So, looking back on 2013, I'm inclined to call it a year of reconciliation for myself. Several very close friendships were restored and my relationship with my dad finally received some important healing. Brian "Head" Welch, from the band Korn, used this term in reference to 2013, and I agreed with his assessment.
I have decided that 2014 is going to be a year of education. Tomorrow, I start an Introduction to Genetics and Evolution class, and Monday I start Dinosaur Paleobiology. Both are online through Coursera.org, a program which partners with major universities around the world to offer a large number of free online classes to anyone. I am very excited to start both classes, and they are both going to help me become more connected with the paleontological field. Until I am able to either find a job in that area or at least take more formal classes to further my education in it, I am planning on continuously taking free online courses of this nature. It will help me stay interested and on track with my life goals.
That being said, if anyone is interested in taking these courses along with me, it IS free, and I would love to discuss them with you!
Peace.
Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Sunday, December 8, 2013
The Mongolian Connection
So, I have always been a traveler. You could say I am afflicted with chronic wanderlust. I have often thought about living overseas for an extended amount of time. The idea of visiting a place for a few weeks does not particularly appeal to me as much as living somewhere for a few months, or even years. I want to really understand and experience any culture to which I am being introduced.
You may be surprised to hear in this context that I have never really wanted nor felt called to overseas missions work. It has not even mildly interested me in the past, even though I still plan on living in a different country (or countries) for several years of my life. Short-term missions in particular are what have made me dislike the idea of becoming a missionary. If I were to go into the mission field, it would be for an amount of time which would really get me into a culture, enough so I could be a citizen if I bothered with that process.
Due to its barren, wild landscape, interesting culture and history, and numerous important paleontological sites, Mongolia has always piqued my interest, one of the only Asian countries to do so.
This summer, a group called the Freedom Tour came through Lansing and held a weekend event at a local church. I attended on the last evening of it. During this time, they had everyone come up at least once to be prayed over and ask God for their calling, purpose, what they were made for, etc. Someone would be praying for you specifically and asking God for pictures and words about you, and another person would be writing it down. I went up for this. Among other things they said about me in which I could see God's truth, one of the words was something about being a light in Asia for God. They did say wheter anything which was prayed over me did or did not match up with what I already knew about God's calling for my life, pray about all of it. Since I had never considered missions work before (and especially not in Asia), I just took it in stride, although my mind went immediately to Mongolia as the only place which I would really consider.
Fast forward to this evening. I was at an event at the Furnace Prayer Room in East Lansing. A young man named Tyler was presenting something called the Ekballo Project, his idea for missions to the Himalayan region. During this time, I was reminded of what was said to me at the Freedom Tour event. I have become more acclimated to living in a more difficult situation, and although I have certain goals I am currently trying to attain, I would no longer put overseas missions out of the realm of possibility. With all of this in mind, I went up to the fellow after the presentation and prayer time was over and was about to ask if he could pray for me about this as a possibility for the future. Before I could ask, though, he said, "Have we met? Were you at the Freedom Tour this past year in Lansing?"
Whoa. As it turns out, this was in fact the same guy who had prayed over me at the event this summer! Now here I am asking for prayer about the very same things which were brought up at that time which are now in my head again. How very interesting.
Naturally, I would very much appreciate it if you all would pray God would guide me regarding the possibility of future missions to Mongolia. I will be praying a lot about it myself. Thank you.
Also, I finally have a job again! I am now working for Two Men and a Truck in Grand Rapids, where I will be living most of the week. My friend Andrew and I will hopefully be moved here fully in January.
Peace.
You may be surprised to hear in this context that I have never really wanted nor felt called to overseas missions work. It has not even mildly interested me in the past, even though I still plan on living in a different country (or countries) for several years of my life. Short-term missions in particular are what have made me dislike the idea of becoming a missionary. If I were to go into the mission field, it would be for an amount of time which would really get me into a culture, enough so I could be a citizen if I bothered with that process.
Due to its barren, wild landscape, interesting culture and history, and numerous important paleontological sites, Mongolia has always piqued my interest, one of the only Asian countries to do so.
This summer, a group called the Freedom Tour came through Lansing and held a weekend event at a local church. I attended on the last evening of it. During this time, they had everyone come up at least once to be prayed over and ask God for their calling, purpose, what they were made for, etc. Someone would be praying for you specifically and asking God for pictures and words about you, and another person would be writing it down. I went up for this. Among other things they said about me in which I could see God's truth, one of the words was something about being a light in Asia for God. They did say wheter anything which was prayed over me did or did not match up with what I already knew about God's calling for my life, pray about all of it. Since I had never considered missions work before (and especially not in Asia), I just took it in stride, although my mind went immediately to Mongolia as the only place which I would really consider.
