I can't believe summer is already over. It's always so hard for me to leave Branson year in and year out. I might even admit that I cried a little when I pulled out of the mission house parking lot. I stayed home from church today cuz I told my mom I wanted to rest, but I really just wanted to spend some time alone and process my thoughts. (i.e. time for a blog).
So many good things happened this summer. Kids camp went well, Super Summer was amazing, and our groups (for the most part) did a tremendous job and came prepared for anything! My co-workers were great. We had an incredible time and all really got along most of the summer. Nadeine is probably the best boss ever and her investment in our lives can't be replaced by anything. The insight she gives and the leadership she provides is so encouraging and enriching. I have surely been blessed to have had a job up there for the past four years.
The good didn't come without challenges as well. As I have mentioned in a previous entry, there was a group that came in who was totally unorganized and the week felt like a train wreck. But our God is THE God in good times and bad, and His had was on every week of ministry.
So many things to think about and pray through after the summer as well. One group wants me to pursue a writing career in Christian literature based on my work in our devotion book. I laughed at it, but the more I think about it, the more appealing it sounds. I do like to write. And I like to help others through that. So it's something that I really have become interested in, and I am seriously praying about pursuing that. This group can also get me a hook-up at Lifeway, apparently haha. We'll see what happens.
Alsoooooo, I have taken an interest in a certain girl and we had a couple good talks this week, so this is something else for me to pray about. No name naming on here. Don't want to scare her off haha. But we're talking and praying about things, so whatever happens happens and hopefully at the end of it all we'll still be friends. Cuz I think she's pretty cool :-)
But enough of that.
Overall, the summer was great and now I gotta get myself ready for school. I'm still trying to get the balance paid off but I'm confident that that will happen. But above all, I just keep reminding myself this:
when my plans fail, HIS always prevail
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Rejoice in the Lord always
Wow, it's been a month since I have posted anything and in that month just about the whole summer has gone by. So many good thing and just a few struggles. But I will say the struggles have been kinda tough for me. The first two weeks of our summer were just incredible!!! The mission teams came in well prepared and with a great day camp planned and ended up being really blessed through attendance. The third week was another phenomenal week because this group that came is a perennial attender to Branson and they do such a great job helping with the 4th of July! They do so well with their work projects and usually do tremendous with day camp. Everyone has been so excited and so pumped!
This week has been the proverbial train wreck. One mission team we have has clearly come with their own agenda and keep going over our heads to do things their way. It has really been a struggle for us and we keep asking the Lord for patience and guidance. I will say that the members of the group who lead the day camp are really in to it and on top of their game. Just some of the leaders are a bit of a struggle, and the younger boys are VERY disrespectful. Tonight at dinner, though, Lauren had a breakthrough with them. The things she was able to say to them and the spiritual conversation she started really struck a chord with them and I think may have rubbed them the wrong way, but it's something I believed they needed to hear. How she handled the situation was so bold and confident and it really encouraged me. It was such spirit-led and she just let the Lord use her. The whole time those boys were talking to her, though, I really wanted to come unglued because of how disrespectful they were. But again, she handled herself incredibly. I had to stop and think of my attitude at the moment.
I had so much frustration and anger welling up in me that I refused to speak because I was afraid what might come out of my mouth to those boys. This really disabled me from ministering to them and now it really bothers me. I did get a chance to go speak to one young man after I had calmed down, but nonetheless, I should have had that mindset from the beginning.
Before we went out this evening I read from Philippians 4:4-9
I think I read this and heard it, but failed to truly listen to it and take it to heart. The thing in this passage that really sticks out to me is "let your gentleness be evident to all." It took a lot in me (and mostly the Lord working through me) to reach this point tonight. I kinda faked myself into thinking I was prepared tonight and when the time came to act it turned into a fail. But when I did reach that point I think the Lord was still able to work through me to speak to this young man.
This has been a trying week but I know the Lord has a purpose for it all and will use this to mold us, and hopefully the members of this group, and continue to teach all of us to rely on Him and to continually live for Him. Jesus never said following Him would be easy, and this week is a testimony to that.
This week has been the proverbial train wreck. One mission team we have has clearly come with their own agenda and keep going over our heads to do things their way. It has really been a struggle for us and we keep asking the Lord for patience and guidance. I will say that the members of the group who lead the day camp are really in to it and on top of their game. Just some of the leaders are a bit of a struggle, and the younger boys are VERY disrespectful. Tonight at dinner, though, Lauren had a breakthrough with them. The things she was able to say to them and the spiritual conversation she started really struck a chord with them and I think may have rubbed them the wrong way, but it's something I believed they needed to hear. How she handled the situation was so bold and confident and it really encouraged me. It was such spirit-led and she just let the Lord use her. The whole time those boys were talking to her, though, I really wanted to come unglued because of how disrespectful they were. But again, she handled herself incredibly. I had to stop and think of my attitude at the moment.
