Christmas Eve

I’ve spent most of this week hanging out with Hayden and his brother at their place. Me and Hayden exchanged gifts and we gave Bruin his Warhammer 40k Ork setup.

Bring back in Hythe has been good. Unfortunately I’ve been sick non stop, the first day after staying at Hayden’s I was sick all day. And my animal allergies have been bad this whole time, except for the days at home because I’m assuming Pumba doesn’t do much shedding.

I criticized Hayden and Terris’ place a bit but they’ve got a nice house there, they probably pay oilfield rates but from what I understand they needed to get out of their moms house. I’m sure that Francess is doing well, I haven’t heard from Havallind so I’m sure she’s doing well.

Bruin is working full time as a power engineer in a new company, so apparently he just has money saved in the bank but works so much he never spends it. Probably a good system, since he’s still staying at home, hanging out with Jon and Jacob.

I got my hair cut at Dani VanBergens new place with Jeri, that was nice, she put a lot of time into thinning it out which looks better than what I do which is just let it grow until I need to have it cut.

Played board games and watched movies and such there, Zombiecide and Unearth are fun.

I saw Bryce for a bit one night, he’s staying at Jeri and sams and being a decent roommate and looking after their house with all the squatters there.

Church at BAC - Pastor Greg

Greg’s story about Katrina’s North, and how she got her full name and the meaning and prophetic thoughts behind it.

Presence Manifest: Hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Prov 13:12

John 1:5

Matt 4:16

John 1:9

1 John 1:5

Isa 60:19-20

John 8:12

Light of the world - song lyrics

Fourth advent candle lighting

Hopelessness - heavy blanket example

Prayer

Isa 40:28-31

That’s all for now!

Christmas Leave

So now I’m back in Edmonton.

What a great first service to be back for. The baptism service. 

My heart was beating like crazy when I climbed up the stairs to my regular spot in the congregation. I’m excited to be back, but this is a good time to reflect on my military career.

Goona start off with he negatives, man has it been a long time since I was spending time with God. I spent 4 weeks in an extremely small Aldershot 4-5 person church and since then... nothing.

I feel like my self control has taken the biggest hit since my military career started becoming stale. Stale in the sense that I am somewhere where I shouldn’t be, because I have a goal and being here (Aldershot) does NOTHING to achieve that goal. Having self control to work out regularly, to spend time listening to what God has to teach me, to learn more about God.

I have had a chance to learn more about myself. Just over the past week+ I’ve had comments about how my face looks unhealthy.

And it probably does. Not working out for 5 months will definitely do that. Can I make Jesse changes over Christmas? Can I do T25 a few times a week and not be a lazy man?

I could.

But. Ehh. I mean I don’t know what tomorrow holds so why workout? 

Wow. That was actually my reasoning it looks so stupid writing it out.

So what’s happened in my military career so far.

Golf course, pig roast, dishes & potatoes, field ex, football game, Halifax parade, Halifax Canada day, Halifax deadmau5 concert, Remembrance Day Parade, duty driving, mess life, AtLA, multiple tv shows/series, countless movies, many books.

Basic training, soldier qualification, C7, C9, C6, grenades, nm-72, trenches, trip flares, mine threat, radio procedures, operating as a section, recce patrols, timings, professionalism, 1 man 1 kit, DLN, chain of command, dress & deportment, inspection layout, 

Between two Worlds - Pastor _____ maindude   Portuguese dark haired short pastor.

Isaiah 6:9

Matthew 1:18

Matthew 1:22 2:5,15,17,23

Philippians 1:6

Isaiah 41:10

Philippians 4:19

Psalm 139:7-12

Jonathan Martin quote

Matthew 1:20...

Best preaching in the world at a press of a button

Steve furdick

Object lesson on second hand experience. Sunday night Christian’s: tame, watered down Jesus when we have time.

What are you worried about?

Announcements:

No Christmas Eve service 2pm 4pm 6pm dec 24.

