For The Sake Of The Call

Well this is it, the fat lady has sung, the checkered is out, the buzzer has sounded, the bags are packed, and the bus is warmed up and ready to go. In the words of Ozzy "mamma I'm coming home".
As I sit in Denver International by myself and write my last Timberline blog post I think back on the year. I can't believe the work I have seen Christ do in my friends lives and my own. Post Timberline life will be hard for me for a while, it will be so weird not living in close quarters with 38 of my closest friends. Doing life and growing in Christ together helping to push each other closer to him.

As I was very emotional today at graduation and there after I thought of these verses in Ecclesiastes 3

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

This is just one chapter in our lives that has now come to a close. Though it is hard we will have to rely on the spirit for the strength to carry us through. By this verse we see that it is okay to be sad and cry with each other. But more than that we see that life is going to change and that's just the way it is. I can't believe some of the friendships I have made this year, I will truly miss them so much, but I can take heart in knowing that on the glorious day of the Lord's return we all we'll be together again.

 

So in our last week we went down 6 hours to the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. It was a fun 2 day camping trip, it was great to have one more event where we were all together one last time and have that community closeness one last time. I got to share something with the community that is going to be a very big part of my life soon, that they had been praying about it for me for awhile. Most of my readers will find out what it is in the weeks to come.

 

We had a talent show on Wednesday night, it was filled with music, jokes, goofy impersonation acts, and laughs one last time all together. I with a stroke of creative genius at midnight till 3am the night before I wrote a song about the year, with some lyrical help from my good friend Luke Fetzer. I ended the show with it, and it was a hit, let me tell you. One of my friends took video so hopefully I can get it from them and share the link. 

Thursday was a day of deep cleaning throughout the dorms, so that we could leave them nice and clean for next years class. We then had a night worship (I was able to lead one last time), testimonies, and videos of the year. It was wonderful but bittersweet to know we were running out of time at Timberline.

And so we come to Friday. A day of joy and tears together. It was the final time we all would be together in one room. We all received The Indwelling Life Of Christ (Written by Maj Thomas) and words of encouragement and love from our covenant leaders. Then we received our certificate of completion at the end of the ceremony. As much as I am happy to have completed the course I wish I had more to go.

 

As Dan spoke to us all for the last time today, he talked about skipping stones. How that we are much like stones that when skipped cause ripples on a pond. In the same way we should cause ripples in the lives of those around us day in and day out. But if we are to focused on how we the stone are shaped and not on who is throwing the stone, we will not go very far. I know that I used to be like that concerned about my imperfections and not ready to be used until they had been smoothed out. Instead of looking at who is throwing me. As a word of encouragement to my classmates, WE ARE READY TO BE THROWN WELL! So don't look at ourselves look to the thrower. 

I couldn't think of a better song to end the year on than For The Sake Of The Call. Because that is something we all did this year. We may not have realized it at the beginning of the year but now I sure no I do. One of the many ways we are giving for the sake of the call is going our separate ways now after timberline. We have never been better equipped than now to be able to answer the call. I pray that I am able to do that and my fellow students are able to also.

            
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call

Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure
Was Jesus had called to them
He said "come follow Me" and they came
With reckless abandon, they came

Empty nets lying there at the water's edge
Told a story that few could believe
And none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought to what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name
And they answered...

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call
The sake of the call

Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
There's no turning back, for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call, we'll follow wherever He leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because He has called us to go
We will answer...

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die

Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who called
And if we believe we'll obey

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call
For the sake of the call
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all
We will abandon it all
No other reason at all
We will abandon it all

Thank you all for your prayers and support this year. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am anxious about where the Lord will have me next but I hold onto He who holds the future. So Because of that I can have peace. I can truly say this year was A Great Adventure.

Till Next Time 

Love Jared

God Follower

Teaching Selfie

Whoa an early post, how can this be? Well this was the last normal week here at Timberline. I am going to miss this place and these people so much. I am so very blessed and happy that I was able to do this year. Our O.S.E.F. on Monday was a series of challenges much like what we had beginning of the school year with team building games and what not. It was fun to see us as a group that knows each other very well, doing things we did when we didn't know each other very well.

It was also the final round of faith stories (Testimonies) this week. I shared mine and all about what the Lord has brought me through this year and the Sin he has taken out of my life. My friend sketches each of the stories as she listens, this is the sketch she made for me.

