The Vision - Pete Greig

So this guy comes up to me and says,
"whats the vision? whats the big idea?"
i opened my mouth and the words came out like this...
The vision?
The vision is Jesus:
obsessively, dangerously, undeniably JESUS.
The vision is an army of young people.
You see bones?
I see an army.
And they are free from materialism-- they laugh at 9-5 little
prisons. They could eat caviar on Monday, and crusts
on Tuesday they wouldn't even notice. They know the
meaning of the matrix,
the way the west was won.
They are mobile like the wind,
they belong to the nations,
they need no passport.
People who write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their
strange existence.
They are free
yet they are slaves
of the hurting, dirty, and dying.
What is the vision? the vision is holiness that hurts the eyes.
It makes children laugh and adults angry.
It gave up the game of minimum integrity a long time ago to reach
for the stars.
it scorns the good, and strains for the best.
It is dangerously pure.
Light Flickers
from every secret motive,
every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan
games.
This is an ARMY
that would lay down its life for the cause
A million times a day
its soldiers choose to lose that they might one day win in the great
"well done"
of faithful sons and daughters.
Such heroes are as radical
on Monday morning as Sunday night.
They don't need fame for names.
Instead they grin quietly upwards
and hear the crowds chanting again and again:
"COME ON!"
And this is the sound of the underground, the whisper of
history in the making, foundations shaking ,revolutionaries
dreaming once again.
Mystery is scheming in whispers, conspiracy is breathing...
This is the sound of the underground
And the army is disciple(in)ed -- young people who can beat their
bodies into submission. Every soldier would take a bullet
for his comrade at arms. The tattoo on their backs boasts
"for me to live is Christ and to die is gain"
Sacrifice fuels the fire
of victory in their upward eyes.
Winners.
Martyrs.
Who can stop them? Can hormones hold them back? Can
failure succeed?
Can fear scare them or death kill them?
And the generation prays
like a dying man who groans beyond
talking, with warrior cries,
sulfuric tears and
great barrow loads of laughter!
Waiting.
Watching:
24-7-365
Whatever it takes they will give:
Breaking the rules,
shaking mediocrity from its cozy little hide,
laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs.
laughing at labels,
fasting essentials.
The advertisers cannot mold them.
Hollywood can not hold them
Peer Pressure is powerless
to shake their resolve
at late-night parties
before the cockerel cries.
They are incredibly cool,
dangerously attractive (on the inside).
on the outside? they hardly care!
They wear clothes like costumes:
to communicate and celebrate but never hide.
Would they surrender their image and popularity? They
would lay down their very lives, swap seats with the man
on death row, guilty as hell:
a throne for the electric chair.
With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights
and fruitless days,
they pray as if it all depends on God and live if it all
depends on them.
Their DNA chooses Jesus
(He breathes out, they breathe in).
Their subconscious sings.
They had a blood transfusion with Jesus.
Their words make demons scream in shopping malls. Don't
you hear them coming?
Herald the weirdos!
Summon the losers and the freaks.
Here come the frightened and forgotten
with fire in their eyes!
They walk, and trees applaud,
skyscrapers bow,
mountains are dwarfed
by these children of another dimension.
Their prayers summon the Hound of Heaven and invoke the
ancient dream of Eden
And this vision will be.
It will come to pass;
It will come easily;
It will come soon.
How do i know?
Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of
the Spirit, the very dream of God.
Tomorrow is His today.
My distant hope is His 3-D.
And my feeble,
whispered,
faithless prayer
invokes a thunderous
resounding,
bone-shaking
great "AMEN!"
from countless angels,
from heroes of the faith.
from Christ Himself.
And He is the original dreamer,
the ultimate winner,
Guaranteed.

Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feeling so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

Watch Me On The News!!

http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/bc/microsites/phoenix/index.html

It's the clip called "Project Lockstep"

Journal Entry from Jan 7th

I found this journal entry from Jan 7th (it says 4am, harsh) and I really thought I should type it out so more people than just me could see it.

"Wow! what a change of pace! I finally realized why I can't sleep and I'm a total idiot! This year is going to be fantastic. It's a year of new beginnings, new life and REVIVAL. This year is about advancing in faith and in obidience to the Lord, it's about showing your authentic self to him and everyone around you (be real with yourself) If you're covering up yourself with a mask, how will people see Jesus in you or anyone else? How will they see the immense shining light pouring out of your heart and soul?
At pray the bible today God really convicted me about neglecting his word and how I need to really dive into him and the word fully and really expirience who he is.

Father I pray that you would bring new life and new motivation for the conquerors session. I pray that we would all be washed completely clean and able to start a new year off right. Father I pray for myself that you would give me clarity of mind, I pray that I would understand how I'm feeling and I wouldn't be afraid to let people know how I feel. Yahweh, you are holy and blameless, thank-you for everything you have given us, and everything you WILL give us. You are the one true God."

Fling out the banner!

For the first time in a while, God has been filling my head with things to say and things to do... fancy that! I have this book called "Beautiful Poems on Jesus" it's a really old book and uses a lot of old language, but I'm totally in love with it, and most of the time find it hard to even put it down (which, if you know me.. would be suprised) Anyways, I came across this poem, and God really showed me that it was something that needed to be shared with my session, so I thought I should blog it aswell, because you know... blogging is good.

