"Over, sideways and under"

Well, it's official! I'm unemployed - and it feels incredible. Never thought I'd say that... oh well how can I argue: 4 days till I leave for Thailand. Wow - it's a very surreal thought.
Some details - I leave Tuesday morning at 7:08 AM for Chicago. After a 3 hour layover and terminal change, I'm off to Tokyo, Japan for another 3 hour layover. After another 3 hour layover, the last leg takes me to Bangkok, Thailand where Luke will be waiting. Altogether 22 hours actual flying. I can't wait to leave!
More later...

Okay, okay....

So a little update. Dad came home yesterday - which was a pleasant surprise. He is definitely over the worst of it - and it's nice having him back. My exams are done as well, which means I get to look forward to my trip all the more now! 11 days and counting...
Have a great weekend!

Dad's A Little Sick...

Hey! Just a quick prayer request... my dad went to Boundary Trails hospital yesterday because he has pneumonia. If you guys could pray that he'd recover quick, that would be awesome!
Oh, and my exam went pretty good - I think! One more left (tomorrow morning) and then I'm free!

Not a Welcomed Surprise

Hey Everyone! I'm in the middle of studying for my exams so this is going to be quick. I just realized yesterday that my exams are all 2 days earlier than I expected originally... meaning one is tomorrow already! This definitely changes things as I was planning on another 2 days of studying - SO - if you think of me today or tomorrow at 9 AM (exam time) - I'd really appreciate a quick prayer! Back to the books...
C

Knowing What's Best

Kudos to my Dad for inspiring this post.

Christ sacrificed His life for us. We now owe him everything in return for the sacrifice He made for us - our whole lives surrendered to Him.

I've been thinking and praying a lot about God's calling in my life lately, and it occurs to me that I have a lot of shortcomings when it comes to my response. Say God would call me to something that seemed totally absurd - it would be such a natural reaction to use human logic and "reality" to create doubt. Sometimes I'm astonished at how I doubt God. He has proven his Awesomeness to me again and again and to think that I still consider my petty wisdom and judgment superior to God's?

If I wanted to live life for Christ fully, I would throw myself with all the energy I can muster in the direction God is calling me. It shouldn't matter what anybody thinks, what 'reason' tells me, what other people are doing - God knows best - and works things for His glory.

I can only conclude that I live because Christ has given me life. This life I've been given is a gift - and now it's my choice whether to live a regular mediocre life here on earth, or pursue God with all that I am - knowing and trusting (tough one sometimes) that He's completely in control.

I owe it to Him.

-- 22 days till I leave --

Old Man Winter Kicks Again

Well folks, it's finally time to resurrect this blog. It's been nearly a month and a half without any posts - and so I decided to a least jot down some thoughts and things going on in my life.

March was it's usual tease of weather - I enjoyed it more however this year because of working construction. Todd and myself began coaching spring volleyball. It's going to a short but very sweet season. There are 9 guys on the team in Grades 9 & 10... we're called - wait for it - "Retro Volleyball"... here's our jersey:


Fairly unique I'd say! The guys thought that Retro sounded pretty cool so we went with it and made the jerseys funky...

I can't deny the fact that I leave in exactly 4 weeks for Thailand... wow! Lots to do though before I can leave without leaving too much behind! On the 18th and 20th I have my last final exams of the year... it will be nice to be done! Unfortunately I have to miss the vball provincials on May 4-5th, but I think I will get over it considering where I will be. Just so you know, I leave on the 1st of May and Return on the 5th of July. Luke will be picking me up at the airport in Bangkok - praise God! Otherwise I would have had to face Bangkok culture shock at 11:30 pm on my own - but thankfully Luke will be there to welcome me. All these things aside - I am extremely pumped for going and seeing the amazing things God is going to show me and Luke along the way!

An so the snow comes again... but I'll admit - God has showed His beauty to me very clearly even though my tendency was to complain about the cold... I was working in Kenora this week renovating a cottage and even though roads were a little slippery, the scenery was gorgeous:

Signs of spring

So even in the sometimes frustrating transition time between winter to spring, God shows his beauty.

Obviously this weekend is Easter. I don't know if I've before in my life actually tried to prepare for Easter - I mean - it's only really one of the most pivotal events in our lives... As I was sitting in church the other day, God laid on my heart Isaiah 53. And so I rebelled and pulled my attention away from the sermon, and quietly read this particular chapter. It seems that God had in mind to make this easter a little more meaningful for me as well. Let's not forget how incredibly HUGE this weekend is. Let's not harden our hearts to the Spirit's movement. Rather, let the enormity, the beauty, the Sacrifice, the turning point - hit us; let Jesus touch you. Even though it's hard in the midst of good things like gatherings, food, fellowship - we need to remember Christ's sacrifice - something we take for granted so often.

Isaiah 53: 11 says: "As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities."

Isn't life exciting? Not only do we have the hope of eternal life, but we can live today in freedom because of what Christ did for us!

I consider this blog... resurrected.