We have just come back from a long weekend at the beach and it was a much needed time of relaxation. Getting away from the 'normal' is always a good way to reflect on where you are at and where you are wanting to head. I really enjoyed just sitting by the ocean and watching the waves roll in. Absolutely amazing to be mezmorized by the waves.
Paul Juneau and I went a day earily to set up the camp for our families and then spent two nights with the families. Had an excellent time watching the kids enjoy the water and sun. God blessed us with only a little rain during the nights. The tarps had been set up in such a way that no rain got into our tents, PTL. Paul and I had a great time figuring out how to set up the camp. I have now done it a number of times and feel that I am now confident enough to set up camp and that no rain will hit our sleeping spots.
Now is the push til the end of this semester. We have 8 more class days until the final exams. This semester has been amazingly fast. Our family is really looking forward to the break. We hope to not travel anywhere except around Sentani area. Flights are getting more and more expensive within Indonesia and so it is hard to go anywhere as a family.
Well must go to Physics class. Have a great day everyone!
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Another year...
Wow life is just flying by... another year of my life has come and gone and now I must celebrate another birthday. I feel that God has taught me so much in this past year I am not sure where to start. This past weekend I spoke at our spiritual emphasis weekend for the high school and I focused on Romans 1 and 2. The books that I have recently been reading, my experiences as of late and sermons... All seem to be pointing to the same type of theme. That is to die to self, stop judging, you are no better than anyone else, you can not do anything on your own.
Romans starts by telling us about the Good News of Christ. Why is the good News so good? Well because of the bad news. The bad news is then explained in the rest of chapter 1 and chapter 2. Chapter 2 questions the Jews on their thinking. You think you are better?? You think you do not do these things?? You think because you have the law you are superior?? Think again. How often do we/I think these same things. The bad news is that bad people are not out there... they are here they are me. I can not be good without Christ, but wait I know the Bible, I have Christian parents, and I am a missionary for petes sake. Doesn't that count for anything?? NO it does not. If we think any of these things save us they do not. CS Lewis says that until we understand that there is a Moral law and a Power behind the law and that we fail at keeping the law, then Christianity will speak. It does not speak to the people who think they are just fine, who know the right Christian speak, who go to church on Sundays, who are missionaries. We must realize that we are sinners at the totality of our being (Bonhoeffer).
Romans points out that there is no room for judgement in the Christian life. Judging means we know better, well yes we know better but do we act better. Not only do we do things that are wrong we encourage others to do the same actions. WOw Romans can hit in the gut. Some other gut hitters are verses like:
Romans starts by telling us about the Good News of Christ. Why is the good News so good? Well because of the bad news. The bad news is then explained in the rest of chapter 1 and chapter 2. Chapter 2 questions the Jews on their thinking. You think you are better?? You think you do not do these things?? You think because you have the law you are superior?? Think again. How often do we/I think these same things. The bad news is that bad people are not out there... they are here they are me. I can not be good without Christ, but wait I know the Bible, I have Christian parents, and I am a missionary for petes sake. Doesn't that count for anything?? NO it does not. If we think any of these things save us they do not. CS Lewis says that until we understand that there is a Moral law and a Power behind the law and that we fail at keeping the law, then Christianity will speak. It does not speak to the people who think they are just fine, who know the right Christian speak, who go to church on Sundays, who are missionaries. We must realize that we are sinners at the totality of our being (Bonhoeffer).
Romans points out that there is no room for judgement in the Christian life. Judging means we know better, well yes we know better but do we act better. Not only do we do things that are wrong we encourage others to do the same actions. WOw Romans can hit in the gut. Some other gut hitters are verses like:
- only those who persist in doing good - persist, seeking, these words mean that we are constantly trying to do good. So often I think well if I can be at 51% good and 49% bad when I die then I will be okay. PERSIST
- God will judge your secret life - ahh God is just and will judge our secret life. So the outward appearance that we so nicely put on means nothing?!?
- You teach others, do you teach yourself? So easy to say things but do we/I follow what I teach.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Long weekend coming up
Our director decided it would be a good idea to have a long weekend this month and so he has given us this Friday off. At HIS there can be months at a time in which there are no days off and so he did not think that we should work for 3 months without a day off and so here we go, long weekend time!
Janna is back and all of her belongings have now reached us. In Indonesia, like everywhere else now, bringing extra bags when you travel has gotten outrageously expensive. So once Janna landed in Jakarta she sent her larger bag air cargo. In Indonesia this is at times risky due to the fact that you basically have no clue when your stuff will arrive. So all that to say I am happy that it came two nights ago. Not that "stuff" matters but it is nice to get.
God has been continuing to teach me how to die to self and how to shephard the flock. He has been teaching me to do, instead of wanting to do. He has been teaching me how to love people. May God continue to teach all of us as we walk together on this earth.
Janna is back and all of her belongings have now reached us. In Indonesia, like everywhere else now, bringing extra bags when you travel has gotten outrageously expensive. So once Janna landed in Jakarta she sent her larger bag air cargo. In Indonesia this is at times risky due to the fact that you basically have no clue when your stuff will arrive. So all that to say I am happy that it came two nights ago. Not that "stuff" matters but it is nice to get.
God has been continuing to teach me how to die to self and how to shephard the flock. He has been teaching me to do, instead of wanting to do. He has been teaching me how to love people. May God continue to teach all of us as we walk together on this earth.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Monday again....
Another Monday with no mom which means for some reason crazy morning. Running around looking for things that the kids need for school, then Jalen will say oh yah dad I need ______. So right when I think we are all ready to go to school more and more things pop up. But once again amazingly we get to school and are not even late. This was the last Monday that we have to do this crazy routine without mom. We are so thankful.
Continuing to learn what it means to die to self. Seems to be the current theme in my life. Die to self, give up your own ideas, God is who we follow. I teach about infinity every single day in AP Calculus, yet I focus on this life here on earth so much. If we truely believe that we are living for infinity then this life will be but the smallest blip. Living for infinity means to follow after what is important which is God. What does God want out of this life that I have here on earth? Nothing else matters but that I do His will. Seek Him. Easy to type harder to do.
Continuing to learn what it means to die to self. Seems to be the current theme in my life. Die to self, give up your own ideas, God is who we follow. I teach about infinity every single day in AP Calculus, yet I focus on this life here on earth so much. If we truely believe that we are living for infinity then this life will be but the smallest blip. Living for infinity means to follow after what is important which is God. What does God want out of this life that I have here on earth? Nothing else matters but that I do His will. Seek Him. Easy to type harder to do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)