Catch up!

04/16/08
WOD:

"Nancy"

Five rounds for time of:
400 meter run
95 pound Overhead squat, 15 reps

Time: 15:10

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WOD: 04/17/08

"Elizabeth"

21-15-9 reps of:
Clean 135 pounds
Ring dips

Time: 9:40

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WOD: 04/18/08

"Michael"

Three rounds for time of:
Run 800 meters
50 Back Extensions
50 Sit-ups

Time: 19:45

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WOD: 04/19/08

Rest Day!

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WOD: 04/20/08

"Angie"

100 Pull ups
100 Push ups
100 Sit ups
100 Air squats

Time: 25:15

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WOD: 04/21/08

"Joe's Special"

Five Rounds:
5 Back squat
10 Sit upsf
10 Back Extensions (Both for active rest)

135#-145#-155#-165#-175#

Shoulder Press:
3-3-3-3-3

Results: 95#-105#-115#-125(Failed: 1 rep)-125(Failed: 1 rep)-115#

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Here's an Elephant I drew in Calculus today... Check him out!




















Well, I'm dead. Off to sleep after I read some Psalms!

Why are Christians so CHEAP!?

WOD:

3 Sets
Max BW Bench (7, 6, 5)
Max Incline Situps ( 40, 30, 30 )
Max Back extensions (21, 31, 20)

Hang Cleans (Failure)
1st -115 pounds, 2nd - 125 pounds, 3rd - pounds, 4th - Crash. (Dang 10k!)

Well, I didn't think that was enough, so I did a bit more:
100 Burpees for time (8:59)

WOOT!

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Psalm 4:5
Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.

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The gift that keeps on ... TAKING!

Side note: Yesterday I ran a 10K. My time doesn't show my hard work, but I was ecstatic when I found out I finished it off in 52:20. I named today's blog, "The gift that keeps on.... TAKING" because that 10K affected me during last night's sleep, my 10am-6pm shift, and my workout.

Yay 10 Ks!

Today's WOD:
"Quarter Gone Bad"

Five rounds for total reps of:
135 pound Thruster [sub 115 pound], 15 seconds
Rest 45 Seconds
50 pound Weighted pull-up, 15 seconds
Rest 45 Seconds
Burpees, 15 seconds
Rest 45 seconds

Goal: 15 reps - Thruster, 15 reps - Weighted pull-up, 25 reps - Burpees.
What I accomplished: 25 reps - Thruster, 12 reps - Weighted pull-up, 34 reps - Burpees.
I set goals beyond what I expected to put out. Man, I'm stronger than I think. This is awesome!

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Check this song out. It's 'Lose my Soul' by Tobymac.... It's stuck in my head, but I'm loving it!

Long time, no blog!

WOD:

Military (Shoulder) Press: 1-1-1-1-1
Push Press: 3-3-3-3-3
-We don't have a squat rack, so we had to do cleans between each rep.
Followed by handstand hold


Results:
Military Press: 115 pounds - 135 pounds - Failed Rep - 140 pounds - 145 pounds - 145 pounds
Push Press: 135 pounds - 155 pounds - 155 pounds - 160 pounds - 165 pounds
- Power Clean Reps: Priceless.

I could only hold the handstand for about 20 seconds.

In my craziness I did the workout 'Barbara' today, I only did 4 of the 5 rounds. Each round looked like this:
20 Pull ups
30 Push ups
40 Sit ups
50 Squats
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All the questions I want to ask girls.

I've been thinking about this lately... I've been talking to some girls lately and I'm not really interested in any of them, because they aren't head over heels in love with Jesus. Long story short, I'm confused about ladies, and I just want to vent out! Here's a few questions I have for ladies in no particular order.

1. Do you prefer a guy who consciously attracts you, or attracts you by the way he lives?
2. Would you go with me to a Mariner's game?
3. What does it mean for you to live for Jesus?
4. What are some of the values you plan to incorporate into your family life?
5. Why are you so hard to read?!
6. Do you think physical appearance is a reflection of a lifestyle?
   
