So since I basically live in a Christian music bubble called Life 100.3 I have been listening the Owls City's new song Galaxy and I have been dancing to it almost every time. Not only due to the catchy tune but also the lyrics which are somewhat confusing but also rather delightful.
Galaxies
Through the galaxy
Call back the CapCom
Tick off the time bomb
Let felicity fly
Armor the airlock
Blanket the bedrock
And kiss the planet goodbye
Dear God, I was terribly lost when the galaxies crossed and the sun went dark
But dear God, You're the only North Star I would follow this far
Da da da da da dada da
Through the galaxy
Fight back the flight deck
Bring on the breakneck
Cue the solar eclipse
Summit the sunset
Dovetail the dragnet
And blow your backbone to bits
Dear God, I was terribly lost when the galaxies crossed and the sun went dark
But dear God, You're the only North Star I would follow this far
O telescope, keep an eye on my only hope
Lest I blink and get swept off the narrow road
Hercules, you got nothing to say to me
'Cause you're not the blinding light that I need
For He is the saving grace of the galaxies
Dear God, I was terribly lost when the galaxies crossed and the sun went dark
But dear God, You're the only North Star I would follow this far
From what I understand and have heard from interviews this is what he thought it would be like going in space and his reflections on it.
I picture sitting in the seat not really knowing what I am doing yet so excited that the day has finally come. Then as I launch into space I see stars fly past and enter this dark abyss.
Its neat becuase the next line is a direct contrast to this great abyss. God is the North star that is out there that he is willing to go too
the bridge is pretty awesome too! talking about keeping his eyes fixed on the star (Christ) so that he wont step off the narrow road (of salvation)
I like how he makes fun of hercules and says that he is not what he needs rather its the blinding light of the star- the saving grace of the galaxies
This reminds me of my devotions that I was doing this morning as well. In Psalms 19 is says "heavens declare the glory of God the skys proclaim the work of his hand"
Creation around us declares his glory and should bring us to worship him. I was challenged about how to make this Psalm apply to my life but really it was easy. I walked outside and looked up. Then I proceeded to look around, to see grass, tall trees and beautiful flowers. His creation declares his glory and we are to worship him through it.
So I would encourage you to do the same. Its summer! GO OUTSIDE and worship the creator with his creation!
Jul 29, 2011
Jul 22, 2011
This is the End!
So it is offical; I have been home from Cameroon for... 3 weeks and two days now (Megan always tells/corrects me) and have finishd unpacking, done the laundry and have been to camp, Sudbury and back.Its only been this past week were I have actually spent at home. Unfortunately my time at home has mostly been figuring out school next year and preping for camp. My vaccation was in Sudbury which was wonderful.
In the midst of vaccation and busyness at home I have had time to reflect on what God has been teaching me. As I wrote in my last update letter (if you would like to read these comment and I'll post them) I learned that a barrier that was preventing me from developing a closer relationship with God was me constantly comparing myself to others. What I realized is that I need to stop doing this and look to Christ and focus on him alone. This break through has brought me into a closer relationship with him as well as to experience his joy and peace.
Something that I have realized though is that school, work and deadlines are not looming over my head. My prayer is that as these things come that my heart and head will continue to be set on Christ and nothing less. This is also the challenge; to maintain the roots of peace and joy in my heart as I enter school. At the core only Christ power in and through me this will happen!
In the midst of vaccation and busyness at home I have had time to reflect on what God has been teaching me. As I wrote in my last update letter (if you would like to read these comment and I'll post them) I learned that a barrier that was preventing me from developing a closer relationship with God was me constantly comparing myself to others. What I realized is that I need to stop doing this and look to Christ and focus on him alone. This break through has brought me into a closer relationship with him as well as to experience his joy and peace.
Something that I have realized though is that school, work and deadlines are not looming over my head. My prayer is that as these things come that my heart and head will continue to be set on Christ and nothing less. This is also the challenge; to maintain the roots of peace and joy in my heart as I enter school. At the core only Christ power in and through me this will happen!
May 7, 2011
Worry is SIN! Why don't I get that?!
The subject of worry has been one that has come up over and over again in my life so i would like to consider it a theme in my life recently. A theme and a rebuke or conviction. I have heard two pastors tell me that it is a sin. Worrying about people, circumstances and situations is a sin. Yet for some strange reason I still do it. So i did some research on it and these guys ain't lieing. There are SEVERAL passages that talk about worrying being a sin. So lets check it out!
There are 2 main reasons that the bible gives us that I have discovered in my small amount of digging.
Matthew 6:25-34 is a very large passage about worrying but lets focus in on vs. 25
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
When we are worrying our focus is no longer on Christ but on the thing that we are worrying about. We have no longer made Christ our center but instead are focusing on our selves and start to rely on our own strength to make sure that our worry does not come true. Our focus becomes lost when we let worry take control. I have seen and know personally how worry can consume our thoughts and lives and this is because we have lost sight of our first love, Christ the one who knows all, protects all and guides all things.
now look at vs. 30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
YOU OF LITTLE FAITH? Do you want your love, Christ, almighty God to say to you "you of little faith?" Every time you worry this is what you are causing him to do. Every time you worry you are saying that you do not trust that God has control. You are telling him that you want control and are NOT giving it to him. You are saying that your plans are better then his. Now does this sound like sin? To me it does. To me it sounds like I am bringing shame to my God, to Christ my saviour who gave EVERYTHING for me. He deserves much better then this!
So this is what I am challenging myself and anyone else who struggles with this!
Worry is Sin. Worry is an attitude thus we need an attitude ADJUSTMENT! (it seems that i need a lot of these)
So here is how I am going to tackle it.
When I start to worry I am going to catch my self and rather then continue to worry ask my God to instead help me to increase my trust in him knowing that he has this under control. Consciously making the decision to trust in Him and not worry. Simple... I think
Here is some scripture that can encourage you to know that he indeed has in under control
Colossians 1:15-18 Christ is supreme in ALL things
Philippians 4:6-7 Christ will guard your heart against worry if you ask
Matthew 11:28-30 Christ will give you rest from you worries and give you comfort
Proverbs 3:5-6 If you trust Christ then he will direct in you where he wants and it will be right and glorifying!
Worry is a Sin. It is something that is not glorifying to God. But overcoming this gives much glory to God who deserves all that we are. Soli Deo Gloria!
There are 2 main reasons that the bible gives us that I have discovered in my small amount of digging.
Matthew 6:25-34 is a very large passage about worrying but lets focus in on vs. 25
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
When we are worrying our focus is no longer on Christ but on the thing that we are worrying about. We have no longer made Christ our center but instead are focusing on our selves and start to rely on our own strength to make sure that our worry does not come true. Our focus becomes lost when we let worry take control. I have seen and know personally how worry can consume our thoughts and lives and this is because we have lost sight of our first love, Christ the one who knows all, protects all and guides all things.
now look at vs. 30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
YOU OF LITTLE FAITH? Do you want your love, Christ, almighty God to say to you "you of little faith?" Every time you worry this is what you are causing him to do. Every time you worry you are saying that you do not trust that God has control. You are telling him that you want control and are NOT giving it to him. You are saying that your plans are better then his. Now does this sound like sin? To me it does. To me it sounds like I am bringing shame to my God, to Christ my saviour who gave EVERYTHING for me. He deserves much better then this!
So this is what I am challenging myself and anyone else who struggles with this!
Worry is Sin. Worry is an attitude thus we need an attitude ADJUSTMENT! (it seems that i need a lot of these)
So here is how I am going to tackle it.
