The True Nativity Story

Merry Christmas to everyone!
May we remember the one gift, the reason we celebrate.

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

John 1 The Word Became Flesh

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood^[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.^[b]

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,^[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,^[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What is twitter?

Some people have noticed my facebook status always being set by twitter, other people have heard me talk about it. But I've been asked again and again, "What is twitter!?".

The simplest way to explain it gives it no justice, "Facebook with nothing more but status updates." However true in its simplest form, that isn't close to the ability that twitter has to offer.

First- Twitter is a status update. When you update your twitter with a 'tweet' you let all your subscribed friends know what you are up to. You can update from the main site twitter.com, or if you are a veteran 'tweeter' you can use one of many tools. TwitterFox, and Mobile Device are two simple ways to be more hip with your updates. A small feed of your followed few (or many) are listed by update time and keep you up to date with your friends.

Second- Twitter is a way to share more then status. Using twitter sites, such as twitpic and twitterfeed you can upload pictures and blog posts directly into your status update from a mobile device. Also, if you like beta software twiddeo is a video importer from a media message. It's not a live picture/video, but a link to a image hoster of your choice (from the list). Twitterfeed is a dynamic RSS scanner and will post a update when it detects a change in content of the site it's following.

Third- Twitter is a way to stay in contact. Although we're a real facebook generation, twitter is a quick thing you can do from anywhere. Staying up with old friends is easy with twitter direct messages (@username) as well as PMs or personal (private) messages.

Forth- Twitter can update your Facebook. What more could you want? If you have Tmobile, there is no possible way to do this other then a third-party extention. By adding the twitter application, twitter will automaticly update your FB Status with your twitter status the exact second it's recieved.

Last- It's a good way to know find out how someone is doing. By 'nudging' someone, they'll be notified via text (if they have a mobile device setup) that you want to know what they are up to.
This is a great way to know what people are up to, without being a creeper...

In closing, twitter is new myspace of texting. It's becoming more popular, and why not? It's easy to do, easy to learn and has so many benefits (as listed above). Add me on twitter, and let's get 'tweeting'

That time again

With the holiday come many great things.
Start of a new relationship, reforming of old friendships, the holidays and something no one else would celebrate but a small few. Time off of school for a particualr event known as Killer Bunnies.
For those of you unaware of this glorious game, let me fill you in. You can spend anywhere between $27 and $185 (such as myself) to have hours of enjoyment with your friends and family. BUT don't let that hang you up. Best money I've spent on a game.

Basic run down...You have bunnies, which in short are your playing pieces, with out them you can't do much. Once getting a bunny into play via your 'run' you can then start to collect and attack. The goal of the game is to collect as many carrots as you can, in hopes of having the randomly selected Magic Carrot at the end of the game. Carrots are received by purchasing them , or playing a card that gives them to you. Carrots aren't the main focus of the game though, it's the other players! Weapons, hunger/thirst, viruses and CyberBunnies from space are all things to worry about, or use on your foes. Staying alive is half the challenge!

KB is a great game, and would be a great gift for that hard-to-shop-for on your list. (Granted, I haven't met many women that enjoy the game, but that's just what I've experienced) What I've explained is just the beginning, the board game came out recently and I haven't had time to look into it further. Happy shopping. And Bunny Brothers? We'll be playing soon.

Winter Break is the time for Killer Bunnies.

Supportive Support

Having supportive people in your life is great.
Not just your parents and family, but people outside of that.

Right now I have a lot going on. Between college, highschool, work, friends, family and everything in between I have tons to manage. I've really been feeling the stress. Last night it was really hitting me hard. But thanks to a few very supportive friends, I'm feeling much better. It's so comforting to know people got my back. Being able to just talk with people, who genuinely care with what I am saying, is rare. I thank God for those people.

Family, friends, pastors, coaches and everyone in between:
Thank you for your support. I hope I can return the support in a time of need. May God bless you, and our relationship for His glory.

Relax.
You're taken care of.

