College Life

Hey guys...anyone who still reads this. I just wanted to give praise to God right now. It's not necessarily a prayer request...I mean, you can pray for me if you want. Anywho, I just want to say that God has exceeded my expectations as He always does. Leaving A&M was completely heartbreaking to me, and I still get a little depressed thinking about it sometimes. However, I knew God was calling me to leave College Station for something better and He has provided. I have been here at Tarleton for about 2 weeks. In that 2 weeks I am already getting to know many people in College Life and at my church Rocky Point Baptist. I love everyone I've met. It's not a spiritual high I see in everyone but rather a consistent, steadfast desire to be closer to each other and Christ. One of the things I love the most is Lifegroups. My group has about 35 people in it ranging from freshmen in college to Preston at the ripe age of 78. Everyone is so welcoming. I've never been so excited about church. I tried to get plugged in at A&M, but it never worked out whether by my own fault or not. Here things are different. God has opened so many doors for me, and He's keeping me busy. If you pray for me, pray that I remain consistent in the Word because to live by His Word we must know what His Word is! My relationship with Alyssa is still strong, though I wish with all my heart that she was here instead. Lastly, my living situation is incredible. I live with 3 of the most amazing guys I know. They are my best friends...plus Michael! We are keeping each other accountable in many ways. Each of us has a different walk and we are able to uplift each other and pray through things. Not to put anyone on a pedestal, but living with Jacob Rowe has given me a thirst that I've been missing. He preached at our church last Sunday and he rocked our socks off. He was so transparent and you could see Christ shining right through him. I want that for myself, and I believe it can happen. I hope that even after one semester here many of you will not recognize me. I want to be so radically changed. I want to be a leader, I've already stopped following. I want to be able to completely focus on God without distraction daily. Well, that's all I have time for now, but you will hear more from me! Thank you Father for all that You've done and are going to do. You have provided beyond my expectations already, and I can't wait to see what's in store.

Update on my sister!

For anyone who does not know...give thanks to God. My sister is healthy and her situations is manageable. The doctor determined that she has stage 1B melanoma. Basically, yes, she does have the defective gene and may for the rest of her life, but she just has to keep a close eye on things and make sure to notify the doctor if any spots come up on her skin. Every 6 months she has to be checked head to toe. So, it is manageable, she is fine. Thanks to everyone for your prayers.

Ten Big Lessons from Life

As part of her graduation gift to each of us seniors in the spring of 2006, my english teacher Mrs. Dunn handed us a booklet containing 10 lessons she has learned during her life that she wished to share with us. Almost anyone who graduated with me or even a year before me can tell you that she was their favorite teacher. She was definitely mine. She has a wonderful way of teaching that draws you in and makes you think and formulate your own ideas, not just copy down every word said so you can spit it back out later. Nothing ever gets past her, and if you were in my class, you know what I mean. I am glad to say that I have stayed in touch with this awesome woman of God, and I pray God keeps us in touch in years to come. Here are her lessons.