The Banner Of The Cross by Bishop Doane
Fling out the banner! Let it float.
Skyward ans seaward, high and wide;
The sun that lights its shining folds
The cross on which the Savior died.

Fling out the banner! Angels bend,
In anxious silence, o'er the sign;
And vainly seek to comprehend
The wonder of the love divine.

Fling out the banner! Heathen lands
Shall see from far the glorious sight,
And nations, crowding to be born,
Baptize their spirits in its light.

Fling out the banner! Sin-sick souls,
That sink and perish in the strife
Shall touch in faith its radiant hem,
And spring immortal into life.

Fling out the banner! Let it float.
Skyward and Seaward, high and wide
Our glory only in the cross;
Our only hope, the Crucified

Fling out the banner! Wide and high,
Seaward and Skyward, let it shine;
Nor skill, nor might, nor merit ours;
We conquer only in that sign.

It really reminded me that there is no way we can truly be conquerors unless we are paired up with the almighty, because there is absolutely no way that we could do all this in our own strength. We are under the banner of Christ, and we conquer only in that sign.

moi.

Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear

Good God, if your song leaves our lips
If your work leaves our hands
Then we will be wonders and vagabonds
They will stare and say how empty we are
How the freedom we had turned us up as dead men
Let us be cold, make us weak
Let us, because we all have ears
Let us, because we all have eyes
How they knew that this would happen
We're so run down
Good God! Can you still get us home...
How can we still get home
I'm not dreaming
We're forgetting our forgiveness

Rest & Relaxation

My break is coming to an end here in Nanaimo, and I will be heading back to Vancouver on Tuesday morning!.... This has been an interesting two weeks. Being home for such a long time has been both good and bad. I started swearing more, which is so weird, and I don't like it at all... I guess I just started talking like everyone around me. I feel dissconnected from my sessionmates, and I can't wait to have that back. I had mixed emotions coming here, and I'm leaving with them aswell. Home is weird now. Not the same as it used to be. I don't have things here, I don't have a bed, I don't have a room, I don't have anything. Vancouver is my home. Vancouver is where my heart is, and I think that's why I feel so discontent here.
Of course the temptation of quitting war college has been there, that was inevitable. But of course, I'm not listening to those lies that life will be easier if I just stay here, If i just quit everything.

I need prayer for perseverance, motivation, and a hunger and thirst for the presence of God, and his word.

I seem to think this situation is pretty dior.

it's.... CHRISTMAS!

I love these people...

even though you can't see all of us... we're awesome.

Carlye hates it when...

people use their ear/eye medication in public..

EW!

Best Kettle Shift Ever

Nothing for the rest of the kettle season can beat my last kettle shift, and I really would like to see something that could, because I think it would be amazing.
ANYWAYS....
The night started out relatively normal, I forgot my bells so standing there became boring really really fast. All of the sudden, I hear a band.. and I look down the street and a Salvation Army band is standing down the street with a kettle... my first reaction was (what the junk? they're stealing my thunder!) So, being the curious person I am, I pick up my kettle and head down to the band to see whats going on... Once I get there I realized its the CTV tv station and the Harbourlight mens choir is singing on the news. I saw all the guys and they all told me that they were worried about me standing there all alone. I dont mind it (but's its good to know someone actually cares). I hung out with them for a little bit because there was no way I was going to make any money at my kettle if there was a band 10 metres away from me... I eventually wandered back to my kettle and about 4 of the band members came out to my kettle and played for me for about 15 minutes! it was awesome! THEN Darrin and a couple other people came out to my kettle and talked to me for a while and Darrin bought me a coffee (hot coffee = awesome on a kettle shift) My night ended with about 20 guys singing christmas carols around my kettle. Completely hilarious and I loved every second of it.

Foreign Silence

Sally and I were in New West the other day for a band concert we were volunteering at, and we were waiting at the bus stop to go home, and we looked at the streets, and they were empty, and everything was quiet. We started getting really weirded out, because a quiet street has become something totally foreign to us. Then a guy walked down the street and we started getting really uncomfortable because there was no one around, and Sally mentioned that she was scared. It was funny to think about, how we're scared of an empty street in New West more than we're scared about walking down Hastings.

something to think about...

(p.s - the guy turned out to be a 15 year old who was probably scared of us...)

Nanaimo

I had a really interesting day yesterday, seeing people in treatment that I really doubted (HALLELUJAH!) Had a kettle shift at HMV which went by really fast. I was listening to the comedy of Mitch Hedberg, and it was really funny when I would laugh at it and people would walk by thinking I was laughing at them...So kettling every day has finally kicked off, and it's not that bad...yet. Right now I'm just content with whats going on, but ask me again in a month and you'll get my real opinion.
Lately I've started to feel homesick, and that doesn't really happen very easy for me, but it's just starting to set in. I miss my brothers, and my mom and my dad...I just miss Nanaimo, which is weird to think about because before I left I couldn't wait to get out of that place. and I was thinking about it, and I think I really just miss being comfortable, being at home and being comfortable with where I am, (not that I'm not here, just more so at home...) Im excited to be home for 2 weeks at christmas, that will either help me... or really make me miss home more... We'll see what happens. Im just counting down the days until I get to have a break from this place and finally hug my mom, and go to terminal park mcdonalds, and go to woodgrove mall and eat poutine from pirate chips and go to my CORPS! I'm just so excited to go home!

