There is so much to be thankful for! The Lord gives us everything we need... yet... we still complain about the things we have. Such foolishness...

As most of you know I've never really been a fan of commercialized Christmas... if it is the only time of year that you give things to other people... there is something seriously wrong. God calls us to give every minute of every day, which is obviously very hard to do, but we shouldn't need an obese. commercialized, money grabbing, extravaganza of a holiday to remind us.

It all needs to come back to the wee babe in the manger. Which i'm sure you know.


I have been around camp for a few days by myself now... roommates and neighbors are gone...
So I've taken the time to clean up their messes... which are many. Finished my Christmas cards and I also finished making my mothers presents...
Every year our family draws names out of a hat to see who will buy who a present... this year we did the same except you have to make that person a gift...
Man was it hard to decide on what to make. I think I did pretty well though. You don't get to find out what it is... sorry. My mother is watching closely.

Flying home on Thursday! Can't wait... hopefully everything is frozen in Kamloops so I can go skating.... it's been too long since I've played shinny.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!


-Josh

Meet, Steve McQueen.

Power.

Well... i have been meaning to get on here for 3 days now.

It is the stormy season here on Quadra, which I have experienced 2 times before but never like this. We have been without power for a total of 35 hours in the past 4 days. One of my favourite things to do is watch the storms from a window. The fir and cedar trees swaying and crackling, the rain literally flying sideways, and the abnormally high tide covering are point bridge in water. You can probably imagine a storm like that would cause major inconveniences at a camp like this but it really hasn't, only mild personal discomfort.

Seeing as the group on Thursday cancelled due to storming... they will be rescheduled for next week, Lord willing... This weekend currently we have our own Father/Daughter camp coming in, it will be a treat.

December, well... i can't actually believe it's almost that month again. Carol Sing on the 16th and a Grad banquet some other day and those are the only groups we have in. There will be a lot of Christmas decorating, Homewood letter sending, and branch cleanup.

I should probably tell my parents first... But I trust my blog world just as much... I am a father.
My roommate Joel and I recently, without any protection, purchased a baby Guinea Pig named Steve McQueen. She is black and white(don't know how that happens) is a troublemaker, and likes couch climbing. A picture of this joyous occasion is soon to come.

-Josh

ps. Please continue to pray for me, November cabin fever is getting to me. Somebody pass the Vitamin D

Pool Sharks.

This week has been the most entertaining. Homewood is hosting a group from downtown Vancouver called Carnegie. http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/carnegiecentre/ . Their Volunteers have been here only once before, so they are fairly new to Homewood. As a gift to the Volunteers, Carnegie will send them to Homewood for a full week. Most of them over 40 years old, they mostly play pool, go canoeing by themselves, sleep, and smoke... a lot. Needless to say I think i'm addicted to second hand smoke. Us as Homewood staff only need to do dishes and cleaning for this week but we are called by the good Lord to do more. Hanging out with the "campers", listening to outrageous stories from downtown Vancouver, and occasionally losing a game of pool, are our unspoken duties. At the Carnegie Centre there is a very, very well used pool table that most of them practice on so really none of us staff really stand a chance although Joel, Mark, and I have been practicing quite a bit lately. We still get skunked. Carnegie is here till tomorrow and then gone, the Homewood staff will get a much needed weekend off.

This week, in between dishes and coffee breaks I have been working on a project. If I had taken "before" pictures I would post them but sadly... I dropped the ball. I've been organizing and doing renos to our old "printshop" which is located in the back of our office, in hopes that it will one day become my new home. No promises have been made yet but, Irwin... if you're reading this... it would make my work feel more worthwhile if I one day got to look back, while i'm sitting in my new home and reflected on the work I had done to it. Lets be honest though, i'm really not that picky.


-Josh

Hey, So my Contract has been signed! Praise God!
We had Quilters in this last week! It was quite a lot of fun! Mostly we just had to setup and clean up meals, and then clean bathrooms constantly. The Ladies that came are all delights and I was very surprised at how fast they can quilt!
The weather on Quadra has gone downhill lately, and most of the leaves are on the ground. Snow... soon.
The Pictures I took on my vacation will be up later on facebook and some will be on here.
Now I am rambling...

Love you all!

ps. My Movember stache is coming in nicely! it's gross.

