affluent

don't know exactly when i wrote this one. the file date says "date modified 6/8/2001"...

affluent, I wish I was
with words to express my heart
the feelings I feel
the thoughts I think

so much time passed
just a few days gone by
so many events
so many happenings
merely a memory ago

new friends, found a year ago
seem so old, as if friends for life.
new possessions, acquired recently
so soon become a part of me.

what have I learned?
what is it worth?
so much new knowledge augments my mind
but do I apply it after such a long time?

odds and ends of cryptic events
now seen in a fuller light.
pieces of my puzzle,
God prudently assembles.

it's all a blur,
nothing seems clear.
but life-changing memories have shown,
God makes all things beautiful, in His time.

I remember that I wrote it after one year in college. Ah, yes, I'm remembering it now. It was after my sophomore year. I can picture my dorm room. Almost completely emptied out. I lived in an apartment-like dorm with 4 other guys, most of whom had already left after the school year. I was very nostalgic...sitting in the room thinking about the past year...i could recall so easily the day i moved in and the first few weeks getting to know everyone. yet at the same time i could recall so many many memories from throughout the year that made it seem like such a long time. isn't it funny how time can seem so long, yet so short?

at the end of it all you can look back and see how God worked through it all, worked every part to fit together, to prudently fit them together, and to be true to His promise that He will work all things together to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).

old poem

i was reading through old journals...its good to see how God directs your life. I love looking back in my journals to see and remember what God has taught me. as i was reading through i found this poem...sometimes i can write...but not whenever i want to. when i attempt poetry i come up with stuff like this:

[7/27/03 3:39pm]

The way the World was meant to be
Is not the World that I can see

Well, that was a good first two lines but I can't think of how to continue it.

I stumble and I fall
Sometimes it's hard to see
That You're there through it all
That's not the way its supposed to be.

I feel so helpless even though
I think I'm striving toward the goal
It seems I never make progress
Is this the way its supposed to be?

So many problems I confess
Am I really doing my best?
I wish I was perfect
Sometimes I can't wait
But this is where You put me
This is where I need to be
This is where I'm supposed to be

When will I be free
From this sin entangling me?
The way has already been made
Jesus Christ, for your sins, has paid
Just make sure that your life
has at His feet been laid
This is the way life is supposed to be.

May Your forgiveness I ever remember
May it be in my heart a burning ember.
May it continually burn white hot
Controlling and keeping my every thought
This is the way life is supposed to be.

Jesus Christ hung from a tree
He rose again to set me free
Now He lives in eternity
Building there a place for me
In His presence I will be
Giving Him all the glory
This is the way life is supposed to be!

no right

...this is "Part the Second"...well this is it in its infant stages. the idea I want to share has to do with the following quote, Romans 12 and a sermon and some events that happened while I was down south at the Shepherd's Conference. this quote has taken me a long time to chew on and really grasp (and really even want to do such things myself), so i'll give this part to you so you can chew on this quote and then I'll update this post in the (hopefully near) future.

[warning: this convicted me, it might convict you as well.]

"I have this day solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and self-dedication, which I renewed when I was received into the communion of the church. I have been before God; and have given myself, all that I am and have to God, so that I am not in any respect my own: I can challenge no right in myself, I can challenge no right in this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me; neither have I any right to this body, or any of its members: no right to this tongue, these hands, nor feet: no right to these senses, these eyes, these ears, this smell or taste. I have given myself clear away, and have not retained any thing as my own. I have been to God this morning, and told Him that I gave myself wholly to Him. I have given every power to Him; so that for the future I will challenge no right in myself, in any respect."

~Jonathan Edwards

month and a half review

as i think of all that i want to say i think this will be a long blog...so i think i'm going to do it in two parts.

Part the First:

I just realized how long it has been since I wrote a real blog. Sure I posted a link to a photo album (that wasn't really my photo album) a little over a week ago, but the last time I really blogged was almost two months ago! Since I started this blog there have been only 3 months in which I have not posted anything: July '06 (the month of H206...a big event to plan), September '06 (the month I had my hernia surgery), and last month (the month of Jr High Winter camp...at which some amazing events happened, and the month of High School Winter camp: Frozen Revolution '07).

I really enjoy blogging...almost as much as I enjoy journaling.

So...to catch you up in true male style:

Jr. High Camp last month was really good and a lot of spiritual and social growth happened in the students and I hope the things that happened there continue to shape their lives.

High School Camp: Frozen Revolution, was a great time. The theme this year was "Breaking Barriers" basically between us and God and between us and others. I think a lot of barriers were broken down.

On to March...and I'll cover this trip with a little more detail. I went to the Shepherd's Conference March 7-11...here's a cool picture of the sanctuary filled with pastors thirsty to be encouraged to "preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2).

There were also two satellite services at two other locations on campus for overflow! I want to say there were like 4000 men there but I can't substantiate that with evidence so don't quote me. There were a lot. And getting a bunch of pastors together in that huge sanctuary and singing songs rich with theological truths about how great our God is...these guys really understand how great our God is because they preach Him week in and week out and they "study to show [themselves] approved to God" (2 Tim 3:15)...wow! It was amazing!

I was able to stay with a friend from college and his wife (Mike and Julie). It was great to be able to spend some time with them. I also saw many many friends from college and Placerita Baptist Church (the church I was a member of when I went to The Master's College) and from other churches of which I have been a part: Tim Costine, Kent Richardson, Pastor Dick Conners ...and so many others. It was a great time of encouragement, and rest and an awesome opportunity to sit under amazing teaching and get fed with spiritual meat (which is still digesting...see my next blog...coming soon).

THEN, I got to go down to Whittier and see my BEST friends Noah and Christine and their cute little son, Ezekiel. Spending time with them was amazing as always. Good times of being weird with noah, discussing spiritual things, looking at and talking about gadgets and ideas we have for the future and talking about when he gets to come up here next week 'cause his awesome wife got him a ticket to come up here to have some days to relax. We're going camping in Yosemite!

THEN I drove down to San Diego and met up with my good friend Rick Cucjen and his family. They are a missionary family living just this side of the Mexico border and working for Tecate Mission International. Rick was in charge of the interns there when I was an intern for 3 months back in Fall/Winter 2003. I got to know them well during my time there. So, I was able to spend some time hanging out with them and catching up. Then Rick and I drove to the San Diego airport, I got on a plane and Rick drove away with my truck. Well...now it's his. I got a new Honda CR-V and was able to give him my "old" truck. I figured it'd be good for my truck to be down there because my truck had been down to Mexico when I was there in 2003 and it liked it. I think it's happy to be back. Here's some pics...Rick and I and Rick's kids and I (Josh, Ben, Catherine, Natalie and Emily).


...its getting late. Part the Second to come at a later date

Frozen Revolution '07 Pics

Frozen Revolution '07 was an awesome trip. Click the picture below to see the photo album....

Photobucket Album