Cornered and overpowered with words and honesty.

I guess I consider myself a decent writer. I can usually paint a pretty vivid picture in an audiences mind using both abstract or concrete sentences. The writing I do here isn't writing. I'll assure you that. I think my favorite abstract idea I've done in writing recently has to be a description of tree's in the wind (I'm quoting myself, don't judge me. God gives me the ability to write, so per se, I'm quoting God)

"She can’t help but become hypnotized by nature’s beauty and the soft raindrop melody the treetops forever play as the wind composes her score."

I try to emphasize sentence fluency. If you can't read through a whole piece of literature fluently, it automatically turns the reader off. So that's my first emphasis. I think the second most important factor is word choice. When I do a serious piece of writing, I DETEST using words that have low comprehensive levels. It makes me sound unreliable! If you've ever received a text from me, you can see that what I value in writing also applies to texting. spelling annd gramer is a huge thing 2 me 2

haha

I think anybody who writes has to remove themselves from their own reality, and put themselves into their subjects small world. That's how I begin EVERYTHING I write about. I try to be more colorful in my writing when I'm engaged in dialogue simply because I'm not writing in place of someone else....I'm writing exactly how I feel. I'm able to grasp what I'm going through, how I'm feeling, what I'm thinking, and turn them into a scaled down model of any given experience. It isn't easy, but it's fun.

When God speaks to me, I'm often left speechless. I just don't know what to say. But when I do find words to say, they're usually very simple and small statements like "take control" or "you are my Savior." Or a simple "Thank you, I love you." When I hear Him speak to me, it's enough to bring me to my knees in tears exclaiming how much I love Him. So it's not out of the ordinary for me to be rendered speechless when I hear from God.

But today was the first time a human said something to me so comforting, relieving, honest, beautiful, and loving I am still, to this very moment, left with nothing else to say. And the things I said back in response were things this person already knew. I felt defeated, as if I were cornered and overpowered with words and honesty.

I can tell you one thing though...I love being cornered and overpowered with words and honesty by this person.
There's just nowhere else for us to go after that.

HA!! This is so cool!

These are the most used words in my blog...I guess that represents me for the most part...what'chu think? When you read this, do you see me?

title="Wordle: My Blog"> src="http://wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/84693/My_Blog"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd"
>

Well, anyways, today was the only day I decided to bring my computer around campus. Guess what happened....that hurricane decided it wanted to try and ruin my computer. HAHAHA!!!! But I had been informed about this unfortunate event coming, which then made me react. I TOOK AN UMBRELLA! Seems like imminent victory for Correy, devastating defeat for Hurricane right? WRONG! The Hurricane must have sabotaged my umbrella while I was fast asleep in the night because when I opened the umbrella, IT WAS INVERTED!!!! No protection from the wetness. BUT ALAS! Thanks to civilization and their desire to cram as many buildings into one place as physically possible, I was able to do a sort of quick waddling like jog to the next building. HAHAHA! I win.

I also GOT TO PLAY THE PIANO TODAY!!! WOOOOT! The sweet melodic sound that is created when a hammer strikes a tightly stretched cord! BEAUTIFUL INVENTION! Ultimately, it's God's invention of the ear that is beautiful, because without it, all I would experience from it would be a slight tickle of a vibration in the air.

For all who read this, I really need more people to join me in prayer for my new mission field as well as the one in Killeen. I think I'm going to start going on prayer walks at the night...because I usually end up wasting a lot of time doing random, meaningless tasks and I think most of you do too....I mean c'mon it's summer....what else are you doing? So I think I'll start my walks at around 10:30-11ish, feel free to join....I don't know how long I should go though....I guess until I feel like there's nothing left to pray about...but I've experienced answered prayer...so I know this won't be a waste of my time or yours. God doesn't let his people down. We'll be affecting communities that are in dire need of our Lord Jesus, while at the same time building and furthering the Kingdom of God. So please, if you don't know what to say...just pray that God's Will is done here in the Third Ward. I feel a restless Holy Spirit striving for the world outside of my heart.

