Banners that Natalie from FDFC made.
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Sunday, December 16, 2007
December Update
Merry Christmas!
I pray that this letter finds you all well this holiday season. God is good! What a joy it is to be called to His service. I pray that we never forget that it is pure joy to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I have been distressed to hear about the YWAM shooting, and the shooting at the church in Colorado Springs that happened yesterday. If you are reading this I ask that you take a few moments to lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ up in prayer. I have been challenged recently by a friend to be quick to prayer. Often I think to pray, but not near as much as is needed. I long for prayer to be an automatic reaction, and no longer something that I plan to do. If I hear anything that needs prayer, than it is my desire to be quick to drop everything and pray. I believe that we will all quickly agree to the power of prayer and its necessity.
The RTE Television service is now only two weeks away. It has been busy trying to get everything squared away, but I believe everything should be in order now. Although a lot of the preparation has been additional work, I pray that this service will be a benefit to those who see it. We lift the service up in prayer asking that the Lord will be able to use it to share Christ with people this Christmas. I believe that if Christ is able to reach even one person through this service, than the work to prepare will be irrelevant.
In my last update I mentioned that I did not believe God was calling me to be the leader of the Friday night youth club this year. What can I say, God is so good. One of the men who started the club, Dave, has really taken charge of Friday nights. It has been really incredible. Dave is from this area of Tallaght and can relate with the kids very easily. He attends the West Tallaght Fellowship, and has invited his pastor along to help on Friday nights. Everything has been well organized and the experience has been a drastic change from last year. I have really enjoyed being with the kids and have had many more opportunities to share the Bible and the Gospel with the kids. We are trying to get them to do memory verses; however, I don’t know how well that is going yet. I do know that the word will never return empty (Isaiah 55:11)!
I wanted to be sure to mention that God bringing Steo into the house is an answer to prayer that I long to give glory to God for. Last year I was praying desperately for God to not return me to Ireland alone. While I was traveling around the States, a few people mentioned to me that they felt led to pray for me to have someone in the house with me. I keep saying it, but God is good. He has answered that prayer faithfully! I believe that it is important to rejoice together when God answers our prayers. And He does!
Our church in Tallaght is connected with another Methodist church in Lucan. Bill, our minister, is also the minister of the church in Lucan. A couple of weeks ago we had a cultural night with the Lucan church where people brought food from their native culture (I brought hot dogs) and sang songs in their native tongue. This was a very wonderful time of fellowship. Many of the people in our congregation, as well as the Lucan congregation, are from Africa. I would say that about three fourths of the people that came that night were African. It was very enjoyable to watch as they got up and sang praises to God in their own language. It was a very blessed time that I thank the Lord for.
Natalie Williams from FDFC was kind enough to make us banners to hang up at the church. I think that they are absolutely phenomenal and am very grateful to her and everyone that helped her sew. We finally got the new projector up, and while we had scaffolding here were able to put up the banners. God has given us all different gifts, and can use them for His will and purpose as long as we submit to Him. I am thankful for Natalie’s obedience to use her gifts and talents for the ministry of the Lord.
While I was home I began to date a lovely young woman named Cairistiona. Again, God is good. I am anxious as she is going to be able to come to Ireland during her Christmas break. She will be leaving Denver on December 14, and returning in January. Please pray for her as this is her first time to travel internationally, and she is going at it alone. Please pray for God’s protection over her as she flies, and for the Lord to bless her time while she is here.
Kevin and Shirley are continuing to pursue the vision that God has given Kevin. They both believe that God is calling them to move into a new house apart from the Methodist church in order to get this new ministry underway. The house they are moving into is rather expensive as all housing is here in Ireland. They have run across much opposition from fellow believers that do not believe God will provide the money. However, they are confident that this is what God is calling them to do. Luke 16:10 says that he whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. Kevin believes this is his next step of faith. Please pray that God will provide. I know Kevin and Shirley love the Lord and long to be obedient to Him. Pray that He will carry through in providing the finances needed to buy this house.
Thank you once again for your continued prayer and financial support. I pray again that you have a blessed Christmas. His grace and peace that surpasses all understanding be with you all.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
November Pictures
This is me in Lahinch getting ready to surf.
The Lahinch surf school.
Billy, Andy, and Phil.
The Lahinch surf school.
Billy, Andy, and Phil.
November Update
I have been back in Ireland for about a month, and God has been really good at helping me to transition back into life over here. God has blessed me with a house mate. Steo has made day to day living incredibly different, but amazingly wonderful. We get along very well, and it has already been a tremendous help in keeping me from feeling lonely. I had hoped to be able to really invest in his life, and this has made that possibility become very easy. Please pray with me that our living together will be a benefit to Steo’s spiritual growth as well as my own.
God has already helped me to make new connections with new people. The Methodist church hired a new lady to run the center on a daily basis. I began talking with her and discovered that her daughter had just taken a missions trip to Greensburg KS in order to help with the rebuilding of the town. How incredible is that!? It turns out that she knows Tim Garrett who used to live here and work as a youth worker for the Lucan Presbyterian Church. Tim then went on to be a Youth Ministries professor at Barclay College. It was Tim who brought Tyler and Chris Bousman to Ireland, and it was through that trip that they became acquainted with Kevin and Shirley. It is truly amazing to see God working.
I went on a surfing trip with a friend named Phil Thomson. Some of you may remember him. He was one of the two guys that came over to America to meet the group that was already here. Phil is an active leader of DV8 which is a Christian gathering that happens once a month. Last year I had the privilege of helping with the worship team. I believe God is calling me to a bigger role in that team this year, and I am hoping to get more involved in the leadership of DV8. I was able to talk to Phil about it extensively on our trip, and he is excited to help be do just that. I am excited to see how God uses this ministry this year.
Everything went well with my visa, and I am officially able to stay in the country for another year. However, I discovered that they base it off of my original visa date, and I only have legal status here until August 3. I spoke to Bill about this and my future plans and it is a possibility that I will only be here through July. We spoke about the continued process of investing in people and helping to raise and train others who can lead the music after I am gone. Please be praying with me that God will not only lead me, but others to step up into this leadership role. My prayer is that I will not be leaving a gap when I leave.
The Friday night soccer club has been put on hold through at least Christmas. I am having trouble getting people to be committed again to this ministry, and it is something that I cannot tackle alone. Again, I am fearful to be the main leader of this ministry because I do not want to leave a gap behind. I really long to see an Irish person step up into this role so that the ministry started can continue and the kids will not feel abandoned. I am more than willing to help and support this ministry; I just do not believe God is calling me to be the leader of it this year.
Kevin and Shirley believe that they will only be at the Methodist Church for another six to twelve months. Kevin has been active in working on starting his own church which will be called Shine Ministries. He believe that this is the direction God is calling him, and believes that he is being called away from the Methodist Church.
A local TV station televises church services from around Ireland regularly. The Tallaght Methodist Church has been asked to be a part of this and have been offered the chance to lead the service on December 23. This is a very exciting opportunity that we are all looking forward to. Please pray that God will help us to be affective as we prepare for this service.
I am also working quickly to help put together a carol service that will be held on December 17. We are hoping to get a local choir to come and sing some carols as well as having some of our local congregation to share their talents that God has blessed them with. I am excited to be able to take of an active role in this service as I did not do much for it last year.
The men’s and women’s groups that were started are continuing to go very well. The men’s group meets here at my house every Tuesday evening. God has really been emphasizing to me the need to be submissive and serve on another. A huge problem that I have seen amongst Christians here in Tallaght (not only the Methodist Church) is their lack of unity. Everybody thinks that they know best and nobody wants to listen to one another. I often feel that everyone is going in there own direction and causing nobody to go anywhere. This is a huge prayer concern. I believe that if these people would submit to one another and consider others better than themselves (Phil 2:3) that unity would come to this place. Please think of us in your prayers as we strive to follow Christ’s example of servant hood (Phil 2:6).
I was surprised at how quickly my money was running out since I have been back in Ireland, and quickly learned that the exchange rate was $1.45 to €1. God has been very good to provide me with all that I need even though I was not expecting the decrease of the value of the dollar. I do ask that you will pray that God will continue to provide me with what I need, and will lead me to be wise with the money that He provides.
Thank you all very much for your constant prayer and support. May God bless and keep you in all that you do.
God has already helped me to make new connections with new people. The Methodist church hired a new lady to run the center on a daily basis. I began talking with her and discovered that her daughter had just taken a missions trip to Greensburg KS in order to help with the rebuilding of the town. How incredible is that!? It turns out that she knows Tim Garrett who used to live here and work as a youth worker for the Lucan Presbyterian Church. Tim then went on to be a Youth Ministries professor at Barclay College. It was Tim who brought Tyler and Chris Bousman to Ireland, and it was through that trip that they became acquainted with Kevin and Shirley. It is truly amazing to see God working.
I went on a surfing trip with a friend named Phil Thomson. Some of you may remember him. He was one of the two guys that came over to America to meet the group that was already here. Phil is an active leader of DV8 which is a Christian gathering that happens once a month. Last year I had the privilege of helping with the worship team. I believe God is calling me to a bigger role in that team this year, and I am hoping to get more involved in the leadership of DV8. I was able to talk to Phil about it extensively on our trip, and he is excited to help be do just that. I am excited to see how God uses this ministry this year.
