Currently Watching The Ringer see related

Well last Thursday was awesome!  I played in my first worship team with Nicky and Nathan while Jen W. sang.  Nicky brought her sister’s base guitar Wednesday morning for Josh to play for chapel.  Well since Josh couldn’t make it, I got to play for worship.  I took it home one day, and started playing the next.  That was pretty cool!  The Daily Journal showed up, so We’ll se if we made the paper.  We performed:

                  ·        “Blessed Be Your Name”

                  ·        “Hungry”

                  ·        “Consuming Fire”

                  ·        “Grace Like Rain”

                  ·        “Here Am I”

I had loads of fun, and I look forward to what God has in store for me.  Mr. Dean talked about rising up, and 24 students got saved, and 12 rededicated their lives.  Nicky said I did a great job, and would like for me to play in chapel.  This week was pretty good.  I messed up righting out my music so I had to re-write everything, and the songs were a little harder then last time.  We played:

·        “He Reigns”

·        “Your love oh lord”

·        “My eyes are dry”

·        “Righteousness”

·        “Abba Father”

I won’t be here for chapel next week, I’m going to Break-Away.  So I’ll see you later!

Currently Watching Walk the Line see related

Well it’s been a while, and a lot has happened!  I‘ll try not to make this entry to long………., and catch up another time.  The past 2 weeks I’ve been in a state of question.  I’ve been thinking “why this” and “why that.”  The most recent one I want to share with you is about submitting to authority.  Ever since Mr. Biatto has been teaching P.E., I’ve been complaining.  So I was sharing what I thought with Pastor B., and he brought some conviction on me.  It’s funny how God tells you things some times, but Bjorn pointed me towards Romans 13.  I had just studied that chapter the day before in the Advanced Bible class.  So this is what the Bible says about Authority:

Vs.1.) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authority, for there is no

authority except that which God has established.  The authorities exist

that which have been established by God. (2.)  Consequently, he how rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so bring judgment on themselves. 

Vs.4.) For he (he, is referring to our authority) is God’s servant to do you good.  But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. 

            Pastor B. told me to look up some words in the dictionary.  First was submit, which means to yield oneself to be subjected to something, or to permit oneself to be subject to something.  Your authority is one who has the power to influence or command thought, opinion, and behavior.   So if we’re called to submit to authority, it doesn’t only mean to obey, we need to try whole heartedly, to accomplish what he would ask of me, with out grinding my teeth, or grumbling.  B. says this is what separates the boys from the men!

Currently Watching The Great Escape By Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn see related

Well it’s been a long time, and a lot has happened since the last entry!  I had a soccer tournament which you probably already know about, we lost both games.  Both went in to overtime, and I know we could have won!  We had several mistakes, but we still did much, much better.  A serious encourager was, after the last game, and the line to say “good game,” 2 of the best players came and gave me an extra pat on the pack, and said I did a good job!  Our final score was I think 4 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie that we should have one.  We had a lot good times and I can’t wait till the sport’s banquet and our next season. 

2 weekends ago, I went to tower rock with Bronson and his dad.  It’s in Shawnee state park, not to far away from my favorite place in the word, “Garden of the gods” and the “Twin River” backpacking trail I hiked with Mr. Dean in 7th grade and I passed threw this last summer.  It’s right off the Ohio River about 6 or 7 hours away.  Since school got out at 11:30, we left early at about 12:00 heading south.  They brought their laptop with them and a couple DVD’s.  We watched “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” and “Lord of the rings, Return of the King” and listened to Chris Rice (great musical artist).  We arrived right on schedule and set up camp.  It wasn’t too much to set up, we just moved a pick-nick table, set up a rain fly, and start a camp fire. Bronson and I set out for the bluffs we had been waiting for.  We both had flash lights but it was incredibly dark.  Sounds kind-a scary… you bet!  I would have gone by myself for anything.  We were following a thin dirt path and it was so dark, I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.  Most camps I’ve been on the sky is clear, so your can see the stars and the moon.  Not this time!  While we were walking up I saw a pair eyes glaring at me, so Bronson whips out his 10 thousand candle light flashlight to have a look.  Wow! It was bright, and it ended up being a deer.  With in what, a 1/8 mile we saw 6 deer.  So we get close to the top and I can feel I’m walking on wet stone, turns out I was within 2 to 3 ft. from a 500 foot drop off.  Bronson led me to a clearing where we could see everything.  It was an awesome view, and probably the coolest thing was being able to see the heat coming off the water. It looked like you were sitting on a cloud looking above the fog covering the streets in the morning. 

