On the Road

Late night Theology

I should really be asleep in bed. My day tomorrow will start very early with a run after a week or so off.... I'm looking forward to it!

I just want to put down some thoughts before I drift off. We've had Trent Sheppard speaking to all our DTS's this week on The Story of God. Basically a macroscopic view of God in history - man has it been wonderful! Our minds are being blown and our hearts warmed with new understanding of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the work of Holy Spirit. WOW.

Anyway, we were having a polylogue last night (like a dialogue, but with more than 2 people involved), and basically we sat there challenging a lot of what we believe. Not for the sake of challenging, but because many of us as Christians just believe stuff about God, and yet we're not really entirely sure why. It was an interesting evening, and for me it ended with the following thought processes.

Theology is essential to having and understanding of God. Without it, we would have no idea who we serve, why, or how that God feel about us, and yet, sometimes it ends up being more of a hangup than a uplift. Sometimes it ends up being something that causes quarrelling and division, even fights to break out among the body of Christ! Can you believe that?

Here's my radical thought. Theology that doesn't cause us to look more like Jesus Christ is worthless. Theology that doesn't drive us to the lost, the broken, the needy, probably needs to be re-examined. Why? Because Jesus stated very clearly that if we have seen him, then we have seen the Father. And what did Jesus do? He went to the lost. The needy. The broken.

Theology that keeps us in our cosy buildings and never sends us to the AIDS riddled, rat infested, poverty stricken, abandoned gutters of this world - that theology may not quite be true.

If your theology is different to mine, and yet you look like Jesus Christ, well that's pretty much good enough for me.

I'm being blunt because I'm tired. Do you see what I'm trying to say though?

http://www.engagehivaids.com/cm/

A day in the life....

Just a little insight into what a day looks like for me here on campus....

6:00am   -    Wake up and go jogging with Clint

6:30am   -    Breakfast

7:00am   -    Soundcheck for class worship

7:20am   -    School staff meeting

8:00am   -    Morning classes - running the sound desk today!

12:30pm  -   Get out of the classroom, and get some lunch super fast before

1:00pm    -   Take one of my small group students out for a one-on-one

3:00pm    -   Run to the bank

3:40pm    -   Get back from the bank and go straight into the corporate Tuesday staff meeting

5:00pm    -   Dinner

6:00pm    -   Work on reading and replying to student journals

7:00pm    -   Evening class time - I get to lead some worship and pray with students

9:00pm    -   Quick staff debrief

9:30pm    -   Go and finish working on student journals - they have to be done by tomorrow

10:30pm   -  Go with Jenni to the prayer room for a few minutes before saying goodnight to her, and working on emails for a little while until....]

12:00am   -  Lock the DTS student lounge and come back to finish my emails....

This isn't an unusual day for me right now! Even though it's busy, I LOVE what I'm doing! I'm going to bed now people - big day tomorrow!

What a privilege to be making disciples of all nations. Matthew 28. WOW.

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising

Tonight we took our school to see The Seeker: The Dark is Rising. It's David Cunningham's new movie (the son of Loren and Darlene, the founders of YWAM"), and I actually really enjoyed it! It's a kids fantasy movie, and in my opinion a little incomplete, altogether entertaining and enjoyable!

We had the privilege of having David as a guest speaker for the DTS this morning, and it was amazing to hear from a man who feels called by the Lord to be a leader in a cut-throat industry.... I'd like to see the DVD version when it comes out, because I think that'll be more of the cut that David might have ideally had, but either way it was fun to hear from him, and an inspiration to go for the top of whatever God gives you.

He said one thing in particular which I'd love to share with you all - he said that he saw his role in this industry was to minister TO the industry, and not just THROUGH it. To that extent, on this last movie of his his team pioneered a bunch of new initiatives for the film industry. Great to hear! Go check out the movie! Blessings.

PS. Watch for his production of 2006 - The Path to 9/11. It stirred up a lot of controversy on this side of the Atlantic, and in fact, continues to do so, which is why it's not out on DVD yet.

PS. This post is terrible and it's because I'm super tired.... Night!

Photos from the Wedding!

Check out the little photo album on the left side of the blog for a glimpse of the Mexico wedding...

In Transit....

I'm sitting in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, waiting to board for Honolulu. Mexico was amazing! I think maybe I was meant to be a mexican....

I'm sleepy, but it's good because it's about 10 hours to Hawaii from here. I have a BUNCH of photos from Mexico, but here's just one - this is all of us from Makapala who were there. What fun!

Hopes for the quarter ahead

Here's a post I wrote a few days ago but didn't have an opportunity to send....

Dear friends,

I’m sitting here in an airport Burger King en-route to Mexico. It seems that flying on airmiles = long flights and longer layovers, but I don’t mind…. It’s giving me time to reflect on what has been a wonderful God-filled month in Hawaii.

As I think back across all the training over the past month, I begin to realize just how intense it’s been. I feel somewhat like a sponge, full to sopping with the dripping knowledge, passions, and excitement of being trained to staff Discipleship Training Schools, and ready to be squeezed out and filled again as the students arrive. It’s only a week from now that the students will be coming, so full of expectation – some good and some bad! Many will be here because they long to be here, and it’s their heart’s desire to pursue God in this time. Others may be here just because their parents want them to come. Still others may just be indifferent, starting a DTS as a last-ditch effort to follow the Lord, but not sure if they care what happens.

