Final Post

Well, here it is.  My Final post from Boston.

Today we are cleaning, and we have a banquet tonight, and Brad will drive me, and a couple of others to the airport tomorrow early in the morning.  He's going to be here at 3:45 am!  That's 2:45 CST for those of you keeping score at home.

I just want to thank God for this summer.  It has been such an incredible experience.  I have learned from great people of faith, and I have had the opportunity to share my faith on campuses, and through media.  I have also grown a lot through my daily devotional, and through some reading of Christian authors.  I made some great friends along the way as well.

I also want to thank all of you who have been reading.  This is the last post I'll be making here, but I do plan to post some of my thoughts in another blog I've created ftaf.blogspot.com starting in the fall.

I want to thank all of those who supported me financially and spiritually.  Without you all (well without you all, I believe God would have gotten me to where I needed to be, but I sure would have worried a lot more than I did, and I probably would have doubted whether or not God even wanted me here).  So thank you so much, because there is no way I could have done this on my own.

I can't wait to see all of you when I get back.  So until...
Well,
God Bless

The Post That Almost Wasn't

I'm writing this post three days late, not because I've been so busy, but because I really haven't wanted to write this.  Last Friday I made some realizations about myself, and I wasn't very happy about them.  A lot has happened since then, so first I'll give you all some of the highlights.

Saturday I had seafood.  It was excellent.  (at $20 a plate it had better be) Seriously, though, it was really good.  I had scallops (on recommendation of our waiter) and they were fantastic.

Sunday was our last prayer and praise time. We all picked our favorite songs, and we spoke about some of the things God has done in our lives, or taught us, in the time we've had this summer.  I chose "Amazing Grace," and spoke of how I've really spent more time in the Word, and in just taking time out of my day/week to talk with God, and how I want to continue that when I get back home.

Monday was good and bad.  At work I went through interviews looking for quotes to use in the final video I am working on this summer, and I spent about six hours doing that.  Then my computer was unplugged accidentally and it turns out I hadn't saved once all day.  So when I go tomorrow morning I will be starting in the exact same spot I started this morning.

That said this evening was a great success.  We had all of the girls over, and cooked for them.  Peter made a salad, I made chili and cake, and Aaron played piano and got flowers for all of the girls.  After the meal we all watched "The Princess Bride," and then the girls left for their own places.  Everyone seemed to have a really good time.  (and the chili was a success!)

Now that you've been all filled in on my activities I'll tell you about Friday.

We went out to the Boston Commons Friday to share, and the group I was with found quite the area.  It is apparently were pot is sold.  We shared with some kids.  Of the four we talked to first two had children, and three had been in jail.  One of the staff people had some good talks with them, and was able to make some points and really relate to them, and all the while there was this feeling building up inside of me.

Next we talked to a man who was a traveling poet in the Druidic tradition.  He also seemed to have pot (and women) on the mind.  By the time I was done talking to him the first kids we talked to were ten feet away from us smoking pot, and it was about all I could take.  I was so sick of everything going on around me that I had to talk a walk to any other part of the park.

After walking for a little while and thinking about how awful all of those people were it occurred to me that I am a sinner the same as them.  I tried to get rid of this thought by justifying that I was a sinner same as them, but I was still better because I realized my sin, and repented of it.

But the problem was still there.  It was me feeling more righteous than them.  I had taken on the role of a modern day pharisee.  We were there looking for exactly the people we found.  The people who most needed to hear about God's love and grace.  Then when we found them I couldn't even stand to be around them.  After praying for about 30 minutes I finally made my way back.

I didn't talk to any of them after that, we left about 10 minutes after I got back, and I don't really have any great resolution to this story other than I realized what I was doing, and how I was judging.  I would ask that you all pray that God would give me the humbleness to not judge others (don't get me wrong, this is not me saying that anyone can do anything, and there is no absolute right or wrong, all I'm saying is that I am in no position to judge anyone, when I am a sinner just like them.)  So, until next time,
God Bless.

Penultimate Wednesday

Today was the second to last Wednesday of the project, and as I think I've stated before, I really like Wednesdays here.

We went to campus this afternoon, and I had two good conversations. The first was with an agnostic who was searching for something, he just didn't know what. Unfortunately we didn't have a lot of time with him, so we just left him with some materials and resources. Hopefully he'll look into it, and the Spirit will move in him in ways that only It can.

The other guy we spoke to was raised in the church, and he still believes in God, and goes to church when he's back home. However, he had a works based view of salvation. He knew he would get into heaven because he is a good person. He's sinned before (only human right?) but on the whole he is a pretty good guy, and does good things, and cares about others.