Thanksgiving 'Hunger'

This year I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving, for more then one reason. First off, the family, food and fellowship. That's an obvious one. It's nice to have Sarah home for the weekend and to just hang as a family.
However
This year marks the second annual camp out of BestBuy. I'm being ditched by my previous counterpart and one of my best friends is joining me. I am looking to buy a laptop, for personal use (Coding/Office/Internet Use) as well as for college.
I've had my eye on laptops for a while, but the Day After Thanksgiving Sale, also known as Black Friday has the deals of the deals.


I'm excited, but it's going to be freezing. Last year was -14degrees so I guess it can't be that bad.

OCC

Operation Christmas Child is quite the gig.

My family is in charge of it at Grace Church, and we we're the most involved we have ever been his year. We spent all the afternoon, and much of the last week, packing the shoe boxes


. . . Into cartons to be delivered to the processing center in Bloomington.

It took a long time, but is well worth it for the amount of joy it brings to the little kids who receive the presents. I'm also visiting the processing center on Tuesday with a group of friends at school to sort through the boxes and prepare them to go overseas. It'll be a good time.

For those of you who don't know about it, Operation Christmas Child is a program from Samaritans Purse. They collect collect shoe-boxes full of toys and hygiene items for kids in third world countries. These are kids who have never dreamed of getting a Christmas present, let alone a present of any kind. They knowledge of the joy those kids will experience is hear warming.

New Phone I want

Updated!

I'm doing well, just have little time to post. I'm very busy with school. Physics is the hardest thing for me. Not because of the difficulty of the class, but simply because of the teacher and his lack of teaching.

I find my class to be formulas and labs, with a seemingly lack of concrete knowledge. Not a major deal, I'll do the homework and hope I understand the major concepts. If I don't I can always go in for help. Bus Seminar is going well, I really enjoy it and am learning much about being business professional. So school is going alright. I'm glad the quarter is over next week. It'll be nice to have JAVA, a class I know I'll enjoy.

God is bigger then the boogie man

God is doing crazy things in my life right now.

All aspects of my relationships have been God ordained, I know that. Sometimes this is really hard to understand. Why would God virtually remove a person from my life who I care(d) about? That isn't for me to know, but I DO know that his will is perfect. As he takes people out of my life, he places others into it. I've made friends with people that I never thought I would.

He works is mysterious ways, nothing could be more true.
Although, when I think about it I think mysterious isn't the right word.

mys·te·ri·ous /mɪˈstɪəriəs/ –adjective
1. of obscure nature, meaning, origin, etc.; puzzling; inexplicable: a mysterious inscription on the ancient tomb.
Cited: Dictionary.com

No. Mysterious isn't how I would describe it. I think I would describe the Lord much differently. Although it can't simply be put into words, God is so much more then that. I think of Revelation 4:2-6

2 And instantly I was in the Spirit,[a] and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit[b] of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.

All this doesn't even come close to what the author (thought to be John) saw. No words could even come close to what God looks like, let alone how he is in all his majesty.

All this being said, I come to the realization of how completely uncontrollable my life is. No matter how much I think I am in complete control of my own life, down to the core I have none. He is in complete control and if I place my complete trust in Him, my life will be unimaginable. I pray that God would do just that, take complete control of every aspect in my life, and use it for what He deems worthy.

Broken and Fragmented

This week was really nice.
I had an average start, with a excellent "end." So far my weekend couldn't be better! Sleeping in late, and spending time with the Lord. What else could I ask for? I'm so glad I have what I do through my faith. He breaks me to my core, and tells me exactly what I need to hear. Amen!

My weekend is pretty full of nothing. Meaning, I have lots of things going on, but not a whole lot to do. Tomorrow (today) I am headed over to a visit family from church and help them with their computers. I love it.

I should start my own computer repair and maintenance company. I wouldn't be very successful though, because I don't like to charge people for my help. Only if I have to buy something do I make them pay. Why should they pay for something I happen to know a lot about, when they don't know anything about it? GeekSquad over prices everything.

