Volleyball

Tonight while playing volleyball I realized you can learn a lot about yourself and others while playing. We have options. We can do a good job, know that we are going to hit the ball, not depending on anyone else. If I chose to hit it over the net every time there is a higher guarantee that our team could score a point. But, is the team really benefiting?
What if it is more beneficial for the team all around if I take a risk to pass the ball, to set someone else up for success, to work as a team. Yeah, they might not have a perfect hit, or they may even miss it. Your team could lose the point. BUT what if you take the risk, you pass the ball and they successfully score a point for your team! Together you did it.
It's like that in any team. Anyone of us at any point could chose to go it alone. But we would miss out on this beautiful thing called a team. What if you take a risk? What if you give someone else a chance to join you in what you are doing? What if they don't do it perfectly....or what if they bring something unique and creative to the table of life that you never would have had without them?
Back in the day, before I was 20 believe it or not I really couldn't play volleyball at all. I went on a vacation to NH and some of my friends invited me to play. They took a risk, I missed the ball more than I hit it, I couldn't set, i couldn't spike, i could barely hit it with one hand and sometimes serve over the net. Usually at that point I wouldn't be invited to continue to try..the team around me would jump in front of me, assume that I wouldn't get it because I never did before-so why would I now. Well, these guys chose to give me a chance-they gave me pointers. They took time and took a risk. Instead of giving up on me, they chose to see that I could do it given a the opportunity. I wouldn't call myself a pro, but I can play volleyball because I had people who believed in me, took a risk, invested in my life and showed me how to be a team player. Sometimes I probably look at volleyball through different eyes because of the way I learned...and I believe it's worth passing on to others.
How often do we do this with people? Seeing transformation in people's lives means risking with them-taking a chance that they might not do things exactly like you think it should be done, or they may make a mess...
Faith IS spelled R I S K.
God has called us to be on HIS team-He's passing the ball to us and saying "give it all you've got..."-yeah, I won't hit it right every time, but I'm so thankful to be on His team-because he's got the best in mind.
Til next time...

Today on a college campus my friend JP and i took a walk across the lawn. We met a girl and asked her how her day had been. She said "bad." Right away our hearts broke for her and we listened to her pour out her heart. We prayed with her and encouraged her, and invited her to join us tonight at the tent meeting instead of going to the strip club, which was what she thought was her only answer to the trouble she was in. She had no hope.
Tonight at the tent meeting she found hope in Jesus and a whole pile of new friends. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to encounter her life, and see it radically changed. Instead of pain tonight she found healing. Instead of being seen as a piece of meat, she was seen as the precious jewel that God had chosen.
I'm at a loss for any more words...just that God is so good.

Panera Bread

So, today in Panera Bread I was a little frustrated because I needed to work on my computer but the battery was dead and i forgot my charger at the house. Called Andrew and he had one so after running bus routes here at the beach he dropped it by.
I was sitting by a man in there and in the midst of my busy little life I hadn't even thought to say hello. Just a quick-do u mind if i sit here comment. Well, Andrew and Brycen (my cousin) walk in and long story short, in a matter of minutes the man's hurting knee was healed and he was spilling his life story. We spent almost a good hour with him talking about the things of God and enjoying fellowship.
Yes, the harvest is ripe. Lord, help me each day to not get so caught up in logistics that I miss what you are doing all around me!

Orange County

Definitely time to give an update on life!
Currently in Kona a school is running called the Circuit Riders which I mentioned the podcasts in a previous blog. This school is splitting into several locations for outreaches directly following the completion of the school. We as a base are joining The Circuit Riders on a week and a half outreach in Huntington Beach, California. Nonstop ministry for ten days. Like Kingdom Night x10 nights x200+ people!
This coming weekend I am heading out with 3 of our guys to work as an advance team getting the final logistical preparations finished. A lot of scouting, mapping, planning, detailing, organizing..all things right up my alley :-) I feel super privileged to be able to go and serve in this way!
It's crazy how things have come together...when God is up to something and He says join Me in this..there is NO STOPPING!
I will be driving my car out following one other car. We need vehicles to get around on the ground there and get everything done. So this week  I am getting everything in my car checked over, but if you could be praying that my car has no issues at all and does great that would be awesome! I have known from the day I got the car that it's for ministry and so I am so thankful to have it and be able to offer it's use! It's been reliable for all the years I have had it now, and I want to continue to use it as a blessing.
A few other things to pray for:
The people that we will be ministering to-hearts to be open and receptive to the gospel of Jesus and the Truth!
Safety in Travel
Amazing communication between us as a ground team and coordinating with both Denver and Kona as needed.
$ for vehicle gasoline & for all of our vans to make it to the OC with no problems as well! (Grace for Tanner as he is our vehicle guy doing A LOT of work on them right now!)

Also, on a personal random note, I get to stay with my cousin Brycen for the first week and a half! What a cool blessing. It will be so good to spend a bit of time with him!  And also I will be celebrating my birthday there...so that will be interesting! :-)