Yo...wow, it's been a while...March? What was I doing back then?? Oh I remember: I was doing school :) well now that I've completed all that 6 weeks ago and gotten my A's (courtesy of some Divine intervention, lol) I have been working as a lifeguard/dishwasher/foodserver/toiletcleaner/man this summer, now for 4.5 weeks, and I have really grown so far in the Lord and as a man, of course. Case in point, I have found that I revel in "cleaning days", during which I feel like all that is man. One day, my friend Hans and I were taking out the trash (and I mean a heaping truckload of it) when we found a turtle in the middle of the road, and he promptly named it "Indian Companion", or Inco for short. So we took our new compadre with us on the rest of our run, then we cleaned some bathrooms with him, before he came out and started clawing at us and we threw him in the lake. Since then, we have had Indian Companion sightings galore. :) The next week we were cleaning out the ladies' restroom at the main auditorium, called the MarMax Center, and we found ourselves under the air vent, when a lady came in and we had a really awkward moment. lol. Trash days are fun. I have had so great a time here and have found myself in the Word much more. and in the sun. I need to get ready for dodgeball tourneys, so I will leave, but let me with you the best, and a blessed summer :)

In Christ,

--Levi

This is from Ben Stuart's Breakaway message last night, so it might not be totally complete, as this is from memory--wow, I really can remember these things if I concentrate! Haha, I am totally impressed with myself.

1. Be good at knowing and acting on the revealed things of God--i.e., His statutes. "You can't steer a parked car," and neither can God direct you in the paths He wants you to move if you are not already choosing to move in them. If you do this, most of the super-hard decisions of life will be made for you!

2. PRAY! Let God be a major factor in your life, and He will be sure to guide you in the path you need to go. However, God cannot steer your life if you are waiting until you get some kind of audible answer to prayer and He chooses not to give one. This is why we must not only pray, but continue on having faith that God who is abundant in wisdom and grace towards us will not let us make the "wrong" decision.

3. Know what the Word says. Your decisions, though appearing to have no moral basis, might be easily solved by perusing and studying the Bible.

4. Do not try to "import" God/worship into your life just to try to get God to do what you want Him to. You must get rid of your selfish motives for worship and let GOD's will be accomplished in your life.

5. Seek wise counsel. Need I say more about this one? There is always someone around who is wiser than you--so ask them to give you their opinions!

6. Think! Think about and plan out some goals for your life, and ask which path is more compatible with your long-term goals, whatever they may be. Don't get yourself an education in engineering if you want to be a pastor, or waste money on college if your life's ambition is to work as a garbage man.

7. Finally, follow your heart!

"Pastor, I am leaving college in a few months and I don't know if I should ask my girlfriend to marry me. What do you think I should do?"
"Well, first of all, is she a Christian?"
"Yes, she is a strong Christian, and is very active in the church."
"Does she seek the Lord, and long for His Kingdom to come?"
"Yes, sir, I'm sure of it."
"Well, would she be a good mother to your kids?"
"Yes, she loves kids and I know she would be a great mother."
"Do you have any problem with spending your life together and growing old in the same house?"
"Well, no, I don't--"
"And how do YOU feel about her?"
"Well....I LOVE her. I really do."
"Then for goodness' sake, brother, what's holding you back? Marry her."

Sometimes it's THAT easy. Ben is very insightful and (I think) very wise. He makes things like this really easy to understand and remember...man, I love Breakaway! uh, and no, not the Kelly Clarkson song, lol.

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In other news, I have a math quiz tomorrow night I'm studying for, but besides that and 2 other classes I'm through with the first half of the semester! Praise Jesus! I even did some reading on cults/false religions this afternoon which was really exciting. Anyway, I'm fixin' to get off because I'm meeting some friends for breakfast tomorrow at 9...all y'all have a great (rest of) spring break!

JESUS IS LORD!!!

--Levi