Monday Memorization Challenge

Mondays are such a drag most of the time, if not all the time. So what can I do to try to make that better? The best thing I can think of is time with the LORD. He is the only one that can put peace into my heart and calm my stress. Stress is a big thing for me, because if I get too stressed out I end up with heart palpitations. Not fun! So I have decided to do some scripture memorization every Monday! Monday Memorization.

For a really long time now, like a year, I have been trying to memorize all of Galatians, in the ESV. It all started when my pastor from Okinawa, Mark Oshman (check out his sermons on itunes), challenged the congregation with a list of things. One of them being to memorize one of Paul's epistles. I chose Galatians. I would get going on a good routine and then I would get caught up in the business of life and then forget about it. Only to try and start again later and have to start from the beginning because I'm rusty. So here I go again. Starting roughly from the beginning. I have Chapter 1 pretty much down, I tend to leave out a line sometimes, but other than that I'm doing pretty good. Now I need to get chapter 2 down just as well so I can continue on to chapter 3 and finally get past that. I have never gone past chapter 3... it like an evil hump I can't get over.

Now here is the challenge. Just to memorize a verse a week, if you would like to join me in memorizing one of Paul's epistles let me know so we can encourage one another in completing it!

Here is a verse that is a good one to start with if you are new to memorizing scripture...  (which was also one of Mark Oshman's challenges)

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Here is the full list of challenges:

1. Meditate on and memorize 2 Tim 3:16-17
2. Begin reading the Bible one chapter per day
3. Commit to reading through the New Testament in the next 6 months
4. Commit to memorizing a chapter in the New Testament
5. Commit to reading the whole Bible in a year
6. Partner with someone and memorize an Epistle
7. Partner with someone and read through Systematic Theology
8. Do an in depth study on one of the books of the Bible.
9. Begin learning a biblical language
10. Enroll in Bible College or Seminary

here is another translation of 2 Tim 3:16-17
"All scripture is God-Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

Dresser makeover

Ok so this is my first ever re-furnishing project. I was kind of disappointed of how it turned out. I really wanted that old vintage faux finish look to it, but when the sides and top were done I just got discouraged and didn't finish the drawers. I don't really want to do the top and sides all over again, but it just doesn't look like how I wanted it to come out.

I didn't take step by step photos, but I did do before and after. So here they are.  Oh, and I got this dresser for $45!

BEFORE

AFTER

Not the brown I wanted. It was meant to be darker.

Should I keep going with the distressing on the drawers? Or re-do the sides to just be simple like the drawers? 

Project 52: Nutella and a New Face

Ben is a baby of many faces, I think he gets that from me. Today he gave me a funny smile that I have never seen before! It is so fun photographing him because I never quite know what I am going to capture.
Below is the wonderful new smile I am talking about...

Also a first today... Nutella! He loved it! 

He also managed to get it all over his precious face!! 

Here are some more fun faces that he makes....

This is his face he makes when he is concentrating and exerting energy... usually by trying to stand up!

And this one is his classic smile!! I love it! <3

Don't waste your Life

Amazing Grace

Father's Day

This Father's Day is very special because it is Joe's FIRST one!!! Our lil man is almost 8 months already!!

Yesterday Ben and I took Joe to the "Man's toy store" also known as Lowes. Joe needs some tools for his maintenance classes next semester so what a perfect gift to give to who I think is the world's BEST Father!! Though I am pretty partial to the guy!! So we got Joe a new ratchet set and he was eager to find them a new home in his tool chest as soon as we got back.  And of course, so was Ben......

And then of course after working hard with the tools it was play time.... 

You can see Calvin peeping from below.

See the joy in Ben's face! He loves this. 

Ok So I was also really excited to make Joe some gifts from Ben. To me homemade gifts are the best! 

I hit up the blogging world to find ideas and this is what stuck out to me the most... 

It is a box of Hero Supplies from Oh Happy Day !

Here is what my package looks like... 

I used Spinach Artichoke chips from Archer Farms (found at Target).

These are yummy York Peppermint pieces

Joe's favorite chocolate bar... White Chocolate with Coconut from Lindt

Jerky. lol 

Lemon Heads

Cream Soda... Jones soda

Last, but not least these are some yummy Cinnamon Pretzels I found on Joy in my Kitchen's blog. 

I also ordered him a card from Tiny Prints... 

This is the design I used. There are ton's more!!! You get to use your own photos and customize the wording used! I love Tiny Prints!!

Hopefully Joe enjoys his hero supplies and card as much as I enjoyed putting them together. I'll let you all know what he thinks after tomorrow when I give it to him! 

What are you doing for Father's Day?? 

 

Africa day 5- Joe Myers

May16

            It was our first day at the hanger.  We had a safety briefing for about an hour, and a tour of the hanger for about two hours.  Our guide for the hanger took us to every person’s office in the building and announced that we were there.  After about the third time it became funny to us.  We didn’t know where to go at first and our tour guide being so polite let us walk in front.  We soon figured out that we would enter every door.  By 10AM we were finishing up our tour, and heading to the briefing room for tea and the daily devotional.  Teatime is a tradition at AIM AIR that takes priority over everything else.  It’s one of those cultural things.  They all call the tea Chai but it is just tea bags and milk. 

