I guess I should end my New Zealand blog appropriately: by tying together the loose ends and shoving the clothes in the closet... to“clean up” a bit, organize nine months into a few words - concluding my time which took place way down there.
The chances you will even read this are slim, so maybe this is my chance to talk to cyberspace alone, but you're free to eaves drop if you'd like.
I've had a month to assimilate back into British Columbian culture and already my bare-footed adventures are practically over. (Or kept to a minimum at least, it just doesn't work too well here.)
The time I spent in New Zealand already feels like it didn't even happen. Or perhaps it was just a dream in which I remember all the events and thoughts I had were remembered in impeccable detail. I sure didn't go to Bible School on Earth, that's for sure. I was somewhere else, where implanted in my head in this place was A Relationship, knowledge and memories. Incredibly fond memories of fifteen interesting men and women who came together and discovered Real Life and allowed an all-knowing Spirit to possess us.
In the classroom we didn't only gain “head-knowledge” but a deeper understanding of what it meant to be Christian – something, which was made abundantly clear - was impossible to be without God at the center, living His life through us. So it wasn't so much about knowing events and what He did, as to building a relationship so firmly rooted in love that no matter what happened after we stepped back onto earth, we would long to surrender all power and choices to the Creator of the Universe.
Outside of the classroom, we became a family, united by Christ. On the paddocks there were weekly soccer scrums and made up rugby/football tossing games. In the common lounge there was always a piano or guitar filling the whole house with sound. Those sound waves are still traveling throughout that house today, bouncing off the walls which were dusted weekly on Wednesdays and then through the kitchen where our cook, Sheryl found herself most of the day. Those sound waves will still wisp past the ears of Justus and Isabel who will no doubt continue to jump on the miniature trampoline out back or race down the gravel driveway on their bikes or motorized toy-ATVs while Patti and Dale work in the shed-turned-office near the side of the house.
The vacant room one which was once filled with rambunctious noises from the four inhabitants [Joel, Joel B, Bryan and I] now has a chance to recuperate from the many hardships it had to endure: Joel B. angrily pouncing on either Joel's or my bed - trying to get us to squeal about the mysterious White Man, or from the many rage attacks from Joel and I fueled from an ugly-looking suitcase which was too disgraceful to be living among us.
In town, the library's internet will once again have some free bandwidth as fifteen internet-crazed students will no longer be crashing the systems to get into contact with earth, and SuperValu will go into a depression as the shelves won't be raided by snack-devouring North Americans.
My two weeks of madness traveling alone has almost become a forgotten memory. Memories of spending four days alone in a forest, meditating among half-dead trees and a too-salty-for-its-own good ocean. Hitch hiking, and then miraculously meeting up with Bryan, Amber and Kelsey to travel with them for the last week of break. Phew, a Christmas break in which the bookends were spectacular and the meat was uncooked and trash-worthy. Looking back on it, it was perfect. There's nothing like waking up in a tent by the sound of intense rain pelting the exterior, way up in the northwest 100 km away from a main city, with no electronic device or 20th century technology, with no transportation and knowing that you had to take the tent down in the rain... and then pack it into a bag which then had to be carried down a mountain until some merciful person had enough sympathy to pick you up. Glorious.
And then Easter break. Quiet explosions in the heart of various kinds for eighteen days before settling back into life at The Crossing, where the last six weeks flew by and God was realized even further. A hello/goodbye sequence which was strangely weird on the last weekend in New Zealand and then a plane which transported me back into the world as I knew it.
Here I am, changed inside by an extraordinary amount, yet the outside is completely recognizable. Confused and unsure of this world I now live in again, dumbfounded by the way things are, gazing at the crowds of blind and asleep men walking the streets living it all for nothing [ / themselves], who may possibly never wake up and experience Real Life. But God is at work in every person's life, and that is awesome. Although I am currently completely direction-less. I will hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, The Great I Am, and I know His plan for my life is greater than I can imagine.
Thanks to all who have ever made an effort to read what I've been up to, I appreciate it greatly. Special thanks to Rebekah who always sent me encouraging words via Facebook, all of you who commented on here, and to my four lovely grandparents.
29.6.10
21.5.10
Egg.
So here I am, one week away from coming home. I still distinctly remember the first day at The Crossing, silently tip-toeing my way around the house trying to escape from all the strangers who were all way louder and rambunctious. They still tell me they noticed the horror on my face the first few days of school. I hardly said a word. But it didn't take long to feel part of the group, everyone was awesome... they're still all awesome.
And now it's time to leave them all. For the past two weeks I've been extremely excited to go home, but today I woke up and felt all my organs tightening inside my body, and my stomach was squeezing out of my mouth.
