Thoughts from Sunday Evening Message

What if we were the disciples and he asked us on the day of his crucifixion, "Follow me. Experience this with me." what if? would we? Would we want to go? Talk about fellowship as the first nail goes into His hands and He screams. then the first nail goes into yours and you scream all the while looking into each others eyes. Intimate Fellowship.




that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
v.10-11

message from Phil. 3:1-11

Another Class Journal

We attended the Islamic Center of San Diego on Tuesday evening with our EWI class. Here is my journal/form post from our visit.


I thoroughly enjoyed going to the mosque. Seeing first hand how the prayer works and hearing our "guide" Atah(?) overview the different things we've been learning be as well as expand on different ideas.

One thing that he said really stuck out to me. (not word for word but the gist...)

"The five prayers a day keep us from sinning, at least the big sins because we know that we are going to be going before Allah in a couple of hours."

This made me think. They have schedule prayers each day while we do not have schedules prayers we are called to "pray continuously" (1 Thes. 5:17) and to approach the throne with confidence (Heb 4:16)...but do we? We scoff at their five schedule prayers a day yet do we even in our liberty go to the Father about everything every part of every day? Do we even go to Him everyday? And I don't mean just before meals. Do we?

Then what of this idea of keeping from sinning? They realize they will be going before Allah and so they try not to sin yet we who are to come before Christ all the time and are no longer slaves to sin (Rom. 6:5-7) because of Christ, I think are all too flippant with knowing of God's grace.

Now I'm not saying this is true of all but I know this is true of myself at times. These are things that we need to be evaluating. Not judging the differences of Islam and Christ Followers, yes see the differences, but do not forget that these people are just as important to Christ as we so to simply judge, what love are we showing?

The difference is that they do not truly know Jesus Christ, the Savior. That's got to rattle us.

Modesty

We are taking an "Encountering the World of Islam" class and part of our homework is to reply to our readings and this is mine from this week.

It is because of modesty. I never understood the significance of the veils that the Muslim women wear but it is because of modesty. Something I'd admire about Muslims (generalization) is their commitment. The Quran speaks of modesty being an important virtue and therefore the women obey. I was once told by a man who worked with Muslims that the reason for the head coverings was to cover up their hair, their beauty and pride. Some even go to the extent of only having their eyes showing. Even men abiding by modesty. In "The Desert Rat: The Remarkable Story of Aileen Coleman" by Annette Adams, Adams speaks of a time when she is visting Aileen in Jordan and a middle eastern man came close to touching her but backed away quickly with his hands raised as if someone were shooting at him, saying that he didn't touch her. For in the Quran is says that a man may not touch a woman unless it is his mother, sister, or wife. Modesty is so highly valued.

When I think of modesty today in our culture, two thoughts run through my mind; 1800s and shame. By the 1800s I mean the era of "Pride and Prejudice" when there was etiquette in regards to many things but specifically when it came to interacting with the opposite sex and in presentation of oneself. but sadly over the years, for whatever reason we now think there is no need for etiquette and then to think modesty is key? ha. It is a sad realization and maybe I am looking at our culture with a pessimistic view but I think of the media. Movies: it is terribly hard to be able to go to a movie nowadays and not have some perverse humor, sex scenes, or women who are barely dressed. Music: songs without perverse messages are a rarity now. Internet: everything and anything. Even checking out in a grocery store there are magazines filled with pornographic images for all the world to see. Then there are girls, even Christ Followers, who don't see clothing their problem. It's the guys' fault if that's what they're thinking. But it's not just girls, guys have their own modesty issues.

When did lack of modesty become okay? Have we become desensitized to such things? I think we need to take a lesson in modesty from our Muslim neighbors.

Cultural Day

Every once in awhile our directors send us out on cultural days. They send us on a scavenger basically. Telling us places to go or information that we need to find. Today it was spend at least two hours at the cultural center, find the 4 statues, and get 50 pounds of beans at a market. To get to all these places take the local transportation, busses. "Here's a couple of bucks be back by the end of the day." Here's our adventure:

A short walk to the main street then an hour ride down town to Centro.


Then off the bus and onto finding the statues. The first statue we found...


yes, Abraham Lincon. Why in Mexico? We haven't figured that out yet but it is a cool statue of him.


Chatemoc (Indian chief) was the next statue and then two other guys who I forgot their names :]


Then we headed over to the Cultural Center where we found out that almost all of the exhibits (it was like a museum) were under construction...therefore we went to the IMAX hoping to spend our 2hrs watching "Sea Monsters" "Panda Adventure" or "The Alps" but no that was closed too. So we finally found the two exhibits that weren't closed. One on Buddhism and the other on modern art. they weren't allowing pictures inside so we only have pictures of the oustide.



Then for lunch we found a small cafe, pretty excited for our food because it was now about 2.


