Making Goodness Fashionable...

I;ve never officially made a new years Resolution before but this year i just seemed to have so many goals popping in my head that i decided to make a list:

Get back into prayer
Read my bible more often
Tithe
Invite some new people to church and youth
Get fit
Stay healthy
Stop eating mcdonalds (or any fast food for that matter)
Find a new Job
Work hard at school for the last semester
Save money
Really work hard at football and post secondary schooling
Keep teeth healthy for early removal of braces
Write more

seems like a lot but im up for the challenge. These are all just off the top of my head so if i think of anymore i'll let y'all know. Anyone else have any Resolutions?

tell me. I'm trying to find a good book to read but im not looking for another religious book like The Purpose Driven Life or something (although i did enjoy it) I'm just looking for an awesome novel. so tell me. and tell me why its your favourite.

I am much alive. Just a little lazy that's all. I know its been since April that I have actually updated this thing but better late then never? Well a lot has happened you could say since April until now, September. I turned sweet sixteen, finished grade 10, got in a car accident ( I was driving too) went to creationfest, attended the most beautiful wedding, went to suicide creek for the first time, and quit football and joined back up again.

Sixteen isn't that great. A lot of kids think that its a big deal until the date gets closer and closer. Yeah you can get you license but I don't even think driving is that great. I've found that since I've turned sixteen nothing has changed at all except maybe my acne and hair length. Most everyone who reads this thing (which I expect is no one at the moment since I haven't updated in forever) knows that I struggle with depression. I have had the choice of counseling brought up to me lately and also medication. Now I didn't want to do either but I guess if I had to choose one it would be counseling. I don't like the whole aspect of feeling different because of a substance I had consumed, and besides, I'm only sixteen! So I have mildly considered the counseling part but still have doubts and aren't too sure about it yet. School starts in a week and as all of my friends don't have to go back to school, I'm going to be a loner again this year in the school scene. Did I mention I hate being sixteen?

This summer I spent a lot of time with people older then me. I have this problem with kids my own age. I usually think that they are immature, have nothing better to do then drink, or just don't understand where I'm coming from. I like being the youngest in groups. It happens so often that people forget my age and treat me like an adult. Every once in a while I snap back into reality (like having to start school on Tuesday) but I try and keep myself in mature crowds. I prefer having biblical discussions with people older then me as well. Even though I'm younger I feel like I can connect better on a spiritual level. Of course I love answering 'God' questions with kids from my class too don't get me wrong, but like I said, I simply just enjoy being treated like an adult.

I got to know Russ Klassen really well this summer which has pretty much been my highlight. I found a person who shares a lot of interests as me and even though we have an 8 year age gap, he treats me like a friend. I don't have many people I can call my friends... But that can be for another blog. I was privileged enough to be apart of the invites to his wedding and I must say that it was the most gorgeous wedding I had ever been to in my life. Joy and Russ are a perfect match for each other and I couldn't be more happy for them. I've witnessed how stressful planning a wedding can be. There is so much to do from the guests, invitations, location, catorers, food, decorations,the photographer, the wedding dress, enough seating, who will be witting with who, the punch, the favors, flowers, and the list goes on and on and on...
in the end two people are wed in holy matrimony...But as you can see there is a price with there 'big day.' oh well.

I know that from the moment you guys read the first paragraph you have all been dying to hear about my car accident! It was actually pretty scary. Really scary. Long story short this girl wasn't paying attention and turned in front of me. Both cars got totaled, my mom hit the dashboard, it was the others girls fault, and I was completely fine and went to creationfest the next day.


creationfest was pretty awesome. Hot, but awesome. I had a real struggle with worship though. I was struggling with my depression and went into the whole thing with a heavy heart, and also came back with one. I know that kind of defeated the purpose of the whole event but I could see that coming from a mile away. I still kick myself for it but tried my best not to ruin everyone else's trip with my crap. There was some pluses to the trip though. Every night sleeping under the stars was phenomenal. That is the one place where I can always see God's beauty and how great and powerful He really is. On the last couple nights we froze to death though which wasn't cool. Apparently it had never been that cold at night. Lucky us.

I just got home from a Starfield concert which was amazing as always. It was in Chilliwack and I had no clue how I was getting there until an hour before the show. I suggest that you all go and pick up they're new CD 'beauty in the broken' amazing lyrics and good sound too. I sound like I work for them or something. So there's my update. I know its quick and I know its not very grammatically correct but it was just a rant, make of it what you want. Leave a comment if you feel, or not. I can promise you I will be posting more regularly now but for tonight that is all.

I go in peace and pray that everyone reading this is blessed.
G'nite.

