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May 23, 2013

Category: usa

October 24, 2012

Mid-trip update

by arthurstewart — Categories: South Africa, Updates, usa — Leave a comment

A few reflections upon the mid-way point of my trip around the USA, following Jesus and seeing what God just may do at any particular moment (in no particular order):

1. Being away from home has given me the time, space, and distance to see the things I love the most about life and ministry in Cape Town… moves of God, passionate Jesus-followers, a complex city in need of ongoing transformation, amazing friends. I suppose stepping back, and in many cases speaking of such wonders, gives words to things I have only taken notice of in my heart.

2. I live where I am. This was, in fact, a reason to leave Cape Town for a while – to remind me that there are also amazing friends and moves of God happening across this planet. While I am home in Cape Town, that’s my focus. You know this because if you live in Cape Town you get my attention & if you don’t, you only hear wisps on the wind of what I’m up to because I lack the discipline to stop and share the stories to my broader audience. And so, while in USA now, the same is true. I am here. I haven’t done well at telling who I am with, where I am, etc. Please forgive   – the days have been so full, full of God and amazing moments, seemingly without rest to process and share. In a way, its a testimony to just how amazing God is – changing lives, living in shared moments, filling laughter and tears alike. But admittedly I need to say more so you can see these things too!

3. Wherever two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, he is there. I’ve had coffee with a pastor, lunch with a friend of a friend, spent hours in conversations, answered questions about the nature of God, shared dinner with another fellow traveler, met with a man about to embark on a missionary journey of his own, walked neighbourhoods, prayed life and hope with saints, reconnected with old friends, made new friends, have been reminded of parts of my past I had forgotten, discovered mutual friends, seen family, shared about South Africa with college students, sat with friends in distress, and have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it (remember, I am slightly introverted)! But this is not wearing, it is life-giving – shared moments of the Kingdom of God, definitely changing me, and likely others along this Way. Jesus continues to fill my days.

4. I love what God has allowed us to be part of in Cape Town. That is as much true of ministry as just plain life. I am happy my kids are happy. I am settled knowing my wife feels more settled. We are in a good place. I’m reminded of that in every story I tell here, recounting how we moved and have spent the past 2+ years making a new home. Its not perfect and isn’t always easy. But it is good! We have been blessed with friends who have welcomed us into their lives, and they are amazing lives. And I continue to be amazed at how many of you pray for us, follow along with our pictures and stories, are indeed in this with us. I am greatly encouraged.

5. Things are definitely stirring – opportunities, connections, possibilities for the next few years. In some ways I can see seeds being planted, but I’m not sure what they will grow into, or when. I find myself smiling and wondering a lot. What is God up to here, with this person, with that idea? I don’t know, but live in anticipation of the day when life bursts forth from the ground. Perhaps some of these are closer to appearing than I might expect. All very mysterious, I know, but all I can see right now is movement, so I hesitate to give name to anything… yet.

6. Traveling around the country by myself and meeting with lots of people has been pretty easy (see #3 above). Not having my family with me to share in the experience and talk about what God has done in the day is difficult. It is also strange to be back in California without Melissa and the kids. I just miss them.

7. I have lived an amazing life so far! I suppose this jumps out because I have been with so many people from different parts of my past on this trip. O, if you could see the threads I am seeing, you would undoubtedly share in my awe at the hand of God over the years. It has been so good, and so healing, to look back over the years with friends. Even today I was reminded of some things I have not thought of in years. I feel like God is helping me reclaim promises, memories, and even unrecognized hurts from the past. Powerful stuff.

8. Although I don’t feel like any specific thing has become more clear (yet), I do feel so much more focused on God. I’m ok with that. I came into this trip believing I needed to go where God led and connect with the people God had for me. So far, this has been nothing short of amazing. I think God loves me enough to organize this trip only for my own sake, knowing its been exactly what I needed to grow my trust and put myself in a place of listening and depending on Him. I also think this trip is about a lot more than me, and hope I am leaving a trail of encouraged hearts behind me…

thank you friends for praying for me
thank you Jesus for loving me more every day

let’s see where the second half of this trip takes us!

October 3, 2012

The Fear of the Lord Tour – USA 2012

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, travel, usa — Leave a comment

There is this feeling inside me about my upcoming trip to USA. The best way I can describe it is to use a somewhat enigmatic but I believe powerful phrase from the Bible – “the Fear of the Lord.”

I gave a talk on this not too long ago, so will spare you the sermon here. But this phrase intrigues me. As it is used in scripture, it carries much more meaning that fear as we use it in modern english (essentially terror). Rather, it conveys a sense of awe, expectancy, uncertainty, trepidation, anticipation… For me, it’s the feeling of going on a roller coaster – I think I will like it, I am not sure exactly what will happen, and I am just a tiny bit scared – but excited.

The fear of the Lord, for me, says “I know God is good, and unpredictable, and I am not sure exactly what will happen, but I am expectant and looking, so let’s see…”

The disciples of Jesus are described in the Book of Acts as living this way – everything was new, life was uncertain, they were figuring it out as they went, God was showing up in amazing ways – the fear of the lord.

