Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Mansion.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Surrender!
A surrendered life is an empowered life. An empowered life is a life that expects the miraculous.If you are from Nappanee Missionary, you have probably heard that saying. But, what does that mean?
Well let me back up and talk about hiding from God. It was recently said by a SH Youth Pastor that when you hide your sin from God, the only thing you are doing is hurting yourself. God sees all, and he knows about it. By us bringing sin out of hiding, we are being open and honest in front of God. Only then can we experience true freedom in Christ.
In my journey in the last week of finding my way back to seeking God with all my heart, I realized something about surrendering my rights, my desires, my dreams, and my will.
Its only when we get to the point of wanting to give everything over to God, and trusting in him to provide for us that we will experience true freedom in Christ.
Its funny to me that dealing with sin and surrender can involve the same steps. But, at the same time, its so elementary. For some reason, I'm once again reminded of this passage that has been popping into my life all summer long:
Matthew 6
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We worry about our sin. We worry about our rights, our desires, our dreams, and our wills. Its time we surrender. The One who we battle with is a lot bigger than us, and He's actually on our side. Sign away everything... all of your sin and all of the things you think you need or you think God has for you. Then you can live in freedom, and fight with, and not against God.What is holding you back? Have you counted the cost? Do you truly want to seek after God with all of your heart? I know both sides of this story. And frankly, I'm learning that this picture is were I am free.
I really need to remember this post. Somebody please ask me how I'm doing from time to time.Wednesday, July 16, 2008
My journey at camp.

I feel like I'm one of these stones cut out of the quarry and used as a breaker. Ever so slowly as the waves beat against me, I'm being wore down. there is nothing i can do about it because I am stuck in place. I wonder if being stuck in place is keeping me from pursuing God with reckless abandon. Or is where I am where I am supposed to be so God can smooth the edges a little bit more?
Does my heart and mind purposefully focus on something I can't have? Or is it that I pervert the things that God desires for me? How do I start with a clean slate?
What is keeping me from the direction God wants me to go in my life?
Why do I worry so much? Why do I worry about what others think, what I think others think? What can I do about this?
Are there lies that I'm buying into that I don't fully know of yet? What about the lies I do know of? What do I have put in place to combat these lies?
Am I surrendering to God the things in my life I think I need? Daily? Hourly? At a moment's notice?
Am I not necessarily stuck, but not just fully aware of my role in life?
Back from camp.
I was driving a church van and trailer on the Ohio turnpike and got slowed up by some congested traffic... rumor has it Obama was in the area. All of the sudden, I saw this:

I then got into the left lane and saw this:

I couldn't contain myself. I had to call the one and only Hoss to let him know that it was just a little way behind him. It only me calling 4 leaders to track him down.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Random thought

As we were setting up for Summer Camp in Ohio yesterday, I had a random thought... how much am I worth? I know, I know, for those of you who have the privilege of knowing me are thinking right now, "You cant put a price on that!!" To that I say, thank you, but seriously, how much am I worth if I cashed my weight in gold?
Well, to figure this out follow me back to elementary math. First of all, you need to know that there are 16 ounces in a pound. Secondly, you need to know the weight of the subject in question...I just weighed in at 185 pounds(random comment.... Thanks to the no pop challenge I'm 20 pounds lighter). Thirdly, you need to know the price of gold. As of this morning gold is around $919.77, but has been dropping, so we will round down to $900 for the sake of this experiment.
16 x 185 = 2960
2960 x 900 = $2,664, 000
I'm worth a decent amount in Gold. And by the way, those 20 pounds just lost me $288,000.
p.s. in the 15 minutes I took to post this, gold dropped to $914.40. Better buy quickly!!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Fishing excursion
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Blogcation.
A mini rant.
With that being said, I loved The Happening. It definitely warrants the rated "R" status... not for the faint of heart.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Disappointed
Mountain Dew Challenge

I suppose its time for me to weigh in on this go-round. Day 44 of no pop is coming to an end. My arch-nemesis of the challenge wussed out ages ago. I have no real reason to keep going on. At this point, I would consider it an honor to lose to the other two contestants, but alas, I will press on.
Here's to another 31 days...
The Team

