"Better you than me." This phrase has been stuck in my mind for weeks now. After preaching a message at a local friend’s church, these were the only words I received from one particular stranger. That is to say, these are the only words I received from someone who saw it fit to give me a pat on the back, followed by a crumpled up ball of cash (each of these gestures were received without solicitation). The sermon I delivered that morning was titled "The Impossibly Great Commission.” Looking back now, I realize that I could have spent a little more time one the headline, but the message itself was clear: we are purposed for a reason that is impossible to fulfill within our own strength. More simply put, "We need Jesus." Now fast forwarding one or two months brings us to the day when I first set foot on foreign soil, only to be greeted by multiple strangers with hugs and celebration. Their first words to me? “My home is your home, follow me." As I am now serving in Central America, I’ve learned quickly that the people here are rich with love and humility. Every person I have met has been exceedingly kind to me. The children often run to me with excitement to share their favorite Bible verses in English, the teens invite me to play sports with them, and everyone insists on having me over for a delicious meal. Christ gave us the commission to go and make disciples of "all" nations, so for now, He has made me a home here. Hopefully, the short account I gave of the
Discuss the problems of government in terms of the history of the constitutional convention. What was the Great Compromise and how does this relate to what type of government is best? Does it work (is it workable)? How does it relate to current politics? Would you change anything?
Josephe Kosinski’s recent film, Only the Brave, is a brilliantly directed film based on a true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Kosinski does an impressive job on incorporating vital pieces of the real story, for example, the ancient Juniper tree (which still stands today) express a powerful reminder of incredible men who risked their lives and sacrificed their families to protect numerous people. It is by far one of the top movies I have seen this year. This movie takes you through an extreme variety of emotions, but in the end, will leave you speechless. Only the Brave, blends real-life heroism with a gripping natural disaster. This amazing portrait of the Granite Mountain Hotshots shows their journey from the Prescott Wildland Fire Team, a second level firefighting unit, to a courageous group of elite heroes fighting unpredictable beasts.
I am writing to you today to tell you about an exciting opportunity I have through my school, Liberty Christian. My senior class will be going on a mission trip to COSTA RICA from Saturday, May 6, 2017 to Friday, May 12th. During this time, we will be working with the mission agency SCORE International in order to serve God by serving the Costa Rican people. We will have opportunities to serve and minister to the people we meet through various service opportunities, such as: children’s ministry, preaching, drama, and humanitarian aid distribution.
One thing that challenges me is that Americans expect from me to be a good preacher. The shortage of priesthood in the United States has led some communities to be without pastors. Bishops, in trying to give solution to the problems, have relayed on religious congregations whose members are from other cultures. If local priest have difficulties in preaching, the seminarians from other cultures will find it more difficult. One mayor factor is that those missionaries often lack ways to express themselves because of their limited language. Missionaries from other cultures need to give opinions on the matter. It is true that we are ministering in the United States and that we need to put all our effort to share the Word of God with clarity, but people need to see our struggles when dealing in a second language. I am sure that if we come into dialogue with American people, we, missionaries from other cultures, can find the support and help to improve our preaching. This is another aspect that Christopher Ruddy needs to reflect on.
The country was foreign, a first for me. Dilapidation and ruin scattered the horizon as far as one could see. Guatemala is a place where poverty has a strong grasp on its people. We traveled tirelessly for hours to reach the poorest of the poor. Upon arrival old, young, and natives of all shapes and sizes formed receiving lines, eager to welcome us with gifts of smiles and gratitude. It was an experience that forever changed me. This was the first time I had stepped outside the boundaries of the American culture into a world where nothing is taken for granted. Each day spent on my mission trip brought a fresh awareness of gratefulness. Any pre-trip reluctance quickly became a vague memory as my emotions welled within bring a fresh change to
This past summer, I traveled to New Mexico on a mission trip. For the first time in my life, I witnessed our spiritual battles, as Christians, against the darkness of this world. I could see and feel the darkness and that surrounded the vibrant and beautiful city of Taos, New Mexico, and my heart ached for it. Despite the many obstacles we faced as we shared our through sports camps, I felt God’s presence through it all. Knowing that God never left my side, gave me a rare peace that cannot be found anywhere else. It’s safe to say that New Mexico, not only changed my life, but saved my heart as well.
