Will here, I'm going to be writing this post solo. I believe I can share this (he did post it to Facebook after all) Jeremy is in the process of moving out of state, and it was a bit of a rush to get all of these written before he left this week. We decided that it would be simplest for me to write the concluding post, so I'm going to sum up our thoughts the best I can.
The last two and a half years of my life have been a time of pain, and growth; after all, our greatest growth comes from our deepest pain. God has used the experiences I have had to show me areas where He needs to work in my life, and aspects of who I have always been that I need to surrender to Him so that I can become who He created me to be. God gave me the personality I have, it is part of what makes me uniquely me, and He doesn't change that. However, He does call us to be stretched beyond our comfort zone, as we walk in faith with Him. Faith and planning don't go hand in hand very easily, trust and order are not the most compatible traveling buddies, but in realizing this, God has helped me to see areas where I desire control, and is helping me learn to surrender that to Him. I'll always be a dreamer, a planner, and a thinker, but I am learning to also live by faith, being guided by God, and making the most of the moment.
When I met Jeremy ten years ago, I had no idea that I had found a brother. I had no idea that I had met someone who would stand by my side in my most difficult hour, encourage me through the hardships I would face, challenge me to grow and push me to go deeper with God, or someone who would teach me about life, faith, relationships, and adventure. When I found out he was leaving the state, it was a bit of rough revelation; he's been close by for so long, and for a while we saw each other at least every other week. I know that this next step in his life is part of what God wants to do in him. In the past few years he's shared parts of his story with me, I believe I've challenged him in ways that stretch him, and encourage growth, healing, and deeper relationship with God, in the same ways he has challenged me.
God put us together, two men with many similarities, and yet with two completely opposite approaches to life. By doing life together, we've learned from each other, and this relationship has allowed us to both see areas where God is wanting to do more work. I know that this move is a huge step of faith for Jeremy, even for someone who lives in the moment, and I believe that God is going to speak to him in ways that He couldn't do without this obedience. For me, I'm learning about the need for focus, and God is using the things I am experiencing now to help me learn to really trust Him. The journey Jeremy is on is one that requires a bit more planning, and structure, as he said, a goal to be able to measure growth. For me, I'm learning to let go, and not be so stuck on the goal that I never start the journey.
God has been at work it both of us, teaching us about who we are, and who we were created to be. God has used our relationship to push us towards Christlikeness. I am so grateful for my brother, and I look forward to what the future holds. We won't see each other as often now, but we've been friends for a decade, and no distance is going to hinder that.
So brother, I'm looking forward to June in Pennsylvania, sitting in our hammocks by the river, early in the morning with a hot beverage, talking about our journeys, taking in the moment, and sharing our God given dreams.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Two Approaches to Life: Why I've Been Challenged to Change, by Will and Jeremy
Will here:
As I've talked with Jeremy over the past year and a half, and reflected on my divorce and everything that led up to it, I began to see that I had spent so much of my life simply existing. My natural inclination to plan took over, and all I ever did was plan and dream. There is nothing wrong with having a plan, I think it's a good thing, but when the planning process keeps you from living life, that becomes a problem. Too much planning doesn't allow for faith or trust in God, and planning can be a response to fear. As long as you're planning, you have an excuse for not taking action.
In addition to this, I've stated to realize that life is not about the destination, but the journey. Living happens on the road. When you're challenged to adapt and overcome obstacles, whey you have to really trust God to come through, that is when you really learn about who He is, what He is capable of, and how much He cares for you.
I've been challenged to change because I'm tired of how my life has gone. My life stopped going the way I thought it would go when I was 17. At that moment I began to play it safe. I never stopped planning and dreaming, but I never acted on any of those plans and dreams. I simply waited for everything to fall into place, and for opportunities to just present themselves. As a result, I've let things pass me by. I'm now 31, which really isn't that old, but at the same time I'm not as young as you used to be. Life has not worked out like I planned, and I spent years living in insecurity, with no real identity, and just existing as I waited for life to start.
