What a lazy Sunday afternoon. I got so bored today that I started taking these online tests.

 

Here's what I found out about myself. (I especially love that I should go to Brazil and my sexy Brazilian name. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick.
You're always willing to lend a helping hand.
In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going.
"15 seconds to showtime!"
The Muppet Personality Test

 

 

 

 

You do things your own way - and it's made for colorful times.
Your life hasn't turned out how anyone expected, thank goodness!
Your best movie matches: Clerks, Garden State, Napoleon Dynamite
If Your Life Was A Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

 

 

 

 

1) Get a pet hairless cat
2) Eat less tuna
3) Travel to Japan
4) Study warrior dancing
5) Get in shape with Dance Dance Revolution
What Should Your New Year's Resolution Be?

 

 

 

 

Outta sight! Suave and all American, you tend to be clean cut and upstanding.
You're friendly with most people and a huge flirt (sometimes even with family members!).
What Brady Are You?

 

 

 

 

Ultima Beast
You Feast On: Power Bars
You Lurk Around In: The Ocean
You Especially Like to Torment: Pop Stars
What's Your Monster Name?

 

 

 

 

Squirrel Houston
Hillbilly Name Generator

 

 

 

 

Expressive and deep, lyrics are really your thing.
That doesn't mean you don't rock out...
You just rock out with meaning.
For you, rock is more about connecting than grandstanding.
What Kind of Rocker Are You?

 

 

 

 

Your Superhero Name is The Warrior Wizard
Your Superpower is Winking
Your Weakness is Kittens
Your Weapon is Your Gravity Thorns
Your Mode of Transportation is Kayak

 

 

 

If you're looking for an extreme yet chill vacation, Brazil is perfect for you.
Go wild at Carnaval, get lost in the Amazon, and relax checking out the beautiful people on the beach.

 

 

   We all have those dreaded little things in our life that have to be done. You make a "to do" list and inevitably only one or two of the small things get checked off the list with a false sense of "I did something productive today." My priorities quite frequently are out of whack.

 

   I have the best intentions of cleaning my room, running errands, calling that friend I haven't talked to in a while, and the list goes on. Unfortunately my room is still a mess, those errands are still in need of being done, and it's been weeks (even months in some cases) since I have called some of my friends.

 

   Yesterday morning my quiet time was on - you guessed it - "Priorities." What is so ironic about it was I went to bed late on Wednesday night and as a result got up late Thursday morning and didn't make it a priority to do my quiet time - God truly DOES have a sense of humor!

 

   It talked about how we need to give the most things in our life (God, family, friends, etc.) top priority and feel obligated to do something for someone just because they ask us - it's okay to say "No."

 

   Having surgery on my ankle has not allowed me to accomplish a lot on my current "to do" list. In less than two weeks I will be out of my air cast and things will be back to normal - I guess I should start prioritizing things now! (c:

 

 

Currently Reading: Waking the Dead by John Eldredge

   During my quiet time I have been reading "Habitudes - Images That Form Leadership Habits & Attitudes" by Tim Elmore. I have heard Tim speak multiple times (primarily about leadership) and I highly recommend listening to his messages.

 

   Today the topic was "focus." Everyone tries so hard to do everything that they lose focus of the main thing they started doing in the first place. Elmore shares "What you focus on expands...so, the goal of a leader is to focus, not expand. Growth is a product of focus. Clarify the vision. Focus your people, time, energy, and resources. Remember this: just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD.

 

   He also used a quote that stuck out in my mind through out the day today - "If the devil cannot make you bad, he'll make you busy." I had never realized how true this is in my life until today. I get so busy that I neglect other things and people in my life.

 

   Satan can use being busy to take my focus off God and make me think "I'm too busy to have a quiet time, read my Bible, or pray!" When I get in to that mindset then Satan has accomplished exactly what he set out to do.

 

   I've gotten so busy with work and dealing with my ankle since my surgery that I have also neglected my friends - especially my new friends I met in Brazil back in March. I have also not been reading for pleasure as much as I used to and by not reading a lot I have also not been journaling a lot as well. Journaling has been one of the many ways that God has revealed Himself to me lately.

