Lundsten

I had the privilege to see pastor Rob Bell when he was on his "Drops Like Stars" tour just over a year ago, even got a picture with him and some friends. I find it disappointing how people drift away (spotlight on myself), but Rob had a good point when he said

"the thing about grief and disappointment is that it brings people together,"

Lance was a wonderful individual, who similar to others that we truly mourn, his time came too soon. Leaving a lapse of a life that we blinked and were behind wondering where that wonderful life was, and why it ceases to stand before us. Personally I had the privilege to photograph him while playing piano for Jefferson Idol. He even read this blog and requested our thoughts on homosexuality and how things work with Him (being Jesus).

Although I cannot find enough words to describe him, he had a way with the keys and with people. As far as homosexuality goes with God and things. Matt Chandler said it best when he said

"Changed hearts lead to changed lives."

I think anyone struggling with any sin should hear about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I were to throw that in a very very "message" like nutshell it would be "we've all sinned, God sent His only Son so that all that sin didn't matter and we can live free lives in Christ" (it's very condensed, theology critics have at it).

If I have a hope, it's that Lance's story will continue to be told, that it will continue to take hold in our hearts and minds.

Blessings

Connor

100th post

Wow. We've got 100 posts. I just saw that as I started to write this. Impressive.

I won't lie, it has been rocky at times through this but I hope we still have some of you here on this blog. We love you all through it all.

A couple things that I would like to write. Some may call it a compound entry.

While I was in the Nerf gun aisle at Target last night, two kids came up next to me looking at something totally different. They were probably 6 and 7 or somewhere close to that. The younger one said to the older one, "Anthony! Look! Look!" The older kid replied, "Why would I care about that?" "Because it's cool!" The younger one replied. I can only assume they were brothers and hearing that kinda tugged at my heart because the older bro was so harsh to his little brother that looked up to him. So I want to apologize to my bro because I know I was like that growing up. You're the man. Sorry bro.

2nd on the agenda, I'm totally psyched for Tenth Avenue North to come to Northwestern on September 3rd. That's going to be amazing.

Finally, I want to thank everybody that is praying for me while I'm at college, I've really started to feel them and I've really appreciated thinking about you while here in my dorm room. It's normally before I go to bed that those thoughts seep into my mind. So, thank you so much.

Love,
-sam

College Life

Phew! College. I love it.

Dorm life is a blast. Last night there was a 30-player game of Apples to Apples, a group of guys playing tackle football in a 10 foot by 20 foot area, and two crazy guys climbing up to the second floor balcony. It may sound chaotic, but it was all good. :)

I'm still trying to shake a cold that I've had for a week. It has sucked especially starting school with it, but I've gotta cling to the promise that God has a good and perfect plan for me.

Godspeed,
-sam

Hometown

I know I know.

It's been sometime.

I have been beyond busy. Camp has been everything amazing and God has more than blessed me. It just goes to prove how right Jesus was in saying the way is narrow. Trying to be a good example as well as lead and organize groups of boys is exhausting. Especially when breaks are scarce.

I could talk about this summer forever though and I don't want to. I love what I do but this post is a reminder.

A reminder to my friends in Alexandria. All of them. I was recently told that the vibe was that of me ditching everyone.  I miss you all. Summer is full of never resting time. Especially on an island.

If there is anything I need it's prayers. Prayers for patience, energy, and that I may receive love better.

Shout out to all who have seen me at work.  Also to an amazing friend. One who has stuck with me through thick and thin. Especially after I have been horrible to her. She has never faded. Even through a recent lost phone dilemma. She has never held back and been honest constantly with me. Even when I didn't want to hear it and needed it most. I owe her zorbaz or dinner on the island. I want to serve her how she has served me. I suppose this is a God thing because she has been a total blessing to me and a model of what selfless love is at times. If you were wondering. I'm constantly thankful for you even when I don't show it. Thank you. I miss you. Come for dinner. You are amazing. Also. Your eyes are way way way beautiful. In case you were wondering.

I miss you Alexandria.

I'm sorry I left so soon. God wanted me to be a camp counselor and to tell kids about His love and His son.

Much love

ø Connor ø

Beauty

Psalms 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made."

Being out in the Black Hills astounds me. I'm not the type to be completely mushy and say "Awww it's so cute." But there is something about nature that just makes me stand in awe. Put me in front of a mountain with snow caps and I won't talk for at least a couple of minutes.

