He is good.

There are a couple things that have sparked this post:

1. I just finished reading all my friends blogs

2. The butternut squash in the oven is beginning to smell 

3. Lyle Lovett and friends are singing on tv

With our first fall weekend past, fall settling in, and the west coast fast approaching, I seem to have a lot on my mind. It was good to have young life out at camp. Though I'm there to serve anyone who comes to camp, I can't help but feel like I'm in my niche and in stride with Christ as I walk out into the dining hall during a meal and see high schoolers there eating and knowing they are in the midst of something monumental. They could walk from death to life in a matter of hours. I wouldn't give up the feeling for anything. God is good. Very good. 

I made the decision yesterday to go to Disneyland next Monday. I'm hoping my dear friends let me hold to the idea that it was my decision to do this and not theirs, though lets be honest, their unyielding love of Disney and how fun they are swayed my mind. I debated for awhile and held strong to the thought that spending a day along in Venice beach would be a great thing, and it would, but this vacation is as much out our friendship and the fun we all have together as anything else and why would I miss out on that, plus (this may or may not have been a major factor) its Halloween at Disneyland as at her sister Disney world, and I wouldn't want to miss that since I've seen it at the world. 

This Wednesday I have a huge privilege, I'm part of a legacy testimony for the Newport News YL banquet. If there is one things (believe me there's more) I struggle with, its trusting that the Lord used me in my time at Stafford. Now He's set before me this, I can't deny or ignore what will happen on Wednesday, God's will and plan for his people will be spoken through six of us, six men He used and will continue to use. I am blessed. 

Steve and I met with Chaplain Park on Friday morning. The Lord was there. I am truly excited to see what the Lord has planned for us at VMI. At the same time I'm nervous, I need to rely on God. I'm not really the manly type and in my self doubting brain I worry how I will relate to these cadets. Yes I know its God, He will relate us to each other. I don't know why I doubt. He is bigger than me and the army and the prowess that is VMI. God was there on Friday and He'll keep being there when we start meeting. I know this because He is good and everlasting. And loves me. 

This is weeks away but my excitement for it would make you think I was going tomorrow. 

CINCI... I love this place. I'm going for thanksgiving, how fitting. I will see some of my favorite people. Know my excitement. 

just for an update:

1. The butternut squash was good.

2. The concert made me smile.

notes on a scandal

nope just my week...

This week at camp we had 18 area directors who have only been on staff for 0-2 years at camp for a training. The centurion project being its official title. I guess they're becoming centurions, I don't know. But it was great. I was able to serve some of my favorite people with great food and facilitate a good environment for  them to learn and grow. I wasn't alone in this task, Tex and Julie also did great things and made great food for them (I should have taken Julie's advice and not put onions in the quesadillas). Someone made the comment that it is crazy and a little ridiculous that this group of people are the future of young life in Virginia (yes they are young and high spirited to say the least) but I couldn't think of a better group of people for the Lord to use. Don't take this persons comment wrong they weren't looking down on the group at all, I think just surprised at who was in the room. The 18 people are some of my favorite people, because the Lord has given me the privilege of growing up in young life along side most of them. I've gotten to be apart of some of their weddings and others I count as great friends. All of them I know strive after the heart of the Lord in a way I desire to know and yearn to do. They inspire me in the ministry we team in and encourage me in my walk (though because of many reasons I've probably never told them this). Needless to say, I'm excited about what God has planned for this great commonwealth. 

On Friday I went with Kari to see Nick and Norah's infinite playlist and eat dinner at McAlister's Deli. Dinner went as usual, it took several minutes to decide what to eat and then the determining of who was going to order as to not get the same thing (since I'm a little crazy about that). The movie was great. I could say a lot but it was funny, and has a sweet sound track. The thing that I like most about the experience is that we were in a theater with mostly high schoolers watching a movie about high schoolers and it was cool to hear what they laughed at and what the kids beside me would comment about. 

Saturday night we ventured back up to Waynesboro to hear Jamie and two of his friends play at a open mic night. Jamie is a great song writer and performer. Sitting there listening to him play you could tell he had his heart in the words he had written. It has been a while since I've gotten to listen to a friend play their own music, I like it. 

And now I'm making my chili (honestly its rachel ray's though I've begun to tweak it into my own) and listening to the soundtrack to nick and norah (I know I know I'm a sucker for soundtracks). I love this chili and apparently other people do as well since it was requested for small group tonight. It means fall is here, and that makes me happy. People often ask "so what do ya'll do now that summer is over" and I quickly tell them we relax and have fall weekends, my favorite time of year. I love this time of year at camp and life in general. Its quiet even though so much is beginning again. It's when we are able to sit as a community and catch up and laugh and not think about work (ok maybe I still think about work but its ok I'm getting better).

no scandals just my week, which could be scandalous if you wanted it to be.