www.QuoVadam.com

I will be adding some content over the next few days. I will be occasionally adding reviews of drinks, music, movies, books, and such. As I post more, new categories will pop up. I may even post more than once per day.

Reasons?

Coming across an exceptionally tasty beverage is always something worth sharing and I’m a bit of a beverage snob so this happens quite often. I enjoy rich, flavorful drinks. I enjoy drinks that exercise more than just one set of taste buds. People can say what they want about beverage snobbery, but when you taste the varying arrays of flavors available in finely crafted coffee, teas, beers, and wines, and you are able to distinguish good flavors from bad, you begin to understand and appreciate the attention to detail and the artisanship behind the craft.

As far as music, being the fan that I am, I figure its time I start engaging with my music in some other way besides listening and thinking. So over the next few weeks, I will begin to post reviews of some of the better (or worse) albums that I have managed to pick up over the last few years. For the most part, I will be sticking to recent albums. However, occasionally, as inspiration hits and I am enlightened as to an older albums meaning, or what I feel is a new way of interpreting the piece, I will be writing about older albums.

Although I will be mostly sticking to music, the same goes for books and movies. I don’t read much for leisure anymore, but when I do it’s not usually the type of stuff that people would find fit for everyday reading. Movies I rarely find time for, but will, every now and then, pick up one or two that have been suggested. If I run across any worth talking about, perhaps they will make their way into a post. These will, most definitely though, be few and far between.

This is all in an attempt to get me writing more, but also to get out some of the ideas and thoughts that I have when I experience these new things. These are all things that I enjoy immensely, and what better way to enjoy them than to share those experiences with others.

Ok, quick update.

Obviously, I’ve been here for a few weeks. Things are going well. The classes are going great. Statistics is a breeze. Finite Math is rather tough, but doable with a little extra study. I have to ace the classes, as my acceptance into their degree program is contingent upon my performance this summer.

I found a job three days after arriving here. I am bartending/serving at a privately owned pool hall/townie bar. It’s a bit seedy at times, but it’s good money and a good way to network with people in the area. As you all well know, the job fits my personality like a glove.

I’m working on finding an apartment. Apparently its slim pickings around the area, so I may have to venture out into the county. Hopefully I can find someone who needs a roommate, and happens to be clean and quiet. That would be a God-send.

That’s the quick and dirty run down of the last three weeks.

Hmm, let’s see.

March to December. That’s nine months. That’s enough time to have gotten married and had a child. Well, it would have had to have been a quick wedding. Not only that, but if I were having a child, well, let’s just say I would be filthy rich. Nevertheless, you can all rest assured that I am neither married nor am I having a child.

Just a bit of emphasis on the fact that it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted an update. Of course, many of you have probably just finished up my first few novels. Some of you may even be afraid to read this one. “It’s been almost a whole year, I’ve seen what he can write when talking about one month, this one could get ridiculous.”Well, I can’t say that won’t happen. It has been nearly year and a lot can happen in a year. We shall see. Read on.

April:
Well, April was a

Okay, just kidding.

To tell you the truth, a lot has happened, but most of it can be summed up in a few sentences. Maybe a paragraph or two.

Since returning from China in February, I’ve worked three jobs, been to a handful of Young Life functions, spent a few holidays at home, enjoyed peace a quiet, missed China, missed being challenged, missed new friends, fell, got back up again, cleaned some crap out of my life, took on some new crap that needs cleaning, admitted some struggles, struggled with said struggles, met some new friends, developed some new relationships, took a few steps, hit a wall or two, took a few more steps, and on I go.

Sounds cliche, right?

Well, it’s all true. To sum everything up, God’s time for me here has been humbling. I think that it was mostly in answer to a prayer I prayed a while back asking for humility. Oh, don’t get me wrong, a lot of pride still exists in this shell. I’m just learning how to shed more and more each day. I’m also learning that for every way I learn to shed my pride, I seem to subconciously learn how to take on more.

For those of you who read my old updates, you may remember me stating that I was returning home to work for a year, pay a few bills, and then return to school. Well, the job period ended in mid November with me unexpectedly losing my job. It was a bit of a shock, mainly because of the way it happened. It was a great job and I had figured on starting my year of working on the date that I recieved the job in August. So when that job disappeared, something seemed out of place and I was hesitant to immediately move on to finding another job. Instead I took a few days to seek some spiritual counsel and pray.

