Today...

Today has been a great day. Here are just a few of the highlights:

• I was offered a job at Bethany Press International.
• I accepted the job offer, thankful for God's gracious timing and provision.
• Upon arriving home from work, I received a package from Amazon.com containing materials to help me learn Bengali that I didn't think I would receive for another week.
• I sent off an email to a contact of mine in Bangladesh informing him of my plans to visit this winter as well as asking for any direction that he could offer for ministry opportunities while I am there.
• One of my co-workers and I had a great conversation about God at work. He said that he would like to come to Bluer sometime to hear me preach. I was humbled by his sincerity and eagerness to talk about God.

I guess if anything, all of these events have reminded me that God knows all that I need, that He is well acquainted with the desires of my heart, and that in this fragile jar of clay, the reflection of who He is shines through in order that others may be drawn to Him.

Lessons From the Wildnerness Part 2

During our down time in the afternoon, I would usually plant myself on a large rock next to the water to read, journal, or take a nap. I remember thinking one afternoon as I was drifting in and out of sleep, "Why is this more comfortable than sleeping in my tent at night?" There was something about the warmth of the rock, the cool breeze blowing in from the lake, and the way my body conformed to the rock that set me at ease. As I focused on this sense of touch, my mind began to draw a parallel between the rock I was laying on and God, my sure foundation, the solid rock upon which I stand. As I entrust myself to Him, conforming my body, soul, and spirit to His lordship, He becomes my source of comfort and rest. I can bask in the safety of His strength and the certainty of His faithfulness knowing that He remains the same.

Right before Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount, He likened those who heard His words and followed them to the wise man who built his house upon a rock. When the storms raged, the house did not collapse because it was founded upon a firm foundation. We would be wise then to conform ourselves to the heart of Jesus. More than just following a vast array of rules and regulations, the Sermon on the Mount speaks of becoming intimately acquainted with the desires of God's heart. Our security, rest and comfort comes in seeking first the heart of God and living in sync with His heartbeat.

Lessons From the Wilderness Part 1

Each morning on the trip, before breakfast, we would spend some quiet time with the Lord. During this time, we would read through a portion of the Sermon on the Mount that would be discussed later in the day. We were also assigned one of the five senses, taking time to focus on our surroundings and allow God to speak to us through that particular sense. The first morning we used our sense of sight. Almost immediately, I noticed the reflection of the shoreline in the water. As I contemplated on the beauty of the water's reflection of nature, God began to reveal to my heart that we, like the water, reflect His glory and beauty, His character and nature. While the reflection in the water was never a perfectly clear image of the shoreline, there were times that it came close. Throughout the rest of the week, I paid close attention to the reflection of nature in the water. Sometimes I had difficulty seeing the reflection especially around the rapids. Other times, as the wind blew across the lake, the reflection was distorted, but nevertheless still there. As I studied the various types of reflections within the water, I found myself praying that God would allow my life to be a clear reflection of who He is. Perhaps the various conditions of the water can be compared to the various seasons of our lives. The reflection is always there, just not always as clear as we may like it to be. The good news is that we are constantly being transformed into His likeness. Each storm that rolls in, every rushing rapid that we find ourselves in midst of serves a purpose in this tranformational process. As we gaze upon our Creator with unveiled faces, we are becoming more and more like Him until the day we see His face.

"As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness."
Psalm 17:15

BWX Cliff Jumping

This is me jumping off of a 40 ft. cliff! If you would have asked me a week ago if I would do such a thing, I would have said, "Are you crazy?" The first day at base camp, there was talk of cliff jumping and I wanted no part of that. I was still trying to get used to the idea of canoeing around the wildnerness for 5 days and jumping off of a cliff was a little over the edge for me, pardon the pun.

Nevertheless, the cliff jumping day came. We paddled about 6 miles to Fish Dance Lake stopping to pick wild blueberries along the way. I had pretty much already made up my mind that I was not going to jump, and that was solidified once we arrived at the cliffs and climbed to the top. After everyone else took their jump, we sat down to eat lunch and take a nap in the shade. The entire time I was laying there, I couldn't think of anything else but the jump. I was letting fear rule my decisions. As I started toying with the idea of jumping, I was scared out of my mind, but at the same time exhilarated at the thought that I could actually do this - I could overcome my fear, take the jump and have an incredible story to tell. As we were packing things up, I knew this was my last chance. It was now or never. I told Melody that I thought that I might want to jump. She yelled over the cliff to the guys that I was going for it. In my head I pictured myself walking right to the edge and jumping off. How hard could that be? Once I reached the edge, my head was still saying, "You can do this", but my body was literally shaking. At that point, my head was ready to jump, but my body wasn't going anywhere. After a brief moment of doubt, I closed my eyes, plugged my nose, and took the plunge!

I received a magnet from a friend that says, "Live a life you are too afraid to be in, but too afraid to not live." This was a great day in my life. I was able to overcome my fear and accomplish that which I would never have envisioned myself doing. This day I truly lived.

