Easter service, missions ranting, and the rest of the day

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Don't ever forget that you are worth so much in God's eyes.

Thats a line from today's Easter service. Sigh. It was awesome. Whats even better? Mosaic has finally put up some sermons online for us to download, and I've recently 'discovered' that MAG has done the same(shows how much I go to the MAG website, huh?)

There are so many times that I really get really excited and hyper when I hear the word of God preached, and I want to shout amen but don't because I am afraid of what people will think. It's a small thing, but it means I haven't fully conquered my fear of man. God is still working in me though. And for that I am grateful.

He also just brought to my attention(through some recent conversations with some friends) that while I have no issues giving to missions and supporting missionaries, my heart is a little hardened whenever someone brings up the idea of me being a missionary. Pastor Barry always used to tell me “They need CE pastors in Zimbabwe too!” and I would just laugh it off telling him that someone else was meant to do the 'going' and I was meant to do the 'discipling'. I wonder what I'm afraid of? I think it may be a comfort zone issue. I used to have such this broad worldview, and ever since moving back to the states in '97 I've only left the country once, and that was a missions trip to—England. So maybe it's a comfort zone thing. Or maybe it's a 'telling people about jesus' thing. I really hope it's not. Why be scared to tell people about Jesus, and what he's done in my life? Does it all go back to fear of man? Someone once told me that fundamental to being a Christian is fearing God in a way that translates to doing the right thing no matter what the cost. The disciples and apostles were bold and powerful when they went out; to the point of suffering and dying for the sake of spreading the Gospel. I should be desiring to go to other places and tell others about Jesus, yet I hem and haw with excuses about bills and work whenever anyone brings up me going on a long term missions trip. Grr. How is it that Bethany and Pamela and Justin can go do these things and I can't? Not that I'm comparing myself to them, but it does make me question how they can do it when I so clearly try to avoid it. Something to add to the prayer list, I suppose.

In other news today (yes, yes, after that long rabbit trail rant)…

Connie, Josue, and I picked up Pamela from the airport today. She just got back from her mini-missions trip to Kazakhstan. We all went out to dinner, and got to hear some cool and funny stories about the trip. It was fun. Afterwards Jonathan and Laura met us and we were all going to see a movie, but nothing really looked that great so we all went home.

I work 5am to 10am tomorrow, and then I'm off work(on vacation) for a whole week. Yay!

Happy Ressuraction Day!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

An AIM conversation I had this morning:

[10:02] dutamus777: how about… you meet me at 12:30?
[10:02] SmileRowland: call me after to see if I'm already on the way
[10:02] SmileRowland: ok
[10:02] dutamus777: 12:30, by the chapel?
[10:02] SmileRowland: ok
[10:02] dutamus777: bring the pipe
[10:02] dutamus777: lol
[10:02] SmileRowland: what pipe?lol
[10:02] dutamus777: you know.. the game of clue
[10:02] dutamus777: nick and connie
[10:02] dutamus777: by the chapel
[10:03] dutamus777: with the pipe
[10:03] SmileRowland: but who's dying today?
[10:03] dutamus777: death
[10:03] dutamus777: [10:03] dutamus777: and sin
[10:03] SmileRowland: nice
[10:03] dutamus777: :):)
[10:03] dutamus777: isn't it?
[10:03] SmileRowland: yep
[10:03] dutamus777: think about it Connie
[10:03] dutamus777: [10:03] dutamus777: Jesus died for our sins
[10:03] dutamus777: and he rose from the dead today
[10:03] dutamus777: how awesome is that?!?!?
[10:03] SmileRowland: i've already heard the sermon - that's why I said…nice
[10:04] dutamus777: i havent been to big church in a long time
[10:04] dutamus777: how is it?
[10:04] dutamus777: ahhh!
[10:04] dutamus777: God so rocks my socks
[10:04] dutamus777: i mean. wow. he is awesome
[10:08] SmileRowland: he certainly is
[10:08] dutamus777: :):)
[10:09] SmileRowland: and He, The Lord has risen!
[10:09] dutamus777: he has risen indeed
[10:09] SmileRowland: amen!
[10:09] dutamus777: and amen