Foundations of Church Ministry

If you had asked me last week how excited I was for this class, I probably would have come up with some form of sarcastic comment, comparing it to rubbing a cheese grater across my forehead. But now, it seems almost as personally significant as Spiritual Formation. The first couple of days were pretty much what I expected; Talking and listening, and for the most part, about issues and concerns that I was already frustrated about in the church and with the congregation. My sense of bitterness definitely hindered me from taking in as much as I probably should have. All I could think about were the cynical, critical, and skeptical thoughts going through my head after everything David Lee said about the many different reasons why the church was in its current state of disrepair. I say disrepair because it seems to me that, for the most part, the issues in the church have to do with a lack of commitment to the foundations of individual faith . . . in my opinion. Wednesday changed everything. I still hold that opinion, but on Wednesday we took a spiritual gifts test. 5 main ones and 5 that can be worked on. I am of the opinion that spiritual gifts should not be talked about lightly,as to avoid somehow becoming arrogant in them. (Mom, if you would like to know, just email me! [wink, wink]) But this activity, for some reason, changed a lot about the way that I view myself. Although one of my gifts was strangely shocking and slightly discouraging, I was very encouraged. This activity installed a new sense of. . . not purpose exactly, more along the lines of a new resolution, a guide to living my life in a way that allows my purpose to become clear. Even though I know it is going to be very hard, I find it very encouraging, even in the face of this slight detriment. Even with this feeling of an impending doom, the concept of being fully aware of my purpose, and now knowing the means to get there, is a great encouragement. I still don't know what to do, but now I know how to do it. . . if that makes any sense to you!

This weekend we hosted the Men's retreat. Hmmmm. . . interesting. On the one hand, they seemed to consider us a five star resort; asking for pillows, extension cords, deserts to be brought to their rooms, and towels to be washed. . . okay, I made that last part up. But on the other hand, we got steak! t was great, but once again, not quite like mom used to make! But I do like steak. I was. . . privileged to be given. . . the great honor of serving in the dish pit. . . once again. It wasn't so bad this time though, because the volunteers were exceptional. We did have to kick butt every once in a while, but the dishes were done quick, the attitudes were great, we had fun, and the only person who was ever late was me. . . ya, I'm working on it, but for a weekend I thought I did pretty well! Tomorrow night is guys night, and we're going out camping at Mystic beach. Sounds H-core, I know. Soon enough I'll be snowboarding! I mean home. . . to see all of your. . . beautiful. . . smiling faces!. . . yeah. . . k. Until next time. . .

24/7 Week of Prayer

What to say? This past week has been one that will live on in the hearts and minds of most of the students here. We took part in a 24/7 week of prayer, in which we all signed up for an hour at a time everyday that we would spend in room 204 praying. What a week! Every one of us felt the difference of each day being given to God. Each one of us felt the impact of being so spiritually active ALL THE TIME! Don't get me wrong, this is a spiritual place. It is pretty easy to see God, and feel Him moving, but there is just something about this week! Something about being so immersed in the Spirit, forced or not, has created a rift between body and self. I feel different. Everyone feels something, whether this week was an encouragement week, or a week of intervention, or of praise. Myself, this week was like going 15 rounds in a boxing ring. I had the opportunity to share this analogy with my class as well. This week was a week of wrestling with God, of getting emotionally beat up, to the point where I dreaded going into that room, simply because I knew what was going to happen. In a strange way, I knew exactly what was happening. Have you ever had a deep tissue massage? No? Well, let me tell you that it could quite possibly be the most painful experience known to men (women have the joy of childbirth being the only superior pain). I have been aware for some time now, the kinks that have formed in my heart. Bitterness twisting and corrupting, anger festering and burning, self loathing infecting and blistering. All of these, ignored and pushed down as justified punishment, have turned into emotional knots. Here is where the deep tissue massage comes in. Very politely and respectfully, I was pounded and kneaded, and tossed around, for the sake of softening my heart. Though it is a work that is no where near completion, it was enough to show me that the foundation of a building is not a two step process (knock down, build up), but a constant process of maintenance, and precise engineering. My whole color scheme of faith has been rocked! I become so used to half black, half white, that I don't really know what to do with all this grey area! Hmmm, maybe that's next weeks lesson!