I am continually amazed at how often people have this view. I understand when someone is selfish, and does only things that they want to do. This self-centered view seems appealing, and it sucks you in. By the time you realize that nothing on Earth can please you enough it is too late, and you are trapped in your own self serving nature.

On the flip side I understand how great it can be to do good things. When you do stuff for others you have a good feeling, and this may lead you to doing more good things, but ultimately the reason for this great sensation is that we are spreading God's love.

What I don't get is when people do good things to get to heaven. I think the Bible is pretty clear about how we are saved, and it's not of our own works.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

I just don't see how this is not more central in so many churches. I don't blame the church he goes to, but I do think it's wrong that this isn't stressed in every church.

Regardless, we did have a good conversation with him, and in the end we were able to share much of the Gospel with him, and discuss how Christ needs to be at the center of your life.

After all of that I came back, and had my laundry/reflection night. I finished reading "The Shack." Another good book that I won't recommend quite as highly as C.S. Lewis, or Timothy Keller, but a good book none the less. So, until next time,

God Bless.

Familiarity

When you get used to doing something it starts to go faster. This has been very evident in the past few days for me.

Case 1:

Yesterday Aaron and I went to one of the other houses and installed two A/C units. We were at the house for a little over an hour. For the first unit we had no idea what to do. We took out the instructions, and figured out how to assemble and mount the unit with the few supplies we had. (Dead power drill, no duct tape, and a window with a ledge very inconvenient for placing a unit in flat) We found a screwdriver, packaging tape, and figured out a way to make it stay in place, but all of this took us a while. First unit time: 45 minutes.

Then for the second unit we knew what we had to do, and we already had all of the supplies nearby. Second unit time: 15 minutes.

It makes sense, we knew exactly what we had to do, so the task went faster the second time.

Case 2:

Today I put finishing touches on another video, it still has to be approved, and small changes may be in store, but this video didn't even take 1/2 as long as our first. To top it off, this video was done on my own. Not to boast, because the other two have been working on a much more complex video, that my particular skills don't apply as much for. So in the week or so since our first video was finished we have finished (pretty much) two more videos that are of a better quality than the first.

This isn't quite the same principal as before, because we are doing a different task each time, but we are familiar with some of the process, and definitely with techniques to be used. First video time: 42 days, Second and third videos combined: about 10 days.

Case 3:

This project.

The first week here was long. I was excited to be on project, but I was also a little nervous to be away from home for the entire summer. It seemed like 9 weeks was going to take forever. I felt like God had called me to this project, and I just had to serve my time, and then I would get to go home, and everything would go back to normal.

Now we have officially seven more work days, three trips to campus, and only a few more whole group activities. I won't just go home and be back to normal, because there will be a new normal. I have grown so much over this project.

I won't say I'm a different person, because my beliefs are still the same (but stronger) my flaws are still the same (but more apparent to me) and my personality is still the same (maybe slightly more awesome) but seriously I have grown so much in my walk with Christ this summer. So, until next time,

God Bless.

Whoa!

So, there are officially two weeks left on project. It has gone so fast. I miss home, but I will also really miss Boston, and more importantly all of the people on project.

You may say "Well, why worry about it? You still have two weeks left."

And in fact, I do, I only mention it, because I was talking with Brad about it today. We helped him move some stuff today. They have a storage unit they've been renting, and he asked if we would be willing to help move some of it to the new house. It was mostly just boxes. No furniture or anything like that is being moved yet.

Aaron and I went with Brad, while a bunch of the girls stayed at the house, and did work around there. They cleaned the whole place, and took off some of the wallpaper, and even one of the carpets. All of the girls were gone yesterday. They had girls weekend (similar to the guys camping trip) and so they left the office early Friday.

It was pretty lonely around the office. Instead of there being 14 students and 3-4 staff people at the office, it was just the three guys. It was a lot quieter. (not a knock on the girls, it was like an eerie quiet)

Anyways, we made it through just fine, and they're all back now. So, until next time,

God Bless.

The Conversation

I want to first say that my comments a few days ago about feeling unnecessary in the office were a bit whinny, so I apologize for you all having to listen to that. Sure enough, the very next day I was assigned a new video, and have plenty of work to do.

Now with the apology out of the way I had to tell you all about my experience on campus yesterday. It was raining, and the gal I was with and I walked around for an hour without speaking to anyone, then we met Sam.

I'll let you know right from the start that Sam did not come away from our conversation accepting Christ. In fact he was pretty much opposed to everything that either of us said. He is convinced that the Bible is European propaganda, that God (rather "The Creator" as he said) is a woman, and that women used to be able to reproduce without males. I don't say any of this to poke fun at him, I just want you all to know that we were coming at this conversation from vastly different viewpoints.

