Air Disciple

Pieces of Peace

2008-06-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

The world continues spinning. Isn't that just amazing in itself? :-)

So this is my week off from school! And the next two days are my days off from work! Imagine that! Two ENTIRE days of nothingness. Its incomprehensible!

So, Monday I played my best game of golf ever! I don't know what the score ended up being for the 9 holes I played, but I know it was my best! How do you know it was your best if you didn't keep score? You ask. Well I'm glad you asked! I know it was my best game because it was my first game! I'll upload a picture of myself looking coolish with my sunglasses, M.A.F (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) hat, and a pretty golf course with trees in the background.

I also am now swimming almost everyday at my apartment complex. Doing some laps, and then spending 15 minutes or so in the hot tub. Maybe get in shape this way! Its nice. I seem to find a few moments where I feel complete peace. Moments I mean, seconds, or millisecond, but its nice. To have that time where I can look at the fading sunset and forget everything. I am gathering as many pieces of peace as I can.

I also am pretty sure I passed my last class! Thanks for the prayers! Pray for my allergies now... or pray against them in this case!

So soon!

2008-06-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

I'm going to feel horrible until I write a new post, last post being SO depressing and all. Though truthful thats how its going up here for me. I appreciate the prayers. I had an amazing night tonight. And amazing for me is NOT sitting at home on my lap top or sleeping, or at work or school. Amazing is being able to take your mind off of what bugs me in life right now and focus on the moment that I am enjoying.

I played softball tonight! First baseball type game I have played it over ten years, no exaggeration. My skill, and/or lack of showed, having not played for so long, but it was so much fun! I got to play third based and got drilled with grounders all night. I even managed to stop a few, though, getting the ball to first base after that didn't quite work out for me. I didn't hit the ball at all. Seemed to be the only one on both teams who consistently stuck out; but if my memory serves me correctly, I was the same with baseball. When I hit it, I hit it hard, but my average is probably .050 or less. I did walk the base tonight and run the bases scoring a point for us though.

After softball I realized it was Tuesday and the college group was meeting, so I decided to check that out and hung out there till 11. They were playing board games and card games and it TOO was so much fun. I really enjoyed that as well. I managed to meet a WHOLE bunch of new people today.

Again... THANK you for your prayers, whomever prayed for me. It really was evident that God was in my evening. And that evidence, being so clear, clearly shows me how much he has NOT been in my life most recently. Please pray I can change that. I am horrible at meeting new people, starting a new life, making friends, and pretty much anything involved with life, so without God... I am nothing, can do nothing, accomplish nothing, and will amount to nothing at all. With God however, I feel taken care of. Thanks God!

I love you mom! Thank you for the prayers and the message.

...too...

2008-06-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

Its been a little while. Not much is going on in my life though. This will be short. I just played the last of my trumpet for my church this year. Softball starts in a few days. I work work work and go to school through summer. Pretty close to being broke. I'm tired. Of everything. I still feel so so alone; but, I know I can't be the only person out there who is alone. So... I guess I'm in good company; me being alone too. Thus... I'm not alone?

Kurtis

Skipped Seasons

2008-05-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

Howdy!

No pictures today :-( I even looked on my camera just in case to see if I had any. No avail though... I guess I will just have to capture you with my words!

So, winter is over! ...and SUMMER is here! Yay! What happened to spring you ask? I have no clue! It is taking the year off I suppose. Perhaps it saved up its vacation time and is somewhere else this spring. The 90 plus degree weather is here, my a/c is non-existent, and my puny fan can't keep up. Sleep is rare lately in this heat. And I have this arousing suscipsion that I may be spending more money on gas than usual this summer because my cars A/C feels soooooo nice after spending some time in my furnace of a room or in the hot blazing sun.

