The Hangout

These are the awesome friends I got to hang out with the night before I left the States. A bunch of us ended up going up to Signal Mountain and then we ate at Raphael's. It was so good to spend time with great friends. Check out my Photo Gallery, I'm adding pictures of Signal Mountain and a movie of the room I'm staying at down here. There is also a link for the photo gallery to the right under the link for Meharry Music.

Flying Out of Miami

This is a cool shot I got as I was flying out of Miami. The lights were amazing. I wish I would have been able to see the ocean that I flew across but it was ok.

Atlanta, GA - Stop 1 of 3

You probably can't guess where I'm at right now. Just waiting for the first leg of my trip to Miami. It's crazy thinking that I'll be sleeping in San Pedro tonight and I got up in Collegedale this morning.

Nothin's Free

So, I went to China Kitchen tonight to pick up my order of General Tso's Tofu. As I walked in, the lady met me and said quickly, "You ordered tofu right?" "Yes," I answered. I went up to the counter to pay for it and she told me that I didn't have to pay for it. I looked at her with this surprised look and asked her if she was serious. I figured they were having some awesome China Kitchen promotion, or maybe they just appreciated Jonathan's business so much they thought they would give him a free meal. After I had sat down and ate for a few minutes, I decided to run out to my car to get my camera and take the beautiful picture you see to your left. Doesn't it just make you salivate with hunger? As I walked back into the restaurant, the same lady that told me my food was free told me that she had made a mistake and I had received someone else's order. All of the sudden, the picture I was going to take didn't seem so exciting any more. I paid for my food as she apologized for the mix up and then I went back to enjoy the rest of my meal. For the first few moments I thought so highly of their generosity but it's amazing how quickly things can change. Anyway, it was a nice thought that my food might have been free and it tasted just as good either way.

I'm Finally Going! In His Time.

Well, it's hard to believe but I'm finally heading out. In just a few days I'll be bombarded with the sites, smells, and culture of Honduras. I thought I was going to be leaving on the 15th of January but when that weekend and then the next weekend past, I started wondering if I would really be going to Honduras after all. I prayed that God would make it completely clear exactly what He wanted me to do because I didn't want to do something they He wasn't planning. That doesn't make much sense. The more I experience with God by my side, good or bad, the more I realize that God's way is always the best. His plans are amazing and His thoughts are far beyond ours. I knew His timing is best and I prayed that if He had other plans for me that he would slam the door shut on Honduras. There is so much peace in trusting in God's plans. It freed me to just enjoy the wonderful school-free days I had while waiting around at Southern. Wherever we are at, whatever we are doing God has awesome adventures waiting for us each day. And now, I'm so excited that I'm finally going to Honduras, and best of all, I know 100% that God is taking me down this road. Now all I have to do is hang on for the crazy ride!

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:11,12

It's Ok to Help

Yesterday I went with Cherie and some friends to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. One of the exhibits featured all kinds of butterflies and moths. It was really cool to see the different varieties and if you could find one that wasn't fluttering around, they weren't afraid to climb right onto your finger.

On our way to the aquarium, we were walking on the sidewalk and passed an older lady that was sitting on a bench by a restaurant. She called out to us in a sort of sad, desperate voice asking for a couple dollars that she could use to get something to eat. I told her I didn't have any cash on me but a friend that was by me pulled out his wallet and gave her a couple bucks. I remember being jolted back to reality by that little run in. I wondered what her situation was. Should I go back and pray with her? I said I little prayer for her in my mind entrusting her with God and went on to have fun with the rest.

Later that day, I was driving back to Collegedale and just as I was getting on the on ramp, I saw a man that had his thumb up, standing on the side of the rode with his bag. For a split second, I looked at him and he gave me a shrug that said something like, "You're just like everyone else, you have plenty of time you're doing your best to ignore me." I did have plenty of time. That wasn't the issue. I didn't have much time to think as I sped onto the on ramp but the main reason I didn't stop was because I didn't think it was safe. I thought my things might get stolen or who knows what. As I kept driving I tried to figure out why I didn't stop to pick him up.

There was something about the faces of the people I saw yesterday that reminded me of Jesus. They obviously weren't in the best situations. They both needed help. I was perfectly able to help the hich hiker but I was worried about my own safety. Is that the attitude I should have - if it seems safe I'll help. I don't think so. Jesus is taking care of me and he has a mission for my life. If there is still more for me to do, He is perfectly able to keep me alive and well. In the mean time, I am free to help others no matter who they are. We are all God's children and we all need love.

Matthew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

The End of Deception

I have been attending a series of meetings every night with my sister in downtown Chattanooga entitled Total Onslaught. Walter Veith is the speaker for the first of the two weeks and has been sharing intense discoveries about the deceptions that are taking hold on our world. These meetings have reawakened my awareness of the Great Controversy and have sparked a new appreciation for the simple truths of God's word. There are so many sick, self-centered, subtle deceptions out there that millions of people are virtually unaware of what is going on. Those of us that hold the truth in our minds and hearts have the immense privilege of diffusing these deceptions and upholding Jesus Christ, the only Truth and our salvation. To watch the remaining meetings online visit: http://www.totalseminars.org. To find out more about Dr. Walter Veith's ministry visit http://www.amazingdiscoveries.org.

To Much Paint, No Key

Well, today has been a interesting day to stay the least...and it's not over yet. Cherie and I have had a busy week full of all kinds of adventures. Cherie works at LifeTalk Radio headquarters in Collegedale, TN and she decided to get some extra hours in this week before school starts. I was hanging out there working some freelance web work when they asked Cherie to go beyond her job description of answering phones to plant some tuplips and re-paint part of the studio. I got caught up in the whole thing and offered to help. I enjoy painting every once in a while and I didn't mind helping out.

Now you have to understand that the reason they needed a re-painting job is because the walls were looking all scuffed up. The walls were painted with flat paint and the dark red color made it easy to see the scuff marks. So, they got what they were told was better quality flat paint and told us to go for it. We did our best, taping all the edges, painting all but one wall, only to find out that the walls scuffed worse then they did before we started! Wonderful. All you had to do was rub your finger on the wall and it turned chalky white. We couldn't wait to get started painting the whole thing over again. While we waited for the new semi-gloss paint to arrive I practiced writing Spanish on the wall and Cherie scratched in a nice looking heart.

We went out and had a nice lunch at El Madador and then came back to resume painting. We were a little late to the meeting tonight but we finally finished everything so we don't have to face it tomorrow morning. It looks good and I think we're on our way to being professional painters.

When we got back to the house tonight, I realized I didn't have my key to the house. I couldn't believe it! I had never locked myself out of that house before. So we were faced with either giving Mrs. Jensen a heart attack by knocking on her window or finding somewhere to sleep. I ended up calling Donald and he didn't hesitate to have us over to his house - such a good friend.
We're here at his house now and I'm so glad that we got locked out of ours! Quitze and Sarah came home and I got some great missionary advice from Sarah. We had a good talk about her time in Peru and my upcoming adventures in Honduras. It's been a blessing already and I thank God for being so awesome. It's best to just laugh at the crazy things that happen to us. God has all kinds of great surprises just waiting to spice up our lives.

And to your right you'll see...

This smiling pumpkin silo was an interesting site to behold on our way back from Wisconsin. What motivated the silo owners to create this marvel I have no idea. We saw it on the right side of the highway as we were driving and my dad asked if I wanted to stop and take a picture. At first I felt like it was to much effort and I mumbled for him to keep on going, but he stopped anyway and I'm glad I got the picture. It's definitely something you don't see every day.