Thinking Differently

Well, from early friday morning, through class, through harvest jamboree in the cold to working all (and I mean ALL) day Saturday and most of today at the Inn, I will have earned my sleep.

I worked dining room at the Inn, and we had a large enough group that we had to do resets and stuff during the meal. I managed to sleep for an hour between breakfast and lunch in Nate’s room while he worked, and an hour in between lunch and dinner in his car because he locked me out of his room while he slept, but left a car door open so I was able to sleep in there. Was a little chilly, but the sleep was the only thing that got me through the day (besides God’s strength and grace). (not to imply that he left the car door open so that I could sleep there, only that the car door was open, and that I used the opportunity)

that said I worked dinner and slept for about 20 minutes between dinner and cafe, and got into bed after cafe around 2430.

Thankfully it was daylight savings and I got an extra hour, but tossed and turned so much that sleep was difficult

Today I grabbed some sleep between breakfast and lunch

so, suffice to say, I am tired and about to sleep for as long as possible

pray for me, only three weeks till break

*sigh*

sometimes I may sound dismal on this blog, but life is not all sun and roses, and growing hurts sometimes. I strive to portray accurately my life and experiances, forgive me if I don’t sound all happy

life is not all happy

and if anything here raises questions in your mind as a reader, feel free to contact me about it

later…

Today I got a talking down by my RA, cause I haven’t been really, Christian, lately….
Just some more things I need to work on. God keeps wanting to show me how much I need to grow.

I had a nice day in class, and for once we got a free period today! Whohoo! Sos I’ve got some time to chill.

Today will be interesting, I have to work all day out in the cold for our Harvest jamboree. We have massive inflatable games and drama and a whole bunch of stuff, so ministry to the community and stuff.

And my brother calls me up yesterday evening and is like, “Hey, why don’t see about working more hours than you are scheduled? I think they need help this weekend at the Word of the Life Inn…” So after making a phone call I am working all day tomorrow and half of Sunday. Oh well. Such things have a way of helping your bank account.

Still seeing about travel plans and all that good stuff, almost have a way to Lancaster for Christmas (to spend time with Mom Ferris) and still need to see about ways to Green Bay.

em tasol.

The mornings are always warmer than the days. I step out of my dorm, enclosed in a large overcoat, still warm from the room I have left. The sky is black, except where the sun is glowing behind the sky, trying to break through. You feel the cold, but only as something that is there. You walk to breakfast, cursing the fate that you entails that you rise this early, eat this early, and start thinking before you brain knows what is going on. You try to smell, but only register the cold.

When day breaks, then come the winds. Howling, whispering, sliding past, and rushing foward, the wind is what freezes you. You were fine before the wind, but now it bites cruelly at skin and steals away the warmth of body and soul. The sun shines its mocking rays, for its warmth it withholds. At times the skies betray you and send driving freezing rain that should be gently falling snow, perfect for two lovers, who share warmth and a walk, but it is not to be. For never should life be what you want it to be, it seems.

Winter is cruel, and you want to succumb to the death that is coming, the slumber of the earth that fast approaches. Life seems easier that way.

But it is the winter times that make us strong, the cold that makes us ready, the cruelty that makes us courageous. For without any of these things we would be pampered fools, warm and hideous in our laziness. It is the dead times that grow us into beings that truly live.

In the meantime, life manages to be crap, treat you like such, and make you wish you were dead.
Make you wish many things, but none of what you truly need.
The striving is in passing through, and being made more perfect.

James 1:3 “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance…”

So, that is my thought for today,

I miss you all so darn much, and I think I always will, at least until we be together again, forever.

Peace

the StormRider
(which is proving to be harder than I ever thought possible)

Rats do wierd things in subways.

Had a great day and evening in New York City. Upon arriving, we put all our stuff in a small church in the Bronx, then headed out to Times Square to do street evanglism. Well, that is actually a misnomer. In some cities, that might be ok, but stand in the street in dowtown Manhatten and you die. So we did sidewalk evangelism.

We talk to people about their relationship with God and make sure they know how to get to heaven. It can be exhilirating, disappointing, frustrating, and definitely faith stretching.