After a few days of seeking, I came to the conclusion that it was time to pursue school. So I began my search. After gathering all of the necessary information, I applied to a school. I’m sure you realize, of course, that it was a much more calculated decision than I am making it sound here. Considering how I wanted to go about my Major, as well as my Minor, was a rather daunting task. I had to arrange things in a way that was best for me academically as well as spiritually. I also wanted something that would help me build discipline as well. Another problem was that I needed an opportunity to prove myself after my failed attempt at college in 2002.

Well, I recieved an e-mail on December 21 that I was accepted to Liberty University under Academic Probation. However, their probation entails carrying no more than 13 credits and maintaining a 1.5GPA for my first semester. They will then re-evaluate my case at the beginning of my second semester. A 1.5?!? Can you believe that? I was expecting a 2.5 minimum. Well, needless to say, I’m absolutely thrilled. I haven’t been more ready for school before in my life. It’s so much more motivating when you know why you are going and for Whom you are going.

So, Jan 12 I head off to Lynchburg, VA to begin my university studies. It is exciting to know that I am going to be back in an environment where I will be constantly challenged both mentally, and spiritually. I was beginning to lack challenge in my current environment and, to be quite frank, there is nothing here that is enabling me to move forward. I can try to create all kinds of obligations around me, but they would all be filler.

So that has been my year in a much shorter summary than most of you were probably expecting.

On a parting note, what you are all looking at right now is my new website. In the downtime since losing my job I have been able to finally finish my website. Sure there are a few minor inconsistencies, but those will get ironed out as the weeks pass. Things are 99% complete and the site is fully functional. So please feel free to click around and check things out. The site has much of what it had before. The navigation bar at the top will get you where you want to go anywhere in the site. There’s a picture page with all of my pictures from Cambodia, China, and home. A new addition is the Forum page. It is quite empty right now but that is only because there are no members. I want to encourage all of you to join the message board for discussion and reviews and such. I want to create a thriving community where people can discuss everything from theology to entertainment. Your ideas and input are what will make the message boards thrive. The main page for the website will default to my blog journal. My occasional updates will direct you to the Update blog, however I would encourage you all to check out the Journal blog from time to time. Since I often had a habit of preaching or ranting in my Updates, I decided that the Journal would be a better place for such things. Occasionally I’m unconventional, sometimes controversial, and often times a rambler. My Journal blog is where I will keep those things confined. So please, frequent the site, check things out, and start a discussion on the boards if you have time.

So there you have it. All that said, I hope everyone has (or had) a very Merry Christmas and that you all have a wonderful New Year.

Love & Peace

Well, a great big apology to everyone. I’ve been home for nearly a month and haven’t sent anything out. I guess you could say I’ve been assimilating. Anyway.

Praise God for bringing me home safely. Also, true to his reassuring word, I have found a job. It’s not a breadwinner, but it’s a start. I’m also getting some good information about schooling. So all is falling together just as He promised.

I want to thank everyone who has helped this past year with prayer, finance, and moral support. There are some of you that helped recently and I haven’t thanked you yet, and this goes out to you as well, THANK YOU!!!

This has been an awesome year. One that I will definitely never forget. Want to take this time to update everyone on the tenative schedule for the next few months. This is going to be kind of quick and dirty as I am heading out to Rockbridge for a Young Life leadership and committee weekend in about an hour. Anyway, here goes.

First, the website is in transition. Since arriving home I’ve begun work on a whole new website. This one is going to be great. It will eventually be a page where people can hang out and exchange ideas and questions, post pictures, and see my pictures, updates, and shenanigans as well. I will post pictures of the things that happen daily, whether it be with the church, friends, family, or just interesting shots. I will also have a place for written art. Needless to say, I found a system that is a breeze to work with. I just have to get it set up.

Second, I have some tentative travel plans over the next year. Firstly, I’m considering a trip to a conference in Malaysia, May 31 - June 6. This is another conference with Dr. Jonathan David, this time it is in his home country. On faith, I’m going to start purusing the finances for this, however, it may not even be a possibility with my work schedule, but I know that if its something He’s prompting me to move on, then if I move, it will happen.