When I start to worry I am going to catch my self and rather then continue to worry ask my God to instead help me to increase my trust in him knowing that he has this under control. Consciously making the decision to trust in Him and not worry. Simple... I think
Here is some scripture that can encourage you to know that he indeed has in under control
Colossians 1:15-18 Christ is supreme in ALL things
Philippians 4:6-7 Christ will guard your heart against worry if you ask
Matthew 11:28-30 Christ will give you rest from you worries and give you comfort
Proverbs 3:5-6 If you trust Christ then he will direct in you where he wants and it will be right and glorifying!
Worry is a Sin. It is something that is not glorifying to God. But overcoming this gives much glory to God who deserves all that we are. Soli Deo Gloria!
May 2, 2011
Heavenward!
Whispers; Some hear them in the beat of a drum, others in the strum of the guitar. I hear the whispers of the heavenly Father sitting in the quietness of my car, in an arm chair in the living room or under the tree with the breeze softly blowing. In the quite I hear my Father’s voice. Through his word he tells me his truths, his promises and his gentle corrections.
Read Psalm 91 before you go any further.
Simple words such as if and will are words that should both catch our attention and give a great promise.
If we make the most high our dwelling-
Even the Lord, who is my refuge-
The not harm will come near you,
No disaster will befall you,
No disaster will come to your tent.
Here it asks us to make us the most high; heaven our dwelling place. When I think about dwelling somewhere I think staying put, a place were I am there all the time. It is where I always come back to. Then it calls us to make my Lord as my refuge; the place of safety, peace and protection. THEN if we do this he protect us and not only us but our tent; our family.
As I read this over and over again all I could this of was heavenward. Our focus most not be on what is around us, the troubles the trials the dangers but we must be looking up, looking heavenward. To look to our king and if we do this he will protect us. I think this should change some perspectives in the way we pray especially those who are praying for this team. Rather then praying that we will be protected pray that I am my team will look heavenward so that God can deliverer his promises to us and our families.
Pray that we will look heavenward; look toward our KING and do what He is calling us to do!
Apr 15, 2011
Praising God anytime anywhere
So Today I was listening to Owl City on deck because I was trying to stay awake cause I was so tired. I was listening to a couple of there lyrics and I have to say that I love when I hear praises to my King that I never noticed before. So today I was listening and I have to say that they got my prayer pretty right
I am not my own
Have been made new
Please don't let me go
I desperately need you
Cause I am so tired trying to stay awake on deck is so challenging let alone trying to have a positive attitude with all this stress building up from school. God is an amazing God by encouraging me through an amazing little song. I have to say that I love when I have the opportunity to praise him while I work. That truly is blessing from my creator. I thank him every time I think of it.
So today is the day where are supposed to hand in what I like to call our supers-size children's book. We had to make them for our exam... Lets just say my gift is not drawing or art of any kind. Therefore this project wants to make me cry! So what have learned from this book
1. How to depend on God for strength and Endurance
2. How to depend on God to help me honour my Authorities
3. God to see answer to prayer that he has kept me awake all day yesterday
God is so good but let me tell you this kind of stuff takes more time then a regular exam... 12-20 hrs is the averaged that each of my team members worked. It was really cool though how this become a team building time. A lot of us did it together and we helped each other, encouraged each other and had some good laughs as well. I honestly think that this book brought out the best and the worst of all of us and taught us. For some of us it let us experience the feeling of completing an all nighter and for others what it feels like for you body to say "nope time for bed"
I pray that these books will somehow be worth it for the kids and that we will able to use them in Cameroon.
Conclusion of this whole experience: I NEVER WANT TO MAKE A CHILDRENS BOOK IN A WEEK AGAIN!!!!!!!!
God is good and gives perseverance and endurance to those who ask---James 1:2-8
Apr 11, 2011
Latching On
So I just came out of Post Exilic Class the last one of the year and my first experience of a pure bible course elective. Conclusion... I got lost alot, learned alot and currently in shock that my year is almost done. Right now I literally wrestling with a paper and trying to get through the last two three major projects so rather then sucoming to my emotional tearful stress i took a walk attempting to listen to Gods nature in the midst of all the car noise. I talked to God and let him to know that I am uber stressed. Conclusion of that... not much other then a small hint of peace that in time will completely fill my heart. 2 Corinthians (mentioned in my early post) was the passage today that I turned to as well as what Korki was talking about in class in John eleven.
This truth that he spoke of today really hit me and surprisingly gave me some comfort
I take comfort that all I am going through will deepen the relationship that I have with my Creator and
I will soar on the wings of Eagles!
This truth that he spoke of today really hit me and surprisingly gave me some comfort
God number one thing that he longs from his children is faith. He allows his children to go through suffering in order to produce a deepened faith in WHO HE IS.
I will soar on the wings of Eagles!
Apr 9, 2011
Looking at Jesus
As you probably already know I was challenged to read the gospels for my devotions. For the longest time I put it off because to try to tackle such big books for me was really challenging especially since there is SO much in there, I had no idea where to start. So about a month ago I decided to read through the book of Mark since it was the shortest it was a good place to start. So I am continuing my adventure through mark reading through it learning about Jesus and who he is and what he done.
A few days ago I was reading Marks version of Jesus walking on water which is actually really different then the other gospels. Mark story places all the focus on Jesus and Peter is not really mentioned. This story for me reminded me and brought to a different light who Jesus is. So first off as everyone knows Jesus is compassionate but here we learn to the extreme. He neglects his own hunger to help people. Jesus loves to be alone and talk to his father. He took specific time out and talked to him. We can learn from that. Jesus is a night hawk. He was out between 3-6am taking a walk on water.....yes Jesus for his evening strolls walks on water. That both made me laugh and I was also amazed. He was walking towards the disciples because they were having great difficulty rowing and he was about to walk passed them when they cried out because they thought it was a ghost. Jesus told them to take faith, courage and to not be afraid. And then the storm and winds were calm. I was kinda confused about why he was going to walk on by and I wonder what Jesus felt like when his best friends thought that he was a ghost. (though the general person doesn't go for a midnight stroll on a lake) so here you see Jesus awesome power. The variety of characteristics that are describe in such a small chapter is incredible and from this small passage I have learned so much about him!
A few days ago I was reading Marks version of Jesus walking on water which is actually really different then the other gospels. Mark story places all the focus on Jesus and Peter is not really mentioned. This story for me reminded me and brought to a different light who Jesus is. So first off as everyone knows Jesus is compassionate but here we learn to the extreme. He neglects his own hunger to help people. Jesus loves to be alone and talk to his father. He took specific time out and talked to him. We can learn from that. Jesus is a night hawk. He was out between 3-6am taking a walk on water.....yes Jesus for his evening strolls walks on water. That both made me laugh and I was also amazed. He was walking towards the disciples because they were having great difficulty rowing and he was about to walk passed them when they cried out because they thought it was a ghost. Jesus told them to take faith, courage and to not be afraid. And then the storm and winds were calm. I was kinda confused about why he was going to walk on by and I wonder what Jesus felt like when his best friends thought that he was a ghost. (though the general person doesn't go for a midnight stroll on a lake) so here you see Jesus awesome power. The variety of characteristics that are describe in such a small chapter is incredible and from this small passage I have learned so much about him!
Flag Frenzy!
(read with nationalistic voice sound)
"The national flag should be waved proudly within any nation. Thus is the importance of knowing where the flag originated and what it symbolizes the country that proudly owns it!"
Ok ok so it may not be that dramatic but hey! Its one of those random facts that kinda interesting and could win you some money if you happen to be on a game show with the question. Anyway
So the Cameroonian flag was adopted on May 20, 1975 after Cameroon was officially made a unitary state. This was after Cameroon became independent from France on January 1st 1960. There have been several changes in the Cameroonian flag since it was first introduced. At one point there was two yellow stars and now there is only one. The pattern of the flag as well as the colour scheme was based on the French and Ethiopian Flag.
