I'm Back

11.05.2008

It's over. I'm home. I'm exhausted. I'm depressed. Over the next few days, I will post a digest of each day's events, backdating them to the correct day. For now I just want to say one thing: Last night the guys had one last debrief, after we knew who was our new president and after we knew that Sodrel lost. It was a quiet and somber time, but God gave me something to say then that I want to share now.

In Romans 8:28 we are told that all things work together for good, for those that love God. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans that he has for us, and that those plans are good plans to prosper us and not to harm us, and to give us hope in the future and for the future. Taking these two verses together is really all that is keeping me from beating my head against the wall, or just sitting and crying my eyes out. I don't know how God is going to work what happened during the elections for good, but I know that He will, and I know that He is not just wandering aimlessly but has a plan. I have a hope in the future, because God gave it to me. He gives it to all who will take it from Him. I have claimed that promise.

When my mind has settled, and I have recovered somewhat from this past week, I will probably post some thoughts on why things went this way, thoughts about the week, and just stuff. Whatever the Lord wills.

Day 4

11.03.2008

The rest of the day went well. We finally got to eat, after waiting for what seemed like forever. It was a long day today, yelling my head off was probably a bad idea, my voice is gone. My throat hurts. Melissa was awesome, she treated several of us to Starbucks. Her dad brought mine back to the lodge as I don't stay at the house with the girls. We played some card games and a new game based on questions. Fun times. We had a good time of prayer.


November 3, 2008
Barnabas Lodge, Jeffersonville, IN

Today was the last big push. We traveled on a tour bus to several different locations. We waved signs, yelled our heads off, and did lit drops. We cheered for Sodrel at a rally, a press conference, and at a coffee shop rally. A lot of our time today was spent on the bus. I learned that the man with the iPod is truly the man in demand...Some funny things: while on the bus, I "treated" (or tortured) the back of the bus with my impersonations of Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Toby Keith, and tobyMac. Fun times, good laughs. At the end of the day we played games at the Lodge. I learned a new game, "The Question Game." So much fun. 

Right now I'm sitting on the curb waiting to be picked up. We have done lit drops all day, and some sign waving and a press conference. It's been a long day, I'm ready to be done for the day. I remembered my ipod today for the bus, I forgot it yesterday. I will post again later.

Day 3

11.02.2008

Today was another long day, but more fun then yesterday. Did a lot of lit dropping and phone banking. I obtained multiple t-shirts, as I need to bring at least one or two back with me. The only way I am able to get shirts is to wear them, so they all smell of Axe. Had some weird people answer the doors, but over all the responses were mostly positive. I talked to the guys about focusing on the positives and not the negatives of the campaign.


November 2, 2008
Barnabas Lodge, Jeffersonville, IN

We went to Church this morning at Graceland Baptist, the church hosting us. It was a typical Baptist service, with the whole focus on the altar call at the end. We had a little free time and lunch, and then we got back to work. The afternoon was pretty normal - we did literature drops and then phone banking. When we got back to the lodge, we played some games. After that I led another debrief, just talking over what we had done that day, and in prayer.

Day 2

Today was a long, hard day, but was very fun. Lit drops all day. My group- Mr and Mrs Steele, Kayla and Megan Steele, Drew, and myself. This is actually the first time that I have been with a parent chaperone on an SAT. Good, I guess, but not as much chances for having fun. The Steeles are fun, but not as much fun as Jeremey was last year. Anyway, today was lit drops, tomorrow is church and then whatever else we are needed for. Pray for ENERGY!


November 1, 2008
Barnabas Lodge, Jeffersonville, IN

Today started at around 7 am. Got up, showered, got ready for the day. We were taken to our different team locations on a tour bus and dropped off at our different points. My team was the last team on the list. We spent the morning knocking on doors and talking to people. We ate lunch at McDonalds (ugh) and got back to work. My team finished about two hours early and chillaxed at the pick up point until 6:30. We got picked up and, to shorten the story some, after a few delays and much embracing of chaos we got back to the Lodge. From there we went tot he Republican Campaign HQ in Jeffersonville to get dinner and for our evening debrief. Tomorrow we are going to church at the church that is hosting us: Graceland Baptist. We played some "Liar" aka "BS" and went back to the Lodge. We played "Spoons" (and forks and knives) and "Kemps" and the guys had our nightly debrief. Clayton led us tonight. He encouraged us to remember that while we may work hard, we need to pray even harder, because the outcome of this election is in God's hands. We eventually went to bed, but stayed up talking for hours. I am actually writing this on Sunday, as I fell asleep sometime last night before I wrote anything down. Until tomorrow's post...

Day 1

10.31.2008

Another change of plans: I'm going to post short posts every night in a digest, and then when I get home I'm going to post the full version that i am writing down.
That said, here goes.

Today started the SAT for Sodrel. Started working as soon as we got here, and am just now going to bed. Did the normal SAT stuff- phone banking, literature, sign waving. Had a debrief with the other guys, and now time to sleep. Tomorrow will be more interesting.


October 31, 2008
Barnabas Lodge, Jeffersonville, IN

Today was the start of the Student Action Team for Mike Sodrel. Arrived in Jeffersonville around 11:30 and got to work right away. Did the typical stuff - phone banking, folding literature, and sign waving. I led a debrief for the guys. We went over what we learned today, what we wanted to keep each other responsible in, and what we are going to do this week. We talked about what our attitudes need to be toward our fellow volunteers, the girls. I encouraged them to remember 1 Timothy 4:12 and to be leaders. It's been a long day, the first of many to come.

I'm on my way now. I've had a great couple days leading up to today. I'm praying that God will give me grace for this next week on the campaign trail, for strength and endurance in the days ahead. I appreciate the prayers of you all.

Change in plans...

10.30.2008

Due to some changing plans, I will most likely not be able to post every night. I will post what I can, when I can, and will post from my cell phone still, but daily digests may not be up every day. I will definitely post for every day, but not necessarily on that day. Comments would be appreciated, any encouragement would be awesome.

What's coming up/Some thoughts on Driscoll's recent sermons

10.29.2008

I will be campaigning for Mike Sodrel for Congress starting on Friday. It will be a rough campaign against Baron Hill in District 7, around Jeffersonville. I intend to post daily a digest of the day, what God has shown me, what I have learned, prayer requests, etc. Lord willing that should be up before midnight every night. I will also try to post some pictures and short posts from my phone of interesting happenings or people.

Listening to Mark Driscoll's sermons on the Song of Solomon has been revealing. I am learning how I need to treat my future wife, while at the same time I am learning how to prepare myself for my future wife. Some randomish thoughts, not neccesarily in order of sermon:

• My standard of beauty is my wife. 
• If I don't have a wife, then I can't have a standard of beauty. This extends to my wife before we are married - when I know who God wants me to marry, that is my standard of beauty for the rest of my life.
• As my wife changes, my standard of beauty will change.
• I must serve my wife.
• While I am to be the leader of the home, I am to serve my wife. Serving my wife will include spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
• Mark Driscoll: "See, it isn't French kissing at all. It's Biblical kissing." (On Song of Solomon 4:11)