Treasure Hunt

As part of my class, we have to share the Gospel at least 3 times a week. I really don't enjoy convicting myself to go up to complete strangers on no urging but my own to share. My solution: Treasure Hunt. You wait on the Lord for peoples names, locations, articles of clothing their wearing, and things they need to be prayed for.

I hadn't done it before, but I wanted to, so I invited a friend of mine from class that hadn't done it either. So we're sitting in my living room before we go, waiting on the Lord. I am so convinced that I'm making up what I'm getting, but I decide to write them down anyway: Wendy's chocolate frosty, Ben, blue shirt, Carrie, left foot, cursive white writing with a red or black background restaurant sign. Also got a white T-shirt and left foot from earlier that I decided to add to my list. My friend got the name Sarah and flowers.

What happened? We started at Wendy's with chocolate frosty's, found no one there contained any of our names, so we moved on. Drove around for an hour stopping at random locations at which EVERY male was wearing a blue shirt, none of them named Ben. We even managed to hit Sonic where all employees wore blue shirts, again with no luck. Frustrated, we paused in a parking lot, asked Dad for more guidance, when my friend got a certain intersection. I got a picture of a building a lot like Walgreens, but discounted it because I was staring at one before I closed my eyes to pray.

At the intersection, I noticed immediately a CVS (which is another type of Walgreens), and eventually we hit it after more unsuccessful stops. We decided not to strive, and just walk around asking people's names. How many guys in that store? At least 5, all of which were wearing blue, and none of which were named Ben. No Sarah's or Carrie's either.

On our way out, we decide to ask the cashier what her name is. Before we could she ducked down behind a blue bin. She pops up, and what's her name? Carrie, who is also wearing a blue shirt. Of course. We struck up a conversation with her, told her about the Treasure Hunt, and that she was our treasure! We then asked her if her foot hurt. "Yes!" she says. "I know," I say to myself. "Which one?" I say outloud. "My left foot," she says. "I know," again to myself.

So we pray, "Holy Spirit come". That's it. "How's it feeling?" We ask. "The pain is gone!" she says. We asked her if she knew Jesus, got into a nice conversation, and left totally filled with faith. Yay Jesus!

EQUIP

Upon moving to Norman, I realized that growth would happen. What I didn't expect was how fast it would happen. With the encouragement/pushing of a wiser woman, I applied for and got accepted to Equip. What is it? It is a 10 month discipleship school meant to "establish a biblical foundation, to live a Kingdom lifestyle and impact the world". OK, so what does that mean?

In pursuit of Jesus, I am actively being discipled, actively looking for someone to disciple, doing weekly scripture memory and reading, spending at least an hour with Him a day, sharing Him at least 3 times a week, and these are but a few. Class started with a retreat September 12th, and already God has revealed himself to me in more intimate ways.

For starters, I am learning to daily hear from God, and look to him as a loving Daddy. I'm not fully there yet, but I will be soon. Just this past week, my friend and I went out to share our faith. She heard the word "Starbucks" and I got a pain in my leg that I haven't had before, so I considered it a word of knowledge. We went in, struck up a conversation with the baristas there, and one said she had pain in her knee, due to the fact that she blew it out. I took her aside and prayed over her knee 3 times. End result: pain free leg that Jesus healed!

It's a Girl!

My sister and I were so lucky this past Thursday: Our other sister was pregnant, due the beginning of October. We both really wanted to be there for the birth of their child, our first niece or nephew (that's right, they decided to not find out what they were having), but we had absolutely no idea when it would happen. We got a call last Tuesday telling us the doctor was going to induce her on Thursday! Yes! This meant we could actually plan to get down there and not miss it! Thank you Jesus!

Everyone got there with perfect timing. Five minutes after my dad walked into the room, the nurse came in, said my sister was dialted 10 inches, and ready to start delivery. Her response? "Nope. No. I can wait a bit. Really. No."

So, we left her and her husband to the care of the doctors around 5:30pm while we chilled in the waiting room, discussing what it would be. Then we waited. And waited. 7pm rolled around, and we are still waiting. Finally, our brother-in-law shows up around 7:10pm (of course the one time none of us were looking at the door) and says, "Oh, sorry guys. I texted my dad already, and I didn't want him to come down here and ruin it for you. It's a girl." An outbreak of cheering erupted, especially from my sister who really did not like the name they picked out for a boy. "Her name is Caylee Grace. I mean, I think Grace, I need to check with [my wife] to see if she likes that as a middle name. She was born around 6:45pm, 5lbs 11oz".

And then we had to wait another hour until we could actually see and hold her.

Is this real life?

Having no sleep the night prior to my flight to Atlantis, caffeine became my constant companion. On the flight to the Bahamas (first class!), the flight attendant comes over, asking what I would like to drink. "I would really love a cup of coffee," I say.

