Could it really be a YEAR since I have posted on year. That's embarrassing. I have no good excuse, other than it seems so much easier to "update" most of my friends and family via Facebook with little "status updates" than to think of a whole blogpost to write. That being said - I'm on break from Facebook (for Lent) and have things to say! :-)
Our family is moving forward with our plans to work with YWAM Montego Bay in Jamaica. We are still waiting on the official acceptance letter to arrive, but we have notified YWAM Salem of our departure and have purchased our plane tickets to come home, to Michigan, in June. Our plan as of now, is to spend 2 months in MI and move overseas in either August or September. The reason for coming home for a few months (besides spending some quality time with family and friends) is to work on raising our monthly support. We have been advised to increase our monthly support as the cost of living in Jamaica is higher due to huge tax rates (17.5% everything) and higher costs on most items as most things are imported. Just our cost of living ON the YWAM base will be almost $300 more than we currently pay to live on base at YWAM Salem.
Our children are doing well and are thriving in school. Sending them to a Christian School (that's a huge God story - so if you don't know it, ask me and I'll tell ya about it) has been incredible. They both LOVE their teachers and their classmates. Both kids had to participate in a Speech Meet within their classrooms and Eli was one of 2 kids (for the Bible Scripture segment) in his class chosen to go on to compete in the ACSI Speech Meet competition. He did so well! He did not bring home a medal, but was given a certificate with a "Excellent" rating. We were also just notified that Eli was chosen to complete in the Math Olympics against other 3rd graders from Christian schools in Oregon. This event will take place in April. We are SO proud of Eli. He is an awesome 9 year old and has grown SO much this past year. Ayla is still enjoying being one of only 2 girls in her class and continues to make us laugh. She is such a little "woman".
Shane and I are still running the Personnel Department. We have really adjusted well to working together (literally) and we complement each other well (if I do say so!) with our giftings. Shane is definitely the pastoral care and leadership side of the department and I am the logistical/administrative side. I never thought that Shane and I would be able to live and work together like we are, but it is truly a blessing and I am so thankful for it. Shane also sits on the leadership team here at YWAM Salem and is the facilitator of the weekly meetings. Shane's leadership skills have grown leaps and bounds the past 2 years and we are so thankful for this time at YWAM Salem. We didn't completely understand why God had called us to stay here and make a 2 year commitment back in 2010 (after our CDTS), but now we look back and can clearly see the path of growth God has lead us down and the preparation we have had to move overseas and begin a new chapter in our journey. GOD IS GOOD.
This last week I have had the privilege of sitting in on the lecture of the DTS that is currently going on. The topic is "Worldview" and the speaker is Rick Thompson from Kona, Hawaii. It has been AMAZING. There have been so many things that have stuck out to me that I've wanted to share with people, so I thought I would give you a little synopsis of those things. I have heard many times, great people say, "I could never do what you are doing" or "You are way more spiritual than I am" or "My secular job is ... but my ministry is..."
Below is a copy of the notes I took during the lecture today. I think this is SO important for everyone to hear. As Christians, we are ALL missionaries and have a job to do (tell others about Jesus). Please don't think for a minute that what you do is not important if that is what God is calling you to do. If you are working in a place because of money but you don't necessarily believe that this is where God is telling you to "serve", then you need to ask God where HE wants you. I apologize for the awkward bullet points - I can't figure out how to make them look "normal" on here.
Our family is moving forward with our plans to work with YWAM Montego Bay in Jamaica. We are still waiting on the official acceptance letter to arrive, but we have notified YWAM Salem of our departure and have purchased our plane tickets to come home, to Michigan, in June. Our plan as of now, is to spend 2 months in MI and move overseas in either August or September. The reason for coming home for a few months (besides spending some quality time with family and friends) is to work on raising our monthly support. We have been advised to increase our monthly support as the cost of living in Jamaica is higher due to huge tax rates (17.5% everything) and higher costs on most items as most things are imported. Just our cost of living ON the YWAM base will be almost $300 more than we currently pay to live on base at YWAM Salem.
Our children are doing well and are thriving in school. Sending them to a Christian School (that's a huge God story - so if you don't know it, ask me and I'll tell ya about it) has been incredible. They both LOVE their teachers and their classmates. Both kids had to participate in a Speech Meet within their classrooms and Eli was one of 2 kids (for the Bible Scripture segment) in his class chosen to go on to compete in the ACSI Speech Meet competition. He did so well! He did not bring home a medal, but was given a certificate with a "Excellent" rating. We were also just notified that Eli was chosen to complete in the Math Olympics against other 3rd graders from Christian schools in Oregon. This event will take place in April. We are SO proud of Eli. He is an awesome 9 year old and has grown SO much this past year. Ayla is still enjoying being one of only 2 girls in her class and continues to make us laugh. She is such a little "woman".