Third, I would like to start pursuing men and women, young and old, familes and singles, who would be interested in travelling in a small group back to Wuhan to spend 1 - 4 weeks experiencing not only China, but God’s heart for the Chinese people as evidenced through Gift of Joy. If you seriously have a heart for China and are asking God for a way to touch and radically change the lives of the children (and their families), I would ask you to please contact me. (I personally know that I am not called to work at Gift of Joy long term. However, I truly feel that God is pressing me to spread the vision on to others even while in the midst of preparing for my future.)

Fourth and final, I am currently working to get my outstanding bills paid and my debt back to zero. Having a job is going to help that alot. However, to supplement my job, I am now offering to all of those local to the Covington/Alleghany county area a computer repair and setup service. I can clean, organize, and set up new PC’s, as well as install and troubleshoot most hardware. If I can’t fix it, I’ll tell you. Obviously, for legal reasons, I can only accept donations. So please put the word out. I’ll set up an ad with contact info on my website once I get it set up. For right now, if you oro someone you know needs computer service, email me or call me at 691-9100 and I will, at my earliest convenience, make arrangements to come and assess the problem.

Well, that pretty much wraps it up. I hope you all have a great weekend. Please pray for my energy and motivation.

Love you all!

Ok, just a quick update before I head home on the 6th.

This week is basically a winding down week. It is also a winding up week. Haha. On Tuesday (Feb 1st) we will all head out to a small village just outside of Wuhan called HuaShi for the GOJ Winter Camp. This will consist of 6 days of fun in the su… err snow. Well, at least we hope we will have snow. There will be many things going on. Games, classes, meetings, encouraging times, etc. This is one of the times of the year the students love the most because most of them are so poor they cannot afford the other seasonal fun stuff. So Gift of Joy started their own Summer and Winter Camp. Anyhow, its going to be awesome.

I’ll be leaving in a few days so I’m getting kind of anxious. Leaving here is going to be hard in one way, but easy in another. I have peace because I know that I’ve been called home. I just hate leaving everyone. They’ve become like a second family to me. I love spending time with all of them and hanging out with them. However, I also know that I need some time back in my own culture. I’m culturally tired and have been for a few months. I didn’t think it would happen. I always enjoy new people and places and cultures. However, they say it happens to everyone. I just figured that a year couldn’t possibly be enough time to get culture shock. Guess I was wrong. Anyhow.

I want to ask all of you to please pray for me over the next few weeks. Re-entry, from what I understand, is often just as bad, or worse, than culture shock. I just need to know when to chill and be still and when to be up and at ‘em. Patience is a must as well. It’s not necessarily something that I lack, but I’ve seen it waning over the past few months. My big New Year’s Resolution was Discipline. 2005 would be the year of Discipline. Something that I need more of in my life. Just for the sake of clarity, I’m not talking about the punishment kind. I’m talking about learning how to do things you have to do whether you want to do them or not. So those are my biggies for my return. Keep me in your prayers and I’ll be seeing a lot of you very soon.

Financial Update:
Current Finances: $620
Transportation:
Wuhan to Hong Kong: $40
Hong Kong to Roanoke: $750
Transportation in Hong Kong, Travelling food, and extra emergency cash: $100
Total Transportation: $890
- Current Finances $620
————————————–
$270 Still Needed for trip home

Insurance Payment: $208 Due Jan 1st, Deferred until Feb 28th for the sake of transportation costs.
Accomodations at Gift of Joy (Electric and Water for Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec): $160, Deferred for the sake of transportation costs (must pay ASAP through GOJ PayPal)

Well, another month has flown by and here I am. As usual, a lot has happened and I’ve been quite busy. Before I get into the “update” part of the update, I feel the need to say something. I feel as though I owe many of you an apology. Most of you receive my emails and most of you consider that enough. However, there are those who do not have access to regular emails or my website. Most people who work in the field send out some kind of newsletter or something every so often. This is something I have been wanting to do, but every time I find the time for it I feel uninspired. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say. It’s just that I want to send out something that can capture everything that is going on. I’m a perfectionist in many ways and it’s something I’m trying very hard to work on. One of my biggest problems is that, being the perfectionist that I am, I won’t start on something unless I know I can do it to completion and have a perfect end result. So, to all of those who have not been able to receive regular updates, I apologize.