7. Would you play sports with me? Are you interested at all in working out me?
8. What role does attraction play in relationships with you?

I just don't get ladies at all. I don't know how to put the 'moves' on, but I think I'm a decent guy. I've ruined every chance I've had in the past, and I'm not ready to start up a relationship any time soon. I just want to find a lady that can encourage me to love God more... definitely reflect Christ's love to. So much on my mind! I have to work in less than 8 hours.. I'm done!

We love You Lord!

Fanks, Bruv.

Workout of the Day:
I called it complements..

1. Handstand Push ups [3 reps]
   
2. Sprint (attempt to sprint...) 25 feet there and back.
3. Dead lift 133% BW (came out to 205 pounds) [3 Reps]
4. Sprint
5. Pull ups [3 reps]
6. Sprint
7. Knees to Elbows [3 reps]
   
   Do 5 rounds.

It was an awesome workout, I really just feel... Good.
My brother just left for Winnipeg, Canada. *Sigh* But I will tread on!

... I'm baking cookies!

Anywhoo, back to being the [only] man of the house... Here's a couple of todays Highlights... and Lowlights:

Highlights:
I helped in Steve Ballmer (Microsoft's new CEO)


I guess he's a big deal. I wasn't even allowed to enter his room, I brought his luggage in escorted by a security guard; defintely the most awkward luggage delivery I've ever done.

I still managed to help in/out every guest in the lobby though things were extremely busy. I looked like I wasn't doing anything when I was actually in the middle of 3 or 4 LARGE tasks.

I think my brother and I represented Semiahmoo Resort well today in front of Microsoft, and our Resort's owners Trillium. Today was an intimidating day.

Lowlights:
I'm single (Haha)

Reading Job these last few days is reminding me that I need to praise God for the Highlights... AND the Lowlights! (Basically... I feel iddy biddy.)

17 "What is man that you make so much of him,
that you give him so much attention,

18 that you examine him every morning
and test him every moment?

19 Will you never look away from me,
or let me alone even for an instant?

20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
O watcher of men?
Why have you made me your target?
Have I become a burden to you?

21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
and forgive my sins?
For I will soon lie down in the dust;
you will search for me, but I will be no more."

Job 7:17-21

This scripture just makes me feel tiny. God keep me in perspective!

[Cookies are almost done!]

Finding God ... in the MUCK!

What a day!
Today started off like any other, woke up at 5:30am... and went back to sleep. :)
Woke up again at 6:15am, took a shower, and was at work by 6:50am. Today was
an awesome day at work, I must say. I handled one hundred thirty check outs today
as a lone bellman. Finally, I'm doing something right!
After work, I drove home, wrestled with God about tithing and grabbed my Bible --- wait, where's my Bible? Long story short, God won; I will definitely write about tithing later.
I arrived at the Home, and hung out with the Whatcom CCFers. Good times.
A little something came up that really began stirring my heart:

We had a 'name game' with the following criteria...
What would you do if you could do anything you wanted and money was not a factor? (In one sentence)
My reply... "I would take my mom and visit her family in the Philippines, and just pour a blessing on them."
Who was that reply for? Jesus and my Mom. All around the room I heard response after response about selfish desires. Lord, I want ... and I'm sure You do, too... to be a part of the Body that keeps You the head and desires to do Your will. I was so discouraged. Sure, it was a game, but... I'll probably blab about this later, too.

Headed to CCF at Western, had a blast worshiping God, wrestled with thoughts during the
message (don't worry, my argument was Biblical! he used a few scripture out of context, I think...) Then I talked to Jennifer Gailey and Alexi Sapida (again? I'm as surprised as you are!)