For our last workday it was all hands on deck to help get the property cleaned up and back to the way we found it at the beginning of the year.

Our guest speakers this week were US each and every student prepared a teaching and taught the class. It was enjoyable to see the growth and understanding that was shown and presented this past week through the students. So for my post this week I will be linking my teaching for you guys to watch I hope you enjoy it! O yes, I got a 91 for my grade on my assignment! I was pleased to say the least and impressed I did so well. I'm sorry but I will have the video up Tuesday. Due to the fact of a slow upload time and it will not be up by the time we leave in the morning. Here is the link it may automatically go up if technology cooperates.   Check it out here!

We will be leaving for our last group trip early Sunday morning. We will be heading down to the sand dunes in southern Colorado for 3 days. It is bittersweet to know that we get to be together one more time but that it is our last time makes it hard.

The teachings this past week are a reflection of what we all have learned and grown through this year. I hope that what we have learned as a class we continue to grow in and use throughout our lives and never let go of it! As next week will be my last post for my year at Timberline I hope to grow continually in what I have learned and be able to use it.

So I hope this will remain our cry and prayer as students from this year that we don't lose the faith but finish the race strong!

My heart is restless as I wander through this jungle
The trees above refuse to let the sunlight through
And somewhere deep inside I hear the whispered longings
That tell me I was made for more than this

A blinding flash of light falls down into the darkness
Slowly I notice strange new markings on the trail
The crimson drops are calling out to me come and follow
"I am the God who made you, let Me show you how to live"
And I cry...

I want to be a God follower
I want to go wherever He leads
I want to be a God follower
I want to walk the trail He's marked for me
And be a God follower
(More than anything)

A now I journey on with the purpose and and with passion
Just like a dead man who's been given breath again
And though this path can still grow dark with tears and sorrow
I know He will never leave me
So with everything I am I will say...

I want to be a God follower
I want to go wherever He leads
I want to be a God follower
I want to walk the trail He's marked for me

And when I reach God's place I will look into His face
And then I'll look for you
Will I find you there?
Can you say with me...
I want to be a God follower
I want to be a God follower
I want to be a God follower
I want to be a God follower

Till Next Time
Love Jared

Dive

Time is flying by now with only two weeks left I can't believe that it is almost over. This past week we had Brian Myers in as our final guest lecturer for the year. It was only fitting that the book he went through was Revelation. We covered a lot of stuff in a very small time window so do to that there was a lot to take in. Not only that but just the fact of how difficult the book of Revelation can be to understand sometimes I will do my best to explain some of what was imparted to me by Brain and the Spirit. I would have to say the thing I can best explain and the thing I was best able to understand from this weeks teaching was the role of the church, from rapture to Christ's 1000 year rule and then the new Heaven and the new Earth. So the Church when ruptured (which looks to be early on or in the middle of the tribulation period) will not have to go through the worst of the tribulations. Now these disastrous events that will pour out in the latter chapters of Revelation are God giving people just a taste of how bad separation from him for eternally will be, but the majority of mankind will still curse God, yet some will repent.
Now those who do turn from their evil ways will have to go through the remaining events that the Lord will poor out upon the Earth. Now the Church who was ruptured already will hold a special place in Christ's thousand year kingdom and His eternal kingdom. We will rule with him in his kingdom and our dwelling place will be Jerusalem as for those who came to faith after the rapture their dwelling place will be the new Earth.
(Small side note here these are just points from my classes. Some may sound a bit strange. I don't even know where I stand on a few of these points totally yet but this is not something that will make or break my salvation or yours. It is simply another viewpoint on what it will be like, taken from scripture.)
The size of new Jerusalem will be HUGE the size of the city by footprint will be bigger than the continental U.S. Now I'm just saying that's big not to mention it will be many many many stories tall also. Here is the cool part we know that the measurements that are used are human measurements and they are the same as how the angles measure. I don't know about you but that to me is nuts!

The big point of Revelation is that Jesus is saying through John that we need to be ready. That is the theme BE READY because the time is now at hand. 

We were blessed with a donation to be able to go play some Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee at an indoor field this past Monday. It was just a fun time to hang out and play together as the year winds down.

