Currently Listening Favorite Songs of All By Phillips Craig & Dean Shine of Us see related

May 5th, 2007

Currently Listening It's Time By Michael Bubl� Home see related

Wow...

Currently Listening See the Morning By Chris Tomlin Amazing Grace [My Chains Are Gone] see related

As usual, this blog is more of my thoughts, shot out loud. This entry is actually an email I sent to my youth & our leaders. Be blessed friends...

‘I am undone.’ Those were Isaiah’s words when confronted with a greatness that was beyond his understanding. I imagine a staggering emotion, breathlessness far beyond a loss for words… he was in the presence of something far greater than he, and he knew it…

We know that Isaiah was in the presence of God’s manifested glory. A lethal encounter if handled incorrectly. I write this afternoon with an entirely different form of ‘undone-ness’ . My heart is broken by what I read today. Here are some horrible statistics:

   29,000 children die every day of hunger

   Every 3 seconds a child dies of malnurishment or susceptibility to disease [which means a child just died as you read this]

   In developing countries, as many as 1 in 5 children die before age 5

   6,000 children die daily from water released diseases

And the light that shines as promised…

   Since it began in 1992, the 30 Hour Famine has seen the death toll drop from 40,000 children DAILY, down to 29,000.

   While the task seems enormous, progress is being made.

And Asylum Student Ministries is going to jump into the battle.

Hear my heart. One day, I want to be found making sandwiches in Sierra Leone, or dressing wounds in Sri Lanka, building homes in Haiti, and sharing the Gospel that changes lives in Guinea Bessau… but God sends missionaries. They don’t simply requests assignments!

So WorldVision has an amazing answer! It’s called the 30 Hour Famine. Click on the hyperlink there to look at their website and get the basic info on the ministry. But basically, we raise money [like Relay For Life or the Walk For Breast Cancer] and spend thirty consecutive hours raising our own awareness, community awareness, and church-body awareness of the devastation and senseless loss of children in developing countries, while growing together as a ministry and even having some fun… brace yourself… without food!

I recently heard someone says that America is one of the few countries that may never worry about starving to death. Instead, it seems to be content to eat itself to death. If only for one weekend, we are going to turn the tables. We will stop eating for 30 hours, so that a child can live!

This is just a heads up email. It’s going to be on November 3-4, outside in the front yard of PPC. There is so much more info to come… but I am supremely excited. This is a youth event that changes lives. We can feed hungry. We can save lives. We can start now…

With the 30 Hour Famine – 2007 – ‘Starve Hunger’

Love you guys...

Brad

I'M ENGAGED!!!

So what have you missed??? HA!

July 30th - Got voted in as Youth Pastor at PPC

August 6th - 26th bday, family came to visit, Youth Missions Sunday - amazing day that was!

During August, I got accepted to Cedarville & have since jumped full on into school. Beyond that, my life has been consumed with work, school, & a very wonderful young lady. That being said, we'll pick up with her dad saying yes...

We had already seen a ring. But we hadn't seen the money. But God blessed in a tremendous way, brought money in an amazing fashion, & without her knowledge... I bought it earlier this week. Tuesday, I went over the jeweler & told him to go ahead & get it all sized up. She's a 5 1/2. That doesn't matter to the story, but it's fun to know. Anyway, I had so many elaborate plans. I won't go into details, but I did learn a startling truth today...

See, I picked up the ring with my phenomenal brother Dave Faile, this afternoon. And from within a velvet box, inside of a gift box, inside of a store bag... that thing burnt a hole through me. And to make it worse... I used it as an object lesson when I spoke to Campus Crusade for Christ at Wright State University tonight. I used it to illustrate how symbols, devoid of affection & passion are meaningless... & then as we closed with a worship set. And all that I could think of was how much I loved Grace, & how that ring really did symbolize sacrifice, completion, affection & passion... so much of what we are & where we feel God leading. What an amazing reality.

So clearly, plans had to change!! She was calling, because it was getting late. As I talked with students, making my way out, their encouragement fueled the desire to ditch plans & find her asap! So I called Grace & completely made up a story...

'I need to run to the office, pack some books, get some gas, & I'll see you in a minute.'

I did go to church to grab books, but booked to Kroger to buy 12 red roses, a stuffed puppy, & one peach rose in a vase [because it was pretty]. Got to the apt. & called her from the door. 'Go to the balcony & wait for me there.' She did... clueless. Awesome! So I came to the balcony door & laid down the gifts where she couldn't see them. Now it's all left to getting some words out of my mouth... usually not my problem!!

'I need to confess some things to you. I've lied to you several times lately. And I bought you some things to say that I'm sorry.'

'Ok?'

'First, I lied about getting gas tonight.' And I handed her the peach rose. She smiled, but was still so clueless!! Then I said that I had lied about having a meeting tomorrow after class. This was a part of my most recent plan to surprise her tomorrow, but again, the ring in my pocket & that girl anywhere near me... impossible! So I apologized for fabricating that one, & gave her the stuffed puppy [it's wicked cute]. And then I apologized about what I said I wanted to do tomorrow:

'And last [with a bouquet of roses in my hand], I want to apologize because I lied about wanting to go to dinner with my girlfriend tomorrow [handed her the roses. Her face, wildly confused]. Instead, [I move to my knee, & pull the box from my pocket] I really just want to have dinner with my fiance instead. [Her face... amazing] 'Grace, will you marry me?' [Opened box...] 'Yes... yes, of course.' [BIG OL' SMOOCH!!] In fact, she kept kissing & hugging & for a second I forgot to put the ring on her finger... Now that's a cool feeling. Never even thought about it before, but it was amazing.

And now... I have a ton of homework, I won't sleep tonight, but I have a fiance. Grace Anne Looney is going to marry me... how beyond amazing is that?!?!?!?!? I have a fiance. And she's the best woman I've ever known.

Goodnight everybody. Hope YOU sleep well, because there's no sleep for this kid!