Last night 10 of us from Carthage headed down to Nashville for a fun night of Laser Tag! We were running late so we only got to play one game of laser tag, but it was more than enough! I think everyone fully enjoyed themselves! :) After laser tag, we went to eat dinner at Demo's. And after dinner took a walk over the walking bridge. Then we came back to Carthage and hung out (laughing uncontrollably for most of that time) until about 4am, when everyone finally crashed! :) It was a great night, and I am so glad I got to be a part of it! :)

Radical

This week I finished reading the book Radical by David Platt. It has been a very challenging read, but one that was well worth it! I was overwhelmed as I read this book with how caught up in myself I can become when Christ calls me to something completely different! I think about how many insignificant things I can wrap my mind around and get completely lost in over the course of one day when thousands of people are dying without knowing who Christ is - I can do something to make a difference in that, but yet it rarely crosses my mind!

"But the reality is, if you and I have running water, shelter over our heads, clothes to wear, food to eat, and some means of transportation (even if it's public transportation), then we are in the top 15 percent of the world's people for wealth."

I rarely think this way though! I forget how many ways I have been truly blessed!

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

God calls me to spend my life bringing in obedience to His call on my life! He has called me to go out into the world, make disciples, consider others before myself, and be a a blessing to the ends of the earth!

"God shall bless us, let all the ends of the earth fear him!"

Psalm 67:7

God has certainly blessed me, but not simply for our own benefit. he has blessed us so that the world around us can see His glory! When we have the right perspective on the blessings of God in our lives, the only response is that we follow after God, seeking the things that He wants and obeying His call on our lives to go into all the world.

It is a challenge. A daily surrender. Daily laying my self and my selfish thoughts down and taking up the cross. Considering others before myself and using the resources God has blessed me with to bless others, to allow God to reveal Himself to others through me as I surrender to His will!

This is a line of thinking that is completely different from anything the world around us has to offer. But then again, we are called to look nothing like the world around us. We are called to look like Christ.

Family Vacation 2010

Here are some pictures from our family vacation this summer. We had a great time on the cruise and really enjoyed our time in the Bahamas. It was a great time to enjoy time with one another and a reminder of how grateful we are for all God has done for us! God has absolutely blessed us!

Summer Camp 2010

VBS 2010