Everything went well with my visa, and I am officially able to stay in the country for another year. However, I discovered that they base it off of my original visa date, and I only have legal status here until August 3. I spoke to Bill about this and my future plans and it is a possibility that I will only be here through July. We spoke about the continued process of investing in people and helping to raise and train others who can lead the music after I am gone. Please be praying with me that God will not only lead me, but others to step up into this leadership role. My prayer is that I will not be leaving a gap when I leave.
The Friday night soccer club has been put on hold through at least Christmas. I am having trouble getting people to be committed again to this ministry, and it is something that I cannot tackle alone. Again, I am fearful to be the main leader of this ministry because I do not want to leave a gap behind. I really long to see an Irish person step up into this role so that the ministry started can continue and the kids will not feel abandoned. I am more than willing to help and support this ministry; I just do not believe God is calling me to be the leader of it this year.
Kevin and Shirley believe that they will only be at the Methodist Church for another six to twelve months. Kevin has been active in working on starting his own church which will be called Shine Ministries. He believe that this is the direction God is calling him, and believes that he is being called away from the Methodist Church.
A local TV station televises church services from around Ireland regularly. The Tallaght Methodist Church has been asked to be a part of this and have been offered the chance to lead the service on December 23. This is a very exciting opportunity that we are all looking forward to. Please pray that God will help us to be affective as we prepare for this service.
I am also working quickly to help put together a carol service that will be held on December 17. We are hoping to get a local choir to come and sing some carols as well as having some of our local congregation to share their talents that God has blessed them with. I am excited to be able to take of an active role in this service as I did not do much for it last year.
The men’s and women’s groups that were started are continuing to go very well. The men’s group meets here at my house every Tuesday evening. God has really been emphasizing to me the need to be submissive and serve on another. A huge problem that I have seen amongst Christians here in Tallaght (not only the Methodist Church) is their lack of unity. Everybody thinks that they know best and nobody wants to listen to one another. I often feel that everyone is going in there own direction and causing nobody to go anywhere. This is a huge prayer concern. I believe that if these people would submit to one another and consider others better than themselves (Phil 2:3) that unity would come to this place. Please think of us in your prayers as we strive to follow Christ’s example of servant hood (Phil 2:6).
I was surprised at how quickly my money was running out since I have been back in Ireland, and quickly learned that the exchange rate was $1.45 to €1. God has been very good to provide me with all that I need even though I was not expecting the decrease of the value of the dollar. I do ask that you will pray that God will continue to provide me with what I need, and will lead me to be wise with the money that He provides.
Thank you all very much for your constant prayer and support. May God bless and keep you in all that you do.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
June Pictures
I loved this tree and the stairs.
I like the dew on this flower."Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?"
- Job 38:28
It was a cold and rainy weekend.
Nadine and Steo in Newcastle
More of Nadine and Steo in Newcastle
June Update
Faithful prayer partners,
We are now into the month of June, and I am quickly seeing my first year in Ireland fade away. This past month has been very exciting. God is continuing to stir the hearts of people and it is obvious that His hand is moving. It is exciting to me that many of the events that have happened began just after I chose to submit to God’s will, and committed to stay longer here in Ireland. What a mighty God we serve! “My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” – Psalm 62:7
As some of you may know, Kevin used to be the youth pastor here at the Tallaght Methodist Church. When I came over last July, Kevin left that role and stepped into the Senior Pastor position. As a result, many of the young adults that were in Kevin’s group began to slip away. God has been laying these kids on Kevin’s heart, and Kevin soon discovered that there are not many places anywhere that focuses on a young adult ministry. We decided that on Thursday nights we would begin such a ministry.
About four weeks ago we opened our doors on a Thursday night praying that the Lord would bring this age group in. We invited everyone we knew in that age group, and as a result fifteen guys came into the building. It was incredible. We barely had to lift a finger and God brought these young men into the church. Most of them were not Christians, and very few of them actually had anything to do with Kevin’s previous youth club. However, I believe that through this program we will be able to attract those from his previous club back to the church.
A couple weeks ago we asked a couple of these young men to come help us with a project we needed to do at the church. Many of them were excited and willing to help. The time I was able to spend with them during this project was ground breaking. God is on the move! I was able to develop relationships with them and begin to gain their trust. We have yet to see any of them commit to following Christ, but I know that we are moments away from seeing a break through. Please be praying for the salvation of these young men. Pray that they will see Christ for who He truly is: their Savior.
I took Steo and his girlfriend Nadine with me on a weekend away last weekend. We went up to Newcastle which is located in Northern Ireland. I have mentioned that I attend a service called DV8, and that is who was hosting this weekend. God really refreshed me. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with other believes. I have struggled to get to know many people outside of Tallaght, and through the weekend I was able develop my relationships with other Christians. It was also a good chance to hang out with Steo more. We have been able to spend quite a lot of time together these past few months. His heart is changing as well as God continues to draw Steo closer to Himself. It is a blessing to be able to encourage him in his walk with Christ.
Although I still struggle with the Friday night club, I am slowly becoming more comfortable with what is happening. It is a slow process, but I again trust that God’s hand is moving. It is important for all of us to remember that it is not us who do anything, but Christ who lives in us. It is only through Him that we have the power to do anything. Please pray that I will be bold to share Christ with these kids. It is not our job to make them accept Christ, but it is our job to tell them who Christ is. I often find myself very nervous when I attempt to share the gospel with them. That is not right. God did not give us a timid spirit, but a spirit of power (2 Tim. 1:7)! Pray that all the leaders on a Friday night will receive an anointing from the Holy Spirit, and be able to move in His power.
Kevin has decided to change the format of Bible study. We are no longer going to meet on a Wednesday as a large group. Right now, we are splitting into two groups: a men’s group and a women’s group. What these are essentially going to be are small groups. We hope that by doing this we can begin having small groups in the church. I am very excited about this change and look forward to meeting with the men! Kevin and I have already brainstormed some different things that we can do with the group. We will be able to continue to study the Bible, but then put it into practice as a group. I look forward to the opportunity to serve each other and others around us as a group. I am anxious to lift each other up in prayer as is needed. I know that God is going to be able to move through this group, teaching us and growing us in our relationship with Him.
On June 23, the leaders of the Church are going away for the day in order to discuss the vision of the church. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs 29:18a. I do not know what all will come of this meeting, but I pray that it will be productive. Please be thinking of us on this day as we desire to know God’s will for the church. We desire to move forward and to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. We need vision.
My ticket to fly back home is on July 23rd. I ask that you will continue to pray as seek the Lord to know if you should continue to support me financially in this ministry. I know this is where God is calling me to be, and trust that He will provide the financial support I need. Thank you for all your continued support this past year, both financial and prayer. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Gods grace be with you all.
We are now into the month of June, and I am quickly seeing my first year in Ireland fade away. This past month has been very exciting. God is continuing to stir the hearts of people and it is obvious that His hand is moving. It is exciting to me that many of the events that have happened began just after I chose to submit to God’s will, and committed to stay longer here in Ireland. What a mighty God we serve! “My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” – Psalm 62:7
As some of you may know, Kevin used to be the youth pastor here at the Tallaght Methodist Church. When I came over last July, Kevin left that role and stepped into the Senior Pastor position. As a result, many of the young adults that were in Kevin’s group began to slip away. God has been laying these kids on Kevin’s heart, and Kevin soon discovered that there are not many places anywhere that focuses on a young adult ministry. We decided that on Thursday nights we would begin such a ministry.
About four weeks ago we opened our doors on a Thursday night praying that the Lord would bring this age group in. We invited everyone we knew in that age group, and as a result fifteen guys came into the building. It was incredible. We barely had to lift a finger and God brought these young men into the church. Most of them were not Christians, and very few of them actually had anything to do with Kevin’s previous youth club. However, I believe that through this program we will be able to attract those from his previous club back to the church.
A couple weeks ago we asked a couple of these young men to come help us with a project we needed to do at the church. Many of them were excited and willing to help. The time I was able to spend with them during this project was ground breaking. God is on the move! I was able to develop relationships with them and begin to gain their trust. We have yet to see any of them commit to following Christ, but I know that we are moments away from seeing a break through. Please be praying for the salvation of these young men. Pray that they will see Christ for who He truly is: their Savior.
I took Steo and his girlfriend Nadine with me on a weekend away last weekend. We went up to Newcastle which is located in Northern Ireland. I have mentioned that I attend a service called DV8, and that is who was hosting this weekend. God really refreshed me. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with other believes. I have struggled to get to know many people outside of Tallaght, and through the weekend I was able develop my relationships with other Christians. It was also a good chance to hang out with Steo more. We have been able to spend quite a lot of time together these past few months. His heart is changing as well as God continues to draw Steo closer to Himself. It is a blessing to be able to encourage him in his walk with Christ.
