Love??

So, the Bible tells us to love the people around us. Jesus goes as far as the tell us to love our enemies! In Matt 5:43-48 Jesus says that anyone can love those who love them. There’s no reward in loving people who love you already, everyone does that. Even tax collectors or in todays world dishonest business men and thieves love the people that love them. Jesus says we need to love those who do not love us back, the ones who ignore us, who hate us, who rip us off, lies to us or treat us like crap. (Major paraphrase.) 

I always read this and hardly thought about it. I always thought of enemies as in war or some other majorly dramatic situation. I figured that one day if someone did something really awful to me I would be able to make the choice to love them and forgive them. Loving however does not start with the big situations, it starts with today’s situations. In reality, when someone treated me like crap, I got angry with them. Sometimes I would put them in their place while other times I would pridefully stay quiet and think about how badly they were in the wrong. The truth is, I definitely did not love my enemies. When someone talked to me in a nasty tone, I often reacted in a nasty tone. If someone ignored me, I got annoyed. If someone yelled at me, I made sure they realized that I was pissed at them for it. Everyone once in a while I was able to react with a soft answer, but not often. I was focussed on myself, and decided that if someone treated me badly then they deserved some type of punishment. 

This however is not what Jesus instructed us to do. Jesus said to love our enemies which even includes loving the members of our families and friends when they lash out at us. 

A few weeks ago I ran through an interesting situation. Someone who I deal with and interact with on an every day basis began to treat me quite badly. It wasn’t just a one time word or action, but an ongoing issue that began to leak into every interaction they had with me every day for weeks. I kept quite quiet for a while and managed not to say too much to them and felt I was growing. However, after several weeks it got to the point that I was ready to snap and tell them how it was and where to go. It was then that I spent some alone time with God and asked Him was I should do. The answer was clear. God told me that I had a responsibility to love that person. I asked how I should confront them, and God said that He would. It was His job that day. So, I decided I was going to love this person. It wasn’t easy, because they continued to treat me the same way. They also avoided me when they had nothing bad to say. I hardly had the chance to do something nice and definitely didn’t have the chance to have a good conversations and encourage them. However, I showed love through a simple smile, a nice comment and also by not treated them badly as a reaction to their treatment. 

I wasn’t perfect in my love for that person, but God began to make a change in me. Very quickly the way they treated me began to affect me less and less. Loving them wasn’t so much a grueling task as a joy, a chance to serve not only them but over all my loving Heavenly Father. (If God can love me after I constantly turn from Him and disobey Him, who am I not to love another no matter how they treat me.) 

I also realized that God had given me a chance to grow in love. I always assumed that one day when I was married when my wife would act badly towards me I would react so lovingly toward her and quickly mend any problem. I realize I was day dreaming like crazy. If I couldn’t love my enemy today, then can I really expect to magically love my wife one day when she acts like an “enemy?” 

The fact is, our opportunity to grow is right now. Its not tomorrow when war breaks out or we face persecution for being Christians, its right now! We need to learn to love our co-workers when they lash out at us, to love our family when they misunderstand us, to love our spouse when they come home grumpy and tired. Loving starts now, in todays situation. I know its not always easy, but its good! As we love, we don’t only grow in our character, but also in our relationship with God and the people around us. We also will hate and stress less often and will be able to find much more joy in our lives. 

I haven’t written this to say look at me; I still have so far to go. I’m writing this as an encouragement. I hope that everyone who reads this will be encouraged and find new strength to love! In the end guys, “What we do in love will remain, but what is not done in love for God will not count.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-6 (paraphrased)

“So now faith, hope and love will remain, but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13: 13

Fear??

