Omelets with some Spurgeon and a Bunyan

Who could have accounted for a 29th day of February to ruin my predictions? It seems as though I am not yet in my final month of this Irish excursion and I accredit this false prediction to the seasons and astronomical events! Couldn't this whole time thing have been worked out better? Who plans these things? Anyways, I will now say with confidence that the next time (after this one) I sit down to write a blog I will be in my final month, nearing departure. Today is a cloudy, windy, rainy day, which is about as common over here as February 29th isn't. I would have thought it would be appropriate for this day to be sunny, just to add to the rarity of it. I seem to be slipping back into my pretend anger. I will change the subject.
Ah, today I made an omelet for the first time ever (as I can recall). I had some of the guys in the house come round to the kitchen for a taste test and we can all agree that I am well pleased at finding a new talent. Though I must confess it's not as useful as others. After cleaning up the extensive mess left in the kitchen I sat down with a friend to watch a Vodcast by Mark Driscoll concerning predestination. It's like a Theological RedBull, nothing gets the doctrinal blood stirring more than a good predestination/Calvinist-Arminian debate Vodcast by a Reformist heavyweight theologian. I would, in fact, greatly recommend taking a look at Mark Driscoll's recent sermon series titled "Religion Saves, and nine other misconceptions." - it has some great points (though Driscoll tends to be overly blunt and sometimes rudely rash and arrogant). He answers questions live from people in the congregation who can anonymously text their questions, theological or social. You can also become Mark Driscoll's Facebook friend very easily and ask him questions, which I thought was cool and handy. - marshillchurch.org
I've ranted enough now on impersonal events. I have been well overall, slowly growing and making progress in my personal and thought life. I will admit that I struggle much daily at being a follower of Christ, and some days are just complete flops where others seem to be spiritually revolutionary. Overall though, I return to the word overall, I have been daily seeking Christ to be first in my heart, soul, and mind. I pray daily for a fire for Christ and a passion for truth and that His word and law would be on my heart. Please pray for me on these issues - as time goes on here and as an end is in sight I find myself becoming more and more apathetic and weak. Perhaps it is just a season, but I will not allow it to be an excuse, and so pray with me against it. I cannot let go of my goals, I cannot cease my progression. My biblical memorization has proven difficult as well, though I am inspired by what Charles Spurgeon said of John Bunyan, "Prick him anywhere; and you find that his blood is bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his soul is full of the Word of God." How essentially desirable is that! If there is one thing that is essential in life, other than a belief and passion for the gospel, it would be to have and know the Word of God with such intimacy that it is in your very breath and blood! Though I am far far from it, it's what I strive for... and not for any reason other than to know Jesus more intimately and to know His perfect and pleasing will. I live to please God, whether in the UK or Canada, Zimbabwe or North Korea.
Yet again, I have ranted. There has been so many good stories this week. I have had a lot of great conversations with interesting people. But now I've run out of time... I must run off now, I am attending the ticket booth at a local Aids in Africa Awareness concert. I couldn't pay the £8 to get in normally, so I volunteered.
Keep praying for me, as I am for you.

Dandelions

Well, what can I tell you of my travels and work? I find myself before this computer screen, the light bouncing into my pupils, and myself thinking about how I can express to you what thoughts I am having behind my eyes, what events are unraveling and which are beginning? Based upon my blog writing patterns (or lack thereof) the next time I am writing, in this way, I will likely be in my final month. And while there is a lot happening there also seems to be very little, I'm not sure how present my mind is on today and today's responsibilities as oppose to tomorrows (which I am all too often thinking of). It is not healthy as a Christian I don't think. And while that is my mental and spiritual ailment I don't think I have yet gotten better from my physical sickness, though at this point it is hardly noticeable nor is it as important. We've had much more sun here lately than I have ever experienced in the UK and it seems as though we are standing on the doormat of springs house, I can already smell what's for dinner. This means I might have the joy of experiencing two springs this year, oh happiness.
Lately I have been reading some of the parables towards the end of Luke, the less heard of ones that appear in no other gospels. It has been slow because I am trying to really get to the meat of what is being said. There are some scary aspects, some joyful, some thoughtful and hope-giving, others troubling and self-revealing. I ponder to myself about my servant hood and whether I have actually done all I was told to do, not even whether I could say "I am an unworthy servant; I have only done what was my duty" (Lk 17:10). It is good, and it is enriching my prayer as scripture often does. I am also trying very desperately (with much failure) to memorize Psalm 103, because under the advice of John Piper this would greatly enrich my prayer as well.
Well, other than that there is not much else to say other than tedious talk of daily events. Like yesterday I had a great time in the extreme winds of street evangelism (metaphorically but definitely non-metaphorically as well). Then went for Tea (as they call Dinner) at a friends house in Coleraine, which was nice. Today I am writing my blog and going to a local pub with fellow interns, to watch a Manchester United game (I've become a big fan of Football... oh.. uh I mean Soccer) to immerse myself in the British/N.Irish culture once again (minus the heavy drinking of course).
Other than this though, things with me are fairly normal. The dandelions are beginning to speckle the fields and my work with the church is waning as it is being passed off into other hands. I just hope that all I do and am still brings glory to God in some way or another.
See you all soon, I'd love to hear from you.