Although I still struggle with the Friday night club, I am slowly becoming more comfortable with what is happening. It is a slow process, but I again trust that God’s hand is moving. It is important for all of us to remember that it is not us who do anything, but Christ who lives in us. It is only through Him that we have the power to do anything. Please pray that I will be bold to share Christ with these kids. It is not our job to make them accept Christ, but it is our job to tell them who Christ is. I often find myself very nervous when I attempt to share the gospel with them. That is not right. God did not give us a timid spirit, but a spirit of power (2 Tim. 1:7)! Pray that all the leaders on a Friday night will receive an anointing from the Holy Spirit, and be able to move in His power.
Kevin has decided to change the format of Bible study. We are no longer going to meet on a Wednesday as a large group. Right now, we are splitting into two groups: a men’s group and a women’s group. What these are essentially going to be are small groups. We hope that by doing this we can begin having small groups in the church. I am very excited about this change and look forward to meeting with the men! Kevin and I have already brainstormed some different things that we can do with the group. We will be able to continue to study the Bible, but then put it into practice as a group. I look forward to the opportunity to serve each other and others around us as a group. I am anxious to lift each other up in prayer as is needed. I know that God is going to be able to move through this group, teaching us and growing us in our relationship with Him.
On June 23, the leaders of the Church are going away for the day in order to discuss the vision of the church. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs 29:18a. I do not know what all will come of this meeting, but I pray that it will be productive. Please be thinking of us on this day as we desire to know God’s will for the church. We desire to move forward and to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. We need vision.
My ticket to fly back home is on July 23rd. I ask that you will continue to pray as seek the Lord to know if you should continue to support me financially in this ministry. I know this is where God is calling me to be, and trust that He will provide the financial support I need. Thank you for all your continued support this past year, both financial and prayer. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Gods grace be with you all.
Monday, May 14, 2007
May Update: Decision to Stay
I want to first thank you all for your prayers. I mentioned last month that I was earnestly seeking God in the direction He would have me go regarding staying here in Ireland or coming back home. Although I denied His answer for a while, eventually I have come to embrace His call for me at this time. These past couples of months have been an interesting experience, but I am now %100 confident in the decision I have made through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
When I wrote my update last month I had begun the process of applying to Friends University in order to get my Masters Degree. I spoke with some people about living situations and was in the process of looking for a job. It has been hard being so far from home and I was very excited about the opportunity to move back to the States in order to be closer to friends and family. The more I made plans to come home, the harder it became to focus on the ministry that was happening here.
As everything was happening, I continued to pray that God would lead me to do His will and not my own. Something that I have learned in my short life is that God always speaks the loudest when He tells you something you don’t want to hear. As I was praying for God to show me His will, I continued to focus on what I wanted rather then what He wanted. As a result, I was miserable. I felt confused about His will, pulled in two different directions, and unclear about what I should do regarding this next year. God does not always speak to us in a loud boom, but is a soft whisper. He pricks us and pulls us until we submit to His will.
God’s first whisper came to me a couple of months ago when God reminded me about the story of Jonah. Jonah was displeased with the city of Nineveh and when asked to preach to them he ran away from God. I can very easily relate to this story. God has called me to minister here in Ireland, but in my heart I have been running from God looking for an excuse to come home.
God then proceeded to speak to me saying that he does not always ask us to do what we want, but to surrender to His will. We can see that even Jesus experienced this in the garden before he was arrested. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” God does not always call us to do something that we will, but as His children we must submit to His will and not our own. Even though it was clearly God speaking to me, I quickly wrote it off as my imagination. The truth is that I was denying that God actually wanted me to stay here.
I told Kevin about my plans and he kept kidding with me telling me that I was abandoning a sinking ship. He of course was just joking with me and trusted that I was doing all I could to discern God’s will. A few weeks later I purchased a CD by an artist called Waking Ashland. Interestingly enough, God was able to use one of the songs called “On Hands on Deck” to speak to me again. The lyrics to this song say, “All hands on deck, don’t abandon the ship. You’ll never know what this could have been. All hands on deck, my ship is sinking. Don’t let me go, don’t let me drown.”
When I heard the lyrics to this song I was immediately taken back. Not too long after that, God whispered to me again. He told me, “Jared, I have only begun my work here. If you leave now, you will be extremely disappointed when you hear about what is happening. You will wish that you were a part of it.” Although it was clearly God, I once again convinced myself that it was only my imagination and that I was still unclear about God’s will for me. I continued on my plan for a Masters Degree, and continued on in the turmoil that I was creating for myself.
God continued to speak to me through scripture and through people. There are many other stories that I can tell you about what God did to speak to me. However, the final prick from God that pushed me into this decision came from a pastor at a Baptist church we visited two Sunday’s ago. He was speaking about how God will tell you clearly what he wants you to do with you life, but that He will not bend your arm behind you back and force you to do it. It was that night that I finally gave in to God and surrendered to His will for the next step in my life. It is clear that God wants me in Ireland.
Ever since I decided to make plans to stay, the confusion and indecisiveness has left me. I no longer feel pulled in two directions, but am confident that this is what God wants me to do. I believe that this first year was important to help me get my feet wet, but God has bigger things planned for Tallaght. I am excited to see what God does, and am doing everything to embrace His call on my life rather than fighting it. I feel blessed that He has called me to a troubled area and desires to use me in this place. I understand that it will still not be easy, but I have confidence that He who is in me is greater that He who is in Tallaght or the world!
I also take encouragement from the book of Jonah. When Jonah submitted to God, He did amazing things in the city of Nineveh. And as we look to Christ, it also brings up an interesting question: what would have happened if Christ decided to do his will rather than his Fathers will in heaven? God sometimes calls us to do things that are in His will and not our own. We are called to be obedient.
I have already discussed my staying with the church here, and they are delighted to keep me for another year. As far as I know, right now it is going to be alright for me to continue living in the house. As far as the rest of my financial needs, I will need to raise support again for the next year. I ask that you please be praying about this and support me again if God leads you to do so. I will still be coming home at the end of July and look forward to seeing as many of you as I can. The church here would like for me to return to Ireland by the middle of September. I trust that the Lord will provide the means for this to happen.
Thank you again. God is already beginning to do great things here changing hearts and minds. I would love to tell you more about all that, but I will wait to do so in my next letter. May His grace and peace be with you all.
When I wrote my update last month I had begun the process of applying to Friends University in order to get my Masters Degree. I spoke with some people about living situations and was in the process of looking for a job. It has been hard being so far from home and I was very excited about the opportunity to move back to the States in order to be closer to friends and family. The more I made plans to come home, the harder it became to focus on the ministry that was happening here.
As everything was happening, I continued to pray that God would lead me to do His will and not my own. Something that I have learned in my short life is that God always speaks the loudest when He tells you something you don’t want to hear. As I was praying for God to show me His will, I continued to focus on what I wanted rather then what He wanted. As a result, I was miserable. I felt confused about His will, pulled in two different directions, and unclear about what I should do regarding this next year. God does not always speak to us in a loud boom, but is a soft whisper. He pricks us and pulls us until we submit to His will.
God’s first whisper came to me a couple of months ago when God reminded me about the story of Jonah. Jonah was displeased with the city of Nineveh and when asked to preach to them he ran away from God. I can very easily relate to this story. God has called me to minister here in Ireland, but in my heart I have been running from God looking for an excuse to come home.
God then proceeded to speak to me saying that he does not always ask us to do what we want, but to surrender to His will. We can see that even Jesus experienced this in the garden before he was arrested. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” God does not always call us to do something that we will, but as His children we must submit to His will and not our own. Even though it was clearly God speaking to me, I quickly wrote it off as my imagination. The truth is that I was denying that God actually wanted me to stay here.
I told Kevin about my plans and he kept kidding with me telling me that I was abandoning a sinking ship. He of course was just joking with me and trusted that I was doing all I could to discern God’s will. A few weeks later I purchased a CD by an artist called Waking Ashland. Interestingly enough, God was able to use one of the songs called “On Hands on Deck” to speak to me again. The lyrics to this song say, “All hands on deck, don’t abandon the ship. You’ll never know what this could have been. All hands on deck, my ship is sinking. Don’t let me go, don’t let me drown.”
When I heard the lyrics to this song I was immediately taken back. Not too long after that, God whispered to me again. He told me, “Jared, I have only begun my work here. If you leave now, you will be extremely disappointed when you hear about what is happening. You will wish that you were a part of it.” Although it was clearly God, I once again convinced myself that it was only my imagination and that I was still unclear about God’s will for me. I continued on my plan for a Masters Degree, and continued on in the turmoil that I was creating for myself.
God continued to speak to me through scripture and through people. There are many other stories that I can tell you about what God did to speak to me. However, the final prick from God that pushed me into this decision came from a pastor at a Baptist church we visited two Sunday’s ago. He was speaking about how God will tell you clearly what he wants you to do with you life, but that He will not bend your arm behind you back and force you to do it. It was that night that I finally gave in to God and surrendered to His will for the next step in my life. It is clear that God wants me in Ireland.
Ever since I decided to make plans to stay, the confusion and indecisiveness has left me. I no longer feel pulled in two directions, but am confident that this is what God wants me to do. I believe that this first year was important to help me get my feet wet, but God has bigger things planned for Tallaght. I am excited to see what God does, and am doing everything to embrace His call on my life rather than fighting it. I feel blessed that He has called me to a troubled area and desires to use me in this place. I understand that it will still not be easy, but I have confidence that He who is in me is greater that He who is in Tallaght or the world!
