Many weeks ago (mid december?) I was asked to give my testimony to our community group. I still feel oddly disconnected, but I see it as some kind of duty to fulfill requests of sharing my story when people ask (like when I shared my experience with BBBS from stage). Anyhow, a couple weeks ago I shared from my heart, and stitched together a story illustrating how God had been pursuing me, and inevitably seeking to connect. My notes were pretty basic…

It’s amazing how time can just slip by. It has been a week since my last entry. Right now I’m headed to Ketchikan for their Staff Development Day. I brought my Bible along and opened to Mark 8:34, “…whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” This leads me to questions:

1. How can I “deny myself”?
2. What does it mean to “take up [my] cross”?
3. How can I make changes to “follow [Him]”?

From listening to Brad Duncan repeatedly, I am reminded that I can only choose one of two ways:

1. Happiness
2. Pleasure

I can’t help but think that Mark 8:34 is a prescription for Happiness. Why is it we are naturally disposed towards pleasure?

I want to be a man of strength – one who is an example for his family, friends, & association.

-cb