I had so much frustration and anger welling up in me that I refused to speak because I was afraid what might come out of my mouth to those boys. This really disabled me from ministering to them and now it really bothers me. I did get a chance to go speak to one young man after I had calmed down, but nonetheless, I should have had that mindset from the beginning.
Before we went out this evening I read from Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it agian: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I think I read this and heard it, but failed to truly listen to it and take it to heart. The thing in this passage that really sticks out to me is "let your gentleness be evident to all." It took a lot in me (and mostly the Lord working through me) to reach this point tonight. I kinda faked myself into thinking I was prepared tonight and when the time came to act it turned into a fail. But when I did reach that point I think the Lord was still able to work through me to speak to this young man.
This has been a trying week but I know the Lord has a purpose for it all and will use this to mold us, and hopefully the members of this group, and continue to teach all of us to rely on Him and to continually live for Him. Jesus never said following Him would be easy, and this week is a testimony to that.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
BFAM
Two of my best friends and closest brothers are probably as far away from me as one can get. I met them during my time in South Asia. They are there studying abroad because one is from Ghana and the other is from Nigeria. Both are strong followers of Christ and see this opportunity away from home as a great chance to further the Kingdom. Neither were sent by a denomination or had a commencement service before they left. Those aren't bad things, but they aren't die-hard requirements to go to other countries and take the good news. For them, it's not two different things to live life and then live for Christ. It's all tied together. I feel that so many of us separate these areas. They truly live missionally and I'm so thankful the Lord let our paths cross for four brief months. I can always count on them for prayer and encouragement and to just see how they live their lives for the Lord really lifts me up! It really is hard to be half the world apart from them but we chat on facebook, text, and even skype sometimes so that helps a bit. I'm looking forward to the day that we get to hang out again and talk about how sweeeeeet Manchester United is. I miss them every day. Here's to you, Michael and Nathaniel!
Instead of a Show
This week in Green Team Rik talked a lot about the difference between being religious and being a true Christ Follower. We walked through the beatitudes in a way I never have before (that's a whole different post in itself) and it was really eye-opening in how we are taught to truly be humble before the Lord and not seek after things of this world.
Jon Foreman's song "Instead of a Show" is one of my favorites and really portrays how we need to be different than those who are religious so I just wanted to share that with you..
Instead of a Show
I hate all your show and pretense
the hypocrisy of your praise
the hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when your
singing ‘em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
An endless procession of righteous
living, living
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
Instead of a show
your eyes are closed when you’re praying
you sing right along with the band
you shine up your shoes for services
but there’s blood on your hands
you turned your back on the homeless
and the ones that don’t fit in your plans
quit playing religion games
there’s blood on your hands
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
An endless procession of righteous
living, living
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
Instead of a show
Ah! let’s argue this out
if your sins are blood red
let’s argue this out
you’ll be white as the clouds
let’s argue this out
quit fooling around
give love to the ones who can’t love at all
give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all
instead of a show
I hate all your show
Jon Foreman's song "Instead of a Show" is one of my favorites and really portrays how we need to be different than those who are religious so I just wanted to share that with you..
Instead of a Show
I hate all your show and pretense
the hypocrisy of your praise
the hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when your
singing ‘em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
An endless procession of righteous
living, living
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
Instead of a show
your eyes are closed when you’re praying
you sing right along with the band
you shine up your shoes for services
but there’s blood on your hands
you turned your back on the homeless
and the ones that don’t fit in your plans
quit playing religion games
there’s blood on your hands
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
An endless procession of righteous
living, living
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
Instead of a show
Ah! let’s argue this out
if your sins are blood red
let’s argue this out
you’ll be white as the clouds
let’s argue this out
quit fooling around
give love to the ones who can’t love at all
give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all
instead of a show
I hate all your show
Erase the chatter
Each night of Super Summer this year we talked about creation, the fall, the rescue, and the mission. So Monday was creation and we watched the "How Great is Our God" video where God blows everybody's mind using Louie Giglio. He begins by talking about the universe and the size of the earth compared to other starts and how far a light year is and how long it takes to reach certain places. If the earth was a golf ball, you could fill the Superdome 3000 times to equal the quantity of the largest star know to man. And if the earth was a golf ball, you would have to place it at the end of the Golden Gate Bridge and walk the span of the bridge...twice...to reach the closest star.
