10 MONTHS!

Monday, January 28th marks exactly ten months since Whittley and I have started dating. I know, don't ask me why she hasn't gotten rid of me yet cause I would have gotten rid of me by now that's for sure! I am a firm believer on Derry's thought, That men in ministry usually marry way out of their league. I know I am not currently in ministry or married, but isn't weird that I want to be involved with ministry and I'm dating way out of my league. Derry I think your on to something! So with this post I thought I would add the story of how Whittley and I actually met. Well it goes back to December '06 when the Senior High met in the Fireside Room at the Church for a Christmas party. We were all just talking and I was with Fred a.k.a. (Jordan Taylor) and I looked over and saw this incredibly beautiful girl and I was like hey Fred who is that she's really pretty. And Fred was like dude thats my cousin (Insert Awkward Moment here). So I thought to myself well I can't just pass up the opportunity to not introduce myself because I really want to get to know "Everyone" in the youth group (notice the sarcasim). So I went up and told her my name and she told me hers and that was it. I was disappointed that I didn't say more but I really didn't know what to say to someone I just met. So skip a couple months and go to February. It was actually the First Serve in February and that was the next time I saw her. It didn't help that I had on my usual sweatpants, sweatshirt with coffee stain, and bed hair. So I tried to stay away so I could still peek at her and see if she would ever peek back. So when First Serve was over I arrived back at home, but I couldn't take it anymore. So the next day Super Bowl Sunday, I texted Brooke Hoover and asked for Whittley's number so she gave it to me and I went for it. Yes, I realize texting is a dumb way to do it but I was to scared to actually talk to her. So to make this crazy long story short, we ended up talking that whole week. I went to the coffee house with her the next week and we talked every day for about two months. March 28th came and I realized it was time to make my move. I was getting ready to go on Spring Break and her birthday was in three days so I thought I could give her a special gift. Whittley was at dance that night so after Church I sped over to Lee Ann Stewart's Dance studio in Syracuse and did the impossible. Her brother Caleb had given me an extra key so I snuck into her car, left her two songs to listen to on a CD and a bunch a candy on her front seat. Then I carefully snuck into her trunk so when she called me after she listened to the songs she would be surprised!!! It was genious and it worked out great haha.........until I got stuck between two strollers and a car seat and looked like an idiot. Oh well I guess looking dumb can pay off after all!

I know it's Tuesday, But What a Monday!

I know today is currently Tuesday but I wanted to blog about my Monday. I got a little behind this past weekend on the blogging due to a busy weekend. Usually Mondays for me are really slow, tiring, and lazy days but this Monday was unlike the rest. Every other Monday morning Mike Griggs, Robby Bearss and myself all meet with Pastor Terry Bley at Raymond's in Wakarusa. We talk about where we're at spiritually, what we're going through, and our focus in our devotions at the current time. This week Robby was sick and Griggs, well who knows (ha), so it was just Terry and I. As we talked, I was simply amazed at what was coming out of his mouth. It's like he knew exactly what I needed to hear and poured it all out to me. As I told Terry about what I was going through he simply stopped me and said this. "Dustin I don't want to not have comfort, in fact I love it, but I want to constantly buck against it." I was really encouraged with what Terry had said. As we went further into our conversation we were speaking about legacies and how we want to be remembered and Terry had this to say. "I don't want my kids to remember me as a good guy that loved Jesus and walked with Him, No, I want them to remember that I chose to live His way and desperately sought after Him daily. I don't want to walk by faith, I want to skydive by it!" I was blown away!!

Fresh Vision!

Sunday night I had the opportunity to speak with the Junior High from New Life Fellowship. Brad Bullock a former NMCer and Youth Pastor at New Life invited me to come speak with his Junior High on Sun. night and again to his Senior High on Wed. night. They are currently going through a series entitled "A Glimpse of Your Journey." It was so awesome to be able to see the Junior Highers talk in their small groups and discuss the questions. God showed up and it was awesome!