More than a vacation...

My trip to the Boundary Waters was a life changing experience. I definitely received more out of this trip than what I ever bargained for. As we were heading out the first day into the great unknown, I was still a little apprehensive about what the week would bring. I would never have imagined that I would walk away from this trip with such strong emotions from simply spending one week in the wilderness. On the last day of the trip, we set aside a two hour "solo" to be able to reflect on the journey that was taken. (Unfortunately, that "solo" time was cut short by a storm moving in, but it was great to have a time of reflection anyways.) Here are a few of the gems that I rediscovered while in the Boundary Waters:

Simplicity of life is a beautiful thing:
This trip reinforced the true joy found in living simply. The more "stuff" one has, the more difficult it can be to get through life. This proved evident as we bypassed several groups at the portages between lakes. We carried just enough in order to make one trip across the portage, as opposed to making two or three trips back and forth like so many groups we ran into. With very minimal clothing, shelter and the basic necessities of life, my happiness was no less than if I would have been able to pack some of the luxuries that make life more comfortable. My joy was found in hard, sometimes painful work, breath-takingly beautiful surroundings, great community and intimate fellowship with God. Taking this trip really put material possessions into perspective. There is a huge difference between what I really need to live, and the things that merely make life seemingly more comfortable. I have found that I can do without finer things and enjoy life just the same, if not more.

I must follow the passions of my heart:
To settle for anything less would be a travesty. I saw this lived out in the life of our guide, Kenny. It was a great privelege to be able to get to know Kenny over the week and see him living out his dreams. Every day, he would look at us and say, "Hey guys, guess what...this is my job!" Not only is he doing what he loves right now, come August he will be returning to Mozambique for a month, where he will most likely end up someday in the near future. He inspired me to not only dream big, but to pursue my dreams with perseverance. I was very surprised at the strong emotions for Bangladesh that this trip evoked deep within my heart. I must admit that there have been several times over the past few years where I have told myself that I would never make it to Bangladesh. But there was something about this trip that aroused a deep hunger to fulfill my God-given destiny. I realize that this destiny is ginormously larger and more complex than what my limited vision can see, but I have returned with a renewed ambition to not only work in Bangladesh, but to also flourish where I am planted right now. I found myself many times seeking God for a greater vision and purpose for my role at Bluer. I want to be changed by the community that I live in, and to serve as a catalyst for change within others around me.

I know this post is getting a little long, so I will share more in detail about the trip in posts to come. Thanks Nick for the beautiful picture!

A Much Needed Vacation...

Tomorrow I leave with a group of Bluerites for the Boundary Waters. I honestly cannot remember the last time I took a full week off of work. It will be great to get away and experience the beauty of God's creation. I'm used to camping - growing up, my family would camp each summer in the mountains of Colorado, but this is going to be extreme camping. We are carrying all of our gear with us for 5 days as we canoe around the Boundary Waters. There will be no showers, minimal change of clothing, and no deodorant. Sometimes I wonder what I've signed up for, but nevertheless, I am excited for the adventure that lies ahead.

Throughout the week, we will be studying the Sermon on the Mount, and communing with God, eachother, and nature. I am looking forward to getting away from all of the daily distractions that seem to vie for my attention and focus on God. As we all set out on this trip at different places in our lives, I am full of anticipation to see how God will meet us and bind us together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Expect to hear many stories when I return!

Count Down...

Three more weeks until we move to Minneapolis...
And four weeks and 2 days until I'm done with my job!!!

Blog Tag

I've been tagged by Patsy - Here are the rules:

Blog these 5 items:

What is the total number of books you have ever owned?
What is the last book you bought?
What is the last book you read?
Name 5 books that mean a lot to you.
Tag 5 more people and pass it on!

Total number of books I've owned?
Wow, that's a tough one. I've always been a big reader and buying books is one of my weaknesses. I don't think I've ever left the Half Price Bookstore without making a purchase. I just packed 4 boxes of books (and I'm not done yet) plus I have some books in storage somewhere, so I would say a lot.

The last book I bought?
I think the last book I bought was "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller.

The last book I read?
I am currently reading "Power Evangelism" by John Wimber and just finished reading "The Quest for the Radical Middle" by Bill Johnson.

Five books that mean a lot to me?
This is also a tough one. It will be hard to narrow it down to just five, but I'll try.
1. The Pursuit of God - A.W. Tozer
2. A Chance to Die - Elisabeth Elliot
3. The City of Joy - Dominique Lapierre
4. Ruthless Trust - Brennan Manning
5. Bridal Intercession - Gary Weins

Others worth mentioning:
A Street in Marrakech - Elizabeth Warnock Fernea
The Way of the Heart - Henri Nouwen
The Sacred Romance and The Journey of Desire - John Eldridge
God's Smuggler - Brother Andrew
Broken Bangles - Hanifa Deen