The three colours in the flag green, red and yellow all have a symbolic meaning. The green symbolizes hope of a happy future and lush vegetation of the tropical forests which are in south Cameroon. The red represents unity and independence and the yellow colour stands for prosperity and the savannas that are in northern Cameroon. Yellow can also represent the idea that the sun is the source of Cameroon's happiness. The star symbolizes the unity of the country. The flag of Cameroon represents the diversity that Cameroon has is a very good representation of its culture as well.
Mar 31, 2011
Encouragement When You Need It
Encouragement when its needed the most
So I would just like to explain how things are going right now. God has really blessed this semester by making my school load lighter and simply enjoying some good times at school. Its also been really neat to simply be able to be happy and enjoying life with Christ. I have received over the last little while various amounts of encouraging verses that have brought real peace and comfort. I thought I would share them with you so that you too can be encouraged by the amazing God that we serve.
The first verses are found in Matthew 11:28-30
Come all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
At first when I read the last verse I was really confused since as Christians we often suffer for our faith so I did not understand how Christ's burden was light since we are called to suffer for him. But I don't that is what he meant. Think when we take on other people's burden they are heavy and also filled with some kind of challenging circumstance. Christ doesn't have any of that stuff or Junk. Rather when you take on Christ's yoke we are bound to him with but we don't carry him he carries us.
To give some background a yoke was what attached two horses or cows etc that we to pull something in the field. The cool thing is that when the yoke was put on the horses it made the light easier for both. For us we are yoked with the a God that is stronger then we can possibly fathom. All we have to do is walk with him.
Some other encouraging passages include
Philippians 4:4-8
Psalm 46
Psalm 103
Psalm 139
I would encourage you to take refuge in these and know that this is the God that we serve and also the God that Loves us so MUCH! Be encouraged by His LOVE! He is worth more then anything else that this world can offer. We owe him our lives and I hope that you will surrender yours!
Mar 17, 2011
Stop talking and Listen for a Second!
During our last class we had a book discussion based on Serving with Eyes Wide Open. The premise of the book was to widen our perspective of the world around us in using that information practice cultural intelligence to best adapt to a new culture. The book talked about 4 types which are
Knowledge CQ
Behavioural CQ
Interpretive CQ
Perspective CQ
As I was going through the book something that I found really interesting was behavioural CQ; learning how to act in a certain culture. As I was reading this I automatically thought about non verbal communication also known as paralanguage. Watching how people act and trying to determine what there actions mean is something that I naturally do. I think that this will be my strongest suit in the cultural intelligence realm of picking up and trying to learn. I know that while I am there it is going to be key to understand how to there non verbal communication works. I think that my weakest element will be perseverance. As the date of leaving is approaching I am realizing how much of a challenge it will be to try to learn how to eat and do many of the basic tasks with my right hand rather then my left. I need to realize that perseverance CQ is learned so I have to be willing to learn how to do this and realize that it will take some time. I am trying to remember even before we get over there though, is to make sure that I am using my right hand. It’s really hard when you remember as you eat the last few bites but I think that more I think about it the more I will remember.
Reading about cultural intelligence overall has really helped me better understand how to prepare myself to go over and has given me some great ideas of what to do when cultural clashes happen and how best use my knowledge to make sure that I function best as I possibly can in that new culture.
My Role Model is... nameless
Check out Mark 5:21-42 before continuing reading this
I had studied this passage before and had heard it being preached recently but it wasn’t til a couple of days ago I realized how much this woman amazed me. When I read this passage I think of an elderly woman walking with a cane. But in all reality we don’t really know how old she is, for all we know she could be my age or slightly older. Anyway that doesn’t really matter what does matter is her faith.
The situation surrounding her story is that there was a huge crowd around Jesus pressing around him. I am not really sure what that would have looked like but it think it would have been hard to move forward or anywhere at all. This women had been bleeding for twelve years and been to multiple doctors who did nothing for her. Just imagining the pain that she would have gone through and watching her money slip away. It tells us that she had lost everything so she probably was a beggar. Maybe she had a home but it would have been empty if she did.
Then it says that she HEARD of Jesus and came to him. Yes, I realize that she would have been pretty desperate but think she just heard about him, not seeing any proof, not even knowing if the stories were true she came to him. She pushed through the crowds probably got elbowed a few times. The fight to get to Jesus would not have been easy. (personally after 12 years and no doctors that could help me I would have given up and awaited death... not much living for) But she didn’t. She fought through the crowd and all she wanted to do was TOUCH him. Just a simple touch and she KNEW that she was going to be healed. Talk about faith, Amazing, Trusting, Faith. She was asking to be healed from something that no other doctors could do. So with a shaky hand she reaches out and touches his cloak. And instantly the bleeding stopped and she was healed. I wonder what was going though this nameless woman’s mind... what was she thinking? I wonder if she tried to escape the crowd...
Jesus didn’t let her though. He called out “who touched me?” The disciples were probably looking at him if he was an idiot and asked “umm everyone?... Jesus you are surrounded by people!! How do you expect to get an answer?” but of course Jesus being how he is, asks again. And the woman probably once again had to push through the crowd, eyes on the ground, falling at his feet saying “I did Jesus. I touched your cloak”. I can see Jesus bending down to her level lifting her head so that he could see her face and telling her “Daughter, your faith has healed you. God in peace and be freed from your suffering”. A smile probably spread a cross her face and walked away confident that she was free from more then just bleeding. Her faith had healed her and nothing less.
This is why she is my role model. She had so much faith based on so little. I keep reflecting on this story and it brings me such joy and I honestly really want be like her!
Mar 12, 2011
Following Pauls Foot Steps
Philippians is a book that was intended to encourage the Christian in there walk in faith. At first I did not feel that encouragement because I was looking at with the completely wrong attitude. I did not understand how Paul could write in Philippians 3:10b-11 how he wants to know Christ “becoming like him in his death”. I thought was so scary especially in the context of going on mission trips... the possibility of never coming home.
Context here is KEY!!!!!
Note: please PLEASE PLEASE!!! Always go back to context when something doesn’t make sense... it will when you do this
Paul before this is talking to the Philippians about if anyone was to be considered blameless under the law it would be him. He had everything all laid out. Paul came from the right family, had the connections, the qualifications and knew how to the walk the walk and the talk the talk. He had it all!
Yet he said that it was RUBBISH all that he had he had, did owned qualified for was RUBBISH, compared to Knowing Christ. I can honestly see that Paul’s hand writing probably got a little darker from the passion that you hear in his words. Paul wants to get rid of all these qualifications so that he could GAIN CHRIST not out of his own working but through CHRISTS RIGHTOUS. Nothing that Paul did but everything that Christ did for him. including his resurrection. Paul was so enthralled consumed entrenched by Christ and wanted to know him so intimately that he wanted to know his death so that Paul may experience the RESURECTION.
This too should be our desires, not to consider how well we know our bible and our doctrine (thought these are very important) it is about knowing Christ so intimately that we should naturally WANT to die like Christ did so that we can grow even closer to him. This is the passion that should consume us because it consumed Paul. To me this is encouraging. To me this shows me how to get to the place where I am willing to die for him. My intimacy level is not there yet but I am excited for the time where I am able to have to passion that Paul did!
