Retreat!! Retreat!!

I know, I'm late with this post. I'm sharing some of the pictures that other people have taken. The retreat couldn't have gone any better. Amy and Carrie did a fantastic job getting everything set up, and putting up with Sean and I. It was a great time of sharing and meditating on what the Lord has done in our lives. For me, it was a serious time of reflection. I think, ten years from now, I will be looking back on this weekend as one of the defining moments in my life.

Saturday started out on a discouraging note. Life just felt like it was pressing down on me from all directions. I got up and made an early morning Safeway run to get some coffee and bananas. Then I made some breakfast. I then crashed for a little while before trying to fly my kites. Unfortunately, there was no wind. That was a bummer, so I went back to have a pity party. I soon grew tired of that, and felt the strongest urge to get out of the house and do something. So I left and found a trail to hike. This was a time of soul searching. I've never examined my life in such a way before. I came back with a renewed sense of not only who I am, but where I'm going. That has been a crucial ingredient missing in my life until now. But, now is not the time to talk about that. Now is the time to show you some pictures from the trip. These are all stolen from Carrie's and Sean's blogs as I left my camera behind by mistake. By the time I got back to the house, there was a steady wind, so I was able to put all three kites in the air. Thanks to Sean for the kite pictures.

Coffee does wonders for Bible study

So I've been getting up earlier in the morning so I can get ready for work sooner, and have some down time before I leave. I've been amazed that it seems to be sticking. I have such a hard time getting out of bed until just before I really need to in order to be out the door on time. What's different I think, is that I do my usual morning routine, and then make some coffee and sit down with my Bible. I don't have to worry about anything else until it's time to leave for work. Well, this down time has alowed me to begin really digging into the Word, and also read more of it (I think I went through 1 & 2 Corinthians in like four days!).





Just the other day, I found something really really cool! I don't know why it's got me so excited, but it does. Lots of books for men stress 2 Corinthians 10:5, "...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I've always thought that was a great verse, but deep down, I didn't actually know how to apply it. How does one make every thought obedient to Christ? How does a person capture a thought to begin with?

So I'm reading along, and I read that verse, and then think about it for a while, and stop short. There's more to the verse than I'd been taught. It says:

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that set itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Did you catch it? Taking a thought captive isn't the action, it's the result of demolishing the things that set themselves against the knowledge of God! The answer was right there the whole time, and I never saw it. In fact, another translation puts it this way:

"With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer they're rebelious ideas, and teach them to obey Christ."

There isn't even anything about taking a thought captive. This is also a good verse on the cultural commission (but that's another sermon ;). Okay One Point Three, does everyone remember what the cultural commission is?

This is a great incentive for memorizing scripture (as if we needed another one). If I have verses in my head that will refute the rebelious ideas and thoughts that cross my mind all too often, then I have a weapon at my disposal that will demolish those strongholds before they have the chance to take hold.

Sorry I seem a bit over excited about this. My mind is a serious battle field in my life, and it was so cool to read that verse in a way that I'd never noticed before, and that I have yet to have pointed out to me, and one that, if applied consistantly, will score some serious victories down the road.




Well, my resume goes in tomorrow (unless they've already found somebody). Please pray for an interview. I'm still not holding my breath, but I'm going for all the way.

Nate's Smooth Move

So here I stand. Before lie the advantages and disadvantages of all that I've learned in Financial Peace University. Advantage: I have a fully funded emergency fund, so emergencies don't hurt as much anymore. Disadvantage: Those cash envelopes. They have been vital to keeping a reign on my spending, however, one can lose them as well, and then you're sunk.

Such an thing has happened to me. I have misplaced my cash somewhere, most of the money having not yet been spent on the things I usually use it on (groceries and gas). So there was a significant amount left in them. Prayer for their retrieval would be appreciated. Fortunately, I have an emergency fund. I dipped into it this afternoon, so I would have money for gas. Tomorrow I will be getting another alotment for groceries that will have to last me to the end of the month, unless my envelopes are found. Sean, I got you beat on the silly story catagory.

On a lighter note, I may apply for the open possition at church. I know, having a guy as an administrative assistant (secretary) is kind of odd, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I don't think I've ever had a normal job my entire life, so why try to get one now? I'm not holding my breath or anything, but I can see myself doing it. The question is, does God see myself doing it? Hmm... I do need His will to be done, so I would appreciate prayer in this most of all. I'm not taking it lightly, but as I said, I'm not holding my breath either, because there is always someone more qualified out there. I'm excited at the possibilities, but It's tempored with the knowledge that God determines my steps.

