Par-tay

It appears that for me anyway, January is the month to party. I have only one weekend in the month that does not have party going on, and that weekend has already past. So far it has been a fun month. I went to my nieces' birthday party the first weekend. It was complete with ice cream and cupcakes. You really can't go wrong there. This past Saturday, I threw a party at my house. Junk food, goofy friends, and group games that can turn the most mature and serious person into a ranting lunatic. Catch Phrase is a fun group game, by the way. Next Saturday, the guys I used to work with are throwing a party. I can't wait to see them. It has been a month of parties, friends, and fun. It looks like it will continue through at least until the end of the month. The grand finale is going to be the return of the slumber party! It has been 5 months since the last one, but I am finally getting around to having the second. It is pretty amazing how many parties and other social events you can fit into your schedule when you are not working 80hrs a week! I even started working out regularly, had lunch a couple of times with friends, and got to visit with some friends in their homes. God has not only provided me with more rest and more free time, He has also provided me with things to do in my free time. As always, God is good!

Winter Blessings

Just wanted to write a post sharing a few things God has done for me this winter. I wrote about my getting stuck in the snow, and how 5 guys from church got me out, in my last post. I also received significant help through the snow and cold on two other occasions since then. On Monday morning, I tried to start my car outside of work only to find that I couldn't. A girl I work with tried to give me a jump to no avail. After many tries, I went ahead and called Dave, my automotive troubleshooter and mechanic. Dave came out to my work, in the very frigid negative degree weather and worked on getting my car to start. When that didn't work, Dave and his dad, Carl, towed my car to their shop to let it warm up. Carl, and his wife Carrie, invited me to their house for breakfast while we waited for my car to warm. Try to get that kind of service from your average auto shop. By the time we came back from breakfast, my car was warm enough to start, and I got to go home to my nice warm bed. :) The other occasion took place on Thursday. After a few more inches of snow had fallen the night before, I tackled the task of shoveling out my walkways and driveway. Shortly after starting to clear my drive, a man clearing the nearby apartment parking lot saw me shoveling. I have never met the man, but he drove his skid loader over and in a matter of a minute or two he cleared the driveway that would have taken me about a 1/2 hr to clear. It is amazing the way God takes care of me. All this to say: Thanks and praise, to the sovereign God, who through various life circumstances, not only provides tests and trials that produce patience and equip us for every good work (James 1), but also provides the way of escape, and the grace to go through these tests and trials to the glory and honor of His name. He even works in the heart of sinful man to will and to do His pleasure, and to accomplish His purpose, which is ultimately to bring glory to His name, and sometimes more immediately to help someone out of the snow. The interweaving of God's plan is so detailed and perfect. The God who caused the snow and the cold is the same God who provided the help to overcome it. A help out of the snow may seem pretty minor compared to many of life's trials, and in many ways it is, but the principle and the picture are the same. God's "way of escape" is sometimes harder than others, but He always provides one, and no situation is out of God's control.

