Quick Update

I almost forgot that I had a blog, it's been so long since I have wrote anything.

Wanted to say a quick hello and that I am so blessed by what God is doing in my life. The past few days have been a real stretch. But it's going great. Standing on the foundation and vision set in me a long time ago that is now coming to pass.

The short term missions is done for the summer and now to 100% focus on Hollywood MC. It's going to be an incredible year, looking forward to the open doors that God is giving us.

I have been so blessed by all of the the Churches that have stayed at the Oasis for Urban School these last 8 weeks. WOW, God has added many names to his book because of the boldness of these kids. Lives being touched and changed everyday.

how do people read my story

i've been looking at a lot of famous peoples autobiographies and been thinking about how mine would sound if i started now and to where i am.

Where would i end and the "Author and Perfecter of my faith" start.?

would people notice?

would it be a smooth line like butter or as rough as driving from a dirt road to a highway.

my book would jump from a valley to a mountain.

From a innocent child, to a whole, to being whole.

But i start to think about it from right now. Because i can't go back and tell God that i want him to rewrite my past i have to think. "am i letting him write my tomorrow.

Did i let him write my today?

i pray that i am the pen in the hand of the creator and that no matter what happened in my life, he turns my biography into a work of art that reflects him.

Peace

Just like a Circus

Well the Circus has come and gone from Madison. I didn't go but it got me thinking about when I went to the Big Top as a kid.

I remember going to 2 different types of circus'.

The 1 ring circus, and the 3 ring circus.

The one ring circus was great. everyone watched the same thing. The ring leader in the middle, telling everyone to look at the elephant that was balancing on a giant ball. it was great for little kids, eyes wide open, looking in awe at all that consumes the name "CIRCUS".

And then you have the 3 ring circus... WOW 3 rings. It's almost more then anyone should be able to observe in one sitting. U don't know what to focus on. Is it the lion's jumping through fire, or is it clowns piling out of the mini car that calls my attention.

I think that our all our lives are one or the other. Have we upgraded to the chaos of the 3 rings or keep it simple with the 1.

I remember A man that I respect, talking about the lions one time and the purpose of the tamer using the chair to calm them. It's because of the confusion set in by the inability to focus on all 4 legs at the same time and it is rendered helpless.

right now my life feels like a 3 ring circus. There are VERY good and attention grabbing things in each ring but no focus on just one.

I long for the perception of God. that the ring he sees in my life, becomes the one that I see and focus on.

Too many of us are ok with the options. And options are good. But at some point i think we need to pray and ask God for his ultimate ring choice.

Where do it go from here, what does my future entail? do i move or stay put and hope that something that is so small becomes something big. or do i move to the thing that I know will be big even though the small will last for a bit.

I talked to a young man last week about his future. He's almost 19 and really has no vision for his life. high school is over, he wants more but not really driven for "more". he's happy not even thinking about 3 rings. the one he has now, the one he has always had, is 100% ok with him. Or that's what it seems like. Deep inside something grows, something becomes a passion , but with out any support, that one ring will never expand to an option of something more.

"o Lord how my heart longs for more of you"

The storm before the calm

So let just start out by saying the this week has been a struggle. My soul has been at battle with the devil like crazy.
I'm about to speak the word of God tomorrow night at youth and satan don't like it. He thinks he's beatin me and stolen somethin so far this week... I don't think so. Its been hard and I feel like I've given in but I know my God is strong and I know MY God is mighty and I know he will breakforth in my life like never before.
They always say. "The calm before the storm" but I feel like this week has been the storm before the calm. Something great is about to happen in my life and God has given my a very vulnerable spirit and heart towards him.
We love God. Then let's prove it. Let's show him just and ounce of the love that he shows us every second.

God bless
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular

iT's been so long

Well, i;m not going to update all the stuff that's gone on in my life cuz I don't have the time But.It's had it's up's and down's. Highs and lows. God is getting my through it all. Even when I don't know where to go. 