Mar 11, 2011
Ohh gas prices... I don’t think one ever really pays attention to them until you have start paying them. The shoot up of gas prices over the last little while has made me grieve every time I put that time I put the pump in my car. The reason for the gas prices has supposedly to do something with Libya. My issue is that I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON!!! Why you ask?? I don’t think most people realize how cut off I am from the news since I no longer watch TV and simpatico.ca is no longer my homepage. Now Libya is not directly touching Cameroon but it is part of northern Africa and I think that it is important to have a small idea about what it going on since riots have a tendency of crossing boarders. I thought that I would be a good idea to figure out what’s going on in my world especially events that are happening in Africa.
So here’s something like a summery of what’s going on.
The whole situation started on February 15 inspired by the rebellious movement in Tunisia and Eygypt. Peaceful protests for change where occuring in Tripoli where Moammar Gadhafi appeared. As these protests were happening milita came in and started gunning down the protestors. So a rebellion began. On february 24th (yes i do realize that this was a while back) it was reported conflict between the Gadhafi loyalists and the rebel forces over the Mediterranean oil ports of Ras Lanouf. (heres my high price gas problem)
The most recent report that I could find was on March 5th but there must be more since I do not think that this will end any time soon. There shots heard in Tripoli supposedly celebrating that the goverment had gained control over Ras Lanouf (place were oil ports are) yet as it turns out that through the help of residents of Ras Lanouf.
In other parts of northern Libya there is still much fighting going on. Rebels say that they will not stop fighting until Gadhafi is not longer in power. This means that Libya is in the long hule of many more fights and the sound of gun shots will not cease anytime soon. There are many people who are now returning to there home land such as Chad, Nigeria and Ghana. Chad and NIgeria both are on the boader line with Cameroon.
The situation in Libya made me think about how this could have been happening while we were there. But rather God in his soverienty allowed elections to be later. What I also found very interesting was how these people are crying out for help and how we start to ignore the situation since there is something else new and exciting in the news. I think we choose wisely what we want to follow and learn about in the news since there is so much need of prayer and attention. remember we can not do this own our own but rather in offering these places in prayer can make a huge differance.
The most recent report that I could find was on March 5th but there must be more since I do not think that this will end any time soon. There shots heard in Tripoli supposedly celebrating that the goverment had gained control over Ras Lanouf (place were oil ports are) yet as it turns out that through the help of residents of Ras Lanouf.
In other parts of northern Libya there is still much fighting going on. Rebels say that they will not stop fighting until Gadhafi is not longer in power. This means that Libya is in the long hule of many more fights and the sound of gun shots will not cease anytime soon. There are many people who are now returning to there home land such as Chad, Nigeria and Ghana. Chad and NIgeria both are on the boader line with Cameroon.
The situation in Libya made me think about how this could have been happening while we were there. But rather God in his soverienty allowed elections to be later. What I also found very interesting was how these people are crying out for help and how we start to ignore the situation since there is something else new and exciting in the news. I think we choose wisely what we want to follow and learn about in the news since there is so much need of prayer and attention. remember we can not do this own our own but rather in offering these places in prayer can make a huge differance.
Mar 4, 2011
So I am sitting here trying to decide what to right about Cameroon this week. I am rather hungry and I thought food! hey! That could be something interesting to write about. So I am sitting here currently trying to find some interesting facts about Cameroon food and maybe figure out what we might possibly be eating there...
To try to talk about food in a short blog is nearly impossible but hey! Let’s check out some facts recipes and hopefully my stomach will stop making noises in the mean time...
Cameroon has an enormous diversity, having European influence thus in the Cameroonian cuisine there is a massive combination of exotic and local spices, indigenous plants, meat and sea food. This makes for a very diverse and unique meals and experiences. In different areas of Cameroon the people have different staples.
The National dish in Cameroon is Ndole. It is a bitter soup like dish with nuts, goat, fish in it (depending were you are in the country). I think this is what we ate when we tried some Cameroon food down in Toronto when the team and I visited the All Nations Gospel Church as part of a field trip. With it we had what I think would be called maize.
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| This is what we ate in Toronto |
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| This is what Ndole looks like |
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| Maize being collected yum! |
In western Cameroon the staple he fufu which is made of maize and eaten with almost everything. A dish known Kondre can almost be considered another national dish and fufu is ALWAYS served with in. Kondre is a dish made with tubers, bananas cooked with a combination of meat such as goat fish sheep pork beef chicken etc. I feel like we might have eaten this too when we were in Toronto.
Fortunatley my stomach has stopped making noises the sad part is that now I am really really really hungry. So I am going to statify my hunger cravings with some delicious cafe food. I CAN NOT wait to eat something else such as what I have mentioned above. I hope that I have gotten you taste buds tingling for some African food and aren't not hesitate to try some if you have the chance!
Mar 1, 2011
Lessons on the Farm
The people in the bible knew a lot about farming, me on the other hand... not so much. I didn't necessary live in the city but I am no farm girl. I was rather glad when Jesus explained his farming story to his disciples. I was just about as lost as they were.
Mark 4:1-20
Characters in Parable
Farmer (Jesus or someone telling about him)
the ground that receives the seeds (everyone else)
seeds (Jesus and the gospel)
Scene 1
Farmer throws seeds onto path
birds eat seeds
no plants at all what so ever
Scene 2
Farmer throws seeds onto rocky soil
grow quickly but die just as fast because have no root
Scene 3
Farmer throws seeds were thorns also grew
seeds grow up with thorns have good roots but are fruitless
Scene 4
Farmer throws seeds onto good soil
grew up and produced 30x 60x 100x more
The seed (so the word of God) fell onto soil that had lots of thorns on it. But the seed grew up. And what it sounds like pretty normal. I think the plant looked like the plants that were growing up in the good soil. The thorns though they represent something that should make us Christians cringe
Mark 4:1-20
Characters in Parable
Farmer (Jesus or someone telling about him)
the ground that receives the seeds (everyone else)
seeds (Jesus and the gospel)
Scene 1
Farmer throws seeds onto path
birds eat seeds
no plants at all what so ever
Scene 2
Farmer throws seeds onto rocky soil
grow quickly but die just as fast because have no root
Scene 3
Farmer throws seeds were thorns also grew
seeds grow up with thorns have good roots but are fruitless
Scene 4
Farmer throws seeds onto good soil
grew up and produced 30x 60x 100x more
Check on Scene 3. This one gave me the shivers!
The seed (so the word of God) fell onto soil that had lots of thorns on it. But the seed grew up. And what it sounds like pretty normal. I think the plant looked like the plants that were growing up in the good soil. The thorns though they represent something that should make us Christians cringe
Wealth
Worries
Wrongful Desires
....The World
And what was the product of the thorns; not death or destruction but---FRUITLESS. To me this is almost worse. Cause I feel like people go on lives life thinking that they are Christians but really they are like the plant that has been growing with the weeds. If a plant doesn't produce fruit what happens to it? Its pulled out with the rest of the weeds and burned. So not cool!! This is scary! We as Christians need to be on guard against these things and constantly checking if we have indeed been producing fruit and not being overgrown and overpowered by the thorns that can so easily creep into our lives but how do we know if we are producing fruit. What is fruit? Simple
Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness
Goodness Gentleness Faithfulness Self Control
These are the things that we need to check on when we are examining ourselves and looking for the thorns in our lives. As I examine my own life I can see small thorns creeping into my life and realizing that I need to give these things back to God and ask him to continually to help me to bear these fruits. I challenge you to the same thing. Examine your Life, your Heart and see where the thorns are creeping in. Ask God to replace those thorns with beautiful fruit that reflect the One who created them!
