New Horizons / rant

Hi!

Yeah, it's me. I know... you've missed me.

To those of you who have been faithful blog-followers, sorry. I kind of left you guys hanging like Forrest Gump when he was done running. This may also be one of the last posts I make in a while, we'll see.

I'm doing personal training now, as well as coaching High School boys JV soccer. Although I've shied away from putting personal info on the web before, it's kind of a part of my business now, so I guess it's a necessary evil. Perhaps my self-image is a little distorted, but I'm still under the impression that there may be sex-offenders on the prowl looking for me. I guess I'll have to do my best to thwart their advances.

Here's a website I made regarding personal training:

http://TrainWithJon.blogspot.com

So now I'm coaching, working as an employee of a gym doing personal training, and personal training as a private contractor.

My transition out of the college world is going rather smoothly, although I should start looking for a church. I've honestly been a litle turned off from all things "Christian bubble" lately, and am sad to say that's even included church. I'm sorting things out while praying, listening to Ravi Zacharias, and reading "My Utmost for His Highest" on the john. God's love is still so clear and evident, and his patience and faithfulness as well. And I also hear Him telling me to shape up, and to move forward.

Things have been a little hectic, and I am learning and growing a lot through what I'm undertaking professionally. It's amazing how much God teaches you on the outside of the stained glass windows. Well, that's all for now. I'm moving outward, onward, and by God's grace- upward. Let me know if there's anything you want me to blog about.

I'm learning that the things I say can be taken the wrong way, can be misunderstood, and can hurt people. I guess they say the pen is mightier than the sword. Well I'm not trying to slice and dice anyone- unless it's overly affluent "evangelicals" who spend more money on DVD's than they do on the Lord's work, more money feeding their dogs than feeding starving children, more time worshiping fictitious TV characters than they do worshiping Jesus, and claim faith when they vote yet know nothing of what faith is, and nothing about the purpose of their Jesus who lived, died, and still lives and intercedes for them. Whoops.

Oh yeah, and also when I say that stuff, I realize that I'm almost just as guilty. I spent $600 on a new computer, even though the one I had was still functioning. It's helped me a lot so far, but I could have gotten by with the old one, and given more to missions. So am I giving all to my Lord? no. No, but I'm trying. I fall, and I get up. And that is where grace is important. Not for the spiritual couch potato who had a point-in-time response to the gospel. But to the Christ-like one equipped with the armor of God, filled with the Spirit, with knowledge of God's word, with a heart mind and soul ever conforming to the likeness of Christ- who fails. It is those weary, and those heavy laden who receive the Lord's rest and grace. Grace is of utmost importance. But we are not to forget the words: persevere, press on, take up a cross, follow, train, labor, serve, give, and die. The nation is in trouble when all the prophets say, "peace, peace". And we live in a country where the Christians are more concerned about saving unborn sinners than they are about saving the living ones.

Jesus left His glory in the heavens to become unborn, and then to be born as a human. He came down all this way to connect with us. He came so far so that he could get close enough to say, "follow me". And He took the totality of our sins and made them vanish, through his blood. Jesus paid it all. So now, in everything, in all aspects of life, with all that we are-

we must strive to be like this Jesus, for He has left His work with us, when He called us friends. If you have a relationship with Jesus, you have work to do. And there always is, and always will be: amazing grace.

Phew. Now that I got through that, I must say it feels pretty good. I might rant again real soon, actually.