Beauty. God intertwined it in nature to show us a glimpse of who He is. It's all part of the void in our heart that God created in us that only He can fill.

Beauty. It is also part of the traits that God has given us, more namely, women. Let me explain. I was talking with one of my friends tonight and we were talking about how different guys and girls are. If the traits from guys and girls are combined, they show us a clearer picture of who God is. For example, God made women the beauty of the earth. That gives us such a small glimpse of beauty so that when we get to Heaven, it's totally going to blow us out of the water at how beautiful He is.

Those are just some thoughts.

Love ya,
-sam

Marriage

Wow, I never thought I would get to post again.

Those of you that read still and care, here's a quick update of my life

I just purchased a guitar, lost my phone, worked myself into sickness somehow, and have no family in Alexandria, MN.

and i want to play guitar with my friend right now. .

until later

much love

ø Connor ø

Humility

It's been a while again I realize.

We have a weekend off! As a majority of a staff we are heading to Valley Fair and kickin it together. I can honestly say now that I know these people, I love these people. It's a true community/family. We struggle together, we prosper together, we get on each others nerves, we give each other joy beyond belief. You get the picture.

I was playing guitar this morning, my journey in learning this beautiful instrument has been fast and furious. I can now strum and change between: C, D, Em, G, A. So now that you all know that. (as if you needed to) it comes to the main part of the story. I played in front of all the campers and their families at closing chapel service....alone. Typically I have a safety net for guitar in my good friend Tuxie, she had kitchen duty :(. I find humor in this and I bet God did too. As I was playing the song "Humble Thyself" it seemed to be the message I needed. The prior night I was exclaiming how fun guitar was and how fast I was picking it up, forgetting my original intention: To glorify God.

After that mishap I was sure to remember who gets the glory.

Also I'm going to be a little selfish and do a public anonymous apology. Selfish because apologies are for both parties, but for the offending party it lifts a weight off their shoulders. My other shakers haven't been posting (I'm sure you all noticed) since my refresh series. It was wrong in a sense to voice my thoughts and opinions in that matter no doubt. I will also take the precaution in saying that apologizing for opinions is wrong, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it's with who the opinion affects and how the opinion is expressed is the wrong thing. Also on that note, I tried to let it pass and remind myself that I cannot see the intentions in anyone's heart. I don't know what drives people. That's only for God to know.

I am sorry.

It gets difficult to have relationships at times because as sinful beings we are broken, our relationships will reflect that because without God we cannot perfectly love or do anything. It's up to Him as to what happens and up to us whether we continue asking Him what to do or go on our own human understanding. (Humans don't understand much....at all)

With that I might be leaving you for a day or so.

Thank you for sticking with us readers, this summer is a trying one on me and I'm sure my other shakers. Keep us in your prayers as we shall keep you in ours.

P.S. I love and miss my family beyond belief, but camp is treating me way too nice. God is amazing. (that's a huge understatement.)

Much love

ø Connor ø

AHHH

Staff celebration just concluded

I suppose I need to explain myself and my absence for the past while.

Last week was crazy, I was privileged to work with some amazing Servant Eventers from West St. Paul. Cleaning with them and destroying with them was too awesome. We got to clean up from the tornado damage in Wadena. Overall it was a wonderful experience. (I sound kind of hippie now)

Staff celebration weekend!!! Was outstanding, getting to connect with these people that I have come to know as family. Sorry I am so scatterbrained, everything is happening at once. I have horse campers at the moment now and...oh yeah! My parents stopped by with my brothers!!

That made my summer up to this far. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers as the move is going forward.

AHH. It's hard to voice my mind when so much is running around in my mind.

I finished reading "To Own a Dragon" by Donald Miller

Wow.

He talked about how God is our "True Heavenly Father" and a role model for earthly fathers. So true. So inspiring, especially as a person in a role model position at camp. Wow and my thoughts are way too incoherent to put into post form.

Thought of the day: Our earthly fathers do things to make us happy, through that they are happy. So then wouldn't God our Heavenly Father do things to make us happy, like providing a beautiful sunset, or a good time with friends.

Much Love

ø Connor ø

Tornado

Its been awhile. I have been busy this week no doubt.