I also take encouragement from the book of Jonah. When Jonah submitted to God, He did amazing things in the city of Nineveh. And as we look to Christ, it also brings up an interesting question: what would have happened if Christ decided to do his will rather than his Fathers will in heaven? God sometimes calls us to do things that are in His will and not our own. We are called to be obedient.
I have already discussed my staying with the church here, and they are delighted to keep me for another year. As far as I know, right now it is going to be alright for me to continue living in the house. As far as the rest of my financial needs, I will need to raise support again for the next year. I ask that you please be praying about this and support me again if God leads you to do so. I will still be coming home at the end of July and look forward to seeing as many of you as I can. The church here would like for me to return to Ireland by the middle of September. I trust that the Lord will provide the means for this to happen.
Thank you again. God is already beginning to do great things here changing hearts and minds. I would love to tell you more about all that, but I will wait to do so in my next letter. May His grace and peace be with you all.
Friday, April 20, 2007
April Pictures
Visiting the YWAM bass in Northern Ireland.
The group visiting Glendelough.
A burning Car. A common sight.
This is where I took my Spiritual Retreat.
The Bousmans with Dublin behind them.
April Update
Friends and Family,
The weather has been incredible this past month in Ireland. It has been amazing to watch people come out of their homes with the sun. As soon as the sun came out, people were outside enjoying it. It’s been wonderful.
I am sorry that I never followed up on what happened with the break in here a couple of months ago. We did call the police, and they came and spoke with me. A couple of detectives came to my house about a week later as well in order to get an official report. As I described one of the guys that broke in, one detective recognized who I was speaking of and went and got a picture from back at the police station. He showed me the picture and it was in fact the same guy. I do not know what all happened after that. I have not heard from the police since then.
The Lord can turn every bad situation into something good. We know that He does this. The same was true with this incident. While the detectives were at my house, they saw my Bible and began to ask questions about whom I was and why I was here. I ended up being able to share the gospel with the two men. They did not accept Christ at this point, but at least a seed was planted. I pray that the Holy Spirit will bring more people into their lives to help them come to a personal relationship with Christ.
I have been slow to write this month’s update because I have been waiting on the Lord to reveal his plan for me for the future. I have been seeking the Lord for him to show me His will on whether or not I should return to Ireland. During this time, I have also been thinking about the possibility of going back to school and getting my Masters Degree. As of right now, I have applied to Friends University, and it is looking like that is a plausible option for next year. However, I desire to follow God’s plan and not my own. Please continue to pray with me as I seek Him on this decision. Pray that I will be more concerned with God’s will rather than my own. Pray also that I will be more concerned with God’s will than the will of others around me. I am scheduled right now to return to the States on July 23rd.
I have been giving an African lady from the church named Mary music lessons on Saturdays. She loves to sing, but cannot read music. It has been a fun experience for both of us as we dive into the world of music together. There is a lot to learn, and she is very busy with her job and kids. Please pray that God will grace her with grace to understand, and pray that I will be able to affectively teach her. It has been a blessing for me to spend Saturday’s with her and her family. They have been in Tallaght for only a few moths, and it is a true blessing that they are here.
I have recently had the opportunity to get to know a Polish family from the church who is now living in Tallaght as well. This last Sunday, I was able to go with the family to a park and play tennis with the father Michael. I have had wonderful times of fellowship with this family, and they are teaching me many things about the Polish culture and how blessed we really are here in Ireland and back in America. They grew up in Poland during the time of communism, and it has been interesting to learn their perspective on the world, and to learn about how they began to have a relationship with Christ. Again, the Lord has blessed me with the chance to meet with this family.
Friday nights are continuing to go well. We are doing all we can to reward good behavior in hopes that it will help the kids learn to be respectful. The Bousman’s were able to visit in this last month and Tyler and Jordan had the opportunity to come on a Friday night. They were able to see first hand what all happens on a Friday. Tyler mentioned to me that it would be hard to explain how the kids really are. It is definitely different working with kids here in Tallaght than it would be working with kids in America. The struggle I am finding out is this: how do we reach the kids where they are? Christ met people where they were at and applied the gospel to them in their particular situation. How do we affectively do the same thing here? This is a hard code to crack, but I put my faith and trust in the Spirit to reveal himself to both me and these kids.
Kevin and Shirley are planning on coming out to Colorado for a visit around the same time I am coming back. They plan on being in the States from July 19th, to August 10th. I am not positive on the dates, but that is approximately the right time. They are looking forward to seeing many friends and faces. If you would be interested in doing anything special with them, please let me know so that the can begin to organize their time while in America. They are planning on having a week to be by themselves in order to relax as a family, but that leaves two weeks open. They are excited to see you and to be able to introduce you to their son Jake.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. May the Lord bless all of you in all you do to further His kingdom. Praise be to the Lord!
His grace and peace be with you,
Jared
The weather has been incredible this past month in Ireland. It has been amazing to watch people come out of their homes with the sun. As soon as the sun came out, people were outside enjoying it. It’s been wonderful.
I am sorry that I never followed up on what happened with the break in here a couple of months ago. We did call the police, and they came and spoke with me. A couple of detectives came to my house about a week later as well in order to get an official report. As I described one of the guys that broke in, one detective recognized who I was speaking of and went and got a picture from back at the police station. He showed me the picture and it was in fact the same guy. I do not know what all happened after that. I have not heard from the police since then.
The Lord can turn every bad situation into something good. We know that He does this. The same was true with this incident. While the detectives were at my house, they saw my Bible and began to ask questions about whom I was and why I was here. I ended up being able to share the gospel with the two men. They did not accept Christ at this point, but at least a seed was planted. I pray that the Holy Spirit will bring more people into their lives to help them come to a personal relationship with Christ.
I have been slow to write this month’s update because I have been waiting on the Lord to reveal his plan for me for the future. I have been seeking the Lord for him to show me His will on whether or not I should return to Ireland. During this time, I have also been thinking about the possibility of going back to school and getting my Masters Degree. As of right now, I have applied to Friends University, and it is looking like that is a plausible option for next year. However, I desire to follow God’s plan and not my own. Please continue to pray with me as I seek Him on this decision. Pray that I will be more concerned with God’s will rather than my own. Pray also that I will be more concerned with God’s will than the will of others around me. I am scheduled right now to return to the States on July 23rd.
I have been giving an African lady from the church named Mary music lessons on Saturdays. She loves to sing, but cannot read music. It has been a fun experience for both of us as we dive into the world of music together. There is a lot to learn, and she is very busy with her job and kids. Please pray that God will grace her with grace to understand, and pray that I will be able to affectively teach her. It has been a blessing for me to spend Saturday’s with her and her family. They have been in Tallaght for only a few moths, and it is a true blessing that they are here.
I have recently had the opportunity to get to know a Polish family from the church who is now living in Tallaght as well. This last Sunday, I was able to go with the family to a park and play tennis with the father Michael. I have had wonderful times of fellowship with this family, and they are teaching me many things about the Polish culture and how blessed we really are here in Ireland and back in America. They grew up in Poland during the time of communism, and it has been interesting to learn their perspective on the world, and to learn about how they began to have a relationship with Christ. Again, the Lord has blessed me with the chance to meet with this family.
Friday nights are continuing to go well. We are doing all we can to reward good behavior in hopes that it will help the kids learn to be respectful. The Bousman’s were able to visit in this last month and Tyler and Jordan had the opportunity to come on a Friday night. They were able to see first hand what all happens on a Friday. Tyler mentioned to me that it would be hard to explain how the kids really are. It is definitely different working with kids here in Tallaght than it would be working with kids in America. The struggle I am finding out is this: how do we reach the kids where they are? Christ met people where they were at and applied the gospel to them in their particular situation. How do we affectively do the same thing here? This is a hard code to crack, but I put my faith and trust in the Spirit to reveal himself to both me and these kids.
Kevin and Shirley are planning on coming out to Colorado for a visit around the same time I am coming back. They plan on being in the States from July 19th, to August 10th. I am not positive on the dates, but that is approximately the right time. They are looking forward to seeing many friends and faces. If you would be interested in doing anything special with them, please let me know so that the can begin to organize their time while in America. They are planning on having a week to be by themselves in order to relax as a family, but that leaves two weeks open. They are excited to see you and to be able to introduce you to their son Jake.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. May the Lord bless all of you in all you do to further His kingdom. Praise be to the Lord!
His grace and peace be with you,
Jared
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
March Pictures
My parents in Kilkenny.
Monk Ruins in Killkenny
Some familiar faces for some of you.
Loida visited from Paris.
Malahide Castle.
Amy and Eliana got along well!
David
Dean and Dan.
Dillon grabbed the bag without touching the ground. 
