tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24102381037112287732024-03-12T20:40:30.814-07:00My Year In AfricaJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-4544189304038524912012-12-10T12:41:00.001-08:002012-12-10T12:57:24.146-08:00Hedonism, Butterflies, and the Church-Camp High<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
So, in my time in the Bible belt, I have noticed a
phenomenon that I am only now beginning to understand: the church-camp high.
For the uninitiated amongst you, this is a common experience within the US
Christian church: an individual, usually in high school, goes with the youth
group at his church (see 1 below) to a gathering of other youth, usually at a
beach, for a week. During this week, this young man listens to 2-3 sermons (lectures
about Jesus and things related to Him) a day, sings worship songs to Jesus, spends
time with other Christians, and flirts with as many girls from other youth
groups as he possibly can. At many of these camps, on the last night, there is
an extended time of worship during which there is an invitation given to become
a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ. After this, there is a lot of singing.
I mean a lot of singing. Like an hour or more. And amazingly, hundreds of
otherwise ADD, hormone-crazed high-schoolers remain engaged the whole time. When
they return home, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most go one of two
directions. Either they are content to let that week stand as the climax of
their spiritual lives and reminisce over it like a 40 year old dreaming about
his “glory days” in high school athletics, or they become “church-camp/conference
addicts” who live from one week-long conference to another like drug addicts
looking for another hit. For years this phenomenon has baffled me, and I have
struggled to make peace with it. Today, something clicked.<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would like to pause here and say that what follows is
nothing new. Men much wiser and more eloquent have expressed these ideas before
(see Piper, John and Lewis, C.S.). I am writing about them because writing is a
good way for me to solidify things in my mind. That being said, onward we go…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why does this phenomenon exist, and why does it seem to
exist only in the church? Because that’s the way God made us, and it doesn’t,
respectively. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me address the second statement first: that this
phenomenon only exists in the church. This statement, simply put, is a lie that
church kids believe because they never step far enough outside of their
Christian bubble to interact (gasp!) with non-Christians. All of humanity
experiences this. For example (2) let’s take romance. Not the amazing,
sanctifying, Christ-reflecting, loving-when-you-would-rather-walk-away, only-clearly-embodied-in-marriage
kind of romance. I mean puppy-love, first-kiss, holding-hands romance. We have
all been there. It’s a great place to be. Here’s the problem: it passes. It goes
away and it invariably leaves us wanting more. But even that topic is too
broad, so let’s zoom in further: the first kiss. It’s great. There is a reason that
there are days of music on iTunes devoted to this single moment of a
relationship. Contained within is a rush of adrenaline and endorphins that is
rarely paralleled in human experience. What’s more, it’s good. I mean Divinely
good. God created it. Romance, kissing, and (brace yourselves) even sex are
God’s creation. He made them, and He made them to be as pleasurable as they are
(if not more pleasurable…but no time for that discussion now). Sex is a
pre-Fall activity. Let that sink in. The problem comes in when we try to make
these activities gods, take them out of their God-given limits, and return to
them over and over to satisfy our souls. I’ll explain. We feel that rush of
adrenaline and endorphins associated with the first kiss, and we are
satisfied…temporarily. That feeling doesn’t last, so we go back for a second
kiss, only this time isn’t quite as good as the first. Next, we put our hands
where they don’t belong. This gives us a pretty great rush, but that fades too,
so we start removing clothing…and on and on it goes. Eventually it ends in
regret, addiction, dependency, and a string of broken hearts and
relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why? Because we found
something that, for a moment, satisfied the longing in our souls, so we made it
the thing around which we based our lives (which is called worship, by the way)
and we lived for the next “hit” so to speak. The problem is, it failed, and
down with it crashed our lives. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now to answer the second question: Why does this phenomenon
exist? Let me answer the bigger question, and I will answer the smaller
question in the process. The bigger question is not “why does the church-camp high
exist,” but rather, “why do the church-camp high, the first-kiss high, and all
the other momentary highs in life exist? And why the let-down afterwards? And
why the longing within our hearts to return to that moment in time?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer: because we were created that way.
We were made to experience immense love, pleasure, intimacy, and joy. We were
made to feel swept up in something bigger than ourselves, to feel overwhelmed
by a thing we can’t control. This experience is intrinsically good, but only if
it leads to its God-intended end. You see, we stop short. Whether it’s
returning in our minds to a Florida convention center or the hood of a pick-up
truck under the stars, we (as C.S. Lewis would say) are far too easily pleased.
