So I just came back to Minnesota from Colorado from my brothers Graduation and job interviews. I had 2 interviews for teaching positions and the interviews went very well. The first interview was for a High School positions which I did not receive a job offer. The staff said I had the best interview they had ever seen for a recent graduate.Unfortunately I didn’t “sell” myself well. Now that didn’t mean I said things wrong or didn’t interview well; it means that I didn’t have the small items or characteristics they needed or wanted replaced. I feel great about the interview even though I was not offered the position. I had another interview that week at an elementary school in the same district. I LOVED THE SCHOOL! It was very diverse in an urban area. 89% Hispanic, 75% ELL, 80-90% free to reduced lunch. I feel I could make a huge impact there. The school is 2 years old with plenty of space and equipment. I hear back this week from the school. I have been in pray constantly for God to send me to a place He sees fit; whether this school or not. I could really use your prayers also.

Sex

So the last couple of weeks I have been in deep prayer, scripture, and ponderance for the subject of sex and the wedding night. This comes about from observation of many of my friends that are married or getting married as well as many Christian books I’ve read with specific chapters addressing sex. You hear sometimes that “it’ll be the best part of the day” or “hope you have a good night…(hint hint)”. I am so disturbed by this. I think mostly because of the big focus believers/Christians put on sex. All I hear about is “freedom” to do what you want when. I HATE this. Now I know what you’ll probably say, “Sex was made by God for husband and wife; its the closest thing a couple can engage in; it’s intimacy and passion needed in a relationship!” Yes, I know, I am getting married and looking forward to “freedom.” But I don’t think its a issue that should be played up by Christians as an important wedding “privilege or/and practice.” In my mind I don’t even think it should ever come close to relating with wedding ideas, plans, and/or rituals realting to the closeness of the couple coming to Christ. Now I try to think of why Christians (especially men) feel sex is so important in response to marriage. One reason I can see is “I’m a “virgin” (define as you like) and I have been saving myself for this!” Yes, I can see that and, as I am a man, have feelings similar. I just don’t think it is priority but more of a privilege. I can’t help but wonder why Christian men dwell on this and talk about it frequently. Another thing I cant help but wonder about why so many Christian couples marry so quickly. When I say marry, I mean “quick” engagement. Now I do realize some do it for scheduling/timing reasons; but come on, 4 months to plan a wedding just because. I cant help but think an underlying reason is the lack of wanting to wait to sharing physical intimacy. All I am saying is that the purpose of being in a marriage and getting married is to grow closer to Christ together and helping each other. Sex is after. Think about what your conversations with your S.O. (significant other) are and make them Godly. Stopping think to yourself “can’t wait to get in the sack with my wife/husband.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for “freedom”; but it comes after excitement for moving toward Christ, marriage, living together, and sharing the rest of my walk and life with one speical person.

Question: Where is sex set in your mind? Could you wait is your S.O. didn’t want to have sex for weeks after the wedding for personal and/or spiritual reasons?

I just received word that i have an interview for a teaching position in Aurora. This may be my only shot at a job this year. I could really use the Lords guidance and Will to help me through the interview. The Lord will provide and He is good. Its his plan not mine. Please keep me in your prayers this Tuesday.

Do Not Worry

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[b]?

Matthew 6 (English Standard Version)

Do Not Be Anxious

25^(AP) “Therefore I tell you,^(AQ) do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26^(AR) Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.^(AS) Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his^(AT) span of life?^[g] 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you,^(AU) even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you,^(AV) O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For^(AW) the Gentiles seek after all these things, and^(AX) your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But^(AY) seek first^(AZ) the kingdom of God and his righteousness,^(BA) and all these things will be added to you.

More money is spent in this country on pornography every year then Pro Baseball, Pro Basketball, Pro Football (including the Super-Bowl) combined.

Adult DVD’s are sold at a rate of four billion dollars-a-year ($4,000,000,000).

The adult film industry pours out 11,000 adult movies a year, that is 20x’s the number of films that are put forth by mainstream Hollywood.

There are roughly 2,500 strip clubs in America that can generate as much as 8 million dollars-a-year ($8,000,000).

The number one search word in various search engines is “sex”. Also in he top twenty are ‘porn’, ‘nude’, ‘playboy’, and ‘erotic stories’.

70% of all pornographic traffic occurs between 9am and 5pm while people are at work.

This is scary.

So my question for you is, “What have you been doing on the internet?”

Disc Golf Today?

Jeremiah 29

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.