Dominican Vacation Schedule

Check out my calendar for my upcoming trip to the Dominican Republic. Dates of interest range from June 20 - 29 2008 just click the following link:

Google Calendar

Use the "Week", "Month" or "Agenda" views at the top right of the new window to see the itinerary. Also use the forward and back arrows at the top left of the new window to navigate around. I don't have everything planned out yet so please check back to see what's going on.

-Micah-

What a Year!

Well, hello there everyone! I know it's been quite some time since last I updated this blog. You might be surprised that I'm still out here, but you can't get rid of me that easily. I thought it was high time that I get you all caught up on what God's been doing in my life over the last 5 months. So many things have happened, where to start?

Let's step back to Friday July 13th. You know what they say about Friday the 13th, well it was totally opposite for me. Looking back it was one of the best things that has happened to me. I found out that day the company I had worked for the last 7 years was going out of business in two weeks. At that point I wasn't permitted to tell anyone or ask for prayer (I had to wait three days - till Monday), so I spent the weekend seeking God on what avenue to pursue. During this period I received peace to venture full-time into the company I had been establishing over the past year. This is what I hung my hat on when I had doubts about my decision. Over the next two weeks I had the opportunity to accept other job offers that would have very nearly doubled my existing salary, these were quite tempting since at that point I saw no way humanly possible to support myself full-time, I had never had enough business to come anywhere close to meeting my bills. Over the course of the next two weeks I jumped into action and prepared flyers, business cards and letters to deliver to anyone I could. On Sunday July 22nd I was sitting in church, extremely nervous, since I only had one week left. I was praying and repeating back to God the promise of His taking care of me, as well as reminding Him that He had given me a peace about this (I still saw no way to support myself), I was attempting to be faithful in following Him in the direction I was taking.
All the way up till Thursday (26th) I still saw no way of making it. That day God brought a big contract right to my doorstep (phone actually) that provided a lot of work for about a month and a half. Along with that He also reunited me with an old friend (on Friday the 27th - the last day in business) that I have been able to help out in his business. Truthfully business has its ups and downs but God has been keeping true to His word of providing my daily bread.
What a walk of faith it has been and continues to be. My friends, if God can do this for me, I simply had to be obedient and step out in faith, what can He do for you? I pray God will use this faith experience and give me more opportunities to have Him prove faithtul, even when I don't see any way for "it" to happen (after all, isn't that faith).

I Call them Customers Part II

Yesterday I was speaking with a lady who in Dec of '05 helped me get my minivan unstuck from the snow. Here's a link to the original post. During our conversation we were talking about many different things, one of them travel. She was telling me how she would love to do some traveling. So I simply told her to "just do it", don't wait for that one day, it may never come. She then proceeded to tell me "You know, you have no clue how much you have an impact on people." She brought up my above mentioned getting stuck in the snow and said, "remember when you got stuck in the snow and my neighbor came out and asked how you were doing, you're reply was 'I'm doing great!'." She then told me how she made a note and put it on her desk at school (she's a teacher) that says "Thank Micah" so when she's in a bad time she can remember to be cheerful, and it's still there today. Once again I thank God for the reminder of how much I don't realize that people are always watching and listening to what I do and say.

Starbucks Missions

This morning I was at Starbucks, sipping my Venti White Mocha (one of my favs), talking with some of my acquaintances I have made over the years. Now imagine this, I don't know anyone there from outside Starbucks, but whenever I go to this particular location I stop and talk to about five people (customers and employees). Two of the individuals I spent 45min's talking to this morning. One of them started out the conversation, "Now I know you're a Christian", this made me pause. I always try and bring God into the equation in my conversations, but to have someone else start out that way, really blew me away. I thank God for that phrase this morning, because it reminds me just how much people watch my actions, not just what I say. The conversation continued into one's passion for Christ and living an authentic Christian life. It's so neat all the areas in my life that I have the opportunity to encourage and be encouraged by others. It's funny how God works, two years ago when I started making regular visits to that location I certainly wasn't thinking about how I could "preach" the Good News, I was thinking about networking with them. God always has a sense of humor in how He puts us into situations to serve Him!

So whatever your "Starbucks" is, remember it is a mission field too, whether you think of it that way or not.

Strong Minds for Tomorrow's World

Intriguing, captivating, challenging, energizing - are just a few of the words that have been used to describe staring contests. Adults of this country have come to consider these childhood games to be beneath them, but is there more to it than meets the eye? Our society has relegated these games into the past as something not worth our attention, about as useful as watching paint dry. Let us consider the long history of staring down an opponent.

