the next mission

This coming winter, I'll be working with a team in Tahoe, CA. We'll be working on the slopes and sharing Christ as we go along. Follow us on our blog:

prayer request

Global Church, who I've been working with for the past couple months, is ministering to a man who recently had an expensive surgery. As he recovers in the hospital, the church has been dropping in on him with food, entertainment, or just a listening ear. I will go to visit him in just a few hours and take him an ice cream, but that doesn't meet his most pressing need: to come up with 800USD to pay off the surgery and get clearance to leave the hospital.

Please be in prayer as we, the church, look to serve and intercede on this man's behalf.

the round up

Bali has a bunch of people coming and going. It's a land of individuals far from their homes. Well, as far as non-Indonesians go. Some people run away to Bali for the waves or to live any type of life they feel like constructing. So what happens when the world caves in on them? When something terrible happens and they find themselves far away from support lines?

Global Church has the privilege of reaching out to people like this. One man recently broke his neck in a motorbike accident and now we are faced with a friend preparing for heart surgery. These men have no one and not much to give back, but it without a doubt we are to serve them. What does this look like? I was told to look at hospitality as stopping my routine to care for someone else. It doesn't matter what time of the night it is or how far away they live, we're too seek them out. To simply drop by and ask how they're doing could make a world of difference. Taking groceries over or just watching a movie together. These acts of service begin the dialogue that leads to Christ.

So in 30 minutes we leave from here, McDonalds, and will ride out to meet those who have no one to turn to. I encourage you to round up your Christian brothers and sisters and go to those who can't move. Help those who have yet to acknowledge their needs. Preach with your actions and with your words.

Position of Transition

I've been hanging out with YWAM for the past 3 weeks and God just opened up a serious opportunity. I have a chance to move into a house with two travellers who are non-believers. Global Church, the church plant that I'm working with, has been investing in this guys for a couple weeks now and it will be an honor to continue pour truth into their lives. One of the guys broke his neck in a motorbike accident and will soon be released from the hospital. This man is ready for God. Pray that I would be able to help him along that path.

Check this out: I play soccer with the U-21 team in Jimbaran. They are all Hindu and pray before/after every practice. Over the course of the last week they've started to call me Maday (spelling?). This is Indonesian for 2nd son (cause they found out I have an older brother). So, I'm fitting into the mix pretty well and I'm looking at getting some translators around so I can tell my story. Maybe we'll try to get the guys to a spot to watch a soccer movie and then ask some questions. So keep that in prayer.

Finances could use some boosting, but I'm not going hungry. My reading and studying is going well. I'm so psyched out of my mind to have a chance to impliment what I've been learning.

providence....in a round about way

So I prayed and looked for partners to join me on this mission. I left alone for this seven month voyage, but now God has placed some interesting people in my life. There is a group from switzerland and finland here and they are seeking God and spending time with the church. They are here for the same amount of time that I am and are looking for where God is working. They are also seeking God's will for their lives. We are also all snowboarders...which is weird.

So there are six of us. A couple of snowboarding pros, a crazy kid almost done with a bible school, some finns, and a lot of open hearts.

Pray that this group is humbled and challenged to encourage the church.

Total Church book review

Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

Why does the gospel and community change every aspect of the Christian walk?

Community is where we practice our identity that we have in Christ. We are a family in Christ and your allegiance lies with the Father. It is in the church that we live what we believe. If what you know in your head never makes it to community, you don't really live it.

The gospel is how God has revealed himself to us. It contains instructions how to live and how to please God.

"Total Church" takes these two principles and address key areas of the Christian walk such as:

Discipleship and Training
Pastoral Care
Spirituality
Theology
Church Planting
Success
Apologetics
Social Involvement

Some quick thoughts that have challenged me to grow.

1. In the realm of social involvement, we must preach the Gospel because our actions could be interpreted differently. We may even be preaching a worked based religion. Unless you open your mouth you look exactly like someone just trying to be nice.

2. Apologetics is simply bringing someone to the realization that they have chosen to hold a spirit of rebellion against God. It is our faith lived in community that is to instill a desire for the lost to WANT to believe that Christ following is legit.

3. Pastoral care takes on a preventative stance as we open our lives to one another in community. When we speak into each others lives and expose sin/struggles we can eliminate/deal with them before they become fatal. Furthermore, many pastoral care issues are due to a lack of faith/truth in a believers life. Pastoral care is first and foremost the ability to apply the gospel word to problems in people's lives.

Basicly we know how to live because of the gospel and we live what we know in community. This applies to every area of Christianity.

getting it slotted!

So the weeks are getting stacked. Lining up a lifestyle that will do the most impact. I've been hooked up with a soccer team that plays 3/4 times a week and I get to hang out with a bunch of dudes who don't speak a lick of english. But I can ask for the ball in Indonesian.....so that's a start.

Got the visa sorted. I'm going to mission up to Kuala Lumpur to get my visa renewed. It's a hassle, but it'll deal with the 30 day limit.

I'm in a secret meeting with the pastor of a local church plant. We're going to see how I can come alongside the ministry and bless. It's going to be tight.

I've been spending a lot of time with YWAM, uh, actually living with them so I've learned some cool things there.

Just wanted to let all yall know that God has been answering prayers. He's put a couple of believers in my path to disciple and given me a chance to throw some fire into the lives of christians here. Finances aren't perfect or even in the clear yet, but God is good. Thanks for the lovin'.