I love year in reviews. I don't know why. I guess I just like seeing where we have come in the last 365 days. Whether it is the Sportscenter Year in Review to Year End Countdowns to Newscasts highlighting the top stories of the year, it will always catch my attention. However, I really love examining my life in review for the past year.
I remember thinking this time last year that 07 was going to have some major life changes. In fact, it could quite possibly be the biggest year of my life. I don't think it disappointed. But, I realize that the big changes happened in the first half of the year, so here they are, in order of the month, the Tyler year in review...
January
Took my younger sister to a home to get help.
Went to Northern Illinois University to finish my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
February
Saw the Goo Goo Dolls play with an unforgettable date. I say unforgettable because my roomate and best friend always remind me about it. Who was it? Well, it wasn't my fiance. But I got the ticket reimbursed.
March
Got 3rd in a pool for the NCAA tournament
Went to the House of Blues for the first time with my fiance, best friend, and his little sister to see Sherwood, Mae, and Relient K. Awesome place to see a concert!
Spring break was not too exciting-but relaxing nonetheless
April
Easter time with family
Baseball season started.
Endless wedding plans
Agape= Skillet and Spoken
May
Finished up position at Genoa Faith United Methodist Church.
Graduated from Northern Illinois University
Moved out of a room that contained three of the best possible roomates.
Moved to an empty house in German Valley
Started my position at Silver Creek Reformed Church in German Valley
Continued endless wedding plans
Saw my younger brother graduate high school.
Attended tons of high school grad parties.
June
GOT MARRIED TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!!!
HONEYMOON!
Andrea moved in and took the loneliness of our house away.
Beautiful weather
July
4th of July
A great moment at Happy Joe's celebrating Allissa's birthday
Have a great mission trip to Knoxville, TN with two awesome leaders and eight great students. I seriously couldn't have asked for a better mission team.
Enjoying a wonderful summer with my wife, friends, and students in our ministry.
August
Begin planning for school year.
Realize that a great summer is going to end.
Saw Skillet and Spoken play- again!
September
Begin school year ministry for the students
Continue to live life and love God
October
Fall is here.
Just continue to love my wife, my ministry, my students, leaders, and most importantly, my Savior.
November
Birthday month- Got my Bowflex Dumbbells
Thanksgiving- Quite possibly one of my favorite holidays
December
Christmas time was an absolute blur. 8 Christmas in four days.
Ministry was crazy busy too, but that was ok!
My wife and I are definitely ready for warmer weather!
Well there it is. The bullet points of the year. I know I didn't include much detail, but I want to keep others privacy protected. It was a great year. My prayer is that 08 will be just as great!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Top Ten Music of The Year
Jesusfreakhideout.com released their top ten songs and albums of the year, and well, I didn't agree with much of what they said, so, here is my opinion. Top ten albums and top ten songs in Christian music!