This week I am blessed with an amazing group of people from St. Paul for the servant event.

I'm going to be honest. (Readers like it I hear, this honesty thing)

I was beat. Exhausted. Tired. You name it.

Somehow without fail God manages to give us energy or whatever we need. Right when we need it.

Learning guitar is still going well.

Reading " to own a dragon" by Donald Miller as well as having conversations with our local creation science dude is blessing me so greatly.

Just after father's day it hits me how tremendous of a calling that being a father is. Donald talked through a friend as to how miraculous being a father is. Loving someone instantly from birth. Not needing them to earn it or anything of the sort. I have that from my pops and he got me around 8. Let alone we all have that from God and we are all born into sin. He loves us no matter what.
Big deal I know. Most of us knew that from Sunday school. But on the real.

before we were born. He loved us unconditionally. He sent his only real son even though we defied Him. I heard all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God somewhere. But He still sent his only Son for us.

Wow

Much Love

ø Connor ø

Fingers

Today marks a first.

First day in the process of learning guitar.

Ask any guitarist and I'm sure they will talk about how much their fingers hurt. Including my fellow shakers. One who is a skilled guitarist. The other owns a guitar (I'm not sure as to the extent of his experience. So lets assume he's like a guy from dragonforce)

It hurts.

Enough complaining.  Those posts aren't fun to write.

I had special needs campers this weekend. I loved it. They are so content with everything that's given to them ( for the most part =) they still have such an innocence about them.

Actually one of the best moments was when one of them tooted particularly loud during singing and campfire. I broke down laughing and stopped when he looked at me. Upon exchanging glances we both knew that fart was hilarious.

A camp counselor and his sonshine camper almost in tears. We got the awkward look from onlookers and loved it.

The craziest thing is that I get paid.

I realize my continual reminders as to me loving my job and where God has me must be getting old. I'm gonna work on it.

Much love

ø Connor ø

Doorknob

Week one is finished.

Its almost a surreal feeling. Kids staying back to hang with you. Clinging to whatever they can of you before time becomes a fork in the road.

Graduation is still hitting me.

I don't know if the impact these kids have on me will ever hit. Even scarier is that I am affecting them.

Enough with my apprehensions.

I want this post to speak. I want these words to move you. Yes you.

I recently found out that one of my favorite teachers just lost her husband. Needless to say. I was stunned and filled with sympathy.

This was not fair to her. You could even say God was not fair.

She loved her job as an English teacher. Actually she had roughly 200 kids a semester and she would have taken any one of them in.

She helped inspire me to speak at graduation.

She would sit and talk with me for hours about life. Her dreams. My dreams. Camping. Everything.

I rocked that speech. I loved it and gave it my best.

I'm still holding that word for you. I hope you are still holding onto yours.

I hope it moves you now. Having a word is one thing. But now is when that word should move you. Shake you to the core.

I'm going think about and pray for you a lot in the coming months and years. A lot is being asked of you. Raising two girls while holding a career.

Tall order.

You could argue God is unfair because we don't see what He has in store for us. But He never gives us more than we can handle.

Go camping.

It will hurt. It will be hard. You will feel broken for a great length of time. But things will get better.

You have made a difference in our lives. I speak on behalf of all your students because it's true.

One last thing Jefferson. Could you make me a promise.  When times get tough. When you don't think you can pull through. Think about that word. Come back to loved ones here in alexandria and know this.

You can make it.

Much love

ø Connor ø

Priorities

Where we spend our time is ultimately what we treasure most.

Holy smokes.... If that saying is true, I need to re-prioritize things.

I'll be honest with you, my friends. My list probably goes as follows:
1) Computer
2) Xbox
3) Hanging with people (family, friends)
4) Doing nothing
5) Reading the Word

I'm having a hard time getting into the Word. I think I'm thinking that, since I grew up in the church reading the Bible, I know a lot of it. So the novelty has worn off.

This is kind of extreme but nonetheless a very unsettling thought as I type it. Today I did get back in the Word by following along to a podcast from Steven Furtick at Elevation Church. The series was on James 1:13-18.

It says God does not tempt us. He's brings us trials but He is not the one that tempts us. And it's not even that He puts us in the trial to see us fail. It's the very opposite. He puts you in trials so that you might have the opportunity to conquer in His name and you can learn from the situation if you fail.