We revel in the experience as if that was the end in itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s not. It is the first step on a path
the leads to the Substance of which it is only a shadow. We were made for God,
and nothing else will do. As I said before, God made kissing, relationships,
sex, sermons, beaches, and music. And He made them out of His own character and
imagination. They reflect Him and they point to Him (3). That initial taste was
meant to prime our desires, not satiate them. We were created to go, “that
created thing was good…God created it…I bet relationship with Him is more epic,
awesome, satisfying, and fulfilling than that experience…That sounds good…I’ll
have that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we don’t. Instead we act
like fools, and we return to the moment of experience rather than its source. Let
me use another relationship example to drive home my point. Our reaction to
pleasure and to experiences of God is like meeting an incredible girl in a
coffee shop, going out on an epic date, getting her number, then instead of
calling her for another date, going back to the coffee shop in hopes of getting
that same experience all over again. We have access to the “source of our joy,”
so to speak, but instead we return the vehicle through which the joy came. It’s
foolish, but it is fallen human nature, and we do it all the time. Instead of
turning and worshiping God, we worship the thing He made.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now to the big point: relationship with the God that created
us is, in the end, the ultimate fulfillment of every (holy) longing and craving
that we find within our souls, and that relationship is only found through
Jesus Christ, not any created thing (4). So, if we would be true Hedonists and
not just “lazy, half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex, when
true pleasure if offered us,” we would go to the Source of the pleasure, and
not just our first brush with it. If you are a church kid, you know how this
works. If not, it works by accepting Christ’s offer of letting His death pay
for your sins, His life stand as your righteousness, and His Sonship replace
your rebellion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means entering into a
relationship with the God of the Universe and following His Son wherever He
would lead you (that’s a daily thing, not a one-time-at-church-camp thing, by
the way). May we have the wisdom know what is true Pleasure-seeking, and the
courage to lose our selves in its finding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christ, let us find You amidst our pleasure and joy, and
even more so in our suffering. Amen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I am going to use the male pronoun here because
at no point do I even want to imply that I understand the inner workings of the
female mind at any stage of life, let alone high-school…it is a wonderful
thing, don’t get me wrong…I just don’t understand it</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Note: if you kissed dating goodbye, feel free to
skip this paragraph and avoid the scandal within </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>What is amazing is that the creation I have
listed only reflect a miniscule part of Him. In the account of creation,
male-female romantic relationship, which Hollywood would have us make the crux
of our entire lives, only gets about two lines…but back to the point at hand</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>An interesting fact about created things: they
give us a glimpse into the character and attributes of their Creator. If a
created thing is pleasurable, wouldn’t that seem to imply that the Creator
values pleasure? Or, if the created thing is beautiful, doesn’t that imply that
the Creator values beauty? Not only that, if He can create that finite beauty
or pleasure, wouldn’t it be fair to assume that He can create things that are
even more beautiful and pleasurable, or that within Himself is a limitless
store of pleasure and beauty from which the created things spring? Let that
blow your mind for a minute. Maybe we should worship Him instead of the stuff
He creates. Just a thought</div>
Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-88533188392022588612012-11-17T08:00:00.001-08:002012-11-17T08:07:09.574-08:00Identity<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
There are many things that make the
Gospel the “good news.” The one with which I have struggled often and with
varying degrees of success is that of identity. Why is this important, you
might ask? Let me answer your question Socrates style: is it not? Is it not
true that your whole life up until now (unless you have grasped this aspect of
the Gospel) has been spent trying to establish you identity? No? Ok, well then,
I guess I will just talk about myself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Recently I have been surprised with
how insecure I am. At a simple word or gesture, I have felt my whole being
called into question. Am I really a good doctor/medical student? Do I really
love Jesus? Do I really have what it takes to be a surgeon? Do people even
really like me, or are they just putting up a front? Is my life going to mean
anything in the end, or am I spinning my wheels and taking up oxygen? These are
the kinds of questions that can crush a person. I know. I have felt their
weight bearing down on me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the truth
is, I don’t have the answers, and neither do you. All this new-age “look inside
yourself for the meaning of your life and who you are meant to be” is, in the
end, hollow hallmark-card fluff. Why? Not because it’s not a nice idea, but because
it crumbles under the weight of reality. If I look inside myself to find my
meaning, all I really find are those same questions glaring back at me. Those
questions came from inside of me. How can I go to the same place to find their
answers? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
We have to look outside of
ourselves. We all intrinsically know this, and unfortunately, this is where
most of us get into trouble. Step one: look outside of myself to find out who I
am—check. Step two: where to look—uh-oh. We don’t know, so we just start
guessing. Maybe if I become a world-famous fill-in-the-blank. If random
strangers know my name, that will give me an identity, right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe if I get married then my wife will tell
me who I am. Yeah, that’s it. Or maybe if my kids become professional athletes.
Oh, I’ve got it. Maybe I will work 90 hours a week to impress a bunch of people
I don’t really like to get a position I don’t really want to make a bunch of
money I won’t have the time or energy to spend. No? Then I’ll just go out, get
drunk, and have sex. That’ll definitely give me an identity (it will, by the
way…just not one you would want to talk about in front of you grandma). For me,
it looks like this: “maybe if everyone likes me, I become a surgeon from a good
academic program, I get an attractive, witty wife, and I do a bunch of
spiritual/humanitarian stuff for the rest of my life, maybe then I will be
happy and fulfilled and I will earn God and everyone else’s love. Maybe then I
will be somebody” I’m not saying any of those things are bad (you know, except
the getting drunk, sleeping around, idolizing your wife…actually, nevermind…some
of those things are definitely bad) it’s just that they will not provide the
identity you or I are looking for. In fact, looking for your identity in each
of those things will wreck you, and if those things are people, you will crush them.