Hey Friends! I'm Back at camp! My Vacation was awesome! The Reunion and the 50th anniversary party were phenomenal! Love my family so much and it was good to finally see them after all these years. I don't how many more times like this we are going to have as a full family... before us grand kids start having children and our own family reunions... sad to think about, but at the same time it's one of my favourite things to look forward to!

Adoptive family camp just ended this weekend! Normally it is the most frustrating camp of them all, you can probably guess why. I think it's because of the troubling backgrounds all of the kids come from, and partially the parenting styles of families that adopt! Which makes it sound like I have something against my parents style... Lanny... you honestly have the best family to grow up in... so glad we got to keep you. :) Also... shout out to my parents and Liz for putting up with me in a mini-van for 2 weeks.

A sweet update... I officially have my 5 year contract on my desk as we speak... I haven't signed it yet. I'm praying. I know it's the right decision... that doesn't mean I'm not nervous.

God is who I follow and Love, Camp is my passion.

-Josh

Heyo! Once again, I'm sorry... I'm terrible at keeping you up to date!

This fall has been going well! The work at Homewood is slowly coming as we get more groups in and find more maintenance projects to do. We keep pretty busy!

One of the things on my mind is my long term situation here at Homewood. The fact that i've started raising my own support and it's going very slowly. The fact that every day I work here it feels more right and I love it more and more. I couldn't be happier about this!
Please keep praying!

I've actually been in the U.S. since October 17th. Our family went to a reunion last week, and have been spending time since then, with family and traveling around Michigan and Wisconsin. My Grandparents actually just had their 50th anniversary, which was very exciting!
So this is my vacation for the year! It is very relaxing, and I am finding it quite easy to not do things for two weeks... which is surprising.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my life.

I will keep trying to do better.

-Josh

Update

Life after summer.
Summer is over.
Fall has begun.
Except the weather doesn't seem to understand that. This past week has been the hottest week of this entire year.

If you didn't already know, this summer I was in charge of the CIT(Counselor in training) Boys. I had 14 children of my own. Slept in the same room... shared a bathroom... yes... one bathroom. Worked, played, and learned alongside each one of them. It was AWESOME! Erica Lippit, was the girls leader and had 14 girls of her own.... they had two bathrooms and a large house to live in though, which is necessary for girls. So together asmother and father of the CIT's we had 28 children. Linn Mannegren was our CIT director, and she did a very fine job of it. The 3 of us together were in charge of the CIT's and their work. Dishes, chopping wood, and cleaning bathrooms are the majority of things they had to learn. Along with these jobs, there were various books and a program the CIT's had to go through during study time usually 2 hours a day. The program is built up of 1st year and 2nd year CIT's. The 1st years have to study and do book learning, and the second years get to co-counsel a tent for multiple weeks of the summer. I am proud to say that the second years did mighty fine co-counselling and that all of our 1st years passed their program with flying colours. On top of that, two CIT's asked Jesus to be their personal friend and one and only saviour! PRAISE GOD!! I don't know about you but I think this makes the entire summer worth it! Now the part where I get to keep in contact with them all over the school year and encourage them and pray. Would you please pray that I would be ableto do that successfully? Thanks!

Love them all.

Now that summer is over I am on to other things here at camp. Firstly, a short 4 day vacation to Tofino, where we (Joel, Sam, Linn, and myself) went surfing and camping and just had a great time... soo relaxing but at the same time very tiring... surfing 4-5 hours a day.

Back at camp. The odd jobs start.

Right now I am loving the odd jobs! There aren't too many staff at camp, so it is quiet and I get to work and think! No distraction. There is actually a lot to get ready for this fall and winter. I love it!

This past Saturday there was a wedding here at Homewood. I was asked to volunteer so I did the right thing and said yes! I know a few people that were there and I know the couple cooking... but I actually had never met anyone in the wedding party.

Homewood was all dressed up.

The happy couple.

.

Things to pray for?

The Winter staff. Natalie, Taryn, Holly, Joel, Mark, and myself.

Sammy J... my roommate and best friend of 2 and a half years...going to school starting January... luckily it's only a 6 month program and then he's back at camp for the rest of his life. :)

I could use some prayer for my support raising. I have to be honest, it's not going so well so far. I have 2 months left of full pay from camp and then it's on to partial support from you guys!

God never ceases to amaze and teach me things! I love what I do and I love him!

