Pages

Monday, January 30, 2012

Headed to Sin City

Ok, so today is the worst time to write a blog post. But it's probably my only chance before we head to Sin City, so I thought I better get one more post in before the mass exodus occurs.

We are taking Fountainview Academy on the road. That is, we're having school on the road. We have been invited by It Is Written to come and play at a huge event they are hosting in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is called "Revelation Today." Almost very morning and evening from Friday, February 3 to Sabbath, February 12, Fountainview will be either playing a few numbers in the meetings, or having a full concert. The meetings will be broadcast around the world. And in the midst of all of this, we are having school. Yup, we're taking most of the teachers, some of their family members, and we are going to have classes in the place where we are staying. Talk about a full schedule!



Well, please pray for us as we embark on so great an adventure. Not so much for us (though we really need it), but more for our influence and part in the meetings. Sin City...you know there's a reason it has that nickname. But God has His people there too. Pray that many people will come to know Him more.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Sorry if this was kind of scatter-brained -- squirrel!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

In this is Love

Here is the revelation of the last post's "sneak peek." It is the Vespers talk from last night (January 27, 2012). God taught me so much through this experience, especially in the preparation. He taught me to trust Him for every single word, and to trust Him even when it seemed impossible that I could be ready in time. I pray that it will be a blessing to you. And I can't say enough that all the glory belongs to Jesus.

Sometime I hope to transcribe it into written form. I'll update this post at that time. Feel free to download the file if you wish.

One more thing...there is a part around 10 mins or so where the video on the screen had some difficulty playing right away. Also, you might need to turn the volume up at that point to hear the video.

All the glory belongs to Jesus.
 

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Just a sneak peak...

So, I haven't posted in a while, and I'm not really sure what to write. My mind is too full of this Vespers talk I'm working on. God has been leading in amazing ways and revealing fresh understandings of His love. Ahhhh....the complex simplicity of the gospel! Nothing new, just things we hardly ever stop to think about. But when you do stop, when you see...well, I don't want to give it away. Just a sneak peak, I guess ;) I'll post about it after. I'm not sure yet when I will share it. Soon, hopefully, soon...

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The Long-Awaited California Tour Update


This one’s for Jo.

I had dreams of keeping up with my blog on Cali tour, but sadly, it never happened. So now I’ll have to update you all on how it went.

This year’s tour was quite different from previous tours I’ve been on. For one thing, I was a dean, not a student this time. That makes the whole experience a bit different. Well, maybe a lot different.

But in general, it was great. In most ways, it was better than it ever has been before. Where should I start? First things first, many seasoned Cali-tourists say this was the most restful Cali tour ever. The schedule was quite relaxed, with time to stop for meals and play at rest stops and PLENTY of time to shop (most of us went FOUR times). We also had a whole day off! The plan was to do laundry, go to the beach and go mini golfing, but we were apprehended by rain and seagulls, which made for just a short beachside picnic lunch and a mad dash to the bus, and yes, SHOPPING instead of mini-golf (who would have guessed?). We had no concert that evening and also on the Friday before (which has never happened before I believe).

Speaking of picnic lunches. The food was AMAZING on this tour! We had four lovely alumni ladies as our cook crew, plus Mr. Roque. MMM MMM MMMMMMMM… For that picnic lunch we had amazing veggie burgers on big fluffy buns, 3 or 4 varieties of chips (the gourmet, Costco kind), a small bottle of Naked juice for everyone (that’s for Liss and Amie). Other meals consisted of sushi rolls (anywhere from 1-5 eachthat’s a lot of sushi rolls for over 100 people!) with rice, flat noodles, carrot salad; the famous Roque Filipino meal with caldaretta, pansit, and fried rice; baked potatoes with every kind of topping you can imagine (mushrooms, vegan sour cream, vegan cheese sauce, green onions, bacon bits, chilli, ETC.). For supper on the bus from Sacramento, we had Roots 500 (a delicious mix of potatoes, carrots, and other goodness), fruit trifle, AND fruit salad (mangos and watermelon included). For breakfasts, we had really good cubed potatoes mixed with tofu scramble, Fountainvew-canned applesauce, and among other things, they tried a new delicacy on us: chia pudding. A whole lot of healthy energy packed into some slimy, white goo full of frogs’ egI mean, swelled chia seeds.

But we didn’t go on Cali tour to eat (though the eating was much fun). We went to share Christ. And this, I believe (and I agree with Scott), was most important “better” thing about this tour. Overall, the spiritual impact of this tour seemed to be greater. The more lenient schedule allowed for more time for personal devotions, which meant that students and staff alike had the opportunity to establish their connection with God in the morning, thus making our interactions with the people at the concerts more meaningful. It allowed the Spirit to work more through us in the performances. Scott also pointed out that he noticed that we treated each other better than in years past (he would know, because he drives the bus for a bunch of us teenage girls). Because the love of Jesus was affecting our interactions with one another, it made our impact on others that much stronger. We also integrated some “Friends of Fountainview” cards to go in the programs that were handed out, with options for people to ask for more information, for prayer, and for Bible studies. We realized that the impression made on people at the concert should be followed up with an opportunity for them to learn more, to really be pointed to Jesus. The students were encouraged to go into the audiences after concerts, to talk and pray with people, and collect the request cards.

God also blessed our fundraising for newer buses (ones that won’t break down at midnight in the middle of winter on a high mountain pass). We raised enough to cover the expenses of the trip and at least half a bus. (For more info go to: http://fountainview.ca/donate/)

I’m so glad this year’s tour went so well, and that God is still improving our music and program even though we keep graduating many of our leading musicians and singers. It’s only because of Him that we meet with success. All the glory goes to Him. 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Fill Me: The Poem

Well, here's my second post inspired by my experience at GYC. It was a huge blessing; I learned so much, and God really "woke me up" again. I won't go into much detail because the previous post and this poem say it all. I pray you will gain a blessing, and maybe, just maybe, your heart's cry might echo mine.

Fill Me

Before Thy throne of grace I bow;
Speechless, it seems, to say
The things that You already know
Are on my heart today.

I find myself here once again --
An everyday routine;
But Lord, today, You see I thirst;
I plead with You, fill me.

Fill me, and take my prideful heart,
My fearful tendency,
My quest for recognition and
My self-sufficiency.

Take all these things, and in their place,
Give me a strong desire
To glorify my King alone,
Be lighted with Your fire.

Lord, move me where Your Spirit leads,
To go where You may call,
To say what You would have me say,
To willingly give all.

It may not be on mountain's height,
Or over stormy sea,
It may not be at battle's front,
Where God may soon need me;

If by a still, small voice He calls
To paths I do not know,
I'll answer with my hand in Thine,
I'll go, my Lord, I'll go.

But now, I pray, "Fill me."
This is my earnest plea.

Valerie Jacobson
Jan. 2, 2012
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...