6,480 Seconds

Saturday was a very long day. It started with my dad and me refereeing 6,480 seconds of Upwards Basketball at Nappanee Elementary School (that's three games if you were wondering). But all in all it was a good day. Along with refereeing Upwards games I went to work and hung out afterwards with Ben Fox and we ate popcorn!!!

Woo Hoo It's A Blog Poll!

Well it's my first ever blog poll and I'm excited! I was talking with a friend the other day about who might take over after Pastor Dave resigns and our best candidates were: Brian Ufkin, Cam Cameron (Ex- Dolphins Coach), Craig Helfrich, or Taylor Fervida's Beard. This could be really close but I think in the end the "Beard" will have its way and win the competition!!! But I will let you the voters determine that!

Are YOU smarter than a 5th grader???

Last night I watched the show "Are you smarter than a fifth grader," and was actually addicted after five minutes and I have no idea why (ha). The first contestant was a middle school principal who completely dominated until he got to the $500,000 question. He impressed me as he chose to "drop out of school" and walk away with $300,000. In all he was one of the most impressive people I have ever watched on a game show before. The next contestant was a sorority girl who made me laugh when she missed her first question -a 1st grade one at that!! "Is orange the only color for carrots?" Well I'll let you decide!

Trying Something New

I have been really challenged in my walk with Christ to pursue some new ways to grow in him. So, for the next several weeks I will be trying something new and seeing how it works. This is open to anyone who would like to give it a try as well. I am going to take a different word or characteristic, if you will, of God every week and really focus in on it and what it really means to me. I also want to find and memorize a scripture with that specific word in the verse. The Lord has also challenged me to take one of the worship songs we sing every week at either Wed. nights or Sun. mornings and not sing or listen to it all week. Instead read it every day and focus on the lyrics and the heart of the song. Sometimes some of the everyday ordinary things in our life can become ways to worship Him when he brings it to our attention.

Alison Going Alone: Are You?

Tonight in the Senior High since Derry is in India, Alison Gingrich gave the message. Alison was part of this summers Soar Team and is currently a Senior High intern. Alison also just got back from a missions trip in the Dominican Republic so she was ready to go! In the Senior High we have been going through a series entitled TAWG (Time Alone With God). This week the message was on the word Alone. Alison did a great job of describing what it means to have your "own" relationship with Jesus and fully live that out. She brought into the message some of the experiences from her trip and how she often felt very alone, but it was in those moments where she really grew in her walk. It was a very blunt night and it is very easy to look past or underestimate a series called TAWG but I was incredibly challenged by how important and valuable the simple word "Alone" in TAWG can truly be. Way to go Alison!!!

World Day

Everyday during the week I try to do something unique for my devotional time and Tuesday's are World Days. I try to focus my attention on all the previous mission trips that I have taken, different unreached people groups throughout the world, and on our current Kenya Night. So I look back at and continue to pray for SEMP 05' in Toronto, Canada. I also look at my to IMPACT trips to the Dominican Republic and Mexico. It is so awesome to look back at these trips and remember all of the amazing things that God did for these countries. My most recent addition to my Tuesday World Days are to check out the top ten most unreached people groups in the world. On Wednesday nights in our Senior High youth we have been focusing in on the word MOVE. Derry has challenged us to move on our knees through prayer, in our hearts for inward transformation, and in our world. One of the ways he challenged us to MOVE in our world was to visit http://www.joshuaproject.net/ and research lost people groups and pray for them. This has really challenged me to look at and really concentrate on certain people groups in our world and pray for revival in these areas. Also our most current world activity in the youth group is Kenya Night which will be held on Feb. 20. Kenya Night is a follow up to last years Maasai Night with the addition of supporting the AGC Abanded baby center in Kenya, Africa. Planning for this night has also been a way that I have been able to remember to lift this country up to our Lord and have a chance to affect lives that I may never see.

