whats new (the post below this is new too!)

This last week has been actioned packed. I went to Lockport last weekend to get my truck. Thats right, the Jeep Comanche is no longer sittin in the driveway. It was actually pretty cool experience. I rented a tow dolly from uhaul. My dad and I worked on the truck, getting it set up to tow away and things went surprisingly well. We dug out the tires, no problem. We filled them up since they were way flat and there was no leaks or damage to the tires as far as I could tell. We filled up fluids and tried to jump the car. After about 6 tries it actually fired up! After sitting for 4 or 5 years. I was totally not expecting it to start like that. We got it to run long enough to drive it onto the tow dolly so we didn't have to push, although it died right after we got it on. But it all went really smooth and was a complete blessing from God. It was one of those situation where you know that God cares about the little things in your life and loves to give you small reminders that he is a caring father.

Sat. night I went downtown to visit some friends who are in Chicago for the summer participating in Salt. It was really nice to see them again. The band from the Rock, The Lone Strangers played outside of a Caribou Coffee. Some of us got into some really good conversations with those around us. The people spending the summer in chicago (if you didn't look at the web site) are there to kind of test the waters and see if God would want us to send some people to start a church downtown. One guy talked about how he wanted to learn more about the Bible but had a lot of unanswered questions. He even set up a time to get together with Jackie and Mike this week to talk about these things. Jackie and I talked to a guy that owns a limo service. He told us about how he got started and that sort of stuff. The limo he had there was a very long SUV limo. It was huge. He talked about how he designed everything inside it himself and he even let us go inside it for a few minute. He cranked up the sound system and we had a little 5 min. dance party. It was really fun and another one of those little things that God did just to show us that he likes to do little fun things.

Tues. I went to a concert in Moline with some friends from Iowa City. We saw 3 doors down, staind, and breaking benjamin. It was a great show as expected and very enjoyable! I was also really glad that I got to spend a little time with friends from IA city. Wed. I helped some of the girls clean their duplex that they are moving out of and then took off for Lockport.

There, I went to see the Chicago fire play AC Milan. The game was amazing! AC Milan is one of the most storied club teams in the world. They are high profile. They also won the European cup last year I believe. Milan ended up winning 2-1, but the Fire played very well and were neck and neck with Milan the whole game. The fire actually had more shots on goal and more scoring chance. They unfortunately could not convert them to goals. This was actually my FIRST experience at soldier field, believe it or not. Its somewhat shameful to not be inside it until I'm 23 and no longer living in IL. It was definately a memorable time and kinda cool that my first time there was a soccer match. :-)

Whats new

I mentioned in an earlier post that I would explain this, so after a long wait, here it is.

So I have been praying for a while about where God would want me now that I have graduated. Specifically, if He wants me to stay here in Ames or move to Iowa City. Sorry this is a little lengthy, but hopefully you will see how I feel God has led
and be encouraged by it.

About a month and a half ago(and long before) I was discussing this with Tony. It was then that we decided to trust God to clearly lead me by the end of June to leave what I am doing in Ames and to go to Iowa City if that was His will. The thinking behind this was that if you are unsure of what to do, then keep doing what God last told you to do. For me this was live in Ames and be a part of the college ministry at Iowa State. So if God did not give me and Tony a clear peace about moving to IA city, I would trust that He wanted me to commit to stay in Ames, until led otherwise.

I have desired to join my friends in Iowa City since they left, but until recently had the committment of school as God telling me no. I was still considering moving to IA city afterwards, but didn't know what God wanted (or exactly what I wanted). I consider many of the men and women living in Iowa city close friends. I know that these friendships will last a lifetime and not just while I am in the same town/church as them. I spent my first few years trying to follow Christ with these people. I think that during this time special bonds can form with these people. And many did. These kinds of relationships were a large reason why I desire to move there.

I also know that I have formed some good friendships with people here in Ames. God has really used some of these for growth in my life. The last couple years God has provided relationships with a couple guys where I can be open. It has challenged me to be open and accountable with my life, which is a very good thing. I have also
started leading promotions for the Rock this last year. I don't think that God is done using me there either. There is still room for improvement with promo and it has taught me a lot about planning, organization, university relations, and how to lead in an area that I am not an expert in.

I fasted for a week in June, praying for direction. It was this week that God gave me a clear understanding of a lot of the things mentioned above.

By the end of the month I had not felt confident in moving to IA city and neither did Tony. I think that God wants me to use my relationships with the men I talked of earlier to continue the work he started. He wants me to continue with the responsiblities given me within the Rock. So that's what I will do, being confident it is where He wants me. (until he tells me to go)

They came crashing down

It has finally happened. Knapp and Storms dormitories are no more. Story and a sweet video of the implosion can be found here. Iowa State also put up a video on their front page. (www.iastate.edu)

I almost lived in towers. I was assigned there for my freshman year. But when I found out about it over the summer I did not want to live there at all! I thought I would hate it for most of the same reasons that made it so great to live there. I switched to helser before I moved in so I unfortunately never got to experince the towers life.

I may have never lived there, but I like to think that I got to experience at least some of what it was like from living in helser and willow halls, which created much of the same atmosphere that towers did. The lack of air conditioning, timy rooms, overflow housing in the dens, doors open all the time, building a tight community on th floor all made it one of the most fun places to live. Ask any of the 42,000 people that lived there over the 40 years it was used. They will all say how fun it was and would not trade those memories for anything.

The Des Moines Register covers a few of the memories here as referenced in Amanda's Blog.

Alright, so I have slacked for a while... I admit it. But I have reason, or at least an excuse. More on that later.

4th of July was very nice. I had to work the weekend but had the 4th and 5th off. Mon. was all kinds of relaxing, going to the park with friends, grilling, frisbee and hanging out. It was nice being able to just spend time with people. Amy, Jackie, Luke, and Teply came from Chicago for the weekend also. I'm so glad I got to see them again since they have been gone all summer!

I found out that Brooke, a friend of mine living in Georgia, is engaged! I have already made plans to fly out there next fall for her wedding :-)

I'm going to a concert in the quad cities with some Iowa City folk at the end of the month. It's Staind, Breaking Benjamin, and 3 Doors Down and it will rock!

I've been thinking a lot about where I want to live now that I'm done with school and (trying to) enter the real world. More on that in a later post.

Lastly, We have been accident and ticket free at work! My boss is very pleased with this :-)