Praise the Lord for his greatness and unending love which covers the whole earth. The heaven declares his glory and the creation cry to his greatness. God is so good and will be all ways great.
This week was one of the greatest weeks I have had since we arrived at the ThreeSixty house.We were very busy studying and found ourselves working to finish our English work around 2:00 am. This is unusual for me, as I always want go to bed around 9:00 pm. Finding myself being up late has been a great joy for me because I am not studying to pass these classes for myself but for the glory of God and for the people around the world who have no access to an education. Therefore, God will use my staying up late at night for his glory around the Nations of the World.
I continually considered what mark will I make in this world so that the Name of God will be glorified? Jesus took fishermen who only knew how to fish, how to use their boat, how to make net and their life is all about fishing. But Jesus called them and taught them instead to be fishers of men. Today their story has made a great impact. What about me, my story is hard for me to tell but I have hope in Christ. Just as he turned the life of these fisherman's he who called me by his name will glorify his name through my life for the nations of the World.
Bullen
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
When Rick is traveling....
Another week at the house has passed. This week Rick went out of town for work related reasons. While he was gone the house felt like it slowed down. Most of the days when Rick is here we usually have dinner ready to eat, but not this week. This week it was Andrew’s week to cook. Let’s just say he didn’t do much cooking. Most of the week it was every man for himself.
Wednesday night the ThreeSixty guys had the opportunity to speak at the ThreeSixty board meeting. Everything went well, everyone spoke well and did a good job. When Bullen spoke I think he had everybody in the room teary eyed. I think that he might have touched everybody in that room that night. I really look at Bullen differently than I had before.
Jerime
Wednesday night the ThreeSixty guys had the opportunity to speak at the ThreeSixty board meeting. Everything went well, everyone spoke well and did a good job. When Bullen spoke I think he had everybody in the room teary eyed. I think that he might have touched everybody in that room that night. I really look at Bullen differently than I had before.
Jerime
ThreeSixty Participant Video
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Lessons Learned
Another week at the ThreeSixty house has passed. This is usually not my week to write the blog. I was supposed to write the blog last week but I didn’t. Instead I lied to my house parents and Chad about writing the blog and I kept that lie going until Wednesday. I should have never told the lie in the first place. Now I really can’t be trusted with what I say, because I lost that trust with the lie I told. As punishment I have to write the next two blogs and I can’t drive the car for a week. I think the punishment fits the crime, so I just have to suck it up and deal with it. I would like to apologize again to Chad, Rick, and La La for lying about writing the blog. I also want to apologize to everyone that follows the ThreeSixty house and reads the blog - it won’t happen again.
As I was walking in the rain yesterday, I took that time to talk to God, not necessarily to pray but talk. Me and the Man upstairs had a good conversation on my journey home. I told him about my problems and what I needed to do to fix them. I told him that I need his help with lying because I know that I’m not going to be able to do it by myself. I felt like he heard me because when I got finished talking, I heard thunder so I know he was listening. I believe everything happens for a reason and maybe my reason is to touch somebody through this blog.
Jerime
Jerime was not asked to write on this topic and I didn’t even know that he was until he sent me his writing to post. The fact that he chose to be transparent and ask for forgiveness publicly demonstrates the work that God is doing in his life. Jerime – I love you and am praying with you. You are not walking through this journey alone.
Because this week is Andrew’s normal week to write there are two postings.
As I was walking in the rain yesterday, I took that time to talk to God, not necessarily to pray but talk. Me and the Man upstairs had a good conversation on my journey home. I told him about my problems and what I needed to do to fix them. I told him that I need his help with lying because I know that I’m not going to be able to do it by myself. I felt like he heard me because when I got finished talking, I heard thunder so I know he was listening. I believe everything happens for a reason and maybe my reason is to touch somebody through this blog.
Jerime
Jerime was not asked to write on this topic and I didn’t even know that he was until he sent me his writing to post. The fact that he chose to be transparent and ask for forgiveness publicly demonstrates the work that God is doing in his life. Jerime – I love you and am praying with you. You are not walking through this journey alone.
Because this week is Andrew’s normal week to write there are two postings.
Seeking the Wisdom of God
This week has been the hardest week for me since moving in but it has been a good week to come close to God. I have been calling on God to give me wisdom and understanding. In the book of James 1:5 it says if anyone is lacking wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously. I want to be faithful to God till the end. My prayer is for more wisdom, His wisdom and not my own.
I thank God so much for his love for me, last Sunday was my birthday. I appreciate my family in Sudan for celebrating my birthday in my absence and I also appreciate my friends here in the United States. We were able to celebrate my birthday with friends in Wadley, Al and here at my house in Birmingham. We had a lot of fun. During my birthday Chad, Bullen and Stephen tried to give me a birthday spanking. Chad held my hands then Bullen and Stephen started spanking me. I enjoyed the nice time and I am still receiving birthday cards. Thank you Jesus!
Regarding school, everybody is busy and some classes are hard, but I pray that God will help us to do better. I was busy and stressed this week with an essay. I know God was there to help me. I appreciate Lee Baker and Scott Bickel for being our math tutor. Thank God for Chad, he came and worked with us a couple of nights and even called to quiz us over the phone.
This week Bullen and I met a friend from Kenya. She told us about some Sudanese friends who are working downtown in Birmingham. This week in the ThreeSixty house everybody is doing well. Pray for continued love of God, our study in His word and to stay strong in the faith. No matter what is coming our way; good or bad we give God the glory, honor and praise.
