Several summers ago I had the privilege of joining a team from Minnesota and going to Australia and Samoa to help teach Youth EE clinics. This morning I stumbled across a video of the Samoan worship team on youtube. It brought back a flood of great memories and I hope it does the same for you! However, the vast majority of people reading this were not there, so I hope you enjoy listening to our Samoan brothers and sisters praising God in their native language. Enjoy!
Have you heard the statement: “I’m not old, but I have a lot of miles?” This past month I’ve put approximately 6,000 miles on my 25 year old body. I know, I know, many people do this month in and month out without thought. However, I’ve been amazed at the fruit these excursions have produced. The two most notable trips were to Fort Lauderdale, FL for our Vice Presidential Advance and to an Xee Launch in Birmingham, AL.
The primary reason for my trip to Fort Lauderdale was to meet all of our Continental Vice Presidents (VP) and lay a foundational relationship with them. This summer, and summers to come, these gentlemen will be the ones helping locate destinations and the needs to be meet through out short term mission teams. My time in Fort Lauderdale afforded me the opportunity to begin these fruitful relationships. When not meeting over a meal with our VP’s, I took off to meet two local youth pastors who had previously joined us on short term trips.
I was able to spend a morning with Bear and an afternoon with Carter. Bear is a long standing short term tripper with great experience. We are praying about taking his group to Scotland this summer. Carter recently returned from Malaysia and Thailand where his group trained over 60 participants in EE. I’m excited about working with both of these gentlemen this coming summer!
My trip to Birmingham, AL was birthed from my trip to Fort Lauderdale. The more experience and exposure I get to Xee launches, the better off our ministry is. That week in Birmingham not only exposed me to more pastors interested in short term trips, as well as potential churches for this summer. One such individual is Jay, Briarwood Presbyterian’s youth pastor. We are already discussing the possibility of heading to the Caribbean this summer.
In all honestly, I was getting nervous that I wouldn’t be able to find any churches willing to participate with us in the summers to come. Various reasons floated around in my head, but after making these two short trips, God has relieved that fear. Now, I’m feeling more nervous about not having enough locations for the interested parties. The goal is still five churches in five locations for this summer.
It’s only late October and I’m getting excited about what this summer is going to look like. Please pray for wisdom as we continue to partner churches with various locations. That God would raise up the individuals needed to fill the remaining gaps. That I would live a life surrendered to God.
By the time you get this, I’ll be in transit to California for the National Outreach Convention. Pray that God would relieve me of this cold and that I’d be of sound mind as we promote Xee and short term trips to a larger audience.
This morning I cam across a quote by G.K. Chesterton in “Disciplines of a Godly Man.” He said: “morality, like art, consists in drawing a line somewhere.” In the preceding pages R. Kent Hughes reminds us that “integrity can cost you a relationship, reputation, promotion, job, even your life.”
A good friend and original thinker has constantly challenged me with; what’s your character worth? Some of us have a lot of it and can afford to give it away. Others of us don’t seem to have as much and need to hold on to all we’ve got. How much are you willing to give your character away for? A company pen here, a stolen hour of work time on (insert guilty pleasure here), the extra $5 the person working the cash register mistakenly gave you, half truths to a boss or friend to save face, cheating on a test, copying homework. How much is your character worth? Should we be selling out for so little?
What are we willing to sacrifice to maintain and keep our integrity?
1 Peter 2: 11-12
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
I was recently introduced to this brief lesson in astronomy. It really puts Psalm 8:3-4 in perspective.
Psalm 8:3-4 says:
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
Tonight I’m pricing tickets for one of our summer mission trips. I found it comforting that the first song Pandora played me was Willie Nelson’s “On the road again.”
Planes, trains, taxis, cars, motorcycles, and planes have hauled me over 5,000 miles over these last two weeks. I’ve mainly headed south to: Fort Lauderdale, Islamorada, Birmingham, AL, and Champaing, IL. I’ve been amazed at the connections that God has allowed me to make over this short period of time. From catching up with friends to making news ones and talking with potential churches about taking our show on the road. It’s been a great couple of weeks.
Ever had that day? The one where everything seems to go wrong? The day started off well. I accomplished the tasks I needed to do at home and was headed to the gym. After making some in transit calls for work, I was able to get in a good work out. Afterwards, I got in my car and tried to start it. Nothing, not a sound. “Miles,” my car, didn’t cough, sputter, or produce any kind of a spark (don’t worry, I tried jumping it before I called the tow truck). Dissappointed with Miles I went to call a tow truck. Mind you, I just had talked up how reliable Miles was to a friend. Dilemma two started when I realized that I couldn’t find my phone. How do you call a tow truck when you’ve just lost your cell phone? Better still was when the towing company asked me for a number to reach me.
I will say that the people of Lifetime Fitness were a great help. I greatly appreciated them going out of their way to help me. Once the tow truck was on it’s way I went out to my car to wait for them. 40 minutes, and an old school sermon I started praying. Much like Samuel, I let God know that I was listening, immediately after that I turned the key and Miles fired right up. Just like old times.
The amazing part about all this was the peace I felt when it all took a dive. My only response to people was “what are you going to do?” There didn’t seem to be a reason to get upset. The people helping me seemed more upset by the circumstances than I did. What a great comfort to have a God who provides peace in the midst of rough day.
This morning I came across 1 Peter 4:1-2
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. “
This led me to Romans 6:6-7
“knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we wold no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.”
Suffering produces freedom. I don’t think that I’ve put those two thoughts together, or often if I have. Christ’s suffering delivered us from sin (obvious), and freed us to live a life that truly satisfies. A life spent for the will of God.
Here is how our Evangelism Explosion clinic in Suva, Fiji had an impact on Sally’s life.
Enjoy Jeremy’s testimony!