Feb 18, 2011
Lets Talk Specifics
How often to we come before our creator in prayer with our own requests? I swear we can go on forever talking and praying for ourselves and our issues and our concerns and our problems. Yet how often do we look past ourselves and start looking at others. I have discovered the more that I look at other and pray for others the less worried I become about myself. Praying for others has become one of the joys in my life. Unfortunately in the midst of the chaos of this semester and the struggles of keeping my relationship alive I haven’t spent much time doing this. This week I was feeling really far from him and I was sick of worrying and looking at my own problems I turned others over to him instead. As I was praying I remembered a word
Speak
Precise
Exact and
Critical
Information
For
Intended
Circumstance
So many times we go before him and ask for him to do bless us and direct us and guide us or pray for others in such broad terms that I wonder if Gods like “dude do even know what your asking for?” So I was challenged as I was praying to ask for specific requests down to the last detail. The cool thing is if I know what I am asking for then I know how to look for the answers. I think that is the best part, expecting the answers. To pray for specific requests you can see so much clearer the answers. Why? Cause you know what you were asking for! Sometimes we ask for such broad things God answers are requests but we don’t see it because we don’t really know what we asked. So try it. Be specific. Come before your creator and tell him what others need first then talk to him about yourself. Its amazing how your focus changes.
Animistic Culture Gospel Approach
Start by listening and watching... aka not talking. The only possible way to share to gospel with a people who have some kind of Animistic culture is to figure out what they believe in. To put a group of people into this category of "animistic" is like putting a button into a bowl with a whole bunch of other different buttons. There both buttons but they sure don’t look the same and you probably can’t sew them on a shirt the same way either. Therefore you have to study it and look at it in order to figure out how to get it on. Same with an Animistic culture you have to figure out what they worship and what they believe before you can bring the gospel to them.It might help for some of you to know what an animistic culture is. It is define as a culture who believes in inanimate objects having spirits and interacting with them in various ways of worship and lifestyle. This is such a broad defination and concept that to say that all of these beliefs are the same within the cultures whould be crazy and you wouldn't get very far before seeing the mass differences. THAT is why it is important to study, learn and understand them first before trying to tell them a completely new belief system.
It is also important as one learns how the culture works also to contextualize the gospel if necessary to make them understand it. The wariness of doing this that if you relate it to close to their culture they might take it and make into just another thing to do to appease the spirits. I think that is why rather then going straight the Jesus part you start and the beginning, the very beginning. I think it would be best to talk them through the most that you can as possible to show them where Jesus is coming from and why it was so amazing and so important. To not do that would almost be like walking in the middle of a movie and watching it and then people around you expecting you to know and understand all of it. For this culture and other cultures as well I think it is important to start at the beginning to show them where they are going.
When entering into this animistic culture there are obviously things that are within that you possibly do not agree with and do not line up with the gospel. It is important to let the people who you are talking to recognize these things on there own and let them change it. That way since they know there culture best will understand and know what to do best.
remember: Watch Listen and Learn then you can open your mouth and share the good news!
Its worth waiting for.
It is also important as one learns how the culture works also to contextualize the gospel if necessary to make them understand it. The wariness of doing this that if you relate it to close to their culture they might take it and make into just another thing to do to appease the spirits. I think that is why rather then going straight the Jesus part you start and the beginning, the very beginning. I think it would be best to talk them through the most that you can as possible to show them where Jesus is coming from and why it was so amazing and so important. To not do that would almost be like walking in the middle of a movie and watching it and then people around you expecting you to know and understand all of it. For this culture and other cultures as well I think it is important to start at the beginning to show them where they are going.
When entering into this animistic culture there are obviously things that are within that you possibly do not agree with and do not line up with the gospel. It is important to let the people who you are talking to recognize these things on there own and let them change it. That way since they know there culture best will understand and know what to do best.
remember: Watch Listen and Learn then you can open your mouth and share the good news!
Its worth waiting for.
Happy Holidays!
So once again here I am trying to figure out the latest and exciting news about Cameroon... and what did I find? The BEST THINGS EVER!! HOLIDAYS!!! So here in a small list and the public holidays celebrated in Cameroon
January 1st Happy New Year!!!
February 11th Youth Day
May 1st Labour Day
May 20th National Day
July 5th Independence Day
Augest 15th Assumption Day
October 1st Unification Day
November 1st All Saints Day
December 25 Merry Christmas!!
As you can see there are a couple of similar ones that we celebrate such as Christmas and New Years and they also Celebrate Easter and Tabaski and Ramadan which as muslim holidays. What was interesting is that in there "public holidays" three differant religions are the origniatiors of these holidays. That just sparked my interest. What also got me thinking was it would be cool to do some research on these differant holidays and see what they are about. I thought I would start on a day where we are actually going to be there for
National Day! It is celebrate on May 20th and indicates honour and pride for that country. It was not until 1972 when Cameroon was completly independent. That was 40 years ago. (random thought, there are people still alive who watched where they live become its own country, how often do we take the establishment of Canada for granted). During this year the country had accepted a constitution and at a later date the constituation was amended and Cameroon came to be what it is now. (in short basiclly) It will be exciting to celebrate that day with the Cameroonians and celebrate their nationality with them. I am exctied to see what traditions they have and how the celebrate the day!
As this is only one of the many holidays that Cameroon celebrates I think we might be have more Holiday blogs in the future... stay tuned!!!!
Feb 14, 2011
I Got SHOT!!!
On Thursday I adventured down to downtown Waterloo and got shot....with four needles. Vaccinations complete!!! Its rather interesting how it is required to get some shots but I realize that it is for our own personal safety. In order to get into Cameroon we were required to get our Yellow fever, typhoid and Heb A and B. Malaria is also on the list but those are pills that are to be taken right before we go. I thought I would do some research on what I am preventing myself from to see what all this money and effort went into not to mention a very VERY sore arm the same day.
Yellow Fever
A tropical disease transferred to humans by infected mosquitoes. It can be a mild to sever infection and can be life threatening (ok makes sense to get it... reason #1)
Symptoms include:high fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and backache, shock, bleeding, and kidney and liver failure. Liver failure causes jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes), (Thats where the name comes from and I am very glad that I won't be getting this! reason #2)
Treatment: water and rest and don't go near other people (that's kinda lonely... another reason why glad got it I can be with my team! :) reason #3)
Typhoid
Is also known as typhoid fever or entheric fever, is an infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. This is usually transmitted by water or food (something that I can't live without therefore reason #1)
This virus though can be tolerated by some people which are called asymptomatic carriers. This means that they can carry the Salmonella typhi but not show any symptoms that they have it.
Symptoms include: constipation, cough, headache, loss of appetite, stomach pains, sore throat, bleeding from the rectum, delirium, diarrhea and temporary pink spots on the chest and abdomen. (so not fun! reason #2)
Treatment: antibiotics take away all symptoms in less then a week (not bad but still not cool, I am not good at takes pills regularly...need to work on that therefore reason #3)
Hep A
Also known as Hepatitis A virus. It is a inflammation of the live caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It is contracted by ingesting something that has been effected with virus.
Symptoms include: Dark urine, Fatigue, Itching, Loss of appetite, Low-grade fever, Nausea and vomiting, Pale or clay-colored stools, Yellow skin (jaundice) (so kinda like yellow fever yay.... reason #1)
Treatment:once again nothing specific other then rest and avoid alcohol (not any issue! :P)
Malaria
Is a parasitic infection spread by Anopheles mosquitoes. The Plasmodium parasite is a single-celled parasite that multiplies in red blood cells of humans as well as in the mosquito intestine. Its not a bacteria or a virus like the others mentioned above. Another interesting fact that in Cameroon the Plasmodium parasite in Cameroon has develop resistance to Chloroquine is an antimalarial drug and therefore we can not use it since it wouldn't do any good for us.