Wanna know why? Because they were never meant to hold the weight of you
identity. It is simply too heavy. Why do you think it is that people get
married and divorced so often in our culture? Why do famous people with
beautiful wives and beautiful lives commit suicide? Could it be because those
things simply do not give us meaning? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I know I’m not really blazing any
new trails here, but the point is important: if we can’t find identity within
ourselves, and we can’t find it in the people and activities around us, where
then is it to be found? The answer: as an adopted child of the Living God. That
answer too churchy for you? Too bad. Have fun trying those other options. You
see, the reality is that the weight of our identity is eternal. That’s why no
finite thing can bear it. You are going to live forever, like it or not.
Everything on this earth ends in 80 years, give or take. Is it really a wonder
that we find them so…limited? We were created. You may not like that fact, but
it’s true. We are not the Eternal Creator. Therefore, we cannot find our created
identity outside of the One who created it. We weren’t meant to define our own
identity. That’s why we cause train wrecks every time we try our hand at it. I
wasn’t created to be a surgeon. God wasn’t sitting up in Heaven thinking, “You
know what I need…another guy who finds ultimate joy and fulfillment in cutting holes
in my creation.” He just wasn’t. That’s why I feel so insecure when I try to
put my identity in that: it is, by definition, not secure. I could loose both
my hands tomorrow. What then? I would have no identity. Yet this is how most of
us live our lives, Christians and Non-Christians alike. We seek to be defined
by what we do and what we have here and now. God invites us in the Gospel to be
defined by what He did and what we have in Him. The difference is subtle, but
important. On the one hand, we can put an eternal weight on a finite support,
resulting in the chaos and destruction of ourselves and said support when it
(inevitably) collapses, or, we can put an eternal weight on an eternal support,
and find that it is safe and secure, with no risk of failing or faltering. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In my adoption into God’s family, I
am safe to say that no matter what my life comes to, no matter if I get married
or die single, no matter if I become a world-renown missionary or a quadriplegic,
who I am and who I am loved and accepted by remains unchanged. I will receive
God’s love and acceptance, not because of how awesome I am, but because of
Christ’s finished work on the cross, unchangeable and eternal. I was adopted
when I was an orphan and an enemy, and it was Him that adopted me. He picked
me, not the other way around. If He picked me, He has already said all I need
to know about who I am and what my worth is. This is a hope from which life can
spring. If you don’t define who I am, I am free from needing to manipulate you
to make me feel worthwhile. If where I do my residency doesn’t define
who I am, then I am free to love the people I work with rather than trying to
tear them down so I can get ahead and build my resume. And if my performance
doesn’t define who I am, I am free to spend my life loving God instead of
trying to prove to Him that I deserve His love. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This is the hope of the Gospel: we
can stop seeking our own identity, leaving behind us a trail of broken hearts
and lives, and start seeking His Kingdom and His Glory, which will bring us the
identity that we sought in the first place. May we have the courage to cast our
faith on the Rock, even when we are sure it will shatter us in the process.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In Christ alone, my hope is found</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He is my light, my strength, my
song</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This cornerstone, this solid ground</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Firm through the fiercest drought
and storm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
What heights of love, what depths
of peace</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
When fears are stilled, when
strivings cease</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My Comforter, my All-in-All</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Here in the love of Christ I stand</div>
Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-15283869490525330442012-09-19T10:57:00.002-07:002012-09-19T10:57:44.157-07:00Thoughts on Support Raising<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thoughts on Support Raising (at the request of my sending church, Port City Community Church)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Please allow me to preface this by
saying that I am in no way qualified to be an authority on support raising. I
am simply one individual who has had a few different experiences. I have been
on four mission trips, ranging from ten days to nine months. I raised support
for all but one of these trips (the ten day trip to Kenya). So take the words
that follow for what they are: the musings of a 25 year old would-be
missionary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I would also like to begin this
essay by saying that I have not always loved the idea of support raising. Let’s
be honest: I don’t like asking people for money. It feels awkward. Not only
that, I come from a family and a profession where I could easily pay for the
trips myself, either through cash on hand or through loans. Why burden others?
God has already provided, I tell myself. In the end, if I can be honest, my
real reason for trying to avoid support raising is pride. I don’t want to have
to admit I needed anything. I don’t want to feel responsible to anyone. I don’t
want to have to put myself at the mercy of others. I want to be my own master.
This is the very heart of pride. The sooner you and I can put this sin to
death, the better off we will be. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, with that said, why raise support?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Prayer</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
The first reason for support
raising is to gain a prayer base. I assume you are reading this because you are
going on a Christian mission trip. If that is true, then you are going to do
the Lord’s work. As such, you are going to do a work that, ironically, you are
unable to do. That’s because it isn’t your work. It is the Lord’s. You are
simply following His calling to join Him in it. In the end, the success or
failure of the work rests not in your hands, but in His. You cannot save anyone.