Geez, talk about feeling insignificant. But it doesn't end there. Louie then began to talk about birth. He showed a picture of an embryo at just a few days old. It was 16 cells on the tip of a safety pin. Then he told us how when the eye meets the nerve endings in the brain that 1,000,000 connectors from the eye have to match up with 1,000,000 connectors from the brain in perfection to achieve sight. Then as he continues to speak of different things he gets to this stuff called laminin. This is what holds cells together in the human body. Without this protein we would be a bag of mush. And the structure of it is all the more impressive:it's a cross. We are held together by a substance created by the Most High God that is shaped like the cross. I dare you to tell me that that was an accident.
So what it came down to was that we're walking miracles. For all this stuff to happen is impossible without a Creator God. And all through this the Enemy kept pushing on me and my feeling of insignificance and I remember thinking "you have been a waste of a miracle since January 25, 1987." The chatter was so loud in my head and I wanted to scream because I couldn't get rid of the noise. But in that moment, and I mean as SOON as the thought entered my mind, the Lord spoke up in the most comforting, peaceful, loving, jealous, caring, counseling, providing, strong, just, wise, conquering voice and said the two most powerful words I believe to ever be spoken:
I AM
Geez, talk about feeling insignificant. But it doesn't end there. Louie then began to talk about birth. He showed a picture of an embryo at just a few days old. It was 16 cells on the tip of a safety pin. Then he told us how when the eye meets the nerve endings in the brain that 1,000,000 connectors from the eye have to match up with 1,000,000 connectors from the brain in perfection to achieve sight. Then as he continues to speak of different things he gets to this stuff called laminin. This is what holds cells together in the human body. Without this protein we would be a bag of mush. And the structure of it is all the more impressive:it's a cross. We are held together by a substance created by the Most High God that is shaped like the cross. I dare you to tell me that that was an accident.
So what it came down to was that we're walking miracles. For all this stuff to happen is impossible without a Creator God. And all through this the Enemy kept pushing on me and my feeling of insignificance and I remember thinking "you have been a waste of a miracle since January 25, 1987." The chatter was so loud in my head and I wanted to scream because I couldn't get rid of the noise. But in that moment, and I mean as SOON as the thought entered my mind, the Lord spoke up in the most comforting, peaceful, loving, jealous, caring, counseling, providing, strong, just, wise, conquering voice and said the two most powerful words I believe to ever be spoken:
I AM
Saturday, June 19, 2010
I am a Bona Fide Law Breaker (June 13, 2010)
I have broken all Ten Commandments. I’m a thief, a liar, a murderer, an adulterer. I have dishonored my parents, I have idols, I break the Holiness of the Sabbath. I misuse the Lord’s name and put other things before Him. And I am definitely covetous.
I have never physically murdered or never physically had an affair, nor have I erected an idol to bow down to. But as Jesus lays out for us, all these things become a matter of the heart. I have been dealing with the matter of “murder of the heart” here recently. He tells us that “if we have hate towards our brother then we have committed murder in our heart.” Let that sink in for a minute.
Murder. In. Our. Heart.
When we murder someone, they cease to exist. So when we murder in our heart, those people cease to exist to us. We have killed them off in our soul. The depth of this travesty didn’t fully hit me until this weekend. The dictionary gives the definition of murder by the Law. The part that sticks out to me (and probably fits “murder of the heart” the best) is this: murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation. There are other constituencies where it may be an accident, a result of another crime, self-defense, or of the non-premeditated category. Murder of the heart doesn’t occur by accident. When I choose to have hatred toward someone it is rooted within me and planned. Hatred of a brother does not occur on the spot or at random. It is a conscious effort put out by our feelings built up towards that person over time, no matter how short that time may be. It’s not like I walk into a room to find someone and say “ohh! You scared me! I hate you. Murder.” I laugh as I play this situation through in my head, but it still doesn’t take away from the fact that in order for me to hate someone; to murder them in my heart, I do it consciously and intentionally. I’m not proud of it, but I can’t deny that this is how I act. It’s hard to love the ones who rub us the wrong way, or that we just don’t see eye to eye with. But Jesus demands this attitude from us:
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even the ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL.” Luke 6:32-36 (NIV)
Yeah, about that… I just got my toes stepped on, a kick to the shins, and a punch in the gut. Gotta love it when Jesus pulls out the rhetorical questions. But as he is saying this, it is not condescending and to a point where we feel worthless and need to get our act together and fix this on our own. He is clearly encouraging us in verse 36 by telling us to be like our Heavenly Father through the mercy that we must show those that we don’t particularly care for. We aren’t supposed to do this on our own. He has to work on our hearts.
If I had to serve time for my murders of the heart, eternity without parole wouldn’t be a long enough sentence for even one conviction. But because Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice and I have an active, healthy relationship with Him, He has taken away these convictions through his blood on the cross. And because of that He is able to work in my heart and through my actions to enable me to love those that just grind my gears. None of this is of me and none of it ever will be. I am nowhere near where I need to be as far as loving my enemies and honestly I’m still working on letting the Lord do his work inside me to even get me to the point of being ready to make that commitment.
