Where do I start...it's been a while...

It has been quite a while since I updated the blog.  It is bc I have been driving an RV for over 1600 miles.  AHHAHAAAA...haha it has been an awesome experience so far.  When we left we went to Wyoming and camped for the night at a RV park.  Then the next morning we headed out to Salt Lake City, Utah.  We arrived there late and slept for the night.  The next morning we got up and headed to Mormon Temple Square.  When we got there we went on a tour and got to hear some of the history behind the "religion."  During the tour it really seemed like they tried to give a lot of credit to Jesus and recognize Him as their savior, but they forgot to add a lot about their other beliefs.  Being the edgy kind of guy that I am I wanted to asked a couple of questions so the students could understand our differences.  The tour really made it sound like their were no differences between Mormonism and Christianity.  Some more questions followed from the students and it seemed that the Mormons present were getting a wee bit uneasy, so I thanked them and we left the building.  I really learned a lot at Mormon Temple Square bc it allowed me to see how mixed up that some people can get when they are led astray.  The Bible warns us so much about false teachers and I got to experience it firsthand.  The tour guides really just seemed like they were robots and they really had no clue that there is another truth outside of Mormonism.  They are modern day people still bound by law (and ankle length dresses) and Jesus did not die so that we would be bound by law.  So we need to pray for them.  Later that night we went to the Salt Lake City Mission and served the homeless Supper.  It was really cool how they have the mission set up.  The homeless people that want a meal have to come in and sit through a chapel session, and then they get to eat.  3 men gave their lives to Christ the night that we were there.  I met a man that was serving there his name was Mike.  He had been in prison for 23 years and had been a member of a huge white supremacy gang.  He commented on how much encouragement he got from seeing the students serve and then he mentioned that minutes later he turned down a drug offer for the first time in his life.  It is so cool to be a part of something like that.  I hope and pray that Mike keeps up the good work bc he will influence so many.  The next day we drove all day to Idaho, and then the next day we went white water rafting down the Lochsa River.  This is a class 4 river and that is the roughest river that can be commercially rafted in the United States.  It was a huge rush to say the least.  The next day we drove to Seattle, Washington.  We are staying on the 3rd floor of a church that is located here.  Today we went to a home for mentally and physically handicapped children that cant be cared for by their parents.  There were 8 kids that were living at the home with the 24 hr. nurses that were on duty.  We got to help around the house and spend time with the kids.  None of them could talk and only one could walk, but they really seemed to enjoy our company.  It was really cool to see the students interact with them bc it really stretched their faith.  I was stretched too bc it is something that I am not used to doing.  I am missing my family and friends like crazy.  I am also missing Laurel and ask that anyone that is reading this to continue to pray for us over these 40 days.  This entry was a lot of info and I havent really reflected on it that much, but I will have these same experiences in about 2 more weeks.  God Bless everyone and stay tuned... 

Let The Games Begin...HEYOHHHHHHHHH!!!

We are leaving today for our road trip from CO to Seattle, WA.  Along the way we will be experiencing many things.  From meeting the students and interacting with them for the last 2 days, I would say that we are in for quite an adventure.  I appreciate all the prayers going up for us and encourage as much as possible.  I know that God has me here for a reason and I want to be the best example of Christ that I can be.  These students come from a wide range of backgrounds, so each one of the have to be cared for differently.  KBM wants them to grow close to God during this time as they can.  I have also been praying that I will be humble and understand that even though I am a leader, I can learn a lot from these students.  They are practicing the faith at the high school age and unfortunately I didn't do that.  With that being said, the good thing is that we serve a God that specializes in those kinds of people.  It is amazing to me that God wants to use us no matter where we have been or what we have done in our past.  More and more each day I have been realizing that God has me here to stretch me and to reveal His perfect for my life.  I am so excited to see what He wants to do through me.  I am so thankful for the Godly parents, Brother, Grandparents, My Lady, Extended Family, and Friends that God has put in my life.  They have been such an influence on who I have become.  I always remember after I became a Christian the note that I found in my Bible from my Dad.  He referred to the story of John the Baptist when he Baptized Jesus in Matthew 3, when Jesus came up out of the water heaven opened up and the spirit of God descended on Him.  Then in verse 17 God said, "This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased."  That forever changed our relationship because I finally understood how much I was loved by my Dad and I had made him proud, and he was proud bc my heavenly father was proud.  Anyways, to sum all that up I LOVE all the people in my life.  Laurel (My Lady) and I have decided to take 40 days from each other while I am out here.  We want to hear God's voice and allow him to totally bless our relationship by revealing to us what direction it needs to take.  I am truly blessed to have a girlfriend like Laurel she is great.  Please pray for us and ask God to show us his plan for our relationship.  If you know Laurel please encourage her and help her through this.  She is very strong but she needs encouragement just like I do.  I am pumped to see what God is going to do throughout this trip that I have embarked on.  Well I gotta go so I will update soon...God Bless!!!  

