Jack Bauer, HobGoblin, General Grievious, Brian (The Dog from Family Guy)

Wow, what a day I had no idea that Tiffany and I would get a chance to meet Kefer Sutherland. We were at the right place at the right time at comic con when they handed out little pieces of paper to allow us to get in a special line to meet him. Right before that I met Seth McFarlane where he signed a Poster that has Stewie Griffin playing with Star Wars toys, meaning a sequel is coming out of their hilarious Star Wars spoof from last year, "Blue Harvest."
The biggest thrill came of the night when Tiff, Serena, Joe, and I were walking downtown in San Diego and Joe hits me and says, "Hey that's the Hob Goblin from Spiderman!" I freaked and couldn't believe it so I slowly made my way to him as he was surrounded by an entourage of his pals. I walked up to him and couldn't intrude into his conversation so I was walking right next to him for awhile. I finally found a chance to wisper, "Hey can my wife and I get a pic with you?" So laid back he said, "Yeah." It was obvious he didn't want to make a scene and I stupidly yelled, "Hey TIFF GET OVER HERE!" He played it cool Serena took the pic and he got away unnoticed. It was awesome. Day two is looking awesome, I also met the voice of General Grievous from Star Was. It's been a great day!!! Looking forward for tomorrow when I get to hang out with my brother, his wife, and one of my oldest Friends Ashely Penir. Peace!

In one day!!!

So in the course of one day my wife and I slept on the streets of Downtown San Diego, (not for any Christian experiment.) Followed by eating cold Jack in the Box with my wife. Then right around noon I made Keanu Reeves laugh as I told him I loved him from the third row at Comic Con. Then I saw Mark Walberg, then made Hugh Jackman laugh right before showing the new Wolverine Movie Trailer, then getting some smiles from Robert Pattinson and his co-star Kristen where they play Edward and Bella in the soon to be released Twilight. Then got my hands on the Dec. release video game Star Wars Clone Wars where the Lightsaber moves by the Wii controller, sweet. (Yesterday I played the game I'm really looking forward to Star Wars Force Unleashed coming out in two months.) Finally it's time to take a nap with my wife the one thing I've truly been looking forward to all day. Peace!

SOS Day 4

Thursday has finally allowed me to see the hearts of the students in my group. I always love trips that cause you to grow with other people. It seems I've heard it said more recently that Youth trips will come and go but you will never be with the exact same group ever again, there will always be someone added or removed from any future trip. It appears that I can see what God would want from me when I raise my own future children whether it be how I discipline or how I love and teach them. I love how this week as a little more goofing off occured when I lovingly corrected their folly of missing opputunities to serve they understood where I was coming from that I still respected and loved them and soon after we were serving togther with perfect unity. Often I have to evaluate whether I'm too strict, I think I may not know until my own kids grow up to be adults if I am too strict or not.
This week has also opened my own eyes to where I need some more growth. I only want to be able to be thrown by God into any situation and serve Him with all my heart. Every camp I ever go to I see that we spend so much time with God and it allows us to hear God so clearly then as weeks pass at camp we seem to lose that closeness. I know I need to keep that daily relationship focused on Him. I look forward to Ozark Christian Colleges Chapel services being mandatory for this one thing to keep me focused and thinking about Him even more.

SOS Day 3

Well day 3 came and went in a flash. The students were only working for half the day and they had the rest of the time off to enjoy a pool party, movie, and Dinner. I was really excited because our students worked at lightening speeds getting a lot accomplished.
I was exhausted and felt that I needed some sort of break and God answered with an oppurtunity to play some Halo 3 at the family's house while the children swam. We had more than enough leaders swimming and watching the students. I would have enjoyed cooling off with a swim but had forgotten my swim suit any ways.
Eventually we made it to the theatres and Tiffany joined us as we watched The Incredible Hulk for a second time. Sometimes movies aren't good a second time but this movie really delivered. I have so many people come to me and say that they heard it was mediocre. It surprises me because Tiff and I thought it was up there with one of the better action movies of the summer. Of course the movie ended and much of our students came up to me with similar positive opinions of the film.
Then we made it to dinner and Tiff and I got to take a picture of me in front of the resturant "Happy Mexican." (I took a pic that I hopefully will put on the blog.) The evening started quiteting down once we returned and many students needed a mid-week break that Wednesday provided.