Top Ten Albums
1. Thousand Foot Krutch- The Flame in All of Us
2. Spoken- self-titled
3. Falling Up- Captiva
4. David Crowder Band- Remedy
5. Everyday Sunday- Wake up! Wake up!
6. Project 86- Rival Factions
7. Relient K- Five Score and Seven Years Ago
8. Eleventy Seven- Galactic Conquest
9. Anberlin- Cities
10. Casting Crowns- The Altar and the Door
Top Ten Songs
1. New Drug- Thousand Foot Krutch
2. Hotel Aquarium- Falling Up
3. Dismantle Repair- Anberlin
4. Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)- Project 86
5. Everything Glorious- David Crowder Band
6. What do We Know?- Thousand Foot Krutch
7. Falls Apart- Thousand Foot Krutch
8. Find Me Tonight- Everyday Sunday
9. Love in Your Arms- Eleventy Seven
10. History Erased- Spoken
Top Ten Albums
1. Thousand Foot Krutch- The Flame in All of Us
2. Spoken- self-titled
3. Falling Up- Captiva
4. David Crowder Band- Remedy
5. Everyday Sunday- Wake up! Wake up!
6. Project 86- Rival Factions
7. Relient K- Five Score and Seven Years Ago
8. Eleventy Seven- Galactic Conquest
9. Anberlin- Cities
10. Casting Crowns- The Altar and the Door
Top Ten Songs
1. New Drug- Thousand Foot Krutch
2. Hotel Aquarium- Falling Up
3. Dismantle Repair- Anberlin
4. Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)- Project 86
5. Everything Glorious- David Crowder Band
6. What do We Know?- Thousand Foot Krutch
7. Falls Apart- Thousand Foot Krutch
8. Find Me Tonight- Everyday Sunday
9. Love in Your Arms- Eleventy Seven
10. History Erased- Spoken
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Something you may be concerned about
Hey everyone,
I don't know how much attention you have been paying to the news as of late, but if you have, there may have been several stories throughout the week that may have caused you to have been scared. Maybe have you ask the question, "Why, God, is this going on?" These such stories can include the 19 year old who went and killed several people at a mall in Nebraska last week to a person going and killing people at a church and at a center for Youth With a Mission just this past Sunday. My college that I graduated from, Northern Illinois University, even closed campus because of threats related to the Virginia Tech incident were written on a bathroom wall. Michael Vick, former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, was sentenced to 23 months in prison because of his involvement in dog fighting and killing pit bulls. You may be like me, and asking "Why, God, is there all the violence?"
Although the question cries from our heart, I know the answer is simple. Sin. People's sin and our sin affects not only ourselves, but it also affects us. God has given us the perfect gift and ability to choose to follow Him and His ways. Unfortunately, some people in this world choose not to follow His ways, and they can go on to lead vicious violent ways. It says in the book of Romans that God allowed people to be given over to their sinful desires and their hearts. Because of the evil stored up in their hearts, these people are bringing this sort of violence onto the world. However, this is not that comforting for us who have chosen to follow God and live in love. We still may be asking "Why, God, why?"
We are not the first to ask this. In fact, David, a man who the Bible says was a man after God's own heart, asked God about the violence in the world.
"Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure." Psalm 7:9
Look at that prayer that David brings to the Lord. I think we should join in this prayer. It is so obvious that we live in a violent culture, and we should continue to pray and work towards making it a place of peace.
These people who are threatening the violence need to see that there is love in this world, and that love comes from a God who created them, who sent Jesus to save them from their sins.
Let's look at some other parts of David's prayer in this passage.
"My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. " v 10
"Those who are pregnant with evil conceive trouble and give birth to disillusionment. Those who dig a hole and scoop it out fall into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High." 14-17
Through this time of fear, we can remember some things. First, we remember who our shield is. It is God. He is the one who promises to protect us. God says that He will never leave nor forsake us. We remember that He saved us from our sin, and that He will bring judgment on the Earth. Read the book of Revelation. God is waiting for more people to come to Him and accept His gift on the cross, and then He will come back and destroy the violent, the sexually immoral, and those who did not accept Jesus as their Savior. Then the perfect world will be here. A world of no more violence, no more sickness, no more disease, and no more death will take place. We will have eternity with God. God is our shield. We can thank God for this promise, and we can share the message of the cross with others so that they can be protected by this great shield as well!
We see that those who create this violence will have to answer for it. If they have not received Christ as their Savior, they will have to pay for their sins. The Lord says that vengeance is His. We are His prized creation. The Bible tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us?
Spend time thanking God because of His righteousness, and join in David's prayer that the violence will end. If you wish to talk about this more or have any questions, please call or email or stop by. I would love to talk and pray with you about this if you want to. Thanks guys. Remember that God loves you and does not want this to happen either. I love you and am praying for you!
Tyler
I don't know how much attention you have been paying to the news as of late, but if you have, there may have been several stories throughout the week that may have caused you to have been scared. Maybe have you ask the question, "Why, God, is this going on?" These such stories can include the 19 year old who went and killed several people at a mall in Nebraska last week to a person going and killing people at a church and at a center for Youth With a Mission just this past Sunday. My college that I graduated from, Northern Illinois University, even closed campus because of threats related to the Virginia Tech incident were written on a bathroom wall. Michael Vick, former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, was sentenced to 23 months in prison because of his involvement in dog fighting and killing pit bulls. You may be like me, and asking "Why, God, is there all the violence?"
