Well dear fellows,
you will be happy to know that I am holding my blog creed in high regard. In such high regard in fact that this blog haqs been postponed to only include the nectar of my past 2 weeks.... no pit.
This afternoon I'm overcoming an identity crises after feeling likie a pin cushion this morning. That's right I got my shots today for Africa along with my good friend Dan Schilke. Being competitive let me give you the score: Joe beat out Dan scoring 5 shots to his 3. There's quite a few shots they recommend for you but I'm told from those who've been to Senegal you only need Yellow Fever, Tetanus and Meningitus, I was HIGHLY recommended to take the Hep A booster to prevent Hep A which hits your liver hard and can slow a travelling, ignorant 23 year old down quite a bit. After the third time I asked the price for this injection I conceded. The exchange went something like: "Well who is providing your finances for this trip?" I replied ".....umm... God." (Quizzical look) "Ok..... well you'll only be useful to God healthy so think about taking this". I always laugh inside when experts hear someone's faith in God and they think it's silly, but the doctors logic seemed reasonable: 6-9 months in rural Africa drinking out of local wells and eating local food which is the medium for Hep A = Extreme flu-like symptoms, puking and Nausea and trying to find a doctor in the middle of nowhere. Yeah you could have something there Doc. It was my last injection and it was the most painful! The nurse, AKA the sniper, hit a tendon in my shoulder and the muscle was quivering for the next 5 minutes.... Weird.
My favourite line from the nurse was after the first two needles (both bled) and she said in her thick Persian accent "Your quite the bleeder Mr. Becker." I felt like I was in a James Bond movie with a torture specialist, "do you like tobleed Mr Bond?" Scary, good thing Dan was there in case anything went down 'Persian Apple Tree Clinic Style'.
I just got back from the library and picked up some homework to do before entering into a french speaking coutry hanging with a french speaking people. Learn to speak french level 2 or 'Niveau deux'. It's a 8 cd set and a book which ensures maximum results with minimum effort. C'est Bien!
Also in preparation for Africa, last friday a few of us went over to the Stanley's place. There we learned to put a bicycle together from scatch (their main form of transportation), patch a tire and stop with no brakes. Cleaning up for lunch with motor oil as cleaner (I don't get it either) we ate some really good "crispy" chicken. Then we made some fishing poles out of fishing wire, a hook, a price of a sandal for a floater, and a custom knotched stick. I didn't end up catching anyuthing later in the day so I jumped in the river with some snorkel gear and joined Willy spear fishing. Standing there with my very long three pronged spear and chest stuck out, I allowed myself a victorious comparison to King Trident, the little mermaid's father. Haha even though I didn't snag any fish I got to see a big snapping turtle and also swim away very courageously (one of King Trident's moves) as it swam in my direction.
Around the fire at dinner I discovered a great new way to cook corn, on the open flame fire baby! As the flame eats at the husk it steams the corn inside I highly recommend you try it.
We also did some Mudding which is trying to make it from one end of a muddy track to the next dry spot. Lots of fun, Lots of pushing. We also climbed a bunch of steep hills, no no, rugged, menacing hillsides with the same 4X4 Jeeps scrathing the oil pans on rocks as we'd bottom out. Things I learnt that I'll pass on the next person: 1) when the Jeep is a standard and in 4X4, it'll pul itself along at about the same pace regardless of how much you rev the engine. 2) When you start going downhill your frefelx will be to clutch in and brake.... don't. The engine will only let the wheels go at a certain speed and when the tires are moving you'll still have traction whereas if you put on the brakes you'll slide for sure. 3) bring me with you when you go cause it's a ton of fun!
So the moral of the blog is this: When preparing and doing you homework for something, one can have a lot of fun and still learn a lot.
Spiritually this week God was speaking to me about righteousness. Righteousness is awesome, unfortunately I don't have any on my own, only pride.
Romans 10:3 says "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."
The Holy Spirit dropped this into my heart on Sunday before church. I would love to have my own righteousness, my flesh wants to have that on my own independant of any other reason than I'm great. But seeing God for who He is in His unfathamoble majesty we realize there's no way, I mean seriusly there's just no way. He's incredible, mighty and beautiful to reflect His glory in the stars, great mountains, waterfalls, oceans, and that fill them. His character is perfect, He is the incarnate truth of His word and by the highest standard (which is His) Holy. So we are to submit to His righteousness, Submit to His righteousness what does that mean? does that mean just acknowledging that He's righteous and we're not?
Verse 4 says "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Christ GIVES us, you and me, His righteousness and His status with the Father so that for those who believe there's no more measuring stick we are all sons and daughters of God!
Later in Chapter 10 Paul writes in verse 9-11 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with teh mouth confession is made unto salvation. For teh scripture says "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
All expectations have been fufliied through God himself and He gives us the freedom to have relationship with God almighty right now.