     I realized not long ago that I used to be scared of God. I'm not talking about a holy "Fear of God" being a pure desire to obey and honour God, but rather, actually being scared. Scared that maybe God's plan for my life really isn't the best, scared that maybe He doesn't have a good plan for my life, scared that maybe He won't show up like He has promised or provide as He says He will.
     Where did this fear come from? I think it directly came as a result of not really knowing God the way I thought I did. I had a ton of head knowledge, which is great, but I didn't really know God with my heart. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." I was doing great with head knowledge, but not with my heart. There is a huge difference between reading that God is a provider vs. knowing in your heart that God loves you enough to provide for you. I heard tons about God's "Father Heart," but it wasn't until 5 or 6 months ago that God began to reveal His Father Heart to me and places the knowledge of His love in my heart.
     So often we don't walk out in what we believe to be God's plans because we are scared. We are afraid to step into an area of "ministry" because the pay is less or we think we won't enjoy it. We're afraid to pack up and go overseas because we fear that we will run out of finances or we won't have a secure future/retirement.
     What I have learned is that when we walk out in Father's intention, He WILL provide. Sometimes we walk out in our own plans and fall flat on our faces. Then God comes, picks us up, dusts us off and helps us to continue on. But, when we walk out in God's intentions for our lives, down His path rather than our own, we have nothing to fear. He will provide, He will protect, He will fill us and use us. When we take risks for God, we grow closer to Him. Every situation we go through will draw us nearer, and we will know Him better. We will understand more of His character, more of His nature. He will become more and more alive to us, more and more a part of our lives. The more we dig in, the closer to Him we will grow.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8

I was only going to put the first part of the verse in, but then I felt I should type the whole thing. Not only do we need to dig in by reading, praying, listening and worshipping our amazing Father, but we also need to throw the sin out of our lives. It will hold us back from drawing close to Him. Sometimes we think that maybe the things we want, the little bits of sin in our lives are going to make us happy.... we enjoy them... but as you begin to walk into God's fulness, you'll be blown away by how amazing He really is, and how much better He is than the things of this "world" that distract us.

I just want to encourage you all to dig in with God and chase after Him. Don't be afraid to walk into His plans over your own, He'll blow you away as you do! I know its a journey, and its amazing one too! I'm just beginning, and already God is blowing me away! How much more does He have in store for you and for me!! Crazy to think about.    :)

Fair Trade

I have decided that I'm going to share a bit about Fair Trade. Over the last few years this movement called Fair Trade seems to have been coming up a lot. I first heard of it 5 or so years ago in Grade 12 of high school. At that point I was a bit ignorant and laughed. I said that I couldn't afford to buy fair trade.

The fact is, that much of our coffee and the cocoa used in chocolate is produced in undeveloped countries by slaves including child slaves or by people who are paid so little for their product that they can hardly survive. Other products often produced by slaves or under paid workers are sugar, tea, bananas,  cotton, wine, fresh fruit, gold and clothes. (We often think that slavery was abolished in the 19th century, but it is common today that ever before. We often do not hear about it because it mostly occurs in undeveloped nations and receives very little media attention.)
   
Fair Trade is an organized social movement started by people that decided to do something about this issue. The Fair Trade goal is to make sure that workers are paid a wage that they can actually live off of, and to do away with slavery.

I realize that not everyone is called to visit a foreign country and expose the slavery that happens or start a company that pays a fair wage, but we can all Very Easily make a Difference. When you buy a product that bares the Fair Trade symbol, you are supporting farmers/workers in foreign countries and are making sure that they are receiving a fair wage.

It is very difficult to make sure that every product we buy is "Fair Trade" but please, don't be discouraged! The best thing to do is to start somewhere, anywhere! Just start somewhere you know! Buy reading this blog post you now know that Coffee and Cocoa/Chocolate are two of the products most commonly produced via slavery and underpaid workers. This is now an easy place to start! Next time you are in the store buying coffee or chocolate, look for the Fair Trade symbol.

The downside for us is, Fair Trade is harder to find, so you will have less variety of chocolate, and fair trade coffee costs more. However, naturally, if you buy a product that was produced via slavery, its going to be cheaper to buy, whereas if you buy a product produced by a person who is being paid a wage they can live on, it will of course cost more. I used to say that I couldn't afford to buy Fair Trade, but then I realized that the majority of the world cannot afford for me not to. 