I am a law breaker. But the steadfast love (that is, the fixed in direction, firm in purpose, unwavering, firmly established, adherent love) of my Jesus WILL break me of these wrongs and, I hopefully pray, will make me love the ones I put off by my own volition.
Jon Foreman writes: “Give love to the ones who can’t love at all, give hope to the ones who got no hope at all, stand up for the ones who can’t stand at all…instead of a show, I hate all your show.” Is my show done? Will my love be genuine? If we are truly going to believe the Gospel, then we must believe it for everyone.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Busy Lah!!!
This past week and this coming week are so busy! Kids camp was amazing! So many kids made decisions and it was neat to have a part in that. Today we'll head up to Jeff City for Super Summer training then on to Hannibal for Super Summer and be home LATE Friday night. Prayers would be much appreciated!!!
For now, it's World Cup time! Kinda bummed that I can't watch the USA-England match tomorrow, but it's all good.
Keep it real, Yo.
For now, it's World Cup time! Kinda bummed that I can't watch the USA-England match tomorrow, but it's all good.
Keep it real, Yo.
Friday, June 4, 2010
What about the ones that say no?
This week at training we talked a lot about sharing our story and praying for the lost and that their hearts would be softened. But in the middle of my prayer time, I stopped and thought to myself "what about the ones that say no?" I really don't know where I'm going with this entry. I have yet to receive an amazing revelation on the subject. But I just started thinking about it. Do we keep pursuing them in their denial? How can we relate to them better? What do we do to keep working in their lives? I never really thought about this matter before yesterday. Of course I have prayed to be burdened for the lost and have asked the Lord to give me opportunities to share, but I began to realize that I pray for one-time opportunities. I need to start asking the Lord to bring me into relationships where I can get to know the people I am trying to share with. Sure, I am totally on board with sharing my faith with people I will only see once. But is that as deep as we're supposed to go? I think not. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Why aren't we seeking those in need of a Savior? Why do we just say "ok thanks for your time" to the ones that say no? I'm not going to shove my faith down someone's throat and force them into conversion. That's not what making disciples is about. But I will commit to pray for those who reject Christ and to build a relationship with those people to hopefully win them to the Lord.
This is something that's just been on my mind in the past 24 hours. Maybe you can gain some insight or provide some encouragement in the matter as well.
This is something that's just been on my mind in the past 24 hours. Maybe you can gain some insight or provide some encouragement in the matter as well.
If life is an experement, then God is the Control
This week I spent Tuesday through Thursday in Hannibal, MO at Summer Missions State Training. I was kinda excited about going. It's a great time to be with fellow missionaries, see where they're serving, and prepare one's heart for service to the Lord for the summer...but the trip is SO LONG!!! But anyway, we get there and go out to eat at a really good Mexican restaurant and I'm just as happy as can be. Then I get a call from my mom. I contemplated not answering because it was probably my sister and I wouldn't be able to talk long, but I answered anyway. It was my mom calling from the ER telling me that she had Ecol i in her blood stream that was caused by a bladder infection which developed into a Kidney infection.
Needless to say, my heart dropped to my toes.
Here I am in Hannibal-freakin-Missouri, 11 hours from home, and I was totally helpless. We all rode with the boss so I had no way to get home, yet home was close enough for me to taste. When I was in Malaysia I was content with not being able to go home in an emergency because it wasn't even plausible. But here I am about two states away and home is being dangled in front of me like a cupcake on a stick tied to my forehead.
I felt so helpless Tuesday night. I had not felt home-sickness since 1st grade at church camp and now I wanted to be home more than ever. I felt like I needed that control. When something goes wrong at my house I come to the rescue.
Not this time.
I was forced to restrain my desires of taking control of the situation and totally turn it over to the Lord. My mom was a huge part of helping me realize that as well. She kept reassuring me that she was fine and needed me to stay right where I was because I am where God wants me. Her whole attitude about raising me to serve the Lord, and her being able to let me go is such a huge blessing in my life. Many people I know don't have parents like this and I am just so thankful for that. This really stretched me and challenged my faith in the Lord but in His unfailing love and infinite wisdom totally took control of the situation and taught me patience and dependence on him. My Ghanaian Brother, Michael, shared a verse that comforted me tremendously
"and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15
I can't tell you how reassuring of the Lord's ultimate control this was. That night my small group prayed over me and over my mom and I have never had such a peace about anything before in my life. God truly reached down and comforted me and let me know He IS in control. My mom is now recovering nicely in a hospital room and should be released in the next couple days by God's grace.
When Jonathan is busy worrying and feeling helpless, "I Am." -God
Praise the Most High God for His control and consistency in our lives.