1. What you give is what you get. Eastern religions call this karma, but it is also a very biblical concept. The Lord says that whatever measuring stick we use with other people will be used on us by others. And He also says that we should treat other people the way we want to be treated. If you hope to have mercy when you are in the wrong, then you better be merciful when you are the one in power. This rule has all kinds of extensions. For example, this rule would encourage us to treat old people with respect--because one of these days when we are old, we will want to be regarded civilly by the young.
2. Don't make up rules and not tell the other players. Don't expect certain responses from those close to you without letting them know that such a response matters. Designing those little "tests" of whether "he/she really loves me" based on expected outcomes that are not communicated to the prospective sweetie--that stinks. You will be wounded for no reason and may cut off a relationship that might have been wonderful, all for a silly, silent rule. Remember the Duke of Ferrarra in Browning's "My Last Duchess"? Her happy demeanor annoyed him, but he chose not to tell her about his displeasure because that would be "stooping," and he was a man who chose "never to stoop," to humble himself. If it's a big deal to you, let the other person know.
3. Realize that no one is perfect--even you. Learning that you are fallible and human is a great relief. You are not expected to solve the whole world's problems. You're not even expected to solve all of your own problems alone. You will make mistakes, no matter how hard you try. But God is very forgiving, and He is interested in the direction of our life's travel, not each and every foolish detour we may take. And once you know you're human, you can be more tolerant of the rest of us mortals.
4. Don't waste your time in worry. Live in the now. Obsessing over the what-ifs of life can give you ulcers. The Bible tells us that we cannot add anything to our height by worrying, and every day has enough problems to keep us busy without having to take on tomorrow's tasks. There is a difference between planning or preparing and worrying. Worrying is fretting about things you cannot possible control--like other people.
5. The most important things cannot be bought. George Carlin's famous line is "Home is where you keep your stuff while you go out and buy more stuff." But most of that stuff does not bring us the greatest joy. That comes from our relationships with other people, from our musings in the midst of the beauty of nature, from the songs of birds on the electric lines outside our houses, from the 100% free sunset. If you list the facets of your life with which you are unwilling to part, you will find they are not things; a mother's love and a brother's loyalty are priceless.
6. Marry for life. Don't cut and run at the first sign of trouble in your marriage. You are not going to be starry-eyed in love with this person 24/7 the rest of your life. It doesn't go away forever, but it isn't a constant condition. If you find the romance beginning to ebb, do something about it. And remember that sometimes this person is going to gross you out or make you really mad. That doesn't mean you have quit loving. Kids will come along and take a lot of your time. Don't expect to feel like a giddy school kid in love your whole life. When people marry, they promise for life. Keep your promise.
7. Raise your own children. If someone else keeps your baby all day long, that person shapes your child's personality and outlook on life. To whom are you willing to trust that precious soul? People are often more concerned about the qualifications of the kennel in which they leave a dog than the credentials of the child care they use. Why not do that job yourself? They are little kids for such a brief time, and then they are in school and gone all day. By the time he or she is five, the personality is set. For better or worse, my kids were raised by me, not by some nineteen-year-old with no goals and no particular, one-of-a-kind affection for my precious baby. You can buy new carpet later. Drive the kid around in a ratty old car. He/she won't remember how nice that new stuff was. What the child remembers is Mommy cracked open a coconut on the patio with me today. Mommy watched me splash in a $9.99 plastic pool in our back yard. Mommy was there when I woke up from my nap.
8. Keep the friendship of someone who knew you when you were young. One of these days it will be nice to talk about old times with someone who was there. You will lose your youthful bloom, but someone will always remember how beautiful you were back then. I have known my best female friend for over 45 years. I remember when she had to give up the trumpet and come play drums in band with me because she got braces. I taught her how to play the snare drum--and then when we got in high school, she beat me at All-District band! We have double-dated with many different guys, and can laugh about all kinds of stupid stuff we did at ages 10 and 17 and 21. We still call each other by our kid nickname (we are both "Skipper"), and so if anyone calls and says, "Skipper, it's me," I know exactly who the lady on the phone is. In each other's eyes, neither of us is an old lady. We remember each other as kids.
9. Be careful what you read, see and think. The mind catches everything. As the creature says in Frankenstein, knowledge is like lichens on a rock. It clings, and sometimes it is unworthy knowledge. The Bible tells us to think on the things that are true and lovely and spoken well of. Don't fill your mind with garbage. Some books and movies have nothing to offer. This doesn't mean we shouldn't read or see things that can pique thought or unsettle our complacency. Without those things, we grow satisfied with the status quo. But remember that the author is manipulating reality; it is his or her version of how things are. Maybe he's full of baloney or something worse.
10. Establish a strong relationship with God. The Force is real. The Bible says He is a spirit, the spirit of love. Get to know Him through reading the Bible, and you'll find Him to be "a very present help in time of need." How other people manage without Him, I cannot understand. I just know I would be a total disaster without God. He is daily manifested in the good people around me.

