Yesterday, Jordan resident Melody Monyok stopped by the office of your local newspaper, the Jordan Independent, to talk about and show me photographs of her church mission trip to Haiti. It is the second time Monyok has gone on a mission trip to Haiti, both times with Friendship Church of Prior Lake. This year, Monyok wrote this about the trip:

I have a lot of great memories and fun times in Haiti this
year.

Along with other members of my church congregation, I have been going through a simple exercise -- reading a daily Bible verse, making a request of God, and then praying for various people in the congregation.

Today is the last day of a month-long process, and I'm sorry to see it go. I've felt like a difference maker by being devoted to a joint cause with the rest of my church body. They surely will benefit from my work, and we all will be better for our collective prayers.

The verses assigned for today and yesterday hit me square in the heart.

On a daily basis, believers and nonbelievers alike struggle with one main demand made by God -- he requires his followers to live on his terms.

Recently, a friend told me he plans to live on his own terms, not necessarily by what the Bible teaches. Although he professes a belief in Christianity, he knows that his lifestyle isn't focused on God. His plan is to repent on his death bed.

This morning, before coming to work, I read 1 Peter 5. 

It's interesting how the writer transitions from teaching pastors how to instruct their congregations to teaching all of us how to be submissive and humble. My favorite part:

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives graces to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may life you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

I've always wanted to go to Egypt. See the pyramids, ride a camel, maybe get into a tomb via a tour guide who knows something the others don't.

Last week, one of my Bible readings was Ephesians 6. Boy, what a powerful reminder of God. Here's part of what I read:

I'll be honest with you -- I struggle with some of what the Apostle Paul has written in Ephesians 5, one of my Bible readings earlier this week.

I've been doing a poor job of studying the Bible, but that doesn't mean I haven't been touched by God lately.

For several weeks now, pastor-in-training Justin and I have been using "1 Timothy & Titus: Fighting the Good Fight" by John Stott.

This blog is a little out of order -- I'm skipping right to Titus chapter 2 -- but I don't care.

The weekend of Christmas, I went to my parents’ house to see family and friends in Platteville before I drove to my grandparents’ house in Sheboygan (about a three hour drive away). My family left Platteville the night of Dec. 23. I spent that night with friends and left the morning of Dec. 24. I wanted to get to my grandparents early enough to spend the whole day with family, so I left Platteville at about 7 a.m.