Why the Global Leadership Summit, Why Norway, and Why Me

The mission of the Global Leadership Summit  is “Transforming local churches around the world with an annual injection of vision, skills development, and inspiration in the lives of Christian leaders.”  For three of the days that I will be in Norway, I will be helping to prepare the church in Oslo for the Summit and working with the staff of Willow Creek to present the Summit.  The rest of the time there will be filled with travel, local serving opportunities, prayer, some sight-seeing, and a lot of relationship building with the Norwegians.

From the Willow Creek Association and the Global Leadership Summit’s website, “The Global Leadership Summit is a two-day, world-class leadership event experienced by more than 170,000 leaders around the world, representing more than 14,000 churches. It's telecast LIVE from Willow's campus (near Chicago) every August. Throughout the fall, Summit events take place in an additional 300+ cities, 92 countries—and translated into 42 languages. This event is crafted to infuse vision, skill development and inspiration for the sake of local church transformation.”

A year ago, I would have answered why I want to go to Norway completely differently than I now answer it.  I probably would have said something to the effect of “it sounds cool”, “I liked Denmark, this can’t be that different, right?” or maybe even to make an impression on the people in my life. 

 
Now, however… I have grown and am completely different person.

    -    I’ve experienced the deep loss of close relationships

    -    Experienced first-hand the amazing power of prayer (Have you ever tried a 30-day prayer challenge?)

    -    Watched God work miracles (read my previous post of 360 on 694 for just one example)

    -    Have seen and experienced restored relationships

… and most importantly, I want other people to be able to experience the same kind of living faith that I have.  

I also feel very strongly about the verses in Matthew where Jesus is commissioning His disciples.  Maybe it’s because these verses were emphasized while I attended Northwestern. Maybe it’s because I love international travel. Maybe it’s because it’s simply because it’s the way God has wired me.

Matthew 28: 16 – 20, The Great Commission verses read:

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on hearth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Jesus is speaking to his disciples after he has resurrected.  He is telling his disciples to spread out past Jerusalem.  Many of them went to Judea, Syria, Cilicia (Paul went here to Tarsus).  They didn’t stay still.  The disciples and apostles went beyond the boundaries of comfort into nations that were new, spoke different dialects, and would have had to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, their faith, and prayer to have their most basic needs met.   God didn’t say only go to the poor nations or neighborhoods to build wells and houses; although he did say to take care of the poor.  What God did say is (1) GO TO ALL NATIONS, (2) MAKE DISCIPLES, (3) BAPTIZE, and (4) TEACH.  So, if all of us go to Africa, Haiti, the inner city, etc… who will reach the nations that have material goods, yet are spiritually bankrupt?  Me.  The underdog… except in this case, it’s the spiritual underdog – not the social underdog, not the financial underdog, and not the week underdog.  It’s spiritual.  I want the Norwegians and the leaders there to have the same kind of joy that I have. I want to share my faith story with them.  I want them to know the unbelievable and immeasurable power of prayer.  I want them to have an opportunity to have the same kind of real relationship with Jesus that I have.

Even though I know that I have God on my side, I still need your support.  Prayer support for preparing the trip, staying strong and overcoming spiritual warfare, and safe travels.  Another way to support me is through financial support.  I have about 20% raised, but still need your help. The last day to contribute to my trip is October 15th.   If you can help support me financially, you can click here. And then, finally, I will need someone to help me out with Osakis the weekend I am gone (November 1, 2, and 3rd).  I could use your help taking him outside and feeding him.  Just let me know if you can help out!

Here's some more info about what the GLS is...

Highlights from the Global Leadership Summit in August 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2NuCZtxiAw#t=88

Additional Resources

http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/about.asp

34 Days Until Take-Off

In January, earlier this year, I knew that I was being called to go on this trip to Norway.  I didn't know when or how, I just knew, somewhere deep in my soul, that I was going.   But then my friend Bianca came and went to Haiti, and went again (! - so proud of you!); and the seeds of doubt loomed in my mind... there was no way I could go on a missions trip.  In fact, I blogged about being jealous of people who could go on missions trips.  Then the dates for Norway arrived. There were two weeks to choose from - the first week was the week preceding my formal concert with the Army Band, and the second week was the week of the formal concert.  I took the plunge, sent in my non-refundable deposit with the small amount of money I had saved, and applied.

In just 34 short days I am going to be taking off an adventure that I didn't think would be possible.  I am going to be traveling to Norway with a team from Eagle Brook Church to help put on the Global Leadership Summit in Oslo.