20 days!

He Is The Redeemer!

Hallelujah!

Today I was waiting in the harbourlight line for my lunch and a guy wearing a Santa hat walked (key word, I'll explain later) past me. I knew I recognized him, but I couldn't place where I knew him from. I suddenly remembered who he was and I couldn't breathe. I had met him previously while we were doing an open air in pigeon park and he was drunk out of his mind in a wheelchair. He sang with us the whole time, and I remember him asking us to sing amazing grace over and over again, and here he was in front of me, completely sober and WALKING around... I was completely flabbergasted and I couldn't believe my eyes. PRAISE THE LORD! Answered prayer is so sweet. After I saw him I went back to my house and opened up my prayer journal and found about 2 or 3 pages of prayers for this guy. Right now I'm just overcome with happiness that he's found sobriety. He didn't remember who I was when I talked to him today, but he thanked me for whatever it was that I did. Give glory to God!

Praise The Lord!

I Am A Soldier In The Army Of My God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

Faith, love, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit.
Trained by experience,
tried by adversity,
and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army,
and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this Army in the end or die in this Army;
but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out,
I am faithful, capable and dependable.

If my God needs me,
I am there.
If he needs me in Sunday school to teach children,
work with the youth, help adults
or just sit and learn,
He can use me
because I am there!

I am a soldier.
I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered,
petted, primped up, pumped up,
picked up, or pepped up.

I am a soldier. No one has to call me,
remind me,
write me, visit me,
entice me, lure me.

I am a soldier
I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King,
obeying his orders, praising his name,
and building his kingdom!

I am a soldier.
No one has to send me flowers,
gifts, food,
cards, candy,
or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled
cared for, or catered to.
I am committed!

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this Army,
I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing,
I will still come out even.

I will win.
My God will supply all my needs.
I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.

I am a Soldier.
Devils cannot defeat me.
People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me.
Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me.
Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me.
and Hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain
and then bring me back to rule this world with him.

I am a soldier,
marching Heaven bound.
Here I stand.

Will you stand with me?

DTES {Art}

Have You Heard The Bells Yet?

This Saturday was the official "kick off" for kettles in downtown Vancouver. A bunch of us got all "hockey-ed" up and set up our kettles at the gates outside of GM place, because a Canucks game was happening that night (WE WON). I remember just when we started, there was a homeless man standing there waiting to panhandle when the game was out. It was really funny because Hannah and I knew that he was trying to tell us to leave in the nicest way possible. There were a lot of people who didn't seem into the Christmas spirit at all, or people who were yelling at us because the band was playing Christmas carols. But I kept ringing those bells. There were 2 amazing parts of the night that are still sticking with me today. The first was a little boy, and in his hand he had his first allowance he had ever recieved. His father told him what happens to the money that goes into the kettles, and the little 7 year old boy decided to throw his 5 dollar bill into the kettle. Also, the homeless man who was trying to get us to leave in the first place came up to the kettle and said "Here's everything I collected tonight, and I realized it belongs to you guys..." it was SO BEAUTIFUL!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Drive Away

So it hit me tonight when i was saying goodbye to Michelle, Molly and Deanna...that I'm ACTUALLY moving. I'm not going to be living in Nanaimo anymore. I'm leaving the house I've been living in for 15 years. It's just scary to me, it's all new and undiscovered and I'm scared crap-less of it. Don't get me wrong, I'm super stoked to move in with girls that i already love a lot, but it's still a new place...the last time i had to deal with a new place to live, i was 4...so it wasn't that traumatizing.


it's just all so new...

48 hours of safety

Yeap, 2 more days until I make the big move to Vancouver. Getting all my stuff packed and put into bags and boxes, moving my life to another city completely opposite of where I live now.. I'm excited and scared at the same time, I'm scared it will be too much for me. I'm scared i wont be able to handle it. Im moving out of my comfort zone, im moving away from the place I call home, to the place I am GOING to call home. It's going to be an interesting move for me, and I really hope im going to be able to take it, and really get something out of it, you know? I'm prepared to see God's kingdom in a different light, and I'm super excited to see what the Lord has planned for me, but I'm still super scared at the same time... you know?


-Carlye

remember carlye....

LOOK TO THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH

SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS

PROVERBS 105:4

remember carlye....

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT

PROVERBS 3:5+6

September the 6th

The end of the summer keeps getting closer and closer, and in some ways..I just want the fall to start. and in some ways...I want this summer to last forever. As it stands now, I make the move to Vancouver in 16 days. SIXTEEN. It's just getting closer and closer and I dont even know what to make of it. I'm scared, I'm nervous..and I dont know what else to do to prepare. I don't feel ready to take all of it in, i feel like im going to crash and burn. I need to fully rely on God, but it's really hard and I'm not letting myself. Im just so full of mixed emotions as to what this year is going to be, and I know it's different for everyone and I know theres no way I can predict whats going to happen, but I'm scared of letting go of all control and letting God lead the way, and I know that sounds stupid and selfish, but that's just what I feel right now...

