Josh's Little Blog Cabin

The Countdown Has Begun!

2007-04-06T11:08:00.000-05:00

As you approach your own wedding, most or your conversations tend to center around that topic. That's understandable; a wedding is a pretty important event after all. And often, when I have a wedding-centered conversation with a married friend, he or she feels the urge to give advice based on his or her own experience, which I'm grateful for, but whether or not I remember it all is a whole other story.

One bit of advice I know I will remember, came from a friend at church, just the other day. She said, "I said, 'Till death do us part,' so I told my husband I just may have to kill him one day!" I wonder how many people consider that as an option to divorce?

But of course, Jen and I will have such a wonderful marriage, full of joy, excitement, romance, and intimacy that thoughts of anger, impatience, regret, or even (shudder) divorce, will never even enter our minds. Um...sure. No, I'm not that naive!

I approach this new season of my life with great anticipation of the joys of marriage. My fiancee is a beautiful woman with whom I have a wonderful friendship, and the idea of spending the rest of my life with her is like starting up the motorcycle on a beautiful day, with miles and miles of open, scenic highway ahead of me. I am aware of the challenges of marriage, and I pray that as we trust God to lead us, we will walk through each one that comes our way.

I am very grateful to have many people in my life who have shown me, through their own marriage, an example of what it means to truly love and to stand by such a covenant. My parents have been married for nearly 30 years, and both sets of my grandparents passed their 50th anniversaries.

Our wedding will take place April 14th, so not far away now. We are both very excited about the opportunity to see and spend time with friends and family who are traveling long distances to be with us for our celebration.

New Laptop!!!

2007-03-20T21:23:00.000-05:00

Remember how I've been trying to raise money for a new laptop for the past four months or so? Well, I have finally arrived! I have a brand new Dell Inspiron, equipped just how I wanted it. Wow, what an improvement over my previous Dell. It's amazing the difference five years makes in the computer industry.

I have the computer, but I still need about $200 for Microsoft Office software. For now, the free 60-day trial version will suffice.

Thanks to everyone who contributed over the months, and a big thank you to a God who enjoys providing for His children!

Mission Adventures Single Mom Outreach

2007-03-14T16:54:00.000-05:00

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

I went out to visit Amanda* to see what we could do to help. She is a neighbor of some friends of mine. They call her "one of Ozark's forgotten." A single mother, she works two difficult jobs just to make ends meet. When we met, she was stone-faced and unemotional, and a little bit shy. She told me, "I can't pay people to help me." The following week, I brought about 15 high school students to help her clear trees and brush off her land where she wanted a horse pasture. We worked there for 2 days, for free! Imagine her shock. Her neighbor told me later that she never smiled, but he visited her after we had worked for her, and she was all smiles and even gave him a big hug...something she had never done before! At the end of the week, she was a totally different person, full of joy.

Amanda was one of the nine single moms from the community that we served last week. We hosted a group of 50 high school students, and we gave them opportunities to serve. Typically, the circumstances single moms face are very difficult, sometimes even desperate. Through this group of students, we wanted to represent the Father's compassion to them, and by our actions tell them that God had not forgotten them.

We closed the week with a BBQ at a park, and invited all the moms we had served. Most of them showed up. I had the opportunity to share with them the verse I have written at the top of this blog, telling them that our message to them, through the projects completed and the free BBQ, was that they were in fact more valuable to the Father than the birds, and that He would care for them. As I spoke those words to them, I could see the eyes of each single mother welling with tears.

Preparing and planning everything for the Single Moms Outreach required a lot of difficult work, and a lot of prayer, but it was well worth it in the end, to see God work through us to show His compassion to those single moms.

*Names were changed for the sake of privacy.

I'm An Uncle!!!

2007-02-15T09:22:00.000-06:00

I say congratulations to my sister Gennie, and brother-in-law Jeff, on the new life they have brought into our midst with their first child. More than 2 days of waiting at the hospital was made worthwhile by the birth of a healthy baby boy, which for now shall remain unnamed ...

Dos Tacos de Pescado Por Favor...

2007-02-10T14:20:00.000-06:00

We all love tacos, don't we? A crisp corn shell, with some ground beef, cheese, some vegetables like lettuce and tomato, and, if we're daring enough, we sprinkle on a little hot sauce. And oh the greasy goodness as it slimes it way through our taste buds!

But I don't know if I can ever go back to eating a normal, American taco. I just returned from a 5-day conference in Ensenada, Mexico, and after eating real, authentic Mexican tacos, I don't think I can stoop down to that level again. I don't know what your opinion is on the whole Mexican Immigration issue, but it's a shame that the legal and illegal immigrants who come to our country don't bring their tacos with them! I have eaten at more than a few Mexican restaurants in the US, run by Mexicans, and the tacos just aren't the same. Maybe it's a conspiracy by the Mexican government, in which they don't allow the real taco recipes to cross the border.

I even ate fish tacos and shrimp tacos! I admit, I was a little nervous at first, because the idea of fish and tacos didn't seem to mix, but they too were delicious.

I mentioned that I went to Mexico for a conference. Well, it wasn't a Taco Conference - I actually did something worthwhile. The purpose was for Mission Adventures, a short-term outreaches-for-youth-groups program we run. I spent my mornings, afternoons, and evenings in sessions that included everything from how to market this thing to youth workers, to praying for Mission Adventures to be started in Africa.

The main speaker for the event was Paul Hawkins, a man that has been with Youth With A Mission since the early seventies, a sort of "father" of our mission. I was very refreshed by his words, and by the words of many others that week. Here are a few of the things he said:

"God wants us to work under pressure, but not to be distorted by it."

"Grace is the divine ability to handle difficult circumstances."

"If you're stressed, you need to find out in which areas of you're life you're not appropriating God's graces."

I arrived at this conference dry and thirsty. My week in Mexico gave me a good, long drink of cold water, and now I'm ready, walking in step with the Father, to take on the challenges that lie ahead of me.

One wild week

2007-01-29T11:04:00.000-06:00

Five weeks from now, we will host a group of 51 high school students from Missouri for their spring break mission trip - what we call Mission Adventures. This will be the fourth of such groups we have hosted, but if I took and added the numbers of the previous three groups, it still would not equal the group coming in March! And on top of that, at this point, we have 4 staff that will be here to work with it! We have our work cut out for us. We are currently looking for volunteers to help, so if you're not doing anything March 4th - 9th...

