sooo, I'll try to do better tomorrow..
FIYA!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
July 29 - Let me explain
I feel like I jumped into this blog fad head first and didn't really give much thought to what I wanted it to be. I've battled back and forth between a couple things, and it's entirely possible it will change again. I'll tell you what it's going to be now. Let me explain..
Typically, I'll start with a story or what I did that day. Get personal. And hopefully once I have your attention, (side note - I like for my days to be interesting, or at least for you to think they are. So I'll give you the best story I've got) I'll launch into what God taught me that day. There might be a story to it, maybe it'll be something I opened up to and really liked, or maybe something I'm preparing a lesson on that I want to share.
I sign my blogs "Whatever it takes." In the front of my church there used to be a big banner that at one point said "Count the Cost to Share the Cross" and then it got changed to "Whatever it Takes." That's my battle cry of sorts, Whatever it Takes! I want to be willing to do whatever it takes to further the kingdom. I always think of that song that goes "whatever it takes, that's what I'll do."
My scripture reference for this is Matthew 18:18-31
"A certain ruler asked Him 'good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' 'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered 'No one is good - except God alone. You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' 'All these I have kept since I was a boy' he said. When Jesus heard this, He said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.' When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth."
God hasn't asked me to sell everything I own to support a cause yet and He may not. What is asked of us all is that we be willing to count the cost; to take up our cross every day and walk in His steps in order to glorify my Savior.
Tomorrow - I'll talk about my newly formed addiction to blogging.............
Whatever it takes,
Ryan
July 28 - Road trip!!
I can not fully describe how weird this day was.. But I'll see what I can get out.
So it all started at 9:00 when I left for Chesterfield, VA where I would meet up with Jacob, Tory, and Brittany to drive to Chesapeake and hang out with Bluetree (who I HIGHLY recommend to anyone). I had just downloaded some campus church sermons the night before, however, I forgot to sync them to the ipod.. So I stopped in Lynchburg and borrowed Amy's (set me back half an hour). The rest of the drive was fine - I sat back and listened to Caner launch hand grenades. Finally, half an hour behind schedule, I got to Jacob's house. Tory had volunteered to drive, which seemed like a really good idea.. until she started driving. :) about an hour into the trip, out of no where Brittany realizes she's never seen this part of the road before. That's when Tory decided we should know that even with a GPS RIGHT in front of her, she's directionally challenged. We'd driven 20 minutes past our exit..
Eventually we got there and, after using the potty and reuniting briefly with Lucas, went on an adventure to a park. Honestly, I thought it was a pretty interesting park. Which means, while the other 3 tried to be lame-o's and swing - illegally might I add - I went on an adventure. There was a canal and overlooks and a bridge for the creek. The best part though, was the fact that in the middle of the park was a cemetary. Gravestones and everything. Of course they had been messed with, but the city did put up little fences about 3-4 ft high to make an attempt at keeping them out..
Even though we left an hour late, and spent all of 30 minutes at the park, we still had 2-3 hours to kill. We went to Autumn's and found it after 3 U-turns on her street. Seemed like it'd be a reasonably safe idea. Grandpa met us and seemed real nice, the siblings were ok, and nothing set off any red flags. Apparently there's this tree house they built. Pretty sturdy, except for the RIGHT LADDER SUPPORT!! It was a log they found I guess that was dead and had now rotted. So I may have pulled the steps out of that side on my way down. I can honestly say I didn't see that happening when I convinced Tory to climb up and I followed.. Next Autumn drove us down to see her horse in HER car that she was TOLD was drivable. In the middle of everything Grandpa (the nice old man we met earlier) has a melt down because she drove her car. Supposedly half of the car was not there. Soo, we drove back to the house and were told to run upstairs and hide or he'd yell at us.. It was kinda fun, like playing hide and seek. While we were 'hiding' we played Wii bowling. Autumn's little 9 year old brother, Ben, is probably my favorite 9 year old ever. Jacob wasn't doing so hot, and Ben said the "Wii has a brain and it doesn't want Jacob to win, so he doesn't." Great kid. Also, while we were there, I got called a fat 34 year old man.. that was a fun story too....
Surprisingly, there wasn't a lot I found awkward during/directly after the concert. Well, excluding "Mummy, when will we see Auntie again?" :) and feeling like the back left tire of an 18wheeler. Definitely the ride home was exciting. Telling stories, thinking you may have run over someone, and what some consider the 'hood - how can you go wrong?
2 Samuel 23:3-4
"The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the Earth"
-- Honestly, I just opened my Bible today and found this verse. I really like this one though [and as a friend said -"I really just love scripture!! It's so awesome!!!" :) ] because it's so vivid and true. The person who rules in righteousness is like the light of sunrise on a cloudless morning. When I think of this, it makes me happy, joyful. Sunsets are happy; sun after a rain bringing forth grass is happy. Typically, these images don't make a person uneasy or sad. But why do we insist on telling our leader's they can't openly fear the Lord, and pick the ones who don't to make all of our important decisions?? This is God telling us who should be our leaders; who we should choose - those who rule in righteousness and fear of God.
