So this week has been all about finalizing the trip to Mexico. I have 30 people joining me from Michigan and 1 coming from Colorado. I am really excited again for the incredible opportunity to take a group down there. Many people probablly think that we are stupid for going to Tiajuana. For many reasons I am sure here are a few that I can come up with: It is over Thanksgiving; you pay to do this; that sounds to ruff; it is not safe..... I am sure there are others which I have heard.
My prayer is that the eyes and hearts of the people going would be opened to the truth of God's word and the reality of the world around us. How should I be living right now , today, in light of what God has said I should be doing?
The focus that I have chosen for the week comes from Hebrews 13:7
" Remember your leaders those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. "
This verse is encapsulated in the statement before about the confidence that we can have because God has said "that He will never leave you nor forsake you" and after that " Jesus Chrust is the same yesterday and today and forever. There is also a quote which comes from the psalms. Specifically Ps 118:6 and Ps 56:10-11, We find the challenge here that " The Lord is my helper I will not fear what can man do to me?"
So focusing on Remember, Consider, and Imitate. These three words are verbs and they are active not passive. We find a warning in verse nine which says " Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings" How do we safe guard ourselves against this? By remembering the truth, the teaching of the leaders who are imparting to us the Word of God. Consider it then, weigh it out , count the cost, and then imitate those who are modelling the truth lived out.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Two posts in one day unheard of
I know that this is long these are my exiting thoughts as I left Japan. This is more for me than for anyone to read all the way through, although you will have an understanding as to where I am hopefully from this excerpt.
Departing Japan
So here I sit waiting for my plane to board ; it has been an extremely fast four months. I hit the ground running and I feel like even today as I leave I was running to make the train. This of course brings backs memories of my first night in Japan.
I landed in Narita around 5pm having to run through baggage claim and customs. Obviously you can not run through customs , but I think you understand. So I make it to the counter to buy my bus ticket about five minutes before it is scheduled to depart. Of course this is where I find out first about the punctuality of the Japanees transportation service. That bus pulled in about four minutes before it was to depart and we started rolling right on time. This of course is my kind of punctuality.
So there is mixed feelings as I leave. The feeling of I can’t wait till I get home and get to see family and friends. Then of course there is the other side, where I wish that I wasn’t leaving, for the sake of the relationships that I now have here in Japan. There becomes this reality that you know exists I am speaking of the men and women on the base in Yokosuka, Japan. Not that God doesn’t and can’t use other people but there is a sense of responsibility which I feel. A sense that if God has called me there and has placed me there then I need to be doing the best that I can.
I am wrestling with the future decision of schooling. I am seeing two main options. First I go to a Bible school. Now this brings several questions where, and when. I have now committed to stay in Japan until the summer. So the first that I could attend at a school would be next fall the fall of 2009. If I am to attend a Bible school I probably have a minimum of three years to complete a degree. I am however going to start taking some online classes this semester when I go back in January. This is my second option which I see available to me. I could continue to stay on the field somewhere and while there I could be taking classes online. This would allow me to continue working overseas with the military but it also brings with it certain negatives. The first one being that I have never taken any classes online, but I expect that it will be very challenging. I cannot speak yet from personal experience but looking at the structure and format of online classes and the past experiences of others I think that it will be a real challenge for me to be disciplined to learn. Especially when I enjoy listen to a professor lecture the most. I find listening the easiest way to learn. Another negative is that I am not in a group of class setting where I can talk and wrestle with the material. On the other hand I would be in active ministry and would be able to use the classes in my interaction with people in the ministry.
There is another aspect of my future which I would be lying to say that I never think about it. That would be the thoughts on marriage. As I look at my future ministry opportunities and directions I really see at this point that if I am going to head towards Cadence Hospitality House Ministry then marriage is a must. Now I think that there is a balance which is required in the pursuit of this. So the battle ensues, God is in control, if marriage is what He has for me than if I have prepared myself for marriage then He can bring someone into my life no matter where I am. At the same time when you consider what better area to meet a Godly women who has similar passions for following God in full time ministry than at a Bible college.