This whole issue of Fair Trade is something that was on the back of my mind for some time, and finally a few months ago I decided that it was time to start doing something. It costs me a little bit more, and I eat a little less chocolate, but my conscience is clear, knowing that the workers who have produced the chocolate I am eating are able to support their families. I would have never supported slavery in my own country, and I guess I finally realized that I had to stop supporting it in other countries. Hopefully over the next few years I will be able to support Fair Trade in more areas like clothing :)  


My hope in you reading this blog is that you will start to think about this issue and consider to take action yourself! It may cost us a few dollars more a week for coffee, but it could also mean the difference between slavery and a free life for a family in Brazil or Vietnam, the worlds leading producers of coffee. I hope that you will take some time to think about this issue of slavery and if it is right for you to help support the workers who grow and harvest our luxuries by buying Fair Trade products. Or, maybe you'll look up a bit more on this issue. If you start to search, it will unfortunately blow you away.

ps. the first track of the Pass It On Tour was pretty sick too... check it out at www.gopassiton.org or check out the video links on the right of your screen!!

God loves me... wut??

If this looks too long for you, at least read the second half :P

     Over the last few years I realized that God wanted me to serve Him, and I knew I should spend time with Him, but I didn't get it. It was a struggle to constantly read and pray and try to listen. I didn't simply spend time with God because I enjoyed it, but because I knew I should. Sometime my relationship with God even felt like a burden. I sometimes felt that the more I knew about God, the more burdensome life was getting. The thing was, I knew a lot of things about God, but I didn't actually know God Himself.
     Its like you're going to start a new job. You hear a lot about your new boss from people who know him. You hear that he's a super hard worker and only allows the best work to pass. He wants to see you do your best. After hearing different stories, you're probably going to be a bit intimidated going to work your first day. But, that first day you get to actually meet your boss and work with him. You get to know him better and better. You realize that although he wants to see you do your best, he knows that you're just learning. He knows you'll make mistakes, and when they come, he is ready and willing to help you fix them and keep learning if only you're honest about your mistakes. Over time you realize that he really is a great person and you're no longer intimidated to work with him, but rather its enjoyable!
     This is a lot the way it was with me. I knew so many things about God, and there were certain things that stuck out and formed who I believed God was. I didn't have an extreme view of God as being harsh and mean, but totally did not understand His love for me. I didn't understand that He would simply want to hear from me, for me to spend time with Him because I enjoy it, not because I have to. To understand that He's made rules for me to follow that aren't there for no reason, but because they are what is best for me and help me. They keep me from hurting myself and the people around me.
     Its interesting that God always refers to himself as a father, because a lot of fathers in this world really aren't that great. Even the best fathers fall short. But when we look at a good father, we realize that he wants to spend time with his children, and he wants his children to want to spend time with him. He loves them and does what is best for them. He builds them up and helps them to grow into good people. He's willing to sacrifice and help them when they screw up. He doesn't simply count them as a write off when they make a mistake. No matter how big the mistake, the father still loves them and wants to help them recover and come back to what is good. I've come to realize that if I was to pick out all the best qualities of the best fathers and throw away all the bad, they would still never compare to God my perfect father.
     I always thought when I screwed up that God counted me as a write off. I thought that after I screwed up that I had to do extra well to prove myself good enough for God to still love and help me. God doesn't enjoy when we screw up and sin, but his reaction is like that of a good father. He doesn't just get angry and punish me in His burning anger, but He does what He knows is best for me. My sin has a consequence, but it never comes without God's grace. God's doesn't punish because it will make Him feel better. Rather, like a good father, God wants us to learn and grow. He wants the best for us, and thats why we are punished, and His punishment always comes with grace. As I recognize my mistake, God is glad. He looks at me with joy, because I got it. I didn't miss the point, but I understood, I learned, I grew.
     Like a good father, God isn't simply there to tell us when we do wrong, He's also there with us excited when we do right, excited when we grow, when we succeed, when we overcome, when we forgive and show grace to others. Its been over the last month that I have finally really begun to understand just a bit of the extent of God's love. Every situation that I've gone through, God has been revealing His heart for me in the situation, His love for me in every situation. His desire for me to spend time with Him out of love.
     God never wanted me to be burden with simply having to read and pray and follow a bunch of rules. God has always wanted me to enjoy spending time with Him, and to include Him in all my day. To miss Him when I don't spend time with Him each day.
     I know this may sound like really basic "churchy" information, and to me it seemed that way in the past too, but when God spoke these things to me, when He opened my heart to actually just begin understand them and His love for me, thats when things changed. I've just begun to grasp the very basics of God's love, and already it blows me way. I remember hearing people say that they've fallen in love with God and I could never understand that. But now I have to admit, I have finally just begun to truly fall in love with God myself. I have finally begun to not only know God through Bible knowledge and such, but also now with my heart!
     I want to encourage anyone who read this, if you don't really really know God's father heart, begin to chase after God's heart. Ask Him to reveal to you more of himself, to give you more desire for Him, to open your eyes and heart to who He is! It might be a long journey, but when you find Him, you'll find peace and rest and good things! I used to think life was pretty cool back in grade eleven when I was smoking pot, but now I've come to realize that that was nothing compared to where God has brought me! Yeah, I had to lay down a little, but God gave me so much more as I did!
     I thought being a rebel and doing risky things at school was sick, but this, knowing God, and walking into what He has for my life, now thats sick! 