Fast forward to this evening. I was at an event at the Furnace Prayer Room in East Lansing. A young man named Tyler was presenting something called the Ekballo Project, his idea for missions to the Himalayan region. During this time, I was reminded of what was said to me at the Freedom Tour event. I have become more acclimated to living in a more difficult situation, and although I have certain goals I am currently trying to attain, I would no longer put overseas missions out of the realm of possibility. With all of this in mind, I went up to the fellow after the presentation and prayer time was over and was about to ask if he could pray for me about this as a possibility for the future. Before I could ask, though, he said, "Have we met? Were you at the Freedom Tour this past year in Lansing?"
Whoa. As it turns out, this was in fact the same guy who had prayed over me at the event this summer! Now here I am asking for prayer about the very same things which were brought up at that time which are now in my head again. How very interesting.
Naturally, I would very much appreciate it if you all would pray God would guide me regarding the possibility of future missions to Mongolia. I will be praying a lot about it myself. Thank you.
Also, I finally have a job again! I am now working for Two Men and a Truck in Grand Rapids, where I will be living most of the week. My friend Andrew and I will hopefully be moved here fully in January.
Peace.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Westward 2013, pre-launch
So, here we are again. The third summer's-end in a row I'm making a trip west. This trip is much different, though. Instead of a vacation, it is a work trip, a seasonal volunteer opportunity, a long road trip, a new temporary home, a chance to unplug myself from most technology and the rest of the world for a season.
The true reality of going to Idaho, however, is it will be a spiritual journey.
I am leaving behind the world I know: my job, my family, my state, my dear friends, my perspectives, most of my belongings, and maybe even a bit of my self. A different life awaits me on the opposite end of this journey. I do not know what it will look like, or if it will "look" different at all.
I will not be the same, though.
A friend told me this would be the case, but also explained how my old ways and thoughts will not be easily shaken off. Change, although encouraged by a new location and lifestyle, still does not come easy. It comes with a price.
I hope to spend a lot of time reading, writing (something I have not done much of before), making music, and experiencing God's beauty in the mountains. The same previously mentioned friend also told me to make intentional goals for my time there in order to get the most out of it and facilitate the change I desire. These goals are probably going to be related to the activities I just mentioned.
This weekend was a very emotional one for me. I hosted a send-off party at my house, and over thirty of my friends came to say goodbye. I received many kind words, and some meaningful gifts...the greatest of these was love. After almost everyone had gone, I realised how much I love my friends, and how much they love me. They truly are my family; not to diminish how much I value my family, but rather to say how much I value my friends. We treat each other as family.
Last night I took one final trip to Grand Rapids to support a friend who was performing a stand-up routine, and to see my best friend Korey. I don't often use specific names on this blog, purposefully so, but it is appropriate to mention him. We could not spend much time together, but it meant so much for us to see each other before I left. He also gave me some very meaningful gifts and words.
One friend commented on how we said goodbye as if we would never see each other again.
It is better to love fully, without holding back, than to keep it inside. Fear of rejection stifles the human desire to be vulnerable with each other.
A famous quote from C.S. Lewis:
On a different note, I am moving out of Lansing today. Tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday I will be traveling around southeast Michigan: cutting bank ties and seeing a few more friends before I go. Friday and Saturday I will be spending some final time in northern Michigan, and Sunday will be a farewell cookout at my church and one last board game with some friends from Lansing.
Labor Day, Monday, September 2, we leave for Idaho.
I know many of you will want to know what is going on while I am there. I will likely not be blogging or using Facebook during my time on the farm, and I have no idea if I will be able to call people using my cell phone. When possible, I would like to send group e-mail updates to those who will read them. If you want, send me an e-mail soon so I can have a list of addresses ready before I leave. No promises on the frequency of these e-mails, but I will try my hardest to keep you informed.
butlerc777@gmail.com
Your prayers are appreciated. Thank you.
Peace.
The true reality of going to Idaho, however, is it will be a spiritual journey.
I am leaving behind the world I know: my job, my family, my state, my dear friends, my perspectives, most of my belongings, and maybe even a bit of my self. A different life awaits me on the opposite end of this journey. I do not know what it will look like, or if it will "look" different at all.
I will not be the same, though.
A friend told me this would be the case, but also explained how my old ways and thoughts will not be easily shaken off. Change, although encouraged by a new location and lifestyle, still does not come easy. It comes with a price.
