To my dear beloved sponsors and supporters, I am just writing you all with my final update from NET Ministries. We stand with less than one week left working in the parish, and then one week after that of wrap-up, concluding with a closing banquet that many of our parents will be attending. It is very hard to believe that we have two weeks. We are in our last host home, which is sad. I am finding it very bittersweet having to leave this ministry. Tonight is our last Lifenight, where we will be saying goodbye to all our teens. It will be very hard, but beautiful.
So, to update you all on what has been happening here at St. Leonard's Parish since Easter. The Lifeteen Program still brings out 20 teens, and we have 7 commissioned CORE Team members who have taken over for us here at the parish, who will keep our LifeTeen Program going along with the full time youth minister. We also have commissioned 5 Crew Members, who lead the EDGE program for the Grade 7/8's. They bring out around 25 young people. They also have 10 A-Team members, who also help with the Edge. So our programs are going very well.
Music ministry has been completely taken over from me, and is being led by a teen by the name of James, and a young adult by the name of Matt. It's going super well. The music team is learning the craziness that leading worship is. However they are doing a great job. I am very proud of them. Please pray for them.
We also, since Easter, have received a new pastor, Fr. Geoff Kerslake. He's a very young priest who is super awesome. He's been a really blessing for this parish and for this team. He has the real heart of a servant. He's a great pastor and fun to be with. He has really loved our team.
So, we have handed everything over, and are completely finished. All we have to do is move out. Looking back, and recalling the good times and the hard times, I am so thankful for this year. Thank you all for making this year possible for me. God has done great things in me, and through me and my team this year. Conversions have taken place in the teens and also in me. It has been the most amazing year of my life. I do not think I can express my thankfulness for this year. It is too much to explain. May God continue to bless you all for your generosity.
So, you're probably wondering what will happen to me after this year is completed. I hope to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio, and major in Theology with a concentration in youth ministry. However, I am awaiting the acceptance from the University. If I am not accepted this year at Franciscan University, I am taking it as a sign from the Lord to go on NET for a second year. I am completely trusting that the Lord's Will will be done, so I am not worried. However if I am called to do NET for second year, I will, like I did last year, need to fundraise. So you may receive another letter requesting fundraising. Again, please pray that God's Will will be done in me. I again wish to thank you for your financial and prayer support. It has meant so much. You helped bring youth and families closer to Christ this year. May God continue to bless you all and draw you closer to Him. I hope to see you all soon. I am just going to end this letter with our team's mission statement.
We, the members of NET Team 3, as servants of God, look to the example of the Father and the Son, whose love is manifested in the Holy Spirit. May our love for one another reflect that same.
As a team, we offer ourselves in self sacrifice, laying down our lives for each other, knowing that our love for God is reflected by our love for our brothers and sisters, and in upholding each others dignity and honor.
From this love may we learn to encourage each other, to be grateful for one another's presence, and the call we have received, as well as for the hardships that we encounter.
Let this love be our strength for our trust in God, knowing that He is always faithful. May this love we strive for, consume our brotherhood and sisterhood, and unite us as a team, creating an abundant outpouring of God's love.
As a team, we commit ourselves to dwell in the Heart of Mary, and look to her as an example of love for Christ in the Eucharist. ~NET TEAM 3's Mission Statement
In His Eucharistic Heart and Dwelling in the Heart of Mary,
The Grace and peace of our Risen Lord be with you and your families in this glorious season of Easter. Well the last time I wrote to you was before Christmas, so it is time for an update. Returning home for Christmas was quite refreshing, however I was ready to come back to Manotick and continue in this ministry after my two weeks home. So, since we returned in January, we have seen much growth in our ministry here. We began the Edge program for the Grade 7 and 8’s every Friday night, led by Cristina and Robbie from the team. It has been going well. We have successfully trained and commissioned our CORE Team of 5 young adults from this parish, and presently have one leader in training, who will take over for us, in the LIFETEEN program, when we leave at the end of May. They are a wonderful group. They are very enthusiastic and passionate. I have no doubt in my mind that they will have any trouble taking over for us when we leave.
