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11-11-07
Blog Update –
Who would have thought that studying the Bible would be so involved? When we started, I didn’t really know what to expect. A couple of days ago, I turned in a 60 page paper on the Gospel of Mark. Later that day, a few peers and I started into Luke by doing our first of 5 readings as well, just so we might be a little ahead of the work for this week.
Sure, it may be intense, but so much was revealed to me while taking section after section of the text, researching the ancient Greek words, and formulating both an interpretation relevant at the time and in our lives today. I am not, by any means, an expert and probably will never be, but I can’t believe how much closer I feel to the Father as a result of the study.
In other news, Brandi, who was in Compassion DTS and also a friend from Colorado, went to a Christian university in the States called Harding University. After the first blog update she emailed me informing me that Harding had an overseas program in the same town of Porto Rafti. Please understand that since we have been here, we haven’t seen any tourists or native English speakers. I wrote Harding in Arkansas and told them who I was and my relation to Brandi. Within a day, Jerry, the director of the Harding program here, had emailed me. I stopped by to see them and meet some of the 23 American students that reside here. We were pleasantly surprised when Jerry invited all of us to their campus for pizza and ice-cream last night… on them! It was such a blessing for us to be able to make connections with some other Christians in Greece, sharing stories and encouraging each other. They will leave on Monday to spend a week and a half in Israel. When they get back, we will be leaving, but it was good to be able to connect with them.
It was actually an answer to prayer as well. I had prayed the day that I sent out the blog update, that a valuable connection would be made, a divine appointment made. I was feeling a little disconnected from the community in Porto Rafti and didn’t have any connections to anyone. Needless to say, that God answered my prayer and I am excited to see what God has for the newly established relationship in the future. A few of us are going into Athens today for church with the students and staff. It is an international church which could also provide some valuable ministry partnerships in the future. God knows.
While studying the Bible, and Jesus’ life, I noticed that before Jesus made decisions or actions, he would spend time in prayer. I thought that maybe we could start praying for the future trip to Turkey. There are only about ten to twenty thousand Christians in all of Turkey. There is also some unrest and civil war in Turkey, but we won’t be anywhere near that. It would be a blessing if prayers could also be started for the time there and the travel from Athens by boat to Turkey. I really want the light of Christ to shine bright in Turkey and that connections could be made for future work with Not Alone. He can do some amazing things, and I want to be prepared as well.
Until next week, God bless! If you have any feedback, let me know!
John Paul
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[Whom will you serve?]
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your photos look amazing! by the time you get back you will have far too many pictures to ever edit. nice work pal.
wooooooo! i’m SO excited that worked out. i know on a trip like this, you long for connection to be made to people, so i’m glad that my university friends could meet that need for you. i pray that you continue to make local connections, in greece, and along the rest of the journey.
and great pictures.
wooooooo! i’m SO excited that worked out. i know on a trip like this, you long for connection to be made to people, so i’m glad that my university friends could meet that need for you. i pray that you continue to make local connections, in greece, and along the rest of the journey.
and great pictures.
Tremendous work John Paul, in both pictures and journal! I was looking so forward to your blog and praying you’d have time, what a relief to have you sign in once again. Thank you so very much. So happy to know that Not Alone is still in the ‘picture’ and you are sensitive to God’s future plans for its ministry, how awesome.
Yes, those photos are breathtaking John! Wow, I love the view with the ocean and clouds as well as those of the city. I am thankful you were able to make new relationships with the people from the university! God knows what we long for and is faithful to provide! Thanks for sharing about Turkey. I will be praying now for that door of ministry and the connections that will be waiting for you! Love you John!