Right now, I sell phones...never thought I would be doing that after the World Race...but that is where the Lord has me for a season...it is very interesting...I am learning a lot...mostly about myself and my heart...

I am also picking up a new lingo...I talk about things I never talked about before...a lot...(ask my wife...she could probably do my job now because of how much I talk about it.)

So at work...we have this language that we understand...phone language...it makes perfect sense to us...it is kind of amazing how it developed...we all came from different places but we have formed a common way of expressing things...if you heard us, it would probably not make any sense to you...because we have seen things and come to understand them in a similar way...

Naturally, this always happens when you are hanging out with the same group of people a lot...

I noticed the same thing coming home from the World Race...a group of us from all over the states lived together for almost a year...we all had different backgrounds and views...we all came together and we had to learn how to communicate in a way that made sense to us...

So we did...and as the year went along...we began to use new words and new expressions that we came across...and it all made perfect sense to us...

So when coming home a lot of us were shocked when we would talk to people...because we felt like no one understood us...partially because no one saw what we saw...but also because of our terminology...the way we said things didn't make sense to so many people back home...

One of the most common words that was misunderstood when coming home was the word COMMUNITY...

It seemed to have a negative reaction...one that often came with a strange look and the question, "Are you in a cult or some kind of commune?"

This was a total shock to me because it was coming from friends and family...normally the ones that understand most...

Now I understand their confusion...because I am realizing that I don't even know what it means...I have an idea in my head...but I can't even put it into words...

I have talked about it and discussed it...tried to put it into action many different ways...both on the Race and now in Colorado Springs...and I just don't get it...

I am learning now that there is so much more to COMMUNITY than I ever imagined...more than I have ever experienced...and something in me desires to go deeper...to find true COMMUNITY...

But where do we even begin...

Join me in my next blog...Click the link below when I post it...

So I haven't written a blog in months...and I kinda miss it...I miss trying to put my thoughts together into something that makes sense...even if it only makes sense to me...

I have been back from the World Race for almost eight months...a lot has happened...the most amazing thing being that I got married to Haley Gordon...a fellow racer...back in November...which if you knew me growing up and have met her...should prove to you that God is real and His grace is all over me...she is absolutely amazing...

We are currently living in Colorado Springs...we are learning to be married...we are trying to learn what it means to love someone more than yourself...we (mostly me) are trying to let go of some of our past junk in order to love each other...just because...

We believe that marriage can be different...we believe that it can keep getting better...and that it doesn't have to get boring...we want to learn how to do marriage and be an example of what marriage can be...

And for the record...we have no idea what we are doing...but it is ok...we are just trying to love each other the best we can everyday...and honestly I am blown away everyday at what the Lord is doing between us...

So here we are...doing life...whatever that means...

We are here trying to figure out what to do after the World Race...now more than ever we know we have a lot to learn...so we are here to learn...here to be discipled...here to build foundation in our relationship with the Lord and in our marriage...

And I am realizing...that there are a lot of lessons being taught right now...and these lessons are coming in ways that I never would have expected...the Lord works in amazing ways...the Lord has been speaking to me about things He has placed deep in my heart and He is using normal everyday experiences to show me these things...amazing lessons...and so I want to share them with you...hopefully the Lord uses them to touch your spirit...

I believe that if we could press into this and let the Lord lead us in this...it would most importantly change our hearts...but also change our lives...and probably the hearts and lives of others as well...

I wish I could teach these lessons out of experience...but I cant...for two reasons...the first being I don't have the experience to teach from even if I wanted to...and the second being I don't think this is even something any person can teach...I believe there is only one way to learn this...letting the Lord guide you...having a Yes in your heart to something more and greater than we can ever imagine...to not know what will happen and to still risk everything...because you trust in the Lord with all you heart...

One of the desires of my heart is to go down this road...which should be enough for me...but I want to do this with others...just a handful of people willing to do this would be one of the most beautiful things the world has ever seen...

I invite you to join me on this road...and you can do that by reading my next few blogs...

My lessons kinda learned...

Walk forward...

Towards him...

In the ways that I know how...

I am just trying to listen for that small soft voice...

And I have such a peace...

I have never been happier in my life...

