So much has gone on in the last little while and I've been at a point where I have grown tired of writing, attempting in vain to paint a picture of what this trip is like. I'd so much rather people come and see for themselves.
Today was a perfect example as I watched the sunset over Denali all I could do was shake my head in disbelief. I am still coming to terms with how beautiful it was.
Today was a perfect example as I watched the sunset over Denali all I could do was shake my head in disbelief. I am still coming to terms with how beautiful it was.
No words can describe things like this.
So I guess last time you heard from me I was in the Middle East roaming around looking at some cool places. My favorite country was Israel for sure. Almost everywhere you went there was something to remind you of all the Biblical stories. Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane, Mt of Olives, King David's city, Jericho, The dead sea, Hezekiah's tunnel...
A lot of the time I just kept imagining myself as a person watching the stories unfold.
My most memorable time was at the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before being crucified. I went up there alone to have some God time but met a bunch of hippies having a peace meeting of some sort, complete with tie dyed shirts and dreads. Anyway, one of them who suffered from some level of mental illness came up and loudly offered me some watermelon while they were chanting. A nice gesture despite the dirty hands. The head honcho approaches and gives me his card and a spiel about how they are all about peace and then clips the guy over the head for being loud. As I sat watching the sun go down and observing their peace-fest I saw him raise his hand again at the same guy who cowered away, clearly scared of being hit. I couldn't help but laugh to myself.
What a great way to bring about peace!
A few months later I heard these lyrics which reminded me of that time.
“You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace”
So, the middle east was great. I found out about a lot of places I didn't know and started reading a book on Biblical Archaeology...ask me about Manna in the desert sometime.
After the Middle East I was off to Canada where I caught up with Barry and Jarrod and helped out with the Seebaz cricket camps. My highlight was when one of the younger kids who was really enthusiastic (aka not very skillful) hit a four off the corner of his bat. Clearly using the full face of the bat was a little too easy!
It was so good to see Jarrod and Barry again and we spent time inventing ridiculous games and challenges such as “Extreme High” where you nominate 10 people for your partner to try to get a 'hi' from. One point for each verbal greeting...and yes you could pick people talking on the phone or walking beside their boyfriend!!
We set up a marquee in World Record time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6yJd6a7A-M
And played some CrickeTennis...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS9EK8lWfm4
Applause Addict
There is this run you can do just outside Vancouver called the Grouse Grind. It's an 800m climb straight up over about 2.5km. The fastest recorded time is around 25 minutes. I set myself a goal of 30 minutes knowing I would realistically have been happy with 40.
Aim for the stars and hit the moon trying right?
Wrong! Not long after I took off the past months of excess food and lack of exercise caught up with me and after 53 minutes of strain I was at the top a very disappointed man. What made it more disappointing was that Barry's two boys (8 and 9) were only six minutes behind me.
Once we were all at the top we rode the Gondola down and saw the best times displayed from different age groups. My addiction to comparing myself with others kept me looking at the screen as the categories flashed up.
20-29 year old males 25:40...
Under 12 Females 51:39...
13-19 Females 34:31...
With each passing screen came a blow to my pride, but none more powerful than seeing the 60-69 year old Females best time of 40 minutes and 21 seconds!
Needless to say I didn't feel too great after that but then I guess that reveals the huge flaw in basing your worth on your achievements or on something you are (or used to be) good at!
In fact, there are only two things that can come from comparing. Pride of Jealousy.
Pride if you are better than those around you or despair and jealousy if you aren't. Wow, what a miserable way of life I have chosen to take part in.
Alternatively. Depend on God.
I have determined to spend time reminding myself that all that I am and have has been created by God to be a reflection. I want to be free of this comparison curse. It rules so many things that I do!
I reckon it's going to be a long journey, kinda like teaching myself to throw with my opposite hand...I'll be very likely to return to my preferred hand because it's what I know, it's the one I've taught myself to rely on for as long as I can remember.
Alongside that comes the realisation that I need to pay more attention to my relationship with God. Seeings I am dependent on God so much more that i'd like to admit. Once again I need to realise and acknowledge my place in the world.
I see God being in control not like a puppet show but like a good classroom in which God is the teacher. Unlike a puppet show in the classroom students are free to make choices, but God is working it all out so that the overall plan for the class is achieved despite the bad choices of the students.
Two things have been helping me understand my dependence on God.
I've been for a few hikes recently where we have crossed boulder fields strewn with rocks that had come down in a landslide. I can clearly imagine myself lifting the biggest boulder I could muster. Then I picture someone who actually has muscles straining over a much bigger boulder! In fact, I imagine what the strongest person alive could lift. Up close it looks impressive but I am not up close, I have hiked a little past the boulder field and can see the whole thing.