Life is meant to be lived. I want to seize the day, live in the moment more, and really begin to act in faith and trust God. That doesn't mean shirking responsibility for reckless living, and it doesn't mean to cease dreaming and planning all together, but it does mean that I need to take to the road, and start pursuing some of my dreams. If I don't, then dying in my bed many years from now, I'll be wishing for one chance, just one chance, to go back and do things differently. I already wish I had done things differently up to this point, but fortunately for me, I still have time, and I want to make the most of every moment I have left.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy:
Much of what I have written about my approach has been slightly romanticized. While there are many positives to living life more flexible and free, able to adapt and change, it also carries with it a tendency to drift. When you have a goal in life, one main target you are aiming at, you know when you have hit that target and when you have missed it. This also applies with a long-term plan. You have a way of recognizing when you are moving forward, and when opportunities come up you can decide what to do because they will either align with the plan or not. It gives you a rubric to measure decisions and opportunities. I have been challgenged to change through three main avenues: 1). Conversations with Will. Our conversations about our differences were how I initially recognized my approach. 2). When I recently started dating a girl I realized I cannot continue to live without some basic plan in life. Now it is not just me; I am responsible to another person and it is not fair to her to always tell her, “we will just decide as we go”. 3). I realized as I started to make some serious plans that I have not been living to my full potential. Without a plan, a means to move in the direction I want to go, or a means of accomplishing my goals, I was drifting. Those feelings were real, not just erroneous feelings that would come and go. To clarify, I have always had ideas or dreams of where I might go or what I could do. However, I’ve been challenged to change because I want to accomplish as much as I can in life, and without a plan I will never get there. The feeling of drifting actually shows up because I have no orientation to help guide me when I lose sight of what is right in front of me. A plan actually helps keep us on target so we are able to move forward through disappointment and discouragement. We will surely be disappointed. Things will not always go our way. God will make sure of that simply because what we plan for our life is never perfectly aligned with what He sees concerning our potential and His dreams for us. He uses disappointment to help us see new things, to change course and readjust our directions. And, in the end, it is always good.
As I've talked with Jeremy over the past year and a half, and reflected on my divorce and everything that led up to it, I began to see that I had spent so much of my life simply existing. My natural inclination to plan took over, and all I ever did was plan and dream. There is nothing wrong with having a plan, I think it's a good thing, but when the planning process keeps you from living life, that becomes a problem. Too much planning doesn't allow for faith or trust in God, and planning can be a response to fear. As long as you're planning, you have an excuse for not taking action.
In addition to this, I've stated to realize that life is not about the destination, but the journey. Living happens on the road. When you're challenged to adapt and overcome obstacles, whey you have to really trust God to come through, that is when you really learn about who He is, what He is capable of, and how much He cares for you.
I've been challenged to change because I'm tired of how my life has gone. My life stopped going the way I thought it would go when I was 17. At that moment I began to play it safe. I never stopped planning and dreaming, but I never acted on any of those plans and dreams. I simply waited for everything to fall into place, and for opportunities to just present themselves. As a result, I've let things pass me by. I'm now 31, which really isn't that old, but at the same time I'm not as young as you used to be. Life has not worked out like I planned, and I spent years living in insecurity, with no real identity, and just existing as I waited for life to start.
Life is meant to be lived. I want to seize the day, live in the moment more, and really begin to act in faith and trust God. That doesn't mean shirking responsibility for reckless living, and it doesn't mean to cease dreaming and planning all together, but it does mean that I need to take to the road, and start pursuing some of my dreams. If I don't, then dying in my bed many years from now, I'll be wishing for one chance, just one chance, to go back and do things differently. I already wish I had done things differently up to this point, but fortunately for me, I still have time, and I want to make the most of every moment I have left.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy:
Much of what I have written about my approach has been slightly romanticized. While there are many positives to living life more flexible and free, able to adapt and change, it also carries with it a tendency to drift. When you have a goal in life, one main target you are aiming at, you know when you have hit that target and when you have missed it. This also applies with a long-term plan. You have a way of recognizing when you are moving forward, and when opportunities come up you can decide what to do because they will either align with the plan or not. It gives you a rubric to measure decisions and opportunities. I have been challgenged to change through three main avenues: 1). Conversations with Will. Our conversations about our differences were how I initially recognized my approach. 2). When I recently started dating a girl I realized I cannot continue to live without some basic plan in life. Now it is not just me; I am responsible to another person and it is not fair to her to always tell her, “we will just decide as we go”. 