Wow, Paul with a haymaker to my face. I read the passage that is below and was convicted. The first question I have is “do I live in such a way that no one's walk is hindered by my life?” I am sure there are people that I hinder. I cannot believe Paul would throw this out there, but he did. It is definitely something I need to strive for.
“We serve God whether people honor us or despise us.” I had someone once challenge a group us by saying that sometimes we love the ministry more than we love God. The ministry validates us because people affirm us in ministry. Would I be willing to minister for God without any validation? I would hope so. This is definitely cause for a motive check. Why am I in ministry? Is it because I feel like I have something to offer, or is it because God has called me to be a minister? My prayer is that the latter is true.
Do I live close to death, or is death far from me? I was challenged today by a book I was reading on discipleship. The author said that living for Christ is like you dying in plane crash in the middle of Kansas. A farmer finds your body and decides to bury you. He gets the hole dug but then it gets too dark for him to finish. Jesus comes along that night and asks you if you want to live. If you say yes, you live only for him. If you say no, then you stay dead. You choose to live for God, so your old self is dead in Kansas somewhere and the new self is living completely for God. Living close to death because you are living for Christ in every moment. This is because you know at some point you will die and you desire to be ready for that moment. You desire to make the most of your time on this earth to give it to God and live wholeheartedly for him with joy. Understanding that through Christ you have everything, but apart from him you have nothing. What an amazing passage. What vision for who we are supposed to be, for how we are supposed to live. Our God is amazing!
2 Corinthians 6:3-10
3 We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 7 We have faithfully preached the truth. God's power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
"Tell me something you don't want me to know"
I went to a large church of over 1200 when I was in high school. I went to church just about every Sunday and I had some "good" friends that were my age. But I was allowed to live a little bit of a double life because of the size of the church and youth group. I was a good Christian on Sunday and around my "church" friends, but when I was with people I knew I could get away with things, I would allow sin to enter in.
I venture to say that I am not much different than most Christians. In fact as an adult I have to constantly check myself and see if I am wearing a mask. What helped me change you ask. It was deep relationships. Three relationships stick out to me as I write this. The first is a pastor by the name of Brian Neely. He was the college pastor at my church. I would spend a lot of time kicking a soccer ball in his office with him, while talking about life. We also went out to lunch and talked life. It is not that we had a bible study, but in a sense, every meeting was a bible study, because it was always about how God was involved with every part of our lives.
The other relationships that helped me were with Matt and Jon. Matt and Jon were a year older than me. We went to the same college group. While in the college group, we went to
I fear that these relationships are far and few between for some of us. I fear that we wear a mask because if people knew who we really were they would not associate with us. Therefore, there are a lot of lonely Christians that attend church, but they are not "The Church." What is "The Church?" Acts 2 introduces "The Church." (Acts 2:37-47 Peter's words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins… 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!"41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church – about three thousand in all. 42 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer… 46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity –47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.) "The Church" is the gathering together of believers having fellowship with each other. This has a very significant meaning. In the Greek the word fellowship means (fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse). Fellowship is not a potluck with some strangers sharing pleasantries. It is the inviting of one's life into another’s. They would talk about life and struggles. The image I get is of three neighbors daily sitting on the front porch together talking about the day.
I recently went to a leadership summit in
I was recently on the phone with my mentor Jim. We were catching up because we had not talked in months. When Jim felt we had caught up enough he asked me a very difficult question. He asked "tell me something you don't want me to know?" It took me a second to answer but I answered honestly.
The question I have is do you have someone in your life that asks you the tough questions? Are you in true biblical fellowship with someone? This is something that will take time and effort but it is something we all need.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Love Affair
Today I read John 15. When I opened my bible I chuckled because John 15:1-10 was one of my memory verses from camp as a kid. This camp I went to gave us points for our team when we memorized scripture. I guess it was not a bad thing because I still remember that passage fairly well. I thought I would breeze through this chapter, but at the end of the chapter Jesus is warning the disciples that the world will hate you like it hated Jesus and his message. I thought to myself, does the world hate me because of my message. Then I thought can the world hate you when you are having a love affair with her? I look at myself and my students and I wonder if we are to in love with this work to be effectively sharing and living for Jesus. I guess just something to ponder while I play facebook games while watching a movie in my comfy bed in my nice dry house enjoying my electric fan blowing on me.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Frustration
I just read the about the death of Lazarus in NLT. I was intrigued because it said that Jesus was angry. As I read it I wondered why Jesus was angry. He knew Lazarus was going to die. In fact I believe he waited so long because he wanted to make sure that Lazarus was good and dead. He waited till everyone knew he was dead. The bible said that Jesus did this so that the power of God would be shown. So why was Jesus angry? I think it was because everyone thought that Jesus could keep Lazarus alive, but no one thought he had the power to raise the dead. I would think it would be frustrating doing miracle after miracle with the people who follow you and call you LORD forgetting how powerful you really are. He was mad and moved with compassion for his love for Lazarus. He raised him from the dead. This miracle pushed the religious leaders over the edge. They wanted him dead and fast. The religious leaders recognized Jesus power and were afraid of losing political control. Do we care more about power or control then we do about what Jesus is doing? I think sometimes in my life I forget how powerful God is and that he can do all that he said he can do. I live for control instead of giving Jesus all control.
The other thing that stuck out to me is that Jesus was not in a hurry to reach his friend. Everyone was mourning the fact that Jesus was late. But Jesus knew he was on time. I think sometimes we forget who the author of time is. We also forget who the keeper of time is. Jesus knows the end from the beginning. He knows the time. He is never late. Do we trust his timing? I have so much to learn.
The other thing that stuck out to me is that Jesus was not in a hurry to reach his friend. Everyone was mourning the fact that Jesus was late. But Jesus knew he was on time. I think sometimes we forget who the author of time is. We also forget who the keeper of time is. Jesus knows the end from the beginning. He knows the time. He is never late. Do we trust his timing? I have so much to learn.
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Power of Prayer
I remember a while back when I was studying the book of James being amazed and shocked at one verse in particular. It was James 5:17; “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” What this says is that, Elijah was a man (or human being) like you and I and he was able to pray and God listened to him. God made it so the earth did not get rain for three years because of Elijah’s prayer. This is power. God has given us this power. He gave us prayer as a way to communicate with him.
