Pray

I'm kind of tired of writing about my experiences in the same old way, and I figure you may be tired of reading about them as well, so I decided to simply write down some prayer points that reflect what has happened over the last week or so:

• Pray that I can build deep relationships with the people of Durham Road Baptist Church, as well as that I can meet people outside of the church who I can minister to.
• Pray for the young people that I have gotten to know a little bit, especially Fibon, Allison, and Dominic. Also, for the kids who don't come to church very often, and seem to hold football as their idol.
• Pray for David Hunt (the pastor) and his family as they are away on holiday for 2 weeks. Pray that they will be refreshed as they take a break off.
• Pray for the young adults, that I may build relationships with them in such a way that we can build each other up. Pray for Stuart, Sarah, Enola, Martin, and Gareth & Mandy. Prayt that I can help Martin to learn english (he is from Slovakia) and that Stuart's 24-7 prayer meeting will go well.
• Pray for the summer break (students just got out of school, and are off for 6 weeks). Pray that the kids will be safe and will find productive things to do. Pray for the church camps and other activities that might draw kids to Christ. Pray for direction, so that I can organize fun and influential activities for the students.
•  Pray that I can get used to the culture and language here (it is still English, but there is a 'Geordy' accent). Pray that I will have peace and focus on Christ above all else.

Thank you for your prayers. I hope you are all doing well and keeping your focus on Christ. 

Colosssians 4.2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

1 Thessolonians 5.16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Joy

Have you ever had that feeling of looking back on some great experience and being overwhelmed with a sense of happiness that you were there along with great sadness that you there no longer?

It's like a good meal. The other day, some friends and I went to an Italian restaurant. We splurged and bought some excellent meals; mine was roasted duck penne with plum sauce. It was so scrumptious that I couldn't help but gobble it all up. I savored the flavor, but followed it with 'the godfather', an aptly named mass of chocolate, toffee, brownie, and ice cream. Again, I gobbled it up. As we sat there with bellies full and smiles on our faces, the flavors began to fade. I scrambled for another taste of that chocolaty goodness, but it was gone. As satisfied as I was, I realized that it was over. And in only a couple days, the experience at Oxford would be over too. 

The sites and sounds of that great city of dreaming spires are fading along with the belly-ache that came with 'the godfather.' I scramble for another taste: I look at pictures and reminisce with friends, but still, the flavor is leaving. I'm beginning to wonder if it wasn't all a dream after all-- the city has lived up to its name. But then I remember that Oxford is not the dream which I hope will come true. It has come, and is now past. But it was only a shadow of the real 'city of dreaming spires.'

C.S. Lewis reminds us that joy is a longing for something which is so beautiful, so amazing, so unimaginable, that it cannot be experienced in this life. The friends and fun, the sights and sounds (and smells), the essays and the escapades all brought joy; but they were not what I was really longing for. They are not eternal; they've already come and gone. But there is something, no, Someone, who is far greater and lasts far longer.

Just a Few More Days

I've been in Oxford for a few weeks now, and I have mixed emotions about leaving this Saturday. I will miss the wonderful people that I have met here as well as the exciting experiences that I have had. But I am also filled with excitement about working alongside the people of Gateshead for the next five months. 

I'm sitting here in the lower reading room of the Radcliffe Camera, thinking about all of the great thinkers who have studied here before me. I would like to think that I am included in the 'great thinker' category, but I realize that labels aren't terribly important. My real hope is that the knowledge and experiences gained here will draw me (and my new found friends) nearer to Christ. That seems more important than all the books of 'great thinkers' which surround me. 

In any case, I think the Lord has drawn me to go deeper; to ask the difficult questions; but also to trust Him when the answers are not apparent. For this reason, I will continue to follow where He leads, even though I don't have the answers. When He asks "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?", I hope to reply "Here am I, send me!"