The End is Just the Beginning

23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
-Hebrews 10:23-25


It has now been two weeks since my long, yet short journey to the land of Jordan ended. In all the transition, culture shock, switching time zones etc., I now have found the time to post one last blog concerning this trip.

First of all, I just want to say thank you to those who have faithfully read, and offered great encouragement. I thank you for your support and prayers. Again, let me just say wow. God is good and faithful, and was during this whole process. I could go on for days about the ways I and others were able to see God proving faithful to the cries of our prayers. If you want to know more, I would love to sit down with you and talk through the journey.

As I have been back, I have had to process what just happened and how that affects me now and for the future. When you come back from a trip like this, it is easy to wonder what just happened and what do I make of all the things that I did. I can honestly say that I feel encouraged with what was done, and am excited to hear what is currently/will happen in the future. Before I left and now, I know that God desires my heart to be willing and ready to serve overseas. At one point before I left, I realized that my big problem was being completely willing to do this kind of work. I felt that if I truly let my heart completely do what God wanted, it might bring out my true heart and passions. I was scared to death of that. Thinking of not only my time in Jordan, but in the past, I realized that this way of thinking was true.

As I have come back to reality, I wonder how I can continue to live on mission with God as Christine and I are in the States for some time. Contrary to my naive thinking, we are always on mission. Whether it is overseas teaching English, in the little neighborhood I live, or even at the job that is not always my favorite. I have the great opportunity to live for God as I did in Jordan here in now. The missional life is not just a switch that we flip on when we leave the country, or go to the soup kitchen. That life is every second of our lives! Not to be preachy, but I think I had this sort of dualistic way of thinking for a while in life. There was my life and then there was my ministry. However, I feel there should be no separation.

What is so important is what the verse at the top says. We are all called to hold unswervingly to the hope of Jesus. Jesus is the hope that we live for in the quiet neighborhood, the bush, or the desert of the Middle East. In addition, we are to spur each other on toward love and good deeds. The word spur in this case means that we are to urge on or to press forward. In each day we are to be doing this. This is such a simple thing, yet often left taken seriously.

So as I am back to life here in America, my journey in Jordan was not an end, but just the beginning. I have great peace and confidence in Christine and I returning there. More than that, the journey of a believer in Jesus is never over. It's a life lived each day in the hope of Jesus. As Jesus has authority over all, so we have been given authority to live the way Jesus did. Friends, let's strive towards this each day.

I love all of you! Thank you again for partaking on the journey of Jordan. You all played a part in this. Continue to follow Christine and I as we strive to get back overseas as career workers.

-Grace and Peace

The Turning Point

"1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
2 Timothy 3:1-5


When you read those passages of Scripture, you cannot help but look out your front door and see the exact kinds of things going on today. I don't know about you, but when I read those things, I get a little depressed and overwhelmed. If we were to think on those things for too long, we might begin to become tired, weary, and even just want to quit.

Just a few weeks ago up until the past 4 days ago, I was at the point in my journey here in Jordan where I kind of wanted to quit. I saw many things around me. I didn't feel like I was able to teach English. I didn't feel like I was making a difference in this city. I just said "I" a bunch of times. Therein lies the problem..."I." I was running on my own steam and trying to make a difference in the lives of the people here in Jordan. I was trying to work out my own faith by MYself.

I came to the point where I wanted to quit. I wanted to give up and say that this kind of life, taking the Gospel to all parts of the world, is not for me. I could not explain the things around me, nor was I feeling like I was even making a difference. Like the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-16, he felt weak Paul could not explain why he couldn't shake this thorn from his side. However, God told Paul that "my power is made perfect in weakness." Wow!

Several days ago I got to that same point of weakness and wanted to settle for what is comfortable...what I liked...even the things that aren't of God. I cried out to God and he spoke. I was living with the wrong mindset. I was living my life thinking that I knew who God was and that I was doing all these things for God. Really, I am just a speck...nothing compared to God. It's not about me coming to know God, but finding myself in God, His story, and purpose to redeem humanity. It is not about the talents I have or the things I think I am good at.

At that point, God began to reshape my thinking. I started thinking outward on what God is doing in this world, and less what I can offer the world. I realize now that God is using me. I probably won't lead anyone to believe in God during this short time in Jordan, but there are other things God is doing through me. I can be a person of peace to all I come in contact with. I can encourage others who might be tired and want to quit. As my support information talks about "living in love," so I know that means that in all aspects of my day I am to do that. It might be as simple as saying "hi" to one of my neighbors, taking the time to sit and have coffee with the weird guy who sells movies on the sidewalk, or by adding laughter to my classroom after their hard day of work. Those times are all living in God's love.