The last semester of school (6 weeks) has been great. The lecture lineup was as perfect as could be, and I learned a lot. Outside of class; JB, Joel and I started a football league to celebrate autumn and tomorrow is the championship game. Everyone has their advantages. JB is the big, tall guy with long reach. Joel is the super sturdy, hard-running player, and I'm the speedy guy who usually comes last out of us three, but I hold my own, I always make it really close.
Tomorrow will be my last time attending the Geraldine church. I've finished up my ministries in Kids Alive and Timaru Youth Group with a bang. Both groups of kids said they learned a lot from the Capernwray guys, so that's cool. This last week of school will be debrief sessions and lots of cleaning. We've finished up all of our book reports and random papers and so now we'll just focus on making sure we avoid Post Capernwray Blues as much as possible.
And now it's time to leave them all. For the past two weeks I've been extremely excited to go home, but today I woke up and felt all my organs tightening inside my body, and my stomach was squeezing out of my mouth.
The last semester of school (6 weeks) has been great. The lecture lineup was as perfect as could be, and I learned a lot. Outside of class; JB, Joel and I started a football league to celebrate autumn and tomorrow is the championship game. Everyone has their advantages. JB is the big, tall guy with long reach. Joel is the super sturdy, hard-running player, and I'm the speedy guy who usually comes last out of us three, but I hold my own, I always make it really close.
Tomorrow will be my last time attending the Geraldine church. I've finished up my ministries in Kids Alive and Timaru Youth Group with a bang. Both groups of kids said they learned a lot from the Capernwray guys, so that's cool. This last week of school will be debrief sessions and lots of cleaning. We've finished up all of our book reports and random papers and so now we'll just focus on making sure we avoid Post Capernwray Blues as much as possible.
3.5.10
God is in a constant state of perpetual enthusiasm!
Here are some of my scatterbrained notes/one-liners from my two weeks of classes with Jerry Benjamin who taught on Daniel and Revelation.
---
The unsurrendered Christian life is the unsatisfied Christian life. This is one thing that's a constant struggle for me. Why do I feel an emptiness, lack of satisfaction or a need? It's because I'm not surrendering everything I am and everything I have to God.
Scripture is given to reveal Jesus Christ, nothing else.
All things must be fulfilled - revealing Jesus Christ.
Purpose of prophecy: To reveal Jesus Christ, not for events.
"To die is gain" - because the safest place to be is in the presence of God.
Being in the will of God on earth is the safest place to be. (You're safer dodging bullets in Afghanistan than doing hoolahoops on the beach if God's will for you is to be in Afghanistan.)
The problem is we don't believe Jesus Christ is all we need. Only when He's all we have do we belive He's all we need.
Obedience brings blessing. Israel had faith passover would work. God not obligated to physically bless us... perhaps only spiritually.
If we're disobedient... He will discipline us (NIV: "curse") to correct us and bring us to a right place.
Christ doesn't give wisdom, He is wisdom. All of our true wisdom comes from him.
What becomes a characteristic of Jesus Christ becomes a characteristic of me when I die to self.
Obey God regardless of the circumstance or culture. No compromising: "Well if I do this the king will like me more and give me a position of power and then I could start prayer meetings and Bible studies." Always do what pleases the Father.
God gives man choice but it doesn't thwart His purpose = sovereignty of God.
Job cried out to God when in his trials... he asked question after question. When God spoke, He didn't answer any questions... He only asked more questions right back at him. And Job received revelations and repented.
Prayer is not only an act, it's an attitude. To have complete dependence on Him. Pray without ceasing = Always depend on Him, in all circumstances. Everything must be done in Him or it has no eternal value.
Sheep are the most dependent animal in the world. They NEED the shepherd to direct them to food and water and to the right gate or they will be lost or hungry. We need to recognize our helplessness and have confidence in whom we are joined to... CHRIST!
Every need is met in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ + nothing = everything.
Nothing on earth will ever completely satisfy... there will always be emptiness without Christ.
God is looking for broken vessels, willing to point others to Him for no other reason but for those to know him, and not for self-pride, gain.
The purpose of revelation is for transformation, not for information.
As long as God is glorified, it doesn't matter whether we live or die. Shadrach, Mesach and Abendego realize this... they are willing to go into the fiery furnace because they followed Christ's ways and the situation they were put in was a result of their faithfulness. They had the knowledge of God that He can do it, (save them from dying in the fire) they just don't know if He will. The only issue was: How can God be more glorified? They had faith that God's plan was the best plan.
The battle is the Lord's. We must submit and surrender to God first.
When God takes us through painful trials (fiery furnaces), God is only purifying us of our sins - transforming us more to His image.
We are changed by Christ as much as we are willing to allow Him to change us. No personality trait hinders His ability to change us. We are our own worst enemy.
True worship: The complete surrendering, submission to God with all mind and heart.
We have commited our lives to Jesus Christ, but have we submitted to Him?
