... uh... hmmm....

..... Test....  Test....  Check 1... Check 2.....  Test.....

It's working again!  Woo Hoo!  So long time since I've been on Xanga.  Wow... A lot has happened.  A WHOLE LOT!  But with every experience envelops growth... well growth if we actually learn from an experience.  Well I have today off.... I gotta get a lot done.  Head to the MVD, renew all my stuff.  I know I'll be in line forever so I'm bringing my current book I'm reading: "Deep Survival" by Laurence Gonzales.  Pretty good book.  It's a book that explains the science of a person who survives a tramatic experience.  It also explains why some people don't survive.  Basically who lives, who dies, and why.  It's pretty interesting.  I can definitely see a whole lot of biblical truths to the book already.  Having our eyes set on the prize... Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.... I will never leave you nor forsake you.....  Hope in the Lord....  With my God I can sacle a mountain... Peace I leave with you.....  Hmmmmm....  To know God is an amazing thing.

I'm Alive...

Friends... To let you know... I'm alive. 

Summer Travels :-)

I just got back from Director's Summit at Teen Mania...................... and found out that I'll be..................

Heading to Spain and Italy this summer!!!!

Woo  Hoo!!! I'm so excited!  I'll be there from June 24th to July 23rd.  I've been soo blessed to be placed on this trip. God has definitely blessed me.   I was in France and Italy a long time ago... I'm talking back in my sophmore days of high school.  I'm excited to head back to Europe. 

I love this project a whole lot.  Not only is it in Europe but the whole set up is a whole new concept of missions with Global Expeditions... I'm looking forward to the challenge it will bring.  Thank God I'm not going through it alone.  My amazing co-leader is...

Lisa Green!!!

She is amazing!!! I'm glad I know Lisa well.  We haven't worked together in a long time but I know it will be great.  I need some amazing leaders on this trips so let me know if you want to go with us to Spain and Italy.  Check out the Global Expeditions Site for more info.

Summit was great!! I got to se a whole lot of people I admire and love!  Got to see Neelka, Amiee Carman, Damon & Terese Smith, Daniel Blankenship, Elizabeth Upshur, Russ Underwood, Jordan Goodfellow, Korina Skalee, Lisa Howard, Dave & Beth Coggins, Aaron Stinson, Jim Kyles, etc... soo many people!!!!

Be blessed and I love you guys!!!!

Snow & Friends

Snow and Friends

So, when I moved to Phoenix 1.3 years ago... it was a blazing 120 degrees... Now?  It's snowing Phoenix!  Holy Cow!  It was reported to have 1 inch in some places.  Crazy!  The weather has been cold in the past few days.  This is coming from a man who lived in Northwest New Mexico where snow and low temperatures are common.  My blood is soo thin and it's cold.... I think I need another cup of coffee to keep warn.  Ha ha... good excuse to go to Starbucks (wink, wink).              I also helped with the True North Leadership seminar for Teen Mania.  (It's a time where we evaluate our Team Leaders for this year missions trips).  It was awesome!  I got to see some good friends.  Toby, Jim Kyles, Tina Benitz... I got to see Jon Hasz and Kara Stevens...... I even got to see our new Global Expeditions Director: Kimtel !! You rock bud!!!!  I can't wait until missions.  I get to find out where I'm going in 2 weeks.  Yippie.  I even had a better week.  I had a pleasant surprise... My co-leader for Panama was in the area and I got to have dinner with the incredible Shauna Shotton!! Wow!!! This week has been a super blast!

Awesome Quote!!

I was in a meeting yesterday and my Director said something that totally hit me.  He said...

"Persistence outlasts resistance."

This hit me two ways:  It made me think about what I do to persevere and press on to a particular goal.  Do I become complacent?  Do I reduce some part of the process to accommodate my tolerance of some sort of friction?  Do I still give my 100% even when it hurts?  Hmmm.... Then this scripture came to mind, "I press on toward the gold to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." I choose to continue to win for the Lamb the reward of His sacrifice, regardless of my environment, whether hot or cold, pure or sinful, many or none, alone or accompanied. 

Then I thought about the resistance part.  I though about my sin nature and what opposing forces are around me.  I realize again that God’s grace has made me perfect.  Grace and His forgiveness have made me pure and spotless.  I can't, in my own strength, in any way, overcome or erase my sin.  I need someone who is stronger, someone who has conquered sin, who has conquered death.  I need Jesus.  He is my reason I can resist the devil and he will flee.  He is my protector, my ability to become and remain pure in the mist of a fallen society around me.  I can be pure.  I can and will resist the world.  I hate it when the world says: the only way to resist sin is to fall prey to it.  We say NO.  We have the means and ability to stand firm.  We can be the lighthouse while the torrents of flood arise, standing firm after the clouds vanish. 

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.