A footnote - please take time to check out the display at the top of the blog. I have added the "Ureached People of the Day" that should update itself everyday with the new people of that day so that you can join me in praying for them. This has truly become a burden on my heart and I thank you for joining me in this prayer effort.

A Beautiful Mess

For being a Monday, today felt like a very productive day! I was really excited with everything that happened. I woke up, did some chores, ate, went to work, came home and totally rearranged my room, and ate again. I know it may seem pretty boring but I enjoyed it. As I was cleaning my room I couldn't help but sit for a little bit to catch my breath. And as I did I looked at what a mess I had made but couldn't help but smile because I knew that soon the room would look as good as new. Sometimes I feel like this happens with our lives spiritually we make a mess and not just your everyday mess a HUGE one. But I don't think God shakes his head at us and turns away, no He smiles because He knows that only through our "Beautiful Mess" a clean room really shines.

"Please Bow Your Eyes and Close Your Head"

"Please bow your eyes and close your head," were the words spoken at a youth group get together last night at Josh Sabo's house. Of course everyone started to break out in laughter and the kid that said the quote began to lose it as well. Last night my friend Mike Griggs and I had had an awesome opportunity to speak at Josh Sabo's youth group (Josh is a former NMCer and has mentored Mike and I since our freshman year in high school). So as we got there and fellowshiped with the new faces of Josh's group we met a lot of new and interesting people. So when Josh asked one of his youth to pray for us before we spoke he mistakenly said "Please bow your eyes and close your head." After everyone finished laughing Mike and I finally spoke what was on our hearts. As our message came to an end, we asked them for any feedback or questions they had and at that moment I was reminded why I want to get into Youth Ministry in the first place. It was so awesome to listen to their hearts be poured out and listened as they thanked and encouraged us. God really used the passion and encouragement of this youth group to challenge me and push me past just everyday living. The Lord really refreshed His Spirit in my heart and it was an incredible evening.

My Steps Have Been Determined

So last night as I was doing my devos, I ran into this verse and it caught my hearts attention. Proverbs 16:9 " In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." I Love God so much and when what I like to call "Touchable" moments (Moments that you feel like you could just touch God) occur its just icing on the cake. Today I received my acceptance letter from Moody Bible Institute! This is so incredibly exciting and when I realized that the verse I read the night before totally went with the receiving of the letter experience today, I just couldn't help but praise God!!! It was one of those moments where you just feel so undeserving, and I almost even questioned why they accepted me- haha -but thats where I'll be heading next fall! Moody gets the nod.

Bethel vs. IWU vs. Moody?

Well, its about time for me to start really thinking about what crazy location I'll be at next fall. I have currently been accepted at two colleges: Bethel College and Indiana Wesleyan University, but I am also still anxiously waiting to hear from one more. My friend Mike and I applied to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago a few months ago and now we are patiently waiting to hear the good or bad news. The awesome thing about this is no matter which one I end up going to I won't be disappointed because from what I know and from what I have heard these are some great schools and I'm excited to have the chance to be able to go to one of em.

This Week = Bittersweet

I love being sick! Well not really but kind of because it definetely has its advantages! So ever since Monday after school I have been knocked out with some type of random sore throat, stuffed up, stomach ache problem. I'm not really sure what's wrong with me but its not very exciting whatever it is! But the cool thing is whenever your sick your always expected to do one thing NOTHING! Woo Hoo it's like spring break except not really at all haha! Anyways this week I have watched 10 movies and 30 tv shows so I'm all tv-ed out and then I finally finished Red Moon Rising and have taken a total of like 75 naps so yea its been a bittersweet!! O Yea and one night I got to eat Ice Cream for supper I was so excited!

I Can't Believe It!

Yep it's happened! I have fallen into the terrible world of blogging and I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive myself. I'm just kidding but I really can't believe I'm finally blogging - it's crazy I guess always looking at other bloggers kind of got me interested so I decided I would give it a shot. I hope this doesn't turn out as bad as I'm seeing it! Haha