In a commitment - the person commiting still has authority to make the final decision.
In submission the person we are submitting to has all authority - God makes the final decision.
He came to transform us.
Does God have exclusive rights to EVERY aspect of my life?
Pride: The spirit of independence.
Humility: NO thought of oneself - humility only comes through submission.
Brokeness: No will of my own. The end of ourselves. (We were bought at a price.)
God sees every person as a pearl of great price. He will search for you forever and once He finds you, He will go and sell everything for you.
Why are we of so much value? Well, God made us! That's why we have value. No matter what condition we may be in, our value is in the Creator.
Our greatest liability in the Christian life is the strengths. We no longer put our dependence in God because we think we can do it ourselves.
Stand in battle by surrendering.
The victory is won when Jesus Christ conquers me.
Don't worry about bearing fruit - only God can do that.
Priorities of prayer:
1. Get me to live for the glory of God.
2. Motivated to love for Him.
3. To live under God's authority. (... in submission.)
4. Walk in the light. (Being transparent. Not self-analysing - He does the changing.)
5. Abide in Christ. (To His agenda.)
Think life is unfair?
The greatest unfairness in history was the death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn't come to judge man, He came to save us and transform us into true worshippers.
He didn't come to prove Himself. He could have stepped off the cross if He wanted to, but He hung on the cross quietly... He conquered the grave with quiet power.
He created us for relationship with us. He didn't need us.
The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart.
Join to God for who He is, not for what He can do/give for/to us.
We are never the fulfillment of God's program. Christ always is. We don't go on missions trips because God needs us to be there to fix things - we should go only for the reason because we love Him - to do His will.
Your sins are submerged in the grace of God. God chooses to forget sins - He allows us to wake up every day as white as snow - pure, blameless.
Never give up on persuing a person to come to Christ. God will open doors if He chooses to, and it's your job to faithfully walk through them when they open. It is not our job to open doors. He will initiate.
Do we have eyes only for God?
---
The unsurrendered Christian life is the unsatisfied Christian life. This is one thing that's a constant struggle for me. Why do I feel an emptiness, lack of satisfaction or a need? It's because I'm not surrendering everything I am and everything I have to God.
Scripture is given to reveal Jesus Christ, nothing else.
All things must be fulfilled - revealing Jesus Christ.
Purpose of prophecy: To reveal Jesus Christ, not for events.
"To die is gain" - because the safest place to be is in the presence of God.
Being in the will of God on earth is the safest place to be. (You're safer dodging bullets in Afghanistan than doing hoolahoops on the beach if God's will for you is to be in Afghanistan.)
The problem is we don't believe Jesus Christ is all we need. Only when He's all we have do we belive He's all we need.
Obedience brings blessing. Israel had faith passover would work. God not obligated to physically bless us... perhaps only spiritually.
If we're disobedient... He will discipline us (NIV: "curse") to correct us and bring us to a right place.
Christ doesn't give wisdom, He is wisdom. All of our true wisdom comes from him.
What becomes a characteristic of Jesus Christ becomes a characteristic of me when I die to self.
Obey God regardless of the circumstance or culture. No compromising: "Well if I do this the king will like me more and give me a position of power and then I could start prayer meetings and Bible studies." Always do what pleases the Father.
God gives man choice but it doesn't thwart His purpose = sovereignty of God.
Job cried out to God when in his trials... he asked question after question. When God spoke, He didn't answer any questions... He only asked more questions right back at him. And Job received revelations and repented.
Prayer is not only an act, it's an attitude. To have complete dependence on Him. Pray without ceasing = Always depend on Him, in all circumstances. Everything must be done in Him or it has no eternal value.
Sheep are the most dependent animal in the world. They NEED the shepherd to direct them to food and water and to the right gate or they will be lost or hungry. We need to recognize our helplessness and have confidence in whom we are joined to... CHRIST!
Every need is met in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ + nothing = everything.
Nothing on earth will ever completely satisfy... there will always be emptiness without Christ.
God is looking for broken vessels, willing to point others to Him for no other reason but for those to know him, and not for self-pride, gain.
The purpose of revelation is for transformation, not for information.
As long as God is glorified, it doesn't matter whether we live or die. Shadrach, Mesach and Abendego realize this... they are willing to go into the fiery furnace because they followed Christ's ways and the situation they were put in was a result of their faithfulness. They had the knowledge of God that He can do it, (save them from dying in the fire) they just don't know if He will. The only issue was: How can God be more glorified? They had faith that God's plan was the best plan.
The battle is the Lord's. We must submit and surrender to God first.
When God takes us through painful trials (fiery furnaces), God is only purifying us of our sins - transforming us more to His image.
We are changed by Christ as much as we are willing to allow Him to change us. No personality trait hinders His ability to change us. We are our own worst enemy.