Belated New Year, Stories from 2009

Well, here we are almost an entire week into the new year and I am just now getting around to posting something about it. As someone pointed out to me just yesterday, I need to update my blog more often. I can not believe it is 2010. It seems that every year goes by faster than the year before, which is funny because there are still times that life seems to really drag on, but it still happens so fast. My reflections on 2009 are not much different than my list of things to be thankful for at Thanksgiving. What is funny is that although I am often very busy, and going a week (or sometimes a few days) without talking to my closest friends usually leaves me with many stories and events to fill them in on, when I make it to the end of this crazy eventful year, I look back and think, "what did I do all year?" Sometimes it seems that life is so busy that I lose track of what even happened, but I do remember some events from the year. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stories from my year 2009: I started the year living in my attic apartment, with no job and nothing to do all day, but apply for jobs and workout. By the end of January I started a new job working at a group home. It was the first job offer I received, which is why I took it. The job didn't pay enough to cover my bills by itself, and on my first day I decided I wanted to quit. A month later I was still working there, and I started to like the job a little bit, and because of changes in employees I consistently had overtime for 5 months which more than covered my bills. Almost immediately after my overtime hours went away, God provided me a job working overnights at Walmart (which also gave me my 1st secondary paycheck just in time to pay my 1st mortgage payment). The day after my 1st night at Walmart, I got a call from another company, which I interviewed for. God provided me with another job that paid more than either one of my current jobs. The amazing thing is, not only did God provide me with jobs, and overtime when I needed it, but the very same job that I was planning to quit on my first day had become so special to me that I worked between 60 and 100 hrs almost every week for 5months rather than quit. God used me to make a significant impact on the people that I took care of, gave me opportunities to witness to co-workers, helped me get a slightly better awareness on the needs of people around me, and gave me some much needed friends all through this job that I originally didn't like. Good example of why I want God in control of my life instead of me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In May I took a walk, and saw a house that I was interested in buying and called the realtor on the for sale sign. A week later I was waiting anxiously for a few days to be preapproved for a mortgage so I would be able to put an offer in on a different house before someone else beat me to it. The day I was able to put my offer in the bank had dropped their asking price a few thousand dollars. God's timing is so perfect. Approximately 1 month later, I closed on my house after jumping through several hoops. I wound up closing just under a week before I had to be out of my apartment, which I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to close by that time until a week before. Again, God's timing. By the time I closed on my house, God had provided almost all my furniture for the house, and He also provided friends to move and store my furniture. I have now lived in my house for approximately 6months. I had to replace the float in my toilet, and put the face back on a kitchen drawer, but my house was in pretty good shape. I have since caught 3bats, had one bat fry a circuit board in my furnace, had to use an auger on my toilet (never heard of one before I bought it), had my upright freezer break, just recently had my bathroom sink stop up suddenly and ,after an entire bottle of draino type gel failed, I jiggled a chain thing in the back of the sink and it worked. God provided the money and the resources to fix all these problems, and to pay more than the minimum on my mortgage. God also provided me with some extraordinary friends, who helped me a great deal by doing an insane amount of tree trimming and pruning, which was needed because of the jungle growing on my house. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My final story of 2009 took place on December 30Th. After spending a few hours playing games with church members at our New Year's party, I left to go work a shift that I originally was not scheduled to work. A couple miles out of town a semi trailer was blocking almost the entire road. There was however, just enough space to drive around the semi. Unfortunately there was a bit to much snow and ice on the edge of that opening, and after some spinning tires and some driving a foot forward and then a foot backward I managed to get my car completely stuck in a big pile of snow. I made a phone call to a friend at church, and approximately 10min later 5 men from church were there working on getting my car back on the road. I don't know why exactly God chose for me to get stuck, but I have no doubt that He caused me to be on that road at that time, and to get stuck where I did. Just as He provided the men to get me out of that snow, and worked in their hearts to want to come dig me out in the middle of a very cold evening. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There are many more stories and subplots of 2009, but those are some of the examples of things God has done in my life over the past year. I ended the year in my house, with one job that pays more than any other job I've ever had, and with new friends to hang out with and a play to work on during some of my newly aquired free time. I have been the recipient of tremendous blessing this year, and God has directed my path down roads I would never have thought to take. He has provided over and above my needs, and yet again I end another year as a totally different person than the year before. I wonder what God will do this year.

Recap of Last Week

Well, last week was a fairly eventful week. Of course I worked more than enough hours. Outside of the basics of the week I had oportunity to get together with some friends throughout the week. Sunday, I went to church and after went out to eat at Hardees with a family from church and Connie R. Wednesday, after work, I watched Heroes at Sowers' house with Nikki and Dave. Thursday, after an unfortunate situation with a CLEP test, I enjoyed some good conversation mixed in with a meatloaf dinner, made by a new friend, and a few games of Boggle. Friday, I did some decorating. I worked on turning my upstairs rooms into a winter wonderland, a task which proved to be more difficult than I originally thought. I hope to post pictures of it if I ever finish :). I also made some homemade pizza! I had been craving it for about a week. I had Ben over and we ate pizza before going to a rather aweful play. After the play, we made up for the bad play by playing the wii and watching a movie. I love eventful weeks surrounded with friends! There you have my week in a nutshell. I hope your week was good as well.

Thanksgiving Day Thanks

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Psalm 107:1, 118:1, 29, 136:1,3 This year I spent a big portion of Thanksgiving at the house of some very dear friends. It was a day smiles and tears, stories and fellowship. All surrounded with fabulous food, including Thanksgiving burritos! It sounds weird, but so amazing, (its buttered lefse with mashed potatoes and stuffing inside.) I also worked both of my jobs this Thanksgiving. In fact, I am at work now. During and after the events of today, I started thinking; what am I thankful for this year? If I were to list all of the things I am thankful for this post would never end, but I am going to list a few things. I am thankful for: the house God has provided me this year, the fact that my car still runs very well, that I have very special friends who love and care about me, and I got to spend part of the day with some of them, that in a time when we are constantly hearing about the bad economy, God has provided me with more jobs than I can even handle, that God gives mercy, strength, and peace when we need it most, and lastly for this list, I am thankful that God has blessed me with people in my life who are important enough to miss, and have left lasting impressions on my heart and life. Praise be to God! Happy Thanksgiving. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

