Today was my second day hitchhiking. I woke up this morning so thankful that it was finally morning! Sleeping under a bridge was great in that it kept me warm and dry, but there's definitely a reason they don't make beds from concrete! Coupled with the fact that I was mildly worried about someone finding me there led to an all around long night.
So I woke up this morning went and cleaned up at a nearby gas station, got some coffee, then I went back to the bridge, ate, and a a short devotion time and prayer. Then it was back to hitchhiking.
After waiting for almost an hour a man pulled over who was on his way home to TN after spending a weekend at a lake in AL. After riding and talking with him awhile he said that he had a business in smyrna and would be willing to take me all the way to cookeville! So after a long ride and great conversation we finally made it to cookeville.
From there I walked 2 miles to the church were all the people from camp went. I can't even explain what it felt like when I saw that church for the first time. I was so happy that I finally made it. And that it actually worked!
Then, at last I finally made it to camp after staying with Braden ten riding home with Sarah that night. Overall it was a very good trip. I have more tan, more money, and more friends than when I started! God has been so faithful to me during this trip and I can't wait to see what He'll do the rest of this summer!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The First Step
Day 1
This was my first day hitchhiking. It started off pretty slow. It took over an hour I'm sure to get my first ride. The guy that picked my up was a dancer/home health provider who took me a couple miles down to
Amite.
From there I was picked up by a father and son coming from Texas where the son had a hair transplant operation done. They took me a good ways into Mississippi.
The next ride came from a woman odly enough. She was a scout master and said she picked me up because I looked like a boy scout! She took me down the road a few exits.
Then I was picked up by a few old sketchy guys in an old sketchy truck, they only took me a few miles down the road. He said he was going to pick up his daughter, then he might take me further if I hadn't already found a ride.
Luckily, I did. An older gentlemen by the name of John sojourner picked me up. He, I later found out was a former hitchhiker himself, and was also a strong Christian. We talked about God and theology as he took me all the way to the other side of Jackson. He prayed over me, and also gave me 12 bucks.
The next ride came from a dentist, why was kind enough to take me all the way to Meridian. It was really awesome to meet and talk with him and he even let me take a nap in his truck. After that I was picked up by a national guard chaplain in training who was a basketball coach as well as former youth pastor and had a masters of divinity and was work on another masters degree at seminary. We were able to have some great fellowship talking about God and sports, he gave me a protein bar (which was awesome) and took me all the way to Birmingham even though it was out of his way. Then, to top it all off he gave me 100 dollars, I kid you not. Then he prayed for me and went his way.
Where he dropped me off however wasn't the best part of town...so I hiked a few more miles to a little bit better exit. There I had my first encounter with the police. The officers stopped, made sure I wasn't begging, then moved on and wished me luck.
Then I was picked up by an older man in a rather old and beat up van who took me to a decent exit. Where I again met some more cops. They asked me where I was going, asked for ID ran it through their system, and even asked their Sargent if they could take me a little further. They weren't, but we had a good talk, and they wished me luck and went on their way.
Then I was picked up by a sketchy older couple who let me ride in the back of their truck down to the next exit which he said would be better for me. And it was.
I was then picked up by and old cowboy who took me half way to Decatur. I don't think he said a word the entire trip haha.
Then came a car full of girls stopped and the mom asked me if I needed money and I told her no, then said she would pick me up but didn't have room for me and my backpack.
Then my final ride of the day came. It was a young husband, his wife, and their 3 daughters. She said they stopped because I looked like her nephew. She asked me if I had a gun, the. Said later that she let me in because I looked so shocked and surprised when she asked. During that ride I was treated to the movie HOP, a bag of snacks and a water bottle, a picture drawn of myself, and the prayers of fellow believers. The mom almost wouldn't leave when we got too Athens, she said the mom in her was coming out. But they. Eventually were able to leave after making sure that I was completely fine and had everything that I needed. Which leads me here where I am now, under a bridge in Athens AL. Praising God for what He's done today and looking forward to tomorrow! Well I'm gonna get some sleep now.
This was my first day hitchhiking. It started off pretty slow. It took over an hour I'm sure to get my first ride. The guy that picked my up was a dancer/home health provider who took me a couple miles down to
Amite.