The hope of the nations!

     I guess I've been in Australia for nearly nine months now, and I'm starting to really miss home. I have missed home to an extent while here in Australia, but the last couple months I've begun to really miss home. It has become more difficult to be here serving in Australia. I realize how much I appreciate everyone and everything back home. Missing home has even gotten me a little bit down lately. But, God did call me to Australia, and that is why I'm here. I don't know how long God wants me to be hear, but I know right now He does want me here, and so, I stay here.
     Its good serving God, but not always easy. Sometimes it feels easier just to be obedient and go through the motions, but not have my heart in it. But I don't simply want to go through the motions and not have my heart in it. God is so good, and whether His blessing means me getting to live in Australia or Canada, in the country or in a suburb, He is still good. Its my desire to obey God, and I want to have my heart in it, all in. I want to keep falling deeper in love with God, keep building relationship with God. I want to keep running down the path He has laid out for me, shouting out how amazing He is! I want to be all I can possibly be in God.
     1 Corinthians 13 says, without love, nothing we do means anything. I don't want to spend my life doing things for God, and being empty of love. There is no point for me to be here in Australia if I am not loving, because nothing I do will then matter. I want to be full of God's love, full of love for the people around me, full of love for those I have the opportunity to reach out to. I want what I do to have eternal effect! Its God's plan for me to be here right now, and I want to be obedient. But I don't want to simply be obedient in my location, I want to be all I can be in God and do all I can do in God's love! I want to live in joy and serve in love!
     Its definitely not easy, but its possible.   :)    It means asking God daily for joy and love in my life, because God can fill me with true joy and love, and only God can do that. Sometime it comes down to a a choice. A choice to be joyful. A choice to look at the blessings God has placed in my life. A choice to look at the good around me. A choice to be positive and glad that God is working both in me and through me. It might not look like I expected, but God knows best, and since I am in the hands of the One who knows best, I can be glad!
     After all, Jesus life wasn't an easy one either. He lived to die for us, and every moment He spent on earth was dedicated to us! He never had a house or a family and beautiful comfortable things. He lived a servant life. But the amazing thing is, Jesus lived a life full of joy and intense burning love for the people around Him! Jesus not only gave His life on the cross to save us from our sin, but also gave his life up as he lived as an example to us! Jesus had so little, but was still so full of love and joy and all good things from God our Father. I know God is willing to give me the same, and He does! And I know He is willing to give to all who chase after Him and ask for good pure things! 

Easter Fest!

The Chai Tent

Morning Worship

     So I just got home from Easter Fest in Toowoomba a couple days ago. Easter Fest is the biggest Christian music festival in all of Australia: about twenty to thirty thousands people come to Toowoomba for it. And, every year pretty much the whole YWAM base here, as well as a few of the surrounding bases go and volunteer. There were a little over 1,000 volunteers at easter fest, of which 150 were YWAMers. We also brought our big ol' marquee tent there and set it up to do ministry. We built a couple temporary walls with a projector screen in one of them and a stage in front. We laid down carpets and arranged low tables and cushions for people to relax at. Every day during the festival we had various bands perform on stage and the DTS students from our base also performed music and dances. We played a movie on the projector every night, as well as a slideshow of all our outreach locations that I put together and some other YWAM promo videos. We also promoted the "pass it on tour" that we just kicked off, and a couple of the other YWAM bases promoted their bases/DTSes under a couple small tents around ours. We had a lot of time to mix with people, just having conversations and listening to people, encouraging people, and hopefully inspiring them too. And of course there are lots of nonbelievers at easter fest, so we had a chance to witness to them as well. 