I sometimes forget the power that God has given us through prayer. I was convicted of this very recently. I was seeing that I was not seeking God on behalf of my students as much as I should have been. I was not seeking Gods power in my family’s life. I am a fix-it. When something goes wrong I try my best to fix it. But issues of the heart I cannot fix. God is the only one who can change the heart. James 5:16 says this, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Our prayers are powerful and effective. I know this but, I am not sure I always believe it. I say that I believe in prayer, but then I do not live that way. I need to be seeking God in prayer so the power of God may be released in the life of my family, my students, and my church. I sometimes wonder “God what are you doing here?” But again I am not praying to ask God to work. God has told us to ask him for help. James 4:2-3 says, “2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
Are we seeking God for things? Are we asking Him? Are we asking for things that are for His glory? I know for me sometimes I do not ask because I am afraid to ask. However, God has told us the reason we do not have because we do not ask. It is OK to ask and seek the power of God to work in our lives. He will work according to His purposes and His pleasure. He will be consistent. We just need to be willing to seek and ask. This is an act of surrender, of humility. I never thought of prayer as an act of surrender but it is. We do not ask help from other people for a few reasons; we do not want to put people out, or we are just too full of our own pride to ask. It is the same with God. We want to figure it out on our own, and not surrender and say, “God I need your help here.” “I need your power.”
Are we willing to seek God and his power? Are we willing to surrender to him? I know I have seen how God has worked in my life and I have been trying to focus on more prayer in my life. For example a couple of weeks ago I was praying about something in Tomina’s and my life. I was asking God to work. I was seeking his help, looking for his hand in our lives; the next day God provided in that area. The next day!!! Our God is a good God and He wants us to seek his help and guidance through prayer. Are you doing it?
I sometimes forget the power that God has given us through prayer. I was convicted of this very recently. I was seeing that I was not seeking God on behalf of my students as much as I should have been. I was not seeking Gods power in my family’s life. I am a fix-it. When something goes wrong I try my best to fix it. But issues of the heart I cannot fix. God is the only one who can change the heart. James 5:16 says this, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Our prayers are powerful and effective. I know this but, I am not sure I always believe it. I say that I believe in prayer, but then I do not live that way. I need to be seeking God in prayer so the power of God may be released in the life of my family, my students, and my church. I sometimes wonder “God what are you doing here?” But again I am not praying to ask God to work. God has told us to ask him for help. James 4:2-3 says, “2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
Are we seeking God for things? Are we asking Him? Are we asking for things that are for His glory? I know for me sometimes I do not ask because I am afraid to ask. However, God has told us the reason we do not have because we do not ask. It is OK to ask and seek the power of God to work in our lives. He will work according to His purposes and His pleasure. He will be consistent. We just need to be willing to seek and ask. This is an act of surrender, of humility. I never thought of prayer as an act of surrender but it is. We do not ask help from other people for a few reasons; we do not want to put people out, or we are just too full of our own pride to ask. It is the same with God. We want to figure it out on our own, and not surrender and say, “God I need your help here.” “I need your power.”
Are we willing to seek God and his power? Are we willing to surrender to him? I know I have seen how God has worked in my life and I have been trying to focus on more prayer in my life. For example a couple of weeks ago I was praying about something in Tomina’s and my life. I was asking God to work. I was seeking his help, looking for his hand in our lives; the next day God provided in that area. The next day!!! Our God is a good God and He wants us to seek his help and guidance through prayer. Are you doing it?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Zacchaeus
Here is a story in the bible that we love to teach. It is a story of how Jesus loved sinners. I think there is a little more to be learned here. I feel like sometimes we view the stories in the bible as just that, nice stories. But they are real life events. It is a history book that is not finished. It is written, but the events have not all happened yet. Let’s put the story is modern day terms. Zacchaeus is the man that has everything. He has money. He has the nice house. The people that are “friends” with Zacchaeus like him, because they want his money. The people that don’t like him hate him because of his money. This is the person we are afraid to talk to because he will just shoot us down. I think he was lonely because he knew that no one liked him for him. Yet no one was willing to get to know him. Then Jesus comes along and acknowledges him, he eats with Zacchaeus. Jesus has nothing to gain from this relationship, but He reaches out to him just the same.
I was on a mission’s trip recently where we did some street evangelism. We were witnessing in a highly Mormon area. There were people that I let pass by because I was afraid to talk with them. I thought they would know more about their religion than I did. After reading Zacchaeus I wondered how many of them needed to hear the message I had to bring. How many friends, family, and co-workers do we not share Jesus with because we are afraid that they will not respond? We look at people and say “They have all they need.” But they don’t! Why? Because they do not have Jesus! Zacchaeus was a lonely man that needed Jesus, and it took Jesus making time for Zacchaeus in order for him to change. How many people would trust in Jesus if we took time out of our lives to share Jesus with them? He came to seek and save the lost!!!!
I was on a mission’s trip recently where we did some street evangelism. We were witnessing in a highly Mormon area. There were people that I let pass by because I was afraid to talk with them. I thought they would know more about their religion than I did. After reading Zacchaeus I wondered how many of them needed to hear the message I had to bring. How many friends, family, and co-workers do we not share Jesus with because we are afraid that they will not respond? We look at people and say “They have all they need.” But they don’t! Why? Because they do not have Jesus! Zacchaeus was a lonely man that needed Jesus, and it took Jesus making time for Zacchaeus in order for him to change. How many people would trust in Jesus if we took time out of our lives to share Jesus with them? He came to seek and save the lost!!!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Intentional Living
I have been in ministry, working with students, for 10 years. Over the years there have been themes that God has brought out through teaching or experience.
Over the past couple of years I have been hearing the same theme. On the Evangelical Free Church Student Ministries Council I serve on, in staff meetings, in training seminars, and just as God teaches me through His Word, He has been calling me to intentional living.
The problem is, it is easy getting caught up in what needs immediately to be done -- the tyranny of the urgent. You think, if I don’t do it then it no one else will.
I am a doer. I like being a doer. I will help in most situations. If a storage room needs cleaned out, I will help. Martin the senior pastor at my church often says I need to focus. This is a part of intentional living, having in mind the things that are important so you will focus on them. Doing everything in your power to stay on track and accomplish the “big rocks” in your ministry and life. (Big rocks are the most important things that need to be done in ministry and life.)
As a believer in Jesus, in life and ministry I have two main foci. These need to rule everything I do. They are: the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission.
Jesus gets asked the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” And He answers this question. His response summarizes the most important thing that you and I can do with our lives. There is no bigger rock in life or ministry.
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-40: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
These verses for believers should form the basis for our everyday intentionality. They should be what we live for, what makes us tick. When we are building our lives around them, our hearts and lives will change. We will be different.
What defines you? What are your “big rocks?” If we desire to live intentionally, we will ask these kinds of questions. Then we will change, based on the answer to these questions.
I know I have a long way to go to be an intentional liver. But I need to start the process. I need to ask the questions and allow the answers to shape the way I live.