But for as much work as it requires, I am very excited about this opportunity. For one, we create an atmosphere, through prayer, teachings from the Word, worship, and various activities, for the students to encounter God during that week. We also schedule ministry, so the students are active in sharing their faith with others, challenging them to live according to God's calling. The stories I have, the amazing changes that have happened in students lives because of Mission Adventures...Well, let's just say I am really anticipating God will do cool things during that week in March.

For a new laptop:

2007-01-27T19:50:00.000-06:00

I am currently raising money for a new laptop. I've had my current computer for more than 4 years, and I think it's time for a new one. A new computer would be very useful for work, and I could use it for personal things as well. Thanks to the generosity of family and friends, I already have a significant portion of what I need.

For a laptop with hardware and software that I'm looking at, I still need about $700. If you are interested in contributing, you can write a check out to YWAM Ozarks, and send it to me at:
Josh Levin
7119 Mountain View Drive
Ozark, AR 72949

YWAM Ozarks is a non-profit organization, so for any donation you send, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Thanks!

A week with John

2007-01-26T17:03:00.000-06:00

A week, or rather, a couple years! I taught the Gospel of John for our final week of SBS, but prior to that I spent a couple years, off and on, studying the book. It is such a rich book, and I enjoyed learning it as I prepared to teach.

As I was preparing my notes a week before my teaching, I felt like I suddenly hit a wall. I sat staring at my computer. It was as if I had eaten so much of something, I was sick of it. I didn't want to look at it, touch it, or think about it. It was so strange. So I left if for a few days, and when I sat back down at my computer again I was ready to type.

But it went well, I taught for 3 days, hitting on the differences between John and the other Gospels, and why so many differences (did you know that in John, Jesus only performs 7 miracles, and of those 7, only 2 are mentioned in the others Gospels?). I touched on the 7 I Am statements, which you can read about in my previous blog entry, and also on Jesus' last moments with his disciples, which I believe may be the 4 most important chapters in the Bible.

Anyway, it was a blast. Read John and tell me what you think!

I Am...

2007-01-16T16:57:00.000-06:00

Who said these things?

I am the bread of life.
I am the light of the world.
I am the gate.
I am the good shepherd.
I am the resurrection and the life.
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
I am the vine.

Well, if you guessed Jesus...you're right! And we get all those great sayings of Jesus from the Gospel of John. We are in the final week of our New Testament School of Biblical Studies, and I am teaching the book of John, which means I have spent countless hours studying the book in preparation for teaching, and have read through it more times than I remember. It has been exciting reading it, meditating on it, reading commentaries about it, and reflecting on it as I put my notes together. What stands out to me more than anything is how the life of Jesus impacts and transforms people. And if we don't believe in Him, we miss out on the life that God offers us. It's hard to put into words. Anyway, I am excited for this opportunity to study and grow in the Word of God, and then to teach it to others.

Merry Christmas New York!

2007-01-04T18:08:00.000-06:00

I attended The Redeemer Presbyterian Church one Sunday while our team was on a two-week mission trip spanning Christmas and New Year's in New York City. The preacher, discussing the conditions of Jesus' birth, and His hometown being Hick-ville Nazareth, commented on the opposite ways God and man work. Culture begins in the major centers - big cities such as New York, and flows out from there to the fringes. God, however, when He begins a work of renewal, begins at the fringes and works in toward the major centers. Such was the case with Jesus. Such was the case of God sending a team of 17 people from Ozark, Arkansas to New York City, New York.

I found myself staring up at set of window blinds needing repair. I could stand on the cast-iron heat register to reach it and fix it. The problem, however, was that a 6-foot high dresser and a very cluttered computer desk opposed me. In between the two was about 12 inches of room to squeeze through, step onto the three-foot high heater, and then slide behind the desk to where I could reach the blinds. A feat requiring a skilled gymnast. One wrong move and I would knock over the monitor, collapse the desk, and send papers and miscellaneous objects everywhere! Our team spent two days helping a ministry in New York City that works with Muslim immigrants from West Africa. Their director had just moved into a small apartment with his family of 6, but was also trying to run a very under-staffed organization. They do great work, reaching Muslims immigrants (who come from countries closed to the Gospel), but stays so busy that they have little if any time to do simple things like unpack, or fix a broken blind. So our group had the privilege serving them in very practical ways, freeing them to pursue sharing the gospel.

During our two weeks, we spent much time praying for the city, staffed prayer stations in Grand Central Station, sang Christmas carols on the Staten Island Ferry, served a meal at a soup kitchen, passed out drug-free magnets, and finished our trip by passing out 2007 Gospels of John to the crowds pressing to get to Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Thanks to all of you who were praying for our trip!

I am engaged!

2006-12-28T16:32:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's true. "I no longer have a girlfriend, I have a fiancee," to put it in the words of my friend Ryan. I asked her to marry me Saturday night, the week before Christmas and 2 days before our team left for NYC. I am very excited, and very happy. I am so thankful for how God orchestrated this relationship. And now we are looking at April 14th for a date. That means a lot to do in a short amount of time, but we don't want to wait long. That's all for now, I will keep you posted!

Did you say you wanted that waterfall in the hallway?

2006-12-11T21:19:00.000-06:00

Wow, I start a myspace page and it's like I forgot that I had a blog!

So last week, I was sitting in class evaluating our students as they each presented a Bible study. Jen, Michael, and I sat in back like Simon and his crew on American Idol, critiquing their presentations. I was quite impressed - I learned some stuff, and enjoyed the creativity of our students. People ate dog-food burritos, jumped out of boxes, and it was all tied into their lessons! And then, in the middle of the last student's Bible study, Jen stepped out to use the bathroom, but rushed back into class to get me. I followed her, and looked down the west wing of our dorm to see water pouring out of the ceiling, flooding the hallway and overflowing into the rooms!

The temps dropped overnight, so the pipes in the attic froze and broke. Of course, it took me a bit to figure this out, and after shutting off the water supply, sweeping the bulk of the water out the door, I set out to get advice to fix the pipes (because I had never done it before!). By the end of the day, the pipes were fixed and the floors were dried, thanks to all who helped. I spent the next day hauling bucket loads of sopping wet insulation out of the attic so the wood underneath could dry.

But it was a good learning experience. Now I know how to fix copper pipes when they leak!

In the meantime this is our last week of class before we had to New York City for Christmas and New Years. Seven students, six staff, two guests, two kids, and the message of the Gospel will be hitting the streets of Manhattan from Dec. 17 to Jan. 2. Please pray for us!

Jesus Washed Judas' Feet!?