Here's where the fun actually began:
I got to the home around 9:50pm, I had to go home because I have to work in... roughly 5 hours (7:00am). I go to my car and the dome light is out. Crap. I didn't want to interrupt my Core's "manover," so I called my dad (who recently got his job and slept through his alarm... I woke him up to make it to work), then I called my sister. After a couple moments of catching up and talking, she drove over to help her brother out. I LOOOVE my family. She drove up from Oak Harbor to help me out. (1 hour drive, one way!)
She's driving up... and we talk about everything. Everything that God's been doing in each of our lives, I was STOKED to hear how obedient my sister has grown to be. I'm so proud of her.
Long story made even longer, my sister gets lost due to lack of clarity and confusing Bellingham roads. I came running; here's my route (ended up coming to 1.3 miles).
Yeah, I ran the wrong way, so what? I was using my map doohickey on my phone (finally put into use!) and eventually found my way. We hung out a bit more, I taught her how to jump a car, and sat down and told her not to grow up to be a drunk. Bellingham at midnight is a scary place ladies and gents. A scaary place.




God's been at work in my life. The harvest came up when I was most broken. Well, my car was... AGAIN! No matter, God showed up, and the night rocked. I wouldn't trade tonights experience for anything. Tonight I faced a few areas I need to be praying for God's direction in:

• Tithing! (I'm excited to write about this!)
• Bellingham outside of CCF. (Boy are we in a bubble!, those people need Jesus, too!)
• Being there financially for my family.
• Authenticity (being real)
• Understanding of: Love, Patience, and Faithfulness and incorporating it into my life!

I'm a rambler, excuse me. It's 2:00am, and I've been up since about 6:30am.. I need to get up around the same time and do it again! :) Woo-hoo!

The GIFT of Purity

I've been wrestling with this all day:
What is purity? Is it a gift from God or a gift to God?

What does Jesus have to say about this?

14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' "

17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")

20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "

Mark 7:14-23

All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'
Alright, I got it. The list (come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly) seems more evident in my life than the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). I don't really need to qualify myself to anyone, but God. I need fundamental change, and persistent effort to seek what God wants with my heart.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:10-17

Create in me a pure heart...
I've been reflecting on this for weeks now, the one thing I do know about my heart is this: it's not pure, but it wants to be. I read about King David, the man after God's heart, and I want this indeed. I've been learning that the foundation of a pure heart requires a lot of work, but it's incredibly self-motivated and proactive. Hear me out on this, you need to be self-motivated to keep yourself away from selfishness. There's a quote I've been meaning to share:

Those filled with unchecked pride cant love as they should or receive love as they could.

I hate how pride finds a way to destroy everything, it can make a pure heart impure. Most of the work needed to protect a pure heart involves initiative to keep pride from getting involved. I don't want this gift I desire from God to be anything but this: I want to reflect Christ. Not just His image, but His character and love. Lord, check my pride.. and let's get to work!

Work-Out Day!

Today was an awesome workout day... Check it out!

Rounds of:
5 Pull ups
10 Push ups
15 Squats
Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes... I ended up doing 11 rounds.

1 to 10 breathing ladder of Kettle bell swings.
I did 4 rounds, and a couple more adding up to a total of 220 swings in 19minutes and 10seconds.

What a day! My brother and I have an unwritten competition for all the workouts, and I beat him on one of them... It was awesome! Basically, I'm exhausted.

This quarter is coming to an end... and I'm beginning to decide my schedule for next quarter, what classes will I take? I guess, right now, I've been wrestling with how I invest myself today for my future. I'm studying hard, working hard, and resting hard, and there are still a few things I need to improve:
Prayer life (prayer for my future ministry... and... wife? [c'mon God!])
Friendship life (Phil and I: Roomates 2008?)
School (What am I going get my degree in?)
Bah, making decisions for myself. Tough work!

Whoa! Wake-up call!