And I guess I love you guys!

-Josh

If you ever want to call me... please do...
1-250-202-5241

Hello! Josh here again!

Life here at camp is great! People are sick though...

It just happens to be the last week for the CIT's and 75% of them are sick. It's not good. The good news is though, they are all in good spirits about it!

This week has been tiring for me physically. I've been sick, and on top of that I had a 7 foot woodstack fall on my head covering me except one arm... before that I pulled a few muscles in my upper body tubing. Needless to say I am in pain.

Seeing as I can't concentrate... I will give up this post. :D

I will post again after graduation day for the CIT's... and tell you about them all.

Love you all!

Once again I find myself with little time to blog, but that's ok because this one is the most important for how little it will be.

All I have are praises for this blogpost!

Ronni, one of our CIT girls, gave her life to Christ 2 days ago! PRAISE GOD!! I am not going to lie... this makes the entire summer worth it!

5 of our staff, including one of our CIT's got baptized tonight! PRAISE GOD!! so encouraging!

I don't think I could bring you better news.

-Josh

ps. Family Camp number two starts tomorrow... the biggest camp of the year! 150 people, plus 65 staff. Yippee! CIT's and I get to do dishes and clean up after them. pray for us!

pps. Staff retreat ended today, and I don't think I am any more rested then when I started staff retreat! please pray.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Hello!
I am so busy! Wish I could post more. The one day off I had, I went surfing... soo.. :D

I am doing well! Camp life... just awesome as usual! My boys are getting the hang of things around here and all is going smoothly! We Just finished a big 4 camp week. Today we have the Single Moms family camp starting. Junior Sailing started yesterday! Next weekend is staff retreat... and it will be well needed.

I have 14 boys in total that i have to watch over. I can't confirm it but I think all but 2 have asked Jesus into their hearts! This excites me! I have 2 to really work on this summer!!

Prayer request for me? Strength... I am so tired and weak right now. My 2 unsaved boys. Relationships with the staff I don't get along with so well. Praise items... kids are being saved at Homewood this year! We've heard it from our councillors. Even if one or two is all we get this summer... it is a worthwhile summer!

Love you all!

During staff retreat I will give you a more detailed post!

-Josh

HEY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!! Back from CIT camp and am so stoked for the summer!! Woodsman was awesome!! Everyone stayed safe except for one concussion(not me). He is ok though.
The Kids really opened up on the last night of fireside and that is what it's all about.

I am already getting shot into things with my boys and it's pretty intense! Late nights... lots of dares... maybe some injuries... pretty stoked!! I am going to be tired after this summer! pray for me!
I am going to be pretty busy this summer but I will try my best to post a few more times.

Update on me? I am doing so well! God is good! I am fairly healthy. I am blessed!! No worries!!


Talk to ya later

Love you all!!

-Josh

Hello friends and family!! Just a quick drop in here!! I am going out to Woodsman Camp today for 8 days of awesome CIT camp. The Summer has officially begun!

I can't wait for the fun times I will have with my CIT boys. Please pray for us as we learn and grow together.

I could also use prayer... I got a little owwey on my foot. Playing soccer the other day I slid for a ball and ended up with a foot under a chain link fence... sliced my heel open pretty good! It was definitely it need of some stitches but because of where it was and the amount of dead skin on feet... they probly wouldn't have stitched it. And besides... who wants stitches when you're going out into the bush for 8 days... not me. :) I am walking on it and it's bandaged but the blood kinda seeped through. Please pray.

All of our staff are here at camp now! Praise the Lord. It took way too long.

I love you all!!

Talk to you again in 8 days!!


-Josh

Sometimes we're so busy praying for other peoples needs that we forget to ask for direction in our own lives. This whole spring i've been praying for the CIT program here at camp and hoping that God would lead awesome people to fill the roles. Never thought that one of those persons would be me!
Yes, that's correct... I am taking on the role of CIT guys leader this summer and i am so very excited!! This means that i will be in charge and responsible for 14 young men(ages 15-17) for the whole summer. The prospect of changing these guys lives is so thrilling to me... I can't wait to be a part of it.
As for the other roles that needed to be filled this summer, we found a CIT Director and as of yesterday a CIT Girls leader. This summer is falling into place and God is surprising us in so many neat ways. My only hope is that you support us in prayer for the CIT program as they are our potential future staff, and the CIT program is long, tiring, and stressful at times... but so... so worth it.