In closing, I am hoping that you're having a good week and that you'll have an even better weekend! Go out and enjoy the nice fall weather.

God Bless.

Are bees really that busy?

The term "busy as a bee" could describe me right now. Between school, work, church, friends and family I barely have time to take a nap. (Although I fit that in no problem tonight!)

School has been going really well, and hasn't been too hard yet. I can feel calc about to become a huge burden though. Science and Business Seminar are very interesting classes and I am glad I have to opportunity to be in them. Calc? It looks good on a transcript, more then anything else.

Today I realized something. You can spend all day watching football without even having any cable package! Granted you can watch what you want if you do have cable, I did almost all of my homework to the sound of men bashing into each other for a little leather ball. GLORIOUS!
I love watching football. I just wish we had a team that could win something.

Short week this week, I'm pumped. Mid-term is already here. What is up with that? How the time has flown. This year is going well. Almost better then expected! Keep it coming!

Save the Planet

This weekend was Eden Prairie Homecoming weekend.
I however, spent the weekend away from the high school chaos, and with a great group of Christian believers in Detroit Lakes. The Castaway Club camp ground is amazing, and I am so glad we had the opportunity to use the grounds again this year.
Senior year hits me in the gut, time and time again. This weekend it was on Saturday night. That was my last fall retreat with Grace Church. I am a senior, and I will be leaving the group next year. Wow.
Another thing that hit me, was the support in our senior class at church. Not how amazing it is, but how it isn't there. Class of '09 has been through so much, we never had the chance to grow as a class. Not only that, but there isn't much chemistry between everyone. I have many friends in my grade, but not any super-duper great ones.

That was the hardest thing for me this trip. I realized I have no 'best-friend' within Crave. It's difficult for me to admit it, but I think it's true. Sure I've got buddies that I hang out with, but I have no one that would save me a seat on the bus. No one that would check in with me if I was looking like I was down. As much as I want that, I'm okay without it. I will continue to be who I am, checking in and saving seats. It would just be nice to have someone close to me, return the favor.

On a lighter note, I really truly did enjoy the weekend. I am not saddened what so ever by missing the homecoming dance, as fun as they can be. Church is such a stronger importance in my life, I had no problem missing a dance.

School is getting crazy as the classes continue to develop more complex and build on the review of the previous course. Homework is building up, and so is the stress!

Bring it on. I've got God on my side.

On and between weekends

I love weekend with a passion.
Time to my self, to do what I want. But what I love more is Church Retreats ON the weekend! This weekend is fall retreat "Save the Planet" at Castaway. I'm super pumped. I love retreats, fellowship and flag-football!

Next week Wednesday is see you at the pole. I'm going to see if I can talk with Khan (Conn) about it . I want to advise him of it, not that he doesn't already know. It's been happening since September 1990.


School this year isn't so bad. Classes are tough, yes...but nothing I don't think I can handle. I just need to keep my priories in the right order, which I haven't been, and everything will get done.

One day at a time.

Buckle Up -- I value your life.

Quick and Painless

Senior Pictures today.
They went very well, I'm very happy with the results. I went to a local nature preserve and took about 125 pictures. Nothing too time consuming, very fast. +

Just like this year is going to go by...very fast!

Bon Bons.

I had such a great day today compared to yesterday. Yesterday was rough for me, from the starting of a new school year, loads of homework (which I forgot about), and still training into a new job I was beat and downhearted.

Today? Complete opposite.

I really enjoyed myself in Bus Seminar and did all my homework before having the church group over for a bonfire!

I love bonfires, and I love the church group. Having them together was amazing. Church was going to be called off due to a leaders meeting but I saw no reason to cancel if it could just be moved. So, fifty mass texts and many more e-mails later, I had forty people at my house.

