another day of fun.

Trust me, it needs to end soon. I'm spending too much money, though mostly what I am spending is money for gas to drive places but whatever. Yesterday I was at the beach all day. Today I was home working till 7 but then went into Reading to play Laser Tag with a few people, and then back to someone's house to swim. I HAVE managed my finances better, so I have more money to work with, but it won't last forever.

Tonight cost me $20 between Laser Tag, food, and driving to Reading. Life is a picnic now because I basically hang out with SOMEONE almost every night, but like I said...its ending soon. Most of these people head back to school in a few weeks...who knows what I'll be doing in September.
:(

Which way to the beach?

Apparently you drive for a long long time with some cool friends and then a couple annoying kids as well and you get there. Or at least thats what it felt like today, as I was in the car with 13 other people and took a trip to Wildwoods. The day was actually really fun until the ride home which was just too much as all of us were crammed,tired,burned (badly), and annoyed. We left Reading at a little after 7 this morning, and got to the beach at about 10:00. It was great to spend some time with friends of mine and get a chance to hit the beach (probably for the last time this summer). We didn't get back to Reading till 10:30 so it was a very long day,but also a fun one. We played volleyball,ultimate frisbee, walked along the boardwalk, and swam in the freezing water, not necesarily in that order, and not necesarily only once each as I found myself going back and forth from swimming to the boardwalk at least 3 times!

Overall, it was a great day. and of course, pictures will follow at some point soon!

Maybe this is my call

Sunday Night, I was once again at the Reed's house for the West Valley church plant meeting. We studied Acts 17:16-34. We studied it in a different way than I have been accustomed to, as instead of someone just explaining things, the group was asked to point out things that stuck out to them (and why). I will try to get into the discussion itself at some point, but not now. the way we examined the passage was amazing, and it helped me learn a lot.

I also realized something about the church plant Sunday night that I had not realized before. One of my biggest fears with going with the plant is that I don't know many of the people going. Then, Sunday night it hit me, as I was talking to 2 people I did not really know (I knew OF them,but did not know them). As I had these conversations, I realized that I am begging to know the people who will be part of this plant, just by being at these meetings! It's elementary I guess, but I had not really thought about it. The more I spend with these 'planters', the more I will get to know them and become a part of their life.

Czech this out

On Saturday, my sister left Philadelphia to fly to Los Angeles and meet a team of people whom she is going to Prague in the Czech Rebuplic with on a missions trip. She was in L.A. for a few days and an hour ago, her plane left for Heathrow Airport in London. Please pray for her and the team while they are on this trip, and feel free to check out her blog she made for the trip (which already has some really AWESOME pictures on it!) You can check that out here!

I guess I should have shared this by now.

For those of you that don't know, I am moving...and it might be to Virginia.

Below is an email that I sent to a group of people I know from church, and I figured I would share it here so my 'blog readers' also know what is going on.







Hey C3 folks! Hope this finds you all well.
Some of you have heard this, but I wanted all of you to know.

About 3 weeks ago, I found out that my family (Mom,Stepdad, and 3 younger siblings) are moving to Fredericksburgh,Virginia because my stepdad is moving positions within his company. My older sister will stay behind and live with my dad in Reading (in between college). My mom and stepdad have left me with a decision that I never wanted to make.
I can either stay here and live with my dad, or go with them. My stepdad leaves next Tuesday to begin his new position, and the rest of my family will be out of where we live now September 1st. It finally hit me today that this is for real, as I began packing up a lot of the stuff in my room. (Since I either move down there, or move to my dad's house)

They want me to at least check out some churches and schools down there , which I have begun doing, and make a 'list' of what I have here, and what I have (potentially) down there,as to weigh the options. They were hoping that I would not write off going with them without looking into it, and I have tried not to.

On the one hand, I don't want most of my family to leave and only see them a few times a year,
but on the other hand, I don't want to leave my dad,older sister, or the Lehigh Valley behind.

Over the last 23 months, I have gotten to know this core group more than I could ever have imagined. I have so many wonderful friends and influences in this group, that I never want to leave. Through God's grace, my life has changed dramatically over that time, and I have so many of you to thank for that. This (along with Cornerstone) was the first group I was ever part of where ,when someone asked me how I was doing, I knew they really wanted to know, and didn't just want to hear "good". I want to stay, because I want to continue to be a part of this ministry, but at the same time, I don't feel like I can say "NO" if God has called me to go to Virginia. My desire is to serve wherever God wants me, and if that is in Virginia, then so be it.

Again, I want to thank you all for the time I have had with all of you. Please pray for me this week, as I try to make a decision.


Thanks you all for your continued prayers and support
John Schuchman

My boring weekends!

Also known as WORK.....which is what I am doing today.


It is SOOOOO boring......

I sit in a chair, in a suit....for 11 hours. That's what I do.
Except today when I have been playing DDR and Guitar Hero on Nintendo DS (which has been quite fun but I'm still bored as all get out)



Yeah so I'm kinda realizing that I need a new job....bad.
This job makes me want to shoot myself in the foot. :(


But it pays the bills so I guess I can't complain!

A night for the Youth

Last night, I was able to attend the "Youth BBQ" that Cornerstone had to welcome to introduce the youth to Mike and Jenn Notary, the new youth directors (and good friends of mine).


Many questions surrounded my night, such as "Will I even be allowed to serve with the HS ministry and if so when". I tried to not think about it, but it came to my mind often.

I can't answer any of those questions, and I'm not sure the church has any answers yet either.

For now, I'm happy where I am at, and was thankful to get to know some of the Middle School kids and a lot of the parents.

My hope is to (if I stay in PA) to jump back into the HS group in the fall, but I'm not hoping for it because I don't want to be disappointed if it doesn't happen.

This is NOT good!

Is It NBA or NFL?


36 have been accused of spousal abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

19 have been accused of writing bad checks

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 currently are defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drunk driving in
the last year


Can
you guess which organization this is?


Give
up yet? . . Scroll down,




















Neither,
it's the 435 members of the United States Congress


The same group of Idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

the stupidity of some people.

I often question whether or not people are relly as stupid as they look. I did that today.

Here was the situation.

I went to Barnes & Noble to 'study' because they have free wireless internet.

Well I go inside and start to look for a table with an electrical outlet so I can plug in my laptop. Not that complicated, right? Wrong. They had No outlets in the whole place. None.


You have to wonder 'Who built a Barnes & Noble with no outlets when the advertise that they have free wireless'

Either A, they didn't want people staying all day and using their internet the whole time... or

B They are just completely stupid.


I'd like to think it was A....but I'm pretty convinced its B.

Why is it so hard

To tell someone you care about them, to tell them you want to be with them.

Relationships suck.
The end.

a different weak,a different man.

I often feel like the title of this post accurately describes how I feel.

I go from week to week, and nothing ever changes in my life.
My 7 days of 24 hours are not weeks, they are weaks. I sometimes say to myself in the later half of a certain week, "Hey this week hasn't been bad. I haven't done this, but then, there's other issues going on, or if not, the same struggles are back just days later.

I find myself between a rock and a hard place wondering

Who am I.. am I the person who's heart cries out for the youth of this generation, who has a desire to help those in need, and who loves seeing the look on a child's face in a Sunday school class when they begin to understand the gospel (sometimes hard with the younger kids). Or....am I the person who longs to make myself happy, lives for myself, and often sins while not caring about the consequences or effects on others

I know that the real desire in me is the first scenario, but am I living like that?

So, that's why I often feel like my days are just one struggle after another.



Sunday night after the WVPCA Church Plant Meeting I drove home thinking the following:
Unless you begin to cling to Christ for everything you need, you are truly hopeless. How can you believe that you will soon (if you stay) be able to live by yourself, when you can't be responsible, truthful, and live for God.


So that's why I say 'A different weak, a different man', though now, it's no longer a weak but rather a true week. Unfortunately,I can't change what I have done and how I have sinned or struggled 3 weeks ago, 1 week ago, yesterday or whatever.

I can only worry about how I am living today, and I need to live my life for him, to become a different man, to show everyone around me through what I say and what I do, that my life is different, and I'm not longer living for myself... I'm (by his grace) living for him, no matter what the cost.

So I can only worry about today.
I don't think it is all that complex. It start with the simple stuff like skipping the 'rap' playlist on my iPod and opting for the 'Worship' playlist (Believe it or not, the words you hear do change what you think about and desire, as I have recently experienced it firsthand). Another simple step is just reading my bible everyday!

So simple, but it's often so hard to follow through.

It's a different weEk. So, now is the time to be a different man (the man I have been created to be).


More often then not, I will fail, but through his spirit inside me, there WILL be a change!


So now the daily question becomes.

Am I living for Christ today?

A crazy day

That's what today was. I did a ton of driving (almost 200 miles) and that's never fun, but it was still a great day.

I woke up at 7:15 this morning after staying at a friend's house. From there, I went to church (ugh 8:30 is getting REAL old) and then chatted for a bit after church. From there I went to work @ 11. After work, I went up to the WVPCA church planting meeting. It was a great night, as we saw the Values, Vision, and Mission. Then I began my drive home, thinking and praying about what is at work in the West Valley.

It's been a long day, so I'm out.

see ya next time :)

Chillin and Grillin

Today I have been working at the Sleepy's store in Pottstown. It is the first day I have working in 2 weeks! It has been quite boring so far but we had some good food so it kind of saved the day! We grilled some hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch ( I love stuff grilled on a charcoal grill! ). Then we had Bacon Pizza from Papa John's for dinner.

I found out I will be back here working tomorrow, which I don't like to do, but I need all the hours I can get.

Tonight I am going to hang out with a buddy of mine that I haven't seen for a while. Then it's up at 7:30 tomorrow and off to church! :/

My Computer is home!!!!

Yay! Today is an exciting day!!! My computer FINALLY came back today! Finally.....no more blogging from my phone!!!I'm so happy, you have no idea.

I waited almost a month for this day.

Now I have no excuse to not finish my school. Dang....

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday! (also known as "Anonymous" commenter on my blog)

I don't think I am going to embarrass her by sharing how old she is, but she's OLD!!

Haha. Happy Birthday Mom :)

Pictures..

Ok... so I promised you guys pictures of the Camping Trip and the Reading Phillies game where Brett Myers pitched.

Well....I cam partially fulfill that promise, but not completely.

I lost one of my CompactFlash cards so as of right now I don't have the pictures from camping or from most of the game, but here are a few....because a promise is a promise :P

So anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Oh...and I bought Step Up 2: The Streets today! YAY!!!



All of these pictures ,except for the first one,are of Myers, and if you don't know who he is...why are you even here???

The first photo is Brad Harman, a top prospect in the Phillies minor league system who spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this season when Chase Utley was injured.


Anyways. Enjoy.

An exciting day!!

That's what today is....

Why you ask!?

Well you shouldn't have to!

Anyone who is cool should know the reason for the excitement!


Today, Step Up 2: The Streets comes out on DVD!!!!

WOOHOO!

Why I don't buy from QVC

Hopefully this explains it....

Churchplanters in the West Valley

Tonight, I was privledged to spend a night with the group from the West Valley Church Plant (set to begin public worship in September Lord willing). They have been meeting every Sunday night, but my schedule had not allowed me to attend until this week. I still don't know whether I will go with the plant or stay wiht Cornerstone( that is if I stay in the area and do not move, more info to follow on that later this week). Part of me wants to stay at Cornerstone for different reasons (most of the people I am close to are staying, most of the younger guys are staying,etc). So...I don't know what I am doing. Initially I wanted to go with the plant, then I felt like I needed to stay with Cornerstone, and now I have kind of opened my mind and heart back up (again) to either, whether it be staying with Cornerstone, or going with the plant. So...IF I stay in the area, I will continue to worship with Cornerstone while also attending the weekly West Valley PCA meetings on Sunday nights, because I've closed my heart for too long, so where God wants me...is where I want to be.

Backpacks,Baseball, and Brett

That's how I describe my perfect Saturday.
This morning the "crew" woke up at about 8 AM, and we hiked down about .5 miles to Sunfish Pond, then back to our campsite. We began our hike back at about 10:30 AM after we packed up our stuff. We hiked about 4 miles through the valley! :) We hiked a total of about 8 miles in the 2 day adventure. I was so worn out that I slept on the way back to Coopersburg, where we arrived at about 2:30. From there, I went home to Reading where I arrived at about 4. From there....I waited. Waited until about 5:30, where I then went to see the Reading Phillies, to see Brett Myers pitch! I took some awesome pictures (of course) and then came up with a brilliant idea. I brought my CF card to Wal-Mart, printed some of my photos, and then went back to the game to get Myers to sign them. As always, he was a jerk...and only signed for 2 people...but I was one of them ;)

SO anyway....now that you have learned a little of my dorky baseball experiences, I am out. Pictures to follow as soon as I can upload some!

Camping

Right now....on the Appalachain Trail. It has been so much fun :)

I have spent a couple of hours with 2 other men, having a great time discussing and learning.
Its been awesome!

More to come :) including pictures. YAY!

What defines me?

Hopeless.

That's where I'm at. I feel insecure,upset, alone, and I KNOW I have failed, once again.

Being a Christian is EASY when I'm at church, at bible study, or hanging with any of my Christian friends.

Being a Christian is HARD the rest of the time... when I'm working, when I'm driving, when I'm at a (non-Christian) friend's house, when I'm at the store, or when I'm alone and I feel like no one is watching me.

So what defines me?

Does the Lord who is doing a great work in my life and continues too?

OR

Do all the 'patterns of this world' and 'deep desires' that I KNOW are sinful but WANT anyway?


I know what the answer should be, but sadly, and it breaks my heart to say this, that's not what the answer is.

I need to live a different life.

Again I cry out, "Lord Save Me"

Transition Time

Some people who know me well know that I called this past month a 'month of transition'. It was in many different ways. I got a new car, moved closer to getting a new job, set up my plans for the summer, and continued to work on working out my plans for the fall. I recently heard some news that will REALLY make not the next month, but the next 60 days a TRUE month of transition, not just for my summer or fall, but rather for the entire rest of my life!

More details to come tommorrow or sometime soon.

Please pray for me through this REAL time of transition and pray that I can figure out what I am to do and where I am too go.

Night at the Phillies!

I went to the Phillies vs. Mets game last night in Philadelphia!

After coming back form down 8-0, and 10-2, the Phills came back against the Mets bullpen to come within 1 hit of winning the game in the 9th. They loss 10-9. It was cool to at least see them not lose heart and keep fighting!
Here are just a few pictures of my fun night!

(I tired to make the pictures bigger but they extended off the screen)

Soo click the picture to expand it, and you can see the rest of the photos here

Adam Eaton (got rocked).

Pedro Martinez (is not the pitcher he once was).

Chris Coste (IS THE MAN).

Pat Burrell (deserves to be an All-Star).

J.C. Romero (also deserves to be an All-Star. He's one of the best relievers in the game today).

Gregg Dobbs (is here because I took an AMAZING PICTURE, not because he's talented).

Ryan Howard (slams the homers).

David Wright (is the only Met worthy of ANY respect).

hmm

'God sent a repair crew for this broken world...
and we are it.'

I get it!

I finally understand why I didn't blog for most of June. Blogging for me became more about the traffic (how many people were visiting my blog) than about the content of my posts. I came to a point where I got sick of blogging because I was posting because of who was reading instead of saying what was on my mind/in my heart. I told myself I would return when I didn't post because of who was visiting. I used to check my 'blog tracker' everyday, and usually more than once today. My blog is back, and I haven't checking my tracker in over a month, because I don't NEED to know how many people are reading or WHO is reading to be able to share what I am feeling.So I continue to blog, without tracking the blog :)

broken in pieces

I'm here again
A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
Thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way


I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your eye

Then I'll see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole!

My time in the woods, PArt 2

So......after my post last night.....I was with the man for another 2 hours. Basically, like I said last night, he didn't have his sons # (or at least not his USA ONE!!! LOL )

so anyway...the cops never arrived and said the got 'lost' My mom got involved and called her friend from Wycliffe to try to get Wycliffe to track this guy down, to no avail. At about 10:15 I got a call from a New Holland cop, basically telling me there wasn't much they could do :(

3 minutes later, another New Holland cop called me to tell me he had talked to this mans son twice and had his number for me ( So one cop says they can't do anything..another gives me all the info I need....haha)

Anyways..

I called his son and we talked about where to meet. So, I drove there to bring this man to his dad.

Once there, the old man was telling me how I went way above and beyond what I should have. I told him that I had not listened to God's call to help so many times before, way too often. I also told him so many times people have helped me and this was my turn to help someone else.

We both shared stories about how we had so many times not been as genorous or giving/charitable as we know God has wanted. I shared with him what I shared with you all last night, as I tried not to cry in front of this total stranger who I at this point felt like I had known for years!

His son and wife arrived soon afterwards and we chatted for a few minutes before we both parted ways.


I was so THANKFUL for this experience and life lesson. Thanks again Lord :)


Hopefully I won't ignore the next person I see who needs help! Hopefully I can also teach those around me to be willing to listen to God's call!!!!

That's my prayer.





Oh.....and Happy Independence Day!!!

I worked all day and now am going to Chuck E Cheese with my family. HAHA. Its for my brother, not me ;)

Helpless in the woods!

Right now I'm standing in the middle of the road with a man I don't know....waiting for the cops to arrive...


Not exactly what I woke up this morning thinking I would be doing. Amazingly, I'm not in trouble!!!


I went to Wal-Mart and on my way back stopped at Trailside (where I used to work) to get some milk for the family. While inside I was asked by a former co-worker if I knew where a certain road was. I said I didn't but would check on the GPS I had with me. After searching, I was able to find it, and said I would try to help him get to his son and wife, whom he lost. He was without a cell phone, and tried calling his wife from a payphone but her phone was off. He was also not able to get in touch with his son.

So... we drove about 4 miles to where he thought the house was that his son was going too., but got nowhere.

At this point we were at a dead end, it was getting late, and he had no idea where to turn. I decided to call the police hoping his son had called or something. His son had not called them, but they said they would send an officer up to help us!

Come to find out (as we wait for the cops) this man's son is a missionary helping to translate bibles for Wyclif Bible Translators in Papa New Guini, which he and his wife have been doing for 12 years!!!

This was awesome to hear because I know people, friends of my mom who served with Wyclif in the Philipeans doing exactly what this man's son is doing!!



Wow, so here I stand (actually right now I am sitting in the middle of the road),sharing stories with this man who is just full of wisdom. We have talked about Wyclif, about bible translation around the world, and about our families!

What a great experience this has been!


Why I share this? Its certainly not for the praises of those around me, because seriously, I've spent 20 years and 9 days, living for myself, at the cost of others. So instead of wanting praises, what I need is people to be frustrated with me and ANGRY AT ME for the way I've lived!! What a disgrace.

WHAT TOOK SO LONG TO STOP LIVING MY LIFE FOR MYSELF??? And yet tomorrow and the next day and the next day, ect... I will DESIRE to live for myself. In my heart though, I know I WANT to help others. My desire is to help people! I want to help people that are lost (physically AND SPIRITUALLY), I WANT to TOUCH THE LIVES of the YOUTH around me and point them to my SAVIOR!!!!!


I called my mom to explain why I wasn't home (when I should have been home over 2 hours ago).

As any mother would, she was worried about me and responded that I shouldn't be out with some man I don't know in the middle of the night because 'its dangerous'.

I told her there was nothing to worry about, and I'm really not worried!

Seriously, I couldn't think of a better way to die than trying to help a fellow man!!!

That.....would be totally awesome!!

I've seen progress in my life. A year ago I would have 'shut my ear' to someone asking for directions. And yet, Now its not as noticable, but I still shut my ear to those around me, to my family and everyone else.

Has God done wonders in the last 2 years.....year.......6 months......MONTH...OF MY LIFE???? OF COURSE!!!


But how often have I ignored his call....even recently, to help those around me? How often in the past (insert time frime no matter how long or short) have I been too worried about what others thought of me to give a homeless guy on the street the change in my pocket....


or how often have I been too 'scared about my own safety' to pick up someone walking on the highway???


I've become accustom to turning my head or coming up with a 'good reason' Not to stop. :(





Save me Lord.
I NEED YOU!!!!

(and help us find this man's son as well.)


:)

Please pray today.

For my family: I am at the hospital with my sister Margaret, who is 16. I have been here with her since noon. She basically fainted this morning. It has happened one time before. The last time this happened, she fell down a flight of stairs and began shaking and looked very pale. Today it wasn't as bad, but its still a problem that needs to be figured out.

Also pray for my mom and stepdad, who today are down in Virginia looking at houses for the third straight week. Pray that they will stay safe, and pray that Gods will be done. It looks more and more like they will be moving to VA which leaves me with soon to come choices that I don't feel ready to make.


For a friend.
I have a friend who went to Bob Jones University. Last week, while talking summer classes, she ran away from the school. She is currently in Alabama. I can't share a lot of the details, especially on my public blog, but she won't tell her family anything, so I have been dragged into it to help them get information from her. She is convinced that she is doing what is 'right' but I KNOW she is making dumb decisions and she needs prayer.



For me:

I need prayer because I feel frustrated over the school thing discussed in my last post and all of the unknowns for the fall. I also am frustrated about the job situation. I also need prayer for good decision making in terms of (if my family goes to VA) whether I should go or not, and if I don't where I should live and such.


:sighs:

Thanks guys!

Where have I been?

That question is so hard to answer, especially in a blog post which I would like to keep short.

Well let's start by saying I am STILL looking for a job. Sears=No, UPS= probably won't happen, but this one was by choice. Again it's hard to explain why I can't get a job. Part of it I don't understand, much of it I do. Unless your one of the few people who know where I've been and what I've done, you won't understand. So anyways. I am still working as a "greeter" for Sleepy's as well as getting some extra hours as a 'secret shopper' today and this past Saturday as well as re-arranging two showrooms last Tuesday, so Thank you Lord for that opportunity!

What's up with school= Still not done these two stupid classes *pause to beat myself over the head with a stick* I need to get them done, and am taking the remaining tests next week. I also got a very encouraging email from Desales, which basically says that I can still get in for the fall if I have everything completed (online quiz, getting them my transcript) by August 1st.
6 weeks until classes start.
I am counting ;)
It would be awesome to be back for the fall, though it will be hard to make happen.
I would also have nowhere to live...so that will require some work as well.....

My computer= finally got sent back last week (one of the big reasons I haven't posted much in June, its hard to blog with a computer that doesn't work!) I should get it back sometime before next Wednesday ( can I survive that long without it!!!!????)



Last Tuesday= A week ago today, I turned 20 years old!!!
I was thankful for my awesome friend Ryan, who came out and went to Shady Maple with me, and to my family who planned a wonderful birthday dinner which I enjoyed thoroughly :)



( I have other thoughts about my birthday, which you will see in a post sometime very soon!)

Thanks for reading guys. I promise to return to the daily blogging in July. ( A reason why I was "off" for June is also coming in a soon to be post!)

Till then
-John