Although the question cries from our heart, I know the answer is simple. Sin. People's sin and our sin affects not only ourselves, but it also affects us. God has given us the perfect gift and ability to choose to follow Him and His ways. Unfortunately, some people in this world choose not to follow His ways, and they can go on to lead vicious violent ways. It says in the book of Romans that God allowed people to be given over to their sinful desires and their hearts. Because of the evil stored up in their hearts, these people are bringing this sort of violence onto the world. However, this is not that comforting for us who have chosen to follow God and live in love. We still may be asking "Why, God, why?"
We are not the first to ask this. In fact, David, a man who the Bible says was a man after God's own heart, asked God about the violence in the world.
"Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure." Psalm 7:9
Look at that prayer that David brings to the Lord. I think we should join in this prayer. It is so obvious that we live in a violent culture, and we should continue to pray and work towards making it a place of peace.
These people who are threatening the violence need to see that there is love in this world, and that love comes from a God who created them, who sent Jesus to save them from their sins.
Let's look at some other parts of David's prayer in this passage.
"My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. " v 10
"Those who are pregnant with evil conceive trouble and give birth to disillusionment. Those who dig a hole and scoop it out fall into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High." 14-17
Through this time of fear, we can remember some things. First, we remember who our shield is. It is God. He is the one who promises to protect us. God says that He will never leave nor forsake us. We remember that He saved us from our sin, and that He will bring judgment on the Earth. Read the book of Revelation. God is waiting for more people to come to Him and accept His gift on the cross, and then He will come back and destroy the violent, the sexually immoral, and those who did not accept Jesus as their Savior. Then the perfect world will be here. A world of no more violence, no more sickness, no more disease, and no more death will take place. We will have eternity with God. God is our shield. We can thank God for this promise, and we can share the message of the cross with others so that they can be protected by this great shield as well!
We see that those who create this violence will have to answer for it. If they have not received Christ as their Savior, they will have to pay for their sins. The Lord says that vengeance is His. We are His prized creation. The Bible tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us?
Spend time thanking God because of His righteousness, and join in David's prayer that the violence will end. If you wish to talk about this more or have any questions, please call or email or stop by. I would love to talk and pray with you about this if you want to. Thanks guys. Remember that God loves you and does not want this to happen either. I love you and am praying for you!
Tyler
Saturday, December 8, 2007
The Winter Wonderland
Well it's been snowing a lot lately, and ice and wind have been making it all very cold. In fact, one of my adult leaders for the youth ministry got her car stuck in a snow bank at our church this morning. (Never mind the fact that she felt she needed to drive in a backwards circle around the building, it was quite humorous).
This time of the year can bring great joy and for some people, great sadness for others. Andrea's (my wife) aunt has been very sick (battling cancer) for the last two years, and it seems that the final days of the battle are here. I must say that this sickness has brought some good though. Andrea moved back into town two years ago to be with her aunt, and that led to her and I going out for lunch for old time's sake, and that led to her becoming my wife about 6 months ago.
Andrea's and my history has been one that could make up a movie (at least in my mind because I experienced all the same emotions). It was a constant time of one pursing the other, then another pursuing the other one, times that we both were pursuing each other, and times that we both despised each other. Sometimes she was thrown in my life when I didn't want her, and there were times when she was ripped away from me when I didn't think I could survive without her. It was during one of those times that I needed to spend my life with her. I felt that being in love was being with a person that you could live with forever. It was being with a person that you couldn't live without. I tried living without in her in my life, and it was difficult. Wow. Hard times.
We both took times in our life to make sure that God was our number one priority in our life. I'm glad we did, because we learned to depend on Him. I knew I could live without Andrea. But romantically, not at all. Shoot I tried. Unfortunately, I broke some girls' hearts. Man, I wish I could take that back. There's about three girls in my life that I just wish I could say "I'm sorry I wasted your time." Because that's what I did, and I think they have scars to prove it. So if you're one of those girls (and you know who you are) and you're reading this (which I totally doubt you are), I'm sorry. I know you won't let me around enough to say that. And that's ok. To be honest, I more than understand.
