Manila, Philippines

Please read this. Manila has been ravaged by a massive flooding.

"Satisfy My Soul"

Last night I had the privilege of being in Laguna Beach, CA and witnessing the engagement of Jon and Julia! It was a wonderful event and we all enjoyed it so much. After Jon proposed we all headed to BJ's Restaurant and had a great dinner. Afterwards, as David and I were leaving, I looked to my right through my window and noticed a store called "Satisfy My Soul."

Interestingly enough, instead of even wondering what all they sold (though I could tell from the display that it was mostly clothes) I began to wonder what all we try to satisfy our souls with. For some people I'm sure it's food, for others music, for others sports, and for others drugs. We try to fill it with absolutely everything that we can, completely disregarding Christ.

The message of Christ, though, is that HE ALONE satisfies our soul. Should He call us to Himself, we can do nothing but fall down in adoration and worship. His beauty, when set on display, satisfies our soul in such a way that we would ideally never look for anything else in this life. However, being human, even Christians search after things to "supplement" the satisfaction of Christ. This is us returning to our fallen nature and clinging to our sin. Pray constantly that He would remind you of His beauty that surpasses anything this life and world have to offer.

I am with you in this struggle, constantly reminding myself of His beauty and greatness and striving to seek after Him alone.

Press on for His glory.

And so it begins...

Just a little update on the end of summer, also known as the beginning of school...

I moved into a new home on Friday of last week, and I am very excited to report that I LOVE it!! I am living with my cousin, his wife, and their little baby boy who is absolutely precious!!

Since then I have celebrated David's 21st birthday...multiple times...and there is still one moer celebration scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. That boy has a birthWEEK apparently. :)

Classes started this morning. I live 20 minutes away from campus, but parking is so bad I try to be here by 7:20 AM for good parking for my 8 AM class...every day of the week...but it's ok. I loved my professor this morning who said, "My name is Mark. Though around here I guess I'm professor Turney...at home I'm Take Out The Trash." He then proceeded to inform us that for our 8-9:20 AM class, we will begin around 8:20 and end by 9:10. Awesome! He is also not a morning person, and neither am I. We will be great friends.

At 9:30 this morning I had my next class with Jeff Lewis. We are told not to call him Mr. Lewis or Professor Lewis or Dr. Lewis, but simply Jeff. I like him. I've had him once before about 1 1/2 years ago for an Intro class. He teaches Global Studies classes and the one I'm currently enrolled in for Tuesday and Thursday mornings focuses specifically on transferring my marketable giftings (what I'm good at) to other cultures in a way that can further advance the kingdom. I am very excited for this class as I will get to study a specific city (hopefully one I've fallen in love with already) and create an "entrance strategy" which is the method which I will use to create a position that utilizes my giftings to the fullest.

Tomorrow I have Abnormal Psychology and then I have Christian Institutions and the Church.

We'll see how it goes! =)