Something Good This Way Comes...

"ALL" I want to do is...



not wake up to 6" of snow everywhere in the middle of APRIL!1@#!$ [seriously?...I never thought that snow would be this depressing]



get into PT school [crossing my fingers for this next year]



get hitched [it's gettin closer at least]



find a car for less than $2,000 [preferably brand new or with under 10,000 miles :)...riiiight]



become either an expert mountain man, cyclist, or maybe in some stranger field of interest like petrology [that's the study of rocks, in case you didn't already know]



read more



watch less Cash Cab [its so easily addictive. don't knock it till you've tried it]


-------------I inserted this picture from "What About Bob" [GREAT movie] because I can just imagine Bill Murray saying, "Doc, come on...I need, I need, I need, I want, I want!" Sounds like me about now :)-------------



That's not too much to ask, right? Haha...there are so many aspirations that I do have, whether jokingly or not. And in May the time is coming to be closer to all of that which I hope to do and become. Exciting times! Overall I suppose its important to realize that aside from all of my desires and conquests, there are two core things that matter more. I know these things without having to ponder them, for they come from deep within my being: that God is and can be my only dependable foundation, and that the people I trust, care about most, and love [who return the favor of course] are important to stay in contact with and be close to whenever possible. In talking to a friend on the phone the other day, we found together during conversation that relationships, whether with Him or the image of Him on earth here, are truly important to subsistence. I suppose this just made me realize that even though I think it would be awesome to be somewhere else--ANYWHERE else with this stupid snow in APRIL!!! (come onnnnnnnnnn...)--I'm good here. Not just good...great! As Jakob Dylan says, "got a..good woman by my side"...check...and some of the people I'm closest to live within [several] hours.



On a side and [ending] note: I just found another book that holds 20 or 30 teachings by Brother Yun. It's called "Living Water". Any one read it and think it was good? I'm about to begin...



Love yall

Flying Time...

I can't believe how quickly the last year of undergraduate school has passed...not to say it's over--for there still remain many things to happen before my Spring Arbor education comes to a close--but it is ever so quickly approaching! I often remenisce about what has happened in the past 8 years of my life...so much.

As my amazing girlfriend has pointed out awhile ago, blogging is something that I truly have treasured in the past. It's a source of inspiration and an outlet of emotion. I don't necessarily feel the need to justify my "re-start" of this blogging adventure, but still I say to all who have read this THANK YOU for your thoughts, and...here we go again!

The past 8 years...hmm...Dalton, Ohio changed my life. Never would I have been able to meet such genuine people and formed such deep friendship(s) if my parents hadn't made the decision to move to Dalton. I still remember balling when we won the bid on the house on Arnold Rd. I remember getting off the bus in middle school and yelling to Ryan across the ravine, "Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world? HAHAHAHAHA [obnoxious, SUPER obnoxious laugh]". I remember being a paintballing King and having many friends and other players be afraid of me, Ryan, and Nick because we would always dominate others with our different tactics. I remember forming an incredible group of guy friends with Jason, Thane, and Tim...I remember Jason getting married. I remember Janine's death and the two lifelong friendships formed with Austin and Ryan because of it. I remember her impact on the entire community. I remember my first semester of college-> feeling that I definitely did not want to be at SAU. But then knowing by the end of the year that the Lord had his hand in this plan called 'my life'. I remember working construction, growing beards, playing with my nieces, trying to wakeboard, camping, traveling, streaking, t-p-ing, overnighters, parties, dirtbiking, encouragement given by my mom and dad so often, teetering relationships, conformity, worshipping, leading, laughing, loving so many people.......

These and countless others are memories that I TREASURE...and treasure deeply.

OH and though these are thoughts of the past, both joyful and solemn, I don't recall these extraordinary occurences to dismiss them. Rather, to express in some way and to anyone desiring to read this, that I have had a wonderful life. And that I have a wonderful life. Though it literally brings tears to my eyes to reminisce over these things, a new era is dawning:

I remember the growth that SAU has instilled within me. I remember the touching of my spirit that God increased. I remember the intense strengthening of Ryan and I's friendship. I remember my parents going to China and the plethora of feelings from this. I remember recognizing that dealing with this change would take more than one moment. I remember meeting a stunning young lady that caught the attention of my eye, my soul, and my mind. I remember telling her, and only her, that I loved her and her feeling the same. I remember knowing that I want to marry her. I remember being scared out of my mind that graduation is in 1.5 months (as of right this moment), but being okay because of what great potential lies ahead of me!

I can't really say that there was a purpose to this specific blog posting besides sparking my thoughts and stirring up that dusty mind of mine. But it has sure been nice.

I'm so excited for my family to be all together again in May, and for Crissie to be able to be a part of it all with me. Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with such a variety of experience in life thus far. Please hover 'round my family and friends and continue pouring out your love through me. I love you God.

and I love you all (ya'll ;] )

I will try to write again soon. I promise.

Anotha Update!

I figure that I may as well give a life update to ya'll while I'm on blogger right now...

My plane tickets just came in for my Christmas trip to Chi_a!!! I'm heading over there for 2 weeks during my Christmas break to see mom and dad and I'm really excited. I'm also really looking forward to Thanksgiving! Justin and Beth and the girls decided to stay in Ohio for this Thanksgiving and I'm ever so thankful. Crissie and I were going to come home for a day or so anyways during Thanksgiving break, to see Chris, Laura, and Maddie. Now Justin's fam. will be here too so ya can't beat that! I love my brothers so much. With my parents away in "that country way over there", they mean much more than I can ever express to each of them. To be able to spend Thanksgiving with them will be an enormous blessing. I am thankful for my family. I've been blessed with an amazing one, despite distances apart from each other.

