Thirst

Hey guys- It's been a while, I know, so forgive me for not posting. It's just that we only have one phone line over here, so my online time is severely limited. It's cool though...

Sunday was wonderful, although it took a LOT out of me. I'll try to get the tape if you guys care to hear it. It was great, I prayed beforehand that God would give me His love for the people, and it happened. I felt from God that he wanted me to talk a little about hidden sin, sort of what that prof talked about in chapel on Friday, but in a little different way. Then, I gave some teaching and a challenge about the kingdom of God being at hand- It's time to stop making excuses and start living victoriously! It was awesome, because I felt completely at peace the whole time I was speaking, and I had a genuine love for the people that is inexplicable. It was truly God, and that's all I can say about it, i guess. A lot of people were touched-- crying and shouting and Amen-ing-- the Spirit was moving. I was exhausted at the end of it all, though, and that was when all the people come over to you and thank you and tell you how wonderful you are and then some of them try to explain to you how they're already living out the challenge you gave-- haha, I'm just like, "WHOA!!!" I was tired, and I didn't want to hear either the adulation or the self-justification, so God taught me a little lesson about grace, haha...

I found a pretty sweet website- it's an online magazine about God, Life, and Progressive Culture-- it's got a few good articles. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but as I read some of the articles, I was impressed by the content. Check it out if you've got a few minutes-- www.relevantmagazine.org -- Here's the mission statement of the parent company:


"Relevant Media Group is on a mission to impact progressive culture.

We believe there's a massive need for media addressing life issues, pop culture and faith in a way never seen before. The progressive 18-to-34 audience is hungry for God, and they love pop culture. We say the two don't necessarily contradict each other.

This audience is looking for something different than other generations, something to be passionate about. They want purpose, depth and truth. Not candy coated. Not the same old, same old. They cut through the junk and get down to the core of what matters.
We say it's time for media that reflects this lifestyle and gives voice to a currently voiceless demographic. There's nothing out there, and we're poised to step in and fill the void.

Our staff is comprised entirely of twentysomethings, and we're setting out to make innovative media that addresses real life - pop culture, faith, what have you - from a relevant, God-centered perspective. In the works are RELEVANTmagazine, RELEVANTmagazine.com and Relevant Books. But even more is in store.

We want to break the mold and impact culture. We want to speak to an audience of independent thinkers, ones that were raised on pop culture, ones that are hungry for God but don't embrace dead religion. We want to challenge Christians to a deeper spiritual walk and a larger worldview, and we want to challenge non-believers to see Jesus for who He is: The answer."


Pretty cool, eh? Sounds a lot like what God's been speaking to me, and what we'll be teaching and learning about this summer at 40 Days (my internship). Oh, by the way, I'm pretty sure I haven't even let you guys read this yet-- it's the email that's being sent out from The Factory inviting people to come to 40 Days this summer. I'll post it below so you can read it. This is what God has me being involved in for the summer, and it'll help you pray for me-- here it is, definitely read it- it's powerful:


Greetings from The Factory -

The team is spread all over the globe right now (London, Belfast, Chicago, Hawaii, Perth, etc.), but we are united in sending this message! It is an invitation to forty days of worship, prayer and teaching...let us explain:

The New Testament reports that Jesus of Nazareth, along with a surrendered bunch of consecrated renegades, started a quiet revolution sometime shortly following the era of time known as B.C. That movement, igniting the hearts and minds of generations, has been building for some 2000 years now. It is presently moving in particular power across portions of Asia, where the underground church in China now numbers multiplied millions. The effect is felt in Nigeria, Africa's most populated nation, where a prayer movement is calling hundreds of thousands of believers to their knees in desperate intercession for their continent. South American nations, like Brazil, are quickly becoming the leading force in missionary sending and equipping. Even the Western World, bulging with post-modern spirituality, is experiencing a ground swell of people following Jesus: evidenced by a dynamic small-group movement among university students in nations such as England. What a time to be alive!

And yet the story does not stop there. There are nations across the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia who are starving for the sustenance of the Gospel. Sub-Saharan Africa is being ravaged by an AIDS epidemic, which threatens to decrease the populations of particular people groups. Corruption in high levels of government in certain Latin American countries is crumbling the economy, tearing the social fabric and producing bitter national consequences. America, once perceived as impenetrable, was shaken to its core by the terrorism of September 11. While on the one hand, the light is definitely getting brighter; on the other hand, the darkness only grows darker. The age in which we live is marked by both inspiring Christian growth and an urgent need for serious Christian response.