Well...I don't think this needs any elaboration. Take what you can from this. I know that just by being who she is, Mrs. Dunn has helped to shape the man that I am becoming. I pray that something caught your attention, and that it either changes your life or helps you grow into a better person. Mrs. Dunn, if you ever read this, thank you for all you did in the 2 years we were in each other's company. I thank you for your lessons and your friendship. Ultimately I thank God for placing such a ray of light in the abyss we all know as high school! As a side note, don't judge if I have made grammatical errors, it's too early in the morning to be perfect! : )

Another Prayer Request

I don't know how many people are still reading this now that summer is here and you probably have better things to do with your time. However, if anyone is reading this, please pray for my sister. For several months now she has had an increasing amount of swelling in her lymph nodes, among other serious symptoms. After seeing a specialist we found out Thursday that she has melanoma. We do not know how serious it is at this point. The doctors cut a spot off of her scalp. The next step will be to biopsy the swollen lymph nodes. I do not know what comes after that, but this will determine what treatment or if it is even necessary. If the cancer has spread to an organ it become malignant melanoma for which there is no treatment. At this point the patient is in stage 4 of the cancer. The doctors put them in palative care (basically hospice...where they make you comfortable until the end). The life expectancy at this point is 6 months. Please be praying for my sister, who is only 26. She told me she is glad to know what the condition is, but she is scared the cancer may have already spread too far. We will not know until the biopsies. Regardless of what doctors say we know God is in control and that He can save her at any point. This doesn't have to be a death sentence. I will trust God no matter what the outcome, but please pray for healing in her body. Pray for peace, that fear doesn't grip her too much. Thanks to everyone who prays or is already praying for my sister. You will never know how much it is appreciated.

The Fool's Prayer -- by Edward R. Sill

The royal feast was done; the King

Sought some new sport to banish care,

And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,

Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!"

The jester doffed his cap and bells,

And stood the mocking court before;

They could not see the bitter smile

Behind the painted grin he wore.

He bowed his head, and bent his knee

Upon the monarch's silken stool;

His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,

Be merciful to me, a fool!

"No pity, Lord, could change the heart

From red with wrong to white as wool;

The rod must heal the sin: but, Lord,

Be merciful to me, a fool!

"Tis not by guilt the onward sweep

Of truth and right, O Lord, we stay;

'Tis by our follies that so long

We hold the earth from heaven away.

"These clumsy feet, still in the mire,

Go crushing blossoms without end;

These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust

Among the heart-strings of a friend.

"The ill-timed truth we might have kept--

Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung?

The word we had not sense to say--

Who knows how grandly it had rung?

"Our faults no tenderness should ask,

The chastening stripes must cleanse them all;

But for our blunders--oh, in shame

Before the eyes of heaven we fall.

"Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;

Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool

That did his will; but Thou, O Lord,

Be merciful to me, a fool!"

The room was hushed; in silence rose

The King, and sought his gardens cool,

And walked apart, and murmured low,

"Be merciful to me, a fool!"

I'm hoping someone will ask questions or comment on this. There's much to take from this. I hope you like it, and that God speaks to you through it like He did to me.

The Holy Spirit

In my Sunday school class the past few weeks we have been discussing the first chapter in the book of Acts. Jesus has been crucified, and the disciples are hiding in a house together when He appears to them through a locked door. Over the next 4o days He appears to them periodically to give them instruction and keep their spirits up for the days ahead. What is important in this passage is that Peter and the rest of the disciples are about to receive the power through which they will establish the Christian church. Here is the passage:

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So when they met together, they asked him, 'Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way yhou have seen him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:1-11)

I will be speaking more on this passage, so I will post links to it. I want you to tell me your thoughts on this passage before I say more. Have a blessed day!

Jesus Warns Against Wrong Teaching

Continuing in Matthew 16 Jesus warns His disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The disciples thought He was speaking about the fact that they had brought no bread with them. They misunderstood His meaning.

Jesus said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?--but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matt. 16:8-11)

Here's what my bible study says about it: "Leaven (yeast) is put into bread to make it rise, and it takes only a little to affect a whole batch of dough. Jesus used leaven as an example of how a small amount of evil can affect a large group of people. The wrong teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees were leading many people astray. Beware of the tendency to say, 'How can this little wrong possible affect anyone?'".

This made me think of my walk. Am I living in a way that shines for Christ, or do I committ small evils that completely destroy my witness to those around me who need to see what Christianity is truly about? I pray that God helps to keep me in check in moments like this. In all situations, really. I pray that I don't even have to think twice, that I will live more and more like Christ daily so that people will be drawn to Him through me.