From there I was picked up by a father and son coming from Texas where the son had a hair transplant operation done. They took me a good ways into Mississippi.
The next ride came from a woman odly enough. She was a scout master and said she picked me up because I looked like a boy scout! She took me down the road a few exits.
Then I was picked up by a few old sketchy guys in an old sketchy truck, they only took me a few miles down the road. He said he was going to pick up his daughter, then he might take me further if I hadn't already found a ride.
Luckily, I did. An older gentlemen by the name of John sojourner picked me up. He, I later found out was a former hitchhiker himself, and was also a strong Christian. We talked about God and theology as he took me all the way to the other side of Jackson. He prayed over me, and also gave me 12 bucks.
The next ride came from a dentist, why was kind enough to take me all the way to Meridian. It was really awesome to meet and talk with him and he even let me take a nap in his truck. After that I was picked up by a national guard chaplain in training who was a basketball coach as well as former youth pastor and had a masters of divinity and was work on another masters degree at seminary. We were able to have some great fellowship talking about God and sports, he gave me a protein bar (which was awesome) and took me all the way to Birmingham even though it was out of his way. Then, to top it all off he gave me 100 dollars, I kid you not. Then he prayed for me and went his way.
Where he dropped me off however wasn't the best part of town...so I hiked a few more miles to a little bit better exit. There I had my first encounter with the police. The officers stopped, made sure I wasn't begging, then moved on and wished me luck.
Then I was picked up by an older man in a rather old and beat up van who took me to a decent exit. Where I again met some more cops. They asked me where I was going, asked for ID ran it through their system, and even asked their Sargent if they could take me a little further. They weren't, but we had a good talk, and they wished me luck and went on their way.
Then I was picked up by a sketchy older couple who let me ride in the back of their truck down to the next exit which he said would be better for me. And it was.
I was then picked up by and old cowboy who took me half way to Decatur. I don't think he said a word the entire trip haha.
Then came a car full of girls stopped and the mom asked me if I needed money and I told her no, then said she would pick me up but didn't have room for me and my backpack.
Then my final ride of the day came. It was a young husband, his wife, and their 3 daughters. She said they stopped because I looked like her nephew. She asked me if I had a gun, the. Said later that she let me in because I looked so shocked and surprised when she asked. During that ride I was treated to the movie HOP, a bag of snacks and a water bottle, a picture drawn of myself, and the prayers of fellow believers. The mom almost wouldn't leave when we got too Athens, she said the mom in her was coming out. But they. Eventually were able to leave after making sure that I was completely fine and had everything that I needed. Which leads me here where I am now, under a bridge in Athens AL. Praising God for what He's done today and looking forward to tomorrow! Well I'm gonna get some sleep now.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Looking over the edge
I'm sitting here in my brothers apartment in Hammond Louisiana as I write this. This is where I will start my adventure. Tomorrow morning at 6:00 I will officially start my hitchhiking adventure. It feels almost surreal. Part of me is really excited, but another part keeps thinking "what in the world do you think you're doing?" Well I guess I'll find out that answer tomorrow. Please be in prayer for me, pray that I will keep my focus on Christ and never loose trust in Him whatever may come. Well I should probably get some sleep, early morning and a big day tomorrow!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Adventure Of A Lifetime
So I'm not even sure if anyone will read this because it's been so long since I've been on it. But I'm reviving this blog in hopes of recording the events of an adventure that I will be going on this summer. This summer I will be hitchhiking. Yes. Hitchhiking. The reason I will be doing this is because I believe that God wants me to do it; for a couple of reasons. So that I can minister to different people as I travel, and so that I will have the opportunity to be in a position where I have to trust God for everything. I'm planning to leave May 16th which is exactly one week from today. My plan is to hike to Smithville TN to work at a children's camp I've been involved with for the past few years. Then I plan to hitchhike abroad for awhile then come home sometime in August or September. I would greatly appreciate your prayers through this endeavor if ever you think of me. I hope to have the chance to post about my adventures at various stops along the way to give an account of what God is doing. And I would be honored for you to share in this adventure with me.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Three hearts
Awake my love, the morning comes!
