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

Direction

As you consider praying for me this week please pray in the spirit of I Thes 3:12. In this verse Paul is praying for the Thessalonian believers who have taken some good initial steps in their walk with Christ, but are in need of continued growth and instruction. One of the biggest steps for me in this mission trip is to determine if God wants me to go. The circumstances and council I have sought point in the direction of going on this trip, but I would also like to confirm this with God’s word. Please pray specifically that God would lead me to a verse that directs me one way or the other.

Currently, I am moderately anxious about the trip. Setting up and going on a trip to Taiwan isn’t a walk in the park for me or my family. It takes at least four adults to keep our house running smoothly and we are trying to do it with two. Also, I am creature of routine. I could tell you today what I will be doing at 7 am Wednesday morning a year from now and what I will eat for lunch that day. My guess is that going to Taiwan won’t involve any of my regular routine and believe it or not I am already trying to figure out how I can get those things done while I am there.

Thanks for your help and I would love your feedback.

TJ

Getting started

Thank you for joining with me as a prayer partner. Through this blog I will do my best to keep you updated on prayer needs and requests for a mission trip to Taiwan this spring. Currently, I need prayers and accountability for spending time in prayer and studying God’s Word on a daily basis. W are in the beginning stages of planning this trip. The basic plan is to join Mark Heffner (a missionary in Taiwan) and spend time traveling from place to place via road bikes. Mark is setting up our itinerary and it sounds action- packed, lots of people to visit (prisons, camps, and churches) and lots of time in the saddle. Obviously we still have to work out the exact dates, transportation, and finances. Please consider the following verse as you begin praying for me. 1 Thes. 2:6 “We are not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.”