Peter trying to pick up the bag with his mouth.Thursday, March 15, 2007
March Update
This past month has been quite interesting. I went to Scotland for a weekend, then I went on the OM weekend with some youth, I got robbed, and then my parents came to visit. At the end of this week the Bousman’s are also visiting. Some things have been good and others bad, however it has all ventured away from what had been normal. I am baffled at how the Lord has not only been using me here, but also how He has been growing me here. I find myself holding onto the promise given in Luke 18: “I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” God is good. I am continually leaning more and more what it means for Christ to be sufficient for me.
Thank you all for your encouraging words after you read about the break in. I am sorry that I could not get all of you written back, but know that I appreciate everything that all of you said. It was encouraging to hear from you and know your support and prayers are with me.
God is surely at work here. Bill went on a minister’s retreat and came back believing that something was not right with the church. He and Kevin have been talking and praying about the direction the church should go. A new plan of action they believe the Lord is leading them in is changing the entire structure of the church. They are looking at turning the church into a cell church. That is the church will still be meeting once a week to have a celebratory praise service, but the core of the church will meet in small groups each week. The focus of the church would be directed more to what happens in the small groups rather then on the bigger service. The process of switching to this structure would be very gradual and would take some time. However, the wonderful thing is that people are starting to understand that something needs to change. We are not growing, and they understand that we are doing something wrong. Please join us in prayer for the direction of the church here in Tallaght. Pray that the Lord’s will be done. Pray that the leaders of this church will desire only what the Lord desires for this place.
Presenting the gospel to the kids seems to have gone fairly well. Many of the kids are always asking me, “Why are you here?” Hopefully they are beginning to understand that I am here because I want them to know Christ personally. Having my parents visit revealed to me how many kids I have actually gotten to know since I arrived. My small leadership team has decided we are going to simply play games with the kids on Friday nights, and then give a 30 sec word backed up with scripture. Our prayer is that they will see Christ in us, and that the Holy Spirit will drive the small messages home. I trust that as we continue to seek the Lord, He will give us the right things to say in these small messages so that He can draw the kids to Him.
One of the kids asked me on Friday night if I was going to be coming back to Ireland after August. At this particular point I honestly have no idea. Please be praying for me that the Lord will lead me according to His will. I desire to be in a place that I will be affective for His kingdom; no matter where that is.
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” – 1 Peter 3:14-16
Thank you for all your support and prayers. His grace and peace be with you all.
Thank you all for your encouraging words after you read about the break in. I am sorry that I could not get all of you written back, but know that I appreciate everything that all of you said. It was encouraging to hear from you and know your support and prayers are with me.
God is surely at work here. Bill went on a minister’s retreat and came back believing that something was not right with the church. He and Kevin have been talking and praying about the direction the church should go. A new plan of action they believe the Lord is leading them in is changing the entire structure of the church. They are looking at turning the church into a cell church. That is the church will still be meeting once a week to have a celebratory praise service, but the core of the church will meet in small groups each week. The focus of the church would be directed more to what happens in the small groups rather then on the bigger service. The process of switching to this structure would be very gradual and would take some time. However, the wonderful thing is that people are starting to understand that something needs to change. We are not growing, and they understand that we are doing something wrong. Please join us in prayer for the direction of the church here in Tallaght. Pray that the Lord’s will be done. Pray that the leaders of this church will desire only what the Lord desires for this place.
Presenting the gospel to the kids seems to have gone fairly well. Many of the kids are always asking me, “Why are you here?” Hopefully they are beginning to understand that I am here because I want them to know Christ personally. Having my parents visit revealed to me how many kids I have actually gotten to know since I arrived. My small leadership team has decided we are going to simply play games with the kids on Friday nights, and then give a 30 sec word backed up with scripture. Our prayer is that they will see Christ in us, and that the Holy Spirit will drive the small messages home. I trust that as we continue to seek the Lord, He will give us the right things to say in these small messages so that He can draw the kids to Him.
One of the kids asked me on Friday night if I was going to be coming back to Ireland after August. At this particular point I honestly have no idea. Please be praying for me that the Lord will lead me according to His will. I desire to be in a place that I will be affective for His kingdom; no matter where that is.
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” – 1 Peter 3:14-16
Thank you for all your support and prayers. His grace and peace be with you all.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Break In
It has been a rough week this past week. I went on the OM weekend away and that turned out to be quite difficult. I was asked to come along so that I could sponsor some kids from Tallaght. I thought, yeah this will be great. The first night was a nightmare. I could not keep track of the kids, they would not listen to a word I said, and they kept getting into trouble. The main leader with the church I went with ended up having to take control of them and I was left to help another leader with his kids. I felt terrible. I was asked to do a job and was unable to do it. I spent most of the weekend wondering around by myself feeling like a looser. I did not know anybody. When I would try and talk to new people they were nice for a while, but then went back to their normal group. I did get to know some of the kids, and it was great to meet some kids that were not from Tallaght. I began to wonder, am I really called to Tallaght? Can I actually handle things their at all?
The last day we were in Kilkenny I came down with the flu and am still battling it today. I was also sitting there doing nothing and all of the sudden my pad on my glasses fell off. This is very random, but funny enough to mention. I came home from the weekend a bit discouraged. Hammy is a friend I have made here, and it was his kid, nephews and niece whom I was watching. He has been a Christian for four years now coming out of a drug dealing lifestyle. He is a great guy and loves the Lord. Even though I had not met the kids before, I thought I could handle them because he is such a great guy. Hammy was very encouraging to me as were many others.
Last night I was alone at the church at around 6:45 working on the Bible study for that night. Four guys broke into the church. One was in his mid twenties and the others in their early teens. One of the put his hand on my throat, made a fist, and told to give him my wallet or he would kill me. I was very confused at this time. I thought, do people really say that. I thought it was only something you hear in the movies. It was quite surreal. Anyway I had no money in my wallet. I told him that and gave it to him. Then they went through the pastor office tearing it apart looking for cash. Chris, the man who is in charge of collecting the offering has been gone for the past three weeks and so I had collected it. They took all of that money along with the youth account box. In total I believe they took around 350 euro. They tried to take my laptop but I asked him nicely to let me keep it since they were getting away with all the money. I guess my please persuaded him and they did not take it. Amazingly they did not take any of the computers, the stereo, my guitar, or anything other then the cash. I am fine. I am not hurt or injured in any way. Praise the Lord! All of these things seem to be discouraging me away from Tallaght. I wonder who might want me out of here? Reality has sunk in and I know now to take more precautions for safety. However, we must be doing something right to get all of this opposition. It is obvious that the enemy does not like what is happening here. Bill has been changing. Ever since he had that talk with Kevin and we all began to pray, his heart has slowly began to soften. He and Kevin were discussing yesterday a new way forward in order to be more affective spiritually. He is beginning to realize that Sunday mornings are doing nothing for anybody. It is great. God is on the move! Praise the Lord!
So there is the story. It has been a rough week, but things are continuing to progress. I do not know what to do about Friday night because one of the kids that broke in I recognized from that group. He has only been there a couple of times, but I am not in a hurry to run into him again. On the other hand, none of the other kids had anything to do with it, and I still believe that the Lord wants me to share the gospel with them. You know, get that seed planted. And obviously Satan does not want me to share it with them. Please pray with me as I try to understand the Lord’s plan for all of this. His kingdom come, His will be done. Thanks for all your love and support.
His grace and peace be with you all.
The last day we were in Kilkenny I came down with the flu and am still battling it today. I was also sitting there doing nothing and all of the sudden my pad on my glasses fell off. This is very random, but funny enough to mention. I came home from the weekend a bit discouraged. Hammy is a friend I have made here, and it was his kid, nephews and niece whom I was watching. He has been a Christian for four years now coming out of a drug dealing lifestyle. He is a great guy and loves the Lord. Even though I had not met the kids before, I thought I could handle them because he is such a great guy. Hammy was very encouraging to me as were many others.
Last night I was alone at the church at around 6:45 working on the Bible study for that night. Four guys broke into the church. One was in his mid twenties and the others in their early teens. One of the put his hand on my throat, made a fist, and told to give him my wallet or he would kill me. I was very confused at this time. I thought, do people really say that. I thought it was only something you hear in the movies. It was quite surreal. Anyway I had no money in my wallet. I told him that and gave it to him. Then they went through the pastor office tearing it apart looking for cash. Chris, the man who is in charge of collecting the offering has been gone for the past three weeks and so I had collected it. They took all of that money along with the youth account box. In total I believe they took around 350 euro. They tried to take my laptop but I asked him nicely to let me keep it since they were getting away with all the money. I guess my please persuaded him and they did not take it. Amazingly they did not take any of the computers, the stereo, my guitar, or anything other then the cash. I am fine. I am not hurt or injured in any way. Praise the Lord! All of these things seem to be discouraging me away from Tallaght. I wonder who might want me out of here? Reality has sunk in and I know now to take more precautions for safety. However, we must be doing something right to get all of this opposition. It is obvious that the enemy does not like what is happening here. Bill has been changing. Ever since he had that talk with Kevin and we all began to pray, his heart has slowly began to soften. He and Kevin were discussing yesterday a new way forward in order to be more affective spiritually. He is beginning to realize that Sunday mornings are doing nothing for anybody. It is great. God is on the move! Praise the Lord!