Not only that, but there is an Opposition who would prefer that your trip, and
the Lord’s work, fail miserably. And this Opposition is not a theoretical idea,
but rather a powerful force that has already led a rebellion on a celestial
scale. He is not greater than, or even equal to, Christ, but he has power
none-the-less. Thus, you need all the help you can get. This is where prayer
comes in. I am not in any sense of the word a theologian, nor do I understand
how exactly it is that prayer works, only that it does. Throughout the Old and
New Testament, you can see countless examples of the power and value of prayer.
Talking with many missionaries has only reinforced this fact. I would venture
so far as to say that the building of your prayer base is the single most
important factor, outside of your own relationship and obedience to Christ, in
determining the success of your trip. I don’t have any scripture to back this
claim, so please take it with a grain of salt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just know that many missionaries would support it.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Partnership</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
It’s not just about you. Hard
words to hear, but they’re true. The trip the Lord has called you to take is
first about His glory, and secondly, about the people He is calling you to
serve. It is easy to think that this only includes the people at your
destination. It doesn’t. There are people you are already in contact with that
the Lord is calling you to serve. How? I’m glad you asked. There are countless
Believers you already know who love Jesus and want to see His Kingdom furthered
across the globe. They see the same hurt, pain, disease, and brokenness that
you see. Only they, for reasons over which God alone is sovereign, cannot go.
That is where you come in. You are going to address the needs that they see.
You are going to the places that their hearts hurt for. They know and trust
you. Invite them to partner with you. Take them with you through prayer
letters, blogs, and email updates. Show them the needs that their prayer and
their resources can help address. You have no idea how badly people who have
been changed by Jesus want to partner with you. They are just waiting for you
to ask. Don’t rob them of the blessing of doing the Lord’s work by letting your
pride keep you from asking them to join your team.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Community</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
I love people. I love meeting new
people, and I love catching up with old friends. I recognize that not everyone
is built the way I am, but everyone has relationships. Support raising is an
excellent opportunity to form new partnerships, strengthen existing relationships,
and revive old friendships that have grown cold from distance and time. I
cannot tell you how many amazing conversations I had with people who had either
been mere acquaintances or with whom I had grown apart, as a result of the
support raising process. It gave me an excuse to invite them to dinner, take
them out for coffee, shoot them a facebook message, or give them a call. It
allowed me to hear about their dreams, their lives, and how the Lord had been
at work since I had seen them last. Caveat here: if you are only looking to
these people for their money, forget everything I have just said. Support
raising will be a miserable experience for you. If, however, you are looking to
form a team of co-laboring friends who will partner with you in your work, then
I can assure you that the Lord is faithful. He will provide. And you will be
blown away as you watch people step up in big ways that you could have never
anticipated. And, as a bonus, you will likely walk away from the whole
experience with deeper, richer friendships then you had when you began.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Calling</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
This one is probably the scariest
of them all. It is the real reason why I was so afraid to raise support in the
beginning. You see, raising support puts the trip firmly into God’s hands to
give the final ok. If the funds come in, you can be more confident that the
trip really is part of the Lord’s plan for your life. On the other hand, if the
funds don’t come in, it requires you to take a long hard look at whether the
trip was the Lord’s idea or yours. I, for one, don’t like giving up that
control. But, if you can overcome the hurdles of pride and fear, the end result
is quite wonderful. The confidence that the Lord raised funds you could have
never raised gives a sense of peace that is priceless when things get tough on
the field and you start doubting whether you should be there at all. Not only
that, but you have a collection of people who have affirmed your call (and
continue to do so) by giving of their own resources. These people often provide
the reaffirmation of that call through email and phone conversations at times
when it is most desperately needed. This support alone is worth all the
awkwardness and inconvenience that support raising can bring. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
To conclude, raise support. Just
do it. Stop making excuses. Don’t give in to the faux-noble temptation to “not
burden others.” You are going to the front lines of a war for the eternal
destiny of souls. You need cover. You need support. You need a team around you
when things get tough (and by the way, they will get tough). You need
encouragers to remind you why you volunteered for this in the first place. You
want those people to be invested. Christ made it clear, “where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.” And you want people’s hearts with you,
because where their hearts are, their prayers will be also. Those prayers are
invaluable. You are doing what you as an individual, and we as the Church, have
been created to do. Go do it, but don’t forget to take others along with you.