2006-11-17T17:15:00.000-06:00

I will teach John's Gospel as part of our School of Biblical Studies (SBS) in January, so in attempt to stay on top of things, I have been preparing a little bit over the past couple weeks. So I was meditating on John 13, when Jesus washed the disciples' feet. It happened during the Last Supper, Jesus' last moments with his disciples, and he knew those were his last moments, so obviously everything he did and said among them carried tremendous weight.

It was during this time that Jesus set an example of being a servant by washing the disciples' feet. Today, churches and Christian groups have foot-washing ceremonies, a real emotional and touching time where everyone displays their servant-hearts. Please, I understand the concept, but often those ceremonies are no more than a show. When someone in the church has a real need, where are we? When I have tickets to the football game, and my "brother in the Lord " calls asking me to help clean-up after his septic system backed up, flooding his basement, how will I respond? And what if it's that guy in church that I just don't get along with, and has never seemed to back me up when I needed help?

That's the kind of servant Jesus meant when he exampled it for his disciples. According to that standard, am I really "servant-hearted"? Remember, Jesus washed even Judas' feet.

Teaching 1 Thessalonians

2006-11-06T09:48:00.000-06:00

In our School of Biblical Studies - New Testament (SBS.NT), we are studying through the New Testament book by book. I had the opportunity last week to teach 1 Thessalonians. It was a lot of fun. I know that I learned a lot more preparing to teach it than the students learned from me and from studying it for their assignment. Despite being a simple, short letter, I kept finding more and more treasure the deeper I dug.

Paul wrote to encourage the young church, because he was forced out of the city just weeks after starting the church. Imagine the questions they were left with! You can hear the beating of Paul's heart as he reminds them of his time with them, and assures them that he would return to them if as soon as he could. They suffered a lot of persecution because of their faith, but as Ted Darling, a local pastor who taught 2 Thessalonians, said, "Resistance will cause your faith to grow, as long as you exercise your faith against it."

I could go on, but I would probably have to charge a fee for everyone who reads it. (Just kidding - about the fee part, not about the going on part!)

It was fun studying, fun teaching, but I'm glad it's over, because now I get to study to teach the Gospel According to John, which will happen later in January. I am excited about what I will learn as I study, and hopefully what I will impart to our students as I teach.

Arkansas, the Natural State!

2006-10-26T09:58:00.000-05:00

I know you can't really see, but that's Jen and I sitting at the end of that rock. This is us at Hawksbill Crag.

Hawksbill Crag & Lost Valley Part 2

2006-10-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

We tried before, and it didn't work. We planned a day trip to see some natural sites of Arkansas, the Natural State, and we were rained out. We tried again, this time planning a camping trip with our SBS class. It was perfect. A little cold at night, but it was beautiful. The fall colors had nearly reached perfection. We saw a cliff face that stretched up 200 feet above us, and created a ceiling over our heads that reached back a couple hundred feet as well. We climbed into a cave, known as Eden Falls Cave, following the stream that ran through it until we reached a dark room with a waterfall inside. Then we drove and hiked to Hawksbill Crag, where we walked out on a rock edge that truly looks like the beak of a bird, and had a commanding view of an orange, red, and green Ozark National Forest. Once again I was overwhelmed with the awe, wonder, beauty, and power of God's creation, and I am thankful that he placed me where I can enjoy it.

If he only knew...

2006-10-10T18:59:00.000-05:00

This past week in church, we had a guest speaker, a man living in Texas but originally from India. He serves as a missionary. He was very passionate, and his message was of the "kick-in-the-pants" sort. He conveyed the point that most American Christians are not familiar enough with the Bible, that we don't make reading it a priority. And I would agree with him, especially among the younger generation. He asked the congregation a question at this point. "How many of you can honestly say you read the Bible over and over again?"

I was so proud! Little did he know, that six students from our School of Biblical Studies were there with me. They had just finished studying Mark, and after church they had to return home and begin their next assignment, which included reading Matthew 3 times through before Monday night! He was preaching to the choir. No one raised hands, but we all looked around at one another, with knowing smiles on our faces.

EARS???

2006-10-10T18:50:00.000-05:00

YWAM Ozarks now has a second school running on our campus. It's called EARS. What's that mean, you ask? It stands for Environment And Resource Stewardship. The school teaches students a Biblical worldview of the environment and creation, and man's role in it. It focuses on training students to teach communities and villages in 3rd world countries how to be self-sustaining, using such topics as pure water, hygiene, and proper farming techniques. There is more to it, but that's what I've gathered so far. They just arrived here after spending 3 weeks camping and canoeing in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota...luckies!

The leader of the school is from South Africa and has served as a missionary in the Amazon Jungle and in Kenya. He and his wife, along with four students are here for 5 weeks , before heading to Costa Rica. Having them here adds a new and exciting element to our campus. I'm looking forward to learning from them while they're here.

SBS all over again!

2006-09-27T13:58:00.000-05:00

It's been four years since I was in School of Biblical Studies (SBS) at the U of N in Kona, HI. Four years later, I am staffing the first ever SBS at our young YWAM base here in Ozark. Although I am on staff, I almost feel like a student once again. In four months we will take our eight students through a study of the New Testament, but because it has been so long since I did it myself, it's as if I'm doing this all over again. It's great, because I get to sit in class and learn just like the students, without having to do any homework!

But seriously, I am anticipating gaining a firmer grasp of the Scriptures through the course of the next few months.

Hawksbill Crag, Lost Valley

2006-09-27T13:50:00.000-05:00

Supposedly two of the most beautiful places in Arkansas, we planned to go see Hawksbill Crag and Lost Valley this past Saturday, giving the new students an opportunity for a little adventure. Located along the Buffalo National River, it is about a 2 hour drive from us here in Ozark. I was so excited. Saturday morning I awoke to a downpour of rain covering nearly the entire state. I'm all about rainy weather and cooler days, but of all days for it to rain, just had to be Saturday! Have to say I was a little disappointed, but what can you do? Another time, I suppose.

Girls, confusion, and the Bible

2006-09-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

"The Bible is confusing to me. I don't know, but every time I try to read it, it just doesn't make sense."

I help out with the youth group at my church by leading worship. This week, the regular youth leader didn't show up, so I was left to do both worship and the devotion. I asked the girls (that's right, it was myself and six girls that night) to meditate on five verses in Psalm 40, and after 5 minutes, we would gather back together and share what stood out to us.

I was met by statements from two girls that surprised me. One said the Bible confused her; the other that she didn't know how to read the Bible, that she had never read it before!