But, not all complaints! The heat is not all thats going on my life. I recently bought a mit and soft ball for my soft ball league coming up this summer in a few weeks! Woot! I also went to the batting cage today for some practice and to the park to throw the ball around to myself a little. And speaking of that park; it was absolutely gorgeous and amazing. I have never seen a place like this! Indoor huge pool, 7 or 8 tennish courts, a big bubble with even more tennis courts in it. 6 or 7 baseball/softball fields. 4 Basketball courts all in row. A few soccer fields. Some nature hike, and I'm sure I didn't even see it all. It was amazing!

I am starting my next mod tomorrow, Tuesday. I passed my last mod with a C! Woot! :-) Thanks for the prayers all y'all!

2008-04-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

Howdy!!!

Ok, So I said I would write when I got my new number and address.. and here I am! I have them! yay, lol

I am finally completely moved in after only 3 days. lol. God blessed me with the use of a good friends truck too for an evening to move my larger items into my apartment. The place is good. Good roomates, though I only know them a little right now and I met them through CraigsList. But the room is nice. I bought some furniture for it from IKEA as well! That was kinda fun, and its cool to own your own furniture. Only problem is... if I have to move... please allow God to bless me with some more friends than I have now so i can actually have someone help me!

Sorry if the post is a little discombobulated. (The computer doesn't say that words is mispelled, I guess its actually a word!) I am very tired though; moving stress, school stress, many other kinds of major stress. Man, at this rate my hair is gonna go platinum white instead of just greying like it is now.

Now that you have my phone number and address, I expect someone to say hi to me! Somebody, anybody!

Air Disciple News

2008-04-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody! Or Howdy, which ever you prefer. So... a FEW things to take note about in my life, on this newsletter blog thing. First off... I may be making a big decision in the next week about moving out of my current residence. My new place will be closer to work and school, so I can save some gas money this way as well. With that big change I am also changing phone numbers and services to another serive which will cut my phone bill in half. With moving in the imminent future and some unforeseen expenses this month, I am getting pretty low on finances, yet I trust God will provide. And eventually Uncle Sam is going to provide something too, I think, come may or june or something like that, (Economic stimulus thing). Haha. I will post though with pictures of my place and my new phone number when it all happens.

On the schoolfront; We had a missionary from MAF come and visit some of us after class one day a week ago or so, and she told us about her recent tour in Africa, I believe. It was a blessing and encouragement to again hear why I am doing all this in the long run. It seems to get easier and easier too loose track of the whole point why I am up here. Also, this Spring term, I am taking a welding class on top of my 5 hours a day class. Although the time requirements from welding are a little more flexible than my other aviation classes, its still quite a load of work. One of my reasons for this move is to have my own room where I can organize and get even more serious about my studies.

On the home front. I hear Ryan and Elizabeth are getting very close to their time of leaving for Papua New Guinea. We are ALL really excited and sad to see them go, happy though they are following what God has planned for their lives.

Locally; I am finally getting involved with my church, though still know hardly anyone. I am getting the opportunity to play my trumpet for their service his next two weeks. I am SUPER excited about this, though its been over a year since I have played and me and my trumpet are a bit rusty, haha.

Prayer requests: Well, first a praise. Praise God for the Job I continue to keep which has been just enough to sustain me. Praise for the opportunity to play and get involved in church once again. Prayer request for brothers, sister-in-laws, and niece and nephew, and parents. And for me and my ongoing battle with loneliness, especially with a move to a new place where I won't know ANYONE and truly will be on my own.

Thanks! Comment! (It doesn't take much, you don't even have to be a member of Blogger to comment! just say hi!)

PS, The Space needle picture is from my trip to Seattle, and the other pics are from my escaped the other day downtown. The waterfalls is a new area downtown that I never ventured too all year last year. Man, its amazing how much more is down there to explore! And the othe ris just a picture of the square where i like to go a lot and just sit and people watch!

Update time!

2008-04-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

More Pictures! Yay! Been even longer this time! I doubt, as I did last time, any one reads this still, but you never know! So update on life time…

Let’s see… I passed my last semester of school! Woot! Haha, I am now learning about Instruments and Navigational equipment on airplanes in relation to my mechanics license I am attempting to get.