And I'm not trying to encourage you in praying for what only surrounds my life here in Houston and in Killeen. I want you guys to join with me at this time because I believe we're a generation of Christians who don't sincerely, and wholeheartedly spend time with God through prayer. Well, I believe that because that's kind of how I am...maybe I'm just a horrible Christian...but I doubt I'm the only one out of all the people I know who spend little to no time at all in their day with God. I want to encourage you guys to join me so we can all really just continue building a more intimate relationship with our Creator. So if you're down...message, text, call, write a letter, send me a postcard, send your owl, I don't care how you do it....just let me know you're in.

I'm kind of all written out...

Typing up a full 4 page movie analysis on what could possibly be one of the most puzzling thematic films ever produced in only two days kind of makes me sick of writing....but I still love doing it.

Well I apologize to the ones who read my blog every now and then...I told you guys I would post what it was I did on Saturday on Sunday...but I didn't....so yeah.

Anyways, a lot has gone on in these 5 short days, and I want to share with you some of the highlights!!! On Saturday, I went back to downtown with intentions of getting a brand new board so I could finally skate the spots in Downtown instead of just drooling over them....well, I needed to find this skateshop I had heard of called A-front. All I knew was that it was near the Aquarium restaurant just right under I-45. So as I was walking in that general direction...I noticed some people skating at this one spot across the street from Tranq. So I came up to one of them and asked them where I could find A-front.

Well, you know when you start talking to someone but you don't hear a word they say because they either, look oddly familiar and the whole time they're talking, you're trying to figure out WHO IT IS YOU'RE TALKING TO!!! Or they look like a celebrity and you wait for just the right moment to tell them who they look like and ask them if they get that from a lot of people. Well the guy I was talking to looked a lot like this skateboarder named Guru....he's been in a lot of skateboarding mags and so, the whole time he was talking, I was debating on whether or not I should ask him if his name was Guru....if it wasn't, I would end up looking like an idiot...if I didn't ask, I would never really know if it was Guru or not. So I didn't ask and I went on my way to find the skateshop....to make this long part of the story short, I ended up heading towards the skateshop but turning around to go back downtown because the further I went down the street, the more ghetto it became. I ended up going back to the place where I was given directions and then I was given the chance to ask his name...and it was in fact Guru. And a guy from Temple was there too. Anyways, I eventually decided I should try to find the skateshop again....I WAS TIRED OF THIS WALKING....So about a mile of walking later, I found it, set myself up a board and then started to head back to the bus terminal. On my way back I started getting super hungry...so I turned around to go back towards the inner city to go to Burger King....an oasis in the desert. Seriously, it's the only place open past 5 p.m.. So on my way there, I pass by this homeless man. He was sitting upright on a curb sleeping. His body looked as though he had just walked out of a concentration camp...his body was covered in what looked like lashes, he was covered in smog and dirt, his beard was matted...as well as his hair. So I continued on my way to Burger King. All I thought was, "Ah well, he's just a hobo." God's thoughts were different. As the space grew larger between the homeless man and I, the more I heard God speaking to me telling me to turn around. It's as if God used each inch to pierce my heart, injecting it with conviction...the further I got, the more my heart wrenched. I finally stopped and turned around. Following the Holy Spirit's command, I asked the man if he'd like something to eat. The emptiness on his face filled up with radiant joy. That's when I heard God tell me, "You see Correy, this isn't just some hobo, he's a child of mine, who I love very dearly." Moved with God's compassion, I was given the chance to share with this man, the message of Jesus Christ. By the end of our dinner and talk, I believe I saw tears hanging on for dear life, clinging onto his eyelids. I think he was trying so hard not to cry...

His name is Richard and about 12 years ago, he lost his job as a bricklayer and ever since then, he's been on the streets of Houston. Please pray for this man. Help him find the Way, the Truth, and Life.

Another thing I need prayer for is that I utilize EVERY opportunity God gives me in my mission field here in Houston. Because sometimes, I just don't have faith in God. In fact, every opportunity we pass up to share the Gospel to the lost, we don't have faith in God. Our fears become so large, it blinds us from seeing how much larger God's love is.

Well, I'll keep you guys posted on the mission field here in Houston.