Coming back to 2 Timothy 3, Paul says more to this up and coming preacher of the Gospel. He says:
14 "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

It is in the Word of God that I meet God, and become equipped for this work. The Word of God is what will pierce the hearts of people. Not by my eloquent speech, great English lessons, or sense of humor. The fact is I am weak, but God makes me strong.

Following God is not an easy task. If you are at the point where you are tired, weary, and want to give up...don't. Don't worry about how great you may think you are or making others think you are great. Don't go around putting on a half-face for God, yet being another person behind closed doors. The Apostle Paul over and over preached to continue to press on, and persevere. We ought to do likewise. I leave with you 2 Timothy 4:1-5:
1 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

Don't quit. We can't stop. There is a hurting world and God wants us in it. There is something bigger than ourselves working...It's God's work in the world. Stay in the Word of God...never in yourself.

Grace and Peace

Like Ice Being Chipped Away From My Heart

13"And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."
-2 Thessalonians 3:13

Being here for only a few months is a great opportunity I have, yet an extremely challenging one. I find myself at a crossroad. I have been here for a month and I have been able to do lots of reflecting on that month. The first month has seen me adjusting to a new culture, new ways of transportation, new faces etc. All of these and many more have comprised this experience. I find this first month to be quite a transformation for myself. Too often, during these times, our expectations and hopes are not as realized as we might envision them. That's OK. In addition, the first month and following have been a time for God and I to have some head-on, serious time together. The best way I can describe the time I am spending in Jordan is much like a sermon I saw this summer. I don't remember much about the sermon, except that the person teaching proceeded to chip away at a block of ice for about 10 minutes. After the long, and strenuous process, it revealed a heart that was in the midst of the ice. I use that illustration to say that God has been chipping away the ice in me. I admit that the a lot of ice has melted away by God's love and grace. I also admit that ice sometimes reforms and needs to be chipped away again.

In this first month, I saw, and still see God stripping away pride, old ways,and immature ways of living. In this month, God has continued to draw me back to the Scriptures, and being alone with God. God has continued to feed my heart with confidence, and boldness.

Through this first month, I have been studying a great deal from the book of Deuteronomy. In my study of this, I was astounded at the many times the phrases like "remember, be careful, be obedient, I am the Lord," and many other phrases occur. I take those reminders to heart knowing that is what God asks us to do when we are frustrated, unsure of the future, and so on. God wants us to remember the good things he has done for us, the things he is doing, and to anticipate what he will do in the future. Some of those things being that God has blessed me with this opportunity, a call to "defend the cause the fatherless, widow,love the alien, and give them food and clothing" (Deut. 10:18-19). God has given me a beautiful fiance. God has given me a burden for understanding the world and serving the world. You get the point.

Ok...so you might read all of that and wonder what the title of the blog and the verse at the top mean. Here is that part. At this point in my time in Jordan, I am getting to the point where I know that my end here is coming, in a long, and short 6 weeks. Lately, I have asked myself if I am really making a difference and if the work that I have been blessed with will produce fruit. I know that I can only be the sower, but I struggle with knowing how to invest my time. This problem is hard to reconcile because I desire to be obedient to God. It is easy to tire in doing good, and become idle if we are not careful.

With this frustration, I know that in my time here I might not change any lives, but I can still be an encouragement to my students, the teachers, other workers, and those I meet in this country. I know that God is giving me glimpses of the future and placing burdens of different types of people on me that break my heart. All of these experiences that I have are giving me glimpses of the future, while giving me chances to expand the Kingdom in this brief time.

With these things being said, I want to encourage all of you with a passage from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5:

1"Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."

For you, friends, never give up on the Gospel of God. It is still living and active. Never tire. Don't think that you are not making a difference. You are! As you face challenges in expanding God's kingdom, don't let those keep you down or cause you to become idle.

I ask that continue to pray for me that as I am here that I would continue to pray for God's message to advance even in the oppression and darkness. Pray that God continues to chip away the ice of my heart so that I can be encouraging to others, and bold in speaking the truth. Lastly, pray that God's message would spread to all places, and that you would actively be part of establishing God's kingdom.

I hope that this post is not too confusing. I know I often wander down rabbit trails, as many of you who know me understand. I am thankful for all of your prayers and support. I do have a video posted on Facebook of Jordan. I encourage you to check it out.

Grace and Peace to ALL of you!

Rhythm's of Life

23 "Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
-Deuteronomy 4:23-24

During my time here in Jordan, I am often reminded of the purposes that I have set out on such a journey. I was reminded several days ago that even as I serve the Jordanians here, I am the mission as well. Being over here is yet another way that God continues to call me back to himself,and make himself known among me so that I might make Christ known to others. Seeing the great spiritual oppression and bondage here burden's my soul often and I wonder if I am doing enough to make a difference in the lives of those I come in contact with.

