The Good, The Tough, and The Shovel to the Face

And The Beautiful... my new niece "Mia" Joni Caruso

The Good: We had Bible Study tonight and it went from a potential 6 students to 2 students showing up. Why is this under the good, you ask? I got to hang out and talk more after with Emiliano, a kid who is an all-star. At the beginning of the year when Sara met Emiliano and then introduced me, I had no idea where he stood spiritually. Quite honestly, I don't think he probably knew where he stood but he was certainly searching. After tonight, I am more and more confident about him. He is one of the most sincere, quality guys I know here, which is funny because at first glance, he wears mostly dark clothing, a goatee, and has hair past his shoulders. That doesnt make anyone insincere, but he is certainly not your "clean cut" looking kid.

So the talk we had tonight after was such an encouragement. For one, he sees a big change in his life since he started to "figure out that something was missing in my life with the spiritual aspect" at the beginning of the year. He is going through a tough time right now but is seeking God throughout it and that is so encouraging. As we talked tonight, I think we both came to the conclusion that God is breaking down the things that he had built his life on, slowly removing them until only God remains. I want to be going through that in my own life, so it is a privilege to see someone else growing in that way, even if it is tough. His attitude is so mature about it all; "I just want to learn something from this, I dont care if I understand it all, I know whatever is after all this crap is better." He is even starting to be open with others about being a Christian... I love this kid and tonight was good, real good.

The Tough: I am realizing once again that I have no power over peoples hearts. I think I have written about my good friend David here before. He has given me my quote of the year, a quote I will never again forget in all my life: "It may not seem like it, but I am a desperate man. I am desperate for some hope but I think I just need to accept that there is none." After another tough, honest conversation with David about why he doesn't believe in God, I have realized once again God will have to change his heart. I told him I would pray for him. He told me that he appreciates it, but I should really spend my time praying for someone else because he is "a lost cause, a lost soul." I am thankful that I serve a God who is in the business of seeking and saving the lost, who gave his life to redeem the unredeemable. And I will continue to pray that David is one of those that the Lord finds. Please join me in that.

The Shovel to the Face: I am coming back here next year and I just got the support goals of how much money I need to raise monthly for this next year. If you want to help me out with that, shoot me an email at christopher.rule@gmail.com because I am not too excited about that :) But God is big.

Since I have not posted a Free Music Friday in quite some time, here are two brilliant websites. One is archive.org, though HERE is a link to a list of all the artists that they have on the website. I know for a fact they have good recordings of The Weepies, Ryan Adams, and Marc Broussard, but there are a ton more so have a ball. And it is totally legit, I promise. The other great website is off of Relevant Magazine. So click HERE for a bunch of great artists. I recommend Derek Webb, Jonezetta, Matt Wertz, Andrew Peterson, Phil Wickham and David Crowder (yes all of them have songs to download here) but I am sure the rest are pretty good too.

For the Link of the Day, this website posted the 100 Must-Read Books for Men... it is actually a great list, I need to get to the library and get some of these. So check it out... really, good books, read and dont watch yet another movie or tv show tonight. Although this list did include Moby Dick, which is an atrocious, horribly overrated book.

And for your daily laugh, who doesn't love Dave Barnes?