So, where do we fit in? Well, let me ask you a question: "Did you know that Paul, as in the Apostle whom the Holy Spirit inspired to write most of the New Testament, was a tentmaker?" (Acts 18:3) "What does that mean?" someone asks. Well, it means that Paul made tents. "Did he make anything else?" Yes, Paul made disciples of Jesus. In fact, this tentmaker-discipler was at the forefront of the birth of the Early Church, a movement so powerful that it was "turning the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). This spiritual revolution was marked by the stunning reality of God residing in the hearts of mere people. Paul referred to this overwhelming revelation as "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). And the dream, as described through the Apostle John, was that the glory of God would ultimately spread to "every nation...all tribes...peoples and languages" (Revelation 7:9). The vision was of that glory filling people of every colour and class, reaching into the very heart of culture itself, shifting society from within, and ultimately causing utter spiritual transformation throughout the world. Now that is epic!

"So, what does this have to do with Paul making tents?!!" Everything! You see, Paul was just another earth-dweller in a great mass of humanity. Some people crafted silver, others were poets, some were servants, a few were political figures. And Paul made tents. But he did not stop there. Was Paul a tentmaker? Yes. Was he an apostle? Yes! Although Paul was an unparalleled spiritual leader, he was also a common tradesman. He did not separate himself from society. On the contrary, he thoroughly engaged himself in society. The Apostle Paul powerfully and practically bridged the great gap of this "earthly world" and that other "spiritual world." Paul was certainly not the first to do this, however. It was Jesus, God Himself, who engaged so thoroughly with the world that He became Man. This is the incarnation! The incarnation made the cross possible...and the cross made "Christ in you" possible! This overwhelming reality is at the core of the New Testament message: that the glory of Almighty God can dwell in the hearts of mere humans (Ephesians 3:7 - 21).

We have been commissioned to spread that glory throughout the whole earth: in the slums of Calcutta, to the government seats of Argentina, in the AIDS clinics of Johannesburg, to the business leaders of Japan! What does that mean? It means that the same glory that leads a missionary to his knees in Turkmenistan over the lost people of that land, will lead a graphic-design artist to her knees over the lost souls of her co-workers in London. It means that God is raising up church-planters for Azerbaijan, schoolteachers for Tanzania and moviemakers for Hollywood. The glory of Jesus is not reserved to one particular career or vocation! And the same passionate surrender that calls a missionary-martyr to their death for the cause of Jesus is required of an entrepreneur-banker who is called to invest their talents into business for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.

This is what 40 DAYS is all about...

WHEN?

July 1 ­ August 9 (with optional international outreach following)

WHERE?

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) - Highfield Oval
Harpenden, England (that¹s just north of London)

YWAM is an international, non-denominational Christian missions movement with more than 15,000 full-time missionary workers in 135 nations. Since its founding in 1960, YWAM workers have reached into every nation on earth through a three-fold approach to ministry: evangelism, mercy ministries, and training. The mission¹s motto clearly sums up the primary goal of YWAM: To know God and make Him known.

WHAT?

40 DAYS is an international gathering of young people to gain specific training in what it means to incarnate the glory of God into the culture of this age. Becoming more like Jesus will be core to everything that takes place during the time: teaching, small groups, prayer, work, outreach, etc.

Since The Factory began in 1998, the team has led similar gatherings in England, America, Hungary, South Africa, and Norway. Each of these international meetings lasted anywhere from three days to six weeks. The Euro-Gathering in Budapest, Hungary (November 8 ­ 12, 1999) was attended by more than 400 young missionaries in training and represented 51 different nationalities. PREPARE (July 8 - August 18, 2001) gathered 120 young students from 6 continents for six weeks of intensive focus on leadership, biblical / historical moves of God, and Christ-likeness.

Teachers who have joined us for past Factory schools and gatherings have included: Loren and Darlene Cunningham (Founders - YWAM), Dr. Robert Coleman (Author - The Master Plan of Evangelism), Joy Dawson (Respected Bible teacher and best-selling author), Dr. Gunter Krallman (Specialised teacher and author focussing on living the Christ-like life), Glenn and Jacquelyn Sheppard (Founders - International Prayer Ministries and Springs Academy), Winkie Pratney (International teacher, author, and humour expert) and numerous young leaders (who do not have international reputations!).

WHO SHOULD COME?

Those who are called to reach the people of this age through living out the practical reality of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" in: education, preaching, business, skate parks, government, church planting, international conflict reconciliation, orphanages, the arts, mission schools, health care, pastoral ministry, cafes, family...do you get the idea? Particular focus will target those aged 16 - 25, with strategic emphasis on college / university students and young missionaries. Those not fitting that mould, but still sensing the call, are fully welcome to apply!

