Guatemala Update #1

We made it to Guatamala!
after a LONG day of travel, we finally got to our hotel last night in Guatamala at 5pm. We were shocked that our original flight took off after the most abnormal night of snow in the history of arkansas. timing is everything isn't it. we ended up hanging out on the runway for an hour, which made us miss our connection in houston. luckily, and to continental's credit, they booked our entire team on the next flight out. praise the Lord. We met our translator at the airport (Josea...pronounced hose-way) and headed immediately up into the mountains. by the time we arrived, we were tired. a great dinner and a short meeting/devotional later later, we were in bed by 9. Up at 7 today for quiet times and breakfast and then on the road for our 30 minute drive to santa cruz. the kids did incredible today. despite some nerves about language etc ....they jumped right in and did awesome. In the monring, we met our groups (each one of our students paired with 5-6 of theirs), took a tour with them of their homes and village, saw the constructed kindergarten, then came back to play some games and make salvation bracelets. this afternoon, the kids did their first "specialties" that they planned and prepared for. they were incredible. the kids loved the music class (robert and landry) the flower crafts (abi), the knitted hats (lindsay) and the "football americana" (toomer and alex). the drive back to the hotel tonight was filled with laughter and memories. it's going to be a great week. Thanks for your support and your prayers. We love you all. I will try again to blog on Wednesday. blessings!!!

Matt, Martha, and the Guatamala team.

ps...we are studying the first 6 chapters of 2 Corinthians in our nightly study. tonight specifically talking through 2:12-17. We'd love for you to join us in this

Memphis Update #1

We arrived safely in Memphis-greeted by warmer weather than NWA. We are thankful for the safe travels, good fast food and a warm welcome. We are starting off this week by praying that we can model our Lord Jesus Christ by serving, loving, and praying for the urban community here in Memphis. We pray that God will rock our world and that we would experience His greatness through through the lives of His children here. Blessings to Him for a wonderful Sunday in the Heartland of Elvis (which isn't really that urban at all).

Much love,
Chanika

Spring Break Update: Memphis and Guatemala

Well, fellowship's email seems to down as a result of the recent storm, and that was our main method of communicating updates. I have heard that the Memphis team is safely in Memphis. I've been unable to get an update from the Guatemala, but that is likely only because my email account is down. It should be back online by tomorrow morning. If there was anything important to communicate, there are definitely other ways they could have. So, no news is good news. We love you all and will continue to pray for God to do great things this week. The Portland team flies out Tuesday evening. Check here for more updates.

For His glory and our joy,
Nick

Passivity: Reflections for fellas on what it means to be an initiator

At first reflex when we see the word initiator, most of us do one of 2 things: puff up our chest and prepare ourselves to “dominate”…or…get into the fetal position in the corner of a room knowing we are destined to fail. Why is it there is such extremes in the world of initiative? While the word initiative does not appear in the Bible, we are given a clear example by Jesus on multiple accounts about what it means to initiate. Never do we see Jesus waiting on His heels waiting how things will “turn out”. We can even see prior to Jesus throughout the Old Testament a steady foot forward in initiative. In the Psalms alone, the words “I will” appear over 190 times as a cadence mantra that inspires us forward rather than backward, ignites rather than reacts, and invests rather than retreats. Is there any question that God who inspires these authors, and is the very image we are seeking through the picture of Jesus, is an initiator Himself?

Young men…stop being lazy, lonely, bored, and stagnant guys. We have been given the word that is the playbook to His calling and purpose in our lives. Often the best way to discover the unique plans God has for us as individuals is to act in an initiating manner towards the things he has called all of us too. Obey Him moving forward. As the old proverb goes: you can’t steer a parked car.

~Deep thoughts by a Shallow guy~
mn

All the single ladies!

My sweet and wonderful ladies of Mosaic Student Ministry! As I sit here thinking…processing…and thinking some more, I thought that I would share with you a few of the pieces on my heart. So men, we love ya but this blog is just for my girls!
:)

Ladies, do we not wake up each morning, look in the mirror and have a desire to be beautiful to someone? To experience love? To be seen as “very precious” to our King? Let’s dive into God’s word! 1 Peter 3:1-6…

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”