The worship team, which I am in charge of, is doing awesome as well. The youth within the worship team have become leaders in the youth ministry. They are the most involved. I have seen big conversions happen in the hearts of the youth in the worship team. They are dedicated to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and to Mary. I am so proud of them. I have yet to find a worship leader to take over for me, however I believe and trust God will provide for us. Please pray earnestly that God will bring a worship leader forth to serve God is this parish. The worship ministry is such a big part of this ministry. However, the coolest thing about this ministry is Relationships. Relational ministry is what this year has been all about. Getting to become friends with the teens, and then sharing with them what God has done in our lives is so awesome. I am so blessed to have been involved in this, and it is because of all of you that I am here. I believe I said this in my last update, but I need to stress it. You are aiding me in leading these youth closer to Christ. You are there when we pray with them and when we speak to them. So, again, THANK YOU SO MUCH! God is doing a great work in this parish.
So now to my favorite part of my year on NET: My Team. My team is doing well. However, in January, we had the biggest struggle as a team. JR, our male team leader, had to return home due to a family emergency. So we had to say goodbye to him 5 months early, which was very hard. However, we couldn’t survive as a team, especially as a brotherhood, without a male team leader. And so, they gave us a new one, STEVEN MIERENDORF from Team 1. Now for all of you from Mary Immaculate, you should remember Steve, because he was on the NET Team there. He was your worship leader. So now, we have two worship leaders on our team. He’s such a great team leader, and an even greater brother. We really enjoy having him on our team. Brotherhood on this team is amazing. Having three other hardcore men of God, holding you accountable to living a Godly, holy life, and calling you on to be a Saint daily, is amazing. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens man." I have found this to be very true within the context of the team. Though it has been wonderful and beautiful to be on this team, it has also had its struggles. Like Fr. Dominic Borg OCD spoke about in one of his homilies, silver is refined by fire, however, it is not completely pure until the refiner can see his reflection in it. God has definitely been refining me through my team, and it has been awesome! I pray that Jesus can see Himself a little bit better in me.
Well, in less than three months, I am going to be returning home, and my year here will be over. I will say goodbye to the fast paced Ottawa, and return to the beautiful "Railway capital", St. Thomas, and the great Forest City of London. I am looking forward to seeing you all again. I am very excited to return to Mary Immaculate and see my LIFETEEN community again. I also cannot wait to see my Carmelite community at St. Andrew’s, and all my family and friends at Holy Angels in St. Thomas. I plan after this summer to attend Franciscan University in Steubenville Ohio, if it is God’s Will, and major in theology. I know for a fact that I would not have been prepared for university, if I had not come on NET. NET has definitely solidified in me, my desire to serve holy Mother Church, by proclaiming the Gospel, and saving souls, especially the youth of this generation. I am now much more open as well to a possible vocation to the priesthood, or married life. We’ll just have to see where God leads me.
So this is where I end my update. I will be writing to you at the end of my year here, right before our wrap up week. Thank you again for supporting me, and coming on this adventure with me. You will here from me in June. May Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel, draw you and your family members closer to Jesus her Son, and may she give you all the graces her Son has for you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Chris Pinnegar
Oh my God, You have surpassed all my expectations. St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD
To my beloved friends and family. I am just writing to give you all an update of what is going on in my life, now that I am on NET Canada. It has been a definite growth experience for me here. This being the furthest and the longest time away from home for me, has not been easy. Making this adjustment so immediately, has been a real shock to my system, but God who is faithful, has given me the strength to persevere.
I began my training experience in St. Raphael's Ontario at Shalom House, training in music ministry for two weeks. Having previous experience at Mary Immaculate Parish as a Co-Worship Leader for LifeTeen, I thought I would have little room for growth...I was wrong! The blessings I recievied at musicians training were very visible, especially because we recieved the Eucharist at Mass daily. Though there were hardships, I made some amazing friendships, and grew immensely, both musically and spiritually.
