A New Week

The passport application is off and now we need to work on ironing out the details for the travel plans. Currently, we are trying to find the best price on airfare and it is my understanding that the church's travel agent in trying to get a bulk discount with our trip and two other trips to Thailand about the same time. Also, in Taiwan Mark is working on allocating bikes for us to ride.

This week I have thought a lot about Psalm 139, especially the last two verses: "Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." This verse is a great follow up to verse I talked about last time in Joshua 3 when Israel stepped out in faith into the flood waters of the Jordon river. The one direction Joshua gave the people in verse three before they attempted to cross the river was to "Consecrate yourselves." Over the last several months as I have spent time in confession I am beginning to realize that the process of consecration is a life long endeavour. Take for example my tendency to create an idol out of racing. I have sought forgiveness for this repeatedly and even had one of those ground breaking growth spurts in my walk with Christ over the idolization of racing. Even though I have had some great victories in this area Christ's standard is perfection both physically and mentally; consequently, from now until my day of judgement I will have to seek God's forgiveness over the area of my life. Just like the perpetual recovery process from drug and alcohol addictions. Getting back to the point, it's my desire for God to "search" deep into my soul and "know" what's there because it's not all flowers and giggling babies. It is my desire for Him to lead me down the "way everlasting" to IMPACT my wife, my family, friends, neighbors, and this world. Joshua finishes his instructions for crossing the river by saying: "consecrate yourself, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Sounds like a good place to be.

Pray this week for our team. We are trying to organize an 8K race for the caring pregnacy center as well as plan this trip. We need energy, unity, and open doors to get it all done.

Thanks for you prayers and don't forget to let me know how I can pray for you.

A new hope

The people have spoken and its official!! The blog is a helpful tool for updating my prayer partners with the last info.

Well, on to the business at hand and I am pleased to say that I am very excited about going to Taiwan. As I have prayed and thought over Joshua’s challenge in leading Israel across the flooded Jordon River I have become convinced that this missions trip is great opportunity for me to step out in faith and follow God. I know great things will happen with this trip, but if the only thing that happens is that I was able to step out of my comfort zone and follow God that is enough for me.

Again, the messages in the morning and evening service at church were written just for me. This evening Pastor Tim spoke about spiritual growth or sanctification. As Joshua prepared the people to cross the he gave then one command, “sanctify your self”. Pastor Tim’s messages on personal spiritual growth and knowing your purpose in life set the stage for a new season of growth in my life.

We also had a very encouraging phone call with Mark in Taiwan last Friday. He is very excited about this trip and has lots of opportunities planned for us already. Not only will work in various camp, visit church groups, and visit prisons, but he is linking us up with local running and riding groups where we will have the opportunity to share our testimonies and encourage other believers who strive to use their athletic talents to glorify God.

Prayers request- Daily devotional time in God’s work and prayer (let men know how I can pray for you), Passport to mail off on Wednesday, learning the culture of Taiwan, working out air travel, spiritual protection for the team in the prep stage (who knows what crazy things could come up to try and stop people for going on this trip)

Thanks for your prayers and please remember to pass what ever it is you think I need to know. Also I want to pray for you, so let me know if there are specifics you would like me to pray.

One more thing, feel free to pass this blog along to anyone you think would be interested in partnering with us on this adventure.

A timely message

Tonight's messages at church was one of those messages where you can't deny that God is talking directly to you. Pastor Tim spoke about the challenge of crossing the Jordon river and possessing the Promised Land. The Text for the sermon was Joshua 3:1-8 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%203:1-8;&version=31;). The Israelites are challenged with crossing the Jordon river during it's flood stage, a task possible only with God's help, in order to take the land flowing with milk and honey. From this text God has brought into greater focus my confusion from earlier today (see the other posting from today). Like the Israelites who didn't feel comfortable crossing the river in its flood stage (an understandable concern), I don't feel comfortable taking two weeks away from my family and work; I don't really what to go on a 30 hour plane trip, twice; I don't really want to reverse my days and night; I don't really want to come back home after reversing my days and nights and try to go to work; I don't feel comfortable hanging out with people I don't know that well fro that much time; I don't know if I will get the right kind of food at the right time; I don't really want to vary from my routine because I'm am a living, breathing Rain Man, etc., etc. It's kind of funny that someone who has always thought of himself as adventurous has so many home-body tendencies. It's a wonder I ever moved out of my parents house. This mission trip is certainly a "Jordon River" in my life. On my pray board I recently wrote that I want to see God's power first hand. I guess it's hard to see His power if I'm only doing things I feel comfortable with or can control. The funny part of this new understanding is that I still have all those feelings of discomfort gurgling in the waters of my mind and I don't really want go on the trip anymore now than I did a couple of hours ago. I think I'm going to adpot this text as my theme for this adventure. Please don't forget to email or comment if you have something say about the trip because I need what you know.

Yikes!! what do I do?

It's been a while since I've written because I was really hoped to have an answer by now. Instead, I'm more confused and frustrated than I was couple of weeks ago. One minute I feel like I need to go on the trip and the next I really don't want to go. I can come up with great reasons for going or staying. I can't help, but think that I could be struggling with some spiritual warfare (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=56&chapter=6&verse=11&end_verse=13&version=31&context=context)

Please keep praying. Thanks