At last I see your smiling face
Grant me this and only this
To be with you till slumber wins
Is there need for other things?
What joy can any other bring?
I chose to set my love on you
and nothing else can ever do
Forever, now you've told me twice
I believe; with all that I am
Come what may come what will
Forever we'll be together still
What is this? I call. I call.
But no one comes for quite a while
There you are! I've found you now
Where'd you go? I'm glad your safe
Rest, rest. I hear you say
I lost my way, but now I'm here
And now again we'll never part
Don't worry, don't worry, you have my heart
Where'd you go now? Lost again?
My love has lost her way again
Twice now the door has closed
But is she lost, or has she gone?
Lost, Lost! you say to me
I lost my way but not again
This time I will watch my way
This time I will never stray
Now your here, but where'd you go?
You're here in flesh but not in soul
The lamp I see is burning out
The flame is gone, but where'd it go?
Another, another. There is another.
Your heart has loved another lover
So here I stand with broken glass
From a memory never come to pass
Oh, what is that I seem to hear?
Forever, forever rings in my ear
A promise I hoped would last
But crumbles now at first attack
Formed it was with sincere love
But lacking that which makes it strong
No pith, no strength no commitment was found
It was thought that feeling would linger round
Come back my love it isn't safe!
Your lover loves with cruel hate
Guard your heart, don't let it break
Come back to me, come back it's safe
Too late, too late the damage is done
Two hearts are scarred from one mistake
One breaks from loss, one breaks from gain
Oh, will they ever be the same?
Away, away she's gone away
I want to follow, to show the way
But lost in full is her love for me
How can you help what scorns your love?
No, not lost. I see a spark
A tiny flame inside her heart
Will it last? And will it grow?
I guess it's not for me to know
The wood cries out from stinging blows
The roots can feel it down below
The pain extends to every part
The pain, the pain of a broken heart
Return to me my lover scorned
For I as well have left a love
Return to me and heal this pain
I am the loved who's lost a lover
Good morning, my love that never left
I don't deserve your tender care
What is this? The one I loved
Has come again to love the lover
At last I see your smiling face
Grant me this and only this
To be with you till slumber wins
Is there need for other things?
What joy can any other bring?
I chose to set my love on you
and nothing else can ever do
Forever, now you've told me twice
I believe; with all that I am
Come what may come what will
Forever we'll be together still
What is this? I call. I call.
But no one comes for quite a while
There you are! I've found you now
Where'd you go? I'm glad your safe
Rest, rest. I hear you say
I lost my way, but now I'm here
And now again we'll never part
Don't worry, don't worry, you have my heart
Where'd you go now? Lost again?
My love has lost her way again
Twice now the door has closed
But is she lost, or has she gone?
Lost, Lost! you say to me
I lost my way but not again
This time I will watch my way
This time I will never stray
Now your here, but where'd you go?
You're here in flesh but not in soul
The lamp I see is burning out
The flame is gone, but where'd it go?
Another, another. There is another.
Your heart has loved another lover
So here I stand with broken glass
From a memory never come to pass
Oh, what is that I seem to hear?
Forever, forever rings in my ear
A promise I hoped would last
But crumbles now at first attack
Formed it was with sincere love
But lacking that which makes it strong
No pith, no strength no commitment was found
It was thought that feeling would linger round
Come back my love it isn't safe!
Your lover loves with cruel hate
Guard your heart, don't let it break
Come back to me, come back it's safe
Too late, too late the damage is done
Two hearts are scarred from one mistake
One breaks from loss, one breaks from gain
Oh, will they ever be the same?
Away, away she's gone away
I want to follow, to show the way
But lost in full is her love for me
How can you help what scorns your love?
No, not lost. I see a spark
A tiny flame inside her heart
Will it last? And will it grow?
I guess it's not for me to know
The wood cries out from stinging blows
The roots can feel it down below
The pain extends to every part
The pain, the pain of a broken heart
Return to me my lover scorned
For I as well have left a love
Return to me and heal this pain
I am the loved who's lost a lover
Good morning, my love that never left
I don't deserve your tender care
What is this? The one I loved
Has come again to love the lover
Friday, July 29, 2011
Running
I'm not sure if I really like it...The timing seems to be a little off, but here it is anyway. :)
This is much more than yes or no
It's more than just a missing piece
Peace, when did it vanish?
