Papendorf Wedding

Today was Dave and Sara's wedding. It was fantastic. The wedding was outdoors in a beautiful area behind a mansion in Joliet, IL. The wedding itself was put together beautifully and everything went smoothly. Both Dave and Sara cried at least a little bit when they were up there. Dave looked so happy just about all the time.

The reception was in the mansion which was pretty sweet. The mansion looked like an old southern plantation farm house. Pretty neat design. The reception was a ton of fun, a great break from working this summer. Dancing, laughing, picture taking. You know, all that jazz. We got to see a couple of old friends that we hadn't seen since school got out. Overall solid day. Although Thad's dancing didn't make it any better, but luckily Kyle was there to make up for it.

Giving college kids bird seed may not have been the best idea, but again, it was fun. This was my first wedding this summer, so this has gotten me really excited about my brother's wedding in September (of which I'm the best man). Weddings are a ton of fun now that I'm older, when you're a kid, you don't really care. Well, only 2 weeks until preseason and school. w00t.

The wedding location.

Kate, Sarah, and Christina

Dave being excited.

you may kiss the bride.

Fire in Jenkins.

Last night there was a really serious fire in Jenkins Hall. What seemed like 30 firetrucks and ambulances were there. The news report said there was over 200 firecrew and paramedics.

Tyler and I were coming back from a late night run to McDonalds when we saw a bunch of firetrucks an ambulances going north up Clark. When we got to LaSalle we saw they were at Jenkins, so we went up there to check it out.

When we got there we were talking to some of the students and most of them didn't expect it to be as serious as it turned out to be. Rumor was that a meteor hit Jenkins Hall, but that theory was quickly quenched...like the fire. Turns out it was an electrical fire.

Pray for Moody for cleanup, finances, and the work power to get Jenkins back up and running. The cleanup crews have been working since 3:30 this morning and still aren't done. I put up a few pictures and videos on Facebook, so check it out.

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Stop Being Sam.

Stop being Sam and start becoming like Jesus. That's what God told me today. That's why He had me work the Legacy Conference which this afternoon I was dreading because I was unbelievably tired.

Francis Chan spoke tonight from what seemed the very mind of God. God used his words to speak exactly what I needed to hear. The phrase that really convicted me was, "Don't let reputation become more important than character." I lie to people. I act like I know what I'm talking about only to get that person to like me. I do this in everything from music to movies to favorite authors. I could honestly have no idea what I'm talking about, but in order to gain your friendship I will lie and tell you so half-baked lie that seems OK in my mind.

I've grown up hearing the phrase "just be yourself." The problem isn't necessarily reputation for me, but identity crisis. Yes, the horrid question, "Who am I?" When I'm around certain people, I change my personality to fit in. What bothers me most about this is that I feel like I'm lying to people about who I really am, but in reality I didn't know who I was. Francis Chan answer that question from God's Word tonight. It says in Philippians that was need to be imitators of Christ and that's when it hit me. We aren't supposed to "be ourself;" we are supposed to be like Christ. It's not about finding our identity, because if we are in Christ, He is our identity. He's my identity.

My fear of dislike from other people isn't solved by finding out who I really am, but understanding that my identity is in Christ. With that being said, Francis Chan also said that Christians under persecution are closer to God than any other time. So, I need to expect people to not like me because I'm in Christ. Luke 21:17 says, "You will be hated by all for my name's sake." If I don't have any enemies, it means I'm doing something wrong. Romans says that the Gospel is an offense and a stumbling block. I need opposition to trust God more. 


In the end, God taught me a lot tonight. This was something I really needed to hear. I need to stop trying to become myself and start becoming like Christ. I don't need to lie anymore because in Him my identity lies.

Man-Flicks.

This last weekend I watched three chick-flicks. Am I embarrassed? A little bit. I mean for the most part chick-flicks all end the same way, so basically I watched the same movie three times. The point is that there needs to be a new genre of movies that is a romantic, manly, funny, action-packed throw down. Am I asking for too much? Probably. But here is a suggestion on how these movies could look like.


Will Ferrell plays a fun loving FBI agent who always has the office laughing, but when it comes to crime, he packs a punch. During one of his jobs he meets a beautiful woman, Liv Tyler, who breaks his heart when she turns out to be an undercover FBI agent. When they both find out about each other's job, Will finds out that she's not interested in him, she's just doing her job, he runs away to New Zealand. Instead of them getting together at the end, Will meets another beautiful woman in New Zealand, and they live happily ever after. Include many explosions, guns, and car chases.