As I begin to embark on a new adventure in life (marriage), I have continually thought of what it means to be a woman of the Lord and how we as women are wired to honor God and serve Him with our lives. This specific section of Scripture has become very precious to me because of these words “which in God’s sight is very precious.”
Now, obviously Paul is talking very specifically to “wives and husbands” in this section; however, DO NOT ride this passage off as one to look at when you start thinking about marriage or being a wife. Remember that there is great truth for all women of the Lord as we focus on what womanhood looks like according to God’s word. Paul directs all Christian females to put on something NOT corruptible, something that beautifies the soul and gives honor to His Spirit. Growing up, my FAVORITE game was “Pretty, Pretty Princess!” I loved all the jewelry that I could get and dress up in! But oh, to win the game and get to wear the beautiful crown filled with precious jewels my joy was uncontainable! I would prance around and be filled with excitement showing everyone my beautiful jewels and asking them to all bow down to “Princess Carrie” ☺ (did I mention that I probably took this a little to seriously as a child?). And so when Paul tells Christian women to NOT allow their beauty to be consumed by the outward appearance, I find this interesting! Now, Paul is NOT saying “don’t take care of yourself” or “never look cute ” or “don’t shower…in fact just throw mud on yourself and put a bag over your head!” NO! HEAR ME SAY…Paul is NOT saying those things. However, he IS saying do NOT be consumed in these things. He is commanding us- as ladies- to cultivate an inner beauty of a “gentle and quiet sprit”! If you are anything like me, you may say to yourself “Well GREAT God! Now I’m suppose to keep my big mouth shut and never say anything! I will need a complete personality makeover now!” But again…I DON’T think this is what it is about. This spirit is to be one of consistency with the Lord. One full of peace in knowing that the King of Kings is in complete control and we are to trust in Him with our lives and follow Him with every opportunity that He gives us! This is a spirit of respect, honor, love, submission, and trust. It looks more like a peaceful stream of water than the raging waves of the ocean.
So HOW do we cultivate this beauty? What does this look like? Well….as I have prayed through this verse here are a few things that God has brought to my attention that maybe you can chew on over a nice cup of Tazo© Calm Tea at Starbucks.

1. Proverbs 31:30- “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”. We MUST know the Lord! I think this is what it means to “fear” the Lord. We must know His heart, know His word, and ultimately we must KNOW Him! Do you know the Lord in a deep, intimate, love-relationship way?
2. Ex 34:29- “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” SPEND TIME WITH GOD! The most beautiful woman is one who cherishes and desires to spend time with her Maker! It was obvious to others that Moses had been with the Lord. Is it obvious to the people you live with or your classmates that you spend time with God? Is your face radiant?
3. 2 Corinthians 3:18-“We…are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory…” When people see you, who do they see? They should see Jesus Christ. Do they? How is God molding you to look more and more like Him? And how do you respond to His molding?

Ladies, how are you cultivating beauty? How are you leaning hard on the Lord? I pray that today your cultivate an imperishable beauty that beautifies your soul. You are precious to many and loved by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! May your hearts be at rest in Him and may your desire be for His attention alone!


~Princess Carrie ☺:)

Generational Discipliship: Reflections on Deuteronomy 6:4-8

The Youth Ministry of Fellowship Mosaic has a rhythm we march too. Everything we do find’s it’s roots in an Upward, Inward, Outward perspective of Deuteronomy 6:4
Deut 6:4-6
4 " Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
(Mark 12:31)"The second command is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

While we have strategically planned our ministries around these principles, it seems at times that today’s definition of church skips what comes next:
Deut 6:7-9
7 " You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 " You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 " You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

One of the grand purposes of the Church since the beginning of time has been to pass on to the next generation the wonderful deeds of the Lord in knowledge and truth. This chili pot thought is less about providing a solution and more about acknowledging a problem. Is this happening? Parent’s, are you spectators in the spiritual formation of your students or are you an active participant? If we as a student ministry are only being partially effective in living, programming, and communicating this, perhaps it is time we make considerations for change? Worthy of thought…Worthy of prayer…

~deep thoughts by a shallow guy~
mn

Science and Faith: Part 2 - The Natural and the Supernatural

One of the greatest objections to faith from scientifically minded people is that there is so little evidence for God. They want some kind of proof that God is real. They claim that attributing unexplainable things to miracles from God is intellectually irresponsible, or in other words, wishy-washy and stupid. There are a couple of fundamental problems with this line of thinking that should be highlighted.
Underlying the objection is a certain kind of belief that Tim Keller calls a “defeater belief.” A defeater belief is a belief that if held keeps you from believing something else. So, for example, a strong belief that reindeer cannot fly would be a defeater belief against the story of Santa Clause. What exactly is the defeater belief behind the objection here? I think it is simply that anything true must be scientifically provable and that the world will always operate inside the rules of science. But, is there any reason to believe this? Why should we believe that anything true should be scientifically provable? Do we believe that whether or not one person loves another person is scientifically provable? It seems absurd to most, but that is exactly what some naturalists propose! However, if it is the case that everything must be scientifically provable, then science itself must be able to be tested scientifically. Can we show scientifically that all truth is scientifically provable? It seems rather difficult. Actually, it looks like this defeater belief is really just a step of faith. People trust in science for many of the same reasons people trust in faith.
Interestingly, the world of scientific study is actually beginning to work against itself. It is a fascinating study to take a look at the implications of quantum mechanics. I recommend Lothar Schafer’s book In Search of Divine Reality. The basic idea of quantum mechanics is that at the atomic level everything is determined by processes that cannot be observed. Something immaterial occurs that determines the material outcome. Did you catch that? At the core of science is something unscientific! At the end of the day, a quantum leap occurs in an unobservable way. Some scientists, like Dr. Schafer, see this as evidence for some kind of divine influence that is determining and holding the entire universe together. I’m not kidding. I took the guy’s class. He is not a Christian, but he believes that some divine mind is “before all things and holding all things together.” Why don’t all scientists believe this? The simple answer is that they trust that science will eventually figure it out. They believe this not because the evidence supports it. They take it on faith that science will prove true. Ultimately, it is not evidence that determines what anyone believes, it is a choice of where to place their faith. I think if both sides would admit this, we could a lot closer to understanding other’s point of view.