     There were also a lot of smaller Christian bands playing at various locations around the city of Toowoomba. They played in small cafes, shopping malls and out on the streets. Every day a couple teams of us would hit the streets to help steer people to the different locations and do some street evangelism. Throughout the weekend we heard stories of people being led to Christ, a lot of praying for people on the streets, and even some healing! Its pretty dang cool! There were also teams that went through the youth camping sections to talk, stop fights and witness as well, and they also got to pray for a lot of people. 

Serving Chai

Various Performers

    So, we were basically at easter fest from last monday through this monday helping to prepare, put up tents, help with generally everything going on, eventually do ministry, and in the end pack it all up. Twas pretty sweet! None of us really got too much sleep, especially Stephanie. Angel was coordinating all of the YWAM volunteers and Stephanie was her right hand, so neither of them got much sleep at all. They usually worked till 1 or 2 in the morning, and were up between 5 and 6:30 the next morning all week. Crazy. It was a really cool experience, and encouraging to a lot of people. God was definitely at work and doing a lot. There were a lot of other Christian help organizations at easter fest promoting what they are doing, including Compassion child sponsorships, and a lot of children got sponsored through them! It was really cool! They also had a few organizations helping children out of child slavery and child soldiers and so on. It was really amazing to see so much good in one place, people dedicating their lives to the work God has given them. People doing things out of love rather than for money.   :) 

God's goodness :)

I am realizing more and more every day, how little I can really do on my own; How little strength I really have. I used to think I was pretty amazing, and was really going to go far. That I could grow into being a skilled speaker and really impact a lot of lives. This to an extent is true, but I thought I could do it on my own strength, with my own skill. But, I've come to realize that I really can't do any of that, not without God. Sure I can grow in the skill of public speaking, but without God no lives will be impacted. I could get up front of a crowd and say a lot of great words, but if they aren't the words that God wants me to share, then I've missed the point. I'm learning more and more how all things can be done through Christ who strengthens me, and how little can be done without Christ. I am realizing that if I want to give my life to impacting and helping others, it needs to be a life that is completely submitted to God. A life that is willing to go where He says to go, says what He says to say, and lives the way He calls us to live.
     We all know that God knows best. But sometimes we forget how important it is to wait on Him with in every situation. If I want to share with a group of people, and I really want to impact them and help them to grow close to God, then I need to seek God and share His words, not my own. Because God's words are the words that really have power. God knows the heart, He knows where they are at in their relationship with Him or lack there of. It is God that touches the heart. It is God that opens a person up to the gospel. If I want to be God's spokes person to bring people to Him and build up those who already know Him, then I need to be in relationship with God. I need to be seeking Him and speaking His words, because it is His words that have power, not mine.
     At the same time, what good are powerful words if my actions contradict my words? It is amazing, the strength God gives me to obey. On my own I want to do everything wrong. I want the wrong things, to go the wrong places, to do things at the wrong time. But God pours out His grace and guides me, giving me the strength to obey Him and live a life that exemplifies a small bit of His goodness. I still make mistakes, I still do wrong, but God pours His grace over me and forgives, and then gives me the strength to overcome and grow stronger. Its amazing how much God has been growing and strengthening me, especially with patience. Its not always easy, but God is good, and He helps us through the hard times and helps us all to grow! All we have to do is stay open to Him and remember that He knows what is best, He has a reason, and He works good out of all situations, even the ones that seem to suck the most. Its amazing to look back and see the good that God has brought out of some of the worst situations that I have gone through, and how He has used them to grow me. Its also so amazing knowing that even though I don't deserve it, God not only forgives, but wants to use me to further His kingdom. And He doesn't only want to use me, but wants to use all of us!