I was honored with a great, multi key rendition of happy birthday sung to me at all community worship. As it was my birthday this past Monday. The big 22.

 

 Sadly as the year comes to a close so also did the resort this weekend. But I was able to make the most of the last few days hitting some new features in the park and topping out at a new high speed of 54.4 mph! I am so happy I was able to enjoy Christ's creation through snowboarding with friends I have made this year. Though I am very sad to see the season go I am happy that the bond that was made over boarding this year will be kept up through visits to see friends and ride again together in the future. 

 

We also were able to go up to a Hebrew scrolls presentation up at young life. To say the least it was a lot of history in one place.

As this coming week approaches I will be giving my Testimony Monday morning at community worship and I will be preaching my student teaching on Wednesday night. Aside from just a few final polishing touches it is done. Putting it together well, was not a problem for me. However the real test for me will be when I have to stand up in front of everyone and speak so the class will be able to understand what I want to impart to them. But that will be where I have to put my own abilities aside and let the Spirit speak through me because I know I can't do it by myself. It is going to be a leap of faith for me to not rely on my self to be able to teach. 

In the same way we need to do this throughout our lives. Step aside and let the Spirit lead the way. So think about this!

The long awaited rains
Have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground
And carved their way to where
The wild and rushing river can be found
And like the rains
I have been carried to where the river flows, yeah
My heart is racing, and my feet are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That's telling me to take a leap of faith
So here I go

I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I want to be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I want to go
The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive
So sink or swim, I'm diving in

There is a supernatural power
In this mighty river's flow
It can bring the dead to life
And it can fill an empty soul
And give a heart the only thing
Worth living and worth dying for, yeah
But we will never know the awesome power
Of the grace of God
Until we let ourselves get swept away
Into this holy flood
So if you take my hand
We'll close our eyes and count to three
And take the leap of faith
Come on let's go

I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I want to be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I want to go
The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive
So sink or swim, I'm diving in

Till Next Time 

Love Jared

Magnificent Obsession

Only 18 days left in my year at Timberline as I sit here and type this for yall's reading enjoyment.
On Monday we were split into teams and had a Dodge ball tournament in the morning to afternoon. Each team had a dress theme and the team I was on was "Gangsta". The other teams were Nerds, 80's, Rockers, and Hipsters. Team Gangsta won the tournament decisively.    

Chris Thomas was our guest speaker for the week. He is Dan's father, the current director of Torchbearers International. He taught through 2nd Timothy but with his teaching style there was many stories and we bounced around a lot. I'm gonna be honest it was one of the harder weeks for me to follow the teaching. However the one thing that continued to stick out to me this past week that Chris kept making a point of was how this letter to Timothy from Paul was about stepping up and getting ready to take the baton. How Paul is nearing the end of his leg of the race and soon it will be Timothy's leg to run.
This brings 2 thoughts to mind for me. 1 is that the younger generation is more often than not talked about like we are the "next" generation and that we have "can't' or don't really have an impact at this point in time because it isn't out turn to run. However I really feel that that is poor way of thinking of and handling the "next" generation. Because we are all part of "this" generation. Now we (the younger part of the now generation) may not have received the baton yet but we are still part of the team, and when you are part of a team you are expected to train along with the starters even if you are 3rd string. So that when you are called up you are ready to run the race or play the game set before you. Which brings me to my 2nd thought that is more directed to the younger part of the now generation. We need to get in the spiritual weight room so that when a space needs to be filled we can say "put me in coach" with the confidence that we can play the position or run the leg of the race with confidence.
I can't help but feel the last 2 weeks of classes was used by God to help me in the making of decisions I have coming up very soon and maybe some that are farther off.

There has been much on my my mind as of late with my time out here coming to an end, decisions I have to make when I get home and where the Lord is going to lead me. One of my favorite quotes from Chris this past week was "God's will for you, is his command to you". So if I apply that way of thinking to my life and know that I am following the Lord's commands I know that I will be in his will, and when you are in God's will there will always be a way.