In the last few years we have had the honour of connecting with different people from all over the world who are aching for God to move in global spiritual awakening. We have been thrilled to network with friends and co-workers who are ready and willing to pay the price to prepare for what the Lord is planning. God has given us a very clear standard regarding 40 DAYS: Those who come must be going after God and this awakening with or without us.

This must not be a time of dragging along people who do not really want to go there. 40 DAYS is like a spiritual boot camp in preparation for the great battles to come. The days will be intense ­ it will mean surrender ­ it will call for humility ­ it will demand sacrifice. Simultaneously, we believe the time will be electric with the presence of God ­ exciting to be in an environment of international worship, teaching and prayer ­ inspiring in its breadth of vision and depth of devotion.

The goal is to enable a generation of believers to move from milk to meat in their walk with Jesus...and for their spiritual maturity to multiply Christ-likeness in the world around us. If you are hungry for that and ready to count the cost to go there, please pray about joining us!

WHAT MIGHT IT LOOK LIKE?

Earth-shaking anthems of hope and simple songs of surrender...with the heart to glorify God.
Desperate intercession and prayerful listening...with the intention of waiting until the Lord speaks.
Christ-centred teaching and piercing truth...with a focus on practically implementing the Biblical reality of spiritual awakening in this age.
Abandoned devotion and practical response...with the goals of daily abiding in Christ, life-long spiritual disciplines, and ultimately producing "fruit that lasts."

WHY?

Because it is time to stop talking about it and start living it...the whole world is waiting (Romans 8:19)!


Please contact us for more details (accommodations, costs - tentative is 650 British Pounds, applications, questions, etc.) as soon as possible if you feel God is leading you to 40 DAYS.

It sure is an epic time to be alive!

TheFactory@Compuserve.com


So that's that. I've been doing well over here in New York, trying to fit back into the culture, getting my accent back, listening to a lot of rap and whatever. I renewed my driver's license- I'll be 21 on April 24, man that's old! We definitely have to do something fun for my birthday-- not just because it's my birthday, but because it's right around the end of the year, and we'll need to have some fun time.

I'm really looking forward to getting back to Wheaton- it's pretty lonely here, even though there are plenty of people around. For instance, I went with my friend Dave to the tuxedo rental place to get measured- i'm in his wedding this summer- and the whole time we're together, he's all uptight about everything- his mother, the apartment they're going to rent, his car that broke down, all this stuff. And I'm trying to be sensitive and loving and still say, LOOK IT DOESN'T MATTER- JUST TRUST GOD- but it's difficult. Even after the message on Sunday, I had some people coming up to me to complain about their problems and ask for advice-- i was thinking, hmmm, well, i just stood up there for 45 minutes and talked, said everything I know about God and life, and now you want more?? Were you listening? So I just told them the same thing I told them in the message. Anyhow, that was just one instance. What I'm trying to say is, I feel so weighed down here, because everyone looks up to me like I'm this huge spiritual giant or something, and I'm trying so hard just to follow God, and I feel alone, because it seems that most people have resigned themselves to live their mediocre lives, spiritually, I mean. Forgive me, God's working on me so I'll receive his grace and love for people.

So, it's been difficult. Without getting more into it, suffice it to say, God is teaching me to follow hard after him no matter what other people are doing. I know when I leave Wheaton, that's what I'm going to encounter. I know that ministry a lot of times ends up feeling like you're trying with all your might to drag people out of the pit they've made for themselves, and in a lot of cases, they're perfectly fine staying there. It's human nature. Well, MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING, and as long as I keep my eyes on Him, His love covers a multitude of sins. I know that the only way I'll survive trying to minster is if I'm not trying to minister, meaning that I need to keep my eyes on Jesus and not be shaken no matter what the results of my "ministry" are. If I can just have more of Him, that's enough!

Whew, I am tired. Tomorrow I'm going with my sisters to see "How to Succeed in Business Without Trying" at our old high school-- one of the kids in the church is in it. It should be fun. Then, going to a friend's house at night, breakfast at Smitty's with Mom on Friday, and whatever else happens. I'm flying back to Wheaton Saturday night. I think I'm in Sunday night, so I won't be able to go see Calling Cedar with you, Shannon, dang it. Oh, well. I definitely think we should do something outrageously fun after you graduate, Shannon, so let's throw around some ideas and whatever-- Yosemite sounds wonderful-- or like you said, you could take us up to Canada and show us the sights. John, if you're not coming i'm not sure how kosher that would be-- me and two girls?? Well, I'm ok with it as long as you guys are. Anyhow, I'm going to bed-- I'm way tired. And I'm sure if you weren't tired by the time you started reading this, you are by now, haha. So go ahead and get some rest. Later...