Please pray for me.

Money makes me nervous...

The title explains it all, War College is coming up soon and im getting more and more nervous every day. Not just because im moving into the poorest postal code in Canada, but because i dont know if i have the money to pay the tuition. Here is my cry for help, could you PLEASE pray for me and my family, specifically my mom. She's having severe back problems and has been unable to work for a number of months now. If you could pray for some healing, strength, faith and comfort withing my family that would be amazing. Also ive been just nervous about moving out in general, like...i know that im going to be around people who love me, but it's still not home, and it's still making a new place home....something ive never done on my own before...so if i could also get prayer for strength and reassurance that im where im supposed to be and that im doing what im supposed to do. I really have to lean on God this time, and it's something that really isn't easy for me.

Thankyou to whoever happens to read my blog...
(probably not many)

Love Carlye

VBS - North Van 2008

Alright, so... VBS in North Van is coming to a close tomorrow (officially)
and I'm going to say now that it went awesome. Yeah the kids can be a little rambunctious at times, but what group of kids isn't. They all have something to give and I love their little quirks and remarks. We had a BBQ tonight at the Grice residence and the group of ladies on the leadership team are absolutely amazing. There's one french canadian lady and i have no idea how to spell her name, but she gave me and jose nicknames... Jose = San Diego, and i am "Melody" or "Rainbow". She's completely hilarious and i could sit there and listen to her talk for hours if i could. Tomorrow we're doing a "pie the leaders" day, and we're doing it so all the parents can see (which will be quite entertaining if you ask me). The hospitality of the Grice's this week has been amazing, Mama-Lynn and Dave are awesome people and if you get a chance to meet them or spend time with them, do it.
Also i've found i have quite the knack for bocce ball and frisbee (but im not too good with that aero-bee thing)
I love my team and everyone on it, and i think for our first week of VBS we did amazing.
God's moving, and it's awesome.

woot!

MY NEW HOME!

(maybe)

Camp Sunrise, the only camp for me...

I'm into my second week of actually working for camp sunrise and i still cant believe this is actually my JOB. I'm getting paid to have fun with my friends and work with kids, basically my dream. My VBS team is as follows...

THE DREAM TEAM

Mark Touzeau, Carlye Morris, Rebecca Grice, Jose Benitez, Pearlanne Gray, Ethan Robson

Im super excited to be on a VBS team with these people for the entire summer, and im super stoked about camp staff aswell, we have an amazing staff and im really stoked to share in ministry with all of them. God is planning amazing things and i can't wait to see them unfold.

Taking the Long Way - Dixie Chicks

I just love this song, a lot


My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses in the same ZIP codes
Where their parents live
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
I hit the highway in a pink RV with stars on the ceiling
Lived like a gypsy
Six strong hands on the steering wheel
I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow
By taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I met the queen of whatever
Drank with the Irish and smoked with the hippies
Moved with the shakers
Wouldn't kiss all the asses that they told me to
No I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
It's been two long years now
Since the top of the world came crashing down
And I'm getting' it back on the road now
But I'm taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I'm taking the long way
Taking the long way around
The long
The long way around
Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around

Josh's War College Rejection

Dear Josh Mills,

Your are a butt.
You smell like poop therefore you are not
accepted into our college.
P.s you have body hair and are fat and have body odor.
Your tacky and we hate you.

Love the war college

It's Official!

I'm a Conqueror!
Salvation Army War College
Class of 2009


Forward march with blood and fire
and win the world for Jesus!

"The Vision"

By Pete Greig

So this guy comes up to me and says,

"whats the vision? whats the big idea?"

i opened my mouth and the words came out like this...

The vision?

The vision is Jesus:

obsessivley, dangeriously, undeniably Jesus.

The vision is an army of young people.

You see bones?

I see an army.

And they are free from materialism-- they laugh at 9-5 little

prisons. They could eat caviar on monday, and crusts

on tuesday they wouldnt even notice. They know the

meaning of the matrix,

the way the west was won.

They are mobile like the wind,

they belong to the nations,

they need no passport.

People who write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their

strange existence.

They are free

yet they are slaves

of the hurting, dirty, and dying.

What is the vision? the vision is holiness that hurts the eyes.

It makes children laugh and adults angry.

It gave up the game of minimum integrity a long time ago to reach

for the stars.

it scorns the good, and strains for the best.

It is dangerously pure.

Light Flickers

from every secret motive,

every private conversation.

It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan

games.

This is an ARMY

that would lay down its life for the cause

A million times a day

its soldiers choose to lose that they might one day win in the

great

"well done"

of faithful sons and daughters.

Such heroes are as radical

on Monday morning as Sunday night.

They dont need fame for names.

Instead they grin quietly upwards

and hear the crowds chanting again and again:

"COME ON!"

And this is the sound of the underground, the whisper of

history in the making, foundations shaking ,revolutionaries

dreaming once again.

Mystery is scheming in whispers, conspiracy is breathing...

This is the sound of the underground

And the army is disciple(in)ed -- young people who can beat their

bodies into submission. Every soldier would take a bullet

for his comrade at arms. The tattoo on their backs boasts

"for me to live is Christ and to die again"

Sacrifice fuels the fire

of victory in their upward eyes.

