Play what you're dealt...

Bull poker. Last one sitting wins the money.

(Dude, look at that guy flying into the air.)

On Africa and mouthwash.

Lately, I've been getting really jacked about Africa. But, by "getting really jacked," I in part mean "starting to worry/wonder about ridiculous things." And I do mean ridiculous. For example, mouthwash. Can I get it there? What about conditioner? Am I going to have to cut off all my hair? (I can't decide if this is an appealing or appalling prospect. Discuss amongst yourselves.) How can I pack enough batteries for a flashlight? Will I have to? How close will I be to a bigger place and what kind of stuff can I get there? Am I going to have a horse or not?

This is just nonsense, but this is often the way in which I get excited about and look forward to things. Kind of silly, yes, I know.

On the other side of the spectrum, I'm having difficulty differentiating between holding this trip with an open hand (saying, "God, you know, do whatever you want here -- if you want to cancel it at the last minute, so be it") and being pessimistic about it (the "if I even/I doubt I'll even go" route). It's a strange fence to straddle, and I think I'm leaning toward the latter attitude rather than the former. I guess being pessimistic is easier, right? It'll sting less if what I really want gets taken away. And, heck, it requires so little faith. So why not?

These are my battles. Of course, they both distract me from the big battle -- fighting for the people in Sudan in prayer before I arrive. And the devil smiles.

My niece.

So adorable.

Smooth sailing.

Today I had the opportunity to talk for a wee bit at Stratford -- my home church in Champaign. It was pretty sweet to get back there and see everyone. I was bombared with people asking how things are and what they can be praying about and got to listen to a solid sermon from Ken. What a refreshing church experience, especially after my rather sad experiences here.

The speaking went much better than my last one -- everything that could go wrong did that time -- though I think I talked too fast. Eh, you can't win them all. I also think I'm going to save my notes so I can use this as a backbone for my other presentations -- the flow worked well.

Ken is from Canada. I love it when he says "about." It makes me smile. What also makes me smile is when he takes the Word and teaches from it soundly. Today he spoke from Ephesians 3:14-20. It's a section of Scripture I've been over a million times, but today he said something that made me stop and think. When I'm sharing John 3:16 with folks ("For God so loved the world..."), am I thinking about that same love Paul is talking about in these verses? This love that is so wide, long, high and deep -- a love that surpasses knowlegde? And am I loving people with that love? Convicting.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family n heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

I also got to catch up with Jackson some. He was in a rather rough area over the summer, and I wish I'd had a chance to learn more about it. But, either way, it was encouraging just to chat. I'm so energized by real fellowship. When you're starved of something, you start to cherish it that much more, I guess.

Alright, I'm off. Gotta get up early to ride in the morning. (Pretty jacked.)