So, as you may or may not know… it has been snowing in surrey for the last 4 days. Which is extremely funny, and I truly enjoy it.
When I moved to surrey, I had given up on my hope of enjoying snow because of the highly unlikeliness of this type of weather. Well. Let me say, I am blessed. Because we have almost a foot of the white stuff.
Now if I can only teach people how to drive in it.

So, as you may or may not of heard. I quit drinking coffee… again. Now I realize that some have never experienced the person who is not addicted to a coffee, but it is true. I have it in me; I’m on day 3 of zero coffee.
Now you may say what possessed you to stop drinking coffee? Like really, we all know that it is a choice addiction, one that I love!
But what really surprises me is how many people have attempted to convince me to start drinking coffee again.
I think that the reason that it shocks me, is because it isn’t like quitting coffee is a bad thing. I mean, when you drink as much as I do, it can’t be healthy. But it raises the question, why would someone want to stop anyone from doing something good?

Well, it’s been a long time since I have posted. But I finally have something that I want to share with everyone.

Last Wednesday I heard a new song for the First Time, it’s called Bring the Rain and is by a group called Mercy Me. I heard it at our church’s music team practice; I was playing the piano and singing. As we were going through the song the meaning hit me so hard that I couldn’t sing; the words and truth of this song hit me so hard that all I could do was cry. It’s my story, and I want to share it with you.

Bring The Rain

by Mercy Me

I can count a million times people asking me how I

Can praise You with all that I’ve gone through

The question just amazes me; can circumstances possibly

Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed long before these rainy days

It’s never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, Oh Lord; my only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain

But if that’s what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of.. the clouds that may loom above

Because.. You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me by suf – fer – ing Your destiny

So tell me what’s a little rain

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain

But if that’s what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy – Holy, holy, holy

Is the Lord God Almighty – Is the Lord God Almighty

Well… it’s hard to believe that I have been doing this Pastoral thing for about A month and a half. The hard part is that it already feels like I’ve been in my church for about a year. But that is not in a bad way at all.

Needless to say, the busy-ness of life is starting to get to me. My life feels like it’s becoming all work and no p(l/r)ay. I am looking for a meaningful escape from the weekly routine. I don’t have a daily routine which is why i’m getting more drained. My body can’t find a grove and naps aren’t helping.

I think that part of my work-o-holic tendencies come from the fact that I have little to no friends in the area. As a result, my days are filled with that which relates to my Job. It helps that the people I work with are fun and exciting, easy to get along with; this makes me delve even more into the realm of work.

But I’m feeling trapped all at the same time. I mean 98% of the people I associate with on a regular basis are attached to the church. The others are family. I feel like i need to get to know people outside of the church. But not just because of the whole feeling trapped thing; but because I see it as part of my Job. I don’t feel like I know anyone over the age of 12 in the community. (I work with kids)

I don’t know how to finish the thought… but maybe the approximate 141 people who visit my blog might have some advice.

Wow, I can’t believe that it is already the end of the month. I have been busy. Too busy in fact.
Last weekend was History Maker (www.historymaker.hm) which was amazing. It was really good to see youth passionate about God. There was some amazing stuff that happened too.
This week, I found a place to live. Finally. And I move in on monday. I am looking forward to it. Up till now, I’ve been stuck at the church all day. I come in the morning, and don’t leave until I need to leave. Sometimes I have a 2hr break in between meetings and other things like that. But It hasn’t been worth it to go back to coquitlam, especially when there is a 30 min unpredictable commute.
This weekend, i’m going back to the island for one day. I’m hoping to pick up furniture from the rents.

Those of you who know me will agree, I like coffee. And interestingly enough, so do the people at my new church.

During my first week here at New Life, I was invited over for dinner to meet with Kris and Karen, the pastor’s kids, and Doug and Patty. It came to the part of the meal where the Coffee was put on, and this led to a discussion about coffee.
One thing led to another, and we started talking about roasting your own coffee! Now, this may seem new to some of you, but I was introduced to roasting by my Friend mike. And let me tell you, it is superb! All you need is a Air Popcorn Popper, and Green coffee beans. The result is that you end up with the freshest coffee you have ever tasted.
This sparked some interest with my dinning companions, and on Sunday, Doug came up to me with a small package of green coffee beans.

So here is the real story. Yesterday, I roasted my own coffee beans! This was a first, I have helped mike roast coffee. But never on my own. And it was quite an experience. One of the daycare workers in the church thought that there was a fire in the building! (although, I was roasting outside) Anyways, by happenstance, I roasted a magnificent dark roast. I call it the evening roast, it comes from a Peru Organic Bean.

Well, It’s been a while since my past Post. So here’s what’s been happening:

I am finally Graduated. I walked across the stage and recieved by BA in Pastoral Theology. And 3 days later, I started working at New Life Assembly in Surrey, BC.

Conveniently, my brother and sister-in-law are kindly putting me up. So I have a place to stay for the first couple months.

I’m now in day 3 of my first week as a Pastor. Already, The Head pastor, Martin Miles had to go to england for a family emergency. And today there was a pipe break at one of the schools. So as a result, when I dropped off the Kindergarten Out of School kids, I had to wait an extra 1/2 hour. (not too big of a deal).

Anyways, that’s what’s new.

So, I’m at the point where I should definitely studying. But I’m not. And at this point I’m blaming it on the headache which I am currently facing.

It’s interesting, these are my last exams. At least in this phase of my career as a full-time student. And it’s the most stressed I have ever gotten in my life over exams. Usually, I just study a bit, go into the exam, write what I know and leave. But in this case, I am stressed. I think that it has to do with the fact that I have really struggled with being at Bible College. I didn’t want to go in the first place. But I’ve stayed because it’s what I was supposed to do.
Most people, at this point in the conversation would ask, “Why? No one is making you, are they?”. Needless to say, it’s been a long four and a half years. And I want it to end. But there is one thing that stands in the way; GREEK!

Tomorrow I have 2 exams, Wisdom literature and Greek. Wisdom Literature, well I could get 35% on the final and still pass the class. Greek on the other hand, I have a history of failing the exams. Which brings my stress level up. So much to the point that when I went to the dentist today, I wasn’t even stressed about it. And I HATE DENTISTS! I’ve had a couple experiences where they didn’t freeze me completely before they started drilling… this makes me hate them.

On top of my new found ‘liking’ to dentists, I have began putting off my other last minute assignments. They should only take a couple hours and I could have been done them a couple days ago, but I’m so stressed that I don’t want to go near them.

It sucks. I’ve never been so afraid of something in my life. I’ve never been afraid that I would fail so bad. Normally I just don’t care, sort of.
So what’s the worst part? The fact that more studying greek won’t help. I don’t know it. At least not well enough. And any studying I do merely stresses me out more. Not to mention that you can’t cram for greek or any language for that matter.

Well, the countdown begins. 5 Exams, and a few papers to go before it’s all over. Oh yes, and 16 days, at least till I walk across the stage.

IT is all getting surreal. I’m not quite to take it. There is still so much left to do, and so much that I have to start and plan for May 1st.
I need to find a place to live, aka an apartment.
I need a roommate.
I need to get my car fixed.
I need to pack.
I need to get my stuff from the island.
I need to find my sanity!?!