While this isn't my first time traveling overseas, there are still many pieces that need to fall into place in order for this trip to be successful.  The first one is prayer support.  I have long struggled with doubt and trust, and so far - even the preparation for this trip seems to be challenging me to overcome those.  So far, the emotions that I've experienced preparing for this trip run everywhere from nervous to excited, anxious to doubtful, even overwhelmed (that seems to be the most recent one!)  The second one is financial support.  Tonight we learned that our estimated cost has been reduced by almost $400!!!  I have about 20% raised, but still need your help. The last day to contribute to my trip is October 15th.

If you can help fund my trip, go to:  http://ebcgiv.convio.net/goto/Becky

For those of you that have contributed, I have been overwhelmed - thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I have a poem hanging above my desk right now, given to me be a dear friend.  It reads:
    I was regretting the past and fearing the future.
    Suddenly God was speaking: My name is "I am."
    God continued:  When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard.
    I am not there.  My name is not, "I was."
    When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard.
    I am not there.  My name is not, "I will be."
    When you live in this moment, it is not hard.
    I am here. My name is "I am."


And with that, I hope that my story and experiences, and yes - my pictures too!!! are an encouragement to you and I hope that I can share them with you when I return!  I will be writing more as we get closer to the trip, and hopefully, while I am there as well!

In response to President Obama's Speech

In Response to President Obama’s speech – in essence, his “Call to Arms” of the American people…

In high school I remember Mr. Anderson trying to teach us world history and politics, learning about government, the Geneva Convention, and the various schools of thought on how different countries’ governments are run.  Throughout history we’ve seen the rise and fall of great nations, and yet out of tyranny and repression people rise stronger together than they had ever been before living under an iron fist.  And now, as a nation of great power, the United States is challenged by the actions of individuals in Syria; a country that was an original member of the United Nations, when it was formed in 1945. 

According to the United Nations' official webpage (www.un.org) the UN has 4 main purposes:

1. To keep peace through the world

2. To develop friendly relations among nations

3. To help nations work together to improve lives of poor people to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each others' rights and freedoms

4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.

 And so I ask myself, what do other UN countries think of the United States involving themselves in the politics of another country?  Countries like China, Japan, Israel, and the United Kingdom don’t seem to be jumping at the bit to keep Syria in line.

And then I get to thinking about my upcoming Norway trip and the Norwegians general opinion of Americans.  Without the experience of living there and without the cultural knowledge or of what the political climate is there, I wonder what the people of Norway think about Americans in general; the American system of government (compared to their parliament), and why we, here in the United States, don’t tend to hear about the Scandinavian countries supporting the United States’ military efforts.

And then I think about how the choices that are being suggested mirror the current political climate of a nation who continues to rescue its own people again and again. When will we, as Americans and as a country, stop rescuing our citizens from the choices that they make or stop rescuing the nations of this world from breaking?  But then there is another question that comes to mind about the separation of church and state; and countries being defined as “Christian” or “Muslim”, or in the case of Syria, the country is run by Alawites (“ethnically Arab but follow a smaller branch of Islam” – whatever that means?!).

Thankfully, Max Fisher, someone far more educated in Middle Eastern politics than I am; wrote an article entitled “9 Questions about Syria you were too embarrassed to ask” that was published August 29 in The Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29/9-questions-about-syria-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/

And maybe the above reasons are why you don't talk about politics or religion unless you want a fiery debate!

The 5 - Ws of Going to Norway

To help give you a better idea  of some of the details and answer questions that might come up with, I will be doing a series of blogs answering the “Who, What, When, Where, and Why” of going to Norway.

Feel free to ask additional questions (I will try to answer them along the way), challenge me, encourage me, or share your story with me as I embark on this adventure!

Some of the questions that I will be answering are:

Who…

· am I serving?

· am I going with?

·  will I be working with in Norway?

What…

·  will I be doing in Norway?

·  am I learning about the Norwegian culture?

When…

·  am I going?

Where…

·  am I going?

·  in Oslo, Norway will I be going?

Why…

·  am I going on a mission’s trip?

·  did I choose Norway?

·  does the church support missions to Norway?

·  work with Christian leaders in Norway? ~ work with leaders in general?

·  I want and need your support...
 

If you feel called or want to support me financially with a tax deductible donation, you can click here.