Following musicians training, we began training with the rest of the young people who had applied for NET at Waupoos Island; a secluded Island in a cove off of Lake Ontario. Battling the elements, such as an infestation of spiders, lack of running water for showering, hurricanes, and random colds and other sicknesses floating around the camp, did not break the spirits of all the youth at training. I personally knew Jesus wanted to cause great growth in me, but never in these ways. From the first day, stepping out of my comfort zone became the norm.
However, once teams were picked, life on the Island changed dramatically. I was chosen to be on Parish Team #3, Manotick, Ontario. We will be starting a LIFETEEN youth ministry program in this parish. Though I desired to be in Manotick, because I wanted to be close to Ottawa and to many events in this area, I did not expect be on the team I was placed on. I was also chosen to be the music leader for our team, which has its advantages and disadvantages, however, I could not have asked for a better role to suit me. Though life on the team has been hard to settle into, due to the fact that I had not began close relationships with anyone on my team pervious to team choosing, it has definitely caused me to grow.
Now, we are staying in wonderful host families in Manotick, away from that Island, wrapping up our ministry training in Ottawa. We stand about 5 days from the commissioning of the teams at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa by Archbishop Marcel Gervais, the President of NET Ministries of Canada. Following that, we begin working in our parish, where in two weeks after our commissioning, we will be having our Kick-Off LifeTeen event, entitled "Coming to Life". I just wish to thank you all for supporting me in this awesome ministry. God is going to do great things this year in Manotick, and with the rest of NET Ministries, and it's only with your support that we are able to make this happen. Be assurred of my prayers in this upcoming year, as I minister and begin relationships with the youth in Manotick. Please pray for me as well, that God would use me greatly in this upcoming year. May God Bless all of you for your support of me and this ministry.
Hey yall. Chris here, updating you all on my adventure which began Aug.12 2004, with NET Ministries of Canada. For two weeks, beginning August 12th, a select 26 of the 60 or so people chosen for NET, participated in music training with Garth P,the head of music with NET Canada at Shalom House in St. Raphael's Ont. near Alexandria, . Garth has been in the worship team with Andy Park, who wrote songs such as "The River is Here", and many other famous worship songs. So for two weeks, we sat at the feet of Garth to learn how to lead worship effectiviely, and be worshippers ourselves. It was very humbling to walk in thinking I would rock the socks off the youth there, and realize that I wasn't as good as I thought I was. However, the talk that I believe meant the most to me, during the two weeks there was the "Identity in Christ" talk, which basically stated that we should take our identity in Christ and not our abilities. "Ability is a cheap form of worth" as Garth says. So, the fun began at training, and I, being humbled extremely, found myself sick in the first few days. Very discouraging, but very useful for souls. Anyways, so also, the brotherhoods became really strong there. Friendships formed there are the strongest out of any throughout training. The Aussies were definitely a big part of the cool experience there. Also the sisterhoods are quite the same. So memorable stories, the sisters honoured the brothers one night with giving us three hours just as men, to hang and play Gamecube(MarioKart of course). It was so tight! We then also honoured the sisters. We had supper made specially for them, and served them by candle light, dressed up, especially for them. We gave them keys, with miraculous medals on them, and then gave them some time to be on a date with Jesus before Him in the Blessed Sacrament, and then after that, myself, Jason W, and Liam, prepared what we call the NETSYNC dance, and danced for them to PLUSONE music. After that, we gave them "Return to Me" to watch and hanve the night alone as girls. So the guys just chilled around Shalom House. We also walked to Mass every morning, and recieved Jesus in the Eucharist which kicked! We also played games like Kingsardines, where we made all of Shalom house in darkness, and played hide and go seek basically. It was hot! We also participated in the Under the Sun Youth Rally..and played for their Sunday Mass, where I played Electric guitar for Garth.
