Update on Life

So, I'm back in L.A. after an amazing summer at the Ranch. I'm looking for work, and not having much success. Can't expect too much in the first week though. I do, however, have a contact to possibly to media work for a non-profit organization called Rock for Justice. Hopefully something pans out there. Also, my mom's dad, whom I call "Dadcu" (Dodd-kee), which is welsh for "grandfather," is in very bad health. We're all pretty sure he's on his way out, and it could be a day, a week, a month....who knows? This might sound kind of bad, but I hope that for his sake, he goes sooner than later. The last time I got to see him, me and the family prayed with him, and I'm at peace with that being my last moment with him. I'm just restless over getting the call that he's gone. If you're a praying person, please pray for my family, and for little pain as he prepares to pass on.

I'm going to do my best to get back in to posting on here more regularly. It was difficult this summer. I was pretty busy. I hope you haven't given up on me ;)

Blessings!

UPDATE: Second Wind #2

We're two days into Second Wind #2. The Israeli high school kids are here from Ariel, Israel as well as 300-some other kids. It's going to be a good two weeks. I can feel it. Last week was so slow and laid back (it was a Father-Daughter week). It felt like we did no work, and somehow had a video at the end of the week. The next two weeks will be the complete opposite of that. Your prayers are much appreciated.

Speaking of Israel, I am seriously considering going over there at the turn of the year with the Ranch. So, your prayers about that are much appreciated as well. I need to have $250 non-refundable deposit in by August 1st, and the trip is filling up. The problem-- I don't really have that much that I can deposit at the moment. Greg and I are going to talk with the Ranch about going over there and making a new Israel video for them, and if we do, we're hoping they'll pay our way. Who knows? We'll see. For now, it's Second Wind time.

Blessings!

God answers prayers...

but He loves to do it in His own time, and not ours. Haha. I love it!

So, I was having knee problems as I mentioned in my last post, and I was getting ready to go on the Wilderness trip. The trip involved much hiking, and it was the ups and downs that really caused my knee to hurt. So, needless to say, I was a bit worried about doing the trip. I tried to talk my way out of going on it, but Greg needed me to do it with one of the new video guys because I knew the trip really well. I got my knee prayed over 3 or 4 times for healing, and nothing changed, so I accepted the fact that the Lord probably had a lesson to teach me.

I went on the trip, and the first day, I kept praying that the Lord would be my strength, and that He would help me through the Wilderness with my bum knee. Wouldn't you know it, my knee didn't feel any better or worse, so I took that as the Lord answering that prayer for strength. (He loves to step into our weakness and be our strength) The second day, we got up at 4am to climb Mt. Etna and watch the sunrise with the kids, and my knee held up on the way up, but it hurt pretty bad on the way down. I was a little frustrated at first, but I never got really upset or discouraged.

So, I made it out of the Wilderness with little-to-no knee pain. Praise the Lord! The amazing part is that it's been 2 days since that trip now, and my knee is at 90%. I feel no pain. So, in retrospect, the Lord said "I'll heal you. But not until you learn dependence upon me as your source of strength, and not your own legs." Make me laugh.

Within our video crew there's been a theme of learning dependence upon God in desperate times. It's our own fault too. About 3 weeks ago, we all felt that as a group we needed to be desperate for God. We talked about how we are out here doing a job that we all love, and that some of us are seeking a career in, and how a lot of the other summer staff are working jobs that they don't necessarily enjoy and have to depend on the Lord to get them through every day. We wanted that sense of desperation. So, we got on our faces and asked for it. Over the next week, we experienced a theft (Greg and Chase's laptops, my electric shaver, my headphones, and other various personal items-- weirdest theft ever since my laptop and other very expensive equipment was left), and my knee got busted up. At the end of that week, we were in a time of worship and prayer with some of the staff, and the Lord reminded us of the desperation we had asked for, and showed us that He's been allowing us to experience that. Funny how He answers prayers. Chase and Greg both talked about how even though they both lost their laptops (Greg runs a company off of his), they both had a peace that transcends understanding over the whole situation. Chase made a good point that we are not our own, and therefore, nothing we have truly belongs to us. I heard it said in a sermon once that we are not owners of anything, but only managers (something like that).

So, yeah, all of that to say that the Lord answers prayers, and He does it in His own way and His own time-- the best way and the best time.

Well, I'm off to the coast for a couple days to film and hang out with the junior high group. They sleep in the Redwood Forest tonight, and then go surfing tomorrow. Wednesday, we'll got jet-boating on the river, and eat one of the best meals of the summer. I love my job!

Be Blessed!

