are we gonna do this or not?

tuesdays tune
thompson square - are you gonna kiss me or not?

for all you country music loving folk, here's one for you. it's a cute song, i currently have it on repeat... maybe you will too, it's catchy!!

whys?

"I lay my 'whys?' before Your cross in worship kneeling, my mind beyond all hope, my heart beyond all feeling; and worshiping, realize that I, in knowing You, don't need a 'why?'"
{Ruth Bell Graham}

lets not try to figure out everything at once.

tuesdays tune
the nationals - fake empire

i love all the different instruments in this song. beautiful.

Scotty - tip's for your 20's

today my 'little' brother turns 21. the age of officially becoming an adult all around the world.

though i only have 3 1/2 years on you little bro, i thought that in honor of your coming of age i would share of few tips of things you will probably experience now that you have fully entered into adulthood....

1) the best is yet to come. highschool was a few years ago now, but that old saying 'highschool are the best years of your life', well i think they got it wrong... the 20's are better.

2) change is inevitable, embrace it the best you can. people will come and go and your address is bound to change at least 10 times in the next decade. some change you will welcome with open arms, some not so much. though it's hard sometimes, for the most part, change is good for your soul!

3) it's okay to question and seek out different possibilities as to what career path you will take. this is what your 20's are for, to learn more about your gifts and then to see where they may take you. if you get into something and find out it's not for you, don't stress, switch it up. you are still young and have time (even if people tell you you don't).

4) surround yourself with people who love you. this may seem like obvious advice, but i say it because it's important, REALLY important. find a few friends who will have your back, who will love you no matter, who share similar life morals as you and will do life you with. keep them close and life will be a lot more enjoyable.

5) don't live to work, work to live. don't take your work home with you. the habits you form now will likely affect you (and your future family) later on in life. this is a hard thing to master in our society, so start now and hopefully you wouldn't struggle with it later on in life. there are WAY more important things in life than work.

6) don't rush. we seem to always want to get married fast, buy a house young, and have life figured out. the years you have as a single, independent young man may be limited, so enjoy them.

7) as cliche as it sounds, take time to find out who you are. embrace time spent by yourself, travel lots and pray like mad. these three things i have found helped me start to get to know myself and to start building a solid foundation.

Happy 21st Birthday Youngin'!

ministry of presence.

this resonates with my soul. this is how i want to live whether i am living here or some far off land. i want to live like this....

'more and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. it is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. still, it is not as simple as it seems. my own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. it is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. but i wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them. -Henri Nouwen

amor.

after months of planning it's finally here (almost). on friday a team of 110 people will pile into ten 15-passenger vans and 2 u-haul trucks to drive 2660 km's to tijuana, mexico. for the past couple months a team of us have kept very busy planning and organizing a trip for sr. high youth to build houses for impoverished families in mexico. in only four days we will build 6 houses, eat lots of mexican food and be changed forever by the local mexican familes.

i have been on this trip 9 times before as a student and leader. people often say things like 'wow, you are going to make such a difference in the mexicians lives, good for you' and while that may be true, i have come to realize that they make just as much, if not more, of a difference in my life. i have a lot to be thankful for. i am a rich canadian compared to most of the mexican families that be build for. but these people we meet while down in mexico are rich in community and in love. we have a lot we can learn from them as far as how to priorities things in life and how to care for people.

heres a little itinerary of what we will be doing on the trip so if you are interested you can follow us!

friday (25th) - sunday (27th)
our long 40 hour drive down to mexico. we will be driving 14 (ish) hours a day and sleeping at churches at night on the way down. we will be crossing the border into mexico on sunday afternoon and then setting up camp in mexico on sunday evening.

monday (28) - thursday (31)
the hard work starts, and well finishes too i guess. like i mentioned before, we will be building 6 houses in the four building days.

friday (1st) - monday (4th)

we head back home with a one day stop in L.A. to check out the beach and six flags.

if you think of us please pray for safety while driving, crossing the borders and of course for while we are building in mexico. please also pray for a unity in our team and that we would be touched and influenced by the mexician families we meet.

thank you to those who have made this trip (and others) possible for me for the past 9 years. i wouldn't have been able to do it without your continual love and financial support. it's because of you that i get to do what i am truly passionate about!

check back in a couple weeks for pictures (!!!) and an update on how the trip unfolds!!

mucho amor a usted!!!

forever could never be long enough for me.

tuesdays tune.

train - marry me

a beautiful song....