Once we completed musicians training, we headed to Ottawa to meet up with the rest of the Netters. Definitely cool! We then proceeded to have a commmissioning Mass the next day with Team Ireland, with Bishop Gervais our Pre sident. After that we headed to Waupoos Island, which is in a cove off of Lake Ontario. First night, walking into the cabin, all I could see were the number of spiders...almost died. I knew Jesus wanted to break me this year, but not in this manner...oh well WILD AT HEART HERE I COME! Then the next day, the water cut out, so I had to bathe in the River...yeah, not so fun...pretty darn cold! Everything was pretty ghetto there. However it became our home for three weeks. We had many training sessions on formation and ministry. It got boring at times, but altogether it was good. Our cabin was dedicated to St. Don Bosco, to magician Saint, named by Garth, who is also a magician. Our cabin was so tight by the end. Most memorable time at training, next to team picking day, was Men's Session, where we left the girls back at camp, and went as Men to spend 24 hours just as guys. We played "Fresh Fruit" and had some killer talks. We celebrated Mass at like 10 at night, outside by campfire, and celebrated Mass in the morning, as the sun rose at the moment of Consecration. It was awesome. Team picking day was also awesome. I was praying I'd be on the Manotick Parish Team, and God placed me there. however it was not the team I had dreamed, but I love them nonetheless. I as also chosen to be worship leader for the team....HUGE RESPONSIBILITY, but I guess God has a plan. Our first team prayer was pretty funny. Our supervisers are the best, Liz - who wants to be a Carmelite, and Mark, who is the coolest guy ever. Also, our first team day was during a hurricane, which was kinda cool, but sad, cuz we were going to do laundry together...but definitely an experience.
Now we are in host homes in Ottawa, wrapping up our training here. We however as a team, get to stay in host homes in Manotick, and see our parish and such, before anyone else can. It pretty tiny but really neat. Anyways so I'm just chilling here, it;s like 9:30 on a Friday night, just chillaxin, and so I write this update for you. Anyways I'll update more as it comes along. I love you guys, and praying for you all, love u, peace.
[i][b]† Heavenly Father. My new journey begins in 11 days. I leave the life I know, to come and follow Your Son in a new and radical way. Giving up my usual comfort, giving up the life I know, dropping my nets like Peter, to pick up this new cross to climb this mountain in front of me. Jesus, am I ready for this? Will I bring honour to You this year? Will I bring honour to Your Church? Will I bring honour to the Order of Carmel? Jesus I desire only to be Yours this year. Use me beyond measure. Mold me into the image of yourself. I wanna know you more than ever before. I wanna love you more than ever before. I just wanna be yours God. I pray that those who read this heartcry, would pray for me, that I would be able to respond completely to the grace you shower on me, through the hands of Your Mother Mary. Jesus I love you. Take my life. My heart faints within me. This heart is yours. I pray this in your name Lord Jesus, through the Heart of Your Mother. AMEN †[/b][/i][u]
[b]////////////////////// ///////////[/b][/u]
The journey is soon to begin Where I leave behind where I have been To press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me.
I leave behind the security To seek a higher level of purity Not to live for my own But for Christ, the Cornerstone.
The Cross doesn't seem so far off now I can see it in the distance Oh what a glorious Cross I'd pick it up in an instant.
I leave to gather what the enemy stole I come with love I come seeking lost souls
I'm breaking what I know Detaching myself from it all Like a Tabula Rosa- A Clean Slate
I write this love letter With the chalk of my life On the black board of history I am but an erasable mark
I wait upon the Teacher to erase me I only want to please the Teacher I want to be used by the nail scared hand I want to be used over and over again.
Another lesson to Your children Let me be just what you want me to be. All I want is for you to be proud, Of this, my story on the blackboard of history.
