Temporary Setup

Please bear with the changes...I am looking to upgrade/change my blog but I have been unable to decide on a format.

Getting Started.

Today I was reminded of how imperfect we are. I mean that in a good way. I had some really great conversations with the young men in my group about how to deal with conflict amongst friends. We were talking about how to deal with a friend who had let you down or even had done worse.

We talked about how Jesus dealt with denial and betrayal, specifically the example of Peter denying Jesus 3 times prior to the rooster making his call.
First off, Jesus knew it was going to happen beforehand and was still calm about it. How many of us could even think of staying calm at that point...let alone going through with what you have to do without AT LEAST getting slightly irritated about it?

Anyways, it struck true to me. I tend to be overly direct with people to put it politely. In doing so, I tend to come off as a bit brusque with people that do not hold to their end of a bargain or agreement.

I realized that I really need to work on how I handle disappointment and more pointedly, how I can relate my experiences and the lessons that I have learned to other people, in hopes that they might grow without having to experiencing some of the hardships that I have gone through.

Sorry for the semi rambling thoughts...I have more than a few really big points to make, but my brain has not finished processing them yet.

Dusting Off the Cobwebs.

Yeah, blah blah...it's been a LONG time.
Long story, very shortly:
Although it has been a good year, it has been quite trying.
Katie and I are finally plugged into a church home, although not the one that we had chosen or thought that we would end up at. (Once again, I should learn to listen, Lord)

My work has been great and Katie has been working really hard to build up her business!

Quick story about my parents: Remember a year ago, when my dad fell 2 stories and broke his back? Yeah, well he fell again. Almost a year to the day. He broke his hip in three pieces...back on bed rest...3 weeks later my mom was admitted to the hospital with 20% functionality in her heart...not blockage...yikes. She seems to be recovering, but will need to attend her diet and lifestyle in order to stay strong.

Please pray for them as they will need healing.

I have started working with the youth again! Yay! It truly pulled at my heart that I haven't had a place to serve this past year...But I am working with Pastor John and a whole gaggle of others at TCABC. Seems like a great group...it seems like a lifetime since I sat in Pastor Erik's office talking with him. (Miss you guys @ CREW)

School is going well, although at times I think my head is going to esplode! 5 more sessions to go.

Anyways, I gotta call it a night but I have been getting the itch to write...even if no one else reads it anymore!

Upcoming and forthcoming.

Just wanted to warn all like what, -1 followers that I will be blogging again. This is a goal that I have set and I have not been very good about it. Aside from it, I have some things that I have to get off of my heart/chest about what has transpired the last few weeks.
I wil try not to burden all -1 of you with too much, but sometimes I find it easier to write down things rather than explain them in spoken words.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Who are you going to believe?

Who are you going to believe: Me? Or your own eyes?
--Groucho Marx--
Something that you should ask yourself if you are going to follow politics.
Before you believe what you hear from the news or a politician, take a step back and think about what you just heard.

God takes care of the things we don't think about.

Even when we think that we have all the details figured out....God makes takes care of the things that we miss.

Rushing

I am so excited that two of our best friends are coming to visit us here in Broken Arrow...I pray that the weather holds out!

Amazing. Simply Stunning.

Susan Boyle. If you haven't heard her story yet, Google it. This brings tears to my eyes. This woman has an amazing voice!

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
Uploaded by dwarthy

Local Tulsan Creates Internet Boom - Twitpic

I Live in a Suburb of Coweta

Hehe. Anyone who lives near Tulsa will get a chuckle outta that. Someone laid that line on me this morning at AGCoweta. We had a great time this morning at the get-together breakfast for small groups. The message was about using our gifts that God gave us.

I love the fact the Coweta is growing. I think that the church has a great mission and a great base of people.

I really keep praying for God to show me what I need to be doing down here. Sometimes I feel like I am just floating...I get listless and frustrated with myself because there is only so much motivation that I can put towards school after crazy weeks at work.
After spending the weekend with the Crew up north, I reaffirmed my feelings that I need to be working with the youth. I don't care where or how. I just know that I need to be helping to guide what will be the future of our country, church and nation.
Sometimes God whispers in our ear when He wants us to do something...He has begun to yell it at me. It was the same when I called Pastor Warner at Stone telling him that I needed to help somehow. That's when I met Pastor Erik and the Crew.

I guess I will have to be patient a bit more, but it is getting hard to ignore what I know that I should be doing.

Purpose driven, spirit filled.

This weekend with the Stone Crew was amazing...as always.
I don't know what it is, but I get a charge out of seeing that light that comes into student's eyes when it all kinda clicks.
I love that I got to be a part of something that special and that important.

One of the most moving things that I noticed this weekend is that there were a lot of new students. To me, it means that the word is getting out. About the Crew. About Jesus. Judging by the moist eyes (including mine. Read: my eyes were leaking) in the group, it was clear that Jesus was touching the student's hearts. Where ever your faith started this weekend, I would like to think that you ended somewhere closer to God.

It is tremendous to me that our relationship with Jesus is ours alone. Just like everyone is unique, I believe everybody's relationship with Jesus is unique. How wonderful is it that He knows how best to communicate with us.

