i got up a little earlier than usual today so i could go hang out with some 1st graders for their class christmas party. the teacher is one of the "2nd mothers" i have out here in guam. 1st graders are fun. they are loud and they move a lot and they just kinda say what comes to mind. i read the grinch stole christmas and enjoyed the commentary from the kids more than the actual book i think. when the grinch's heart "grew three sizes that day" one little girl said in the sweetest voice, "aw see, he's really good." i loved it. and i cant stop thinking about her comment.
who would have thought a slave trader could write amazing grace? who would have given the gospel to the lead persecuter of the church? augustine wasn't exactly wholesome. my friend kirk and i weren't exactly humble (i don't think i am at this point either). and yet i don't really pray for my enemies. now, i mean enemies on both the large and small scale, internationally and those who just don't like our college ministry. why have we forgotten that little command from Jesus? i've heard prayers and wishes for judgement on our enemies, but not much prayer for their good.
maybe we don't pray for our enemies because we can't see some of them. maybe we don't because we call them, "people we can't stand" or "the muslim" or "the liberal" or "the fundamentalist." maybe we don't want God to grow their hearts three sizes today.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
christmas party
we are getting closer to our christmas dinner at the dorms. we found out yesterday that we won't be able to have a live band due to dorm quiet hours during finals, i don't know why i didn't think of that. i guess its been a few years since i took a final. but anyway, we are gearing up to meet hopefully 150 students. the dorm directors and RAs seem glad to have us there and keep asking why we want to throw a party for them. its been a great opertunity to serve...
so, please be praying for us and our relationships with the students and university this week. i really want to end the year on a good note. and i know its not a magic number, but we would like to feed around 150 students.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
pizza and contentment
today i had a wonderful reminder of why i enjoy college ministry so much. we are planning a christmas party for the dorms in 10 days or so, and tonight a few of our leading students came to the house to eat some pizza and brainstorm for the party.
we ate some really good pizza (pepperonis with jalapinos (sp?)) and had some great laughs, but what i loved the most was the excitement in the room as we threw around both good and bad ideas. some say there are no bad ideas. i disagree. i had some bad ones tonight but am lucky enough to work with students who don't mind disagreement in a healthy way. we sat around my small living room for over 2 hours dreaming and laughing and planning and growing more and more excited about ministry with college students. i really think we are learning how God wants college ministry to look here in guam.
as we prayed after good discussion i felt very content. its honestly one of the first times i've felt content on guam, but thats what rushed into my brain and heart and self sitting there in my floor. i like what i'm doing. i like college students. i like Jesus for letting my job be him and them. and hopefully we'll get to throw a good party for over 100 college students in a few days.
we ate some really good pizza (pepperonis with jalapinos (sp?)) and had some great laughs, but what i loved the most was the excitement in the room as we threw around both good and bad ideas. some say there are no bad ideas. i disagree. i had some bad ones tonight but am lucky enough to work with students who don't mind disagreement in a healthy way. we sat around my small living room for over 2 hours dreaming and laughing and planning and growing more and more excited about ministry with college students. i really think we are learning how God wants college ministry to look here in guam.
as we prayed after good discussion i felt very content. its honestly one of the first times i've felt content on guam, but thats what rushed into my brain and heart and self sitting there in my floor. i like what i'm doing. i like college students. i like Jesus for letting my job be him and them. and hopefully we'll get to throw a good party for over 100 college students in a few days.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
thanks and thanksgiving
I love thanksgiving more than the other holidays. My soul feels healthy to not only be thankful but to try to act out this thankfulness. So in the spirit of the holiday, I want to list some things God has brought to mind this week I’m deeply thankful for.
1. I’m so very thankful I got to go to the Johnson’s for thanksgiving. They were gracious and fun. I ate too much and laughed too hard. I’m deeply grateful they adopted me into their family for the day.
2. I’m thankful that Jesus makes all things new. He makes broken things whole again. He mends torn hopes and breathes life into us when we feel lifeless. When we feel lost he finds us. When we are on the wrong path he rights us. He restores. And he’s doing these things for me as my fingers hit these keys. I’m so thankful.
3. I’m thankful for pepperoni pizza. No explanation is needed.
4. I’m deeply thankful I’m able to go home this year for Christmas. I don’t think I can express to my parents and sister how badly I need them or how much I love them. I’m ready for some Bebe time and the pork chops that come with it.