But it wasn't as good as we hoped...


Then down a couple of blocks, a quick stop at the best coffee shop, for our beans at the market. Then to find a bus and get back with our 50lbs of beans.




And it was suppose to rain all day but it never did except for the times we were inside buildings, Thanks God!

Celebration

It's the celebration of all celebrations, and I accepted my seat. This will be a great time of jubilee; when family from all around will come and take their seats. It will be a party that never ends, I just know well and plus I've been told that it will be this way, so I guess it's not just my "knowledge" but I just can't wait! It's one of those excitements and joys that I can't contain. Finally a time where we can all come together and 'differences' will be put aside forever. Normally at celebrations you are allowed your spouse or one other significant other but this time I was told to invite everyone! No gets left out!...well that is everyone has the invitation it's just a matter if they would accept it. I think I forgot to mention it is a wedding, and I'm the bride! But get this so are you, well again if you accept the invitation to be apart of the bride. Now I know this sounds a little nontraditional. The fact that I can be the bride and you can as well but this is no ordinary wedding this is the wedding of all weddings. With a Jewish wedding, so I've been told, there is a betrothal and then the husband-to-be return's to his father's house to prepare a room for his bride and once all is ready the man will again go to his father and then his father will say, "Go get your bride!" That is the same way that this wedding is working only it is the model for those weddings. Here let me explain for I think this might be confusing. The groom has been waiting for your response, on His knee so to speak, your whole life. He's been there wanting to begin this amazing relationship with you. For you to see how dearly He loves you. But like I said and like traditional for all weddings you must accept the offer and then follow through. Now I get to rejoice right now because I know many of you have accepted the offer and you are the bride along with me! How terribly exciting is it! But do you remember that when we accepted the offer He told us, "go out and tell everyone about my offer"? We get to be the inviters of the uninvited! We get to go out and declare this wonderful celebration...but I wonder why some of the Bride has lost site of this? As far as I know and have been told brides don't forget their wedding day. In fact the prepare and plan for such day but to sit back and relax expecting all will come into play? No, I've never heard of such thing; so why the case now? It's dumbfounding. But I guess that is the point of my excitement and little rambling today; to shake the memory of the bride and to stir up those who don't understand. I've been invited to the celebrations of all celebrations and I have the most amazing relationship ever imaginable so tell me how I am suppose to contain such joy and excitement?

Holiness

I continue to come around to this idea of holiness, being set apart. Last Night was was talking to one of my friends and we found ourselves once again discussing this and what the means.

Holiness being set apart for Christ. Christ is the only holy one and I as a Christ followers am to be following His examples and instruction. Christ was in the World but not of it as I am called to do the same. If it (activities, etc.) had nothing to do with furthering the Kingdom and ultimately the Father He had no part in it. Therefore the same again applies to me and i should be evaluating life ridding it of all things not pertaining to Christ. So again I come back to music. Something to simple yet so prevalent in my life. Based on those words would that not mean music that is not sung by Christ followers I should not listening to them? Then movies? and other things as well. I want to ask the question how far do I go but then shouldn't I more be saying what else so that I may be like Christ! And then others may say this is too liberal and you won't be able to witness to others because you are closing yourself off but now can that be true? When trying to follow the examples of Christ? Or is it that this is just "too" far? I'm here in the World but I am not of it. "To act is to believe, and to believe is to act."

Back in TJ

When I was home on break i was talking to one of my friends who was on staff during the summer. She said, "it would be hard to get adjusted to life home and then back here again" Now that I'm back I can say um yeah it is definitely hard. It's hard because all the staff members that I was on staff with for my six months are gone accept Travis will be returning soon. I'm trying not to be always referencing this is how it was and this is what happened with all the former staff with the new staff girl. especially with my whole life in the last six months being with all of them here and thats where I am now except without them all. One of my friend wrote me a really encouraging letter and in it she said something like, "love with everything you have and then more." and then our director's wife's favorite word intentionality. So i'm praying like crazy and trying to just be a great person for the new staff girl.

Towards the end of my time at home the last week or so I started feeling "normal" again, used to the culture and way of life, and was hesitant about coming back but then we had a Mexico service the last sunday night i was there. It was so encouraging to hear what the team members shared. Just how God changed their lives and the application they are now doing. Everything from the culture, a lot of the messages, their devotionals in the morning, etc. terribly encouraging just to see the impact caravan was having when they were there and then to see it in action as i've been here. And as I was listening to them speak it just made me want to return to Mexico with all the more intentionality and to see the impact that Caravan has and to know that I have been so blessed to be a part of what God is doing here. Just to be reminded that Caravan is where God has me and that not only do i get the privilege of working there but I know God has so much to teach me still and I am so stoked to see what that will be. God must have some large stretching to do in me