a typical morning

On certain days of the week I have work at 6:30am and Holly almost always makes me breakfast (and she packs me lunches! and writes me notes!). She's pretty selfless like that.

But every now and then she doesn't wake up with me and I have to make breakfast myself. This is probably the best video I could find to depict that scenario.

some great jaerbs!!

Yes, jaerbs. For some time now Holly has been unemployed. In an economy like this it is hard to find anyone who is hiring. After much prayer God has provided Holly with, not one, not two...three? no.... FOUR! FOUR JOBS!! God is so good. I tend to find that when you ask for God to come through he usually goes the extra mile (in this case 4!). She now can pick which jobs she wants to do!

She has already accepted a job in an assisted living home and as a nanny for 4 children. She was also offered a job at Denton Bible Church in the children's ministry to assist Cindy Metcalf in the curriculum and other admin stuff. The fourth job is working as a personal/group fitness instructor for a small business. At the moment she is excited about all 4 and is having trouble deciding which ones she wants. This is a good problem. :)

I am still working at Scruggs as a Network Consultant but am looking for a change in careers. I originaly set sail for college in the sea of Computer Engineering because, well, I wanted to be rich. Needless to say, I wasn't a Christian then. In short, Christ flipped my world upside down (or rather, right side up!). My heart changed, ambitions changed, worldviews changed, etc. My desires now are to spread the Gospel in the least reached nations and train Pastors. For the past 4 years I have been struggling with the decision to quit school or stick it out. To be honest, I don't really like computers all that much. I like people. I like to get to know them, to see where they are at, to see how I can meet any need they may have. This gives me Joy that I can serve God in that way. As Trip Lee says, "Service makes me happy." Being around computers all day just isn't cutting it. I need people. I need a change.

I have been applying to several non-profit orgs in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Its hard to get an interview. I have a pretty astute resume for my age; just in the wrong areas. I did however land an interview with 2 companies. Yesterday I took a Impact test for The Nelson Center (a foster home for emotionally disturbed youth) as a Direct Care Employee. The Direct Care staff get the most time with the children and act as a parent in their lives. They make sure the children get up on time, brush their teeth, do their homework, etc. I would love this job so much though I feel it will be emotionally taxing. I should receive a call next week for an additional interview.

Tomorrow I have an interview working a temp job with Communities in Schools. It is an non-profit org with a mission to lower the school drop-out rate by bringing older men and women into schools to meet the needs of students. This includes tutoring, being a friend, etc. This job would only be a 5 week summer job but I hope that it would be a gateway to a long-term position with CiS.

So we have much to pray about and we desire your prayers on our behalf. By switching careers we are taking a pretty big pay cut and we just need to trust that He will provide (Matthew 6:25-34).

Pimpin' Pimpin' Pimpin' Murder Murder Sell Drugs

I found some funny videos made by Reach Records. The are advertising for their Don't Waste Your Life Tour. You can find the website here with other videos. Check them out and ask yourself if any of them apply to you.

Don't Waste Your Life

This is one of our favorite songs at the moment. It is so encouraging and packed with truth. Take a look.

I know a lot of people that scared they gone die
couple of em thinking they'll be livin in the sky
while Im here livin, man I gotta ask why, what am here fo?
I gotta figure out
waste my life? no I gotta make it count
if Christ is real then what am I gone do about
everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21
you really gotta go and check it out
Paul said if Christ aint resurrected, we wasted our lives
well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive
everyday I'm living tryna show the world why
Christ is more than everything you'll ever try
better than pretty women and sinning and living to get a minute of any women and men that you admire
it aint no lie
We created for Him
outta the dust he made us for Him
Elects us and he saves us for Him
Jesus comes and he raises for Him
Magnify the Father, why bother with something lesser?
he made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess him
resurrects him
so I know I got life
matter fact better than I know I got Christ
if you don't see His ways in my days and nights
you can hit my brakes you can stop my lights
man I lost my rights
lost my life
forget the money, cars, and toss that ice
the cost is Christ
and they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price.

Armed and dangerous
So the devil just can't hang with us
Christian youth them a stand with us
Livin' n driven
given a vision
fulfilling the commission he handed us
London to Los Angeles
Da rap evangelist
My Daddy wouldn't abandon us
"I gotta back pack fulla tracts plus I keep a Johnny Mac"
So are you ready to jam with us?
So lets go, gimme the word an lets go
Persecution lets go
Tribulation lets go
Across the nation lets go
Procrastination just go
Hung on the cross in the cold
Died for the young and the old
Can't say you never know
Heaven knows
How many souls are going to hell or to heaven so we gotta go in and get em

Suffer
Yeah do it for Christ
if you trying to figure what to do with your life,
if you make a lot of money, I hope you doing it right because the money is Gods
you better steward it right
stay focused if you aint got no ride
your life aint wrapped up in what you drive
the clothes you wear, the job you work
the color your skin, naw you Christian first
people start living life for a job
make a lil money start living for a car
get em a house, a wife, kids, and a dog
when they retire they living high on the hog
but guess what - they didn't ever really live at all
"to live is Christ" yeah and that's Paul I recall
to die is gain so for Christ we give it all
he's the treasure you'll never find in the mall
See your money, your singleness, marriage, talent, yo time
they were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine
that's why it's Christ in my rhymes
That's why it's Christ all the time
see my whole world is built around him
He's the life in our lives
I refused to waste my life
He's too true ta chase that ice
here's my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ
If he's truly raised to life
then this news should change your life
and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.