So, as always, many things have transpired since my last update. I came back from the conference in Hong Kong invigorated. I can see now why Dr. David’s ministry is flourishing as well as it is. He speaks with much authority on hearing and obeying God’s word (Logos and Rhema). However, as I believe we should with anyone who claims to be a modern day prophet/apostle, I didn’t agree with EVERYTHING he said. I won’t get into detail on that. It’s nothing really worth discussing. I came away from Hong Kong very secure in my belief that if we go around believing every teacher and teaching that comes across our path, then we are not only gullible, but we are also naive and are leaving ourselves open to destruction. That is why God gives us all the ability to discern things through the Holy Spirit. It’s just learning how to be discerning without being critical of everything and everyone.

Well, upon returning, I launched into some things here at Gift of Joy. We’ve been doing a lot of recording lately for the students and for the future English House program. Since Uncle Joe left (Chinese/American guy from LA) the place has seemed just a little empty. However, he left us with a very nice recording studio complete with a sound room. This has been great because before, every team that came through would have all kinds of ideas for songs and the only place they had to record was Uncle Joe’s apt. living room. It still sounded good since they were using good equipment, but it still had this amateur/open air ting to it. So that has been wonderful. It may even be possible for GOJ in the future to open up a recording business for some extra income. It’s so funny because different people will say something about having an idea for a song, and JR pops up and says, “Well let’s record it!” So we’ve begun to gather quite a collection of songs. It’s also where we record all of our English teaching material.

Of course alongside of all of that we’ve got all of our new students. They are all a great joy to be around. They are all very humorous and seem to like me very much. Being around them and seeing their joy really makes my stay here very pleasant. We’ve also recently been given guardianship of a young boy from GuangZhou. After his father, who was a fisherman, died a while back, he was passed between a few different fishing boats, eventually he ended up in the hands of a group of women who were living in China for a while. Well, bless their hearts, they did the worst thing they could do for him. They spoiled him to death. McDonald’s, KFC, all kinds of gadgets and brand clothing. They didn’t think ahead far enough to the time they would be leaving. Well, the idea was presented to Anita and JR to bring him here. After MUCH thought, they decided to bring him in. Its a little tough because he tends to do what he wants and doesn’t listen at all. However, he seems to be getting better. It’s just difficult because the rest of the students here went from the worst to average and he has gone from the best to average. So pray for patience for the staff here. They will all need it.

JR and Anita have both been gone all except for one week since the beginning of October. They will be returning the week after Christmas with another group from Kona. God has really been doing some amazing things while they’ve been out. JR made acquaintances with a man who heads an organization of businessmen and investors in the US who have a heart for China. He went to meet with them last week in Chicago. Afterwards he, Anita, and the kids headed down to Australia to meet with possible supporters and workers. Anna, the young lady from Australia who is working here until next October, is going home for Christmas. So this year its just going the students, YukLing, a small group of 4 or 5 women from Hong Kong, and myself. I told the students that I would try to make them some traditional American Christmas treats. That has turned out to be a no go, because, go figure, you cant find chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and of all things, chow mein noodles here in Wuhan. I guess if we were in a more international city, it would be easier. I’ve been informed that chow mein noodles, just like fortune cookies, are an American gimmick. Never come to China and ask for fortune cookies. They will either look at you like you’re daft, or laugh you out of their shop.

Okay, I’ll try to keep this last leg short. On the ministry front, things are going well. Once again, like before, it’s easy to get discouraged when your job is primarily administrative. I have my relationships around the city, but all but one of them are Christian, so it’s more of a role of discipleship. That, my friends, isn’t very easy when all of your friends are in university and are busier than a squirrel before winter. When you get only one or two days a week to hang out with them, you have to decide if that day is a hangout day, or a bible study day. Thankfully, they are eager. I feel so bad sometimes though because between their schedule and my schedule, we’re always having to cancel days and rearrange days and such. Of course, it’s also difficult because, regardless of their level, English is still their second language. When it comes to explaining things and their daily lifelong implications, it can be difficult. It’s been good though. Tough, but rewarding. You wouldn’t believe how exhausting it is hanging out with second language speakers for a whole day. Even when their English is everyday level. Its still exhausting.