New Year’s Eve service, 

That’s all for now.

Going away at Millwoods

Last week after Tuesday was awful. I got sick with a cold and I've just been recovering since then, zero fun :(.

Aside from being laid up with sickness, i haven't really some anything since then. Huh.

Later tonight we're going out to Boston Pizza, I'm.

Church @ The Project

On The Spot

4 questions, guys opinion vs girls opinions.

Women asking out men?

Who should pay on the first date?

At what point are you "official?" Men take leadership.

Can you casually date more than one person at a time?

Brendan and Ashley video 💚

Three relationhsips, with God, with each other, and with our planet/environment.

Is tinder a good resource to meet your match? *snort*

What do I do when I don't get along or agree with my SO's parents?

If they're strange or odd, it's ok. There is a level of crazy that's fine and a level of dysfunction that is not ok. Measure it over time and figure it out, does your SO recognize those dysfunctions?

What if your SO doesn't believe in God? *check out my other post about this just last week, it basically said the same thing.* you cannot compartmentalize in a wise way.

When I ask out my crush and she says she will pray about it what should I do? *be ok with saying no.

When it comes to dating, how far is too far? Hard and fast rules, umm. Make a covenant to be naked in every single way and that you'll be there the next day. Marriage has many many facets, if you're only figured on touch and you neglect other parts? Not super healthy. You need people in your life who can watch your relationship. If your relationship ends will you have any regrets? How do I discover who this person is without my hands? You can have great ads but if you don't have good communication then... have a friend who can hold you accountable.

Emotional boundaries as well!

Is it ok to ask someone out of a date even if you're not looking for a relationship? What is your motivations, dating is a good way of learning more about other people. Dating is a skill, it takes time to learn who you are and it is possible to date with very little regrets. Dating in friendships, knowing a person casually as friends is one of the real thirst says to date. Blind dates can also be done well.

How do I tell anyone I'm 22 and I've never been in a real relationship and only a few dates? Just be honest, don't drop out baggage, but be wise with the baggage you have.

As a Christian, is casual dating wrong? Look at it as if you're married. 

If you're both Christians and someone is not pursuing Christ, what do you do? New relationships,kinda just watch it. Older relationships, didn't you talk about this when you were engaged? "I didn't want to rock the boat." "I noticed X, is this something you are concerned about or should I be concerned about it?" Ask the hard questions when you are dating. I value X and I don't think you value X, it might be a deal breaker, can we talk about this? Do they wanna be at church? Are hey involved in community? Are they falling forward (do they recognize their own past faults and are they dealing with it going forwards?)

Arguments and miscommunications are a part of any long term relationship, how do you know you're doing too much, when should you give up on it?

Like you said, they are always a part of the relationship. I think you should try everything before you give up on it. If your relationship is a chore? Seek some counsel. If you care enough about the relationship and each other then doing that is a very adult way of dealing with it.

Learning how to communicate well is so important. This is the longest relationship you will be in, so make that extra effort to do that well.

That's all for now!

Moving Up

January has, objectively, not been super so far.

But I'm still feeling good about what I've accomplished so far.

In terms of work, December was basically a write off. I kinda worked on my resume, did a little bit of networking. But overall there was very little effort given to the whole, 'job search.' But that's ok. I needed that time to reflect on my life, reassess my goals, think hard about what I need, what sort of job/volunteer/career gives me life and job satisfaction. The meetings I had with my mentors were all valuable, being able to ask tough questions gave me a chance to acknowledge the things that are important to me, and notice the things that I need to remove from my life. 