The Play's the Thing

Last night, I was able to attend the Sleepy Eye high school production of "It's a Wonderful Life." Leah, from The White Woods, played a main character in the play. It was a fun evening, and the cast gave an excellent performance. The romantic scenes between George and Mary were sweet. The famous line, "Every time a bell rings and angel gets his wings" was delivered by a very cute little girl with curly blond locks. Although the idea of this 2nd class angel being sent down to earn is wings, is not the picture of Biblical accuracy, the play does display the reality that your life, and the choices you make, have a big impact on the lives of the people around you. It was a very enjoyable evening, and I would encourage anyone reading to catch one of the remaining showings, if possible. Performances: Saturday, November 21 & Monday, November 23 at 7:30pm. See Leah's blog The White Woods for some behind scenes & preparation posts regarding the play.

Painting to the Glory of God

Last weekend Cheryl from my church sacrificed 8hrs of her Saturday to help me transform the look of my upstairs room. We pulled down a border, spackled, scraped, primed, and double coated the walls in paint. All the while I talked her ear off again (same thing happened the previous weekend when I was helping her run a table at the women's expo.) believe it or not the blue was actually darker than it looks in these pictures. It was alot of work, but the company and the results made the effort worthwhile.

Sorrowful Blessings and Peace That Surpasses All Understanding

Wednesday night and into Thursday, I had the privilege of sitting in a hospital room as a man from my church, one of the best examples of consistent faith and love for God I have ever known, Stan, was brought home to be with God. There is nothing like the passing of a Christian. The combination of joy and sorrow. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18) Knowing that this person you have come to know and love, who has helped you to grow and to understand God and His will, and has made such an impact in the lives of others is not going to be around anymore. It is sad and sorrowful and yet joyous and beautiful to know that this same person is now with God. (2Corinthians 4:14-18 )He is face to face with the Saviour and can finally shed all the trials and struggles of this world and is like Him, because he can see Him as He is. (1John 3:2) I also had to give a little inside laugh and a smile as I heard my pastor pray, " we confess we are a little jealous."Because I had been thinking the same thing. And, I thought it many times after my mom died. How happy I was that she was there, and how much I wished I could just join them, and yet what a great joy and privelege to have opportunity to be used by God! I am so glad God has given us verses like these (2Corinthians 5:-9). I marvel at the wisdom of God. The amazing way He intertwines sorrow, joy, and peace. In our times of ease and prosperity we can and should give thanks and praise to God(1Thessalonians 5:18), and it is precious and gracious and beautiful that God allows us, sinful as we are, to praise His name. And yet, how much more amazing and precious and beautiful to see a person who has just lost the most important person in their life in the middle of their sadness and grief and tears, give thanks to God for that life. To acknowledge and praise His wisdom in both giving this life and in taking it away. I sat in that room and watched and listened as Connie, Stan's wife, talked about God's timing and power and how God was giving her peace (Philippians 4:7). As she sang with sincerity and peace about how God is not only God in happy times, but also sad, and how God makes the bad things in life good (Romans 8:28). I also witnessed this wonderful Christian woman as she stayed with her husband, despite exhaustion and lack of food. All the while encouraging the rest of us in the room to go lie down or eat something. The love God gave her for others overflowing even in her sadness (John 13:35). If you would please be in prayer for Connie, and the people around her as we grieve with her (Romans 12:15), and as we pass on our comfort to her (2Corinthians 1:3-4) And pray that God would use Stan's death to bring glory and honor to His name, just as He was gracious enough to do with Stan's life. 1Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will no fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Updates in the Life

Hello out there in the blogging world. I realize I have not posted anything for a long time, and honestly I doubt I will be posting things very often, but just in case there are still a few people reading this blog here is an update on my life in the past 7months. Work, more work, stopped going to the gym, got a different boss and different coworkers, more work, trained people in, more work, work slowed down, bought a house and move out of the attic, had lots of people over to see the house and also had a super fun slumber party, started working at walmart on top of HSI, stopped working at walmart and started working for Greater Minnesota Family Services, cut back hours from HSI, and recently rejoined the gym. That is the extremely abreviated version of the last 7months I was not posting. I am currently working alot, sleeping some, getting to the gym occcasionally, missing church more than I'd like to, but enjoying my jobs and the opportunities they give me to learn, to serve others, to witness, to stop thinking about myself for a few minutes a day, and to challenge my thinking and understanding of others. (I am actually posting this from work.) Well, that's all for the update, I may become ambitous and post a real thought before the night's done, but no guarantees.

