Memorial Day 2010

Free Falling

I consider myself a thrill seeker. Not the kind of "immature" thrill from standing on top of moving vehicles while off-roading and shooting a paint ball gun all at the same time. Well actually... just kidding dad. But I have been known to seek the adrenaline of coming close to danger. I'll gladly jump on a sled being pulled by a four-wheeler in the snow or ride any amusement ride built on earth. I've even free fallen into the Royal Gorge.

Yes, this oversized "swing" pulls you back to a horizontal height one eerie crank at a time only to release you into a near death encounter. Life flashed before my eyes while I was hopelessly falling into the 1,200 foot gorge. I lost speaking capability for at least 18 minutes. A neurological overload of adrenaline and thrill caused my major body systems to temporarily shut down. But when the shock subsided, the only thing I wanted was to do it again. What makes these adventures so exciting?

Uncertainty is the root of the thrill. Without uncertainty, there wouldn't be a dare. I live for those eternity lasting milliseconds when you are not sure if safety waits on the other side. It adds excitement to life. It spices up the mundane, repetition of my planned out days, weeks, and months. I believe everyone seeks their own thrills in their own personal ways. Maybe it isn't necessarily strapping yourself to a cord and free falling into the Royal Gorge; it could be simply speaking to a stranger. The times we tend to grow most significantly are often when we are outside of our comfort zones. Unfortunately, when I'm ventured out of my comfort zone doubt usually finds it's way in as well. This brings me to the faith-doubt dilemma that I constantly struggle with.

I've lived on the edge in the most surprising way this past year: In my walk with the Lord. I've been infused with spiritual adrenaline everyday because I've chosen to journey into the uncertain. I gave up my own plans for my life and fully embraced the calling God has patiently been growing me into. I can't say that my path has been incredibly easy. I can't tell you that God has used a spotlight to light my entire trail. Often times I'm lead with simply a light to my feet, but that does not mean I stop moving. I might not be able to see all the surroundings and sometimes I might be overwhelmed with uncertainty, but I take the step forward anyways. With every step I take, sometimes I have doubt in where I'm going, but I hold onto the faith I have in the One lighting my steps. I'm engulfed with this new walk with the Lord. It's similar to walking on water. You might have uncertainty of what the first step will bring, but with faith all things are possible. What could be more captivating? What could be more exciting? I want my walk with the Lord to be on water. Every step is met with overwhelming adrenaline because I'm not drowning when I should be. I've learned that I do not have to know everything. I'm perfectly comfortable in taking a step without knowing every little detail; because I know the One directing each step knows. Maybe it's better for me to not know sometimes. It's the uncertainty of each step that gives me the thrill to keep going. Are you willing to take the step? Are you willing to free fall into the unknown with the hope of changing the world?

Summer Goal

Well I did it. I finished my most challenging semester in the last two years. I have to be honest and admit that in January I met this semester with great determination to work as hard as possible, but also with plenty of uncertainty. It was almost a test to see if I had enough intelligence to succeed in the pre-health track. After many sleepless nights and excruciating hours of studying, I'm glad to admit that I finished in the top 5% of my pre-medical classes. I've been forced to really lean on God this past year in so many areas of my life. I can't begin to tell you how many times this semester I've prayed, "Lord, I'm walking out your will in my life and you know that I've given my best. I couldn't have prepared better than this. I've done my best to do my part and I'm expecting to be met by you." I've begun to live this prayer out. It's been my semester's motto. If I'm doing my best than I can't be disappointed in the results. With the semester coming to an end, I've been given a month break before my summer classes resume. I finally get a little much needed breather. It seems that as I get older, time slowly has become my largest rival. I can never seem to schedule in enough "Stephen time" into my life. And trust me; I need it more than ever. I've been praying daily that God tell me what to do with my self-building time. Every time I've prayed I've gotten one answer: My heart.


I need to start preparing my heart to become the man I know I'm called to be. I need to get off my mountain and start my process of validation. In my short 20 years on earth, I've spent a majority of my life seeking my validation from others. I've been foolish enough to judge my heart's condition by how other's think of me. No longer will I seek my self-fulfillment through other's opinions. It's time I stop seeking others to validate me. If I want to be a man, a true man, I need to find myself in the Lord. Not in what others think. It might not be the same as studying for Chemistry five hours a day, but it will still stretch me in an area that I really need fixing and validation. I've let people close to my heart before, but it's time to let God closer than anyone. It's time to lean a little bit further. It's time to put a little more of my weight on God. I've learned to trust Him in so many areas this year and now I must learn to do it in a new area. I need to learn how to love correctly, but I must have my heart right before I can. That is my focus this summer. This is my goal. The process starts today. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. I've been surrounded by the most incredible of people. Have a nice summer.

Rather be a "Something" than a "Nothing"

The following is written by a friend. Thought I would share. Short, but so so true.

I was reading in 2 Kings this morning when this passage of Scripture leapt out at me. It's found in 2 Kings 17:15:

"But the people wouldn't listen to God. If anything, they were even more bullheaded than their stubborn ancestors, if that's possible. They were contemptuous of God's instructions, the solemn and holy covenant He had made with their ancestors, and of His repeated reminders and warnings. THEY LIVED A “NOTHING” LIFE AND BECAME “NOTHINGS”—just like the pagan peoples all around them. They were well-warned: God said, "Don't!" but they chose to do it anyway."


"THEY LIVED A "NOTHING" LIFE AND BECAME "NOTHINGS". Wow! Talk about getting off of your focus. This was recorded of the children of Israel many, many years after leaving Egypt. The really interesting thing is that this "NOTHING" LIFE they led, was the life of the pagan peoples around them (think of the world, and its ways of doing things). They held the Lord's ways in contempt...they were lovers of pleasure and of themselves and not lovers of God anymore. And it led to their destruction, they became "NOTHINGS".


Now I don't know about you, but I don't want my life to be about nothing, or worse yet to be labeled a "NOTHING". I want to be who God wants me to be, and my life to be about "SOMETHING". And to do that, I will have to pay attention to God's instructions, and walk in what Jesus purchased for me through His death, burial and resurrection. I will have to press into God more than I ever have before.


It may cost me some friends, but truthfully if it costs me friends, have I really lost anything? No. Because the real friends will be the ones who come with me. I think at least for me, it's time for me to stop playing church and begin to follow God's ways...how about you?


Fighting the fight until I see His face,


Dave Felts