Day 19 - The amazing race.

click on the comic to see it bigger

Let's just cut to the meat of today's adventures!

Practice was cancelled tonight in Connecticut because Justin is sick--just like everyone else who got hit hard by sudden drop in temperature.

Alex picked me up around 4:30 this evening so we could go get my car from the shop, and then meet up with Adam over at the Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall.  All of the repairs are done on my vehicle, and it's running like new!  However, I still need to bring it back in tomorrow to get it inspected--since the car needs to be driven about 30 miles for the sensors to reset and the check engine codes to disappear.

I'm not sure why I agreed to go to the mall to hang out.  To be honest, I don't really like being at the mall.  It's an oppressive place.  Consumerism and homogenization of goods is hard to be around in concentrated doses.  Lindsey and I both have gotten panic attacks and migraine headaches from just being at the mall on a crowded day--and I'm definitely not looking forward to Christmas time, and what that does to our local shopping centers.  I also hate the idea of being a "townie", and the mall is the most townie place a person can go to hang out.  Still, I had a good time with Alex and Adam, and things were pretty slow, since it's Monday.

To explain today's comic--during our adventures, Adam and I noticed an open service door in the food court.  I challenged him and Alex to a race down the corridor, but Alex declined.  It didn't matter, though, because 30 seconds later Adam and I were running down the hall and out into the parking lot via a cargo entryway.  The notion of getting in trouble for going places we weren't supposed to go didn't really mean anything until we saw a security truck waiting on the other side of the exit.  Luckily no one was in it, or we might have gotten--I dunno--a stern talking to?  Maybe a fine scolding?  I'm not really sure what the jurisdiction of a mall security officer is.  However, I do remember being shadowed by a security officer once when I was 17.  Dustin, Eric, and I went to Danbury late at night to see a movie, totally forgetting that there is no movie theater at the Danbury Mall--we got harassed for walking around the parking lot late at night, looking for the theater entrance.

But that's a story for another night.

The highlight of today was how much time I spent focusing on God and His graciousness to me!  Let me give you the rundown.

After the mall, I went with Alex to "guy's bible study" over at his friend Nick's house.  It was a GREAT experience.  There were only four guys there tonight, other than me--Gabe, Alex, Nick, and Patrick.  It started with Alex leading worship, followed by some honest prayer time.  After worship, Nick turned out the lights and we all just spoke and prayed about what was on our hearts.  We asked God to continue to build up our relationships with Him, and to help us overcome our sins and mistakes.  I really felt like the heart of the prayer tonight was about living a life where we are humble, so that Christ can be exalted.  If we were jars of water, we'd want to empty ourselves out so that God could fill us up with His love and goodness!  Not only was the worship and prayer time incredible, but there was also dinner waiting for us when we got to the house!  And it was gooood.

When I got home, I got even more bible study time, talking to Lindsey about the gospel of Matthew, and what it means to be holy!  "Holiness" means being like God.  God loves us unconditionally and without expectation--and he gave his son Jesus to die for us.  So we are called, in response, to be holy like God--to love others unconditionally and without expectation in the same way God does!  Unexpectedly, in the middle of my conversation with Lindsey, I got a strange phone call.  It was Patrick from The Gear--a venue in Franklin, Indiana.

I only talked briefly with Pat when we played at The Gear this summer, but I guess he kept my number in his phone.  Even though he was initially calling to see what The Comeback Tour's tour plans were for the winter, we ended up talking and praying about some anxieties that he's been having since he moved to Springfield, Missouri to go to college.  I can't thank God enough that he's used The Comeback Tour to build lasting relationships with so many people all around the country--and it was humbling to have Pat tell me that our band was one of the few "genuine" bands he's ever met.  I know it's only because of God working through us that we are any good at all.

The last highlight of the night was talking to my good friend John Ardrey.  John is a great guy, who really loves Christ.  We went to high-school together, but we sort of lost touch once I got to college.  He's the one who carried on the "band geek" legacy after I left for school.  I'm hoping we can talk more often now that we're back in touch.  I'll be praying that we do.

"The froth is the best part!  And this is like PURE FROTH!"

God really showed himself to me today, and used my time fellowshiping and praying with others to break my heart and help me see Him more clearly.  Now I just need continue to TRUST that He has everything under control--which is always the difficult next step to a day like today!