5. I’m very very thankful for my friends in Austin (and that I’ll see the three of them very soon). I can’t tell Kirk Gentzel how great a friend he’s been to me, especially in the last 6 months. I wish I had the words. I’ll get to watch an old movie with Cara, listen to Christmas music with David, hug both Woodards, and eat Christmas dinner with James kwon. I’m a lucky guy. I mean it.
6. I’m thankful for the scenery only found on an island in the south pacific. Its beautiful even when I don’t notice.
Of course I could go on and on. I really am blessed more than I deserve.
1. I’m so very thankful I got to go to the Johnson’s for thanksgiving. They were gracious and fun. I ate too much and laughed too hard. I’m deeply grateful they adopted me into their family for the day.
2. I’m thankful that Jesus makes all things new. He makes broken things whole again. He mends torn hopes and breathes life into us when we feel lifeless. When we feel lost he finds us. When we are on the wrong path he rights us. He restores. And he’s doing these things for me as my fingers hit these keys. I’m so thankful.
3. I’m thankful for pepperoni pizza. No explanation is needed.
4. I’m deeply thankful I’m able to go home this year for Christmas. I don’t think I can express to my parents and sister how badly I need them or how much I love them. I’m ready for some Bebe time and the pork chops that come with it.
5. I’m very very thankful for my friends in Austin (and that I’ll see the three of them very soon). I can’t tell Kirk Gentzel how great a friend he’s been to me, especially in the last 6 months. I wish I had the words. I’ll get to watch an old movie with Cara, listen to Christmas music with David, hug both Woodards, and eat Christmas dinner with James kwon. I’m a lucky guy. I mean it.
6. I’m thankful for the scenery only found on an island in the south pacific. Its beautiful even when I don’t notice.
Of course I could go on and on. I really am blessed more than I deserve.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
missing home thanks to emerson
I read a poem last night that caught my attention. In “early poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson” I read one of my favorites called “Berrying.”
“ ‘may be true what I had heard,
Earth’s a hallowing wilderness
Truculent with fraud and force,’
Said I, strolling through the pastures,
And along the riverside.
Caught among the blackberry vines,
Feeding on the Ethiops sweet,
Pleasant fancies overtook me:
I said, ‘With influence me preferred
Elect to dreams thus beautiful?’
The vines replied, ‘And didst thou deem
No wisdom to our berries went?’ “
This poem is so nostalgic to me. I remember as a kid walking with my dad down our dirt road to pick blackberries for my Bebee. As we would walk my dad would talk to me like a friend, or maybe like a dad friend. And he would tell me how to be a man. He told me to always pick flowers for ladies and to look out for snakes in the grass. He told me to say yes sir and to look at someone when they are talking to you. He taught me how to find a ripe blackberry and how to let one stay on the vine. And I remember these lessons.
I remember looking at the woods we walked in with wonder at the unknown inside them, and I remember the peace that overwhelmed this uneasiness knowing my dad was there walking with me. He knew the way. Since he knew the way I was free to enjoy the woods and the berries and the smells of pine trees. My imagination could roam around the bushes and listen to the bugs talk to each other like they usually did in my 8 yr old brain. Reading this poem tonight indeed, “pleasant fancies overtook me.”
“ ‘may be true what I had heard,
Earth’s a hallowing wilderness
Truculent with fraud and force,’
Said I, strolling through the pastures,
And along the riverside.
Caught among the blackberry vines,
Feeding on the Ethiops sweet,
Pleasant fancies overtook me:
I said, ‘With influence me preferred
Elect to dreams thus beautiful?’
The vines replied, ‘And didst thou deem
No wisdom to our berries went?’ “
This poem is so nostalgic to me. I remember as a kid walking with my dad down our dirt road to pick blackberries for my Bebee. As we would walk my dad would talk to me like a friend, or maybe like a dad friend. And he would tell me how to be a man. He told me to always pick flowers for ladies and to look out for snakes in the grass. He told me to say yes sir and to look at someone when they are talking to you. He taught me how to find a ripe blackberry and how to let one stay on the vine. And I remember these lessons.
I remember looking at the woods we walked in with wonder at the unknown inside them, and I remember the peace that overwhelmed this uneasiness knowing my dad was there walking with me. He knew the way. Since he knew the way I was free to enjoy the woods and the berries and the smells of pine trees. My imagination could roam around the bushes and listen to the bugs talk to each other like they usually did in my 8 yr old brain. Reading this poem tonight indeed, “pleasant fancies overtook me.”
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