In Proverbs 1, we are told “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Being afraid of God doesn’t lead to wisdom! Rather, acknowledging our need, letting go of control, looking for God’s leading, staying on our toes – that “fear of the Lord” positions us to hear God and know what to do – and that’s true wisdom. Wisdom isn’t knowing how to make a perfect plan. Wisdom is knowing anything can happen today and we’ll take it as it comes with God in response.

Someone praying for me today reminded me of James 1:5 – If you need wisdom, if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him and he will gladly tell you. In the moment, as you go, when it is needed – coming from living in the fear of the Lord.

This is what my trip to USA is about:
God has said to go.
I am going.
God has said to connect with people.
I am connecting with people.

I don’t know all the whys or what’s of this trip yet.
Every day is not arranged but I’m at peace with what is organized and what may open up as I go.
I believe God will show me when the time is right (which may not even be in the moment!)
This is somewhat exciting to me, and somewhat terrifying.
I think God is wanting to show me some things, tell me some things, remind me of some things, and birth some new things.
It is stretching my faith.
It’s how I want to live – asking God and responding.

I commit myself to living this trip in the fear of the Lord.

Amen!

September 1, 2009

What the sabbatical?

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, heart journey, Mission, NieuCommunities, sabbatical, South Africa, Updates, usa — Tags: , , , , , , , — 5 Comments

In the rush to get our sabbatical started, pack up our entire house, and move from South Africa to California for the year, I haven’t sat down to write in detail about this sabbatical thingy.  But, with a little room to breathe, I wanted to start giving our friends more information on what we are up to.  I am sure this will turn into a multiple-post series, especially as we process and can begin to share what God is doing in us through the process.

In wrapping up our time with NieuCommunities in Pretoria and before starting for something new in Cape Town, we have a unique and precious window of time to let God prepare us in significant ways.  For today, some basics on the PURPOSES of our sabbatical…

1. The first purpose of our sabbatical is rest from several years of cross-cultural living and ministry.  We need to decompress, have time as a couple, and opportunity to do things as a family that we haven’t made as much time for in the last several years as we would have liked to.  We believe this will put us in a better place personally, spiritually, and relationally.

2. A second purpose of our sabbatical is restoration.  This is part of the reason we needed to leave our normal environment so we have time, space, and freedom from our normal obligations that can detract from making growth a top priority.  We are in the middle of a great program at Link Care in Fresno specifically designed for missionaries and their unique needs.  We will continue counseling throughout our time in Fresno as part of the process of continuing to grow into the people God wants us to be.  A big part of what we anticipate is deeper intimacy with God, one another, and all those God brings into our life.

3. A third reason for our sabbatical is reflection on the past several years of life and ministry.  What has taken place in our personal lives, what have we learned about life in community, how has God shaped and used us in South Africa, and what does all this mean for the future?  Expect lots of writing…

4. The final purpose for our sabbatical is preparation for what God has in store for us in this next season of life and ministry.  We have some pretty good ideas about what that will look like, but want God to confirm and clarify.  We expect God to further reveal hopes, details, and specifics.  We also anticipate this leading us to further training and learning to get us ready.  And, we want to use this time to develop the patterns and habits we will need to continue successfully in the next season.  Of course, you will hear more and more as we do, and as we gear up for all that is to come when our sabbatical ends on May 31.

For now, we are settling into life, school for the kids, and soon a new house (renting from friends) in Fresno!  More on all that, and some pics, soon :)

In the meantime, would appreciate your comments and prayers.

May 12, 2009

writing dates

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Culture, language, South Africa, usa — Tags: , , — 3 Comments

man, that title could have about 10 different meanings :)

When you write the date, how do you write it?

Seems like most (all?) Americans write month/day/year. Good job USA in getting us all to do it the same way.

My experience was always that other (European?) countries wrote day/month/year.  Makes sense as it is from smallest/most immediate to biggest unit. So, that’s how I learned to write the date in French class in high school and I’ve been writing the date since we moved to SA.

Here, I have found that people write the date all sorts of ways.  Seems like on hospital forms, they generally use year/month/day.  I’ve filled out bank forms one way, misc. official paperwork another way, and never know HOW an individual may write the date on something they give me.  I asked my son how they do it at school (where you’d think they’d be teaching the standard) and he told me that the do it one way (I’ve actually forgot which now) in all of his classes except math.  In math class, they write the date a different way.  What?  Maybe this has something to do with the changeover since Apartheid or some reality of Bantu education?  I don’t know, but I find it strange that everyone in the country doesn’t use the same way of writing the date.

Beyond making some clever societal observation, I am really interested in why this is done the way it is in different places.  There must be some meaning behind this…

January 23, 2009

Best Meal at Disneyland

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, usa — Tags: , , — Leave a comment

Kids Power Pack (child’s meal)

string cheese

fish crackers

yogurt

apple slices

drink: juice, milk, water

This was my last meal at Disneyland, and probably the most healthy :)   Got it at a place in Frontier Land as it melds into New Orleans Square.

December 18, 2008

observations about America

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Updates, usa — 3 Comments
  1. Too many youth pastors and worsip leaders look like either Rob Bell, David Crowder, or both.  Come on guys, get a style of your own.
  2. My tattoos and stretched ears don’t get me any attention here – because I seem like a librarian compared to most people walking down the street
  3. People freak out about everything too much (the weather in LA right now being a current example)
  4. From Iain tonight – why do they make you pump your own gas here?  Then how do people get paid if you pump your own gas?
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