This last weekend was nuts. I had an all day class on Saturday (now i'm CPR certified), was a part of an ISP worship band, led music at my church on Sunday, and all of this was on top of the already INTENSIVE training that lasted from Friday night to Sunday evening.
The training was definitely intense. Some things we did:
- I had to literally beg for my dinner Saturday night. I was given a bowl of rice for me and 4 others to share, then we had to beg from the rich people who ate huge dinners at nice tables for food; only, they weren't allowed to give the beggars food. I was hungry: catch 22 as Michael Scott would say ...
- Sunday morning I was awakened by yelling leaders demanding we get dressed in 3 minutes and go outside for prayer. We couldn't even brush our teeth. As I walked outside I heard an Islamic call to prayer being sung ... I felt like I wasn't at CBU anymore. I was scared I would have to bow and pray to Allah. We were led in a prayer that Muslims would pray, only we prayed to Jesus (so I bowed).
- Sunday all the girls wore coverings over their heads. They couldn't walk in front of us guys, sit down before us, eat before we were served ... they couldn't even look at us. The guys were told not to look at the girls and that we would be making all decisions, and have to be served by the girls all day ... not bad huh? It was terrible. It was eye-opening. I felt like a jerk all day.
- I went to my church on Sunday ... I had to slip out of our training for a little while. I didn't feel American at church. It was weird. After worshiping God like different cultures do all weekend, I was forced back into American worship. There was literally a 2 minute transition from an Islamic church service (again, we worshiped Jesus) to an American Christian church service for me. Even though it hadn't been but a few hours into "Islamic day," I experienced culture shock going back into American church. It was more than a culture shock too ... it was spiritual shock. It kind of messed me up on Sunday when I was at church.
I'm super excited about my trip and my team now ... I can't wait for June.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Blogging
It’s been a while since I’ve posted …
I’m going to try to be more consistent with my blogging. I realized some of its benefits the other day:
1. you remember funny things that happened to you in the past
2. a couple of people may give some input or advice on any given situation
3. its basically journaling, which is a discipline I’d like to develop
So here’s my kick-off blog, the blog that starts my consistent blogging
This week was pretty rad. Here’s some highlights:
- Seek Week at school, it was the best seek week since I’ve been here.
- Voddie Bauchaum (sp?), he’s an amazing communicator – very intelligent apologetics teacher, using logic, scripture, and personal stories to educate and challenge
- Shane and Shane concert – traditionally my favorite musicians, they were awesome. They sing perfectly with ease, guitar skills that would make you salivate, and a heart to worship that makes a ‘concert’ church.
- Phil Wickham opened for the Shanes, he also is super good. I’ve had his CD in my car for the past month. Phil led me to the throne as well
- Meeting with Pastor Montia about my future at Mag. There is nothing set in stone, but it’s nice to be wanted still in the future. Things will be figured out closer to graduation
- Disneyland last night. Whitney and I went out for our Valentines day date because the 14th is a Wednesday and I’ll be at church. We ate at Tortilla Joe’s in the Downtown Disney walk then went into the park . Tortilla Joe’s was amazing – get the floutas – I inhaled them.
- I started reading “Deep Ministry in a Shallow World” its by Chap Clark and a woman … Kara something (its not in front of me at the moment). So far, so good. It’s all evaluating your ministry, constantly thinking about how to deepen it, its not a model of ministry, but a model of evaluating ministry. It’s nice to be reading for fun again.
Lowlights:
- for the past few weeks now our bedroom in the apartment has been smelling. It still smells
- today is laundry day
- starting an 8 pager at 11.30pm Wednesday night, it was due Thursday at 11am.
I’m going to try to be more consistent with my blogging. I realized some of its benefits the other day:
1. you remember funny things that happened to you in the past
2. a couple of people may give some input or advice on any given situation
3. its basically journaling, which is a discipline I’d like to develop
So here’s my kick-off blog, the blog that starts my consistent blogging
This week was pretty rad. Here’s some highlights:
- Seek Week at school, it was the best seek week since I’ve been here.
- Voddie Bauchaum (sp?), he’s an amazing communicator – very intelligent apologetics teacher, using logic, scripture, and personal stories to educate and challenge
- Shane and Shane concert – traditionally my favorite musicians, they were awesome. They sing perfectly with ease, guitar skills that would make you salivate, and a heart to worship that makes a ‘concert’ church.
- Phil Wickham opened for the Shanes, he also is super good. I’ve had his CD in my car for the past month. Phil led me to the throne as well
- Meeting with Pastor Montia about my future at Mag. There is nothing set in stone, but it’s nice to be wanted still in the future. Things will be figured out closer to graduation
- Disneyland last night. Whitney and I went out for our Valentines day date because the 14th is a Wednesday and I’ll be at church. We ate at Tortilla Joe’s in the Downtown Disney walk then went into the park . Tortilla Joe’s was amazing – get the floutas – I inhaled them.
- I started reading “Deep Ministry in a Shallow World” its by Chap Clark and a woman … Kara something (its not in front of me at the moment). So far, so good. It’s all evaluating your ministry, constantly thinking about how to deepen it, its not a model of ministry, but a model of evaluating ministry. It’s nice to be reading for fun again.
Lowlights:
- for the past few weeks now our bedroom in the apartment has been smelling. It still smells
- today is laundry day
- starting an 8 pager at 11.30pm Wednesday night, it was due Thursday at 11am.
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