Early Morning!

It is now 7:10 am...I just got done spending time with Jesus and I will soon be out the door. But I just wanted to write a quick little something...Just to say GOOD MORNING to everyone. I mean...it will prolly be later when you read this...but hey....that is the great thing about blogs...I can write what ever I want! haha. ok...I have to go now...need to finish getting ready. Peace!

Something new!

So...the last blog I wrote I told people about going to the gym. Well So far I have stuck with it...the class is SO intense, every time! My hope of getting healthy might just happen. Although, since I have started doing the class, my hunger has gone into over drive. Which I have responded in a bad way. EATING TO MUCH...so I have to get that under control and I will be well on my way to getting healthy!

Anyways, today I went in for a interview for a hospital job. I was called last week by the HR person, to my surprise might I add. Over all I think it went well...I am not waiting to hear from the Manager of the department so I can set up another interview. All in all it will be a three interview process. I really hope I can make a good impression. But more important I am hoping that I will just look to my Jesus! What a blessing to have a personal Savior!

My in-laws are coming down on SAT! I am supper excited to see that them. This will be there first time here besides Jeremy and Abby who came once this past summer. I absolutely love them to death and I can't wait to have them here. Some people think I am strange for enjoying my in-laws so much...but that is what happens when all parties love Jesus! The week following we are heading up to MI to see my side of the family! Which is also really really exciting for me. My extended family on my mom's side, we see about once a year...so I look forward to seeing all of them. But I am mostly excited to see my sister, brother and parents! What a blessing to be apart of their lives...


OK...I am going to cut this short....to be honest I just want to watch a little boob tube before bed! It has been a long day! Please pray anyone and everyone who may read this...that God will leading me in my Job situation.

Peace,

Joseph

Going to the gym!

(this blog has not been edited or re-read, sorry for any mistakes)

I just got reading my sisters blog. I had to catch up on a few because she has written several since Thanksgiving. Good thing they were short.

Last night I went to the gym for the first time in a long time after I found out that I could not cancel my gym membership because I was in a year contract. So since I now have to pay for the gym since our 6 months of free gym are over I figured I should at least go every so often. Anyways, I was encouraged to get back into the gym more regular. Also, I have been concerned for my future health if I don't do something about my weight now. So I decided that I would start going to the spinning class they offer. Spinning is a group stationary cycling class. It is very intense. I am very motivated by a group effort versus trying to be self motivated to get to the gym for one thing and then pushing my self while I am at the class for another thing. I was not pushing my self hard enough when I was going in the past. Plus, it is VERY expensive to get a personal trainer. I would just love something like that. With a personal trainer three times a week getting me focused and working hard...I could be cut in know time at all. Too bad. Anyway, the second best option is a group class of some sort. So here I am taking a spinning class. My goal? To lose weight, lower my cholesterol, and to get into shape for some out door biking this next summer. side note...I ended up puking during my first class. At least I made it to the bath room!

The reason why I have been thinking about my future health recently is because I have had some pretty weight stuff on my mind lately. Thing like being a real man of God. I have felt pretty cowardly for some time. I have been listening to alot of Mark Driscolls sermons lately and if there is one thing that he is teaching me is what it mean to be a man of God. I have been so concerned with a lot of non-sense that I have lost sight of what it really mean to be a Christian. It is about Jesus! No more, no less. Jesus should be the reason why I do anything. Quite frankly I have not been living like that. Thus, my lack of discipline in all areas of my life. I have not served the church for Jesus, I have not spent time with Jesus, I have not been the most sensitive and loving husband because I have not loved Jesus, I have not worked on being a man of integrity to honor Jesus, I have lost sight of Jesus! So, I am working on serving Jesus by trying to be more disciplined in more areas of my life so that I will grow to be more like Jesus. This includes my health, which I have a responsibility given by Jesus to take care of my family and be a provider. Which includes the children I do not have yet or future of those God will entrust to me. So...I may fail, but I am not much concerned about that as long as I trust God to extend His grace to help me to keep getting up and working toward Jesus.

I have also been learning about contentment. Kirstin and I have been working on your budget for 2008. It would be nice to have some more money as we see the money get assigned to all these things and not necessarily where I would prefer it to go. So, this time in our life is about waiting...waiting for certain things, waiting to have financial freedoms, waiting for things that would be nice to have in our lives. It really co-insides with me not have a job in my profession. Because I have made some commitment to work toward bettering our family, I have recommitted to continue applying for jobs and trusting in Jesus along the way. It has been good. As I am learning to be content, God is giving His grace. I need so much of it! haha.

