that I can fully live into the will that God has for my life, in hopes that I may affect others.
I could go on and on, but I like to keep my posts semi-managable. If you take something away from this post, take away these three things:
-God keeps His promises to us.
-God is more than worthy of our attention and love, but we are not worthy of His. But it's by His grace that He can look upon us as His sons and daughters, our sins covered by Jesus' sacrifice. So be aware of where you spend your time, and ask yourself how much you actually spend with Him.
-Entering into a season of fasting will bring a lot of perspective into your life. God will use that time to reveal new things to you if you are intentional about focusing on Him within it.
As I wrap this up, I'd like to grace you with a promotional video for 24/7 Greensboro. It will give you a brief view into what it is that I have been so blessed to be a part of these past 5 months, and 4 months to come. Created by our very own...Trevor Brock!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Routine!!!
I don't feel very intricate today so if I am very to the point, at least you all know why. I'm glad to say that after a couple weeks of a much needed break, I'm actually glad to be back in a routine.
Before I left for Christmas break, the 24/7 leadership arranged for us to participate in The AMAZING RACE! 24/7 style, of course. Granted it was exclusive to everyone involved in this internship, it was fantastic to be a part of, and extremely fun! To describe it quickly, it was basically a glorified scavenger hunt, riding bikes all around the city of Greensboro looking for clues and hints, working together as a team, and troubleshooting when difficult decisions needed to be made or when conflict arose. We concluded with a meal back at the director's house where we debriefed, and were given some (WARM) 24/7 apparel!
Made the trip back home with Kayla to Columbus, and it was wonderful to be back home with my Ohio people! Kayla and her brother left the morning after we got in to spend time with her mom in Florida, and flew back on Christmas evening. I had the privilege of leading worship at my friend Beth Braaksma's church, Old First Presbyterian, for the Christmas Eve service that they held. It was a wonderful atmosphere and environment to spend Christmas Eve in! Thanks Beth for that great opportunity! Also I was grateful to have the opportunity to worship at Bethel Presbyterian on the 26th and to see a good amount of my friends that I have missed so much! Lots of missed conversations though, of which I am regretful.
New Years Eve was a lovely time spent with my future wife. We had dinner with Bryce, Billy, and Nicole from The Promise Church, and then headed over to The Promise for New Years silent communion/prayer hour. It felt so great to join them at their new location to see where they have been meeting, and pray for the coming year with them. From there, Kayla and I headed to The Cheesecake Factory at Polaris for dessert and coffee, and went to Dave & Buster's afterwards. After loading up a gameplay card and playing ONE game, we decided that this location was too crowded, so we left and went to the Hilliard location. GREAT IDEA! We brought the New Year in playing skee ball, Crazy Taxi, and Daytona. What a fun night! Best New Years Eve celebration as far as I can remember!
After a lot of great times back home, Kayla and I headed back to Greensboro on the 2nd of the year (Dave's birthday) so I could be back in time to lead at VERT (high school ministry service). DayStar, as a church, is going through a 21-day fasting period, in order to rid us of ourselves, and cry out for more of God, and to really see some miraculous things happen in the church (specifically to see 100 people per month to come to Christ in our services). To me, it seems very bold for Pastor Allen to lead the church in this fasting time, and asking God so confidently to ask for such a miracle. But that boldness shows so much of his audacious faith, and it gives God so much more glory in the end when this miracle takes place. Since January 2nd, I've been on a media fast, and a "Daniel fast" which means I eat only fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans, and only drink water & 100% juice. Michelle and Emma Sahol (part of the family that hosts me) are also doing a Daniel fast, which makes eating much easier because the right foods are always available. I'll be doing that particular fast for the full 21 days. January 6th through the 8th, I was on a water fast (a complete food fast, where I only drink water). Not easy! But God was working some things in my heart as I was going through it.
Today is our first normal day back on a routine at 24/7. I'm actually glad for it. I have realized over this break that, as much as I have disliked it in the past, a routine keeps me on track and gives me less room to "take my time," and helps me to be more punctual and remember more. It sounds strange as I read back over that, but somehow it's true for me! Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and support as I've been here. It's been an amazing growth opportunity for me and I am looking forwards greatly to next semester.