Here We Go...

Back Stage At Crowder

The time is here...16 Days starts this morning...i am about to go to the airport and pick up our first student...as you can see i got a new haircut for the occasion...Go Big or Go Home is what i always say...haha sorry Dad its not a part but God still loves me...haha...anyways be in prayer for our team and for the lives that will be changed on this trip...i plan to be the best example of Christ that i possibly can...i have a passion for the younger generation and it is a blessing to have an opportunity to pour into their lives...Ichthus was awesome...even though we had to bust our tales the whole time and missed most of the acts...we still had free time when we hung out with the speakers and fellowshiped with each other...Charlie Alcock and Johnny V are nuts...I also strolled backstage at the David Crowder Concert, one of the perks of working for an awesome ministry...well the time has come...there will be limited posts for the next 16 days bc of limited internet availability, so be patient on the updates...i plan to type them up and post them later...hope everyone is doing well...Live in Love and God Bless...

Love You All,

Matt

Catching Up....

I know it has been a long time since I posted a blog...like over a week.  We have been really busy preparing for the 16 days trip and Ichthus.  I had had the opportunity to hear Caleb Bislow speak and then go rock climbing with him in Colorado.  that was an absolutely awesome experience.  He is an outside the box kind of guy, and it shows in his ministry.  He thrives to go where no one else will go and do God's work.  I encourage anyone that is reading this, to click his link from my blog page and check him out.  Tuesday of this week we leave Co for Wilmore Kentucky for Ichthus.  This is a huge Christian music festival on the Asbury Campus.  I am promoting all the different programs for KBM here.  I actually got to introduce Caleb Bislow before he spoke today.  That was awesome bc i wasnt expeciting it, but that was a cool way to stretch me.  Lately, I have been watching some of the recent episodes of the Real World Hollywood.  I felt led to pray for the guy named Joey in the house.  I actually wrote him an email about Christ on myspace.  I wasnt expecting to get a response, but he wrote back and he even asked for advice on some things.  I want to ask anyone that reads this to pray for Joey.  He has struggled with drugs and alcohol for a while in his life.  He said in a blog of his that, "addiction is like having cancer."  But I told him that our Lord and Savior can Cure that cancer.  So pray for Joey's salvation and also pray that he will continue to talk with me and that Satan will not have any pull in that situation.  We are on a break bc there was a huge storm on the festival grounds with thunder and lightning.  Some of the people were jumping in the mud like wood-stock.  Thanks for all the prayers for me...I will update asap....We'll See Ya

The Promo Movie Is Finished...I Think It Went Pretty Well...

This is the video that I have been working on at KBM...Blood, Sweat, and tears went into this 

jewel...It is a promo video for an upcoming summer camp in 2009...an office parody seemed to be the best way to go...enjoy...haha

"Sweetly Broken"

Good morning everyone!  I hope everyone that reads this is having a great day.  Here at KBM, on Tues., Thurs., and Fri. we start our morning off reading scripture and praying for certain issues that are going on in the lives of the staff and their loved ones.  This morning was really great, so when I went back to my desk I decided to continue the time with God.  When I do my devos I usually have some soft worship music playing in my headphones, it helps drown out the sounds of a typical office.  While reading the song "Sweetly Broken" by Jeremy Riddle came on.  I LOVE this song because it reminds me of the time when I was 23 when I accepted Christ into my life.  Music works that way for me, no matter what you are experiencing, there is a song that can totally sum it up.  The lyrics for "Sweetly Broken" go like this:  

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled 

Chorus:

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

As you read through I thing that it is easy to relate what you are reading.  The feeling is an amazing one and when I hear this song I relive that amazing day when Christ washed my sins away.  The song says, "At the cross Christ beckoned me" (and you).

   

beckon |ˈbekən|verb [ intrans. ]make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow.

Christ made this gesture with his hands, his arms, his head, his heart, his will, the rest of his body and his life.  He died for us so that we could come more near to him.  He wants to know us, he wants us to follow him bc he knows what is in store for those who love and follow him.  When I was "Sweetly Broken" I hit my knees, and as I remember I was lost for words because I weeped for a while before I could speak.  I was lost in the LOVE that Christ had for me, because previously I didn't even remotely follow him or have the desire to, but I felt his arms wrapped around me.  And finally I surrendered my whole life to him.  Christ called me out of sin (death) and called me into life (Christ), and by Christ's death we are reconciled.  That means our relationship with God is restored, we are on "good terms" again, with God.  Now we can see how wondrous his redeeming love is and how great his faithfulness is.  Download the song, it is powerful.  Now he I put links to my blog on myspace and facebook bc I hope that people will find their way too it.  So if you got here on accident or were just curious there is a reason.  I pray that there are some people that read this that don't know Christ yet, because you need to know that Christ wants a real, daily, intimate relationship with you.  And if he will forgive the guy that I used to be, then none of you will have a problem with it.  Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and the life and that no one gets to the father (God) except through him.  So don't waste anymore time, do it now.  While listening to that song I continued reading from 2 Cor. and I ran across a verse that really sums up the life that every Christian should strive to live.  In 2 Cor. 6:3-10 Paul writes, "³We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.  I think that Paul is really trying to explain to us what a Christian's life should look like.  Don't make anyone else stumble by how you live your life, commend ourselves in every way, no matter the situation don't lose our focus, with this we make others around us rich, and even if we don't have any material thing we posses everything.  I get chills reading this verse because that is the man that I long to be.  When Jesus walked the earth, that was the life he lived.  I challenge you that if you label yourself a Christian to do everything that you can to live your like ¹⁰sorrowful this verse instructs us to.  Sure you will sin, you will falter, but God is a redeeming God.  If we truly seek repentance then we will be forgiven.  However, repentance is not a desire to change, it is always an active response to God's word.  So practice what you preach, live a wholly surrendered life, and watch what God will do.  Thanks for those that are praying for me, I can sure feel it. Feel free to email me or whatever with any request that you may have.  We'll see ya...    

