Nate’s blog

I will be leaving at nasty-clock in the morning for Waco, so here is one last post before I head to bed.

Mostly this is to ask for prayer cover while I am over there. While I am stoked about this trip I need you guys to be praying for a multitude of things. First off, that God will have HIS will be done no matter what our expectations are. That we will remember that we are there to spread the gospel in whatever form possible, not to put gold stars on our boyscout sash. That we will be able to work dynamically as a group to best serve our master Jesus Christ. And that we will take and give all things joyfully and respectfully. That our time in Waco would have maximum impact for Christ no matter the cost.

Thats it for today folks. Night. See most of you in a couple weeks.
Nathan

So mom and dad are gone for the weekend. Which leaves me all by my onesies. It is kind of strange to tell the truth. When they are here I don't really do anything outside the house. I am thankful for work to tell the truth, since it gets me out of the house on a regular basis. So this week I have tried to do things outside the house and I realized, I don't really like a lot of people. Most of them are crass, unthoughtful, and share very few of the same interests as mine, such as music and Jesus Christ. Even the ones that claim they are Christians think its a joke, or maybe a social club. So lets just say I am glad the weekend is almost over. I hope one day I can find some people who thinks similarly to me and share the same passions. Until that time.
Nathan

I've been reading a book by Brett and Alex Harris called "Do Hard Things. A teenage rebellion against low expectations.". It has overall been an amazing book. In it they mostly chew their generation out for being comfortable in adolescence, so comfortable that they stay in adolescence for their entire lives, when just three or four generations before use this was not a problem. You had two stages of life, being a child and being a man (or woman). But for some reason people gradually expected less and less of their children and you have modern day teenagers. Young men and women who could do great things, but choose to take the easy way out. I am going to share a clip in the book that talks about fear.

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

Alex Harris

An interesting map is on display in the British museum in London. It's an old mariner's chart, drawn in 1525, outlining the North American coastline and adjacent waters. The cartographer made some intriguing notations on areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored. He wrote, "Here be Giants," "Here be Dragons," "Here be Fiery Scorpions,". Fortunately explorers ignored his warnings-and discovered whole new continents as a result!
In this chapter we've seen its not the giants, fiery scorpions or dragons that keep us behind our fences. It's the fear of them. Once we take that first scary step with God's help-and keep moving forward-We'll actually experience the bigger, more fulfilling life God has in mind for us.
Not only that, but we have seen that God is ready to work through us, even with our limitations, and bless our failures. Instead of worrying about future fears, we can, as Corrie Ten Boom wrote "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

I've been reading scripture from Hebrews where the author talks about faith. Through faith Abraham left what was known to him and began the race known as Israel. By faith Rahab saved her family from death from God by sheltering his people, a crime punishable by death most likely. By faith this person did this and saved lives and did God's will despite fear of rejection, failure, or the unknown. This strikes a chord with me now since I am getting prepared to go to Waco with Kingswood and learn a part of what God wants me to do with my life. But I am more exited about what will happen when we get back from the trip and carry it out in the neighborhood we are in. That is where fear sets itself in. The fear of being one of those crazy Christians. Ministering and witnessing to people I know.

Fear is also striking my father. He is afraid of looking for a job while he and mom are in Texas. Once again, fear of the unknown. Why is fear so rampant?

Please be praying for the mission team. We leave next Saturday for Waco. Pray that God will teach us how to be strong and courageous. Pray that we remember that everywhere our foot treads, has been given to us. Pray that we have the determination and courage to come back and change things for God's glory even if it hurts our pride and our traditions. And also pray for me so that I can have the guts to lead if necessary,  and eat my pride in order to be shaped into what I need to become. Also pray for dad, as he is hesitant to look for jobs in Texas.

And thats my blog for today.
Nathan

Well something exciting is happening. I will be going to Waco TX to help out with some inner city missions come june. The exciting thing is that the church we are going to help out is the home church for Mosaic Community which is a church I am in contact with in Seattle. So we are going to learn what their approach is to reaching out to your neighborhood, how to successfully balance Social Justice with Evangelism. And I will get a first hand look at where the folks I've been talking to are coming from. In addition I am being forced to talk to my group and chances are I will end up having to bring my guitar. So I believe this will be a crazy growing experience. If you guys would be praying for some things on the trip. We will be going to work with the neighborhood Antioch Community has taken so we will be working with alot of little kids and impoverished people. Pray that God will give us compassion for the people, He will give us the grace to handle whatever Satan throws at us, and that He would prepare our hearts for change and pain. We leave on june 14th and they will be coming back the 21st. I will be staying up there to send some time with my family.

