I have been dubbed one of the "missions kids" here at Central, basically because Mike Worstell always picked on me [Spock] in classes, and I've done skits for Harvesters during chapel. Awesome.
But I don't mind. Because it's true... I plan on doing missions. And I'm totally stoked. I'm going to the Middle East next summer for my internship and I could not be more excited to get some great hands-on experience and see what life is like as a missionary in the Middle East. I don't know what to expect. I mean, I kind of do - I'm learned in the culture, history, religions, etc. of the region... oh research, how I love thee. But research pales in comparison to actually living amongst it all. Seeing it. Hearing it. Feeling it. Tasting it. Smelling it. I'm sure each day will bring new surprises - pleasant or unpleasant - and unexpected twists or turns. I'll be glad for these, though.
Proclaim His name. Share His love.
That's what I desire to do.
Wherever He calls me, I will go.
Am I ready? No.
But I have time.
And God will prepare me.
'Give thanks to the Lord, call on his
name;
make known among the nations
what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.'
[Psalm 105:1-2]
......
Click here to revisit Chapter 126.
Showing posts with label Missions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Missions. Show all posts
May 8, 2010
December 5, 2008
Ch. 266 - I Like Gardening...
Every time I come up with a new idea of what I could do with my life - which I always like to think may very well be what God wants me to do - I am hit with conviction after conviction to do something different. And it always goes back to the same thing.
Planting.
No, not planting flowers or vegetables in a garden.
Church-planting.
I've never really given a lot of thought to doing so until the past couple of months. It's a big part of missions. I mean, I do go back and forth between youth ministry and cross-cultural ministry pretty often... because I would want to start a youth organization out in Salt Lake. Which technically would be a type of mission, I suppose, and not just youth ministry in a church or whatever. But I know that if I were to definitely "do missions" I don't want to do something stereotypical like help out in AIDS orphanages or something. Honestly. I would want to do something like church-planting, I believe. A former student came to my Christian Discipleship class during Missions Emphasis Week and spoke to us about AVANT, a church-planting organization. What he talked about sparked my interest to a great extent. Man... thinking about it gives me the chills. I felt a pretty big tug on the heart while he was talking to us.
Anyway, maybe God's trying to tell me something, here. I really have to think about it. I've got time. I'll just have to wait and see how everything starts panning out.
' "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." '
[John 4:34-35]
Planting.
No, not planting flowers or vegetables in a garden.
Church-planting.
I've never really given a lot of thought to doing so until the past couple of months. It's a big part of missions. I mean, I do go back and forth between youth ministry and cross-cultural ministry pretty often... because I would want to start a youth organization out in Salt Lake. Which technically would be a type of mission, I suppose, and not just youth ministry in a church or whatever. But I know that if I were to definitely "do missions" I don't want to do something stereotypical like help out in AIDS orphanages or something. Honestly. I would want to do something like church-planting, I believe. A former student came to my Christian Discipleship class during Missions Emphasis Week and spoke to us about AVANT, a church-planting organization. What he talked about sparked my interest to a great extent. Man... thinking about it gives me the chills. I felt a pretty big tug on the heart while he was talking to us.
Anyway, maybe God's trying to tell me something, here. I really have to think about it. I've got time. I'll just have to wait and see how everything starts panning out.
' "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." '
[John 4:34-35]
September 16, 2008
Ch. 189 - The Dreams
Today in my SALT class my small group leader asked us a question. A simple question. A question with, technically, endless answers. But this question threw me for a loop and I had no idea how to answer it. I did some fast thinking and, when it was my turn, shared an answer that I was surprised to hear myself say.
"What are you guys' dreams?" (Yep. Definitely a Midwesterner.)
Hold up.
'Dreams? What are dreams?' No, just kidding. Honestly, though - I've never truly thought about it. I mean, God cut my first so-called dream for my life completely off this past year. And now I just have a couple of general ideas of what I think God wants to do with my life - but by no means have I ever considered those general ideas to be dreams. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that they could certainly be called dreams, because they both include passions of mine and would be ways of serving God, which is all I ultimately want to do.