True worship: The complete surrendering, submission to God with all mind and heart.
We have commited our lives to Jesus Christ, but have we submitted to Him?
In a commitment - the person commiting still has authority to make the final decision.
In submission the person we are submitting to has all authority - God makes the final decision.
He came to transform us.
Does God have exclusive rights to EVERY aspect of my life?
Pride: The spirit of independence.
Humility: NO thought of oneself - humility only comes through submission.
Brokeness: No will of my own. The end of ourselves. (We were bought at a price.)
God sees every person as a pearl of great price. He will search for you forever and once He finds you, He will go and sell everything for you.
Why are we of so much value? Well, God made us! That's why we have value. No matter what condition we may be in, our value is in the Creator.
Our greatest liability in the Christian life is the strengths. We no longer put our dependence in God because we think we can do it ourselves.
Stand in battle by surrendering.
The victory is won when Jesus Christ conquers me.
Don't worry about bearing fruit - only God can do that.
Priorities of prayer:
1. Get me to live for the glory of God.
2. Motivated to love for Him.
3. To live under God's authority. (... in submission.)
4. Walk in the light. (Being transparent. Not self-analysing - He does the changing.)
5. Abide in Christ. (To His agenda.)
Think life is unfair?
The greatest unfairness in history was the death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn't come to judge man, He came to save us and transform us into true worshippers.
He didn't come to prove Himself. He could have stepped off the cross if He wanted to, but He hung on the cross quietly... He conquered the grave with quiet power.
He created us for relationship with us. He didn't need us.
The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart.
Join to God for who He is, not for what He can do/give for/to us.
We are never the fulfillment of God's program. Christ always is. We don't go on missions trips because God needs us to be there to fix things - we should go only for the reason because we love Him - to do His will.
Your sins are submerged in the grace of God. God chooses to forget sins - He allows us to wake up every day as white as snow - pure, blameless.
Never give up on persuing a person to come to Christ. God will open doors if He chooses to, and it's your job to faithfully walk through them when they open. It is not our job to open doors. He will initiate.
Do we have eyes only for God?
1.5.10
I Will Put My Testimony Into You
Well it has been forever since I've made a proper blog post. My apologies. It's not like there hasn't been a lot of cool stuff going on, though. I guess I had a falling out. Anyways, I'll give you a quick fill in on what's going on the last month or so. The leaves are all turning red, orange, yellow and falling off the trees as winter is approaching. The sun goes down at 5:30pm and it feels like Christmas should be coming soon. The group is a lot quieter with Amber (the loudest person on earth) gone but it's been good. We miss them but no one is dying... except maybe Kelsey. I think she's missing Amber a lot. Easter break was awesome. I got to see a lot and laugh a lot. After spending 9 days on the south island I got a bit of a taste of the north island, spending a bit of time in Aukland and a bit in the Cormandel where myself and 9 others rented a beach house and did very little for 9 days. It was good to spend time with three (out of four) of the Adventure Bible School-ers before they left the group. I happened to be in Aukland for Record Store Day and so I was lucky enough to score a few sweet deals and at night I was able to go to a free gig (!!!) on the outskirts of Aukland with Robert. There were 7 bands playing that night and so it was cool to see what New Zealand indie bands were like... most of them sucked unfortunately, but the opening band was really good. They were called Artisan Guns and they were really quirky and fun-loving people. Robert and I actually talked with them after their show, they were nice people. A straight-forward indie rock band Clap Clap Riot was okay too but other than that the music was pretty weak and the groups were more into making noise and then drinking than anything else. Anyways, airports. Domestic flights in New Zealand are easiest things in the world. Now I.D. required. Check your bags, go through security, and you're on the plane. Takes five minutes. Really efficient.
So now I'm back to school. Two weeks of lectures with Jerry Benjamin (our first and only international lecturer this year... from Colorado Springs, USA) have come to a close and now we've got only four weeks left! I'm back in Room One with Joel B. (JB), Joel, and Bryan (with honourary member, Robert) and it's fun times. There have been a few lame pranks pulled this semester and a I've had a few "close encounters" with Joel. Sport of choice right now seems to be football.
This past week was super busy. Angela and I were planning everything for youth group one Wednesday at Timaru Life Church and I was also involved in a presentation for the Christian elementary school in Timaru (in which I was in a drama as a faithful friend and played a pirate searching for treasure in a sing-along action-song) which was for Thursday. There was a lot of stress on Angela and my part because after all the work we had put into the message for youth group we came to the conclusion we had about 30 minutes covered with stuff to do out of the hour and half we needed to fill. The night before Wednesday we prayed a bunch for our plans. Come Wednesday night 7:00pm, Angela and I were able to present a really cool message on Ephesians 1:15-20. Our goal was to make it as interactive as possible and really get the guys participating. At 8:25, as we were about to split off into small groups again to discuss, Hanna, our ministry co-ordinator who came to see how we'd do told us we should probably wrap it up shortly because it was five minutes until the end of youth group... Angela and I were obviously shocked. The one big thing we worried about coming into the day ended up being a non-issue. It was really cool to see God take the one thing that we thought was going to be a weak spot and totally take care of it and really bless us and our time at the youth group. We didn't even have time to do our "time-filling" game! So that was really cool.