The answers here being:

Keep in my life or improve on:

The community of believers at CCC & The Project, education (always be learning), fitness (improve on, Fitbit, Bodyweight workouts, casual basketball, refereeing), a positive working environment (coworkers, employer, job satisfaction, purpose?), relationships (mentorshop, friends, romantic ones, mentoring, work & professional), home and organization, food (eating healthy, balanced, cooking skills, variety, frozen vs freezing and microwaveable vs convection, packaging and prep), hygiene (habits, skincare, hair care, oral, shaving), family! (Spending time talking, meeting and hanging out, praying for, calling), -things I enjoy (slacklining, playing video games for fun, watching movies/tv/anime alone and with friends, playing/watching/refereeing basketball, playing board games with friends, checking out thrift stores, reading and listening to audiobooks, learning Japanese and French, hanging out with friends, meeting friends and family for coffee, going out to events [young adults, youth, random, outdoors, encounter YEG], hanging out with the Youth group, playing instruments...there are probably more but I like my list so far 😊), owning up to things I've done (acknowledging my faults, mistakes, awkwardness, etc), reading my Bible, praying more, researching and educating myself in things that interest me or will improve myself (philosophy, social work, networking, computer skills, 

Things I need to remove:

Bad attitudes, hatred, lack of motivation, laziness, complacency, negative people, busyness, relaxing for the sake of relaxing, seeking pleasure for pleasures sake (see: masturbation), wasteful spending, (probably more but I cant think of any more).

Recently I've been watching some tv. I haven't finished Voyager, I've been burning through The Boondocks, watching InuYasha, finished Sidonia with Hayden, finally started Durarara again with Bruin and Hayden, and rewatching a few episodes of random anime for enjoyment (Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso, Sword Art Online, Sidonia, Madoka Magica).

I finally got into the job search last week. Applied to some part time places, completed the Eboa basketball officials course (looking forward to learning more about that), and I'm keeping my eyes on the social work and service category online.

I've committed to watching and observing some FIBA officiating videos and basketball games

I also bought some new things that will give me something to do in my down time. A brand new computer case (finally, also all my brothers old mobo, CPU, etc), Evo SSD, 8 TB Raid 0, and board games.

Also, I have all my fitness things, the 3D printer, all the things inside the house, everything in my old home, my car, the garage, the walkways, my photos, everything. Life takes effort, especially if I want fulfillment in my day to day existence.

Basically I'm saying that life is never simple. I love everything about my life though, so I'm glad I have the community and friends and family around me to accompany me in it.

Oh also, the title is a pun on my moving progress to Josh's house. Because I'm moving, and the place I'm going to is north of where I was. Moving up? Get it? Haha. :D

That's all for now.

2016 in review

Overall 2016's been amazing.

At the end of the year there are some relationships that are worse off than they were at the start of the year, i've got a lot of questions that I don't know the answer to, I have a lot of new relationships that are awesome, i've done a lot of learning and I've had a chance to gain a lot of wisdom from a lot of people, i've done things that I am incredibly proud of the results, and I've gotten results that I really wish I could change.

2017 comes with opportunity, it also brings with it a lot of responsibility and a lot of questions that I don't have answers to, most importantly 2017 is going to be a year where I get a chance to live life and just enjoy the life I'm living. I'm going to work a lot of different jobs, i'm going to meet with a lot of friends, and family, i'm going to look at the education and spend some time doing research that's not just entertainment, i'm going to create environments that I enjoyed being in and I'm going to be a part of environments that I've helped create.

That's all for now and for 2017,

HAPPY (early) NEW YEAR!!

Time to Sow

Here I am, chilling in church and man, do I feel pretty awesome.

Since I got the news that I'm unemployed, I have:

• Been to four Christmas parties
• Gone for coffee with 3 good friends
• Made a dozen or more phone calls to family and friends
• Networked, gotten leads on 5+ different job/education possibilities
• Finished 4/5 of my updated resume
• Applied to EI (might have incorrrctly filled in some blanks XD)

Basically, I've been focusing on where I'm at, where I should be going from here, not rushing into any specific idea, but acknowledging that life goes on, and I will grow and prosper in my upcoming season of life.

