Team
We are just about to finish up week four and things are starting to get into a rhythm, team dynamics are getting settled, and it is time to avoid complacency and seek the Lord on what He has for us to do with a unified and authentic team. One possible idea which has presented is to have a prayer booth set up. Prayer booth - Sign stating "Prayer Booth" is placed in front of booth and those within the booth ask those who are passing by if they would like prayer. A simple way to just go out and be non-aggressively uncomfortable for the sake of the Gospel. We are going to pray about it until Sat night and see if it is something God is leading us into or just some idea.
- Please pray for our guidance and for the advancement of Christ and the Gospel in what ever we do.
Program
It is also a time where people are starting to put on their spiritual hawtness goggles. They are comparable to beer goggles. In this close spiritually focused environment, people naturally become more attractive to one another than normal. It has the possibility to distract peoples focus away from Christ and cause them to pore themselves into a member of the opposite gender.
- Would you please be praying for all members of the program to have self control and wait until after the program to pursue these desires.
Work
God continues to do business at work. Recently had a sweet convo about my history with Christ with one of my Jehovah's Witness co-workers. I expect and desire to hear more of her story. She seemed really interested in discussing spiritual matters. As we discussed another co-worker kept pausing near us like he was interested but wasn't comfortable enough to join in. I am excited to see what God continues to do there. He puts the words in my mouth as He did with Moses.
- Please pray for the Spirit to continue to move in me and for God to open the hearts and minds of those I am working with.
Me
There is a dumb stupid cartoon that I got hooked on by my, at the time 9 year old, cousin two years ago. I feel God calling me not to watch it at least for the remainder of the program and possibly forever. But in the midst of this call from God my sin nature and desire to disregard the call of God have been enhanced all the more. Through it I have realized that I would have picked the apple as Adam and Eve did so I have been learning much through this struggle. I feel God calling me to trust Him with this so He can do business in other areas. The show comes out on Thursday mornings at 8am. In my brief success until 4pm I already sensed God bringing up deeper sins, and yet I failed and watched the show. Man is fickle. I am a man and I suck and I need Christ.
- Please be praying for me to submit and gain victory against this idol.
Because of the blood of Christ and the Spirit's on going work in my life.
Jon
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Hey Brotholomew!
Brotholomew - The given nickname for Bart. Kinda went the other way on that one. My team really isn't into the whole brevity thing.
Iceberg - Phil's nick name. Why? I have no idea
Suga Ray - Ray's nickname, cause he is oh so sweet.
Andres - Andres' name, we have yet to pin one down for him
We are still working on a team name, but it will be here soon. The best we came up with is Team Barge, its an inside joke.
Work
God has continued to manifest Himself despite my inability and weakness. I have had spiritual or religion based conversations with a good portion of my co-workers, and have been blessed to be able to watch some of the World Cup with one guy from work. All I have really done is just shown up. I have not had to be super intentional with my conversation, it has just happened.
- Please pray for grace in my own speech. Eastern religions have come up in conversation and I have no frame of reference of how to respond to them.
- Please pray for depth of relationship with the guy I have been watching the world cup with.
Team
Another area where God is doing business despite my best efforts. Had a great time with the whole team out at dinner on Sunday. We are able to have a blast together while having out conversation salted with deeper subjects. My one on ones with all the guys this week have been good this week. Starting to relate with them all individually on a deeper level. I still don't know where God is going and what he desires. I feel my role is to keep us in motion and let Him direct us. Our current group direction is aimed and greater authenticity and intimacy with one another, sharing Christ with those in our social circles, encouraging one another towards Christ, and loving the homeless population.
- Please prayer for my identity as a servant to the men on the team. For that to be my focus and not leadership.
- Overall growth, that this would be more than just a fun summer, but a time where they are challenged and solid growth is instilled in them.