Actually....

I'll tell you tomorrow! FIRST THING IN THE MORNING!!! How's that sound? Smashing!

Here's a bigger version

Longest walk ever

I honestly don't think I've ever walked 7.5 miles before...I saw a lot of things! Met some cool people. I'll tell you all about it tonight, I think I need to shower.

A lot of people tend to get really cynical towards the people that surround UofH's campus. A lot of people tell me to watch myself when I'm in that area. How can I be attentive to God's voice if I'm too busy paying too much attention to myself? I don't instigate people to beat me up, I don't carry around a lot of expensive stuff (but when I carry my camera, it's in a lunch box type of carrying bag so it's kind of like urban camouflage) so if one day people decide they want to jump me for whatever reason...I know there'll be a reason for it and I know there'll be an opportunity to share the Gospel.

Anyways, the neighborhood surrounding UofH isn't exactly Bel-aire status. I'd say it resembles a housing project in New Orleans. But today was the third time I rode the bus to downtown, and every time I get on it, I'm usually welcomed with a exceptionally polite bus driver and then unwelcomed with about 30 of the nastiest glares you could ever see. I usually sit in the front of the bus, one time I sat in the back, but when I sit in the front...I look back and see brokenness, despair, loneliness, defeat, rebellion. And almost every time, I get this feeling...I don't know if it's the Holy Spirit whispering in my ear or if it's just one of my ridiculous day dreams...I get the feeling I should start a worship service on the bus...like just sporadically burst into song and start praising God. Paul went around most of the Roman empire preaching the Good News, and through Paul, God affected millions of lives (and if you want to get technical, if it weren't for his faith, Christianity wouldn't be as big as it is now, so in essence, his faith affected trillions of lives). God gave me a voice to praise His name, but the only time I sing is when I'm walking alone and not one person is within 100 yards away from me or in the laundry room that is surrounded by 5 inch thick concrete...

"...Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."
Acts 18:9b, 10

And the part where God says "for I have many people in this city," I actually overheard this woman talking to an older lady how it was Jesus who gave her life and took her away from a horrible life of drugs. Now I just need to learn some heavy southern Gospel!

Instead of blogging

I should be reading my Bible because it's almost dark and I've finished my homework. So enough procrastinating...if you're reading this, chances are you're procrastinating too...SO CLICK THE X ON THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF YOUR SCREEN, PICK UP GOD'S WORD, AND LET GOD'S LOVE SURROUND YOUR SOUL!!!!! :D Goodnight!

Wow...

Government was fun today. We were discussing basic principles of government...that's the part I like because it's highly up for debate. I could go a whole year debating the basic principles of government. We discussed why it is government is so crucial and came up with "humans are naturally self centered and we will do whatever it takes to satisfy our needs." When we're left without any sort of system that gives people a moral structure, we become barbaric, brutal, murderous, and excruciatingly selfish. The teacher gave an example of a stronger kid in class chasing after a buffalo for food, while she made it clear that she wasn't going to chase after one herself. In her example, the situation, the kid that caught the buffalo and left it home, and in the meantime she'd take the buffalo away from his possession because she wasn't strong enough to catch it. The basis of her argument was "I don't care if it's not the right thing to do, I need to eat." Which is probably something most of us would do, I mean, it's survival, being selfish is a natural human quality. I then interjected and said, "Well, it's not like that's the only option. Your left with a choice when it all comes down to it. You have a choice to steal this man's buffalo, or you have a choice to get food for yourself." She then quickly says, "Yes, but acting selflessly goes against our own human nature!!" WOW!! I haven't heard more truth from a classroom lecture out of my combined 12 years of public school than I have today. I actually wrote about it back on my old myspace, how acting selflessly goes against every natural law of a human. I actually hate using the word sin in my discussions, because it automatically creates a wall between the person I'm trying to minister to and, in essence, God. So I use the word selfishness...because the truth is, they are interchangeable words. Think of one sin that isn't self-centered. Anyways, after she said that, I nodded, and let her continue on with the lecture. There goes one opportunity passed up for sharing the Good News. I could have said, "Yes, you're absolutely right, but name me the one person who has defied natural human law...put your trust in Him and He'll give you the ability to undermine your natural law as well."