I wait in desire for his Word to "go". Not a physical place I go, but the next level. I need to take it to the next level. Cuz the level I am at now is not doing me any good. I need to move up.

God give me the strength.. 

Peace

Tall trees

Tall trees
Roots planted
Deep deep into the concrete floor
Branches motionless, leaves still.
In the great wind of joy and change
Nothing.
The peace that passes all understanding. Does not understand why.
The house of God has become a forest full of deep rooted trees.
But those trees don't bend for no one, nor give praise for the leaves
they were so graciously given.

Dustin

Y can't we be friends ?

I got a question.... I need to ask somebody.
Why is it so hard to say hi? R people really as pissed off as they look and seem.
Filling out a application the other day I came across a question that said " in general do you think that most people are good."
What kind of question is that. Have we all really lost our faith in people?
Has it gotten so bad that we stop attempting to get to know people and smile and say hi just cuz its work and we're so "unhappy".
I believe that just because in the outside we see all the crap that the news and the presidential (both) candidates are spreding about each other and all the chaos on the world. That that in no means should be a basis on our and in general everyones life .
God created us as good God pleasing people.
In the very depths of everyone. Is a good person. Even the worst person has the ability in them to do something good.
A smile. Eye contact. Opening the door for someone.
A few days ago I held the door open for some older ladies and one of them replied " and who said chivalry was dead"

Let's learn to smile more. Say hello to people that you work with. Stop and hold the door open for someone no matter their age.

God is good to us. We need to respect his creation more

Dustin

This is your life. R u who u wanna be?

So this isn't a video blog but I m at work and was thinking.
Sometimes that is not the best thing for me to do but what can I say,

Its so strange how things happen. One day you don't worry about what's going to happen. Re next you start to question everything that got you to the the place your at now.
Y does that happen.
Why have I always been searching?

When you know what its like to know that your in Gods will then you start to compair that feeling with every other decision you make.
Knowing that your in that place is like nothing else you'll ever know.
Why have I not felt that for a while.
I have had so much growing inside me for the last 5 years that it really saddens me that I'm not making decisions that let me use those things .

Gods will be done in Everything I do. My next step. My next oppourtunity . My next move. Let it be you

Dustin

New Idea

Hey all, I know how much you miss my shining face so I thought that instead of just typing out my blogs, you could get to hear my voice and face and everything.

I'll be doing to video blogging the next few times to see how it'll go...
Let me know what you think.

WARNING.

These are going to be very heart felt blogs, not just random crap that most people talk about. NO POLITICS or anything like that. Just me and my heart.

Cleaning out the closet

So now is the time... today is the day...

I think that everyone needs a little closet cleaning from time to time. 

And today is my day.

There are alot of things that have been stealing my time, my joy and my life.

Things that don't take any effort of brain power.

Things that are not benefitting me in any way.

Those things need to go and need to be replaced with things that matter .

Why don't people learn another language? 

Why don't we memorize all the presidents

I have been cluttering up my life with to much crap. 

And I am starting today with that cleaning... 

I'll keep you updated.

Peace and love to all

I can't get no..... SATISFACTION!!!

Well.. it's been a WHOLE 3 months since I've up and moved to Alton, IL. And let me say, it's been a struggle.  A blessing but  a struggle. 

My biggest prayer is for my Job.... it started out as a blessing that i had a job when I got here but now anymore. I need a new job... REALLY bad. I can't be here  much longer. It has done nothing but make it harder on me to live. I can't pay my bills... I just need to be in a new place. 

I know that alton it where I am locationly supposed to be but The holiday inn is not the place... 

PRAY

WHAT A FEELIN

Well It finally happend.... Not more waiting. I went Skydiving and I was the most incredible thing I have ever done in my life. I don't know how to describe it. It is the most peaceful thing I have done. Praise God that someone came up with that. 

Sitting in testing !!

