Our first update of the year.  We created a totally new website, still not great in Internet Explorer, and are hoping to regularly update it throughout the year.  This is the first entry at www.steveandmegan.org

The end of the year is here and I guess it’s time to start with the New Years Resolutions.  Along with tightening my glutes and cussing less, consistent upkeep of the website has made my list of things to do this new year.  So welcome to our first blog post...of this year.

Honestly we have no great expectations for this year.  We know that God will continue being a loving and perfect God and we’re going to do our best to work with Him to establish His kingdom on earth.  Outside of that Megan and I have no clue as to what we’re going to experience this year.  There are things we want to do, and things we know we’re going to do in the unforeseeable future, but we don’t quite know what changes this year will bring.

Maybe there won’t be any changes this year.  Maybe this year will be the exact same as last year.  If so, that’s no problem.  We work with great people who love Jesus and desire to help others love Jesus.  Megan’s still teaching the Reading class (Read Kindergarten class) and I’m teaching in both School of the Bible and in the third grade.  We know this is where we’re going to be until the end of summer 2011.  After that we’ll hear from God where we’re to go.

Actually, there is onething I’m excited about this year.  The merging of the prayer movements with the missions movements.  What does that look like practically?  I don’t know, but it’s happening.  The International House of Prayer and Youth With A Mission are increasingly coming together as are other ministries.  There’s so much talk about it, especially from the International House of Prayer that we’re bound to see something tangible this year.  That’s also what God is calling Megan and I to in the future.  To have a ministry that disciples and outreaches to the Indigenous of the Americas that is bathed in 24/7 prayer.  Read more about that on our Vision page that isn’t posted yet :)

Continue to keep us in prayer as we teach and continue to ask God for our next step in the next new year.  Also we’re still trying to find a cheap used car to get us around Tyler while we’re here.  And we could use prayer to find monthly supporters who want to partner with us.  If anyone has a prayer request as well, email us and let us know.  We’d love to join with you in seeking the heart of God. 

Loading mentions Retweet

One of the newer things I've been trying this month is the idea of being productive at all times. That doesn't mean that everything has to be 'work' as we know it. Being productive could mean reading a good book or spending time with family. I define 'productive' as doing something that I and others can be proud of. It means not spending countless hours on the internet for no defined purpose.

Overall, I have been productive. I have hiccups here and there but that should be expected. I've set aside 30 minutes each night to do four things: participate in NaNoWriMo, read fiction, do a power clean around the house, and work on something related to our future ministry. Two other things I make sure to do each night but don't put a time limit on is spending time with my wife and spending time with God. I've been taking great steps towards doing all of this each night, but it's still not perfect.

Being productive is a great feeling. I never feel like a day or night has been wasted when I do this. I may try to further this concept outside of November and do it all year :)

Loading mentions Retweet

The definition of productivity, that I ascribe, will mean that at all times this month I hope to be doing something I and others can be proud of.

Whether that's spending quality time with my wife or God or taking some time out to read a novel. Both will be more productive than checking Facebook too many times each day. By taking part in NaNoWriMo and writing a 50,000 word 'novel' I will be more productive than watching hours of television, on the tv or internet.

At all times this month, I hope to do all things that God, my wife, and I can be proud of.

Loading mentions Retweet

Still, it's something of a surprise that Bazan's new album Curse Your Branches is about the singer's conversion to agnosticism - in some ways, it plays like a breakup letter to God - which has accompanied his forays into parenthood and sobriety.  Many albums document the process of finding God, but not so many reflect on losing God, especially coming from someone whose work has been so outspokenly spiritual in nature.  That said, "Hard to Be," with its chorus of "It's hard to be a decent human being," pulls off a remarkable feat: It makes breaking up with God seem even less fun than it might sound.

via npr.org

Click here to download:

21 Hallelujah.mp3 (10396 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet

Then the main message was based on John 13 where Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, even Judas whom Christ knew was going to betray him. This new message series is called "I am second," where we put Jesus first by serving others for God's glory. As a reminder, the pastor gave us all towels to use in serving others this week.

One of the main things I remember is asking one question at the end of each day, "Who did I serve today?"

Also, carrying around a towel all the time reminds me of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Loading mentions Retweet

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

James 3:7-12 (The Message)

Loading mentions Retweet

The first week has come and gone.  We’ve been systematically going through Larry’s book, A Time To Understand, this week and onto the next.  The book focuses primarily on apologetics and worldview stuff, so we’ve had great talks with the students about our (human beings) inherent value and how we need to live according to our God given design.

My first teaching in the SOTB was this week.  I taught on the three ways people try to define moral standards outside of the Bible.  The three ways are Hedonism (Moral Relativism), Majority Consensus, and the Social Elite.  In two weeks we’ll be covering Hermeneutics, which will be my teaching track.  That means that I’m in charge of working with Larry to get the teaching and homework schedules set up as well as print out their notepacks.

This year has already been extremely busy and I don’t see any let up in the near future.  Please pray for both Megan and I as we do our best to work hard and help our students, of varying ages, come to a better understanding of God and how He works.

Steve.

Loading mentions Retweet

Speaking on God’s Beauty today at Piermont Congregational.

Scripture focus Psalms 27:4

“One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.”

And Revelation 4 which speaks of God’s physical beauty, which is light.

Jesus speak through me.

Loading mentions Retweet

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalm 62:5

Tonight I stood outside and understood that I don't understand silence. Don't think I didn't try though.  There was a cold wind that picked up speed around me while I stood on a wooden bench outside the CHS Elementary building.  Standing there in silence, I couldn't help but think about how much I love God and how much God loves me.  When I stood in silence I thought about God and maybe I even partook in some sort of relationship right then and there.  I'll be the first to admit that I don't spend enough time with God in a one on one quiet time and I think one main reason is that I can't deal with silence.

I need constant noise around me at all times, otherwise I can't focus.  When I was in school, I couldn't do my homework without music or t.v. (or both) blasting in the background.  My mind starts wandering when it's silent.  Maybe I'm scared of silence because I will be forced to listen to God.  I'll be forced to listen and deal with more things that I need to get rid of.  I know that's something I need to do, but it's always hard to jump into it.  The same thing happened to me at IHOP.  I was forced to sit with God, not alone and definitely not in silence though, and face my insecurities.  I got rid of plenty, and even got engaged to my long-time girlfriend, but I guess there's always more to work on.

Responsibility has skyrocketed for me, and I don't know if I'm ready.  I recently took over the admissions department for School of the Bible and part of me thinks I'm in way over my head.  I'll still be teaching in the school, and I'll still be taking part in discipleship with the students, but I'll be busy dealing with admissions and visa's and filing and office work on top of all the other stuff.  Things probably won't be as bad as I think, but I'm worried.  If I can't spend time with God when I have plenty of time, then how will I keep a relationship with God when I don't have any time?

I need to learn to wait in silence for Jesus to speak to me.  For Jesus to tell me he loves me, and for God to guide me through this next step in my life. Maybe tonight was the first step in walking in silence.

Loading mentions Retweet