GOD IS GREAT!

Staff training starts tomorrow. I am involved a little bit with teaching some things. Exciting.


OH YA! My parents and Lanny were here at camp for a week. My Dad was speaking for Homeschool family camp. It was a blast! I know that he did well and people got something from his talks. God is working through my parents so much these days... i really respect them. Lanny had a fabulous time here as well.. and i'm sure made a lot of new friends. A supportive family is so essential in life... I have been blessed.


FATHERS DAY! Happy fathers day dad! thanks for always being there for me.


-Josh

Love you all!

Hello again friends and family! I'm sorry i haven't posted in a while. It's mainly because I've been procrastinating but a little because I wanted my first post to sink in a bit and give people time to think about it. I am currently at my parents home in Kamloops taking a break from the busy camp life.

Spring time is the most busy and we hardly get breaks or even time to breathe. This spring is going by way too fast, only 2 weeks till summer staff training. What has been nice in the last couple weeks is all the new staff arriving... they bring energy, exuberance, and life to our crew!

Some things I have been learning in the past little while.

I'm not indestructible. I do need breaks. God has taught me that only through him will my energy last. When I do things... I do them with all my energy and heart... but... that energy has to wear out sometime.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield, I trust him with all my heart, he helps me and my heart is filled with Joy.

I've been learning to see God in the little things. Even if I live on an island away from a lot of things... God is still moving in the little things..in a BIG way!

Psalm 89:9 Who is like you, lord God almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

This summer is going to be so much fun and i can't wait to see how God will change peoples lives... including mine! I will try to do my best and keep posting consistently throughout.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

The Lodge restoration project. (we are trying to restore our lodge while keeping the rustic atmosphere... a.k.a. redo the carpet and bathrooms. The funds aren't coming in very well for that. Pray that it will be on peoples hearts!)

Summer positions. Not all of our CIT and Directing position are filled for the summer and it's getting down to the wire now! Pray that people will open up there summer, sacrifice, and realize the importance of camp in kids lives.

Staff health. Flu bug is going around camp... not pretty. I picked a good time to come to Kamloops.
pray that our staff will heal quickly and that sickness wouldn't affect the job that we do.

Patience and calmness for me as I step out in faith these next couple years. Not that I have many expenses, but financial security is something we all worry about. Once again i'll be raising my own support. Pray that the right peoples hearts and wallets will be stirred. :)


LOVE you you guys soo much!!

-Josh

Hello

Hello friends and family! I guess this is my first official post on this new style of blog! If you know me... you'll know that this blog is going to be all over the place :). So what I am trying to aim for is a blog that is more of a newsletter and update on my life through my missionary escapades. This past year I took on the role of Assistant Program Director here at Camp Homewood. With it comes the responsibility of raising my own support money. Meaning I am trusting on friends and family like you to keep me going!! The process here at Homewood is a fairly simple one. The first 6 months of my stint, Homewood will be providing a monthly salary for me. For the next 6 months Homewood will be providing 75% of my "goal". The 6 months after that 50% of my goal. Next 6 months 25% of my goal, and finally after 2 years... I will be fully on my own support from donations from people like you. For now I am saying that I will be here for the next 5 years. I can't be the judge of this though as you know because God may lead me to other things. I am hoping he keeps me here. I want to be as honest as I can with all of you. I love what I am doing here, working with kids and teens outdoors. I am stepping out on limb here asking for support, mainly because for the majority of my life I have had everything provided for me and God has blessed myself and my family. The prospect of not knowing what is going to happen financially for me on a monthly basis scares me but at the same time is so thrilling and awesome... I can't wait to put that kind of trust in God. Can you put that kind of trust in God and step out on a limb with me in faith?

Love, Josh

Changes

You will be seeing some changes around in the next couple days. Changes for the good. Hopefully you like them. I will.

First off I need to apologize for being incompetent and naive in my blogging skills.

..... flippen eh... I can't do this....


I am not meant for blogging.


I am done.

Island Inspiration had it's 3 year anniversary last week.

I have failed the blogging community... and myself.