I have never been more thankful in my life...

This last year was hard...

But I wouldn't trade one second of it...

Because God has brought me to an amazing place...

My God is good...

He has provided in so many ways...

Even since I have been home, I have seen His hand all over my life...

His is still providing...

He is still there...

It rocks me...

It has brought me to tears...

And it is crazy...

Cause now that the race is over...

I keep hearing the same voice I heard before the race...

Saying...

Come...

Seek me...

I love you...

I want you...

I choose you...

This not the end...

This is the beginning...

Seek me...

Come to me...

And when I think about that...

I get floored even more...

Cause I am realizing a few things...

This whole thing...

The World Race...

It wasn't about me...

It wasn't about me having an experience of a lifetime...

It wasn't about me becoming a better person...

It wasn't about me becoming a better Christian...
 
This was all about God...

The glory of God...

The glory of God being revealed...

To me...

To people that followed me this year...

To people that I was able to minister to...

All for His glory...

His glory was revealed to so many people...

It was all about His glorious kingdom coming to earth...

And it showed up in places that you never would have expected...

Some of the darkest places on earth...

Some of the darkest places in my heart...

And brought light...

His love and power restored broken things...

His love and power resurrected dead things...

His love and power transformed lives...

All for His glory...

The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is all over all that he has made.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of your glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, To make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.   Psalm145:9-13

People have said to me that this last year wasn't real life...

And that it is over...

The end...

And I guess I understand what people are saying when I look with worldly eyes...

The World Race is over...

But it never was about the World Race...

It was about the Kingdom of God...

It was always about the Kingdom of God...

The Kingdom of God is life...

The Kingdom of God is real life...

The Kingdom of God is the only thing that brings life...

The Kingdom of God is reality...

And I want it to be my reality...

The Kingdom of God certainly didn't start with the World Race...

The Kingdom of God certainly won't end with the World Race either...

The Kingdom of God is beautiful...

It never ends...

It never ever ends...

IT NEVER ENDS...

And we get to be part of this Kingdom...

LORD help us seek Your kingdom...may Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven...may Your kingdom take over in our hearts, relationships, families, and lives...help us to believe in You, Your power to transform, and Your kingdom...LORD help us be kingdom minded...

GOD I WANT YOU TO BE MY KING...LET YOUR KINGDOM SURROUND US...

Aliases: Chester, Captain Djibouti, Ky

Hometown:  Jordan (J-town), Minnesota

After the Race: Moving to Colorado to live life and “figure it out”

Support: Kyle still needs some support to be fully raised to get reimbursed for insurance, vaccines, etc...   This would be a huge blessing to get help get him started in his next step after the race.

You can bless Kyle by clicking here:   Support Kyle!

Overview of Racer:

            Kyle was one of the first people I met on the World Race all the way back in April.   I remember thinking “wow... he is really quiet.”   He was on my original training camp team (go green team) and he told us very early on that once he gets to know you he won't stop talking.   That statement is a little extreme (sort of like Kyle :)) because he is an extremely deep thinker... but Kyle is also extremely great to talk to and whole lot of fun to joke around with. He's a really great mix of deep thinking and goofiness... and he's really sincere about both.

            Since last April we have seen Kyle go through an incredible transformation. In April Kyle was unsure of his faith and his place on the World Race. He was convinced that he could never pray in front of people.   By September he was sharing a message with our squad.   Now, he shares detailed devos with our team, writes really challenging blogs, and enjoys sharing messages with different congregations we've met around the world.

          One of the times I really saw Kyle “come alive” this year was in the Philippines working with Sherwin and his family on the gutter project. Kyle jumped into those relationships and really invested his heart there.   It was amazing to see the fruit of that... church with their family on Sundays, playing Chess with his younger brother (and “letting” him have the winning record), the little girls that just squealed with joy as they ran into his arms, ,seeing the look on Sherwin's wife's face when the two of them came back from haircuts with matching mohawks, and finally seeing them celebrate new years together in Manila.   It is such an amazing example of how we can invest in each other across all sorts of boundaries.

A few tidbits:

*   Kyle is easily encouraged to change his “look” for a few days before a haircut or before he shaves. We've been treated to flashes of mustaches and mohawks all year long.

