Jun 4, 2010
The other day I sat in my cubicle as I often do and I as I entered name ads I listened to “Home” by ‘Switchfoot’ .The video that went with it had scenes from the movie ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian’. I watched that one scene where Lucy and Susan are crossing the street in London and I got this longing in my heart that always comes when I watch movies like Narnia or Lord of the Rings. Yes I am a sap … I can’t help it !
The longing I had was to be a part of something Great like Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter were-taking up armor and sword to go fight the great evil that threatens the lives of those in the land. It sounds Noble, Exciting, and Adventurous.
Then I realized something as I stared into the image on my computer screen-I AM!! Everyday I get to serve the CREATOR of life itself.
Even though our adventure doesn’t involve steel swords it involves the Armor of God himself, and though there is not some Prince with a Spanish Accent fighting beside us- We have the Holy Spirit working in us. It truly is the Noblest and most Exciting of Adventures.
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Jun 4, 2010
In an earlier post I mentioned that I was initiated into the Volunteer Department via flying monkey attack. So I decided I’d share a bit more about what the Volunteer department is and what it does, and give a little bit more of an idea to you all about the opportunities we get wile working in the office. (this is off my very first newsletter, but I like what it says)
What the volunteer department does is work with all the different volunteers all throughout the country and finds events that those volunteers can set up a booth to share about the amazing opportunities Gospel For Asia has for them to be personally involved with reaching the lost in Asia. My job in the department is event manager for the Western and Central regions of the country.
So I find and register as a vendor for the different events, and then I work with the region managers for those regions to find the volunteers that can go to the events. I also make orders, so that the volunteers will have the materials they need from the free book, Revolution in World Missions, to ordering profiles, by shooting an email to the Fulfillment department, so people can sponsor the Bridge of Hope kids or a National Missionary.
When I first got to this department, I wasn’t quite sure why God placed me there. Why wasn’t He placing me somewhere that I actually knew what to do, like the video department, or the graphics department? Why the Volunteer department? But now I can plainly see why.
God is using the volunteer department to take me out of my comfort Zone, like He so frequently does, and is growing me in areas that I desperately needed growth and stretching. One example is getting me to not be afraid of the phone. He has made me realize that it’s not about me and what I’m not comfortable with. When I have to use the phone, I don’t think of how I am not comfortable with it. I think of how much of an impact that one phone call will have in reaching the lost in Asia. So I am very glad I am in the Volunteer department.
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Jun 4, 2010
Earlier in the year, we went camping with the School of Discipleship people, and a few families. God used that to grow me in a way I never knew camping would be used for. Here’s what I said in my second newsletter about it:
So God is continuing to mold me and the people in my class, and even the leaders here so much, even in just these past few months. He has brought me, personally, through so much, that only a year ago, I would have not even thought possible. I have been taught, and am continuing to learn the value of being still and quiet before the Lord. Which may sound simple in some respects, but for me, it was really hard to learn that lesson. One of the things that I find the most uncomfortable is silence. I never really saw the importance of it. I would always have music going on in the background, or I would be fidgeting a lot because it is so hard to sit still. But a few weekends ago, over Halloween, the School of Discipleship went on a camping trip.
During that time, we were given multiple hours to spend alone with God, and spend time basking in His glory and His creation. While I was out there in the forest (I hadn’t been in a forest since I was back home in PA) I began to evaluate my motives. I asked myself multiple questions, and arrived at the same conclusion with God’s help. Not only did I need to spend more time in His presence, but I needed to say no to my flesh and its wanting noise and movement, and let all of my attention go to God, and God alone.
This is only one of the many things that God is showing me in my life right now. But it is possibly one of the most important ones. I say that because, in the silence, it is possible to really hear God speak. To really hear His guidance in my life. Silence truly is golden. Thanks again! And remember always… God is good!
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Jun 4, 2010
Last night after prayer meeting I was spending some time in the kitchen snacking on some chips and celery with peanut butter on it. That was the beginning of one of the weirdest nights in oue house.
Through the living room and on the other side of the house, I seen my roommate step out side for what, I was not sure. My imagination started going wild and I thought to my self, ‘What would my roommate think if when he can back in I was staring up at the fan and spinning in circles?’ I just had to find out.
After about a minute of spinning I heard my roommate try the doorknob, it was locked. Ha, was my first thought, he locked himself out. Then the door bell rang which caused the second thought, ‘I need to open the door for Him!’ So, with that I stopped spinning and hurriedly started to move towards the front door.
That was not an easy trip, the house looked like it was starting to lean to the left and after almost falling over twice, I finally made it. I opened the door laughing like a mad man. He was so confused.
After explaining the situation, for the rest of the night (half an hour or so, it was late) me, my roommate and our house leader took turns spinning underneath the fan trying to see who could get the dizziest and still stay standing. Yup…It was a good night.
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Jun 3, 2010
In class we are going through a unit on grace using various testimonies, all while going through the two books, “Grace Awakening” by Charles Swindoll, and “What’s so Amazing about Grace” by Phillip Yancey.
God’s been teaching me a lot about His grace and forgiveness. Before I go into what I’ve been learning about grace and forgiveness, I’ll share a few quotes from Phillip Yancey that really stood out to me.
“The past must be remembered before it can be overcome.” (Phillip Yancey pg. 129)
“’Forgiveness is not just an occasional act: it is a permanent attitude,’ said Martin Luther King Jr.” (Phillip Yancey pg. 137)
“Without forgiveness we cannot free ourselves from the grip of the past.” (Phillip Yancey pg. 120)
“Forgiveness is not the same as pardon…you may forgive one who wronged you and still insist on a just punishment for that wrong. If you can bring yourself to the point of forgiveness…you will release its healing power both in you and in the person who wronged you.” (pg. 103 Phillip Yancey)
In my past, I’ve had a few people that have made my life kinda difficult. No matter how difficult that may be however, I had always forgiven them. I had the mind set, “love the sinner, hate the sin”, which is good, but I missed something in that lesson. I left out the part where I let that person know that I have indeed forgiven them. Not that I’ve pardoned their wrong-doing, but that I am not going to hold it against them ever. Who am I that I wouldn’t forgive someone, after God has forgiven me of so much?
That being said, God has grown me tremendously in my heart to forgive people. I’m happy to say that I’m at the point where I want to hug all those that have hurt me, and tell them, “It’s okay. I forgive you, and love you, and so does God.” And boy is that a liberating feeling to not be chained to the past any longer! Praise God! His grace is sufficient!
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Jun 3, 2010
We got the opportunity as the School of Discipleship to volunteer at an event called TwentyTen. At the event we had a variety of roles. We worked at the booths handing out our free book “Revolution in World Missions” and shared with people about our Bridge of Hope ministry and our National Missionaries.
Bethany and I got the chance to work at the sound booth so that we could video crowd shots and the speakers at the event. We also go to meet the sound engineers for the various bands that were playing. Those guys are pretty nifty.
We also got the opportunity to hear Uncle KP speak, now that was amazing. If only you could have heard him engage the crowd and share with them about the chance they would have to change the world for eternity by becoming more aware of what is happening outside America.
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