On another note that’s not school related. I just got back from Texas! I was there for about a week, while I had some school off and work days off (again, having both off at the same time is rare.) While there I got to spend some time with my family which I had been longing for, for so long it seems. Also, I got to see my Brother, Sister-in-law, niece, and nephew (who are also family of course) one last time, before they head off to Papua New Guinea in about a month. I am so glad they are following Gods plan for their life, though I admit it’s sad that that short short chapter in our families life if already over. When I get to see that part of my family again my niece and nephew will be 4 years older most likely. Though, who knows, God has it all figured out, even though I haven’t a clue.

If you could, pray that my brother and sister transition into Papua New Guinea well. Also, my own personal request, that I would be able to find some people here in the northwest so I won’t have to feel so lonely all the time. I appreciate it! I hope I get a chance to talk to anyone who reads this! If you read this, send me a note! I’d love to see how you’re doing and catch up with you.

Party!

2008-01-12T22:37:00.001-08:00

Well... not much to update on. In school I am in Electricity class... which is very closely related to Electronics, which I have done for at least 3 years already, so... I am doing alright so far in the class. Though, waking up at 6 everyday is still very difficult. So, if you wouldn't mind, pray for my schooling, and waking upness.

I also decided to post a few pictures of what I wore to my companies 50's Grease Holiday Party. Can you believe I took the pictures myself, of myself? The party was alright, I really didn't know anyone there and then everyone started to get drunk. I didn't think their was actually going to be alcohol there, but I guess you can't have a company party without it. The good thing about the party though, besides my Dr. Pepper, was the amazing (loud) band that played. That at least made my trip worthwhile.

Ooo... I have a story too! For those of you in Dallas, we have something here called the TriMet MAX Train, similar to the AMTRACK. A train that carries people here and there. Anyways, I was coming home from work one night, and got stopped at the train track by the flashing lights. I sat there for a few minutes, waiting for the train to pass, asnd began to become puzzled at the trains delay. Ussually, te train passes pretty fast within a few seconds of the lights flashing and the road being blocked, so it was strange for me to have to wait more than a minute. So... I sat, and sat, and a total of 5 minutes past! I couldn't see around the corner where the train should be coming from, but I saw a biker pull up to the tracks and wait... so I knew there wasn't any malfunction, or the biker would have continued. So FINALLY, as I sat there I saw it come... a dog... walking along the tracks, minding its own business, LEADING the, which was behind it. I began laughing sooo hard at the sight of the train tracks blocked off by the dog walking on the tracks leading the train. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. :-) You probably had to have been there, but just know, if you see a train track crossing blocked, watch out for dogs!

Home in January

2008-01-04T13:47:00.001-08:00

Well, I guess its time for another Post. I can't say I have been busy recently as an excuse for not posting, but, I been doing other things.

First off, I have a new Cell phone number. "503.707.2468" My number is with Verizon Wireless. So if you have Verizon, feel free to call me anytime or Text me with your "IN" calling/texting. Anyone else, also feel free to call me! lol. I'll try and get back to everyone. I would love to hear from you. My old phone is still in service for another month or so, so that is still a good way to contact me for now, whichever you choose.

I had a great Christmas. Got to go home for 5 days. Not long enough, but I got time off of work and got to see my family, so it was nice. I'll put some pictures up whenever I get some on my computer. I also got three days off of work this new year. I've kinda been going stir crazy though with nothing to do. So I am looking forward to going into work and accomplishing something.

Romans 3:19-24

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Happy New Year Everybody!

JOB (the book)

2007-12-06T22:06:00.000-08:00

Job 2:7-10 (NASB)

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!"

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

So... I start out with that verse for a reason. I remember hearing a long time ago that when God blesses you you should respond with Praise to him for what he has done. But I also remember hearing that when God puts 'adversity' in our lives, we should also praise the him! Its hard to say, and even harder to put in practice, but I'm trying.

