The Stand

Things I am praying about for the upcoming year and the future: 

Finishing up my education at Jackson State. I am 6 classes away from having my Associates in General Education. And then, I'm not getting too far ahead of myself but I am praying about continuing my education and trying to figure out where I'll be transferring to. Schools I'm praying about: 

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville - http://www.utk.edu

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga - http://www.utc.edu

Austin Peay State University - www.apsu.edu

The University of Memphis and/or UofM Lambuth - www.memphis.edu

The University of Nevada - Reno - www.unr.edu

Also, I am not 100% yet but I have a heart for something in the ministry field, I haven't figured it out yet but there is a possibility of a career change into the ministry, so I am praying about bible college/seminary. Schools on my list for that include: 

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary - http://www.nobts.edu

Calvary Chapel Bible College - http://calvarychapelbiblecollege.com/site/

Briercrest Bible College - www.briercrest.ca

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary - http://www.mabts.edu 

There are a lot of possibilities in my future and I am excited and open for any of the opportunities that I am fortunate to have. I am an honest person and I don't say this next part with any pride, but when it comes to deciding what my education or where my future is taking me I haven't fully given my trust in God. And I am ashamed to admit that, but I think it's important that I get it out there because I am turning that around. I have began to pray that wherever God wants me in life, wether it be here in Jackson, or East Tennessee or who knows maybe even back in Kenya, that I am putting my trust in HIM and going where He wants me and can use me to my fullest showing others His love. 

And this goes for all aspects of my life. 

Another area of trust I've been lacking in is relationships. I've been trying to seek out relationships on my own accord, on my own terms and I don't want that. I want God to pick me out a godly woman who loves God and will put Him as # 1. I pray that God lets someone live, laugh and love with me for who I am and because she is attracted to me because I can make her laugh, make her feel special, treat her with respect, show her love and kindness always, take care of her and read the Word and pray with her always. And that she can see Jesus' love through my actions and the way I speak to her and others. 

Amen. 

-Michael J. Moorman- 

A word on drinking

Ok, so, I don't spill too much about what's on my mind or my feelings etc. I do that for a reason. But I just feel it's at the time I share this. Over the last year and a half, pretty much since last summer, I drink a lot. I wouldn't consider myself at "alcoholic" status but then again I guess it depends on who's scale we're going by here. Anyway, I began to think about why I drink. Does it taste good? Is it just something other people are doing? What's the deal?! Why do this thing that pretty much makes me a different person and why do something that I end up spending so much money on?! Come on Mike, get with the picture! lol

Anyway, I started narrowing down why I drink. Honestly I have no problem just kicking back and having a beer while fishing or hanging with my road dog and/or friends. But why the excessiveness? And here's my outcome: because I'm more socially attractive to people. 

Say what?! I know, who and why would someone say such a thing!  But it's true. When I drink I feel wanted. I feel like I'm funnier to people, I feel more attractive to girls and it just overall makes me feel like people want to be around me. And as much as that breaks my heart, I feel like it's true. 

Friendzone

This is a term I have become common with. And by no means am I ashamed of this, but please understand, in some ways it gets depressing always being overlooked and shadowed to this. I am respectful and kind to women, this automatically puts me in the "friendzone" apparently? One of the hardest things I have to hear from girls is, "I want a nice guy", "Where are all the good guys?", "All guys are assholes", "Mike, you're going to make a great boyfriend or husband to a lucky woman!" But apparently I don't qualify for you? What's up with that? This is like one of those bittersweet things. Like it's nice to be there for someone in times of need but at the same time it's like saying "Hello! I'm here too!" And yet, overlooked and pushed to the side. 

Looks

I only mention this because it is so true. I have proven my case multiple times and it hurts hearing people say no, it's about personality. I have heard that SO many times. And as much as I try and believe, it only works if you've got the looks. And I know where I'm at. I'm not the one who gets the "double look", I'm not the one with the great hair, the great body, etc. So once again, we can discuss this but I already know the outcome. 

Personality

I feel like my mission in life is the "plucky comic relief" and that's all I'm good for. That's all I can say about that. 

I hate complaining and spilling my feelings 'cause usually it doesn't get me anywhere and most people try and prove my theory wrong. But we all know it's true. So as I mentioned before, I drink because I am socially attractive. I'm funnier when I drink. I'm only attractive when I or women are drinking. Etc... 

One of my high school teachers once told my class that we all wear invisible signs that say "notice me".   And I have held that close to me for a long time, I try and notice the unnoticed with or without drinking. 

For some reason I've had that brewing up. I hope you all have a great day. 