In ancient times, one might say more civil times, battles were fought with clubs, spears, swords and bows. This is the physical side of the battle. How did these valiant warriors prepare for the mental struggle? If you said through studying fighting techniques and subjecting themselves to the extremes of the elements, you'd be right. Although recent archaeological discoveries indicate the best warriors went through a more rigorous training regimen. That's right, staring contests! These contests were at times brutal in nature. If one lost their intense focus and blinked or perhaps even laughed they would forever be ridiculed and spurned by their clan. This of course promoted a deep desire for success and a strong mental fortitude. The people group that achieved the highest faculty of concentration in this skill were the Spartans. That is how a meager group of only 300 men held off thousands of the Greeks.

So how can we use this oft overlooked method of training the mind in todays culture? I see a couple options before us. We can start a class at local colleges and design a curriculum around this highly intensive mental exercise. It will be most beneficial in preparing young adults to jump into the work force and not have to rely on power naps or Starbucks to get them through the day. Another application would be staying alert on long road trips.

Please leave any comments so we will have the most complete list before making endorsements to the powers that be.

New Shower Curtain

Hey everyone, I thought I would let you know I got a new shower curtain!!

A Country Drive

People tell me man is but an animal with an opposable digit, a little luckier than apes. As I drove through the countryside in absolute awe of the incredible sunset displayed before me, I caught sight of a rainbow as brilliant as the sparkle of a freshly cut diamond. While I considered the majesty and import of this colorful jewel, I passed a field of grazing cattle, seemingly oblivious to the beauty surrounding them. It occurred to me that there is no other creature on the face of the earth able to comprehend the wonders of God. The cattle were dumbly eating their dinner, taking note of nothing other than what is in their survival instincts. You may tell me we evolved from apes, but I tell you, open your eyes and look around. I contend that we did not evolve from monkeys. If we did and it was all chance why would Jesus have died for such a mundane creature as us? Did He also die so that monkeys might know Him?

Moving Day

Today I had the opportunity to help Jonathan and Anne move! They just got a great deal on a house in St. Paul when a church had to unload it. We got them totally moved in except some unpacking in the spare bedrooms. I stayed around while they had the satellite guy come out to install a dish on the house. He was quite an interesting guy who moved here five years ago from Kenya. I wished him "Mungu aku bariki," (God bless you - Swahili) a phrase I learned several years ago while working at Family Christian Stores. Bill, the satellite guy, was surprised that I knew any of his language. We had quite an interesting conversation, I know he believes in God but I don't know if he is a Christian. It surprises me how much one can know of the Bible but not be a believer. Today I learned that I'm not always sensitive to what God is doing in other's hearts that He wants to use me to encourage toward Him.

Friendships Reunited

I am always amazed how God provides commonality and community for those who share the Faith. Last evening, Dec 26th, I was reunited with some friends from years ago. I probably haven't seen them in 10-12 years, I'm not quite sure how long. Well, we had plenty to fellowship and catch up on. While together, I was able to find out about their kids lives and interests, as well as what they were doing in life. We shared joyful experiences and concerns about life's troubles and worries. I was greatly encouraged by their Faith and dedication in perseverance. One of the things that most impressed me was their attitude about raising their children. They seek to honor and glorify God in "training up a child in the way he should go." They take stands that some might not agree with because it's "too conservative," and yet I consider it something to aspire to. May God bless their commitment to each other, but most importantly to Him. As I discovered while talking with the wife, she exemplifies the Proverbs 31 woman, what a blessing to see someone who doesn't leave the Old Testament behind and conform to modern society. Then again I am blessed with that from several of my "mothers" around here as well. It's amazing how God knits the bonds of love and fellowship within His body, I pray that you have also experienced this as deeply, and more so, as I have over the years. May God bless you and yours in this coming year.

Vacation Summary

Well, my week of vacation was fantastic! I've already told you about the first half of it two posts ago, so I'll finish up about my time in Pittsburgh. I went to Pittsburgh to visit my assisstant manager from when I worked at the family bookstore. I haven't seen him since he moved out there about four years ago. We've talked a couple of times on the phone since then, but haven't really had any time to catch up. It was so great to finally be able to visit and find out what's been going on in his life, to see where he is with God. I have really missed the fellowship with him, since he was a great guy who has always encouraged me in my relationship with the Lord. It was a triply (is that a word? meaning three times) blessed trip since I was able to visit a lot with his mom and dad also. I got to know them when they lived back here for a while as well. We spent a lot of time talking and catching up, but we also just vegged out (like staying up till one or two in the morning watching M*A*S*H). Saturday he took me into downtown to show me the stadiums and the sites, it's such a beautiful city, a lot of history. The north hills, where he lives, is so awesome. It has a lot of trees and a really big city park, with hiking, running, swimming, games, etc... I would have to say the best part of this half of the trip was just really hanging out and talking about God. Will update more soon.