The Journey

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Do you ever get in a funk? Do you ever have times where life just doesn't seem like its great, but its not really bad either. It's just kind of there? I have been in a funk recently, and it almost seems worse than when life is bad. I have realized what is wrong and am taking action to move out of the funk, realizing I have only myself to blame for it. Last night our small group had a great discussion about this very topic. We talked about how Jesus promises us life to the fullest, but we probably don't really believe that this can be true because we don't pursue our relationship with him in a way that would suggest that we do. I thought about that some more today. I think that it is absolutely a true statement for me. I have been working hard as a Youth Pastor, husband, and even "Christian," but I have not put my faith in Jesus Christ to provide me with life to the full. Instead, I have relegated him to one and only one place in my life recently. I have relegated Him to the sole position of Savior. Now, don't get me wrong, that is a very important part...probably the most important part of Christ's work here on earth, but it is not the whole story. See, Jesus didn't stop with just getting us inside the gates of heaven. He reunited us with the God of the universe and created a place for us in His family. He promised us life to the full. What does that mean...Life to the full? We talked about this last night, too, in a round about way. I don't think it necessarily means that we will have money and cars and material things like many in this world would have us believe. Jesus didn't talk about the rich or the materially blessed in very positive terms and He warned his followers about trials that they would face because of their belief in Him. I don't think it necessarily means an adventurous life that includes traveling the world and meeting famous people. Christ was humble and only traveled a very small section of the world in His time on earth. (Although, some may be called to travel the world and speak the gospel, even to well known people, most of us will not be so called) Life to the fullest, means to me, living a life deeply connected to God, full of his unexplainable peace, content with the blessings He chooses to bestow, patiently waiting on His still small voice, passionately joining Him in the pursuit of the rest of humanity and expectantly awaiting the final coming of our mighty, loving, gracious King! Not something that comes naturally for us, but definitely something that the Holy Spirit, when allowed to be creative within us, can accomplish. Peace be with you!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

What's with combining celebrity couple's names?


The other night I was watching the news with my wife, when they started talking about "Bennifer", which consists of the couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer (forgot her last name, but Alias Chick). We started talking about the phenomenon of combining celebrity couple's names together. Another example of this new craze is "Brangolina". We got to thinking and started putting couples' names together that we know. Here are a few we came up with!

JJ and Kelly Johnson "Jelly"
Brenton and Stephanie Balvin "Brephanie"
Brandt and Stephanie Sorbel "Braphanie" (Needed to differentiate from "Brephanie")
Jesse and Andrea Friewald "Jandrea"
Myself and Mesha "Jesha" or "Joesha" (depending on how you decide to do this thing)
Geoff and Michelle Coombe "Gichelle"
Pete and Erin Corniea "P-rin"

If you want to have some fun and can come up with some others leave a post!!!

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Hey all.....

It has been a long stinkin time since I posted anything. I have a bunch of excuses, but I'll save them because I think everyone understands and no one wants a huge explanation. I'll update you as briefly as possible about the Torkelson's summer 2006.

Mesha has been in the emergency room 4 times in the past two months with kidney stone issues. One of those visits was on the way to a student conference in Tennessee at 5 am in Shelbyville Kentucky. Thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses at Shelbyville Jewish Hospital. They got her drugged up (for the pain) and sent us on our way. Anywho, she had surgery last Wednesday and has been struggling to get back to normal since. She went back to work yesterday, but still isn't herself. Hopefully in the next couple of days, she'll make her way back to full strength.
In other news, we closed on our new town home in Buffalo MN about two and a half weeks ago and still haven't gotten much done in terms of unpacking. July 15-22 we spent an awesome week in Tennessee with some of my high school students. It was really sweet to see God meet us there and work in amazing ways with my students. Anyways, back to the house. We absolutely love our town house and feel incredibly blessed to be in a position to have purchased it. We pray that God uses it as a light in our community and a place of welcome and healing for our friends and aquaintances.
Other than that, we are pluggin a long. Mesha is still enjoying public health nursing and I still love my students at Quarry Community Church. I am currently on a short break from school this summer and head back in the middle of August. Oh Joy!!! At least, I have the knowledge that this is the last summer I have to attend classes. Yeah!!!!
I hope all is well. Talk to you soon! (In other words, I am planning on updating a little more often)