Well just wanted to share great news.
Nathan

Greetings. Recently I have been hearing this question everywhere I go. "Whats wrong with you?" "Are you alright?" "Are you sick or something?". Not sure, no, and no. I"m not sure whats wrong with me, but I think something is. Not physically but mentally for sure, and spiritually for sure. I was told I kind of changed when my sister left home. That would make some sense seeing as I was depressed for a month or two after she left. But for some reason I am depressed right now and I am going through personality changes again or something. I dont know whats wrong with me and it is frustrating. And it is taking it's toll on my school, my job, and my life in general. I cant remember the last time I was allowed to hang out with friends since my parents like to hand pick them for me. And I rarely spend time with my family since they all live in texas and my dad is too much of a procrastinator to move down there. And my spiritual life is dying because I dont have the maturity or self control to maintain a lifestyle to nurture it.

I take it back, I do know whats wrong with me. I am depressed, and I just dont know what to do about it. I am tired of living without friends, or family and my hands are basically tied to do anything about it. Please be praying for me. I sure as heck need it.
Nathan

1 There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven:

 2 a time to be born and a time to die,
       a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
       a time to tear down and a time to build,

 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
       a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
       a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

 6 a time to search and a time to give up,
       a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
       a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 8 a time to love and a time to hate,
       a time for war and a time for peace.

I recently left my youth group. It was a very, very, very hard thing to do but it is what God has led me to through numerous scriptures and my family. Things have never been the same since Dean kicked mom and dad out of the church, and my ministry there was cut off. My gift from God is giving. I dont care if I'm flat broke, I will give what I have away. It's a blessing because I couldnt care less about my possessions. It's true, I like to have stuff. Clothes are nice to have around, and technical gadgets are great, but as far as being possessive of my toys.... Whatever. I was hardly allowed to practice my gifts in that setting. Then Chris went to school for a couple months and left the youth group every Wednesday night in the hands of Mike. That didnt go so great, and church became less and less about fellowshipping with believers and sharing the one thing we have in common (Jesus Christ) and more and more about gossip, grabbing attention, petty arguments, and sounding smart. I found out what happens when you take Christ out of church. We become ordinary people who have been called to live extraordinary lives and refused to follow for the sake of ourselves.

I will start looking for a new youth group, starting at Kingswood where my parents are currently attending. Please be in prayer as I will be needing it.

Nathan

So here is my first post on vox.

This week has been rough. It started with me being super tired. I worked 45 hours the week before, on top of school, church, and mom demanding I work for her as well. It really wore on me, so I was looking forward to a week where I could relax a little bit. Yeah...heres to that. I rested for one day and then the war started again. I went to work and it seemed like people just had it out for me. Customers would rip me a new one for nothing, my bosses took random crap out on me, and my co-workers were cranky. On top of this, I couldnt get my check in my account on time due to presidents day, so I overdrew my account 150. Then my sister Laura came on friday night. I love her, but she does not bring rest with her. Its not her job to bring rest. If that was not enough my sister Anna and her soon to be came on saturday night/sunday morning. I couldnt sleep that entire time. Insomnia seems to be plaguing me lately. So I was dieing there.

This morning mom sent me to run errands and I had some time to think. I was looking back at the last couple weeks and wondering what happened that I was so tired. Crazy things were happening. I was called into work, family came like crazy, I had tons of hours scheduled at work, my truck kept breaking, and tons of crazy glitches and circumstances each took their toll. So many things were happening that I wondered why. And then I remembered. Right before this happened, I was reading and praying every night and morning. Something that I try to do but fail at miserably. Not last week. I felt like a freakin saint. And apparently Satan saw something happening that he wanted to stop, pronto. He hit me with his favorite, busyness. And it worked. I havent touched my bible since, and I havent talked to God except between meals.

Well there is that blog. I intend to work on fixing this one. I would appreciate your prayers. Pray that God will send me a friend that I can share weight with. I feel like a lone ranger right now, and I am getting tired.
Off to work in a few hours. Need to put some school in there.
Nate