For the next weeks the youth group is taking a trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado! We will be working with a homeless ministry, taking time to explore and deepen our relationship with God, enjoying God's beautiful mountainous colorado, and attending the Desperation Conference!!!
I am excited to get some extended time with the youth!
I/We could use prayer in the following ways:
-fruitful conversation with the youth
- deepened relationship with Christ
- passion for Christ to be stirred in our hearts
- strength for my voice because it tends to get lost real easily on these things and I will be leading some worship times and talking with students quite a bit.
- strength for the leaders
- safe travels
- God's spirit to lead us in all we do
- homeless ministry
- anything else that God brings to mind
thank you so much!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Water = Death
So I went surfing for the first time this week and it was an insane experience. I really enjoyed it but it was TOUGH. the waves were about 3-5 feet in height and fairly turbulent. I got on my board ok and paddled out to where I could wait for some waves. After waiting a few minutes, a HUGE wave surged forward and THROTTLED me. I traveled really far quickly and I couldn't get to the surface for air. My board, which was attached to my foot, was dragging me along. i finally get up for air, but now I'm stuck in the "crash zone" where all the waves break. and i was being PELTED with more waves. after another wave struck me my board got behind me and got FLUNG forward and NAILED me in the back of the head. I'm just glad i wasn't knocked unconscious. But that didn't break my resolve. I fought the nasty waves and battled back out of the crash zone to catch another wave. I got tossed and turned some more and never got to stand up. I only was able to muster a few attempts. On one attempt I was able to at least body surf on top of a wave and it traveled so fast! it was exhilarating. i couldn't imagine standing up as well.
But as I was out there God gave me a revelation into some of his word. Psalm 42:7 came to mind:
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
I used to think that this was such a pleasant verse. God rushing over you. feeling peace and feeling calm. but it definitely isn't! water is violent! it can literally kill you. destroy you. suck you under and drown you. the guy who wrote this psalm was in some agony. his soul literally disturbed. i can see why he used waves as an image to describe his torment.
and now i can see why in baptism water represents our death. there were so many times out there surfing i wanted to give up. to surrender. and when we plunge into God's water we have to surrender. it is a spiritual death. it might hurt. it might be extremely difficult. probably will be. but on the other side is life. we get on top of that wave. when we die to ourselves, that's when Jesus can live through us.
Paul puts it well:
For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. (2 corinthians 4:11).
We must die to ourselves. And it just might be like surfing.
But as I was out there God gave me a revelation into some of his word. Psalm 42:7 came to mind:
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
I used to think that this was such a pleasant verse. God rushing over you. feeling peace and feeling calm. but it definitely isn't! water is violent! it can literally kill you. destroy you. suck you under and drown you. the guy who wrote this psalm was in some agony. his soul literally disturbed. i can see why he used waves as an image to describe his torment.
and now i can see why in baptism water represents our death. there were so many times out there surfing i wanted to give up. to surrender. and when we plunge into God's water we have to surrender. it is a spiritual death. it might hurt. it might be extremely difficult. probably will be. but on the other side is life. we get on top of that wave. when we die to ourselves, that's when Jesus can live through us.
Paul puts it well:
For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. (2 corinthians 4:11).
We must die to ourselves. And it just might be like surfing.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Fair Trade
So I was talking with laura last night about Fair Trade. It's crazy how many stores take advantage of people around the world. It is really unfair. But how possible is it to actually avoid it? I don't know what we can do. there are fair trade certified items, but one source I read says the producers only receive 10% of the increased price of these items. and others argue that fair trade attempts to establish a price floor for certain products, which would make for an increase in supply, and therefore lower prices on the goods.
do fair trade products even help? this is something i fairly uneducated about. here are a few sites with information i found the other night. let me know what you think and if you have any info and/or ideas, comments, questions. ect.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Hearing the Voice of God
Hearing God's voice can be a difficult thing. God talks in all sorts of ways. through people. through circumstances. through opportunities. through His Word. in our thoughts. sometimes audibly, although i have never experienced this.
Today, I had to make a decision to not do a planned event for the youth group. Why is that? Because I believe God told me not too. through another person and through my own personal prayer time and conviction. I admit, I partly wanted to do the initial event to do something exciting. To make it look like I actually did something on my internship. But it doesn't matter what my desires are and what my plans are. The Lord has to be behind it. And God is faithful. I ask him to close doors if I am not making the right decision. And he clearly spoke and closed the door on this fun summer event. Instead I think my efforts our best spent elsewhere. I hope to see a weekly worship gathering of students. non-advertised. I feel that this is the leading of the Lord and not my own. I'm grateful for the Lord's conviction. I chose one thing, but he made it evident he wasn't behind it. I'm thankful he lets us in on His plan.
Im grateful for this scriptural truth:
9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.
Today, I had to make a decision to not do a planned event for the youth group. Why is that? Because I believe God told me not too. through another person and through my own personal prayer time and conviction. I admit, I partly wanted to do the initial event to do something exciting. To make it look like I actually did something on my internship. But it doesn't matter what my desires are and what my plans are. The Lord has to be behind it. And God is faithful. I ask him to close doors if I am not making the right decision. And he clearly spoke and closed the door on this fun summer event. Instead I think my efforts our best spent elsewhere. I hope to see a weekly worship gathering of students. non-advertised. I feel that this is the leading of the Lord and not my own. I'm grateful for the Lord's conviction. I chose one thing, but he made it evident he wasn't behind it. I'm thankful he lets us in on His plan.
Im grateful for this scriptural truth:
Proverbs 16:9 (New International Version)
9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.