So I’ll be coming home in February. My Visa expires on the 15th so I’m going to try to leave on the 14th. I really ask for all of your prayers and support during this time. This time is a very tough time financially. I’m trying to gather airfare for the ticket back home ($850 - $1000 depending on the departure date, route taken, and when I buy the ticket). I’m also trying to get enough together to pay for my water and electricity use since September (plus what I will owe when I leave, total is about $150). In the midst of all of this, I am also trying to gather some personal money. I am considering leaving China via Beijing so that I can spend a day or two there to see The Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Tian Nan Men Square. That is actually priority number 2 on my list of personal things. Priority number one is trying to gather a little bit of spending money so that I can stop off in Los Angeles for a few days to visit a friend who recently moved out there to pursue acting. I became close friends with her during my time in Hawaii last year and know that she has been in a strange place with no family and very few friends for the holidays, so I would like to stop in and she how she’s doing. She’s a really strong person and I’m sure she’s doing great, however, being alone for the holidays can take a toll on even the strongest person. So I guess on the list of priorities, finances for coming home and paying for my expenses here are at the top. Personal wishes are second priority. So please be praying for a release of finances for at least the top priorities. If you find yourself with some extra time, say a prayer for the personal finances too, hehe.

I’ll be seeing many of you very soon. It’s been a super fast year. If I weren’t so clear on my direction for the next three years, I would stay longer. However, I truly feel that, no matter how much I would want to, If I stayed it would be disobedience. That is not something I want to walk out. SO, There it is, in a fat little nutshell. Maybe more like a coconut shell. Prayers for diligence and focus are always a need. I never hear much from people, but If any of you have prayer requests or questions, feel free to email me. I love hearing from people. I get so much junk mail, I need something to offset the junk. May God bless you all this Christmas with family, friends, and warm hearts. Give your kids a hug and a kiss. Sit with your elders and enjoy an old story. Sip some eggnog and sing some Christmas carols. But most importantly, don’t forget to thank Jesus for the most precious gift of all.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Well, the time has come for me to unveil a little about this vision for Japan that I have spoken so much about. I am unable to go into a lot of detail on here simply because of the scope of it all. However, I will try my best to give as clear a picture as possible of the course of the next 10 years. Most of the details of what I’m about to tell you have not been shown to me yet. Generally, what I have is logistical information. Just as God reveals things on a need to know basis, I only have now what I need to get things organized and prepared.

I will be returning home in February of 2005. Three years from the time I return home, I will be transferring to Japan to complete the majority of my studies in Psychology. The three years I am home will be spent in a couple different ways. The first year will be spent working and getting all of my financial obligations squared away and developing some true financial accountability. The next two years well be spent in school. Now alongside of those things, during those three years I will be doing a lot of networking, developing a large support base (business, individual, prayer, financial, investment, etc.). At the same time, I will also be doing a lot of scouting and global communication searching for the first 3 of 9 people who share (or will soon share) the same vision. Those first three people will help build the administrational, organizational, and financial foundation of this vision.

Still wondering? Keep reading!

Also, during those three years I will be serving, as much as possible as permitted, the youth of Alleghany County in a couple ways. I believe that God has given me a vision to help build the youth group at Fletcher’s. I really wanted to serve them in some way while I am home. After seeking God’s word on how I can serve them, he gave me a great vision for the youth. I also believe that He wants me to volunteer and help with Young Life. Now, this, of course, is all still just in the time during the three years at home. Upon arriving home, I will also be seeking, in some way or another, to study Japanese. This will be crucial for the time that I transfer to Japan to continue my studies. So, needless to say, my time at home, although three years, will be very busy.

Upon transferring to Japan, I will continue my studies until I complete graduate school. By the end of the next 10 years (by the time I am 35), myself and the other 9 will open a counseling practice that focuses on Pre-Marital and Newlywed counseling in greater metropolitan Tokyo. The primary focus will be the Japanese people, which is why it is important that I begin studying Japanese ASAP because it takes almost 10 years before they feel your Japanese is good enough to consider you for counsel. We will also have a small branch that serves ex-pat couples and International/Japanese marriages. However, as mentioned, the primary focus will be the Japanese people.

Now why?