-Mikey J-

Confessions at 4 in the morning

Hello friends! 

There is no real confessions I just though this would be a catchy title to see if anyone would visit hahaha. 

So here I am, 4:08 in the A.M. too excited to sleep. Why? Because Saturday I leave for Kenya, Africa and there are things I need to get done before then. This will be my first mission opportunity outside the U.S. and I am totally pumped for it! I will be gone August 18th - 31st. So here is part of my To-Do list to get done, just incase you're bored lol. If there's anything you can think of that I may need to get please feel free to leave a comment. 

T0-Do:

-Pray.

-Start packing.

-Get interpreter snacks.

-Hem pants. 

-Get memory chip for camera. 

-Take AND pack Malaria pills (very important). 

-Mail letters. 

-Pack shot records. 

This is about as far as I got lol. I know there's more but most of that has to do with the packing process. 

Anyway, thank you for reading and hope you all have a great day/night :o) 

P.S. If anyone likes relaxing music, check out the Mat Kearney station on Pandora. 

Much love,

-Mikey J. 

New Orleans Mission

Dear friends & family, 

Tomorrow morning a team of 15 including myself are heading down to New Orleans, LA. Students from the University of Memphis BCM and Jackson State BCM are teaming up for a mission to do light construction, back yard bible clubs and I'm sure much more. We will be gone from Saturday to Thursday. 

Please keep us in your prayers over this next week with travel, reaching out to people, positive attitudes, and energy :o) 

Stay tuned for updates throughout the week and pictures! 

Thank you. 

Mikey J 

Summer 2011

So I realize this is over half a year late but better late than never right? 

Summer 2011 I went back home to the Pacific Northwest where I was born and raised and where all my family and a good portion of my childhood and H.S. friends still are. 

While I was home for 2 weeks I got the opportunity to go camping at one of my favorite places to go, Lake Quinault. The pictures following this will be of ones I snapped around our campsite. 

Lake Quinault is an amazing place for camping, hiking, swimming, a day drive, breakfast and lunch or to simply just sit back and relax.

So let me begin my picture tour, descriptions will be below the pic: 

To start us off, this is the sign leading into our camp area. There is a stream and a bridge right behind this sign and then so was our camp spot. 

This is the Lake Quinault Lodge. They have really good food and there's usually always travelers from all over the world staying here. It has an amazing view of the lake which I'm getting to shortly. I have never actually stayed at the lodge but have been there a handful of times. If you ever get the chance to stay here, do it. 

Here is that view I was just talking about. What a view! As you can see just in this picture there's opportunity to sit in the sun and relax, grab a kayak or a canoe and paddle around the lake, swim, and much more. Love it. 

Here is a spot we chose to go swimming. The water is cold but you get used to it, the wind is what makes it worse lol. It's not always windy but on this day there was a breeze, still felt great though. 

This is Christi. She is one of my best friends and I have known her for a long time. She goes to Western Washington University and is on her way to being an English teacher, hence the Discovering Grammar book lol. Oh and that's her dog Phantom in the background playing with a stick. 

What a sunset. I love the little things in life. 

An opening spot on the trail between our campsite and the lodge at sunset. 

And last but not least my self portrait haha. 

If you made it to the end I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Like most things in life it's hard to explains sometimes how amazing something is until you see it for your self. I hope if you are ever in the Pacific Northwest you get the chance to venture up to Lake Quinault. 

Have a great day my friends. 

-Mikey J-

Poem

Once more into the fray.

Into the last good fight I'll ever know.

Live and die on this day...

Live and die on this day...

God Believes in You

So here's something that has been on my mind. 

There's people in the world who either "choose" to follow Jesus, don't know of Jesus, or "choose" to not follow Jesus. I understand this, we are all in one of those options at some point in our life.  

If you choose NOT to follow Jesus because you don't believe in him or the Bible, that is your choice, I will never force anything I believe down your throat. On the other hand, I am always open to share what I know and what I believe. But this still really isn't what's been on my mind. 

What I'm really questioning is for the people who choose not to follow Jesus. If Jesus, God, the Bible, if you don't believe in any of this, then WHY do you spend SO MUCH TIME and EFFORT trying to prove something wrong that you don't believe in?? If you don't believe in it then just leave it alone. 

My Facebook news-feed is constantly being filled up with people's conversations about "God is fake" God doesn't exist" "here's some links to prove Christians wrong"... Seems to me, you have something personal going on. And if you have this personal mission going on with something you don't believe in, take a minute and have a conversation with this "fake" God. What do you have to lose?  

For those of you that don't believe in God just remember this, He believes in you... 

Be well my friends, 

Michael J. Moorman