3). I realized as I started to make some serious plans that I have not been living to my full potential. Without a plan, a means to move in the direction I want to go, or a means of accomplishing my goals, I was drifting. Those feelings were real, not just erroneous feelings that would come and go. To clarify, I have always had ideas or dreams of where I might go or what I could do. However, I’ve been challenged to change because I want to accomplish as much as I can in life, and without a plan I will never get there. The feeling of drifting actually shows up because I have no orientation to help guide me when I lose sight of what is right in front of me. A plan actually helps keep us on target so we are able to move forward through disappointment and discouragement. We will surely be disappointed. Things will not always go our way. God will make sure of that simply because what we plan for our life is never perfectly aligned with what He sees concerning our potential and His dreams for us. He uses disappointment to help us see new things, to change course and readjust our directions. And, in the end, it is always good.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Two Approaches to Life: The Impact on Life, by Will and Jeremy
Will Here:
The emphasis on hard work/responsibility has made it hard for me to enjoy life. I always feel like there is something I need to be doing, and it's hard for me to give myself permission to adventure. There are things I would really like to do, but the responsibility aspect has made me question if it's the best thing I should be doing. More often than not, I've passed on opportunities, and this has caused a lot of frustration in my life. In all honesty, I've been really bored because playing it safe doesn't involve pursuing my passion. I've been waiting for everything to fall into place, because that's when happens when you're responsible, and so I've passed up opportunities that may have jeopardized the future, but in all reality would have most likely helped me pursue my passion sooner.
And then there is faith. I believe that God has called me to a purpose, a purpose that plays to my personality and gifting, but at the same time, a purpose that calls me to live fully alive, that means adventure. Faith has guided my life, my values and choices, and it has also been a source of frustration at times. I've committed my life, profession and all, to God, and it has proven to be something that has not gone according to plan, and the more I pursue it, the more it has caused me to depend on God. Trusting God, at times, really isn't that safe, and it really doesn't seem to be the responsible choice. This has caused me to limit the things I’ve asked God for in prayer, and the extent to which I’ve been willing to trust Him.
I've had a longing for adventure, and a desire to pursue what I'm passionate about. While faith lends itself to this life style, responsibility doesn't necessarily do that. For me, adventure and passion have been set aside for responsibility; I've sacrificed them because I've been afraid of doing something potentially reckless, and it's felt like I've simply existed, not really lived.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy:
The way I have written about how I tend to live life has been slightly romanticized than is actually true. It definitely has it’s drawbacks. It may appear wonderful to live with such a free approach, able to uproot or move and change directions rather easily and fluidly. It has definitely aided me in some of the abrupt life changes that have happened thus far. However, some of those drawbacks are that I have operated with very little long-term plan or perspective in my life and have not been able to build from one stage to the next. There is some practicality to planning that is beneficial in the transition stages because most likely as a planner you have something prepared already ‘just in case’. It may sound spiritual to say that I am going as God leads, and yet, God has always been a God with a plan. The Bible is full of instances where God’s plan is referenced, and His plans always prevail. Because I have had no real plan thus far, I have very little understanding of the direction I want to head. Sometimes it is easier to say that God is in charge when in reality I do not want to face the fact that I am not sure what I want to do or the direction I want to head. It allows me to not take ownership of my life when, I believe, God is actually expecting it of me.
The emphasis on hard work/responsibility has made it hard for me to enjoy life. I always feel like there is something I need to be doing, and it's hard for me to give myself permission to adventure. There are things I would really like to do, but the responsibility aspect has made me question if it's the best thing I should be doing. More often than not, I've passed on opportunities, and this has caused a lot of frustration in my life. In all honesty, I've been really bored because playing it safe doesn't involve pursuing my passion. I've been waiting for everything to fall into place, because that's when happens when you're responsible, and so I've passed up opportunities that may have jeopardized the future, but in all reality would have most likely helped me pursue my passion sooner.
And then there is faith. I believe that God has called me to a purpose, a purpose that plays to my personality and gifting, but at the same time, a purpose that calls me to live fully alive, that means adventure. Faith has guided my life, my values and choices, and it has also been a source of frustration at times. I've committed my life, profession and all, to God, and it has proven to be something that has not gone according to plan, and the more I pursue it, the more it has caused me to depend on God. Trusting God, at times, really isn't that safe, and it really doesn't seem to be the responsible choice. This has caused me to limit the things I’ve asked God for in prayer, and the extent to which I’ve been willing to trust Him.
