The story continues...

Since that moment, I've been trying my hardest to seek after Christ in everything I say and do.  Sure, there have been times when I’m closer to Christ or further away, “walking” with him or fighting against him.  This is all apart of the daily struggle and battle to walk with Christ, and is essential for Christians to recognize in order to see and understand the difference between being close to Christ and running from him.

Soon after that evening in California, my parents moved us out to Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  My mom got a job at Cherry Hills Community Church (CHCC) as the Children's Ministry Director once again, while my dad found a job in Castle Rock with International Network of Children's Ministries. I was at the end of 5th grade and went to the middle school at the church.  I quickly got connected into the Youth group there and met my leader Clayton Howes.  The years to follow, Clayton played a significant role in my life.  He was always there for me, even when I was dealing with silly drama such as girl problems, or having real deep questions like “How do we know God is real?”

Jumping into high school was a transition that challenged me.  I had gone to a Christian school my whole life, and now I would be attending Mountain Vista High School.  I would go to christian camps every summer and experience the ‘camp high’ getting very close to Christ, but this would soon fall with the pressures and temptations that public school brings along.  I pretty much cruised through high school always attending church at my parents request, but never really having a personal relationship with Christ.  Fast forward a couple years and that all changed one summer in San diego, California.

I was 19 years old and working for CHCC as an intern in their JR High program.  We took most of the students, 81, to a camp in California called Hume SD.  It took place at a christian college down there called Point Loma.  I found that I needed some time to be alone in the word and pray and journal before the kids got up for bible study, so one morning I got up just before the crack of dawn and made the hike down to the beach.  I remember yelling, a lot.  Out into the water.  No one was around and I was fighting God in a very real way, in my mind, it was almost like Jacob.  I knew he was there, but he refused to say anything to me.  An hour went by, and my alarm went off, I had to head back to wake up the students and get started.  So I left feeling upset and angry and alone.  But while hiking up, God became so real to me.  It’s hard to put into words what happened over the next 30 minutes, but I left a changed man, and all I really remember hearing was “I’ve been here the whole time.”  The presence of the Lord became so real to me that day, and has been since.

As the years passed, I found just how real God was in my daily life.  Constantly looking to him for comfort and needs.  This is where I got a little hung up.  It became about me, and making me feel good and having a someone always watch my back.  It was a beautiful time in my life because I did come very close to Christ, but I knew that was something more I didn’t quite understand.  Eventually I graduate from Metro State University and I knew that if there was ever going to be a time for me to get out and see the world, this was it.  I took the leap of faith and applied to Youth With A Mission (YWAM), Brisbane, Australia.

Now that I’ve had a little while to process my 7 month excursion with YWAM, I can truly say that I knew nothing about following Christ compared to what I do now.  In all honesty, I hope to be able to say this every couple of years as I constantly pursue Christ.  That being said, YWAM really did a great job of breaking me out of my box, and showing me the box that I had put Christ into.  I spent four months in Australia doing discipleship training and also learning practical ways of how to be effective on the missions field.  Then I went to Darjeeling India for two months where I got to use my newly acquired skills to Glorify God.  It was an amazing experience that I wouldn't change for the world.  Even while surfing in some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, I always knew that my call was in Youth Ministry.

I have been blessed to have amazing leaders around me my whole life, Clayton being one of them.  I truly believe that this played a big role into why I have such a passion for students today.  I started as a volunteer in my JR High youth group when I was 18, from then on I was hooked.  Years passed and I became an Intern, then eventually part-time staff, all while I was in college.  There have been many amazing moments over the last few years that keep my drive going, but one of my favorites happened just 9 months ago, three days before leaving for Australia, with a student named Joey.

I first met Joey on a normal Sunday during church.  Him and I would mess around during the welcome and games time before service started and eventually he came on Wednesday nights to my small group.  He was new to the area, and was just getting involved in the community.  He was a smart kid, and had the ability to think outside of the ‘now’ where kids usually get stuck.  Years went by with him and I connecting at church and during camps, sometimes we even played worship together, but he was always kind of quiet.  The Sunday before I left I went to lunch with him and a couple other guys from the small group, and as I was dropping him off he looked at me very seriously and said something to the regard of:

“Thank you for always being there for me, you have changed my life and helped pushed me towards Christ.”  