Stress Fractures

Stress Fractures

I have a broken window in my bedroom upstairs.  Not a complete break.  It's a double-pane window, and only the top half, inside pane is broken.  I broke it.  I was upset had a break down last January, got mad completely lost it, and threw a book (a hard cover book) at the chimney in my room. Except, in my rage, I wasn't paying attention to where I was really throwing it and my book hit the window... hard. Glass shattered... and I shattered.  I remember calling mom that night and crying, "I think I need help."

That window is still like that today.  But soon, it will be fixed. The window guy came yesterday morning to check on a different window.  Before he left, I asked him if he could look at another window so that I could order a new pane.  I told him, "The details aren't important, but I need to order a new pane for my broken window upstairs."  We went upstairs, he measured the window, and says - "I'm just going to have them send you a new sash; I put in the computer that this window had a stress fracture."  I just smiled, said thank you, signed off on his work, and sent him on his way.

I was amazed that God had sent this man to bless me in an unexpected way yesterday morning. I laughed because the window did experience a stress fracture (even though it was caused by me).  I smiled because I knew that it was finally time to let go of my past winter and continue to grow even more. I am humbled because I don't deserve that kind of grace.

Stress fractures, as defined by the Mayo Clinic are "tiny cracks in a bone. Stress fractures are caused by the repetitive application of force, often by overuse — such as repeatedly jumping up and down or running long distances. Stress fractures can also arise from normal use of a bone that's been weakened by a condition ..." (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-fractures/DS00556)

Looking at stress fractures simply and metaphorically for a moment, I'm going to define a stress fracture simply as "a crack caused by unusual and/or repeated stress."  My stress fracture and broken window were the result of many unusual and repeated stressors over a course of 3-4 months.  Some of these stressors were self-inflicted; some were environmental, and some I had no control over at all.  Any one of those stressors I could have handled just fine on their own, but all of them sans healthy coping skills and I was a walking time bomb.

Interestingly, Mayo Clinic has 4 steps to prevent stress fractures...my thoughts/applications are underneath.

• Make changes slowly.
  Only tackle one major life change at a time, if at all possible. 
• Use proper footwear.
  What equipment do you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle?  This equipment might be a specific book, a pair of good running shoes, a quiet space, or healthy food.
• Cross-train.
  What activities do you do?  In addition to working, do you volunteer or serve others? If you work with people, get some time alone to recharge. Have a "personal trainer" or confidant that you can go to when you need coaching.
• Get proper nutrition.
  Develop skills and activities in your daily life that promote emotional, physical, and spiritual balance and well-being.

 Like my window finally being fixed, stress fractures (or breakdowns) aren't permanent.  They do, however, require attention and patience to heal. Matthew 6:34 reminds me daily, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." And that verse challenges me to continue becoming the best me, imperfections and all, that I can be. Tackle one stress at a time, take it day by day, and before you know it you will have healed completely.

The moment you realize...

...that God knew what He was doing all along.

When you're going through a season of life that feels like you're being tested in every direction and way possible, it's sometimes hard to see how anything good can come of it.  When you truly feel like you can empathize with Job and you don't understand the purpose of what you're going through, it's hard to feel like God hears your cries and understands your struggles.

I have had Psalm 20:4-5 taped to my laptop for a couple of months now. It reads, "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of God. May the Lord grant all your requests."
I started praying this about two months ago, that God would challenge me to figure out what exactly the desire of my heart was/is. I was challenged to let go of control. One morning, I felt this distinct impression challenging me - would I give up the most important things in my life?  What would I sacrifice for Him?  So I started to pray for peace of mind with the idea of giving up the things that I hold dear in this life.

The funny thing is... or maybe not so funny thing is I thought I had let go of control in my life. I thought I had relinquished it to God.  But once I really started to challenge myself on that, I realized that that wasn't the case at all.  My prayers - instead of focusing on what I wanted, started to change...

"I walk by faith Lord. That is all I can do. I am scared and so I rely on you for strength. I am anxious so I rely on you for peace. I am hopeful and so I rely on your power and grace."

"I do trust you Lord even if I don't understand. I know that your way is the perfect way. While I'm waiting, I will continue to serve you in whatever what I can."

Then finally, I laid it all out "If I am honest with myself, I don't always trust You fully with all of the details of my life."  God finally had my attention - my eyes were opened.  It was almost as if, as soon as I realized that I still struggled with trust and control, I received the peace I had been praying for.  And now, many weeks later, I realized that God really did know what He was doing all along. As I've continued to quiet myself and develop a deeper trust in God's ability to take care of me even when it doesn't seem like it, I've noticed that the desires of my heart have been changing. 


The peace that I expereinced