Why I Almost Needed a Diaper

The title gives much away, but I can not even begin to express how incredibly awesome my experience of skydiving was today. My brother and I joked before we went that we thought that maybe we should get a diaper just in case: ) Actually I have to say that skydiving wasn’t nearly as scary as driving with my brother Bryan in his Nissan 350Z on the way there.

Why would I jump out of a moving plane you ask? Well, I have always wanted to go skydiving and after reading the following sentence about it, I thought why not today?

“We cannot describe the unique sensations you will feel, but we will tell you that it will be your most exhilarating experience yet!”

After having jumped from a moving airplane at 13,000 feet, free-falling for about a minute at 120 miles per hour, racing to my death if not for the parachute, and seeing all of God’s creation from a heavenly perspective, I would have to say that it was one of the most exhilarating experiences that I’ve had yet.

However, though it was incredibly awesome, I would have to say that I’ve had a few more exciting times in my life. For those of you who are believers, skydiving doesn’t even compare with sharing your faith and seeing God use you in the salvation of a lost soul. For sharing the gospel is the most exhilarating experience apart from my own salvation . . . and it is free! Also, there are a few other experiences I’ve not yet had in life to compare this to (wink, wink) but all in all, on the fun scale, it was definitely a 10+!!

Brentcito bandito

Humbled

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble' (I Peter 5:5).”

As a student of the Training Center (a church based seminary of EVBC), it is mandatory that we attend a certain conference for each of the 3 years before we graduate. As a very theological and doctrinally sound church, going to MacArthur’s Shepherds Conference last year was like putting gas on a fire. The second year however, brings a much different approach, and our course selection has led us to attend the Purpose Driven Pastors Conference at Rick Warren’s Saddleback. I have to say that going into it, I was very unknowingly arrogant and through the course of this week so far, God has been humbling me more than I can imagine!

I am so thankful to the people around me that God has used to help humble me since I am so prone to pride.

Firstly, I guess I should have known that God needed to humble me when about a month ago my second mom Lynne Paasch bought me the book “Humility” by Wayne Mack. I guess I just thought, “cool, another book for my collection,” without thinking about why she gave it to me and that I should read and apply it.

I did go into this conference however, wanting to get all I could get out of it and not trying to bash every single thing I didn’t like. However, I still had an air of pride plastered around me . . . I knew this full well when my good friend Josh Kellso gently encouraged me to not call the campus Disneyland or joke about not wanting to keep the purpose driven bag I had received. We prayed that God would keep our hearts humble and not allow even a hint of pride.

After sitting through the first two sessions though, I was back where I started . . . prideful, full of criticism, and looking forward to ditching the last session and going to the beach. What had happened to the humility I had prayed for? I guess good intentions if not backed by faithfulness and love only yield a pharisaical checked box that simply covers oneself in case of accusations of pride . . . this didn’t work by the way!

At the beach I was humbled yet again by losing a wager with Jerry Smith, which resulted in all but my head being buried in the sand, plus I think I have to wash his car sometime. Following that, I proceeded to put sand down his shorts and this 63 year old elder put me in a head lock for a good minute. I finally got out of it and was able to fill his shorts with at least a little sand, but it wasn’t as easy as I would have thought, and this was humbling.

The culmination however of all of this was when I got a call this morning from my mom. I eagerly answered hoping she would tell me how much she missed me and loved me, only to find her with a tone of voice that sounded as if she had been crying all night without any sleep because someone had died . . . part of this was true. She had been in tearful prayer throughout the night for me because she had sensed an air of pride when I had spoken to her the night before. WOW! That was a heavy conversation, and it really caused me to evaluate my heart. I found that though I had started with good intentions to be humble, it was simply for appearance sake. What is funny is that today was by far the best time I’ve had at the conference as of yet. Though I don’t agree with all of the theology or methodology at Saddleback, they are definitely doing some great things. Though I will continue to have discerning ears for error, I look forward to learning everything that the spirit would teach me tomorrow and Friday.

