i FLY BY FLASHLIGHT

Please, do not miss the point of this, as this was never intended to show off, I have let go of the side that craves adventure help me feel secure in my insecurity. A friend once read it and said to me some years back, “Wow, that is awesome, you did all those things?” Then I responded proudly, “Yes, I have!” It is funny when we glorify things but in that moment perhaps it wasn’t grand, it was hard, sometimes painful and somehow in that beautiful. Odysseus did not like his Odyssey, in fact it sucked, though grand and we worship it now, he hated it for all he wanted to do was get home. It was a fight to be home. This is getting home.

I have seen 40 states inside and out
I have been to all the major cities in the US
I have survived a kidney stone, heart murmur and hernia, nothing too bad
I have slept under the stars on a beach with waves crashing
I held on for 5 seconds riding a real bull
I went spelunking down an abandoned mine with only climbing webbing
I have swam in the warmest ocean under that night sky
I have seen and played with children across the globe
I held a newborn baby and have seen the color in it’s eyes
I have surfed waves and snowboarded down mountains
I have led multiple teams into situations most people would give up
I have been in jungles, beaches, mountains, desert
I have slept in the desert

I have been alone

I have had an agent and a legit chance to try out for shows in Hollywood
I have canoed the rivers in Canada
I have been to Hawaii and traveled all its islands
I have been to Woodstock christian concerts with tents, people and joy
I have been on a work related trip to New York City for a conference
I have worked as an optometrist, all jobs in a movie theater, and road construction
I have survived three near death experiences and walked away clean
I have been in my fair share of complete car crashes to minor accidents
I can shoot a gun, paddle a canoe, sail a sailboat, shoot a bow, ride a horse, make a fire, set up a tent, rock climb, play football and other various sports
I know how to box
I can survive in the wilderness with nothing but a knife. I can survive in the wilderness without a knife.
I have had amazing friends
I have met famous people, dined in expensive restaurants, saw miracles
I have slept on concrete, grass, sand, tree
I have road tripped long distances, traveled overseas
I have been to Thailand, Guatemala, Jamaica, Europe, and various other countries
I have broken bones, my nose, and my heart and sadly, other’s hearts
I have spent time in a third world country hospital
I can play guitar and have read some of man’s greatest novels
I have been in a few hot air balloons above the sky
I have faced some of man’s darkest horrors and won
I have seen demons and in Christ I have turned them down
I have traveled the state capitals and been from coast to coast
I have driven a motor boat and I can skateboard and wakeboard
I have enjoyed fine drinks from New York to California
I have been drunk to my dismay, played countless pranks
I have had a pet coyote for two hours
I have won stupid highschool awards
I have found and explored caves
I have been white water rafting
I have been mountain biking
I can ride, repair and fix a motorcycle as well been in a motorcycle accident
I have backpacked, trained, cabed, boated Turkey and Greece
I have walked literally where Christ, the disciples and Paul walked in Isreal, Turkey and Greece
I have been to Hollywood, met with entertainment executives and enjoyed its rich lifestyle for a few days.
I have had my own news story on CNN.com
I have interviewed Nicholas Cage, Topher Grace, Twilight Director, various famous TV stars and asked Jenna Fischer out on a date and she said I was cute,
I have demolished houses and rebuilt them for those in need.
I have worked so hard physically that I can not move a muscle and my own sweat made a pool of water around my feet.
I have smoked a cigar while watching the sun set over the ocean on the Greek Island of Santorini
I have explored caves with torches
I will skydive, bungee jump and fly a plane sometime
I have been lost

I have been found

I have been blessed so much and now I am 28 years old, with new adventures and you know what….

It is all worthless, comparatively.

BUT I have seen, touched and know something far greater, far stronger. People say I am weak. They say I have the POTENTIAL to be strong. They have no idea how strong I am. I didn’t. Until today. I am one of the strongest, only by and through Christ and you can too. I have Christ. And THAT is worth celebrating and showing off.

Philippians 4:11-13 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

He loves you. Trust me, that is no small matter. Men have died for that.