I've a fever

I don't have much to say mostly because not much happened this week other than me being confined to the walls of my house due to illness. Some kind of virus kidnapped me with a fever and chained me to my bed, stealing my health, my mind, and my willpower. I think perhaps I have escaped now though, and am undergoing my slow return to normality (there's no trace of Stockholm Syndrom with this criminal). Therefore I have not much to say other than another week has passed and I have very little to show for it other than a lot of dirty tissues. So I am not going to say more. Concerning my growth (Cause 'those not busy living are busy dying' right?) I have been exploring the different opinions on healing and signs and wonders, were they for the apostles only or not? (Something tells me this is not going to take only a couple days). Please pray for me, that my heart and mind would be continually renewed and refreshed with God's word and Spirit - and that despite my sickness or any pursuit of theological intelligence that my craving would be for holiness and godliness as a means of pleasing our Creator. My prayer will be the same for you.

A Thousand Trials

Yesterday I walked along the Portstewart strand, which sits on the sea, and I am yet again amazed. It was as if the wind were picking on the sea, swooping down and taking its shots. The sea, a drunken giant with definite temperamental issues, throwing it's fists blindly like a dazed boxer, leaving itself open to be smacked and thrown. I don't know why sometimes they clash when they can get along so wonderfully, like siblings I suppose. On this specific afternoon there was something that came between them, there were no playful fights, but anger and power. The wind throwing the sea to the rocks making it bleed its foam. I walked with very little control of my direction, a good 40 feet from the seaside wiping the seawater from my face, as it came like rain on a rainless day. It's an eye opener, and I'm not sure if I will ever see anything like it again, I'm not sure if I want to. I have learned above all here that there is more to God than I know; there is power, majesty and beauty beyond my understanding. He works, and has worked, in such a drastic amount of ways.
I have been changed, and though it may seem from my words that it has been through the things I've seen I assure you it is not, I just describe what I see to paint the black, white and red truth. Like a Psalm can be most moving when sung from a broken voice in sweet melody, “Give light to my eyes, Oh Lord, or I will sleep in death”. But it is the black, white and red words of scripture that have pierced my heart and soul, not the beauty of nature and life. I walk by the sea now to seek the Lord and perhaps then find the sea beautiful, not to see the beautiful sea in hopes of finding the Lord. Every breath to be a prayer, fighting off the prince of the air. Every thought to be a plea, “oh God surround me.” Every step a thousand miles, by the grace of God against a thousand trials.
Every day decisions are made, some more important than others, some have such an incomparable weight to others. I see clearer now, I have prayed against the will of my body for a baptism of fire, to be renewed by the Spirit of God. I am a new creation, with a new mind in the name of Jesus Christ. I am no longer conformed to the pattern of this world (though to play off rhythm takes continual concentration) and I have experienced on a level a taste of the weight of glory that has destroyed my entire mind. I can no longer see with these eyes like I had, I can no longer hear with these ears like I had. To pray with my morning’s first breath and to worship with my evening’s last sigh and with all that is in between be praise, through faith and love demonstrated in good deeds, as Christ. It is a feat, and if ever I can fully accomplish it, which I strive for, it will be because of the immeasurable grace and love of God. I once thought that the big decisions in life were the apparently larger ones, like schooling, or careers. And on a level they definitely are, though they cannot weigh themselves beside the decision of constant prayer, or the choice of praise over idolatry. I have learned this, and am trying to grasp it.
I have made a decision recently, one that would at first seem large, but really is not compared to a decision to read the word of God, which is more important than air. I have decided to come back to London, Ontario. I was not sure whether I would make this something public, but I cannot see myself hiding this from my brothers and sisters who are praying for me. In early April I will, Lord willingly, have the joy of seeing you all again.
I am having a very enjoyable and fruitful time over here for sure, but circumstances and prayer has lead me this way. I can't wait to share what God has taught me, and what questions and challenges His word has put on my mind.
I have been praying for many of you and all of you. To experience the Kingdom, which has come, and is here, and is still coming, with such a terrible weight that your mind, heart, soul, and strength would be forever changed and renewed. To know the good and perfect and pleasing will of God in all decisions.
Pray for me also, to keep my eyes set on today and the possibilities in the name of Christ.