Just testing blogging from my blackberry for purposes of mobile blogging in the uk.

-brian

So far I’ve stuck to my commitment of doing one year without energy drinks, soda and eating fast food.

The people running One Year Without have given me a donation link that my supporters can use to make a donation.  This is nice because it goes directly to Compassion and not through a third party to Compassion.

https://www.compassion.com/contribution/default.htm?referer=101678

I want to share with you some thoughts that God has given me about doing One Year Without so far.

God spoke to me and asked me, “What are you in this for?”

Let me be honest.  When I first started One Year Without, I was looking for behavior modification of my lifestyle habits along with doing a good thing for the international community.  I wanted to stop eating junk food, lose a few pounds, be healthy, etc.  That all comes from my self-image.  I wanted to physically look and feel good, and do a charitable thing at the same time.

God told me I needed to look beyond that.  He asked me, ”Do you desire behavior modification, or do you desire life transformation?”

My heart broke.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 5:16 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

It is my prayer that myself, along with Andrea, Andy, Ashley, Jenny, Judy, Karla, Katie, Lee, Raquel, Steven, Wess and anyone else who does this / supports this - that our desires and lives are transformed to become like Christ.  That we desire not simple behavior modification, but life transformation.

Just testing GeoRSS for purposes of tracking where I am at.

I love sleep.  Yet it’s the one thing that I fight the most.  I find myself staying up late often, wanting to do more and more.  Just one more thing, one more task.

I really need to let my body restore itself.

Anyone else ever struggle with sleeping?

All, I have decided to give up the following for a year long fast (started July 15th, 2009 at 3pm CST):

1) No energy drinks (redbull, AMP, Monster, etc)

2) No soda.  No diet, no regular, nothing.

3) No fast food.  This means: McD’s, White Castle, KFC, Arby’s, Burger King, etc.

Why?

I want to bring attention to One Year Without.   I already sponsor a Compassion Child, but I want to encourage others to do so as well.

Just send an email to oneyearwithout@yahoo.com and you’ll be added to my list of supporters.  You’ll get a “remember to donate” email every four weeks, letting you know how many weeks I’ve made it and a link for Compassion International’s online donation page.  Please include your first name, last name initial, and state, ie.  Jane S. – FL.  All donations are tax-deductible.

Thank you!

-brian

So, just got done with a missions trip to Red Lake, MN.

The URL to all the pictures can be found here: http://bit.ly/OMIQW 

It was a great time to connect with the students, other students and their leaders, Youth Works staff and the Native Americans.

Now just trying to decompress from the trip. 

-brian