Now with stress free goodness

I just got back with hanging out with one of my favorite guys in the whole world. And as we talked, he mentioned that he has a couple of tests coming up and he's a little stressed about it. That got me thinking: I'm taking 16 credits this semester but for the most part, school has provided me with very little stress. In fact, it hasn't even made my life very busy or hectic. Isn't God good? He has given me a ton of extra time to put into ministering to the students on campus without my school work suffering. Even better is that I stay busy, which I like to do, but I don't have much stress to accompany all that, which would eventually lead to burnout. So even though I pull 15 hour work days, I don't have to bring too much of it home with me. I think a large part of why things seem to be going so well is because I'm learning to trust God to be faithful in everything. But, more on that tomorrow, right now I need to sleep. I'm running on less than 5 hours of sleep right now.

That's just shocking

Happy Tuesday everyone.

Praise God for Potts

I finally have a mentor. Some of you may know of my frustration in not having anyone pouring into my life this semester. All my profs from last semester are gone, my Bible study leader moved to Oklahoma and I just started going to a new church where I don't know anybody but Jamie. So I have been feeling quite alone as far as spiritual wisdom is concerned. As a leader on campus, I am constantly pouring myself into people, but I have had no one to pour into me. Finally, in desperation, I called up a man who has an amazing gift for speaking and is very godly, but who before yesterday, couldn't have picked me out of a crowd of 20.

I am so excited that he said yes. It was kind of backwards, me asking and him accepting. Kinda like the girl proposing to the guy. But he said yes all the same. His name is Chris Potts and he has taught at SALT, our metro Phoenix ministry, and spoke at our Bible study leadership retreat this summer. He seemed genuinely excited to mentor me, so I think this will be a great opportunity for both of us. For me to learn, and for him to impart some of his amazing wisdom. Praise God for answered prayers.

We have a winner (hopefully)

Praise God! Jamie and I have finally found a church. We think. We have only been once and we loved it. But we are going to keep our minds open just in case that was a weird week. So anyway, the church is called Oneplace and is in the middle of the Arts District in downtown Phoenix. It caters mostly to artists and so the building doubles as an art gallery on First Fridays.

Nearly everyone in the church is younger, mostly college-aged and ranging up to early 30's I'd say. The worship was passionate and well put together. The sermon was biblically based and the theology seemed sound. The people were friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. We think we have found our new home. Keep praying.

No parking

Tuesday = Pictures!

Happy update

Thanks for the prayers everyone. Jamie and I are back on track. We have had a rough couple of days but God is good. He has blessed me with such a wonderful girlfriend who has forgiven me and loves me despite my weaknesses. It will take some work to continue on, but we are both committed to this. God willing, we'll make it.

To stupidity and beyond

"Only two things are infinite - the universe and human stupidity," Einstein once remarked, "and I'm not sure about the former." I'm living proof of the latter. Without going into the gory details, let's just say that Jamie and I had an argument last night; one that left me wondering if I had thrown away the love of the most wonderful woman in the world. It was one of those arguments where I started off angry and hurt and ended with her walking off in tears. Those of you who know me know that one of the things I hate most is to see a woman cry, even more so to make a woman cry. But when it's the love of my life that I have made cry, well that's the worst feeling in the world. If you were to look on her AIM profile, it still says, "Ben is my hero!" After last night, I'm surprised that it's still there. If I were her, that's probably the first thing I would have gotten rid of. My hero status is definitely about to be revoked.

So why am I airing my dirty laundry? Because I could use some serious prayer. I have been praying that God would smite me. But you could pray for healing in the relationship, if there's anything salvageable there. And maybe that my stupidity would reach a limit.