So, hope you are all hanging in there as well. Have a great week!

All Day I Dream About Soccer

Friday night. I was sitting there in my room, pacing back and forth, wondering what the next day was going to hold. I had done my best, but I had also dropped the ball in many places as well. The tournament was the following day, and I was supposed to get referees for the games. I had gotten only one confirmation and that person couldn't even be there all day. I had talked to the person in charge of referees in Kelso, but all she could do was call people and let them know what was happening.

So there things stood. What do I do. I knew I wouldn't have enough people to do all the games. I thought I should pray about it, but I felt guilty, because as I said, I had dropped the ball pretty badly. Why would God listen to me when I hadn't done all I could? How could I not do my job, and then expect God to do it for me? I decided that confession was the best place to start. It usually is. I hadn't done my job, and I could possibly let a lot of people down because of that. There, that was a start. It had taken plenty of pacing and worrying, but I'd started somewhere.

Then, came the real hard part. I could admit my fault, but could I ask God to provide in the midst of that? Could I let go of the day, and let Him work things out? Then the thought came to mind, Is it really about me? I must say, that stung. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my imagined importance, that I don't see how small I really am compared to the whole situation. God didn't need me to make the day a success. He could do it just fine on His own. He had extended to me the privilege of helping to bless a group of His children. I just didn't see it that way, so I didn't receive all the blessings that were available to me. I think that is the most disappointing part, but also the most relieving. God didn't 'hate' me because I messed up. I could still pray to Him, and place my trust in His unconditional love. It's interesting that He still puts His arm around us and leads us through a problem, even when that problem is brought on by our own actions. Hmmm...

So I gave it to Him. The whole day. Whatever came my way, I was going to trust that it was part of His plan, and that I could still lean on Him for help (funny, shouldn't I be doing that every day?). I don't know where that night is going to take me, but I'm pretty sure something has to change. A renewing needs to take place. I need to see that God extends His hand to bless me in these situations, and I need to accept these responsibilities with that attitude.

So...

Everything started out just fine on Saturday. Though I didn't have enough referees, there were plenty of volunteers who were willing to help out in that regard. I'm praising God for that, since I went in expecting to have none at all, and having a very stressfull day. But God provided, and the day went smoothly! Actually, He provided in some neat ways. First, one of the coaches of the teams that was there I knew pretty well, and I knew he was a ref. When he showed up, that was great. The most unexpected thing happened when I was reffing the deaf team from Vancouver (to read that story, scroll down through the pictures).



































































The smiling faces you see are from Tacoma Metro Parks. They're old timers. I've been doing their games for the past ten years! The girl on the ground, and the red-head behind her work at a Safeway just up the street from where I used to work. I keep comeing back for the familiar faces.

This one girl from another team remembered that I had given her a coin last year, and came up to me and asked if she could have another one. I didn't even remember doing that! I didn't have a coin to give here at the time, so I told her to talk to me at Fort Lewis in June. Now I have to find a nice coin for her to have. :)

Another face I enjoy seeing is a coach that just started a couple of years ago. She had a pretty rough start. One of my refs was trying to get her players to start the game right, and she didn't really like the way he was going about it, so she came up to me and told me about it. Then, she saw me at the big state tournament, and three time came to ask me questions about some confusing calls. By the end of the weekend, she was sure I didn't like her at all. On the contrary. She asked questions instead of jumping to conclusions, and we had some frank, but pleasant conversations. Now she's another person I look forward to seeing every year. I'm glad she stuck with it after what seemed like a discouraging start!


















The team in black is the team from Vancouver School of the Deaf. That's me in red. I had been doing their games for years. They new me, and I new them, or so I thought. As I was doing their first game of the day (and mine), I looked to the sideline, and saw Debbie, the wife of my high school soccer coach, and a certified referee! Mind you, I went to school in Tacoma, and that's where they live to this day. Apparently, her nephew plays for the Vancouver team! All these years, and I never knew that her sister has lots of pictures of me reffing their games!






































So that was my weekend. Hope all of yours were just as blessed as mine!