Winners.

Martyrs.

Who can stop them? Can hormones hold them back? Can

failur succeed?

Can fear scare them or death kill them?

And the generation prays

like a dying man who groans beyond

talking, with warrior cries,

sulphuric tears and

great barrow loads of laughter!

Waiting.

Watching:

24-7-365

Whatever it takes they will give:

Breaking the rules,

shaking mediocrity from its cozy little hide,

laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs.

laughing at labels,

fasting essentials.

The advertisers cannot mold them.

Hollywood can not hold them

Peer Pressure is powerless

to shake their resolve

at late-night parties

before the cockerel cries.

They are incredibly cool,

dangerously attractive (on the inside).

on the outside? they hardly care!

They wear clothes like costumes:

to communicate and celebrate but never hide.

Would they surrender their image and popularity? They

would lay down their very lives, swap deats with the man

on death row, guilty as hell:

a throne for the electric chair.

With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights

and fruitless days,

they pray as if it all depends on God and live if it all

depends on them.

Their DNA chooses Jesus

(He breathes out, they beathe in).

Their subconcious sings.

They had a blood transfusion with Jesus.

Their words make demons scream in shoping malls. Don't

you hear them coming?

Herald the wierdos!

Summon the losers and the freaks.

Here come the frightened and forgotten

with fire in their eyes!

They walk, and trees applaud,

skyscrapers bow,

mountains are dwarfed

by these children of another dimension.

Their prayers summon the Hound of Heaven and invoke the

ancient dream of Eden

And this vision will be.

It will come to pass;

It will come easily;

It will come soon.

How do i know?

Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of

the Spirit, the very dream of God.

Tomorrow is His today.

My distant hope is His 3-D.

And my feeble,

whispered,

faithless prayer

invokes a thunderous

resounding,

bone-shaking

great "AMEN!"

from countless angels,

from heroes of the faith.

from Christ Himself.

And He is the original dreamer,

the ultimate winner,

Guaranteed.

Whoa.

So, big life changes coming my way.
I've been hired at camp, and I'm going to be attending the War College in September of this year. So I'll finally be moved out and on my own, sort of...i guess. I never really pictured myself living in Vancouver, I've never really been a big fan of the big city either. But I know I'm not permanently there, and I'm doing what God is calling me to do.
I'm afraid of leaving. I'm afraid of leaving the corps, the youth group, wild truth all behind. I don't want to leave my friends and family behind, but everyone needs to grow up and leave the nest, right? I'm sure it will be fine, I'm just being dramatic about it. I'm really excited to go and live there and be with my friends and stuff, but I'm scared to leave at the same time, like...I've been in Nanaimo for a good portion of my life, and it's going to be weird to be down in Vancouver for more than a weekend.

i don't know, maybe I'm over thinking things.

Isaiah 40:28

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will NOT grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom


Isaiah 40:28

right now...

Count Me In - Leeland

You gave all You had
I didn’t choose You
You chose me first
Even when I turned my back
You still gave Your love
It’s the only thing I want to have

No greater gift than a man to lay down his life
How could I miss this?
I’m not about to pass it up

Count me in
I’m amazed this love is for me, Lord
Count me in
I’m amazed this love is for me, Lord

I’m looking at these plans You have
For me they’re plans of hope and peace
Much bigger than the ones I have
I tried to follow mine
I was going nowhere fast
Your love makes me like David with a stone and sling
Nothing else could bring my life so much meaning

I can’t believe it
I can’t believe it
I can’t believe it

Count me In
Come on, You can count me in, yeah
You can count me in
You can count me in

Come on
Come on
Come on

Reality Check

earlier today i was reading my bible during my break at work. I'm currently on Hebrews and i read this little bit, and it really gave me a slap in the face.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift,
who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
and the powers of the coming age,
if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance,
because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God
all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 6:4-6

whoa. (talk about intense)

Rebuild, Renew, Restore

Isaiah 61:4
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations

Praises to the most high

*PSALM 148*

Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens,
praise him in the heights above
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his heavenly hosts,
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars,
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever;
he gave a decree that will never pass away
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and maidens,
old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
He has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his saints,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD.

Better is one day...

My heart and flesh cry out

For You, the Living God
Your Spirit's water for my soul
I've tasted, and I've seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You..

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, In view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices. Holy and pleasing to God.
This is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is.
His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Devastated

I don't know what to feel. I'm caught in this crappy range of emotion that goes from hysterical, to sad, to angry... Any random thing can make me burst into tears. People ask me to explain, but that just brings everything back to the surface. I want so bad to just forget everything and live my life, but i can't. I have to face this head on, with God by my side. To tell you the truth, i don't know what i'm going to do at night time now.... The thought of not talking to him breaks my heart, and i know that it will never be the same between us again...Like..right now if i were to look at a picture of him i would cry. I just want it to end, i just want everything to be ok. Thinking that im not that person to him anymore just tears me apart inside. I want to be with him. I want to be his first call. But I'm not. and it hurts.

well, i guess i've learned that tear ducts never empty.