This is all the culmination of many years of confusion, desire, leadings, promptings, and things that I thought were nothing more than, well, dreams. I’ve always had a huge heart for Japan. I love the culture, the people, the food, the history. It’s just all so richly amazing to me. I even remember the day it started. Third grade. We had a foreign exchange teacher from Japan teaching us about the culture. I fell in love. (With the country, not the teacher, haha) Many of you may ask “Well, then why are you in China.” Well, I asked myself the same thing when I heard God say, “Go. Don’t ask. Just Go.” Even though I knew I had a future in Japan, I didn’t know what it was, yet I was still wondering why. That was where obedience took over. From the day I made up my mind that I was going to Kona at the beginning of last year, I told myself that I would no longer ignore what I knew God was telling me to do. No longer would I waste time saying “How high?,” from then on, it would be, “Go? OK! I’m Gone!”

After I arrived in China, I began facing things that just confused me. I came here completely willing to stay, heck, forever if asked. But something strange started happening. I started having all of these visions about Japan and ideas that, although quite jumbled at first, came together to form the foundation of what I explained above. It all confused me though, because since I was willing to stay as long as asked, I started to doubt what God was showing me because I expected ,that since I was willing, He would tell me to stay. Also, the staff and students here are like one great big family and I love them all dearly already. However, I must be obedient to what He tells me. Well, it was a bit of a reversal from what I expected. Luckily, JR (my boss) is very keen on really pushing people towards their vision. He has been very supportive since I told him of this. He even told me he could sense something because he could see that I didn’t have a clear vision for this place.

So that is the vision God gave me for Japan in a very tightly packed nutshell. Just imagine if I had given the full version.

Well, now there’s more!

My time here has not been easy. I’ve run up against a spiritual wall. It is a bit difficult to explain however I can sum it up into just a few words (few by my standards, haha). The team here is at a spiritual level that I have never experienced before. When I try to join in, it can be a bit overwhelming. I have run up against this wall many times and every time I can see that there is an amazing truth on the other side of this wall, but my limited spiritual knowledge and experience has opened me up to a serious serious spiritual attack of criticism and debating. Criticizing ways I don’t know and debating things that I have no spiritual experience with. What’s most important about all of this is that I have recently realized that this is the main reason God brought me here. I must break through this wall before I can ever expect to lead a team in Japan. Japan is one of the hardest places in the world to work spiritually. I want to break through this wall. I want to reach the other side. I want to be willing and obedient. I know God is waiting for me to break through this. As it stands right now, I am spiritually lame. I’m operating on a 16th of a tank of spiritual and about 3/4 of a tank of natural.

About three weeks ago, I got a word that I would need to travel to Hong Kong before I leave in Feb. Well, last week JR told me that it would be in my best interest, if I am going to walk out this vision God has given me, to go with them to attend a conference in Hong Kong at the end of this month. The conference is being led and taught by Dr. Jonathan David, one of the leading apostolic forces in the body of Christ today. For more information, check out his website: http://www.jonathan-david.org. I have heard this man speak on CD and he speaks with much obvious spiritual authority. JR even told me that before he went to Dr. David’s conference, he was just as spiritually lame as I am. Dr. David is now the spiritual father of Gift of Joy. I know I’ve probably lost most of you at this point with my book length update, but I believe this is something God is moving me to do, so I am taking a step on this and pursuing the finances to do so. The total cost for lodging, food, travel, and the conference is approximately $600 US. The conference is Oct 22-26. In order to make arrangements in time, Anita (JR’s wife) has asked me to give her an answer by next Wednesday. Now, I pray that most of you read this by then. So that’s that. Hope you have enjoyed this lengthy but news filled update. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

Bless you all.

P.S. I’m going to be bold and say something God has laid on my heart. You may have gotten this message earlier in my update. When you feel or hear God speak, move on it. When God tells us something and then we say ok “I’m gonna pray about this for a few days,” that is the equivalent of little Tommy asking his mother if she is sure she wants him to clean the room or if she really meant something else. She said clean the room, so she means clean the room. I truly believe that when God speaks to us directly about doing something, he doesn’t expect us to turn right around and say, “Is this what you really want me to do.” And often, God gives us a small window, and if we don’t move, then that is disobedience. Just think, it’s possible that God spoke to someone around 1977 and told that person to start a computer software company that would help combine the most important programs into one solution. That person decides to spend time praying about things. The window passes, and Microsoft emerges. I believe God speaks to us like this. We pray for our nation, our world, our leaders, our family, healing, help, finances. And we also pray for direction. But when God says “Jump!,” we need to stop saying “How high?” and just simply jump, he’ll take care of the landing.