Chris Pinnegar Copyright 2004 ///////////////////////// ////////
WORD UP YALL! Wow, God is moving. His grace is sufficient! Well here's my update in my life. Last weekend I went to the Steubenville Youth Conference. Oh wow, being on the campus was so refreshing. It really has become home to me. Plus there were four Young Apostles there who were on my YA team there last year. It was like we hadn't left. We were still very tight. Kimberly, my "wife", was such an encouragement to me. Laura, her laugh so filled with the joy of Christ, I love listening to her laugh, Justin, he's such an awesome God seeker, and yeah a master at resting in the Spirit. He knows how to let go and let GOD! Michelle, who was on YA's this year again, for her second time, was so filled with love. I look at her and can see how happy the Father is with her. I can literally see Him picking her up in His arms, as her face shines with joy. Michelle, i love you sis! Anyways to the conference. It was great! The band, Jim Cowan and his crew, kinda surprised me this year. I expected a lotta old school, they played some recent United Hillsong, which made me happy. The speakers all rocked. Bob Rice, Mark Hart, Fr. Stan, Steve Angrisano, Steve Allgeyer, they all rocked my socks off. The Liturgies ruled, and the Eucharistic Adoaration was very powerful. The Lord worked greatly in the group from Mary Immaculate. Conversions took place in a lot of youth. Some didn't let God do anything, but He still has His hand ready to move when they open it up. Backyard Galaxy - Bob Rice's band, rocked the house. LOL Oh how I wish TLS would become that good. The presentation from Therese - The Movie, was kickin. My girlfriend has a movie - WOOOHOOO! [b]St. Therese, I love you girl![/b] I cannot believe how popular she has become. I feel so priviliged to call myself a Carmelite! Anyways, the conference, [b]RISE UP [/b]-[i]A Catholic Revolution[/i], made a great impact on the youth. I cannot wait to hear what God does in this upcoming year with the youth at Mary Immaculate. I'm expecting great things. [b]YOU HEAR THAT GUYS FROM MI? I'M EXPECTING GREAT THINGS!!!!!!!!!!![/b] Anyways here we are, the conference is over, I'm home, sitting at my computer a week after the conference began, and now come the anxiety - you know that "anxiety" that they talk about at Mass after the Our Father...."And protect us from all [i]useless anxiety[/i] as we wait in joyful hope..." This [i]useless anxiety[/i], is totally a killer. I have raised near to 2 grand. The youth from MI, and the youth leaders, have been such an awesome support. Driving home from the conference, the youth collectively raised closer to $260. for my year on NET. The priests at Holy Angels Parish have given me the largest sum so far of $550. St. Andrews Parish - my Carmelite posse, provided $200. Sacred Heart Parish in Parkhill as given me $50. The rest have come from personal donations and such. I am so proud to be a Catholic. Some other parishes haven't been really open to helping me, but it's okay. God is a providential Father. I was at Mass at noon today, and after I recieved the Eucharist, I said to Jesus in the Eucharist, "Speak Lord, I am listening." He in return says to me, "Don't be afraid". I said, "What am I afraid of?" He says, "You're afraid that I won't take care of you. Has there been anything you have lacked ever? Have I made a promise to you that I have not kept? NO! NEVER! Trust in me! I will provide for your year on NET, just like I have provided for you all of your life. I love you." See what I find myself doing, is looking at God in a human way - even though I realize He's God, I think that He may let me down. He has NEVER let me down though! Like so many people in my life who have let me down, I think He could do it too. However He refuses to. It's impossible for Him to. Jesus is a man of His Word. He never breaks it. He is so perfect. [i]"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13[/i] God is so rich, as it says in the Psalms, [i]"For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills." Ps. 50:10 [/i]. Why should I be afraid? [i]"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?: Ps. 27:1[/i] Anyways, pray for me y'all, that I can live my "YES" and stand at the foot of the Cross, like Mary. I gotta go do some NET- working, ha ha I'm so punny. See y'all in the Eucharist.