Sound Of Melodies

Sound Of Melodies - Leeland

We who were called to be Your people
Struggling sinners and thieves
We’re lifted up from the ashes
And out came the song of the redeemed
The song of the redeemed
The song of the redeemed

Can you hear the sound of melodies
Oh, the sound of melodies
Rising up to You
Rising up to You, God
The sound of melodies
Oh, the sound of melodies
Rising up to You
Rising up to You, God

We have caught a revelation
That nothing can separate us from
The love we received through salvation
It fills your daughters and your sons
Your daughters and your sons

The sound of Your love
The sound of Your love
Is what You’re hearing
The sound of Your sons
The sound of Your sons
You’ve won Your children
The sound of Your love
The sound of Your love
Is what You’re hearing
Your daughters in love
Your daughters in love
You’ve won your children

Every time i listen to this song, they holy spirit fills be with this....Joy, happiness that i just cant seem to keep quiet. I just love this song a freakin' lot.

This City Could Be Ours By Nightfall...

Our first dangerous service of the year was tonight, and i have to say it was the best we've done so far. Even though only like...10 people showed up it was still amazing. I was talking to some of the newer youth that have never been to dangerous or full circle or anything like that, and they were raving about how awesome it was and how they can't wait for the next one, which i was really stoked about. Oh, and Shawn couldn't even talk in the car because he was in so much shock. The Holy spirit was in the house! Praise Yahweh! Praise the Lord most high! Hallelujah! Hosanna in the highest!

In the midst of all of this excitement tonight something really dawned on me...
we're going to be o.k...

Carlye gets to see Josh in....

11 Days!

Jan 23rd, 12:54am, 2008

New New New! So much stuff has been going on in my life lately, and i don't regularly blog, i just wait a while in between so they have alot of stuff written in them! hah. Wild Truth is in full swing now until about April-May-ish. Danae is moving, and Shawn has officially stepped down as a youth pastor...So basically Katelyn and I are by ourselves running it, which is fine...I know we can do it. I found a correspondence school that i can use to get my psychology/social work schooling done. which im totally stoked about, because i can do it at my own pace and move around and not be tied down to a school. I'm also thinking about moving to Langley in September, but that's totally not set in stone and its something thats still being talked out amongst other people. As of tonight, im officially mentoring two of the younger girls in my church which im really really excited about because i absolutely love them to bits. I also love Josh to bits (how can i leave him out of this?). I love the way our relationship is, we can talk for hours and never really run out of things to say, and the fact that we have exactly the same sense of humor really helps (and freaks people out, but whatever) He's amazing, the best guy a girl could ask for. He makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the entire world.
Still don't have my drivers license (surprise? lol i think not) But I've got car insurance on my car, and I'm getting used to driving again so i can take my test and not have to take the bus anymore (thank God...lol) Nothing else is really new, other than I'm dealing with a lot of changes, and a lot more responsibility...

but the main fact is that I'm happy, and that's all that matters

i just kind of realized how bad at blogging i am, JULY 31st? who do i think i am? not that anyone reads this thing anyways..ill probably just forget about it and remember it in 3 years and laugh at everything i said (i did the same thing with my old livejournal..ask me for the link if you want to check it out...its a good laugh).
Anything new you ask? full time job, wild truth, boyfriend all that fun stuff. thinking about school? right now sorta, i don't know....school is boring. don't have my drivers license. i take the bus everywhere. I'm pretty much a bum and a half. Im planning on going to australia in september, but im not sure about that because everyone knows how my plans work out, haha. Hopefully i'll be able to make it for lisa's freaking wedding! i love her to bits. and i cant wait to see her and andy. ill be going for a month at least...and josh will be at the war college, so it will be something to help keep my mind off of that i guess?

now im just rambling.
night night

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in every way
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give


Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

Spice Girls hit the stage in Vancouver on Dec 2nd.
I WANT TICKETS

mmhmm

wow. i am completely tuckered out.
tomorrow is my last shift in my set of 5, and i dont know how i'm going to deal with full time. I have never been this tired in my life. I can't go to sleep because my stepdad is having a party and theres people everywhere. I was babysitting until about 1am, and i have church at 9, then i work at 1pm until 5..and when i get home, i am instituting a lazy day for sunday after 6pm until the end of monday. if you would like to see me on monday, you have to be wearing pj's and i require an entrance fee of a tasty snack that can be shared by the both of us.
thank-you and goodnight.

SHAFSTON 09'
( yay or nay?)

8am

Starting work at 8am sucks.
I really liked the warehouse though. not having to deal with customers getting mad at me constantly. PLUS i get to see all the stuff before it goes out on the floor, which is pretty sweet i must say. I think ill work in the back when i start full time because the ladies back there are really nice. After work Shawn-H picked me up from work and we headed over to his house to babysit his kids. The night started with a lengthy conversation with Katie(2yrs old) about boats, balloons popping, and airplanes. She turned her mcdonalds cheeseburger into paste, (she only ate the pickles and the cheese). Emma(4yrs old) had swimming lessons, so while she was gone...caitlyn, katie and i played endless games of "ring around the rosie" and "squishing up my baby bumblebee". The night went as usual, emma making up games, and katie talking constant nonsense...but i would have to say the best moment of the night was when molly walked straight into the screen door. dazed and confused, molly looks around and realizes what she has done...and attempts to put the door back on. wow. I was laughing so hard i cried. We hung out with Shawn and Krista for a bit, and then Shawn drove us home. I called Colin and we talked for a little while. (we're totally BFF, by the way) i love him long time.
I have to work in 9 1/2 hours, so i should be heading to bed now
Grace