On Saturday six of us went and climbed Mt. Peel. It was a gorgeous start to the day and we climbed up the steep mountain in three hours, crossing bush-y ridges and a few streams. On the way down we got rained on (Bryan was really hoping to hike in rain so he got his wish) and then we let ourselves go and flew (or ran as fast as possible) down the muddy steepness which was Mt. Peel. Of course there was quite a few slips and wipe outs. I was hiking in my Vans yet ironically I was the only one who didn't "eat it" yet I was close a few times.
I'll have more soon... with the most important stuff... what I've been learning!
So now I'm back to school. Two weeks of lectures with Jerry Benjamin (our first and only international lecturer this year... from Colorado Springs, USA) have come to a close and now we've got only four weeks left! I'm back in Room One with Joel B. (JB), Joel, and Bryan (with honourary member, Robert) and it's fun times. There have been a few lame pranks pulled this semester and a I've had a few "close encounters" with Joel. Sport of choice right now seems to be football.
This past week was super busy. Angela and I were planning everything for youth group one Wednesday at Timaru Life Church and I was also involved in a presentation for the Christian elementary school in Timaru (in which I was in a drama as a faithful friend and played a pirate searching for treasure in a sing-along action-song) which was for Thursday. There was a lot of stress on Angela and my part because after all the work we had put into the message for youth group we came to the conclusion we had about 30 minutes covered with stuff to do out of the hour and half we needed to fill. The night before Wednesday we prayed a bunch for our plans. Come Wednesday night 7:00pm, Angela and I were able to present a really cool message on Ephesians 1:15-20. Our goal was to make it as interactive as possible and really get the guys participating. At 8:25, as we were about to split off into small groups again to discuss, Hanna, our ministry co-ordinator who came to see how we'd do told us we should probably wrap it up shortly because it was five minutes until the end of youth group... Angela and I were obviously shocked. The one big thing we worried about coming into the day ended up being a non-issue. It was really cool to see God take the one thing that we thought was going to be a weak spot and totally take care of it and really bless us and our time at the youth group. We didn't even have time to do our "time-filling" game! So that was really cool.
On Saturday six of us went and climbed Mt. Peel. It was a gorgeous start to the day and we climbed up the steep mountain in three hours, crossing bush-y ridges and a few streams. On the way down we got rained on (Bryan was really hoping to hike in rain so he got his wish) and then we let ourselves go and flew (or ran as fast as possible) down the muddy steepness which was Mt. Peel. Of course there was quite a few slips and wipe outs. I was hiking in my Vans yet ironically I was the only one who didn't "eat it" yet I was close a few times.
I'll have more soon... with the most important stuff... what I've been learning!
28.4.10
Jesus Christ Killed Adam
8pm, Saturday. Adam is tired of noise and escapes out the front door for a walk down the seemingly never-ending Woodbury Road. The clouds hung so low they were kissing the pavement. Hours pass and the aroma of dying evening fires fill the air and Adam sits down to soak in the atmosphere.
That's when Jesus Christ killed him. Adam was at rest. He leaned against the side of an abandoned shed on the corner of an obscure intersection and that's when Jesus Christ dawned on him. Adam Neufeld is no longer alive. Jesus Christ killed him. The body of Adam Neufeld's is no longer his, it's Jesus Christ's. Whatever is true of Jesus Christ is now true of Adam. They say Jesus is loving, compassionate, strong, patient, wise. Those are all true of Adam. Jesus killed Adam, and took all the ugliness along with him. And now Adam has the Mind of Christ. Jesus Christ owns Adam. Adam is His vessel, His slave. Adam is dead, he no longer lives.
However, sometimes the ghost of Adam Neufeld will try to re-aquire the body which was once his. These are dangerous times. No good can come of Adam when he is possessed of Adam's ghost. The ghost must constantly be put off, whispered away... prayed against. Because Adam no longer has right to Adam's body.
To live is Christ.
To die is gain. (Because then we are in God's presence 100% of the time... for eternity!)
That's when Jesus Christ killed him. Adam was at rest. He leaned against the side of an abandoned shed on the corner of an obscure intersection and that's when Jesus Christ dawned on him. Adam Neufeld is no longer alive. Jesus Christ killed him. The body of Adam Neufeld's is no longer his, it's Jesus Christ's. Whatever is true of Jesus Christ is now true of Adam. They say Jesus is loving, compassionate, strong, patient, wise. Those are all true of Adam. Jesus killed Adam, and took all the ugliness along with him. And now Adam has the Mind of Christ. Jesus Christ owns Adam. Adam is His vessel, His slave. Adam is dead, he no longer lives.