*   In case you think Kyle has lost his “edge” this year... you should also know that Kyle is not just a missionary but also a fearsome pirate. He became Captain Djibouti last May and was seen pirating around all last summer at a Christian sports camp.

* Kids are obsessed with Kyle. Now, some of this has to do with his height (most cultures have never seen someone 6'4” tall), but there's something else going on there.   Kyle has been a human jungle gym and great friend to nearly all the children of the missionaries we've met this year.

* Kyle brought his guitar this year so that he could learn.   At the beginning of the year he needed Danny's help with everything... now we hear him singing away and he can learn a new song so quickly.   We were even treated to him leading worship in Mozambique.

So my team and I are in Panama right now. We are in a city outside of Panama City called Arraijan...which comes from the English words "At right hand." This is how Americans used to describe where the town was back in the day and the people here in Panama heard Arraijan and it stuck.

God is doing some amazing stuff here in Panama...We have been working with a wonderful pastor Pedro, his wife Maria, and their kids Pedro and Mateo.

Last week we spent some time getting ready for this huge camp for kids...and this last weekend we got to watch it all the preparations come together. We got the opportunity to be the support team and do a lot of behind the scenes work to get things ready and cleaned up for the 150 high school kids at the camp. We also got to spend time with the kids during devos, games, meals, freetime...so we got to know them pretty well. And now we are back with them at their school...Pedro's parents work at the bilingual school that we have teamed up with...so now we get to spend time with the same kids and a few others in their classes teaching them, practicing English with them, and sharing Jesus and our experiences with them. We have been working with kids of all ages from 1^st grade to 12^th...so there is quite a range in what we get to do...but it reminded me how much I love kids and how much I love spending time with them at school.

We have also spent a couple days working at a feeding center. There we have been working with an older Pastor named Bernardo and his family. We have spent some time painting some things to make it look a little nicer and we have also been getting ready to do some cement work which Danny and I will be going back to complete on Saturday. On Tuesday, we got to feed a little over a 100 kids lunch on their way to school.

This Saturday, we will be taking part in a day of prayer with a group of kids at the school...

We will be heading for Guatemala on Tuesday. We will have about 2 days on a bus. From there, the men from team Less and team Ignite are planning on leaving our wonderful women behind for a brief Manisty trip to Nicarauga for about 10 days...then we will come back and meet up with them for the last 3 weeks or so...

I also want you all to know that the end of the race is coming and I am still in need of some financial support. I would love for you to pray about whether or not God is calling you to support me in this way. If He is, instructions on how you can support me online are at this link...or you can click on "SUPPORT ME" link in the upper left side of my blog page.  If you want to mail a check, please make sure to put my name in the memo and you can mail it to...

Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353

I have already been amazed at the support that God has provided both through prayer and financially this year...thank you all for being part of that...please know that the support you have given me has completely changed my life...I will never be the same and will never be able to repay you for what you have done for me in my life...

Looking forward to hearing from you all and seeing your faces in a couple months...

God Bless...

Haley Gordon, a teammate and friend, wrote an amazing blog.  She has an amazing heart and seeks God in a way that amazes me.  I see Jesus in her and He speaks into my heart through her everytime we talk.  Here is her blog titled "Is He Enough?"

Please let Holy Spirit speak to you and ask yourself this question, "Is He Enough?"

I want him to be enough in my life...God help me let go...


If I no longer had friends to laugh and share my life with or a loving family to support and encourage me unconditionally, would I be ok with just me and God?

If I could no longer "serve" God, give back to God for His gift of salvation, or be a part of bringing souls from death to LIFE in Christ, would I be ok with just me and God?

If I had Christ alone, no titles of missionary, leader, example, mentor; take your pick for what title you see yourself as or desire to be seen as, would I be content knowing God loves me unconditionally? Would I understand in all its depth that no "good work" will earn God's favor, because the "love of God has [already] been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given [as a gift] to us" (Romans 5:5)? Do I really know that God's love has been poured into my heart, and I do not have to DO one more thing FOR God, nor have I ever had to DO anything FOR God to keep this outpouring of perfect love? I just have it!

