During the sermon series Holidaze, that happened during the 2011 Holiday Season, I was inspired to be more generous with my money. And one way that I thought would be a great use of money was sponsoring a Compassion Child. My family has supported a young girl for a few years, its been so cool to hear about her life, watch her grow up, and get to bless her- I was super excited to do it again. But quite honestly, I got distracted by everything going on that I forgot to start sponsoring a child. I know! So Sad!

Well God just reminded today of this great idea, and I am totally going to do it! I’ll admit that I haven’t done it yet, but it is so hard to look at all of the kids in need, and only pick one. I am going to prayerfully pick a child to support not only financially but also with prayer.

So stay tuned! I will blog about my Compassion Kid Soon (:

You should support a child too! here’s where you can do it -> compassion.com

I love living in Detroit. 

This past week I watched the movie Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman. Most, if not all, of the movie was filmed in Michigan with the greatest portion being filmed in Detroit itself. It was so cool seeing different parts of the movie and knowing that I have stood right where the action was taking place in each scene. There was a sense of pride, and it made a connection with me that I don’t think any movie has before.

I hope that wherever God has called you that you are all in and in love with the place and the people that you get to interact with. I love the city of Detroit, and I love the people that I have the privilege of meeting and getting to be a part of their lives. I am the luckiest person to get to be in the coolest city in the world surrounded by the coolest people in the world. I hope you feel the same way about where God has called you.

In closing– I love living in Detroit. 

“Alas! how little does the memory of these human inhabitants enhance the beauty of the landscape!”
- Henry David Thoreau

How wondrous it is all on its own. God’s creation, new and beautiful every day!

Okay, so this is going to be an exciting blog. I am going to talk about America’s past time: Baseball. As of right now we are just forty one days away from opening day here in the D, and we get to kick it off against one of the better teams; the Boston Red Sox. I say better because the Cards are the reigning champs so technically they are the best, but I am biased and would argue the Tigers are better then both. Opening day 2012 will be the debut of big name free agent, new first baseman, and second part of the best duo in baseball, Prince Fielder.

Now if you ask anyone close to me how I feel about opening day and baseball they will all probably say the same thing or close to it, “Ross really loves baseball.” To me spring is not spring without a leather glove strapped to your hand and a ball being tossed between you and a brother, or my favorite, my dad. Now my dad was never really big in baseball, but as I grew up and he realized how much I cared about the sport, he learned what he could to add to my passion for the sport. He taught me how to throw a ball, caught me how to catch a baseball with the glove and not my face, taught me how to run fast, and taught me to never take my eye off the ball.

For baseball players spring means it is time to start to stretch out, work out, and get ready for the regular season. They get to shake off the dust of three months without the game, and a chance to shed the extra weight they gained form a long cold winter. LOL! It is cool though because everyone on the team is working with each other towards one common goal: Winning the World Series.

As Christians we do not get the luxury of a break, or time away from the game, but we do get the same kind of opportunity to grow, mature, and get ready for the big game, YOUR LIFE. God is giving us tools like the Bible, some of us have mentors in our parents or pastors, others get the chance to join internships where we get to go form AA all the way to the Majors, but we are all given opportunity to grow in some way.

This spring take a lesson from the Majors and start growing.

So I am currently reading this book called Personality Plus. It is practically ancient, and the cover is quite comical, but the content has been very helpful to me as well as rather entertaining. The book highlights on the 4 personality types–Sanguine(the energy), Choleric(the mover), Melancholy(the thinker), and Phlegmatic(the follower). At the beginning of the book you take a test to determine what personality you have. I learned that you generally aren’t 100% in one direction or the other, though some people are. More often than not, you will be a combination of two or three with one dominant personality type. Over the last week of reading Personality Plus, I have found out a lot about my own personality–Choleric/Sanguine–as well as the personalities of others. I am basically a prow at reading people now. ;P lol I wish! but the book really has helped me to see the other side of things more clearly. instead of always interpreting things from my perspective, I have begun looking from other angels and trying to see what others see. It turns out, not everyone thinks like I do, though they should(kidding! ). Each person has a unique way of looking at life. I highly recommend that anyone and everyone take a deeper look into the different personalities. It is enlightening and amusing for sure.

Just two weeks ago, I found myself showing love, speaking of hope and purpose to a nine year old boy who has been brutally bullied, to the point he counts himself as worthless and should die. His parents are out of the picture, he doesn’t have any friends. Simply, he’s on the edge of which he thinks everyone hates him and that life would be better without him. Wow.

I’ve heard all the stories of people being bullied into suicide and self depreciation, but I never really encountered a person whom I had influence to speak hope to. It’s gutwrenching heartbreaking. This is one person out of the twenty thousand that live in Hamtramck; one little boy who is fatherless. How many more are affected like him?

In the aftermath of my day in the battleground, whether with kids, teens or the community, I don’t want to just pray that all the people I’ve encountered didn’t go home unchanged. I wanna be part of the answer to my prayer. I want to see lives changed.

I want to see that little boy grow up to be a man of God, living a life confident of who he is in Christ. I want to see a promising student to grow up as a leader of his generation, to grasp his influence and use it to lead others to Christ. I want to see people get involved in their relationship with Christ, rather than simply recieve a ticket for heaven.

