Getting Settled

I don't do many personal updates on this blog (even though many have lovingly suggested that I do), so I thought now is as good a time as any to do that since I just moved across the country. Just over two weeks ago, I made the drive across the country from Atlanta to Pasadena. Here are some highlights of what has happened since then:

The drive took about thirty hours, spread out over three days. I really loved the experience and enjoyed all the different scenery. I think Arizona might have been my favorite. This picture is either from New Mexico or Arizona, not really sure.
Here are a couple of pics of what Brittany made for me in her apartment. It sure was good to see her!
Here is what my apartment looks like (before I bought any furniture). This is looking from my door, through the kitchen, into the living room. My bedroom is above the kitchen and is accessed by the stairs on the left.
Looking the opposite direction
Here's the living room with furniture. By the way, I packed my car up with some basic things, but the majority of my stuff has still not made it. They were originally supposed to deliver it between March 14 and 18. As of today the window is March 30 thru April 3. Seriously, don't use US-1 Van Lines.
The view from my living room. Part of Fuller's campus can be seen on the left.
Oh yeah, Brittany and I met my family in Breckenridge to do a little skiing last weekend.

Classes started today and I'm excited to be taking courses on the Pentateuch, Church History, and Christology/Pneumatology/Soteriology. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me and keeping in touch. Though I am enjoying it here, I've been realizing more and more what a great community I left behind. Those of you in that community, you are greatly missed.

At the shooting range

My first time at the shooting range. Got to fire a .22 pistol, 9mm pistol, and this AK47. Thanks to Matt for allowing Roy and I to shoot.

My face is peeling

I had the opportunity to go to the Masters last Sunday with my dad. It was pretty cool...thanks again dad. While there, I sunburned the heck out of my face. And thus, the last couple of days I've been peeling. A coworker said something to me yesterday that I still think is hilarious. When I had something in my eye, she said "I think your face is getting in your eye." I don't know why, but I find that so funny. And today, my face was getting all over my suit. I love the simple things that can make me laugh.

20 years later...

I went to Louisiana this past weekend, for the purpose of seeing a good friend get married. I stayed both nights in the town I grew up in, West Monroe. This friend, Adam, and I met 20 years ago, when were 5. We went on to become best friends throughout elementary school. When we were both in 5th grade, our parents' jobs took us away from WM, but we managed to stay in touch a good bit, though we were 500 miles from each other.

I guess I'm writing this because I'm thankful. I'm thankful for friendships such as these that are rooted so deep that distance doesn't really matter in the long run. It's an encouraging reminder, because within the last year, good friends have moved to San Diego, Puerto Rico, China, and Los Angeles. I hope that these thoughts move you to be thankful for your deeper friendships as well.

Here are some of the pictures throughout the years. (Notice I'm always on the left for some reason)
13 years ago
6 years ago
A year and a half ago in Colorado
At the wedding

Comfort

I am addicted to comfort.

I just got back from church. I heard my pastor speak on belief vs. conviction using Stephen out of Acts. He talked about how, as he meets with people, most will say they believe in Jesus. But he asks the question, "Is that belief a conviction?" Most will then mutter different excuses, but will ultimately land on that it is not a conviction.

A conviction is something that takes over one's life. It takes over the soul and allows nothing else to stand in its way. I was wresting in my own heart this morning, wondering if my belief in Christ stops there, or is it a conviction? As I'm thinking through it, it gets harder because my pastor moves to the idea of martyrdom. It was obvious in Stephen's life that Jesus Christ was no mere belief, someone he tucked away when He wasn't convenient. He was utterly convinced that He was (and is) Lord and that He satisfies the deepest longings of the soul. He was not going to stop heralding this Truth for mere physical persecution.

So what does this have to do with comfort? Well, I live a life free from much discomfort, much less physical persecution because of my faith. I buckle under the pressure of an awkward conversation, of someone giving me a weird look. And I believe this has happened because I don't suffer enough. I live a life filled with comfort and ease. Even right now, I'm typing on my Apple computer, using wireless internet, in the comfort of a condo in Alpharetta, Georgia. Why do I need God? I have everything I need right? Why do I need to trust him for my needs, when I seemingly have everything??

The truth is, I'm thankful for the blessing of these things. But they often become an idol. And in my heart of hearts, I would give it all up if I could just experience the presence of God like that experienced by many I read about, for instance John Paton.

John Paton was a missionary to the New Hebrides in the South Pacific 150 years ago. The island was full of cannibals, and he often was in danger of being killed. This is what he wrote while being hunted one night, as he he took refuge in a tree.