My experience that night both disgusts me and excites me. Disgust, because here are two girls who have both been raised with some church, maybe not a lot, but some, and the Bible is a foreign object to them! I am not blaming my own church specifically, but in general, what is the Church doing wrong that its young people are not gaining Biblical understanding? Something is seriously wrong with that! This is the "Bible belt," after all.

But it excites me in the sense of an awesome opportunity to see young people grow into a relationship with God. The Bible should be our foundation. During the School of Biblical Studies which we are running here this fall, we will have our students offer a mentoring program. As they learn to read and study the Bible, they will mentor one or two high school students, once a week, in the same stuff they learn. I hope to get these two girls involved in that program.

School of Biblical Studies

2006-09-06T12:10:00.000-05:00

On September 18th we begin our very first School of Biblical Studies (SBS) here at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Ozarks. So far, we have 8 students who will study through the entire New Testament in four months, using the Inductive Study Method. One of the things lacking in the church and in my generation is a lack of foundation in Biblical understanding, so I am excited for this opportunity to enable our students to study and learn God's word. I also realize that in the process I will develop an even deeper understanding myself. As a staff we will share teaching responsibilities, and we will also bring in people outside of our staff to teach . I am preparing to teach 1 Thessalonians and the Gospel of John. I completed an SBS myself, covering the entire Bible, a few years ago in Hawaii, and it was the best nine months of my life. What better way to grow in my relationship with God? And now I have the privilege to give others a similar experience!

Go Team Development

2006-09-06T11:58:00.000-05:00

It's not about the money. It's not even about you. It's about relationships. As a staff we have been participating in a seminar for the past couple weeks on how to build a Go Team, or as it is commonly referred to, raising support. I have been encouraged, challenged, reminded, and taught. In Latin America, a soccer (futbol) team is more than just the players on the field. Many of the fans who attend the games are actually an official, card-carrying member of the team. Their job is to out-cheer the opposing crowd. If the team wins, the players will stand in front of the crowd and applaud and thank them for a job well done. A Go Team is similar in many ways. As a missionary, I have the responsibility to build a support team around me, not just for financial support, but for the purpose of partnering with others to see the Kingdom of God established in our world. So that is what I've been learning, along with practical ways to develop a Go Team.

Grounds & Maintenance

2006-09-06T10:52:00.000-05:00

44 acres, 4 large buildings, miscellaneous equipment - some in disrepair, a very small budget, and no one with much experience to take care of it all.

Sounds like a good combination, eh? That's the situation here. A guy could spend all his time mowing the grass here if he wanted to - or repairing the lawn equipment so it can be used! Broken water heaters, air conditioners that don't function properly, an entire building that needs to be gutted and refurbished, trees that need to be cut down, brush cleared, rock walls needing repair, and the list goes on. Talk about an immense challenge! All these things are necessary if we are to do what we set out to do: create a place to train up and mobilize young people into world missions.

I juggle this with my other responsibilities, but it's not as if I'm alone in it. Some of the other guys help out with lawn care. Some of our students will work on these things when they arrive. Groups of volunteers come and work. People donate money and materials. And through it all I learn and gain experience.

2006-08-30T13:10:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest highlights of my recent trip home was the news that my sister and her husband will be having a baby! I'm gonna be an uncle! It's just a bummer that I live so far away and won't be able to see my niece/nephew very often.

Congratulations Gennie and Jeff!

Sorry, it's a little late...

2006-08-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

So I haven't had anything new on my blog in over a month. Oops. The last half of July I was consumed with running a Mission Exposure weekend and a ten day Mission Adventures trip. Both went well, although, to be honest, because we were so busy preparing for Mission Adventures, we just kind of threw together the Mission Exposure. It wasn't bad, but sure could have been much better, if I had more time, more staff, more organization, and more excuses. I always feel honored when God uses me to reach into and affect the lives of others. He's good like that.

And for the past three weeks I have been on vacation...how glorious! I drove with Jen (girlfriend) up to visit her family in Michigan, and then from there to Minnesota to visit my family. It was a fun and relaxing trip. It was good to spend time with her family and get to know them a little bit, and to see where she grew up. And I had a great time at home, spending time with my family and friends. I got to see people that I haven't seen in a long time and don't see as often as I'd like.

Now I'm back in Ozark, ready to get back to work. We are now preparing for our first ever School of Biblical Studies, which starts in less than a month, and we already have 8 students for it! It's good to be back, and now that I'm done vacationing, I'll try and keep my blog cabin a little more updated.

Peaceful Awareness

2006-08-22T18:48:00.000-05:00

"Excuse me. Hi, my name is Josh and I live just down the road at the Youth With A Mission property. I hate to bother you, but we had a young girl run away this afternoon, and I was wondering if you had seen her, or if maybe she came to your house, asking to use the phone or something?"

"No, I'm sorry, I haven't seen anybody. Why did she run away?"

This was me having a conversation last month with one of my neighbors. Back in July, we hosted a youth group from Ohio for a mission trip. One of the teenagers, a young girl, felt very uncomfortable with much of our program, and really, with what God was wanting to do in her life. So after days of disagreements, anger, and mounting tension, she had enough and ran away. I was in my office, completely clueless, when this all happened. I found out at least 30 minutes later. What, she ran away!? You would think that at this moment I would be shocked, and freaking out as the weight of the responsibility, liability and danger of such a predicament came bearing down on me like an F16 fighter jet. What if she got lost in the woods, bitten by a poisonous snake, and we had to call out search teams? Or worse yet, what if some grimy man found her walking alone down the road, and forced her into his vehicle and raped her?

Yeah, the what if's buzzed around in my head, and I experienced some worry, but an overwhelming peace filled me, a peace that only comes when you know that a situation is completely out of your control. I knew God had this girl right where He wanted her. She reached the breaking point and now God could finally get through in the midst of her desperation. Only He could come through and meet her right where she was at. On the inside, I was smiling, because I knew God was doing a beautiful work in His precious daughter.

After a couple hours of searching through the woods, the fields, down the roads, and the neighbors' houses, we came up empty, until Jen spotted her out the office window. The youth leader went out to her and graciously brought her back, in tears. And she asked all of us to pray for her. We prayed with her for nearly an hour, a time when she received Christ's freedom and healing touch. I'm thankful for the work God did in that girl's life that day, that week, and I thank Him for the peace He gave me, understanding that He held the whole situation in His enormous, strong, and gentle hand.

2006-07-10T16:16:00.000-05:00

"So how many kids do you think will be coming?" I ask Brian, youth pastor of a local church.
"I'm not sure, but to give you an idea, probably somewhere between 15 and 70 kids," he answered.