I hope that wasn't too much of a ramble ;)     Its just amazing having God by my side helping me through, and sometimes its hard to put into words :)    

Go Teams!!

Well, over the last couple of months, God has led me to join on staff with "Go Teams" at the YWAM base in Brisbane! Those working on go teams organize and coordinate the majority of the local outreach done here in Brisbane by the base. The suburbs around us are filled with families and of course youth. We are dedicated to reaching out to these families and youth. We are in the middle of building up our high school ministry. In the past we have already been helping out with the breakfast program and playing sports with the teens during lunch hours as a form of outreach. We are now in the process of getting together some new outreach material to share at the high schools. We would raise awareness on different issues teens are struggling with these days, and use the opportunity to share Jesus. There are also quite a few youth who hang out at the base and use the gym & games area that we are reaching out to.

     We also have a few very large projects we are working on right now. A vision our base has is to get a Bible in every home in the suburbs around us. This includes a package we have put together to reach out to families, and is geared towards helping families grow together. And of course, one of the items in the package is a Bible. We are also putting together a run across the state of Queensland. During the run, we will be stopping in local towns where we will be hosting events to reach out to those in the "bush" communities.  YWAM Brisbane also owns a large white marquee tent that fits approximately 200+ people. We set this tent up at large events happening all over the state of Queensland and sometimes beyond. DTS students put on dramas and worship, and hot chai tea is always served. The tent serves as a safe place where youth can just hang out and talk. The doors God has opened to minister to these youth is absolutely amazing, and many have come to Jesus as a result!
     Over the last several years there have not been many staff on Go Teams, and much of the vision God has given us could be completed. Over the last couple of months, God has raised up three new full time staff for Go Teams. This is a huge blessing, and is allowing us to dive into new areas of ministry in the suburbs around us!
     I will be on staff full time with Go Teams for the next year, or possibly more depending where God continues to lead me. Its a huge blessing to be part of the ministry that is going on here in Brisbane, and I am looking forward to all that God has for me. And, its pretty cool to already see the new things God has been teaching me since the end of my DTS. DTS may have finished, but God will never stop working in my life! 

Titleless

Hey all,

     I'm back in Australia; outreach went well! We finished up our last two weeks running two "mini weeklong DTSes." Both weeks we taught the teens the things we had learned ourselves over DTS. We shared on: Character and Nature of God, Father Heart of God, Hearing God's Voice, Lordship, Fear of the Lord, Spiritual Warfare, and also other things like how to write a testimony etc. It was really great to see the teens interested and growing, asking questions and becoming bolder. It was a huge blessing from God to share those things, even though some of them I had just come to understand a few months ago. 

     One thing God just keep blowing me away with is His goodness. I have always known God is good, but now God continually puts that knowledge more and more in my heart! It was always good to know God is good, but its amazing to be able to actually feel God's goodness in my heart and see it in my life. I guess God has also been giving me knew eyes to see His goodness and blessings with, and teaching me to really appreciate them. 

     God taught me a few things in India, one of which was to be faithful in the small. Our first few weeks we seemed to have a lot of children's ministries, and also down time. It was a huge struggle for me, because I don't feel called to children's ministries, and I hate not having something to do. When I left for outreach, I expected to be extremely busy and teaching, serving or preaching constantly. When I realized it wouldn't necessarily be like that, it was very hard for me to not be frustrated. But I asked God about it, and God being good as He is, gave me revelation. Its pretty exciting to be given something big to do, but when you are given "small things" and not a whole lot at a time, that for me was a huge test of faithfulness. I knew I had to grab hold of what God was giving me, and do it with all my heart, even if it wasn't something I wanted to do. God revealed that if I showed myself faithful in the small, He would continue to give me more, and opportunities closer to the area that I feel called to. So, I gave my all! It was extremely exciting the last two weeks as God gave us the opportunity to teach and mentor the teens in the mini DTSes. I have realized I need to constantly be open to God's growth and direction. On outreach I figured our team would be teaching and serving constantly from what we had learned, and we did chances to do so. But, what really blew me away was how many things God taught me while on outreach!      :)