Wrapping up the Summer

Hey Folks,

The past couple weeks have flown by. Medical School is as busy as everybody said it was going to be. Our student ministry kicks off next week when the kids head back to school. I was introduced as the new "Director of Student Ministries" at the church here in Teays Valley when I had the opportunity to preach last Sunday. That was my first time preaching here. If you want to listen to the sermon, it should be online soon at www.riverridge.org

God has been blowing open doors and challenging me in some new ways. As I continue to grow my ministry and walk with the Lord, I was confronted with this question from Oswald Chambers the other day. "Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself?" The question floored me. Was I so worried about doing exactly what I thought Jesus wanted that I didn't even spend time with Jesus himself? This is ironic because my entire sermon was based around the idea that we, as fallen sinful creatures, can know God in all His majesty and power - and that this knowing God, this relationship, is only gained through Jesus Christ. So after spending two weeks trying to figure out the best way to tell people to know God....I needed a change of focus myself. I needed to hear that it was Mary's heart that Christ wants in us. He appreciates all the works Martha did and that we do...but he longs for much more than service or blind obedience. We are relational people created in the image if a relational God. Some times I get so wrapped up in seeking what God wants that I don't really seek Him...nor do I allow Him to find me.

Oh Lord, bring each of us to a place of intimacy with you. Help us to walk in loving obedience. We want to know you and hear your voice. Thank you for your desire for us. Thank you for your desire for the least of these. Teach us to love, to shine, to know you, and to know your heart for those around us. We want to see your kingdom come...so light up the darkness in us. And through us, light up the darkness in this world.

Amen,

ZB

Back from Haiti - off to Med-School

Well folks, she made it back! Last Friday at about 12:15pm, Carly and her team touched down at Ronald Reagan Airport in DC. And after a 3 day support raising trip, I was there to meet them with a fully functioning 15 passenger van (that had previously been broken down until some great mechanics from Afghanistan spent two days fixing it).

Many members of the team found that they had caught some type of food poisoning or E
Coli while in Haiti making the trip home quite a stop and start kind of trip. Carly too was sick for the rest of the weekend, but I believe that the whole team has made a full recovery.

While there they saw nearly 500 patients at the eye clinic and were able to repair or reconstruct a few of the buildings in the village that had been damaged by the earthquake. To quote Carly directly, she said, "I saw some of the most beautiful people and country side you could ever imagine, but I also saw some of the most horrifying things and heard of the most terrible stories." She then went on to say about the spiritual state of things, "I've never felt God's presence so powerfully, but I've also never felt an evil presence so strongly either." With Haiti being a very real stronghold for voodoo and witchcraft, the team was on their toes and in prayer regularly for God's protection and provision.

So after getting healed up from her intestinal ailments, Carly began her orientation at medical school yesterday. She's a bit nervous, but far more excited.

There's also a lot going on at the church with the fall coming up, the student ministry ball has really gotten rolling. Lots more details to come later, but praise God for the team's safe and fruitful journey to Haiti and back. To God be the glory for His work, through His people, to care for and love on His sheep.


After His Heart,

ZB