April 15, 2010

Having friends is nice, no doubt about that. You can hang out with them, talk with them, be yourself comfortably with them, and all that good stuff. But as brothers and sisters in Christ we are called to do more than just that aren't we. All of us have "friends who are agreeable, and we have friends who are more than agreeable. Don't get me wrong, its nice to agreed with sometimes, but it is amazing to be corrected.

A true friend is truely abitter-sweet thing. Bitter in the fact that a lot of times I must put aside my pride to accept some good advice, and on the rare occassion put aside personal comfort and fear to offer some myself. It's hard to do these things. And for the most part there is no easy way to do it, or comfortable feeling that I get from it. It is simply not pleasent. But Christ confronted sin, He bore our sin, He was shamed for us, He was beat for us, HIS OWN FATHER LET HIM DIE FOR ME! So the least I can do is try to emulate some form him, no matter how hard or uncomfortable it is.

But with such bitterness comes blessing. A sweet, sweet blessing. How good it is to know that I have friends that would go through such uncomfortable feelings to point something out. And know that when I screw up the courage to likewise point something out, that they will listen. It most certainly can be a sin that they point out, but sometimes it can be bringing something to the spotlight that might not be a sin but it would certainly be benificial to work on.

Thank you friend. For showing me a place for improvement. I look forward to working on it and trying to amend it. I look forward to a time when I can repay you in the same way. And I don't mean tha in the sense that I'm going to be scrutinizing every little thing you or any of my friends are doing to find places I can confront and correct in, that is not the spirit in which Christ or, I believe, you have confronted me in. It is rather a spirit of love, the kind that is selfless enough do such things graciosly and with love. Lately I have been realizing just how important this spirit of love is for the Church to posses, it is our bond that Christ sealed. I have come to see just how wonderful it is to be corrected and correcting in love. I encourage all who read this, it is our duty to do this, without it there might as well be no Church body, we might as well go live in the woods by ourselves with our lack of love.

What is comfortable is not always good,
What is good is not always comfortable,
But doing good, be it comfortable or not, is always a blessing.

March 1st, 2010

Basketball season comes to a close, not quite the ending I wanted but ya can't win 'em all. through out this season my team hasbeen there for me, helping me along. My coach has been there for me, building me as a player. But after one year of hockey, six years of basketball, and three years of football. no one has beenn there throughout those times like my father has. Coming to every game he possibly could to support me, to pick me up, or on the rare occasion slap me upside the head and tell me to get going. Dad, your prayers with me before games meant so much, courage, strength, grace, intregrity, love, and even more. You are a guide to life, a staff to help me along, a map to show somewhat of a way, and a man that I will strive to emulate. God certianly shows himself through you and I'm so grateful for your support.






And who can forget the brains of the operation. A Mom, but not just any mom, MY MOM. Reluctant at first to give in to things like football, but in the end the last to let go. Mom who washed my uniforms when I forgot. The most excited after a win and the most downhearted it seemed after a loss. Always ready to hold me :) no matter how big I have gotten. Finding you after a game for my all done hug was my light at the end of the game, and what a beautiful light you are. Unselfish, self sacrificing, all encompassing love. A mom in every sense of the word. Thankyou for the gift that only a mommy can give... a mothers love.






And to my ever supportive family. I love you all


























What a blessing you all are!!!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5


A true blessing.

January 27

Summer is hot in Klamath Falls, but that doesn't mean that a bare patch of ground cannot produce something lush and beautiful. Here in the high desert it tends to dry out in the midsummer when ponds dry and grasses wither and turn brown. This is not Ireland or New Zealand, we have water shortages, water crisiss, and suckerfish troubles. But every year something special happens, winter. Winter is when the snow comes down and provides a use for sleds, fireplaces, and many more enjoyable pasttimes. Most importantly though the snow sticks deep in the mountains and hills, pilingly up and up and up. A snowpack. This snowpack will melt slowly making runoff streams that feed ponds, lakes, and irrigation ditches providing water late into the thirsty summer. Giving norishment, promoting growth, and providing fruit.

I am Klamath Falls dirt. There are times in my life when the wettness of spring give way to hot arid desert. The late summer times in my life when there seems to be nothing to work with, nothing to grow in, and ultimately no fruit. But God has built up a snowpack! Like jumping into a high mountain lake on a hot day, the revitalizing shock of what He has provided give new life to this patch of dry ugly ground that makes up Jordan. A snowpack that is composed of the most wonderful things. The natural beauty around me that speaks of nothing but the almighty God. Godly men and women that provide awesome examples and many words of wisdom. Encouraing friends giving support, repremand, encouragement, and much more. Family to guide and test me, heaping on love and caring hugs. And the Word of the Lord which is the ultimate lighthouse to show the way, and the 3D picture of God's love and perfect being.

Guess what! It's snowing in my life! God is establishing a snowpack that has me so very excited. It gives me irrepressable shivers of joy to think of the summer that I could survive with what God is providing and storing up in me. The blessings of mentors, great friends, loving family, and the Word of God. "sigh"

May the Lord walk beside me and you to comfort us.
May the Lord walk above me and you to watch over us.
May the Lord walk behind me and you to keep us safe safe.
May the Lord walk before me and you to show us the way.

January 10th

I am an active 18 year old, whom God has blessed with the semi-ability to play sports and take part in many physical activities. The best football player in school, the best basket ball player in school, and the all around best athlete in school... is not me, not by a long shot. But I do ok at these things and have found a way to contribute to the teams. Coming into basketball season I happily found that I could jump high enough to grab the rim, run up and down the court quickly, and not get tired out fast doing these things.

However, in last nights game I also found that jumping up and falling back down on the pointy part of your hip bone greatly inhibits such actions. Along with not being able to run and jump very well, the actions of sitting, standing, and laying down hurt to.

But, though it hurts physically on the outside, it feels good spiritually on the inside. Now, not only do I know that God has his ways of heading off any rising pride, but I feel it too. Lord thank you for this thorn in my side, it was, is, and will be necessary in the future.

On a different note, I burned my hand while playing with the little fireball thing, thanks Tyler for the hours of enjoyment and pain that you started. Next time don't show me such an entertaining way of eventually hurting myself!