Camping with the Radcliff’s was very different compared to the Boy scouts.  We had music playing in camp just about the whole time, we all slept in a heated van, and we were free to do what ever we wanted.  That night before bed, we watched “Line Under Fire,” or something like that.  It was pretty good. It was about some guy that was trying to assassin the president, and one of the body guards trying to solve this puzzle while he’s protecting the president.  Other than the language, it turned out to be a good movie. 

The next morning, I got up at the bright and early hour of 6 to go birding.  I wasn’t trebly interested in the whole birding Idea, but I was exited to go sketching. I only got 1 picture in before breakfast, but I had an awesome time.  The view was great, I could see for miles and miles.  I watched the sun come up and got a lot of thinking time in.  I was sitting ½ way under an Eastern Red-cedar tree, and I could feel the sun shine on my back and neck, and my feet are dangling over a large bluff.  I love fall!  The sky was pink and blue, I saw 2 bald eagles, and getting to see that may colorful trees at the same time… man, there’s nothing like it. Later we went on to shooting pellet guns, and driving remote controlled cars.  Probably the most interesting thing last week end was hearing Bronson call these Ivory woodpeckers, red tailed hawks, and chickadees.  Overall I had a lot of fun, and an awesome weak end. 

Lately what’s been on my mind is basket ball.  The other day I had to make a decision if I was going to continue or not.  I had a lot of factors that affected my dilemma.  This all started with Pastor Brad talking to my mom, he said I should try it and supposedly I’ve got height.  When mom told me about what P.B. said, I took it in to consideration because I was looking for a way to stay in shape for soccer and to keep building endurance.  I asked several people about what they thought, I had some positive, some negative, and a couple said I shouldn’t make my decision on what other people think.  I asked Mr. B what we though, and mentioned it could keep me eligible.  Then I thought the team would be putting pressure on me to keep my grades up.  I had several comments and ideas, but the longer I waited, the tougher the decision got.  Kara informed me that her dad said that I could be a pretty good point gaud, and Josh just kept saying do what ever you want to do.  Every day after practice I became more and more pumped up about the Idea of being on the team, I was getting better, and I was learning something new every day.  Going to Pennsylvania sounded like fun, not only would I get off school a couple days, but I would get to know the players better outside of sports, and maybe I would get to see my dad, since that’s where he’s living now.  My last day of practice was miserable.  I had a bad start with not being able to breath during our warm up drills.  It was pretty obvious that Steve was frustrated with the performance of the team.  He said we would have been done if everyone really ran 100 % the whole time.  Unfortunately, not everyone did.  He had a quick speech, and told us he really wanted to see us trying our hardest.  Personally I don’t have a problem with running down and backs, but this practice we ran several times.  I was catching my breath at the line while tying my shoes, and Matt questioned “where are you!”  He probably thought I was stalling, but I just couldn’t handle it.  The whole time I kept trying, telling my self that this would be the last time, and I was going to finish strong and leave a good impression.  So finally we’re done running, I came up to Steve and explained the situation. I explained what was going on, how I was trying my hardest, and that today was one of those days I just couldn’t breath.  He challenged me with the question if I really wanted to play or not.  I couldn’t answer, but I just didn’t know.  So I go on to doing these drills and I get paired up with Matt.  Were doing the 3-man weave and the ball can’t touch the ground until the 6^th pass, which finishes up with a bounce pass and a lay up.  Matt was in the center and I was on the left.  He passed to me first and I wasn’t ready, so it went right threw my hands.  He yelled at me “How are you going to receive a pass like that!”  Then he also asked if I really wanted to play.  I ended up leaving practice early with E-train to go with him to youth group.  So on my way out, I was talking to Mr. Johnson.  He gave me some good advice, so good that as bad as I wanted to quit, I wanted to prove that I could do anything I wanted as long as I put my mind to it.  So there I was stuck In the same position as before.  Later I went to talk to Mr. B about what I should do about the whole situation.  He gave me some advice and the same answer he’s always given me, “Pray about it!”  So I did, and I started reading in Proverbs, because this chapter gives me a lot of insight. I ended up deciding no because, I felt the lord was telling me no, for right now any ways.   I gues I’ll tell you what I found: Proverbs 2:3-5