Remember that it is the Lord who goes before you. Godspeed.</div>
Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-89021654849606240372012-09-01T07:11:00.001-07:002012-09-01T07:11:48.521-07:00Quick and Dirty UpdateSo, I had dreams of writing this great blog post to summarize my two weeks here at Galmi, then I got a viral upper respiratory infection (aka a cold)...then it became a viral GI infection (I think you know the kind I mean). So, instead, a list in no particular order:<br />
<br />
1. We flew from Niamey to Galmi two weeks ago in a little six-seater plane. It was wonderful. This is by far the best way to be introduced to a new land.<br />
<br />
2. I arrived in Galmi, and immediately was taken to my apartment. It is bigger than my apartment in Greenville, NC. This fact does not upset me.<br />
<br />
3. I began work in the hospital a few days later. This consists of rounding at 7:30 am on the 25 or so patients that the surgeon I am working with, Dr. Starke, has on his list. Around 8:30 we go to "La Bloc," which is the OR. There are two surgeons here: Dr. Starke and Dr. Sannoussi. One operates the whole day, and one operates till lunch. I usually assist Dr. Starke the whole day or until he leaves, then if there are more cases, I will stay and do those with Dr. Sannousi. We generally do between 4 and 8 cases including every area of surgery except neurosurgery. A list from my first day goes as follows:<br />
<br />
C-section<br />
Perforated Typhoid Repair<br />
Perforated Peptic Ulcer Repair<br />
Ex-Lap revealing Tuberculosis Peritonitis<br />
Removal of a Axillary Cystic Hygroma (Wikipedia it)<br />
<br />
This is a pretty standard day. We usually finish around 2 or 3 pm, at which time we break for lunch, and return to the outpatient department to do outpatient clinic until everyone is seen (usually around 6 or 7 pm). This is the schedule 5 days per week. So far I have had the weekends off. Last weekend we rode camels through town and took a hike to a village about an hour away. Soon I will start taking every third night call and working weekends. This will limit my dream of becoming a professional camel rider, I think.<br />
<br />
4. It is really hot here, though there have been days where it rained, which cools things down. It is generally somewhere between 85 and 95 degrees F. The OR has AC. This is another fact that does not upset me.<br />
<br />
5. People die here. Sometimes you will come into the hospital in the morning, and there will be an empty bed where your patient was yesterday. No one calls in the middle of the night to tell you your patient is crashing. There is no M&M conference to figure out what went wrong. You just move on. Usually it is because people here wait waaaay too long to come to the hospital, and by the time they arrive, they are too far gone. Sometimes we don't really know what happened. Some are severely malnourished. You need food to heal wounds and fight off infection, and without it, the chances of survival dwindle. Many of them have chronic illnesses like TB, HIV, or cancer. Almost all of them have malaria. I am only beginning to react to the death around me. For the first few weeks, I could tell my mind was treating it as if it wasn't really real. Now, I am beginning to face it. This is a huge prayer need.<br />
<br />
6. I have the tendency to be a critical person, especially of myself. I am also a people-pleaser. These two character traits combined to make my first few sleep-deprived, jet-lagged days in the OR very difficult. My hands shook. My mind was not very clear. I made countless mistakes I would not usually make. I got frustrated with myself. I made more mistakes. So on and so forth. It was not fun. That being said, it taught me and important truth: I need to give myself grace. God created me. Christ died for me. Neither of those were mistakes. If God created me to be a surgeon for His Glory, so be it. If not, then I want to be what He made me to be. This realization has allowed me to relax. Relaxation in surgery is key. Things have gone much better since, praise God. Turns out I might be able to do this after all.<br />
<br />
7. I love orange Fanta straight from the bottle. They make it with real sugar here. I have already had about a case-worth. I have missed orange Fanta.<br />
<br />
8. Fun fact: Dr. Sannoussi was born and raised here in Niger. I spent today with him rounding and in the OR. He is a product of PAACS, which is the organization I came here to investigate. He is also an awesome dude. I am excited to get his perspective on life here, missions, PAACS, etc. <br />
<br />
9. If you ever travel in Africa, and iPad is a great thing to have. Just trust me on that one. Mine currently carries approximately 200 pounds of medical and surgical textbooks and another 50 pounds of fun reading, not to mention the few thousand songs. Thank you, technology.<br />
