That's the thing about the sovereignty of God--He has a plan that is higher than ours. His thoughts are not our thoughts--and that's fantastic, because (as Mike Tyson said) "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
Nothing surprises our God, however.
Let me show you where He's taken me over the last semester and a half.
"In the Name of the Father..."
I was baptized this summer! Actually, it was the Sunday before I left to come back to Cedarville. It was a very meaningful moment, as it is a public declaration of belonging to Christ (though not salvific by any means).
My father was the one who baptized me, which made it an especially awesome event. And, thankfully, the water wasn't freezing cold...the joys of doing it in a baptismal instead of a cold Michigan river!
Poverty and Refugee Weekends
Obviously, I can't actually tell you about those experiences...take the classes! But those classes have done more to change my life than any other instruction I have received at Cedarville. Honestly, I never planned on taking "Intro to Urban Ministry"...until God put David Platt's book "Radical" in my lap this summer. I was hooked.
But it didn't stop there. With some coaxing from a couple friends (you know who you are!) I ended up taking a class on world missions this semester. Just another example of how God has been doing crazy things over the last 9 months. I survived "refugee weekend" and felt accomplished now that I had survived both of Dr. Cook's simulation weekends.
But the class didn't end there. In fact it has led to...
Visiting the Dark Continent: Uganda (Africa) 2013
Yeah, right. I would have laughed. There was no desire to go to Africa...or anywhere, frankly. But that's changed now. And the more I think about it, the more excited I get. I can't wait to finally board a plane and cross halfway across the world.
I'll be flying out of Chicago on July 2nd. An eight-hour flight to Belgium, followed by another eight-hour flight to Rwanda...followed by a short flight into neighboring Uganda. Jet-lag will be prevalent. But at that point, the team and I will spend three weeks doing evangelistic work in the school system there...and hopefully play some soccer with the Ugandans as well!
As Filipino friend of mine told me, "Josh, if you have an opportunity to get out of the States, do it." I think he was right. I love "'murica." But I can't help but notice that the "travel bug" has taken over a little bit...and I haven't even left yet. I may go somewhere one day and decide that I'm not called to stay in the States.. I'm open to anything.
And that's exciting to me.
Friends & Family
I feel so blessed to be at Cedarville right now, despite all the questions surrounding administrative issues. One of the best parts about this university is the people. I could list name after name of all the people that have blessed me by being in my life.
Radio station co-workers. Church friends. My refugee family. The men in my unit and women in my sister unit. Friends in my classes. And, of course, all my friends and family back home.
Just the beginning...
There's so much more I could talk about. Going to Philadelphia for a conference on issues of justice. Delivering a sermon last Sunday. The list goes on.
Unfortunately, I have the temptation to look at all these things and be proud. But God has His ways of keeping me humble. Hopefully, though, all the things listed here are encouragements and testimonies to the good things God has blessed with. And they are just the beginning of something even greater, I'm sure.
"There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind."
-CS Lewis
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