We spoke for 2 1/2 hours, and finally both Becka (the other person on project that I was with) and I had to go. But in that time we were able to hit on a lot of points. As I mentioned he didn't come to accept Christ, but there were multiple times when one of us was able to make a point to him that pointed out that his logic was flawed.

One of the hardest things is that when you're speaking with someone who is set against believing anything the Bible says you can't use it to make a point. It is our ultimate source of truth, and people can just dismiss it like that. Then you have to try and use logic outside of the Bible, or some scientific finding. Mind you those things are both out there. It's just that we already have the Word of God. I believe if someone is even willing to go into the Bible with an open mind that it could be true (this is different than just having blind faith, and saying that someone told them to believe the Bible, so they did); if they go in with that mindset they would find so many incredible truths, and realize that every answer is already given to us.

Regardless, there are plenty of people out there who don't have that mindset, and that's okay. God gave them freewill, and if they need science and logic then He will show them that as well. It's amazing how well people are provided for.

So to make this long post longer, I wanted to say that I thank God for the opportunity to have that conversation. Six months ago, I would have just ended the conversation once I knew his beliefs, and nothing I would say would change them. I also thank God that I was with Becka. She is a bit more aggressive than I am with other people, and she kept the conversation going. I was then able to think, and present a logical case for what I believed, and make many valid points regarding what I believed and what Sam believed.

In the end it was one of the better talks I've had here in Boston, and I pray that the Lord would put more people in Sam's life that would speak the truth to him, and show him the information he needs to see. (He's very smart and driven, and I believe he will continue to search for Truth on his own) I just hope he finds real truth along the way. So, until next time,

God Bless

One Down, Three to Go

Today we finally finished our first video. You can check it out at

http://vimeo.com/13329662

Check it out. I think it turned out pretty good.

Today was also a little frustrating from a work sense. The video team as a whole has a lot of skills, but right now we are doing the graphical side of things, which is most definitely not my forte. I can still offer input, but it is the other two members of the team who are really putting this next video together, and I felt a little useless. Don't get me wrong, this isn't like emotional breakdown mode, I was just getting antsy by the end of the day. Tomorrow we go out on campus, and that will be a good change of pace for me.

Tonight for our Bible study we ended up just hanging out. We went to Brad's new house. (They officially closed the deal on their old apartment, and will start moving things over soon) Then we went to the grocery store for some food (always nice to have a ride there, so we don't have to walk back with our groceries through the rain) It was a good time, and I continue to enjoy my time with all of the men here on project.

It's crazy, we started that first video about the second day on project, and it took us 41 days. Now we only have 18 days left to finish the last three, but I the whole team is so much more comfortable in our roles, that I am very confident we will get all of them done, and they will be at a great quality. Thank God for that; for the abilities we have, and how well our team gets along, and for the great support all of the full-time staff on project has been. That's all I really know for tonight. So, until next time,

God Bless.

Back in Action (and Boston)

Well, it's been a while. In the time since my last post I've seen four states, a World Cup final, a replay of the Big XII Championship game, four movies, Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty.

I was in New York City last week, and it was a good time. Normally I would use great here, but this trip was just good. New York had a bit of a heat wave (don't get me wrong, 95 with high humidity is commonplace in Nebraska, but we didn't have AC in the house we stayed at, and I'm just a bit of a wimp when it comes to heat.

However, the heat wasn't enough to take away from the trip entirely. I saw some wonderful sites (the aforementioned Times Square, and Statue of Liberty via a ferry ride), I had some good food (Foley's [sports bar for the ages], Grimaldi's Pizza [even was filmed by the travel channel for that one]), had some great personal time (Central Park for a couple of hours reading, writing, and just chatting with God), and had lots of reading time (finished Reason for God, as well as The Great Divorce, and The Screwtape Letters [both by C. S. Lewis, all highly recommended]).

With all of that said it was a very good trip.

Now we're back in Boston, and it's good to be back. I had some computer issues, so I wasn't able to write a post until now, but that is all fixed, and I'm back in action.

Also of note is two things work related. Today we finished the final rendering for our first video project, so it should be converted to a movie file, and hopefully up on YouTube later this week. We also filmed today. It took an entire day, and we had to set up a bunch of lights, a makeshift greenscreen, and install some AC units (another story for another day) but in the end we got some good video, and I think this intro video that we're working on is going to be one of our best projects for the summer.

I think I've rambled for long enough tonight, and I have to get some sleep (it's 12:20 here). So, until next time,

God Bless.