One Day- Matisyahu

This song has been a real encouragement to me lately....

One Day- Matisyahu

Sometimes I lay under the moon
And I thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waiting for
I been praying for, for the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play, one day

It's not about win or lose 'cause we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent blood
Drenched pavement keep on moving
Though the waters stay raging

And in this life you may lose your way
It might drive you crazy
But don't let it phase you, no way

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waiting for
I been praying for, for the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play, one day

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence down with the hate
One day we'll all be free and proud
To be under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like

My Utmost for His Highest...entry for Sept. 6

The Far-Reaching Rivers of Life

He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38

A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 ) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” ( John 6:29 ). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.

A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.

Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.

Jumping back into "Normal"

So as I mentioned in my previous post, it would probably be a while since I could post another entry because of camp. I did get a chance to change my blogs format but I never got a chance to reflect or write a post, so here we go. Camp was great as I knew it would be. The group of counselors this year were amazing. One of my favorite nights of the summer was during Orientation. I was in charge of programming again and every year we have a skit night. So I divided them into groups and they were responsible for coming up with some type of skit to perform to see if we could use it for the campers a few weeks later. I have never laughed so hard in my life, seriously. It's not even that the skits were that funny, but everyone participated, and everyone felt comfortable making a fool of themselves. Our group of counselors bonded so much that night, and it just set the tone for the rest of the summer.
Probably one the things I miss the most is being able to play with our leadership staff's kids. Call me a sap, but I really loved playing with little Luke, Emily and Mary.
Here are a couple of pictures.


It was a bitter sweet time when I had to leave camp this year, because I think it was the last time I will be able to work at camp. All of my friends don't believe me and think that I'm pulling a Brett Farve but I honestly think I'm done. I have written numerous posts about how much that place means to me, and I could probably write for another hour about it. I think I want to leave going out on top, still loving and appreciating how special it is. I never thought I would be 28 and working at camp, but God made it happen this year and I'm forever grateful.

After camp I drove back to Geneva on a Friday, had a weekend to relax a little bit and then this past Monday we started my last RD training. I'm going into my final year as a Grad Assistant RD and my emotions are mixed. I'm starting to get excited about the school year, but am overwhelmed thinking that it's my last time around. This means a few things. I have one more year to make the most of this awesome job and continue to build relationships with students. Since it's my third year I have a lot more responsibility with regards to "making an impact on campus", and I'm finishing up my last year of Grad school. I'm obviously still very tired from a long summer at camp, but feel refreshed spiritually and mentally. One of my RA's pointed out to me that "Scott you're always tired." So I guess I will just continue to be tired for the rest of my life.

Here are a few more pictures of camp.

(Celebrating my 28th Birthday....party)

(This was the view from our porch, I spent lots of time praying, and journaling from this spot)

(Me DJing the Surprise Night Dance....oh yeah)

2 Years Down...wow

The building is empty, and the silence is somewhat disturbing. I keep my door open in hopes that someone will walk in and want to hang out, but that's impossible because the school year is over. All the students are gone for the summer or graduated and scared out of their minds. I take a deep breathe and all of sudden I realize that 2 years have passed by and I have 1 year left as an RD at Geneva. WHAT???

It seems like yesterday I loaded up a UHAUL and slowly made my way up passed the Mason Dixon Line up to Western PA, and soon, before I know it, change will happen again. Another move, another fresh start, another adventure in God's crazy plan for my life.

As for year 2, it was good. It was difficult in different ways compared to the first. Year one I was getting adjusted to a new place, new community, a new job etc. Year 2 was busier, more responsibility and more complexities with personal things because my community was established. The deeper you get into a community the messier and murkier it gets. But with the difficulty came great experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything. My love for students is still strong, and the knowledge I gain from them is undefinable, unthinkable and sometimes dumbfounding. I learn so much from them and appreciate their grace and support so much that they don't even realize.

