I looked out and saw a vast water. At first it seemed peaceful, a calm place where the problems of life didn’t exist. As I looked closer I began to see an awful sight. There were people, hundreds and thousands of people. They were drowning. A few called out for help while the majority had expressionless faces, not even fighting to survive, helpless. Then I began to see boats, tons and tons of boats, with people and life rafts and …
“16 A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my …
A couple of days ago, I had just posted a blog concerning God’s heart for the poor and destitute and how we as Christians should respond to that. As I stated in that blog, recently God has burdened my heart with a desire to reach out to those in need and to stand up for the rights of the poor and to learn to love them as He loves them. A few hours after I posted that blog I believe …
I grew up all my life in the church, studying the Bible, singing the songs, and every week hearing a sermon that just made me feel good about myself when I left. I’m sure you have had many experiences like this too. I would attend church on Sundays, stay out of trouble during the week, and felt like I was a “good Christian”. Looking back now, it amazes me how ignorant I was, how ignorant the church was, of what …
“What will heaven be like?” I’m sure you’ve wondered that many times, much like I have. I’m sure you grew up as a child drawing pictures of heaven, depicting clouds and golden streets, mansions and castles, sheer beauty. You may have drawn houses with 100 rooms, giant doors, and 3 kitchens. Your backyard may have been a football field or a tennis court. It looked like paradise, sheer bliss. And what made it even more perfect? Everyone in the picture …
This weekend I spent a day downtown, checking out the stores, walking around, just enjoying being outside in the snow for a bit. I stopped in a starbucks to grab a cup of coffee and as I was walking in the door, I nearly knocked a man with a cane over. I looked at him and noticed he had a cup full of change in his hand. I realized he must have been in the store asking for money and …
I’d like to make a special request of you today. Due to the increasingly poor economic situation, my team has been struggling to raise financial support. We are not making any money while we are here due to our positions as volunteers in the community and without your financial support, we will not be able to continue our ministry throughout this year. Your support is what enables us to serve and volunteer in the community through working with a community …
During my time here I have been able to begin building great relationships with some of our neighbors, and I’d like to share with you a little bit about who I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made Larry: I met Larry about a month after I had moved here and the friendship was almost instant. Larry is 19 and just graduated high school this past spring. He’s working right now in the hopes to save money to attend carpentry school. …
This weekend we had a day of solitude where we went outside of the city to an open campus and were given the opportunity to have some real alone time with God. It was an incredible experience and during that time with God a lot of struggles I had been trying to push aside came to surface, and I believe God began a healing process within my heart. During this time I was given a list of prayers by some …
I’m writing today concerning the recent election of Barack Obama as president and how that effects us as followers of Christ. I will also address a separate election going on right now that is of far greater importance. Let me start by saying that while I supported neither Obama nor McCain fully (that is not to say that I wasn’t in support of parts of each candidate’s campaign, but that is a discussion for another time), I am proud that …
First let me start by telling you that the previous blog entitled “The Lucky Ones” was not written by me, but by my roommate. There was a mixup with the website and my roommate’s blog was mistakenly posted under my name. This is my account of what I experienced that weekend. Let me warn you that what you are about to read is intense, convicting, and will quite possibly rub you the wrong way. I want to assure you that …
Wow guys, ok here we go, first blog update since I’ve been here. Sorry again that this has taken me so long to post. Ok, where to begin….. For those of you who don’t know, I’m living in Englewood, an area on the South Side of Chicago. The place has been great! I live with 5 other people (2 guys and 3 girls) and they are my mission partners for the year. Their names are Joey, Josh, Lauren, Katie, and …
It’s been a while since I’ve written any type of song lyrics or music. These past few months (really since the beginning of the year) have been quite a growing experience for me in my faith and my walk with Christ and I feel this song describes what i’ve been through and the changes God has made in my heart over the past months. A Cry for Salvation V1 I know I’ve strayed away From what you have to say …
Wow, can’t believe summer is slowly coming to a close, and mission year is just around the corner. What a summer it has been though! I spent 6 weeks as a counselor at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Mo and there was no better way I could have spent my summer! God taught me so much and I feel so much closer to Him and more prepared to go into Chicago. I finally know who my team members are and what …
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” writes the Psalmist David, and wow was he right on with that one. As stated in my reason for doing mission year, last summer I worked as a counselor at a Christian sports camp called Kanakuk. This summer the plan was to do the same, to work at Kanakuk K-Kountry(the camp for 7-11 year olds, same one I worked last summer) for the entire summer. …
Sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all When the mountains look so big, and my faith just seems so small So Hold me Jesus, ‘cause I’m shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory, won’t You be my Prince of Peace? And I’ll wake up in the night and feel the dark Its so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart So hold me Jesus, ‘cause I’m shaking like …
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. …
The times in which it seems like nothing good can happen And the times in which it feels as though everything is wrong When these times occur, when it’s too hard to hold on I turn to you Then there are those days in which everything makes sense And there are the times that life is great And when those times come along and the need to share is present I turn to you No matter the trials or joys, …
Last summer while working at Kanakuk Kamps, I felt a strong call on my heart that God wanted me to take a radical leap of faith for Him, to do more than just show up every week for church. I felt God tugging at me, asking me to trust Him deeper and to get out of my comfort zone for the sake of His kingdom and His call on my life. I was reading a book during this time last …