lol@caitlyns house

so last night and tonight were pretty fun filled.
Last night, it seemed like Caitlyn had taken all of the pills in her medicine cabinet, because she was acting like a complete psycho. The night was filled with comments like "no you're the walrus, no you're the war college" and then Caitlyn sitting there with a chair on her saying "look guys! the chair is sitting on ME". Then this morning we woke up and i took a million shifts at work, so at 8am tomorrow ill be processing shoes in the winners warehouse (yay!) Today was officially marked a lazy day.My mom called me and now apparently my name is "Carlye Spence". Michelle came home from camp and we made a fancy dinner of alfredo noodles and salad a la Caitlyn and Carlye. The we proceeded to karen travers' house where we played wii for about 2 and half hours, (i pwn at wii baseball by the way). Michelle ended up hitting the t.v with the wii controller and im pretty sure that i ate wayy too many baby carrots.
so im sitting here, i work in about 8 hours. and im totally not looking forward to it
but whatever.

australia?

so, the opportunity to go to school in Australia has been given to me.
and i really would like to do it... and i found this amazing college that I'm really interested in.
http://www.shafston.edu
its pretty sweet, and really accommodating for international students. I would probably be taking the Human Behavior, or the Nursing Course. Im just really stoked, and i really hope this happens..because Australia is pretty sweet.

good times.

lisa is FINALLY HERE, and i cant even explain how stoked i am.
and were not even doing stuff, we're just hanging out and its perfect.
I had a whole bunch of plans for us this weekend, but it just seems like its turned out better this way. Fireworks are tonight, and i wish a couple people were here, but i can deal with it i guess.
Im just totally excited that lisa is here
i love her alot.

yayayayyaa

so today has been pretty tiring so far.
woke up and got ready... went to the mall and bought some stuff
4 hours later me and molly just wanted to go home...
a day filled with stinky buses and mall goths.
but now LISA IS GETTING ON THE FERRY SOON
im sooo excited
but the weather here for bathtub weekend completely sucks, but were still going to have a blast.
basically i love life right now.

Holy Fire.

God, i just pray that you send your holy fire over camp sunrise, father.
Guard them with your spirit.
YHWH we pray that your power and love will triumph
Strength, Faith, Power and Wisdom, Lord.
Send your angels by the millions
Lord I pray for healing, for strength father
I pray that you cover these children with your blood, and your protection.
Death cant touch us.
this is your kingdom, and we are your children.
God, give them strength, courage, and unity Lord.


Matthew 10:1
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

-----------------------------

Exodus 23:25
Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you

sometimes clint is funny.

SendTheFire.ca - 24/7 Fuel for Life! says:
awww, poor clown. Who's laughing now?
SendTheFire.ca - 24/7 Fuel for Life! says:
nobody because it's not funny

Caitlyn got her tattoo today!
SO BEAUTIFUL

promoted to glory.

I'd like to think that as I'm writing this here blog entry, that Colonel Iris is looking down on me smiling. Colonel Iris is chillin' with Jesus now, or how we say in the Salvation army "promoted to glory". Which i think is a really neat thing to think about, because when someone dies...its easy to focus on the bad things, and the downsides to situations. But just think... she's up there eating finger sandwiches with Jesus, and partying like it's 1999... and I'm sitting down here wondering why i forgot to call her last weekend for coffee. It's funny how much we take the time we have for granted. I would always procrastinate and say i would call her next weekend, and now...i can never have that with her, and i will always regret that.
This woman was phenomenal. One of the few older ladies who wasn't scared to talk to the teenagers on a Sunday morning after the church service. This woman had to most amazing sense of humor, which i will never forget. Her jokes about my ever changing hair, or jokes about the way i dress. She would always notice when i wasn't there for a Sunday and would ask me why. Her smile brought joy to the lives of those who had no joy. This woman had Jesus shining through her like a piece of cellophane, and I'm sure that many people's lives have changed because of her bubbly personality and way of life. The guilt that i have for not having that one coffee date will linger.. but the fact that i will see her again...really makes it all better

Promoted To Glory
Lt. Colonel Iris Lorraine Fraser
August 22nd 1934 - July 12th 2007
(you go girl)

July 15th

hmm, new post, new post.
The weather has finally cooled down and I'm not confined to wearing a sheet toga.
I had a sweet night with Caitlyn, Molly and Katelyn the other night.. we slept out on Caitlyn's deck, and some pictures were taken that none of us want to see again... ( but they're all on facebook!)
Stress to find a full time job is closing in on me.
i don't want to be working a full time job where i have to take 2 hours of buses to get there and back. LISA is coming in about 5 days. and i cant believe how stoked i am. Andy mac might come with her, but i doubt it. Bathtub weekend is upon us, and that means piles of cotton candy and TRENDY LEMONADE. Caitlyn gets her tattoo in 2 days.. we went to gt an evaluation, and the guy drew it out and it looks beautiful.
All sorts of people are asking me what im going to do when she's gone. the truth is..i dont know what i am going to do. Having caitlyn not be a phonecall away is going to be so hard to get through. But i guess its only a year and we have the rest of our lives to be bestfriends.