Over the River and Through the Woods

So Saturday was quite the day. Once again I was required to go from the East Side to the West Side in order to perform. It started at church for regular services. Maury put together a big band for worship. It was a blast! I got to play baritone sax. Bari is my favorite instrument to play. :) I just wish I'd gotten pictures, but alas, I failed to ask someone to take them for me. We decided to call ourselves the "One Rehearsal Band" since that's all we had, was one rehearsal the night before. It went well though, and the congregation seemed to enjoy the new experience (I did hear from those who did not, but I assured them, that it was not going to happen again for a long time, because of the work involved in pulling it off. I am grateful though to Maury for setting it up. Many of the musicians were professionals, in other words, they get paid to play. But Maury managed to get them all to volunteer! That's a tremendous feat. Many pros will insist on being paid. Not all of them were believers either, and we were all given a copy of the Jesus Film as a thank you gift, so this was also a great outreach. I've always thought music was a good way to get people into church).

So once worship was over, I didn't even stay for the sermon. I jetted out of there, so I could be in Beaverton by 7:30. I mad it in plenty of time, and even got to sit out in the sun for a little while before going in to play. This time, I played flute with the flute choir I belong to. Then I finaly went home. I didn't get in too late though, and slept well. Good thing, since I had High Ground in the morning.

I picked up Murray, and headed to church. Dave Stout spoke at High Ground. He has issued a challenge to all the men to share Christ with someone this week. Why does God always have to put what you say to the test? (see previous post) It's as if He thinks actions speak louder than words or something. Gee wizz.

So I played again for services, and then went to my friend Andrea's house. We then headed back to church together, and worked the coffee bar for the Columbia Symphony concert. By then, I was exausted. We went back to her house and took her dog for a walk, and then had dinner, and then I went home and crashed. Hard.

It was a good weekend though. Monday I finaly got my room clean!!!!!!!!

Oh, update on the job search. It decided to turn down the job at Starbucks. The more I prayed about, the less peace I had about taking the job. Now I'm pretty well at rest with the decision. I realized that I had not sought God in the beginning of this process, and just went off and did my own thing, expecting God to bless me somewhere along the line. That...uh...doesn't work. So I'm going to stop for now, and just spend the days ahead praying. Relying on His strength has been a weak point in my life the past several months, and that needs to change if I'm ever going to be free from where I am now. I am at peace with the decision to leave where I work. I think God has made that clear. I just need to trust Him with the right place to begin again.

Special Olympics, round one is coming up this Saturday. I'll be in Kelso reffing soccer games. Please pray that I will get enough volunteer refs. I don't have enough right now to cover all the games. I need at least six to eight in order to be effectively covered.

Oh, the quotes I got were from Stu's Four Pillars book, and S.D. Gordon came from "Quiet Talks on Prayer"

On a side note, I decided to start sending back those credit card offers with the FPU letter inside. I'm tired of the recycle bin piling up with them, so I figured why not make them deal with it?

Crossroads

I read the first chapter of one of Stu's books several weeks ago, and this paragraph, and in particular, the last sentence has stuck with me:

"As I look back on my life, I have to conclude that was the day I became a man. Turning twenty-one hadn't done it. A college degree hadn't done it. Even marriage hadn't made me a man. Nor having a son. Nor getting jump wings. Nor winning the Ranger tab. Nor wearing the Green Beret. But when I decided to follow Christ without reservation, I became a man."

So I've come to that point in my life. The critical crossroads that all believers face at some point in their walk with the Lord. Some come to it sooner than later, but we all come to it sooner or later. With the many different issues and responsibilities pressing in on me from what seems like all sides, I have to make a decision. Am I following Christ without looking back?

This may sound like an easy question on the surface, but I've learned that it is anything but. I can look at people around me who have come to this same crossroads, and chosen to go their own way. They may still be walking with the Lord, but they're holding back for one reason or another. I've been holding back for one reason or another. I keep allowing other things in life get in the way of taking a hard look at myself and see what parts of my life I have not surrendered to Christ. So I return to the question: am I ready to become a man? Am I ready to decide to follow Christ without reservation before the issue is forced upon me?

Sometimes I think changing my career will do it. This is only a temperary fix though. If I'm not walking with Christ in every aspect of my life, then I'll just fall back into the same old patterns. I could also step away from one or two of what seems like the miriad of responsibilities I have. This will still have the same result in the end. There are many other possibilities that could solve my problem for a little while on the outside, but unless, and until I choose to let the Holy Spirit change me on the inside, they will all ultimately fail to bring about any substantive difference in my life.