Unfortunately for me, I missed my youth group this Friday. I was signed up for the 7-8 slot that day. I hope they don't forget about me! What if they forget my name! It's hard enough to keep it straight as it is! Unbelievably, they can't seem to remember that I am not Josh! I know! I'm the only male who goes, and they can't even remember my name. Maybe I should change my name to "That-guy-who-always-gets-stabbed-with-pens"! They might remember my name then!

This week should be really good! It's Proff. David Lee's class, church ministry. We did a 5 page assignment, based on 9 readings that were written on the history of the church, and present struggles of the church, and biblical definitions of the church's purpose and so on. A lot of interesting questions came up, and I ma excited to see how this week plays out. Please keep that in your prayers.

I am very hesitant to put this in writing, but I feel compelled. I am currently dealing with a very difficult situation involving a girl from my youth. She is a doll, as sweet as can be, and I feel very responsible for her, a lot like an adopted sister. But recently she opened up to me about the hurt in her past, and it is heavy! She is looking for something different, a new way of like, something bigger and better, and we have had many many many conversations concerning God and the world. She has lost a lot of hope due to her pain caused by the world, and I try to make her see the love that I have been shown, but it takes a lot out of me. After every conversation we have, I am exhausted. Even over msn or facebook, I can feel the taint of the enemy's presence in our conversations. He has twisted her and broken her until she has lost hope in the world, lost hope of ever being healed, of ever being free from the pain, the list goes on and on. Please pray for both of us, that I would continue to seek God for the strength to continue to fight for her, and for her, that she might begin to fight past the enemy's grip on her, so that she can feel the love of the father, whole and complete. If [she] reads this, she will know who [she] is, and I beg forgiveness. But I want [her] to know that she is not alone any more. Within the community of the father, the body of Christ, we will lift her up in prayer, we will fight for her against the enemy, that we will not abandon her, as has happened so often before. Please join with me in this battle. I'm not really sure where all of that came from, but it just goes to show how passionate I am about this battle. Please keep her in your prayers. I could go on and on about this, but I think I have done enough. So, until next time...

Well, it is certainly not getting any easier to keep track of the Monday's around here. I am seriously running out of excuses too. Oh well. So, last week was a nice mix of panic and realization. I know! That never happens! Well, it worked like this: I would be in panic mode during the day, trying desperately to pull together a video presentation for that Friday, but then at night, I could sleep blissfully ignorant of all my responsibilities......that is until I remembered them from my sleep induced coma! Then the cycle would repeat its self. Though my immune system took a pretty big blow, I did manage to at least trick myself into feeling like I caught up on some sleep. It always good to be able to give yourself a false sense of security once in awhile.......Ya right! But I'll have you know that it got done, AND it got a 90% grade! So there! Not a lot happened when I was at home. I visited with the family, talked to some friends, played with my dog.....all in all, it was a very restful break. Short lived, but restful. I got back on the Wednesday night, as did most of the students. It was a good chance to go over our presentation with the group. Make sure that everyone knew their role, and responsibilities. Their responsibility? NOT TO LAUGH AT THE MOVIE OR POWER POINT! I know I looked ridiculous but I was just trying to get a good mark! It's just like Harmattan all over again! OK, since y'all have no idea what I'm talking about, I will give you a small taste. But please, be gentle. I have a delicate self respect as it is!

I know, I know. Never again! At least not until next time. Sorry mom. It was cold.

We went to a Warren Miller film. I know, I don't know who he is either, but hey! It's like a get out of school free card so whatevs! It was actually really sweet! It was a video on back country skiing and snow boarding.........the powder made me drool! I have a new passion in life! And no it is not wearing a fake moustache! It is riding copious amounts of powder! Or at least watching other people do it. Either one is good. But if I could do both then I would do the first one because it's a little bit more favorite, but if I can't then that's OK because the second one is my favorite anyways! But they're both good. Sorry, that was a little bit of Brian Regan for ya there. A recent discovery and yet an instant addiction. He is a christian stand up comedian and I just can't get enough of him! He is too funny. At least the skit that I have is.

We had a Senior High retreat this weekend, and I had the immeasurable honor of being named dish pit captain! Basically, that means that I get told what to do, do it, and take the heat when someone on my crew messes up. Yay fun! It ended up being pretty good, although I could have used a little more hustle out of the volunteers, but that's what they get for drafting rookies as first liners! It was a very long weekend, but if nothing else, it gave me a renewed appreciation for fresh air and green grass! All was not lost! And with that, I say adieu. Until next time...