I've had a longing for adventure, and a desire to pursue what I'm passionate about. While faith lends itself to this life style, responsibility doesn't necessarily do that. For me, adventure and passion have been set aside for responsibility; I've sacrificed them because I've been afraid of doing something potentially reckless, and it's felt like I've simply existed, not really lived.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy:
The way I have written about how I tend to live life has been slightly romanticized than is actually true. It definitely has it’s drawbacks. It may appear wonderful to live with such a free approach, able to uproot or move and change directions rather easily and fluidly. It has definitely aided me in some of the abrupt life changes that have happened thus far. However, some of those drawbacks are that I have operated with very little long-term plan or perspective in my life and have not been able to build from one stage to the next. There is some practicality to planning that is beneficial in the transition stages because most likely as a planner you have something prepared already ‘just in case’. It may sound spiritual to say that I am going as God leads, and yet, God has always been a God with a plan. The Bible is full of instances where God’s plan is referenced, and His plans always prevail. Because I have had no real plan thus far, I have very little understanding of the direction I want to head. Sometimes it is easier to say that God is in charge when in reality I do not want to face the fact that I am not sure what I want to do or the direction I want to head. It allows me to not take ownership of my life when, I believe, God is actually expecting it of me.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Two Approaches to Life : What We Like About Our Approach, by Will and Jeremy
Will here:
The approach I have to life has made me a great planner; I'm able to organize stuff based around a big picture. I'm a great dreamer; I can hear an idea, and immediately see where it go in 10 or 20 years. I'm a deep thinker and can connect concepts very easily. I know how to work, and I'm an early riser who can jump into the day. I'm good at helping people, and I'm a good listener. I don't need to be the center of attention, I actually really hate it.
I like the fact that I'm a good planner. I like to be organized, and I really enjoy looking at the big picture. I love the beating the sun up, and I enjoy a hard day's work, and I like that I like those things. I like helping people, and I find myself constantly wishing I could do more to help people. I find myself dreaming with people, looking at what their big picture can look like, and helping them achieve their dreams.
In short, I like the aspects of my approach to life that allow me to enrich the lives of others, because in doing that, my own life is enriched.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy:
I love the freedom that comes when you approach life without this nailed down plan and process in life. I love the adventure that comes as you watch life unfold and move with it. There is no set boundary or way to live. I can adapt and change with a single phone call, which actually happened to me once. Several years ago while at a church function on a Saturday afternoon I received a phone call from the high school I had graduated from eight years before asking if I wanted to be a math teacher for the coming year. This caall came in August; school started in September. My whole direction changed. I went to my boss on Monday and told him I was taking another job. Now, this may not sound very difficult even for a planner, but for me specifically it was not a difficult decision to take. It didn’t disrupt any previously held idea or plan. I have had several of those sorts of things happen in my life. It adds a sort of adventure to life living with a basic idea or dream and allowing life to unfold around you. I don’t need to control life and make it fit a 5 year plan. I can actually live life and allow God to lead and guide me where He wants to take me. Proverbs 16:9 says that a man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.
The approach I have to life has made me a great planner; I'm able to organize stuff based around a big picture. I'm a great dreamer; I can hear an idea, and immediately see where it go in 10 or 20 years. I'm a deep thinker and can connect concepts very easily. I know how to work, and I'm an early riser who can jump into the day. I'm good at helping people, and I'm a good listener. I don't need to be the center of attention, I actually really hate it.
I like the fact that I'm a good planner. I like to be organized, and I really enjoy looking at the big picture. I love the beating the sun up, and I enjoy a hard day's work, and I like that I like those things. I like helping people, and I find myself constantly wishing I could do more to help people. I find myself dreaming with people, looking at what their big picture can look like, and helping them achieve their dreams.