 

   My goal is to be more intentional when it comes to the above areas of my life. Being busy should not be an excuse that prevents me from doing the things that help me grow spiritually and personally. I should be doing these things in spite of being busy -- just because I'm busy I don't neglect brushing my teeth or taking a shower so why neglect reading my Bible, praying, journaling, and having a quiet time when I know they can only enhance my life.

 

In Christ,

Scott

 

 

Currently Reading: Waking The Dead by John Elderedge

   Last night at Fusion23 Aaron Fortner started a two part series on "Change." He talked about how frequently we see change as a bad thing (and sometimes it can be). He said "Change enables you to be who God truly created you to be." He also shared a quote from C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity that talked about how God works in our lives and we think He is building us to be a little cottage and He keeps building and we don't understand that His intention for us is to be a huge high rise of a mansion.

 

   Aaron shared John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." He commented that Satan will try to convince us not to change and fight it, but he is trying to steal from us what God wants us to be by going through the change in question. I truly felt God speaking to my situation through Aaron last night.

 

   Thinking about my ankle surgery coming up on 4/27 - this is a change that will help me in so many ways. I will also be able to fuction without pain after healing. During the healing process it will teach me patience and that sometimes you have to be willing to ask for help from others.

 

   Sometimes you have to be willing to listen to friends who see a change in you that needs to be made in your life to which you are totally oblivious. It's okay to throw up your hands and say "I can't do this on my own!" Sometimes it takes realizing that you need the help of a friend or maybe even a professional to with change/issues and that's the first step towards pursuing that person who God has intended for us to be. If you don't pursue that outside help you are only hurting yourself and those around you who care about you - as they see you self-destruct and let the enemy win. I am truly blessed to have friends and members of my family who have their fingers on the pulse of my life to be there to speak truth when my ignorance and pride blind me to what is going on in my life.

 

Scott

 

Currently Reading: House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

   I can't believe it's exactly four weeks until we leave for Brazil! Our team is getting commissioned on Sunday at North Point Community Church at both the 8:30AM and 10:30AM services. After the second commissioning our team is going out for brunch for some quality time.

 

   I've been reading this great book on being a small group leader - "Walking The Small Group Tightrope" by Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson. I HIGHLY recommend this book if you are a leader of any kind of group. It talks about group dynamics and the different phases of group development and what part the group leader has in helping the group through the process on to the next phase.

 

   Last weekend I saw one of the worst movies - Hoodwinked! All of the funny parts were in the trailer. I sat there for almost 90 minutes thinking "You have got to be kidding me - this is just plain stupid!!" The plot could have been half way decent but the movie was entirely too predictable. One good thing was I didn't actually have to pay for it because I received several gift cards to the movies for Christmas.

 

   Sunday night they are having a Super Bowl Party for the singles at church. I don't like football so I'm just going for the fellowship. Last year was a lot of fun. The Varsity is catering it and they will have a live band during half-time. It will be a great time to just hang out with friends.

 

   I have got to start going back to the gym again on a consistent basis. Right now I'm only going once or twice a week. My goal is to go four or five days a week because it will take doing that to make myself go. Ideally I'd like to be in half way decent shape before we go to Brazil because we are going to Rio for our R&R portion of the trip and we'll be at the beach. I don't want to scare anyone when they see me in a bathing suit (nope, no Speedo for me! ).

 

   Well, I'm outta here - time to get ready for bed!

 

 

   In Christ,

   Scott

   Tonight while reading John 13, a couple of things were brought to my attention:

 

   1) In 'The Message' translation John 13:20 says "Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me." (Jesus speaking)

 

   This made me think about our role for the Brazil mission trip. We are going just as Christ would go -- we may even be Jesus to these people in Brazil. What is more encouraging and more pressuring at the same time?! This makes me want to just make every minute count when I am spending time in Brazil -- I don't want to focus on myself but reach out to these people with love that Christ Himself can only provide in and through me as His humble servant.

