My 28th year marks the 10th anniversary of my pursuit of the call to preach the Word. A journey that has taken me to Romania, Hungary, England, Thailand, China, Scotland, Mexico, Poland, Czech, Slovakia, France, Germany, California, Oregon, and now Texas. I have participated in short term missions and local church ministry. There are a lot of great memories. Some of the greatest coming from the season in which I led SUMMIT College Ministry. There have been times when I felt that what I was a part of had the potential to change the world, and there have been times that I felt that it was utterly meaningless.
The entire time I have been guided by a single passage of scripture in which Paul charges Timothy to preach the word and teach sound doctrine. Now that I am studying the Word and learning about Christian doctrine I am at times overwhelmed by that simple charge. Sometimes even embarrassed as I remember back to talks that I have given or statements about the faith that I emphatically affirmed while really knowing nothing about what I was talking about.
Even remembering how easily I was duped into believing that Presidential races were the battle grounds for our faith. Or how important it was to emulate the ministry methods of a certain So Cal pastor. Even at one time surmising that the United States was God's last stand in holding back evil in the world before the end times. Blegghghehghehgh!!
Now I am in the thick of things. Being asked to write verse by verse commentary on the Greek text of Ephesians 2:11-13. Preach a sermon on a single line of a proverb without using cross references. Challenged to recognize how the various stems of strong and weak verbs are inflected in Hebrew. Who knew that a language in which most verbs are just three consonants, could be so complex? (I've described studying it as akin to eating a bowl of sand) Learning about the doctrine of salvation...I have actually enjoyed this even though like all theology classes you realize that ultimately you have tension no matter which stand you choose to take. At times the tension can be beautiful causing you to be in awe, other times it drives you nuts and it can be the source of much doubting and frustration.
At this point it basically takes everything inside of me to remain motivated. It was a lot more fun when I could shoot a quick video, run a goofy game, and then share for 20 minutes whatever I felt like teaching. I have two more years, then they will hand me a masters... a joke because I will not have mastered anything...what is next I have no idea...I hope that I can return to the SF Bay Area, begin preaching and then something amazing begins to happen that takes Whitney and I on an incredible journey that somehow is both locally and globally oriented..
My world..
visited 16 states (7.11%)
Create your own visited map of The World or try another Douwe Osinga project
3 comments:
Well... I know it may seem silly to say so, but I feel motivated just reading this. I remember those days at Summit, and despite my quirky behavior and intense temperment, they were part of an important development in my life. At that point, it was like an awakening and a fall back into slumber all at once. Good times all around. I've learned a lot just by reflecting on my time at Summit. It all worked out for the best. Don't forget, Andy. Sometimes, the little things have the most impact!
let me know if you need to shoot any more quick videos...
I think I remember the day this conversation with God began--when you went up to Las Trampas and came back so in awe of what God had said to you. You asked, "what if I am just making this up?" I said, a bit emphatically, "If you ask God to speak to you and He does, don't ever, ever question it." And you haven't, not really. You have only tested what you heard over and over. By the time you get your next degree you will have mastered the art of asking questions and that is the foundation for the rest of what you will do. You will always be asking and God will always be answering and, I pray, you will go on believing and acting on what you have heard.
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