The Willem

Nom Nom Nom

// October 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Life, Prayer, Reflection, Strongholds

Nom Nom Nom…nom…nomnomnom…. Consume. Gobble. Eat. Gorge. Nom. Suckle. Slurp. Slop. Sip. Nomnom. Feed thyself in whatever way possible. Over the last few months, I’m afraid I’ve become a consumer Christian: just shopping around for whatever church offers me the most. President John F. Kennedy once told America “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Seeing as how we are described as citizens of Heaven, doesn’t that mean we should be asking what we can do for our Kingdom, instead of asking what it can do for us?

Since I moved here, I haven’t been to the same church twice. Now, I know it’s normal to search around for what’s supposed to become your “home” church when you get to school, so the process isn’t as depressing as I make it out to be. However, the method I’ve been using disgusts me. I’ve been looking for whichever place is already established; where I’ll be able to simply come to be stimulated every Sunday. I instantly ruled out a church just because I didn’t like their style of worship. Another didn’t make the cut because of the annoying voice of the worship leader. I axed another because I thought the preacher was obnoxious. I liked the megachurch I visited, but I’m not sure if I liked it because of the style of worship, the preaching, the video announcements, all the opportunities available, or because I was with people I was comfortable with.

Over the last week, I’ve been struggling with where to call home. I ruled out the megachurch for various reasons, which for the time being will remain private. I’m down to the last two I visited. One is led by a man of great vision who is establishing the precedent for great things to come. The other is a seemingly dying hispanic church that seems entirely set in their ways. I know I would be useful to both. One is on the way up and I could learn a lot and be a part of something great and successful. The other is on the way down and I could be a part of something miraculous or disastrous. I really don’t know where I’m going. I’ll let you know in the morning, I suppose. Either way, where I go tomorrow is my new home. God will let me know.

Well…That was Revelatory

// September 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // I just started writing and..., Life, Perspectives, Prayer, Reflection

Ever have one of those prayer times where you’re just praying like crazy about something, and then the Holy Spirit smacks you with the “are you really so fervent about this that you would desire it before me…like you’re doing right now?”

…yeah…me neither. Not until today.

That turned into one of my top three most important and influential prayer times ever (1. Salvation 2. Holy Spirit Baptism 3. Today). I realized, for the first time, how thankful I was for all the blessings in my life, but how thankless I was for the blesser. I realized how much I desired to be godly and to act pious, but that I had never been capable of it because I had the improper motivation. I realized that I was putting good things (that God may indeed have planned for me…in HIS perfect timing) between myself the greatest good of all: God. I realized how selfishly I have been acting, in turn realizing how much of a hypocrite I’ve been, especially in my prayer times. Well, God laid it on me to fix it. Now.

After that, I spent time praising, worshiping, glorifying, and simply enjoying Him. Not His blessings. Not gifts. Not situations. Not promises. Him.

This awakened a passion in me for that which He has called me to (namely, Bulgaria and my college dorm: the two places I will minister most deeply in the next year).

I know I’m being rather vague about this whole thing, but I need to be right now. I just sacrificed something I’ve wanted for something I needed. It hurt. A lot. Spiritual surgery always does. But then, we are healthier for it. The Lord is our great physician, and we must trust Him in times like this.

Towards the end of my prayer time, I asked God what the next step was. I was led to 1st John, which brought me to this passage:

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1st Jn. 2:15-17 ESV)

I’m not going to break it down. I’ll simply admit that this whole entry is disjointed and very emotionally-driven. For now, it will have to do.

My Next Great Adventure

// September 16th, 2010 // No Comments » // Goals, Life, Prayer

Well, I’m settling in pretty nicely here at school…in Texas. I’m starting to get used to the heat,
but I’m not sure I’ll ever quite be used to the accents. Classes are great, my professors are
incredibly bright and caring, I’m making friends quickly, and even my roommates are a
blessing. I’m starting to find my way on campus and I’m getting involved with a couple
different activities, including helping to pioneer/plant a new church in town.

The biggest opportunity just hit tonight, though. I was just commissioned as the team leader
for a missions trip to Bulgaria this coming Summer. Over the coming weeks, I will get in touch
with the missionary we are working with, research Bulgarian culture and demography, find out
what type of ministries are already established and what we can and will do to help, recruit
team members, and plan and start fundraising efforts.

Here’s where you can help. The first thing this trip will need is prayer. Prayer for God’s blessing,
His financial provision, for divine favor in all aspects, and for His will to be clear to us (and
especially to me, as the leader). I also will probably have down moments where the world just
seems to be piling on and raising obstacles against this trip, so I will need occasional
encouragement in those times. I can’t promise I will stay in great contact with everyone
individually, but I will be updating Facebook notes and my blog pretty regularly concerning the
trip. Additionally, I will need fundraising ideas. I’m a pretty swell idea guy, and a great
researcher, but I can use all the help I can get with creative money-making projects. Finally, if
you want to make a direct monetary donation, get in touch with me.

Thanks so much everyone for your support throughout my adventures and for being as
wonderful a group of friends and family as I could ever have asked for. Love and blessings to all!