Sitting in testing !!
Everyone looks like zombies
Clutching their blue medical blankets
Awaiting the results.
Do I stay or do I go.
There are alot of people who still read. You think that with everything that distracts us. That reading would take to much thinking . But I see alot of big books. I guess that when there is nothing
else left. Reading I'd still ok.
Everyone wearing an ALT worries they r out unless someone does not make it.
1 grand is alot of change and help in peoples lives.
But there are many of us that will have to settle for 1 hundred bucks.
Please god I wanna be pricked by needles . I wanna pay my bills;)
I need this money to happen. Let this alternet go.

Dustin

I've found my calling........! People.

I'm the type of person that it takes slot to get me emotional. 99% of the time its because of God doing something cool in my life . And the past week its been just that.
I m so in awe of him sometimes. The best moments but also the most humbling ones are the times when something id already known Is reaffirmed byHim. And this week has been just that . On wed caleb preached at his church and talked about outreach . I m not to sure what it was that hit me so hard but I got so pumped up for some adopt- a- block and some real ministry stuff. Ive been thinking and praying about it all this week and yesterday it really hit me. People. People are my calling. Hurting people not the ones that are all put together and ready for the end. Not the holier then thou people. The ones that simply need to know that there is a God out there that loves them and wants what's best for them. The single mom who gives so much of herself to feed her kids that she goes without . The kids who go to school with a garbage bag for a back pack cuz they can't afford anything better. Those are my calling. And I'll be darned if I let Satan stand in the
way of that calling.

Y I love Him

I'm kinda getting in a rytham (spelled wrong) with this whole blogging thing. 

So I'm sitting in my kitchen, my roomies are out having worship practice for tomorrow night and I'm here alone....Y?, cuz I just didn't go. 

I had the day off and I sat and did a whole lot of nothing.... well I worked out with Billy Blanks and then went upstairs. 

WOW what an exciting life I live. 

But God is good. I love him Lots and he makes everything right in my life. 

There have been many times that I wonder why I chose to love God. It's not because my dad is a pastor.

It's not because I have to.

Or that I have some obligation to Love him.

I do because I can.

I do because He makes my life better.

He makes the sun shine and the grass grow.

He gives me the ability to have a purpose greater than myself.

To have a calling.

To lead and to fallow.

To sit and know that he is God and that he will never Give me anything that I can't handle.

Yes at times I get stressed and I don't know up from down, but he lets me feel him and Love him. 

And I love him and serve him because when I'm dumb, and make a HUGE error in my day.

He still has his arms open to me and welcomes me in for a big all consuming Hug.

With all the crap that is out there. all the things that I could be doing right now... The bad things that I could be getting myself into. 

I know that I have a God that no matter what. He is there. I'm so amazed by my God.

He is so great, is moves my soul to a deeper place. A higher place.

He's indescribable. He's my best friend. He gives and gives and gives some more. 

WOW... .really. I know my calling.

It's to love God, it's to always no matter what, wake up in the morning and sing his praises. 

He is in control. of my heart, my emotions, my love, my time and my MONEY.....:) 

I'm called to go anywhere and love him, I'm called to Africa and see his hand in the lives of people who don't have anything but love him more than life. 

I'm called to the one and only thing that keeps my alive. HIM. 

Peace, Love .... and God's grace.  

If I only had a......

Well Here I am, sitting at the St. Louis Bread Co. Pondering my next move.

I made this huge change in my life this past month moving to Alton, Il. I know that it's God but It's really taking it's tole on me. 

I've been getting up around noon everyday...I hate that. 

I've only been working like 25 hours a week. (not enough or what I owe)

And not really seeking out why? I'm here.

You know when you finally make a step in the right direction and then once your there, it does not seem like it was originally envisioned. That's where I am. I seem to just be thinking so much. I have a purpose. I have a calling. I have a goal for my life, To minister and do God's will but it's hard with all the pressures of the world around you. Now my pressure is money. I have all this stuff I owe (bills) and I go from a job that paid 10 an hour 40+ hours a week down to this 7.50 and not even 30 hours a week. I can not live off of that. But God is in Control. He always has been and always will be.