A couple of years ago I was listening to a sermon. A statement that the pastor made will stick with me for the rest of my life. He said, the way we live shows us who is on the throne of our life. How you answer these questions defines you. Knowing what your big rocks are will help you see who or what is on the throne of your life. Take time this next week and ask these questions.
Over the past couple of years I have been hearing the same theme. On the Evangelical Free Church Student Ministries Council I serve on, in staff meetings, in training seminars, and just as God teaches me through His Word, He has been calling me to intentional living.
The problem is, it is easy getting caught up in what needs immediately to be done -- the tyranny of the urgent. You think, if I don’t do it then it no one else will.
I am a doer. I like being a doer. I will help in most situations. If a storage room needs cleaned out, I will help. Martin the senior pastor at my church often says I need to focus. This is a part of intentional living, having in mind the things that are important so you will focus on them. Doing everything in your power to stay on track and accomplish the “big rocks” in your ministry and life. (Big rocks are the most important things that need to be done in ministry and life.)
As a believer in Jesus, in life and ministry I have two main foci. These need to rule everything I do. They are: the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission.
Jesus gets asked the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” And He answers this question. His response summarizes the most important thing that you and I can do with our lives. There is no bigger rock in life or ministry.
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-40: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
These verses for believers should form the basis for our everyday intentionality. They should be what we live for, what makes us tick. When we are building our lives around them, our hearts and lives will change. We will be different.
What defines you? What are your “big rocks?” If we desire to live intentionally, we will ask these kinds of questions. Then we will change, based on the answer to these questions.
I know I have a long way to go to be an intentional liver. But I need to start the process. I need to ask the questions and allow the answers to shape the way I live.
A couple of years ago I was listening to a sermon. A statement that the pastor made will stick with me for the rest of my life. He said, the way we live shows us who is on the throne of our life. How you answer these questions defines you. Knowing what your big rocks are will help you see who or what is on the throne of your life. Take time this next week and ask these questions.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Being a teacher
I love teaching. I love being a teacher. I feel this is one of the gifts God has given me. In fact I have to be careful not to rely on the gift and instead rely on God to help me be the best teacher I can. Well, I have been gone for my students for about 4 weeks. I miss them and want my first lesson back to be a good one. So I opened my curriculum and found the lesson that was supposed to be taught last week. But for some reason it was not. As I started to study for it, I felt like a 2 by 4 hit me across the face. This lesson is not for my students. I know some of them could use it, but I need it as much or more than they do. The lesson is on making sure your speech builds people up. Ephesians 4:29 haunts me. Like I said I love being a teacher. This is why. I know I need my life to be more conformed to the image of Jesus. My heart needs to change; if my heart is changed my speech will be changed. I can be embarrassed by what comes out of my heart. I am just glad that God chooses to use sinners to do his work.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Last Blog from Africa
Well, I am back in the Central African Republic. This trip has gone fast. The youth team has put a lot of miles. I am going to do my best of summarizing our last training stop and the trip.
The last training session was is Boyabo(sp?). Let me just say that this was a humbling experience. We arrived in Boyabo on Monday night. When we were at the entrance of the church driveway the driver let us out. We were greeted with a guy’s choir. We walk through the guy’s choir to the girl’s choir. We walked through the girl’s choir to where the youth were singing. As we walk through each group they followed us to chairs in front of what we thoughts was the pastor’s house. We sat their while the guys choir sang three songs. Then the girls choir sang three songs. Then the band started playing. The youth sang and danced for us. This started at 5:30pm. The band and the dancing did not stop till after 9:00pm. We went inside about 7:00pm for dinner. As we walked in we were told that this house was where we were staying. The house was built because we were coming. We all had separate beds with mattresses and new mosquito nets. They made us our own showering hut type thing. It was so nice. The food was so good as well.
The seminar went well. It was a little tough to do because we had over 300 people attend. That does not include the women and children that were just there to see what we were doing. The people attending the seminar were very responsive. They were a little crazy according to our translator. We would ask a question and they would not answer our question they would ask some other question. When all was said and done the seminar went well. We felt a little like celebrities because a lot of the youth workers wanted pictures with us.
As I sit in my room at the Grace Brethren Mission I am sad my trip is over, but I am ready to come home. I miss my family. I miss some creature comforts. I will miss the people I spent a lot of time with in the Congo. I made some friends. I am sure this will not be my last trip to the Congo. We will have to see what God wants to do. I know there are some in the Congo praying that I come back with my wife.
Over the next couple days I will try and upload some pictures and videos. I will also try to put together a video for our church and load it on youtube so that all of you can see it.
Please keep praying for me. I am not home yet. I hope to be on Saturday morning. Please pray for Cal and I as we process the trip. Pray that God would speak to us.
Thanks again for all of your prayer and support. I will update you all again when I can.
The last training session was is Boyabo(sp?). Let me just say that this was a humbling experience. We arrived in Boyabo on Monday night. When we were at the entrance of the church driveway the driver let us out. We were greeted with a guy’s choir. We walk through the guy’s choir to the girl’s choir. We walked through the girl’s choir to where the youth were singing. As we walk through each group they followed us to chairs in front of what we thoughts was the pastor’s house. We sat their while the guys choir sang three songs. Then the girls choir sang three songs. Then the band started playing. The youth sang and danced for us. This started at 5:30pm. The band and the dancing did not stop till after 9:00pm. We went inside about 7:00pm for dinner. As we walked in we were told that this house was where we were staying. The house was built because we were coming. We all had separate beds with mattresses and new mosquito nets. They made us our own showering hut type thing. It was so nice. The food was so good as well.
The seminar went well. It was a little tough to do because we had over 300 people attend. That does not include the women and children that were just there to see what we were doing. The people attending the seminar were very responsive. They were a little crazy according to our translator. We would ask a question and they would not answer our question they would ask some other question. When all was said and done the seminar went well. We felt a little like celebrities because a lot of the youth workers wanted pictures with us.
As I sit in my room at the Grace Brethren Mission I am sad my trip is over, but I am ready to come home. I miss my family. I miss some creature comforts. I will miss the people I spent a lot of time with in the Congo. I made some friends. I am sure this will not be my last trip to the Congo. We will have to see what God wants to do. I know there are some in the Congo praying that I come back with my wife.
Over the next couple days I will try and upload some pictures and videos. I will also try to put together a video for our church and load it on youtube so that all of you can see it.
Please keep praying for me. I am not home yet. I hope to be on Saturday morning. Please pray for Cal and I as we process the trip. Pray that God would speak to us.
Thanks again for all of your prayer and support. I will update you all again when I can.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday's Congo Update
Well I have a lot to write. Yesterday was rather eventful. It started at 3:30am. We got up to go to Budjala. The drive to Budjala was surreal. I seriously thought we were going to get robbed. We were in the middle of no where driving in the jungle. It was crazy. We were in thick jungle. At some places the truck was wider then the road. The road was horrible as well. There were lots of huge wholes with water in them. It took us two hours to get there.
