Seek, Trust, Wait, and Rest

The past 4 weeks, (yeah 4 weeks), the Lord has certainly shown me new things about His Kingdom. He brings new meaning to everything. It's truly great. He also surely shown me my inadequacy.  In many areas of my life, my love for others, my leadership, my ability to fight sin, me ability to share the Gospel, it is required that I am broken, and depend on God. 

(Brokenness - True brokenness is an ongoing, constant, moment-by-moment lifestyle of agreeing with God about the true condition of my heart and life. (not my words) 

My need for the Gospel is constant, my need for Jesus is constant, in my heart and life.)

John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Every Christian knows that only Jesus can do those things, but do we trust that he can do those things? 

Psalm 25 is sweet. Granted, I am not currently a ruler of a kingdom and do not have to be in fear for my physical life, I have still have enemies and am in constant daily need to wait on the Lord. 

⁴ Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. ⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. ⁶ Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. ⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD. ⁸ Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. ⁹ He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. ¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. 

To be honest , the Lord is teaching me His way, and what it means to wait for Him.  It can be be tough, but already I find less shame as I do so. 

My experience of evangelism is great and challenging. DePaul University is not looking well. It is summer school and we as an Impact group are having a hard time finding people. There just is not much of a mission field. I know we have not given up and there are individuals who have heard the Gospel and we pray will be called by the Lord. And leaders who can find the purpose of a DePaul student greater than receiving a degree. We are waiting on the Lord. My personal experience has been similar. I have had little conversation, except for with my discipler, Brian. 

Therefore, yesterday (Tuesday), Brian and I joined the impact group for UIC, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Whoa!, The Lord is doing so much on this campus. There are so many summer school students, and the place is filled with people who are open, and receptive to the gospel; people who are interested in spiritual things. They currently have an a new bible study for internationals, a weekly outreach program, and a full list on contacts of people who want to be contacted because of interest in what we are doing. 

So yesterday, Brian and I walked into a full cafeteria, and I was literally filled with excitement from all the students. We had four great conversations using the Soularium tool, (a picture survey that asks and allows individuals to discuss their spirituality and desires for their spiritual life, with the use of self chosen pictures) Mysoularium.com. I met an American Hindu, a local incoming freshman, a guy with a Jewish background who mostly goes to Tulane University but lives in Chicago, and 2 guys who were part of the UIC Intervarsity ministry. I recieved two emails and numbers to follow up with, and two guys to help share on campus and invite to Chi-time (our recently dubbed regular Thursday night meeting). The diversity is so great for God to do work on the world, and great for my ministry experience, both are awesome.

 I hope to go back out tomorrow, but I might have to continue looking for a job. I am currently sitting on 6 hours a week of work. I know I'm supposed to trust the Lord with providing, but I need to act. 

One last but not least thing. 

I still am trusting the Lord to provide the last of my support. I have received much blessings from those who care about me and this ministry; from family, friends, my church, and even from other students! That is so great and I love to see those part of his church come together. 

I am very very close to reaching the necessary goal, God is good.

The city, and a job

Chicago Summer Project 2011 has definitely commenced...

I hear it hasn't even started yet. 

I am interested to see how things will be once the staff leave and us students are expected to lead one another to continue and finish out the project.

I have only been here for just under 3 weeks, and I feel fantastic. This is awesome.

Our ministry on De Paul and Loyola is off to a slow start for a variety of reasons, but we haven't encountered much men, or potential leaders. I have had great experiences and will post more soon.

Fortunately, I have learned the importance of the city in God's plan for the Gospel. 

Not only because I have been exposed to this kind of population and environment for the first time in my life, but I am learning what God's original intentions for the city were and how far from that cities are.

To have an effective ministry in the city, we need to be willing to serve, of course, but by providing the people such good things that God offers. Things such as security, grace, justice, etc. Things not found in the city. I am praying that we can be creative this summer, and serve this city with passion.

I am extremely grateful for the purpose God has given me while in Virginia Beach, at ECU, and now in Chicago. I can't wait to find what else God has to offer me as I grow closer to him in the next weeks, while at Southeastern, and gaining so many brothers, sisters, partners in ministry I can call friends. If you want to pray for that to happen sooner than later, by all means, go for it! =) I trust it'll happen either way, and God will like the glory, I'm sure.