Heyo. My internal calendar is so out of wack right now, I'm actually in pain! Apparently it's blogging time already which is weird because I swear I just did this yesterday! Anyways, to recap: last week I went caving! Definite awesome sauce! There's something about realizing that the slightest seismic shift or geo.....graphi....thermi....cuticle shift.....could make me a whole lot skinnier, just makes it that much more exciting! Sorry mom. I don't think I need to go into it more than that, considering the fact that you are already aware of my caving excursion. So, on the day after caving, we split into groups of three or four, packed up lunches and the old lost and found items from the summer, and set off for the streets of Victoria. I was in a strange state of mind going into it since I have had some experience with this kind of thing with my old youth group, doing street ministry in Calgary, Portland and Vancouver, and yet I was incredibly aware of my incapability's. The more I thought about what we were there to do, the more I felt that I couldn't do what was required of me. Talking to people who, in my very limited experience, do not enjoy talking to people who ask them questions like how they got there, what they were doing to "fix" themselves and so on? Ya, not really a strength of mine. Contrary to what Kaleo knows of me, I am very shy naturally. Therefore, it can be difficult for me to talk to unfriendly strangers unless I keep it tightly monitored. But it was good to pushed so far out of my comfort zone. My group talked to around ten people, and even though we didn't really get to sit down with anyone and really hash stuff out, it was nice to see the looks on some of their faces when we gave them their socks, or sleeping bag, or sandwich or whatever. Definitely worth the discomfort.

We had our second last Camp Ministry class as well. I am super excited for our project! We're making a video and....lets just say me, white wife beater, short shorts, a fake moustache, and an exercise video! I know! It's gonna be great! We also had the Junior high retreat last weekend. It was so cool to see so many kids running around who obviously knew what to expect and what to do. They were just a wave everywhere all the time! I worked for a little while during Saturday. I was in charge of the sport court, but it was pretty rainy so there wasn't much interest. But I am so thankful that they came to a place where they could be painted with love of God, even if just for a little while. This week is reading break, which is more accurately known as panic-and-do-as-much-work-as-possible week. Fun! Until next time....

G'day mate! How ya goin'? That's Auzzie for "Good Day friend! How are you doing?" Ya, I'm pickin it up pretty fast. Sorry for that randomness. I suppose it speaks for its self about how the past week has been. Utter night mare. I didn't get a whole lot done last week, so this week I had to finish 4 papers and a written assignment while completing my hermeneutics class, which requires a lot of homework and practice. So, final hours of sleep count for this entire past week: 31.......in six days! Ok mom, maybe its a little difficult for you understand, but that is ridiculous for me! In my head, I shouldn't even be alive! Ok ok, I shouldn't be functional. Which I'd say isn't too far off. But it got done, and I feel really good about the major paper. It was on what Proverbs teaches us about the heart. Right up my alley. I wrote mine on Proverbs 4:23, and 21:2 if you guys care to check that out. I had a hard time condensing it all into a 5 page paper though, so that might have been a little sketchy, but all in all I am very confident with it......that will probably only last until the day we get them back! Craziness for sure.



On Friday, we had a Halloween party at youth! Ridiculous fun! My costume was a little on the warm side but it was still awesome. I know what you're thinking, and yes; I did have a cape! Pretty sweet. We hung out for a bit, played loud music, ate candy, I got stabbed with a pencil, we played marshmallow games, a gross bean mush relay game, I got hit with a chair, and then we played fear factor. So gross! You know at carnivals, how they sometimes have that one both where people stick their arms into a hole and try to guess what it is? Ya, we did that, only if you got it wrong you had to eat it. Ya. Ya! I had to eat dried squid. I tasted like the way burnt hair smells! But all in all, it was good to at least have a turn out. I was worried that we wouldn't get very many kids, but we got about 10 or so, which is great! I can't help but feel thankful that the kid who stabbed me with the pencil was at least THERE to stab me!