Workout of the Day:

For time:
50 Box jump, 24 inch box
50 Jumping pull-ups
50 Kettlebell swings, 1 pood (about 30 lbs.)
50 Knees to elbows (this turned out to be about 15, then 35 pathetic v-sits)
50 Front squats, 45 pounds
50 Back extensions
50 Wall ball shots, 12 pound ball
50 Single unders (jump rope)
I finished this today at 31:42

Yeah, today pretty much sucked. I was confronted today by one of the my Core members that I am viewed by others as a commitment flake. Wait a second, a what?

This is what my schedule looks like:
5:40am - try to wake up, pray, do devotionals
6:00am - get ready for work (eat breakfast, shower, etc.)
6:40am - drive in to work
7:00am to 3:00pm - WORK!!
3:10pm - get home, get ready for school
3:25pm - start driving to school
4:00pm to 5:05pm - English 100 class (Monday through Thursday)
5:10pm to 7:30pm - Math 131 class (Monday and Wednesday)
6:00pm to 8:00pm - Sociology 110 class (Thursday)
If I get home around 8:00pm, I try to work out, but if I don't have the time, no biggie!
8:00pm(ish) to 9:30pm - Homework!
10:00pm - pray, go to bed!

That's just my schedule, but I'm a commitment flake, here are a few of my commitments:
Jesus (give my 10%, but live for Him with my all!)
Brother (Responsible to pay bills, clean up around the house, and be there for him)
Family (You guys know this one!)
Friends & CCF (This is what I'm working on! This is my prayer and discipline focus!)

I have a lot to due, I just need to bucket down, stop wasting time, and make the most of every opportunity to have each moment I have available fully used to bring a smile to God's face. Sorry, everyone, but this is the life I'm living. It's incredibly rough, but it's what I have to do. Hey, Phil, can you hit me with a comment about this? I feel guilty that I'm not there for people, but for the first time in ages, I feel like I need help! I hate to be called a commitment flake, but it's not like I'm hogging any time to myself, and all the things I'm doing right now are preparing me for the ministry God's called me to. It's a stretchy time for me!

Discipline

Work Out of the Day (WOD):

21-15-9 (reps) of:

Ring Push-Ups
Dead lifts @ 100 pounds (60% Body weight)
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Pull-Ups
Overhead squats @ 50 pounds (30% Body weight)

Core Complex

I need to make a lot of changes in my life. I've been facing a lot of questions... and it seems God is responding to my cries, "What have I been doing wrong?" I have a lot of issues right now. I'm becoming less consistent, and I'm messing up everywhere... I just need to let out my battle cry and face my junk, God I want to be faithful to You.

So far, my new disciplined life style is going alright, but I definitely need to buckle down and meet the obvious check points God is wanting me to meet. Jesus, I'll get there. I'm learning what it means to love Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength... but I want to be growing in all of those areas as well. One day at a time. You and me, Jesus, let's do this!

I'm in denial.

I love oranges. I was eating one today, y'know, doing the usual. Peeling it, separating it, and eating it. I thought to myself, "Pirates probably ate them like apples, those savages."
Then I began to think, are there any other animals who spend so much time to peel an orange? Why is the orange separated like this? I really began to see God's craftsmanship as I was eating an orange!

Background:
I was watching t.v. the other day (Are you smarter than a 5th grader) and I saw the commercial to the new show "Moment of Truth." The controversial question came up: Would you cheat on your wife if you knew you wouldn't get caught?

I think God designed everything to show a glimpse of His existence, God is in everything. 'Wouldn't get caught,' isn't accurate at all. In the future I would probably fail this lie detector test in front of my wife as well. Sorry, honey, but the sinful nature within me would scream the truth that I'm not 'good.' I do things everyday as if I wouldn't get caught, but God you're there in it all. I'm sorry.

Love is beautiful.

I'm sitting here preparing myself to write an academic essay about conflict in Kenya... just sitting and thinking and I came, I guess, to a awesome revelation.