One last thing I have been really learning lately is religion versus true Christianity. Religion has destroyed alot of God has made for good. It goes all the way back to the pharisee and continues today. I have to say I am guilty of practicing religion. The truth is, Christianity is about Jesus. His truth and not all the things we like to add or take away from it. Jesus is not a religion, He is someone we have relationship with. He is the one we put our trust and hope. He created us and everything else for Him self as a result of His perfect unity and fellowship and joy He finds in His Tri-unity with Him self. So, as I am striving to reject religion in my life, I am hoping to add true Church fellowship and unity with my fellow believers as a response to Jesus's intercession in my life. Jesus...what a amazing thing He has given me.

Ok...I am going to sign off for now...please will you give up a short prayer for my continued perseverance in striving to and for Jesus. No reservations!

Peace,

Joseph

(this blog has not been edited or re-read, sorry for any mistakes)

Making dinner, cleaning house, watching tv

So right now I should be cleaning the house up while dinner is cooking in the oven, but instead I am watching tv and typing a blog. At this current moment I feel that the blog is more important because I have the gumption to actually write one! Anyways, this week kirstin and I made a fake stick and berry arrangement for a vase this week. It turned out prettty nice. I have to say it was kind of fun putting together the various colors, shapes, and textures. I know, it seems kind of fem for a male to do, but I guess that is just who I am! Haha.

OK, so maybe something more product in my blog...today I put in for a new job at my current place of work. If I get the job I will be able to do some more professional work. Although it is not managment level or anything, I will still be able to develope some of my management skills. The pay will be increased by a little, which is a plus. I am not sure when I am going to get interviewed and then who knows if I will even get the job. Worth a try I guess. I am still apply to hospital jobs and to no avail...but I guess I will keep on trying. Who knows maybe one will go through for me. I just need to be trusting the Lord and keeping my eyes on Him!

This past weekend I went shopping for Kirstin's birthday gifts! It was fun...In fact I could not wait to her birthday so I made her open one of her gifts already...haha. I am worse than she is about it and the gifts are for her and not me. lol. I can't wait to give her the rest of her gifts...hehe. Anyways, Kirstin is going away this weekend to visit her frieind in MN. So I guess it will be easier to hold off giving her gifts to her when she is not here.

ok..now I am talking to talk. I don't really have anything to say. I guess I will end this blog for now.

peace

Joseph

It has been awhile.

ok, ok, ok...so it really has been awhile since I last posted a blog. This is due to two reasons: 1) My new cell phone allows me to check my mail. My e-mail was usually the only thing that drew me to my computer. But now I go to the computer less because I have the e-mail at my finger tips. 2) I didn't blog all that much in the first place. In my last last blog I was wondering how many people actually read my blog. I have a total of 6 people who read it and respond. Although that is not much, I guess I will try and keep writing in it.

As of late things have been kind of boring. There really has not been much going on. I have continued to work at Gardner Denver as the UPS shipper. It is not a bad job and God has provided something for me to do while making a decent wage considering the type of job it is. I am glad to have some work to do. I do look forward to the day in which I will be able to switch jobs, but for now this is where I am at and I am positive God has is under control.

Kirstin and I have been going to the same church for some time now and really enjoy the Sunday service. We are still struggling to get connected as we don't know that many people yet, and the small group we belong to is very nice, but they seem to have there cliques and we are reluctant to just invite ourselves to things. I am sure that things will work out. I do not mean to speak bad of them, because that is not true, they are all friends and have been doing things together for awhile. I bet it just doesn't cross their minds to invite us along on things. It will happen in due time. Anyways, in the small group time we are going over a financial study. It is really good and Kirstin and I really want makes some improvements on how we handle and use the money God has given us. The study over all has been really convicting and I am feeling more and more the importance to be good stewards of our money.

Personally...I have been learning about alot of things. Most recently I have been learning about suffering. Mark Driscoll did a sermon on it that was really good and as a result of his sermon I have been thinking about it and in my devotional time God has shown me a few things about suffering. It is interesting to note that multiple times when the bible talks about Joy it also talks about suffering. Driscoll says that we should not 'waste' our times of suffering because they are times in which God can draw us closer to Himself. Thus, making our Joy complete. It is easy, at least for me, to whine and complain and to act out against God in times of suffering. Christ calls us to something greater and that is to abide in Him and to find Joy and satisfaction in Jesus. I have a long ways to go to be a good sufferer. Haha...not sure that is a word.

One last thing I want to share with you before I end this blog...it comes from John 16:33 : "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world"

Just let that sink in...

