Omarosa headed to Seminary!

Wow...I just read that Omarosa is now heading to study at a United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH to become a Pastor. Known for her villianous ways and antics on reality T.V. shows, she has more recently been a goodwill ambassador and has done work for the homeless and poor in Haiti. According to Ivan Hicks, the school's associate dean for African-American studies, this reputation she has for both good and bad will help her as a minister because people will be able to relate to her. It's interesting that she has chosen this route as I myself did not even know that she was a Christian. However, we must remember that God has used many imperfect people before and can use the "foolish things of this world to confound the wise." (1Corinthians 1:27) I wish her all the best and my thoughts and prayers go out to her.

I was accepted into Liberty!

I am now a non-degree seeking Master of Divinity student with Liberty University Online in Virginia. I don't usually mention things about myself like this on this blog but I am very excited about the doors that God has opened for me so far!

A lot of mixed emotions right now...

Well, I got what I needed from my pastor. He signed his name to a recommendation form so that I could be a non-degree seeking M.Div student at Liberty University in their online format. I could tell he was a little ambivalent about the format of the form (he thought it was a little vague) but he went ahead and checked the "I can fully recommend..." and signed his name. I'm very happy that I can at least explore this to see where it leads (becoming a pastor is not a decision that should be made overnight) but at the same time there is a part of me that has a sense of wistfulness and yes, sadness, for the fact of what I more than likely must do: leaving the way that I was, my old dreams, even my old fears, as well as the fact that I identified myself as a person who taught school. I will miss my teaching career. Does that make me selfish? I'm not sure, but I have to also explore that it may not be God's will for me to be a teacher in the sole sense of the word. I did believe at one time that I was called to be a pastor, and if it's God's will (which I am exploring right now) then I believe that He doesn't change his mind. I need to lean on Him and do the best I can for Him in the pastorate when the time comes.

Quote of the Week #6

Perseverance!



"I have fought the good fight, I have stayed the course." ---The Apostle Paul

Just like the persistent and stubborn flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk, we all need to persist in what our dreams might be. Whatever your goal might be, perseverance is the goal. If on the road of life you come across a roadblock such as I have faced many times in my life, simply go a different route. But whatever you do, if you want something bad enough, stay the course and fight until the bitter end.

Interesting Quote from President Obama

April and I don't always agree with this man's politics, but President Obama gave a very interesting quote during the newly-delivered commencement address at Arizona State tonight that I will share with you all.

"You may have set-backs, and you may have failures, but you're not done - not by a longshot.


Just look to history. Thomas Paine was a failed corset maker, a failed teacher, and a failed tax collector before he made his mark on history with a little book called Common Sense that helped ignite a revolution. Julia Child didn't publish her first cookbook until she was almost fifty, and Colonel Sanders didn't open up his first Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was in his sixties. Winston Churchill was dismissed as little more than a has-been, who enjoyed scotch just a bit too much, before he took over as Prime Minister and saw Great Britain through its finest hour. And no one thought a former football player stocking shelves at the local supermarket would return to the game he loved, become a Super Bowl MVP, and then come here to Arizona and lead your Cardinals to their first Super Bowl.


Each of them, at one point in their life, didn't have any title or much status to speak of. But they had a passion, a commitment to following that passion wherever it would lead, and to working hard every step along the way."



This really spoke to me because just like the jury was still out on those individuals the jury is still out on others, including myself, and if I do become a minister that will be my belief, which is not to ever give up on people. As long as you are breathing, you have a chance! Never give up on people.

Happy Mothers' Day Mom!

Mom is at the far right in this photo (circa 2003 with Aunt Donna and Aunt Teresa) and.......



she is in the middle in this 1986 photo!

Still looking for discernment...

