I've been reading The Purpose Driven Life for the past few days now. I've really been learning a lot from the book, and just how we live a life for God. It's such an interesting book, and his teachings are practical that we should apply in our lives. This sentence really made me think. We think that whatever your religious teachings are influence your style of worship. If you're like me, then your style of worship is liturgical or you may have the sermon, songs, and prayer style of worship. What Pastor Warren says here is that it's FAR more than any of those things. Worship is a lifestyle. Our whole life is supposed to be worship. Why is it that we do not live in such a way? We call songs "Praise & Worship" (also discussed in his book), or fast songs as praise and slow songs as worship. Worship is not about music, because it predates it. Worship is you living your life for God.
Thursday, July 28, 2011 through Saturday, July 30, 2011, I went to Austin with Jaisen Achen, Kochamma, and two of my friends. Another two of my friends met us there. We went down to lead VBS at the church there. There is a Mar Thoma Church in Austin, but it's really small, so they had Jaisen Achen come lead VBS for the past four years, and the past two years, I've been able to attend. I love this VBS, because the age group is much younger, and it's on a much smaller scale so the meaning of VBS remains there. We led songs session, taught classes, coordinated team building activities and review games. I taught the preteen class which were kids from the ages of 10-12. Man, these kids were ADD to the max, but I still love them. They learned a lot, and I was really proud of them. I taught with Kochamma and an aunty from that church. Due to Rev. Alex Kolath's ordination being on Saturday, July 30, 2011, Jaisen Achen and Kochamma left on Friday along with the three people that came. Myself and my other friend stayed there, and we coordinated the Saturday events.
Saturday, July 30, 2011, we began the day with Holy Qurbana in English led by Rev. John N. Abraham (Vicar of Austin MTC), and I gave the sermon during the Qurbana. After this, we began the VBS closing day program. We had a small song session, and then we broke into the final classes. After this, we led dedication. We gave the kids an opportunity to come up, talk about what they learned, share their experiences, and rededicate their lives to Christ. After this, we led in "I Surrender All," and once the song was over, I led them in a small prayer in which they repeated after me. Then, Achen closed off with a word of prayer. Then, they began the programs by each class, and during that time, I went outside and began setting up for the last team building activity. I came up with this one, and I really went wild on it. It was a scavenger hunt which I based off of Mission Impossible in honor of the fourth which is coming out in December 2011. I called it Mission With HimPossible. (Get it? I thought it was pretty funny.) It was wonderfully organized, and I should have just gone with what I had said, but I decided to do some last minute improvising. Initially, it was just us volunteers that were going to attack with water balloons members of both teams, but then I thought to allow them as well, and then a bunch of those kids lost focus of the mission and started running around. Fortunately, few of the members of the second team continued with the mission, and they succeeded. I must admit though, as long as they had fun, it didn't matter to me if they didn't worry about the mission. Once the mission was over, we allowed them to all go crazy in a water fight. I was getting attacked left and right. I got a bunch of them though. It was mad fun! Then, we went to the house of these three girls that go to that church. The VBS was held in a community center across their house. We played fooseball, and I will admit, that I lost to girls, but next year, I'll come back to win. It was a team game, and I didn't have my partner. Next time, he will be there. After all was said and done, we left the VBS and we left Austin. I was kind of bummed out, but I know I'll go back.
I really admire these kids and I love them a lot. The parents too. The parents shower so much love on us, and they took care of us, fed us, and really did everything for us. I have never seen a church where all these parents work so hard to take care of us. It really made me feel loved. They consider me as one of their members, and that makes all the difference in the ministry. The kids are super intelligent. All of them are so bright and hard-working, so I know they will go far in life. I just pray that God helps them to grow in Him as well. There is a six year old boy there that I love. I see all of them as my little brothers, but this kid really made me feel like an achachen. The thing about this boy is, that he is just so smart. At the age of six, he knows the capital of EVERY country in the world. He knows history more than I do! He knows the political parties of today and of the past! On top of all that, he is a cute little munchkin that I'm sure can get the girls in an instant. I just hope he doesn't. They all have potential, and I see them making good use of the talents God has blessed them with. I know they will grow into great citizens and children of God.
Now, that my practical training for this summer has completed, I don't know if I will post as often on here, but please check on it every once in a while. I hope to keep it going. You the reader have had the chance to see how much God has blessed me with, and how He really worked in my life. I pray that this will help you to continue to grow in Him as well. Please continue to pray for me as I go down this path that He has called me to. I really appreciate you all. I will update as much as I can! God bless.
"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise."
-Matthew 21:16 (NIV) (quoted from Psalm 8:2 NIV)
"I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
-Isaiah 41:9b-10 (NIV)