“If you call out for insight and cry and cry aloud for

understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and

search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand

the fear of the lord and find the knowledge of God”

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  I have

the Holy Spirit power.  The die has been cast.  I have

stepped over the line.  The decision has been made-

I’m a disciple of his.  I won’t look back, let up, slow

down back away, or be still.  My past has been redeemed,

my present makes sense, my future is secure.  I’m fin-

ished and done with low living, slight walking,

smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions,

worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, posi-

tion, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.  I don’t have

to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded,

or rewarded.  I now live by faith, lean in his presence,

walk by patience, am up lifted by prayer, and I labor

with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven,

my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions

are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.  I cannot

be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away,

turned back, deluded or delayed.  I will not flinch in

the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presents of the

enemy, pander in the pool of popularity, or meander

in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have

stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached

up, for the cause of Christ.  I am a disciple of Jesus. I

must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all

Know, and work till he stops me.  And, when he

comes for  his own, he will have no problem recog-

nizing me…my banner will be clear!

            This is a copy of a note written in the office of a young pastor in Zimbabwe, Africa, following his martyrdom for his faith in Jesus Christ.  Some time last year I looked at my life and what I’ve turned it into.  I saw my life in someone else’s eyes and wondered what happened?  I am in the perfect place to make a difference.  I influence so many lives, and this letter is exactly how I want to be remembered as.  Since then, I have given my all to all areas of my life to improve and do my best for God, not for me.

            This week I’ve had my up’s and down’s.  I’m doing much better this year with my grades, and hopefully I can keep this up.  I’ve been having a hard time at home, but I Know things will get better.   If  you know the the situation from my last entry, please continue to pray for me.

                                 untill later    Timt (the yellow dart) Goodman

Sat.13th.

This week hasn’t been the greatest.  Monday, my mom went to court with dad for the last time.  Basically, she lost.  Since my dad left not only was he supposed to be paying child support, but maintenance.  He hasn’t laid a penny down on our house, and he has lowered support 3 times.  Maintenance has added up to about 35,000$.  He took out a loan of 22,000$ and put the house on collateral.  He’s supposed to be paying for eye, dental, and health insurance.  He got away without paying any of it, and on top of all that he’s ruined mom’s credit and continues to take money from her retirement.  My dad has been “contempt of court” for the past 4 years.  (It means that if the court found out what he was doing, he would be serving time.)  He got away with all that, and mom has had to pay for all this.  What bugs me the most is that he complains about travel cost and he drove all the way from Virginia to Kankakee for the court session and never came to see me or Hannah.  He didn’t even call!  I haven’t even talked to him since my surprise b-day party.  I’ll tell you the truth, right now I don’t want to talk to him.  Oh yeah!  If you were at the party and met his “girlfriend,” it didn’t work out either somehow? lol!  The greater part of me wants to forgive him, and hopefully something good comes out of this.  Some how………

                                                            James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of any kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 

Perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.    

Tuesday was interesting.  I went to help Mr. Dean at his house with Ethan.  We worked outside all day, and last night I went with him to “Promise Keepers”.  It was a pretty cool men’s group, and yesterday I got up at 6:30 because Mike was coming over to help me finish my chores. 

In the last 4 days some how I've been able to keep going and hold my head up high.  If that's not God, I don't know what else it could be.  if you would please pray for me, I'm really struggling.                             

                                                                                                 thanks!