Apartment Outreach #2!

Last night (Tuesday, April 7th) we had our second apartment outreach! There was an amazing turn out and many good conversations. This time we did a hotdog cookout, followed by ice cream & brownies! Most all of our Lifegroup came to help out! My wonderful dad also came to grill for us - which he did an amazing job and got to meet our neighbors as well!

I (Holly) got to know the single mother who lives directly under us. She has 2 wonderful boys, goes to both UNT & TWU, and is from Memphis. **Funny story...she was actually in Memphis, at the same exact hotel as we were on our Spring Break mission trip!!** Pray that God presents many opportunities to hang out with her and get to know her more! My dad also got the chance to meet and talk with a 15 year old boy named Quinton (he called himself 'Q', so naturally my dad said to call him 'G' - real name: Gordon) ;-)
Anyways, James and I got a chance to meet him as well and he seems like a great kid, but in the wrong croud. My dad said he had lots of information and lots of questions about God, etc. Please pray that we will get many more chances to hang out with him, speak God's Word to him and eventually bring him to church with us!
I also met an 18 year old girl named Shelby who lives the next building over from us and lives with her fiance. She seems very interesting and has had a hard life - again pray that I make time to build a friendship with her!

We'll be having Lifegroup next Monday and I'm sure we'll hear about many more conversations and I'm sure we'll post again! We're wanting to start doing this at least once a month - Please continue to pray that God does amazing things in this complex!

Easter Sunday - an Exortation to Preaching Pastors

Easter, one of the most delighted days in the year, is coming up. Many people will be filling the pews this weekend. Some will be coming that day just like every Sunday but many for this first time this year. This can be exciting or scary...or both.

My greatest fear is that the Pastor will want to be humorous and charming; he (or she o.O ) will want to make you laugh, cry, feel warm and fuzzy, etc. which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, please (please!!) do not suffocate Jesus' resurrection with your silver tongue.

Many Pastors know that the gospel is offensive to some and will turn people away. Every pastor wants a big church. So that's easy, don't say offensive things and you will have a big church (see Joel Osteen). Pastor, do you care more about numbers or the Full Gospel? This should be a no-brainer.

This Sunday speak clearly about Christ's death and physical resurrection. It is the cornerstone of our faith. Without it we are fools to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19) Do not make yourself out to be a fool. Pray for the kind of boldness that got Stephen stoned and Paul crucified upside-down. For His Glory.

Change in plans...

This coming Friday I (Holly) will be registering for classes AND applying for graduation!!!! I have changed my major to General Studies in order to graduate quicker, as well as less expensively. My 2 areas of focus will be Kinesiology and Sociology.

I am doing this because James and I want to go to the next season of our lives as quickly as possible. (he'll be graduating this August!) And, my only true passion in life is the Lord...His Word...and the Great Commission. (see Matthew 28:16-20)
Before I was a Christian I never had one single passion, or one thing that I was really good at or even really enjoyed doing like most people. If I were able & allowed I would've moved to Colorado to be a ski bum after H.S. graduation. But instead I went to college (b/c that's what you're suppose to do, right?) and chose a major that I thought I might enjoy doing...oh and that would pay a lot of money (cause that's what we're suppose to live for, right?...wrong) I was never passionate about or good at school...I play the violin and am decent, but not excellent. This use to discourage me...until I knew Christ. I can see how God has been working in me through out my whole life, I understand now why I never had a huge passion for anything...it's because now that I'm a Chrisitan I see that my passion & calling on my life is to do full time ministry.

To tell you the truth at the beginning of this year I began considering quitting school after this semester and then James and I could start the Mission's Training Institute (a 2 year program that prepares you to be an overseas missionary) or Downline Ministries (a 1 year discipleship program) sooner. Thankfully, I spoke with Jason Seville (my mentor's husband) and he encouraged me to try to find out what I could do in order to still graduate, but quicker. He said that having a degree opens up a lot more ministry doors than if I didn't have degree. He also said that graduating would honor my parents for the sacrifices (money & time) they made to put me through college...which I thought was wonderful advice. Therefore, I looked into the General Studies major and it's perfect! All my Kinesiology courses that I've been taking for the past 4 years count and all I have left is 5 Sociology courses!

All that to say...I will be graduating this December and of course we'll keep you posted on what life holds next for the Faske's. :-)