Colorado!

It seems I have not been keeping up with this blog as I had originally planned and I'm sure no one is waiting for this installment so I write this mostly for myself.  After a year and half of dealing with adverse working conditions from my direct supervisor at Covenant College I decided walk away from my position and begin searching for another place to serve.  This was a tough decision for me because the students at Covenant and my RA's were very close to my heart.  However, after a short search I have been hired to do the exact same thing here at Colorado Christian University.

I am grateful for the opportunity and feel lucky to contribute in some way to the kingdom of God, inadequate as I feel sometimes.  My job consists of directing the community operations of three upperclassmen buildings on campus and the programming that takes place there.  I am also directly associated with 3 other RD's, 3 ARD's and 9 RA's.  I am so grateful that I have a new boss who actually cares about all students, wants to grow me as a professional and shows up to work prepared and ready to do whatever necessary to get the job done right.

Being in Colorado again is nice as well because I am again in the midst of family and friends that I love an care for deeply.  My little brother, Kyle, also moved to CO recently and is looking for a job.  I haven't had much time to spend with anyone due to all the training but I'm sure that will come soon.  I have been up to the mountains a couple times and also got to take part in the annual H.A.S. Golf Tournament with the guys up in the mountains.

I am looking forward to another new beginning and pray the Lord will bless my efforts in this new ministry setting.

Georgia Blizzard

I realize for most of you this title is an oxymoron.  Until last week I would have agreed...but that was before we got 13 inches of snow in one night.  I wouldn't have called it a blizzard, because I've been in them before and they are not pleasant.  I would say it was more of an overnight dumping.  But getting that much snow in Georgia is different than, let's say any state North of Texas from either coast, because they would actually know how to take care of it!  Without any equipment and even less knowhow the result for us on the mountain was a week of cancelled school.  I'm sure the kids were thrilled but as one of the few authority figures left with 1000 energized college kids I was basically reduced to a lion tamer.  Still, it was a good week and a lot of uplifting things happened so I am thankful.  More than that though I am thankful school has started once again and there is structure, schedules and routine.  Here is a photo outside of Andreas of some of the awesome Andreas guys making a "slide" (aka Tower of Babel), my car, and kid from Founders enjoying newfound weaponry on campus.

Passion 2011 Atlanta

It is difficult to put into words my experience from the past few days volunteering at Passion 2011 in Atlanta. It's not because the speakers were so amazing but because the Holy Spirit overwhelmed people, including me. Here are a couple of take aways:

1. I used to think this (iY) generation was a bunch of self absorbed recluses, more concerned about the latest youtube clip or data phone than communicating with actual people in a social context. However, along with experiences with students at Covenant and at Passion I think there is some hope. Jesus means something to these kids. 22,000 students gave just over 1 million dollars in 3 days to various World Wide Ministries. Maybe this just means they are rich? Actually I know this is true but after talking with more than a few students I feel like there is more to their altruistic response than just monetary security.

2. I am old. Here is a short conversation I had with girl while selling message CD's / DVD's:

Girl: Are these all video?

Me: Actually, we have DVD's and CD's here so you can choose.

Girl: So is this audio or video? (Picking up CD of table)

Me: Yep, that's a CD...

(long pause)

Girl: So...you play it?

Me: Yeah (chuckle), it's an audio recording on a disc.

(Girl leaves as I stand shocked; glad we were not selling tapes)

3. Read Radical by David Platt. Today.

4. Jesus is all. What I mean by this is that there is nothing more important in this life than making the Biblical gospel and the name of Jesus known to as many people as possible. Nothing else even compares. If Jesus is who he says he is and we believe the Bible to be true, then everything else must fade to its proper place in line far below the pursuit of and dedication to Jesus. Mountains shake, knees bow, tongues confess, storms rise and fall, dead are raised and lives are eternally changed from ONE name alone: Jesus.

My immediate inclination of large churches and large Christian organizations is one of skepticism simply because of Matthew 7:14. However, God is big enough to use even unChristians to save "Christians." All in all I had a fantastic time and met some amazing people. I got to hear Piper speak and joined others is lifting high the name of Jesus. It was a much needed spiritual adrenaline shot going into this semester.

Thanksgiving

A couple of weekends ago my brother came out to Covenant as well as my sister and her family. They were a welcomed site to be sure...it is an extremely rare thing to have family actually visit me where I live and work so I was grateful. My nephew Will is growing up and stood for the first time ever right there on the Covenant intramural field (and I got a pic of it!)

We did as many fun things as you can do while still being on duty during break...we (mainly Joe and Holly) made an incredible Thanksgiving meal, we played flag football, celebrated Kristy's birthday, geocached, ran the cross country trails, checked out Chattanooga and played games while watching movies! Judging by anyone's standards it was a fine break indeed.

My little brother made us play a game called "Interactive Mafia" After we lightprooffed the apartment we went about the business of killing innocent townspeople. Before her first round we heard the 'dumbfounded' Jessie babbling about how she "didn't really get how to play the game." This was immediately before she murdered 6 people in one round and won! Well played Jessie. I should have remembered the competitive spirit you bring to the table in everything. Everything except flag football. Ouch! Although to be fair Hannah was flag guarding and interfering passes like CRAZY! Well since everyone has long forgotten Thanksgiving by now I will wind up this post and move on to the next thing. Thank you family for coming and visiting me in Northwest Georgia and making this the most memorable Thanksgiving in recent memory. I love you and and I'll see you soon.