Today we went caving. Like 200 meters into the side of a mountain! It was soooooooo cool! I couldn't help but try everything and anything! I got stuck going through a small gopher hole, accurately names the birth canal! Yes. Ya! Mmhmm, Yeah! So fun! Not at the time, but still. There was definitely a point where I was wondering how far the jaws of life could reach, or how much it would hurt to widen the passage (more like pin hole) with some C4. Not my most flattering moment for sure! Tomorrow we're taking all the lost and found stuff from the summer and going into downtown Victoria to give it away. I'm super excited and nervous at the same time. Pray that I don't mistake anyone for a homeless person......that would just be awkward! mmmmmmmm-k I'm out of here. Until next week.....

So I figured it would be a good idea to catch up on last week even though it was very short. I went to church! Yay!








Just kidding. I probably need to tell you a little bit more than that. So, I've been the driver for the Cowichan Lake crew for the last few weeks, though Lela did have to substitute for me while I was away. I'm not sure if I like that, since now I pretty much HAVE to be responsible. SICK! We have to pack 4 of us into this tiny little nissan truck. The back seat is so small that the two seats that are small in the first place, have to be turned sideways so that they can have enough leg room in the back. And by enough, I mean....un-enough.....ya....anyways, the drive out there is absolutely beautiful! The leaves are turning their typical BC golds and reds and there are maple trees all the way to Lake Cow. Oh and its a 40 minute drive! Maximum scenery, maximum discomfort! I feel like i need to say, "I am very thankful to be allowed the use of the nissan to be able to get to our ministry", so I will. I am very thankful to be allowed the use of the nissan to be able to get to our ministry. There. My conscience is sedated. We went to church on Sunday, and it was a typical Sunday at Cow Lake Baptist. What does that look like you ask? Well, let me tell you! First, we walk in. I know: simple, yet beautiful. Sometimes we use the back door, but it feels like cheating, so we usually use the front. It is a huge log building, with stained glass windows. Just F.Y.I. So, we walk in, and there is usually a greeter in the lobby, (by lobby, I mean the general area 15 feet from the door) and they give us our bulletins, and we make our way to our seats. We had a big turn out last Sunday.....44! So we usually have a big selection of seats to choose from. But we definitely own the left side! Its pretty much a super sonic barrier......us..........................................................them! Age difference: 102 years! Then we do some awesome old hymns, then the piano player does children's church! He brings all/both of the kinds to the front and tells them a story that is way over their heads. Then the pastor talks for around half an hour about something over MY head because it was aimed at the 90 year olds. Well that's all the complaining I have to do for this week, so until next time....

Hello all. Since my last post, my family and I have experienced a tremendous upheaval. It was unforeseen and inescapable. In all honesty it was the most trying and difficult time I have experienced as of yet. My grandpa passed away. I returned home to be with him in his last days and remained for the funeral. I lost not only my grandpa, but a role model, a mentor and, most importantly, my hero. The only person I can honestly say I wanted to be. His outstanding character and respectful nature made him stand out miles ahead of the pack, and yet he chose a quieter way of life. His genuine modesty made you feel like you were in the presence of royalty, just because of his majestic stature, and yet he would always look into that place in your eyes that made you realize that he valued you more than anything in that moment. I've heard a saying in these past few days. It was said of him and I agree. "He made you walk a little bit taller". I am privileged to have been able to know this man. I feel like i was watching Jesus walk around. He had a way of exclaiming his faith, without ever opening his mouth. This loss it great indeed. And yet all the while, I felt lifted up and encouraged by my family at Kaleo. It may be my most powerful experience with prayer to date. I could feel it. Like strong hands holding me above a waterfall. I was feeling the weight and pressure of the situation, but I knew that those hands would not let me be over come. They were constantly on my mind, and were constantly reminding me that I was on theirs. It feels strange to me that my most meaningful bonding time was not the SALTs trip, or surfing. It was in my absence. Right as I was leaving, they ambushed me in the lobby. I was attempting to be invisible and disappear, because that is how I have felt so far. Invisible. But they showered me with love and affection, and showed me that I was anything but invisible. I have never experienced such love outside of my own family before. It was very powerful. I know now why God did not intend for us to live alone. Because if we did, there would be no one to show us His love. My grandpa loved to work with his hands. He would spend hours and hours in his work shop, fiddling with his woodwork, until he perfected it. His favorite hobby mixed with his mentality of facing life inspired me to come up with my own little saying: "Face the unknown with a hammer and a chisel, ready to go to work". quiting is not an option and life is what you make it. Now, with the help of my grandpa and and the support of my family in Christ, I am ready for the unknown.