I can sing my favorite, no matter how ‘spiritual‘ they may be, songs. But if I don’t live them out, what’s the point? For example:

• I want to be part of the change that the world is waiting for.
• I want to love, the love that the world is desperate for.
• Live like Hamtramck is the Lord’s for the taking.
• Put effort into growing my faith, so my eyes can see how God does not change.

Determined for change,

Ben

I may or may not be a fan of cake batter flavored things. Don’t be fooled by that statement, however, because my experience with cake batter flavored things isn’t the most extensive. All I know is that the cake batter ice cream from Cold Stone is one of the most genius inventions. Probably ever.

So, it’s probably no surprise that when I was reading a blog and found a recipe for cake batter milkshakes, I was pretty excited.

The best part is that there are so many flavors to make! But of course, funfetti is the first one I’ll try, because it’s the best kinda cake mix out there.

I never thought I would be one of those people who reads blogs and bookmarks recipes. Maybe it has to do with getting older, I don’t know. But there are so many things I have yet to discover, and so many treats I have yet to try and create! Hopefully I’ll be able to try these milkshakes soon, and get to share them with people. Because who doesn’t love a good milkshake?! (Aside from those who are lactose intolerant..Sorry friends ): )

Hey everybody. I work at Jimmy John’s now. Some of you may not have known that. I’m pretty sure I don’t talk to everyone (in person or on phone) who reads this blog (at least I hope there’s someone besides my parents and Freddie). Anyways, I got a job.

So you want to know some specifics? Alright. Well, the pay’s not great but I get tips. I spend almost all the shift in my car driving. I’m a delivery driver in case you couldn’t tell. Then I also am learning some random stuff in the store. I can sweep, mop, put bread on a pan, change the trash can liners, and answer the phone. Pretty impressive for a little over 3 weeks, working every weekday.

Back to what’s important, I work with a lot of people every day. There are some times when I get to just stand around in the shop waiting for someone to order a sandwich so I can drive it to them. During these times I have been able to talk to a few of the other people. Since the shop is on the Wayne State campus, one of my first questions is usually about whether they are a student or not.

The normal response for them is to ask if I am. As you already know, I am not a student at Wayne State. I am a student at Xmin Academy. But they don’t know that before they ask. This usually leads to them asking what Xmin Academy is. Because it’s an internship through a church it’s really easy to then turn the conversation to Christ.

Nothing spectacular has happened yet, but there’s always a chance. I’m just going to keep doing my thing and trying to go above and beyond my job description.

A little over a week ago I got to switch rooms. I went from apartment 006 to 005. This change has been exciting. I have 3 room mates; Alex, Mariah, and Katy. It has been cool to get to know them more. I get to spend more time with them and see them at different times then I used to so I really get to see them in a new light. I really am enjoying my new home. I get to bunk with Alex. We have a tiny room so it is nice and cozy I also get to enjoy it when Katy gets crazy and Mariah is drug along with it. I love being in my new room. With it comes the fun of trying to figure out where things are kept and how things are done. I am still learning how the room is and I cannot find my way in the dark yet. The way we eat is different and everything is different. I am excited about it and I love it.

With that said, I do miss my old room. I miss not seeing those girls all the time. But now it is exciting for me to have the excitement of getting to see them every once and a while, like it used to be with the other girls. The switch wasn’t my idea but I am glad it happened. I am happy to have a slight change of surroundings and people. It always makes the old things a little bit sweeter. Change is good and refreshing. I am thankful that change happens.

I had to change to follow Christ and He changed my life for the better. I am happy the Christ changes us and makes us new. I know that this blog was random and not well constructed but I was so excited to let everyone know that change is AWESOME! Especially the change Christ does in us.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Lately, I have been rocked by the most simplest verses.  Why do I say it is simple?  Because, as a disciple of Christ, I will always go back into what Jesus taught, and get knowledge from Him.  You might be thinking the Bible, but let’s be more specific.  I am talking about the Gospels, because that is Christ’s ministry, and His word stands true.
I was praying late one night, and I thought I would carry my Bible around, so if I wanted to read his word while I was praying I could.  I accidentally laid it down, and now my Bible was open to Matthew 5.  At first, I was thinking that I know these verses really well, and was asking God what book of the Bible he wants me to read.  In all simplicity, God told me to read what was right in front of me for it says in the Bible “All Scripture is inspired by God” and “For the Word of God is alive and powerful,” so how can I be so blind by any verse God has given me.
Then, it hit me Matthew5:3-12 “The Beatitudes.”  “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”
Then God lead me to 1 Corinthians 12 “The Gifts of the Spirit.” And afterwards I fused these words from God together.  This was Jesus saying what we as Christians need to do in our lives, and Paul was writing about the Spirit, and the gifts the Spirit has for us.  It reminds me that I need to walk out in all that Jesus says, and what the Spirit says for they work together in making us greater disciples for Christ and to have a relationship with all three of the Godheads.
Read both of these chapters, and possibly go a little further too.  I also did, and God gave me revelation beyond my belief.
Remember brothers and sisters that we might know these verses well, and act them out in our lives. But God will still give you revelation from what you already know.  He will always take you into a deeper revelation, or he you correct some things in your lives that need to be changed.
Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Galatians 6:18 NLT)