"God is always, all good, all of the time"
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
September 11 - A big day in the USA
So yesterday was September 11, a day most Americans and most of the world remember for the infamous events that took place in New York and Washington all of nine years ago, now. We were able to rustle up some tickets to the biggest event, in the Springs, commemorating the disaster, football. The Air force Academy Falcons, on their home ground, took on the BYU Cougars from who-knows-where! This being my first college football game (college football is nearly as big as NFL in some areas of the USA) I was quite excited and also being September 11, it promised to be a spectacle for the Air force game!
Two F-15's did a fly-by, there were war-veterans being interviewed and fireman from ground-zero in New York were on hand to be honored and paraded. Marching bands, cheerleaders and the biggest stars and stripes flag you ever did see, all made they day an event of American proportions!
Regarding the sport itself: It's not bad, not as much blood as in rugby, but it's much longer, so you get value for your money! The teams are huge, up to 43 playable players in a team, and they play running-subs depending on the play the coach has decided on. But this isn't about explaining the game, you've got to figure that out yourself, it's about the experience! So see the pics and enjoy!
Two F-15's did a fly-by, there were war-veterans being interviewed and fireman from ground-zero in New York were on hand to be honored and paraded. Marching bands, cheerleaders and the biggest stars and stripes flag you ever did see, all made they day an event of American proportions!
Regarding the sport itself: It's not bad, not as much blood as in rugby, but it's much longer, so you get value for your money! The teams are huge, up to 43 playable players in a team, and they play running-subs depending on the play the coach has decided on. But this isn't about explaining the game, you've got to figure that out yourself, it's about the experience! So see the pics and enjoy!
 |
| Air force squadrons on parade before the game |
 |
| An average sized U.S flag |
 |
One group of cheerleaders: Rather them than me! |
 |
| The two F-15's flying over before the game |
 |
| This play led to a Falcons TOUCHDOWN! |
Falcons won - of course!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The first week
The first week on campus at bible school has been awesome. Beyond expectation, is a good description I suppose. Before you venture into something new there is always a pre-conceived idea of how it should/ must be, but I have found that to pre-conceive God or to expect certain things from Him always sells short His ability to super-abundantly exceed those very assumptions. However, the more expectation we place on Him, the more we allow Him to come through for us: I think that's called faith!
Andrew taught on knowing God's will for your life, yesterday, something everybody I have ever come across wants to know. He approached in a novel manner through looking at Romans 12:1 - 2 :
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"
We first have to be living sacrifices, before we can start the transformation of our minds and stop conforming. In other words: Forget what He wants you to do and focus on what He wants you to be. His vocation or line of ministry, for us will ,therefore, be secondary to being that living sacrifice. You will never have to ask God to use you again, because you will constantly be usable. Being a living sacrifice implicates a lifestyle and continual commitment to putting God first in your life.
This will lead to your mind being renewed and thereby knowing His good and perfect will for your life! What an encouraging truth!
Below are pictures of Andrew teaching in the main auditorium and a picture of some CBC students ...
!
Andrew taught on knowing God's will for your life, yesterday, something everybody I have ever come across wants to know. He approached in a novel manner through looking at Romans 12:1 - 2 :
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"
We first have to be living sacrifices, before we can start the transformation of our minds and stop conforming. In other words: Forget what He wants you to do and focus on what He wants you to be. His vocation or line of ministry, for us will ,therefore, be secondary to being that living sacrifice. You will never have to ask God to use you again, because you will constantly be usable. Being a living sacrifice implicates a lifestyle and continual commitment to putting God first in your life.
This will lead to your mind being renewed and thereby knowing His good and perfect will for your life! What an encouraging truth!
Below are pictures of Andrew teaching in the main auditorium and a picture of some CBC students ...
 |
| Andrew Wommack |
 |
| I know what you're thinking: Some old people! Yes, not all students are young! |
Thursday, September 9, 2010
CBC days 2 and 3
The week so far has been melting pot of people, teaching and administration. I am meeting new people everyday in class and through housemates etc. Everyone here has a story, everyone here has background and everyone here has found grace to a certain degree or another. This is the common denominator amongst the people I meet: The definite understanding that 'it's already been done' and that it is by grace through faith that we are saved and not by what we have or can accomplish. (Eph 2:8-9)
Lectures have not quite started yet, but we have had praise and worship every morning and during these times I have really felt God's reassurance about decisions made and pending ones. It's the easiest thing in the world to worry about something; in fact worry comes naturally to some of us. So it has been refreshing to let God just wash His peace over me and affirm His word and His promises. This is the same for all of us - we need to make room for His promises to become a reality in our lives. His blessings are there for the receiving, we just need to position ourselves, by faith and not doubt His faithfulness!