Right, like that helps me prepare! Of course, he was joking, because he really had no clue. But that's a difference between me buying 30 hotdogs and 140 hotdogs!

This weekend we will be running a Mission Exposure weekend with a few local youth groups, and I was talking to Brian to get some information from him. We don't really have the facilities to house or feed 70 students, but we will make it work if we need to. And although we will be putting a lot of this together last-minute, I'm really looking forward to it. This is an opportunity for us to share with a bunch of young people God's heart for the nations - that he wants to use them to reach the lost with the message of the gospel. I'm really praying that God will use us to speak to them while they are here.

That's on Friday and Saturday. Sunday we get a break, and on Monday a group of 15 students from Ohio will be here for our Mission Adventures program. That lasts 10 days, and I am also very excited about that. It's four days of training and preparation followed by six days of them doing ministry.

Last week we ran a kid's camp here with 25 kids ages 7 to 12. I'm telling you, that is a fun age group. If you have a good amount of patience, you can have fun with it. Wrestling matches with 5 boys at a time, being chased by 9-year-olds with water guns, and watching kids crack eggs over one another's' heads is all a very wonderful experience.

This and more is what is happening in my life at the time. It's fun, it's trying, it's exciting, it's challenging, but most importantly, it is an honor to know that God has chosen me to have a part in helping other people grow closer to Him and leading them in opportunities to serve Him.

Can you see the family resemblence?

2006-06-29T08:53:00.000-05:00

Gulf Coast Outreach

2006-06-27T12:35:00.001-05:00

How many teenagers do you know who will give up a week of their summer vacation, a week of video games, the pool, friends, sleeping in, and jobs, to volunteer to re-roof a building in 104-degree weather? Well, I know about 250 who did just that.

Every week the Mission Adventures Gulf Coast Outreach hosts about 200 kids from all over the country who come to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to serve the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I was there last week, staffing this outreach. There were about 25o of us altogether, and we stayed in a former grocery store converted into a church. We packed the place out, sleeping on mattresses on the floor, taking showers outside in our swimming suits with a hose, and working in one of the worst neighborhoods of the city. There was quite a contrast. Our first full day, Monday, rain flooded the area, with over 5 inches in a 24-hour period. We toured the hurricane-devastated areas from our vehicles, and wore trash bags as rain coats when we went outside. Just days later, the temperatures reached into the 100s as we stood on top of the roof of a church nailing in new shingles.

The church we roofed actually used to be the house of the pastor. He grew up in that house, and sold drugs out of it. He surrendered his life to Christ, gave up the drugs, became a pastor, and converted his house into a church. This church is located in a very poor neighborhood, and he has a small congregation, so he was very happy to have a bunch of kids come and fix up his church for free.

The week also included a program every morning and evening with teaching, worship, and skits, all meant to focus the hearts of the teenagers on Christ. At the end of the week we put on a Hope Festival for everyone in the neighborhood in which we had worked. It included games, music, free food, and the Gospel message shared by the pastor of the church we worked on. It was a wonderful week, and it gets me excited for the Mission Adventures program we will have here in July.

Summer schedule

2006-06-13T14:01:00.000-05:00

This Sunday I leave for Lake Charles, LA, for one week to help host a wave of Mission Adventures. There will be about 250 young people there that week. We will be serving the needs of people who are still rebuilding after last summer's hurricanes, as well as sharing the hope of the Gospel. I will return on Sunday the 25th.

When I get back I will begin to prepare to host a youth group here June 30th and July 1st for Mission Exposure, a weekend event in which the youth are made aware of the worldwide need for the gospel and challenged to respond in a way to meet those needs.

July 5th, 6th, and 7th we will host a Missions Camp for kids ages 7-12 from a nearby church.

July 14th and 15th we will host two more youth groups for another Mission Exposure weekend.

Then beginning July 17th we will have a youth group here for Mission Adventures. For 4 days they will receive training, followed by 6 days of ministry locally.

That is my schedule for the next seven weeks, and I am busy preparing and planning for all of it right now. Please keep these things in mind and in your prayers, that God will use me and the others on staff to effectively serve and impact the young people in these groups.

Iraq and the War on Terror

2006-06-08T08:59:00.000-05:00

I would like to take a moment and recognize the news of the death of al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaida forces in Iraq. In case you haven't heard, he was killed during a U.S. led air strike. It seems a significant victory for U.S. forces. But what will it really accomplish? Maybe a younger, more zealous extremist will take his place, and only step up the intensity of the attacks. As al-Zarqawi is being made to look by his followers as a martyr, and not, in reality, a casualty of war, it will embolden and impassion the terrorists to a higher level of fervor. Or, will his death cause discouragement and confusion among the ranks of our enemies? I would certainly hope for the second option, but only time will tell the outcome of his death.

I strongly believe, however, that a military war is not the solution to this problem of terrorism that our country and the whole world is facing. Don't get me wrong, I don't oppose the war in Iraq - our government is doing the best they know how to do. The true solution is not political freedom, but spiritual freedom. If every Muslim man and woman believed in Jesus Christ and truly followed him, we would not be facing this issue of terrorism and the war in Iraq. While our government has taken a stand by invading Iraq, so the Church must take a stand and start sending it's forces into these dark areas armed with the Light and the Truth of the Gospel.

DTS Graduation

2006-05-31T22:13:00.000-05:00

When you set out to accomplish a goal, it is somewhat of a proud moment when that goal is accomplished. More than three years ago I decided to join my uncle and aunt, Jim and Barb, in coming to Arkansas to pioneer YWAM Ozarks. Our mission statement says that we want to create community that builds and disciples young people for missions, and mobilizes workers to serve in their God-given calling, both locally and in the unreached areas of the world.

The first ever Discipleship Training School (DTS) of YWAM Ozarks graduated tonight. It was an historical moment. Five students came here, from five different states, and joined our community. By living and working with us, and sitting in class, these students were built and discipled. They were then mobilized to Thailand and Cambodia for ten weeks to share the gospel and to serve people in practical ways. They returned with stories. They served long-term missionaries by cleaning and painting their building, which allowed the missionaries to spend their time and energy on the task of bringing lost people into relationship with God. They spent time getting to know Buddhist monks, being their friends and telling them about Jesus. One of these monks has now quit being a monk, and is very hungry to know more about Christ. They spent time bringing joy and hope into the lives of orphans with AIDS.