In short, I like the aspects of my approach to life that allow me to enrich the lives of others, because in doing that, my own life is enriched.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy:
I love the freedom that comes when you approach life without this nailed down plan and process in life. I love the adventure that comes as you watch life unfold and move with it. There is no set boundary or way to live. I can adapt and change with a single phone call, which actually happened to me once. Several years ago while at a church function on a Saturday afternoon I received a phone call from the high school I had graduated from eight years before asking if I wanted to be a math teacher for the coming year. This caall came in August; school started in September. My whole direction changed. I went to my boss on Monday and told him I was taking another job. Now, this may not sound very difficult even for a planner, but for me specifically it was not a difficult decision to take. It didn’t disrupt any previously held idea or plan. I have had several of those sorts of things happen in my life. It adds a sort of adventure to life living with a basic idea or dream and allowing life to unfold around you. I don’t need to control life and make it fit a 5 year plan. I can actually live life and allow God to lead and guide me where He wants to take me. Proverbs 16:9 says that a man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Two Approaches to Life : Why We do What We do, by Will and Jeremy
Will here:
When I think about the way I approach life, my mind goes in two directions: the way I was raised, and my personality. (The whole nature vs. nurture debate that my undergraduate supporting area in Psychology has made me an expert on). My upbringing taught me hard work and responsibility. My parents both work full time jobs, and then they come home from work and do more work on the house or in the yard. On holidays where they didn't have to go to work, they took the opportunity of a full day to get things done around the house. It gave me this mindset of responsibility; there is always something to do, so make sure you are always doing something productive.
Then you look at the other side of the spectrum, my personality. As an Type 1 with a strong Type 2 Enneagram, "I must be orderly/planned to survive", and "I must be helpful and caring to survive". I'm a planner, I like a schedule, and I'm not a huge fan of spontaneous changes. My INTJ personality strengthens this, it "indicates a person who is energized by time alone (Introverted), who focuses on ideas and concepts rather than facts and details (iNtuitive), who makes decisions based on logic and reason (Thinking) and who prefers to be planned and organized rather than spontaneous and flexible (Judging)." I like my time alone, and so it’s easy for me to withdraw, and stay quiet, keeping thoughts and opinions to myself. I tend to more about the big picture and focus on longer term plans, and I with this I see the world very black and white. The whole time focusing on the plan.
The combination of being raised and nurtured by hardworking, responsible parents, and being a more reserved, big picture planner by nature, has led me to limit my risks, and play it safe for the sake of the future.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy speaking:
It has been interesting watching the difference between Will and me over the past 8 years as we lived our lives. Those differences have been increasingly apparent as we have gotten older. I have always lived with a very short-term plan, which functioned more like ideas about what I might do from any given year. I never had a 5 year plan or any long-term plan. Life seemed to change so rapidly for me from year to year through high school and college that it seemed so difficult to develop any long-term idea of what I may want to do. Because of my church background it was more natural for me to leave the big details to God and allow Him to do what He wanted. My personality tends to fit that way as an INFP. I have an idealized view of the world and I do like to see the big picture. I do not exactly live as an organized, detail-oriented person, preferring the flexibility and spontaneity of life. While I learned the value of hard work and seeing projects through, a result of being raised on a farm, you would think planning for the future would be natural. However, the thing with farming is you can never plan for everything. Each year has it’s sort of unforeseen circumstances as weather is unpredictable, tractors break, animals get diseases. You can prepare as much as you want and things will still happen you could not have expected. You learn how to adapt and adjust to life’s curve balls. Because of that, I have learned to live more adaptable and with less of a plan because any plan can so easily be completely disrupted.
When I think about the way I approach life, my mind goes in two directions: the way I was raised, and my personality. (The whole nature vs. nurture debate that my undergraduate supporting area in Psychology has made me an expert on). My upbringing taught me hard work and responsibility. My parents both work full time jobs, and then they come home from work and do more work on the house or in the yard. On holidays where they didn't have to go to work, they took the opportunity of a full day to get things done around the house. It gave me this mindset of responsibility; there is always something to do, so make sure you are always doing something productive.
Then you look at the other side of the spectrum, my personality. As an Type 1 with a strong Type 2 Enneagram, "I must be orderly/planned to survive", and "I must be helpful and caring to survive". I'm a planner, I like a schedule, and I'm not a huge fan of spontaneous changes. My INTJ personality strengthens this, it "indicates a person who is energized by time alone (Introverted), who focuses on ideas and concepts rather than facts and details (iNtuitive), who makes decisions based on logic and reason (Thinking) and who prefers to be planned and organized rather than spontaneous and flexible (Judging)." I like my time alone, and so it’s easy for me to withdraw, and stay quiet, keeping thoughts and opinions to myself. I tend to more about the big picture and focus on longer term plans, and I with this I see the world very black and white. The whole time focusing on the plan.
