Classic ALMOND Material...

This is classic Jack Marble...these are from the newest issue of TheAlmond.com. These are definitely some of my favorites.

CLEMSON'S FOUNDING FATHERS

Week of Winding Down

This week is definitely the week when everything has sloooooowed doooooowwwn. Class, life, etc. SLOW. Not sure why, but I think it has something to do with short days, falling leaves, and the sound of Bob Dylan on the winds. (Try watching the leaves fall with a Bob Dylan song playing in your head, and you'll find what I mean.)

Anyway, last night was my first time teaching/preaching at Ignite's Campus Team West. It was a lot of fun to create a message and see the guys really bite into it and ask questions and give good feedback. John Flowers suggested some suggestions whish will lead to more streamlined messages in the future.

Also, The MIGHTY DUCKS PowderPuff team at Anderson University dominated the PowderPuff School Championship game last night. My girlfriend Whitney King (I LOVE HER!) played awesome in that game as well as the two games prior, and she was definitely a catalyst for that team!

The semester certainly winds down after Thanksgiving. By the way, I snorted into my sweet potatoe pie AND mashed sweet potatoes when I recalled the FNL Digital Short (see farthest video below) at the Thanksgiving table. But seriously, classes are wrapping up, I'm getting a job at e-city Java which will hopefully start before the end of the year, and life is pretty darn good. THANK GOD FOR THAT!

Well, I'm off. Mock Turtle Soup Improv Troupe is this Friday in Clemson! 8:00 pm in 111 LEE HALL. It'll be awesome!

Oh, FNL...

This makes me laugh every time...

Relativity and Life

In physics class we discussed Einstein's theory of relativity today...it was a boring class. But then when I asked myself the same question that my girlfriend Whitney (AWESOME by the way!) asked me: "What's been going on in your life?", I felt that 2+2=5 so I'm gonna right about it in blog-mat. (warning: this is a stupid illustration, I'll try to make it work...it might be bad.)

Einstein's theory of relativity is this:

The general principle of relativity: The laws of physics must be the same for all observers (accelerated or not).
And among other fundamental elements of the theory:
Spacetime curvature is created by stress-energy within the spacetime: This is described in general relativity by the Einstein field equations.

I think that relative to most people right now I am "inside the space-ship". This means that, based on the premise that there are two space ships traveling simultaneous constant velocities next to each other and that I am in one and everyone else is in theirs, I may not seem to be moving very fast, or even at all, relative to you. God is outside the "spacetime curvature" and indside our spaceships at the same time. God is not bound by the laws he created (an interesting topic).

You may be saying, "Ok, Ryan. Where are you going with this you idiot?"

For those of you who say that-- you are still inside the spaceship. From God's view, my life has accelerated in a very hyperspace engine-like manner. Some pretty amazing things are taking place in my life, even though it does not seem like there is much going on.

Seeing that I've used up my relativity illustration for no real reason, allow me to share some things that are in motion relative to God and His Will:

1.) Getting Into Architecture School. This could be a little bit of a big deal. Choosing a career path isn't that easy, but I prayed for God to show me a major that I would enjoy, please my parents aspirations for me with, and hopefully get a well-paying job out of college with. I like buildings. I like designing things. I like making things. Architecture is God's blessing for me right now, even though there might be something more for me down the road. I also feel led to serve and minister to people and to the Church.

2.) The Church. The church is my passion. My obsession, maybe. As long as I can remember, my life has been tied to the church. As an architect, I hope to build churches and places for the needy. I want to glorify God with my architecture. I think that architecture will help my organizational skills. I feel incredibly led to teach people about Christ and to lead people to Christ and in Christ. I also recognize that I am not ready yet (I've just begun!), but my goal now is to pray that God will help me to be ready and enable me to do His Will by ministrering to all people.

3.) Becoming. Becoming a better person and a better Christian is a daily struggle. In my everday living I strive to be what God wants me to be. Sometimes this requires some thinking and some time to stop and listen, but it is worth it! Also, my new home group/bible study has helped encourage me and add to my sense of brotherhood in Christ's body.

4.) Dating. WOW. God has blessed me SO MUCH in my dating life. He has blessed me with a wonderful woman to share and experience life with these past few months. I'll say it now and I'll say it again: I don't deserve such a blessing, but the amazing thing is this-- GOD BLESSES ANYWAY! Whitney is incredible, and we have both grown in Christ from this relationship and we have kept Him first!

5.) IGNITE. Middle School Ministry like woah! I get pumped everytime I go and lead there! I love being a small group leader (even when it is tough to get students to listen and learn)! I think that just having a good time and bonding with students is a big step into shaping the future for the glory of God! It has totally been the reason for my joining NewSpring-- so that I can be involved in Christ's call to teach His Word and example to "Jerusalem, Samaria, and the ends of the earth."! I wonder what Alden will think when I propose to build half of an airplane inside the Wreck Room for the kids!