Symptoms include: abdominal pain,chills and sweats, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (these symptoms only appear sometimes), headache, high fevers, low blood pressure causing dizziness if moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position (also called orthostatic hypotension), muscle aches, poor appetite (overall that sounds like a super unenjoyable time...reason #1 why these pills are a good thing)
Treatment: Antibiotics and its one of those things that you have to take all of them or it doesn't work. And I would like to make in known that once you have it you DO NOT have it for LIFE! I am really happy about that.
In conclusion of this small yet important research project I have to say that I am rather glad that I got shot so I don't end up with contracting any of these things. Please for all those are thinking of trying to avoid these vaccinations (although the mostly likely are mandatory) GET THEM!!!
ok this was really long and I'm sorry but i think its IMPORTANT!
Yellow Fever
A tropical disease transferred to humans by infected mosquitoes. It can be a mild to sever infection and can be life threatening (ok makes sense to get it... reason #1)
Symptoms include:high fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and backache, shock, bleeding, and kidney and liver failure. Liver failure causes jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes), (Thats where the name comes from and I am very glad that I won't be getting this! reason #2)
Treatment: water and rest and don't go near other people (that's kinda lonely... another reason why glad got it I can be with my team! :) reason #3)
Typhoid
Is also known as typhoid fever or entheric fever, is an infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. This is usually transmitted by water or food (something that I can't live without therefore reason #1)
This virus though can be tolerated by some people which are called asymptomatic carriers. This means that they can carry the Salmonella typhi but not show any symptoms that they have it.
Symptoms include: constipation, cough, headache, loss of appetite, stomach pains, sore throat, bleeding from the rectum, delirium, diarrhea and temporary pink spots on the chest and abdomen. (so not fun! reason #2)
Treatment: antibiotics take away all symptoms in less then a week (not bad but still not cool, I am not good at takes pills regularly...need to work on that therefore reason #3)
Hep A
Also known as Hepatitis A virus. It is a inflammation of the live caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It is contracted by ingesting something that has been effected with virus.
Symptoms include: Dark urine, Fatigue, Itching, Loss of appetite, Low-grade fever, Nausea and vomiting, Pale or clay-colored stools, Yellow skin (jaundice) (so kinda like yellow fever yay.... reason #1)
Treatment:once again nothing specific other then rest and avoid alcohol (not any issue! :P)
Malaria
Is a parasitic infection spread by Anopheles mosquitoes. The Plasmodium parasite is a single-celled parasite that multiplies in red blood cells of humans as well as in the mosquito intestine. Its not a bacteria or a virus like the others mentioned above. Another interesting fact that in Cameroon the Plasmodium parasite in Cameroon has develop resistance to Chloroquine is an antimalarial drug and therefore we can not use it since it wouldn't do any good for us.
Symptoms include: abdominal pain,chills and sweats, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (these symptoms only appear sometimes), headache, high fevers, low blood pressure causing dizziness if moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position (also called orthostatic hypotension), muscle aches, poor appetite (overall that sounds like a super unenjoyable time...reason #1 why these pills are a good thing)
Treatment: Antibiotics and its one of those things that you have to take all of them or it doesn't work. And I would like to make in known that once you have it you DO NOT have it for LIFE! I am really happy about that.
In conclusion of this small yet important research project I have to say that I am rather glad that I got shot so I don't end up with contracting any of these things. Please for all those are thinking of trying to avoid these vaccinations (although the mostly likely are mandatory) GET THEM!!!
ok this was really long and I'm sorry but i think its IMPORTANT!
....Evangelism pt. 2
During class we watched a video on How evangelism can really be split up into three different categories
1.Event
2. Group
3.Personal
If you think about it I think that this day era has gotten event evangelism down pretty well. Look at Billy Graham and what he did and all the organizations and other events that have come from it. His events brought millions of people together in which many accepted Christ. The apostles did the same thing. They went to the temples and synagogues to preach about Christ and many were saved. This type of evangelism is great but we need to remember that it is not the only one and it is just as important to remember the other two.
Group evangelism is harder to define but it covers what event and personnel evangelism aren't. It's the in between size and we see it happening in Acts as well. Group evangelism happened a lot of the time when the apostles healed someone especially in there home. That makes sense because a whole crowd could not fit into a home or fit a round a circle to see the person. But what about me? I guess you are probably asking the same question I am. Maybe it doesn't have to about that we can't heal. It also should be noted that we see Peter and various other apostles simply going to homes to preach the word. Maybe its more the fact that we as Christians can go with Boldness to these places and share the gospel. Think about it, if you are invited to someones home then obviously you know the person and some trust and friendship has developed. Are you willing to step into an uncomfortable position with these people? Peter was I am asking myself that same question!
There is also personal evangelism. This one I think scares us Christians the most. To actually talk to someone that you know (or possibly don't know) about your faith. To bring it up in conversation is not easy. What interested me was the fact that the first two times that you see personal evangelism its both kinda forced upon them. I am thinking of Peter and Philip. Both we called in rather unique ways directly from God. Peter and Philip had a couple of similarities that should be taken notice of. I think these things will help us with personal evangelism. The first is that they were both willing to go and talk about the gospel where ever they went. As I talked about in pt. 1 they had the boldness to talk to other people about the gospel and were not ashamed of it. As Christians I think we need to be more aware of these types of things and that we need to be not afraid to talk about it. (BTW I am just as scared as you are so I am "preaching" to myself") Another thing that has really caught my attention was the fact that they both ask direct questions. I can not remember the last time I asked someone about the gospel. I know that is hard to do and both Peter and Philip had some context but I think that is not to hard to come by. Anything really can remind us as Christians about God and if we are talking to them long enough or simply know them well enough should be able able to bring it up. In all reality what can we lose? Them not talking to us again? possibly in all reality not likely. Having an awkward conversation. More likely but again not the end of the world. I think those are worth someone hearing something that can change there lives. We just now have to be willing to do it!
1.Event
2. Group
3.Personal
If you think about it I think that this day era has gotten event evangelism down pretty well. Look at Billy Graham and what he did and all the organizations and other events that have come from it. His events brought millions of people together in which many accepted Christ. The apostles did the same thing. They went to the temples and synagogues to preach about Christ and many were saved. This type of evangelism is great but we need to remember that it is not the only one and it is just as important to remember the other two.
Group evangelism is harder to define but it covers what event and personnel evangelism aren't. It's the in between size and we see it happening in Acts as well. Group evangelism happened a lot of the time when the apostles healed someone especially in there home. That makes sense because a whole crowd could not fit into a home or fit a round a circle to see the person. But what about me? I guess you are probably asking the same question I am. Maybe it doesn't have to about that we can't heal. It also should be noted that we see Peter and various other apostles simply going to homes to preach the word. Maybe its more the fact that we as Christians can go with Boldness to these places and share the gospel. Think about it, if you are invited to someones home then obviously you know the person and some trust and friendship has developed. Are you willing to step into an uncomfortable position with these people? Peter was I am asking myself that same question!
There is also personal evangelism. This one I think scares us Christians the most. To actually talk to someone that you know (or possibly don't know) about your faith. To bring it up in conversation is not easy. What interested me was the fact that the first two times that you see personal evangelism its both kinda forced upon them. I am thinking of Peter and Philip. Both we called in rather unique ways directly from God. Peter and Philip had a couple of similarities that should be taken notice of. I think these things will help us with personal evangelism. The first is that they were both willing to go and talk about the gospel where ever they went. As I talked about in pt. 1 they had the boldness to talk to other people about the gospel and were not ashamed of it. As Christians I think we need to be more aware of these types of things and that we need to be not afraid to talk about it. (BTW I am just as scared as you are so I am "preaching" to myself") Another thing that has really caught my attention was the fact that they both ask direct questions. I can not remember the last time I asked someone about the gospel. I know that is hard to do and both Peter and Philip had some context but I think that is not to hard to come by. Anything really can remind us as Christians about God and if we are talking to them long enough or simply know them well enough should be able able to bring it up. In all reality what can we lose? Them not talking to us again? possibly in all reality not likely. Having an awkward conversation. More likely but again not the end of the world. I think those are worth someone hearing something that can change there lives. We just now have to be willing to do it!