When we got there we were greeted with a band and a choir. It was 6:00am and the band was ready and waiting for us. They had a bass and electric guitar with a drum set. They also had a African Drum, one of the big one's. I am not sure what it is called.
Then we had to wait for two hours for our seminar to start. We ate breakfast at 8:00am when the seminar was supposed to start. We had bread, fish and some tea. The fish was good. I did feel sick about an hour after eating it. I blame the fish.
When we started the seminar we had over 220 people there. The crowed was very responsive. In fact when I stood up to give my testimony they all started laughing at me. I asked the interpreter why they were laughing. He said that I had a big smile and was very happy, so they were very happy I was happy. The seminar went well. We were all real tired. The driver tried to take a nap in the truck during the session, but I am not sure he slept at all.
This was the first time since I have been in Africa that people have just kept asking for money. We had two high school students ask us to pray that God would give them the money to go to Bible school. They asked us to pray for them. That was the nice way to ask for money. Right before we left we had a guy come up to us and ask us for a Bible. We said they would have to ask the Pastor that is traveling with us. He didn't like that answer. Then he asked if we could give him a P A system. I said we didn't have one. He didn't like that answer either. He was mad at us when the conversation ended. I was rather frustrated. I blame some of that on the fact that I got very little sleep the night before.
We arrived back in Tandala at 7:30pm. It was such a long day. But it was a good day. I had fun teaching the seminar. It seemed to go well. One of the funnest things we did was to teach them all how to throw a Frisbee. Just image 220+ people playing Frisbee. It was chaos.
Today was not very busy. I had very little to do. We didn't have a seminar. I went to chapel. Brent and I took a tour of the hospital. A big group of us went to where the locals get their drinking water. I tried to carry it on my head like they do, but I didn't do very well. It was interesting. They bathe at the same place where they get water. Let's just say some of the ladies didn't care that we were there. Thema told them that guys were coming down. When we first got their everyone was clothed. But by the time we left a couple of them were bathing.
We also were able to play soccer with the kids. It was fun. I was so sweaty. Today was hot.
Well I think that is all for today. We are off to Kungu tomorrow. The team with be Brent, Tyler, Elissa, Amanda and I. We want to show them what youth ministry looks like. Please pray for safe travel. We will be leaving at 5:00am. I am just making up for all those times I didn't get into work early enough. Pray that the seminar would go well.
If you have any questions please ask. I would love to know what information people want to hear about. As my wife would tell you. I give the as little detail as I can get away with when writing.
When we got there we were greeted with a band and a choir. It was 6:00am and the band was ready and waiting for us. They had a bass and electric guitar with a drum set. They also had a African Drum, one of the big one's. I am not sure what it is called.
Then we had to wait for two hours for our seminar to start. We ate breakfast at 8:00am when the seminar was supposed to start. We had bread, fish and some tea. The fish was good. I did feel sick about an hour after eating it. I blame the fish.
When we started the seminar we had over 220 people there. The crowed was very responsive. In fact when I stood up to give my testimony they all started laughing at me. I asked the interpreter why they were laughing. He said that I had a big smile and was very happy, so they were very happy I was happy. The seminar went well. We were all real tired. The driver tried to take a nap in the truck during the session, but I am not sure he slept at all.
This was the first time since I have been in Africa that people have just kept asking for money. We had two high school students ask us to pray that God would give them the money to go to Bible school. They asked us to pray for them. That was the nice way to ask for money. Right before we left we had a guy come up to us and ask us for a Bible. We said they would have to ask the Pastor that is traveling with us. He didn't like that answer. Then he asked if we could give him a P A system. I said we didn't have one. He didn't like that answer either. He was mad at us when the conversation ended. I was rather frustrated. I blame some of that on the fact that I got very little sleep the night before.
We arrived back in Tandala at 7:30pm. It was such a long day. But it was a good day. I had fun teaching the seminar. It seemed to go well. One of the funnest things we did was to teach them all how to throw a Frisbee. Just image 220+ people playing Frisbee. It was chaos.
Today was not very busy. I had very little to do. We didn't have a seminar. I went to chapel. Brent and I took a tour of the hospital. A big group of us went to where the locals get their drinking water. I tried to carry it on my head like they do, but I didn't do very well. It was interesting. They bathe at the same place where they get water. Let's just say some of the ladies didn't care that we were there. Thema told them that guys were coming down. When we first got their everyone was clothed. But by the time we left a couple of them were bathing.
We also were able to play soccer with the kids. It was fun. I was so sweaty. Today was hot.
Well I think that is all for today. We are off to Kungu tomorrow. The team with be Brent, Tyler, Elissa, Amanda and I. We want to show them what youth ministry looks like. Please pray for safe travel. We will be leaving at 5:00am. I am just making up for all those times I didn't get into work early enough. Pray that the seminar would go well.
If you have any questions please ask. I would love to know what information people want to hear about. As my wife would tell you. I give the as little detail as I can get away with when writing.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday's Congo Update
Today was rather uneventful. When we woke up it was raining. I guess when it rains nothing happens. We were able to sleep in. The temperature was low. It was nice. Yesterday was so hot, so it is nice that it cooled down.
We were supposed to travel to Budjala but with the weather we drove to Tandala instead. Tandala is closer to Budjala and the roads to Tandala are better. We are going to do a seminar in Budjala tomorrow.
On the way to Tandala we saw many people that were at our seminar in Gemena. It was very humbling. They would say Hi and erupt with happiness. Again this is very humbling.
Yesterday’s seminar went very well. We had 150 people attend. They seemed to respond very well. We had one funny thing happen at the seminar. We were teaching through inductive bible study. After teaching them about it we gave them a passage of scripture to assess based on the inductive tool we gave them. It took them over an hour to finish. The story we gave them to assess was the prodigal son. When they were done and we had reviewed it with them, we asked if they had any questions. One gentleman stood up and was questioning if what I was teaching was biblical. I said something to the effect that the prodigal son lost his inheritance. That when his dad died he would get nothing. This young man said that no where in the text does it say that the dad died and that the son would not get an inheritance again. The two other guys in my group and I laughed at that one afterword because that had nothing to do with the story or the training.
I am sorry this post is so short. I am tired and we are leaving early in the morning. Please keep praying for us. We are with the rest of the team. Everyone seems to be doing well (Elissa and Amanda are both feeling fine. They are teaching some Congolese people to sing how great is our God). We have internet at in Tandala so hopefully you will get more updates.