Today, I did a lot of stuff. I went to Holy Mass where I recieved Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Again, The Blessed Sacrament is literally my source of life, happiness, and peace. However, when I take my eyes off of that Tabernacle where Christ ensalves Himself for me, and I begin focussing on myself, man I get messed up. I get frustrated, angry, impatient. Today I sent out quite a few sponsorship letters for NET, but I was so wrapped up in myself, that I do not think I shone with love at all. I just wanted to get my stuff done and behind me. I took back my mic and stand, that we used for our mini show on Friday at Mike our guitarist's house. He let me off without having to pay. Everything was working out great for me, even someone giving me $100 in sponsorship for NET, but I wasn't at peace at all today. I went shopping and bought the new Underoath CD, the X2004 DVD, new earphones for while on NET, a new 128 CD holder for on the road, and Final Fantasy - the movie b/c it was super cheap. Anyways, also, I met my friend Mary, who was on my NET interview Weekend today in London, at the Upper Room bookstore. It was completely random, b/c she is from the Kitchener area. Then tonight I went to see Dodgeball, it was kinda funny, kinda gross too, I had to turn away at a few parts. Anyways, I found that I allowed myself to be kept captive by my own humanity. I would not relax and see what beauty there was in today. I failed a lot. I have a lot of things holding me bound in my life, that I know Christ wants to set me free from, but I just can't seem to hand Him the chains that hold me bound. This Sunday's Second reading was all about how "For Freedom, Christ has set us free." And I can't believe how much I let myself be a slave to myself. I am so dissatisfied with being so self centred. [i]+Jesus, through the Heart of Your Mother, I pray for Freedom. Break those shackles that bind me. Lord Jesus, I desire freedom. Jesus I desire you! Set me free, Oh God! Be my sufficiency. Be my Everything. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen+ [/i]
So yes, tonight I choose this day to serve Christ. I choose to move on. Pray for me, brothers and sisters, that I can break free, and seek Christ with everything I have. Well I'm going to go to bed. luv you guys.
"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." [/b]
Tonight, my good friend Peter from Texas called me. Him and I have been friends since we met in Steubenville Ohio for Young Apostles Training in 2003. Anyways, a week after I found out I was accepted to NET Canada in May, I called him to share in the blessing. Anyways, he tells me about this thing called Youth Arise. I was of course intrigued, because it was an intensive 6 month LIFETEEN youth ministry training and mission program. Anyways, I thought, wow that would rock for Pete if he got on Youth Arise - then we'd both be doing youth ministry training and missions work, to build up Holy Mother Church. Anyways, i didn't say anything. Next day, he calls me up and says, " I think I might be called to go to Youth Arise". Immediately I start praying for him, and well, tonight i recieve a call, and well, he's at Youth Arise right now, at a Pro-life Concert in Tempe AZ. This group of youth are really experiencing a fresh move of the Spirit there. GOd is moving in awesome ways. They've marched against pornography in front of a sex shop with large crosses, and have had extremely awesome prayer meetings, and Bible Studies. It was totally inspiring to hear about this awesome radical Catholic Crew. I can't wait to talk to Peter when he is done. He'll be different, as will I, and then we'll go to Franciscan University, the men we are meant to be. Anyways, yeah, prayer for Peter, Eric, Dan, and Joe, and Andrea and Meridith. Well gotta go.