I start out by talking to people who are not moving. It works better this way. Plenty of people are leaning against buildings, trashcans, or just standing around. You walk up and start a conversation, and turn it to spiritual things (believe in God? think you are going to heaven?) and share the Gospel. Its easy if it means something to you, you naturally want to share. After about five seconds you get over your fear. And New Yorkers are really nice people. No one cussed me out or anything, they just either walked away or politely excused themselves, or politely refused the track.

The worst part was trying to do subway evangelism. First, no one is in a subway station between trains, and second, if they are, it is two minutes until the next train, so people aren’t around long enough to talk to. In my opinion, bad idea on Word of Life’s part. I say go to where people hang out to witness, and that would not be the subway station. Hence, why I was watching the rats some of the time. However, I will not share details, this being a family friendly site.

We did have 30 decisions for Christ and were able to share the complete gospel over 100 times and handed out a fair amount of tracks. Seeds were planted.

I personally shared the gospel 3 complete times (those bike guys are funny, they will just ride away in the middle of a conversation if they don’t want to hear it.) One time I talked to a black guy leaning over a trash can. He was opening a new CD, so I walked up and started a conversation about music. Shortly afterward he asked what I was doing in my first time to New York and I said telling people how to get to heaven, and he said, “Tell me.” So simply I was almost surprised. But when they do that, you tell them. He was listening very intently to all I had to say, and when I got to the decision part he said, “I’ll be honest with you. I made that decision a long time ago, but I have been backsliding.” He went on to tell me his story. That morning he had talked to a Christian nurse, he was in the hospitol to have blood drawn cause he was a diabetic, and she had Christian music playing. He talked to her, and later that evening met me. He had been through much in his life, and was unsure if whether of not God was still willing to forgive. He was with a friend who was a Christian, and this guy came up halfway through our conversation, discovered what was going on, said to his friend, “You need to hear this. I’m going to go into this computer store and be back in a few minutes.” Turns out this guy had been going to church infrequently with his Christian friend. So I told this man that God was more that willing to forgive, and to help him back to where he needed to be. I shared some more with him, and told him to get to church on Sunday morning, cause only there would he continue to grow.

I’m sure the nurse that friday morning had no idea that he was going to meet me, I have no idea what will happen to him now, but I know God arranged for us both to talk to him, over music of all things, and lead him back to his savior. Pray that this man, I forget his name, will continue to grow.

My time was awesome, and I got to see some of New York City to boot.

God is Awesome!

Shalom from the StormRider

Ok guys, would appreciate your prayers. After class today I am headed to New York City for Open Air Evangelism, which is sharing the Good News of Jesus’ death on the cross in payment in sins. I will either be in the Bronx, the Queens, or downtown Mahatten. So pray for Opportunity, Boldness, Safety, and Success. Ministry will include handing out tracks, doing surveys, and one-on-one sharing.

I’ll report when I get back.

Leaving approximately 1300 EST.

A Recap from the StormRider
on the docket today…

1. Intoduction
1.5 Dislcaimer
1.75 Inspirational Quote
2. Tremors (about PE class)
2.32 Incidentals (random updates)
3. Take Me Out (about working)
4. The Rainman (about the weather)
5. Bossman (about working for pay)
6. Brother’s Keeper (about accountability)
7. Twitches (about dorm life)
8.5 The Really Inspirational Quote

Introduction

Ok, here goes with my epistle…sorry, it will be long, it may be boring, it may be interesting, it may be waste of your time to read.

Disclaimer

I should also say that if you receive this and really didn’t want to get it, I have two responses. First, get over it or second, send me an email and asked to be removed.

Inspirational Quote

“The only easy day was yesterday.” – Clint Black as quoted in Reader’s Digest

Tremors

So as per my PE class, I went over to the weight room and worked out. Having done this for several years while I was working at Triple R Ranch back home in VA, I had not done it the past two years in FLA or PNG. So I signed up to bulk back up and because I didn’t want to do any running for PE. I know, its slack, but to quote Paul “Bodily exercise profits little.” I rest my case. My routine involves curling about 60-70 pounds (30 kilos), benching around 70-75 pounds (34 kilos), crunching, and pushups. When I get done, my arms tremble and I can’t keep them still. But, I am growing stronger after every workout, and add weight every time, so next week I can add 5-10 pounds to each workout. Kinda fun, overall, which is good, cause I really have no choice but to do it.

Incidentals

I have found a good way to wake up: Run to the dining hall for breakfast when it is below 50 fahrenheit, screaming like a maniac with a german and a man with six fingers. Not that I actually know this from recent personal experiance or anything.