Shane and I are still running the Personnel Department. We have really adjusted well to working together (literally) and we complement each other well (if I do say so!) with our giftings. Shane is definitely the pastoral care and leadership side of the department and I am the logistical/administrative side. I never thought that Shane and I would be able to live and work together like we are, but it is truly a blessing and I am so thankful for it. Shane also sits on the leadership team here at YWAM Salem and is the facilitator of the weekly meetings. Shane's leadership skills have grown leaps and bounds the past 2 years and we are so thankful for this time at YWAM Salem. We didn't completely understand why God had called us to stay here and make a 2 year commitment back in 2010 (after our CDTS), but now we look back and can clearly see the path of growth God has lead us down and the preparation we have had to move overseas and begin a new chapter in our journey. GOD IS GOOD.
This last week I have had the privilege of sitting in on the lecture of the DTS that is currently going on. The topic is "Worldview" and the speaker is Rick Thompson from Kona, Hawaii. It has been AMAZING. There have been so many things that have stuck out to me that I've wanted to share with people, so I thought I would give you a little synopsis of those things. I have heard many times, great people say, "I could never do what you are doing" or "You are way more spiritual than I am" or "My secular job is ... but my ministry is..."
Below is a copy of the notes I took during the lecture today. I think this is SO important for everyone to hear. As Christians, we are ALL missionaries and have a job to do (tell others about Jesus). Please don't think for a minute that what you do is not important if that is what God is calling you to do. If you are working in a place because of money but you don't necessarily believe that this is where God is telling you to "serve", then you need to ask God where HE wants you. I apologize for the awkward bullet points - I can't figure out how to make them look "normal" on here.
Romans 12:1-2
·
“Do not conform to the pattern of this
world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”… What does that
mean? What is the pattern of this world?
o The
pattern of this world is what you think (mind) and then what you do as a
result.
§
Ex: Sin
tree – if sin is a tree, then the fruit on the tree is the types of sin
(murder, lying, adultery, stealing, etc)
·
The Sin Tree is a result of the root cause (non-Biblical
thoughts/view).
· Ex: The root cause of abortion is the unbiblical
view on the value of human life.
§
The root system has to do with: Ideas, Thoughts,
Worldviews, Presupposition (assume to be true but cannot prove – FAITH), &
Philosophy.
·
These all have to do with the MIND. That is why
the Bible says we need to renew our minds.
·
Thoughts produce actions, Actions produce habits
and Habits produce either a life or death style.
§
Ex: Bible
tree – if the Bible is a tree, then the fruit would be peace, joy, love, etc.
o Your
thoughts will produce actions. Where are your thoughts coming from?
We do not have Christian minds. We go to church and then
when we go out into the world we function like everyone else does. This is why
so many people claim to be Christians but the pattern of our world is so far
off. The problem is because our minds do not have a Christian view. We have
fallen into the trap to believe that there is Spiritual versus Secular. This is NOT true. Everything is Spiritual – not just what goes on
within the 4 walls of the church.
·
As Christians, we use the word secular all the
time (secular music, secular jobs, etc).
·
What does the word secular mean? = void
of God
o The
non-Christian world believes that there is a distinction between spiritual
& secular and the “church” has bought into that.
§
Our culture calls it the separation of church
& state.
o We
have been influenced instead of being influential in our world
o There is no such thing as a secular world.
·
Psalm
24:1 – “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all
its people belong to him.”
·
If the Earth is the Lord’s, then what is the
“secular world” that isn’t God’s?
o There
is sin in our world, but there is NOTHING in this world that is void of God.
·
If the world and all its people belong to him,
then it’s not just Christians.
o This doesn’t
mean everyone is saved, but all are accountable to God.
·
The
Lordship of Jesus
o If
the Lordship of Jesus is an umbrella, what should the umbrella extend over?
EVERYTHING.
o The
Christian life is very simple – you are either in obedience to God or not in
obedience to God.
§
There is NOTHING
more spiritual than obeying God.
§
There is only one question a Christian needs to
ask – Is this the will of God?
·
If God wants you to flip burgers at McDonalds,
than that is spiritual b/c that is what God called you to do.
§
Your
ministry is what God calls you to do – regardless as to what that is.
Ministry does NOT only mean church related jobs.
§
“Full-time
Christian Ministry” is a ridiculous phrase. Are there part-time
Christians? As Christians, we are ALL called to full-time ministry wherever God
has called you to (Govt, Pastor, Teacher, Missionary, etc)
§
7 Spheres
of Society – Government, Media, Education, Family, Church, Arts &
Entertainment and Business & Commerce are ALL areas of ministries. They are
not void of God.
o Do not expect non-Christians to act like
Christians. We are called to be the Salt of the Earth… the Light of the
World. It’s not their (non-Christians) fault that our world is the way it is… it’s OUR fault
because we have abandon our job and handed it over to them. Now we blame the
non-Christians and separate ourselves from the various sphere’s of society.
·
*** MISSIONS
IS NOT GEOGRAPHY. “Missions” is anywhere
that God calls you to and what he
calls you to. ***
·
Mat 6:33
– Seek ye first the kingdom of God – whether that’s within the 4 walls of the
Church or outside. The whole world belongs to God and is open to us.
o Jonah
– sent to go tell people about God
o Daniel
– served the government and influenced those he worked with
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