In all honesty when I started writing this tonight I really didn't have anything in mind to put down. I guess it is because I have been thinking about so much as of late and in some ways ready to be home and back with family and not being home with them for my birthday. Tonight was the 1st night in only the good Lord knows how long that I missed a Spurs playoff game with my Mimi. It has been a tradition to watch together since I was 6 or 7 with her and my Papa. But on the other side of the coin I am not ready to put a great amount of distance between some of the friendships I have made out here. We had 3 straight days of snow out here this weekend and me and those friends were on the mountain for everyone of them. Powder for days, and some of the most fun days on the mountain so far for the season in my opinion. 



Sorry if tonight's post has not been a very good read, I have just had thoughts all over the place.
One thing I do know is that in these next few weeks I will have to make quite a few big decisions and I want to make them in careful thought and through prayer.
As many things have been going through my head it is easy for me to get down (what is it that I should do once I am done out here, why am I still single, will I be able to present my teaching well, and many others) but I need to remember Jesus is bigger tan all of that and when I focus on those things they get right in front of my face and I can no longer see him. But if I focus on him those things will get smaller and smaller.

So I leave you with these words.

  
Lord, You know how much I wanna know so much
In the way of answers And explanation
I have cried and prayed, And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life's complications

All this pursuing
Leaves me feelin' like I'm chasin' down the wind
But now it's brought me back to You And I can see again

This is everything I want, This is everything I need
I want this to be my one Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus,
Be my magnificent obsession Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah

So capture my heart again,
Take me to depths I've never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross,
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You've shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down
To so many lesser things,
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains

This is everything I want,
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one
Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You,
Jesus,
Be my magnificent obsession
My magnificent obsession
Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah

You are everything I want
And You are everything I need
Lord, You are all my heart desires,
You are everything to me

You are everything I want,
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one
Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You,
I want it all to be for You
'Cause You are everything I want,
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one
Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You,
Jesus,
Be my magnificent obsession
Be my magnificent obsession
Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh-oh, oh, oh


Till Next Time
Love Jared
Go Spurs Go and Go Bolts

Next 5 Minutes

So we are now back to first semester schedule for the rest of the year now. Even though we lose a free day again I am very happy to be back and have another day of class added to the schedule. As the last couple of weeks are coming and going by fast, I am thankful for the extra time back in the classroom.

On Monday since we are back to first semesters schedule we had OSEF again. We went cross country skiing on what little snow is left in the low country. I must say it was a test of my attitude that day. Cross country was not something I wanted to do nor something I thought would be very fun for me. Long and slow is not my cup of tea. Long and fast or running laps in the park all day, that's what I like. The strange part of it was for it being the first time ever that I was on any type of ski (not to mention on Xcountry skis your foot pivots up and down while you move) I was really good. But I just don't get it. Why put more effort into going a distance when walking is just as easy and if not faster? So it was something I wrestled with throughout most of the OSEF. But as I have been learning more and more from my time out here, I am going to have to die to myself (in this case physically) and be submissive to those who are over me if I truly want Christ to be seen through me. So through the power of the spirit I was able to put on a good face and more importantly a good heart for the day. Even though it was something I didn't like I was able to enjoy the day because of that.

 

Tuesday for workday a group of us was picked to go over and help my family and covenant leader Rob do some spring yard cleanup. I always enjoy working with Rob and being under his leadership. It was a bonus that day as it was his birthday so us select few were able to celebrate with him by raking, trimming tree, weeding, and eating cake. Needless to say it was pretty good workday.

 This week our guest speaker was Kelly Dorhety. He was the principle at His Hill down in Texas for many years until he had to step down just recently to move back home to Louisiana to take care of his aging parents. 

He took us through Hebrews and how it explains that Jesus has fulfilled the law. A couple points he made that really stuck out to me were how that the Old Testament law was a shadow of Christ. Now its not that I didn't already know this but how he pointed it out stuck in my mind. "A shadow proves the substance".  When you go for a walk with someone, you don't want to just take their shadow with you, you want to take the person. So why then would you only want to walk with the shadow of Christ, when you could walk with him in substance? 

The other favorite point of this weeks teaching was that "we need to quit trying to be like Jesus, but just let Jesus be himself through us". Meaning if we have the Spirit inside of us we don't need to try to be good, nice, etc. Just let the Christ live through us and it will naturally be that way.