How do you hear God and know his will?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Awesome Sermon
I listened to a sermon my friend casey told me about. It pretty much captures everything i have been feeling about Christianity lately. I don't know exactly how it looks practically and I plan on plugging through the series and diving deeper.
Anyone that wants to hear a great message and/or follow this series with me the link is below:
http://www.brookhills.org/media/series/radical/
Anyone that wants to hear a great message and/or follow this series with me the link is below:
http://www.brookhills.org/media/series/radical/
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Busy But Great Week
This last week has been pretty awesome!
The past weekend was the busiest i've been since coming to hawaii. David and Kelsey were gone for the weekend and Andrew and I were in charge of planning and getting everything ready for Sunday.
On Friday we worked on getting things done for sunday and went to a sweet luau that a family in the church invited us too. We had some really interesting food. I enjoyed most of it : )
That night we had a few of the senior high guys spend the night at the church. we hung out, had snacks, watched a movie, played guitar, watched videos on youtube and just bonded with them. we became closer to them and we're just able to build the relationships up with them so it was great!
On Saturday finished getting things ready for sunday. then at night went to a surprise birthday party for joel lawson. we had so much food and i got to know a lot of people in the church better.
Sunday finally came. I spoke that morning. I talked about the importance of confession. and being vulnerable and honest. i talked out of 1 John 5-10.
we can make 3 lies when we are living in sin and they are a progression
1. we lie to others about our relationships with God 1 john 1:6
2. we lie to ourselves about it - 1 john 1:8
3. we call God a liar - 1 john 1:10
when we sin we want to cover it up so no one sees that about us. we lie to others about how we are doing. secondly we begin to even think what we are doing is ok. and lie to ourselves about. it seems the more you keep on sinning, the less conviction you have about it. you make up in your mind to feel ok about it so you can keep doing it. and thirdly, by saying that which is sin, to be ok, you call God's truth a lie and His word has no place in your life. it's a progression we want to avoid. confession is a big way to do that.
13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
that was the gist of the message. i had them write on cards a secret or a sin they have that they felt God was convicting them about and also to write down a person they could talk to about it. someone they trust.
after speaking on sunday. went back and rested for a bit. fundraised at walmart for the CO trip for an hour.
then at 630 we had a get-together with the youth. we played some amazing crazy games! steal the bacon with a fish! and a crazy relay!
we also worshipped together which was amazing. we didn't even have words on the screen and you could hear so many voices out in the crowd.
it was amazing to hear. there is a guy named justin on the team who told me he hadn't played in front of anyone in 7 or 8 years. and he played guitar and piano tonight. that is so amazing and praise to God! i'm so glad he was able to have confidence to do that and i pray in the future as he goes to college he will use his gifts and talents for the lord.
another guy named sam led a song it was great. he hadn't led in at least 6 months. and he did a great job.
on top of this we we're short a drummer. and i met a guy named Jonah who is amazing at drums the night before. and i was just praying about what we should do. and he walked up to the house we were staying at to drop something off! it was so cool.
overall the night was great. we bonded with students and worshipped together. praise the Lord.
thank you for your prayers and keeping up with me.
Much Love,
Nate
The past weekend was the busiest i've been since coming to hawaii. David and Kelsey were gone for the weekend and Andrew and I were in charge of planning and getting everything ready for Sunday.
On Friday we worked on getting things done for sunday and went to a sweet luau that a family in the church invited us too. We had some really interesting food. I enjoyed most of it : )
That night we had a few of the senior high guys spend the night at the church. we hung out, had snacks, watched a movie, played guitar, watched videos on youtube and just bonded with them. we became closer to them and we're just able to build the relationships up with them so it was great!
On Saturday finished getting things ready for sunday. then at night went to a surprise birthday party for joel lawson. we had so much food and i got to know a lot of people in the church better.
Sunday finally came. I spoke that morning. I talked about the importance of confession. and being vulnerable and honest. i talked out of 1 John 5-10.
we can make 3 lies when we are living in sin and they are a progression
1. we lie to others about our relationships with God 1 john 1:6
2. we lie to ourselves about it - 1 john 1:8
3. we call God a liar - 1 john 1:10
when we sin we want to cover it up so no one sees that about us. we lie to others about how we are doing. secondly we begin to even think what we are doing is ok. and lie to ourselves about. it seems the more you keep on sinning, the less conviction you have about it. you make up in your mind to feel ok about it so you can keep doing it. and thirdly, by saying that which is sin, to be ok, you call God's truth a lie and His word has no place in your life. it's a progression we want to avoid. confession is a big way to do that.
Proverbs 28:13 (New International Version)
13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
that was the gist of the message. i had them write on cards a secret or a sin they have that they felt God was convicting them about and also to write down a person they could talk to about it. someone they trust.
after speaking on sunday. went back and rested for a bit. fundraised at walmart for the CO trip for an hour.
then at 630 we had a get-together with the youth. we played some amazing crazy games! steal the bacon with a fish! and a crazy relay!
we also worshipped together which was amazing. we didn't even have words on the screen and you could hear so many voices out in the crowd.
it was amazing to hear. there is a guy named justin on the team who told me he hadn't played in front of anyone in 7 or 8 years. and he played guitar and piano tonight. that is so amazing and praise to God! i'm so glad he was able to have confidence to do that and i pray in the future as he goes to college he will use his gifts and talents for the lord.
another guy named sam led a song it was great. he hadn't led in at least 6 months. and he did a great job.
on top of this we we're short a drummer. and i met a guy named Jonah who is amazing at drums the night before. and i was just praying about what we should do. and he walked up to the house we were staying at to drop something off! it was so cool.
overall the night was great. we bonded with students and worshipped together. praise the Lord.
thank you for your prayers and keeping up with me.
Much Love,
Nate
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