New Blog Site

So Ashley and I have decided to combine our blogs into one website. We still have seperate blogs just on one site. So go check it out :)

http://web.mac.com/apala003/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

I'm Back

OK. So I have been away for a while and have not blogged at all. But now I am back and ready to blog again.

I have recently finished college and entered into this whole "real" world thing and there is one thing for sure...I am going to get real fat if I stay sitting in this chair. The paycheck is wonderful, but paying bills is not. However, I think I will be able to adjust to this new life style of responsibility and living because I have a wife who is amazing.

Yes, that is correct. I have recently been married and it is awesome! I enjoy being able to come home everyday and see the girl that I had to say goodbye to so many times before. She is amazing and I am so glad that God has placed her in my life.

Well, this blog is going to seem spotty, but it is because that is how I feel right now. My mind is everywhere! I have been reading a new book called The New Friars by Scott Bessenecker. It is an amazing piece of literature. It talks about people giving up their American Dream and their comforts to go and live in slum communities around the world. To go and care for people there, share with them, provide for them, work beside them, and just be there for them, showing the love of Christ.

I wonder many times what it would look like for me to give up what I have now and go to live in a slum community. These communities are the ones that sit above garbage dumps, channels of sewage, and polluted stagnant water. This was where Christ worked, this where he spent much of his time. With the majority of the people....who are actually poor and probably never had a Starbucks.

- Peace

Juicy Apple...

I WANT A MAC!!!!!!! Enough Said

Spring Semester is On...

Well, once again we are back in for the spring semester. I have come to the conclusion that I am ready to graduate and get a job. I think that being paid to work rather than paying to work will be much better. But anyways...

This semester I am hoping to buckle down and read some good books but we will see what happens. It all depends on how much I have to read for classes, but it is always nice to sit down and read a book that is not required to read or you don't get graded on it.

While at Urbana 2006 I was able to buy some new books that look like they will be a good read. One of the books is called, Encountering God in the City. While I was attending Urbana I was really struck by urban ministry. I never thought about how much time Christ spent in the city with the poor and in the major populous areas. I think this is going to be something I will be checking into.

How Good Is Good Enough

So I have recently finished this book that was graciously given to me by our InterVarsity Staff worker and it was...how do I say...Amazing. At first I was a bit skeptical because it is a very small book, not just in length but in size overall (Dimensions: 7"Hx5"W). However, Andy Stanley blew me away with his down to earth discussions and talk on being good vs. forgiveness. The title pretty much sums up what the book is trying to say, how good is good enough to get into heaven. Stanley makes a very good point in that many people believe that one has to be so good, or live a good life, or just be a good person in general to get into heaven. However, that is definitely not how it works.
This is an awesome quote from the book where he discusses how we don't truly know how to measure how good you have to be to get into heaven.

"When you die, do you get to go to heaven if your good deed constitute 70 percent of your overall deeds? Or does 51 percent earn you a passing grade...what percentage of your deeds do you think need to be alloted to the positive side of the balance sheet in order to secure a slot in heaven?"
I mean, have you really ever thought that if our good deeds got us to heaven, how can we be measured on them. Stanley mentions, what if we miss getting into heaven because we are lacking in one good deed on our heavenly entrance checklist. To spend eternity in damnation because we did not complete that one more good deed. It just doesn't work like that.
Another interesting point he mentions is how Fairness does not determine truth. Many people will agree that they do not believe in Christ or the bible because it is unfair. Well, those are two seperate things. He gives an example, "While it is true that little Susie received a C, it was certainly not fair." Just because things are not fair does not mean that they are not true. If God was to give us what we truly deserve, then we would be in a whole world of problems.
I would really enocourage you to read this book, it is not a hard read, and is very intriguing. Check it out!

"Heavenly Father, thank You for not being fair.
Thank You for instead being merciful.
I believe true fairness would have seperated
me from You forever, because that's what I deserve. Thank
You for sending Jesus to die for my sins.
I now place my faith in him as my savior.
Thank You for sending him to die in my place."

- How Good is Good Enough; Andy Stanley

www.howgoodisgoodenough.com

MIDTERM EXAMS!!!

I hate Exams...they make school so not-fun!

I think everyone loves fall...

So I am back now from fall break and it is truly a sorrowful occasion. However, over fall break I was able to go and visit much of my family and see my grandpa, who is in the hospital. I also enjoy traveling to Tennesee because that means I get some good ol' cookin' and I usually make it to the mountains. This past trip my fiancee and I hiked up to Roan High Knob at 6,285ft. It was absolutley gorgeous and foggy. At the begining of the hike I had started with a t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweat shirt, and a jacket (always good to hike in layers). By the end of the trip I was down to my long sleeve shirt.

It was defintely a beautiful hike to the top of the moutain and we both had a great time. My fiancee, however, was not too thrilled to hike to the top of the mountain because I seemed to have forgotten to tell her that we may go hiking that day. But I can say she looked very pretty with her hair done, hiking up the mountain. When we arrived at the summit we both played around on the rocks and took a bunch of pics. It was such a fun endeavor! The photo above is of the treeline heading down from the summit. As you can tell it was very foggy, and wet, but the hills were orange, yellow, and red....oh so beautiful. Once you arrived at a lower elevation the trees turned back to green.

I can't wait for the trees to change where I live. I love the fall and everything that it brings. I think one reason I enoy the fall so much, is that my favorite color is orange and that is pretty predominent in this season. I also enjoy the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg, and turkey, and brocolli casserole, and cold brisk air, and a heater. It all just wraps up together into one big blanket of autumn goodness. Oh yeah...and my b-day in in the fall too, which makes it very exciting!

- Jason