I hope to spend a lot of time reading, writing (something I have not done much of before), making music, and experiencing God's beauty in the mountains. The same previously mentioned friend also told me to make intentional goals for my time there in order to get the most out of it and facilitate the change I desire. These goals are probably going to be related to the activities I just mentioned.
This weekend was a very emotional one for me. I hosted a send-off party at my house, and over thirty of my friends came to say goodbye. I received many kind words, and some meaningful gifts...the greatest of these was love. After almost everyone had gone, I realised how much I love my friends, and how much they love me. They truly are my family; not to diminish how much I value my family, but rather to say how much I value my friends. We treat each other as family.
Last night I took one final trip to Grand Rapids to support a friend who was performing a stand-up routine, and to see my best friend Korey. I don't often use specific names on this blog, purposefully so, but it is appropriate to mention him. We could not spend much time together, but it meant so much for us to see each other before I left. He also gave me some very meaningful gifts and words.
One friend commented on how we said goodbye as if we would never see each other again.
It is better to love fully, without holding back, than to keep it inside. Fear of rejection stifles the human desire to be vulnerable with each other.
A famous quote from C.S. Lewis:
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."
God is slowly showing me what love without fear looks like. Perhaps this is what will be different about me when I return to Michigan once more (I was tempted to write "for the final time" instead of "once more"...a good friend once told me I am very dramatic, but it is a good thing because God made my personality this way, haha. Perhaps "final time" is too dramatic, but who knows?).On a different note, I am moving out of Lansing today. Tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday I will be traveling around southeast Michigan: cutting bank ties and seeing a few more friends before I go. Friday and Saturday I will be spending some final time in northern Michigan, and Sunday will be a farewell cookout at my church and one last board game with some friends from Lansing.
Labor Day, Monday, September 2, we leave for Idaho.
I know many of you will want to know what is going on while I am there. I will likely not be blogging or using Facebook during my time on the farm, and I have no idea if I will be able to call people using my cell phone. When possible, I would like to send group e-mail updates to those who will read them. If you want, send me an e-mail soon so I can have a list of addresses ready before I leave. No promises on the frequency of these e-mails, but I will try my hardest to keep you informed.
butlerc777@gmail.com
Your prayers are appreciated. Thank you.
Peace.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Idaho
So, as a number of you already know, I recently had an amazing opportunity present itself to me. One of my friends from Spring Arbor called me up Sunday night, asking if I wanted to work on an organic farm in Idaho with him from September to December. Needless to say, I wanted to give him a "Yes!" right then and there, but a number of things had to be sorted out first.
I have spent this whole week thinking and praying about this, trying to sort out my options, and thinking about my job, housing, financial, and ministry situations...and now, at the end of this week, I have decided to go all in on this adventure. My mom and pastor are in support of me going (which are both very important to me), and I've put in my two week notice at Preuss Pets. The right steps have been taken as much as possible, and I'm ready to start preparing for the craziest thing I've ever done.
We will be leaving September 2, taking a week to have a fantastic road trip out there: South Dakota, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, the Montana Rockies. The farm itself is in the northern end of the Idaho panhandle, twenty miles from Canada, and right next to Glacier National Park. Each workday will be done by 4pm, we will be housed in a cabin with a wood-burning stove, all our food will be provided, and we will have three-day weekends. Can you say, "road trips every weekend?"
All in all, this is going to be amazing. I've been looking for opportunities to get away from everything, particularly seasonal jobs like this. I feel I function better in short-term jobs...maybe it's a result of working at camp for too many summers.
One thing in particular I'm very excited about is the alone time I will have. It's been too long since I've disconnected from everything. I'll have a lot of time to connect with God in the mountains, to work on music, to read...to just enjoy life.
I will be coming back to Michigan probably via train in December; my friend will be looking for other opportunities elsewhere. When I get back, I will work on finishing up the albums for which I've been trying to raise support, and looking for a new job and place to live. I still don't know exactly where I will go once I'm back home: my family's house in Williamston is where I will go initially, but I will probably be looking for jobs in other parts of the state as soon as I can. My time in the Lansing area is coming to an end. My church will be waiting for my return, and I will be there for a time as the worship leader again, although I do not yet have a guess for how long. I'm trying not to think too hard about what December will bring, though.
Anyway, I'm very excited about this whole thing. I feel it's a very good and important step in the right direction. I want to be able to make at least a little time for anyone who wants to see me before I leave, so let me know! Tonight, I will be at Center Lake Bible Camp to say goodbye to my former employers, who are going on their own journey to work at a camp in Santa Fe. Lots of people I know will be there, and, without trying to steal the moment, I will have a chance to say goodbye to many of them as well.
