The Race is... OFF

Holly and I have to end this crazy race against time to buy a house in time to get the $8000 from Obama. We did this for several reasons, in no particular order:

1) We feel like we are rushing to find just any ole house so we can get the tax refund.

2) If one of us were to lose a job we would be hurting financially. We are trying to keep all of our bills dependent on one paycheck.

3) We want to buy a house that we really love.

4) We would like to save up a larger downpayment (~20%)

So yes, the house hunt is off. On the bright side, this leaves a good chunk of money that will go straight to our student loans :)

And the Look Continues...

Well, we are not going through with the Elm Street house. Through much good advice, thought, and prayer we have decided against it. The reason being is that this house does not have good resale value and there are about 3 things that we would want done almost immediately after we move in. Since we don't want to spend the money on those things, and instead put it towards debt, and also since we don't want to lose money when trying to sell the house again, we have decided to terminate the contract...and KEEP LOOKING.
Please pray that all goes well and that we either find that house that God has planned for us soon, or we realize we shouldn't even be buying a house! We'll see...

Jeremiah 10:23
"I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course."

The Cross

May thy cross be to me

as the tree that sweetens my bitter Marahs,

as the rod that blossoms with life and beauty,

as the brazen serpent that calls forth the look of faith.

By thy cross crucify my every sin;

Use it to increase my intimacy with thyself;

Make it the ground of all my comfort,

the liveliness of all my duties,

the sum of all thy gospel promises,

the comfort of all my afflictions,

the vigour of my love, thankfulness, graces,

the very essence of my religion;

And by it give me that rest without rest,

the rest of ceaseless praise.

--The Valley of Vision

Round 2

Holly and I had our offer accepting on a house! We feel much better with this house because our monthly payments will be less than $700/mnth (mortgage, taxes, insurance). This will allow us to pay off our debt faster while we invest in a home. We are set to close on April 28th! We are pretty excited.

Pros:

• .25 acre
• garage for my kayaks
• lots of storage space
• covered front porch
• washer/dryer hookups
• close to our church
• new paint inside and out
• new dish washer
• new hardwood floors
• no rotting wood
• 60 years old - good floor plan
• 3 bedrooms

Cons:

• only one car garage
• grass looks thin in some areas
• on a one-way street
• small closet space
• only one bathroom

Texas it is!

After much prayer, Holly and I have decided to stay here in Texas and just work work work to pay our debt completely off. We are on a plan to pay our school debt off in about a year from now. Yes, that's right... one year. Donations are accepted but not expected :D

What am I?

Holly introduced me to another song that really tugs on the heart. The song, by Shawn McDonald, really emphasizes our worthiness before God. The author questions over and over, "What am I?" because he is so morally bankrupt yet the holy King still calls him his child and dies for him. While some might say I have cleaned up my life I still stand a sinner before a wrathful and angry God. Thanks be to Him that God no longer sees my constant sinfulness because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

As I look into the stars
Pondering how far away they are
How You hold them in Your hands
And still You know this man
You know my inner most being, oh
Even better than I know, than I know myself
What a beautiful God
What a beautiful God
And what am I, that I might be called Your child
What am I, what am I
That You might know me, my King
What am I, what am I, what am I

As I look off into the distance
Watching the sun roll on by
Beautiful colors all around me, oh
Painted all over the sky
The same hands that created all of this
They created you and I
What a beautiful God
What a beautiful God
And what am I, that I might be called Your child
What am I, what am I
That You might know me, my King
What am I, what am I
That You might die, that I might live
What am I.

Crossroads

Holly and I are at a crossroads in our life. We both recently graduated college and have begun our careers. This is a really good thing and I'm excited... well sorta... bittersweet at best. Shortly after coming to know the Lord, I was influenced by Richard Wurmbrand, Jim Elliot, David Brainerd, and the like, to live a risky adventure at the helm of God's providence! I couldn't wait to get out of college so that I could take the gospel to the darkest places of the world.

As I was finishing school, God put very special lady in my life with a similar dream. We have looked into several programs (MTI, BCTP, Downline, etc) wondering what the possibilities were of us completing them. Now that we are both out of college the "rest of our life" has begun. Questions come up like, "what do we do now?" "When do we have kids?" "Do we still want to do MTI, BCTP, Downline or something similar?" "Do we want to be missionaries overseas?" "Do we want to be missionaries here?" etc... etc....