We were supposed to travel to Budjala but with the weather we drove to Tandala instead. Tandala is closer to Budjala and the roads to Tandala are better. We are going to do a seminar in Budjala tomorrow.
On the way to Tandala we saw many people that were at our seminar in Gemena. It was very humbling. They would say Hi and erupt with happiness. Again this is very humbling.
Yesterday’s seminar went very well. We had 150 people attend. They seemed to respond very well. We had one funny thing happen at the seminar. We were teaching through inductive bible study. After teaching them about it we gave them a passage of scripture to assess based on the inductive tool we gave them. It took them over an hour to finish. The story we gave them to assess was the prodigal son. When they were done and we had reviewed it with them, we asked if they had any questions. One gentleman stood up and was questioning if what I was teaching was biblical. I said something to the effect that the prodigal son lost his inheritance. That when his dad died he would get nothing. This young man said that no where in the text does it say that the dad died and that the son would not get an inheritance again. The two other guys in my group and I laughed at that one afterword because that had nothing to do with the story or the training.
I am sorry this post is so short. I am tired and we are leaving early in the morning. Please keep praying for us. We are with the rest of the team. Everyone seems to be doing well (Elissa and Amanda are both feeling fine. They are teaching some Congolese people to sing how great is our God). We have internet at in Tandala so hopefully you will get more updates.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday Morning in the Congo
The trip has now gotten a little harder for the youth team. We are on our own. All the missionaries from reach global have gone to Tandala. We have been left in Gemena to do our trainings. We have two people from the CECU that are working with us. They both speak English fairly well.
Yesterday we started the first training session. We were supposed to start at 2:00pm but did not get to the church where the training was being held until 3:30pm. The driver must have misunderstood the guy who is making all the arrangements for our group. I was driven to the training by motorcycle while the other two guys waited for the truck to pick them up. While on the motorcycle we drove through the market at Gemena. I saw even more poverty and a little worse than what I had previously seen. I just want to say that if I do not ride on another motorcycle in the Congo I will be happy. The streets are packed and the roads are horrible. I have no reason to ever complain about the roads we have in the US.
Our first training went well. We have 128 people there. We tried to teach them an icebreaker game. I am not sure how it went over. It was funny to watch. We only were able to get through the first part of the training. Today we finish the training.
Please pray that the training would go well. Pray that we would speak in a way that the translators can interpret.
Thank you for praying. It is making a difference. Our trip has had very little go wrong. We are not used to waiting around as much as we are, but time is not a big thing in this country.
Yesterday we started the first training session. We were supposed to start at 2:00pm but did not get to the church where the training was being held until 3:30pm. The driver must have misunderstood the guy who is making all the arrangements for our group. I was driven to the training by motorcycle while the other two guys waited for the truck to pick them up. While on the motorcycle we drove through the market at Gemena. I saw even more poverty and a little worse than what I had previously seen. I just want to say that if I do not ride on another motorcycle in the Congo I will be happy. The streets are packed and the roads are horrible. I have no reason to ever complain about the roads we have in the US.
Our first training went well. We have 128 people there. We tried to teach them an icebreaker game. I am not sure how it went over. It was funny to watch. We only were able to get through the first part of the training. Today we finish the training.
Please pray that the training would go well. Pray that we would speak in a way that the translators can interpret.
Thank you for praying. It is making a difference. Our trip has had very little go wrong. We are not used to waiting around as much as we are, but time is not a big thing in this country.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Congo Update
For those of you who know me I am a fairly blunt person. I like when I know where I stand with people and things. I stink at journaling, so this blog is going to serve as my journal. This means I may say things that come across as in sensitive but really I am just trying to process my experiences while I am in
I have been in
On Friday the 24 of April we crossed over into the Democratic Republic of Congo. We arrived by dug out tree trunk. Then we drove for 14 hours in a
We are all now in Gemena. We have been here for two days. It is nice in terms of accommodations. I have had a shower every night. We have eaten well. We have had the same meal for the last two days. I do miss American food. I am not going to lie.
I am struck by my lack of being moved by the poverty. Some of that has to do with the fact I am comfortable with the team I am in. I think it makes it easy to be emotionally detached from my surroundings. When Monday comes and our groups split up and we are doing the training and talking with people I believe I will be more moved.
Please pray for me that I would allow God to work in me. I have been in the word. We have been praying as a group together. At this point I do not feel God moving anything in me. Mostly I think I am unable to see what God is doing. I believe he is at work. It will probably be seen better from the rear view mirror of this trip.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thirsty
I know that I dry up inside when I am not in the word. I have made myself so "busy" that my time with God has been lacking. I know I have time for what I make time for, so this is my fault. I have made time for other things. Well tonight I drank from the well of God's word and it was refreshing. I read Luke 1. I have read Luke before, but tonight there were things jumping off the page.
1. God gave Zechariah a son because he heard the prayers of Zechariah and his wife. I also believe God gave them a son in order to help Mary understand that God can do what he said he was going to do. This is rich for us. We can take comfort that God is in control of our lives. He knows what he is doing. He will do what he says, we need to have faith.
2. Both Zachariah and Mary praised God for remembering his promises. The families of both Mary and Zachariah passed on the story of God to their children. This is so important. We need to know the story of God so that we can understand how he works and what he has promised.
3. John the baptist was going to preach the same message that Elijah did. He was going to point the fathers to the children and the children to their fathers. It is so important for fathers to have a heart for their children. It is so important for fathers to have a string relationship with God so they can pass that on to their kids.
This was rich. I am blessed I have a God that forgives when I sin by not spending time with him. Then he blesses me when I do. He is truely an AMAZING GOD!!!!
1. God gave Zechariah a son because he heard the prayers of Zechariah and his wife. I also believe God gave them a son in order to help Mary understand that God can do what he said he was going to do. This is rich for us. We can take comfort that God is in control of our lives. He knows what he is doing. He will do what he says, we need to have faith.
2. Both Zachariah and Mary praised God for remembering his promises. The families of both Mary and Zachariah passed on the story of God to their children. This is so important. We need to know the story of God so that we can understand how he works and what he has promised.
3. John the baptist was going to preach the same message that Elijah did. He was going to point the fathers to the children and the children to their fathers. It is so important for fathers to have a heart for their children. It is so important for fathers to have a string relationship with God so they can pass that on to their kids.
This was rich. I am blessed I have a God that forgives when I sin by not spending time with him. Then he blesses me when I do. He is truely an AMAZING GOD!!!!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Mandates
In the Bible there are two mandates that all other commandments fall under. When we put our faith and trust in Christ we are mandated to love God and love others. If we don't, then we are being disobedient to God -- we are living in sin. As we love God and love others, we are called to make disciples. This means we are to help others grow closer to Jesus. We are to train them how to have a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus. In order for us to train someone else, we have to have that type of relationship with Christ.