Love is beautiful
It is indeed. It's designed by God, and His work is always beautiful. Love is complete, yet seeks more. It gives us purpose and passion. I think the best part about love... Right now for me, is that I keeps a smile on my face as I go to sleep every night.

I've been feeling extremely lonely lately... frantically searching within my soul and asking God, "What do I need to do to get into a relationship again?"
... All the while rejecting the time I'm blessed with. As a single guy, I have the opportunity to hang out with Jesus freely... to learn to love Him more and more. I wanted to get in a relationship because I know relationships reflect my love for Jesus, but looking at the flaws I have, I realize I have a long way to go. A co-worker of mine, Jodi Pena, said, "Joe, I can't wait to see who you grow up to be." Coming from her, it was a bit of a shock. I'm still a bit shaken up by it, but it fills me with an awesome hope. I want to continue to pursue the things God has right in front of me, and I'm excited to take up the things God has for me down the road. I need to stop making things happen for myself, forget about getting into a relationship and take the time to improve the one I'm already in.

The revelation I came to was this:
Love is a choice. (DUH, right?) I was thinking back on all my relationships and was blown away. How could those corny lines and my spazzy personality get/keep any girl interested in me? I'm not sure, but it's awesome. Preparing myself and looking around, I find my parent's relationship extremely beautiful. They choose to love each other daily. I want that. Jesus, I want to wake up every morning and choose to love You. Once I truly get that I will start to ask You about ladies again, alright? :)

All Hail... New York Giants!!!

Madagascar... that movie changes lives... But let me tell you, it's all
about the New York Giants right now!!

• Came into the playoffs the lowest seed, every game they'd play would be an
  away game in the post season.
• As I was filling out playoff brackets they were the first team I weeded out
  saying, "They're going down to the Bucs... Jeff Garcia is an awesome
  quarterback." Boy, was I wrong!
• Beat Dallas, the #1 seed, in Dallas' stadium.
• Beat Greenbay, the #2 seed, in the snow in Greenbay's stadium.
• Came into Superbowl the obvious underdog.. and SACKED TOM BRADY OVER
  5 TIMES! and WON!

I really didn't know how to feel until the forth quarter but there was a lot
of screaming and excitement... It was awesome to see the Patriots lose!

2 Samuel 24:10-17
10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."
11 Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: 12 "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.' "
13 So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three [a] years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me."
14 David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
15 So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the LORD, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family."

2 Samuel 24:21-25
21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"
"To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." 22 Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23 O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you."
24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

These two chunks of scripture are awesome displays of love in which God and David show to Israel (that's us!) I need to study this a bit more... It's a huge chunk. Lord, make some sense of this to me, I want to know what You're trying to teach me!

A new growth.

This is hilarious. My view of Christianity is becoming somewhat cynical. I'm not sure what to think about Christians at times. Is it jealousy? Is it genuine conviction in my heart? I'm not sure, but I'm not too sure I like it.

This weekend:
This weekend was my birthday weekend! I went to Winter Camp '08 with my CCF Core (small group) and had a blast! One of the first things I realized was that I was growing more and more intimate about the most seriously in my life (my relationship with God) with people I barely know. A lot of good things happened this weekend, but I specifically want to share one event.