Today, on my way home from errands, driving normal, I saw what we all dread to see behind us as we drive, police lights. I pulled over to teh right lane thinking, 'maybe he just needs to get by, but no... he pulls behind me in my lane again, so... I pull off to the side of the road and he follows suit. 'Maybe he is going to tell me my trunk isn't shut all the way, or a tail light is broken', i thought to myself again. I had trouble with the trunk earlier in the day so... thats pretty reasonable. The officer walks up to the car and tells me that I cut off some woman in a truck, and was speeding at 72 in a 55MPH zone on Interstate 5.

To my readers, first off, I was not going that fast. He put on the ticket that he didn't radar or laser me, but instead was 'keeping pace', which means he guessed my speed. Second off, I didn't cut anyone off, mostly because there was plenty of room for me to get into the right lane. If merging normally is called cutting off though, then I am guilty.

Perhaps the Officer saw someone else and pulled me over by mistake, but... who am I to argue with the law. He tells me, after looking at my license that he should have my car towed away (leaving me out in the middle of the interstate without a car by the way) because driving on my Texas license is the same as driving with NO license. But graciously decided to only Cite me for 145 Dollar (if i am not mistaking a 4 for a 9) Speeding ticket which I cannot get expunged because Oregon has no such program like Texas or California do. I also cannot really fight the ticket in the courtroom because as soon as I pull out my Texas license I will get fined more and possibly loose the only license I have. Answer to the problem, take all the extra time I have with school and work, and go to the dmv, take a test, and get an Oregon license. I really dislike tests though and am horrible at them. But I don't have much of a choice.

"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"

So, praise the Lord for the ticket. Perhaps the money will go somewhere where God needs it more than in my bank account. You never know what is in Gods plan. Don't get me wrong, it really is not fun to have a ticket looming over your head, after all, I am human and this situation sucks. But, Praise the Lord.

Spontaneous Blessings

2007-11-27T21:42:00.000-08:00

Pictures! These are pictures of where i go to school, my hangar and outside the classrooms/hangar, and a random picture of me where i had thanxgiving! Well Its been awhile, but life is busy busy as I am sure most of you who read this still (which is around 3 people) can attest too. How do I know how many read my blog you ask? I'm Psychic! (Not Psychotic, thank you) But Anyways, Update on my last post. I did NOT get the Airport Job, but I am content to stay at the Job i have now... for now. I will try again in the spring. I passed my second class in Aviation Maintenance and and am well into my last class of the semester. (Which is with a different teacher and not going very well, but not going too terrible either, lol) And I guess thats it! Please keep my niece Harmony with her juvenile arthritis in your prayers. Prayer is always good.

So, ready for the story that goes with my title? Well, sad as it might be, I don't do midnight free hand (not hands) rock climbing in this story (See my Beach Blog), but the story is pretty amazing nonetheless. Well it starts with having Saturday off from work, which is rare. I decided to go watch a movie by myself that afternoon, August Rush (which I recommend to anyone if they are thinking about going to the movies) Then decided to go downtown and just walk around afterwards. I got a chance to see the lit Christmas Tree at the Square, which is pretty huge, and enjoyed having the many little kids run around me as I sat there and just surveyed the crowd. It was pretty amazing and really will get you into the Christmas spirit. afterwards I just kind of walked down to the river front walked around a bit then decided to start going home. But I decided to take a different way and passed a crowd of people going into a building, so I was curious, naturally, and decided to check it out! I figured out it was some kind of line to get into a theater that was playing either some ballet or, musical, or something. It didn't matter to me though, I decided to be spontaneous and get a cheap ticket for like 15 bucks and watch whatever I was going in to watch. Going home could wait! So I went in and went up to the highest balcony seat and sat down only to hear someone say... Kurtis? I turned around and there sat an old friend from last year at Multnomah! It was amazing! Completely random, but pretty cool, and I got to catch up with them a little as we watched the show (the Singing Christmas Tree).

I thought that was an amazing story! :-) Even if you didn't.

