I spent last week in a very rural village about 2 hours from where i've been living. It was an excellent time! I really got to experience the traditional Zulu culture in it's entirety. Well, probably not everything. Here are a few of my experiences in a very summarized manner:
lived in a mud house
slept on the ground
ate traditional food
attended a traditional funeral
experienced traditional life in Zulu land
learned much about the culture
ate more food
preached to a church
discipled believers
shared the Gospel of Jesus to non-believers
took many, many pictures
learned more of the Zulu language
ate still more food
hiked on the hills and in the valleys
observed how a Zulu fishes
rock-hopped across a river
walked across a legit swinging bridge that people use daily
took more pictures
groaned with the discomfort from eating too much
played soccer barefoot
encountered and battled ancestor worship first hand
spoke boldly against it
prayer walked
prayed over people who were oppressed by demons
and ate more food.
There is much more, but i cannot remember it all. I was quite blessed to have that week. God knew i really needed to get away from civilization for a bit, and He took care of me. It was nice also as I have been reading so much over the past two months, and last week was the time where i was to speak the things i had learned. That was nice.
One of the biggest accomplishments of the week was simply the fact that Josh and i lived with blacks. Since South Africa is still so segregated, it was a huge deal that two white guys would actually want to go and live with the black people. They were so honored to have us there and they felt very blessed. i felt equally blessed to be a part of tearing down the ridiculous dividing walls of racism and segregation. The Zulu are beautiful people and i really enjoyed living with them in their traditional environment. Yes, i actually miss that small village a lot. It was very hard to leave that beautiful place with such hospitable people. I do hope God allows me the opportunity to set my eyes on that village again, with its rolling hills and steep valleys! I did take many pictures, and i hope to get a couple up soon.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
. . . do you still wish you asked?
Many of you have asked what God has been teaching me since i have been here. i appreciate your desire to be a part of my life in such a way. Unfortunately i am not able to answer you in detail for 2 reasons. First, i have very limited time on the internet. Second, i do not believe that the internet servers have the capability of handling the entirety of the things the God is teaching me were i to put them on the internet. That said i would like to share one quick thing... and preach a bit of a sermon.
In 1 Thes. 4 i found something very interesting. Paul is writing to the gathering of believers in Jesus in Thessalonica. In chapter 4 he instructs them in how to live holy lives so that God will be glorified. The only instruction that he gave them in this is that they should completely avoid sexual immorality and lust. That's it. There is no more instruction besides this. Of all the things that Paul could have instructed them in, he chose that one. Why? Why does he see that as the most important or critical thing? Maybe it is that important to God!
If you find yourself in sexual sin (and you can find a definition of this in the Bible) while at the same time claim to be a follower of Jesus, maybe you should rethink something... or everything. Maybe God is really serious about keeping your body clean. If you have received salvation through Jesus Christ, then your body is the place where God resides. If you involve your body in a sexual or lustful act, they you are inevitably involving God your Creator in that very act. Not only does He see it, but you actually involve Him in that act. If you find this offensive, you may want to consider 1 Cor. 6:15-20. If you find yourself offended, then you are offended by the Word of God. If you feel convicted, you are convicted by the Spirit of God who lives in you.
Please, whore God out no longer. Please, rape God no more!
God did not save us so that we may continue to sin. He saved us so that we would no longer do the things that kill us and displease Him. I hope this post finds you clear of any unrepentant sexual offense before God... because He is that serious about it, as you too should be.
In 1 Thes. 4 i found something very interesting. Paul is writing to the gathering of believers in Jesus in Thessalonica. In chapter 4 he instructs them in how to live holy lives so that God will be glorified. The only instruction that he gave them in this is that they should completely avoid sexual immorality and lust. That's it. There is no more instruction besides this. Of all the things that Paul could have instructed them in, he chose that one. Why? Why does he see that as the most important or critical thing? Maybe it is that important to God!
If you find yourself in sexual sin (and you can find a definition of this in the Bible) while at the same time claim to be a follower of Jesus, maybe you should rethink something... or everything. Maybe God is really serious about keeping your body clean. If you have received salvation through Jesus Christ, then your body is the place where God resides. If you involve your body in a sexual or lustful act, they you are inevitably involving God your Creator in that very act. Not only does He see it, but you actually involve Him in that act. If you find this offensive, you may want to consider 1 Cor. 6:15-20. If you find yourself offended, then you are offended by the Word of God. If you feel convicted, you are convicted by the Spirit of God who lives in you.
Please, whore God out no longer. Please, rape God no more!
God did not save us so that we may continue to sin. He saved us so that we would no longer do the things that kill us and displease Him. I hope this post finds you clear of any unrepentant sexual offense before God... because He is that serious about it, as you too should be.
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