I met a girl:
"What the heck, Joe?" Hear the story out! I have to start with the lamest part. Some guy said this, "Don't you hate it when you listen so intently and hear nothing?" Bah! So, I was listening to her story and didn't remember her name! I remember her parent's names, though. Jim and Karen. I'll get back to those later. Anywho, I was responding the the message God was speaking through Brady on Saturday night, and I turned to the right and asked Core Leader Jeffe Springer to pray for me to find a deeper love of diving into God's Word. I found myself in a rut, but pressed through continuing to pray. All weekend there was a girl who caught my attention. She is gorgeous, let's get that out of the way upfront. Here's the deal, though. She caught my attention and I literally asked this question to God, "God, what do you want me to see in this girl?" I brushed it off, and prayed for her to find what God was looking for her this weekend. Craziness. I went to a session that night called Sex, sex, sex... what about relationship? Awkward, right? Nah, it gets worse, she was there, too! (I can't believe I don't remember her name.) I came in late and didn't sit next to a few of my friends because she probably would've noticed me, y'know? I'm such a dork. Well, the rut was this. I wanted to pray, but God kept bringing her to my attention. It was distracting me from worship and prayer, normally that's not a good thing, so I started praying for her and all of a sudden... "Mom" came up in my heart. I didn't understand this at first, but I started crying BIG-TIME and started praying for my mom. She (seriously, once she contacts me through facebook I'll tell her about my blogs, she might make fun of me big time for not knowing her name!) came up and layed her hand on me. I instantly knew it was her because her voice calmed my screaming heart praying for my mom. I started praying for my dad next. My parents aren't saved. I maintain composure and sit up. She spoke, and the night flipped. This girl whom God was bringing my attention to has my story. We talked about it, and it was awesome to see someone else with the same heart for their parents. I'm not going to make this anymore significant than it is, but I'm going to let this out so it doesn't remain a stumbling block in my life. I found out she's in a pretty serious relationship... (hear me out guys!!) It's lame to me because I know she's going to be a wonderful mother one day. I'm going to keep her and her parents (Jim and Karen) in my prayers. It was one of the most beautiful nights I've ever experienced, Jesus really is the author and perfecter of my soul! Beautiful work, Jesus!
Hopefully, we do get in contact with each other, within the next few weeks I'm going to tell my dad everything God has been doing my heart and tell my dad I love him. It's going to be awesome!

That's it. This weekend rocked, but it's only a foundation to a great life to follow!

You know you have a problem when...

You blog at the library. I'm such a dork! Anyways, I'm now ready through the book of Samuel, and... God's really maturing my heart. I couldn't wait until I got home... I have to write about it now!!
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1 Samuel 15:1-3
1 Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.' "

'I will punish the Amalekites.. Do not spare them...'
Lesson #1: Listen!
God said that He would punish them. Remember: Obeying God doesn't help you receive merit of any kind... It really doesn't benefit us at all. Everything is in God's hands... He'll get it done, but it is a priveledge to be used by God. Actually, at first, when I read this, I was confused. "How could God do something like this?" Let me tell you quite simply... He's God. Don't worry about it and don't let your emotions or even reason get in the way. Pray about it if you unsure, but if you didn't hear God clearly the first time, He's probably going to repeat Himself exactly as He did before. :)

1 Samuel 15:9
But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

Lesson #2: Obey God, not what is 'good.'
"No one is good—except God alone." I'm not sure if this is fully in context, but hear this out and challenge this idea. Jesus said this to a ruler who didn't think Jesus was God, but a 'good teacher.' Here it is in a mathematical equation:
_____________________________________________________________________
Given:
x = Jesus obeys God fully (Sent by God to express His love for us... His plan from the beginning (the Will of God).

Unknowns:
y = our decision (obey or not...)

We need to move on from the concept that Jesus was a good guy. We need to understand that Jesus is God and God knows what He's doing... Trust Him, already!
Through John 14:6-7 we know that
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Therefore: if x = y, then you're doing the Will of God.
_____________________________________________________________________
We can allow our emotions to clash with our decisions and Jesus warns us of this problem when He challenges us with the idea of becoming His disciple:

Luke 14:26-27
26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Don't let anything hinder you. It may hinder you, but as I approach what Jesus said, I think of how hate makes us scrappy... Willing to do anything to accomplish our goal... Even act foolish. Don't let your emotions hinder you, but allow your passions to compel you into action.

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1 Samuel 15:20
20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

"I went on the mission the Lord assigned me." I love how we go where God wants us to go, but we are consumed with this idea that we have to prove something to God. God is pretty straight forward... He loves full obedience. Sure, our employers love initiative, the only initiative God wants from us is to seek Him first, because then His will is done. (If you want to add to this idea, by all means... do it!) Samuel says this pretty well in his response to Saul's decision...