As I have been reading God's word lately, I have been taking a study through Deuteronomy. All the time, there constant themes of remember, be careful, be holy, and be obedient. As the Israelites sought to follow God, God desired their utmost obedience. The experience in Jordan has called me to do those same things. It has brought a lot of baggage to the surface and allowed for God to heal and remove those things. Today, as I spent time with God, God continued to remind me to keep my focus small and to do the things he has appointed me to of my best ability. Those things being finding myself in God, teaching English/building relationships with students, and studying Arabic. If I am not doing those three things to my best ability, then there might be a problem.

Lately, I have challenged to practice the Sabbath. Before there were religions etc, God calls us to keep the Sabbath as a day set apart for nothing. On this day, we allow God to provide for everything we need as we rest, worship, and delight in the Lord. I have found those times to refuel my fire for God, the people here, and for the mission to reconcile the world.
As I spend those times with God, I can't help but feel that my life is constantly in a rhythm to serve God in all circumstances. I always need to remember the covenant God has for us, be careful in following God, live a life set apart for Him, and just to be obedient. I say all those things with all conviction and encouragement.

Living as a follower of Christ is not easy task. Seeing bondage and oppression wears on us daily. Yet, we must continue to allow God to make himself known among us in order to make Christ known to others.

Friends, let us always come back to the Lord and never forget the Lord. Think of what God has done for you in the past, present, and what God will do for you in the future as you remain obedient.

Here are a couple prayer points as you read this:

-the students at the center- for walls to be crushed, and bridges to be built
-our team in Jordan
-the spiritual bondage and oppression- that this cloud of darkness might be removed and that God's light might shine through
-that God's kingdom would come and that his will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Thank you to all of you who are following, and tenaciously praying for this journey. I can't thank you enough. I love all of you and pray that you are being rooted in God's love in order to extend it to others.

Grace and Peace

Two Worlds Collide

Hello to all of you! Today, I have officially been in the country of Jordan for about a week. It's quite crazy to think that my time has gone that fast, and the journey is just beginning. Now that I have had a week under my belt, explore the area a little bit, try some local food, the ministry that God has given the missionaries here begins on Monday. I will be partnering with the Second Circle English Language Program. At SCELP, we teach ESL classes in order to help people gain better English skills for various reasons. The section I will be teaching is level 3. At level 3, students are progressing quite well in their English, so hopefully this position will allow for some good dialog between my students and I. Once again, I thank all of you for your prayers and support on this journey.

As I have been getting ready to start the classes on February 1, I have been considering what other things God has for me here. While being here this first week has been so surreal, and dream-like, I know that there is so much more to this trip that meets the eye. It is no longer about just being a tourist for 7-10 days, but rather interacting in a culture where two worlds collide: Arab/American, Muslim/Christian, Male/Female. The question becomes how can me be people who live in such a society in order to proclaim peace, and love. How do we interact in a world that there is division politically, religiously, ethnically, and still proclaim God? In a land that was once inhabited by followers of Yahweh, so now we find ourselves back in the land striving to bring God back into the equation.

As I have thought about such things, the issue of making this trip more than just a tourist event, and more of a mission to proclaim God's love, justice and mercy, an incredible burden has come upon me for this country: a burden that desires to see unity and peace, rather than pride and selfish-ambition. I am reminded of the prophet Jeremiah writing during the exile of Israel. He says:

⁶ "Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. ⁷ I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. ⁸ I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. ⁹ Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it."

-Jeremiah 33:6-9

As those words have sat with me all this day, I keep thinking that there is more to me than just teaching English. It is about helping to bring health and healing to it. Peace and Security. It is about starting a process that helps rebuild the city as it was before. It is about the community being so changed by the love of God that as the passage says there will be joy, praise, and honor for what God has done.

Friends, I am blessed to be in a country where two worlds collide. This experience is a way to let love come in and a bridge for these two worlds to be built. Whether it be by teaching English, meeting students for coffee, or just smiling at a stranger on the street, our entire being should be to radiate the love of Christ in our words, and actions.

Consider your world, are there worlds that are colliding, be it in your workplace, home, neighborhood, or place of worship? What are you doing that helps create a bridge between these two worlds, and to be a messenger of God's peace and love? Would you join me in your own community as I carry out this burden that God has put on my heart for this country while I am here?

To wrap this up, as I have walked all around the city, passing thousands of people, and acquainting myself with the people and understanding its needs, a song as continually resonated in me. I have the song linked and would invite you to share in viewing this. I hope that through what the Scriptures say that we might continue to take part in God's mission to reconcile the world to Himself.

I love all of you. I pray for you and thank you for your support every day. Continue to live in His love daily!

Grace and Peace

Rest At Last

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

-Matthew 11:28-30

Greetings from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan! I hope all of you are doing well today. It has been a crazy 3 days. With all the traveling, adjusting, lack of sleep, and getting to know the city, I have not had much time to unwind and take it all in.