We care. God has put a holy passion, desire, and responsibility on us to introduce these students to the authentic Jesus Christ, and it’s the cry of our hearts that they would meet him and become LOST in the praise of all that he is. God’s imparted to us, the staff, a burning desperation that the Lord’s presence would visit this quarter in a special way, and with that we have a confidence that comes from knowing who he is, how much he desires us, and what he’s promised to do.

It’s exciting.

So as I travel on to Mexico, for a weekend of tacos, salsa, and fiesta, my heart is beating fast in my chest with anticipation. What will I face when I return? Only God knows, but I know that when it comes he will be the same all-sufficient God I’ve come to know, his grace will be more than abundant, and his power to change, redeem, sanctify, and glorify lives will be more than evident. Let it be so in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen.

This is how we do it!

Before we even go anywhere - please note that in the attached photo I'm wearing a helmet!

This was a couple of weeks ago when I was setting off to go surfing with my good friends Samuel from Finland. On a motor scooter with surfboard in hand. Only in Hawaii!!!

Seriously, everyone rides these things here. I even find myself having fun riding them - where else in the world? If it's under 50cc then there are NO rules. No insurance, licence, inspections, registration, NOTHING is required.

All you gotta do is ride!

By the way - the surf here is about as gnarly as it gets - reef, lava rock, and sea urchins everywhere. But it's also the most powerful surf I've ever been in! What a chance to get better!

Fiesta!

Well, I have a very exciting announcement! Courtesy of Northwest Airlines, and their very generous Worldperks loyalty program (there's only a hint of sarcasm there), I am booked to fly out to Guadalajara, Mexico in two weeks for my dear friend Sofia's wedding to Juan-Pablo.

I met Sofia the very first night of my DTS last year, and we became immediate friends as we walked through the DTS program, and we even ended up on the same outreach team to Mozambique! She's a great woman of God, full of the Lord, and full of passion to take Jesus to the world! Her fiancee Jaun-Pablo is a great man of God, who also has a huge heart for the lost. I met him the first week of DTS also, and I'm honored and excited to be a part in the joining in Christ of such a great couple!

So yeah, I'm stoked to go! The slight downer on this whole thing is that because it's an airmiles flight, I have a ridiculous routing - I'm only gone for 4 days and of those I'm only in mexico for about a day and a half. Oh well! It's such a blessing and answer to prayer to be able to go! Thankyou Lord!

Photo courtesy of Mr. Tim Dyk

Buena noches y consigue de mi césped

I'd like to introduce you to Johnny the missionary/security dude, and his trusty companion Moon from Korea. We are in the business of keeping you safe and for a small fee (or peanut butter crackers) we will keep your campus locked up tight!

On Labor Day, (a national holiday in the United States - don't ask me why cause I don't know!) I was listed to fill for a night on campus security, You know what? It actually was pretty fun! I had to sit in the booth at the gate from 6pm to 9pm, and press the big red button which lifts the barriers into the campus. Then from 9 til midnight Moon and I faithfully patrolled the campus, checking that it was locked up tight, that the noise was down, and that all would-be criminals, burglars, or cat-nappers were duly scared off!

In actuality I was totally bushed and wanted to go to bed by the time we started patrolling, but it was fun and I got to know my Korean buddy! Moon works in the transportation office, doing all the leg work to make sure every department can get a vehicle for whatever they need, whenever they need it! I think we have something like 20 campus vehicles, and they are ALWAYS in demand, so it's a pretty intense job! He does it to perfection! Goodnight, and good luck!

Busy days and the day of rest....

Howdie from the middle of the Pacific! Tonight is Sunday night - the beginning of week 2 of the internship! This also marks the end of a long, fruitful, busy week here in Kona!

Since my last post I managed to get my campus driving permit, which means that now I get to drive for the University of the Nations! This weekend I did a Costco run, drove our internship crew to a BBQ and back, and yesterday I went to the airport to pick up a team returning from China. Now that was cool! I stopped to pick up the team and whose team should it be but that of my friend Bella! She was on DTS last year with Jenni and it was such a blessing and surprise to meet her and her team at the airport!

Yesterday I also had a taste of the Hawaiian surf. Now last time I was in Hawaii I thought the waves were too big and the rocks too sharp for me to surf here, but I've been thinking, and if I'm ever to learn properly, the time is now! Some buddies and I went to a beach near here called Pinetrees (ironically there isn't a pine tree in sight!) and we went out for a few hours in the surf. We had a blast in the blazing sun and warm water - I'm definitely just beginning to learn the skills but I got up a few times and had a whole lot of fun! What an exhilerating experience!

Today however, is Sunday, and it's been a great day of rest! We've really been encouraged this week to make a practice of having a 'Sabbath' day - a true day of rest. And this isn't a burden, it should be a blessing! Well normally I tend to go pretty hard all day every day, and even though Sunday is a slow day normally, I often don't rest that much. Well today was different. This morning I went to a great church here in Kona called Solid Rock Ministries. It's like a mini Hillsongs, but with an island twist! All the band are big islanders, as is the pastor, and the culture and feel is laid back and sun-soaked, but they were full of the Lord and based on the Bible! It was a bunch of fun to be there with Jeff, Beth, and their boys!

This afternoon was totally laid back - Basically I just slept and played guitar with Rob, a fellow intern who has moved here with his wife Jenni and their four kids, to serve the Lord! They sold up their business in NZ this year, and they feel called to Cambodia - great man and woman of God! Anyway, we had a sweet time in worship together.... Now I'm just about to head up the hill from the DTS office and go to bed!

I thank you all for your prayers! Looking back at this post it hasn't been very cohesive, but I hope you can forgive my tired brain and get some idea of how I'm doing! Hope you're all well - blessings.