Love you all...God's Blessings

Joseph

So I want who ever reads my blog to leave a comment. I have this feeling that no one reads it. So why write it. Please leave a comment if you read it...just so I can take a small inventory

I am not sure if it is Fall or Summer around here. On one hand the leaves are starting to turn colors and fall to the ground. However, the other hand gives us 90 degree heat and warm winds. I hope that we will get the cool winds before all the leaves fall. As mentioned before, there is nothing like a nice cool Michigan Fall. Anyways...just a little blurb about the weather.

I started a job last thursday working at GardnerDenver in their shipping department. I pretty much retrieve parts and then pack them up and get them onto the UPS truck every day. Over all it is not a bad job, although it is a job I will be glad to be done with when God allows me to move on to the next job. I have been really struggling with my job situation and how much I am making given how much I know I could make per hour. I am learning to trust God and to wait patiently while I am learning the lesson He has for me in my current situation. It has not been easy, but I believe when it is over I will be pleased with the results that God created in me. Those who read my blog this is a huge prayer request...if you would not mind. The Lord knows I need every bit of help I can get.

Also this week Kirstin and I got together with some people around our age that also just moved to KY. They are an amazing Godly couple and we are so excited about the possiblities that a friendship my bring. I actually had kind-of known the girl from when I went to Ocean City, NJ for a summer. I just happened to discover that she was living in Louisville one day while I was going through some of my facebook friends profiles. You know the friends that you have on there that you really don't talk to. You just have it because it adds more people to your list of friends. Haha. That might just be me. Anyways, I think it was God that I just happen to run across her facebook page and notice where she was living. They are a neat couple and I thank God so so much for having us get together! what a blessing!

I have developed a new resolution to lose some weight. I am trying to take it slow this time. I want to make small suddle changes so that I wont fall back into old habits out of frustration. I have already lost 3lbs just because I started working at the new job and I am on a consistant schedule. Not eating as much because I am bored all the time. That helps too.

I think I am going to sign off for now...

the blog I can't write

well I had a song I sang two weeks ago at church that I wanted to talk about, but I was one day to late and Kirstin threw out the paper with the song on it. No fault to her, because I had left it out on the dinning room table with out telling her about my intensions for it. Oh well. You win some and you lose some. This one was a loss. ;) Anyways, I will get something good in here soon. Unfortunatly becuase I can't type on my song anymore I am unprepared to type on anything else. Peace

Joseph

small update

Currently I am in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan...which is totally amazing! I am so glad my in-laws live up here because it is so beautiful up here. In fact, just being up here really makes me miss Michigan. I miss a cool Michigan fall. Although I don't really know what a Kentucky fall is like. There is just something about being in Michigan during the fall season. The smells and the colors are just something amazing. I suppose it is similar in a lot of places. Anyways, I miss Michigan.

Things have been kind of crazy lately, I started a job several weeks back working in a gas station...which was not to bad of a job. Although my schedule was really horrible. I was tired all the time and never seemed to be able to get anything done do to my sleep/wake schedule. However, my boss and I did not see eye to eye on some things. Needless to say I am no longer working there anymore. I have mixed feelings about the whole situation. On one hand I am glad for both he and I that we are out of the situation we were in with each other. On the other hand I feel stressed out that I do not have a job and Kirstin and I really need for us to both be working. Both of our cars need work done on them and there are various other small things that need to get done that we have not been able to get done or pay for. We are doing are best to try and get involved in a church and that has been a slow process. Kirstin and I NEED to get involved with a church. I can't wait until we are fully plugged into a church! Needless to say there has been a lot on my mind lately. Also, I have been thinking a lot about some spiritual issues and ideas. But that is going to have to be saved for another blog. I have been wanting to express some issues in writing for sometime now and I just need to get organized. Sometimes my thoughts just seem so jumbled around. Anyways, I think I will end this blog for now.

Family...

Today my family made the trek home after spending a few days with Kirstin and I at our new place in KY. This mourning after a breakfast of french toast we spent some time praying. My parents have all ways been spiritual
leaders to us kids and have shown us how to live holy lives...but today
was something different. We didn't just pray together before a meal or
after a short devotion before school started or on a mission trip, we
prayed today as a family for each other. It reminded me of the joy I
find in meeting before The Almighty with others. It was a blessing to
be a apart of.In fact , I think I really needed it, not just prayer for
me, but praying for my family and just being apart of it. Kirstin and I
have not had a church home for quite sometime and we have yet to commit
to a church here in Louisville. We need otherChristians in our
lives...we can't do it alone. That is what God taught me this
mourning...and oh how I hope Kirstin and I can find a church that is
most like a family and not just a place ofcongregation on Sundays. God will provide it...He always provides!