Feb 11, 2011
AHH!! Don't say that Word! ...Evangelism pt. 1
When many Christians here the word evangelize, many including my self say something along the lines of
"I need to do that more but I don't know how"
"I don't like talking about my faith with other people, they know that I am a christian. If they have questions they will ask" or
"How do I even start a conversation about faith?"
Before you and I get stressed over this whole issue of evangelizing lets check out what the actual definition is. According to dictionary.com evangelism is defined as "the practice of spreading the Christian gospel" or "the preaching or promulgation of the gospel; the work of an evangelist". Now those definitions might make you even more concerned since the thought might have cross your mind of "I am no Billy Graham" ... to be honest neither am I. Yet as Christians we are called to evangelize to others..so how do we do that?
Well the early Church was kinda in the same boat. Jesus was no longer with them and the Holy Spirit had just entered them and Jesus told them to go and spread the gospel. I think they were probably asking the same questions and we can look to them to get the answers because boy did they ever spread it.
Going through the book of Acts and looking for examples of Evangelism I found something rather interesting. Acts 4:1-31 specifically 23-31. Peter and John had healed a man who was crippled in the Temple and then Peter started preaching there. The religious leaders arrested both Peter and John and the next day was brought before the council of rulers, elders, scribes, and the high priest and his family. (I would just like to make a note that these people were SCARY! you did NOT mess with them...just saying) Yet Peter speaks Boldy to them! This word in greek this is parrēsia which depicts Spirit-inspired courage and confidence to speak even amongst danger. This word is very important in Acts and is used agian later in the passage.
Once Peter and John are set free they come back to the believers to talk about what happened and something really cool happened. They all came together and prayed. For what? BOLDNESS! The believers all gathered together and asked for what Peter had so they too could be like him in sharing the gospel. What they said in there prayer was really neat too. They said that they would be willling to go through ANYTHING to have the BOLDNESS that Peter had in sharing the gospel.
I think the reason that I am scared to evangelize becuase I failed to ask for what all the believers in the early chruch had! Praying for Boldness something so simple yet so profound and powerful. It is something as us Christians in the day and age are in desparate need for!
"I need to do that more but I don't know how"
"I don't like talking about my faith with other people, they know that I am a christian. If they have questions they will ask" or
"How do I even start a conversation about faith?"
Before you and I get stressed over this whole issue of evangelizing lets check out what the actual definition is. According to dictionary.com evangelism is defined as "the practice of spreading the Christian gospel" or "the preaching or promulgation of the gospel; the work of an evangelist". Now those definitions might make you even more concerned since the thought might have cross your mind of "I am no Billy Graham" ... to be honest neither am I. Yet as Christians we are called to evangelize to others..so how do we do that?
Well the early Church was kinda in the same boat. Jesus was no longer with them and the Holy Spirit had just entered them and Jesus told them to go and spread the gospel. I think they were probably asking the same questions and we can look to them to get the answers because boy did they ever spread it.
Going through the book of Acts and looking for examples of Evangelism I found something rather interesting. Acts 4:1-31 specifically 23-31. Peter and John had healed a man who was crippled in the Temple and then Peter started preaching there. The religious leaders arrested both Peter and John and the next day was brought before the council of rulers, elders, scribes, and the high priest and his family. (I would just like to make a note that these people were SCARY! you did NOT mess with them...just saying) Yet Peter speaks Boldy to them! This word in greek this is parrēsia which depicts Spirit-inspired courage and confidence to speak even amongst danger. This word is very important in Acts and is used agian later in the passage.
Once Peter and John are set free they come back to the believers to talk about what happened and something really cool happened. They all came together and prayed. For what? BOLDNESS! The believers all gathered together and asked for what Peter had so they too could be like him in sharing the gospel. What they said in there prayer was really neat too. They said that they would be willling to go through ANYTHING to have the BOLDNESS that Peter had in sharing the gospel.
I think the reason that I am scared to evangelize becuase I failed to ask for what all the believers in the early chruch had! Praying for Boldness something so simple yet so profound and powerful. It is something as us Christians in the day and age are in desparate need for!
Feb 10, 2011
Breaking Down Walls, One Brick at a Time
Class dismissed the professor says, 25 minutes until Chapel begins. ½ hour seems plenty of time to unwind from class, drop of books and go to Chapel.
Chapel? Like Church?
Church Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Bible classes almost every day...
Will it ever stop?
The bombardment of teaching, hoping that each will have an impact!
Concerned about my weary unprepared heart walls went up. Fortifying for the next blow.
Resulting in a STRONG unpenetrating wall that surrounded my heart.
At least I thought it was unpenetrating...
But He started to take down the wall, one brick at a timeIt started with 3 simply letters PPG that are worn on my wrist
Practice the Presence of God
The commitment was made on Tuesday February 7, 2011
Chapel? Like Church?
Church Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Bible classes almost every day...
Maybe slow down but please but never stop
That the teaching will hit me with something new and Help me grow closer to him
Coming to Worship with my heart not so surrounded by a wall, I was willing to come with the heart that I had. I was willing to run into his arms. Forever Reigns was a song that didn't talk about me, about my doing but a song that I found myself directly talking to HIM. Rather then singing this song as if he was far away I PPG and talked to him and praised him remembering that he was right there.
The walls are coming downHe is taking off one brick at a time
Calling me
Reminding me
Remember the former things, those of long ago, I am God there is no other. I am God there is none like me.
Isaiah 46:9
Feb 4, 2011
Mountian of Faith
To climb Mt. Cameroon will only happen once and the reward will be like no other but a mountain that I will be always climbing is the Mountain of Faith. Time after time again you see the disciples who walked and talked with Jesus have little faith. Faith is something that I have been something that I have been struggling with lately so today Jesus decided to help me out a bit. Mark 9:14-29
To describe the situation a crowd gathered around Jesus after he had been arguing with some scribes. The atmosphere is heated and tense. The crowds are wondering what the scribes and Jesus are arguing about when a Father interrupts and comes up to Jesus asking him to heal his son because the disciples could not. In reply Jesus says "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I going to bear with you? " I think here Jesus being rather exasperated, like "why don't you just believe already? I shown you again and again that you can!" To be honest though I don't think Dad caught on to that -_-
The Father asks Jesus "if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us"
(pause) mental picture--> older man talking to Jesus timidly and saying "if you could sir.. if you don't mind... could you?...i think you can do it..."
If I can?! (Jesus voice probably just got a little louder here) all things are possible for one who believes! (Dad just got owned and he knows it!)
then the father of the child cried out... I believe, but help my unbelief!
WHAM! That hit me right in the face! I want to cry out just as the Father has and say I believe but help my unbelief! As soon and Jesus said what he did the Father realized what he was lacking the whole time and repented of it. I, Lord do the same. My faith right now is small and weak. Help me believe that you indeed can do all things and that you are in control and help me climb this mountain called Faith.
Jesus teaches a few things here.