So don't blame God for bad circumstances. Instead, turn to Him and ask Him to help you along. He's on your side.

-sam
Song of the Day: You're On Fire by MXPX

Plunge

Its only the first week of campers.

Wowza.

Let me be the first to say that I got crazy blessed to have these guys in my cabin. They are so alive. Full of life, and lots of it. Its going to be hard to say goodbye on Friday.

My watch also broke.

Out of all the analogies I could pull out of my life. I got nothing. I'm beat. After week one. I know I can do this.

I gave a devotion the other night about how God has set no limit to what He believes we cab do. In John Jesus talks about how through Him we have life and life to the fullest. In Revelations it says God opened a door for us no one can shut.

Wowza. My parents tell me I can do whatever I put my mind to. I love them dearly for that. But wow. A door nobody can shut.

Ooh doggie.

All things aside. I love my geographic location. And my occupation.

Much love.

ø Connor ø

Lessons from Norway

I saw a guy smoking while riding a mo-ped.

Kids, first of all, don't smoke. But if you are going to smoke (which I really hope you don't) don't have the audacity to smoke while riding a motorcycle or mo-ped or anything of the sort.

Anyway, that was my random sighting today. Onto some other content...

I had the privilege to sit down and have some ice cream with one of the Norwegian foreign exchange students that I had the pleasure to get to know better this year. She went back today (wednesday). This morning to be more precise. But we had a good talk before she left. The thing that really stuck out to me when we were talking was what she had to say about Christianity over in Norway.

She said that people here in America focus and talk a lot more about Heaven while in Norway they focus more about the journey, (life). I like this because this causes people focus on the road getting to eternity rather than jumping straight to the ending.

This is one lesson that I have learned this year, as I look back at this crazy fast year. If I would have fast-forwarded time straight to the end of the school year, I would have missed out on the lessons I learned such as being patient when you really want something, being intentional about living and talking about my faith, and also trying to not to place myself on a pedestal and love others like Jesus loved others, which is no small feat.

All in all, I'm a wretch trying to obey God and help others along with me. The road is rocky and may have lots of potholes, but be encouraged, Christian; you're not alone. As Red Green says, "Keep your stick on the ice. We're all in this together."

Go serve your King.
-sam
Song of the Day: Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

Refresh (part 2)

Well if anybody was wondering. My cabin is having an army worm Olympics.

Splendid

Also I had another of those moments where God answers a prayer. Not how you want it or anything. Perfect.

But you can't argue with your Creator it doesn't work like that.

What answered it ended up being Blue Like Jazz.

Don talked about metaphors. The ones we use for things like cancer and relationships. We always battle cancer. We value people. Thinking about love like currency is wrong.

I was wrong.

Part one of this series was accurate to how I felt about the situation. Raw. How writing should be. It was my honest gut. Looking back a lot can be taken from the post. Whether you want to trust my perceptions is up to you.

I was looking at the wrong solution. I was making love a money thing. Saying the relationship was worth less because of a disagreement. No matter how big or offended I got. I needed to remember one thing.

God's love transcends all grudges and divisions our sin makes.

The real solution was to pour on love.

In extreme amounts

So at the end of this two day  journey I took a lot away. As for the readers and everyone else. I hope and pray you apply This lesson to conflicts. And when the problems arise. Embrace them. Jesus did promise them.

Much love
ø Connor ø

Refresh (part 1)

How to update you all entirely.

Two posts!

First one commence

Camp is treating me amazing. I would also like to informally thank everyone for making graduation awesome. My speech felt great despite crazy nerves.

I also wanna plug the Droid. Sickest phone ever.

I suppose this one is going to be an honest post. One where spoken words evade me.

To my other shaker. I'm sorry again. I cannot. Find what to say to you. I don't want to be a judgemental hypocrite. I can just voice my thoughts.

I disagree with FCA. That's a good start. Putting oneself on a pedestal based on beliefs. Hardly humbling. There is little outreach and even less inclusion. It doesn't demonstrate any values Jesus laid down. "The least of these..." etc.

He didn't want us to make a big deal of ourselves.

I realize my opinions in this particular post may decrease my popularity. But it has been bugging me.