<br />
Well, my stomach is growling, so I am going to attempt to put food in it...we'll see how that turns out. Thank you all sooooo much for your prayers. I have needed them desperately over the past few weeks. The spiritual opposition here is real. Your prayers are part of combating that. So, thank you.<br />
<br />
Until next time....Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-81619808346297567672012-08-17T07:17:00.001-07:002012-08-17T07:17:12.225-07:00Fear and GiraffesHey Team!<br />
<br />
So, as you can see by the pics, Twiga finally came home! It was great to be back among my "people" again. Seriously though, that was def one of the craziest things I have ever experienced. I knew that giraffes were incredible, but it doesn't really hit home till you are standing 10 feet from one looking 25 feet into the air looking into it's eyes. Speaking of which...story time:<br />
<br />
So, we were leaving the area where all the giraffes were (20 or so of all ages and sizes), and I was lagging a bit behind the group because I saw that one of the giraffes that we had scared off was coming back, and earlier one had come pretty close to check me out, so I thought maybe this one was doing the same. I wandered in a circuitous fashion back to the car, hoping to leave the giraffe time to catch up to me if he wanted to. As I was wandering, I saw some others nearby and was watching them as I was walking. I neared a tree/shrub and was in the process of walking around it when, from the other side of the tree came a 50 foot (ok, probably more like 20 foot) tall giraffe. We saw each other at about the same time, at which point we were 5 feet apart (ok, more like 10-15 feet...it felt pretty close, though). Pause. Sidenote: giraffes are NOT aggressive creatures. In fact, they run away at the slightest hint of trouble. Earlier in the morning I stepped on a twig and one of the 20 foot one's jumped and started running away. So, deep breaths....and back to the story. So, I was looking straight up at this giraffe, who was looking straight down at me. Neither of us was moving. I was awestruck. It felt like a minute before I realized that he wasn't going anywhere. Unfortunately, he was directly between me and my ride. So, I took a very cautious step to the side. Then another. He just kept looking. I took some more steps, and he just kept looking. I eventually got to the point where I could walk around him in about a 15 foot radius. This whole time, he didn't even really flinch. He just kept watching like, "that's right...walk away." And I did. The crazy thing about this story (other than the fact that it's true) is that the whole day we had been trying to get close to these amazing creatures and they kept running away, and here I was face to face (ok, face to thigh) with one of the larger ones, and he (I assume it was a he...who knows) wasn't going anywhere. I tell that story for a very real reason. I had a rough night last night. I woke up at 1 am filled with doubts and fears. After lying in bed for about 45 min thinking and stressing, I got up and got my Bible out. I opened up and started reading 2 Corinthians. Nothing particular stuck out to me, it was just the gradual peace that spread over me as I read God's Word and realized the largeness of the Savior I am here to serve. I was overcome with His peace. He didn't answer any of my doubts or fears specifically. He was just there. And like that giraffe, I knew He wasn't going anywhere.Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-87268097624610997612012-08-17T06:18:00.001-07:002012-08-17T06:30:52.278-07:00Giraffe Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06jwSsOVlOJJHb3kLr2YD_vcGujk7Cf8TJMnJ72zsl2tQ_mUaWQKNo4hN7mS5f912m_o3tZX7BJWiHj4yZbbgG0HilW664wa7yyiswWeIg38lKizUYPxwr2Xnnxm4LFkAVsoj7hHvEs4T/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06jwSsOVlOJJHb3kLr2YD_vcGujk7Cf8TJMnJ72zsl2tQ_mUaWQKNo4hN7mS5f912m_o3tZX7BJWiHj4yZbbgG0HilW664wa7yyiswWeIg38lKizUYPxwr2Xnnxm4LFkAVsoj7hHvEs4T/s320/IMG_2392.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXiHUlYfvOFT9QnnbEaLY5w_NKPQVtaz6bWYQJ-qMwRjsQ2-jbFafRXdaxo2PkHMuOMVaRkygfnChNvKLsuyp8IAL0Le3AbyY4RI30st59eDAXC1vohLf0y5w_N6PGnjfS8l6n5nsXxXo/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXiHUlYfvOFT9QnnbEaLY5w_NKPQVtaz6bWYQJ-qMwRjsQ2-jbFafRXdaxo2PkHMuOMVaRkygfnChNvKLsuyp8IAL0Le3AbyY4RI30st59eDAXC1vohLf0y5w_N6PGnjfS8l6n5nsXxXo/s320/IMG_2394.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFHlLeCRgQNLAlTRuB8S2Pw8d4d8hAHa6-bZZIRKs9rYg0dgE5gCEdpS3c3_c3FLW6lqlUg57qu4MyfrITt75qxMcTuouyhiSK1aC4tk0V1I9VI7bVIucbl0atOE0anQ_Pl4gKzNsHMkW/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFHlLeCRgQNLAlTRuB8S2Pw8d4d8hAHa6-bZZIRKs9rYg0dgE5gCEdpS3c3_c3FLW6lqlUg57qu4MyfrITt75qxMcTuouyhiSK1aC4tk0V1I9VI7bVIucbl0atOE0anQ_Pl4gKzNsHMkW/s320/IMG_2397.