Well to begin this post I just want to say that Foundations of Church Ministry was quite a pleasure this week, cheers to Dr. David Ernst our fine professor with a wealth of knowledge and experience. To outline the course we answered 5 main questions, What is the Church, What is the purpose of the Church, Who leads the Church, What is my contribution to the Church, and What if there are problems in my Church? If you have any questions about the course I'd be glad to answer them but for now I want to take a shift in direction and answer a question that was asked in response to my last post, "Have you had any more thoughts about what you would like to do after Kaleo"
I've given this just a bit of thought while being here and I want to tell you about a dream that has been placed in my heart. I would ask that you pray for me and where this dream has its place in my life. My dream is to walk through the world, not around it, but walk to many countries throughout the world. My why? To spend time with God, it'll be just me, Him, and His Word.
It's definitely a radical idea, one that wouldn't just take a few years. It would be a lifetime decision. I found a website about a person who did this to fulfill a childhood dream and he's looking at finishing in 18 years in the year 2010. It is a decision I don't want to make hastily and have taken about 10 weeks to mull it over since the original thought came to me on Mt. Albert-Edward. A lot of my thoughts have changed already and I am now looking at a few new questions. When I presented the idea to Jim I originally had thought that I would be an Apostle like Paul because not only would I be spending time with God but I would be telling as many people as I could about Jesus along my journey. However as Jim has taught me, an Apostle is not one who just gets up and goes but an Apostle is one who is sent.
It is thoughts such as these that are shaping where my thoughts are now drifting as I think of a world journey. Currently I am looking to answer two questions that Jim posed to me as well as doing research on people who have done something similar to what I would like to do. The first question is to find out why others have done it and the second is to find out if there are people who would send me. I'm not sure where this thought, this dream, is going to take me but I'm going to do the research, pray a whole lot, and ask you to partner with me in prayer. I would really love some feedback on this, my dream of a world journey. What are your thoughts? What are questions that you think I should be asking myself? Please join me in prayer and I can't wait to hear from you.
Love always, your dreamer,
Nick VanSnick
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
James Video
Here's the video that a group of us did when we studied the book of James for Hermeneutics, sorry it took so long to get up, we had a few technical difficulties.
Thanks to Katie, Jade, Ellie, Jess, Tim, and Mark for all their contributions to the group.
Thanks to Katie, Jade, Ellie, Jess, Tim, and Mark for all their contributions to the group.
Mission Possible
If there was any week that we have had that had a specific mission I would say that this week was that week. The focus for our mission this week - Prayer. We had a 24/7 prayer week. We set aside a room in our lodge and at all hours this week there was someone from the Kaleo team praying.
As for the prayer that took place, I can say that there was quite a range of things. From all the notes to God or each other that were posted around the room there were hurts healed, encouragements shared, and praises poured out to God. I can't tell you what it was like to be in that room. The presence of God had a thickness about it there. It's kind of like when you walk into a fog, you can feel it. It was in here that my heart continually broke for the lost of this world. It began with a simple statement of, "Lord, please undo the works of the enemy in Duncan" then turned into full out tears for those that I know who do not have a hope in Jesus Christ. I'm not exactly sure to the full extent of what is going to take place because of this week but I do know one thing, prayer is powerful. So I would ask that you continue to pray for the homeless community in Duncan, partner with me in asking God to heal the brokenness there. If you feel uncertain on what to pray for, I'll keep you updated but check out my last post and keep at least Darrell in your prayers.
With prayer being our focus this week we also had a lot of 'free time'. However this time was spent mostly writing and researching for our Old Testament paper that was due on Friday. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this paper, however it did take me a little longer to do the research than I would have liked. My thesis this time was solid too which was really sweet. The only problem with taking so much time with my OT Paper was that I didn't quite get enough time for my Church Ministry pre-course work. The crunch hurt a little bit but I'm not too worried, I'm learning a great deal from the books I'm learning.
I'm super pumped for the Church Ministry course, we had our first class today and I must say it is quite amazing. So in light of my experience with both prayer and school work this week, I want to ask two questions of you. What has your experience with prayer been like? and What have you been learning this week?
Can't wait to hear from all of you, I love you guys lots,
Nick VanSnick
As for the prayer that took place, I can say that there was quite a range of things. From all the notes to God or each other that were posted around the room there were hurts healed, encouragements shared, and praises poured out to God. I can't tell you what it was like to be in that room. The presence of God had a thickness about it there. It's kind of like when you walk into a fog, you can feel it. It was in here that my heart continually broke for the lost of this world. It began with a simple statement of, "Lord, please undo the works of the enemy in Duncan" then turned into full out tears for those that I know who do not have a hope in Jesus Christ. I'm not exactly sure to the full extent of what is going to take place because of this week but I do know one thing, prayer is powerful. So I would ask that you continue to pray for the homeless community in Duncan, partner with me in asking God to heal the brokenness there. If you feel uncertain on what to pray for, I'll keep you updated but check out my last post and keep at least Darrell in your prayers.