 

   2) In 'The Word on the Street' translation John 13:15 says "As ever, I'm not asking you to do something I wouldn't do. I'm your example - so copy me..." (Jesus speaking)

 

   This just made me think of the things I'm asked to do on a daily basis and how quick I am to complain about anything I might see as an inconvenience. Jesus went through so much more for me than I could ever imagine, so who am I to complain when things don't go my way or I have to do something that bothers me or I don't feel comfortable doing?! He is not going to ask me to do something that He wouldn't be willing to do Himself!

 

   I received my first two support checks in the mail today. On my last trip (July 2003) I was so stressed and worried about raising what I needed for support, but God pulled through. This time around, I can honestly say I am not worried and I know that God will provide in His perfect timing.

 

I had a great discussion with a friend today (I'm not sure what he believes spiritually) and he was excited about what we were going to be doing on our mission trip and wanted to know if it was okay if he passed the info about the trip on to others he thought might like to support me. I can definitely see God at work in those around me as I am able to share about my trip!

 

In Christ,

Scott

 

Currently reading: "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis

What is faith? Rob Lacey's "The Word on the Street" translation of the Bible states in Hebrews 11:1-3 "What's 'taking God at His word' mean? Let me fill you in. It's being dead sure of our prospects. It's being sold on something we've no evidence for, convinced when there's no proof. And it's what the old heroes had truck loads of." "The Message" translation puts Hebrews 11:3 this way "By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see."

 

Do I always take Him at His word? Am I completely convinced when there is no proof? Am I 100% sold when there is no evidence? Unfortunately, right now my answer would be 'no' at this stage in my life. Faith is something that I have always struggled with. I know God made all these promises, but I am more of a "seeing is believing" person -- I want to see physical proof or evidence that He is working on what He promised. Look at Hebrews 11, it talks about people that God made promises to and these people still had faith that God would follow through on His word even though the promises did not come to be until after the respective individual passed away...now THAT is what I call true faith!

 

There are so many examples of AWESOME faith in Hebrews 11

I like how the NIV translation closes out the chapter with Hebrews 11:39-40: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

 

My prayer is that I would have faith like these great men and women of God -- that I would take Him at His word and not so much worry about evidence for today but to look back on these lives as God at work keeping His promises -- and that would be the only proof that I should need to encourage my faith to grow.

 

In Christ,

Scott

   Tonight I read Philippians 1:1-30. This passage has a double meaning for me right now:

 

   1) My Community Group - Darrell, Marc, Jeff, Tim, Keith, and Carl have all been there to encourage me through the rough times and celebrate with me during the great times. I do truly feel like lifting up a prayer of thanks for them every time they come to mind.

 

   I love how The Message translation puts Philippians 1:9-11 because this truly is my prayer for each of the guys -- "So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God."

 

   2) Grace Chapel in Londrina, Brazil -- I am going on a mission trip there again (the first time was in July 2003) March 3-14, 2006. They have a new pastor and just hearing about the faithfulness of the church to God during their rough times has been very inspiring to me.

 

The way The Message translates Philippians 1:3-6 makes me think of the congregation at Grace Chapel: "Everytime you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."

 

My prayer right now for the congregation of Grace Chapel is that God will reveal His faithfulness to them in ways they never even possibly imagined!

 

In Christ,

Scott

 

Currently reading - "The Magician's Nephew" by C.S. Lewis

Currently listening to - "If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something" by Rebecca St. James

Yeah - my Brazil support letters are FINALLY finished! I just have to address the envelopes and drop them in the mail tomorrow morning.

 

I'm really looking forward to having them out of the way so I concentrate on other aspects of preparing for the trip.

 

In Christ,

Scott

Plans to send out my support letters before Christmas have been thwarted. My mission trip to Brazil is March 3-14, 2006 and we have to have all financial support in by the middle of February. I am almost finished with the letter - I have to type it and then I have to run a mail merge on the document with my address list that I created. I'm really glad I'm almost finished with them! I have to mail them before January 1, 2006 because that is the date that postage goes up and I bought a bunch of 37 cent stamps to use.

 

I'm going to call it a night!

 

In Christ,

Scott