So I started my job at Jimmy John's today. I have to say, it was fun. I really like the other workers there so far, and I can see myself getting along and to know some of them pretty well. I also have to say, that God is good. I had been searching pretty hard for a job, 8am to 5pm everyday for almost 2 weeks.

After receiving an interview with Jimmy John's I was easily given a position. The part where the Lord comes in is in the fact that I had not earned the job one bit. I didn't apply, ask if they were hiring, give them any information, or even mention that I had previous sandwich making experience. I didn't see it coming. But I started today and I look forward to the rest of the summer there. I am praying for it to suffice in all its given purposes; ministry before money, but the money is a bonus I will not take for granted. I promise. Praise Jesus. Back in for the lunch rush tomorrow. 

I will have more pictures up as time goes by of some more relevant object, soon. 

Also, please feel free to comment on anything or if you have any questions. 

You do not need to be a member of Blogger.com, and if you like, you can make them anonymous. 

Just for the record, Ecu Cru rocks. I was open to what they offered but now I am impressed by the amount they have taught me while I have been involved. It has by far helped me understand, and be on par, when it comes to bible studies, talks, other scriptures, counseling my brothers, and what not. 

The more you know and understand the Gospel, the more sweeter the it is. 

Photo Update

I promise I will post some good pictures of events going on that evolve around our mission, but for now, here are some pictures that may  actually prove that I am in Chicago. =)This hopefully gives you an idea of how close to downtown our apartments are, if you wouldn't consider us, actually downtown, which we are.

John Hancock Center (haven't been inside yet)

Grant Park, at an orchestra concert.

The Roosevelt Auditorium, where we attend Willow Church of Chicago, every Sunday morning. Definitely a landmark, and a beautiful sight.

Day 12

In the previous post, the verse from scripture is important to remember, so that in any circumstance, whether facing prosperity or adversity we can rejoice in the Lord. 

Almost 2 whole weeks have past while here in Chicago. I have seen prosperity and adversity among us as the swing of things is in sight. Campuses are being sought, people are finding jobs, friendships are being made, and Jesus is the hot topic as he should be, as opposed to where we are from and what our name is. This past weekend and week has been busy, challenging, and revealing.

I am thrilled for those who have found jobs. I’m sure it is rewarding for them to know God’s will for their summer even more as he has brought them to the individuals he might want to call to him. It will hopefully be even more rewarding for those who are still seeking jobs. I am included in this group. I trust that God is challenging those individuals as much I feel challenged, if not more. It can be discouraging on many levels to be rejected, have zero to few leads, and see others find people who desire their work, and not ours. Granted most of our jobs are not being sought due to provide for anything other than ministry needs and thanks to supporters we can comfortably fulfill that, I feel challenged, stretched, and nervous for the future. 

I still rejoice because I am still under the same amount of grace that I was before looking for a job. 

I currently am waiting for a follow-up after an interview that went well with Caffe Rom, a Chicago, Italian Coffee and Gelato bar. I would greatly enjoy working there, for a variety of reasons. Also tomorrow, a recently gained friend, Chris, offered me to come with him to an interview for Jimmy John's. He was asked to bring another person to work as well. I am praying for either one to work out. Please do the same. 

Yesterday, Tuesday the 14th, I went out to De Paul university. While there we unfortunately learned they had just finished finals and were transitioning into summer classes. It was pretty dead there. I had the opportunity to venture on campus with Ryan, a staff member from Ohio State University. While there, Ryan used his deck of Perspective cards to get to know a student named Brian. I had been through training regarding the cards, but had never seen them used directly and effectively on anyone as such as Brian. If you are not familiar with them you can learn at http://perspectivecards.com/ . They are a tool created by Campus Crusade to help understand where someone is spiritually and allows bridges of conversation into the Gospel, so they can here it in a context they are familiar with. In this particular case, I was able to share my testimony in a context relevant to our conversation so Brian can understand. It was rewarding for me and I only pray, rewarding for Brian, and maybe Ryan too. 

I know what a little seed can do.

Phillipians 4:12-13

 “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In and any every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Apartment 318

Here are a few pictures of what our sweet apartment look like including roommates Nick on the couch and Ben in his and my bedroom.