I was speechless, we hugged and he got out of the car, and I remember tearing up.  I remember crying out to God and saying, ‘this is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give me.’  Most youth workers would agree, to be able to hear that you’re actually making a difference is amazing.  There had been a countless amount of battles for this ‘job’ I've had over the last 5 years and you never really know if its making a difference, but this said it all.  So thank you Joey, I’m excited to walk through life with you.

That lands me here, writing this essay on a beautiful cold, Colorado morning with a cup of coffee next to me and a candle on the other side.  I know that youth ministry is my call, God has made it very obvious to me throughout my life.  Weather that is as a full time youth pastor here in Colorado, or an missionary somewhere in Africa or India, I don’t quite know, but I want to take the steps to prepare myself for anything and everything and to Glorify God every step of the way. To me, seminary is just another step in this process, Thy Kingdom Come.

Jesus, come into my Heart

When I was eight years old I was living in Milpitas, California with my parents, and younger brother, Caleb, my older sister, Rachelle.  We had a small house in an older neighborhood with bars on the windows and a creek that we could play in just across the street. It was a typical evening in the Robinson house, everyone had just walked through the front door.  Mom and Dad had just left work at our church where my mother was the Children s Ministry Director and my dad was head accountant dealing with all the money.  My mom had picked us kids up from our grandparents house which is where we went every day after school because it was just across the street.  

My grandma would always tell me; “rich people have two homes, and this is your second home!”  It made me feel more at home, because I had always been a homebody, but we all knew that money was tight.  My mom was cooking dinner while my dad helped my brother with homework.  My sister and I were in the back of our house in her bedroom playing “hot wheel and barbies” a game we made up and quite enjoyed which just meant that I would play with my hot wheels while she played with her barbies.

Something was different that night, and I didn't realize it until years later. All of a sudden my mom came back into Rachelle’s room;

“Shell why don’t you go see if you can help your little brother with his Homework.”

For once in her life, my sister actually listened to my mother without saying a word went into the kitchen.  My mother knelt down by me, and by instinct, I handed her the purple car, the one that she would usually play with.  She denied it, and I could tell that she needed to talk to me about something.  

I can remember everything about that moment, and that’s how I know it was real.  From that moment forward, my life would never be the same.  I sat in the hallway right by the book shelf, looking at an orange hard copy of Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham.  I remember my mom grabbing my hand and asking the typical important questions of; “Do you believe Jesus is the son of God and came to earth and died on the cross for your sins?”  I repeated after her, and in after a few minutes, I had Jesus in my heart, forever.

The Ultimate Act of Worhsip

     Worship is seen in so many different ways, from the classic guy with an acoustic guitar playing "How He Loves" to running in the middle of a rain storm and seeing God's beauty in his nature and power.  But there's one that we don't talk about much but until we're in the middle of it.   Marriage.
     I didn't even realize just how beautiful of a moment this is, not only in the lives of the two people getting married, but in the fact that when a Christian couple gets married, they're goal in life is to Glorify God.  Because of this, the actual ceremony is an amazing act of worship.   I got to be the best man at my best friends wedding this weekend, and its something i'll never forget.  I got the chance to pray for the couple on stage just after they finished their traditional vows, and I had a tear come to my eyes knowing that God was in that place and being glorified by the commitment they were making.   All Glory to God.
     On top of the amazing worship time that we had at that little church is Wooster, Ohio, it made me get a little excited about the possibility of me one day being up there with a God Fearing woman and a ring.  All in God's time though.
 
    Here's a funny story;  I ended up driving back from Ohio, even though I had a flight setup, with some friends that drove out there.  It was pretty awesome being on the road for 20 hours and just listening to Jesus Jams, talking about DTS, and hearing Mark Driscoll speaking through podcast.  But I just got off the phone with one of my friends, I'm flying back to Ohio tomorrow afternoon to pick up a friends car and drive it back to Colorado!  Life is an adventure!