Needless to say, my heart dropped to my toes.
Here I am in Hannibal-freakin-Missouri, 11 hours from home, and I was totally helpless. We all rode with the boss so I had no way to get home, yet home was close enough for me to taste. When I was in Malaysia I was content with not being able to go home in an emergency because it wasn't even plausible. But here I am about two states away and home is being dangled in front of me like a cupcake on a stick tied to my forehead.
I felt so helpless Tuesday night. I had not felt home-sickness since 1st grade at church camp and now I wanted to be home more than ever. I felt like I needed that control. When something goes wrong at my house I come to the rescue.
Not this time.
I was forced to restrain my desires of taking control of the situation and totally turn it over to the Lord. My mom was a huge part of helping me realize that as well. She kept reassuring me that she was fine and needed me to stay right where I was because I am where God wants me. Her whole attitude about raising me to serve the Lord, and her being able to let me go is such a huge blessing in my life. Many people I know don't have parents like this and I am just so thankful for that. This really stretched me and challenged my faith in the Lord but in His unfailing love and infinite wisdom totally took control of the situation and taught me patience and dependence on him. My Ghanaian Brother, Michael, shared a verse that comforted me tremendously
"and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15
I can't tell you how reassuring of the Lord's ultimate control this was. That night my small group prayed over me and over my mom and I have never had such a peace about anything before in my life. God truly reached down and comforted me and let me know He IS in control. My mom is now recovering nicely in a hospital room and should be released in the next couple days by God's grace.
When Jonathan is busy worrying and feeling helpless, "I Am." -God
Praise the Most High God for His control and consistency in our lives.
Monday, May 31, 2010
100 Plus is my DRANK
Today is gonna be busy fun. So many things to sort for the mission teams! Each group needs t-shirts, lanyards, name tags, and a devotion booklet so that means I play on facebook while the missionaries work. Not really. I will probably be doing most of it cuz the girls are still asleep. booooo
Tonight we'll go out on the town with the Boss and crank that Red Lobster. We always go out to eat on the first night, and I got to pick where we're going cuz, well..not gonna lie.., Nadeine spoils me haha. Then tomorrow it's off to Hannibal for training til Thursday! whooo for 5 hour drives...
Last night was a lot of fun because we were all finally here together! I decided to have a share time where each missionary could just kinda express their feelings about the summer and what they hope to get out of it. I love hearing what's on their hearts and how they want to see the Lord move and work over the next 10 weeks, and even beyond that in their every day life. Something I stressed last night is that this 10 weeks doesn't make you special. It's not a sudden escape to Godliness. This is how we should live every single day that the Lord gives us breath. Being up here leading mission teams is just a way to incorporate our faith into our job, which happens to be a part of every day life. I hope these students will learn to be bold with that. When people ask them if they're vacationing in Branson I want their first thoughts to be "how can I redirect this into a spiritual conversation?" That should always be our focus. Yeah, it's uncomfortable. But who cares?! Would you rather be comfortable and not sew the seeds of Grace and truth? I want them to be stretched this summer to new heights and to a greater understanding of their identity in Christ.
This world is where we breathe, never let it be called home.
Jo_than
Tonight we'll go out on the town with the Boss and crank that Red Lobster. We always go out to eat on the first night, and I got to pick where we're going cuz, well..not gonna lie.., Nadeine spoils me haha. Then tomorrow it's off to Hannibal for training til Thursday! whooo for 5 hour drives...
Last night was a lot of fun because we were all finally here together! I decided to have a share time where each missionary could just kinda express their feelings about the summer and what they hope to get out of it. I love hearing what's on their hearts and how they want to see the Lord move and work over the next 10 weeks, and even beyond that in their every day life. Something I stressed last night is that this 10 weeks doesn't make you special. It's not a sudden escape to Godliness. This is how we should live every single day that the Lord gives us breath. Being up here leading mission teams is just a way to incorporate our faith into our job, which happens to be a part of every day life. I hope these students will learn to be bold with that. When people ask them if they're vacationing in Branson I want their first thoughts to be "how can I redirect this into a spiritual conversation?" That should always be our focus. Yeah, it's uncomfortable. But who cares?! Would you rather be comfortable and not sew the seeds of Grace and truth? I want them to be stretched this summer to new heights and to a greater understanding of their identity in Christ.
This world is where we breathe, never let it be called home.
Jo_than
Friday, May 28, 2010
Humble pie with fat-free meringue
Today I woke up bright and early at 7:15am after being awake til nearly 2:00am. I hate my internal clock sometimes. But it gave me a great opportunity to hit the pavement and get my daily mile in. I hope to regularly do this to maintain discipline in exercising and to let that discipline bleed over into the rest of my life.
But anyway, that's not what this post is about.
