Eating in

After little discussion and much agreement, Chris and I decided to go down to the lobby and eat ramen instead of burgers, almonds and cashews instead of candy and fries, and juice instead of soda or energy drinks. We are eating all this while watching Tv and surfing the web. It's a great time in a comfortable hotel in the city we are going to live for the next five months. I'm excited and a little nervous about school, anyway You'll hear from me later.

Road to Costa

We are in Costa Mesa! The drive was a little stressful, we were getting a little lost and there was  a little discourse, but now that we are again at Jack in the Box eating ultimate Cheeseburgers we are doing great, on top of the world (or at-least sea level). Just a little side note, if you haven't ever heard George Lopez's stand up about Jack in the box you probably should, he's spot on. Sorry I don't have any pictures up in this blog, you can check some out at my myspace. Well until soon.  -Mat 

Yuck-a Valley Day 2!

We started out the day with Carrows for breakfast with G-Pa, it was enjoyable. I had eggs! Next was a stop at the infamous "Desert Christ Park " where Chris sat on Peter's lap and joined the last supper (See Above). We then found out about CCJS (Calvary Chapel Joshua Springs) which  has pre-k - 12th Grade along with a Bible College. It was good to check out the campus and talk to some of the attendants, mostly teachers and all over 40. Nonetheless, fantastic. After all this, we sat down, and watched tv until now. We are again at Jack-in-the-box, refer to last blog for picture: same table, same clothes, different time. Tonight we have game night with my Grandpa, my Great uncle and 7 others of their age, nonetheless, fantastic! Well, Until tomorrow from Costa Mesa. We Love You all. 

-Mat

P.S.  The bottom picture is of my dad and is one of many in the room we are sleeping in. Feel to use it for whatever, I'd like to see it around the web.

Yuck-a Valley

Well, First off I don't know why blogger is trying to make all this a hyperlink, so I apologize about that but anyway, Let me tell you something. This morning I woke up from onehave had in  of the best nights of sleep I've ever had. Thanks to Scott. Thank you Scott. After cereal we headed out to CA so we could stand next to a sign proving it (Which you can see below). Since Chris drove yesterday, I drove today. It was good. we enjoyed monster energy drinks courtesy of Katie Reimann, Thank you Katie. Well a couple hours after eating hogies at Albertson's in the great town of BLYTHE (thank you Albert) we made it to Joshua Tree CA, and you shouldn't feel bad about not hearing about this town no-one has. After moving our bags to the Creepy Guest/Doll room at my Grandparents house we decided to explore the property, where we found an old broken down school bus (The inside seen below). If you can't tell from the picture, there is alot of cushion, a desk and old van seats, my first response to seeing this was... Ofcourse! I mean we are in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree. Which led us to watch some Olympics with G-pa, it was good I found out a little more about politics. Now we are at the Local Jack-in-the-box... Fantastic (also seen below.).

Eatin' In-n-out

After a couple hours in Phoenix's heat and shopping malls we saw a sign that made me urtle with joy. IN-N-OUT!!  Oh boy, It  feels as though I am getting my first snowboarding run of the season in down the steep, powdery hills of Durango. The First of many.  

Chris had the nerve

Well, we aren't quite outside the Abq yet, meaning we are already fifty minuteds behind schedule. I have a feeling this might say something about our next year in college. Anyway chris just looked over at me and said with surprise "oh, I just got nervous" which is also something Jesse had exclamed about an hour ago. More updates to come.

A drop-out and a hooch...

Today, Gina and I went to hope christian school for a day before birthday lunch with Heidi. Heidi pointed out that out that Gina was wearing a "bare shoulders" shirt and informed us that the teachers here are probably judging her for it. It all comes down to three letters for me GED. Because of our faults we were told by the principle to eat lunch in either the office or the the bench outside of it (He didn't want me influencing these good kids). We chose the bench.

Superior intelligence

Heidi brought up a scary point. As we were at Ihop with about fifty vertical students, she told me that she now has a better high school education than me. I'm a fool.