Your prayers are appreciated.
Peace.
I have spent this whole week thinking and praying about this, trying to sort out my options, and thinking about my job, housing, financial, and ministry situations...and now, at the end of this week, I have decided to go all in on this adventure. My mom and pastor are in support of me going (which are both very important to me), and I've put in my two week notice at Preuss Pets. The right steps have been taken as much as possible, and I'm ready to start preparing for the craziest thing I've ever done.
We will be leaving September 2, taking a week to have a fantastic road trip out there: South Dakota, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, the Montana Rockies. The farm itself is in the northern end of the Idaho panhandle, twenty miles from Canada, and right next to Glacier National Park. Each workday will be done by 4pm, we will be housed in a cabin with a wood-burning stove, all our food will be provided, and we will have three-day weekends. Can you say, "road trips every weekend?"
All in all, this is going to be amazing. I've been looking for opportunities to get away from everything, particularly seasonal jobs like this. I feel I function better in short-term jobs...maybe it's a result of working at camp for too many summers.
One thing in particular I'm very excited about is the alone time I will have. It's been too long since I've disconnected from everything. I'll have a lot of time to connect with God in the mountains, to work on music, to read...to just enjoy life.
I will be coming back to Michigan probably via train in December; my friend will be looking for other opportunities elsewhere. When I get back, I will work on finishing up the albums for which I've been trying to raise support, and looking for a new job and place to live. I still don't know exactly where I will go once I'm back home: my family's house in Williamston is where I will go initially, but I will probably be looking for jobs in other parts of the state as soon as I can. My time in the Lansing area is coming to an end. My church will be waiting for my return, and I will be there for a time as the worship leader again, although I do not yet have a guess for how long. I'm trying not to think too hard about what December will bring, though.
Anyway, I'm very excited about this whole thing. I feel it's a very good and important step in the right direction. I want to be able to make at least a little time for anyone who wants to see me before I leave, so let me know! Tonight, I will be at Center Lake Bible Camp to say goodbye to my former employers, who are going on their own journey to work at a camp in Santa Fe. Lots of people I know will be there, and, without trying to steal the moment, I will have a chance to say goodbye to many of them as well.
Your prayers are appreciated.
Peace.
Monday, April 22, 2013
New job!
So, this is my last week moving furniture for a living, and next week I will start cleaning people's aquariums for a living! I got the job I applied for at Preuss Pets, the best pet store in Michigan. I will be taking a financial hit by working there; however, the work environment and the other staff more than make up for the loss.
This past weekend was a pretty interesting one. There were a couple Christian conferences I went to, which is something I haven't really done before. God taught me how He has freed me from the addictions, fears, and other things that have harmed people in my family...and me. That was something I REALLY needed to hear. He also keeps showing me that He really wants to make things right between my real dad and I, and that He has prepared both of our hearts for it. My uncles on that side of my family also seem to think it's the right time, and have been asking me more and more at family events if I have talked to him yet, haha.
I am now looking at getting to Colorado next spring. The Preuss job will pay less, but I almost have the amount saved that I wanted to by May anyway, so as long as I continue saving money, even small amounts, I will have enough saved for whenever Jesus does send me out there. Until then, Jesus is rockin' house here in Lansing, and I am excited about it! We're hoping to turn the house I'm in into a prayer and worship house. AWESOME.
Also, I will now have weekends a lot more freed up due to getting a new job and Friday night plans changing a bit, so my roommate Garrett and I are planning to have REGULAR short-term camping trips. He's from Colorado (ironic...) and is super outdoorsy like me, so we both need to get out of the city as much as possible. Things are looking good!
Peace.
This past weekend was a pretty interesting one. There were a couple Christian conferences I went to, which is something I haven't really done before. God taught me how He has freed me from the addictions, fears, and other things that have harmed people in my family...and me. That was something I REALLY needed to hear. He also keeps showing me that He really wants to make things right between my real dad and I, and that He has prepared both of our hearts for it. My uncles on that side of my family also seem to think it's the right time, and have been asking me more and more at family events if I have talked to him yet, haha.
I am now looking at getting to Colorado next spring. The Preuss job will pay less, but I almost have the amount saved that I wanted to by May anyway, so as long as I continue saving money, even small amounts, I will have enough saved for whenever Jesus does send me out there. Until then, Jesus is rockin' house here in Lansing, and I am excited about it! We're hoping to turn the house I'm in into a prayer and worship house. AWESOME.
