Questions

What is your idea of living a good life?

This is a question that since i have started this blog have been asking myself. What would be my idea of living a good life? I think about the things i love to do, and the people that i love to be around. I have made a small list (i am into list) of things i love, and ranked them starting with the most important...

1. I Love being in meaningful deep relationships, and fellowship with others.
2. I love spending time in the outdoors. Most days there is not other place i rather be.
3. I love working with my hands, hard physical labor.
4. I love going to places, or doing things that know one else has done.

Those are the top 4 things i love. So what does that say about my idea of living a good life? Right now i spend an average of 6-10 hours a week outside. I spend the rest of my time at a desk, alone. So already i am deeply lacking numbers one, two, and three. The ten hours i spend outside are spent with others, helping develop our relationships and join in good fun. But i still am spending 0 hours on number 4.

Some of this will change this summer. A canoe trip down the Mississippi River for 5 days (which will be blogged about later) and then a climbing trip to KY for 4 days (which will also be blogged about later). Both these events will fill 1-4 which is great, cause i can't think about much else right now!

So i think its safe to say that currently working towards a life i want, is this okay? I am okay with what i am doing now, i just wonder if the life i want, the life i am looking for, the life i am striving for, can't be reached faster.

Summer time

I LOVE SUMMER

It is so great to be able to walk around in shorts, t-shirt and sandles! I love winter, but when summer gets here it is so great! Its like Christmas! But i always know what i am getting!

Card's had their home opener today, while the game was going on i stayed inside because of my preaching class. The two sermons where good, but i much rather be at the game! I am happy the cards got off to a good start with a 5 to 0 win! Lets hope they can keep that up!

So back to the reasons i love summer...i made a list!
Top ten reasons i love summer time

10. i own more t-shirts than sweaters, so i have more selection in clothes!
9. I can spend more time outside
8. get the summer tan
7. Going fishing and shooting!
6. lighting storms
5. Lawn games
4. Swimming! (for those of you who don't know i rather swim in a lake than a pool any day!)
3. Camping out! (this includes time at DEERFOOT LODGE)
2. Yard work and gardens!
1. NO WORK, NO SCHOOL, NO WORRIES! (i was a student, then a teacher, and now a student!)


I wouldn't say that these are in a serious 1-10 order, but they are all things i love about summer, i also should say something about boating, weddings, and star gazing, all things that doing in the winter are just not as much fun!

Enjoy your summer everyone!

Worship or Show?

So the other night i went to this Christian Concert. I have never been a big fan of Christian Music, well not since 9th grade or so. But i received a free ticket to go with some really close friends, so i went.

As i sat and listened to the music and the people sing along, and clap, and cheer along with the songs i didn't know what to think about it. Where these people worshiping? The songs that were sang had everything to do with God, and could be sang as a worship song. At one point the artist raised up his hands and told the crowd to "lift up your hands to Jesus!" So is this something you say when worshiping?

At the same time, i didn't clap, i didn't dance, i didn't sing along. I just enjoyed the show in my own way, because for me it was a show. I wasn't there to worship God (not that it couldn't be done), i was there to be with friends and see a concert. The same as i would be if i went to see 50 cent, Zac Brown Band, Paul Ranheim, or Garth Brooks. It was a show.

So that raised an interesting point with my friends, who assumed that i was not enjoying the show merely do to the fact that i was not singing, clapping, cheering, or lifting my hands. I really wanted to know what the artisit thought he was doing. Was he leading a worship service or just a concert? Either way is fine with me, i would just like the opinion of an artist.

The Name

So there as been some question to the name of this blog. The address is "the good life i live", which could mean one of two things.

1. I have been given a good life, which i am currently living.
or
2. I am living a good life, implying that i am doing something to make it a "good life."

My idea behind the name is that i have been given a good life in which i am living. The Creator of the Universe has given me this live to serve him and it is good.
So when looking that address "thegoodlifeilive" i mean it as a blessing from God that he has given me a blessed life, that i view as good. And i know that all good comes from God the father.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog.

Currently

I am about one month into my seconded semester at Seminary. Still sit and wonder sometimes if this is what i should be doing, man its a lot of money and work for something i am not all that sure about. I am sure about the things i am learning and the people i am meeting. I am really enjoying all my classes and Greek is hard but not that hard. I just can't wait to be done with it.
I am really looking forward to more practical ministry courses. This semester i am taking Apologetics and Outreach. Taught by Jerram Barrs, a brilliant man who loves the Lord dearly and truly wants us to learn how to live a Christ centered life of outreach.

Working as a cook is getting a little busy, i don't believe i will be able to keep this job and do as well as i would like in school. And since i am staying in school, i guess the job has to go. Although i love to cook, and i love to engage people, this is clearly a smart choice.

For those of you who pray, pray that i would come to a greater understanding of Gods love for us, and how he is to use me in his service. Thank you.