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Hello again, and peace from Morton.  I have been to a few training sessions in the recent past, and I have learned about training leaders and casting vision, setting goals, and following through.  I am somewhat scatterbrained, so following through is oftentimes the hardest part for me to actually apply.  When people ask me how East Peoria Young Life is coming along, I usually tell them slow(ly) or it is hard.  Foundations are having to be laid right now, but I don't quite know what that entails or how to accomplish building trust within a community.  I have had the ability to spend quite a bit of time developing friendships and staying up into the wee hours of the morning, and it has been a blessing to be honest and open, as well as encouraged.  One praise report is that a guy from church sought me out yesterday because he wants to donate a vehicle... Praise God!  I need to find out more information on how all of that will come together, but I know that God is bringing conformation with the automotive ministry.  The Underground Fusion cell groups are building community and prayer support, and people are sharing their lives, hearts, victories, and struggles, which is another thing for which I thank God.  I do not know what my role will be with 51k, the high school ministry at Riverside, so I need to pray for clarity with that.  Vocationally, my options and outlook has not changed, so I trying to be as diligent as I can working for God, not men.  I am also praying for God to open up the doors on a place to live or buy in East Peoria as He sees fit.  Many things are out on the table, and as you read this (I you do), please ask God to guide me along this adventure.  Blessings, Adam

I am back and possibly even better than ever... that is up for interpretation.  Life is somewhat in the balance for me these days as I have asked God to bring some direction and guidance into my life, and He has done that in a few ways.  The weird thing is that He may be leaving some things more open-ended than I expected.  Case in point... I went with my friend Isaac up to Willow Creek Community Church this weekend to check out the C.A.R.S. Ministry they have going on (www.willowcreek.org/cars), mainly asking God to help give the automotive ministry at the Dream Center some direction and vision as well as practical steps in beginning and actually moving into an active phase rather than just having meetings and talking about what could happen.  We received many pointers and much encouragement from Dan Hybels who runs the thing, and I am pumped.  I was challenged the next day by John Bevere that if my goal and vision for the future is attainable by my own strength, I am relying on sight and not faith and receiving the little bit of glory rather than a work of God receiving a huge amount of glory because I (and we, the auto team) couldn't have done it without Him moving mightily.  On top of all of that brewing around in my brain is the decision of where exactly my role might be in Young Life next semester and year, whether it is being a team leader somewhere, pioneering another school, or being trained and mentored in ministry and life.  I have thought much about the schooling thing in the fall as well taking Christian counselling classes, but I know that God will have to orchestrate my schedule.  I also am working with having a social life and sharing the amazing life God has given me with the friends around me.  So, as I said, God has given some direction, but many things are still out on the table, and who knows what a day may bring forth.  I am beyond realizing that I need to cultivate my spiritual life and I am actually to the point of acting on that realization.  I am excited to look back at this post in a few months and see how things have changed and how God has guided. 
Anywho, I am outta here.
Peace, Adam
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.