I finally got off my (mental) lazy butt and entered in all the email addresses for all my PNG wontoks which I hadn’t done, so now with a simple click of a button I can send a mass mailing to them all.

And in school news, despite all odds and lack of studying I am pulling off a 4.o! Mid quarter is a week away, so soon it will be official.

Also in school news, we are studying Matthew this week, and I never realized how exciting class could be with a boring teacher. We are going verse by verse and I am learning and discovering so much! I am scribbling notes, filling the margins in my Bible, and realizing many things that I just hadn’t taken the time to discover before. God is really grabbing a hold of me and growing me. Many times such growth is painful, sometimes just a natural thing to change. Sometimes it is as simple as “Ah ha! so that’s how its supposed to work!” but sometimes it can be, “oh, is that really what you want me to do? cause this is gonna hurt and not be easy.” but God gives more grace and is building me up. Gloria de Dios! (praise God!)

I have gotten to hang in Glens Falls, the nearest town. Ridden down with my brother a few times and with friends the other times. Had a great time each time. Suprising how much fun you can have at Walmart. Don’t buy much (hard to, if you haven’t got much money, but then, I am a college student.) but I just hang out. Fun stuff.

I have managed to gain my freshman fifteen in muscle, and have even lost some fat content. I accomplish this with healthy meals such as fruitloops for breakfast, krispy kreme doughnuts during breaks between classes, ice cream for lunch, and pringles and chips ahoy for dinner. (no, that was just today, usually I eat much better, like rabbit food (aka salad) most days. Mama, you can stop your heart attack, now.)

Take Me Out (to the Ball Game)

I just decided to inlcude sports in this: Yehaa! the Yankees will not be in the 2005 World Series!
But in other news, I am working dishpit, the same job I worked all summer (not my choice, btw (yes, Mom F. I am washing dishes three days a week. *sigh* if I knew it would come to this, I would have helped Zach more and complained less. oh well.)) But I have an awesome crew of mature adults to work with, and we have taken to singing to make the work less dreary and more fun, and serenade the dining hall (to which our notes float with lack of grace(and the kitchen, which has no choice but to listen *evil laugh*)) with such classics as “Father Abraham” “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” “God Bless America” and “Old MacDonald”. Need I say more?

the Rainman

Silly me, thought I would leave rainy season behind, but nope. All it has done since the onset of fall is rain and rain and rain. And since New York is COLD this time of year, it is a cold rain. Not fun, not fun at all. At least it is not SNOWING, yet. Though soon it will. *Sigh* I was in the tropics too long. I want to go back to PNG, where cold is bearable.

Bossman

So for paid work (the dishpit being obligitory) I am working at the INN, waiting tables and working at the Inn Cafe under a nice guy named Nate Martin. That’s right. I am working for my brother. Kinda neat, but he don’t cut me any slack. Which is good, teaches me how to deal with close friends (in this case, family) in a professional sense. But is fun and the money is always nice, more so when bills are due.

Brother’s Keeper

I may have mentioned this before, not sure. Two weeks ago I was headed back to a small room in the back of our dorm to do some praying when I found a small group already there. Turns out there was an accountabillity group meeting there every night. They would tell about how their day went, discuss struggles with sin and in particular, purity, then pray and share Scripture. These men were committed to each other and to prayer. So, recognizing the need for the same in my life, I joined and have not been the same. With me are Phil, a Filipino from Washington, DC, and my friend from the summer, Raphael Braun, from Germany. Some others have joined, but we remain the three central. But in all humility, we just need God and must rely on Him every day to make it through. So I pray and grow.

Twitches

As I write, my eye is twitching. This ocular phenomenon is due to an alarming lack of sufficient nocturnal rehabilitation. (said twitching is because I don’t get enough sleep.) But, as part of my ongoing growth, I am learning the discipline necessary to rise early enough to get done what I need, and to get to bed early instead of staying up late. I am also figuring out how to better structure my day to get rest in the afternoon. In all, I am learning to govern myself, and a little exhaustion is worth the price.

The Really Inspirational Quote

“Faith is Obeying in Spite of Consequence.” – Dr. Calder in James class

So that is all for now, an update of how I have been and what I am doing.

Love and miss you all,

Phil

the StormRider

–
“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I will go to it laughing.” – Stubb, from Moby-Dick