New Job

For all those wondering about my job hunt I have found a new job. I started last week. I am working with four guys with developmental disabilities. Which of course is completely different from any job I've ever had before, as has been the case with every job I've ever had. I haven't totally decided what I think of this job yet, but its not bad, and I am still looking for another one as this one doesn't quite cover the bills, but it is nice to have something to do now.

New Year-New Kitty

After a long hard year 2009 has had a happier start anyway. This is my new kitten. I haven't settled on a name yet. Meowser is not quite as thrilled as I am, but the two are entertaining to watch as they try to figure out how to get rid of each other.

Old West Pics

Photos by Brent Mielke (the zooman). If you would like to have some old west photos taken, stop in at Studio 34 in Sleepy Eye, MN.

Christmastime In The Attic

The view from my window

Warning to Cat Owners

Last week one of my cats, Bandit, got ahold of a spool of thread. She ate half of it, was very sick for a few days, and after I took her to the vet, he found that the thread had cut through her intestines and he had to put her down. If you own a cat, I sugguest hiding thread. She was a sweet an loyal cat. I miss her.

Thanksgiving

Yesterday as you all know was Thanksgiving. A holiday intended to remind us all to give thanks to God. I was giving some thought to an old question that usually comes up on this day every year. What are you thankful for this year? The basic answers are usually along the lines of a roof over our heads and food on the table. And we ought to give thanks for those things. But as my pastor pointed out this Wednesday we are to be thankful for all things. Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. This is a concept I have been giving much thought to this entire year. When we look at the events in our day, how often are we truly thankful for ALL things? Are we thankful when our car doesn't start or when we stub our toe on the chair? This year, by the grace of God, I am thankful that my mom died. God brought her home to be with Him. I can't ask more for her than that. I am thankful for the opportunities to be a witness that God brought across my path as a result. I am thankful for the work He has done in my life through this. I am thankful for His mercy and comfort that He has given me to help me through. And the memory of going through this trial that is a wonderful reasource to help and comfort others in their trials. 2 Corinthians 1:4 I am thankful for my friends. They are wonderful people God has placed in my life, and they have thus far continued to talk to me no matter how completely crazy I get. I am thankful for my family. They are sometimes a handful, but I love them and through them God continues to teach me patience and understanding. I am thankful for the job that God has provided me in the past. Although I have not always been as thankful as I should. He provided me a job that paid more than I needed. I am also thankful that I was laid-off. I could continue forever I'm sure, but the point is God's plan for me isn't always easy, but its always good and always right. Through happiness and heartache, greetings and goodbyes, His plan is perfect and complete. Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumkin Pie

Do you think I made enough????

Jobless

Yesterday afternoon, I received one of those perfect and complete gifts from God. You know the kind that has most people trying to find the receipt to exchange it. I have been praying about my job for some time now. Wondering if God has another place for me. I have been asking God to show me what He wants me to do. Yesterday was the first part of the answer. I was laid-off. Its one of those bittersweet events. YES! I don't have to go to work! but oh yeah I still have to pay bills. God's plan is perfect. I have been laid-off just in time to have extended holiday vacation! And because of His past provisions for income, I have enough savings to not be concerned of eviction anytime soon. God is truly good. His plan is perfect, and I'm curious to find what He has for me next. In the meantime, I don't have to get up at 5am anymore! Yea!

Studio 34 Article

Most anyone who would be reading this knows that I have been taking kickboxing at Studio 34 Fitness for a little over a yr. now. Today, Brent, wrote a pretty funny article about me to put on his website. http://homepage.mac.com/thezooman/Personal39.html Check it out if you want a laugh.

Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort

On Sunday, October 19, my pastor's mom, Ana(Ana's Corner) and Leah's(The White Woods) grandma, died. While God's grace was obviously surrounding the family, the loss of a loved one is always very hard. It was an encouragement to hear Pastor Phil and his brother speak at the funeral. To hear the words of faith and hope in God through sorrow, and the emphasis on the importance of knowing God. This week has been a week of remembrance for me, as I have had a different view of an all too familiar situation. Its a different family with different circumstances, but it hits a familiar note. I am thankful for the trials God has led me through, and I hope that He will allow me to use those experiences to help other Christians through trials. Many verses have become dear to me over the past months, but this week 2 Corinthians 1:1-10 seems to be the most applicable to my life and the lives of those around me. 2 Corinthians 1:1-10 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too, If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Strangers in the Cellar

This weekend I spent in costume at a haunted house. We plan to be open Oct. 18, 24, 25, and 31. Its been alot of fun already, but I'm not going to publish details, at least not until we close for the season, but if your looking for some fun come to the "Strangers in the Cellar" haunted house. http://homepage.mac.com/thezooman/Personal58.html Its a frightful good time.