I was able to get 2 more days in on the mountain towards the end of the week. The snow is going fast so only a few days left out there. It makes me sad to see it go but I am glad I was able to make the most of it. Just a little Jared thought here with some Bible sprinkled on top, "I could have spent days inside watching movies or playing games. But I chose to make the most of my time out here and experience something while I still could. I am very glad I did and didn't let the time pass me by". So that to say if you have the opportunity to do something awesome, get off your butt and go do it! You will be glad you did.

Lastly I have been putting a lot of time and late hours into my 15 minute teaching. A project that I thought I would barely be able to get about a page done up, has quickly become a 5 page sermon and it's not even a third done, just let me say oi (insert chuckle here*). But seriously though you give a Southern Baptist kid a 10-15 minute time frame and expect him to make that time frame you are asking for a work of the Lord. I mean all my life I have been a part of a Sunday morning service that goes at least 15 minutes over anyway and now you are asking me to change my ways? All I am saying here is I think the faith may need to be just a little bit bigger than a mustard seed.

But in all seriousness I am really enjoying putting it together and seeing how the Spirit is speaking to me and bringing scripture to mind as I write and type things out. As I believe I mentioned before I will be teaching on James 3 and the tongue. I will give you a small taste of one of my thoughts for it so far. 

If we are unable to control our tongues, then who can? We know from Matthew that out of the mouth the treasure of the heart speaks. So depending what treasure we have in our hearts according to Matthew are mouths will follow suit. So what are you making the treasure of your heart, Godly things or fleshly things? In James 3 it makes a comparison of how a ship though very large and moved by strong winds, is very easily controlled by a small rudder wherever the pilot directs. So does the tongue even tho a small member of the body it boasts great things. So my question would be who is the captain of your heart?

That's all you are gonna get of that for now :)

With everything starting to come to a close this year and thinking about the memories I have made and what is to come and how I have really learned this year to get up, get out, and get to it with whatever it may be. From teaching, to snowboarding, outreach, missions trips, and even coming out here. So make the most of your time wherever you are! 

So think about these words.

I can reminisce about the already
I can worry and fret about the not yet;
But when it all comes down I know it really,
Really all comes down to the right now
So right now

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes,
'Cause I know the next 5 minutes
May be all I have
And after the next 5 minutes
Turn into the last 5 minutes,
I'm taking the next 5 minutes
And starting all over again
Starting all over again (Starting all over again...)

Every moment God is giving is precious
Every heartbeat; every breath I take;
We'll never have them back once they've left us.
There will never be another right now
So right now

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes,
'Cause I know the next 5 minutes
May be all I have
And after the next 5 minutes
Turn into the last 5 minutes,
I'm taking the next 5 minutes
And starting all over again

(This is the day;
This is the hour;
This is the moment
The Lord has made...)

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes,
'Cause I know the next 5 minutes
May be all I have
And after the next 5 minutes
Turn into the last 5 minutes,
I'm taking the next 5 minutes
And starting all over again
I'm starting all over again
Gonna start it all over again, yeah.
Gonna start it all over again, oh hey.

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes, yeah
I'm living the next 5 minutes
I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live like these are my last 5 minutes
I'm living the next 5 minutes
Oh yay-yeah-yay
I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live... 

Till Next Time

Love Jared

Free

Happy Easter! It has been a very chill week here at Timberline. On Monday a small group of us went to Ravencrest our sister school, for a few days of spring break. It was a fun couple of days. Over in Estes Park they are known for their great rock climbing. So just about as soon as we got there me and my buds (Travis & Ben) went off to do a little bit of free climbing. After about 3 hours we made it out to the peak of the ridge and back to the Chalet. It was quite a different experience than climbing attached to a line. You have to be very sure about what you grab and where you step. If you aren't then you will end up in a lot of trouble real quick. The coolest part of the afternoon was when we descended 100 to 130 feet down the face and the through the cracks at the end of the ridge.






We had our Basketball grudge match on Tuesday night, we played great however we came up just shy and lost by 3. Final score Ravencrest 35 Timberline 32. It was a fun game none the less.
 We stopped and bummed around Boulder for a few hours on the way back on Wednesday, checking out downtown and getting some lunch. Our group got back later that Night.

View of Estes from the top of the ridge

For most of the week it has been really quiet around the lodge as most of the students wont be back until later Sunday night.

As I sit and write this on Easter Sunday I think back on my year out here at Timberline. Our year verse keeps playing over and over in my mind.