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UhR6BSfSJIJOwOA0Cuca0ajWMNVnCiFaY_hxpj14vTzUVpze-HDIHgM16k9iU7ZZ5n8_AZa06LGD0Mr9zqq4vyOaY23YBaz1hfoSgEWmrRW2YYPm6ehmDVylJP_IOyWhkmdU8hhhqQun/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UhR6BSfSJIJOwOA0Cuca0ajWMNVnCiFaY_hxpj14vTzUVpze-HDIHgM16k9iU7ZZ5n8_AZa06LGD0Mr9zqq4vyOaY23YBaz1hfoSgEWmrRW2YYPm6ehmDVylJP_IOyWhkmdU8hhhqQun/s400/IMG_2399.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRkfBuXWyeE7HP7a-Mv6-MZ6PKUBIapIScD5GiRV722NQwPbt9pidQ70NR9WDieD_uVwQKc4nux8bVS2GNT7IELS4Kxa1m4isoeIjqpBY3vZtrrJ_j92OV3nHV-SKLxOzVib26D90ONhb/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRkfBuXWyeE7HP7a-Mv6-MZ6PKUBIapIScD5GiRV722NQwPbt9pidQ70NR9WDieD_uVwQKc4nux8bVS2GNT7IELS4Kxa1m4isoeIjqpBY3vZtrrJ_j92OV3nHV-SKLxOzVib26D90ONhb/s320/IMG_2401.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B5wlsqRTKik0GK8A3kd1_gpfB0vePXcVBXvb5SFmf5F4gOxRwf6vFVK8zzpuTb-bUMuuV07OARInTDXKQ8RlQMey6MuynNw__DSAmNpJViwuvwytDEh0R3J8pFSWrt2xpM4-EXnVGSMC/s1600/IMG_2412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B5wlsqRTKik0GK8A3kd1_gpfB0vePXcVBXvb5SFmf5F4gOxRwf6vFVK8zzpuTb-bUMuuV07OARInTDXKQ8RlQMey6MuynNw__DSAmNpJViwuvwytDEh0R3J8pFSWrt2xpM4-EXnVGSMC/s320/IMG_2412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vS4TIYw8AQGi53qA40diBcB1MqyvtbGBEgE_13rpK1bOG9HnrXbmm9I773oIwkTcx5KikxAtMW3PsmOKrlulbetkE6FIMU3fYaPnfI3OdrVmG3WvDOUU2FMaqkAJt1xRIU2WKSVRZWhM/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vS4TIYw8AQGi53qA40diBcB1MqyvtbGBEgE_13rpK1bOG9HnrXbmm9I773oIwkTcx5KikxAtMW3PsmOKrlulbetkE6FIMU3fYaPnfI3OdrVmG3WvDOUU2FMaqkAJt1xRIU2WKSVRZWhM/s400/IMG_2416.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3baSJAj5Igp7Mr8KZt6i7XPmYxOUaMsItGkEoSTxSOO_EBPHO53TYfxQnnkJju8LN-5rObtnEkugDArgkNC0dNU-cjC1G8ufzrjNm6ZuOHPx8BKfsTf2d30uKhWcxPFsR6GhsPerwQXj6/s1600/IMG_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3baSJAj5Igp7Mr8KZt6i7XPmYxOUaMsItGkEoSTxSOO_EBPHO53TYfxQnnkJju8LN-5rObtnEkugDArgkNC0dNU-cjC1G8ufzrjNm6ZuOHPx8BKfsTf2d30uKhWcxPFsR6GhsPerwQXj6/s400/IMG_2418.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUGHEIQcwE4n_a56Ls4uzWVix2D4SHXLxghNpEl58iWpvQRmzCVbUR4hXFuWXRVogtDi6TCZ0vG1JE4i0R7J6Fk2lTOBkUzIlRBzzQigRv0mCyLgbe7MoJvxqNuvvWOz4GrMlsPFs6sEd/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUGHEIQcwE4n_a56Ls4uzWVix2D4SHXLxghNpEl58iWpvQRmzCVbUR4hXFuWXRVogtDi6TCZ0vG1JE4i0R7J6Fk2lTOBkUzIlRBzzQigRv0mCyLgbe7MoJvxqNuvvWOz4GrMlsPFs6sEd/s320/IMG_2419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRKFRqiEgJiDTDEm2zSwcFzX35LPkBUDwSIXZezCm_gfmuve_QewhvJeSy1o5l4P1kfX5rfLz_sjS-csIH1i3EmsMI3WSYB28usCzVyqRAWNUxqD_ewKQjzYm3pL9g29j3jg2epCuzZ3A/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRKFRqiEgJiDTDEm2zSwcFzX35LPkBUDwSIXZezCm_gfmuve_QewhvJeSy1o5l4P1kfX5rfLz_sjS-csIH1i3EmsMI3WSYB28usCzVyqRAWNUxqD_ewKQjzYm3pL9g29j3jg2epCuzZ3A/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-50682617553521505772012-08-16T06:21:00.003-07:002012-08-16T06:21:40.036-07:00Thoughts from an Airport Terminal (and Plane...and Restaurant)
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I feel like I need to state some things from the outset.
First, I am by no means a “writer”, so don’t come here expecting great works of
art. Unless you consider a four-year-old’s finger painting a “work of art”. Second,
I tend write in short sentence fragments, especially when I am excited. Prepare
yourself. Third, I have intention to be as honest as I possibly can here.
Henceforth, I will refer to this as “real church” in honor of Matt Chandler.
Example: I know as a man, I should probably say that I am not at all scared
right now. But, if we can have real church, I am mildly terrified. I have never
been away from my friends and family for nine months straight before. I am going
to places that consistently have reports of civil war. These things are scary.
I am not above admitting that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that we have that out of the way, on to the fun stuff (Oh,
by the way, I LOVE lists, so expect to see a lot of those over the next nine
months). Today’s post will be for those of you who have ever wondered what
thoughts/feelings/emotions go through someone who is about to board a plane to
fly to a foreign country for nine months. In no particular order:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>1. Excitement. I am going to do what I love for
nine straight months. I am going to meet people who have very similar goals and
convictions to mine. We are going to cut people open in order to heal them. We
are going to tell them about Jesus, the only One who can really heal them. All
of these things excite me more than I can express.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>2. Fear. See above.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Anxiety. My flight is leaving a good hour late.