As most of you know I went on tour with Homewood. Irwin(general director) and I went to various Universities and colleges in Alberta and Saskatchewan trying to recruit staff for this coming summer. It was a learning experience for me. Learned a lot about the other camps in Canada. Irwin and I learned a lot about each other as well, which was very good if I am going to be staying at Homewood for a few years.
I am in charge of getting paintball into Homewood and it is pretty fun. i have been doing research and getting info from other camps that do paintball. I am pretty excited for the prospect of it all.

I have been influencing my room mates as of late and it is awesome. I have had a sweet change of heart about life in the past little while and I like to think it is showing.

I am reading the book Crazy Love right now, it is sooo good.

I don't have much of an update for you.

I bought an iPod Touch today... I am very blessed... and excited. :D

Skippers Training.

So I got asked 3 days before the start date, if I wanted to go on a week long Skippers Sailing training excursion. Obviously I said yes.
Kyle Schuurman, Sam Norman, Ben Louter, and myself hopped in a Homewood van and headed down to Nanaimo. Ben Hendricks, our sailing instructor/salty seadog extraordinare was there to meet us.

The first night we slept on the boat in the Nanaimo marina. The next morning it all began.
So we cast off our lines and headed out to the open seas on a 34 foot, 1998 Hunter Sailboat. All of us with the aspiration to one day become a salty seadog aswell, we listened to Captain Hendricks every word.

Day 1
Nanaimo Harbour - Dodd Narrows - Pirate Cove (docking practice) - Telegraph harbour(Thetus Island)
This day was a get to know your boat day. We all took turns sailing, docking, motoring, checking the engines, reading Current/Tide tables, understanding charts, and covering are heads from the snow.
Stopped in at a Pub and had chili and stew and a nice cup a joe.

Day 2
Telegraph Harbour - Houston Chanel - Ganges Harbour (Saltspring)
This day was more charting and tide tables. Rules of the Ocean are hard to remember, traffic signs aswell.
Got to Ganges marina. Went to Moby's pub and had a well needed greasey burger and fries and watched the Canucks game!

Day 3
Ganges(Saltspring) - Montague - Conover cove.
This was a full day. Started out with hours of COB(Crew OverBoard) procedures. This is where we are just practicing our sailing... and then our instructor will throw a COB practice flag overboard when no one is looking and wont tell us. This is stressful, but we all carried out the procedures well and in timely fashion.
After COB drills.... we went to Montague Bay and practiced our anchoring and mooring.
Made our way up to Conover Cove where we stayed for the night. This was the only non marina we stayed at. This meant we had to cook our own supper. Definitely the funnest night of the trip. The Racoons. :D
Having supper... look out the companionway and there is a friend looking down into the cabin wanting some yummy tortelini alfredo . We chased it out and off the dock. Soon this little critter was joined by two more trying to get into our boat. Kicking time. We set up a trail of noodles... and hid. I was ready... stretched my legs out.could barely contain my laughter. Racoon comes into view... I lunge. the racoon saw me. I was a little too late. I wanted a mid body hit so it would go into the ocean... but I ended up getting a full on bum punt. Needless to say the Racoon did a few spins and hit the edge of the dock. They didn't come back onto our boat. :D

Day 4
Conover Cove - Trincomale Chanel - Silva Bay(Gabriola)
Test day. Did some sailing. did a 2 hour test down below the below. yuck.
Needless to say we all passed our test all of us above 80%. A side note... our instructor Ben is also a PCOC instructor so i did that test aswell and am offically aloud to drive Motor Boats. Even though we passed our skippers test... Ben didn't think that Sam, Ben, and I were experienced or confident enough to take noob sailors out. So he gave us our Competant Crew member ticket. which just means we are AWESOME 1st mates. :D I am not upset. I had so much fun and learned lots. I will take it again for sure in a year or so.

Day 5
Silva bay - Nanaimo
This was our best day for wind and the best sailing by far. 15-25 knots of wind and 5 foot swells. We got our boat speed up to 8.8 knots. Which is the fastest I have been on a sailboat. Our boats at homewood are only really capable of 5-7.5 soo that was exciting!

Got to Nanaimo a little disappointed but in good spirits.