James Madison once said, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." If more people put their trust in God's hands rather than their own, we would then start to get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God on Earth. Just some encouraging words I'll leave you (and for myself too) with before I go...next time you catch yourself about to act in a very selfish manner, don't do it. Go against what you're about to do and do the EXACT OPPOSITE!!!! You'll start seeing more of how God works rather than man.

iChat

WOOH!!! That thing is so much fun!!!! It's a great tool to stay in touch with the people back at home. I find it kind of hard to stay in touch through email, phone, or anything else...iChat lets you see and hear them. So it's pretty neat...if any of you guys have iChat hit me up, my screen name is Letsgoskate6. So, what random stuff should I do today? I still need to find a church, so if you could pray for that, I would appreciate it.

HOPE YOUR SURGERY GOES WELL EPPY!!!!

Frustration

My computer can't detect my camera's connection!!! So now I guess I'll have to leave all the pictures on my camera until I get back home to figure it out....or dump all the pictures onto the computer at home, and then burn them to a disk, then transfer them onto this computer, then edit them...dang. I'll have something for you to look forward to.

BLOGGING ON A SKYSCRAPER!!!

HAHA!!! I had no goal set for that trip other than going on top of a skyscraper!! Hahaha, that was random. Well, Jonathan didn't go because his mother is bringing him more stuff...but I'm probably going again tomorrow, it all depends on homework though.

The Bus ride was crazy!!! There was 30 people on the bus (including me)...two of whom were white, one mexican, and the rest were African American... (:o I had a 1400 dollar camera in my lap, a computer in my backpack (little did they know), and an iPod in my pocket!!! The entire route from school and back is seriously one of the worst living conditions I have ever witnessed!!! AAAHH! In reality, I wasn't really scared at all...the peace God gives us was what subdued that fear...my life's in His hands...what more could I ask for. Time to eat?

BLOGGING IN MY DORM!!

Am I doing this blogging thing right? Haha, it seems troublesome. It's fun though. Well, I'm looking for a bus route to downtown right now.



At lunch today, I got into the building where they were serving pizza and of course I'm feeling alone. I decided I should just sit by myself, you know...who cares, I'm not here to meet anybody anyways. But everybody was with someone else!!! Except this one kid, so I decided to sit down with him. I started talking with him, and he's one of those kids who isn't self conscience whatsoever. Now, this is something I think we all need to have, but I'm trying to describe him without being rude...he basically doesn't care what he does or says even when most people are making fun of him. Half the time, I think he's blissfully unaware that other people ridicule him. So then I saw this one girl across the room sitting by herself...so I decided to give her some company. When I got there, I saw that she wasn't really alone because the girl she was sitting with was just looking at stands all the organizations had set up. Turns out the girl that was gone follows Christ...so lunch was exciting. I've met two Christians in the short day I've been here!! And what's even better is that God is leading these people to me...I didn't ever once actively search for another Christian...just because I was moved with compassion for the girl sitting alone, I got to meet a really cool Christian.

Well anyways, I'm going back to my dorm to look for a bus route, and I see that same kid I first saw in the auditorium hall where we ate...the first kid I sat with. So I told him what I was about to do, and as I was walking into my dorm room about to shut my door, he says, "Hey do you think I can come?" UGH!!!!! Why? I've been wanting to do this alone for a while. But the way he said it...he just sounded so alone. So the verse that has been popping up into my head all day, kind of the theme for the day, maybe my life...hopefully for my life is Matthew 25:40 "The king will reply 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." So, I'm about to go explore downtown with this kid Jonathan, lets see what God has in store for him!!!

BLOGGING DURING LUNCH

OH MAN!!!!

now I'm gonna go blog on top of a skyscraper!

A Test Drive for Blogging.

So, I'm going to try this out...might be cool, might not...who knows.  I'm doing this right before my first summer class starts at UofH.  I need to start taking pictures...I haven't used my camera since....uhhh....last Wednesday!!!  HOLLA!