With prayer being our focus this week we also had a lot of 'free time'. However this time was spent mostly writing and researching for our Old Testament paper that was due on Friday. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this paper, however it did take me a little longer to do the research than I would have liked. My thesis this time was solid too which was really sweet. The only problem with taking so much time with my OT Paper was that I didn't quite get enough time for my Church Ministry pre-course work. The crunch hurt a little bit but I'm not too worried, I'm learning a great deal from the books I'm learning.
I'm super pumped for the Church Ministry course, we had our first class today and I must say it is quite amazing. So in light of my experience with both prayer and school work this week, I want to ask two questions of you. What has your experience with prayer been like? and What have you been learning this week?
Can't wait to hear from all of you, I love you guys lots,
Nick VanSnick
Sunday, November 15, 2009
It's The Little Things That Mean So Much....
Tonight I want to do things a little differently with my blog. There's been a lot that has happened this week and I don't want to demean that in anyway, Old Testament Literature is a great course. But I want to let you guys into my heart this week and it begins with a quote from Darrell the homeless guy I met tonight, "It's the little things that mean so much."
As we set out tonight for our prayer walk in Duncan with the homeless ministry it was cold and raining. However I had my mind set on getting to the park that I have done my best to be faithful in praying for each week. There was one slight difference this time, there were three guys sitting under a shop's overhang out of the rain. So they said hi and we naturally stopped to chat. I was, and still am, amazed at the amount of joy that one of the guys, Darrell, had at the opportunity to just chat with someone. He said how so many people walk by all day and no one even stops to nod but we stopped just to talk for a few minutes. "It's the little things that mean so much." He kept on saying that, we started talking about other things and as soon as the topic was waning he would say it again. He was so full of joy in this small deed, this little thing that we wanted to talk to him. His joy made my day.
After these guys left, they had to catch the bus to the homeless shelter, we continued our prayer walk to the park all the while I couldn't get those 8 words out of my head. When we got the park and started praying again I felt so useless, so hopeless, that what I was doing didn't seem to have any impact. Then those words came to me again, "It's the little things that mean so much." I finally understood, maybe what I offer God isn't very much, how can it be when He is infinite, but it means so much.
Something we have been talking about after our time downtown prayer walking is this idea of being faithful. Sometimes we get to talk to people but since I've been going, about 6 weeks now and I have only had the chance to talk to people twice, and sometimes we don't. The fact is that we are being faithful in this small deed. Faithful in praying that God will undo the works of the enemy in Duncan and that God will come and reign there. It may not be much but God has given us an opportunity to be faithful to Him and we have stepped up to the challenge.
So I want to bring it back to you, what are some of the small things you have been faithful in? Is there anything small that you should begin to be faithful in? What are the little things that you can do that will mean so much?
Love your brother in Christ,
Nick VanSnick
As we set out tonight for our prayer walk in Duncan with the homeless ministry it was cold and raining. However I had my mind set on getting to the park that I have done my best to be faithful in praying for each week. There was one slight difference this time, there were three guys sitting under a shop's overhang out of the rain. So they said hi and we naturally stopped to chat. I was, and still am, amazed at the amount of joy that one of the guys, Darrell, had at the opportunity to just chat with someone. He said how so many people walk by all day and no one even stops to nod but we stopped just to talk for a few minutes. "It's the little things that mean so much." He kept on saying that, we started talking about other things and as soon as the topic was waning he would say it again. He was so full of joy in this small deed, this little thing that we wanted to talk to him. His joy made my day.
After these guys left, they had to catch the bus to the homeless shelter, we continued our prayer walk to the park all the while I couldn't get those 8 words out of my head. When we got the park and started praying again I felt so useless, so hopeless, that what I was doing didn't seem to have any impact. Then those words came to me again, "It's the little things that mean so much." I finally understood, maybe what I offer God isn't very much, how can it be when He is infinite, but it means so much.
Something we have been talking about after our time downtown prayer walking is this idea of being faithful. Sometimes we get to talk to people but since I've been going, about 6 weeks now and I have only had the chance to talk to people twice, and sometimes we don't. The fact is that we are being faithful in this small deed. Faithful in praying that God will undo the works of the enemy in Duncan and that God will come and reign there. It may not be much but God has given us an opportunity to be faithful to Him and we have stepped up to the challenge.