I really want to start speaking again. I sent out some emails to some churches around and so I'l see what happens. Also I am supposedto be going to Wapato to speak sometime this summer.. O how I wish it were soon. I miss speaking, I need to start writing down all the things that God has been doing in me and organizing them into sermons. 

Did you know that the hamberger patty was invented in the late 1800's but the thought of putting it on a Bun was not till around the 1900's. 

Way is it that we think that it just kinda happened. That someone sat down and put meat and bun and tomatoes and katchup together and that's how it has always been.

I'm really learning that God brings things together in HIS timing. Not ours. I might not be full completing and it might not even be YOU who does it all but it gets added to as the years go by. I german who made the Patty might not have even been around for the rest of the additions to it but it don't matter. It started with Him. 

This is only the begging of the story of my life. Alton is playing a supporting roll and back drop for this time a season but it won't end here.

I just need to find out why it's here...I know it is but not sure where and why.

The day has come

Well, The day has come....Kinda sad, kinda excited. 

I'm beginning to miss my family here already. The last few months (9 months to be exact) have been so incredible. I love my family even more than i did..

You know that you have to love family to some extent cuz they are blood but after you see them, live with them and see who they are for more than just a week vacation during the summer, you love them even more.

Kathy, Rick and Tara have been so incredible. I love them more then they could ever know. I know their friends, they are my friends now. I have lived with them and laughed with them. 

Being able to go to church with my grandma has been one of the greatest things of my life. She has a special place in my heart.

I know that all of my family out here will be here for a long time but Leaving them means so much more.

Grand junction (palisade) has become a home. It is an incredible place for me. 

God is so good, He moves in ways that I can not see. My aunt has given me some incredible advise the last months. She is so strong. God moved me here for a reason. At the time I had no idea what that was. Now I know. It was for my family. It was to be able to call them family and love them more then family. 

Leaving tomorrow means a brand new start. Leaving old things and creating new memories and times with God. 

I'm loving more then i ever have before , I'm learning more then ever before and Loving God in new ways. 

I take my whole life here with me. Leave the things that need to be left and take the things  that I have learned to my new home.

I"LL BE BACK!!!

I'm on it likfe blue bonnet

So I know that I have really slacked on the whole Blog thing. and I know that there are a lot of people that I don't get time to talk to that learn about my life through this.

So. here is a really good recap of the last like 4 weeks.

I was going to quit and the Holiday Inn and move to the Marriott back in April, so I put in my 2 weeks and told everyone I was moving hotels but then I had a Conversation with my friend Rachel and she asked me if I had considered going to Alton, Il where my best friend Caleb was and working at his church some and stuff.
So I started thinking about it and knew inside of me that it was right.
So instead of Rachel moving up here and us getting a place together, (which was so hard finding a place out here in Grand junction) we though, "what if we just moved to Alton and got an Apt.

So we talked to Caleb, I told the Marriott that I was not leaving and asked if they could find me a job out there.

I starterd looking a Apt's in and around Alton and was finding some stuff but not much. THEN, I went to craigslist.com and was looking at apts in St. Louis (not Alton) and came across a house for rent IN Alton (not St. Louis) 900 a month for a 3 bedroom 2 bath.

I text Caleb and he looked it up and by the end of the week, it was ours!!!

So as it stands, rachel will be here this friday, ANd on the 5th of June, we are on the way to ALTON!!!!

I'll start my new job the next week.

GOD IS SO GOOD> it's amazing what he puts in place when you willing to move (in move ways than one)

It needs to be done. He's my brother

So yesterday I had a guest at the hotel tell me that I should be in the Military... HA HA HA. I know that it's not for me. But there is someone in my life that I look up to a whole lot. My brother. He will always be a US MARINE and to me, he has saved my life. He keeps me free. Just was feeling very appreciated. We don't have to wait till Memorial day or Veterans day or some holiday to thank someone you know that served our country. 

Well sleep well, and while we sleep in our nice beds and feel like we slave away at our jobs.  There are men and women all over the world making sure we can live.