Through it all, I am so encouraged that I have people around me that love me enough to confront me in love. What a blessing the body of Christ is (thanks Josh, mom and Jerry)!

Happy Graduation!!!

I have to preface this blog with the fact that this is not really a blog, it is just a congratulations card to Hannah Paasch, Amy Paasch, and Heather Testa for graduating from 2 years of college. Instead of going out and spending $9.00 in total for three separate cards, I decided that I would tell the whole world, or all who reads these blogs, how proud I am of these girls.

Heather Testa,
I am so proud of you for finally getting your associates. I do have to say that though it has taken a while, you have worked much harder than I ever did since you have had to take over 120 credits or something like that. Anyway, more than just finishing up these years in college, you are definitely an encouragement to me! I love your constant desire to share the gospel and your dedication in serving the Lord. Your faithfulness is seen in much more than just school . . . you are a dedicated worker (coffee for 7 years and now a new B of A professional teller. . . yippee!) Your faithfulness is also seen so clearly in you ministry activities (missions planning, Caborca, student ministries, children’s ministry, 7ten tech, and etc). Also, how can we forget extracurricular activity like swing dancing stuff . . . YES (with a cool Napoleon accent). Anyhow, I wanted to wish you congrats on your accomplishments and let you know that as a brother, I am very proud of you and the many ways I see you living for Christ. Keep it up! Brent

Hannah Paasch,
Girl, you’ll have to excuse my lack of vocabulary as I’m writing this. Though I’ve had 2 years more college than you so far, I still believe you are a little more verbose: ) As I think how God has made and fashioned you I have a very proud, elderly brother kind of smile. God has made you with so many amazing qualities and as I think of your age and relate it to the wisdom and maturity I see in you, I am astounded. You definitely have a heart for God and that is clearly seen in your lifestyle for Jesus. Though I have some great memories with you, I find the most laughter when I think of a little guy in Mexico that once had a huge crush on you . . . fun times, and you got to love those brotherly conversations (wink, wink, smile, grin, uncontrollable laughter!) I also think of the times of hearing you share the gospel with people in Caborca, and stepping out and sharing with Marcus . . . the pagan at the Switchfoot concert). You encourage me sister, and I can’t wait to see how God will use you in incredible ways. Keep it up! Your bro, Brent

Amy Grace Paasch,
Your name has such a cool ring to it . . . one that always brings a smile to my face. You are a sister in the Lord that I am continually encouraged by, and seeing you grow in the Lord these last few couple of years has been such a joy. Not only have you grown yourself, but I continually see you reach out to all those around you to make an impact on their lives. God is really using you to make his name known and to be a light to this world. Also, you’re doing such a great job with school . . . and just think, you are half-way there (big smile as I ponder about how you think you’re all the way there). I love your desire to serve the Lord in ministry and to go wherever he would have you go for the cause of Christ. Your faith, purity, and love for God definitely sharpen my own walk and I am thankful for you active pursuit of Him. Keep living for Jesus, keep smiling a lot, and have fun with ONLY 2 more years of school left (JK). In Christ, your bro, Brent

Well, please know my sisters that you are much loved and cared for. I praise the Lord for all of you, and I can’t wait to see the amazing works he will do in each of you. Much love in Christ, Brently J. Klontz

P.S. If you need a mortgage, let me know : ) JK

Rest in God

"You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless till they rest in thee."

This idea of resting in God has been a huge part of my conversations as of late. It seems that every non-believer I've talked with in the last couple of weeks is searching for peace with no hope at all. In the last 30 or so hours, I have shared the gospel with at least three different people, and each have had their own struggles and trials. However, each person has been "crawling in the dark looking for the answers." What a joy it has been to remind others of the verse in Matthew 11 where Jesus says to take on his yoke for his burden is light and in him alone will rest be found. I thank God that he has taken the yoke of bondage away from my life and has replaced it with a yoke of peace, contentment, and immense joy. What joy I feel in knowing Christ and making him known. He is indeed to AWESOME to not share with others!