May it be a sweet, sweet sound

This song really hit me at church. When we speak to God, he listens. And, it's a sweet, sweet sound in his ear.

I love you Lord

And I lift my voice

To worship you

Oh my soul Rejoice

Take joy, my King

In what you hear

May it be a sweet, sweet sound

In your ear

Testing Times

Though my name sullied may be,
Yours far more is stomped about,
The diff'rence, though, easily seen:
Guilt I have while you're without.

But that thing you lacked; guilt unknown,
You took from me and bore yourself
At the cross that made the curtain torn
And threw the world upon itself

Now my life is in your hands
And testing times I find I'm in.
But this day's end will have me stand
And with your power find peace within.

Easier said than done, I fear
How to keep from running away?
The answer's simple: You say, "Draw near,
Through this, together, we'll find a way."

The Oddness of Transition and "Home"

Thailand to Canada, Vancouver to Turner Valley.

Where am I?

After hours and hours of plane travel and Greyhound rides, I don't know where I am. But I'm still happy - I still have joy.

This base in Turner Valley, Alberta, Canada has been my home away from home for the last two and a half years. Vancouver wasn't home. So when I arrived there and felt the relief of everything western and convenient and familiar language, I was relieved only mostly. For I was still not "home." Because home is in Turner Valley. (But home is in Escalon, California? That one still gets me. I love travelling so much, but it confuses me a little about what to call "home." So I find myself calling every place I sleep "home." The jury's still out one whether I'm fine with that or not.)

So my week and a half in Vancouver was slightly awkward. (And I don't use that over-used word freely.) I was waiting for the final relief of the Discipleship Training School - debrief, retreat, and all - to wrap up.

I can't tell you how relieved I was to enter the rest that awaited me at Turner Valley. Inquisitive and hilarious friends, picking up our relationships where they left off, welcomed me back. They not only made up my room, but brought my stuff out of storage - a task I was not looking forward to.

Possibly the best thing that's happened being back was a happenstance conversation with a local stranger. Jim struck up the conversation as our pedestrian selves shared a road on a warm, snow-melt kind of day.  He's had his share of difficulty lately. Between being kicked out of his job and losing his wife last year, he kept a positive spirit and admitted there had been some inner healing even today, by laying flowers on her grave.

But before he shared about his tragic loss, I was prompted unexpectedly to ask him a question (prefaced of course): "Jim, this might sound a little crazy (there's the preface), but do you have any aches or pains in your body?" After an overwhelmingly affirmative answer, I followed up my question with another one to top it in strangeness, "Can I pray for you? I just got back from a mission trip and I've seen people healed and they've felt peace. God can heal your body."

Though he danced around the question, and again politely declined when I repeated it at the end of the conversation, I couldn't help but feel successful. Since success is when we obey God, I did well. And it was just the opportunity I needed to realize that though my DTS staffing experience has dissolved, the needs of the world and the calling from God remain. And though change and transition may cause the ground beneath me to feel shifty and swirly, there is no place where the Spirit of God cannot reach me.

Where can I go from your Spirit? 

   Where can I flee from your presence? 

 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 

   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

   if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

 even there your hand will guide me, 

   your right hand will hold me fast. 

 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me 

   and the light become night around me,” 

 even the darkness will not be dark to you; 

   the night will shine like the day, 

   for darkness is as light to you.

(Ps. 139:7-12)

Trust in the Lord - A short speech to a Thai church

Oy, our awesome translator, did a good job
(from what I could tell, haha).

At a street church in Pattaya, Thailand, I gave a sermon about trusting in Jesus. It had become so important to me at the time (and still is) that I had to share it with others. Luckily, this opportunity was given to me and I spoke briefly through a translator to this Thai congregation.

Below is the audio file (edited because you probably don't know Thai). It's about 8 minutes long... now that's a short sermon!

Here is the outline:

• Intro.
• Tell your neighbor what you think of when you think of Jesus.
• Trusting Jesus
• Personal:
• Negative story - not letting go of that girl
• Positive story - trusting God to go to Vancouver for a few months and help with the Discipleship Training School
• Bible:
• Moses striking rock (Num. 20)
• Israel's idolatry (Judges-Malachi)
• Why we don't trust Jesus
• Disciples in the storm (Mk 4) - Because we don't know him well
• Wrong picture of him
• Dan 7
• Rev 1
• Application
• Get to know him better! Spend more time with Jesus.
• Trust Jesus with everything!
• What are you trying to hear now? Future plans? Wait on him (Ps. 27), take courage and wait for him to answer.
• Even if bad, bad things happen, always trust in him.

Podcast Powered By Podbean