1. Do not put Jesus into a box cause he is bigger then that and can do anything
2. Do not be timid about asking and been uncertian of your faith ASK! and believe that you will recieve what you have asked for! and no this does
note: see james 1:6 for conformation of this statement
(this does not apply to asking God for a new car... just making that clear)
3. Prayer aka building a relationship with God also helps in developing and growing our faith (check this out with what Jesus told his disciples at the end of this situation)
To describe the situation a crowd gathered around Jesus after he had been arguing with some scribes. The atmosphere is heated and tense. The crowds are wondering what the scribes and Jesus are arguing about when a Father interrupts and comes up to Jesus asking him to heal his son because the disciples could not. In reply Jesus says "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I going to bear with you? " I think here Jesus being rather exasperated, like "why don't you just believe already? I shown you again and again that you can!" To be honest though I don't think Dad caught on to that -_-
The Father asks Jesus "if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us"
(pause) mental picture--> older man talking to Jesus timidly and saying "if you could sir.. if you don't mind... could you?...i think you can do it..."
If I can?! (Jesus voice probably just got a little louder here) all things are possible for one who believes! (Dad just got owned and he knows it!)
then the father of the child cried out... I believe, but help my unbelief!
WHAM! That hit me right in the face! I want to cry out just as the Father has and say I believe but help my unbelief! As soon and Jesus said what he did the Father realized what he was lacking the whole time and repented of it. I, Lord do the same. My faith right now is small and weak. Help me believe that you indeed can do all things and that you are in control and help me climb this mountain called Faith.
Jesus teaches a few things here.
1. Do not put Jesus into a box cause he is bigger then that and can do anything
2. Do not be timid about asking and been uncertian of your faith ASK! and believe that you will recieve what you have asked for! and no this does
note: see james 1:6 for conformation of this statement
(this does not apply to asking God for a new car... just making that clear)
3. Prayer aka building a relationship with God also helps in developing and growing our faith (check this out with what Jesus told his disciples at the end of this situation)
To the Top!
In inquiring with a fellow team mate I confirmed that we would be climbing Mt. Cameroon at the beginning of our trip. Mt. Cameroon is located on the Southwest Side of the mountain range that Lake Lyos is on. The Lake is one the Northeast side. Mt. Cameroon is actually the most active volcano in West Africa not to mention the highest mountain. It last erupted on May 28th 2000 and that lasted til June 19th. It erupted before this on March 28 1999. No one had died from the eruptions although several people were injured while researching the volcano as it was erupting. (to be honest I don't know why someone would be so smart to go up a volcano as its erupting but...) Mt. Cameroon is the highest point in Cameroon reaching 4,095 m ( I am assuming above sea level). I think that Climbing this mountain will only be the start of challenging times we will face while in Cameroon. Yet to reach the Top and looking out will be something that sweat and toll are worth. Lets Climb to the Top!
Jan 28, 2011
Cameroon History (with some science of course)
So I searched Cameroon to see what I found and I discovered a rather interesting historical moment that faced Cameroon in 1986. Lake Nyos (pictured) is a crater lake (which is a lake that occupying a crater beside a volcano) along the Cameroon Line of volcano's which is a chain of mountain ranges and volcano's known as the Cameroon Range or Cameroon Highlands. What makes this even more interesting that it is located in the region where people speak Oku, one of the languages that we will be working with. The magma beneath the lake leaks carbon dioxide (CO2) into the waters. It is important to note that CO2 heavier then air so when released on land it falls to the ground pushing oxygen upwards, thus suffocates life since oxygen is not available. On August 21,1986 the lake Nyos emitted a large cloud of CO2 and caused 1800 people and 3500 animals to suffocate. The release of the gas was possibly triggered by a landslide. After this happened many scientists went to work to try to prevent from this happening again and researching other lakes to see if they had similar properties. In 2001 degassing tubes installed that cause the water with the CO2 to come to the top so that the CO2 can release in safe quantities but additional tubes should be added to make it more safe.
What fascinated me most about this situation was the questions that came to my mind since this happened only 25 years ago. There are probably people who are still effect by this disaster and possibly had relatives that died or are affected by this incident. Does this situation have an effect on how the culture works today? Does this impact the way that the Cameroonians think? Will we encounter stories of this while we are there? Are there now folk tales and religions associated with this disaster?
It will be interesting to see if these questions are answered even as we learn more about Cameroon leading up to this trip.
He said, Therefore
Over the past little while I have been struggling in reading my Bible and have had doubts about my faith. I have been encouraged again and again to read through the gospels so here I am finally listening and simply reading them as they were written, like a book. So I started with Matthew and came across the sermon on the mount. Jesus is describing how to act and uping the Law. I would think the people that he was talking to must have knew it well. Then after all that, he said therefore. Perhaps the people might have been thinking that Jesus would then comment on how if one did not do these things then there would be punishment or if one did reward. Yet it was something very differant.
Jesus said Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life...therefore do not be anxious, saying "what shall we eat...drink...wear?"...therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow...
What does Jesus offer? Peace. That was the summary and conclusions of all those commands, laws and instructions, Peace. I think this would have really shocked the people listening. After listing all those things that were totally new and unexpected and challenging he says do not worry, do not be anxious. Wow... He offers peace in our obedience and faith in Him.
Today I was reminded why Jesus is my God. He offers peace. What other religion offers that? What other thought process or god(s) says "Don't worry, I am taking care of this." To my knowledge none. So here I say publicly Jesus is my God and I will allow him to take my worry.
Jesus said Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life...therefore do not be anxious, saying "what shall we eat...drink...wear?"...therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow...
What does Jesus offer? Peace. That was the summary and conclusions of all those commands, laws and instructions, Peace. I think this would have really shocked the people listening. After listing all those things that were totally new and unexpected and challenging he says do not worry, do not be anxious. Wow... He offers peace in our obedience and faith in Him.
Today I was reminded why Jesus is my God. He offers peace. What other religion offers that? What other thought process or god(s) says "Don't worry, I am taking care of this." To my knowledge none. So here I say publicly Jesus is my God and I will allow him to take my worry.
Jan 20, 2011
Tender Hearts
Working at six am leaves one a little tired espically when all you do is watch people swim back and forth. Don't get me wrong, I do love my job and it gives me some good time to think and to do my homework. ( no I don't do my homework while I am guarding) As I was on one of my breaks I was looking through the newspaper The Record trying to find an article to talk about that related to Cameroon and Central Africa. I stumbled apon an article that talked about how a soldier was arrested for raping several women in Sudan. What got me the most was the fact that they only discovered this when one of the soldiers died after an agruement between the two soldiers over one woman. Reading that I actually snorted at the irony of it and then went back to the pool thinking that I had a good article for this blog.
Now take a step back and look at this picture. A women raped and a soldier dead.
Reaction: good article for homework since it happened in Sudan and oh look I have to go guard now.
PROBLEM! I, as a christian should have a heart that is broken for these people but instead I walked away! oh God give me a heart of compassion! Break my heart for the people of Africa! This news should make us alramed and rather then walking away at the very least we should long to do something. So possibly at this point you are probably saying, "Erika you can't change the world". Yes I know, I am fully aware of that. All I can do is ask for a heart that breaks for it and pray that God will save them instead. Our part is prayer.
Now take a step back and look at this picture. A women raped and a soldier dead.
Reaction: good article for homework since it happened in Sudan and oh look I have to go guard now.
PROBLEM! I, as a christian should have a heart that is broken for these people but instead I walked away! oh God give me a heart of compassion! Break my heart for the people of Africa! This news should make us alramed and rather then walking away at the very least we should long to do something. So possibly at this point you are probably saying, "Erika you can't change the world". Yes I know, I am fully aware of that. All I can do is ask for a heart that breaks for it and pray that God will save them instead. Our part is prayer.
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