the sweet factor

So here I am, drinking tea. It doesn't have any caffeine in it because I don't want to be up late tonight, so I added a heaping spoonful of honey to bring up the sweet factor. I am also extremely sore right now. I ran again on the beach today with three friends from my barracks, and it is still very difficult. Granted, we went further than last time, and I think we ran harder, but I am not accustomed to running partially sideways and on a soft surface.

We officially began classes today as well. I was able to meet my MLI (Military Language Instructor) and become accustomed with the thirty pounds of books, audio cd's, and computer software that is going to be my life for the next 63 weeks. I did get the bonus of receiving a free MP3 player, courtesy of our tax dollars. They said they might give us an iPod (strictly for studying).

Oh, and just so you all know, I am in the process of searching for a cell phone. That's right, a cell phone. There I said it. It's out there for all to see.

I have been keeping up with all of my New Year's Resolutions. My least favorite and most difficult to do is the Starbucks limit. Not only do we have around seven Starbucks on this peninsula, but I just heard yesterday that they will be opening not one, but TWO Starbucks on base! Being able to see it everyday will make it more difficult, however I will remain steadfast!

My favorite resolution to keep has been reading through the Bible in a year. It has been just about a year since I've read through Genesis and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. The other day I read through an interesting passage. In chapter 12 verse 7, Abraham is building an altar to the Lord to commemorate His visit. Whenever I read passages like this I always thought that the people who built them worshiped God just that one time. However, chapter 13 verse 4 says, "[Bethel] was the place where Abram had built the altar, and there he again worshiped the LORD."

I often have been caught in the trap of praising God for things that happen to me right here right now and then, a few weeks later, forgetting about them never again worshiping God for His great works. This next year, especially since I've been back at my old stomping grounds, I will pray for God to remind me of the great things He brought me through here so that I may write them down and praise Him all over again.

it was natural for her

So I have finally made it to beautiful Monterey, CA. I decided to travel along I-80 through the exciting states of Iowa and Nebraska. I thought, "I don't want to miss any remarkable sites that these parts of the Union have to offer". Yeah, I drove through at night and I must say it was more exciting than during the day.

I arrived Thursday night and stayed with my long-time friends Dennis and Susan Jones. It was good getting caught up with them. Interestingly enough, it felt as though I had never left. They remodeled their Carmel Valley home, but other than that, not much has changed.

My inprocessing doesn't officially begin until Tuesday morning, however, since I've been stationed here before and know the ropes, I was able to do a lot of my inprocessing on Friday. I just walked around informally introducing myself to people and getting all of my checkmarks in the appropriate boxes.

I did meet a very interesting lady while I was doing all this. Her name is Ms. Costello, she works in the personnel office as a civilian contractor, and she was here when I left three years ago. Well, she's still here, only with a cane and a slight limp (she's old). I said hi to her and she said, "Hang on, I have something for you". She left for a moment, and returned with a piece of paper in her hand. "Do you have any friends who are from the Vietnam Era? Do they have any diseases? Here is a list of diseases the VA will cover if your friend claims it." I didn't know what to say to her. Sure, I have quite a few friends who fought in Vietnam, but she didn't even know who I was and she was already talking to me like we were friends. Then I remembered that this woman ALWAYS talked about ways to help soldiers. She had been helping soldiers for so many years that that was all she could think about....all the time. So it was natural for her to approach a soldier she didn't know and tell them about all the wonderful opportunities within their grasp.

I want to have that same passion about Christ and his precious Book. I want to approach complete strangers and tell them about Him, the one who saves their soul. I want that to be the first thought I have in the morning and the last thought I have at night.

Anyway, I spent a lot of time running around town doing odds and ends. I reached my 5 a month Starbucks limit on Saturday (doh!). I also moved all of my things into the barracks which conveniently is located on the third floor. The personnel office asked if I wanted to live off post since I'm high enough in rank to do so. I told them I wasn't interested. I figure it will cause more grief going on and off post every day. Plus, I can meet so many more people living on post and I have everything I need right at my fingertips.

Speaking of people, my roommate is a Russian. Yep, full-blooded. Moved to the USA when he was seven. I invited him to church yesterday and he accepted! We both went to church this morning at Lighthouse Baptist. My experience there is going to have to be another story. I wasn't sure if I would still attend there because it is a smaller church and I'm used to GCC and meeting hundreds of people at a time with numerous service opportunities. However, I prayed for an answer and I believe the Lord provided me with that. I'll explain tomorrow.

Anyway, that's my life right now. I went for my first run on the beach yesterday and it was beautifully difficult. I forgot how hard running on sand is. The last time I ran on sand was when I dunked Jeanna at Lake Michigan and she was chasing me with a knife made out of sea shells. She's crazy.

For those who have read this far, I miss you and look forward to when we can all be in paradise celebrating our Lord every day, never having to worry about saying goodbye again.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
~1st Corinthians 9:25

my "spiritual shopping list"

This past year has been an amazing time of growth for me. The Lord has brought me through many things. The year started off well, as I was involved with my former church doing youth ministry and assisting with Sunday Morning Worship. I was involved in a serious relationship, which I was convinced would culminate into marriage by summer. The Lord had other plans though. It was revealed to me that my ex-fiance and I were never meant to be together. We were wired much differently, sharing opposing views on too many "big things" of life. The engagement ended in May, at which time I stopped attending my former church and began attending Granger Community Church. My first Sunday there I learned of a HOUSE PARTY that would be coming to my neighborhood, so naturally I signed up. At the party the following Saturday, I sat across from a young couple who informed me that there was this group of fired up single Christians who meet at the Beanery every Sunday night for fellowship and Bible study. I followed up on this wonderful opportunity, and as we all know, the rest is history

This year has been filled with many new friendships, putting my past behind me, and moving on with a revitalized passion for life and ministry. The Lord has placed me exactly where he wants. I feel it, deep down inside. Before I attended GCC my view of how churches should operate was so tiny. Over the past seven months, my eyes have been opened to the amazing possibility that church can be fun, exciting, and worshipful all at the same time! Church isn't a ritual I need to do every week so I can check off my "spiritual shopping list".

Speaking of checking things off, have any of you made New Year's Resolutions? I have eight this year and I would like to share them with you:

2005 RESOLUTIONS:
1. Before I see an R rated movie, I will go to a Christian website with movie analysis and decide if it is something I want to fill my head with. I will not attend any movies with explicit sexual content.
2. I will set aside time each day to read my One Year Bible passages. I will not get more than one week behind in readings.
3. I will read through all of the Gospels once a month.
4. I will not be a "garbage can" for other people's gossip.
5. I will say "NO!" to five social events every month.
6. I will limit myself to five Starbucks coffees every month.
7. I will bring twenty friends from school to church; with five of those friends becoming permanently integrated into the group.
8. I will give all the glory of my success to God.

With the help of the Holy Spirit I can look back in one year and say that each of these goals were accomplished. Happy New Year to you all!