When I hear their stories, and when I see the change that has happened in their lives, I realize that we have accomplished what we set out to do. And there is more to come. This was just the first of many more DTSes, not to mention the other schools and programs that we run, such as Mission Adventures and School of Biblical Studies.

Sometimes when I look at the task ahead, the responsibilities that I have here, I get overwhelmed, and, to be quite honest, I become discouraged. I wonder how on earth we are ever going to accomplish anything. But at moments like these, I pause, and realize that we are accomplishing something. We are acheiving our goals, and we are making progress. And I can only stop and give thanks to the Lord for how He has led us, provided for us, and loved us. It is only by His strength that we are where we are today.

If you want to read more about our DTS outreach, check out the DTS Outreach Blog.

Watching the grass grow

2006-05-24T15:40:00.000-05:00

Our Discipleship Training School (DTS) team returns today from their outreach in Cambodia. It's kind of exciting, I suppose kind of like watching a baby begin to grow up. Three years ago, a handful of us met together in Hawaii to pray into the formation of YWAM Ozarks. Two and a half years ago, Jim and Barb and their kids, Jen, and myself moved to Ozark and rented a house in town. We spent a lot of time praying, planning, and running small outreaches and programs. One year ago, we ran our first major program - Mission Adventures. Eight months ago, we purchased the Manitou Mountain Property, the 40+ acres that is now our campus, which at one time had been the location of Ozark Bible Institute, the Bible College my great-grandfather started. Six months ago we started our very first DTS by heading to New York City with our five students for a 2-week outreach trip. After the New York outreach, we returned to Ozark and the students completed the lecture phase. Two months ago they left Ozark to bring the Gospel and the love of Christ to Cambodia. The DTS returns tonight and will graduate next week.

I am excited because I have seen God work in the lives of these students, causing them to learn and to grow, to have opportunities to trust God and to step forward in faith, believing that God can use them to reach out to the hurting and the lost. I am also excited because I have seen this place, this campus, this ministry, this thing called YWAM Ozarks, grow, from the early stages to the not-as-early stages. We still have a long way to go, a lot of room to expand, and a lot more work to do, but we have come a long way from the beginning, and that encourages me, because I believe that we truly are obeying what God is asking from us, and that as we obey, He provides and meets our needs and reveals himself to us in amazing ways.

Awesome quote

2006-05-19T09:39:00.000-05:00

Check out this quote that I came across awhile ago, I love it:

I have one candle of life to burn, and would rather burn it out where people are dying in darkness than in a land that is flooded with lights.

This was from a book of quotes that I have, called God's Greatest Ambition, and it is from an anonymous missionary. When you realize how many pastors and churches and Bibles we have in this nation, compared to how many are in a place like, say, Malaysia, or Iran, or Mauritania, that quote makes a lot of sense. Sometimes, in light of that quote, I wonder why God has called me here to Arkansas, and not to some third-world country that opposes the gospel or something, but I can trust Him that He knows what He is doing.

So happy, together!

2006-05-17T16:52:00.000-05:00

A Contradiction in the Bible !?!?!?

2006-05-11T15:19:00.000-05:00

I did it, I found a contradiction in the scriptures! Therefore, according to all evidence, the Bible is a fraud and all Christians should flee their faith and live their lives in reckless moral abandon. I'm glad that I made this discovery while I am still young, and that I haven't wasted too much of my life in the futile pursuit of a lie. (I hope you've picked up on my sarcasm by now.)

But seriously, I have been studying the book of James lately, and certain verses caught my attention. My curiosity caused me to dig a little deeper, cross referencing other verses in the Bible until I came across something that didn't seem quite right. James 2:24 says, "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." His whole point is that faith without good works is useless. How can a man say he has faith if his life doesn't exhibit it through the things he does? Paul, however, in the book of Romans, says, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (3:28) His whole point is that we as humans can't earn our way into heaven by what we do or don't do, it is only by the grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ.

How do you reconcile these differences? James says a man is justified by works, not just by faith. Paul says a man is justified by faith, and not by works. They seem to be in direct conflict. They can't both be right, can they? And if one is right and one is wrong, then doesn't that mean the Bible has an error? And if the Bible has one error, how can you know that any of it is true? If a person looks at these verses alone, set apart from the whole of scripture, it would be easy to come to such a conclusion. But we must remember that every verse needs to be looked at in perspective of the whole Bible, and in context of a healthy relationship with God.

Both Paul and James use Abraham as an example from the Old Testament to illustrate their points. In Romans 4:3, Paul refers to a passage from Genesis 15:6, where it says that Abraham believed God, and he was marked as righteous because of it. What did Abraham believe? He believed God's promise to him, that God would cause his descendants to be as many as the stars in the sky. James also uses the same reference, but he also mentions Abraham's act of obedience, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham obeyed, (although at the last minute God provided an alternative and didn't actually require Abraham to kill his own son!) and because of Abraham's obedience, God renewed his promise to him(Genesis 22:16-17).

I know I'm no expert, but I don't believe that this means that one author is wrong and the other is right. I believe they are both right, they are simply addressing different issues, different problems. Paul is addressing legalism, while James is addressing laziness and disobedience. It brings a balance to the life of a believer. If I am insecure in my relationship with the Father, I will strive to do good works as a way to earn acceptance and love from Him. On the other hand, if I don't trust Him (which is also a sign of a lack of relationship), then I will not act in obedience to what He asks of me.

So in fact, these two verses, when it seems that they are contradicting each other, actually compliment one another. While Paul says don't do good works out of fear and insecurity, James is saying to do good works out of trust and love. What is your motivation - that is the issue here. Why do you follow and believe in God? For fear, or love? What is your relationship with God based on? Fear, or love?

Pictures from Senegal

2006-05-03T14:54:00.000-05:00

I'm Back!

2006-05-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

I have safely arrived home from my trip to Senegal. I was gone for 8 days, but only in Africa for 6 days, once you figure in a day for traveling there and a day for traveling back. It was a good trip, and I believe God was able to use our team to share His message. Thank you for your prayers; they were much needed. I kept a fairly detailed account of my trip in my journal, so the following are excerpts from it, which describe my time in Senegal while it was all happening.

April 25th:
Day 1 in Senegal, it's 5:30pm, and I'm ready for bed. I slept a little bit, uncomfortably, in the car on the way here, but I'm really going on about 6 hours of sleep in the past two days. It's hot - the temperature in our hotel room is about 90, and the electricity is out so we can't run the AC or the fan.
I'm excited about our opportunities. Talking with Jerry [local missionary], it sounds like the doors are wide open for sharing the gospel in these villages. He is very excited. With the heat and lack of sleep, however, I have very little energy.
You forget about certain things when you haven't traveled in awhile, like the trash everywhere, the barrenness of rooms and the uncivilized-ness of bathrooms. You forget the smell, the heat, and the awkwardness of language barrier. You forget the beauty of the people in how they look, smile, dress, carry themselves, and in how they relate to each other.