As much as I say with my mouth that I understand, does my heart truly know and understand that God "did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over FOR us all" and that He will "freely give us all things" (Romans 8:32)? God freely gave up His son and freely gives us all things. Wow.
If I truly knew all of this; if I understood this love Christ has for me, I would be ok with just me and God.

But am I?

Can I accept just being with God, and not doing anything else that makes me feel good or feel like I somehow earned His love and favor?

I'm not sure I can truthfully answer yes to this question. I want to say ‘yes, of course I would be satisfied just being with God', but the truth is… I don't know.

These are the thoughts that have been spinning around in my head for the past 2 weeks in Cape Town, South Africa. I know my heart is to give my life completely to my daddy God. He knows that my heart says "yes" teach me Lord! So even though I do not really understand the depths of God's gift of love, His grace continues to pour over my life. That is the beauty of Christ; He shows me where I fall short and He confronts me of my sin and pride, and then invades my heart with His love, reminding me that, "He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). I do not have it all figured out. I realize almost everyday (by the grace of God) that God is immeasurably good and I Need Him. As I see my need for Him, Christ is magnified.

Slowly I am coming to realize that I do not really KNOW my Father, but it is ok. He knows me, and that makes all the difference. I pray for a "yes" in my heart towards whatever God has for me, and thank God that His grace covers ALL!

Lord, I want to be ok with just YOU and me.

And tonight He spoke to me again...He answers my prayers...

But to be honest...sometimes I wish He would just keep his mouth quiet and let me be...because sometimes He tells me things that I don't want to hear...because He wants me to change...He wants to transform me...to be more like Him...

Which is another one of my prayers...to look like Jesus more and more everyday...at the end of the day, I want to be more like Him then I was when I woke up...I want people to see Him when they look at me...

Because it is ALL about Jesus...

So to look like Jesus...that sounds good...I say it all the time...but sometimes I wonder if I fully mean that...

Because I know I would love to look like Jesus when He is walking around preaching, bringing good news, restoring sight, bringing people back from the dead, casting out demons, healing bodies...that stuff is great.

Heck yeah...I want to be that guy...

But when it comes to the Jesus that was unfairly treated, abused, beaten, bloody, suffering, carrying his cross, and then hanging on the cross...I seem to shy away from that...

And I find myself asking the question, "Do I really want to look like Jesus?"

So tonight I found myself in a little situation where I am being treated unfairly...I was upset...ticked actually...so I was trying to fight for my rights...justifying myself...thinking I am actually important...

In the middle of being upset, dinner time came,so I grabbed my plate and then went and stewed on my issue while I ate...realizing that I was ticked, I started praying about it...and I felt like I should grab the Bible, so I did...

Because it is God's word and He speaks to us through His living word...

So I opened my Bible praying that God would speak to me...and maybe help me justify my thoughts...or speak to me that I am right...and that the others are wrong...I wanted God to pat me on the back and make me feel better...

I opened up to Luke 17:1-3—Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around your neck than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves.

This speaks directly to the situation that I am in...

Then I flipped the page and read the two stories in Luke 18:1-14...and they too spoke into my situation...

I was hoping that God would have my back, but He wanted to tell me I am not perfect and that I need to change still...that He wants to mold me some more...

My situation isn't important...but the message I learned tonight is...

For a while now, I have been fighting for my rights...and I get upset when others try to get involved with what I think I am entitled to...

I started to think about Jesus...and what He did...I tried to think of when He fought for His rights...and stood up for what He was entitled to...

But the problem is...I can't find it...and I actually find that He did the opposite...He gave up all rights...when He was being persecuted, He could have argued His point and since He was sinless, would have been the one person that could have argued His point and been right...

But He didn't...

He was willingly beaten, abused, and bloodied...then He picked up His cross...He suffered...He died...

He let go of all his rights...

That doesn't make any sense to me...it is a mystery to me...it even seems crazy in a way...

But that is because it isn't supposed to make sense to this world...His kingdom is not of this world and it is a mystery...it didn't make sense to people back then...they thought He was crazy...that is why they killed Him...because He was crazy...crazy for us...

I want this mystery to be revealed to me...I want to understand this love...it is beautiful to me...I want to look like this...I want to look like Jesus...