Lectures have not quite started yet, but we have had praise and worship every morning and during these times I have really felt God's reassurance about decisions made and pending ones. It's the easiest thing in the world to worry about something; in fact worry comes naturally to some of us. So it has been refreshing to let God just wash His peace over me and affirm His word and His promises. This is the same for all of us - we need to make room for His promises to become a reality in our lives. His blessings are there for the receiving, we just need to position ourselves, by faith and not doubt His faithfulness!
Today's picture is from my friends Shayne and Marna's wedding, one month ago. A pretty awesome picture, so had to put it in! (Click on photo to see its entirety)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
First Day at CBC
The first day at CBC went well. We had Andrew Womack teach for two hours straight (some peoples dreams came true) on discipleship. The entire school was together and he was setting the foundation for the year and the vision he has for the school for the year. The core of his message was that it wasn't just good enough to make converts and get people saved. We have to disciple them into maturity in order for them to be able to produce after their kind and change the world.
Discipleship is a very familiar concept to me, but Andrew approached it like I've never heard it before and used Jesus teachings (the toughest ones) to make his point. One statement he made, was this: "If the church were discipling people properly, there would be no need for institutions such as CBC", something to think about. However, my question is this: What are we discipling people into? Are we discipling them into the good news of the gospel, or into the the precepts of the law?
Get to know the good news and then disciple people into it, as many people as you can!
Otherwise, registration went well and received all my books for the entire years study. Paid my full year in advance, so cheese and crackers it is for the next 10 months! There are many people here from all over the USA and the world. Ninety percent of the people attending CBC don't live in Colorado!
Below are some pictures of the college and another crazy 'housemate t-shirt'!
Discipleship is a very familiar concept to me, but Andrew approached it like I've never heard it before and used Jesus teachings (the toughest ones) to make his point. One statement he made, was this: "If the church were discipling people properly, there would be no need for institutions such as CBC", something to think about. However, my question is this: What are we discipling people into? Are we discipling them into the good news of the gospel, or into the the precepts of the law?
Get to know the good news and then disciple people into it, as many people as you can!
Otherwise, registration went well and received all my books for the entire years study. Paid my full year in advance, so cheese and crackers it is for the next 10 months! There are many people here from all over the USA and the world. Ninety percent of the people attending CBC don't live in Colorado!
Below are some pictures of the college and another crazy 'housemate t-shirt'!
 |
Me and housemate Dan outside CBC on my first morning |
 |
| Another housemate t-shirt ... they just keep getting 'better' |
Monday, September 6, 2010
After hours ...
Today was a holiday in the USA, Labour Day, something South African labour has been taking every day for the past month! This, however, meant that there was a day to explore before school starts tomorrow. My housemate, Basil, and I went up the 'Incline' today. Which, is a 3 mile hike straight up the Rockies. Vertical! See the photos and make up your own mind. The air is already thin up here, but another mile up and it gets ridiculous - they breed us tough in South Africa, so I pushed through and the view was worth it ...
 |
| Still smiling at the bottom |
 |
| Basil not letting the steepness get to him |
 |
At the top at last - someone turned off the oxygen supply! Army guys training before shipping out to an undesclosed location next week |
 |
| The Rockies! |
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Newer isn't always better, but in this case it is ...!
A new season of blogging has dawned. No longer the flashy sights and sounds of the 2010 World Cup, but rather the insightful looks at what the most important person in the world is doing in and around me. Having landed in Colorado Springs to begin my first year on the CBC campus, it has slowly become reality that, not only is something I have dreamed about for the major part of my life busy unravelling, but also that it could be the beginning of an entire new way of life for me.
God hasn't called me to bible school to become more religious or critical of other beliefs. He has called me here for the soul purpose of meeting Him, through the word that is taught here, through the people that are circulating here and through the beautiful surroundings. Never before have I been put in a position of one hundred percent reliance on Him. The situation I find myself in, however, is both challenging but also very necessary at the same time. Challenging due to the fact that my faith is being stretched, but necessary because learning to trust God doesn't come from always trusting your own potential!
This, hopefully, sets the tone for the posts to come and also the general theme the blog will be taking handling over the next while. Check out the pictures below from my first few days here. These were all t-shirts worn by my housemates over the last 48 hours, all independent of one another!
A new day, a new place, a new challenge ... same God!
Until next time!
God hasn't called me to bible school to become more religious or critical of other beliefs. He has called me here for the soul purpose of meeting Him, through the word that is taught here, through the people that are circulating here and through the beautiful surroundings. Never before have I been put in a position of one hundred percent reliance on Him. The situation I find myself in, however, is both challenging but also very necessary at the same time. Challenging due to the fact that my faith is being stretched, but necessary because learning to trust God doesn't come from always trusting your own potential!
This, hopefully, sets the tone for the posts to come and also the general theme the blog will be taking handling over the next while. Check out the pictures below from my first few days here. These were all t-shirts worn by my housemates over the last 48 hours, all independent of one another!
A new day, a new place, a new challenge ... same God!
 |
| Lifeguard: Mine Walks on Water |
 |
| No need to translate! | <><><><>
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)