Short and sweet this time.

Jeremy

Prayer. 

The happy couple.  Anna and Matt. 

"On the road again..."

"Rather than Love, than Money, than Fame, give me Truth"

     This quote is originally from Henry David Thoreau, an author and poet in the mid 1800's in America.  Most people have probably heard this quote from the popular movie "Into The Wild" which was originally a book in 1997.  The story is amazing.  A young guy just graduates from University and cannot adjust to society, so he goes alone on an ultimate adventure with no money or job or family to help him along the way.  The story continues where he heads to Alaska, living off the land, where he has the freedom to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants to.  Tragically it ends with him dying, the movie he dies by eating a poisoned plant, but what actually happened is still unknown.
    Have you ever felt like this though?  Wanting to get away from life and search for your own truth? Stop worrying about the little things that daily life bring? I don't know, to me it sounds amazing and that's really something I took away from YWAM, which was life changing to say the least.  The one advantage that I have, that we have, over the search for truth, is the Bible.  I know, that I know, that I know, the Bible is absolute truth.  So in the search for absolute truth, it all comes back to the Bible for me, but the search for truth will never end.
   
     Coming home after being away for 7 months has been a challenge, but what a beautiful challenge it has been.  All great pleasures in life come only after a challenge has been taken on.  And I love every second of it.  Going back to church and seeing the beautiful faces of the students that my heart cries out to, and they remember who I am.  All Glory to God, but its amazing to know that I played a big enough role in those kids lives that they remember who I am.  In the life of a teenager, that says a lot.  In 7 months, their whole perception of life has completely changed, probably more then once.  My only hope and prayer is that the kids who do remember who I am, remember what I stand for, Following Christ with Everything I have.
       I Love that God has used me, its amazing to be able to see the fruit of it.  Sunday after church I sat down with some guys that are now in High school but I've known them for a few years, and they want to start a Bible study.  They gave me a few reasons as to why they didn't join one at the church; sports, or "now its not fun", or "No one goes there anymore."  All pretty normal responses for that age, which is sad I think we can all agree, but at the end of the day, they are still seeking after Christ, and I know that's all that matters.  As I'm writing this I can't help but smile because I see the youth of America care about Jesus.  How beautiful is that.  If there is anything I can do to help Storm the gates of Hell and bring back a generation of lost souls, I will do it.  All Glory to God.
   
     People ask where I'm headed now?  Well, I think its clear to see where my passion lies.  I generally just type these without thinking about it before, which shows where my heart lies...  I didn't even talk about what has happened over the last week.  How my best friends picked me up from the Airport and when I saw them I couldn't help but laugh and yell in excitement, how California was with some of my YWAM friends and the amazing people and conversations I had while I was there, how I'm the best man in a wedding next week,  and the new pastor as my church is going to be so awesome. Life is amazing, but above all else, the thing that I love to see the most, is Christ Loving and God Fearing youth.  
     On that note, to give a direct answer, I would love to work at a church in a Youth group.  I would love to go to seminary for my Master's degree.  I think God will make these things happen in time, But for now, I have no idea when or where.



Thank you for following,

Jeremy


P.S.  After talking to some people face to face, I find out that the comments that they post just don't show and I don't see them.  I don't really know what that's about and I will try to fix it.  But!  If you want to contact or comment, E-mail might be best.

jcrob33@gmail.com

Liquid jr high. CHCC. 

Airport pickup. Me, Matt, and Ed. 