Time, how did it sneak by?
Buy for me another chance
Or send me a shining Knight
Night may show us the stars
But they were always there
Their warning never came
And yet, the train still leaves
Leaves change, but never overnight
Between summer and winter come fall
Fall to the ground now
Rise before the sun
The son prepares to leave his home
Always with a tear in his eye
I watch for the answer to come
And pray that it's not all a lie
Lie here for a while and pray with me
And together we can write the tale
Tell me now if I should leave
But don't leave me here to wait
Weight so heavy I cannot stand
Wind so cold it leave me bare
Bear with me a little, while I fight
Then follow me into the dark wood
Would you stay to the end of time?
Sit on the beach and watch the sea?
See the world at your fingertips
Those fingers afraid to let go
Go east! says a voice to me
A voice I've heard but don't know
No where to go but into the storm
And pray that I make it out alive
This is much more than yes or no
It's more than just a missing piece
Peace, when did it vanish?
Time, how did it sneak by?
Buy for me another chance
Or send me a shining Knight
Night may show us the stars
But they were always there
Their warning never came
And yet, the train still leaves
Leaves change, but never overnight
Between summer and winter come fall
Fall to the ground now
Rise before the sun
The son prepares to leave his home
Always with a tear in his eye
I watch for the answer to come
And pray that it's not all a lie
Lie here for a while and pray with me
And together we can write the tale
Tell me now if I should leave
But don't leave me here to wait
Weight so heavy I cannot stand
Wind so cold it leave me bare
Bear with me a little, while I fight
Then follow me into the dark wood
Would you stay to the end of time?
Sit on the beach and watch the sea?
See the world at your fingertips
Those fingers afraid to let go
Go east! says a voice to me
A voice I've heard but don't know
No where to go but into the storm
And pray that I make it out alive
Monday, May 16, 2011
Impossible?
I recently watched Alice In Wonderland, and I must say I enjoyed it much more than I expected. I think my favorite part would have to be the repeated scenes where it was said "I like to believe 6 impossible things before breakfast." I have a great infatuation (as I suppose everyone does) with the plausibility of the impossible. I like to see the impossible happen.
I listened to a sermon today that spoke of faith, and how the gospel seems so impossible that the only way to accept it is by faith. I think my favorite thing about little kids is how they sincerely believe that nothing is impossible. Perhaps that's why we must come to God like a child. Because for a child "impossible" is only something that hasn't happened yet. The older we get the less we believe the impossible because it hasn't happened yet so, we reason, it never will. But who are we to say it won't happen? All we can say is that it hasn't happened yet. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
So dream, believe. Don't be afraid of believing something because it hasn't been proven, for how can you prove it unless you first believe it? Do you dream to fly? Or perhaps aspire to sing like an angel? Perhaps it's because you were meant to, and you will, but not yet. At last we come to discover that it is a paradox even to believe the impossible, for with God all things are possible. So believe, dream, imagine. If you desire the "impossible" don't think yourself silly. Desire it. It may just come true. Be a child, believe, have faith, throw away your pride. Impossible? Hardly. It is but an opportunity to prove it's possibility.
I listened to a sermon today that spoke of faith, and how the gospel seems so impossible that the only way to accept it is by faith. I think my favorite thing about little kids is how they sincerely believe that nothing is impossible. Perhaps that's why we must come to God like a child. Because for a child "impossible" is only something that hasn't happened yet. The older we get the less we believe the impossible because it hasn't happened yet so, we reason, it never will. But who are we to say it won't happen? All we can say is that it hasn't happened yet. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
So dream, believe. Don't be afraid of believing something because it hasn't been proven, for how can you prove it unless you first believe it? Do you dream to fly? Or perhaps aspire to sing like an angel? Perhaps it's because you were meant to, and you will, but not yet. At last we come to discover that it is a paradox even to believe the impossible, for with God all things are possible. So believe, dream, imagine. If you desire the "impossible" don't think yourself silly. Desire it. It may just come true. Be a child, believe, have faith, throw away your pride. Impossible? Hardly. It is but an opportunity to prove it's possibility.
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