Well, here's another... Sunday I woke up early to go to work, and DID wake up! But fell asleep again and woke up an hour after I should have been at work. "I'm Late! I'm Late! For a very important date!" Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyways, I showed up an hour early only to be sent home because they already were over that week with hours worked. So... I went home, no point in arguing if it mean si can go to church that morning! So I went home, changed, and went to church! Well... I went into sunday school, and sat down, completely oblivious, next to someone... and out of nowhere, the person who I sat next to said... "Kurtis?" Now... not the same person as the last story, but I hadn't seen THIS person for an entire YEAR! So we got to spend some of the rest of that day catching up and spending time together! It was pretty cool! And I hopefully will be spending some more time with them!

God is good! I KNOW he crafted both meetings, and will continue to craft the latter of the meetings. God is GOOD and random. lol. I think I enjoy that the most about God, his randomness.

Footsteps

2007-11-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

Perhaps… no pictures today either. So Portland has had some remarkable weather lately; sunshine, scattered clouds, and not too cold. The sunshine also helps you actually see the beauty around the area, the mountains, trees, and all the nature I live in but just don’t see as I go throughout my everyday life. We are entering into the period of the year now though that I have named the ‘black mist’, an antonym of the ‘Pink Mist’ that my old friends so appropriately named the spring time around here when everything begins to blossom and flower petals fill the air. The black mist however starts around this time of the year; when the sun abandons our skies and I am sure finds somewhere warmer. If you can imagine a dark, rainy, and hazy dream, you’ll be here with me. But, even through this time, we get to see Gods “footsteps’ in our lives, in my life. I was in a prayer meeting with someone from my new church and he thanked God for showing “his footsteps in our lives”, and that has so much truth to it for myself. It seems everything that happens to me, everything that I go through; I have God right there with me going through it, even if I am not listening to him at all. The events in my life seem to be leading me somewhere and things work out just right for the things God wants me to be doing, Open doors, shut windows, one path with one goal. Glorify God.

Update on Life; I had the opportunity to go back over to Multnomah and see some old friends. It was strange, I enjoyed it, but I had a lot of old and strange feelings come up during it. It’s a different place, but I DID get to see old friends which was warming. Update on school; I am actually studying right now (while writing a blog!) for this Friday, which is the end of my second class. Pray I do well and am able to remember what I study. Update on Work; I may be quitting my Job at Costco ( I know, after such praise give to it in my last post) but I applied at the Airport near hear for a Job with a Jet company to be a lineman for them, refueling Jets, Helicopters and directions them on the tarmac. I think this job has more possibilities towards my future in aviation than cooking chickens. I mean, chickens can’t even FLY! And speaking of flying... I want to fly SOOO bad. I see my roommate flying and being with airplanes all day, I want to get back into the airplane and get my license so much, but I don't have time nor especially money to finish that right now. But I would appreciate pray about those things, and then one last thing. Please pray for my niece who “has some form of juvenile arthritis”. They are giving it a prognosis soon, so for her, my brother and sister that God would just show himself to them. O AND my nephew, who is too young to realize anything going on, but pray is good always.

Until next time…

November!

2007-11-05T21:56:00.000-08:00

Well, daylights saving time has come and gone, and a 40+ hour work week gone along with it. Praise the LORD! :) But I will use my 40 hour work week as an excuse why I won't have any pictures this blog.

So, to continue your introduction to my life right now I'll go ahead and tell you where I work, since I will probably mention my job once or twice over time. Over the summer God blessed me with an amazing job (in co-workers and in pay) at Costco! In Texas I worked there for about 3 months as a front end assistant, which meant I ran around doing whatever the managers needed done. I also got to work out in the blistering heat pushing carts and getting paid to essentially work out and get in shape (all of which I think I've already lost here in Portland) I was transferred to a Costco right down the road from where I live here in Beaverton OR, working ijn the back as the chicken guy! Or you could say I work in the deli department working mostly with the rotisserie chicken, whatever floats your boat.