Its me, Mitch. We haven't talked for some time now and I apologize for the distance. A lot has happened since we last updated with each other. The Walk hasn't been to great. Its almost as if I need to be bashed with a sledge hammer in the back of the knees just to kneel for my savior. I have lately been just watching my life go by slowly every day with an apathetic eye.. Not having a care in the world to help or except help from anyone.

I received braces a few weeks ago and have been hating every second of them. I can hardly open my mouth because of the slicing pain they leave on the inside of my cheeks. I previously talked about me getting braces and honestly thought that the decision was to not get them but to my surprise the orthodontist convinced the mother. Its ok I just wont smile. Yesterday I got two of my teeth pulled to make room for my eye teeth and my head is booming. I have been terribly ill the past couple days and I'm only getting worse. I feel like my lungs are going to fly out of my mouth everything I cough.

I have been working tons the past couple of weeks and I actually got promoted. I have only been working at McDonald's for four months and received employee of the month in March, and on Monday they promoted me. You could call it an accomplishment I guess. I'm just happy that I'm making a descent wage now.

The Thailand team has decided not to go this year. We figured if it takes 30 grand to get there then it would make more sense to not go and give them all that money. We had recently received an email from one of our contacts over there saying that their "homes" (more like shacks) are being broken into. Kids form the neighborhood are throwing rocks at them and shooting firecrackers at their property. I didn't know that you can actually steal from kids who have literally nothing. I miss them dearly and it has been extremely hard to not see them this year. But the way that I have looked on the situation spiritually is that God took something that so many of us on the team loved and asked us, "are you willing to give it up for a while and trust me ?" none of us could understand why but he asked us to give it up, which we have, and already we are seeing some amazing results over there. Their car broke down so they are looking for a new vehicle. Unlike shirts and dental, cars in Thailand are the same price as here. This will be a bit of a challenge but God will provide and already has started to. The team has decided to go for a month next year and make a crazy big project of it. I'm stoked for that and now have creation fest to look forward to this summer.

And finally it is my birthday in two weeks. I will be sixteen. I don't know if I'm excited yet. Kind of dreading the fact of getting older. All of my friends are getting jobs now and some are even moving out to their own houses. Scary thought of growing up. As I child I idolized peter pan because I never wanted to grow up. I still do wish I was peter pan some days. The days where I am overwhelmed with stress and "personal" battles. But for now I will leave my update at that. Take of it what you can, and hopefully I will post again soon.

In my planning class we had to an evaluation on ourselves and our traits. First we had to do a personal evaluation and then get a friend to do one on us and finally an adult. There was the usual types of traits such as energetic, hard-working, kind, humble, modest, perfectionist, precise, etc. It was all easy until I came to the dreaded, "self-confident." Now if you are one to know me, you may find I am not the easiest critic when it comes to judging myself. I don't have very much self esteem or self confidence and it highly effects my relationship with Christ. I do wish I was able to love myself, and that I was able to take a compliment without feeling unworthy. People at school see me as the cheerful one. The one making sure everyone is happy and trying to at least act like everything is "Okay." Even when I have the scum of all days I find that it has become a natural reflex for me to respond to the question "How are you?" with the lying remark of "oh I'm good." Very few understand why I have the problem of self-loathing. I could probably say that there is only man who knows some of the main reasons why I cant stand myself. With this being a part of my daily routine, it has become an addicting lifestyle I cannot let go of. I know my relationship with our savior is jeopardized but it seems to be something I just cant let go of.

I noticed that on the sheets I received from my friend and the adult that had to check what my traits are, they both left the box "cheerful" unchecked. Seeing the way others saw me kind made me look at myself differently. Somewhat of a judgmental sight but not the same kind of judging I give myself before muttering the words "I hate you." I understand that I cant keep living like the way I have because eventually I will not only start repelling myself but I would start to repel the ones I love and turn into a very too-himself-kind-of-person. I don't want to see it come to that but know that the journey up ahead will be extremely hard and I will probably fail a few times, but I'm going to try and stay strong.

Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
Amen (Rev. 3:14)
Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
Bread of God (John 6:33)
Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)
Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
Christ (1 John 2:22)
Creator (John 1:3)
Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
Gate (John 10:9)
Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)
Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)
Gate (John 10:9)
God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)
Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)
Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)
Holy One (Acts 3:14)
Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
I Am (John 8:58)
Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)
Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)
King of Israel (John 1:49)
King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)
King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)
King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)
Lamb (Rev. 13:8)
Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)
Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
Light of the World (John 8:12)
Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Living One (Rev. 1:18)
Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)
Lord of All (Acts 10:36)
Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)
Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)
Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
Prophet (Acts 3:22)
Rabbi (Mt. 26:25)
Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)
Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)
Son of David (Lk. 18:39)
Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)
Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)
Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)
Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)
The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)
True Bread (John 6:32)
True Light (John 1:9)
True Vine (John 15:1)
Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
Way (John 14:6)
Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Word (John 1:1)
Word of God (Rev. 19:13)