Mission Adventures

So tomorrow we start our 8th year of Mission Adventures. WOW, how am I still going? I am excited about it this year as my role is minimal as I am preparing for fatherhood once again and feel as though someone else should run the day to day. This week however is our 1st week and I am speaking. I am sure it will be busy, but I am surprisingly looking forward to it with much anticipation.
Tonight I was telling Amy that I am excited about the opportunity to set the tone for the summer through speaking on my own program. I feel as though I will be able to express myself more then just through hosting it and I will be able to get away with more. I am not sure what that means except I feel that I can take more risks this year. I will let you know how it goes.
Until then, keep me and us in your prayers.
Later

24

I am not sure how to say this subtly, so I will just say it, I stay awake at night thinking about Kiefer Sutherland. Don't freak our ot think I am to wierd because many people think about him often. I am talking of course about his role in 24. WOW! If there was ever a time in my life that I needed to go to bed early it is now, but instead my wife and I usually find ourselves starting to watch 24 on the lap top at around 11pm. Even now, it is 10:35 pm, and I am tired like a crazy tired person, but I can't go to sleep until I find out what happens to Jack in the next episode. If you have not let yourself become addicted to 24 I would encourage you to take the plunge. It is well worth it.

Anyway, I needed to come out of the closet on this one. I hope you day is filled with joy and your night is filled with Kiefer. Thanks.

Britney Spears

I was just watching a show where Briney Spears was on Dateline. I just wanted to quote her as she said some Brilliant things. Here they are

1. "I like working with funny people. I find funny people Hilarious."

2. "I like money."

So sad is all I can say. It is so sad.

Who am I?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about who I am. It has been an interesting journey. I have talked to a few people about this who I am close to and it has turned into something that I am thinking about and aware of on a daily basis. Now you may be wondering why I would be constantly thinking about who I am, but it is because I feel that somewhere along the way I lost myself, or I gave myself away.

I have been realizing that when I get into a relationship, romantic (which is my wife) or platonic (everyone else), I often find myself doing things, or becoming something that I feel that the other person would like me to be. By this I mean pretending that I am interested in things that they are interested in so that they won't be hurt. Having my coffee black if they have theirs black so that they won't have to feel bad about not having cream Wanting to read something that they are interested in when I am not interested one bit just to belong. Now these things sound good in themselves, but my reasoning in all of this and many more situations is not healthy. It is not so that I can enter into another persons world, it is because I don't feel that mine is worthy of them entering into.

Wow, I just read that above paragraph and even I am confused. I am just using this post to throw up all over and then sort out the chunks. Hopefully someone out there reading this (the 3 of you) can relate. I have found that I have given the beauty of me away because in a lot of way's I find no beauty. I read the verses that say that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, but I rarely live that out. I am at a point of being sick of it. Sick of not living out me and the person God created me to be. In my journey to find out who I am I have some fear and reservation. What if I don't like who I am, or what if I am not really nice, but just pretending to be nice so that I don't hurt anyone's feelings?

But, what if I am a strong, secure, honest leader and servant. Someone who God wants to use to bring others closer into relationship with Him. What if I am exactly who God intended me to be, wouldn't that suck if I never found out. I am on a journey. I am going through a metamorphosis. I want, desire and need change. I am sick of robbing people, and me of me. If you are reading this please pray for me and with me. It is exciting, but scary all the same.

Thanks.

Cambodia Adventure

I am sitting in the Singapore airport/mall on my way home from Cambodia posting for the 2nd time today as the last time it was erased as blogger went down as I was publishing. Good ol blogger. Good thing I am coming home from a mission trip as my heart is good and I didn't cuss blogger to much.

Just a short post as this keyboard stinks and my connection to Seattle via Hong Kong and San Fran leaves shortly. I just want to say that in my history of mission trips
this one was one of the best. I will post later on the details and what God did, but
for now I just want to thank some key people.

Lars and Wade, thank you for your hearts and commitments to the team and to outreach. You made this trip so much easier. I would do a trip with you again any time.

Jonah, Chris and Bethany thank you for hosting us. You made us feel involved in your ministry and your lives. Congrats on the engagement Chris.

Manny and the team thank you for being great. Thank you for working hard, caring for each other and Cambodia. Thank you for taking it sereously. Thanks also for making us part of your team. I hope to do it again.

Thank you Cambodia. Thank you for your smiles and love. Thank you also for your acceptance.

Thank you Jesus mostly. Thanks for being truth and for keeping us safe and giving us this opportunity.

Thank you to all of you who prayed. It was beautiful