And, while wer eon the subject of my employment, I would like ot tell you a story about something that happened today at Costco. OK, you ready? You sure? Here we go... So... i was in the break room just enjoying my lats 15 minute break of the day when one of the main store managers (my favorite) came in and put some money in the candy machine behind me and clicked the buttons for some chips to come out. Well... we've all seen the TV and know what happens next, and of course, his chips went around half a revolution and didn't fall down. So he shakes the machine to death bringing another manager in who makes a sarcastic remark about him leading by example. The manager who was shaking the machine gives up and decides to just put in another dollar and buy some more chips. Well this time, the circular thing goes around the full rotation and drops both chips, which bother get caught against each other, SOMEHOW, right before they get down to the exit slot. The manager just looks dumbfounded at this next development and makes some remark about how his day is going so far, and at this point I start crying because i am laughing so hard. Then I go back to work and as far as i know the chips are still stuck against each other half way to the exit slot! The End!

You might have had to been there for it to have the full effect, but i thought I would share some pictures with words if not any real pictures :) Anyways, I enjoy my job, and even get left alone to my job and end up working by myself for about 4 hours when I work the closing shift (which is most the time). This is a great time I have found to talk to God, or just praise him with songs, made up or just repeated from my extremely limited memory. Sometimes life seems pointless, especially with so little people I know, a job where you do the same things everyday, mostly alone (though I don't dislike it) and schooling which will lead me to who knows what. My main comfort these days, with family and loved ones so far away, is the assurance that I'll be with God someday and sooner than I could imagine, as I notice how fast life goes by the more and more I live.

God provides everything we need. We notice this more and more as we rely on him more and more. Whether that reliance is given freely or forced as you have no other to turn too. A vewrse that always seems to be on my mind since I have been living on my own for the past few years is...

Matthew 6:25-34

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Have a blessed day! And thats a real hope from me to you! Enjoy your day and thank God for what he's done, is doing, and will do. Pray for me and I'll do the same for you!

AMT FAR’s

2007-10-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

Howdy Y’all!

Well, I was going to include some pictures of my Bible Study Group (if not faces, then just the backs of their heads) to give you all an idea of what I do on a normal Saturday night. Alas, my bible study hasn’t really met for the past month, so… no pictures of them this blog. Instead, I decided to add some more pictures of my trip to the beach!

I thought I would also include in this blog an update on my schooling. As I said in my first entry, I am attending PCC here in Portland enrolled in the AMT (Aviation Maintenance Technology) program. My schooling is actually separated into what we call Mods (which I think is the equivalent of a semester?) And we also have to attend school during the Winter-mester and Summer-mesters as part of those Mods. One of the things I like about these semesters is our class schedule. Instead of having to take the three four hour classes all at once, we only have to take one class at a time. This means for about 2 in a half weeks, 5 hours a day (7AM-12NOON), we complete one class and then go onto our next class the next week. My first class, Weight and Balance, I have already finished and received a “C” for, and I am currently in my second class learning in-depth about the joys of FAR’s (Federal Aviation Regulations).

This last week or so I have been studying Ephesians 5:1-14. I know when someone posts a blog with a bible verse in it, you may have a tendency, like I do, to just skip over it, but I encourage you to take a minute (and that’s all it takes, I timed it) to read through this passage.

Ephesians 5:1-6 (NLT)

¹Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ²Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

³Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. ⁴Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

⁶Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷Don’t participate in the things these people do. ⁸For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

¹⁰Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹²It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

I actually read this passage on biblegateway.com for their verse of the day a little while ago, then decided to go ahead and read the rest of the passage. I read the whole passage once, then twice, and before I knew it I was reading this passage for the 10^th and 11^th time in that one sitting. Verses 10-12 really caught my attention. I really like how the NLT says this, “¹⁰Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹²It is shameful even to talk about the thing that ungodly people do in secret.”