As we train others to have a deep relationship with Christ, we encourage them to train someone else. This discipleship process has to happen from one generation to the next. This is how Christ set up his Church. The Church is believers coming together in the name of Christ, sharpening each other. This is my purpose for going to the Congo. I am going in order to sharpen and to be sharpened. I am going to make disciples and to be discipled.
While I am there I will be working with another youth pastor and one of his college students. We will be traveling all over the Congo to bring training to the youth workers in the Congolese Free Church. There will be over 800 indigenous youth workers attending our four training seminars. Two of these seminars are going to be in remote parts of the Congo. This is going to be crazy, but God is good and faithful.
Right now in the Congo the only youth ministry that the church has is youth choirs. This is not a bad thing; it is just incomplete. Our hearts are to bring a holistic view of ministry. We want to train youth leaders in teaching biblical literacy, teaching evangelism, moral living, and service. We are not sure what this training will look like, but these are the key areas we feel need to be taught in order to make disciples who can make disciples.
This trip is going to be stretching for me. I said earlier that I was hoping to be sharpened. By spending two weeks with other believers who are completely opposite me in their culture, I will inevitably learn from them. I am looking forward to God working in me, teaching and training me how to be a more effective minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.Please keep the members of the team going to the Congo in prayer. We are going to be tested and challenged to grow while we are gone. Pray that our hearts will be open to hear the voice of God speak truth to us.
My challenge for you is: are you making disciples? Do you love God and love others the way God commands you to? As a church our vision is building disciples who finish the race. We need to be actively seeking others we can disciple. We need to seek others who can disciple us and impart wisdom on us. If we do not do this we are not being the Church. We are not being who God calls us to be. Please ask God to lay people on your heart that you can help grow as a disciple. Also ask God to lay someone on your heart who can disciple you.
As we train others to have a deep relationship with Christ, we encourage them to train someone else. This discipleship process has to happen from one generation to the next. This is how Christ set up his Church. The Church is believers coming together in the name of Christ, sharpening each other. This is my purpose for going to the Congo. I am going in order to sharpen and to be sharpened. I am going to make disciples and to be discipled.
While I am there I will be working with another youth pastor and one of his college students. We will be traveling all over the Congo to bring training to the youth workers in the Congolese Free Church. There will be over 800 indigenous youth workers attending our four training seminars. Two of these seminars are going to be in remote parts of the Congo. This is going to be crazy, but God is good and faithful.
Right now in the Congo the only youth ministry that the church has is youth choirs. This is not a bad thing; it is just incomplete. Our hearts are to bring a holistic view of ministry. We want to train youth leaders in teaching biblical literacy, teaching evangelism, moral living, and service. We are not sure what this training will look like, but these are the key areas we feel need to be taught in order to make disciples who can make disciples.
This trip is going to be stretching for me. I said earlier that I was hoping to be sharpened. By spending two weeks with other believers who are completely opposite me in their culture, I will inevitably learn from them. I am looking forward to God working in me, teaching and training me how to be a more effective minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.Please keep the members of the team going to the Congo in prayer. We are going to be tested and challenged to grow while we are gone. Pray that our hearts will be open to hear the voice of God speak truth to us.
My challenge for you is: are you making disciples? Do you love God and love others the way God commands you to? As a church our vision is building disciples who finish the race. We need to be actively seeking others we can disciple. We need to seek others who can disciple us and impart wisdom on us. If we do not do this we are not being the Church. We are not being who God calls us to be. Please ask God to lay people on your heart that you can help grow as a disciple. Also ask God to lay someone on your heart who can disciple you.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Rhythms of Life
I hate writing. I know I am bad at it. I look back at my schooling career and wish I would have paid attention to what my English teachers were teaching. I need a grammar book for dummies. But one thing I know is when I blog after I read my bible it means I am in a good place. What blogging makes me do is think through what I am reading. It makes it so that I am not just going through the motions of reading because I know that is what I am supposed to do. It gives me more of a purpose. It makes me think, so what about what I just read.
For instance today I read Mark 10. This was a good reminder that as a follower of Jesus I am called to give up everything to God. I am called to make sure God is more important to me than anything. This is convicting because I love to place sport on a pedestal. If I spent as much time with God as I do on keeping up with sports, I would be very close to God. I know this, now am I willing to Change? That is the questions.
Mark 10 goes on to talk about as followers of Jesus we should seek to serve, not be important. This is huge for me. I have always wanted to be apart of the "in crowed." This is so junior high and high school, but to this day I have to watch how I act because I can try to get into what I think is the important crowed. God has not called me to be important, he has called me to serve. He has called me to be last. He has called me to wash the feet of those around me.
Back to what I was saying earlier. I need to blog what I read because it is a rhythm that helps me grow. We as believers need to find the rhythms of life that help us grow closer to God. It may mean listening to music that puts you in the presence of God. It may mean sitting in silence. It may mean prayer. We need to find what it is that make us closer to God. We need to find our rhythms of life and practice them. We need to invite others in the body to experience our rhythms.
For instance today I read Mark 10. This was a good reminder that as a follower of Jesus I am called to give up everything to God. I am called to make sure God is more important to me than anything. This is convicting because I love to place sport on a pedestal. If I spent as much time with God as I do on keeping up with sports, I would be very close to God. I know this, now am I willing to Change? That is the questions.
Mark 10 goes on to talk about as followers of Jesus we should seek to serve, not be important. This is huge for me. I have always wanted to be apart of the "in crowed." This is so junior high and high school, but to this day I have to watch how I act because I can try to get into what I think is the important crowed. God has not called me to be important, he has called me to serve. He has called me to be last. He has called me to wash the feet of those around me.
Back to what I was saying earlier. I need to blog what I read because it is a rhythm that helps me grow. We as believers need to find the rhythms of life that help us grow closer to God. It may mean listening to music that puts you in the presence of God. It may mean sitting in silence. It may mean prayer. We need to find what it is that make us closer to God. We need to find our rhythms of life and practice them. We need to invite others in the body to experience our rhythms.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Updated Congo Missions Trip Information
Dear Friends and Family,
I pray that you are all doing well. Two years ago my church started on a journey towards partnering with the Evangelical Free Church of Congo. We sent a team to do a vision trip. After hearing what the team came back with, I was excited to see if there was a way I could help partner with the Congo Free Church. After praying about it with Tomina I felt like God was giving me the green light to go. Now all I needed was a reason to go. Well, I talked with the leaders of the Congo trip this coming April. There is an opportunity for me and one other youth pastor to meet and partner with the director over youth ministry in the Congolese Free Church. We would be going over there to learn the culture, assess the ministry that they are doing there, and then work with the director to think of ways to do ministry more effectively in the Congo. We are not going over there to tell them how to do ministry. We are going to partner with them as fresh eyes to look and come up with a plan together. This is exciting to me. The trip is from April 25th – May 10th 2009.