This place, the Automatic Lofts, have been really awesome to us all by helping us out the past few years. God has blessed this project greatly by working through these people to dramatically accommodate to what we can provide, and provide us with probably the nicest apartments of all Summer Projects.

Praise God for such work, and pray that we do not sell out from our prosperity and are instead humbled and respond rightly.

Searching for Jobs, or Jesus?

Currently: It's now Wednesday night, our weekly "Date night with the Lord." Its pretty much what it sounds like and what you think it is. I'm wrapping it up now.

Recently: So we spent all day, everyday this week job searching. It's been 8 - 5 for me everyday out and about in the city, learning the streets/getting lost, while asking everywhere for a job. Some of us have been hired on the spot, which is awesome. We trust God will lead us individually to those who he will call, and for those who have been hired, he's gotten them past this step.
I have yet to find a job, though I am persevering. I had an interview for Subway today. It is ironic, seeing how it was my first job of 7 or so I've had in the past, and now even with my degree, I end up back there. We'll see where God puts me. There is a nice pizza place I wouldn't mind...

The Good Stuff: I had the privilege of meeting up with my discipler/action group leader/impact group leader, Brian. We traveled to one of two campuses we will be working with throughout the summer, De Paul, and discussed what starting a movement might look like. The other is campus is Loyola. I am genuinely excited to be part of this, and to see the fruit that will come out of our service. To see the beginning and growth of a ministry amongst a campus in need of one.
We went over an excerpt of A.W. Tozer's book, Knowledge of the Holy. I thought of Ben's "Integrity Doctrine" talks while went through it. "What comes to our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us." We must consider this! Does my idea or thoughts of God correspond, as much as they possibly can, with the true being of God? I want my worship to be pure and not in vain/corrupt. My discipleship, my prayer, my singing songs, my doing of everything to the glory of God (which must be pure, or else it gives glory to a false god). That's a huge deal, no doubt.
So far this project is helping me with these things. God has been revealing himself to me, just as he has been since the moment he revealed the gospel to me. As shown to me by Brian (and I hope I can explain accurately), the equation is beautiful:
Through understanding what it means to love God, we have two factors: the essence of our love for him, and our expression of our love. Ideally, our expression (such as reading scripture, singing songs, evangelism) is not in vain, and is derived from the essence of our love for him (such as adoration, delighting or resting in him). But regardless, our expression of our love leads to a third part of understanding our love for him, which comes from him, and begins to be pure/real by him, exposure. Exposure of God himself, leads to real essence of love, which leads to real expression, which leads to more exposure, and so on. This takes me directly back to the moment I knew the Gospel was real, and God gave me the holy spirit so that I might provide true worship, rather than the corrupt worship I had ignorantly committed for so long. Oh, the perfect work God has in each of our lives, and to know him more is a blessing.

Seek His Kingdom

The first day of Chicago Summer Project is currently ended. We have moved into probably the nicest apartments I'll ever live in and we are just outside downtown Chicago, if not actually downtown. I'm with 5 other guys, although we've been with the entire group constantly. The journey thus far has only provided hope for whats to come. I agree with Kristin that it feels like I'm at just another conference (not that there is anything wrong with that), but then I remember we'll be here for 10 weeks. 

Today alone, I have doubled my amount of friends, met the individuals who will be a part of my future ministry, and prayed for our future ministry. My concern at the moment is that I want to hit the ground running on this project and right away God is revealing to me purpose and his glory, present and future, for and within this project. He's provided a great group of guys to be involved in my personal ministry. I am currently waiting to see how the project will play out, but this weekend seems like a great warm up for whats to come. A scavenger hunt on Sunday all across Chicago is going to be sweet. This is along with a devotional and an overview of what our evangelism might look like, and grocery shopping. 

My prayer is that God would show me his purpose fully for this project and allow me to utilize every blessing and resource he is providing, such as the bible study, discipleship, evangelism, and fellowship to seek his kingdom. That is, live as if I am under His rule alone and do all things because of him and to his glory. Please pray that for me along with Kristin, Mackenzie, Sara, and all the other students and staff here in Chicago. We are here to seek His kingdom and it be revealed to us.