Pressing Forward when Life and time seem pressed.

I was emailing my friend Dan Eggenschwiler and decided to pass on my final thought...
I wrote to him

...Life and time just seems pressed right now all the way leading up to this July/August when life will undergo some big changes for my living situation here in New Zealand, so kinda stressed at the moment, but i had a really good moment of revelation yesterday:

God made me to love challenges... why should this be any different. I would do it to myself in other ways if i didn't have these challenges, and although they may stress me out and seem too much to handle, solving these problems and pressing through is exactly what makes good men great and the triumph that much more sweet.  

Like so many war movies or the Pursuit of Happiness or whatever you want to compare it to...
I am tackling my challenge with God and although my body wants to run away, this is exactly what i desire and have been waiting for, although it is never how i pictured it or would've chosen it for myself.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

Last Week This Week Stations of the Cross

Here is me in my Easter Suit! yeah, i was the only one wearing anything close to an easter suit this last Sunday, although people thoroughly enjoy that i still wore brown sandals (called jandals here) with the outfit.




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Last Week: We had our interactive stations of the cross exhibit running all easter weekend. This was a good opportunity for a few people to visit our church that wouldn't otherwise come. Stations included things such as weaving as an act of committing to help with poverty in the world, observing art, watching a video on suffering, collecting blankets for the city mission, etc. At cell group we had one person discuss how they were trying to reclaim their faith. The solution wasn't as easy as asking them to say a prayer of confession, but you can help me to prayer for a reassurance with this individual in their heart and mind of the truth of God and Christianity.




This Week: Students are on 2 week holiday so this is a good time to connect with teens, and this will also be a big week for easter followup. One of my big responsibilities is supporting the church plant at cession|community and creating a system for contacts and followup to really target and value newcomers will be one of my crowning achievements over the next couple months.

Probably one of the funniest pictures i have seen!

This is my Friend David Campbell from IWU and i took this picture from his facebook because it was just too good not to share!

10 Reasons I am Thankful for my Parents

1. Their Godly Example
2. Their healthy marriage
3. Not forcing church on me
4. Imparting their love for people to me
5. Encouraging me to work hard and follow through
6. They taught me to be aware of how my choices affect others
7. The self worth and confidence that have come from our loving encouraging family
8. The value of sacrificing for family and living in the present
9. Creating a conducive environment for us children to pursue our dreams despite obstacles
10. Showing us what it means to love, lead, and invest in others.

My Nephew Jaylon can dance!

I just took this video from Jen & Bradon's website because it is too cute!

Happy Feet from Brandon Bruce on Vimeo.