Go Big or Go Home

This has been a motto for myself for sometime now, and I'm really just beginning to understand what it means. I have always dreamed big, but mostly I have never thought my dreams are possible. I have had many dreams that have come and gone, but now I will dream and I will achieve, not on my own will, but by the power of God as he says in Philippians 4:13 "For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength."

When I was a sophomore in high school I dreamed of being an Iowa State Basketball player, and well that didn't happen. I focused more on football and the girlfriend, and let the dream fall away.

At the beginning of my freshman year at Iowa State I dreamed of becoming a rich engineer that has everything, monetary wise, and has no worries about finances. That fell away as I realized the focus of my heart at that point did not match up with the rest of the way I want to live my life.

When I was a child I wanted to be a G.I. Joe, but that fell away as I realize how real war is and that not everyone is the hero and how hard it would be. So I gave up on this one, 'cuz I thought it was too hard and the next cool thing came a long.

My senior year in high school I came up with a dream. This dream is absolutely unattainable by man alone. I mainly just want to help people, and help them to know my best friend Jesus. I want to help them walk with him and have the best life they can, not an easy life, but a better life than they have. My dream is to lead or start the Largest Youth Group/Outreach in the World. I don't want the biggest to have glory to Adam, but I want the biggest, because I want to impact that many people's lives. I want to build up my Lord's Kingdom and the next generation of leaders. I know that if through God I can attain this than anyone can attain anything through him. I don't know where or any idea how to get to this dream, but I will not give up. This dream has been dwelling in me for nearly two year now, and I am establishing it now. Tear it down if you want, but it's my dream not yours. You may say it's not possible, but I already know that I personally cannot achieve it.

Go Big or Go Home. Dream big enough that if man alone can obtain it, than it is not nearly big enough of a dream. This is how I will live from now on, by faith in Christ who strengthens me. Be Extreme and step out and dream! What is your dream? You may need to write it down and let a few people know it to really speak it into truth. Email me and I will pray for your dream as I hope people will do for mine!

1 week

I've been here at MC in Dallas for a week now and it is amazing. I've learned a lot about what is about to come this year, and gotten a little taste of what it will all be like. We've gone canvassing, learned about each other, learned the curriculum, and done some kids outreaches already. Today we went and did five outreaches. It was amazing. I met a little boy named Jose and he rocked. He was one big eleven year old! I asked him if he had a lot of friends and he simply said no. This broke my heart to know that this kid, a child of God, doesn't have many friends. I want to go back and love on this kid and really hope I get the opportunity to next weekend. I know we will do more outreaches, but I really want to go back and talk to Jose and just be his friend, to show and share the love God has for me. I am falling in love with these outreaches and this was the first one I've done! They challenge me as we do little skits in front of everyone, and really had to step out of my comfort zone to do them. I'm loving Masters and know that this will help me take my life to the next level to be the Extreme Christian God has called me to be!

New

I arrived here in Dallas last night around 9:30. I’m definitely not in North English anymore, this place is huge! I like it, it’s pretty and there are a lot of people. Much learning and growing is going to be done here for me. I’m excited for what is about to happen in the next 9 months at Masters Commission. I have a few goals, but my biggest goal for my time here is to become a true MAN of God. I want to be the man that God wants me to be, I know I’ll never be perfect, but I want to be more confident and walk with the authority that the Lord gives me. I want to be a man that sets example, and really show what it looks like to be a real man of God. So many times in this modern day guys get caught up in the macho-man mentality, and not being the man our creator made them to be.

Today's the Day!

I keep thinking over in my head of the Blue's Clues song "Today's The Day" that my nephews once loved to sing, as I hit the road for Dallas. Today I begin to take another step in my Wild Goose Chase called life! Thank you to everyone who has helped me to this point, and thank you God for everyone who is about to step in! I hit the road in t-minus 5 minutes from North English and the next post will be sometime in the next week from Big Ole Dallas, Texas!

9-11

September 11, 2001. I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I was sitting in Mr. Evers Pre-Algebra class in 7th grade. Sat in the front desk right next to the door. Ron Van Burkem came rushing into the room and told us to turn on the T.V. as The World Trade Centers had just been hit by an airplane. As we watched the T.V. the second building was hit and then the both fell. I watched this live. Next thing I knew the Pentagon had been hit as well. The whole day we just watched this chaos go on. That afternoon while at football practice we looked up at the sky and saw Air Force One flying over Iowa being escorted by jets. Crazy to think this was already 7 years ago. I pray for all the families that lost people in these crashes.

September 11, 2006. I will never forget this day either. The day the Cancer was removed from my Daddy. That was a crazy day as they took him in and removed his prostate. I am thankful to God that they were able to remove it all and take out the cancer.

9-11 has not been such a great day for me, but not a bad one this year with much anticipation of tomorrow!

Busy

This last week has been busy! I finished up a great summer of work on Friday at Frucon. An awesome place to work and learn. Saturday I went to a wedding which can define small town Iowa as the wedding party road off in Semi's after the ceremony. After the wedding I went to a church picnic at Aron's place. Sunday was an amazing Church service! The Awaken Team performed the Lifehouse Everything Skit and killed it! It was absolutely amazing! Monday I traveled down to North English and started packing, then back to Iowa City Wednesday for Awaken, then back to North English today for some good-byes, the Homecoming Pep-Rally, and headin' out in the morning!

Communication is Clutch

I've learned a lot in life, but one of the most important things I've learned as that communication is clutch. It makes all the difference in everything. It's the difference of making the play or not making the play, getting the job or not getting the job, getting the girl or not getting the girl. Communicating makes the world go around. We all communicate differently and it is sometimes hard to get the different people to match up. Guys don't always communicate the same as girls or necessarily the way girls expect either. I am not a great communicator, but I do a decent job. I don't always let people know what on my mind or my real opinion. I want to start changing that and let people know how I feel at certain things. One of my goals through this next year of growth for myself at Masters Commission is to become a better communicator. Whether that means I will have to step on toes more or put myself on the edge a little bit more, thats okay, I'm going to take the risk and be a better communicator!