HELP I AM A MISSIONARY!

I walked into the chaplain’s office at the Christian college I was attending and said to the lady sitting at the front desk, “Hi, I am Kumar, and I want to be a student missionary.”

“Well, what do you have in mind?” Nancy asked as she stood up from her desk and reached over to pick up the call book.

“Well, I don’t want to go to the usual places like most student missionaries. I want to have a real missionary experience in a rugged, remote place.”

My optimism as an 18-year old college student had grown after reading the book of Acts in my dorm room. The life and journey of the apostle Paul had consumed my thoughts and I now imagined journeying across the globe to some remote place telling people about Jesus for the first time.

“So you are looking for a real adventure, huh?” she asked.

“Yes, exactly, like a frontier experience,” I announced with total naiveté.

She immediately closed the call book and looked straight into my eyes. “Did you say, ‘frontier?’” she questioned.

“Yes,” I said with hesitation. She had a weird look in her eyes. Why was she closing the call book? Did I offend her? Did she think I was kidding?

“I have the perfect place for you.” She paused. “The May River in Papua New Guinea. The Iwam people were only discovered one generation ago, and they are still living in the stone age.”

I was intrigued.

Nine months later, I was on an airplane to Papua New Guinea. It would take 26 hours by air, nine hours sitting on the back of a pick up truck, and 12 hours by motor boat before I got to the village of Arai, on the May River -- a tributary of Sepik, the second longest river in the world.

Working with a group of people who were one generation removed from Cannibalism took major adapting for a city slicker like me. That experience is where I got my mission bug. More than that, God taught me what “the least of these” really means, and how blessed I am to have resources to help others. Isn’t that what family is for?

Better than a Gold Medal

Words of Hope
By Pastor Dave Gemmell

August 16, 2008

As I watch the Olympics from year to year I sometimes fantasize about being a member of the US Olympic team. I imagine myself on the swim team, cycling team, or maybe rhythmic gymnastics (ha!) What about you? What event would you sign up for?

I got a reality check at the end of the last Olympics when the chairman “invited young athletes from all over the world to gather again in Beijing ”.. Somehow I don’t think that I could be considered a young person (even though I sometimes act immature) and certainly not much of an athlete (unless deleting spam on my email counts as an Olympic sport).

Yet in something far more important than the Olympics, Paul in I Corinthians 9:25 invites all of us, young and old, athletic or klutzy, to go into strict training, not to “get a crown that fades, but to get a crown that will last forever.” Let the cosmic games begin

CONFESSION

Words of Hope By Pastor Rajkumar Dixit

August 9, 2008

I have a confession: I did something bad.

Last week while I was in the grocery line waiting to buy a loaf of bread, I heckled an old lady.

Just as I was walking to the check out line, this old lady emerged and forced her cart in front me. Okay. That is fine. I thought. She only has 8-10 items.

That was until she pulled out her check book.

PERSONAL RANT: What is up with checks? They should ban them. There is absolutely no reason for any person to use a check any more. Debit, or Credit is just fine. I would even be in support of getting rid of cash. It is silly in today's age. Paper just slows things down. It isn't good for the economy or environment.

Back to the story: As the old lady is writing out her check…

Me: Oh my goodness. What is that thing? Is that what they call a check?

She pauses and looks at me as a smile forms on my face.

Me: I thought those things were only found in museums.

Lady: Yes, this is a check. You won't ever get me to use this swipe machine (she points to the credit card machine).

Me: Well I didn't think they would accept checks at the express line. This is supposed to the be the fast lane. Well I hope they don't get rid of checks for your sake.

We exchange insincere smiles as she hobbles away.
...
My mom is 71 years old. She uses a debit card, has a laptop, emails, and has an online video with skype to talk to her friend in England. You can never be too old try new things. Especially when it comes to communicating the gospel.

TEXT MESSAGING

Words of Hope

By Pastor Ann Roda

August 2, 2008

Interesting facts about the text messaging phenomenon.

Text messaging is the most widely used mobile data service on the planet, with 72% of all mobile phone users worldwide (foxnews.com).

Up to 140 million Americans are text message users (Mobile Marketing Association).

Text messaging or Short Messaging Service (SMS) was invented during the 1980s as a method of communication for engineers building the mobile network. Since its introduction in 1995 it has taken the world by storm.

In November 2006, New Zealand Qualifications Authority approved the move that allowed students of secondary schools to use mobile phone text language in the end of the year exam papers (www.usatoday.com).

Elliot Nicholls of Dunedin, New Zealand currently holds the World Record for the fastest blindfolded text messaging. A record of a 160 letter text in 45 seconds while blindfolded was set on the 17th of November 2007 (Technology News).

A Malaysian court had ruled that it is legal to divorce through the use of text messaging as long as you are clear and unequivocal. (BBC News)

On average, 4.1 million messages are sent every hour in Britain (www.themda.org)

Gartner, Inc., a telecommunications research company, has forecast that 2.3 trillion messages will be sent across major markets worldwide in 2008 (www.gartner.com).

What message have you received from God today?

PITFALLS OF MULTI-TASKING

by Pastor Dave Gemmell

I was traveling down the road when the car in front of me braked rather abruptly. As I slammed on my brakes I felt my iPhone, laptop, and burrito slide down my legs to the floor. I concluded that in the future I should concentrate a little more on my driving and a little less on multitasking.

Which of the following have you done while driving?
Talked on your cell phone?
Map quested?
Text Messaged?
Put on make-up?
Combed your hair?
Eaten your breakfast?
Changed a diaper?

Driving a car takes mental focus and distractions cause accidents. Private worship takes spiritual focus and distractions and negligence cause spiritual falls. Over the years I’ve discovered that for quality Bible study, meditation and prayer, I’ve got to turn off the TV, radio, phone, and shut the door to fully to see God. What works for you?

TXT ME

by Pastor Rajkumar Dixit

Did you know 94% of 18-24 year olds send personal texts and 34% of those aged between 18-24 send 36 or more messages a week. Over 70% of mobile phone users send text messages.

It seems that in the fast paced life we live in, even our conversations are becoming abbreviated. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather email than talk on the phone. And I would rather text message than email. What does that say about our society today? How do we convey the gospel in a way that people are used to communicating? While the message never changes, the means of transporting the message must!

Today we are beginning an exciting teaching series called, TXT ME. If the apostle Paul were to communicate with his young protégé Timothy, how would he have done so in today’s culture? We think he may have texted his messages. During this series we are going to be taking a deep look at scripture: 1 Timothy. So please read the passage before you come to church, and let’s begin a dialogue.

I am looking forward to starting this journey with you.

peace,