I have been living in Spain for about three weeks now and attending a Bible school here called Rio Vida. This has easily been the biggest adventure of my life so far. Admittedly, I was nervous about the whole thing; Bible school because I didn't know what to expect having never been and was nervous about my Bible knowledge, the people, etc. And was nervous about living in a foreign country for almost three months on top of going to Bible school. However, the nervousness was greatly overshadowed by the excitement in going on this adventure.
Three weeks in and I can already say that my expectations or lack of have been well exceeded and has already been the time of my life. The country of Spain is absolutely beautiful. We have travelled to some of the surrounding towns and landscapes and they only seem to get better. There is an amazing contrast between the tropical beaches and the spectacular mountain ranges that is just breath-taking. This country is thick with history and a unique and wonderful culture, but there is really nothing like the food, specifically the pizza, here!
As amazing as Spain is, the area where my expectations have been blown away is the Bible school itself and the people within it. I immediately knew on the first day when I was greeted at the airport by out director that it would not be the country, the weather, the landmarks, or the food that changes my life, but through the people. Our director set incredibly high standards for anyone else I met as he is just one of the most kind and loving people you will meet. This man and his family show us compassion and love every day to every student and this creates an atmosphere fuelled by the grace and love of God.
But then I met the students and again my expectations were exceeded. Each and every student here has the light of God within them and it is so evident and they came here to have fun and adventures, but ultimately to grow with God and I see this every day. I can confidently say that I have built some amazing friendships and come to know some incredible, hilarious, generous, and God-loving people. I have come to believe that one of the most important aspects of Bible school are the bonds and connections that you form with other people through the conversations you have, the stories you tell, the games you play, and the laughs you share. It is through these friendships that you see the love and power of God through our shared individual experiences that we learn from and together as a group we learn how to live a life for God; not boring, clean, pretty, and well-preserved, but an adventurous, joyful, bold, extravagant, God-glorifying life!
Wednesday 8 February 2017
Tuesday 24 January 2017
Proverbs
God created man. He created Rich Man and Poor Man.
Rich Man lived in a beautiful castle that reached the height of the clouds; it was filled with only the finest foods and the food was plenty. He slept in a warm bed and never went cold. All of his desires were met.
Poor Man lived in the slums. He went hungry. Spent the nights in the cold. He desired little and received little.
Rich Man saw himself as superior than Poor Man and in turn never interacted with him and refused to shelter or feed him even though it was very much within his capability. Because they were never together they were constantly alone. In loneliness they found despair. There was a way out of their dark places, but they did not know how nor had the knowledge that such was possible.
God created Wisdom. Wisdom looked like them, sounded like them, but did not act like them. Wisdom was righteous and justified, Wisdom knew right from wrong, good from evil. Wisdom was humble and had honor, was not foolish, listened to her creator and followed his law. She was faithful and honest, she did not boast, but first and foremost she sought ONLY to spread the knowledge of the Love of God.
Wisdom went to Rich Man with sole desire to share the knowledge of her creator. She knocked on the door and Rich Man answered; as soon as the door opened she immediately began to share, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not..." and the door was slammed on her face.
Wisdom then went to Poor Man where he was sleeping on the streets. She knelt beside him and said "The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want" (Prov. 13:25). Poor Man lifted his head for only a moment and lay back down. Wisdom pleaded that all of his desires would be filled through the knowledge she could share, but he wouldn't have it.
Wisdom never quit. She went to the centre of the village and began to cry out: "To you, O men, I call, and my call is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things and from my lips will come what is right" (Prov. 8:4-6). She went on and on without ceasing, constantly crying out through the town. Hours went by until she finally saw Poor Man walking up the street towards her. With joyous arms she greeted him and he received the greeting not denying it. He sat and she shared until the very life and meaning of Wisdom was ingrained within Poor Man. Poor Man never became rich, yet all of his desires were met until his only desire was to know God more.
Time went by while Rich Man only grew lonelier. He had everything in the world yet was oddly unhappy. For weeks the only thing he could think of was the few words he heard from Wisdom, "Trust in the Lord". Time went on to the point where his only desire was to hear the words Wisdom intended to share in its fullness.
Rich Man left his castle and followed the cries of Wisdom as she continued to share throughout the village. He came upon Poor Man sitting in front of her as she shared. Wisdom stopped as she saw him approaching, he made his way to Poor Man and sat down beside him. Wisdom smiled and began to speak, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Prov. 3:5-6)
Rich Man lived in a beautiful castle that reached the height of the clouds; it was filled with only the finest foods and the food was plenty. He slept in a warm bed and never went cold. All of his desires were met.
Poor Man lived in the slums. He went hungry. Spent the nights in the cold. He desired little and received little.
Rich Man saw himself as superior than Poor Man and in turn never interacted with him and refused to shelter or feed him even though it was very much within his capability. Because they were never together they were constantly alone. In loneliness they found despair. There was a way out of their dark places, but they did not know how nor had the knowledge that such was possible.
God created Wisdom. Wisdom looked like them, sounded like them, but did not act like them. Wisdom was righteous and justified, Wisdom knew right from wrong, good from evil. Wisdom was humble and had honor, was not foolish, listened to her creator and followed his law. She was faithful and honest, she did not boast, but first and foremost she sought ONLY to spread the knowledge of the Love of God.
Wisdom went to Rich Man with sole desire to share the knowledge of her creator. She knocked on the door and Rich Man answered; as soon as the door opened she immediately began to share, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not..." and the door was slammed on her face.
Wisdom then went to Poor Man where he was sleeping on the streets. She knelt beside him and said "The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want" (Prov. 13:25). Poor Man lifted his head for only a moment and lay back down. Wisdom pleaded that all of his desires would be filled through the knowledge she could share, but he wouldn't have it.
Wisdom never quit. She went to the centre of the village and began to cry out: "To you, O men, I call, and my call is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things and from my lips will come what is right" (Prov. 8:4-6). She went on and on without ceasing, constantly crying out through the town. Hours went by until she finally saw Poor Man walking up the street towards her. With joyous arms she greeted him and he received the greeting not denying it. He sat and she shared until the very life and meaning of Wisdom was ingrained within Poor Man. Poor Man never became rich, yet all of his desires were met until his only desire was to know God more.
Time went by while Rich Man only grew lonelier. He had everything in the world yet was oddly unhappy. For weeks the only thing he could think of was the few words he heard from Wisdom, "Trust in the Lord". Time went on to the point where his only desire was to hear the words Wisdom intended to share in its fullness.
Rich Man left his castle and followed the cries of Wisdom as she continued to share throughout the village. He came upon Poor Man sitting in front of her as she shared. Wisdom stopped as she saw him approaching, he made his way to Poor Man and sat down beside him. Wisdom smiled and began to speak, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Prov. 3:5-6)
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