The combination of being raised and nurtured by hardworking, responsible parents, and being a more reserved, big picture planner by nature, has led me to limit my risks, and play it safe for the sake of the future.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Jeremy speaking:
It has been interesting watching the difference between Will and me over the past 8 years as we lived our lives. Those differences have been increasingly apparent as we have gotten older. I have always lived with a very short-term plan, which functioned more like ideas about what I might do from any given year. I never had a 5 year plan or any long-term plan. Life seemed to change so rapidly for me from year to year through high school and college that it seemed so difficult to develop any long-term idea of what I may want to do. Because of my church background it was more natural for me to leave the big details to God and allow Him to do what He wanted. My personality tends to fit that way as an INFP. I have an idealized view of the world and I do like to see the big picture. I do not exactly live as an organized, detail-oriented person, preferring the flexibility and spontaneity of life. While I learned the value of hard work and seeing projects through, a result of being raised on a farm, you would think planning for the future would be natural. However, the thing with farming is you can never plan for everything. Each year has it’s sort of unforeseen circumstances as weather is unpredictable, tractors break, animals get diseases. You can prepare as much as you want and things will still happen you could not have expected. You learn how to adapt and adjust to life’s curve balls. Because of that, I have learned to live more adaptable and with less of a plan because any plan can so easily be completely disrupted.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Two Approaches to Life: Intro, by Will & Jeremy
We met almost 10 years ago during an on campus prayer gathering. A year later we would be roommates. We used to get up early on Saturday mornings to wade through the river just off campus, we traveled to Israel together, and we've backpacked together, camped together, even climbed a massive sand dune with 40 pound backpacks (and then an even more intense hill). We've spent a lot of time talking about life, faith, relationships, dreams, travel, and adventure. In these conversations, we've realized that even though we have a lot of similar interests, yet we approach life very differently. We want to look at how we've both lived, and how that has impacted our lives. Now we are challenging ourselves to consider another way to live based on these approaches. But first let us introduce ourselves a little more...
Hi, I'm Will. I grew up in a suburban community in North East Ohio, raised by Christian parents, and I'm the fourth generation in my family to spend time as a minister. I'm the oldest of three siblings, a college graduate with a graduate degree, and an outdoor enthusiast. I've got a mix of European heritage, the only one I know for sure is Scottish, and I'm really proud of that. I'd like to learn the bagpipes, and I'm looking at a school in Scotland to do my PhD with.
I'm an Meyers-Briggs INTJ, an Enneagram type 1 with a 2 wing. I'm a Gryffindor, Jedi Guardian, Spartan loving, dad of two little girls. I prefer sunsets to sunrises, tea to coffee (unless I'm working on something at a coffee shop), working in the garden to working on cars (this is my least favorite chore), and hiking a trail to watching a sporting event. I can do a pretty flawless Australian accent (I've managed to convince more than one person that I'm an Aussie), and I'm working on my Scottish accent (which is proving to be more of a challenge than I would like). I know the difference between your and you're; their, there, and they're; and affect and effect. I floss regularly. I love breakfast, sandwiches, and pie. I "read" a lot of audio books, A Man Called Ove, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The Hobbit are three of my favorite stories. Christian Bale played the best Batman, and 10 is my Doctor.
Both of my parent's are hard workers. They work full time jobs, and then come home and work more. When there are holidays where they are off work, they spend that time doing more work around the house and yard. I saw responsible living, making the smart decision, and, to an extent, taking the safe and sure path for most of my life. As a result, I've tended to play it safe. I've been hesitant when taking risks, and I've typically focused on what has to be done instead of what I really want to do. I've found myself doing a lot of dreaming, at times living in a fantasy world, and waiting for everything in life to just fall into place.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
My name is Jeremy. I grew up on a farm in one of the most rural counties in Ohio, in a Christian family, that’s had its share of struggles with divorce and brokenness and also walked through the joys of restoration and healing. I grew up more on the realm of charismatic Christianity which has definitely had its defining impact on my life. I am the youngest of three siblings and also an identical twin, yes, and still the youngest as I have often been reminded, by only 21 minutes but that does not matter in the sibling rivalry world. I am an INFP as far as the Myers-Briggs test shows and somewhere between a 9 and a 1 on the enneagram. I am by nature a S on the DISC profile, but have spent my life living somewhere in the DI world, because that is what thought I needed to succeed. I grew up with lots of work (having a farm is always work) and very little play and recreation unless we were on vacation, which my family did take very seriously. We would go camping, backpacking, take trips to different states, national parks, or to visit family in Texas and Oklahoma, and later Mexico. I still have a deep love for travel. While doing was prized over anything else, I also grew up in a family that loves reading, which was considered one the best ways to utilize down time.
