We have started our dog in a training course. It was a little pricy but worth it. The trainer comes to our house for four lessons and afte that we have an unlimited membership so to say with them at there training agility course. Once Amos graduates from this course we will be able to take him on Sat. for brush up training or teach him the agility course. Its pretty cool. It gives us something to do and is good excersize for him and us. I got some news the other day that I might have to deploy again on July 10. It will only be for 60 days. Its not for certain yet if I will have to or not. But we’ll see. That will probably push my come home visit back a little bit but I’m still planning on coming in Sept. I’ll get everybody dates as soon as I know. Well thats all I got really.

We had a missionary come last night to church to tell us about his work in Africa. Of course we’ve all been through these services of the slide shows and the stories. More often than not I complain about it. “Oh this is going to be boring.” ” I don’t want to sit through and hour and a half of slides shows. I got things to do. Church is only suppose to be an hour.” Just being honest with a few examples. Well last night this missionary couple got my attention. They were young with two young children. They have dedicated 5 years to this village in Africa and they are doing another 5. They only get to come home once every 2 to 3 years. Not only that but KOA camp grounds has more accomidations than anywhere within 1000 miles of them. They told us a few stories about these guys who would walk an hour and half to church and then walk back after they would have a 3 to 4 hour bible study. Not to mention that the man didnt have any shoes. We have to drive 30 min to church and back. I complain complain complain about that. Who am I. Not a dedicated Christian. I don’t have the spirit lighting me on fire. What do we have to complain about. Nothing. Absolutly nothing. I questioned myself after that service. Would I hold up as a Christian if I had to live in a place like that? I can’t answer. Cause I don’t know. We need to stop and check ourselves. Are we Sun. and Wed. Christians. Have we gotten ourselves into such a routine with God that we loose sight and loose fire. Lets break the routine. Lets get God everyday. The only way to keep a fire burning is to feed it. Shut up the complaints and get in the word and pray constantly. Imagine walking to and hour and half with no shoes just to hear the word of God. That was powerful to me I hope it is to someone else too.

So I have done a few sermons on Wed. night over the verse in James that talks about temptation and sin. How we are tempted by our own evil desires and when they are dragged away and enticed desire gives birth to sin and sin to death. I thought alright we just have to control our desires right. Then I use the verse in 1 Cor. when Paul talks about dying daily and beating his body to make it his slave. Thats what we have to do. You see thats where I’ve been wrong WE, YOU, I, ME can’t do anything of the sort. When Paul says he dies daily and he beats his body to make it his slave. He doesn’t mean HE does it. He means JESUS in him does it. WE cannot defeat our evil desires as one human. NO JESUS in us defeats. We must allow JESUS to do this. To allow HIM in is to die daily. Paul doesn’t defeat sin by dying daily he defeats it by dieing daily so JESUS can do it. So let JESUS live in us through us and be all around us. He then will defeat sin in our lives for us. thoughts???

Today is my first day back after my post mission crew rest. I probably won’t have to be there long just have to go in and show my face for a few hours. We went to Six Flags yesterday and had a blast. They have an equivelant to the Texas Giant but its not near as rough and is tons of fun. We left our dog at a friends house and when we picked him up instead of sitting in Marissa’s lap like he usually does and jumped in the back seat and glared at us like he was mad we left him. HAHA. We nearly lost him the other day he took off after some rabbit. We got him back though by way of a dog whistle. It really worked I was impressed. Well I better get going.

Well its been so long since I’ve posted anything I don’t know if anyone checks this anymore. But just in case there is someone I’ll keep posting. If nothing else it helps me pass the time. I got to inprocess on Tuesday and have the next 7 days off. Today is Thursday and we went to the flea market. That is always fun. Just to see some of the useless junk out there that I actually have to talk myself out of buying. I have no need for a fishing pole from the 40’s there is no where I would put it, no one I would give it too, and I would never use it but still I find myself wanting to buy it when I’m there. We did leave with some fresh fruits and vegetables that are dirt cheap and some cookies and cheesecake from the Amish section. I got a couple cigars for a good price from an old man who told Marissa that young men who smoke cigars are bound to be successful. We’ll see if it works. HAHA. I’m suppose to go on a mens fishing trip tomorrow. We are going to do some shore fishing which I’ve never done before so looking forward to that. Other than that we are just being lazy and enjoying each others company till I have to leave again. Thats all I got for now but now that I’m back I’ll post more often so don’t give up on me.

Someone asked me to post my lesson the next time I preach so here it is.
Prayer
How are we suppose to pray, who is listening, what if I don’t know what to say, why do my prayers seem unanswered.

How = Matt 6:5-13 Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray.
“Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name. = Praise,affection, and respect
Your kingdom come thy will be done = submission
Give us today our daily bread = trust, appreciation, and needs
Forive us our debts = forgivness for us and those that wrong us
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil = protection and strength

Who is listening? Sometimes I wander who am I talking to weell John 14:14, John 11:42 and 1 John 5:14,15 answers that question. Jesus hears us and God heard Jesus.

What if I dont know what to say? Do you ever wonder if what your saying is the right thing. Or are you saying the right words or the wrong words or did you explain enough? Well Romans 8:26&27 tell us that the spirit intercedes. The spirit knows our hearts and tells God what we mean. I think of it as God is the original language and the spirit translates what we say to God so that it makes since and it is a holy prayer.

Why does it seem like my prayers go unanswered. 2 Cor 12:8 talks about Paul asking for the thorn to be removed from his side and God tells him no. Your weakness will make you strong. Sometimes God allows things to happen to make us strong. Sometimes its our lack of faith. James 5:13-20 talks about praying with faith and Jesus told us that if have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains. Well I think we all but God and our faith in a box and we are scared to let it out. God may not answer our prayers because we put earthly limits on God saying that doesn’t happen anymore or believing that the ill person is already dead. The apostles and disciples did not pray believing what they asked wasn’t going to come true. They prayed with confidence knowing that their God could do anything. We need to stop puting limits on God. God will only work as much as our faith will allow him too. Let that sit in and think bout it.
Well thats my sermon in a nut shell. I’ll expand a little more one things when I’m actually doing it but if you have any feed back don’t hesitate to give me a shout. Peace.