Got home on Friday night... and began working an hour after getting back. Left for Comox saturday evening. Went to Sam's nana's house for sam's mothers birthday. Huge dinner, white wine, mmmm. Got on a plane the next morning at 7. Met irwin in Calgary. flew to Edmonton... waited... flew to Grand Prairie. Drove to Sexsmith in the worst driving conditions I have ever been in. Here we are at PRBI Camp days trying to recruit students older than me to come to camp. hahah oh joys.
Last night all the camp reps had to get up in front of the whole school and tell them about our camps and why they are so unique. Well... I volunteered myself to do this... just about threw up hahah... so proud of myself. I think I got the right points across. --->
I
This is going to be a fun 2 weeks. See my new schedule --------- up, over there. I will try and keep it updated as best as I can.


Love you guys!!!


-Josh

This may be the busiest, most exciting month of my life. Starting monday I am going on a 5 day Skipper training course. Pretty sweet. Then two days after that I am going on tour with Irwin to colleges and universities to promote Camp Homewood. January after that is packed with camps. So excited.

God is good.


I did my first stool sample today and took it in. I have no idea when the results will come back but I still have upset stomachs so. Taking the second one in tomorrow, then I am going to go to Wal-Mart and buy a large bag of frozen fruit and make myself a large smoothie in my new blender.

Today, I spent alot of money. The right amount. Lots of groceries... a new clothing rack... a real clothing rack. A blender. Tupperware. new toques.

God is good.


Unless something drastic happens in the next two months.. I will not be going on the Nicaragua trip I was planning on going on in march. Just not a wise choice... money wise... time wise. I really want to. But there is this gut feeling saying no. The guys are buying tickets this month. in order to get it cheaper. Hopefully Andrew and I can get something together and head down... maybe to mexico... all inclusive? I like to think God gives us weird feelings to stop us from doing things so.

God is good.


I don't know if I have ever told you about my dreams. Sometimes I have prophecies. I have had 5 of them so far in my life. Example... today in the hospital. About a year ago I had this dream that I was in a hospital waiting room with a paper bag on a bench beside me...I look down at my line number... 78.. and 79... weird I must have taken two numbers... guess I get two turns. Everybody was staring at me. creepers. and then the dream ended.
Well.. the same thing happened today... picked two numbers. 78 and 79. waited in the hospital. felt like everyone was staring at me because I had poop in a bag. It was the exact same hospital... I had never seen the hospital before my dream or my visit today. Someday I hope to have a prophecy that actually has some sort of importance... but for now i will settle for crappy dreams. :)

2011 and beyond.

My news years resolutions.
1. Not eat fast food for a year. (Timmy's and subway not included)
2. Limit my Coffee intake.
3. Drink more water
4. No alcohol
5. Clean up my entertainment watching habits.

These are pretty realistic.

But it's highly unlikely that I will end up accomplishing them.


Resolution: A solution, accommodation, or settling of a problem, controversy, etc.


I have already heard of atleast 5 people who have broken their new years resolutions... good gracious people. Even the pastor this morning was trying to give up coffee for a year. Boom two days in... but lets be honest... a pastor that doesn't drink coffee? pff.

I love how enthusiastic people get about changing their lives in January. It takes the year end for people to realize their sins and everything else wrong with themselves. Then they make promises to themselves that they probly wont keep. So I have thought up two things i will think of instead of a "New Years Resolution".

1. A declaration of what I need to change, do better, and/or pursue.
Declaration:1. The act of declaring; announcement
2. A positive, explicit, or formal statement; proclamation.
3. Something that is announced, avowed, or proclaimed.

2. To persevere through whatever it takes to keep those declarations happening and true.
Perseverance: Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Both of these things involve God.

So. I solemnly Declare to...
... Pursue God in an open, friendly, loving, caring, relationship. And stop pretending he is just a guy upstairs.
... Read his word more. Not just read... analyze...break down... and apply.
... Love better.
...Put others first
...get rid of all my gossipy and bitter ways
... Take care of myself spiritually and physically.
... Stop letting my mind wander.

It's a tall order I know... which comes to point 2.

Persevering through it all with help from Christ and you.
The only way I can do any of those things is by being in God's word daily.

Accountability. Something I have come to appreciate this past year. being close ...very close..with 3 guys who are also pursuing an awesome relationship with God. When you try and accomplish anything on your own... you will fail.

James 4:4 NIV
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Being God's enemy is probly something you don't want to be. This verse has really struck me this month.

So I encourage you... don't make a new years resolution you CAN'T keep. Make a declaration to God that you CAN keep