However, sometimes the ghost of Adam Neufeld will try to re-aquire the body which was once his. These are dangerous times. No good can come of Adam when he is possessed of Adam's ghost. The ghost must constantly be put off, whispered away... prayed against. Because Adam no longer has right to Adam's body.
To live is Christ.
To die is gain. (Because then we are in God's presence 100% of the time... for eternity!)
31.3.10
Bitter Sweet As
Well, it's been a while. Too long, and I'm really sorry... I've been neglecting the blogging lately, but yeah, here goes a quick one.
Easter break starts today, we have 18 days off. I'm going to be traveling around the south island for 9 days and at a beach house for the other 9 days. It's gonna be sweet.
Right now I'm not so happy though because four out of fifteen of us are leaving. Cara, Amber, Jordan and Ben are leaving for Adventure Bible School on the north island so they won't be back next semester. Really devestating, but it's been awesome getting to know them all. It'll feel really weird next semester having four less...
We've had the priviledge of putting on some services around Geraldine and the response has been great. Both times it was just awesome seeing the Holy Spirit engulf the place and just make it a crazy cool time of fellowship and worship.
Yesterday we had a really fancy dinner served by the staff and then an "Un-talent Show" because the point wasn't to go up and show talent but just to go up and do something funny or weird. Turns out everyone who went up showed talent. Jonas did some crazy magic tricks which involved disappearing money, chaos, and then later in the show... the money re-appearing so freaky cool. Lots of good music, a funny Snow White play by the girls and even Justus, Dale's son showed off his drumming skills. He's only 6 but he's already incredible... Bryan has been giving him lessons. Dale probably stole the show though... he took out his old flying-V guitar and shredded on it... Joel and I were the last-minute MCs, we did okay... Joel is a great improviser... and very funny...
That's all I've got for now... can't wait to see you all in almost exactly 2 months! Happy Easter.
Jesus didn't die to go to heaven, He died to come out of heaven and into the hearts of man.
You can't, He never said you could. He can, and always said He would.
Easter break starts today, we have 18 days off. I'm going to be traveling around the south island for 9 days and at a beach house for the other 9 days. It's gonna be sweet.
Right now I'm not so happy though because four out of fifteen of us are leaving. Cara, Amber, Jordan and Ben are leaving for Adventure Bible School on the north island so they won't be back next semester. Really devestating, but it's been awesome getting to know them all. It'll feel really weird next semester having four less...
We've had the priviledge of putting on some services around Geraldine and the response has been great. Both times it was just awesome seeing the Holy Spirit engulf the place and just make it a crazy cool time of fellowship and worship.
Yesterday we had a really fancy dinner served by the staff and then an "Un-talent Show" because the point wasn't to go up and show talent but just to go up and do something funny or weird. Turns out everyone who went up showed talent. Jonas did some crazy magic tricks which involved disappearing money, chaos, and then later in the show... the money re-appearing so freaky cool. Lots of good music, a funny Snow White play by the girls and even Justus, Dale's son showed off his drumming skills. He's only 6 but he's already incredible... Bryan has been giving him lessons. Dale probably stole the show though... he took out his old flying-V guitar and shredded on it... Joel and I were the last-minute MCs, we did okay... Joel is a great improviser... and very funny...
That's all I've got for now... can't wait to see you all in almost exactly 2 months! Happy Easter.
Jesus didn't die to go to heaven, He died to come out of heaven and into the hearts of man.
You can't, He never said you could. He can, and always said He would.
28.2.10
Spirit Reign, Flood Our Hearts Again
Peter Thomas, son of Capernwray-founder Major Ian Thomas came to lecture us for the second time last week, and he was amazing as always. Here are a few key lessons I learned from his lectures on 1 Peter:
1:5-7 ...until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief of all kinds of trials.These have come so that your faith - of greater worth that gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
We are not immune from suffering/trials nor should we minimize them but these should be tempered with the greater living hope which has no end. Not only should we place our suffering in the context of eternal hope but it has the benefit of refining our faith ensuring that is it genuine.
1:8-9: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believer in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Our joy must be found in "who I AM today" and not "what I am doing". Earlier this year I learned that we have forgotten how to simply be, in a world of doing. I think it's incredibly comforting and important to remember who we are every time we wake up: God's children who have received His grace, forgiven, cleansed, purified, dead to sin, alive in Christ, joint-heirs of the kingdom come... we have been healed.
Grace is God's presence which is sufficient for ALL situations.
Grace: God has put His righteousness inside of us.