Yay for summer! Yesterday, Maggie, my bestest friend, and I, went to Holy Mass, recieved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and then afterwards went to the local Christian store, and she bought me the new album from Pillar - [i]Where Do We Go From Here?[/i]. What an awesome album. Go and buy it! Fo shizzle! So after that, we went to the dollar store and bought like fifty balloons, some waterguns, and some like 4 foot length ballons, and drove to my friend Julie's House. For a week, Julie and I have planned on how we should get her two crazy sisters, Karen and Marilyn. So we planned that when Karen and Mar got home from school, we'd greet them with waterballoons. So before they arrived, we had to help a neighbouring property catch their cows who got loose. So that was an experience. Then when they arrived home, I was like, "They're here!" And we all stood on the front porch, with balloons behind our backs. I looked at Karen, who looks like she's in grade 12, but she's gr. 8, and I was like, "Sup...ladies....FIRE!!!!" We all started going crazy with our balloons. Anyways, we went crazy! Julie had a John Deere Gator(Drool hangs from mouth - loved it), and so we jumped on that, filled the back with balloons, and started chasing the girls with this Gator. We had Julie, Maggie, and Julie's two younger sisters, Michelle and Heather, helping us out. It was intense. By the end, everyone was worn to a frazzle. It was sweet. Then i exposed the girls to Homestar Runner! Yay! Dangeresque 3!!! Then we ate dinner - which was DELICIOUSO! Mrs. Vanhie - YOU ROCK MY SOCKS OFF! You are an awesome mom! Then we hung out in the living room, which is literally the size of my house no jokes. I played the guitar, while girls painted my toe nails - lol ([b][b]DUMB ME[/b][/b]) Anyways. after that, and while putting black eyeliner on...Oh wow...I'm a goth wannabe, we hung and waited for Trinity to show up. Then she showed up, and we hung out, while Maggie got her hair straightened by Karen. We(Maggie, Julie, Trinity, and I) then got in the car, and drove to the drive-in movie theatre. We watched Shrek 2, and Harry Potter. We had fun, not because of the movie so much as just being together. I think the girls would atttest to that fact. We threw popcorn and whispered sweet stupid things into each others ears, and just had too much fun for one day. Then I drove them all home, and Maggie and I got home around 3 AM. Of course, we prayed together, and I sent her to bed. So then I got home, checked my email, and then, put in my new Pillar CD ,and fell asleep. Ya, and now is the day of my graduation.
SO yeah, so I'm sleeping, having one of the best sleeps this year, and I get this dream. I dream I am at Franciscan University of Steubenville. And I'm hangingo ut with my friends in this room, that has a nice carpet and stuff. Suddenly out of nowhere, an old friend, someone who I used to think I was best friends with, but turned out not to be, Laura, comes into the room, walking right past me, without a word, and with a sigh of relief, throws herself onto the floor. I thinking she just didn't even recognize me or something, decided I would go and pretend to bellyflop on top of her(without doing so...that would not be a pretty site). Remember this is a dream, really screwed up. I would never do that in a million years. So I go and somewhat fall over her. She looks at me, and says, "GET OFF ME!" And so I do, and she walks away. But then my whole Young Apostles Team from 2001, all come in, and we all joke around, but the one person I wanted respect from, that I wanted to talked to, ignores me. Laura. Maybe some of you have experienced stuff like this, where you want someone to notice you, and they either ignore you, don't like you, or don't even know you exist. I've been dealing with this idea for awhile. Ever since Laura stopped talking to me after World Youth Day 2002, I've always questioned why this occurs. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. I thought her and I would be tight. However it turns out that I cannot put my trust in man. SO this is where I create my next blog, on who to put your trust in...check it out, coming soon to my blog near you.
Sup guys? Wow, if there is one thing in the world that straight up ticks me off, is guys who don't respect women. Holy crap. Tonight I took my so-called friends out for a drive, and before we went out I said, "Okay here's the ground rules. [u][b]NO CRAP TALK[/b][/u]!!! Crap talk includes, sexual humour, gross humour, disrespectful humour, anything that is just straight up wrong." And so yeah what do the losers do, but start with the crap talking. Finally I got so fed up, I was like "THAT'S IT!!!" and drove them home. I cannot wait to get out of this freakin town! Holy moly! NET - Come quickly! For those reading this who may sponsor me, who are praying for me, or just know me and wanna see what's up, you guys, thank you for your support in advance for sending me on NET with your prayers, and financial support. I can guarantee you, that it is being used for a very GOOD CAUSE, like placing me in an atmosphere where I have real fellowship, and a place hwere God can really use me to bring His Truth and Love to this generation. That's it, it's 12:16AM, and I am beat. So you guys later.
