holler

yeah, ill echo jon in saying that it's a little strange to be writing on here not knowing where all of you are and what your doing. but knowing how much i enjoy reading your updates, i'll write one of my own in hopes that you'll return the favor (hint hint).

that said, it might not be the most articulate or comprehensive report. I guess I'm still unpacking the past several months too. I went to Briercrest last school year, as I think most people know already. It was a good year...really good. Our quad had a pretty awesome little communtiy, and I think God was gracious in using that in the larger communities of our dorm and the school. You who don't have life plans all lined up should consider B-crest.

This summer I tree planted in BC and AB with a company called Folklore. It was really hard work, and the worst season in like 11 years for quality of contract, but I toughed it out and I'm glad I did. It was a summer of relying on God for strength, and relying on my relationship with him to make the right choices (rather than the immediate positive influence of my peers). Challenging in a lot of ways, but rewarding to form some new friendships that afforded some excellent conversations and some really good times. I'm planning on being back at Briercrest tomorrow, and serving there in some new ways that I'm a little excited and a little intimidated by. Did I grow enough, am I adequate, will I have the right words and thoughts, will I be obedient when push comes to shove, that sort of thing. Trust. I'm doing a BA in Global Studies and TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language), and hoping to use that to go back to India and maybe other parts of Asia.

My heart these days has been for change in our North American churches. I think we need a shift from buildings and programs that are essentially centered around church people, and in terms of outreach are focused on bringing people into the church building and converting them, ticking another tally on our score card, and moving on. We're so numbers focused it drives ME crazy, and I love a good quantitative analysis! I feel like we need to spend a lot more time loving people and meeting their needs, and through those relationships built on trust and simple actions of love let GOD do the converting work. Let people know us by our love, and join us when God has drawn them to us because of our love. Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to evangelism, but I think it needs to be evangelism focused on justice and mercy and feeding hungry people, clothing naked ones, supporting poor ones sacrificially, rather than Christianizing them and working so hard to convert them with church programs and expensive displays. It's like we're trying to seduce people by baiting them with an answer to their needs or with lots of flashing lights and expensive displays inside the confines of our church walls. We're of the world but not in it! (it's supposed to be the other way around). Our self sufficiency seems to have made us feel like it's our job to make new Christians and grow our own churches, and I don't think it is. That said, I need to start living an example of what I'm saying, and I'm not yet. It's hard. Good thing God is merciful.

haha. That's your sermon for the day. It's whats on my mind. I'm kind of developing a relationship with the Atlantic Baptist Convention (of which my church is a part) right now. I think it might be a little presumptuous at this juncture to claim I've been called to full time ministry, but there are a couple of doors opening in that direction, and I'm testing the water.

I love you all, and hope to read more about you soon (I also check this pretty regularly). Be blessed, and more importantly, go be a blessing.