Something new amongst the Old

I have been learning so much in this school. But, I don't know how successful I would be in an attempt to list it all here. Instead, I want to share something more personal.

I have been surprised by the love for others in my heart. In the midst of opening up the fire hydrant of truth and drinking deep, my love for people is genuinly growing. Now, you may say, "well duh Joey, that is what it is suppose to do!" To which I would heartily agree. However, it is one thing to know in theory and totally another thing to experience sincerely.

In the bible we are told to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. This, although simple, can be - as some of us know - simply the death of us. In the faithfullness of God, or the reliability of His decrees - otherwise known as truth, is the source of this love we are asked to give to our neighbor. This roots my love in God, not myself.

If God is faithful and my love is rooted in him, then my love can be faithful. This is what I am experiencing: not in theory but in experience. The Love of God made manifest in my life.

Perhaps the rubber is finally hitting the road. Ha! Who knew?

Updated Photo

SNOW!!!

Photos from Campus

Here is the Cafeteria

The Gazebo

My Bedroom

The Living Room

The Guys Hall

In Case you Forgot: God really is Faithful

Well, here is the news. As of one month ago I owed 48,000 dollars for my 2 year program at Rivendell Sanctuary. As of 3 weeks ago I owed 33,000 dollars. As of one week ago I owe only 11,000 dollars. And of that 11,000 I need 800 by January 3rd and of that 800 I have 200, leaving a whopping total of $600 dollars needed by January 3rd 2011. In case you forgot: God really is Faithful.

Please E-mail any thing you might have in mind or prayers for me.
Please mail any contributions to:

Joey Brunette
c/o Rivendell Sanctuary
6820 Auto Club Road, Suite T
Bloomington, MN 55438

You can also contribute online by card any amount you wish for the next 30 days by clicking
HERE

Here is the Link

Here is the link to the guest blog spot I had the opportunity of writing for Rivendell Sanctuary;

Click Here

A fresh Look At School

I am letting you in on another email to Rivendell Sanctuary. I am getting to be a guest writer on their blog and I wanted to show you what I am planning to write. I'll post the link when it comes up.

"Five years ago I finally gave my life to Jesus and have been asking the question, “How do I live the whole of my life to the glory of God?” After hearing about Rivendell from my Base Director at Youth With A Mission Maui I saw a step towards my answer.

My first impression of their educational model was, “PRAISE GOD!” to say the least, I was flabbergasted. What made me so excited? My utmost desire is to know and live out consistently the word of God in every sphere of my life to the glory of God. After years of frustration at the lack of adequate answers I was pointed in the direction of this amazing program that attempts to not only apply Biblical truth to the whole of life but also create a student that both knows that truth and has the tools to live it out.

How could I not be excited? This program is literally the answer to the cry of my heart! Now that I have been accepted and the start date of the inaugural class is quickly approaching, my excitement towards the future is only growing. I have many goals laying in my future: a deeper relationship with God, continuing to learn long after I leave the classroom, influencing society, being the best light I can be for the truth and message of the good news of Jesus Christ, working an honest job, adventure, marriage, children, and developing a legacy that blesses even my children’s children. This program is not just any common tool in my growing tool belt of life to accomplish these goals but is perhaps one of the most important. I could not have imagined a better one.

I try to expect God to be himself – faithfully large and in-charge, once again He has complete surpassed my expectations by showing me Rivendell Sanctuary."