Box Office Theology!

I sat down to watch a movie that I expected to enjoy for it's action sequences but I wasn't expecting a profound thought to come from it. In fact, going into watching this movie I was pretty sure that it was devoid of any artistic quality or deep thoughts. The A-TEAM was a good movie one that I really enjoyed. For the most part I was correct in thinking that there wouldn't be anything that truly challenged my brain. 

But now a day or two later I was thinking back to the movie, I found myself thinking of one particular scene. The Col., played by Liam Neeson just stepped in front of a speeding car in the middle of the desert. He is trying to get to another soldier that is in a life and death situation; and it just so happens that the van he stepped out on was being driven by a fellow Ranger.  Sometime during this discussion he says "I don't believe in coincidence. I believe that no matter how random things may appear, there's still a plan."

I like this thought; no matter what our situation is GOD is in control. Though we may not be able to see the plan, it is there. God sets everything in place to get us where we need to be or get going or draw us back to Him. No matter how random it may appear; God has a direction for our lives. It is our duty to seek His face and to walk in faith on the path He has laid before us. Sometimes we get distracted or off course and much like the movie it is often a mission of dire importance that we must complete. 


I look back at the road to missions and it would appear to be a sequence of unconnected events. Random choices that my wife and I made. But each of those steps got us closer to the calling God had for us. Each of them individually couldn't be seen as a choice for missions, but looking back at the whole it is so obvious! I love it when God works this way in our lives, or as the Col. also said "I love it when a plan comes together!" 

Life Happens

It seems I have been praying for a lot of people this week; not that I usually do not, but this week I have had a ton of specific things to pray about:
* A friend is going through training at Avant
* An extended family members father is sick
* A couple that got the news they were hoping to not hear
* A family member of mine that is sick
* Our pastor was in the hospital - stroke (doing okay)
* A co-worker that has had a rough couple of weeks

It is during times like these that I wonder "how much more can life happen". Why is everything always so hard? Shouldn't God, who loves all of these people, make life easier for His followers?

The fact is we live in a sinful and fallen world; and Jesus himself said "while you are in this world you WILL have trouble; but take heart for I have overcome the world!" God in His perfect will uses our imperfect circumstance to show His Glory and perfection. He is our refuge and shelter and has promised to not leave us. But most days Life happens, when we can give God our praise when times are hardest is when we see the most growth in our relationship with Him; that is how I see Him work in my life!

So pray with me that my friends and family can give God all of their praise, even through tear soaked eyes!

New Year, New challenges!

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since we have chatted. During the holidays I just didn't have a lot of time to write, and for that I am sorry! We did have a great time spending time with family and friends trying to soak up every moment that we had with them, knowing that this season is quickly coming to an end as we look to go on our mission soon.

It was also an eventful 1st week to 2011 for our team. We were informed that one of the other couples that had been comissioned to serve with us was going to step away from our team; in order to accomplish some other personal goals before going overseas. This has brought up a mix of emotions for Renee and I. We were nervous, sad, dissapointed, and concerned for our friends and co-laborors. I had a chance to talk with the rest of our team mates, inculding the couple leaving; we were all working through similar feelings.

As I contemplated all these events, I began to pray a read scripture. I began asking God what He was planing. I was taken to a familar passage in Romans (coincedentaly) 5:3-5 says:
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

I love that we can rejoice or have glory in our sufferings, and while the loss of our team member is not what most would consider "suffering" it is never the less a loss for our team. And God is building into our team perseverance, character, and hope. So while I am saddend by this trial (as some texts translate suffering) I still have hope that God is building us up for His perfect will for our team. We can take joy in the fact that He is perfecting us and while that process can be painful, it is always for the better!