A moment to reflect...

on the people that matter most in my life (at least according to Facebook)...

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Daniel Chang: You're the coolest brother that I could ever ask for. But, there are times in the past when I wish I would have made wiser decisions when it came to us. I know I wasn't the best older sibling, but never forget that as long as I live, I'll be here for you to talk to, ask questions to, vent to, whatever you need. Nothing is more important to me than your's and Sarah's well-being. So don't be in such a rush to live life. Learn to step out in wisdom. Never forget that we love you, and we only want God's best for you.
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Sarah Chang: Few can speak conviction into my life as well as you can :-) You're one of the wisest girls I know, and even though I might not have sounded like it during our many past arguments, your opinion is one that I highly respect. You continue to teach me to stretch my own understanding of situations, and to see things from other viewpoints besides my own. Thanks for continuing to push me to move beyond my own limitations, to never settle for mediocrity. Love you, joser.
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Jesse Peters: I can honestly say that there's rarely been a single dull moment in the time we've spent thus far. And having been able to witness the way God's been continuously molding your heart, soul, mind and body to more intimately follow Him has been, at the very least, an awesome privilege. From choir tour to youth group, road trips to Youth camps, I'm always amazed at how God uses your faithfulness and obedience in all kinds of situations. Thanks for taking our friendship seriously enough to not just be funny and goofy, but also to be real and honest, and for giving me the opportunity to be real as well. Sorry for the times when I chose to follow my own insecurities instead of opening up. Thanks for looking out for me, and being a spiritual mentor for me when I needed it most. I count you no less than a brother. Nastrovia!
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Jonathan Atkinson: When I think of a man after God's own heart, you're the one that comes to my mind. Even when we were younger, I always looked up to you when it came to dealings of the spirit. I'm still in awe of God having put such passion and drive into a man so humble. I see your heart break for those things that break His, and I see you rejoice for the things that He rejoices in. Thanks for being such a great friend and encourager in my life.
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Ryan Dieffenwierth: Whenever I think of you, I can't help but grin. You've always been able to lighten the mood and lift my spirits whenever I was having a rough day. But along with the jokes and laughter, you've also been someone for me to look up to. When I see the way you and Tyler interact, and the way you look out for him, it inspires me to be a better brother for Daniel. Thanks for the life you've spoken into me through our talks, and I hope I've been able to speak encouragement into your life as you've done for mine.
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Dave Mariotti: It's been a relatively short time, but despite that, you've become a close friend that I hold in the highest regard. But more than the success, more than the laughs, the thing I respect the most about you is your desire to go deeper in your understanding of God with every passing moment, through a better understanding of those around you, a better understanding of God, and even a better understanding of yourself. You always look to make the most out of every opportunity, which nudges me to get out of my comfort zone and start to break through the walls that I've placed around myself. Thanks for the honesty that you live your life with, and for believing in me when I couldn't see my own worth. Thanks for challenging me to see past my insecurities, to see the man that God created me to be.
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Sean Allred: You're one of the funniest guys I know, but also one of the deepest when it comes to knowing your roots. I see the way you love your family as well as your friends, and it encourages me to strive to do the same. Not with your family, although I do love them, but rather with my own. Among many other things, I appreciate your humor and sense of adventure. You always seem to have the awe of life in your eyes, ready to explode into action at any moment. I pray that you never lose that spark, that spontaneity.
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Anibal Cabrera: I'm not even sure why you're on this list. Just kidding. I can't adequately explain the positive influence you've had on my life. We've gone through a lot in the past few years, and we did a lot of venting. But thanks for your flexibility in putting up with my mood swings and stupid pointless arguments. You're definitely one of the friends that I hold in close confidence.
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Daniel Chantlos: It's been an awesome blessing getting to work with you the past few months. Your heart for these kids is evident in everything you do for them. You've always been straight-forward with me, especially when I needed a swift kick in the butt. Thanks for the times when you sat and listened to me rant about my problems and frustrations. Your ability to be a good listener is certainly appreciated, and it makes me want to be a better listener for those around me. Thanks for your leadership and guidance.
