August 1st? Is that really the last time I was on here?? Dang.... Ha. Life has just been so busy lately; we're already done with our first week of school! Crazy...

Where to start? So much has happened since August 1st! Our trip to Montana with the soccer team was absolutely nuts, but SUCH a cool experience and such good times. I'll never forget that trip. Ha, 35+ hours straight on a bus will do that to you. ;-) But it was good -- our team is so different this year from anything it has ever been in the past -- namely, unified, ha. There's just a good vibe this year... People can actually talk to each other, the cliques have disappeared, and guys are just honest and willing to work and learn; I can actually say that I'm proud to be a part of our team this year. And we're 2-0 so far. ;-)

Then we had 2 weeks of preseason, which was fairly brutal, but actually wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. It was just SO time-consuming, and every minute you weren't on the field, you were just SO tired... But we made it. For the last 3 days of preseason, though, I had to be excused because I had training for my leadership position this year. That went well, but again, I was in class for almost 10 hours every day, and it was pretty brutal -- in a very different way. But the training was very helpful, and I'm glad I took the time to do it.

Then, my friends....school started. Haha. But so far classes have gone well. I am actually pretty excited about my Diverse Populations class, my 20th Century British Literature class (particularly because my professor is an brilliant and amazing man), and my Creative Writing class (despite the fact that this professor has been somewhat monotone and dull in his teaching). It'll be an interesting year, I think, as far as classes go.

And then there's my social life, ha. There's too much for me to go into detail about the last month, almost, but I'll give you some highlights. First of all, I moved in with my 3 roommmates (Darren, Jordan, and Caleb) this month, and so far that has been awesome. It's a good group, and we get along well. We're actually still in the process of arranging furniture and unpacking and all...it's getting there. Secondly, I am in a different dorm this year, so that has brought up some new issues (such as a new 10 minute commute to the middle of campus), but I'm living with a lot of the same guys as I was in Quincer, so that's been sweet. "It's not about where you are, but who you're with..." That's a good one. :-)

Last of all, there are a couple of things I could use prayer for, specifically, if you think about it... First of all, a new issue has just come up in the last few days about my financial situation (namely, I might not be getting a scholarship that I had been counting on -- I'll know by Wednesday), and it might mean that I would need to quit the soccer team for this semester to look for more work... And that's just a real burden right now -- this is the first year that I'm excited to be a part of this team, and I've already put so much time and work into this season that I would hate to throw it away.... But I've put that in God's hands, and I trust that He knows what's best. Pray that I would get this scholarship, if it's God's will, and if not, that He would provide another way. But especially pray that God would give me the faith and joy I need to not let worry consume me, and that in all things I would seek His kingdom first.

Secondly, just pray that I would have wisdom in my leadership position this year. As part of my position, I'm supposed to lead a small group, and I'm still trying to decide what we'll study and how we'll run that, so I could definitely use the direction and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the next few weeks as I establish those routines and get to know the guys in my group.

And finally, please pray that I would keep my focus this semester. It's so easy to get lost in the business and excuses and social life and studies during the year, and I just really need Jesus right now. Pray that I would keep the big picture in mind always, and that I wouldn't allow the daily details to clutter my mind. Pray that God would give me peace. Pray that God would give me wisdom in my relationships. Pray that I would be aware of His love and that I would live it out every day in all that I do.

Anyway, sorry this letter is a little more newsie and less contemplative and interesting than usual, but I promise to make a better effort at keeping this up-to-date and posting cool things and deep thoughts and all in the future. Hopefully things will settle down a bit after this week. (But of course we know that probably won't happen... ha) Thanks for caring and for all your prayers! :-)

Love,
Aaron

The time has come. Tomorrow marks the end of my summer at camp and the transition back to school. By 10pm tomorrow night I'll be on a bus with 43 of my CU soccer teammates headed out to Montana for a week of pre-season training and "team-get-to-know-you" time. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't had the most awesome experience on this team over the last 2 years, but now I'm finally at a place where I have some good friends on the team, I actually feel competent and confident on the field, I might even be getting some scholarship this year, and I'm actually starting to look forward to this season. It's a good feeling. :-)

And also I'm in shape this year -- BEFORE pre-season. haha. Which is a HUGE step for me; I think this is the first summer ever that I have actually made it a point to exercise hard regularly, and stuck to it, and it's paid off. Although coach has said this is going to be the hardest pre-season he's ever put together... So the other day a friend and I were talking and I told him, "You know that if you don't do anything over the summer, you're going to die during pre-season, but you also know that even if you work your butt off this summer, you're still going to die during pre-season." haha. Doesn't really offer that much incentive to work, huh? ;-)

And just in general I'm coming into this year with some big changes in my life: my sister Lynnette is here, I'll be living in the apartments for the first time, I'll be a DC, I'm getting a new job, I'm starting my junior year, (which I hear is pretty rough), one of my best friends is leaving for 6 months, and my family will be here for the whole spring.

To be completely honest, I'm pretty scared about this year. I think it has the potential to be one of the best years of my life, but I feel like it could just as easily be pretty miserable. There are a lot of unknowns...

But if there's one thing God has taught me this summer, it is how awesome of a loving Father he is, and how much he wants us not to worry about these things. Philippians 4:6-7 has, in many ways, become my "theme" verse for the summer... I've read it so many times over the last 3 months, that I know it from memory now: "Do not worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." What an amazing promise. I've clung to that this summer so many times, and every time I start to worry, I pray that promise.

And actually, the next two verses after that -- the ones about "whatever is pure, whatever is noble...think about such things" is in the context of this last verse! I've always put the "whatever is pure" verse in the context of lust and entertainment, mainly, but God has come to show me this summer that obsessing and worrying about the future is just as sinful a mentality and lifestyle as entertaining lustful thoughts, for example. And I've come to see that it's something that I struggle with hardcore. But God is so faithful, and I can honestly say that every time I have turned to him, confessed my thoughts, and asked for his peace, he has given me all that I need and more. Praise the Lord!! :-)

~~~

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever!"