John 17:22-23
²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

These are the words of Jesus while he is praying to his father just before he is betrayed and taken prisoner. Just think about that for a moment. The glory that God the father gave to Jesus, Jesus then gave to his followers. Why? So that the world will know that God the father sent him and loved us as he did his son. 
Not just loved those who were following him but THE WORLD! That's big right there. Just a few more verses that come to mind as I see people posting stuff on Facebook and what not this Easter and most every Easter for that matter. I have seen quite often this verse - John 19:30

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


So many times we look at this and just pass over it and say "yep Jesus died for my sins". Problem is that he didn't just die like it was what he had coming to him. No he GAVE his spirit. His life was not taken from him, rather he Gave his spirit for us because God the father loved us as he did his son. 


Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I want to point something in verse 2 that just doesn't seem to be something you would naturally see paired with an instrument for one of the most gruesome punishments of all time. Joy, that doesn't seem to naturally go with a cross. More like fear, terror or dread but not joy. But that's the beauty of it. It was the joy of Jesus to Give his life for you and me then be raised 3 days later and know he is sitting at the right hand of his father waiting for the time when he says.... "my son it is time to bring the church home".

 I know that I still have much to learn in my walk of faith. But I do know this. He is RISEN and because he gave his life for me and I have accepted his gift that he gave, I AM FREE.

 I love this song.


The sun was beating down inside the walls of stone and razor wire
As we made our way across the prison yard
I felt my heart begin to race as we drew nearer to the place
Where they say that death is waiting in the dark
The slamming doors of iron echoed through the halls
Where despair holds life within its cruel claws
But then I met a man whose face seemed so strangely out of place
A blinding light of hope was shining in his eyes
And with repentance in his voice he told me of his tragic choice
That led him to this place where he must pay the price
But then his voice grew strong as he began to tell
About the One he said had rescued him from hell, he said...

I'm free, yeah, oh, I have been forgiven
God's love has taken off my chains and given me these wings
And I'm free, yeah, yeah, and the freedom I've been given
Is something that not even death can take away from me
Because I'm free
Jesus set me free

We said a prayer and said goodbye and tears began to fill my eyes
As I stepped back out into the blinding sun
And even as I drove away I found that I could not escape
The way he spoke of what the grace of God had done
I thought about how sin had sentenced us to die
And how God gave His only Son so you and I could say...

I'm free, yeah, oh, I have been forgiven
God's love has taken off my chains and given me these wings
And I'm free, yeah, yeah, and the freedom I've been given
Is something that not even death can take away from me
Because I'm free
Jesus set me free

And if the Son has set you free
Oh, if the Son has set you free
Then you are free indeed
Oh, you are really free
If the Son has set you free
Oh, if the Son has set you free
Then you are free, really, really free

Oh, we're free yeah, oh, we have been forgiven
God's grace has broken every chain and given us these wings
And we're free, yeah, yeah, and the freedom we've been given
Is something that not even death can take from you and me
Because we're free, yeah, the freedom we've been given
Is something that not even death can take away from me
Because we're free, oh, we're free
We are free, we are free
The Son has set us free

If the Son has set you free
You are free indeed



Till Next Time 
Love Jared

No Greater Love

Sorry for no post last week, but I practically had no internet connection the entire week. So that made it rather hard to post anything. But with no post last week I can give you a full update of the trip this week.
We were in a little town called Many Farms in Arizona. You have never heard of it because it isn't important to the rest of the country. It is a dusty little reservation town a few hours down into Arizona. It is a very dark community where alcoholism, and drug use is rampant. Not to mention they hold very closely to their old spiritual beliefs such as medicine men and many different rituals. 

The organization we went with is called praying pelican. 

 This was mainly a work trip with some outreach opportunities. Now some would say how can you call it a "mission trip" if you aren't constantly out in the community evangelizing? Well the main reason we were there was to fix up the personage that was in disrepair. So that the church would have something to offer a pastor since they are searching for one. A thought I had for the week with some people not liking that it was mainly a work trip, is how this trip showed how the different parts of the body of Christ work together. This was our time to be the hands and feet to prepare a place for the eyes, ears, and mouth. That is something I think we often forget is that those who prepare a way are just as important as those who do all the spreading of the Gospel. Would it be great for us to stay there for a week and go out and talk to people about Jesus? Yes it would. But it is just as important that we were able to make a place where someone can live in the community for a far longer time than a week and have the chance of a greater impact than we ever could in a week. So with that being said I would like to take you through the week.