So there is the story. It has been a rough week, but things are continuing to progress. I do not know what to do about Friday night because one of the kids that broke in I recognized from that group. He has only been there a couple of times, but I am not in a hurry to run into him again. On the other hand, none of the other kids had anything to do with it, and I still believe that the Lord wants me to share the gospel with them. You know, get that seed planted. And obviously Satan does not want me to share it with them. Please pray with me as I try to understand the Lord’s plan for all of this. His kingdom come, His will be done. Thanks for all your love and support.
His grace and peace be with you all.
Monday, February 12, 2007
February Pictures
Putting up the curtains.
A split picture: before and after the curtains were up.
A final Picture of the hanging curtains.
Glasgow.
Ross: the Irish tour guide!
Steo and I in front of the Glasgow Modern Art Gallery. February Update
I find it amazing how God works. It is funny that I have come to Ireland in order to serve and to minister to others. And yet through my experience thus far, I have found that the Lord has been using Ireland to minister to me. It just amuses me that we go expecting to minister to others and through it God ministers to us. My prayer is that I am being affective to minister to others as God continues to mold and grow me.
I have yet to receive a greater joy than when the Lord gives me revelation through the Holy Spirit. These past few weeks the Lord has poured out His Spirit on me in order to teach me more about Him. It actually began a couple of months ago when I began to pray for understanding regarding grace verses the law. All throughout the New Testament we read from Paul and through Christ’s teachings himself the importance of obedience. We learn about the ways to which we are to achieve Holy living among other steps to help further our walk with the Lord. Then we read in passages in Galatians that we are not saved through the law but yet we are saved through the grace of Christ. This appeared very confusing and even felt a bit contradictory. The Lord, through His grace has granted me further understanding in this subject.
One point that He taught me was based on a matter of motives. Why do I seek to follow the commands of God? Am I striving to be obedient to God simply because I believe that if I try hard enough then somehow the Lord will count me as righteous? The truth of the matter is that there is nothing I can do to make myself righteous. It is through the grace and blood of Christ we are made righteous. My motive should be that I love Christ so much, that I submit to His will above my own. I strive to live a Holy life because I understand that this is what pleases my Father in heaven, and I want to do all I can to please Him. If I truly love the lord with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, then I want to obey out of love for my Father; not out of religious duties. I do not desire simply to know of Christ, but to know Him personally.
Kevin and I had a late night last week discussing God’s kingdom. This once again shed further light on to this subject. Jesus spoke numerous times on the Kingdom of heaven (ex. Matt. 4:17). It is important to understand that God has complete sovereignty in heaven. By this I meant that everything in heaven is obedient to God’s will. However, here on earth God has chosen to let go of complete sovereignty in order to give us a free will to follow Him or not. However, when we accept Christ and give Him sovereignty in our lives, we then enter into the kingdom. It is through grace that we enter the kingdom. Once we are in the kingdom, we need to understand how the kingdom works and how we can live in the kingdom. It is through the teaching of the Holy Spirit and the Word that we can understand how to live in God’s sovereignty in His kingdom.
This is a very brief statement compared to the many thoughts that I have on this. The other night I was unable to sleep because the Spirit kept leading me to write things down. I would be lying in bed trying to fall asleep and my mind was racing. It was absolutely wonderful. I hope that eventually I might be able to talk to some of you about this more. For me, this has shed new light on how I view the Bible and even how I share the gospel with others.
Last weekend Kevin, Shirley, Dave, and I all went to Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was a wonderful chance to get up to the North and I noticed that it was actually quite different from Dublin. Our purpose for traveling to the North was to go to a large Christian bookstore. When we arrived in Belfast, and I quickly realized that there are several Christian bookstores that we could choose from. This was amazing compared to our one here. It was interesting, although I was only there for a short time, to notice the small differences in culture between the two cities. Being under British rule, the streets were cleaner and things were simply handled differently. Even the accents were completely different. It was made more apparent to me the deep rooted culture of Catholicism that lingers here in the Republic of Ireland.
It is by no coincidence that the Lord has been teaching me what He has. The Spirit has been leading me to share the gospel with the kids on Friday night. I have been looking deep into all the aspects of the fall of man, the crucifixion and resurrection, and what we are called to do as Christians. What I am beginning to realize is that those not in the kingdom cannot understand anything other than Christ. How can we expect them to understand what it means to live a holy life before they have entered the kingdom? This is a foreign subject. Furthermore, if I overload them with information they will not remember much of anything anyway. I am planning on teaching them the good news. This good news is that through the power of Christ we can be unified with God which is the reason we were created. Please be praying as I will be doing this in two weeks time. I am looking forward to presenting this message to them, and am praying that they will have hearts to receive. Pray that the Spirit will move in a mighty way and touch the lives of these kids that so desperately need to know Christ.
A few kids showed up at my house the other week wondering if there was still a youth club happening at the church. Apparently they used to be a part of the club Kevin and Shirley used to do two or three years ago. They certainly startled me when they knocked at my door. I have been talking with them and am hoping to start up another night that will be more suitable for them. They seem like really nice kids. The struggle I am having here is lack of leadership. I feel alone. Here I have kids literally coming to my doorstep, and I am helpless because I do not have other leaders to be involved. How disappointing this is. However, I am not giving up by any means. Please pray that God will raise up more leaders who love the lord, love kids, and want to serve both with all their heart. Also pray that the Lord will lead how to affectively teach these kids.
A man named Hammy who I know through Kevin attends the West Tallaght Fellowship. This is a church that is just down the road from us. He has asked me to take some of his kids and nephews on a weekend away next weekend. I gladly agreed as this is a chance to get to know more of the youth here in Tallaght. The weekend is through an organization called Operation Mobilization. I do not know for sure what all the weekend has in store, but I am looking forward to how the Lord moves through this situation. I do ask for you prayers for this weekend because I have not even met the kids I am taking yet. I do not really know where I am going or what I am doing. It will be quite the adventure!
Some of you may remember Ross and Steo from when the Irish came to the States. I had the privilege of going with them to Scotland this last week for a couple of days. It was a wonderful experience to be able to see Glasgow; but furthermore, it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know the guys a little better. I was able to chat with them both about where they are in their walks with the Lord. Both of them have different issues that are blocking them from following God. Keep them in your prayers. It will be through the power and work of the Holy Spirit that they will come to know Christ in a real and deep way.
The congregation here in Tallaght has been studying prayer on the Wednesday night Bible study. As a result, we are trying to start a prayer meeting on Sunday mornings before the church service. It was supposed to begin last Sunday but no one actually showed up for it. I am sad that I will not be here next Sunday because I will be on the weekend away. Please pray that this new fervor for prayer does not fizzle out. Satan obviously wants to do all he can to stop this from happening. Prayer is vital to every aspect of ministry. We need to be praying together.
We are still having the same issues and same conversations on Sunday’s when Bill is present at the service. It is astounding the difference in the flow of a Sunday morning when Bill is speaking as apposed to when Kevin is speaking. I find myself frustrated and often wonder if I am wasting my time. A couple Sunday’s ago I was leading praise and worship and found myself pleading to God for forgiveness. It appeared that the service was simply a waste of time. The body was simply going through the actions of church and nothing was coming from the heart. I am not saying Kevin preaching every Sunday is the answer. However, something needs to change. I do not want what happens on Sunday to be a waist of time. Please continue to pray for the spiritual health of the church as well as the spiritual health of Bill and his wife Val.
Kevin has begun to go to Bible College this last month. It has been a struggle for him to get into a routine of school. He does not consider himself an academic person and struggles with deadlines, and format, and all of these things. He and I have both enjoyed the learning aspects of it; it is just the academic work that is the trouble. Pray that the Lord will help him with time management. Pray also that He will continue to teach him and help him grow as he deals with school, family, and his role as pastor at the Methodist Church.
I am looking forward to the beginning of March because my parents and my niece will be coming over to visit for a week and a half. This will be very refreshing, and it will be nice to be able to show them a little bit of what happens here in Tallaght. Please join me in praying for their safe travel. Also pray for Eliana (my niece) as this will be her first extended trip away from here parents. It will be a true blessing to have them over here and I am struggling to contain my excitement!
We were finally able to purchase curtains to go behind the stage this last month. It was nice to get them hung up. They do help improve the look of the stage as well as help with the trapping of sound. It makes the room look more pleasant when you are starring at curtains rather than cinderblocks. They also catch the sound where the cinderblocks kept bouncing the sound everywhere. There is not to much more to this accept that it was nice to get the job done that we had been talking about doing for some time now.
We keep having issues with kids sneaking in to the Church during the day and trying to steal things. Once they are in it is very difficult to get them out. They keep giving threats and different things as can be expected. It is actually a very tough and frustrating situation to handle. Again I ask for prayer for these kids as well. I understand that beneath the hard surface is a very lost youth that need Christ just as much as me.
Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support. It is very comforting to know that you are all supporting the ministry that is happening here. You are a key element to all that happens here. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers.