Anyways,it was pretty fun having my whole family here, even Amy (who lives in
China) made it! We spent some time down town at the city waterfront
park, playing around with thefrisbee and soccer ball. And I can't fail to mention that we took ALOT of family pictures. We also went over to the Indiana side of the river and went to the Ohio Rive Nature Perserve...that was a crazy time! We had alot
of fun. The following day we ended up heading south toward cave
country...needless to say we were all pretty dirty at the days end. But
we did make it home and finished it with a late dinner and a movie.
Over all we had a lot of fun and I was so glad to have seen my family.
We don't ever seem to have enough time together, but I guess that is
growing up.

In the recent months I have been reading a lot more than I have in the past. Which leads me to the point that I was in the book store the other day first to spend time with God (date w/ Jesus) and second to pass some time while kirstin was a work. After enjoying a nice chia frappe and studying God's word I started looking around the store in various interest groups and I came across a book that is solely written confessions. Random people and the secrets the have. No one knows who they are, but the author puts together a book of pure honesty from the darkest areas of our lives and mind. I will admit that some of the confessions were good and were a blessing to read. It really is scary what some of the people were confessing to. It shows how much people really want to express what is plaguing their minds but are afraid of what people will think about them or afraid of dealing with the consequences that come with such an expression of pure honesty. Murder, Suicide, sexual exploits, sexual fear and abuse, eating disorders, hate, and the list goes on. It really makes you think about what kind of world we are in. America, the land of the free...there is no freedom when you are a slave to sin. That is what all this is about...sin. Hopeless sin. People are losing hope and are looking the wrong direction desperatly trying to climb out of the pit of hopelessness. It is so sad that they are missing the ladder that is right be hind them...the ladder God offers to get out of that hopeless pit. Anyways, it made me think about what kind of secrets do I hide...what is in the very depths of my mind that if the world only knew...

writing...

I am not sure what I am going to write about today...I just feel the urge to write something. In fact I have had that urge on a grander scale for about a year or so. It has been a growing desire of mine to someday write a book! At this point the possibility of me writing my own book seems strange and foreign on account of the fact that I do not know enough about any one subject to write a whole book on. Nor do I feel that I have the right tools to do so, as I am pretty ignorant to a lot of what is proper for writing something so big. On a smaller note, I have also had a desire to write out my entire testimony from the very beginning of my life to where I am at currently. More like a story rather than a quick summary of my coming to Christ. I even started out to do it once, but in a failed attempt to do so, do to my lack of focus at the time. Currently though I have the focus and desire at the same time, which leads me to this blog. Maybe I should start on my story. Hmm...

Anyways I am intrigued about the many responses I have received about my writing. Whether it has been a professor, friend or family member I have had several good comments about my writing. It is most strange to me because I have always been terribly bad at spelling and grammar or any sort of english or literature. In fact, if you were to hear me read aloud you would find that I am even poor at reading. Please don't get me wrong, I am not bragging about my writing, nor am I convinced that I truly do have a gift for writing. If I do possess a gift of writing, it leads me to wonder how might God have me use it? What does God want me to do with it? I often think about a sermon I might preach someday or a story I want to share/tell to someone with my words laid out perfectly the way I have rehearsed over and over again in my mind. Some how those words never make it to my mouth for a variety of reason...(never in a situation to do so, fear of what people with think, not a pastor, etc.). But maybe if I can harness those thoughts onto a sheet of paper somebody could read them. I don't know...God will have to create in me a calling to do something with my writing if it truly is a gift I possess. Anyways, I think i will end this blog for now.

Jobs

Well...today I went in for a second interview at a Nissan car dealership and I still have to meet with one more person. I am not sure how I feel about working at a car dealership, on one hand the thought of selling cars to people sounds like a lot of fun. I think that I could do a good job with it. However, the hours really are not that exciting and I would have to work every sat. with minimal time off. Also, I have been talking with a fella that owns a low voltage security systems and he wants to hire me as a sales person as well. I would not have to work holidays and most weekends! However, I would not have any time off at all the first year and only one week after the first year. Then I would get up to two weeks after two years of service. Maybe I hoping for to much, I guess I was spoiled in healthcare. The job would allow me to be independent and depending on how I do there will be opportunities to grow. The idea of selling cars seems alot more interesting to me than security systems, but I really don't want to be working those long hours and weekends all the time. Anyways, this blog is kind of boring; I promise they will be better in the future. Right now I am just trying to find something to do.

My First Blog in this Sight...

This one is short...I am only writing it so that I will have something on my blog site. Anyways, my sister Amy Inspired me to have a blog site. Just incase anyone is interested in what I have to say or learning about what it going on in my life. I hope to be consistant with it...we will see.

peace