As much as I miss the students, I am ready for a break and a change of scenery. I realize I will not get a change of pace, but might in fact be busier as I head to camp. God always shows me His Amazing Grace, and gives me strength and perseverance throughout the summer. Somehow I always feel refreshed at the end of the summer and ready to go for another school year.

So here are some pics starting back in August going through the school year and ending a week ago at Graduation.


RA Training....we were ready to rock it


At a Football Game, Geneva Football won 2009 NCCAA National Championship!


Shane and Shane Concert, got some Camp peeps out for this one


Zoe Jensen's 1st Birthday Party


Spring Break trip to LA and dinner at a Mexican place on Olivera St.


Judging at the Big Bad Wheel Rally


Graduation with some of the McKee RA's

The Patience of Faith

Here is today's entry May 8th from Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for his Highest"....rocked me in the face
"Because thou hast kept the word of My patience." Revelation 3:10 Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says - "I cannot stand any more." God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. For what have you need of patience just now? Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him." Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him. Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life, you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God. God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of those spots in Jesus Christ's life, and there are to be none in ours. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee." The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvellous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my Mom's birthday. It's weird how it takes a birthday to realize how grateful you are for someone. My mom has gone through so much for me and has sacrificed to no end. I don't think I know half of the stuff she has gone through to put me in a place of such privilege and blessing. She is one crazy woman. She came to America with her best friend and my aunt and uncle without knowing English, and without knowing anyone at the age of 24-26. She eventually went back to Korea for a little bit and found my Dad and then came back to live the American dream. A few years later they had my sister, and then me the wild child. The kid who couldn't sit still for a minute, the kid who was constantly in the hospital for injuries and surgeries, the kid who was always in the principles office because he was distracting the class, the kid who she has prayed for and still prays for everyday. The kid who hated to study, and wanted to play all the time, but somehow she pushed me through College and now I'm getting my Masters....you talk about a woman of determination. To get me through all that schooling???? WHAT??

I came to a huge realization a couple of years back that I get my sense of adventure and craziness from my Mom. People often ask me, why did you go to Gordon, all the way across the country? Well God, is the first answer but the sense of adventure, that is definitely my Mom. The same woman that came to a foreign country with a dream and a hope. I just flew across the country, and I had a great environment to come to (Maybe I was trying to get away from my crazy Mom who was trying to push me to be the best I could be too). Up and down the East Coast for the last 10 years, and grateful for the leap of faith that God made me take.

How about the fact that I have so many great friends all over the place? That would definitely be my Mom as well. I remember going on vacation every summer with my family and no matter where we were, we would run into one of my mom's nursing friends from Korea. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Chicago, New York etc....it's amazing to think about it. Similar to my Mom you think? I remember once when I was in New York for my sister's graduation from Med School, and I convinced her to go to a Yankees vs. Red Sox game with me. I was eating a hot dog outside the stadium when all of sudden a random girl starts staring at me....it was my friend Tina, and she was with a bunch of college friends going to the game. No big deal, there are only a billion people in New York and 40,000 people at the game, it's not like it's easy to plan out meeting your friends there rather then run into them by chance. I see my Mom in me so much it is kind of scary.

So today, I celebrate my Mom, and the fact that I am so similar to her and how awesome it is to be associated with such a great woman of God, is a blessing.




Here is a picture of me and her. (Notice I am not smiling because I'm a punk son, and was really tired....nice one Scott, nice one)

Slow Down, take a deep breathe...

These last couple of weeks have been pretty heavy. There are a lot of things in which I can't blog about at this point, but it has been tough. I think in all of this though I've realized that I need to slow down, take a deep breathe, and realize that God loves me. How often do I get so wrapped up in myself and things that are happening that I forget the simple, glorious fact that it's not about me. It never was and never will be. I will for the rest of my life think that it is, until God comes down and shakes me up through different trials and tribulations and blessings.

That's all I got for now, short and sweet, and tired....