SOS Day 2

As we entered day two of our service over self. The 8th grade boys in our group decided that working hard would be their number one goal that day. As we began the day's work the students had been told of a student Justin that was just down the street playing basketball. The students began playing with him and as I talked with the students later I witnessed a desire to love Justin in the hearts of these students. When playing with Justin they were saddened that he had a flat basketball and a basketball hoop that had a destroyed backboard with holes. One student said, "Lito, I'll buy him a basketball." What an amazing heart to want to reach out and meet the needs of others.
As we sat there we noticed the house we were working on had a basketball hoop the only thing missing was a rim. Now we had to ask the homeowner to have it and we would clean it up ask Justin to put the rim on our backboard and give it to him. The students rallied with an excitement. It's as if they put himself into the shoes of Justin. If they didn't have a basketball hoop or ball the would appreciate someone reaching out to them with this gift in love. We had permission to take the hoop. We cleaned it prepared it for delivery. Finally, as we took the hoop we were immediatly told by the homeowner they didn't want us to give the hoop to the boy and we needed to bring it back. My heart broke that she would continue this vicious cycle of not loving your neighbor. The students felt a little deafeted as well.
We then talked with Justin about setting up the hoop in front of her house and to play with us while we were there. The students still wanted to reach out to Justin. later we had found out an SOS worker had delievered Justin a basketball and he was playing with his new inflatted ball. The students are at such a pivotal age where they need to see people who will reach out in love but even witnessing the times that someone doesn't love may even help them see that there are some people who need Jesus to change their calloused heart. I just pray that the students here would not continue to hit road blocks that would cause them to develop calloused hearts as well.

Service Over Self Day 1

Well day one has started with our Service over self mission trip in Binghampton. What a great oppurtunity for our students at Christ United Methodist to experince their relationship with God by looking past their safe economic friendly homes to see the people in their city that are hungry and hurting for Christ. Many will never know the impact they have on the people in this community but I hope that the students don't lose thier excitment for loving people becuase I can see that after our BigStuf trip they quickly went into the Me attitude again. I love these students so much and see the same mistakes I made when I was their age and want them to keep reaching for Christ and not the next academic accalade.
Yet, while I sound discouraging, I was really impressed with a student Alex who reached out to a homeowner while we were building a ramp for here house. He just came up to me and said, "Can I go talk to her." I was so excited to hear that response of love. It reminded me of Mary and Martha. Some of us have skills in good old fashion hard work while others need to build relationships with people. When watching students who are willing to serve God I can only say Praise be to God!

The Force is about to be Unleashed!!!

Wow, I just witnessed the trailer of the new Star Wars Video Game. I believe that this is the game that is going to forever change video games, check out the trailer here. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1137819692/bclid1155151521/bctid1655717469

Fear and Faith!!!

I recently read some thoughts that really got me thinking, and evaluating my own walk with God as I try to imitate him and to step forward and share my own faith. It also causes me to want to trust more in him in all decisions I make and those Christians around me that I could encourage as they walk with the Lord.

"It has been often said that fear is the opposite of faith. As faith motivates us toward something, fear makes us cover away from it. Faith is ourselves is key to all endeavors; fear of failure often leads to not trying something in the first place. Faith in God frees us to talk about Him; fear of man keeps our mouths shut worrying about what others think. Faith liberates. Fear incapacitates"
-Jesus Freaks Vol. II pg. 63

What caused me to really dwell on this was the fact that I have no problem shouting silly statements to get a response from people yet as outgoing as I am there are times I shy away from sharing the gospel. WHY?!!! I am a follower of THE LIVING GOD. I am in love with him why fear anything. My faith as of late has been under pressure. I felt it was easier to live for God when I knew less. Maybe it's because I lived at a Christian Camp and I have so many times being bored that I would climb a mountain to have my quiet time. Today I find other things to fill my time when I could find ways to worship God and stay connected everyday to that faith in Christ. It's not that I sometimes have faith and sometimes don't it's that I sometimes I'm more faithful than others.

"So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus." -2 Tim. 1:8-9 THE MESSAGE