Heh... I am still losing the battle of the dry and sensitive Flic skin vs. the Utah dry air. BUT... the reason that I am losing is that today I spent my day putting papermache on a rather large badger bicep and making coffee drinks and soon to be painting projects and other various helping-ness of the making of our float. Snow College is having a parade tomorrow for Homecoming and all of the clubs from the campus will be represented including the Solid Rock Christian Fellowship. Our float will be AMAZING. I will have to show you pictures after the finished product. We have a massive head and arms that we constructed of a badger that will be on it (school mascot) along with a giant question mark that will turn. Our signs will say: "Questions ROK", "Dare to dig for truth" and "No Fear". Our premise/theme is that "True badgers are not afraid to dig for truth and ask questions."

This community accepts whatever is spoonfed into their brains without even stopping to taste what it is they have just digested. And then most are ready to regurgitate it right back to you verbatim without ever determining the meaning or purpose. It is so incredibly frustrating but not surprising. I remember doing the same thing for 11 years with my ritual. You hear it. You memorize it. You say it. You say you believe it. You never think about it. You are dying inside.

Unless... you wise up and ask questions and then... WOW. God shines so bright when you search earnestly for truth. So incredibly bright. And then, I love love love to see that lightbulb moment when someone finally clicks and realizes "Whoa... dude... I want that." It all starts with questions.

So, pray for us tomorrow por favor! We will need it for sure. Sunday we will be headed to the Delta Church in Delta, UT to encourage the church and the people. Imagine the Corinthian church and you have a good picture of what we will be headed into. I got the weekend off from Walmart for all of this so it has been nice. Off today, tomorrow, and Sunday. AND... YAY. Praise God because I finally got another substituting phone call for next week. Actually, got two but I am only available for one. AND I got things worked out for my paychecks so that I can get paid for teaching other people's kids. Stoked about that.

I miss you guys. I love you. And most importantly, I thank you for your prayers, for your love, and for your friendship.... Stay strong, my friends. I can't wait to see you again...

We discussed Joy in our Bible study the other day. It has been on my mind since, for obvious reasons. We were discussing the joy that we knew when we became a Christian. That moment of release and freedom and just "wow, this huge crazy God loves me." Last night, one of the guys and I were given the chance to talk with one girl who has been coming here for quite awhile. It was awesome because we were able to express that joy to her. And it wasn't the whole world is happy with flowers and cinderella style birds and singing but rather the deep-seated not going away assurance that it will be alright inspite of the circumstances around you, peace that you can't understand or explain but is there and shows in your person. The joy that is not dependent on circumstances or personal past but on faith. Just the knowledge that it is all taken care of because He has it under control.
We had one girl who expressed desiring that joy. Wanting what we have.

I want to show it more. I want people to see it when they see me. To see that instead of me.

Tonight is a Barlow Girl's concert - got free tickets! Woot. And I should be getting an amazing book in the mail soon from To Write Love on Her Arms. I am slightly excited about that. Work is going well but pray for more subbing phone calls. I haven't had any in just over a week - not good for me. Trying to work out the paycheck for substituting. They like direct deposit but I am not a fan. I prefer to get my check myself. We shall see.

I had a ton of insightful things that I wanted to say, but I honestly don't remember them now and I have been interrupted at least 30 times so far in writing this so, I am going to just close now and write you another post later. Pictures from the concert to come later!