All for now, I'll add the pictures from the weekend when my camera battery recharges..
Whatever it takes,
Ryan
So it all started at 9:00 when I left for Chesterfield, VA where I would meet up with Jacob, Tory, and Brittany to drive to Chesapeake and hang out with Bluetree (who I HIGHLY recommend to anyone). I had just downloaded some campus church sermons the night before, however, I forgot to sync them to the ipod.. So I stopped in Lynchburg and borrowed Amy's (set me back half an hour). The rest of the drive was fine - I sat back and listened to Caner launch hand grenades. Finally, half an hour behind schedule, I got to Jacob's house. Tory had volunteered to drive, which seemed like a really good idea.. until she started driving. :) about an hour into the trip, out of no where Brittany realizes she's never seen this part of the road before. That's when Tory decided we should know that even with a GPS RIGHT in front of her, she's directionally challenged. We'd driven 20 minutes past our exit..
Eventually we got there and, after using the potty and reuniting briefly with Lucas, went on an adventure to a park. Honestly, I thought it was a pretty interesting park. Which means, while the other 3 tried to be lame-o's and swing - illegally might I add - I went on an adventure. There was a canal and overlooks and a bridge for the creek. The best part though, was the fact that in the middle of the park was a cemetary. Gravestones and everything. Of course they had been messed with, but the city did put up little fences about 3-4 ft high to make an attempt at keeping them out..
Even though we left an hour late, and spent all of 30 minutes at the park, we still had 2-3 hours to kill. We went to Autumn's and found it after 3 U-turns on her street. Seemed like it'd be a reasonably safe idea. Grandpa met us and seemed real nice, the siblings were ok, and nothing set off any red flags. Apparently there's this tree house they built. Pretty sturdy, except for the RIGHT LADDER SUPPORT!! It was a log they found I guess that was dead and had now rotted. So I may have pulled the steps out of that side on my way down. I can honestly say I didn't see that happening when I convinced Tory to climb up and I followed.. Next Autumn drove us down to see her horse in HER car that she was TOLD was drivable. In the middle of everything Grandpa (the nice old man we met earlier) has a melt down because she drove her car. Supposedly half of the car was not there. Soo, we drove back to the house and were told to run upstairs and hide or he'd yell at us.. It was kinda fun, like playing hide and seek. While we were 'hiding' we played Wii bowling. Autumn's little 9 year old brother, Ben, is probably my favorite 9 year old ever. Jacob wasn't doing so hot, and Ben said the "Wii has a brain and it doesn't want Jacob to win, so he doesn't." Great kid. Also, while we were there, I got called a fat 34 year old man.. that was a fun story too....
Surprisingly, there wasn't a lot I found awkward during/directly after the concert. Well, excluding "Mummy, when will we see Auntie again?" :) and feeling like the back left tire of an 18wheeler. Definitely the ride home was exciting. Telling stories, thinking you may have run over someone, and what some consider the 'hood - how can you go wrong?
2 Samuel 23:3-4
"The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the Earth"
-- Honestly, I just opened my Bible today and found this verse. I really like this one though [and as a friend said -"I really just love scripture!! It's so awesome!!!" :) ] because it's so vivid and true. The person who rules in righteousness is like the light of sunrise on a cloudless morning. When I think of this, it makes me happy, joyful. Sunsets are happy; sun after a rain bringing forth grass is happy. Typically, these images don't make a person uneasy or sad. But why do we insist on telling our leader's they can't openly fear the Lord, and pick the ones who don't to make all of our important decisions?? This is God telling us who should be our leaders; who we should choose - those who rule in righteousness and fear of God.
All for now, I'll add the pictures from the weekend when my camera battery recharges..
Whatever it takes,
Ryan
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
July 27 - Let the praises ring
Today was very lazy. I woke up around 9, laid around until the mail came and then went to the bank. Stopped by Brusters (mainly to talk, but also got some ice cream) and then came home. Cleaned the car out, did some dishes, and laid around some more.. Like I said, laaaaazy. Oh, I also watered Phil's garden, where I found this tomato.
Things did get more exciting around 7. Some of the college group from church came over and we made a fire. Pretty succesful after it actually got started. Hot dogs and Smores - not a bad way to end the night.
