Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Meet Joshua


Everyone, I would like for you to meet Joshua Ongadia. Joshua is 5 years old and lives in Uganda. Last week I decided to sponsor him through Compassion International, and for $32 a month, I help provide Joshua with food, clothing, and education.

I was thinking about it today, and $32 isn't that much of a sacrifice when I take into account the insignificant things that I would normally spend $32 on. DVDs that I'll probably only watch once, fast food that will eventually kill me if I don't watch it, clothes to give me a 'selection,' coffee and fruity drinks at Rockwells; I could continue.

But then I thought about all the things that others in the world live without on a daily basis. I thought about my past two trips to Africa that taught me more about myself than any school could. I thought about how fortunate I was as a child to have parents that were steadily employed and were able to provide for my deepest wants. I thought about the children that I have worked with at Sky Ranch and my seeming knack for interacting with them. I thought about Mark 10:13-16. And after this barrage of contemplation and gratitude, I knew that I had to help out.

And to tell other people....

The above part was my way. I don't like it when people guilt me into things either.

The cold weather is here. And like a certain co-worker I love this time of year. The cold wind blowing through the day, reminding you with each icy breath that you are alive! The feel of the cold in your knuckles and the taste of warm tea on your tongue mix together to create the lovely expression of winter.

Maybe we'll get some snow?

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Getting old and Number 45

I just got back from an incredible weekend in College Station. Sky Ranch had a tailgate party right next to Kyle Field. It was a great time to catch up with people that I haven't seen since the summer. But it wasn't all fun and games. Without further ado let me present the List of Things I Learned This Weekend:

1. I am horrible at Washers. David Huss and I played three games and I won zero. Touche' Mr. Huss. You win again.

2. I'm a year out of college and I don't understand the appeal of staying out partying and all that until 2 in the morning. I used to be able to stay up almost all night on only 6 hours of sleep. That was less than a year ago. Now I have a hard time making it to midnight.

3. It's amazing to me how much God can bring you through something so that you can help someone else who is going through the exact same things you went through. Sometimes I don't understand why. But I can think of three separate occasions where I've been able to help someone out who was struggling with something by simply having been through it myself.

4. Usually the TV delay between what happens on the field and the time it gets broadcast on the the screen is about 10-15 seconds. Texas A&M has this cannon that they fire whenever the team scores, so we could always tell when a score was coming. Which brings me to the next number....

5. I wish Tiger Stadium had a cool cannon to fire.

That concludes the list. Hope you enjoyed. But wait.....that's not all!

Sidenote: The guy at the next table just said : "Jesus was big pimpin', dawg!"

I've been really struggling lately with some things that, quite honestly, terrify me. It pretty much centers on Matthew 25:31-46. Katie and some friends have helped out a lot by providing prayer and encouraging verses. Just thought I would share something about it that I wrote a while back that is helping me even after all this time.

Number 45....

There
You are there in the hurt
You are there in the pain
You are there in the shadows
Calling out my name

And I run to You

Monday, October 13, 2008

Return of the .......

Been a long time....

I didn't even realize it until today when Shannon-anon mentioned hers. I mentioned this blog and excitement was in the air as I was initiated back into the blogging club. Apparently it's a pretty big deal.

I turned 24 yesterday. My brother sent me 24 text messages to celebrate! And my wonderful girlfriend, Katie, came down to visit me! She got me a DVD featuring my two favorite wrestlers (yes, I said it, wrestlers!) and what's more.... she watched it with me! Quite good for Josh!

It's been a crazy couple of months/year/year-and-a-half for me. Hopefully, one day I'll find time to talk about it. But I'm back at Sky Ranch again. Hopefully for good. But we'll see......