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Josh Bonanno: You, Nick, and your parents have been an incredible influence on my life. I consider you almost like a second family. The hospitality and acceptance that you've shown me will stay with me wherever I go. And whoever should come across my way, I'll be striving for tangible ways to show God's love the way you did for me. Thanks for the times we've spent in community together, and I look forward to sharing many more years with you and your family. Per cent'anni!
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Chris Pozezanac: Positronic! Man, there aren't enough words in my limited vocabulary to describe how you've impacted me. You're never afraid to ask the tough questions, and to be honest with the answers you come up with. From watching the bold way you approach your faith, I'm encouraged to become more bold in my walk with Christ as well. You've always been able to offer sound advice to those who seek it. Thanks for being the most gracious host when it comes to opening up your house and taking advantage of the opportunity for community and fellowship to happen.
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Emily Ellis: It's never an easy task trying to find who you are, especially if you're caught in the shadow of older siblings. But I've seen you come out from beneath that shadow, and as you continue to dig deeper and deeper into yourself, I know you'll find hidden strength that you weren't aware of before. You're one of the most grounded people I know, and yet, you also seem to hold a refreshing optimism about life. And your steady acceptance of yourself is something that allows others around you to start accepting themselves as well. You have a manner and presence that can offer comfort and understanding to someone who's hurting and confused, just by sitting with them, without saying a word. You may not even realize this happens, but I truly admire the positive effect you're able to have on your family and friends whenever you're around. Thanks for sitting with me when I felt alone and isolated.
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Danny Fernandez: I can't believe that it was almost 7 or so years ago that you were worshipping with us in the high school room upstairs. I could've sworn you were a junior already! But that's something that I've always admired about you: the maturity you have that sometimes misleads others to believe you're much older. Thanks for helping me to find my way when I first came back and was given the responsibility of leading worship after 2 years of being away. Your desire to not only experience God, but also to share God with others through your music is a constant inspiration for me to dive deeper in my own times of worship. I'm proud of you for the integrity you've lived your life with, and for the incredible example you've been for me in inviting others to partake in an authentic worship experience with God.
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Dana Crow: I don't think one or two words could ever describe you. You have a zeal for life that spills out onto everyone you encounter. You aren't afraid to do ridiculous or spontaneous things for the sake of living life to the fullest. Your gift for worship and your pursuit for the heart of God are nothing short of amazing. Despite all your gifts, or perhaps because of them, you still maintain a humility and level-headedness that brings people back down to earth. Thanks for being such an awesome leader to others through your worship. And no one I know can let loose and laugh like you can.
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Amanda Kimble: The "I <3 ASIA" apron! There's no one I know that can give better gifts than you! And the best thing is that it comes from a genuine desire to bring joy to others. You have such an awesome heart for loving on those around you, and I believe it enables them to better love those around them. Basically, you're a love avalanche, for lack of a better analogy. Forgive me, it's early... But seriously, thanks for being such a willing and obedient follower of Christ in sharing your love with others. You've been an awesome friend.
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Sarah Hartsfield: One of the many things that I appreciate about you, Sarah, is that you always looked me in the eye whenever we talked. Although this might not seem like a big deal initially, I knew it represented more about you than just the fact that you look people in the eye. It told me that you were secure in yourself, that you respected the people you were talking with by giving your attention to them, and that honesty was a high priority on your list of character traits. I really look up to the confidence you have in knowing who you are in Christ. Thanks for being an example of openness and courage when I was caught under the burden of shame and guilt. And never stop smiling :-)
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Jessica Dayton: There are few things I enjoy more than sitting and listening to you tell stories, about yourself, your friends, anything. I think it might be some of my most enjoyable experiences in conversation, because no matter what it is you're talking about, you always seem excited about it. And because you're excited, it gets contagious to the point where the people you're talking to get excited as well. It's a joy to watch this happen. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm and joy for life. It's played a big role in enriching my own.
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Sara Sadler: Sally! I was glad to hear that you were staying in town for school, but even still, we don't get to hang out much. This is something we should definitely look to remedy. Thanks for always being willing to take the time to sit and talk with me, though we usually ended up hanging out with other people. You always made me feel welcome in whatever crowd we were in.
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Thank you, everyone, for the love and support you've given me, and at the end of my life, I can only hope that I could have played even a small part in bringing love and joy into yours. I truly and dearly love you all.