What if I miss my connection in Paris. What if none of my bags make it to Niger
(a very real possibility). What if…you get the picture. Anxiety is tempting. It
lets me feel like I have some control. Luckily, I know the One who is actually
in control. Also, I’m kinda secretly hoping I do end up in Paris overnight. I
can imagine worse fates. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>3. Curiosity. I have never been to most of the
places I am going this year. Therefore, I have absolutely no clue what to
expect. See number 1.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>4. Sadness. This year I will miss graduating with my
best friends in medical school (Ben and Dan) as well as being in one of my best
friend’s (Chris) weddings. Frankly, both of those things kinda stink. I will
also miss Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc with the family. Not pumped about that.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>5. Peace. This one I have trouble explaining. Have
you ever just felt like everything was going to work out, even though you have
no objective reason for feeling that way, and especially when you have great
objective evidence to the contrary? I have felt that about this trip, probably
since day one. That can only be the work of the Holy Spirit. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>6. Humor. I
forgot my stethoscope in Wilmington. We had to do a drive-by stethoscope purchase
in Cary. The stewardess (I’m on the plane now, FYI) just handed me a 16 pack of
those airplane cookies for “the kids at the mission” who apparently “love
those.” Not kidding. That just happened. And she has an awesome European accent
that I can’t place, which makes every conversation with her that much more
challenging to follow/awesome. You really can’t make this stuff up. I think I’m
going to enjoy this trip.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s probably all you can handle for now. That is certainly
all I intend to type. Thank you all again for your love, support, and prayers.
They mean more than you know. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Him,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Josh</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Update: I am safely in Niger. We are hanging out at a restaurant
in Niamey waiting to fly out to Galmi hospital. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One more fun story from the plane. I boarded in NYC for
Paris on Air France. I had no idea that the vast majority of those on the plane
spoke minimal English. I arrived at my seat, and a gentleman approached me and
asked “are you lonely?” Many responses ran through my mind, but the one that
came out was “excuse me?” And, of course, he simply repeated himself. It was
around this time I realize (let’s be honest: hoped he was asking) and said “do
you mean ‘traveling alone?’” He confirmed my hopes, and we subsequently traded
seats so he could sit with his wife. Needless to say, I laughed about this to
myself for the next few minutes. Oh, and neither of my checked bags made it…luckily
I packed a change of clothes. Such is life…that being said, I am sooooo happy
to be back in Africa. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I was riding
in the taxi to the guesthouse from the airport. More on that in another post…</div>
Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-23076452177077714592012-08-09T12:44:00.001-07:002012-08-09T12:44:43.137-07:00Oh, by the way....I got baptized<br />
<br />
http://vimeo.com/46560679<br />
<br />
<br />Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-35792042418149570422012-08-09T11:01:00.003-07:002012-08-09T11:01:55.717-07:00Quick Update<br />
<br />
I am back in Greenville and officially done with Step 2/all my academic requirements before I leave for Africa in five days (that number kinda scares me, if I can be honest)! Thank you all for your prayers and support! I think it went well. We will see.<br />
<br />
Fun fact from the trip: that was the first time I was referred to as "Dr. Meyer" by someone other than my patients. What's funny is that each time someone referred to me that way, I felt the urge to correct them. That being said, I didn't. I kinda liked the way it sounded.<br />
<br />
My plan for the next five days (in case you were wondering) is to get all the details from the trip taken care of and all of the loose ends tied up. We'll see how that goes. I have my doubts...details aren't really my thing.<br />
<br />
I will probably be back in Wilmington on Friday, and will likely stay there until I leave for Raleigh on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
If you think to pray for me, please pray that I would be truly self-forgetful...and that I would take care of all the details that need to be taken care of.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410238103711228773.post-3880362800389083102012-06-23T14:59:00.001-07:002012-06-23T15:26:35.889-07:00Hey Everyone,<br />
<br />
Sorry for the confusion and changes. My other blog (twigagoeshome.blogspot.com) was tied to a different account than my twigagoeshome@gmail.com account. When I closed the account, it closed the blog, and the site refused to allow me to use that name again. Thus, the new name: twigagoeshome<b>2</b>.blogspot.com.<br />
<br />
For those of you who didn't read the original blog (tisk-tisk), <b>this</b> will be the place to get updates on my trip. So, feel free to make this your home page, add it to your toolbar, or otherwise solidify it as a part of your daily (or hourly, as the case may be) internet-browsing routine. As I hope I have sufficiently expressed, I am incredibly thankful to the Lord for each one of you and your continued support and encouragement. You have even made support raising an enjoyable experience (no small feat). So, thank you.<br />
<br />
In Him,<br />
Josh<br />
<br />
PS: For those of you who missed the story about the name "twiga goes home"...here it is again: In high school I took my first trip to Africa. While there, I was nicknamed "twiga meupe" (pronounce twee-gah my-oop-eh) which is Swahili for "white giraffe." During that trip, the Lord solidified my love and passion for Africa and for missions. Each time I have returned to Africa, it has felt a little more like home. So, thanks to the Lords provision and your generosity and encouragement, "twiga" is going home on August 15 (that is my departure date, for those of you who asked).Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134778801843594929noreply@blogger.com1