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Burnt Out?

Today, I had the first coffee of the summer. What does that mean for me? I'm tired.

Summer is supposed to be a time where a student gets to relax from all his school work and just get away. While I have been able to relax from school work, I haven't really been able to get away. I'be been working on campus since school got out, and I'm actually waking up earlier than I did during the school year.

I know what you are saying, "Welcome to the real world, Sam." Well, the real world sucks, at least during the summer time. During the school year, my mind gets burnt out but right now my body is burnt out. I'm physically tired, yet I'm ready for school to start.

I think this is a mixture of my poor social life right now and the excitement I have for this next semester. Seriously, I'm pumped for school. There's going to be soccer, Greek, friends whose lives have changed over the summer, and a whole array of surprises.

Right now I'm beating my body to a pulp by training for soccer and working 40 hours a week, but come Autumn, I'll be glad I did it. As far as mental readiness, all I've really done this summer mentally is watch LOST with Spencer, which is pretty mentally straining, but I think I'm going to start working on Green today. It should be a good start for next semester.

Tonight, I'm eating at the Wallace household which I'm pumped for. Spencer is gone this weekend which means no LOST for me. If anybody has some ideas of what I should do with my time leave me a comment. I always open to new ideas. Also, follow me on twitter if you have one. I generally yave some funny thoughts throughout the day that I put on there. @samis_1991

Smell ya later.

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Jesus, Man.

Time gets away from me sometimes. I'll take a nap and wake up 8 hours later. This stuff happens a lot. The same thing happens with blogs. I'll post 11 months after my last post, but that's OK.

The point is I want to write. I'm tired of trying to fit my thoughts in a Tweet or Facebook status. Tweets are too short to fully express my thoughts, and if I post my thoughts on Facebook, some people get worried and comment strange things on my wall. I had completely forgotten about this blog until Tara put up her Europe blog. I now remember how fun this is.

Writing has always been fun. Like reading and showering though, it's only fun when I choose to do it. If I'm forced to write, it becomes a chore, and I'll just avoid it as much as possible. I guess the best way to start off this new habit of my summer is to give a recap of my summer. Here goes nothing:

My summer began with 15 hours of work on a Saturday and Sunday. My job required me to help set up Moody's Pastor Conference. I basically started running before I could walk (In reference to my job because that'd be absurd if I could literally run before I could walk since running requires the action of walking). I've been working a fantastic 40 hour work week. Everyday when I got off work I would hang out with my friends before they started leaving one-by-one for the summer. Hanging out included biking, kayaking, playing soccer, watching movies, laughing at absurdities, and eating. Everywhere from Montana to Europe to L.A., my friends slowly started their own personal journeys into God's plan for their summer.

With many of my friends going to all sorts of cool and exotic places, I started to get malcontent here in Chicago, wishing I was out in the open air like in New Zealand or in the mountains like Colorado. Still, God is teaching me to grasp onto his sufficiency and be content and make the most of my stay here in Chicago. Ephesians 5:15-17 says:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

I'm praying that this summer God will reveal to me some of His plans for my life, because I honestly don't know what I want to do with my life. While I'm young, I really want to travel, backpack, camp, bike, hike, do something that I can only do because I'm young and have time to do these crazy things.

So if you guys could pray for me, I'd definitely appreciate it. Pray that God would reveal His will for my life to me. Pray that He would keep me in His Word. Pray that He would give me strength while I work this summer. Pray that my brother's wedding goes fantastic this Fall. And pray that I would love God and love people.

Song I wrote

Here I am in my room, wondering what I should do

Should I go, should I stay, Who am I to say?

The road ahead is unclear, all I see is myself in the mirror

I need you now, more than ever. Please it feels like forever

 

Since You took me into Your arms

And put me by Your side

Oh how I need this holy rest

Lord, I pray clear my mind

Focus it on You!

 

I’m crossing this bridge, ever slowly. Afraid of becoming lowly

Carry me Lord, I need you now. Let me never forget this hour!

 

Too often I stumble, too often I fall

Too often I find myself blaming You, Lord of All