Which means I have to want to look like all of Jesus...I can't kinda want to look like Jesus...because that is being half in and half out...or the Bible refers to it as being lukewarm and God doesn't think very highly of this...in Revelation 3:16 the Bible says because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth...I have to be all in or not...I can't just pick and choose what is easy for me...I can't just pick the easy stuff that makes me feel good and doesn't require me to be changed or transformed...If I want it, I have to want it all...the love, grace, mercy, peace, eternal life...and also the change and transformation and I have to be willing to take a beating when it isn't fair and know that there will be suffering...

And that means that sometimes when I read the Bible...it will push me to do things that are hard...things that will cause me to have to pick up my cross and suffer...

That is what the Bible is supposed to do...speak to you...give you hope...show you a different way of life...a way that will ask you to submit to God and His way...which will challenge you...but WILL transform you in the process...God's love is supposed to transform you...the cross, if you accept it or if you even try to understand it, will transform your life...it has to...that is what it is supposed to do...His living word is supposed to speak to you...straight to your heart...and it will often ask you to let go of this world and what makes sense, put all your trust in Him, then to submit, pick up your cross, and suffer for Him...

John 33:16—I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Which is why in James 1, it says to Consider that pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

He has over come all the suffering...and if we can embrace our suffering, find joy, and persevere...there is blessing in the end...life...eternal life.

Wow...and here I stand fighting this...doing the opposite of this...the opposite of what Jesus did...I spend so much time fighting for my rights...

Why do I miss this so often...there has to be a reason that He says things like...

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." in Luke 9:23.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for another." in John 15:12-13.

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." in Matthew 16:25.

God reveal to us why you say this...it must be important...Holy Spirit speak...

I really believe that if I want to look like Jesus...sometimes I have to suffer...

1 Peter 2:11-25--Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against you soul.  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 
      Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority; whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of the foolish.  Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves.  Show proper respect to everyone, love your fellow believers, fear God, honor the emperor.  
      Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.  For it is commendable if you bear up under the pain of unjust suffering because you are conscious of God.  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?  But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
     "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
     When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We can't forget that this is what Jesus looked like...



Do I really want to be like Jesus?

Do I really want to look like Jesus?

Yes...

God help me...

God I need you now...I don't know what to do...I feel lost...I have been brought up in a place that tells me that I am entitled to my rights...and to fight for my rights...but you modeled something different...you let go of your rights...you suffered...for us...all of us...just because your kingdom works in a different way...by the way of love...and your love changed the world...I want to be like you...I want to be able to let go of my rights...I need to be able to let go of my rights...because it isn't about me...I am not important...it is about you, and I want people to see you in me...God I can't change the hearts of men, but you can...help us all to see you...God I pray that you would change our hearts, because we desperately need it...more than we know...God break out hearts for you...give us a hunger for you...God speak to us...God you answer my prayers over and over...and I thank you...I love that you answer me in a way that brings transformation in my life and my heart...but God I ask for more than that...I ask that you would open all of our hearts...helps us to learn to submit and let go of our rights...God...I find it so interesting that we represent you with a cross...a symbol of how you suffered for us...for how much you love us...I wear one around my neck everyday, and I don't really think much about it...it is easy for me to just put a cross on my neck and think I am doing this right...In Ephesians 5:1, you call us to imitate you...not just put a cross on my neck and call myself a Christian...you ask us to give up our rights, even if we are right or justified...and you ask us to do it just because...because it isn't about being right...it is about life...about you...about your kingdom...and you modeled it for me...God help me walk this...I feel weak...but you say in your word (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in you weakness."God I ask for you grace to be able to do this...your direction...I pray that you will be able to move...may your power change all of our hearts...God I want to be more like you...teach me to let go...to submit...let me be an example...use me God...God strip me of my pride...humble me...You must become greater, I must become less...

And if you are reading this...I would love it you would keep me in your prayers...pray that I will have the heart of God...so that I will be able to act out of love...not to prove my point...pray that I would see others the way God sees them...pray that I won't be bitter towards people...that I would come under them in love...pray that I would have grace for others...and that I would embrace them...because I honestly don't want to right now...pray that God would give me strength to persevere and finish the race that is before me...