As my prayer requests, I am going to be listing the things that I am fasting/praying for during these 21 days. If you would pray for these things also, I would be so grateful.
-For continued spiritual renewal in DayStar and in myself.
-For 100 people per month to come to Christ through DayStar's ministry this year.
-For Kayla and I to grow spiritually together as we come near to marriage.
-That our spiritual leaders would pour into Kayla and I in wisdom and support as our wedding date nears.
-That God would clearly reveal to me His direction, before the month closes, with a certain ministry position that has been opened to me after the wedding.
Before I left for Christmas break, the 24/7 leadership arranged for us to participate in The AMAZING RACE! 24/7 style, of course. Granted it was exclusive to everyone involved in this internship, it was fantastic to be a part of, and extremely fun! To describe it quickly, it was basically a glorified scavenger hunt, riding bikes all around the city of Greensboro looking for clues and hints, working together as a team, and troubleshooting when difficult decisions needed to be made or when conflict arose. We concluded with a meal back at the director's house where we debriefed, and were given some (WARM) 24/7 apparel!
Made the trip back home with Kayla to Columbus, and it was wonderful to be back home with my Ohio people! Kayla and her brother left the morning after we got in to spend time with her mom in Florida, and flew back on Christmas evening. I had the privilege of leading worship at my friend Beth Braaksma's church, Old First Presbyterian, for the Christmas Eve service that they held. It was a wonderful atmosphere and environment to spend Christmas Eve in! Thanks Beth for that great opportunity! Also I was grateful to have the opportunity to worship at Bethel Presbyterian on the 26th and to see a good amount of my friends that I have missed so much! Lots of missed conversations though, of which I am regretful.
New Years Eve was a lovely time spent with my future wife. We had dinner with Bryce, Billy, and Nicole from The Promise Church, and then headed over to The Promise for New Years silent communion/prayer hour. It felt so great to join them at their new location to see where they have been meeting, and pray for the coming year with them. From there, Kayla and I headed to The Cheesecake Factory at Polaris for dessert and coffee, and went to Dave & Buster's afterwards. After loading up a gameplay card and playing ONE game, we decided that this location was too crowded, so we left and went to the Hilliard location. GREAT IDEA! We brought the New Year in playing skee ball, Crazy Taxi, and Daytona. What a fun night! Best New Years Eve celebration as far as I can remember!
After a lot of great times back home, Kayla and I headed back to Greensboro on the 2nd of the year (Dave's birthday) so I could be back in time to lead at VERT (high school ministry service). DayStar, as a church, is going through a 21-day fasting period, in order to rid us of ourselves, and cry out for more of God, and to really see some miraculous things happen in the church (specifically to see 100 people per month to come to Christ in our services). To me, it seems very bold for Pastor Allen to lead the church in this fasting time, and asking God so confidently to ask for such a miracle. But that boldness shows so much of his audacious faith, and it gives God so much more glory in the end when this miracle takes place. Since January 2nd, I've been on a media fast, and a "Daniel fast" which means I eat only fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans, and only drink water & 100% juice. Michelle and Emma Sahol (part of the family that hosts me) are also doing a Daniel fast, which makes eating much easier because the right foods are always available. I'll be doing that particular fast for the full 21 days. January 6th through the 8th, I was on a water fast (a complete food fast, where I only drink water). Not easy! But God was working some things in my heart as I was going through it.
Today is our first normal day back on a routine at 24/7. I'm actually glad for it. I have realized over this break that, as much as I have disliked it in the past, a routine keeps me on track and gives me less room to "take my time," and helps me to be more punctual and remember more. It sounds strange as I read back over that, but somehow it's true for me! Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and support as I've been here. It's been an amazing growth opportunity for me and I am looking forwards greatly to next semester.
As my prayer requests, I am going to be listing the things that I am fasting/praying for during these 21 days. If you would pray for these things also, I would be so grateful.
-For continued spiritual renewal in DayStar and in myself.
-For 100 people per month to come to Christ through DayStar's ministry this year.
-For Kayla and I to grow spiritually together as we come near to marriage.
-That our spiritual leaders would pour into Kayla and I in wisdom and support as our wedding date nears.
-That God would clearly reveal to me His direction, before the month closes, with a certain ministry position that has been opened to me after the wedding.
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