April 26th:
[Morning] It is now Day 2 in Senegal. I'm on the roof, the sun is rising, filling the air with its heat and brightness. A faint smell of sewage tickles my nose, and the rumbling of large trucks mixes with the cries of roosters to make for a unique combination of sounds. We will be heading out to the village soon for our first day of "story-ing." I am a little apprehensive because I don't know what this will look like or even what I will do. Today will push me outside my comfort zone, so I must be ready for that.
[Evening] After a day in the village - very relaxed and slow-paced - I really see the need for long-term discipleship and work. Jerry confirms that in conversations I have with him. Especially in this area of the world, where it often takes Muslims years to reach a decision to follow Christ, long-term commitment is necessary.

April 27th:
Today was eventful. Soon after Johnny's team left in Sombel's car, a boy, not looking, ran into their car! He was hurt, and they took him to the hospital. Everyone was worried, praying, although Jerry said this kind of thing happens often. Thankfully, the boy turned out to be fine.
We went to the village a little late because of the accident, but this time Jerry came with us. It was good to have his leadership and experience. We gave out the school supplies, which they really seemed to get excited about. We backtracked from yesterday, starting with Story 1 from Jerry's chronicled Bible stories, titled "God's plan for mankind," discussing questions that all men ask, like, "Who created the earth?" "What is God like?" "What is his purpose for man?" and "How do I know what will happen to me when I die?" These questions were followed by a few analogies explaining the need for foundations, and ended with describing 7 characteristics of God. I got to share the story, although it was a slow process, because of the need for translation into Sereer and French.
This opened up some questions, like one woman wanted to know where we go when we die, which Jerry carefully and deliberately answered. Then they shared how grateful they were that we came to share these stories and how it is God's will.
The people in this village are so friendly and hospitable. They give us their best chairs to sit on (old, plastic patio chairs), spread out a mat, sheet, and pillows under the shade in the afternoon for us to lay on, give us Attailla Tea (delicious) and cook a big meal for us.

So there you go, a running description of the events of my trip. The people in the two villages that our group shared the Gospel in were very receptive. I wish I could write that everyone in the villages accepted Jesus as their Savior after we shared, but I can't. Because of their background and mindset, it often takes a long time for anyone to decide to follow Christ. Thankfully, the missionaries we worked with, who live in Senegal, will regularly continue to go to these villages and share stories from the Bible. The encouraging thing is that the people are open and hungry for truth.

8 Days in Africa

2006-04-22T11:55:00.000-05:00

I don't know how many people have already said to me, "You're going all the way over to Senegal for only 8 days?" Well, technically, once you figure in a day for travel each way, it's only 6 days. True, it's just enough time to adjust to the new time zone (6 hours difference), then we turn around and come home. But I'm just excited to travel again, to have the opportunity to get into another culture, and that's worth it to me. And more importantly, whether it's financially, physically, or emotionally, what price is too high to pay for an opportunity to bring the light of the gospel to people living in a very dark place?

The team consists of six individuals, and possibly a seventh, if a miracle happens. Johnny, Mac and Jackie, Eric, Orangel, and myself. Johnny is the team leader. He has been taking teams to Senegal for the past 15 years or so. I went with him two years ago. Mac and Jackie are married, and he is a retired minister. Eric has a school supply store, and was able to get five suitcases of school supplies donated, which we will give to the villages we visit. Orangel is a Hispanic pastor. We also have Becky, who served as a missionary in Senegal for two years. She came on board a little late, and doesn't have a ticket yet. By now, airfare is around $3500, so that's why I said she'll come only "if a miracle happens."

We will be working with long-term missionaries once we arrive. These missionaries have been invited to share the gospel in two neighboring villages, Ndubor and Jomngel. We are prepared with a "Creation to Christ" story that we will share, through translators, in these villages. Senegal is a Muslim nation, but it is typical, especially in the rural villages, for the people to mix their animistic beliefs, such as praying to their ancestors, with the teachings of Islam. Many Africans live in deep fear of the spirit world, or "gods," so they will try anything to protect themselves from the gods, whether it be a special charm, requesting help from the local sorcerer, Muhammad, or even Jesus Christ. What often happens when an African hears about Christ, they add Him to his already long list of beliefs and practices.

Our goal is to successfully share with them that Christ is the only way, and that He is all they need, because He is more powerful than any of their gods and traditions, and He is the only way to eternal life. I am excited for this opportunity. Please keep our team in prayer as we travel and share the gospel. We leave April 24th and return May 1st. Below is a list of prayer points.

-Safe travel for the team to and from Africa
-People in the villages of Ndubor and Jomngel for ability to comprehend the Gospel
-Chief Cole Marone of Ndubor who has confessed Christ
-Good health, strength, discernment and direction for the team
-The team will function as one
-Jerry and Monica, our missionaries

I'm starving!

2006-04-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

Man, it's hard to go for a long time without food. Usually the time between breakfast and lunch is all I can take, especially if it's a late lunch! Try going 12 days. I had this brilliant idea that I would go on a Detox Fast. Not eating anything for a long time allows the body opportunity to clean out the toxins that build up in it from eating such things as big macs and twinkies. Well, I had been hearing all kinds of good things about this, so I decided I would give it a try. What could it hurt? Some interesting things happened to me during this time, and if you want to hear about it, just continue reading. I must warn you, however, that this is not the most pleasant topic...Definitely not for dinner conversation.

It was hard, especially when you live with a whole bunch of people who eat, and you see and smell food. You don't realize how much food consumes us until you go without it for awhile. The first day I had an extreme headache. Apparently, all these toxins built up in my body get re-absorbed into my bloodstream because the body is trying to get energy from something, since the stomach is empty, so this caused the headache. As part of the fast, I periodically gave myself enemas. (If you don't know what that is, you can look it up, but basically it is flushing water through your digestive system to rinse the bad stuff out. Some people do it if they have bad constipation or something.) Well, I gave myself an enema at the end of the first day. I was shocked with the quantity of stuff that exited my system. But after that, the headache went away.