Sup yall. English is done...YAY! FOREVER! And now onto Media and Drama. Wow. TOnight I went to worship practice, late as always, and had one of the greatest practices ever. Julie and Louisa - Jfunk and L.Dawg, totally playing tricks on me, telling me they locked my keys in the car etc. Grr, ladies. I love you! Afterwards I hung with Strauss, the new guitarist for TLS, Ducky(Ian), Jenn, and Jo. Oh wow, these gusy are so awesome. Strauss loves being in TLS, he's very passionate for Christ and the Eucharist, which makes it all worthwhile. Ducky, wow, what a guy! He's so funny! Jennifer, she's such an inspiration to me, and we're so alike...oh Jenny. And Jo, she has bite marks on her neck from a million mosquitoes and black flies. Her arms and neck are covered in bites. I could hardly control myself. I laughed so hard when i saw her. Of course I was empathetic...LOL. Good job Josephine, you're amazing. Anyways, here;s the dealio, TLS is transforming. School is finishing, Steubenville is coming, and NET is waiting for my arrival in August. Freekfest is also coming up on July 12th. anyways that's it for bloggy mcblog blog tonight. I'm beat and have study group in the morning. Have a good night.
Hey. So yeah, today was the last day of school...HALLELUJAH. Now onto exams. I have English Exam tomorrow, and then Drama and Media on Friday and then Graduation a week from tomorrow, the 23rd. Yall are invited to this joyous event. Anyways, onto English studying. Please pray for me guys. I'll talk to you Friday. Peace. Also do no forget to go to [url=]http://www.truthleftstanding.... [/url] and sign the guestbook. God Bless you guys. Peace.
[b]+JMJ+[/b] He showed up...yep...after Justine and I trapsed around St. Thomas, called people on the cell phone...yeah that's right, he showed up. Good job [i]Estragon![/i]! Anyways, we're so screwed for drama. Oh Momma Mary, pray for us, PLEASE! Anyways. Into yours hands Lord...I commend my spirit.
Hey. Man, DRAMA ISP DUE TOMORROW and ANTON DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR PRACTICE TONIGHT. We have to work on Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, and well, ha, he doesn't show up. UGH! Why does this always happen? Grr.
"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." :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
What a day! No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try to do things MY way, they always turn out another. No matter how hard I try to aim for perfection, I end up falling down, in a puddle of self. Presently in my spiritual life, there is a lot going on! Last night I was praying, and I opened my Bible to James 4. It said
"1 What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? 2 You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us"? 6 But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you."
God totally revealed to me what's happening in my spirit. Lately I've been dealing with a lot of mental and physical temptations. Going to bed at night is the HARDEST thing to do. Bedtime is my wartime. And lemme tell ya, I've let the enemy win a lot. Kyrie Eleison! So yeah. I mean, and it's so true, God's Word says, "Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more." And it's so true. No matter how much I screw up, Jesus, brings me back continuously. Jesus, thank you for your mercy! His Word totally called me on, to really seek Him in the midst of Temptation, to realize that my future is in His hands; That I shouldn't desire to make my own. He also called me to flee from those mental temptations and go to the Tabernacle, either spiritually, or physically, because there is where I'm able to submit myself the most to His Majesty.
So yeah, I'm just going to write my prayer on here. + Father. Thank you so much for your mercy. Father, thank you for never abandoning me nor forsaking me. I pray right now, that you Father shower your mercy and love down. Father, your love sustains me. You're all I need. Be the love of my life Father. Break me. Tear me apart at the seams and rebuild me. Father, make me more like Jesus. I pray this in Jesus' Name , through Mary. Amen. +
+JMJ+ Hey. My name is Chris Pinnegar and this is my first blog. I was inspired to start one because I saw Daniel Saban's (www.danielsaban.com), and was inspired to start one. I'll introduce myself more thoroughly. I'm 18, live in Ontario, and am a graduating high school student. I am 100% Catholic, and I love Christ! In the upcoming year, I will be part of the National Evangelization Teams in Canada(www.netcanada.ca). I was accepted last Tuesday. I'm very excited to see what God does in this upcoming year. I will either be travelling around Canda doing retreats or in a church somewhere starting a youth ministry. This will be the journal I use to log everything we do, so that all a y'all can see what God is doing in my life. You'll be able to see where I've been, who is on my team, different events and such. If pics are allowed, you'll see pics too. Anyways, I'm done this. I'm going to go see how this works. Later guys. Grace and Peace. ~Chris {John 3:30}