Honestly I'm beat. I got to hang out with my WHOLE immediate family, it was great.

I'm tired,

That's all for now.

Baby Boy!

It hasn't been too long, but long enough.

It's time to offload my life into my blog, I love it!

Recap: My weekend in sask, Hayden's new Alpaca home, Sask Riders football, Briercrest peeps, mom & dad in Edmonton, Jana & Ians baby boy (7 lb 15 oz = 3.6 kg name ?), Becky moved?, got together with CCC people for prayer last Sunday?, prep work for our Missions Trip to LA, went to Talons house in Camrose a few weeks? ago, started Men's group this month, started Encounter Core/Encounter YEG this month, worked at Servus Centre in St. Albert, in Bonnyville school, talked with Jordan about communication @ work, 

Church @ The Project

Announcements with Andy!! What what!!

Momentum: young adult conference on Nov 4-5 (sad face I'm in LA, 

I love my friends Josh and Alyssa,

Josh has this hat that he wears pretty consistently. Classic British cap.

It makes him super obvious, so when I glanced around The Project sanctuary, I pinpointed our friend group easy peasy, since I know that Alyssa, Josh, Dom, and Isaiah sit together pretty regularly. It's just awesome having friends that you know care about you, especially in a moment when you might feel kinda far away.

David preaching: What We Believe

Science!

Favourite movie: Interstellar

Black holes, huge mysteries, 

Spaghettification? Feet vs head gravity.

Physics leaves no room for God

-Stephen Hawking

How do Christians reconcile what is right and wrong?

The Bible is not meant to be read as a science textbook.

Like swimming s race with hockey equipment, it doesn't fit the context.

How to engage with the culture that is scientifically dominant?

1 Cor 9:19-23

"...I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."

Who was Jesus, what he taught, why he died.

Paul set the stage on how our lives play out.

"To the Jews I became a Jew...to those under the law I became as those under the law, so as to win those under the law... and the same with those not under the law, to win those not under the law...to the weak I became weak, to win the weak..." 1 Cor 9:20-21

Anecdotal story about David's unit evolution teaching.

It didn't disprove Jesus, his tacking, church experiences, or his personal time through prayer.

Some things will be a mystery for us.

The foundation of my faith is not in (evolution vs creationism) it is in Jesus Christ.

Paul said "I have become all things to all people" 1 Cor 9:22

Christianity is for everyone in every situation. No culture has a monopoly on it, no religion, no cult, no traditional views, no one people group.

Share the condition of those you serve.

Often we set up camps on big issues.

Intelligent design vs evolution.

Predestination vs free will.

We don't have to change our own beliefs, we don't compromise our conviction.

Remember why we reach out to people!

"....all for the sake of the Gospel." 1 Cor 9:22

3 Practical Basis for our lives

1. Be flexible

-we get uneasy when we're invaded.

-don't compromise your beliefs

-science doesn't have all the answers to life's problems

-X people are uneducated and/or narrow minded.

-the answers to tough questions need varied answers and places to receive answers from.

-allow others to speak first, hear where they're coming from so you know where they're coming from

2. Be intentional

-languages, culture, economy.

-rather than consumers, Christians need to be in science, but not of science. It is not our identity

-people are curious, you don't know how God will use that curiosity

-use science as a conversion starter:

People need to be eased into a conversation about religion and faith, adapt to where they're at to how and why you have the hope you do in your life.

3. Be Loving

-John 13:35 "everyone will know who you are, by loving one another"

-everyone in this room will die. 

-King Solomon writes "sorrow is better than laughter because...."

-'...In tragic pain and suffering it makes you contemplate what is really important in life.'

Share the condition of those you help

That's all for now.

(I'm in an amazing mood praise God)

Weekend

This weekend was the Pierson family reunion, and I got to learn a lot about my family I didn't know, or had forgotten or didn't realize.