I have always felt a deep pull towards ministry and missions. Growing up in the charismatic world I was taught about God speaking and moving in all sorts of ways and learned to see life as a big adventure of faith, with the people who made the biggest impact being the ones who took the biggest risks no matter how ridiculous it may seem to those around you. Consequently, I have lived what may be termed a very millennial lifestyle, living more towards the present and not worrying so much about the future, believing that God would take care of the future if I made sure I was living with and for Him in the present.
Hi, I'm Will. I grew up in a suburban community in North East Ohio, raised by Christian parents, and I'm the fourth generation in my family to spend time as a minister. I'm the oldest of three siblings, a college graduate with a graduate degree, and an outdoor enthusiast. I've got a mix of European heritage, the only one I know for sure is Scottish, and I'm really proud of that. I'd like to learn the bagpipes, and I'm looking at a school in Scotland to do my PhD with.
I'm an Meyers-Briggs INTJ, an Enneagram type 1 with a 2 wing. I'm a Gryffindor, Jedi Guardian, Spartan loving, dad of two little girls. I prefer sunsets to sunrises, tea to coffee (unless I'm working on something at a coffee shop), working in the garden to working on cars (this is my least favorite chore), and hiking a trail to watching a sporting event. I can do a pretty flawless Australian accent (I've managed to convince more than one person that I'm an Aussie), and I'm working on my Scottish accent (which is proving to be more of a challenge than I would like). I know the difference between your and you're; their, there, and they're; and affect and effect. I floss regularly. I love breakfast, sandwiches, and pie. I "read" a lot of audio books, A Man Called Ove, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The Hobbit are three of my favorite stories. Christian Bale played the best Batman, and 10 is my Doctor.
Both of my parent's are hard workers. They work full time jobs, and then come home and work more. When there are holidays where they are off work, they spend that time doing more work around the house and yard. I saw responsible living, making the smart decision, and, to an extent, taking the safe and sure path for most of my life. As a result, I've tended to play it safe. I've been hesitant when taking risks, and I've typically focused on what has to be done instead of what I really want to do. I've found myself doing a lot of dreaming, at times living in a fantasy world, and waiting for everything in life to just fall into place.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
My name is Jeremy. I grew up on a farm in one of the most rural counties in Ohio, in a Christian family, that’s had its share of struggles with divorce and brokenness and also walked through the joys of restoration and healing. I grew up more on the realm of charismatic Christianity which has definitely had its defining impact on my life. I am the youngest of three siblings and also an identical twin, yes, and still the youngest as I have often been reminded, by only 21 minutes but that does not matter in the sibling rivalry world. I am an INFP as far as the Myers-Briggs test shows and somewhere between a 9 and a 1 on the enneagram. I am by nature a S on the DISC profile, but have spent my life living somewhere in the DI world, because that is what thought I needed to succeed. I grew up with lots of work (having a farm is always work) and very little play and recreation unless we were on vacation, which my family did take very seriously. We would go camping, backpacking, take trips to different states, national parks, or to visit family in Texas and Oklahoma, and later Mexico. I still have a deep love for travel. While doing was prized over anything else, I also grew up in a family that loves reading, which was considered one the best ways to utilize down time.
I have always felt a deep pull towards ministry and missions. Growing up in the charismatic world I was taught about God speaking and moving in all sorts of ways and learned to see life as a big adventure of faith, with the people who made the biggest impact being the ones who took the biggest risks no matter how ridiculous it may seem to those around you. Consequently, I have lived what may be termed a very millennial lifestyle, living more towards the present and not worrying so much about the future, believing that God would take care of the future if I made sure I was living with and for Him in the present.
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