i guess.

yay!

wow, last blog entry on march 24th,
so much stuff has happened since then..relationships come and gone
new friends made, new everything.
I have been blessed with amazing new friends this past summer and just these past weeks i have met some truly amazing people. Which sucks, cause they're leaving.
I've just really felt a lot of the stress in my life lifted off my shoulders
and I'm so grateful for the fact that our God is a graceful and merciful God.
Bathtub weekend is coming up soon, and this is the first bathtub weekend where i don't go to my cabin. My grandparents sold it about 2 weeks ago, which is going to be weird.
LISA'S COMING
i'm so stoked about her coming here for bathtub weekend. because she's amazing.
and i love her a lot.

Anberlin - Cities

"Inevitable"

Do you remember when we were just kids
And cardboard boxes took us miles from what we would miss
Schoolyard conversations taken to heart
And laughter took the place of everything we knew we were not

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again
We could stay in this moment (stay in this moment)
For the rest of our lives
Is it over now hey, is it over now

I wanna be your last, first kiss
That you'll ever have
I wanna be your last, first kiss

Amazing how life turns out the way that it does
We end up hurting the worst, the only ones we really love

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again
We could stay in this moment (stay in this moment)
For the rest of our lives
Is it over now hey, is it over now

I wanna be your last, first kiss
That you'll ever have
I wanna be your last, first kiss

Is it over now hey, is it over now
Is it over how hey, it's not over now

I wanna be your last, first kiss
That you'll ever have (that you'll ever have)
I wanna be your last, first love (that you'll ever have)
Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide
I wanna be your last, first kiss for all time

Anberlin - Cities

"The Unwinding Cable Car"

Emotive unstable you're like an unwinding cable car
Listening for voices, but it's the choices that make us who we are
Go your own way, even seasons have changed just burn those new leaves over
So self-absorbed you've seemed to ignore the prayers that have already come about

This is the correlation of salvation and love
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart
With quiet words I'll lead you in

La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la
La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la

Backing away from the problem of pain you never had a home
You've been misguided, you're hiding in shadows for so very long
Don't you believe that you've been deceived that you're no better than...
The hair in your eyes, it never disguised what you're really thinking of

This is the correlation of salvation and love
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart
With quiet words I'll lead you in

This is the correlation of salvation and love
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart
With quiet words I'll lead you in

You're so brilliant, don't soon forget
You're so brilliant, grace marked your heart
You're so brilliant, don't soon forget
You're so brilliant, grace marked your heart
You're so brilliant (This is the correlation)
Don't soon forget (Between salvation and love, don't drop your arms)
You're so brilliant (I'll guard your heart)
Grace marked your heart (With quiet words I'll lead you in and out of the dark)

La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la
(Don't drop your arms)
La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la

This is the correlation of salvation and love (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
With quiet words I'll lead you in

This is the correlation of salvation and love (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
With quiet words I'll lead you in

Ready and Willing

MY SPRING BREAK

Dangerous

it was the first dangerous service tonight, it went amazing in my opinion. Apparently i sang well..... haha. Caitlyn's sermon was amazing, and even though there weren't many kids this time, i think it will get bigger and it will start to flourish within a couple months.



love you guys
LOVELOVE

man, i love my youth group

i love caitlyn so much

CrashFace-Carlyepie Morris.

What we have here, this is true bestfriendship.
This is years of loving and laughing and crushes and hairdye.
This is moments when our guts ache and our cheeks hurt.
This is days when we can't stand eachother long enough for a phone call that exceeds 8 minutes
and the days when our phones die from hours of pointless conversation.
This is me moving 3 times in our friendship and my house always being an anchor to you and yours to me.
This is "Remember when!?" and "I can't wait until..."
This is HUNDREDS of concerts and shows, movies and Full Circles.
This is 10 peircings each and 500 hairstyles.
This is favorite bands, making fun of bad music and dancing so hard we can't stand up.
This is dreams that both have come true and may one day.
This is "My best friend and I..." and "this one time, me and Carlye..."
This is 8000 pictures of each other and 1600 of us together.
This is a trip to the Okangon, Vancouver, Victoria, and Church together.
This must be four years by now.

I love you so much.

Caitlyn Cater-tots Spence

jessy made me cute!

LOVELOVE

long time, no blog

haven't updated this waste of webspace in a while...so i guess ill give it a shot. I've been busy, its the start of second semester and i have 2 provinvial exam courses under my belt. Some people would say that's easy...but for someone who hates doing homework, its a little more difficult. No boyfriend, no job, no money....no stress. I've been relativley stress/drama free lately. I've started going to bed earlier and that's really helping with my school day,giving me more energy and stuff. Im planning on moving to victoria in october, when i get my license! so excited, because ill get to move in with my aunt, she's like...the sweetest person ever. Life has been going really smoothly, and i thank God for that. Almost time for RAW! (ready and willing)... I'm going to spend about 4 days in downtown eastside vancouver, hanging out with all the people who live down there. It's definitley going to be an expirience i will always remember. anyways, i think house is on soon, so i have to go watch it (its a family thing)

lovelove