For the next couple days the process continued - no food, drinking lots of water, and an enema at the end of the day. Now, an enema is quite uncomfortable, but let me tell you, it does the job. Night after night more junk was leaving my system, and I would usually feel pretty good after the process. I was surprised, because after about the third day or so, I found that I had a lot of energy, at least a lot more than I expected. The first few days I was going to bed early and sleeping in because I was so tired.

After the first week, I started drinking homemade fruit juice and carrot juice. It tasted so good! It was like an infusion of energy. I felt so light, like there was an extra bounce in my step. The first thing I ate was a banana. Later, I ate a second banana, and for dinner, a salad. Then the next day, it was Easter, so we had feast, and I pigged out. I ate a lot of things with high-sugar content, and honestly, I felt kind of sick after that. All in all, I went 11 days without any food. I lost probably 10 or 15 pounds, but I have gained almost all of it back already.

Now when I eat, I think I have a new perspective. I do eat a lot of things that aren't really healthy for me. I haven't actually stopped eating the unhealthy things, but at least I do think before I eat now. Ridding my body of all the toxic things and refilling it with highly nutritious stuff (the juice) was very good for me, and it is probably something I should do from time to time throughout my life. A couple of weird observations from the detox: an increase in acne activity on my skin, and a decrease in body odor. Normally, I need my deodorant, but during the fast, I didn't. Bad breath was not an issue either during this time.

Not only did I detox my body, but I also used this time to detox my mind and my heart. God brought up certain issues in my life that needed work, like impatience when I relate with people, and a kind of silent rebellion in refusal to fully submit to and respect authority in my life. I had to walk through conflicts in certain relationships, which requires humility. God challenged me in regards to where I place my trust and priorities with my finances. And the time that I usually spend eating food? I spent it praying and reading my Bible. Out with the bad and in with the good.

The detox was not an easy thing to do - I was uncomfortable, hungry, tired, and at times lonely, but it was worth it. I grew through it and learned a few things. You know, I may actually consider doing it again sometime! Just not for awhile. (As I indulge in one of my Grandma's homemade, award-winning Special K bars!)

the rest of the story...

2006-04-21T09:46:00.000-05:00

Since I just left you all hanging on the story of my taxes, I thought you may want to know the ending. I was walking through a field, and noticed what looked like a sinkhole. Upon further examination, I discovered it was really a buried chest of gold. Unbelievable! I wish. I would have had enough money to pay taxes for the rest of my life! Actually, Jim helped me discover a new way to figure in enough deductions to eliminate everything that I owed. So no, it's no chest of gold, but thanks to God nonetheless for a way out of that pit.

taxes!!! cue scary music...

2006-04-15T12:28:00.000-05:00

For the last couple years I have been under this impression that because I have a very minimal annual income, I don't have to pay taxes, so I haven't filed the past couple years. But this year I decided to break down and at least file, still thinking I wouldn't owe anything. Imagine my suprise, when going through the steps of one of these online-file programs, I discover that I owe $991 in federal taxes! Talk about an unpleasand weight on one's shoulders. I can't afford a tank of gas in my truck, much less nearly one thousand in taxes!

Thankfully, with the help and advice of others, using different deductions, like using my truck for business purposes, etc., I have whittled that amount in half, and now I only owe $496. It's not as bad, but I still don't know where that money is going to come from, and it's not like I have all kinds of time to come up with it, since I procrastinated so badly. But I try not to worry. I know that my circumstances don't change who God is, and I know that God is my provider, and God is a Father who loves his children. And Jesus told me that if I ask the Father for anything in Jesus' name, He will give it to me.

God knows how much money I owe, and although I don't know where that money will come from, He does. Trying to rest and be at peace is the challenge. Trusting God is not always as easy as it sounds.

2006-03-23T17:59:00.000-06:00

Senegal...Yes, this is my next destination. You may have heard the rumors, and now it is for real. I have a paid-for plane ticket departing for Dakar, the capitol city of this West African nation. I believe I will be there from April 24th to May 1st (not certain yet on the exact dates), so it is a relatively short trip. Heck, I may not have to pack anything, I could just go with the clothes on my back and a bar of soap in my pocket. I am a huge fan of traveling lightly. Well, maybe at least a small backpack with an extra pair of underwear.

I am very excited about this opportunity. I traveled to Senegal two years ago, and spent 3 weeks there. I have been to eight different countries, but I have not returned to any of them for a second visit; until now. Senegal is a beautiful country, untamed in many ways. The sunsets behind the Baobab trees are amazing. And the people are friendly and hospitable, the only problem is trying to find someone that speaks English! Can you believe it? They don't speak our language in other countries! Absurd.

Anyhow, I will go with Johnny Clayton, a friend of mine from Fort Smith. I could almost call him a pastor, except he doesn't pastor a church. He only heads up a prison ministry, leads the local Concerts of Prayer group, takes teams to Senegal twice a year, and even more that I don't know about. He also plays banjo. My previous trip to Senegal was with him, and I'm excited to have another chance to go. Senegal, a predominantly Islamic nation, sits poised between a very strong Muslim influence to the north, and a Christian influence from nations to the South. Stuck in between, the army of God's kingdom is fighting against the forces of darkness for control of this nation. Our team's goal for our time there will be to team up with missionaries there to share the gospel with people living in small villages that they have had contact with.

I don't know much more than that at this point, but we will have weekly team meetings to find out more, and I will keep you all posted.

Welcome to my first ever blog!

2006-03-18T13:58:00.000-06:00

Blogging, the latest phenomenon on the world wide web, I thought I would give it a try. Actually, I 'm sure that by now blogging is no longer the latest phenomenon on the web, that the latest phenomenon is something more hip and exciting, and I have yet to hear of it. I have no great epiphany to write about or anything, I simply new I needed to post something on my blogsite since I started telling people that it was here.

Yes, I live in Arkansas, and although it carries a bad reputation across our country, it really is a beautiful state. I went hiking yesterday on the Ozarks Highland Trail, and less than half a mile from the access point of the trail, I came across a small stream with an amazing waterfall. This state has many hidden outdoor features, with hiking, camping, and canoeing being great activities in the area. This is by no means an advertisement for Arkansas tourism, I simply want to say how much I enjoy this state because I see the awesome design of a great creator God all around me, and I can't go out into nature without appreciating our artistic Creator. Where I live at the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) campus sits atop a large hill, and from here I can watch both a true sunrise and a true sunset in the same day. I don't know if I have ever lived anywhere that I have had that privilege, and I love it, and I thank God every time for his goodness in giving us something so simple yet so glorious to enjoy as a sunrise.

So that's about all I have to say for now, but be sure to check back again for more delightful insights from Josh Levin.