Summer...

This will probably be my last post for a while, or at least until August anyways. I leave in a few days to start my summer and although I am sure it will be crazy tiring, I look forward to spending my summer In Gods creation with friends new and old.

I feel like Summer here in Norquay has just started. I have yet to go swimming at Crystal lake, I went golfing a couple times, played one soccer game until I partially re-tore ligaments, and my bike seems to be perpetually broken. I did not get as much fishing in as I would have liked but that is the way it goes. Although Summer feels like it just started, I must already leave which is okay.

I am ready to take on Summer in its awesome, encouraging, tough, fun, and tiring entirety.

Be blessed my friends, really.

You would have had to be there....

What a night; the Penguins won and I got to see a concert. But not just any concert, Sandy Miko in concert. Sandy Miko is this older dude that lives across from Doug and Candice Nelson. I am not exactly sure about what his occupation is, but his company slogan is "Handy Sandy," so take that as you will. I guess he can help a broad range of people with a broad range of jobs......(shudder)

Sandy had lights set up on his porch along with his terrible sounding acoustic guitar through an overdriven amp, a mic, and also about 200 sheets of music. Doug, Candice, Brody, and Me were the first ones to pull up chairs and start a fire to "take it all in" as he sang some original stuff along with some good ol "House of the Rising Sun," and "Peaceful Easy Feeling."

In between each set (one song), Sandy would clean his glasses because they are (apparently) perpetually dirty. Then he would take another chug of beer, another drag on the cigarrette, and then back to it.

This was an experience I will never forget. Words cannot describe how funny this was to me. As much as I dislike this town sometimes, it is a place that continues to make me laugh. You may not find this as funny as I did, you may have had to be there.

Peace.

"Just in Case..."

I have come to the conclusion that ten hours in a car is way too long. I am glad to be home.

For some reason, I feel that this (blog) is a good way to deal with my convictions. As Christians I think that it is good to share times of trouble and reluctance with each other in community. One of my (many) troubles is reading my Bible. It is something that I have dealt with for a long time. What I find funny about it is that when I do read my Bible, it is when I am going through a rough patch of some kind; hardly ever to just read my Bible to help facilitate growth in my walk. Oddly enough though, I always have one with me "just in case," like it is some kind of epi pen or something.

This summer I hope to have an eager heart when it comes to growing in my faith not only by reading my Bible but through many other things.

Peace.

Gods Creation...

Being in Alberta has been a great relaxing adventure. Being in these old places that I haven't been since I was a kid is an experience that is pretty amazing. My dad has endless stories to tell me of when I was a kid, showing me where I caught my first fish, or of when he was a kid swimming in the same lakes I have.

It is a humbling experience to be in God's creation with my family. But I wish I had some more friends around to share it with sometimes. But that is okay; Saturday I head home.

As my time here comes to an end, I get more nervous and excited for what the rest of Summer and Fall have to bring. I am sure it will be a very good and trying experience. I hope your Summer is treating you as well as mine is.

Be blessed, friends.

Crossroads...

I have so much on my mind, so many memories, friends, experiences, hopes, dreams, and places. Yet I cannot seem to find words to express myself; it is a weird feeling. There are so many roads that we are given the choice to walk on but choosing the right one is a troubling thing. A good friend read me a passage recently from Jeremiah that has stuck with me since he read it.

This is what the Lord says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16

There are many times that I over-think the choices that I am given. It is hard to remember to take a look around and ask for the Godly way. I am blessed to have a great community of family and friends to help me along the way.

Please help me to remember to take a look around. Help me choose the Godly way. Calm my heart. Amen.


Be well, friends.

A Good Weekend...

This weekend I helped out at a youth event here in Norquay. These youth events take on a bit of a different feel when you are not in Jr. High anymore. I really wanted this weekend to go well and I think it did. It was really cool to see how the kids interacted and built relationships with each other even though they had never met or heard of each other. God was at work this weekend in many different ways.

In a week or two I leave for Alberta to be in the mountains and do some fishing and hiking. That will be sweet.

Thank you for friends and community. Give me strength and wisdom for the upcoming summer.

Amen.


Be well, friends.

I cannot compete with Eric...

I refuse to succumb to the video blog or "vlog" as Eric calls it; mostly because I am shy and I feel that by typing my thoughts instead of saying them, I leave less room for criticisms. I am just kidding about the criticism part, I don't care if you criticize me or not but, I am shy.

Today I found myself missing many things. I miss my friends that have moved from this small town, my friends that I have left in Winnipeg/Prov, but mainly the mountains. I would have given (almost) anything to have been fishing on the Bow River today, it would have been swell. Oh well, soon I hope.

As May has arrived, I feel a sense of nervousness about many things. But I know that in the end it will work out for the better either way. The conference wide youth event "Jam 2.0" is coming up and I hope it goes well.

Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying where you are at in this fine May.

Dear Father, bless my friends and family here at home, in Winnipeg/Prov, and also the dude's that have moved away. Give me peace and comfort knowing that you have a plan. Amen.

Be blessed, friends.