I have yet to receive a greater joy than when the Lord gives me revelation through the Holy Spirit. These past few weeks the Lord has poured out His Spirit on me in order to teach me more about Him. It actually began a couple of months ago when I began to pray for understanding regarding grace verses the law. All throughout the New Testament we read from Paul and through Christ’s teachings himself the importance of obedience. We learn about the ways to which we are to achieve Holy living among other steps to help further our walk with the Lord. Then we read in passages in Galatians that we are not saved through the law but yet we are saved through the grace of Christ. This appeared very confusing and even felt a bit contradictory. The Lord, through His grace has granted me further understanding in this subject.
One point that He taught me was based on a matter of motives. Why do I seek to follow the commands of God? Am I striving to be obedient to God simply because I believe that if I try hard enough then somehow the Lord will count me as righteous? The truth of the matter is that there is nothing I can do to make myself righteous. It is through the grace and blood of Christ we are made righteous. My motive should be that I love Christ so much, that I submit to His will above my own. I strive to live a Holy life because I understand that this is what pleases my Father in heaven, and I want to do all I can to please Him. If I truly love the lord with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, then I want to obey out of love for my Father; not out of religious duties. I do not desire simply to know of Christ, but to know Him personally.
Kevin and I had a late night last week discussing God’s kingdom. This once again shed further light on to this subject. Jesus spoke numerous times on the Kingdom of heaven (ex. Matt. 4:17). It is important to understand that God has complete sovereignty in heaven. By this I meant that everything in heaven is obedient to God’s will. However, here on earth God has chosen to let go of complete sovereignty in order to give us a free will to follow Him or not. However, when we accept Christ and give Him sovereignty in our lives, we then enter into the kingdom. It is through grace that we enter the kingdom. Once we are in the kingdom, we need to understand how the kingdom works and how we can live in the kingdom. It is through the teaching of the Holy Spirit and the Word that we can understand how to live in God’s sovereignty in His kingdom.
This is a very brief statement compared to the many thoughts that I have on this. The other night I was unable to sleep because the Spirit kept leading me to write things down. I would be lying in bed trying to fall asleep and my mind was racing. It was absolutely wonderful. I hope that eventually I might be able to talk to some of you about this more. For me, this has shed new light on how I view the Bible and even how I share the gospel with others.
Last weekend Kevin, Shirley, Dave, and I all went to Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was a wonderful chance to get up to the North and I noticed that it was actually quite different from Dublin. Our purpose for traveling to the North was to go to a large Christian bookstore. When we arrived in Belfast, and I quickly realized that there are several Christian bookstores that we could choose from. This was amazing compared to our one here. It was interesting, although I was only there for a short time, to notice the small differences in culture between the two cities. Being under British rule, the streets were cleaner and things were simply handled differently. Even the accents were completely different. It was made more apparent to me the deep rooted culture of Catholicism that lingers here in the Republic of Ireland.
It is by no coincidence that the Lord has been teaching me what He has. The Spirit has been leading me to share the gospel with the kids on Friday night. I have been looking deep into all the aspects of the fall of man, the crucifixion and resurrection, and what we are called to do as Christians. What I am beginning to realize is that those not in the kingdom cannot understand anything other than Christ. How can we expect them to understand what it means to live a holy life before they have entered the kingdom? This is a foreign subject. Furthermore, if I overload them with information they will not remember much of anything anyway. I am planning on teaching them the good news. This good news is that through the power of Christ we can be unified with God which is the reason we were created. Please be praying as I will be doing this in two weeks time. I am looking forward to presenting this message to them, and am praying that they will have hearts to receive. Pray that the Spirit will move in a mighty way and touch the lives of these kids that so desperately need to know Christ.
A few kids showed up at my house the other week wondering if there was still a youth club happening at the church. Apparently they used to be a part of the club Kevin and Shirley used to do two or three years ago. They certainly startled me when they knocked at my door. I have been talking with them and am hoping to start up another night that will be more suitable for them. They seem like really nice kids. The struggle I am having here is lack of leadership. I feel alone. Here I have kids literally coming to my doorstep, and I am helpless because I do not have other leaders to be involved. How disappointing this is. However, I am not giving up by any means. Please pray that God will raise up more leaders who love the lord, love kids, and want to serve both with all their heart. Also pray that the Lord will lead how to affectively teach these kids.
A man named Hammy who I know through Kevin attends the West Tallaght Fellowship. This is a church that is just down the road from us. He has asked me to take some of his kids and nephews on a weekend away next weekend. I gladly agreed as this is a chance to get to know more of the youth here in Tallaght. The weekend is through an organization called Operation Mobilization. I do not know for sure what all the weekend has in store, but I am looking forward to how the Lord moves through this situation. I do ask for you prayers for this weekend because I have not even met the kids I am taking yet. I do not really know where I am going or what I am doing. It will be quite the adventure!
Some of you may remember Ross and Steo from when the Irish came to the States. I had the privilege of going with them to Scotland this last week for a couple of days. It was a wonderful experience to be able to see Glasgow; but furthermore, it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know the guys a little better. I was able to chat with them both about where they are in their walks with the Lord. Both of them have different issues that are blocking them from following God. Keep them in your prayers. It will be through the power and work of the Holy Spirit that they will come to know Christ in a real and deep way.
The congregation here in Tallaght has been studying prayer on the Wednesday night Bible study. As a result, we are trying to start a prayer meeting on Sunday mornings before the church service. It was supposed to begin last Sunday but no one actually showed up for it. I am sad that I will not be here next Sunday because I will be on the weekend away. Please pray that this new fervor for prayer does not fizzle out. Satan obviously wants to do all he can to stop this from happening. Prayer is vital to every aspect of ministry. We need to be praying together.
We are still having the same issues and same conversations on Sunday’s when Bill is present at the service. It is astounding the difference in the flow of a Sunday morning when Bill is speaking as apposed to when Kevin is speaking. I find myself frustrated and often wonder if I am wasting my time. A couple Sunday’s ago I was leading praise and worship and found myself pleading to God for forgiveness. It appeared that the service was simply a waste of time. The body was simply going through the actions of church and nothing was coming from the heart. I am not saying Kevin preaching every Sunday is the answer. However, something needs to change. I do not want what happens on Sunday to be a waist of time. Please continue to pray for the spiritual health of the church as well as the spiritual health of Bill and his wife Val.
Kevin has begun to go to Bible College this last month. It has been a struggle for him to get into a routine of school. He does not consider himself an academic person and struggles with deadlines, and format, and all of these things. He and I have both enjoyed the learning aspects of it; it is just the academic work that is the trouble. Pray that the Lord will help him with time management. Pray also that He will continue to teach him and help him grow as he deals with school, family, and his role as pastor at the Methodist Church.
I am looking forward to the beginning of March because my parents and my niece will be coming over to visit for a week and a half. This will be very refreshing, and it will be nice to be able to show them a little bit of what happens here in Tallaght. Please join me in praying for their safe travel. Also pray for Eliana (my niece) as this will be her first extended trip away from here parents. It will be a true blessing to have them over here and I am struggling to contain my excitement!
We were finally able to purchase curtains to go behind the stage this last month. It was nice to get them hung up. They do help improve the look of the stage as well as help with the trapping of sound. It makes the room look more pleasant when you are starring at curtains rather than cinderblocks. They also catch the sound where the cinderblocks kept bouncing the sound everywhere. There is not to much more to this accept that it was nice to get the job done that we had been talking about doing for some time now.
We keep having issues with kids sneaking in to the Church during the day and trying to steal things. Once they are in it is very difficult to get them out. They keep giving threats and different things as can be expected. It is actually a very tough and frustrating situation to handle. Again I ask for prayer for these kids as well. I understand that beneath the hard surface is a very lost youth that need Christ just as much as me.
Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support. It is very comforting to know that you are all supporting the ministry that is happening here. You are a key element to all that happens here. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
January Pictures
Eating at Shirly's parents house.
Eating at Shirley's parents house.
Shirley's parents house in Cork.
"Slan" means good-bye in Irish. The English is written on the top and the Irish is written on the bottom.
Jake Fox with the window down on the way to Cork. 
Here I am enjoying a smothered burito on Christmas Eve (a Haley family tradition).
The Choir from St. MarksTuesday, January 9, 2007
January Update
Hello and welcome 2007! I hope and pray that you have all enjoyed your Christmas and New Year celebrations. I have enjoyed a most pleasant Christmas. Kevin and Shirley were kind enough to invite me to enjoy this Christmas with them and their families. On Christmas day we went over to Kevin’s house where I was able to meet more of Kevin’s family; and then on the 27th we traveled four hours south to Cork to visit Shirley’s family. Cork moves at a much slower pace than the city of Dublin, which was a nice change of pace. It was nice to get out of the city and have the opportunity to slow down and relax. It was also wonderful to simply get to know both Kevin and Shirley’s families a little bit better.
I have discovered how easy it is to get online and download sermons from various speakers. One sermon that has recently had an impact on me was entitled, “Immersion in the Spirit” by Derek Prince. The Lord has been pressing on me lately the importance in the power of the Holy Spirit. He has been pressing me about the necessity to be walking in the Spirit, and the power that is available when we do. 2 Timothy speaks of, “having a form of godliness, but denying its power.” This seems to be very evident in many people today. I am uncertain if it is a lack of faith, or a sense of pride, or perhaps something else that causes us to deny the power of the Spirit. However, I am convinced that without it we are unable to affect anything regarding spiritual matters.