"Keep this book of the law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." -Joshua 1:8

My Perception of Vacation has been Skewed

       Most of you know, I'm currently in Hawaii!  Its beautiful here.  But I'm not having the 'vacation' most people would want to while being here.  You see God has been very clearly telling me that I should take advantage of the fact that I have a week alone without any real responsibilities.  Its really been awesome, I've been able to talk to a good amount of my fellow YWAM friends who wished they would have done something before going home.  Re-entry can be a difficult process and I am fortunate enough to be able to take it slow.  I've filled my week with some pretty simple things, local coffee shops, Phone calls to home, lots of time in the bible, Snorkeling, and visiting Pearl Harbor.  Its been awesome.  The good thing about being an introvert is that I can very easily enjoy myself doing just about anything.  That being said, I'm getting ready to go to dinner with some of my 'roommates' from the Hostel here.
      I've told a few people about how I'm reading through the bible currently, and I stumbled upon a beautiful story.  Its in 1st Kings 19.  This is where The Lord speaks to Elijah.  Elijah is kinda just chillin on a hill waiting for the Lord to speak and many things happen,  First there is a huge wind storm, but The Lord was not in the wind.  Then there was a Earthquake, and The Lord was not in the Earthquake.  Then there was a fire storm of some sort, but The Lord was not in the fire.  After the Fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper, and this was the Lord's voice.
          So many times we, I, look for the Lord in huge things and huge ways, he is there I'm sure, but the way that he speaks to us on a personal level is often in something as small as a Whisper.  We have to take the time to settle down, slow down, and listen.  Its not easy with so many distractions in life, but this is where we can hear that small whisper. This is what I'm going for, and what I will be pursuing more of over the next couple of weeks.  I'm really trying to hear from the Lord what my next move is going to be, currently though, I'm leaning toward Seminary and getting a masters degree.  That could be MDiv or Youth Ministry, I'm not sure and haven't gotten that far, but as far as what's next, as every day passes, I think more and more about Seminary.
   

       So!  I leave for California tomorrow at 5AM.  I'll be with my bro Ronnie there, he's from YWAM. Then officially coming to Colorado September 5th, about 1AM I believe.  I'll be pretty busy for a little while though, I'm jumping right into a wedding that I'll be the best man for on the 21st.  With that comes some responsibilities that I haven't been able to attend to.  I would absolutely love to meet with every single one of you who have followed me on my journey.  Thank you for keeping up and caring.  I will continue with this blog... well, maybe forever!


Chained to him,
Jeremy



USS Arizona. 

Snorkeled with some sea turtles here. Habana Bay 

If you're going to read your bible in hawaii, why not do it in the most beautiful location? 

When Life speeds up, I slow down

     A lot has happened in the last two weeks.  Well first off, you should know that I'm sitting in a corner store in the middle of Sydney.  That should give you some perspective as to where I have been.   I graduated DTS and that was a beautiful moment.  But with that high time of fun and memories made, came the sad fact that we, as a group, had to part ways.  Saying bye isn't easy, and there is no easy way of doing it.  Some of my closer friends cried the second I gave them a hug, where some were more simple with a "I'll see you soon, bro" and a high five.  I will admit (for the first time) I cried a few times over those last days together.  Its crazy that we can get so close in a short period, but then break off going to different parts of the world.  Some friends will lose contact, some will talk to on a shallow level, but I can only hope most of them will stay close as the years go bye.  They have all earned a special place in my heart.

    That being said! I got to spend a week with a great group of people camping in a van!  We just sat on the beach all day and camped in the woods.  We rented this van from a site called WickedCampers for $10 a day.  Super cheap!  But, As you might be able to see in pictures, I had to sensor some of the words on the van, they like to paint their vans in weird ways.  But sitting around a fire playing worship and talking Jesus is something that I constantly look forward to in life, and we did it for 5 days!  I came to answer one of the questions I asked before, one that my school leader asked us before DTS ended... what is my response to "How was your Holiday/Vacation?"        
         Most of the students said they would be slightly offended by this, but why?  To be perfectly honest, the past 6 months was a bit of a Holiday.  Yes, it was hard and I had to work hard and go to school and do homework.  But that's just it, it was a specific Holiday to seek after Jesus.  Much like when people take trips to go do something like, climb a mountain, or surf in Haiti, or skydive in New Zealand.  Those things take work and months of training and preparation.    I had a specific purpose on this trip, to find true, deep, and lasting intimacy with Jesus Christ, and to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ in everything I say and do, no matter if its awkward or hard.  It took work and preparation in ways I didn't think it would, but it was the most amazing Holiday anyone could ever have.  Its a joy that is lasting and not temporary like riding a roller coaster.    And now I have to go back to daily life and daily struggles and daily temptations... Bring it on!
      So simply put, when people ask "How was your vacation?" I'll say, it was life changing.  The only things worth living for take work. Amen.

