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Coram_deo_1983
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Name: Stephen
Country: United States
State: California
Metro: Los Angeles
Gender: Male
Interests: I like to ride my bike, play guitar and my djembe. I love to read, and listen to Keith Green, Derek Webb, and the Red Mountain Church band.
Expertise: hmmm...sin...and confessing sin...repentance (not quite an expert).
Occupation: Student
Industry: Research
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  coramdeo1983
Jabber: 1-818-909-5737
Member Since:
3/29/2005
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| In the Fall of 2000 I met Rachel Johnson at the Pursell house in Sylacauga. There was no immediate connection between us but the Lord had future plans for us. Over the years while we were both in college we kept intouch on more of a acquaintance level. In the Spring of 2005 I started calling Rachel on a consistent basis and our conversations were centered on the things of God. I always knew that she was very special and thought of the possibility of one day pursuing her to marriage. In the early summer of 2005 I was in the process of moving to California to begin my seminary education and she was in her training weeks for Student Life Camp. After meeting up with her three times during late May and Early June of 2005 I quickly realized that I needed to pursue Rachel. I preceded to move to California feeling inadequate and unfit to pursue Rachel so I really focused on my studies and continued to grow in grace and a greater knowledge of our Lord. During this time of reflection I really felt the desire to pursue Rachel and realized that I could and would be very happy in spending the rest of my life with her.
So in April of 2006 I came home for a few reasons, one to see Keith Pugh preach his last sermon at First Baptist Church and to see if Rachel Johnson would be willing to let me pursue her from Southern California. (In between the Summer of 2005 and April 2006 we met a few other times and kept in fairly consistent contact). So on April 30th I spent the afternoon with Rachel and we went out to eat shared some great fellowship. On the way home I asked her if I had guarded her heart through our conversations over the past year. She said that she had hoped that something would happen but never knew for sure. So to sum it up I asked her, "With your father's permission I would like to pursue you as Christ pursues the Church?" She said she would pray about it and because of the distance I would have to be very intentional in my pursuit of her. So when I flew home I called her as soon as I landed in Burbank and from there I have called her every night except the ones where I had responsibilities within the Jr. High Ministry her in California. Over the Summer the Lord began to knit our hearts together and I quickly fell in love with her and knew that I should marry her.
After Rachel came to visit me this past August I started to plan a trip home so that I could surprise her and propose to her. So I called her dad and planed with my mom so that everything would be perfect for this past weekend. On the 28th of September I flew to Kansas to talk to her parents in hopes to ask for her hand in marriage. They gave me their approval and the next morning I flew to Alabama. Rachel had no idea that I was coming home so the night before she spent the night at my house in hopes to prepare for the upcoming Outback Weekend. I arrived in Sylacauga at about 10:30 in the morning and my mom had taken her out to run some errands. So I waited at the house to surprise her. Jeff my stepdad met her at the front door and gave her one of my Outback t-shirts to try on. So as she came up the stairs my heart was pounding in my chest and I was so ready for all of this to finally come to fruition. I'm standing in the corner of the room she was staying in and as she walks through the door she turns her back to me to shut the door and I softly say "Hey Beautiful" and she turns around in shock and says "What are you doing here!!!!!" Then we hugged for a time and I allowed her to rest in the fact that I was really there. After that we had some lunch and I prepared for phase two of my Big Surprise.
That afternoon we go to Pursell Farms for the Outback Weekend and my plan was to get to the top of one of the hills and get a few pictures with the sunset (did I mention that I had the ring in my pocket). So we hike up this hill and make is just in time to watch the Sun go down over the horizon. We talked for some time and I told her that I had one more surprise for her and I told her to turn around. I waited for a while because I was a little nervous and I wanted the Sun to go down a little more, plus it was great adding a little suspense. So I told her to turn around and I gave her a kiss and talked a little more and said "Ok that was an intermission turn back around." Then I prayed to myself for a moment and told her to turn around and as she turned around I buried my knee in the dirt, held out the ring and said, "Rachel Johnson, will you marry me?" She said "YES" and we preceded to hug. Before we walked down the hill Rachel prayed and we hugged some more. Everyone was excited and everything worked out accordingly, Praise the LORD!!! I love her very much and we have set a date, September 1st 2007. The wedding will be in Sylacauga. Here is here site and she has some beautiful pictures of us and the ring. http://www.xanga.com/rljohnson
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| I'm engaged to the wonderful Rachel Johnson. I will supply some more detail in the near future.
Soli deo Gloria
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Where do I start: This summer was amazing and the Lord
was very gracious and loving as He gave me opportunities to serve. I have
learned that having a busy summer only makes it go by faster. In the
midst of my busy summer I have been pursuing this wonderful, godly, amazing
young lady by the name of Rachel Johnson.
The majority of my pursuit has been long distance and the encouragement I have
received from her is inexpressible. Rachel and I did have three
opportunities to see each other this summer and our time together was very
profitable as we learned more about one another. She has become very dear
to me and I love her very much.
This week I started my Third semester of Seminary. The classes that I
have signed up for are going to be very difficult, but I'm confident that our
Lord will supply the Grace for me to finish strong.
Please be in prayer for:
- My personal time and devotion
with the Lord.
- Strength and Wisdom as I
continue to pursue Rachel!
- Grace to be effective part of
Jr. High ministry.
- Endurance to finish strong
this semester.
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great
Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our
Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is
pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and
ever. Amen! Hebrews 13:20-21.
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| The time has come for my short term mission trip to France. A team of six will be leaving tomorrow (6.2.2006) to work and serve along side Rob and Vicki Anthony. While we are there our team will be putting on basketball camps and interacting with the community. Some things to pray for.
- Pray for safety as we travel to Marseille, France.
- Pray for our interaction with the local Muslim population.
- Pray for those we come in contact with and that the Lord would soften their hearts and give us clarity as we proclaim the glories of the Gospel.
- Pray that we would open doors of communication for Rob and Vicki to further minister the Gospel.
- Pray that we would be an encouragement and help to the local church plant there in Marseille.
- Pray that God will be glorified as we go and tread on foreign soil, admonishing men and women to repent and believe the gospel.
Your prayers are greatly valued by our team and my hope is that all of you will join with us in God's redemptive plan for the nations. Revelation 5:9-10 says, "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book and break its seals; for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priest to our God' and they will reign upon the earth.'"
Thanks again for your prayers and support.
Soli deo Gloria!
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