I'm excited about this trip for several reasons:
- The personal testimonies of these kids are amazing. We've heard stories of growing up in the religion of church, stories of hurt in relationships, lost loved ones, doing a good job of "going through the motions", and battles with depression. It is so clear to see the Christ has showed up and even wrecked these kids for the Kingdom.
- There has been a difficult time securing some of the other leaders for this trip. I think God has a purpose and a plan behind it and it is going to be awesome to see it play out.
- These kids have no clue what there are signed up for... I can't wait to see God show up in mighty ways this next week.
- This is my fifth trip like this, and I have no clue what I signed up for (I do, but I don't)... each trip is different and I can't wait to see what God wants to show me on this trip about my life, my relationship with him, and my calling in life.
- First of all, pray for Pastor Jason. Pray that he would take this time to continue to heal physically, as he won't be going with us. With that pray that he would not be discouraged as a result of not going, and that God would just take this time to speak to him in a new way.
- Pray for Pastors Chris and Brad. Ask that God with give the them wisdom and clarity to lead this group of students. Along with them, Pray for Kelsey Bullock, Katelynn Miller, Peggy Bearss, Leslie Yoder, Craig Helfrich, Dustin Gill, and myself. Pray that we too would have the wisdom to ask the right questions to our students and to be patient with them.
- Pray that the students will understand that success is obedience to God... nothing more, nothing less.
- Pray that comfort zones will be stepped out of. Pray that we are put into situations where God has to show up, or we look like a bunch of failures.
- Pray for clarity for all of us to realize the divine appointments that are set before us.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Where has Jeff been in the last week?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11
Part two...check.
Part three...Boo-Yah!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The List
I've been contemplating this for a while, but there are some things I want to do this sumer and year. So, with out further ado, here are some things I want to do this year.
1. Go fishing with my boat at least six times: One of those with my dad.
2. Go golfing at least three times. If I go, its usually only twice.
3. Make it to a cubs game at Wrigley Field: never been there.
4. Head up to Chicago again to go see Wicked, Stomp, Blue Man Group, or something of the like.
5. Sell my car. I'm tired of it sitting in my drive way. As soon as I put an alternator in it, its go time.
6. Learn to play guitar.
7. Take more time to spend more time alone with God time. This one will happen. I'm tired of being shallow in my relationship with Christ. Along with that, I want to work on my journaling. I suck at it, so really there is either only room for improvement, or no change at all. I want the former over the latter.
8. Speak less. I want to be able to learn from those around me and not just say thing to say things.
9. Go wake boarding at least once.
10. Ride jet skis at least twice.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
So long, Showplace
I won't be going back anytime soon.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Name Game
Dwight is known to like movies and shows like Star Wars, LOTR, 24, Heroes, Lost, and Battlestar Galactica.I stumbled across the NBC video rewind, and saw that you can watch the first season of The "A" Team online. In high school, I went on a mission trip to Florida. While we were down there, we got on to the subject of that t.v. show, and so we started giving each other nickname from that show, and others. I was dubbed Murdock, because he was the crazy one, and apparently everyone thought it fit me.
The character of Murdock is played by Dwight schultz.
Jeff's nickname is Murdock, Murdock is played by Dwight Schultz, Dwight Schultz -> Dwight Schrute?I've officialy spent to much sitting in the coffee house.
Frustrating.
As of late, it has been difficult to make it to the concerts as time progresses. I'm older, I don't listen only to Christian music- so i don't hear the announcements, (rock, talk radio, etc.) and all around I'm always busy when the concerts happen.
Several months ago I heard about two of my favorite bands are going to be in the area:
David Crowder Band is going to be @ the Elco on June 19. I will be on the DCGO trip.
Delirious?, with lead singer Martin Smith (second on right) Have written songs including "I could sing of your love forever", "Shout to the North", "My Glorious", "Did you Feel the Mountains Tremble?", "Majesty"and "Rain down" They will be playing in Ft. Wayne on July 12. This is during Sr. High Summer Camp.
Observations from a coffee house
This instance is brought to you by the ladies who are taking time to connect and talk and talk and talk... nonstop. To be honest, its not a bad thing, it has reminded me of something... do I talk the time to actually listen, or am I just wanting for my turn to jump into a conversation?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The problem of Red Bull
A tale of text messaging.
Text message number one was from, a Jr. High pastor wanting me to get the attention of the person next to me.
Text message number two was from a youth who not thrilled about the lyrics on the side screens during worship...
I just got off the phone with jesus and he said to put the words on the middleI had ran Shout during the On Fire Rallies, but that was the last time. Why this is my responsibility, I don't know
screen. Or you shall be shunned!
Text message number three was a pic from another person in the youth:

With the artistic help of the one and only Carter Ammerman, I replied with this:
I then got a response of ... Touche.
Maybe I should turn my phone off more often.
Remember me?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Really cool stuff
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The five dollar bill
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Greetings from a land far, far away... or several counties anyways.
Between last night and this morning, I realized something through observing my nieces. There is no filter on their minds. They aren't afraid to ask many questions and they will speak their mind. Maybe it is the innocence in their inquiries of life, but something about them reminded me of a passage of scripture in Matthew 18.1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Now, I'm not saying I want to be the greatest in heaven, but verse 3 is what struck me. How often do I try to have everything figured out, and act like I have arrived at the destination of being a "Christian". I need to continuing pursuing a child-like faith, and keep from having the mindset of having figured this whole thing out.
Okay, now for a random story. Until this morning, I have never been served breakfast in bed. Ellie, the 8 yr old in the middle of the pic is the reason for the end of this "I never...". Coupled with that, I do believe this is the first time I ate cereal with milk in it. Call me crazy, but I've never been keen on that concept. What am I going to do, not eat it? My niece took the time to prepare it for me.Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Two wonderful situations
Situ #1. You remember that you forgot something important, and its way too late to take care of.
Situ #2. You remember that you forgot something important, and its not too late to take care of, but its either too late at night, or right before a vacation, or both. You still feel obliged to take care of it.
I just fell victim to #2.
He he he... don't take that out of context.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Don't mess with a sleeping bear...um, I mean Jeff
The results aren't pretty.
I don't always know what I say, and sometimes I slip back into the world of slumber, only to realize that I probably wasn't coherent.
On this occasion, I think I remember something about an alumni reunion. I think I also hung up on the poor guy.
Oops.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Gut Check
Now, I'm not even sure that is was a serious question, but it has rocked me. Made me fearful, even.
In my life it seems like it would be a complete God thing.
Ultimately I guess I need to stand back and look at my life and evaluate why haven't I looked at the God sized opportunities in my life, and seized them.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Work and Church = Worch?
There is a certain word that is running through my head right now... it starts with a vay and ends with a kayshun. It is a funny occurrence that I discovered on last years excursion away from worch. I felt alive again.
Is that bad to say? I don't think so. But, I suppose that shouldn't be an excuse to check out. I still can do different things. I've been working on some scripture memorization. I still need to stick with it. I'm slowly finally reading through Red Moon Rising, and it is resonating in my soul. Here is something I read last night:
"Here's the question: 'Will we allow the things that breaks God's heart to break our hearts too?' It'll mean more tears, more listening. It may even be the reason why so many of us struggle with our own personal burdens and heartaches-- God is allowing us to feel pain, to be weak and broken so that our prayers have power."
I suppose the other thing I need to do is continue to connect with other human beings. Yes, I just typed that. There are several of the people out there that I enjoy playin Settlers of Catan with and partaking of the M. F. Grape.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ah, winters in Northern Indiana
If only I had my camera.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Death of a falcon
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Trailer Time!!!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Kenya Night
I also snapped few pics of the lunar eclipse.
To view them outside the slide show go here.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...
Second, I enjoy spending time in conversation with people. I was blessed to hang out at the arches with several ministry workers, who I talk to daily, but don't really get to talk to. It wasn't anything earth-shattering, but I guess it was the quality time that I enjoyed.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
Sunday, February 03, 2008
A different perspective
One of the first things that jumped out at me was I was reminded that the God of the Universe, who created us, loves us, and sacrificed his own son so that we could have fellowship with him. He did all of that, and sometimes all we do is walk into church and lack any joy on our faces.
Another thing was the reaction of the Roman Centurion. Take a look at it in Luke 23: 44 -47.
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."
Who was this centurion? Was he one of the soldiers just a few verses earlier gambling over his clothes and mocking him? It doesn't matter. What matters was his response when he realized that God's son had just died on the cross and he was a part of it. He praised God.He praised God?
How could he, of all people, do that?
I really don't know. It really only matters that somewhere, somehow, he got it.
Sunday morning, I had a rough time even wanting to go to church. I forced myself to go to Connection. I was sitting there was the first song was playing, my mind revisited parts of the message I listened to as I worked.
Wow.
Who am I to call myself a Christian and not want to go to church?(Granted, a vacation sounds good right now) Why do I so flippantly take for granted Christ's sacrifice?
I don't know, but I'm glad I went to church. I needed to hear that message from Cornerstone, and I needed to hear the message from Dave, Christy, and Derry.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Aaargh!!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Cloverbucks
Went and watched Cloverfield after church. It was different. It made people in the theatre angry. I thought it was genius. Stopped by Starbucks to get a drink. I handed the girl my card and said I thought it had 80 cents left on it. She told me there was 81, and left one cent on there. I stood there dumbfounded for a while. Now I'm going to look like a jerk for trying to redeem my card with a balance of one cent.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Fire
Welcome to the Blogging world
You can find him here.
Friday, January 18, 2008
A Tuesday of Firsts
1. McDonald's Sweet Tea

