Songs and stuff

At work we listen to the radio alot. My boss and I like to pretend we know the words to songs that we cannot understand. There is a song that came on a while back and we thought the words went, " Chasing Penguins." Well that is something that is only true in Minnesota and Iowa. But I kept telling my wife and brother about it hoping that when we were in the car that the song would come on the air. But it was not. I also could not catch the name or singer of the song.

So tonight I thought that I would just Google "Chasing Peguins" and see what would come up. Well I found the song and the artist. I played the song and now my wife believes me that there is a song "chasing penguins."

But on a more really note. I have started to miss preaching again. I got the chance to be at a teen retreat and it was so amazing. The teens were great so many of them are really wanting to grow and drop down their roots in Christ.

I am reading a new book, Home tonight. I thought well why not blog on what I read. So I am going to try and blog each day on a chapter that I read. I think that this will help me get a hold on the book and get my thoughts on this book.

lets see.

RT

New Post!!!

Hello! I am sorry that I have not been on here in a while. I had a chance to speak at a retreat and it was so great.

Also on hulu.com they have put old episodes of ALF. Very good to see the old show. Not sure what else to put on here today.


Ryan T

Weekend

Just got back from my first weekend retreat with the Naz youth. It was great and a lot of fun. the guys that I drove with kept me awake while I was driving and then kept me up really late each night. It was worth it as we spent some great time together. I can see God really growing in thier lives.

I am not sure if it was the lack of sleep of the weather but I am feeling not that great at the moment. My ear hurts and is not very comforable at all. But it was so nice to spent the time with the teens and see them grow.

Thanks
RT

New Day

Today is a new day. Not that yesterday was a bad day but today is a new day. I was asked recently to speak at a youth retreat. After I threw up because I was nervous I am starting to get excited to do this thing. I really enjoy hanging out with teens and I hope that I can speak to them clearly and openly. Challenge them in what they are doing in their lives. Bringing them to a new level is something that I hope God can do through me.

Also the office has been really good. Work is changing and I am interested in where this job will be going in the next few months. I have been trying to get through these last few weeks. Wrestling is starting soon and that is something that i am really excited about. I am not sure how we will do this season I have heard that we have lost some people from last year that should have some back.

But my life has changed and will keep on changing.

RT

teaching

I have started helping with teach CDC. I have to say it like that because it is not sunday school at this church. BUt anyways. It was a very tough class and the teens did not want to sit and listen or help out with interacting. So my head was down and I was feeling kind of sorry for myself and thought how can I make this better and really get it to them.

Then as I was getting in my car one of the teens came up to me and said HEY thanks for doing cdc it is great to have you do it.


Thanks that really helped.

RT

Rabbi's Heartbeat....

I am reading a new book that I just got. It is called Rabbi's heartbeat. It is by Bennan Manning of which I have read and enjoyed many of his books. I am been on this theme in the past few months if not past two years of getting into the Rabbi's hands and heart. The book Abba's Child was great for getting me past this thought of self doubt that had been holding me down for so long.

Here is a portion of the book for you and you can get a glimpse of it for yourself:
"It used to be that I never felt safe with myself unless I was performing flawlessly. Unwittingly I had projected onto God my feelings about myself. I felt safe with Him only when I saw myself as noble, generous, and loving, without scars, fears or tears. PERFECT!!"

(back to Ryan's thoughts) This is how I grew up. I felt like I never was close to God unless I was perfect and I still struggle with this each and everyday. I fight the thoughts that I am not good enough unless I am always walking perfect and cannot show my scars or fears that I have. But this is when I read scripture and prayed through and my heart and mind changed.

Here is more, " Then, one radiant morning on a retreat deep in the Colorado Rockies, I came out of hiding. Jesus removed the shroud of perfectionist performance and, forgiven and free, I ran home. I knew that someone was waiting for me. I am Abba's delight. I said goodbye to feeling frightened and said shalom to feeling safe."

This is something that really came out in my life as well. I no longer felt this weight on my back but more of a love and a desire to be near my Abba.

Walking with Him is so amazing it is not a religion but a relationship as I heard one of my teens say.

I am so glad that He was waiting for me to come home. He is waiting for you to come home. All you have to do is start walking home and He will run/sprint after you. No matter what you look like or smell like.

Later
RT

Just sitting here

We had family camp about two weeks ago and it was really nice. I miss being at camp and hearing some sound preaching. The person who was speaking was a former GS in the Nazarene church and pastor of the Osky church way back when.

On the last day that I was there he spoke on having the attitude of Jesus. It was really good but it was something at the end that caught my attention for real. He talked about how each person (especially those in ministry) need three people that are around them a Paul, Timothy and a Barnabas. So I thought about this and looked at who those people are. I called and talked to my Barney this past week after noticing who that was in my life. Barney and I did not get along right away. But it is funny how God works in my life and his. Barney and I have gotten really close and talk alot. We challange each other and encourage each other. He is a fellow person in the ministry. Now many people have told me that I am not in minstry but I feel that I am. I work with teens each winter full time. Now I am also starting to teach sunday school and possibly wed. night program with the teens at the chuch that I am going to.

Also my Paul is a person that is like a teacher to my. He does not know it yet but I watch him from afar. I look at home he does ministry and home someday to be like him. He gives me courage to keep going and I have looked up to him for a while now. Thanks Paul even though you may not know it yet.

Timothy that is one person that I am still waiting for. Maybe God will give me him soon. entrust him to me so that I can pour myself into him that is what he is for.

So who is your Paul, Tim, and barney?