ON COMMON GROUND

I wrote this poem as I reflected on my interaction with the dear Chilean Christians we were able to serve with.

ON COMMON GROUND

Greetings to you my brother whom I have never seen,

and whose tongue at times I do not understand.

You approach me as if we have met before on some foreign land from here.

It cannot be that we have shared in conversation before. I embrace you as Family

even though we are of no relation. Confounded in shackles of

thought for why you recieve me so. As the days go by, clarity

finds itself browsing upon us. A stranger you are to my skeptical

eyes, but a friend so quickly to my heart. Intrigued I am by the way

you think and communicate. Chained is my tongue at times to respond

adequately so you understand me. As our fellowship prolongs, I begin

to realize that the ground which we stand has been shared before.

Something that cannot be clearly defined gives us a bond that cannot be broken.

The bond we share is in the God we share and pray to. Though the language

we speak be different, our God hears up both the same. To have shared

in the encounter of service with you has been refreshing and a blessing.

Though the soil we have served on may be foreign to me, the altar upon

which we both bow is only foreign to those who do not know the God we serve. Thank You!

Probably my favorite pic taken at Camp Pique

 

This road leads to the front gate of the camp. Not really a gate since you can actually walk around either side and get in.

 

Some other members of the workteam to Chile. The guy in the red shirt is not part of our group.

 

View of the landscape of Camp Pirque

 

 

Sometime around 9:00 in the evening at Camp Pirque

 

CAMP PIRQUE

Surrounded by a mountainous canvas both scenic and divine,

Hidden with dirty roads, protected by a thorny vine.

Unlimited with potential though masked by so much needed care,

Who will pick up my torch and upon your shoulders my burdens bare.

Foreign are my visitors who come to service my many needs,

Loud is my cry, and unshaken are my pleads.

Firm is my name and the foundation on which I stand,

Your time, effort, and care, I innocently demand.

I desire to be used for a purpose pure in its goals,

A place to enjoy, a source of hope to lost souls.

May those that visit me, leave with more than when they came,

The true reason I exist is to bare Jesus' name.

More Mountains!

 

Snowcapped mountain surrounding Camp Pirque

 

 

Behind me is the city of Santiago

 

BACK FROM CHILE !!!- PREVIEW

Well, I am back in the states. I want to thank all those that were praying for me while away in Chile for two weeks. I had a tremendous time. The Lord really blessed and allowed us to get quite a bit of work done. There is still so much to do. I am writing this post as a preview to the other excerpts I will be posting about my trip to Chile. I will be posting several pics of my trip to Chile as well as three poems that I wrote while over there based on my trip. To those who are wondering what my trip was for and what we did, I will share that now.
There are about four Christian camps that are in Chile right now that are overseen by a Mission board. They are all in quite bad shape. What I mean by that is, there is land and beautiful scenery, but no concept of what real a camp program is. The buildings are a worst for wear and I mean you would not want to live in them for any length of time. The purpose of our trip was to focus on one camp specifically named "Camp Pirque". It has been around for at least 15 years or so. Looking at it you would wonder how a camp could be there. As I heard a lot on this trip, "It has a lot of POTENTIAL!" There are several other work teams scheduled right now to head over to Chile in the next few months. Our work team began the wonderful task of building the 300 concrete posts needed to help fence in the 15-20 acres of land the camp sits on. In the pics I will be posting, you will see the many beautiful mountains that surround the camp. Breathtaking!! We worked some pretty long days since it does not get dark in Chile right now till around 9:30 to 10:00 at night. It is there summer right now.
The Chilean Christians were very kind and hospitable. I got to work closely with two men named Pedro (70yrs old-retired pastor) and Hermon(30 yrs old-spoke a little english). My time spent with them was great. We spent everyday mixing, pouring, and wheel burrowing concrete. During those days they quizzed me and taught me many spanish words and phrases. After a while I think they actually thought I was Chilean....well, maybe not. It was truly hard to say goodbye to them at the end of our two weeks.
Two of the highlights of my trip I would like to share before closing are: 1. Being able to sit in a worship service that was completely in Spanish, and 2. To hear fellow Christians pray in a different language and know that the same God I pray to in English hears them. These two highlights are the basis of one of the poems I will be posting entitled "Common Ground".
I would like to thank you all who visit my blog page. I hope and pray that the things you see and read in some way encourage you or provoke you to think. We serve an amazing God! May the Lord bless and keep you as you continue to follow and seek Him daily. If you have never been on a Mission trip, I would encourage you to go. It is a great opportunity to see things in a different perspective and to see how other brothers and sisters in Christ serve and worship the Lord. Take care and have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year in the Lord!

I AM IN CHILE......WILL GIVE UPDATE SOON

Greetings friends,
This is just a little note to let you know that I am out of the country. I am currently in Chile on a mission trip. I will be back in the states on the 15th of December. If you have been wondering why I have not posted anything lately, then this is why. Thank you for your patience and for your prayers. I will post pictures and give a full update of my trip when I return. May the Lord bless and keep you all until our paths cross again. Take care and God bless!

Tyararr

A PURITAN PRAYER:

Something to think about as we reflect on Thanksgiving and the many things God has done for us and is doing right now.

A PURITAN PRAYER

When thou wouldst guide me I control myself,

When thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself,

When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself.

When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself,

When I should submit to thy providence I follow my will,

When I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself;

I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself;

Instead of thee I look to man's approbation, and am by nature an idolater.

Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee.

Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy,

Nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me.

Help me see that grace does this by providential affliction, for when my credit is god thou doest cast me lower, when riches are my idol thou dost wing them away, when pleasure is my all thou doest turn it into bitterness.

Take away my roving eye, curious ear, greedy appetite, lustful heart;

Show me that none of these things can heal a wounded conscience, or support a tottering frame, or uphold a departing spirit.

Then take me to the cross and leave me there.

BLAMLESS!!!

BLAMELESS

Unspotted, pure, and blessed from beginning to end,

He belongs to a realm which I cannot comprehend.

His eyes have partook in wonders I do not know,

Feared by those on high and those referred to as low.

Earth is His footstool and the place which we live and rest,

Men bow down to him and commit to Him their best.

Creation was the response of His spoken word,

Man was the result of His living breath.

Broken for me that I might be mended from sin's grasp,

Lifted up in my place that I might be brought low.

HOLDING PLACE

HOLDING PLACE

Lord, has my patience not reached the end of its stretching?

A spirit ready to move but restrained for loss of direction,

Focused not on myself, but on vessels seeking truth.

Make this time of holding peaceful, for my heart yells for more.

May my heart find the satisfaction of resting in You.

This holding place is my refinery, molding me for the next step.

Fervent for a new cause, faithful to the risen Christ.

RECKONED

RECKONED

The roof has been lifted and the doors open wide

Life's waters have flowed through, deep and side to side.

Winds of storm leaving no dark crevace to hide

The weak searching for relief and someone with to abide.

Can peace be found in the camotion of blind direction

Souls running from the truth which brings them correction....

I stand reckoned as a man torn from the inside out

My hope is in God, my foundation in whom I have no doubt.

My constructor is God, He is also my King

He lifted me after the storm when I could not sing.

My foundation is God and O so much more

He mended my broken heart and gently replaced its door.

The giver of my storm is God, I also call Him my Friend

My Comforter, my Sustainer from beginning till end.

My legs are getting tired standing here. 

I hope that cake does not fall!