Back to thoughts than on school I guess that there is a third and possible fourth options. These are ones that I have not looked into yet. See as I look at my heart and passion which God has cultivated in my life I see myself moving into roles where I am involved in shepherding people. This I see as being the role of a pastor to a flock as scripture calls it. So as I look at school I am looking at focusing on a program in pastoral ministries. This can be accomplished at a bible school, but also could be accomplished at a seminary. There is a problem for me in the pursuit of seminary. My understanding is that a seminary requires an undergraduate degree in order to enroll. Maybe there are seminaries which don’t require one but if that is true I have not been made aware of that yet. So the fourth option would be that instead of me taking Bible classes online, I could instead focus on finishing an undergraduate degree; then I could go to a seminary following that. This would be carrying my schooling out probably another five to six years.
Well I am touching down now so more to come later, to be continued…….
Departing Japan
So here I sit waiting for my plane to board ; it has been an extremely fast four months. I hit the ground running and I feel like even today as I leave I was running to make the train. This of course brings backs memories of my first night in Japan.
I landed in Narita around 5pm having to run through baggage claim and customs. Obviously you can not run through customs , but I think you understand. So I make it to the counter to buy my bus ticket about five minutes before it is scheduled to depart. Of course this is where I find out first about the punctuality of the Japanees transportation service. That bus pulled in about four minutes before it was to depart and we started rolling right on time. This of course is my kind of punctuality.
So there is mixed feelings as I leave. The feeling of I can’t wait till I get home and get to see family and friends. Then of course there is the other side, where I wish that I wasn’t leaving, for the sake of the relationships that I now have here in Japan. There becomes this reality that you know exists I am speaking of the men and women on the base in Yokosuka, Japan. Not that God doesn’t and can’t use other people but there is a sense of responsibility which I feel. A sense that if God has called me there and has placed me there then I need to be doing the best that I can.
I am wrestling with the future decision of schooling. I am seeing two main options. First I go to a Bible school. Now this brings several questions where, and when. I have now committed to stay in Japan until the summer. So the first that I could attend at a school would be next fall the fall of 2009. If I am to attend a Bible school I probably have a minimum of three years to complete a degree. I am however going to start taking some online classes this semester when I go back in January. This is my second option which I see available to me. I could continue to stay on the field somewhere and while there I could be taking classes online. This would allow me to continue working overseas with the military but it also brings with it certain negatives. The first one being that I have never taken any classes online, but I expect that it will be very challenging. I cannot speak yet from personal experience but looking at the structure and format of online classes and the past experiences of others I think that it will be a real challenge for me to be disciplined to learn. Especially when I enjoy listen to a professor lecture the most. I find listening the easiest way to learn. Another negative is that I am not in a group of class setting where I can talk and wrestle with the material. On the other hand I would be in active ministry and would be able to use the classes in my interaction with people in the ministry.
There is another aspect of my future which I would be lying to say that I never think about it. That would be the thoughts on marriage. As I look at my future ministry opportunities and directions I really see at this point that if I am going to head towards Cadence Hospitality House Ministry then marriage is a must. Now I think that there is a balance which is required in the pursuit of this. So the battle ensues, God is in control, if marriage is what He has for me than if I have prepared myself for marriage then He can bring someone into my life no matter where I am. At the same time when you consider what better area to meet a Godly women who has similar passions for following God in full time ministry than at a Bible college.
Back to thoughts than on school I guess that there is a third and possible fourth options. These are ones that I have not looked into yet. See as I look at my heart and passion which God has cultivated in my life I see myself moving into roles where I am involved in shepherding people. This I see as being the role of a pastor to a flock as scripture calls it. So as I look at school I am looking at focusing on a program in pastoral ministries. This can be accomplished at a bible school, but also could be accomplished at a seminary. There is a problem for me in the pursuit of seminary. My understanding is that a seminary requires an undergraduate degree in order to enroll. Maybe there are seminaries which don’t require one but if that is true I have not been made aware of that yet. So the fourth option would be that instead of me taking Bible classes online, I could instead focus on finishing an undergraduate degree; then I could go to a seminary following that. This would be carrying my schooling out probably another five to six years.
Well I am touching down now so more to come later, to be continued…….
Back in Michigan
I made it home with no difficulties, I arrived to a sunny mid sixties day, and my Tuesday is the same. It was so nice to be able to drive along and look at the colors in the trees. You definetly come to appreciate things more when you are absent from them.
I appreciate logging on to my internet without having to look at any Japanees text.
Shalom
I appreciate logging on to my internet without having to look at any Japanees text.
Shalom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