Her jaw dropped. "Your mother lets you drink coffee?!"

I laughed, holding my hands up defensively, "No, no, it's OK, I'm 22." Twas at that precise moment when the mother of the family I was traveling with turned around in her seat and exclaimed, "Is my 16 year old daughter trying to tell you she's 22 again?" So, in answer to the question of male suitors down south, the answer is simply; there was none. Everyone thought I was 12.

Basically, I vacationed for a week. I rode every water-slide at Atlantis, snorkeled with and fed wild sharks and sting rays, snorkeled with 10 feet manta rays, went to a private island, and oh yeah, got lost on a bus. You see, we were trying to get back to the hotel after the private island. Instead, we managed to take an hour bus ride to downtown Nassau. The driver was less than pleased.

Fun in Airports

Starting with my adventure in the Denver International Airport, running like a crazy person to catch my flight (I got on board at 6:58am but was not the last person to board! However, because of our lateness, we delayed the flight another twenty minutes while they loaded our bags), I have been spending a lot of time in airports. I got a marvelous privilege to spend a week with a family at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. More to come on that note.

Taking one look at the DFW airport, I cannot stop myself from thinking how ghetto it is. Surrounding it is a booming metroplex, large population, multi-national headquarters, and yet, ghetto DFW. There is one exception: terminal D, the international terminal. I flew into the international terminal to meet up with the family on the way to the Bahamas (we all know Oklahoma is it's own country), and what's the first thing I see? A castle.

"Well, that's cool!" I'm thinking to myself. "I've got time to kill, I'll go get my coffee, and chill out in the castle." I start walking in the direction of Starbucks, when I am bombarded by cafés galore, advertisements the sizes of buildings, and my personal favorite; vending machines. I know you've seen 'em, the Best Buy and Apple vending machines, but I start giggling at the sight of this one:

Proactiv. I get it, you're on your way to a big business meeting, you're stressed out beyond belief, and so is your face. No worries, just pop in your credit card, and away you go. Oh, what I would have given to see someone purchase that!

Colorado

Upon what Base was fixed the Lath wherein

He turned this Globe, and riggalled it so trim?
Who Laced and Filleted the earth so fine,
With Rivers like green Ribbons Smaragdine?
Who th' Curtain rods made for this Tapestry?
Who hung the twinkling Lanthorns in the Sky?
Who? who did this? or who is He? Why, know
It's Only Might Almighty this did do.
His hand hath made this noble work which Stands
His Glorious Handiwork not made by hands.
~Edward Taylor From God's Determinations: The Preface

I'm pretty sure Edward Taylor was inspired by the mountains of Colorado when writing this. I got to spend a weekend in the mountains of Colorado for one of my childhood friend's wedding. The problem in catching up with old friends, especially during a big event when time is limited means that sleep becomes trivial. A problem indeed, as my brain does not function when sleep is depleted. As they drove me back to the airport (super late I might add: I checked my bags at 6:45am when my flight was at 7am), her husband turned around stating, "This is the quietest I have ever heard you. You must be tired!'"

Since time was short, I was unable to accomplish a few of my goals such as:
1. Visit King Soopers (a grocery-store chain in Colorado)
2. Visit my childhood home
3. Go four-wheeling
4. Go snowboarding

I guess this means I require a second trip.

Middle Eastern Coffee

My sister has a job at Starbucks. This means free coffee, discounted drinks, and a gateway into a coffee-loving atmosphere; however, this does not mean that she makes the morning coffee. Every person that has made me regular at-home coffee that works/worked for Starbucks seems to make VERY STRONG coffee. Don't know why, they just do, and it's hard to compete with a professional when all I want is normal coffee with room for half & half. Thus, when my sister makes it, I have to add water, then half & half. Overall, it's a good thing I make it, even if not to her specifications.

For the past couple of weeks, I just could not get the coffee to taste right. I could not understand why. I mean, 3 Starbucks spoonfuls of coffee (with the Starbucks measuring cup-yeah, that's why only 3), 6 cups of water, and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Admit it, the most amazing coffee recipe period. So what was going wrong?! One morning my sister was in the kitchen during the process: "Did you just add turmeric to the coffee?!" After getting over the initial shock that she could verbally communicate this early, I looked at her disdainfully replying, "No, it's cinnamo-". I glanced down. "oh...", I replied mentally and verbally, "whoops, haha, um, it is turmeric."

In conclusion: I now know how to make "Middle Eastern Coffee". 3 Starbucks spoonfuls of coffee, 6 cups of water, and a sprinkle of turmeric on top. As stated it makes 6 cups of coffee, which we find perfect for two people.