JESSE RYAN

“There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.”

This is quite true but you don’t have to understand something to be impressed by it, enjoy it, experience it, or love her.

well, since you guys are so far away and most of my blog audience never gets to meet any of the students here in our youth ministry, i thought i’d introduce a few every now and then. so, here are just a few of our hundreds of students that run around here on a weekend…

so i thought i would start to, in a very cliche-like way, name each of my blogs after a song. amusing, i know. well, i thought i would take opportunity in the blog to write about my wonderful thanksgiving weekend. I decided to drive home instead of flying so i would have my car. There was an oil spill on 1-10 so all traffic was detoured onto 1-90 to get to Baton Rouge. It was a nightmare. Just as I passed through a light i heard the screaching tires… i looked up and saw a huge truck bearing down on me. BAM! (Yes, that is the sound trucks make when they smash into the back of your car.) So we pull over and inspect the damage… it wasn’t too bad. But when the cop checked my lisence, La DMV had suspended it for an unpaid ticket! (Which I did pay by the way!) The driver of the truck also had a suspended lisence. Moments later I am handcuffed in the back of the police unit with the man who smashed into my car handcuffed right next to me. I was not arrested, i was “detained.” So I waited in a holding room for 2 hours in the Port Barre Police Department (two full time cops). My car was impounded. It’s only just beginning.

The next day (Wednesday) I go to the DMV and find out Mobile, AL had no record of communicating to the La DMV… and it could only be taken care of in Mobile, AL! So i’m on the road again. My gracious mother is racing me to Mobile so we can get everything done and get back to La before the DMV closes for the holidays. I had no license and had to be to work Sat Morning in Dallas. We made it to Mobile and got everything we needed, rushed back to La and got into the DMV just in time. I now have a brand new license and a cleared record. I picked my car up Friday morning and drove back to Dallas (in the pouring rain) Saturday morning.

Wow, my thanksgiving sucked. But Thurday was good…. i just spent time with family and played guitar hero with my little cousins. Fun stuff and good food. But I made it back to Dallas safe, and thats what’s important.

Keep little Naji , in 7th grade, from our youth ministry in your prayers… he was hit by a car while walking to school. He is doing ok though… it’s just another addition to his tough little life.
So i thought i would also put up a few graphics i have been doing here in the youth ministry…

So much going on… how could I fit into this one blog. Well, here are some videos I recently made. Enjoy. Seriously. Enjoy.

Upside Down- STUDENT [i]MPACT

Compassion – STUDENT [i]MPACT

What a wonderful life.  I spend my time helping kids out, making videos, writing music, leading worship, recording music ( http://www.myspace.com/studentimpactworship (if you wanna check it out)).  But even when you are doing all of these great things, you bein to think to yourself, “There must be more.”  Why in the world would i think something like that?!? I’m doing soooo much.  But still, there must be more.  More of what?  More videos?  More songs to write?  Not really the direction i’m heading… i’m thinking more along the lines of making an impact; a nation-wide impact.  There’s got to be more I can do!

Ok, I don’t cry much.  I really don’t.  The other night i was watching Hotel Rwanda in my apartment… and when it ended, i began to weep.  Not cry; weep.  Uncontrollably.  There’s got to be more I can do…. globally.  Our youth group started collecting items, clothes, school supplies for orphanages in Africa, and will hopefully go visit the orphans next summer.  Thats good… but there’s got to be more we can do.  I just have this itch inside of me… to do more.  sheeeez.

So other than that… i’m just working hard, staying focused, and enjoying life.   I’m loving my apartment.  It’s my place of solitude… a refuge, per say.  I still don’t have cable… I just can’t make myself get it.  I watch a good movie every now and then, and read a good bit.  Who needs cable anyways?  Friends don’t let friends watch Friends.  Sorry, i know i’m way cheesy.  I know you all like me the way i am, RIGHT?!

Landon, our Jr. High Youth Pastor is moving at the end of the month, and we are looking to hire a new Jr. High guy, and a new Secretary.  If you know of anybody that might fit either job… call me or email me.  I’m said to see Landon go… he’s that one guy I really connected with since I got here.  We work well together too…. oh well, maybe one day we will work together again.  Ok, i have to get ready for service tonight.  Don’t be a stranger.  Over and out.

this week has been bussssy!  but it’s been great!  i got to spend it with my favorite person on the planet!  and my family also came in town…which equals lots of eating out and spending of too much money.  but you only live once right?  still, it’s been a crazy week.

Ever have things that happen things happen in life that make you want to just press pause and THINK for a very long time.  Two things happened this weekend that shook me.  First I received a phone call from two close friends in ministry, and they are totally stabbed in the back by their pastor and church congregation.  Hearing things like that upset me.  They are amazing and don’t deserve that.  On the other end, I got a phone call from an old best friend who is getting his life back in order and restoring his relationship with god… it’s a big deal to me.  These things combined are putting me in contemplation and meditation mode.

But it all helps emphasize something important I have learned… God will take what is meant for evil, and turn it around for good.

this weekend was great… we just finished a series called “Scars,” and the worship has been rockin! God has been moving! it’s pretty exciting and the ministry is gaining momentum. we got some pics of worship from this weekend… so check it out!

so today was kind of a busy day, but not really. got some stuff done in the office. but pastor gerald taught on FOCUS today. man do i need focus. i’m pretty focused, but usually on one thing at a time. how do you focus on more than one thing at a time? maybe its just hard for us guys. well, either way, you have to constantly evaluate your goals and your focus if you want to get anywhere. here is my quote of the day: “if your goals are not crystal clear, it will be crystal clear.”

 then i had taco bell for lunch.  man was it good.  i forget how good that place is sometimes.  but now i must head to my apartment… back to my hot pockets and cream soda.  ahhhh, the joys of bachelorhood.  i know you’re jealous.  actually i really  enjoy living alone.  it’s quite peaceful, except the every-so-often sugar rush of the child living above my apartment.  at 1AM, a three year old kid can be mistaken for a hurd of buffalo stampeding on the floor above you.

So i’ve been in Dallas for a few weeks now. I love it. God is so amazing to bring me here to Plano. It’s where I am supposed to be. I was telling the worship team the other night that one of the most exhilirating feeling a person could have is to be able to confidently say “I belong here.” I hope you can say the same thing about your life and where you are at. And if you are not “there,” at least be heading that direction.

I really don’t even know if anyone at all reads this blog, but i’ll keep posting and updating. drop me a line on myspace or facebook.
www.myspace.com/jes_ryan

Dallas has been awesome! It hasn’t stopped raining since I got here, but it’s all good.

Today is my third day on the job and things are going great. The staff here at Grace Outreach are all very kind. I led worship this past weekend and Wednesday night…. and it’s going great. We played To Deserve by ol’ jonathan stockstill last night and the kids loved it.

I miss all you folks already! Stay in touch and don’t be afraid to call, OR COME VISIT!!! Just call first if you do! Well today, we are making a video for the message series this weekend, so back to work for me. Holla!