Its a beautiful day here in Aurora, CO...haha i bet yall wish you could see these breathtaking mountains every morning...sorry dad...haha...anyways...i was reading a little in the Bible this morning and Paul was talking about reconciliation and in 2 Cor. 5:18-21 he explains how all this reconciliation comes from God..

reconcile |ˈrekənˌsīl|verb [ trans. ] (often be reconciled) -restore friendly relations...Paul says in verse 18 God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...this means when we accept Christ as our Lord and savior that our relationship with God, the creator of heaven and earth, is restored...once the relationship was divided by sin but now, through Christ, it is totally restored....in the definition it says "restore friendly relations" so that means that we are God's friend!!!...does that not just pump you up?  The God of the universe WANTS to be our friend...we are just a little speck on the planet and he wants to be our friend...powerful huh?...and as mentioned earlier...Christ gave us the ministry of reconciliation as well, so he expects us to show this to others as well...so as children of God we cant hold other's sins against them...we have to imply the ministry of reconciliation so that we show them the love that Christ has for the world...20 we are therefore Christ's ambassadors as  though God were making his appeal through us...Wow!...sounds like we have a mission on our hands, and it comes from God...God wants to use us in incredible ways...1 Cor. 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him"...that is one of the most powerful scriptures that i have read in a while...it just shows us that without a doubt God has a plan for those who loves him...it means he is going to blow our minds....use us in ways that are beyond our imagination....im ready to see how he is going to rock my world and the worlds of those around me that love the lord...it should be an everyday goal for all Christians to impact the life of someone else in a positive way...you never know who is watching, or who needs a kind word...well im gonna buckle down for some more office work, but ill update sometime soon...

PS...i am so thankful for all the prayers and support from my family and friends...it means a lot and it is surely needed day in and day out...God Bless!!!

an interesting Sunday...

Its pretty late now here in CO, but i have had quite a day...We went with some of the students of KBM's "The Experience" to Word of Life Christian Church in South Denver today...This is a charismatic church so naturally i was on edge when i went in...not bc i dont agree with the charismatic movement but bc you never know what to expect...they opened up with some worship...they had a phenomenal worship band and choir and they "threw down" as expected...for those who know me that was right up my alley...it reminded me of when i was in Africa worshiping with the people of Yaounde, Cameroon...jumping up and down singing at the top of their lungs...and then it just dawned on me...what would it be like when we go to heaven?...ill tell you right now you wont see me singing from a hymnal with a monotone voice...i would imagine everyone that is reading this would be right along with me worshiping just like the people of Yaounde, Cameroon or Word of Life Christian Church do it...for those that are saying, "yea but most of em are black" Nah not the case...there were just as many blacks as whites in there this morning and they all knew how to "cut tha rug" for the Lord...anyways...then the preacher gave his message...he was preaching from 1 Cor. 10:13 talking about the everyday battle that we have with temptation...and how God always gives us a way out and that we arent ever temped beyond what we can stand...and let me tell you he brought it this morning...He was preaching with authority to say the least...he might have looked at his notes 1 time...i knew what he was talking about...i invite you to check it out if you would like www.wolcc.net ...the only thing about charismatic churches that i dont understand is the speaking of tongues...ive heard a lot of views but i dont really know where i stand on it but agree or disagree ill tell ya that the spirit was in that church this morning and it was an awesome experience...i would highly consider making that my home church if i lived in Denver...but i have to get up bright and early tomorrow for another week at the office...tomorrow i should be finishing up the promo movie and a newsletter i have been writing to the 16 days students...all of you prayer warriors out there lift us up this week bc the enemy has been trying to us down...i know that satan is working his hardest when we are doing big things...this week we will be planning a lot of activities etc for the trips so hopefully all that will go well...more later but bed for now...we'll see ya...

ps i just beat bennett in darts 2 games to 1 Muhhahaha Muhahahah