Being entirely at the mercy of such doubtful and vacillating friends, I, though perplexed, felt it best to obey. I climbed into the tree and was left there alone in the bush. The hours I spent there live all before me as if it were but of yesterday. I heard the frequent discharging of muskets, and the yells of the Savages. Yet I sat there among the branches, as safe as in the arms of Jesus. Never, in all my sorrows, did my Lord draw nearer to me, and speak more soothingly in my soul, than when the moonlight flickered among those chestnut leaves, and the night air played on my throbbing brow, as I told all my heart to Jesus. Alone, yet not alone! If it be to glorify my God, I will not grudge to spend many nights alone in such a tree, to feel again my Savior's spiritual presence, to enjoy His consoling fellowship. If thus thrown back upon your own soul, alone, all alone, in the midnight, in the bush, in the very embrace of death itself, have you a Friend that will not fail you then?

Basically, I'm exhausted with comfort, but my flesh still longs for it. I want to know God more fully, and I know suffering is the main way that is going to happen. So, if your my friend, please speak truth into my life about this reality.

Visualizing Egypt

I figured out the picture posting problem. Here's a few of my favorites.

Here I am on a camel. Camels are pretty cool.

Here are the guys from the trip. Good group.

So, they're drinking some amazingly fresh mango juice here. And, as you can see, the orange is the only color showing up. Basically, I figured out a cool feature on my camera, and took pictures like this the rest of the trip.

The Nile, but much cooler than normal.

It doesn't get old. Here are some of the kids we got to play with who live in Garbage city.

Hotel balcony overlooking the Nile.

The rest of the pictures

Heading to Egypt

Tomorrow, I will be on a plane heading to Egypt. I'm going with a team from the Gathering at Perimeter Church. We'll spend the first few days checking out the normal sights. Then we'll head down south of Cairo to a missions conference. And our last few days will be spent with the Zabbaleen people, who are basically the garbage collectors of Cairo.


Thanks to all who helped make this trip possible for me by supporting me financially. And thanks to all who will help sustain me on this trip by praying for me. My prayer for myself and for my team is to be radically changed. To come to know better the God of the Arabic Christians, who aren't Christians because of heritage or because it will create a comfortable life (FAR FROM IT), but believe because it is Truth. I desire my heart to be lifted it from it's cold state and to experience the wonder of who God is by seeing Him working among the believers in Egypt, and seeing Him afresh in His living Word. I desire humility. I desire to grieve over the nations as God does, wanting them to be reconciled to their Maker.

My life lately

Two weeks ago now, my good buddy Evan McHugh had a CD release party at Eddie's Attic that was off the chain (I think that's good). There was a near sell out crowd for he and another good friend Garrett Moore, who opened up for him. Also, pictured with Evan to the left, Nicholas Alan performed on a song. All of these guys have or are finishing up great albums and all have great potential to have an impact in the music industry. I'm thankful to have known these guys, and to know I'll get to see them as they go furthur down the road musically.

Speaking of Nick, we celebrated his 26th birthday last Friday. He's the one who has the big furball on his head. And you might notice, all three of us have old sport jackets on. We actually were going out after the party to read parts for the new Miami Vice movie. They decided to cut us because we looked too GOOD. Wow...that was wierd...moving on.

I've been very encouraged as of late in thinking about prayer. It's a really wierd thing that the Sovereign Creator God of the Universe desires to have this communication with me, and you. That I can somehow take part in the great work that He is already doing here is quite an incredible thought. He's in the business of spreading His kingdom and His glory, and I have the privilege of taking hold of Him to do it.

I love the whole book of Hebrews as it expounds upon the idea that Jesus Christ is our great high priest who is constantly interceding for us. We no longer have to go through anyone to speak to God. Because of Christ's sacrifice we can now come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of NEED. When we feel like crap, He hears our cry and answers us. So, we get constant interaction with the God who is orchestrating the redemption of the world, and He's gets the glory from our asking. I think that's a pretty good deal.

I'll leave you with a picture and a thought. Below is my friend Bailey who is at L'Abri in Switzerland. This is just some cool lookin' lake. Basically, I'm jealous of him. And here's a quote from John Bunyan that is really simple, yet very profound. Muse over it and be thankful.

"Run John run", the law demands;
And gives us neither feet nor hands.
Far better news the gospel brings:
It bids us fly, and gives us wings.

Joyful Tranquility

It's fearfully taking steps forward and knowing He has me in His care. It's enjoying friendship and conversation and being overwhelmed that He would grant me the grace to have such relationships. It's being blown away by mercies undeserved. It's Him causing fruit to grow, when I mostly feel like a useless dried up tree. It's seeing Him use this empty vessel in ways I could never imagine. It's being able to forsake self-centeredness and seeking approval, so to be free to truly love others as I am loved. It's seeing Christ as the great mediator, the loving Savior, the mighty King. It's enjoying and worshipping God in and through everything. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory.