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This update is for you who, we have found, really care for us. Some of you we may have met once, others, we have known our entire lifetime. We understand that we could just as easily use facebook, twitter, or email to write you individually. However, we want to offer a more personal touch in updating you about how our lives together, by the will of God, are

progressing.

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Recently, the 20's ministry at Harvester Christian Church began its services on Sunday mornings and gatherings one thursday per month. The ministry is called VIVE. Since then I have been blessed by being assertive and responsive to Gods call on my life to always be a priest of His kingdom, to be leadership material at His disposal. Being intertwined with the stories and lives of others my within my generation has opened my eyes to see the inner conflicts, passions, and goals of people my own age. I love when I am given opportunities to witness authenticity. Recently I was placed in a situation where I was thinking of ways to grow this 20's ministry. I came up with a few ideas, but about halfway through my train of thought, it hit me. There was a subtle stirring in my mind that kept saying " I think you guys should

learn more about your identity with the size you are now. Make that your focus, and you will grow." I didn't stop thinking of ideas and creative ways to draw more people, I just began doing it with this stirring thought in mind. How often do we pray for growth in our lives without really looking to see how tall we are? How is it that we lose confidence so easily when really we are the most powerful energies in our spheres of influence. We are the strongest truths in our communities, at our places of work, in restaurants, at family outings, our schools. Maybe you have captured your confidence to its fullest potential, or maybe you are like me, knowing you haven't topped out yet on confidence. Do I not owe it, to be fully what I was created to be? Do I not owe it, to bring truth to my spheres of influence?

The first VIVE Sunday we attended, we split up into groups. I led one. I moved my chair to let it be known that I was open to a group. As I looked up I found myself surrounded by other men, about 8 to 10 in all. It was astonishing to hear that the heaviest and most prevalent diagnosis among us men in that group, when it came to being influential, was lack of confidence. One of us brought it up, and with an erie agreement , we all began nodding our heads, and realizing something has to change. What will it take, for us to break the norm. To shatter the midwestern ideologies of structured friendships. What will it take to re-calibrate the formalities of community. When will the day come when I, among other men and women, will come to full reality of our identities?

have some advice, lets make this interactive, www.worldaccordingto.tumblr.com

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This past October my wife and I received the wonderful invitation of experiencing a Zumbehl family hayride/ bonfire/ gun shooting. I've never shot as many guns as had on the Zumbehl farm. Amanda turned out a better marksman than I was, but we both had a blast. This was a great experience, especially since it complimented the book I am currently reading, Wild at Heart. Along with the Farm, we also drove up to Tanners Apple Orchard in IL to spend some time with the In-Laws. You keep making that delicious Rueben Loaf, and we'll visit more often :)

For Halloween we spent the night with one of our Lifegroup couples handing out candy to children. It was a wonderful time. Just another way to keep our economy going. Just think about all the money being moved around. People buy candy/ costumes, which causes parents to pay for dentists/ therapy, which causes doctors to buy larger houses, which causes them to pay more taxes, which we get to receive back in some way or another. Maybe I'm not thinking it through that well :)

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- I begin my new position at Costco as a baker.

-Amanda goes on a medical missions conference.

- Parents return from travels. - Thanksgiving

- Our LIFE GROUP! A growing relationship and bond between all of us. - Spaghetti Sundays!

What’s to come... Prayer Requests..

Don’t forget to check out Jiryis’ website: www.worldaccordingto.tumblr.com

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Life Groups is going so well. It is such a blessing. We are beginning to feel more and more comfortable around each other. As we progress in our biblical studies, we are deepening our friendships. So far each gathering has been devoted to a single couple. They share their past, their story, their struggles, their joys. We learn about them, and they learn about us. Towards the end of the night we go through the set lesson as we give our tummies a rest from the amazing dinners set before hand. We are currently studying the book of James.

That’s me, making myself useful at the ‘Journey to Bethlehem’ work day.

That’s my wife, taking pictures of herself, at the workday.

Lifegroup/ Vive friends, helping with the workday.