Again at village inn

Chris, Kelly, Jesse, and the blog frog.

Jesse and Kelly with Blake

The guys and I were innocently hanging out in front of village inn, when Blake rolled up for a little intimidation dinner. Seriously huge!

Lunch with Dad.

Good food, good health, good conversation, good times.

My plane lands here.

Well tonight is the last night I will be leading the flight crew. It's good. I will have to begin my weekly flight throug the bible via technology.

I didn't graduate high school

And because of that. Instead of being at my second day of senior year I am at a rock climbing gym with this guy.

Who happens to be clayton.

Pages and Chapters.

Yesterday I made a purchase of 44 books to build my library and my mind. I'm very excited but also feel very nerdy. Three years ago I wouldn't pick up a book to save your life (maybe mine). I'm guess some things change and some stay the same cause I now won't put down a book to save your life. Still selfish, but a reader.

A Peculiar sight.

I was walking the campus today and as I turned the corner of the skate park I noticed a tractor tearing up the church grounds, I just had to wonder if this was a form of persecution or just a water leak. I've yet to find out.

To be a witness.

When I first had Kelli take this picture I had a clever blog brewing in my head explaining why exactly I was in Walmart after midnight in cut-off pajama pants. Then something great happened. As I was walking about the toiletry aisles we began small talk with a middle aged female employee. Thinking I was over twenty-one, she began talking about me drinking and why I would enjoy it. Somehow we got on the topic of christianity and discussed Kelli going to Africa and me going to bible college. After the conversation she thanked us for sharing and even said God must have sent us to her, because she needed to hear what we had to say. The point I bring is this. We have all been called to be witnesses. This doesn't refer to preaching (although I believe that to be very important), it simply means that we live in such a way that our every day lives are noticed. Jesse said something the other day that stuck with me. It is this. If we are always about spiritual matters than it will not be uncommon to encounter spiritual situations. Live your life in such a way that you cannot help but to shine that light of Salvation. That healing grace of Christ.

Oh, sleeper.

After talking with Chip I realized we (the church) have been doing alot of evangelism events lately. Filling the skate park with a good christian band and presenting the gospel being the latest of such events. The event brought a good crowd, including this curious on looker squatting on the sound equipment to catch the show. To God be the glory.

Heidi is me. I am Heidi.

Congratulations Nate and Amber Hoffman.

For Kelli and I this is number two this week. Sitting next to Anthony , my sister and the soon to be Mr and Mrs Nathan Heitzig. What beautiful company to be in!

Am I your chipmunk yet?

The worst so far is now. Just took alot of strong pills.

And I've been playing the best game non-stop.

The last battle.

No, I'm not talking C.S. Lewis' narnia series. As many of you know, my computer has been having problems lately. I have spent hours upon hours on the phone with incredibly friendly apple staff, but none of this was of any benefit. Now I am currentlly at the Genius car and have been re-assured that the new install will work. Waiting patiently for about forty minutes.

Day 2

The puffiness begins!

My guardians angels.

Otherwise known as visitors from heaven, earlier today Tamara and Josh enjoyed a movie with me. After that Heidi, Kirsi, and chip came to say their dues with some packaged mashed potatoes. After church these three came back over and chris (middle) hugs both Heidi, who just made me ra-men, and Kirsi, who has done nothing productive since arrival in the most encouraging way to a friend who has just endured his fourth dose of pain-killers. Thank God for surgeory, without it I wouldn't have as much good times with friends. Thank you all.

Keva Juice!

Keeps leaking out of my mouth. Swallowing pills was an adventure and my mother and Kelli were laughing very hard.

Out of surgespy/Surgeory

Don't remember a thing and feel great. Better than great. Ha ha ha. Just talked to my nurse about my collegiate stuff. Ha ha. I'M NOT IN THE ROOM I started in. I FEEL SO GOOD. All I remember before this was the doctor putting an iv in. I FEEL GREAT! Ha ha. I will go read or watch a tripped out movie like wizard of oz. Maybe wizard of oz.