6.) Home. Not much here, just wanted to say that I love my family and friends! Thanks for being there for me when times got rough (aka Crashing Into Jetta). You were awesome and it meant a lot!

7.) Part-Time Job. This December I hope to be working at E-City Java! It may not pay much, but it'll give me some pocket money, gas money, (insurance money if I need it-- hopefully not!), and it will be a blessing, I'm sure. I'm really praying that I get that job. It should work out well!

8.) Training. Well, I may not be running a marathon, but I want to train for one! The physical training has definitely declined the past couple of months and I need to hop on that! Maybe I can run a half marathon and start lifting more...'twould be good! Anyway, with good physical training comes good spiritual training...I'm looking forward to it!

Well, that's my life whizzing by relative to the outside! Don't worry though! You're also headed fast towards great things in God's eye! Have a grrreat day!

Pretty Fantastic!

So, through various readings, blog links, and investigations, I have decided that this little church out in California is a pretty cool place where God is probably moving. It's called Mosaic and it is spurred by Erwin McManus. If you explore the Mosaic website, they have some pretty cool ideas as far as getting people involved. I'm definitely building on some of their ideas as I type this blog. I get pretty pumped! Almost as pumped as I get when I think of Jesus riding into battle with on a white Harley with a flaming sword, knocking people down with just his words! Anyway, two areas of interest were here (performing arts!) and here (middle school ministry). I can definitely agree that these organizations can teach us something about outreach and ministry (Perry really wants to talk with Erwin, now I do too!). Just wanted to make this blog-ment. Later!

The Center

Here's some thoughts about the youth center, or "the center" as I sometimes call it. I think it should have these elements:

1.) Jesus

If Jesus is not the focus of our ministry, then it will fail. We must talk about Jesus, teach about Jesus, emulate Jesus and follow his examples. He is God , Lord, the Way, and the Word.

2.) Creativity

A creative God deserves our best in creativity. We must be creative in order to capture an audience of the lost and found. If we bore people in our transmission and
representation of Jesus and His Word, then how can we expect to impact their lives in a way that God can begin to work in their lives?

3.) Community

In order for the center to be successful, we must never lose sight of the community and we must also shape it and be bound by it. We must respond to the needs of the larger
community, we must respect the community in a way that brings glory to God, and we must create a smaller community within the larger in which kids can feel and be safe. A major goal is to create a place for all people where people can grow in God's love and in faith.

4.) Unity

A house divided against itself cannot stand. The Leaders of this center must be unified in faith, love, and understanding in order to effectively serve students, lead the ministry, and listen to and preach the Word of God. This does not mean compromising, but rather innovating through love-- solving problems by reminding one another and others of the mission and the Gospel and our call to glorify God by living like Christ in all that we do and knowing that everything is God's and not our own.


Please let me know if you have any other ideas, additions, or comments. Have a great day!

Ignite Commercial

This commercial is my brain-child, and will air live on Friday Night at the Fusebox. This video features Caleb Jordan, starring Sean Gaffney. Enjoy!

The Ark of Faith

Last night I was hanging out with my friend Sean Gaffney at his aparto in G-ville. He was going over lesson planning for his Ignite kids and I was doing some study in the B-I-B-L-E as well. I was going back through the smaller books of the New Testament and reading where I had underlined stuff before. In 1 Peter 3:18-22, Peter makes an analogy or comparison between baptism and Noah and the ark (Genesis 6:9 to Genesis 9:17). Just as Noah and his family was saved by water, so are we sealed in salvation today by baptism. I began to explore this metaphor and latched onto something that I found pretty awesome.

Allow me to share:

I think that the ark itself symbolizes something. Something that someone must build in order to receive salvation in the waters of baptism. The thing that must be built is faith. We must build our faith, just as the building of Noah's ark was a symbol of his faith. For those who seek baptism, which is the appeal to God for a clean conscience, they must build their faith and yield completely to Christ. Noah had to build the ark in order for God to establish a covenant with him, and so we must build our faith first so that we can recieve the new covenant in Lord Jesus Christ. Once we have achieved in building our ark of faith and yielding our lives to God, the Lord will bind us to Him in our faith, just as He enclosed Noah within the ark of his faith and shut him in and was with him. Let us also remember, that outside of the ark of faith there is a flood of death and destruction and there exists nothing. Outside of faith, there exists nothing. Without faith, there is no belief and without belief there is no covenant. Without a covenant of faith, we can never come into God's love, grace, and mercy.

Just a little something to think on. Have a good day and God bless!