There are two big hurdles at this point. The first of which in God’s economy is not that big. The cost of the trip is going to be about $5,000. This will include everything I would need, but it is an amount that is bigger than my family has. Please prayerfully consider partnering with me as I partner with the Congolese Free Church. If you want to give to this ministry opportunity you can send a tax deductible check to Elim Evangelical Free Church, 9421 128th St E, Puyallup WA 98373. The second hurdle is, this is a big scary trip for me. I am away from my wife and my two little girls. I know that God has opened the door for me to go. I just need a team to support me in prayer. If you are willing to be a prayer partner please email me at bsharpe@elimefc.org. I would love to be able to update you so that you know exactly how to pray. Thank you for your time. I look forward to partnering with you as we partner with the Congolese Free Church. I thank God that he has placed so many people in my life all over the country that are such an encouragement to me.
In Him,
Brian Sharpe
UPDATED INFORMATION
To this date God has provided $2000 of the $5000 that I need.
The trip dates have been changed because we cannot fly into Kinshasa Congo. Now we have to fly into the Central African Republic. The dates are from April21-May 8th.
The training we will be doing for youth workers will be in large group sessions. They leader of the youth workers said we could have more than 800 youth workers we will be training. Doing the training will be myself, another youth pastor and one of his college students. This is CRAZY please keep myself and the other youth workers that are going to do the training.
I pray that you are all doing well. Two years ago my church started on a journey towards partnering with the Evangelical Free Church of Congo. We sent a team to do a vision trip. After hearing what the team came back with, I was excited to see if there was a way I could help partner with the Congo Free Church. After praying about it with Tomina I felt like God was giving me the green light to go. Now all I needed was a reason to go. Well, I talked with the leaders of the Congo trip this coming April. There is an opportunity for me and one other youth pastor to meet and partner with the director over youth ministry in the Congolese Free Church. We would be going over there to learn the culture, assess the ministry that they are doing there, and then work with the director to think of ways to do ministry more effectively in the Congo. We are not going over there to tell them how to do ministry. We are going to partner with them as fresh eyes to look and come up with a plan together. This is exciting to me. The trip is from April 25th – May 10th 2009.
There are two big hurdles at this point. The first of which in God’s economy is not that big. The cost of the trip is going to be about $5,000. This will include everything I would need, but it is an amount that is bigger than my family has. Please prayerfully consider partnering with me as I partner with the Congolese Free Church. If you want to give to this ministry opportunity you can send a tax deductible check to Elim Evangelical Free Church, 9421 128th St E, Puyallup WA 98373. The second hurdle is, this is a big scary trip for me. I am away from my wife and my two little girls. I know that God has opened the door for me to go. I just need a team to support me in prayer. If you are willing to be a prayer partner please email me at bsharpe@elimefc.org. I would love to be able to update you so that you know exactly how to pray. Thank you for your time. I look forward to partnering with you as we partner with the Congolese Free Church. I thank God that he has placed so many people in my life all over the country that are such an encouragement to me.
In Him,
Brian Sharpe
UPDATED INFORMATION
To this date God has provided $2000 of the $5000 that I need.
The trip dates have been changed because we cannot fly into Kinshasa Congo. Now we have to fly into the Central African Republic. The dates are from April21-May 8th.
The training we will be doing for youth workers will be in large group sessions. They leader of the youth workers said we could have more than 800 youth workers we will be training. Doing the training will be myself, another youth pastor and one of his college students. This is CRAZY please keep myself and the other youth workers that are going to do the training.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Perspective
Job 1:20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground before God. 21 He said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The LORD gave me everything I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!" 22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
This week God taught me a little about perspective. I am convinced that we react to what life throws at us based on perspective. If you are someone that enjoys the finer things in life, when the economy is like this there is a lot of worry based on whether you can keep living the way that you desire. If you are a person that is poor and you are used to doing whatever it takes to get by, then this economy does not worry you. If you live in Africa and have nothing of monetary value, life may bring you joy. But if you are a visitor looking at their joy you may wonder what is the source of their joy because you may not see joy in their circumstances. It is all based on perspective.
For me this week has been challenging. My wife has been out of commission all week. We spent most of the week trying to figure out what was wrong with her. When we finally did she has a blood clot in her leg. She is nine weeks pregnant with a blood clot. She spent two nights in a hospital. But I found myself not really worried. I have had nothing but positive experiences at the hospital my wife was at. I have had nothing but positive experiences with my wife's doctor. I trusted the people that were caring for her. I also trusted that God was in control. I could have been freaking out, but it would have done me no good. In case you are wondering my wife is home and doing a little better. When going through trials perspective is everything.
This is where the passage above comes in to play. Job loses everything and his response was unbelievable. If it were me I am not sure how I would respond, but he responded the best way he could. He gave glory to God. He recognized who gave him all that he had. What perspective. My prayer is that as I go through life's struggles I will have a proper perspective. A perspective focused on who Jesus is and what he has done for me.
This week God taught me a little about perspective. I am convinced that we react to what life throws at us based on perspective. If you are someone that enjoys the finer things in life, when the economy is like this there is a lot of worry based on whether you can keep living the way that you desire. If you are a person that is poor and you are used to doing whatever it takes to get by, then this economy does not worry you. If you live in Africa and have nothing of monetary value, life may bring you joy. But if you are a visitor looking at their joy you may wonder what is the source of their joy because you may not see joy in their circumstances. It is all based on perspective.
For me this week has been challenging. My wife has been out of commission all week. We spent most of the week trying to figure out what was wrong with her. When we finally did she has a blood clot in her leg. She is nine weeks pregnant with a blood clot. She spent two nights in a hospital. But I found myself not really worried. I have had nothing but positive experiences at the hospital my wife was at. I have had nothing but positive experiences with my wife's doctor. I trusted the people that were caring for her. I also trusted that God was in control. I could have been freaking out, but it would have done me no good. In case you are wondering my wife is home and doing a little better. When going through trials perspective is everything.
This is where the passage above comes in to play. Job loses everything and his response was unbelievable. If it were me I am not sure how I would respond, but he responded the best way he could. He gave glory to God. He recognized who gave him all that he had. What perspective. My prayer is that as I go through life's struggles I will have a proper perspective. A perspective focused on who Jesus is and what he has done for me.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Open your eyes
Jesus is teaching 5000 plus people. It hits dinner time and there is not food near by but 5 loaves and three fish. Jesus feeds all of the people with that little amount of food.