Everybody is raving about it, as well as this guy. Yes, I'm even slower to realize it that he was, but I finally tried it. It is definitely sweet. The last time I had some good sweet tea was down in Florida at this place. Even though it was only several times, I miss going there.
2. Purchasing my first pair of snow pants

Yes, I have had snow pants before, but I'm pretty sure my parents bought them for me back when I was younger, and when winter-time consisted of digging caves in snow drifts, being towed with my cousins on a sled behind my uncle's truck through the fields, and walking down to the nearby gravel pit to go sledding there. Hopefully I will get to try them out on the slopes somewhere up North this winter.
3. I fought the Law... and the Law won.

Well, I gone and done it. After driving for more than 11 years, I finally gone and done it. After driving the same stretch of road, one learns the places to pass slow vehicles, semis, etc. What happens when Jeff tries to pass a not-so-slow semi and don't return to a reasonable speed? My first ever speeding ticket. Well, here's to another 11 years of good driving.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
One positive note about the Writer's Strike
The downside is that they continually play the episodes with Jake Gyllenhaal and Peyton Manning over and over and over and over and over again.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
What I'm Reading/Watching/Listening to
What I'm Reading:
An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems by Glenn Beck
I must be getting older because I'm listening to more talk radio. And i like it. Glenn Beck has a radio show and also has a t.v. show on CNN Headline News. Sure he talks about politics, but he also talks but everything else. And he's funny.Anyways he wrote this book explaining how we solve everything from "Global Warming" to Online Dating. And there's more... I just haven't got to it yet.
What I'm Watching:
Let the humiliation begin...
Sweet Home Alabama
That's right, I own this movie.And I like it.
What I'm listening to:
Everlasting God by Brenton Brown
Sometimes scrubbing the Aux Gym floor makes me fall asleep. Honestly, I think I've sleepwalked several times. To stay awake(and reduce the chances of someone scaring me) its always good to play some music. It's been awhile since I've listened to this, and its still good stuff.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
An old favorite revisited.
And now its back on t.v.Ah, I love it.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Its a bird!... Its a plane!...
For about seven seconds there was a an object streaking across the sky. It broke up as it traveled East. Was it an obsolete satellite? Or was it just a meteoroid/meteor/meteorite?
An embarrassing moment with Heidi

I love my jeep. Since I purchased it in July, I've been looking for the opportunities to fully enjoy the feature that Jeeps are known for... four wheel drive. The recent snowstorms have finally given me the chances to have some real fun.
Lets just say I have a nice open area close by. With the two recent major snows we got, I have been tickled to to death with going where I would've been stuck with my previous vehicles.
Unlike most people out there, I realize that having a 4x4 is not the end all of the problems of winter driving. It helps with traction, but where there is ice, you can still slide just like anyone else.
You see where this is going by now, right?
I was driving down up 7 after lunch yesterday, which the snow had partially choked up. A car was coming from the opposite way, so i decided to be courteous and give up some clear driving space. A little bit in some of the higher snow decided to pull me off the road... right into a ditch.
Like the title, it was embarrassing. It seem like every truck in Nappanee drove by. Eventlually a couple of good hearted gentlemen pulled me out, with the help of my own tow strap.





