I also don't think you make a big stand by sitting out on dances because of "grinding" or rule out classes because they may be "challenging"  (speaking of a philosophy class)

See things like that and other reasons to grab attention (which we all love) and then plastering God's name on it to seemingly increase the value of said attention. Oy

God is not a vacuum cleaner. "Selling" Him can only get so far. Jesus presented us with a lifestyle. Not a cure all that you peddle to people. He gave us a clean slate free of charge in exchange that we spread His name through the love and grace of our actions. Not our sales pitch.

I realize the great hypocracy here. Which again is why I could never organize the words without writing them.

I'm sorry.

Much love

ø Connor ø

Whadda Year

How fast has this year gone? How many memories have been made? How many lessons have been learned? How many friendships have been furthered? How many lives have been changed?

All are questions that have been bouncing around in the cortex of my brain.

I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting on this year. It especially hit me at about 4 in the morning at the senior party. I'm not going to see about half these people ever again. The friends that I've spent 13 years of my growing up years with will be off in their different directions, with most of them never being seen again... It's daunting, really.

It makes me ask myself, "Have I done everything I can do to make sure my peers know the love of Christ?"

You can always do better, I know. But have you legitimately made an effort to try and get that goal out there.

Don't worry, you still have the summer to make a difference. Don't be afraid to engage in that deeper conversation. Be bold and ask them, in love, where they are at with God.

Go serve your King,
-sam
Song of the Day: Safe by Phil Wickham

Packing

I have so much going on right now.

Like that isn't something we all say to ourselves like ten thousand times each day.

Readers, I've been going through a recent slump of blogging because of one reason.

I don't know what I'm thinking about. At all. I lie awake at night just thinking, I'm not even sure as to what is running through my mind. Future plans. College. Friends. Friend issues. Family. What's for breakfast tomorrow.

Pause EVERYTHING!!!! I HAVE CAMPERS TONIGHT. I WILL POST MY SPEECH LATER TONIGHT AS WELL!!! wow I'm excited

Much Love

ø Connor ø

The Glory of It All

As you can tell by "song of the day" choices that I love David Crowder. It's true.

Anyway, life is so great for me. The World Cup started today! I love it. One month of pure soccer. God is good. My recap of today (and I think I'm going to recap every day for the month on how each day went and how I felt about it) :

The opening match was South Africa vs. Mexico. I wanted South Africa to win cause you've gotta rep the host country, especially since it's South Africa. But it ended up in a tie 1-1, with no overtime because it's just group play. No overtime until they get out of group play.

The second game I was a little more torn on. It was France vs. Uruguay. I love Thierry Henry of France but not too many others so I ended up cheering for Uruguay and Henry. Anyway, that also ended in a tie, except this one 0-0.

I really don't like games ending in a tie, but overall, this was a great kick-off to the World Cup. Go Spain and U.S.

Keep it real, and if you live in Alex, go to McDonald's North to check out our shake day picture. I guess it's next to the pop machine. I, myself, have yet to see it so lemme know if it looks cool.

Peace,
-sam
Song of the Day: The Glory of It All by David Crowder*Band

Scientist

Wow. So much in my head right now. Let's organize in print.

Camp is treating me amazingly nice. I cannot get over how much I love my "job". I say job with quotes because its a sacrifice I love. Its knowing that things will be hard. Knowing that its worth it. Leading bible studies and watching their faces glow. Learning about their all powerful and glorious Creator.

I love what I do.

I also have been uber blessed. This staff. I have been raving about for so long refuses to decline in amazing Ness. At the same time I miss everyone. Such a pendulum of loving every second I'm living. And missing every second lost with the others you love.

I saw my brother liked my Facebook status.

I also nearly cried because he wasn't right there for me to hug. To give a loving punch on the arm. He knows.

I also want to pump up our guys staff this summer. Its amazing to be along for the ride with such an amazing crew. open. Receptive. Eager.

I never want to lose that eagerness to work with children

Readers. Don't let me.

Not that the ladies staff is bad. By no means. I just spend more time with the gents and we go through the same experiences.

Also I want another shout out. I'm going to miss my family so much. It seems like after this weekend. I'm cuttin the leash. I know its far from it. But that's what it feels like.

I'm also a little nervous about graduation. To be frank. And excited. And feeling bad. That empty year book isn't instantly gratifying until you have the matching diploma.

Much love

ø Connor ø
Connor