What.A.Day!

I trekked my way across the Yorkshire Dales this morning to the lovely city of York. Which is actually the predecessor to...yep, you guessed it... New York! A beautiful city full of winding streets, tiny shops, and of course Starbucks on every corner.

Not only did we get to take in the usual sites of York we also were witness to the annual Viking Festival. And yes, when I say Viking I mean VIKING! Complete with fur vest and horned helmet.

One of the top attractions in York is the York Minster Abbey, a beautiful gothic style cathedral that towers over the rest of the York skyline. I, being the extremely frugal young man that i am, did not feel the need to pay the 8 pounds to visit the sanctuary and crypts (ew) so I was satisfied with the entrance hall and glimpses into the rest of the cathedral.

As I stood under the sixty foot high ceilings watching scores of people lay down their bills and plastic cards to enter the cathedral I wandered what Jesus would think of it. People paying to enter His house just because it was not a Sunday. Would He think it was right?

I have officially become my mother's son. I went into two, that's right count them, ONE, TWO antique shops today! And was I glad I did? Yes I sure was! Not only did get to see things that immediatly reminded me of my mom and Nancy, but I viewed third century Roman Jewelry, Victorian diamond bracelets (priced at 1,200 pounds) and troves of other amazing items.

After arriving back at Capernwray tonight I made my way down to the Conference Hall to join in the viewing of "Blood Diamond." What a Film (copyright James Martin) I have not been moved by a movie like I was by this one in quite some time! There were so many pictures of Christ, and God in the movie I was constantly on the verge of tears throughout the show. One of my favorite lines near the end after one of the main characters had fought the entire movie to save his son,
"I am your father, and you will come home and be my son."
What a beautiful picture of our Lord. Fighting day in a day out to get us back, to let us know He loves us, to let us know we are welcome home no matter what we have done.

The scenery of the movie was incredible. Stunning African vista's were exploding into my cornea's every time I looked at the screen! And it only made me that much more excited to be visiting such a beautiful country in little over two months!

After the film, and after a quick birthday party in the laundry room and a worship session with Jen at the lounge piano, I made my way back up to the zoo (my room). James and I talked about how the film impacted us. James is so passionate about everything that God puts in his mind, and I am so jealous of his great zeal and determination to see his dreams through. We talked about how we, as westerners, are so comfortable in our lives. And how most of the world is without food or clean water nearly everyday. It is very eye opening just to think about what that means.

With both of us heading to africa over the course of the next few months everything about the subject just seems to be so relevant.

But I also have had a sort of revelation of sorts over the past few days. I am so excited to be able to take God's love to Africa. And I could see myself doing that on a regular basis...but then what about the unsaved in my own country? What about the unsaved that live right down the street from me?

I have always considered a missionary someone who goes practically off the face of the planet to bring the gospel to as of yet unknown people who wear leaves for clothes and use clicks instead of words. But are we not all called to be missionaries for the Lord, and does God not tell us to do this WHERE WE ARE?

I have always feared a "normal life." I have feared becoming complacent with where I live, and what my job will be. But if God calls me to live in Nebraska for the rest of my life and if He calls me to be, heaven forbid, a State Farm Insurance agent :) then I will be a missionary in Nebraska and at Beau Neville State Farm Insurance offices. I will serve the Lord, and bring the gospel to wherever He calls me too. I am EXCITED to do that!

I have never felt so on absolute fire for God in all of my life.

How great is HE?

Thank you God for speaking to me, for satisfying me, for teaching me contentment! Thank you for saving me through the death of your son, Jesus Christ. And thank you for continuing to accept me as your son, even when I do not deserve it, or even want it. Praise you for all you do in my life, for all you have given me and my family, and for all you will do and give in the future. You are Great, Awesome, and MOST worthy of praise!!!

Church and God's calling!

Story to start it off…

There was a man who worked at a factory and one day, as he was heading out of the factory to home, he was stopped at the exit because he was leaving with a wheelbarrow and a box. The guard at the gate asked, “What is in the box?” The man answered, “It is just a box of sawdust from the floor I am taking home for my animals.” This continued all week. Everyday the man would head out of work, and everyday he was stopped by the guard, and everyday he said, “it is just a box of sawdust i am taking home for my animals.” By the end of the week the guard was so suspicious of the man that he decided he was just going to ask him what was really up. When the man with the wheelbarrow and the box came out on friday the guard said, “Alright, tell me really what is going on, I won’t turn you in, I just need to know what you are up to.” The factory worker paused…then siad, “I’m stealing wheelbarrows.”

Is it not so amazingly true that we often focus on such little things that we completely miss the big things that are staring us in the face!

The church service started off with some of the most amazing, and wonderfully lifting worship I have ever participated in. I feel so close to God when I am singing my heart out, and when the students of Capernwray sing, they we really sing. The Conference Hall resonates with the Lord’s praises. It is one of the most wonderful and beautifully majestic sounds I have ever heard. So many people unswervingly and unreservedly worshiping God at one time is so humbling to be a part of. I just cannot wrap my mound around the fact that God can hear everything our hearts are crying out to Him when we are all crying out at the same time. What an awesome God we serve!

As I listened to the sermon today, given on Ezekiel 47:1-12 by an Irishman, I heard the Lord speak to me as clear as I ever have. I have been worried that, by settling for an instate college, not feeling a ‘call’ to the mission field, or not constantly feeling like I am right on track that I might not be doing what God has willed for me. And then, as I sat in church this morning, God said there are just as many people who need to hear about Him, and whom I can talk to, and whom I can witness to as an example at the University of Nebraska, than there are if I were to go anywhere else or do anything else. And God has called me to attend UNL to be a light for Him, and to carry out His plan He has for me there. I am now so excited to start that next step in my life I can hardly contain it! God is so good!

Love

Some people really just show love at the best times!

I got a little note from a friend here at cape today, and it was much needed and much appreciated!!

It is so great to hear how much you are loved, and glorious to see it written on a beautiful note.

Loves