So I want to bring it back to you, what are some of the small things you have been faithful in? Is there anything small that you should begin to be faithful in? What are the little things that you can do that will mean so much?
Love your brother in Christ,
Nick VanSnick
Monday, November 9, 2009
What's So Amazing About Grace?
This was definitely a week to appreciate those little random times that happen through out life. Frankly that's what this week was, just a bunch of little things that needed to be done.
Everyone was stoked for this week because it was our reading break. There were a few people who left but most of us stayed here at Qwanoes for the week so that we could get some much needed work done on the Hermeneutics major paper that was due this past Friday. Also many of us realized that our Old Testament pre-course work needed to be done as well. So much of the week was dedicated to studying Romans 8:37-39 and reading many chapters of the Old Testament. However when those times came to drain the brain there was several opportunities. Going shopping in Duncan as well as rec-night at a local gym in Crofton were lots of fun to bond and hang out. One of our best evenings was Thursday when we were able to go out for a 'Song and a Story' with Adrian Plass and Glen Soderholm. It was definitely an entertaining evening with a bit of British humor.
While having a chill week was really great, things really ramped up this past weekend where I went to a Youth Retreat with the St. Andrews Youth Group. It was definitely a weekend of bonding with the teens and I definitely count it a privilege to be a leader at this church. From chapel worship times to group discussions on dating as well as a pretty epic soccer game in the rain, we had a sweet time.
I found myself again this week enthralled by the opportunity to do some prayer walking and hang out with the homeless people in Duncan. While we were praying for Duncan at the end of our evening we had a guy (his name is Samuel) come and randomly join us. We prayed and at the end of the prayer he was just so excited that people would come together as a community. He was drunk at the time he said it but Shane, the pastor heading up this ministry, talked to us later about how being in that state can reflect the true nature of the person. It burdens me to think that there are probably many more 'Samuels' who are seeking that aspect of community but it just doesn't exist for them. My prayer is that our ministry on Sunday nights will bring a hope to the people like Samuel.
And finally I come to the end of my blog and I apologize if it's a little scattered. There's been a lot of little things that have happened this week. However I think that there has been one theme that has really been on my heart this week - Grace. I have been coming to the realization that my whole life has been filled with grace; the talents I have, the opportunities I have had, places I've been, people I've met and been able to get to know. I don't deserve any of it yet God has time and time again blessed me. It spurs me on to find every opportunity I can to show grace to others and to be gracious in all I do. So I want to put my heart closer to yours and ask you about your experiences with grace. What does grace look like to you?
Well I have some Old Testament work to do, by the way class was totally sweet today, so I hope everyone has a great week because I think that I'm going to have one. Love ya all,
Nick VanSnick
Everyone was stoked for this week because it was our reading break. There were a few people who left but most of us stayed here at Qwanoes for the week so that we could get some much needed work done on the Hermeneutics major paper that was due this past Friday. Also many of us realized that our Old Testament pre-course work needed to be done as well. So much of the week was dedicated to studying Romans 8:37-39 and reading many chapters of the Old Testament. However when those times came to drain the brain there was several opportunities. Going shopping in Duncan as well as rec-night at a local gym in Crofton were lots of fun to bond and hang out. One of our best evenings was Thursday when we were able to go out for a 'Song and a Story' with Adrian Plass and Glen Soderholm. It was definitely an entertaining evening with a bit of British humor.
While having a chill week was really great, things really ramped up this past weekend where I went to a Youth Retreat with the St. Andrews Youth Group. It was definitely a weekend of bonding with the teens and I definitely count it a privilege to be a leader at this church. From chapel worship times to group discussions on dating as well as a pretty epic soccer game in the rain, we had a sweet time.
I found myself again this week enthralled by the opportunity to do some prayer walking and hang out with the homeless people in Duncan. While we were praying for Duncan at the end of our evening we had a guy (his name is Samuel) come and randomly join us. We prayed and at the end of the prayer he was just so excited that people would come together as a community. He was drunk at the time he said it but Shane, the pastor heading up this ministry, talked to us later about how being in that state can reflect the true nature of the person. It burdens me to think that there are probably many more 'Samuels' who are seeking that aspect of community but it just doesn't exist for them. My prayer is that our ministry on Sunday nights will bring a hope to the people like Samuel.
And finally I come to the end of my blog and I apologize if it's a little scattered. There's been a lot of little things that have happened this week. However I think that there has been one theme that has really been on my heart this week - Grace. I have been coming to the realization that my whole life has been filled with grace; the talents I have, the opportunities I have had, places I've been, people I've met and been able to get to know. I don't deserve any of it yet God has time and time again blessed me. It spurs me on to find every opportunity I can to show grace to others and to be gracious in all I do. So I want to put my heart closer to yours and ask you about your experiences with grace. What does grace look like to you?