            After this new and amazing teatime and devotional we finally hit the floor.  I helped a young man also named Joseph change the breaks and tires on a Caravan.  And we did some hydraulic work on the DC3.  I know it doesn’t sound like much but it truly was an exciting day for me to get my hands dirty again.  I remembered my early years in Christ under the belly of an F-15, delighting in my work because I know my Lord.  Even when stresses at work were high I found rest in my tasks because I knew the Holy.  It was a great reminder to me of how easy it is to forget our early years and our first passions to serve the Lord.  How can I not perform my work to the highest degree?  I am ALIVE in Christ!  The very thought of knowing I am born into the family of God should suspend all my worries.  The best thing about our work at AIM Air is that we worked among brothers in Christ of another nation.  Again this happens everywhere, but I was awestruck by God’s provision for his people in every nation.  It was a great encouragement to work alongside my African brothers, knowing our work is sending the gospel to the edges of Africa.  The call to every tribe tongue and nation may look like an enormous number on paper, but it is attainable in our generation. 

            As the day closed out Gregg and I decided to take the Matatu back to Mayfield.  Another exciting ride, as our driver cut off six lanes of traffic by going 90% into the roundabout.  Cars and busses tried to bully him away, but he stood fast with less than inches between him and a massive charter bus he commandeered the roundabout.  Our small van cheered as the driver made it successfully to the inside lane.  A few minutes later we arrived near Mayfield and closed our day.

Africa Day 3 & 4

Sorry if you have been waiting for the rest of our days. I want to give you enough time to read each post before adding more since my journal is a bit lengthy.  Love you guys and thank you for taking the time to read about our trip. 

May 14,

Today we had another briefing, this time on healthy living.  It is mostly their way of introducing newcomers to the area without overwhelming them.  It was a bit slow considering this is not our first time in a different country, however it was how they do things and we need to be able to conform to different operations.  Latter that afternoon, one of the wives (Cammy) took us to a market to show us a bit of Nairobi.  The market was made of plywood stands covered in tarps and blankets to keep the sun out.  The narrow walkways created heavy traffic throughout the market.  This was good for ship-owners to catch the attention of slow moving people.  I used my opportunity to practice my Swahili; it was quite fun and plenty entertaining for the locals. 

Before we entered the market we noticed a man scoping out our vehicle after we had left it.  I could only guess he saw me using Jessica’s camera in the parking lot, and wanted to see if it was still in the car.  He followed us up the walk way and we lost sight of him as we entered the market.  Gregg had spotted the man both next to the car, and while we were in the market.  Gregg was walking behind us and noticed the man practically breathing down his neck.  He stopped and looked at the man and watched as he changed direction and continued down another avenue.  A few minutes later, the man was back.  This time he had exchanged his hat, and put on a jacket.  Gregg told us to stop, and before he could turn back around the man was gone.  The popular way to steel in Nairobi is to cut pockets with a razor blade.  If you’re good the victim almost never notices enough it.  I caught him to my left through the narrow corridor’s and hollow shops.  After that he was gone again. 

Below is a photo of the market we walked through. The man on the right wearing a baseball cap with the toothpick in his mouth is the guy that was following us trying to get our backpack that the camera was in.

No matter what we do in Nairobi it is impossible to blend in.  Primarily because our skin color is practically a glowing beckon of “rob this guy”.  The best way to blend in is by learning the language.  This tells people that you know about them, and that you have spent significant time amongst them.  I got quiet a few laughs bartering with people.  They asked for more money because they know I can afford it.  That’s when I laid it on them.  I don’t actually have a job in the U.S.  I’m a college student sent by other people with jobs to give them the good news of Jesus.  Often times the response was perplexity.

May 15,

We went to church with the Moffit family at Africa Inland Church.  It was an awesome day to be there too.  The leadership was sending off one of their own to study at a seminary in east Kenya.  When the service started they wanted everyone who was there for the first time to introduce themselves.  We took notes from the first lady do introduce herself.  The blanket statement is (Name, I belong/love Jesus, I am from ______, and I bring greetings from _____ Chruch).  I wondered what would happen in the U.S. if newcomers were asked to introduce themselves.  I think people would feel called out and offended, but the culture here wants to welcome people and genuinely know who is with them.  The preaching reminded me of the Harbor in Okinawa, not because Mark Oshman sounds as cool as a man from Africa, but because the culture challenges their believers with tough love.  The young man leaving gave a message on 2Tim 4:6-7.  He talked about how Paul ran his race, and the characteristics it takes to complete it. 

I was reminded of Matt Chandler’s sermon in Chicago.  One of his common and frequent rants on Paul he said, “I don’t care what you have done, you don’t have a thing on Paul.  This guys is nearly untouchable when it comes to living out your faith.  You can whip him with 39 and his response is “I delight in sharing Christ’s suffering.”  You can throw him in jail, “I’ll convert all your guards and most of your prisoners.”  You can even kill him, “To die is gain.”  This guy is untouchable.”

The young pastor gave a powerful and challenging sermon, and I am excited for his future studies, and ministries.

Afterward we shared chai with the head Pastor who went to seminary in the states.  Have you ever talked to someone and not known what to say?  That was us having chai with the Pastor.  We ate Lunch at the Moffits house, and talked with them about AIM Air.  Mostly it was guys talking about airplanes, and we all know how that goes.  But we did get a glimpse of what it looks like to raise a family in Nairobi.

- Joe