Remembering faces has always been easier for me than names (probably a universal truth for everyone? Who knows), so since this is my first reunion since I've been able to have a real conversation with aunts and uncles it was pretty sweet, and I was able to put names to birth orders to faces.

Learning about Lawrence, Ernest, Great Grandpa Jack, the double cousins, and all the other interesting stuff in my family past has been super cool, definitely gives me a greater appreciation for where I am today, knowing that all these connections exist, and have existed without any input of my own.

Church on Sunday, the morning was basically a worship service, with a great story from my dad, I recorded the majority of it, I might stick that on Facebook, in a Family Smith group that I'll create? Maybe. Probably. Depends on what sort of dynamic I think it'll create, here in hoping for a media(picture, video)/history/update page, with thoughts and plans being the main focus.

But yeah, dad has told this story a lot, and the fun thing was how I talked with Sam afterwards about it, and the kids obviously hear the whole morality of the stealing, that they understand right from wrong, and how the stole goods are useless, no one can gain from them.

But sometimes dad gets into the story, and says the words (disclaimer: black licorice had the slang term "nigger-babies, and I have copied down verbatim what I heard) "throwing nigger-babies into the stove," and the adults in the crowd are thrown off and get a "parental bonus" (TV Tropes term describing those old kids cartoons where a situation or joke told goes over the heads of kids but adults understand it). Just a short funny situation that we talked about.

Here at The Project

Euro Cup Portugal win, Thomas is a fan.

Food trucks planned for July, small groups starting up/going on in September.

2009 ___?___ Louis plead guilty for prostitution, young girls involved.

Human Trafficking:

12 years old average

1-2% will be rescued

2.5 bill do not have accccess to sanitation

More people die from clearer water than all forms of violence and war

15-19 year old brides die to childbirth in small and mid income countries

Take 1k sexual assaults. 997 perpetrators walk free. Few are even reported.

Solutions?

What to do?

How to do it?

Jezebel is our topic today.

Symbolizes  authority and power abused and misused.

1 Kings 

Ahab the total loser. Kings are meant to empower, bring structure, give people the opportunities to better themselves.

Here to use Jezebels character as a platform to describe how people can use others at the expense, for personal gain.

But the few good can turn the tides.

"With great power comes great responsibility."

"She knew nothing of the restraint of higher principles...a gifted woman, she prostituted her gifts...pollute the life of an entire nation."

Use of power to place ME above everyone else.

Sin; the root of evil which lies at the heart of all humans, when we give in to it, Jezebel happens. When that happens the good is twisted for personal gain, they give in to use power, money, over other people. For personal gain.

Those who victimize them make sure there is no voice to call out against them.

It would take five planets to sustain North Americans consumption habits.

Places us over others.

We live in a clean, sanitized, hidden, culture. But we cannot think it does not happen here.

Red Deer, gasoline alley, is one of the most prevalent trafficking sites in Alberta and Canada.

This is so wide and all encompassing that we think there is nothing we can do against it.

The Costco effect: limiting the options to convince and trick the brain to choose one, instead of overloading the brain, resulting in no choices.

Human trafficking is this, essentially.

God asks, what are you going to do now, how ar you going to do it?

Here's what Christians do, "Oh I don't know, let me pray about it."

Read the question again.

There are things we cannot do.

It is intrinsic to being a human, this desire to be first, to sin.

Christ is the suffering servant.

God hears, he sees, and he is concerned.

Matthew 19, this re-Genesis. When the new comes he will restore, it will come back to them what was taken.

Romans 12:19

1 Kings 18:4, 19:17

John Stott

"We find ourselves citizens of two kingdoms, the one earthly and the one heavenly. And each citizenship lays upon us....."

Elijah was afraid of Jezebel. 1 Kings 19:3

Sin fights back, your own complacency will fight you.

Exodus 3:7 He has seen He has heard He is concerned.

Arbitrary and not heartfelt. We need to take a bit and think, What bothers me?"

That's all for now.