Hey everyone!  Guess what...I am moving...again!!!  Just across town though.  I am excited simply because it will be cheaper and a place of my own.  Erik has been a pretty good roommate, but I just think I am past that point in life and enjoy having my own space.  But, the main reason I am moving is because it is cheaper.  I really like the luxury downtown loft, but you certainly pay for the luxury part!  :)  But, that will all be happening at the end of the month.  Anyone just itching to move someone, more than welcome to help me out.  I don't have a ton of stuff, so it should go fairly quickly...Grandma always said, "many hands make light work."  I realize it isn't original to Grandma, but she still said it a lot.

I have been thinking about trying to do some traveling and speaking, if anyone is interested in hearing me.  :)  Since I am going spend the next two years in school, I would like to have a venue to speak in the meantime.  I have been indebted to Keith and Lori Trump for the opportunity to speak on a weekly basis as their youth pastor for a little more than a year, but since I have returned to Springfield, I have not had the opportunity to preach much, only a little teaching.  So, I know this reaches people all over (if anyone still reads), and I would be available if anyone would be interested in having me.  Want a Wednesday night off in youth group...need a motivational speech for a athletic team...need any leadership training...have some extra fruit you need someone to throw it at...let me know and I would love to work something out.  I just want to be able to improve my skills as a speaker and communicator, as well as open the eyes of individuals to the wonders of God and his word.  Anyway, enough of the shameless plug...

So, I was curious if anyone has been following the situation in the Middle East this week.  I would like some feedback if you all have opinions about it, care about it, or are even aware of it?  I am not a huge world news guy, but for some reason I have been captured by what is going on, and something in my gut says this is more significant than just another Middle East conflict.  Maybe I am way off, and I am okay with that, but I wanted to know if anyone else is feeling that way or not.  Anyway, let me know what your thoughts are.

I wanted congratulate Holly!  I am very happy for you and excited for you.  Sorry this is so delayed...

And, finally, if anyone has not had the opportunity to check out the pictures of Carissa, please see my prior post.  She is wonderful, and I am waiting ever so patietly for her to return to Springfield in 5 weeks!  Again, I can't wait for many of you to meet her and appreciate her the way I have grown to.  If anyone thinks of it, please pray for traveling mercies for her the week of Aug 17-18...as well as strength and patience for the next few weeks being apart.  Thank you all so much.

schwaenkerheichen...

I am out!

Alright xanga world...if there is anyone left out there! Here is the deal...I have no access to my xanga site to post except with a tempermental compter at Joel's which will let me access my site once in awhile. So, this is the first time I have been able to successfully log in since forever ago!!! Just so you all understand,I have not abandoned site...I just have a hard time logging in. I can read your comments to me, which are always welcome, but not always respond.

Anyway, so much has happened in the last few weeks, that I really can not even go into it all, so, I will hit the highlights. I am getting acclamated to my job and figuring it out a little more. I am getting to know more people and so it makes it interesting, and for the first time in forever I have insurance...well I had it for a about two months at one point, but that was it. So, I am planning on going to the dentist, eye doctor, and regular doctor for several injuries and things. The latest is a possible broken thumb on my right hand sustained from basketball. From the urging of one person in particular, I am planning on getting it looked at, although I am not very excited about that!

Summer is going pretty well. Play a lot of softball, which I love, and just hang out for the most part. I am not really involved in any ministry, which is weird and difficult for me, but I am trying to wait on God to open a door, instead of force something for the sake of being involved in something. Which I think we do sometimes. We get involved in a ministry because we need involvement, instead of be involved with something we are passionate about. So, I am waiting on God to open the right doors!

And finally, the biggest news of all, which some of you have inquired about, the rumors are true...as hard as it is to believe...I have a girlfriend. Her name is Carissa and she is pretty amazing! She is a junior at Evangel, studying Biology, and wants to be a doctor. She is pretty stinkin' smart, and makes me ashamed of my study habits! :) She is so much fun to be with and do things with. Unfortunately, we were only able to share a week together before she went home to Pennsylvania for the summer. That's right ladies and gentlemen, I have not seen her since May 6th! All of our time together, and all of our official dating relationship has been long distance over the phone, through texts, and handful of emails. I miss her like crazy, and can not wait for her to come back to Springfield for school. Those of you here in town, I am so excited for you all to meet her, get to know her, and appreciate her as much as I do. And, as you cn see from the pics below, she is way cute!!!! She is about 5'3"...maybe. Beautiful curly brown hair, and the cutest smile ever seen before! She really is wonderful and very good to me. I told her I am a complex individual, and she keeps telling me she enjoys a challenge. Again, I can't wait until everyone gets to meet her...hopefully soon. :)

She is soooo cute...and I am very lucky...

Carissa and her friend Allison building a sand castle and flexing.

True picture of beauty...

Okay, everyone, it has been almost a week since I last posted.  So, I thought I should update and say hi.  Thanks for all of you who post and say hi, and give me such wonderful encouragement.  Lori, thank you so much for everything.  I miss all of you so much, and I hate that I am not there for Keithie. (I am sure he just loves being called that now!)  Hopefully I can see you all soon. 

