Hello all of my faithful readers! I hope you are fairing well!

I have been sick for the past 4 days and am now on the recovery!  I haven't thrown up since I got sick right before my journey to South Africa and I hope I don't throw up like I did on Thursday ever again!  Although, considering how upset my tummy was feeling, I'm glad I got it over with...  For those of you who dread throwing up, don't! Don't do it intentionally but if you are sick, feel at ease with simply: a bowl next to you, some clear soda, and covers over you.  Your body will do the rest.  Seriously!

I hope to get back on track with my daily life this next week.  Pick up my running again - after this nasty, cold weather! - write more on my cool website (thanks again Mr. Price for the help with
everything ;) and finish the rest of my school. 

I go to college August 21st, I think.  I'm getting excited.  I'm excited for the friends I'll make, for the fun, goofy times we will have.  I hope that I find a group of friends who are up-lifting and edifying, who encourage me and challenge me spiritually, and who really know how to have a crazy good time with no drugs or alcohol (I just took this ridiculous drug-awareness class that scares poor kids out of their wits of ever going near drugs much less driving after using them!).

My encouraging word for today is:  Give God the first and the best.  In  your day, give him the first.  From your paycheck, give him the first fruits and the best fruits.  When giving money to the Lord don't just set aside 10%, give all that you possibly can while leaving aside enough to take care of your own needs.  Jesus tells us to give everything - not just 10-lousy-%.  But if 10 is all you've got, that's great too.  It is really a matter of the heart; between you and God.  And I have found it true that the church may not always be where God wants you to give your money.  Now I don't claim to be the voice of God but I know that if you read in the Bible God's love for the poor and needy widows and orphans is very apparent.  Not just people in orphanages, but your friends at school or work or in ministry who you know are struggling financially.  Give the poor some money, help fend for your Christian brothers and sisters when they cannot do it for themselves.  Stand together in brotherly love.

My one friend at work is working 2 jobs, desperately trying to pay her way through school and for her car and all other expenses; her divorced mom just got laid-off at work, and she sometimes feels the need to help her and her 2 brothers out too.  She is having a
rough time.  I know she is a Christian.  She seeks the Lord and loves him, she appreciates the things that God does for her, down to the tiniest things.  She tells me at work how things are going for her, I generally ask, and then at the end of the day I pray with her.  She's the manager.  After last months pay check I put 100 bucks in her envelope anonymously.  I think I'm going to continue with that.  My other friend just wrote me an e-mail asking me for 20 dollars.  I had set aside about 25 dollars tithe and already gave it to my other friend who was struggling, so when my girlfriend asked me for 20 bucks I hesitated.  Can you believe that?  I hesitated in helping out my sister in Christ who needed some money!  I wrote her shortly after receiving the e-mail and said YES! I have 20 lousy dollars for you!  Give to those in need, stand together in brotherly love.  And as soon as you start praying for God to show you where you should give your tithe, however much you are giving, he will!  Be patient in waiting on his perfect timing. 

God loves each one of us personally, and if we just take the time to read his words, the Bible, we will learn so much and be uplifted so much.  He has provided all that we need in the Christian walk; the Bible is an excellent resource right within hands reach.  Be a radical!