1 Corinthians

Last week we studied Galatians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians... it was also a very busy week with a test and other things going on which just added some stress. So... no updates from last week... sorry!

This week however, we are studying 1 Corinthians, and its all about the love.

The more I read about the background of the people living in Corinth, the more I understand this book. I really haven't gotten far into it since it is the beginning of the week, but its awesome so far! The more I've studied the more I've been excited for what is coming up in a few months.... OUTREACH!

I am having fun fundraising for outreach. I think I've mentioned before, I'm going to Chiang Rai, Thailand to teach the bible and how to study the bible inductively to pastors and churches in this region. Thailand is mainly Buddhist, with also some Hindu and Muslim communities. We will be working in a predominantly Buddhist area that is in desperate need of discipleship through the Word. Anyway, I was praying about what to do about my finances, since I don't need to raise a LOT, but I will need to see more come in than my regular support, as my outreach fees are about $2800 and right now I have about 1/3 of that amount. Since my school requires almost all of my free time for homework, I can't exactly go out and work an evening job either. So, I got the idea to make smoothies. I know... brilliant, right? Well, I can't take credit for it - my friend Priscille suggested it. I wanted to do something with my hands and be faithful with what God has given me - a bit of time here and there, and creativity! So, after a trip to Costco, I was armed with bags of frozen blueberries and strawberries, bananas, yoghurt, apple juice, and determination to give it my best. I'm going to be selling smoothies after our Base Meetings on Mondays and Thursdays (our times for worship and prayer as a whole community). I've only been doing the sale for a week, so I haven't seen a huge income, but... its fun and I feel I am being obedient to God, and I trust he will bless that. As we do the possible he does the impossible, right?

In other news, I had the opportunity to see some good friends in Costa Mesa on Sunday night, whom I had not seen for over 2 years. One, Sara, lives in New Zealand but was in town for a wedding. It was so great to catch up with these girls who invested in my life when I lived in Orange County back in 2001-2002. We laughed, we cried, we shared stories, we prayed... I'm so grateful for Sara, Jamie, Cyndi, and Heather - women who were used by God in my life to bring me closer to him!

And as I'm sure you all know already, my dear friend, Vikki, (technically she's like a 2nd cousin or something) and her family need your prayer. Their son Luke has Leukemia for the 3rd time and it breaks my heart to know he is going through this. I wish I could do something, but then I realize, I CAN. I can pray. Even though I live hundreds of miles away, God is still God here in Los Angeles and he hears me here, too! I know there are people all over that are praying for Luke and his family. If you want to read about him, check out his website, and then PRAY for him, his mom and dad (Vikki & Steve), his older brother Jake, and his younger sister Tori too. God really does hear our prayers.

I think that is it for now. Oh, the photos are from Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in Hollywood (we went for my classmate Jeff's birthday), and from a Base Cleaning Day where I was on the van-washing crew. Love you all and thanks for reading!

1 Corinthians 16:14 "Let all that you do be done in love."

He is Risen Indeed...

Well, I had a great weekend hanging out with my friend Tracy and her mom Jan down in OC. For Easter, we went to the OC Fairgrounds where my old church from when I used to live down here, Rock Harbor, was holding its services for Easter this year. Since I've been studying the bible, it was so neat to understand what our pastor was speaking about in a new way... last week we studied Matthew, and this week Luke and Acts, so I've been seeing the difference in these two accounts that were written for different audiences (Jewish and Greek/Gentile.) The thing for it all that is so awesome is this: God wanted his message of hope to be available for all peoples. He hadn't given up on his people, the Jews... and he had never limited this message to be available only for the Jews (from the start of their nation - Abraham - they were meant to be blessed so that through them all nations would be blessed!) Anyway, I had such an awesome time singing songs and worshiping God on this day where people all around the world celebrate the hope we have because of his death and resurrection.

I am always hearing people say stuff about how Easter isn't about Jesus anymore, or that it was originally a pagan holiday that Christians tried to turn into one about Jesus, and I hear similar arguments about Christmas as well. What I would like to point out is this: The same God who created the heavens, the earth, the sun and moon and the seasons... I think he's big enough to be worshiped on every day of the year (which he created, by the way.) And if there are one or two days out of the year where people who don't normally worship Jesus or hear about him decide to put on pretty clothes and rock up to a church service even though the rest of their lives don't yet look very "Christian"... I don't see anything wrong about this... I actually think its pretty AWESOME! Yes, like many who heard the message back when Jesus was walking the earth and they still missed it, there will be those who still hear and miss it today. But there's the chance that others will hear, believe, and their lives will be forever changed. And if you have read the teachings of Jesus in the gospels, you'll see he was all about calling sinners to repentance on the individual scale.

Just think...

A shepherd leaving his flock of ninety-nine to go after one sheep that was lost?