What A Trip!

Well, I just arrived early Sunday morning along with my comrades from our 8000 km trip across USA. We managed to make it to almost every destination we had in mind - including Colorado Springs, the Grand Canyon, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It was an absolutely incredible trip! We had so many mishaps come upon us - and yet everyone was so easy-going and light about it that instead of it ruining our trip - it just became an adventure! For instance, car troubles halted us in Colorado springs for 2 1/2 days longer than we had intended to stay - BUT - instead we got to see the area for all it's worth. It was awesome! We got see the Garden of the Gods, the Cliff Dwellings, AND take an awesome hike in William's Canyon in the mountains. Not to mention that we also got to meet the owner of a small guitar shop, who gave us a tour of his little guitar shop in the basement. Working for him was a legend of a man. He had built guitars for John Denver, Elvis Presley, and Simon & Garfunkel! How sweet is that! We got to hang with these two old dudes for about an hour - amazing how God runs you around meeting new people! If you ever see an expensive custom built guitar with the label "Cripple Creek" then you know where it came from.

And now it's Christmas time - time to be with family, eat food, give and receive. Most importantly though, is what we are celebrating foremost during this season. Jesus birth marked a milestone in history as God's plan of salvation began to unfold in a very tangible and visible way. Why is it that you and I find it so easy to brush over the importance of Christmas so easily, when really it is such a HUGE event in regards to our following of Christ. I wonder sometimes if Satan is beginning to like Christmas - or the "holidays" as it is being called more and more. It seems that as the years go by, we are becoming less focused on what is important and distracted with things meaningless. I have no doubt that God find pleasure in us blessing each other with gifts - but what if that becomes our obsession? Make sure you take time this Christmas to meditate on Jesus and the hope he brought to the nations with His birth! It is one of the biggest miracles in all of history!

~ Merry Christmas ~

To My Extended Family

Ah yes, here I am again to finally get down to something deeper than 'what's going on'. This post goes out to my friends. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it's amazing what you can all see when you look closely not just at yourself in the past, but also at people who helped take you in that direction.

As many of you know, one year ago - life was much different. I was engaged to be married and gearing up for a round-the-world trip to visit my soon-to-be in-laws in Muscat, Oman. 365 days later, I'm a very single man gearing up for a trek with some friends down to hot and sunny California. My, things have evolved. Nine months ago, my life turned upside-down. That definitely was the darkest Tuesday I've experienced, but one that has proven to be an incredible place of God's movement in my life.

But like I said: this one is for my friends. Never before in my life have I experienced the love and care of my friends like I have in the past 9 months. I wish I could express how grateful I am in words, but they wouldn't do. Unfortunately for my friends, they've had their ears worn out several times by my lengthy monologues. I would go on for hours, letting everything in my mind out. And yes, they would simply sit their and listen. They would look at me with eyes that loved and just listen. What a gift!

Growing up, I often was confused by the verse in Proverbs that said that 'there is a friend who is closer than a brother'. How could this be? I sure had never experienced it - but longed and prayed for it for so many years in my childhood. I now know what that truly means.

Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you! All you people who listened to me; all you who made meals for our family (my mom was going through her surgeries right then as well); all you who called me to see how I was doing; or took me out to something fun to get my mind off of things. To you who prayed so much; or wrote me an encouragement note; or gave me a HUG. Thanks.

Today is my 22nd birthday. I now embark on the 23rd year of my life - and never have I been so excited for what God is doing. Not only do I get to ride this adventure with God, but I also get to have the love and care of my brothers and sisters.

Proverbs 18:24 - it's a promise.

A Quick Update

Just so you guys know what's going on in my life:
On Dec. 11 I am writing my Vector Geometry/Linear Algebra final exam at 1:30 pm.
Dec. 15 I am writing my Calculus exam. So, to be quite honest - I'm a little STRESSED out BUT I know it's all going to be alright. If you remember me on these days - I wouldn't mind a prayer. Thanks and oh yeah, the 16th I leave for the road trip down to California. Quick update - back to the books!