The question may be asked, “what is the essence of being a Great Commission Worshipper?” David Wheeler and Vernon Whaley provides subtle element of what the significance is to being a Great Commission Worshipper – a man absolutely and similarly dedicated to evangelism and worship – and an otherworldly procedure that is formational, transformational, social, missional, and reproducible. The postulation/thesis of the book is outlined in section two when the writers doubtlessly express "
My trip to a third world country opened my eyes to see that everyone is not as blessed as we are here in America. Nicaragua is a very poor country. People in Nicaragua are robbed of the luxuries we Americans have. Such as, simply, having three meals a day. Most people have to travel far just to find food to bring home to their families. I felt like God had called me to go to these people not so I can bless them, yet so they can bless me and my eyes would be opened.
When we were there we visited the Guarani Indians on their reservation. It was an eye-opening experience. They had very harsh living conditions with no shoes and trash and feces everywhere. One hut we went into had one mattress with about ten children that slept on it, but the government thought it was good to supply them with a tv. In the back a woman was boiling plants as a medicine for a sick child. Most homes were like this even if the children in them weren’t theirs. They were open to hearing about the gospel especially after we gave all of the kids goodie bags. In the school the children even sang us a song in their own Guarani
“Because of social, political, and economic circumstances, people from Mexico are immigrating in unprecedented numbers. These immigrants provide an evangelistic and discipleship challenge which must be recognized. This is an opportunity for the church to exemplify love and compassion as the gospel is ministered to these newcomers. Therefore we resolve to receive these new arrivals with open fellowship, regardless of nationality, race, social or economic status; to create an awareness among the constituents of the Church of God of the needs of these immigrants, both physical and spiritual; to develop a liaison between sending and receiving countries, thus building bonds of respect and trust; to recognize the leaders among the immigrants and
Before this semester I always knew there were many characteristics and deferent types of leaders. Typically when I thought of a leader, I would think of a team leader. A leader that involves the creation of a vivid picture of its goals, where it is heading and what it will stand for. The vision inspires and provides a strong sense of purpose and direction. In the easy sense when I thought of a leader I would think of a quarterback for a football team, commander in the army, and or a boss of a company. I also knew there was a visionary leader because that’s what type of leader I am.
The furtherance of the Kingdom of God through such activities and organizations that are deemed necessary. (“as may seem necessary.”)
In a world that does not know the Gospel anymore, we must indulge in it, and love our fellow community though they may not share similar values, but find balancing in still remaining in our own values. Though many of times we find ourselves in opposition of the majority of the world, we must exude Christ love onto others as He does to us unconditionally. The author addresses ways in which we are able to live out our faith and still find a place within our community though they may not share similar values.
Upon arrival, our first activity was to work in the trailer park. While these people were not homeless, they were in quite severe poverty. However, they were nothing like one may expect. One was a very friendly older woman who had worked and gone to college in her younger days but she had been abducted and hurt severely in her twenties. Even though that happen, she was cheerful and had poetic talents. Another was a family whose screen door we replaced because they could not afford a new one. The father was hard working and was made sure all of his children had an education and a roof over their head while the mother cooked and cleaned. Each was doing their part to make the best of their lives. The last was a middle aged couple who needed their trailer badly cleaned. They not only were thankful but they prayed over our group before we left. We a blessing to each of their lives but, they were to ours as
Does one know if they are living in an illusion or reality? In “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams is a play that follows a broken up family, which was abandoned by the father. Due to the family’s reality being so harsh and cold, Amanda lives in an illusion to convince herself that all is not horrendous. Amanda’s misperception of reality causes her to become idealistic; being idealistic means hoping for the best outcome to always occur. Amanda only perceives the favorable things in life; she does not take into account the unfavorable. Being idealistic makes a person optimistic and being truthful makes a person a pessimist. What are the consequences when a person is overly idealistic or overly truthful? In “The Glass Menagerie” the author, Tennessee Williams, is conveying that a person should have balance between idealism and truth in their lives because being prejudiced can cause a distortion in an individual’s reality.