NYC

Sean and I just got home from a huge trek to the east. We left Thursday morning driving to Seattle to catch a fight to Connecticut were Mark Woof lives and pastors. From his house in Avon we traveled up state to a camp for a weekend retreat with 160 junior high students. I spoke 4 times over the weekend teaching on Rom. 11. Interesting passage as Paul talks about the potential of all people becoming like branches, grafted in to the holy tree that was originally only occupied by the Jewish nation. He argues that some of the Jews were broken off because –although they were chosen—they never followed God in Faith or produced fruit. He warns that we too could be broken off. It’s great to teach from because it introduces faith in Jesus as a process. God chooses us to be a part of his family, but we must respond in faith and become fruitful. Anyone can be broken off-we don’t like to believe this--. It also teaches that it’s about relationship not greatness, we aren’t created for greatness, Peter and Judas followed Jesus for this very reason –to become great. Peter turns it around and starts to follow a second time based on relationship. Judas never grasps it and unfortunately –well you know. People like the immoral woman who kisses Jesus feet—get it from the beginning. She comes to Jesus with no assumption of her personal greatness, just a desire to know him. I learned some things about myself teaching this passage. Much of my life has been about following Jesus for the wrong reason. Greatness is not something Jesus needs or wants from me. He does the great thing quite well. I’m glad to know Him and it’s always a privilege to teach.

The best part of the trip was getting to spend time with Sean. He did well. I learned that my son is really socially skilled. Both Sean and Marshall (last year) made friends within minutes of our arrival and had a great time hanging with the Americans all weekend. There were these pretty girls that asked for Marshall as soon as they saw me, --they were sad that he hadn’t returned. I asked Sean to write a paragraph on Jesus during the flight, He shared what he wrote during the retreat speaking on how Jesus was his hero.

Sean was also a trooper in NYC. We spent one day in Manhattan visiting Ground Zero, the Empire State, Time Square, and Rockefeller centre. St Patrick’ Cathedral was also a highlight. The city is unreal, it’s as though the city itself drives the people in stead of the other way around. The people seem either enslaved or in Awe. I spoke with a guy on the subway train –you’re not supposed to do that —from England who told me he loved it and was having the time of his life living and working in the city.