After I got done I had the overwhelming urge to pray. So I went in to each room in the house and lifted up that person. Steve O, Nadeine, Lauren, the house parents, Krystyna and myself. It was such a humbling, yet necessary, experience. If I want to be an affective leader this summer, I need to start it on my knees in prayer for those who I shall guide and direct. And as I prayed I felt the Lord laying things on my heart that needed to be lifted up on behalf of each person. It was one of the most incredibly humble feelings I have ever experienced. I think that will be par of my morning routine now, to pray for each person by walking to their door and voicing a prayer for them.
God is so good and has already taught me so many things in the few days I have been here. This is so much more than a job. The interactions I will have with believers and non believers will prove to be challenging and exciting. I am about to hit the resorts with our list of groups for them. One is owned by a Christian family and I don't think the other is. People are my passion and I pray that in the short time I have with the management today that the Lord will use me.
Thanks for reading and praying
JChambers
But anyway, that's not what this post is about.
After I got done I had the overwhelming urge to pray. So I went in to each room in the house and lifted up that person. Steve O, Nadeine, Lauren, the house parents, Krystyna and myself. It was such a humbling, yet necessary, experience. If I want to be an affective leader this summer, I need to start it on my knees in prayer for those who I shall guide and direct. And as I prayed I felt the Lord laying things on my heart that needed to be lifted up on behalf of each person. It was one of the most incredibly humble feelings I have ever experienced. I think that will be par of my morning routine now, to pray for each person by walking to their door and voicing a prayer for them.
God is so good and has already taught me so many things in the few days I have been here. This is so much more than a job. The interactions I will have with believers and non believers will prove to be challenging and exciting. I am about to hit the resorts with our list of groups for them. One is owned by a Christian family and I don't think the other is. People are my passion and I pray that in the short time I have with the management today that the Lord will use me.
Thanks for reading and praying
JChambers
Thursday, May 27, 2010
And so it begins
I'm about to start the best job ever for the fourth summer in a row. But this year is a little different. Actually, it's a lot different. I am pretty much in charge now. Nadeine is still the big boss, but as far as the mission house and the missionaries go, the responsibility is on me.
Overwhelming? A little.
Afraid? Slightly.
Confident? 110%
Here's a little back ground on what goes on during the summer here in Branson, MO.
Groups from all over the US come here to Branson for a week during the summer to participate in service through day camps and Bible clubs at resorts, Vacation Bible Schools at local churches, and various clean up and construction projects. They get the connection through Nadeine and the Tri County Baptist Association. The association also hires four college-age summer missionaries to serve for ten weeks and facilitate what the groups do in the Branson area. It is a wonderful experience for the missionary and the mission team as they serve along side each other. The missionary is also thrust into roles that will stretch them and hopefully help them grow in their walk with Christ. Many vacationers come to Branson for fun and relaxation but may not realize that this might be their appointed time to hear the good news of Jesus. We love living what we believe and our goal is to reach people with the Gospel as well as come away from the summer with a stronger urge to share our faith.
So that's what I have been doing up here the past four summers for those of you who thought I went on vacation. I absolutely love what I do and feel so blessed to have been able to serve for four consecutive years. What makes this year different for me is a whole new list of responsibilities. I will not be assigned to a particular mission team each week. Instead, I get to be partially in charge of all the groups every week! This means that making sure the missionaries are all on task is my responsibility as well. Paying the meals, paying the show tickets, backing up my missionaries, keeping things sane (and safe), helping with needs of the mission team, getting the mail, and any other logistical thing you can think of is what I get to take care of. This is not a complaint by any means. I am excited beyond comprehension at what I get to do this summer!!! Being able to serve in this capacity just overwhelms me with joy. Service is probably my greatest spiritual gift and I love to use it abundantly. I will also be tested in assertiveness and patience as I deal with issues that arise. It's a bit intimidating, but nothing I can't handle with the Lord by my side.
The missionaries get here this weekend and I'm super stoked!!! I have met all of them and they are all excellent young people with a passion to serve the Lord. I ask that you pray for them as they attempt to put up with me over the summer. Just kidding haha. We'll all do fine. Nadeine trusts and respects all of us and I feel that we won't lose that. This is going to be a life changing summer for all of us! I'll try and keep this updated rather often to let everyone know how it's going and how you can pray for us. We're open til midnight or later all summer long!
Pray for Krystyna, Lauren, Steve O, Nadeine and me as we begin our summer with three busy weeks at training, kids camp, and super summer.
Also pray that we will all get along and issues will be at a minimum and resolved quickly
Pray for our mission teams as they prepare to come, that they will be in the right mind-set and have everything ready to effectively minister to those around them
Pray for our house parents as they get ready to take a week out of their summer to come live with us and cook for us. We are SUPER grateful for them
Pray for Branson and all its vacationers that they will be safe and open to the message of Jesus.