Ranch Update

So we've done two videos so far, and today marks the first day of the first session of Second Wind. All the campers are junior high and high school kids, and it's usually a fun, yet insane two weeks for the video crew. We had a couple days over the weekend, and I don't know why, but I was in a funk (mostly yesterday). I think I was just tired. Also, I'm pretty bummed because somehow my left knee got out of whack. I thought it was just sore from doing 3 laps around the wagon wheel (roughly 3 miles) last week, but it's still hurting. Going up and down stairs, or hills, and running are not kind to it at the moment. So I have to go easy for a while which means no JH Sports for me. Sad day. Better to miss JH Sports, and be healthy for the Wilderness in a week (the Wilderness involves a lot of hiking).

Anyway, enough complaining. I'm still having a blast overall. I've been playing rhythm guitar for worship with Ronnie Freeman, and I love it. I've also been leading worship with Trenton (Ronnie's lead guitarist) on Monday nights for the staff. I'm loving that too. Well, I'm already pretty tired, and it's only the first day, so I don't have much to say. I'll try and update sooner than later and tell some stories from Second Wind #1 (there are 2 every summer).

I hope you are all well.

Blessings!

So far at the Ranch...

I have been having a blast! I've really been connecting with other staff. I see some good friendships forming out of this summer. The video boys are all awesome. Two of them have not had much experience but they are excited to learn and seem to catch on pretty well to what we're doing. The other one has had a fair amount of experience, and for him it's just a matter of learning the Ranch system of things. All in all, it's a great group of guys, and we're going to make good videos this summer.

As for the more serious side of things, the Lord has really been breaking me down, and stripping me down to my true being. He's healed wounds from the past that I had no idea were affecting me in a negative way like they were. I've gained a lot of freedom just by renouncing lies that I've believed about myself-- thinking I was too weak, that being sensitive was bad, that I wasn't good enough, that I wasn't good-looking, that I wasn't smart enough, etc. The Lord is showing me, who I truly am-- who He created me to be. I am a warrior with a tender heart. I have the heart of King David. I'm a worshipper and a warrior. A picture I got was of me as a lamb, and I look all innocent and helpless until I open my mouth and roar like a lion. I'm beginning to see that He has plans to use me and my heart of worship to reach people wherever He may take me (around the world I hope ;) ). So, a lot has changed within me, and is still changing even over two week's time. I can't imagine what He has planned for the rest of the summer. 

There is so much freedom in the Lord! When I was younger, I began to believe what the world told me about myself instead of what He told me through my parents, and other people of faith. I accepted the lies of the world that I wasn't good enough. I've lived for so long without self-confidence, and in a state of fear. But when I accepted the reality that I am a masterpiece of Father God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth (and so are you!), and I accepted the reality that my confidence is in Christ alone and not in this world, I began to feel free of fear and felt a new wave of confidence come over me. I can see it in the way I interact with others, and in the way I lead worship. 

It's an amazing feeling to know that you are loved by the God of Heaven and Earth, and that he longs for you, and has so many great things in store for you. He just wants us to let Him love on us, and to take us where He wants to take us. He is a Mighty King, but he's also a loving Father. We are not servants, but children of the one true God. That's a reality I'm finally beginning to accept, and I love it!

Please leave some comments, or questions (if you have any). I'd love to discuss this further. I hope you are all well!

Blessings!

P.S. Here's the Ranch:

CURRENTLY...

...READING: "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti

...WATCHING: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"

...LISTENING TO: "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire

Life, the Great Adventure

Usually the people who don't have their lives clearly laid out ahead of them wish they could see what's ahead, and the people who do have their lives clearly laid out ahead of them wish they could have the adventure of not knowing. A good friend brought that point up to me in the past week. I've been so worried, and stressed at times over what lies ahead. It's just something we all have a tendency to do at some point in life. Really, we just need to relax. Just sit back and enjoy life. That's not to say, kick back and do nothing. All I'm saying is don't let the circumstances of life bring you down. The good Lord knows our needs, so we do not need to worry about what tomorrow holds. Love it!

I am the type of person who does not have clear direction in life, and the aforementioned statement about those kind of people is true. I do tend to wish I had it clearly laid out ahead of me. But as I sit here and ponder over all of this, I realize that I really am glad that I have no clue what's ahead. It makes it all the more fun. 

Live in the mystery. Find that place where you're content with where you are in life, and just keep on truckin' ahead. Around every bend in the road is a surprise of some sort. Good, or bad, would you have it any other way? I know I wouldn't. There's something to learn from every experience in life. 

So, get out there and live life. Take it all in-- the good, and the bad. Don't look at what someone else is doing, and wish you had their life. Focus on your own road, and don't forget to have some fun along the way ;)

Life is the Great Adventure!

Hooray for speaking to myself. I hope there's something good in here for you guys.

Blessings!