Ha! It makes me chuckle when as I see them straining over a boulder that now looks more like a pebble when compared to the other massive rocks lying around it. It becomes even more funny when I consider the whole field of boulders that just sit there mocking this show of 'strength'.
On I hike to the top of a mountain only to find that the field of boulders has turned into nothing more than a speck as I look down...This illustration could go on but I can only just wrap my head around as is...Don't even get me started on stars!
Psalm 147:10 puts it well “The strength of a horse does not impress God; how puny in his sight is the strength of a man”
One more example of being dependent and secure in God's eyes rather than those around you has to come from Mark 15. This one truly blows me away.
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. A sign was fastened to the cross, announcing the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” Two criminals were crucified either side of him.
The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.
I can tell you now, I woulda been down off that cross so fast... I'll show you jerks a messiah!!
Ch_ _ ch.
What's missing? U R!!
I was speechless about a month ago after I left a church 3 weeks into a series titled 'I believe in Salvation'. The basic idea is to run the congregation through the basic tenets of salvation and what it means to be saved. “I believe in the assurance of salvation” was the 3rd one that really got me. It just seemed so individualistic and selfish to put that much emphasis on a salvation that I am to look forward to when I die while the world around us is falling to pieces.
I was numb at the end of the service and didn't even know what to do. It was a huge church so I stood around waiting to talk to the pastor hoping he would notice me. I followed him outside and waited around wondering what I was even going to say. I was at a complete loss but knew I needed to speak out if only to set my mind at ease.
I caught him out in the foyer and had a quick chat in which he told me he has never heard 'partnering with God' language in the Bible and both quoted and recommended me some books by John Piper. (Who I must also say hasn't written a book of the Bible!)
I didn't feel listened to, and all that was communicated was that I was in error and needed to do some more study until I saw things the way he did. I couldn't question the pastors intentions or sincerity but neither could I shake the feeling of numbness.
Psalm 147:10 puts it well “The strength of a horse does not impress God; how puny in his sight is the strength of a man”
One more example of being dependent and secure in God's eyes rather than those around you has to come from Mark 15. This one truly blows me away.
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. A sign was fastened to the cross, announcing the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” Two criminals were crucified either side of him.
The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.
I can tell you now, I woulda been down off that cross so fast... I'll show you jerks a messiah!!
Ch_ _ ch.
What's missing? U R!!
I was speechless about a month ago after I left a church 3 weeks into a series titled 'I believe in Salvation'. The basic idea is to run the congregation through the basic tenets of salvation and what it means to be saved. “I believe in the assurance of salvation” was the 3rd one that really got me. It just seemed so individualistic and selfish to put that much emphasis on a salvation that I am to look forward to when I die while the world around us is falling to pieces.
I was numb at the end of the service and didn't even know what to do. It was a huge church so I stood around waiting to talk to the pastor hoping he would notice me. I followed him outside and waited around wondering what I was even going to say. I was at a complete loss but knew I needed to speak out if only to set my mind at ease.
I caught him out in the foyer and had a quick chat in which he told me he has never heard 'partnering with God' language in the Bible and both quoted and recommended me some books by John Piper. (Who I must also say hasn't written a book of the Bible!)
I didn't feel listened to, and all that was communicated was that I was in error and needed to do some more study until I saw things the way he did. I couldn't question the pastors intentions or sincerity but neither could I shake the feeling of numbness.
Is this what church feels like sometimes?
I talked to Barry and Melissa about it (who did listen) and I guess I was coming to terms with the recognition that my faith no longer fits inside of a traditional church building. It seems there is so little I find in common (dare I say worthwhile) in the established church. To acknowledge that I don't belong anymore is a scary thought.
I've grown tired of hearing a theology based around 'heaven after you die'. It no longer inspires me, challenges me or gets me excited. What I am excited about is reclaiming salvation as a “way of life”. One we participate in now, by turning from (repenting) our sins and embracing God's way of life. I'd much rather go on a journey to bring about God's way of life now, than to wait around for heaven, whose ideals I'll practically ignore during this life but somehow enjoy for the rest of eternity!
I talked to Barry and Melissa about it (who did listen) and I guess I was coming to terms with the recognition that my faith no longer fits inside of a traditional church building. It seems there is so little I find in common (dare I say worthwhile) in the established church. To acknowledge that I don't belong anymore is a scary thought.
I've grown tired of hearing a theology based around 'heaven after you die'. It no longer inspires me, challenges me or gets me excited. What I am excited about is reclaiming salvation as a “way of life”. One we participate in now, by turning from (repenting) our sins and embracing God's way of life. I'd much rather go on a journey to bring about God's way of life now, than to wait around for heaven, whose ideals I'll practically ignore during this life but somehow enjoy for the rest of eternity!
Your Kingdom come, your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven.
More to come on that next time...
-Andrew-
