Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009

This book rocks! It has so much stuff in it. I cannot even begin to describe everything in it. If you are a Christian Writer and looking do get published I highly recommend it. It has a bunch of information on publishers, contacts, genres, periodicals, books, nonfiction, fiction. It's amazing. I know I will be using it in the near future to write. Get this book at http://www.amazon.com.

Problems?

Not realizing what you want is a problem of knowledge.
Not pursuing what you want is a problem of motivation.
Not achieving what you want is a problem of persistence.

I love this. I just read this in John Maxwell's book Failing Forward. Amazing book about turning mistakes into stepping stones for success. When we get the knowledge to do something, we must then find the motivation to follow after it, after we get the motivation and things don't fall right into place, we must be persistent. Then we will achieve our goals and dreams.

Amazing Week!

This week has been amazing! God has really been showing me a lot. We had some intense nights, intense prayer, intense worship, and intense growth. A few things God has been growing me in is learning to apply as much stuff to my life that I can, from the things I learn. I have been reading a lot, and also been getting poured into from others a lot as well. I want to apply as much of these things to my life as I can to make me the best me.

One of the first things that God is teaching me, which has been a lesson throughout the year here at MC, is to love people better. I just read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. It is an amazing book, and helped me learn how to love people more effectively, and to love them in a way they will receive it best.

Another thing God has been revealing to me is my pride. I'm a very proud person. This can be a good thing, but not necessarily. I am very proud and need to change it. I am trying to "take up my cross daily" and die to myself more everyday to become more Christlike. With pride causes me to be very cynical of others around me. I'm not a big fan of Christians, therefore I judge Christians a lot, and criticize what they do, but I'll go into that more another day. If I sit back, hold my comments, and think then I really see that their heart for people is great, but the actions just wouldn't reach me, and even if they wouldn't reach me, that doesn't mean that that they won't reach others. I hope other people don't judge me the way I judge them, this is why I'm working to change and conquer my thoughts. Not only am I trying to conquer my pride, and cynicism in my thoughts, but my destructive thinking about others and myself. I don't always have the most optimistic outlook on things, and am working to change that to be a better me.

Back in the Atmosphere!

Well I made it back to Dallas on Tuesday. My plane actually made it in early! It was awesome. I made it in about 2 and we met for the first time this year at 4! This week has been titled "Back in the Atmosphere". Declaring that we get together and have a lot of fun, and do a lot of team building stuff. It has been an amazing time. A few highlights have been breakfast with Pastor Joey, service with Pastor Lloyd, service with Ben, a couple evening prayer times, and MC Olympics. I loved all the events, but must make a note about the MC Olympics. MC Olympics is a bunch of games that we played and competed together with. We were divided into teams and played these games. Games like Ultimate Frisbee, water balloon volleyball, some relay races and other random games. Well in Ultimate I had an amazing experience! I was in the endzone and a friend of mine had the frisbee and I pointed to the opposite corner for him to throw it and lead me, well he did and I turned and ran after it keeping my eye on the frisbee, and since my eye was on the frisbee, I didn't see the tree right in front of me and ran smack into it! Scraped up my ear and arms, not too bad, but wish I could have seen it on video! Then in one relay race we had to put a sleeping bag on our head and run down the field around a cone and back while being told where to go by a teamate. Well, I'm a runner so I took off as fast as I could, and well somehow got off track at the get go. I ran straight into my friend Sean, then James, then fell a few more times not sure who I ran into! It was a good time and I bet it was quite comical to see!

A New Year A New Decade!

Well last Saturday I turned 20! No longer a teen, I'm unsure if this is good or bad?! but nonetheless it has happened. I'm ready and looking forward to the decade of the 20's!

Last night or this morning rather we rang in the New Year! Bring it on 2009!

Before I look on to my resolutions or personal goals rather for 2009 I'd like to reflect a little on 2008, as it was quite a year for me.

I started 2008 saying it was going to be the biggest year of my life, and it certainly held up to the hype I gave it. I had a few resolutions last year, but for positive thinking sake I will stick to the ones I accomplished. 1) No soda for the entire year! I'm gladly drinking Wild Cherry Pepsi while I type this as my first can of soda since 11:57 pm on Dec. 31 2007, when midnight struck however I did drink the majority of a two liter of Mountain Dew! 2) Run at least 20 minutes in every day between midnight and midnight. Today is the first day that I have not run since Dec. 31 2007! I turned into a runner and loved it! Another one of my goals of 2008 was that it was going to be a year of big steps for me, and I took a huge step leaving ISU and following after the dream and headed down to MCUSA. Not only did I sign up and look forward to go to Phoenix, but then ended up in Dallas instead. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else though! I love Dallas and I love Relevant Church! Other things that happened in 2008. I was still a drinker at the begginning of the year and drank on Jan 3, and a few other times, but haven't drank since VEISHA 2008 which was in April and I wrote about it in a past post. I was a hidden chewer which many people didn't know about or don't until right now, but I quit that on May 8th as I moved from Ames to Iowa City. Other things, in political aspect I stepped up and lead 3 caucus meetings in January. This summer I made some of the greatest friends ever in Iowa City, it was the first time I was really close with other Christians. I have had a few other Christian friends, but this was the first time I had real fellowship and it was amazing. I love them so much! At MC I could put down a million things, so really I'll leave that post for the end of MC reflection and my journal.

Okay well here are some of my goals for 2009. Not all of my goals are listed, as they are personal and putting it out here, might cause me to lose it.

1) MMTR- Mountain Masochist Trail Race- a 52 mile ultra marathon in Virgina, my brothers and I will join up with my cousins to run this in November. Not only does this mean doing the race, but I must commit to the training to do it in under the twelve hour time limit.
2) Bible Every Day- I failed this in 2008, but will accomplish it this year!
3) Blogging at least once every week for 2009.
4) Eating Healthier- I eat pretty junky, but want to get better at it this year.
5) Read at least three books every month.
6) Spend more time in prayer and fasting. I plan to kick of 2009 with a 21 day Daniel fast from January 11-31. For info. on why those days, check this site: http://www.awake21.org/
7) Work out more. Lately I justify not working out, because I run a lot, but my muscles have gotten a lot smaller, and I just feel "soft". Time to change that wether that work out consists of just push ups and pull ups that is fine, but lately it has been nothing at all!
8) I have a lot of ideas for books and want to finish one by the end of the year.
9) Finish up Berean classes to apply for Assembly of God pastoral credentials, I started the classes a while ago, but need to finish!
10) Become a better speaker. In summer 2009 I plan on going on a speaking tour with a friend of mine at MC and we have a cause we want to help, and well there will be more to come on that in the coming weeks and months.

Well these are some of my goals, this year is going to be huge! I thought 2008 was big, but I know 2009 will be bigger, and great things will come!

What are your goals? I encourage you to write 'em down, and let people know them, because if you don't you'll hide and well, failing is a lot easier when nobody sees it, and you know nobody will see it!