1:13: Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Our hope is not based on our own efforts but on the daily provision of grace and the certainty of complete perfection when Christ comes.
1:14: As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
Obedience is not natural in the flesh but now a command because grace is available - obedience can't be imposed from the outside but should stem from refusing to give in to the old nature in the strength God provies.
4:7 Be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
True prayer takes all of our intentional being, not just a passing acknowledgement - only when we see the big picture "clear-minded" do we have reason to pray.
4:13: But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
There is a positive aspect to suffering - that is draws us closer to Christ. It seems paradoxical that increased suffering increases the believer's joy but (Acts 5:41, 16:25, Romans 5:3, Col 1:24) we may be robbing ourselves of the rich Christian experience if we put personal safety as the highest priority - the promised blessing is future tense.
5:5 "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility" is a requirement! This requires a conscious act and is in the continuous present tense - ie. "God is continually opposing the proud and giving grace to the humble" - that is the nature of grace - God giving us His own Christ-like character as we walk in conscious dependence on Him.
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This past weekend we had a doubles-tennis tournament (arranged by JB). I was paired with Joel H. and we did alright and got to the semi-finals. JB and Angela ended up winning the tournament. Angela had never played tennis before so it was impressive to see how much she improved with JB teaching her along the way as they played. Apparently it looked like she was going to pass out at the end of the final match because it was really hot and the game went really long.
The sun has been out for one week straight which is the first time Geraldine can lay claim to that all summer. (It's been a very odd summer in New Zealand all around.) We've enjoyed the sun by having some outdoor classes, barbeques, doing some cliff-jumping (or cliff-falling ie. me slipping off the cliff/slope into the water) and lots of sports.
Yesterday night was really fun. I was in bed at 10pm trying to get a full nights sleep because I knew this week was going to be full and busy. However, as it always goes when I try to go to bed early, it ended up being a late night. At around 10:30pm Bryan and JB come into the room telling me they can't find Joel. 20 minutes later there are screams coming from the girls room. For three or four minutes straight the girls collectively yelled "HELP!" And Jordan and I both got out of bed to see what was wrong. At the same time JB and Bryan came in from outside (looking for Joel) to see what was up. Turns out they just needed their light to be turned off and they were all too lazy to get out of bed to turn it off. We were obviously not too pleased this was why they were yelling for help. So now that I was out of bed I decided to help JB and Bryan find Joel. Or should I say "The White Man".
Every so often Joel dresses up in nothing but a white bed sheet and runs around outside. Who knows what he actually does. Because it was passed curfew to be outside, Bryan was a bit hesistant to leave, but JB and I gladly went out because we really wanted to find him. JB thought he saw him behind the car and I thought I saw him hiding behind some trees. We chased the ghost for 5 minutes before giving up and going back inside. As we headed back in we saw two faces peeking out the window, dead still. It was Amber and Kelsey. They did The White Man call which sounded like "cuckoo cuckoo" and then they headed downstairs along with Cara to join the search party. After some theories of where Joel was, or where The White Man was I headed outside on my own. I headed down to the lower paddock and heard some rustling in the bushes. I kept whispering loudly "Joel! Joel!" but nothing... and all of a sudden... Michael appears! It was so random, who knew not only Joel, but Michael was missing. Anyways, I ask Michael where Joel was and all of a sudden Joel comes walking up all nonchalent (in normal clothes.) This whole time I thought he had some grand scheme going on, as it was a full moon on the last day of February and he was acting all mysteriously. Anyways, I told Joel that half the school was looking for him and then I told him we should sneak up on them in the house. Michael, Joel and I get back to the house and only Bryan is in the formal lounge. Where'd they go? Well, apparently they started looking for me, thinking I was in on The White Man scheme. Then the fun ended. Joseph heard us (most likely Amber) and came down to tell us to go to bed. He then waited for JB and Robert who tried to get back into the house after they noticed he was re-locking the doors. Then when all four of us room one guys were in our room laughing at how Joel was just hanging out with Michael and not being The White Man, and how it was a huge operation trying to find him, I look out my window and see the three girls going to the back door. After a quick scolding they were sent to their room and the night of mystery and adventure ended. I ended up falling asleep at 2am, four hours later than I was hoping to be asleep.
The next day the eight of us had to work outside for an hour doing yardwork for breaking curfew, but all in all it was a fun night, if not disobedient.
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In many cases, what the world calls liabilities God calls assets.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
1:5-7 ...until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief of all kinds of trials.These have come so that your faith - of greater worth that gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
We are not immune from suffering/trials nor should we minimize them but these should be tempered with the greater living hope which has no end. Not only should we place our suffering in the context of eternal hope but it has the benefit of refining our faith ensuring that is it genuine.
