"I tell no one any story but his own."

Lately, I have been listening to "The Chronicles of Narnia" on CD as I travel around and I just finished "The Horse and His Boy." In this chronicle, Shasta is running far away to the north - to Narnia. On this journey, he has all kinds of exciting, scary, and painful adventures. The coolest part of this story for me - and what hit me in the car as I was listening - is when Shasta finds out that it has been Aslan the Lion who has been with him every step of the way.

"I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."

"Then it was you who wounded Aravis?"
"It was I."
"But what for?"
"Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your own story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own."

I think this impacted me so much because it's easy to see God in the good and happy things in our lives. The things that turned out right. But what is so important for us to understand is that God is also there in the times that hurt. That hurt like crazy and we don't understand why. I look at my life and I see so many things that didn't turn out the way that I had planned. I am just now, though, beginning to see how God was so IN those things. And as Aslan told Shasta, we are in a story. I am in a story. This great, amazing drama that is unfolding God's story. And while I may only be told my part and no one else's, I am in His story. How amazing that I am in it.

Commisssioning

Just a note to let you know that I am being commissioned by my sending district, the Greater Ohio District this Sunday evening at 6:30. I have gotten to know many of the Wesleyan churches in this district over the last year or so, and I look forward to spending this time with them. So, if you are in the area on Sunday evening, it is at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. It'd be great to see some of you there that night!

Here I am again...

Hi everybody! I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but I'm glad you are here now, reading this page! Lots of things have happened since I last wrote. I've been to churches nearly every weekend this summer and it's honestly been fun meeting new people. It's kind of strange going into someone's home and church that I've never met, but it's amazing to come out calling those people friends. So, if you are one of those people, thank you.

A highlight for me was being at the South Carolina District Conference. The change of scenery was great and it was good to meet so many pastors in one place! An especially cool thing is that that district is beginning a partnership with the Czech Republic, so hopefully I'll be getting to know many of those churches better.

My support level at this point: Right now I think in percentages of my support and what effect that has to how close I am to returning to Czech! On paper, I am at 67% of my faith promise goal. However, at least three other churches are for sure going to be supporting me financially, which will put me at about 81% of my goal. This means that I have about $12,000 more to raise in faith promises! That's awesome! It makes my goal of leaving in September look even more like a reality! The following picture is one of the big reasons I can't wait to get back to Czech. It's of one of my best friends from Czech, Ivo with his girlfriend. I can't wait to get back and continue with the friendships that God has given me there.