Ihop at three.

Me, my chamomile.

Denver

and Chris

Pondering Pre-school!

Faith was just telling us all the things she needs for school that starts the day I leave. The majority of the list was coloring utensils.

Finally

The doors just opened at the o2 experience. Tonight will be awesome, Over three thousand students showed up to this and it is epic.

Jesse needs oxygen

Jason in sexual smog. - half an hour

Just lookin good.

We figured the bride and groom were getting too much attention. Sooo...

Congratulations Ben and Diane Kornegay!

The row in front of us.

The beauty next to me.

And some random kid that we found it the driveway.

I have a dream!

That is not having to do six different loads for clothes that can all fit in one. Why the segregation? Today I will bring change! Green, red, yellow, black, white, and blue will be washed together!

Preaching by G. Campbell Morgan!

Praise God for the fever, without it I wouldn't have as much time for such great reading and writing.

The Cock Crows.

It happens after the last supper, when Jesus speaks of his betrayal, that must and will take place soon, for the hour is now come. With all this talk of a follower of Christ, one of his chosen 12, turning against him Peter begins to feel uneasy and "Re-assure" Jesus of his dedication. It is in verse 37 of Chapter 13 in the Gospel of John that Peter says I will lay down my life for your sake. In the next verse Jesus (in response) says "Verily, verily I say unto you, the cock shall not crow, till you have denied me three times." How devastating this must have been for Peter to hear that he would deny the one man he had given 3 1/2 years to following and learning from, that he would deny God.





After the arrest of Jesus, Peter did deny the Lord three times to three different people (on of which was a young girl), this can be read of in John 18:15-27. How could this happen just day/days before Peter had declared that he would go as far as to die for the purpose of the king. What dedication! How can a man with such passion fall so badly as to deny friendship with God? Well this story more than not reminds me of myself. i sing songs to the Lord like, "All I am is yours", "I surrender, all to you, Lord all to you". Vowing my dedication even until death to Jesus, yet often, I fail. So as Peter denied the his Master by mouth, I see that in my life I also deny the Lord by Actions taken. Here I submit that it is much easier to die for God than live for Him. When Peter denied Christ, I am sure one of the reasons leading to that Denial was doubt. What did he doubt? The faithfulness of Christ's protection. In Proverbs 29:25 we read "The fear of man brings a snare: but whosoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe." Fear of men and mis-trust (doubt) in the Lord, brought about his denial.








So far we have seen a dedication declared and a doubt-led denial. Next let's look at a delightful demand given by Christ to Peter. We can find this in looking at the third appearance Christ made unto his disciples after his resurrection. This we can find in the last chapter of 21 verses 15-17. Jesus is here eating fish and bread with His disciples on the beach at the sea of tiberias. Here Jesus asks Peter three times "Simon, son of Jonah, Do you love me?" Three times Peter's response was "Yes Lord, you know that I love you" Jesus' then replied "feed my sheep", "feed my sheep", "feed my sheep" after each time Simon Peter declared his Love for Jesus. When reading I though, Why? Why would Jesus choose Peter as a shepherd. The man that denied Jesus to a girl? Why not a real man? We find the answer in Jesus' question to Peter, "Do you love me?"



Throughout this book, I find Christ telling his disciples that if they love Him they will keep his words, his commandments, in one place He tells them that Love is the commandment. To love one another as He loved them. So, why Peter? Because Peter had Love, moreso, he loved the Lord. It was Martyn Lloyd-Jones that said "to me the work of preaching is the highest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which one can ever be called" This is the call given to Peter. Jesus is saying, I don't care what is in the past, do you love me? Feed my sheep.





So in this I hope you learned as I did that It is not the amount of commandments you kept, it is not that you have not denied Christ, if you want to serve God, then love him. These things will come along with Loving the Lord, keeping his commandments comes with loving Him, and when you have love, I pray that you will hear that glorious calling, Feed my sheep.