Mission to the World

I have started and deleted and started this posting 3 times now. I think it is because I have nothing to say and pages and pages to say regarding the MTW Conference I attended two weekends ago in Chattanooga.

I think God revealed to me a piece of his heart that weekend.

Whenever you say something like, "God revealed..." I think Reformed Christians automatically get suspicious and tune out because that term is not only subjective in nature but also overused and misunderstood. I don't mean to use that term in a flippant way here; I sincerely think there is something God wants to reveal (|riˈvēl|uncover, expose, make known) to people like you and I.

Years ago I discovered the disparity in I what I thought was my life's motivation and the life God directs me to live. I thought my purpose was to go to school, get a job, make money, get married, have kids, etc. . . . . oh yeah, and carefully showcase Jesus in there somewhere, perhaps on the end when everything is accomplished. (When he fits, when it's convenient, when people are watching, when it benefits me, when it looks or sounds good). Basically upper middleclass "Christian" America. Can I say that I am tired of this? It sickens me. I sicken myself. This is basically the definition of cheap grace: we manipulate it to serve us in how we want it to serve. We've got it all wrong. Maybe we should START with Jesus and fit the rest in if we can. After all, what is the American Dream besides an abstract prefabricated life full of empty promises and broken dreams anyway? I know what you're saying to yourself: Cynical, right? Maybe. At each stage of life we think we will be fulfilled in some great and mysterious way, but we're not and we won't! In the end, no matter what we have or have accomplished we're still left with our broken selves in need of a savior. I have personally observed the American Dream from kindergarten through school, on to marriage, through retirement and death. I'm not entirely sure this "dream" is even something I want for my own life any more. Not because it's not good but because these pursuits cannot be an end in themselves. I ask myself, why not pursue the true end at the beginning? I'm not a super Christian, I enjoy the good things in life too...but what truly comes first in my life? Honestly. Is it really Jesus or just a Christianized fragment of him? Because Christianity ought to cost us something. It ought to inconvenience our lives. People should be annoyed with us. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, "When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die." It may be a physical death or death of your false self but we need to die for our faith. Still my friends it is a sweet, sweet death. True offering to God begins at the point of sacrifice, not comfortable complacency.

So this guy, Michael Oh, comes to school and speaks about the ministry he has started in Japan: Christ Bible Institute (CBI) Japan. He talks about how Japan is the 2nd largest unreached people group and the largest unreached nation (0.2% Evangelical Christian). 127 million people. Many of whom have never even HEARD of Jesus, let alone engage in a discussion about him. 9% of high school girls sell their bodies for sex, 4% of Jr. High girls (which is approximately 16.5 million girls involved in the sex trade industry by the way). There are approximately 300,000 Christian workers in the United States and only 160,000 in the rest of the world combined. Surely Americans need Jesus but doesn't this seem off to anyone else? The U.S. is the best in "sending" missionaries right now (Korea will pass us soon) by the numbers, but per capita we are one of the worst! Oh quoted John Piper who said, "You have 3 choices: Go, Send, or disobey. It's your choice."

I know this post is getting long but I ask you: What is your choice? We have an obligation in Matt. 28. I have an obligation.

And here I sit...on top of a mountain in GA...typing on a $1700 computer...drinking coffee...checking football scores...texting about the ridiculous food we will buy for the next meeting. When inside of me (and you) is the one and only decidedly effective cure for sin and sorrow the world has ever known!? Am I using my authority? Am I making disciples? Am I ushering in the kingdom with hastened anticipation?

Surprise, surprise...reaching an unreached world doesn't require a special skill, gift, degree, personality, or calling. If you've got Christ, you're good to go. In fact, I talked to many people who just said, "Come! We can figure out the rest. We need you."

"Most of the time our default seems to be, 'I just don't feel called to go.' When maybe our default should be, 'Do I really feel called to stay?" - Aaron Messner

"Go until God stops you." - Dr. Krabbendam

Lord forgive me for disobeying. I will go or I will most certainly send so your name and salvation will be made known among the nations until you return again.

Post #1

I type these words with the full realization that there is a strong possibility that this blog will become laborious to me in a short amount of time. This is dually because I tend to get bored of my own thoughts quickly and as I understand it there are two people in the world: those who like to journal and those who don't. I am most certainly the latter. However, I do enjoy writing so I thought I would give this a try. Additionally, I think there are people in my life who genuinely want to KNOW me and what is currently going on in my life (pseudo facebook 'friends' need not apply). If I am wrong and there is only one person who desires this then I say, "Thanks mom."

In this first post I feel it would be appropriate to say a few words on the title of this blog. "Homeward Bound" does not come from the Simon and Garfunkel song (even though that is a fantastic song). No, there is a deeper meaning attached. A few verses immediately come to mind: Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." and Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Who for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

We are all on a journey in life, what's scary is that a lot of people have no idea where it leads. As a transient man and a Christian I realize that my life and my journey on earth has meaning and purpose only because Jesus Christ has redeemed my life from certain death and darkness. I travel this road with hope because I know on one hand that there is work to be done to bring forth the Kingdom of God now, while still knowing that this is not my home and the fullness of God's kingdom will be revealed when we are home with Jesus. It is to this home that I am bound and my life shall be dedicated to the cause of Christ.

This road I have traveled has been and will continue to be an exciting, exhausting, joyous, painful, tiring, growing, stretching and surprising experience. It is not a sprint but more-so a marathon. I am glad to have met you as friends and fellow travelers along this road and I'm happy to share my life with you.