Lots Happening

Well, according to the calendar, we're in the thick of summer, however the school districts seem to think it's time to start the fall semester. Aside from the hustle and bustle of school starting, our summer co-ed softball team went from worst to first in the league! That's right, starting the season off 0-4 didn't seem to stop The Roots from winning the entire championship!! Our impressive game play was a shock to all, and a lot of fun! Everyone is now wearing their custom-made Roots shirts with pride!

Here's me as catcher...my official duty during the season because I wasn't so skilled at any other position. I did catch a few pop-flies during the season! 

The entire experience was a blast and I loved getting to know more people in the Denver area my own age!

I've made all kinds of videos lately...a couple for The Academy, another for my Grandpa's surprise 78th birthday party in Rocky Ford. It's always so weird going back to RF. It's like jumping in a time machine and looking at how people lived 30 years ago. Most of the time, you'd never guess it was 2008 when you visit aside from an occasional '08 vehicle.  My sweet grandpa LOVES ferris wheels. He rides one with my sister, Amanda, every chance he gets. He told her during this ride it's his favorite because as a kid, this was the first amusement ride he ever rode. The joy in his eyes is perfectly captured right here!

Other things up and coming:

ToBy as I like to call it is starting September 6th...for those of you unfamiliar with the Theology of the Body, JPII gave his weekly Wednesday speech on his views regarding the bodies given to us by God. It's an amazingly insightful redefinition of sexuality and culture. I'm very excited and honored to be leading a teen rendition at church this fall. Please, pray for me in this! 

I'm sadden to see the Olympics in Beijing come to an end...so many amazing stories of triumph, hard work, and unity have emerged. Although the time of spotlight on China is coming to an end, I implore you...please continue to pray for China and her inhabitants. May the grace of Jesus Christ reign over this gi-normous country.

China Prayers: One World, One Dream-Five Days and Counting

Good morning my friends,

Yesterday, my family and I made sure we got our DV-R all ready for recording the Olympics, and I had mixed feelings about recording them. By watching the Olympics and not protesting them, am I adding to the injustices and injury of Chinese nationals being kept in jail unrightfully or without legal proceedings? This is not exactly clear in my heart, but I do know more than just Christian believers are suffering by the lack of Human Rights in China. I found this article on the front page of MSN today:

Defiant Chinese harassed, jailed before Games
The Olympic Games have become the occasion for a broad crackdown against dissidents, gadflies and malcontents this in Beijing summer.

I find it ironic that the theme for the Olympics this year is "One World, One Dream." Sounds a little too stifling to me. Yes, we are one world; however, in my opinion, our world should have countless dreams. By making us all "totally unique and unrepeatable," God created us to dream BIG (ToB). I wonder what dream the Olympic planning committee had in mind for our one world....was it love thy neighbor? world peace? or how about one UNITED world...

But if we become one UNITED world, under whose authority do we proclaim sovereignty? If we do not give honor and glory to the one whose blood was shed so that we could have life, we are nothing. I doubt the Chinese citizens who are sitting in jail waiting for the Olympics to end are feeling very loved, peaceful, or united to the rest of the world.

In Revelation 5, John shares about the four living beings and the twenty-four elders of the Church who sang of Jesus, the Lamb. They sang a new song with these words, "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God." Now, that's a Kingdom I want to be a member of...today, tomorrow, and forevermore.

Let us pray that all of our neighbors, from Colorado to China be united under the love, grace, peace, and unity of Jesus Christ the Paschal Lamb whose life was given for you, for me, for them.

"Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war, stir up the warriors. Let all the soldiers draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning books into spears; let the weakling say, "I am a warrior."" (Joel 3:9-10)

May Your Dreams be Countless,

Joyous

China Prayers

Dear Friends,
As the 2008 Olympic Games approach, the whole world is getting a unique and unprecedented look into China. We will undoubtedly see her beauty, her culture, and her history via the media during the Games; however, we will not be shown the underbelly of the government's attempts to persecute the Christians in the country.

Many individuals are in danger (or have experienced persecution) from the government because they have interacted with Christian Americans who are encouraging these brothers and sisters. These Christians refuse to register with the government to indicate they agree with the Chinese PSB's (Public Security Bureau) version of Christianity (which upholds that there is no lordship higher than the government itself). Click here to see a recent story of a believer's persecution.

If you would like to join me in praying for China-for the Christians, for those who do not believe, for the government, for the time foreigners have while visiting for the Olympics, Voice of the Martyrs has created a prayer band. I have several to share, but you can also order more from their website.

Let me know if you'd like one of these prayer bracelets (if you're out of Colorado, make sure I have your address), and I'll send one your way.

May Christ Jesus be Glorified!

Joyous

P.S. Feel free to pass this along to your friends!