Here are two options we are considering for the time being as we try to figure out where God wants us:

Option 1: We both continue to work in the DFW area. We buy a house to get the $8,000 from Obama and put it towards our debt. By the time our debt is mostly paid off (2012) we will have a kid or two. From there we can decide if we still want to do a mission sending program and go into the mission field.

Possible problem(s) with option 1: We might get too comfortable with living the American Dream and lose our passion for missions.

Option 2: We buy a house in Memphis where we can do Downline and pay off our debt. We get the $8000 to help us out and remain in Memphis for 3 years. We have kids when our debt is mostly paid off and from there think about going into the business world or mission field.

Possible problem(s) with option 2: We are far from family as we will miss them. We also would like to raise our kids near their grandparents. We will also miss our friends here in Texas. We would have to start all over in Memphis.

This is just to give everyone a heads up on what we are thinking about. Feel free to contribute any thoughts and above all, pray that God will guide us wherever he wills.

New Year - 2010

Well we are beginning a new year and to start us off right we have our 1 year Anniversary!! James is taking me somewhere and it is a complete surprise!! I won't know where we're going till we're at the airport getting ready to board!! We leave this Thursday (Jan. 7th) and come back Jan. 12th. Our actual anniversary is Jan 10th!! I can't believe it has been a year already!

We're not sure what God has in store for us this year - things that we're planning: buying a house possibly and me getting a "big-girl" job in the Fall! But as always:

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
Proverbs 16:9

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails"
Proverbs 19:21

consistency fail

You may have heard in the news today that the Ft. Hood shooter is going to be tried for 14 counts a murder rather than 13 because a victim was 9 weeks pregnant. Does this sound odd to you?

Why does our government care if a 9 week old baby dies? Doesn't the government believe a 9 week old baby to just be some blood and tissue? In that case, can I charge a man for murder if he "kills" my right hand?

So which is it America? It seems that we only like justice when it is convenient to us.

Cider....like Apple Cider!

Well we finally have gotten a kitty!!! and we LOVE her!! Check out the pics & video:

Before the Throne of God

The more and more I listen to this song the more I love it. My wife got me into this song and so I dedicate it to her. This is an old Hymn that was created in the late 1800s. I'd like to just walk you through my interpretation of it:

Before the throne of God above Matthew 12:36 Everyone will one day stand before the throne of God. God will inspect their life to see if they are found guilty of violating God's Holiness. The writer is coming before the throne...

I have a strong and perfect plea. Hebrews 4:16 The author comes with boldness to the Throne for a reason....

A great high Priest whose Name is Love Hebrews 4:14 Although the writer knows he is guilty, the High Priest, who is Jesus Christ, who came in love and truth, is his defense

Who ever lives and pleads for me. Hebrews 7:25 Christ is the everlasting priesthood that pleads forever on the writer's behalf

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart. Jesus work (hands) on the cross was for us because He loves (heart) us

I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Nothing can take us away from the God that saved us because He, with His strength, keeps us

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin. Psalm 103:12 The writer is looking to Christ on the cross when he is attacked by Satan. Although the writer still sins he knows his sin has been paid for already.

Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free. The writers guilt now becomes Joy

For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me. Isaiah 53:10 God was satisfied to see Jesus crushed because it appeased the wrath that we deserved

Behold Him there the risen Lamb, All glory is pointed to the one that did all the work. None of it to us.

My perfect spotless righteousness, Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to the writer

The great unchangeable I AM, Hebrews 13:8 Jesus and His love never changes

The King of glory and of grace, Revelation 19:16 He now rules as King

One in Himself I cannot die. Revelation 20:6 The writer will not taste the second death

My soul is purchased by His blood, 1 Corinthians 6:20 Jesus paid the price for the writers soul

My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God! the writer will spend eternity with his Savior and God, Jesus

Back from Utah!

Well I am finally back from Utah after spending two weeks there training for my new job. It was a good trip overall but too long to be away from the wifey. DirectPointe treated me well: paid for my flight, hotel, food, company car, and gas. They also hooked me up with about $2000 worth of equipment to bring home so I can work here. I think I'm going to like working at DP. I think the #1 thing I like most about it is the flexibility. My boss told me that if I didn't like my position I could move elsewhere within the company. Very nice.

...And you didn't think I was going to go to Utah and NOT climb the rockies did you??? I climbed Mt. Timpanogos which sits almost at 12,000 feet and is the second highest mountain in Utah. I left early Sunday morning and reached Emerald Lake by about noon. I was only another hour from the peak but it started to sleet on me so I had to turn back. It ended up raining on me the whole way down. That wasnt much fun since I had tennis shoes and a light, non-water proof, jacket. You can see photos on my facebook page.