The first Saturday of every month I play guitar at an event called DV8. I had not felt very included there and was feeling a bit discouraged about playing. I felt the Lord telling me that in order to feel included, I was going to have to approach others and talk to them. I continued to pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and prayed that He would move in the Saturday night service. I normally pray for the Spirit to be a part of all I do, but I have felt led to spend even more time in praying for His active participation in everything.
What can I say, God is good! I began to talk to a few different people at DV8 and I actually found some Americans. They are missionaries from Alabama and have been church planting since July. They have a twenty-year-old son named Tyler who is currently attending a Bible college in the Dublin area. He is a wonderful young man who loves the Lord. It was amazing to be able to meet these people along with others I met throughout the night. The Holy Spirit was clearly moving around me throughout the entire evening.
After such a great experience at DV8, I was honestly worried about returning to the Methodist Church. The church still seems to be spiritually dead. There are moments of hope every once in a while, but for the most part it feels empty. The church continues to maintain a congregation of about twenty every Sunday. I spent some time Sunday morning praying again for the Holy Spirit to move during the morning service. I emphasized how I was feeling to the worship team and they, too, joined me in prayer for the Holy Spirit to move. Again, God was faithful. The presence of the Spirit was once again evident. The service was a huge encouragement to me, and I am anxious to continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to immerse everything in which I take part.
I am still struggling to understand how to effectively share the Gospel with the kids on Friday night. We have had a few weeks off for the holiday break, but are scheduled to begin meeting again this Friday. I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how well they will work. This is something to which I feel I have not devoted enough prayer. My prayer is that the Spirit will be a part of every aspect of Friday night: from playing soccer to sharing a message. Again, I have been praying for the outreach, but I have not been focused on the work of the Spirit in every aspect of the night. This is my continuing prayer for this week. I trust that the Lord will continue to answer my prayer and truly move among these kids.
Many people do not want to have much to do with Tallaght because it is such a rough area. I get the feeling that some people believe this place is too evil and is beyond redemption. However, I know that Christ desires a relationship with these kids just as much as He does with me. What a wonderful opportunity for the power of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to shine!
A few of us here have been praying for a revival in this area, and I am trusting the Lord will answer this prayer as well. It is hard to believe sometimes that any positive progress is going to happen. However, if we knew the outcome, then what cause would there be for faith? Jesus Christ said if we have faith as small as a mustard seed then we can move mountains. It is through faith and trust in God that He moves. We must step out in faith, become vulnerable, and trust that God is going to move mightily in this place. Again I say, where is the faith if you already know the outcome? It is the Spirit’s work. We are only His tools. We must step out in faith and continue to pray for Him to move. I trust He will be faithful to those prayers.
I continue to have a bit of trouble with the leaders for Friday night. It was disappointing at the end of the year because none of them were showing up. When they do not show up, I am not allowed to take the kids anywhere because of insurance issues. It was a bit discouraging. I have talked with all of them, and they have each agreed to recommit themselves for this next year. I had a meeting with them and talked to them about the importance of prayer. I asked if we could meet once a week for serious prayer. One of the leader’s responses was, “but that is two nights a week.” This, to say the least, was a bit disheartening. Please pray that the Spirit will move in the leaders’ lives as well. That He will convict them and bring them to a place of absolute obedience. Pray that the Spirit will give me the strength and boldness to be firm with them as leaders. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7.
A church from City Center, St. Marks, used our building to do a special Christmas service to which we were invited. They did a wonderful job and the message about Christ’s birth was clear. I spoke with Joy, the director, about the possibility of a joint service for Easter. I know some of the people here would enjoy being part of a choir and I, too, would enjoy getting involved. I am hoping to get in contact with her again soon to see what help I can be to her, and how we might get involved.
Our first attempt at a small ensemble here at An Solas was successful. I admit that I still feel a bit awkward when trying to direct them. I find myself acting like Jared Ross, my former choir director. I am usually doing all I can not to chuckle as I talk to the group about vocal technique. We sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” on Christmas Eve Sunday and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I have enjoyed purchasing more music for us to try, and I look forward to singing and directing some more. My parents are planning on coming out sometime in March. The plan is for us to practice a piece here, while my father in Denver practices the same music there. Then we will sing the piece together when they visit. I am excited about this opportunity!
“I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” - Psalm 7:17
I have discovered how easy it is to get online and download sermons from various speakers. One sermon that has recently had an impact on me was entitled, “Immersion in the Spirit” by Derek Prince. The Lord has been pressing on me lately the importance in the power of the Holy Spirit. He has been pressing me about the necessity to be walking in the Spirit, and the power that is available when we do. 2 Timothy speaks of, “having a form of godliness, but denying its power.” This seems to be very evident in many people today. I am uncertain if it is a lack of faith, or a sense of pride, or perhaps something else that causes us to deny the power of the Spirit. However, I am convinced that without it we are unable to affect anything regarding spiritual matters.
The first Saturday of every month I play guitar at an event called DV8. I had not felt very included there and was feeling a bit discouraged about playing. I felt the Lord telling me that in order to feel included, I was going to have to approach others and talk to them. I continued to pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and prayed that He would move in the Saturday night service. I normally pray for the Spirit to be a part of all I do, but I have felt led to spend even more time in praying for His active participation in everything.
What can I say, God is good! I began to talk to a few different people at DV8 and I actually found some Americans. They are missionaries from Alabama and have been church planting since July. They have a twenty-year-old son named Tyler who is currently attending a Bible college in the Dublin area. He is a wonderful young man who loves the Lord. It was amazing to be able to meet these people along with others I met throughout the night. The Holy Spirit was clearly moving around me throughout the entire evening.
After such a great experience at DV8, I was honestly worried about returning to the Methodist Church. The church still seems to be spiritually dead. There are moments of hope every once in a while, but for the most part it feels empty. The church continues to maintain a congregation of about twenty every Sunday. I spent some time Sunday morning praying again for the Holy Spirit to move during the morning service. I emphasized how I was feeling to the worship team and they, too, joined me in prayer for the Holy Spirit to move. Again, God was faithful. The presence of the Spirit was once again evident. The service was a huge encouragement to me, and I am anxious to continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to immerse everything in which I take part.
I am still struggling to understand how to effectively share the Gospel with the kids on Friday night. We have had a few weeks off for the holiday break, but are scheduled to begin meeting again this Friday. I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how well they will work. This is something to which I feel I have not devoted enough prayer. My prayer is that the Spirit will be a part of every aspect of Friday night: from playing soccer to sharing a message. Again, I have been praying for the outreach, but I have not been focused on the work of the Spirit in every aspect of the night. This is my continuing prayer for this week. I trust that the Lord will continue to answer my prayer and truly move among these kids.
Many people do not want to have much to do with Tallaght because it is such a rough area. I get the feeling that some people believe this place is too evil and is beyond redemption. However, I know that Christ desires a relationship with these kids just as much as He does with me. What a wonderful opportunity for the power of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to shine!
A few of us here have been praying for a revival in this area, and I am trusting the Lord will answer this prayer as well. It is hard to believe sometimes that any positive progress is going to happen. However, if we knew the outcome, then what cause would there be for faith? Jesus Christ said if we have faith as small as a mustard seed then we can move mountains. It is through faith and trust in God that He moves. We must step out in faith, become vulnerable, and trust that God is going to move mightily in this place. Again I say, where is the faith if you already know the outcome? It is the Spirit’s work. We are only His tools. We must step out in faith and continue to pray for Him to move. I trust He will be faithful to those prayers.
I continue to have a bit of trouble with the leaders for Friday night. It was disappointing at the end of the year because none of them were showing up. When they do not show up, I am not allowed to take the kids anywhere because of insurance issues. It was a bit discouraging. I have talked with all of them, and they have each agreed to recommit themselves for this next year. I had a meeting with them and talked to them about the importance of prayer. I asked if we could meet once a week for serious prayer. One of the leader’s responses was, “but that is two nights a week.” This, to say the least, was a bit disheartening. Please pray that the Spirit will move in the leaders’ lives as well. That He will convict them and bring them to a place of absolute obedience. Pray that the Spirit will give me the strength and boldness to be firm with them as leaders. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7.
A church from City Center, St. Marks, used our building to do a special Christmas service to which we were invited. They did a wonderful job and the message about Christ’s birth was clear. I spoke with Joy, the director, about the possibility of a joint service for Easter. I know some of the people here would enjoy being part of a choir and I, too, would enjoy getting involved. I am hoping to get in contact with her again soon to see what help I can be to her, and how we might get involved.
Our first attempt at a small ensemble here at An Solas was successful. I admit that I still feel a bit awkward when trying to direct them. I find myself acting like Jared Ross, my former choir director. I am usually doing all I can not to chuckle as I talk to the group about vocal technique. We sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” on Christmas Eve Sunday and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I have enjoyed purchasing more music for us to try, and I look forward to singing and directing some more. My parents are planning on coming out sometime in March. The plan is for us to practice a piece here, while my father in Denver practices the same music there. Then we will sing the piece together when they visit. I am excited about this opportunity!
“I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” - Psalm 7:17
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