    Now to Sydney, Beautiful.  Feels a lot like Denver.  Sunny and everyone is really nice.  I will say a few small comments.  First, thank the good Lord that the drinking age in the U.S. is 21.  Here its 18 and staying in a hostel, I had the opportunity to see what 18 year old do with just that little bit of freedom.  It was awesome talking to them and I got to ask quite a few why they were here or what they were doing, come to find out they are all searching for something, weather its adventure, or pleasure, or running from parents, or just 'trying to have fun.' We know the truth is, that gap will never be satisfied unless they meet the Creator.  I only hope I was a small light in a dark world.  If you ever get to backpack through the world, just know how much of a light you can be to other travelers.

I sat here for about an hour today and read through 2nd Samuel. In chapter 14 there is a girl who is convincing King David to being his son back. Verse 14 then talks about how precious life is: 

"All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to being us back when we have been separated from him."

God is constantly calling us back to him. Live life to the fullest, constantly perusing Christ as he is searching for you. 

Where do I even start?

          So many times I sit back and think about being here, currently Brisbane, Australia. About being in this community and place with these people at this time in my life with these leaders and struggling with these issues (whatever they may be that day).  I tend to be more on the side that its all God's doing and timing, that where I am in life didn't just happen by chance, but like God is in full control of my everything, so he set up my every action before I was ever around.  And its amazing to know that he has my back in everything I do, this is something that we, as Christ followers, have to do constantly.  Remind ourselves that no matter what happens or where we are, God has us in his hands.

     I've been back on the YWAM base for a week now, and its been amazing.  It has been a lot more relaxed of a week then I've had over the past 6 months, mostly just finishing odds and ends in paper work and homework and meetings with the school leader.  This gives us a good amount of free time, which I tend to be intentional with my free time knowing that most of the friends I've made here, I may never see again.  We knew it from the beginning, but its weird to come down to that point.  I mean, I've shared life altering moments with these people, I've talked with them for countless hours sharing the most deep and intimate thoughts to each other.  I know that this is a process, but it does make me sad.  I hope for the best for my friends here.  I hope that one day we can do some kind of ministry together or run into each other once again.

     How can I even sum up the last 6 months? How am I going to answer the questions when I get home?  "How was Australia?" "What was the best part?" "What was the hardest part?" "What's next?" I think I'll come up with some easy answer, the one most people are looking for, the 5 second answer that I can give in passing conversation.  Honestly, these questions are not simple answers, and they will really only come out in time.  While sitting at coffee, or over dinner, or smoking a tabacco pipe, or whatever it might be. 

     As I sit here in this wonderful little coffee shop just down from the base called the Taverner, I'm realizing just how much I love this place.  I'm really going to miss it.  Its a wonderful life here, and sure there has been some hardships, but I really do love it here in Australia as well as YWAM.  From the beginning I figured that once I got to the last week, I would be at a point where I couldn't wait till I got home, that's why I originally booked my flight for the day after.  I'm a home body, and many days went by where I just thought about being home, and wanted to be there more then anything else.  Coming down to it though, I don't want to leave.  I love it here.  It's at the moment of when things come to an end that you realize just how wonderful they are.  I think that's what I'm going to go through this week, I'm going to miss the annoying people in the morning who want to talk when I just woke up, I'm going to miss the people at midnight who beg me to stay awake and hang out with them, I'm going to miss having to push myself in every new direction.  

I don't even know how to end this blog, It's going to take me some time to process.  More soon.

J

Dish crew.  Some of my best evenings were spent here. 

Men of DTS 

Beautiful Brisbane. I've posted this a few times, but it gets better and better every time I see it.