I was going through my room and I found two interesting papers I thought I'd share.

Emergency Phone Numbers:
When in sorrow, call John 14
When men fail you, call Psalm 27

Basically I really want to keep this simple.. But RELY ON GOD! It's definitely worthwhile. Although I don't want to go into specifics, my life has been absolutely insane lately and I was really going insane. But then I stopped and just prayed and gave it all up to God and I feel SOOO much better. I'll post up a few verses later when I have some more time. Just remember--you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. :D

My pastor recently wrote an article that I found to be quite interesting and useful, so I figured I'd post it. Enjoy.

Overcoming Discouragement
by Rev. Mark Akers

My youth group has recently started up a Bible study on the side--woo hoo--and anyone who lives in our area is invited to attend. The location changes week by week but shoot me an email and I'll give you the details. Transportation can be provided if needed.

Instead of you reading a whole bunch of stuff I think, I'm just going to list off some Bible verses. I'd strongly encourage you to look them up and then think about what the recurring theme is and then think about how something that powerful can help you in your own life and in your relationships.

Genesis 50:26
Malachi 4:6
Romans 16:24
I Corinthians 16:23
II Corinthians 13:13-14
Galatians 6:18
Ephesians 6:24
Philippians 4:23
Colossians 4:18
I Thessalonians 5:28
II Thessalonians 3:18
I Timothy 6:21
II Timothy 4:22
Titus 3:15
Revelation 22:21

I just want to say that the family and friends of Steven Kuhn need prayer. Steven passed away early this morning of cancer. He was a freshman at RLT. Even if it's just a quick little prayer, please give it your time. They're in diar need of it. I saw just how true that was today walking in the halls. Thanks, from me and those who you'll pray for.

Well, I know it's been a while since I last posted, but hey, I've been super busy. So basically, here's something really simple for ya that I think is an awesome message. Pastor Akers at my church preached on this and I found it useful, so I figured I'd share it.

There are actually people who crucify themselves--atonement for their sins. It's impossible. Don't even try it. It'll never work. Without FAITH it is impossible to please God.

Basically, there are six important things you should know about faith:

1. Faith believes before it sees. Presumably, you're probably a Christian. And being a Christian right off submits you to this characteristic, because you've never seen God. And yet you believe he exists.
2. Faith obeys without understanding. The Lord works in mysterious ways. I'm sure you've all seen that. You have to realize that God knows more than you do and that he's got things for you to do. You just have to do them, no matter if you understand them or not.
3. Faith is giving without having. Even if you're a homeless man on the street with nothing to your name but the tattered clothes on your back, you can still give your life. If you give your life to the Lord, he'll reward you always. And that pretty much goes without saying.
4. Faith is persisting when you don't feel like it. Two Sundays ago, my dad asked my stepmom to skip church and go to breakfast with her. They hadn't been on a date in Lord knows how long and they'd both been stressed about work and the various other little things life has thrown at my family. She honestly didn't feel like going. But she did anyway.  And it was a good thing she did go, too, because Pastor Akers switched his sermon at the last minute because he felt like God meant for him to speak about something else. That message was directed toward my stepmom.
5. Faith is thanking God before you recieve. God knows your heart. He knows what you need, and He's going to give it to you. You don't have to--and shouldn't--wait for Him to give it to you to thakn Him for it.
6. Faith is trusting when I don't get it. God will throw things at you that you don't get. It all goes back to that oh-so-infamous question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" I've said this before, but I think it's appropriate in this situation--if you lived a perfect life, would you know it? In hard times, thank God for preparing you for His work by making you stronger and pray for the strength to make it through those times. He'll take care of you. He promises. (God wouldn't be God if we understood everything He did.)

I'll end on this note: You can't just get faith. It comes from God's word. Read it daily. Romans 10: 17 (KJV) says, "So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

God bless, and have an awesome, faith filled school year. I hope God does amazing things in your life.

I'm finally back home!!! This year is already looking to be a really busy one, and school hasn't even started officially. I'll be keeping you all in my prayers as we get through yet another year of school. This summer was an interesting one. I found out even more shocking secrets about my family, my brother moved to Austin with my mother, and even started to slip through the cracks a little. Thank God for.. well.. God. Lol. Now that I'm back home and I'm back with my church and my oh-so-wonderful youth group, I'm so much more stronger in my faith than I've ever been. I've also figured out my calling, and a few things God wants me to do. Wish me luck with my freshman mentees this year. I hope you all have a great year, and don't forget the works of God like the Isrealites did in Psalm 106. Eventually, if you forget, anxiety follows, and subsequently unfaithfulness and despise. And at some point, God will leave you to your own desires, which will, of course, lead to death and destruction due to our sinful nature. Jesus loves you, no matter what.

For all the graduating seniors this year, congrats! I love you guys! Congratulations on recieving so much in scholarships as well as just all around support from so many people. I hope you all do well in the world and do great things. I didn't know Kacie, but to those of you who did, work hard and succeed--make Kacie proud. She'd probably want you to be happy and have a giving, driven spirit. And for those of you in Round Rock who knew Beau, you know he'd want you to always be happy--the thought of him should always bring a smile to your face. Work hard, have fun, be safe, and make him proud. At any rate, always remember that you're in my prayers and Jesus loves you.

One last thing...

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
-Psalm 23.

Congratulations, once again, to the senior class of 2004 on an awesome four years--I'm proud of all of you.

I saw something on Tuesday that made my heart ache. I went to my little brother's choir concert at Vivian Field Middle School. When it was over, my brother asked my dad if we could give his friend aride home. On the way, my family was talking about a student from Vivian Field who had been rudely cussing during the concert. The little boy we were taking hime said his mom sent home the rude child who was sitting behind us cussing. My dad asked him wher his mom went if she had been there. He said she went home to wait for her boyfriend. My heart dropped. This mother had picked her boyfriend over her child and didn't arrange for him to have a ride hom, nor did she tell him she was leaving. She just left him there. My dad felt bad for the little boy and offered to take him to have ice cream with us. So the little boy called hims mom to let her know that he was coming home (offering her a courtesy she had denied him) and she yelled at him for having taken so long. We all tried to make the boy laugh and joked around with him, but inside, hidden under my laughs and smiles, I was crying. I don't have a perfect family by any means--no one does--but at least I'm old enough to fend for myself if the need ever arises. This little boy was twelve, and small for his age. He lived pretty far away from the school--way beyond walking distance especially in the dark and alone--and his mother hadn't botherd to arrange for him a ride home. I felt so bad for that little boy. When I was twelve, my parents knew where I was every minute of every day, even if I was walking home (and I wasn't ever allowed to walk home alone). I can't imagine how a twelve year old boy can be left to fend for himself like that--and I wouldn't imagine this was a one-time thing--by a bother who very obviously doesn't care very much. It really makes me thankful that I trust in the Lord and am protected by Him. It makes me thankful that even if I only have one truly unconditionally caring parent, I at least have that. And I know that no matter how bad things get for me, they can always be worse. But this twelve-year-old little boy probably doesn't realize that. And he probably isn't in church. So I've decided to have my little brothers ask him to bo to church with us. Even if he doesn't have a caring mother, he always has a caring Father. And he needs to know that. I would encourage any of you to do the same--find someone who maybe isn't as fortunate as you and bring them along to church, no matter what other people think of you. If you were to die tomorrow, would you rather be pleased by what Jesus thinks of you or what the people you left behind thought of you?