Doing missions in the Middle East is a dream of mine. Letting Muslims know that there is something more out there than rituals and the fear of doing enough good deeds to be saved is definitely on my heart. It may or may not be part of God's plan for me, but that's alright. If it is indeed His will, He'll make it evident at one point or another. That was my more apparent 'dream' because I've been thinking about it for quite some time now.
The other dream that I shared was the dream that I realized I had as I was saying it. It's something that's always been on my mind, but I never considered it a dream. But it's something that's of a large enough magnitude that it could be considered a dream. I want to spread the true Gospel to Mormons in Utah. They have this twisted view of Christianity that simply isn't true. And it's not fair to anyone, really, to let them believe that they are saved, when they are not. There's already a movement starting in Salt Lake, right up at the University of Utah. Ute-Nited is definitely going to make a difference in a lot of people's lives, whether they are Mormon or not. It certainly made an impact on me. It - and the people that started it and were part of it - is one of the reasons why I'm here at Central this year.
My SALT group noted that we were all missions majors (or at least are for now...), but we had such different dreams from each other. It's interesting to see what God has placed on our hearts through the lives we've lived so far - and it'll be interesting to see what actually happens over the years, and what dreams will become reality for us.
'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.'
[Romans 8:28]
......
Ch. 189, Part Two:
This week's memory verse (for Thursday):
'This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written on it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.'
[Joshua 1:8]
"What are you guys' dreams?" (Yep. Definitely a Midwesterner.)
Hold up.
'Dreams? What are dreams?' No, just kidding. Honestly, though - I've never truly thought about it. I mean, God cut my first so-called dream for my life completely off this past year. And now I just have a couple of general ideas of what I think God wants to do with my life - but by no means have I ever considered those general ideas to be dreams. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that they could certainly be called dreams, because they both include passions of mine and would be ways of serving God, which is all I ultimately want to do.
Doing missions in the Middle East is a dream of mine. Letting Muslims know that there is something more out there than rituals and the fear of doing enough good deeds to be saved is definitely on my heart. It may or may not be part of God's plan for me, but that's alright. If it is indeed His will, He'll make it evident at one point or another. That was my more apparent 'dream' because I've been thinking about it for quite some time now.
The other dream that I shared was the dream that I realized I had as I was saying it. It's something that's always been on my mind, but I never considered it a dream. But it's something that's of a large enough magnitude that it could be considered a dream. I want to spread the true Gospel to Mormons in Utah. They have this twisted view of Christianity that simply isn't true. And it's not fair to anyone, really, to let them believe that they are saved, when they are not. There's already a movement starting in Salt Lake, right up at the University of Utah. Ute-Nited is definitely going to make a difference in a lot of people's lives, whether they are Mormon or not. It certainly made an impact on me. It - and the people that started it and were part of it - is one of the reasons why I'm here at Central this year.
My SALT group noted that we were all missions majors (or at least are for now...), but we had such different dreams from each other. It's interesting to see what God has placed on our hearts through the lives we've lived so far - and it'll be interesting to see what actually happens over the years, and what dreams will become reality for us.
'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.'
[Romans 8:28]
......
Ch. 189, Part Two:
This week's memory verse (for Thursday):
'This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written on it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.'
[Joshua 1:8]
January 29, 2008
Ch. 13 - Removing Darkness
'After night
Comes a light
Dawn is here, dawn is here
It's a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same'
[The Glory of It All]
After night comes a light. Everything will change. We will never be the same.
Jesus is often referred to as a Light. What is the purpose of light? To remove darkness. Where light exists, darkness cannot. Because of what Jesus did for us, we are changed forever.
In Paul's letter to Ephesus, he speaks of how their [the Ephesians'] works were done in the ruler of the kingdom of the air - Satan. They were sinners and dead in their transgressions, but were made alive in Christ. Paul goes on to remind them that they are saved by grace and through faith alone - not works. Yet they were made in God's workmanship to do good works - that were prepared for them by God in advance.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, said that by humbly letting others see your good works, they may be moved to love and serve God likewise.
To do good works. To be a light unto the world. That is what we are called to do.
Fact:
Believers are outnumbered by non-believers at least five-to-one.
Fact:
In total darkness, the flicker of a match can be seen twenty miles away.
We may be a minority, we may seem small and insignificant, yet we can and should have a powerful influence on our world. This is so, of course, only because of God's grace and strength at work within us - for on our own we are nothing and can do nothing [Philippians 4:13].
