Up dog.
Sorry it’s been awhile and I never posted my Northwest trip play-by-play. Most of my pictures are on my friend’s camera, so ’til then, I’ll keep those memories packed in my peanut memory the best that I can.
Ever since I got back from vacation, I feel like I’ve hit the ground running. I really don’t have much to show for it and I still manage to sleep a lot, but my body sure feels like it’s been busy and stressed. The other day I was talking to a friend and wondering how I could start my day at 6am and go ’til midnight during high school. My days were cram packed with activities, homework, and work, but I still managed to handle it all. What the heck is different? Certainly being seven years older isn’t a valid excuse. Hold on. Did I say seven years? Holy smokes.
During this busy summer, the friends that I’ve had the most trouble finding time to spend with have stepped up their game. No doubt that the rare occasions I get to hang out with them are God-ordained — not only do I get to spend time with them, but for the most part, conversations have been so encouraging. Even a little online chat I had with Mandy tonight, although short, it was definitely sweet. It’s the seemingly little things lately that have pushed me to keep going strong.
Another little thing that happened was that my buddy, Emily, happened to purchase the New Testament on CD. I was wondering if she would let me borrow them but too embarrassed to ask. (If you knew Emily, you’d remind me that I can be dumb and insecure and there’s nothing I can’t say to this girl, she’d love me just the same.) Only a minute after that thought passed through my head did she offer to give me a copy of a book. I’ve been slowly studying Acts, so Acts it was.
So fast forward and it’s one week later and I’m now a huge fan of the Bible on CD. And Acts. I thought I would space out too much to pay attention, but I didn’t. And the times I did space out, I merely rewinded and listened (and sometimes relistened again) to whatever I missed out on. I drive a whole stinkin’ lot for work, so this was perfect. And listening to Acts was perfect. I laughed at Peter when he got “SO ANNOYED,” got a reality check after the greedy couple fell dead, and was on the edge of my seat when Paul was being sent court to court and even through a crazy seastorm.
One of the last series The Village has gone through asked the question, “Where are all the men who truly desire God?” The people who have lost sleep over their love and fear of the Lord, the men who have left behind everything to follow God’s every command, the men like Moses, David, and Paul…
Usually I’m a Peter fan, but to read/listen to Paul’s trials and tribulations makes me wonder if there are any men like this anymore. Sure, I know of plenty of recently converted people, but a complete Saul-to-Paul? To once have persecuted, but then be the persecuted? To have had everything, but then count it all as loss in comparison to knowing Christ? To have the boldness to step it up to Jews, Gentiles, and even his brothers in Christ, like Peter, and tell them how it is?
As I prepare for my trip to East Asia next month and continue to read the early church movement in the Scriptures, I continue to tell myself, “I want a faith like that.”