Been a busy week getting used to my job at Global.  And spending a lot of late night conversations, so sleep is scarce.  But it is all worth it.  :)

Is anyone else frustrated with the church world we live in?  I just came from church, which I visited a church here in town today, and I feel this frustration in me growing.  As a church are we really about the business of the Father?  Have we adopted the heart of Jesus and live it out in our lives?  Are we the church, or are we just satisfied with going to church?  I am just not sure what it is all about.  We feel good about our ministries, simply because it validates us as individuals, but can we be objective enough to step back and ask the question honestly...what are we doing!?  When our own self worth is tied to a ministry, or a church, then we are less inclined to admit it needs some adjustments, its not effective, or we need to end it.  Jesus had a vision for what the church would be.  Are we living out his dream?  Are we asking him what his plan for the church is?  Are we willing to give our time and effort to make it such and reach the people that have captured the heart of our Lord?  Or, is it just important for us to bless one another, build a fortress of safety to keep the evil world out, and create the illusion of spirituality that makes us feel good about ourselves and the church/ministry we are involved in/over? 

Most of you know me well enough to know I love the church body, and I am pretty conservative in my philosophy and moral convictions.  So, I pray you will understand my heart and what is compelling me to ask the tough questions.  We all need to be asking these tough questions, and seeking out the answers.  Believe me, it is easier to be on the side of acceptance and blessing eachother, but I desire the heart of God to be found in the walls of our churches.  What does a world who is looking for answers dying for hope say about the church?  What messege are they sending us?  Are we listening?

"It was also called Mizpah, because he said, 'May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.'"  -Genesis 31.49

Okay everyone, I am back.  Still struggling with my internet connection.  I only have access at The House (Woodward home) to Xanga because everywhere else blocks it on the security.  Buh!!!

So I started a new job a couple of weeks ago.  I am working at Global University, which is a distance education institute, for those who aren't familiar with it.  It is pretty cool.  I am basically like an acadamic advisor, helping the thousands of students that call everyday to figure out what classes to take, the best way to go about the pursuits, and sometimes encourage them to not give up.  Also, because I have my BA in Bible and Youth Ministry, I am grading papers from the class, "Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine".  I really like that part of my job a lot.  It gives opportunity to make comments to the students and influence them in a small way.  I like it. Tomorrow will be my first day taking calls, so my prayer is that I will do well, help people, and not delete anyone! 

Another pretty exciting addition to my life right now, and I am sure many of you out there will cheer loudly, is I have met a beautiful and impressive young lady.  I am going to be careful here, simply because I don't have enough room in Xanga to say everything I want to about her, but I am very excited about having her in my life.  Some of you will recall my post a few weeks ago about being interested in somone who is already involved, well, I was persistent (thanks Holly )  Anyway, she is far away from me for the summer, and I am sad for that, but the time we do spend on the phone and through email is wonderful.  (Which I just upped my cell phone plan to accomodate the lifestyle change!)  I wish you could all meet her right now, and see how special she is.  I will post more about her as time passes, and if any of you feel so inclined, I will accept any prayers you may want to offer.  Particularly prayer for wisdom on both our parts, strength for the months ahead, and focus, that Jesus will be at the center of our hearts, and we won't replace him with one another.  Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement.

Finally, I want to share something with you all that God is stirring in my heart for a couple of months now.  Actually it is simply a glimpse of what he has been doing, because there is too much for me to share.  Lately, God has been pushing me deeper with him through lifestyle worship.  Not just worship on a Sunday morning, or in a good service, which I am a big advocate for.  But in moment by moment living.  My day is filled with so many concerns and ambitions, and every day I offer them up to God.  But, what I have found is not that I feel more free and relieved that my Lord is in control, rather, I feel more anxious because I am always aware of the fact my hands are not on the situation.  I am not in control, which is such a struggle for me.  But, what I have come to realize, is not that I have this insatiable need to be in control, as much as my attention has nothing to occupy itself.  I have grown so accustomed to focusing my attention on fixing problems, helping people, and anticipating the next move, that I have forgotten to sit at the feet of Jesus and worship him.  Worship the fact that his love for me is so overwhelming I really have no response to it.  Worship the memory that Jesus gave everything for me in order to buy me back, when I did nothing to deserve it.  Worship not for what he has done for me, although he has done more than I can fathom, but worship more who he is.  He is my Lord, my King, and the one I turn to, not when things are tough, and not when I need answers, but in every moment of every day.  Every moment he is worthy of worship.  Not that I am so preoccupied with the physical act of raising my hands, or yelling praises, but that every moment I am aware of his hand moving me, guiding me, and holding me.  When I speak, I ask myself, am I speaking love and life into people's lives?  Am I advocating my own agenda, or the agenda of my Father?  Is it about him, or about me.  Am I about him, or about me? 

I want to encourage us, as members of the global body of Christ, to engage in moment by moment worship.  Don't save it for the allotted times of worship, live it the way God intended it to be lived.  Love him.  The body of Christ is in desperate need of people who are no longer worried about their efficiency, but instead are worried about their passion.  This world we live in is broken, and we live in it day after day.  Redeem your days in this broken world, by redeeming the moments of it through worshipping the one who is directing the whole production.  My you play your part in raising the bar for the global body of Christ, as we seek our Savior.

Strength and Honor my friends...B