School is crazy right now. I try to load the middle of my day up with as much as I possibly can so that I don't get stressed out. This rarely works, but the end of the semester is inevitably nearing...this is both good and bad as I have a ton of work to finish before the end.

All is well. This weekend, Damon (chief of staff, Spring Arbor University--we [ me + six other dudes] live in his big house) is taking us to Indianapolis for a night and a day. We'll stay in the Indy WESTIN 4-star hotel, dine finely at the best restaurants that are offered there, see the new bond movie somewhere, hang out, and have an AMAZING time of fellowship. I went with the house last year, too, and it was such a great time! We leave Friday at 3pm and don't get back till around 9:30 or 10pm on Saturday, when we will be having a guys poker night!

Love ya'll...

I would just like to point out that this picture is of ME PINNING JUSTIN in West Virginia. It's proof bro. You may have had a couple more drinks than me, but fair and square I kicked yer @$$. :) Just thought everyone should see this. And once more, I am stronger than Justin King.(haha, just kidding....but seriously I am)

On Being Saved thru Faith...

Looking through some more of John Piper's video's, I simply can't get enough. This man is annointed. I can see it on him. I can feel it when I listen to a freaking online video. Here's another video about why God chose for us to be saved through faith. SO good. I pray and hope that all who watch this will be blessed and convicted as I am. If you don't agree with this stuff. I'm sorry :) and I love you :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBYsWwk2410

Click above link to watch video...
sfk

Prosperity Gospel...

Here's a video from a sermon from John Piper. John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I don't know much about him besides that he schooled at Fuller Theological Seminary and the University of Munich. I do think this video is crazy convicting and that there is a lot of truth in it. I'll warn you that at times it is intense...but I'd say worth it. He is briefly talking passionately about what has been grown to be called the prosperity gospel-telling people that all events and life will be completely better and okay if you just start a relationship with our Lord. But I think as we all know, there is suffering that takes place in our lives. There are hardships. Painful situations. Bad health. Financial struggle. Health and wealth are incredible blessings. The Lord uses each of these, whether its financial abundance or healing in his name or just a clean bill of health for someone who hasn't experienced much sickness. This all is AMAZING and the Lord uses prosperity no doubt. But to tell someone, especially in a third world environment, that earthly prosperity is what they'll inherit upon calling on Jesus' name--we need to stay away from this. I can't say it well, but I think that Piper has a great outlook on this topic and I think you should watch this video...
love ya'll...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s

Click the above link to see video by John Piper.

A Beautiful Day...

Today outside is beautiful. Truthfully, it's been like this for several days now and gone by relatively unnoticed by me...and what a pity it is to let beauty go unnoticed!

As I type this I'm sitting on my house's front porch watching people go by on walks and watching the bright yellow and orange leaves blow in the wind. It sounds like a magical place putting the scenery into words, and to be at all honest, it is a little magical.

How do I get so caught up in my selfish desire to be concerned about stressful work, homework, and whatever else--that I would miss such a display of God's creation? I don't know, but today, as I write this, I simply am saying [and thinking], "Thank You, God!"...
I think that sometimes God makes days like this happen in order to tell some of us, "lighten up, will ya?" Lay the stuff you're worried about at my feet and enjoy me! Do what you need to get done and look out there at what I'm doing and what I've made...it's for you! and for me! Enjoy it!...

Haha...what a good day. I hope that a slice of the joy that I've come to understand today will pass onto you. Here are some pictures to smile at in case it doesn't :)

All i have...

SAU's chapel speaker today was some guy with an impressive track record of teaching and presiding over seminaries and universities. Most of what he said seemed OK but that at best. And then he quoted a woman, dying when she said, "I'm the  best I've been in my whole life." He asked why and she replied that, "Jesus can't be all I need unless He's all I have." 

That is truth.

I'm always telling myself that complete submission to Him is 'where it's at'...But I rarely arrive at a place in life where I can find that all I want and all I need is Jesus' presence. I think hearing that quote this morning made me realize how much I want more of a DESIRE for the Lord and all that comes with him. I've been in places where all I have is Jesus...where he's the only thing I feel safe thinking about...the only thing that could possibly save me from the situation I'm in...the only presence that can take away my twirling hurts and emotions...I've been there and it's an amazing step to be on with Him. I want that more. I want it all the time. He has to be all I have. "All I have" seems confusing...but speaking abstractly to have Jesus be all I have doesn't always mean becoming a vagabonds and punching myself in the face. I can get to that place by proclaiming...recognizing coherently and out loud even...that nothing satisifies and cares for me more than he does. I can get there by actually living dead to my desires. All that matters is the Lord's presence, wrapped and nuzzled around me, guiding me to LOVE. That's all I want to have. Because once I get there, my relationships will change. I'll have even MORE to give out to the amazing people in my life: my girlfriend, my parents, my roommates, my unknown and unmet people that he wants to use me for...

Obviously I have SO many things. I'm not saying give them up. I'm just saying that we need to live in the fact that God is the only presence that could possibly fulfill us completely.

That's about it today...hopefully some of this made sense :)

~General King~ (inside joke...prophecy...whatever you wanna call it..ask me about it later :])