So I usually have some sort of direction of what I'd like to write in a blog. I always feel like I need to write some profound blog that could be turned into a book and change the world or something. Today, I can assure you that I neither have a direction for this blog nor will it be life changing for you. I haven't blogged in a week and to be a good blogger I'm supposed to blog 4 times a week or something. But currently that is not happening, although I have plenty to say I'm not inclined to share any of it yet. What I can say however is that my life currently is surrendered for God and that means that my hands are off the steering wheel and I’m along for the ride! It’s amazing honestly, crazy things happen when you completely surrender to God. I’m used to being in control of my life, but now I am not and I’m completely enjoying this new experience of freedom. I’m learning so much about trust and love from God, things I could only learn from Him.
As far as blogs go, for the last few weeks I’ve been getting titles of blogs but the timing to write any of them just doesn't seem right. In the past I think I would just try to force things and write out of my own mind and will. And the blogs probably would have came out pretty good because I am a decent writer I guess. BUT I’m tired of doing things out of my own strength and with my own heart and mind. I want to be lead and directed by the spirit of God and not simply do things out of my own will. Therefore, in my obedience and in refusal to try and force things God has laid on my heart, I'm just going to share a little bit about what has been going on in my life in the last week, and where I'll be heading here in just a few short days. I learned from an amazing pastor and mentor that “the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing”(thank you pastor Mark Francey, that is a lesson I’ll never forget). So when God okays me to write the things He’s been putting in my heart, the timing will be perfect, but until then I’ll just write with what I’ve got.
Last week I took a trip down to see my cousin and her husband. If you've checked out my last blog entitled "I love strangers” you got a taste of the first few days of my experience down in Florida. I have to briefly pause to honor my cousin Vanessa and her husband Kyle. What God loving and people loving people. Two of the most amazing people that I’ve been blessed to spend a week with minus all my savage brothers, I miss all my boys and rotting in holes in distant countries with you nasty things(if you’re completely lost just check out my “About Me” blog).
Anyway, Kyle and Vanessa honored me throughout the last week, and blessed me in so many ways. They treated me like royalty, took me around Florida, opened their homes and hearts to me, and let me occupy their couch for a week! That was the first time I had ever met Kyle and you definitely live up to all the hype bro! You honor my cousin like a husband should, and I definitely learned some things from you two 😉 God has some big plans set up for you two, and I can’t wait to see them unfold!
I rode down to Florida to visit family, but I also went down there with hopes of selling my Harley, and thankfully I was blessed by a friend who wanted to buy my bike. Once I sold it, I had no way back to Georgia. So I decided to ride the greyhound back. Gods people ride the greyhound. If you want to experience the life of the American lower class, ride a greyhound. I was honored to be amongst them. These are people in various levels of low class income who are simply doing their best to get through life and make the most of it. I learned some things and experienced some interesting things as well.
For instance, at a urinal in downtown Atlanta some dude tried to sell me a gold necklace. No joke, I was just doing my thing and this guy comes up asking if I want to buy some jewelry. Not at the moment, I mean thanks for asking, but I’m a tad busy you know what I mean? Then I patrolled 5 blocks to a McDonalds for a chicken sandwich. Downtown Atlanta at night is like Ethan and Fran(roads in Fallujah, Iraq) but minus a flak, kevlar, and QRF(quick react force) on standby. That was a fun experience too. You could say I was a little fearful. I didn’t want to show up on the 10 o’clock news as the latest stabbing victim. But I don’t like to let fear drive and control my life. I trust in God, and I believe in who He made me. There isn’t a position in the world that God would put me in that He doesn’t have control over. I still could have got mugged yes, but I’m one of those bible believing Christians that thinks God works everything for good(Romans 8:28) and I refuse to live in fear of man.
Today I gave away the rest of my stuff that isn't going with me back to Idaho. Basically anything that can’t fit in the back of my truck had to go. It's always an awesome experience to give stuff away, and if you've never done it I suggest you do. But don't just give away your junk and the stuff you don’t use, give away stuff that has value. Even stuff that is valuable to you, if you treasure it, someone else will too. Giving away junk isn’t blessing someone, give away stuff you’d want given to you. There is just something about being ge Greed withdraws the hand of God, but generosity will always extend it.
I met some wonderful new people including a guy named Steve who had throat cancer earlier this year. His co worker told him that he'd be praying that God would heal him. One week he had cancer, and the next week during his weekly check up the cancer was gone! God had healed him! The doctor asked him, "do you believe in divine intervention? Because nothing else can explain this!" God is so awesome!!
Over the next few days I’ll be packing the rest of my keepsake stuff, awards and gear from my Marine Corps days, and gifts I’ve received from people. Next wednesday I'm heading up to Kentucky for the "Power and Love" conference. If you’ve never heard of Todd White, I would encourage you to do a quick search on youtube and watch one of the videos. He’s a wonderful servant of God, and God blesses and heals people in the streets through Todd. I’m excited to have an opportunity to learn more about Jesus and learn to love people like He did. I am also looking forward to visiting a good friend of mine that lives up in Kentucky who I haven’t seen in 4 years. I love reconnecting with old friends, especially Marines. Most of the time when I meet up with the boys we kick off right where we left off without skipping a beat regardless of how long it’s been.
Next weekend training camp for The World Race starts. I don’t know anything about anything in regards to training camp, but I know that God is going to rock my world. Why? Because I am going into training camp with a high level of expectation, filled with faith, and ready to experience all of God that I can. We’ll be living in our tents and eating some weird food, nothing that I’m not used to. In fact I pray it rains on us everyday! If it ain’t raining then we ain’t training! But seriously you find out who people are in the worst of physical conditions and I’d like to learn a lot about my squad through shared misery. Misery loves company.
So there it is! A blog without direction. Not so spiritual, slightly entertaining as usual, and always a little different. If I could leave you will one quote or statement of wisdom today it would have to be this excerpt from Bill Johnsons ‘Face to face with God’:
“The bottom line is that we give all of ourselves to obtain all of Him. There’s never been a better deal. When we go through with the exchange we find that what used to matter doesn’t anymore. Life without passion gives way to a life of reckless abandon. Not only does everything in our lives that is inconsistent with the kingdom of God start to die the moment we encounter Him, but the superior, supernatural reality of His kingdom starts to come alive in us. It is not possible to encounter One so overwhelming and maintain the status quo.”