God is good! It was exciting to have that time of fellowship amidst the new school year. Good to get focused with a solid group of Christian believers. I am excited for SYATP, "Save the Planet" and T.R.U.T.H. (Bible Study at school). I think this year is going to be a HUGE influence on my faith. I can feel it already!

Bon Bons (two meanings, this post is the latter):

The Beginning of the End, before the Beginning

First day of school? Right now.
I'm pumped actually.
Physics, Business Seminar and Calc.
Not too bad I don't think, with an open third.

Senior year. Oh I have I longed for this year.
I'm ready to leave District 272 all together.
And to do that, I need to finish it here.

Let's do it.

One down, one up.

So I got week one at Crumb down and set. I'm thinking that I'm picking everything up fairly quick and should be "fully trained" in no time. I'll only be working night shift, because of school, so that will help limit a lot of what I need to learn. Working with Brandon and Kate also makes it easier, as I like them and already know them very well.

However, school isn't so great. I'm not ready for it. I am, but I'm also not. I am looking forward to something new, yes, but I'm not looking forward to the homework and what not. I am really hoping that I don't need to finished the reading. I have English Q3 and Q4 so I assume I don't need to do anything until then because there is no paper correct? What ever, I don't care. The summer part is only ten points. Ten of like ten thousand points you get in an English class.

This weekend will be quick.
Massive Painting on Labor Day, how fitting.

Well-
Here's to the last week of summer.

Feeling Crummy?

I'm proud to announce, I now have a wonderful job!
I'll be working at Crumb Gourmet Deli starting tomorrow.

It's a very nice sandwich place that I think is better then most all others.

What makes it even better? I live two minutes down the road, and I'll be working
with my best friend, part time after school.

I am very excited I was hired and am ready to get the gas tank consistently full!

___

Using this old post to host some pictures, feel free to ignore everything else here.

Perfect Example of God

Right now in my life, I'm unsure of where to go.

Obviously I need to go to the bathroom and eventualy school, but I'm talking in a year. College is a big thing for me. I had it all figured out and recently 'totally knew' where I was going to go. I wanted to attend UND (University of North Dakota) for a computer science degree. Because of different circumstances and people, currently in my life, I no longer 'totally know' if that is the thing for me.

This year was a spirtual awakening for me, my faith was jump started and I'm headed straight toward 88mph to make the jump. This awakening was amazing, and I would love to help and encourage other highschool students to experience the same thing. This is such an amazing time in my life and I can do so much for Him in my youth. All this being said, the trying thought is weither I want to go to college to become a youth pastor and give back to the programs that have changed my life so much. The only thing stopping one college option or the other is my unknowning knowlage of where God wants me to be.

This morning, I grabbed my Bible to start the day off and God gave me exactily what I needed to hear:

" 2 Obey the king's command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king's presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king's word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

5 Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him.

7 Since no man knows the future,
who can tell him what is to come?

8 No man has power over the wind to contain it ^[a] ;
so no one has power over the day of his death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
so wickedness will not release those who practice it."

Ecclesiastes 8:2-8

This is what I needed, the reassurance that I don't know the plans He has for me, and that I need to obey his command, pray, and seek him. I pray to find an answer pleasing to Him so I can have rest over the stressing idea of college.

Treat yourself right

So I bought myself (half of a ) birthday present, and it's wonderful.

Logitech X-540 Speaker System

I love the system so much. The bass shakes my pants, and the music sounds wonderful. I'll be listening to 70's music on internet radio for a while today.

I just wanted to share my excitement with you.

" Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! "

God Bless.

You guys are champions!

I'm so stunned by the Olympics. The athletes are amazingly fit in every way. However, Women's Gymnastics in particular astounds me. Even more specific?

Shawn Johnson.

This girl is sixteen years old, and can do more physicaly demanding things then I could hope for.

Seeing the dedication she has for every flip on the balance beam, every spin in the vault; it's inspiring.

It makes me wounder what I could do with such enthusiasm and dedication for God. What amazing feats could I perform if I gave my life fully and completely to God? That surrender has started, we'll see where He takes me.