Pray for me that the Lord will give me patience, strength, and wisdom as I take on a new leadership role this summer.
Thanks for reading! Keep it real, yo.
Jonathan
Overwhelming? A little.
Afraid? Slightly.
Confident? 110%
Here's a little back ground on what goes on during the summer here in Branson, MO.
Groups from all over the US come here to Branson for a week during the summer to participate in service through day camps and Bible clubs at resorts, Vacation Bible Schools at local churches, and various clean up and construction projects. They get the connection through Nadeine and the Tri County Baptist Association. The association also hires four college-age summer missionaries to serve for ten weeks and facilitate what the groups do in the Branson area. It is a wonderful experience for the missionary and the mission team as they serve along side each other. The missionary is also thrust into roles that will stretch them and hopefully help them grow in their walk with Christ. Many vacationers come to Branson for fun and relaxation but may not realize that this might be their appointed time to hear the good news of Jesus. We love living what we believe and our goal is to reach people with the Gospel as well as come away from the summer with a stronger urge to share our faith.
So that's what I have been doing up here the past four summers for those of you who thought I went on vacation. I absolutely love what I do and feel so blessed to have been able to serve for four consecutive years. What makes this year different for me is a whole new list of responsibilities. I will not be assigned to a particular mission team each week. Instead, I get to be partially in charge of all the groups every week! This means that making sure the missionaries are all on task is my responsibility as well. Paying the meals, paying the show tickets, backing up my missionaries, keeping things sane (and safe), helping with needs of the mission team, getting the mail, and any other logistical thing you can think of is what I get to take care of. This is not a complaint by any means. I am excited beyond comprehension at what I get to do this summer!!! Being able to serve in this capacity just overwhelms me with joy. Service is probably my greatest spiritual gift and I love to use it abundantly. I will also be tested in assertiveness and patience as I deal with issues that arise. It's a bit intimidating, but nothing I can't handle with the Lord by my side.
The missionaries get here this weekend and I'm super stoked!!! I have met all of them and they are all excellent young people with a passion to serve the Lord. I ask that you pray for them as they attempt to put up with me over the summer. Just kidding haha. We'll all do fine. Nadeine trusts and respects all of us and I feel that we won't lose that. This is going to be a life changing summer for all of us! I'll try and keep this updated rather often to let everyone know how it's going and how you can pray for us. We're open til midnight or later all summer long!
Pray for Krystyna, Lauren, Steve O, Nadeine and me as we begin our summer with three busy weeks at training, kids camp, and super summer.
Also pray that we will all get along and issues will be at a minimum and resolved quickly
Pray for our mission teams as they prepare to come, that they will be in the right mind-set and have everything ready to effectively minister to those around them
Pray for our house parents as they get ready to take a week out of their summer to come live with us and cook for us. We are SUPER grateful for them
Pray for Branson and all its vacationers that they will be safe and open to the message of Jesus.
Pray for me that the Lord will give me patience, strength, and wisdom as I take on a new leadership role this summer.
Thanks for reading! Keep it real, yo.
Jonathan
Friday, May 14, 2010
What could have been..
This feels like a deep topic for a first post but here it goes..
Yesterday I was taking my sister to Stillwater to get a free eye exam at Special Olympics and getting off at the exit I started to think back to the last days of high school and the plans to go to Oklahoma State with Virgil and Jason. I was taking courses at OSU-OKC for a semester, then worked for a semester, all the while having high hopes of making it in to OSU to major in Aviation an be a pilot like I have dreamed about since birth. I was so excited that all this was panning out and that I would be able to exercise my renewed spirit to serve the Lord. During the spring semester of 06 we all began visiting the campus and setting up housing arrangements, but OSU wouldn't accept me. I don't know why. My high school GPA was ok, my ACT was decent, and I was confident. But I couldn't even make it into the pre-college they have up there. I was devastated. I had no idea what to do for school, much less what to do with my life. I began looking around and nothing was of interest to me. I started looking at OBU and still wasn't that thrilled. I wanted to be a pilot, that's it. OBU has cross-cultural work degrees so I talked myself into applying and settling for that. I wasn't very optimistic because if I had been rejected by a public school, why would a private school take me? Well, for reasons still unknown to me, I was accepted and started here in the Fall of 06.
Being at OBU kinda rocked my world. I had never had to work this hard to get a grade in my life. High school was too easy for me, thus when I got here I had no work ethic. My grades were bad and I struggled to hang on for a couple years. In that time though I have met some amazing people who are now incredible friends. I was also able to finally leave the US and venture to India to serve the Lord on short term trips. Things were so incredible, yet I was struggling with keeping up in school. And on top of that my family couldn't afford to keep me here. So in the Fall of 08 I sat out a semester. It was probably the hardest, most gut-wrenching thing I have had to do in my life, but looking back on it I cannot be thankful enough that the Lord pulled me out of the game and taught me what it means and takes to become a better student and a better person.
