Today, Kirsten and I are going into Kingston to check out some fresh new wheels. Please be in prayer with us as we look for a good deal. We test drove a Suzuki Jimny last week, which we really liked. But before we pull the trigger, we want to check out some other deals. Below are some of the options we are pursuing: Option #1: This says we are here for serious business, but we are also into putting our feet up! Also, there is plenty of extra room to pile people in for a sweet and tranquil road-trip. (Personal driver is still be discussed.) Option #2: Jamaica has an exquisite coastline drive (think tropical Pacific Coast Highway). Why not drive it in style?! Option #3: Rugged, roomy, reliable.
We will be sure to keep you posted and let you know how the hunting goes!
Well, if you read last week's post, you will know that Kirsten and I had an incredibly relaxing vacation after my busy week in New Jersey. When I wrote the blog and named it "The calm after the Storm," I thought I was being very clever. What I did not know was that tropical depression Nicole was brewing in our neighborhood. The rains began Tuesday afternoon, not too uncommon, at least until it continued through Saturday! Although Jamaica suffered from the storm, Buff Bay was spared major damage. We did lose electricity Tuesday night through Wednesday night with sporadic outages throughout the week. We also lost water from early Wednesday morning through Friday night. Since the water outage, we have lost most water pressure (we assume from considerable breaks in main lines and pumps), which makes bathing an effort.
Due to the storm and its effects, many of our ministries were canceled throughout week. However we found work in preparing for life to resume back to normal and storing water when we could. The outage was minor, but it is incredible to me how dependent I am on the basic amenities of life. I would literally check the kitchen sink every twenty minutes in hope of the water being back! What would it be like to depend on God the way we depend on the water companies of our lives?
All in all, Kirsten and I fared well throughout the week. We experienced the grace of God in new ways, which is always a delight. Part of me feels like we have arrived as "Jamericans" as we have weathered the first major storm. Pastor Allen even found a way to comment on our newly acquired ability to catch rain water on Sunday morning, which won the hearts of some in the pews. Briefly, in other news, tomorrow we are going to look at a car to purchase! We will be certain to keep you informed as to how it goes. Until then...grace and peace be with you.
The week in New Jersey was intense to say the least. It was a blessing to catch up with, run into, and visit many of you while I was back. However, the shortness of the visit only intensified the schedule, which made for an whirlwind of a week. The week was truly a blur as I began early in the morning and crashed late. Nevertheless, there were great moments that were enjoyed. Some highlights of the week were attending the Ocean City Bible Conference, sharing meals/coffee/laughs with family and friends, visiting supporting churches, and attending my 10-year high school reunion. Needless to say, when I arrived back home in Buff Bay, I was in desperate need of a vacation! So, that is what Kirsten and I did.
We were able to get an incredibly low rate on a sweet all-inclusive resort about two and a half hours away from Buff Bay. We enjoyed great weather and all-you-can-eat (American) food! So we did what we set out to do on our vacation - NOTHING. We lounged around, read good books, ate good food that we didn't have to cook, watched Mythbusters and Jeopardy (a treat since we do not have a TV), practiced the art of the flying trapeze, all while decompressing and recharging our batteries after a very busy 10 months.
We are ready for the fall to fall! Pray for us as we reengage in ministry. We are excited about what God is doing and will do in the upcoming year!
Well, I have been enjoying the beautiful September sun and breeze of Ocean City while attending the Ocean City Bible Conference. The sun and the breeze would be more refreshing if Kirsten was with me too, but she is pressing on in Buff Bay with piano lessons, music classes, Bible study, etc.
I have one thought that has been pressing on my heart throughout the conference. It comes from a song we sang yesterday:
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!Hallelujah! Jesus is my life!
This is what God-Centeredness looks like. That we may know Jesus Christ in this way!
The past week was a calm one. We enjoyed a nice day Saturday at the river with the Youth Fellowship (PICTURES HERE!!!). We cooked out, swam, played volleyball, and soaked in some sun. In addition, we welcomed Pastor Allen back from his much deserved vacation. He was able to take a couple of weeks off in Canada visiting family and friends. The circuit of churches is very excited to have him back and so are we. We hope that having us here allowed him some greater freedom to relax. He is not staying long in Buff Bay, however, because he and I are heading up to New Jersey for about a week this coming Saturday. Our home church (Ocean City Baptist) is hosting the 2nd annual Ocean City Bible Conference (click here for the conference site). Pastor Allen will be preaching Sunday, September 12th at Ocean City Baptist Church (at 10:45 am), which will serve as the pre-conference kick-off service. OCBC has very graciously offered to bring me up with Pastor Allen to attend the conference. I am looking forward to the conference, largely because many of you will be attending! Several of our supporting churches will also be in attendance, so it will be great to connect and update them in person as to what God is doing in Buff Bay. In addition to attending the conference, I will be trying to connect with other supporters, family, friends, and also attend my 10-year high school reunion. Before heading back early Monday morning, I will be preaching at OCBC's Sunday night service on September 19th at 6:00 pm.
It will be a busy week but, I trust, a good one. I am flying solo, however. Kirsten is going to stay in Buff Bay because many of the ministries she does are just starting back up as school just started on Monday. When I return, we will be taking a couple of days off, so we are trying to miss as little ministry time as possible. Please pray for Pastor Allen and myself as we travel. Also, pray for Kirsten as she continues here alone during that time. Lastly, pray that the conference will be a success. Pray that the attendees are encouraged, challenged, and equipped to shine brighter for Christ and His Kingdom!
I have been preaching on and thinking about 1 John 2:15-17. John writes about hating the stains of worldliness. The reason behind this necessary hatred of the world (that is, the world system which is stained with sin) is that it is not from God and will not last forever. The things of this world are shadows or fool's gold compared to the splendor and riches of the things of God. In other words, the things of this world are vulgar and cheap, and the things of God are elaborate, eternal, and beautiful.
In a day-to-day attempt to set the compass of my heart toward God, I have tried to seek after what is truly beautiful. I have tried to take into account more of my surroundings, which if you have ever been to the Caribbean, you know are quite beautiful. I have been on a steady music diet of John Coltrane, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bob Dylan's "Saved" and "A Shot of Love" albums, and ancient hymns remade by modern artists. I have even been reading a large dose of fictional yet substantial stories: The Hobbit (Tolkien), Out of the Silent Planet (Lewis), and Perelandra (Lewis). Listening to, looking at, and doing beautiful things has been a great exercise in spiritual discipline.
How? Well, as we face the daily temptations to settle for the world and the things in it, I find that on my own I cannot fight the battle. However, when I see Jesus as more beautiful and fulfilling, the "things of this world grow strangely dim." Hating this world (the system) is not simply an attitude, but it is a reorientation of our focus to see things as they really are. This happens as we are "transformed by the renewing of our mind" (Romans 12:2).
The great struggle and work we have before us (and Christians everywhere) is not simply to advocate a change in behavior but a change in vision. To proclaim the one, true gospel that man is freed by grace through faith in Christ is to set his mind on beautiful and eternal things above and not things of this fleeting, decaying world. Pray for us as we seek after beautiful things of God in our own lives while holding up Christ as the most elaborate demonstration of God's beautiful grace, mercy, justice, and love to those in Buff Bay that they too may see what is truly beautiful.
Originally from the Philadelphia-Southern NJ area, we are living in Jamaica and working with a collection of churches and the people of Buff Bay. We hope that you will tune into this site to stay connected and that you will, in a sense, go with us!