I pray that the students that attended WR09 (and all students really) continue to seek, continue to grow, continue to love and continue to get the word out.
I said this after WR08: Don't let it stop here. Don't let it fade. Don't shrug it off because you are back in school and away from the Crew. Keep encouraging each other and help each other to further your relationships with each other and with God.

To Pastor Erik, Bethany and the rest of the leaders of the Crew: Thank you. Again, I never know who gets more out of the weekend: the students, or me. You are, as always doing great things for the students, every single one. I know that every student that attended the weekend left changed.

To the Crew: Don't ever stop. Keep it going. Bring what you have learned and experienced into the other parts of your life. Carry it with you into the next phase of your life...but more importantly, scatter it among the people that you come in contact with and build upon it with everything that you do.

Poor Update

I have been listening and talking with several friends. The only advice that I have to really give to all of them is: Look forward.
I think that a lot of times we forget that we are exactly where we are supposed to be at this very moment in time. Please don't misread that.
We are exactly where we are supposed to be.
Not
Exactly where we WANT to be. Big difference made by the big guy upstairs. He knows our wants. He knows are needs. He knows how best to get us where we NEED to be.

I think that looking back in a little bit, you will see that given all the circumstances that surround you at this particular moment, you will see that where you WANTED to be coincides perfectly with where you NEEDED to be.
Funny how that works.
Each of us is unique...just like everyone else.
Since no one is the same, each of us that tries to take the same exact path will end up in different places.

A Single Question:

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
-George Santayana

What does this statement mean to you? Post a quick response...I will accept anons.

It is a much more complicated statement than you think. I will explain it in my next post.

What do you do when you are alone?

STOP! Please don't answer that question! I really don't want to know.
But think about this: Even when you feel alone, when you think no one else is around...God is. Remember that when you are making decisions in your life. Whether you acknowledge it or not He is there.

Kinda puts a different spin on the question of "What is the right thing to do?" huh.

But also remember: When you feel all alone, when you think that no one else cares...God is there.

Kinda puts a different spin on the statement: "No one really cares about me!"

Whether you believe in God or not, He has a plan for you. Whether you like it or not.

Consistency

Consistency is something that we all depend on. If someone is consistant in their thoughts, words and actions one thing that leads to is trust.

Trust is one thing that a good relationship is based upon. Communication is the other. The two kind of go hand in hand.

If someone communicates one message to you, yet they act in a contrary manner to what they say...do you trust them? Should you trust them?

There are people that I have met in my life that would be willing to tell me anything in order to gain my approval, regardless of whether it is true. Things begin to total up incorrectly very quickly.

What constitutes a well balanced relationship to you? Would you be willing to stay with an untrustworthy person? How about work for an untrustworthy person?

Just for the record....

I would like all two of you that read this that disagreeing with something is NOT the same as "bashing" someone. It has been far too long since good morals and good choices have been on the rise in this country. We as Americans should be intelligent enough to have a discussion without "Because." being an answer.

This will not be a daily thing or a weekly deal, but over the next few months I will be splattering a few posts in here that will make you think. You will probably not agree with everything..or anything that I have to say but I invite you to comment. I invite you to discuss. Regardless of political affiliation, we as Americans need to get it together. It is not just the house and senate that need to be bi partisan, but we as the people have that call too. I hope and pray that our new President acts in line with his words and that they are not just political fluff. There have been a plethora of great speakers throughout history....not all of them have been good.

LOST

If you are looking for me I will be in front of the TV watching LOST for the next 3 hours.

To President Obama:

This will be a quick post, but I need to get going on my new years (now new 11 month) resolution.
Today was a historic day for all Americans. Today Barack Hussien Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. Whatever your political affiliation or personal opinions this is a huge for America, for all Americans.

That being said, today someone asked me what I would say if I were to write a letter to our new President. Keep in mind that I won't write this letter for many reasons: I'm lazy or I'm too busy or I'm too chicken or blah..blah.. Anyways. If I were to write one it would go something like this:

Dear President Obama:

I pray that you are the person and become the President that your supporters believe you to be. I, like many Americans hope that you hold to your word and transcend the political walls. The word "change" can represent many things: hope or advancement, or failure or take your pick of so many words. As you take on the mantel of the Presidency, arguably the single-most powerful position on this Earth, I hope that you remember what you represent to us as an American people as you make the decisions that you will have to make. For the past two weeks I have prayed for you, I have prayed for the United States and I look forward to the promise that you represent for the next four years. Today you became the leader of the free world and pretty, well-spoken words will take a back seat to your actions. I hope that you seek God when you are set with tough decision, as those decisions impact us all. I pray that at the end of your term you can in good consciousness look back and see your "Yes we can!" slogan turn into "Yes, we did!".
I will do my best to support you, to not bash you. I promise to yell at the top of my lungs when I disagree, but you are now my President and I wish you the best of success. I did not vote for you, but I will pray for you to make the correct, righteous decisions that will drive this country forward. I sincerely pray that you change my opinion of you and that you do right with your power.

Sincerely,
Mike

Facebook

Is it me or is Facebook becoming too much like Email?
I think that everyone should just hop on Twitter and get it over with. Since that is the way that social networking is headed, it would make sense for all of you to be ahead of the curve.
Come and be a trendsetter....follow me! www.twitter.com/misteng

New Resolution

This year, I plan to get back on the blogging trail, regardless of who reads it.
Last year, with the move, I got off-track. For better or worse, here we go again!