Well its been awhile since I last posted up on my blog and I apologize for that. The last time I sat down to write my blog was just after the sailing trip and for some reason I just felt really... uninspired to write anything lol. Its really weird too that I would be so uninspired just after coming off of such a great experience of being on a tall ship for 5 days.

However this week God has been laying a lot of things on my heart and doing a lot of things in my life. But since I do not want to skip over last weeks events, even though I found them not the most inspiring (lol). I am going to write a combined blog of both this weeks events and last weeks.

Well about two weeks ago I went off on a 5 day trip on a tall ship. It was a great experience! We sailed just off the coast of Vancouver Island and many different island off of Vancouver island. There were so many cool and sweet experiences on this trip, especially considering that I never been out sailing on a tall ship before. But probably the coolest and most impacting thing for me on this trip was seeing our whole community at Kaleo grow so much closer on this trip. Being on a small ship for five days kinda forces people to get to know each other better lol but I really enjoyed the evening discussion where Jim defiantly gave us tough questions. I found that it was in the questions when we were made the most opened to each other that we truly grew the closets as a community. Another big impact for me on this trip was just seeing God's glory being shown through all of his beautiful creation. I remember on the very first day just as we started our voyage a whole bunch of dolphin type sea animals started swimming with our boat. It was defiantly a site to see! After the sailing trip ended it was thanksgiving weekend and I got invited to spend it at Nathan Kwon's house which was super sweet as I defiantly missed being back home with my family for that weekend. All in all it was a great week.

This past week we went surfing for three days which a super sick awesome time will not lie!!!! LOL! But yah I had a ton of fun on this trip and once again i just really enjoyed growing closer as a community. On this trip we also started the process of sharing our story with the group and that was super sweet as I got to hear Michael's story. No word of a lie I am defiantly kind of scared to share my whole story with everyone... in fact during this past week I shared some of my deepest struggles and failures in life with one that other guys here, Ryan. I just felt like a 1000 pounds were lifted of my shoulders as I found out that my struggles I was not alone in. It was one of the most liberating things I have ever experienced and I could defiantly feel the Holy Spirit working in us that night. I have never experienced so much laying down of my old self and picking up the new self which God has made me to truly be. Over the past two weeks God has really been speaking to me through Lecrae's song "Identity":

Hair check, shoes check, 
brand new fit looking cool check, 
looking in mirror like "ooooh yes!" 
cover for an insecure dude check, She wont' feel me and they wont like me if I ain't in them J's or them brand new Nikes,but lets dig deeper inside my pysche
when it's all said and done even I don't like me
He live in the gym and his hair stay faded
late model car so they think he made it
but he's Christian he gave his life
but he still ain't satisfied in the savior Christ
still finds his identity in looks and cars
if he only knew that he ain't have to look so hard
If looked in God though it may seem odd he be so satisfied he could leave it all.

[ Chorus ]
I'm not the shoes I wear, I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm am not the house I live in, I'm not the car I drive
I'm not the job I work, You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth, my identity is found in Christ.

[ D.A. T.R.U.T.H. ]
How do I gauge success,Why do I say I'm blessed,
Huh,Is it the car that I drive or the place that I rest or the way that I dress, 
now Is the cause of my pride, 
the stage and the set or my face in the press, 
now Cause the applause it dies
When the praise is less if my face is depressed, 
then/It's cause my value and worth is in the volume of the work I produce in the booth 
It's a prize and a curse if defined by the perks when the truth is through
Man I'm goin' feel like I don't want to live no more, no more, no more
Cause they don't like me like they did in 04,04,04
So, I swallow my pride empowered by God, 
I'm complete in Him
He's got peace God's priest I'm in In 
His presence weak-His strength
Meet His kin We His brethren Read this list 
Me forgiven 
He's dismissed guilt and my sin and
I find my worth cause I'm Jesus' friend

[ Chorus ]
I'm not the shoes I wear, I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm am not the house I live in, I'm not the car I drive
I'm not the job I work, You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth, my identity is found in Christ.

[ LeCrae ]
Got her hair done, toes and nails
is that Her? well it's hard to tell
cause she's caked up in so much make up
It's like she's tryna make up for what she ain't 
but she's a saint but so confused
cause she's been rejected by all these dudes
that tell her on a scale of 10 she's a two
but that ain't true if she only knew
In Christ she is loved she secure and accepted
She'll never be rejected by God who's elected her 
Her beauty is her Godliness
And she ain't gotta try to flaunt it cause it's obvious 
[ Identity is found in the God we trust
Any other identity will self destruct.x2 ]

[ Chorus ]
I'm not the shoes I wear, I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm am not the house I live in, I'm not the car I drive
I'm not the job I work, You can't define my worth

By nothing on God's green earth, my identity is found in Christ.

This song really spoke to me because I often found myself sub-consicenly putting my identity in the things of this world. I found myself, many times unknowingly, trying to live that "american dream" by gauging my success on material things and what other people thought of me. But over the past two weeks God has made it really clear that my true self-worth, purpose, and identity is found in Him. I want to close with this passage that God has laid on my heart to live my life for Him,

Joshua 24:14-15

"Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the godsof the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Josh   

  

memo from a modern-day nomad

My dear Kaleo Family:

You are an incredible group of Christ-followers! I can't wait for you to recognize it more and MORE through this intense year of struggle and growth. It filled me with JOY to fellowship with you, and now that I am home in Manitoba for a few days I have some time to record what the Lord spoke to us. Isn't it CRAZY how He wove that morning's chapel with what Cal had been speaking?! I LOVE how He does that! It shows us how intricately He works and just how much He pursues us. Here is His letter to you:


My Beloved,

THIS, what you are walking through, is good. It is for your good. I would not have otherwise orchestrated it; and so trust Me in this. I will accomplish your deepest heart's desire, only wait in Me; wait for Me.

Remember how I have spoken and led you in the past. I have not forgotten you. I am leading you now.

Yes, we are plunging into the darkness. But I want to give you my "treasures of darkness" - faith, hope, eyes to see the unseen, a resolute walk - so that the light of My glory will beam even brighter.

This isn't just about you. This isn't just about your story. This is about My Story - the one that is still unfolding, the one I will bring to completion. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I am the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Remember those who have gone ahead of you. Follow their example of faith.

And so, let Me discipline you, that you may bear more fruit. This will be for your joy and will bring Me praise.

Bear patiently with one another. Be generous. This will bring a deeper trust because I have promised to never leave you or forsake you. I will provide for you, as I shepherd you. For I the Lord do not change.

with steadfast love,

your Abba


(Romans 8:28; Psalm 37:4&7; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 49:8-16; Isaiah 45:3; Philippians 1:6; Revelation 22:13; Hebrews 13:7-8; Hebrews 11; Hebrews 12:1-3 and 5-11; John 15; Ephesians 4:2; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 23:1; Malachi 3:6)


A few words of encouragement for this year:

1. Be faithful in the little things. Be faithful with other people's time - with your friends, your church, at camp. Obey your leaders so that their work will be a joy, not a burden. (Hebrews 13:17)

2. Wait patiently. What you are hoping for will come. So, enjoy the journey.

3. Be thankful. We have so much to be thankful for! Look to what you have been given. Take time often throughout this year to reflect on what you're thankful for. It will help you to not miss it.

I love how He has chosen you to walk this path of grace for such a time as this. My love and prayers are with you!