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. CAREFULLY determine what please the Lord. That phrase alone has probably 10 to 20 sermons in it, and it says so much I think. Then verse 12 is just, wow… it’s shameful to even TALK about the shameful things ungodly people do. That’s because it brings God no glory in talking about those things, but the way this verse put it, it just makes so much sense.

Another week starts tomorrow, so I pray I can learn to trust God even more this next week with everything in my life, developing more self-control and patience, so I can draw closer to him. My prayers are with y’all! (Especially if you comment so I can really know who you are!)

Beach!

2007-10-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

Howdy Y'all!

So yesterday, Tuesday the 23rd of October, I had the entire day off of school and work(a very rare feet indeed). So, with my new found freedom I decided to take a small trip thats been a desire of mine for quite some time. Living in Portland for a little over a year now, an hour or so from the coast, I felt it was about time to take my trip and pay my respects to the unending waters of the Pacific Ocean. I invited a few people to come along with me, but my trip and only day off being on a random Tuesday, no one was able to join me.

Yesterday happened to be one of the only sunny days latley here Portland as well. It was beautiful outside and even got a bit warm towards the middle of the day. I made it out to Canon Beach about 2PM and walked around, taking pictures, eventually making my way up through Ecola Park to Ecola Point, which overlooks Crescent Beach. (which was deserted on this midweek, freak sunny day.) The main trail to Crescent Beach was closed off, leaving me with a mile and a half muddy steep hike, carrying my firewood, bible, drink, beef jerky, lighter fluid, and whatever else I ended up bringing through the forest as my only way down to the beach again from Ecola Point.

A few people asked me why I was still going to the beach if no one was coming with me, and while I CAN survive without other people, my main answer to them was, "I'm not going alone." I viewed this trip as my own personal retreat with God, like those retreats we all used to do with our old church youth groups. I had the opportunity to watch a beautiful sunset, build my own little campfire by the beach, and as a few of my friends call it, spend a little time with the creator in his creation.

An interesting note to my trip, was I forgot my flashlight. While this didn't really matter on my exploration of Canon Beach, or even on the hike down to where I built a fire pit. I realized soon after the sun set and my campfire was dieing, that I wouldn't be able to do the mile in a half hike back to my car in the pitch black. I prayed about it really quickly and decided to set out and find that old closed trail which wasn't in the forest. And though I didn't really find the closed trail, I did find a cliff face that stood between me and my car on top and decided that I would go ahead and have a nice little free-hand, carrying my bible in one of those hands, night time rock climbing excursion. Fortunately, and praise to God for this, it was still clear out and as I walked to this cliff face a BIG BRIGHT moon came out from behind the hills and I could practically see what I was doing! Talk about a quick answer to prayer; proving to me again for the millionth time that God is the one taking care of me here in Portland, so far away from home and family.

Introduction

2007-10-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

Howdy Y'all!

Welcome to Air Disciple (The story of My Life). This is a new blog to keep everyone up to date on my life!

I guess the way to start this is to tell you a little about myself, my goals, and where I am now. My name is Kurtis Conner, currently residing in Portland, Oregon (Beaverton) out of Dallas, Texas (Duncanville). I lived in Portland a year ago attending Multnomah Bible College, enrolled as a Missionary Aviation Student. My studies there required me to enroll in a separate school for two years to complete the Aviation Maintenance portion of the missionary degree, before ideally returning to Multnomah and finishing up my bachelors in Biblical Studies.

Now, with our introduction complete, here is the vision I have for my blog!

1) Update people about the latest events in my life; whether it has to do with school or not.

2) Provide a glimpse into the life of a student of Aviation and the life of a prospective Missionary. Working at making less of himself (opposite of American ideology) so he can serve others through being a Missionary.

3) Provide a place where people can decide to become partners in prayer with me, and even, with God's leading, donate towards my expensive aviation goals.

And finally...

4) Give glory to God through my education, my aspirations, and my future and present ministry.

Please feel free to contact me, leave comments/questions, or read my blog as I update weekly! I would love to hear from you and get back you.