Yesterday was my first full day, and it was sure a full day. Some of the highlights include touring the old downtown area, trying Shwarma (basically the Jordanian hamburger), Knafeh (a popular desert), a couple hot treats in the area. The Old Downtown area is the more traditional area of Jordan, while a more modern downtown is being established in the northern part of the city. We got to see the newer area, and go to the City Mall, which was pretty crazy. Our last endeavor of the day was hanging out with Nathan (one of the missionaries here), Jay (my roommate who is staying for a year), and a Jordanian friend of Nathan's at a local coffee shop.

This is merely the short version, of our long day, but you get the picture. Arriving in Jordan is like stepping into the dreamland. I never imagined, except from pictures, that life was like this. It is an adjustment being here, but I am good hands with the missionaries. My biggest barriers are reading/speaking Arabic, and being able to get my bearings for where things are in the city.

While these things can be frustrating, we must remember that it is God that is continuing to give us the strength to overcome these things. As I was reading my Bible yesterday, I was reading about how Jesus continues to call all back to himself. In the passage above, Jesus tells us to come to him when we are weary and burdened, and he will give us rest. I can definitely see that the language barrier, geographic challenges, and others will all prove to be burdens to me on this journey. Getting to know the Jordanians and understand their heritage so that the light may push back the darkness also presents plenty of challenges.

No matter what, God promises us rest. For me, it was getting to Jordan, and being able to be removed from all that I was doing, and taking up something new. Rest is more than just a physical thing. The rest is refreshment. It is seeing things with the eyes of our God knowing that he has already overcome the world. Rest is what we have when we come to God in devotions, prayer, silence, and our worship. It is allowing the layer of blah to be removed and allowing our God to clothe us with Himself.

Where do you find yourself today? Are you wandering, and desperately need rest? Take rest in God and remove yourself from the norm and allow yourself to taste and see God's goodness.

Well, that is all for now. I thank all of you for your prayers, and know that I am praying for all of you as well. Until next time...

Grace and Peace

Away we go...in 4 days

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
-John 15:1-8


Well...Only four more days until I step into the unknown on the other side of the world. I have been feeling very calm, and collected as the excitement builds toward going to Jordan. I admit, the past week has not been the easiest. It is easy to be lazy, and to fall into a comfortable pattern. That pattern is not always the best, and healthiest.
As I was at church with my parents today, the person preaching today talked of the passage from John 15. Too often, this passage is used, and used, and sometimes loses its luster. This passage is powerful, and speaks of how our daily lives ought to function as we follow Christ. Several quotes stick out to me:

"apart from me, you can do nothing."
"every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

I found both of these very convicting. Apart from Christ in my life, I am powerless, and can do nothing. My own pride and self-sufficiency mean nothing, but only the divine power of Christ living in me is who gives me my identity.
In addition, it is interesting in reading that the parts of us that don't bear fruit God will clean/prune, so that they can be be made fruitful. There are definitely areas of life in me that continually need pruning so that everything I do might be pleasing to God. Daily, I must ask God to be my source of strength and as Colossians 3:1-4 speaks of, we are to set our minds on things that are above. Likewise, Jesus speaks of storing our treasures in heaven, and not in the things of earth (Matthew 6:19-25).
Are you abiding in God in everything? Where in your life do you need God to prune you so that you may be fruitful?

As you are praying this week, I ask that you would pray for safe travels. Also, I ask that you would pray that God would continue to prepare my heart and that I would abide in God as I make this step of faith into the Middle East. Pray that my words and actions would be from God, and that they would be fruitful as I seek to spread that Gospel.

-Grace and Peace

Happy New Year- 1 day closer

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you wil carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains for defending the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God."
-Philippians 1:3-11


Hello everyone! I hope all of you have had a blessed holiday season and new year. I can honestly say this has been one of the most enjoyable and blessed holiday season's ever. I am excited for what God is going to do in 2010. I am done with school, headed to Jordan, and getting married. Could 2010 start off any better than that?
Well...I am getting closer and closer to departure to Amman, Jordan. I am officially leaving January 21 out of Cleveland, OH. So, mark your calendars because it is coming soon. I am still in the process of fund raising and getting belongings and what nots ready before the big day.
If you are still interested in giving toward this mission, I would certainly appreciate it. When saying "support", yes, a part of that does mean financial. With that, I would like to invite you to commit to praying before, during, and after the trip. You can read my blog often as I will be constantly putting updates up from the field.
All of you are constantly in my prayers and I am grateful that I have all of you in my life to share in this experience. As I think about me going, and you sending, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul from his letter to the Philippians as I put at the beginning of the blog. I pray for you and that God would continue to encourage you and help you see the story of God lived out everyday. As I travel away, all of you are going with me and will be in the midst of every action because you have helped me get there.

Thank you all so much for your support. Grace and Peace.