Anyways, it's winter. And I hate it. Christmas time helps us get through it, but still, I can't stand leaving work when it's dark. I can't stand scraping off my car in the morning. I can't stand having to wear so many clothes (oh how I wish I could go through life with a pair of khaki shorts, t-shirt, and sandals) but I'm still thankful. Thankful for my job, thankful for my car and the fact that I can have one, and thankful for my clothes.
I love being involved with World Vision's Thirty Hour Famine. As a youth leader, that's one of the greatest things I love doing. Praying and raising funds for the hungry all over the world. I will post a link for you to donate if you wish in the future. Still, what a great way to serve the Lord by taking care of those so very less fortunate than us. At times, I wonder how I'm going to pay for life insurance. For these children, they wonder if they'll be fed anytime throughout the week. Wow. Our situations don't seem half bad.
I also love the fact that Andrea and I have a child through Compassion International. Sibo, age 5, from India. He's a cute little kid. It's so weird that our $32 a month more than doubles his family's monthly income. I'm so glad to give a little bit of what God has given me to help him be fed, clothed, healthy, clean, and educated. God truly does bless us to bring blessings to others.
Please bless others this Christmas season.
This time of the year can bring great joy and for some people, great sadness for others. Andrea's (my wife) aunt has been very sick (battling cancer) for the last two years, and it seems that the final days of the battle are here. I must say that this sickness has brought some good though. Andrea moved back into town two years ago to be with her aunt, and that led to her and I going out for lunch for old time's sake, and that led to her becoming my wife about 6 months ago.
Andrea's and my history has been one that could make up a movie (at least in my mind because I experienced all the same emotions). It was a constant time of one pursing the other, then another pursuing the other one, times that we both were pursuing each other, and times that we both despised each other. Sometimes she was thrown in my life when I didn't want her, and there were times when she was ripped away from me when I didn't think I could survive without her. It was during one of those times that I needed to spend my life with her. I felt that being in love was being with a person that you could live with forever. It was being with a person that you couldn't live without. I tried living without in her in my life, and it was difficult. Wow. Hard times.
We both took times in our life to make sure that God was our number one priority in our life. I'm glad we did, because we learned to depend on Him. I knew I could live without Andrea. But romantically, not at all. Shoot I tried. Unfortunately, I broke some girls' hearts. Man, I wish I could take that back. There's about three girls in my life that I just wish I could say "I'm sorry I wasted your time." Because that's what I did, and I think they have scars to prove it. So if you're one of those girls (and you know who you are) and you're reading this (which I totally doubt you are), I'm sorry. I know you won't let me around enough to say that. And that's ok. To be honest, I more than understand.
Anyways, it's winter. And I hate it. Christmas time helps us get through it, but still, I can't stand leaving work when it's dark. I can't stand scraping off my car in the morning. I can't stand having to wear so many clothes (oh how I wish I could go through life with a pair of khaki shorts, t-shirt, and sandals) but I'm still thankful. Thankful for my job, thankful for my car and the fact that I can have one, and thankful for my clothes.
I love being involved with World Vision's Thirty Hour Famine. As a youth leader, that's one of the greatest things I love doing. Praying and raising funds for the hungry all over the world. I will post a link for you to donate if you wish in the future. Still, what a great way to serve the Lord by taking care of those so very less fortunate than us. At times, I wonder how I'm going to pay for life insurance. For these children, they wonder if they'll be fed anytime throughout the week. Wow. Our situations don't seem half bad.
I also love the fact that Andrea and I have a child through Compassion International. Sibo, age 5, from India. He's a cute little kid. It's so weird that our $32 a month more than doubles his family's monthly income. I'm so glad to give a little bit of what God has given me to help him be fed, clothed, healthy, clean, and educated. God truly does bless us to bring blessings to others.
Please bless others this Christmas season.
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