Dan Jones

Souls...

Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.
Deuteronomy 28:65

Okay, I want to talk about something really serious in this blog, my sole(s). Check them out! The knubs are pretty much gone in spots!

In the back of the sole it's even worse! What should I expect though? I've had these doc's since the 2nd week of my sophomore year of high school. That's SIX years ago. Lot's o' miles on these puppy's.

I just got new insoles today too. It's like I got some brand new shoes. Some of the best $12 I ever spent.

Wednesday

Yesterday was my 23rd birthday, and if my day yesterday was indicative of what it's like to be 23...well, it's gonna be a long year.

HUGE THANKS to all you guys who surprised me last night at dinner. I had a feeling something was coming, but I didn't expect all of you. It really made my day!

Had a test, which was much, much better than I thought it'd be. I think I did pretty decent on it. I spent about 4 hours that morning studying for it. Then I finished the test and went back to the lab to work on my controls homework and lab report. Just finished the report. I've still got about 4 more days of this marathon of work to get done, but it's going pretty good. I think I'll live.

Here's a verse I really like,

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:23

What I really like is what this verse says about trust. Jesus trusted God, he trusted him with absolutely everything. He trusted him so much that allowed himself to be killed for mankind. Jesus once prayed, "God, if it's your will, remove this burden from me." He didn't look forward to it, but he trusted God enough to go through with it.

I say I trust God with my all, with my life, with my salvation. So shouldn't that trust trickle down to every area of my life, and to every command in the Bible? Can't I trust God enough to obey him with everything? An absolute, conscious trust, in everything, is what I need more of.

Monday

Wow, I can't really think of a time I've had more to get done...

Wednesday - HVAC test
Thursday - Controls Homework and Lab Report due
Friday - Fluids Homework due
Monday - Fluids Lab due, HVAC Homework due
Tuesday - Controls Midterm

That's like at least 50 hours of work...

And I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

He he he...if you've interned...you'll really relate to this.

...abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul..."
1 Peter 2:11

Big thanks to Matt for the redesign - I'm diggin' it.

When I look back on my life, the time I can say I experianced the most spiritual growth on my life was the time I lived in Solon with Pat and Cindy Sokoll (and family). Why is that? I was living with a pastor and his family, from which I learned in immeasurable amount about Christianity, what a Christian family looks like (from the inside), and what a pastors life looks like. I was part of an initial church planting team, around some men who have an incredible love for God. But is that why I grew? I think the biggest reason I grew a lot was because for 8 months I had daily morning times in the Bible.

It was surprisingly easy to do. I'd get up for work at 6am, get ready, and go upstairs. I'd sit at the table and eat a bowl of cereal and eventually be joined the Sokoll girls. John would be sleeping and Pat would be in the living room finishing off his morning gallon of coffee. I guess I never really knew what Cindy was up to. Think about that though, at least 5 of us having our morning time in the Word at the same time. Awesome.

This semester I've gotten busy with my last year of college (my mechanical engineering classes have gotten substantially harder), starting to think about where I'm going to live after I graduate, and looking for a job. Throw on ministry team and fellowship team responsibilities and I've got a full plate of work and anxieties. The stress I'm finally learning to deal with. The simple answer - trust God. It's really that easy.

Being a "leader" you'd think the last thing I would let slip would be that daily time in the Word and connection to Christ. I mean, I'm supposed to be more spiritual than that, right? So, I've decided to start getting up at 6 am every morning (except for Tuesday...I work till midnight on Mondays) and get some time in the word.

This morning I went to Stomping Grounds and burnt the heck out of my mouth on this great latte (Thanks Jackie - it was good! No sarcasm intended...I was the idiot taking a gulp of steaming latte...).

Anyway, if by some insane reason you've continued reading this, I'll explain the verse at the top: I like it, and it's true. We're commanded to leave our sinful desires behind. Why? Because they war against our soul. I have no problem admitting that I know that from experiance. When I allow myself my sinful desires, I can tell in my soul it is downtrodden. That I am out of the spirit. Anyway...

Another tidbit. What was my favorite part of the day living in Solon? Coming home from work to Amy, Elizabeth, and Sarah yelling, "Yay! Dan's home!" Then they made fun of my "pink car". But - it was the best. I can't wait till I have a family...hopefully they'll be as excited.

Have a great day!

Hmmm...

Saw this picture on Yahoo News that I had to pass along, I hope no one is offended I copied it. It's a pretty powerful picture...many have a way of life over in Iraq that I cannot begin to understand.