A little while later Jesus is teaching 4000 people. They are without food as well. Jesus takes 7 loaves and some fish and he feeds the people with that. Before Jesus feeds the people. He asks his disciples to feed the people. They say how are we supposed to do that. They had forgotten what Jesus had done with the 5000 people.
Jesus and his disciples are in a boat a while later. The bible does not say how long is between these stories. If there is any indication I am not sure of it. Well his disciples start to fight because they are in the middle of a big lake. They are sailing to the other side. They know they are going to be on the boat for a long time. They are fighting because they didn't pack enough food. Jesus hears them arguing and asks them if they have learned anything from their time with him. Here he feeds 9000 people with very little food and they are worried about having enough food.
How many times do you and I learn something that God is trying to teach us and forget what we learned the next chance we have to show that we learned from our lack of faith. If I was Jesus I would be hitting these guys in the back of the head. I would ask them to open their eyes. It is just interesting that these guys who walked with Jesus struggled with the same things we do. We just do not pay enough attention to how God is working. We look through our earthly eyes in stead of looking through our God given eyes. He is at work always!!!
I just found this interesting.
A little while later Jesus is teaching 4000 people. They are without food as well. Jesus takes 7 loaves and some fish and he feeds the people with that. Before Jesus feeds the people. He asks his disciples to feed the people. They say how are we supposed to do that. They had forgotten what Jesus had done with the 5000 people.
Jesus and his disciples are in a boat a while later. The bible does not say how long is between these stories. If there is any indication I am not sure of it. Well his disciples start to fight because they are in the middle of a big lake. They are sailing to the other side. They know they are going to be on the boat for a long time. They are fighting because they didn't pack enough food. Jesus hears them arguing and asks them if they have learned anything from their time with him. Here he feeds 9000 people with very little food and they are worried about having enough food.
How many times do you and I learn something that God is trying to teach us and forget what we learned the next chance we have to show that we learned from our lack of faith. If I was Jesus I would be hitting these guys in the back of the head. I would ask them to open their eyes. It is just interesting that these guys who walked with Jesus struggled with the same things we do. We just do not pay enough attention to how God is working. We look through our earthly eyes in stead of looking through our God given eyes. He is at work always!!!
I just found this interesting.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Peace be still
I love when I get back into the habit of reading my bible. This is the second day in a row. I have just 29 more days to make it a habit :) . I would love to have this as a habit. I love getting stuff out of God's word. Even though some stuff is not new, it is just nice to remember God is much bigger than I can even imagine.
Jesus proved that he is in more control then what people think time and time again. Here in Mark chapter 4 Jesus is teaching a massive crowds. His disciples are going to him after the teachings and saying what did that mean. They had the inside track. They knew he was a great teacher. Then he blows their mind. They get into a boat and a storm roles in. Jesus is sleeping in the boat. His disciples are so terrified that they wake him in a panic. Ok, some of these guys were fishermen. They lived on a boat. I am sure they have been in bad storms, so this one must have been bad. Now they are crying to Jesus because they are affraid of this storm. What does Jesus do? He gets up and says peace be still, and the storm listens to him. If I were there I think I would have soiled myself. I would have said the same thing they did. Who is this man that the wind and waves listen to him. In the same way we need to remember in life Jesus is in control of the coas of our life. He is in control when we feel like things are out of control. This is not a new thing for me, but it is a good thing to remember.
God is in way more control than we know!!!!!!!!!!!
Jesus proved that he is in more control then what people think time and time again. Here in Mark chapter 4 Jesus is teaching a massive crowds. His disciples are going to him after the teachings and saying what did that mean. They had the inside track. They knew he was a great teacher. Then he blows their mind. They get into a boat and a storm roles in. Jesus is sleeping in the boat. His disciples are so terrified that they wake him in a panic. Ok, some of these guys were fishermen. They lived on a boat. I am sure they have been in bad storms, so this one must have been bad. Now they are crying to Jesus because they are affraid of this storm. What does Jesus do? He gets up and says peace be still, and the storm listens to him. If I were there I think I would have soiled myself. I would have said the same thing they did. Who is this man that the wind and waves listen to him. In the same way we need to remember in life Jesus is in control of the coas of our life. He is in control when we feel like things are out of control. This is not a new thing for me, but it is a good thing to remember.
God is in way more control than we know!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
How tiring
This Christmas season has been busy for me. I have made some time for God, but not a lot. I made more time for entertainment and family. Which I believe God wants us to value family and fun. I just know it takes more of a priority than Him sometimes. If I were God, I would get tired of my lack of time I make for him. If I were God I would be sick of providing for me. But he is not easily tired of us. He loves us with undying love.
Reading Mark was interesting tonight. Here Jesus was about to heal a sick man. His enemies, supposedly God fearing men, were looking to trap him. They wanted to see if Jesus was going to heal on the sabbath. Jesus then tries to draw them out. Their hearts got hardened and then he healed the man. They get so mad at Jesus that they plotted to kill him. Here Jesus was doing good things. He was doing things that helped people, and yet the religious people were getting mad at him. They were saying that he was not following the rules. He was doing ministry in a way that was ungodly.
Hmmm when things don't look as I think they should am I quick to judge whether it is not from God? Does God work in ways that I don't think he could? I heard a man say once that people can get saved at bad churches. I am not condoning all things people do that they call ministry. I am just asking if we are too quick to say that is not of God before we know what is really going on.
I am also humbled by Jesus' servant's heart. He knew he was going to get rediculed for healing that man, but he did it anyway. Am I willing to do what is right when everyone is watching? Am I willing to do what is right when I know there are going to be consequences? Hmmm I hope so.
Reading Mark was interesting tonight. Here Jesus was about to heal a sick man. His enemies, supposedly God fearing men, were looking to trap him. They wanted to see if Jesus was going to heal on the sabbath. Jesus then tries to draw them out. Their hearts got hardened and then he healed the man. They get so mad at Jesus that they plotted to kill him. Here Jesus was doing good things. He was doing things that helped people, and yet the religious people were getting mad at him. They were saying that he was not following the rules. He was doing ministry in a way that was ungodly.
Hmmm when things don't look as I think they should am I quick to judge whether it is not from God? Does God work in ways that I don't think he could? I heard a man say once that people can get saved at bad churches. I am not condoning all things people do that they call ministry. I am just asking if we are too quick to say that is not of God before we know what is really going on.
I am also humbled by Jesus' servant's heart. He knew he was going to get rediculed for healing that man, but he did it anyway. Am I willing to do what is right when everyone is watching? Am I willing to do what is right when I know there are going to be consequences? Hmmm I hope so.
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