LP 2012

It is already my last week here at the leadership project and i feel as though time has just shot by. Yet in this short amount of time God has truly been able to do "Far more Abundantly than all that i could Think and Ask." I want to thank all of you that have been praying for me and that have supported me financially this summer i could not have learned the things i did if it were not for you. You all have blessed me so much and i can not wait to bring the Lords vision for my life back to Western. Some prayer request for this week are:
A strong finish
That Lp would not just be a season of spirituality but a life style.
Faith to trust in the Lord with the rest of my finances
And a passion that can not be put out for the Lord.

Thank you,
Love
Ryan

Vision Revealed

This week has been a roller coaster ride...but not one of the fun fast looping ones. It has been one of those roller coasters that simple suck! It does not go that fast it feels like at any second one of the old rusty wheels will break lose. It smells like butt and its nauseating gyrations are made more uncomfortable by the dried over vomit and chewing gum caked on its side. But in the midst of this wild ride my eyes were opened to something bigger and better in the distance. In the dips and turns i had lost sight of it but in my apex i could not keep my eyes off of it. This weekend God removed some of the flesh covering over my eyes and gave me a glimpse of true vision. I have realized that God Is SO much bigger and better than me and the things i can do. HE does not need to proclaim his word or sing praises to him for if i was to keep my mouth shut the rocks and trees and creation would shout GLORY TO GOD. These things i view as chores, qualifications and responsibilities were all wrapped up in darkness behind the flesh of my eyes. I had been failing to see this whole time. Caught in the imagination what i thought reality was. There was something in the way of what i wanted to see. and that something was me. For vision is blind behind closed eyes. God be my vision lead my steps to a path that follows you and continue to open my eyes so that i can see the vision that you have for my life.

Dear Miss Sadie Hawkins

This week was sadie hawkins week which means that all of the guys prepared a skit for the girls and then the ladies chose what room they want to date based off the skits. Our skit was a lot of fun and we ended up getting picked by Julie Smith's room. The date they had planned was incredible. We were told to dress in 80's apparel . Decked out in neon, head bands and high socks the girls cooked us dinner then drove us to our surprise date. After much driving and confusion we ended up at the worlds sketchiest skating rink. We entered into a modern day version of "The Lord of the Fly's" Kids were everywhere and adults were no where to be found. Immediately we were attacked with high pitched profanities and physical aggression. These kids were the rulers of this rink and we had clearly intruded their stomping grounds. As we began to skate the minions became like hundreds of little roller skating terrorists. We were tripped, punched, flicked off and mocked. They tried their darnest to bring us down and break us but they could not stop the boogie! We danced, fell and sang our way into their hearts. Slowly but surely they start to open up to us and even dress like us. Soon enough they no longer refused us but welcomed us and even wanted to be us. Chaos and disorder had fled and and music and dancing had taken its place. The gospel was shared, kids were being prayed for, numbers exchanged and bonds were built up. A mini revival had taken place on the roller rink that night and it was here that we realized. The missions field is here! Kids are looking for a good role model, they want instruction and order. Some one to show that they care enough to help them reach their highest potential. And until our generation can step up and lead out,  these younger kids will continue to look to the world as its example. Although foreign missions  are definitely needed and encouraged i feel like we miss the fact that there are lost people all around us as well. This poem gives insight to this problem.

LOST and ALONE

"I see a world longing to be found

Filled with glimpses and hints of something profound

So easily this emptiness weighs them down

They've tried to fill it by raising up crowns

Sadly they realize they've raised nothing but clowns

 Continuing to retreat to their empty ghost towns.

And to those that see more than flesh and bone

the ones who realize that we arent alone

Often we travel to a foreign land

thinking this is the only place to carry out God's Command

But the lost are here too, disguised as the found

Alone in flesh, dead, waiting to be placed in the ground

So how can the be found is no one is searching

Looking for hearts that are broken where sin is lurking.

In the shadows we should shine our light 

Seeking the lost and misguided, 

calling them to a Father whose love is abiding

Near and far you can find the Lost and Alone

So dont cease to reach out in love and call them home."

Independence Day

When i take a step back and evaluate my life i can not help but see Gods redeeming love pouring over me. From the blessing of a family that will press me to the Lord to a public college that has challenged me to grow in ways i never thought possible. God indeed is good and through His grace i have been saved. As that thought becomes more and more a reality i fall deeper and deeper in love with the creator of this universe. Because of his strength through me i was able to lead my room in a way that pointed them to the cross. However this last two weeks i got the idea that i was doing this all on my own and our rooms success was because of me and the things i have done. And the moment i got that thought in my head God brought me back to a place where i can do nothing but rely on Him. He is my strength and where i find success. All of my righteous deeds are like filthy rags but in him i can do all things. Psalms 146:5 says "blessed is he whose help is the God of jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God." This is my one and only prayer for this week, i pray that God will be my help and my rooms help and that we will realize that God is the only place we find strength without him we are worthless broken men damned to eternal fire. Thank you all for your prayers and support! GOD IS GOOD!!!!!