1 Samuel 15:22-23
22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

Full obedience. I'm not so good at that... now what?
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1 Samuel 15:24-25
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD."

Everything I said before was pretty straight forward, but here's where God put a change in my life. I used to love this scripture... The heart of Saul. As I read it now, my perception differs. The question that came to my head was this: "Why didn't you worship God by obeying Him?"

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Lesson #3: Don't be a hypocrit.

Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Why didn't Saul worship God before he messed up?

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Lesson #4: Pray

Jesus, I want to listen to You the first time. Jesus, may I be ready... if I'm not ready then eager to make the adjustments necessary to obey You. Jesus, You're God. And I want to be Your faithful servant. Help me understand what it means to truly be Your disciple.

What a day!

Days like today don't come around often. It's hilarious... Most guys I know have probably been through a lot of it, but for me it's different. A girl gave me her number!
When it happened I was confused and didn't really know how to embrace it, but I learned. God, I want to honor You. Thanks for a little glimpse of encouragement that I'm not that bad. :) We wrote notes back and forth for a couple of moments (we were literally sitting RIGHT next to each other...) and the next thing you know I have a girls phone number! Whew!

1 Samuel 12:20-25

20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."

God keeps us in check. He maintains accountability to ensure our success. The Israelite people have rejected God and chose Saul (the looser..) as king. '... the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you His own." Please to make us His own. Lord, may we not forget the grace You give us, the love You pour upon us. I desire to do as Samuel requests... Fear You, God and serve You faithfully with all my heart. Lord, thanks for everything.. I love You, God.

-Joe

Joe's thoughts on ... Girls

I don't get it.

Girls are awesome. I'm caught in a mess right now and I'm not going to spill out a ton of scripture, but I'm simply going to talk out what's been going on and calm my heart down to finally yield to the Holy Spirit.

Story:
I've been fully taken over by hormones. It's official that I'm an average guy. The difference between me and other men is that I've been touched by the Spirit of God, called to live a life for Him. It's ridiculous. My accessibility to feed my sensual desires is almost literally at my finger tips. I've got to learn. I have to understand that women/girls/ladies are all my sisters in the family of God.
I've learned to honor my Mom - sweet!
I've learned to honor my sister - SICK!!
- I need to learn how to honor God more fully, by how I deal with women.

I do not want to be 'burned' with passion. If I could've done anything different, I would have refrained from dating in High School. Not only would I not be in the situation I am right now, but those ladies would probably still talk to me and maybe I would be sitting here today with a pure heart. It's no one's fault but my own, and I can't take anything I did in the past back. I have to bear it DAILY to walk closer and closer to God. Right now, my heart is progressing and the wounds are deep. And Phil, I'm stoked to know that those scars will be encouraging to another man's testimony. Let's hope I'm obedient and get to the guys the Lord has called me to.

Situation:
School! New classes, new people, new situation. Pretty ladies EVERYWHERE! I'd LOVE to have Liz's gift. I guess any girls gift, haha. She said that the boy situation in Louisiana is 'irrelevant.' For me, I love hanging out with awesome ladies. Primarily, I almost always (95% of the time) hang out with guys. It's not that big of a deal, but I know it impacts me. If I can't honor women now, outside of marriage, how can I honor a woman in marriage? It's not practice in my mind right now, it's development... discipline. I want to learn how to honor women, not run away because of my current/past failures.

Jesus:
I love You. I'm messing up everywhere... I'm slacking a bit in school, but I'm working on it. I'm slacking in emotional development, but I'm working on it. I'm slacking in discipline to You, but I'm working on it. Jesus, help me to grow closer to You, first, and to honor Your creation, second. Help me keep this in perspective.

Well, that's it for now... I'm going to work out and prepare myself for class. Later!