I was able to return in the Spring of 09 and settled on a new major: Interdisciplinary in Cross-Cultural Ministry, Anthropology, and Worship Arts. It's going to take some extra time (more than I would like, actually) to get it done, but I love what I'm studying and I know it will be worth it.
Last Fall I had the opportunity to live in South East Asia for four months. Oh my goodness, what a life changing experience that was! I was really able to break out of any comfort zone I had remaining and really just get used to meeting new people from all over the world and doing whatever it takes to build eternal relationships. That semester set me back even further, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
Now I am back at OBU fighting to make the grades (which I have done this semester, PTL!!) and just keep going wherever life takes me. It makes me stop to think what could have been. When I was in Stillwater that alternate universe was playing out in my mind. Different friends, different life-goals, probably wouldn't have left the country, may have turned away from my walk with Christ... It kinda scared me for a minute. And it made me so thankful that through all my failures and upset plans, the Most High God is always in control. He doesn't just step in when things are bad, or when we send out a signal of distress. He is ALWAYS present in our lives working for the good. As I think about all the people who have come in and out of my life I can't be thankful enough for them and this hard path the Lord has brought me down. He is faithful in all He does and I don't deserve any of it. Why He chose to call me out and be His..I will never know. But I am eternally grateful. "What could have been" is of the devil. "What is going to be" is a promise from the Lord.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:1-11
Yesterday I was taking my sister to Stillwater to get a free eye exam at Special Olympics and getting off at the exit I started to think back to the last days of high school and the plans to go to Oklahoma State with Virgil and Jason. I was taking courses at OSU-OKC for a semester, then worked for a semester, all the while having high hopes of making it in to OSU to major in Aviation an be a pilot like I have dreamed about since birth. I was so excited that all this was panning out and that I would be able to exercise my renewed spirit to serve the Lord. During the spring semester of 06 we all began visiting the campus and setting up housing arrangements, but OSU wouldn't accept me. I don't know why. My high school GPA was ok, my ACT was decent, and I was confident. But I couldn't even make it into the pre-college they have up there. I was devastated. I had no idea what to do for school, much less what to do with my life. I began looking around and nothing was of interest to me. I started looking at OBU and still wasn't that thrilled. I wanted to be a pilot, that's it. OBU has cross-cultural work degrees so I talked myself into applying and settling for that. I wasn't very optimistic because if I had been rejected by a public school, why would a private school take me? Well, for reasons still unknown to me, I was accepted and started here in the Fall of 06.
Being at OBU kinda rocked my world. I had never had to work this hard to get a grade in my life. High school was too easy for me, thus when I got here I had no work ethic. My grades were bad and I struggled to hang on for a couple years. In that time though I have met some amazing people who are now incredible friends. I was also able to finally leave the US and venture to India to serve the Lord on short term trips. Things were so incredible, yet I was struggling with keeping up in school. And on top of that my family couldn't afford to keep me here. So in the Fall of 08 I sat out a semester. It was probably the hardest, most gut-wrenching thing I have had to do in my life, but looking back on it I cannot be thankful enough that the Lord pulled me out of the game and taught me what it means and takes to become a better student and a better person.
I was able to return in the Spring of 09 and settled on a new major: Interdisciplinary in Cross-Cultural Ministry, Anthropology, and Worship Arts. It's going to take some extra time (more than I would like, actually) to get it done, but I love what I'm studying and I know it will be worth it.
Last Fall I had the opportunity to live in South East Asia for four months. Oh my goodness, what a life changing experience that was! I was really able to break out of any comfort zone I had remaining and really just get used to meeting new people from all over the world and doing whatever it takes to build eternal relationships. That semester set me back even further, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
Now I am back at OBU fighting to make the grades (which I have done this semester, PTL!!) and just keep going wherever life takes me. It makes me stop to think what could have been. When I was in Stillwater that alternate universe was playing out in my mind. Different friends, different life-goals, probably wouldn't have left the country, may have turned away from my walk with Christ... It kinda scared me for a minute. And it made me so thankful that through all my failures and upset plans, the Most High God is always in control. He doesn't just step in when things are bad, or when we send out a signal of distress. He is ALWAYS present in our lives working for the good. As I think about all the people who have come in and out of my life I can't be thankful enough for them and this hard path the Lord has brought me down. He is faithful in all He does and I don't deserve any of it. Why He chose to call me out and be His..I will never know. But I am eternally grateful. "What could have been" is of the devil. "What is going to be" is a promise from the Lord.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:1-11
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