Well I have some Old Testament work to do, by the way class was totally sweet today, so I hope everyone has a great week because I think that I'm going to have one. Love ya all,
Nick VanSnick
Monday, November 2, 2009
Should I Start This Blog Off With A Question...
This week has truly cycled through all different emotions this week. Good, bad, ugly, really ugly, stress, bonding, joy, and a lot of thoughtfulness. From hanging out with God at the blowhole in Ucluelet to staying up till 2AM twice in the same night finishing a paper this week has been one of growth for sure.
I'm not quite sure how to describe our surf trip. The first day was a lot of driving with a few stops to see the sights like at a huge forest with 800 year old trees and a waterfall/rapids for lunch. But I think my favorite part about our Monday excursion was going to the 'blowhole' when we arrived in Ucluelet. The water shot quite high but I think that this picture is definitely a much more valuable sight. It was a good time to sit in the presence of God. It was definitely some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.
On Tuesday we were able to go surfing. We watched some of the pro's in the morning then tried it out in the afternoon and I must say that I admire what they can do, because I wasn't even able to stand up :P However it was definitely a great memory to have the waves crashing over us in our really tight wetsuits.
I was even able to claim a ferocious battle scar as I took a tumble in the waves and got a surf board in the face. The best part was that it really didn't hurt because my face was exposed and the water was frigid. It was definitely one of the most intense things I've ever done and I can't wait for another chance at it. Wednesday was a pretty good day except that I was feeling sick but I did teach myself the notes on guitar to an old lullaby my Mom used to sing to me so over all it was a profitable day.
The rest of the week was a very stressful one. I had 4 days and a major paper to write, the problem - every time I tried to figure out what to write on my arguments didn't hold through because of my supporting evidence. I was very frustrated and almost ready to give up, then with a little advice from Jim I started writing and by 2AM the second time on Sunday morning I had a paper. I found it very strange to have to write a paper that I was not entirely satisfied with the topic because I wasn't quite sure it was what the prof was looking for. However I wrote it anyway and now I'm on to even more papers that I need to work on. I did something that was imperfect and to be honest, it felt good.
Now I want to go back to the beginning of this blog in regards to this thought. I have been thinking a lot about questions and I think that in order to be truly wise I need to start asking questions, so I'd like to ask you a question, how do you deal with the problem of perfection? I know I defaulted to despair before I talked with Jim as things looked bleak but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, or other things I've mentioned. Sometimes I feel like I'm just talking at you, I'd love to hear back from you about what's going on in the world I'm not in right now.
So for now I will again say farewell, Love ya all,
Nick VanSnick
I'm not quite sure how to describe our surf trip. The first day was a lot of driving with a few stops to see the sights like at a huge forest with 800 year old trees and a waterfall/rapids for lunch. But I think my favorite part about our Monday excursion was going to the 'blowhole' when we arrived in Ucluelet. The water shot quite high but I think that this picture is definitely a much more valuable sight. It was a good time to sit in the presence of God. It was definitely some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.
On Tuesday we were able to go surfing. We watched some of the pro's in the morning then tried it out in the afternoon and I must say that I admire what they can do, because I wasn't even able to stand up :P However it was definitely a great memory to have the waves crashing over us in our really tight wetsuits.
I was even able to claim a ferocious battle scar as I took a tumble in the waves and got a surf board in the face. The best part was that it really didn't hurt because my face was exposed and the water was frigid. It was definitely one of the most intense things I've ever done and I can't wait for another chance at it. Wednesday was a pretty good day except that I was feeling sick but I did teach myself the notes on guitar to an old lullaby my Mom used to sing to me so over all it was a profitable day.The rest of the week was a very stressful one. I had 4 days and a major paper to write, the problem - every time I tried to figure out what to write on my arguments didn't hold through because of my supporting evidence. I was very frustrated and almost ready to give up, then with a little advice from Jim I started writing and by 2AM the second time on Sunday morning I had a paper. I found it very strange to have to write a paper that I was not entirely satisfied with the topic because I wasn't quite sure it was what the prof was looking for. However I wrote it anyway and now I'm on to even more papers that I need to work on. I did something that was imperfect and to be honest, it felt good.
Now I want to go back to the beginning of this blog in regards to this thought. I have been thinking a lot about questions and I think that in order to be truly wise I need to start asking questions, so I'd like to ask you a question, how do you deal with the problem of perfection? I know I defaulted to despair before I talked with Jim as things looked bleak but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, or other things I've mentioned. Sometimes I feel like I'm just talking at you, I'd love to hear back from you about what's going on in the world I'm not in right now.
So for now I will again say farewell, Love ya all,
Nick VanSnick
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