*****Read on and I will explain the Dr. Pepper bottle here in just a little bit*****

When I started this blog, I purposefully decided that I would not include too much about myself in here because I believe that the purpose of this blog beyond all the mishmash of jokes, stories, song lyrics, funny pictures, and other things was to glorify God and to help people. However, I would like to say that I am still looking for discernment on why I feel the need to eventually become a pastor. (see the calling or catharsis post much earlier for more on this) If you have come across this blog and come from an evangelical Christian perspective, and have went through this process or know someone who has went through this process, I would greatly appreciate your prayers for this time in my life. I had a very interesting conversation with my current pastor tonight. We discussed a lot of things, but we mostly discussed we were at right now and how close I could have came this year to having a failed marriage, destroying myself, and/or generally ruining my life. If you have read the earlier introductory post on this you would know that I have had a year so difficult that would peel paint off of the walls. Here is basically what is on my heart right now: I have had an EXTREMELY difficult past 2-3 years...I have been through depression, car accidents, panic attacks, alcoholism, bitterness, rejection from all kinds of people in my previous career, and many other potentially fatal and poisonous things to the spirit of serving the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, yes, I have been through the ringer. That being said, I still believe in my eventual call to be a pastor. This is a conviction I have that is not going to go away. I believe that I can, at some point, be of assistance to people that have had these struggles because of my life experiences. However, there was some very important things that my pastor told me that I think would be beneficial to me not just as a future pastor, but as a person and as a husband. I think that the best thing that I can do at this moment is to continue to serve Him and like the Dr. Pepper can at the top of this post, to "let it settle". In other words, this very painful year has shook my can up, and I need to not open it right away. I do think that I have a lot to be thankful for. April has been a wonderful, wonderful partner to me and has stuck with through a lot of things blowing up in my face. I think that I will focus on being a good husband and will play it by ear with all of the other things. I do know that as a part of my dicernment process I will be a non-degree seeking student at one of these online Bible Colleges, but the most important thing right now is taking care of the little things and remembering that "he who has began in good work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Paraphrase of Phillippians 1:6) When and if the day comes that I will be a pastor leading a church somewhere, I can be confident that God will have molded me into an individual worthy of this awesome responsibility and calling. For now, however, the best thing to do is to look after the little things. If you come across this blog, I would appreciate your prayers for me in this area.

Calling or Catharsis?

The one thing that I do struggle with from time to time is whether my desire to become a pastor is a calling or just simply catharsis. Catharsis is defined in the dictionary as "a purging of emotional tensions". I do know that I am going through a lot right now and it has pretty much been one thing after the other. But I do know that certain circumstances have occurred which have changed my whole entire perspective on a lot of things. I currently teach school, but I feel that I was eating, drinking and breathing that and did not leave any room for my faith, for God. I think the best thing to do right now to find the whirlwind of emotions is to look at examples in the Bible. Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and a lot of other people all got discouraged but they handled it in a godly manner, and that's what I need to do also.

Purpose of this Blog

The purpose of this blog is, simply put, to minister to people. I understand now, after the year that I have had, what it is like to go through really stressful and upsetting situations.

I know now how the Psalmist felt when he said "have mercy on me Lord, I am weak." (Psalm 6) I'll also give my opinion on current events, keep up on sports stats from time to time, and all the other things that bloggers do, but the main purpose of this blog is to help people and have compassion for them. Whew! Now that I'm done with my little spiel I'm going to find some late lunch....

Hmmm....where to start?

To make a long story short, I have seriously been through the ringer these past three years....but in order to make a fresh start I deleted most of the silly posts on here and will start again. In Early 2005, I decided to go into teaching, and through a variety of circumstances since then I have decided that teaching more than likely is not for me. In 2008 I finally found a teaching job in the ESL department of an elementary school in the Western Slope of Colorado. I really honestly thought that it would be a good fit for me, (and it sort of was) but there were a lot of external things going on and it was (and has been) a very tough year. Needless to say, I'm very disillusioned with teaching school.

I'll tell you what I do know now though.....I have a firm conviction in my heart and soul that God has used this year and these struggles that I have had to make me more willing to consider full time Christian service. I am now exploring the possibility of one day going to seminary to become either an Assembly of God or Non Denominational Pastor. I hope that you will join me on this journey! Also, before I totally forget my manners, this is a picture of me (Vaden) and my wife (April).