Andrew
I thank God so much for his love for me, last Sunday was my birthday. I appreciate my family in Sudan for celebrating my birthday in my absence and I also appreciate my friends here in the United States. We were able to celebrate my birthday with friends in Wadley, Al and here at my house in Birmingham. We had a lot of fun. During my birthday Chad, Bullen and Stephen tried to give me a birthday spanking. Chad held my hands then Bullen and Stephen started spanking me. I enjoyed the nice time and I am still receiving birthday cards. Thank you Jesus!
Regarding school, everybody is busy and some classes are hard, but I pray that God will help us to do better. I was busy and stressed this week with an essay. I know God was there to help me. I appreciate Lee Baker and Scott Bickel for being our math tutor. Thank God for Chad, he came and worked with us a couple of nights and even called to quiz us over the phone.
This week Bullen and I met a friend from Kenya. She told us about some Sudanese friends who are working downtown in Birmingham. This week in the ThreeSixty house everybody is doing well. Pray for continued love of God, our study in His word and to stay strong in the faith. No matter what is coming our way; good or bad we give God the glory, honor and praise.
Andrew
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Advice to All Future Applicants
Months before beginning the process of accepting applications for the initial class of ThreeSixty participants we were continual in prayer, asking God to reveal those of which he had called to help lay the foundation of this ministry. The 2009 class of Jerime, Stephen, Andrew and Bullen will forever hold a special place in this ministry. These four guys stepped out in faith not knowing exactly what being a participant in ThreeSixty fully entailed. There was no facility to see where they would be residing, there was no house parents selected to get to know, there was nothing more than a vision of what would be. Facing the unknown, these four guys obviously had questions, but in the midst of unanswered questions they were willing to step out in faith to follow God's leading.
We have now completed accepting applications and have begun the interview process for the class of 2010. This past Saturday we even had the opportunity to interview one of the candidates who lives in Ethiopia, via telephone. As we were going through this process, Rick and Lisa asked Jerime and Stephen what their response would be if they were asked whether or not someone should apply to be a part of next years class. I believe that their responses reveal the heart of ThreeSixty. Stephen immediately answered "Yes apply, but you better bring your A game because your responsibility will increase 10 fold." Jerime then added "I would tell them to apply, but they better come ready to work because it is not a free ride."
We desire to impact young men for the glory of God. Participants in ThreeSixty will have more responsibility, more learning opportunities, and more accountability than their peers that they sit in class with everyday. However, with the responsibility, accountability and learning comes opportunity. Opportunity to learn to live a life that denies self and takes on the cause of Christ, an opportunity to learn to live a life of humility in which the only boasting is in the cross of Christ, an opportunity to learn to live a life of radical forsaking and abandonment to the things of this world in order to declare the supremacy of Christ among the nations. Forsaking yourself for the sake of the lost around the world is certainly not a free ride but there is nothing that compares to living a life that impacts the nations for the glory of God.
May God continue to work in the lives of the participants of ThreeSixty in such a way that only he could receive the glory!
Chad Glover
We have now completed accepting applications and have begun the interview process for the class of 2010. This past Saturday we even had the opportunity to interview one of the candidates who lives in Ethiopia, via telephone. As we were going through this process, Rick and Lisa asked Jerime and Stephen what their response would be if they were asked whether or not someone should apply to be a part of next years class. I believe that their responses reveal the heart of ThreeSixty. Stephen immediately answered "Yes apply, but you better bring your A game because your responsibility will increase 10 fold." Jerime then added "I would tell them to apply, but they better come ready to work because it is not a free ride."
We desire to impact young men for the glory of God. Participants in ThreeSixty will have more responsibility, more learning opportunities, and more accountability than their peers that they sit in class with everyday. However, with the responsibility, accountability and learning comes opportunity. Opportunity to learn to live a life that denies self and takes on the cause of Christ, an opportunity to learn to live a life of humility in which the only boasting is in the cross of Christ, an opportunity to learn to live a life of radical forsaking and abandonment to the things of this world in order to declare the supremacy of Christ among the nations. Forsaking yourself for the sake of the lost around the world is certainly not a free ride but there is nothing that compares to living a life that impacts the nations for the glory of God.
May God continue to work in the lives of the participants of ThreeSixty in such a way that only he could receive the glory!
Chad Glover
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Continual Effort
This weeks blog was written by Stephen.
Hello ThreeSixty fans, I know you have been waiting for me to blog again, so here we go.
I have to tell you this last week and a half has been very intense. Classes are well under way and tests are coming at a furious rate. These tests cannot be studied for in one night, therefore we have to burn the midnight oil for multiple nights. I have officially been a college student for two whole months and it is fun, busy and relentless. I am learning, growing, showing, sharing, burning, serving and blogging.
I am surrounded by so many wonderful people in the ThreeSixty program. I want to give a big shout out to all the volunteers who have helped us makes our life a little bit easier. I will be forever grateful and never forget the love from my momma, Ms. Cookie Griffin. If it was not for her loving me enough to sacrifice for me, I certainly would not be in the position that I am today.
God Bless,
Stephen
Hello ThreeSixty fans, I know you have been waiting for me to blog again, so here we go.
I have to tell you this last week and a half has been very intense. Classes are well under way and tests are coming at a furious rate. These tests cannot be studied for in one night, therefore we have to burn the midnight oil for multiple nights. I have officially been a college student for two whole months and it is fun, busy and relentless. I am learning, growing, showing, sharing, burning, serving and blogging.
I am surrounded by so many wonderful people in the ThreeSixty program. I want to give a big shout out to all the volunteers who have helped us makes our life a little bit easier. I will be forever grateful and never forget the love from my momma, Ms. Cookie Griffin. If it was not for her loving me enough to sacrifice for me, I certainly would not be in the position that I am today.
God Bless,
Stephen
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