In the morning, I get to wake up and drive to Richmond where I'm meeting some friends to go to Chesapeake. Bluetree is doing a worship set there. I'm so excited - not only do I get to see a lot of friends that I don't get to often, but I get to spend an evening in worship of my God with no reserves. No jobs to do, nothing to worry about, no one I have to please - just me and God. Too often I get caught up in ministry; too caught up in the process of a service rather than the worship. I'm growing in being able to seperate the two and realizing when I need to do one rather than the other. Of course people will always say that you can worship through minstry - they're absolutely right. But I need to have the one-on-one experience where I meet with my Jesus.
Today's verse: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2Cor 5:21 I absolutely can not get over the fact that He is so jealous for me that His son died the death that keeps me from experiencing eternal suffering with no escape. I talked to a student a few weeks ago at camp about this. In his prayer, he said "God, I'm begging you, take away the pain I've felt." (there was some stuff going on the past few years he's struggled with). I loved the way he said that - I'm begging you. He was so broken, so desperate for God that he was weeping, begging God to take hold of everything so that he wouldn't hurt anymore. How often do we who have a generally ok life just go through the motions? Go to church on Sundays, maybe youth camp or some retreat once a year, but then live our own way during the week?? I know I'm nowhere near perfect and I'm still being convicted of things I can be doing to change this. But I have this burden to see people broken before the cross like this student. Where they realize there's nowhere else they can run that will give them the freedom from sin like Jesus. What people think about us doesn't matter, because in the end, we'll all stand judgment for what we did for Him, not what we did for them.
Whatever it takes,
Ryan
(P.S. - signature explanation coming soon)
Things did get more exciting around 7. Some of the college group from church came over and we made a fire. Pretty succesful after it actually got started. Hot dogs and Smores - not a bad way to end the night.
In the morning, I get to wake up and drive to Richmond where I'm meeting some friends to go to Chesapeake. Bluetree is doing a worship set there. I'm so excited - not only do I get to see a lot of friends that I don't get to often, but I get to spend an evening in worship of my God with no reserves. No jobs to do, nothing to worry about, no one I have to please - just me and God. Too often I get caught up in ministry; too caught up in the process of a service rather than the worship. I'm growing in being able to seperate the two and realizing when I need to do one rather than the other. Of course people will always say that you can worship through minstry - they're absolutely right. But I need to have the one-on-one experience where I meet with my Jesus.
Today's verse: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2Cor 5:21 I absolutely can not get over the fact that He is so jealous for me that His son died the death that keeps me from experiencing eternal suffering with no escape. I talked to a student a few weeks ago at camp about this. In his prayer, he said "God, I'm begging you, take away the pain I've felt." (there was some stuff going on the past few years he's struggled with). I loved the way he said that - I'm begging you. He was so broken, so desperate for God that he was weeping, begging God to take hold of everything so that he wouldn't hurt anymore. How often do we who have a generally ok life just go through the motions? Go to church on Sundays, maybe youth camp or some retreat once a year, but then live our own way during the week?? I know I'm nowhere near perfect and I'm still being convicted of things I can be doing to change this. But I have this burden to see people broken before the cross like this student. Where they realize there's nowhere else they can run that will give them the freedom from sin like Jesus. What people think about us doesn't matter, because in the end, we'll all stand judgment for what we did for Him, not what we did for them.
Whatever it takes,
Ryan
(P.S. - signature explanation coming soon)
Monday, July 26, 2010
July 26 - First post
I think I'm going to make this a regular thing. Updates on what happens each day and other thoughts I have. I'll also try to post a verse that I liked that day and sometimes why I liked it - if I feel explanation is warranted. Here we go!
So, my family all went to Maine this week; they all left 5 days ago. It's pretty boring around here honestly.. especially last week, everyone was on vacation or busy. Of course, I have 4 days off and then get to work all weekend almost. No complaints about days off though.
In my downtime, I've learned that I can apparently bake and grill. Honestly, I found a recipe on the back of a box of brownies for some 7-layer brownies and went with it. It worked. Also, quesadillas and I have become very close.
I've done nothing with my day except go out for dinner and rented a redbox.
Psalm 31:24 "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord"
I picked this not only as the verse of the day, but as the title for my blog. It's a reminder that I can rest in Christ; that I have strength to get through everything that comes along, only if my hope is in the Lord.
Grace be with you,
Ryan
So, my family all went to Maine this week; they all left 5 days ago. It's pretty boring around here honestly.. especially last week, everyone was on vacation or busy. Of course, I have 4 days off and then get to work all weekend almost. No complaints about days off though.
In my downtime, I've learned that I can apparently bake and grill. Honestly, I found a recipe on the back of a box of brownies for some 7-layer brownies and went with it. It worked. Also, quesadillas and I have become very close.
I've done nothing with my day except go out for dinner and rented a redbox.
Psalm 31:24 "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord"
I picked this not only as the verse of the day, but as the title for my blog. It's a reminder that I can rest in Christ; that I have strength to get through everything that comes along, only if my hope is in the Lord.
Grace be with you,
Ryan
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