It may sound like I've made up my mind already. I could boldly proclaim that I'm going to follow Christ without reservation. But I know me. I know the times I've been confronted with the choice to go the right way, or do the right thing, and have failed to do so because it was "too difficult" for one reason or another. What makes me think that this time won't be different? There is a coward lurking inside this heart of mine. He pops up at the most unexpected, and inconvenient, times and begins a war inside me. Unfortunately, he often prevails. But why? I can go out on a soccer field as a referee, and make some pretty gutsy calls, and make very difficult and often unpopular decisions without a second thought because I know it's the right thing to do. Why can't I do the same in my Christian walk?

I will present one answer here. It comes from S.D. Gordon:

"...you must first win the victory, every step...every foot of the way, in secret, in the spirit-realm, and then add the mighty touch of your personality in service. You can do more than pray, after you have prayed. But you can not do more than pray until you have prayed. And just there is where we have all seemed to make a slip at times, and many of us are yet making it--a bad slip. We think we can do more where we are through our service: then prayer to give power to service. No--with the blackest underscoring of emphasis, let it be said--NO. We can do no thing of real power until we have done the prayer thing."

I know that I just talked about changing my career, but I am still in the process of doing that. I just got offered a job with the Starbucks is Canby. I really need to be able to work elseware in order to take this job and step out of the one I have now, but I'm tempted, very tempted, to just step out anyway, and line something up later. Am I willing to step out of my current job without a net? Am I willing to risk a financial struggle simply to improve my work environment? What if this is exactly what Jesus is calling me to do? With that said, I redirect your attention to the above quote, and ask myself if I will begin again to devote myself to stretching into the spirit realm and call upon God for guidence, in this, the most significant decision I've had to make since I chose to move down here.

So other than that, I had a pretty normal week. ;)

Wild Ride

What a weekend! It was so full, that I didn't even get pictures! Of course the whole problem was that I ran out the door without putting my memory card in my camera. So, you will simply have to read about my journey. It started at about 7:00am when I took off for church to have a rehearsal for worship that night. Rehearsals with Bruce are the coolest. I can't think of anyone I've ever met who is more patient with people. I rehearsed with Sarah Pyne and Julie Reed. Both of whom are far more proficient at their instruments than I am at mine (they play violin and flute respectively). It was a lot of fun.

We got done at 9:30, and I dashed from the church on my way to Aloha High School for the annual Flute Fair trade show. I got there just in time to start warming up. We played for about 45 minutes and then it was my turn to volunteer for an hour. With that done, I got to go play on some really neat (and REALLY expensive) flutes. One that I played on was a solid gold flute! If you want it, it only costs $15,000!!! And that was on special!! Oh, well, at least I can say I played on one. I did make a serious effort to find some kind of accessory to buy to make my flute playing life easier, but alas, I found nothing, and left empty handed.

So I jetted out of Aloha at about 2:15. I had to be back at church by 3:00. Right. That didn't happen, but I did manage to make it back to church. Then I played for worship (oh yeah, all this time, there was this icky feeling in the back of my throat that would not go away, and got progressively worse as the day went on).

After service, I went to Jodie's for One Point Three. We had a lady named Erica Irvine from Portland Rescue Mission. She was actually inspiring. I think a lot of people are pretty excited about helping out down there. I know I am. The thought of teaching people gets me excited, and apparently there are lots of opportunities to do so. Plus, doing things as a group to reach out in Christ's name is also pretty neat. Please pray for God's guidence, and for continued momentum to carry us over that initial hump of just getting started. My buddy Murray has done a great job in getting the group involved in this! I'm proud of the guy. He stepped up to the plate and put the ball into play, and that's what you really need from some one is to just get the ball into play.

Sunday was great. I went out to lunch with friends to celebrate Amy's and Sean's birthdays that are both happening this week. I did manage to get those pictures:







Amy is trying on her new reading glasses! Carrie's future is much too bright for her to bear.












Matt's never been the same since he tried on the glasses











You can tell Sean's getting old, he needed the glasses just to read the menue ;)















Amy decided she preffered this pair instead.













So she gave her glasses to me...hmm.