Homeless
Quick story - About 8 of us guys went down to Battery Park to watch the sunset over the lake. While we were hanging out a woman came up to us asking if she could just hang out with us for a bit and wait for a friend to show up. BTdub she was homeless. We obliged and said yes. She had immediately mentioned that she had been raped 3 days previous and just felt safer being around us. As a group of men we really had no idea how to respond or lover her. She had said it so nonchalant. That is so far outside of the realm of anything I have ever encountered. Her friend showed up after 5 min and she left. I realized later that we had spoken with her a few days before. There really is no point to my story. Only to demonstrate the hurt and pain within the homeless community. It causes me to think back to Isaiah 58:6-12
- Please pray for the many interactions we will have with the homeless. To love them well, feed them, and clothe them. To not look down upon them and help fulfill their deep human need to be known and love which we all share.
Myself
Currently not feeling the presence of the Lord. Could not explain why just know that it is true. My relationship is not based upon feeling though. I am called to wrestle for that blessing as Israel did.
- Pray that I would not loose focus on Christ despite my lack of feeling
Iceberg - Phil's nick name. Why? I have no idea
Suga Ray - Ray's nickname, cause he is oh so sweet.
Andres - Andres' name, we have yet to pin one down for him
We are still working on a team name, but it will be here soon. The best we came up with is Team Barge, its an inside joke.
Work
God has continued to manifest Himself despite my inability and weakness. I have had spiritual or religion based conversations with a good portion of my co-workers, and have been blessed to be able to watch some of the World Cup with one guy from work. All I have really done is just shown up. I have not had to be super intentional with my conversation, it has just happened.
- Please pray for grace in my own speech. Eastern religions have come up in conversation and I have no frame of reference of how to respond to them.
- Please pray for depth of relationship with the guy I have been watching the world cup with.
Team
Another area where God is doing business despite my best efforts. Had a great time with the whole team out at dinner on Sunday. We are able to have a blast together while having out conversation salted with deeper subjects. My one on ones with all the guys this week have been good this week. Starting to relate with them all individually on a deeper level. I still don't know where God is going and what he desires. I feel my role is to keep us in motion and let Him direct us. Our current group direction is aimed and greater authenticity and intimacy with one another, sharing Christ with those in our social circles, encouraging one another towards Christ, and loving the homeless population.
- Please prayer for my identity as a servant to the men on the team. For that to be my focus and not leadership.
- Overall growth, that this would be more than just a fun summer, but a time where they are challenged and solid growth is instilled in them.
Homeless
Quick story - About 8 of us guys went down to Battery Park to watch the sunset over the lake. While we were hanging out a woman came up to us asking if she could just hang out with us for a bit and wait for a friend to show up. BTdub she was homeless. We obliged and said yes. She had immediately mentioned that she had been raped 3 days previous and just felt safer being around us. As a group of men we really had no idea how to respond or lover her. She had said it so nonchalant. That is so far outside of the realm of anything I have ever encountered. Her friend showed up after 5 min and she left. I realized later that we had spoken with her a few days before. There really is no point to my story. Only to demonstrate the hurt and pain within the homeless community. It causes me to think back to Isaiah 58:6-12
- Please pray for the many interactions we will have with the homeless. To love them well, feed them, and clothe them. To not look down upon them and help fulfill their deep human need to be known and love which we all share.
Myself
Currently not feeling the presence of the Lord. Could not explain why just know that it is true. My relationship is not based upon feeling though. I am called to wrestle for that blessing as Israel did.
- Pray that I would not loose focus on Christ despite my lack of feeling
Monday, June 7, 2010
Getting so pitted!
Bueno,
God continues to ball it out!
Had some sweet time discussing spiritual matters and God with one of my co-workers this morning. I don't really know where it is going with her but I will continue to pray and hope that I can maintain my humble walk with God, not being overbearing but being gentle and heeding the Spirit's timing.
Also started to hit it off with another guy at work. He is playing as a drummer for a band in the Jazz festival which is going on this week in Burlington. I plan on taking a few guys to his show tomorrow. We also hit it off talking about soccer. World Cup baby! He invited me over to his house on Saturday to watch US play England! Should be a sweet time of fun and getting to build some bonds between us.