 

We left Timberline at 8a.m Thursday the 19th. After a little over a 9 hours of driving and an hour and a half or so of stop time we made it to Many Farms Baptist church about 7ish. Where we were greeted with fried chicken and sweet tea. Needles to say I was happy after the very long van ride.

 

Friday morning we took a short 10 min drive up to the mesa that overlooked the town to pray. We took a few minutes and prayed alone and then prayed together as a group for the town and that the Lord would bless our week there. When we got back to the church property we started work on the grounds. I ended up doing landscaping around the parsonage for most of the week. Which I was totally okay with.

 

 

Saturday we got up and worked in the morning. I somehow ended up kinda leading the landscaping crew, by way of "you know what you are doing, what should we do to make this look good"? So once the crew I was on finished up and the rest of the students we grabbed lunch and drove a short ways to the White House ruins. An old Navajo settlement. We got to take a short hike down into the canyon to check out the ruins, have lunch and then come back up.

 

Sunday we lead the church service. The missionary pastor of the church Tony Sessions baptized 3 members that morning, a mother and her 2 daughters. After some songs and testimonies we had lunch with some of the congregation. Then we had an afternoon of rest.

 

Monday morning work continued. Painting the house, cleaning out sheds on the property, and cleaning up trash on the grounds. After making some shelving for the sheds me and my friend nick got to work on dismantling some fencing.  Some of the students went door to door with cookies in hand and talked to people about the Gospel and the church. (Hey you gotta have some bait for the hook right?) That afternoon we went over to Monument valley and played around and had dinner there. 

 

 

 Tuesday me and Nick finished taking down the fence and the general cleanup of the grounds while the rest of the students either finished up painting or were out on cookie ministry again. This was an entire day of work as posts were cemented in and sun baked clay is not easy to dig through at all.

Wednesday we finished touch up work around the grounds and prepped for a spaghetti dinner at the church that night. Final touches on paint, any last little clean up that needed to be done outside, we cleaned the church building also, and any other touches to the house. That evening we had somewhere around 80 people from the community show up. I lead some music, my friend Jeremiah presented the Gospel through a magic show, and then our trip leader (and my family group leader) Rob Tracy shared a story he had written, we closed with a few songs.

Thursday morning and it was time to say goodbye. I was up early to load the vans with the tools we had brought and bags. We were on the road by about 9. We topped back in Moab Utah for lunch at Milts. It was a good break after a 3 and a half hour ride in the vans. After a few more hours we stopped again gassed up and had a debrief of the trip, where we just talked as a group about how we felt the trip went and anything special we saw or were involved in. We arrived back at Timberline a little after 10. 

 

 

Every night of the trip we had a time of worship and some testimonies together as a debrief time to talk about what had gone on that day and what would be happening tomorrow.

  

Now we have a week of spring break. Some of the students (myself included) are going to Ravencrest for a few days on Monday. There will be a basketball grudge match while there. They are hoping to avenge their very bad hockey game loss. We are hoping to bring home the "W".

So while I was in Many Farms this week the song "No Greater Love" was on my mind often. The song features a man by the name of "Mincaye". This man of the Huaorani tribe of Ecuador killed Steve Saint and Ed McCully. None of us had to die on this trip but we did have the opportunity to tell a very unreached group of people about someone who did die for them.

  

Men of courage with your message of peace
What is that look in your eyes?
Why have you come to this faraway place?
What is this story you would lay down your live to tell?
What kind of love can this be?

There is no greater love than this
There is no greater gift that can ever be given
To be willing to die so another might live
There is no greater love than this

Brokenhearted from all you have lost
How can you sing through your tears?
What is this music that can bear such a cost?
What is this fire that grows stronger against the wind?
What kind of flame can this be?

There is no greater love than this
There is no greater gift that can ever be given
To be willing to die so another might live
There is no greater love than this

This is the love God showed the world
When he gave us His Son
So we can know his love forever
Beyond the Gates of Splendor

There is no greater love than this
There is no greater gift that can ever be given
To be willing to die so another might live
There is no greater love than this

Till Next Time

Love Jared