1:8-9: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believer in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Our joy must be found in "who I AM today" and not "what I am doing". Earlier this year I learned that we have forgotten how to simply be, in a world of doing. I think it's incredibly comforting and important to remember who we are every time we wake up: God's children who have received His grace, forgiven, cleansed, purified, dead to sin, alive in Christ, joint-heirs of the kingdom come... we have been healed.
Grace is God's presence which is sufficient for ALL situations.
Grace: God has put His righteousness inside of us.
1:13: Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Our hope is not based on our own efforts but on the daily provision of grace and the certainty of complete perfection when Christ comes.
1:14: As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
Obedience is not natural in the flesh but now a command because grace is available - obedience can't be imposed from the outside but should stem from refusing to give in to the old nature in the strength God provies.
4:7 Be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
True prayer takes all of our intentional being, not just a passing acknowledgement - only when we see the big picture "clear-minded" do we have reason to pray.
4:13: But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
There is a positive aspect to suffering - that is draws us closer to Christ. It seems paradoxical that increased suffering increases the believer's joy but (Acts 5:41, 16:25, Romans 5:3, Col 1:24) we may be robbing ourselves of the rich Christian experience if we put personal safety as the highest priority - the promised blessing is future tense.
5:5 "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility" is a requirement! This requires a conscious act and is in the continuous present tense - ie. "God is continually opposing the proud and giving grace to the humble" - that is the nature of grace - God giving us His own Christ-like character as we walk in conscious dependence on Him.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This past weekend we had a doubles-tennis tournament (arranged by JB). I was paired with Joel H. and we did alright and got to the semi-finals. JB and Angela ended up winning the tournament. Angela had never played tennis before so it was impressive to see how much she improved with JB teaching her along the way as they played. Apparently it looked like she was going to pass out at the end of the final match because it was really hot and the game went really long.
The sun has been out for one week straight which is the first time Geraldine can lay claim to that all summer. (It's been a very odd summer in New Zealand all around.) We've enjoyed the sun by having some outdoor classes, barbeques, doing some cliff-jumping (or cliff-falling ie. me slipping off the cliff/slope into the water) and lots of sports.
Yesterday night was really fun. I was in bed at 10pm trying to get a full nights sleep because I knew this week was going to be full and busy. However, as it always goes when I try to go to bed early, it ended up being a late night. At around 10:30pm Bryan and JB come into the room telling me they can't find Joel. 20 minutes later there are screams coming from the girls room. For three or four minutes straight the girls collectively yelled "HELP!" And Jordan and I both got out of bed to see what was wrong. At the same time JB and Bryan came in from outside (looking for Joel) to see what was up. Turns out they just needed their light to be turned off and they were all too lazy to get out of bed to turn it off. We were obviously not too pleased this was why they were yelling for help. So now that I was out of bed I decided to help JB and Bryan find Joel. Or should I say "The White Man".
Every so often Joel dresses up in nothing but a white bed sheet and runs around outside. Who knows what he actually does. Because it was passed curfew to be outside, Bryan was a bit hesistant to leave, but JB and I gladly went out because we really wanted to find him. JB thought he saw him behind the car and I thought I saw him hiding behind some trees. We chased the ghost for 5 minutes before giving up and going back inside. As we headed back in we saw two faces peeking out the window, dead still. It was Amber and Kelsey. They did The White Man call which sounded like "cuckoo cuckoo" and then they headed downstairs along with Cara to join the search party. After some theories of where Joel was, or where The White Man was I headed outside on my own. I headed down to the lower paddock and heard some rustling in the bushes. I kept whispering loudly "Joel! Joel!" but nothing... and all of a sudden... Michael appears! It was so random, who knew not only Joel, but Michael was missing. Anyways, I ask Michael where Joel was and all of a sudden Joel comes walking up all nonchalent (in normal clothes.) This whole time I thought he had some grand scheme going on, as it was a full moon on the last day of February and he was acting all mysteriously. Anyways, I told Joel that half the school was looking for him and then I told him we should sneak up on them in the house. Michael, Joel and I get back to the house and only Bryan is in the formal lounge. Where'd they go? Well, apparently they started looking for me, thinking I was in on The White Man scheme. Then the fun ended. Joseph heard us (most likely Amber) and came down to tell us to go to bed. He then waited for JB and Robert who tried to get back into the house after they noticed he was re-locking the doors. Then when all four of us room one guys were in our room laughing at how Joel was just hanging out with Michael and not being The White Man, and how it was a huge operation trying to find him, I look out my window and see the three girls going to the back door. After a quick scolding they were sent to their room and the night of mystery and adventure ended. I ended up falling asleep at 2am, four hours later than I was hoping to be asleep.
The next day the eight of us had to work outside for an hour doing yardwork for breaking curfew, but all in all it was a fun night, if not disobedient.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In many cases, what the world calls liabilities God calls assets.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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