Soldier

Well it is officially a new decade! Here is a list of things I have accomplished already this new year.

1) Acquired a cavity.

2) Eaten a "Five Dollar Footlong" from Subway (I have some inside information that I probably shouldn't be sharing over the internet...but heck, why not? I have just found out that the Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich for Subway is going on the $5 footlong list February 5th. Spread the Word).

3) Saved America from being destroyed (Modern Warfare 2 on X-box...)

4) Shoveled snow off of 1/5 of a driveway.

5) Beat both my brothers in NCAA football

6) Finally, and most important...i learned how to make mashed potatoes.


This isn't a long list. In fact, it represents my entire break. I really haven't been doing anything of significance. My laziness in my actions have also bled into my thoughts too. My good friend, David Heffren, and I were talking about this the other day. I just feel like I am not thinking about anything of importance. Basically, the only thing I think about is when and where my next meal is going to come from......this isn't a good thing considering I don't live in Africa (not trying to make a poverty joke...please don't hate me).

However, this whole break hasn't been all laziness and vegetation. I had the opportunity to hang out with my long-time friend. His name is Ryan Adams, and he is an airborne infantry scout for the Army. He was back for a short break before he had to head back to Fort Hood in Texas. I have known this guy for as long as I can remember. He has always been the crazy guy who lived across the street. I always used to give him a hard time his sister was hot. I'm going to be honest...I really did think she was beautiful, but not to the extent I led him to believe. Ryan and I have had good and bad times. There was a time during middle school when we almost got in a fight, but he scared me too much, so I ran away. I don't remember what we fought about, I probably made fun of his hair (we always used to call him "beaver pelt." We always use to say that his head resembled a beaver's pelt. It sounds stupid now, but we used to laugh about it all the time). I will always be thankful for the friendship I have and will continue to have with Ryan.

As I stated earlier, this break can be defined by less than heavy thoughts. But this was not the case one time I had the chance to hang out with Ryan. We were hanging out with our other friend, Jonathan, in his basement, and we were reminiscing about the good ole days like always. But then we started talking about life and how it is just so hard sometimes. Ryan is a great guy, and I will vouch for him as a person any day anywhere. But he isn't perfect, and he will be the first person to tell you so. He spent some time in Iraq the past year, and he told me about his experiences there. Not only are there no Christians among the Iraqis, but there were basically zero Christians at his base here in America. Basically, it was hard for him to be light in such a dark place, and he slipped from time to time.

I think it all came down to this. Ryan said, "Even the best Christian man will fall if you put him in the right situation." And I think there is some truth to his statement. Certain people have certain crosses to bear. For someone it might be drinking. Others it is lust or gossip. I couldn't help but think to myself, "What situation in life would make me fall so far as to make me start questioning my faith?" And I think this a question everyone needs to ask themselves. I have an answer for myself, and it really scares me...but luckily I know I have someone on my side who knows what I'm going through.

Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin."

I love Ryan, and I want him to succeed in all aspects in life. He is heading over to Afghanistan in November...and my whole family wish he could just stay in the States or go someplace like Germany! But Ryan doesn't complain about any of it. He knows it is his duty. If I could tell Ryan one thing, it would be:

Ryan I love you and I want you to know that you have Someone on your side that understands everything you are going through and will ever go through. You can defeat the Enemy...Satan, but only if you rely on our God.