Also, I will now have weekends a lot more freed up due to getting a new job and Friday night plans changing a bit, so my roommate Garrett and I are planning to have REGULAR short-term camping trips. He's from Colorado (ironic...) and is super outdoorsy like me, so we both need to get out of the city as much as possible. Things are looking good!
Peace.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Music time!
So, I haven't posted in a while...partly because I haven't had much to talk about, and partly because I haven't had internet at my house for over a week. Now the internet is back, though, and there are things to talk about, so let's get to it.
First, Christmas was weird. It's the first Christmas that I've actually had a real job during, so I didn't have a "Christmas break." Definitely weird, but also very good. I got to spend time with both sides of my family, which was really great. Realizing that this may be my last Christmas in Michigan, not including visiting in the future, was another strange moment.
Second, I got a chance to hang out with my roommate Justin in Grand Rapids last night. While I was there, I met one of his friends who has a small recording studio in the basement of his house. When I saw each side of my family, both sides told me they want me to record an album before I go to Colorado. After meeting this guy in GR, I actually have a place to start. My goal is to record three albums, actually. One will be a farewell album for my family and friends in Michigan with some of my personal favorite songs and some goodbye-type songs. The second one will be a more fun album specifically for my Center Lake Bible Camp friends. It will have a bunch of parodies on it, and will be the only album of the three with any totally original songs on it...maybe up to three or four, depending on who I can get to collaborate with me on it. The third album will be a metal-to-acoustic one with a number of metal songs I've covered on the acoustic guitar. Several of the musical arrangements on this album will be my own, but none of the lyrics will be changed from the original songs.
I'm pretty stoked for this. The metal and camp albums are the most complete as things stand right now (other than actually recording them, of course). I still don't quite know what songs are going to be on the goodbye album, though. There are some ideas floating around my brain, but I need to develop a solid list and start practicing.
Several of my family members and the friends who are most closely associated with the songs on the albums will probably get these for free, but I think for the most part I'm going to sell them for cheap to try to partially fund my move to Colorado this summer (for which I may now have one or two travel companions...). This is what I'm thinking regarding prices:
$3 per album
$5 per album with all the lyrics and some song explanations
$7 for all that plus the chord charts for the songs
$10 for all that plus a personal message (and maybe some original artwork).
Yeah, we're gettin' deluxed in here.
Any thoughts, questions, comments, suggestions, requests, etc.? Comment below or send me an e-mail. If you don't already have it, my e-mail address is: butlerc777@gmail.com
Peace.
First, Christmas was weird. It's the first Christmas that I've actually had a real job during, so I didn't have a "Christmas break." Definitely weird, but also very good. I got to spend time with both sides of my family, which was really great. Realizing that this may be my last Christmas in Michigan, not including visiting in the future, was another strange moment.
Second, I got a chance to hang out with my roommate Justin in Grand Rapids last night. While I was there, I met one of his friends who has a small recording studio in the basement of his house. When I saw each side of my family, both sides told me they want me to record an album before I go to Colorado. After meeting this guy in GR, I actually have a place to start. My goal is to record three albums, actually. One will be a farewell album for my family and friends in Michigan with some of my personal favorite songs and some goodbye-type songs. The second one will be a more fun album specifically for my Center Lake Bible Camp friends. It will have a bunch of parodies on it, and will be the only album of the three with any totally original songs on it...maybe up to three or four, depending on who I can get to collaborate with me on it. The third album will be a metal-to-acoustic one with a number of metal songs I've covered on the acoustic guitar. Several of the musical arrangements on this album will be my own, but none of the lyrics will be changed from the original songs.
I'm pretty stoked for this. The metal and camp albums are the most complete as things stand right now (other than actually recording them, of course). I still don't quite know what songs are going to be on the goodbye album, though. There are some ideas floating around my brain, but I need to develop a solid list and start practicing.
Several of my family members and the friends who are most closely associated with the songs on the albums will probably get these for free, but I think for the most part I'm going to sell them for cheap to try to partially fund my move to Colorado this summer (for which I may now have one or two travel companions...). This is what I'm thinking regarding prices:
$3 per album
$5 per album with all the lyrics and some song explanations
$7 for all that plus the chord charts for the songs
$10 for all that plus a personal message (and maybe some original artwork).
Yeah, we're gettin' deluxed in here.
Any thoughts, questions, comments, suggestions, requests, etc.? Comment below or send me an e-mail. If you don't already have it, my e-mail address is: butlerc777@gmail.com
Peace.
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