This is a waterfall I found going up the mt:

This is the valley I climbed:

This was when I was headed back down. I was soaked:

:(

Turn From the Approval of Sin

An interesting event happened a few days ago. An ECLA meeting, to determine if a practicing homosexual can preach in the pulpit, was cancelled after a strange weather occurance appeared out of no where.

Read John Piper's take on it

I guess we haven't been very good at keeping this thing updated lately....but I guess better late than never!

Well let's see:

• about 2 weeks ago I lost my nanny job because the mom of the kids lost her job, therefore she didn't need me anymore! But God has once again provided me with another job...I will be working with Communities in Schools. I will be a teacher at an afterschool program for at-risk children. I will be at Strickland Middle School which is right down the street from our apartment!
• In the afterschool program we start with doing extra-curricular activities with the kids (such as: sports, photography, scrapbooking, art, computers, etc. - I told them I would want to be involved in all those I mentioned, except computers...haha) then we spend some time helping them with homework, then we do a lesson with them.
• I am very excited about this job - I see it as more of extended ministry from our apartment than a job because there are a lot of children that live here that go to Strickland.
• This job also goes great with my school schedule - I will be working 3-6:15pm Monday through Friday and then like 9am-2pm on Saturdays.
• James is still searching for a full-time job - he's actually at an interview as I type! Please pray for him to find something soon and that will hopefully be enjoyable for him.
• He is now graduated with a Computer Engineer degree...woah, yeah he's smart ;-) but really he has worked very hard! He also just turned 24 and we had a wonderful Fiesta for him on August 15th - his family came up from Austin and friends came to celebrate as well!
• This month my friend (since 4th grade) moved into our apartment complex to do apartment ministry as well - it's so wonderful and encouraging to have people come along side us here at Kingswood and reach out to the people we can't.
• Also, another couple from Denton Bible is also moving in here next month after they get married to do apartment ministry as well!! Praise God!

Well, that is all I can think of now....oh I start school August 31st to begin my LAST semester of college!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

No BYOB at the BYBC

Yeah, thats a bad title but I thought it was catchy.

WOW. It has been too long friends and family. We will try to be more up-to-date with this thing. :)

A few weeks ago we had a group of teenagers from Lighthouse Indonesian Chruch come to our apartment and do a week long backyard-bible club and it was great! We started the week off by having a free clothing/food give-away that was sponsored by Vision Ministries where we passed out flyers to moms and dads to advertise the childrens' club. From Monday to Friday the LIC came and taught the good news of Christ; His death and resurrection. Several children wanted to know more about Christ in more of a one-on-one setting. They also got us a list of names and apartment numbers to do follow ups!

This has been a answered prayer for Holly and I as we want to see the church support us in what we do here. It is so good to know that we have brothers and sisters to run along-side of us.

Prayer requests:

• Thanks: I (James) am taking my FINAL class and I am done(August 15)! The bad part - its a presentation class where my teacher rings his coffee mug everytime you say "uh..." Sad panda is sad.
• Thanks: Holly will be finishing up her last semester at TWU this fall.
• Confession: Holly is now in Iowa for the week. Yes, this means the house is a mess. j/k...kinda
• Supplication: I am looking for a big-boy job since I am graduating soon. I have some prospects but they may fall thru.
• Supplication: Pray for our neighbors and that the Lord might use us to help them. Holly has started a bible study for some of the ladies that live around us. Pray that God would bless their time.

Update!

Hello All!

Sorry we haven't updated in a while! To give you a little recap of what's been going on:

School is out for the summer...but James starts summer school tomorrow :-( boo.

I went to Alabama and hung out with the Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team and it was awesome...to learn a little about them rent the movie: Murderball

James is still in the process of looking for a new job, while doing a contract job.

I begin my nanny job tomorrow!...it's awesome when your "boss" tells you to bring a swimsuit into work! :-D I will be doing this Monday-Thursday (30 hrs a week) and hopefully on Fridays be working at the Retirement Home.

I also start an intense Bible Study this week called the Matrix. It is every Tuesday & Thursday morning from 6-7:30am and I will have a small group that meets every Wednesday night. I'm very excited about this!

We are hoping to plan another outreach at our apartment for next week...the pool is open at the apartments so it'll be a pool side cookout!

Please PLEASE Listen to This

www.deathisnotdying.com

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.