Posts
Most folks send out Christmas greetings and a card for the
end of the year festivities. Since
I am currently unsure of what to tell folks in a generic letter, I thought I
would do so via a typical blog.
2014 has been a solid, up and down year, as most typically
are. My wife and I have grown and
learned a lot. The biggest
highlights would fall under the category of “God working--get out of His way.” In February, as Tonya and I were
helping YMI train students that were headed to the mission field, we found
ourselves with the opportunity to go on our first mission trip as a married couple. We were originally headed to Ukraine,
but obviously, with bombings and plane issues, we were rescheduled to South
Korea. While many will say, “the
mission trip changed my life,” I will merely say with a ton of enthusiasm, the
trip left a huge impact on my life.
I want students to go on these trips, to be prepared—thoroughly—by
training, bible study and fundraising.
I want to feel the physical exhaustion of helping another culture learn
the most about God and His word as possible. I want to take as many students from Glide on a mission trip
as possible. And I want to learn
more about my wife that I am unable to do so when in the states. There is something unique about being
on foreign soil that is hard to quantify or grasp unless you go. I am now one of those privileged few
that has seen God working in another country and am blown away by our great
Creator.
When it comes to ministry, again, an up and down year. But, with the UP, it has been WAY UP! In Awana, as leaders, we simply began the year with
prayer and one word on every leaders lips: Revival! When
looking at the Bible, almost every use of revival comes through God’s word, as
well as the literal power of God coming down upon an area or people. When reading Psalm 119, we can see that
only God’s Word will revive—bring to life—someone. Not programs, not cool furniture or a hip youth pastor. Only the power of God’s word! So, as Awana leaders, Tonya and I
simply served food once a month for the 6 months of Awana with the express
purpose of leaders praying for Revival.
That the Spirit of God would come down upon us as we worked with each
child, that the WORD would complete revive that dead soul and make it alive for
Christ. What happened? (Preface—I’m the first to say that
“numbers” for any church program can be manipulated or tweaked to mean whatever
or stay very ambiguous. However,
this was clearly God...) We had over
80% book completion, which our Awana missionary Ed Gossien will say, is nearly
unheard of. We had a physical
increase in attendance, as well as an increase in leader and parent
participation. My personal
favorite: we had 9 kids go to Awana camp in June, our highest margin by
far. Out of that, we have 3
students that have signed up to go on a mission trip through YMI. To quote Henry Blackaby, “there is
never a shortage of resources when the presence of God comes upon a
people.” We literally experienced
that this past Awana year.
Obviously, we are praying that the Lord would bless us this year, which
so far, He has. As I reflect on
this “event,” to think of a home filled with people praying for children,
parents and their salvation, I’m humbled and blessed to know and feel what the
early church felt like. They ate,
prayed and then got back out there for Jesus.
On a personal level (not like the other events are not
“personal," but I digress…), I was able to complete 2 more marathons with my
sister. I’m very blessed by her
willingness to give up her time (running and literal) for me, as well as train for a very different
and slow runner. While I did not
have issues staying hydrated as in races past, I did well in Tacoma, WA, but
not so well in Sacramento. So,
that can only mean, I have to try to do another one for a better time. Tonya and I continue to try to work out
and stay in shape as best we can.
We love playing basketball at the local high school with the teachers…it
has been great for relationship building with these students, to see them in a
different life.
Since I enjoy movies and reviewing them, I have to throw in
one final movie for the year, as well as a Top ten list and pet peeve about movies currently be promoted by Hollywood.
I’m not sure which, so I will do a combination of both.
First, The Hobbit.
I hate to say it, so I will ask:
Is anyone else sick of seeing Middle Earth? I mean, the first 3 films were solid and came out and made sense and then were
done. Since then, man, there have
been video games and posters and conferences and rumors….AND 3 more movies that
have very little to do with the quick, excellent novel called the Hobbit. In fact, while the movie is solid (you
will not regret going), I find something interesting going on in Hollywood
recently: Calling something one
thing, but adding way too much to it that the original would be insulted. For example, I took our youth group to
Noah and Exodus. The movies were
great for getting discussions going in regards to what the Bible (the actual manuscript from God) actually said. However, that is about it. They weren’t great films and by
deviating so much from the original material of the books, the movies were actually worst. Noah had a guy build a boat and he was
named Noah, but that is it when it comes to what Hollywood took from the
Bible. Same could be said of
Exodus, only worst. There was a
white guy name Mo- something, and
there were some plagues in it, but even that is pushing it. Why deviate so much from the
Bible? When it comes to the
Hobbit, why add so much more? I
mean, there were what, 4 major characters added to these films? I understand that Hollywood wants
money, but dang, this is pretty bad.
With that said, The Hobbit does a good job in all facets of action, CGI
and story to move things along that you won’t hate going, but the nerd or
purist in you will wonder, “Huh, this sure is long…I wonder why…” 3.5/5
My Top Ten movies of the year:
1—Despicable Me 2
2—How to Train your Dragon 2
3—Guardians of the Galaxy
4—The Equalizer
5—Captain America: Winter Solider
And to those who are still reading, hoping, with baited
breath, for my prediction for what will come, here it is: while 2015 will have ups and downs, as
all years do, there is one thing that will trump all: Tonya and I will be welcoming our first child into the world
sometime in August, thereby being the greatest present and gift we could ever
have. Here’s to the new year!
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