There is so much darkness in the world. Be a light. Change things. Remove that darkness.
' "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." '
[Matthew 5:14-16]
Comes a light
Dawn is here, dawn is here
It's a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same'
[The Glory of It All]
After night comes a light. Everything will change. We will never be the same.
Jesus is often referred to as a Light. What is the purpose of light? To remove darkness. Where light exists, darkness cannot. Because of what Jesus did for us, we are changed forever.
In Paul's letter to Ephesus, he speaks of how their [the Ephesians'] works were done in the ruler of the kingdom of the air - Satan. They were sinners and dead in their transgressions, but were made alive in Christ. Paul goes on to remind them that they are saved by grace and through faith alone - not works. Yet they were made in God's workmanship to do good works - that were prepared for them by God in advance.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, said that by humbly letting others see your good works, they may be moved to love and serve God likewise.
To do good works. To be a light unto the world. That is what we are called to do.
Fact:
Believers are outnumbered by non-believers at least five-to-one.
Fact:
In total darkness, the flicker of a match can be seen twenty miles away.
We may be a minority, we may seem small and insignificant, yet we can and should have a powerful influence on our world. This is so, of course, only because of God's grace and strength at work within us - for on our own we are nothing and can do nothing [Philippians 4:13].
There is so much darkness in the world. Be a light. Change things. Remove that darkness.
' "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." '
[Matthew 5:14-16]
January 23, 2008
Ch. 7 - M² + Transfer = Adventure
On a continuation of the last chapter, I'd like to delve a bit deeper into the fact that I will not be attending the University of Utah next year. As aforementioned, I have felt called by God to serve Him. How?
Ministry and Missions.
More specifically, youth ministry and world missions.
I have done much research lately in regards to transferring, looking into schools with youth ministry programs, deep Biblical study programs, Hebrew courses, and mission/evangelism programs. I've narrowed it down to three schools.
Want to know something funny?
They're all in the Midwest.
How ironic is it that after I so greatly wanted to leave that region of the country, God is now leading me back to it?
The schools I'm going to apply to are as follows: Oak Hills Christian College - Bemidji, Minnesota; Moody Bible Institute - Chicago, Illinois; and Central Christian College of the Bible - Moberly, Missouri. Moody is four hours east of Cedar Rapids, Central is four hours south of Cedar Rapids, while Oak Hills is eight and a half hours north of Cedar Rapids. I'm not going to lie, I'd really like to be close to my family. Being so far away from them has been more difficult than I thought it would be. I actually wasn't even thinking about how close the schools are to Cedar Rapids when I was looking into them - but it's certainly a nice factor.
Each school has something different to offer and they all have their pros and cons. I'm continuing to pray that God will guide my steps as I apply to the schools and, depending on acceptance, decide which is the best for me.
(Between you and me, though, I have this 'feeling' about Central... but we'll see.)
'The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.'
[Isaiah 58:11]
Ministry and Missions.
More specifically, youth ministry and world missions.
I have done much research lately in regards to transferring, looking into schools with youth ministry programs, deep Biblical study programs, Hebrew courses, and mission/evangelism programs. I've narrowed it down to three schools.
Want to know something funny?
They're all in the Midwest.
How ironic is it that after I so greatly wanted to leave that region of the country, God is now leading me back to it?
The schools I'm going to apply to are as follows: Oak Hills Christian College - Bemidji, Minnesota; Moody Bible Institute - Chicago, Illinois; and Central Christian College of the Bible - Moberly, Missouri. Moody is four hours east of Cedar Rapids, Central is four hours south of Cedar Rapids, while Oak Hills is eight and a half hours north of Cedar Rapids. I'm not going to lie, I'd really like to be close to my family. Being so far away from them has been more difficult than I thought it would be. I actually wasn't even thinking about how close the schools are to Cedar Rapids when I was looking into them - but it's certainly a nice factor.
Each school has something different to offer and they all have their pros and cons. I'm continuing to pray that God will guide my steps as I apply to the schools and, depending on acceptance, decide which is the best for me.
(Between you and me, though, I have this 'feeling' about Central... but we'll see.)
'The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.'
[Isaiah 58:11]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)