Had a conversation with a homeless man yesterday, approx age 50, don't know if he is the guy God wants our team to invest in but God is opening doors in the community on many fronts!
Had my first 1-1's today with 2 of the guys on my team. Excited to see where God takes us all this summer.
In the midst of all of this I am feeling rather distant from God. I can not explain why. It just merely is. Praise be to God that my lack of faith does not negate His faithfulness!
Prayer
- My two co-workers, for God to create comfort in our relationships and open up discussion about Christ and the Gospel
- Man in the homeless community for our team to pore into
- Encouragement of men on the team, some are facing suffering right now, that they would rejoice in it.
- Please pray Proverbs 3:5-6 on my behalf.
God continues to ball it out!
Had some sweet time discussing spiritual matters and God with one of my co-workers this morning. I don't really know where it is going with her but I will continue to pray and hope that I can maintain my humble walk with God, not being overbearing but being gentle and heeding the Spirit's timing.
Also started to hit it off with another guy at work. He is playing as a drummer for a band in the Jazz festival which is going on this week in Burlington. I plan on taking a few guys to his show tomorrow. We also hit it off talking about soccer. World Cup baby! He invited me over to his house on Saturday to watch US play England! Should be a sweet time of fun and getting to build some bonds between us.
Had a conversation with a homeless man yesterday, approx age 50, don't know if he is the guy God wants our team to invest in but God is opening doors in the community on many fronts!
Had my first 1-1's today with 2 of the guys on my team. Excited to see where God takes us all this summer.
In the midst of all of this I am feeling rather distant from God. I can not explain why. It just merely is. Praise be to God that my lack of faith does not negate His faithfulness!
Prayer
- My two co-workers, for God to create comfort in our relationships and open up discussion about Christ and the Gospel
- Man in the homeless community for our team to pore into
- Encouragement of men on the team, some are facing suffering right now, that they would rejoice in it.
- Please pray Proverbs 3:5-6 on my behalf.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
BOOSH!
GMS has been tremendous. The team leaders seem to all be on the same page and I really enjoy all of them and the different elements which they bring to the team. Been having regular times of encouragement and prayer together which have been much needed and I think necessary for us to be effectively serving our teams, so I love that everyone is on board.
Some would say my team is off the chain, others would say just plain awesome. You could go on but that would just be ridiculous. Point being I really enjoy Bart, Andres, Phil, and Ray. There has been a big push and prayer for authentic relations between us and I think God is making it happen. Before coming I was praying heavily for their to be a focus on evangelism in my team. Oh BOY did God answer! BOOSH! Two of my guys under very little encouragement basically went out on their own to go find homeless people to love on and somehow ended up at a drug rehab center talking to people. Praise God for being a stud and answering prayer.
Prayer
- For their to be a continued desire to share the Gospel and that I too would grow and be challenged in that area.
- Humility - I have done nothing. God has done everything
- Just pray without ceasing for your own benefit. How are you doing?
Your brother in Christ! A man who knows little trying to grasp at the pinky of Gods hand.
Some would say my team is off the chain, others would say just plain awesome. You could go on but that would just be ridiculous. Point being I really enjoy Bart, Andres, Phil, and Ray. There has been a big push and prayer for authentic relations between us and I think God is making it happen. Before coming I was praying heavily for their to be a focus on evangelism in my team. Oh BOY did God answer! BOOSH! Two of my guys under very little encouragement basically went out on their own to go find homeless people to love on and somehow ended up at a drug rehab center talking to people. Praise God for being a stud and answering prayer.
Prayer
- For their to be a continued desire to share the Gospel and that I too would grow and be challenged in that area.
- Humility - I have done nothing. God has done everything
- Just pray without ceasing for your own benefit. How are you doing?
Your brother in Christ! A man who knows little trying to grasp at the pinky of Gods hand.
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